Greek noun (feminine) · G26
ἀγάπη
agapeag-ah'-pay
Of men's love; Of divine love; In pl.
114 uses in the Greek text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: agápē
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's G26is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 24 of 27New Testament books
- 7spellings
- 3meanings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · G26
love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast
The King James renders it: (feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
agape is rendered "Of men's love; Of divine love; In pl.". It stands 114 times in the Greek text, across twenty-four books.
- Eighteen of the uses stand in 1 John, more than in any other book.
- The lexicon lists three meanings for it, beginning with "Of men's love".
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Matthew 24:12Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
- The Greek text spells it seven different ways.
The first use
Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
Matthew 24:12ἀγάπη
The first use, in the order of the New Testament's books.
Where the word stands
The word stands in twenty-four of the 27 New Testament books.
What the word means
The word carries three meanings: Of men's love, and Of divine love, and In pl..
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
| Meaning | Tagged as | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Of men's love__(a) to one another, Jhn.13:35; __(b) to God, 1Jn.2:5. | Tagged as
| WhereJohn 13:35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” |
| Of divine love__(a) God's love | Tagged aslisted under the table | WhereJohn 17:26And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known… |
| In pl.love feasts | Tagged aslisted under the table | Wherein the ledger below |
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
All 114, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
7 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- ἀγάπη33
- ἀγάπην33
- ἀγάπῃ25
- ἀγάπης17
- ἀγάπῃ.¶3
- ἀγάπη.¶2
- ἀγάπαις1
The grammar of each form
- noun · nominative (subject) · feminine singular35N-NSF
- noun · accusative (object) · feminine singular33N-ASF
- noun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singular28N-DSF
- noun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singular17N-GSF
- noun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine plural1N-DPF
Matthew
one use
Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Luke
one use
Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
John
seven uses
but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
- ἀγάπῃ.¶agapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.”
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Romans
nine uses
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: Love
- ἀγάπη.¶agapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
1 Corinthians
fourteen uses
Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: Love
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: Love
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
- ἀγάπη.¶agapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
Do everything in love.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
2 Corinthians
eight uses
For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: of love
Galatians
three uses
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Ephesians
ten uses
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
- ἀγάπῃ.¶agapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Philippians
three uses
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: of love
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
Colossians
five uses
because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints—
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: beloved
that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
1 Thessalonians
five uses
and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: of love
But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: in love
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
2 Thessalonians
three uses
We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
1 Timothy
five uses
The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: in love
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
2 Timothy
four uses
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: of love
Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Titus
one use
Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: in love
Philemon
three uses
because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
Hebrews
two uses
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: love
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: to love
1 Peter
three uses
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
- ἀγάπηςagapesnoun · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: of love
2 Peter
one use
and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
1 John
eighteen uses
But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
2 John
two uses
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.
- ἀγάπῃ.¶agapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
3 John
one use
They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Jude
three uses
Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
- ἀγάπηagapenoun · nominative (subject) · feminine singulartagged: love
These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.
- ἀγάπαιςagapaisnoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine pluraltagged: love feasts
keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.
- ἀγάπῃagapenoun · dative (“to / for”) · feminine singulartagged: love
Revelation
two uses
But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first.
- ἀγάπηνagapennoun · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: love
Where it leads
Studies that open this word4
Trails through this word1
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.
