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ὅτι

hóti

G3754 subordinating conjunction

SILEX Entry

Root ὅτ- that (introducing content), because, since, for (providing reason)

Definition

Conjunction introducing explanatory, causal, or content clauses. Primarily, it serves to mark the content of speech or thought (that...) or to provide an explanation or reason (because, since). Depending on context, may convey result, purpose, or form part of indirect discourse. Also found introducing quoted speech.

Semantic Range

that (introducing reported speech or thought), because, since, for, in that (explanatory), as, how (in indirect questions), sometimes redundant

Root / Etymology

Formed as the neuter singular of the relative pronoun ὅστις (hos tis, 'whoever, whatever'), but by the Koine period used exclusively as a conjunction. Not etymologically related to the noun ὅτι ('barley-bread,' Attic dialect), which is a homonym.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὅτι introduced both indirect and direct discourse, serving similarly to English 'that.' It already appears in this function in classical authors (e.g., Herodotus). In the Septuagint and New Testament, its primary roles are as (1) a marker for the content of speech, perception, or understanding ('that...'), and (2) a causal conjunction ('because,' 'since'), distinguishing an explicit reason or explanation. English translations often render it as 'that' or 'because,' but context determines nuance; sometimes an English translation omits a separate word and incorporates the clause directly (e.g., 'He says he is the messiah' = λέγει ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ χριστός). Unlike γάρ ('for') or διότι ('because'), ὅτι typically functions at the clause level rather than as a connective between larger units of discourse. In post-classical and Koine usage, the boundaries between ὅτι and ὡς (in content clauses), and ὅτι and διότι/ἐπειδή (in causal clauses), are sometimes blurred, but ὅτι remains the default conjunction for introducing what is said or thought. English Bible tradition sometimes translates ὅτι flexibly, and its function is sometimes obscured or redundant in translation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.

Root Family

ὅτι (hoti) — that (content marker), because, since, for

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3754-01 ὅτι oti CONJ.S that that that 1295

Occurrences in Scripture

1295 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3754-01 Matthew 2:16 ὅτι oti CONJ.S that that that
G3754-01 Matthew 2:18 ὅτι oti CONJ.S because that because
G3754-01 Matthew 2:22 ὅτι oti CONJ.S that that that
G3754-01 Matthew 2:23 ὅτι oti CONJ.S that that that
G3754-01 Matthew 3:9 ὅτι oti CONJ.S that that that
G3754-01 Matthew 4:6 ὅτι oti CONJ.S that that that
G3754-01 Matthew 4:12 ὅτι oti CONJ.S that that that
G3754-01 Matthew 5:3 ὅτι oti CONJ.S for that because
G3754-01 Matthew 5:4 ὅτι oti CONJ.S for that because
G3754-01 Matthew 5:5 ὅτι oti CONJ.S for that because
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