ὁσάκις (hosakis)
hosakis
whenever
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb hosakis translates simply to "as often as" or "whenever." It functions as a temporal marker that links a repeated action to a specific condition, emphasizing the consistency of an event whenever that condition is met. In the New Testament, this word appears only three times, making its usage distinct and focused.
Two of these occurrences are found in 1 Corinthians 11:25-26, where Paul describes the Lord's Supper. He instructs the church to eat bread and drink from the cup "as often as" they do so, thereby proclaiming Jesus' death until he returns. This usage highlights a regular, recurring practice within early Christian worship rather than a one-time event.
The third instance appears in Revelation 11:6, describing the power given to the two witnesses. They have authority to shut up the sky so that it does not rain "as often as" they wish. Here, the word underscores the absolute and repeated nature of their miraculous control over the elements during their testimony.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hosakis carries a simple but profound sense of reliability. It means "whenever" or "as often as," linking a repeated action to a consistent condition. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, yet each instance highlights God’s faithfulness in recurring moments. Whether in worship or in miraculous power, this word reminds us that divine promises are not one-time events but ongoing realities.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul uses this term to anchor the Lord’s Supper. He tells believers to eat and drink "as often as" they do so, proclaiming Jesus’ death until He returns. This is not a rigid rule but an invitation to remember Christ regularly. Each time we gather around the table, we step into that same promise of remembrance and hope.
Similarly, in Revelation, the two witnesses exercise their power "as often as" they desire. This shows that God’s authority is active and available whenever He chooses to act. For us, this means we can trust in His presence and power in every season. Whenever we face trials or celebrate joys, we can rely on the consistency of God’s word and His enduring love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- as often as2×
- As often as1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὁσάκις3×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 11:25
In the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.”
This verse establishes the Lord's Supper as a recurring act of remembrance, using 'as often as' to emphasize that remembering Christ’s sacrifice is a regular part of Christian life.
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I Corinthians 11:26
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Here the word links the physical act of eating and drinking directly to the spiritual proclamation of Jesus’ death, showing that each repetition reinforces our hope in His return.
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Revelation of John 11:6
These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
This occurrence highlights the absolute authority given to the witnesses, demonstrating that God’s power is exercised repeatedly and intentionally throughout their prophetic ministry.