ἕως
héōs · G2193 · Greek · 147 occurrences
Meanings
-
until, to, at last, at length
The continuous extent of time up to a point
ExamplesMatthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
Matthew 1:25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus.
Matthew 2:13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
-
as long as, while
An extent of time of the same length as another extent or unit of time
ExamplesMark 6:45 And immediately Jesus had His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He Himself dismissed the crowd.
Mark 14:32 They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.”
John 9:4 “We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
-
to, up to, as far as
Extension up to or as far as a goal
ExamplesMatthew 2:9 After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found.
Matthew 11:23 “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
Matthew 24:27 “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
-
to the point of, to the extent of, to the degree that, up to
A degree extending to a particular point as marked by the context
ExamplesMatthew 26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
Mark 14:34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”
2 Corinthians 1:13 For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end;
-
as much as, up to
The extent of a quantity
ExamplesMatthew 18:21 Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Matthew 18:22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.
Mark 6:23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom.”
-
as long as, while
An extent of time of the same length as another extent or unit of time
ExamplesMatthew 5:25 “Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison.
-
as long as, while
An extent of time of the same length as another extent or unit of time
ExamplesMatthew 14:22 Immediately afterward He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.
Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
How it’s used
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Near synonyms 1 word
- ἄχρι áchri · G891 · until, to, at last
- The target term ἕως and ἄχρι (of time, “until”; of place, “up to”) function as markers of temporal and spatial extent, sharing genuine overlap in expressing limits or boundaries, and functioning as interchangeable markers of continuation to a specified point in Koine Greek usage.
In the other Testament 2 words
- עַד ʻad · H5704 · to, as far as, until
- Both ἕως (héōs, G2193) and עַד (ʻad, H5704) are multifunctional markers of continuance and extent, operating across temporal ("until," "as long as"), spatial ("to," "as far as") and degree ("up to," "to the extent of") uses. ἕως is the standard Greek rendering of Hebrew עַד, sharing the same core range of marking limits and endpoints across time, space and measure.
- עַד ʻad · H5705 · and, at, for
- Hebrew עַד and Greek ἕως are direct cross-linguistic equivalents both functioning as conjunctions/prepositions marking temporal and spatial extent ('until', 'as far as'), with ἕως serving as the standard LXX rendering of עַד's continuative sense across contexts.
Semantic domains 5 entries
- As much as, up to59.21
- In Matthew 18:22, Jesus tells Peter, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times,” using this word for a stated quantity or limit.
- Until, to, at last, at length67.119
- In Matthew 2:15, it is written that Joseph and Mary “stayed there until the death of Herod,” using this word for a point in time reached.
- As long as, while67.139
- In John 9:4, Jesus says, “We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work,” using this word for the duration of a period.
- To the point of, to the extent of, to the degree that, up to78.51
- In Matthew 26:38, Jesus tells His disciples in Gethsemane, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me,” using this word for an extreme degree reached.
- To, up to, as far as84.19
- In Luke 24:50, of Jesus and His disciples it is written, “He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them,” using this word for the spatial extent traveled.
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon a particle marking a limit, and I. as a conjunction signifying 1. the temporal terminus…
I. as a conjunction signifying
1. the temporal terminus ad quem, till, until (Latindonee,usquedum); as in the best writings a. with an preterite indicative, where something is spoken of which continued up to a certain time: Mt 2:9 (ἕως... ἔστη (ἐστάθη L T Tr WH)); (1 Macc. 10:50; Wis. 10:14, etc.).
b. with ἄν and the aorist subjunctive (equivalent to the Latin future perfect), where it is left doubtful when that will take place till which it is said a thing will continue (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 42, 5): ἴσθι ἐκεῖ, ἕως ἄν εἴπω σοι, Mt 2:13; add, Mt 5:18; Mt 10:11; ; Mk 6:10; Mk 12:36; Lk 17:8; Lk 20:43; Acts 2:55; Heb 1:13; after a negative sentence: Mt 5:18, Mt 5:26; Mt 10:23 (T WH omit ἄν); Mt 12:20; Mt 16:28; Mt 23:39; ; Mk 9:1; Lk 9:27; Lk 21:32; 1 Cor 4:5; with the aorist subjunctive without the addition of ἄν: Mk 6:45 R G; (here Tr marginal reading future); Lk 15:4; ( T Tr WH; L T Tr WH); 2 Thess 2:7; Heb 10:13; Rev 6:11 (Rec. ἕως οὗ); οὐκ ἀνἔζησαν ἕως τελεσθῇ τά χίλια ἔτη, did not live again till the thousand years had been finished (elapsi fuerint), Rev 20:5 Rec. Cf. Winers Grammar, § 41 b. 3.
c. more rarely used with the present indicative where the aorist subjunctive might have been expected (Winers Grammar, as above; Buttmann, 231 (199)): so four times ἕως ἔρχομαι, Lk 19:13 (where L T Tr WH ἐν ᾧ for ἕως, but cf. Bleek at the passage); Jn 21:22; 1 Tim 4:13; ἕως ἀπολύει, Mk 6:45 L T Tr WH, for R G ἀπολύσῃ (the indicative being due to a blending of direct and indirect discourse; as in Plutarch, Lycurgus 29, 3 δεῖν οὖν ἐκείνους ἐμμένειν τοῖς καθεστωσι νόμοις... ἕως ἐπανεισιν).
d. once with the future indicative, according to an improbable reading in Lk 13:35: ἕως ἥξει Tdf., ἕως ἄν ἥξει Lachmann, for R G ἕως ἄν ἥξῃ; (but WH (omitting ἄν ἥξῃ ὅτε) read ἕως εἴπητε; Tr omits ἄν and brackets ἥξῃ ὅτε; cf. Buttmann, 231f (199f)).
2. as in Greek writings from Homer down, as long as, while, followed by the indicative in all tenses — in the N. T. only in the present: ἕως ἡμέρα ἐστιν, Jn 9:4 (Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading ὡς); ἕως (L T Tr WH ὡς) τό φῶς ἔχετε, Jn 12:35f (ἕως ἔτι φῶς ἐστιν, Plato, Phaedo, p. 89 c.); (Mk 6:45 (cf.
c. above)).
II. By a usage chiefly later it gets the force of an adverb, Latinusquead; and
1. used of a temporal terminus ad quem, until (unto);
a. like a preposition, with a genitive of time (Winers Grammar, § 54, 6; Buttmann, 319 (274)): ἕως αἰῶνος, Lk 1:55 Griesbach (Ezek 25:15 Alex.; 1 Chr 17:16; Sir. 16:26, Fritzsche; Sir 24:9>, etc.); τῆς ἡμέρας, Mt 26:29; Mt 27:64: Lk 1:80; Acts 1:22 (Tdf. ἄχρι); Rom 11:8, etc.; ὥρας, Mt 27:45; Mk 15:33; Lk 23:44; τῆς πεντηκοστῆς, 1 Cor 16:8; τέλους, 1 Cor 1:8; 2 Cor 1:13; τῆς σήμερον namely, ἡμέρας, Mt 27:8; τοῦ νῦν, Mt 24:21; Mk 13:19 (1 Macc. 2:33); χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων a widow (who had attained) even unto eighty-four years, Lk 2:37 L T Tr WH; before the names of illustrious men by which a period of time is marked: Mt 1:17; Mt 11:13; Lk 16:16 (where T Tr WH μέχρι); Acts 13:20; before the names of events: Mt 1:17 (ἕως μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος); Mt 2:15; Mt 23:35; ; Lk 11:51; Jas 5:7; ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν, Acts 8:40 (Buttmann, 266 (228); cf. Winer's Grammar, § 44, 6; Judith 1:10 Judith 11:19, etc.).
b. with the genitive of the neuter relative pronoun οὗ or ὅτου it gets the force of a conjunction, until, till (the time when); α. ἕως οὗ (first in Herodotus 2, 143; but after that only in later authors, as Plutarch, et al. (Winers Grammar, 296 (278) note; Buttmann, 230f (199))): followed by the indicative, Mt 1:25 (WH brackets οὗ); ; Lk 13:21; Acts 21:26 (see Buttmann); followed by the subjunctive aorist, equivalent to Latin future perfect, Mt 14:22; Mt 26:36 (where WH brackets οὗ and Lachmann has ἕως οὗ ἄν); Lk 12:50 (Rec.; Lk 15:8 Tr WH); Lk 24:49; Acts 25:21; 2 Pet 1:19; after a negative sentence, Mt 17:9; Lk 12:59 (R G L; Lk 22:18 Tr WH); Jn 13:38; Acts 23:12, Acts 23:14, Acts 23:21. β. ἕως ὅτου, αα. until, till (the time when): followed by the indicative, Jn 9:18; followed by the subjunctive (without ἄν), Lk 13:8; Lk 15:8 (R G L T); after a negation, Lk 22:16, Lk 22:18 (R G L T). ββ. as long as, whilst (Song of Solomon 1:12), followed by the present indicative, Mt 5:25 (see ἄχρι, 1 d. at the end).
c. before adverbs of time (rarely so in the earlier and more elegant writings, as ἕως ὀψέ, Thucydides 3, 108; (cf. Winers Grammar, § 54, 6 at the end; Buttmann, 320 (275))): ἕως ἄρτι, up to this time, until now (Vig. ed. Herm., p. 388), Mt 11:12; Jn 2:10; Jn 5:17; Jn 16:24; 1 Jn 2:9; 1 Cor 4:13; 1 Cor 8:7; 1 Cor 15:6; ἕως πότε; how long? Mt 17:17; Mk 9:19; Lk 9:41; Jn 10:24; Rev 6:10 (Ps 12:2f (f); 2 Sam 2:26; 2 Sam 2:1 Macc. 6:22); ἕως σήμερον, 2 Cor 3:15.
2. according to a usage dating from Aristotle down, employed of the localterminus ad quem, unto, as far as, even to;
a. like a preposition, with a genitive of place (Winers Grammar, § 54, 6; Buttmann, 319 (274)): ἕως ᾅδου, ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, Mt 11:23; Lk 10:15; add, Mt 24:31; Mt 26:58; Mk 13:27; Lk 2:15; Lk 4:29; Acts 1:8; Acts 11:19, Acts 11:22; Acts 17:15; Acts 23:23; 2 Cor 12:2; with the genitive of person, to the place where one is: Lk 4:42; Acts 9:38 (ἕως ὑπερβορεων, Aelian v. h. 3, 18).
b. with adverbs of place (Winers Grammar, and Buttmann, as in c. above): ἕως ἄνω, Jn 2:7; ἕως ἔσω, Mk 14:54; ἕως κάτω, Mt 27:51; Mk 15:38; ἕως ὧδε, Lk 23:5 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 66, 1 c.).
c. with prepositions: ἕως ἔξω τῆς πόλεως, Acts 21:5; ἕως εἰς, Lk 24:50 (R G L marginal reading, but L text T Tr WH ἕως πρός as far as to (Polybius 3, 82, 6; 12, 17, 4; Gen 38:1)); Polybius 1:11, 14; Aelian v. h. 12, 22.
3. of the limit (terminus)of quantity; with an adverb of ἕως ἑπτάκις, Mt 18:21; with numerals: Mt 22:26 (ἕως τῶν ἑπτά); cf. Mt 20:8; Jn 8:9 (Rec.); Acts 8:10; Heb 8:11; οὐκ ἐστιν ἕως ἑνός, there is not so much as one, Rom 3:12 from Ps 13:1.
4. of the limit of measurement: ἕως ἡμίσους, Mk 6:23; Est 5:3, Est 5:6 Alex.
5. of the end or limit in acting and suffering: ἕως τούτου, Lk 22:51 (see ἐάω, 2); ἕως τοῦ θερισμοῦ, Mt 13:30 L Tr WH text; ἕως θανάτου, even to death, so that I almost die, Mk 14:34; Mt 26:38 (Sir. 4:28 Sir. 31:13 (Sir. 34:13); Sirach 37:2>; 4 Macc. 14:19).
G2193a: ζ
[ Zeta, on its substitution for sigma ς see Sigma.]
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1889), public domain
Topical studies with this word 5 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.