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κηρύσσω

kērýssō

G2784 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To proclaim or announce publicly as a herald; specifically, to declare a message with authority in a public setting. The term primarily refers to the formal act of making an announcement, often involving official or authorized communication to a group, such as by a herald, crier, or appointed messenger. In various contexts, it acquires religious nuance, such as announcing or proclaiming a message about the divine, but its principal sense remains the public, authoritative declaration of a message. Secondary senses include to make something known openly, to publish information, or to summon through announcement.

Semantic Range

to announce publicly, to proclaim as a herald, to publish, to make known openly, to summon through proclamation; in religious contexts, to publicly declare a divine or sacred message

Root / Etymology

The origin is uncertain; possibly connected to the noun κῆρυξ (kēryx, 'herald'), but the precise etymological root is not established. No clear derivation from classical Greek roots, though related words for heralding appear in cognate Indo-European languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κηρύσσω denoted the act of a herald who announced proclamations, decisions, treaties, or edicts—often before assemblies, in marketplaces, or at public gatherings. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the term continued in this basic sense but became increasingly associated in religious contexts with proclaiming sacred or divine messages. In the Septuagint, κηρύσσω translates various Hebrew terms relating to public proclamation and sometimes announcing religious festivals or edicts. In New Testament usage, it frequently refers to public proclamation of a divine message—especially the announcement of the 'good news' (εὐαγγέλιον), but does not itself necessarily denote religious content; rather, it indicates the function of authoritative public proclamation. English translations often use 'preach' or 'proclaim,' but the Greek term lacks the strictly ecclesiastical nuance these may bear in modern usage. There is a contrast with terms such as διδάσκω ('to teach'), which focuses on expounding or instructing, while κηρύσσω emphasizes the act of public, authoritative announcement. In some contexts, κηρύσσω may relate to summoning, as in calling to an event or assembly.

Translation Consistency

primary "proclaim" 51 occurrences

Proclaim captures the primary SILEX sense of publicly and authoritatively announcing or making known (including religious declarations) while remaining natural English for both sacred and secular contexts. It aligns with common English Bible usage and the attested renderings (proclaim/herald) and will produce clear, consistent inflections across all forms of G2784.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):
"heralded" (5x) "heralding" (3x) "having been heralded" (1x) "heralded publicly" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):--preacher(-er), proclaim, publish.

Root Family

κηρύσσω (kērýssō) — to proclaim, to announce formally, to act as a herald

Root κηρυσ- to proclaim, to announce formally, to act as a herald

Word Forms

28 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2784-18 κηρύσσων kerusson V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG preaching heralding proclaiming 13
G2784-13 κηρύσσειν kerussein V PRS ACT INF to preach to proclaim as a herald to proclaim as a herald 6
G2784-17 κηρύσσομεν kerussomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we preach we publicly proclaim we publicly proclaim 4
G2784-23 κηρύξαι keruxai V AOR ACT INF to proclaim to proclaim as a herald to proclaim as a herald 3
G2784-02 ἐκήρυσσεν ekerussen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he preached he was proclaiming he was proclaiming 3
G2784-11 κηρυχθήσεται keruchthesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be preached will be heralded will be proclaimed 2
G2784-25 κηρύξατε keruxate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL proclaim Proclaim as heralds proclaim as heralds 2
G2784-16 κηρύσσω kerusso V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I preach I proclaim publicly I proclaim publicly 2
G2784-09 κηρυχθῆναι keruchthenai V AOR PASS INF be preached to be publicly proclaimed to be publicly proclaimed 2
G2784-04 ἐκηρύξαμεν ekeruxamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL we preached we proclaimed publicly we proclaimed publicly 2

Occurrences in Scripture

61 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2784-18 Matthew 3:1 κηρύσσων kerusson V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG preaching heralding proclaiming
G2784-13 Matthew 4:17 κηρύσσειν kerussein V PRS ACT INF to preach to proclaim as a herald to proclaim as a herald
G2784-18 Matthew 4:23 κηρύσσων kerusson V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG proclaiming heralding proclaiming
G2784-18 Matthew 9:35 κηρύσσων kerusson V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG preaching heralding proclaiming
G2784-15 Matthew 10:7 κηρύσσετε kerussete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL preach Keep proclaiming publicly Keep proclaiming publicly
G2784-25 Matthew 10:27 κηρύξατε keruxate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL proclaim Proclaim as heralds proclaim as heralds
G2784-13 Matthew 11:1 κηρύσσειν kerussein V PRS ACT INF preach to proclaim as a herald to proclaim as a herald
G2784-11 Matthew 24:14 κηρυχθήσεται keruchthesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be preached will be heralded will be proclaimed
G2784-07 Matthew 26:13 κηρυχθῇ keruchthe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG is preached may be heralded may be heralded
G2784-18 Mark 1:4 κηρύσσων kerusson V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG preaching heralding proclaiming
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