εἷς καθ’ εἷς
heîs kath’ heîs
G1527
SILEX Entry
Definition
Used as an adverbial phrase meaning 'one by one,' 'each individually,' or 'severally'—indicating that subjects or objects are considered or acted upon in individual sequence or distinctness rather than as a group. The phrase emphasizes separate or individual action, occurrence, or enumeration within a group context.
Semantic Range
one by one, each one in succession, individually, separately, each separately, severally
Root / Etymology
A compound phrase: εἷς ('one') is repeated with the preposition κατά ('according to, by') inserted, forming a distributive or enumerative construction. The underlying Greek construction (εἷς καθ’ εἷς) literally means 'one according to one.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The phrase εἷς καθ’ εἷς occurs in post-classical (Hellenistic and Koine) Greek, including the New Testament, to convey distribution or individualization, typically of people or actions. While the constituents occur independently in older Greek, the fixed phrase is characteristic of Koine usage where distributive emphasis is needed. Comparable to Latin singuli ('one at a time, separately'). The phrase is usually translated 'one by one' or 'each in turn,' but may also be rendered 'severally' or 'each separately' depending on context. Classical Greek typically expressed similar distributions with other adverbial constructions or through repetition (e.g., ἕκαστος). English Bible translations tend to render the phrase simply as 'one by one,' but the underlying Greek construction highlights the emphasis on the distributive and individual treatment within a group. The phrase does not appear frequently in earlier classical authors, becoming more common in the Hellenistic period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from εἷς repeated with κατά inserted; severally:--one by one.
Root Family
εἷς, κατά (heîs kath’ heîs) — to be one, by step, individual, according to
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.