ὅς

Pronunciation Guide: hos

Quick Answer: ὅς is the primary Greek relative pronoun meaning “who,” “which,” or “that,” serving as the essential connecting word that links ideas and reveals relationships throughout Scripture, appearing over 1,400 times in the New Testament.

1. What Does ὅς Mean?

Strong’s G3739: ὅς is the fundamental Greek relative pronoun that connects clauses and provides additional information about a noun or concept. This versatile word serves as the bridge between ideas, introducing relative clauses that specify, clarify, or expand upon what has been mentioned. ὅς appears in three genders (masculine ὅς, feminine ἥ, neuter ὅ) and functions as both a relative and occasionally demonstrative pronoun meaning “who,” “which,” “what,” or “that.” The word appears approximately 1,411 times in the New Testament, making it one of the most frequently used pronouns in biblical Greek.

Key Insight: ὅς serves as Scripture’s primary connector, revealing how God weaves together His redemptive plan through carefully crafted relationships between people, events, and divine purposes.

2. Where Does ὅς Come From?

ὅς is probably a primary word, though it may be a form of the definite article (G3588), with the following lexical details:

• Part of Speech: Relative pronoun
• Root Origin: Primary Greek word, possibly related to the definite article ὁ, ἡ, τό
• Language Family: Indo-European, with cognates in other ancient languages
• Primary Usage: Found throughout narrative, poetry, prophecy, and teaching sections of Scripture
• Frequency: Over 1,400 occurrences in the New Testament alone

3. What Is the History of ὅς?

In early Greek ὅς, ἥ, ὅ was demonstrative, like ὁ, ἡ, τό. In Attic Greek it retains this force in a few phrases, but is commonly relative, meaning who, which, that. The word has a rich history spanning from classical Greek literature through the Hellenistic period into New Testament times. Ancient Greek literature is rich with examples featuring relative pronouns from Homeric epics to classical dramas, where these pronouns are woven into the fabric of narrative and dialogue. Classical authors like Homer and Sophocles employed ὅς extensively to create complex, interconnected sentences that demonstrated the sophisticated grammatical relationships essential to Greek rhetoric and narrative structure.

In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), ὅς continued its vital connecting function, often translating Hebrew relative constructions and helping bridge Hebrew thought patterns into Greek linguistic structures. The early church fathers utilized this pronoun extensively in theological discourse, recognizing its power to express complex doctrinal relationships and biblical connections. Church fathers like John Chrysostom and Basil the Great employed ὅς in their homilies to demonstrate how various biblical passages interconnect to reveal unified theological truths.

Historical Summary: ὅς evolved from a demonstrative pronoun in early Greek to become the essential relative connector in classical literature, the Septuagint, and New Testament writings.

4. How Should ὅς Be Translated?

The primary meanings of ὅς include:

• Who – referring to persons as subjects or objects
• Which – referring to things, concepts, or clarifying previous statements
• That – introducing explanatory or restrictive clauses
• What – in certain constructions, referring to indefinite concepts
• Whose – expressing possession or relationship (in genitive forms)

Translation Tip: The specific English rendering of ὅς depends entirely on its grammatical function in the relative clause and the gender/number of its antecedent, requiring careful contextual analysis for accurate translation.

ὅς Translation Options: Context and morphological analysis determine the most precise English equivalent for this versatile pronoun.

• “Who” – Best when ὅς refers to persons and functions as the subject of its clause
• “Whom” – Appropriate when referring to persons as objects in formal English constructions
• “Which” – Ideal for referring to things, concepts, or when providing clarification about previous statements
• “That” – Often the most natural English rendering in restrictive relative clauses
• “Whose” – Required when ὅς appears in genitive forms expressing possession or relationship

5. How Is ὅς Used in the Bible?

The KJV translates Strong’s G3739 in the following manner: which (418x), whom (270x), that (139x), who (87x), whose (52x), what (40x), that which (20x), whereof (17x), and miscellaneous other uses (346x). This distribution reveals ὅς as one of Scripture’s most essential connecting words, appearing in virtually every type of biblical literature from genealogies to theological discourse. The pronoun serves multiple crucial functions: connecting biographical information in genealogies, linking theological concepts in Paul’s epistles, introducing explanatory material in narrative passages, and establishing relationships between Old Testament prophecies and their New Testament fulfillments.

The precise use of ὅς often carries significant theological implications, as seen in Matthew 1:16 where the feminine singular form ἧς specifically identifies Mary as the one through whom Jesus was born, protecting the doctrine of the virgin birth through careful grammatical construction. Throughout the New Testament, ὅς connects believers to their identity in the Messiah, links earthly realities to heavenly truths, and demonstrates how God’s eternal purposes unfold through specific historical events and relationships.

Usage Summary: ὅς appears over 1,400 times throughout the New Testament, serving as Scripture’s primary tool for connecting theological concepts, biographical details, and divine relationships.

Cross Reference Verses:

• “And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom [ἧς] was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:16
• “IMMANUEL, which [ὅ] being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23
• “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which [ὅν] they saw in the east, went before them.” Matthew 2:9
• “Then Herod, when he saw that [ὅτι – related form] he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth.” Matthew 2:16
• “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that [ὃ] proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
• “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which [ὁ] is in heaven.” Matthew 16:17
• “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; And behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom [ἐν ᾧ] I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17

6. What Cultural Context Surrounds ὅς?

In ancient Mediterranean culture, precise linguistic connections were essential for establishing legal, familial, and theological relationships. The careful use of relative pronouns like ὅς served crucial social functions, particularly in genealogical records where inheritance rights, tribal affiliations, and messianic credentials depended upon accurate documentation. Jewish scribes and early Christian writers understood that seemingly minor grammatical details could carry enormous theological weight, as demonstrated in Matthew’s precise use of the feminine singular ἧς to protect the doctrine of the virgin birth.

The Greek educational system, influenced by classical rhetoric, trained students to use relative pronouns skillfully to create sophisticated arguments and narratives. This cultural background explains why New Testament authors employed ὅς with such precision and theological intentionality. The relative pronoun’s ability to connect clauses while maintaining precise grammatical relationships made it an ideal tool for expressing the complex theological connections that characterize Christian doctrine. In rabbinic tradition, similar connecting words in Hebrew and Aramaic served to link various biblical passages in interpretive discourse, a practice the New Testament authors continued using Greek relative pronouns.

Cultural Context: In Greek culture, mastery of relative pronouns demonstrated educational sophistication and enabled precise expression of complex legal, familial, and theological relationships essential to ancient society.

7. What Does ὅς Teach Us About God?

The frequent use of ὅς throughout Scripture reveals profound truths about God’s character and His relationship with creation. God’s careful attention to grammatical precision in inspired Scripture demonstrates His commitment to clarity, accuracy, and the preservation of essential theological truths through the specific details of language. The relative pronoun constantly reminds readers that nothing in God’s Word exists in isolation—every person, event, and truth connects to His larger redemptive purpose. When Scripture uses ὅς to link the Messiah to His genealogy, believers to their inheritance, or prophecies to their fulfillments, it reveals God as the great Connector who weaves all history into His perfect plan.

The pronoun’s function as a bridge between clauses mirrors God’s role as the bridge between heaven and earth, time and eternity, justice and mercy. The theological precision required in passages like Matthew 1:16, where the correct form of ὅς protects the doctrine of the virgin birth, demonstrates God’s sovereignty over even the smallest details of Scripture’s composition. This reveals a God who cares deeply about truth, accuracy, and the preservation of essential doctrine through providential oversight of the biblical text. The connectivity expressed through ὅς also reflects the relational nature of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existing in perfect, connected relationship while maintaining distinct persons.

Theological Core: ὅς reveals God as the sovereign Connector who weaves all biblical truth, history, and relationships into His perfect redemptive plan with meticulous attention to detail.

8. How Can I Apply ὅς to My Life?

Understanding ὅς transforms how believers read Scripture and live their faith. When we recognize this pronoun’s connecting function, we begin to see how God links every aspect of our lives to His greater purposes. Just as ὅς connects clauses to reveal deeper meaning, God connects our experiences, relationships, and circumstances to develop our character and accomplish His will. The careful precision God employs in using ὅς throughout Scripture encourages believers to pursue accuracy and intentionality in their own words and relationships.

The pronoun’s role in connecting believers to their identity in the Messiah (passages like “in whom we have redemption”) reminds us that our significance comes not from isolation but from our connection to Him. Every time we encounter ὅς in Scripture, we can pause to consider how God might be connecting that particular truth to our current circumstances or spiritual growth. This awareness cultivates a deeper appreciation for God’s sovereignty and an expectant heart that looks for His connecting work in daily life.

Self-Examination Questions: How does recognizing God as the great Connector change my perspective on difficult circumstances? In what ways am I allowing Him to connect my life experiences to His greater purposes? What connections is God revealing to me through His Word today?

9. What Words Are Similar to ὅς?

• ὅστις (hostis) – indefinite relative pronoun meaning “whoever,” “whichever,” or “whatever,” providing a more general connection than the specific ὅς – See G3748
• οὗτος (houtos) – demonstrative pronoun meaning “this” or “these,” pointing to specific nearby objects or concepts rather than connecting clauses like ὅς – See G3778
• ἐκεῖνος (ekeinos) – demonstrative pronoun meaning “that” or “those,” indicating distant objects or concepts, sometimes working with ὅς in complex constructions – See G1565
• τίς (tis) – interrogative pronoun meaning “who?” or “what?” used for asking questions rather than making connections like ὅς – See G5101
• ὁ (ho) – the definite article (“the”) that shares morphological similarities with ὅς and occasionally functions pronominally, but primarily identifies rather than connects – See G3588

10. Did You Know?

• What does ὅς mean in modern Greek? In contemporary Greek, ὅς has largely been replaced by πού (pou) as the standard relative pronoun, though ὅς still appears in formal, literary, and ecclesiastical contexts, maintaining its ancient connecting function.
• How did Homer use ὅς? The great epic poet employed ὅς extensively in the Iliad and Odyssey to create complex, interconnected narrative chains that linked heroes’ actions to divine purposes, establishing literary patterns that influenced biblical narrative style.
• What’s the difference between ὅς and ὅστις? While ὅς provides specific connections to definite antecedents, ὅστις expresses indefinite relationships meaning “whoever” or “whatever,” making it more general and less precise than the focused ὅς.
• Why does the Bible use ὅς only in certain grammatical constructions? Biblical authors employed ὅς according to strict grammatical rules where it agrees with its antecedent in gender and number but takes its case from its function within the relative clause, ensuring theological precision.
• How does ὅς relate to biblical inspiration? The precise use of ὅς throughout Scripture demonstrates the Holy Spirit’s meticulous oversight of biblical composition, ensuring that even small grammatical details preserve essential theological truths.
• What causes confusion about ὅς today? Modern English lacks the sophisticated gender and case distinctions of Greek, making it difficult for English readers to appreciate the theological precision that proper use of ὅς provides in the original text.
• The genealogical precision of Matthew 1:16 represents one of Scripture’s most remarkable examples of theological grammar, where the feminine singular ἧς unmistakably identifies Mary as the sole human parent through whom Jesus entered the world, grammatically protecting the virgin birth doctrine through divine linguistic precision.

11. Remember This

ὅς stands as Scripture’s master connector, the small but mighty word that reveals how God weaves every thread of biblical truth, history, and relationship into His perfect tapestry of redemption—reminding us that in God’s Kingdom, nothing exists in isolation, but everything connects to His glorious eternal purpose.