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
- Matthew 13:57Ὁ; τῇ · [his]; τῇAnd they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
- And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.
- Matthew 14:1τῷ; ὁ · the; τὴν · theAt that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus
- Matthew 14:2τοῖς · to; ὁ · the; τῶν · the; αἱ…and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
- Matthew 14:3Ὁ; τὸν; τὴν; τοῦNow Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
- …because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
- Matthew 14:5τὸν · of theAlthough Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
- Matthew 14:6τοῦ · On; ἡ · the; τῆς; τῷ; τῷOn Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
- Matthew 14:8Ἡ; τῆς; τὴν · the; τοῦ · thePrompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
- Matthew 14:9ὁ · The; τοὺς · [his]; τοὺςThe king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted
- Matthew 14:10τὸν; τῇ · the…and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.
- Matthew 14:11ἡ; τῷ · to the; τῇ · toJohn’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
- Matthew 14:12οἱ; τὸ · [his]; τῷThen John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.
- Matthew 14:13ὁ; οἱ · the; τῶν · theWhen Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.
- Matthew 14:14τοὺςWhen He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
- Matthew 14:15οἱ · the; ὁ · This; ἡ · the; τοὺς · the; τὰς · theWhen evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
- “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”
- “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
- “Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.
- Matthew 14:19τοὺς · theAnd He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.