ἐκλέγω G1586
To choose or select for a purpose; as a substantival participle, 'the Chosen One' (Messianic title).
A middle-voice verb meaning to pick out or select for oneself, used almost exclusively for deliberate, purposeful choosing. Jesus chooses His twelve apostles (Luke 6:13), God chooses believers before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and Mary chooses 'the good portion' (Luke 10:42). Spanish elegir/escoger and German erwahlen consistently reflect purposeful election. One striking occurrence stands apart: in Luke 9:35, the perfect passive participle ho eklelegmenos functions as a Messianic title, 'the Chosen One,' spoken by the Father at the Transfiguration.
Senses
1. choose, select — To choose, select, or elect someone or something for a particular purpose or role. Predominantly aorist middle forms (exelexato, exelexamen) convey deliberate self-involved choosing. Luke 6:13 records Jesus choosing the Twelve; John 6:70 His choosing of Judas; Ephesians 1:4 God's election of believers. Spanish escogieron/elegí and French choisir confirm the volitional, purposive meaning across 21 occurrences. 21×
AR["اختاروا", "اختارَ", "اختارَنا", "اختَرنا", "اخْتارَ", "اخْتَارَهُمْ", "اخْتَارُوا", "اخْتَرْتُ", "اخْتَرْتُمْ", "اِخْتارَتْ", "اِخْتَرْتَهُ", "اِخْتَرْتُ", "كَانُوا-يَخْتَارُونَ", "يَختَر"]·ben["তিনি-মনোনীত-করেছেন", "বাছাই-করলেন", "বেছে-নিচ্ছিল", "বেছে-নিয়ে", "বেছে-নিয়েছ", "বেছে-নিয়েছি", "বেছে-নিয়েছে", "বেছে-নিয়েছেন", "বেছেছি", "মনোনীত-করলেন", "মনোনীত-করিয়াছ", "মনোনীত-করেছেন"]·DE["erwaehlen", "erwählt"]·EN["I-chose", "chose", "having-chosen", "he-chose", "they-chose", "they-were-choosing", "you-chose"]·FR["choisir"]·heb["-", "אֲנָשִׁים", "בְּחַרְתֶּם", "בָּחֲרָה", "בָּחֲרוּ", "בָּחַר", "בָּחַרְתִּי", "בָּחַרְתָּ", "בּוֹחֲרִים"]·HI["-दो-में-से", "उस्ने-चुन", "चुन-रहे-थे", "चुन-लिया-है", "चुनकर", "चुना", "चुना,"]·ID["Aku-pilih", "Dia-pilih", "Dia-telah-memilih", "Engkau-pilih,", "memilih", "mereka-pilih", "telah-memilih"]·IT["scegliere"]·jav["Kula-pilih,", "Kula-sampun-pilih,", "Panjenenganipun-milih", "milih", "milih,", "sampun-Paduka-pilih,", "sampun-dipun-pilih"]·KO["택하는지를", "택하셨느냐", "택하셨는지", "택하셨다", "택하신", "택하여", "택하였으니", "택하지-않았는가", "택한-것이", "택했는지", "택했다"]·PT["escolheste", "escolhestes", "escolheu", "escolhi", "escolhiam", "nos-escolheu", "tendo-escolhido"]·RU["Ты-избрал,", "выбирали", "выбрали", "избрав", "избрал", "избрала", "избрали"]·ES["elegí", "escogiendo", "escogieron", "escogiste", "escogisteis", "escogió", "escogí", "escogían"]·SW["achagua", "akichagua", "alichagua", "alivichagua", "alivyotuchagua", "aliwachagua", "amechagua", "mlioniochagua", "niliwachagua", "tukichagua", "umemchagua", "wakichagua", "walichagua", "walivyochagua"]·TR["Tanrı", "secti", "seçerek", "seçiyorlardı", "seçti", "seçtiler", "seçtim", "seçtiniz", "seçtiğini", "utandırsın"]·urd["بارہ", "تو-نے-چُنا", "چنا", "چُن-لیا", "چُن-لیے", "چُن-کر", "چُنا", "چُنا-ہے", "چُنتے-تھے"]
Mark 13:20, Luke 6:13, Luke 10:42, Luke 14:7, John 6:70, John 13:18, John 15:16, John 15:16, John 15:19, Acts 1:2, Acts 1:24, Acts 6:5 (+9 more)
2. the Chosen One (Messianic title) — Used as a substantival perfect passive participle (ho eklelegmenos) functioning as a Messianic title: 'the Chosen One.' In Luke 9:35, the divine voice at the Transfiguration declares 'This is my Son, the Chosen One.' Spanish escogido and German erwahlt render the title, while English 'Chosen One' captures the unique christological weight that distinguishes this single occurrence from the verb's normal active usage. 1×
AR["الْمُخْتارُ"]·ben["মনোনীত"]·DE["erwählt"]·EN["Chosen-One"]·FR["choisir"]·heb["הַנִּבְחָר"]·HI["चुना-हुआ"]·ID["yang-terpilih"]·IT["scegliere"]·jav["dipun-pilih"]·KO["택하신-자니"]·PT["eleito"]·RU["Избранный"]·ES["escogido"]·SW["Mteule"]·TR["seçilmiş;"]·urd["چُنا-ہوا"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐκλέγω, future passive ἐκλεγήσεσθαι Refs: perfect passive ἐξείλεγμαι Refs 5th c.BC+, and in middle sense, Refs 4th c.BC+:—pick or single out, Refs 5th c.BC+; especially of soldiers, rowers, etc., Refs 5th c.BC+ —passive Refsselect, recondite, Refs 4th c.BC+ Oen.23:—middle, pick out for oneself, choose, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 Lit. Crit., select, λέξεις καλάς Refs 1st c.BC+; compare ἐκλογή. __3 middle,…