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δοκέω

dokéō

G1380 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To regard, to think, to hold an opinion. In context, δοκέω is used with reference to subjective evaluation: to believe or suppose something, to have the impression that something is so. Additionally, it can signal how something appears to one's perception or estimation (to seem, to appear). In some constructions, especially with impersonal usage (δοκεῖ), it means 'it seems' or 'it appears' and can carry the nuance of 'it seems good,' meaning 'it is judged best' or 'it seems right.'

Semantic Range

to seem, to appear, to be of the opinion, to think, to suppose, to be reputed, to give the impression, it seems good, to decide

Root / Etymology

From the root δοκ- (dok-), to seem, to appear, to think. Sometimes compared to or conflated in ancient lexica with the verb δέω ('to show'), but etymologically distinct. Related to δόξα (doxa), ‘opinion, reputation’.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, δοκέω primarily means 'to seem' or 'to appear,' referring to how something presents itself to perception or opinion. In Koine Greek (including the New Testament), the sense broadens to include 'to think,' 'to suppose,' or 'to be of the opinion.' The verb frequently governs indirect discourse or is used with an infinitive. Impersonal use (δοκεῖ, 'it seems') often introduces a judgment or decision ('it seems good', 'it seems right'), especially in public or legal contexts (cf. Acts 15:28). The semantic range can overlap with νομίζω (to suppose), but whereas δοκέω can suggest uncertainty or merely subjective perception, νομίζω more often suggests normative or customary belief. English translations sometimes render δοκέω as 'seem,' 'think,' or 'appear,' but each may reflect a different nuance in context. In philosophical texts, notably Plato, δοκέω (and its derivatives, like δόξα) denote appearance or belief as distinct from reality or knowledge. In the Septuagint and the New Testament, usage is consistent with this spectrum of meaning, often blending subjective evaluation ('to think, suppose') with perception ('to seem').

Translation Consistency

primary "think" 32 occurrences

The dominant, natural sense across contexts is cognitive — to suppose, hold an opinion, or judge — and most English renderings use “think.” Choosing “think” yields the most natural, consistent base for personal and evaluative uses (it also covers ‘suppose’/‘judge’ senses), while rarer impersonal uses (e.g. ‘it seems good’) can be treated as idiomatic renderings of the same core verb.

Alternatives (18 occurrences):
"thought" (5x) "does it seem" (4x) "seemed good" (2x) "having thought" (2x) "who seem" (1x) "supposing" (1x) "supposed" (1x) "seeming members" (1x) "might suppose" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a prolonged form of a primary verb, (used only in an alternate in certain tenses; compare the base of δεικνύω) of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly):--be accounted, (of own) please(-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow.

Root Family

δοκ- (dógma) — to think, to suppose, to seem, to decree

Root δοκ- to seem, to appear, to think, to suppose
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1378 δόγμα authoritative decree
G1384 δόκιμος proven genuine ones
G1385 δοκός a supporting beam
G2107 εὐδοκία goodwill
G4328 προσδοκάω awaits expectantly

Word Forms

24 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1380-02 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG seems seems he thinks 20
G1380-05 δοκεῖτε dokeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL do you think you think you think 10
G1380-11 δοκοῦντες dokountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL seemed those supposing who seem 3
G1380-24 ἔδοξεν edoxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG it seemed good it seemed it thought 3
G1380-06 δοκῶ doko V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I think I think I think 2
G1380-14 δοκοῦσιν dokousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL think they think they think 2
G1380-15 δόξαντες doxantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL supposing having supposed having thought 2
G1380-16 δόξῃ doxe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG think to splendor think 2
G1380-20 ἐδόκουν edokoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL they thought they were supposing they were thinking 2
G1380-22 ἔδοξαν edoxan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they supposed they thought they thought 2

Occurrences in Scripture

63 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1380-17 Matthew 3:9 δόξητε doxete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL think you might think you might think
G1380-14 Matthew 6:7 δοκοῦσιν dokousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL think they think they think
G1380-02 Matthew 17:25 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG seems seems does it seem
G1380-02 Matthew 18:12 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG seems seems does it seem
G1380-02 Matthew 21:28 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG seems seems does it seem
G1380-02 Matthew 22:17 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG think seems he thinks
G1380-02 Matthew 22:42 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG do you think seems does it seem
G1380-05 Matthew 24:44 δοκεῖτε dokeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you think you think you think
G1380-04 Matthew 26:53 δοκεῖς dokeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG do you think you think you think
G1380-02 Matthew 26:66 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG seems seems he thinks
G1380-22 Mark 6:49 ἔδοξαν edoxan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they supposed they thought they thought
G1380-11 Mark 10:42 δοκοῦντες dokountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL seeming those supposing who seem
G1380-23 Luke 1:3 ἔδοξε edoxe V AOR ACT IND 3P SG it seemed good it seemed it seemed good
G1380-02 Luke 8:18 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG he thinks seems he thinks
G1380-02 Luke 10:36 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG do you think seems do you think
G1380-05 Luke 12:40 δοκεῖτε dokeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you think you think you think
G1380-05 Luke 12:51 δοκεῖτε dokeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL Do you suppose you think you think
G1380-05 Luke 13:2 δοκεῖτε dokeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL do you suppose you think you think
G1380-05 Luke 13:4 δοκεῖτε dokeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL do you think you think you think
G1380-03 Luke 19:11 δοκεῖν dokein V PRS ACT INF they thought to seem to think
G1380-02 Luke 22:24 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG should be regarded seems he thinks
G1380-20 Luke 24:37 ἐδόκουν edokoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL they thought they were supposing they were thinking
G1380-05 John 5:39 δοκεῖτε dokeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL think you think you think
G1380-05 John 5:45 δοκεῖτε dokeite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL think you think you think
G1380-22 John 11:13 ἔδοξαν edoxan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL thought they thought they thought
G1380-15 John 11:31 δόξαντες doxantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL supposing having supposed having thought
G1380-02 John 11:56 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG do you think seems do you think
G1380-20 John 13:29 ἐδόκουν edokoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL thought they were supposing they were thinking
G1380-16 John 16:2 δόξῃ doxe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG think to splendor thinks
G1380-13 John 20:15 δοκοῦσα dokousa V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG supposing seeming supposing
G1380-19 Acts 12:9 ἐδόκει edokei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he thought he was thinking he was thinking
G1380-23 Acts 15:22 ἔδοξε edoxe V AOR ACT IND 3P SG it seemed good it seemed it seemed good
G1380-24 Acts 15:25 ἔδοξεν edoxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG It seemed good it seemed it thought
G1380-24 Acts 15:28 ἔδοξεν edoxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG it seemed good it seemed it thought
G1380-24 Acts 15:34 ἔδοξεν edoxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG it seemed good it seemed it thought
G1380-02 Acts 17:18 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG seems seems he thinks
G1380-02 Acts 25:27 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG seems seems he thinks
G1380-21 Acts 26:9 ἔδοξα edoxa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG thought I supposed I supposed
G1380-15 Acts 27:13 δόξαντες doxantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL supposing having supposed having thought
G1380-02 1 Corinthians 3:18 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG thinks seems he thinks
G1380-06 1 Corinthians 4:9 δοκῶ doko V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I think I think I think
G1380-06 1 Corinthians 7:40 δοκῶ doko V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I think I think I think
G1380-02 1 Corinthians 8:2 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG thinks seems he thinks
G1380-07 1 Corinthians 10:12 δοκῶν dokon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG who thinks a supporting beam who thinks
G1380-02 1 Corinthians 11:16 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG seems seems he thinks
G1380-10 1 Corinthians 12:22 δοκοῦντα dokounta V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N PL seem the seeming things seeming members
G1380-08 1 Corinthians 12:23 δοκοῦμεν dokoumen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we think we think we think
G1380-02 1 Corinthians 14:37 δοκεῖ dokei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG thinks seems he thinks
G1380-18 2 Corinthians 10:9 δόξω doxo V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I may seem I might suppose I might suppose
G1380-16 2 Corinthians 11:16 δόξῃ doxe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG think to splendor think
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