ὠνέομαι (ōneomai)
ōneomai
to buy
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ōneomai simply means to buy or purchase. It is a straightforward term for acquiring goods through payment, appearing in the New Testament only once in Acts 7:16. In this single instance, it describes Jacob’s purchase of a tomb in Shechem.
Its meaning derives from the root onos, which refers to a price or sum of money. This etymological connection keeps the focus firmly on the transactional nature of the act rather than any spiritual metaphor. Unlike words that might imply bargaining or haggling, ōneomai denotes the completed act of buying.
Translators consistently render it as "bought" or "purchased." The rarity of the word in Scripture means it lacks the theological weight of more common terms like agorazō. It serves merely to record a historical fact about property ownership without adding deeper symbolic meaning to the narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ōneomai appears only once in the New Testament, recording a simple historical fact: Jacob bought a plot of land in Shechem. This straightforward term highlights that faith often involves tangible, earthly commitments alongside spiritual promises. It reminds us that our walk with God is grounded in real life, where we make practical decisions and hold responsibilities in the world around us.
While this single mention does not carry heavy theological symbolism, it shows how Scripture values honesty and stewardship in everyday matters. When we manage resources or honor agreements, we reflect a character that trusts God’s provision. This quiet example invites us to approach our daily duties with integrity, knowing that small acts of faithfulness matter just as much as grand spiritual milestones.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bought1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὠνήσατο1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:16
and they were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.
This verse uses the word to record the specific historical transaction where Jacob purchased a tomb, grounding the narrative in concrete property ownership rather than abstract symbolism.