Greek word · G437

ἀνθομολογέομαι

anthomologeomai

to praise

It is built from anti ('against, in return, in answer') and homologeomai ('to agree, confess, acknowledge publicly'). In everyday Greek and the papyri it can mean to agree mutually or to acknowledge a claim openly. In Jewish Greek it means to praise or thank God by openly acknowledging him.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 25, 2026

What it means

ἀνθ-ομολογέομαι, -οῦμαι

(ἀντί, ὁμολογέομαι) [in LXX: Psalms 79:13 (יָדָה), Dan LXX 4:34 (שְׁבַח), I Est.8:91, Sirach 20:2, 3Ma.6:33 * ;]

1. to make a mutual agreement (Dem., Polyb.).

2. to acknowledge fully, confess (Diod., Polyb., cf. 1Esdras, l.with).

3. C. dative of person(s), to declare one's praises, speak fully in prayer or thanksgiving, give thanks to (cf. Ps, l.with): Luke 2:38 (Cremer, 771; MM, VGT, see word).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 2:38

Range of meaning: It is built from anti ('against, in return, in answer') and homologeomai ('to agree, confess, acknowledge publicly'). In everyday Greek and the papyri it can mean to agree mutually or to acknowledge a claim openly. In Jewish Greek it means to praise or thank God by openly acknowledging him. BDAG gives both senses: (1) acknowledge publicly; (2) praise, thank.
Against the English: Most modern versions have 'gave thanks'. This is correct, but loses the public, declaring side of the word and the possible note of response. The KJV ('gave thanks likewise') and YLT ('was confessing, likewise') read the anti- prefix as 'in turn', matching Simeon's praise. YLT's 'confessing' keeps the old sense of 'confess' as open declaration of praise, not admission of sin.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Ps 78(79):13: 'we your people… will give thanks (anthomologēsometha) to you forever'. Dan 4:37 (Old Greek) has Nebuchadnezzar openly acknowledging the Most High. 3 Macc 6:33 uses it for thanksgiving after deliverance. Sir 20:3 uses it for confessing a fault. Behind the homologeō/exomologeō family in the LXX stands Hebrew yadah/todah: thanksgiving that is also public acknowledgment of what God has done.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

Luke 2:38 ἀνθωμολογεῖτο she was giving praise

Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Here: This word occurs only here in the New Testament. It means to praise God openly by acknowledging what he has done. The prefix anti- probably carries 'in response' or 'in her turn', answering Simeon's praise. The imperfect tense means she kept on praising.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.