φωνέω (phōneō)
phōneō
to call
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 39 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb phōneō describes making a sound with the voice, whether by a person speaking aloud or an animal like a cock crowing. Its core sense is simply to emit a vocal tone, which explains why it appears in accounts of Jesus raising Jairus’s daughter with a loud cry (Luke 8:54) and in predictions that Peter would hear the rooster crow before denying him (Mark 14:30).
It also carries the meaning of calling someone by name or summoning them. In John’s Gospel, this usage is frequent; Jesus calls his disciples by name, such as when he summons Martha to come to him (John 11:28) or addresses Nathanael directly (John 1:49). The word bridges the physical act of sounding out and the social act of addressing another person.
Derived from phōnē, meaning "voice" or "sound," the verb emphasizes the audible nature of the communication. Translators often render it as "call," "cry," or "crow" depending on the context, capturing both the volume of a shout and the intimacy of a name being spoken.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word phōneō reminds us that God’s voice is never silent or distant. In the Gospels, Jesus uses this verb to summon people by name, turning a simple sound into an act of personal attention. When He calls the blind man in Mark 10:49, it is not just a shout across a crowd but a specific invitation that changes a life. This suggests that our faith is built on hearing and responding to a voice that knows us individually.
Even in moments of distress, this word appears with power. Jesus cries out with a loud voice as He commits His spirit to the Father in Luke 23:46, showing that prayer can be both intimate and bold. The same verb describes the rooster’s crow, marking time and memory for Peter. These varied uses show that God speaks through many channels—through gentle summons, through prophetic warnings, and even through the natural world—to guide us toward hope.
For your daily walk, this means you are never speaking into a void. The God who called Lazarus from the tomb and who calls His disciples by name is attentive to your voice. Whether you are calling out in prayer or listening for direction, remember that the Creator of sound desires relationship with you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 39 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- crowing5×
- do call3×
- crowed.3×
- he called2×
- having called out2×
- having called2×
- calls2×
- He calls2×
- He called2×
- will crow1×
- to be called1×
- they called1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐφώνησεν8×
- φωνῆσαι6×
- φωνήσας5×
- φωνεῖ5×
- ἐφώνησεν.2×
- Ἐφώνησεν1×
- Ἐφώνησαν1×
- ἐφώνησεν.¶1×
- ἐφώνησεν,1×
- ἐφώνησαν1×
- ἐφώνει·1×
- φώνησον1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 10:49
Jesus stood still and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”
This verse shows Jesus using the word to summon a specific individual, turning a public crowd into a personal encounter.
-
Luke 23:46
Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.
Here the verb describes Jesus’ final loud cry, linking the act of calling with total trust in the Father.
-
John 1:48
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
The word highlights Jesus’ supernatural knowledge, as He references a past call that Nathanael did not even hear.
-
Matthew 26:74
Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
This occurrence marks the fulfillment of prophecy through the rooster’s crow, serving as a wake-up call for Peter’s conscience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does phōneō mean in the New Testament?
How is phōneō different from other words for 'call'?
Why does this word appear in the story of Peter’s denial?
Every Occurrence (39 verses across 6 books)
Matthew 5 verses
Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Matthew 26:34Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
Matthew 26:74Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
Matthew 26:75Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Then…
Matthew 27:47Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”