verb
haptomō
Strong’sG680
I kindle; (middle) I touch
stem hapt-39 times in the New Testamentin 9 of 27 books15 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
ἅπτω has two distinct senses in the New Testament.
In its active form it means to kindle or light a fire 1234, as with a lamp or a fire built for warmth 1.
In its middle form (with the genitive) it means to touch, take hold of, or cling to something or someone 1234. This can describe simply touching someone, as in healing, or grasping and clinging to a person 13; it is used of sexual contact between a man and woman 13, of hostile action against someone 1, and of avoiding contact with things forbidden under ceremonial or dietary rules 1. Among near-synonyms for touching, this word denotes the strongest form of contact, stronger than a mere light touch or a feeling-about in search of something 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Biblang's gloss. 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
ἅπτω,
[in LXX chiefly for נגע;]
SYN.: θιγγάνω, ψηλαφάω. ἅ. is the stronger, θ., to touch, the lighter term. ψ. is to feel, as in search of something (Tr., Syn., § xvii; Lft., Col., 201 f.).
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G680 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidhap'-tom-ahee
properly, to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch (in many implied relations)
Fromreflexive of G681;
King Jamestouch.
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
future ἅψω: aorist ἧψα:—passive, perfect ἧμμαι, Ionic dialect ἅμμαιRefs 5th c.BC+: future ἅψομαιRefs 8th c.BC+ (συν-) Refs 2nd c.AD+ —middle, see.below (compare ἑάφθη):—fasten or bind to, used by Refs 8th c.BC+active, ἅψας ἀμφοτέρωθεν.. ἔντερον οἰός (of a lyre-string) Refs 8th c.BC+; once in middle, ἁψαμένη βρόχον.. ἀφ᾽ ὑψηλοῖο μελάθρου having fastened the noose to the beam (to hang herself), Refs; so later ἅψεται ἀμφὶ βρόχον.. δείρᾳRefs 5th c.BC+:—active, βρόχους ἅ. κρεμαστούςRefs 5th c.BC+
2 join, ἅ. χορόνRefs 4th c.BC+; πάλην τινὶ ἅ. fasten a contest in wrestling on one, engage with one, Refs: —passive, ἅπτεσθαι τὴν Μεγαρέων πόλιν καὶ Κορινθίων τοῖς τείχεσινRefs 4th c.BC+
II more frequently in middle, ἅπτομαι, future ἅψομαι, aorist ἡψάμηνRefs 5th c.BC+, with perfect passive ἧμμαιRefs 5th c.BC+:—fasten oneself to, grasp, c.genitive, ἅψασθαι γούνωνRefs 8th c.BC+; ἅπτεσθαί τινος, Latin manus inicere alicui, Refs 5th c.BC+; τῶν σφυγμῶν feel the pulse, Refs 2nd c.AD+: metaphorically, take hold of, cleave to, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.b absolutely, τῶν μὲν γὰρ πάντων βέλε᾽ ἅπτεται for the spears of all the Trojans reach their mark, Refs 8th c.BC+
II.c ἅ. τῆς γῆς land, Refs 1st c.BC+
III metaphorically, engage in, undertake, βουλευμάτωνRefs 5th c.BC+; πολέμου prosecute it vigorously, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐπιτηδεύματοςRefs 5th c.BC+ attack, impugn the argument of another, Refs; τούτων ἥψατο touched on these points, handled them, Refs 5th c.BC+; but also, touch on, treat superficially, Refs 5th c.BC+
III.b absolutely, begin, set to work, ταῖς διανοίαιςRefs 5th c.BC+
III.2 fasten upon, attack, Refs 5th c.BC+; of diseases, ἧπταί μουRefs 5th c.BC+; ὅσα ἅπτεται ἀνθρώπων all that feed on human flesh, Refs
III.2.b lay hands on, χρημάτωνRefs 5th c.BC+
III.3 touch, affect, ἄλγος οὐδὲν ἅπτεται νεκροῦRefs 5th c.BC+; make an impression upon, ἡμῶνRefs 2nd c.BC+
III.4 grasp with the senses, perceive, Refs 5th c.BC+; apprehend, τῆς αἰτίαςRefs 4th c.BC+
III.5 have intercourse with a woman, NT+5th c.BC+
III.6 come up to, reach, overtake, Refs 5th c.BC+; attain, τῆς ἀληθείαςRefs 5th c.BC+; but also with genitive, Ἡρακλέος σταλᾶνRefs
III.7 make use of, avail oneself of, τῆς τύχηςRefs 5th c.BC+
III.8 Geometry texts, of bodies and surfaces, to be in contact, Refs 4th c.BC+; of lines or curves, meet, Refs 3rd c.BC+; touch, Refs 3rd c.BC+; pass through a point, Refs 3rd c.BC+; of points, lie on a line or curve,Refs; ἅπτεται τὸ σημεῖον θέσει δεδομένης εὐθείας the locus of the point is a given straight line, Refs 3rd c.AD+
B active, kindle, set on fire (i.e. by contact of fire), Refs 5th c.BC+ (so in middle, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, to be set on fire, ὁ μοχλὸς ἐλάϊνος ἐν πυρὶ μέλλεν ἅψεσθαιRefs 8th c.BC+; ὡς ἅφθη τάχιστα τὸ λήιον.. ἅψατο νηοῦ as soon as the corn caught fire, it set fire to the temple, Refs 5th c.BC+; πυρῆς ἤδη ἁμμένηςRefs 5th c.BC+
B.II ἅ. πῦρ kindle a fire, Refs:—passive, ἄνθρακες ἡμμένοι red-hot embers, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.III cook, Refs 2nd c.AD+
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| haptatōἅπτει | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | light | 1× |
| haptotōἅπτεται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | touch | 2× |
| haptetaἥψατο | happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular | touched | 15× |
| haptelaἥψαντο | happened · theyaorist middle indicative 3rd person plural | touched | 2× |
| haptoteiōἅπτηται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive subjunctive 3rd person singular | touch | 1× |
| haptemeiaἅψωμαι | happened · Iaorist middle subjunctive 1st person singular | touch | 2× |
| hapteseiaἅψῃ | happened · youaorist middle subjunctive 2nd person singular | touch | 1× |
| hapteteiaἅψηται | happened · he/she/itaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person singular | touch | 2× |
| hapteleiaἅψωνται | happened · theyaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person plural | touch | 3× |
| haptosōrἅπτου | happening now · youpresent middle or passive imperative 2nd person singular | cling to | 1× |
| haptovōrἅπτεσθε | happening now · yepresent middle or passive imperative 2nd person plural | touch | 1× |
| haptorōἅπτεσθαι | happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive | touch | 2× |
| haptarantosἅψας | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine | lighting | 2× |
| haptarantoisἅψαντες | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine | kindled | 1× |
| hapterantosἁψάμενος | happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine | touched | 3× |
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, 20 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 | haptamō | haptame | haptami | haptama | haptamē | haptamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | haptasō | haptase | haptasi | haptasa | haptasē | haptaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptatō1×ἅπτει | haptate | haptati | haptata | haptatē | haptatelē |
| we 1st person plural | haptanō | haptane | haptani | haptana | haptanē | haptanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptavō | haptave | haptavi | haptava | haptavē | haptavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | haptalō | haptale | haptali | haptala | haptalē | haptalelē |
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 | haptomō | haptome | haptomē | haptomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | haptosō | haptose | haptosē | haptoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptotō2×ἅπτεται | haptote | haptotē | haptotelē |
| we 1st person plural | haptonō | haptone | haptonē | haptonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptovō | haptove | haptovē | haptovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | haptolō | haptole | haptolē | haptolelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | haptemi | haptema |
| you 2nd person singular | haptesi | haptesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hapteti | hapteta15×ἥψατο |
| we 1st person plural | hapteni | haptena |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptevi | hapteva |
| they 3rd person plural | hapteli | haptela2×ἥψαντο |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 9 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | haptameiō | haptameia | haptameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | haptaseiō | haptaseia | haptaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptateiō | haptateia | haptateiē |
| we 1st person plural | haptaneiō | haptaneia | haptaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptaveiō | haptaveia | haptaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | haptaleiō | haptaleia | haptaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | haptomeiō | haptomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | haptoseiō | haptoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptoteiō1×ἅπτηται | haptoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | haptoneiō | haptoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptoveiō | haptoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | haptoleiō | haptoleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | haptemeia2×ἅψωμαι |
| you 2nd person singular | hapteseia1×ἅψῃ |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hapteteia2×ἅψηται |
| we 1st person plural | hapteneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | hapteveia |
| they 3rd person plural | hapteleia3×ἅψωνται |
Commands — imperative mood, 2 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | haptasōr | haptasar | haptasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptatōr | haptatar | haptatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptavōr | haptavar | haptavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | haptalōr | haptalar | haptalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | haptosōr1×ἅπτου | haptosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptotōr | haptotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptovōr1×ἅπτεσθε | haptovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | haptolōr | haptolēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | haptesar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptevar |
| they 3rd person plural | haptelar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | haptamoiō | haptamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | haptasoiō | haptasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptatoiō | haptatoia |
| we 1st person plural | haptanoiō | haptanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptavoiō | haptavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | haptaloiō | haptaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | haptomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | haptosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | haptonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | haptoloiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | haptemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | haptesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | haptetoia |
| we 1st person plural | haptenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | haptevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | hapteloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 2 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | haptarō | haptari | haptara | haptarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | haptorō2×ἅπτεσθαι | haptorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | hapteri | haptera |
Used as an adjective — participle, 6 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | haptarōntos | haptarintos | haptarantos3×ἅψας | haptarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | haptorōntos | haptorēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | hapterintos | hapterantos3×ἁψάμενος |
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
hapt 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.
39 occurrences, every one of them listed
haptatō“light”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Luke 15:8… deka, ean apolateia drachman henan, ouchi haptatō luchnon kai saratō tan oikian kai …… loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and …
haptotō“touch”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular2×
Luke 7:39… tinas kai potapas tas gunaikas hotinas haptotō autou, hoti hamartōlas atō.… and what kind of woman is touching Him — for she is a sinner!”
1 John 5:18… tēratō auton, kai tos ponēros ouk haptotō autou.… him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
hapteta“touched”happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular15×
Matthew 8:3kai ekteinarantos tan cheiran hapteta autou legarōntos; Thelamō, katharizisar; kai eutheōs …Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He …
Matthew 8:15kai hapteta tau cheirau autau, kai afiēkata autan …So He touched her hand, and the fever left …
Matthew 9:20… gunaikas haimorroarōntas dōdeka eteim prosercharantas opisthen hapteta teu kraspedeu teu himatieu autou;… years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.
Matthew 9:29tote hapteta toiu ofthalmoiu autoiu legarōntos; Kata tan …Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to …
Matthew 20:34splanchnizirantos de tos Iēsus hapteta teiu ommeiu autoiu, kai eutheōs anablepala …Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they …
Mark 1:41kai orgizirantos ekteinarantos tan cheiran autou hapteta kai legatō auto; Thelamō, katharizisar;… Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He …
Mark 5:27… Iēsu, ercharantas en to ochlo opisthen hapteta teu himatieu autou;… through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
Mark 5:30… en to ochlo legate; Tinos mu hapteta teiu himatieiu?… to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”
Mark 5:31… sunthlibarōnton sin, kai legasō; Tinos mu hapteta?… You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
Mark 7:33… eis teim oueim autou kai ptuarantos hapteta tau glōssau autou,… man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.
Luke 5:13kai ekteinarantos tan cheiran hapteta autou legarantos; Thelamō, katharizisar; kai eutheōs …Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He …
Luke 7:14kai prosercharantos hapteta tau sorau, tois de bastazarōntois stēala, …Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it …
Luke 8:44prosercharantas opisthen hapteta teu kraspedeu teu himatieu autou, kai …She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and …
Luke 8:46tos de Iēsus legata; Hapteta mu tinos, mis gar gnōskama dunamian …But Jesus declared, “Someone touched Me, for I know that power …
Luke 8:47… kai prospiptarantas auto dia han aitian hapteta autou apangelata enōpion pantou tou laou …… people, she explained why she had touched Him and how she had immediately …
haptela“touched”happened · theyaorist middle indicative 3rd person plural2×
Matthew 14:36… kraspedeu teu himatieu autou; kai hosois haptela diasōzila.… of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
Mark 6:56… himatieu autou hapteleia; kai hosois an haptela autou sōzole.… of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
haptoteiō“touch”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive subjunctive 3rd person singular1×
Luke 18:15“touch”… auto kai teim brefeim hina auteiu haptoteiō; horarantois de tois mathētois epitimale autoi.… people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.
haptemeia“touch”happened · Iaorist middle subjunctive 1st person singular2×
Matthew 9:21legate gar en heauta; Ean monem haptemeia teu himatieu autou sōzimi.… said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”
Mark 5:28legate gar hoti Ean haptemeia kan teiu himatieiu autou sōzimi.… she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.”
hapteseia“touch”happened · youaorist middle subjunctive 2nd person singular1×
Colossians 2:21Mē hapteseia mēde geueseia mēde thinganaseia,… handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?
hapteteia“touch”happened · he/she/itaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person singular2×
Mark 8:22… tuflon kai parakalalō auton hina autou hapteteia.… blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
Mark 10:13“touch”Kai prosferale auto paidieim hina auteiu hapteteia; tois de mathētois epitimala autoi.… people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
hapteleia“touch”happened · theyaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person plural3×
Matthew 14:36kai parakalale auton hina monem hapteleia teu kraspedeu teu himatieu autou; kai …… begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And …
Mark 3:10… therapeuata, hōste epipiptarō auto hina autou hapteleia hosois echale mastigain.… had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
Mark 6:56… kan teu kraspedeu teu himatieu autou hapteleia; kai hosois an haptela autou sōzole.… begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And …
haptosōr“cling to”happening now · youpresent middle or passive imperative 2nd person singular1×
John 20:17legatō auta Iēsus; Mē mu haptosōr, oupō gar anabainamē pros ton patron; …“Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have …
haptovōr“touch”happening now · yepresent middle or passive imperative 2nd person plural1×
2 Corinthians 6:17… aforizivar, legatō kurios, kai akatharteu mē haptovōr; kamis eisdechemi vin;… and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will …
haptorō“touch”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive2×
Luke 6:19kai pantos tos ochlos zētale haptorō autou, hoti dunamias para autou exerchote …The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from …
1 Corinthians 7:1“touch”… heiu grafava, kalem anthrōpo gunaikau mē haptorō;… matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain …
haptarantos“lighting”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine2×
Luke 8:16“lighting”Oudenos de luchnon haptarantos kaluptatō auton skeve ē hupokatō klinau …No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he …
Luke 11:33“lighting”Oudenos luchnon haptarantos eis kruptan tithatō oude hupo ton …No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket …
haptarantois“kindled”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine1×
Acts 28:2… parechale ouk tan tucharantan filanthrōpian ni, haptarantois gar puran proslabela pantoin nin dia …… islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of …
hapterantos“touched”happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine3×
Matthew 17:7kai proserchata tos Iēsus kai hapterantos autoiu legata; Egerivar kai mē fobovōr.Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do …
Luke 8:45kai legata tos Iēsus; Tinos tos hapterantos mu? arnorōntoiu de pantoiu legata tos …“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. But they all …
Luke 22:51… Iēsus legata; Easavōr heōs houteu; kai hapterantos teu ōtieu ieta auton.… No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.