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ἄγω

ágō

G71 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To lead or guide (a person, group, or object) from one place to another; by extension, to conduct, carry, bring, drive, or direct someone or something; in some contexts, to spend or pass (time); metaphorically, to guide or influence (someone or something) in a particular direction. The fundamental meaning is to lead or cause movement, whether physical, figurative, or temporal.

Semantic Range

to lead (a person, group, or object), to guide, to conduct, to carry, to bring, to drive (animals), to direct, to spend or pass (time), to induce, to celebrate (as a festival), to carry out, to go (in some reflexive or middle senses)

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root ἄγ-, an ancient and common root in Greek, with cognates in many Indo-European languages. The verb ἄγω is a primary and very old verb and serves as the base for numerous compounds (e.g., συνάγω, ἐξάγω).

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἄγω is widely attested from Homeric Greek onward and is fundamental to classical and Koine prose. In Homeric and classical texts, ἄγω could mean leading people (as in leading troops), taking animals (herding), conducting festivals, or bringing objects. By the Hellenistic period, ἄγω also took on extended senses including managing or carrying on an activity or event, or metaphorical use for leading/influencing behavior or thought. In the New Testament and Septuagint, ἄγω commonly refers to the act of physically leading or bringing someone, but also appears in metaphorical and idiomatic uses (such as "to pass time"). Standard English translations often accommodate the word in varied ways: "lead," "bring," "carry," "conduct," "go." Unlike φέρω, which typically emphasizes "carrying" or "bearing" something, ἄγω centers on the active guidance or direction of movement. The root ἄγ- also appears in related terms like ἡγεμών (leader), ἄγγελος (messenger, literally 'one who is sent/led'), and ἀνάγω (to lead up). The base sense persists across contexts but is frequently expanded by metaphor and idiom. English translations do not always capture nuances such as social leadership or ritual processions, both important senses in ancient sources.

Translation Consistency

primary "lead" 8 occurrences

ἄγω primarily means to guide, conduct, bring or direct—so the most natural, general English verb that covers physical and figurative senses is “lead.” It fits the dominant uses (leading, bringing, guiding), reads naturally in all tenses/forms, and is more generally applicable than direction-specific verbs like “bring” or “drive.”

Alternatives (62 occurrences):
"led" (39x) "us go" (6x) "bring" (4x) "lead, all of you" (3x) "brought" (2x) "might bring" (2x) "come now" (2x) "passing" (1x) "having brought" (1x) "open" (1x) "having led" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specially) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce:--be, bring (forth), carry, (let) go, keep, lead away, be open.

Root Family

ἄγω (agō) — to lead, to guide, to bring, to conduct

Root ἄγ- to lead, to guide, to bring, to conduct

Word Forms

29 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G71-25 ἤγαγον egagon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL brought they led they led 14
G71-23 ἤγαγεν egagen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG brought he/she led he led 8
G71-14 ἄγωμεν agomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL let us go let us lead let us go 7
G71-01 ἀχθῆναι achthenai V AOR PASS INF to be brought to be led to be led 4
G71-19 Ἄγουσιν agousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL bring they lead they brought 3
G71-05 ἀγάγετέ agagete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL bring Lead! Lead, all of you! 3
G71-08 ἄγε age V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG Come now Lead on Come now 3
G71-09 ἄγει agei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is passing leads is passing 2
G71-03 ἀγάγῃ agage V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he might bring he might lead he might bring 2
G71-04 ἀγαγεῖν agagein V AOR ACT INF bring to lead to lead 2

Occurrences in Scripture

70 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G71-02 Matthew 10:18 ἀχθήσεσθε achthesesthe V FUT PASS IND 2P PL you will be brought you will be led you will be led
G71-05 Matthew 21:2 ἀγάγετέ agagete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL bring Lead! Lead, all of you!
G71-25 Matthew 21:7 ἤγαγον egagon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they brought they led they led
G71-14 Matthew 26:46 ἄγωμεν agomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL let us be going let us lead let us go
G71-14 Mark 1:38 ἄγωμεν agomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL let us go let us lead let us go
G71-25 Mark 11:7 ἤγαγον egagon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they brought they led they led
G71-18 Mark 13:11 ἄγωσιν agosin V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL they lead they may lead they may lead
G71-14 Mark 14:42 ἄγωμεν agomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL let us go let us lead let us go
G71-28 Luke 4:1 ἤγετο egeto V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG was led was being led was being led
G71-23 Luke 4:9 ἤγαγεν egagen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he led he/she led he led
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