διότι (G1360) — Greek Lexicon

διότι

dióti

G1360 subordinating conjunction

SILEX Entry

Root διά, ὅτι through, on account of, that, because

Definition

A compound conjunction expressing causal connection; primarily 'because,' introducing the reason or basis for a statement or action. It functions to specify the cause, ground, or motive for a preceding or following clause, sometimes with emphatic nuance, conveying 'for this reason,' 'on account of the fact that.' May also be rendered as 'since' or 'inasmuch as' depending on context. Less frequently, it carries explanatory force.

Semantic Range

because, since, for, for this reason, inasmuch as, on the ground that, explanatory causal conjunction

Root / Etymology

διότι is a compound of διά ('through, by reason of') and ὅτι ('that, because'), literally meaning 'on account that' or 'because that.' The compounded form intensifies the causal sense.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, both διότι and ὅτι can introduce causal clauses, but διότι emphasizes the explicitness and directness of the reason, often with a slightly stronger or more formal tone than ὅτι alone. It becomes especially common in Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, where it frequently appears to introduce scriptural quotations or explanatory clauses. The distinction between διότι and ὅτι may blur in colloquial usage, but διότι typically carries a more pointed causal or justificatory emphasis. Standard English translations usually render it as 'because,' 'for,' or 'since,' but the nuance of direct causality and formal explanation may not always be preserved. Unlike γάρ, which often introduces explanations or justifications and is sometimes less directly causal, διότι consistently signals the precise reason for a statement. The use of διότι as a causal conjunction persists from classical through Hellenistic and Koine periods, and its frequency in the Septuagint and New Testament attests to its importance in written Greek of these eras.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διά and ὅτι; on the very account that, or inasmuch as:--because (that), for, therefore.

Root Family

διότι (dioti) — because, on account of, for this reason, since

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G1360-01`	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because	23

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G1360-01`	Luke 1:13	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	for	because
`G1360-01`	Luke 2:7	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	Luke 21:28	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	Acts 13:35	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	Therefore	because
`G1360-01`	Acts 18:10	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	for	because
`G1360-01`	Acts 18:10	διότι	dioti-2	`CONJ.S`	for	because
`G1360-01`	Acts 20:26	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	Therefore	because
`G1360-01`	Acts 22:18	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	Romans 1:19	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`		because
`G1360-01`	Romans 1:21	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`		because
`G1360-01`	Romans 3:20	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`		because
`G1360-01`	Romans 8:7	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`		because
`G1360-01`	1 Corinthians 15:9	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	Philippians 2:26	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	1 Thessalonians 2:8	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	1 Thessalonians 2:18	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	1 Thessalonians 4:6	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	Hebrews 11:5	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`		because
`G1360-01`	Hebrews 11:23	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`		because
`G1360-01`	James 4:3	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	1 Peter 1:16	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	1 Peter 1:24	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	because	because
`G1360-01`	1 Peter 2:6	διότι	dioti	`CONJ.S`	For	because

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