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
- Romans 2:27τὸν · whoThe one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
- Romans 2:28ὁ · A [man]; τῷ; ἡ; τῷA man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
- Romans 2:29ὁ · a man [is]; τῷ; ὁ; τοῦNo, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
- Romans 3:1τὸ · [is] the; τοῦ · of; ἡ · the; τῆςWhat, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
- Romans 3:2τὰ · the; τοῦMuch in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
- Romans 3:3ἡ; τὴν; τοῦWhat if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?
- Romans 3:4ὁ; τοῖς; τῷCertainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
- Romans 3:5ἡ; ὁ · [That]; ὁ; τὴν · [His]But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.
- Romans 3:6ὁ; τὸν · theCertainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?
- Romans 3:7ἡ; τοῦ; τῷ; τὴνHowever, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?
- Romans 3:8τὰ; τὰ; τὸWhy not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!
- Romans 3:11ὁ · who; ὁ · who; τὸνThere is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
- Romans 3:12ὁ · whoAll have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
- Romans 3:13ὁ; ταῖς; τὰ“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”
- “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
- “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
- Romans 3:16ταῖς…ruin and misery lie in their wake,
- Romans 3:18τῶν“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
- Romans 3:19ὁ · the; τοῖς · to those who are; τῷ · the; ὁ · the; τῷNow we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.