Lexical Summary hotan: whenever, when Original Word: ὅταν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance as long as, wheneverFrom hote and an; whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causatively (conjunctionally) inasmuch as -- as long (soon) as, that, + till, when(-soever), while. see GREEK hote see GREEK an HELPS Word-studies 3752 hótan (from 3753 /hóte, "when" and 302 /án, "whenever a specified condition is fulfilled") – properly, "at the time when the condition is met," i.e. whenever that occurs, "at the time (it happens)" (J. Thayer). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hote and an Definition whenever NASB Translation after (2), soon* (1), until* (1), when (107), whenever (9), while (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3752: ὅτανὅταν, a particle of time, compound of ὅτε and ἄν, at the time that, whenever (German dannwann;wannirgend); used of things which one assumes will really occur, but the time of whose occurrence he does not definitely fix (in secular authors often also of things which one assumes can occur, but whether they really will or not he does not know; hence, like our in case that, as in Plato, Prot., p. 360 b.; Phaedr., p. 256 e.; Phaedo, p. 68 d.); (cf. Winers Grammar, § 42, 5; Buttmann, § 139, 33); a. with the subjunctive present: Matthew 6:2, 5; Matthew 10:23; Mark 13:11 (here Rec. aorist); b. with the subjunctive aorist: equivalent to the Latinquandoacciderit,ut with subjunctive present, Matthew 5:11; Matthew 12:43; Matthew 13:32; Matthew 23:15; Matthew 24:32; Mark 4:15f, 29 (R G), 31f; 13:28; Luke 6:22, 26; Luke 8:13; Luke 11:24; Luke 12:54; Luke 21:30; John 2:10; John 10:4; John 16:21; 1 Timothy 5:11 (here L marginal reading future); Revelation 9:5. equivalent toquando with future perfect, Matthew 19:28; Matthew 21:40; Mark 8:38; Mark 9:9; Mark 12:23 (G Tr WH omit; L brackets the clause), 25; Luke 9:26; Luke 16:4, 9; Luke 17:10; John 4:25; John 7:31; John 13:19; John 14:29; John 15:26; John 16:4, 13, 21; John 21:18; Acts 23:35; Acts 24:22; Romans 11:27; 1 Corinthians 15:24 (here L T Tr WH present), c. According to the usage of later authors, a usage, however, not altogether unknown to the more elegant writers (Winers Grammar, 309 (289f); Buttmann, 222f (192f); (Tdf. Proleg., p. 124f; WHs Appendix, p. 171; for examples additional to these given by Winers Grammar, and Buttmann, as above see Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word; cf. Jebb in Vincent and Dickson's Handbook to Modern Greek, Appendix, § 78)), with the indicative; α. future: when (Matthew 5:11 Tdf.); Luke 13:28 T Tr text WH marginal reading; (1 Timothy 5:11 L marginal reading); as often as, Revelation 4:9 (cf. Bleek ad loc.). β. present: Mark 11:25 L T Tr WH; Mark 13:7 Tr text; (Luke 11:2 Tr marginal reading). γ. very rarely indeed, with the imperfect: as often as, (whensoever), ὅταν ἐθεώρουν, Mark 3:11 (Genesis 38:9; Exodus 17:11; 1 Samuel 17:34; see ἄν, II. 1). δ. As in Byzantine authors equivalent to ὅτε, when, with the indicative aorist: ὅταν ἤνοιξεν, Revelation 8:1 L T Tr WH; (add ὅταν ὀψέ ἐγένετο, Mark 11:19 T Tr text WH, cf. Buttmann, 223 (193); but others take this of customary action, whenever evening came (i. e. every evening, R. V.)). ὅταν, does not occur in the Epistles of Peter and Jude. Strong’s Greek 3752 (ὅταν, hotan) is the New Testament’s chief temporal conjunction of contingency. It welds a present reality or command to an indefinite but certain point in time—“whenever” or “when” a stipulated circumstance arises. With 123 occurrences, it spans every major corpus: Gospels, Acts, Pauline epistles, General epistles, and Revelation, making it a vital hinge in the Bible’s ethical, pastoral, and prophetic exhortations. Semantic Function Ὅταν signals: 1. A repeated or habitual situation (“whenever”), often with present imperatives. By doing so it sustains the biblical tension between the “already” and the “not yet,” urging readiness without date-setting. Usage in the Synoptic Gospels 1. Discipleship Practice – Three successive instructions in Matthew 6 (verses 2, 5, 6) begin, “So when you give…,” “when you pray…,” “when you fast…,” guarding purity of motive. Johannine Writings John employs ὅταν to unveil redemptive milestones: In 1 John the conjunction tests authentic love: “We know that we love God’s children when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 John 5:2). Pauline Epistles Paul uses ὅταν to anchor ethical instruction and eschatological hope. General Epistles and Hebrews James opens by framing trials with ὅταν: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2). Hebrews applies it christologically: “And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship Him’” (Hebrews 1:6), celebrating the enthronement of the Son. Apocalyptic Context in Revelation Revelation marks sequential visions: “Whenever the living creatures give glory… the elders fall down” (Revelation 4:9-10). It times trumpet and seal judgments (8:1; 9:5; 10:7) and climaxes millennial chronology: “When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison” (Revelation 20:7). Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Watchfulness – Ὅταν cultivates expectancy without imbalance. Believers obey in the present, confident God controls the “when.” Homiletical Observations • Preach the “whenever” of ordinary obedience (Matthew 6) before the “when” of cosmic upheaval (Matthew 24). Key Passages for Personal Study Matthew 6:2-6; Matthew 24:15-33; Mark 4:29-32; John 8:28; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 13:10; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, 54; Colossians 3:4; James 1:2; Revelation 20:7. Historical Note Early patristic writers observed the versatility of ὅταν in harmonizing the Synoptic and Johannine timelines of Christ’s passion and resurrection appearances, reinforcing the coherence of the Gospel tradition. Practical Application Believers today heed ὅταν by living in continual obedience, trusting that “when the Chief Shepherd appears” (cf. 1 Peter 5:4, same temporal logic though different Greek term) reward is sure. Every sermon, pastoral plan, and personal discipline shaped by ὅταν will echo Jesus’ own cadence: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:11 ConjGRK: μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς NAS: Blessed are you when [people] insult KJV: are ye, when [men] shall revile INT: Blessed are you when they shall insult you Matthew 6:2 Conj Matthew 6:5 Conj Matthew 6:6 Conj Matthew 6:16 Conj Matthew 9:15 Conj Matthew 10:19 Conj Matthew 10:23 Conj Matthew 12:43 Conj Matthew 13:32 Conj Matthew 15:2 Conj Matthew 19:28 Conj Matthew 21:40 Conj Matthew 23:15 Conj Matthew 24:15 Conj Matthew 24:32 Conj Matthew 24:33 Conj Matthew 25:31 Conj Matthew 26:29 Conj Mark 2:20 Conj Mark 3:11 Conj Mark 4:15 Conj Mark 4:16 Conj Mark 4:29 Conj Mark 4:31 Conj |
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