Greek · G681 · unreviewed

ἅπτω

To touch

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ἅπτω G681
Pronunciation háptō

What does ἅπτω (háptō) mean in the Bible?

ἅπτω (háptō) is a Greek word meaning "to touch". ἅπτω [in LXX chiefly for נָגַע ;] prop.

Full entry for ἅπτω (G681) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to touch
Extended definition

Touch with power to fasten or grip; stronger than mere contact, implies significant connection or restraint.

prop., to fasten to; hence, of fire, to kindle, light: Luk.8:16 11:33 15:8, Act.28:2. Mid., with genitive, to fasten oneself to, cling to, lay hold of (so in π.; MM, see word): Mat.8:3, 15, Jhn.20:17, al.; of carnal intercourse, 1Co.7:1; with reference to levitical and ceremonial prohibitions, 2Co.6:17, Col.2:21; of hostile action, 1Jn.5:18 (cf. ἀν-, καθ-, περι- άπτω)

Synonymsθιγγάνω, ψηλαφάω. ἅ. is the stronger, θ., to touch, the lighter term. ψ. is to feel, as in search of something (Tr., Syn., § xvii; Lft., Col., 201 f.)
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Grammatical Forms

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

Tenses
Aorist Present
Voices
Middle Active
Indicative states a fact or reality 20×
Aorist Middle Matt 8:3 · Matt 8:15 · Matt 9:20 · Matt 9:29 · Matt 20:34 · Mark 1:41 · Mark 5:27 · Mark 5:30 · Mark 5:31 · Mark 7:33 · Luke 5:13 · Luke 7:14 · Luke 8:44 · Luke 8:46 · Luke 8:47 · Matt 14:36 17×
Present Middle Luke 7:39 · 1 John 5:18
Present Active Luke 15:8
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose
Aorist Middle Matt 14:36 · Mark 3:10 · Mark 6:56 · Matt 9:21 · Mark 5:28 · Mark 8:22 · Mark 10:13 · Col 2:21
Present Middle Luke 18:15
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Aorist Middle Matt 17:7 · Luke 8:45 · Luke 22:51
Aorist Active Luke 8:16 · Luke 11:33 · Acts 28:2
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract
Present Middle Luke 6:19 · 1 Cor 7:1
Imperative command or strong request
Present Middle John 20:17 · 2 Cor 6:17
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 6 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
ongoing 1 participle 5
Tense
aorist 5 present 1
Voice
active 5 middle 1
Mood
participle 5 indicative 1

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)

Biblical Occurrences

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

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.

Sources