νεύω G3506
to nod or motion as a signal, communicate through gesture
To make a gesture, typically with the head or hand, to convey a message without words. Both New Testament occurrences involve communication through signs: Peter nods to the beloved disciple at the Last Supper to ask Jesus about the betrayer (John 13:24), and the governor Felix motions to Paul to speak in his defense (Acts 24:10). The verb captures those moments where speech is inappropriate or impossible, and gesture must carry the message.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To nod, beckon, or signal through bodily movement. Classical usage shows head-nodding for assent or command, hand-gestures for beckoning. The Johannine passage suggests subtle communication—Peter's silent signal across the table. Luke's usage shows formal court protocol—the governor's official gesture granting permission to speak. Cross-linguistic renderings (Spanish 'hacer señas,' French 'faire signe,' German 'zunicken') emphasize non-verbal communication, capturing both informal and formal gesture contexts. 2×
AR["أَوْمَأَ", "لَمَّا-أَشَارَ"]·ben["ইঙ্গিত-করেন", "ইঙ্গিত-দিয়া"]·DE["zunicken", "νεύσαντος"]·EN["having-motioned", "nods"]·FR["faire-signe"]·heb["כְּשֶׁרָמַז", "רָמַז"]·HI["इशारा-करता-है", "इशाराकरनेपर"]·ID["memberi-isyarat"]·IT["fare-cenno", "neuei"]·jav["aweh-isyarat", "ngawéni"]·KO["고개-끄덕이니", "눈짓한다"]·PT["acena"]·RU["кивает", "кивнувшему"]·ES["Hace-señas", "habiéndole-hecho-seña"]·SW["alipoashiria", "anamashiria"]·TR["işaret-eder", "işaret-edince"]·urd["اشارہ-کرتا-ہے", "اشارہ-کرنے-پر"]
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
νεύω, Refs 8th c.BC+: future νεύσω Refs 8th c.BC+aorist ἔνευσα, Epic dialect νεῦσα (see. below): perfect νένευκα Refs 5th c.BC+:—incline in any direction: __1 nod, beckon, as a sign, νεύσω μέν τοι ἐγὼ κεφαλῇ Refs 8th c.BC+; beckon with the hand, δεξιᾷ δέ μοι ἔνευσε Refs 2nd c.BC+: with infinitive, beckon to one to do a thing, in token of command, νεανίαις ἔνευσε παρθένον λαβεῖν Refs 5th c.BC+ __2…