ὅσπερ
hósper
G3746
SILEX Entry
Definition
Strengthened form of the relative pronoun, marking a more emphatic or specific connection; who precisely, the very one who, that very person or thing which. Used to intensify or specify the antecedent referenced by the relative.
Semantic Range
who (specifically), the very one who, that very person who, which, precisely the one which
Root / Etymology
Compound of ὅς (relative pronoun 'who, which, that') and the enclitic particle περ (used for emphasis or specification).
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὅσπερ is a relatively rare form in Koine, serving to provide emphatic specificity not present in ὅς alone. While common in classical Greek for heightened specificity ('the very one who'), in the New Testament and Septuagint it appears mostly in formal or literary passages, often reflecting Septuagintal or classical usage. The word signals a distinction or focus on a particular referent. English translations often render it simply as 'who' or 'which,' but this can under-translate the emphatic force. Related forms include ὅστις (general relative, 'whoever') and ὃς (simple relative). ὅσπερ can be compared to Latin 'quisquis' for generality and 'ipse qui' for specificity, inheriting its stronger specification from the combination with περ.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ὅς and περ; who especially:--whomsoever.
Root Family
ὅσ- (hósos) — how much, how many, how great, as much as, as many as
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G3745 | ὅσος | as many things as |
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.