ἀγαπητός (G27) — Greek Lexicon

ἀγαπητός

agapētós

G27 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primarily, one who is dearly loved or cherished; denoting the object of deep affection or favor. Frequently used to indicate a person who receives special affection, such as a close friend, family member, or favorite, and in religious texts often to describe individuals esteemed or specially chosen. The semantic range includes 'beloved,' 'dear,' and 'esteemed one,' sometimes with the nuance of one who is approved or highly regarded.

Semantic Range

beloved, dearly loved, cherished, esteemed, highly regarded, dear, favorite, recipient of special love or approval

Root / Etymology

From the verb ἀγαπάω ('to love, to esteem, to hold in high regard'), itself related to the noun ἀγάπη ('love, affection'), which has a distinct emphasis on goodwill and selfless affection. ἀγαπητός is the verbal adjective form, signifying one who is the recipient of such love or affection.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀγαπητός appears rarely and usually refers to the recipient of affection or favor, but its use increases markedly in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in personal letters and religious texts. In the Septuagint, ἀγαπητός translates Hebrew terms like יָדִיד (yadid) and דּוֹד (dod), reflecting deep love or favor, often in poetic or covenantal contexts (e.g., of Solomon as 'the beloved of the Lord'). In the New Testament, ἀγαπητός is frequent in epistolary greetings (e.g., addressing fellow believers as 'beloved'), and serves as a title for figures with special significance (e.g., Jesus at the baptism: 'my beloved Son'). This term differs from φίλος ('friend, loved one') by emphasizing chosen or covenantal love and approval, sometimes with special divine connotation. Traditional English translations as 'beloved' generally capture the core sense, though the term can also denote the idea of high election or approval, especially in divine contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "beloved" 59 occurrences

’Beloved’ is the overwhelmingly dominant and natural English rendering (55/61 occurrences) and fits the SILEX range (dearly loved, cherished, esteemed). It is idiomatic in religious and familial contexts and will provide consistent, clear translation for all forms of ἀγαπητός.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"dearly loved ones" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀγαπάω; beloved:--(dearly, well) beloved, dear.

Root Family

ἀγαπητός (agapētos) — beloved, cherished, esteemed, dearly loved

Root ἀγαπ- to love, to esteem, to regard with affection

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G27-05`	ἀγαπητοὶ	agapetoi	`ADJ.P NOM M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones	30
`G27-08`	ἀγαπητός	agapetos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one	11
`G27-07`	ἀγαπητόν	agapeton	`ADJ.A ACC M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one	7
`G27-04`	ἀγαπητῷ	agapeto	`ADJ.A DAT M SG`	beloved	to the beloved one	beloved	4
`G27-02`	ἀγαπητέ	agapete	`ADJ.S VOC M SG`	Beloved	O beloved one	O beloved one	3
`G27-06`	ἀγαπητοῖς	agapetois	`ADJ.S DAT M PL`	beloved	to the dearly loved ones	to the dearly loved ones	2
`G27-01`	ἀγαπητὰ	agapeta	`ADJ.S ACC N PL`	beloved	cherished ones	beloved ones	2
`G27-03`	ἀγαπητήν	agapeten	`ADJ.R ACC F SG`	beloved	cherished one	beloved	1
`G27-09`	ἀγαπητοῦ	agapetou	`ADJ.A GEN M SG`	beloved	of the beloved one	beloved one	1

Occurrences in Scripture

61 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G27-08`	Matthew 3:17	ἀγαπητός	agapetos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-08`	Matthew 12:18	ἀγαπητός	agapetos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-08`	Matthew 17:5	ἀγαπητός	agapetos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-08`	Mark 1:11	ἀγαπητός	agapetos	`ADJ.A NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-08`	Mark 9:7	ἀγαπητός	agapetos	`ADJ.A NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-07`	Mark 12:6	ἀγαπητόν	agapeton	`ADJ.A ACC M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-08`	Luke 3:22	ἀγαπητός	agapetos	`ADJ.A NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-07`	Luke 20:13	ἀγαπητόν	agapeton	`ADJ.A ACC M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-06`	Acts 15:25	ἀγαπητοῖς	agapetois	`ADJ.S DAT M PL`	beloved	to the dearly loved ones	to the dearly loved ones
`G27-06`	Romans 1:7	ἀγαπητοῖς	agapetois	`ADJ.S DAT M PL`	beloved	to the dearly loved ones	to the dearly loved ones
`G27-05`	Romans 11:28	ἀγαπητοὶ	agapetoi	`ADJ.P NOM M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	Romans 12:19	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-07`	Romans 16:5	ἀγαπητόν	agapeton	`ADJ.R ACC M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-07`	Romans 16:8	ἀγαπητόν	agapeton	`ADJ.R ACC M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-07`	Romans 16:9	ἀγαπητόν	agapeton	`ADJ.R ACC M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-03`	Romans 16:12	ἀγαπητήν	agapeten	`ADJ.R ACC F SG`	beloved	cherished one	beloved
`G27-01`	1 Corinthians 4:14	ἀγαπητὰ	agapeta	`ADJ.S ACC N PL`	beloved	cherished ones	beloved ones
`G27-07`	1 Corinthians 4:17	ἀγαπητὸν	agapeton	`ADJ.A NOM N SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved
`G27-05`	1 Corinthians 10:14	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 Corinthians 15:58	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.A VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	2 Corinthians 7:1	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	2 Corinthians 12:19	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-01`	Ephesians 5:1	ἀγαπητά	agapeta	`ADJ.A NOM N PL`	beloved	cherished ones	beloved
`G27-08`	Ephesians 6:21	ἀγαπητὸς	agapetos	`ADJ.A NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-05`	Philippians 2:12	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	Philippians 4:1	ἀγαπητοὶ	agapetoi	`ADJ.A VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	Philippians 4:1	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi-2	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-09`	Colossians 1:7	ἀγαπητοῦ	agapetou	`ADJ.A GEN M SG`	beloved	of the beloved one	beloved one
`G27-08`	Colossians 4:7	ἀγαπητὸς	agapetos	`ADJ.A NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-04`	Colossians 4:9	ἀγαπητῷ	agapeto	`ADJ.A DAT M SG`	beloved	to the beloved one	beloved
`G27-08`	Colossians 4:14	ἀγαπητὸς	agapetos	`ADJ.R NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-05`	1 Thessalonians 2:8	ἀγαπητοὶ	agapetoi	`ADJ.P NOM M PL`	dear	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 Timothy 6:2	ἀγαπητοὶ	agapetoi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-04`	2 Timothy 1:2	ἀγαπητῷ	agapeto	`ADJ.A DAT N SG`	beloved	to the beloved one	to the beloved one
`G27-04`	Philemon 1:1	ἀγαπητῷ	agapeto	`ADJ.R DAT M SG`	beloved	to the beloved one	to the beloved one
`G27-07`	Philemon 1:16	ἀγαπητόν	agapeton	`ADJ.A ACC M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-05`	Hebrews 6:9	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	James 1:16	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.A VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	James 1:19	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.A VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	James 2:5	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.A VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 Peter 2:11	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	Beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 Peter 4:12	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	Beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-08`	2 Peter 1:17	ἀγαπητός	agapetos	`ADJ.A NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-05`	2 Peter 3:1	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	2 Peter 3:8	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	2 Peter 3:14	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-08`	2 Peter 3:15	ἀγαπητὸς	agapetos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	beloved	beloved one	beloved one
`G27-05`	2 Peter 3:17	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 John 2:7	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	Beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 John 3:2	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	Beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 John 3:21	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	Beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 John 4:1	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	Beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 John 4:7	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	Beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	1 John 4:11	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	Beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-04`	3 John 1:1	ἀγαπητῷ	agapeto	`ADJ.R DAT M SG`	beloved	to the beloved one	beloved
`G27-02`	3 John 1:2	ἀγαπητέ	agapete	`ADJ.S VOC M SG`	Beloved	O beloved one	O beloved one
`G27-02`	3 John 1:5	ἀγαπητέ	agapete	`ADJ.S VOC M SG`	Beloved	O beloved one	O beloved one
`G27-02`	3 John 1:11	ἀγαπητέ	agapete	`ADJ.S VOC M SG`	Beloved	O beloved one	O beloved one
`G27-05`	Jude 1:3	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	Beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	Jude 1:17	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones
`G27-05`	Jude 1:20	ἀγαπητοί	agapetoi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	beloved	beloved ones	beloved ones

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