Definition
ὁ, ἡ, τό,
the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article.
I. As demonstr. pron.
1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Acts 17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus).
2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1 Corinthians 7:7, Galatians 4:22; pl., Acts 14:4; 17:32, Philippians 1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Matthew 16:14, John 7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Hebrews 7:21, 23.
3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Matthew 2:14, Mark 1:45, Luke 8:21, John 9:38, al. mult.
II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed,
1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Matthew 8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luke 10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Matthew 11:26, John 19:3, James 5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mark 3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc.
2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Matthew 12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, John 10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, John 12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Romans 9:11.
3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives;
(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.;
(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.;
(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Matthew 14:2), Mark 6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.;
(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος;
(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Romans 7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1 Corinthians 16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luke 1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Matthew 13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71).
4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mark 9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Hebrews 12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Ephesians 4:9, al.
5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Hebrews 13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Romans 4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luke 11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Romans 9:5.
6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Matthew 10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Matthew 16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Romans 14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47).
Usage patterns
Occurrences
- Luke 24:51τῷ; τὸνWhile He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven.
- Luke 24:53τῷ · the; τὸν…praising God continually in the temple.
- John 1:1ὁ · the; ὁ · the; τὸν; ὁ · theIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:2τὸνHe was with God in the beginning.
- John 1:4ἡ · [that]; τὸ · the; τῶνIn Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
- John 1:5τὸ · The; τῇ · the; ἡ · theThe Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
- John 1:7τοῦ · theHe came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
- John 1:8τὸ · the; τοῦ · theHe himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
- John 1:9τὸ · The; τὸ; τὸν · theThe true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
- John 1:10τῷ · the; ὁ · the; ὁ · theHe was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
- John 1:11τὰ · [His]; οἱ · [His]He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
- John 1:12τοῖς · to those; τὸBut to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
- John 1:14ὁ · The; τὴνThe Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- John 1:15Ὁ · He whoJohn testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
- John 1:16τοῦFrom His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
- John 1:17ὁ · the; ἡ; ἡFor the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
- John 1:18ὁ · [and]; τὸν · the; τοῦNo one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
- John 1:19ἡ; τοῦ; οἱ · theAnd this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
- John 1:20ὁ · theHe did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
- John 1:21Ὁ · the“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
- John 1:22τοῖς · for thoseSo they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
- John 1:23τῇ · the; τὴν · the; ὁ · theJohn replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
- John 1:24τῶν · theThen the Pharisees who had been sent
- John 1:25ὁ · the; ὁ · the…asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”