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
- Hebrews 6:19τὸ · the; τοῦ · [behind] theWe have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
- Hebrews 6:20τὴν · the; τὸν…where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
- Hebrews 7:1ὁ; τοῦ; τοῦ; ὁ; τῆς · the; τῶν · of theThis Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
- Hebrews 7:3τῷ · the; τοῦ; τὸWithout father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.
- Hebrews 7:4τῶν · the; ὁ · theConsider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
- Hebrews 7:5οἱ · the; τῶν; τὴν; τὸν · from the; τὸν · the; τοὺς · from; τῆςNow the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.
- Hebrews 7:6ὁ · [Melchizedek]; τὸν · him who; τὰς · theBut Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
- Hebrews 7:7τὸ · the; τοῦ · theAnd indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
- Hebrews 7:9ὁ · whoAnd so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
- Hebrews 7:10τῇ · the; τοῦ · of [his]For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
- Hebrews 7:11τῆς · the; ὁ · the; τὴν · the; τὴν · theNow if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
- Hebrews 7:12τῆς · theFor when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
- Hebrews 7:13τῷ · at theHe of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
- For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
- Hebrews 7:15τὴνAnd this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
- Hebrews 7:17τὸν; τὴν · theFor it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
- So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
- Hebrews 7:19ὁ · the; τῷ…(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
- Hebrews 7:20οἱ · [others]And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
- Hebrews 7:21ὁ · [Jesus became a priest]; τοῦ · the [One who]; τὸν…but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”
- Hebrews 7:23οἱ · [other]; τὸNow there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
- But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.