ἐγώ (egō)
egō
I/we
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 675 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word egō is the standard first-person singular pronoun, meaning "I." In ordinary speech, Greek often omits this pronoun because the verb ending already indicates the subject. Consequently, when egō appears explicitly in the text, it usually carries emphasis. It serves to distinguish the speaker from others or to assert personal identity, as seen when John the Baptist clarifies his role by stating "I am not the Christ" (John 1:20).
The sources note that this emphatic usage is particularly striking in the Gospel of John, where Jesus frequently begins declarations with egō. This stylistic choice parallels solemn uses found in contemporary inscriptions and magical texts, lending a weighty, authoritative tone to statements like "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). The full forms of the pronoun are reserved for such emphasis or specific grammatical contexts, while enclitic forms appear in neutral constructions without special stress.
A notable feature is the phrase ti emoi kai soi, translated as "What have I to do with you?" This idiom appears when figures like demons address Jesus (Mark 1:24) or when Mary speaks at Cana (John 2:4), signaling a separation of interests or a refusal to be drawn into another’s sphere. The word also forms part of compound expressions like kagō ("and I"), reinforcing the speaker's inclusion in a group action or statement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word egō is simply the Greek pronoun for "I." In everyday conversation, speakers often leave it out because the verb ending already shows who is acting. When the full word appears in Scripture, it usually carries extra weight. It signals that the speaker wants to be clearly identified or is making a personal claim that cannot be ignored.
This emphasis helps us see how Jesus used His voice to reveal His identity and mission. In passages like Matthew 11:28, He invites the weary with a direct, personal promise: "Come to me... and I will give you rest." The explicit use of "I" makes this invitation feel intimate and reliable. It reminds us that our faith rests on specific promises made by a real person who knows our struggles.
Understanding this simple word can deepen your trust in God's direct communication with you. When Scripture uses "I," it often marks a moment of divine clarity or personal commitment. You can find comfort in knowing that the Creator speaks to you with intention, offering rest and guidance without ambiguity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 675 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I myself338×
- Me myself69×
- Me41×
- me myself40×
- and I myself29×
- me28×
- I myself also20×
- of Mine16×
- myself14×
- And I myself14×
- to me myself13×
- my13×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐγὼ278×
- ἐμοῦ73×
- ἐμοὶ73×
- ἐμὲ66×
- κἀγὼ65×
- ἐγώ53×
- ἐμοῦ.14×
- ἐμὴν13×
- ἐμοῦ,13×
- ἐμαυτὸν12×
- ἐμὴ11×
- ἐμοί,11×
Key Verses
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Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
The explicit "I" here emphasizes Jesus' personal agency and direct offer of rest to the burdened.
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Matthew 5:22
But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.
Jesus uses "I tell you" to assert His authority over traditional interpretations of anger and judgment.
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Matthew 3:14
But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
John's emphatic "I need to be baptized by you" highlights his humility and recognition of Jesus' superiority.
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Matthew 7:23
Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’
Jesus declares "I never knew you," using the personal pronoun to mark a definitive separation from those who reject Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word egō mean?
Why is egō used instead of just changing the verb ending?
Where does this word appear most significantly?
Every Occurrence (675 verses across 26 books)
Matthew 67 verses
He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me…
Matthew 3:11“I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not…
Matthew 3:14But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
Matthew 5:11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 5:22But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever…
Matthew 5:28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his…
Matthew 5:32but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and…
Matthew 5:34but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
Matthew 5:39But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who…
Matthew 7:23Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’
Matthew 8:7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
Matthew 8:9For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell…
Matthew 10:16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
Matthew 10:32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:33But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t…
Matthew 10:39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:40“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
Matthew 11:6Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
Matthew 11:10For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before…
Matthew 11:28“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 12:27If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
Matthew 12:28But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you.
Matthew 12:30“He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.
Matthew 14:27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 15:5But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a…
Matthew 15:8‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Matthew 16:18I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail…
Matthew 16:23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your…
Matthew 16:25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 17:27But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have…
Matthew 18:5Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,
Matthew 18:6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge…
Matthew 18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
Matthew 18:21Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven…
Matthew 18:26The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’
Matthew 18:29“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’
Matthew 18:33Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’
Matthew 20:15Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
Matthew 20:22But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be…
Matthew 20:23He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on…
Matthew 21:24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what…
Matthew 21:27They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do…
Matthew 21:30He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I’m going, sir,’ but he didn’t go.
Matthew 22:32‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the…
Matthew 23:34Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of…
Matthew 24:5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.
Matthew 25:27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own…
Matthew 25:40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,…
Matthew 25:41Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared…
Matthew 25:45“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these,…
Matthew 26:10However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me.
Matthew 26:11For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.
Matthew 26:15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” So they weighed out for him thirty pieces of…
Matthew 26:22They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”
Matthew 26:23He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me.
Matthew 26:25Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”
Matthew 26:31Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike…
Matthew 26:33But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”
Matthew 26:38Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”
Matthew 26:39He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away…
Matthew 26:40He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?
Matthew 26:42Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink…
Matthew 28:20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”…