οὖν (oun)
oun
therefore/then
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 526 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek particle oun functions as a connective thread, signaling that what follows is a consequence or a natural continuation of what came before. Translators typically render it as "therefore" or "then," but its role is less about strict logical deduction and more about narrative flow. It appears nearly five hundred times in the New Testament, serving as a versatile hinge between ideas.
Its usage extends beyond simple cause-and-effect. In the Gospels, particularly John, it often resumes a story after a digression or shifts the scene, acting as a gentle cue that the narrative is moving forward. It also appears frequently in exhortations and questions, helping to ground moral instructions or inquiries in the reality just described. Rather than standing alone at the start of a sentence, it usually follows another word, anchoring the new thought to the previous context.
The sources highlight that its precise shade of meaning depends entirely on the surrounding text. It can indicate a firm conclusion, as when Jesus connects belief with action, or simply mark the passage of time and sequence of events. This flexibility allows it to weave together complex arguments and simple stories alike, ensuring the reader perceives the logical or temporal link between distinct parts of the message.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word οὖν (oun) is a quiet connector that appears hundreds of times in the New Testament. It signals that what follows is a natural result of what came before. Rather than demanding strict logical proof, it helps the reader follow the flow of Jesus’ teaching or the narrative’s progression. This gentle transition invites us to see how God’s actions and instructions fit together into a coherent whole.
In your daily life, this word reminds you that faith is not a series of isolated moments but a connected journey. When Jesus says “therefore” in Matthew 6:34, He links our trust in God’s provision with freedom from anxiety about tomorrow. The connection is clear: because God knows your needs, you can release your worry. This pattern repeats throughout Scripture, showing that our responses are grounded in who God is and what He has done.
Understanding this link helps us read the Bible with greater attention to context. We learn to ask how a command or promise relates to the truth just stated. This awareness fosters a deeper appreciation for the unity of Scripture. It encourages us to rest in the steady rhythm of God’s word, knowing that every “therefore” points us toward His faithful character and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 526 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- therefore403×
- then91×
- Therefore12×
- therefore,9×
- then?4×
- then,4×
- therefore;3×
- then;2×
- then:2×
- then [is]2×
- so2×
- Then2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- οὖν512×
- οὖν,14×
- οὖν·8×
- οὖν;4×
- οὐν1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 6:34
Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
This verse uses οὖν to connect the Father’s knowledge of our needs with the command to stop worrying about tomorrow, grounding trust in God's provision.
-
Matthew 7:12
Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
Here οὖν introduces the Golden Rule as a practical summary of the Law and Prophets, showing how love for others flows from understanding God’s will.
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Matthew 3:8
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
In this verse, οὖn links John the Baptist’s call to repentance with the visible evidence of changed lives, emphasizing that true faith produces action.
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Matthew 10:31
Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
This occurrence connects the value of believers to God with a command not to fear, reminding us that our worth in His eyes should shape our courage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word οὖν (oun) mean?
How is οὖν different from other Greek words for 'therefore'?
Where does οὖν appear most frequently in the New Testament?
Every Occurrence (526 verses across 24 books)
Matthew 56 verses
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen…
Matthew 3:8Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
Matthew 3:10Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and…
Matthew 5:19Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the…
Matthew 5:23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
Matthew 5:48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 6:2Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues…
Matthew 6:8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:9Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
Matthew 6:22“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
Matthew 6:23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness,…
Matthew 6:31“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’
Matthew 6:34Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
Matthew 7:11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven…
Matthew 7:12Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:24“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on…
Matthew 9:38Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 10:16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:26Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be…
Matthew 10:31Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 12:12Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.”
Matthew 12:26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
Matthew 13:18“Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.
Matthew 13:27The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these…
Matthew 13:28“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
Matthew 13:40As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.
Matthew 13:56Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”
Matthew 17:10His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
Matthew 18:4Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:26The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’
Matthew 18:29“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’
Matthew 18:31So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told their lord all that was…
Matthew 19:6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”
Matthew 19:7They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”
Matthew 21:25The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say,…
Matthew 21:40When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”
Matthew 22:9Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.’
Matthew 22:17Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
Matthew 22:21They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God…
Matthew 22:28In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”
Matthew 22:43He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,
Matthew 22:45“If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
Matthew 23:3All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and…
Matthew 23:20He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it.
Matthew 24:15“When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in…
Matthew 24:26“If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’…
Matthew 24:42Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.
Matthew 25:13Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Matthew 25:27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own…
Matthew 25:28Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
Matthew 26:54How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”
Matthew 27:17When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or…
Matthew 27:22Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
Matthew 27:64Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal…
Matthew 28:19Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,