ἀγάπη
agápē
G26 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Principally, self-giving love; a steadfast, active concern for the well-being of others. ἀγάπη connotes a deep, often unconditional care or regard for another, frequently expressed in action and not limited to emotion. In various contexts, it refers to human love (for other people, for the divine, for one's neighbor), as well as the love attributed to or expected from the divine, characterized by consistency, commitment, and a seeking of the other's good. Occasionally, it is used collectively to denote communal meals among early followers of Jesus (so-called 'love-feasts').
Semantic Range
steadfast love, self-sacrificial love, active goodwill, benevolence, divine love, love for neighbor, general affection, communal meal (love-feast)
Root / Etymology
From the verb ἀγαπάω (to love, to esteem, to have deep care or regard). This noun form appears less frequently in earlier classical Greek but gains prominence in Hellenistic, Septuagintal, and New Testament Greek. The exact pre-Greek or Indo-European origin is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In pre-Hellenistic Greek literature, ἀγάπη is rare, with φιλία (friendship, affection) and ἔρως (desire, passionate love) more common. In the Hellenistic period and especially in the Septuagint, ἀγάπη and its verb form, ἀγαπάω, often render the Hebrew אָהֵב (to love) and emerge as predominant terms for love that is not merely emotional but often tied to covenant loyalty, ethical responsibility, or active benevolence. In the New Testament, ἀγάπη typically denotes an ethical, volitional love—distinct from emotional attachment (φιλία) or erotic attraction (ἔρως)—foregrounding voluntary goodwill and self-sacrifice. In several NT letters, particularly those attributed to Paul, ἀγάπη is presented as a fundamental characteristic of followers of Jesus and as descriptive of the divine disposition. The plural ἀγαπαί (agapai) sometimes refers to communal meals (later called 'love-feasts') practiced among early Christ-groups, as seen in Jude 12. Most English translations render ἀγάπη as 'love', but the term's nuance—active, selfless care—may not be fully conveyed by modern usage of 'love' or the older translation 'charity'.
Translation Consistency
"Love" is the natural, idiomatic English headword that covers the full SILEX range (steadfast, self-giving, active goodwill, divine and neighborly love) while remaining simple and easily inflected. Although "self-giving" describes the primary nuance, it is awkward as a standalone headword; using "love" lets context supply the specific sense (self-giving, benevolent, communal, etc.). "Love" is also the traditional and widely understood translation for ἀγάπη, ensuring clarity and consistency across all occurrences.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀγαπάω; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:--(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.
Root Family
ἀγάπη (agapē) — self-giving love, steadfast care, active goodwill, benevolence
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G26-02 |
ἀγάπη | agape | N NOM F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love | 64 |
G26-03 |
ἀγάπην | agapen | N ACC F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love | 33 |
G26-04 |
ἀγάπης | agapes | N GEN F SG |
love | of self-giving love | of self-giving love | 18 |
G26-01 |
ἀγάπαις | agapais | N DAT F PL |
love feasts | in self-giving loves | love feasts | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
116 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G26-02 |
Matthew 24:12 | ἀγάπη | agape | N NOM F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |
G26-03 |
Luke 11:42 | ἀγάπην | agapen | N ACC F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |
G26-03 |
John 5:42 | ἀγάπην | agapen | N ACC F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |
G26-03 |
John 13:35 | ἀγάπην | agapen | N ACC F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |
G26-02 |
John 15:9 | ἀγάπῃ | agape | N DAT F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |
G26-02 |
John 15:10 | ἀγάπῃ | agape | N DAT F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |
G26-02 |
John 15:10 | ἀγάπῃ | agape-2 | N DAT F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |
G26-03 |
John 15:13 | ἀγάπην | agapen | N ACC F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |
G26-02 |
John 17:26 | ἀγάπη | agape | N NOM F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |
G26-02 |
Romans 5:5 | ἀγάπη | agape | N NOM F SG |
love | self-giving love | self-giving love |