αὐτοῦ (autou)
autou
there
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word autou is a genitive form of the pronoun autos that functions as an adverb meaning "there" or "in that place." While autos usually means "he" or "him," this specific inflection shifts the focus to location, pointing back to a previously mentioned spot. It appears in the New Testament with a distinct frequency in Acts and the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Its usage is concrete and directional. For example, in Matthew 26:36, Jesus goes "there" to the garden of Gethsemane, marking a specific geographic shift in the narrative. Similarly, Mark 6:33 describes people going "there" to meet him, reinforcing the sense of movement toward a known destination. In Acts, it serves to anchor characters in particular cities or rooms.
This adverbial use is relatively rare compared to the pronominal forms of autos. It relies on context to identify which place is being referenced, acting as a linguistic pointer rather than a standalone noun. Translators render it simply as "there," preserving the straightforward spatial reference without adding interpretive layers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word autou points us to a specific place, grounding our faith in real history rather than abstract ideas. When Jesus told his disciples to wait while He went there to pray in Gethsemane, He did not retreat into a vague spiritual realm. He entered a known garden, facing the weight of the cross in a tangible location. This reminds us that God meets us in the concrete details of our lives.
We often seek divine encounters in grand settings, but Scripture shows God working in ordinary spots. The early church gathered in rooms and cities, anchored by these simple references to place. Your current situation, however small it may seem, is a valid ground for prayer and encounter. You do not need to travel far to find God’s presence; He is already with you where you are.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- there2×
- there,1×
- here.1×
- here1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- αὐτοῦ3×
- αὐτοῦ.1×
- αὐτοῦ,1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 26:36
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.”
This verse marks the critical shift from the upper room to Gethsemane, showing Jesus moving deliberately toward His suffering.
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Acts 18:19
He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
Paul leaves his companions behind in Ephesus to engage directly with the local Jewish community, highlighting focused ministry.
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Acts 21:4
Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
The disciples’ decision to stay in a specific location for seven days underscores the importance of intentional fellowship and waiting.