τις (tis)
tis
one
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 495 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word tis functions as an indefinite pronoun, translating to "someone," "something," or "a certain one." It appears frequently across the New Testament, particularly in Acts and the Gospels, where it introduces figures whose specific identity is either unknown or intentionally left vague. As a substantival use, it refers to an unspecified person or thing, allowing the narrative to focus on the action rather than the individual’s name.
Its flexibility extends to adjectival roles, where it modifies nouns to mean "some" or "a certain." This usage often signals that the speaker knows who is being discussed but chooses not to name them, as seen when Mark identifies Simon of Cyrene as "a certain" man passing by (Mark 15:21). The word also carries a generic sense in questions or conditional statements, covering "anyone" or "anything," which broadens its scope beyond specific individuals to include general possibilities.
Etymologically, tis is related to the interrogative pronoun tis (who/what), sharing the same root but differing in accent and function. While the interrogative form asks for specific information, the indefinite form provides a placeholder for unknown or non-specific entities. This distinction allows New Testament authors to shift seamlessly from seeking answers to stating facts about unnamed participants in biblical events.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tis often introduces an unnamed person or thing, shifting focus from identity to action. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus uses it when saying, “If anyone desires to come after me.” This phrasing invites every reader into the call without requiring a specific name or status. It suggests that discipleship is open to all who respond.
Similarly, in Mark 5:25, a woman with a long illness is described as “a certain” person. Her story highlights how God notices individuals even when their names are not recorded. The indefinite nature of tis allows the text to emphasize personal encounter over public recognition.
This word reminds us that our value does not depend on being known by many, but on being seen by God. Whether we are named or unnamed in history, our actions and faith matter deeply in His sight.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 495 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- anyone134×
- some79×
- certain56×
- any44×
- anything41×
- one32×
- a certain28×
- something16×
- someone15×
- Some11×
- of anyone4×
- anything,4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τις226×
- τι95×
- τινες55×
- τινα30×
- τινὲς14×
- τινὰ13×
- τινος13×
- τινας13×
- τινι9×
- τινὰς7×
- τινων7×
- τίς5×
Key Verses
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Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Jesus uses tis to generalize the call to discipleship, making it applicable to any listener rather than a specific individual.
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Mark 5:25
A certain woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years,
The phrase ‘a certain woman’ highlights her personal struggle with illness while keeping her identity secondary to her act of faith.
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Matthew 18:12
“What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?
In the parable, tis refers to one sheep among a hundred, emphasizing God’s specific care for each individual who strays.
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Matthew 12:38
Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
Tis identifies an unspecified group of scribes and Pharisees requesting a sign, showing how the word can denote a generic or unnamed audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word tis mean?
How is tis different from the interrogative tis?
Why does the New Testament use tis instead of names?
Where does tis appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (495 verses across 27 books)
Matthew 21 verses
“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
Matthew 8:28When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there,…
Matthew 9:3Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”
Matthew 11:27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know…
Matthew 12:19He will not strive, nor shout, neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
Matthew 12:29Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then…
Matthew 12:38Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
Matthew 12:47One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.”
Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and…
Matthew 16:28Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death until they see the Son of Man…
Matthew 18:12“What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go…
Matthew 18:28“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him…
Matthew 20:20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
Matthew 21:3If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
Matthew 21:33“Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it,…
Matthew 22:24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up…
Matthew 22:46No one was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forward.
Matthew 24:4Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.
Matthew 24:23“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it.
Matthew 27:47Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
Matthew 28:11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things that…