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λόγος

lógos

G3056 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A word, statement, speech, or utterance; by extension, discourse or the act of speaking; also reason, rational account, or explanation; subject matter or topic under discussion; sometimes calculation or reckoning; in philosophical and theological contexts, underlying principle, rational order, or mediating reason; when used with the article (ὁ λόγος), especially in Johannine literature, serves as an abstract personification or embodiment of divine rationality.

Semantic Range

word, statement, saying, message, speech, discourse, account, narrative, reason, rational principle, thought, argument, explanation, subject matter, reckoning, computation, report, teaching, doctrine, abstract or personified rational principle (especially in John)

Root / Etymology

From the root λέγ-, pertaining to speaking or saying. Related to the verb λέγω, 'to say, to speak, to tell.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, λόγος has a broad semantic range, encompassing not only 'word,' 'speech,' or 'statement' but also 'reason,' 'rational principle,' 'account,' or 'narrative.' It was a key technical term in philosophy, especially among the Stoics, who used it to denote the rational principle governing the cosmos. In the Septuagint, λόγος often renders the Hebrew דָּבָר (dābār), capturing the idea of 'word' as both speech and creative or commanding utterance. In Hellenistic and Roman contexts, λόγος could refer to public discourse, narrative, or philosophical reason. In the New Testament, its range includes ordinary speech, teachings, messages, and sometimes the personified or abstract principle of divine self-expression (notably in John 1:1, where ὁ λόγος is commonly translated as 'the Word,' but reflects a complex interplay of Jewish and Hellenistic philosophical ideas). English translations often do not convey the depth or polyvalence of λόγος, reducing it either to 'word' or, less frequently, 'reason.' Contrast with ῥῆμα, which more often denotes a specific spoken utterance or decree, whereas λόγος can refer to the underlying meaning, reason, or rationale behind a statement or argument.

Translation Consistency

primary "word" 46 occurrences

’Word’ is the overwhelmingly common and natural English rendering (dominant in the corpus). It covers the primary senses—speech, saying, message, account, teaching—and easily extends to abstract uses (e.g. ‘the Word’ in John). It is both idiomatic and broad enough to serve as a single consistent base for all forms of λόγος, while still allowing context-specific inflection or modifiers where needed.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"reason" (1x) "accounts" (1x) "account" (1x) "matter" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from λέγω; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.

Root Family

λογ- (dialogismós) — to speak, to reason, to account

Root λογ- spoken word, speech, account, reason, narrative
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1261 διαλογισμός reasonings
G1677 ἐλλογέω credit to your account
G2127 εὐλογέω to speak well of
G249 ἄλογος irrational ones
G3048 λογία organized communal contributions

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3056-04 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word 140
G3056-05 λόγος logos N NOM M SG word spoken word word 68
G3056-01 λόγῳ logo N DAT M SG word to a word word 45
G3056-06 λόγου logou N GEN M SG word of word of word 27
G3056-07 λόγους logous N ACC M PL words spoken words words 23
G3056-03 λόγοις logois N DAT M PL words to words words 17
G3056-02 λόγοι logoi N NOM M PL words spoken words words 10

Occurrences in Scripture

330 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3056-06 Matthew 5:32 λόγου logou N GEN M SG for reason of word reason
G3056-05 Matthew 5:37 λόγος logos N NOM M SG word spoken word word
G3056-07 Matthew 7:24 λόγους logous N ACC M PL words spoken words words
G3056-07 Matthew 7:26 λόγους logous N ACC M PL words spoken words words
G3056-07 Matthew 7:28 λόγους logous N ACC M PL words spoken words words
G3056-01 Matthew 8:8 λόγῳ logo N DAT M SG the word to a word a word
G3056-01 Matthew 8:16 λόγῳ logo N DAT M SG with a word to a word by a word
G3056-07 Matthew 10:14 λόγους logous N ACC M PL words spoken words words
G3056-04 Matthew 12:32 λόγον logon N ACC M SG a word word word
G3056-04 Matthew 12:36 λόγον logon N ACC M SG account word word
G3056-04 Matthew 12:37 λόγων logon N GEN M PL words word word
G3056-04 Matthew 12:37 λόγων logon-2 N GEN M PL words word word
G3056-04 Matthew 13:19 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Matthew 13:20 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Matthew 13:21 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Matthew 13:22 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Matthew 13:22 λόγον logon-2 N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Matthew 13:23 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Matthew 15:6 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Matthew 15:12 λόγον logon N ACC M SG saying word word
G3056-04 Matthew 15:23 λόγον logon N ACC M SG a word word word
G3056-04 Matthew 18:23 λόγον logon N ACC M SG account word accounts
G3056-07 Matthew 19:1 λόγους logous N ACC M PL sayings spoken words words
G3056-04 Matthew 19:11 λόγον logon N ACC M SG saying word word
G3056-04 Matthew 19:22 λόγον logon N ACC M SG saying word word
G3056-04 Matthew 21:24 λόγον logon N ACC M SG question word word
G3056-01 Matthew 22:15 λόγῳ logo N DAT M SG talk to a word in a word
G3056-04 Matthew 22:46 λόγον logon N ACC M SG a word word word
G3056-02 Matthew 24:35 λόγοι logoi N NOM M PL words spoken words words
G3056-04 Matthew 25:19 λόγον logon N ACC M SG account word account
G3056-07 Matthew 26:1 λόγους logous N ACC M PL words spoken words words
G3056-04 Matthew 26:44 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-05 Matthew 28:15 λόγος logos N NOM M SG word spoken word word
G3056-04 Mark 1:45 λόγον logon N ACC M SG matter word matter
G3056-04 Mark 2:2 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 4:14 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-05 Mark 4:15 λόγος logos N NOM M SG word spoken word word
G3056-04 Mark 4:15 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 4:16 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 4:17 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 4:18 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 4:19 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 4:20 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 4:33 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 5:36 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 7:13 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-04 Mark 7:29 λόγον logon N ACC M SG saying word word
G3056-04 Mark 8:32 λόγον logon N ACC M SG word word word
G3056-07 Mark 8:38 λόγους logous N ACC M PL words spoken words words
G3056-04 Mark 9:10 λόγον logon N ACC M SG saying word word
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