"hearing; the act or sense of hearing, 1 Cor. 12:17; 2 Pet. 2:8; the instrument of hearing, the ear, Mk. 7:35; a thing heard; announcement, instruction, doctrine, Jn. 12:38; Rom. 10:16; report, Mt. 4:24, et al"
Definition and meaning
hearing; the act or sense of hearing, 1 Cor. 12:17; 2 Pet. 2:8; the instrument of hearing, the ear, Mk. 7:35; a thing heard; announcement, instruction, doctrine, Jn. 12:38; Rom. 10:16; report, Mt. 4:24, et al
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀκοή
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of akoe (G189) across the King James Bible.
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
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Common questions
Strong's G189 (akoe) is a Greek word that means: hearing; the act or sense of hearing, 1 Cor. 12:17; 2 Pet. 2:8; the instrument of hearing, the ear, Mk. 7:35; a thing heard; announcement, instruction, doctrine, Jn. 12:38; Rom. 10:16; report, Mt. 4:2... It appears 22 times in the King James Bible.
The word akoe (G189) appears 22 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G189 is akoe, a Greek word defined as: hearing; the act or sense of hearing, 1 Cor. 12:17; 2 Pet. 2:8; the instrument of hearing, the ear, Mk. 7:35; a thing heard; announcement, instruction. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
akoe is a Greek word found in the New Testament.