Quick Definition
μαθητεύω v. I make disciples, make into disciples
Strong's Definition
from 3101; intransitively, to become a pupil; transitively, to disciple, i.e. enrol as scholar
KJV Usage: be disciple, instruct, teach
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | μαθητής · μαθήτρια · συμμαθητής
36.31 · Guide, Discipline, Follow · Follow, Be a Disciple
to follow, to be a disciple of to be a follower or a disciple of someone, in the sense of adhering to the teachings or instructions of a leader and in promoting the cause of such a leader Though many translators have attempted to employ the metaphorical significance of ‘to follow’ in the sense of ‘to be a disciple of,’ there are certain dangers in a number of languages. For example, ‘to follow’ may often have the connotation of ‘to pursue after with evil intent.’ In many languages the appropriate equivalent of ‘to follow’ (in the sense of ‘to be a disciple’) is literally ‘to accompany’ or ‘to go along with’ or ‘to be in the group of.’
36.37 · Guide, Discipline, Follow · Follow, Be a Disciple
to make disciples, to cause people to become followers to cause someone to become a disciple or follower of In rendering μαθητεύω in MAT 28:19 and similar contexts, it is important to avoid the implication of duress or force, that is to say, one should not translate ‘force them to be my disciples’ or ‘compel them to be my disciples.’ This might very well be implied in a literal translation of a causative such as ‘to make.’ In order to avoid a wrong implication of a causative, it may be important to use some such expression as ‘convince them to become my disciples’ or ‘urge them to be my disciples.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μαθητεύω: 1 aor. ἐμαθήτευσα; 1 aor. pass. ἐμαθητεύθην; (μαθητής); 1. intrans. τινί, to be the disciple of one; to follow his precepts and instruction: Mt. xxvii. 57 RG WH oreg., ef. Jn. xix. 33 (so Plut. mor. pp. 832 Ὁ. (vit. Antiph. 1), 837 ο. (vit. Isocr. 10); Jamblichus, vit. Pythag. ec. 23). 2. trans. (cf. W. p. 23 and § 38, 1; [B. § 131, 4]) to make a disciple; to teach, instruct: τινά, Mt. xxviii. 19; Acts xiv. 21; pass. with a dat. of the pers. whose disciple one is made, Mt. xxvii. 57 LT Tr WH txt.; μαθητευθεὶς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρ. (see γραμματεύς, 3), Mt. xiii. 52 Rec., where long since the more correct reading τῇ βασ. τῶν ovp. was adopted, but without changing the sense; [yet Lchm. inserts év].
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μαθητεύω mathēteuō 4x
intrans. to be a disciple, follow as a disciple, Mt. 27:57; in NT trans. to make a disciple of, to train in discipleship, Mt. 28:19; Acts 14:21; pass. to be trained, disciplined, instructed, Mt. 13:52*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
*† μαθητεύω
(< μαθητής),
intrans. (as prop. vb. in -εύω, and so Plut., mor. 837 c. and elsew.), to be a disciple: c. dat., Mt 27:57 (Rec., WH, mg.).
Trans., to make a disciple: c. acc., Mt 28:19, Ac 14:21; pass., seq. dat., τ. Ἰησοῦ, Mt 27:57 (WH, R); τ. βασιλείᾳ, Mt 13:52.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μαθητεύω. With the constr. of this late verb in Mt 1355 Ὁ μαθηθευθεὶς ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν, cf. the iv/A.D. Christian prayer in Neut. Studien fiir G. Heinrict (Leipzig, 1914), p. 69% *ὅτι κατηξίωσας ἡμᾶς τῆς ἁγίας κλήσεώς σου kal διδασκαMas καὶ ἀνανήψεως (cf. 2 Tim 235) μαθητευθῆναι ἐν σοφίᾳ καὶ συνέσει.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μαθητεύω (mathēteuō) — to disciple. μᾰθητ-εύω, to be pupil, τινι to one, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
II. transitive, make a disciple of, instruct, πάντα τὰ ἔθνη [NT]:—passive, [NT]