αὐλέω (G832) — Greek Lexicon

αὐλέω

auléō

G832 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to play the aulos (double-reed flute), i.e., to produce music by means of a wind instrument. The verb primarily denotes making music on the aulos in a literal sense, but may also refer to providing festal, mournful, or celebratory accompaniment, depending on context. In certain passages, the act of 'playing the flute' can symbolize festivity or ritual lament, in contrast to other musical or performative actions.

Semantic Range

to play the aulos, to perform on a wind instrument (especially double flute), to provide musical accompaniment at festive or ritual occasions, to signal festivity or celebration, to accompany lament with the aulos

Root / Etymology

from αὐλός (aulos), a wind instrument, usually a double-reed pipe or flute; αὐλέω is the denominative verb formed with the verbal ending -έω, meaning 'to play the aulos'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

αὐλέω is classical in origin and appears in Greek literature from at least the 5th century BCE, consistently describing the act of playing the aulos, a prominent instrument in Greek ritual, celebration, entertainment, and mourning. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it occurs rarely, for example in Matthew 11:17 and Luke 7:32, as part of proverbial expressions contrasting joyful music with mourning. The instrument and practice in ancient Israelite and Judean context were not identical with later Western 'flute' or 'pipe,' and the word should be interpreted with cultural associations of Greek musical life in mind. English translations commonly render it 'pipe', 'play the flute', or 'make music', but may not capture the nuance of social or ritual function attached to the act and instrument. Contrasts with verbs like ψάλλω (psallō, to sing or play stringed instruments) highlight the specific referent to wind instruments.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from αὐλός; to play the flute:--pipe.

Root Family

αὐλέω (auleō) — to play a wind instrument, to pipe, to play the aulos

Root αὐλ- to play a wind instrument, to pipe, to make music with a flute

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G832-02`	ηὐλήσαμεν	eulesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	we have piped	we played the aulos	we played the aulos	2
`G832-01`	αὐλούμενον	auloumenon	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG`	is piped	being played on the aulos	being played on the aulos	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G832-02`	Matthew 11:17	ηὐλήσαμεν	eulesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	we have piped	we played the aulos	we played the aulos
`G832-02`	Luke 7:32	ηὐλήσαμεν	eulesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	we played the flute	we played the aulos	we played the aulos
`G832-01`	1 Corinthians 14:7	αὐλούμενον	auloumenon	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG`	is piped	being played on the aulos	being played on the aulos

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