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φιλέω

philéō

G5368 verb

SILEX Entry

Root φιλ- to love, to be fond of, to treat as a friend, to kiss

Definition

To feel affection for, to regard with personal attachment, or to express fondness toward someone or something. In various contexts, it denotes feelings of friendship, emotional warmth, or affection, as distinct from formal or principled love. The verb can also refer to the physical act of greeting or showing affection by kissing, especially on the cheek or hand, as an outward sign of welcome or fondness. Depending on the surrounding context, it expresses nuances from simple liking, friendship, to more intimate affection, without necessarily implying deep or sacrificial love.

Semantic Range

to have affection for, to feel friendship toward, to be attached to (personally or emotionally), to like, to kiss (as a gesture of affection or greeting), to value, to show warmth, to entertain affection for (a person, object, or practice)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root φιλ-, related to φίλος ('friend') and φιλία ('love, friendship, affection'). The root expresses the idea of affection or fondness in both personal and interpersonal relations. Cognate with various terms in classical and Hellenistic Greek connected to friendship and affectionate regard.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φιλέω generally indicated affection, friendship, or fondness, both in personal relationships and for things or activities (e.g., loving knowledge, loving one’s country). In Hellenistic and Koine usage (including the Septuagint and New Testament), the sense of affectionate regard persisted, but was at times differentiated from ἀγαπάω, which was perceived (especially in later Christian interpretation) as a willful, self-giving, or principled love. However, the distinction between φιλέω and ἀγαπάω is not always clear-cut in original Koine contexts; at times the two are used synonymously or interchangeably. In several New Testament passages (e.g., John 21:15–17), both verbs appear side by side, prompting much discussion but probably reflecting overlapping semantic fields in common usage. The verb is also commonly used in connection with greeting or showing affection via a kiss (cf. the kiss of greeting or departure, e.g., Matthew 26:48). Typical English renderings like 'love,' 'like,' 'be fond of,' or 'kiss' do not always fully express the range of affectionate, friendly, or familial connotations present in Greek. In classical Greek, the verb could encompass not only affection for persons but also animals, places, or activities. The term's meaning thus sits within a broad semantic spectrum of personal attachment, less formal or volitional than ἀγαπάω, but richer than mere preference.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from φίλος; to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while ἀγαπάω is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as θέλω and βούλομαι, or as θυμός and νοῦς respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specially, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness):--kiss, love.

Root Family

φιλέω (phileō) — to love, to be fond of, to treat as a friend, to kiss

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G5368-07 φιλῶ philo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I love I am fond of 4
G5368-08 φιλῶν philon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG who loves loving (with affection) 4
G5368-03 φιλεῖ philei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG loves is fond of 3
G5368-04 φιλεῖς phileis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG do you love you are fond of 3
G5368-01 ἐφίλει ephilei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he loved he kept showing affection 3
G5368-06 φιλήσω phileso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I kiss I might show affection 2
G5368-12 φιλοῦσιν philousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they are fond of 1
G5368-10 φιλούντων philounton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL love of those being fond 1
G5368-09 φιλοῦντας philountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who love those being fond of 1
G5368-05 φιλῆσαι philesai V AOR ACT INF to kiss to show affection 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G5368-12 Matthew 6:5 φιλοῦσιν philousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they are fond of
G5368-08 Matthew 10:37 φιλῶν philon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG loving (with affection)
G5368-08 Matthew 10:37 φιλῶν philon-2 V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG loving (with affection)
G5368-11 Matthew 23:6 φιλοῦσι philousi V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they are fond of
G5368-06 Matthew 26:48 φιλήσω phileso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I might show affection
G5368-06 Mark 14:44 φιλήσω phileso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I kiss I might show affection
G5368-10 Luke 20:46 φιλούντων philounton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL love of those being fond
G5368-05 Luke 22:47 φιλῆσαι philesai V AOR ACT INF to kiss to show affection
G5368-03 John 5:20 φιλεῖ philei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG loves is fond of
G5368-04 John 11:3 φιλεῖς phileis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you love you are fond of
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