Lexical Summary epiboaó: To cry out, to call out, to shout Original Word: ἐπιβοάω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cry. From epi and boao; to exclaim against -- cry. see GREEK epi see GREEK boao NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for boaó, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1916: ἐπιβοάωἐπιβοάω, ἐπιβῶ; to cry out to (cf. ἐπί, D. 2), cry out: followed by the accusative with an infinitive Acts 25:24 R G (but L T Tr WH βοάω, which see 2, and at the end From Homer, Herodotus down). Topical Lexicon OverviewThe term gathers together the urgent, vocal appeal that rises when human need meets divine sufficiency. In the Septuagint it portrays voices lifted above the ordinary din—whether to God in prayer, to people in warning, or against an adversary in protest. Though the exact form never appears in the Greek New Testament, the concept of an intensified cry permeates the whole canon and underlines the consistency of God’s response to earnest supplication. Cry for Deliverance and Mercy From the bondage of Egypt onward, Scripture records desperate petitions that reach heaven. “During those days, the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out; and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God” (Exodus 2:23). The pattern repeats through the Judges cycle (Judges 3:9; Judges 6:6-7) and finds lyrical expression in the Psalms: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). Such passages reveal a God who attends to immediacy; the raised voice is the appointed conduit for covenantal rescue. Prophetic Appeals for Justice The prophets often employ the same intensified imagery when confronting systemic sin. Habakkuk laments, “How long, O LORD, must I call for help and You will not hear? Or cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ and You will not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2). The very act of vocal protest becomes a theological statement: unrighteousness cannot endure unchecked before a holy God. This motif prepares the reader for the New Testament’s assurance that final judgment vindicates every righteous outcry (Revelation 6:10). Heralding and Warning Beyond petitions, the verb group describes authoritative proclamation. Isaiah pictures a herald who must “cry aloud, do not hold back” (Isaiah 58:1). Joel commands, “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain” (Joel 2:1), coupling the alarm with urgent verbal summons. Whether announcing grace or judgment, the elevated voice presses hearers toward decision. Connection with New Testament Themes While the precise lexical form is absent from the Greek New Testament, parallel expressions transfer the theology intact. At Calvary, “Jesus cried out in a loud voice” (Mark 15:34), embodying the truth that God both receives and gives the ultimate cry; the Son’s appeal secures redemption for all who later “call on the name of the Lord” (Romans 10:13). Early believers likewise raise their voices in corporate prayer when threatened (Acts 4:24), continuing the Old Testament tradition of communal supplication. Historical Reception in Early Church Patristic writers recognized the cry as both literal and spiritual. Justin Martyr likened martyr-cries to incense ascending before God, while Chrysostom urged congregations to lift united voices so no single worshipper “is left unheard in the great choir.” Liturgical antiphons and Kyrie eleison refrains preserve this heritage, converting anguish into doxology. Pastoral and Missional Implications 1. Intercessory Boldness: Believers are invited to approach the throne “with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16), translating inward faith into articulate plea. Summary The lexical form ἐπιβοάω may be rare, yet its heartbeat pulses through every era of redemption history. Whenever God’s people lift an impassioned cry—whether for mercy, justice, or proclamation—they participate in a dialogue the Lord Himself initiated and forever honors. Forms and Transliterations επιβόλαια επιβούλευειν επιβοώντεςLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance ἐπιβαλὼν — 2 Occ.ἐπιβαλοῦσιν — 1 Occ. ἐπιβαρῆσαί — 2 Occ. ἐπιβαρῶ — 1 Occ. ἐπεβίβασαν — 1 Occ. ἐπιβιβάσαντες — 1 Occ. ἐπιβιβάσας — 1 Occ. ἐπέβλεψεν — 1 Occ. ἐπιβλέψαι — 1 Occ. ἐπιβλέψητε — 1 Occ. ἐπιβουλαῖς — 1 Occ. ἐπιβουλὴ — 1 Occ. ἐπιβουλῆς — 2 Occ. ἐπιγαμβρεύσει — 1 Occ. ἐπίγεια — 3 Occ. ἐπιγείων — 2 Occ. ἐπίγειος — 2 Occ. ἐπιγενομένου — 1 Occ. ἐπεγίνωσκον — 3 Occ. ἐπεγνωκέναι — 1 Occ. |
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