Greek · G25 · unreviewed

ἀγαπάω

To love (in a social or moral sense)

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ἀγαπάω G25

Pronunciation agapáō

What does ἀγαπάω (agapáō) mean in the Bible?

ἀγαπάω (agapáō) is a Greek word meaning "to love (in a social or moral sense)". ἀγαπάω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for אהב ;] to love, to feel and exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person, to prize and delight in a thing. John addresses the direction of the heart’s allegiance, not merely external behavior. This term runs through the canonical themes of Canonical Anchor, Messiah.

Full entry for ἀγαπάω (G25) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to love (in a social or moral sense)

Extended definition

Love as chosen moral commitment and esteem, distinct from spontaneous affection; can be commanded as duty.

to love, to feel and exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person, to prize and delight in a thing.

1Of human affection, to men: τ. πλησίον, Mat.5:43; τ. ἐχθρούς, ib. 44; to Christ, Jhn.8:42; to God, Mat.22:37; with accusative of thing(s), Luk.11:43, Jhn.12:43, Eph.5:25, II Tim 4:8, 10, Heb.1:9, 1Pe.2:17, 3:10, 2Pe.2:15, 1Jn.2:15, Rev.12:11.

2Of divine love;

aGod's love: to men, Rom.8:37; to Christ, Jhn.3:35;

bChrist's love: to men, Mrk.10:21; to God, Jhn.14:31; with cogn. accusative, Jhn.17:26, Eph.2:4.

Synonymsφιλέω. From its supposed etymology (Thayer, LS; but see also Boisacq) ἀ. is commonly understood properly to denote love based on esteem (diligo), as distinct from that expressed by φιλέω (amo), spontaneous natural affection, emotional and unreasoning. If this distinction holds, ἀ. is fitly used in NT of Christian love to God and man, the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will, and which, therefore, unlike that feeling which is instinctive and unreasoned, can be commanded as a duty. (Cf. ἀγάπη, and v. Tr., Syn. §xii; Cremer, 9, 592; and esp. MM, VGT, see word)

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

John addresses the direction of the heart’s allegiance, not merely external behavior. 1 John 2:15-17

John anchors Christian identity in active, sacrificial love patterned after Christ. 1 John 3:11-18

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Present Aorist Future Imperfect Perfect

Voices

Active Passive

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

completed 25 ongoing 24 prospective 16 resultant 1 imperative 9 background 7 subjunctive 16 infinitive 8 participle 37

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)

Canonical Themes

Canonical AnchorMessiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 John 2:15-17 love agapáō Imperative · Present Active

To set one’s affection, loyalty, and commitment upon something.

1 John 3:11-18 love agapáō Participle · Present Active

Self-giving commitment to seek another’s good.

Cross-Language Connections

Hebrew roots and equivalents that share conceptual or etymological ground with this Greek word.

H5689 Related Hebrew

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

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.

Colossians 3 — Raised with Christ: Putting Off the Old Life and Putting On the New 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 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 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day 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

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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