Understanding God’s Truth: φράζω (Strong’s G5419: phrazō) Reveals Divine Meaning

Strong’s G5419: A Greek verb meaning to tell plainly, explain, or declare. From proto-Indo-European roots, it denotes the action of making clear through speech. Used in the New Testament specifically for explaining parables and divine mysteries, highlighting the transmission of spiritual understanding.

U- Unveiling the Word

φράζω represents the act of making something clear or interpreting meaning, particularly in spiritual contexts. In the New Testament, it appears notably in the context of Jesus explaining parables to His disciples, emphasizing the importance of divine revelation and spiritual understanding. The word carries the weight of authoritative explanation, not merely casual conversation. Its usage in Matthew 13:36 demonstrates Jesus’ role as the divine interpreter of spiritual mysteries. Early church fathers employed this term when discussing the transmission of sacred knowledge and interpretation of Scripture. Today, it remains relevant in understanding how divine truth is communicated and made clear to believers.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: φράζω, phrazō, fra’-zō
• Pronunciation Guide: FRAD-zō (where ‘zō’ rhymes with ‘go’)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• Root: φράζ- (phraz-) – to point out, show, indicate
• Suffix: -ω (-ō) – first person singular present indicative ending
  The word derives from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreh₂d- meaning to point out or make understood.

D – Defining Meanings

• To declare, tell plainly
• To explain, interpret
• To make known through speech

For compound words: Not applicable as φράζω is not a compound word

Translation Options:

1. “To explain” – Best captures the teaching aspect in NT context
2. “To declare plainly” – Emphasizes the clarity of communication
3. “To interpret” – Highlights the explanatory function

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἑρμηνεύω (hermēneuō, her-may-NEW-oh) – to interpret/translate – G2059
• ἐξηγέομαι (exēgeomai, ex-ay-GEH-oh-my) – to lead out, explain – G1834
• διασαφέω (diasapheō, dee-a-sa-FEH-oh) – to make clear – G1285

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, φράζω exhibits:

• Tense: Present, Future, Aorist
• Voice: Active, Middle
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Imperfective (present), Perfective (aorist)

Example morphological changes:

• Present Active: φράζω (I explain)
• Future Active: φράσω (I will explain)
• Aorist Active: ἔφρασα (I explained)

Related words:

• φράσις (phrasis) – noun form, meaning “speech” or “expression”

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons provide a comprehensive view of φράζω’s semantic range. BDAG emphasizes its use in explicating divine mysteries, particularly in Matthew’s gospel. Thayer’s highlights its classical usage in Greek literature where it often meant “to indicate” or “point out.” LSJ traces its development from Homer through classical Greek, showing its evolution from physical pointing to verbal explanation. Vine’s notes its specialized use in the New Testament for spiritual instruction. Strong’s connects it to the concept of mental perception through verbal communication. LEH and Moulton-Milligan provide evidence of its use in Hellenistic Greek, showing its application in both secular and religious contexts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 13:36 “Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain [φράζω] to us the parable of the weeds in the field.'”

Additional References:
Matthew 15:15

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

φράζω embodies the crucial act of making divine truth comprehensible to human understanding. Its usage in the New Testament, particularly in Matthew, highlights Jesus’ role as the supreme interpreter of divine mysteries. The word bridges the gap between divine wisdom and human comprehension, emphasizing that spiritual truth often requires careful explanation and interpretation. This connects to the Gospel message by showing that Jesus not only taught truth but made it accessible and understandable to His followers, demonstrating God’s desire to communicate clearly with His people.

D – Did You Know?

1. φράζω evolved from physical pointing to verbal explanation in Greek language development
2. It appears exclusively in Matthew’s Gospel in the New Testament
3. The word influenced the development of modern terms like “phrase” and “phraseology”

Strong’s G5419: A Greek verb meaning to tell plainly, explain, or declare. From proto-Indo-European roots, it denotes the action of making clear through speech. Used in the New Testament specifically for explaining parables and divine mysteries, highlighting the transmission of spiritual understanding.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: explanation, interpretation, teaching, parables, divine revelation, communication, understanding, spiritual instruction, biblical interpretation, Matthew’s Gospel​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​