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νομίζω

nomízō

G3543 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To hold or adopt as a custom or habit; to consider something as the established norm or proper practice; in an extended sense, to suppose, assume, or regard something as true, often based on social expectation, convention, or prevailing understanding.

Semantic Range

to adopt or practice as a custom, to recognize as established, to regard something as the norm, to deem, to presume, to suppose, to assume, to be accustomed (passive), to have as a habit

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root νόμος (nomos, 'law', 'custom', 'usage'), specifically the verbal stem νομίζω, originally meaning 'to make customary, to establish as a norm'. The verb formed directly from the noun with the sense of acting in accordance with what is established by custom or law.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, νομίζω primarily meant 'to hold by custom', 'to recognize as customary', or 'to accept as the norm', sometimes with reference to social practices or religious rituals regarded as lawful or proper. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the verb often shifted to the cognitive sense of 'to suppose' or 'to assume'—that is, to consider something to be the case, often without definitive proof but in line with what is regarded as usual or accepted. For example, in the New Testament, νομίζω frequently appears in contexts where someone assumes or presumes something to be true (e.g., Acts 7:25, 16:13). English translations frequently render it as 'suppose', 'think', or 'presume', which capture the extended sense but may obscure the root connection to custom and social expectation. While sometimes mapped onto the sense of deducing or inferring, νομίζω is distinct from more reasoned forms of belief or opinion, emphasizing instead what is commonly accepted or customary rather than what is rigorously proven. It should be distinguished from verbs such as οἴομαι (to think, to believe) which carry a more subjective sense of personal opinion or judgment.

Translation Consistency

primary "think" 1 occurrence

"Think" is the most natural, broadly applicable English verb that covers the primary senses of νομίζω — to suppose, regard, deem, or hold as customary. It matches common NT usage and will read naturally across contexts where the lemma means ‘consider,’ ‘suppose,’ or ‘assume.’

Alternatives (14 occurrences):
"supposed" (4x) "supposing" (3x) "might suppose" (2x) "thought" (1x) "supposed as customary" (1x) "consider" (1x) "regards as customary" (1x) "those considering as customary" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from νόμος; properly, to do by law (usage), i.e. to accustom (passively, be usual); by extension, to deem or regard:-- suppose, thing, be wont.

Root Family

νομίζω (nomizō) — to adopt as custom, to practice as the norm, to consider, to suppose

Root νομ- to adopt as custom, to practice as the norm, to consider, to suppose

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3543-08 νομίσητε nomisete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL think you might suppose you might suppose 2
G3543-05 ἐνομίζομεν enomizomen V IMPF ACT IND 1P PL we supposed we were considering as customary we supposed as customary 1
G3543-12 νομίζων nomizon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG supposing regarding as customary supposing 1
G3543-11 νομίζω nomizo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I think I regard as customary I consider 1
G3543-02 ἐνόμισας enomisas V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you thought you regarded as customary you thought 1
G3543-10 νομίζειν nomizein V PRS ACT INF to think to regard as customary to think 1
G3543-14 νομιζόντων nomizonton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL who suppose of those considering as customary of those considering as customary 1
G3543-06 ἐνόμιζον enomizon V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL they supposed they were regarding as customary they supposed 1
G3543-04 ἐνομίζετο enomizeto V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG was supposed was being regarded as customary was supposed 1
G3543-03 ἐνόμιζεν enomizen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he supposed he was regarding as customary he supposed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3543-08 Matthew 5:17 νομίσητε nomisete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL think you might suppose you might suppose
G3543-08 Matthew 10:34 νομίσητε nomisete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL think you might suppose you might suppose
G3543-01 Matthew 20:10 ἐνόμισαν enomisan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL supposed they regarded as customary they supposed
G3543-07 Luke 2:44 νομίσαντες nomisantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL supposing having regarded as customary supposing
G3543-04 Luke 3:23 ἐνομίζετο enomizeto V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG was supposed was being regarded as customary was supposed
G3543-03 Acts 7:25 ἐνόμιζεν enomizen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he supposed he was regarding as customary he supposed
G3543-02 Acts 8:20 ἐνόμισας enomisas V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you thought you regarded as customary you thought
G3543-13 Acts 14:19 νομίζοντες nomizontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL supposing regarding as customary supposing
G3543-05 Acts 16:13 ἐνομίζομεν enomizomen V IMPF ACT IND 1P PL we supposed we were considering as customary we supposed as customary
G3543-12 Acts 16:27 νομίζων nomizon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG supposing regarding as customary supposing
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