Lexical Summary hosper: Just as, even as, as Original Word: ὥσπερ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance whomsoever. From hos and per; who especially -- whomsoever. see GREEK hos see GREEK per NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee hos, and per. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3746: ὅσπερὅσπερ, ἤπερ, ὅπερ, see ὅς, ἡ, ὁ, 10. Topical Lexicon Function and Nuanceὥσπερ introduces comparisons that are tighter than a simple “like” (ὡς) yet not as conclusive as causal or result clauses. It frames a scene, doctrine, or promise by drawing the reader’s eye to an established pattern: “just as … so also ….” In biblical rhetoric this device undergirds analogy, typology, moral exhortation, and doxological praise, encouraging the hearer to connect God’s past acts with His present and future purposes. Occurrences and Distribution Although Strong’s entry 3746 has no counted occurrences in the printed Greek New Testament text, the conjunction appears frequently in the Septuagint and in later Christian writings. The related form catalogued at Strong’s 5618 supplies the familiar Gospel and Pauline examples. For topical study the same semantic force can therefore be traced through the Greek Old Testament, then observed in inspired New Testament parallels that employ the cognate spelling. Usage in the Septuagint 1. Poetic Simile Psalm 42:1 LXX (41:2) opens with, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.” The vivid nature scene (“ὥσπερ ἐπιποθεῖ ἡ ἔλαφος”) translates an underlying Hebrew כְּ־, enabling worshipers to perceive thirst for God through the picture of a creature longing for water. 2. Prophetic Analogy Isaiah 55:10 uses ὥσπερ to parallel the certainty of rainfall with the certainty of the divine word’s effectiveness: “Just as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return without watering the earth … so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me void.” The stable cycle of nature becomes proof of God’s covenant faithfulness. 3. Ethical Contrast Proverbs 25:20 (LXX 25:20): “Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, and like vinegar on soda, so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.” The conjunction equips wisdom literature to teach by striking, uncomfortable contrast. These Septuagint instances show ὥσπερ placing the reader inside an experience (panting deer, snowfall, winter chill) so that the doctrinal point cannot be missed. New Testament Parallels (Spelling 5618) While 3746 itself is unregistered in the New Testament, the same sounding particle (5618) carries forward each of the above Septuagint functions: • Christological Typology – Matthew 12:40: “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Studying 3746 in the Septuagint therefore enriches exegesis of these New Testament passages, revealing the long-standing biblical pattern of teaching through comparison. Historical and Linguistic Background Classical Greek writers used ὥσπερ to sharpen rhetoric, particularly in forensic speeches where lawyers aligned a current case with a well-known precedent. Early Christian apologists likewise adopted the term, inviting pagan hearers to view Christian claims “just as” they already accepted certain philosophical axioms. Patristic sermons regularly built an ὥσπερ/οὕτως structure (Latin: sicut … ita) to expound Scripture, a tradition still heard in historic liturgies. Theological Significance 1. Revelation through Patterns Scripture often discloses divine truth inductively rather than abstractly. By starting with an observable analogy (“just as”), ὥσπερ honors God’s chosen pedagogical method, grounding theology in redemptive history. 2. Continuity of Covenant Old and New Testament writers use the particle to demonstrate that God works consistently—what He has done is illustrative of what He will do. This bolsters assurance and counters any notion of contradiction between covenants. 3. Christ-Centered Fulfillment Every Old Testament ὥσπερ finds its ultimate referent in Christ, the antitype who both mirrors and transcends prior patterns (cf. Hebrews 3:3, though the Greek there employs ὡς rather than ὥσπερ). Thus the conjunction is a building block of typology directing worship toward the finished work of the Savior. Ministry and Homiletic Application • Illustrative Preaching – Modern expositors can follow the biblical model: begin with an everyday image (rainfall, athletic training, family resemblance), then pivot to the spiritual reality “in the same way.” Summary ὥσπερ, though absent in its Strong’s 3746 listing from the printed New Testament, stands as a vital comparative hinge throughout Scripture. From creation to consummation God calls His people to learn through analogy—inviting them to behold what He has already done so that they may trust what He promises yet to do. Forms and Transliterations όνπερ όπερLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance ὅσιος — 3 Occ.ὁσίους — 1 Occ. ὁσιότητι — 2 Occ. ὁσίως — 1 Occ. ὀσμὴ — 2 Occ. ὀσμὴν — 3 Occ. ὀσμῆς — 1 Occ. ὅσα — 56 Occ. ὅσαι — 1 Occ. ὅσῳ — 3 Occ. ὅσοι — 29 Occ. ὅσον — 17 Occ. ὅσους — 3 Occ. ὀστέα — 1 Occ. ὀστέων — 3 Occ. Ὀστοῦν — 1 Occ. αἵτινες — 10 Occ. ἅτινα — 6 Occ. ἥτις — 38 Occ. οἵτινες — 60 Occ. |
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