Greek word · Strong's G2192

ἔχω

échō · verb · “to have, hold”

In a sentence

Echō is the verb «to have, hold» — used thousands of times for everything from possessions to faith. To «have eternal life» is a defining New Testament phrase.

Echō covers all kinds of having — possessions, abilities, relationships. The New Testament uses it for the great theological «having»: have faith, have peace with God, have eternal life.

John writes that these things are written «that you may know that you have (echō) eternal life» (1 John 5:13). What we have through Christ is the most important thing about us.

Strong's reference

Definition: to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)

KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

1 John 5:13 “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.