Greek · G3170 · unreviewed

μεγαλύνω

To magnify

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μεγαλύνω G3170
Pronunciation megalýnō

What does μεγαλύνω (megalýnō) mean in the Bible?

μεγαλύνω (megalýnō) is a Greek word meaning "to magnify". μεγαλύνω (μέγας) [in LXX chiefly for גָּדַל pi. Expresses covenant worship rooted in divine mercy. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant.

Full entry for μεγαλύνω (G3170) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to magnify
Extended definition

To declare or proclaim someone great; praising God's greatness through speech or testimony.

(μέγας) [in LXX chiefly for גָּדַל pi., hi. ;]

1to make great: Mat.23:5, Luk.1:58.
2to declare great, extol, magnify: Luk.1:46, Act.5:13 10:46 19:17, 2Co.10:15; pass., before ἐν, Php.1:20.
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Expresses covenant worship rooted in divine mercy. Luke 1:39–56
Grammatical Forms

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

Tenses
Present Aorist Imperfect Future
Voices
Active Passive
Indicative states a fact or reality
Present Active Matt 23:5 · Luke 1:46
Aorist Active Luke 1:58
Imperfect Active Acts 5:13
Imperfect Passive Acts 19:17
Future Passive Phil 1:20
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Present Active Acts 10:46
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract
Aorist Passive 2 Cor 10:15
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 8 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 1 ongoing 2 prospective 1 background 2 infinitive 1 participle 1
Tense
present 3 aorist 2 imperfect 2 future 1
Voice
active 5 passive 3
Mood
indicative 6 infinitive 1 participle 1

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
Biblical Occurrences

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

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.

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

Sources