verb
dialegomō
Strong’sG1256
I converse, address, preach, lecture
stem dialeg-13 times in the New Testamentin 4 of 27 books7 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
διαλέγομαι means to converse, discuss, reason, or argue with someone 123. It is used of a speaker addressing a person or a group, with the person addressed put in the dative case or introduced by a preposition meaning "with," "about," or "from" (as in reasoning from the scriptures) 1. In this sense it covers everyday debate or argument as well as more formal address, and in the New Testament it is used of preaching, lecturing, or exhorting an audience as well as of ordinary discussion 24.
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
δια-λέγομαι
(mid. of διαλέγω, to pick out, distinguish, as depon.), [in LXX: Ex 6:27, Is 63:1 (דּבר pi.), Jg 8:1 (ריב), I Es 8:46, Es 5:2, Si 14:20, II Mac 11:20 *;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1256 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
pick out, Refs 5th c.BC+; πτῶμα glean fallen olives, Refs; compare διαλέγειν· ἀνακαθαίρειν, Refs 5th c.AD+; select, separate, Refs 5th c.BC+; examine, check documents, Refs 2nd c.BC+
II διαλέγων τὴν ὀπήν picking open the hole, to escape, Refs 5th c.BC+; compare διαλέξαι· διορύξαι, Refs 5th c.AD+
B as deponent verb, διαλέγομαι: future διαλέξομαι Refs 5th c.BC+ also -λεχθήσομαι Refs 4th c.BC+; -λεγήσομαι Refs 3rd c.BC+: aorist διελεξάμην Refs 8th c.BC+; Aeolic dialect imperative ζάλεξαι Refs 7th c.BC+, and always in Attic dialect Inscrr., Refs: less frequently aorist 2 διελέγην Refs 4th c.BC+; 3rd.pers. plural διέλεγεν Refs: perfect διείλεγμαι Refs 5th c.BC+: pluperfect διείλεκτο Refs 4th c.BC+, but in passive sense, Refs 5th c.BC+:—hold converse with, with dative person, μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός Refs 8th c.BC+; δ. τί τινι or πρός τινα, discuss a question with another, Refs 5th c.BC+; δ. ὅρους talk in definitions, Refs 5th c.BC+; δ. τινὶ μὴ ποιεῖν argue with one against doing, Refs 4th c.BC+; οἱ νόμοι οὐδὲν τούτῳ δ. have nothing to say to him, concern him not, Refs 4th c.BC+to argue on.., Refs 4th c.BC+; or against.., Refs: absolutely, to discourse, reason, Refs 5th c.BC+; reason, calculate, ={διαλογίζομαι}, Refs:—the active in middle sense, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.2 in Philosophy, practise dialectic, elicit conclusions by discussion, οὐκ ἐρίζειν ἀλλὰ δ. Refs 5th c.BC+
B.3 later, discourse, lecture, Refs 2nd c.AD+
B.4 use a dialect or language, κατὰ ταὐτά τισι δ. Refs 5th c.BC+; write in prose, opposed to ποιεῖν, Refs 1st c.BC+
B.4.b speak articulately, Refs 4th c.BC+
B.5 in Attic dialect, euphemistic for συνουσιάζω, have intercourse, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.6 have dealings with, Refs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| dialegotōδιαλέγεται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | addresses | 1× |
| dialegoteδιελέγετο | was happening · he/she/itimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | reasoned | 4× |
| dialegetaδιελέξατο | happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular | reasoned | 2× |
| dialegilaδιελέχθησαν | happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural | argued | 1× |
| dialegorōntosδιαλεγόμενος | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | reasoning | 2× |
| dialegorōntonδιαλεγόμενον | happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative singular masculine | arguing | 1× |
| dialegorōntouδιαλεγομένου | happening now · of, belonging topresent middle or passive participle genitive singular masculine | talking | 2× |
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 118, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 8 occurrences
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 | dialegomō | dialegome | dialegomē | dialegomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | dialegosō | dialegose | dialegosē | dialegoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegotō1×διαλέγεται | dialegote4×διελέγετο | dialegotē | dialegotelē |
| we 1st person plural | dialegonō | dialegone | dialegonē | dialegonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegovō | dialegove | dialegovē | dialegovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegolō | dialegole | dialegolē | dialegolelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dialegemi | dialegema |
| you 2nd person singular | dialegesi | dialegesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegeti | dialegeta2×διελέξατο |
| we 1st person plural | dialegeni | dialegena |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegevi | dialegeva |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegeli | dialegela |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dialegimi | dialegima |
| you 2nd person singular | dialegisi | dialegisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegiti | dialegita |
| we 1st person plural | dialegini | dialegina |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegivi | dialegiva |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegili | dialegila1×διελέχθησαν |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dialegomeiō | dialegomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | dialegoseiō | dialegoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegoteiō | dialegoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | dialegoneiō | dialegoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegoveiō | dialegoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegoleiō | dialegoleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dialegemeia |
| you 2nd person singular | dialegeseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegeteia |
| we 1st person plural | dialegeneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegeveia |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegeleia |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dialegimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | dialegiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegiteia |
| we 1st person plural | dialegineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegiveia |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegileia |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | dialegosōr | dialegosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegotōr | dialegotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegovōr | dialegovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegolōr | dialegolēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | dialegesar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegevar |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegelar |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | dialegisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegivar |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dialegomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | dialegosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | dialegonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegoloiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dialegemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | dialegesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegetoia |
| we 1st person plural | dialegenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegeloia |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | dialegimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | dialegisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | dialegitoia |
| we 1st person plural | dialeginoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | dialegivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | dialegiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | dialegorō | dialegorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | dialegeri | dialegera | ||
| acted on passive voice | dialegiri | dialegira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 5 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | dialegorōntos5×διαλεγόμενος | dialegorēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | dialegerintos | dialegerantos | ||
| acted on passive voice | dialegirintos | dialegirantos |
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
dialeg 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.
13 occurrences, every one of them listed
dialegotō“addresses”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Hebrews 12:5… tau paraklēsiau, hotinas vi hōs huioi dialegotō, Huior mu, mē oligōrasōr paideiau kuriou, …… you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do …
dialegote“reasoned”was happening · he/she/itimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular4×
Acts 17:17dialegote men oun en ta sunagōga toi …So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews …
Acts 18:4dialegote de en ta sunagōga kata pantem …Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade …
Acts 20:7“spoke”… sunagorēntoiu nu klara arton tos Paulos dialegote autoi, mellarōntos exeiarō ta epaurion, parateinate …… the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept …
Jude 1:9“disputing”… tos archangelos, hote to diabolo diakrinorōntos dialegote peri teu Mōusou sōmeu, ouk tolmata …But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to …
dialegeta“reasoned”happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular2×
Acts 17:2… pros autoin kai epi sabbateim treis dialegeta autoi apo taiu grafaiu,… synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts 18:19… autos de eisercharantos eis tan sunagōgan dialegeta toi Ioudaioi.… went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.
dialegila“argued”happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Mark 9:34“argued”tois de siōpale, pros allēloin gar dialegila en ta hoda tinos megoteros.But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
dialegorōntos“reasoning”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine2×
Acts 19:8“reasoning”… tan sunagōgan parrēsiazote epi mēnoin treis dialegorōntos kai peitharōntos peri tau basileiau tou …… went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
Acts 19:9“reasoning”… autoiu aforizata toin mathētoin, kata hēmeran dialegorōntos en ta schola Turannou.… some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
dialegorōnton“arguing”happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative singular masculine1×
Acts 24:12“arguing”… te hiere heuriskala min pros tinon dialegorōnton ē epistasian poiarōnton ochlou oute en …… did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues …
dialegorōntou“talking”happening now · of, belonging topresent middle or passive participle genitive singular masculine2×
Acts 20:9“talking”… epi tau thuridau, kataferorōntos hupno bathuo dialegorōntou tou Paulou epi polloterem, kataferirantos apo …… Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on …
Acts 24:25“discussing”dialegorōntou de autou peri dikaiosunau kai enkrateiau …… expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You …