ἤ
ḗ
G2228 coordinating conjunction
SILEX Entry
Definition
A primary disjunctive particle indicating alternative or distinction between two or more options, typically translated as 'or.' In comparative contexts, it can also introduce a second term for explicit contrast, meaning 'than.' Attested uses include presentation of options, alternatives, exclusions, or preferences between statements, items, or actions. The word can also appear in idiomatic constructions, sometimes with other particles for emphasis or expansion of alternatives.
Semantic Range
or, or else, than (comparative), either, either...or (paired construction), except (in exclusions), rather (in contrasts), nor (with negation), save, in questions to mark alternatives
Root / Etymology
The word ἤ is a primary Greek particle, etymologically uncertain. It is not clearly derived from an earlier Greek word but is attested from early Greek as a basic function word for marking alternatives or distinctions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical and Koine Greek, ἤ primarily marks alternatives, corresponding to English 'or' when distinguishing between two or more terms: e.g., τοῦτ᾽ ἤ ἐκεῖνο ('this or that'). It frequently appears in comparatives after a comparative adjective or adverb, functioning as 'than' (e.g., μείζων ἤ ἐκεῖνος, 'greater than that one'). In the Septuagint and New Testament, ἤ occurs in questions, conditions, and contrasts, often accompanied by other particles (notably ἢ...ἢ = 'either...or'). Usage with negatives (οὐ...ἤ, μηδέ...ἤ) can introduce alternatives or exclusions, sometimes rendering 'nor' or 'except.' Unlike καί ('and, also') or ἀλλά ('but, however'), ἤ does not join but separates or contrasts terms. English translations sometimes obscure the disjunctive or comparative nuance, especially when ἤ is combined with other particles: e.g., 'except' or 'rather.' In Greek rhetoric and logical argument, ἤ helps clarify opposition or present contrasting cases. Its use and function remain stable from Classical through Hellenistic and Koine Greek. Related particles such as ἤδη (already) or ἤτοι (certainly, truly) are distinct but may appear together with or compound from ἤ.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles. Compare especially ἤδη, ἤπερ, ἤτοι.
Root Family
ἠ- (ḗ) — to separate, to distinguish, to contrast (as a particle)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2228-01 |
ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or | 346 |
Occurrences in Scripture
346 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2228-01 |
Matthew 1:18 | ἢ | e-2 | CONJ |
than | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 5:17 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 5:18 | ἢ | e-2 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 5:36 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 6:24 | ἢ | e | PART |
either | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 6:24 | ἢ | e-2 | CONJ.C |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 6:25 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 6:31 | ἤ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 6:31 | ἤ | e-2 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 7:4 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
Or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 7:9 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
Or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 7:10 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 7:16 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 9:5 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 10:11 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 10:14 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 10:15 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
than | or | than |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 10:19 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 10:37 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 10:37 | ἢ | e-2 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 11:3 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 11:22 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
than | or | than |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 11:24 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
than | or | than |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 12:5 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
Or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 12:25 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 12:29 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
Or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 12:33 | ἢ | e | PART |
either | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 12:33 | ἢ | e-2 | CONJ.C |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 13:21 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 15:4 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 15:5 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 16:14 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 16:26 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 17:25 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 17:25 | ἢ | e-2 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 18:8 | ἢ | e-2 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 18:8 | ἢ | e-3 | CONJ |
than | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 18:8 | ἢ | e-4 | CONJ |
than | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 18:8 | ἢ | e-5 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 18:9 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
than | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 18:13 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
than | or | than |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 18:16 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 18:16 | ἢ | e-2 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 18:20 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 19:24 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
than | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 19:29 | ἢ | e | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 19:29 | ἢ | e-2 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 19:29 | ἢ | e-3 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 19:29 | ἢ | e-4 | CONJ |
or | or | or |
G2228-01 |
Matthew 19:29 | ἢ | e-5 | CONJ |
or | or | or |