οὔπω (oupō)
oupō
not yet
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 26 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adverb oupō conveys the simple but significant idea of "not yet." It combines a negative with a term for time, marking that an expected event has not arrived at this specific moment. In the New Testament, it appears twenty-six times, with a notable concentration in the Gospel of John and the writings of Mark.
This word often highlights a tension between promise and fulfillment. Jesus uses it to describe his own timing, telling his mother in Cana that his hour "has not yet come" (John 2:4). He applies similar logic to John the Baptist’s ministry, noting that John himself is still present because his time "has not yet ended" (John 3:24). The word also appears in moments of confusion, such as when Jesus asks his disciples if they still do not understand, implying their realization is delayed rather than absent.
Its force lies in the anticipation it carries. It is not a permanent denial but a temporary state. Translators usually render it "not yet" or "as yet," preserving the sense that the situation is open to change. The sources note its use in questions and negative constructions, emphasizing that the current reality is incomplete.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word οὔπω (oupō) carries a quiet but powerful weight in Scripture: "not yet." It is never used to say something is impossible, only that it is not time for it to happen. When Jesus tells his mother at Cana that His hour has not yet come, He is not refusing her request but pointing to a divine schedule that cannot be rushed. This distinction offers comfort when we feel stuck in waiting seasons.
Often, this word appears in moments of confusion or incomplete understanding. The disciples are reminded they do not yet grasp the full picture, and believers are told they have not yet seen all things subjected to Christ. These instances remind us that our current view is partial. We are invited to trust the One who controls time, knowing that what is hidden now will be revealed fully in due season.
Instead of frustration, this word invites patience. It suggests that the story is still unfolding and that God’s promises are moving toward fulfillment even when we cannot see the end. We can rest in the assurance that nothing is forgotten or delayed forever, only held until the perfect moment arrives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 26 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- not yet17×
- Not yet7×
- not yet [is]1×
- Still not1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- οὔπω26×
Key Verses
-
John 2:4
Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.”
Jesus uses this phrase to distinguish His human timeline from the Father’s sovereign plan, showing that divine timing supersedes human urgency.
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Hebrews 2:8
You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t yet see all things subjected to him.
The author acknowledges our current limited perspective, confirming that while creation is not yet fully subdued, Christ’s ultimate authority is certain.
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John 3:24
for John was not yet thrown into prison.
This simple temporal marker clarifies the overlapping ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist, preventing confusion about who was active when.
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Mark 8:21
He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
Jesus uses this question to challenge the disciples’ hardness of heart, highlighting that their failure is one of delayed perception rather than total ignorance.