πόσος (posos)
posos
how much/many?
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 27 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word posos is an interrogative adjective that asks about quantity, magnitude, or degree. In plain English, it translates to "how much," "how great," or "how many." It does not ask for a name or identity, but rather seeks to measure the size of something, whether that is a number of items, a volume of space, or an amount of time.
This term appears frequently in the Gospels during moments where physical resources are being evaluated. Jesus uses it to highlight human limitations and divine provision, such as when he asks his disciples how many loaves they have (Matthew 15:34) or how long a boy has been afflicted by illness (Mark 9:21). The plural form often addresses countable objects, while the neuter singular can refer to abstract amounts or time periods.
A distinctive feature of posos is its use in comparative questions with the word mallon ("more"). In passages like Matthew 7:11 and Luke 12:24, Jesus asks how much more God will provide compared to earthly parents or birds. This usage shifts the focus from a simple calculation of numbers to a rhetorical argument about value and priority, emphasizing that spiritual realities outweigh material concerns.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word posos asks us to look at what we have and measure it against God’s power. In the Gospels, Jesus often uses this question to shift our focus from scarcity to provision. When He asks how many loaves are available, He is not merely checking inventory; He is inviting His disciples to offer their small resources so He can multiply them for others.
This term also appears in rhetorical questions that highlight the vast difference between human limitation and divine care. By comparing earthly parents or wild birds to our Heavenly Father, the text reminds us that if God provides for lesser things, He certainly cares for His children. It is an invitation to trust that spiritual needs are met with greater abundance than material ones.
When we feel overwhelmed by lack, this word encourages a simple prayer of honesty. We bring our few loaves or small fish to Jesus, knowing He can do more with little than we could achieve alone. Let this truth settle in your heart: God is not limited by the size of your offering, but delights in using it for good.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 27 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- how much10×
- how many4×
- How much4×
- How many4×
- how many things2×
- of how many1×
- how great!1×
- How long1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πόσῳ10×
- πόσους5×
- πόσον2×
- πόσα2×
- πόσῳ,1×
- πόσων1×
- πόσος1×
- πόσον.¶1×
- πόσοι1×
- πόσην1×
- πόσας1×
- πόσαι1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 15:34
Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
Jesus uses this question to highlight the disciples' initial lack of faith before performing a miracle with seven loaves.
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Matthew 7:11
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
The word introduces a rhetorical comparison showing that God’s generosity far exceeds even the best human parents.
-
Mark 9:21
He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has been happening to him?” He said, “From childhood.
Here it asks about the duration of suffering, emphasizing the long-term nature of the boy's affliction before Jesus heals him.
-
Luke 16:5
Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’
The steward uses this question to assess debt amounts, illustrating how human calculations differ from God’s kingdom wisdom.
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Romans 11:24
For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Paul employs it to argue that if God grafts wild branches in, He will surely restore His natural people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word posos mean?
How is posos different from other Greek words for 'how much'?
Why does Jesus ask 'how many loaves' in the Gospels?
Does posos appear in the Pauline epistles?
Every Occurrence (27 verses across 8 books)
Matthew 8 verses
But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness,…
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 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the…
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 15:34Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
Matthew 16:9Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up,
Matthew 16:10or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
Matthew 27:13Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”