αὐχέω (aucheō)
aucheō
to boast
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb aucheō means to boast or brag, describing the act of speaking with excessive pride about oneself. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in James 3:5, where it is paired with the adverb "greatly" (megalōs) to emphasize the scale of the tongue’s destructive potential. This single occurrence highlights how the word carries a negative connotation of arrogance rather than simple confidence.
Its root relates to αὔχη, a noun for boasting or glorying. The sources note that James uses this term to illustrate how a small part of the body can set a large forest on fire. By choosing aucheō instead of mimaō (to imitate) or other words for speech, the text underscores the self-exalting nature of harmful talk. Translators typically render it as "boast," capturing the idea of puffing oneself up with pride.
This word serves as a sharp warning against the power of words to elevate the self at the expense of others. Its rarity in Scripture suggests that such blatant, destructive boasting is an exceptional evil rather than a common human failing. The focus remains on the danger of letting pride drive one’s speech, leading to widespread harm.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aucheō describes a specific kind of prideful speech where we puff ourselves up with excessive self-importance. In James 3:5, this verb is paired with 'greatly' to show how the tongue can claim credit for things far beyond its size or power. This image of a small fire setting a large forest ablaze reminds us that our words carry weight and consequence.
When we boast, we often shift focus away from God’s grace and onto our own achievements or status. This word warns against letting pride drive our conversations. Instead of seeking to elevate ourselves, we are invited to let humility guide our speech, recognizing that every good gift comes from above.
Reflecting on how we speak can help us cultivate a heart that honors others rather than drawing attention to itself. By guarding our tongues, we protect relationships and reflect the gentle wisdom that James describes as 'pure and peaceable.'
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it boasts.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- αὐχεῖ.1×
Key Verses
-
James 3:5
So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
This is the only New Testament occurrence of the word, where it describes the tongue's tendency to claim disproportionate credit, likened to a small fire igniting a vast forest.