Found in several New Testament books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Second Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, First Thessalonians and Revelation), the Greek verb “anaginosko” meant “read.”
Jesus used this verb to ask if people had not “read” what David did (Mt. 12:3Mt. 12:3
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him;
WP-Bible plugin). In Mt. 12:5Mt. 12:5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
5 Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?
WP-Bible plugin He asked if people had not “read” part of the Old Testament law. This term is also used to define marriage (Mt. 19:4Mt. 19:4
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
WP-Bible plugin) and to attribute the book of Exodus to Moses (Mk. 12:26Mk. 12:26
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
26 But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in the place concerning the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
WP-Bible plugin). Some in the first century were able to “read” from Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah (Acts 8:28Acts 8:28
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
WP-Bible plugin), and there was concern over people understanding what they “read” (Acts 8:30Acts 8:30
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
WP-Bible plugin). At least some New Testament letters were to be “read” by other congregations (Col. 4:16Col. 4:16
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
16 And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea.
WP-Bible plugin).
