Berean Strong's Lexicon é: or, than Original Word: ἤ Word Origin: A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for the Greek conjunction "ἤ," similar functions are served by Hebrew particles such as אוֹ (o) meaning "or." Usage: The Greek conjunction "ἤ" (é) is primarily used to denote a choice or distinction between two alternatives. It functions similarly to the English word "or" and is often used in comparative contexts to mean "than." This conjunction is essential in forming questions, comparisons, and contrasts within the New Testament text. Cultural and Historical Background: In the context of Koine Greek, which was the common language of the Eastern Mediterranean from the time of Alexander the Great until the Byzantine Empire, conjunctions like "ἤ" were crucial for the clarity and precision of communication. The use of "ἤ" reflects the Greek emphasis on logical structure and rhetorical clarity, which was highly valued in both spoken and written discourse. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. conjunction used disjunctively or cptv. Definition or, than NASB Translation either (4), nor (1), or (282), or else (4), other than (1), rather (1), rather than (2), than (36), than...or (1), whether (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2228: ἤἤ, a disjunctive conjunction (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 53, 6). Used 1. to distinguish things or thoughts which either mutually exclude each other, or one of which can take the place of the other: or (Latinaut,vel); a. to distinguish one thing from another in words of the same construction: Matthew 5:17 (τόν νόμον ἤ τούς προφήτας), Matthew 5:36 (λευκήν ἤ μέλαιναν); Matthew 6:31; Matthew 7:16; Mark 6:56; Mark 7:11; Luke 2:24; Luke 9:25; John 7:48; John 13:29; Acts 1:7; Acts 3:12; Acts 4:7; Romans 1:21; Romans 3:1; 1 Corinthians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 10:19; Galatians 1:10, etc. b. after an interrogative or a declarative sentence, before a question designed to prove the same thing in another way: Matthew 7:4, 9; Matthew 12:29; Matthew 16:26; Matthew 26:53; Mark 8:37; Luke 13:4; Luke 14:31; Luke 15:8; Romans 9:21; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 6:16. c. before a sentence contrary to the one just preceding, to indicate that if one be denied or refuted the other must stand: Matthew 20:15 (i. e. or, if thou wilt not grant this, is thine eye etc.); Romans 3:29; 1 Corinthians 9:6; 1 Corinthians 10:22; 1 Corinthians 11:14 (Rec.); d. ἤ ... ἤ, either ... or, Matthew 6:24; Matthew 12:33; Luke 16:13; Acts 24:20; 1 Corinthians 14:6. 2. in a disjunctive question it corresponds to the Latinan afterutrum; a. preceded by πότερον, John 7:17; cf. Klotz ad Dev. 2:2, p. 574f; preceded by the interrogative μή, 1 Corinthians 9:8; preceded by μήτι, 2 Corinthians 1:17. b. without an intertog. particle in the first member of the interrogation: τί ἐστι εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν ... ἤ εἰπεῖν, Matthew 9:5; Mark 2:9; Luke 5:23; add, Matthew 21:25; Matthew 23:17, 19; Matthew 27:17; Mark 3:4; Luke 7:19; Acts 8:34. c. ἤ ... ἤ ... ἤ, Mark 13:35. 3. as a comparative conjunction, than; a. after comparatives: Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:22; Luke 9:13; Luke 16:17; John 3:19; John 4:1 (Tr marginal reading omits; WH brackets ἤ); Acts 4:19; Romans 13:11, and often. ἤ is lacking after πλείους followed by a noun of number: Matthew 26:53 T Tr WH; Acts 4:22; Acts 23:13, 21; Acts 24:11 (where Rec. adds ἤ); cf. Matthiae, § 455 note 4; Kühner, ii., p. 847; (Jelf, § 780 Obs. 1); Winers Grammar, 595 (554); (Buttmann, 168 (146)); Lob. ad Phryn., p. 410f. b. after ἕτερον: Acts 17:21. c. πρίν ἤ, before that, before, followed by accusative with an infinitive (cf. Buttmann, § 139, 35; Winer's Grammar, § 44, 6, also, p. 297 (279)): Matthew 1:18; Mark 14:30; Acts 2:20 R G WH marginal reading; Acts 7:2; followed by the aorist subjunc, Luke 2:26 Tr text omits; WH brackets ἤ; d. after θέλω equivalent to to prefer: 1 Corinthians 14:19 (followed by ἤπερ, 2 Macc. 14:42); examples from Greek authors are given in Klotz ad Devar. 2:2, p. 589f; Winers Grammar, § 35, 2 c.; (Buttmann, § 149, 7); Kühner, ii., p. 841; (Jelf, § 779 Obs. 3). e. after οὐ: John 13:10 R G, where after οὐ χρείαν ἔχει the sentence goes on as though the writer had said οὐκ ἄλλου τίνος χρείαν ἔχει, (cf. Winers Grammar, 508 (478)). f. after positive notions, to which in this way a comparative force is given: after καλόν ἐστι (it is good ... rather than) equivalent to it is better, Matthew 18:8; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; cf. Menander's saying καλόν τό μή ζῆν, ἤ ζῆν ἀθλιως, and Plautus rud. 4, 4, 70 tacita mulier est bona semper, quam loquens; similar examples in the O. T. are Genesis 49:12; Psalm 117:8 4. with other particles; a. ἀλλ' ἤ, see ἀλλά, I. 10, p. 28a. b. ἤ γάρ, see γάρ, I. at the end c. ἤ καί (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 53, 6 note), α. or even, or also (Latinautetiam,veletiam): (Matthew 7:10 L T Tr WH); Luke 11:11 G L T Tr WH; Luke 11:12; Luke 18:11; Romans 2:15; 1 Corinthians 16:6; 2 Corinthians 1:13. β. or also (Latinanetiam) (in a disjunctive question): Luke 12:41; Romans 4:9. d. ἤπερ, than at all (Latinquamforte; German alsetwa), after a comparitive (cf. Jelf, § 779 Obs. 5): John 12:43 (L ἤ περ, WH marginal reading ὑπέρ) (2 Macc. 14:42; Homer, Hesiod). e. ἤτοι ... ἤ, either indeed (cf. Kühner, § 540, 5) ... or: Romans 6:16 (Wis. 11:19; Herodotus and following). A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than -- and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles. Compare especially ede, eper, etoi. see GREEK ede see GREEK eper see GREEK etoi Englishman's Concordance Matthew 1:18 PrtclGRK: Ἰωσήφ πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς INT: to Joseph before rather came together they Matthew 5:17 Prtcl Matthew 5:18 Prtcl Matthew 5:36 Prtcl Matthew 6:24 Prtcl Matthew 6:24 Prtcl Matthew 6:25 Art-NFS Matthew 6:31 Prtcl Matthew 6:31 Prtcl Matthew 7:4 Prtcl Matthew 7:9 Prtcl Matthew 7:10 Prtcl Matthew 7:16 Prtcl Matthew 9:5 Prtcl Matthew 10:11 Prtcl Matthew 10:14 Prtcl Matthew 10:15 Prtcl Matthew 10:19 Prtcl Matthew 10:37 Prtcl Matthew 10:37 Prtcl Matthew 11:3 Prtcl Matthew 11:22 Prtcl Matthew 11:24 Prtcl Matthew 12:5 Prtcl Matthew 12:25 Prtcl |
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