λέγω
legō
to say
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word λέγω (legō) is a fundamental term in the New Testament, appearing 1311 times. At its core, λέγω means "to say." This simple definition belies its significant role in conveying various forms of communication, including statements, declarations, and expressions of opinion. The breadth of λέγων's usage is evident in its numerous contexts. It can signify a straightforward statement, as in John 4:19, where Jesus says, "The woman said to him, 'Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.'" It can also imply a command or instruction, as in Matthew 5:39, where Jesus says, "But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil." Furthermore, λέγω can convey a sense of declaration or announcement, as in Luke 2:10, where the angel says, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy." The significance of λέγων lies in its ubiquity and versatility. As a primary verb in the New Testament, it underscores the importance of language and communication in human relationships and interactions. Its range of usage highlights the complexities of human expression, from simple statements to more nuanced declarations and commands.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
1,311 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”
Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
Matthew 9:6But 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 1:20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:22Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
Matthew 2:2“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
Matthew 2:15and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2:17Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
Matthew 2:20“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
Matthew 3:2“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
Matthew 3:3For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!”
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 3:9Don’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 3:17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 4:6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
Matthew 4:10Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ”
Matthew 4:14that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
Matthew 4:17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”
Matthew 5:2He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
Matthew 5:18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
Matthew 5:20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:22But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.
Matthew 5:26Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 5:32but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
Matthew 5:34but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
Matthew 5:39But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 21:4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,
Matthew 6:2Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 6:5“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 6:16“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 6:25Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:29yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
Matthew 6:31“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’
Matthew 7:21Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 8:2Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:3Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 8:4Jesus said to him, “See that you tell nobody, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8:6and saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.”
Matthew 8:7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
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 8:10When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, “Most certainly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel.
Matthew 8:11I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,
Matthew 8:17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.”
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 8:22But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:25They came to him, and woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We are dying!”