ἀσπάζομαι (G782) — Greek Lexicon

ἀσπάζομαι

aspázomai

G782 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To address with words or gestures of greeting, to offer a salutation, to bid or express good will (such as 'greetings!'), or to welcome someone. Contextually, can include the sense of formally acknowledging, honoring, or taking leave of someone, but the core idea is expressing recognition or well-wishing upon meeting or parting.

Semantic Range

to greet, to welcome, to acknowledge with a salutation, to bid (someone) well, to send greetings in writing, to honor with a greeting, to take leave (rare or contextually specified)

Root / Etymology

ἀσπάζομαι is a middle/passive verb derived from the root σπάζω (rare, 'to draw, pull'), prefixed by ἀ- (perhaps intensifying or as a marker of relation, though the exact origin is uncertain). The commonly cited etymology through a presumed form of σπάω is speculative, and its direct relationship to ἀσπάζομαι is not clear in extant Greek. Effectively, the etymological pathway is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀσπάζομαι developed as a conventional term for greeting, especially in correspondence, where letters often began with a greeting formula using this verb (e.g., 'So-and-so greets you'). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek—including the Septuagint and New Testament—it serves as the standard term for extending a greeting, whether spoken directly (in person or through messengers) or in writing. The act is social and relational, signaling respect, affection, or acknowledgment. While the original sense may have implied a physical gesture (such as embracing), by the Koine period it usually indicates verbal or formal greetings. Major English translations render it as 'greet,' 'salute,' or 'embrace' depending on context, but 'greet' is generally the most accurate rendering for most New Testament contexts. The word does not imply farewell unless context requires (e.g., 'greet and take leave'). The verb is distinct from more physical or ritual terms of embrace (e.g., περιάγκαλίζομαι for 'to take in the arms') but can denote affectionate reception. Used frequently in closing and opening formulas of letters and in communal exchanges in assemblies.

Translation Consistency

primary "greet" 58 occurrences

Most common and natural English rendering of ἀσπάζομαι across contexts. "Greet" captures verbal and written salutations, welcoming, acknowledging, and sending regards, and matches the predominant usage in the P2 data (37/59 occurrences). It is concise, easily inflectable for all forms, and covers the typical semantic range better than narrower alternatives like "welcome."

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"extend greetings" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a particle of union) and a presumed form of σπάω; to enfold in the arms, i.e. (by implication) to salute, (figuratively) to welcome:--embrace, greet, salute, take leave.

Root Family

ἀσπάζομαι (aspazomai) — to greet, to welcome, to salute

Root σπάζ- to greet, to welcome, to salute

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G782-04`	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet	24
`G782-07`	ἀσπάζεται	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets	11
`G782-09`	ἀσπάζονται	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting	9
`G782-02`	ἀσπασάμενοι	aspasamenoi	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL`	having greeted	having greeted	having greeted	3
`G782-03`	ἀσπασάμενος	aspasamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	embraced	having greeted	having greeted	3
`G782-05`	ἀσπάσησθε	aspasesthe	`V AOR MID SUBJ 2P PL`	greet	you should greet	greet	2
`G782-01`	ἄσπασαι	aspasai	`V AOR MID IMP 2P SG`	Greet	Greet for yourself	Greet	2
`G782-08`	ἀσπάζομαι	aspazomai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I greet	I extend greetings	I extend greetings	1
`G782-12`	ἠσπάζοντο	espazonto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	greeted	they were greeting	they were greeting	1
`G782-10`	ἀσπάζου	aspazou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	greet	Greet	Greet	1
`G782-06`	ἀσπάζεσθαι	aspazesthai	`V PRS MID INF`	to salute	to greet	to greet	1
`G782-11`	ἠσπάσατο	espasato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	greeted	he greeted for himself	she greeted	1

Occurrences in Scripture

59 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G782-05`	Matthew 5:47	ἀσπάσησθε	aspasesthe	`V AOR MID SUBJ 2P PL`	you greet	you should greet	you should greet
`G782-04`	Matthew 10:12	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-12`	Mark 9:15	ἠσπάζοντο	espazonto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	greeted	they were greeting	they were greeting
`G782-06`	Mark 15:18	ἀσπάζεσθαι	aspazesthai	`V PRS MID INF`	to salute	to greet	to greet
`G782-11`	Luke 1:40	ἠσπάσατο	espasato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	greeted	he greeted for himself	she greeted
`G782-05`	Luke 10:4	ἀσπάσησθε	aspasesthe	`V AOR MID SUBJ 2P PL`	greet	you should greet	greet
`G782-03`	Acts 18:22	ἀσπασάμενος	aspasamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	greeted	having greeted	having greeted
`G782-03`	Acts 20:1	ἀσπασάμενος	aspasamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	embraced	having greeted	having greeted
`G782-02`	Acts 21:7	ἀσπασάμενοι	aspasamenoi	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL`	having greeted	having greeted	having greeted
`G782-03`	Acts 21:19	ἀσπασάμενος	aspasamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	having greeted	having greeted	having greeted
`G782-02`	Acts 25:13	ἀσπασάμενοι	aspasamenoi	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL`	having greeted	having greeted	having greeted
`G782-04`	Romans 16:3	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:5	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:6	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:7	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:8	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:9	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:10	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:10	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe-2	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:11	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:11	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe-2	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:12	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:12	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe-2	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:13	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:14	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:15	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	Romans 16:16	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-09`	Romans 16:16	ἀσπάζονται	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting
`G782-07`	Romans 16:21	ἀσπάζεται	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-08`	Romans 16:22	ἀσπάζομαι	aspazomai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I greet	I extend greetings	I extend greetings
`G782-07`	Romans 16:23	ἀσπάζεται	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-07`	Romans 16:23	ἀσπάζεται	aspazetai-2	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-09`	1 Corinthians 16:19	ἀσπάζονται	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting
`G782-07`	1 Corinthians 16:19	ἀσπάζεται	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-09`	1 Corinthians 16:20	ἀσπάζονται	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting
`G782-04`	1 Corinthians 16:20	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	2 Corinthians 13:12	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-09`	2 Corinthians 13:12	ἀσπάζονται	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting
`G782-04`	Philippians 4:21	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-09`	Philippians 4:21	ἀσπάζονται	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting
`G782-09`	Philippians 4:22	ἀσπάζονται	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting
`G782-07`	Colossians 4:10	ἀσπάζεται	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-07`	Colossians 4:12	ἀσπάζεται	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-07`	Colossians 4:14	ἀσπάζεται	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-04`	Colossians 4:15	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-04`	1 Thessalonians 5:26	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-01`	2 Timothy 4:19	ἄσπασαι	aspasai	`V AOR MID IMP 2P SG`	Greet	Greet for yourself	Greet yourself
`G782-07`	2 Timothy 4:21	ἀσπάζεταί	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-09`	Titus 3:15	ἀσπάζονταί	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting
`G782-01`	Titus 3:15	ἄσπασαι	aspasai	`V AOR MID IMP 2P SG`	Greet	Greet for yourself	Greet
`G782-07`	Philemon 1:23	ἀσπάζεταί	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-02`	Hebrews 11:13	ἀσπασάμενοι	aspasamenoi	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL`	having welcomed	having greeted	having greeted
`G782-04`	Hebrews 13:24	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-09`	Hebrews 13:24	ἀσπάζονται	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting
`G782-07`	1 Peter 5:13	ἀσπάζεται	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets you	greets	greets
`G782-04`	1 Peter 5:14	ἀσπάσασθε	aspasasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	Greet	Greet	Greet
`G782-07`	2 John 1:13	ἀσπάζεταί	aspazetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	greets	greets	greets
`G782-09`	3 John 1:15	ἀσπάζονταί	aspazontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	greet	they are greeting	they are greeting
`G782-10`	3 John 1:15	ἀσπάζου	aspazou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	greet	Greet	Greet

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