ὡσεί
hōsei
like/as/about
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ὡσεί (hōsei) serves as a multifaceted preposition that can convey similarity, comparison, or description. Its meaning is versatile, encompassing the concepts of "like," "as," and "about." In 22 occurrences throughout the Bible, the word is used to establish connections between different ideas, people, or objects. In terms of usage, ὡσεί often functions as a prepositional phrase to describe similarity or approximation, as seen in phrases such as "like a mustard seed" (Matthew 13:31). Alternatively, it can serve as a comparison, indicating a quality or action that is equivalent to something else, as in "as a mother comforts her child" (Isaiah 66:13). The word's range of usage extends to various contexts, from describing physical attributes to describing behaviors and actions. The significance of ὡσεỉ lies in its ability to facilitate understanding and illustration. By using ὡσεί to describe abstract concepts or complex ideas, authors and speakers in the Bible can convey their meaning in a more relatable and accessible way. This allows the reader or listener to grasp the concept more intuitively, making the text more engaging and easier to comprehend.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences across the text
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
Matthew 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 14:21Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
Mark 6:44Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
Mark 9:26After crying out and convulsing him greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead, so much that most of them said, “He is dead.”
Luke 3:23Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
Luke 9:14For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
Luke 9:14For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
Luke 9:28About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.
Luke 22:41He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed,
Luke 22:44Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
Luke 22:59After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!”
Luke 23:44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Luke 24:11These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them.
Acts 1:15In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,
Acts 2:3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
Acts 2:41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 6:15All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
Acts 10:3At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
Acts 19:7They were about twelve men in all.
Romans 6:13Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
Hebrews 1:12You will roll them up like a mantle, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years won’t fail.”