BIBLE GREEK WORD STUDY
Echō (ἔχω) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
ἔχω (echō) is a common Greek verb whose basic sense is 'to hold' or 'to have', but it extends in Scripture to possession, ability, ongoing condition, and relational standing.
Meaning of the word
The lexicon defines ἔχω as 'to hold,' and notes that it is used in very varied applications—literal or figurative, immediate or remote. These include possession (something is held or owned), ability or capacity, continuity of a state, relation between persons, or general condition.
Because the root idea is simply 'having' or 'holding,' English translations render ἔχω in many different ways depending on context: 'have,' 'hold,' 'hath,' or even 'there is' in idiomatic expressions. The variety of renderings reflects how flexible the verb is in Greek.
Usage in Scripture
In Matthew, ἔχω appears in everyday situations. Matthew 5:23 uses it for 'having aught against thee' (holding a grievance); Matthew 5:46 speaks of the 'reward' believers have; Matthew 6:8 refers to what the Father knows they 'have need of'; and Matthew 7:29 says Jesus taught as one 'having authority,' where ἔχω marks a quality possessed.
In John's Gospel the verb carries theological weight. John 3:29 calls the bridegroom the one who 'has' the bride. John 3:36 contrasts the believer who 'has' eternal life with the disobedient under God's wrath. John 15:22 and 15:24 (εἴχοσαν, imperfect 'they had') describe a former state where sin was not reckoned because Jesus had not yet come. Across these passages ἔχω expresses possession, ongoing relationship, and condition.
The word in detail
- G2192 ἔχω (echō) is one of the most common and versatile verbs in the Greek NT. Its base meaning 'to hold' branches into possession (to have something), capacity (to be able), relation (to have as spouse or friend), and condition (to be in a state). The same verb form is therefore translated very differently depending on context.
Example verses
- John 3:36 ἔχει here expresses present possession of a state—'he that believeth … hath eternal life.' The verb marks a present, ongoing reality rather than a future hope.
- John 14:21 He that 'hath' (ἔχων) my commandments and keepeth them. Possession here is paired with action: to 'have' the commandments is not merely to know them but to hold and keep them.
- John 15:22 The imperfect form εἴχοσαν—'they had not had sin'—uses ἔχω to denote a past condition. Before Jesus came and spoke, their state was one of lacking a basis for the charge of sin.
- Matthew 7:29 Jesus taught 'as one having authority' (ἔχων). Here ἔχω marks a personal quality or authority He possessed, contrasted with the scribes who taught without it.
Common questions
What is the basic meaning of ἔχω (G2192)?
Its basic meaning is 'to hold' or 'to have.' From this root idea it extends to possession, ability, ongoing state, and relation, which is why translations vary widely.
Is ἔχω the same as the English 'have'?
Not exactly. ἔχω is broader and more concrete: 'to hold, grasp, possess.' It can express having in the sense of owning, being related to, being able to, or being in a certain state.
How many times does ἔχω appear in the NT?
According to the data given, it appears 60 times across 53 verses, making it one of the most frequent Greek verbs in the New Testament.