κραυγάζω (kraugazō)
kraugazō
to shout
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb kraugazō describes a loud, urgent cry that breaks through ordinary conversation. It is not a polite request or a quiet whisper; it is the sound of intense emotion, whether from joy, pain, or anger. In the New Testament, this word appears nine times, often capturing pivotal moments where characters are driven to shout rather than speak normally.
Its root suggests a harsh, animal-like noise, which explains why it can describe both the barking of dogs and the shouting of crowds. When used for people, it conveys a loss of restraint. For instance, in John 12:13, the crowd shouts hosannas with loud voices, while in Matthew 27:23, the mob cries out for Jesus’ crucifixion. The intensity matches the situation: ecstatic praise or violent rejection.
Translators usually render this word as "shout" or "cry out," though these English terms can sometimes feel too neutral. The Greek carries a visceral quality, implying that the voice is forced out by strong feeling. Whether it is Lazarus’ sister weeping in distress or Pilate’s soldiers mocking Jesus, kraugazō marks a moment where words are insufficient and volume becomes necessary.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kraugazō describes a cry that breaks through ordinary silence. It is not a polite request or a quiet whisper. This Greek verb captures the sound of intense emotion forcing its way out when words are no longer enough. Whether it is the joyful shout of palms on Palm Sunday or the desperate plea for life in John 11, the voice becomes an instrument of raw feeling.
In John 11:43, Jesus cries out with a loud voice to raise Lazarus. This moment shows that our deepest needs often require more than calm reasoning; they demand urgent, faith-filled appeals. God hears the cry that comes from the heart’s depth, not just the polished words of polite conversation.
When you feel overwhelmed by pain or confusion, remember that volume is not required for God to listen. Yet, this word reminds us that He is close to those who call out in distress. Your urgent prayers are heard, even when they sound like a shout rather than a whisper.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- They cried out2×
- will he cry out,1×
- were shouting:1×
- they cried out1×
- shouting out1×
- cried out1×
- While shouting out1×
- He cried out;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκραύγασαν4×
- ἐκραύγασεν·1×
- ἐκραύγαζον·1×
- κραυγάσει,1×
- κραυγάζοντα1×
- κραυγαζόντων1×
Key Verses
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John 11:43
When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
Jesus uses this intense cry to demonstrate His authority over death, showing that divine power responds to urgent faith.
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John 12:13
they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”
The crowd’s shout of Hosanna reveals a public declaration of joy and recognition of Jesus as King, breaking through normal social restraint.
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Luke 4:41
Demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
Demons use this word to acknowledge Jesus’ identity, showing that even spiritual forces cannot remain silent in His presence.
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John 19:6
When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.”
The chief priests and officers shout 'Crucify,' illustrating how this word captures the violent intensity of rejection and mob mentality.