ᾄδω (adō)
adō
to sing
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb adō simply means to sing. In the New Testament, it appears in only five verses, mostly within Revelation and the letters to the Ephesians and Colossians. It is a direct word for vocal music, often used when believers offer praise to God. For instance, Paul instructs Christians to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in their hearts (Ephesians 5:19).
Lexical sources note that this word can be used both intransitively, as when singing praise to God, or transitively, such as singing a specific song. In Revelation, the term describes the new song sung by those who have been redeemed (Revelation 5:9). The word carries a sense of joyful expression, fitting its frequent use in contexts of worship and victory.
Its presence in Scripture highlights the importance of vocal praise in Christian life. Whether addressing God directly or singing a specific melody, adō points to the act of making music as an offering. This simple verb reminds readers that singing is not just a cultural habit but a biblical response to God’s work.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word ᾄδω (adō) simply means to sing. In the New Testament, it appears in only five verses, mostly within Revelation and the letters to the Ephesians and Colossians. It is a direct word for vocal music, often used when believers offer praise to God.
For instance, Paul instructs Christians to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in their hearts (Ephesians 5:19). This verb carries a sense of joyful expression, fitting its frequent use in contexts of worship and victory. Its presence in Scripture highlights the importance of vocal praise in Christian life.
Whether addressing God directly or singing a specific melody, adō points to the act of making music as an offering. This simple verb reminds readers that singing is not just a cultural habit but a biblical response to God’s work. May your own voice join this chorus of gratitude today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they are singing3×
- singing2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ᾄδουσιν3×
- ᾄδοντες2×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 5:19
speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Paul uses ᾄδω here to connect communal worship with personal gratitude, showing that singing is an internal act of the heart directed toward the Lord.
-
Revelation of John 5:9
They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
The redeemed sing a new song specifically because of Christ's sacrificial death, linking the act of singing directly to the theology of redemption.
-
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
This verse ties ᾄδω to the teaching of Scripture, indicating that song is a primary way believers instruct and encourage one another in wisdom.