Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
φθεγγομαι
The verb φθεγγομαι (phtheggomai) means to audibly express, as opposed to, say, using gestures (Acts 4:18, 2 Peter 2:16 and 2:18 only). In the classics this verb was used to describe a person saying something, an animal vocalizing (the classics mention horses, ravens, fawn, even fish and worms), an instrument producing music (trumpet, flute, lyre, even clapping hands), and inanimate objects making noises (a creaking door, thunder clapping, an earthen pot ringing).
It's apparently a mystery where this word comes from, but here at Abarim Publications we are rather struck by the similarities between this verb and the Hebrew verb פתח (patah), to open: of the mouth, in order to say something but also of the ears to hear and the eyes to see. The Greek alphabet is an adaptation of the Hebrew one, and perhaps this Hebrew verb was one of many handy terms that came along with it and were adapted into the Greek verbs.
From this verb derive:
- Together with the preposition απο (apo), meaning from: the verb αποφθεγγομαι (apophtheggomai), meaning to audibly express out of some specified reason or some manifested stirring, or to respond to an appropriate situation with an appropriate maxim: to audibly react. This verb survives in English as the noun "apophthegm", which is "a concise saying or maxim". In the New Testament this verb is used in Acts 2:4, 2:14 and 26:25 only, probably most notably in the report of people "speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance". Much has been made of this, but the wording seems to merely imply that the believers were inspired to use their voices to express their own core nature. Like an instrument, an animal or a gong, they rang stirred by the Spirit of God, who has hovered over creation since the very beginning.
- The noun φθογγος (phthoggos), meaning an audible expression in the same broad meaning as is conveyed by the verb: any distinct sound made by people, animals, musical instruments or things like creaking doors (Romans 10:18 and 1 Corinthians 14:7 only).