αἰτέω (G154) — Greek Lexicon

αἰτέω

aitéō

G154 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To ask for, request, demand. Primarily denotes the act of asking or requesting something from another, often with earnestness or insistence. In some contexts, can imply both a polite or a bold demand, ranging from simple requests to more urgent appeals; may bear the nuance of asking with a sense of entitlement or expectation, depending on the relational dynamics between speaker and recipient.

Semantic Range

to ask for, to request, to demand, to beg, to require, to crave, to desire, to call for

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: The origin is unclear; the word appears in early Greek (Homeric and classical) and is treated as a primary verb. No certain derivation from another known Greek root; the etymology is thus uncertain. Not directly linked to the similar-sounding αἴτημα (aitēma, 'request'), though this is formed from the same root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

αἰτέω is commonly used throughout Greek literature, both classical and Koine, with its core usage as to ask, to request, or to demand. The verb is frequently used in legal, social, and literary contexts, and appears in both the Septuagint (LXX) and New Testament. In the LXX, αἰτέω commonly translates Hebrew שָׁאַל (sha’al, 'to ask' or 'to inquire'). In the New Testament, it often—but not always—carries a sense of earnest or persistent request, sometimes bordering on demand (cf. distinctions with δέομαι which is more 'to beseech, to entreat'). The person asking is often seen as in a lower or dependent social position relative to the one being asked; however, in prayer contexts (requesting from God), the nuance can vary based on speaker's attitude. English renderings like 'ask,' 'request,' or 'demand' do not always convey the relational nuances of Greek. αἰτέω differs from ἐρωτάω, which more commonly suggests a neutral or polite question, rather than a request for something to be granted. See also πυνθάνομαι, which tends to mean 'to inquire' or 'to learn by inquiry,' rather than to ask for something. The relationship between asker and recipient is central to interpreting αἰτέω's precise nuance in any context.

Translation Consistency

primary "ask" 19 occurrences

"Ask" is the most natural and common English rendering of αἰτέω and covers the full range from polite request to urgent demand. It appeared most frequently in existing renderings and can be inflected (ask/asks/asked/asking) to fit all forms while allowing context to supply sharper senses (beg, demand, request) when needed.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"requested" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; to ask (in genitive case):--ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require. Compare πυνθάνομαι.

Root Family

αἰτ- (aitéō) — to ask, to request, to demand

Root αἰτ- to ask, to request, to demand

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G155	αἴτημα	a requested thing
G156	αἰτία	cause
G157	αἰτίαμα	formal accusations
G158	αἴτιον
G159	αἴτιος	causative factor
G1871	ἐπαιτέω	to be begging for alms
G338	ἀναίτιος	those not responsible
G3868	παραιτέομαι	to excuse oneself
G4319	προσαιτέω	persistently begging
G523	ἀπαιτέω	Demand back

Word Forms

36 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G154-35`	ᾐτήσατο	etesato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	asked	he requested for himself	he asked for himself	6
`G154-11`	αἰτήσει	aitesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	he asks	he will ask	he will ask	5
`G154-15`	αἰτήσητε	aitesete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	you ask	you might ask	you might ask	5
`G154-04`	αἰτεῖσθε	aiteisthe	`V PRS MID IND 2P PL`	you ask	you ask for yourselves	you ask for yourselves	4
`G154-05`	αἰτεῖτε	aiteite	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	Ask	keep asking	keep asking	4
`G154-25`	αἰτούμενοι	aitoumenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL`	asking	those asking for themselves	asking	4
`G154-27`	αἰτοῦντί	aitounti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	asking	to the one asking	to the one asking	3
`G154-29`	αἰτοῦσιν	aitousin	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL`	asking	to those asking	to those asking	3
`G154-03`	αἰτεῖσθαι	aiteisthai	`V PRS MID INF`	ask	to ask for oneself	to ask for oneself	2
`G154-06`	αἰτείτω	aiteito	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	let him ask	let him keep asking	let him keep asking	2
`G154-08`	αἰτήσας	aitesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having called for	having requested	having asked	2
`G154-19`	αἰτήσωνται	aitesontai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P PL`	shall ask	they might ask for themselves	they might ask for themselves	2
`G154-22`	αἰτώμεθα	aitometha	`V PRS MID SUBJ 1P PL`	we ask	we might ask for ourselves	we might ask for ourselves	2
`G154-23`	αἰτῶν	aiton	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	one asking	one asking	one asking	2
`G154-31`	ᾐτήσαντο	etesanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	they asked	they asked for themselves	they asked for themselves	2
`G154-36`	ᾐτοῦντο	etounto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	asked	they kept asking for themselves	they kept asking for themselves	2
`G154-01`	αἰτεῖν	aitein	`V PRS ACT INF`	beg	to ask for	to ask	1
`G154-02`	αἰτεῖς	aiteis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	ask	you are asking	you are asking	1
`G154-07`	αἰτῆσαι	aitesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	ask	to ask for	him	1
`G154-09`	αἰτήσασθε	aitesasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	ask	Ask for yourselves	ask for yourselves	1
`G154-10`	αἰτήσῃ	aitese	`V AOR MID SUBJ 2P SG`	ask	you might ask for yourself	you might ask	1
`G154-12`	αἰτήσῃς	aiteses	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	you ask	you might ask	you might ask	1
`G154-13`	αἰτήσεσθε	aitesesthe	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	you will ask	you will ask for yourselves	you will ask for yourselves	1
`G154-14`	αἰτήσηται	aitesetai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`	she would ask	he might request for himself	she might request for herself	1
`G154-16`	αἰτήσωμαι	aitesomai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG`	shall I ask	should I ask for myself	should I ask for myself	1
`G154-17`	αἰτήσωμέν	aitesomen	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we ask	let us ask	we might ask	1
`G154-18`	αἴτησόν	aiteson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	ask	Ask!	Ask	1
`G154-20`	αἰτήσουσιν	aitesousin	`V FUT ACT IND 3P PL`	they will ask	they will ask for	they will ask for	1
`G154-21`	αἰτῶμεν	aitomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we ask	let us ask	we ask	1
`G154-24`	αἰτοῦμαι	aitoumai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I ask	I am asking for myself	I am asking for myself	1
`G154-26`	αἰτούμεθα	aitoumetha	`V PRS MID IND 1P PL`	we ask	we are asking for ourselves	we are asking for ourselves	1
`G154-28`	αἰτοῦσά	aitousa	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	asking	asking	asking	1
`G154-30`	ᾐτήκαμεν	etekamen	`V PRF ACT IND 1P PL`	we have asked	we have requested	we have requested	1
`G154-32`	ᾔτησας	etesas	`V AOR ACT IND 2P SG`	would have asked	you asked	have asked	1
`G154-33`	ᾐτήσασθε	etesasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`	asked	you asked for yourselves	you asked for yourselves	1
`G154-34`	ᾐτήσατε	etesate	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	you have asked	you were asking	you have asked	1

Occurrences in Scripture

70 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G154-31`	Acts 13:21	ᾐτήσαντο	etesanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	they desired	they asked for themselves	they asked for themselves
`G154-31`	Acts 13:28	ᾐτήσαντο	etesanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	they asked	they asked for themselves	they asked for themselves
`G154-08`	Acts 16:29	αἰτήσας	aitesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having called for	having requested	having asked
`G154-25`	Acts 25:3	αἰτούμενοι	aitoumenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL`	requesting	those asking for themselves	those asking for themselves
`G154-25`	Acts 25:15	αἰτούμενοι	aitoumenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL`	asking	those asking for themselves	asking
`G154-29`	1 Corinthians 1:22	αἰτοῦσιν	aitousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	ask for	to those asking	are asking
`G154-24`	Ephesians 3:13	αἰτοῦμαι	aitoumai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I ask	I am asking for myself	I am asking for myself
`G154-26`	Ephesians 3:20	αἰτούμεθα	aitoumetha	`V PRS MID IND 1P PL`	we ask	we are asking for ourselves	we are asking for ourselves
`G154-25`	Colossians 1:9	αἰτούμενοι	aitoumenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL`	asking	those asking for themselves	asking
`G154-06`	James 1:5	αἰτείτω	aiteito	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	of God	let him keep asking	let him keep asking
`G154-06`	James 1:6	αἰτείτω	aiteito	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	let him ask	let him keep asking	let him keep asking
`G154-03`	James 4:2	αἰτεῖσθαι	aiteisthai	`V PRS MID INF`	ask	to ask for oneself	to ask for oneself
`G154-05`	James 4:3	αἰτεῖτε	aiteite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	You ask	keep asking	keep asking
`G154-04`	James 4:3	αἰτεῖσθε	aiteisthe	`V PRS MID IND 2P PL`	you ask	you ask for yourselves	you ask for yourselves
`G154-27`	1 Peter 3:15	αἰτοῦντι	aitounti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	one who asks	to the one asking	to the one asking
`G154-21`	1 John 3:22	αἰτῶμεν	aitomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we ask	let us ask	we ask
`G154-22`	1 John 5:14	αἰτώμεθα	aitometha	`V PRS MID SUBJ 1P PL`	we ask	we might ask for ourselves	we might ask for ourselves
`G154-22`	1 John 5:15	αἰτώμεθα	aitometha	`V PRS MID SUBJ 1P PL`	we ask	we might ask for ourselves	we might ask for ourselves
`G154-30`	1 John 5:15	ᾐτήκαμεν	etekamen	`V PRF ACT IND 1P PL`	we have asked	we have requested	we have requested
`G154-11`	1 John 5:16	αἰτήσει	aitesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	he shall ask	he will ask	he will ask

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