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ἐπαγγέλλω

epangéllō

G1861 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To declare or announce publicly; specifically, to make a promise or offer an assurance, often with emphasis on one's intention or determination to do something; in middle and passive forms, to make a solemn promise or pledge, typically involving oneself as the obligor. Occasionally, to profess or claim something about oneself.

Semantic Range

to announce publicly, to make a formal promise, to pledge or engage oneself, to profess, to assert (about oneself), to claim ability or intent

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐπί (upon, over) and the verb ἀγγέλλω (to announce, proclaim), itself related to ἄγγελος (messenger). The verb ἐπαγγέλλω thus literally means 'to announce upon' or 'to declare to.' Root: ἀγγελ-.

Historical & Contextual Notes

First attested in Classical Greek, ἐπαγγέλλω commonly means 'to declare publicly' or 'to promise.' In Hellenistic and Koine usage, especially in legal and financial contexts, it refers to making a formal promise, contract, or pledge, sometimes with legal binding force. In the Septuagint and New Testament, ἐπαγγέλλομαι (middle voice) is frequently used for making promises, often with a focus on the one giving the assurance rather than the content alone. In New Testament writings, the subject of the promise can be either divine or human; God is frequently described as the giver of 'the promise' (ἡ ἐπαγγελία), denoting God's pledged actions or commitments. The word can also be used for professions, claims, or assertions of ability or intent (see 1 Tim 2:10; Tit 1:2). English translation as 'promise' often captures the core meaning but may not always express the performative, formalized, or public nature implied in Greek usage. The verb differs from similar terms like ὑπισχνέομαι, which is more narrowly 'to promise' or 'undertake,' and from forms like δηλόω ('to make clear, reveal').

Translation Consistency

primary "promise" 13 occurrences

The dominant sense in the SILEX range is making an assurance or pledge; the P2 occurrences most often render the word as forms of “promised.” “Promise” is natural English, covers both active announcing of intent and the middle/passive sense of pledging oneself, and will inflect naturally for all forms under this Strong’s number.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"professing" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and the base of ἄγγελος; to announce upon (reflexively), i.e. (by implication) to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself:--profess, (make) promise.

Root Family

ἐπαγγέλλω (epangellō) — announce, declare, proclaim, promise, pledge

Root ἀγγελ- to announce, to declare, to proclaim

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1861-06 ἐπηγγείλατο epeggeilato V AOR MID IND 3P SG promised he pledged himself he promised 5
G1861-07 ἐπήγγελται epeggeltai V PRF MID IND 3P SG he had promised he has pledged himself he has promised 3
G1861-02 ἐπαγγειλάμενος epaggeilamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG who promised having pledged himself having promised himself 2
G1861-04 ἐπαγγελλόμενοι epaggellomenoi V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL professing pledging themselves professing 2
G1861-03 ἐπαγγελλομέναις epaggellomenais V PRS MID PTCP DAT F PL professing to those pledging themselves professing 1
G1861-05 ἐπηγγείλαντο epeggeilanto V AOR MID IND 3P PL promised they pledged themselves they promised 1
G1861-01 ἐπαγγειλάμενον epaggeilamenon V AOR MID PTCP ACC M SG who had promised having pledged himself having promised 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1861-05 Mark 14:11 ἐπηγγείλαντο epeggeilanto V AOR MID IND 3P PL promised they pledged themselves they promised
G1861-06 Acts 7:5 ἐπηγγείλατο epeggeilato V AOR MID IND 3P SG He promised he pledged himself he promised
G1861-07 Romans 4:21 ἐπήγγελται epeggeltai V PRF MID IND 3P SG he had promised he has pledged himself he has promised
G1861-07 Galatians 3:19 ἐπήγγελται epeggeltai V PRF PASS IND 3P SG the promise has been made he has pledged himself it has been promised
G1861-03 1 Timothy 2:10 ἐπαγγελλομέναις epaggellomenais V PRS MID PTCP DAT F PL professing to those pledging themselves professing
G1861-04 1 Timothy 6:21 ἐπαγγελλόμενοι epaggellomenoi V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL professing pledging themselves professing
G1861-06 Titus 1:2 ἐπηγγείλατο epeggeilato V AOR MID IND 3P SG promised he pledged himself promised
G1861-02 Hebrews 6:13 ἐπαγγειλάμενος epaggeilamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having-promised having pledged himself having promised
G1861-02 Hebrews 10:23 ἐπαγγειλάμενος epaggeilamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG who promised having pledged himself having promised himself
G1861-01 Hebrews 11:11 ἐπαγγειλάμενον epaggeilamenon V AOR MID PTCP ACC M SG who had promised having pledged himself having promised
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