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ἀγαπητός

agapētós

G27 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primarily, one who is dearly loved or cherished; denoting the object of deep affection or favor. Frequently used to indicate a person who receives special affection, such as a close friend, family member, or favorite, and in religious texts often to describe individuals esteemed or specially chosen. The semantic range includes 'beloved,' 'dear,' and 'esteemed one,' sometimes with the nuance of one who is approved or highly regarded.

Semantic Range

beloved, dearly loved, cherished, esteemed, highly regarded, dear, favorite, recipient of special love or approval

Root / Etymology

From the verb ἀγαπάω ('to love, to esteem, to hold in high regard'), itself related to the noun ἀγάπη ('love, affection'), which has a distinct emphasis on goodwill and selfless affection. ἀγαπητός is the verbal adjective form, signifying one who is the recipient of such love or affection.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀγαπητός appears rarely and usually refers to the recipient of affection or favor, but its use increases markedly in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in personal letters and religious texts. In the Septuagint, ἀγαπητός translates Hebrew terms like יָדִיד (yadid) and דּוֹד (dod), reflecting deep love or favor, often in poetic or covenantal contexts (e.g., of Solomon as 'the beloved of the Lord'). In the New Testament, ἀγαπητός is frequent in epistolary greetings (e.g., addressing fellow believers as 'beloved'), and serves as a title for figures with special significance (e.g., Jesus at the baptism: 'my beloved Son'). This term differs from φίλος ('friend, loved one') by emphasizing chosen or covenantal love and approval, sometimes with special divine connotation. Traditional English translations as 'beloved' generally capture the core sense, though the term can also denote the idea of high election or approval, especially in divine contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "beloved" 48 occurrences

’Beloved’ is the overwhelmingly dominant and natural English rendering (55/61 occurrences) and fits the SILEX range (dearly loved, cherished, esteemed). It is idiomatic in religious and familial contexts and will provide consistent, clear translation for all forms of ἀγαπητός.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"dearly loved ones" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀγαπάω; beloved:--(dearly, well) beloved, dear.

Root Family

ἀγαπ- (agapáō) — to value, to cherish, to show loyal concern

Root ἀγαπ- to love, to esteem, to regard with affection
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G25 ἀγαπάω he/she values
G26 ἀγάπη in self-giving loves

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G27-05 ἀγαπητοὶ agapetoi ADJ.P NOM M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones 30
G27-08 ἀγαπητός agapetos ADJ.S NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one 11
G27-07 ἀγαπητόν agapeton ADJ.A ACC M SG beloved beloved one beloved one 7
G27-04 ἀγαπητῷ agapeto ADJ.A DAT M SG beloved to the beloved one beloved 4
G27-02 ἀγαπητέ agapete ADJ.S VOC M SG Beloved O beloved one O beloved one 3
G27-01 ἀγαπητὰ agapeta ADJ.S ACC N PL beloved cherished ones beloved ones 2
G27-06 ἀγαπητοῖς agapetois ADJ.S DAT M PL beloved to the dearly loved ones to the dearly loved ones 2
G27-03 ἀγαπητήν agapeten ADJ.R ACC F SG beloved cherished one beloved 1
G27-09 ἀγαπητοῦ agapetou ADJ.A GEN M SG beloved of the beloved one beloved one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

61 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G27-08 Matthew 3:17 ἀγαπητός agapetos ADJ.S NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-08 Matthew 12:18 ἀγαπητός agapetos ADJ.S NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-08 Matthew 17:5 ἀγαπητός agapetos ADJ.S NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-08 Mark 1:11 ἀγαπητός agapetos ADJ.A NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-08 Mark 9:7 ἀγαπητός agapetos ADJ.A NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-07 Mark 12:6 ἀγαπητόν agapeton ADJ.A ACC M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-08 Luke 3:22 ἀγαπητός agapetos ADJ.A NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-07 Luke 20:13 ἀγαπητόν agapeton ADJ.A ACC M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-06 Acts 15:25 ἀγαπητοῖς agapetois ADJ.S DAT M PL beloved to the dearly loved ones to the dearly loved ones
G27-06 Romans 1:7 ἀγαπητοῖς agapetois ADJ.S DAT M PL beloved to the dearly loved ones to the dearly loved ones
G27-05 Romans 11:28 ἀγαπητοὶ agapetoi ADJ.P NOM M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 Romans 12:19 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-07 Romans 16:5 ἀγαπητόν agapeton ADJ.R ACC M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-07 Romans 16:8 ἀγαπητόν agapeton ADJ.R ACC M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-07 Romans 16:9 ἀγαπητόν agapeton ADJ.R ACC M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-03 Romans 16:12 ἀγαπητήν agapeten ADJ.R ACC F SG beloved cherished one beloved
G27-01 1 Corinthians 4:14 ἀγαπητὰ agapeta ADJ.S ACC N PL beloved cherished ones beloved ones
G27-07 1 Corinthians 4:17 ἀγαπητὸν agapeton ADJ.A NOM N SG beloved beloved one beloved
G27-05 1 Corinthians 10:14 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 1 Corinthians 15:58 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.A VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 2 Corinthians 7:1 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 2 Corinthians 12:19 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-01 Ephesians 5:1 ἀγαπητά agapeta ADJ.A NOM N PL beloved cherished ones beloved
G27-08 Ephesians 6:21 ἀγαπητὸς agapetos ADJ.A NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-05 Philippians 2:12 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 Philippians 4:1 ἀγαπητοὶ agapetoi ADJ.A VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 Philippians 4:1 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi-2 ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-09 Colossians 1:7 ἀγαπητοῦ agapetou ADJ.A GEN M SG beloved of the beloved one beloved one
G27-08 Colossians 4:7 ἀγαπητὸς agapetos ADJ.A NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-04 Colossians 4:9 ἀγαπητῷ agapeto ADJ.A DAT M SG beloved to the beloved one beloved
G27-08 Colossians 4:14 ἀγαπητὸς agapetos ADJ.R NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-05 1 Thessalonians 2:8 ἀγαπητοὶ agapetoi ADJ.P NOM M PL dear beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 1 Timothy 6:2 ἀγαπητοὶ agapetoi ADJ.S NOM M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-04 2 Timothy 1:2 ἀγαπητῷ agapeto ADJ.A DAT N SG beloved to the beloved one to the beloved one
G27-04 Philemon 1:1 ἀγαπητῷ agapeto ADJ.R DAT M SG beloved to the beloved one to the beloved one
G27-07 Philemon 1:16 ἀγαπητόν agapeton ADJ.A ACC M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-05 Hebrews 6:9 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 James 1:16 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.A VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 James 1:19 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.A VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 James 2:5 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.A VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 1 Peter 2:11 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL Beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 1 Peter 4:12 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL Beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-08 2 Peter 1:17 ἀγαπητός agapetos ADJ.A NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-05 2 Peter 3:1 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 2 Peter 3:8 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 2 Peter 3:14 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-08 2 Peter 3:15 ἀγαπητὸς agapetos ADJ.S NOM M SG beloved beloved one beloved one
G27-05 2 Peter 3:17 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 1 John 2:7 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL Beloved beloved ones beloved ones
G27-05 1 John 3:2 ἀγαπητοί agapetoi ADJ.S VOC M PL Beloved beloved ones beloved ones
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