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Hebrews 9:17 — Word Study

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N1904διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ διαθέμενος.

BSAA willdiathēkē [or covenant] forgar afterepi deathnekros [become lifeless] [is] affirmed,bebaios [be strong] sinceepei otherwisemēpote it is in forceischuō [have force] whenhote is livingzaō [living] the [one]ho having made [it].diatithēmi [the testator]

Word
Listen & take awayHebrews 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 17 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 9:17quick helps
In a sentenceA will only takes effect after the death of the one who made it.
Who is speakingThe author of Hebrews, explaining the nature of a will.
Where we areThis verse is part of a discussion about the necessity of death for a covenant to be valid.
The hard wordδιαθήκη
Take awayA will or covenant is only effective after death.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectδιαθήκη verbἰσχύω 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 9:17

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 Nature of a Covenantgenerated

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.
19For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,

Hebrews 9:17 explains that a will, or covenant, does not become effective until the death of the one who established it. This is a fundamental principle in understanding how covenants function in biblical theology, particularly in the context of the new covenant established through Jesus Christ. The surrounding verses elaborate on the necessity of blood for the establishment of a covenant, drawing from the practices of the Old Testament.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 48:21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
2John 14:27Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
3Galatians 3:15Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.Genesis 48:21 John 14:27 Galatians 3:15

The Key Word διαθήκη, diathēkēgenerated

The word διαθήκη (diathēkē) is a noun meaning 'a will' or 'covenant.' It refers to a formal agreement or arrangement, often between two parties, and is particularly significant in biblical texts where it denotes God's promises to humanity.

In this verse, it is in the nominative singular feminine form, indicating that it is the subject of the sentence. The context shows that a will or covenant requires the death of the testator to take effect, highlighting the serious nature of such agreements.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.' This is consistent across several translations, including the KJV and ASV, which also emphasize the necessity of death for a testament to be valid.

However, some versions like the YLT and WEB use different phrasing, such as 'a covenant over dead victims is stedfast' and 'a will is in force where there has been death,' respectively, which reflect variations in how the concept of a covenant is expressed.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause is governed by the finite verb ἰσχύει, it is in force, which is followed by a subordinate clause explaining the conditions under which a will takes effect. The structure indicates a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the death of the testator and the validity of the will.

The noun phrase διαθήκη serves as the subject, while the predicate describes its state of being affirmed. The additional clauses provide context and conditions that elaborate on the main idea.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

διαθήκη appears in the Septuagint as a translation of the Hebrew word בְּרִית (covenant), which signifies a formal agreement, often between God and His people. This connection underscores the continuity of the concept of covenant from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

In the Septuagint, νεκρός is used in contexts relating to death, paralleling its use in this verse to emphasize the necessity of death for a covenant to be enacted.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Hebrews 9:17 teaches that a will or covenant only becomes effective after the death of the person who made it. This means that until that person dies, the will cannot be enforced. This principle is important in understanding how God's covenants work, especially the new covenant established through Jesus.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died?

This means that the terms of the will or covenant can only be enacted after the death of the person who established it, highlighting the serious nature of such agreements.

Why is the concept of death significant in the context of a covenant?

Death signifies the completion of the prior arrangement, allowing for the new terms to be enacted, particularly in the case of God's covenants with humanity.

How does this verse relate to the new covenant in Christ?

The new covenant is established through the death of Jesus, which fulfills the requirements of the old covenants and brings a new relationship between God and humanity.

What is the difference between a will and a covenant in this context?

While both terms can refer to formal agreements, a will typically pertains to the distribution of a person's estate after death, while a covenant often involves promises and commitments between parties, especially in a spiritual sense.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I understand the significance of Jesus' death in relation to the new covenant?
  2. What are some examples of covenants in the Old Testament that illustrate this principle?
  3. In what ways can I apply the concept of covenant to my relationship with God?
  4. How does understanding the nature of a will help me grasp the seriousness of God's promises?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Hebrews 9:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For a testament is of force after men are dead,.... The necessity of Christ's death is here urged, from the nature and force of a testament or will, among men, which does not take place, and cannot

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

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

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

For a testament is of force after men are dead: the testator being by death disseised of his goods and lands, the right takes place of the legatees, and the time of their challenging it; such a sacred tie there is upon the surviving, that none can of right add to it, alter, or disannul it. Otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth; it is of no force while the maker of it liveth, because they have need of the things bequeathed; they can alter and change it, and by the will itself it is declared none shall have any right to the things bequeathed in it till the testator be dead. The consequent of all this is, that the Testator of the new testament must put it in force by…

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

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Ver. 17. While the testator liveth] For it is in his power to alter it at his pleasure, as reason requireth. Our Henry II first crowned, and then cast off his eldest son Henry, not suffering him to be what himself had made him.

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

17. after men are dead] This rendering expresses the meaning rightly—a will is only valid “in cases of death,” “in the case of men who are dead.” Ex vi termini, “a testament,” is the disposition which a man makes of his affairs with a view to his death. The attempt to confine the word diathηkη to the sense of “covenant” which it holds throughout the rest of the Epistle has led to the most strained and impossible distortion of these words ἐπὶνεκροῖς in a way which is but too familiar in Scripture commentaries. They have been explained to mean “over dead victims,” &c.; but all such explanations fall to the ground when the special meaning of diathηkη in these two verses is recognised. The…

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

For a testament - Such an arrangement as God enters into with man; see the remarks on Hebrews 9:16. Is of force - Is ratified, or confirmed - in the same way as a deed or compact is confirmed by affixing a seal.

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

because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for doth it ever avail while he that made it liveth?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For the Testament is confirmed when men are dead: for it is yet of no force as long as he that made it, is aliue.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For a testament [is] of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.)

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

for a covenant over dead victims [is] stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

for a covenant is affirmed at death, since it is not in force at all when the [one] having made [it] lives,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For a will is only in force when there has been a death, because it has no force while the one who made it is still alive.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For a testament is of force, after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

A will is only valid when there's been a death—and is never applied while the person who made it is still alive.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For a testament has effect after death; for what power has it while the man who made it is living?

Word by word, the decisions they made

διαθήκηdiathēkē A will G1242 2 different renderings
a willBSB FBV MSB NETB ULB WEB
a covenantLSV YLT
νεκροῖςnekros death G3498 2 different renderings
deathASV BBE FBV LSV NETB RVA ULB WEB
deadDBY DRA GNV KJV NWB YLT
μήποτεmēpote otherwise G3361 3 different renderings
otherwiseDRA KJV NWB
neverASV FBV WEB
notBSB LSV MSB
ζῇzaō is living G2198 3 different renderings
aliveBSB DBY FBV MSB NETB ULB
livesLSV WEB
is livingBBE
διαθέμενος.diatithēmi having made [it]. G1303 3 different renderings
madeASV BBE BSB FBV GNV MSB NETB RVA ULB WEB
the testatorDBY DRA KJV NWB
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.

clauseγὰρforclausesubjectδιαθήκηA willprepositional phrase · adverbialἐπὶafterνεκροῖςdeathpredicateβεβαία[is] affirmedclauseἐπεὶsinceclauseadverbialμήnotadverbialποτεat the timeverbἰσχύειit is in forceclauseὅτεwhenclauseverbζῇis livingnoun phrase · subjectthe [one]clauseverbδιαθέμενοςhaving 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

Testamentum enim in mortuis confirmatum est : alioquin nondum valet, dum vivit qui testatus est.

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

ܥܠ ܡܝܬܐ ܕܝܢ ܒܠܚܘܕ ܡܫܬܪܪܐ ܡܛܠ ܕܟܡܐ ܕܚܝ ܗܘ ܕܥܒܕܗ ܠܝܬ ܒܗ ܚܫܚܘ

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

διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ διαθέμενος.

The standard critical text of the New Testament.

Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ διαθέμενος.

The previous edition, still widely cited.

SBL Greek New Testament2010 · Michael Holmes

διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ διαθέμενος.

The Society of Biblical Literature edition, freely licensed.

Westcott–Hort1881 · Westcott and Hort

διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ διαθέμενος.

The edition that turned scholarship toward the earliest manuscripts.

Tregelles1857–1879 · Samuel Prideaux Tregelles

διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ διαθέμενος.

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

Tyndale House Greek NT2017 · Tyndale House, Cambridge

διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ διαθέμενος.

A recent critical edition following documentary evidence closely.

Byzantine majority text2018 · Robinson–Pierpont

διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ διαθέμενος.

The reading of the majority of surviving manuscripts.

Textus Receptus1550/1894 lineage

διαθήκη γὰρ ἐπὶ νεκροῖς βεβαία, ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει ὅτε ζῇ διαθέμενος.

The printed tradition behind the King James Version.

Every witness on this verse they differ
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

WordEditions carrying itMissing from
μήποτε otherwiseNA28, NA27, Tyn, SBL, Treg, TR, ByzWH

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 9:17διαθήκηA willA willδιαθήκηγάρforforγάρἐπίafterafterἐπίνεκρόςdeathdeathνεκρόςβέβαιος[is] affirm[is] affirmed,βέβαιοςἐπείsincesinceἐπείμήotherwiseotherwiseμήἰσχύωit is in foit is in forceἰσχύωὅτεwhenwhenὅτεζάωis livingis livingζάωthe [one]the [one]διατίθημιhaving madehaving made [itδιατίθημιδιατίθημιv. I appoiv. I appoint, mδιατίθημιἐπίPrep. on, Prep. on, to, aἐπίἰσχύςn.f. strenn.f. strength, ἰσχύςὅςRel.pr. whRel.pr. who, whὅςδιάPrep. throPrep. through, διάβάσιςn.f. the fn.f. the footβάσιςοὐNeg.prt. nNeg.prt. no, noοὐμεσίτηςn.m. a medn.m. a mediatorμεσίτηςκιβωτόςn.f. an arn.f. an arkκιβωτόςὥσπερAdv just aAdv just as, asὥσπερτοιοῦτοςDem.pr. ofDem.pr. of suchτοιοῦτοςκάθημαιv. I sit, v. I sit, am seκάθημαιθρόνοςn.m. a thrn.m. a throne, θρόνοςθάπτωv. I buryv. I buryθάπτωἀνάστασιςn.f. a risn.f. a rising aἀνάστασιςμέχριAdv as farAdv as far as, μέχρικατέχωv. I hold v. I hold fast,κατέχωπαρασκευήn.f. the dn.f. the day beπαρασκευή
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 9:17

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.

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
διαθήκηdiathēkē 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
or 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

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living 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

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
ἐπὶepi after G1909 Preposition
886× 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
A preposition meaning upon, to, or against, often used to show location or direction, like in Matthew 6:10 where Jesus teaches us to pray for God's will to be done on earth. It can also indicate a sense of time or order.
Tyndale gloss
upon/to/against
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἐπί (epi) is a preposition that indicates a relationship of superposition, often translated as 'on,' 'upon,' or 'over.' It can govern the genitive, dative, or accusative cases, covering meanings related to place, time, authority, and various figurative uses. In the New Testament, it frequently appears with the accusative case, especially in contexts of motion or direction, such as in Matthew 14:28.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἐπί (before a smooth breathing ἐπ’, before a rough breathing ἐφ’),

prep. c. gen., dat., acc. (acc. most freq. in NT),

with primary sense of superposition, on, upon.

C. gen.,

of place, answering the question, where?

of the place on which, on, upon: ἐπὶ (τ.) γῆς, Mt 6:10, 19, al.; τ. κεφαλῆς, I Co 11:10; τ. νεφελῶν, Mt 24:30, al.; like ἐν, in constr. praegn. after verbs of motion: βάλλειν, Mk 4:26; σπείρειν, ib. 31; ἔρχεσθαι, He 6:7, al.; fig., ἐπ’ ἀληθείας (MM, s.v. ἀ.); of the subject of thought or speech, Ga 3:16; of power or authority, over, πάντων,

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

ἐπί, [before a rough breathing ἐφ᾽ (occasionally in Mss. én’; see 6. g. Ps. exly. (exlvi.) 3), and also in some instances before a smooth breathing (as ἐφ᾽ ἐλπίδι, Acts ii. 26 L; Ro. viii. 20 (21) Tdf.); 566 ἀφεῖδον. It neglects elision before proper names beginning with a vowel (exe. Αἴγυπτον Acts vii. 10, 18) and (at least in Tdf.’s txt.) before some other words, see the Proleg. p. 94 sq.; cf. W. §5,1a.; B. p. 10], a preposition [fr. the Skr. local prefix dpi; Curtius $335], joined to the gen., the dat., and the ace. ; its primary signification is upon (Lat. super; [cf. W. 374 (350) note). A. with the Genitive [cf. W. § 47, g.; B. 336 (289)]; I. of Place; and 1. of the place on which; a. upon the surface of (Lat. in or super with the abl., Germ. auf with the dat.); after verbs of abiding, remaining, standing, going, coming, etc.; of doing anything: ἐπὶ κλίνης, Mt. ix. 2; Lk. xvii. 34…

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

ἐπὶ ξένης εἶναι, and P Giss I. 2115 μένε ἐπὶ ἑαυτοῦ, “stay at home.” The sense of ‘‘near,’’ “‘in the vicinity of”’ appears in P Ryl II. 127° (A.D. 29) κοιμωμένον μον ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας: cf. Ac 5°% and see Jn 6᾽", 211 ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης, where the rendering ‘“‘ near the sea,’ or, as we should say, “fon the shore,” is to be preferred (cf. Abbott /ok. Gr. p- 261). In P Lond 11688 (a.p. 18) (= III. p. 136) ἐν τοῖς ἀπὸ A(Bos μέρεσι ἐπὶ ταῖς οὔσαις γειτνίαις, ἐπί is almost = ἐν." The local force still underlies the meaning of such a phrase as ἐπ᾿ ἀληθείας (cf. Mk 1214) in the census paper P Oxy II. 255}5 (A.D. 48) (= Selections, p. 47), where it is stated that the return is ‘“‘sound”’ and rests “on a true basis "᾿-ἐ]ξ [ὑ]γιοῦς kal ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας. Cf. also P Lille I. 264 (iii/B.c.) τὴν δὲ λοιπὴν γ[ῆν ἑτο]ιμάζω, εἰ μὴ ἀκολουθεῖς ἅπαντα καθὼς ἐπὶ τῆς διαγραφῆς τ[ο]ῦ [εἰς τὸ] τε ἔτος σπόρου μεμισθῶσϑαι…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἐπί (epi) — upon/to/against.

ἐπί,

Thess. (before τ) [Refs 3rd c.BC+], to denote the being upon or supported upon a surface or point.

__A WITH GEN.:

__A.I of Place,

__A.I.1 with Verbs of Rest, upon, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: without a Verb expressed, ἔγχεα ὄρθ᾽ ἐ. σαυρωτῆρος (i.e. σταθέντα) [Refs]; ἔκλαγξαν ὀϊστοὶ ἐπ᾽ ὤμων the arrows on his shoulders, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: also with Verbs of Motion, where the subject rests upon something, as on a chariot, a horse, a ship, φεύγωμεν ἐφ᾽ ἵππων on our chariot, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὴν κλεῖδα περιφέρειν ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ to carry the key about on his person, [Refs 5th c.BC+] walk on tiptoe, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of places, upon, if the place is an actual support, [Refs]; ἐ. τοῦ εὐωνύμον on the left, ἐ. τῶν πλευρῶν on the flanks, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but most frequently, in, rarely in [Refs 8th c.BC+] in the country. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐπ᾽ οἰκήματος κατίσαι…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἐπί

epi

a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time,

place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive

case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on,

etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon,

etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as

(touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a

place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf

of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward),

with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon,

etc. (literally or figuratively).

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἐπί

Prep.

on, to, against, on the basis of, at

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἐπί epi 890x

(1) with the gen., upon, on, Mt. 4:6; 9:2; 27:19; in, of locality, Mk. 8:4; near upon, by, at, Mt. 21:19; Jn. 21:1; upon, over, of authority, Mt. 2:22; Acts 8:27; in the presence of, especially in a judicial sense, 2 Cor. 7:14; Acts 25:9; in the case of, in respect of, Jn. 6:2; Gal. 3:16; in the time of, at the time of, Read the full entry →

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐπί

on, upon with gen., dat., and acc.

prep. with gen., dat., and acc.: Radic. signf. upon.

WITH GEN.:

of Place,

with Verbs of Rest, upon or on, κεῖσθαι ἐπὶ χθονός Il.; ἐφ᾽ ἵππου on horse-back, etc.; ἐπὶ γῆς upon earth, Soph.; ἐπ᾽ ἀγροῦ in the country, Od.; also at or near, ἐπὶ Λήμνου off Lemnos, Hdt., etc.:—with Verbs of motion, the sense is pregnant, ἐπ᾽ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν drew the ship upon the land and left it there, Il., etc.; ἀναβῆναι ἐπὶ τῶν πύργων Xen.

not strictly of Place, μένειν ἐπὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς to remain in the command, id. Xen.; ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων engaged in business, Dem.: —of ships, ὁρμεῖν ἐπ᾽ ἀγκύρας to ride at (i. e. in dependence on an) anchor, Hdt.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
preposition — its sense depends on the case of the word it governs.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

PREP PREPosition

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
28%upon
upon28% · 258×on22% · 203×to8% · 77×in7% · 62×over7% · 59×at6% · 57×against4% · 38×for4% · 37×other renderings13% · 116×

907 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 46 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
adverbial91%predicate6%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 886 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
οὐρανόςthe sky, the heaαὐτόςλευκόςwhite, bright
αὐτός
δέbut, on the otheφιάληa shallow and flκεφαλήthe head
κάθημαιI sit, am seated
Article theκαίand, even, also,γυνήa woman, wife, m
πίπτωI fall, fall under
δέbut, on the otheκαίand, even, also,Article the
ἔρχομαιI come, go
ὁδόςa way, road, jouγάρforκαίand, even, also,
ἐπίafter886×
what comes after →
Article the
γῆthe earth, soil,κεφαλήthe headθρόνοςa throne, seat
αὐτός
καίand, even, also,Article theὅτιthat, since, bec
πᾶςall, the whole, ever
Article theὅςκαίand, even, also,
σύ
καίand, even, also,Article theπᾶςall, the whole,
ἐγώ
καίand, even, also,Article theὅς

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

Concordanceἐπί · 886× in the New Testament
Acts Luke Revelation Matthew Mark John Romans Hebrews 2 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Ephesians 1 Peter

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament26 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 29c. AD 40

εἶθ’ ὕδατος ἀσώματον οὐσίαν καὶ πνεύματος καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν ἑβδόμου φωτός, ὃ πάλιν ἀσώματον ἦν καὶ νοητὸν ἡλίου παράδειγμα καὶ πάντων ὅσα φωσφόρα ἄστρα κατὰ τὸν οὐρανὸν ἔμελλε συνίστασθαι.

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

ὡς Ἅβραμος ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἀσσυρίους ἐκστρατεύσας ἐνίκησε καὶ τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους τῶν Σοδομιτῶν ἔσωσε καὶ τὴν λείαν ἣν ἔλαβον ἀφείλετο.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.2c. AD 100

Μεγάλων μὲν ὄντων καὶ πλουσίων τῶν τοῦ θεοῦ δικαιωμάτων εἰς ὑμᾶς, ὑπέρ τι καὶ καθ̓ ὑπερβολὴν ὑπερευφραίνομαι ἐπὶ τοῖς μακαρίοις καὶ ἐνδόξοις ὑμῶν πνεύμασιν: οὕτως ἔμφυτον τῆς δωρεᾶς πνευματικῆς χάριν εἰλήφατε.

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 2nd c. BC 1st c. AD 4th c. AD
P.Stras. 2 89Pathyris100 BC

ἣν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐωνήσατο παρὰ Πανοβχούνιος τοῦ Τοτόηους ἐν τῷ ιε ἔτει Παῦνι γ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀρχείου, μιᾶς μὲν ἐν τῷ ἀπὸ λιβὸς πεδίωι, γείτονες· νότου γῆ Πατοῦτος τοῦ

P.Lond. 3 p. 18 no. 678Krokodilopolis (Pathyrites)100 BC–99 BC

καὶ ἱερειῶν καὶ κανηφόρου τῶν ὄντων καὶ οὐσῶν μηνὸς Χοιὰκ … ἐν Κροκοδίλων πόλει ἐπὶ Πανίσκου ἀγορανόμου τῆς ἄνω τοπαρχίας τοῦ Παθυρίτου. ἀπέδοτο Πετεσοῦχος Σχώτου ἱερεὺς Σούχου καὶ Ἀφροδίτης

P.Grenf. 2 35Pathyris99 BC

ἐδέξατο Πακοῖβις ὁ πριάμενος. Ἑρμίας ὁ παρὰ Πανίσκου κεχρημάτικα. ἔτους ιϛ Τῦβι λ. τέτακται ἐπὶ τὴν ἐν Κροκοδίλων πόλει τράπεζαν ἐφʼ ἧς Παγκράτης δεκάτης ἐνκυκλίου διʼ Ἀπολλωνίου τελώνου Πακοῖβις

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
νεκροῖςnekros death G3498 Adjective · dative · plural · masculine
128× 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 dead, meaning something or someone is lifeless, either physically or spiritually, as seen in Matthew 28:4 and Revelation 1:18.
Amplified meaning
become lifeless
Tyndale gloss
dead
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

νεκρός is an adjective meaning 'dead,' derived from a root associated with corpses. It describes both literal death and metaphorical states, such as spiritual death or being inactive. In the New Testament, it appears in various contexts, including references to the dead (e.g., Mt 11:5) and spiritual conditions (e.g., Ro 6:13). The word can also function as a noun, referring to the dead as a group.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

νεκρός, -ά, -όν,

[in LXX chiefly for מֵת;]

dead,

as adj.,

prop.: Ac 5:10 20:9, Ja 2:26, Re 1:18, al.; ὡσεὶ ν., Mt 28:4, Mk 9:26, Re 1:17; of that which is subject to death, Ro 8:10.

Metaph.,

of persons: Lk 15:24, 32; of those immersed in worldly cares, Mt 8:22, Lk 9:60; of spiritual death, Jo 5:25, Ro 6:13,

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

νεκρός, -d, -dv, (akin to the Lat. neco, nex [fr. ἃ r. signifying ‘to disappear’ ete.; cf. Curtius § 93; Fick i. p. , 123; Vanitek p. 422 sq.]), Sept. chiefly for n>; dead, » i.e. 1. prop. a. one that has breathed his last, lifeless: Mt. xxviii. 4; Mk. ix. 26; Lk. vii. 15; Acts v. 10; xx. 9; xxviii. 6; Heb. xi. 35; Rev.i. 17; ἐπὶ νεκροῖς, if men are dead (where death has occurred [see ἐπί, B. 2 ἃ. €. p. 233

Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

νεκρός (nekros) — dead.

νεκρός, ὁ

(of a woman, [Refs 4th c.BC+], corpse, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: as substantive, in early writers always of mankind, νεκροὺς συλήσετε τεθνηῶτας [Refs 8th c.BC+]: frequently of those killed in battle, τοὺς ν. ὑποσπόνδους ἀνείλοντο [Refs 5th c.BC+]; later, of a fish, ν. ἰχθύος [Refs 1st c.AD+]

2. dying person, μυχθισμὸς νεκρῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+]

3. metaphorically, ὁ υἱός μου ν. ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησε [NT]

4. in plural, the dead, as dwellers in the nether world, κλυτὰ ἔθνεα νεκρῶν [NT+8th c.BC+]

II. as adjective νεκρός, ά, όν, dead, first in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ν. σώματα Mitteis [Refs 5th c.BC+] (but also τὰ τῶν ν. σώματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]: comparative -ότερος[Refs 1st c.AD+]

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

νεκρός

nekros

from an apparently primary nekus (a corpse); dead (literally or

figuratively; also as noun):--dead.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

νεκρός, ά, όν

Adj

dead, a corpse

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

νεκρός nekros 128x

dead, without life, Mt. 11:5; 22:31; met. νεκρός τινι, dead to a thing, no longer devoted to, or under the influence of a thing, Rom. 6:11; dead in respect of fruitlessness, Jas. 2:17, 20, 26; morally or spiritually dead, Rom. 6:13; Eph. 5:14; dead in alienation from God, Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13; subject to death, mortal, Rom. 8:10; causing death and misery, fatal, having a destructive power, Read the full entry →

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

νεκρός νεκρός, οῦ, ὁ, = νέκυς a dead body, corpse, Hom., etc.: —in pl. the dead, as dwellers in the nether world, Od.; τοὺς ἑαυτῶν ν. their own dead, of those killed in battle, Thuc.

as adj., νεκρός, ή, όν, dead, Pind.:— comp. -ότερος Anth.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj-DPM — Adjective · dative · plural · masculine
dative — to, for, with — the one it is done to or by.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

A-DPM Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Dative Number: Plural 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
95%dead
dead95% · 125×dead?3% · 4×other renderings2% · 3×

132 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
adverbial48%predicate19%subject18%object14%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 128 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
ἐκ
ἐγείρωI wake, arouse, αὐτόςArticle the
Article the
ἐγείρωI wake, arouse, ἀπόἀνάστασιςa rising again,
ἀνάστασιςa rising again, resu
δέbut, on the otheἐκκαίand, even, also,
καίand, even, also, nam
ζάωI liveἀκούωI hear, listenἵναin order that, s
θεόςGod, a god
Article theεἰμίI am, exist
νεκρόςdeath128×
what comes after →
καίand, even, also, nam
διάπᾶςall, the whole, ὁράωI see, look upon
ἐγείρωI wake, arouse, rais
λεπρόςa leperκαίand, even, also,πτωχόςpoor, destitute
Article the
ἐνπαράπτωμαa falling away, τρίτος& Adv
οὐNeg
ἐγείρωI wake, arouse, εἰμίI am, existἀναγινώσκωI read
εἰμίI am, exist
καίand, even, also,Article theκατά

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

Concordanceνεκρός · 128× in the New Testament
Acts Romans Luke 1 Corinthians Revelation Matthew John Hebrews Mark 1 Peter Ephesians Colossians

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament18 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 34 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 Polycarp The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 1.108c. AD 40

„Ζῶμεν τὸν ἐκείνων θάνατον, τεθνήκαμεν δὲ τὸν ἐκείνων βίον," ὡς νῦν μέν, ὅτε ζῶμεν, τεθνηκυίας τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ ὡς ἂν ἐν σήματι τῷ σώματι ἐντετυμβευμένης, εἰ δὲ ἀποθάνοιμεν, τῆς ψυχῆς ζώσης τὸν ἴδιον βίον καὶ ἀπηλλαγμένης κακοῦ καὶ νεκροῦ συνδέτου τοῦ…

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.55c. AD 75–95

ἔνθεν ὁ Κάις παροξυνθεὶς ἐπὶ τῷ προτετιμῆσθαι τὸν Ἄβελον ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ κτείνει τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ τὸν νεκρὸν αὐτοῦ ποιήσας ἀφανῆ λήσειν ὑπέλαβεν.

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
2nd c. AD 1st c. BC 3rd c. AD 1st c. AD 2nd c. BC
P.Mich. 5 228Areos Kome (Arsinoites)AD 47

εἰς τὰ παρατυχόντα μέρη τοῦ σώματος ἐγκύῳ οὔσῃ ὥστε παρʼ αὐτῇ ἐκτέτρωται τὸ βρέφος νεκρὸν ὥστε αὐτὴν κατακλινῆ εἶναι καὶ κινδυνεύειν τοῦ ζῆν. διὸ ἀξιῶ γράψαι τοῖς τῆς Ὠξυρύνχων

P.Fouad 1 75ArsinoitesAD 64

τετελευτηκέναι καὶ ἤδη εὐτυχῆσθαιτῷ Φαῶφι τῆι ἐνάτηι ἀπʼ ὠμοτοκετοῦ· ἔτεκεν γὰρ ὀκτὼ μηνῶν παιδίον νεκρὸν καὶ τέσσαρας ἡμέρας ἐπέζωσε καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα τετελεύτηκεν καὶ περιεστάλη ὑφʼ ἡμῶν καὶ τοῦ

PSI 8 967AD 1–AD 200

δυνασθῶ ἀναπλεῦσαι βουλεύομαι αὐτὴν ὥδε θάψαι πρόσδεξαι αὐτὴν ἐν τῷ ἄρτι ἐρχομένῳ πλοίῳ τῶν νεκρῶν πέμψον μοι ταχύτερον ἵνα ἰσχύσω ἀναβῆναι μετὰ τὴν ἑορτήν. ταῦτα λέγει Ἀφροδισία τῷ πατρὶ

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
βεβαία,bebaios [is] affirmed, G949 Adjective · nominative · singular · feminine
9× 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
The Greek word for firm means stable or secure, as in Hebrews 6:19. It describes something that is sure and dependable. This word is used to express confidence in God's promises.
Amplified meaning
be strong
Tyndale gloss
firm
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

βέβαιος (i.e., bebaios) means firm, stable, or secure, and is derived from the root of βαίνω (to walk). It covers a range of meanings from physical steadiness to metaphorical certainty, especially in legal contexts. The New Testament uses it in various passages, including Hebrews 6:19 and Romans 4:16, to convey the idea of guaranteed security.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

** βέβαιος, -ον (also -α, -ον;

< βαίνω),

[in LXX: Es 3:13, Wi 7:23, III Mac 5:31 7:7, IV Mac 17:4*;]

firm, secure: ἄγκυρα, He 6:19; metaph., sure (esp. "in the sense of legally guaranteed security," Deiss., BS, 109; cf . two foll. words): ἐπαγγελία, Ro 4:16; ἐλπίς, II Co 1:6; λόγος, He 2:2; παρρησία, He 3:6; ἀρχή (τ. ὑποστάσεως), He 3:14; διαθήκη, He 9:17; κλῆσις κ. ἐκλογή, II Pe 1:10; comp. (-ότερος), προφητικὸς λόγος, II Pe…

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

βέβαιος, -αία (W. 69 (67); B. 25 (22)), -aov, (BAQ, Baive), [fr. Aeschyl. down], stable, fast, firm; prop. : ἄγκυpa, Heb. vi. 19; metaph. sure, trusty: ἐπαγγελία, Ro. τν. 16; κλῆσις καὶ ἐκλογή, 2 Pet. i. 10; λόγος προφητικός. 2 Pet. i. 19; unshaken, constant, Heb. iii. 14; ἐλπίς, 2 Co. i. 7 (6), (4 Mace. xvii. 4) ; παρρησία, Heb. iii. 6 (but WH Tr mrg. in br.) ; valid and therefore inviolable, λόγος, Heb. ii. 2; διαθήκη, Heb. ix. 17. (With the same meanings in Grk. writ. fr. Hdt. down.)

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

βέβαιος. Deissmann (8S, p. τος ἢ.) has shown very fully how much force the technical use of this word and its cognates to denote legally guaranteed security adds to their occurrence in the NT. Thus with the use of this adjective in Rom 415, 2 Cor 17, we may compare P Amh II. 8574 (a.p. 78) where, in an application for a lease, provision is made that if no objection is raised ‘‘the lease may remain guaranteed to us for the period of five years without change ’—pévye ἡμῖν ἡ μίσθωσις βεβαία ἐπὶ τὸν πενταετ[ἢ] χρόνον ἀμεθεστάτους (Δ -οις). Ρ Strass I. 2253. (iii/A.p.) ἔχειν tld] βέβαιον τοὺς κατασχόντας, ‘that those who have obtained possession may be secured in it,” P Oxy IX. 120079 (A.D. 266) ἔτι τε kal παρέξομαί σοι βέβαια διὰ παντὸς ἀπὸ πάντων πάσῃ βεβαιώσει, ‘and I will further guarantee the property always against all claims with every guarantee” (Ed.), BGU IV. 1116%4 (B.C. 13)…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

βέβαιος (bebaios) — firm.

βέβαιος, ον

(so always in [Refs 5th c.BC+], also α, ον (see. below): (βαίνω):— firm, steady, κρύσταλλος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; γῆ β. terra firma, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; steadfast, durable, ὁμιλία.. πιστὴ καὶ βέβαιος [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__b sure, certain, τέκμαρ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πύλας β. παρέχειν make safe, secure, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; βεβαιότερος κίνδυνος a surer game, [Refs]: superlative -ότατος[Refs]; βέβαιόν ἐστί τινι ὅτι.. [Refs 1st c.BC+] confirm, guarantee, [Refs 1st c.BC+]

2. of persons, etc., steadfast, constant, φίλος [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, βεβαιότεροι μηδὲν νεωτεριεῖν more certain to make no change, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

βέβαιος

bebaios

from the base of 939 (through the idea of basality); stable (literally

or figuratively):--firm, of force, stedfast, sure.

see GREEK for 939

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

βέβαιος, α, ον

Adj

firm, steadfast, enduring

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

βέβαιος bebaios 8x

firm, stable, steadfast, Heb. 3:14; 6:19; sure, certain, established, Rom. 4:16

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

βέβαιος βαίνω firm, steady, steadfast, sure, certain, Aesch., etc.; βεβαιότερος κίνδυνος a surer game, Thuc.

of persons, steadfast, steady sure, constant, Aesch., etc.; c. inf., βεβαιότεροι μηδὲν νεωτεριεῖν more certain to make no change, Thuc.

τὸ βέβαιον certainty, firmness, resolution, Hdt., Thuc.

adv. -ως, Aesch., etc.; comp. -ότερον, Thuc.; Sup. -ότατα, id. Thuc.

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

A-NSF Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Nominative Number: Singular Gender: Feminine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
25%sure
sure25% · 2×unshakable25% · 2×unalterable13% · 1×firm13% · 1×affirmed13% · 1×more certain13% · 1×

8 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 6 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
predicate44%adverbial33%second object22%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 9 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
τέλοςan end, purpose, tax
μέχριas far as, until
εἰμίI am, exist
Article the
ἐγώ
ἐλπίςhope, expectatio
γίνομαιI come into being, a
λόγοςa word, speech,
καίand, even, also, nam
τέDisj
βέβαιος[is] affirmed,
what comes after →
Article the
ἐπαγγελίαa promiseπροφητικόςprophetic
καίand, even, also, nam
πᾶςall, the whole, εἰσέρχομαιI go in, come in
κατέχωI hold fast, bind, r
ὑπέρ
σύ
ἐπείafter, for, since, o
μήNeg

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

Concordanceβέβαιος · 9× in the New Testament
Hebrews 2 Peter 2 Corinthians Romans
Across the New Testament4 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria Ignatius of Antioch Clement of Rome Polycarp
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 1.89c. AD 40

ᾧ δὲ παρέχει ὁ θεὸς ἐπιστήμην βεβαίαν, τούτῳ δίδωσιν ἀμφότερα, ἐργάζεσθαί τε τὰς ἀρετὰς καὶ μηδέποτε αὐτῶν ἀφίστασθαι, ἀλλ’ ἀεὶ ταμιεύειν καὶ φυλάττειν ἑκάστην.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 2.190c. AD 75–95

οὕτως τε τοῦ βασιλέως πάσης αὐτῶν τῆς περιουσίας κυρίου γεγενημένου, μετῳκίσθησαν ἄλλος ἀλλαχοῦ, ὅπως βεβαία γένηται τῷ βασιλεῖ τῆς χώρας τούτων ἡ κτῆσις, πλὴν τῶν ἱερέων·

Clement of RomeFirst Clement 1.2c. AD 96

τίς γὰρ παρεπιδημήσας πρὸς ὑμᾶς τὴν πανάρετον καὶ βεβαίαν ὑμῶν πίστιν οὐκ ἐδοκίμασεν;

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
6th c. AD 5th c. AD 4th c. AD 7th c. AD 3rd c. AD
P.Mich. Zen. 45Arsinoites253 BC

ὑμᾶς δεῖ τὰ ἔργα συντελοῦντας τὰ ἐν τῶι παραδείσωι ἀναλίσκειν , παρὰ τούτων τὰ βέβαια λαβεῖν. ὡς δ' ὰν κατεργασθῇ ὁ παράδεισος, καὶ καθαρῶ αὐτόν. Πετιμούθης μὲν καὶ οἱ

PSI 15 1533OxyrhynchitesAD 201–AD 250

καὶ ἀποφέρεσθαι ὑμᾶς τὰ περιεσόμενα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐνεστῶτος ἔτους, ἅπερ καὶ ἐπάναγκον παρέξομαι ὑμῖν βέβαια … … … … … … ου εἰς τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον

P.Col. 7 180Karanis (Arsinoites)AD 315–AD 316

ἥμισυ μέρος ἐμοὶ τῷ γεωργοῦντι τῆς εὐτυχούσης τετάρτης δ ἰνδικτίονος. ἡ μίσθωσις κυρία καὶ βεβαία καὶ ἔστω πανταχοῦ ἐπιφερομένη καὶ ἐπερωτηθεὶς ὡμολόγησα. Αὐρήλιος Πατερμοῦθις ὁ προκίμενος μεμίσθωκα τῷ Αὐρηλίῳ

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
ἐπεὶepei since G1893 Conjunction
26× 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
Since refers to a point in time or a cause, as seen in Matthew 18:32 and 21:46. This word is used to describe a reason or a time. It appears in various Bible passages to introduce a cause or a time.
Tyndale gloss
since
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

ἐπεί is a conjunction meaning 'when' or 'since,' used both temporally and causally. It can indicate a time after an event or provide a reason for something, as seen in various New Testament verses like Matthew 18:32 and Hebrews 2:14. The word can also imply alternatives, as in 'else' or 'otherwise.' Its usage spans classical and biblical Greek, reflecting its versatility in connecting clauses.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἐπεί

conj. (ἐπί, εἰ),

when, since;

of time, when, after: Lk 7:1 (Rec., WH, mg.).

Of cause, since, because: Mt 18:32 21:46 27:6, Mk 15:42, Lk 1:34, Jo 13:29 19:31, Ac 13:46 (Rec., WH, mg.), I Co 14:12, II Co 11:18 13:3, He 5:2, 11 6:13 9:17 11:11; ἐ. οὖν, He 2:14 4:6. With ellipsis, otherwise, else: Ro 11:6, 22,

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

ἐπεί, [fr. temporal ἐπί and εἰ, lit. thereupon when; Curtius, Erliut. ete. p. 182; cf. Etym. Magn. 356, 7], conjunction, (Lat. cum), when, since, [ef. W.§ 53,1]; used 1. of time, after; so once in the N. Τ᾿: Lk. vii. 1 (where LT Tr txt. WH txt. ἐπειδή). 2. of cause, etc., since, seeing that, because: Mt. xviii. 32; [xxi. 46 T Tr WH]; xxvil. 6; Mk. xv. 42; Lk.i. 34; Jn. xiii. 29; xix. 31; 1 Co. xiv. 12; 2Co. xi. 18}; xiii.3; Heb. v. 2,11; vi. 13; ix. 17; xi. 11; ἐπεὶ οὖν since then, Heb. ii. 14; iv. 6. Agreeably to a very common abbreviation of speech, we must often supply in thought between ἐπεί and the proposition depending upon it some such phrase as if it is (or were) otherwise; so that the particle, although retaining the force of since, is yet to be rendered otherwise, else, or for then, (Germ. sonst); so in Ro. xi. 6, 22; Heb. ix. 26; ἐπεὶ dpa, 1 Co. v. 10; vii. 14, [ef. W. § 53…

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

ἐπεί. Citations of this very common word are hardly necessary, | but we may quote PSI IV. 435}2 (B.c. 258-7) ἐπεὶ δὲ τάχιστα ὑγιάσθην, παρεγένετό τις ἐκ KviSov, P Lond 4238 (B.c. 168) (=I. p. 31) ἐπεὶ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ σου τυγχάνει βαρέως ἔχουσα, ‘since your mother is much annoyed about it,” and P Meyer 20* (1st half iii/A.D.) εἰπὲ τῇ ἱερίσσᾳ (2. -ἰσσῃ) τοῦ ἱεροῦ τῶν “HppwvOitav, ἵνα ἐκεῖ πέμπω τὰς | ἐπιστολάς, ἐπὶ (1: ἐπεὶ) εὐσήμαντά ἐστιν, “tell the priestess | of the sanctuary of Hermonthitis that I am sending my letters thither, since she is well known.’’ For ἐπεὶ μή see BGU II. | 530° (i/A.D.) ἡ μήτηρ σου μέμφεταί σε, ἐπὶ μὴ ἀντέγραψας | αὐτῇ--α letter from ἃ father to his son: cf. the similar use | of ὅτι μή in Jn 318 and see Pro/eg. p. 239f. and Abbott | Joh. Gr. p. 534 ff Ἔπεί = alioguin, as in Rom 11°, is | illustrated by Wetstein ad /., and by Field JVotes, p.…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἐπεί (epei) — since.

ἐπεί,

conjunction, both temporal and causal; also ἐπειδή, ἐπείτε. OF TIME (ἐπειδή is more frequently in this sense in Prose), after that, since, when, from [Refs 8th c.BC+]

I. with Ind.,

I.1. of a definite occurrence in past time, mostly with aorist, ἐπεί π᾽ εὔξαντο after they had prayed, [Refs 8th c.BC+]after [Refs 5th c.BC+]: rarely with imperfect, ἐπειδὴ εἱστιώμεθ᾽ [Refs 5th c.BC+]pluperfect, ἐπειδὴ ἐξηπάτησθε.. after you had been deceived.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; but generally the aorist is found, the pluperfect being used only for special emphasis: with imperfect to express an action not yet complete, ἐπεὶ ὑπηντίαζεν ἡ φάλαγξ καὶ ἡ σάλπιγξ ἐφθέγξατο after the phalanx began to advance and the trumpet had sounded, [Refs 5th…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἐπεί

epei

from 1909 and 1487; thereupon, i.e. since (of time or

cause):--because, else, for that (then, -asmuch as), otherwise, seeing

that, since, when.

see GREEK for 1909

see GREEK for 1487

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἐπεί

Cj.

after, for, since, otherwise

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἐπεί epei 26x

when, after, since, because, in as much as, Mt. 18:32; 27:6; for, for then, for else, since in that case, Rom. 3:6; 11:6

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐπεί conjunct., temporal and causal, like Lat. quum:

OF TIME, after that, after (postquam), since, when (quum), with aor. to express a complete action, or imperf. to express one not yet complete, ἐπεὶ ὑπηντίαζεν ἡ φάλαγξ καὶ ἡ σάλπιγξ ἐφθέγξατο after the phalanx began to advance and the trumpet had sounded, Xen.

= ἐξ οὗ, from the time when, ever since, ἐπείτε παρέλαβον τὸν θρόνον since I came to the throne, Hdt.

with Subjunct., ἄν or κε being added, so that ἐπεί becomes ἐπάν, ἐπήν, ionic ἐπεάν, or ἐπεί κε: — referring to future time, ἐπὴν ἕλωμεν when we shall have taken the city, Il.:—also whenever, ἐπεί κε λίπῃ ὀστέα θυμός Od.

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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

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
63%since
since63% · 17×otherwise26% · 7×because7% · 2×else4% · 1×

27 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 4 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
adverbial12%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 26 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
σύ
ἀφίημιI send away, relκαίand, even, also,
γίνομαιI come into being, a
ὄψιοςlateμήNeg
ὄχλοςa crowd
Article the
κορβᾶνHebr
Article the
οὗτος
εἰμίI am, exist
ἐπείsince26×
what comes after →
Article the
γλωσσόκομονbag, purse, box,χάριςgrace, favor, ki
καίand, even, also, nam
σύαὐτός
οὖνtherefore, then
Article theἀπολείπωI leave, leave b
παρακαλέωI summon, entreat, a
ἐγώ
εἰς
προφήτηςa prophet, poet

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

Concordanceἐπεί · 26× in the New Testament
Hebrews 1 Corinthians Matthew Romans 2 Corinthians John Luke Mark
Across the New Testament8 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria Ignatius of Antioch The Shepherd of Hermas The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 12c. AD 40

ἐπεὶ οὖν ὁρατός τε καὶ αἰσθητὸς ὅδε ὁ κόσμος, ἀναγκαίως ἂν εἴη καὶ γενητός·

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.29c. AD 75–95

τὴν δὲ αἰτίαν ἱκανὸς μέν εἰμι ἀποδοῦναι καὶ νῦν, ἐπεὶ δʼ ὑπέσχημαι τὴν αἰτιολογίαν πάντων ἰδίᾳ συγγραψάμενος παραδώσειν, εἰς τότε καὶ τὴν περὶ αὐτῆς ἑρμηνείαν ἀναβάλλομαι.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 6.2c. AD 100

καὶ πάλιν λέγει ὁ προφήτης, ἐπεὶ ὡς λίθος ἰσχυρὸς ἐτέθη εἰς συντριβήν: Ἰδού, ἐμβαλῶ εἰς τὰ θεμέλια Σιὼν λίθον πολυτελῆ, ἐκλεκτόν, ἀκρογωνιαῖον, ἔντιμον.

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 2nd c. BC 1st c. AD

r Ἐσθλάδας τῶι πατρὶ καὶ τῆι μητρὶ χαίρειν καὶ ἐρρῶσθαι· ἐπεὶ πλειονάκις σοι γράφω περὶ τοῦ διανδραγαθήσαντα σαυτοῦ ἐπιμέλεσθαι μέχρι τοῦ τὰ πράγματα ἀποκαταστῆναι ,

ὑγιαίνομεν δὲ καὶ αὐτοί ὑμῶν τὴν ἀρίστην μνείαν ποιούμενοι παρὰ τῶν ἐνταῦθα θεῶν διατελοῦμεν. ἐπεὶ προκεχειρίκαμεν … ν καὶ Νεχούθην προστάτ … του μεγίστου θεοῦ Νεχθφαραῦτος

P.Grenf. 1 30Pathyris104 BC

ὑγιαίνομεν δὲ καὶ αὐτοί. μεταλαβόντες τοὺς συντετελεσμένους πρὸς τοὺς ἀσεβεῖς Ἑρμωνθίτας ἀγῶνας μεγάλως ἐχάρημεν. ἐπεὶ οὖν προκεχειρίκαμεν προστάτην τοῦ μεγίστου θεοῦ Νεχθφαραῦτος βεα … ρων … δια … στρατιωτῶν

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
μήποτεmēpote otherwise G3361 Adverb · negative
1,060× 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
Not is a word used to show that something is not true or is not happening, like in phrases that say 'lest' or 'God forbid', as seen in various parts of the New Testament.
Tyndale gloss
not
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

μή () is a Greek negative particle used to express subjective negation, often in conditional or hypothetical contexts. It contrasts with οὐ (ou), which indicates absolute denial. μή can function as an adverb meaning 'not' or as a conjunction meaning 'lest.' It appears in various grammatical constructions, including prohibitions and deliberative questions, and is referenced in verses like Matthew 5:29 and John 3:18.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

μή,

subjective negative particle,

used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic., μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין, אַיִן, אַל.]

As a neg. adv., not;

with ref. to thought or opinion: Jo 3:18, Tit 1:11, II Pe 1:9.

In delib. questions, c. subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mk 12:14, Ro 3:8.

In conditional and final sentences, after εἰ, ἐάν, ἄν, ἵνα, ὅπως: Mt 10:14,

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

μή, Sept. for Ox, |X, PN, ἃ particle of negation, which differs from οὐ (which is always an adverb) in that ov denies the thing itself (orto speak technically, denies simply, absolutely, categorically, directly, objectively). but μή denies the thought of the thing, or the thing according to the judgment, opinion, will, purpose, preference, of some one (hence, as we say technically, indirectly, hypothetically, subjectively). This distinction holds also of the compounds οὐδείς, μηδείς, οὐκέτι, μηκέτι, ete. But pris either an ad verb of negation, not (Lat. non, ne); or aconjunction, that... not, lest, (Lat. ne); or an interrogative particle, (Lat. num) [i. e. (generally) implying aneg. ans.; in indir. quest. whether nol (suggesting apprehension) ]. Cf. Herm. ad Vig. § 267 p- 802 sqq-; Matthiae § 608; Bitm. Gram. § 148 (cf. Alex. Bttm. N. T. Gr. p. 344 (296) sqq.); Kiihner ii. §§ 512 sq. p.…

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

μή Grenf II. 384 (mid. 1.8.6.) καλῶς οὖ]ν ποιήσις μὴ ἀμελήσ[α]ς α[. . ἀγο]ράσαι. .. , P Oxy I. 3815 (a.p. 49--50) (= Selections, p. 53) τοῦ δὲ Σύρου μὴ βουλομένου ἐνμεῖναι τοῖς κεκριμένοις, “45 Syrus does not wish to abide by what has been decided,” 2d. II. 2755 (A.D. 66) (= Selections, p. 58) ἔγραψα ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἰδότος γράμματα, “1 wrote for him seeing that he was unlettered,” BGU I. 22° (a.p. 114) (= Selections, p. 74) TappovOios . . . τὸ παρὸν μὴ ἔχουσα κύριον, ‘ Tarmuthis at present without a guardian,’ and P Grenf II. 779 (iii/iv A.D.) (= Sedections, p. 120) θαυμάζω πάνυ [ὅτι] ἀλόγως ἀπέστητε μὴ ἄραντες [τὸ σ]ῶμα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ὑμῶν, “1 wonder exceedingly that you went off so unreasonably, without taking the body of your brother”; cf. P Tor 1. 1¥8-4 (νον 116) εἰ δὲ kal τις θείηι τὸ μὴ ὄν (cf. 1 Cor 1°8)—acc. and inf. follow, P Ryl II. 144°? (Α.Ὁ. 38) ἐπαγαγεῖν αἰτίας τοῦ μὴ ὄντος, ‘‘…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

μή (mē) — not.

μή,

Elean μά [ᾱ] [Refs 6th c.BC+]. (Cf. Sanskrit mā´, Armenian mi [from I.-[Refs 5th c.BC+] mē´], negative used in prohibitions):—not, the negative of the will and thought, as οὐ of fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective. (A few examples of μηδέ and μηδείς have been included.)

__A in INDEPENDENT sentences, used in expressions of will or wish, command, entreaty, warning,

__A.1 with present imperative, 2 person, μή μ᾽ ἐρέθιζε [Refs 8th c.BC+]: rarely with aorist imperative, μὴ.. ἔνθεο τιμῇ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; in Attic dialect, μὴ ψεῦσον, ὦ Ζεῦ, τῆς.. ἐλπίδος [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect imperative [Refs 8th c.BC+] person when perfect = present, μὴ κεκράγετε [Refs 5th c.BC+]

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

μή

me

a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an

absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an

interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an

affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, +

lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not,

nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in

substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372,

3373, 3375, 3378.

see GREEK for 3756

see GREEK for 3362

see GREEK for 3363

see GREEK for 3364

see GREEK for 3372

see GREEK for 3373

see GREEK for 3375

see GREEK for 3378

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

μή

Neg.prt.

not, lest

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

μή mē 1x

a negative particle, can function as a conj, not, for the particulars of its usage, especially as distinguished from that of οὐ, consult a grammar; as a conj., lest, that not, Mt. 5:29, 30; 18:10; 24:6; Mk. 13:36; μή, or μήτι, or μήποτε, when prefixed to an interrogative clause, it expresses an intimation either of the reality of the matters respecting which the question is asked, Mt. 12:23; or the contrary, Jn. 4:12

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

ADV-N ADVerb or adverb and particle combined Negative

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
71%not
not71% · 772×except9% · 95×unless5% · 58×surely not4% · 41×lest3% · 32×otherwise2% · 23×other renderings4% · 48×other renderings1% · 16×

1,085 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 23 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
adverbial84%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 1,060 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
οὐNeg
καίand, even, also,σύἐγώ
ἵναin order that, so th
αὐτόςσύπροσεύχομαιI pray, pray for
καίand, even, also, nam
ἐγώαὐτόςεἰμίI am, exist
εἰCond
αὐτόςυἱόςa son, descendenκαίand, even, also,
Article the
καίand, even, also,εἰςδιά
μήotherwise1060×
what comes after →
Article the
πατήρfather, Father, υἱόςa son, descendenσημεῖονa sign, miracle,
ἔχωI have, hold, posses
καίand, even, also,ποιμήνa shepherdβάθοςdepth, a depth,
εἰμίI am, exist
δίδωμιI offer, giveἐνμετά
τὶς
σύὑστερέωI am lacking, faγεννάωI beget, bring f
φοβέωI fear, am terrified
ἀπόArticle theμόνοςalone, but, only

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

Concordanceμή · 1,060× in the New Testament
Luke Matthew John 1 Corinthians Romans Mark Acts Revelation 2 Corinthians Hebrews 1 Timothy Galatians

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

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 1,321 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.

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
ἰσχύειischuō it is in force G2480 Verb · present · active · indicative · third person · singular
28× 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
To be strong means having physical or inner power, as Jesus showed in Matthew 9:12 and the apostles did in Acts 19:20, where faith made them prevail.
Amplified meaning
have force
Tyndale gloss
be strong
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἰσχύω (ischuō) is built from the root ἰσχύς and generally means to be strong or powerful. It covers a range of meanings including being strong in body, having power, prevailing, and being serviceable. The New Testament uses it in various contexts, such as in Matthew 9:12 and Acts 19:20. There is a note on its use in the Septuagint for Hebrew words meaning strength.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἰσχύω

(< ἰσχύς),

[in LXX for חזק, גִּבּוֹר, עצם, etc.;]

to be strong in body: Mt 9:12, Mk 2:17.

to be powerful, have power, prevail: Ac 19:20, Re 12:8; seq. κατά, c. gen. pers., Ac 19:16; c. inf., to be able (MM, Exp., xv): Mt 8:28 26:40, Mk 5:4 9:18 (inf. understood) 14:37, Lk 6:48 8:43 13:24 14:6, 29, 30 16:3 20:26, Jo 21:6, Ac 6:10 15:10 25:7 27:16; c. acc., Phl 4:13, Ja 5:16; of things, to avail, be serviceable (MM, Exp., xv): Mt 5:13

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

ἰσχύω ; impf. ἴσχυον; fut. ἰσχύσω; 1 aor. ἴσχυσα; (ἰσχύς) ; Sept. for PIT, PS, OSD, οἴο.; to be strong, i.e. 1. to be strong in body, to be robust, to be in sound health: ot ἰσχύοντες, as subst., Mt. ix. 12; Mk. ii. 17, (Soph. Tr. 234; Xen. Cyr. 6, 1, 24; joined with ὑγιαίνειν, id. mem. PB tl) 2. to have power, [fr. Aeschyl. down], i. e. a. to have a power evinced in extraordinary deeds, i. e. to exert, wield, power: so of the gospel, Acts xix. 20; Hebraistically, to have strength to overcome: οὐκ ἴσχυσαν, [A. V prevailed not i. 6.1 succumbed, were conquered, (so o> x5, Gen. xxxii. 26 (25)), Rev. xii. 8; κατά twos, against one, i.e. to use one’s strength against one, to treat him with violence, Acts xix. 16. b. i. q. to be of force, avail (Germ. gelten) : Heb. ix. 17; ri, Gal. v. 6, and Ree. in vi. 15. c. to be serviceable: εἴς τι [A. V. qood for], Mt. v.13. ἃ. foll. by inf. to be able…

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

ἰσχύω. The special sense in Gal 55, Heb 91”, occurs in P Tebt II. 2867 (A.D, 121-138) νομὴ ἄδικος [οὐ]δὲν εἰσχύει, unjust possession is invalid”: cf. the use of the verb with reference to money like the Lat. va/eo, Cagnat IV. 915a'? ἡ ‘Podla δραχμὴ τούτου τοῦ δηναρίου ἰσχύει ἐν Κιβύρᾳ ἀσσάρια δέκα. For the meaning ‘‘ have power” cf. P Petr II. 18(1)} (B.C. 246) διὰ τὸ μ[ὴ]} ἰσχύειν αὐτόν pe κωλύειν, ‘ because I was not strong enough to hinder him,” and P Oxy I. 6γ}" (A.D. 338) πάντα μέν, ws ἔπος ἐστὶν εἰπεῖν, ὅσα εἰσχύειν τι δύν[α]τ[αι] παρὰ τὴν τῶν νόμων [io d]v πρὸς ὀλίγον εἰσχύει, ‘everything, it may be said, that is able to withstand the power of the law withstands but for a short time”’ (Edd.). The ordinary sense ‘‘ to be able,” without the connotation of strength, may be seen early in P Eleph 1733 (B.C. 223) διὰ τὸ μὴ εἰσχύειν αὐτοὺς καταβαλεῖν τὰς λοιπὰς avadopas, ““ because they…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἰσχύω (ischuō) — be strong.

ἰσχ-ύω

(ἰσχύς), [Refs]: imperfect ἴσχυον [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future ἰσχύσω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἴσχῡσα [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἴσχῡκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, aorist κατ-ισχύθην [Refs 1st c.BC+]: (ἰσχύς):—to be strong in body, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἴσχυόν τ᾽ αὐτὸς ἐμαυτοῦ, i.e. I had all my strength, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἰ. ἐκ νόσου to be recovering, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. to be powerful, prevail, μηδὲν μεῖον ἰ. Διός [Refs 4th c.BC+]; πλέον, μεῖζον ἰ., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; later ἰ. πρός τινα prevail against, [LXX]; ἐπί τινας[LXX]; ἰ. τινί to be strong in a thing, σοφία ἀνὴρ ὑπὲρ ἀνδρὸς ἰσχύει [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὅθεν ἰσχύομεν, ᾗπερ ἰσχύουσι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἰ. παρά τινι have power or influence with one, [Refs 4th…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἰσχύω

ischuo

from 2479; to have (or exercise) force (literally or

figuratively):--be able, avail, can do(-not), could, be good, might,

prevail, be of strength, be whole, + much work.

see GREEK for 2479

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἰσχύω

v.

I am strong, able

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἰσχύω ischuō 28x

to be strong, be well, be in good health, Mt. 9:12; to have power, be able, Mt. 8:28; 26:40; to have power or efficiency, avail, be valid, Gal. 5:6; Heb. 9:17; to be of service, be serviceable, Mt. 5:13; meton. to prevail, Acts 19:16; Rev. 12:8

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἰσχύω from ἰσχύ_ς perh. akin to ἔχω, ἴσχω ἰσχύ_ω, to be strong in body, Soph., Xen., etc.

to be strong, mighty, powerful, prevail, Aesch., etc.; πλέον, μεῖζον ἰσχ. Eur.; ἰσχ. παρά τινι to have power or influence with one, Thuc.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PAI-3S — Verb · present · active · indicative · third person · singular
present active indicative — an action in progress.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PAI-3S Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Active Mood: Indicative Person: third Number: Singular

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
14%they were able
they were able14% · 4×able14% · 4×being strong7% · 2×he prevailed4% · 1×prevailing4% · 1×we were able4% · 1×has power4% · 1×i have strength4% · 1×other renderings46% · 13×

28 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 21 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 28 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
οὐNeg
καίand, even, also,οὕτωthus, so, in thiκαθεύδωI sleep, am slee
οὐδείςno one, none, nothin
εἰςκαίand, even, also,
μήNeg
ὥστεso that, therefoκαίand, even, also,
Article the
ἔχωI have, hold, po
ἕλκωI drag, draw, pull,
αὐτός
ἰσχύωit is in force28×
what comes after →
ἰατρόςa physician
ἀλλάbut, except
εἷςone
ὥραan hour, season
ἀπό
οὐδείςno one, none, noArticle the
ἐκτελέωI complete, perform
πᾶςall, the whole,
ἔτιstill, yet, even now
εἰCond

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

Concordanceἰσχύω · 28× in the New Testament
Luke Acts Matthew Mark Galatians Hebrews James John Philippians Revelation
Across the New Testament10 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 52 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 Clement of Rome
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 2.95c. AD 40

ὅτε γὰρ ἐξομολογήσασθαι τῷ θεῷ καὶ παραχωρῆσαι πάντα ἴσχυσεν ἡ ψυχή, κτῆμα κρεῖσσον λαβεῖν οὐκέτ’ εἶχε·

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 2.86c. AD 75–95

αἱ γὰρ κατισχνωμέναι βόες δαπανήσασαι τὰς κρείττονας οὐκ ἴσχυσαν κορεσθῆναι.

Clement of RomeFirst Clement 21.8c. AD 96

τὰ τέκνα ἡμῶν τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ παιδείας μεταλαμβανέτωσαν: μαθέτωσαν, τί ταπεινοφροσύνη παρὰ θεῷ ἰσχύει, τί ἀγάπη ἁγνὴ παρὰ θεῷ δύναται, πῶς ὁ φόβος αὐτοῦ καλὸς καὶ μέγας καὶ σώζων πάντας τοὺς ἐν αὐτῷ ὁσίως ἀναστρεφομένους ἐν καθαρᾷ διανοίᾳ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 6th c. AD 3rd c. AD 3rd c. BC 7th c. AD
O.Did. 356DidymoiAD 77–AD 92

Μάξιμος Μένν … … τῷ ἀδελφῷ πλεῖστα χαίρειν· εὔχομαί σε ἰσχύειν· ἰσχύω δ’ ἐγὼ καὶ αὐτός. ἔλαβα ἀπὸ Ἰούστου δραχμὰς δ. καλῶς ἐποίησας, ἄδελφε, ὅτι

O.Did. 428DidymoiAD 96

Θεόδωρος Σαβίνῳ τῷ τιμιωτάτῳ ἀδελφῷ χαίρειν· πρὸ παντὸς εὔχομαί σε ἰσχύειν καὶ ὑγιαίνειν. ὡς ἄρτι οὐκ ᾔδειν ὅτι εἰς Διδύμους εἶ· εἰ δὲ μὴ καθ'

Aegyptus 45 (1965), p. 18-19 no. 9Theadelphia ? (ArsinoitesAD 104–AD 105

ο ὡς μὴ ἐξῆν σοι εἰσέρχεσθαι εἰς … … … … … … μου ἴσχυσάν με κατάκλειστον ποιῆσαι … … μαι … ἀρχεφόδῳ ἐφʼ ἡμέρας ἓξ ἄχρι ἂν ἐμαυτὸν

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
ὅτεhote when G3753 Adverb
101× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
rarer in Hebrews than elsewhere in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
When indicates a specific point in time, as in Matthew 9:25 and Mark 1:32, where it is used to describe past events, or in 1 Corinthians 13:11, where it is used to describe a current situation.
Tyndale gloss
when
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ὅτε (transliterated as hote) is a temporal particle meaning 'when.' It is used to indicate specific times or events, often with different verb tenses, such as the indicative, subjunctive, or optative. The New Testament frequently employs it to denote moments in the past or future, appearing in various contexts across multiple books.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ὅτε, temporal particle (correlat. of πότε, τότε),

when; c. indic., (so generally in cl., but also c. optat., subjc.; LS, s.v.), most freq. c. aor., Mt 9:25, Mk 1:32, Lk 4:25, Jo 1:19, Ac 1:13, Ro 13:11, Ga 1:15, Re 1:17, al.; c. impf., Mk 14:12, Jo 21:18, Ro 6:20, I Th 3:4, al.; c. pf., since, now that, Read the full entry →

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

ὅτε, a particle of time, [fr. Hom. down], when; ale with the Indicative [W. 296 (278) sq.]; indie. present (of something certain and customary, see Herm. ad Vig. p. 913 sq.), while: Jn. ix. 4; Heb. ix.17; w. an historical pres. Mk. xi. 1. w. the imperfect (of a thing done on occasion or customary): Mk. xiv. 12; xv. 41; Mk. vi. 21 RG; Jn. xxi. 18; Acts xii. 6; xxii. 20; Ro. vi. 20; vii. 5; 1 Co. xiii.11; Gal. iv. 3; Col. iii. 7; 1 Th. iii. 4; 2 Th. iii. 10; 1 Pet. iii. 20. w. an indice. aorist, Lat. quom w. plupf. (W. § 40, 5; [B. § 137, 6]): Mt. ix. 25; xiii. 26,48; xvii. 25 [RG]; xxi. 34; Mk. i. 32; iv. 10; Vili. 19; xv. 20; Lk. ii. 21 sq. 42; iv. 25; vi. [3 LT WH], 13; xxii. 14; xxiii. 33; Jn. i. 19; ii. 22; iv. 45 [where Tdf. ὡς], ete.; Acts i. 13; viii. 12,39; xi. 2; xxi. 5, 35; Xxvil. 39; xxviii. 16; Ro. xiii. 11 (“than when we gave in our allegiance to Christ;” Lat. quom Christo…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ὅτε (hote) — when.

ὅτε,

also [Refs 5th c.AD+] H., Doric dialect ὅκα, Aeolic dialect ὄτα (which see), Relat. adverb, formed from the Relat. stem ὁ- and τε (see. τε B), answering to demonstrative τότε and interrogative πότ; properly of Time, but sometimes passing into a causal sense (compare ὁπότε).

__A of Time, when, at the time when,

__A.I Constr.:

__A.I.1 with indicative to denote single events or actions in past time, with imperfect or aorist, when, [Refs 8th c.BC+]pluperfect, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; whither are gone the boasts, [which we made] when we said.. ? [Refs 8th c.BC+]; rememberest thou not [the time] when.. ? [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἄκουσα εὐχομένης ὅτ᾽ ἔφησθα.. [Refs 8th c.BC+]

__A.I.1.b with present, of a thing always happening or now going on,[Refs 8th c.BC+]

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

ὅτε

hote

from 3739 and 5037; at which (thing) too, i.e. when:--after (that), as

soon as, that, when, while.

see GREEK for 3739

see GREEK for 5037

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ὅτε

Adv

when

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ὅτε hote 103x

when, at the time that, at what time, Mt. 7:28; 9:25; Lk. 13:35, et al. freq.

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
97%when
when97% · 103×other renderings3% · 3×

106 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 4 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
adverbial9%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 101 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
μυκάομαιI bellow, roarγλυκύςsweetοὗτος
γίνομαιI come into being, a
καίand, even, also,δέbut, on the othe
αὐτός
μετάλέγωI say, speak
εἰμίI am, exist
νῦνnow, already, atπατήρfather, Father,
ΔαυίδProp
ποιέωI do, make
ὅτεwhen101×
what comes after →
δέbut, on the other ha
ἔρχομαιI come, goArticle theἀναβαίνωI go up, mount,
οὖνtherefore, then
ὁράωI see, look uponἐγείρωI wake, arouse, ἔρχομαιI come, go
Article the
πέντεIndecἑπτάIndecπάσχαAram
εἰμίI am, exist
νήπιοςan infant, childἐνμετά
ἀνοίγωI open
Article the

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

Concordanceὅτε · 101× in the New Testament
John Revelation Matthew Mark Luke Acts Galatians 1 Corinthians Romans Hebrews 1 Peter 1 Thessalonians

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament18 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas The Epistle of Barnabas Clement of Rome
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 1.6c. AD 75–95

ἤδη μὲν οὖν καὶ πρότερον διενοήθην, ὅτε τὸν πόλεμον συνέγραφον, δηλῶσαι τίνες ὄντες ἐξ ἀρχῆς Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ τίσι χρησάμενοι τύχαις ὑφʼ οἵῳ τε παιδευθέντες νομοθέτῃ τὰ πρὸς εὐσέβειαν καὶ τὴν ἄλλην ἄσκησιν ἀρετῆς πόσους τε πολέμους ἐν μακροῖς…

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 2.4c. AD 100

πεφανέρωκεν γὰρ ἡμῖν διὰ πάντων τῶν προφητῶν, ὅτι οὕτε θυσιῶν οὔτε ὁλοκαυτωμάτων οὔτε προσφορῶν χρῄζει, λέγων ὅτε μέν:

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 6th c. AD 3rd c. AD 3rd c. BC 4th c. AD
P.Cair. Zen. 3 59363Philadelphia (Arsinoites)244 BC

καὶ σιτομέτρην συναπόστειλον, ὃς ἀποκαταστήσει πρὸς ἡμᾶς. γίνωσκε δὲ τὰς τιμὰς ἐπευωνιζούσας ἑκάστης ἡμέρας, ὅτε μὲν ἡμιωβέλιον , ὅτε δὲ ὀβολοῦ τέταρτον . καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσας ἐν τάχει χαριεῖ

P.Cair. Zen. 3 59368Memphis (?)242 BC

καταφθείρει ἐγκόπτων αὐτοῖς. διὰ τό, ἀφαιρουμένου τῶν μελισσουργῶν αὐτοῦ βίαι σμήνη ρ, Σώστρατος παρεπιδημῶν, ὅτε ἐπὶ τὸν ὀπισμὸν ἀνέπλευσεν, ἐντυχὼν Διονυσίωι τῶι παρὰ Ζηνοδώρου ἐνεφάνισεν, καὶ ἐκεῖνος φοβηθεὶς ἀφῆκε

P.Dryton 44Pathyris (?)155 BC–143 BC

πυροῦ κε γίνονται πε ὧν φέρει … προέχειν Μυρσίνην κροτῶνος α, τῆι αὐτῆι δέδωκα ὅτε ἔτεκεν κροτῶνος 𐅵 γίνεται α 𐅵, … πυροῦ 𐅵 δ, Μυρσίνηι ἄλλη α 𐅵

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
ζῇzaō is living G2198 Verb · present · active · indicative · third person · singular
140× 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 live means to have life, either physically or spiritually, as seen in Acts 20:12 and Romans 7:1-3. It can also refer to being alive with Christ, like in Philippians 1:21.
Amplified meaning
living
Tyndale gloss
to live
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ζάω (transliterated as zao) means 'to live' and is used in various contexts, including both literal and figurative senses. It encompasses the idea of being alive, functioning in life, and can refer to both animals and plants. In the New Testament, it appears in discussions of spiritual life and vitality, often in relation to Christ and God, highlighting a deeper, metaphorical meaning of existence.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ζάω, -ῶ,

[in LXX chiefly for חיה (most freq. ptcp., ζῶν, inf., ζῆν, for חַי);]

prop., to live, be alive (v. Syn., s.v. βίος; in cl. usually of animal life, but sometimes of plants, as Arist., Eth. N, i, 7, 12): Ac 20:12, Ro 7:1-3, I Co 7:39, Re 19:20, al.; ἐν αὐτῷ ζῶμεν, Ac 17:28; ἐμοὶ τὸ ζῆν Χριστός, Phl 1:21; διὰ παντὸς τοῦ ζῆν (M, Pr., 215, 249), He 2:15; ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, Ga 2:20; ζῇ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός, Ga 2:20; (ὁ) ζῶν, of God (אֵל חַי…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ζάω (zaō) — to live.

ζῶ

(contraction from ζώω: ζάω only in Grammars, [Refs 4th c.AD+]; imperative ζῆ [Refs 5th c.BC+] see at {ζῆ}; optative ζῴη; infinitive ζῆν: imperfect ἔζων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔζην in most codices of [Refs 4th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. plural ἔζων [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future ζήσω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἔζησα [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἔζηκα [Refs 4th c.BC+]aorist and perfect are mostly supplied from βιόω.- Exc. participle ζῶντος, [Refs 8th c.BC+] always uses the Epic dialect Ionic dialect Lyric poetry present ζώω (also in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; subjunctive ζώῃ [Refs 5th c.BC+], contraction ζῷ [Refs]; Cretan dialect δώω [Refs]; infinitive ζωέμεναι, -έμεν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: imperfect ἔζωον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Ionic dialect ζώεσκον [Refs 8th c.BC+]aorist 1 ἔζωσα (ἐπ-) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; infinitive ζῶσαι [Refs]: perfect participle ἐζωκότα [Refs]; infinitive ζόειν [Refs 7th c.BC+]…

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

ζάω

zao

a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively):--life(-time),

(a-)live(-ly), quick.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ζάω

v.

I live

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ζάω zaō 140x

to live, to be possessed of vitality, to exercise the functions of life, Mt. 27:63; Acts 17:28; τὸ ζῆν, life, Heb. 2:15; to have means of subsistence, 1 Cor. 9:14; to live, to pass existence in a specific manner, Lk. 2:36; 15:13; to be instinct with life and vigor; hence, ζῶν, living, an epithet of God, in a sense peculiar to Himself; ἐλπὶς ζῶσα, a living hope vigor and constancy, 1 Pet. 1:3; ὕδωρ ζῶν, living water in respect of a full and unfailing flow, Jn. 4:10, 11; to be alive with cheered and…

Read the full entry →
Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ζάω to live, Hom., etc.; ἐλέγχιστε ζωόντων vilest of living men, Od.; ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο Il.; ῥεῖα ζώοντες living at ease, of the gods, id. Il.; ζῶν κατακαυθῆναι to be burnt alive, Hdt.:—also, ζῆν ἀπό τινος to live off or on a thing, Theogn., Hdt., etc.:— τὸ ζῆν ῀ ζωή, Aesch., etc.: —in a quasi-trans. sense, ἐκ τῶν ἄλλων ὧν ἔζης ( = ἃ ἐν τῶι βίωι ἔπραττες) from the other acts of your life, Dem.

metaph. to be in full life and strength, to be fresh, be strong, ἄτης θύελλαι ζῶσι Aesch.; ἀεὶ ζῆι ταῦτα [νόμιμα] Soph.; ζῶσα φλόξ living fire, Eur.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PAI-3S — Verb · present · active · indicative · third person · singular
present active indicative — an action in progress.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PAI-3S Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Active Mood: Indicative Person: third Number: Singular

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
42%living
living42% · 60×live10% · 14×will live8% · 11×we live4% · 5×lives4% · 5×alive3% · 4×we may live3% · 4×he lives2% · 3×other renderings26% · 37×

143 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 37 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
verb73%adverbial11%predicate6%object5%second object3%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 140 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
ἐγώθεόςGod, a godπᾶςall, the whole,
καίand, even, also, nam
αὐτόςνεκρόςdead, a corpseσῴζωI save, heal
θεόςGod, a god
ἐπίυἱόςa son, descendenπνεῦμαwind, breath, sp
αὐτός
οὐσίαproperty, wealthγάρforλέγωI say, speak
ἀλλάbut, except
νεκρόςdead, a corpseἀσθένειαwant of strengthαὐτός
ζάωis living140×
what comes after →
καίand, even, also, nam
νεκρόςdead, a corpseπιστεύωI believe, have θεάομαιI see, behold, c
Article the
ἄνθρωποςa man, one of thἀνήρa male human beiπεριλείπομαιI leave behind
εἰς
Article theθάνατοςdeath
ἐν
αὐτόςσάρξflesh, bodyκόσμοςthe world, unive
διά
Article theἐγώἀνάστασιςa rising again,

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

Concordanceζάω · 140× in the New Testament
Romans John Revelation Acts Hebrews 2 Corinthians Galatians Luke 1 Peter Matthew 1 Thessalonians 1 Corinthians

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament20 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 250 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 Ignatius of Antioch Clement of Rome
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 77c. AD 40

λέγουσιν οὖν οἱ τοῖς νόμοις ἐπὶ πλέον ἐμβαθύναντες καὶ τὰ κατ’ αὐτοὺς ὡς ἔνι μάλιστα μετὰ πάσης ἐξετάσεως ἀκριβοῦντες, ὅτι τῆς αὑτοῦ συγγενείας μεταδοὺς ὁ θεὸς ἀνθρώπῳ τῆς λογικῆς, ἥτις ἀρίστη δωρεῶν ἦν, οὐδὲ τῶν ἄλλων ἐφθόνησεν, ἀλλ’ ὡς οἰκειοτάτῳ…

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.66c. AD 75–95

ἔτι δὲ ζῶντος Ἀδάμου Κάιος τοὺς ἐγγόνους πονηροτάτους συνέβη γενέσθαι κατὰ διαδοχὴν καὶ μίμησιν ἄλλον ἄλλου χείρονα τελευτῶντα·

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 6.3c. AD 100

Καὶ ὃς ἐλπίσει ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ζήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 2nd c. BC 4th c. AD 1st c. AD 3rd c. BC
P.Lond. 2 p. 163-165 no. 354Soknopaiu Nesos (Arsinoites8 BC–5 BC

Κόρδῳ τῶι ἐπιστατήσαντι τῶν φυλακιτῶν … … τας φάσκοντες τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν ἐκ τοῦ ζῆν μεθεστακέναι πρὸς … λο … κατὰ φυλακὴν. καταστάντες δὲ καὶ ἀπολογησάμενοι ἐφάνημεν τῶι Κόρδωι

P.Mich. 5 228Areos Kome (Arsinoites)AD 47

ὥστε παρʼ αὐτῇ ἐκτέτρωται τὸ βρέφος νεκρὸν ὥστε αὐτὴν κατακλινῆ εἶναι καὶ κινδυνεύειν τοῦ ζῆν. διὸ ἀξιῶ γράψαι τοῖς τῆς Ὠξυρύνχων πρεσβυτέροις ἐκπέμψαι τὸν ἐνκαλούμενον ἐπὶ σὲ πρὸς τὴν

P.Lond. 3 p. 131 no. 846Soknopaiu Nesos (ArsinoitesAD 140

μου τὸ ὄνομα εἰς πρεσβυτερείαν τῆς κώμης ἀπόρου μου ὄντος καὶ μισθοῦ πορίζοντος τὸ ζῆν ἀπὸ τῆς γερδιακῆς διὸ ἀξιῶ σε τὸν κύριον βοηθῆσαί μοι, ἵνα τύχω τῆς ἀπὸ

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
ho the [one] G3588 Article · nominative · 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'.
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-NSM — Article · nominative · singular · masculine
nominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

T-NSM Part of Speech: definite arTicle Case: Nominative 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
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

A will for after death [is] affirmed, since otherwise it is in force when is living the [one] having made [it].
διαθέμενος.diatithēmi having made [it]. G1303 Verb · second aorist · middle · participle · nominative · 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.
Amplified meaning
the testator
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-NSM — Verb · second aorist · middle · participle · nominative · singular · masculine
nominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-2AMP-NSM Part of Speech: Verb Tense: second Aorist Voice: Middle Mood: Participle Case: Nominative 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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