λαλέω (laleō)
laleō
to speak
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 274 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb laleō simply means to speak or talk, serving as the general word for using one’s voice to communicate. It appears frequently in the New Testament, particularly in Acts and the Gospels, where it describes everyday conversation as well as formal declaration. Unlike more technical terms for speech, laleō focuses on the outward act of uttering words, making it a natural choice for narratives where characters are conversing or reporting events.
A notable distinction lies in its relationship with legō. While both mean to speak, lexicographers note that laleō often emphasizes the sound or the act of talking itself, whereas legō tends to highlight the content or substance of what is said. This nuance appears in passages like Mark 8:32, where Peter “speaks” (laleō) to Jesus about the coming suffering, reflecting a spontaneous outburst rather than a carefully structured argument.
The word also carries a vivid theological weight when applied to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. In Hebrews 11:4 and Revelation 4:1, the blood of Abel and the living creatures are said to “speak,” personifying their witness through action or presence. This metaphorical use underscores that speech in Scripture is not limited to human vocal cords but extends to any means by which truth is declared.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word laleō simply means to speak. It is the everyday word for using your voice to share thoughts or feelings. In the New Testament, it appears hundreds of times because communication is central to how God relates to us and how we relate to one another. Whether in a heated argument or a quiet prayer, this word captures the basic act of letting words out into the world.
What makes this term special for your faith is its connection to the heart. Jesus taught that what comes out of your mouth reflects what fills your heart (Matthew 12:34). This means our speech is not just noise; it is a window into our inner life. When we speak with kindness or truth, we are allowing God’s character to flow through us.
There is also comfort in knowing that God provides the words when we feel unable to speak. In times of trial or defense, believers can trust that the Holy Spirit will guide their speech (Matthew 10:20). This word reminds us that we do not have to manufacture wisdom on our own. God invites us to simply open our mouths and let Him work through our simple acts of speaking.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 274 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- speaking29×
- to speak24×
- spoke24×
- is speaking15×
- to speak.9×
- He spoke7×
- He was speaking6×
- was speaking5×
- speaks5×
- do speak5×
- I have spoken5×
- we speak4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐλάλησεν29×
- ἐλάλει17×
- λαλῶν15×
- λαλοῦντος15×
- λαλεῖν15×
- λαλῆσαι14×
- ἐλάλησαν11×
- λελάληκα11×
- λαλεῖ8×
- ἐλάλουν6×
- λαλῶ6×
- λαλοῦντες6×
Key Verses
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Matthew 12:34
You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Jesus uses this word to show that speech is the natural overflow of what is already inside a person's heart.
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Matthew 10:20
For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
This verse highlights that in moments of crisis, it is the Spirit speaking through the believer rather than their own human wisdom.
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Mark 1:34
He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Jesus restricts demons from speaking here to prevent them from revealing His identity before the proper time.
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Matthew 9:33
When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
The restoration of speech serves as visible proof of Jesus' power over darkness and physical brokenness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does laleō mean in the Bible?
How is laleō different from legō?
Why does Jesus say the Spirit speaks through us?
Every Occurrence (274 verses across 23 books)
Matthew 21 verses
While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but…
Matthew 9:33When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen…
Matthew 10:19But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you…
Matthew 10:20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Matthew 12:22Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him; and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man…
Matthew 12:34You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth…
Matthew 12:36I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:46While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.
Matthew 12:47One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.”
Matthew 13:3He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.
Matthew 13:10The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
Matthew 13:13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they…
Matthew 13:33He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of…
Matthew 13:34Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,
Matthew 14:27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 15:31so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind…
Matthew 17:5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying,…
Matthew 23:1Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
Matthew 26:13Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also…
Matthew 26:47While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and…
Matthew 28:18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.