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Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary: The New Testament Greek word: πας

Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/DictionaryG/p/p-a-sfin.html

πας

Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary

πας

The adjective πας (pas) declines into the more familiar forms παν (pan) and παντος (pantos) and expresses oneness, wholeness or totality. It is used both in singular form and in plural, both with and without the definite article.

Our word occurs 1250 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, which is much more than the word "all" does in English versions, and that demonstrates a much wider range of application of the Greek word.

About half of its occurrences can be translated with "all" — albeit often with added nuances such as "all of them" or "the whole of it" or "every one" or "all kinds of", and so on — and the rest expresses a wholeness for which English has specific terms, such as "great" (patience/humility/endurance) or "complete" and even "none" or "nothing". Reversely, in several occasions, the Greek has specific terms while English must resort to paraphrasing (such as the words that mean "whole-housedly" and "whole-multitudinously", see below).

The form πας (pas) also appears in contracted versions of names that include the noun πατηρ (pater), like Cleopas and Antipas (for Cleopater and Antipater). These words are formally not related but the obvious pun here is that in Hebrew, the word for "all" is כל (kol), which expands into כלה (kalla), meaning bride. In short: to the Greeks, All is Father, whereas to the Hebrews All is Bride.

Words that are directly derived from our source word πας (pas), all or whole (in its various forms, and with or without suffixes) are:

  • Together with the suffix -θεν (-then), which indicates a motion from a location: the adverb πανταχοθεν (pantachothen), meaning from every place, from all sides (Mark 1:45 only).
  • Together with the suffix -χου (-chou), which indicates stationariness in a place: the adverb πανταχου (pantachou), meaning in all places, everywhere. This word occurs 7 times; see full concordance.
  • The adverb παντη (pante), meaning in every way (Acts 24:3 only).
  • Again together with the suffix -θεν (-then): the adverb παντοθεν (pantothen), meaning from every side (Luke 19:43 and Hebrews 9:4 only).
  • The adverb παντως (pantos), meaning wholly, entirely (1 Corinthians 9:10) or by all means, at all events, surely (Luke 4:23, Acts 18:21, 1 Corinthians 9:22). Negatively, preceded by the article of negation ου (ou), our word forms the expletive "not at all!" or "by no means!" (Romans 3:9, 1 Corinthians 5:10). This word is used 9 times; see full concordance.

Additionally, our word shows up in a small array of compounds (mostly as παν-, pan- and παμ-, pam-):

  • Together with the adverb αμα (hama), meaning together or together with: the adjective απας (hapas), also meaning all or whole but somehow stronger than just πας (pas). This word occurs 39 times; see full concordance.
  • Together with πληθος (plethos), meaning crowded mass: the adverb παμπληθει (pamplethei), meaning with the whole crowded mass (Luke 23:18 only).
  • Together with πολυς (polus), meaning many: the adjective παμπολυς (pampolus), meaning very much, vast (Mark 8:1 only).
  • Together with δεχομαι (dechomai), meaning to receive: the noun πανδοχευς (pandocheus), literally meaning all-receiver; host or innkeeper (Luke 10:35 only). From this word comes:
    • The noun πανδοχειον (pandocheion), meaning inn (Luke 10:34 only).
  • Together with αγυρις (aguris), meaning assembly (an extra biblical word that derives from αγορα, agora, meaning public square or marketplace): the noun πανηγυρις (paneguris), meaning a massive gathering (Hebrews 12:23 only).
  • Together with the noun οικος (oikos), meaning house: the adverb πανοικι (panoiki), meaning with one's whole house, "whole-housedly" (Acts 16:34 only).
  • Together with οπλον (hoplon), meaning weapon: the noun πανοπλια (panoplia), meaning a complete armor. This word survives in English as "panoply" (Luke 11:22, Ephesians 6:11 and 6:13 only).
  • Together with εργον (ergon), meaning work or deed: the adjective πανουργος (panourgos), meaning all-doing; crafty (2 Corinthians 12:16 only). From this word derives:
    • The noun πανουργια (panourgia), meaning shrewdness, cunning. This word occurs 5 times; see full concordance.
  • Together with the noun τελος (telos), meaning end or completion: the adjective παντελης (panteles), meaning to all ends; completely and forever (Luke 13:11 and Hebrews 7:25 only).
  • Together with κρατος (kratos), meaning power: the familiar noun παντοκρατωρ (pantokrator), meaning almighty, all-ruler. This word occurs 10 times; see full concordance. Read our article on the name Pantokrator for a further discussion of this word.
  • Together with τοτε (tote), meaning then: the adverb παντοτε (pantote), meaning always, at all times. This word occurs 42 times; see full concordance.

Associated Biblical names