ἐκλέγομαι (G1586) — Greek Lexicon

ἐκλέγομαι

eklégomai

G1586 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To choose or select for oneself; to pick out from among a larger group, often with intention or purpose. In the middle voice, emphasizes the subject's involvement and interest in the selection, sometimes implying privilege or special status of those chosen. In various contexts, may refer to choosing individuals, things, or concepts for a specific role, function, or relationship.

Semantic Range

to select out, to choose for oneself, to appoint, to pick out from a group for a particular purpose or relationship, to make a decision regarding individuals or things

Root / Etymology

From ἐκ ('out of, from') and λέγω (here in its primary sense 'to pick,' not 'to say'). The base meaning is 'to pick out from.' The middle voice indicates the choice is made for oneself or with particular involvement.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐκλέγομαι (middle/passive of ἐκλέγω) occurs with the sense of 'choose for oneself' or 'select out.' In the Septuagint, it is used to translate Hebrew verbs like בָּחַר (to choose), frequently in contexts of divine or royal selection (e.g., selection of leaders, cities, or the Israelite people). In New Testament Greek, it typically conveys the act of selecting individuals or groups for a particular purpose—frequently carrying the nuance of being chosen by a deity or by an authority. English translations sometimes render it as 'to choose,' 'to select,' or, as a participle, 'chosen, elect.' However, the Greek does not intrinsically carry later theological connotations of predestination apart from context. The middle voice particularly stresses that the subject makes the choice for their own reasons or benefit, differentiating it from passive or impersonal notions of selection. Contrast with αἱρέομαι, which can mean 'to take' or 'to choose' more broadly, but ἐκλέγομαι often conveys a more purposeful, limited selection from a group.

Translation Consistency

primary "choose" 0 occurrences

'Choose' is the most natural, widely used verb that captures the full SILEX range (to pick out, select, appoint, or designate) and matches the majority of existing renderings. It conveys the middle-voice sense of personal involvement or selection for privilege without sounding overly formal, so it will render consistently and idiomatically across all forms of G1586.

Alternatives (22 occurrences):

"chose for" (11x) "chose for myself" (4x) "having chosen for" (2x) "chosen" (1x) "selecting for" (1x) "chose for yourselves" (1x) "chose for yourself" (1x) "ones having chosen for" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from ἐκ and λέγω (in its primary sense); to select:--make choice, choose (out), chosen.

Root Family

ἐκλέγομαι (eklegomai) — to choose, to select, to pick out

Root λεκ- to choose, to select, to pick out

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1586-09`	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	has chosen	selected out for himself	he chose for himself	10
`G1586-06`	ἐξελεξάμην	exelexamen	`V AOR MID IND 1P SG`	chose	I chose for myself	I chose for myself	4
`G1586-05`	ἐξελέγοντο	exelegonto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they chose	they were selecting for themselves	they were selecting for themselves	1
`G1586-03`	ἐκλεξάμενος	eklexamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	he chose	having chosen for himself	having chosen for himself	1
`G1586-04`	ἐκλεξαμένους	eklexamenous	`V AOR MID PTCP ACC M PL`	having chosen	having chosen for themselves	having chosen for themselves	1
`G1586-01`	ἐκλελεγμένος	eklelegmenos	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	chosen	having been chosen	chosen	1
`G1586-02`	ἐκλεξαμένοις	eklexamenois	`V AOR MID PTCP DAT M PL`	to choose	to the ones having chosen for themselves	to the ones having chosen for themselves	1
`G1586-07`	ἐξελέξαντο	exelexanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	they chose	they chose for themselves	they chose for themselves	1
`G1586-08`	ἐξελέξασθε	exelexasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`	chose	you chose for yourselves	you chose for yourselves	1
`G1586-10`	ἐξελέξω	exelexo	`V AOR MID IND 2P SG`	you have chosen	you chose for yourself	you chose for yourself	1

Occurrences in Scripture

22 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1586-09`	Mark 13:20	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	he chose	selected out for himself	he chose for himself
`G1586-03`	Luke 6:13	ἐκλεξάμενος	eklexamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	he chose	having chosen for himself	having chosen for himself
`G1586-01`	Luke 9:35	ἐκλελεγμένος	eklelegmenos	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	chosen	having been chosen	chosen
`G1586-09`	Luke 10:42	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	has chosen	selected out for himself	he chose for himself
`G1586-05`	Luke 14:7	ἐξελέγοντο	exelegonto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they chose	they were selecting for themselves	they were selecting for themselves
`G1586-06`	John 6:70	ἐξελεξάμην	exelexamen	`V AOR MID IND 1P SG`	have I chosen	I chose for myself	I chose for myself
`G1586-06`	John 13:18	ἐξελεξάμην	exelexamen	`V AOR MID IND 1P SG`	I have chosen	I chose for myself	I chose for myself
`G1586-08`	John 15:16	ἐξελέξασθε	exelexasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`	chose	you chose for yourselves	you chose for yourselves
`G1586-06`	John 15:16	ἐξελεξάμην	exelexamen	`V AOR MID IND 1P SG`	chose	I chose for myself	I chose for myself
`G1586-06`	John 15:19	ἐξελεξάμην	exelexamen	`V AOR MID IND 1P SG`	chose	I chose for myself	I chose for myself
`G1586-09`	Acts 1:2	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	He had chosen	selected out for himself	he chose for himself
`G1586-10`	Acts 1:24	ἐξελέξω	exelexo	`V AOR MID IND 2P SG`	you have chosen	you chose for yourself	you chose for yourself
`G1586-07`	Acts 6:5	ἐξελέξαντο	exelexanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	they chose	they chose for themselves	they chose for themselves
`G1586-09`	Acts 13:17	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	chose	selected out for himself	he chose for himself
`G1586-09`	Acts 15:7	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	chose	selected out for himself	he chose for himself
`G1586-04`	Acts 15:22	ἐκλεξαμένους	eklexamenous	`V AOR MID PTCP ACC M PL`	having chosen	having chosen for themselves	having chosen for themselves
`G1586-02`	Acts 15:25	ἐκλεξαμένοις	eklexamenois	`V AOR MID PTCP DAT M PL`	to choose	to the ones having chosen for themselves	to the ones having chosen for themselves
`G1586-09`	1 Corinthians 1:27	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	has chosen	selected out for himself	he chose for himself
`G1586-09`	1 Corinthians 1:27	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato-2	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	has chosen	selected out for himself	he chose for himself
`G1586-09`	1 Corinthians 1:28	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	chose	selected out for himself	he chose for himself
`G1586-09`	Ephesians 1:4	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	he chose	selected out for himself	he chose for himself
`G1586-09`	James 2:5	ἐξελέξατο	exelexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	chosen	selected out for himself	he chose for himself

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