verb
tarassomō
Strong’sG5015
I agitate, stir up, trouble
stem tarass-17 times in the New Testamentin 7 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
ταράσσω means, in its most basic sense, to stir or agitate something physically, such as stirring up water 1234.
More often it is used of the mind or spirit, meaning to trouble, disturb, or perplex — to be inwardly disquieted or upset, including troubling oneself or being troubled in spirit 14. It is also used of stirring up a crowd, causing agitation or disorder among a group of people 1.
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
ταράσσω
[in LXX for בָּהַל, רָגַז, etc., forty-six words in all;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G5015 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidtar-as'-so
to stir or agitate (roil water)
Fromof uncertain affinity;
King Jamestrouble.
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
Refs 5th c.BC+; Attic dialect ταράττω Refs 5th c.BC+; also θράσσω (which see): future ταράξω Refsaorist ἐτάραξα Refs 8th c.BC+: pluperfect συν-ετεταράχει Refs 2nd c.AD+perfect in passive sense τέτρηχα (see. below Refs:—passive, future ταραχθήσομαι Refs 4th c.BC+; middle ταράξομαι in passive sense, Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐταράχθην Refs 5th c.BC+perfect τετάραγμαιRefs, etc.:—stir, trouble, in a physical sense, σύναγεν νεφέλας ἐτάραξε δὲ πόντον [Ποσειδῶν] Refs 8th c.BC+; οὐ χθόνα ταράσσοντες troubling not the earth (by ploughing), Refs 5th c.BC+; τ. φάρμακον perhaps mix, Refs 5th c.BC+ to wag the tongue, Refs 5th c.BC+; πάντα τ., of a speaker, jumble up, Refs 4th c.BC+
2 trouble the mind, agitate, disturb, με δεινὸς ὀρθομαντείας πόνος στροβεῖ ταράσσων Refs 4th c.BC+; δεινὰ (adverbial) τ. [με] Refs 5th c.BC+; especially of fear, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἄν τις φόβος τ. Refs 5th c.BC+: absolutely, cause confusion, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὄμμα σὸν τ. Refs 5th c.BC+
3 of an army, etc., throw into disorder, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, to be in disorder, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐν σφίσιν αὐτοῖς τ. Refs 5th c.BC+
3.b metaphorically, rout or upset, κριτήριον τ. Refs 4th c.BC+:—passive, λόγου ταραχθέντος Refs 5th c.BC+
4 τ. τὴν γαστέρα cause relaxation of the bowels, of purges, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, ἐταράχθης τὴν γαστέρα Refs 5th c.BC+
5 frequently of political agitation, τ. τὴν πόλιν Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, to be in a state of disorder or anarchy, ἐν ἀλλήλοις τ. Refs 5th c.BC+
6 ταράττεσθαι ἐπὶ τῶν ἵππων to be shaken in one's seat on horseback, Refs 5th c.BC+
7 in Mathematics texts, τεταραγμένη ἀναλογία disturbed proportion, Refs 3rd c.BC+
II stir up, metaphorically, τ. νεῖκος, πόλεμον, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, πόλεμος ἐταράχθη Refs 4th c.BC+
III except in the places mentioned, Refs 8th c.BC+perfect τέτρηχα, to be in disorder or confusion, be in an uproar, τετρήχει δ᾽ ἀγορή Refs 8th c.BC+; but ἐκ σέθεν.. ἄλγεα.. τετρήχασι cruel woes arise, Refs 4th c.BC+ = to be rough (compare τραχύς).) (ταράχψω from ταραχ-ή, τάραχ-ος and these from *θᾰρᾰχ-: cognate with θράσσω from θρᾱχ-yω of which the Ionic dialect perfect is τέτρηχα.)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| tarassataἐτάραξεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | troubled | 1× |
| tarassalaἐτάραξαν | happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural | troubled | 2× |
| tarassitaἐταράχθη | happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular | troubled | 3× |
| tarassilaἐταράχθησαν | happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural | terrified | 2× |
| tarassotēτετάρακται | has happened · he/she/itperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | troubled | 1× |
| tarassiteiaταραχθῇ | happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular | stirred up | 1× |
| tarassiveiaταραχθῆτε | happened · yeaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person plural | troubled | 1× |
| tarassotōrταρασσέσθω | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive imperative 3rd person singular | troubled | 2× |
| tarassarōntosταράσσων | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | confusing | 1× |
| tarassarōntoisταράσσοντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | disturbing | 2× |
| tarassorēntoisτεταραγμένοι | has happened · subjectperfect middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine | troubled | 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, 9 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 | tarassamō | tarassame | tarassami | tarassama | tarassamē | tarassamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | tarassasō | tarassase | tarassasi | tarassasa | tarassasē | tarassaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassatō | tarassate | tarassati | tarassata1×ἐτάραξεν | tarassatē | tarassatelē |
| we 1st person plural | tarassanō | tarassane | tarassani | tarassana | tarassanē | tarassanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassavō | tarassave | tarassavi | tarassava | tarassavē | tarassavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassalō | tarassale | tarassali | tarassala2×ἐτάραξαν | tarassalē | tarassalelē |
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 | tarassomō | tarassome | tarassomē | tarassomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | tarassosō | tarassose | tarassosē | tarassoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassotō | tarassote | tarassotē1×τετάρακται | tarassotelē |
| we 1st person plural | tarassonō | tarassone | tarassonē | tarassonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassovō | tarassove | tarassovē | tarassovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassolō | tarassole | tarassolē | tarassolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | tarassimi | tarassima |
| you 2nd person singular | tarassisi | tarassisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassiti | tarassita3×ἐταράχθη |
| we 1st person plural | tarassini | tarassina |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassivi | tarassiva |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassili | tarassila2×ἐταράχθησαν |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 2 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | tarassameiō | tarassameia | tarassameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | tarassaseiō | tarassaseia | tarassaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassateiō | tarassateia | tarassateiē |
| we 1st person plural | tarassaneiō | tarassaneia | tarassaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassaveiō | tarassaveia | tarassaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassaleiō | tarassaleia | tarassaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | tarassomeiō | tarassomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | tarassoseiō | tarassoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassoteiō | tarassoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | tarassoneiō | tarassoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassoveiō | tarassoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassoleiō | tarassoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | tarassimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | tarassiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassiteia1×ταραχθῇ |
| we 1st person plural | tarassineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassiveia1×ταραχθῆτε |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassileia |
Commands — imperative mood, 2 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | tarassasōr | tarassasar | tarassasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassatōr | tarassatar | tarassatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassavōr | tarassavar | tarassavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassalōr | tarassalar | tarassalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | tarassosōr | tarassosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassotōr2×ταρασσέσθω | tarassotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassovōr | tarassovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassolōr | tarassolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | tarassisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassivar |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | tarassamoiō | tarassamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | tarassasoiō | tarassasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassatoiō | tarassatoia |
| we 1st person plural | tarassanoiō | tarassanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassavoiō | tarassavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassaloiō | tarassaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | tarassomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | tarassosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | tarassonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | tarassimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | tarassisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | tarassitoia |
| we 1st person plural | tarassinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | tarassivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | tarassiloia |
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 | tarassarō | tarassari | tarassara | tarassarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | tarassorō | tarassorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | tarassiri | tarassira |
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 | tarassarōntos3×ταράσσων | tarassarintos | tarassarantos | tarassarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | tarassorōntos | tarassorēntos1× | ||
| acted on passive voice | tarassirintos | tarassirantos |
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
tarass 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.
17 occurrences, every one of them listed
tarassata“troubled”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular1×
John 11:33… Ioudaioin klaiarōntoin embrimeta te pneume kai tarassata heauton,… was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
tarassala“troubled”happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural2×
Acts 15:24“troubled”… akouana hoti tinois ek nu exercharantois tarassala vin logoi anaskeuazarōntois tain psuchain vu …… our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what …
Acts 17:8tarassala de ton ochlon kai toin politarchoin …… crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed.
tarassita“troubled”happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular3×
Matthew 2:3“troubled”akouarantos de tos basilevos Hērōdos tarassita kai pantas Hierosolumas meta autou,When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Luke 1:12“troubled”kai tarassita Zacharios horarantos, kai fobos epipiptata epi …When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
John 13:21Houteim legarantos tos Iēsus tarassita te pneume kai marturata kai legata; …… Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly …
tarassila“terrified”happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural2×
Matthew 14:26… horarantois auton epi tau thalassau peripatarōnton tarassila legarōntois hoti Fantasmem atō, kai apo …… walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and …
Mark 6:50pantois gar auton horala kai tarassila. tos de euthuos lalata meta autoiu, …… they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once …
tarassotē“troubled”has happened · he/she/itperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
John 12:27Nun tas psuchas mu tarassotē, kai tinem legameia? patror, sōzasar min …Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father …
tarassiteia“stirred up”happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular1×
John 5:7“stirred up”… Kurior, anthrōpon ouk echamō hina hotan tarassiteia tem hudem balateia min eis tan …“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred …
tarassiveia“troubled”happened · yeaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person plural1×
1 Peter 3:14“troubled”… de fobon autoiu mē fobiveia mēde tarassiveia,… blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
tarassotōr“troubled”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive imperative 3rd person singular2×
John 14:1Mē tarassotōr vu tas kardias; pisteuavō eis ton …“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in …
John 14:27… kosmos dōatō mis dōamō vi. mē tarassotōr vu tas kardias mēde deiliatōr.… Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
tarassarōntos“confusing”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Galatians 5:10“confusing”… hoti oudenem allosem fronavi; tos de tarassarōntos vin bastazati tem krimem, hotinos ean …… the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may …
tarassarōntois“disturbing”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine2×
Acts 17:13“stirring up”… tou theou, erchala kakei saleuarōntois kai tarassarōntois toin ochloin.… word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.
Galatians 1:7“disturbing”… allosem; ei mē tinois alō tois tarassarōntois vin kai thelarōntois metastrefara tem euangeliem …… gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
tarassorēntois“troubled”has happened · subjectperfect middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine1×
Luke 24:38kai legata autoi; Tinem tarassorēntois avō, kai dia tinem dialogismois anabainalō …“Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts …