ἀριστάω (G709) — Greek Lexicon

ἀριστάω

aristáō

G709 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ἀριστ- to eat, to take a meal

Definition

To eat a meal, especially to partake of the principal meal of the day; in Hellenistic and Roman contexts, typically refers to having breakfast or a mid-morning meal rather than an evening meal. By extension, to dine, to eat together.

Semantic Range

to eat breakfast, to take the main meal (especially earlier in the day), to dine, to eat together, to have a meal

Root / Etymology

Derived from ἄριστον (áriston), meaning 'breakfast' or 'morning meal.' The verb is formed by adding -άω to the noun stem, a common Greek verbal suffix indicating an action related to the noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀριστάω referred specifically to eating the ἄριστον, which was the main meal typically taken in the late morning or around midday. This contrasts with δεῖπνον (deipnon), which in later periods referred to the evening meal. In the early Roman era, meal times shifted somewhat, but ἀριστάω continued to denote eating the main meal, often before noon. In the New Testament and Septuagint, usage generally aligns with this Hellenistic convention. Standard English translations often render the word as 'dine,' 'eat,' or 'take a meal,' but these do not precisely capture the temporal nuance of the meal. The social context of dining, such as hospitality, table fellowship, and ritual purity, can significantly impact the connotation of this verb in narrative and legal passages. The word appears both in secular and religious Greek literature, pointing to ordinary consumption rather than ceremonial feasting, though context may impart significant social or symbolic meaning.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἄριστον; to take the principle meal:--dine.

Root Family

ἀριστάω (aristaō) — to eat, to take a meal, to dine

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G709-02`	ἀριστήσῃ	aristese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	dine	he might dine	1
`G709-03`	ἠρίστησαν	eristesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they had breakfasted	they ate a meal	1
`G709-01`	ἀριστήσατε	aristesate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	and dine	Take a meal!	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G709-02`	Luke 11:37	ἀριστήσῃ	aristese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	dine	he might dine
`G709-01`	John 21:12	ἀριστήσατε	aristesate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	and dine	Take a meal!
`G709-03`	John 21:15	ἠρίστησαν	eristesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they had breakfasted	they ate a meal

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