"to cry out; to exclaim, proclaim, Mt. 3:3; 15:34; Acts 8:7; πρός τινα, to invoke, implore the aid of any one, Lk. 18:7"
Definition and meaning
to cry out; to exclaim, proclaim, Mt. 3:3; 15:34; Acts 8:7; πρός τινα, to invoke, implore the aid of any one, Lk. 18:7
In the original Greek the word is written: βοάω
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 boao (G994) across the King James Bible.
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G994 (boao) is a Greek word that means: to cry out; to exclaim, proclaim, Mt. 3:3; 15:34; Acts 8:7; πρός τινα, to invoke, implore the aid of any one, Lk. 18:7 It appears 11 times in the King James Bible.
The word boao (G994) appears 11 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G994 is boao, a Greek word defined as: to cry out; to exclaim, proclaim, Mt. 3:3; 15:34; Acts 8:7; πρός τινα, to invoke, implore the aid of any one, Lk. 18:7. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
boao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.