Lexical Summary laleó: To speak, to talk, to utter Original Word: λαλέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance preach, say, speakA prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words -- preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare lego. see GREEK lego NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom lalos (talkative) Definition to talk NASB Translation made (1), proclaiming (1), said (6), say (5), saying (7), says (2), speak (95), speak forth (1), speaking (54), speaks (25), spoke (44), spoken (38), stating (1), talked (1), talking (5), tell (1), telling (1), things spoken (2), told (7), uttered (1), whispered* (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2980: λαλέωλαλέω, λαλῶ; imperfect 3 person singular ἐλάλει, plural ἐλάλουν; future λαλήσω; 1 aorist ἐλάλησα; perfect λελάληκα; passive, present λαλοῦμαι; perfect λελάλημαι; 1 aorist ἐλαλήθην; 1 future λαληθήσομαι: (from Sophocles down); found in Biblical Greek much more frequent than in secular authors, in the Sept. times without number for דִּבֵּר or דִּבֶּר, more rarely for אָמַר; properly, to utter a sound (cf. (onomatop. la-la, etc.) German lallen), to emit a voice make oneself heard; hence to utter or form words with the mouth, to speak, having reference to the sound and pronunciation of the words and in general the form of what is uttered. while λεγο refers to the meaning and substance of what is spoken; hence λαλεῖν is employed not only of men, especially when chatting and prattling, but also of animals (of birds, Mosch. 3, 47; of locusts, Theocritus, 5, 34; λαλοῦσι μέν, οὐ φραζουσι δέ, of dogs and apes, Plutarch, mor. ii., p. 909 a.), and so of inanimate things (as trees, Theocritus, 27, 56 (57); of an echo, Dio C. 74, 21, 14). Accordingly, everything λεγόμενον is also λαλούμενον, but not everything λαλούμενον is also λεγόμενον (Eupolis in Plutarch, Alc. 13 λαλεῖν ἄριστος, ἀδυνατωτατος λέγειν); (the difference between the words is evident where they occur in proximity, e. g. Romans 3:19 ὅσα ὁ νόμος λέγει, τοῖς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ λαλεῖ, and the very common ἐλάλησεν ... λέγων, Matthew 13:3, etc.). Moreover, the primary meaning of λαλεῖν, to utter oneself, enables us easily to understand its very frequent use in the sacred writers to denote the utterances by which G o d indicates or gives proof of his mind and will, whether immediately or through the instrumentality of his messengers and heralds. (Perhaps this use may account in part for the fact that, though in classic Greek λαλεῖν is the term for light and familiar speech, and so assumes readily a disparaging notion: in Biblical Greek it is nearly ff not quite free from any such suggestion.) Cf. Day. Schulz die Geistesgaben der ersten Christen, p. 94ff; Tittmann de Synonymis N. T., p. 79f; Trench, Synonyms, § lxxvi.; (and on classical usage Schmidt, Syn. 1:1). But let us look at the N. T. usage in detail: 1. to utter a voice, emit a sound: of things inanimate, as βρονταί, Revelation 10:4; with τάς ἑαυτῶν φωνάς added, each thunder uttered its particular voice (the force and meaning of which the prophet understood, cf. John 12:28f); John 12:3; σάλπιγγος λαλούσης μετ' ἐμοῦ, λέγων (Rec. λέγουσα) followed by direct discourse Revelation 4:1; of the expiatory blood of Christ, metaphorically, to crave the pardon of sins, Hebrews 12:24; of the murdered Abel, long since dead, equivalent to to call for vengeance (see Genesis 4:10, and cf. κράζω, 1 at the end), Hebrews 11:4 according to the true reading λαλεῖ; (G L T Tr WH; the Rec. λαλεῖται must be taken as passive, in the exceptional sense to be talked of, lauded; see below, 5 at the end (πρᾶγμα κατ' ἀγοράν λαλούμενον, Aristophanes Thesm. 578, cf. πάντες αὐτήν λαλοῦσιν, Alciphro fragment 5, ii., p. 222, 10 edition Wagner)). 2. to speak, i. e. to use the tongue or the faculty of speech; to utter articulate sounds: absolutely 1 Corinthians 14:11; of the dumb, receiving the power of speech, Matthew 9:33; Matthew 12:22; Matthew 15:31; Luke 11:14; Revelation 13:15; (τούς (T Tr WH omit)) ἀλάλους λαλεῖν, Mark 7:37; ἐλάλει ὀρθῶς, Mark 7:35; of a deaf-mute man, μή δυνάμενος λαλῆσαι, Luke 1:20 (of idols, στόμα ἔχουσι καί οὐ λαλήσουσι, Psalm 113:13 3. to talk; of the sound and outward form of speech: τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ, Acts 2:6; ἑτέραις καιναῖς γλώσσαις, Acts 2:4; Mark 16:17 (here Tr text WH text omit καιναῖς), from which the simple γλώσσαις λαλεῖν, and the like, are to be distinguished, see γλῶσσα, 2. 4. to utter, tell: with the accusative of the thing, 2 Corinthians 12:4. 5. to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts; to speak: absolutely, ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος, Matthew 12:46; Matthew 17:5; Matthew 26:47; Mark 5:35; Mark 14:43; Luke 8:49; Luke 22:47, 60; with the adverbs κακῶς, καλῶς, John 18:23; ὡς νήπιος ἐλάλουν, 1 Corinthians 13:11; ὡς δράκων, Revelation 13:11; στόμα πρός στόμα, face to face (German mündlich), 2 John 1:12 (after the Hebrew of Numbers 12:8); εἰς ἀέρα λαλεῖν, 1 Corinthians 14:9; ἐκ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στωμα λαλεῖ, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, namely, so that it expresses the soul's thoughts, Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45; ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων λαλεῖν, to utter words in accordance with one's inner character, John 8:44. with the accusative of the thing: τί λαλήσω, λαλήσητε, etc., what I shall utter in speech, etc., John 12:50; Matthew 10:19; Mark 9:6 (here T Tr WH ἀποκριθῇ); 6. Since λαλεῖν, strictly denotes the act of one who utters words with the living voice, when writers speak of themselves or are spoken of by others as λαλοῦντες, they are conceived of as present and addressing their readers with the living voice, Romans 7:1; 1 Corinthians 9:8; 2 Corinthians 11:17, 23; 2 Corinthians 12:19; Hebrews 2:5; Hebrews 6:9; 2 Peter 3:16, or λαλεῖν is used in the sense of commanding, Hebrews 7:14. The verb λαλεῖν is not found in the Epistles to Galatians and 2 Thessalonians. (Compare: διαλαλέω, ἐκλαλέω, καταλαλέω, προσλαλέω, συλλαλέω; cf. the catalog of comp. in Schmidt, Syn., chapter i § 60.) Topical Lexicon Divine Communication and the Verb “to Speak”The verb translated “to speak” (laleō, Strong’s 2980) denotes the act of uttering audible words, but in Scripture its significance deepens: it is the chosen vehicle of divine self-disclosure. Hebrews 1:1-2 frames redemptive history around what “God spoke” (1:1) and how “in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (1:2). The term therefore marks the transition from prophetic fragments to the full revelation in Jesus Christ. The Son’s Dependent Speech The Gospels stress that every syllable Jesus uttered carried the Father’s authority. “I have not spoken on My own,” He declares; “the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say” (John 12:49). Even His public teaching testifies to transparent obedience: “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple” (John 18:20). Thus the verb underscores both the authenticity and the impeccability of Christ’s earthly ministry. Prophecy and Fulfillment Luke twice links the Old Testament prophets with their Messianic consummation: “all the prophets who have spoken… announced these days” (Acts 3:24; see also Luke 24:44). The verb joins promise and fulfillment, demonstrating Scripture’s internal harmony—what was “spoken” beforehand unfolds in Christ’s saving work. Apostolic Witness After Pentecost the apostles “were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31). Whether addressing Jews (Acts 2:31), Gentiles (Acts 11:20), or political authorities (Acts 26:31), their speaking is never private opinion but inspired testimony: “Since we have the same spirit of faith… we also speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13). The Holy Spirit and Inspired Speech Laleō appears with the Spirit’s empowering of tongues (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 14) and prophecy (2 Peter 1:21). The Spirit “will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears” (John 16:13), mirroring the Son’s submission and ensuring that all true spiritual utterance accords with prior revelation. Ethics of Speech James grounds practical holiness in sanctified speech: “Take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of patience in affliction” (James 5:10). Believers must be “quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19) and avoid “empty words” that will be judged (Matthew 12:36). The same term describes the serpent’s deceit (John 8:44) and the boastful arrogance of apostates (Jude 16), warning that speech can betray rebellion as readily as it proclaims truth. Congregational Order 1 Corinthians 14 uses the verb twenty-one times to regulate public worship. Speaking in tongues, prophecy, and teaching must edify: “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh carefully what is said” (14:29). The command “let him keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God” (14:28) balances liberty with order, showing that authoritative speech in the assembly remains subject to apostolic instruction. Pastoral Encouragement Hebrews urges believers to remember “those who spoke the word of God to you” (13:7), while Paul implores Titus, “Speak the things that are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Faithful ministry therefore centers on rightly spoken scriptural truth. Eschatological Overtones In Revelation heavenly and angelic voices abound: thunder “spoke” (10:3-4), an angel “spoke with me” (21:9), and the beast “was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words” (13:5). The verb thus frames the final conflict between divine proclamation and satanic counterfeit, assuring readers that the last word belongs to God. Devotional Implications 1. Scripture reading should inspire prayerful “speaking back” to God (Psalm 116:10 compared with 2 Corinthians 4:13). Summary Strong’s 2980 threads through 297 New Testament occurrences, weaving a unified doctrine of speech that begins with God’s initiating word, manifests perfectly in Christ, continues through Spirit-empowered witness, governs church life, and culminates in the final revelation of glory. Rightly understood and practiced, “speaking” becomes both the hallmark of divine truth and the measure of human faithfulness. Forms and Transliterations εἰπόντος ελαλει ελάλει ἐλάλει ελαληθη ελαλήθη ἐλαλήθη ελαλησα ελάλησα ελάλησά ἐλάλησα ελαλησαμεν ελαλήσαμεν ἐλαλήσαμεν ελαλησαν ελάλησαν ἐλάλησαν ελάλησας ελάλησάς ελαλησατε ελαλήσατε ἐλαλήσατε ελάλησε ελάλησέ ελαλησεν ελάλησεν ἐλάλησεν ἐλάλησέν ελαλουμεν ελαλούμεν ἐλαλοῦμεν ελαλουν ελάλουν ἐλάλουν λαλει λαλεί λαλεῖ λάλει λαλειν λαλείν λαλεῖν λαλεις λαλείς λαλεῖς λαλεισθαι λαλείσθαι λαλεῖσθαι λαλείται λαλειτε λαλείτε λαλεῖτε λαλειτω λαλείτω λαλειτωσαν λαλείτωσαν λαλη λαλή λαλῇ λαληθεις λαληθείς λαληθεὶς λαληθεισης λαληθείσης λαληθέν λαληθεντος λαληθέντος λαληθεντων λαληθέντων λαληθή λαληθηναι λαληθήναι λαληθῆναι λαληθησεται λαληθήσεται λαληθήσεταί λαληθησομενων λαληθησομένων λάλημα λαλησαι λαλήσαι λαλήσαί λαλῆσαι λαλῆσαί λαλησαντες λαλήσαντες λαλήσαντι λαλήσαντος λαλησας λαλήσας λαλήσασι λαλήσατε λαλησάτω λαλήσατω λαλησάτωσαν λαλησει λαλήσει λαλήσεις λαλήσετε λαληση λαλήση λαλήσῃ λαλήσης λαλησητε λαλήσητε λαλήσητέ λαλησομεν λαλήσομεν λάλησον λαλήσουσι λαλησουσιν λαλήσουσιν λαλησω λαλήσω λαλήσωμεν λαλήσωσι λαλήσωσιν λαλητόν λαλουμεν λαλούμεν λαλοῦμεν λαλουμενη λαλουμένη λαλουμενοις λαλουμένοις λαλουμενον λαλούμενον λαλουν λαλούν λαλοῦν λαλουντα λαλούντα λαλοῦντα λαλουντας λαλούντας λαλοῦντας λαλουντες λαλούντες λαλοῦντες λαλουντι λαλούντι λαλοῦντι λαλουντος λαλούντος λαλούντός λαλοῦντος λαλοῦντός λαλουντων λαλούντων λαλούσα λαλουσαι λαλούσαι λαλοῦσαι λαλουσαν λαλούσαν λαλοῦσαν λαλουσης λαλούσης λαλουσί λαλούσι λαλουσιν λαλούσιν λαλοῦσιν λαλω λαλώ λαλῶ λαλων λαλών λαλῶν λαλώσι λαλωσιν λαλώσιν λαλῶσιν λελαληκα λελάληκα λελαλήκαμεν λελάληκας λελαλήκασι λελαλήκατε λελάληκε λελάληκέ λελαληκεν λελάληκεν λελαλημενοις λελαλημένοις λελαληται λελάληταί eipontos eipóntos elalei elálei elalesa elalēsa elálesa elálēsa elalesamen elalēsamen elalḗsamen elalesan elalēsan elálesan elálēsan elalesate elalēsate elalḗsate elalesen elalēsen elálesen elálesén elálēsen elálēsén elalethe elalēthē elalḗthe elalḗthē elaloumen elaloûmen elaloun eláloun lale lalē lalei laleî lalêi lalē̂i lálei lalein laleîn laleis laleîs laleisthai laleîsthai laleite laleîte laleito laleitō laleíto laleítō laleitosan laleitōsan laleítosan laleítōsan lalesai lalêsai lalêsaí lalēsai lalē̂sai lalē̂saí lalesantes lalēsantes lalḗsantes lalesas lalēsas lalḗsas lalese lalēsē lalesei lalēsei lalḗsei lalḗsēi lalesete lalēsēte lalḗsete lalḗsēte laleso lalēsō lalḗso lalḗsō lalesomen lalēsomen lalḗsomen lalesousin lalēsousin lalḗsousin laletheis laletheìs lalētheis lalētheìs laletheises laletheíses lalētheisēs lalētheísēs lalethenai lalethênai lalēthēnai lalēthē̂nai lalethenton lalethénton lalēthentōn lalēthéntōn lalethentos lalethéntos lalēthentos lalēthéntos lalethesetai lalethḗsetai lalethḗsetaí lalēthēsetai lalēthḗsetai lalēthḗsetaí lalethesomenon lalethesoménon lalēthēsomenōn lalēthēsoménōn lalo lalô lalō lalō̂ lalon lalôn lalōn lalō̂n lalosin lalôsin lalōsin lalō̂sin laloumen laloûmen laloumene laloumenē lalouméne lalouménē laloumenois lalouménois laloumenon laloúmenon laloun laloûn lalounta laloûnta lalountas laloûntas lalountes laloûntes lalounti laloûnti lalounton lalountōn laloúnton laloúntōn lalountos laloûntos laloûntós lalousai laloûsai lalousan laloûsan lalouses lalousēs laloúses laloúsēs lalousin laloûsin lelaleka lelalēka leláleka lelálēka lelaleken lelalēken leláleken lelálēken lelalemenois lelaleménois lelalēmenois lelalēménois lelaletai lelalētai leláletaí lelálētaíLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 9:18 V-PPA-GMSGRK: Ταῦτα αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος αὐτοῖς ἰδοὺ NAS: While He was saying these things KJV: While he spake these things unto them, INT: These things of him as he is speaking to them behold Matthew 9:33 V-AIA-3S Matthew 10:19 V-ASA-2P Matthew 10:19 V-ASA-2P Matthew 10:20 V-PPA-NMP Matthew 10:20 V-PPA-NNS Matthew 12:22 V-PNA Matthew 12:34 V-PNA Matthew 12:34 V-PIA-3S Matthew 12:36 V-FIA-3P Matthew 12:46 V-PPA-GMS Matthew 12:46 V-ANA Matthew 12:47 V-ANA Matthew 13:3 V-AIA-3S Matthew 13:10 V-PIA-2S Matthew 13:13 V-PIA-1S Matthew 13:33 V-AIA-3S Matthew 13:34 V-AIA-3S Matthew 13:34 V-IIA-3S Matthew 14:27 V-AIA-3S Matthew 15:31 V-PPA-AMP Matthew 17:5 V-PPA-GMS Matthew 23:1 V-AIA-3S Matthew 26:13 V-FIP-3S Matthew 26:47 V-PPA-GMS Strong's Greek 2980 |