ἡμᾶς
hēmâs
G2248
SILEX Entry
Definition
Accusative plural of the first person pronoun, functioning as the object in sentences: 'us' (referring to the speaker and at least one other person). Used in both direct and indirect object positions, or after prepositions, denoting those affected by an action or relation. The sense is inclusively first person plural: the speaker and their group, distinguished from 'me' (singular) and from second or third person pronouns. In some contexts, may have an inclusive scope, referring to all those within the speaking group, or an exclusive one, distinguished from the audience.
Semantic Range
us (accusative plural direct or indirect object), to us, for us, among us, on our behalf
Root / Etymology
Formed from the root ἐγ- (as in ἐγώ) with a plural and accusative inflection. Derives from Proto-Indo-European *ego- (I) plus standard Greek morphological endings for first person plural accusative.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἡμᾶς is the standard Koine Greek accusative plural pronoun for the first person; it was already established in classical Greek. Frequently contrasted with ὑμᾶς (second person plural accusative, 'you+'). In the Septuagint and New Testament, ἡμᾶς is used in narrative, direct speech, prayers, and epistolary formulas, always to indicate the group that includes the speaker as object. The English translations 'us,' 'we' (when 'us' is meant as syntactic object), or 'our' (in possessive constructions with prepositions) are standard, though Greek case usage may not align perfectly with English syntax. The referent of 'us' is defined by the context and can vary from a small group to a nation. Not used for reflexive sense ('ourselves'), which is expressed by forms like ἑαυτούς.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
accusative case plural of ἐγώ; us:--our, us, we.
Root Family
ἐγ- (emé) — to refer to oneself, to indicate the speaker as object
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.