ἁλιεύω
halieúō
G232 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To catch fish, engage in fishing; to act as a fisher by means of nets, lines, or other techniques. In extended or figurative contexts (rare), to seek or capture (as with people), but primarily denotes the literal act of fishing in Greek sources.
Semantic Range
to fish, to catch fish (literal); to go fishing; (rarely, figurative) to seek, to attempt to capture (people or things, by analogy to fishing)
Root / Etymology
From ἁλιεύς (fisher, fisherman), itself derived from ἅλς (sea, salt) with the verbal ending -εύω/-εύειν indicating occupation or habitual activity; thus, 'to do the work of a fisher.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἁλιεύω is attested from classical Greek onwards with the primary meaning 'to fish.' In both Hellenistic and Koine Greek, it maintains this literal sense, as in secular texts and the New Testament (e.g., Jn 21:3 ὑπάγω ἁλιεύειν, 'I am going fishing'). The figurative sense (such as 'to catch people' or 'to seek followers,' as in 'fishers of people') develops through metaphor or interpretative application but is not the standard lexical sense in ancient Greek sources. When ἁλιεύω appears in the Septuagint or New Testament, it most often refers to the activity of professional fishers, typically with nets. Standard English translations generally render the term as 'to fish' or 'to go fishing'; figurative renderings stem from interpretive contexts rather than the word's inherent semantic range. Related nouns include ἁλιεύς (fisherman) and ἁλιεία (fishing, fishery). No significant semantic shift is evident between classical, Hellenistic, and Koine usage: ἁλιεύω centers on the practical, occupational act of fishing.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἁλιεύς; to be a fisher, i.e. (by implication) to fish:--go a-fishing.
Root Family
ἁλιεύω (halieuō) — to fish, to catch fish, to engage in fishing
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G232-01 |
ἁλιεύειν | alieuein | V PRS ACT INF |
to fish | to be fishing | to be fishing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G232-01 |
John 21:3 | ἁλιεύειν | alieuein | V PRS ACT INF |
to fish | to be fishing | to be fishing |