verb
saleuomō
Strong’sG4531
I shake, excite
stem saleu-15 times in the New Testamentin 6 of 27 books11 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
σαλεύω means to shake or agitate, in the basic physical sense of causing something to rock, vibrate, or move to and fro under some force such as wind or an earthquake 1234. It describes wind shaking a reed, a house being shaken by force or a tremor, the earth shaking in an earthquake, the heavenly bodies being shaken, and a container being shaken while being filled so as to give good, full measure 13. In the passive it can describe something being shaken to and fro, wavering, or tottering 23.
Beyond the literal sense, the word is used metaphorically of being rendered insecure or unsettled, of being cast down from a state of security and happiness, of a person's mind being driven from its steadiness, and of a crowd being stirred up or incited 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
σαλεύω
(< σάλος), [in LXX for מוּט, נוּעַ, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4531 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidsal-yoo'-o
to waver, i.e. agitate, rock, topple or (by implication) destroy; figuratively, to disturb, incite
Fromfrom G4535;
King Jamesmove, shake (together), which can(-not) be shaken, stir up.
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 σαλεύσω LXX: aorist ἐσάλευσα Refs 5th c.BC+:— passive, future σαλευθήσομαι LXX+NT: aorist ἐσαλεύθην LXX+NT+5th c.BC+perfect σεσάλευμαι (see. below): (σάλος):—cause to rock, make to vibrate or oscillate, with accusative, [τὰς ἀγκύρας] οὐδεὶς χειμὼν σαλεύει Refs 4th c.BC+; σ. τρικυμίᾳ πέδον, of the sea, Refs 3rd c.BC+; of an earthquake, LXX+1st c.AD+heartrending, Refs 2nd c.AD+; σ. τοὺς ὄχλους stir them up, LXX+NT:—passive, to be shaken to and fro, waver, totter, reel, χθὼν σεσάλευται Refs 5th c.BC+; of teeth or nails, to be loosened, Refs 1st c.AD+; of persons, ἐκ Βρομίου γυῖα σαλευόμενον Refs 6th c.AD+; ὑφ᾽ ἡδονῆς σαλευομένη κορώνη Refs 7th c.BC+; later simply, stir, move, κατεσχέθην νόσῳ.. ὡς μὴ δύνασθαι μηδὲ σαλεύεσθαι Refs 3rd c.AD+
2 shake in measuring, so as to give good measure, μέτρον σεσαλευμένον NT
II intransitive, move up and down, roll, toss, especially of ships in a stormy sea or persons in them, σ. ἐν πλοίοις Refs 5th c.BC+: generally, put out to sea, Refs 2nd c.AD+: metaphorically, toss like a ship at sea, to be tempest-tossed, be in sore distress, πόλις γὰρ.. ἄγαν ἤδη σαλεύει Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐν νόσοις ἢ γήρᾳ σ. Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐν κινδύνῳ σ. Refs 1st c.BC+; to be unstable, Refs 2nd c.AD+; flicker, of the eye-balls in nystagmus, Refs 2nd c.AD+; oscillate, of the λόγος ἐνδιάθετος, ἐν τούτοις Refs 2nd c.AD+
II.2 of ships also, ἐπ᾽ ἀγκυρῶν ride at anchor, Refs 1st c.AD+; also ὁρῶν ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ τούτῳ μόνῳ (i.e. τῷ υἱῷ) σαλεύοντας Refs 1st c.AD+; γραῦν ἐπὶ ἑνὶ γομφίῳ σ. Refs 2nd c.AD+; ἐπὶ τοιούτοις παραγγέλμασιν Refs 2nd c.AD+ anchor them upon.., Refs 3rd c.AD+
II.3 metaphorically, roll like a ship, roll in one's walk, of persons with the hip-joints far apart, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| saleuiliσαλευθήσονται | will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural | shaken | 3× |
| saleuataἐσάλευσεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | shook | 1× |
| saleuitaἐσαλεύθη | happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular | shaken | 1× |
| saleuimeiaσαλευθῶ | happened · Iaorist passive subjunctive 1st person singular | shaken | 1× |
| saleuaraσαλεῦσαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | shake | 1× |
| saleuiraσαλευθῆναι | happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive | shaken | 2× |
| saleuarōntoisσαλεύοντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | agitating | 1× |
| saleuorōntonσαλευόμενον | happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative singular masculine | shaken | 2× |
| saleuorōnteimσαλευόμενα | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle direct plural neuter | shaken | 1× |
| saleuorōnteiuσαλευομένων | happening now · of, belonging topresent middle or passive participle genitive plural neuter | shaken | 1× |
| saleuorēntemσεσαλευμένον | has happened · objectperfect middle or passive participle direct singular neuter | shaken together | 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 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 5 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 | saleuamō | saleuame | saleuami | saleuama | saleuamē | saleuamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | saleuasō | saleuase | saleuasi | saleuasa | saleuasē | saleuaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuatō | saleuate | saleuati | saleuata1×ἐσάλευσεν | saleuatē | saleuatelē |
| we 1st person plural | saleuanō | saleuane | saleuani | saleuana | saleuanē | saleuanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuavō | saleuave | saleuavi | saleuava | saleuavē | saleuavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | saleualō | saleuale | saleuali | saleuala | saleualē | saleualelē |
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 | saleuomō | saleuome | saleuomē | saleuomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | saleuosō | saleuose | saleuosē | saleuoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuotō | saleuote | saleuotē | saleuotelē |
| we 1st person plural | saleuonō | saleuone | saleuonē | saleuonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuovō | saleuove | saleuovē | saleuovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | saleuolō | saleuole | saleuolē | saleuolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | saleuimi | saleuima |
| you 2nd person singular | saleuisi | saleuisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuiti | saleuita1×ἐσαλεύθη |
| we 1st person plural | saleuini | saleuina |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuivi | saleuiva |
| they 3rd person plural | saleuili3×σαλευθήσονται | saleuila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | saleuameiō | saleuameia | saleuameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | saleuaseiō | saleuaseia | saleuaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuateiō | saleuateia | saleuateiē |
| we 1st person plural | saleuaneiō | saleuaneia | saleuaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuaveiō | saleuaveia | saleuaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | saleualeiō | saleualeia | saleualeiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | saleuomeiō | saleuomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | saleuoseiō | saleuoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuoteiō | saleuoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | saleuoneiō | saleuoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuoveiō | saleuoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | saleuoleiō | saleuoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | saleuimeia1×σαλευθῶ |
| you 2nd person singular | saleuiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuiteia |
| we 1st person plural | saleuineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuiveia |
| they 3rd person plural | saleuileia |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | saleuasōr | saleuasar | saleuasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuatōr | saleuatar | saleuatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuavōr | saleuavar | saleuavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | saleualōr | saleualar | saleualēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | saleuosōr | saleuosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuotōr | saleuotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuovōr | saleuovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | saleuolōr | saleuolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | saleuisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuivar |
| they 3rd person plural | saleuilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | saleuamoiō | saleuamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | saleuasoiō | saleuasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuatoiō | saleuatoia |
| we 1st person plural | saleuanoiō | saleuanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuavoiō | saleuavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | saleualoiō | saleualoia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | saleuomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | saleuosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | saleuonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | saleuoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | saleuimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | saleuisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | saleuitoia |
| we 1st person plural | saleuinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | saleuivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | saleuiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 3 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | saleuarō | saleuari | saleuara1×σαλεῦσαι | saleuarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | saleuorō | saleuorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | saleuiri | saleuira2×σαλευθῆναι |
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 | saleuarōntos1× | saleuarintos | saleuarantos | saleuarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | saleuorōntos4× | saleuorēntos1× | ||
| acted on passive voice | saleuirintos | saleuirantos |
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
saleu 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.
15 occurrences, every one of them listed
saleuili“shaken”will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural3×
Matthew 24:29… ouranou, kai tais dunamiais toiu ouranoiu saleuili.… powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
Mark 13:25… tais dunamiais tais en toi ouranoi saleuili.… powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
Luke 21:26… oikoumena, tais gar dunamiais toiu ouranoiu saleuili.… powers of the heavens will be shaken.
saleuata“shook”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Hebrews 12:26hou tas fōnas tan gēan saleuata tote, nun de epangelotē legarōntos; Ēti …At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has …
saleuita“shaken”happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Acts 4:31kai dirantoiu autoiu saleuita tos topos en ho ale sunagorēntois, …… had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with …
saleuimeia“shaken”happened · Iaorist passive subjunctive 1st person singular1×
Acts 2:25… ek dexeiu mu atō hina mē saleuimeia.… right hand, I will not be shaken.
saleuara“shake”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
Luke 6:48… ta oikia ekeina, kai ouk ischuata saleuara autan dia tem kalōs oikodomorē autan.… against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
saleuira“shaken”happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive2×
Acts 16:26“shaken”afnōs de seismos geneta megos hōste saleuira teim themelieim teu desmōtērieu, anoigila de …Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once …
2 Thessalonians 2:2“shaken”eis tem mē tacheōs saleuira vin apo tou nouou mēde throorō …not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by …
saleuarōntois“agitating”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine1×
Acts 17:13“agitating”… tos logos tou theou, erchala kakei saleuarōntois kai tarassarōntois toin ochloin.… proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.
saleuorōnton“shaken”happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative singular masculine2×
Matthew 11:7“shaken”… tan erēman theasera? kalamon hupo anemou saleuorōnton?… out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
Luke 7:24“shaken”… tan erēman theasera? kalamon hupo anemou saleuorōnton?… into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
saleuorōnteim“shaken”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle direct plural neuter1×
Hebrews 12:27“shaken”… hōs poiorēnteiu, hina menateia teim mē saleuorōnteim.… be shaken — that is, created things — so that the unshakable may remain.
saleuorōnteiu“shaken”happening now · of, belonging topresent middle or passive participle genitive plural neuter1×
Hebrews 12:27tem de Ēti hapax dēlatō teiu saleuorōnteiu metathesian hōs poiorēnteiu, hina menateia teim …… the removal of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that …
saleuorēntem“shaken together”has happened · objectperfect middle or passive participle direct singular neuter1×
Luke 6:38… kai dōiti vi; metrem kalem piezorēntem saleuorēntem huperekchunnorōntem dōali eis ton kolpon vu; …… you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured …