Lexical Summary hégeomai: To lead, to consider, to regard, to think Original Word: ἡγέομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance esteem, judge, suppose, think. Middle voice of a (presumed) strengthened form of ago; to lead, i.e. Command (with official authority); figuratively, to deem, i.e. Consider -- account, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think. see GREEK ago HELPS Word-studies 2233 hēgéomai (from 71 /ágō, "to lead") – properly, to lead the way (going before as a chief) – cognate with 2232 /hēgemṓn ("a governor or official who leads others"). 2233 /hēgéomai ("what goes before, in front") refers to coming first in priority such as: "the leading thought" in one's mind, i.e. to esteem (regard highly); or a leading authority, providing leadership in a local church (see Heb 13:7,17,24). [2233 /hēgéomai ("an official who leads") carries important responsibility and hence "casts a heavy vote" (influence) – and hence deserve cooperation by those who are led (Heb 13:7; passive, "to esteem/reckon heavily" the person or influence who is leading).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom agó Definition to lead, suppose NASB Translation chief (1), consider (3), considered (2), considering (1), count (4), counted (1), esteem (1), governor (1), leader (1), leaders (3), leading (1), led (1), regard (5), regarded (1), Ruler (1), thought (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2233: ἡγέομαιἡγέομαι, ἡγοῦμαι; perfect ἥγημαι; 1 aorist ἡγησάμην; (from ἄγω (cf. Curtius, p. 688)); deponent middle; from Homer down; 1. to lead, i. e. a. to go before; b. to be a leader; to rule, command; to have authority over: in the N. T. so only in the present participle ἡγούμενος, a prince, of regal power (Ezekiel 43:7 for מֶלֶך; Sir. 17:17), Matthew 2:6; a (royal) governor, viceroy, Acts 7:10; chief, Luke 22:26 (opposed to ὁ διακονῶν); leading as respects influence, controlling in counsel, ἐν τισί, among any, Acts 15:22; with the genitive of the person over whom one rules, so of the overseers or leaders of Christian churches: Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24 (οἴκου, 2 Chronicles 31:13; τῶν πατριῶν, 1 Esdr. 5:65 (66), 67 (68); τῆς πόλεως, Judges 9:51 Alex.; a military leader, 1 Macc. 9:30; 2 Macc. 14:16; used also in Greek writings of any kind of a leader, chief, commander, Sophocles Phil. 386; often in Polybius; Diodorus 1, 4 and 72; Lucian, Alex. 44; others); with the genitive of the thing, τοῦ λόγου, the leader in speech, chief speaker, spokesman: Acts 14:12 of Mercury, who is called also τοῦ λόγου ἡγεμών in Jamblichus' de myster., at the beginning 2. (like the Latinduco) equivalent to to consider, deem, account, think: with two accusatives, one of the objects, the other of the predicate, Acts 26:2; Philippians 2:3, 6 (on which see ἁρπαγμός, Philippians 2:2 (Winer's Grammar, § 44, 3 c.)); Philippians 3:7 (cf. Buttmann, 59 (51); Winer's Grammar, 274 (258)); 1 Timothy 1:12; 1 Timothy 6:1; Hebrews 10:29; Hebrews 11:11, 26; 2 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 2:13; 2 Peter 3:9, 15. τινα ὡς τινα, 2 Thessalonians 3:15 (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 65, 1 a.); τινα ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ, to esteem one exceedingly, 1 Thessalonians 5:13 (περί πολλοῦ, Herodotus 2, 115; περί πλειστου, Thucydides 2, 89); with accusative of the thing followed by ὅταν, James 1:2; ἀναγκαῖον, followed by an infinitive, 2 Corinthians 9:5; Philippians 2:25; δίκαιον, followed by an infinitive, 2 Peter 1:13; followed by an accusative with an infinitive, Philippians 3:8. (Compare: διηγέομαι, ἐκηγέομαι, διηγέομαι, ἐξηγέομαι, προηγέομαι. The verb ἡγέομαι appears twenty-eight times across twelve books of the Greek New Testament. Two broad ideas dominate its employment: (1) exercising leading influence and (2) forming considered judgments. Whether describing a civic or spiritual leader, or the inward reckoning of value and priority, the word consistently highlights thoughtful, responsible action. Leadership: Position and Manner 1. Public or governmental leadership—Matthew 2:6; Acts 7:10; Acts 14:12; Acts 15:22—shows the term’s ordinary Hellenistic sense of one who stands in front. Deliberate Spiritual Evaluation In roughly two-thirds of the occurrences the verb denotes careful appraisal. The believer is exhorted to weigh matters in light of God’s revelation. Christological Significance Philippians 2:6 anchors the hymn of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation: Christ, “existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” The Son’s estimation of His prerogatives leads to self-emptying for redemption. Because ἡγέομαι marks internal appraisal, the verse reveals the mind of Christ and provides the model for believers (Philippians 2:3). Apostolic Decision-Making Acts 26:2; 2 Corinthians 9:5; Philippians 2:25; 2 Peter 1:13 illustrate apostolic leaders “thinking it necessary” to act or speak. Their decisions arise from informed judgment guided by the Spirit, reinforcing that Christian leadership engages both heart and intellect. Ethical Weight in Warning Passages Hebrews 10:29 poses a rhetorical question: “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished…” The audience is invited to render a sober verdict on willful apostasy, magnifying both the gravity of sin and the holiness of the covenant. Likewise 2 Peter 2:13 depicts false teachers who “consider it pleasure to carouse in broad daylight,” exposing the corruption of a conscience that evaluates sin as enjoyment. Patience of God and Eschatological Perspective Twice Peter uses the verb to shape eschatological outlook: Historical and Linguistic Background Outside Scripture, ἡγέομαι functioned in civic, military, and philosophical vocabularies for leadership and calculated reasoning. The New Testament writers harness this secular term, but infuse it with covenantal ethics and Christ-centered values, demonstrating the sanctification of language itself for gospel purposes. Ministry Implications Today 1. Leadership rooted in service—Luke 22:26—remains the paradigm for pastors, elders, and ministry heads. Titles become platforms for sacrificial care. Summary Strong’s Greek 2233 unites the realms of leading and thinking. Whether identifying acknowledged figures in the community or exhorting every believer to a renewed mind, the verb underscores that Christian influence flows from Christ-like valuation. Sound leadership and sound judgment rise together where the Word shapes both the head and the heart. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:6 V-PPM/P-NMSGRK: γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος ὅστις ποιμανεῖ NAS: AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; KJV: shall come a Governor, that INT: for will go forth a leader who will shepherd Luke 22:26 V-PPM/P-NMS Acts 7:10 V-PPM/P-AMS Acts 14:12 V-PPM/P-NMS Acts 15:22 V-PPM/P-AMP Acts 26:2 V-RIM/P-1S 2 Corinthians 9:5 V-AIM-1S Philippians 2:3 V-PPM/P-NMP Philippians 2:6 V-AIM-3S Philippians 2:25 V-AIM-1S Philippians 3:7 V-RIM/P-1S Philippians 3:8 V-PIM/P-1S Philippians 3:8 V-PIM/P-1S 1 Thessalonians 5:13 V-PNM/P 2 Thessalonians 3:15 V-PMM/P-2P 1 Timothy 1:12 V-AIM-3S 1 Timothy 6:1 V-PMM/P-3P Hebrews 10:29 V-APM-NMS Hebrews 11:11 V-AIM-3S Hebrews 11:26 V-APM-NMS Hebrews 13:7 V-PPM/P-GMP Hebrews 13:17 V-PPM/P-DMP Hebrews 13:24 V-PPM/P-AMP James 1:2 V-AIM-2P 2 Peter 1:13 V-PIM/P-1S Strong's Greek 2233 |
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