Lexical Summary hopote: whenever, as often as Original Word: ὁπότε Strong's Exhaustive Concordance when. From hos and pote; what(-ever) then, i.e. (of time) as soon as -- when. see GREEK hos see GREEK pote NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for hos, and pote, q.v. NASB Translation when (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3698: ὁπότεὁπότε (πότε with the relative ὁ) (from Homer down), when (cf. Buttmann, § 139, 34; Winer's Grammar, § 41 b. 3): Luke 6:3 R G T (where L Tr WH ὅτε). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Function Ὁπότε is an indefinite temporal adverb meaning “whenever,” marking events that recur or remain open-ended. In Greek narrative it links an action or promise to any and every occasion the stated condition is met, stressing both repetition and certainty. Its sense is slightly broader than ὅταν, allowing use with either indicative or subjunctive verbs and appearing primarily in older classical texts and in the Septuagint. Although the word itself is absent from the Greek New Testament, the logical category it represents—God’s purposes operating “whenever” His conditions are observed—permeates both Testaments. Old Testament Greek (Septuagint) Usage 1. Exodus 40:36 – “Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out.” The recurring movement of the cloud teaches that guidance is not a once-for-all event but an ongoing provision. These examples reveal three themes: (a) God’s sustained faithfulness, (b) repeated human responsibility, and (c) the ongoing availability of grace or judgment. Conceptual Parallels in the Hebrew Text The Hebrew originals often use כָּל־עֵת (“at every time”) or the conjunction כַּאֲשֶׁר (“as/whenever”), stressing perpetual application. The Septuagint’s choice of ὁπότε conveys that the God of Israel acts consistently every time the covenantal conditions occur. Thus the translation preserves both linguistic precision and theological continuity. Relation to New Testament Thought Though the specific term ὁπότε is not found in the New Testament, its functional equivalent appears frequently: These verses inherit the Old Testament pattern: divine grace and instruction remain dependable each time the stated condition is met. The transition from Sinai’s cloud to the indwelling Spirit intensifies, rather than diminishes, the “whenever” promise. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Prayer and Worship. The “whenever” motif assures believers that God hears every prayer that meets His revealed will (1 John 5:14–15). Historical and Patristic Reflections Early Christian writers who used the Septuagint naturally absorbed ὁπότε’s theology. Justin Martyr cited Exodus 40:36 to argue that God’s guidance for the church remains active. Athanasius employed Numbers 21:9 typologically: “Whenever the sinner looks to Christ crucified, he lives.” The word therefore helped shape patristic preaching on the constancy of divine grace. Devotional Summary The scriptural “whenever” embodied in ὁπότε reminds believers that God’s invitations and warnings are never limited to a single moment. Whether seeking direction, forgiveness, or fellowship, the door stands open each time we come. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8); therefore, whenever we call, He answers. Forms and Transliterations οπόταν οπότεLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance ὀξύ — 4 Occ.ὀπαῖς — 1 Occ. ὀπῆς — 1 Occ. ὄπισθεν — 7 Occ. ὀπίσω — 35 Occ. ὁπλίσασθε — 1 Occ. ὅπλα — 4 Occ. ὅπλων — 2 Occ. ὁποίαν — 1 Occ. ὁποῖοί — 1 Occ. ὁποῖος — 2 Occ. ὅπου — 84 Occ. ὀπτανόμενος — 1 Occ. ὀπτασίᾳ — 1 Occ. ὀπτασίαν — 2 Occ. ὀπτασίας — 1 Occ. ὀπτοῦ — 1 Occ. ὀπώρα — 1 Occ. ὅπως — 53 Occ. ὅραμα — 7 Occ. |
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