Word study
Tell
15 Hebrew and 12 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: tell, told, telling, tells. English often uses one word where Hebrew or Greek has several, each with its own shade of meaning. Under each word are verses where it is translated this way; choose the word itself for its full study: every verse, how else it is translated, the forms it takes and what the dictionaries say.
At a glance
How often each original word is translated “tell” or one of its forms.
Compare the Hebrew words side by side Compare the Greek words side by side
Hebrew and Aramaic words (Old Testament)
- אָמַר âmarutter, saytranslated this way 339 times of its 4,555 uses · Strong’s H559Verb · Translated: said 1,531, says 576, say 352, replied 341Full study and all 3,827 verses →
Genesis 3:4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent told the woman.
Exodus 2:8 “Go ahead,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. And the girl went and called the boy’s mother.
- נָגַד nâgadbe conspicuoustranslated this way 161 times of its 360 uses · Strong’s H5046Verb · Translated: tell 83, told 67, reported 31, declare 18Full study and all 339 verses →
Genesis 3:11 “Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
Exodus 4:28 And Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say, and all the signs He had commanded him to perform.
- דָבַר dâbarspeaktranslated this way 88 times of its 1,113 uses · Strong’s H1696Verb · Translated: speak 209, said 157, spoken 142, spoke 110Full study and all 1,025 verses →
Genesis 17:23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money— every male among the members of Abraham’s household— and he circumcised them, just as God had told him.
Exodus 6:2 God also told Moses, “I am the LORD.
- סָפַר sâpharcounttranslated this way 25 times of its 154 uses · Strong’s H5608Verb · Translated: scribe 41, count 19, told 15, declare 13Full study and all 150 verses →
Genesis 24:66 Then the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
Exodus 10:2 and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how severely I dealt with the Egyptians when I performed miraculous signs among them, so that all of you may know that I am the LORD.”
- אֲמַר ămarsay, tell, commandtranslated this way 10 times of its 47 uses · Strong’s H560Verb · Translated: said 10, asked 6, tell 6, told 4Full study and all 46 verses →
Jeremiah 10:11 Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”
Daniel 2:4 Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, may you live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”
- יָדַע yâdaknowtranslated this way 8 times of its 914 uses · Strong’s H3045Verb · Translated: know 453, known 53, knows 48, knew 38Full study and all 863 verses →
Genesis 41:21 When they had devoured them, however, no one could tell that they had done so; their appearance was as ugly as it had been before. Then I awoke.
Joshua 4:22 you are to tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’
- גָּלָה gâlâhuncover, removetranslated this way 5 times of its 170 uses · Strong’s H1540Verb · Translated: revealed 14, uncovered 13, exiled 12, sexual relations 11Full study and all 161 verses →
1 Samuel 20:2 “Far from it!” Jonathan replied. “You will not die. Indeed, my father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This cannot be true!”
1 Samuel 20:12 and Jonathan said, “By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?
- יְדַע yedaknowtranslated this way 5 times of its 44 uses · Strong’s H3046Verb · Translated: know 6, made known 5, known 4, tell 4Full study and all 39 verses →
Daniel 2:5 The king replied to the astrologers, “My word is final: If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be reduced to rubble.
Daniel 2:9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”
- שָׁמַע shâmaheartranslated this way 4 times of its 1,132 uses · Strong’s H8085Verb · Translated: heard 311, hear 253, listen 218, obey 60Full study and all 1,063 verses →
Genesis 43:25 Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph’s arrival at noon.
2 Samuel 19:2 And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.”
- צָוָה tsâvâhlay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, ordertranslated this way 4 times of its 491 uses · Strong’s H6680Verb · Translated: commanded 271, command 41, gave 16, instructed 13Full study and all 473 verses →
Genesis 27:8 Now, my son, listen to my voice and do exactly as I tell you.
Joshua 1:11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”
- חֲוָא chăvâshowtranslated this way 4 times of its 14 uses · Strong’s H2324Verb · Translated: give 7, tell 3, do 1, explain 1Full study and all 13 verses →
Daniel 2:6 But if you tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
Daniel 2:11 What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”
- אֵל êlmotion totranslated this way 3 times of its 4,199 uses · Strong’s H413Preposition · Translated: to 1,941, to me 285, to you 149, to him 137Full study and all 3,455 verses →
Exodus 10:10 Then Pharaoh told them, “May the LORD be with you if I ever let you go with your little ones. Clearly you are bent on evil.
- דָּבָר dâbârspeech, wordtranslated this way 2 times of its 1,244 uses · Strong’s H1697Noun · Translated: word 342, words 299, acts 51, Chronicles 42Full study and all 1,120 verses →
1 Kings 13:17 For I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”
1 Kings 17:5 So Elijah did what the LORD had told him, and he went and lived by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan.
- חוּד chûdpropound a riddletranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s H2330Verb · Translated: tell 2, posed 1, pose 1Full study and all 4 verses →
Judges 14:12 “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
Judges 14:13 But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.”
- שִׂיחַ sîachmuse, complaintranslated this way 2 times of its 20 uses · Strong’s H7878Verb · Translated: meditate 6, ponder 2, tell 2, speak 2Full study and all 20 verses →
1 Chronicles 16:9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.
Psalm 105:2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.
Greek words (New Testament)
- λέγω légōI say, speaktranslated this way 220 times of its 993 uses · Strong’s G3004Verb · Translated: said 216, tell 164, say 105, saying 86Full study and all 936 verses →
Matthew 3:9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Mark 1:30 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
- ἔπω épōto speak or say (by word or writing)translated this way 143 times of its 962 uses · Strong’s G2036Verb · Translated: said 426, asked 95, told 88, replied 69Full study and all 891 verses →
Matthew 2:13 When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
Mark 1:44 “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
- λαλέω laléōI speak, saytranslated this way 26 times of its 291 uses · Strong’s G2980Verb · Translated: speak 69, spoke 36, speaking 31, spoken 27Full study and all 268 verses →
Matthew 13:3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Mark 4:34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.
- ἐρέω eréōI say, speaktranslated this way 18 times of its 96 uses · Strong’s G2046Verb · Translated: say 24, spoken 17, said 15, tell 9Full study and all 96 verses →
Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
Mark 11:29 “I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
- ἀπαγγέλλω apangéllōI report, bring a report, announcetranslated this way 14 times of its 46 uses · Strong’s G518Verb · Translated: reported 11, tell 7, told 6, report 5Full study and all 46 verses →
Matthew 28:8 So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.
Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”
- προλέγω prolégōI forewarntranslated this way 3 times of its 14 uses · Strong’s G4302Verb · Translated: foretold 3, said 2, warn 2Full study and all 12 verses →
Matthew 24:25 See, I have told you in advance.
Mark 13:23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.
- ἀναγγέλλω anangéllōI announce, make known, reporttranslated this way 3 times of its 14 uses · Strong’s G312Verb · Translated: told 3, disclosing 2, reported 2, declaring 2Full study and all 14 verses →
John 5:15 And the man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Romans 15:21 Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”
- γνωρίζω gnōrízōI make known, declare, knowtranslated this way 3 times of its 25 uses · Strong’s G1107Verb · Translated: made known 9, tell 3, make 2, want you to know 2Full study and all 24 verses →
Ephesians 6:21 Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
Colossians 4:7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
- ἀποκρίνομαι apokrínomaiI answer, replytranslated this way 2 times of its 206 uses · Strong’s G611Verb · Translated: replied 84, answered 64, said 14, answer 13Full study and all 206 verses →
Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?”
Acts 25:16 I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
- ἐξηγέομαι exēgéomaiI explain, make declarationtranslated this way 2 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s G1834Verb · Translated: told 2, made 1, explained 1, describing 1Full study and all 6 verses →
Luke 24:35 Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
Acts 15:14 Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
- ἀκούω akoúōI hear, listentranslated this way 2 times of its 422 uses · Strong’s G191Verb · Translated: heard 192, hear 98, listen 37, hearing 21Full study and all 394 verses →
Acts 5:21 At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin— the full assembly of the elders of Israel— and sent to the jail for the apostles.
Acts 9:13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
- διηγέομαι diēgéomaiI relate in full, describetranslated this way 2 times of its 8 uses · Strong’s G1334Verb · Translated: described 3, tell anyone 1, describe 1, reported 1Full study and all 8 verses →
Mark 9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
How to study a word well
- Start from the verse, not the dictionary. Find which Hebrew or Greek word stands in the verse you are studying. One English word often translates several different original words.
- Read every place the word is used. A word means what its writers used it to mean. The list of verses and the count by book show its range, and who uses it most.
- Look at how it is translated. A word rendered five different ways has a wider meaning than any one English word can carry.
- Notice the form. A command is not a statement, and a passive verb is something done to the subject. The form in your verse is part of the meaning.
- See what it keeps company with. The words that appear beside it again and again show how the Bible itself connects ideas.
- Then read the dictionaries. They give the considered view of scholars, with their evidence.
- Come back to the verse. Context decides. A word does not carry every one of its meanings into every verse, and where a word came from does not settle what it means in a sentence written centuries later.
Scripture text and translation counts: Berean Standard Bible. Full entry: Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906, public domain), in the digital edition Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced by unfoldingWord (Joel Ruark, J. de Joode), based on data by Eliran Wong and Stephen Ku; its additions are used under CC BY 4.0. Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project, CC BY 4.0. Hebrew-to-English verse numbering: original work of the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible available at https://github.com/openscriptures/morphhb, CC BY 4.0. We reformatted the data, linked the references to this site’s Bible text and left out words in other scripts that the source holds only as images. These are historical reference works; an entry gives its authors’ view, and a word’s meaning in any verse depends on how it is used there.