adjective
agapētos
Strong’sG27
loved, beloved
stem agapēt-61 times in the New Testamentin 21 of 27 books12 of 26 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
Beloved, dear 1234 — used of someone who is loved, especially by God (as of Christ, or of believers) or by fellow believers of one another 1; it is also used as a form of address, "dear one" or "beloved," when writing or speaking to someone 13.
The word is also used of an only child, describing a son or daughter who is both the only one and dearly loved 3.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ἀγαπητός, -ή, -όν
(< ἀγαπάω), [in LXX chiefly for יָתִיד, יָדִיד;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G27 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidag-ap-ay-tos'
beloved
Fromfrom G25;
King James(dearly, well) beloved, dear.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Doric dialect ἀγαπ-ᾱτός, ά, όν, that wherewith one must be content Refs, hence of only children, μοῦνος ἐὼν ἀ.NT+8th c.BC+; ἀγαπητός· μονογενής, Refs 4th c.BC+
2 to be acquiesced in (as the least in a choice of evils), Refs 5th c.BC+ —hence, ἀγαπητόν [ἐστι] one must be content, εἰ.., ἐάν.. Refs 5th c.BC+; with infinitive, Refs
II of things, desirable, ἤθηRefs 5th c.BC+
II.2 of persons, beloved, ἀδελφὲ ἀγαπητέLXX: in letters, as a term of address, NT
III adverb -τῶς gladly, contentedly, Refs 5th c.BC+
III.2 just enough to content one, barely, scarcely, Refs 5th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | masculine singular | feminine singular | neuter singular | masculine plural | feminine plural | neuter plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | agapētos11×ἀγαπητός | agapētas | agapētem1×ἀγαπητὸν | agapētois3×ἀγαπητοὶ | agapētais | agapēteim2×ἀγαπητά |
| object accusative | agapēton6×ἀγαπητόν | agapētan1×ἀγαπητήν | agapētoin | agapētain | ||
| direct address vocative | agapētor3×Ἀγαπητέ | agapētar | agapētoir27×ἀγαπητοί | agapētair | ||
| of, belonging to genitive | agapētou1×ἀγαπητοῦ | agapētau | agapēteu | agapētoiu | agapētaiu | agapēteiu |
| to, for dative | agapēto3×ἀγαπητῷ | agapēta | agapēte1×ἀγαπητῷ | agapētoi2×ἀγαπητοῖς | agapētai | agapētei |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
agapēt is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
61 occurrences, every one of them listed
agapētos“beloved”subjectnominative singular11×
Matthew 3:17… Houtos atō tos huios mu tos agapētos, en ho eudokama.… from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well …
Matthew 12:18… tos paidos mu hon hairetizama, tos agapētos mu eis hon eudokata tas psuchas …… Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I …
Matthew 17:5… Houtos atō tos huios mu tos agapētos, en ho eudokama; akouavōr autou.… the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well …
Mark 1:11… Sis asō tos huios mu tos agapētos, en si eudokama.… came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well …
Mark 9:7… Houtos atō tos huios mu tos agapētos, akouavōr autou.… from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
Luke 3:22… Sis asō tos huios mu tos agapētos, en si eudokama.… came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well …
Ephesians 6:21… prassamō, panteim gnōrizati vi Tuchikos tos agapētos adelfos kai pistos diakonos en kurio,Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the …
Colossians 4:7… min panteim gnōrizati vi Tuchikos tos agapētos adelfos kai pistos diakonos kai sundoulos …… news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a …
Colossians 4:14aspazotō vin Loukos tos iatros tos agapētos kai Dēmaos.Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
2 Peter 1:17… megaloprepau doxau; Tos huios mu tos agapētos mu houtos atō, eis hon mis …… Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well …
2 Peter 3:15… makrothumian sōtērēan hēgovōr, kathōs kai tos agapētos nu adelfos Paulos kata tan dōirantan …… patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with …
agapēton“beloved”objectaccusative singular6×
Mark 12:6ēti henon echate, huion agapēton; apostelata auton eschaton pros autoin legarōntos …Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them …
Luke 20:13… poiameia? pempami ton huion mu ton agapēton; isōs houton entrapili.… the vineyard. ‘I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’
Romans 16:5… oikon autoiu ekklēsan. aspazevar Epaineton ton agapēton mu, hos atō aparchas tau Asiau …… meets at their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert …
Romans 16:8aspazevar Ampliaton ton agapēton mu en kurio.Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
Romans 16:9… nu en Christo kai Stachuon ton agapēton mu.… fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.
Philemon 1:16… hōs doulon alla huper doulon, adelfon agapēton, malista mi, pose de mallon si …… better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to …
agapētor“beloved”direct addressvocative singular3×
3 John 1:2Agapētor, peri panteiu euchomō sin euodorō kai …Beloved, I pray that in every way …
3 John 1:5Agapētor, pistem poiasō hem ean ergazeseia eis …Beloved, you are faithful in what you …
3 John 1:11Agapētor, mē mimosōr tem kakosem alla tem …Beloved, do not imitate what is evil …
agapētou“beloved”of, belonging togenitive singular1×
Colossians 1:7kathōs mathava apo Epafrou tou agapētou sundoulou nu, hos atō pistos huper …You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful …
agapēto“beloved”to, fordative singular3×
Colossians 4:9sun Onēsimo to pisto kai agapēto adelfo, hos atō ek vu; panteim …… am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you …
Philemon 1:1“dear friend”… kai Timotheos tos adelfos Filēmōno to agapēto kai sunergo nu… Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
3 John 1:1Tos presbuteros Gaio to agapēto, hon mis agapamō en alētheia.The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the …
agapētan“beloved”objectaccusative singular1×
Romans 16:12… kopiarōntain en kurio. aspazevar Persidan tan agapētan, hotinas polleim kopiata en kurio.… hard in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard …
agapētem“beloved”subject or objectdirect singular1×
1 Corinthians 4:17… vi Timotheon, hos atō mu teknem agapētem kai pistem en kurio, hos vin …… I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord …
agapēte“beloved”to, fordative singular1×
2 Timothy 1:2Timotheo agapēte tekne; charitas, elesem, eirēnas apo theou …To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from …
agapētois“beloved”subjectnominative plural3×
Romans 11:28“beloved”… dia vin, kata de tan eklogan agapētois dia toin patroin;… enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.
1 Thessalonians 2:8“dear”… alla kai tain heautoiu psuchain, dioti agapētois ni geniva.… of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
1 Timothy 6:2… mallon douleualōr, hoti pistois alō kai agapētois tois tau euergesiau antilaborōntois. Houteim didaskasōr …… those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.
agapētoir“beloved”direct addressvocative plural27×
Romans 12:19mē heautoin ekdikarōntois, agapētoir, alla dōavar topon ta orga, grafotē …Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath …
1 Corinthians 10:14“dear friends”Dioper, agapētoir mu, fugavōr apo tau eidōlolatriau.Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 15:58Hōste, adelfoir mu agapētoir, hedraiois genovōr, ametakinētois, perisseuarōntois en te …Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always …
2 Corinthians 7:1houtain oun echarōntois tain epangeliain, agapētoir, katharizaneia heautoin apo pantou molusmou sarkau …Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let …
2 Corinthians 12:19… en Christo lalanō. teim de panteim, agapētoir, huper tau vu oikodomau,… in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
Philippians 2:12Hōste, agapētoir mu, kathōs pantote hupakouava, mē hōs …Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed …
Philippians 4:1hōste, adelfoir mu agapētoir kai epipothētoir, charar kai stefanor mu, …Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and …
Philippians 4:1… stefanor mu, houtōs stēkavōr en kurio, agapētoir.… stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Hebrews 6:9Peithonē de peri vu, agapētoir, teim kreittoneim kai echorōnteim sōtērēau, ei …Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things …
James 1:16mē planovōr, adelfoir mu agapētoir.Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
James 1:19Oidavēr, adelfoir mu agapētoir. atōr de pantos anthrōpos tachuos eis …My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be …
James 2:5akouavar, adelfoir mu agapētoir. ouk tos theos eklegeta toin ptōchoin …Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the …
1 Peter 2:11Agapētoir, parakalamō hōs paroikoin kai parepidēmoin apechorō …Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and …
1 Peter 4:12Agapētoir, mē xenizovōr ta en vi purōsia …Beloved, do not be surprised at the …
2 Peter 3:1Houtan ēdē, agapētoir, deuteran vi grafamō epistolan, en hai …Beloved, this is now my second letter …
2 Peter 3:8Henem de houtem mē lathatōr vin, agapētoir, hoti henas hēmeras para kurio hōs …Beloved, do not let this one thing …
2 Peter 3:14Dio, agapētoir, houteim prosdokarōntois spoudazavar aspilois kai amōmētois …Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make …
2 Peter 3:17vis oun, agapētoir, prognōskarōntois fulassovōr hina mē ta toiu …Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things …
1 John 2:7“dear friends”Agapētoir, ouk entolan kainan grafamō vi, alla …… I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old …
1 John 3:2agapētoir, nun tekneim theou anō, kai oupō …Beloved, we are now children of God …
1 John 3:21agapētoir, ean tas kardias mē katagnōskateiō nu, …Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn …
1 John 4:1Agapētoir, mē pante pneume pisteuavōr, alla dokimazavōr …Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but …
1 John 4:7Agapētoir, agapaneiō allēloin, hoti tas agapas ek …Beloved, let us love one another, because …
1 John 4:11agapētoir, ei houtōs tos theos agapata nin, …Beloved, if God so loved us, we …
Jude 1:3Agapētoir, pantan spoudan poiorōntos grafarō vi peri …Beloved, although I made every effort to …
Jude 1:17Vis de, agapētoir, mimnēskivar teiu rēmeiu teiu prolegorēnteiu hupo …But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the …
Jude 1:20vis de, agapētoir, epoikodomarōntois heautoin ta hagiotata vu pistia, …But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your …
agapētoi“loved”to, fordative plural2×
Acts 15:25… androin pempara pros vin sun toi agapētoi nu Barnabo kai Paulo,… send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Romans 1:7pantoi toi arōntoi en Rōma agapētoi theou, klētoi hagioi; charitas vi kai …To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be …
agapēteim“beloved”subject or objectdirect plural2×
1 Corinthians 4:14… grafamō houteim, alla hōs tekneim mu agapēteim nouthetarōntos;… but to warn you as my beloved children.
Ephesians 5:1… oun mimētois tou theou, hōs tekneim agapēteim,Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,