Quick Definition
ἐπικαλέω v. I call by an additional name, appeal to
Strong's Definition
middle voice from 1909 and 2564; to entitle; by implication, to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.)
KJV Usage: appeal (unto), call (on, upon), surname
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | pf.pass. ἐπικέκλημαι · plpf.pass. ἐπεκεκλήμην · aor.pass. ἐπεκλήθην | καλέω
33.131 · Communication · Name
to call, to name to use an attribution in speaking of a person It is not always possible to determine from the context whether the act involved is an initial naming of a person or simply calling a person by a particular name. Likewise in the case of attributions or titles, it is not always possible to determine whether it is a matter of giving an attribution or title to a person or simply a matter of speaking of or to a person by means of such an attribution or title. In some instances the giving of a title may be made indirect. For example, in MAT 1:23 the statement ‘and they will call his name Emmanuel’ suggests the giving of a title, but the process is stated in terms of how people will speak of this person.
MAT 10:25 · ACT 1:23 · ACT 4:36 · ACT 7:59 · ACT 9:21 · ACT 10:5 · ACT 10:18 · ACT 10:32 · ACT 11:13 · ACT 12:12 · ACT 12:25 · HEB 11:16 · JAS 2:7 · 1PE 1:17
33.176 · (ἐπικαλέομαι[a]) · Communication · Ask For, Request
to call upon, to appeal to, to ask for help to call upon someone to do something, normally implying an appeal for aid ἐπικαλέομαι[a] also occurs in such expressions as ὅς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου (ACT 2:21) ‘whoever calls upon the name of the Lord,’ but the meaning is essentially the same as ‘to call upon the Lord,’ since τὸ ὄνομα ‘the name’ may simply be a metonym for ‘the Lord.’
ACT 2:21 · ACT 22:16 · ROM 10:12 · ROM 10:13 · ROM 10:14 · 1CO 1:2 · 2CO 1:23 · 2TI 2:22 · 1PE 1:17
56.15 · (ἐπικαλέομαι[b]) · Courts and Legal Procedures · Judicial Hearing, Inquiry
to appeal one’s case, to appeal to a higher court to claim one’s legal right to have a case reviewed by a higher tribunal The second clause in ACT 26:32 may also be rendered in a number of languages as ‘if he had not asked for the Emperor to listen to his case’ or ‘... to judge the accusations against him.’
ACT 25:11 · ACT 25:12 · ACT 25:21 · ACT 25:25 · ACT 26:32 · ACT 28:19
11.28 · (ἐπικαλέομαι[c]) · Groups and Classes of Persons and Members of Such Groups and Classes · Socio-Religious
Collocation: ἐπικαλέομαι τὸ ὄνομά τινος ἐπί τινα
to be one of (God’s) people, to be the people of (an idiom, literally: to have someone’s name called upon someone) to be acknowledged as belonging to the one whose name is called upon such an individual This interpretation of the expression ἐπικαλέομαι τὸ ὄνομά τινος ἐπί τινα is based upon well attested OT usage, and though it is quite different from traditional interpretations of ACT 9:14 and ACT 15:17, it should be followed as reflecting a more satisfactory and accurate interpretation of the passive form of ἐπικαλέω.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-καλέω, -ῶ : 1 aor. ἐπεκάλεσα; [ Pass. and Mid., pres. ἐπικαλοῦμαι); pf. pass. ἐπικέκλημαι ; plpf. 3 pers. sing. emexekAnro, and with neglect of augm. [ef. W. § 12, 9; B. 33 (29) ] ἐπικέκλητο (Acts xxvi. 32 Lehm.); 1 aor. pass. ἐπεκλήθην ; fut. mid. ἐπικαλέσομαι; 1 aor. mid. ἐπεκαλεσάμην ; Sept. very often for 87) ; 1. to put a name upon, to surname: τινά (Xen., Plato, al.), Mt. x. 25 α T Tr WH (Ree. ἐκάλεσαν) ; pass. 6 ἐπικαλούμενος, he who is surnamed, Lk. xxii. 3 RGL; Acts χ. 18; xi. 13; xii. 12; xv. 22 RG; also ὃς ἐπικαλεῖται, Acts x. 5, 32; ὁ ἐπικληθείς, Mt. x. 3 [RG]; Acts iv. 36; xii. 25; 1. q. ὃς ἐπεκλήθη, Acts i. 23. Pass. with the force of a mid. [ef. W. § 38, 3], to permit one’s self to be surnamed: Heb. xi. 16; Mid. w. τινά : 1 Pet. i. 17 εἰ πατέρα ἐπικαλεῖσθε τὸν etc. 1. 6. if ye call (for yourselves) on him as father, i. 6. if ye surname him your father. 2. ἐπικαλεῖται τὸ ὄνομά τινος ἐπί τινα, after the Hebr. “5 Dy “3 Dw NIP), the name of one is named upon some one, i. e. he is called by his name or declared to be dedicated to him (cf. Gesenius, Thesaur. iii. p. 1232"): Acts xv. 17 fr. Am. ix. 12 (the name referred to is the people of God); Jas. ii. 7 (the name of τοῦ Χριστοῦ). 3. τινί with the ace. of the object; prop. to call something to one [cf. Eng. to ery out upon (or against) one]; to charge something to one as a crime or reproach; to summon one on any charge, prosecute one for a crime; to blame one for, accuse one of, (Arstph. pax 663; Thue. 2, 27; 3, 36; Plat. lege. 6, 761 e.; 7, 809 e.; Dio Cass. 36, 28; 40,41 and often in the orators [cf. 5. v. karnyopéw]) : εἰ τῷ οἰκοδεσπότῃ Βεελζεβοὺλ ἐπεκάλεσαν (i. 6. accused of commerce with Beelzebul, of receiving his help, cf. Mt. ix. 34; xii. 24; Mk. iii. 22; Lk. xi. 15), πόσῳ μᾶλλον τοῖς οἰκιακοῖς αὐτοῦ, Mt. x. 25 L WHumrg. after cod. Vat. (see 1 above), a reading defended by Rettig in the Stud. u. Krit. for 1838, Ρ. 477 sqq. and by Alex. Bttm. in the same journal for 1860, p. 343, and also in his N. T. Gram. 151 (132); [also by Weiss in Mey. ed. 7 ad loc.]. But this expression (Beelzebul for the help of Beelzebul) is too hard not to be suggestive of the emendation of some ignorant scribe, who took offence because (with the exception of this passage) the enemies of Jesus are nowhere in the Gospels said to have called him by the name of Beelzebul. 4. to call upon (like Germ. anrufen), to invoke ; Mid. to call upon for one’s self, in one’s behalf: any one as a helper, Acts vii. 59, where supply τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν (βοηθόν, Plat. Euthyd. p. 297 ¢c.; Diod. 5, 79); τινὰ μάρτυρα, as my witness, 2 Co. i. 23 (Plat. legg. 2, 664 ο.); as a judge, i.e. to appeal to one, make appeal unto: 'καιoapa, Acts xxv. 11 sq. ; ΧΧΥΪ. 32: xxviii. 19; [τὸν Σεβαστόν, Acts xxv. 25]; foll. by the inf. pass. Acts xxv. 21 (to be reserved). 5. Hebraistically (like ΠῚ Dwa Np to call upon by pronouncing the name of Jehovah, Gen. iv. 26; xii. 8; 2 K. v. 11, ete.; ef. Gesenius, Thesaur. p. 1281" [or Hebr. Lex. 8. ν. 8p]; an expression finding its explanation in the fact that prayers addressed to God ordinarily began with an invocation of the divine name: Ps. iii. 2; vi. 2; vii. 2, ete.) ἐπικαλοῦμαι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου, 1 call upon (on my behalf) the name of the Lord, i.e. to invoke, adore, worship, the Lord, i.e. Christ: Acts ii. 21 (fr. Joel ii. 32 (iii. 5)); ix. 14, 21; xxii. 16; Ro. x. 13 sq:; 1 Co. i. 2; τὸν κύριον, Ro. x. 12; 2 Tim. ii. 22; (often in Grk. writ. ἐπικαλεῖσθαι τοὺς θεούς, as Xen. Cyr. 7, 1, 35; Plat. Tim. p.27¢.; Polyb. 15, 1, 13).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπικαλέω epikaleō 30x
pluperfect, ἐπεκέκλητο (3 sg), to call on; to attach or connect a name, Acts 15:17; Jas. 2:7; to attach an additional name, to surname, Mt. 10:3; pass. to receive an appellation or surname, Heb. 11:16; mid. to call upon, invoke, 2 Cor. 1:23; to appeal to, Acts 25:11, 12, 21
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-καλέω, -ῶ
[in LXX chiefly for קָרָא ;]
to call, name, surname: c. acc (cl.), Mt 10:25; pass., Ac 1:23 4:36 10:5, 18, 32 11:13 12:12, 25, He 11:16; τ. ὄνομα, seq. ἐπί (denoting possession, as Heb. . עַל נִקְרָא שֵׁם .), Ac 15:17 (LXX), Ja 2:7 (see. CB on Am 9:12).
Mid. (so also act.; cl., LXX), to call upon, invoke, appeal to (θεόν, θεούς, Hdt., Xen., al.; cf. Deiss., LAE, 426): Καίσαρα (Σεβαστόν, Ac 25:25), Ac 25:11, 12, 21 26:32 28:19; sc. τ. Κύριον Ἰησοῦν, Ac 7:59; μάρτυρα (cl.) τ. θεόν, II Co 1:23; πατέρα, I Pe 1:17; τ. κύριον, Ro 10:12, II Ti 2:22; τ. ὄνομα κυρίου (μου, σου; like Heb. בְּשֵׁם יְהֹוָה קָרָא ), Ac 2:21 (LXX) Ac 9:14, 21 22:16, Ro 10:13, 14 (LXX) I Co 1:2 (Cremer, 335, 742).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐπικαλέω. The various NT usages of this common verb can all be illustrated from our documents. Thus for the meaning ‘“surname ” see P Fay 12! (¢. B.C. 103) βασιλεῖ Ττολεμαίωι ἐπικαλ(ουμένῳ) ᾿Αλζεϊξάνδρων. . . χαίρειν, P Tebt 11. 399) (ii/A.D.) ὑπὲρ ἐγγόϊνου Εἰὐδαίμονος ἐπικεκλημένου [Mv ..., BGU ΤΙ. 447° (ii/A.D.), εἴς. ; and for the simple ‘‘call,” see P Tebt II. 3827 (B.c. 30—a.D. 1) Gpot(pas) 5 ἐπεικαλουμένας Βασιλίικοῦ) Τρ(αμμάτεως), “6. arourae called those of the Basilico-grammateus,’’ 26. 3108 (A.D. 248) ἐν τόπῳ ἐπικαλουμένῳ Kapiov, P Ryl II. 172° (A.D. 208) Φοινικῶνα περὶ κώμ(ην) “Hd(aroriada) ἐπικαλούμενον “Epevylov, ‘‘the palm-garden called that of Herennius in the area of the village Hephaestias.’’ For é. = ‘‘accuse,”’ see P Hib I. 62° (B.c. 245) κακοῦργον τὸν τί ἣν] λείαν ποιήσαντα ἐπικαλεῖ Tyas ᾿Αρνούφιος, ‘the criminal who did the pillage is accused by Tnas son of Harnouphis’’ (Edd.), P Fay 977° (a.p. 78) ἐνκαλεῖν μηδ᾽ ἐπικ[αλεῖν, ““ make any claim or charge,’’ so Ee U I. 35074 (time of Trajan). The middle usage ‘‘invoke,”’ ‘‘call aa a2 as in Ac 75%, is frequent in the magic papyri, as P Leid Wx. 85 (ji/iii A.D.) ἐπικαλοῦ τὸν τῆς ὥρας καὶ τὸν τῆς ἡμέρας θεόν, P Oxy VI. 88619 (iii/A.D.) ( = Selections. p. 111) ἐπικαλοῦ μὲ [ν (?)] Tov (ἥλιον) KE τοὺς ἐν βυθῷ θεοὺς πάντας : cf. Sy/Z 816! (ii/B.c.) (= ZAZ, p. 424) ἐπικαλοῦμαι καὶ ἀξιῶ τὸν θεὸν τὸν ὕψιστον. . . ἐπὶ τοὺς δόλωι φονεύσαντας κτλ. (for constr. with ἐπί, see 2 Cor 133). For ἐπίκλησις = ‘‘spell,”” see P Lond 12178 (iii/A.p ) (=I. p. 93).: in P Lille I. 29%-27 (iii/B.c.) δούλων ἐπίκλησις Kal Tots καταδικασαμένοις πρᾶξις is rendered “ recours contre les esclaves et moyens d’exécution pour ceux qui les ont fait condamner, ” the editor noting that this usage of ἐ. is unknown to the Attic vocabulary.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐπικαλέω (epikaleō) — to call (on)/name. ἐπικᾰλέω, summon a god to a sacrifice or as witness to an oath, etc., invoke, θεόν [NT+5th c.BC+]; ἐ. θεόν τινι invoke a god over one, to be gracious to him, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; or, watch over his good faith, [Refs]:— middle,[Refs 1st c.BC+] __b. pray for, πρὸ καιροῦ τὸν θάνατον “PLond.” 5.1676.24 [Refs 6th c.AD+]
2. invite, γέροντας ἐπὶ πλέονας καλέσαντες 8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 7.189:—middle, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. middle, call in as a helper or ally, ἐπικαλεῖσθαί τινα σύμμαχον [Refs]: c.infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. call in as witness, μάρτυρας ἐ. τινάς [Refs 5th c.BC+]: c.infinitive, ἐ. θεοὺς.. καθορᾶν τὰ γιγνόμενα 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Historia Graeca (Hellenica)” 2.3.55: with neuter adjective, ταῦτα ἐ[Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. b. appeal to, σύνεσιν καὶ παιδείαν 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 18.127 (hence, = Latin appello, provoco, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; τὸν δῆμον ἀπὸ τῶν δικαστῶν [Refs]
II.3. call before one, summon, of the Ephors, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.4. challenge, [Refs]
III. call by surname, Δίων ὃν ἐπεκάλουν Χρυσόστομον 4th-5th c.AD: Eunapius Historicus “Vitae Sophistarum” p.454 B.:—more frequently passive, to be called by surname, ἐπεκλήθησαν Κεκροπίδαι 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 8.44; to be nicknamed, Ἀριστόδημον τὸν μικρὸν ἐπικαλούμενον 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Memorabilia” 1.4.2 [LXX]; ἐπικληθήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸ ὄνομάμου[LXX]
IV. bring as an accusation against, τινί τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. τινί, with infinitive, accuse one of doing, [Refs]; ἐ. τὴν ἀπόστασιν ὅτι.. ἐποιήσαντο 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.36; ἐ. τινὶ πάντα ὅσα ἠδίκητο 2nd-3rd c.AD: Dio Cassius Historicus 37.6; ταῦτ᾽ ἐπικαλεῖ; is this your charge? [Refs]; ἐ. ἀρχαιότητα objecting to its obsoleteness, [Refs] let him bring his action, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ ἐπικαλῶν the plaintiff, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] —passive, τὰ ἐπικαλεύμενα χρήματα the money imputed to him, i.e. which he was charged with having, [Refs 5th c.BC+] the sums claimed, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]active λείαν ἐ[Refs]; περὶ δανείου “PGrenf.” 2.31.15 [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
IV.2. with dative person only, ἐπικαλεῖν τινί quarrel, dispute with, ἀλλήλοις 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Leges” 766e.