1. Overview

The Greek word Βοάω (Boáō, pronounced bo-AH-oh) is a verb that means “to cry out” or “to shout.” The word is derived from the root βοή (boē), which signifies a loud cry or an outcry. This term is used throughout the New Testament to depict instances of intense emotional expression, often in the context of seeking help, making a proclamation, or expressing deep anguish or need. The primary meanings of Boáō include crying out loudly, shouting, and making a vocal plea, usually in a context of urgency or distress.

2. Detailed Description

In BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich), Boáō is defined as “to call, cry out, shout,” typically with the implication of doing so loudly or urgently. BDAG emphasizes that the word is often used in situations where the speaker is in dire need or distress, such as calling out for help or proclaiming something important. The lexicon points to several instances in the New Testament where this verb is employed, including the cries of the blind men seeking healing from Jesus (Matthew 20:30), as well as the proclamation of the crowd calling out to Jesus during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9).

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon offers a similar definition, emphasizing the emotional intensity associated with Boáō. Thayer’s highlights the word’s use in both secular and sacred contexts, indicating that it could refer to anything from a cry for help to a public proclamation. Thayer’s also notes that Boáō can imply not just the act of crying out, but also the content of the cry, which is often a plea or an urgent request.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary elaborates on the word by connecting it to similar terms in the Old Testament Septuagint (LXX), where Boáō is often used to translate Hebrew words for crying out to God in prayer or distress. Vine’s also underscores the urgency and intensity implied in the term, particularly when it appears in the context of people seeking divine intervention.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance lists Boáō under G994, providing the definition “to call, cry out, exclaim.” Strong’s highlights the word’s usage in both the New Testament and the Septuagint, noting that it is frequently used in contexts of prayer, supplication, and intense emotional expression.

3. Usage in Classical Greek Literature

The verb Boáō is found in various classical Greek texts, often in contexts where a character cries out in distress or makes a loud proclamation. Here are three examples:

1. Homer’s “Iliad”: In this epic, warriors often cry out to the gods or to each other in battle. The verb Boáō is used to depict these loud, urgent cries, reflecting the high stakes and intense emotions of warfare.
2. Euripides’ “The Bacchae”: In this tragedy, characters frequently cry out in despair or in ecstasy as they engage with the divine. Boáō is used to convey the intense emotional outbursts that characterize much of the play’s action.
3. Herodotus’ “Histories”: In this work, the historian describes instances where individuals or groups cry out in protest or in seeking help from the gods, using the verb Boáō to convey the urgency and public nature of these cries.

4. Summary

Boáō is a Greek verb that conveys the act of crying out or shouting, often in a context of urgency, distress, or proclamation. Rooted in the noun boē (a loud cry), this term is used throughout the New Testament to depict moments of intense emotional expression, such as when individuals cry out to Jesus for healing or when crowds proclaim His coming. Lexicons like BDAG, Thayer’s, and Vine’s agree on the word’s meaning, emphasizing its association with loud, urgent cries. Classical Greek literature also employs Boáō in contexts of intense emotion, whether in battle, religious ecstasy, or public protest. This word captures the human impulse to vocalize deep need, fear, or exultation, making it a powerful term within the biblical narrative.