33. age
Lexical Summary
aiōn: Age, world, eternity

Original Word: αἰών
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: aiōn
Pronunciation: ah-ee-OWN
Phonetic Spelling: (ag'-eh)
KJV: go to
NASB: come
Word Origin: [imperative of G71 (ἄγω - brought)]

1. (properly) lead, i.e. come on

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
go to.

Imperative of ago; properly, lead, i.e. Come on -- go to.

see GREEK ago

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
imper. of agó
Definition
come!
NASB Translation
come (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 33: ἄγε

ἄγε (properly, imperative of ἄγω), "Come! Come now!" used, as it often is in the classics (Winer's Grammar, 516 (481)), even when more than one is addressed: James 4:13; James 5:1.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Ἄγε is a vivid, second-person imperative that functions as a summons: “Come!”, “Come on!”, “Let us go!” While not occurring in the canonical Greek New Testament text, it is well attested in the Septuagint and other Hellenistic literature. Whenever it appears, ἄγε signals movement—physical, moral, or spiritual—and often frames decisive moments of divine or human initiative.

Semantic Nuances

1. Invitation: A friendly call to join a proposed action (“Come, let us…”).
2. Command: A decisive order demanding obedience (“Come now, do this!”).
3. Exhortation: A rhetorical prod meant to awaken complacent hearers.

The particle is frequently intensified by adverbs such as νῦν (“now”) or δή (“indeed,” “please”), adding urgency or persuasion.

Usage in the Septuagint

Genesis 11:7—“Come, let Us go down and confuse their language.” Here ἄγε underscores the immediacy of divine intervention against human pride at Babel.

Genesis 19:32—“Come, let us make our father drink wine.” In this tragic episode, ἄγε introduces a sinful plan, reminding readers that a persuasive call can lead either to obedience or disobedience.

Isaiah 1:18—While Hebrew has לְכוּ־נָ֛א (“come now”), the LXX renders with Δεῦτε δὴ, a close cousin to ἄγε. The sense is identical: God graciously summons Israel to reason together and be cleansed.

Throughout the prophets, ἄγε or its near equivalents introduce divine invitations to repentance (Jeremiah 3:22) and warnings of judgment (Isaiah 41:21). The same particle can therefore herald grace or impending wrath, depending on the hearer’s response.

Extra-Biblical Parallels

In classical Greek drama, generals and kings employ ἄγε to rally troops (e.g., Thucydides 4.92) or to ignite communal resolve in a crisis. Philosophers use it rhetorically (“Come now, let us consider…”) to draw listeners into logical exploration. The New Testament writers, though not using ἄγε itself, adopt the same conversational device in expressions like “Come, follow Me” (Matthew 4:19).

Theological Significance

1. Divine Initiative

Ἄγε highlights the Lord’s prerogative to interrupt human affairs. When God says “Come,” delay is disobedience. The Babel account demonstrates that no human project is immune to His sovereign call.

2. Human Responsibility

Conversely, sinful voices may exploit the same imperative to entice people toward unrighteousness (Genesis 19:32). Scripture thus warns believers to test every summons by the revealed will of God.

3. Covenant Grace

The prophetic “Come now” of Isaiah 1:18 encapsulates the gospel pattern: God invites the guilty to reason with Him and receive cleansing. Every call of ἄγε in Scripture foreshadows Christ’s invitation, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened” (Matthew 11:28).

Historical Church Commentary

Church Fathers often interpreted the divine “Come” as a picture of Christ’s incarnation. John Chrysostom saw Genesis 11:7 as a typological prelude to Pentecost—a divine descent to deal with languages, later reversed by the Spirit’s unifying tongue. Augustine read Isaiah 1:18’s “Come now” as proof that God both convicts and consoles, displaying justice and mercy together.

Ministry and Homiletical Applications

1. Evangelism

Use ἄγε-passages to illustrate God’s initiating grace: He does not wait for sinners to ascend; He comes down and calls.

2. Discipleship

The readiness inherent in ἄγε challenges believers to move from contemplation to obedience. Sermons may emphasize the immediacy of responding to God’s promptings.

3. Warning

Teachers can contrast righteous and unrighteous “comes,” showing how peer pressure or cultural voices still echo Genesis 19:32. Discernment is crucial.

Practical Discipleship Insights

• Swift Obedience: Delayed compliance dilutes blessing.
• Discerned Hearing: Not every urgent voice reflects God’s purposes.
• Communal Action: Many ἄγε contexts are corporate, reminding the church that obedience often involves collective movement.

Christological Connections

Though ἄγε itself is absent from the Greek New Testament, its theological footprint appears in Christ’s imperatives: “Follow Me,” “Go,” and “Come.” Every such summons culminates in Revelation 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’” The eschatological hope of believers is framed by the same gracious imperative that first called humanity to repentance.

Conclusion

Ἄγε captures the heartbeat of redemptive history—a commanding, gracious, and sometimes fearful “Come!” from the Lord of heaven and earth. Whether heard in the corridors of Babel, the streets of Jerusalem, or the preaching of the gospel today, the word confronts every listener with a choice: obey the divine call or follow lesser voices.

Forms and Transliterations
άγε
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