"to emit a sound; to speak, Acts 4:18; 2 Pet. 2:16, 18*"
Definition and meaning
to emit a sound; to speak, Acts 4:18; 2 Pet. 2:16, 18*
In the original Greek the word is written: φθέγγομαι
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 phthengomai (G5350) across the King James Bible.
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
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Common questions
Strong's G5350 (phthengomai) is a Greek word that means: to emit a sound; to speak, Acts 4:18; 2 Pet. 2:16, 18* It appears 3 times in the King James Bible.
The word phthengomai (G5350) appears 3 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5350 is phthengomai, a Greek word defined as: to emit a sound; to speak, Acts 4:18; 2 Pet. 2:16, 18*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
phthengomai is a Greek word found in the New Testament.