πιστεύω (pisteuō)
pisteuō
to trust (in)
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 218 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb pisteuō means to place trust in a person or truth, moving beyond simple intellectual agreement to active reliance. In the New Testament, it appears 218 times, with significant weight in John, Acts, and Romans. It describes a conviction impelled by an inner sense of what is true, leading one to commit their spiritual well-being to Christ.
Its meaning shifts subtly depending on the grammar used. When paired with prepositions like eis ("into") or en ("in"), as seen in John 2:11 and Mark 1:15, it emphasizes personal trust and reliance on Jesus. In other contexts, such as Acts 16:34 where the jailer believes in God, it conveys confidence in a person’s character. The sources note that it can also mean to entrust something to another, though this is less common than its usage for faith.
This word connects directly to the Hebrew aman, often translated as "believe" or "trust" in the Old Testament, carrying a sense of firmness and stability. Translators usually render it as "believe," but the Greek implies a deeper engagement where belief results in dependence. It is not merely accepting facts, but resting in the fidelity of God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word pisteuō invites us into a relationship of active trust rather than passive agreement. It suggests leaning your full weight on someone else’s reliability, much like resting securely in a strong chair or trusting a guide in unfamiliar terrain. This is not merely acknowledging that Jesus exists, but relying on His character and promises for your daily life.
In Mark 9:24, a father cries out, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” This honest prayer captures the reality of faith as a journey. It is normal to have moments of doubt alongside trust. God meets us in those mixed feelings, strengthening our reliance on Him rather than demanding perfect certainty before He acts.
When you face uncertainty, remember that this word calls for dependence on Christ’s fidelity. You do not need to manufacture your own strength. Instead, you can rest in the assurance that He is worthy of your trust, guiding you through every season with grace and truth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 218 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- believing33×
- having believed19×
- believed14×
- do believe11×
- is believing9×
- to believe7×
- may believe6×
- believe.5×
- you may believe4×
- we believe4×
- they believed4×
- believed,4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πιστεύων24×
- ἐπίστευσαν16×
- ἐπίστευσεν12×
- πιστεύουσιν10×
- πιστεύετε8×
- πιστεύοντες6×
- πιστεῦσαι5×
- πιστεύσητε.5×
- πιστεύσαντες5×
- πιστεύεις5×
- ἐπίστευον4×
- ἐπιστεύσατε4×
Key Verses
-
Mark 9:24
Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”
This verse highlights the tension between faith and doubt, showing that honest reliance on Jesus includes asking for help when trust feels weak.
-
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.
Here, believing in the Son is directly linked to receiving eternal life, emphasizing that trust in Christ is the pathway to salvation.
-
Mark 5:36
But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
Jesus’ command to ‘only believe’ in the face of death demonstrates that faith is a choice to rely on His power over circumstances.
-
Mark 1:15
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
The call to ‘believe in the Good News’ pairs trust with repentance, indicating that faith involves both turning to God and relying on His message.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word pisteuō mean?
Is believing in Jesus just about agreeing with facts?
How is pisteuō different from simply having faith?
Every Occurrence (218 verses across 21 books)
Matthew 9 verses
Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed.” His servant was healed in that…
Matthew 9:28When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do…
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 21:22All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Matthew 21:25The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say,…
Matthew 21:32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him; but the tax collectors and the…
Matthew 24:23“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it.
Matthew 24:26“If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’…
Matthew 27:42“He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we…