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Titus 2:9 — Word Study

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N1904Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

BSAServantsdoulos [servants, bondslaves] to [their] ownidios [private, personal] mastersdespotēs [lords, owners] are to be subject,hupotassō [be in subjection, obey] inen everythingpas [all things, every matter] well-pleasingeuarestos [fully agreeable, acceptable] to be,eimi not [by no means] gainsaying,antilegō [disputing, gainsaying, contradicting]

Word
Listen & take awayTitus 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 9 is in this chapter.
Say the word Each Greek word carries its transliteration (antilegō) — no per-word recordings of the Greek exist to link to.
Take it away
Titus 2:9quick helps
In a sentencePaul instructs slaves to submit to their own masters, emphasizing obedience and a pleasing demeanor.
Who is speakingThe Apostle Paul, addressing the behavior expected of slaves.
Where we areIn a section of Titus that discusses proper conduct within various relationships.
The hard wordΔούλους
Take awaySubmission is not just compliance; it is about being agreeable and not argumentative.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbὑποτάσσω 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 — Titus 2:9

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 — Instructions for Slavesgenerated

8and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed to have nothing bad to say about us.
9Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior.
11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone.

Titus 2:9 provides guidance for slaves regarding their relationship with their masters. Paul emphasizes that they should submit in all things, aiming to please their masters without being argumentative. This instruction reflects the broader theme of Christian conduct in various social roles, similar to teachings found in Ephesians 6:5 and Colossians 3:22.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ephesians 6:5–8Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
2Colossians 3:22–25Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
31 Timothy 6:1–2All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
41 Peter 2:18–25Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.
5Ephesians 5:24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

to pleaseEphesians 5:24

The Key Word Δούλους, doulosgenerated

The term δοῦλος (doulos) refers to a slave or servant, indicating a person in a state of subjection. It is used throughout the New Testament to describe both literal servitude and metaphorical senses of spiritual bondage, as seen in Romans 6:19 and John 8:34.

In this context, it highlights the expected obedience of slaves to their masters, suggesting a relationship of authority and submission that was common in the ancient world.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The Berean Standard Bible translates the verse as 'Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything,' which is echoed in the KJV and ASV with slight variations.

Where they differ is in the rendering of Δούλους: the BSB uses 'slaves' while the KJV and others prefer 'servants'. Additionally, the phrase 'are to be subject' is rendered differently across versions, with some opting for 'obey'.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is ὑποτάσσεσθαι, to be subject, which governs the structure. It is complemented by a noun phrase indicating the subject Δούλους and an adverbial phrase describing the manner of submission.

The sentence structure emphasizes the relationship between the slaves and their masters, with the expected behaviors outlined clearly.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

δοῦλος is used in the Septuagint to translate the Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (ebed), which also means 'slave' or 'servant'. This connection highlights the continuity of the concept of servitude from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

The term appears in various contexts, indicating a range of relationships between masters and their servants, underscoring the cultural norms of the time.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Titus 2:9 tells slaves to submit to their own masters in everything. They should aim to please them and not argue back. This instruction shows how Paul wanted Christians to behave in their roles.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for slaves to submit to their masters?

It means that slaves are expected to obey their masters in all matters, acting in a way that is pleasing and agreeable.

Why does Paul emphasize not being argumentative?

Paul emphasizes this to promote a spirit of cooperation and respect, which reflects well on the Christian faith.

How does this verse relate to modern concepts of work?

While the cultural context is different, the principles of respect, obedience, and a positive attitude toward authority can still apply in today's workplace.

What can we learn from this instruction today?

We learn the importance of fulfilling our responsibilities with a good attitude, which can positively impact our relationships and witness.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I apply the principle of submission in my own relationships?
  2. In what ways can I be more agreeable and less argumentative in my daily interactions?
  3. What does it mean to serve others well in my current role?
  4. How can I reflect the values of my faith in my workplace or community?

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

Early church Fathers comment on this passage to provide insight into the expected conduct of slaves and the implications for Christian living.

JeromeCommentary on Titus c. 347–420
Slaves should be subject to their masters in all things: pleasing, not contradicting, not stealing; but showing all good faith, so as to adorn the doctrine of our Savior God in all things.
Early Church Fathers on Titus 2 →
John ChrysostomHomily on Titus 4 c. 347–407
Ver. 9. "Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things." Dost thou see what he has previously said, "that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed,
Early Church Fathers on Titus 2 →
Augustine of HippoSERMONS 94 354–430
A bishopric necessarily pertains to him who is the head of the household. It is a superintendence of the faith of the members of the household, lest any fall into heresy.
Early Church Fathers on Titus 2 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Titus 2:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

[Exhort] servants to be obedient to their own masters,.... And not others, whether they be believers, or unbelievers, gentle or froward, all their lawful commands ought to be obeyed; [See comments on

Read John Gill on Titus 2 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Servants - `slaves.' To please them well - to be complaisant in everything: to have

Read Robert Jamieson on Titus 2 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters; the apostle directeth as to servants of all sorts, whether bond or free, otherwise than that by covenant they have obliged themselves to men, he willeth they should be obedient to the commands of those who were their legal masters, neither thinking themselves free from them by their Christianity, if their masters were pagans, nor that they had a greater liberty to be saucy with them, or less obedient to them, because they were Christians, and upon that account brethren, . And to please them well in all things; that is, in civil things, wherein alone they were servants. Not answering again; not saucily replying when they were reproved…

Read Matthew Poole on Titus 2 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Ver. 9. Not answering again] Not chatting or thwarting. Servus sit monosyllabus Domino, saith one. Apelles painted a servant with his hands full of tools, to signify his diligence; with broad shoulders to bear wrongs; with hind’ s feet to run swiftly about his business; with the ears of an ass, and his mouth shut with two locks, to signify that he should be swift to hear and slow to speak.

Read John Trapp on Titus 2 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters.—The accurate translation here is bond servants. The words in this and the following verse, it must be remembered, are addressed to “slaves.” With some special reference to the peculiar circumstances of the Church in Crete, St. Paul had been giving general directions to his representative (Titus 2:1-8) respecting instruction and advice he considered it expedient should be given to the varied orders and ages of professing Christians in the island. These directions were arranged with respect to “age” and “sex.” He now turns to the question of the instruction of another large class, among whom were to be found many Christians—“the…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Titus 2 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 9. Exhort servants to be obedient] The apostle refers to those who were slaves, and the property of their masters; even these are exhorted to be obedient ιδιοιςδεσποταις, to their own despots, though they had no right over them on the ground of natural justice. Please them well in all things] They were to endeavour to do this in all things, though they could not hope to succeed in every thing. Not answering again] μηαντιλεγοντας. Not contradicting or gainsaying. This is no part of a servant's duty; a servant is hired to do his master's work, and this his master has a right to appoint.

Read AdamClarke on Titus 2 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

9, 10. The standard of holy living for slaves9. Exhort servants] The verb is supplied from Titus 2:6. The phrases and the necessary limits of Christian counsel to slaves are touched on in notes 1 Timothy 6:1-2 Lewin well observes here ‘at that time slavery was a civil institution, which Christianity without any civil power could not disturb.’ The more special counsel here may have been suggested by some particular cases of insubordination among the restless Cretans. See above on Titus 1:12.The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles gives a still stronger admonition ‘Ye servants shall be in subjection to your masters as to a figure of God in reverence and fear.’to be obedient] As R.V. to be in…

Read Cambridge on Titus 2 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters - See this explained in the notes at Ephesians 6:5, following, and 1 Timothy 6:1-4.

Read Albert Barnes on Titus 2 →

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

Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,

NETBNew English Translation2006

Slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to do what is wanted and not talk back,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying;

RVARevised Version, American1894

Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things ; not answering again;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Let seruants be subiect to their masters, and please them in al things, not answering again,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

bondmen to be subject to their own masters, to make themselves acceptable in everything; not gainsaying;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Servants — to their own masters [are] to be subject, in all things to be well-pleasing, not gainsaying,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Servants [are] to be subject to their own masters, to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Teach slaves to obey their masters in everything, to please them and not argue with them,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Exhort servants to be obedient to their masters, in all things pleasing, not gainsaying:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Tell servants to always obey their masters. They should try to please them and not talk back to them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Servants are to be under the authority of their masters, pleasing them in all things, without argument;

Word by word, the decisions they made

Δούλουςdoulos Servants G1401 2 different renderings
servantsASV BBE DRA FBV KJV LSV NWB RVA WEB YLT
slavesBSB MSB NETB ULB
ὑποτάσσεσθαι,hupotassō are to be subject, G5293 3 different renderings
be subjectDBY LSV NETB YLT
be in subjectionASV RVA WEB
obeyFBV ULB
πᾶσινpas everything G3956 2 different renderings
all thingsASV BBE DRA KJV LSV NWB RVA WEB YLT
everythingBSB DBY MSB NETB ULB
εὐαρέστουςeuarestos well-pleasing G2101 3 different renderings
well pleasingASV BSB LSV MSB RVA WEB YLT
pleasingBBE DRA
acceptableDBY
ἀντιλέγοντας,antilegō gainsaying, G483 2 different renderings
gainsayingASV DBY DRA RVA YLT
contradictingLSV WEB

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.

clauseclausesubjectδούλουςServantsnoun phrase · indirect objectἰδίοιςto their ownδεσπόταιςmastersverbὑποτάσσεσθαιare to be subjectprepositional phrase · adverbialἐνinπᾶσινeverythingclausepredicateεὐαρέστουςwell-pleasinglinking verbεἶναιto beclause · adverbialclauseadverbialμὴnotverbἀντιλέγονταςgainsayingclauseadverbialμὴnotverbνοσφιζομένουςpilferingἀλλὰbutclausenoun phrase · objectπᾶσανallnoun phraseπίστινfidelityἀγαθήνgoodverbἐνδεικνυμένουςshowingclauseἵναso thatclausenoun phrase · objectnoun phraseτὴνtheδιδασκαλίανdoctrinenoun phraseτὴνofnoun phraseτοῦthenoun phrasenoun phraseΣωτῆροςSaviorἡμῶνof usΘεοῦGodverbκοσμῶσινthey may adornprepositional phrase · adverbialἐνinπᾶσινall things

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

Servos dominis suis subditos esse, in omnibus placentes, non contradicentes,

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

ܥܒܕܐ ܠܡܪܝܗܘܢ ܢܫܬܥܒܕܘܢ ܒܟܠܡܕܡ ܘܢܫܬܦܪܘܢ ܘܠܐ ܗܘܘ ܡܥܨܝܢ

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

Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

The standard critical text of the New Testament.

Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

The previous edition, still widely cited.

SBL Greek New Testament2010 · Michael Holmes

Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

The Society of Biblical Literature edition, freely licensed.

Westcott–Hort1881 · Westcott and Hort

Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

The edition that turned scholarship toward the earliest manuscripts.

Tregelles1857–1879 · Samuel Prideaux Tregelles

Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

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

Tyndale House Greek NT2017 · Tyndale House, Cambridge

Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

A recent critical edition following documentary evidence closely.

Byzantine majority text2018 · Robinson–Pierpont

Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

The reading of the majority of surviving manuscripts.

Textus Receptus1550/1894 lineage

Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,

The printed tradition behind the King James Version.

Every witness on this verse all agree
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

Every edition agrees. All 8 printed editions — Nestle-Aland 28, Nestle-Aland 27, SBLGNT, Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Tyndale House 2017, Textus Receptus (KJV), Byzantine majority — carry every word of this verse, in the same order, with no difference that any translator would render differently.


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.

Titus 2:9δοῦλος (II)ServantsServantsδοῦλος (II)ἴδιοςto [their] to [their] ownἴδιοςδεσπότηςmastersmastersδεσπότηςὑποτάσσωare to be sare to be subjeὑποτάσσωἐνininἐνπᾶςeverythingeverythingπᾶςεὐάρεστοςwell-pleasiwell-pleasingεὐάρεστοςειναιto be,to be,ειναιμήnotnotμήἀντιλέγωgainsaying,gainsaying,ἀντιλέγωδέωv. I bindv. I bindδέωὑπόPrep. by, Prep. by, underὑπόεὖAdv well, Adv well, well εὖεἰμίv. I am, ev. I am, existεἰμίἀντίPrep. instPrep. instead oἀντίεἰςPrep. intoPrep. into, in,εἰςἐκPrep. fromPrep. from out,ἐκοὐNeg.prt. nNeg.prt. no, noοὐὑποτάσσωv. I placev. I place undeὑποτάσσωἴδιοςAdj one’s Adj one’s own, ἴδιοςἐλεύθεροςAdj free, Adj free, delivἐλεύθεροςεἴτεCj. and ifCj. and if, wheεἴτεἕκαστοςAdj each, Adj each, everyἕκαστοςδοῦλος (II)Adj. & n.mAdj. & n.m. a mδοῦλος (II)κτίσιςn.f. creatn.f. creation, κτίσιςσυναγωγήn.f. an asn.f. an assemblσυναγωγήἔρημοςAdj desertAdj deserted, dἔρημοςκατοικέωv. I dwellv. I dwell in, κατοικέω
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 Titus 2:9

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.

Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
Δούλουςdoulos Servants G1401 Noun · accusative · plural · masculine
126× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Titus than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a slave or servant, like in Romans 6:19 and Luke 1:38. It describes someone who is subject to another person or is in a state of subjection. This concept is about being under someone's control.
Amplified meaning
servants, bondslaves
Tyndale gloss
slave
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

δοῦλος (doulos) means a slave or servant, often indicating a person in a state of subjection. It can refer to both male and female slaves, with δούλη (doulē) specifically denoting a female slave. The term is used in various contexts in the New Testament, including literal servitude and metaphorical senses of spiritual bondage, as seen in Romans 6:19 and John 8:34.

Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament — θεράπων, δοῦλος, διάκονος, οἰκέτης, ὑπηρέτης from a scan

THE only passage in the N. T. in which θεράπων occurs is Heb. iii. 5: ‘‘ And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant” (ὡς θεράπων). The allusion here to Num. xii. 7 is manifest, where the Septuagint has given θεράπων as its rendering of 12; it has done the same elsewhere (Exod. iv. 10; Deut. iii. 24; Josh. i. 2), yet has not made this its constant rule, frequently rendering it not by θεράπων, but by δοῦλος, out of which latter rendering, no doubt, we have at Rev. xv. 8, the phrase, Μωῦσῆς ὃ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ. It will 1 Lampe: ‘Christus est Vitis vera, ... et qua talis preponi, quin et opponi, potest omnibus aliis qui etiam sub hoe symbolo in scriptis propheticis pinguntur.’ Six) SYNONYUS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 20 not follow that there is no difference between δοῦλος and θεράπων ; nor yet that there may not be occasions when the one word would be far more fitly employed…

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Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

δοῦλος, -η, -ον,

[in LXX, ὁ δ. nearly always for עֶבֶד; ἡ δ. chiefly for שִׁפְחָה ,אָמָה ;]

in bondage to, subject to: Ro 6:19.

As subst., ὁ, ἡ δ., a slave;

fem., ἡ δ., a female slave, bondmaid (Cremer, 702; DB, iii, 215): Lk 1:38, 48, Ac 2:18 (LXX);

masc., ὁ δ., a slave, bondman: Mt 8:9 18:23, al.; opp. to ἐλεύθερος, I Co 7:22 12:13, Ga 3:28, Eph 6:8, Col 3:11, Re 6:15 13:16…

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

δοῦλος, -η, -ον, (derived by most fr. δέω to tie, bind; by some fr. AEAQ to ensnare, capture, [(?) ἃ]. al.; οἵ. Vanitek p. 322]); serving, subject to: παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, Ro. vi. 19. Then substantively, ἡ δούλη a female slave, bondmaid, handmaid: τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ κυρίου, one who worships God and submits to him, Acts ii. 18 (fr. Joel ii. 29 (iii. 2)); Lk. i. 38, 48. ὁ δοῦλος, Sept. for 33; 1. a slave, bondman, man of servile condition; a. properly: opp. to ἐλεύθερος, 1 Co. vii. 21; xii. 13; Gal. iii. 28; Eph. vi. 8; Col. iii. 11; Rev. vi. 15; xiii. 16; xix. 18; opp. to κύριος, δεσπότης, οἶκοδεσπότης, Mt. x, 24; xiii. 27sq.; Lk. xii. 46; Jn. xv. 15; Eph. vi. 5; Col. ii. 22; iv.1; 1 Tim. vi. 1; Tit. ii. 9; and very often. b. metaph. a. one who gives himself up wholly to another’s will, 1 Co. vii. 23; or dominion, τῆς ἁμαρτίας, Jn. vill. 834; Ro. vi. 17, 20; τῆς…

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

| δόλος. For δόλος in the forensic sense, as Deut 2774, cf. the Jewish prayer for vengeance from Rheneia, Sy// 816% (ii/i B.c.) ἐπὶ τοὺς δόλωι φονεύσαντας : see Deissmann LAE, p. 423. Cf. the compound δολοφονέω, BGU II. 388i. 23 (ji/iii A.D.), Sy/Z 324° (i/B.c.). In BGU I. 3261-8 (a will—a pb. 189) we find ταύτῃ τῇ διαθήκῃ δόλος πονηρὸς ἀπέστη (?=améotw). Mommsen (Si/cungsherichte der Akad. su Berlin, phil.-hist. Klasse, 18 Jan. 1894, Ρ. 50) states that he has not met the phrase elsewhere in this connexion, and compares the common formula on graves, ab hoc monumento dolus A much earlier instance of δόλος πονηρός is Sy// 319% (ii/B.C.) μήτε να[υσὶν βοηθείτωσαν δημοσίαι βουλῇ μετὰ δόλου πονηροῦ: cf. OG/S 62912 (Δ.1.. 137) χωρὶ[ς] δόλου πο[νηροῦ, PSI III. 1587 (astrological —?iii/A.D.) διὰ μετεωρισμῶν καὶ κακῶν [δόλ]ων. malus abesto. The first of these inscriptions is about contemporaneous…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

δοῦλος (doulos) — slave.

δοῦλος

__A, Cretan dialect δῶλος [Refs], ὁ:—properly born bondman or slave, opposed to one made a slave, τὰ ἀνδράποδα πάντα καὶ δοῦλα καὶ ἐλεύθερα [Refs 5th c.BC+]: then, generally, bondman, slave, opposed to δεσπότης (which see): not in [Refs 8th c.BC+], who twice has feminine δούλη, ἡ, bondwoman, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: frequently of Persians and other nations subject to a despot, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὔ τινος δοῦλοι κέκληνται, of the Greeks, [Refs 4th c.BC+] slaves to money, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λιχνειῶν, λαγνειῶν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__A.II adjective (not in [Refs 4th c.BC+], δοῦλος, η, ον, slavish, servile, subject, δ. πόλις [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σῶμα δ., opposed to νοῦς ἐλεύθερος, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δ. θάνατος, ζυγόν, πούς, [Refs 5th c.BC+] more…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

δοῦλος

doulos

from 1210; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary;

frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or

subserviency):--bond(-man), servant.

see GREEK for 1210

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

δοῦλος, ου, ὁ

Adj. & n.m.

a male slave

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

δοῦλος doulos 126x

a male slave, or servant, of various degrees, Mt. 8:9, et al. freq.; a servitor, person of mean condition, Phil. 2:7; fem. δούλη, a female slave; a handmaiden, Lk. 1:38, 48; Acts 2:18; δοῦλος, used figuratively, in a bad sense, one involved in moral or spiritual thraldom, Jn. 8:34; Rom. 6:17, 20; 1 Cor. 7:23; 2 Pet. 2:19; in a good sense, a devoted servant or minister, Acts 16:17; Read the full entry →

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Noun-APM — Noun · accusative · plural · masculine
accusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

N-APM Part of Speech: Noun Case: Accusative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Early mention of

Ge 9:25,26

- DIVIDED INTO

. Male

Ge 24:34; 32:5

. Female

Ge 16:6; 32:5

. Bond

Ge 43:18; Le 25:46

. Hired

Mr 1:20; Lu 15:17

- Persons devoted to the service of another so called

Ps 119:49; Isa 56:6

- The subjects of a prince or king so called

Ex 9:20; 11:8

- Persons of low condition so called

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
41%servant
servant41% · 53×servants31% · 40×slaves11% · 14×slave11% · 14×other renderings7% · 9×

130 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 13 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
subject37%object22%predicate13%indirect object10%adverbial8%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 126 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,δέbut, on the otheκύριοςlord, Lord, mast
σύ
ἐκμέλοςa limb, memberεἰμίI am, exist
εἰμίI am, exist
οὐNegὅτιthat, since, becοὐκέτιNeg
δέbut, on the other ha
Article theἑαυτοῦ
ἄλλοςother, another, diff
ἀποστέλλωI send forth, seαὐτός
δοῦλος (II)Servants126×
what comes after →
αὐτός
Article theὅςλέγωI say, speak
Article the
ἀρχιερεύςhigh priest, chiθεόςGod, a godοἰκοδεσπότηςa head of a hous
ἐκεῖνος
ἐνὅςἀπολύωI release, let g
καίand, even, also, nam
φρόνιμοςintelligent, pruπαραδίδωμιI hand over, delὀκνηρόςslothful, backwa
σύ
δεσπότηςa lord, master, μετάδιά

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

Concordanceδοῦλος (II) · 126× in the New Testament
Matthew Luke Revelation John Romans 1 Corinthians Mark Colossians Galatians Acts Ephesians 2 Peter

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament21 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 55 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 Clement of Rome
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 85c. AD 40

καὶ αἱ τοσαῦται τῶν τοσούτων ἀλκαί τε καὶ δυνάμεις εὐοπλούντων—ἔχουσι γὰρ τὰς ἐκ φύσεως παρασκευὰς αἷς ἀμύνονται—καθάπερ δοῦλοι δεσπότην κατεπτήχασι καὶ τὰ προσταττόμενα δρῶσι·

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 2.11c. AD 75–95

Ἐκπεμφθεὶς μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐπὶ συλλογῇ τῶν καρπῶν θέρους ἀκμάζοντος ὁρᾷ πολὺ τῶν κατὰ συνήθειαν ἐπιφοιτώντων κατὰ τοὺς ὕπνους ὀνειράτων διαφέρουσαν ὄψιν, ἣν περιεγερθεὶς τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ὡς κρινοῦσιν αὐτῷ τὸ σημαινόμενον ἐξέθετο, λέγων…

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 19.7c. AD 100

οὐκ ἔσῃ διγνώμων οὐδὲ γλωσσώδης, ὑποταγήσῃ κυρίοις ὡς τύπῳ θεοῦ ἐν αἰσχύνῃ καὶ φόβῳ: οὐ μὴ ἐπιτάξῃς δούλῳ σου ἡ παιδίσκῃ ἐν πικρίᾳ, τοῖς ἐπὶ τὸν αὐτὸν θεὸν ἐλπίζουσιν, μή ποτε οὐ μὴ φοβηθήσονται τὸν ἐπ’ ἀμφοτέροις θεόν: ὅτι οὐκ ἦλθεν κατὰ πρόσωπον…

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 6th c. AD 1st c. AD 4th c. AD
CdÉ 14 (1939), p. 161-Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)AD 117–AD 118

ενοικ α 𐅵 … … Οὐεσπασιανοῦ ἐτῶν νζ ἄσημος Διόσκορος δοῦλος Λαβερίας τῆς Πασίωνος κατὰ τὸ 𐅵 μέρος ἀπὸ Ἑλληνίου οὗ τὸ λοιπὸν ἥμισυ μέρος

P.Athen.. 43 VoArsinoitesAD 131

ἐπιτηρήσεως δραχμὰς κη Ἥρων γέρων ἀσκαύλης ἐπιτηρήσεως δραχμὰς ιϛ ἡμῖν δραχμὰς ιη Διονυσιάδος Σαραπίων δοῦλος Παπυρίου ἐπὶ δραχμαῖς μη ἡμῖν δραχμὰς μη Πτολεμαῖος αὐλητὴς Φρεμεὶ ἐπὶ δραχμαῖς ιθ ἡμῖν

P.Fay. 203 descr.Bakchias (Arsinoites)AD 148–AD 150

ταύταις ταῖς ἀνεγνωσμέναις κρίσεσιν διαγορεύει … ἐν ἀνομοίᾳ ὑποθέσει. ἤκουσας τοὺς ἁπλῷ χρήματι πωλοῦντας δοῦλον … ἀνευθύνους εἶναι, ἐπειδάν τις αὐτοῖς τοιοῦτο ἔγκλημα ἐπενέγκῃ οἷον οὗτος· ἐὰν γὰρ μηδὲν

Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
ἰδίοιςidios to [their] own G2398 Adjective · dative · plural · masculine
113× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Titus than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
Something that is one's own is private or personal, like in Matthew where Jesus is alone with his disciples.
Amplified meaning
private, personal
Tyndale gloss
one's own/private
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἴδιος (i.dios) means 'one's own' or 'private.' It conveys a sense of personal ownership or belonging, often contrasting with what is public or shared. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts referring to personal property, family, and private matters, such as in John 1:11 and Galatians 6:5. The word can also imply distinctiveness or peculiarity, as seen in various classical texts.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἴδιος, -α, -ον (in Attic usually -ος, -ον),

[in LXX chiefly for pers. suff., also for לָהֶם, etc.; (τὰ ἴ.) בֵּיתוֹ;]

one's own;

of that which is private and personal (in cl. opp. to κοινός, δημόσιος; cf. infr. 3);

of property, friends, home, country, etc. (in cl. opp. to ἀλλότριος; in late writers often, like ἑαυτοῦ, with weakened sense, v. M, Pr., 87 ff.; Deiss., BS, 123 f.): Lk 6:41, Jo 1:42 5:43, Ac 2:6 20:28, I Co 11:21, Ga 6:5, II Ti 1:9, He 7:27, Ju 6, al.; πράσσειν τὰ ἴ., I…

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

ἴδιος, -a, -ov, (in prof. auth. [esp. Attic] also of two term.), [fr. Hom. down]; 1. pertaining to one’s self, one’s own; used a. univ. of what is one’s own as opp. to belonging to another: τὰ ἴδια πρόβατα, Jn. x. 3 sq. 12; τὰ ἱμάτια τὰ ἴδια, Mk. xv. 20 RG Tr (for which T τὰ ἴδ. in. αὐτοῦ, L WII τὰ ig. αὐτοῦ); τὸ ἴδιον (for his own use) κτῆνος, Lk. x. 34; διὰ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος, Heb. ix. 12; xiii. 12, (ἰδίῳ αἵματι, 4 Mace. vii. 8); τὸ ἴδιον μίσθωμα, which he had hired for himself (opp. to ἡ ξενία [q. v-], 23), Acts xxviii. 30; add, Jn. v.43; vii. 18; Acts iii. 12; xiil. 36; Ro. xi. 24; xiv. 4 sq.3 1 Co. iii. 8 (ἴδιον κόπον) ; vi. 185 vii. 4,37; ix. 7; xi. 21; Gal. vi.5; 1 Tim. ill. 4,12; v. 4; 2 Tim.i.9; iv. 3; πράσσειν τὰ ἴδια, to do one’s own business (and not intermeddle with the affairs of others), 1 Th. iv. 11; ἰδία ἐπίλυσις, an interpretation which one thinks out for himself, opp.…

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

ἴδιος (A.D. 156) ἐγνώρισα τὴν ἰδίαν μου σφραγῖδα, 75. 49 515 (A.D. 181-9) γράψω τῇ ἰδίᾳ μου χειρί, BGU III. 865? (}Α.}.} ἀκολούθως τῇ ἰδ]ίᾳ σοι (1. σου) ἐπιστολῇ, 73. I. 1315 (A.D. 280) ἐκδικήσωμεν. . τοῖς ἰδίοις ἑαυτῶν δαπανήμασιν, Ρ Grenf II. 801 (A.D. 402) ὑπὲρ ἰδίας σου κεφαλῆς. It will hardly be denied, however, that in all these passages ἴδιος adds a certain emphasis, and this undoubtedly holds good of the general NT usage, as e.g. Jn 141, 1 Cor 3°, Gal 6°, Heb 7*7, etc.: see more particularly Pro/eg. p. 87 ff. (as against Deissmann BS p. 123 f.), and cf. Souter (Zex. s.v.) where the word is rendered ‘‘one’s own,’’ ‘‘ belonging to one,” ‘‘private,’’ ‘* personal,” without any mention of a weaker meaning. Winer-Schmiedel G7 § 22, 17, on the other hand, claims for the word both senses in the NT, and illustrates these in detail. It is probably impossible to draw the line strictly, so…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἴδιος (idios) — one's own/private.

ἴδιος [ῐδ], α, ον,

Attic dialect also ος, ον [Refs 5th c.BC+]:

I. one's own, pertaining to oneself: hence,

I.1. private, personal (opposed to κοινός): twice in [Refs 8th c.BC+] this business is private, not public, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἴδιος ἐν κοινῷ σταλείς embarking as a private man in a public cause, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἰ. στόλῳ χρᾶσθαι, opposed to δημοσίῳ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἴδια πράσσων ἢ στρατοῦ ταχθεὶς ὕπ; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ξυμβόλαια[Refs], etc.; τὰ ἱρά, opposed to τὰ ἴ., temples, opposed to private buildings, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ ἐν ἰδίοις discussion among private persons, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἴδιος

idios

of uncertain affinity; pertaining to self, i.e. one's own; by

implication, private or separate:--X his acquaintance, when they were

alone, apart, aside, due, his (own, proper, several), home, (her, our,

thine, your) own (business), private(-ly), proper, severally, their

(own).

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἴδιος, α, ν

Adj

one’s own, private, personal

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἴδιος idios 114x

one’s own, Mk. 15:20; Jn. 7:18; due, proper, specially assigned, Gal. 6:9; 1 Tim. 2:6; 6:15; Tit. 1:3; also used in NT as a simple possessive, Eph. 5:22; τὰ ἴδια, one’s home, household, people, Jn. 1:11; 16:32; 19:17; οἱ ἴδιοι, members of one’s own household, friends, Jn. 1:11; Acts 24:23; ἰδίᾳ, adverbially, respectively, 1 Cor. 12:11

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Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἴδιος ἴ^διος, η, ον one's own, pertaining to oneself: and so,

private, personal, πρῆξις ἥδ᾽ ἰδίη οὐ δήμιος this business is private, not public, Od.; ἴδιος ἐν κοινῷ σταλείς embarking a private man in a public cause, Pind.; πλοῦτος ἴδιος καὶ δημόσιος private and public wealth, Thuc.; τὰ ἱρὰ καὶ τὸ ἴδια temples and private buildings, Hdt.

τὰ ἴδια, either private affairs, private interests, Thuc.; or one's own property, id. Thuc.; ἴδια πράττειν to mind one's own affairs, Eur.; τὰ ἐμὰ ἴδια Dem.:—in sg., τὸ ἡμέτερον ἴδιον id. Dem.; εἰς τὸ ἴδιον for oneself, Xen.; τοὐμὸν ἴδιον for my own part, Luc.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj-DPM — Adjective · dative · plural · masculine
dative — to, for, with — the one it is done to or by.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

A-DPM Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Dative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
82%own
own82% · 96×private8% · 9×his own4% · 5×other renderings4% · 5×other renderings2% · 2×

117 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 9 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
adverbial65%object24%indirect object6%subject3%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 113 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
εἰςἐνκατά
κατά
αὐτόςτόποςa placeὑψηλόςhigh, lofty
καιρόςfitting season, oppo
μαρτύριονwitness, evidencὅςδέbut, on the othe
γάρfor
μένDisjκαιρόςfitting season,
πατήρfather, Father, ance
καίand, even, also,
ἴδιοςto [their] own113×
what comes after →
ἀνήρa male human being,
ἵναin order that, sἔχωI have, hold, poἐπερωτάωI interrogate, q
καίand, even, also, nam
ἀκούωI hear, listenἐνἀπαγγέλλωI report, bring
λέγωI say, speak
διάλέγωI say, speakμακάριοςhappy, blessed
αὐτός
οὐNegὑπηρετέωI minister to, sπροφήτηςa prophet, poet
σῶμαbody, flesh
οὐNegἁμαρτάνωI sin

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

Concordanceἴδιος · 113× in the New Testament
1 Corinthians Acts John Matthew 1 Timothy Mark 2 Peter Luke Romans Hebrews Titus Galatians

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament18 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 52c. AD 40

πολλαῖς δὲ καὶ ἄλλαις κέχρηται δυνάμεσι τετράς, ἃς ἀκριβέστερον καὶ ἐν τῷ περὶ αὐτῆς ἰδίῳ λόγῳ προσυποδεικτέον.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.7c. AD 75–95

ἀλλʼ ἐπειδὴ μείζων ἦν ἡ τοῦδε τοῦ λόγου περιβολή, κατʼ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον χωρίσας ταῖς ἰδίαις ἀρχαῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ τέλει τὴν γραφὴν συνεμέτρησα·

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 5.9c. AD 100

ὅτε δὲ τοὺς ἰδίους ἀποστόλους τοὺς μέλλοντας κηρύσσειν τὸ εὐαγγέλιον αὐτοῦ ἐξελέξατο, ὄντας ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν ἁμαρτίαν ἀνομωτέρους, ἵνα δείξῃ, ὅτι οὐκ ἦλθεν καλέσαι δικαίους, ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλούς, τότε ἐφανέρωσεν ἑαυτὸν εἶναι υἱὸν θεοῦ.

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 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 7th c. AD

ἀποκαταστησάτωσαν εἰς οἶκον τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνηλώμασιν. ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀποδῶσι καθότι πρόκειται ἀποτεισάτωσαν ἐν τῶι ἐχομένωι μηνὶ ἡμιόλιον παραχρῆμα,

P.Amh. 2 48Pathyris107 BC

μόνιμον ἕως Ἁθὺρ λ τοῦ δεκάτου ἔτους, καὶ ἀποκαταστησάτω εἰς οἶκον πρὸς αὐτὴν τοῖς ἰδίοις. ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀποδῷ ἐν τῷ ὡρισμένῳ χρόνῳ ἀποτεισάτω ἑκάστου κεραμίου χαλκοῦ δραχμὰς χιλίας

P.Adl. 15Pathyris (?)101 BC

Παχὼν τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἔτους καθαρὸν ἀπὸ παντὸς καὶ ἀποκαθεσταμένον εἰς οἶκον ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις ἰδίοις ἀνηλώμασι μέτρῳ ᾧ καὶ παρείληφεν· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀποδῷ ἐν τῷ ὡρισμένῳ χρόνωι ἢ

Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
δεσπόταιςdespotēs masters G1203 Noun · dative · plural · masculine
10× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Titus than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
A master is someone who has complete control over someone or something, like a lord or an owner. The Bible uses this word to describe God as the master of the universe, and also to describe human masters who have authority over their servants. It implies a position of power and authority.
Amplified meaning
lords, owners
Tyndale gloss
master
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

δεσπότης is a Greek word meaning 'master' or 'lord,' often used in the context of ownership, particularly regarding slaves. It is related to the concept of absolute authority, distinguishing it from κύριος, which implies a broader, more limited relationship. In the New Testament, it is used to refer to God and Christ, as seen in verses like Luke 2:29 and 2 Peter 2:1. Lexicographers note that while δεσπότης denotes absolute power, κύριος suggests moral limitations.

Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament — κύριος, δεσπότης from a scan

A MAN, according to the later Greek grammarians, was δεσπότης in respect of his slaves (Plato, Legg. vi. 756 e), therefore οἰκοδεσπότης, but κύριος in regard of his wife and children ; who in speaking either to him or of him, would give him this title of honour; “as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord” (κύριον αὐτὸν καλοῦσα, I Pet. ili. 6: ef. Plutarch, De Virt. Mul. 5. vv. Μίκκα καὶ Meyoro). There is a certain truth in this distinction. Undoubtedly there lies in κύριος the sense of an authority owning limitations—moral limitations it may be; it is implied too that the wielder of this authority will not exclude, in wielding it, a consideration of their good over whom it is exercised; while the δεσπότης exercises a more unrestricted power and absolute domination, confessing no such limitations or restraints. He who addresses another as δέσποτα, puts an emphasis of submission into his…

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Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

δεσπότης, -ου, ὁ

[in LXX chiefly for אָדוֹן, אֲדֹנָי; in Jth 9:17, δ. τ. οὐρανῶν κ. τ. γῆς];

a master, lord, correlative of δοῦλος, οἰκέτης: I Ti 6:1, 2, II Ti 2:21, Tit 2:9, I Pe 2:18; as title of God, voc., δέσποτα (so usually in LXX), Lk 2:29, Ac 4:24; ὁ δ. = voc. δέσποτα (cf. B1., § 33, 4), Re 6:10; of Christ, II Pe 2:1, Ju 4, R, txt. (but cf. mg.).†

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

δεσπότης, -ov, 6, [fr. Pind. down], a master, lord (as of δοῦλοι, οἰκέται) : 1 Tim. vi. 1, [2]; 2 Tim. ii. 21; Tit. ii. 9; 1 Pet. ii. 18; God is thus addressed by one who calls himself his δοῦλος : Lk. ii. 29, ef. Acts iv. 24, 29, (δεσπότης τῶν πάντων, Job ν-. 8; Sap. vi. 8); Christ is so called, as one who has bought his servants, 2 Pet. ii. 1; rules over his church, Jude 4 [some take 6. here as designating God; ef. R. V. mrg.]; and whose prerogative it is to take vengeance on those who persecute his followers, Rev. vi. 10." [ϑυν. δεσπότης, κύριος: δ. was strictly the correlative of slave, δοῦλος, and hence denoted absolute ownership and uncontrolled power; κύριος had a wider meaning, applicable to the various ranks and relations of life, and not suggestive either of property or of absolutism. Ammonius s. vy. δεσπότης says δ. 6 τῶν ἀργυρωνήτων " κύριος δὲ καὶ πατὴρ υἱοῦ καὶ αὐτός τις…

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

δεσπότης. BGU IV. 11257 (B.c. 13) τὰἸ]ς μελέτας καὶ τὰς ἐπιδίξις ἐγὼι αὐτὸς ὁ δεσπότης χορηί γήσωι αὐτῶι Ναρκίσσωι [. ..: N. is the writer’s slave. P Giss I. 2713 (c. a.p. 117) παζι]δάpia δύο ἀ[ϊπ]ὸ Αὐάσεως (--᾿ Οάσεως) ἠνέχθη τῷ δεσπόϊ Ty, ὧν τὸ] μ[έϊν ἐστιν τετραετές, τὸ δὲ τριετῆ. A derived noun occurs BGU IV. 1187*? (c. B.c. 1) μενούσης μοι [τῆς] κυριelas καὶ δεσποτήας [τῶ]ν δηλουμένων τόπων [κ]αθότι kal ἐστιν (2.6. εἰσιν) ἡμέτεροι. In the same petition, 1.9, we find the kindred verb: kal ἐφ᾽ ὃν περιῇ xpd[vjov κρατῶν (for ποῦσα !) δεσπόζουσα avepp[od]icta[s μηδενὸς ἁπλ[ῶ]ς δια[κωλύοντος SueréXet—referring to the same estate as held by the writer’s mother. So P Tor I. 1 Yiil- 6 (p.c. 116) (= Chrest. II. p. 38) ἕκαστον δ᾽ αὐτῶν δεσπόζοντα τῆς ἰδίας κτήσεως. Pretstghe 4127} ἀκτινοβόλε δέσποτα opens a hymn to the sun. In MGr δεσπότης is a bishop or priest : the voc. δέσποτα survives in…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

δεσπότης (despotēs) — master.

δεσπότ-ης, ου, ;

vocative δέσποτᾰ: Ionic dialect accusative δεσπότεα [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—master, lord, properly the master of the house, δόμων [Refs 4th c.BC+]: plural, of a family, [Refs]; in respect of slaves, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὦναξ δέσποτα[Refs 4th c.BC+]

2. despot, absolute ruler, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the Roman Emperors, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

3. of the gods, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

4. dominant planet, [Refs]

II. generally, master, lord, owner, κώμου, ναῶν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἑπτὰ δεσποτῶν, of the seven [Refs 8th c.BC+]

Strong's Greek Dictionary

δεσπότης

despotes

perhaps from 1210 and posis (a husband); an absolute ruler

("despot"):--Lord, master.

see GREEK for 1210

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

δεσπότης, ου, ὁ

n.m.

a lord, master, or prince

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

δεσπότης despotēs 10x

a lord, master, especially of slaves, 1 Tim. 6:1, 2; 2 Tim. 2:21; Tit. 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:18; by impl. as denoting the possession of supreme authority, Lord, sovereign, used of God, Lk. 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10; and of Christ, 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

δεσπότης The latter part -πότης is prob. from same Root as πόσις, and Lat. potis, potior: the syll. δεσ- is uncertain. a master, lord, the master of the house, Lat. herus, dominus, Aesch., etc.; properly in respect of slaves, so that the address of a slave to his master was ὦ δέσποτ᾽ ἄναξ or ὦναξ δέσποτα Ar.

of Oriental rulers, a despot, absolute ruler, whose subjects are slaves, Hdt., Thuc.; the pl. is used by Poets of single persons, like τύραννοι, Aesch.

of the gods, Eur., Xen.

generally, an owner, master, lord, κώμου, Aesch., Soph.

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

N-DPM Part of Speech: Noun Case: Dative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Authority of, established

Col 3:22; 1Pe 2:18

- SHOULD, WITH THEIR HOUSEHOLDS,

. Worship God

Ge 35:3

. Fear God

Ac 10:2

. Serve God

Jos 24:15

. Observe the Sabbath

Ex 20:10; De 5:12-14

. Put away idols

Ge 35:2

- Should select faithful servants

Ge 24:2; Ps 101:6,7

- Should receive faithful advice from servants

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
40%masters
masters40% · 4×master30% · 3×lord20% · 2×sovereign lord10% · 1×

10 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 4 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
object50%indirect object20%predicate10%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 10 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
εὔχρηστοςuseful, serviceaφόβοςfear, terror, reπότεIrg
ἴδιοςone’s own, private,
Article theδοῦλος (II)
σύ
δοῦλος (II)
λέγωI say, speak
καίand, even, also,
ἔχωI have, hold, posses
πιστόςtrustworthy, fai
δεσπότηςmasters10×
what comes after →
κατά
Article the
σύ
Article the
πᾶςall, the whole, ever
τιμήa price, honor
μήNeg
καταφρονέωI despise, scorn
εἰς
πᾶςall, the whole,

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

Concordanceδεσπότης · 10× in the New Testament
1 Timothy 1 Peter 2 Peter 2 Timothy Acts Jude Luke Revelation Titus
Across the New Testament9 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 19 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 Clement of Rome The Shepherd of Hermas The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 83c. AD 40

ἔμελλε γὰρ ἰδόντα πρῶτον τεθηπέναι καὶ προσκυνεῖν ὡς ἂν ἡγεμόνα φύσει καὶ δεσπότην·

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.20c. AD 75–95

οὔτε γὰρ αὐτῷ ποτʼ ἂν γενέσθαι νοῦν ἀγαθὸν τῷ νομοθέτῃ ταύτης ἀπολειπομένῳ τῆς θέας, οὔτε τῶν γραφησομένων εἰς ἀρετῆς λόγον οὐδὲν ἀποβήσεσθαι τοῖς λαβοῦσιν, εἰ μὴ πρὸ παντὸς ἄλλου διδαχθεῖεν, ὅτι πάντων πατήρ τε καὶ δεσπότης ὁ θεὸς ὢν καὶ πάντα…

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.7c. AD 100

ἐγνώρισεν γὰρ ἡμῖν ὁ δεσπότης διὰ τῶν προφητῶν τὰ παρεληλυθότα καὶ τὰ ἐνεστῶτα, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων δοὺς ἀπαρχὰς ἡμῖν γεύσεως, ὧν τὰ καθ̓ ἕκαστα βλέποντες ἐνεργούμενα, καθὼς ἐλάλησεν, ὀφείλομεν πλουσιώτερον καὶ ὑψηλότερον προσάγειν τῷ φόβῳ 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 4th c. AD 7th c. AD 5th c. AD 3rd c. AD
P.Berl.Frisk 3Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)AD 211–AD 212

ἐπάρχῳ Αἰγύπτου παρὰ Στοτοήτεως υἱοῦ Σατύρου Στοτοήτεως γεωργοῦ τῆς Ἀρσινοιτῶν πόλεως. πάντα διατελῶν, ἡγεμὼν δέσποτα, κοινῇ καὶ ἑκάστῳ τὰ ἴδια πρυτανεύεις ὡς ἐκ τῆς θαυμασιωτάτης σου συνέσεως τὴν ὅλην

P.Cair. Isid. 66 (57095)Karanis (Arsinoites)AD 299

Αὐρηλίου Εἰσιδώρου Πτολεμαίου ἀπὸ κώμης Καρανίδος τοῦ Ἀρσινοίτου νομοῦ. τὰ παράνομα τῶν πραγμάτων, ἡγεμὼν δέσποτα, ὑπʼ οὐδενὸς ἄλλου ἀνακόπτεται εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ τῆς σῆς ἀνδρείας. ἁλωνίας μου τοίνυν ἐπικιμένης

P.Cair. Isid. 76 (57361)Karanis (Arsinoites)AD 318

Καρανίδος τοῦ Ἀρσινοίτου νομοῦ. κατὰ τὸν Φαμενὼθ μῆνα τῆς Σαβίνου καὶ Ῥουφίνου ὑπατείας, ἡγεμὼν δέσποτα, Κάστωρ καὶ ὁ τούτου ἀδελφὸς Ἀμμωνιανὸς ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς κώμης ἐν χρείᾳ γενόμενοι εὐχρηστήθησαν

Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
ὑποτάσσεσθαι,hupotassō are to be subject, G5293 Verb · present · middle · infinitive
38× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Titus than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This Greek word means to obey or put someone in charge, like in Romans 13:5 where we submit to authorities. It also appears in 1 Corinthians 15:27 and Ephesians 1:22, showing God's power over all things.
Amplified meaning
be in subjection, obey
Tyndale gloss
to subject
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ὑποτάσσω (hupotassō) is built from the prefix ὑπό (under) and the root τάσσω (to arrange). It covers a range of meanings related to subordination and obedience, including to subject, to obey, and to place under authority. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts like submission to God (James 4:7) and the subjection of all things under Christ (1 Corinthians 15:27).

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ὑπο-τάσσω

[in LXX for דָבַר hi., דָּמַם, שׂוּם, שִׁית, etc. ;]

as a military term, to place or rank under (Polyb.).

to subject, put in subjection: I Co 15:27, Phl 3:21, He 2:5, 8; pass., Ro 8:20, I Co 15:27, 28, I Pe 3:22, Eph 1:22. Mid., to subject oneself, obey: absol., Ro 13:5, I Co 14:34; c. dat. pers., Lk 2:51 10:17, 20, Ro…

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

ὑποτάσσω: 1 aor. ὑπέταξα; Pass., pf. ὑποτέταγμαι; 2 aor. ὑπετάγην ; 2 fut. ὑποταγήσομαι ; pres. mid. ὑποτάσcopa ; to arrange under, to subordinate ; to subject, put in subjection: τινί te or τινα, 1 Co. xv. 27°; Heb. 11. δ; Phil iii. 21; pass., Ro. viii. 20 [see διά, B. 11. 1 b.]; 1 Co. xv. 27

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

ὑποτάσσω. With Jas 47 ὑποτάγητε οὖν τῷ θεῴ, ‘submit yourselves therefore to God,”’ Hort (Comm. ad /.) compares, in addition to various passages from the LXX, the use of the verb in Epict. iii, 24. 65 ὡς τοῦ Διὸς διάκονον ἔδει, ἅμα μὲν κηδόμενος, ἅμα δ᾽ ὡς τῷ θεῷ ὑποτεταγμένος, and iv. 12 ΤΙ ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἔχω τίνι με δεῖ ἀρέσκειν, τίνι ὑποτετάχθαι, τίνι πείθεσθαι, τῷ θεῷ καὶ τοῖς μετ᾽ ἐκεῖνον. He further notes that ‘*human submission to God” is spoken of only here and Heb 129 in the NT. Note also such passages as P Leid Wxili. $4 (ii/iii A.D.) (= II. p. 127) πάντα ὑποτέτακταί σον (1. σοι), and from the inscrr. OG/S 654? (i/B.c.) σύμπασαν τὴ[ν] Θηβαΐδα μὴ ὑποταγεῖσαν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιίν, ὑποτάξας. The verb is very common in the papyri in the sense of ‘“‘append” to a document, e.g. P Oxy I. 34 versol¥-7 (A.D. 127) αὐτὸ τὸ πρόγραμμα ἐκγραψάμενος ὑπέταξα τῇ [ἐ]πιστολῇ, “1 have copied out the…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ὑποτάσσω (hupotassō) — to subject.

ὑποτάσσω,

Attic dialect ὑποτάττω, passive, future ὑποτᾰγήσομαι [Refs 1st c.AD+]aorist 2 ὑπετάγην [ᾰ] [Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.:—place or arrange under, assign, τινί τι [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —passive, τὸ ὑποτεταγμένον (i.e. ὀστέον) the inferior bone, i. e. the ulna, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II. post in the shelter of, ὑποτάσσεσθαι τινι [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; draw up behind, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

II.2. subject, ἑαυτοὺς οὐδενί [Refs 5th c.BC+]; subdue, make subject, Θηβαΐδα [Refs 1st c.BC+]; ἔθνη [NT+2nd c.AD+]:—passive, to be obedient, τινι [NT+1st c.AD+]; ὑποτάξονται they will submit, [Refs 1st c.AD+]: absolutely, κοὐχ ὑποτᾰγεὶς ἐβάδιζεν ὥσπερ Νικίας dejectedly, timidly, [Refs 5th c.BC+] (assuming variant); οἱ ὑποταττόμενοι subjects, [Refs 2nd c.BC+], etc.…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ὑποτάσσω

hupotasso

from 5259 and 5021; to subordinate; reflexively, to obey:--be under

obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to,

unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto.

see GREEK for 5259

see GREEK for 5021

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ὑποτάσσω

v.

I place under, subject to

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ὑποτάσσω hypotassō 38x

to place or arrange under; to subordinate, 1 Cor. 15:27; to bring under influence, Rom. 8:20; pass. to be subordinated, 1 Cor. 14:32; to be brought under a state or influence, Rom. 8:20; mid. to submit one’s self, render obedience, be submissive, Lk. 2:51; 10:17

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ὑποτάσσω attic -ττω fut. ξω to place or arrange under, τί τινι Plut.

to post under, to subject, ἑαυτόν τινι id. Plut.; ἑαυτῷ τὰ πάντα NTest.:—Pass. to be obedient, τινι id. NTest.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PMN — Verb · present · middle · infinitive
present middle infinitive — an action in progress.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PMN Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Middle Mood: iNfinitive TVM equivalent: G5733

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
10%subjected
subjected10% · 4×be subject10% · 4×subject8% · 3×do be subjected8% · 3×having put in subjection5% · 2×be submitting yourselves5% · 2×being subject5% · 2×it is subject3% · 1×other renderings48% · 19×

40 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 27 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
verb100%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 38 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
πᾶςall, the whole, ever
ὅτιthat, since, becκαίand, even, also,Article the
Article the
διάἐκτόςwithout, outsideὑποτάσσωI place under, s
σύ
πνεῦμαwind, breath, spκαίand, even, also,
οὐNeg
θεόςGod, a god
γάρfor
πᾶςall, the whole, Article the
ὑποτάσσωare to be subject,38×
what comes after →
Article the
ἴδιοςone’s own, privaὑποτάσσωI place under, sτοιοῦτος
αὐτός
Article theκαίand, even, also,ἄγγελοςan angel, messen
οὐNeg
ἑκώνwilling, willingγάρforμόνοςalone, but, only
ὑπό
Article the
ἐν
πᾶςall, the whole,

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

Concordanceὑποτάσσω · 38× in the New Testament
1 Corinthians 1 Peter Romans Hebrews Ephesians Luke Titus Colossians James Philippians
Across the New Testament10 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 11 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 Ignatius of Antioch Clement of Rome Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Decalogue 168c. AD 40

τῆς δ’ ἑτέρας πρῶτόν ἐστι κεφάλαιον τὸ κατὰ μοιχῶν, ᾧ ὑποτέτακται πλεῖστά διατάγματα, τὸ κατὰ φθορέων, τὸ κατὰ παιδεραστῶν, τὸ κατὰ τῶν λαγνίστερον βιούντων ὁμιλίαις τε καὶ μίξεσιν ἐκνόμοις καὶ ἀκολάστοις χρωμένων.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 5.186c. AD 75–95

ὡς καταφρονήσαντα αὐτῶν τῆς ἀκοσμίας τῆς κατὰ τὴν πολιτείαν Ἐγλῶνα τὸν Μωαβιτῶν βασιλέα πόλεμον πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἐξενεγκεῖν καὶ πολλαῖς μάχαις αὐτῶν κρατήσαντα καὶ τοὺς φρονήματι τῶν ἄλλων διαφέροντας ὑποτάξαντα πρὸς τὸ παντελὲς αὐτῶν τὴν δύναμιν…

Clement of RomeFirst Clement 2.1c. AD 96

Πάντες τε ἐταπεινοφρονεῖτε μηδὲν ἀλαζονευόμενοι, ὑποτασσόμενοι μᾶλλον ἦ ὑποτάσσοντες, ἥδιον διδόντες ἢ λαμβάνοντες.

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

Χαιρήμων τῶι τὸ γραφεῖον πραγματευομένωι Κρονίωνι χαίρειν. τοῦ ἐπιδεδομένου ἡμῖν ἀξιώματος ἀντίγραφον ὑποτέτακται. καλῶς οὖν ποιήσεις κατακολουθήσας τοῖς διʼ αὐτοῦ δηλουμένοις, ὡς καθήκει. ἔρρωσο. ἔτους τρίτου καὶ

P.Fay. 106Bakchias (Arsinoites)AD 139–AD 142

ὅπως δυνηθῶ ἐμαυτὸν ἀνακτήσασθαι ἀπὸ τῶν καμάτων οὐδὲν δὲ δεῖ … τον καὶ ὁμοιώματα ὑποτάξαι, ὅτι τέλεον ἀπολύονται τῶν λειτουργιῶν οἱ τὴν ἰατρικὴν ἐπιστήμην μεταχειριζόμενοι μάλιστα δὲ οἱ δεδοκιμασμένοι

P.Laur. 1 2ArsinoitesAD 148

καὶ ἀναψησμοῦ διωρύχων τὸ ἀντίγραφον ὑπέταξα, κύριε, ἵνʼ εἰδῇς. ἔτους ια Ἐπεὶφ κβ καὶ ὑπετάγη τῆς ἐπιστολῆς τὸ ἀντίγραφον. ἡ ὑπογραφὴ ἐν τῷ ἀπολογισμῷ τῶν ἡγεμονικῶν ἐπιστολῶν θεωρεῖται.

Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
ἐνen in G1722 Preposition
2,743× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in Titus as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a preposition that means in, on, or among something. It's used in many places, like Matthew 7:3 and Luke 7:37, to describe a location or relationship. It can also mean by, with, or during.
Tyndale gloss
in/on/among
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The most frequent preposition in the New Testament, 2,752 occurrences. In, on, at, among, within — its force comes almost entirely from the word it is attached to. What it does here is put the events inside a community rather than at a distance: they were fulfilled among us.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἐν,

prep, (the most freq. of all in NT), c. dat. (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, c. abl.).

Of place, c. dat. rei, pers., in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Lk 7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mt 7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mt 12:40; τ. ὄρει, II Pe 1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Re 3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Ro 8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν , Lk 1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Ga 3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mt 12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103)…

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

ἐν Χριστῷ, ἐν Χριστῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ, ἐν κυρίῳ, (οἴ. Fritzsche, Com. on Rom. vol. ii. p. 82 544.; W. 389 (364); Weiss, Bibl. Theol. des N. T. §§ 84 b., 149 c.), ingrafied as it were in Christ, in fellowship and union with Christ, with the Lord: Ro. iii. 24; vi. 11, 23; viii. 39; 1Co.i.4; 2 Co. iii. 14; Gal. ii. 4; iii. 14, 26, 28; v. 6; Eph.i. 3 [Rec. om. ἐν]; ii. 6 sq. 10,13; 1 Tim.i.14; 2 Tim.i. 1,13; ii-1; 1 Pet. iii. 16; v.10; στήκειν ἐν κυρίῳ, Phil. iv. 1; iva εὑρεθῶ ἐν αὐτῷ, that I may be found (by God and Christ) most intimately united to him, Phil. iii. 9; εἶναι ἐν Χριστῷ "Inc. 1 Co. i. 30; οἱ ἐν Xp. "Ina. Ro. viii. 1; 1 Pet. v. 14; κοιμᾶσθαι ἐν Χριστῷ, θνήσκειν ἐν κυρίῳ, to fall asleep, to die, mindful of relationship to Christ and confiding in it [W. u.s.], 1 Co. xv. 18; Rey. xiv. 13. Since such union with Christ is the basis on which actions and virtues rest, the expression is…

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

ἐν 210 contract—time of Augustus) ἱμάτια γυναικεῖα ἐν apyv(plov) δραχμαῖς ἑκατόν, P Oxy IV. 7247 (A.D. 155) ἐξ ὧν ἔσχες τὴν πρώτην δόσιν ἐν δραχμαῖς τεσσαράκοντα, 70. I. 565 (A.D. 211) δανειζομένη. .. ἀργύριον ἔντοκον ἐν δραχμαῖς ἑξακισχειλίαις, and P Grenf II. 778 (iii/iv a.p.) (=Selections, Pp. 120) το]ὺς μισθοὺς. . ὄντας ἐν δραχμαῖς τριακοσίαις τεσσαράκοντα. Similar are P Oxy IV. 7084 (a.p. 188) yopou . . ἐν (1vpod)(apraBats) ’B, BGU 1. 724 (a.p. 191) ἐξέκοψαν πλεῖστον τόπον ἐν ἀρούραις πέντε: with which may be compared Eph 2!° τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν, “consisting in.” In P Lond 9215 (ii/iii a.p.) (ΞΞ 111. P- 134) γεγονέναι ἐν ἀμπέλῳ = ‘to be planted with vines.” A predicative use of ἐν is seen in P Hib I. 421° (B.c. 262) δώσομεν Λευκίωι ἐν ὀφειλήματι, ‘asa debt,” P Petr I. 1215 (cf. II. p. 22) ὅσα δὲ ᾿Αξιοθέα προσενήνεγκται ἐμ φερνῆι, “ἐᾷς dowry,” and P Tebt I. 120 135…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἐν (en) — in/on/among.

ἐν,

poetry ἐνί, εἰν, εἰνί [Refs 8th c.BC+], forms used by Epic dialect and Lyric Poets as the metre requires, but only as falsa lectio in Trag., εἰν [Refs 5th c.BC+] ἰν [Refs]

__PREP. WITH DAT. AND ACC. Radical sense, in, into.

__A WITH DAT.

__A.I OF PLACE,

__A.I.1 in, νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; with names of cities or islands, as ἐν Ἀθήνῃς, ἐν Τροίῃ, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; where ἐν is used, it = in the district of.., ὲν Ἐλευσῖνι [Refs] in my arms, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐν αὑτῷ εἶναι to be in one's senses, be oneself, ἔτ᾽ ἐν σαυτῷ (variant -τοῦ) γενοῦ [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__A.I.1.b ἐν τοῖς ἰχθύσιν in the fish-market, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so ἐν τοῖν δυοῖν ὀβολοῖν ἐθεώρουν ἄν in the two-obol seats, [Refs 4th…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἐν

en

a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or

state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or

constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519

and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, +

almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+

all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to,

-wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly,

one, X quickly,

X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on),

through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while,

with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same

import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate

direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different)

preposition.

see GREEK for 1519

see GREEK for 1537

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἐν

Prep.

in, on, among

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἐν en 2x

followed by the dat., in, Mt. 8:6; Mk. 12:26; Rev. 6:6,; upon, Lk. 8:32; among, Mt. 11:11; before, in the presence of, Mk. 8:38; in the sight, estimation of, 1 Cor. 14:11; before, judicially, 1 Cor. 6:2; in, of state, occupation, habit, Mt. 21:22; Lk. 7:25; Rom. 4:10; in the case of, Read the full entry →

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐν

e)nprepe)ni/prep ei)nprep ei)ni/prep in, among. c. dat.

Lat. in.

PREP. WITH DAT.:

OF PLACE

in, ἐν νήσῳ, ἐν Τροίῃ, etc., Hom., etc.:—elliptic, ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο (sc. οἴκῳ) Od.; εἰν Ἀΐδαο Il.; ἐν παιδοτρίβου at the school of the training master, Ar.

in, upon, ἐν οὔρεσι Hom., etc.

in the number of, amongst, ἐν Δαναοῖς, etc., Hom.; and with Verbs of ruling, ἄρχειν, ἀνάσσειν ἐν πολλοῖς to be first or lord among many, i. e. over them, id. Hom.; cf. ὁ, τό B. III. 3.

in one's hands, within one's reach or power, Lat. penes, Hom., etc.; ἐν σοὶ γάρ ἐσμεν Soph.; ἐν τῷ θεῷ τὸ τέλος ἦν Dem.

in respect of, ἐν γήρᾳ in point of age, Soph.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
preposition — its sense depends on the case of the word it governs.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

PREP PREPosition

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

A principal thing to notice about this preposition, which in the King James Version represents about 16 Hebrew and as many Greek words and prepositions, is that, in hundreds of cases (especially in the Old Testament, but frequently also in the New Testament) in the Revised Version (British and American) the rendering is changed to more exact forms ("to," "unto," "by," "upon," "at," "with," "among," "for," "throughout," etc.; compare e.g. Ge 6:16; 13:8; 17:7,9,12; 18:1; Ex 8:17; Le 1:9, etc.); while, nearly as often, "in" is substituted for divergent forms of the King James Version (e.g. Ge 2:14; 17:11; 31:54; 40:7; 49:17; Ex…

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
πᾶσινpas everything G3956 Adjective · dative · plural · neuter
1,242× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Titus than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word means all or every, as in Matthew 3:10 and Romans 7:8, where it refers to everything or all people, emphasizing the universal nature of God's message.
Amplified meaning
all things, every matter
Tyndale gloss
all
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word πᾶς (i.e., *pas*) means 'all' or 'every' and appears in various forms, including masculine, feminine, and neuter. It is used in the New Testament to denote totality, as in 'all things' or 'every kind,' and can function as an adjective or pronoun. Notably, it can also imply 'the whole' when used with definite articles, as seen in verses like Matthew 28:18.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, gen., παντός, πάσης, παντός,

[in LXX chiefly for כֹּל;]

all, every.

As adj.,

c. subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mt 3:10 4:23, Mk 9:49, Lk 4:37, Jo 2:10, Ac 27:20, Ro 7:8, Re 18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Ac 22:15, Ro 5:12, He 1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mt 28:18,

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

πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, en. παντός, πάσης, παντός, [dat. plur. Lchm. πᾶσι ten times, -σιν seventy-two times; Tdf. -σι five times (see Proleg. p. 98 sq.), -ow seventy-seven times; Treg. -ow eighty-two times; WH -ox fourteen times, -ow sixty-eight times; see N, v (ἐφελκυστικόν)], Hebr. 75, [fr. Hom. down], all, every; it is used I. adjectively, and 1. with anarthrous nouns; a. any, every one (86. of the class denoted by the noun annexed to mas); with the Singular: as πᾶν δένδρον, Mt. iii. 10; πᾶσα θυσία, Mk. ix. 49 [T WH Tr mrg. om. Tr txt. br. the cl.]; add, Mt. v.11; xv. 13; Lk. iv. 37; Jn.ii. 10; xv.2; Acts ii.43; v.42; Ro. xiv. 11; 1 Co. iv. 17; Rev. xviii. 17, and very often; πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἀνθρώπου, Ro. ii. 9 (πᾶσα ἀνθρ. ψυχή, Plat. Phaedr. p- 249e.); πᾶσα συνείδησις ἀνθρώπων, 2 Co. iv. 2; mas λεγόμενος θεός, 2 Th. ii. 4; πᾶς ἅγιος ἐν Χριστῷ, Phil. iv. 21sqq. with the Plural, all or any that are…

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

παῖς. In Gnomon 41 (¢. A.D. 150) it is laid down—éav Αἰγύπτιος ἐκ κοπρίας [ἀν]έληται παῖδα καὶ τοῦτον υἱοποιήσηται, μετὰ θάνατον τεταρτολο[ γεῖτ]αι, ““1Γ an Egyptian shall take up a child from the dungheap, and adopt him as a son, he shall be mulcted after his death to the extent of one fourth of his property.” For παῖς applied to a female child see P Strass I. 41° (A.D. 250) ἐκδικῆσαι τὰ τῆς παιδός, and P Oxy 1 5215 (A.D. 325) εΠδαμὲν τὴν παῖδα ἔχουσαν κατὰ τῶν εἰσχίων ἀμυχὰς μετὰ πελιωμάτων (see 76. II. p. 319), ““νγῈ saw that the girl had wounds on her hips with livid spots”: cf. Lk 8° (for voc. of address see Pro/eg. pp. 70, 235). The word is commonly applied to slaves, as in Lk 77 a/., e.g. P Lille 27 (iii/B.c.), where 11 male slaves are enumerated under the heading παῖδες, then 2 female slaves, and then again 3 male slaves: cf. P Strass I. 405 (a. p. 569) Κολλοῦθος Βίκτορος…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

πᾶς (pas) — all.

πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν,

__AAeolic dialect παῖς, παῖσα [Refs 7th c.BC+] feminine πάνσα [Refs 8th c.BC+], Epic dialect and Delph. πάντεσσι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also Locrian dialect πάντεσιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πάντοις [Refs 2nd c.BC+] as accusative masculine in [LXX+7th c.BC+], etc. (but in compounds sometimes long in Attic dialect, [Refs].]—Coll. pronoun, when used of a number, all; when of one only, the whole; of the several persons in a number, every.

__A.I in plural, all, πάντες τε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πάντες ὅσοι.. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πάντας ᾧ ἂνπεριτυγχάνῃ, for ὅσοις ἄν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: also with the Article, see.below [Refs 5th c.BC+]

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

πᾶς

pas

including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all,

any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one),

X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X

thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν

Adj

all, the whole, every kind of

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

πᾶς pas 1x

all; in the sg. the whole, entire, usually when the substantive has the article, Mt. 6:29; 8:32; Acts 19:26; every, only with an anarthrous subst., Mt. 3:10; 4:4; pl. all, Mt. 1:17, et al. freq.; πάντα, in all respects, Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 9:25; 10:33; 11:2; by a Hebraism, a negative with πᾶς is sometimes equivalent to οὐδείς or μηδείς, Mt. 24:22; Lk. 1:37; Acts 10:14; Read the full entry →

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj-DPN — Adjective · dative · plural · neuter
dative — to, for, with — the one it is done to or by.
Agrees with anything else marked plural neuter.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

A-DPN Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Dative Number: Plural Gender: Neuter

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
62%all
all62% · 789×all things12% · 156×every12% · 150×everyone6% · 76×everything3% · 34×other renderings3% · 40×other renderings2% · 19×

1,264 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 28 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
subject40%adverbial30%object21%predicate5%indirect object3%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 1,242 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
αὐτόςσύλόγοςa word, speech,
ἐν
καίand, even, also,ἀλλάbut, exceptἐγώ
Article the
αὐτόςὅςArticle the
αὐτός
λέγωI say, speakδείκνυμιI point out, shoπροσφέρωI bring to, offe
ἐπί
καίand, even, also,ἐγώεἰμίI am, exist
πᾶςeverything1242×
what comes after →
Article the
ἔθνοςa race, people, λαόςa people, the crπιστεύωI believe, have
καίand, even, also, nam
Article theχορτάζωI feed, satisfyδιά
σύ
εἰμίI am, existἐνκαίand, even, also,
γάρfor
Article theσύοὗτος
δέbut, on the other ha
Article theοὗτοςὅς

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

Concordanceπᾶς · 1,242× in the New Testament
Acts Luke Matthew 1 Corinthians Romans Mark John Revelation Hebrews 2 Corinthians Ephesians Colossians

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

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 10c. AD 40

καὶ γὰρ πατὴρ ἐκγόνων καὶ δημιουργὸς τῶν δημιουργηθέντων στοχάζεται τῆς διαμονῆς καὶ ὅσα μὲν ἐπιζήμια καὶ βλαβερὰ μηχανῇ πάσῃ διωθεῖται, τὰ δὲ ὅσα ὠφέλιμα καὶ λυσιτελῆ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον ἐκπορίζειν ἐπιποθεῖ·

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

ὡς οἱ Νώχου ἔγγονοι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐπῴκησαν.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 2.4c. AD 100

πεφανέρωκεν γὰρ ἡμῖν διὰ πάντων τῶν προφητῶν, ὅτι οὕτε θυσιῶν οὔτε ὁλοκαυτωμάτων οὔτε προσφορῶν χρῄζει, λέγων ὅτε μέν:

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 6th c. AD 4th c. AD 1st c. AD
P.Stras. 2 89Pathyris100 BC

γῆ Σενπελαίας, βορρᾶ γῆ Πανᾶτος ἀπηλιώτου ποταμός, λιβὸς Ἀραμείους, ἢ οἳ ἂν ὦσι γείτονες πάντων πάντοθεν. ἐπρίατο Πετεαρσεμθεὺς Πανοβχούνιος ὡς ἐτῶν μ χαλκοῦ τάλαντα δύο . προπωλητὴς καὶ βεβαιωτὴς

P.Grenf. 2 35Pathyris99 BC

ἐτῶν λ χαλκοῦ δραχμῶν τρισχιλίων . προπωληταὶ καὶ βεβαιωταὶ τῶν κατὰ τὴν ὠνὴν ταύτην πάντων Νεχούτης καὶ ὁ σὺν αὐτῷ οἱ ἀποδόμενοι, ὃν ἐδέξατο Πακοῖβις ὁ πριάμενος. Ἑρμίας ὁ

BGU 3 1000Pathyris99 BC

χαλκοῦ δραχμὰς δισχιλίας καὶ διακοσίας . προπωλητὴς καὶ βεβαιωτὴς τῶν κατὰ τὴν ὠνὴν ταύτην πάντων Πανοβχοῦνις ὁ ἀποδόμενος, ὃν ἐδέξατο Εὔνους ὁ πριάμενος. Ἑρμίας ὁ παρὰ Πανίσκου κεχρημάτικα.

Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
εὐαρέστουςeuarestos well-pleasing G2101 Adjective · accusative · plural · masculine
9× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Titus than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
Well-pleasing means being fully agreeable to someone, like being acceptable to God in Romans 12:2. It's about living a life that God approves of.
Amplified meaning
fully agreeable, acceptable
Tyndale gloss
well-pleasing
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word εὐάρεστος (i.e., *euarestos*) means 'well-pleasing' or 'acceptable.' It is derived from roots meaning 'well' and 'to please.' This term appears in various New Testament contexts, often relating to actions or offerings that are pleasing to God, such as in Romans 12:1-2. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meaning or usage.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

**† εὐ-άρεστος, -ον

[in LXX: Wi 4:10 9:10 * ;]

well-pleasing, acceptable: Ro 12:2; c. dat. pers., Ro 12:1 14:18, II Co 5:9, Eph 5:10, Phl 4:18; id. seq. ἐν, Tit 2:9 (κυρίῳ), Col 3:20; ἐνώπιον, He 13:21 (for ex. in Inser., v. Deiss., BS, 215).†

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

εὐ-άρεστος, -ov, (fr. εὖ and dpeords), well-pleasing, acceptable: Ro. xii. 2; τινί, to one, Ro. xii. 1; xiv. 18; 2 Co. v. 9; Eph. v. 10; Phil. iv. 18; ἔν τινι, in anything, Tit. ii. 9; ἐν κυρίῳ (see ἐν I. 6 b., p. 211

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

εὐάρεστος. To Deissmann’s citation (B.S, p. 215) of this word from an inscr. of Nisyros (pre-Christian ?) γενόμενον εὐάρεστον πᾶσι (Mittheilungen des athen. Instituts 15, Ὁ. 134") to dispose of Cremer’s claim that it belongs only to Bibl. and eccles. Greek, we may add Priene 114° (after B.c. 84) γενηθεὶς δὲ εὐάρεσίτος] ἐν τοῖς τῆς γυμνασιαρχίας ἀναλώμασιν : cf. Rouffiac Recherches, p. 32f. See also such passages as P Fay go! (A.D. 234) Td λ[α]χανόσπίερμον) λαμβάνιν evapἐστον, P Flor I. 3039 (a.D. 362) Tas Tod πύρου εὐαρέϊστου ἀρταβά]ς, P Strass I. 1° (A.D. 510) ἐν οἴνῳ καλλίστῳ καὶ εὐαρέστῳ, and P Gen I. 15? (Byz.) τὴν τιμὴν σίτου evapέστου ἀρταβῶν τεσσάρων, where the adj. has the meaning “choice,” ‘‘in good condition.” See also s5.v.…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

εὐάρεστος (euarestos) — well-pleasing.

εὐᾰρεστ-ος, ον,

(ἀρέσκω) wellpleasing, acceptable, τὸ ἀγαθὸν εὐ. Cleanth. 3.6; τινι [LXX+1st c.AD+]; τισι [Refs]; παρά τινι [LXX+1st c.BC+]; χρῆσις pleasant, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; σύμμαχοι probably in [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; τὸ εὐ. [Refs 1st c.AD+]. adverb -τως, ἔργον συνετέλεσεν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]: comparative -οτέρως, διακεῖσθαί τινι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; - τως ἱερησάμενος [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; λατρεύειν τῷ θεῷ [NT]

II. choice, οἶνος, πυρός, [Refs 4th c.AD+]

III. according to taste, λαχανόσπερμον λαμβάνειν εὐ. [Refs 3rd c.AD+]

Strong's Greek Dictionary

εὐάρεστος

euarestos

from 2095 and 701; fully agreeable:--acceptable(-ted), wellpleasing.

see GREEK for 2095

see GREEK for 701

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

εὐάρεστος, ον

Adj

acceptable, well-pleasing

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

εὐάρεστος euarestos 9x

well-pleasing, acceptable, grateful, Rom. 12:1, 2

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

εὐάρεστος εὐ-άρεστος, ον ἀρέσκω well-pleasing, acceptable, NTest.:—adv., εὐαρεστοτέρως διακεῖσθαί τινι to be more popular with one, Xen.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj-APM — Adjective · accusative · plural · masculine
accusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

A-APM Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Accusative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
78%well-pleasing
well-pleasing78% · 7×pleasing11% · 1×well pleasing11% · 1×

9 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
predicate56%object22%second object11%subject11%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 9 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
θεόςGod, a god
Article the
καίand, even, also, nam
ἀγαθόςgood
Χριστόςanointed, the Messia
Article the
ἐκδημέωI go abroad, am abse
εἴτεand if, whether
εἰμίI am, exist
τίςIrg
εὐάρεστοςwell-pleasing
what comes after →
Article the
θεόςGod, a godλογικόςreasonable, ratiκύριοςlord, Lord, mast
εἰμίI am, exist
ἐνμήNeg
καίand, even, also, nam
τέλειοςperfect, full-gr
αὐτός
εἰμίI am, exist
ἐνώπιονbefore the face of,
αὐτός

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

Concordanceεὐάρεστος · 9× in the New Testament
Romans 2 Corinthians Colossians Ephesians Hebrews Philippians Titus
Across the New Testament7 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Clement of Rome Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Preliminary Studies 156c. AD 40

λαβοῦσα οὖν, ὦ καὶ ὑπάρχουσα καὶ πρὸς ἐμοῦ νομιζομένη κυρία, τὴν ἐμὴν ἅπασαν παιδείαν ὡς θεραπαινίδι χρῶ, „ὡς εὐάρεστόν σοι.“

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 19.145c. AD 75–95

Ἦν δὲ Εὐάρεστος Ἀρούντιος τῶν κηρυσσόντων τὰ πωλούμενα καὶ διʼ αὐτὸ φωνῆς τε μεγέθει χρώμενος καὶ χρήματα περιβεβλημένος ὅμοια τοῖς Ῥωμαίων πλουσιωτάτοις, δύναμίς τε αὐτῷ ἦν ἐφʼ οἷς ἐθελήσειε πράσσειν κατὰ τὴν πόλιν ἔν τε τῷ τότε κἀν τοῖς ὕστερον.

Clement of RomeFirst Clement 49.5c. AD 96

ἀγάπη κολλᾷ ἡμᾶς τῷ θεῷ, ἀγάπη καλύπτει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν, ἀγάπη πάντα ἀνέχεται, πάντα μακροθυμεῖ: οὐδὲν βάναυσον ἐν ἀγάπῃ, οὐδὲν ὑπερήφανον: ἀγάπη σχίσμα οὐκ ἔχει, ἀγάπη οὐ στασιάζει, ἀγάπη πάντα ποιεῖ ἐν ὁμονοίᾳ: ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐτελειώθησαν πάντες οἱ…

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
6th c. AD 4th c. AD 3rd c. AD 5th c. AD 7th c. AD
P.Mil.Vogl. 3 145Tebtynis (Arsinoites)AD 142

καὶ κλεισὶ καὶ τὰς ὄρνιθας ἀξίας δραχμῶν διακοσίων σ, χῆνας τοκάδας ω τοὺς χῆνας εὐαρέστους σν ἐὰν φαίνηται μισθῶσαι. Γέμεινος ὡς ἐτῶν λζ, οὐλὴ ἀντικνημίῳ ἀριστερῷ ἔτους ιε Αὐτοκράτορος

P.Fay. 90Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)AD 234

ἐποικίῳ Πισαεὶ μέτρῳ ἑνδεκαμέτρῳ ἀνυπερθέτως, ἐγλογῆς οὔσης τῷ Αὐρηλίῳ Ἀγαθείνῳ ἤτοι τὸ λαχανόσπερμον λαμβάνειν εὐάρεστον ἢ τὴν ἐπὶ τοῦ καιροῦ ἐσομένην πλείστην τιμήν, γεινομένης αὐτῷ τῆς πράξεως ἔκ τε

P.Flor. 2 252Theadelphia (Arsinoites)AD 257

Σύρος Ἡρωνίνῳ καὶ Διονυσίωι χαίρειν. ἐὰν μὲν ἦν ὁ μόσχος ὃν ἐκέλευσα δοθῆναι Παλᾷ εὐάρεστος αὐτῷ γενάμενος καὶ ἦν παρʼ αὐτῷ σὺ ὁ Διονύσιος γενοῦ ἐξαυτῆς εἰς Φιλωτερίδα καὶ

Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
εἶναι,eimi to be, G1511 Verb · present · active · infinitive
2,123× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
In plain English
Tyndale gloss
to be
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

εἰμί,

with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be.

As substantive verb.

Of persons and things, to be, exist: Ac 17:28, Jo 1:1 8:58 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Re 1:4, 8 4:8 11:17 16:5 (v. Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Ro 4:17, I Co 1:28.

Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mt 24:3, Mk 14:2 15:42, Lk 21:23, Jo 4:6, 23 5:10, al.

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

εἰμί (fr. ἔω, whence ἐμέ in inscriptions [7]; Aeol. ἐμμὲ (Curtius (yet ἔμμε, so G. Meyer) 8 564; Veitch p. 2287), impv. ἴσθι, ἔστω, less usual ἤτω, 1 Co. xvi. 22; Jas. v.12; Clem. Rom. 1 Cor. 48,5; [1 Mace. x. 31; Ps. ciii. (civ.) 31]; Plat. rep. 2 p. 361 ¢. [here it has given place to ἔστω (or ἴτω), see Stallb. ad loc.; Veitch p. 200 sq.; 3 pers. plur. ἔστωσαν, Lk. xii. 35; 1 Tim. iii. 12], inf. εἶναι ; impf. —ace. to the more ancient and elegant form, ἦν, 2 pers. ἦσθα (Mt. xxvi. 69; Mk. xiv. 67), rarer form ἧς (Mt. RKV. 1235 dn ΧΙ: 9]. 92); xxI LS. Reyna 15 G@ ΕΣ Tr WH), 3 pers. ἦν, 1 pers. plur. jer, — ace. to the mid. form, com. in later Grk. [ef. Veitch p. 226], ἤμην (Mt. xxv. 35sq.; [on Acts xi. 11 ef. WH. Intr. § 404]; Gal.i.10, etc.), plur. ἤμεθα (Mt. xxiii. 30 G L T Tr WH; Acts xxvii. 37 L T Tr WH; [Gal. iv. 3 TWH Tr mrg.; Eph. ii. 3 T Tr WH; Bar. i. 19]); cf. Lob. ad Phryn.…

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

εἰμί. Middle forms in the flexion of εἰμί other than the present tense (cf. however MGr εἶμαι, -σαι, etc.) begin to appear very early in the dialects and are well established in the papyri. Thus the Ist sing. impf. ἤμην, which always takes the place of the class. ἢ in the NT (but see Ac 2018 D) may be illustrated from PSI IV. 36274 (B.c. 251-0) ἤμην δὲ πρὸς τῶι λαμβάνειν τὸν χαλκόν, P Magd 65 (B.c. 221) ἤμην γυμνός, P Par 57 (B.c. 129) ὧν ἤμην δι᾽ αὐτῶν [π]αραμε[μετ]ρηκ[υῖα, P Oxy IIT. 526% (ii/A.p.) οὐκ ἤμην ἀπαθὴς ἀλόγως σε καταλείπιν. For ist plur. ἤμεθα see P Petr IT. 4 (7)° (B.C. 255-4) τεθλιμμένοι ἤμεθα : cf. Ac 2737, Eph 23, as contrasted with the act. ἦμεν in Ac 111 (NB), 1612, Rom 7° a/.: the two forms are found together in Gal 4% (SDFG). The non-classical ἧς (Lob. Phryx. p. 149) is found sefzes in the NT as compared with ἦσθα (from an old perf. form ἤησθα), which is confined…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

εἶναι (einai) — to exist.

εἰμί

(sum), Aeolic dialect ἔμμι [Refs 7th c.BC+]; Cretan dialect ἠμί [Refs]; 2nd pers. singular εἶ, Epic dialect and Ionic dialect εἰς [Refs 8th c.BC+], Epic dialect and Doric dialect ἐσσί [Refs 8th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. singular ἐστί, Doric dialect ἐντί [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. dual ἐστόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; 1st pers. plural ἐσμέν, Epic dialect and Ionic dialect εἰμέν (also in [Refs 5th c.BC+], Doric dialect εἰμές [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. plural εἰσί (-ίν), Epic dialect and Ionic dialect ἔασι (-ιν) [Refs 8th c.BC+], Doric dialect ἐντί [Refs 5th c.BC+], Epic dialect and Lyric poetry also in middle form ἔσσο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. singular ἔστω (ἤτω [LXX+5th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. plural ἔστωσαν, but ἔστων [Refs 8th c.BC+], and early Attic dialect Inscrr., [Refs 2nd c.BC+]subjunctive ὦ, ᾖς, ᾖ, Epic dialect ἔω [Refs 8th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. singular ἔῃ…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

εἰμί ἐιμί

einai

present infinitive from 1510; to exist:--am, was. come, is, X lust

after, X please well, there is, to be, was.

see GREEK for 1510

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

εἰμί eimi 2x

to be, to exist, Jn. 1:1; 17:5; Mt. 6:30; Lk. 4:25, freq.; ἐστί[ν], it is possible, proper, Heb. 9:5; a simple linking verb (“copula”) to the subject and predicate, and therefore in itself affecting the force of the sentence only by its tense, mood, etc., Jn. 1:1; 15:1, freq.; it also forms a frequent circumlocution with the participles of the present and perfect of other verbs, Mt. 19:22; Mk. 2:6

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PAN — Verb · present · active · infinitive
present active infinitive — an action in progress.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PAN Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Active Mood: iNfinitive TVM equivalent: G5721

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
75%be
be75% · 95×being12% · 15×be?6% · 8×other renderings6% · 7×other renderings2% · 2×

127 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 11 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
μὴ not G3361 Particle · negative
1,060× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Titus than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
Not is a word used to show that something is not true or is not happening, like in phrases that say 'lest' or 'God forbid', as seen in various parts of the New Testament.
Amplified meaning
by no means
Tyndale gloss
not
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

μή () is a Greek negative particle used to express subjective negation, often in conditional or hypothetical contexts. It contrasts with οὐ (ou), which indicates absolute denial. μή can function as an adverb meaning 'not' or as a conjunction meaning 'lest.' It appears in various grammatical constructions, including prohibitions and deliberative questions, and is referenced in verses like Matthew 5:29 and John 3:18.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

μή,

subjective negative particle,

used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic., μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין, אַיִן, אַל.]

As a neg. adv., not;

with ref. to thought or opinion: Jo 3:18, Tit 1:11, II Pe 1:9.

In delib. questions, c. subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mk 12:14, Ro 3:8.

In conditional and final sentences, after εἰ, ἐάν, ἄν, ἵνα, ὅπως: Mt 10:14,

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

μή, Sept. for Ox, |X, PN, ἃ particle of negation, which differs from οὐ (which is always an adverb) in that ov denies the thing itself (orto speak technically, denies simply, absolutely, categorically, directly, objectively). but μή denies the thought of the thing, or the thing according to the judgment, opinion, will, purpose, preference, of some one (hence, as we say technically, indirectly, hypothetically, subjectively). This distinction holds also of the compounds οὐδείς, μηδείς, οὐκέτι, μηκέτι, ete. But pris either an ad verb of negation, not (Lat. non, ne); or aconjunction, that... not, lest, (Lat. ne); or an interrogative particle, (Lat. num) [i. e. (generally) implying aneg. ans.; in indir. quest. whether nol (suggesting apprehension) ]. Cf. Herm. ad Vig. § 267 p- 802 sqq-; Matthiae § 608; Bitm. Gram. § 148 (cf. Alex. Bttm. N. T. Gr. p. 344 (296) sqq.); Kiihner ii. §§ 512 sq. p.…

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

μή Grenf II. 384 (mid. 1.8.6.) καλῶς οὖ]ν ποιήσις μὴ ἀμελήσ[α]ς α[. . ἀγο]ράσαι. .. , P Oxy I. 3815 (a.p. 49--50) (= Selections, p. 53) τοῦ δὲ Σύρου μὴ βουλομένου ἐνμεῖναι τοῖς κεκριμένοις, “45 Syrus does not wish to abide by what has been decided,” 2d. II. 2755 (A.D. 66) (= Selections, p. 58) ἔγραψα ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἰδότος γράμματα, “1 wrote for him seeing that he was unlettered,” BGU I. 22° (a.p. 114) (= Selections, p. 74) TappovOios . . . τὸ παρὸν μὴ ἔχουσα κύριον, ‘ Tarmuthis at present without a guardian,’ and P Grenf II. 779 (iii/iv A.D.) (= Sedections, p. 120) θαυμάζω πάνυ [ὅτι] ἀλόγως ἀπέστητε μὴ ἄραντες [τὸ σ]ῶμα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ὑμῶν, “1 wonder exceedingly that you went off so unreasonably, without taking the body of your brother”; cf. P Tor 1. 1¥8-4 (νον 116) εἰ δὲ kal τις θείηι τὸ μὴ ὄν (cf. 1 Cor 1°8)—acc. and inf. follow, P Ryl II. 144°? (Α.Ὁ. 38) ἐπαγαγεῖν αἰτίας τοῦ μὴ ὄντος, ‘‘…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

μή (mē) — not.

μή,

Elean μά [ᾱ] [Refs 6th c.BC+]. (Cf. Sanskrit mā´, Armenian mi [from I.-[Refs 5th c.BC+] mē´], negative used in prohibitions):—not, the negative of the will and thought, as οὐ of fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective. (A few examples of μηδέ and μηδείς have been included.)

__A in INDEPENDENT sentences, used in expressions of will or wish, command, entreaty, warning,

__A.1 with present imperative, 2 person, μή μ᾽ ἐρέθιζε [Refs 8th c.BC+]: rarely with aorist imperative, μὴ.. ἔνθεο τιμῇ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; in Attic dialect, μὴ ψεῦσον, ὦ Ζεῦ, τῆς.. ἐλπίδος [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect imperative [Refs 8th c.BC+] person when perfect = present, μὴ κεκράγετε [Refs 5th c.BC+]

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

μή

me

a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an

absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an

interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an

affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, +

lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not,

nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in

substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372,

3373, 3375, 3378.

see GREEK for 3756

see GREEK for 3362

see GREEK for 3363

see GREEK for 3364

see GREEK for 3372

see GREEK for 3373

see GREEK for 3375

see GREEK for 3378

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

μή

Neg.prt.

not, lest

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

μή mē 1x

a negative particle, can function as a conj, not, for the particulars of its usage, especially as distinguished from that of οὐ, consult a grammar; as a conj., lest, that not, Mt. 5:29, 30; 18:10; 24:6; Mk. 13:36; μή, or μήτι, or μήποτε, when prefixed to an interrogative clause, it expresses an intimation either of the reality of the matters respecting which the question is asked, Mt. 12:23; or the contrary, Jn. 4:12

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Particle-N — Particle · negative
particle — a small word colouring the clause; it does not decline.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

PRT-N PaRTicle, disjunctive particle Negative

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
71%not
not71% · 772×except9% · 95×unless5% · 58×surely not4% · 41×lest3% · 32×otherwise2% · 23×other renderings4% · 48×other renderings1% · 16×

1,085 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 23 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
adverbial84%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 1,060 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
οὐNeg
καίand, even, also,σύἐγώ
ἵναin order that, so th
αὐτόςσύπροσεύχομαιI pray, pray for
καίand, even, also, nam
ἐγώαὐτόςεἰμίI am, exist
εἰCond
αὐτόςυἱόςa son, descendenκαίand, even, also,
Article the
καίand, even, also,εἰςδιά
μήnot1060×
what comes after →
Article the
πατήρfather, Father, υἱόςa son, descendenσημεῖονa sign, miracle,
ἔχωI have, hold, posses
καίand, even, also,ποιμήνa shepherdβάθοςdepth, a depth,
εἰμίI am, exist
δίδωμιI offer, giveἐνμετά
τὶς
σύὑστερέωI am lacking, faγεννάωI beget, bring f
φοβέωI fear, am terrified
ἀπόArticle theμόνοςalone, but, only

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

Concordanceμή · 1,060× in the New Testament
Luke Matthew John 1 Corinthians Romans Mark Acts Revelation 2 Corinthians Hebrews 1 Timothy Galatians

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

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 1,321 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.

Servants to [their] own masters are to be subject, in everything well-pleasing to be, not gainsaying,
ἀντιλέγοντας,antilegō gainsaying, G483 Verb · present · active · participle · accusative · plural · masculine
11× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Titus than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To dispute or argue against someone, as seen in Acts 28:19 and Romans 10:21, where people spoke against God's message. This word is used to describe opposition or resistance to an idea or person. It involves refusing to agree or accept something.
Amplified meaning
disputing, gainsaying, contradicting
Tyndale gloss
to dispute
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἀντιλέγω (i.e., *antilegō*) is composed of the prefix ἀντι- meaning 'against' and λέγω meaning 'to speak.' It covers meanings such as to contradict, oppose, or dispute. The New Testament uses it in contexts of speaking against others, notably in Acts and Romans. There is some variation in how lexicons present its nuances, particularly regarding its strength in different contexts.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἀντι-λέγω,

[in LXX: Ho 4:4 (רִיב hi.), Is 50:5 (סוּג ni.) Is 22:22 65:2, Si 4:25, III Mac 2:28, IV Mac 4:7 8:2*;]

contradict, oppose, resist (v. Field, Notes, 106; MM, VGT, s.v.); absol.: Ac 28:19, Ro 10:21, Tit 1:9 2:9; c. dat., Jo 19:12, Ac 13:45; c. acc. et inf., Lk 20:27 T; pass., Lk 2:34, Ac 28:22.†

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

ἀντι-λέγω ; [impf. ἀντέλεγον] ; to speak against, gainsay, contradict; absol.: Acts xiii. 45 [L Tr WH om.]; xxviii. 19; Titi. 9. τινί, Acts xiii. 45. foll. by μή and ace. with inf.: Lk. xx. 27 [Lmrg. Tr WH λέγοντες], (as in Grk. writ.; see Passow [or L. and 5.1 s. v.; [W. § 65, 2 B.; B. 355 (305)]). to oppose one’s self to one, decline to obey him, declare one’s self against him, refuse to have anything to do with him, [ef. W. 28 (22)]:, τινί, Jn. xix. 12, (Leian. dial. inferor. 30, 3); absol., Ro. x. 21 [ef. Meyer]; Tit. ii. 9, (Achill. Tat. 5, 27). Pass. ἀντιλέγομαι I am disputed, assent or compliance is refused me, (W. § 39, 1): Lk. ii. 34; Acts xxviii. 22.

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

ἀντιλέγω. The strong sense of ἀ. in Rom 10”, oppose” may be illustrated by P Oxy VIII. 1148°% (i/A.D.) where an oracle is consulted as to whether it is better for a certain man and his wife μὴ συμφωνῆσαι viv τῷ πατρὶ α(ὐτοῦ) ἀλλὰ ἀντιλέγειν καὶ μὴ διδόναι γράμματα, “not to agree now with his father, but to oppose him and make no contract ” (Ed.). A somewhat weaker usage appears in Syd/ 523°! (iii/B.c.) ἐὰν δὲ οἱ γραμματοδιδάσκαλοι ἀντιλέγωσιν πρὸς αὑτοὺς περὶ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν παίδων, 20. 540%° (ii/B.c.), ἐὰν δὲ πρὸς αὑτοὺς ἀντιλέγωσιν οἱ ἐργῶναι περί τινος τῶν γεγραμμένων. Cf. also P Oxy I. 6γ᾽} (a dispute regarding property, A.D. 338) εἰ πρὸς τὴν Tov... πίέδίων] ἀποκατάστασιν .. . οἱ ἐΐ -- αἰἸτιαθ[έν)τες ἀντιλέγοιεν, ‘if the accused persons protest against the restoration of the estates” (Edd.), 76. X. 1252 verso8? (A.D. 28895) ἀντιλέγοντες ἔρρωνται, ‘‘ persist in their refusal ’’…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἀντιλέγω (antilegō) — to dispute.

ἀντιλέγω,

[Refs 5th c.BC+]: future ἀντιλέξω[Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἀντέλεξα[Refs 5th c.BC+]perfect ἀντείρηκα: future passive ἀντειρήσομαι:—speak against, gainsay, contradict, τινί[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὑπὲρ τῶν δικαίων[Refs 5th c.BC+] —often followed by a dependent clause, ἀ. ὡς.. declare in opposition or answer that.., χρησμοῖσι οὐκ ἔχω ἀντιλέγειν ὡς οὐκ εἰσὶ ἀληθέες[Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, ἀ. ποιήσειν ταῦτα, ἤν.. to reply that they will.., if.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. with accusative of things, ἴσ᾽ ἀντιλέξαι[Refs 5th c.BC+]; μῦθον ἀ. τινί tell one tale in reply to another, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be disputed, questioned, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of a place, ὑπό τινος ἀντιλεγόμενον…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἀντιλέγω

antilego

from 473 and 3004; to dispute, refuse:--answer again, contradict,

deny, gainsay(-er), speak against.

see GREEK for 473

see GREEK for 3004

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἀντιλέγω

v.

I speak or say in opposition, contradict

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἀντιλέγω antilegō 11x

to speak against, contradict; to gainsay, deny, Lk. 20:27; to oppose, Jn. 19:12; Acts 13:45; 28:19; Rom. 10:21; Tit. 1:9; 2:9; pass. to be spoken against, decried, Lk. 2:34; Acts 28:22*

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἀντιλέγω the common fut. is ἀντερῶ; the aor. commonly used is ἀντεῖπον to speak against, gainsay, contradict, τινί Thuc., etc.; τινὶ περί τινος Xen.; ὑπέρ τινος id. Xen.; πρός τι Ar.:— ἀντ. ὡς . . to declare in opposition or answer that . . , Hdt., etc.; c. inf. to reply that . . , Thuc.; ἀντ. μὴ ποιεῖν to speak against doing, id. Thuc.

c. acc. rei, to allege in answer, Soph., Thuc.:—Pass. to be disputed, Xen.; of a place, to be counter-claimed, id. Xen.

absol. to speak one against the other, speak in opposition, Hdt., etc.; οἱ ἀντιλέγοντες Thuc.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PAP-APM — Verb · present · active · participle · accusative · plural · masculine
accusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PAP-APM Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Active Mood: Participle Case: Accusative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
30%contradicting
contradicting30% · 3×denying20% · 2×when were objecting10% · 1×it is spoken against10% · 1×gainsaying10% · 1×spoken against10% · 1×speaks against10% · 1×

10 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 7 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
verb82%adverbial18%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 11 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
Σαδδουκαῖοςa Sadduceeκαίand, even, also,
καίand, even, also, nam
ζῆλοςeagerness, zeal,ἀπειθέωI disobey, rebel
σημεῖονa sign, miracle, ind
εἰς
Disj
ἀνθίστημιI take a stand a
ποιέωI do, make
ἑαυτοῦ
ἀντιλέγωgainsaying,11×
what comes after →
Article the
ΚαῖσαρCaesarὑπό
ἀνάστασιςa rising again, resu
μήNeg
ἅπαςall, the whole
Article the
δέbut, on the other ha
Article the
ἐλέγχωI rebuke, expose

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

Concordanceἀντιλέγω · 11× in the New Testament
Acts Luke Titus John Romans
Across the New Testament5 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Ignatius of Antioch Philo of Alexandria The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaEvery Good Man is Free 63c. AD 40

οὐ γάρ, εἰ αἱ τῶν ἀντιλεγόντων ψυχαὶ κεχηρεύκασιν ἐλευθερίας, ὑπ’ ἀφροσύνης καὶ τῶν ἄλλων κακιῶν δουλαγωγηθεῖσαι, διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένος.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 4.136c. AD 75–95

τῶν δὲ ἣν βούλονται πίστιν δώσειν ὁμολογούντων καὶ πρὸς τὸ μηδὲν ἀντιλεγόντων ὑπὸ τοῦ πρὸς αὐτὰς πάθους ἐπεὶ ταῦτα ὑμῖν,

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 12.4c. AD 100

καὶ πάλιν ἐν ἑτέρῳ προφήτῃ λέγει: Ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐξεπέτασα τὰς χεῖράς μου πρὸς λαὸν ἀπειθῆ καὶ ἀντιλέγοντα ὁδῷ δικαίᾳ μου.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
3rd c. BC 2nd c. AD 2nd c. BC 3rd c. AD 5th c. AD

δὲ πλοίων ἢ ζευγῶν ἀποδίδοσθαι τοὺς μισθοὺς κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν διαγραφὴν κελεύω. τοὺς δὲ ἀντιλέγοντας ἐπὶ τὸν γραμματέα μου ἀνάγεσθαι βούλομαι, ὃς ἢ αὐτὸς κωλύσει ἀδικεῖσθαι τοὺς ἰδιώτας ἢ

P.Yadin 1 20Maoza (Arabia)AD 130

προγεγραμμένης αὐλῆς σταθέντες ἐγδικήσομεν καὶ καθαροποιήσομεν ἀπὸ παντὸς ἀντιποιουμένου τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀναλώμασιν κατὰ μηδὲν ἀντιλεγόντες, πίστεως ἐπηρωτημένης καὶ ἀνθωμολογημένης.

CPR 7 4Soknopaiu Nesos (Arsinoites)AD 156

τὰς τιμὰς ἃς ἀνέσχετο διʼ ἐνιαυτοῦ ταῦτα ἑαυτῷ φυλαχθῆναι . Λιβερᾶλις ἐπύθετο· μή τις ἀντιλέγει; μηδενὸς ἀντειπόντος Λιβερᾶλις εἶπεν· ἕξει τὰς τιμάς. ἔτους ιθ Θεοῦ Αἰλίου Ἀντωνίνου … ιϛ.

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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