Strong's Lexicon
pisteuó: To believe, to have faith, to trust
Original Word:πιστεύω
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:pisteuó
Pronunciation:pis-tyoo'-o
Phonetic Spelling:(pist-yoo'-o)
Definition:To believe, to have faith, to trust
Meaning:I believe, have faith in, trust in; pass: I am entrusted with.
Word Origin:Derived from πίστις (pistis), meaning "faith" or "belief."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H539 (אָמַן, 'aman): To confirm, support, or be faithful.
- H982 (בָּטַח, batach): To trust, to have confidence, to be bold.
Usage:The Greek verb "pisteuó" primarily means to believe or to have faith. It conveys a sense of trust and reliance upon someone or something. In the New Testament, it is often used to describe the act of believing in Jesus Christ for salvation, trusting in God's promises, and having faith in the truth of the Gospel. This belief is not merely intellectual assent but involves a deep, personal trust and commitment.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the Greco-Roman world, belief was often associated with trust in the gods or in philosophical truths. However, the New Testament writers redefined "pisteuó" within the context of a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This belief was not just about accepting doctrines but involved a transformative trust that led to a new way of living. The early Christian community emphasized faith as central to salvation, contrasting it with the works-based righteousness prevalent in Jewish and pagan practices of the time.
HELPS Word-studies
4100pisteúō (from4102/pístis, "faith," derived from3982/peíthō, "persuade, be persuaded") –believe (affirm, have confidence); used of persuading oneself (= human believing) and with the sacred significance of being persuaded by the Lord (=faith-believing). Only the context indicates whether4100/pisteúō ("believe") is self-serving (without sacred meaning), or the believing that leads to/proceeds from God's inbirthing of faith.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
pistisDefinitionto believe, entrust
NASB Translationbelieve (118), believed (73), believers (3), believes (29), believing (10), do (1), entrust (1), entrusted (6), entrusting (1), has faith (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4100: πιστεύωπιστεύω; imperfect
ἐπίστευον; future
πιστεύσω; 1 aorist
ἐπίστευσα; perfect
πεπίστευκα; pluperfect (without augment, cf.
Winers Grammar, § 12, 9; (
Buttmann, 33 (29)))
πεπιστεύκειν (
Acts 14:23); passive perfect
πεπίστευμαι; 1 aorist
ἐπιστεύθην; (
πιστός); the
Sept. for
הֶאֱמִין; in classical Greek from Aeschyl,
Sophocles,
Euripides,
Thucydides down;
to believe, i. e.
1. intransitive,to think to be true; to be persuaded of; to credit, place confidence in;
a. universally: the thing believed being evident from the preceding context,Matthew 24:23,(26);Mark 13:21;1 Corinthians 11:18; with an accusative of the thing,Acts 13:41 (LTTrWHὁ forRec.ᾧ),to credit, have confidence, followed byὅτι,Acts 9:26;τίνι, to believe one's words,Mark 16:13;1 John 4:1;τίνιὅτι,John 4:21;τῷψεύδει,2 Thessalonians 2:11;περίτίνος,ὅτι,John 9:18.
b. specifically, in a moral and religious reference,πιστεύειν is used in the N. T. of "the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of his soul"; thus it standsα. absolutelyto trust in Jesus or in God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something:Matthew 8:13;Matthew 21:22;Mark 5:36;Mark 9:23;Luke 8:50;John 11:40; followed byὅτι,Matthew 9:28;Mark 11:23; (Hebrews 11:6);τῷλόγῳ,ᾧ (ὅν)εἶπενὁἸησοῦς,John 4:50.β. ofthe credence given to God's messengers and their words, with a dative of the person or thing:ΜωϋσεῖJohn 5:46. to the prophets,John 12:38;Acts 24:14;Acts 26:27;Romans 10:16;ἐπίπᾶσινοἷςἐλάλησανοἱπροφῆται, to place reliance on etc.Luke 24:25. to an angel,Luke 1:20; followed byὅτι,Luke 1:45. to John the Baptist,Matthew 21:25 (26),32;Mark 11:31;Luke 20:5. to Christ's words,John 3:12;John 5:38, 46;John 6:30;John 8:45;John 10:(37),38{a};τοῖςἔργοις of Christ,John 10:38{b}. to the teachings of evangelists and apostles,Acts 8:12;τῇἀλήθεια,2 Thessalonians 2:12;ἐπιστεύθητόμαρτύριον, the testimony was believed,2 Thessalonians 1:10 (cf.Winers Grammar, § 39,1 a.;Buttmann, 175 (152));τῇγραφή,John 2:22.ἐντῷεὐαγγελίῳ, to put faith in the gospel,Mark 1:15 (Buttmann, 174 (151f); cf.Winers Grammar, 213 (200f)) (Ignatius ad Philad. 8, 2 [ET] ((but see Zahn's note); cf.John 3:15 inγ. below)).γ. used especially of the faith by which a man embraces Jesus, i. e. "a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah — the divinely appointed author of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God, conjoined with obedience to Christ":πιστεύωτόνυἱόντοῦΘεοῦεἶναιἸησοῦνΧριστόν,Acts 8:37Rec.;ἐπιστεύθη (was believed on (cf.Winers Grammar, § 39, 1 a.;Buttmann, 175 (152)))ἐνκόσμῳ,1 Timothy 3:16. the phraseπιστεύεινεἰςτόνἸησοῦν,εἰςτόνυἱόντοῦΘεοῦ, etc., is very common; properly,to have a faith directed unto, believing or in faith to give oneself up to, Jesus, etc. (cf.Winers Grammar, 213 (200f); (Buttmann, 174 (151))):Matthew 18:6;Mark 9:42 (RGLTr text);John 2:11;John 3:15RG,; (RGL);,(),;,();;Acts 10:43;Acts 19:4;Romans 10:14;Galatians 2:16;Philippians 1:29;1 John 5:10;1 Peter 1:8;εἰςτόφῶς,John 12:36;εἰςτόὄνομααὐτοῦ,John 1:12;John 2:23;John 3:18;1 John 5:13;τῷὀνόματιαὐτοῦ, to commit oneself trustfully to the name (seeὄνομα, 2, p. 448a),1 John 3:23;ἐπ'αὐτόν,ἐπίτόνκύριον, to have a faith directed toward, etc. (seeἐπί, C. I. 2 g.α., p. 235b (cf.Winers Grammar, andButtmann, as above, alsoButtmann, § 147, 25)):Matthew 27:42TTr textWH;John 3:15L text;Acts 9:42;Acts 11:17;Acts 16:31;Acts 22:19 ((cf. Wis. 12:2));ἐπ'αὐτῷ, to build one's faith on, to place one's faith upon (seeἐπί, B. 2 a.γ., p. 233a;Buttmann, as above):Romans 9:33;Romans 10:11;1 Timothy 1:16;1 Peter 2:6;ἐναὐτῷ, to put faith in him,John 3:15 (L marginal reading; cf.TTrWH also (who probably connectἐναὐτῷ with the followingἔχῃ; cf. Westcott's Commentary at the passage, Meyer, others)) (cf.Jeremiah 12:6;Psalm 77:22 (), whereπιστεύεινἐντίνι meansto put confidence in one, to trust one; (cf.Mark 1:15 above,β. at the end));ἐντούτῳπιστεύομεν, on this rests our faith (A. V.by this we believe),John 16:30; with the simple dative,τῷκυρίῳ, to (yield faith to) believe (cf. B. 173 (151)):Matthew 27:42RGLTr marginal reading;Acts 5:14;Acts 18:8; supplyτούτῳ beforeοὗ inRomans 10:14;to trust in Christ (God),2 Timothy 1:12;διάτίνος, through one's agency to be brought to faith,John 1:7;1 Corinthians 3:5;διάἸησοῦεἰςΘεόν,1 Peter 1:21RGTr marginal reading;διάτῆςχάριτος,Acts 18:27;διάτοῦλόγουαὐτῶνεἰςἐμέ,John 17:20;διάτί,John 4:39 (),;.πιστεύω followed byὅτι with a sentence in which either the nature and dignity of Christ or his blessings are set forth:John 6:69;John 8:24;John 10:38cRG;,();; ();;1 John 5:1, 5;Romans 6:8;1 Thessalonians 4:14;μοιὅτι,John 14:11;τί,John 11:26;πιστεύωσωθῆναι,Acts 15:11; the simpleπιστεύειν is used emphatically, of those who acknowledge Jesus as the saviour and devote themselves to him:Mark 15:32 (hereL addsαὐτῷ);Luke 8:12;Luke 22:67;John 1:50();f;Rec.;;Acts 5:14; ();; ();Romans 1:16;Romans 3:22;Romans 4:11;Romans 10:4;Romans 15:13;2 Corinthians 4:13;Ephesians 1:13,();2 Thessalonians 1:10;Hebrews 4:3; withἐξὅληςκαρδίας added,Acts 8:37Rec.; with a dative of instrumentalityκαρδία,Romans 10:10; participle presentοἱπιστεύοντες, as a substantive:Acts 2:44;Romans 3:22;1 Corinthians 1:21;Galatians 3:22; (Ephesians 1:19);1 Thessalonians 1:7;1 Thessalonians 2:10, 13;2 Thessalonians 1:10Rec.;1 Peter 2:7; equivalent towho are on the point of believing,1 Corinthians 14:22, cf.1 Corinthians 14:24f; aoristἐπίστευσα (marking entrance into a state; seeβασιλεύω, at the end),I became a believer, a Christian (A. V.believed):Acts 4:4;Acts 8:13;Acts 13:12, 48;Acts 14:1;Acts 15:7;Acts 17:12, 34;Romans 13:11;1 Corinthians 3:5;1 Corinthians 15:2, 11; with the addition ofἐπίτόνκύριον (see above),Acts 9:42; participleπιστεύσας,Acts 11:21;Acts 19:2;ὁπιστεύσας,Mark 16:16; plural,;Acts 4:32;οἱπεπιστευκότες,they that have believed (have become believers):Acts 19:18;Acts 21:20; (on (John's use of) the tenses ofπιστεύω see Westcott on1 John 3:23). It must be borne in mind, that in Paul's conception ofτόπιστεύεινεἰςΧριστόν, the prominent element is the grace of God toward sinners as manifested and pledged (and to be laid hold of by faith) in Jesus, particularly in his death and resurrection, as appears especially inRomans 3:25;Romans 4:24;Romans 10:9;1 Thessalonians 4:14; but in John's conception, it is the metaphysical relationship of Christ with God and close ethical intimacy with him, as well as the true 'life' to be derived from Christ as its source; cf. Rückert, Das Abendmahl, p. 251. Moreover,πιστεύειν is used by John of various degrees of faith, from its first beginnings, its incipient stirring within the soul, up to the fullest assurance,John 2:23 (cf.John 2:24);; of a faith which does not yet recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but as a prophet very like the Messiah,John 7:31; and to signify that one's faith is preserved, strengthened, increased, raised to the level which it ought to reach,;1 John 5:13bRec.; (cf. references under the wordπίστις, at the end). is applied also to the faith by which one is persuaded that Jesus was raised from the dead, inasmuch as by that fact God declared him to be his Son and the Messiah:John 20:8, 25, 29;πιστεύσῃςἐντῇκαρδίασουὅτιὁΘεόςαὐτόνἤγειρενἐκνεκρῶνσωθήσῃ,Romans 10:9 (cf.Buttmann, § 133, 19). Since according to the conception of Christian faith Christ alone is the author of salvation,ὁπιστεύων repudiates all the various things which aside from Christ are commended as means of salvation (such e. g. as abstinence from flesh and wine), and understands that all things are lawful to him which do not lead him away from Christ; hence,πιστεύει (τίς)φαγεῖνπάντα, hath faith to eat all things or so that he eats all things,Romans 14:2; cf. Rückert at the passage; (Winers Grammar, § 44,3 b.; per contraButtmann, 273f (235)).δ.πιστεύειν used in reference to God has various senses:αα. it denotes the mere acknowledgment of his existence:ὅτιὁΘεόςεἷςἐστιν,James 2:19; acknowledgment joined to appropriate trust, absolutely,Jude 1:5;εἰςΘεόν,John 12:44;John 14:1; equivalent to to believe and embrace what God has made known either through Christ or concerning Christ:τῷΘεῷ,John 5:24;Acts 16:34;Titus 3:8;1 John 5:10;ἐπίτόνΘεόν,Romans 4:5;τήνἀγάπην,ἥνἔχειὁΘεός,1 John 4:16;εἰςτήνμαρτυρίαν,ἥνκτλ.,1 John 5:10.ββ.to trust:τῷΘεῷ, God promising a thing,Romans 4:3, 17 (on which seeκατέναντι);Galatians 3:6; (James 2:23); absolutely,Romans 4:18; followed byὅτι,Acts 27:25.ε.πιστεύειν is used in an ethical sense, of confidence in the goodness of men:ἡἀγάπηπιστεύειπάντα,1 Corinthians 13:7.τόπιστεύειν is opposed toἰδεῖν,John 20:29; toὁρᾶν, ibid. and1 Peter 1:8 (Theophilus ad Autol. 1, 7 at the end), cf.2 Corinthians 5:7; toδιακρίνεσθαι,Romans 4:19;Romans 14:1, 23, cf.James 1:6; toὁμολογεῖν,Romans 10:9.2. transitively,τίνιτί,to intrust a thing to one, i. e.to his fidelity:Luke 16:11;ἑαυτόντίνι,John 2:24; passive,πιστεύομαιτί,to be intrusted with a thing:Romans 3:2;1 Corinthians 9:17;Galatians 2:7;1 Thessalonians 2:4;1 Timothy 1:11;Titus 1:8 (Ignatius ad Philad. 9 [ET]; examples from secular authors are given inWiners Grammar, § 39, 1 a.). On the grammatical construction of the word cf.Buttmann, § 133, 4 (and the summaries in Ellicott on1 Timothy 1:16; Vaughan onRomans 4:5;Cremer, under the word). It does not occur in Revlation, nor in Philemon, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John (Cf. the references under the wordπίστις, at the end.)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
believe, put in trust with.Frompistis; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ) -- believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
see GREEKpistis
Forms and Transliterations
επιστευεν επίστευεν ἐπίστευεν επιστευετε επιστεύετε ἐπιστεύετε επιστευθη επιστεύθη ἐπιστεύθη επιστευθην επιστεύθην ἐπιστεύθην επιστευθησαν επιστεύθησαν ἐπιστεύθησαν επιστευον επίστευον ἐπίστευον Επιστευσα επίστευσα Ἐπίστευσα επιστευσαμεν επιστεύσαμεν ἐπιστεύσαμεν επιστευσαν επίστευσαν ἐπίστευσαν επιστευσας επίστευσας ἐπίστευσας επιστευσατε επιστεύσατε επιστεύσατέ ἐπιστεύσατε επίστευσε επιστευσεν επίστευσεν ἐπίστευσεν πεπιστευκα πεπίστευκα πεπιστευκαμεν πεπιστεύκαμεν πεπιστευκας πεπίστευκας πεπιστευκατε πεπιστεύκατε πεπιστευκεισαν πεπιστεύκεισαν πεπιστευκεν πεπίστευκεν πεπιστευκόσι πεπιστευκοσιν πεπιστευκόσιν πεπιστευκοτας πεπιστευκότας πεπιστευκοτες πεπιστευκότες πεπιστευκοτων πεπιστευκότων πεπιστευκως πεπιστευκώς πεπιστευκὼς πεπιστευμαι πεπίστευμαι πιστευε πίστευε Πίστευέ πιστευει πιστεύει πιστευειν πιστεύειν πιστευεις πιστεύεις πιστευεται πιστεύεται Πιστευετε Πιστεύετε πιστεύετέ πιστέυετε πιστευέτω πιστευη πιστεύῃ πιστευητε πιστεύητε πιστευθηναι πιστευθήναι πιστευθῆναι πιστευθήσονται πιστευομεν πιστεύομεν πιστευοντα πιστεύοντα πιστευοντας πιστεύοντας πιστευοντες πιστεύοντες πιστευοντι πιστεύοντι πιστευοντων πιστευόντων πιστεύοντων πιστεύουσι πιστεύουσί πιστευουσιν πιστεύουσιν πιστευσαι πιστεύσαι πιστεῦσαι πιστευσαντας πιστεύσαντας πιστευσαντες πιστεύσαντες πιστευσαντων πιστευσάντων πιστευσας πιστεύσας πιστευσασα πιστεύσασα πιστεύσασι πιστευσασιν πιστεύσασιν πιστεύσατε πιστευσει πιστεύσει πιστεύσεις πιστευσετε πιστεύσετε πιστεύση πιστευσης πιστεύσης πιστεύσῃς πιστευσητε πιστεύσητε πιστευσομεν πιστεύσομεν πιστευσον πίστευσον πίστευσόν πιστευσόντων πιστεύσουσί πιστευσουσιν πιστεύσουσιν πιστευσω πιστεύσω πιστευσωμεν πιστεύσωμεν πιστεύσωμέν πιστεύσωσι πιστεύσωσί πιστευσωσιν πιστεύσωσιν Πιστευω Πιστεύω πιστευων πιστεύων episteuen epísteuen episteuete episteúete episteuon epísteuon Episteusa Epísteusa episteusamen episteúsamen episteusan epísteusan episteusas epísteusas episteusate episteúsate episteusen epísteusen episteuthe episteuthē episteúthe episteúthē episteuthen episteuthēn episteúthen episteúthēn episteuthesan episteuthēsan episteúthesan episteúthēsan pepisteuka pepísteuka pepisteukamen pepisteúkamen pepisteukas pepísteukas pepisteukate pepisteúkate pepisteukeisan pepisteúkeisan pepisteuken pepísteuken pepisteukos pepisteukōs pepisteukṑs pepisteukosin pepisteukósin pepisteukotas pepisteukótas pepisteukotes pepisteukótes pepisteukoton pepisteukotōn pepisteukóton pepisteukótōn pepisteumai pepísteumai pisteue pisteuē písteue Písteué pisteuei pisteúei pisteúēi pisteuein pisteúein pisteueis pisteúeis pisteuetai pisteúetai Pisteuete pisteuēte Pisteúete pisteúeté pisteúēte Pisteuo Pisteuō Pisteúo Pisteúō pisteuomen pisteúomen pisteuon pisteuōn pisteúon pisteúōn pisteuonta pisteúonta pisteuontas pisteúontas pisteuontes pisteúontes pisteuonti pisteúonti pisteuonton pisteuontōn pisteuónton pisteuóntōn pisteuousin pisteúousin pisteusai pisteûsai pisteusantas pisteúsantas pisteusantes pisteúsantes pisteusanton pisteusantōn pisteusánton pisteusántōn pisteusas pisteúsas pisteusasa pisteúsasa pisteusasin pisteúsasin pisteusei pisteúsei pisteúseis pisteúsēis pisteuses pisteusēs pisteusete pisteusēte pisteúsete pisteúsēte pisteuso pisteusō pisteúso pisteúsō pisteusomen pisteusōmen pisteúsomen pisteúsomén pisteúsōmen pisteúsōmén pisteuson písteuson pisteusosin pisteusōsin pisteúsosin pisteúsōsin pisteusousin pisteúsousin pisteuthenai pisteuthênai pisteuthēnai pisteuthē̂naiLinks
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