Promise
ἐπαγγελίαStrong’s G1860epangelia
Appears in 50 verses of the New Testament
In short
Epangelia is the Greek word usually translated “promise”, “promises” and “promises given”. It appears in 50 verses of the New Testament.
“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
Meaning
Usually translated “promise”, “promises” and “promises given”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- promise 33
- promises 11
- of promise 3
- a promise 3
- the promise 1
- promises given 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- Hebrews 13
- Galatians 9
- Acts 8
- Romans 8
- Ephesians 4
- 2 Corinthians 2
11 books in all.
Explore in Scripture
- 2 Peter 3:4In contextAnd saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
- 2 Peter 3:9In contextThe Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
- Luke 24:49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
- Acts 1:4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
- Acts 2:33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
- Acts 2:39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
All 50 verses, by book
Greek dictionary
ἐπαγγελία epangelia · promise
ἐπ-αγγελία, -ας, ἡ (ἐπαγγέλλω), [in LXX: Psa.56:8 (סֵפֶר), etc. ;] 1. a summons (as Attic law-term, Dem., al.). 2. a promise (Dem., Arist., al.): Act.23:21; esp. in NT of the divine promises, Act.7:17, Rom.4:14, 16 Rom.9:4, Gal.3:17-18, 21 4:23, Heb.8:6 11:9, 17, 2Pe.3:9; with inf., Heb.4:1; γίνεται, etc., with dative of person(s), Act.2:39, Rom.4:13, Gal.3:16; before πρός, Act.13:32 26:6; έπαγγέλεσθαι τὴν ἐ., 1Jn.2:25; ἔχειν ἐπαγγελίας, Heb.7:6, 2Co.7:1; εἷναι νἐ έπαγγελίᾳ, Eph.6:2; ἡ γῆ τῆς ἐ., Heb.11:9; τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐ., Rom.9:8, Gal.4:28; τ. πνεῦμα τῆς ἐ. τ. ἅγιον, Eph.1:13; αἱ διαθῆκαι τ …
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “promise” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
PROM'ISE, noun
[Latin promissum, from promitto, to send before or forward; pro and mitto, to send.]
- In a general sense, a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it, either in honor, conscience or law, to do or forbear a certain act specified; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made, a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of the act.
- In law, a declaration, verbal or written, made by one person to another for a good or valuable consideration, in the nature of a covenant, by which the promiser binds himself, and as the case may be, his legal representatives, to do or forbear some act; and gives to the promisee a legal right to demand and enforce a fulfillment.
- A binding declaration of something to be done or given for another's benefit; as the promise of a grant of land.
- Hopes; expectation, or that which affords expectation of future distinction; as a youth of great promise
All definitions and other forms of “promise”
- That which is promised; fulfillment or grant of what is promised.“He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father” Acts 1:4
- In Scripture, the promise of God is the declaration or assurance which God has given in his word of bestowing blessings on his people.“The Lord is not slack concerning his promises” 2 Peter 3:9
PROM'ISE, verb transitive
To make a declaration to another, which binds the promiser in honor, conscience or law, to do or forbear some act; as, to promise a visit to a friend; to promise a cessation of hostilities; to promise the payment of money.
- To afford reason to expect; as, the year promises a good harvest.
- To make declaration or give assurance of some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow.
PROM'ISE, verb intransitive
To assure one by a promise or binding declaration. The man promises fair; let us forgive him.
- To afford hopes or expectations; to give ground to expect good.
- In popular use, this verb sometimes threatens or assures of evil.
- To promise one's self, to be assured or to have strong confidence.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.