Lexical Summary hosos: As many as, as much as, all that, whoever, whatever Original Word: ὅσος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance how great, how manyBy reduplication from hos; as (much, great, long, etc.) As -- all (that), as (long, many, much) (as), how great (many, much), (in-)asmuch as, so many as, that (ever), the more, those things, what (great, -soever), wheresoever, wherewithsoever, which, X while, who(-soever). see GREEK hos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hos, Definition how much, how many NASB Translation all (9), all...who (5), all things (1), all who (6), all* (1), degree (1), extent* (2), great (1), how much (2), inasmuch* (3), long (2), many (11), more (1), much (3), so (1), so much (1), those who (3), those whom (1), very...while (1), what (2), what great things (4), whatever (14), whatever* (4), which (3), while (1), who (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3745: ὅσοςὅσος, ὅση, ὅσον (from Homer down), a relative adjective corresponding to the demon. τοσοῦτος either expressed or understood, Latinquantus,-a,-um; used a. of space (as great as): τό μῆκος αὐτῆς (Rec. adds τοσοῦτον ἐστιν) ὅσον καί (G T Tr WH omit καί) τό πλάτος, Revelation 21:16; of time (as long as): ἐφ' ὅσον χρόνον, for so long time as, so long as, Romans 7:1; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Galatians 4:1; also without a preposition, ὅσον χρόνον, Mark 2:19; neuter ἐφ' ὅσον, as long as, Matthew 9:15; 2 Peter 1:13 (Xenophon, Cyril 5, 3, 25); ἔτι μικρόν ὅσον ὅσον, yet a little how very, how very (Vulg.modicum (ali)quautulum), i. e. yet a very little while, Hebrews 10:37 (Isaiah 26:20; of a very little thing, Aristophanes vesp. 213; cf. Herm. ad Vig., p. 726 no. 93; Winers Grammar, 247 (231) note; Buttmann, § 150, 2). b. of abundance and multitude; how many, as many as; how much, as much as: neuter ὅσον, John 6:11; plural ὅσοι, as many (men) as, all who, Matthew 14:36; Mark in. 10; Acts 4:6, 34; Acts 13:48; Romans 2:12; Romans 6:8; Galatians 3:10, 27; Philippians 3:15; 1 Timothy 6:1; Revelation 2:24; ὅσαι ἐπαγγελίαι, 2 Corinthians 1:20; ὅσα ἱμάτια, Acts 9:39; neuter plural, absolutely (A. V. often whatsoever), Matthew 17:12; Mark 10:21; Luke 11:8; Luke 12:8; Romans 3:19; Romans 15:4; Jude 1:10; Revelation 1:2. πάντες ὅσοι (all as many as), Matthew 22:10 (here T WH πάντες οὕς); Luke 4:40; John 10:8; Acts 5:36f; neuter πάντα ὅσα (all things whatsoever, all that), Matthew 13:46; Matthew 18:25; Matthew 28:20; Mark 12:44; Luke 18:22; John 4:29 (T WH Tr marginal reading πάντα ἅ); John 4:39 (T WH Tr text πάντα ἅ); πολλά ὅσα, John 21:25 R G (Homer, Iliad 22, 380; Xenophon, Hell. 3, 4, 3). ὅσοι ... οὗτοι, Romans 8:14; ὅσα ... ταῦτα, Philippians 4:8; ὅσα ... ἐν τούτοις, Jude 1:10; ὅσοι ... αὐτοί, John 1:12; Galatians 6:16. ὅσοι ἄν or ἐάν, how many soever, as many soever as (cf. Winers Grammar, § 42, 3); followed by an indicative preterite (see ἄν, II. 1), Mark 6:56; by an indicative present Revelation 3:19; by a subjunctive aorist, Matthew 22:9; Mark 3:28; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5 (Rec.); Acts 2:39 (here Lachmann οὕς ἄν); Revelation 13:15; ὅσα ἄν, Matthew 18:18; John 11:22; John 16:13 (R G); πάντα ὅσα ἄν, all things whatsoever: followed by subjunctive present Matthew 7:12; by subjunctive aorist, Matthew 21:22; Matthew 23:3; Acts 3:22. ὅσα in indirect discourse; how many things: Luke 9:10; Acts 9:16; Acts 15:12; 2 Timothy 1:18. c. of importance: ὅσα, how great things, i. e. how extraordinary, in indirect discourse, Mark 3:8 (L marginal reading ἅ); b. above); how great (i. e. bitter), κακά, Acts 9:13. d. of measure and degree, in comparative sentences, accusative neuter ὅσον ... μᾶλλον περισσότερον, the more ... so much the more a great deal (A. V.), Mark 7:36; καθ' ὅσον with a comparitive, by so much as with the comparitive Hebrews 3:3; καθ' ὅσον ... κατά τοσοῦτον (τοσοῦτο L T Tr WH), Hebrews 7:20, 22; καθ' ὅσον (inasmuch) as followed by οὕτως, Hebrews 9:27; τοσούτῳ with a comparitive followed by ὅσῳ with a comparitive, by so much ... as, Hebrews 1:4 (Xenophon, mem. 1, 4, 40; Cyril 7, 5, 5f); without τοσούτῳ, Hebrews 8:6 (A. V. by how much); τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον, ὅσῳ (without μᾶλλον), Hebrews 10:25; ὅσα ... τοσοῦτον, how much ... so much, Revelation 18:7; ἐφ' ὅσον, for as much as, in so far as, without ἐπί τοσοῦτο, Matthew 25:40, 45; Romans 11:13. Strong’s Greek 3745, appearing in varied forms such as ὅσα, ὅσοι, ὅσον, and ὅσους, serves as a relative pronoun expressing extent (“as great as”), quantity (“as many as”), and degree (“as much as”). It links a main clause to a relative clause to emphasize totality or limitlessness. Through this device the Spirit-inspired authors highlight the breadth of divine grace, the inclusiveness of gospel invitation, the completeness of revelation, and the far-reaching scope of judgment. Forms and Grammatical Function Masculine/Feminine: ὅσος, ὅσοι, ὅσους Neuter: ὅσα, ὅσον Genitive: ὅσων Comparative dative (extent): ὅσῳ Feminine plural nominative (rare): ὅσαι By flexing through gender, number, and case, the term adapts to any noun it modifies, stressing “however many/much” within its context. Distribution in Scripture • Gospels: 48 occurrences – chiefly on the lips of Jesus (e.g., Matthew 7:12; Luke 4:40) Key Thematic Clusters 1. Comprehensive Moral Obligation Matthew 7:12: “In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.” Ὅσα gathers “everything” under the Golden Rule, showing God’s ethic as all-encompassing. 2. Total Surrender for the Kingdom Matthew 13:44–46 portrays the man selling ὅσα ἔχει (“all that he has”) for treasure and pearl. The pronoun accentuates wholehearted devotion demanded by the Kingdom of Heaven. 3. Unbounded Prayer Promise Mark 11:24: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” The breadth of ὅσα is conditioned by faith and God’s will, yet invites bold expectancy. 4. Exhaustive Evangelistic Witness Mark 5:19–20; Luke 8:39: The delivered demoniac proclaims ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ Κύριος “all that the Lord had done.” Evangelism naturally recounts God’s total works of mercy. 5. Extent of Revelation John 16:13: The Spirit discloses ὅσα ἂν ἀκούσῃ—“whatever He hears.” Divine revelation is complete, though progressively expounded. 6. Universal Reception of Christ John 1:12: “To all who received Him (ὅσοι), He gave the right to become children of God.” The pronoun stresses unrestricted offer, limited only by reception. 7. Fullness of Divine Promises 2 Corinthians 1:20: “For all the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” Ὅσαι (feminine plural) gathers every covenant pledge into one Christ-centered ‘Amen.’ 8. Holistic Thought Life Philippians 4:8 strings six ὅσα clauses (“whatever is true…”) to summon believers to comprehensive purity of mind. 9. Degree of Superiority Hebrews 1:4; 8:6 employ ὅσῳ in comparisons: Christ is “as much” superior, His covenant “as much” better—underscoring His incomparable excellence. 10. Extent of Judgment Revelation 18:7: Babylon glorified herself “as much (ὅσα) as she lived in luxury”; judgment matches sin in exact measure. Historical and Redemptive Significance • Jewish Context: First-century Hebraic thought prized completeness. Using ὅσος, Gospel writers bridge Semitic idiom (“all that”) with koine clarity, conveying Jesus’ all-embracing authority. • Apostolic Mission: Acts repeatedly lists ὅσα ὁ Θεὸς ἐποίησεν (“all God had done”), documenting salvation-history milestones (Acts 14:27; 15:12). The term serves as shorthand for the unfolding plan from Pentecost to the ends of the earth. • Pauline Theology: Paul wields ὅσος to include every believer (Romans 8:14), expose universal guilt (Romans 3:19), and envelop the Law’s curse (Galatians 3:10). The pronoun thus frames the total problem and the total solution. • Early Church Worship: Liturgical recitation of salvation events (“all that the Lord has done”) rooted praise in historical acts, not subjective feeling, fostering doctrinally robust worship. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Preaching: Use ὅσος texts to declare the sufficiency of Christ and the inclusiveness of the call to repentance and faith. Doctrinal Reflections • Soteriology: Ὅσος underlines the universality of sin and the sufficiency of grace. Selected Reference Index Matthew 7:12; 13:44–46; 17:12; 18:18; 21:22; 23:3; 28:20 Mark 3:28; 5:19–20; 9:13; 10:21; 11:24; 12:44 Luke 4:23, 40; 8:39; 12:3; 18:22 John 1:12; 4:29; 10:41; 16:13–15; 17:7 Acts 3:22–24; 14:27; 15:4, 12 Romans 3:19; 6:3; 8:14; 15:4 Galatians 3:10, 27; 6:16 Hebrews 1:4; 8:6; 10:25 Revelation 18:7, 17; 21:16 Conclusion Wherever ὅσος and its cognates appear, Scripture widens the reader’s horizon—from the total cost of discipleship to the totality of divine promise. It summons the believer to wholehearted faith, comprehensive obedience, and confident proclamation of everything God has done, is doing, and will do. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 7:12 RelPro-ANPGRK: Πάντα οὖν ὅσα ἐὰν θέλητε INT: All things therefore as many as if you desire Matthew 9:15 RelPro-ANS Matthew 13:44 RelPro-ANP Matthew 13:46 RelPro-ANP Matthew 14:36 RelPro-NMP Matthew 17:12 RelPro-ANP Matthew 18:18 RelPro-ANP Matthew 18:18 RelPro-ANP Matthew 18:25 RelPro-ANP Matthew 21:22 RelPro-ANP Matthew 22:9 RelPro-AMP Matthew 23:3 RelPro-ANP Matthew 25:40 RelPro-ANS Matthew 25:45 RelPro-ANS Matthew 28:20 RelPro-ANP Mark 2:19 RelPro-AMS Mark 3:8 RelPro-ANP Mark 3:10 RelPro-NMP Mark 3:28 RelPro-ANP Mark 5:19 RelPro-ANP Mark 5:20 RelPro-ANP Mark 6:30 RelPro-ANP Mark 6:30 RelPro-ANP Mark 6:56 RelPro-NMP Mark 7:36 RelPro-ANS Strong's Greek 3745 |