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G27 ἀγαπητός (agapētós)

Greek 📖 Greek Word Study
Adjective
‹ G26 Greek Dictionary G28 ›

Quick Definition

ἀγαπητός, ή, όν Adj loved, beloved

Strong's Definition

beloved

Derivation: from G25 (ἀγαπάω);

KJV Usage: (dearly, well) beloved, dear

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

adjc. | -ή, -όν | ἀγαπάω

25.45 · Attitudes and Emotions · Love, Affection, Compassion

object of one’s affection, one who is loved, beloved, dear (derivative of ἀγαπάω[a] ‘to love,’ 25.43) pertaining to one who or that which is loved It is also possible to understand ἀγαπητός in MAT 12:18 as ‘the only beloved one’ (see 58.53), and the meaning may, in fact, be simply ‘only’ or ‘unique.’ This meaning has evidently arisen because of the association of ἀγαπητός with μονογενής ‘unique, only’ (58.52).

MAT 12:18 · MRK 12:6 · LUK 20:13 · ACT 15:25 · ROM 1:7 · ROM 11:28 · ROM 12:19 · ROM 16:5 · ROM 16:8 · ROM 16:9 · ROM 16:12 · 1CO 4:14 · 1CO 4:17 · 1CO 10:14 · 1CO 15:58 · 2CO 7:1 · 2CO 12:19 · EPH 5:1 · EPH 6:21 · PHP 2:12 · PHP 4:1 · PHP 4:1 · COL 1:7 · COL 4:7 · COL 4:9 · COL 4:14 · 1TH 2:8 · 1TI 6:2 · 2TI 1:2 · PHM 1:1 · PHM 1:16 · HEB 6:9 · JAS 1:16 · JAS 1:19 · JAS 2:5 · 1PE 2:11 · 1PE 4:12 · 2PE 3:1 · 2PE 3:8 · 2PE 3:14 · 2PE 3:15 · 2PE 3:17 · 1JN 2:7 · 1JN 3:2 · 1JN 3:21 · 1JN 4:1 · 1JN 4:7 · 1JN 4:11 · 3JN 1:1 · 3JN 1:2 · 3JN 1:5 · 3JN 1:11 · JUD 1:3 · JUD 1:17 · JUD 1:20

58.53 · Nature, Class, Example · Distinctive, Unique

only, only dear pertaining to one who is the only one of his or her class, but at the same time is particularly loved and cherished

MAT 3:17 · MAT 12:18 · MAT 17:5 · MRK 1:11 · MRK 9:7 · LUK 3:22 · LUK 20:13 · 2PE 1:17

1 MAT 3:17 ἀγαπητός in this sense is typical of a term which shares significant components from two different semantic domains. In the context of MAT 3:17 the focus seems clearly to be upon the distinctive and unique elements of meaning, but it would be entirely wrong to rule out the supplementary component of being loved and cherished (see ἀγαπητός[a], 25.45).

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

ἀγαπητός, τή, -dv, (ἀγαπάω), beloved, esteemed, dear, favorite; (opp. to ἐχθρός, Ro. xi. 28): 6 vids μου (τοῦ Θεοῦ) ὁ ἀγαπητός, of Jesus, the Messiah, Mt. 111. 17 "Ayap fhere WH mrg. take ὁ dy. absol., connecting it with what follows]; xii. 18; xvii. 5; Mk. i. 11; ix. 7; Lk. iii. 22; ix. 35 (where Lmrg. T Tr WH ὁ ἐκλελεγμένος) ; 2 Pet. i. 17, cf. Mk. xii. 6; Lk. xx. 13; [cf. Ascensio Isa. (ed. Dillmann) vii. 23 sq.; viii. 18, 25,ete.]. dyaπητοὶ Θεοῦ [W. 194 (182 sq.) ; B. 190 (165)] is applied to Christians as being reconciled to God and judged by him to be worthy of eternal life: Ro. i. 7, οἵ. xi. 28; 1 Th. i. 4; Col. iii. 12, (Sept., Ps. lix. (Ix.) 7; evii. (eviii.) 7; exxvi. (exxvii.) 2, ἀγαπητοί σου and αὐτοῦ, of pious Israelites). But Christians, bound together by mutual love, are ἀγαπητοί also to one another (Philem. 16; 1 Tim. vi. 2); hence they are dignified with this epithet very often in tender address, both indirect (Ro. xvi. 5, 8; Col. iv. 14; Eph. vi. 21, ete.) and direct (Ro. xii. 19; 1 Co. iv. 14; [Philem. 2 Rec.]; Heb. vi. 9. ΠΗ 1. 10.7.1 Pet. 1.11 2e beta. 15 [1 πὸ ἀπ GLTTr WH)],ete.). Generally foll. by the gen.; once by the dat. ἀγαπ. ἡμῖν, 1 Th. ii. 8 [yet ef. W. § 31, 2; B. 190 (165) ]. ἀγαπητὸς ἐν κυρίῳ beloved in the fellowship of Christ, equiv. to dear fellow-Christian, Ro. xvi. 8. [Not used in the Fourth Gospel or the Rey. In class. Grk. fr. Hom. Il. 6, 401 on; cf. Cope on Aristot. rhet. 1, 7, 41.] "Ayap [WH “Ay. (see their Intr. § 408)], ἡ, indecl., (in Joseph. ᾿Αγάρα, -ns), 13) (flight), Hagar, a bondmaid of Abraham, and by him the mother of Ishmael (Gen. xvi.): Gal. iv. 24, [25 L txt. T om. Tr br.]. Since the Arabians according to Paul (who had formerly dwelt among them, Gal. i. 17) called the rocky Mt. Sinai by a name similar in sound to 119 ( lee i. e. rock), the apostle in the passage referred“ to employs the name Hagar allegorically to denote the servile sense of fear with which the Mosaic economy imbued its subjects. [Cf. B. D. Am. ed. pp. 978, 2366 note; Bp. Lghtft.’s remarks appended to his Com. on Gal. cae

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

ἀγαπητός agapētos 61x

beloved, dear; worthy of love

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

ἀγαπητός, -ή, -όν

(< ἀγαπάω), [in LXX chiefly for יָתִיד, יָדִיד;]

beloved (v. M, Pr., 221); by God: of Christ, Mt 3:17; of men, Ro 1:7;

by Christians, of one another: I Co 4:14; freq. as form of address, I Co 10:14; opp. to ἐχθρός, Ro 11:28 (v. AR, Eph., 229; Cremer, 17; MM, VGT, s.v.).

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

ἀγαπητός. For the use of this characteristic NT designation in the Christian papyri, see for example the address of the muchdiscussed letter of Psenosiris P Grenf II. 73 (late iii/a.p.) (= Selections, p. 117), ᾿Απόλλωνι πρεσβυτέρῳ ἀγαπητῷ ἀδελφῷ ἐν K(upl)w χαίρειν. So P Lond 417} (c. Α.1.. 346) (ΞΞ 11. p. 299, Sevectéons, Ὁ. 123), P Heid 67 (iv/a.D.) (= Selections, p. 125) α΄. The word is also found in a horoscope of A.D. 20-50 addressed to a certain Tryphon—P Oxy II. 235°, Τρύφων ἀγᾳπετέ : he may of course have been a Jew— see on the fem. T'pvpatwa below.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

ἀγαπητός (agapētos) — beloved. ἀγαπ-ητός, ή, όν, Doric dialect ἀγαπ-ᾱτός, ά, όν, that wherewith one must be content [Refs], hence of only children, μοῦνος ἐὼν ἀ.[NT+8th c.BC+]; ἀγαπητός· μονογενής, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

2. to be acquiesced in (as the least in a choice of evils), [Refs 5th c.BC+] —hence, ἀγαπητόν [ἐστι] one must be content, εἰ.., ἐάν.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; with infinitive, [Refs]

II. of things, desirable, ἤθη[Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.2. of persons, beloved, ἀδελφὲ ἀγαπητέ[LXX]: in letters, as a term of address, [NT]

III. adverb -τῶς gladly, contentedly, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

III.2. just enough to content one, barely, scarcely, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

ἀγαπητός, -ή, -όν (ἀγαπάω), [in LXX chiefly for יָתִיד, יָדִיד ;] beloved (see M, Pr., 221); __(a) by God: of Christ, Mat.3:17; of men, Rom.1:7; __(b) by Christians, of one another: 1Co.4:14; frequently as form of address, ib. 10:14; opposite to ἐχθρός, Rom.11:28 (see AR, Eph., 229; Cremer, 17; MM, VGT, see word). (AS)

Bible Occurrences (60)

2:8
6:2
1:2
6:9

📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin

Beloved (27) agapetos

Beloved (27) (agapetos from agapao = to love, agape = unconditional love borne by Spirit - Gal 5:22-) means beloved, dear, very much loved. Agapetos describes the love of another, this love being called out of the "giver's" heart by preciousness of the recipient of the love (the "beloved'). Agapetos is used only of Christians as united with God or with each other in love. Agapetos is used only of Christians as united (by covenant, the New Covenant) with God and/or with each other in love. Agapetos describes "one who is in a very special relationship with another" (BDAG) and in secular Greek is used mostly of a child, especially an only child to whom all the love of his parents is given (cf use by the Father describing His only Son and Abraham describing his "only son" in Ge 22:2). BDAG adds that agapetos " pertains to one who is dearly loved, dear, beloved, prized, valued (papyri, LXX; pseudepigraphia) indicating a close relationship, especially that between parent and child." Beloved is a term of endearment and is someone that you love, and someone you are deeply devoted to. In the context of the New Testament agape love speaks of God’s divine and infinite love, a love that seeks the ultimate spiritual welfare of the one loved. Agapetos could be translated “divinely loved ones.” God the Father uses agapetos of Jesus at the transfiguration... While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him (A command we do well to heed!)!” (Mt 17:5) In fact the first 7 uses in the NT are of God the Father speaking of Christ, His beloved Son (Mt. 3:17; 12:18; 17:5; Mk. 1:11; 9:7; 12:6; Lk. 3:22) and as Friberg says these uses describe "One not only greatly loved but also unique, the only one of a class." This usage by God to describe His only Son, the Son of His love, gives you some idea of the preciousness of the word beloved! This truth makes it even more incredible that believers are referred to here by Peter as "beloved!" In all of Paul's uses of agapetos, he is referring to saints and sometimes uses beloved to modify his description 1Cor 15:58 ("beloved brethren" - even in face of this church having multiple spiritual "issues", cf Eph 4:1), Eph 6:21,Col 4:7, 9 ("beloved brother", as in ). Col 4:14 (Luke the beloved physician). 1Cor 4:14, Eph 5:1 ("beloved children"). "Beloved brother" in Philemon 1:16. In 1Cor 4:17 Paul describes Timothy as his "beloved and faithful child in the Lord" where "child" does not speak of biology, but of soteriology. In other words, Paul was involved in Timothy's new birth experience (cf 2Ti 1:2). Paul used the verb form agapao, to describe the saints at Thessalonica as "brethren beloved (agapao) by God, His choice (1Th 1:4-note). In Ro 11:28 beloved describes Jews who are elect and therefore part of the remnant ("Messianic Jews"). Agapetos - 61x in 60v in NT - Mt. 3:17; 12:18; 17:5; Mk. 1:11; 9:7; 12:6; Lk. 3:22; 20:13; Acts 15:25; Ro 1:7; 11:28; 12:19; 16:5, 8, 9, 12; 1 Co. 4:14, 17; 10:14; 15:58; 2Co. 7:1; 12:19; Eph 5:1; 6:21; Phil. 2:12; 4:1; Col. 1:7; 4:7, 9, 14; 1Th 2:8; 1Ti 6:2; 2Ti 1:2; Philemon 1:1, 16; Heb 6:9; Jas 1:16, 19; 2:5; 1Pe 2:11; 4:12; 2Pe 1:17; 3:1, 8, 14, 15, 17; 1Jn. 2:7; 3:2, 21; 4:1, 7, 11; 3Jn. 1:1, 2, 5, 11; Jude 1:3, 17, 20. With the exception of 1Th 2:8 where agapetos is translated as "very dear," all the NT uses in NAS are translated "beloved." Peter uses beloved as a descriptive title, reminding his readers who were going through much suffering because of persecution, that they were not to trust their feelings but to remember that they were loved with all the love in the heart of God. What a sweet pillow upon which to rest our weary, tried, tested, tempted hearts, just to know that our Father loves us (cp He 13:5). It helps one endure the heartaches and pains of life. Agapetos - 24x/24v in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Gen 22:2, 12, 16; Ps 38:20; 45:1; 60:5; 68:12; Ps 84:1; 108:6; 127:2; Isa 5:1; 26:17; Jer 6:26; 31:20; Amos 8:10; Zech 12:10; 13:6. Note the first use in the OT... Gen 22:2 And He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” 12 And he said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me.”\ Comment: In Ge 22:12 the Lxx translates agapetos as "only son" (Hebrew = yachid) rather than as beloved. In a similar way, in Zech 12:10 agapetos is used to translate "only son" (again the Hebrew is yachid). Ps 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. Isa 5:1 Let me sing now for my well-beloved (agapao in perfect tense) A song of my beloved (agapetos) concerning His vineyard. My well-beloved (agapao in perfect tense) had a vineyard on a fertile hill. Comment: Here agapetos refers to the nation of Israel as a whole rather than as beloved.

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