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Hebrews 9:16 — Word Study

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N1904ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·

BSAWherehopou forgar [there is] a will,diathēkē [last will and testament, covenant] [the] deaththanatos [physical or spiritual] [it is] necessaryanagkē [of necessity, by requirement] to establishpherō of the [one]ho [testator, the covenant-victim] having made [it];diatithēmi

Word
Listen & take awayHebrews 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 16 is in this chapter.
Say the word Each Greek word carries its transliteration (diatithēmi) — no per-word recordings of the Greek exist to link to.
Take it away
Hebrews 9:16quick helps
In a sentenceThe necessity of a death for a will to take effect is illustrated.
Who is speakingThe author of Hebrews, likely Paul, is explaining the nature of covenants.
Where we areThis verse is part of a discussion on the new covenant established by Christ.
The hard wordδιαθήκη
Take awayA will requires the death of the testator to be enacted.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectδιαθήκη verbφέρω The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the New Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the New Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — , the commonest word in the Greek New Testament, stands 19,867 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Hebrews 9:16

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The New Covenant Explainedgenerated

15Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
16In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,
17because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.
18That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

Hebrews 9:16 discusses the necessity of death in relation to a will, emphasizing that a testament is only valid after the death of the one who made it. This concept is crucial in understanding the nature of covenants, particularly the new covenant established through Christ's sacrifice, as outlined in the surrounding verses that highlight the transition from the old covenant to the new.


Cross References


The Key Word διαθήκη, diathēkēgenerated

The word διαθήκη (diathēkē) is a feminine noun meaning 'covenant' or 'will'. It is used in legal contexts to refer to a formal agreement or testament, particularly in relation to God's promises. The parsing indicates it is in the nominative case, singular, which means it serves as the subject of the sentence.

In this context, it signifies the testament or covenant that is established through Christ's death. The term is often associated with the idea of a will that comes into effect only after the death of the testator, illustrating the necessity of Christ's sacrifice for the new covenant to be valid.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The primary translation for this verse is found in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term will. Other translations, such as the KJV and ASV, also use testament, while the YLT refers to it as a covenant.

The translations differ notably in their rendering of διαθήκη, with some opting for last will and testament (WEB) and others simply a covenant (YLT). This reflects varying interpretations of the term's implications in the context of the new covenant.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause is centered around the finite verb ἀνάγκη, it is necessary, which connects the subject διαθήκη to the action of establishing the death of the testator. The structure includes additional clauses that provide context and detail regarding the necessity of the death for the will to take effect.

The sentence is built with a noun phrase as the subject and several clauses providing supporting details. This structure emphasizes the logical flow of the argument regarding the relationship between a will and the death of its maker.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

διαθήκη is used in the Septuagint to translate the Hebrew word בְּרִית (covenant), indicating a formal agreement or promise, often between God and His people. This connection underscores the continuity of the concept of covenant from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

The term carries significant weight in the context of the new covenant established by Christ, as it parallels the legal understandings of covenants in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Hebrews 9:16 explains that for a will to be valid, the person who made it must have died. This is a key point in understanding how the new covenant, established through Christ's death, replaces the old covenant.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that a will takes effect only after the death of the testator?

This means that the provisions outlined in a will cannot be enacted until the person who made the will has died, illustrating the importance of death in establishing a covenant.

How does this verse relate to the new covenant established by Christ?

The verse emphasizes that Christ's death was necessary for the new covenant to take effect, similar to how a will requires the death of its maker.

Why is the concept of covenant significant in the Bible?

Covenants represent formal agreements between God and humanity, often involving promises and commitments that shape the relationship between them.

What are some examples of covenants in the Old Testament?

Examples include God's covenant with Noah, Abraham, and Moses, each establishing significant promises and obligations.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does understanding the necessity of death in a will help clarify the significance of Christ's death for the new covenant?
  2. In what ways do you see God's promises fulfilled through covenants in your life?
  3. What does it mean for you to live under the new covenant established by Christ?
  4. How can you share the importance of God's covenants with others?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early church Fathers like John Chrysostom and Augustine of Hippo reference this verse to explain the validity of the new covenant established by Christ's death.

John ChrysostomHomily on Hebrews 16 c. 347–407
It was probable that many of those who were more weakly would especially distrust the promises of Christ because He had died. Paul accordingly out of a superabundance introduced this illustration, deriving it from common custom.

John Chrysostom argues that the illustration of a will helps clarify the promises of Christ in light of His death.

Early Church Fathers on Hebrews 9 →
Augustine of HippoON EIGHTY-THREE VARIED QUESTIONS 75.1 354–430
Inasmuch as the apostle says to the Hebrews, "A will takes effect only at the death of the one who made it," he therefore asserts that, with Christ's death for us, the new covenant has become valid.

Augustine asserts that the death of Christ validates the new covenant, paralleling the legal requirement of a will.

Early Church Fathers on Hebrews 9 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Hebrews 9:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For where a testament is,.... The covenant of grace, as administered under the Gospel dispensation, is a testament or will.

Read John Gill on Hebrews 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Read Robert Jamieson on Hebrews 9 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For where a testament is: for gives the reason of the Mediator’ s death, even the putting the called into the possession of the bequeathed inheritance, demonstrated by a common, natural law in all nations of the testament’ s effect on the testator’ s death; a testament being a disposition by will nuncupative, or written, of either goods or lands, which are the person’ s own, to be the right and possession of others after his death, whom he nominateth in it: such in proportion is the new covenant, where God gives freely all spiritual good things with a heavenly inheritance, as legacies to all his called ones in Christ, by this last and best will and testament of his, written in his Scripture…

Read Matthew Poole on Hebrews 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Ver. 16. For where a testament is] Here the testator is Christ, heirs the saints, legacies the gifts of the Spirit, executor the Holy Ghost, witnesses apostles, martyrs, &c.

Read John Trapp on Hebrews 9 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) Testament.—As has been already pointed out, the greatest difference of opinion has existed in regard to the meaning of the Greek word diathηkη in this passage. (See Note on Hebrews 7:22.) It will be seen at once that the interpretation of this verse and the next entirely depends on that one question. If “testament” is the correct meaning of the Greek word, the general sense of the verses is well given in the Authorised version. A few commentators even agree with that version in carrying back the idea of testament into Hebrews 9:15, although in the other two places in which the word is joined with “Mediator” (Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 12:24) they adhere to the ordinary rendering, “covenant.”…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Hebrews 9 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 16. For where a testament is] A learned and judicious friend furnishes me with the following translation of this and the 17th verse:- "For where there is a covenant, it is necessary that the death of the appointed victim should be exhibited, because a covenant is confirmed over dead victims, since it is not at all valid while the appointed victim is alive." He observes, "There is no word signifying testator, or men, in the original. διαθεμενος is not a substantive, but a participle, or a participial adjective, derived from the same root as διατηκη, and must have a substantive understood. I therefore render it the disposed or appointed victim, alluding to the manner of disposing or…

Read AdamClarke on Hebrews 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. For where a testament is] In these two verses (16, 17), and these only, Diathηkη is used in its Greek and Roman sense of “a will,” and not in its Hebrew sense of “a covenant.” The sudden and momentary change in the significance of the word explains itself, for he has just spoken of an inheritance, and of the necessity for a death. It was therefore quite natural that he should be reminded of the fact that just as the Old Covenant (Diathηkη) required the constant infliction of death upon the sacrificed victims, and therefore (by analogy) necessitated the death of Christ under the New, so the word Diathηkη in its other sense of “Will” or “Testament” (which was by this epoch familiar also…

Read Cambridge on Hebrews 9 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For where a testament is - This is the same word - διαθήκη diathēkē - which in Hebrews 8:6, is rendered “covenant.” For the general signification of the word, see note on that verse.

Read Albert Barnes on Hebrews 9 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,

NETBNew English Translation2006

For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For where a testament is , there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For where a Testament is, there must be the death of him that made the Testament.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

(For where [there is] a testament, the death of the testator must needs come in.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

for where a covenant [is], the death of the covenant-victim to come in is necessary,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

for where a covenant [is], [it is] necessary to establish the death of the [one] having made [it],

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For where there is a will, the death of the person who made it must be proven.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For where there is a testament, the death of the testator must of necessity come in.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

For a will to be implemented, the person who made it must be dead.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Because where there is a testament, there has to be the death of the man who made it.

Word by word, the decisions they made

διαθήκη,diathēkē [there is] a will, G1242 3 different renderings
willBSB FBV MSB NETB ULB
a covenantLSV YLT
last will and testamentWEB
ἀνάγκηanagkē [it is] necessary G318 2 different renderings
of necessityASV DRA KJV NWB RVA WEB
necessaryBSB LSV MSB YLT
διαθεμένου·diatithēmi having made [it]; G1303 2 different renderings
madeASV BBE BSB FBV GNV MSB NETB RVA ULB WEB
having madeLSV

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the Nestle 1904 treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseγὰρforclausenoun phrase · adverbialclausepredicateὅπουWheresubjectδιαθήκη[there is] a willpredicateἀνάγκη[it is] necessarynoun phrase · subjectclauseverbφέρεσθαιto establishnoun phrase · subjectθάνατον[the] deathnoun phraseτοῦof the [one]clauseverbδιαθεμένουhaving made [it]

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The earliest translations — Latin and Syriac

Every translation is an argument about meaning made by someone who had to commit to one. These two were made while the Greek was still a living language, and they are the oldest opinions we have about what this verse says.

Latin VulgateAD 382–405

Ubi enim testamentum est, mors necesse est intercedat testatoris.

Jerome revised the Old Latin against the Greek from AD 382; the Latin west read this text for a thousand years.

Syriac Peshittaby AD 400

ܐܝܟܐ ܓܝܪ ܕܐܝܬ ܕܝܬܩܐ ܡܘܬܐ ܗܘ ܡܚܘܝܐ ܕܗܘ ܕܥܒܕܗ

The Bible of the Syriac-speaking church, in the language nearest to the Aramaic Jesus spoke.

Shown verse by verse rather than word by word: aligning a Greek word to its Latin or Syriac counterpart automatically would be guesswork, and a wrong alignment is worse than none.


The Greek editions compared — what the manuscripts actually say

Eight printed editions of the Greek New Testament, side by side. Where they agree the wording is settled; where a word is missing from an edition it is marked, so you can see the difference rather than take it on trust.

Nestle-Aland 28th edition2012 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·

The standard critical text of the New Testament.

Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·

The previous edition, still widely cited.

SBL Greek New Testament2010 · Michael Holmes

ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·

The Society of Biblical Literature edition, freely licensed.

Westcott–Hort1881 · Westcott and Hort

ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·

The edition that turned scholarship toward the earliest manuscripts.

Tregelles1857–1879 · Samuel Prideaux Tregelles

ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·

An independent critical text built from the oldest witnesses then known.

Tyndale House Greek NT2017 · Tyndale House, Cambridge

ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·

A recent critical edition following documentary evidence closely.

Byzantine majority text2018 · Robinson–Pierpont

ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·

The reading of the majority of surviving manuscripts.

Textus Receptus1550/1894 lineage

ὅπου γὰρ διαθήκη, θάνατον ἀνάγκη φέρεσθαι τοῦ διαθεμένου·

The printed tradition behind the King James Version.

Every witness on this verse all agree
Critical editions
Nestle-Aland 28th edition2012Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993SBL Greek New Testament2010Westcott–Hort1881Tregelles1857–1879Tyndale House Greek NT2017
Byzantine / Majority
Byzantine majority text2018
Received Text
Textus Receptus1550/1894

A witness that read differently would show its variant word here, marked.

Word by word, across the editions

Every edition agrees. All 8 printed editions — Nestle-Aland 28, Nestle-Aland 27, SBLGNT, Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Tyndale House 2017, Textus Receptus (KJV), Byzantine majority — carry every word of this verse, in the same order, with no difference that any translator would render differently.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Greek New Testament — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Hebrews 9:16ὅπουWhereWhereὅπουγάρforforγάρδιαθήκη[there is] [there is] a wiδιαθήκηθάνατος[the] death[the] deathθάνατοςἀνάγκη[it is] nec[it is] necessaἀνάγκηφέρωto establisto establishφέρωof the [oneof the [one]διατίθημιhaving madehaving made [itδιατίθημιὅςRel.pr. whRel.pr. who, whὅςδιατίθημιv. I appoiv. I appoint, mδιατίθημιθνῄσκωv. I am dyv. I am dying, θνῄσκωἀνάPrep. and,Prep. and, apieἀνάδιάPrep. throPrep. through, διάβρῶσιςn.f. eatinn.f. eating, foβρῶσιςκλέπτηςn.m. a thin.m. a thiefκλέπτηςὥσπερAdv just aAdv just as, asὥσπερτοιοῦτοςDem.pr. ofDem.pr. of suchτοιοῦτοςμεσίτηςn.m. a medn.m. a mediatorμεσίτηςκιβωτόςn.f. an arn.f. an arkκιβωτόςγεύομαιv. I tastev. I taste, expγεύομαιπληγήn.f. a blon.f. a blow, stπληγήθλῖψιςn.f. persen.f. persecutioθλῖψιςἔχωv. I have,v. I have, holdἔχωσαπρόςAdj rottenAdj rotten, useσαπρόςκαρπόςn.m. fruitn.m. fruit, resκαρπόςδιαθήκηn.f. a covn.f. a covenantδιαθήκη
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Hebrews 9:16

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Greek lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. Imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, the full Liddell-Scott-Jones, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate LSJ, Robinson and Packard on the Greek, Webster and Cawdrey on the English the translators were using. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

Where for [there is] a will, [the] death [it is] necessary to establish of the [one] having made [it];
ὅπουhopou Where G3699 Adverb
82× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in Hebrews as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word asks about the location or place of something, like in Matthew 25:24 and John 3:8. It is used to describe where events occur, and is often translated as 'where' or 'in what place'.
Tyndale gloss
where(-ever)
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ὅπου (i.e., *hopou*) is an adverb meaning 'where' or 'whither.' It is derived from two components and is used in various contexts, including relative clauses and indirect questions. The New Testament employs it to denote locations and conditions, as seen in verses like Matthew 6:19 and Revelation 2:13. It can also express time or cause, as noted in 1 Corinthians 3:3.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ὅπου,

adv.

of place, correlat. of ποῦ (q.v.), where.

Prop., of place,

where;

in relative sentences, c. indic: Mt 25:24, 26, Mk 2:4 4:5, 15 5:40 13:14, Jo 3:8 6:62 7:34, 36 11:32 14:3 17:24 20:19, Ro 15:20, Re 2:13; after nouns of place, for relat. prepositional phrase (ἐν ᾧ., etc.), Mt 6:19, 20 13:5 26:57 28:6, Mk 6:55 9:48, Lk 12:33, Jo 1:28 4:20, 46 6:23 7:42 10:40 11:30 12:1 18:1, 20 19:18, 20, 41 20:12, Ac 17:1,

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ὅπου, Mk. xiv. 14; Ileb. vi. 20; ὧδε, Mt. xxii. 12; ἔσω, Mt. xxvi. 58; εἰς with ace. of pers., into one’s house, Acts xvi. 40, but on this pass. see εἰς, A. I. 1a. εἰσέρχ. πρός τινα, to one, i.e. into his house, visit, Mk. xv. 43; Lk. i. 23; Acts x. 8; xi. 3; xvi. 40 GL TTrWH; xxviii. 8; Rey. iii. 20; to an assembly of persons, Acts xvii. 2. Moreover the following deserve notice: a. the phrase εἰσέρχεσθαι καὶ ἐξέρχεσθαι, to go in and out, (the Hebr. ANS) NID, or reversed Nj} NNY, usually denotes one’s whole mode of living and acting, Deut. xxviii. 6; 1 S. xxix. 6, ete.; ef. Gesenius, Thesaur. i. p. 184 sq.), is used of familiar intercourse with one: ἐν παντὶ χρόνῳ ᾧ εἰσῆλθε x. ἐξῆλθεν ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς ὁ κύριος, equiv. to εἰσῆλθε ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς k. ἐξῆλθε ἀφ᾽ ἡμ. Acts i. 21, (Eur. Phoen. 536 ἐς οἴκους εἰσῆλθε x. ἐξηλθ᾽ [W. 624 sq. (580); but ef. B. 390 (334)]); figuratively, of moral pursuits unimpeded…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ὅπου, ‘*where,” as in Mk 24, is seen in P Oxy I. 7613 (Α.Ὁ. 179) ὅπου σὺν To ἀνδρὶ καταμένω, ‘where | live with my husband,” in P Lond 8545 (i/ii A.D.) (=III. p. 206), an interesting account of a journey—els Λιβύην ὅπου "Αμμων πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις χρησμῳδεῖ, “to Libya, where Ammon sings oracles to all men,’’ and in the question to an oracle P Oxy XII. 1477? (iii/iv A.D.) εἶ μένω ὅπου ὑπάγω ; ‘shall I remain where I am going?’’ For the meaning “ whither” (ὅποι is not found in the NT), as in Jn 74, see Ost 11628 (Rom.) ὅπου @éAe.—with reference to the sending of certain measures of wheat. Ὅπου ἄν (éav) = ‘‘ wheresoever,’’ as in Mk 98, may be illustrated from P Eleph 1° (B.C. 311-10) (= Selections, p. 2) εἶναι δὲ ἡμᾶς κατὰ ταὐτὸ (cf. Ac 14) ὅπου ἂν δοκῆι ἄριστον εἶναι, “‘and that we shall live together wherever may seem best,” P Oxy XIV. 16397° (B.C. 73 or 442) ὅπου ἂν τῶι καθόλου περιπίπτῃς…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ὅπου (hopou) — where(-ever).

ὅπου,

Ionic dialect ὅκου, Relat., indirect interrogative, and indefinite adverb of Place, correlated to ποῦ:

I. as a Relat., sometimes with genitive loci, τῆς πόλεως ὅπου κάλλιστον στρατοπεδεύσασθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]in some places, [Refs 4th c.BC+] adjective, μέλη, ὅπου (i. e. ἐν οἷς)[Refs 5th c.BC+]: with other Particles, ὅκου δή somewhere or other, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὅπου ἄν wherever, with subjunctive, [Refs]; in Trag. the ἄν may be omitted, as ὅπου δ᾽ Ἀπόλλων σκαιὸς ᾖ, τίνες σοφο; [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with genitive, ὅπου ἂν τύχῃ τῶν λεγομένων [Refs 5th c.BC+]anywheresoever, [Refs]; ὅπουπερ with optative, wherever, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁπουδάν, ={ὅπου δὲ ἄν}, anywhere, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ὁπουδήποτε, = ubicumque, Dosith.p.410 K.; ὁπουδηποτοῦν anywheresoever, [Refs 1st…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ὅπου

hopou

from 3739 and 4225; what(-ever) where, i.e. at whichever spot:--in

what place, where(-as, -soever), whither (+ soever).

see GREEK for 3739

see GREEK for 4225

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ὅπου

Adv

where, whither

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ὅπου hopou 82x

where, in which place, in what place, Mt. 6:19, 20, 21; Rev. 2:13; whither, to what place, Jn. 8:21; 14:4; ὅπου ἄν, or ἐάν, wherever, in whatever place, Mt. 24:28; whithersoever, Mt. 8:19; Jas. 3:4; met. where, in which thing, state, etc., Col. 3:11; whereas, 1 Cor. 3:3; 2 Pet. 2:11

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ὅπου relat. adv. of Place, properly gen. of an obsol. Pron. ὅπος, correlat. to ποῦ: as a relat., Hdt., attic;—sometimes with gen. loci, ὅπου γῆς, Lat. ubi terrarum, Plat.:— ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου in some places, Lat. est ubi, Aesch., Dem.:—with other Particles, ὅκου δή somewhere or other, Lat. nescio ubi, Hdt.:— ὅπου ἄν or ὅπουπερ ἄν, wherever, with Subjunct., Trag.:— ὁπουοῦν, Lat. ubicunque, Plat.

in indirect questions, ὄφρα πύθηαι πατρός, ὅπου κύθε γαῖα Od., etc.: —with Verbs of motion in pregnant sense, just as, reversely, ὅποι is used with Verbs of rest, κεῖνος δ᾽ ὅπου βέβηκεν, οὐδεὶς οἶδε Soph.:—in repeating a question, ἡ Λακεδαίμων ποῦ 'στιν; Answ. ὅπου 'στίν; (do you ask) where it is? Ar.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
adverb — it qualifies the verb, and never changes form.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

ADV ADVerb or adverb and particle combined

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
85%where
where85% · 71×wherever12% · 10×other renderings4% · 3×other renderings0% · 0×

84 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 5 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial70%predicate28%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 82 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
ἀφανίζωI cause to disapεὑρίσκωI findἀκολουθέωI accompany, att
τόποςa place
Article the
σύ
ἀκολουθέωI accompany, attλέγωI say, speakπαρά
αὐτός
λέγωI say, speakτόποςa place
οὐρανόςthe sky, the heaven
ἐνArticle the
ὅπουWhere82×
what comes after →
εἰμίI am, exist
ἐγώArticle theκαίand, even, also,
Article the
πάσχαAramγραμματεύςa scribe, town-cπαραλυτικόςafflicted with p
ἐάνCond
ἀπέρχομαιI come or go awaκηρύσσωI proclaim, heraεἰσέρχομαιI go in, come in
οὐNeg
ἔχωI have, hold, poσπείρωI sow, spread, sδεῖit is necessary,
γάρfor
εἰμίI am, existἐνδιαθήκηa covenant, will

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceὅπου · 82× in the New Testament
John Mark Matthew Revelation Luke Hebrews Acts James 1 Corinthians 2 Peter Colossians Romans
Across the New Testament12 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 1.60c. AD 40

τὸ δὲ ἕτερον ξύλον, τὸ τοῦ γινώσκειν καλὸν καὶ πονηρόν, οὐ δεδήλωκεν οὔτε εἰ ἐντὸς οὔτε εἰ ἐκτός ἐστι τοῦ παραδείσου, ἀλλ’ εἰπὼν οὕτως „καὶ τὸ ξύλον τοῦ εἰδέναι γνωστὸν καλοῦ καὶ πονηροῦ“ εὐθὺς ἡσύχασεν οὐ δηλώσας ὅπου τετύχηκεν ὄν, ἵνα μὴ ὁ…

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.152c. AD 75–95

Θέρρου δὲ μισήσαντος τὴν Χαλδαίαν διὰ τὸ Ἀράνου πένθος μετοικίζονται πάντες εἰς Χαρρὰν τῆς Μεσοποταμίας, ὅπου καὶ Θέρρον τελευτήσαντα θάπτουσιν ἔτη βιώσαντα πέντε καὶ διακόσια·

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 16.6c. AD 100

ἔστιν, ὅπου αὐτὸς λέγει ποιεῖν καὶ καταρτίζειν.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 6th c. AD 1st c. AD
P.Mich. 5 231ArsinoitesAD 48–AD 51

αι επ … ωμ … … … … προελευσομένους ἡμᾶς ὅπου ἐὰν ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Γναῖος Οὐηργίλλις Καπίτων τὸν τοῦ νομοῦ διαλογισμὸν ποιῆται πρὸς τὸ

P.Fam.Tebt. 19ArsinoitesAD 118

παρʼ ἑτέρῳ αὐτῆς δανειστῇ οὔσας ἀπεσπακέναι αὐτὸν οὐ δεόντως. Διηρᾶς· διαβεβαιούμέθα καὶ κατὰ τούτων ὅπου εἰσὶν ἀρουρῶν τετελειωκέναι τὰ νόμιμα καὶ κατὰ τῶν ἄλλων. ἀξιοῦμεν οὖν καὶ νῦν χωρὶς

P.Mil.Vogl. 3 129Tebtynis (Arsinoites)AD 135

καὶ Κρονίωνι, ἵνʼ εἰδῶσι ὀφείλειν αὐτοὺς παρεῖναι ἐπὶ τὸ ἱερώτατον τοῦ κρατίστου ἡγεμόνος βῆμα ὅπου ἐὰν τὸν τοῦ νομοῦ διαλογισμὸν ἢ δικαιοδοσίαν ποιῆται πρὸς τὴν τοῦ πραάγματος διάγνωσιν. Ἡρακλείδης

Where for [there is] a will, [the] death [it is] necessary to establish of the [one] having made [it];
γὰρgar for G1063 Conjunction
1,038× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Hebrews than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
For is a word used to explain or give a reason, often introducing a justification or clarification, as seen in Matthew 4:18 and Romans 7:1. It's a conjunction that connects ideas and provides additional information.
Tyndale gloss
for
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word γάρ (gar) is a coordinating particle primarily used to introduce reasons or explanations, similar to 'for' in English. It can serve various functions, including causal, explicative, and conclusive, and is often placed after the first word in a clause. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts that clarify or justify preceding statements, aligning with its classical usage.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

γάρ,

co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα,

verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.;

explicative and epexegetic: Mt 4:18 19:12, Mk 1:16 5:42 16:4, Lk 11:30, Ro 7:1, I Co 16:5, al.

Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mt 9:5 27:23, Lk 9:25 22:27, Jo 9:30, Ac 8:31 16:37 19:35,

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

γάρ, a conjunction, which ace. to its composition, γέ and dpa (i. 4. ἄρ), is properly a particle of affirmation and conclusion, denoting truly therefore, verily as the case stands, “ the thing is first aflirmed by the particle yé, and then is referred to what precedes by the force of the particle dpa” (Klotz ad Devar. ii. 1, p. 232; οἵ. Kiihner ii. p. 724; [Jelf § 786; W. 445 (415) sq-]). Now since by a new affirmation not infrequently the reason and nature of something previously mentioned are set forth, it comes to pass that, by the use of this particle, either the reason and cause of a foregoing statement is added, whence arises the causal or argumentative force of the particle, for (Lat. nam, enim; Germ. denn) ; or some previous declaration is explained, whence γάρ takes on an ex plicative force: YP Sor, the fact is, namely (Lat. videlicet, Germ. ndmilich). Thus the force of the…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

γάρ (gar) — for.

γάρ

(γε, ἄρα), causal conjunction, used alone or with other Particles.

I. introducing the reason or cause of what precedes, for, τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη· κήδετο γ. Δαναῶν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but frequently in explanation of that which is implied in the preceding clause, πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηνα.. τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον [Refs]

I. b in simple explanations, especially after a Pronoun or demonstrative adjective, ἀλλὰ τόδ᾽ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει· Ἕκτωρ γ. ποτε φήσει [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὃ δὲ δεινότατον.. ὁ Ζεὺς γ... [Refs 5th c.BC+]; frequently in introducing proofs or examples, μαρτύριον δέ· Δήλου γ. καθαιρομένης.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τεκμήριον δέ· οὔτε γ. Λακεδαιμόνιοι.. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; in full, τεκμήριον δὲ…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

γάρ

gar

a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument,

explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as,

because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then,

therefore, verily, what, why, yet.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

γάρ

Cj.

for

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

γάρ gar 1x

for; it is, however, frequently used with an ellipsis of the clause to which it has reference, and its force must then be variously expressed: Mt. 15:27; 27:23, et al.; it is also sometimes epexegetic, or introductory of an intimated detail of circumstances, now, then, Mt. 1:18

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

γάρ for, Lat. enim, and like it, regularly placed after the first word of a sentence: to introduce the reason:

ARGUMENTATIVE, to introduce the reason for a statement, which usually precedes:—when it precedes the statement, it may be rendered since, as, Ἀτρείδη, πολλοὶ γὰρ τεθνᾶσιν Ἀχαιοί, χρὴ πόλεμον παῦσαι Il.

the statement of which γάρ gives the reason may be omitted, οὐ γάρ τί μοι Ζεὺς ἦν ὁ κηρύξας τάδε [yes], for it was not Zeus, etc., Soph.; ἔστι γὰρ οὕτω [yes], for so it is, i. e. yes certainly, Plat.; οἵδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ εἰσί: τοῦτο γάρ σε δήξεται [I say this], for it will sting thee, Eur.: —in Conditional Propositions, where the Condition is omitted, it may be transl. for otherwise, else, οὐ γὰρ ἄν με ἔπεμπον πάλιν, (sc. εἰ μὴ ἐπίστευον)…

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Conjunction
conjunction — it joins clauses, and never changes form.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

CONJ CONJunction or conjunctive particle

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
97%for
for97% · 1050×other renderings3% · 33×

1,083 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 11 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial3%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 1,038 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
Article the
αὐτόςἐγώσύ
οὐNeg
οὐδείςno one, none, noαὐτόςλαλέωI speak, say
εἰμίI am, exist
θάλασσαthe sea, lakeλυπέωI pain, grieve, καθεύδωI sleep, am slee
οὗτος
εἰςαὐτόςδιά
καίand, even, also, nam
εἰμίI am, existκύριοςlord, Lord, mastἐγώ
γάρfor1038×
what comes after →
Article the
πατήρfather, Father, θεόςGod, a godArticle the
εἰμίI am, exist
Article theσύἐν
σύ
ὅτιthat, since, becἐνοὐNeg
αὐτός
Article theοὗτοςλέγωI say, speak
ὅτιthat, since, because
Article theδιάἐν

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceγάρ · 1,038× in the New Testament
Romans Matthew 1 Corinthians Luke Hebrews Acts 2 Corinthians John Mark Galatians 1 Thessalonians Revelation

1 inflected forms — one of the commonest words in the New Testament. Full distribution →

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 4c. AD 40

καὶ γὰρ λόγον καὶ ἀκοὴν ὑπερβάλλει μείζω καὶ σεμνότερα ὄντα ἢ ὡς θνητοῦ τινος ὀργάνοις ἐναρμοσθῆναι.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.2c. AD 75–95

τινὲς μὲν γὰρ ἐπιδεικνύμενοι λόγων δεινότητα καὶ τὴν ἀπʼ αὐτῆς θηρευόμενοι δόξαν ἐπὶ τοῦτο τῆς παιδείας τὸ μέρος ὁρμῶσιν, ἄλλοι δὲ χάριν ἐκείνοις φέροντες, περὶ ὧν τὴν ἀναγραφὴν εἶναι συμβέβηκε, τὸν εἰς αὐτὴν πόνον καὶ παρὰ δύναμιν ὑπέστησαν·

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.7c. AD 100

ἐγνώρισεν γὰρ ἡμῖν ὁ δεσπότης διὰ τῶν προφητῶν τὰ παρεληλυθότα καὶ τὰ ἐνεστῶτα, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων δοὺς ἀπαρχὰς ἡμῖν γεύσεως, ὧν τὰ καθ̓ ἕκαστα βλέποντες ἐνεργούμενα, καθὼς ἐλάλησεν, ὀφείλομεν πλουσιώτερον καὶ ὑψηλότερον προσάγειν τῷ φόβῳ αὐτοῦ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
3rd c. BC 2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 6th c. AD

ἀποκαταστῆναι , ἔτι καὶ νῦν καλῶς ποιήσεις παρακαλῶν σαυτὸν καὶ τοὺς παρʼ ἡμῶν· προσπέπτωκεν γὰρ Παῶν ἀναπλεῖν ἐν τῶι Τῦβι μηνὶ μετὰ δυνάμεων ἱκανῶν πρὸς τὸ καταστεῖλαι τοὺς ἐν

P.Grenf. 1 37Thebais109 BC

ἀλλʼ ἀποστερέσαι … ησας ἀλλά … τας κατὰ κοινόν … ἐπίσκεψιν ποιησάσθαι. … τούτων γὰρ γενομένων ἐσόμεθα βεβοηθημένοι ὑφʼ ὑμῶν. ἔρρωσθε. ἔτους θ Φαρμοῦθι κζ, ἐπιλέγματος ἀναγνωσθέντος τοῦ ὑπομνήματος

P.Bad. 2 16Pathyris89 BC

ποιήσετε συνγεινόμενοι εἰς τοῦτον τόπον ἐν ἀσφαλείαι ὑπάρχοντα συντηρηθῆναι τοῦτον τῶι κυρίωι βασιλεῖ· οὕτω γὰρ πράσσοντες καὶ τὴν πρὸς τὰ πράγματα εὔνοιαν διατηροῦντες … ε … παρὰ τῶν ἐπάνω

Where for [there is] a will, [the] death [it is] necessary to establish of the [one] having made [it];
διαθήκη,diathēkē [there is] a will, G1242 Noun · nominative · singular · feminine
33× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Hebrews than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
A covenant is a formal agreement or contract between two parties, like a will or a promise. In the Bible, it often refers to God's promises to his people, as seen in Galatians 3:15 and Hebrews 9:16.
Amplified meaning
last will and testament, covenant
Tyndale gloss
covenant
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

διαθήκη (diathēkē) refers to a disposition or arrangement, often understood as a will or testament. It also signifies a covenant, particularly in the context of agreements between God and humanity. The term is frequently used in the New Testament, notably in references to the new covenant established through Christ, as seen in passages like Matthew 26:28 and Hebrews 9:16-17.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

διαθήκη, -ης, ἡ

(< διατίθημι),

[freq. in LXX, and nearly always for בְּרִית ;]

as usually in cl., a disposition, testament, will (Plat., al.): Ga 3:15 (R, mg., but v. Lft., in l.), He 9:16, 17 (R, txt.; MM, Exp., xi,; Milligan, NTD, 75; Abbott, Essays, 107; Deiss., LAE, 341; but v. infr.).

As in LXX (for בְּרִית) = cl. συνθήκη, a convention, arrangement, covenant (exc. in the disputed cases mentioned above, always between God and man, "perhaps with the feeling that the δια- compound was more suitable than the συν- for a covenant with God---συνθ. might suggest equal terms," MM, Exp., l.c.): Ga 3:15 (R, txt., but v. supr., and cf. Thayer, s.v.), He 9:16

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

διαθήκη, -ης, 7, (διατίθημι) ; 1. a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, (Germ. Verordnung, Willensverfiigung): Gal. iii. 15, where under the name of ἃ man’s disposition is meant specifically a testament, so far forth as it is a specimen and example of that disposition [cf. Mey. or Bp. Lghtft. ad loc.]; esp. the last disposal which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will (so in Grk. writ. fr. [Arstph.], Plat. lege. 11 p. 922 ¢. sqq. down): Heb. ix. 16 sq. 2. a compact, covenant (Arstph. av. 440), very often in the Seriptures for M3 (Vulg. testamen136 . tum). For the word covenant is used to denote the close relationship which God entered into, first with Noah (Gen. vi. 18; ix. 9 sqq. [ef. Sir. sliv. 18]), then with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their posterity (Lev. xxvi. 42 [ef. 2 Mace. i. 2]), but esp. with Abraham (Gen.…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

διαθηκη superfluous, P Petr III. 6 (ὁ)15 (c. B.c. 236) τὴ]ν διαθήκην καταλείπω will be about the earliest example: P Grenf I. 177 (c. B.C. 147 or 136) and 76. 214 (B.c. 126) also fall within the LXX period. So do such inserr. as OG/S 3387 (8.6. 133), of the instrument by which King Attalus of Pergamum devised his country to Rome, A/ichel 1001 ἷν- 8 (c. B.C. 200) κατὰ διαθήκαν (the testament of Epicteta, in Theran Doric), and one of iii/B.c. in ᾿Αθηνᾷ xx. p. 167 κατὰ τὰς διαθήκας, Sy 8279 (i/B.c.) might also be cited—houses and gardens bequeathed by a woman to Aphrodite Urania, κατὰ τὰς διαθήκας τὰς κειμένας ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι τῆς ᾿Αφροδίτης καὶ παρ᾽ Εἰὐνομίδει τῶι ἄρχοντι καὶ παρὰ τῶι θεσμοθέτει Κτησιφῶντι. We may also mention BGU IV. 11517 (B.c. 14) καθ᾽ ἣν ἔθετο διαθήκ(ην) διὰ τοῦ τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων ἀρχείου, if illustration is needed to show that the Jews used the word in this sense. Cagnat 1V.…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

διαθήκη (diathēkē) — covenant.

διαθήκη, ἡ,

(διατίθημι) disposition of property by will, testament, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κατὰ διαθήκην by will, [Refs 1st c.BC+], etc.: in plural, διαθήκας διαθέσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II. αἱ ἀπόρρητοι δ. mystic deposits on which the common weal depended, probably oracles (compare διαθέτης), [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II.2. name of an eyesalve, because the recipe was deposited in a temple, [Refs 6th c.AD+]

III. compact, covenant, ἢν μὴ διαθῶνται διαθήκην ἐμοί [LXX+5th c.BC+]; καινή, παλαιὰ δ., [NT]; disposition (with allusion to [NT]

IV. ={διάθεσις}[Refs 3rd c.AD+]

Strong's Greek Dictionary

διαθήκη

diatheke

from 1303; properly, a disposition, i.e. (specially) a contract

(especially a devisory will):--covenant, testament.

see GREEK for 1303

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

διαθήκη, ης, ἡ

n.f.

a covenant, will, testament

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

διαθήκη diathēkē 33x

a testamentary disposition, will; a covenant, Heb. 9:16, 17; Gal. 3:15; in NT, a covenant of God with men, Gal. 3:17; 4:24; Heb. 9:4; Mt. 26:28; the writings of the old covenant, 2 Cor. 3:14

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

διαθήκη διαθήκη, ἡ, διατίθημι a disposition of property by will, a will, testament, Ar., Oratt.

an arrangement between two parties, covenant, Ar., NTest.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Noun-NSF — Noun · nominative · singular · feminine
nominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked singular feminine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

N-NSF Part of Speech: Noun Case: Nominative Number: Singular Gender: Feminine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

Across the New Testament11 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 176 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Epistle of Barnabas Clement of Rome
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 3.85c. AD 40

καταφάσκει καὶ ἐπινεύει λέγων „Ναί, ἰδοὺ Σάρρα ἡ γυνή σου τέξεταί σοι υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰσαάκ, καὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς διαθήκην αἰώνιον“ (ib.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 17.argc. AD 75–95

Ἡρώδου τελευτὴ καὶ διαθήκη τοῦ αὐτοῦ πρὸς Καίσαρα καὶ μερισμὸς πρὸς τοὺς τρεῖς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 4.6c. AD 100

ἔτι δὲ καὶ τοῦτο ἐρωτῶ ὑμᾶς ὡς εἶς ἐξ ὑμῶν ὤν, ἰδίως δὲ καὶ πάντας ἀγαπῶν ὑπὲρ τὴν ψυχήν μου, προσέχειν νῦν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ μὴ ὁμοιοῦσθαί τισιν ἐπισωρεύοντας ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν λέγοντας, ὅτι ἡ διαθήκη ἐκείνων καὶ ἡμῶν.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 1st c. AD 6th c. AD 2nd c. BC
P.Lond. 2 p. 167-169 no. 177Bakchias (Arsinoites)AD 40

τῷ δ ἔτει Γαίου Καίσαρος Αὐτοκράτορος Σεβαστοῦ τελευτήσαντος τοῦ προγεγραμμένου μου πατρὸς κατέλειψεν κατὰ διαθήκην τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ ἐμοί τε καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου Ὀρσενούφι καὶ Σισοΐτι καὶ Πετοβάστι

P.Col. 8 213Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)AD 84–AD 105

πατρός μου Πολυδεύκους τοῦ δεινὸς … τοῦ Πολυδεύκους ἀπὸ κώμης Ἰβιῶνος Εἰκοσιπενταρούρων τελευτὴν ἀπὸ διαθήκης περὶ τὴν προκειμένην κώμην Ἰβιῶνα εἰκοσιπενταρούρων κατοικικῆς ἀρούρας τρεῖς ὄγδοον ἑκκαιδέκατον καὶ γῆς ἀμπελίτιδος

P.Mil.Vogl. 4 226Tebtynis (Arsinoites)AD 135

αὐτῶι εἰς ἀκοίρωσιν, ἀφʼ ὧν τῶι Ἡρακλείδῃ ὀφειλομένων διαταγέντων ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ τῇ Ἀφροδισίᾳ κατὰ διαθήκην ἐπὶ τοῦ διεληλυθότος ὀκτωκαιδεκάτου ἔτους Ἐπεὶφ ἐννεακαιδεκάτῃ διὰ τοῦ γραφείου Τεβτύνεως καὶ μὴ ἐπελεύσεσθαι

Where for [there is] a will, [the] death [it is] necessary to establish of the [one] having made [it];
θάνατονthanatos [the] death G2288 Noun · accusative · singular · masculine
120× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Hebrews than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word means death, whether it's physical or spiritual. It's used in many places, like John 11:13 and Romans 8:38, to describe the end of life or separation from God. It's the opposite of life.
Amplified meaning
physical or spiritual
Tyndale gloss
death
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

θάνατος (thanatos) means 'death' and can refer to both natural and violent forms of death. It encompasses physical death, spiritual death, and even metaphorical uses, such as the death of Christ. The New Testament uses it in various contexts, including imminent danger and eternal death. Notably, it is contrasted with ζωή (zoe), meaning 'life'.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

θάνατος, -ου, ὁ (θνήσκω),

[in LXX chiefly for מָוֶת ,מוּת, sometimes דֶּבֶר;]

death;

of the death of the body, whether natural or violent: Jo 11:13, Phl 2:27, He 7:23, al; opp. to ζωή, Ro 8:38, Phl 1:20; of the death of Christ, Ro 5:10, Phl 3:10, He 2:9; ῥυέσθαι (σώζειν) ἐκ θ., II Co 1:10, He 5:7; περίλυπος ἕως θανάτου, Mt 26:38, Mk 14:34; μέχρι (ἄχρι) θ., Phl 2:8, Re 2:10; πληγὴ…

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

θάνατος, -ov, 6, (θανεῖν); Sept. for ny) and ny, also for 727 pestilence [W. 29 note]; (one of the nouns often anarthrous, ef. W. § 19, 1s. v.; [B. § 124, 8¢.]; Grimm, Com. on Sap. p. 59); death; 1. prop. the death of the body, i. e. that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul from the body by which the life on earth is ended: Jn. xi. 4, [13]; Acts ii. 24 [Trmrg. ἅδου] (on this see ddiv); Phil. ii. 27,30; Heb. vii. 23; ix. 15 sq.; Rev. ix. 6; xviii. 8; opp. to ζωή, Ro. viii. 38; 1 Co. iii. 22; 2Co.i. 9; Phil. i. 20; with the implied idea of future misery in the state beyond, 1 Co. xv. 21; 2 Tim. i. 10; Heb. ii. 14 sq.; 1. q. the power of death, 2 Co. iv. 12. Since the nether world, the abode of the dead, was conceived of as being very dark, χώρα καὶ σκιὰ θανάτου (ayy) is equiv. to the region of thickest darkness, i. e. figuratively, a region enveloped in the darkness of…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

θάνατος. For this common noun we may cite such passages as P Petr IIT. 36 (2)? τ]ὸν θάνατον ὑποκείμενον [ἐν] τῆι φυλακῆι διὰ τὴν ἔνδειαν, P Tebt I. 5% (B.c. 118) τοὺς δὲ παρὰ ταῦτα ποιοῦντας θαν[άτωι ζ]ημιοῦσθαι, P Oxy III. 4727 (c. Α.Ὁ. 130) ἄλλοι πολλοὶ τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ζῆν προκρείναντες, 12. 11. 2370}. 36 (A.D. 186) ἡ δὲ κτῆσις μετὰ θάνατον τοῖς τέκνοις κεκράτηται, “but the right of ownership after their death has been settled upon the children” (Edd.). The wellknown inscr. at the entrance of the inner court of the Temple at Jerusalem, threatening all who were not Jews with the penalty of death for entering, ends—és 8’ ἂν ληφθῇ, ἑαυτῶι αἴτιος ἔσται διὰ τὸ ἐξακολουθεῖν θάνατον (OG/S 5087, i/A.D.). In a Latin papyrus containing military accounts, | P Fay rosiii 24 (c. a.p. 180), opposite the name Turbon a letter @ has been inserted, implying, according to the editors, that he has died.…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

θάνατος (thanatos) — death.

θάνᾰτος [θᾰ], ὁ,

(θνῄσκω) death, whether natural or violent, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τῶν ὑπαλευάμενος θάνατον the death threatened by them, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; θάνατόνδε to death, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; θανάτου τέλος, μοῖρα, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; θανάτου πέρι καὶ ζωᾶς for life and death, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πόλεώς ἐστι θ., ἀνάστατον γενέσθαι it is its death, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; γῆρας ζῶν θ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; θάνατον ἀποθνῄσκειν, τελευτᾶν, [Refs 1st c.BC+]

2. in Law, death-penalty, θάνατον καταγνῶναί τινος to pass sentence of death on one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; θανάτου δίκῃ κρίνεσθαι[Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὸς τοὺς ἐχθροὺς.. ἀγωνίσασθαι περὶ θ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; θ. τῆς ζημίας ἐπικειμένης the penalty is death…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

θάνατος

thanatos

from 2348; (properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or

figuratively):--X deadly, (be...) death.

see GREEK for 2348

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

θάνατος, ου, ὁ

n.m.

death

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

θάνατος thanatos 120x

death, the extinction of life, whether naturally, Lk. 2:26; Mk. 9:1; or violently, Mt. 10:21; 15:4; imminent danger of death, 2 Cor. 4:11, 12; 11:23; in NT spiritual death, as opposed to ζωή in its spiritual sense, in respect of a forfeiture of salvation, Jn. 8:51; Rom. 6:16

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

θάνατος θάνα^τος, ὁ, θνήσκω death, Hom., etc.; θ. τινος the death threatened by him, Od.; θάνατόνδε to death, Il., etc.

in attic, θάνατον καταγιγνώσκειν τινός to pass sentence of death on one, Thuc.; θανάτου κρίνεσθαι to be tried for one's life, id. Thuc.:—ellipt., τὴν ἐπὶ θανάτῳ κεκοσμημένος (sc. στολήν) Hdt.; δῆσαί τινα τὴν ἐπὶ θανάτου (sc. δέσιν) id. Hdt.; τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις ἐπιτρέψαι περὶ σφῶν αὐτῶν πλὴν θανάτου for any penalty short of death, Thuc.

pl. θάνατοι, kinds of death, Od.; or the deaths of several persons or even of one person, Trag.

as prop. n., Θάνατος Death, twin-brother of Sleep, Il.

= νεκρός, Anth.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Noun-ASM — Noun · accusative · singular · masculine
accusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

N-ASM Part of Speech: Noun Case: Accusative Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(maweth; thanatos):

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND FIGURATIVE VIEW

The word "Death" is used in the sense of

(1) the process of dying (Ge 21:16);

(2) the period of decease (Ge 27:7);

(3) as a possible synonym for poison (2Ki 4:40);

(4) as descriptive of person in danger of perishing (Jud 15:18; "in deaths oft" 2Co 11:23). In this sense the shadow of death is a familiar expression in Job, the Psalms and the Prophets;

(5) death is personified in 1Co 15:55 and Re 20:14. Deliverance from this catastrophe is called the "issues from…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Death

May be simply defined as the termination of life. It is represented under a variety of aspects in Scripture: (1.) “The dust shall return to the earth as it was” (Eccl. 12:7).

(2.) “Thou takest away their breath, they die” (Ps. 104:29).

(3.) It is the dissolution of “our earthly house of this tabernacle” (2 Cor. 5:1); the “putting off this tabernacle” (2 Pet. 1:13, 14).

(4.) Being “unclothed” (2 Cor. 5:3, 4).

(5.) “Falling on sleep” (Ps. 76:5; Jer. 51:39;

Is taken in Scripture, first, for the separation of body and soul, the first death, Ge 25:11; secondly, for alienation from God, and exposure to his wrath, 1Jo 3:14, etc.; thirdly, for the second death, that of eternal damnation. Death was the penalty affixed to Adam’s transgression, Ge 2:17 3:19; and all his posterity are transgressors, and share the curse inflicted upon him. CHRIST is "our life." All believers share his life, spiritually and eternally; and though sin and bodily is taken away, and in the resurrection the last enemy shall be trampled under foot, Ro 5:12-21 1Co 15:1-58.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Miscellaneous Subjects

Called GIVING UP THE GHOST Ge 25:8; 35:29; La 1:19; Ac 5:10

KING OF TERRORS Job 18:14

A CHANGE Job 14:14

GOING TO THY FATHERS Ge 15:15; 25:8; 35:29

PUTTING OFF THIS TABERNACLE 2Pe 1:14

REQUIRING THE SOUL Lu 12:20

GOING THE WAY WHENCE THERE IS NO RETURN Job 16:22

BEING GATHERED TO OUR PEOPLE Ge 49:33

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
94%death
death94% · 113×other renderings4% · 5×other renderings2% · 2×

120 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 7 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial45%subject23%object22%predicate8%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 120 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
Article the
διάκαίand, even, also,ἐκ
εἰς
ἀδελφόςa brotherαὐτόςκαίand, even, also,
γεύομαιI taste, experience
μήNegπᾶςall, the whole,
πρός
μήNegεἰμίI am, existἁμαρτίαa sin
ἄξιοςworthy, worthy of, d
οὐδείςno one, none, noδέbut, on the otheκαίand, even, also,
θάνατος[the] death120×
what comes after →
καίand, even, also, nam
Article theπατήρfather, Father, οὐNeg
Article the
δεύτερος& Advδέbut, on the otheυἱόςa son, descenden
αὐτός
ἐκεῖνοςβαπτίζωI dip, submerge,ἀλλάbut, except
εἰς
Article theνῖκοςvictoryθάνατοςdeath
εἰμίI am, exist
πράσσωI do, fare, requοὐNegἁμαρτίαa sin

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceθάνατος · 120× in the New Testament
Romans Revelation Hebrews 2 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Acts John Luke Matthew 1 John Mark Philippians

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament15 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 160 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 104c. AD 40

τὴν δεκάτην δ’ εἴ τις τελέσας κατὰ μέτρον ἵκοιτο, οὐκ ἂν ἄωρος ἐὼν μοῖραν ἔχοι θανάτου.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 2.168c. AD 75–95

Ὡς δʼ ἀφικομένων τῶν παίδων Ἰάκωβος τὰ περὶ τὸν Ἰώσηπον ἔμαθεν, ὅτι μὴ μόνον εἴη τὸν θάνατον διαπεφευγὼς ἐφʼ ᾧ πενθῶν διῆγεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ζῇ μετὰ λαμπρᾶς εὐδαιμονίας βασιλεῖ συνδιέπων τὴν Αἴγυπτον καὶ τὴν ἅπασαν σχεδὸν ἐγκεχειρισμένος αὐτῆς ἐπιμέλειαν,

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 5.6c. AD 100

οἱ προφῆται, ἀπ̓ αὐτοῦ ἔχοντες τὴν χάριν, εἰς αὐτὸν ἐπροφήτευσαν: αὐτὸς δέ, ἵνα καταργήσῃ τὸν θάνατον καὶ τὴν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀνάστασιν δείξῃ, ὅτι ὲν σαρκὶ ἕδει αὐτὸν φανερωθῆναι, ὑπέμεινεν,

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
4th c. AD 3rd c. AD 2nd c. AD 6th c. AD 7th c. AD
P.Tebt. 2 304Tebtynis (ArsinoitesAD 168

ἐποίησαν ὡς ἐκ τούτου τῷ ζῆν κινδυνεύειν. ὅθεν, κύριε, εὐλαβῶς ἔχων τὸν περὶ τοῦ θανάτου αὐτοῦ κινδυνον ἐπιδίδωμικαὶ ἀξιῶ κελεῦσαι ἀχθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐπὶ σὲ πρὸς τὸ τὸ ἀκόλουθον γείνεσθαι

P.Diog. 11Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)AD 213

μεσιτείας μου γεναμένης καὶ διέταξα τῷ υἱῷ μου Ἰσιδώρῳ πρὸ μιᾶς ἡμέρας μου τοῦ θανάτου εἴ τί μοι ὑπάρχει ἀγρῶν τε καὶ οἰκοπέδων καὶ χρυσία καὶ ἱμάτια καὶ

P.Diog. 12Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)AD 213

μεσιτείας μου γενομένης καὶ διέταξα τῷ υἱῷ μου Ἰσιδώρῳ πρὸ μιᾶς ἡμέρας μου τοῦ θανάτου εἴ τί μοι ὑπάρχει ἀγρῶν τε καὶ οἰκοπέδων καὶ χρυσία καὶ ἱμάτια καὶ

Where for [there is] a will, [the] death [it is] necessary to establish of the [one] having made [it];
ἀνάγκηanagkē [it is] necessary G318 Noun · nominative · singular · feminine
17× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Hebrews than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
Necessity refers to a need or requirement that must be met, such as in Luke 14:18 and 1 Corinthians 7:37. It can also imply distress or constraint, as seen in 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Hebrews 7:12.
Amplified meaning
of necessity, by requirement
Tyndale gloss
necessity
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἀνάγκη (i.e., *anagkē*) means necessity or compulsion, often indicating a force that compels action. It can also refer to distress or anguish. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts relating to moral obligation (e.g., Romans 13:5) and physical distress (e.g., Luke 21:23). The lexicons note its use in both a literal and figurative sense, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἀνάγκη, -ης, ἡ

[in LXX chiefly for מָצוֹק, צַר;]

necessity: ἔχειν ἀ-, c. inf., to be compelled, Lk 14:18 23:17 (Rec., R, mg.), I Co 7:37, Ju 3, He 7:27; ἐξ ἀ., κατ' ἀ., of necessity, II Co 9:7, He 7:12, Phm 14; ἀ. μοι ἐπίκειται, n. is laid on me, I Co 9:16; c. inf. (= ἀναγκαῖον ἐστι), Mt 18:7, Ro 13:5, He 9:16, 23

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἀνάγκη, -ης, ἡ ; 1. necessity, imposed either by the external condition of things, or by the law of duty, regard to one’s advantage, custom, argument: κατ᾽ ἀνάγκην perforce (opp. to κατὰ ἑκούσιον), Philem. 14; ἐξ ἀνάγκης of necessity, compelled, 2 Co. ix. 7; Heb. vii. 12 (necessarily) ; ἔχω ἀνάγκην I have (am compelled by) necessity, (also in Grk. writ.) : 1 Co. vii. 37; Heb. vii. 27; foll. by inf., Lk. xiv. 18; xxiii. 17 RLbr.; Jude 3; ἀν. μοι ἐπίκειται necessity is laid upon me, 1 Co. ix. 16; ἀνάγκη (i. q. ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι) foll. by inf.: Mt. xviii. 7; Ro. xiii. 5; Heb. ix. 16, 23, (so Grk. writ.). 2. in a sense rare in the classies (Diod. 4, 43), but very common in Hellenistic writ. (also in Joseph. Ὁ. j. 5, 13, 7, ete.; see W. 30), calamity, distress, straits: Lk. xxi. 23; 1 Co. vii. 26; 1 Th. iii. 7; plur. ἐν ἀνάγκαις, 2 Co. vi. 4; xii.…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ἀνάγκη. For ἔχειν ἀνάγκην followed by the infinitive, as Lk τ415, ef. P Oxy VII. 10614 (B.C. 22) ἀνάγκην ἔσχον παρακαλέσαι, “61 have been obliged to urge,” P Flor II. 278'¥-% (iii/a.v.) ἀνάγκην ἔσχον ἐ[ντ]υχεῖν. The converse appears in BGU IV. 114147 (B.C. 14) διὸ ἀνάγκη pe ἔσχηκε ἐνφανίσαι. The word = “calamity” occurs in Sy// 2555) (iii/B.c.) ἐν ἀνάγκαις καὶ κακοπαθίαις yévnrat—cf. 2 Cor 6%, etc. In a leaden tablet found at Carthage, Wiinsch 4F 4§ (iii/a.D.) ἔϊξορκί[ζω oe] τὸν θεὸν τῆς ἀνάγκης τὸν μέγαν ᾿ΑρουροBaaptaypav, we have, as Wiinsch thinks, the Orphic conception surviving: he compares P Lond 121848 (iii/A.D.) (=I. p. 105) θεὸς ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀνάγκης τεταγμένος ᾿Ιακοὺβ Ἰαιβω (ἢ -- ΠῚΠ") Σαβαώθ “ASwvat—in neither of these ἀναγνωσις 32 however can we speak exactly of ‘‘the great goddess of Necessity.” She figures in Vettius Valens, p. 173 (top), αὐτήν τε τὴν πρόνοιαν Kal τὴν ἱερὰν…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἀνάγκη (anagkē) — necessity.

ἀνάγκη,

Ionic dialect and Epic dialect ἀναγκαίη, ἡ, force, constraint, necessity, κρατερὴ δ᾽ ἐπικείσετ᾽ ἀ.[Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀναγκαίη γὰρ ἐπείγει[Refs 8th c.BC+]adverb, ἀνάγκῃ perforce, of necessity, ἀείδειν[Refs 8th c.BC+]: in active sense, forcibly, by force, ἴσχειν, ἄγειν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; opposed to ἑκόντες, [Refs 5th c.BC+] with infinitive, it must be that.., is necessary that..,[Refs 8th c.BC+]: with dative person, ἀ. μοι σχεθεῖν[Refs 4th c.BC+] —in Trag. frequently in answers and arguments, πολλή γ᾽ ἀνάγκη, πολλή᾽ στ᾽ ἀνάγκη, or πολλή μ᾽ ἀνάγκη, with which an infinitive may always be supplied, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀνάγκη μεγάλη [ἐστί[Refs 5th c.BC+] with infinitive…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἀνάγκη

anagke

from 303 and the base of 43; constraint (literally or figuratively);

by implication, distress:--distress, must needs, (of)

necessity(-sary), needeth, needful.

see GREEK for 303

see GREEK for 43

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἀνάγκη, ης, ἡ

n.f.

necessity, constraint, compulsion

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἀνάγκη anankē 17x

necessity, Mt. 18:7; constraint, compulsion, 2 Cor. 9:7; obligation of duty, moral or spiritual necessity, Rom. 13:5; distress, trial, affliction, Lk. 21:23; 1 Cor. 7:26; 2 Cor. 6:4; 12:10; 1 Thess. 3:7

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἀνάγκη ἄγχω force, constraint, necessity, Hom., etc.; ἀνάγκηι perforce, of necessity, or in act. sense, forcibly, by force, id. Hom.; so, ὑπ᾽ ἀνάγκης, ἐξ ἀνάγκης, δι᾽ ἀνάγκης, πρὸς ἀνάγκην, κατ᾽ ἀνάγκην, attic:— ἀνάγκη ἐστί, c. inf., it is matter of necessity to do a thing, Hom., etc.; c. dat. pers., ἀν. μοι σχεθεῖν Aesch.:—in Trag., πολλή γ᾽ ἀνάγκη, πολλή στ᾽ ἀνάγκη or πολλή μ᾽ ἀνάγκη, with which an inf. must be supplied.

actual force, violence, torture, Hdt., etc.; metaph., δολοποιὸς ἀν., i. e. the stratagem of Nessus, Soph.

bodily pain, anguish, distress, κατ᾽ ἀνάγκην ἕρπειν painfully, id. Soph.; ὑπ᾽ ἀνάγκης βοᾶν id. Soph.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Noun-NSF — Noun · nominative · singular · feminine
nominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked singular feminine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

N-NSF Part of Speech: Noun Case: Nominative Number: Singular Gender: Feminine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
44%necessity
necessity44% · 8×necessary22% · 4×hardships11% · 2×distress11% · 2×need11% · 2×

18 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 5 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial35%predicate29%object24%subject12%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 17 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
ἔχωI have, hold, posses
καίand, even, also,μήNeg
ἐν
θλῖψιςpersecution, affὕβριςinsult, damage,
ἐκ
Disjἱερωσύνηthe priestly off
σκάνδαλονa snare, stumbling-b
Article the
γάρfor
εἰμίI am, exist
ἀνάγκη[it is] necessary17×
what comes after →
γάρfor
ἔρχομαιI come, goἐγώ
ἐν
στενοχωρίαa narrow space, διωγμόςpersecution
καίand, even, also, nam
θλῖψιςpersecution, affνόμοςa law, the Mosai
ἐξέρχομαιI go out, come out
ὁράωI see, look upon
μέγας
ἐπί

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἀνάγκη · 17× in the New Testament
Hebrews 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Luke 1 Thessalonians Jude Matthew Philemon Romans
Across the New Testament9 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 17 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas The Didache The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 72c. AD 40

τὴν μὲν οὖν ἀληθεστάτην αἰτίαν θεὸν ἀνάγκη μόνον εἰδέναι, τὴν δ’ εἰκότι στοχασμῷ πιθανὴν καὶ εὔλογον εἶναι δοκοῦσαν οὐκ ἀποκρυπτέον.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.3c. AD 75–95

εἰσὶ δʼ οἵτινες ἐβιάσθησαν ὑπʼ αὐτῆς τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων ἀνάγκης οἷς πραττομένοις παρέτυχον ταῦτα γραφῇ δηλούσῃ περιλαβεῖν·

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 2.6c. AD 100

ταῦτα οὖν κατήργησεν, ἵνα ὁ καινὸς νόμος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἄνευ ζυγοῦ ἀνάγκης ὤν, μὴ ἀνθρωποποίητον ἔχῃ τὴν προσφοράν.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
6th c. AD 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 2nd c. AD 7th c. AD
P.Fay. 109Euhemeria (Arsinoites)11 BC

r Πισάις Ἡρακλήῳ χαίρειν. ὅταν πρὸς ἀνάγκην θέλῃς παρʼ ἐμοῦ χρήσασθαί τι, εὐθύς σε οὐ κρατῶ, καὶ νῦν παρακληθεὶς τοὺς τρεῖς

O.Claud. 4 827Mons ClaudianusAD 138–AD 161

οἶδας γὰρ … … … ἄνθρακος ἵνα …ζειν ἐπεὶ ἐγὼ ἀνάγκην ἔχω … ἐπιμεῖναι ε … … Γερμανοῦ το …σας τὰ ἀνθράκια …ψαι μοι τὸ

P.Amh. 2 102Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)AD 180

καὶ ἀπέχειν τὴν τιμὴν ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς … τακοσίας, τῆς βεβαιώσεως αὐτῇ ἐξακολουθούσης, καὶ εἶναι ἀνάγκην Στοτοήτι ἀπογράφεσθαι τῇ τῶν θρεμμάτων ἀπογραφῇ. Στοτοῆτις ἐπιγέγραμμαι κύριος. Θασῆς Ἀγχώφεως μετὰ κυρίου τοῦ

Where for [there is] a will, [the] death [it is] necessary to establish of the [one] having made [it];
φέρεσθαιpherō to establish G5342 Verb · present · passive · infinitive
68× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Hebrews than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To bear or lead, meaning to carry or support something or someone, as seen in Luke 23:26 and Hebrews 1:3. It can also mean to endure or bring something forward. This word is used in various contexts, including physical and mental support.
Tyndale gloss
to bear/lead
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

φέρω (phero) is a versatile Greek verb meaning to bear, carry, or bring. It can imply physical carrying, enduring, or producing something, and is used in various contexts throughout the New Testament, such as in Luke 23:26 and Hebrews 1:3. The word is built from roots suggesting motion and can also convey metaphorical meanings, like being influenced or prompted. Notably, lexicons differ on the nuances of its use in specific contexts.

Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament — φέρω, φορέω from a scan

On the distinction between these words Lobeck (Phrynichus, p. 585) has the following remarks: ‘ Inter φέρω et φορέω hoc interesse constat, quod iilud actionem simplicem et transitoriam, hoc autem actionis ejusdem continuationem significat ; verbi caus ἀγγελίην φέρειν, est alicujus rei nuncium afferre, Herod. iii. 53 et 122; v.143 ἀγγελίην φορέειν, ili. 34, nuncii munere apud aliquem fungi. Hine et φορεῖν dicimur ea que nobiscum circumferimus, quibus amicti indutique sumus, ut ἱμάτιον, τριβώνιον, δακτύλιον φορεῖν, tum que ad habitum corporis pertinent.’ He proceeds, however, to acknowledge that this distinction is by no means constantly observed even by the best Greek authors. It is, therefore, the more noticeable, as an example of that accuracy which so often takes us by surprise in the use of words by the writers of the N. T., that they are always true to this rule. On the six…

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Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

φέρω

[in LXX chiefly for בּוֹא. hi., also for נשׂא, etc. ;]

to bear;

to bear, carry: c. acc, Lk 23:26 24:1, Jo 19:39, He 1:3 (v. Westc., in l.); pass., Ac 2:2 27:15, 17 He 6:1, II Pe 1:17, 18; of the mind, II Pe 1:21.

to bear, endure: c. acc. rei, He 12:20 13:13; c. acc pers., Ro 9:22.

to bring, bring forward: c. acc. pers., Ac 5:16; id. seq. πρός, Mk…

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

φέρω; (allied to Germ. fahren, fahren, [Eng. bear, etc. Scotch bairn, ete. etc.; οἵ. Curtius §411]); impf. ἔφεpov; Pass., pres. φέρομαι ; impf. ἐφερόμην ; fut. act. οἴσω (Jn. xxi. 18; Rev. xxi. 26) 5 1 aor. ἤνεγκα, ptep. ἐνέγκας; 2 aor. inf. ἐνεγκεῖν (Mt. vii. 18T WH); 1 aor. pass. ἠνέχθην (2 Pet. i. 17, 21); [ef WH. App. p. 164; B. 68 (60); W.90 (85sq.); esp. Veitch p. 668 sq.]; fr. Hom. down; Sept. for 827 and Nw); do bear, ie. 1 10 carry; a. to carry some burden: τὸν σταυρὸν ome σθέν τινος, Lk. xxiii. 26 ; to bear with one’s self (which the Grk. writ. express by the mid.), [A. V. to bring]: τί, Lk. xxiv. 1; Jn. xix. 39. b. to move by bearing; pass. like the Lat. feror i.g. moveor, to be conveyed or borne, with a suggestion of speed or force (often so in prof. auth. fr. Hom. down): of persons borne in a ship over the sea, [A. V. to be driven], Acts xxvii. 15,17; of a gust of wind, to…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

φέρω. (1) “bring,”’ “carry”: P Tebt II. 418% (iii/a.p.) καλῶς ποιήσεις, ἄδελφε, [elav εἰσέρχῃ ἐνεγκὼν μετὰ σεαυτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκά μου, ‘you will do well, brother, to come up and bring my wife with you” (Edd.), 26. 42158 (ili/A.D.) (= Selections, p. 106) τὸ κιτώνιον αὐτῆς τὸ λευκὸν τὸ παρὰ col ἔνιγκον épx[d]pevos, τὸ δὲ καλλάϊνον μ[ὴ] ἐνίγκῃς, “her tunic, the white one which you have, bring when you come, but the turquoise one do not bring,” P Grenf IT. 73% (late iii/A.p.) (as now read by Deissmann LAE* Ὁ. 214) ot νεκροτάφοι ἐνηνόχασιν (cf. Pro/eg. p. 154) ἐνθάδε εἰς Toerd τὴν ἸΤολιτικὴν τὴν πεμφθεῖσαν εἰς ἤθασιν ὑπὸ τῆς ἡγεμονίας, ‘‘the grave-diggers have brought here to Toéto Politika, who had been sent into the Oasis by the government,’ P Fay 1343 (early iv/A.D.) φέρων εἰ δόξαν σοι τὴν ὕαλον, “bring, if you please, the crystal” (Edd.), and 26. 1367 (iv/a.D.) ἀπαντήσατε ἀπ᾽ ἑαυτῶν mpd τοῦ…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

φέρω (pherō) — to bear/lead.

φέρω

(Locrian dialect φάρω [ᾰ], [Refs 5th c.BC+], only present and imperfect (late 1 aorist 3rd.pers. plural ἤφεραν [Refs 8th c.BC+]: Epic dialect forms, 2nd pers. plural imperative φέρτε [Refs 8th c.BC+]; 2nd pers. singular subjunctive φέρῃσθα [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. singular subjunctive φέρῃσι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Epic dialect infinitive φερέμεν [Refs 8th c.BC+]imperfect ἔφερον, Epic dialect φέρον [Refs]; also φέρεσκε, φέρεσκον (3rd.pers. plural), [Refs 8th c.BC+]

II. future οἴσω [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Doric dialect οἰσῶ [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; 1st pers. plural οἰσεῦμες [Refs]; 3rd.pers. plural ηοίσοντι [Refs]: the following active forms are not future in sense, imperative οἶσε [Refs 8th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. plural οἰσόντων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; infinitive οἴσειν [Refs 5th c.BC+], Epic…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

φέρω

phero

a primary verb -- for which other, and apparently not cognate ones are

used in certain tenses only; namely,

oio oy'-o;

and enegko en-eng'-ko

to "bear" or carry (in a very wide application, literally and

figuratively, as follows):--be, bear, bring (forth), carry, come, +

let her drive, be driven, endure, go on, lay, lead, move, reach,

rushing, uphold.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

φέρω

v.

I carry, bear, bring, lead

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

φέρω pherō 66x

to bear, carry, Mk. 2:3; to bring, Mt. 14:11, 18; to conduct, Mt. 17:17; Jn. 21:18; to bear, endure, Rom. 9:22; Heb. 12:20; 13:13; to uphold, maintain, conserve, Heb. 1:3; to bear, bring forth, produce, Mk. 4:8; Jn. 12:24; 15:2; to bring forward, advance, allege, Jn. 18:29; Acts…

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Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

φέρω from Root ἘΝΕΚ or ἘΝΕΓΚ come ἤνεγκον and ἤνεικα from Root ΟΙ comes οἴσω in pl. always Radic. sense, to bear, Lat. fero:

to bear or carry a load, Hom., attic; of a woman with child, Aesch., Soph.

to bear, bear along, implying motion, πόδες φέρον Il.; horses are said ἅρμα φέρειν id. Il.; of a wind, Hom.; ὁ βορέας εἰς τὴν Ἑλλάδα φέρει is fair for Greece, Xen.

to bear, endure, suffer, Od., etc.; of wine, τὰ τρία φέρων bearing three parts of water, instead of ἴσον ἴσωι, Ar.:—often with Advs., βαρέως, δεινῶς, χαλεπῶς φέρειν τι, like Lat. aegre, graviter ferre, to bear impatiently, take ill or amiss, opp. to κούφως, ῥαιδίως φέρειν, Lat. leviter ferre, to bear patiently, take easily, Hdt., attic:—such phrases are constructed mostly c. acc. rei; sometimes, c. dat. only, βαρέως φέρειν τοῖς παροῦσι…

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PPN — Verb · present · passive · infinitive
present passive infinitive — an action in progress.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PPN Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Passive Mood: iNfinitive TVM equivalent: G5745

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
14%do bring
do bring14% · 9×bearing8% · 5×bringing6% · 4×brought6% · 4×they bring5% · 3×they were bringing3% · 2×having brought3% · 2×they brought3% · 2×other renderings53% · 35×

66 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 42 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
verb100%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 68 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
κοράσιονa girl, little gαὐξάνωI cause to increφυλακήa watching, guar
καρπόςfruit, result, gain
πολύςmuch, many, ofteArticle theδύναμαιI am powerful, a
ἔρχομαιI come, go
καίand, even, also,μνῆμαa tomb, monumentΚάρποςCarpus
αὐτός
δυνατόςpowerful, able, ὑπόστασιςassurance, substὀνειδισμόςreproach, revili
οὐNeg
εἰμίI am, existδιδαχήteaching, doctri
φέρωto establish68×
what comes after →
Article the
κεφαλήthe headδόξαhonor, renown, gμήτηρa mother
αὐτός
πρόςκωφόςdumb, deafτυφλόςblind
καίand, even, also, nam
Article theλέγωI say, speakγίνομαιI come into bein
ἐγώ
ὧδεhereαὐτόςδηνάριονa denarius
πρός
αὐτός

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceφέρω · 68× in the New Testament
John Mark Acts Matthew 2 Peter Hebrews Luke Revelation 1 Peter 2 John 2 Timothy Romans
Across the New Testament12 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 142 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 46c. AD 40

ταῖς διανοίαις ἐπὶ τὴν πρώτην τῶν ὅλων γένεσιν, ὅτε πρὸ ἡλίου καὶ σελήνης παντοῖα μὲν φυτά, παντοίους δὲ καρποὺς ἤνεγκεν ἡ γῆ, καὶ θεασάμενοι ταῖς διανοίαις ἐλπιζέτωσαν ὅτι καὶ αὖθις οἴσει κατὰ πρόσταξιν τοῦ πατρός, ὅταν αὐτῷ δοκῇ μὴ προσδεηθέντι…

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.2c. AD 75–95

τινὲς μὲν γὰρ ἐπιδεικνύμενοι λόγων δεινότητα καὶ τὴν ἀπʼ αὐτῆς θηρευόμενοι δόξαν ἐπὶ τοῦτο τῆς παιδείας τὸ μέρος ὁρμῶσιν, ἄλλοι δὲ χάριν ἐκείνοις φέροντες, περὶ ὧν τὴν ἀναγραφὴν εἶναι συμβέβηκε, τὸν εἰς αὐτὴν πόνον καὶ παρὰ δύναμιν ὑπέστησαν·

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 2.5c. AD 100

ἐὰν φέρητε σεμίδαλιν, μάταιον: θυμίαμα βδέλυγμά μοί ἐστιν: τὰς νεομηνίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ σάββατα οὐκ ἀνέχομαι.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
4th c. AD 2nd c. AD 6th c. AD 3rd c. AD 3rd c. BC
PSI 4 436Philadelphia (Arsinoites)249 BC

ποιήσαις ἐνθυμηθεὶς ἵνα μηθεὶς ἡμᾶς τῶν ὑπὸ σὲ γραμματέων ἀδικῆι. τὰ δὲ ἄλλα ὁ φέρων σοι τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ἐρεῖ. ἔρρωσο.

P.Dryton 44Pathyris (?)155 BC–143 BC

γε ἐμβαδικὸν νήσου πυροῦ ξ καὶ κάτεργον ἁμάξης πυροῦ κε γίνονται πε ὧν φέρει … προέχειν Μυρσίνην κροτῶνος α, τῆι αὐτῆι δέδωκα ὅτε ἔτεκεν κροτῶνος 𐅵 γίνεται α

ιβιος τέκνων … … ος ἐπὶ κλίμακος … … Διδυμ διὰ Πέλοπος … ηνέχθη πρὸς … αὐτ Σεντοτοέους … ἐξ Ἑρμώνθ … ταριχευτ … μονκαμεν διὰ Στάχυος

Where for [there is] a will, [the] death [it is] necessary to establish of the [one] having made [it];
τοῦho of the [one] G3588 Article · genitive · singular · masculine
19,783× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in Hebrews as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Amplified meaning
testator, the covenant-victim
Tyndale gloss
the/this/who
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The definite article — the commonest word in the Greek New Testament at 19,867 occurrences. Greek uses it more freely than English does and can drop it deliberately, so its presence and its absence both carry weight for a translator; but no single occurrence carries a message of its own. Here it simply gathers “the things” into one definite bundle.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ὁ, ἡ, τό,

the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article.

As demonstr. pron.

As freq. in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Ac 17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus).

Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: I Co 7:7, Ga 4:22; pl., Ac 14:4, 17:32, Phl 1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mt 16:14, Jo 7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁ δέ, He 7:21, 23.

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ὁ 435 ὁ tives of quantity, ὅλος, πᾶς, πολύς, see each in its own place. d. What has been said concerning adjectives holds true also of all other limitations added to substantives, as ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Ro. ix. 11; ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, Ro. xi. 27; 6 λόγος 6 τοῦ σταυροῦ, 1 Co. i. 18; ἡ εἰς Χριστὸν πίστις, Col. ii. 5; on the other hand, ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, 1 Th. i. 8; τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους, 2 Co. viii. 4; see many other exx. of each usage in W. 131 (124) sqq.; [B. 91 (80) sqq.]. e. The noun has the article before it when a demonstrative pronoun (υὗτος, ἐκεῖνος) belonging to it either precedes or follows [W. § 18, 4; B. § 127, 29-31]; as, ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, Jn. ix. 24 [οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρ. 1, Tr mrg. WH); Acts vi. 13; xxii. 26; ὁ λαὸς οὗτος, Mt. xv. 8; 6 vids σου οὗτος, Lk. xv. 30; plur. Lk. xxiv. 17, and numberless other exx.; οὗτος 6 ἄνθρωπος, Lk. xiv. 30; οὗτος ὁ…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ὃ, ἡ τό. (1) Apart from connexion with μέν or δέ (see below) the demonstrative use of the art. in the NT is confined to a poetical quotation Ac 1778, but it is not uncommon in the papyri, e.g. P Par 45® (B.C. 153) (= Witkowski®, p. 85) τὰ (for ἃ) πράσεις (Δ πράσσεις), P Oxy VIII. 1160! (iii/iv A.D.) Ta (for ἃ) σεσύλληχα (for συνείληχα) δὲ κέρμα {ταν τηρῶ αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν δίκην, “1 am keeping for the trial the money that I have collected” (Ed.). For the distributive Opéev.. - 6 8€, as in 1 Cor7’, cf. P Lond 535 (B.c. 161) (=I. p. 19, U.P.Z. i. p. 239) kal τὰ μὲν ἡμῶν ἐληφότων εἰς τὴν γινομένην ἡμῖν συντάξειν, τὰ δ᾽ ἔτι διὰ τὴν τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων {(.. ... > παρελκομένων. (2) The use of the art. as a relative, of which there is no trace in the NT, may again be illustrated by the following papyrus citations from ¢c. A.D. 346—P Lond 414® (= II. Ῥ. 292) γεινῴσκιν oe θέλω περὶ τοῦ βρεουίου…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ὁ (ho) — the/this/who.

ὁ,

ἡ, τό, is, when thus written,

__A demonstrative Pronoun.

__B in Attic dialect, definite or prepositive Article.

__C in Epic dialect, the so-called postpositive Article, = relative Pronoun, ὅς, ἥ, ὅ.—The nominative masculine and feminine singular and plural, ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ, have no accent in codices and most printed books, except when used as the relative; but ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ differ only in writing from ὃ, ἣ, οἳ, α; the nominative forms of the article are said by Hdn.Gr.1.474 to be oxytone, and by [Refs 2nd c.AD+] in Aeolic dialect accusative to [Refs 8th c.BC+] genitive and dative dual τοῖιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]— In Doric dialect and all other dialects except Attic dialect and Ionic dialect the feminine forms preserve the old ᾱ instead of changing it to η, hence Doric dialect etc. ἁ, τάν, τᾶ; the genitive plural τάων contracts in many dialects to τᾶ; the genitive…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ὁ ἡ τό

ho

he hay, and the neuter

to to

in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be

supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one,

he, she, it, etc.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ὁ, ἡ, τό

Article

the

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ὁ ho 19x

the prepositive article, answering, to a considerable extent, to the English definite article; but, for the principle and facts of its usage, consult a grammar; ὁ μὲν ... ὁ δέ, the one ... the other, Phil. 1:16, 17; Heb. 7:5, 6, 20, 21, 23, 24; pl. some ... others, Mt. 13:23; 22:5, 6; ὁ δέ, but he, Mt. 4:4; 12:48; οἱ δέ, but others, Mt. 28:17; used, in a poetic quotation, for a personal pronoun, Acts 17:28

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ὁ the, that

ὁ, ἡ, τό, is

demonstr. Pronoun.

the definite Article.

in epic, the relative Pronoun, when it is written with the accent ὅ, ἥ, τό ῀ ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. Besides the common forms, note epic gen. sg. τοῖο for τοῦ; pl. nom. τοί, ταί; gen. fem. τάων [α^], dat. τοῖσι, τῇς and τῇσι; dual gen, and dat. τοῖιν:— in Trag. we find τοὶ μέν . . , τοὶ δέ . . , for οἱ μέν . . , οἱ δέ . . ; dat. pl. also τοῖσι, ταῖσι: the dual has commonly but one gender, τώ for τά, τοῖν for ταῖν.

DEMONSTR. PRONOUN:

joined with a Subst., not as the Art., but like Lat. ille, ὁ Τυδείδης Tydeus's famous son, Il.; Νέστωρ ὁ γέρων Nestor— that aged man, id. Il.; τιμῆς τῆς Πριάμου for honour, namely that of Priam, id. Il.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art-GSM — Article · genitive · singular · masculine
genitive — of, from, belonging to.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

T-GSM Part of Speech: definite arTicle Case: Genitive Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wun.

See NUMBER.

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
64%the
the64% · 13160×<the>28% · 5846×those3% · 597×other renderings4% · 788×other renderings1% · 294×

20,685 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 83 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
subject34%adverbial32%object24%predicate5%indirect object4%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 19,783 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
αὐτόςεἰμίI am, existἐγώ
ἐν
καίand, even, also,αὐτόςArticle the
εἰς
αὐτόςεἰσέρχομαιI go in, come inἔρχομαιI come, go
αὐτός
λέγωI say, speakδέbut, on the otheπρός
εἰμίI am, exist
οὗτοςσύἐγώ
of the [one]19783×
what comes after →
θεόςGod, a god
Article theκαίand, even, also,ἐγώ
δέbut, on the other ha
λέγωI say, speakἸησοῦςJesusἀποκρίνομαιI answer, reply
ἸησοῦςJesus
λέγωI say, speakκαίand, even, also,Article the
κύριοςlord, Lord, master,
ἐγώἸησοῦςJesusArticle the
πατήρfather, Father, ance
ἐγώσύαὐτός

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordance · 19,783× in the New Testament
Matthew Acts Luke John Revelation Mark Romans 1 Corinthians Hebrews 2 Corinthians Ephesians 1 John

40 inflected forms — one of the commonest words in the New Testament. Full distribution →

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 1c. AD 40

Τῶν ἄλλων νομοθετῶν οἱ μὲν ἀκαλλώπιστα καὶ γυμνὰ τὰ νομισθέντα παρ’ αὐτοῖς εἶναι δίκαια διετάξαντο, οἱ δὲ πολὺν ὄγκον τοῖς νοήμασι προσπεριβαλόντες ἐξετύφωσαν τὰ πλήθη μυθικοῖς πλάσμασι τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐπικρύψαντες.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.argc. AD 75–95

τοῦ κόσμου σύστασις καὶ διάταξις τῶν στοιχείων.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.1c. AD 100

Χαίρετε, υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος ἡμᾶς, ἐν εἰρήνῃ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 1st c. AD 3rd c. BC 6th c. AD
P.Stras. 2 89Pathyris100 BC

r βασιλεύοντος Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν Φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιε, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

P.Adl. 11Pathyris99 BC

ιζ Θῶυθ κη ἀπέδοτο Πετεσοῦχος Φίβιος καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τὸ ὕπαρχον αὐτοῖς ἥμισυ περιστερῶνος τοῦ ὄντος ἐν τῶι ἀπὸ βορρᾶ μέρει Παθύρεως χαλκοῦ Γ. ἐπρίατο Ὧρος Νεχούτου.

P.Grenf. 2 35Pathyris99 BC

βασιλευόντων Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιϛ, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

Where for [there is] a will, [the] death [it is] necessary to establish of the [one] having made [it];
διαθεμένου·diatithēmi having made [it]; G1303 Verb · second aorist · middle · participle · genitive · singular · masculine
7× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in Hebrews than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To make a covenant means to assign or dispose of something, as in Luke 22:29 where Jesus assigns a kingdom to his disciples.
Tyndale gloss
to make a covenant
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

διατίθημι (i.e., diatithemi) means to arrange, dispose, or assign, often in the context of making a will or covenant. It appears in the New Testament primarily in the middle voice, indicating actions done for oneself, such as assigning a kingdom (Lk 22:29) or making a testament (Heb 9:16-17). The verb is closely related to the noun διαθήκη (covenant), with usage in both legal and relational contexts.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

δια-τίθημι

[in LXX chiefly for כּרת, freq. δ. διαθήκην (כָּרַת בְּרִית) ;]

to place separately, arrange, dispose. Mid, only in NT;

in general, to dispose of; c. dat. pers., to assign to one, Lk 22:29;

to dispose of by a will, make a testament (in cl., δ. διαθήκην also in this sense): He 9:16, 17 (but cf. R, mg., and v.s. διαθήκη).

δ. διαθήκην, to make a covenant (Aristoph.): c. dat. pers., He 8:10 (LXX); seq. πρός, c. acc pers., Ac 3:25, He 10:16 (LXX) (cf. ἀντι-διατίθημι).†

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

δια-τίθημι : fo place separately, dispose, arrange, appoint, [ef. διά, C. 3]. In the N. T. only in Mid., pres. διατίθεμαι; 2 aor. διεθέμην ; fut. διαθήσομαι ; 1. to arrange, dispose of, one’s own affairs; a. τί, of something that belongs to one (often so in prof. auth. fr. Xen. down) ; with dat. of pers. added, in one’s favor, to one’s advantage; hence to assign a thing to another as his possession : τινὶ βασιλείαν (to appoint), Lk. xxii. 29. b. to dispose of by will, make a testament: Heb. ix. 16 sq.; (Plat. lege. 11 p. 924e.; with διαθήκην added, ibid. p. 923 ¢., ete.). 2. διατίθεμαι διαθήκην τινί (73 N¥ N73 ΛΞ, Jer. xxxvill (xxxi.) 31 sqq.), to make a covenant, enter into covenant, with one, [ef. W. 225 (211); B. 148 (129 sq.)]: Heb. viii. 10, (Gen. xv. 18) ; πρός τινα, Acts iii. 25; Heb. x. 16, (Deut. vii. 2); μετά τινος, 1 Mace. i. 11. The Grks. said συντίθεμαι πρός τινα, ai πρός…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

διατίθημι. As noted under διαθήκη, the regular formula in a will is τάδε διέθετο (νοῶν καὶ φρονῶν κτλ.) : see e. g. P Eleph 2? (B.c. 285-4) τάδε διέθετο Διονύσιος κτλ., P Lips I. 298 (A.D. 295) votoa καὶ φρονοῦσα διεθέμην τόδε pov τὸ βούλημα, P Lond 1γι213 (iii/a.p.) (= IL. p. 176) δι]έθετό μοι διαθήκην α[ὐ]τοῦ ἐσφραγισμένην. The of the more closely with LXX and NT than that of the noun. use verb accords διατρίβω 1 Thus Syd/ 342°638 (c. B.c. 48), of an envoy from a king to Pompey, οὐ μόνον τοὺς ὑπὲρ τοῦ βα[σιλ]έως χρηματισμοὺς διέθετο τὴν εὔνοιαν τὴν Ρωμαίων πα[ρ]αγόμενος τῷ βασιλεῖ, ἀ[λ]λὰ καὶ περὶ τῆς πατρίδος τοὺς καλλίστουϊς διέθετο χρηματισμούς, ‘he not only zegotéafed terms on behalf of the King, winning the King the Romans’ good will, but also negotiated the most honourable terms for his country.” The selection of διαθήκη in the LXX for ‘‘ covenant” may well have followed this…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

διατίθημι (diatithēmi) — to make a covenant.

διατίθημι,

3rd.pers. plural imperfect διετίθουν [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—arrange each in their several places, distribute, τὰ κρέα, in sacrificing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II. manage well or ill, usually with adverb, κράτιστα δ. τὰ τοῦ πολέμου [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of persons, δ. ἑωυτὸν ἀνηκέστως treat himself barbarously, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, οὐ ῥᾳδίως διετέθη he was not very gently handled, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπόρως διατεθέντας reduced to helplessness, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.2. with accusative person, with adverbs, dispose one so or so, ὅταν οὕτω διαθῇς τοὺς Ἕλληνας [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be disposed in a certain manner, πρός τινα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐρωτικῶς δ., of animals, [Refs 5th…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

διατίθημι

diatithemai

middle voice from 1223 and 5087; to put apart, i.e. (figuratively)

dispose (by assignment, compact, or bequest):--appoint, make,

testator.

see GREEK for 1223

see GREEK for 5087

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

διατίθεμαι

v.

I appoint, make

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

διατίθημι diatithēmi 7x

in NT only mid., so some list as διατίθεμαι, to arrange; to arrange according to one’s own mind; to make a disposition, to make a will; to settle the terms of a covenant, to ratify, Acts 3:25; Heb. 8:10; 10:16; to assign, Lk. 22:29

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-2AMP-GSM — Verb · second aorist · middle · participle · genitive · singular · masculine
genitive — of, from, belonging to.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-2AMP-GSM Part of Speech: Verb Tense: second Aorist Voice: Middle Mood: Participle Case: Genitive Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
29%i will make
i will make29% · 2×having made29% · 2×made14% · 1×appoint14% · 1×appointed14% · 1×

7 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 5 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
verb100%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 7 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
ὅς
διαθήκηa covenant, will
Article the
φέρωI carry, bear, bζάωI live
κἀγώ
καθώςjust as, as
σύ
θεόςGod, a god
Article the
διατίθημιhaving made [it];
what comes after →
πρός
Article theαὐτός
σύ
καθώςjust as, as
ἐγώ
Article the
Article the
οἶκοςa house, househo

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceδιατίθημι · 7× in the New Testament
Hebrews Luke Acts
Across the New Testament3 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 38 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaWho is the Heir of Divine Things 313c. AD 40

„ἐν γὰρ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ“ φησίν „ἐκείνῃ διέθετο κύριος τῷ Ἀβραὰμ διαθήκην λέγων·

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 6.183c. AD 75–95

ταὐτὸ δὲ καὶ ἄρκον ἀμυνόμενος διατίθεμαι.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 10.2c. AD 100

πέρας γέ τοι λέγει αὐτοῖς ἐν τῷ Δευτερονομίῳ: Καὶ διαθήσομαι πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον τὰ δικαιώματά μου.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. BC 2nd c. BC 1st c. AD 3rd c. AD
BASP 22 (1985), p. 327 no. 3Karanis (Arsinoites)AD 82–AD 96

ε … … … ετ … … ἐν Πτολεμαίδι Εὐεργέτιδι τοῦ Ἀρσινοίτου νομοῦ. τάδε διέθετο νοῶν καὶ φρονῶν Πεθεὺς πρεσβύτερος Πεθέως … μητρὸς Πτολέμας ὡς ἐτῶν

P.Oxy. 42 3015OxyrhynchosAD 117

κάλλιστόν ἐστιν αὐτοὺς δικαιοδοτεῖν πρὸς τοὺς Αἰγυπτίων νόμους ἐφʼ οἷς ἔξεστι καὶ μεταδιατίθεσθαι. καλῶς διέθετο ὁ τελευτήσας. ἔτους ιβ θεοῦ Τραιανοῦ Παχὼν ιγ. Ἄρειος καὶ Σαραπίων ἀμφότεροι Πτολεμαίου πρὸς

P.Köln 12 487OxyrhynchosAD 117–AD 138

Αὐτοκράτορος Καίσαρος Τραιανοῦ Ἁδριανοῦ Σεβαστοῦ, … ἐν Ὀξυρύγχων πόλει τῆς Θηβαΐδος, ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ. τάδε διέθετο νο … καὶ φρον … χίου ἀπ’ Ὀξυρύγχων πόλεως , ἐν ἀγυιᾷ. εἴη μέν

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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