verb
aleifamō
Strong’sG218
I anoint
stem aleif-9 times in the New Testamentin 5 of 27 books8 forms occur
What it means
What the word means, in the words of the lexicons out of copyright — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones, wherever each has an entry for it.
ἀλείφω
(cf. λίπος, oil), [in LXX: Ge 31:13, Ex 40:15, Nu 3:3 (משׁח), Ez 13:10 ff. (טוח), Ru 3:3, II Ki 12:20 14:2, IV Ki 4:2, II Ch 28:15, Mi 6:15, Da LXX TH 10:3 (סוךְ), Es 2:12, Jth 16:8*;]
SYN.: χρίω, μυρίζω (against the distinction made bet. ἀ. and χ. in Tr., Syn., § 38, v. MM, VGT, s.v., ἀ.)
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G218 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Refs 5th c.BC+: future -ψωLXX, (ἐξ-) Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἤλειψαRefs 8th c.BC+, Attic dialect, Epic dialect ἄλειψαRefs 8th c.BC+perfect ἀλήλῐφα (ἀπ-) Refs 4th c.BC+:—middle, future -ψομαιRefs 5th c.BC+aorist ἠλειψάμην Attic dialect, Epic dialect ἀλ-Refs 8th c.BC+ —passive, future ἀλειφθήσομαι (ἐξ-) Refs 4th c.BC+: aorist 1 ἠλείφθηνRefs 5th c.BC+aorist 2 ἐξ-ηλίφην variant in Refs 5th c.BC+, (ἀπ-) Refs 5th c.BC+, (ἐξ-, ὑπ-) Refs 5th c.BC+:—anoint the skin with oil, as was done after bathing, active referring to another, middle to oneself, λοῦσαι κέλετ᾽ ἀμφί τ᾽ ἀλεῖψαιRefs 8th c.BC+: later of anointing for gymnastic exercises, λίπα μετὰ τοῦ γυμνάζεσθαι ἠλείψαντοRefs 6th c.BC+; of anointing the sick, NT+4th c.BC+
2 supply oil for gymnasts, ἀλειφούσης τῆς πόλεως Refs 1st c.AD+; ἀ. πανήγυριν, ἔθνη, Refs; οἱ -όμενοι youths undergoing gymnastic training, Refs; οἱ ἀ. ἐν τῷ γυμνασίῳ Refs; ἀλείφεσθαι παρά τινι to attend a gymnastic school, Refs 2nd c.AD+
3 polish, τράπεζανRefs 4th c.BC+
4 metaphorically, prepare as if for gymnastics, encourage, stimulate, instigate, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, τοὺς -ομένους ἐπί τιRefs 5th c.BC+
II daub, plaster, besmear, οὔατα ἀλεῖψαι stop up ears, Refs 8th 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
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| aleifateἤλειφεν | was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular | anointing | 1× |
| aleifaleἤλειφον | was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural | anointed | 1× |
| aleifasaἤλειψας | happened · youaorist active indicative 2nd person singular | anoint | 1× |
| aleifataἤλειψεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | anointed | 2× |
| aleifaleiaἀλείψωσιν | happened · theyaorist active subjunctive 3rd person plural | anoint | 1× |
| aleifesarἄλειψαί | happened · youaorist middle imperative 2nd person singular | anoint | 1× |
| aleifarantasἀλείψασα | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular feminine | anointed | 1× |
| aleifarantoisἀλείψαντες | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine | anointing | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 5 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | aleifamō | aleifame | aleifami | aleifama | aleifamē | aleifamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | aleifasō | aleifase | aleifasi | aleifasa1×ἤλειψας | aleifasē | aleifaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifatō | aleifate1×ἤλειφεν | aleifati | aleifata2×ἤλειψεν | aleifatē | aleifatelē |
| we 1st person plural | aleifanō | aleifane | aleifani | aleifana | aleifanē | aleifanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifavō | aleifave | aleifavi | aleifava | aleifavē | aleifavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifalō | aleifale1×ἤλειφον | aleifali | aleifala | aleifalē | aleifalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | aleifomō | aleifome | aleifomē | aleifomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | aleifosō | aleifose | aleifosē | aleifoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifotō | aleifote | aleifotē | aleifotelē |
| we 1st person plural | aleifonō | aleifone | aleifonē | aleifonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifovō | aleifove | aleifovē | aleifovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifolō | aleifole | aleifolē | aleifolelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | aleifemi | aleifema |
| you 2nd person singular | aleifesi | aleifesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifeti | aleifeta |
| we 1st person plural | aleifeni | aleifena |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifevi | aleifeva |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifeli | aleifela |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | aleifameiō | aleifameia | aleifameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | aleifaseiō | aleifaseia | aleifaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifateiō | aleifateia | aleifateiē |
| we 1st person plural | aleifaneiō | aleifaneia | aleifaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifaveiō | aleifaveia | aleifaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifaleiō | aleifaleia1×ἀλείψωσιν | aleifaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | aleifomeiō | aleifomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | aleifoseiō | aleifoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifoteiō | aleifoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | aleifoneiō | aleifoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifoveiō | aleifoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifoleiō | aleifoleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | aleifemeia |
| you 2nd person singular | aleifeseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifeteia |
| we 1st person plural | aleifeneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifeveia |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifeleia |
Commands — imperative mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | aleifasōr | aleifasar | aleifasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifatōr | aleifatar | aleifatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifavōr | aleifavar | aleifavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifalōr | aleifalar | aleifalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | aleifosōr | aleifosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifotōr | aleifotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifovōr | aleifovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifolōr | aleifolēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | aleifesar1×ἄλειψαί |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifevar |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifelar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | aleifamoiō | aleifamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | aleifasoiō | aleifasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifatoiō | aleifatoia |
| we 1st person plural | aleifanoiō | aleifanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifavoiō | aleifavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifaloiō | aleifaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | aleifomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | aleifosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | aleifonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifoloiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | aleifemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | aleifesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | aleifetoia |
| we 1st person plural | aleifenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | aleifevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | aleifeloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | aleifarō | aleifari | aleifara | aleifarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | aleiforō | aleiforē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | aleiferi | aleifera |
Used as an adjective — participle, 2 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | aleifarōntos | aleifarintos | aleifarantos2× | aleifarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | aleiforōntos | aleiforēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | aleiferintos | aleiferantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
aleif 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.
9 occurrences, every one of them listed
aleifate“anointing”was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Luke 7:38“anointing”… kai katafilate toin podoin autou kai aleifate te mure.… to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
aleifale“anointed”was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Mark 6:13“anointed”kai daimoneim polleim ekbalale, kai aleifale elaie polloin arrōstoin kai therapeuale.… drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.
aleifasa“anoint”happened · youaorist active indicative 2nd person singular1×
Luke 7:46elaie tan kefalan mu ouk aleifasa; houtas de mure aleifata toin podoin …You did not anoint My head with oil, but she …
aleifata“anointed”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Luke 7:46… mu ouk aleifasa; houtas de mure aleifata toin podoin mu.… head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
John 12:3… labarantas litran mureu nardau pistikau polutimau aleifata toin podoin tou Iēsu kai ekmassata …… made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with …
aleifaleia“anoint”happened · theyaorist active subjunctive 3rd person plural1×
Mark 16:1… kai Salōmas agorazala arōmeim hina ercharantais aleifaleia auton.… spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.
aleifesar“anoint”happened · youaorist middle imperative 2nd person singular1×
Matthew 6:17sis de nēsteuarōntos aleifesar su tan kefalan kai tem prosōpem …But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
aleifarantas“anointed”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular feminine1×
John 11:2“anointed”ate de Mariam tas aleifarantas ton kurion mure kai ekmassarantas toin …(Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His …
aleifarantois“anointing”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine1×
James 5:14“anointing”… tau ekklēsau, kai proseuchelar epi auton aleifarantois auton elaie en te onome tou …… elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.