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ὅλως

hólōs

G3654 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

As an adverb, ὅλως primarily means 'wholly, entirely, altogether,' indicating that something occurs or exists in a complete, unqualified way, without exception or reservation. Contextually, it may signal the totality of an action, a circumstance, or a prohibition, sometimes with an emphatic or rhetorical force. In negative constructions, it can mean 'not at all' or 'by no means.' Rarely, it can extend to 'universally' or 'commonly' depending on the context, though this is less frequent in Koine usage.

Semantic Range

wholly, entirely, altogether, absolutely, by no means (negatively), at all, commonly (rare), universally (rare)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the adjective ὅλος ('whole, entire') with the adverbial suffix -ως, forming an adverb that conveys wholeness or totality in manner or degree.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὅλως, though attested in classical Greek, is more common in Koine and later Greek, where it often expresses the completeness or totality of a matter. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:7), the term typically functions to emphasize the entire or absolute nature of a reported situation or prohibition. In some contexts outside the New Testament, ὅλως can mean 'universally' or 'commonly,' but within biblical Greek this usage is rare. Standard English translations sometimes render it as 'at all,' 'altogether,' or 'commonly,' but the Greek emphasizes the thoroughness or absoluteness of what is described, which may be weakened in translation. The word contrasts with ὅτι ('that, because') and other adverbials of degree or manner by its focus on totality.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

adverb from ὅλος; completely, i.e. altogether; (by analogy), everywhere; (negatively) not by any means:--at all, commonly, utterly.

Root Family

ὅλως (holōs) — wholly, entirely, completely, altogether

Root ὅλ- whole, entire, complete, altogether

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3654-01 ὅλως olos ADV at all altogether altogether 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3654-01 Matthew 5:34 ὅλως olos ADV at all altogether at all
G3654-01 1 Corinthians 5:1 ὅλως olos ADV It is actually reported altogether altogether
G3654-01 1 Corinthians 6:7 ὅλως olos ADV altogether altogether altogether
G3654-01 1 Corinthians 15:29 ὅλως olos ADV at all altogether at all
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