verb
fronamō
Strong’sG5426
I think, judge, observe
stem fron-26 times in the New Testamentin 9 of 27 books14 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
φρονέω means to think, judge, or form an opinion — a general term for exercising the mind and holding a view or verdict on something 124.
It also covers being minded in a particular way, that is, to have one's thoughts set on, dwell on, or be intent upon something — for example being intent on "the things of God" as opposed to "the things of men," on the flesh as opposed to the spirit, or on earthly as opposed to heavenly things 13. From this comes the related idea of sharing a mind or purpose with someone else — being of the same mind, agreeing, or standing with another in outlook — and, more intensively, caring about or being concerned for something 123.
In older, non-biblical Greek usage the word also means simply to have understanding, to be wise, prudent, or sound of mind 13.
It can further mean to observe or pay regard to something, as in giving heed to a particular day 123.
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
φρονέω, -ῶ
(< φρήν), [in LXX: De 32:29, Za 9:2 (חָכָם), Ps 93 (94):8 (שָׂכַל hi.), Is 44:18 (בִּין) ib. 28, Es 8:13, Wi 1:1 14:30, I Mac 10:20, II Mac 9:12; 14:8, 26 *;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G5426 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidfron-eh'-o
to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication, to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively, to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience)
Fromfrom G5424;
King Jamesset the affection on, (be) care(-ful), (be like-, + be of one, + be of the same, + let this) mind(-ed), regard, savour, think.
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
Epic dialect subjunctive φρονέῃσι Refs 8th c.BC+: Epic dialect imperfect φρόνεον Refs 8th c.BC+: future -ήσωRefs 5th c.BC+, etc.: aorist ἐφρόνησα Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect πεφρόνηκα Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, Refs 4th c.BC+; imperative φρονείσθω variant for{φρονεῖτε} in NT:—to be minded, either of reflection or of purpose: hence,
I have understanding, be wise, prudent, rare in Refs 8th c.BC+ best both in battle and counsel, Refs 8th c.BC+: but frequently in Trag. and Attic dialect, [Ζῆνα] τὸν φρονεῖν βροτοὺς ὁδώσαντα Refs 5th c.BC+; λίαν φ. to be over-wise, Refs 5th c.BC+understanding, prudence, Refs 5th c.BC+; κράτιστοι φρονεῖν Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ μὴ φρονοῦν, of an infant, Refs 4th c.BC+full-grown, Refs 4th c.BC+ to be wise in respect of the most important matters, Refs
I.2 with adverbs, εὖ φρονεῖν think rightly, περί τινος Refs 5th c.BC+; to be sane (compare infr. IV), Refs 5th c.BC+ also, to be well disposed, see below Refs; κακῶς, καλῶς φ., Refs 8th c.BC+; μῶρα, πλάγια φ., Refs 5th c.BC+
I.3 think, Refs 5th c.BC+de.An.427a19; ὡς.., ὅτι.., Refs 5th c.BC+; mean, ἄλλα φ. καὶ ἄλλα λέγειν Refs 5th c.BC+
I.4 feel by experience, know full well, σοὶ μὲν δοκεῖν ταῦτ᾽ ἔστ᾽, ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ἄγαν φρονεῖν Refs 5th c.BC+; πειρώμενος ὅ τι φρονέοιεν [τὰ μαντήϊα] to test the knowledge of the oracles, Refs 5th c.BC+
II to be fain that.., with accusative et infinitive, Refs 8th c.BC+: with infinitive, to be minded to do, Refs; without infinitive, οἱ δ᾽ ἰθὺς φρόνεον [ἰέναι] were minded to go right on ward, Refs; ᾗπερ δὴ φρονέω [τελέσαιRefsof set purpose, Refs 5th c.BC+: in Prose, mean, intend, τοῦτο φρονεῖ ἡμῶν ἡ.. ἀγωγή this is what your bringing us here means, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 frequently with neuter adjective,
II.2.a φ. τινί τινα to have certain thoughts for or towards any one, to be so and so minded towards him, πατρὶ φίλα φρονέων kindly minded towards him, Refs 8th c.BC+; φρονεῖς εὖ τοῖς ἠγγελμένοις you rejoice at them, Refs 5th c.BC+; τοιαῦτα περί τινος φ. Refs 5th c.BC+: to be minded so and so, think or purpose such and such things, ἀγαθὰ φ. Refs 8th c.BC+; φίλα φ.Refs 8th c.BC+; κρυπτάδια φ. to have secret purposes, Refs; ἀταλὰ φ. to be gaily disposed,Refs 8th c.BC+; πυκινὰ φ. have wise thoughts, be cunningly minded, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐφημέρια φ. think only of the passing day,Refs 8th c.BC+; τυραννικὰ φ. to have tyranny in mind, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀρχαιϊκὰ φ. to have old-fashioned notions, Refs; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς φ., NT; also οὐ παρδάλιος τόσσον μένος ὅσσον Πάνθου υἷες φρονέουσιν the panther's courage is not so great as is the spirit of the sons of Panthus, Refs 8th c.BC+
II.2.b especially frequently in the phrase μέγα φρονεῖν to be high-minded, have high thoughts, to be high-spirited, Refs 8th c.BC+; of lions and boars, Refs 5th c.BC+; in Attic dialect, frequently in bad sense, to be presumptuous, ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτῷ, ἑαυτοῖς μέγα φ., Refs 5th c.BC+; φ. ἐφ᾽ αὑτῷ τηλικοῦτον ἡλίκον εἰκός.. Refs 4th c.BC+ to have over-high thoughts, Refs 5th c.BC+ (but simply, pluck up courage, ἐπὶ τῷ γεγενημένῳ Refs 5th c.BC+: rarely in plural, μείζω τῆς δίκης φ. Refs 5th c.BC+; with superlative, οἱ μέγιστον φρονοῦντες Refs 5th c.BC+; take pride in, ἐπὶ παιδεύσει μέγα φρονοῦντες Refs 5th c.BC+; μέγα φ. ὅτι.. Refs 5th c.BC+; μέγα φ. μὴ ὑπείξειν haughty in their resolution not to.., Refs 5th c.BC+ alone, ={μέγα φ., φρονήσας ἐφ᾽ αὑτῷ} Refs 2nd c.AD+ to be poor-spirited, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἧσσον, ἔλασσον φ. τινος, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2.c of those who agree in opinion, τά τινος φρονεῖν to be of another's mind, be on his side or of his party, Refs 5th c.BC+; also ἶσον ἐμοὶ φρονέουσα thinking like me, Refs 8th c.BC+; τὠυτὸ or κατὰ τὠυτὸ φ. to be like -minded, make common cuase, Refs 5th c.BC+ think differently, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἄλλῃ φ. think another way, Refs
III comprehend, γιγνώσκω, φρονέω Refs 8th c.BC+: more frequently with accusative, to be well aware of.., τὰ φρονέουσ᾽ ἀνὰ θυμόν, ἃ.. Refs; οὐκ ὄπιδα φρονέοντες ἐνὶ φρεσίν paying no heed to it, Refs; φ. τὴν ἡμέραν pay regard to it, NT; consider, ponder, Refs 8th c.BC+
IV to be in possession of one's senses, sometimes almost ={ζῆν}, to be sensible, be alive, ἐμὲ τὸν δύστηνον ἔτι φρονέοντ᾽ ἐλέησον, for ἔτι ζῶντα, Refs 8th c.BC+; but also, to be in one's senses or right wits, φρονοῦντα, opposed to μεμηνότα, Refs 5th c.BC+; φρονῶν οὐδὲν φρονεῖς though in thy wits thou'rt nothing wise, Refs 4th c.BC+ alive and in his right mind, frequently in Inscrr., Refs, etc.; ζῶν καὶ φρενῶν (sic) Refs; νοῶν καὶ φρονῶν Refs 3rd 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.
4 rarer renderings are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| fronasōφρονεῖς | happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular | views | 3× |
| fronatōφρονεῖ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | observes | 1× |
| fronavōφρονεῖτε | happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural | think | 1× |
| fronalōφρονοῦσιν | happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural | set … mindson | 1× |
| fronameἐφρόνουν | was happening · Iimperfect active indicative 1st person singular | thought | 1× |
| fronaveἐφρονεῖτε | was happening · yeimperfect active indicative 2nd person plural | concerned | 1× |
| fronaviφρονήσετε | will happen · yefuture active indicative 2nd person plural | think | 1× |
| fronaneiōφρονῶμεν | happening now · wepresent active subjunctive 1st person plural | think | 1× |
| fronaveiōφρονῆτε | happening now · yepresent active subjunctive 2nd person plural | being of … mind | 1× |
| fronasōrφρόνει | happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular | mind | 1× |
| fronavōrφρονεῖτε | happening now · yepresent active imperative 2nd person plural | mind | 3× |
| fronarōφρονεῖν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | think | 6× |
| fronarōntosφρονῶν | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | observes | 1× |
| fronarōntoisφρονοῦντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | think | 4× |
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, 9 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | fronamō | froname1×ἐφρόνουν | fronami | fronama | fronamē | fronamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | fronasō3×φρονεῖς | fronase | fronasi | fronasa | fronasē | fronaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | fronatō1×φρονεῖ | fronate | fronati | fronata | fronatē | fronatelē |
| we 1st person plural | fronanō | fronane | fronani | fronana | fronanē | fronanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | fronavō1×φρονεῖτε | fronave1×ἐφρονεῖτε | fronavi1×φρονήσετε | fronava | fronavē | fronavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | fronalō1×φρονοῦσιν | fronale | fronali | fronala | fronalē | fronalelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 2 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | fronameiō | fronameia | fronameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | fronaseiō | fronaseia | fronaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | fronateiō | fronateia | fronateiē |
| we 1st person plural | fronaneiō1×φρονῶμεν | fronaneia | fronaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | fronaveiō1×φρονῆτε | fronaveia | fronaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | fronaleiō | fronaleia | fronaleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, 4 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | fronasōr1×φρόνει | fronasar | fronasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | fronatōr | fronatar | fronatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | fronavōr3×φρονεῖτε | fronavar | fronavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | fronalōr | fronalar | fronalēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | fronamoiō | fronamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | fronasoiō | fronasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | fronatoiō | fronatoia |
| we 1st person plural | fronanoiō | fronanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | fronavoiō | fronavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | fronaloiō | fronaloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 6 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | fronarō6×φρονεῖν | fronari | fronara | fronarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 5 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | fronarōntos5×φρονῶν | fronarintos | fronarantos | fronarēntos |
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
fron 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.
26 occurrences, every one of them listed
fronasō“views”happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular3×
Matthew 16:23… Satanor; skandalem asō mu, hoti ouk fronasō teim tou theou alla teim toiu …… For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the …
Mark 8:33… Hupagasōr opisō mu, Satanor, hoti ouk fronasō teim tou theou alla teim toiu …… For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the …
Acts 28:22axianō de para su akouara heim fronasō, peri men gar tau hairesiau houtau …But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that …
fronatō“observes”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Romans 14:6“observes”tos fronarōntos tan hēmeran kurio fronatō. kai tos esthiarōntos kurio esthiatō, eucharistatō …He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who …
fronavō“think”happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural1×
Philippians 3:15… houtem fronaneiō; kai ei tinem heterōs fronavō, kai houtem tos theos vi apokaluptati;… point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will …
fronalō“set … mindson”happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Romans 8:5… kata sarkan arōntois teim tau sarkau fronalō, tois de kata pneumem teim teu …… who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of …
froname“thought”was happening · Iimperfect active indicative 1st person singular1×
1 Corinthians 13:11hote ome nēpios, lalame hōs nēpios, froname hōs nēpios, logizome hōs nēpios; hote …… I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like …
fronave“concerned”was happening · yeimperfect active indicative 2nd person plural1×
Philippians 4:10… huper mu fronarō, epi he kai fronave akairove de.… concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to …
fronavi“think”will happen · yefuture active indicative 2nd person plural1×
Galatians 5:10“think”… vin en kurio hoti oudenem allosem fronavi; tos de tarassarōntos vin bastazati tem …… in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever …
fronaneiō“think”happening now · wepresent active subjunctive 1st person plural1×
Philippians 3:15“think”hosois oun teleiois, houtem fronaneiō; kai ei tinem heterōs fronavō, kai …… who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some …
fronaveiō“being of … mind”happening now · yepresent active subjunctive 2nd person plural1×
Philippians 2:2“being of … mind”… mu tan charan hina tem autem fronaveiō, tan autan agapan echarōntois, sumpsuchois, tem …then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
fronasōr“mind”happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular1×
Romans 11:20“mind”… de ta pistia stēasē. mē hupsēleim fronasōr, alla fobosōr;… of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
fronavōr“mind”happening now · yepresent active imperative 2nd person plural3×
2 Corinthians 13:11… adelfoir, chairavōr, katartizovōr, parakalovōr, tem autem fronavōr, eirēneuavōr, kai tos theos tau agapau …… encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God …
Philippians 2:5houtem fronavōr en vi hem kai en Christo …Let this mind be in you which was also …
Colossians 3:2teim anō fronavōr, mē teim epi tau gēau,Set your minds on things above, not …
fronarō“think”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive6×
Romans 12:3… vi mē huperfronarō para hem datō fronarō, alla fronarō eis tem sōfronarō, hekasto …… more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according …
Romans 12:3“think”… huperfronarō para hem datō fronarō, alla fronarō eis tem sōfronarō, hekasto hōs tos …… Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to …
Romans 15:5“like-minded”… tau paraklēsiau dōatoia vi tem autem fronarō en allēloi kata Christon Iēsun,… endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 1:7“think”kathōs atō dikaiem mi houtem fronarō huper pantoiu vu, dia tem echarō …It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in …
Philippians 4:2“be of … mind”… parakalamō kai Suntuchan parakalamō tem autem fronarō en kurio.I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.
Philippians 4:10… ēdē pote anathallava tem huper mu fronarō, epi he kai fronave akairove de.… at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned …
fronarōntos“observes”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Romans 14:6tos fronarōntos tan hēmeran kurio fronatō. kai tos …He who observes a special day does so to …
fronarōntois“think”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine4×
Romans 12:16tem autem eis allēloin fronarōntois, mē teim hupsēleim fronarōntois alla toi …Live in harmony with one another. Do not be …
Romans 12:16“think”… eis allēloin fronarōntois, mē teim hupsēleim fronarōntois alla toi tapeinoi sunapagorōntois. mē genovōr …Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
Philippians 2:2… autan agapan echarōntois, sumpsuchois, tem henem fronarōntois,… being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
Philippians 3:19… ta aischuna autoiu, tois teim epigeieim fronarōntois.… glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.