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σώζω

sṓzō

G4982 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To save, rescue from danger or destruction. In wider usage: to preserve or keep safe; to deliver from physical peril, disease, or death; to heal or restore to health; to make whole or well; and, by extension, to bring someone into a safe or favorable condition. In certain contexts, can signify preservation from misfortune or securing wellbeing.

Semantic Range

to save from physical danger, to rescue from peril, to preserve (from harm, destruction, or death), to heal (restore to health), to make whole, to keep safe, to deliver, to preserve from misfortune, to ensure well-being

Root / Etymology

From the root σω-, meaning 'safe, sound.' σώζω is built on this root and conveys the idea of ensuring safety or preservation. The term may ultimately relate to the Proto-Indo-European root *seh₂w-, 'to bind, hold, keep safe.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, σώζω primarily meant 'to save from danger,' such as rescuing from shipwreck, battle, or other immediate threat. It was used for both people and objects and often had little religious connotation. In the Hellenistic and Koine period, the word expanded to include deliverance from wider forms of harm or misfortune, including illness (physical healing) and death. In the Septuagint, σώζω frequently translates the Hebrew יָשַׁע (yasha‘), emphasizing rescue or deliverance, both in military and existential terms. In the New Testament, σώζω occurs both in the literal sense (physical healing or rescue) and in more figurative or extended contexts, including restoration to wholeness (health), protection from spiritual peril, and entry into a state of wellbeing or safety. The New Testament usage sometimes takes on a technical nuance in relation to 'salvation,' but always retains the underlying connotation of rescue or preservation. Later English translations often render the term as 'save' or 'salvation,' sometimes obscuring the broader semantic range concerning physical, social, or existential well-being. σώζω is distinct from words such as θεραπεύω (to heal) in that it encompasses more than medical healing—implying total restoration or rescue.

Translation Consistency

primary "save" 88 occurrences

σώζω’s primary and most natural English equivalent across its semantic range is “save.” It covers rescue/delivery from danger, preservation, and the extended senses of healing and making well. Although many contexts appear as passive constructions (“be saved”), using the active base verb “save” allows consistent, natural inflection for all forms and fits the typical usages better than narrower alternatives like “rescue,” “deliver,” or “heal.”

Alternatives (20 occurrences):
"rescued" (11x) "healed" (2x) "preserved" (2x) "rescue" (1x) "made whole" (1x) "him rescue" (1x) "those being rescued" (1x) "having rescued" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a primary (contraction for obsolete , "safe"); to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):--heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

Root Family

σῴζω (sōzō) — to save, to rescue, to preserve, to make whole

Root σω- to save, to rescue, to preserve, to make whole

Word Forms

34 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4982-08 σῶσαι sosai V AOR ACT INF to save to rescue to save 14
G4982-20 σωθήσεται sothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be saved will be rescued will be saved 13
G4982-17 σωθῆναι sothenai V AOR PASS INF be saved to be saved to be saved 10
G4982-15 σῶσον soson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG save Rescue! Save! 8
G4982-05 σέσωκέν sesoken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG has saved has saved has saved 7
G4982-12 σώσει sosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will save will save he will save 6
G4982-02 ἐσώθη esothe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG have been saved was rescued was saved 4
G4982-01 ἔσωσεν esosen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he saved he saved he saved 4
G4982-16 σωθῇ sothe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG may be saved may be rescued may be saved 3
G4982-14 σώσω soso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I might save I may save I may save 3

Occurrences in Scripture

108 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4982-12 Matthew 1:21 σώσει sosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will save will save he will save
G4982-15 Matthew 8:25 σῶσον soson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG save us Rescue! Save!
G4982-21 Matthew 9:21 σωθήσομαι sothesomai V FUT PASS IND 1P SG I will be healed I will be saved I will be saved
G4982-05 Matthew 9:22 σέσωκέν sesoken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG has made you well has saved has saved
G4982-02 Matthew 9:22 ἐσώθη esothe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was made well was rescued was saved
G4982-20 Matthew 10:22 σωθήσεται sothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be saved will be rescued will be saved
G4982-15 Matthew 14:30 σῶσόν soson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG save Rescue! Save!
G4982-08 Matthew 16:25 σῶσαι sosai V AOR ACT INF to save to rescue to save
G4982-08 Matthew 18:11 σῶσαι sosai V AOR ACT INF to save to rescue to save
G4982-17 Matthew 19:25 σωθῆναι sothenai V AOR PASS INF be saved to be saved to be saved
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