ἔχω (echō)
echō
to have/be
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 632 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek verb echō is a fundamental term meaning "to have" or "to hold," appearing over six hundred times in the New Testament. It covers a wide spectrum of possession, from holding physical objects to possessing abstract qualities. In Revelation, for instance, elders are described as having golden bowls full of incense (Revelation 5:8), while Jesus speaks of those who have spiritual insight (Matthew 13:12). The word bridges the gap between tangible ownership and internal state.
Its range extends beyond simple property to include relational bonds and physical conditions. It describes wearing clothing (Mark 11:13), being with child (Mark 13:17), or even holding a specific opinion about someone (Matthew 14:5). In John’s Gospel, Jesus uses it to describe having a shepherd (John 10:16) or keeping commandments (John 14:21), showing how the term links external actions with internal fidelity. It can also denote emotional states, such as having fear or alarm.
A notable feature of echō is its flexibility in expressing both literal and metaphorical holding. It functions similarly to the Latin habere, allowing for constructions where one "holds" someone to be something or considers them so. This versatility makes it a cornerstone of biblical language, enabling writers to discuss everything from material wealth to spiritual inheritance with equal grammatical ease.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word echō is far more than a simple statement of ownership. It describes the deep, abiding reality of what we carry in our hearts and lives. When Jesus promises eternal life to those who believe, he uses this term to show that God’s gift is not a distant hope but a present possession. We do not just look toward heaven; we hold it within us now.
This verb also highlights the intimacy of our relationship with Christ. He speaks of having ears to hear, inviting us into a personal connection where spiritual truths become clear. Whether we are holding onto faith during hard times or recognizing the authority of God’s word, echō reminds us that what we truly possess shapes who we are.
In daily life, this word bridges the gap between our outer actions and inner state. It calls us to examine what we hold dear—our fears, our hopes, and our trust in God. By focusing on what we have in Christ, we find stability and peace that no circumstance can take away.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 632 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having171×
- you have39×
- has39×
- we have28×
- I have27×
- have25×
- he has17×
- had16×
- to have14×
- they have14×
- has,14×
- is having11×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔχων85×
- ἔχει65×
- ἔχομεν36×
- ἔχοντες35×
- ἔχετε35×
- ἔχω34×
- ἔχουσιν30×
- ἔχοντα26×
- ἔχειν22×
- εἶχεν21×
- ἔχεις20×
- ἔχει,17×
Key Verses
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John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
This verse uses echō to define eternal life not as a future event but as a current possession for the believer.
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Matthew 11:15
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Here, having ears to hear signifies the spiritual capacity to understand Jesus’ teaching, linking physical hearing with internal reception.
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Matthew 8:20
Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Jesus contrasts his lack of physical shelter with his unique identity, showing how echō can describe both material absence and spiritual reality.
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Matthew 13:5
Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
The rocky soil lacked depth, illustrating how a shallow foundation prevents the lasting possession of spiritual growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does echō mean in the New Testament?
How is echō different from other words for possession?
Where does echō appear most frequently?
Why is echō important for understanding faith?
Every Occurrence (632 verses across 27 books)
Matthew 65 verses
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together,…
Matthew 1:23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is,…
Matthew 3:4Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild…
Matthew 3:9Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to…
Matthew 3:14But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
Matthew 4:24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases…
Matthew 5:23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
Matthew 5:46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 6:1“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from…
Matthew 6:8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.
Matthew 7:29for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.
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 8:16When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all…
Matthew 8:20Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his…
Matthew 9:6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic),…
Matthew 9:12When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
Matthew 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like…
Matthew 11:15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 11:18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
Matthew 12:10And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” so that…
Matthew 12:11He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day,…
Matthew 13:5Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no…
Matthew 13:6When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
Matthew 13:9He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:12For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken…
Matthew 13:21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word,…
Matthew 13:27The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these…
Matthew 13:43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 13:44“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and…
Matthew 13:46who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 14:4For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Matthew 14:5When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
Matthew 14:16But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
Matthew 14:17They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
Matthew 14:35When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who…
Matthew 15:30Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down…
Matthew 15:32Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now…
Matthew 15:34Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
Matthew 16:8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread?
Matthew 17:20He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard…
Matthew 18:8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into…
Matthew 18:9If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one…
Matthew 18:25But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and…
Matthew 19:16Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
Matthew 19:21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure…
Matthew 19:22But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
Matthew 21:3If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
Matthew 21:21Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done…
Matthew 21:26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”
Matthew 21:28But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’
Matthew 21:38But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and seize his…
Matthew 21:46When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.
Matthew 22:12and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.
Matthew 22:24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up…
Matthew 22:25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother.
Matthew 22:28In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”
Matthew 24:19But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!
Matthew 25:25I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
Matthew 25:28Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
Matthew 25:29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he…
Matthew 26:7a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the…
Matthew 26:11For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.
Matthew 26:65Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold,…
Matthew 27:16They had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.
Matthew 27:65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”