# G4982 - sozo **Strong's:** [G4982](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4982/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** sode'-zo **Part of speech:** verb **Cognates:** [G4990 - soter](/codex/g4990-soter/), *sōtēr*, "savior"; [G4991 - soteria](/codex/g4991-soteria/), "salvation" **Hebrew equivalents (LXX):** [H3467 - yasha](/codex/h3467-yasha/), יָשַׁע, "to save / deliver"; the root behind the names *Yeshua* / *Yehoshua* / *Joshua* / *Jesus*. **NT occurrences:** ~106 ## Semantic range (Thayer / BDAG) 1. **To save / rescue from immediate physical danger**, from drowning ([Matthew 14:30](/codex/matthew-14-30/)), shipwreck ([Acts 27:31](/codex/acts-27-31/)), violent attack ([Matthew 8:25](/codex/matthew-8-25/) "Lord, save us, we are perishing!"). 2. **To heal / restore to health**, from disease, demon possession, or injury ([Matthew 9:21-22](/codex/matthew-9-21-22/); [Mark 5:23](/codex/mark-5-23/), [28](/codex/mark-5-28/), [34](/codex/mark-5-34/); [Luke 7:50](/codex/luke-7-50/); [Acts 4:9](/codex/acts-4-9/)). In Greek medical idiom, *sōzō* is a standard verb for restoration to wholeness. 3. **To preserve / keep safe**, from harm or destruction ([Matthew 24:22](/codex/matthew-24-22/); [Hebrews 5:7](/codex/hebrews-5-7/)). 4. **To save in the eschatological / soteriological sense**, to rescue from divine judgment, sin, condemnation, hell. The dominant NT theological sense ([Matthew 1:21](/codex/matthew-1-21/); [Romans 10:9](/codex/romans-10-9/); [Ephesians 2:8](/codex/ephesians-2-8/); [1 Timothy 1:15](/codex/1-timothy-1-15/)). The Greek verb is the antonym of *apollymi* (G622, "to destroy / perish"). This binary undergirds NT soteriology: *sōzō* / *apollymi*, saved / perishing, is the fundamental human-condition contrast (cf. [John 3.16](/codex/john-3-16/) *mē apolētai all' echē zōēn aiōnion*). ## Theological force The verb's range is theologically significant because the NT writers self-consciously **layer** the senses. When Jesus says to a healed person "your faith has *sōzōed* you" (e.g., [Mark 5:34](/codex/mark-5-34/), [Luke 7:50](/codex/luke-7-50/), [Luke 17:19](/codex/luke-17-19/)), the immediate sense is healing, but the deeper sense is whole-person salvation. The physical restoration is a sign of the eschatological reality. The salvation NT *sōzō* names is **comprehensive**: - **From sin** ([Matthew 1:21](/codex/matthew-1-21/) "He will save His people from their sins") - **From wrath / judgment** ([Romans 5:9](/codex/romans-5-9/) "saved from the wrath of God through Him") - **From the body of death** ([Romans 7:24](/codex/romans-7-24/) "who will save me from this body of death?") - **From the present evil age** ([Galatians 1:4](/codex/galatians-1-4/)) - **For eternal life** ([Romans 10.13](/codex/romans-10-13/); [John 10:9](/codex/john-10-9/)) The Reformation tense-structure of salvation: - **Justification (past tense)**, "we *have been saved*" ([Ephesians 2:5](/codex/ephesians-2-5/), [8](/codex/ephesians-2-8/), perfect) - **Sanctification (present tense)**, "we *are being saved*" ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/codex/1-corinthians-1-18/); 15:2, present) - **Glorification (future tense)**, "we *will be saved*" ([Romans 5:9](/codex/romans-5-9/), [10](/codex/romans-5-10/); 13:11, future) The same verb *sōzō* covers all three phases, with grammatical tense distinguishing them. ## Notable verses ### Salvation in the comprehensive theological sense - **[Matthew 1:21](/codex/matthew-1-21/)**, "He will *sōzō* His people from their sins", Joseph's annunciation; the name *Iēsous* (Yeshua) means "*YHWH sōzōs*" - **[John 3:17](/codex/john-3-17/)**, "God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be *sōzōed* through Him" - **[John 10:9](/codex/john-10-9/)**, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be *sōzōed*" - **[Acts 4:12](/codex/acts-4-12/)**, "there is *sōtēria* in no one else; for there is no other name… by which we must be *sōzōed*" - **[Acts 16:30-31](/codex/acts-16-30-31/)**, Philippian jailer: "what must I do to be *sōzōed*?", "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be *sōzōed*" - **[Romans 10:9-10](/codex/romans-10-9-10/)**, "if you confess… and believe… you will be *sōzōed*" - **[Romans 10.13](/codex/romans-10-13/)**, "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE *SŌZŌED*" - **[Romans 5:9-10](/codex/romans-5-9-10/)**, "*sōzōed* from the wrath of God through Him… much more, having been reconciled, we shall be *sōzōed* by His life" - **[Ephesians 2.8-9](/codex/ephesians-2-8-9/)**, "by grace you have been *sōzōed* through faith" - **[1 Timothy 1:15](/codex/1-timothy-1-15/)**, "Christ Jesus came into the world to *sōzō* sinners, among whom I am foremost" - **[2 Timothy 1:9](/codex/2-timothy-1-9/)**, "who has *sōzōed* us and called us with a holy calling" - **[Titus 3:5](/codex/titus-3-5/)**, "He *sōzōed* us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness" ### Healing / restoration - **[Mark 5:34](/codex/mark-5-34/)**, to the woman healed of bleeding: "Daughter, your faith has *sōzōed* you" - **[Luke 7:50](/codex/luke-7-50/)**, to the woman who anointed Jesus: "your faith has *sōzōed* you; go in peace" - **[Luke 17:19](/codex/luke-17-19/)**, to the cleansed leper: "your faith has *sōzōed* you" - **[Luke 18:42](/codex/luke-18-42/)**, to the blind man: "your faith has *sōzōed* you" - **[James 5:15](/codex/james-5-15/)**, "the prayer offered in faith will *sōzō* the one who is sick" ### Physical rescue - **[Matthew 8:25](/codex/matthew-8-25/)**, "Lord, *sōzō* us, we are perishing!" (the storm) - **[Matthew 14:30](/codex/matthew-14-30/)**, Peter sinking: "Lord, *sōzō* me!" - **[Acts 27:20](/codex/acts-27-20/), [31](/codex/acts-27-31/), [44](/codex/acts-27-44/)**, sailors and shipwreck ### Tense-distinguishing salvation - **[Ephesians 2:8](/codex/ephesians-2-8/)** (perfect: have been saved) - **[1 Corinthians 1:18](/codex/1-corinthians-1-18/)** (present: being saved) - **[Romans 13:11](/codex/romans-13-11/)** (future: nearer to us than when we believed, coming salvation) ## Patristic / scholarly note The patristic and Reformation traditions both emphasize the comprehensive scope of *sōzō*-salvation: Christ saves not merely *from* hell but *for* communion with God. The name *Iēsous* itself encodes the verb's theological force, "YHWH saves", making the personal name of the Savior a confession of *sōzō*-soteriology. The Reformation *sola fide* pivots on [Romans 10:9](/codex/romans-10-9/) and [Ephesians 2:8](/codex/ephesians-2-8/), *pisteusas sōzēsetai* / *sesōsmenoi… dia pisteōs*, salvation through faith. Calvin (*Institutes* III.11-18), Wesley (*The Scripture Way of Salvation*, 1765), and modern Reformed and Wesleyan theologies all pivot here. J. I. Packer (*Knowing God*; *In My Place Condemned He Stood*) and John Stott (*The Cross of Christ*, 1986) give popular-level evangelical treatments. Anthony Hoekema (*Saved by Grace*, 1989) systematizes the past/present/future tense-structure. ## Verses in this codex _See Obsidian's backlinks pane for every verse page linking here._ ## See also - [G4991 - soteria](/codex/g4991-soteria/), the noun "salvation" - [G4990 - soter](/codex/g4990-soter/), "savior", the title - [H3467 - yasha](/codex/h3467-yasha/), Hebrew "to save / deliver" - [G4102 - pistis](/codex/g4102-pistis/), paired with *sōzō* (faith → salvation) - [G5485 - charis](/codex/g5485-charis/), paired with *sōzō* in [Eph 2:8](/codex/ephesians-2-8/) - [Romans 10.13](/codex/romans-10-13/), [Ephesians 2.8-9](/codex/ephesians-2-8-9/), locus classicus