Pronunciation Guide: ho’-tee
Quick Answer: ὅτι is the essential Greek conjunction meaning “that,” “because,” or “for,” appearing over 1,300 times in the New Testament. This small but mighty word connects divine revelation to human understanding, introducing both the content of faith (“that Jesus is Lord”) and the reasons for faith (“because God so loved the world”). It serves as the grammatical bridge between what Yahweh declares and what His people believe.
What Does ὅτι Mean?
Strong’s G3754: ὅτι functions as the primary conjunction in biblical Greek that introduces both objective content (“that”) and causal explanations (“because,” “for,” “since”). Far beyond the Quick Answer’s introduction, this word carries profound theological weight as the linguistic vehicle through which divine revelation flows into human consciousness. When the Messiah declares “that whoever believes in Him shall not perish” (John 3:16), ὅτι frames the very essence of the Gospel message. Similarly, when Scripture explains “because God is love” (1 John 4:8), ὅτι provides the causal foundation for understanding Yahweh’s character. This conjunction appears in pivotal moments of biblical revelation, from the angels’ announcement “that unto you is born this day a Savior” (Luke 2:11) to the apostolic proclamation “that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God” (John 20:31). The word bridges the gap between divine truth and human comprehension, making it indispensable for biblical theology.
Key Insight: ὅτι transforms abstract divine truths into concrete statements of faith and understanding.
Where Does ὅτι Come From?
- Part of Speech: Conjunction
- Root Words: Neuter of ὅστις (hostis, G3748) as conjunction
- Language Origin: Classical Greek, continuing into Koine
- Primary Usage: Introducing content clauses and causal statements
- Hebrew Equivalents: כִּי (ki) – “that,” “because,” “for”
What Is the Historical and Cultural Context of ὅτι?
Classical Greek Foundation
The conjunction ὅτι emerged from classical Greek as the neuter form of the relative pronoun ὅστις, literally meaning “that which.” In Homer’s epics, ὅτι frequently appeared strengthened with particles like ὅτι ῥα and ὅτι δή, demonstrating its foundational role in expressing both factual statements and causal relationships. Classical authors like Plato and Thucydides employed ὅτι systematically, with the conjunction taking the indicative mood after primary tenses and either indicative or optative after secondary tenses.
Septuagint Translation Patterns
The Hebrew conjunction כִּי (ki) posed unique translation challenges for the Septuagint translators, who regularly rendered it with ὅτι when expressing both causal (“because”) and explanatory (“that”) relationships. This translation choice profoundly shaped how Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians understood biblical concepts. The Hebrew כִּי carried emotional and emphatic weight that the Greek ὅτι captured through its versatility in both content and causal expressions.
Koine Greek Development
In the Hellenistic period, ὅτι became increasingly important as the common dialect (κοινή) spread throughout the Mediterranean world. The Septuagint’s normative usage patterns, including its frequent appearance in Biblical Greek, influenced how this conjunction would be understood by early Christian communities. Unlike classical usage, Koine Greek showed more flexibility in mood selection after ὅτι, reflecting the simplified grammar of the common dialect.
Historical Summary: ὅτι evolved from classical poetry to become the primary biblical conjunction for expressing divine truth and causation.
How Is ὅtι Used in the Bible?
The New Testament employs ὅτι with remarkable theological precision across its various functions. As a content conjunction, it introduces the core declarations of Christian faith: confessions of belief, divine proclamations, and apostolic teachings. Matthew 2:16 demonstrates its causal function: “Herod, seeing that he had been tricked by the wise men,” while Matthew 2:18 shows content usage in the prophetic quotation “they would not be comforted, because they were no more”.
The Septuagint usage provides crucial background for understanding New Testament theology. Exodus 31:14 illustrates the Hebrew-Greek relationship: “And you shall keep the sabbath, ὅτι holy it is to you” (ὅτι ἅγιον τοῦτό ἐστιν κυρίου ὑμῖν), where ὅτι translates the Hebrew כִּי to express both the reason for and the content of the commandment. This pattern established the theological framework that New Testament authors would inherit and develop.
Usage Summary: ὅτι appears over 1,300 times in the New Testament, making it the essential conjunction for biblical revelation.
Key Biblical Appearances:
- Matthew 2:16 – “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been deceived by the wise men [ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη], was exceedingly angry”
- John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [ὅτι τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν]”
- John 20:31 – “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah [ὅτι πιστεύητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ χριστός]”
- Romans 10:9 – “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus [ὅτι ἐὰν ὁμολογήσῃς]”
- 1 John 4:8 – “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love [ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν]”
- Luke 2:11 – “For there is born to you this day a Savior [ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτήρ]”
- 1 Corinthians 15:3 – “That the Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures [ὅτι Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν]”
How Should ὅτι Be Translated?
Primary Meanings:
- “that” (content/object clauses)
- “because” (causal clauses)
- “for” (explanatory clauses)
- “since” (temporal/causal)
- Untranslatable marker before direct speech
Translation Tip: Context determines whether ὅτι introduces content (“that Jesus is Lord”) or provides causation (“because God is love”).
ὅτι Translation Options:
| Translation | Context | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| “that” | After verbs of saying, thinking, knowing | Introduces objective content or indirect discourse |
| “because” | Providing causal explanation | Explains the reason or basis for a statement |
| “for” | Explanatory or evidential | Offers supporting evidence or clarification |
| [Untranslated] | Before direct quotes | Functions as quotation marker (ὅτι recitativum) |
| “since” | Temporal or assumed causation | Indicates accepted premise or time-based reasoning |
What Does ὅτι Teach Us About God?
The theological significance of ὅτι extends far beyond grammar into the heart of divine revelation. This conjunction frequently introduces the most foundational truths about Yahweh’s character and work. When Scripture declares “because God is love” (1 John 4:8), ὅτι provides the causal foundation for understanding all of divine action. Similarly, “that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16) employs ὅτι twice to connect divine love with sacrificial action.
The word appears in crucial Christological declarations: “that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God” (John 20:31), “that He was raised on the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:4), and “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10). These uses reveal how ὅτι serves as the linguistic bridge between divine revelation and human faith. The conjunction transforms abstract theological concepts into concrete declarations that form the foundation of biblical faith.
Theological Core: ὅτι reveals that divine truth requires both content and causation for complete understanding.
How Can I Apply ὅτι to My Life?
When we encounter ὅτι in Scripture, we’re invited to slow down and recognize that something significant is being revealed or explained. This small conjunction often introduces life-changing truths: that the Messiah loves us unconditionally, because Yahweh’s character is fundamentally loving, for His mercy endures forever. These aren’t merely grammatical constructions but invitations to deeper faith and understanding.
Consider how ὅτι connects the promises of Scripture with their underlying reasons. When we read “that whosoever believes in Him should not perish” (John 3:16), we’re not just receiving information but encountering the very heart of the Gospel. The conjunction helps us see that divine truth comes with both content (what to believe) and causation (why to believe it). This transforms Bible study from mere intellectual exercise into spiritual encounter with the living God.
Self-Examination Questions: How do I respond when Scripture uses ὅτι to introduce difficult truths? Do I seek both the “what” and “why” of biblical revelation? Am I allowing these conjunctions to deepen my understanding of God’s character?
What Words Are Similar to ὅτι?
- γάρ (gar) – “for,” “because” – More explanatory than causal, often introducing supporting evidence rather than direct causation – See G1063
- διότι (dioti) – “because,” “therefore” – Strengthened form emphasizing strong causal relationship, more emphatic than simple ὅτι – See G1360
- ἐπεί (epei) – “since,” “because” – Temporal causation, indicating time-based reasoning rather than logical causation – See G1893
- καθότι (kathoti) – “according as,” “inasmuch as” – Proportional causation, indicating degree or manner rather than simple causation – See G2530
- ὡς (hōs) – “as,” “that” – Comparative or manner conjunction, indicating similarity rather than identity of content – See G5613
Did You Know?
- What does ὅτι mean in modern Greek? It still functions as “that” and “because,” showing remarkable continuity across 2,000+ years of Greek language development.
- How did Plato use ὅτι? Classical authors like Plato used ὅτι with careful attention to mood: indicative after primary tenses, indicative or optative after secondary tenses, establishing patterns biblical authors would follow.
- What’s the difference between ὅτι and γάρ? ὅτι typically introduces content or direct causation, while γάρ provides explanatory background or supporting evidence.
- Why does the Bible use ὅτι before direct quotes? This “recitative ὅτι” comes from Hebrew influence, where כִּי often preceded direct speech, creating an untranslatable quotation marker.
- How does ὅτι relate to justification by faith? Romans 10:9 uses ὅτι to introduce the content of saving confession: “that Jesus is Lord,” making this conjunction central to salvation theology.
- What causes confusion about biblical truth today? Often missing the causal connections that ὅτι provides – understanding not just what God says but why He says it.
- The remarkable frequency pattern – ὅτι appears over 1,300 times in the New Testament, making it the second most common conjunction after καί, demonstrating its crucial role in biblical communication.
Remember This
ὅτι stands as the essential conjunction that transforms biblical reading from information gathering into revelation receiving, connecting every divine truth with its underlying reason and every promise with its theological foundation.
