What does ἵνα (hína) mean in the Bible?
Hina is a Greek conjunction often rendered so that, in order that, or that. It frequently introduces purpose, intended result, or content clauses, though context determines the exact force.
Greek · G2443
ἵνα
In order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
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ἵνα G2443
Pronunciation hína
What does ἵνα (hína) mean in the Bible?
Hina is a Greek conjunction often rendered so that, in order that, or that. It frequently introduces purpose, intended result, or content clauses, though context determines the exact force.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἵνα (G2443) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G2443?
The BSB source-word alignment has 669 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include so that (224), to (157), that (85), - (60), so (15).
Where does ἵνα (hína) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 1:22. Its strongest book concentrations include John (145), Mark (64), 1 Corinthians (58), Luke (47).
What This Word Actually Means
Hina is a Greek conjunction often rendered so that, in order that, or that. It frequently introduces purpose, intended result, or content clauses, though context determines the exact force. The word matters because Scripture often tells readers why something is said, done, written, prayed, or fulfilled. Matthew uses hina in fulfillment language. John says the signs are written so that readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ and have life in His name.
Paul prays so that believers may be strengthened, and John writes so that joy may be complete. Hina should not be treated as a mechanical purpose formula in every occurrence. It guides the reader to the goal, result, or content that the passage itself names.
How the Bible Uses It
Hina often introduces purpose, result, fulfillment, or content clauses. These representative passages show fulfillment, saving faith, written witness, boasting in the Lord, prayer for strengthening, and complete joy.
- Matt.1.22
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Matthew uses hina in fulfillment language, tying the birth narrative to what the Lord had spoken through the prophet.
- John.3.16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The clause names the saving purpose and result of God giving His Son: believers shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John.20.31
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
John states the purpose of the written signs: that readers may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and have life in His name.
- 1Cor.1.31
Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Paul uses hina with Scripture's call for boasting in the Lord, closing the argument against human boasting.
- Eph.3.16
I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
Paul prays that believers may be strengthened with power through the Spirit in the inner being.
- 1John.1.4
We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
John writes so that joy may be complete, connecting apostolic proclamation with shared joy in fellowship with God.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It so that 224× Matthew 9:6, Matthew 17:27, Matthew 18:16, Matthew 23:26
to 157× Matthew 1:22, Matthew 4:14, Matthew 5:29, Matthew 5:30
that 85× Matthew 18:14, Matthew 20:21, Matthew 24:20, Mark 4:22
- 60× Matthew 7:12, Matthew 12:16, Matthew 16:20, Matthew 20:31
so 15× Matthew 14:15, Mark 1:38, Mark 6:36, Mark 16:1
In order that 12× John 19:31, Romans 1:13, Romans 6:4, Romans 7:4
vvv 10× Mark 5:10, Mark 10:51, Luke 6:7, Luke 18:41
for 8× Matthew 19:13, Mark 10:13, Mark 14:12, Luke 18:15
in order 7× John 8:6, John 10:17, Acts 24:4, 2 Corinthians 11:12
Then 6× 1 Corinthians 4:6, 2 Corinthians 1:11, Ephesians 4:14, Philippians 1:27
[and] 5× Luke 20:14, 1 Corinthians 5:2, Ephesians 4:29, Philippians 1:10
. . . 4× Matthew 4:3, Mark 10:35, John 6:7, 1 Corinthians 7:29
Why 4× Matthew 9:4, Matthew 27:46, Luke 13:7, 1 Corinthians 10:29
[Pray] that 3× Romans 15:31, Ephesians 6:20, Colossians 4:4
In order to 3× Matthew 12:10, Mark 3:2, 2 Corinthians 11:7
or 3× Matthew 7:1, Matthew 26:5, John 5:14
This was 3× Matthew 12:17, John 12:38, John 18:9
to have 3× Matthew 18:6, Luke 7:6, John 19:31
[and] to 2× John 19:28, Ephesians 5:27
[was] that 2× John 1:31, Titus 1:5
for fear that 2× John 3:20, John 12:42
how 2× 1 Corinthians 7:34, 1 Thessalonians 2:16
Otherwise 2× Luke 14:29, Luke 18:5
This 2× Matthew 2:15, John 18:32
when 2× John 16:2, John 16:32
[ He did this ] to 1× Ephesians 2:15
[ His purpose was ] that 1× Ephesians 3:10
[but] that 1× 2 Corinthians 9:3
[for] 1× John 11:52
[God] to 1× Colossians 1:9
[He redeemed us] in order that 1× Galatians 3:14
[I ask] that 1× Ephesians 3:16
[May] 1× John 17:21
[Please] 1× Mark 5:23
[see] that 1× 2 Corinthians 8:7
[Tell me] so that 1× John 9:36
[the gift] 1× 1 Corinthians 14:1
[their departure] 1× 1 John 2:19
[this happened] so that 1× John 9:3
[this has happened] that 1× Mark 14:49
[was] to 1× 2 Corinthians 2:9
{to cause} 1× Luke 17:2
and so 1× 2 Corinthians 7:9
as 1× Ephesians 2:10
As a result 1× Luke 11:50
as to 1× 1 Corinthians 9:24
expecting 1× Luke 6:34
have 1× 1 Corinthians 14:5
if 1× 1 Corinthians 4:3
in preparation 1× John 12:7
In this way 1× Titus 2:4
lest 1× 1 Corinthians 1:17
let 1× Matthew 20:33
rather than 1× 1 Corinthians 9:12
ready to 1× Revelation 12:4
so as 1× Romans 11:11
so as [to say] 1× 2 Corinthians 1:17
Therefore 1× 1 Corinthians 1:31
They were hoping 1× Luke 20:20
this is to 1× John 13:18
This was to 1× John 19:24
Thus 1× Hebrews 6:18
to make it 1× John 15:2
to show that 1× 2 Corinthians 4:7
to suggest that 1× 1 Corinthians 9:15
To this end 1× Hebrews 13:17
trying 1× Mark 9:22
we wanted to 1× 2 Thessalonians 3:9
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 1:22 ἵνα to to Conjunction Matthew 2:15 ἵνα to This Conjunction Matthew 4:3 ἵνα to . . . Conjunction Matthew 4:14 ἵνα to to Conjunction Matthew 5:29 ἵνα to to Conjunction Matthew 5:30 ἵνα to to Conjunction Matthew 7:1 ἵνα to or Conjunction Matthew 7:12 ἵνα to - Conjunction Matthew 8:8 ἵνα to to Conjunction Matthew 9:4 Ἵνα‿ to Why Conjunction
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 1:22
Aligned rows 669
Books represented 26
Matthew 41 Mark 64 Luke 47 John 145 Acts 17 Romans 30 1 Corinthians 58 2 Corinthians 44 Galatians 17 Ephesians 23 Philippians 12 Colossians 13 1 Thessalonians 7 2 Thessalonians 7 1 Timothy 15 2 Timothy 5 Titus 13 Philemon 4 Hebrews 20 James 4 1 Peter 13 2 Peter 2 1 John 19 2 John 5 3 John 2 Revelation 42
Source forms
ἵνα 660x hina Matthew 1:22, Matthew 2:15, Matthew 4:3, Matthew 4:14
Ἵνα 3x Hina Ephesians 6:3, Ephesians 6:21, Revelation 14:13
ἵνα‿ 3x hina Matthew 27:46, Luke 13:7, 1 Corinthians 10:29
Ἵνα‿ 2x Hina Matthew 9:4, Acts 4:25
ἱνα‿ 1x hina Acts 7:26
Parsing patterns
Conjunction 669x Matthew 1:22, Matthew 2:15, Matthew 4:3, Matthew 4:14
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- When teaching hina, ask what aim or result the passage itself names before moving to application.
- Use purpose clauses to keep the sermon aligned with the text's stated goal rather than an imported theme.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that hina always means in order that with the same force in every context.
- Do not claim that the conjunction alone proves a divine purpose apart from the action and clause it joins.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
Strong's G2443
Lexical occurrences 662 verses Greek text appearances 665 times 16 shown below Word forms 2 forms 662 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 665 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 1:22 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 2:15 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 4:3 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 4:14 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 5:29 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 5:30 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 7:1 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 7:12 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 8:8 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 9:6 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 10:25 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 12:10 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 12:16 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 14:15 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 14:36 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verse Matthew 16:20 Conjunction
ἵνα ina
in order that, so that
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 2 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 2 Aligned forms 662
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Matt 1:22 · Matt 2:15 · Matt 4:3 · Matt 4:14 · Matt 5:29 · Matt 5:30 · Matt 7:1 · Matt 7:12 · Matt 8:8 · Matt 9:6 · Matt 10:25 · Matt 12:10 · Matt 12:16 · Matt 12:17 · Matt 14:15 · Matt 14:36 637×
Luke 1:43 · John 6:29 · John 6:39 · John 6:40 · John 11:57 · John 13:34 · John 15:8 · John 15:12 · John 15:17 · John 17:3 · John 17:4 · John 18:39 · Acts 17:15 · Rom 15:31 · Phil 1:9 · Col 4:12 25×
Word Origins
ἵνα is built from these roots:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
The core insight of hina is that Scripture often gives the goal of its own words and actions. Matthew marks fulfillment. John tells us why the signs were written: believing Jesus is the Christ and having life in His name. Paul prays toward inner strengthening by the Spirit. John writes toward completed joy. The conjunction is not the doctrine, but it points to the purpose or intended result the doctrine serves in the passage.
For teachers, hina is an invitation to preach the aim of the text, not only its content. It asks, what is this statement meant to accomplish under God's inspired design?
Anchor passage
John.20.31
Doctrinal connections
- John.20.31 gives explicit purpose for the Gospel's written signs: faith in Jesus as Christ and Son of God, and life in His name.
- John.3.16 uses hina in the saving logic of God's love, the Son's gift, faith, and eternal life.
- Matt.1.22 shows hina within Matthew's fulfillment pattern as the birth narrative is tied to prophetic Scripture.
- Eph.3.16 uses hina in intercession for Spirit-given inner strengthening.
- 1John.1.4 connects apostolic writing with complete joy in the fellowship announced by the letter.
- G1063 Gar often supplies the reason behind a claim, while hina often points to the purpose, content, or intended result.
Hina commonly introduces a dependent clause with subjunctive forms, often marking purpose or intended result. In later Greek it can also introduce content clauses, so context must decide whether so that, in order that, or that is best.
From Old to New Testament
Scripture repeatedly names divine purpose: God speaks, promises, judges, saves, sends, and writes with ends that serve His glory and His people's life. Hina often marks those ends in the New Testament, but the stated goal belongs to the passage, not to the conjunction alone.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain