αἱρέω (ahireō)
ahireō
to choose
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb haireō means to choose or prefer something for oneself. In the New Testament it appears only three times, each instance highlighting a deliberate selection that carries significant weight. The word is used in Philippians 1:22, where Paul weighs his options between continuing in ministry and departing to be with Christ.
It also features in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, describing God’s choice of believers for salvation, and in Hebrews 11:25, where Moses is said to have chosen rather than enjoyed the fleeting pleasures of sin. This verb often implies a personal preference or a decision made by vote, distinguishing it from other terms for choosing by emphasizing the act of taking something up as one’s own.
Its root connects to the idea of taking or selecting, and it is frequently compounded with prefixes like pro- (before) or ek- (out of) to create nuanced meanings. The sources note its use in the Septuagint for Hebrew words meaning to choose or elect, linking it to themes of divine selection and human agency.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word haireō points to the weight of deliberate choice. In Philippians 1:22, Paul faces a genuine tension between staying to serve others and leaving to be with Christ. He does not hide his preference but brings it before God, showing that faith involves honest wrestling with our deepest desires.
Hebrews 11:25 shows Moses making a similar decision. He chose hardship over temporary pleasure, valuing the invisible promises of God above visible comfort. This reminds us that choosing God often means letting go of what feels good in the moment for what is eternal.
Yet we also see divine initiative in 2 Thessalonians 2:13. God chose believers for salvation before time began. Our choices do not override His grace; they respond to it. This balance invites us to trust that our decisions matter, while resting in the One who has already chosen us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will I choose1×
- having chosen1×
- has chosen1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἑλόμενος1×
- εἵλατο1×
- αἱρήσομαι1×
Key Verses
-
Philippians 1:22
But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.
Paul uses this word to describe his personal struggle between remaining in ministry and departing to be with Christ, highlighting human agency in the face of divine calling.
-
Hebrews 11:25
choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,
Moses is described as choosing ill treatment over temporary sin, illustrating a deliberate rejection of worldly pleasure for spiritual fidelity.
-
II Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth,
This verse attributes the choice to God Himself, showing that salvation originates in divine election rather than human merit.