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ἔχω

échō

G2192 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ἔχ- to have, to hold, to possess

Definition

To have or possess, to hold in one's possession or grasp something tangible or intangible. The verb broadly expresses the idea of physical possession, but also extends to conceptual or abstract possession (such as qualities, states, or relationships). By extension, it means to experience (e.g., 'to have fear'), to maintain (a state or condition), to be in a particular state (e.g., 'to be sick'), or to relate or pertain to something (e.g., 'to bear relation to'). Depending on context, it can mean to be able (i.e., 'to have power/ability'), to keep or retain, to bear, to concern, or to be connected or joined with.

Semantic Range

to have, to possess, to hold, to experience (a condition/state), to be in a certain condition or relation, to maintain, to keep, to bear, to regard as, to be able, to concern, to relate to

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root ἔχ-; a primary and ancient Greek verb of Indo-European origin, cognate with Latin 'habeo'. It is a fundamental word with no clear derivation from other Greek terms.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἔχω is one of the most common and versatile verbs in Greek, appearing widely in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine periods. In classical literature, it primarily indicated physical possession or holding, but also described emotional or qualitative states, relationships, or conditions. By the Hellenistic and New Testament eras, its usage broadened further, making it a functional equivalent of 'to have, to be, to hold, to experience' in a range of contexts. In the Septuagint, ἔχω often translates Hebrew verbs meaning 'to have, to possess, to hold', but sometimes is used where English would use 'to be' (especially when expressing states or conditions). In the New Testament, its range includes possession (of objects, qualities, or relationships), being in a specified state (e.g., having hunger, being sick), and experiencing conditions. Greek expression often doubles ἔχω with adverbs or prepositions to shift or sharpen its sense (e.g., κακῶς ἔχω 'to be ill', ἔχειν τινὰ φίλον 'to have someone as a friend'). Standard English translations sometimes narrow its sense or substitute it with 'to be' in predicative constructions, but this does not cover the full idiomatic range of the Greek.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.

Root Family

ἔχω (echō) — to have, to hold, to possess

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2278 ἠχέω having
G2279 ἦχος I have

Word Forms

53 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2192-02 ἔχει echei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG has has 104
G2192-14 ἔχων echon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG having having 90
G2192-05 ἔχετε echete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you have you have 62
G2192-07 ἔχω echo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I have I have 48
G2192-17 ἔχοντες echontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL having those having 47
G2192-10 ἔχομεν echomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we have we have 47
G2192-29 ἔχουσιν echousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL have they have 34
G2192-03 ἔχειν echein V PRS ACT INF to have to have 30
G2192-04 ἔχεις echeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you have you have 28
G2192-15 ἔχοντα echonta V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N PL having having 28

Occurrences in Scripture

712 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2192-22 Matthew 1:18 ἔχουσα echousa V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG having having
G2192-47 Matthew 1:23 ἕξει exei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG shall be with child will have
G2192-33 Matthew 3:4 εἶχεν eichen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG had was having
G2192-10 Matthew 3:9 ἔχομεν echomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we have
G2192-07 Matthew 3:14 ἔχω echo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I have
G2192-16 Matthew 4:24 ἔχοντας echontas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL having
G2192-02 Matthew 5:23 ἔχει echei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG has
G2192-05 Matthew 5:46 ἔχετε echete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you have
G2192-05 Matthew 6:1 ἔχετε echete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you have
G2192-05 Matthew 6:8 ἔχετε echete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you have
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