Lexical Summary haptomai: To touch, to take hold of, to cling to Original Word: ἅπτομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance touch. Reflexive of hapto; properly, to attach oneself to, i.e. To touch (in many implied relations) -- touch. see GREEK hapto HELPS Word-studies 680 háptomai (from 681 /háptō, "to modify or change by touching") – properly, "touching that influences" (modifies); touching someone (something) in a way that alters (changes, modifies) them, i.e. "impact-touching." NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originmid. of haptó, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 680: ἅπτωἅπτω; 1 aorist participle ἅψας; (cf. Latinapto, German heften); (from Homer down); 1. properly, to fasten to, make adhere to; hence, specifically to fasten fire to a thing, to kindle, set on fire, (often so in Attic): λύχνον, Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33; Luke 15:8 (Aristophanes nub. 57; Theophrastus, char. 20 (18); Josephus, Antiquities 4, 3, 4); πῦρ, Luke 22:55 (T Tr text WH περιαψάντων); πυράν, Acts 28:2 L T Tr WH. 2. Middle (present ά῾πτομαι); imperfect ἡπτομην (Mark 6:56 R G Tr marginal reading); 1 aorist ἡψάμην; in the Sept. generally for נָגַע , הִגִּיעַ ; properly, to fasten oneself to, adhere to, cling to (Homer, Iliad 8. 67); a. to touch, followed by the object in genitive (Winers Grammar, § 30, 8 c.; Buttmann, 167 (146); cf. Donaldson, p. 483): Matthew 8:3; Mark 3:10; Mark 7:33; Mark 8:22, etc.; Luke 18:15; Luke 22:51 — very often in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In John 20:17, μή μου ἅπτου is to be explained thus: Do not handle me to see whether I am still clothed with a body; there is no need of such an examination, for not yet etc.; cf. Baumg.-Crusius and Meyer at the passage (as given by Hackett in Bib. Sacr. for 1868, p. 779f, or B. D. American edition, p. 1813f). b. γυναικός, of carnal intercourse with a woman, or cohabitation, 1 Corinthians 7:1, like the Latintangere, Horace sat. 1, 2, 54: Terence, Heaut. 4, 4, 15, and the Hebrew נָגַע , Genesis 20:6; Proverbs 6:29 (Plato, de legg. viii. 840 a.; Plutarch, Alex. Magn c. 21). c. with allusion to the levitical precept ἀκαθάρτου μή ἅπτεσθε, have no contact with the Gentiles, no fellowship in their heathenish practices, 2 Corinthians 6:17 (from Isaiah 52:11); and in the Jewish sense, μή ἅψῃ, Colossians 2:21 (the things not to be touched appear to be both women and certain kinds of food, so that, celibacy and abstinence from various kinds of food and drink are recommended; cf. DeWette at the passage (but also Meyer and Lightfoot; on the distinction between the stronger term ἅπτεσθαι (to handle?) and the more delicate θιγεῖν (to touch?) cf. the two commentators just named and Trench, § xvii. In classic Greek also ἅπτεσθαι is the stronger term, denoting often to lay hold of, hold fast, appropriate; in its carnal reference differing from θιγγάνειν by suggesting unlawfulness. θιγγάνειν, is used of touching by the hand as a means of knowledge, handling for a purpose; ψηλαφαν signifies to feel around with the fingers or hands, especially in searching for something, often to grope, fumble, cf. ψηλαφινδα blindman's buff. Schmidt, chapter 10.)). d. to touch i. e. assail: τίνος, anyone, 1 John 5:18 (1 Chronicles 16:22, etc.). (Compare: ἀνάπτω, καθάπτω, περιάπτω.) Topical Lexicon Scope and Literary Distribution ἅπτομαι appears thirty-six times across the New Testament, concentrated in the Synoptic Gospels but also occurring in John, Paul, and John’s first epistle. In narrative settings the verb conveys literal physical contact; in apostolic teaching passages it broadens to moral or spiritual association. The contexts cluster around six principal themes. 1. Healing Touches of the Messiah The largest block of occurrences depicts Jesus extending His hand to restore life, cleanse disease, or impart sight. Examples include: In every case, the touch neither contaminates Christ nor compromises His holiness; rather, it transmits purity, power, and life. These narratives underscore His authority over sickness and death and foreshadow His atoning work, where the Holy One bears impurity to bestow righteousness. 2. Faith-Initiated Touches Several passages flip the direction of contact: human need reaches for divine power. Faith is portrayed as the hand that grips grace; the simple physical act externalizes an inner reliance on Christ’s sufficiency. 3. Prohibitions, Precautions, and Pedagogy Jesus occasionally restricts touch to advance redemptive timing: Likewise, the disciples try to prevent others from touching Jesus (Mark 3:10; 10:13; Luke 18:15). Their misunderstanding becomes a teaching opportunity: the kingdom welcomes dependent sinners who reach for mercy. 4. Contact, Cleanliness, and Covenant Separation Paul and the writer to the Colossians employ ἅπτομαι metaphorically to address holiness. 5. Spiritual Protection and Warfare • 1 John 5:18 – “He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one cannot touch him.” Here ἅπτομαι expresses hostile attack. The believer’s union with the risen Christ places him beyond satanic mastery, though not beyond temptation. 6. Symbolic Gestures of Commission and Comfort • Matthew 17:7 – at the Transfiguration, terrified disciples fall facedown; “Jesus came over and touched them. ‘Get up,’ He said. ‘Do not be afraid.’” The gentle touch communicates assurance, invites participation in revealed glory, and models pastoral care. Theological Threads 1. Incarnation: God incarnate does not shy from human frailty; His holiness is contagious, not fragile. Practical Ministry Implications • Compassionate Touch: Christians serving the sick emulate Christ’s fearless tenderness, confident that gospel purity overcomes impurity. Summary ἅπτομαι weaves together the tangible and the transcendent: the Savior’s healing hand, the believer’s hand of faith, and the caution not to lay hands on what defiles. Through these touches, Scripture reveals a Lord who bridges the chasm between holiness and human need, calling His people to both receive and reflect His sanctifying power. Forms and Transliterations άπτει απτεσθαι άπτεσθαι ἅπτεσθαι απτεσθε άπτεσθε ἅπτεσθε απτέσθω απτεται άπτεται ἅπτεται απτηται άπτηται ἅπτηται απτομένη απτόμενος απτομένων απτου ἅπτου άπτωνται άψαι αψαμένη αψαμενος αψάμενος αψάμενός ἁψάμενος ἁψάμενός αψάντων άψας άψασθαι άψασθαί άψασθε άψεσθε άψεται αψη άψη ἅψῃ άψησθε αψηται άψηται άψηταί ἅψηται άψονται αψωμαι άψωμαι ἅψωμαι αψωνται άψωνται ἅψωνται ημμένον ήπται ήπτετο ήπτοντο ηψάμην ηψαντο ήψαντο ἥψαντο ηψατο ήψατο ήψατό ἥψατο Ἥψατό apsamenos apse apsē apsetai apsētai apsomai apsōmai apsontai apsōntai aptesthai aptesthe aptetai aptētai aptou epsanto ēpsanto epsato ēpsato hapsamenos hapsámenos hapsámenós hapse hapsē hápsei hápsēi hapsetai hapsētai hápsetai hápsētai hapsomai hapsōmai hápsomai hápsōmai hapsontai hapsōntai hápsontai hápsōntai haptesthai háptesthai haptesthe háptesthe haptetai haptētai háptetai háptētai haptou háptou hepsanto hēpsanto hḗpsanto hepsato hēpsato hḗpsato HḗpsatóLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 8:3 V-AIM-3SGRK: τὴν χεῖρα ἥψατο αὐτοῦ λέγων KJV: [his] hand, and touched him, INT: the hand he touched him saying Matthew 8:15 V-AIM-3S Matthew 9:20 V-AIM-3S Matthew 9:21 V-ASM-1S Matthew 9:29 V-AIM-3S Matthew 14:36 V-ASM-3P Matthew 14:36 V-AIM-3P Matthew 17:7 V-APM-NMS Matthew 20:34 V-AIM-3S Mark 1:41 V-AIM-3S Mark 3:10 V-ASM-3P Mark 5:27 V-AIM-3S Mark 5:28 V-ASM-1S Mark 5:30 V-AIM-3S Mark 5:31 V-AIM-3S Mark 6:56 V-ASM-3P Mark 6:56 V-AIM-3P Mark 7:33 V-AIM-3S Mark 8:22 V-ASM-3S Mark 10:13 V-ASM-3S Luke 5:13 V-AIM-3S Luke 6:19 V-PNM Luke 7:14 V-AIM-3S Luke 7:39 V-PIM-3S Luke 8:44 V-AIM-3S Strong's Greek 680 |
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