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πιστεύω

pisteúō

G4100 verb

SILEX Entry

Root πιστευ- to trust, to believe, to consider trustworthy, to entrust

Definition

To trust, to believe, to consider something or someone as trustworthy or reliable. The verb primarily indicates the act of believing or having confidence in the truth, reliability, or trustworthiness of something or someone. Contextually, it may range from accepting a statement as true, to placing personal trust in a person (such as a leader or deity), to formally entrusting something valuable, including responsibility or information, to another.

Semantic Range

to trust, to have confidence in, to believe (a statement or person), to entrust something to someone, to be convinced of truth, to rely upon, to give credence to, to put confidence in

Root / Etymology

Derived from πίστις (pistis, 'trust, faith, belief'), itself from the stem πειθ- (peith-, 'to persuade, be convinced'). The formation pisteúō is a denominative verb from the noun πίστις.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πιστεύω generally meant 'to trust,' 'have confidence in,' or 'to rely on,' whether relating to people, statements, or documents. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, the range expanded in religious, social, and legal contexts. The Septuagint often uses πιστεύω to translate various Hebrew verbs connoting trust, belief, or faithfulness, particularly with respect to Israelite trust in their deity. In the New Testament, πιστεύω typically describes confidence in the truth or divine reliability of a proclamation, message, or person, notably in relation to Jesus as a figure of trust or authority. In some legal or administrative settings, it can mean 'to entrust' possessions or responsibilities to another. English translations frequently render it as 'believe,' 'have faith,' or 'trust,' but these may not always convey the full dynamics of relational trust, reliance, and entrusting present in Koine Greek usage. While often found in connection with divine subjects, πιστεύω is also used for secular or interpersonal beliefs and trust, including believing reports, trusting leaders, or entrusting items or people for safekeeping.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πίστις; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

Root Family

πιστεύω (pisteuō) — to trust, to believe, to consider trustworthy, to entrust

Word Forms

55 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G4100-30 πιστεύετε pisteuete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL believe you are trusting 25
G4100-33 πιστεύων pisteuon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG believing the one trusting 24
G4100-06 ἐπίστευσαν episteusan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL believed they trusted 22
G4100-39 πιστεύουσιν pisteuousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL who believe they trust 14
G4100-09 ἐπίστευσεν episteusen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG believed trusted 14
G4100-49 πιστεύσητε pisteusete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL you may believe you might trust 11
G4100-28 πιστεύεις pisteueis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG believe you are trusting 8
G4100-42 πιστεύσαντες pisteusantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having believed having trusted 7
G4100-36 πιστεύοντες pisteuontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL believing those trusting 7
G4100-08 ἐπιστεύσατε episteusate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you believed you trusted 7

Occurrences in Scripture

244 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G4100-07 Matthew 8:13 ἐπίστευσας episteusas V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you trusted
G4100-30 Matthew 9:28 πιστεύετε pisteuete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you are trusting
G4100-38 Matthew 18:6 πιστευόντων pisteuonton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL of the ones trusting
G4100-36 Matthew 21:22 πιστεύοντες pisteuontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL those trusting
G4100-08 Matthew 21:25 ἐπιστεύσατε episteusate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you trusted
G4100-08 Matthew 21:32 ἐπιστεύσατε episteusate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you trusted
G4100-06 Matthew 21:32 ἐπίστευσαν episteusan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they trusted
G4100-40 Matthew 21:32 πιστεῦσαι pisteusai V AOR ACT INF to trust
G4100-49 Matthew 24:23 πιστεύσητε pisteusete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL you might trust
G4100-49 Matthew 24:26 πιστεύσητε pisteusete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL you might trust
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