What does ὡς (hōs) mean in the Bible?
hos is a Greek comparison and manner word often rendered as, like, as though, or in the way that. It can introduce a comparison, describe manner, frame a role, or connect an action to a pattern.
Greek · G5613
ὡς
As/when
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ὡς G5613
Pronunciation hōs
What does ὡς (hōs) mean in the Bible?
hos is a Greek comparison and manner word often rendered as, like, as though, or in the way that. It can introduce a comparison, describe manner, frame a role, or connect an action to a pattern.
Reader summary
Full entry for ὡς (G5613) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5613?
The BSB source-word alignment has 505 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include as (149), like (99), when (31), - (24), just as (15).
Where does ὡς (hōs) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 1:24. Its strongest book concentrations include Revelation (71), Acts (63), Luke (51), Matthew (40).
What This Word Actually Means
Hos is a Greek comparison and manner word often rendered as, like, as though, or in the way that. It can introduce a comparison, describe manner, frame a role, or connect an action to a pattern. Pastorally, the word matters because Scripture often teaches discipleship through comparison without flattening the difference between God and His people. Believers are called to be perfect as the Father is perfect, to pray for God's will on earth as in heaven, to become like children, and to imitate God as beloved children.
The teacher must observe what kind of comparison is being made. hos can call for resemblance, expose contrast, or describe a manner of action, but it does not erase the creator-creature distinction or make every comparison equal in force.
How the Bible Uses It
Hos helps passages set likeness, manner, role, or comparison. These anchors move from likeness to the Father, prayer for earth as in heaven, Jesus teaching as one with authority, childlike entrance into the kingdom, adult maturity contrasted with childhood, and imitation of God as beloved children.
- Matt.5.48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus calls His disciples to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect. The comparison is ethically serious but must be held within creaturely dependence.
- Matt.6.10
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
The prayer asks for God's will on earth as it is in heaven. hos supports the comparison between heavenly obedience and earthly longing.
- Matt.7.29
Because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Jesus teaches as one having authority. The word marks manner and contrast with the scribes in Matthew's summary of the Sermon.
- Matt.18.3
“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus says entrance into the kingdom requires becoming like little children. The comparison points to dependent humility, not childishness as a virtue in itself.
- 1Cor.13.11
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.
Paul contrasts speaking, thinking, and reasoning like a child with mature adulthood. hos helps express the analogy of maturity in love.
- Eph.5.1
Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,
Believers are to imitate God as beloved children. The comparison grounds ethical imitation in adopted belovedness, not in self-made divinity.
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 as 149× Matthew 1:24, Matthew 5:48, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 7:29
like 99× Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16, Matthew 6:29, Matthew 10:16
when 31× Luke 1:23, Luke 2:39, Luke 5:4, John 4:1
- 24× Matthew 24:38, Luke 6:4, John 2:9, John 7:10
just as 15× Matthew 18:33, Acts 10:47, Romans 5:18, 1 Corinthians 16:10
vvv 15× Luke 22:66, Romans 15:15, 1 Corinthians 9:26, 1 Corinthians 12:2
about 13× Mark 8:9, John 1:39, John 4:6, John 6:10
how 13× Mark 4:27, Luke 8:47, Luke 23:55, Luke 24:6
. . . 12× Mark 4:26, Mark 9:21, Luke 1:41, Luke 2:15
as if 12× Acts 3:12, 1 Corinthians 3:15, 1 Corinthians 4:18, 1 Corinthians 7:29
[was] like 6× Revelation 1:15, Revelation 1:16, Revelation 9:5, Revelation 9:9
while 5× Luke 12:58, John 2:23, John 12:35, John 12:36
as though 4× 1 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Colossians 2:20, 1 Peter 4:12
that 4× Mark 14:72, Luke 22:61, Acts 17:22, 2 Corinthians 7:15
[something] like 3× Acts 9:18, Revelation 8:8, Revelation 15:2
After 3× Acts 9:23, Acts 19:21, Acts 21:1
of 3× John 1:14, Revelation 13:2
So 3× Hebrews 3:11, Hebrews 4:3, Hebrews 7:9
[a sound] like 2× Revelation 19:1, Revelation 19:6
[and] 2× Luke 4:25, Luke 24:32
[are] like 2× 2 Peter 2:12, 2 Peter 3:8
[I became like one] 2× 1 Corinthians 9:20, 1 Corinthians 9:21
[is] like 2× 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 20:8
[were] like 2× Revelation 1:14, Revelation 10:1
according to 2× Romans 12:3, Revelation 22:12
as [one who] 2× Luke 23:14, 1 Corinthians 7:25
as [you did] 2× Hebrews 3:8, Hebrews 3:15
as if [I were] 2× Galatians 4:14
as to 2× 2 Corinthians 6:13, 1 Timothy 5:1
Because 2× Acts 22:11, Hebrews 11:27
for about 2× Luke 1:56, Revelation 8:1
on 2× John 11:6, Romans 15:24
on the pretext 2× Acts 23:15, Acts 23:20
the size of 2× Matthew 17:20, Revelation 18:21
to 2× Luke 9:52, 2 Corinthians 13:7
[ He writes ] this way 1× 2 Peter 3:16
[ what sounded ] like 1× Revelation 6:6
[after] 1× John 7:10
[All this took about] 1× Acts 13:20
[alleging] 1× 2 Thessalonians 2:2
[although] as 1× 1 Thessalonians 2:6
[and to which] 1× 1 Corinthians 7:17
[comes] 1× 2 Corinthians 3:5
[even though] 1× Acts 28:19
[For] 1× Philemon 1:9
[he should serve] 1× 1 Peter 4:11
[he should speak] as 1× 1 Peter 4:11
[It is] like 1× Mark 13:34
[Live] 1× 1 Peter 2:16
[live] as 1× 1 Peter 2:16
[On] 1× Acts 27:27
[that] 1× 1 Corinthians 7:17
[was something] like 1× Revelation 4:6
[who was] about 1× Luke 8:42
[with something] 1× Revelation 9:7
{he is} like 1× John 15:6
{weighing} almost 1× Revelation 16:21
a little less than 1× John 11:18
appeared 1× Revelation 13:3
as [he loves] 1× Ephesians 5:33
as [it is] 1× Matthew 6:10
as [one] 1× Matthew 7:29
as [you would receive] 1× Philemon 1:17
as {a stranger} 1× Hebrews 11:9
as for 1× Colossians 3:23
as if [it were] 1× Romans 9:32
As soon as 1× Acts 16:10
even as 1× 1 Peter 4:15
For 1× Luke 20:37
if only 1× Acts 20:24
in 1× Revelation 6:1
in order to 1× 1 Thessalonians 2:4
It is like 1× Mark 4:31
just as if 1× 1 Corinthians 5:3
just like 1× Matthew 12:13
like [those] 1× Revelation 9:8
like that 1× Revelation 16:3
of about 1× Mark 5:13
of how 1× 1 Thessalonians 2:10
seeming 1× 2 Thessalonians 2:2
since 1× Mark 4:36
that [we treated] 1× 1 Thessalonians 2:11
that is 1× Hebrews 12:27
that looked like 1× Revelation 16:13
the same as 1× Matthew 20:14
the size 1× Luke 17:6
to be 1× 2 Corinthians 10:9
viewed as 1× 2 Corinthians 6:8
where 1× Luke 11:1
who appeared 1× Revelation 5:6
with 1× 2 Corinthians 2:17
yet 1× Romans 4:17
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 1:24 ὡς to as Adverb Matthew 5:48 ὡς to as Adverb Matthew 6:5 ὡς to like Adverb Matthew 6:10 Ὡς to as [it is] Adverb Matthew 6:12 Ὡς to as Adverb Matthew 6:16 ὡς to like Adverb Matthew 6:29 ὡς to like Adverb Matthew 7:29 ὡς to as [one] Adverb Matthew 7:29 ὡς to as Adverb Matthew 8:13 ὡς to As Adverb
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 1:24
Aligned rows 505
Books represented 26
Matthew 40 Mark 22 Luke 51 John 32 Acts 63 Romans 21 1 Corinthians 38 2 Corinthians 31 Galatians 9 Ephesians 16 Philippians 7 Colossians 7 1 Thessalonians 9 2 Thessalonians 4 1 Timothy 4 2 Timothy 5 Titus 2 Philemon 4 Hebrews 22 James 5 1 Peter 27 2 Peter 10 1 John 2 2 John 1 Jude 2 Revelation 71
Source forms
ὡς 461x hōs Matthew 1:24, Matthew 5:48, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16
Ὡς 40x Hōs Matthew 6:10, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 26:55, Mark 13:34
ὥς 2x hōs 2 Corinthians 3:1, 2 Peter 3:9
〈ὡς 1x hōs John 7:46
ὡς* 1x hōs Luke 9:52
Parsing patterns
Adverb 502x Matthew 1:24, Matthew 5:48, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:10
Conjunction 3x John 7:46, Acts 19:21, Revelation 19:12
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Let the passage define the point of likeness before applying it.
- Hold imitation together with dependence, adoption, and grace.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim hos always means exact equivalence.
- Do not claim believers can imitate God apart from belonging to Him as beloved children.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. as/when
Strong's G5613
Lexical occurrences 503 verses Greek text appearances 494 times 16 shown below Word forms 3 forms 503 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
as/when
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 494 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 1:24 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 6:10 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 6:12 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 6:29 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 7:29 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 7:29 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 8:13 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 10:16 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 10:16 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 10:16 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 10:25 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 10:25 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 12:13 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 13:43 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 14:5 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, so that
Read verse Matthew 15:28 Adverb
ὡς wv
as, like as, how, while, 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 3 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 3 Aligned forms 503
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Matt 1:24 · Matt 5:48 · Matt 6:5 · Matt 6:10 · Matt 6:12 · Matt 6:16 · Matt 6:29 · Matt 7:29 · Matt 8:13 · Matt 10:16 · Matt 10:25 · Matt 12:13 · Matt 13:43 · Matt 14:5 · Matt 15:28 · Matt 17:2 463×
Mark 5:13 · Mark 8:9 · Mark 9:21 · Luke 1:56 · Luke 4:25 · Luke 8:42 · Luke 22:61 · John 6:10 · John 6:19 · John 11:18 · John 19:39 · John 21:8 · Acts 1:15 · Acts 4:4 · Acts 5:7 · Acts 5:36 36×
John 1:39 · John 4:6 · John 19:14 · 1 Pet 2:11 4×
Word Origins
ὡς is built from this root:
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
Hos gives preachers a way to handle biblical comparison with both courage and humility. Scripture really does call God's people to be like their Father, to pray for earth to reflect heaven, and to imitate God as beloved children. At the same time, the word does not make believers divine, remove dependence, or collapse every difference between the compared realities.
Its pastoral power lies in ordered resemblance. Children imitate a father because they belong to him; disciples become childlike because the kingdom is received, not seized; maturity leaves childish ways behind because love requires growth. The comparison must be received on the passage's own terms.
Anchor passage
Eph.5.1
Doctrinal connections
- Holiness: Matthew 5:48 uses comparison to press disciples toward the Father's completeness.
- Kingdom prayer: Matthew 6:10 compares earthly obedience with heavenly obedience.
- Christ's authority: Matthew 7:29 marks Jesus' teaching manner as distinct from the scribes.
- Humility: Matthew 18:3 uses childlikeness to expose pride and self-importance.
- Maturity: 1 Corinthians 13:11 uses childhood and adulthood to teach growth in love.
- Adoption and imitation: Ephesians 5:1 grounds Godward imitation in being beloved children.
Hos is a flexible comparative particle or conjunction. It may introduce manner, role, comparison, or analogy. The teacher should identify whether the comparison is ethical, illustrative, temporal, or descriptive.
From Old to New Testament
The call to reflect God's character runs through Scripture, from Israel's call to holiness to the New Testament call to imitate God as beloved children in Christ.
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