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εἰσακούω

eisakoúō

G1522 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ἀκού- to hear, to listen

Definition

To listen or attend to, to hear someone or something with the implication of responding favorably; to hearken. In most contexts, εἰσακούω refers to not merely perceiving sound but responding—especially to a request, appeal, prayer, or command—often with action following the hearing. Frequently used for requests, supplications, or prayers being attended to or granted.

Semantic Range

to hear (favorably), to grant (a request), to respond to, to heed, to listen attentively, to attend to (prayers or pleas)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition εἰς ('into, toward') and the verb ἀκούω ('to hear, to listen'). The compound suggests hearing into or listening with receptivity, often in reference to prayers or requests.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Koine Greek, εἰσακούω is relatively rare compared to ἀκούω and appears most frequently in contexts of responding to a plea or prayer (as in petitions to both human authorities and deities). In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) with an emphasis on heeding or answering a prayer (e.g., 2 Kings 19:20). In the New Testament, its occurrences are limited but maintain this sense of attentive or favorable hearing (e.g., Romans 10:20, where it refers to God giving heed to a people). Standard English translations such as "hear" or "listen to" can be too broad; the contextual implication generally carries the notion of attending to or granting a request. This distinguishes εἰσακούω from simple acts of listening (ἀκούω), placing more focus on the reception and response to the petitioner. The term does not initially carry a technical religious meaning but by the Hellenistic and NT period, it commonly refers to divine response to prayers.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from εἰς and ἀκούω; to listen to:--hear.

Root Family

εἰσακούω (eisakouō) — to hear, to listen attentively, to heed, to respond favorably

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1522-04 εἰσηκούσθη eisekousthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG has been heard was favorably heard 2
G1522-03 εἰσακουσθήσονται eisakousthesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL they will be heeded 1
G1522-02 εἰσακουσθεὶς eisakoustheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having been favorably heard 1
G1522-01 εἰσακούσονταί eisakousontai V FUT MID IND 3P PL they will listen they will heed for themselves 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1522-03 Matthew 6:7 εἰσακουσθήσονται eisakousthesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL they will be heeded
G1522-04 Luke 1:13 εἰσηκούσθη eisekousthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG has been heard was favorably heard
G1522-04 Acts 10:31 εἰσηκούσθη eisekousthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG has-been-heard was favorably heard
G1522-01 1 Corinthians 14:21 εἰσακούσονταί eisakousontai V FUT MID IND 3P PL they will listen they will heed for themselves
G1522-02 Hebrews 5:7 εἰσακουσθεὶς eisakoustheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having been favorably heard
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