Greek · G25, G26 · unreviewed
ἀγαπάω / ἀγάπη
To love (in a social or moral sense) · love
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ἀγαπάω G25 to love (in a social or moral sense)
Pronunciation agapáō
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ἀγάπη G26 love
Pronunciation agápē
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What does ἀγαπάω / ἀγάπη (agapaō / agapē) mean in the Bible?
ἀγαπάω · ἀγάπη is a Greek word meaning "to love; love marked by commitment, action, and covenantal concern".
Full entry for ἀγαπάω / ἀγάπη (G25, G26) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
to love; love marked by commitment, action, and covenantal concern
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Tenses
Voices
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 37×
Present Active John 14:21 · John 14:24 · Rom 13:8 · 2 Cor 12:15 · Eph 5:28 · 1 John 2:10 · 1 John 3:10 · 1 John 3:14 · 1 John 4:7 · 1 John 4:8 · 1 John 4:20 · 1 John 4:21 · 1 John 5:1 · Rom 8:28 · 1 Cor 2:9 · Jas 1:12 23×
Perfect Passive Rom 9:25 · Rev 20:9 · 1 Thess 1:4 · 2 Thess 2:13 · Eph 1:6 · Col 3:12 · Jude 1:1 8×
Aorist Active John 13:1 · 2 Thess 2:16 · 2 Tim 4:10 · Rom 8:37 · Gal 2:20 5×
Perfect Active 2 Tim 4:8 1×
Indicative states a fact or reality 73×
Aorist Active Mark 10:21 · Luke 7:47 · John 3:16 · John 13:1 · John 15:9 · Eph 2:4 · Eph 5:2 · Eph 5:25 · 2 Pet 2:15 · 1 John 4:10 · 1 John 4:11 · 1 John 4:19 · John 13:34 · John 15:12 · Rom 9:13 · Rev 3:9 25×
Present Active Luke 7:5 · Luke 7:47 · John 3:35 · John 10:17 · 1 Cor 8:3 · 2 Cor 9:7 · Eph 5:28 · Heb 12:6 · 1 John 5:1 · John 14:31 · 2 Cor 11:11 · 1 John 4:20 · 2 John 1:1 · 3 John 1:1 · Luke 6:32 · Luke 11:43 23×
Future Active Matt 5:43 · Matt 19:19 · Matt 22:37 · Matt 22:39 · Mark 12:30 · Mark 12:31 · Luke 10:27 · Rom 13:9 · Gal 5:14 · Jas 2:8 · Matt 6:24 · Luke 7:42 · Luke 16:13 · John 14:23 · John 14:21 15×
Imperfect Active John 11:5 · John 13:23 · John 19:26 · John 21:7 · John 21:20 · John 8:42 · John 14:28 7×
Future Passive John 14:21 1×
Present Passive 2 Cor 12:15 1×
Perfect Active 1 John 4:10 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 8×
Present Active Mark 12:33 · Rom 13:8 · Eph 5:28 · 1 Thess 4:9 · 1 Pet 3:10 · 1 John 4:11 · 1 John 4:20 8×
Imperative command or strong request 9×
Present Active Matt 5:44 · Luke 6:27 · Luke 6:35 · Eph 5:25 · Col 3:19 · 1 Pet 2:17 · 1 John 2:15 · Eph 5:33 8×
Aorist Active 1 Pet 1:22 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 16×
Present Active 1 John 3:11 · 1 John 3:18 · 1 John 3:23 · 1 John 4:7 · 1 John 4:12 · 1 John 5:2 · 2 John 1:5 · John 13:34 · John 14:15 · John 15:12 · John 15:17 · John 14:23 · 1 John 2:15 · 1 John 4:21 15×
Aorist Active Matt 5:46 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 143 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 78 aorist 32 future 16 perfect 10 imperfect 7
Voice
active 133 passive 10
Mood
indicative 73 participle 37 subjunctive 16 imperative 9 infinitive 8
NT Occurrences
Matthew 5:43 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Matthew 5:44 ἀγαπᾶτε present active imperative imperative Matthew 5:46 ἀγαπήσητε aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 5:46 ἀγαπῶντας present active participle participle Matthew 6:24 ἀγαπήσει future active indicative prospective Matthew 19:19 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Matthew 22:37 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Matthew 22:39 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Mark 10:21 ἠγάπησεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 12:30 ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Mark 12:31 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Mark 12:33 ἀγαπᾶν present active infinitive infinitive Mark 12:33 ἀγαπᾶν present active infinitive infinitive Luke 6:27 ἀγαπᾶτε present active imperative imperative Luke 6:32 ἀγαπᾶτε present active indicative ongoing Luke 6:32 ἀγαπῶντας present active participle participle Luke 6:32 ἀγαπῶντας present active participle participle Luke 6:32 ἀγαπῶσιν present active indicative ongoing Luke 6:35 ἀγαπᾶτε present active imperative imperative Luke 7:42 ἀγαπήσει future active indicative prospective Luke 7:47 ἠγάπησεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 7:47 ἀγαπᾷ present active indicative ongoing Luke 7:5 ἀγαπᾷ present active indicative ongoing Luke 10:27 Ἀγαπήσεις future active indicative prospective Luke 11:43 ἀγαπᾶτε present active indicative ongoing Luke 16:13 ἀγαπήσει future active indicative prospective John 3:16 ἠγάπησεν aorist active indicative completed John 3:19 ἠγάπησαν aorist active indicative completed John 3:35 ἀγαπᾷ present active indicative ongoing John 8:42 ἠγαπᾶτε imperfect active indicative background John 10:17 ἀγαπᾷ present active indicative ongoing John 11:5 ἠγάπα imperfect active indicative background John 12:43 ἠγάπησαν aorist active indicative completed John 13:1 ἀγαπήσας aorist active participle participle John 13:1 ἠγάπησεν aorist active indicative completed John 13:23 ἠγάπα imperfect active indicative background John 13:34 ἀγαπᾶτε present active subjunctive subjunctive John 13:34 ἠγάπησα aorist active indicative completed John 13:34 ἀγαπᾶτε present active subjunctive subjunctive John 14:15 ἀγαπᾶτέ present active subjunctive subjunctive
+103 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Cross-Language Connections
Hebrew roots and equivalents that share conceptual or etymological ground with this Greek word.
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
1 Corinthians 13 — The More Excellent Way of Love 1 Corinthians 16 — Ordered Giving, Open Doors, Faithful Labor, and Final Exhortations in the Lord Colossians 1 — The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel of Reconciliation Colossians 3 — Raised with Christ: Putting Off the Old Life and Putting On the New Ephesians 5 — Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Spirit-Filled Order Galatians 5 — Stand Firm in Freedom: Faith Working Through Love and Life by the Spirit John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Luke 6 — The Lord of the Sabbath Forms a Kingdom People Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Philippians 1 — Gospel Partnership and Joyful Witness in Christ Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain