Lexical Summary holos: Whole, all, entire, complete Original Word: ὅλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance all, altogether, whole. A primary word; "whole" or "all", i.e. Complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb -- all, altogether, every whit, + throughout, whole. HELPS Word-studies 3650 hólos (a primitive adjective and the root of the English term "whole") – properly, wholly, where all the parts are present and working as a whole – i.e. as the total, which is greater than the mere sum of the parts. This factor is especially significant in metaphorical contexts or those focusing on the spiritual plane. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition whole, complete NASB Translation all (49), all all (1), completely (1), entire (5), entirely (1), full (1), one piece (1), throughout (1), whole (49), wholly (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3650: ὅλοςὅλος, ὅλῃ, ὅλον, the Sept. for כָּל (from Pindar (Homer) down), whole (all): with an anarthrous substantive five (six) times in the N. T., viz. ὅλον ἄνθρωπον, John 7:23; ἐνιαυτόν ὅλον, Acts 11:26; ὅλῃ Ἱερουσαλήμ, Topical Lexicon Scope and Range of Meaning Strong’s 3650 carries the idea of totality—something undivided, lacking nothing, reached in its full measure. Across the New Testament it may qualify places (“the whole land,” Matthew 4:23), people (“the whole crowd,” Mark 1:33), time (“the whole day,” Matthew 20:6), the human person (“with all your heart,” Matthew 22:37), moral obligation (“the whole law,” James 2:10) and even the created order (“the whole world,” 1 John 5:19). The word therefore gathers into one the parts that might otherwise be viewed separately and points to God’s concern for comprehensive, not partial, realities. Whole-Person Devotion to God The most memorable concentration of ὅλος appears in the Great Commandment: “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ ” (Matthew 22:37; cf. Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). Here total love is not an abstract ideal but a covenant requirement that binds every faculty to God. Wholeness of love parallels the undivided heart that the Law and the Prophets have always demanded (Deuteronomy 6:5); Jesus re-affirms that comprehensive allegiance is still the foundational duty of the disciple (Matthew 22:40). Holistic Salvation in Christ Jesus’ ministry is repeatedly described in sweeping terms: He went “throughout all Galilee” (Matthew 4:23) and His fame spread “throughout the whole region” (Matthew 4:24). These summaries underscore the unlimited sufficiency of His saving work. The scope of redemption matches the scope of need: the gospel will be proclaimed “in all the world as a testimony to all nations” (Matthew 24:14). Acts shares the same perspective, ending with Paul “proclaiming the kingdom of God… with all boldness” (Acts 28:30-31), a narrative reminder that the gospel’s reach must not be truncated. Corporate Wholeness of the Church In Acts 9:31 the Church “throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace and was strengthened.” The use of ὅλος signals the unity of diverse congregations under one Lord. Paul extends the thought by addressing “all the saints” in “the whole region of Achaia” (2 Corinthians 1:1) and by thanking God that “your faith is proclaimed in all the world” (Romans 1:8). The term thus frames the Church as one organic body whose health and witness are measured in collective, not merely individual, terms. Total Judgment and Cosmic Conflict Eschatological passages also employ ὅλος. At the sixth seal “the whole moon turned blood-red” (Revelation 6:12), and the beast’s wound astonishes “the whole earth” (Revelation 13:3). In Revelation 12:9 the dragon is said to deceive “the whole world,” portraying comprehensive opposition that will require Christ’s complete victory. The word therefore magnifies both the extent of evil’s reach and the sweeping finality of divine judgment. Moral Integrity and the Law James warns, “Whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). Galatians 5:3 adds that circumcision obligates one “to keep the whole law.” The totality here exposes the futility of selective obedience and drives the reader to rest in Christ, who alone fulfilled the entire requirement on our behalf. Warnings About Pervasive Influence Paul and James alike employ ὅλος with the image of leaven: “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). Small compromises or errors, left unchecked, spread to corrupt the entire community. Conversely, Jesus illustrates the kingdom’s quiet but total permeation when “a woman took leaven and hid it in three measures of flour until it was all leavened” (Matthew 13:33). The term thus alerts believers both to sin’s subtle contagion and to the gospel’s transforming power. Pastoral and Practical Implications • Ministry that mirrors New Testament patterns must aim for whole-person discipleship, engaging heart, mind, soul, and strength. Summary Strong’s 3650 gathers scriptural testimony into a single accent on completeness—of love, salvation, judgment, obedience, and ultimate restoration. The word invites believers to worship and serve God without reservation and to trust a Redeemer whose work embraces the whole of life and the entirety of creation. Forms and Transliterations ολη όλη ὅλη ὅλῃ ολην όλην ὅλην ολης όλης ὅλης ολον όλον ὅλον ολος όλος ὅλος ολοσχερώς ολου όλου ὅλου ολους όλους ὅλους ολω όλω ὅλῳ hole holē hóle hólē hólei hólēi holen holēn hólen hólēn holes holēs hóles hólēs holo holō hóloi hólōi holon hólon holos hólos holou hólou holous hólous ole olē olen olēn oles olēs olo olō olon olos olou olousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 1:22 Adj-NNSGRK: Τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν ἵνα NAS: Now all this took place KJV: Now all this was done, INT: this moreover all came to pass that Matthew 4:23 Adj-DFS Matthew 4:24 Adj-AFS Matthew 5:29 Adj-NNS Matthew 5:30 Adj-NNS Matthew 6:22 Adj-NNS Matthew 6:23 Adj-NNS Matthew 9:26 Adj-AFS Matthew 9:31 Adj-DFS Matthew 13:33 Adj-ANS Matthew 14:35 Adj-AFS Matthew 16:26 Adj-AMS Matthew 20:6 Adj-AFS Matthew 22:37 Adj-DFS Matthew 22:37 Adj-DFS Matthew 22:37 Adj-DFS Matthew 22:40 Adj-NMS Matthew 24:14 Adj-DFS Matthew 26:13 Adj-DMS Matthew 26:56 Adj-NNS Matthew 26:59 Adj-NNS Matthew 27:27 Adj-AFS Mark 1:28 Adj-AFS Mark 1:33 Adj-NFS Mark 1:39 Adj-AFS Strong's Greek 3650 |