Greek · G1125 · unreviewed

γράφω

To "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe

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γράφω G1125

Pronunciation gráphō

What does γράφω (gráphō) mean in the Bible?

γράφω (gráphō) is a Greek word meaning "to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe". γράφω, [in LXX chiefly for כּתב ]; __1. Appeals to enduring authority of Scripture. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah.

Full entry for γράφω (G1125) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe

Extended definition

Perfect tense γέγραπται emphasizes Scripture's abiding authority: "it stands written" as permanently binding truth.

1to scrape, graze (Hom.), and later (Hdt.) to sketch, draw.

2to write;

aof forming or tracing letters on writing material: Jhn.8:[6], Gal.6:11, 2Th.3:17;

bto express in writing, commit to writing, record: Luk.1:63, Jhn.19:21, 22 Rev.1:11, 19 al.; of scripture as a standing authority (Deiss., BS, 112ff.), γέγραπται, it stands written (Luther), Mat.4:4, Mrk.7:6, Luk.4:8, Rom.1:17, 1Co.1:31, al.; id. before ἐν, Mrk.1:2, Act.1:20, al.; with accusative, to write of: Jhn.1:46, Rom.10:5; before περί, Mat.26:24, Mrk.14:21, Jhn.5:46; al.; with dative (WM, §31, 4), Luk.18:31; id. before ἵνα (M, Pr., 207f.), Mrk.12:19, Luk.20:28; κατὰ τ. γεγραμμένον, 2Co.4:13; γεγραμμένον ἐστί, Jhn.2:17; ἐγράφη, Rom.4:24; ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ γεγραμμένα, Jhn.12:16; __(with) of writing directions or information, with dative of person(s): Rom.15:15, 2Co.7:12, al.;

dof that which contains the record or message: βιβλίον, Mrk.10:4, Jhn.21:25, Rev.5:1; τίτλον, Jhn.19:19; ἐπιστολήν, Act.23:25; ἐντολήν, Mrk.10:5 (cf. ἀπο-, ἐγ-, ἐπι-, κατα-, προ-).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Appeals to enduring authority of Scripture.

Demonstrates Christ’s reliance on Scripture.

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Perfect Aorist Present Future

Voices

Passive Active

Indicative states a fact or reality 119×

Perfect Passive Matt 2:5 · Matt 4:4 · Matt 4:6 · Matt 4:7 · Matt 4:10 · Matt 11:10 · Matt 21:13 · Matt 26:24 · Matt 26:31 · Mark 1:2 · Mark 7:6 · Mark 9:12 · Mark 9:13 · Mark 11:17 · Mark 14:21 · Mark 14:27 67×

Aorist Active Rom 15:15 · 1 Cor 5:9 · 1 Cor 5:11 · 1 Cor 9:15 · 2 Cor 2:3 · 2 Cor 2:4 · 2 Cor 2:9 · 2 Cor 7:12 · Gal 6:11 · Phlm 1:19 · Phlm 1:21 · 1 Pet 5:12 · 1 John 2:14 · 1 John 2:21 · 1 John 2:26 · 1 John 5:13 29×

Present Active 1 Cor 4:14 · 1 Cor 14:37 · 2 Cor 13:10 · Gal 1:20 · 2 Thess 3:17 · 1 Tim 3:14 · 2 Pet 3:1 · 1 John 2:1 · 1 John 2:7 · 1 John 2:8 · 1 John 2:12 · 1 John 2:13 · 2 Cor 1:13 · 1 John 1:4 · Rom 10:5 16×

Aorist Passive Rom 4:23 · Rom 15:4 · 1 Cor 9:10 · 1 Cor 10:11 4×

Perfect Active John 19:22 2×

Future Active Rev 3:12 1×

Imperative command or strong request 15×

Aorist Active Luke 16:6 · Luke 16:7 · Rev 1:11 · Rev 1:19 · Rev 2:1 · Rev 2:8 · Rev 2:12 · Rev 2:18 · Rev 3:1 · Rev 3:7 · Rev 3:14 · Rev 14:13 · Rev 19:9 · Rev 21:5 14×

Present Active John 19:21 1×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 40×

Perfect Passive Luke 4:17 · Luke 20:17 · John 2:17 · John 6:31 · John 6:45 · John 10:34 · John 12:14 · John 19:19 · John 19:20 · Rev 17:5 · Luke 22:37 · 2 Cor 4:13 · Rev 2:17 · Rev 5:1 · Rev 14:1 · Rev 19:12 34×

Aorist Active John 21:24 · Acts 23:25 · Rom 16:22 · Acts 15:23 4×

Present Passive John 21:25 1×

Present Active 2 John 1:5 1×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 13×

Present Active 2 Cor 9:1 · Phil 3:1 · 1 Thess 4:9 · 2 John 1:12 · 3 John 1:13 · Jude 1:3 · Rev 10:4 7×

Aorist Active Mark 10:4 · Luke 1:3 · Acts 25:26 · 3 John 1:13 · Jude 1:3 5×

Present Passive 1 Thess 5:1 1×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 3×

Aorist Active Acts 25:26 · Rev 10:4 2×

Present Passive John 21:25 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 182 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 33 ongoing 16 prospective 1 resultant 69 imperative 15 background 2 subjunctive 3 infinitive 13 participle 30

Tense

perfect 93 aorist 58 present 28 imperfect 2 future 1

Voice

passive 98 active 84

Mood

indicative 121 participle 30 imperative 15 infinitive 13 subjunctive 3

NT Occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Canonical Themes

Messiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Additional Occurrences

Luke 10:17–20 γεγραμμένα gráphō

Having been written

Luke 4:1–13 γέγραπται gráphō

It is written

New Testament Witnesses

Luke 19:45–48 γέγραπται gráphō

it stands written

Luke 4:1–13 γέγραπται gráphō

it is written

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called Romans 16 — Gospel Partnership, Holy Greeting, False-Teacher Warning, and Doxology to the God Who Establishes

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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