ἔλεγον

elegon

they were saying

a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.

G3004

Mark 3:30 · Word #2

Lexicon G3004

Lemmaλέγω
Transliterationlégō
Strong'sG3004
In-contextthey were saying
Literalthey-said

Morphology V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL All morphology codes

Part of Speech V — Verb — An action or state of being
Tense IMPF — Imperfect — Continuous or repeated past action
Voice ACT — Active — The subject performs the action
Mood IND — Indicative — States a fact or reality
Person 3P — 3rd person — The one spoken about ("he/she/it/they")
Number PL — Plural — More than one

Lexical Info

Lemmaλέγω
Strong'sG3004

SIBI-P1 G3004-34

they were laying forth (in words)

Rootλέγω (legō)
Core Meaningsto say, to speak, to tell, to declare, to lay forth, to recount
Semantic Rangeto say, speak, tell, declare, recount, explain, mean, call, name, command, ask
Conceptual Significanceλέγω is one of the central verbs of speech in the Greek Scriptures, frequently introducing direct discourse and divine revelation. Its root sense of "laying forth" underscores the act of setting words or meaning before others, a key function in proclamation, teaching, and the communication of God’s purposes.
Morphological NotesVerb; imperfect tense (past ongoing/repeated action), active voice, indicative mood, third person plural. The imperfect highlights continued or habitual speaking in past narrative context.
Rendering RationaleThe verb λέγω fundamentally means "to lay forth," especially in articulated speech or discourse. The imperfect active indicative, third person plural (IIA3P), indicates continuous or repeated action in past time, so "they were laying forth" preserves both the root image and the ongoing past sense of the imperfect.

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Words from Root λέγω (to say, to speak, to tell, to declare, to lay forth, to recount)

SILEX Code Transliteration SIBI-P1
G3004-01 eipa I was laying-forth (in words)
G3004-02 eipan they were laying-forth (their words)
G3004-03 eipas you laid-forth (in word)

Word Usage (2353 occurrences of G3004)

Location Form Transliteration Meaning
Matthew 1:16 λεγόμενος legomenos called
Matthew 1:20 λέγων legon saying
Matthew 1:22 ῥηθὲν rethen was spoken
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