BIBLE GREEK WORD STUDY
Laleō (λαλέω) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
λαλέω (laleō) is a Greek verb meaning 'to talk' or 'to utter words,' used 33 times in the New Testament to describe speech, especially divine revelation.
Meaning of the word
λαλέω (laleō) is a basic Greek verb meaning 'to talk' or 'to utter words.' The provided lexicon entry defines it simply as 'to talk, i.e. utter words,' pointing to its plain sense of producing speech. Unlike more specific Greek verbs for kinds of speech (such as λέγω, which often emphasizes the content of a statement, or φημί, which focuses on declaring), λαλέω draws attention to the act of speaking itself.
In the New Testament, λαλέω covers ordinary human conversation as well as authoritative divine speech. The verb appears in various tenses: the present tense (e.g., λαλοῦντος, λαλοῦμεν, λαλεῖ) describes speech in progress, while the perfect (λελάληκα) marks speech that has already taken place and carries ongoing weight, and the future/aorist forms (λαλήσω, λαλήσει, ἐλάλησα) point to speech yet to come or already completed.
Because λαλέω can refer to any utterance, its meaning in context depends on who is speaking and what is being said. When Jesus or the Spirit is the speaker, the term carries the sense of authoritative divine address.
Usage in Scripture
Of the 33 New Testament occurrences, John's Gospel provides the densest concentration of λαλέω, where the verb frames Jesus' earthly ministry as ongoing speech to His disciples. In John 3:11, Jesus affirms, 'We speak that which we know,' using λαλοῦμεν to underline the reliability of apostolic witness. John 3:34 applies the same logic to the Son: 'he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God,' tying λαλεῖ to divine origin.
In the Farewell Discourse (John 14–16), λαλέω becomes almost a refrain. Jesus repeatedly says, 'These things have I spoken unto you' (λελάληκα, John 14:25; 15:3, 11; 16:1, 4, 6), marking His words as binding teaching that remains after His departure. John 15:22 sharpens the ethical edge: Jesus' having 'spoken' (ἐλάλησα) leaves His hearers without excuse. John 16:13 extends λαλέω to the Spirit of truth, who 'shall not speak from himself,' showing that the verb applies to divine speech beyond Jesus alone. John 14:30 also uses the verb of Jesus limiting His further speech because 'the prince of the world cometh.'
The word in detail
- G2980 The lexicon gives λαλέω a basic gloss: 'to talk, i.e. utter words.' It is a general verb for speaking rather than one tied to a particular kind of speech. In John, the verb carries strong theological weight because Jesus' 'speaking' is framed as the delivery of divine revelation.
Example verses
- John 3:11 Jesus uses λαλοῦμεν to affirm apostolic witness: 'We speak that which we know.' Here λαλέω underlines that the disciples' speech is grounded in firsthand experience.
- John 3:34 'He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God' ties λαλεῖ to divine origin, showing that the Son's speech transmits the Father's words.
- John 15:22 'If I had not come and spoken unto them' (ἐλάλησα) uses λαλέω to ground moral accountability in Jesus' prior speech — His having spoken leaves hearers without excuse.
- John 16:13 'He shall not speak from himself' applies λαλέω to the Spirit, extending divine speaking beyond Jesus to the Spirit of truth who declares 'the things that are to come.'
Common questions
What does λαλέω mean in simple terms?
It means 'to talk' or 'to utter words.' The lexicon glosses it as 'to talk, i.e. utter words,' a general verb for the act of speaking.
How is λαλέω different from λέγω?
Both mean 'to speak,' but λαλέω emphasizes the act of uttering words, while λέγω often focuses on the content or statement being made. In John, λαλέω frequently frames speech as ongoing divine address.
Where does λαλέω appear most in the New Testament?
John's Gospel accounts for many of its 33 occurrences, especially in the Farewell Discourse (John 14–16), where Jesus repeatedly says, 'These things have I spoken unto you.'