Word Study for G3656 (ὁμιλέω)

homiléō /hom-il-eh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ὅμιλος

Meaningto be in company with, i.e. (by implication) to converse

KJV usagecommune, talk.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of homiléō — 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 homiléō, represented by G3656, means to be in company with, i.e. (by implication) to converse. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. The term carries the core idea of interacting with others through conversation, often in a context of fellowship or discussion, translated as "commune" or "talk."

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G3656 describes significant conversations. On the road to Emmaus, the disciples talked together of all the things that had happened Luke 24:14. As they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near to them Luke 24:15. The word also describes the apostle Paul's extended teaching to believers; after breaking bread, he talked a long while, until the break of day Acts 20:11. It can also describe a conversation with a specific purpose, as when Felix frequently communed with Paul, hoping to be given money Acts 24:26.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which this communion or talk occurs:

G4802 syzētéō (to investigate jointly, i.e. discuss, controvert, cavil): This is used alongside G3656 to describe the disciples' deep discussion, noting that they communed together and reasoned Luke 24:15.
G240 allḗlōn (one another): This word emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the conversation, as when the disciples talked together with one another about the things that had happened Luke 24:14.
G1089 geúomai (to taste; by implication, to eat): This word connects the act of conversation to fellowship. Paul had eaten with the believers just before he talked with them for a long while Acts 20:11.
G3343 metapémpō (to summon or invite): This describes the action that initiates a conversation. Felix would send for Paul in order to commune with him Acts 24:26.

Theological Significance

The use of G3656 highlights several key concepts related to communication.

Christian Fellowship: The word is closely associated with believers gathering to share in conversation, often in connection with breaking bread and fellowship Acts 20:11.
Processing Divine Acts: Conversation is shown as a vital tool for understanding God's work. The disciples talked and communed with one another to process the events of the crucifixion and resurrection Luke 24:14.
Purposeful Dialogue: The conversations described by G3656 are intentional. Paul talked at length to teach and encourage the church Acts 20:11, while Felix communed with him for a specific, self-serving goal Acts 24:26.

Summary

In summary, G3656 is not merely about idle chatter but about purposeful conversation and being in company with others. It captures the essence of fellowship, mutual discussion, and intentional dialogue. Whether it is believers reasoning together about God's actions or a prolonged session of teaching, homiléō underscores the importance of verbal communication and communion in the life of the early church and its leaders.

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 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Infinitive 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
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 4 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke and Acts (2 verses each); never once in the other 25.

Luke

Acts

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.