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ἤπερ

ḗper

G2260 subordinating conjunction

SILEX Entry

Definition

Comparative particle used to intensify contrast, meaning 'than by far,' 'than indeed,' or 'much more than.' Serves to mark a heightened or emphatic comparison between two elements, often with a nuance of exclusivity or emphasis.

Semantic Range

than by far, than indeed, much more than, than (with emphasis or exclusivity), especially than

Root / Etymology

Formed from the comparative particle ἤ ('than') and the enclitic emphatic particle περ, which functions to intensify or particularize the preceding word. Thus, ἤπερ is a compound that strengthens the comparative force of ἤ.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἤπερ is primarily a literary and elevated form, attested in classical Greek and retained in some Koine contexts, including the Septuagint and occasionally in the New Testament period. The compound is used when a speaker or writer wishes to give special emphasis to the comparison being made, often suggesting that one thing is much more or especially so compared to another. The construction is more forceful than the simple comparative ἤ, and may be rendered in English as 'than indeed,' 'than by far,' or 'much more than.' Standard English translations usually render ἤπερ simply as 'than,' which may lose the full emphatic nuance present in Greek. ἤπερ often appears in philosophical and rhetorical writing, and less frequently in everyday or spoken Koine. Related forms include other compounds with περ enhancing contrast or specificity (e.g., ὅπερ, ὅσπερ).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἤ and περ; than at all (or than perhaps, than indeed):--than.

Root Family

ἠ- + περ (ḗper) — than, indeed, especially than, emphatically than

Root ἠ- + περ than, indeed, especially than, emphatically than

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2260-01 ἤπερ eper CONJ.S than much more than than 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2260-01 John 12:43 ἤπερ eper CONJ.S than much more than than
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