ἐπαιν-έω G1867
To praise, commend, or express approval; used of both sincere commendation and rhetorical or ironic praise.
A verb of public affirmation, used when someone voices approval or admiration for another person or their actions. In the NT it appears both positively — as in Paul commending the Corinthians for holding to traditions (1 Cor 11:2) — and with sharp irony, as when he says 'I do not praise you' for their conduct at the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:17, 22). The Spanish 'alabo' and German 'loben' both capture the warmth of open commendation, while Luke 16:8 famously records the master praising the dishonest manager for his shrewdness, blending moral surprise with genuine acknowledgment of cleverness.
Senses
1. praise, commend — To express approval, commendation, or praise toward a person or their conduct. All six NT occurrences share this core meaning, though the pragmatic force ranges from heartfelt commendation (Rom 15:11, quoting Ps 117:1, 'Praise the Lord, all you nations') to pointed irony (1 Cor 11:17, 22, where Paul withholds praise). The Spanish 'alabo' and French 'louer' consistently render the sense of public verbal affirmation. In Luke 16:8, the master's praise of the shrewd steward creates a memorable tension between moral evaluation and practical admiration. 6×
AR["أَمدَحُكُم", "لِيَمْدَحُو-هُ", "مَدَحَ"]·ben["আমি-কি-প্রশংসা-করব", "আমি-প্রশংসা-করি", "আমি-প্রশংসা-করি!", "আমি-প্রশংসা-করি,", "প্রশংসা-করলেন", "প্রশংসা-করুক"]·DE["loben", "ἐπῄνεσεν"]·EN["I-praise", "let-praise", "praised", "should-I-praise"]·FR["louer"]·heb["אֲשַׁבֵּחַ", "יְשַׁבְּחֻהוּ", "מְשַׁבֵּחַ-אֲנִי", "שִׁבַּח"]·HI["प्रशंसा-करता-हूँ", "प्रशंसा-करूँ", "प्रशंसा-करें", "सराहना-की"]·ID["Aku-memuji", "Haruskah-kupuji", "aku-memuji", "aku-memuji!", "biarlah-memuji", "memuji"]·IT["epenesen", "lodare"]·jav["Kula-memuji", "kula-memuji", "kula-memuji!", "kula-memuji,", "ngalembana", "sami-mulyakaken"]·KO["칭찬하노라", "칭찬하라", "칭찬하리오", "칭찬하지", "칭찬했다"]·PT["Louve", "Louvo", "louvem-no", "louvo!", "louvo,", "louvou"]·RU["Похвалю", "Хвалю", "все", "похвалил", "хвалю!", "хвалю,"]·ES["Alabo", "alabo", "alabo!", "alabó", "alábenle", "¿Alabe"]·SW["-kusifii!", "Nawasifuni", "alimsifu", "na-wamsifu", "niwasifie", "sikusifii,"]·TR["içinde-", "övdü", "övsünler", "övüyorum"]·urd["تعریف-کرتا", "تعریف-کرتا-ہوں", "تعریف-کروں", "تعریف-کریں", "تعریف-کی"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπαιν-έω, Aeolic dialect ἐπαίνημι Refs 4th c.BC+; Laconian dialect ἐπαινίω Refs 5th c.BC+imperfect ἐπῄνεον Il Refs: future -έσωRefs 7th c.BC+: but more frequently -έσομαιRefs 5th c.BC+ poetry -ήσω Refs 6th c.BC+: aorist 1 ἐπῄνεσα Refs 8th c.BC+: also Aeolic dialect prose, Refs: perfect ἐπῄνεκα Refs 5th c.BC+:—middle, aorist ἐπῃνησάμην Refs 4th c.AD+; -εσάμην Refs 3rd c.BC+:—passive, future…