Greek word · G5335
φάσκω
phaskō
to claim
To say, assert, declare. Often it means to claim or allege something, especially when the speaker reporting it doubts the claim or regards it as false.
Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
φάσκω
[in LXX: Genesis 26:20 (אָמַר), Dan LXX Bel 1:8, 2Ma.14:27 2Mac 14:32, 3Ma.3:7 * ;]
to affirm, assert: with accusative and inf., Acts 24:9 25:19; with inf. and nom., Romans 1:22.†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
To say, assert, declare. Often it means to claim or allege something, especially when the speaker reporting it doubts the claim or regards it as false.
- Against the English
KJV/WEB/NASB 'professing' and ESV/BSB/NIV 'claiming' all carry the idea. 'Professing' can sound like religious confession to modern ears, but here it simply means making a claim about oneself.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In the NT it appears only three times. Acts 24:9: the Jews joined the accusation, 'asserting that these things were so'. Acts 25:19: Paul 'asserted' that Jesus was alive, as Festus reports it with scepticism. Here in Romans 1:22. In classical and Hellenistic Greek it is common in reports of what someone alleges.
- Range of meaning
To say, assert, claim. It is often used of a statement the speaker reports without vouching for it, and in some contexts of a claim that is doubtful or false.
- Against the English
BSB, KJV, WEB and YLT have 'affirmed', which today can sound like solemn confirmation or approval. NIV and NASB 'claimed' fits a reporting official better. ESV's 'asserted' is also fair. NLT's 'insists' brings out the persistence but adds some heat.
- How it drifted
In older English 'affirm' simply meant to state firmly. Modern use often adds a tone of support or endorsement, which is absent from Festus's report.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Acts 24:9 uses it of the accusers asserting that their charges against Paul were true. Romans 1:22 uses it of people 'claiming to be wise', where the claim is plainly false. Classical usage also often attaches it to claims the writer does not accept (LSJ).
Where it appears
Acts · 2
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Acts 24:9 φάσκοντες declaring
The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.
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Acts 25:19 ἔφασκεν was affirming
They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Here: 'Kept claiming.' Festus reports what Paul said and does not sign his name to it, and the verb form suggests Paul said it repeatedly.
Romans · 1
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Romans 1:22 φάσκοντες Professing
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,
Here: The verb for saying something firmly about oneself or a situation. In the New Testament and in ordinary Greek it often describes a claim that turns out to be unfounded, or one the writer does not accept (Acts 24:9; 25:19; Revelation 2:2 has a similar idea with a different verb). The present participle, 'while claiming' or 'though claiming', shows the claim being made at the same moment the folly was happening, and Paul presents it with heavy irony.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.