ὅτου
hótou
G3755 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
Relative/interrogative pronoun genitive singular neuter, used to express 'of which,' 'of what,' or as a temporal clause marker indicating 'during which time' or 'when.' In this sense, it functions to specify a duration or point in time associated with an action or event. Its usage is syntactically dependent, connecting subordinate clauses to an antecedent or implied situation.
Semantic Range
of which, of what (genitive, interrogative or relative), during which time, whilst, while, as long as, (temporal subordinate marker)
Root / Etymology
Derived from ὅστις (relative/indefinite pronoun) plus the genitive singular ending for neuter nouns or pronouns. Constructed as the genitive singular neuter of ὅστις, with typical Greek pronominal morphology.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Koine Greek, particularly in the New Testament, ὅτου most commonly functions in temporal clauses to indicate the time frame during which something is happening ('whilst,' 'when,' or 'as long as'). Its usage is rare and generally restricted to formal or literary contexts, reflecting older or more classical Greek usage patterns. In the Septuagint and Hellenistic literature, it can serve a similar function, introducing circumstances dependent upon time but in a subordinate grammatical relation. English translations often render it as 'while' or 'whilst,' but the nuance of duration or association ('of which time') may not be fully captured. The word is directly related to the pronominal system that includes ὅστις and its forms, and its presence indicates a relatively elevated or precise register compared to standard temporal conjunctions such as ὅτε ('when') or ὅταν ('whenever'). There is no direct equivalent in English that conveys both the temporal and relative force of the Greek construction. Rare in everyday Koine speech.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for the genitive case of ὅστις (as adverb); during which same time, i.e. whilst:--whiles.
Root Family
ὅτου (hotou) — of which, of what, during which time
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3755-01 |
ἀναπηδήσας | anapedesas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
sprang up | of which | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3755-01 |
Mark 10:50 | ἀναπηδήσας | anapedesas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
sprang up | of which |