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
- John 11:54τῆς · the; τῶν · theAs a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.
- John 11:55τὸ · the; τῶν; τῆς · the; τοῦ · theNow the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover.
- John 11:56τὸν; τῷ · the; τὴν · theThey kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts, “What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?”
- John 11:57οἱ · the; οἱBut the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was must report it, so that they could arrest Him.
- John 12:1Ὁ; τοῦ · theSix days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
- John 12:2ἡ; ὁ; τῶν · thoseSo they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.
- John 12:3ἡ; τοὺς; τοῦ; ταῖς; τοὺς · with; ἡ · the; τῆς · the; τοῦ · of theThen Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
- John 12:4ὁ; τῶν; ὁ · whoBut one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,
- “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
- John 12:6τῶν · the; τὸ · of the; τὰ · from whatJudas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
- John 12:7ὁ; τὴν · the; τοῦ · of“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.
- John 12:8τοὺς · TheThe poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”
- John 12:9ὁ; τῶν; τὸν; τὸνMeanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
- John 12:10οἱ · the; τὸνSo the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
- John 12:11τῶν · of the; τὸν…for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
- John 12:12Τῇ · The; ὁ · the; ὁ · that; τὴν · the; ὁThe next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
- John 12:13τὰ; τῶνThey took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”