εὐλογέω

I bless

Definition

The verb εὐλογέω (eulogeō) fundamentally means 'to speak well of' or 'to praise,' but in biblical usage it primarily denotes the act of blessing. This blessing can flow from God to people (e.g., God blessing humanity in Genesis 1:28, reflected in the New Testament), from people to God in praise (Luke 1:64), or between people. A key New Testament usage is Jesus blessing food before meals (Matthew 14:19, 26:26), invoking God's goodness. It also describes pronouncing divine favor and future benefit, as when Jesus blesses little children (Mark 10:16) or when the faithful are invited into the kingdom prepared for them (Matthew 25:34). In the passive voice, it means 'to be blessed' or 'to receive blessing.'

Biblical Usage

Εὐλογέω is used 40 times across the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation. In the Gospels, it frequently describes Jesus blessing food (Matthew 14:19, Mark 8:7) or people (Mark 10:16). It is used in shouts of praise, as in 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' (Matthew 21:9). The Epistles employ it for God blessing believers spiritually (Ephesians 1:3) and for believers blessing others, even persecutors (Romans 12:14, echoing Jesus' command in Matthew 5:44). Hebrews uses it for Melchizedek blessing Abraham (Hebrews 7:1, 6).

Etymology

The word is a compound from εὖ (eu), meaning 'well' or 'good,' and λόγος (logos), meaning 'word' or 'speech.' Thus, its root meaning is 'to speak well of,' 'to praise,' or 'to say a good word.' This developed into the religious sense of invoking or bestowing divine favor, which is its dominant biblical meaning. It is cognate with the noun εὐλογία (eulogia, G2129), meaning 'blessing' or 'praise.'

Semantic Range

This word is central to the biblical theme of blessing, which signifies the transfer of divine life, favor, and power. God's blessing in Christ is the ultimate gift (Ephesians 1:3). Jesus, as the blessed one, becomes the source of blessing for all nations (Acts 3:25-26). Understanding εὐλογέω enriches reading by highlighting that biblical blessing is more than a wish; it is a powerful, effective word that confers grace. The command to 'bless those who curse you' (Luke 6:28) reveals a transformative, grace-based ethic rooted in God's own character.

In the Greco-Roman and Jewish world, blessing was a potent spoken act, not merely a sentiment. To bless was to invoke divine power for prosperity, protection, or fruitfulness. In Jewish tradition, blessings (berakhot) structured daily prayer and meals, acknowledging God as the source of all good. Jesus' act of blessing the loaves (Mark 6:41) would have been recognized as a solemn, religious act giving thanks to God, not a casual routine. The cultural weight makes his command to bless enemies (Matthew 5:44) especially radical.

εὐλογητός (eulogētos, G2128) — An adjective meaning 'blessed' or 'praised,' used almost exclusively for God. εὐλογία (eulogia, G2129) — A noun meaning 'blessing,' 'praise,' or 'bounty,' denoting the thing bestowed. μακαρίζω (makarizō, G3106) — Means 'to declare blessed' or 'happy,' focusing on the state of the recipient (e.g., James 5:11).

Word Details

Scripture References