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
- Colossians 3:19Οἱ; τὰς · [your]Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
- Colossians 3:20Τὰ; τοῖς · [your]Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
- Colossians 3:21Οἱ; τὰFathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.
- Colossians 3:22Οἱ; τοῖς · [your]; τὸν · of theSlaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
- Colossians 3:23τῷ · theWhatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,
- Colossians 3:24τὴν · [as your]; τῆς; τῷ · [It is] the…because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
- Colossians 3:25ὁ · WhoeverWhoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
- Colossians 4:1Οἱ; τὸ · with what; τὴν; τοῖς · [your]Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
- Colossians 4:2Τῇ · toDevote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
- Colossians 4:3ὁ; τοῦ · for the; τὸ · the; τοῦ…as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
- Colossians 4:5τοὺς; τὸν · theAct wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
- Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- Colossians 4:7Τὰ · the news; ὁ · [He is]Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
- Colossians 4:8τὰ; τὰςI have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
- Colossians 4:9τῷ · [our]; τὰWith him I am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
- Colossians 4:10ὁ; ὁ · theMy fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
- Colossians 4:11ὁ; οἱ · [my]; τὴν · the; τοῦJesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
- Colossians 4:12ὁ · who [is]; ταῖς; τοῦEpaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
- Colossians 4:13τῶν · for those; τῶνFor I testify about him that he goes to great pains for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
- Colossians 4:14ὁ · the; ὁLuke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
- Colossians 4:15τοὺς · the; τὴν · theGreet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.
- Colossians 4:16ἡ · [this]; τῇ · the; τὴν · the [letter]After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.