verb
eklegomō
Strong’sG1586
I choose, elect
stem ekleg-22 times in the New Testamentin 7 of 27 books10 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
ἐκλέγομαι means to pick out or choose, specifically to choose something or someone for oneself 13. It is used of ordinary human choices, such as choosing a place to sit or a course of action, and of Christ choosing his disciples 1. It is also used of God's choice of people or of things, in the sense of election 13. Strong's similarly defines it as to select, choose out, or elect 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
ἐκ-λέγω
[in LXX chiefly for בָּחַר;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1586 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
future passive ἐκλεγήσεσθαι Refs: perfect passive ἐξείλεγμαι Refs 5th c.BC+, and in middle sense, Refs 4th c.BC+:—pick or single out, Refs 5th c.BC+; especially of soldiers, rowers, etc., Refs 5th c.BC+ —passive Refsselect, recondite, Refs 4th c.BC+ Oen.23:—middle, pick out for oneself, choose, Refs 5th c.BC+
2 Lit. Crit., select, λέξεις καλάς Refs 1st c.BC+; compare ἐκλογή.
3 middle, of God, elect, choose, LXX+NT
4 ἐκλέγειν τὰς πολιὰς (i.e. τρίχας) pull out one's grey hairs, Refs 5th c.BC+
II levy taxes or tribute, χρήματα παρά τινος Refs 5th c.BC+; ἔκ τινων Refs 4th c.BC+; take toll of, χαλκοῦς Refs 5th c.BC+
III declare,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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| eklegoleἐξελέγοντο | was happening · theyimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | chose | 1× |
| eklegemaἐξελεξάμην | happened · Iaorist middle indicative 1st person singular | chose | 4× |
| eklegesaἐξελέξω | happened · youaorist middle indicative 2nd person singular | chosen | 1× |
| eklegetaἐξελέξατο | happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular | chose | 10× |
| eklegevaἐξελέξασθε | happened · yeaorist middle indicative 2nd person plural | choose | 1× |
| eklegelaἐξελέξαντο | happened · theyaorist middle indicative 3rd person plural | chose | 1× |
| eklegerantosἐκλεξάμενος | happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine | chose | 1× |
| eklegerantoinἐκλεξαμένους | happened · objectaorist middle participle accusative plural masculine | choose | 1× |
| eklegerantoiἐκλεξαμένοις | happened · to, foraorist middle participle dative plural masculine | choose | 1× |
| eklegorēntosἐκλελεγμένος | has happened · subjectperfect middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | chosen | 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 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 18 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 | eklegomō | eklegome | eklegomē | eklegomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | eklegosō | eklegose | eklegosē | eklegoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eklegotō | eklegote | eklegotē | eklegotelē |
| we 1st person plural | eklegonō | eklegone | eklegonē | eklegonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | eklegovō | eklegove | eklegovē | eklegovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | eklegolō | eklegole1×ἐξελέγοντο | eklegolē | eklegolelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eklegemi | eklegema4×ἐξελεξάμην |
| you 2nd person singular | eklegesi | eklegesa1×ἐξελέξω |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eklegeti | eklegeta10×ἐξελέξατο |
| we 1st person plural | eklegeni | eklegena |
| ye 2nd person plural | eklegevi | eklegeva1×ἐξελέξασθε |
| they 3rd person plural | eklegeli | eklegela1×ἐξελέξαντο |
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 | eklegomeiō | eklegomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | eklegoseiō | eklegoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eklegoteiō | eklegoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | eklegoneiō | eklegoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | eklegoveiō | eklegoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | eklegoleiō | eklegoleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eklegemeia |
| you 2nd person singular | eklegeseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eklegeteia |
| we 1st person plural | eklegeneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | eklegeveia |
| they 3rd person plural | eklegeleia |
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 | eklegosōr | eklegosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eklegotōr | eklegotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | eklegovōr | eklegovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | eklegolōr | eklegolēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | eklegesar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eklegetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | eklegevar |
| they 3rd person plural | eklegelar |
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 | eklegomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | eklegosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eklegotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | eklegonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | eklegovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | eklegoloiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | eklegemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | eklegesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | eklegetoia |
| we 1st person plural | eklegenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | eklegevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | eklegeloia |
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 | eklegorō | eklegorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | eklegeri | eklegera |
Used as an adjective — participle, 4 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 | eklegorōntos | eklegorēntos1×ἐκλελεγμένος | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | eklegerintos | eklegerantos3×ἐκλεξάμενος |
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
ekleg 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.
22 occurrences, every one of them listed
eklegole“chose”was happening · theyimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Luke 14:7… kalorēntoin parabolan, epecharōntos pōs tain prōtoklisiain eklegole, legarōntos pros autoin;When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told …
eklegema“chose”happened · Iaorist middle indicative 1st person singular4×
John 6:70“choose”… Iēsus; Ouk mis vin toin dōdeka eklegema? kai ek vu henos diabolos atō.Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
John 13:18… pantoiu vu legamō; mis oidamē tinoin eklegema; alla hina tas grafas plēriteia; Tos …… you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the …
John 15:16ouk vis min eklegeva, alla mis eklegema vin, kai tithama vin hina vis …… did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to …
John 15:19“chose”… tou kosmou ouk avō, alla mis eklegema vin ek tou kosmou, dia houtem …… because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
eklegesa“chosen”happened · youaorist middle indicative 2nd person singular1×
Acts 1:24… Sis kurior kardiognōstor pantoiu, anadeikasar hon eklegesa, ek houtoiu toiu duo henon,… which of these two You have chosen
eklegeta“chose”happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular10×
Mark 13:20“chose”… sarkas. alla dia toin eklektoin hoin eklegeta kolobata tain hēmerain.… be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has …
Luke 10:42… heneu; Mariam gar tan agathan meridan eklegeta hotinas ouk afairiti autau.… one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will …
Acts 1:2… toi apostoloi dia pneumeu hagieu hoin eklegeta analabita;… Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.
Acts 13:17tos theos tou laou houtou Israēl eklegeta toin patroin nu, kai ton laon …… God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into …
Acts 15:7… hoti apo hēmeraiu archaiaiu en vi eklegeta tos theos dia teu stomeu mu …… that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would …
1 Corinthians 1:27alla teim mōreim tou kosmou eklegeta tos theos, hina kataischunateiō toin sofoin, …… world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world …
1 Corinthians 1:27… sofoin, kai teim astheneim tou kosmou eklegeta tos theos, hina kataischunateiō teim ischureim,But God chose the foolish things of the world …
1 Corinthians 1:28… ageneim tou kosmou kai teim exouthenorēnteim eklegeta tos theos, teim mē arōnteim, hina …He chose the lowly and despised things of …
Ephesians 1:4kathōs eklegeta nin en auto pro katabolau kosmou, …For He chose us in Him before the foundation …
James 2:5… adelfoir mu agapētoir. ouk tos theos eklegeta toin ptōchoin to kosmo plousioin en …… my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to …
eklegeva“choose”happened · yeaorist middle indicative 2nd person plural1×
John 15:16ouk vis min eklegeva, alla mis eklegema vin, kai tithama …You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And …
eklegela“chose”happened · theyaorist middle indicative 3rd person plural1×
Acts 6:5… logos enōpion panteu teu plētheu, kai eklegela Stefanon, andron plēros pistiau kai pneumeu …… proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith …
eklegerantos“chose”happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine1×
Luke 6:13… hēmeras, prosfōnata toin mathētoin autou, kai eklegerantos apo autoiu dōdeka, hoin kai apostoloin …… called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also …
eklegerantoin“choose”happened · objectaorist middle participle accusative plural masculine1×
Acts 15:22“choose”… toi presbuteroi sun hola ta ekklēsa eklegerantoin androin ek autoiu pempara eis Antiocheian …Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
eklegerantoi“choose”happened · to, foraorist middle participle dative plural masculine1×
Acts 15:25dokata ni generantoi homothumadōs eklegerantoi androin pempara pros vin sun toi …So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along …
eklegorēntos“chosen”has happened · subjectperfect middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine1×
Luke 9:35… Houtos atō tos huios mu tos eklegorēntos, autou akouavōr.… is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”