ὄνος
ónos
G3688 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A domesticated donkey, specifically a beast of burden, commonly used for transport and carrying loads; in broader usage, any ordinary donkey as opposed to a horse or mule. In some contexts, the term may also refer generically to pack animals distinguished from more noble beasts.
Semantic Range
donkey, ass, pack animal, beast of burden
Root / Etymology
Likely related to classical Greek ὄνος, with parallels in other Indo-European languages (e.g., Latin 'onus' for burden is a false cognate but similar in sound), the ancient Greek form is considered a primary word of possibly pre-Greek or non-Indo-European origin. The exact etymology is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὄνος appears frequently in both classical and Hellenistic Greek to denote the domesticated donkey, an essential animal for agriculture, transport, and trade across the Mediterranean world. The term is common in the Septuagint for translating Hebrew חֲמוֹר (chamôr), and its connotations are strictly zoological—it refers to the animal itself, without metaphorical extension. In Greco-Roman society, donkeys were viewed as humble, practical animals associated with everyday life and labor, in contrast to the horse, which was linked with nobility and warfare. In New Testament narratives, ὄνος most often appears in references to travel or fulfillment of scriptural motifs (e.g., the entry into Jerusalem, citing Zechariah). Traditional English translations as 'ass' or 'donkey' are accurate and reflect the common rather than noble character of the animal. In related Greek, ὄνος makes a distinction from ἵππος (horse) and ἡμίονος (mule, literally 'half-donkey'). There is no significant development in meaning between the classical, Septuagint, and New Testament usage; the sense remains stable as the donkey as a familiar beast of burden.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently a primary word; a donkey:--an ass.
Root Family
ὄνος (onos) — donkey, beast of burden
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3688-01 |
ὄνον | onon | N ACC F SG |
donkey | a donkey | 4 |
G3688-02 |
ὄνου | onou | N GEN F SG |
of a donkey | of a donkey | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3688-01 |
Matthew 21:2 | ὄνον | onon | N ACC F SG |
a donkey | |
G3688-01 |
Matthew 21:5 | ὄνον | onon | N ACC F SG |
a donkey | |
G3688-01 |
Matthew 21:7 | ὄνον | onon | N ACC F SG |
a donkey | |
G3688-01 |
Luke 13:15 | ὄνον | onon | N ACC M SG |
donkey | a donkey |
G3688-02 |
John 12:15 | ὄνου | onou | N GEN F SG |
of a donkey | of a donkey |