ἀκούω

akoúō

G191 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To perceive with the sense of hearing; to hear. ἀκούω primarily means to perceive sounds or speech, whether physical or metaphorical. The verb can denote both the physical act of hearing and the active or attentive listening to speech, reports, or messages, often including the additional nuance of comprehending or understanding, and in some contexts, obeying or responding to what is heard. It also extends metaphorically to hearing about or receiving news, reports, or teachings.

Semantic Range

to perceive sounds, to hear speech, to listen attentively, to understand (what is said), to heed, to be informed, to receive news, to obey (in some contexts), to be reported (passive)

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root ἀκού-; not derived from another Greek verb. Root is connected to ἀκοή (hearing, report) and possibly related to Proto-Indo-European *h₂eku- ('to hear'), which has cognates in other Indo-European languages, such as Latin 'audio'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἀκούω is attested from Homeric Greek and throughout classical and Hellenistic literature, always retaining the fundamental sense of hearing. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it frequently appears both in literal senses (hearing sounds, words, or voices) and in more figurative or extended senses: hearing reports or news, understanding (i.e., 'hearing with comprehension'), or even obeying. In biblical Greek, there is a frequent idiomatic use where "hearing" connotes not only auditory reception but also the willingness to respond or obey, particularly in contexts involving divine speech, instruction, or law. English translations sometimes convey this broader sense with terms like "listen" or "heed," but often simply render it as "hear." The verb is also used in passive or impersonal constructions to indicate that something "has been heard" or "is reported" (cf. ἀκοή as 'report' or 'rumor'). In contrast to verbs like βλέπω ('to see'), ἀκούω carries the potential for both receptive understanding and volitional response, depending on the context. The semantic overlap with "listen" and "obey" (cf. ὑπακούω) is especially prominent in Hellenistic and biblical Greek.

Translation Consistency

primary "hear" 428 occurrences

“Hear” is the natural, most common English verb that covers the full, typical range of ἀκούω: perceiving sound, listening attentively, receiving news, and (by extension) heeding or obeying. P2 data show forms like “heard,” “hear,” and “hearing” as the overwhelmingly frequent renderings, so using the base verb “hear” allows consistent, idiomatic inflection across all occurrences while still accommodating both literal and metaphorical senses.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"listen" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.

Root Family

ἀκούω (akouō) — to hear, to listen, to attend

Root ἀκού- to hear, to listen, to attend
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1635 ἑκών I heard

Word Forms

51 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G191-24 ἀκούσαντες akousantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having heard having heard having heard 51
G191-45 ἤκουσα ekousa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I heard I heard I heard 35
G191-26 ἀκούσας akousas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having heard having heard having heard 33
G191-49 ἠκούσατε ekousate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you heard you heard you heard 26
G191-07 ἀκούειν akouein V PRS ACT INF to hear to hear to hear 22
G191-47 ἤκουσαν ekousan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL heard they heard they heard 19
G191-10 ἀκούετε akouete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you hear you are hearing you are hearing 19
G191-50 ἤκουσεν ekousen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG heard heard he heard 17
G191-23 ἀκοῦσαι akousai V AOR ACT INF to hear to hear to hear 17
G191-17 ἀκούοντες akouontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL hearing those hearing those hearing 15

Occurrences in Scripture

430 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G191-26 Matthew 2:3 ἀκούσας akousas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having heard having heard having heard
G191-24 Matthew 2:9 ἀκούσαντες akousantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having heard having heard having heard
G191-51 Matthew 2:18 ἠκούσθη ekousthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was heard was heard was heard
G191-26 Matthew 2:22 ἀκούσας akousas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having heard having heard having heard
G191-26 Matthew 4:12 ἀκούσας akousas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having heard having heard having heard
G191-49 Matthew 5:21 ἠκούσατε ekousate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you have heard you heard you heard
G191-49 Matthew 5:27 ἠκούσατε ekousate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL You have heard you heard you heard
G191-49 Matthew 5:33 ἠκούσατε ekousate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you have heard you heard you heard
G191-49 Matthew 5:38 ἠκούσατε ekousate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL You have heard you heard you heard
G191-49 Matthew 5:43 ἠκούσατε ekousate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL You have heard you heard you heard