verb
fēamō
Strong’sG5346
I say
stem fē-65 times in the New Testamentin 9 of 27 books4 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
φημί means to say, speak, or declare 124 — to make known one's thoughts in words 2. It is used especially in reporting or quoting someone's words, both to introduce what a person said and to be inserted parenthetically within a quotation already under way 13.
It is also used impersonally, as φησί/φασί, meaning "he says," "she says," or "it says," referring to an unnamed speaker or to what a written text states 13.
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
φημί
[in LXX chiefly for נאם, also for אמר; freq. in II-IV Mac;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G5346 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Refs 5th c.BC+, cf. Hdn.Gr.2.147, 419; φησί (apocopation φή Refs 6th c.BC+; plural φᾰμέν, φᾰτέ, φᾱσ; Doric dialect φᾱμί, φᾱσί or φᾱτί Refs 5th c.BC+, 3rd.pers. plural φαντ; Aeolic dialect φᾶμι Refs 7th c.BC+, 2nd pers. singular φαῖσθα Refs 7th c.BC+, 3rd.pers. plural φαῖσι Refs 7th c.BC+aorist 2 ἔφην, Epic dialect φῆν Refs 8th c.BC+, Epic dialect φῆσθα Refs 8th c.BC+; ἔφη, Epic dialect φῆ, Doric dialect φᾶ Refs 5th c.BC+; 1st pers. plural ἔφᾰμεν Refs 5th c.BC+; 2nd pers. plural ἔφᾰτε Refs 5th c.BC+; 3rd.pers. plural ἔφασαν, Epic dialect φάσαν Refs 8th c.BC+; φάθι is found in codices of Refs 5th c.BC+; subjunctive φῶ, φῇς, φῇ, Epic dialect φῇσιν Refs 8th c.BC+; Doric dialect 3rd.pers. plural subjunctive φᾶντι Refs; optative φαίην, 1st pers. plural φαῖμεν Refs 8th c.BC+, 3rd.pers. plural φαῖεν Refs 5th c.BC+; infinitive φάναι, Refs 5th c.BC+; participle φάς Refs 8th c.BC+future φήσω, Doric dialect φασῶ Refs 5th c.BC+; 1st pers. plural φασοῦμες Refs 5th c.AD+: aorist 1 ἔφησα Refs 5th c.BC+; Doric dialect 3rd.pers. singular φᾶσε Refs 5th c.BC+; 2nd pers. singular subjunctive (Doric dialect) φάσῃς [ᾱ] Refs 5th c.BC+, participle φήσας Refs 5th c.BC+, infinitive φῆσαι Refs 4th c.BC+ —middle (chiefly poetry in early writers), imperfect and aorist 2 ἐφάμην, ἔφατο (also Refs 3rd c.BC+, Epic dialect φάτο Refs 8th c.BC+ Epic dialect φάντο Refs, φάσθω, φάσθ; infinitive φάσθα; participle φάμενος (also Refs 3rd c.BC+future φάσομαι [ᾱ] Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, perfect 3rd.pers. singular πέφαται Refs 3rd c.BC+; 3rd.pers. singular imperative πεφάσθω Refs 5th c.BC+; but participle πεφασμένος Refs 8th c.BC+aorist ἐφάθην Refs 4th c.BC+present indicative φημί is enclitic, except in 2nd pers. singular present φῄς: φαμέν is 1st pers. plural present, φάμεν poetry infinitive: φαντί is 3rd.pers. plural, φάντι participle
II φάσκω supplied all moods of present except the indicative, also imperfect ἔφασκο; compare ἠμί. [ᾰ, except in φᾱσι, and in masculine and feminine participle φάς, φᾶσα: in infinitive φάναι ᾰ always; φᾶναι is corrupt in Refs 4th c.BC+:—say, affirm, assert, either absolutely, or followed by infinitive, e. g. Λυσίθευς Μικίωνα φιλῖν (={-εῖν}) φησι Refs, compare 57.48, or accusative et infinitive; the infinitive is frequently omitted, σὲ κακὸν καὶ ἀνάλκιδα φήσει (i.e. εἶναι) Refs 8th c.BC+; also Κορινθίους τί φῶμε; what shall we say of them? NT+8th c.BC+; κατά τινος φ. to speak against him, Refs 5th c.BC+; by ὅτι, Refs 5th c.BC+; by an interrogative clause, μή ποτε φάσῃς ὅ τι γίνεται αὔριον Refs 4th c.BC+ [same place]; by participle, uncertain in Refs 5th c.BC+; also parenthetic, τίνες, φῄς, ἦσαν οἱ λόγο; Refs 5th c.BC+
II.b since what one says commonly expresses a belief or opinion, think, deem, suppose, φῆ γὰρ ὅ γ᾽ αἱρήσειν Πριάμου πόλιν Refs 8th c.BC+; φαίης κε ζάκοτόν τέ τιν᾽ ἔμμεναι ἄφρονά τε you would say, would think, he was.., Refs; ἶσον ἐμοὶ φάσθαι to say he is (i. e. fancy himself) equal to me, Refs; μὴ.. φαθὶ λεύσσειν think not that you see, Refs 3rd c.BC+; τί φῄ; what say you? i.e. what think you? (see.Refs 5th c.BC+ —so φ. δεῖν, φ. χρῆναι, deem it right, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.c say, i.e. write, of an author, ὡς ἔφημεν Refs 2nd c.AD+ —The middle has all these senses as well as the active
II Special Phrases:
II.1 φασί, they say, it is said, Refs 8th c.BC+; φησίν saith He, NT; especially of an opponent's objection, Refs 1st c.AD+; “τὸν δὲ μετ᾽ εἰσενόησα, ἔφη Ὅμηρος as H. said, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 joined with a synonymous Verb, ἔφη λέγων, ἔφησε λέγων, Refs 5th c.BC+; λέγει οὐδέν, φαμένη.. Refs 5th c.BC+
II.3 in repeating dialogues the Verb commonly goes before its subject, ἔφην ἐγώ, ἔφη ὁ Σωκράτης, said I, said Refs 5th c.BC+ I said, Refs 5th c.BC+ said.
II.4 inserted parenthetically, though the sentence has been introduced by λέγει, εἶπεν, etc., ὁ Ἰσχόμαχος.. εἶπεν· ἀλλὰ παίζεις μὲν σύ γε, ἔφη Refs 5th c.BC+
II.5 τί φημ; Refs 5th c.BC+
II.6 κυριώτατα φάναι, in parenthesis, strictly speaking, Refs 1st c.AD+; ὡς οὕτω φάναι, ={ὡς εἰπεῖν, ἅπασαι ὡς οὕτω φάναι} practically all, Refs 2nd c.AD+; συνελόντα (variant{-όντι}) φάναι, ={συνελόντι εἰπεῖν}, Refs
II.7 Οἰδίπουν.. ἂν μόνον φῶ if I only mention Oedipus, Refs 5th c.BC+
III like{κατάφημι}, say yes, affirm, assert, καὶ τοὺς φάναι and they said yes, Refs 5th c.BC+: with infinitive, φῂς ἢ καταρνεῖ μὴ δεδρακέναι τάδ; Refs 5th c.BC+; but οὔ φημι means say no, deny, refuse, with infinitive, ἡ Πυθίη οὐκ ἔφη χρήσειν said she would not.., Refs 5th c.BC+: with accusative et infinitive, οὔ φημ᾽ Ὀρέστην σ᾽ ἐνδίκως ἀνδρηλατεῖν Refs 5th c.BC+ if he says no, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἢ φάθι ἢ μὴ ἃ ἐρωτῶ answer me yes or no, Refs 5th c.BC+; so in answers, φημί or οὕτως φημί yes, Refs; οὐκ ἔφη he said no, Refs — In this sense _Attic dialect_ writers, besides present, mostly use future φήσω and aorist ἔφησα, but in imperfect, infinitive, and participle present, to avoid ambiguity, they prefer ἔφασκον, φάσκειν, φάσκων (see. φάσκω): φάναι is distinguished from φάσκειν, e.g. ἔφη σπουδάζειν he said he was in haste, ἔφασκε σπουδάζειν he alleged he was in haste; but ἔφησθα is found in this sense, Refs 5th c.BC+
IV command, order, ἔφην τῷ Ὀρθοβούλῳ ἐξαλεῖψαί με 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| fēamōφημι | happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular | say | 4× |
| fēatōφησίν | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | said | 17× |
| fēalōφασίν | happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural | claim | 1× |
| fēateἔφη | was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular | said | 43× |
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, 65 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | fēamō4×φημι | fēame | fēami | fēama | fēamē | fēamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | fēasō | fēase | fēasi | fēasa | fēasē | fēaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | fēatō17×φησίν | fēate43×ἔφη | fēati | fēata | fēatē | fēatelē |
| we 1st person plural | fēanō | fēane | fēani | fēana | fēanē | fēanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | fēavō | fēave | fēavi | fēava | fēavē | fēavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | fēalō1×φασίν | fēale | fēali | fēala | fēalē | fēalelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | fēameiō | fēameia | fēameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | fēaseiō | fēaseia | fēaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | fēateiō | fēateia | fēateiē |
| we 1st person plural | fēaneiō | fēaneia | fēaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | fēaveiō | fēaveia | fēaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | fēaleiō | fēaleia | fēaleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | fēasōr | fēasar | fēasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | fēatōr | fēatar | fēatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | fēavōr | fēavar | fēavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | fēalōr | fēalar | fēalēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | fēamoiō | fēamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | fēasoiō | fēasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | fēatoiō | fēatoia |
| we 1st person plural | fēanoiō | fēanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | fēavoiō | fēavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | fēaloiō | fēaloia |
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 | fēarō | fēari | fēara | fēarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | fēarōntos | fēarintos | fēarantos | fēarēntos |
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
fē 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.
65 occurrences, every one of them listed
fēamō“say”happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular4×
1 Corinthians 7:29“mean”houtem de fēamō, adelfoir, tos kairos sustelorēntos atō; tem …… am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who …
1 Corinthians 10:15hōs fronimoi legamō; krinavar vis hem fēamō.… people; judge for yourselves what I say.
1 Corinthians 10:19“saying”tinem oun fēamō? hoti eidōlothutem tinem atō, ē hoti …… I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol …
1 Corinthians 15:50“say”Houtem de fēamō, adelfoir, hoti sarkas kai haimem basileian …Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God …
fēatō“said”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular17×
Matthew 13:29tos de fēatō; Ou, mēpote sullegarōntois teim zizanieim ekrizaveia …‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now …
Matthew 14:8… hupo tau mētērau autau; Dōasar mi, fēatō, hōde epi pinaxo tan kefalan Iōannou …Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter …
Luke 7:40“say”… tinem legara. tos de; Didaskalor, legasar, fēatō.… I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said.
John 18:29“said”… tos Pilatos exō pros autoin kai fēatō; Tinan katēgorian feravō kata tou anthrōpou …So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”
Acts 8:36… hodan, erchala epi tinem hudem, kai fēatō tos eunouchos; Idou hudem, tinem kōluatō …… came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is …
Acts 10:31kai fēatō; Kornēlior, eisakouita su tas proseuchas kai …and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard …
Acts 19:35“said”katastelarantos de tos grammatevos ton ochlon fēatō; Androir Efesioir, tinos gar atō anthrōpoiu …Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of …
Acts 22:2“said”… prosfōnate autoi mallon parechala hēsuchian. kai fēatō;… speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul declared,
Acts 23:18… auton agata pros ton chiliarchon kai fēatō; Tos desmios Paulos proskalerantos min erōtata …… took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked …
Acts 25:5“said”Tois oun en vi, fēatō, dunatois sunkatabainarantois ei tinem atō en …So if this man has done anything wrong, let …
Acts 25:22… kai autos tou anthrōpou akouara. Aurion, fēatō, akouesi autou.Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to …
Acts 25:24kai fēatō tos Fēstos; Agrippor basilevor kai pantoir …Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are …
Acts 26:24“said”… apologorōntou tos Fēstos mega ta fōna fēatō; Mainosō, Paulor; teim polleim sin grammeim …… of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving …
Acts 26:25“said”tos de Paulos; Ouk mainomō, fēatō, kratistor Fēstor, alla alētheiau kai sōfrosunau …But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.
1 Corinthians 6:16“says”… porna henem sōmem atō? Eli gar, fēatō, tois duo eis sarkan henan.… with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
2 Corinthians 10:10hoti Tais epistolais men, fēatō, baruais kai ischurais, tas de parousias …For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful …
Hebrews 8:5“said”… mellarōntos epitelarō tan skēnan, Horasōr gar, fēatō, poiasi panteim kata ton tupon ton …… when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you …
fēalō“claim”happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Romans 3:8kai mē kathōs blasfēmonō kai kathōs fēalō tinois nin legarō hoti Poianeia teim …Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do …
fēate“said”was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular43×
Matthew 4:7“said”fēate auto tos Iēsus; Palin grafotē; Ouk …Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the …
Matthew 8:8“said”kai apokrinirantos tos hekatontarchos fēate; Kurior, ouk amō hikanos hina mu …The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But …
Matthew 13:28“said”tos de fēate autoi; Echthros anthrōpos houtem poiata. tois …‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them …
Matthew 17:26legarantou de; Apo toiu allotrioiu, fēate auto tos Iēsus; Ara ge eleutherois …… Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him.
Matthew 19:21“said”fēate auto tos Iēsus; Ei thelasō teleios …Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell …
Matthew 21:27“said”… apokrinirantois to Iēso legala; Ouk oidanē. fēate autoi kai autos; Oude mis legamō …So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by …
Matthew 22:37“said”tos de fēate auto; Agapasi kurion ton theon su …Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all …
Matthew 25:21“said”fēate auto tos kurios autou; Euōs, doulor …His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have …
Matthew 25:23“said”fēate auto tos kurios autou; Euōs, doulor …His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have …
Matthew 26:34“said”fēate auto tos Iēsus; Amēn legamō si …“Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this …
Matthew 26:61legala; Houtos fēate; Dunomō kataluara ton naon tou theou …and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the …
Matthew 27:11… basilevos toiu Ioudaioiu? tos de Iēsus fēate; Sis legasō.… King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Matthew 27:23“said”tos de fēate; Tinem gar kakosem poiata? tois de …“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all …
Matthew 27:65fēate autoi tos Pilatos; Echavō koustōdian; hupagavōr …“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure …
Mark 9:12“said”tos de fēate autoi; Ēliaos men ercharantos prōtem apokatastēatō …He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things …
Mark 9:38Fēate auto tos Iōannos; Didaskalor, horana tinon …John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone …
Mark 10:20“said”tos de fēate auto; Didaskalor, houteim panteim fulassema ek …“Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.”
Mark 10:29“said”fēate tos Iēsus; Amēn legamō vi, oudenos …“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has …
Mark 12:24fēate autoi tos Iēsus; Ouk dia houtem …Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because …
Mark 14:29“said”tos de Petros fēate auto; Ei kai pantois skandalizili, alla …Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I never …
Luke 7:44… strefirantos pros tan gunaikan to Simōno fēate; Blepasō houtan tan gunaikan? eiserchama su …And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this …
Luke 15:17eis heauton de ercharantos fēate; Posois misthiois tou patrou mu perisseuolō …… he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired …
Luke 22:58kai meta brachuem heteros horarantos auton fēate; Kai sis ek autoiu asō; tos …… later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them …
Luke 22:58… ek autoiu asō; tos de Petros fēate; Anthrōpor, ouk amō.… are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
Luke 22:70“said”… tou theou? tos de pros autoin fēate; Vis legavō hoti mis amō.… Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”
Luke 23:3… toiu Ioudaioiu? tos de apokrinirantos auto fēate; Sis legasō.… King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Luke 23:40apokrinirantos de tos heteros epitimarōntos auto fēate; Oude fobosō sis ton theon, hoti …But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God …
John 1:23“said”fēate; Mis fōnas boarōntou en ta erēma; …… the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight …
John 9:38tos de fēate; Pisteuamō, kurior; kai proskunata auto.“Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus.
Acts 7:2“said”tos de fēate; Androir adelfoir kai patroir, akouavar; Tos …And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still …
Acts 10:28fēate tē pros autoin; Vis epistovō hōs …He said to them, “You know how unlawful …
Acts 10:30“said”Kai tos Kornēlios fēate; Apo tetartau hēmerau mechris houtau tau …Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth …
Acts 16:30“said”kai proagarantos autoin exō fēate; Kurioir, tinem min datō poiarō hina …Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:37tos de Paulos fēate pros autoin; Derarantois nin dēmosia akatakritoin, …But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us …
Acts 17:22… Paulos en mese tou Areiou Pagosou fēate; Androir Athēnaioir, kata panteim hōs deisidaimōnoteroin …… the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that …
Acts 21:37… legara tinem pros sin? tos de fēate; Hellēnisti gnōskasō?… you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.
Acts 22:27“said”… mi, sis Rōmaios asō? tos de fēate; Nai.… to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.
Acts 22:28… politeian houtan ktema. tos de Paulos fēate; Mis de kai gennomē.… a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born …
Acts 23:5“said”fēate tē tos Paulos; Ouk oidamelē, adelfoir, …“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that …
Acts 23:17… de tos Paulos henon toiu hekatontarchēoiu fēate; Ton neanion houton apagasōr pros ton …… called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the …
Acts 23:35Diakouemi su, fēate, hotan kai tois katēgorois su parageneleia; …he said, “I will hear your case when …
Acts 26:1Agrippos de pros ton Paulon fēate; Epitrepotō si huper siautou legarō. tote …Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to …
Acts 26:32Agrippos de to Fēsto fēate; Apoluorē dunote tos anthrōpos houtos ei …And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have …