← G1537 G1539 →

ἕκαστος

hékastos

G1538 indefinite pronoun

SILEX Entry

Root ἑκ- each (one), every (single), individual

Definition

Indicates each individual of a group considered separately; denotes every single instance or member within a category. In different contexts, emphasizes the individuality of members within a whole, referring to 'each one,' 'every one,' or 'every single person/thing.' Can also have an emphatic sense, underscoring individual responsibility or experience within a collective circumstance.

Semantic Range

each, every, every one, each one, every single person/thing, individually, in turn

Root / Etymology

Related to the distributive stem ἑκ- (from Proto-Indo-European *sekwos, 'each, every') with the suffix -αστος (-astos), forming distributive pronouns/adjectives. The connection to the adverb ἑκάς ('afar') in Strong’s is likely mistaken; etymology is from the distributive base, not the notion of distance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested in classical Greek (e.g., Herodotus, Plato) with a distributive sense: 'each, every single.' Continues into Hellenistic and Koine Greek retaining this precise distributive nuance. In the Septuagint and New Testament, ἕκαστος commonly marks the individual responsibility or participation of persons in a group, such as 'each according to his deeds' or 'every one for himself.' Standard English translations ('each,' 'every') generally capture the range, but the Greek term can lay more stress on the individuality than the English equivalents sometimes convey. Distinguish from πᾶς (pas, 'all, every [as a whole]'), which emphasizes totality, whereas ἕκαστος focuses on the individual parts making up the whole. Not limited to people; also used for things and abstract concepts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

as if a superlative of (afar); each or every:--any, both, each (one), every (man, one, woman), particularly.

Root Family

ἕκαστος (hekastos) — each (one), every (single), individual

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1538-06 ἕκαστος ekastos PRO.I NOM M SG each each one 41
G1538-03 ἑκάστῳ ekasto PRO.I DAT M SG to each to each one 19
G1538-05 ἕκαστον ekaston PRO.I NOM N SG each each one 13
G1538-07 ἑκάστου ekastou QUAN GEN M SG each of each one 7
G1538-04 ἕκαστοι ekastoi PRO.I NOM M PL each each one 1
G1538-02 ἑκάστην ekasten QUAN ACC F SG each single (feminine) 1
G1538-01 ἑκάστη ekaste PRO.I NOM F SG each [woman] each one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

83 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1538-03 Matthew 16:27 ἑκάστῳ ekasto PRO.I DAT M SG to each one
G1538-06 Matthew 18:35 ἕκαστος ekastos PRO.I NOM M SG each one
G1538-03 Matthew 25:15 ἑκάστῳ ekasto PRO.I DAT M SG to each one
G1538-06 Matthew 26:22 ἕκαστος ekastos QUAN NOM M SG each one
G1538-03 Mark 13:34 ἑκάστῳ ekasto PRO.I DAT M SG to each to each one
G1538-06 Luke 2:3 ἕκαστος ekastos PRO.I NOM M SG each each one
G1538-03 Luke 4:40 ἑκάστῳ ekasto QUAN DAT M SG one to each one
G1538-05 Luke 6:44 ἕκαστον ekaston PRO.I NOM N SG each each one
G1538-06 Luke 13:15 ἕκαστος ekastos PRO.I NOM M SG each each one
G1538-05 Luke 16:5 ἕκαστον ekaston QUAN ACC M SG each each one
← G1537 Greek Lexicon G1539 →