λαλέω
to speak
‘to speak’ is one of 6 main senses fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Thayer's Greek Lexicon
From Thayer's Greek Lexicon
Where this word appears
See every Present-tense verb in the Greek New Testament →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Verb
- An action or state-of-being word.
Tense
- Aorist
- Action viewed as a simple whole, without regard to duration — often past (perfective aspect).
- Present
- Ongoing or general action in present time (imperfective aspect).
- Imperfect
- Continuous or repeated action in past time (“was writing”).
- Perfect
- A completed past action with continuing present results.
- Future
- Action expected in future time.
Voice
- Active
- The subject performs the action.
- Passive
- The subject receives the action.
Mood
- Indicative
- States a fact or asks a factual question (the mood of reality).
- Infinitive
- A verbal noun (“to write”), unmarked for person or number.
- Participle
- A verbal adjective (“writing,” “having written”).
- Imperative
- Expresses a command or request.
- Subjunctive
- Expresses probability, purpose, or possibility (the mood of contingency).
Case
- Genitive
- The case of source, possession, or “of” — answers “whose / from what.”
- Nominative
- The case of the subject (and the predicate nominative).
- Dative
- The case of the indirect object, means, or location — “to / for / with / in.”
- Accusative
- The case of the direct object and of extent.
Person
- 3rd person
- The one spoken about (“he / she / it / they”).
- 1st person
- The speaker (“I / we”).
- 2nd person
- The one addressed (“you”).
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
- Neuter
- Grammatically neuter.
- Feminine
- Grammatically feminine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one.
135 distinct verses where G2980 appears in the Present tense, across 20 books. Filtered view — show all forms. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Greek form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Greek New Testament; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences of this word are not indexed here.
Matthew 10 verses
- Matthew 9:18 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."
- Matthew 10:20 λαλοῦντες λαλοῦν pres act ptcp nom pl masc pres act ptcp nom sg neut For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
- Matthew 12:22 λαλεῖν pres act inf Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
- Matthew 12:34 λαλεῖν λαλεῖ pres act inf pres act ind 3sg You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
- Matthew 12:46 λαλοῦντος λαλῆσαι pres act ptcp gen sg masc aor act inf While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.
- Matthew 13:10 λαλεῖς pres act ind 2sg The disciples came, and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
- Matthew 13:13 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don't see, and hearing, they don't hear, neither do they understand.
- Matthew 15:31 λαλοῦντας pres act ptcp acc pl masc so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, injured whole, lame walking, and blind seeing--and they glorified the God of Israel.
- Matthew 17:5 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."
- Matthew 26:47 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people.
Mark 9 verses
- Mark 1:34 λαλεῖν pres act inf He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn't allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
- Mark 2:7 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg "Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
- Mark 5:35 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc While he was still speaking, they came from the synagogue ruler's house saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?"
- Mark 5:36 λαλούμενον pres pass ptcp acc sg masc But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Don't be afraid, only believe."
- Mark 7:37 λαλεῖν pres act inf They were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!"
- Mark 11:23 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg For most assuredly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and doesn't doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says.
- Mark 12:1 λαλεῖν pres act inf He began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.
- Mark 13:11 λαλήσητε λαλεῖτε λαλοῦντες aor act subj 2pl pres act impv 2pl pres act ptcp nom pl masc When they lead you away and deliver you up, don't be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
- Mark 14:43 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came--and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
Luke 10 verses
- Luke 2:33 λαλουμένοις pres pass ptcp dat pl neut Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,
- Luke 4:41 λαλεῖν pres act inf Demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" Rebuking them, he didn't allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
- Luke 5:4 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch."
- Luke 5:21 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
- Luke 6:45 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
- Luke 7:15 λαλεῖν pres act inf He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.
- Luke 8:49 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue's house came, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Don't trouble the Teacher."
- Luke 22:47 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him.
- Luke 22:60 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
- Luke 24:36 λαλούντων pres act ptcp gen pl masc As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you."
John 23 verses
- John 1:37 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
- John 3:11 λαλοῦμεν pres act ind 1pl Most assuredly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our witness.
- John 3:31 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
- John 3:34 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.
- John 4:26 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who speaks to you."
- John 4:27 ἐλάλει λαλεῖς impf act ind 3sg pres act ind 2sg At this, his disciples came. They marveled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, "What are you looking for?" or, "Why do you speak with her?"
- John 7:17 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
- John 7:18 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
- John 7:26 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?
- John 7:46 ἐλάλησεν λαλεῖ aor act ind 3sg pres act ind 3sg The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!"
- John 8:25 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
- John 8:26 λαλεῖν λαλῶ pres act inf pres act ind 1sg I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world."
- John 8:28 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.
- John 8:30 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
- John 8:38 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father."
- John 8:44 λαλῇ λαλεῖ pres act subj 3sg pres act ind 3sg You are of your Father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.
- John 9:37 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you."
- John 12:50 λαλῶ λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg pres act ind 1sg I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak."
- John 14:10 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.
- John 16:18 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg They said therefore, "What is this that he says, 'A little while?' We don't know what he is saying."
- John 16:29 λαλεῖς pres act ind 2sg His disciples said to him, "Behold, now you speak plainly, and speak no figures of speech.
- John 17:13 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
- John 19:10 λαλεῖς pres act ind 2sg Pilate therefore said to him, "Aren't you speaking to me? Don't you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?"
Acts 27 verses
- Acts 2:4 λαλεῖν pres act inf They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
- Acts 2:6 λαλούντων pres act ptcp gen pl masc When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
- Acts 2:7 λαλοῦντες pres act ptcp nom pl masc They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren't all these who speak Galileans?
- Acts 2:11 λαλούντων pres act ptcp gen pl masc Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!"
- Acts 4:1 Λαλούντων pres act ptcp gen pl masc As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,
- Acts 4:17 λαλεῖν pres act inf But so that this spreads no further among the people, let's threaten them, that from now on they don't speak to anyone in this name."
- Acts 4:20 λαλεῖν pres act inf for we can't help telling the things which we saw and heard."
- Acts 4:29 λαλεῖν pres act inf Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,
- Acts 5:20 λαλεῖτε pres act impv 2pl "Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
- Acts 5:40 λαλεῖν pres act inf They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
- Acts 6:11 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
- Acts 6:13 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
- Acts 7:38 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living oracles to give to us,
- Acts 7:44 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc "Our fathers had the tent of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen;
- Acts 10:7 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.
- Acts 10:44 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
- Acts 10:46 λαλούντων pres act ptcp gen pl masc For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
- Acts 11:15 λαλεῖν pres act inf As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
- Acts 11:19 λαλοῦντες pres act ptcp nom pl masc They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.
- Acts 13:45 λαλουμένοις pres pass ptcp dat pl neut But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
- Acts 14:9 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,
- Acts 16:14 λαλουμένοις pres pass ptcp dat pl neut A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul.
- Acts 17:19 λαλουμένη pres pass ptcp nom sg fem They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?
- Acts 18:9 λάλει pres act impv 2sg The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Don't be afraid, but speak and don't be silent;
- Acts 20:30 λαλοῦντες pres act ptcp nom pl masc Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
- Acts 22:9 λαλοῦντός pres act ptcp gen sg masc "Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me.
- Acts 26:26 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner.
Romans 3 verses
- Romans 3:19 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
- Romans 7:1 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg Or don't you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?
- Romans 15:18 λαλεῖν pres act inf For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
1 Corinthians 24 verses
- 1 Corinthians 2:6 λαλοῦμεν pres act ind 1pl We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7 λαλοῦμεν pres act ind 1pl But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 λαλοῦμεν pres act ind 1pl Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
- 1 Corinthians 9:8 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn't the law also say the same thing?
- 1 Corinthians 12:3 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God's Spirit says, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 12:30 λαλοῦσιν pres act ind 3pl Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
- 1 Corinthians 13:1 λαλῶ pres act subj 1sg If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
- 1 Corinthians 14:2 λαλῶν λαλεῖ λαλεῖ pres act ptcp nom sg masc pres act ind 3sg pres act ind 3sg For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
- 1 Corinthians 14:3 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
- 1 Corinthians 14:4 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
- 1 Corinthians 14:5 λαλεῖν λαλῶν pres act inf pres act ptcp nom sg masc Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
- 1 Corinthians 14:6 λαλῶν λαλήσω pres act ptcp nom sg masc aor act subj 1sg But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
- 1 Corinthians 14:9 λαλούμενον λαλοῦντες pres pass ptcp nom sg neut pres act ptcp nom pl masc So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.
- 1 Corinthians 14:11 λαλοῦντι λαλῶν pres act ptcp dat sg masc pres act ptcp nom sg masc If then I don't know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
- 1 Corinthians 14:13 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
- 1 Corinthians 14:18 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
- 1 Corinthians 14:23 λαλῶσιν pres act subj 3pl If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you are crazy?
- 1 Corinthians 14:27 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
- 1 Corinthians 14:28 λαλείτω pres act impv 3sg But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.
- 1 Corinthians 14:29 λαλείτωσαν pres act impv 3pl Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
- 1 Corinthians 14:34 λαλεῖν pres act inf let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says.
- 1 Corinthians 14:35 λαλεῖν pres act inf If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly.
- 1 Corinthians 14:39 λαλεῖν pres act inf Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages.
- 1 Corinthians 15:34 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg Wake up righteously, and don't sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
2 Corinthians 6 verses
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 λαλοῦμεν pres act ind 1pl For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 ἐλάλησα λαλοῦμεν aor act ind 1sg pres act ind 1pl But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, "I believed, and therefore I spoke." We also believe, and therefore also we speak;
- 2 Corinthians 11:17 λαλῶ λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg pres act ind 1sg That which I speak, I don't speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23 λαλῶ pres act ind 1sg Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.
- 2 Corinthians 12:19 λαλοῦμεν pres act ind 1pl Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
- 2 Corinthians 13:3 λαλοῦντος pres act ptcp gen sg masc seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you.
Ephesians 2 verses
- Ephesians 4:25 λαλεῖτε pres act impv 2pl Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members one of another.
- Ephesians 5:19 λαλοῦντες pres act ptcp nom pl masc speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord;
Philippians 1 verse
1 Thessalonians 2 verses
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8 λαλεῖν pres act inf For from you has sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth; so that we need not to say anything.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 λαλοῦμεν pres act ind 1pl But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.
1 Timothy 1 verse
Titus 2 verses
Hebrews 6 verses
- Hebrews 2:3 λαλεῖσθαι pres pass inf how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation-- which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard;
- Hebrews 2:5 λαλοῦμεν pres act ind 1pl For he didn't subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels.
- Hebrews 6:9 λαλοῦμεν pres act ind 1pl But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.
- Hebrews 11:4 λαλεῖ pres act ind 3sg By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
- Hebrews 12:24 λαλοῦντι pres act ptcp dat sg masc to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
- Hebrews 12:25 λαλοῦντα pres act ptcp acc sg masc See that you don't refuse him who speaks. For if they didn't escape when they refused him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,
James 1 verse
1 Peter 1 verse
2 Peter 1 verse
1 John 1 verse
Jude 1 verse
Revelation 4 verses
- Revelation 4:1 λαλούσης pres act ptcp gen sg fem After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, "Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this."
- Revelation 10:8 λαλοῦσαν pres act ptcp acc sg fem The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, "Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land."
- Revelation 13:5 λαλοῦν pres act ptcp nom sg neut A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him.
- Revelation 21:15 λαλῶν pres act ptcp nom sg masc He who spoke with me had for a measure, a golden reed, to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
At its core, λαλεω (laléō) means “to speak.” The King James Version’s older “spake” has given way to “speak” in modern versions, as the renderings breakdown shows. It turns up in 272 verses across 23 books, a common footprint. It first appears in Matthew 9:18. Ranging over 6 senses, it is not a single-sense word. Each statement above links to its evidence; the full detail follows below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's G2980 catalogs a Greek word from the Greek New Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Greek New Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 272
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 272 distinct verses.
- 23 / 27
- NT books
- The word appears in 23 of 27 New Testament books.
- #59
- by frequency
- Top 100 most frequent Greek words (rank 59 of 5,347 Greek words by occurrence).
View all 272 occurrences in the concordance →
By section of the New Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Some books belong to more than one corpus (Luke is in both the Gospels and the Lukan corpus, and so on), so these shares overlap and need not total 100%. Each figure is a share of the word’s 272 distinct verses.
- Gospels 122 verses · 45%
- Lukan (Luke–Acts) 91 verses · 33%
- Johannine 65 verses · 24%
- Pauline corpus 52 verses · 19%
- Hebrews 15 verses · 6%
- General (Catholic) Epistles 12 verses · 4%
- Revelation 11 verses · 4%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
- King James Version: Speak 62×, Spake 48×, He spake 14×
- American Standard Version: Speak 60×, Spake 43×, Speaketh 21×
- Berean Standard Bible: Speak 44×, Spoke 23×, Speaking 17×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text: Speak 56×, Speaking 47×, Spoke 25×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders G2980 across 305 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 62 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 3 further occurrences.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders G2980 across 308 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 52 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders G2980 across 290 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 90 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 8 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders G2980 across 332 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 53 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Senses in Thayer's
The 6 senses Thayer's distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency or importance). The full entry — with sub-senses — is in the Lexicon Entry tab.
- to utter a voice or emit a sound
- to use the tongue or the faculty of speech
- to utter articulate sounds
- to talk
- to utter, tell
- to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts
Word origin
Origin: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb
A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk that is utter words : - preach say speak (after) talk tell utter. Compare G3004 .
— Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (1890), public domain.
Forms in the corpus
The 63 distinct written forms G2980 takes in the Greek New Testament, most frequent first — each parse links to that tense’s occurrences in the concordance.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 3 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other Thayer's entries built from the same root as G2980, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derived from this word
Compare all same-root words → They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint usage
The same Greek word λαλεω appears 1,049 times in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), across 957 verses in 35 books.
- 1,049
- LXX occurrences
- Tagged occurrences of this Greek word in the Septuagint.
- 957
- verses
- Distinct Septuagint verses containing this word.
- 35 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 35 of the 39 Old Testament books.
Sample Septuagint occurrences
- Genesis 12:4 λαλέω
- Exodus 4:10 λαλέω
- Leviticus 1:1 λαλέω
- Numbers 1:1 λαλέω
- Deuteronomy 1:1 λαλέω
- Joshua 10:12 λαλέω
- Judges 1:20 λαλέω
- Ruth 1:18 λαλέω
- 1 Samuel 1:13 λαλέω
- 2 Samuel 2:27 λαλέω
- 1 Kings 1:14 λαλέω
- 2 Kings 1:3 λαλέω
Septuagint occurrences (same lexeme)
Every verse where the same Strong’s number (G2980) appears in the Greek Septuagint — showing the first 50 of 957. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context; the Greek form is the matched word — the English is not keyword-highlighted.
- Genesis 12:4 λαλέω So Abram went, as Yahweh had spoken to him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed out of Haran.
- Genesis 16:13 λαλέω She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees," for she said, "Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?"
- Genesis 17:3 λαλέω Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,
- Genesis 17:22 λαλέω When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
- Genesis 17:23 λαλέω Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money; every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him.
- Genesis 18:19 λαλέω For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him."
- Genesis 18:27 λαλέω Abraham answered, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.
- Genesis 18:29 λαλέω He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are forty found there?" He said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake."
- Genesis 18:30 λαλέω He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?" He said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there."
- Genesis 18:31 λαλέω He said, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."
- Genesis 18:32 λαλέω He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. What if ten are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake."
- Genesis 18:33 λαλέω Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
- Genesis 19:14 λαλέω Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, "Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city." But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking.
- Genesis 19:21 λαλέω He said to him, "Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.
- Genesis 20:8 λαλέω Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.
- Genesis 21:1 λαλέω Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken.
- Genesis 21:2 λαλέω Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
- Genesis 23:8 λαλέω He talked with them, saying, "If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
- Genesis 23:16 λαλέω Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants' standard.
- Genesis 24:7 λαλέω Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, 'I will give this land to your seed.' He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
- Genesis 24:15 λαλέω It happened, before he had done speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.
- Genesis 24:30 λαλέω It happened, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," that he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
- Genesis 24:33 λαλέω Food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." He said, "Speak on."
- Genesis 24:45 λαλέω Before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. She went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'
- Genesis 24:51 λαλέω Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as Yahweh has spoken."
- Genesis 27:5 λαλέω Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
- Genesis 27:6 λαλέω Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, "Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,
- Genesis 27:19 λαλέω Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me."
- Genesis 28:15 λαλέω Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you."
- Genesis 29:9 λαλέω While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.
- Genesis 31:24 λαλέω God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Take heed to yourself that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad."
- Genesis 31:29 λαλέω It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Take heed to yourself that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad.'
- Genesis 32:20 λαλέω You shall say, 'Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.'" For, he said, "I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me."
- Genesis 34:3 λαλέω His soul joined to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young lady, and spoke kindly to the young lady.
- Genesis 34:6 λαλέω Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to talk with him.
- Genesis 34:8 λαλέω Hamor talked with them, saying, "The soul of my son, Shechem, longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife.
- Genesis 34:13 λαλέω The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with deceit, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,
- Genesis 34:20 λαλέω Hamor and Shechem, his son, came to the gate of their city, and talked with the men of their city, saying,
- Genesis 35:13 λαλέω God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.
- Genesis 35:14 λαλέω Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink-offering on it, and poured oil on it.
- Genesis 35:15 λαλέω Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him "Bethel."
- Genesis 37:4 λαλέω His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn't speak peaceably to him.
- Genesis 39:10 λαλέω It happened that as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he didn't listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
- Genesis 39:17 λαλέω She spoke to him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
- Genesis 39:19 λαλέω It happened, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, "This is what your servant did to me," that his wrath was kindled.
- Genesis 41:9 λαλέω Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my faults today.
- Genesis 41:17 λαλέω Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I stood on the brink of the river:
- Genesis 42:7 λαλέω Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, "Where did you come from?" They said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."
- Genesis 42:22 λαλέω Reuben answered them, saying, "Didn't I tell you, saying, 'Don't sin against the child,' and you wouldn't listen? Therefore also, behold, his blood is required."
- Genesis 42:30 λαλέω "The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.
These are occurrences of the same Greek lexeme (G2980) in the Septuagint — not a translation of any one Hebrew word. The store carries no word-level Hebrew↔Greek alignment, so no Hebrew original is asserted here. Counts come from the recovered LXX Strong's tagging — high-frequency vocabulary is well covered, while rare or late forms may be untagged — so they reflect tagged occurrences and may slightly undercount.
