3656. homileó
Lexical Summary
homileó: To converse, to speak, to talk

Original Word: ὁμιλέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: homileó
Pronunciation: ho-mee-LEH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (hom-il-eh'-o)
KJV: commune, talk
NASB: talking, converse, talked
Word Origin: [from G3658 (ὅμιλος - mists)]

1. to be in company with
2. (by implication) to converse

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
commune, talk.

From homilos; to be in company with, i.e. (by implication) to converse -- commune, talk.

see GREEK homilos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from homilos (a crowd, throng)
Definition
to consort with, hence to converse with
NASB Translation
converse (1), talked (1), talking (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3656: ὁμιλέω

ὁμιλέω, ὁμίλω; imperfect ὡμίλουν; 1 aorist participle ὁμιλήσας; (ὅμιλος, which see); frequent in Greek writings from Homer down; to be in company with; to associate with; to stay with; hence, to converse with, talk with: τίνι, with one (Daniel 1:19), Acts 24:26; namely, αὐτοῖς, Acts 20:11 (so A. V. talked), unless one prefer to render it when he had stayed in their company; πρός τινα, Luke 24:14 (Xenophon, mem. 4, 3, 2; Josephus, Antiquities 11, 6, 11; (cf. Winers Grammar, 212f (200); Buttmann, § 133, 83); νε τῷ ὁμιλεῖν αὐτούς namely, ἀλλήλοις, ibid. 15. (Compare: συνομιλέω.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 3656 portrays the earnest, personal exchange of words that occurs when people walk together, linger over a meal, or seek counsel. While always conversational, it can extend to sustained discourse, shaping hearts and minds through shared reflection on the works of God. Its four New Testament occurrences cluster in Luke–Acts, where Spirit-empowered testimony spreads from the empty tomb to the Roman governor’s palace.

Narrative Settings

1. Emmaus Road Dialogue (Luke 24:14-15)

Two bewildered disciples “were talking with each other about all these things that had happened” and “Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.” The verb frames a journey-long conversation in which the risen Christ gently exposes their misunderstandings and grounds their faith in “all the Scriptures.” The scene models how the Lord still enters ordinary conversations to open eyes and set hearts aflame (Luke 24:32).

2. Upper Room at Troas (Acts 20:11)

After Eutychus is restored to life, Paul “went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until dawn, he departed.” The all-night interchange shows apostolic teaching as an interactive event woven into fellowship and table life. Far from a perfunctory sermon, it is an extended sharing that produces resilient believers even in perilous circumstances (Acts 20:24).

3. Private Audience with Felix (Acts 24:26)

Governor Felix “sent for him frequently and conversed with him.” Though Felix’s motives were mixed, Paul’s repeated conversations display the gospel’s readiness to engage rulers, answering questions over time rather than relying on a single speech. The verb underscores persistence in evangelism—even when the listener’s heart is divided.

Historical Background

First-century moral philosophers often taught by dialogue while walking or reclining at banquets. Luke situates Christian witness within this cultural pattern yet fills it with Scripture exposition, resurrection reality, and Spirit-given boldness. By employing this term, he highlights a method of instruction accessible to common folk and magistrates alike.

Theological Themes

• Incarnational Presence: Jesus joins disciples in everyday speech, turning casual talk into revelation.
• Word-Centered Fellowship: Meaningful Christian communion is Scripture-saturated, not mere social chatter.
• Persevering Witness: Paul’s willingness to converse “often” with Felix exemplifies patient evangelism that trusts divine timing.
• Life-Giving Dialogue: At Troas the word shared in community is accompanied by literal resurrection, portraying the gospel’s power to raise the dead in body and soul.

Ministry Implications

1. Small-Group Discipleship

Regular, Scripture-guided discussion remains vital for nurturing faith. Churches can echo Emmaus by encouraging believers to process life events in the light of God’s promises.

2. Interactive Preaching and Teaching

Paul’s example in Troas invites pastors to create settings where questions are welcomed and doctrine is digested through mutual exchange, not mere monologue.

3. Personal Evangelism

Felix’s corridor conversations remind believers that gospel persuasion often unfolds over repeated sessions. Financial or political agendas in a hearer’s heart need not deter ongoing engagement.

Pastoral Counsel

• Walk and Talk: Intentionally pair physical presence with spiritual dialogue—around the neighborhood, hospital corridors, or family tables.
• Anchor in the Scriptures: Let every conversation find its trajectory in “Moses and all the Prophets,” pointing to Christ.
• Trust the Process: Results may be immediate (Troas) or delayed (Caesarea), yet God sovereignly advances His purpose through honest, patient conversation.

Related Biblical Echoes

Deuteronomy 6:7; Malachi 3:16; Hebrews 10:24-25—all commend Spirit-led speech among believers that fortifies covenant faithfulness.

Summary

Strong’s 3656 depicts conversation as a divinely appointed conduit for revelation, discipleship, and evangelism. Whether on a dusty road, in an upper-story gathering, or before a skeptical governor, believers who embrace this relational ministry pattern participate in the same life-transforming dialogue that began on Resurrection Day and continues to the ends of the earth.

Forms and Transliterations
ομιλειν ομιλείν ὁμιλεῖν ομιλείτε ομιλείτω ομιλησας ομιλήσας ὁμιλήσας ομιλήσει ωμιλει ωμίλει ὡμίλει ωμιλουν ωμίλουν ὡμίλουν homilei homílei hōmilei hōmílei homilein homileîn homilesas homilēsas homilḗsas homiloun homíloun hōmiloun hōmíloun omilei ōmilei omilein omilesas omilēsas omiloun ōmiloun
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 24:14 V-IIA-3P
GRK: καὶ αὐτοὶ ὡμίλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους
NAS: And they were talking with each other
KJV: And they talked together of
INT: and they were talking with one another

Luke 24:15 V-PNA
GRK: ἐν τῷ ὁμιλεῖν αὐτοὺς καὶ
NAS: While they were talking and discussing,
KJV: they communed [together] and
INT: as talked they and

Acts 20:11 V-APA-NMS
GRK: ἱκανόν τε ὁμιλήσας ἄχρι αὐγῆς
NAS: and eaten, he talked with them a long while
KJV: and talked a long while,
INT: for long and having talked until daybreak

Acts 24:26 V-IIA-3S
GRK: αὐτὸν μεταπεμπόμενος ὡμίλει αὐτῷ
NAS: for him quite often and converse with him.
KJV: the oftener, and communed with him.
INT: him sending for he talked with him

Strong's Greek 3656
4 Occurrences


ὡμίλει — 1 Occ.
ὡμίλουν — 1 Occ.
ὁμιλήσας — 1 Occ.
ὁμιλεῖν — 1 Occ.

3655b
Top of Page
Top of Page