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φοβέω

phobéō

G5399 verb

SILEX Entry

Root φοβ- to fear, to frighten, to be afraid

Definition

To fear or be afraid, to experience apprehension or alarm in response to real or perceived danger, threat, or power; in active voice, to cause fear, terrify, or intimidate. In certain contexts, to show reverence, respect, or awe (especially toward divinity, authority, or sacred matters). The word's semantic range includes both intense emotional states of fear and the posture of respectful awe or reverence.

Semantic Range

to frighten, to cause to fear, to be afraid, to experience apprehension or alarm, to show reverence, to hold in awe, to respect

Root / Etymology

From the noun φόβος (phobos, 'fear, terror, awe'); denominal verb formation with the common -έω suffix indicating verbal action related to the noun. No evidence of borrowing from other languages; native Greek formation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, φοβέω primarily meant to put to flight, frighten, or terrify someone (active), and in the passive or middle forms, to be afraid or to flee in fear. In Koine Greek, the middle and passive forms (φοβοῦμαι, etc.) become more common and often simply denote being afraid, alarmed, or apprehensive, sometimes of humans, natural events, powers, or the divine. In religious contexts, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, the term can denote a posture of reverence, awe, or respect, especially towards God or divine beings, reflecting the Hebrew יָרֵא (yārēʾ, 'to fear, to revere'). This range of meaning is reflected in both positive (reverential awe) and negative (terror) senses. Standard English translations often separate 'fear' from 'reverence,' but Koine Greek uses φοβέω for both, depending on context. Unlike δειλιάζω or ἐκπλήσσω, which strongly emphasize terror or stunned shock, φοβέω may imply appropriate awe or respect. The notion of 'reverence' as a translation especially arises in the context of exhortations regarding one's disposition towards God (e.g., φοβοῦ τὸν θεόν, 'fear God'). The word's emotional nuance is determined by immediate context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from φόβος; to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere:--be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

Root Family

φοβέω (phobeō) — to fear, to frighten, to be afraid

Word Forms

24 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G5399-03 ἐφοβήθησαν ephobethesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL they were afraid they were afraid 14
G5399-18 φοβοῦ phobou V PRS MID IMP 2P SG fear of fear 13
G5399-08 φοβεῖσθε phobeisthe V PRS MID IMP 2P PL be afraid be fearing yourselves 12
G5399-05 ἐφοβοῦντο ephobounto V IMPF MID IND 3P PL they were afraid they were fearing 10
G5399-16 φοβηθῆτε phobethete V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL fear Be afraid 7
G5399-21 φοβούμενοι phoboumenoi V PRS MID PTCP VOC M PL fearing those fearing 6
G5399-23 φοβούμενος phoboumenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG fearing fearing 6
G5399-02 ἐφοβήθη ephobethe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG he was afraid was afraid 5
G5399-19 φοβοῦμαι phoboumai V PRS MID IND 1P SG I fear I fear 4
G5399-11 φοβηθεὶς phobetheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG fearing having become afraid 3

Occurrences in Scripture

95 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G5399-14 Matthew 1:20 φοβηθῇς phobethes V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P SG fear you might be afraid
G5399-02 Matthew 2:22 ἐφοβήθη ephobethe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG he was afraid was afraid
G5399-03 Matthew 9:8 ἐφοβήθησαν ephobethesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL they were afraid
G5399-16 Matthew 10:26 φοβηθῆτε phobethete V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL Be afraid
G5399-08 Matthew 10:28 φοβεῖσθε phobeisthe V PRS MID IMP 2P PL be fearing yourselves
G5399-08 Matthew 10:28 φοβεῖσθε phobeisthe-2 V PRS MID IMP 2P PL be fearing yourselves
G5399-08 Matthew 10:31 φοβεῖσθε phobeisthe V PRS MID IMP 2P PL be fearing yourselves
G5399-02 Matthew 14:5 ἐφοβήθη ephobethe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was afraid
G5399-08 Matthew 14:27 φοβεῖσθε phobeisthe V PRS MID IMP 2P PL be fearing yourselves
G5399-02 Matthew 14:30 ἐφοβήθη ephobethe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was afraid
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