What does ἀγαπάω · φιλέω mean in the Bible?
ἀγαπάω · φιλέω is a Greek phrase meaning "love, cherish, have affection".
Greek · G25, G5368
ἀγαπᾷς / φιλῶ
To love (in a social or moral sense) · to love
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ἀγαπάωG25to love (in a social or moral sense)
Pronunciationagapáō
Open lexicon entry →φιλέωG5368to love
Pronunciationphiléō
Emotional, affectionate love of friendship and preference, contrasting ἀγαπάω's love of duty and respect
Open lexicon entry →What does ἀγαπᾷς / φιλῶ (agapas / philō) mean in the Bible?
ἀγαπάω · φιλέω is a Greek phrase meaning "love, cherish, have affection".
Full entry for ἀγαπᾷς / φιλῶ (G25, G5368) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G25, G5368?
G25, G5368 is connected to 143 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. love, cherish, have affection
Source Gloss
love, cherish, have affection
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups5Aligned forms143TensesPresent, Aorist, Future, Imperfect, PerfectVoicesActive, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality37×
Present ActiveJohn 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 1:1223×
Perfect PassiveRom 9:25 · Rev 20:9 · 1 Thess 1:4 · 2 Thess 2:13 · Eph 1:6 · Col 3:12 · Jude 1:18×
Aorist ActiveJohn 13:1 · 2 Thess 2:16 · 2 Tim 4:10 · Rom 8:37 · Gal 2:205×
Perfect Active2 Tim 4:81×
Indicativestates a fact or reality73×
Aorist ActiveMark 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 3:925×
Present ActiveLuke 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 11:4323×
Future ActiveMatt 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 14:2115×
Imperfect ActiveJohn 11:5 · John 13:23 · John 19:26 · John 21:7 · John 21:20 · John 8:42 · John 14:287×
Future PassiveJohn 14:211×
Present Passive2 Cor 12:151×
Perfect Active1 John 4:101×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract8×
Present ActiveMark 12:33 · Rom 13:8 · Eph 5:28 · 1 Thess 4:9 · 1 Pet 3:10 · 1 John 4:11 · 1 John 4:208×
Imperativecommand or strong request9×
Present ActiveMatt 5:44 · Luke 6:27 · Luke 6:35 · Eph 5:25 · Col 3:19 · 1 Pet 2:17 · 1 John 2:15 · Eph 5:338×
Aorist Active1 Pet 1:221×
Subjunctivepossibility, probability, or purpose16×
Present Active1 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 4:2115×
Aorist ActiveMatt 5:461×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 143 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present78aorist32future16perfect10imperfect7
Voice
active133passive10
Mood
indicative73participle37subjunctive16imperative9infinitive8
NT Occurrences
Matthew 5:43Ἀγαπήσειςfuture active indicativeprospectiveMatthew 5:44ἀγαπᾶτεpresent active imperativeimperativeMatthew 5:46ἀγαπήσητεaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveMatthew 5:46ἀγαπῶνταςpresent active participleparticipleMatthew 6:24ἀγαπήσειfuture active indicativeprospectiveMatthew 19:19Ἀγαπήσειςfuture active indicativeprospectiveMatthew 22:37Ἀγαπήσειςfuture active indicativeprospectiveMatthew 22:39Ἀγαπήσειςfuture active indicativeprospectiveMark 10:21ἠγάπησενaorist active indicativecompletedMark 12:30ἀγαπήσειςfuture active indicativeprospectiveMark 12:31Ἀγαπήσειςfuture active indicativeprospectiveMark 12:33ἀγαπᾶνpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveMark 12:33ἀγαπᾶνpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveLuke 6:27ἀγαπᾶτεpresent active imperativeimperativeLuke 6:32ἀγαπᾶτεpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 6:32ἀγαπῶνταςpresent active participleparticipleLuke 6:32ἀγαπῶνταςpresent active participleparticipleLuke 6:32ἀγαπῶσινpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 6:35ἀγαπᾶτεpresent active imperativeimperativeLuke 7:42ἀγαπήσειfuture active indicativeprospectiveLuke 7:47ἠγάπησενaorist active indicativecompletedLuke 7:47ἀγαπᾷpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 7:5ἀγαπᾷpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 10:27Ἀγαπήσειςfuture active indicativeprospectiveLuke 11:43ἀγαπᾶτεpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 16:13ἀγαπήσειfuture active indicativeprospectiveJohn 3:16ἠγάπησενaorist active indicativecompletedJohn 3:19ἠγάπησανaorist active indicativecompletedJohn 3:35ἀγαπᾷpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 8:42ἠγαπᾶτεimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 10:17ἀγαπᾷpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 11:5ἠγάπαimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 12:43ἠγάπησανaorist active indicativecompletedJohn 13:1ἀγαπήσαςaorist active participleparticipleJohn 13:1ἠγάπησενaorist active indicativecompletedJohn 13:23ἠγάπαimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 13:34ἀγαπᾶτεpresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveJohn 13:34ἠγάπησαaorist active indicativecompletedJohn 13:34ἀγαπᾶτεpresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveJohn 14:15ἀγαπᾶτέpresent active subjunctivesubjunctive+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.
H5689RelatedHebrew