ἔχω
echō
to have/be
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἔχω (echō) is a fundamental verb that encompasses the concepts of "to have" and "to be." With 716 occurrences in the Bible, it is one of the most frequently used words in the Greek New Testament. Its versatility allows it to be applied in various contexts, including possession, existence, and even ability or capability. Throughout the Bible, ἔχω is used to describe physical possession, such as owning property or having possessions (e.g., Matthew 19:21). It is also used to convey a sense of existence or being, often in contrast to non-existence or nothingness (e.g., Acts 8:20). Furthermore, ἔχω can imply ability or capability, as in the phrase "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). The significance of ἔχω lies in its ability to convey a sense of dynamic relationship between the subject and the object. It highlights the idea that possession, existence, and ability are not static states, but rather ongoing processes that require action and maintenance. This understanding of ἔχω has implications for how we approach relationships, possessions, and our sense of identity, emphasizing the importance of active engagement and stewardship.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
716 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins-” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”
Matthew 12:11He said to them, “What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it, and lift it out?
Matthew 1:18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
Matthew 3:4Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Matthew 3:9Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Matthew 3:14But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
Matthew 4:24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.
Matthew 5:23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
Matthew 21:3If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
Matthew 5:46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 6:1“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 6:8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
Matthew 7:29for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.
Matthew 8:9For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Matthew 8:16When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;
Matthew 8:20Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Matthew 8:20Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Matthew 9:12When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
Matthew 9:12When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
Matthew 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 11:15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 11:18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
Matthew 13:5Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
Matthew 13:5Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
Matthew 13:6When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
Matthew 13:9He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:12For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.
Matthew 13:12For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.
Matthew 13:12For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.
Matthew 13:21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Matthew 13:27The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’
Matthew 13:43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 13:44“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
Matthew 13:46who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Matthew 14:4For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Matthew 14:5When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
Matthew 14:16But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
Matthew 14:17They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
Matthew 14:35When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick;
Matthew 15:30Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,
Matthew 15:32Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.”
Matthew 15:34Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
Matthew 16:8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, ‘because you have brought no bread?’
Matthew 17:20He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 18:8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
Matthew 18:9If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
Matthew 18:25But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Matthew 18:25But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Matthew 19:16Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”