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ἔθος

éthos

G1485 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Established practice or custom, particularly one formed or maintained by habitual usage, tradition, or communal consensus; in various contexts, can denote a social or religious custom, regular practice, traditional observance, or accepted norm of behavior. The term may refer broadly to customary conduct or, more narrowly, to longstanding ritual or ceremonial practices.

Semantic Range

custom, habit, traditional practice, manner (of behavior), usage (by group or individual), ritual observance, accepted social norm

Root / Etymology

From the root ἔθω, meaning 'to be accustomed, to be in the habit of.' ἔθος is the nominal form denoting 'custom' or 'habit.' Cognate with Latin 'ethos' and later English 'ethics,' though the semantic field shifted in later philosophical usage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

έθος appears in classical Greek (e.g., Herodotus, Plato) to designate custom, habit, or established usage, often in contrast to written law (νόμος). In Hellenistic and Roman periods, including the New Testament and Septuagint, it denotes practices, especially those defining group identity—such as religious rituals, dietary customs, or civic observances. It can refer to practices unique to different peoples (cf. usage in Luke 1:9; Acts 6:14; 15:1), and is sometimes contrasted with divine command or written statute. While often translated as 'custom' or 'manner' in English Bibles, these renderings do not always capture the nuance that ἔθος can also signal binding collective traditions with a force similar to law. Its semantic overlap with νόμος ('law') sometimes results in their complementarity or tension within Greco-Roman and early Judean discourse. Over time, especially in philosophical literature, ἔθος became associated with character formation and ethics, but in the biblical period retains its focus on collective or habitual practice.

Translation Consistency

primary "custom" 12 occurrences

“Custom” is the most natural, versatile English headword for ἔθος. It covers habitual practice, social/ritual usage, and established norms (singular and plural senses: custom/customs) and is the common choice in English translations, making it the best consistent rendering for all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἔθω; a usage (prescribed by habit or law):--custom, manner, be wont.

Root Family

ἔθ- (éthnos) — custom, habit, people group, nation

Root ἔθ- to be accustomed, to be in the habit of, to do regularly
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1484 ἔθνος nations

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1485-06 ἔθος ethos N ACC N SG custom customary practice custom 6
G1485-01 ἔθη ethe N ACC N PL customs established customs established customs 2
G1485-02 ἔθει ethei N DAT N SG custom by custom custom 1
G1485-03 ἔθεσι ethesi N DAT N PL customs to established practices customs 1
G1485-04 ἔθεσιν ethesin N DAT N PL customs to established customs customs 1
G1485-05 ἐθῶν ethon N GEN N PL customs of established customs customs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1485-06 Luke 1:9 ἔθος ethos N ACC N SG custom customary practice custom
G1485-06 Luke 2:42 ἔθος ethos N ACC N SG custom customary practice custom
G1485-06 Luke 22:39 ἔθος ethos N ACC N SG His custom customary practice custom
G1485-06 John 19:40 ἔθος ethos N NOM N SG custom customary practice custom
G1485-01 Acts 6:14 ἔθη ethe N ACC N PL customs established customs established customs
G1485-02 Acts 15:1 ἔθει ethei N DAT N SG custom by custom custom
G1485-01 Acts 16:21 ἔθη ethe N ACC N PL customs established customs established customs
G1485-04 Acts 21:21 ἔθεσιν ethesin N DAT N PL customs to established customs customs
G1485-06 Acts 25:16 ἔθος ethos N NOM N SG custom customary practice custom
G1485-05 Acts 26:3 ἐθῶν ethon N GEN N PL customs of established customs customs
G1485-03 Acts 28:17 ἔθεσι ethesi N DAT N PL customs to established practices customs
G1485-06 Hebrews 10:25 ἔθος ethos N NOM N SG manner customary practice custom
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