Word Study for G1586 (ἐκλέγομαι)

eklégomai /ek-leg'-om-ahee/ Ask about this word

Meaningmiddle voice from ἐκ and λέγω (in its primary sense); to select

KJV usagemake choice, choose (out), chosen.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of eklégomai — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word eklégomai, represented by G1586, means to select or make choice. It is a middle voice verb defined as to "choose (out)" or "chosen." Appearing 25 times across 19 unique verses, it communicates a deliberate and purposeful act of selection.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G1586 is used to describe both divine and human choices. God's sovereign selection is a primary theme, as He hath chosen believers "before the foundation of the world" Ephesians 1:4. Jesus uses the term to describe His selection of the apostles: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you" John 15:16. The word also applies to God choosing Israel's fathers Acts 13:17. On a human level, it describes Mary having chosen "that good part" Luke 10:42 and the early church sending chosen men to Antioch Acts 15:22.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the concept of being chosen:

G1588 eklektós (select; by implication, favorite:--chosen, elect): This is the direct adjectival form, describing those who have been chosen. For the sake of the elect, whom He hath chosen, God shortened the days of tribulation Mark 13:20.
G5087 títhēmi (to place... appoint, ordain, purpose, put, set): This word often describes the result or purpose of being chosen. Jesus chose his disciples and ordained them to go and bring forth fruit John 15:16.
G1380 dokéō (to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly)): This word can show the deliberation behind a choice. It pleased the apostles and elders to send chosen men from their company Acts 15:22.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1586 is profound, centering on the doctrine of election.

Divine Initiative: The act of choosing originates with God, not with human merit. He hath chosen believers in him from eternity Ephesians 1:4. Jesus explicitly states, "I have chosen you out of the world" John 15:19.
Paradoxical Choice: God's choices often subvert human wisdom and power. He hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weak things to confound the mighty 1 Corinthians 1:27. He also hath chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith James 2:5.
Purposeful Selection: Being chosen is for a specific purpose. Believers are chosen that they should be holy and without blame Ephesians 1:4, and the apostles were chosen to bear fruit that remains John 15:16.

Summary

In summary, G1586 is a critical term that defines the act of deliberate selection. While it can describe human choice, its most significant use is in portraying God's sovereign initiative in calling His people to Himself. From choosing the fathers of Israel to selecting the church before time began, eklégomai reveals a core biblical truth: that the relationship between God and His people is founded upon His purposeful and gracious choice.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 22 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Middle Indicative 3rd Singular 10×
Aorist Middle Indicative 1st Singular 4×
Aorist Middle Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Middle Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Aorist Middle Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Aorist Middle Participle Accusative Plural Masculine 1×
Aorist Middle Participle Dative Plural Masculine 1×
Aorist Middle Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Imperfect Middle Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 19 verses across 7 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (7 verses); never once in the other 20.

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

1 Corinthians

Ephesians

James

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.