γεύω (geuō)
geuō
to taste
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb geuō means to taste or experience something directly, moving beyond mere observation to personal contact. In the New Testament it describes both physical eating and a deeper, experiential knowledge. For instance, in Matthew 27:34, soldiers offer Jesus wine mixed with gall, and He tastes it before refusing to drink. This usage highlights the word’s focus on sensory engagement rather than abstract understanding.
Its most striking application appears in Hebrews, where it describes spiritual experience. Hebrews 6:4 speaks of those who have "tasted" the heavenly gift, while Hebrews 2:9 says Jesus tasted death for everyone. Here, the word implies a real, albeit partial, participation in a reality. It is not just intellectual assent but a lived encounter with divine truth or grace.
Translators often render it as "taste," which preserves its concrete nature. Unlike words that mean simply to see or hear, geuō suggests an intimate, bodily interaction with the object. Whether referring to food in Luke 14:24 or the profound experience of God’s word in Hebrews 6:5, the term anchors spiritual concepts in physical reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word geuō invites us into a faith that is lived rather than merely observed. It moves beyond abstract knowledge to personal experience, much like tasting food reveals its true nature. In Hebrews, this term describes those who have tasted the heavenly gift or the goodness of God’s word. These are not distant observers but people who have encountered divine grace in their daily lives.
This concept encourages us to seek a relationship with God that is tangible and real. When Jesus refused the wine mixed with gall in Matthew 27:34, He engaged with the physical reality before Him, yet chose a different path. Similarly, we are called to taste and see that the Lord is gracious, finding comfort in His presence during difficult times.
As you walk through your season of faith, remember that God desires intimacy, not just information. Whether facing hardship or celebrating joy, you can rely on the reality of His grace. This word reminds us that spiritual truths are meant to be experienced deeply, anchoring our hope in a personal encounter with the Lord.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having tasted3×
- may taste2×
- you may taste1×
- you have tasted1×
- will taste1×
- to eat.1×
- to eat1×
- tasted1×
- shall taste1×
- shall he taste1×
- having eaten,1×
- He may taste1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- γεύσωνται3×
- γεύσηται2×
- γευσαμένους2×
- ἐγεύσατο1×
- ἐγεύσασθε1×
- γεύσῃ1×
- γεύσεταί1×
- γεύσασθαι.1×
- γεύσασθαι1×
- γευσάμενος,1×
- γευσάμενος1×
Key Verses
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Hebrews 2:9
But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.
This verse highlights Jesus’ unique participation in human mortality, showing that He fully entered into the human condition to save others.
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Hebrews 6:4
For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
The term here emphasizes a genuine, experiential encounter with divine truth rather than mere intellectual agreement.
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Matthew 27:34
they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.
It illustrates a moment where physical sensation meets deliberate choice, as Jesus engages with the offered wine before refusing it.