Speak
OT & NTVine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words
Definition
"to say, speak, tell, command, answer." This verb occurs in all Semitic languages and in all periods of those languages although it has the meaning "to say, speak" only in the so-called Northwest Semitic dialects (except in Ugaritic) and in Aramaic. Elsewhere the word means "to say" or "to see." This verb is used about 5,280 times in Old Testament Hebrew. ’Amar refers to the simple act of communicating with the spoken word. Usually the word is used of direct speech ("say"), although it may be used of indirect speech as well ("speak").
The usual subject of this verb is some self-conscious personality, man (Gen 2:23) or God (Gen 1:3, the first occurrence of the word). Infrequently animals (Gen 3:1) or, in figures of speech such as personification, inanimate objects "say" something (Judg 9:8ff.). This verb bears many connotations and in some passages is better translated accordingly. The kjv renders this verb "answer" 98 times ("say as a response"), while the nasb translates such passages "said." In Gen 9:8 we read: "God spoke to Noah" (nasb); the specific content of the communication is not immediately detailed. In Gen 22:2 Abraham is to offer Isaac on the "mountain of which" God "tells [says to] him" (nasb). Moses requests Pharaoh to let Israel go and sacrifice to God as He "commands" them (Exod 8:27): the force of God's speaking is more than merely making a statement: It is authoritative. In addition to these frequently occurring connotations, ’amar is rendered with many words representing various aspects of spoken communication, such as "appoint" or "assign" (1Kings 11:18), "mention" or "name" (Gen 43:27), "call" (Isa 5:20), and "promise" (2Kings 8:19). Although not always so translated, this word can imply the act of thinking within oneself (Gen 44:28) and the intention to do something (Exod 2:14).
When used of divine speaking, this verb may refer to simple communication (Gen 1:26). Often, however, there is a much fuller sense where God's saying effects the thing spoken (cf. Gen 1). The phrase "thus says the Lord," so frequent in the prophets, has been analyzed as a message-formula. Ancient Near Eastern letters from, for example, Mari (1750-1697 b.c.) and Amarna (1400-1360 b.c.) contain a similar formula. One might compare our letters which open with "Dear sir." Divine messages are often concluded with the words "says the Lord." The Bible recognizes that behind the divine speaking is divine authority and power.
The Septuagint renders this verb by over 40 different Greek words and most often by lego ("to say") and epein ("he said").
"to say, speak:" see SAY, No. 1.
for which see SAY, No. 2, is used several times in 1 Cor. 14; the command prohibiting women from speaking in a church gathering, 1Co 1:14-35, is regarded by some as an injunction against chattering, a meaning which is absent from the use of the verb everywhere else in the NT; it is to be understood in the same sense as in 1Co 1:14-6, 1Co 14:9, 1Co 14:11, 1Co 14:13, 1Co 1:14-19, 1Co 14:21, 1Co 14:23, 1Co 1:14-29, 1Co 14:39.
"to speak to or with" (pros, "to," and No. 2), is used in Act 13:43, Act 28:20.
"to utter a sound or voice," is translated "to speak" in Act 4:18, 2Pe 2:16; in 2Pe 2:18, AV, "speak" (RV, "utter").
"to speak forth" (apo, "forth," and No. 4), is so rendered in Act 2:14, RV (AV, "said"), and Act 26:25; in Act 2:2 it denotes to give utterance.
"to speak against," is so rendered in Luk 2:34, Joh 19:12, Act 13:45, AV (RV, "contradicted"); Act 28:19, Act 28:22. See CONTRADICT, GAINSAY.
synonymous with No. 6 (kata, "against," and No. 2), is always translated "to speak against" in the RV. See BACKBITER, Note.
"to speak evil:" see CURSE, B, No. 4.
"to speak together" (sun, "with," and No. 2), is rendered "spake together" in Luk 4:36, RV. See COMMUNE, No. 3, CONFER, No. 2, TALK.
"to speak or say before" (a 2nd aorist tense from an absolete present), is rendered "to speak before" in Act 1:16, 2Pe 3:2, Jud 1:17. See FORETELL.
"to anticipate" (an extension, by pro, "before," of phthano, which has the same meaning), is rendered "spake first" in Mat 17:25, RV (AV, "prevented").
"to address, call to," is rendered "spake unto" (or "to") in Luk 23:20, Act 21:40, Act 22:2; "to call unto" (or "to") in Mat 11:16, Luk 6:13, Luk 7:32, Luk 13:12.
for which see SAY, No. 4, has a 1st aorist, Passive participle rhethen, "spoken" or "spoken of," used in Mat 1:22, Mat 2:15, Mat 2:17, Mat 2:23, Mat 3:3, Mat 4:14, Mat 8:17, Mat 13:35, Mat 21:4, Mat 22:31, Mat 24:15, Mat 27:9 (in some texts in Mat 27:35, Mar 13:14).
Notes: (1) In Heb 12:5, AV, dialegomai, "to discuss, to reason," is translated "speaketh" (RV, "reasoneth"). (2) In Heb 12:25, AV chrematizo, "to warn, instruct," is translated "spake" (RV, "warned"): see ADMONISH. (3) In Eph 4:31, AV, blasphemia is translated "evil speaking:" see RAILING. (4) In Heb 12:19, prostithemi, "to put to, add," used with logos, "a word," is rendered "(that no word) more should be spoken," RV [AV, "(that) the word should (not) be spoken (to them) any more"]. (5) In Act 26:24, AV, apologeomai, "to make a defense" (RV), is rendered "spake for himself." See ANSWER, B, No. 4. (6) In Rom 15:21, AV, anangello, "to bring back word" (RV, "tidings ... came"), is translated "he was ... spoken of." (7) For "is spoken of" in Rom 1:8, AV, see PROCLAIM, No. 2. (8) For "spake out" in Luk 1:42, AV, see VOICE, Note. (9) In Gal 4:15, there is no verb in the original for the AV, "ye spake of" (see RV). (10) For "spoken against" in Act 19:36 see GAINSAY, C. (11) For "speak reproachfully," 1Ti 5:14, see REVILE, C. (12) In Act 21:3, AV, ginosko is translated "speak," RV, "know."