verb
hēgomō
Strong’sG2233
I lead, think
stem hēg-28 times in the New Testamentin 11 of 27 books16 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
To lead, guide, go before others, and by extension to rule or be a leader: the present participle of the verb is used as a noun meaning a ruler or leader 1234. In classical usage this leading could apply to guiding someone on a journey, leading troops in war, or holding rule over a people or region, and the same participle came to serve as an official title for governors, presiding officials, or heads of a community 3.
To think, suppose, consider, believe, regard as: used of forming a judgment or opinion about something, or of holding something to be true or valuable, often followed by a description of what someone is deemed or considered to be 1234.
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
ἡγέομαι, -οῦμαι depon. mid.,
[in LXX (chiefly pres. ptcp.) for נָגִיד, רֹאשׁ, שַׂר, etc.;]
SYN.: v.s. δοκέω.
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2233 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidhayg-eh'-om-ahee
to lead, i.e. command (with official authority); figuratively, to deem, i.e. consider
Frommiddle voice of a (presumed) strengthened form of G71;
King Jamesaccount, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, 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
Doric dialect ἁγ- (irregular present participle ἁγώμενος Refsimperfect ἡγούμηνRefs, Ionic dialect -εύμηνRefs 5th c.BC+: future ἡγήσομαι Refs 8th c.BC+: aorist 1 ἡγησάμην Refs 8th c.BC+aorist 1 ἡγήθηνRefs 3rd c.AD+: perfect ἥγημαι Refs 5th c.BC+:—go before, lead the way, ὣς εἰπὼν ἡγεῖθ᾽, ἡ δ᾽ ἕσπετο Παλλὰς 'Αθήνη Refs 8th c.BC+: Astron., precede in the daily movement, Refs 4th c.BC+
b with dative person, Τρωσὶ ποτὶ πτόλιν ἡγήσασθαι Refs 8th c.BC+
c with ὁδόν added, ὁδὸν ἡγήσασθαι to go before on the way, Refs 8th c.BC+
d with accusative loci, ἥ οἱ.. πόλιν ἡγήσαιτο who might guide him to the city, Refs 8th c.BC+
e ἅρματα ἡ. drive chariots, Refs 2nd c.AD+
f of logical priority, to be antecedent, opposed to ἕπεσθαι, Refs 2nd c.AD+
g ἡγούμενον, τό, the leading principle, the main thing, Refs 3rd c.BC+
2 with dative person et genitive of things, to be one's leader in a thing, θεῖος ἀοιδὸς.. ἡμῖν ἡγείσθω.. ὀρχηθμοῖο Refs 8th c.BC+; ἡ. τινὶ σοφίας, ᾠδῆς, Refs 5th c.BC+ with genitive _of things_, ἁ. νόμων to lead the song, Refs 5th c.BC+
3 with dative of things, to be leader in.. , κερδοσύνῃ, νηπιέῃσι ἡ. τινί, Refs 8th c.BC+
4 with accusative of things, lead, conduct, ἡ. τὰς πομπάς Refs 4th c.BC+; τὴν ἀποδημίαν (variant for{ᾐτήσατο}) Refs 5th c.BC+: with adverbial accusative, ἡ γλῶσσα πάνθ᾽ ἡγουμένη Refs 5th c.BC+
5 participle ἡγούμενος, η, ον, as adjective, σκέλη ἡγούμενα, opposed to ἑπόμενα, the front legs, Refs 4th c.BC+; ὁ ἡ. πούς the advanced foot, Refs
II lead, command in war, with dative, νῆες θοαί, ᾗσιν 'Αχιλλεὺς ἐς Τροίην ἡγεῖτο Refs 8th c.BC+; οὐ γὰρ ἔην ὅς τίς σφιν ἐπὶ στίχας ἡγήσαιτο might lead them to their ranks, Refs 8th c.BC+: absolutely, to be in command, Refs
II.2 rule, have dominion, with genitive, τῆς 'Ασίης, τῆς συμμαχίης, Refs 5th c.BC+ the rulers, Refs 5th c.BC+leading men, NT; ἡ. σχολῆς to be the head of a philosophical school, Refs 1st c.BC+
II.3 as official title, ἡγούμενος, ὁ, president, συνόδου Refs 1st c.AD+; ἱερέων Refs 1st c.AD+
II.3.b of Roman governors, ἡ. ἔθνους,= Latin praeses provinciae, Refs 2nd c.AD+; ἡ. τῆς Γαλατίας Refs 2nd c.AD+
II.3.c of subordinate officials, ἡ. τοῦ στρατηγοῦ Refs 1st c.AD+; κώμης Refs 1st c.AD+
II.3.d abbot, Refs 6th c.AD+ abbess, Refs
II.4 ἡγούμενος as adjective, principal, πυλών Refs 3rd c.AD+
III post-Refs 8th c.BC+, believe, hold, Refs 5th c.BC+, etc.; ἡ. τι εἶναι Refs 5th c.BC+
III.2 with an attributive word added, ἡ. τινὰ βασιλέα hold or regard as king, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ. τἄλλα πάντα δεύτερα to hold everything else secondary, Refs 5th c.BC+; οὐκ αἰσχρὸν ἡγῇ.. τὰ ψευδῆ λέγεινRefs 5th c.BC+; παρ᾽ οὐδέν Decrees cited in Refs 4th c.BC+: with participle, πᾶν κέρδος ἡγοῦ ζημιουμένη φυγῇ Refs 5th c.BC+
III.3 especially of belief in gods, τὴν μεγίστην δαίμονα ἥγηνται εἶναι Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ. θεούς to believe in gods, Refs 5th c.BC+
III.4 ἡγοῦμαι δεῖν think fit, deem necessary, with infinitive, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡγήσατο ἐπαινέσαι Refs 5th c.BC+.
IV perfect in passive sense, τὰ ἁγημένα,= τὰ νομιζόμενα, Oracle texts cited in Refs 4th c.BC+; ἡγεόμενον being led, Refs 5th c.BC+. (sāg-, cf. Latin praesagio.)
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.
2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| hēgomōἡγοῦμαι | happening now · Ipresent middle or passive indicative 1st person singular | count | 3× |
| hēgolōἡγοῦνται | happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | count | 1× |
| hēgemaἡγησάμην | happened · Iaorist middle indicative 1st person singular | thought | 2× |
| hēgetaἡγήσατο | happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular | considered | 3× |
| hēgomēἥγημαι | has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular | counted | 2× |
| hēgovōrἡγεῖσθε | happening now · yepresent middle or passive imperative 2nd person plural | regard | 2× |
| hēgolōrἡγείσθωσαν | happening now · theypresent middle or passive imperative 3rd person plural | regard | 1× |
| hēgevarἡγήσασθε | happened · yeaorist middle imperative 2nd person plural | consider | 1× |
| hēgorōἡγεῖσθαι | happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive | esteem | 1× |
| hēgorōntosἡγούμενος | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | ruler | 3× |
| hēgorōntonἡγούμενον | happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative singular masculine | ruler | 1× |
| hēgorōntoisἡγούμενοι | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine | count | 2× |
| hēgorōntoinἡγουμένους | happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative plural masculine | leading | 2× |
| hēgorōntoiuἡγουμένων | happening now · of, belonging topresent middle or passive participle genitive plural masculine | leaders | 1× |
| hēgorōntoiἡγουμένοις | happening now · to, forpresent middle or passive participle dative plural masculine | leaders | 1× |
| hēgerantosἡγησάμενος | happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine | regarded | 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 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 11 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 | hēgomō3×ἡγοῦμαι | hēgome | hēgomē2×ἥγημαι | hēgomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | hēgosō | hēgose | hēgosē | hēgoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hēgotō | hēgote | hēgotē | hēgotelē |
| we 1st person plural | hēgonō | hēgone | hēgonē | hēgonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | hēgovō | hēgove | hēgovē | hēgovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | hēgolō1×ἡγοῦνται | hēgole | hēgolē | hēgolelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | hēgemi | hēgema2×ἡγησάμην |
| you 2nd person singular | hēgesi | hēgesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hēgeti | hēgeta3×ἡγήσατο |
| we 1st person plural | hēgeni | hēgena |
| ye 2nd person plural | hēgevi | hēgeva |
| they 3rd person plural | hēgeli | hēgela |
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 | hēgomeiō | hēgomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | hēgoseiō | hēgoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hēgoteiō | hēgoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | hēgoneiō | hēgoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | hēgoveiō | hēgoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | hēgoleiō | hēgoleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | hēgemeia |
| you 2nd person singular | hēgeseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hēgeteia |
| we 1st person plural | hēgeneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | hēgeveia |
| they 3rd person plural | hēgeleia |
Commands — imperative mood, 4 occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | hēgosōr | hēgosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hēgotōr | hēgotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | hēgovōr2×ἡγεῖσθε | hēgovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | hēgolōr1×ἡγείσθωσαν | hēgolēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | hēgesar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hēgetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | hēgevar1×ἡγήσασθε |
| they 3rd person plural | hēgelar |
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 | hēgomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | hēgosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hēgotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | hēgonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | hēgovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | hēgoloiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | hēgemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | hēgesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | hēgetoia |
| we 1st person plural | hēgenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | hēgevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | hēgeloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 1 occurrence
| 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 | hēgorō1×ἡγεῖσθαι | hēgorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | hēgeri | hēgera |
Used as an adjective — participle, 12 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 | hēgorōntos10×ἡγούμενος | hēgorēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | hēgerintos | hēgerantos2×ἡγησάμενος |
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
hēg 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.
28 occurrences, every one of them listed
hēgomō“count”happening now · Ipresent middle or passive indicative 1st person singular3×
Philippians 3:8alla menounge kai hēgomō panteim zēmian arō dia tem huperecharōntem …More than that, I count all things as loss compared to …
Philippians 3:8“count”… dia hon teim panteim zēmiima, kai hēgomō skubaleim hina Christon kerdainameia… my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
2 Peter 1:13dikaiem de hēgomō, epi hoson amō en houte te …I think it is right to refresh your …
hēgolō“count”happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
2 Peter 3:9“count”… kurios tau epangeliau, hōs tinois bradutan hēgolō, alla makrothumatō eis vin, mē boulorōntos …The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to …
hēgema“thought”happened · Iaorist middle indicative 1st person singular2×
2 Corinthians 9:5anankaiem oun hēgema parakalara toin adelfoin hina proerchaleia eis …So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers …
Philippians 2:25“considered”Anankaiem de hēgema Epafroditon ton adelfon kai sunergon kai …But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to …
hēgeta“considered”happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular3×
Philippians 2:6… en morfa theou huparcharōntos ouk harpagmon hēgeta tem arō iseim theo,… the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be …
1 Timothy 1:12… to kurio nu, hoti piston min hēgeta titherantos eis diakonian,… who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to …
Hebrews 11:11… kai para kairon hēlikiau, epei piston hēgeta ton epangeleranton;… to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
hēgomē“counted”has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular2×
Acts 26:2… heiu enkalomō hupo Ioudaioiu, basilevor Agrippor, hēgomē miauton makarion epi su mellarōntos sēmeron …“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you …
Philippians 3:7“counted”Alla hotineim ate mi kerdeim, houteim hēgomē dia ton Christon zēmian.But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
hēgovōr“regard”happening now · yepresent middle or passive imperative 2nd person plural2×
2 Thessalonians 3:15kai mē hōs echthron hēgovōr, alla nouthetavōr hōs adelfon.Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish …
2 Peter 3:15“regard”… tan tou kuriou nu makrothumian sōtērēan hēgovōr, kathōs kai tos agapētos nu adelfos …… also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you …
hēgolōr“regard”happening now · theypresent middle or passive imperative 3rd person plural1×
1 Timothy 6:1… toin idioin despotoin pantau timau axioin hēgolōr, hina mē tem onomem tou theou …… under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of …
hēgevar“consider”happened · yeaorist middle imperative 2nd person plural1×
James 1:2Pantan charan hēgevar, adelfoir mu, hotan peirasmoi peripiptaveia poikiloi,Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when …
hēgorō“esteem”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive1×
1 Thessalonians 5:13“esteem”kai hēgorō autoin huperekperissou en agapa dia tem …In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work …
hēgorōntos“ruler”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine3×
Matthew 2:6… hēgemonoi Ioudou; ek su gar exercheti hēgorōntos, hotinos poimanati ton laon mu ton …… out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of …
Luke 22:26“leader”… genotōr hōs tos neoteros, kai tos hēgorōntos hōs tos diakonarōntos;… should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.
Acts 14:12… Paulon Hermon, epeidē autos ate tos hēgorōntos tou logou.… called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
hēgorōnton“ruler”happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative singular masculine1×
Acts 7:10… Faraō basilevou Aiguptau, kai katastēata auton hēgorōnton epi Aiguptan kai holon ton oikon …… king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
hēgorōntois“count”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine2×
Philippians 2:3… kata kenodoxian, alla ta tapeinofrosuna allēloin hēgorōntois huperecharōntoin heautoiu,… or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
2 Peter 2:13“count”adikorōntois misthon adikiau; hēdonan hēgorōntois tan en hēmera trufan, spilois kai …… suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling …
hēgorōntoin“leading”happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative plural masculine2×
Acts 15:22“leading”… ton kalorōnton Barsabbon kai Silon, androin hēgorōntoin en toi adelfoi,… chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
Hebrews 13:24aspazevar pantoin toin hēgorōntoin vu kai pantoin toin hagioin. aspazolō …Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from …
hēgorōntoiu“leaders”happening now · of, belonging topresent middle or passive participle genitive plural masculine1×
Hebrews 13:7Mnēmoneuavōr toiu hēgorōntoiu vu, hotinois lalala vi ton logon …Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God …
hēgorōntoi“leaders”happening now · to, forpresent middle or passive participle dative plural masculine1×
Hebrews 13:17Peithovōr toi hēgorōntoi vu kai hupeikavōr, autois gar agrupnalō …Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they …
hēgerantos“regarded”happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine2×
Hebrews 10:29“regarded”… kai tem haimem tau diathēkau koinem hēgerantos en he hagiazita, kai tem pneumem …… of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 11:26“considered”megoteron plouton hēgerantos toiu Aiguptau thēsauroiu ton oneidismon tou …… Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he …