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1 Corinthians 14:13 — Word Study

Depth

N1904Διὸ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.

BSAFordioper the [one]ho speakinglaleō [to utter words, to talk] in a tongueglōssa [a language, the organ of speech] he should prayproseuchomai [to worship, to ask God] thathina he may interpret.diermēneuō [to explain, to translate thoroughly]

Word
Listen & take away1 Corinthians 14
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 is in this chapter.
Greek ↓ Download MP3 Nestle 1904 — the very text on this page — read by Andy Martin in Erasmian pronunciation.
Say the word Each Greek word carries its transliteration (diermēneuō) — no per-word recordings of the Greek exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Corinthians 14:13quick helps
In a sentencePaul instructs that anyone speaking in a tongue should pray for the ability to interpret.
Who is speakingPaul, addressing the Corinthian church.
Where we areIn a section discussing the use of spiritual gifts in the church.
The hard wordδιερμηνεύῃ
Take awayUnderstanding and interpretation are essential for effective communication.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subject verbλαλέω The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the New Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the New Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — , the commonest word in the Greek New Testament, stands 19,867 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 1 Corinthians 14:13

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Guidance on Speaking in Tonguesgenerated

12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

1 Corinthians 14:13 is part of Paul's broader teaching on the proper use of spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of speaking in tongues. He emphasizes that speaking in tongues should be accompanied by the ability to interpret, ensuring that the message is understood and beneficial for the church community. This instruction follows a discussion on the importance of edifying the church through spiritual gifts, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Corinthians 14:27–28If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
21 Corinthians 12:10–30to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
3Mark 11:24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
4John 14:13–14And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
5Acts 1:14With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word διερμηνεύῃ, diermēneuōgenerated

The verb διερμηνεύω (diermēneuō) means to interpret or explain thoroughly. It is formed from the prefix δι- and the root ερμηνεύω, which also means to interpret. This word is used in contexts where clarity and understanding are needed, such as in interpreting languages or messages.

In this verse, the subjunctive form indicates a suggestion or a desire that the speaker should pray for the ability to interpret what is spoken in tongues. This highlights the importance of comprehension in communication within the church.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as: 'Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.' This wording is consistent with the KJV and ASV, which also emphasize the need for interpretation.

However, some translations differ in wording. The YLT uses 'let him pray that he may interpret', while the WEB states 'let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.' These variations reflect different stylistic choices but retain the core meaning of the verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in this verse is προσευχέσθω, let him pray, which governs the action of the subject. The subject is ὁ λαλῶν, the one speaking, and it is followed by a clause that specifies the context of the prayer: ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ, that he may interpret.

The structure of the sentence shows a clear relationship between the action of speaking in tongues and the necessity of praying for interpretation, emphasizing the importance of understanding in spiritual communication.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

διερμηνεύω does not have a direct counterpart in the Septuagint, but its root meaning of interpretation can be linked to the Hebrew word הָבֵן (hābēn), which means to understand. The absence of this specific term in the LXX highlights the unique context in which Paul uses it in the New Testament.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Corinthians 14:13 teaches that if someone speaks in a tongue, they should pray for the ability to interpret what they are saying. This ensures that the message is understood and can benefit others in the church.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to speak in a tongue?

Speaking in a tongue refers to speaking in a language that is not understood by the speaker, often seen as a spiritual gift in the New Testament.

Why is interpretation important?

Interpretation is crucial because it allows the message spoken in tongues to be understood by others, promoting edification and clarity in the church.

Can anyone interpret tongues?

Paul suggests that those who speak in tongues should pray for the ability to interpret, indicating that interpretation is a skill or gift that may not be possessed by everyone.

How does this verse relate to the use of spiritual gifts?

This verse emphasizes that all spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues, should be used for the edification of the church, ensuring that communication is clear and beneficial.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I ensure that my communication in spiritual matters is clear and understood by others?
  2. What steps can I take to grow in my understanding and use of spiritual gifts?
  3. In what ways can I support others in their spiritual journeys, especially those who speak in tongues?
  4. How does the need for interpretation in spiritual gifts apply to my own experiences in the church?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early church Fathers provide insights on Paul's instruction regarding speaking in tongues and interpretation, emphasizing the importance of understanding in communication.

Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 4.61-62 c. 185–253
If the one who speaks in tongues does not have the power to interpret them, others will not understand, but he will know what he was moved by the Spirit to say. When this is understood by others as well, there will be fruit from it.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 14 →
John ChrysostomHomily on 1 Corinthians 35 c. 347–407
"Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret." Here he shows that it is in their power to obtain the gift.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 14 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Corinthians 14:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue,.... The Hebrew, or any other, the gift of speaking with which is bestowed upon him: pray that he may interpret; that he may have also the gift of

Read John Gill on 1 Corinthians 14 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Corinthians 14 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

To interpret here signifieth no more, than to render that intelligible to people, which he first uttereth in an unknown tongue. But what need he pray for that? Hath not every man that can speak a power to speak his native language, as well as a foreign language? Some say, therefore, that ina in this place signifies also, let him pray and also interpret; but this seemeth hard: nor can I think those that had a faculty to speak in an unknown tongue, might some of them not themselves understand what they said, and so had need to pray that they might interpret: but they might be puffed up with their gift, and think it beneath them to interpret, and then they had need to pray that they might have…

Read Matthew Poole on 1 Corinthians 14 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. Ver. 13. Pray that he may interpret] Pope Innocent III never prayed thus; for he said, that the Church decreed the service in an unknown tongue, Ne sacrosaneta verba vilescerent, lest the holy words should be underprized. But public prayers in an unknown tongue, saith Erasmus, must be attributed to the change of time itself in Italy, France, and Spain, for there a long time the Latin was understood by all. But when afterwards their speeches degenerated into those common tongues now there used, then the language, not of the service, but of the people, was altered.

Read John Trapp on 1 Corinthians 14 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) In an unknown tongue.—Better, in a tongue. The gift of interpretation would make the gift of tongues useful for the edifying of the Church. This would be an object of unselfish prayer, which God would indeed answer. In the Greek it is suggested that the gift of interpretation is not only to be the object of his prayer, but that it will be the result; and this leads on to the thought in the next verse.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Corinthians 14 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 13. Pray that he may interpret.] Let him who speaks or reads the prophetic declarations in the Old Testament, in that tongue in which they were originally spoken and written, pray to God that he may so understand them himself, and receive the gift of interpretation, that he may be able to explain them in all their depth and latitude to others.

Read AdamClarke on 1 Corinthians 14 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. pray that he may interpret] Cf. 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 14:5. This passage may mean (1) pray that he may receive the faculty of interpretation, or (2) pray in such a language as he has the power of interpreting.

Read Cambridge on 1 Corinthians 14 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Pray that he may interpret - Let him ask of God ability that he may explain it clearly to the church.

Read Albert Barnes on 1 Corinthians 14 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

NETBNew English Translation2006

So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Wherefore, let him that speaketh in an unknown language, pray that he may interpret.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Wherefore, let him that speaketh a strange tongue, pray, that he may interprete.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Wherefore let him that speaks with a tongue pray that he may interpret.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

wherefore he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue — let him pray that he may interpret;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

for this reason he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue—let him pray that he may interpret;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that they're able to translate what they say.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For this reason, let the man who has the power of using tongues make request that he may, at the same time, be able to give the sense.

Word by word, the decisions they made

λαλῶνlaleō speaking G2980 2 different renderings
speaksBSB DBY FBV MSB NETB ULB WEB
speakingLSV YLT
γλώσσῃglōssa in a tongue G1100 4 different renderings
in a tongueASV BSB FBV MSB NETB RVA ULB
tongueGNV KJV LSV YLT
a tongueDBY DRA
tonguesBBE

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the Nestle 1904 treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseΔιὸThereforeclausenoun phrase · subjectthe [one]clauseverbλαλῶνspeakingadverbialγλώσσῃin a tongueverbπροσευχέσθωlet him prayclauseἵναthatclauseverbδιερμηνεύῃhe might interpret

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The earliest translations — Latin and Syriac

Every translation is an argument about meaning made by someone who had to commit to one. These two were made while the Greek was still a living language, and they are the oldest opinions we have about what this verse says.

Latin VulgateAD 382–405

Et ideo qui loquitur lingua, oret ut interpretetur.

Jerome revised the Old Latin against the Greek from AD 382; the Latin west read this text for a thousand years.

Syriac Peshittaby AD 400

ܘܗܘ ܕܡܡܠܠ ܒܠܫܢܐ ܢܨܠܐ ܕܢܦܫܩ

The Bible of the Syriac-speaking church, in the language nearest to the Aramaic Jesus spoke.

Shown verse by verse rather than word by word: aligning a Greek word to its Latin or Syriac counterpart automatically would be guesswork, and a wrong alignment is worse than none.


The Greek editions compared — what the manuscripts actually say

Eight printed editions of the Greek New Testament, side by side. Where they agree the wording is settled; where a word is missing from an edition it is marked, so you can see the difference rather than take it on trust.

Nestle-Aland 28th edition2012 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

Διὸ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.

The standard critical text of the New Testament.

Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

Διὸ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.

The previous edition, still widely cited.

SBL Greek New Testament2010 · Michael Holmes

Διὸ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.

The Society of Biblical Literature edition, freely licensed.

Westcott–Hort1881 · Westcott and Hort

Διὸ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.

The edition that turned scholarship toward the earliest manuscripts.

Tregelles1857–1879 · Samuel Prideaux Tregelles

Διὸ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.

An independent critical text built from the oldest witnesses then known.

Tyndale House Greek NT2017 · Tyndale House, Cambridge

Διὸ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.

A recent critical edition following documentary evidence closely.

Byzantine majority text2018 · Robinson–Pierpont

λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.

The reading of the majority of surviving manuscripts.

Textus Receptus1550/1894 lineage

λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ.

The printed tradition behind the King James Version.

Every witness on this verse they differ
Critical editions
Nestle-Aland 28th edition2012Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993SBL Greek New Testament2010Westcott–Hort1881Tregelles1857–1879Tyndale House Greek NT2017
Byzantine / Majority
Byzantine majority text2018
Received Text
Textus Receptus1550/1894

A witness that read differently would show its variant word here, marked.

Word by word, across the editions

WordEditions carrying itMissing from
Διὸ ForNA28, NA27, Tyn, SBL, WH, TregTR, Byz

The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Greek New Testament — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

1 Corinthians 14:13διόForForδιόthe [one]the [one]λαλέωspeakingspeakingλαλέωγλῶσσαin a tonguein a tongueγλῶσσαπροσεύχομαιhe should phe should prayπροσεύχομαιἵναthatthatἵναδιερμηνεύωhe may intehe may interpreδιερμηνεύωδιάPrep. throPrep. through, διάπρόςPrep. to, Prep. to, towarπρόςλέγωv. I say, v. I say, speakλέγωἑαυτοῦRefl.pr. hRefl.pr. himselἑαυτοῦArticle thArticle theἐγκακέωv. I am fav. I am faint, ἐγκακέωμνημονεύωv. I rememv. I remember, μνημονεύωγλῶσσαn.f. the tn.f. the tongueγλῶσσαπαρρησίαn.f. freedn.f. freedom, cπαρρησίαἑρμηνείαn.f. transn.f. translatioἑρμηνείαφυλήn.f. a trin.f. a tribe, rφυλήἐπιτίθημιv. I put, v. I put, placeἐπιτίθημιὄροςn.n. a moun.n. a mountainὄροςπληρόωv. I fill,v. I fill, fulfπληρόωχαράn.f. joy, n.f. joy, gladnχαράἵναCj. in ordCj. in order thἵναπᾶςAdj all, tAdj all, the whπᾶς
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 1 Corinthians 14:13

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Greek lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. Imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, the full Liddell-Scott-Jones, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate LSJ, Robinson and Packard on the Greek, Webster and Cawdrey on the English the translators were using. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

For the [one] speaking in a tongue he should pray that he may interpret.
Διὸdioper For G1352 Conjunction
53× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 1 Corinthians as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
Therefore is a word that shows a consequence or a reason, like in Matthew 27:8 and Romans 1:24. It explains why something happens.
Tyndale gloss
therefore
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word διό (dio) is a conjunction meaning 'wherefore' or 'on which account.' It is derived from the combination of two words meaning 'through' and 'which thing.' The New Testament uses it in various contexts, including Matthew 27:8 and Romans 1:24. The entries generally agree on its meaning and usage.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

διό

conjunct. for δι᾽ ὅ,

wherefore, on which account: Mt 27:8, Lk 7:7, Ac 15:19, Ro 1:24, al.; δ. καί, Lk 1:35, Ac 10:29 24:26, Ro 4:22 15:22, II Co 1:20 4:13 5:9, Phl 2:9, He 11:12 13:12 (v. Ellic. on Ga 4:31).

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

διό, conjunction i. q. d¢ 6, [fr. Thue. and Plato down], wherefore, on which account: Mt. xxvii. 8; Lk. i. 35; vil. 7; Acts x. 29; Ro. i. 24; ii. 1; 1 Co. xii. 3; 2 Co. vi. 17; Heb. iii. 7; Jas. i. 21; 1 Pet. i. 13, and often. [Cf. W. 445 (414); B. 233 (200); on Paul’s use, see Ellic. on Gal. iv. 31.]

Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

διό comes out in OG/S 4098 (ii/A.D.) τῶν ἐκλέκτων ἐν Ῥώμῃ δικαστῶν, 5257 διϊκαστὴν ἐν Ῥώμῃ. On the ἀρχιδικαστής, who seems to have occupied the position of a permanent judge at Alexandria, before whom parties in civil cases could elect to have their disputes tried, see Milne, Roman Foyt, Ρ- 196 ff. P Lond 908" (a.p. 139) (= III. p. 132) mentions an ἀ., and also (1..5) Ev8al?Jpovos δι[έπ]οντος τὰ κατὰ τὴν ἀρχιδικάστειαν. The abstract figures without ἀρχι- in Michel 477} (mid. ii/B.c.) ἀπ[ολυθείς τε ἀπὸ τῆς δικαστείας ἐπεδήμησεν κτλ. For the δικαστήριον, as the Praefect’s tribunal or court, see P Strass I. 517,19. (a.p. 262), P Oxy I. 5911 (a.p. 292), P Amh II. 824 19 (iii/iv avp.), ete. MGr δικαστῆς survives…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

διό (dio) — therefore.

διό,

conjunction, for δι᾽ ὅ, wherefore, on which account, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διὸ καί, διὸ δὴ καί, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

Strong's Greek Dictionary

διό

dio

from 1223 and 3739; through which thing, i.e. consequently:--for which

cause, therefore, wherefore.

see GREEK for 1223

see GREEK for 3739

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

διό

Cj.

wherefore

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

διό dio 53x

inferential conj., on which account, wherefore, therefore, Mt. 27:8; 1 Cor. 12:3

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

διό dio/conjConjunct., for δι᾽ ὅ wherefore, on which account, Lat. quapropter, quocirca, quare, Thuc., Plat., etc.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Conjunction
conjunction — it joins clauses, and never changes form.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

CONJ CONJunction or conjunctive particle

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
96%therefore
therefore96% · 51×other renderings4% · 2×

53 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 3 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 53 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
πιστεύωI believe, have fait
γράφωI writeἐγώ
σύ
ἐπισκιάζωI overshadow, en
ΠαῦλοςPaul
Article the
ἔχωI have, hold, posses
οὐNeg
ζήτημαa question, dispute
καίand, even, also,
διόFor53×
what comes after →
καίand, even, also, nam
Article theἀναντιρρήτωςwithout contradiπυκνόςfrequent, often
παρακαλέωI summon, entreat, a
σύἀλλήλων
λέγωI say, speak
ἀναβαίνωI go up, mount, ἐγείρωI wake, arouse, Article the
Article the
λαλέωI speak, sayπαρίημιI neglect, omit,
οὐNeg
ἐγκακέωI am faint, am wἐπαισχύνομαιI am ashamed

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceδιό · 53× in the New Testament
2 Corinthians Hebrews Acts Romans Ephesians 2 Peter 1 Corinthians 1 Thessalonians James Luke 1 Peter Galatians
Across the New Testament15 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 8 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Epistle of Barnabas Clement of Rome Polycarp
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 38c. AD 40

διὸ φλέβας μαστοῖς ἐοικυίας ἐπλημμύρει, αἳ στομωθεῖσαι ποταμοὺς καὶ πηγὰς ἔμελλον ἀναχεῖν.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.163c. AD 75–95

διὸ καὶ Φαραώθης ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Αἰγυπτίων οὐ τοῖς περὶ αὐτῆς λεγομένοις ἀρκεσθεὶς ἀλλὰ καὶ θεάσασθαι σπουδάσας οἷός τε ἦν ἅψασθαι τῆς Σάρρας.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.3c. AD 100

διὸ καὶ μᾶλλον συγχαίρω ἐμαυτῷ ἐλπίζων σωθῆναι.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 1st c. AD 3rd c. AD 2nd c. BC 4th c. AD

τῶν ὑπογεγραμμένων μοι ἐγγαίων Ἐσθλάδαν Δρύτωνος διαγράφειν τοῖς ἀνδράσι· τὰ δὲ νῦν ἐποικονομ … διὸ ἀξιῶ, ἐὰν φαίνηται, συντάξαι ἐγδοθῆναι αὐτῶι τὴν καθήκουσαν διαγραφήν. οὗ καὶ γενομένου, ἔσομαι πεφιλανθρωπημένος.

P. Amh. Gr. 2 36138 BC–131 BC

τῶι Παθυρίτηι ἐγγαιδίων, διʼ ἣν αἰτίαν, λείπω τε τὴν ὑπερβολὴν, διοδεύων κινδυνεύω παρʼ ἕκαστον. Διὸ ἀξιῶ

ἡμᾶς εἶναι καὶ ἑτέρωι τόπωι κατοικούσας μὴ εὐχερῶς δύνασθαι ἐπιβαλεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν σημαινομένην κτῆσιν. Διὸ καταπεφευγυῖαι ἐπὶ σὲ, ἀξιοῦμεν, ἐὰν φαίνηται, μεταπεμψάμενον αὐτὸν ἐπισκέψασθαι καὶ ἐὰν ἦι οἷα γράφομεν

For the [one] speaking in a tongue he should pray that he may interpret.
ho the [one] G3588 Article · nominative · singular · masculine
19,783× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 1 Corinthians as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Tyndale gloss
the/this/who
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The definite article — the commonest word in the Greek New Testament at 19,867 occurrences. Greek uses it more freely than English does and can drop it deliberately, so its presence and its absence both carry weight for a translator; but no single occurrence carries a message of its own. Here it simply gathers “the things” into one definite bundle.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ὁ, ἡ, τό,

the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article.

As demonstr. pron.

As freq. in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Ac 17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus).

Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: I Co 7:7, Ga 4:22; pl., Ac 14:4, 17:32, Phl 1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mt 16:14, Jo 7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁ δέ, He 7:21, 23.

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ὁ 435 ὁ tives of quantity, ὅλος, πᾶς, πολύς, see each in its own place. d. What has been said concerning adjectives holds true also of all other limitations added to substantives, as ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Ro. ix. 11; ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, Ro. xi. 27; 6 λόγος 6 τοῦ σταυροῦ, 1 Co. i. 18; ἡ εἰς Χριστὸν πίστις, Col. ii. 5; on the other hand, ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, 1 Th. i. 8; τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους, 2 Co. viii. 4; see many other exx. of each usage in W. 131 (124) sqq.; [B. 91 (80) sqq.]. e. The noun has the article before it when a demonstrative pronoun (υὗτος, ἐκεῖνος) belonging to it either precedes or follows [W. § 18, 4; B. § 127, 29-31]; as, ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, Jn. ix. 24 [οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρ. 1, Tr mrg. WH); Acts vi. 13; xxii. 26; ὁ λαὸς οὗτος, Mt. xv. 8; 6 vids σου οὗτος, Lk. xv. 30; plur. Lk. xxiv. 17, and numberless other exx.; οὗτος 6 ἄνθρωπος, Lk. xiv. 30; οὗτος ὁ…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ὃ, ἡ τό. (1) Apart from connexion with μέν or δέ (see below) the demonstrative use of the art. in the NT is confined to a poetical quotation Ac 1778, but it is not uncommon in the papyri, e.g. P Par 45® (B.C. 153) (= Witkowski®, p. 85) τὰ (for ἃ) πράσεις (Δ πράσσεις), P Oxy VIII. 1160! (iii/iv A.D.) Ta (for ἃ) σεσύλληχα (for συνείληχα) δὲ κέρμα {ταν τηρῶ αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν δίκην, “1 am keeping for the trial the money that I have collected” (Ed.). For the distributive Opéev.. - 6 8€, as in 1 Cor7’, cf. P Lond 535 (B.c. 161) (=I. p. 19, U.P.Z. i. p. 239) kal τὰ μὲν ἡμῶν ἐληφότων εἰς τὴν γινομένην ἡμῖν συντάξειν, τὰ δ᾽ ἔτι διὰ τὴν τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων {(.. ... > παρελκομένων. (2) The use of the art. as a relative, of which there is no trace in the NT, may again be illustrated by the following papyrus citations from ¢c. A.D. 346—P Lond 414® (= II. Ῥ. 292) γεινῴσκιν oe θέλω περὶ τοῦ βρεουίου…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ὁ (ho) — the/this/who.

ὁ,

ἡ, τό, is, when thus written,

__A demonstrative Pronoun.

__B in Attic dialect, definite or prepositive Article.

__C in Epic dialect, the so-called postpositive Article, = relative Pronoun, ὅς, ἥ, ὅ.—The nominative masculine and feminine singular and plural, ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ, have no accent in codices and most printed books, except when used as the relative; but ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ differ only in writing from ὃ, ἣ, οἳ, α; the nominative forms of the article are said by Hdn.Gr.1.474 to be oxytone, and by [Refs 2nd c.AD+] in Aeolic dialect accusative to [Refs 8th c.BC+] genitive and dative dual τοῖιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]— In Doric dialect and all other dialects except Attic dialect and Ionic dialect the feminine forms preserve the old ᾱ instead of changing it to η, hence Doric dialect etc. ἁ, τάν, τᾶ; the genitive plural τάων contracts in many dialects to τᾶ; the genitive…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ὁ ἡ τό

ho

he hay, and the neuter

to to

in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be

supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one,

he, she, it, etc.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ὁ, ἡ, τό

Article

the

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ὁ ho 19x

the prepositive article, answering, to a considerable extent, to the English definite article; but, for the principle and facts of its usage, consult a grammar; ὁ μὲν ... ὁ δέ, the one ... the other, Phil. 1:16, 17; Heb. 7:5, 6, 20, 21, 23, 24; pl. some ... others, Mt. 13:23; 22:5, 6; ὁ δέ, but he, Mt. 4:4; 12:48; οἱ δέ, but others, Mt. 28:17; used, in a poetic quotation, for a personal pronoun, Acts 17:28

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ὁ the, that

ὁ, ἡ, τό, is

demonstr. Pronoun.

the definite Article.

in epic, the relative Pronoun, when it is written with the accent ὅ, ἥ, τό ῀ ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. Besides the common forms, note epic gen. sg. τοῖο for τοῦ; pl. nom. τοί, ταί; gen. fem. τάων [α^], dat. τοῖσι, τῇς and τῇσι; dual gen, and dat. τοῖιν:— in Trag. we find τοὶ μέν . . , τοὶ δέ . . , for οἱ μέν . . , οἱ δέ . . ; dat. pl. also τοῖσι, ταῖσι: the dual has commonly but one gender, τώ for τά, τοῖν for ταῖν.

DEMONSTR. PRONOUN:

joined with a Subst., not as the Art., but like Lat. ille, ὁ Τυδείδης Tydeus's famous son, Il.; Νέστωρ ὁ γέρων Nestor— that aged man, id. Il.; τιμῆς τῆς Πριάμου for honour, namely that of Priam, id. Il.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art-NSM — Article · nominative · singular · masculine
nominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

T-NSM Part of Speech: definite arTicle Case: Nominative Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wun.

See NUMBER.

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
64%the
the64% · 13160×<the>28% · 5846×those3% · 597×other renderings4% · 788×other renderings1% · 294×

20,685 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 83 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
subject34%adverbial32%object24%predicate5%indirect object4%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 19,783 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
αὐτόςεἰμίI am, existἐγώ
ἐν
καίand, even, also,αὐτόςArticle the
εἰς
αὐτόςεἰσέρχομαιI go in, come inἔρχομαιI come, go
αὐτός
λέγωI say, speakδέbut, on the otheπρός
εἰμίI am, exist
οὗτοςσύἐγώ
the [one]19783×
what comes after →
θεόςGod, a god
Article theκαίand, even, also,ἐγώ
δέbut, on the other ha
λέγωI say, speakἸησοῦςJesusἀποκρίνομαιI answer, reply
ἸησοῦςJesus
λέγωI say, speakκαίand, even, also,Article the
κύριοςlord, Lord, master,
ἐγώἸησοῦςJesusArticle the
πατήρfather, Father, ance
ἐγώσύαὐτός

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordance · 19,783× in the New Testament
Matthew Acts Luke John Revelation Mark Romans 1 Corinthians Hebrews 2 Corinthians Ephesians 1 John

40 inflected forms — one of the commonest words in the New Testament. Full distribution →

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 1c. AD 40

Τῶν ἄλλων νομοθετῶν οἱ μὲν ἀκαλλώπιστα καὶ γυμνὰ τὰ νομισθέντα παρ’ αὐτοῖς εἶναι δίκαια διετάξαντο, οἱ δὲ πολὺν ὄγκον τοῖς νοήμασι προσπεριβαλόντες ἐξετύφωσαν τὰ πλήθη μυθικοῖς πλάσμασι τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐπικρύψαντες.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.argc. AD 75–95

τοῦ κόσμου σύστασις καὶ διάταξις τῶν στοιχείων.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.1c. AD 100

Χαίρετε, υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος ἡμᾶς, ἐν εἰρήνῃ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 1st c. AD 3rd c. BC 6th c. AD
P.Stras. 2 89Pathyris100 BC

r βασιλεύοντος Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν Φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιε, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

P.Adl. 11Pathyris99 BC

ιζ Θῶυθ κη ἀπέδοτο Πετεσοῦχος Φίβιος καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τὸ ὕπαρχον αὐτοῖς ἥμισυ περιστερῶνος τοῦ ὄντος ἐν τῶι ἀπὸ βορρᾶ μέρει Παθύρεως χαλκοῦ Γ. ἐπρίατο Ὧρος Νεχούτου.

P.Grenf. 2 35Pathyris99 BC

βασιλευόντων Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιϛ, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

For the [one] speaking in a tongue he should pray that he may interpret.
λαλῶνlaleō speaking G2980 Verb · present · active · participle · nominative · singular · masculine
298× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 1 Corinthians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To speak or talk, as in Matthew 9:33 and 12:46, where Jesus speaks to the crowds. It can also mean to utter words, like in Revelation 4:1. This word is often translated as preach, say, or tell in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
to utter words, to talk
Tyndale gloss
to speak
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

λαλέω (laleo) means to talk or speak, often implying a vocal utterance. It can refer to both human speech and the sounds made by animals or inanimate objects. The New Testament uses it in various contexts, such as to convey messages or make declarations (e.g., Matthew 9:33). Notably, it differs from λέγω (lego), which focuses more on the meaning of what is said.

Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament — λαλέω, λέγω, λαλιά, λόγος from a scan

In dealing with synonyms of the N. T. we plainly need not concern ourselves with such earlier, or even contemporary, uses of the words which we are discriminating, as lie altogether outside of the N. T. sphere, when these uses do not illustrate, and have not affected, their Scriptural employment. It follows from this that all those contemptuous uses of λαλεῖν as to talk at random, as one ἀθυρόστομος, or with no door to his lips, might do; of λαλιά, as chatter («Kpacia λόγου ἄλογος, Plato, Defin. 416)—for I cannot believe that we are to find this at John iv. 42—may be dismissed and set aside. The antithesis in the line of Eupolis (Meineke, /ragm. Com. Gr. p. 174), Λαλεῖν ἄριστος, ἀδυνατώτατος λέγειν, does little or nothing to illustrate the matter in hand. The distinction which indeed exists between the words may in this way be made clear. There are two leading aspects under which speech…

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Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

λαλέω, -ῶ,

[in LXX chiefly for דּבר pi., also for אמר, etc.;]

to utter: of inanimate things, Re 4:1 10:4; metaph., He 11:4 12:24.

to talk, speak, say: absol., Mt 9:33 12:46, Mk 5:35, Lk 8:49; seq. ὡς, I Co 13:11, Re 13:11; εἰς, I Co 14:9; ἐκ, Mt 12:34; c. acc. rei, Mt 10:19, Mk 11:32, Jo…

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

λαλέω, -@; impf. 3 pers. sing. ἐλάλει, plur. ἐλάλουν; fut. AaAjow; 1 aor. ἐλάλησα; pf. λελάληκα; Pass., pres. λαλοῦμαι; pf. λελάλημαι; 1 aor. ἐλαλήθην; 1 fut. λαληθήcopa; [ἴτ. Soph. down]; found in bibl. Grk. much more freq. than in prof. auth., in Sept. times without number for 739 or 135, more rarely for V8; prop. to uller a sound (ef. [onomatop. /a-/a, ete.] Germ. lallen), to emit a voice, make one’s self heard ; hence to utter or form words with the mouth, to speak, haying reference to the sound and pronunciation of the words and in general the form of what is uttered, while λέγω refers to the meaning and substance of what is spoken; hence λαλεῖν is employed not only of men, esp. when chatting and prattling, but also of animals (of birds, Mosch. 3, 47 ; of locusts, Theoer. 5, 34; λαλοῦσι μέν, οὐ φράζουσι δέ, of dogs and apes, Plut. mor. ii. p. 909 a.), and so of inanimate things (as…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

λαλέω. In P Amh II. 1315 (early ii/A.D.) a brother writes to his sister with reference to the management of certain family property, stating that he will remain where he is until he learns that all is safely settled, and adding—eédml{w δὲ θεῶν θελόντων ἐκ τῶν λαλουμένων διαφεύξεσθαι Kal μετὰ τὴν πεντεκαιδεκάτην ἀναπλεύσειν, “ but I hope, if the gods will, to escape from the talking and after the fifteenth to return home.’”’ See also P Oxy I. 1198 (ii/iii A.D.) (= Selections, p- 103) where the naughty boy writes to his father— οὐ θέλις ἀπενέκκειν μετ᾽ ἐσοῦ els ᾿Αλεξανδρίαν, od μὴ γράψω σε ἐπιστολήν, οὔτε λαλῶ σε, οὔτε υἱγένω σε εἶτα, “if you refuse to take me along with you to Alexandria, I won’t write you a letter, or speak to you, or wish you health henceforth,” P Fay 1264 (ii/iii A.D.) ἤκουσα φίλον Tod πατρός μου λαλοῦνTos περὶ σοῦ ὅτι πεμψεν (/. ἔπεμψεν) ἐπὶ τὴν πενθερά (/.—pav) σου…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

λαλέω (laleō) — to speak.

λᾰλ-έω,

talk, chat, prattle, ἕπου καὶ μὴ λάλει [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with dative, talk to one, λαλῶν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς σεαυτῷ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to λέγω, λαλεῖν ἄριστος, ἀδυνατώτατος λέγειν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λαλῶν μὲν.., λέγων δέ.. [Refs 4th c.BC+]

__b generally, talk, speak, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. talk of, τινα [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:—passive, πρᾶγμα κατ᾽ ἀγορὰν λαλούμενον [Refs 5th c.BC+]

3. in later writers, ={λέγω}, speak, λαλεῖ οὐθὲν τῶν ἄλλων ζῴων πλὴν ἀνθρώπου [NT+5th c.BC+]; χειρσὶν ἅπαντα λαλήσας, of a pantomime, [NT+3rd c.BC+]passive, λαληθήσεταί σοι ὅ τι σε δεῖ ποιεῖν it shall be told thee.., [NT]

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

λαλέω

laleo

a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter

words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare 3004.

see GREEK for 3004

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

λαλέω

v.

I speak, say

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

λαλέω laleō 296x

to make vocal utterance; to babble, to talk; in NT absol. to exercise the faculty of speech, Mt. 9:33; to speak, Mt. 10:20; to hold converse with, to talk with, Mt. 12:46; Mk. 6:50; Rev. 1:12; to discourse, to make an address, Lk. 11:37; Acts 11:20; 21:39; to make announcement, to make a declaration, Lk. 1:55; to make mention, Jn. 12:41; Read the full entry →

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

λαλέω λαλός to talk, chat, prattle, babble, Ar., etc.:—generally, to talk, say, Soph.

c. acc. to talk of, Theocr.

in late Gr., just like λέγω, to speak, NTest., Thuc.:—Pass., λαληθήσεταί σοι it shall be told thee, NTest.

the proper sense, to chatter, is sometimes opp. to articulate speech, as of monkeys, λαλοῦσι μὲν φράζουσι δὲ οὔ Plut.; of locusts, to chirp, Theocr.

of musical sounds, αὐλῶι λαλεῖν id. Theocr.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PAP-NSM — Verb · present · active · participle · nominative · singular · masculine
nominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PAP-NSM Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Active Mood: Participle Case: Nominative Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ EVIL Ex 22:28; Job 19:18; Ps 10:7,8; 12:3,4; 34:13; 35:21; 41:5-9; 52:2-4; 59:12; 64:2-5; 69:12,26; 70:3; 102:8; 106:33; 119:23; 120:1-7; 140:3,11; Pr 4:24; 6:16-19; 8:13; 10:11,19,31,32; 11:11; 12:5,6,13,17-19; 13:3; 14:25; 15:1,4,28; 16:27,28; 17:4,9,20; 18:8,21,23; 19:1,22,28; 24:2; 25:23; 26:20-23,28; Ec 7:22; 10:11,20; Isa 6:5; 32:6,7; Jer 20:10; Mt 5:22,37; 12:34-37; Ac 23:5;

Across the New Testament23 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 661 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch The Epistle of Barnabas Clement of Rome
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 3.101c. AD 40

διὰ τοῦτο Μωυσῆν ἀνακέκληκε καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεός.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 5.349c. AD 75–95

καὶ τοῦ θεοῦ φθεγξαμένου πάλιν ἀκούσας ἠξίου λαλεῖν ἐπὶ τοῖς χρωμένοις·

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.4c. AD 100

πεπεισμένος οὖν τοῦτο καὶ συνειδὼς ἐμαυτῷ, ὅτι ἐν ὑμῖν λαλήσας πολλὰ ἐπίσταμαι, ὅτι ἐμοὶ συνώδευσεν ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης κύριος, καὶ πάντως ἀναγκάζομαι κἀγὼ εἰς τοῦτο, ἀγαπᾶν ὑμᾶς ὑπὲρ τὴν ψυχήν μου, ὅτι μεγάλη πίστις καὶ ἀγάπη ἐγκατοικεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν ἐπ’…

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 6th c. AD 4th c. AD 7th c. AD 3rd c. AD
BGU 3 822ArsinoitesAD 105

ἀπαιτεῖς τὴν ἐνμένουσαν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ σου τὸ ἐνοίκιον. ἵνα εὕρωμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς εὔλογον λαλῆσαι αὐτῇ, γράψον Κουπανηοῦτι ἐπιστολήν, προστάξας, ἵνα εὕρῃ εὔλογον πρὸς αὐτὴν λαλῆσαι. θερμῶς ἀσπάζεταί σε

P.Mil.Vogl. 1 24Tebtynis (Arsinoites)AD 117

περὶ ἀργυρωματίων σὺν Κέρτῳ. εὔχομαί σε ἰσχύειν. περὶ Πτολλαρίωνος ἡ μήτηρ μέμφεται. οὐκ ἐμοὶ λαλεῖ, ἀλλὰ καὶ φεύγει με ἐὰν ἴδῃ, ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐμοῖς ἀπομέμφεται αὐτόν. ἐγὼ ἐπιτιμῶ Πτολλαρίωνι·

P.Wisc. 2 73OxyrhynchitesAD 122–AD 123

περὶ τῶν ὀσπριδίων. περὶ τούτου οὐδὲν τετέλεσται. τὴν γὰρ ἀτιμίαν Θέων σοι κατʼ ὄψιν λαλήσει. ταχέως οὖν σπεῦσον, ὡς ἔγραψας, πρὸς ἡμᾶς γενέσθαι. ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ ἐν οἴκωι πάντες.

For the [one] speaking in a tongue he should pray that he may interpret.
γλώσσῃglōssa in a tongue G1100 Noun · dative · singular · feminine
50× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 1 Corinthians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
The tongue refers to the organ of speech, as seen in Mark 7:33 and 35. It can also mean a language, such as in Acts 2:11. The Bible talks about the tongue as a powerful tool for communication and expression.
Amplified meaning
a language, the organ of speech
Tyndale gloss
tongue
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

γλῶσσα refers primarily to the tongue as the organ of speech, but it also denotes language and, in some contexts, a group of people defined by their language. The New Testament uses it in various ways, including references to speaking in tongues (Acts 2:11) and the metaphorical use of the tongue in discussions of speech and communication. Notably, it appears in contexts related to spiritual gifts and the expression of praise.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

γλῶσσα, -ης, ἡ,

[in LXX chiefly for לָשׁוֹן ;]

the tongue, as the organ of speech: Mk 7:33, 35 Lk 1:64 16:24, Ac 2:26 (LXX), Ro 3:13 (LXX) 14:11 (LXX), I Co 14:9, Phl 2:11, Ja 1:26 3:5, 6, 8, I Pe 3:10 (LXX), I Jo 3:18, Re 16:10; of a tongue-like object, Ac 2:3.

a tongue, language: Ac 2:11; joined with φυλή, λαός, ἔθνος, freq. in pl., Re 5:9

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

γλῶσσα, -ns, ἡ, [fr. Hom. down], the tongue ; 1. the tongue, a member of the body, the organ of speech: Mk. vii. 88, 35; Lk. i. 64; xvi. 24; 1 Co. xiv. 9; Jas. i. 26; iii. 5, 6, 8; 1 Pet. iii 10; 1 Jn. iii. 18; [Rev. xvi. 10]. By a poetical and rhetorical usage, esp. Hebraistic, that member of the body which is chiefly engaged in some act has ascribed to it what belongs to the man; the tongue is so used in Acts ii. 26 (Πγαλλιάσατο ἡ γλῶσσά pov); Ro. iii. 13; xiv.11; Phil.ii. 11 (the tongue of every man) ; of the little tongue-like flames symbolizing the gift of foreign tongues, in Acts ii. 3. 2. a tongue, i. 6. the language used by a particular people in distinction from that of other nations: Acts ii. 11; hencein later Jewish usage (Is. Ixvi. 18; Dan. iii. 4; v. 19 Theod.; vi. 25; vii. 14 Theod.; Jud. iii. 8) joined with φυλή, λαός, ἔθνος, it serves to designate people of various…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

γλῶσσα. Most of the occurrences of this noun, which retains both form and meaning in MGr, need no particular comment. P Oxy I. 138 (A.D. 183 or 215) saefe, the monthly meat bill of a cook, tells us that ‘*‘tongue”’ was a favourite article of diet ; so also the numerous passages in inscrr. where in the ritual of sacrifice the victim’s tongue is mentioned as a special perquisite. The word figures prominently in magical documents. P Lond 1245} (iv/v A.p.) (=I. p. 122) βάλλε εἰς αὐτὸ γλῶσσαν βαθράκου shows whe frog’s tongue playing the same part as ‘‘ tongue of dog” in the witches’ spell in Macbeth: so also τό. 46°84 (iv/a.p.) (=I. p. 74). There are niany curses which ‘*‘ hind” the tongue of their object : thus Syd/ $08 (Corcyra) Σιλανοῦ τὸν νόον kal τὰν γλῶσσαν τουτεῖ KaTaypadw—Silanus himself and three witnesses who enabled him to win a suit are cursed with this leaden tablet in mind and…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

γλῶσσα (glōssa) — tongue.

γλῶσσα,

Ionic dialect γλάσσα, [Refs 3rd c.BC+], Attic dialect γλῶττα, ης, ἡ, tongue, [Refs 8th c.BC+]

__b γ. λάρυγγος, ={γλωττίς}, larynx, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

2. tongue, as the organ of speech, γλώσσης χάριν through love of talking, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; γλώσσῃ δεινός, θρασύς, [Refs 5th c.BC+] by frankness of speech, [Refs 6th c.BC+], of fraud opposed to violence, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also, by word of mouth, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ γλώσσης ἄπο, i.e. our words, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπὸ γ. φράσω by heart, opposed to γράμμασιν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐκ ἀπὸ γλώσσης not from mere word of mouth, but after full argument, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μὴ διὰ γλώσσης without using the tongue, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —phrases: πᾶσαν γλῶτταν βασάνιζε try every art of tongue, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πᾶσαν ἱέναι γλῶσσαν let loose one's whole tongue, speak…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

γλῶσσα

glossa

of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language

(specially, one naturally unacquired):--tongue.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

γλῶσσα, ης, ἡ

n.f.

the tongue, a language, nation

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

γλῶσσα glōssa 50x

the tongue, Mk. 7:33, 35, et al.; meton. speech, talk, 1 Jn. 3:18; a tongue, language, Acts 2:11; 1 Cor. 13:1, et al.; meton. a language not proper to a speaker, a gift or faculty of such language, Mk. 16:17; 1 Cor. 14:13, 14, 26, et al.; from Hebrew, a nation, as defined by its language, Rev. 5:9, et al.; lit. a tongue-shaped flail, Acts 2:3

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

γλῶσσα deriv. uncertain the tongue, Hom., etc.

the tongue, as the organ of speech, γλώσσης χάριν through love of talking, Hes., Aesch.; ἀπὸ γλώσσης by word of mouth, Hdt., Thuc.; οὐκ ἀπὸ γλώσσης not by word of mouth, not from mere hearsay, Aesch.; so, οὐ κατὰ γλῶσσαν Soph.; ἱέναι γλῶσσαν to let loose one's tongue, speak without restraint, id. Soph.; pl., κερτομίοις γλώσσαις, i.e. with blasphemies, id. Soph.:—for βοῦς ἐπὶ γλώσσηι, v. βοῦς.

a tongue, language, Hom., Hdt., etc.

the tongue or mouthpiece of a pipe, Aeschin.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Noun-DSF — Noun · dative · singular · feminine
dative — to, for, with — the one it is done to or by.
Agrees with anything else marked singular feminine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

N-DSF Part of Speech: Noun Case: Dative Number: Singular Gender: Feminine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tung: Almost invariably for either lashon, or glossa the latter word with the cognates heteroglossos, "of strange tongues" (1Co 14:21), glossodes, "talkative," English Versions of the Bible "full of tongue" (Sirach 8:3; 9:18), glossotomeo, "to cut out the tongue" (2 Macc 7:4), diglossos, "double-tongued" (Sirach 5:9; 28:13). In 1Ti 3:8, however, "double-tongued" is for dilogos, literally, "two-worded." Where "tongue" in the King James Version translates dialektos (Ac 1:19; 2:8; 21:40; 22:2; 26:14), the Revised Version (British and American) has "language," while for the King James Version "in the Hebrew tongue" in Joh 5:2; Re…

→ Language Ge 10:5,20; Isa 66:18; Re 7:9

→ Confusion of Ge 11:1-9

→ Gift of Ac 2:1-18,33; 10:46; 19:6; 1Co 12:10,28,30; 14

→ Loquacious Pr 10:8,19

→ Restrained by wisdom Pr 17:27; 21:23; Ec 3:7

→ Hasty Pr 29:20

→ An evil

See SPEAKING, EVIL

→ See SLANDER

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
50%tongues
tongues50% · 25×tongue40% · 20×a tongue10% · 5×

50 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 3 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial50%subject30%object18%predicate2%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 50 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
Article the
καίand, even, also,ἅπτωI touch or handlδεσμόςa bond, chain
λαλέωI speak, say
Article theαὐτόςγάρfor
καίand, even, also, nam
φυλήa tribe, raceλαόςa people, the crἔθνοςa race, people,
πᾶςall, the whole, ever
καίand, even, also,μήNeg
γένοςoffspring, family, r
ἕτεροςanother, differeκυβέρνησιςgoverning, gover
γλῶσσαin a tongue50×
what comes after →
καίand, even, also, nam
λαόςa people, the crἔθνοςa race, people, μεγαλύνωI enlarge, magni
αὐτός
καίand, even, also,δολιόωI act deceitfullἐκ
λαλέωI speak, say
καινόςfresh, newμήNegτίςIrg
Article the
μεγαλεῖοςgrand, magnificeἄνθρωποςa man, one of thπνεῦμαwind, breath, sp
ἐγώ
ὅτιthat, since, becἔτιstill, yet, even

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceγλῶσσα · 50× in the New Testament
1 Corinthians Revelation Acts James Mark Luke Romans 1 John 1 Peter Philippians
Across the New Testament10 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 69 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria Clement of Rome The Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 104c. AD 40

ἑπτὰ δὲ νοῦν καὶ γλῶσσαν ἐν ἑβδομάσιν μέγ’ ἄριστος ὀκτώ τ’, ἀμφοτέρων τέσσαρα καὶ δέκ’ ἔτη·

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 2.108c. AD 75–95

ταῦτα δʼ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἀλλήλους οὐχ ἡγούμενοι τὸν Ἰώσηπον γλώσσης τῆς αὐτῶν συνιέναι.

Clement of RomeFirst Clement 15.4c. AD 96

καὶ πάλιν λέγει: Ἠγάπησαν αὐτὸν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῶν ἐψεύσαντο αὐτόν, ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῖα μετ̓ αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ αὐτοῦ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
6th c. AD 3rd c. AD 3rd c. BC 4th c. AD
P.Petr. Cahier 69Arsinoites261 BC–237 BC

Μενεμάχωι ὅτι οὐκ ἐγδείρας ἀποστέλλει πρὸς σὲ αὐτούς. τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ ὅσα κατὰ τὴν γλῶσσαν παρακαλεῖν ἐκέλευέν σε κ … εἶναι πρὸς τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς παρὰ σοὶ εὐτονώτερον

P.Oxy. 1 108OxyrhynchosAD 215

rColumn 1 Θὼθ δ κδ ἔτους, κρέως μναῖ δ, ἄκρα β, γλῶσσα μία, ῥυγχίον α. ϛ, γλωσσοπωγώνιον. ια, κρέως μναῖ β, γλῶσσα μία, νεφρία β. ιβ,

SB 5 7872AD 306–AD 337

θῆναι … … ου γλωσση … … διὰ20 στόματος … … ἐν καμίνῳ … … ἐγκώμια … ι

For the [one] speaking in a tongue he should pray that he may interpret.
προσευχέσθωproseuchomai he should pray G4336 Verb · present · no voice stated · imperative · third person · singular
86× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 1 Corinthians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To pray to God, as Jesus did in Matthew 6:5-7 and Luke 1:10, or to worship Him
Amplified meaning
to worship, to ask God
Tyndale gloss
to pray
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

προσεύχομαι is a Greek verb meaning to pray, specifically directed towards God or gods. It is built from the roots meaning 'towards' and 'to vow.' The New Testament frequently uses this term in various contexts, including supplication and worship, as seen in verses like Matthew 6:5-7 and James 5:13. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

προσ-εύχομαι,

[in LXX chiefly for פלל hith.;]

to pray (always of prayer to God, or in cl., to gods): absol., Mt 6:5-7, 9 14:23 19:13 26:36, 39, 41, 44, Mk 1:35 6:46 11:24, 25 13:33 (WH, R, txt., om.) Mk 14:32, 38, 39, Lk 1:10 3:21 5:16 6:12 9:18, 28, 29 11:1, 2 18:1, 10 22:44 (WH, R, mg., om.), Ac 1:24 6:6 9:11, 40 10:9, 30 11:5 12:12 13:3 14:23 16:25 20:36 21:5 22:17 28:8, I Co 11:4, 5 14:14, I Th 5:17, I Ti 2:8, Ja 5:13, 18; seq. λέγων, Read the full entry →

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

προσ-εύχομαι; depon. mid.; impf. προσηυχόμην ; fut. προσεύξομαι; 1 aor. mpoonv&duny; [on the augm. see WH. App. p. 162; ef. Τὰ Proleg. p. 121]; fr. Aeschyl. and Hat. down ; Sept. for Sbann; to offer prayers, to pray, (everywhere of prayers to the gods, or to God [cf. δέησις, fin.]): absol., Mt. vi. 5-7, 9; xiv. 23; xxvi. 36,39, 44; Mk. i. 35; vi.46; xi. 24 sq.; xiii. 33 [ΠΤ WH om. Tr br. the el.]; xiv. [32], 39; Lk. i. 10; iii. 21; v.16; vi. 12; ix. 18, 28 sq-; xi. 1.54. : xviii. 1, 10; xxii. 44 [Τὸ br. WH reject the pass.]; Acts i. 24; vi. 6; ix 11. 40. χ 9.530. Kio ois xii. 12; xiii. 3; xiv. 23; xvi. 25; xx. 86; χχὶ. 5; xxii. 17; xxviii. 8; 1 Co. xi. 4 sq.3 xiv.14; 1 Th.v.17; 1 Tim. ii. 8; Jas. v. 13,18; foll. by λέγων and direct disc. containing the words of the prayer, Mt. xxvi. 39, 42; Lk. xxii.41; προσεύχ- with a dat. indicating the manner or instrument, 1 Co. xi.5 [W. $31, 7d.]…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

προσεύχομαι. An interesting ex. of this verb, which is always used of prayer to the gods or to God, is afforded by P Cairo Zen 59034 (B.C. 257). A certain Zoilos had been ordered by the god Sarapis to inform a high State official Apollonios that a temple should be erected to him. Zoilos neglected the charge and in consequence was thrown into a serious illness κινδυνεῦσαί [pe. But on praying to the god and promising to do his bidding he was healed—* προσευξάμενος δὲ] αὐ[τῶι, ἐ]άμ pe] ὑγιάσηι, διότι ὑπομενῶ τὴν ληιτοϊῃυρ)γίαν καὶ ποιή[σει]ν τὸ ὑφ᾽ αὑτοῦ προστασσόμενον (supply ὑγιάσθην). [An important commentary on the whole letter is supplied by Deissmann Zxf. VIII. xxiv. p. 420ff.J. Cf. Pretsigke 3740 (i/a.b.) ΓἌττηος προσεύχετα[ι] τοῖς ᾿Αβύτο “νὰ θεοῖς, ἵνα ὑγιαίνῃ. See also 5.2.…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

προσεύχομαι (proseuchomai) — to pray.

προσεύχομαι,

future -ξομαι[Refs 4th c.BC+]:—offer prayers or vows, θεοῖς [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. with accusative, π. τὸν θεόν address him in prayer, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

3. absolutely, offer prayers, worship, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. γλώσσῃ, πνεύματι, νοΐ, [NT]

II. with accusative of things, pray for a thing, νίκην πολέμου [Refs 5th c.BC+]: c.infinitive, ἕλκειν τὸ βέδυ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ζῆσαι προσεύχου pray for life, [Refs] with infinitive, [NT]; π. ἵνα.., περί τινων ὅπως, [NT]

Strong's Greek Dictionary

προσεύχομαι

proseuchomai

from 4314 and 2172; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:--pray (X

earnestly, for), make prayer.

see GREEK for 4314

see GREEK for 2172

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

προσεύχομαι

v.

I pray, pray for

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

προσεύχομαι proseuchomai 85x

to pray, offer prayer, Mt. 5:44; 6:5, 6

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

προσεύχομαι fut. ξομαι Dep.:

to offer prayers or vows, Aesch., Eur., etc.

c. acc., πρ. τὸν θεόν to address him in prayer, Ar.

absol. to offer prayers, to worship, Hdt., Aesch., etc.

πρ. τι to pray for a thing, Xen.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PNM-3S — Verb · present · no voice stated · imperative · third person · singular
present no voice stated imperative — an action in progress.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PNM-3S Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: middle or passive depoNent Mood: iMperative Person: third Number: Singular

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
28%praying
praying28% · 24×do pray17% · 15×pray13% · 11×having prayed8% · 7×he prayed8% · 7×he was praying5% · 4×you may pray3% · 3×he should pray2% · 2×other renderings16% · 14×

87 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 20 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
verb86%adverbial14%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 86 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
γρηγορέωI am awake, am vσύαὐτός
σύ
θύραa door, opportunκαταράομαιI curseπερί
αὐτός
πρόσωπονthe face, counteεἰμίI am, existλέγωI say, speak
ὅτανwhen, whensoever
καίand, even, also,δέbut, on the otheαὐτός
ἀπέρχομαιI come or go away fr
πάλινagain, further, δεύτερος& Adv
προσεύχομαιhe should pray86×
what comes after →
Article the
δέbut, on the otheπατήρfather, Father, αὐτός
καίand, even, also, nam
αἰτέωI ask, request, λέγωI say, speakεἰμίI am, exist
ἵναin order that, so th
μήNegεἰCondδιερμηνεύωI translate, int
περί
ἐγώArticle theαὐτός
δέbut, on the other ha
ἵναin order that, sμήNegκαίand, even, also,

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceπροσεύχομαι · 86× in the New Testament
Luke Acts Matthew Mark 1 Corinthians James Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy Ephesians Hebrews
Across the New Testament15 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 44 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Ignatius of Antioch The Shepherd of Hermas The Didache Philo of Alexandria Josephus
Philo of AlexandriaOn Dreams 2.139c. AD 40

Ἆρ’ οὖν, φησίν, ἐλεύσομαι μὲν ὁ ὀρθὸς λόγος, ἐγώ, ἀφίξεται δὲ καὶ ἡ τοῦ φιλομαθοῦς θιάσου [ψυχὴ] μήτηρ ὁμοῦ καὶ τροφός, ἀρετῶσα παιδεία, συντενοῦσι δὲ καὶ οἱ ἀμφοτέρων ἡμῶν ἔγγονοι καὶ στάντες ἀντικρὺς οὕτω κατὰ στοῖχον ἐν κόσμῳ τὰς χεῖρας ἐξάραντες…

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 10.252c. AD 75–95

ὁρῶντες οὖν τὸν Δανίηλον τρὶς τῆς ἡμέρας προσευχόμενον τῷ θεῷ πρόφασιν ἔγνωσαν εὑρηκέναι, διʼ ἧς ἀπολέσουσιν αὐτόν.

Clement of RomeSecond Clement 16.4c. AD 96

καλὸν οὖν ἐλεημοσύνη ὡς μετάνοια ἁμαρτίας: κρείσσων νηστεία προσευχῆς, ἐλεημοσύνη δὲ ἀμφοτέρων: ἀγάπη δὲ καλύπτει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν, προσευχὴ δὲ ἐκ καλῆς συνειδήσεως ἐκ θανάτου ῥύεται.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
4th c. AD 3rd c. BC undated
P.Lond. 7 2046Philadelphia (Arsinoites)276 BC–227 BC

μόνος, ἀλλὰ καὶ οἰκείους ἔχω ἵνα καὶ περὶ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ τῆς σῆς ὑγιείας προσεύχωμαι. γέγραφα οὖν σοι ἵνα μὴ ἀλλότριος ἐμπέσηι, ἀλλʼ ἐγώ σοι ὑπάρχω. εὐτύχει.

P.Lond. 6 1926AD 326–AD 375

ἴασιν λαμβάνω. δέομαι τῷ θεῷ δέομαι καὶ σοι μνήσθητί μου ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ σου προσευχῇ. εἰ καὶ ἐν σώματι οὐκ ἧκα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας σου ἐν πνεύματι ἧκα πρὸς

P.Neph. 12Omboi ?AD 301–AD 400

Σεραπίωνα ἀ … … Ταϩμουρού· ἀσπάζομαι Καπίτωνα· ἀσπάζομαι ὑμᾶς πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου, ὅπως προσεύχησθε περὶ ἐμοῦ. γράφω σοι, Νεφερῶς, προνοήσῃς τὸ μικρὸν … … ον γῆς, ὡς ἔρχομαι,

For the [one] speaking in a tongue he should pray that he may interpret.
ἵναhina that G2443 Conjunction
669× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 1 Corinthians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word means 'in order that' or 'to', showing purpose or result, as seen in Acts 19:4 and Romans 11:31. It's used to express a goal or outcome. In Ephesians 1:17, it's used to describe a purpose.
Tyndale gloss
in order that/to
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἵνα is primarily a conjunction meaning 'in order that' or 'that,' indicating purpose or intention. It can also function as an adverb of place, meaning 'where' or 'whither.' In the New Testament, it appears in various contexts, often introducing clauses that express purpose, such as in Matthew 1:22. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings or usages.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἵνα,

adverb (poët., Hom., al.),

of place, where, whither.

of circumstance, when.

Conjunction,

prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Ac 19:4, Ro 11:31 (?), Ga 2:10, al.);

c. optat. (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph 1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; v. Burton, § 225, Rem., 2);

c. subjc.: after a pres., Mk 4:21, Lk 6:34, Jo 3:15, Ac 2:25,

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἵνα, I. an adv. of Place. fr. Hom. down, esp. in the poets; a. where; in what place. b. to what place; whither. Of the former signification C. F. A. Fritzsche (on Mt. p. 836; differently in Fritzschiorum Opusce. p. 186 sqq-.) thought he had found two examples in bibl. Greek, and H. A. W. Meyer agrees with him. The first viz. iva μὴ φυσιοῦσθε, 1 Co. iv. 6, they explain thus: where (i. e. in which state of things viz. when ye have leatned from my example to think humbly of yourselves) the one is not exalted to the other’s disadvantage; the second, iva αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε, Gal. iv. 17, thus: where ye zealously court them; but see II. 1 d. below. “ iva I. a final Conjunction (for from local direction, indicated by the adverb, the transition was easy te mental direction or intention) denoting pur pose and end: to the intent that; to the end that, in order that; ἵνα pn, that not, lest; it is used…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἵνα (hina) — in order that/to.

ἵνα,

adverb,

I. of Place,

I.1. in that place, there, once in [Refs 8th c.BC+]

I.2. elsewhere relative, in which place, where,[Refs 8th c.BC+]: rarely in Attic dialect Prose, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἵ. ἡ Νίκη (i.e. ἐστίν) [Refs 8th c.BC+] [same place]; ἵν᾽ ἄν with subjunctive, wherever, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; as indirect interrogative, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.2. b after [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἔμαθε ἵ. ἦν κακοῦ in what a calamity, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἵν᾽ ἕσταμεν χρείας[Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.2. c with Verbs of motion, whither, [Refs 8th c.BC+]

II. of circumstance, γάμος.., ἵ. χρή at which, when, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἵ. μὲν ἐξῆν αὐτοῖς.., ἐνταῦθα.. when it was in their power, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.2. ={ἐάν}, uncertain in [Refs 8th c.BC+]

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἵνα

hina

probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the

demonstrative idea; compare 3588); in order that (denoting the purpose

or the result):--albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as,

(so) that, (for) to. Compare 3363.

see GREEK for 1438

see GREEK for 3588

see GREEK for 3363

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἵνα

Cj.

in order that, so that

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἵνα hina 663x

that, in order that, Mt. 19:13; Mk. 1:38; Jn. 1:22; 3:15; 17:1; ἵνα μή, that not, lest, Mt. 7:1; in NT equivalent to ὥστε, so that, so as that, Jn. 9:2; also, marking a simple circumstance, the circumstance that, Mt. 10:25; Jn. 4:34; 6:29; 1 Jn. 4:17; 5:3

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἵνα Adverb,

of Place,

demonstr. in that place, there, only in Il. 10. 127.

relat., = ὅπου, in which place, where, Hdt., etc.;—so, ἵνα τε Il.; ἵνα περ Hom.:—c. gen., ἵνα γῆς in whatever part of the land, Hdt.; ἔμαθε ἵνα ἦν κακοῦ in what a calamity, id. Hdt.; οὐχ ὁρᾷς ἵν᾽ εἶ κακοῦ Soph.

= ὅποι, with Verbs of motion, whither, Od.; ὁρᾷς ἵν᾽ ἥκεις Soph.

of circumstance, when, at which, Od.

Final Conjunction, = ὅπως, that, in order that, Lat. ut, Hom.:

with subj.,

after principal tenses of ind., id. Hom., etc.

after historical tenses, in similes, where the aor. refers to any possible time, Od.

after opt. and ἄν, ἔδωκε μένος, ἵνα γένοιτο she gave him vigour, that he might become, Il.

with opt., after historical tenses, Hom., etc.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Conjunction
conjunction — it joins clauses, and never changes form.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

CONJ CONJunction or conjunctive particle

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
56%that
that56% · 382×so that40% · 271×other renderings4% · 24×

677 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 10 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial8%object3%subject3%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 669 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
αὐτός
παρακαλέωI summon, entreaἐπιτιμάωI rebuke, chide,δίδωμιI offer, give
σύ
λαλέωI speak, sayδιάδίδωμιI offer, give
ἐγώ
δίδωμιI offer, giveὑπέρπερί
ἀλλάbut, except
αὐτόςκόσμοςthe world, univeἐγώ
εἰμίI am, exist
τίςIrgἐγώἱκανόςsufficient, wort
ἵναthat669×
what comes after →
μήNeg
Article theτὶςεἰς
Article the
γραφήa writing, passaχαράjoy, gladnessλόγοςa word, speech,
καίand, even, also, nam
Article theσύαὐτός
ἐν
αὐτόςἐγώὅς
εἰμίI am, exist
μετάεἷςoneἅγιοςset apart, holy,

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἵνα · 669× in the New Testament
John Mark 1 Corinthians Luke 2 Corinthians Revelation Matthew Romans Ephesians Hebrews 1 John Acts

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament26 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 300 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 15c. AD 40

ἑκάστῃ δὲ τῶν ἡμερῶν ἀπένειμεν ἔνια τῶν τοῦ παντὸς τμημάτων τὴν πρώτην ὑπεξελόμενος, ἣν αὐτὸς οὐδὲ πρώτην, ἵνα μὴ ταῖς ἄλλαις συγκαταριθμῆται, καλεῖ, μίαν δ’ ὀνομάσας ὀνόματι εὐθυβόλῳ προσαγορεύει, τὴν μονάδος φύσιν καὶ πρόσρησιν ἐνιδών τε καὶ…

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.71c. AD 75–95

ἵνα καὶ τῆς πλινθίνης ἀφανισθείσης ὑπὸ τῆς ἐπομβρίας ἡ λιθίνη μείνασα παράσχῃ μαθεῖν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ ἐγγεγραμμένα δηλοῦσα καὶ πλινθίνην ὑπʼ αὐτῶν ἀνατεθῆναι.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.5c. AD 100

λογισάμενος οὖν τοῦτο, ὅτι ἐὰν μελήσῃ μοι περὶ ὑμῶν τοῦ μέρος τι μεταδοῦναι ἀφ̓ οὗ ἔλαβον, ὅτι ἔσται μοι τοιούτοις πνεύμασιν ὑπηρετήσαντι εἰς μισθόν, ἐσπούδασα κατὰ μικρὸν ὑμῖν πέμπειν, ἵνα μετὰ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν τελείαν ἔχητε τὴν γνῶσιν.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. BC 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 6th c. AD
P.Edg. $1Alexandria259 BC–257 BC

καὶ θεῶν μὴ ὀκνήσῃς διελθὼν εἰς ἐμπόριον καὶ ἀγοράσας, οὐθὲν γὰρ ἄλλο ἡμᾶς ἐπικωλύει, ἵνα μὴ ὑστερήσωμεν τῆς ἐργασίας. τὰς δὲ τιμὰς τούτων λαβὲ παρὰ Ἀπολλοφάνους. τὸ γύναιον ἐπίτοκον

vestiges … ἵνα μηθὲν ἐν τούτοις ἀγνοηθῆι … … Ἑρμίαι τῶν διαδόχων καὶ ἐπιμελητῆι, παρὰ Δρύτωνος τοῦ

P.Bour. 11Pathyris89 BC

ἕκαστος τῶν παρὰ σοὶ σιτοποιησάμενος πυροῦ ἀρτάβην μίαν ἐν ἑτοίμωι ἔσται αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄρτος, ἵνα δὲ καὶ κριθὴ ὑπάρξηι ἐπιμε … … ηγησαιἐμμέτρως αἴτησαιἐμμε … … τησαι ἔρρωσο ἔτους

For the [one] speaking in a tongue he should pray that he may interpret.
διερμηνεύῃ.diermēneuō he may interpret. G1329 Verb · present · active · subjunctive · third person · singular
6× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 1 Corinthians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To interpret means to explain or translate something thoroughly. In the Bible, it is used in Luke 24:27 and 1 Corinthians 12:30 to describe explaining scripture or a message.
Amplified meaning
to explain, to translate thoroughly
Tyndale gloss
to interpret
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

διερμηνεύω is built from the prefix δι- and the root ερμηνεύω, meaning to interpret or explain thoroughly. It covers the meanings of interpreting, expounding, and translating, with usage in the New Testament found in Luke 24:27, Acts 9:36, and 1 Corinthians 12:30, 14:5, 13, 27. The lexicons agree on its core meanings without significant disagreement.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

**† δι-ερμηνεύω

[in LXX: II Mac 1:36 * ;]

intensive of ἐρμηνεύω, to interpret;

to explain, expound: c. acc, Lk 24:27; absol., I Co 12:30 14:5, 13, 27;

to translate: Ac 9:36.†

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

δι-ερμηνεύω ; impf. διηρμήνευον and (without augm. cf. B. 34 (30)) διερμήνευον (Lk. xxiv. 27 L Tr mrg.); 1 aor. (also without augm.; so “all early Mss.” Hort) διερpnvevoa (Lk. 1. c. T Tr txt. WH); [pres. pass. διερμηνεύοpa]; to interpret [ διά intensifying by marking transition, (cf. Germ. verdeutlichen); Win. De verb. comp. ete. Pt. v. p- 10sq.]; 1. to unfold the meaning of what is said, explain, expound : ri, Lk. xxiv. 27; absolutely, 1 Co. xii. SOs χαν ὅΣ 1.5.2. 2. to translate into one’s native language: Acts ix. 36, (2 Mace. i. 36; Polyb. 3, 22, 3, and several times in Philo [ef. Siegfried, Glossar. Phil. 8. v. ]).

Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

διερμηνεύω. With this verb, which is found six times in the NT practically =the szplex, we may compare P Tor I. 1-4 (B.C. 116) (= Chrest II. p. 35) καθ᾽ ἃ παρέκειτο ἀντίγραφα συγγραφῶν Αἰγυπτίων διηρμηνευμένων δ᾽ Εἰλληνιστί. Arvisteas 15 ἣν (sc. νομοθεσίαν) ἡμεῖς οὐ μόνον μεταγράψαι ἐπινοοῦμεν ἀλλὰ καὶ διερμηνεῦσαι: also 308, 310. A phrase almost identical with that cited from P Tor may be See seen in P Tebt I. 1641? —sce s.v. μεθερμηνεύω.

Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

διερμηνεύω (diermēneuō) — to interpret.

διερμην-εύω,

interpret, expound, [NT+4th c.BC+]; translate, [Refs]:—passive, [LXX+1st c.AD+]

Strong's Greek Dictionary

διερμηνεύω

diermeneuo

from 1223 and 2059; to explain thoroughly, by implication, to

translate:--expound, interpret(-ation).

see GREEK for 1223

see GREEK for 2059

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

διερμηνεύω

v.

I translate, interpret, explain

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

διερμηνεύω diermēneuō 6x

to explain, interpret, translate, Lk. 24:27; Acts 9:36; 1 Cor. 14:5, 13, 27; to be able to interpret, 1 Cor. 12:30*

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

διερμηνεύω fut. σω to interpret, expound, NTest.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PAS-3S — Verb · present · active · subjunctive · third person · singular
present active subjunctive — an action in progress.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PAS-3S Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Active Mood: Subjunctive Person: third Number: Singular

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
17%being translated
being translated17% · 1×do interpret?17% · 1×he shall interpret17% · 1×he may interpret17% · 1×should interpret17% · 1×he interpreted17% · 1×

6 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 6 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
verb83%adverbial17%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 6 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
προφήτηςa prophet, poet
Article the
ὅς
ΤαβιθάProp
πᾶςall, the whole, ever
μήNeg
μήNeg
εἰCond
ἵναin order that, so th
προσεύχομαιI pray, pray for
διερμηνεύωhe may interpret.
what comes after →
αὐτός
ἐν
λέγωI say, speak
ΔορκάςDorcas
ἵναin order that, so th
Article the

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceδιερμηνεύω · 6× in the New Testament
1 Corinthians Acts Luke
Across the New Testament3 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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