140. hairetizó

Lexical Summary

hairetizó: To choose, to prefer

Original Word: αἱρετίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: hairetizó
Pronunciation: hahee-ret-ID-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (hahee-ret-id'-zo)
KJV: choose
NASB: chosen
Word Origin: [from a derivative of G138 (αἱρέομαι - choose)]

1. to make a choice

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

choose.

From a derivative of haireomai; to make a choice -- choose.

see GREEK haireomai

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 140 hairetízō (from 138 /hairéomai) – to select, choose as one's own. See 138 (haireō).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from haireó
Definition
to choose
NASB Translation
chosen (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 140: αἱρετίζω

αἱρετίζω: 1 aorist ᾑρέτισα (Treg. ᾑρέτισα, see Iota); (from αἱρετός, see αἱρέω); to choose: Matthew 12:18. (Often in the Sept. in O. T. Apocrypha and in ecclesiastical writings; the middle is found in Ctesias () Pers. § 9 (cf. Herodotus edition Schweig. 6:2, p. 354). Cf. Sturz, De dial. Maced. etc., p. 144.)

Topical Lexicon

Canonical Occurrence

The verb appears once in the New Testament, in Matthew 12:18, within Matthew’s extended citation of Isaiah 42:1-4. There it renders the declaration of the Father concerning the Messiah: “Here is My servant whom I have chosen, My beloved in whom My soul delights”. The evangelist is quoting the Septuagint almost word-for-word, preserving the same verb to underscore continuity between Isaiah’s Servant and Jesus of Nazareth.

Old Testament Background

In the Greek Old Testament the verb frequently translates Hebrew roots that convey elective love (for example, Isaiah 42:1; 43:10; 44:1-2). The Servant is “chosen” not merely out of preference but for a mission empowered by the Spirit. By reusing the same wording, Matthew affirms that Jesus perfectly embodies the prophetic Servant who will bring justice to the nations.

Divine Election and Pleasure

The single use carries two intertwined ideas: (1) a decisive act of election; (2) the Father’s delight in the One elected. The context links choice with affection—“My beloved in whom My soul delights.” Election is therefore relational and affectionate, not impersonal predestination. It displays God’s covenant faithfulness, for the Servant is chosen to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, David, and Israel as a whole.

Christological Significance

Matthew employs the verb to identify Jesus publicly as the Father’s exclusive choice for messianic service. This choice is confirmed at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17) and transfiguration (Matthew 17:5) with similar language of filial delight. Thus the verb undergirds the theme that Jesus alone satisfies divine selection criteria: perfect obedience, Spirit-anointed ministry, and redemptive purpose.

Trinitarian Dynamics

The verse places the three Persons in harmonious coordination:
• The Father chooses the Servant.
• The Son is the chosen Servant.
• The Spirit is bestowed to empower His mission.

The unique verb heightens the Father’s active role, while the surrounding context highlights the Spirit’s presence, offering an early New Testament glimpse of Trinitarian cooperation in salvation history.

Mission to the Nations

Immediately after the verb, Matthew 12:18 continues, “He will proclaim justice to the nations.” The Servant is chosen for a global mandate. The same passage anticipates the Gentile mission realized after the resurrection (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). The act of choosing therefore carries missional implications: God’s elective love for the Servant opens the door for all peoples to receive grace.

Implications for the Church

1. Assurance: Believers are united to the Chosen One; therefore their standing is secure (Ephesians 1:4-5).
2. Imitation: The church is called to embody servant-hearted ministry empowered by the Spirit, reflecting the pattern of the chosen Servant (Philippians 2:5-8).
3. Mission: Since the Servant was chosen to bring justice to the nations, the church participates in that same outward-focused calling (1 Peter 2:9).

Historical Reception

Early Christian writers such as Justin Martyr and Irenaeus cited Isaiah 42:1 to argue that Jesus, not Israel collectively, fulfills the Servant prophecies. The single New Testament use of the verb reinforced their case, demonstrating that the apostles themselves interpreted Isaiah christologically.

Related Biblical Concepts

• Eklegomai (ἐκλέγομαι, “choose”) emphasizes selection from among a larger group, whereas Strong’s 140 carries the nuance of selecting with delight.
• Agapē (ἀγάπη) is often paired with divine election, as love motivates choice (Deuteronomy 7:7-8).
• Pneuma (πνεῦμα) in the same verse underscores empowerment that follows divine choice.

Practical Ministry Application

Pastors and teachers can draw on Matthew 12:18 to highlight:
• The Father’s affirmation as the foundation of Jesus’ ministry.
• The necessity of Spirit empowerment for servant leadership.
• The gospel’s reach beyond ethnic Israel, encouraging cross-cultural evangelism.

Summary

Although it occurs only once in the New Testament, the verb translated “have chosen” in Matthew 12:18 anchors a rich vein of theology. It ties Jesus to Isaiah’s Servant, reveals the affectionate nature of divine election, illuminates Trinitarian cooperation, and propels the church into global mission.

Forms and Transliterations

αιρετιει αιρετιεί αιρετίζει αιρετιώ ηρέτικε ηρέτικέ ηρέτικεν ηρετισα ηρέτισα ᾑρέτισα ηρετισάμην ηρέτισαν ηρετίσατο ηρέτισε eretisa ēretisa heirétisa hēirétisa heretisa hēretisa

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 12:18 V-AIA-1S
GRK: μου ὃν ᾑρέτισα ὁ ἀγαπητός
NAS: WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED
KJV: whom I have chosen; my
INT: of me whom I have chosen beloved

Strong's Greek 140
1 Occurrence

ᾑρέτισα — 1 Occ.