ἐπακροάομαι
epakroáomai
G1874 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To listen attentively, to pay close attention to what is heard; especially to hearken or listen with deliberate focus. The primary sense is to actively give one's full attention to hearing, often implying intent listening in a manner distinct from casual or passive hearing. In some contexts, it can imply being an audience to a discourse with genuine interest or receptivity.
Semantic Range
to listen attentively, to pay close attention to what is said, to hearken, to be an engaged listener, to attend carefully to a discourse or proclamation
Root / Etymology
Formed from the preposition ἐπί ('upon, over') and the verb stem ἀκροα- (from ἀκροάομαι, 'to listen'), ultimately related to ἀκροατής ('a hearer, listener'). The compound expresses the idea of listening with special, focused attention.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἐπακροάομαι is rare and appears in the Koine period, mainly in contexts emphasizing attentive listening rather than mere physical hearing. In Hellenistic and early Jewish-Greek usage, it is typically used for audiences or individuals who give deliberate, intent hearing, especially to teachings, proclamations, or readings of authoritative texts. The word's nuance differs from verbs such as ἀκούω ('to hear') by indicating a purposeful, undistracted listening. Standard English renderings such as 'hear' or 'listen' often understate the intensity of attentiveness this verb conveys. The root ἀκροα- is related to the notion of being an audience or disciple who listens carefully, thus ἐπακροάομαι intensifies this attentive aspect. Attested especially in Jewish-Greek texts and the New Testament (e.g., Acts 16:14) where the focus is upon listening with engaged intent, particularly to teaching or proclamation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπί and the base of ἀκροατής; to listen (intently) to:--hear.
Root Family
ἀκροα- (epakroáomai) — to hear, to listen
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G202 | ἀκροατής | listeners |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1874-01 |
ἐπηκροῶντο | epekroonto | V IMPF MID IND 3P PL |
were listening | were attentively listening for themselves | were attentively listening | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1874-01 |
Acts 16:25 | ἐπηκροῶντο | epekroonto | V IMPF MID IND 3P PL |
were listening | were attentively listening for themselves | were attentively listening |