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φορέω

phoréō

G5409 verb

SILEX Entry

Root φορ- to bear, to carry, to wear

Definition

To carry or bear (habitually or repeatedly), especially in the sense of wearing clothing or bearing something regularly. While the primary meaning is 'to carry persistently', the verb often denotes the act of wearing garments or carrying an object as a regular practice, rather than simply transporting it in a single instance. By extension, can be used metaphorically for bearing authority, evidence, or marks.

Semantic Range

to habitually carry, to wear clothing, to bear a physical or metaphorical mark, to have as an ongoing accompaniment, to display habitually

Root / Etymology

Derived from the verb φέρω ('to bear, to carry') with the frequentative suffix -έω, indicating repeated or habitual action. Thus, φορέω emphasizes habitual, repeated, or continuous carrying or wearing, as opposed to φέρω, which often denotes a single act of bearing or carrying.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φορέω is distinct from φέρω in that it refers specifically to regular or habitual bearing, such as regularly wearing certain articles of clothing or carrying weapons as part of one's identity, official insignia, or marks. In the Septuagint and New Testament, φορέω commonly refers to wearing garments (e.g., Luke 7:25, 'those who are gorgeously apparelled') or, metaphorically, to bearing marks or consequences (e.g., 'bearing the mark of Jesus' in Galatians 6:17). Occasionally, it can imply bearing a burden in a figurative sense. English translations often render φορέω as 'wear', 'bear', or 'carry', but may not always capture the nuance of repeated or habitual action inherent in the term. The difference from φέρω is subtle but important for distinguishing between a single act and a sustained or repeated state.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from φόρος; to have a burden, i.e. (by analogy) to wear as clothing or a constant accompaniment:--bear, wear.

Root Family

φορέω (phoreō) — to bear, to carry, to wear

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G5409-01 ἐφορέσαμεν ephoresamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL we have borne we used to bear 1
G5409-03 φορέσωμεν phoresomen V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL we shall bear let us bear 1
G5409-05 φοροῦντα phorounta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG who wears habitually bearing 1
G5409-06 φοροῦντες phorountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL habitually bearing 1
G5409-04 φορῶν phoron V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG wearing bearing habitually 1
G5409-02 φορεῖ phorei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG bears habitually bears 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G5409-06 Matthew 11:8 φοροῦντες phorountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL habitually bearing
G5409-04 John 19:5 φορῶν phoron V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG wearing bearing habitually
G5409-02 Romans 13:4 φορεῖ phorei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG bears habitually bears
G5409-01 1 Corinthians 15:49 ἐφορέσαμεν ephoresamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL we have borne we used to bear
G5409-03 1 Corinthians 15:49 φορέσωμεν phoresomen V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL we shall bear let us bear
G5409-05 James 2:3 φοροῦντα phorounta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG who wears habitually bearing
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