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πείθω

peíthō

G3982 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To persuade or convince someone of the truth or value of something, to bring about belief or trust through argument or demonstration; by extension, to win over, induce confidence, or induce assent. In the passive or middle voice, to be persuaded, to trust, to rely upon (often with an inward sense of conviction or confidence); also to obey or be obedient, particularly where trust leads to compliance.

Semantic Range

to persuade, to convince, to induce belief, to win over, to put confidence in, to trust, to rely upon, to obey, to yield, to be assured, to be confident, to be convinced

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root πειθ- (peith-), meaning 'to persuade' or 'to convince.' The etymology is native to Greek and can be traced to Homeric and classical usages focused on persuasion, trust, and reliability.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Πείθω is a foundational verb in Greek with deep roots extending into both secular and religious application. In classical Greek, it commonly refers to persuading or convincing someone intellectually or emotionally. In Hellenistic and Koine usage (including the Septuagint and New Testament), it often shades into meanings of 'trust' and 'rely upon,' especially in forms such as the perfect tense (e.g., πέποιθα for 'I trust, I am convinced'). In the passive or middle, the word frequently carries the sense of being persuaded, sometimes with the implication of obedience as a natural outcome of persuasion. In New Testament contexts, πείθω can refer either to intellectual persuasion (e.g., winning someone over to a view), to trust/confidence in another or in God, or to obedience that flows from such reliance. English translations variously render πείθω as 'persuade,' 'trust,' 'confide,' 'obey,' or 'be convinced,' but no single English term captures its entire semantic range. The relationship between persuasion, trust, and obedience is notable, especially in passages where trust in a person or message leads to corresponding action. The term is broader and deeper in Greek than can be expressed by modern English equivalents.

Translation Consistency

primary "persuade" 35 occurrences

The primary, prototypical meaning of πείθω is to persuade or convince (bring about belief or assent). "Persuade" maps naturally to both active uses (to win over, induce belief) and passive/middle senses when rendered as "be persuaded/convince" or "trust/submit as persuaded." It is the most frequent and natural English equivalent across contexts, allowing consistent inflection for all forms.

Alternatives (17 occurrences):
"having become convinced" (4x) "having come to trust" (2x) "confidence" (2x) "trusted" (1x) "relied" (1x) "having been convinced" (1x) "ones trusting" (1x) "become convinced" (1x) "having trusted" (1x) "trusting" (1x) "having confidence" (1x) "obey" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty):--agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) conflent, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.

Root Family

πείθω (peithō) — to persuade, to convince, to win trust, to induce confidence

Root πειθ- to persuade, to convince, to win trust, to induce confidence

Word Forms

33 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3982-31 πεποιθὼς pepoithos V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M SG confident having become convinced having become convinced 5
G3982-23 πέπεισμαι pepeismai V PRF PASS IND 1P SG I am persuaded I stand persuaded I have been persuaded 5
G3982-06 ἐπείθοντο epeithonto V IMPF PASS IND 3P PL followed they were being persuaded they were being persuaded 3
G3982-22 πείθων peithon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG persuading persuading persuading 2
G3982-08 πείσαντες peisantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having persuaded having persuaded having persuaded 2
G3982-26 πέποιθα pepoitha V PRF ACT IND 1P SG have confidence I have become convinced I have been persuaded 2
G3982-10 πείσομεν peisomen V FUT ACT IND 1P PL we shall assure we will persuade we will persuade 2
G3982-14 πείθεσθαι peithesthai V PRS PASS INF obey to be persuaded to be persuaded 2
G3982-33 πεποιθότες pepoithotes V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL put confidence having persuaded having trusted 2
G3982-32 πεποιθότας pepoithotas V PRF ACT PTCP ACC M PL having become confident having come to trust having come to trust 2

Occurrences in Scripture

52 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3982-01 Matthew 27:20 ἔπεισαν epeisan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL persuaded they persuaded they persuaded
G3982-29 Matthew 27:43 πέποιθεν pepoithen V PRF ACT IND 3P SG He trusts has become convinced has trusted
G3982-10 Matthew 28:14 πείσομεν peisomen V FUT ACT IND 1P PL will persuade we will persuade we will persuade
G3982-07 Luke 11:22 ἐπεποίθει epepoithei V PLPF ACT IND 3P SG he had relied he had been confident it had relied
G3982-12 Luke 16:31 πεισθήσονται peisthesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL they will be persuaded they will be persuaded they will be persuaded
G3982-32 Luke 18:9 πεποιθότας pepoithotas V PRF ACT PTCP ACC M PL trusting having come to trust having come to trust
G3982-24 Luke 20:6 πεπεισμένος pepeismenos V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG persuaded having been convinced having been convinced
G3982-06 Acts 5:36 ἐπείθοντο epeithonto V IMPF PASS IND 3P PL obeyed they were being persuaded were persuaded
G3982-06 Acts 5:37 ἐπείθοντο epeithonto V IMPF PASS IND 3P PL followed they were being persuaded were being persuaded
G3982-02 Acts 5:39 ἐπείσθησαν epeisthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL they were persuaded they were persuaded they were persuaded
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