← G2018 G2020 →

ἐπιφωνέω

epiphōnéō

G2019 verb

SILEX Entry

Root φων- to call, to sound, to utter aloud

Definition

To call out to, exclaim, or raise one's voice toward someone or something; to utter a loud cry or shout, especially to attract attention, express emotion, or make a proclamation. The primary sense is to raise one's voice toward (someone or something), which may function in a variety of speech contexts: as an exclamation, a public proclamation, a shout of warning, or a response in dialogue.

Semantic Range

to call out to, to exclaim, to address loudly, to shout toward, to make a proclamation, to utter a response, to cry for attention

Root / Etymology

From ἐπί ('upon, toward') and φωνέω ('to sound, speak aloud, call out'), literally 'to call out toward' or 'to address with a loud voice.' Related to φωνή ('voice, sound').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἐπιφωνέω appears mostly in contexts of addressing or responding with a loud voice, often in response to an event or as part of public discourse. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term typically denotes one speaking or crying out loudly to be heard, sometimes carrying the connotation of protest, proclamation, or summoning attention. The word appears relatively rarely in the New Testament (e.g., Luke 9:38; Acts 16:28), often in the context of a plea, outcry, or a communal response. The English phrase 'cry against' (in some traditional translations) narrows the semantic potential—the verb may also simply indicate any loud or urgent call. In some contexts, especially in narrative accounts, it may describe both urgent personal pleas and dramatic pronouncements. Contrasts with κραυγάζω ('to scream, to cry out') or βοάω ('to shout, to call'), which may carry nuances of volume or emotional intensity but lack the prefix's directional sense. The prefix ἐπί emphasizes directionality: the voice is raised 'at' or 'toward' its recipient, rather than indiscriminately. This word does not carry specialized theological or technical meaning, but it conveys the dramatic or urgent quality of the address in both biblical and non-biblical texts. Its use in the LXX sometimes translates the Hebrew קָרָא (qārāʾ, to call), but does not overlap fully in nuance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπί and φωνέω; to call at something, i.e. exclaim:--cry (against), give a shout.

Root Family

ἐπιφωνέω (epiphōneō) — to call, to sound, to utter aloud

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2019-02 ἐπεφώνουν epephonoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL kept crying out they were calling out 3
G2019-01 ἐπεφώνει epephonei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG were shouting was calling out toward 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2019-02 Luke 23:21 ἐπεφώνουν epephonoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL kept crying out they were calling out
G2019-01 Acts 12:22 ἐπεφώνει epephonei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG were shouting was calling out toward
G2019-02 Acts 21:34 ἐπεφώνουν epephonoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL were shouting they were calling out
G2019-02 Acts 22:24 ἐπεφώνουν epephonoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL they were crying out they were calling out
← G2018 Greek Lexicon G2020 →