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ὅς

hós

G3739 relative pronoun

SILEX Entry

Root ὅς- who, which, that (relating to an antecedent)

Definition

A relative pronoun introducing clauses that refer back to a previously mentioned noun or idea ('who,' 'which,' 'that'); used to relate additional information, qualify, or give a description about the antecedent. The core function is to establish a relationship between the antecedent and the relative clause. Sometimes with demonstrative force in certain poetic or elevated registers. In rare constructions, may also be used in indirect questions, or as a connector where a relative sense is implied.

Semantic Range

who (as subject or object), which (referring to things), that (introducing a qualifying clause), whoever, whichever, he who, she who, it which; occasionally with demonstrative nuance

Root / Etymology

Derives from the Proto-Indo-European pronominal stem *yo-/*so-, related to the definite article ὁ (ho) but functionally distinct as a relative pronoun. Forms include ὅς (masculine nominative singular), ἥ (feminine nominative singular), ὅ (neuter nominative/accusative singular), and respective oblique cases. Cognate with Latin 'qui, quae, quod' and Sanskrit 'yas.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὅς is the standard Koine Greek relative pronoun, present since Homeric and Classical periods, but its forms and syntactic patterns stabilize further in Hellenistic Greek. In the New Testament and Septuagint, ὅς and its forms (ἥ, ὅ, οὗ, etc.) broadly cover relative pronoun usage, functioning much as 'who,' 'which,' or 'that' in English. The relative pronoun may agree with its antecedent in gender and number, but its case is determined by its function in the relative clause. Unlike the article ὁ, which marks definiteness, ὅς introduces information relating to or identifying the antecedent. English translations rarely capture subtle Greek distinctions: whereas Greek may omit the pronoun in places, English often requires an explicit one. In poetic or elevated speech, ὅς can also have slightly demonstrative force ('he who'). Related to but not to be confused with ὁ (article) or τις (indefinite pronoun).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ.

Root Family

ὅς (hos) — who, which, that (relative reference)

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G3739-08 ὅ o PRO.R NOM N SG which which 365
G3739-11 ὃν on PRO.R ACC M SG whom being 247
G3739-12 ὃς os PRO.R NOM M SG who as 219
G3739-01 ἃ a PRO.R ACC N PL which which things 118
G3739-13 οὗ ou PRO.D GEN M SG whom of whom 116
G3739-06 ἣν en PRO.R ACC F SG which in 98
G3739-14 οὓς ous PRO.R ACC M PL whom whom 53
G3739-07 ἧς es PRO.R GEN F SG which of whom 49
G3739-10 οἷς ois PRO.R DAT M PL which to whom 46
G3739-05 ᾗ e PRO.D DAT F SG which the 40

Occurrences in Scripture

1406 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G3739-07 Matthew 1:16 ἧς es PRO.R GEN F SG whom of whom
G3739-08 Matthew 1:23 ὅ o PRO.R NOM N SG which which
G3739-13 Matthew 1:25 οὗ ou PRO.D GEN M SG that of whom
G3739-11 Matthew 2:9 ὃν on PRO.R ACC M SG which being
G3739-11 Matthew 2:16 ὃν on PRO.R ACC M SG which being
G3739-13 Matthew 3:11 οὗ ou PRO.R GEN M SG of whom
G3739-13 Matthew 3:12 οὗ ou PRO.R GEN M SG of whom
G3739-08 Matthew 3:17 ᾧ o-3 PRO.R DAT M SG which
G3739-12 Matthew 5:19 ὃς os PRO.R NOM M SG as
G3739-12 Matthew 5:19 ὃς os-2 PRO.R NOM M SG as
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