Greek · G2753 · unreviewed

κελεύω

To order

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κελεύω G2753
Pronunciation keleúō

What does κελεύω (keleúō) mean in the Bible?

κελεύω (keleúō) is a Greek word meaning "to order". κελεύω [in LXX: I Est.

Full entry for κελεύω (G2753) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to order
Extended definition

To order by direct verbal command, typically from one in authority to subordinates.

to urge on, bid by word of mouth, order, command (mostly of one in authority): with accusative and inf. aor., Mat.14:19, 28 18:25 27:64, Luk.18:40, Act.4:15 5:34 8:38 22:30 23:10 25:6, 17; with ellipse of accusative, Mat.8:18 14:9 27:58, Act.12:19 21:33; with accusative and inf. Pres., Act.21:34 22:24 23:3, 35 25:21 27:43; with ellipse of accusative, Act.16:22; ptcp. aor., Act.25:23.

Synonymssee: ἐντέλλω
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Grammatical Forms

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

Tenses
Aorist Imperfect Present
Voices
Active
Indicative states a fact or reality 19×
Aorist Active Matt 8:18 · Matt 14:9 · Matt 18:25 · Matt 27:58 · Luke 18:40 · Acts 5:34 · Acts 8:38 · Acts 12:19 · Acts 21:33 · Acts 21:34 · Acts 22:24 · Acts 22:30 · Acts 23:10 · Acts 25:6 · Acts 27:43 · Acts 25:17 17×
Imperfect Active Acts 16:22
Present Active Acts 23:3
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Aorist Active Matt 14:19 · Acts 23:35 · Acts 4:15 · Acts 25:23
Imperative command or strong request
Aorist Active Matt 14:28 · Matt 27:64
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 25 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 17 ongoing 1 imperative 2 background 1 participle 4
Tense
aorist 23 imperfect 1 present 1
Voice
active 25
Mood
indicative 19 participle 4 imperative 2
NT Occurrences
Matthew 8:18 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 14:19 κελεύσας aorist active participle participle Matthew 14:28 κέλευσόν aorist active imperative imperative Matthew 14:9 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 18:25 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 27:58 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 27:64 κέλευσον aorist active imperative imperative Luke 18:40 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 4:15 κελεύσαντες aorist active participle participle Acts 5:34 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 8:38 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 12:19 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 16:22 ἐκέλευον imperfect active indicative background Acts 21:33 ἐκέλευσε aorist active indicative completed Acts 21:34 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 22:24 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 22:30 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 23:10 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 23:3 κελεύεις present active indicative ongoing Acts 23:35 κελεύσας aorist active participle participle Acts 25:17 ἐκέλευσα aorist active indicative completed Acts 25:21 ἐκέλευσα aorist active indicative completed Acts 25:23 κελεύσαντος aorist active participle participle Acts 25:6 ἐκέλευσεν aorist active indicative completed Acts 27:43 ἐκέλευσέν aorist active indicative completed

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)

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.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources