Greek word · G5350

φθέγγομαι

phthengomai

to speak

To produce a sound, call out, utter, speak aloud. In wider Greek it can describe any sound, animal cries included, and also solemn or weighty speech.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 14, 2026

What it means

φθέγγομαι

[in LXX for עָנָה, נָבַע hi., etc. ;]

of men or animals, to utter a sound or voice: absol., Acts 4:18; before ἐν φωνῇ, 2 Peter 2:16; with accusative, ὑπέρογκα, 2 Peter 2:18.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: To produce a sound, call out, utter, speak aloud. In wider Greek it can describe any sound, animal cries included, and also solemn or weighty speech.
Against the English: 'Spoke' or 'speaking' is fine, but English loses the echo with v. 18.
Used elsewhere in the period: NT uses are Acts 4:18 (the apostles forbidden to 'speak' in Jesus' name) and 2 Pet 2:18. The LXX uses it for speaking out, e.g. Wisdom 1:8, of one who utters unrighteous things.

Range of meaning: To produce a sound with the voice: utter, call out, speak aloud, proclaim. In classical Greek it can describe the cry of an animal or the sound of an instrument. BDAG: 'to produce a sound, call out, utter, speak, proclaim.' It often carries a sense of loud or striking speech.
Against the English: English versions flatten it to 'speak'. That is not wrong, but it loses the vividness of 'utter a sound' that the word has next to 'at all'.
Used elsewhere in the period: It appears only three times in the New Testament. In 2 Pet 2:16 Balaam's donkey 'spoke with a human voice', and in 2 Pet 2:18 false teachers 'utter' bombastic words. In the Septuagint and Wisdom literature it is used for voicing words, e.g. Wisdom 1:8 'one who utters unrighteous things'.

Acts · 1

Acts 4:18 φθέγγεσθαι to speak

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Here: To utter a sound or speak out loud. It is a stronger and more vivid word than the plain λαλεῖν ('speak') of v.17. Together with 'at all' it means not even voicing the name. The present tense suggests an ongoing activity: 'stop going around saying it'.

2 Peter · 2

2 Peter 2:16 φθεγξάμενον having spoken

But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Here: 'Having uttered' or 'spoken out', meaning clear, audible speech. Two verses later (2:18) the same verb describes the false teachers 'uttering' swollen, empty words. The donkey's speech was true; theirs is hollow.
2 Peter 2:18 φθεγγόμενοι speaking words

With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.

Here: A present participle: 'as they keep sounding off'. The same verb was used two verses earlier (v. 16) of Balaam's dumb donkey that 'spoke with a human voice'. The animal said something true; these men say grand things that are empty.

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