Lexical Summary hou: where Original Word: ὅπου Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wherein, whithersoever. Genitive case of hos as adverb; at which place, i.e. Where -- where(-in), whither(-soever). see GREEK hos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origingen. of hos, Definition where (adv. of place) NASB Translation there (1), where (21), wherever* (1), which (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3757: οὗοὗ, see ὅς, ἡ, ὁ, II. 11. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Literary FunctionStrong’s Greek 3757 (οὗ, hou) operates as a relative adverb of place, most often translated “where,” “in which place,” or “at which.” It links a preceding clause to a spatial reality, anchoring spiritual or historical truths to a definite location. While its grammatical role is small, the word consistently serves to ground revelation in real settings—Bethlehem, the synagogue of Nazareth, an upper room in Jerusalem, a riverside in Philippi—underscoring the incarnational pattern of Scripture: God acts in actual places with identifiable people. Distribution in the New Testament Twenty attestations span the Gospels, Acts, Pauline letters, Hebrews, and Revelation: • Gospel narrative: Matthew 2:9; 18:20; 28:16. The concentration in Acts highlights the movement of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome, marking out successive “stations” of redemptive advance. Key Theological Motifs 1. Divine Presence Located Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.” The adverb identifies not merely geography but the covenantal promise of Christ’s presence. Spatial language becomes relational, assuring believers that the risen Lord is centrally present in the simplest assemblies. 2. Fulfillment and Guidance Matthew 2:9 anchors the magi’s pilgrimage: “...until it stood over the place where the Child was.” The incarnate Son is found in a real house; prophecy and celestial guidance converge at one pinpoint on Earth, highlighting God’s meticulous sovereignty in fulfilling Micah 5:2. 3. Worship and Mission Hubs in Acts 4. Law, Sin, and Grace Romans 5:20: “But the Law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” The spatial marker frames a spiritual principle: in every realm dominated by sin, God introduces superabounding grace. Place and condition merge; “where” defines any situation under sin’s reign—now a platform for grace’s triumph. 5. Heavenly Orientation Colossians 3:1 points upward: “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” The adverb lifts believers’ gaze to the throne room, rooting sanctification in union with the exalted Christ. 6. Freedom in the Spirit 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Liberation is spatially defined—not by geography but by presence. Any locale indwelt by the Spirit becomes a sphere of emancipation from the old covenant’s veiled glory. 7. Warning from Israel’s Wilderness Hebrews 3:9 recalls the desert: “...where your fathers tested and tried Me.” The word transports readers to the Sinai wandering, turning geography into a cautionary signpost against unbelief. 8. Eschatological Multitudes Revelation 17:15 interprets the vision: “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.” Spatial imagery explains geopolitical reality in prophetic symbolism, demonstrating that end-time judgments unfold within definable realms of human society. Historical and Ministry Significance • Grounding Theology in History The recurring use of οὗ guards against a merely abstract faith. By emphasizing actual locales—from Bethlehem’s house to Rome’s harbor—Scripture testifies to verifiable events, strengthening confidence in the historical reliability of the gospel narratives. • Missional Strategy Acts repeatedly notes “where” disciples gathered, prayed, or preached. Identifying strategic locations (homes, synagogues, riversides, courtrooms) instructs modern evangelism: discern the loci where people naturally assemble and plant gospel witness there. • Congregational Encouragement Matthew 18:20 and 2 Corinthians 3:17 assure small groups and persecuted churches that spiritual vitality does not depend on impressive venues. Wherever Christ and His Spirit are welcomed, divine authority and liberty reside. • Pastoral Application of Grace Romans 5:20 provides a template for counseling and preaching: in the very setting of deepest failure, proclaim super-abundant grace. The adverb becomes a pastoral bridge from diagnosis to deliverance. • Eschatological Vigilance Revelation 17:15 warns believers to recognize cultural “waters” where corrupt systems sit. Discernment of place—physical and ideological—protects the church from complicity with Babylon’s seductions. Conclusion Though minute in form, Strong’s 3757 repeatedly anchors the redemptive storyline to concrete settings and living presence. In every chapter of salvation history, God discloses His purposes “where” His people are, making ordinary places stages for extraordinary grace. Forms and Transliterations ὅπου ου οὗ hopou hópou hou hoû opou ouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 2:9 AdvGRK: ἐστάθη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ NAS: over [the place] where the Child KJV: over where the young child INT: it stood over where was the Matthew 18:20 Adv Matthew 28:16 Adv Luke 4:16 Adv Luke 24:28 Adv Acts 1:13 Adv Acts 2:2 Adv Acts 7:29 Adv Acts 12:12 Adv Acts 16:13 Adv Acts 20:8 Adv Acts 25:10 Adv Acts 28:14 Adv Romans 4:15 Adv Romans 5:20 Adv 1 Corinthians 16:6 Adv 2 Corinthians 3:17 Adv Colossians 3:1 Adv Hebrews 3:9 Adv Revelation 17:15 Adv |
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