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
- The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate.
- Matthew 24:51τὸ; τῶν · the; ὁ; ὁ; τῶν · ofThen he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Matthew 25:1ἡ · the; τῶν · of; τὰς; τοῦ · the“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- Matthew 25:3αἱ · The; τὰςThe foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil.
- Matthew 25:4αἱ · the; τοῖς; τῶνBut the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
- Matthew 25:5τοῦ · theWhen the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
- Matthew 25:6ὁ · theAt midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
- Matthew 25:7αἱ · the; τὰςThen all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
- Matthew 25:8αἱ · The; ταῖς · to the; τοῦ; αἱThe foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
- Matthew 25:9αἱ · the; τοὺς · those who‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
- Matthew 25:10ὁ · the; αἱ · Those who; τοὺς · the; ἡ · theBut while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.
- Matthew 25:11αἱ · theLater the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’
- But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’
- Matthew 25:13τὴν · the; τὴν · theTherefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
- Matthew 25:14τοὺς; τὰFor it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
- To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.
- Matthew 25:16ὁ · The [servant]; τὰ · theThe servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more.
- Matthew 25:17ὁ · the [one with]; τὰ · theLikewise, the one with the two talents gained two more.
- Matthew 25:18ὁ · the [servant]; τὸ · the; τὸ; τοῦBut the servant who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
- Matthew 25:19ὁ · the; τῶνAfter a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
- Matthew 25:20ὁ · The [servant]; τὰ · theThe servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
- Matthew 25:21ὁ; τὴν · theHis master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’