ἡγέομαι

Matthew 2:6 ἡγούμενος [One] leading

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

Here: A verb form used as a noun: "one who leads," "a leader." It is the same word the Greek Old Testament uses when Israel's tribes make David king (2 Samuel 5:2), so it gives the ruler a Davidic coloring.

Luke 22:26 ἡγούμενος leading

But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.

Here: A standard word for someone in charge: a governor, commander, head of a group, and later the leaders of churches (Hebrews 13:7, 17). Jesus takes it for granted that the community will have leaders.

Acts 7:10 ἡγούμενον ruler

and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

Here: A participle ('one who leads') used as a title: 'ruler' or 'chief official'. Joseph is second only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:40–43).

Acts 14:12 ἡγούμενος leading

Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

Acts 15:22 ἡγουμένους leading

Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

Here: "Leading". The present tense means they were currently recognised leaders in the community. It describes standing and trust, not a formal office title.

Acts 26:2 ἥγημαι I have esteemed

“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,

2 Corinthians 9:5 ἡγησάμην I esteemed [it]

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

Here: Here the verb means 'I considered, I judged', not 'to govern'. The past tense is written from the reader's point of view: the envoys are probably carrying this letter, so 'I thought it necessary' means 'I have decided'.

Philippians 2:3 ἡγούμενοι be esteeming

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

Here: "Regarding, counting." It means a deliberate judgment about how to rate something. The present participle describes an ongoing habit. Paul uses the same verb of Christ in 2:6 and of himself in 3:7–8.

Philippians 2:6 ἡγήσατο considered

Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

Here: Here it means "consider, regard" (the supplied gloss "govern" belongs to the verb's other use, "to lead"). The past tense presents it as one decisive judgment. Paul uses the same verb in 2:3, "consider others better than yourselves," and in 3:7–8, where he "considers" his own advantages loss.

Philippians 2:25 ἡγησάμην I esteemed [it]

But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.

Here: Here 'I judged, I considered', not 'to govern'. The past tense is most likely written from the readers' point of view: by the time the Philippians hear the letter, the decision lies in the past, so in effect 'I am sending him (with this letter)'. The same verb is used in 2:3 and 2:6 for the mindset Paul is commending.

Philippians 3:7 ἥγημαι I have esteemed

But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.

Here: 'I have reckoned / I have come to regard'. The Greek perfect tense describes a judgment made in the past whose verdict still stands. Here the verb means 'consider', not 'govern'.

Philippians 3:8 ἡγοῦμαι ἡγοῦμαι I count, esteem [them]

More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Here: 'I reckon, I count.' A deliberate judgment of value. It is present tense: verse 7 said 'I have come to count' (perfect), and now Paul says 'I go on counting.' The verdict still stands.

1 Thessalonians 5:13 ἡγεῖσθαι to esteem

In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

Here: Here the sense is "to regard, to esteem", not "to lead". The present tense points to an ongoing attitude, not a single act of thanks.

2 Thessalonians 3:15 ἡγεῖσθε, do esteem [him],

Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Here: Here it means 'regard, count, treat as', not 'lead'. Paul is ruling out a settled view of the person, the mental reclassification that then shapes how he is treated.

1 Timothy 1:12 ἡγήσατο He esteemed

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.

Here: Here it means 'he considered' or 'he deemed', a verdict Christ reached about Paul. The supplied gloss 'to govern' belongs to the verb's other sense (leading) and does not apply here.

1 Timothy 6:1 ἡγείσθωσαν, they should esteem,

All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.

Here: "Let them regard/count." The present-tense command calls for a settled, ongoing attitude. It is about inner esteem that shows in conduct, not only outward compliance.

Hebrews 10:29 ἡγησάμενος having esteemed

How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Here: Here 'having regarded, counted' (not 'govern'). The charge concerns how the person values the blood: he has reckoned the holiest thing to be ordinary.

Hebrews 11:11 ἡγήσατο she considered

By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

Here: The supplied gloss 'to govern' is the verb's other sense, 'to lead'. Here it clearly means 'she reckoned' or 'she judged'. It describes a considered assessment, not a feeling.

Hebrews 11:26 ἡγησάμενος having esteemed

He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

Here: In this construction (a verb with two accusatives, "count X as Y") it means to weigh something up and reach a judgment, not "to govern." The aorist participle continues the chain from v. 24 ("By faith Moses… refused… choosing… reckoning").

Hebrews 13:7 ἡγουμένων leading

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Here: 'Those who lead/led', a general word for people who go in front and guide. The present participle works like a title ('your leaders') and does not by itself say they are still alive. The past-tense verbs that follow show the writer means a past generation.

Hebrews 13:17 ἡγουμένοις leading

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Here: Present participle: 'those who are leading.' It describes what they do (going ahead and guiding), not an office title such as elder or bishop. The same group is mentioned in 13:7 and 13:24.

Hebrews 13:24 ἡγουμένους leading

Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.

James 1:2 ἡγήσασθε, do esteem [it],

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

Here: Here in its 'think, judge, reckon' sense, not 'lead'. A command to reach a deliberate verdict about the situation: label it joy. The tense is a decisive one-time command: make this judgment.

2 Peter 1:13 ἡγοῦμαι, I esteem it,

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,

Here: "I consider, I count it." The verb can mean "to lead", but here it has its other common sense: a settled judgment. Present tense: this is Peter's standing conviction.

2 Peter 2:13 ἡγούμενοι esteeming

The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.

Here: Here it means "considering, counting." It describes their scale of values: they count daytime indulgence as a pleasure rather than a disgrace.

2 Peter 3:9 ἡγοῦνται· esteem;

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Here: Here it means 'to reckon, judge, count as', not the 'lead/govern' sense. It is a verdict people reach about God. The same verb comes back in 3:15: 'count the patience of our Lord as salvation.'

2 Peter 3:15 ἡγεῖσθε, do esteem,

Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.

Here: A command: "regard, count, reckon". It deliberately echoes 3:9, where "some count [hēgountai] it slowness." The readers must count the same facts differently from the scoffers: not as slowness but as salvation. The present tense suggests an ongoing way of thinking.