← G3991 G3993 →

πέμπω

pémpō

G3992 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To cause someone or something to go from one place to another, to send, dispatch, or commission. The verb generally denotes the act by which a sender initiates or authorizes the movement or transmission of a person, message, or object. It can refer both to sending on a specific mission or errand, as well as broader senses of transmitting, delivering, or granting something. While it may sometimes imply a sense of commissioning or assigning, it lacks the nuance of authority or mission that related verbs (such as ἀποστέλλω) often carry.

Semantic Range

to send, to dispatch a messenger or agent, to transmit a message or object, to bestow or confer (rare), to cause to go (in general), to thrust in (rare, metaphorical)

Root / Etymology

Primary verb of uncertain etymology, not clearly connected to other Indo-European roots; possibly of Pre-Greek origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

πέμπω is widespread in classical Greek, where it simply refers to sending (persons, envoys, letters, gifts, etc.), often without specific focus on the sender's authority or the mission's purpose. In Koine and New Testament Greek, it retains this neutral sense of sending but is sometimes used in more formal or narrative settings to describe dispatching messengers or agents, especially where the focus is on who initiates the action. It differs from ἀποστέλλω (which often implies sending on a commission or with delegated authority and is used frequently in apostolic contexts) and στελλω (which carries connotations of sending in a more ordered or formal manner). In Septuagint and New Testament usage, translation traditions may render it simply as 'send,' without reflecting subtle differences between Greek terms. Its use does not necessarily imply the transmission of authority or special status, so using 'dispatch,' 'send,' or 'cause to go' best represents its semantic breadth.

Translation Consistency

primary "send" 79 occurrences

'Send' is the natural, common English verb that matches the typical range of πέμπω — causing someone or something to go, dispatching a person, message, or object. It is the most frequent and neutral rendering (vs. heavier options like 'dispatch' or more specific senses like 'commission'), so it provides consistent, idiomatic translations for all forms under G3992 while still covering occasional senses of transmitting or bestowing.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary verb; to dispatch (from the subjective view or point of departure, whereas (as a stronger form of ) refers rather to the objective point or terminus ad quem, and στέλλω denotes properly, the orderly motion involved), especially on a temporary errand; also to transmit, bestow, or wield:--send, thrust in.

Root Family

πέμπω (pempō) — to send, to dispatch, to cause to go

Root πέμπ- to send, to dispatch, to cause to go

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3992-17 πέμψας pempsas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having sent having sent having sent 15
G3992-02 ἔπεμψα epempsa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I sent I dispatched I sent 9
G3992-16 πέμψαντός pempsantos V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG having sent of the one who sent of the one who sent 9
G3992-12 πέμψαι pempsai V AOR ACT INF to send to send to send 8
G3992-22 πέμψον pempson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG send Send! Send! 7
G3992-13 πέμψαντα pempsanta V AOR ACT PTCP ACC M SG who sent having sent having sent 7
G3992-21 πέμψω pempso V FUT ACT IND 1P SG I will send I will send I will send 6
G3992-05 ἔπεμψεν epempsen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG sent he/she sent he sent 3
G3992-01 ἐπέμφθη epemphthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was sent was sent was sent 1
G3992-11 πέμποντα pemponta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG sending sending sending 1

Occurrences in Scripture

79 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3992-17 Matthew 2:8 πέμψας pempsas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG sending having sent having sent
G3992-17 Matthew 11:2 πέμψας pempsas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG he sent having sent having sent
G3992-17 Matthew 14:10 πέμψας pempsas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG he sent having sent having sent
G3992-17 Matthew 22:7 πέμψας pempsas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having sent having sent having sent
G3992-22 Mark 5:12 πέμψον pempson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG send Send! Send!
G3992-01 Luke 4:26 ἐπέμφθη epemphthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was sent was sent was sent
G3992-05 Luke 7:6 ἔπεμψεν epempsen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG sent he/she sent he sent
G3992-08 Luke 7:10 πεμφθέντες pemphthentes V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL who had been sent having been sent having been sent
G3992-05 Luke 7:19 ἔπεμψεν epempsen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG sent he/she sent he sent
G3992-05 Luke 15:15 ἔπεμψεν epempsen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he sent he/she sent he sent
← G3991 Greek Lexicon G3993 →