βιόω (bioō)
bioō
to live
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb bioō means to spend one’s life or to live out one’s days. It appears only once in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 4:2, where it describes how believers should no longer waste their remaining time on human desires but instead live for God’s will.
This word comes from bios, meaning "life" or "livelihood." While the more common Greek verb for living is zōē (or zoō), bioō carries a sense of passing through life, focusing on the duration and manner of one's existence. In 1 Peter, it contrasts a life spent in sin with a life dedicated to divine purpose.
Translators often render it simply as "live," but the context emphasizes stewardship of time. The author urges Christians to view their earthly days not as opportunities for self-indulgence, but as a finite period to be lived faithfully before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bioō reminds us that life is a finite gift. It does not just mean existing; it describes how we spend our days. In 1 Peter, this verb calls believers to stop wasting time on selfish desires and instead live for God’s will. This shift changes everything about how we view our remaining years.
Your time on earth is not endless. Using this word encourages you to treat each day as an opportunity to serve God rather than satisfy fleeting cravings. It invites a simple but profound change: letting your daily actions reflect His purpose instead of your own impulses.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to live1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βιῶσαι1×
Key Verses
-
I Peter 4:2
that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
This verse uses bioō to contrast living for human lusts with living for God's will, highlighting the stewardship of remaining time.