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ἐσθίω

esthíō

G2068 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ἐσθι- to eat, to consume

Definition

To consume food or take in nourishment by eating; in extended senses, to partake (of a meal), to consume, or to metaphorically absorb. The core meaning pertains to the physical act of eating, but in some texts may broaden to signify sharing a meal, partaking in food, or metaphorically, to receive nourishment (including spiritual sustenance). Sometimes used with the nuance of devouring or consuming.

Semantic Range

to eat, to partake of food, to consume (food), to devour, to receive nourishment, to absorb (metaphorically); to share a meal

Root / Etymology

Principal verb in Koine Greek for 'to eat.' Related to cognate forms in other Indo-European languages (cf. Latin edo, English eat). The verb ἐσθίω is used primarily in certain tenses; in others, the suppletive verb φάγω is used. Root ties found in earlier Greek forms (Homeric ἔδω) and Mycenaean e-ti-jo. The present stem is ἐσθίω, but other principal parts come from φάγ- ('to eat'), reflecting historical phonological development.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek and throughout Hellenistic and Koine periods, ἐσθίω regularly denotes the act of eating. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it simply means 'to eat,' whether as an individual act or a communal meal (cf. Matt 6:31; Mark 2:16). The verb may also be used metaphorically, as in John 6:54, to describe the act of partaking of spiritual or symbolic nourishment, though the primary focus remains the physical act. In certain idioms, it may suggest 'devouring' in a more intense sense (cf. metaphorical usage in Revelation 17:16). Standard English translations such as 'eat' or 'consume' usually suffice, but awareness of metaphorical extensions and the interplay with φάγω is important for precise understanding. The distinction between ἐσθίω (present, imperfect) and φάγω (other tenses) is significant grammatically but does not represent a difference in core meaning.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

strengthened for a primary (to eat); used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by φάγω; to eat (usually literal):--devour, eat, live.

Root Family

ἐσθίω (esthiō) — to eat, to consume, to partake of food

Word Forms

30 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2068-20 φαγεῖν phagein V AOR ACT INF to eat to eat 34
G2068-11 ἐσθίων esthion V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG eating eating 14
G2068-04 ἔφαγον ephagon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL ate they ate 12
G2068-07 ἐσθίει esthiei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG eats he/she/it is eating 10
G2068-19 φάγῃ phage V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG eat he/she/it may eat 8
G2068-17 ἐσθίουσιν esthiousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL eat they are eating 8
G2068-09 ἐσθίετε esthiete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL eat you (pl.) are eating 7
G2068-08 ἐσθίειν esthiein V PRS ACT INF to eat to be eating 6
G2068-24 φάγητε phagete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL you will eat you all may eat 6
G2068-30 φάγωσιν phagosin V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL they might eat they might eat 6

Occurrences in Scripture

158 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2068-24 Matthew 6:25 φάγητε phagete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL you all may eat
G2068-27 Matthew 6:31 φάγωμεν phagomen V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL let us eat
G2068-07 Matthew 9:11 ἐσθίει esthiei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG he/she/it is eating
G2068-11 Matthew 11:18 ἐσθίων esthion V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG eating
G2068-11 Matthew 11:19 ἐσθίων esthion V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG eating
G2068-08 Matthew 12:1 ἐσθίειν esthiein V PRS ACT INF to be eating
G2068-01 Matthew 12:4 ἔφαγεν ephagen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he ate
G2068-20 Matthew 12:4 φαγεῖν phagein V AOR ACT INF to eat
G2068-20 Matthew 14:16 φαγεῖν phagein V AOR ACT INF to eat
G2068-04 Matthew 14:20 ἔφαγον ephagon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they ate
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