ἀγαπάω (G25) — Greek Lexicon

ἀγαπάω

agapáō

G25 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To value, cherish, or have deep regard for; to demonstrate loyal concern or commitment to another's wellbeing. In general usage, ἀγαπάω indicates a deliberate, active kind of love, often characterized by goodwill, preference, or esteem, rather than affection or emotion alone. In some contexts, especially in Hellenistic and Koine Greek literature, it denotes a love marked by choice or action as opposed to spontaneous feeling. The word can refer to love within relationships (familial, friendly, marital), to respect for the divine, or to concern for others more broadly.

Semantic Range

to regard with respect or goodwill, to esteem, to show preference or commitment, to love in the sense of choice or action, to practice loyal devotion, to be fond of, to welcome or treat kindly

Root / Etymology

From root ἀγαπ-, related to ἀγάπη (love, goodwill). The etymology before Koine is uncertain; suggestions of connection to Hebrew עגב (to desire) are speculative and not widely accepted. No clear connection to earlier major Greek roots for 'love' (e.g., φιλ- or ἐρα-).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀγαπάω was less common and usually meant 'to treat with affection' or 'to welcome, prefer'. Its prominence and specialized use expanded in Hellenistic and especially Jewish-Greek (Septuagint) and early Christian contexts, where it became the principal term for deliberate, volitional love—a love rooted in commitment and ethical action rather than mere feeling or personal attachment. This distinguishes it from forms like φιλέω (philéō, affectionate love, friendship) and ἐράω (eráō, passionate or erotic love). In the Septuagint, ἀγαπάω often translates Hebrew אָהַב (to love, delight in), signifying love among humans and towards God. In the New Testament, it frequently describes love characterized by loyalty, self-sacrifice, or divine initiative. Historic English versions sometimes translate both ἀγαπάω and φιλέω as 'love,' but the words have distinct nuances in Koine Greek, especially within literary and religious texts.

Translation Consistency

primary "love" 38 occurrences

Most natural and common English equivalent for ἀγαπάω, capturing deliberate, active, and relational sense of esteem, commitment, and goodwill. It appears most frequently in usage and can naturally render commands, descriptions, and doctrinal statements (e.g., love God, love one another) across forms. More specific alternatives like 'cherish' or 'value' are useful in certain contexts but are less general than 'love' for consistent rendering.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):

"cherished" (1x) "cherish" (1x) "ones having been cherished" (1x) "valuing" (1x) "showed loyal concern" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps from (much) (or compare עֲגַב); to love (in a social or moral sense):--(be-)love(-ed). Compare φιλέω.

Root Family

ἀγαπ- (agapáō) — to value, to cherish, to show loyal concern

Root ἀγαπ- to value, to cherish, to show loyal concern

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G26	ἀγάπη	in self-giving loves
G27	ἀγαπητός	cherished ones

Word Forms

34 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G25-04`	ἀγαπᾶτε	agapate	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	love	Keep valuing	Keep loving	15
`G25-17`	ἀγαπῶν	agapon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	loves	valuing	loving	14
`G25-01`	ἀγαπᾷ	agapa	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	loves	he/she values	he/she loves	12
`G25-34`	ἠγάπησεν	egapesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	loved	he showed loyal concern	he loved	12
`G25-10`	ἀγαπήσεις	agapeseis	`V FUT ACT IND 2P SG`	you shall love	you will cherish	you will love	10
`G25-16`	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we love	let us cherish	let us love	10
`G25-02`	ἀγαπᾶν	agapan	`V PRS ACT INF`	to love	to cherish with loyal concern	to love with loyal concern	8
`G25-14`	ἀγαπῶ	agapo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I love	I value with loyal concern	I love with loyal concern	5
`G25-23`	ἠγάπα	egapa	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	loved	was cherishing	was loving	5
`G25-31`	ἠγάπησα	egapesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I have loved	I valued	I loved	5
`G25-33`	ἠγάπησας	egapesas	`V AOR ACT IND 2P SG`	have loved	you cherished	you loved	5
`G25-09`	ἀγαπήσει	agapesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	love	will cherish	he will love	4
`G25-22`	ἀγαπῶσιν	agaposin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	love	they cherish	they love	4
`G25-07`	ἀγαπήσας	agapesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having loved	having valued	having loved	3
`G25-18`	ἀγαπῶντας	agapontas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL`	who love	those valuing	those loving	3
`G25-27`	ἠγαπημένην	egapemenen	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F SG`	beloved	having been cherished	having been loved	3
`G25-29`	ἠγαπημένοι	egapemenoi	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	beloved	having been cherished	those having been loved	3
`G25-32`	ἠγάπησαν	egapesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they loved	they showed loyal concern	they showed loyal concern	3
`G25-03`	ἀγαπᾷς	agapas	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	do you love	you show loyal concern	you show loyal concern	2
`G25-06`	ἀγαπήσαντος	agapesantos	`V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	who loved	of the one having valued	of the one having loved	2
`G25-24`	ἠγαπᾶτε	egapate	`V IMPF ACT IND 2P PL`	you loved	you were cherishing	you were cherishing	2
`G25-05`	ἀγαπάτω	agapato	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	let him love	let him cherish	let him love	1
`G25-08`	ἀγαπήσατε	agapesate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	love	Value devotedly	love	1
`G25-11`	ἀγαπήσητε	agapesete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	you love	you (plural) should value	you (plural) should value	1
`G25-12`	ἀγαπήσω	agapeso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	will love	I will cherish	will love	1
`G25-13`	ἀγαπηθήσεται	agapethesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be loved	will be loyally cherished	will be loved	1
`G25-15`	ἀγαπῶμαι	agapomai	`V PRS PASS IND 1P SG`	I am loved	I was being cherished	I am loved	1
`G25-19`	ἀγαπῶντι	agaponti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	who loves	to the one valuing	one valuing	1
`G25-20`	ἀγαπώντων	agaponton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	who love	of those cherishing	loving	1
`G25-21`	ἀγαπῶσι	agaposi	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL`	loving	to those valuing	cherishing	1
`G25-25`	ἠγαπήκαμεν	egapekamen	`V PRF ACT IND 1P PL`	loved	we have cherished	we have cherished	1
`G25-26`	ἠγαπηκόσι	egapekosi	`V PRF ACT PTCP DAT M PL`	who have loved	to those having cherished	have loved	1
`G25-28`	ἠγαπημένῳ	egapemeno	`V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M SG`	Beloved	to the one having been cherished	beloved	1
`G25-30`	ἠγαπημένοις	egapemenois	`V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M PL`	beloved	to the ones having been cherished	to the ones having been cherished	1

Occurrences in Scripture

143 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G25-22`	James 2:5	ἀγαπῶσιν	agaposin	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL`	love	they cherish	they love
`G25-10`	James 2:8	ἀγαπήσεις	agapeseis	`V FUT ACT IND 2P SG`	you shall love	you will cherish	you will love
`G25-04`	1 Peter 1:8	ἀγαπᾶτε	agapate	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you love	Keep valuing	Keep loving
`G25-08`	1 Peter 1:22	ἀγαπήσατε	agapesate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	love	Value devotedly	love
`G25-04`	1 Peter 2:17	ἀγαπᾶτε	agapate	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	love	Keep valuing	Keep loving
`G25-02`	1 Peter 3:10	ἀγαπᾶν	agapan	`V PRS ACT INF`	to love	to cherish with loyal concern	to love with loyal concern
`G25-34`	2 Peter 2:15	ἠγάπησεν	egapesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	loved	he showed loyal concern	he loved
`G25-17`	1 John 2:10	ἀγαπῶν	agapon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	loves	valuing	loving
`G25-04`	1 John 2:15	ἀγαπᾶτε	agapate	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	love	Keep valuing	Keep loving
`G25-01`	1 John 2:15	ἀγαπᾷ	agapa	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	loves	he/she values	he/she loves
`G25-17`	1 John 3:10	ἀγαπῶν	agapon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	loving	valuing	loving
`G25-16`	1 John 3:11	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we should love	let us cherish	let us love
`G25-16`	1 John 3:14	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we love	let us cherish	we love
`G25-17`	1 John 3:14	ἀγαπῶν	agapon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	loves	valuing	loving
`G25-16`	1 John 3:18	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	let us love	let us cherish	let us love
`G25-16`	1 John 3:23	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	love	let us cherish	let us love
`G25-16`	1 John 4:7	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	let us love	let us cherish	let us love
`G25-17`	1 John 4:7	ἀγαπῶν	agapon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	loves	valuing	loving
`G25-17`	1 John 4:8	ἀγαπῶν	agapon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	love	valuing	loving
`G25-25`	1 John 4:10	ἠγαπήκαμεν	egapekamen	`V PRF ACT IND 1P PL`	loved	we have cherished	we have cherished
`G25-34`	1 John 4:10	ἠγάπησεν	egapesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	loved	he showed loyal concern	he loved
`G25-34`	1 John 4:11	ἠγάπησεν	egapesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	loved	he showed loyal concern	he loved
`G25-02`	1 John 4:11	ἀγαπᾶν	agapan	`V PRS ACT INF`	to love	to cherish with loyal concern	to love with loyal concern
`G25-16`	1 John 4:12	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we love	let us cherish	we cherish
`G25-16`	1 John 4:19	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	love	let us cherish	let us love
`G25-34`	1 John 4:19	ἠγάπησεν	egapesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	loved	he showed loyal concern	he loved
`G25-14`	1 John 4:20	ἀγαπῶ	agapo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I love	I value with loyal concern	I love with loyal concern
`G25-17`	1 John 4:20	ἀγαπῶν	agapon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	loving	valuing	loving
`G25-02`	1 John 4:20	ἀγαπᾶν	agapan	`V PRS ACT INF`	love	to cherish with loyal concern	to love with loyal concern
`G25-17`	1 John 4:21	ἀγαπῶν	agapon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	loves	valuing	loving
`G25-01`	1 John 4:21	ἀγαπᾷ	agapa	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	love	he/she values	he/she loves
`G25-17`	1 John 5:1	ἀγαπῶν	agapon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	loves	valuing	loving
`G25-01`	1 John 5:1	ἀγαπᾷ	agapa	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	loves	he/she values	he/she loves
`G25-16`	1 John 5:2	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we love	let us cherish	we love
`G25-16`	1 John 5:2	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen-2	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we love	let us cherish	we love
`G25-14`	2 John 1:1	ἀγαπῶ	agapo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	love	I value with loyal concern	I love with loyal concern
`G25-16`	2 John 1:5	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we love	let us cherish	we love
`G25-14`	3 John 1:1	ἀγαπῶ	agapo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	love	I value with loyal concern	I love with loyal concern
`G25-30`	Jude 1:1	ἠγαπημένοις	egapemenois	`V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M PL`	beloved	to the ones having been cherished	to the ones having been cherished
`G25-19`	Revelation 1:5	ἀγαπῶντι	agaponti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	who loves	to the one valuing	one valuing
`G25-31`	Revelation 3:9	ἠγάπησά	egapesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	have loved	I valued	I loved
`G25-32`	Revelation 12:11	ἠγάπησαν	egapesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they loved	they showed loyal concern	they showed loyal concern
`G25-27`	Revelation 20:9	ἠγαπημένην	egapemenen	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F SG`	beloved	having been cherished	having been loved

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