ὡσεί (G5616) — Greek Lexicon

ὡσεί

hōseí

G5616 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

A comparative particle introducing similarity, approximation, or supposition; primarily meaning 'as if' or 'like', used to denote resemblance (real or perceived), approximation, or hypothetical comparison. Can introduce a comparison to illustrate resemblance, an analogy to clarify meaning, or to indicate uncertainty or estimation.

Semantic Range

as if, like, as though, about, approximately, as, in the manner of, by way of comparison, in the sense of estimation or approximation

Root / Etymology

Compound particle from ὡς ('as, like') and εἰ ('if'); the formation gives the sense of 'as if' or 'like as.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὡσεί appears throughout classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek as a literary and colloquial comparative particle. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it commonly introduces metaphor, simile, or estimations in narrative or speeches. It differs from ὡς, which can simply mean 'as' (expressing direct equivalence), whereas ὡσεί emphasizes approximation or makes the comparison less direct or more hypothetical. English translations variably render it as 'as if,' 'like,' 'about,' or 'approximately'; however, none of these captures its full nuance as a marker of near likeness, hypothetical similarity, or indirect comparison. The particle does not always carry a strong hypothetical force, sometimes shading into mere approximation or even polite uncertainty.

Translation Consistency

primary "as if" 0 occurrences

ὡσεί primarily introduces similarity or hypothetical comparison (as if / as though). “As if” best preserves the comparative/hypothetical force across contexts (resemblance, analogy, approximation) while remaining natural English and more precise than the single-word colloquial “like.”

Alternatives (20 occurrences):

"if" (20x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὡς and εἰ; as if:--about, as (it had been, it were), like (as).

Root Family

ὡσεί (hōsei) — as if, like, as though, approximately, by comparison

Root ὡς, εἰ to be like, to resemble, to compare, to estimate

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5616-01`	ὡσεὶ	osei	`CONJ.S`	about	as if	as if	20

Occurrences in Scripture

20 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5616-01`	Matthew 3:16	ὡσεὶ	osei	`CONJ.S`	like	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Matthew 9:36	ὡσεὶ	osei	`CONJ.S`	like	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Matthew 14:21	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Mark 9:26	ὡσεὶ	osei	`CONJ.S`	like	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Luke 3:23	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Luke 9:14	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Luke 9:14	ὡσεὶ	osei-2	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Luke 9:28	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Luke 22:41	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Luke 22:44	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	as it were	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Luke 22:59	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Luke 23:44	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Luke 24:11	ὡσεὶ	osei	`CONJ.S`	as	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Acts 2:3	ὡσεὶ	osei	`CONJ.S`	like	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Acts 2:41	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Acts 6:15	ὡσεὶ	osei	`CONJ.S`	as	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Acts 10:3	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	as it were	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Acts 19:7	ὡσεὶ	osei	`ADV`	about	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Romans 6:13	ὡσεὶ	osei	`CONJ.S`	as	as if	as if
`G5616-01`	Hebrews 1:12	ὡσεὶ	osei	`CONJ.S`	like	as if	as if

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