2316. theos
Lexical Summary
theos: God, god

Original Word: θεός
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: theos
Pronunciation: theh-os'
Phonetic Spelling: (theh'-os)
KJV: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward)
NASB: God, God's, gods, godly, divinely, God-fearing
Word Origin: [of uncertain affinity]

1. a deity
2. (figuratively) a magistrate
3. (by Hebraism) very
{(especially with G3588) the supreme Divinity}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
the supreme Divinity, God, godly.

Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ho) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very -- X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).

see GREEK ho

HELPS Word-studies

2316 theós (of unknown origin) – properly, God, the Creator and owner of all things (Jn 1:3; Gen 1 - 3).

[Long before the NT was written, 2316 (theós) referred to the supreme being who owns and sustains all things.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
God, a god
NASB Translation
divinely (1), God (1267), god (6), God's (27), God-fearing (1), godly (2), godly* (1), gods (8), Lord (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2316: Θεός

Θεός, Θεοῦ, and , vocative θῇ, once in the N. T., Matthew 27:46; besides in Deuteronomy 3:24; Judges 16:28; Judges 21:3; (2 Samuel 7:25; Isaiah 38:20); Sir. 23:4; Wis. 9:1; 3Macc. 6:3; 4 Macc. 6:27; Act. Thom. 44f, 57; Eus. h. e. 2, 23, 16; (5, 20, 7; vit. Const. 2, 55, 1. 59); cf. Winers Grammar, § 8, 2 c.; (Buttmann, 12 (11)); ((on the eight or more proposed derivations see Vanicek, p. 386, who follows Curtius, (after Döderlein), p. 513ff in connecting it with a root meaning to supplicate, implore; hence, the implored; per contra cf. Max Müller, Chips etc. 4:227f; Liddell and Scott, under the word, at the end)); (from Homer down); the Sept. for אֵל, אֶלֹהִים and יְהוָה; a god, a goddess;

1. a general appellation of deities or divinities: Acts 28:6; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; once Θεός, Acts 19:37 G L T Tr WH; Θεοῦ φωνή καί οὐκ ἀνθρώπου, Acts 12:22; ἄνθρωπος ὤν ποιεῖς σεαυτόν Θεόν, John 10:33; plural, of the gods of the Gentiles: Acts 14:11; Acts 19:26; λεγόμενοι θεοί, 1 Corinthians 8:5a; οἱ φύσει μή ὄντες θεοί, Galatians 4:8; τοῦ Θεοῦ Ρ᾽εφαν (which see), Acts 7:43; of angels: εἰσί θεοί πολλοί, 1 Corinthians 8:5b (on which cf. Philo de somn. i. § 39 μέν ἀλήθεια Θεός εἰς ἐστιν, οἱ δ' ἐν καταχρησει λεγόμενοι πλείους). (On the use of the singular Θεός (and Latindeus) as a generic term by (later) heathen writers, see Norton, Genuineness of the Gospels, 2nd edition iii. addit. note D; cf. Dr. Ezra Abbot in Chris. Exam. for Nov. 1848, p. 389ff; Huidekoper, Judaism at Rome, chapter i. § ii.; see Bib. Sacr. for July 1856, p. 666f, and for addit. examples Nagelsbach, Homer. Theol., p. 129; also his Nachhomerische Theol., p. 139f; Stephanus' Thesaurus, under the word; and references (by Prof. Abbot) in the Journal of the Society for Biblical Literature and Exegesis, i., p. 120 note.)

2. Whether Christ is called God must be determined from John 1:1; John 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8f, etc.; the matter is still in dispute among theologians cf. Grimm, Institutio theologiae dogmaticae, edition 2, p. 228ff (and the discussion (on Romans 9:5) by Professors Dwight and Abbot in the Journal of the Society for Biblical Literature, etc. as above, especially, pp. 42ff, 113ff).

3. spoken of the only and true God: with the article, Matthew 3:9; Mark 13:19; Luke 2:13; Acts 2:11, and very often; with prepositions: ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ, John 8:42, 47 and often in John's writings; ὑπό τοῦ Θεοῦ Luke 1:26 (T Tr WH ἀπό); Acts 26:6; παρά τοῦ Θεοῦ, John 8:40; John 9:16 (L T Tr WH here omit the article); παρά τῷ Θεοῦ, Romans 2:13 (Tr text omits, and L WH Tr marginal reading brackets the article); ; ἐν τῷ Θεοῦ, Colossians 3:3; ἐπί τῷ Θεῷ, Luke 1:47; εἰς τόν Θεόν, Acts 24:15 (Tdf. πρός); ἐπί τόν Θεόν, Acts 15:19; Acts 26:18, 20; πρός τόν Θεόν, John 1:2; Acts 24:(15 Tdf.),16, and many other examples without the article: Matthew 6:24; Luke 3:2; Luke 20:38; Romans 8:8, 33; 2 Corinthians 1:21; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 2 Corinthians 6:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:5, etc.; with prepositions: ἀπό Θεοῦ, John 3:2; John 16:30; Romans 13:1 (L T Tr WH ὑπό) παρά Θεοῦ, John 1:6; ἐκ Θεοῦ, Acts 5:39; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 3:9; παρά Θεῷ, 2 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:4; κατά Θεόν, Romans 8:27; 2 Corinthians 7:9f; cf. Winer's Grammar, § 19, under the word Θεός τίνος (genitive of person), the (guardian) God of anyone, blessing and protecting him: Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:26f (Mark 12:29 WH marginal reading (see below)); Luke 20:37; John 20:17; Acts 3:13; Acts 13:17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 11:16; Revelation 21:3 (without ; but G T Tr WH text omit the phrase); Θεός μου, equivalent to οὗ εἰμί, καί λατρεύω (Acts 27:23): Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4 (Tr marginal reading brackets the genitive); 2 Corinthians 12:21; Philippians 1:3; Philippians 4:19; Philemon 1:4; κύριος Θεός σου, ἡμῶν, ὑμῶν, αὐτῶν (in imit. of Hebrew אֱלֹהֶיך יְהוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה, אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה, אֶלֹהֵיהֶם יְהוָה): Matthew 4:7; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:29 (see above); Luke 4:8, 12; Luke 10:27; Acts 2:39; cf. Thilo, Cod. apocr. Nov. Test., p. 169; (and Lightfoot as quoted under the word κύριος, c. α. at the beginning); Θεός καί πατήρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ: Romans 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 11:31 (L T Tr WH omit ἡμῶν and Χριστοῦ); Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 1:3 (L WH omit καί); 1 Peter 1:3; in which combination of words the genitive depends on Θεός as well as on πατήρ, cf. Fritzsche on Romans, iii., p. 232f; (Oltramare on Romans, the passage cited; Lightfoot on Galatians 1:4; but some would restrict it to the latter; cf. e. g. Meyer on Romans, the passage cited; also on Ephesians, the passage cited; Ellicott on Galatians, the passage cited; also, Ephesians, the passage cited); Θεός τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, Ephesians 1:17; Θεός καί πατήρ ἡμῶν, Galatians 1:4; Philippians 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 13; Θεός πατήρ, 1 Corinthians 8:6; Θεός καί πατήρ, 1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 5:20; James 1:27; James 3:9 (Rec.; others κύριος καί πατήρ); ἀπό Θεοῦ πατρός ἡμῶν, Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2 (Rec., others omit ἡμῶν); Philemon 1:3; ( Θεός πατήρ, Colossians 3:17 L T Tr WH (cf. Lightfoot at the passage); elsewhere without the article as) Θεοῦ πατρός (in which phrase the two words have blended as it were into one, equivalent to a proper name, German Gottvater (A. V. God the Father)): Philippians 2:11; 1 Peter 1:2; ἀπό Θεοῦ πατρός, Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 6:23; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; παρά Θεοῦ πατρός, 2 Peter 1:17; 2 John 3; cf. Wieseler, commentary üb.

d. Brief a. d. Galat., p. 10ff Θεός with the genitive of the thing of which God is the author (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 1): τῆς ὑπομονῆς καί τῆς παρακλήσεως, Romans 15:5; τῆς ἐπλιδος, Romans 15:13; τῆς εἰρήνης, Romans 15:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; τῆς παρακλήσεως, 2 Corinthians 1:3. τά τοῦ Θεοῦ, the things of God, i. e. α. his counsels, 1 Corinthians 2:1 L β. his interests, Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33. γ. things due to God, Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25. τά πρός τόν Θεόν, things respecting, pertaining to, God — contextually equivalent to the sacrificial business of the priest, Romans 15:17; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 5:1; cf. Xenophon, rep. Lac. 13, 11; Fritzsche on Romans, iii., p. 262f Nom. Θεός for the vocative: Mark 15:34; Luke 18:11, 13; John 20:28; Acts 4:24 (R G; Hebrews 1:8 ?); ; cf. Winers Grammar, § 29, 2; (Buttmann, 140 (123)). τῷ Θεῷ, God being judge (cf. Winers Grammar, § 31, 4 a.; 248 (232f); Buttmann, § 133, 14): after δυνατός, 2 Corinthians 10:4; after ἀστεῖος, Acts 7:20 (after ἄμεμπτος, Wis. 10:5; after μέγας, Jonah 3:3; see ἀστεῖος, 2). For the expressions ἄνθρωπος Θεοῦ, δύναμις Θεοῦ, υἱός Θεοῦ, etc., Θεός τῆς ἐλπίδος etc., ζῶν Θεός etc., see under ἄνθρωπος 6, δύναμις a., υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλπίς 2, ζάω I. 1, etc.

4. Θεός is used of whatever can in any respect be likened to God, or resembles him in any way: Hebraistically, equivalent to God's representative or vicegerent, of magistrates and judges, John 10:34f after Psalm 81:6 () (of the wise man, Philo de mut. nom. § 22; quod omn. prob. book § 7; ( σοφός λέγεται Θεός τοῦ ἄφρονος ... Θεός πρός φαντασίαν καί δοκησιν, quod det. pot. insid. § 44); πατήρ καί μήτηρ ἐμφανεις εἰσί θεοί, μιμούμενοι τόν ἀγεννητον ἐν τῷ ζοωπλάστειν, de decal. § 23; ὠνομάσθη (i. e. Moses) ὅλου τοῦ ἔθνους Θεός καί βασιλεύς, de vita Moys. i. § 28; (de migr. Abr. § 15; de alleg. leg. i. § 13)); of the devil, Θεός τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου (see αἰών, 3), 2 Corinthians 4:4; the person or thing to which one is wholly devoted, for which alone he lives, e. g. κοιλία, Philippians 3:19.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

θεός appears 1 327 times across the New Testament, saturating every major literary type—Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Apocalypse. The word is used (1) absolutely for the living God, (2) for the Father with personal pronouns or relational terms, (3) of the Son in climactic confessions and applied Old Testament texts, (4) of the Holy Spirit in Trinitarian contexts, and (5) in the plural or with qualifiers for false deities. The writers consistently present one divine being who is personal, self-revealing, covenant-keeping, sovereign, righteous, loving, and worthy of exclusive worship.

Revelation of the One True God

Jesus affirms the unity of God: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” (Mark 12:29). Paul proclaims “there is but one God” over against “so-called gods” (1 Corinthians 8:4–6). John sets God in absolute contrast to idols: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19–20). Throughout, θεός is never an abstract force but the covenant Lord who speaks, acts, loves, disciplines, and redeems.

Personal Distinctions within the Godhead

1. Father: the dominant referent—“I ascend to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God” (John 20:17).
2. Son: explicit deity confessed—“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1); Thomas’s climactic cry, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28); the Father addressing the Son, “Your throne, O God, endures forever” (Hebrews 1:8).
3. Spirit: divine person in equality—lying to the Spirit is lying to God (Acts 5:3–4); manifestations of divine power and will (2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 12:6, 11).

The New Testament therefore speaks monotheistically while differentiating persons, laying the groundwork for the doctrine of the Trinity.

Divine Attributes Highlighted

• Holiness: “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
• Love: “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16).
• Sovereignty: “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
• Truthfulness: “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
• Justice: “God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Romans 2:5).
• Mercy: “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love for us, made us alive with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4–5).

Works of God

Creation (Romans 1:20; Hebrews 11:3), Providence (Matthew 6:30–33), Election (Ephesians 1:3–5), Incarnation (Galatians 4:4), Atonement (2 Corinthians 5:18–19), Regeneration (John 1:12–13), Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 5:23), Empowerment for ministry (1 Peter 4:11), Judgment and Renewal of all things (Revelation 21:3–5).

θεός in Christological Confessions

Key passages bear direct witness to the deity of Christ—John 1:1; 1:18; 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8–9; 2 Peter 1:1. These texts employ θεός without reservation for the Son, demonstrating apostolic faith that Jesus shares fully in the divine identity while remaining distinct from the Father.

God in Redemptive History

Matthew introduces Jesus as “Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23). Acts recounts God’s saving actions in Christ and by the Spirit (Acts 2:22–24, 32 – 33). Paul situates believers within the Abrahamic promise: “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith” (Galatians 3:8). Revelation culminates: “The dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3).

Worship and Devotion

Jesus commands exclusive allegiance: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:10). True worship is in spirit and truth (John 4:24). The church gathers “praising God” (Acts 2:47) and offering “a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

Ethical and Pastoral Implications

Fear of God anchors moral exhortation (1 Peter 1:17). Believers are “imitators of God” in love (Ephesians 5:1–2). The presence of God motivates purity (1 Corinthians 6:19–20) and perseverance under trial (1 Peter 4:19). Ministry derives its power from God, not human wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 4:7).

Eschatological Hope

God will judge the secrets of men (Romans 2:16), raise the dead (1 Corinthians 6:14), and dwell eternally with His people: “They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 21:3).

Contrast with Idolatry

Plural θεοί designates false deities (Acts 14:11; 1 Corinthians 8:5). Scripture mocks lifeless idols (Acts 19:26) and calls believers to flee them (1 John 5:21). The living God stands alone as Creator and Redeemer (Revelation 14:7).

Formulaic Uses in Greetings and Doxologies

Apostolic letters open with “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:2) and close with doxologies such as “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever” (Philippians 4:20). These formulas reinforce God’s centrality and the mediatorial role of Christ.

Historical Reception

Early creeds echo New Testament usage—confessing one God in three persons and affirming Jesus Christ as “true God from true God.” Patristic exegesis of key θεός passages fueled debates leading to the Nicene formulation, while maintaining continuity with apostolic proclamation.

Key Passages for Further Study

Matthew 22:37; John 1:1; John 3:16–17; Acts 17:24–31; Romans 3:21–26; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21; Ephesians 2:4–10; Philippians 2:6–11; Colossians 1:15–20; Hebrews 1:1–4; 1 Peter 4:11; 1 John 4:8–16; Revelation 21:3–8.

Theological and Ministry Significance

The New Testament proclamation of θεός shapes preaching (declaring God’s holiness and grace), discipleship (forming God-centered identity), worship (directed to the Father through the Son by the Spirit), and mission (calling all nations to repent and believe). Understanding θεός thus remains foundational for faithful doctrine, pastoral care, and gospel proclamation.

Forms and Transliterations
Θεε Θεέ Θεοι Θεοί θεοὶ θεοις θεοίς θεοῖς θεόις θεον θεόν θεὸν θεος θεός θεὸς θεου θεού θεοῦ θεόυ θεους θεούς θεοὺς ΘΕΩ θεώ θεῷ θεων θεών και κύριος κυρίου κυρίω οἴκῳ kuriou kyriou kyríou oiko oikō oíkoi oíkōi Thee Theé THEo THEŌ Theoi Theoí theoì theôi theō̂i theois theoîs theon theón theòn theos theós theòs theou theoû theous theoùs
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 1:23 N-NMS
GRK: ἡμῶν ὁ θεός
NAS: translated means, GOD WITH US.
KJV: being interpreted is, God with us.
INT: us God

Matthew 3:9 N-NMS
GRK: δύναται ὁ θεὸς ἐκ τῶν
NAS: stones God is able
KJV: unto you, that God is able of
INT: able is God from the

Matthew 3:16 N-GMS
GRK: πνεῦμα τοῦ θεοῦ καταβαῖνον ὡσεὶ
NAS: the Spirit of God descending
KJV: the Spirit of God descending
INT: Spirit of God descending as

Matthew 4:3 N-GMS
GRK: εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰπὲ ἵνα
NAS: You are the Son of God, command
KJV: thou be the Son of God, command that
INT: you are of God speak that

Matthew 4:4 N-GMS
GRK: διὰ στόματος θεοῦ
NAS: OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'
KJV: out of the mouth of God.
INT: of [the] mouth of God

Matthew 4:6 N-GMS
GRK: εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ βάλε σεαυτὸν
NAS: You are the Son of God, throw
KJV: thou be the Son of God, cast thyself
INT: you are of God throw yourself

Matthew 4:7 N-AMS
GRK: Κύριον τὸν θεόν σου
NAS: THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'
KJV: the Lord thy God.
INT: [the] Lord the God of you

Matthew 4:10 N-AMS
GRK: Κύριον τὸν θεόν σου προσκυνήσεις
NAS: THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE
KJV: the Lord thy God, and him
INT: [The] Lord the God of you will you worship

Matthew 5:8 N-AMS
GRK: αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται
NAS: in heart, for they shall see God.
KJV: they shall see God.
INT: they God will see

Matthew 5:9 N-GMS
GRK: αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται
NAS: for they shall be called sons of God.
KJV: shall be called the children of God.
INT: they sons of God will be called

Matthew 5:34 N-GMS
GRK: ἐστὶν τοῦ θεοῦ
NAS: for it is the throne of God,
KJV: for it is God's throne:
INT: it is of God

Matthew 6:8 N-NMS
GRK: γὰρ ὁ θεὸς ὁ πατὴρ
INT: indeed God the Father

Matthew 6:24 N-DMS
GRK: οὐ δύνασθε θεῷ δουλεύειν καὶ
NAS: You cannot serve God and wealth.
KJV: Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
INT: not You are able God to serve and

Matthew 6:30 N-NMS
GRK: βαλλόμενον ὁ θεὸς οὕτως ἀμφιέννυσιν
NAS: But if God so clothes
KJV: Wherefore, if God so clothe
INT: is thrown God thus clothes

Matthew 6:33 Noun-GMS
GRK: βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὴν
INT: kingdom of God and the

Matthew 8:29 N-GMS
GRK: υἱὲ τοῦ θεοῦ ἦλθες ὧδε
NAS: business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come
KJV: thou Son of God? art thou come
INT: Son of God are you come here

Matthew 9:8 N-AMS
GRK: ἐδόξασαν τὸν θεὸν τὸν δόντα
NAS: and glorified God, who had given
KJV: and glorified God, which had given
INT: glorified God who having given

Matthew 12:4 N-GMS
GRK: οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τοὺς
NAS: the house of God, and they ate
KJV: the house of God, and
INT: house of God and the

Matthew 12:28 N-GMS
GRK: ἐν πνεύματι θεοῦ ἐγὼ ἐκβάλλω
NAS: by the Spirit of God, then
KJV: by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom
INT: by [the] Spirit of God I cast out

Matthew 12:28 N-GMS
GRK: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ
NAS: the kingdom of God has come
KJV: then the kingdom of God is come unto
INT: kingdom of God

Matthew 14:33 N-GMS
GRK: λέγοντες Ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς εἶ
NAS: You are certainly God's Son!
KJV: thou art the Son of God.
INT: saying Truly of God Son you are

Matthew 15:3 N-GMS
GRK: ἐντολὴν τοῦ θεοῦ διὰ τὴν
NAS: the commandment of God for the sake
KJV: the commandment of God by
INT: commandment of God on account of the

Matthew 15:4 N-NMS
GRK: ὁ γὰρ θεὸς εἶπεν Τίμα
NAS: For God said, HONOR
KJV: For God commanded, saying,
INT: For God commanded Honor

Matthew 15:6 N-GMS
GRK: λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ διὰ τὴν
NAS: the word of God for the sake
KJV: the commandment of God of none effect
INT: commandment of God on account of the

Matthew 15:31 N-AMS
GRK: ἐδόξασαν τὸν θεὸν Ἰσραήλ
NAS: and they glorified the God of Israel.
KJV: and they glorified the God of Israel.
INT: they glorified the God of Israel

Strong's Greek 2316
1327 Occurrences


Θεέ — 2 Occ.
θεῷ — 160 Occ.
Θεοί — 5 Occ.
θεοῖς — 1 Occ.
θεόν — 148 Occ.
θεός — 311 Occ.
θεοῦ — 698 Occ.
θεοὺς — 2 Occ.

2315
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