Quick Definition
ἐπιλέγω v. I call, choose for myself, am named
Strong's Definition
middle voice from 1909 and 3004; to surname, select
KJV Usage: call, choose
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-λέγω : [pres. pass. ptep. ἐπιλεγόμενος] ; 1 aor. mid. ptep. ἐπιλεξάμενος ; 1. to say besides (cf. ἐπί, D. 4], (Ildt. et al.) ; to surname (Plato, leze. 3 p. 700 b.): in pass. Jn. v. 2 [Tdf. τὸ Xey.], unless the meaning to name (put a name upon) be preferred here; cf. ἐπονομάζω. 2. to choose for (Hat. et sqq. ; Sept.) ; mid. to choose for one’s self: Acts xv. 40 (2S. x. 9; Hdt. 3,157; Thue. 7, 19; Diod. 3, 73 (74); 14,12; Joseph. antt. 4, 2, 4, and others).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπιλέγω epilegō 2x
to call, Jn. 5:2; mid. to select for one’s self, choose, Acts 15:40*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-λέγω
[in LXX chiefly for בָּחַר ;]
to say in addition (Hdt.).
to call by name, to call: Jo 5:2.
to choose; mid., to choose for oneself: Ac 15:40.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐπιλέγω. For this verb in its original meaning cf. Ῥ Leid W%i 35 (ii/iii A.D.) ἐπιλέγων τὸ ὄνομα, “insuper pronuntians nomen.” The sense of ‘‘ choose,’’ as in Ac 154°, appears in P Petr II. 40(a)}8 (iii/B.c.) (= Witkowski®, p. 41) καὶ οἱ [κ]υνηγοὶ émλελεγμένοι εἰ[σὶν οἱ] μέλ[λο]ντες παραγενέσθαι με]τὰ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ, P Hib I. γ813 (B.c. 244--3) ἐὰν ἐκ τοῦ ᾿Οξυρυγ[χ]ίτου ἐπιλέγωνται, ““1Γ people are being chosen from the Oxyrhynchite nome,”’ P Oxy IX. 1210 (i/B.c.—i/A.D.) émλελεγμένων ὑπὸ τῶν γονέων els γηροβοσκίαν ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἔχουσι υἱῶν, ‘‘men chosen by the parents from their sons to support them in old age’’ (Ed.). See also OGZS 3837 (mid. i/B.c.) θεραπείαν τε ἀνέγλειπτον καὶ ἱερεῖς ἐπιλέξας σὺν πρεπούσαις ἐσθῆσι Ἰ]Περσικῶι γένει κατέστησα, and for ἐπίλεκτος, which is fairly frequent in the LXX, cf. 25. 481: (iii/B.c.) εἶτα] καὶ ἐψηφίσαντο] ἐξ ἐπιλέκτων ἀνδρῶν τὴν βουλὴν [καὶ τὰ] δικαστή[ρια αἱρεῖσθαι, and P Par 637% 195 (B.c. 165) with reference to ‘‘picked’’ troops.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐπιλέγω (epilegō) — to call/choose. ἐπιλέγω, say in connexion with an action, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ποιεῖν τι καὶ ἐπιλέγειν say while or after doing it, [Refs]; παίζουσιν ἐπιλέγοντες [Refs]; ἐξηπάτων.. ἐπιλέγων τοιαυτί 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Equites” 418; ἐ. τεκμήρια τὴν ἄλλην αὐτοῦ.. παρανομίαν citing it as proof, [Refs]
2. say besides, ἑκάστῳ “σοὶ μέν κτλ.” [Refs]; τὴν αἰτίαν ἐ. [Refs]:—middle, repeat, [Refs 1st c.BC+] —passive, [τὰ] ἐπιλεγόμενα [Refs 4th c.BC+]
3. call by name, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπέλεγον δὲ κιθαρῳδικούς (i.e. νόμους) [Refs]:—middle, [Refs]:— passive, to be surnamed, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
4. utter, pronounce a spell (compareἐπεῖπον), ῥῆσιν μυστικήν [Refs 4th c.BC+]
5. attribute, τινὶ τὸ καλόν, τὸ χρήσιμον, [Refs]
6. say against one, [Refs]
II. pick out, select, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔκ τινων πεζούς Wilcken [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —frequently in middle, τῶν Βαβυλωνίων ἐπελέξατο he chose him certain of the Babylonians, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, ἐπιλελεγμένοι or ἐπειλεγμένοι chosen men, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; οἱ ἐπιλεγέντες “SIG” 577.72 (Milet., 3rd-2nd c.BC).
III. middle, think upon, think over, ταῦτα 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.78, 2.120 [Refs]; μὴ ἐ. not to care, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐδαμὰ ἐ. μή κοτε.. to have no fear lest.., [Refs]infinitive, πᾶν ἐπιλεγόμενος πείσεσθαι expecting.. , [Refs] deem me not to be.., [Refs]
III.2. in [Refs 5th c.BC+] also, con over, read, τὸ βυβλίον, τὰ γράμματα, [Refs]: so in active, [Refs]
III.3. recount, in speaking, τὴν αἰσχύνην καὶ τὸν κίνδυνον 1st c.BC: Dionysius Halicarnassensis 9.57.