Lexical Summary
haptomai: To touch, to take hold of, to cling to
Original Word:ἅπτομαι
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:haptomai
Pronunciation:HAP-toh-my
Phonetic Spelling:(hap'-tom-ahee)
KJV: touch
Word Origin:[reflexive ofG681 (ἅπτω - touched)]
1. (properly) to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch (in many implied relations)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
touch.
Reflexive ofhapto; properly, to attach oneself to, i.e. To touch (in many implied relations) -- touch.
see GREEKhapto
HELPS Word-studies
680háptomai (from681/háptō, "to modify or change by touching") – properly, "touching thatinfluences" (modifies); touchingsomeone (something) in a way thatalters (changes,modifies) them, i.e. "impact-touching."
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originmid. of
haptó, q.v.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 680: ἅπτωἅπτω; 1 aorist participle
ἅψας; (cf. Latin
apto, German
heften); (from
Homer down);
1. properly,to fasten to, make adhere to; hence, specifically to fasten fire to a thing,to kindle, set on fire, (often so in Attic):λύχνον,Luke 8:16;Luke 11:33;Luke 15:8 (Aristophanes nub. 57;Theophrastus, char. 20 (18);Josephus, Antiquities 4, 3, 4);πῦρ,Luke 22:55 (TTr textWHπεριαψάντων);πυράν,Acts 28:2LTTrWH.
2. Middle (presentά῾πτομαι); imperfectἡπτομην (Mark 6:56RGTr marginal reading); 1 aoristἡψάμην; in theSept. generally forנָגַע,הִגִּיעַ; properly,to fasten oneself to, adhere to, cling to (Homer, Iliad 8. 67);
a.to touch, followed by the object in genitive (Winers Grammar, § 30, 8 c.;Buttmann, 167 (146); cf. Donaldson, p. 483):Matthew 8:3;Mark 3:10;Mark 7:33;Mark 8:22, etc.;Luke 18:15;Luke 22:51 — very often in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. InJohn 20:17,μήμουἅπτου is to be explained thus: Do not handle me to see whether I am still clothed with a body; there is no need of such an examination,for not yet etc.; cf. Baumg.-Crusius and Meyer at the passage (as given by Hackett in Bib. Sacr. for 1868, p. 779f, orB. D. American edition, p. 1813f).
b.γυναικός, of carnal intercourse with a woman, or cohabitation,1 Corinthians 7:1, like the Latintangere,Horace sat. 1, 2, 54:Terence, Heaut. 4, 4, 15, and the Hebrewנָגַע,Genesis 20:6;Proverbs 6:29 (Plato, de legg. viii. 840 a.;Plutarch, Alex. Magn c. 21).
c. with allusion to the levitical preceptἀκαθάρτουμήἅπτεσθε, have no contact with the Gentiles, no fellowship in their heathenish practices,2 Corinthians 6:17 (fromIsaiah 52:11); and in the Jewish sense,μήἅψῃ,Colossians 2:21 (the things not to be touched appear to be both women and certain kinds of food, so that, celibacy and abstinence from various kinds of food and drink are recommended; cf. DeWette at the passage (but also Meyer andLightfoot; on the distinction between the stronger termἅπτεσθαι (to handle?) and the more delicateθιγεῖν (to touch?) cf. the two commentators just named andTrench, § xvii. In classic Greek alsoἅπτεσθαι is the stronger term, denoting oftento lay hold of, hold fast, appropriate; in its carnal reference differing fromθιγγάνειν by suggesting unlawfulness.θιγγάνειν, is used of touching by the hand as a means of knowledge, handling for a purpose;ψηλαφαν signifiesto feel around with the fingers or hands, especially in searching for something, oftento grope, fumble, cf.ψηλαφινδαblindman's buff.Schmidt, chapter 10.)).
d.to touch i. e. assail:τίνος,anyone,1 John 5:18 (1 Chronicles 16:22, etc.). (Compare:ἀνάπτω,καθάπτω,περιάπτω.)
Topical Lexicon
Scope and Literary Distributionἅπτομαι appears thirty-six times across the New Testament, concentrated in the Synoptic Gospels but also occurring in John, Paul, and John’s first epistle. In narrative settings the verb conveys literal physical contact; in apostolic teaching passages it broadens to moral or spiritual association. The contexts cluster around six principal themes.
1. Healing Touches of the Messiah
The largest block of occurrences depicts Jesus extending His hand to restore life, cleanse disease, or impart sight. Examples include:
•Matthew 8:3;Mark 1:41;Luke 5:13 – the leper is cleansed the instant “Jesus reached out His hand and touched him.”
•Matthew 8:15 – Peter’s mother-in-law is healed when “He touched her hand, and the fever left her.”
•Matthew 9:29 – two blind men receive sight at “His touch.”
•Mark 7:33 – the deaf-mute’s ears are opened after Jesus “put His fingers into the man’s ears … and touched his tongue.”
•Luke 7:14 – the corpse of the widow’s son is revived when Jesus “touched the coffin.”
In every case, the touch neither contaminates Christ nor compromises His holiness; rather, it transmits purity, power, and life. These narratives underscore His authority over sickness and death and foreshadow His atoning work, where the Holy One bears impurity to bestow righteousness.
2. Faith-Initiated Touches
Several passages flip the direction of contact: human need reaches for divine power.
•Matthew 9:20-22;Mark 5:27-34;Luke 8:43-48 – the woman with the flow of blood “touched the fringe of His cloak,” confident, “If I only touch His garment, I will be healed.” Jesus affirms, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.”
•Matthew 14:36;Mark 6:56 – crowds plead merely “to touch the fringe of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed.”
Faith is portrayed as the hand that grips grace; the simple physical act externalizes an inner reliance on Christ’s sufficiency.
3. Prohibitions, Precautions, and Pedagogy
Jesus occasionally restricts touch to advance redemptive timing:
•John 20:17 – “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” Mary Magdalene must transition from physical attachment to resurrection faith.
Likewise, the disciples try to prevent others from touching Jesus (Mark 3:10; 10:13;Luke 18:15). Their misunderstanding becomes a teaching opportunity: the kingdom welcomes dependent sinners who reach for mercy.
4. Contact, Cleanliness, and Covenant Separation
Paul and the writer to the Colossians employ ἅπτομαι metaphorically to address holiness.
•Colossians 2:21 – false ascetic regulations demand, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” Such legalism is contrasted with the sufficiency of Christ.
•2 Corinthians 6:17, citing Isaiah, commands believers, “Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” Separation from idolatry and immorality is grounded in covenant identity as God’s temple.
•1 Corinthians 7:1 – “It is good for a man not to touch a woman,” introducing Paul’s counsel on marriage and sexual purity. The verb frames chastity as avoidance of improper physical intimacy, not disdain for God-given marriage.
5. Spiritual Protection and Warfare
•1 John 5:18 – “He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one cannot touch him.” Here ἅπτομαι expresses hostile attack. The believer’s union with the risen Christ places him beyond satanic mastery, though not beyond temptation.
6. Symbolic Gestures of Commission and Comfort
•Matthew 17:7 – at the Transfiguration, terrified disciples fall facedown; “Jesus came over and touched them. ‘Get up,’ He said. ‘Do not be afraid.’”
The gentle touch communicates assurance, invites participation in revealed glory, and models pastoral care.
Theological Threads
1. Incarnation: God incarnate does not shy from human frailty; His holiness is contagious, not fragile.
2. Faith: Physical contact illustrates but never substitutes for belief; power flows where trust resides.
3. Holiness: Post-resurrection teaching moves from ceremonial defilement to moral and spiritual separation, fulfilled in Christ yet obligating His people to purity.
4. Eschatology: The temporary prohibition inJohn 20:17 looks forward to ascension and Pentecost, when the Spirit will make communion with Christ pervasive and internal.
Practical Ministry Implications
• Compassionate Touch: Christians serving the sick emulate Christ’s fearless tenderness, confident that gospel purity overcomes impurity.
• Guarded Associations: Believers avoid moral “touching” of defilement while remaining physically present in a fallen world.
• Spiritual Security: Assurance that the evil one “cannot touch” the regenerate fuels bold witness and persevering hope.
Summary
ἅπτομαι weaves together the tangible and the transcendent: the Savior’s healing hand, the believer’s hand of faith, and the caution not to lay hands on what defiles. Through these touches, Scripture reveals a Lord who bridges the chasm between holiness and human need, calling His people to both receive and reflect His sanctifying power.
Forms and Transliterations
άπτει απτεσθαι άπτεσθαι ἅπτεσθαι απτεσθε άπτεσθε ἅπτεσθε απτέσθω απτεται άπτεται ἅπτεται απτηται άπτηται ἅπτηται απτομένη απτόμενος απτομένων απτου ἅπτου άπτωνται άψαι αψαμένη αψαμενος αψάμενος αψάμενός ἁψάμενος ἁψάμενός αψάντων άψας άψασθαι άψασθαί άψασθε άψεσθε άψεται αψη άψη ἅψῃ άψησθε αψηται άψηται άψηταί ἅψηται άψονται αψωμαι άψωμαι ἅψωμαι αψωνται άψωνται ἅψωνται ημμένον ήπται ήπτετο ήπτοντο ηψάμην ηψαντο ήψαντο ἥψαντο ηψατο ήψατο ήψατό ἥψατο Ἥψατό apsamenos apse apsē apsetai apsētai apsomai apsōmai apsontai apsōntai aptesthai aptesthe aptetai aptētai aptou epsanto ēpsanto epsato ēpsato hapsamenos hapsámenos hapsámenós hapse hapsē hápsei hápsēi hapsetai hapsētai hápsetai hápsētai hapsomai hapsōmai hápsomai hápsōmai hapsontai hapsōntai hápsontai hápsōntai haptesthai háptesthai haptesthe háptesthe haptetai haptētai háptetai háptētai haptou háptou hepsanto hēpsanto hḗpsanto hepsato hēpsato hḗpsato Hḗpsató
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
