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    Confess (Homologeō)

    ὁμολογέω (homologeō)

    To say the same thing — agreeing with God about truth, sin, and the identity of Christ.

    Greek
    Strong's G3670
    Pronunciation: hom-ol-og-EH-oh
    Quick Answer

    Homologeō is the Greek word for confess, meaning 'to say the same thing' or 'to agree.' Biblical confession is agreeing with God — about sin (admitting it), about truth (declaring it), and about Christ (proclaiming Him as Lord).

    "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." — 1 John 1:9 (KJV)

    Key Verses

    1 John 1:9

    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
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    Romans 10:9

    “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
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    Hebrews 13:15

    “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
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    Strong's Concordance

    Strong's G3670 — Confess (Homologeō) (ὁμολογέω (homologeō))

    Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where ὁμολογέω (homologeō) appears.

    Open Strong's G3670

    Etymology and Original Meaning

    Homologeō combines homos ('same') and legō ('to speak') — literally 'to say the same thing.' Confession is agreement — saying what God says. When you confess sin, you agree with God that it is sin. When you confess Christ, you agree with God that Jesus is Lord. Confession aligns your speech with God's truth — bringing your words into harmony with His reality.

    Confession of Sin

    John promises, 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us' (1 John 1:9). Confessing sin is not informing God of something He doesn't know but agreeing with His assessment. It is honesty before God — dropping pretense, ending denial, and saying, 'You are right about this.' The result is not condemnation but forgiveness and cleansing.

    Confession of Faith

    Paul links confession and salvation: 'If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus... thou shalt be saved' (Romans 10:9). Confession of faith is public declaration — moving belief from the hidden interior to the public arena. It is saying what God says about Jesus: He is Lord, He is risen, He is Savior. Confession costs something — it makes faith visible and accountable.

    Confession as Praise

    Hebrews 13:15 describes praise as 'the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name' — literally, 'lips confessing his name.' Praise is a form of confession — declaring publicly who God is and what He has done. Every hymn, every testimony, every spoken word of gratitude is confession — saying the same thing God says about Himself and aligning our speech with His glory.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does confess mean in the Bible?

    Confess (homologeō) means 'to say the same thing' — agreeing with God. It includes confessing sin (admitting what God says is wrong), confessing faith (declaring what God says about Christ), and confessing praise (speaking God's truth publicly).

    Why is confession important?

    Confession aligns your speech with God's reality. Confessing sin opens the door to forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Confessing Christ activates salvation (Romans 10:9). Confession moves truth from hidden belief to public declaration.

    Which Bible verse uses the word "Confess (Homologeō)"?

    1 John 1:9 — "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (KJV). It also appears in Romans 10:9, Hebrews 13:15.

    Why does the Greek word behind "Confess (Homologeō)" matter?

    Homologeō combines homos ('same') and legō ('to speak') — literally 'to say the same thing.' Confession is agreement — saying what God says. English uses one word, "Confess (Homologeō)", where the Greek ὁμολογέω (homologeō) carries the fuller sense: to say the same thing — agreeing with god about truth, sin, and the identity of christ.

    Related Words

    Repentance
    Forgive (Aphiēmi)
    Faith

    Related Reading

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    Word Meaning

    Confess (Homologeō) (ὁμολογέω (homologeō))

    To say the same thing — agreeing with God about truth, sin, and the identity of Christ.

    Strong's

    Strong's G3670 — Confess (Homologeō)

    ὁμολογέω (homologeō) • To say the same thing — agreeing with God about truth, sin, and the identity of Christ.

    Commentary

    1 John 1:9 Commentary

    In-depth study • Forgiveness & Confession

    Commentary

    Romans 10:9 Commentary

    In-depth study • Salvation & Confession

    Q&A

    What Does the Bible Say About Confession of Sin?

    Prayer & Worship

    Q&A

    What Is Confession in the Bible?

    Sin & Salvation

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