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φέρω

phérō

G5342 verb

SILEX Entry

Root φερ- to carry, to bear, to bring

Definition

To bear, carry, or transport something from one place to another; to bring. In extended senses: to support, endure (of burdens or suffering); to produce (of fruit, offspring, or results); to lead or conduct (metaphorically, e.g., to bring someone to a place or to a condition). In literary texts, can mean to announce, proclaim, or bring news. Inpassive forms and certain tenses, to be driven or moved (esp. by wind or by divinely-directed force). Also used figuratively for enduring hardship, producing effects, or bearing responsibility.

Semantic Range

to carry, to bear, to bring, to lead, to transport, to endure, to produce (fruit or outcome), to support, to conduct, to bear responsibility, to proclaim, to announce, to be driven (passive), to be moved (by force or influence)

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root φερ-, meaning 'to carry' or 'to bear.' Cognate with Latin fero (to bear, carry). Various related forms and compounds appear in both Classical and Koine Greek (e.g., διαφέρω, προσφέρω, καταφέρω). Not derived from a more basic Greek term; considered a primary Indo-European verb.

Historical & Contextual Notes

φέρω is an ancient Greek verb with widespread use in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine literature. Its broad semantic range encompasses both literal and metaphorical meanings. Classical usage was primarily focused on physical carrying or transporting, but quickly expanded to include emotional and abstract senses (e.g., bearing suffering, producing fruit). In the Septuagint and New Testament, φέρω is used not only of physical movement (carrying objects or people), but also metaphorically (bearing burdens, producing outcomes, enduring hardship). Certain tenses (especially aorist and perfect) are sometimes replaced in Greek by irregular or suppletive forms such as ἤνεγκα (aorist) and ἐνήνοχα (perfect), a feature inherited from Indo-European. In compound verbs, the semantic range further broadens (e.g., διαφέρω 'to differ,' προσφέρω 'to offer'). Standard English translations ('bear,' 'carry,' 'bring') often do not convey the full range of senses, especially its metaphorical usages. In some Hellenistic and later contexts, φέρω develops more abstract senses like 'to proclaim' or 'to bring forth' (as in news or speech).

Translation Consistency

primary "bring" 47 occurrences

“Bring” best matches the typical and most frequent uses of φέρω in the P2 renderings (transport/lead/announce/produce) and reads naturally in modern English (e.g. bring news, bring fruit, bring someone to a place, bring about a result). It is the most common and versatile choice for keeping a single, consistent base verb across physical, metaphorical, and causative senses.

Alternatives (18 occurrences):
"bearing" (7x) "carried" (5x) "carry" (3x) "leading" (1x) "endured" (1x) "us be carried" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb (for which other, and apparently not cognate ones are used in certain tenses only; namely, ; and ; to "bear" or carry (in a very wide application, literally and figuratively, as follows):--be, bear, bring (forth), carry, come, + let her drive, be driven, endure, go on, lay, lead, move, reach, rushing, uphold.

Root Family

φέρω (pherō) — to carry, to bear, to bring

Word Forms

29 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5342-20 φέρετέ pherete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL Bring Keep carrying bring 10
G5342-09 ἤνεγκεν enegken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG brought he carried he brought 5
G5342-29 φέρουσιν pherousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they bring they carry they bring 5
G5342-25 φέρον pheron V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N SG bearing bearing bearing 4
G5342-16 φέρῃ phere V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG bring may carry bring 4
G5342-26 φέροντες pherontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL bringing bearing bearing 4
G5342-12 ἔφερον epheron V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL brought they were carrying they were bringing 4
G5342-06 ἤνεγκαν enegkan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL brought they carried they brought 3
G5342-17 φέρει pherei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG bears he/she/it bears he/she/it brings 3
G5342-07 ἐνέγκας enegkas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG brought having carried having brought 2

Occurrences in Scripture

65 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5342-01 Matthew 14:11 ἠνέχθη enechthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was brought was carried was brought
G5342-09 Matthew 14:11 ἤνεγκεν enegken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG she brought he carried she brought
G5342-20 Matthew 14:18 φέρετέ pherete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL Bring Keep carrying Bring
G5342-20 Matthew 17:17 φέρετέ pherete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL bring Keep carrying bring
G5342-12 Mark 1:32 ἔφερον epheron V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL they brought they were carrying they were bringing
G5342-26 Mark 2:3 φέροντες pherontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL bringing bearing bearing
G5342-10 Mark 4:8 ἔφερεν epheren V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG brought forth was carrying brought forth
G5342-05 Mark 6:27 ἐνέγκαι enegkai V AOR ACT INF to bring to carry to bring
G5342-09 Mark 6:28 ἤνεγκεν enegken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he brought he carried he brought
G5342-29 Mark 7:32 φέρουσιν pherousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they bring they carry they bring
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