verb
keleuamō
Strong’sG2753
I command, order
stem keleu-25 times in the New Testamentin 3 of 27 books8 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
κελεύω means to give an order or instruction, to command or bid someone to do something 1234. It is used mostly of a person in authority directing others, typically followed by a statement of who is to act and what they are to do 13, and can also be used with the command left unstated, understood from context 1. Strong's notes that the word derives from an older root meaning to urge on 2, and LSJ likewise gives its basic classical sense as to urge on or drive forward before it came to mean issuing a spoken command 3.
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
** κελεύω,
[in LXX: I Es 9:53, To 8:18, al., and freq. in I-IV Mac;]
SYN.: v.s. ἐντέλλω.
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2753 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidkel-yoo'-o
"hail"; to incite by word, i.e. order
Fromfrom a primary κέλλω (to urge on);
King Jamesbid, (at, give) command(-ment).
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 imperfect κέλευον Refs 8th c.BC+: future κελεύ-σω, Epic dialect infinitive - σέμεναι Refs 8th c.BC+aorist ἐκέλευσα, Epic dialect κέλ- Refs 8th c.BC+: perfect κεκέλευκα Refs 5th c.BC+:—middle, aorist ἐκελευσάμην Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, future -ευσθήσομαι Refs 2nd c.AD+: aorist ἐκελεύσθην Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect κεκέλευσμαι Refs 5th c.BC+: pluperfect ἐκεκέλευστο Refs 5th c.BC+:—properly urge, drive on, [ἵππους] ὁ γέρων ἐφέπων μάστιγι κέλευε.. κατὰ ἄστυ Refs 8th c.BC+: hence, exhort, bid,
1 c.accusative person et infinitive, order one to do, σ᾽ ἔγωγε.. κελεύω ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐκέλευσε τὸν παῖδα περιμεῖναί ἑ κελεῦσαι he bade the lad bid us to wait for him, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὁ νόμος τὸν ἐπιβουλεύσαντα κελεύει φονέα εἶναι, i.e. bids that he be held guilty, Refs 5th c.BC+; request, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to ἐπιτάττειν, Refs
2 with accusative person et of things, σφῶϊ μὲν οὔ τι κελεύω Refs 8th c.BC+infinitive subjoined, τί με ταῦτα κελεύεις.. μάχεσθα; Refs
3 with accusative person only, εἰ μὴ θυμός με κελεύοι (i.e. φείδεσθαι) Refs 8th c.BC+ ordered them [to go] against him, ordered them to seize him, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, receive orders, Refs 4th c.BC+
4 c.accusative of things only, ὃ μὴ κελεύσαι Ζεύς Refs 4th c.BC+ — passive, τὸ κελευόμενον commands, orders, Refs 5th c.BC+
5 with dative person followed by infinitive, urge or order one to do, κηρύκεσσι.. κέλευσε κηρύσσειν.. Refs 8th c.BC+; ἀλλήλοισι κέλευον ἅπτεσθαι νηῶν.. Refs 8th c.BC+
6 rarely with dative person et accusative of things, τί δ᾽ ἐστὶν ὃ κελεύεις ἐμο; Refs 4th c.BC+
7 with dative person only, ἵπποισι καὶ Αὐτομέδοντι κελεύσας Refs 8th c.BC+
8 absolutely, frequently in Refs 8th c.BC+; κελεύων, opposed to αὐτοχειρίῃ, Refs 5th c.BC+
9 with infinitive only, σιγᾶν κελεύω I order silence, Refs 5th c.BC+; recommend, propose, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to οὐκ ἐάω, Refs 5th c.BC+
II of inferiors, urge, entreat, Refs 8th c.BC+
III of the boatswain, give time to rowers, c.dative, Refs 5th c.BC+
III.2 sing a chanty, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| keleuasōκελεύεις | happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular | order | 1× |
| keleualeἐκέλευον | was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural | ordered | 1× |
| keleuamaἐκέλευσα | happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular | ordered | 2× |
| keleuataἐκέλευσεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | ordered | 15× |
| keleuasarκέλευσόν | happened · youaorist active imperative 2nd person singular | command | 2× |
| keleuarantosκελεύσας | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine | ordered | 2× |
| keleuarantouκελεύσαντος | happened · of, belonging toaorist active participle genitive singular masculine | gave the order | 1× |
| keleuarantoisκελεύσαντες | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine | ordered | 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, 19 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | keleuamō | keleuame | keleuami | keleuama2×ἐκέλευσα | keleuamē | keleuamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | keleuasō1×κελεύεις | keleuase | keleuasi | keleuasa | keleuasē | keleuaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | keleuatō | keleuate | keleuati | keleuata15×ἐκέλευσεν | keleuatē | keleuatelē |
| we 1st person plural | keleuanō | keleuane | keleuani | keleuana | keleuanē | keleuanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | keleuavō | keleuave | keleuavi | keleuava | keleuavē | keleuavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | keleualō | keleuale1×ἐκέλευον | keleuali | keleuala | keleualē | keleualelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | keleuameiō | keleuameia | keleuameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | keleuaseiō | keleuaseia | keleuaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | keleuateiō | keleuateia | keleuateiē |
| we 1st person plural | keleuaneiō | keleuaneia | keleuaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | keleuaveiō | keleuaveia | keleuaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | keleualeiō | keleualeia | keleualeiē |
Commands — imperative mood, 2 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | keleuasōr | keleuasar2×κέλευσόν | keleuasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | keleuatōr | keleuatar | keleuatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | keleuavōr | keleuavar | keleuavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | keleualōr | keleualar | keleualēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | keleuamoiō | keleuamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | keleuasoiō | keleuasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | keleuatoiō | keleuatoia |
| we 1st person plural | keleuanoiō | keleuanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | keleuavoiō | keleuavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | keleualoiō | keleualoia |
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 | keleuarō | keleuari | keleuara | keleuarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 4 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | keleuarōntos | keleuarintos | keleuarantos4×κελεύσας | keleuarēntos |
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
keleu 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.
25 occurrences, every one of them listed
keleuasō“order”happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular1×
Acts 23:3“order”… min kata ton nomon, kai paranomarōntos keleuasō min tuptorō?… to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
keleuale“ordered”was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Acts 16:22… tois stratēgois perirēgarantois autoiu teim himatieim keleuale rabdizarō,… Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten …
keleuama“ordered”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular2×
Acts 25:17… ta hexēs kathizarantos epi teu bēmeu keleuama agira ton andron;… sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.
Acts 25:21… auton eis tan tou Sebastou diagnōsian, keleuama tērorō auton heōs hou anapempameia auton …… the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I …
keleuata“ordered”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular15×
Matthew 8:18… tos Iēsus polloin ochloin peri auton keleuata aperchara eis tem peran.… a large crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side …
Matthew 14:9“commanded”… dia toin horkoin kai toin sunanakeiorōntoin keleuata dōira,… grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered …
Matthew 18:25mē echarōntou de autou apodōara keleuata auton tos kurios pipraskira kai tan …… was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay …
Matthew 27:58… sōmem tou Iēsu. tote tos Pilatos keleuata apodōira.… the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
Luke 18:40“commanded”stēirantos de tos Iēsus keleuata auton agira pros auton. engizarantou de …Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had come near, Jesus asked him,
Acts 5:34“gave orders”… Gamaliēl, nomodidaskalos timios panto to lao, keleuata exō brachuem toin anthrōpoin poiara,… Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a …
Acts 8:38“commanded”kai keleuata stēara tem harmem, kai katabainala amfoterois …And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the …
Acts 12:19… kai mē heuriskarantos anakrinarantos toin fulakoin keleuata apagira, kai katercharantos apo tau Ioudaiau …… unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he …
Acts 21:33“ordered”… engizarantos tos chiliarchos epilabeta autou kai keleuata dira halusiai duo, kai punthanote tinos …The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he …
Acts 21:34… gnōskara tem asfalem dia ton thorubon keleuata agorō auton eis tan parembolan.… truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the …
Acts 22:24keleuata tos chiliarchos eisagorō auton eis tan …the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the …
Acts 22:30… hupo toiu Ioudaioiu luata auton, kai keleuata sunerchara toin archierevoin kai pantem tem …… by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole …
Acts 23:10… mē diaspiteia tos Paulos hupo autoiu keleuata tem strateumem katabainarantem harpazara auton ek …… would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and …
Acts 25:6… ta epaurion kathizarantos epi teu bēmeu keleuata ton Paulon agira.… sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.
Acts 27:43“ordered”… ton Paulon kōluata autoin teu boulēmeu, keleuata tē toin dunorōntoin kolumbarō aporiptarantoin prōtoin …… thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to …
keleuasar“command”happened · youaorist active imperative 2nd person singular2×
Matthew 14:28… Petros legata; Kurior, ei sis asō, keleuasar min erchara pros sin epi teim …… if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on …
Matthew 27:64“give orders”keleuasar oun asfalizira ton tafon heōs tau …… order that the tomb be secured until the third day …
keleuarantos“ordered”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine2×
Matthew 14:19“commanded”kai keleuarantos toin ochloin anaklinira epi tou chortou, …… directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke …
Acts 23:35… hotan kai tois katēgorois su parageneleia; keleuarantos en te praitōrie tou Hērōdou fulassorō …… when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard …
keleuarantou“gave the order”happened · of, belonging toaorist active participle genitive singular masculine1×
Acts 25:23“gave the order”… toi kata exochan tau polau kai keleuarantou tou Fēstou agita tos Paulos.… along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.
keleuarantois“ordered”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine1×
Acts 4:15keleuarantois de autoin exō teu sunedrieu aperchara …So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and …