ὁποῖος (hopoios)
hopoios
what sort?
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word hopoios functions as an interrogative adjective asking about quality or nature, translating simply to "what sort" or "what kind." It appears five times in the New Testament, primarily within the letters of James and Paul. Rather than asking for a specific name, it seeks to define the character or substance of a thing.
In Acts 26:29, Paul uses the related form to express a desire that everyone might become like him, highlighting its use in comparisons. In James 1:24, the term describes a person who forgets what kind of face they had after looking in a mirror, emphasizing the temporary nature of self-reflection without action. The word forces the reader to consider the underlying reality behind a surface appearance.
Its construction combines an interrogative prefix with the root for "kind" or "sort." This etymology underscores its role in distinguishing between different categories of existence or behavior. Translators render it as "what manner" or "what sort," preserving the direct inquiry into the essential nature of the subject at hand.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hopoios invites us to look past surface appearances and consider the true nature of things. It asks not just what something is, but what sort of thing it is. This simple question challenges us to examine the quality of our actions and the sincerity of our faith.
In James 1:24, this word highlights a common human struggle: looking in a mirror and then immediately forgetting what we saw. It reminds us that knowledge without action is fleeting. We are encouraged to let God’s truth shape our identity permanently, rather than letting it wash away like water from a face.
When we ask God to reveal the 'what sort' of our hearts, we open ourselves to genuine growth. This word calls for honesty and depth in our spiritual journey, urging us to build lives that reflect lasting character rather than temporary impressions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- whatsoever1×
- what sort1×
- what like1×
- what1×
- as1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὁποῖος2×
- ὁποῖόν1×
- ὁποῖοί1×
- ὁποίαν1×
Key Verses
-
James 1:24
for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
This verse uses the word to describe a person who forgets their true identity after seeing it, emphasizing the need for enduring application of truth.
-
I Corinthians 3:13
each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.
Here the word asks what sort of work each person has built, highlighting that the quality of our efforts will be tested by God's fire.
-
Acts 26:29
Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.”
Paul uses a related form to express his desire that everyone might become like him in Christ, showing the word's use in comparing spiritual states.