ἀξιόω
axióō
G515 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To consider someone or something worthy or deserving; to judge as fit or deserving of a status, action, or reception. In New Testament usage, commonly to regard a person as worthy (e.g., of respect, of a task, of salvation, of punishment), to deem something appropriate, or to express a sense of deeming due.
Semantic Range
to consider worthy, to regard as deserving, to judge fit, to deem entitled, to request as due, to think good, to consider proper
Root / Etymology
Formed from the adjective ἄξιος ('worthy, deserving') plus the verbal suffix -όω indicating 'to make' or 'to regard as.' Thus, ἀξιόω literally means 'to consider as worthy.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀξιόω is regularly used with the genitive of the thing or honor desired and the accusative of the person deemed worthy, maintaining close ties to the notion of value or desert. In Koine Greek and the New Testament, it continues this basic sense but is often applied in relation to moral or religious worthiness (e.g., being 'considered worthy' of God's kingdom, or of suffering for a cause). In the Septuagint, the word sometimes translates Hebrew roots for 'to be worthy' or 'to deserve,' often in reference to reward or punishment. English translations often render the verb as 'to count worthy' or 'to consider deserving,' but these may at times obscure the evaluative or judicial nuance of the Greek, where the act of ἀξιόω denotes a judgment or declaration of desert, not always the conferment of a status itself. The verb differs from δοκέω ('to think, seem'), which focuses more on subjective opinion, while ἀξιόω carries an evaluative, sometimes quasi-official or judicial force. The verb is distinct from δικαιόω ('to justify, declare righteous'), which is more narrowly legal or covenantal in connotation. The semantic range in post-biblical and patristic Greek broadens further, but the core NT and LXX meaning centers on evaluation of worthiness or desert.
Translation Consistency
ἀξιόω carries the sense of judging or regarding someone/something as worthy or fit. "Consider" is a natural, widely used English verb that easily pairs with "worthy/of" or other complements to cover the usual NT senses (regard as deserving, deem fit), and so works consistently across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἄξιος; to deem entitled or fit:--desire, think good, count (think) worthy.
Root Family
ἀξιόω (axioō) — to deem worthy, to assess as deserving, to judge fit
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G515-03 |
ἀξιοῦμεν | axioumen | V PRS ACT IND 1P PL |
we desire | we deem worthy | we desire | 1 |
G515-02 |
ἀξιωθήσεται | axiothesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
will he be held worthy | will be deemed worthy | will be deemed worthy | 1 |
G515-07 |
ἠξίου | exiou | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
kept insisting | was deeming worthy | was deeming worthy | 1 |
G515-04 |
ἀξιούσθωσαν | axiousthosan | V PRS PASS IMP 3P PL |
be considered worthy | let them be deemed worthy | let them be deemed worthy | 1 |
G515-01 |
ἀξιώσῃ | axiose | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
may count worthy | might deem worthy | might deem worthy | 1 |
G515-05 |
ἠξίωσα | exiosa | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
thought worthy | I deemed worthy | I deemed worthy | 1 |
G515-06 |
ἠξίωται | exiotai | V PRF PASS IND 3P SG |
has been counted worthy | has been deemed worthy | has been deemed worthy | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G515-05 |
Luke 7:7 | ἠξίωσα | exiosa | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
thought worthy | I deemed worthy | I deemed worthy |
G515-07 |
Acts 15:38 | ἠξίου | exiou | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
kept insisting | was deeming worthy | was deeming worthy |
G515-03 |
Acts 28:22 | ἀξιοῦμεν | axioumen | V PRS ACT IND 1P PL |
we desire | we deem worthy | we desire |
G515-01 |
2 Thessalonians 1:11 | ἀξιώσῃ | axiose | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
may count worthy | might deem worthy | might deem worthy |
G515-04 |
1 Timothy 5:17 | ἀξιούσθωσαν | axiousthosan | V PRS PASS IMP 3P PL |
be considered worthy | let them be deemed worthy | let them be deemed worthy |
G515-06 |
Hebrews 3:3 | ἠξίωται | exiotai | V PRF PASS IND 3P SG |
has been counted worthy | has been deemed worthy | has been deemed worthy |
G515-02 |
Hebrews 10:29 | ἀξιωθήσεται | axiothesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
will he be held worthy | will be deemed worthy | will be deemed worthy |