Pronoun – ὅσος

ObjectivesLearning objectives

The morphology, syntax, and semantics of the pronoun ὅσος

VocabularyVocabulary

Greek	Gloss	Part of speech	Paradigm
ἀνέχομαί σου	(I) put up with you (gen)	verb	C.a.α
ἀσεβής, -ές	ungodly	adjective	A.a.δ
ἡ κατοίκησις, -εως	the dwelling	noun	B.a.γ.v
σφραγίζω τι	(I) seal something (acc)	verb	C.a.θ
ὑγιής, -ές	healthy	adjective	A.a.δ
χορτάζω σέ τινος	(I) feed you (acc) with something (gen)	verb	C.a.θ

MorphologyMorphology: Pronoun - ὅσος

The forms of ὅσος are formed like a regular -ος/-η/-ον adjective (see 9.2.3.1)

Morphology: Pronoun - ὅσος

	Masculine singular	Feminine singular	Neuter singular
Nominative	ὅσ-ος	ὅσ-η	ὅσ-ον

SyntaxSyntax: Pronoun - ὅσος

Although ὅσος looks like the relative pronoun ὅς, it behaves syntactically like an adjective. It does not introduce a relative clause, and it may modify a noun:

Example 406Modifying a noun

ὅσον χρόνον ἔχουσιν τὸν νυμφίον (Mark 2:19)

For as much time as they have the bridegroom …

Here, ὅσον is modifying the noun χρόνον as an adjective would. It is very commonly used with the quantifier πᾶς, always in the plural and always following it, e.g. πάντα ὅσα. Like other adjectives, it may also stand alone without a noun:

Example 407Alone without a noun

ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν (John 1:12)

But as many as received him

SemanticsSemantics: Pronoun - ὅσος

There are two meaning components to ὅσος. First, it compares two things, and second, it makes the quantity of those two things equivalent. In As many people that heard Paul loved him, we are comparing two groups of people. There are those that heard Paul and those that love Paul. The number in each of these groups is then made equivalent with as many.

Example 408Equating the quantity of two things

ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι (John 1:12)

But as many as received him, he gave them the right to become children of God

In John 1:12, ὅσοι specifies that the two groups have equivalent numbers. Whoever is in the group that receives Jesus is also in the group that has the right to become God’s children.

The way we have described the meaning of ὅσος might suggest that it compares two different numbers. This, however, is too narrow. In Mark 2:19 above, ὅσος modifies time in the phrase ὅσον χρόνον. This suggests that ὅσος equates two quantities of any kind, such as a time, degree, or any other kind of quantity.

Lesson 41.3 quiz

Check your understanding

2 questions · self-graded

1How does ὅσος behave syntactically?
It introduces a relative clause like ὅςIt is indeclinableIt behaves like an adjective and does not introduce a relative clauseIt can never modify a noun
2Which are meaning components of ὅσος?Select all that apply
It compares two thingsIt is limited to comparing numbersIt makes the quantities of the two things equivalentIt marks a temporal boundary

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