ἕως (heōs)
heōs
until
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 139 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word heōs marks the boundary of time or space, functioning primarily as "until" or "up to." In the New Testament, it appears in over 130 verses, most frequently in Matthew and Luke. It defines a limit, indicating that an action continues up to a specific point but does not necessarily imply what happens after that point.
Its usage varies by context. As a conjunction, it often introduces a future event with the subjunctive mood, such as Jesus’ statement that he will not drink wine again until the Kingdom comes (Matthew 26:29). It can also function as a preposition with the genitive case to denote extent, as in "as far as" or "unto," seen when describing how far Jesus traveled or how long someone lived.
A notable feature is its use with ἄν (an) and the subjunctive to express an uncertain future limit, versus the indicative mood for established past facts. This distinction helps translators choose between "until" for a continuing state and "as long as" for duration, as seen in John 9:4 where Jesus speaks of working while it is day. The word provides a clear temporal or spatial endpoint without speculating on what follows.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ἕως (heōs) marks a boundary, pointing to an 'until' that defines a season of waiting or a period of preparation. In Scripture, it often highlights God’s patience and the certainty of His promises. When Jesus said He would not drink wine again until the Kingdom comes, He anchored hope in a future reality that is sure to arrive.
This word invites us to live with expectation rather than anxiety. It reminds us that our current struggles or waiting periods have an endpoint defined by God’s timing. We are not left in uncertainty; we are held within a timeline where justice and restoration will fully manifest. This gives weight to our daily faithfulness, knowing that every moment leads toward His ultimate purpose.
Whether facing personal trials or watching for Christ’s return, ἕως assures us that God’s plans do not stall. We can rest in the knowledge that He is faithful to complete what He has started, bringing us safely through every season until we see Him face to face.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 139 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- until110×
- to7×
- Until7×
- up to4×
- unto4×
- as far as4×
- while3×
- to [the]3×
- until [the]2×
- so much as1×
- before1×
- [only] as far as1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἕως148×
Key Verses
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Matthew 13:30
Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
In the parable of the weeds, this word defines the patience of God, allowing both good and evil to coexist until the final harvest for judgment.
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Matthew 5:18
For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
Jesus employs this term with cosmic imagery to emphasize the absolute permanence of Scripture until every detail is fulfilled.
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Matthew 2:13
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
The angel’s instruction to stay in Egypt until further notice shows how God guides His people through uncertain times with clear, temporary boundaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word ἕως mean?
Does 'until' in the Bible imply what happens after that point?
How is ἕως different from other words for 'until'?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (139 verses across 15 books)
Matthew 43 verses
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen…
Matthew 1:25and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
Matthew 2:9They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until…
Matthew 2:13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the…
Matthew 2:15and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet,…
Matthew 5:18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke…
Matthew 5:25Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the…
Matthew 5:26Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 10:11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on.
Matthew 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone…
Matthew 11:12From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Matthew 11:23You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom…
Matthew 12:20He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory.
Matthew 13:30Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel…
Matthew 13:33He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of…
Matthew 14:22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the…
Matthew 16:28Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death until they see the Son of Man…
Matthew 17:9As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the…
Matthew 17:17Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring…
Matthew 18:21Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven…
Matthew 18:22Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:30He would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due.
Matthew 18:34His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.
Matthew 20:8“When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages,…
Matthew 22:26In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh.
Matthew 22:44‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’?
Matthew 23:35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of…
Matthew 23:39For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Matthew 24:21for then there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever…
Matthew 24:27For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:31He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the…
Matthew 24:34Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished.
Matthew 24:39and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 26:29But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with…
Matthew 26:36Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and…
Matthew 26:38Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”
Matthew 26:58But Peter followed him from a distance to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to…
Matthew 27:8Therefore that field has been called “The Field of Blood” to this day.
Matthew 27:45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
Matthew 27:51Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
Matthew 27:64Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal…
Matthew 28:20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”…