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φάσκω

pháskō

G5335 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To assert or claim, typically with some degree of confidence or authority. In various contexts, it denotes making a statement—often about what one believes, knows, or declares to be true—whether publicly or in personal discourse. May also carry connotations of professing, averring, or maintaining a point or assertion.

Semantic Range

to assert, to claim, to profess, to affirm, to maintain, to say, to allege, to declare

Root / Etymology

Derived as a prolonged form from the same root as φημί (phēmi), which means 'to say' or 'to speak.' Both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root *bha- ('to speak' or 'to say'). φάσκω is thus a verbal form directly related to speech or statement.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φάσκω appears particularly in juridical and philosophical contexts to indicate a statement of belief, opinion, or legal claim, often with an air of assertion or insistence. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the New Testament, the verb retains a similar sense—used when someone is portrayed as asserting, professing, or claiming something (see Acts 24:9, Romans 1:22). It is typically distinguished from φημί, which is more neutral ('to say'), in that φάσκω involves some sense of affirming or insisting upon the truth of the statement. Standard English translations like 'say,' 'affirm,' or 'profess' often capture the core meaning, but may not reflect the assertive nuance of the original Greek. The term is not as common as φημί or λέγω and is used selectively to indicate the tone of assertion. It has no strongly specialized religious or technical meaning in New Testament usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

prolongation from the same as φημί; to assert:--affirm, profess, say.

Root Family

φάσκω (phaskō) — to assert, to claim, to profess, to say

Root φασκ- to assert, to claim, to profess, to say

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5335-02 φάσκοντες phaskontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL Professing those asserting professing 2
G5335-01 ἔφασκεν ephasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG asserted was asserting he was asserting 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5335-02 Acts 24:9 φάσκοντες phaskontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL saying those asserting those asserting
G5335-01 Acts 25:19 ἔφασκεν ephasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG asserted was asserting he was asserting
G5335-02 Romans 1:22 φάσκοντες phaskontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL Professing those asserting professing
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