οὗ
ohu
whither
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe word "ohu" (G3757), translated as "whither," is a demonstrative adverb used in the Greek New Testament to indicate the direction or destination of a movement. It functions as a question word, typically inquiring about a specific location or destination. The word shows up 25 times in the Bible, often in Gospel accounts, particularly in Jesus' interactions with his apostles and with those around him. In analyzing its usage, we observe that "ohu" frequently appears in conjunction with verbs conveying movement, such as "to go" or "to be going." This reinforces the idea that "ohu" is concerned with the end-point or destination of a journey. For example, in John 1:38, it's used when the two disciples of John inquire to Jesus, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Here, "ohu" is rendered as "whither" to emphasize the question of a specific location. In terms of its significance, "ohu" provides valuable insights into the importance of understanding or clarifying the destination or intention behind a movement or action. It suggests that knowing where one is headed or what their intent is can be crucial in social interactions, as it sets the context for the relationship and conversation.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
25 total occurrences across the text
They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.
Matthew 18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
Matthew 28:16But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
Luke 4:16He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
Luke 4:17The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,
Luke 10:1Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come.
Luke 23:53He took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid.
Luke 24:28They came near to the village where they were going, and he acted like he would go further.
John 11:41So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me.
Acts 1:13When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
Acts 2:2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 7:29Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
Acts 12:12Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Acts 16:13On the Sabbath day we went outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
Acts 20:8There were many lights in the upper room where we were gathered together.
Acts 25:10But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.
Acts 28:14where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome.
Romans 4:15For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.
Romans 5:20The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;
Romans 9:26“It will be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ ”
1 Corinthians 16:6But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go.
2 Corinthians 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Colossians 3:1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
Hebrews 3:9where your fathers tested me and tried me, and saw my deeds for forty years.
Revelation 17:15He said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.