Pronunciation Guide: hah-ee-ret-ID-zō (emphasis on ID)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G140: αἱρετίζω (hairetizō) expresses the deliberate act of choosing or selecting with special favor and purpose. It carries the profound connotation of a choice made with divine intention and sovereign pleasure. In biblical usage, it particularly emphasizes God’s purposeful selection of His servants for specific missions and roles in His divine plan.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Word: From αἱρέομαι (haireomai, “to choose”)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative and Prophetic texts
• Voice: Active and Middle
• Tense: Present and Aorist primarily

αἱρετίζω Morphology:

• αἱρετίζω (present active indicative) – I choose
• αἱρετίσω (future active indicative) – I will choose
• ᾑρέτισα (aorist active indicative) – I chose
• ᾑρετισάμην (aorist middle indicative) – I chose for myself
• ᾑρετισμένος (perfect passive participle) – having been chosen

Origin & History

The word αἱρετίζω emerged from classical Greek literature, where it initially carried the meaning of choosing or selecting something for oneself. Xenophon used it in his “Memorabilia” to describe the process of deliberate selection based on careful evaluation and preference.

In Hellenistic Greek, the word evolved to emphasize not just the act of choosing, but choosing with specific purpose and favor. The Septuagint translators adopted this term to express God’s sovereign selection of individuals and Israel as His chosen people, elevating its meaning to include divine purpose and pleasure in the selection.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A sovereign choice made with specific purpose and pleasure
• Selection that implies special favor and divine intention
• An intentional choice resulting in close relationship
• A deliberate selection for a specific mission or purpose

αἱρετίζω Translation Options:

• “to choose with delight” – emphasizing the pleasure in the selection
• “to select with purpose” – highlighting the intentionality
• “to choose specially” – focusing on the distinctive nature of the choice
• “to take for oneself” – emphasizing the personal nature of the selection

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, αἱρετίζω appears uniquely in Matthew 12:18, where it quotes from Isaiah’s Servant Songs, specifically referring to God’s choice of His Servant, the Messiah. This singular usage carries immense theological weight, as it connects the divine selection of the Messiah with the broader theme of God’s sovereign choosing throughout Scripture.

The Septuagint employs αἱρετίζω more frequently, particularly in contexts where God’s sovereign choice of Israel or His servants is emphasized. This usage pattern establishes a profound theological connection between God’s selection of Israel in the Old Testament and His choice of the Messiah in the New Testament.

Cross References (including Septuagint):

• “I have chosen [αἱρετίζω] and consecrated this house” 2 Chronicles 7:16
• “For יהוה (Yahweh) has chosen [αἱρετίζω] Jacob for Himself” Psalm 135:4
• “Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen” [αἱρετίζω] Matthew 12:18

Cultural Insights

In ancient Near Eastern royal contexts, the concept of choosing or selecting carried significant political and social implications. When a king “chose” someone, it wasn’t merely a selection but an investiture with authority and purpose. This cultural background illuminates why αἱρετίζω in biblical usage carries such weight – it represents not just selection but divine appointment with authority and purpose.

The word’s usage in Matthew’s Gospel would have resonated deeply with his Jewish audience, who understood the concept of divine selection through their history as God’s chosen people. The application of this term to the Messiah would have signified both continuity with Israel’s election and the culmination of God’s choosing purposes in His Servant.

Theological Significance

The use of αἱρετίζω in Matthew’s Gospel represents a crucial theological bridge between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment. It demonstrates God’s consistent pattern of sovereign choice throughout redemptive history, from His selection of Israel to His ultimate choice of the Messiah Jesus.

This word carries profound implications for understanding divine election and purpose. When God chooses (αἱρετίζω), it’s always with delight, purpose, and sovereign intention. This reveals a God who doesn’t choose arbitrarily but with perfect wisdom and pleasure in His selection.

Personal Application

Understanding αἱρετίζω reminds us that God’s choices are always purposeful and filled with divine intention. Just as He chose the Messiah with delight and purpose, He continues to choose and call people today for His divine purposes. This truth should inspire confidence in believers, knowing that their calling and selection by God is neither arbitrary nor accidental, but part of His sovereign plan.

This word encourages us to embrace our identity as chosen people with purpose and mission, following in the footsteps of the Chosen Servant, the Messiah Jesus.

Related Words

• ἐκλέγομαι (eklegomai) – to select, choose out, choose for oneself; emphasizes selection from among alternatives See G1586
• προορίζω (proorizō) – to predetermine, predestine; focuses on the predetermined aspect of choice See G4309
• καλέω (kaleō) – to call, name, invite; connects divine choice with calling See G2564
• ἀφορίζω (aphorizō) – to mark off by boundaries, separate; emphasizes the distinctive nature of divine selection See G873

Did you Know?

• The word αἱρετίζω appears only once in the New Testament but is used 16 times in the Septuagint, showing its significance in expressing God’s sovereign choice of Israel and His servants.
• In modern Greek, derivatives of αἱρετίζω are still used in contexts of election and selection, particularly in ecclesiastical contexts where divine choice is emphasized.
• The root word αἱρέω contributed to the English word “heresy” through a different semantic development, originally meaning “choice” before it came to refer to choosing false teaching.

Remember This

αἱρετίζω reveals the heart of God who chooses with purpose, pleasure, and sovereign intention, culminating in His ultimate choice of the Messiah Jesus as His beloved Servant.

Part of speech: Verb