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ἅπτω

háptō

G681 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To fasten to, attach, or bind; in metaphorical and later contexts, to touch, take hold of, or grasp. In a particular sense, also to ignite, light, or set on fire (especially of lamps or flames). The primary lexical meaning is to attach or fasten physically, with an extended sense of touching or grasping, as well as lighting or kindling.

Semantic Range

to fasten, to bind, to attach, to take hold of, to touch (in a derived sense), to light, to kindle, to ignite (esp. lamps and fires)

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root ἁπτ-, relating to fastening or attaching. Attested in Homeric Greek with the sense of binding, fastening firmly, and also found with the sense of to touch, contact, or to light a flame. Cognates appear throughout the Indo-European languages with similar meanings of fastening or joining.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἅπτω originally denoted the act of attaching or fastening objects together, such as tying, binding, or making contact. Later, the verb developed a specific usage relating to lighting lamps, setting things on fire, or kindling. This is the primary sense found in some New Testament contexts (e.g., lighting a lamp in Luke 8:16), while in middle and passive forms (ἅπτομαι), the word typically means to touch or take hold of (see G680). In the Septuagint and New Testament, the metaphorical or extended sense of touching, grasping, or taking hold comes to the fore, with lighting/kindling reserved for more specialized contexts. Standard English translations often simply render this as 'kindle' or 'light,' but in Greek, the broader sense of attachment and contact is foundational. The distinction between ἅπτω (active; fasten, set on fire) and ἅπτομαι (middle; touch, be joined to) is significant in Koine Greek.

Translation Consistency

primary "touch" 35 occurrences

Most occurrences in the data are rendered as “touched,” and the typical, everyday sense in context is physical contact or taking hold. “Touch” naturally covers the primary and extended metaphorical senses (to fasten on or lay hold of, to affect), while the rarer sense “to light/ignite” can be handled as a special-case rendering. Choosing “touch” gives the most natural and consistent English for the majority of uses.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"having lit" (2x) "light" (1x) "having kindled" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; properly, to fasten to, i.e. (specially) to set on fire:--kindle, light.

Root Family

ἅπτω (háptō) — to fasten, to attach, to bind, to ignite

Root ἁπτ- to fasten, to attach, to bind, to light (fire)

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G681-14 ἥψατο epsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG touched fastened himself to touched 15
G681-07 ἅψωνται apsontai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P PL they might touch they might fasten themselves to they might touch 3
G681-01 ἁψάμενος apsamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having touched having attached himself to having touched 3
G681-11 ἅπτεται aptetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG he might touch attaches himself to is touching 3
G681-05 ἅψηται apsetai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG he might touch he might attach himself he might touch 2
G681-06 ἅψωμαι apsomai V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG I touch I might fasten myself to I might touch myself to 2
G681-13 ἥψαντο epsanto V AOR MID IND 3P PL touched they fastened themselves to touched 2
G681-03 ἅψας apsas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having lit having fastened having lit 2
G681-09 ἅπτεσθαι aptesthai V PRS MID INF to touch to fasten oneself to to touch 2
G681-12 ἅπτου aptou V PRS MID IMP 2P SG touch Attach yourself touch 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G681-14 Matthew 8:3 ἥψατο epsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG touched fastened himself to touched
G681-14 Matthew 8:15 ἥψατο epsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG he touched fastened himself to touched
G681-14 Matthew 9:20 ἥψατο epsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG touched fastened himself to touched
G681-06 Matthew 9:21 ἅψωμαι apsomai V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG I touch I might fasten myself to I might touch myself to
G681-14 Matthew 9:29 ἥψατο epsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG he touched fastened himself to touched
G681-07 Matthew 14:36 ἅψωνται apsontai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P PL they might touch they might fasten themselves to they might touch
G681-13 Matthew 14:36 ἥψαντο epsanto V AOR MID IND 3P PL touched they fastened themselves to touched
G681-01 Matthew 17:7 ἁψάμενος apsamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG touched having attached himself to having touched
G681-14 Matthew 20:34 ἥψατο epsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG touched fastened himself to touched
G681-14 Mark 1:41 ἥψατο epsato V AOR MID IND 3P SG touched fastened himself to touched
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