ἐπαγγελία (epangelia)
epangelia
promise
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 50 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun epangelia denotes a promise, specifically one that carries the weight of an official announcement or pledge. In classical Greek it could mean a summons, but in Scripture it almost always refers to divine assurance. The word appears fifty times in the New Testament, with significant concentrations in Romans and Hebrews, where it anchors the discussion of God’s covenant faithfulness.
Its root lies in the verb epangellō, meaning to announce or declare publicly. This etymology highlights that a biblical promise is not merely a wish but a formal declaration from an authority. The sources note that translators often render this as "message" when referring to the content of the announcement, such as in 1 John 2:25, where believers hold fast to the message of eternal life.
A key theological nuance is how epangelia shifts from the act of promising to the blessing itself. In passages like Galatians 3:14 and Hebrews 6:12, the "promise" is synonymous with the Holy Spirit or the inheritance received by faith. This metonymy connects the word closely to hope; Christians are described as heirs according to the promise, emphasizing that their status rests on God’s prior commitment rather than human effort.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we hear the word 'promise' today, it often feels fragile, something easily broken by changing circumstances. In Scripture, however, this Greek term carries the weight of an official decree. It is not a wish or a hopeful guess, but a formal declaration from God that stands firm regardless of human failure. This assurance anchors our faith in His character rather than our own performance.
Consider how Jesus described the Holy Spirit as 'the promise of my Father' in Luke 24:49. Here, the promise is not just a future reward but a present reality and power for those who wait on Him. When we face uncertainty, we can rest in the knowledge that God’s commitments are secure. His word serves as a solid foundation, inviting us to trust in His timing and provision.
This divine pledge connects us directly to the covenant faithfulness shown throughout history. Whether looking back to Abraham or forward to our inheritance, the emphasis remains on God’s initiative. We are heirs not because we have earned it, but because He has pledged it. This truth offers deep comfort, reminding us that our hope rests in a faithful God who keeps every word He speaks.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 50 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- promise21×
- promises7×
- promise.5×
- [the] promise4×
- promises,3×
- promise,2×
- of promise2×
- the promise1×
- promises.1×
- promises given1×
- promise;1×
- a promise;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπαγγελίας16×
- ἐπαγγελίαν13×
- ἐπαγγελία5×
- ἐπαγγελίας.3×
- ἐπαγγελίας,3×
- ἐπαγγελίαν.2×
- ἐπαγγελίαι2×
- ἐπαγγελίᾳ,1×
- ἐπαγγελίας·1×
- ἐπαγγελίαν.¶1×
- ἐπαγγελίαις1×
- ἐπαγγελίαι,1×
Key Verses
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Luke 24:49
Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.”
This verse identifies the Holy Spirit itself as the 'promise of my Father,' showing that the promise is a person and power, not just a future event.
-
Romans 4:16
For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
Paul explains that the promise is secured by grace through faith so that it remains sure for all who believe, linking assurance directly to God's commitment rather than human effort.
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Galatians 3:14
that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Here the promise is equated with receiving the Holy Spirit through faith, demonstrating that the blessing of Abraham is available to Gentiles just as it was to Israel.
-
II Corinthians 1:20
For however many are the promises of God, in him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen”, to the glory of God through us.
This passage declares that all of God's promises find their fulfillment in Christ, who serves as the definitive 'Yes' to every divine pledge.