Greek · G5087, G5590 · unreviewed
τίθημι τὴν ψυχήν
To place · soul
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
τίθημι G5087 to place
Pronunciation títhēmi
Core causative: to place physically or establish authoritatively; middle voice emphasizes personal agency in positioning or appointing.
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ψυχή G5590 soul
Pronunciation psychḗ
The animating life-principle that encompasses will, desires, and affections as the seat of personal identity
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What does τίθημι τὴν ψυχήν (tithēmi tēn psychēn) mean in the Bible?
τίθημι · ψυχή is a Greek word meaning "Lay down life; the greatest love, pointing to Jesus’ death.". Lay down life; the greatest love, pointing to Jesus’ death.
Full entry for τίθημι τὴν ψυχήν (G5087, G5590) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
Lay down life; the greatest love, pointing to Jesus’ death.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 66×
Aorist Active Matt 27:60 · Mark 15:46 · Luke 6:48 · Luke 23:53 · John 19:19 · Acts 4:37 · Acts 5:2 · Heb 1:2 · 1 John 3:16 · Rev 1:17 · Rev 10:2 · Mark 6:29 · Mark 16:6 · John 19:42 · John 20:2 · John 20:13 23×
Aorist Middle Acts 1:7 · Acts 12:4 · Acts 19:21 · Acts 20:28 · 1 Cor 12:18 · 1 Cor 12:28 · 1 Thess 5:9 · Luke 1:66 · Acts 4:3 · Acts 5:18 · Acts 27:12 · Acts 5:4 · Acts 5:25 13×
Present Active Luke 8:16 · Luke 11:33 · John 2:10 · John 10:11 · John 13:4 · John 10:15 · John 10:17 · John 10:18 · Rom 9:33 · 1 Pet 2:6 · Matt 5:15 12×
Future Active Matt 12:18 · John 13:37 · Matt 24:51 · Luke 12:46 · John 13:38 5×
Aorist Passive Acts 7:16 · 1 Pet 2:8 · 1 Tim 2:7 · 2 Tim 1:11 · Luke 23:55 5×
Imperfect Active Mark 6:56 · Acts 3:2 · Acts 4:35 · 2 Cor 3:13 4×
Perfect Active Acts 13:47 · Rom 4:17 · John 11:34 3×
Perfect Passive Mark 15:47 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 12×
Aorist Active Matt 22:44 · Mark 12:36 · Luke 20:43 · Acts 2:35 · 1 Cor 9:18 · Heb 1:13 · John 15:13 · 1 Cor 15:25 · Mark 4:30 9×
Aorist Passive Mark 4:21 · Heb 10:13 3×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 7×
Aorist Active Luke 5:18 · John 10:18 · 1 Cor 3:11 · 1 John 3:16 4×
Present Active Acts 5:15 · Rom 14:13 2×
Aorist Passive Rev 11:9 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 12×
Aorist Active Luke 22:41 · Acts 7:60 · Acts 9:40 · Acts 20:36 · Luke 14:29 · Acts 21:5 6×
Aorist Middle 2 Cor 5:19 · 1 Tim 1:12 2×
Present Active Mark 10:16 · Mark 15:19 2×
Perfect Passive John 19:41 1×
Perfect Active 2 Pet 2:6 1×
Imperative command or strong request 3×
Aorist Middle Luke 9:44 1×
Aorist Active Luke 21:14 1×
Present Active 1 Cor 16:2 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 97 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 66 present 17 perfect 5 future 5 imperfect 4
Voice
active 73 middle 16 passive 8
Mood
indicative 64 subjunctive 12 participle 11 infinitive 7 imperative 3
NT Occurrences
Matthew 5:15 τιθέασιν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 12:18 θήσω future active indicative prospective Matthew 22:44 θῶ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 24:51 θήσει future active indicative prospective Matthew 27:60 ἔθηκεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 4:21 τεθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Mark 4:21 τεθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Mark 4:30 θῶμεν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 6:29 ἔθηκαν aorist active indicative completed Mark 6:56 ἐτίθεσαν imperfect active indicative background Mark 10:16 τιθεὶς present active participle participle Mark 12:36 θῶ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 15:19 τιθέντες present active participle participle Mark 15:46 ἔθηκεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 15:47 τέθειται perfect passive indicative resultant Mark 16:6 ἔθηκαν aorist active indicative completed Luke 1:66 ἔθεντο aorist middle indicative completed Luke 5:18 θεῖναι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 6:48 ἔθηκεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 8:16 τίθησιν present active indicative ongoing Luke 8:16 τίθησιν present active indicative ongoing Luke 9:44 Θέσθε aorist middle imperative imperative Luke 11:33 τίθησιν present active indicative ongoing Luke 12:46 θήσει future active indicative prospective Luke 14:29 θέντος aorist active participle participle Luke 19:21 ἔθηκας aorist active indicative completed Luke 19:22 ἔθηκα aorist active indicative completed Luke 20:43 θῶ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 21:14 θέτε aorist active imperative imperative Luke 22:41 θεὶς aorist active participle participle Luke 23:53 ἔθηκεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 23:55 ἐτέθη aorist passive indicative completed John 2:10 τίθησιν present active indicative ongoing John 10:11 τίθησιν present active indicative ongoing John 10:15 τίθημι present active indicative ongoing John 10:17 τίθημι present active indicative ongoing John 10:18 τίθημι present active indicative ongoing John 10:18 θεῖναι aorist active infinitive infinitive John 11:34 τεθείκατε perfect active indicative resultant John 13:37 θήσω future active indicative prospective
+57 more 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)
Cross-Language Connections
Hebrew roots and equivalents that share conceptual or etymological ground with this Greek word.
נֶפֶשׁ nafsho H5315 Related Hebrew
properly, a breathing creature , i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality ; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
רוּחַ rûaḥ H7307 Related Hebrew
wind ; by resemblance breath , i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation ; figuratively, life , anger , unsubstantiality ; by extension, a region of the sky ; by resemblance spirit , but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
חַי ḥay H2416 Related Hebrew
alive ; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong ; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
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.
1 Corinthians 12 — One Spirit, Many Gifts, and One Body in Christ Acts 20 — Paul’s Farewell Charge to Shepherd the Church of God Acts 27 — The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God Colossians 3 — Raised with Christ: Putting Off the Old Life and Putting On the New John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 17 — Faithful Servants, Grateful Cleansing, and the Coming Kingdom Luke 6 — The Lord of the Sabbath Forms a Kingdom People Luke 9 — The Christ Revealed, the Cross Announced, and the Jerusalem Road Begun Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 15 — The Crucified King: Condemnation, Mockery, Death, Confession, and Burial Mark 16 — He Has Risen: The Empty Tomb, the Angelic Announcement, Galilee Promise, and Trembling Witness Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 8 — Seeing Jesus Clearly: Bread, Blindness, Confession, Cross, and Discipleship Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 6 — Hidden Righteousness, the Father’s Reward, and Seeking First the Kingdom Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain