ἔπω
épō
G2036
SILEX Entry
Definition
To speak or say; primarily expressing the act of uttering words, whether to inform, command, or answer. Most commonly attested in fixed formulae or narrative introductions ('he said, she answered'). In Koine and biblical Greek, ἔπω functions idiomatically as part of compound verb forms to denote instances of speaking, stating, telling, or declaring.
Semantic Range
to speak, to say, to utter, to declare, to tell, to answer, to bid, to command (in formulaic expressions or narrative); used almost exclusively in the second aorist (εἶπον) as the past tense 'he said', 'she said', 'they said'
Root / Etymology
Derived from the verbal root ἔπ-; functions primarily as an aorist (second aorist) form, with other tenses replaced by verbs such as ἐρέω or λέγω in later Greek. It is etymologically distinct from ῥέω ('to flow') and φημί ('to say'), though all share meaning components related to speech.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἔπω is an extremely archaic verb, found scarcely as a principal verb in classical Greek, with the aorist form εἶπον most common and widely attested. In Koine, particularly in the Septuagint and New Testament, εἶπον (the aorist of ἔπω) is the standard narrative form for 'he/she/they said', used far more than λέγω in narrative speech introductions. Present and future tenses are virtually absent; instead, εἶπον as aorist operates as a stock formula introducing direct speech, akin to 'he said' in English. Unlike λέγω, which can denote continuous or habitual speech, ἔπω is heavily idiomatic and formulaic. Standard English translations often use 'say', 'speak', or 'answer'; however, ἔπω is not a general verb for 'to say' in contemporary Greek—it is a relic largely restricted to specific tense/aspect and syntactic functions. In poetic or epic Greek dialects, λεκ- and ἐρ- roots are also present, contributing to the complexity of reported speech. There is no one-to-one English equivalent for its narrative, formulaic use.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.
Root Family
ἔπ- (épos) — to speak, to say
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2031 | ἔπος | a spoken utterance |
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.