λέγω (in the N. T. only the present and imperfect active and present passive are in use; 3 person plural imperfect
ἐλεγαν,
John 11:56 Tdf. (cf.
ἔχω, at the beginning));
I. in its earliest use in
Homer to lay (like Latin
lego, German
legen; cf. J. G. Müller in Theol. Studien und Kritiken for 1835, p. 127ff;
Curtius, § 538);
to cause to lie down, put to sleep;
1. to collect, gather; to pick out.
2. to lay with, count with; to enumerate, recount, narrate. describe; (cf. English
tale, German
zählen).
II. to put word to word in speaking, join words together, i. e. "to say (how it differs from
λαλεῖν, see under that word at the beginning); once so by
Homer in Iliad 2, 222 (yet cf.
Schmidt, Syn. 1:1, §§ 20; 48, 2; Liddell and Scott, under the word, B. II. 2); often in
Pindar, and by far the most common use in Attic; the
Sept. more than thirteen hundred times for
אָמַר; often also for
נְאֻם (saying,
dictum); very rarely for
דִּבֵּר; and so in N. T.
1. universally,
a. absolutely,
to speak:
Acts 13:15;
Acts 24:10;
to say, foll. by direct discourse,
Matthew 9:34;
Matthew 12:44;
Matthew 16:2 (here
T brackets
WH reject the passage);
Mark 3:30;
Luke 5:39 (
WH brackets the clause);
John 1:29,
38; (
1 Corinthians 12:3 L T Tr WH);
James 4:13, and very often; the direct discourse is preceded by
ὅτι recitative,
Matthew 9:18 (
T omits
ὅτι);
Mark 1:15 (
T omits;
WH brackets
λέγων);
Mark 2:12 (
L and
WH brackets
λέγοντας);
Mark 3:21;
Mark 5:28;
Mark 6:14f,
35;
Mark 7:20;
Luke 1:24;
Luke 4:41;
Luke 17:10;
John 6:14;
John 7:12;
John 8:33;
John 9:9,
41;
John 16:17;
Acts 2:13;
Acts 11:3;
Hebrews 10:8;
Revelation 3:17, etc.; followed by the accusative with an infinitive,
Luke 11:18;
Luke 24:23;
John 12:29;
Acts 4:32;
Acts 28:6, etc.; followed by
ὅτι,
Luke 22:70;
John 8:48;
John 18:31;
1 Timothy 4:1 (for other examples see 2 a. below); followed by an indirect question,
Matthew 21:27;
Mark 11:33;
Luke 20:8.
b. The N. T. writers, particularly the historical, are accustomed to add the verb
λέγειν followed by direct discourse to another verb which already contains the idea of speaking, or which states an opinion concerning some person or thing; as
τό ῤηθέν...
προφήτου λέγοντος,
Matthew 2:17;
Matthew 8:17;
Matthew 12:17;
Matthew 13:35;
κηρύσσων...
καί (
L T WH omit;
Tr brackets
καί)
λέγων,
Matthew 3:2;
κράζειν λέγειν,
Matthew 9:27;
Matthew 21:15;
Mark 10:47;
Luke 4:41 (here
L T Tr marginal reading
κραυγάζειν);
Acts 14:15;
προσφώνειν καί λέγειν,
Matthew 11:17;
Luke 7:32;
ἀπεκρίθη καί λέγει,
Mark 7:28;
αἰνεῖν τόν Θεόν καί λέγειν,
Luke 2:13;
γογγύζειν καί λέγειν,
John 6:42. to verbs of speaking, judging, etc., and those which denote in general the nature or the substance of the discourse reported, the participle
λέγων is added (often so in the
Sept. for
לֵאמֹר (
Winer's Grammar, 535f (499), cf. 602 (560))) followed by direct discourse:
ἀπεκρίθη λέγων,
Matthew 25:9,
44;
Mark 9:38 (
T WH omit
λέγων);
Acts 15:13;
Revelation 7:13, etc. (see
ἀποκρίνομαι, 1 c.);
εἶπαν...
λέγοντες, Mark (
Mark 8:28 T WH Tr marginal reading);
Mark 12:26;
Luke 20:2 (in Greek writings
ἔφη λέγων);
ἐλάλησε λέγων (see
λαλῶ, 5);
ἐμαρτύρησε,
John 1:32;
κέκραγεν λέγων,
John 1:15;
ἐδίδασκεν...
λέγων,
Matthew 5:2; (
ἐβόησεν or)
ἀνεβόησεν...
λέγων,
Matthew 27:46;
Luke 9:38;
ἀνέκραξεν λέγων,
Mark 1:24;
Luke 4:34 (
T WH omit;
Tr brackets
λέγων); also after
ᾄδειν,
Revelation 5:9;
Revelation 15:3;
αἴρειν (or
ἐπαίρειν)
φωνήν,
Luke 17:13;
Acts 14:11;
θαυμάζειν,
Matthew 8:27;
Matthew 9:33;
Matthew 21:20; after
προφητεύειν,
Matthew 15:7;
γογγύζειν,
Matthew 20:12;
εἶπεν ἐν παραβολαῖς,
Matthew 22:1;
παρέθηκε παραβολήν,
Matthew 13:24;
διεμαρτύρατο,
Hebrews 2:6;
ἐπήγγελται,
Hebrews 12:26, and a great many other examples It is likewise added to verbs of every kind which denote an act conjoined with speech; as
ἐφάνη,
φαίνεται λέγων,
Matthew 1:20;
Matthew 2:13;
προσεκύνει λέγων,
Matthew 8:2;
Matthew 9:18;
Matthew 14:33;
Matthew 15:25; add,
Matthew 8:3;
Matthew 9:29;
Matthew 14:15;
Mark 5:35 Luke 1:66;
Luke 5:8;
Luke 8:38;
Luke 10:17;
Luke 15:9;
Luke 18:3;
Luke 19:18;
Acts 8:10,
18;
Acts 12:7;
Acts 27:23;
1 Corinthians 11:25, etc. On the other hand, the verb
λέγω in its finite forms is added to the participles of other verbs:
Matthew 27:41;
Mark 8:12;
Mark 14:45,
63,
67;
Mark 15:35;
Luke 6:20;
John 1:36;
John 9:8;
Acts 2:13 Hebrews 8:8;
ἀποκριθείς λέγει,
Mark 8:29;
Mark 9:5,
19;
Mark 10:24,
51;
Mark 11:22,
33 (
L Tr marginal reading brackets
T Tr WH omit
ἀποκριθείς);
Luke 3:11;
Luke 11:45;
Luke 13:8 (nowhere so in Acts, nor in Matt. nor in John);
κράξας λέγει,
Mark 5:7 (
Rec. εἶπε);
Mark 9:24.
ἔγραψε λέγων (
לֵאמֹר יִכְתֹּב 2 Kings 10:6;
2 Samuel 11:15, etc.),
he wrote in these words, or he wrote these words (
A. V. retains the idiom,
he wrote saying (cf. e. below)):
Luke 1:63;
1 Macc. 8:31 1 Macc. 11:57;
Josephus, Antiquities 11, 2, 2; 13, 4, 1; examples from the Syriac are given by Gesenius in Rosenmüller's Repertor. i., p. 135.
ἔπεμψε or
ἀπέστειλε λέγων, i. e. he ordered it to be said by a messenger:
Matthew 22:16;
Matthew 27:19;
Luke 7:19;
Luke 19:14;
John 11:3;
Acts 13:15;
Acts 16:35 (see in
εἶπον, 3 b.); otherwise in
Matthew 21:37;
Mark 12:6.
c. ἡ φωνή λέγουσα:
Matthew 3:17;
Matthew 17:5;
Luke 3:22 (
G L T Tr WH omit
λέγουσα);
Revelation 6:6;
Revelation 10:4,
8;
Revelation 12:10;
Revelation 14:13, etc.
λέγειν φωνή μεγάλη,
Revelation 5:12;
Revelation 8:13;
ἐν φωνή μεγάλη,
Romans 14:7,
9.
d. In accordance with the Hebrew conception which regards thought as internal speech (see
εἶπον, 5), we find
λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ,
to say within oneself, i. e. to think with oneself:
Matthew 3:9;
Matthew 9:21;
Luke 3:8;
ἐν τῇ καρδία αὐτοῦ,
Revelation 18:7.
e. One is said
to speak, λέγειν, not only when he uses language orally, but also when he expresses himself in writing ((cf. b. sub at the end)):
2 Corinthians 7:3;
2 Corinthians 8:8;
2 Corinthians 9:3,
4;
2 Corinthians 11:16,
21;
Philippians 4:11, and often in Paul; so of the writers of the O. T.:
Romans 10:16,
20;
Romans 11:9;
Romans 15:12;
λέγει ἡ γραφή,
Romans 4:3;
Romans 10:11;
Romans 11:2;
James 2:23, etc.; and simply
λέγει, namely,
ἡ λέγουσα, i. e.
ἡ γραφή (our
it is said):
Romans 15:10 (11
L Tr marginal reading);
Galatians 3:16;
Ephesians 4:8;
Ephesians 5:14; cf.
Winers Grammar, 522 (486f) and 588 (547);
Buttmann, § 129, 16;
λέγει, namely,
ὁ Θεός,
2 Corinthians 6:2;
λέγει,
Δαυίδ ἐν ψαλμῷ,
Acts 13:35;
λέγει ὁ Θεός,
Hebrews 5:6;
ἐν τῷ ὡσεη,
Romans 9:25;
ἐν Ἠλίᾳ,
Romans 11:2;
ἐν Δαυίδ,
Hebrews 4:7;
λέγει τό πνεῦμα τό ἅγιον,
Hebrews 3:7;
ὁ νόμος λέγει,
1 Corinthians 14:34;
τί,
1 Corinthians 9:8;
Romans 3:19.
f. λέγειν is used of every variety of speaking: as of inquiry,
Matthew 9:14;
Matthew 15:1;
Matthew 17:25;
Matthew 18:1;
Mark 2:18;
Mark 5:30;
Luke 4:22;
Luke 7:20;
John 7:11;
John 9:10;
John 19:10;
Romans 10:18;
Romans 11:1,
11, etc.; followed by
εἰ interrogative (see
εἰ, II. 2),
Acts 21:37;
λέγει,
τίς, equivalent to one bids the question be asked,
Mark 14:14;
Luke 22:11; of reply,
Matthew 17:25;
Matthew 20:7;
Mark 8:24 (
L marginal reading
εἶπεν);
John 1:21;
John 18:17; of acclaim,
Revelation 4:8,
10; of exelamation,
Revelation 18:10,
16; of entreaty,
Matthew 25:11;
Luke 13:25; equivalent to
to set forth in language, make plain, Hebrews 5:11.
g. λέγω with the accusative of the thing.
to say a thing:
ὁ,
Luke 9:33 (i. e. not knowing whether what he said was appropriate or not);
Luke 22:60; to express in words,
Philemon 1:21;
τοῦτο,
John 8:6;
John 12:33;
τοιαῦτα,
Hebrews 11:14;
ταῦτα,
Luke 8:8;
Luke 11:27,
45;
Luke 13:17;
John 5:34;
Acts 14:18;
1 Corinthians 9:8;
τάδε (referring to what follows),
Acts 21:11;
Revelation 2:1,
8,
12,
18;
Revelation 3:1,
7,
14;
τί,
what? Romans 10:8;
Romans 11:4;
Galatians 4:30;
1 Corinthians 14:16;
πολλά,
John 16:12;
τά λεγόμενα,
Luke 18:34;
Acts 28:24;
Hebrews 8:1;
ὑπό τίνος,
Acts 8:6;
Acts 13:45 (
L T Tr WH λαλουμένοις);
Acts 27:11;
λέγω ἀλήθειαν,
John 8:45;
Romans 9:1;
1 Timothy 2:7;
ἀληθῆ,
John 19:35;
ἀνθρώπινον,
Romans 6:19;
σύ λέγεις, namely,
αὐτό, properly,
thou sayest, i. e. thou grantest
what thou askest, equivalent to
it is just as thou sayest; to be sure, certainly (see
εἶπον, 1 c.):
Matthew 27:11;
Mark 15:2;
Luke 23:3, cf.
Luke 22:70;
John 18:37 ((all these passages
WH marginal reading punctuate interrogatively));
παραβολήν, to put forth,
Luke 14:7;
τό αὐτό, to profess one and the same thing,
1 Corinthians 1:10 cf.
1 Corinthians 1:12.
h. with the dative of the person to whom anything is said: followed by direct discourse,
Matthew 8:20;
Matthew 14:4;
Matthew 18:32;
Matthew 19:10;
Mark 2:17,
27;
Mark 7:9;
Mark 8:1;
John 1:43 (
John 1:44);
John 2:10, and scores of other examples;
λέγειν τίνι.
κύριε,
κύριε, to salute anyone as lord,
Matthew 7:21; imperative
λέγε μοι,
Acts 22:27 (generally
εἶπε μοι,
ἡμῖν); plural
Luke 10:9;
ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν, I solemnly declare to you (in the Gospels of Matt. Mark and Luke); for which the Greek said
ἐπ' ἀληθείας λέγω ὑμῖν,
Luke 4:25, and
λέγω ὑμῖν ἀληθῶς,
Luke 9:27; in John everywhere (twenty-five times, and always uttered by Christ)
ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω σοι (
ὑμῖν), I most solemnly declare to thee (you),
John 1:51 (John 1:52);
John 3:11, etc.; with the force of an asseveration
λέγω τίνι, without
ἀμήν:
Matthew 11:22;
Matthew 12:36;
Matthew 23:39;
Luke 7:9,
28;
Luke 10:12;
Luke 12:8;
Luke 17:34;
Luke 18:8,
14;
ναί λέγω ὑμῖν,
Matthew 11:9;
Luke 7:26;
Luke 11:51;
Luke 12:5;
λέγω σοι,
Luke 12:59. with a dative of the thing, in the sense of commanding (see 2 c. below),
Matthew 21:19;
Luke 17:6; in the sense of asking, imploring,
Luke 23:30;
Revelation 6:16.
λέγω τίνι τί,
to tell a thing to one:
Matthew 10:27;
2 Thessalonians 2:5;
τήν ἀλήθειαν,
John 16:7;
μυστήριον,
1 Corinthians 15:51;
παραβολήν,
Luke 18:1; of a promise,
Revelation 2:7,
11,
17,
29;
Revelation 3:6; equivalent to
to unfold, explain, Mark 10:32; followed by indirect discourse,
Matthew 21:27;
Mark 11:33;
Luke 20:8;
τίνι τινα, to speak to one about one,
John 8:27;
Philippians 3:18.
i. :
λέγω followed by prepositions:
πρός τινα, which denotes — either
to one (equivalent to the dative): followed by direct discourse,
Mark 4:41;
Mark 10:26;
Luke 8:25;
Luke 9:23;
Luke 16:1;
John 2:3;
John 3:4;
John 4:15;
John 6:5;
John 8:31;
Acts 2:7 (
R G),
Acts 2:12;
Acts 28:4,
17; followed by
ὅτι recitative,
Luke 4:21;
πρός τινα τί,
Luke 11:53 R G L Tr marginal reading;
Luke 24:10; — or
as respects one, in reference to one (cf.
Buttmann, § 133, 3;
Winers Grammar, § 31, 5; 405 (378);
Krüger, § 48, 7, 13; Bleek on
Hebrews 1:7: Meyer on
Romans 10:21):
Luke 12:41;
Hebrews 1:7. (others add
Hebrews 1:8,
13;
Hebrews 7:21);
μετά τίνος, to speak with one,
John 11:56,
περί τίνος, of, concerning, one (cf.
Winer's Grammar, § 47, 4),
Matthew 21:45;
John 1:47 (
John 1:48);
John 2:21;
11:13;
13:18,
22;
Hebrews 9:5;
περί τίνος,
ὅτι,
Luke 21:5;
τί περί τίνος,
John 1:22;
John 9:17;
Acts 8:34;
Titus 2:8;
τίνι περί τίνος,
Matthew 11:7;
Mark 1:30;
Mark 8:30 (Lachmann
εἴπωσιν);
πρός τινα περί τίνος,
Luke 7:24;
ὑπέρ τίνος, to speak for, on behalf of, one, to defend one,
Acts 26:1 (
L T Tr WH marginal reading
περί);
ἐπί τινα, to speak in reference to,
of (see
ἐπί. C.
L 2 g.
γγ.;
Buttmann, § 147, 23), one,
Hebrews 7:13;
εἰς τινα (
τί βλασφημων), against one,
Luke 22:65; in speaking to have reference to one, speak with respect to one,
Acts 2:25 (cf.
Winer's Grammar, 397 (371)); in speaking to refer (a thing) to one, with regard to,
Ephesians 5:32;
εἰς τόν κόσμον, to the world (see
εἰς, A. I. 5 b.),
John 8:26 (
L T Tr WH λαλῶ).
k. with adverbs, or with phrases having adverbial force:
καλῶς,
rightly, John 8:48;
John 13:13;
ὡσαύτως,
Mark 14:31;
τί κατά συγγνώμην,
ἐπιταγήν, by way of advice (concession (see
συγγνώμη)), by way of command,
1 Corinthians 7:6;
2 Corinthians 8:8;
κατά ἄνθρωπον (see
ἄνθρωπος, 1 c.),
Romans 3:5;
Galatians 3:15;
1 Corinthians 9:8;
Λυκαονιστί,
Acts 14:11. In conformity with the several contexts where it is used,
λέγω, like the Latin
dico, is
2. specifically,
a. equivalent to
to asseverate, affirm, aver, maintains: followed by an accusative with an infinitive,
Matthew 22:23;
Mark 12:18;
Luke 20:41;
Luke 23:2;
Luke 24:23;
Acts 5:36;
Acts 8:9;
Acts 17:7;
Acts 28:6;
Romans 15:8;
2 Timothy 2:18;
Revelation 2:9;
Revelation 3:9; with the included idea of
insisting on, περιτέμνεσθαι (that you must be (cf.
Winers Grammar, § 44, 3 b.;
Buttmann, § 141, 2)),
Acts 15:24 Rec.; with the simple infinitive without a subject-accusative,
Luke 24:23;
James 2:14;
1 John 2:6,
9; followed by
ὅτι (where the accusative with an infinitive might have been used),
Matthew 17:10;
Mark 9:11;
Mark 12:35;
Luke 9:7;
John 4:20;
John 12:34;
1 Corinthians 15:12;
λέγω τίνι ὅτι, etc. to declare to one that etc. (cf.
Buttmann, § 141, 1):
Matthew 3:9;
Matthew 5:20,
22;
Matthew 12:36;
Matthew 13:17;
Matthew 17:12;
Matthew 21:43 (
WH marginal reading omits
ὅτι);
Matthew 26:21;
Mark 9:13;
Mark 14:18,
25,
30;
Luke 3:8;
Luke 10:12;
Luke 13:35 (
Tr WH omit;
L brackets
ὅτι);
Luke 14:24;
18:8;
19:26,
40 (
WH text omits;
Tr brackets
ὅτι);
Luke 21:3;
22:16,
37, etc.;
John 3:11;
John 5:24;
John 8:34;
John 10:7 (
Tr WH omits;
L brackets
ὅτι);
John 16:20;
Galatians 5:2;
λέγω τινα,
ὅτι, by familiar attraction (cf.
Winers Grammar, § 66, 5 a.;
Buttmann, § 151, 1) for
λέγω,
ὅτι τίς:
John 8:54;
John 9:19;
John 10:36 (where for
ὑμεῖς λέγετε,
ὅτι οὗτος,
ὅν...
ἀπέστειλε,
βλασφημεῖ; the indirect discourse passes into the direct, and
βλασφημεῖς is put for
βλασφημεῖ; (
Buttmann, § 141, 1)).
b. equivalent to
to teach: with the dative of person followed by direct discourse,
1 Corinthians 7:8,
12;
τί τίνι,
John 16:12;
Acts 1:3;
τοῦτο followed by
ὅτι,
1 Thessalonians 4:15.
c. to exhort, advise; to command, direct: with an accusative of the thing,
Luke 6:46;
λέγουσιν (namely,
αὐτά)...
καί οὐ ποιοῦσιν,
Matthew 23:3;
τί τίνι,
Mark 13:37;
John 2:5;
τίνι followed by an imperative,
Matthew 5:44;
Mark 2:11;
Luke 7:14;
Luke 11:9;
Luke 12:4;
Luke 16:9;
John 2:8;
John 13:29;
1 Corinthians 7:12;
λέγω with an infinitive of the thing to be done or to be avoided (cf.
Winers Grammar, § 44, 3 b.;
Buttmann, § 141, 2):
Matthew 5:34,
39;
Acts 21:4,
21;
Romans 2:22;
Romans 12:3; followed by
ἵνα,
Acts 19:4;
περί τίνος (the genitive of the thing) followed by
ἵνα,
1 John 5:16 (see
ἵνα, II. 2 b.); followed by
μή with subjunctive
2 Corinthians 11:16. in the sense of
asking, seeking, entreating: with the dative of person followed by an imperative,
1 Corinthians 10:15;
2 Corinthians 6:13; followed by an infinitive (
Winers Grammar, 316 (296f);
Buttmann, as above),
Revelation 10:9 (
Rec. imperative).
χαίρειν τίνι λέγω,
to give one a greeting, bid him welcome, salute him, 2 John 1:10f (see
χαίρω, at the end).
d. to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say (often so in Greek writings; cf.
Passow, under the word, p. 30a; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, C. 10)):
τινα,
Mark 14:71;
John 6:71;
τί,
1 Corinthians 10:29;
τοῦτο followed by direct discourse,
Galatians 3:17;
τοῦτο followed by
ὅτι,
1 Corinthians 1:12.
e. to call by a name, to call, name; equivalent to
καλῷ τινα with the accusative of predicate:
τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν;
Mark 10:18;
Luke 18:19; add,
Mark 12:37;
John 5:18;
John 15:15;
Acts 10:28; (
1 Corinthians 12:3 R G);
Revelation 2:20; passive with predicate nominative:
Matthew 13:55;
1 Corinthians 8:5;
Ephesians 2:11;
2 Thessalonians 2:4;
Hebrews 11:24;
ὁ λεγόμενος, with predicate nominative
he that is surnamed, Matthew 1:16 (so
Matthew 27:17);
Matthew 10:2;
John 20:24;
Colossians 4:11;
he that is named:
Matthew 9:9;
Matthew 26:3,
14;
Matthew 27:16;
Mark 15:7;
Luke 22:47;
John 9:11; cf. Fritzsche on Matthew, p. 31f; of things, places, cities, etc.:
τό ὄνομα λέγεται,
Revelation 8:11; participle
called, Matthew 2:23;
Matthew 26:36;
Matthew 27:33;
John 4:5;
John 11:54;
John 19:13;
Acts 3:2;
Acts 6:9;
Hebrews 9:3; with
Ἑβραϊστί added,
John 19:13,
17; (cf.
John 5:2 Tdf.); applied to foreign words translated into Greek, in the sense
that is:
Matthew 27:33;
John 4:25;
John 11:16;
John 21:2; also
ὁ λέγεται,
John 20:16;
ὁ λέγεται ἑρμηνευόμενον (
L Tr WH μεθερμηνευόμενον),
John 1:38(39);
διερμηνευομένη λέγεται,
Acts 9:36.
f. to speak out, speak of, mention:
τί,
Ephesians 5:12 (with which cf.
ό᾿κνω καί λέγειν,
Plato, rep. 5, p. 465 c.); (
Mark 7:36 T Tr text
WH. On the apparent ellipsis of
λέγω in
2 Corinthians 9:6, cf.
Winers Grammar, 596f (555);
Buttmann, 394 (338). Compare:
ἀντιλέγω,
διαλέγω (
διαλέγομαι),
ἐκλέγω,
ἐπιλέγω,
καταλέγω,
παραλέγω (
παραλέγομαι),
προλέγω,
συλλέγω; cf. the catalog of comp. in
Schmidt, Syn., chapter 1, 60.)
THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database.
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BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's