1683. emautou
Lexical Summary
emautou: myself

Original Word: ἐμαυτοῦ
Part of Speech: Reflexive Pronoun
Transliteration: emautou
Pronunciation: eh-mow-TOO
Phonetic Spelling: (em-ow-too')
KJV: me, mine own (self), myself
NASB: myself, own initiative, own, own sake
Word Origin: [genitive case compound of G1700 (ἐμοῦ - mine) and G846 (αὐτός - himself)]

1. of myself
{so likewise the (dative case) emautoi em-au-to', and (accusative case) emauton em-au-ton'}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
me, myself.

Genitive case compound of emou and autos; of myself so likewise the dative case emautoi em-ow-to', and accusative case emauton em-ow-ton' -- me, mine own (self), myself.

see GREEK emou

see GREEK autos

HELPS Word-studies

1683 emautoú – properly, as pertaining to myself. 1683 /emautoú ("myself") is the reflexive form (first person) which emphatically brings the action back to "myself."

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
gen. reflex. pronoun from emou and autos
Definition
of myself
NASB Translation
myself (24), own (2), own initiative (6), own sake (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1683: ἐμαυτοῦ

ἐμαυτοῦ, ἐμαυτης, ἐμαυτοῦ (from ἐμοῦ and αὐτοῦ, reflexive pronoun of 1st person, of myself, used only in the genitive, dative, and accusative singular (cf. Buttmann, 110ff (96ff)): ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ, see ἀπό, II. 2 d. aa.; ὑπ' ἐμαυτόν, under my control, Matthew 8:9; Luke 7:8; ἐμαυτόν, myself, as opposed to Christ, the supposed minister of sin (Luke 7:17), Galatians 2:18; tacitly opposed to an animal offered in sacrifice, John 17:19; negligently for αὐτός ἐμέ, 1 Corinthians 4:3 (yet cf. Meyer at the passage). As in Greek writers (Matthiae, § 148 Anm. 2, i., p. 354; Passow, under the word, p. 883), its force is sometimes so weakened that it scarcely differs from the simple person pronoun of the first person (yet denied by Meyer), as John 12:32; John 14:21; Philemon 1:13.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usage

The reflexive pronoun ἐμαυτοῦ and its case forms occur thirty-seven times across the New Testament. In every instance the speaker or writer directs attention back to himself, whether announcing personal resolve, clarifying responsibility, or repudiating self-interest. The breadth of settings—from Jesus’ public teaching to Paul’s private correspondence—reveals a unified biblical portrait of self-awareness shaped by obedience to God and service to others.

Jesus’ Self-Disclosure in John’s Gospel

John employs ἐμαυτοῦ more than any other writer, using it to preserve Jesus’ own words about His mission. The pronoun underscores (1) the Son’s conscious submission to the Father and (2) the voluntary nature of His saving work.

John 5:30: “I can do nothing of Myself (ἐμαυτοῦ).” Reliance upon the Father is explicit.
John 10:18: “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.” The cross is a self-initiated act of obedience.
John 12:49: “I have not spoken on My own (ἐμαυτοῦ) authority, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me.” Every word is coordinated with the Father’s will.
John 14:10: “The words I speak to you, I do not speak on My own.” Mutual indwelling, not independence, marks the divine economy.

Through these statements John balances Christ’s full deity with His incarnate submission, guarding Trinitarian harmony and refuting any suggestion of autonomous action detached from the Father.

Synoptic Echoes of Authority and Submission

Matthew 8:9 and Luke 7:8 record the centurion’s analogy: “I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes.” By saying “I also,” the centurion highlights his own (ἐμαυτὸν) position to demonstrate that Jesus’ authority operates within an ordered hierarchy—implicitly the Father’s commissioning of the Son.

Apostolic Self-Awareness in Acts

Luke records Paul’s defense speeches where ἐμαυτοῦ marks deliberate personal conviction:

Acts 20:24: “I do not consider my life of any value to myself.” Paul’s reflexive diminishment serves the gospel.
Acts 26:9: “I myself (ἐμαυτῷ) was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus.” Conversion is framed as a radical reversal of former self-determined zeal.
Acts 26:2: “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa.” Courtesy and confidence mingle in courtroom testimony.
Acts 24:10: “I cheerfully make my defense for myself.” The apostle claims accountability without self-promotion.

Pauline Theology of Self-Examination and Self-Surrender

Paul uses the pronoun to advance key pastoral themes:

1. Self-evaluation before God
1 Corinthians 4:3-4: “It is a very small thing for me to be judged by you… in fact I do not even judge myself (ἐμαυτὸν)… He who judges me is the Lord.” Human introspection is limited; divine appraisal is final.

2. Voluntary servanthood
1 Corinthians 9:19: “Though I am free from all, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more.”
1 Corinthians 10:33: “I am not seeking my own good but the good of many.”

3. Relinquishing financial burden
2 Corinthians 11:7-9: Paul supports himself so as not to “burden anyone,” reflecting a self-determined strategy to preserve gospel integrity.

4. Honest confession of limitation
Philippians 3:13: “I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it.” Growth in Christ remains ongoing.

5. Refusal of self-commendation
2 Corinthians 12:5: “On my own behalf (ἐμαυτοῦ) I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.”

Ethical Implications in Pastoral Letters

Galatians 2:18 warns against rebuilding legalistic structures: “If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove myself (ἐμαυτὸν) to be a transgressor.” Personal responsibility for doctrinal consistency is emphasized. Philemon 13 records Paul’s desire to keep Onesimus “with me (ἐμαυτὸν)”—a tender note of apostolic affection balanced by respect for Philemon’s rights.

Key Theological Motifs

• Voluntary Self-Sacrifice: Christ’s repeated use of ἐμαυτοῦ highlights that redemption is not coerced but offered willingly (John 10:18; John 12:32).
• Dependent Mission: Dependence on the Father shapes the Son’s ministry (John 5:30), providing a pattern for Christian service (Acts 20:24).
• Humility in Leadership: Paul’s refusal to center ministry on himself (1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 11:7) models servant leadership.
• Accountability: The pronoun reinforces personal responsibility before God (Romans 11:4) and the need for self-scrutiny (1 Corinthians 4:4).

Pastoral and Homiletical Applications

1. Gospel Workers: Like Paul, servants of Christ willingly “make themselves” whatever is necessary to advance the gospel, avoiding self-interest.
2. Spiritual Formation: Believers cultivate honest self-assessment, recognizing that ultimate judgment belongs to the Lord.
3. Trinitarian Worship: Jesus’ use of ἐμαυτοῦ deepens appreciation for the harmony of Father and Son, safeguarding both unity and distinction in the Godhead.
4. Suffering and Martyrdom: Acts 20:24 equips Christians to value Christ’s mission above personal safety.

Historical Significance

Early church fathers cited these passages to defend orthodox Christology against modalism and to exhort monastic self-denial. Reformation commentators highlighted the Pauline instances to uphold justification by faith rather than self-righteous works. Modern missions movements echo Paul’s self-renouncing vocabulary in pledging “no reserves, no retreats, no regrets.”

Summary

ἐμαυτοῦ expresses more than grammatical reflexivity; it bears the weight of redemptive purpose, willing obedience, and humble service. Whether on the lips of the incarnate Son or in the letters of His apostles, the term crystallizes a biblical vision of the self: surrendered to God, devoted to others, and anchored in the gracious judgment of the Lord.

Forms and Transliterations
εμαυτή εμαυτον εμαυτόν ἐμαυτόν ἐμαυτὸν εμαυτου εμαυτού ἐμαυτοῦ εμαυτω εμαυτώ ἐμαυτῷ emauto emautō emautôi emautō̂i emauton emautón emautòn emautou emautoû
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 8:9 PPro-AM1S
GRK: ἔχων ὑπ' ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας καὶ
KJV: soldiers under me: and I say
INT: having under myself soldiers and

Luke 7:7 PPro-AM1S
GRK: διὸ οὐδὲ ἐμαυτὸν ἠξίωσα πρὸς
NAS: consider myself worthy
KJV: thought I myself worthy
INT: therefore neither myself counted I worthy to

Luke 7:8 PPro-AM1S
GRK: ἔχων ὑπ' ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας καὶ
KJV: having under me soldiers, and
INT: having under myself soldiers and

John 5:30 PPro-GM1S
GRK: ποιεῖν ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ οὐδέν καθὼς
NAS: nothing on My own initiative. As I hear,
KJV: can of mine own self do nothing:
INT: to do from myself nothing even as

John 5:31 PPro-GM1S
GRK: μαρτυρῶ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἡ μαρτυρία
NAS: about Myself, My testimony
KJV: bear witness of myself, my witness
INT: bear witness concerning myself the testimony

John 7:17 PPro-GM1S
GRK: ἐγὼ ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ λαλῶ
NAS: or [whether] I speak from Myself.
KJV: speak of myself.
INT: I from myself speak

John 7:28 PPro-GM1S
GRK: καὶ ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ οὐκ ἐλήλυθα
NAS: from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent
KJV: come of myself, but he that sent
INT: and of myself not I have come

John 8:14 PPro-GM1S
GRK: μαρτυρῶ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀληθής ἐστιν
NAS: about Myself, My testimony
KJV: bear record of myself, [yet] my record
INT: bear witness concerning myself true is

John 8:18 PPro-GM1S
GRK: μαρτυρῶν περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ καὶ μαρτυρεῖ
NAS: about Myself, and the Father
KJV: of myself, and
INT: bears witness concerning myself and bears witness

John 8:28 PPro-GM1S
GRK: καὶ ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ ποιῶ οὐδέν
NAS: nothing on My own initiative, but I speak
KJV: nothing of myself; but as
INT: and from myself I do nothing

John 8:42 PPro-GM1S
GRK: γὰρ ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ ἐλήλυθα ἀλλ'
NAS: come on My own initiative, but He sent
KJV: came I of myself, but he
INT: indeed of myself have I come but

John 8:54 PPro-AM1S
GRK: ἐγὼ δοξάσω ἐμαυτόν ἡ δόξα
NAS: I glorify Myself, My glory
KJV: I honour myself, my honour
INT: I glorify myself the glory

John 10:18 PPro-GM1S
GRK: αὐτὴν ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ ἐξουσίαν ἔχω
NAS: it down on My own initiative. I have
KJV: down of myself. I have power
INT: it of myself Authority I have

John 12:32 PPro-AM1S
GRK: ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν
NAS: will draw all men to Myself.
KJV: all [men] unto me.
INT: will draw to myself

John 12:49 PPro-GM1S
GRK: ἐγὼ ἐξ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐκ ἐλάλησα
NAS: For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father
KJV: spoken of myself; but the Father
INT: I from myself not spoke

John 14:3 PPro-AM1S
GRK: ὑμᾶς πρὸς ἐμαυτόν ἵνα ὅπου
NAS: and receive you to Myself, that where
KJV: you unto myself; that where
INT: you to myself that where

John 14:10 PPro-GM1S
GRK: ὑμῖν ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ λαλῶ
NAS: to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father
KJV: not of myself: but the Father
INT: to you from myself not I speak

John 14:21 PPro-AM1S
GRK: ἐμφανίσω αὐτῷ ἐμαυτόν
NAS: him and will disclose Myself to him.
KJV: and will manifest myself to him.
INT: will show to him myself

John 17:19 PPro-AM1S
GRK: ἐγὼ ἁγιάζω ἐμαυτόν ἵνα ὦσιν
NAS: I sanctify Myself, that they themselves
KJV: I sanctify myself, that they
INT: I sanctify myself that might be

Acts 20:24 PPro-DM1S
GRK: ψυχὴν τιμίαν ἐμαυτῷ ὡς τελειῶσαι
NAS: as dear to myself, so
KJV: dear unto myself, so
INT: life dear to myself so as to finish

Acts 24:10 PPro-GM1S
GRK: τὰ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀπολογοῦμαι
KJV: answer for myself:
INT: the things concerning myself I make defense

Acts 26:2 PPro-AM1S
GRK: Ἀγρίππα ἥγημαι ἐμαυτὸν μακάριον ἐπὶ
NAS: I consider myself fortunate,
KJV: I think myself happy, king
INT: Agrippa I esteem myself fortunate before

Acts 26:9 PPro-DM1S
GRK: οὖν ἔδοξα ἐμαυτῷ πρὸς τὸ
NAS: I thought to myself that I had
KJV: thought with myself, that I ought
INT: therefore thought in myself to the

Romans 11:4 PPro-DM1S
GRK: χρηματισμός Κατέλιπον ἐμαυτῷ ἑπτακισχιλίους ἄνδρας
NAS: to him? I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND
KJV: I have reserved to myself seven thousand
INT: divine answer I kept to myself seven thousand men

1 Corinthians 4:3 PPro-AM1S
GRK: ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἐμαυτὸν ἀνακρίνω
NAS: I do not even examine myself.
KJV: I judge not mine own self.
INT: But neither myself do I examine

Strong's Greek 1683
37 Occurrences


ἐμαυτῷ — 5 Occ.
ἐμαυτὸν — 18 Occ.
ἐμαυτοῦ — 14 Occ.

1682
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