ἴσος (isos)
isos
equal
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word isos means equal in size, number, or quality. It appears eight times in the New Testament, often describing situations where people claim equivalence to establish a legal or moral standing. In Mark 14:59 and Matthew 20:12, it describes witnesses or workers arguing that their testimony or labor is equivalent to others, highlighting how this term grounds disputes in measurable fairness.
Its theological weight emerges when applied to Jesus in John 5:18 and Philippians 2:6. Here, religious leaders accuse Jesus of making Himself equal with God, while Paul notes Christ did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. This usage shifts the word from a simple measurement of likeness to a profound statement about divine nature and status.
The root likely connects to the idea of seeming or appearing, suggesting that equality is often judged by outward appearance. Translators render it as "equal" or "the same," preserving its core sense of parity. In Revelation 21:16, it describes the city’s dimensions as perfectly square, using the term adverbially to emphasize absolute uniformity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word isos speaks to the deep human desire for fairness and recognition. In everyday life, we often measure our efforts against others, wondering if our contributions are valued equally. Jesus addresses this tension directly in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. When those who worked all day grumbled about receiving the same wage as those who worked only an hour, they were appealing to a strict sense of merit-based equality. This moment reveals how easily we can let comparison steal our joy and gratitude for God’s generous grace.
Yet the New Testament also uses this word in its most profound theological context. In Philippians 2:6, we learn that Jesus existed in the very form of God, possessing perfect equality with the Father. He did not cling to this status as something to be exploited for personal gain. Instead, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant. This shifts our understanding of equality from a tool for competition to a model of humble service. True greatness is found not in demanding equal treatment, but in giving oneself away for others.
When we face situations where we feel undervalued or treated unfairly, this word invites us to look beyond human standards of fairness. It reminds us that God’s gifts are given freely, not earned by our labor. By following Christ’s example, we find freedom from the need to prove our worth. We can rest in the knowledge that our identity is secure in Him, allowing us to serve others with a generous and peaceful heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- equal4×
- alike2×
- same amount.1×
- same1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἴσα2×
- ἴσους1×
- ἴσον1×
- ἴσην1×
- ἴση1×
- ἴσαι1×
- ἴσα.1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 20:12
saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’
This verse captures the human impulse to measure fairness by strict equivalence of effort, highlighting the tension between merit and grace.
-
John 5:18
For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Here the term carries heavy theological weight as religious leaders accuse Jesus of claiming divine status equal to God Himself.
-
Philippians 2:6
who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Paul describes Christ’s pre-existent state, noting He did not exploit His equality with God for self-advantage but chose humility.