ἀκοή (akoē)
akoē
hearing
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 22 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun akoē refers to hearing in its broadest sense, encompassing the physical act, the sensory faculty, and the content received. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from the literal description of bodily organs to the abstract reception of divine truth. For instance, Paul uses it to describe the mechanism by which faith arises, noting that belief comes through "hearing" the message about Christ (Romans 10:17).
Its meaning shifts depending on context, often distinguishing between the sense itself and the report received. In Mark 7:35, Jesus heals a man’s deafness by touching his ears, using akoē to denote the physical organ. Conversely, in Matthew 4:24, the word describes the widespread fame or rumor of Jesus’ deeds that reached others. This duality allows the term to bridge the gap between simple auditory perception and the intellectual acceptance of a teaching.
The word’s theological weight lies in its connection to oral tradition. Before the New Testament was written, akoē represented the primary means by which the gospel spread. It highlights that early Christian faith was not based on silent contemplation but on the public proclamation of events. The sources note its frequent use in phrases like "the word of hearing," emphasizing that the message must be heard to be understood.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word akoē reminds us that faith is rarely a silent, solitary experience. It begins with listening. When we hear the gospel proclaimed, something spiritual takes root in our hearts. This physical act of hearing becomes the bridge to trusting God. It is not enough to simply have ears; the message must be received with an open heart.
Yet this word also warns us. In passages like Romans 10:17, we see that faith comes by hearing, but in Matthew 13:14, people hear without understanding. The difference lies in how we receive what is said. Are we listening to be convinced, or are we listening to believe? God speaks through the voices of others, and our response determines whether that word changes us.
This duality invites us to examine our own spiritual ears. Do we tune out what challenges us, or do we lean in to hear the truth? The Christian life is built on this simple, profound act: listening to God’s word and allowing it to shape our lives from the inside out.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 22 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hearing7×
- news3×
- rumors2×
- report2×
- In hearing2×
- of [their] hearing1×
- hearings.1×
- hearing?1×
- ears,1×
- ears1×
- ear;1×
- [were] hearing,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀκοῆς5×
- ἀκοῇ5×
- ἀκοὰς4×
- ἀκοὴ3×
- ἀκοὴν2×
- ἀκοήν·1×
- ἀκοή;1×
- ἀκοή,1×
- ἀκοαῖς.1×
- ἀκοαί,1×
Key Verses
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Romans 10:17
So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This verse establishes the foundational mechanism of Christian faith, linking belief directly to the auditory reception of God's message.
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Galatians 3:2
I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
Paul contrasts human effort with divine grace by asking if the Spirit was received through law-keeping or through hearing faith.
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Mark 7:35
Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
Here the word refers to the physical ear, highlighting Jesus' power to restore broken sensory faculties as a sign of His compassion.
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Matthew 13:14
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive;
Jesus quotes Isaiah to show that hearing without understanding is a form of spiritual hardness and judgment.
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II Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts,
This passage uses the metaphor of 'itching ears' to describe a desire for teachings that please our own preferences rather than truth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does akoē mean in the New Testament?
How is akoē different from other words for hearing?
Why is faith connected to hearing in Romans 10:17?
Does akoē only refer to physical hearing?
Every Occurrence (22 verses across 12 books)
Matthew 4 verses
The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases…
Matthew 13:14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand;…
Matthew 14:1At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,
Matthew 24:6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not…