ὡσεί (hōsei)
hōsei
like/as/about
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb hōsei conveys a sense of approximation or resemblance, functioning as "as if," "like," or "about." In the New Testament, it appears in twenty-one verses, frequently used to describe visual impressions that resemble something else without being identical. For instance, Matthew 3:16 uses it to depict the Spirit descending like a dove, while Luke 24:11 describes the disciples’ reaction as if the words were nonsense.
A second major usage involves numbers and measurements, where it translates to "about" or "approximately." This is common in historical narratives that estimate quantities or ages. Luke 3:23 notes Jesus was about thirty years old, and Matthew 14:21 estimates five thousand men were fed. In Acts 19:7, it specifies the number of disciples as about twelve.
Its etymology combines words for "as" and a dative case marker, creating a flexible term for comparison or estimation. Translators must choose between rendering it as a simile or a numerical approximation based on context. This dual nature allows the text to balance vivid imagery with practical detail, grounding spiritual events in tangible human experience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read that Jesus was about thirty years old or that five thousand people were fed, the word hōsei grounds the story in real life. It tells us these are approximations, not rigid statistics. This invites us to see the Gospels not as dry reports but as living accounts where God meets us in tangible, everyday moments. The details help us visualize the scene without getting lost in trying to calculate exact numbers.
We also see this word used for visual impressions, such as seeing a face like that of an angel or sweat like drops of blood. These comparisons help our minds grasp spiritual realities by linking them to things we can see and feel. It reminds us that the divine often reveals itself through familiar, human experiences. This makes the faith feel close and accessible rather than distant or abstract.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- about11×
- as5×
- like3×
- as if2×
- of about1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὡσεὶ22×
Key Verses
-
Luke 3:23
Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
This verse uses the word to estimate Jesus' age, placing His public ministry firmly within a specific historical timeframe.
-
Matthew 14:21
Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
Here it quantifies the crowd fed by Jesus, emphasizing the scale of the miracle without requiring an exact headcount.
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Luke 22:44
Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.
The word describes sweat like drops of blood, using a vivid simile to convey the intensity of Jesus' physical and spiritual agony.
-
Acts 6:15
All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
It compares Stephen's face to an angel's, illustrating the divine glory shining through him during his trial before the council.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hōsei mean in the New Testament?
Is hōsei always used for numbers?
Why does the Bible use approximations instead of exact numbers?
Every Occurrence (21 verses across 6 books)
Matthew 3 verses
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the…
Matthew 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like…
Matthew 14:21Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.