ἀγαπάω

agapaō · to love

Greek · Strong's G25 · Verb · Sounds like: ag-ap-ah'-o · 143 occurrences

English

Word meanings

Short definition

ἀγαπάω, -ῶ,
[in LXX chiefly for אהב ;]
to love, to feel and exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person, to prize and delight in a thing.
1. Of human affection, to men: τ. πλησίον, Mat.5:43; τ. ἐχθρούς, ib. 44; to Christ, Jhn.8:42; to God, Mat.22:37; with accusative of thing(s), Luk.11:43, Jhn.12:43, Eph.5:25, II Tim 4:8, 10, Heb.1:9, 1Pe.2:17, 3:10, 2Pe.2:15, 1Jn.2:15, Rev.12:11.
2. Of divine love;
(a) God's love: to men, Rom.8:37; to Christ, Jhn.3:35;
(b) Christ's love: to men, Mrk.10:21; to God, Jhn.14:31; with cogn. accusative, Jhn.17:26, Eph.2:4.
SYN.: φιλέω. From its supposed etymology (Thayer, LS; but see also Boisacq) ἀ. is commonly understood properly to denote love based on esteem (diligo), as distinct from that expressed by φιλέω (amo), spontaneous natural affection, emotional and unreasoning. If this distinction holds, ἀ. is fitly used in NT of Christian love to God and man, the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will, and which, therefore, unlike that feeling which is instinctive and unreasoned, can be commanded as a duty. (Cf. ἀγάπη, and v. Tr., Syn. §xii; Cremer, 9, 592; and esp. MM, VGT, see word) (AS)

Strong's dictionary

perhaps from (much) (or compare עֲגַב); to love (in a social or moral sense):--(be-)love(-ed). Compare φιλέω.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (public domain)

Full lexicon entry (Liddell-Scott-Jones)
ἀγαπάω
(Doric dialect ἀγαπ-έω [Refs 4th c.BC+], Epic dialect aorist ἀγάπησα[Refs 8th c.BC+]: perfect ἠγάπηκα[Refs 5th c.BC+]
I greet with affection (compare {ἀγαπάζω}), once in [Refs 8th c.BC+], Od.[same place]:—in Trag. only show affection for the dead, ὅτ᾽ ἠγάπα νεκρούς[Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be regarded with affection, ξένων εὐεργεσίαις ἀγαπᾶται[Refs 5th c.BC+]:— generally, love, ὥσπερ.. οἱ ποιηταὶ τὰ αὑτῶν ποιήματα καὶ οἱ πατέρες τοὺς παῖδας ἀγαπῶσι[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὡς λύκοι ἄρν᾽ ἀγαπῶσ᾽ poetical cited in [Refs]; ἐπιστήμην, τὰ χρήματα, etc., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; especially of children, αὐτὸν ἐτιθηνούμην ἀγαπῶσα[Refs]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so in LXX of the love of God for man and of man for God, [LXX+NT] implying regard rather than affection, but the two are interchanged,[Refs 5th c.BC+]; φιλεῖσθαι defined as ἀγαπᾶσθαι αὐτὸν δι᾽ αὑτόν[Refs 4th c.BC+] to be fond of them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐρωτικὴν μέμψιν ἡ ἀγαπωμένη λύει uncertain in [NT+3rd c.AD+]
I.2 persuade, entreat, [LXX]
I.3 caress, pet, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
II of things, to be fond of, prize, desire, [NT+5th c.BC+]; prefer, τὰ Φιλίππου δῶρα ἀντὶ τῶν κοινῇ τοῖς Ἕλλησι συμφερόντων[Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, λιθίδια τὰ ἀγαπώμενα highly prized, precious stones, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III to be well pleased, contented, once in [Refs 8th c.BC+]; frequently in Attic dialect, ἀγαπᾶν ὅτι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; more commonly, ἀ. εἰ.. to be well content if.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐὰν[Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.2 with participle, ἀ. τιμώμενος[Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, οὐκ ἀ. τῶν ἴσων τυγχάνειν τοῖς ἄλλοις[Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.3 with dative of things, to be contented with, ἀ. τοῖς ὑπάρχουσιν ἀγαθοῖς[Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.4 with accusative of things, tolerate, put up with, μηκέτι τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἀ.[Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.5 rarely with genitive, ἵνα.. τῆς ἀξίας ἀγαπῶσιν may be content with the proper price, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III.6 absolutely, to be content, ἀγαπήσαντες[Refs 4th c.BC+]
III.7 with infinitive, to be fond of doing, wont to do, like{φιλέω}, τοὺς Λυκίους ἀγαπῶντας τὸ τρίχωμα φορεῖν [LXX+4th c.BC+]

Every occurrence

  1. Matthew 5:43 ἀγαπήσεις agapēseis · An action: will happen, done by you

    Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:

  2. Matthew 5:44 ἀγαπᾶτε agapate · A command to all of you: keep doing this

    but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;

  3. Matthew 5:46 ἀγαπήσητε agapēsēte · An action that might happen: simple past, done by all of you

    For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

  4. Matthew 5:46 ἀγαπῶντας agapōntas · An -ing word: happening now

    For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

  5. Matthew 6:24 ἀγαπήσει agapēsei · An action: will happen, done by him, her or it

    No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

  6. Matthew 19:19 ἀγαπήσεις agapēseis · An action: will happen, done by you

    Honor thy father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

  7. Matthew 22:37 ἀγαπήσεις agapēseis · An action: will happen, done by you

    And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

  8. Matthew 22:39 ἀγαπήσεις agapēseis · An action: will happen, done by you

    And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

  9. Mark 10:21 ἠγάπησεν ēgapēsen · An action: simple past, done by him, her or it

    And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

  10. Mark 12:30 ἀγαπήσεις agapēseis · An action: will happen, done by you

    and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.

  11. Mark 12:31 ἀγαπήσεις agapēseis · An action: will happen, done by you

    The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

  12. Mark 12:33 ἀγαπᾶν agapan · The “to do” form of an action: happening now

    and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

  13. Mark 12:33 ἀγαπᾶν agapan · The “to do” form of an action: happening now

    and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

  14. Luke 6:27 ἀγαπᾶτε agapate · A command to all of you: keep doing this

    But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you,

  15. Luke 6:32 ἀγαπᾶτε agapate · An action: happening now, done by all of you

    And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them.

  16. Luke 6:32 ἀγαπῶντας agapōntas · An -ing word: happening now

    And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them.

  17. Luke 6:32 ἀγαπῶντας agapōntas · An -ing word: happening now

    And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them.

  18. Luke 6:32 ἀγαπῶσιν agapōsin · An action: happening now, done by them

    And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them.

  19. Luke 6:35 ἀγαπᾶτε agapate · A command to all of you: keep doing this

    But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

  20. Luke 7:5 ἀγαπᾷ agapa · An action: happening now, done by him, her or it

    for he loveth our nation, and himself built us our synagogue.

American Standard Version (1901). Public domain.

Greek and Hebrew data: STEPBible.org (Tyndale House Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. All sources and licences