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
- “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
- John 1:47ὁ; τὸνWhen Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”
- John 1:48τοῦ; τὴν · the“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
- John 1:49ὁ · the; τοῦ; τοῦ“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
- John 1:50τῆς · theJesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”
- John 1:51τὸν; τοὺς · the; τοῦ; τὸν · the; τοῦThen He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
- John 2:1τῇ · On the; τῇ; τῆς; ἡ; τοῦOn the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,
- John 2:2ὁ; οἱ; τὸν · the…and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
- John 2:3ἡ; τοῦWhen the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”
- John 2:4ὁ; ἡ“Woman, what is that to you and to Me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
- John 2:5ἡ; τοῖς · theHis mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
- John 2:6τὸν; τῶν · theNow six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.
- John 2:7ὁ; τὰς · theJesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.
- John 2:8τῷ · to the; Οἱ“Now draw some out,” He said, “and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so,
- John 2:9ὁ · the; τὸ · the; οἱ · the; οἱ · who; τὸ · the; τὸν · the; ὁ · Then…and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
- John 2:10τὸν · the; τὸν · the; τὸν · the…and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!”
- John 2:11τῶν · of His; ὁ; τῆς; τὴν; οἱJesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
- After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.