Original Word: ἵνα
Part of Speech: Conjunction
Transliteration: hina
Pronunciation: HEE-nah
Phonetic Spelling: (hin'-ah)
KJV: albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to
NASB: so, order, result
Word Origin: [probably from the same as the former part of G1438 (ἑαυτού - himself) (through the demonstrative idea)]

1. in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)

albeit, because, in order that, lest

Probably from the same as the former part of heautou (through the demonstrative idea; compare ho); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result) -- albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare hina me.

see GREEK heautou

see GREEK ho

see GREEK hina me

2443 hína (a subordinating conjunction) – for the purpose that (in order that), looking to the aim (intended result) of the verbal idea. 2443 /hína ("for the purpose that") is "the semantically marked (dramatic) way of expressing purpose in Greek (as compared for example to the plain infinitive)" (G. Archer).

[2443 9hina) answers to l^emaʽan in Hebrew.]

Word Origin
a prim. conjunction denoting purpose, definition or result
Definition
in order that, that, so that
NASB Translation
fear* (2), order (23), otherwise* (3), result (1), so (306), so* (12), why* (3).

STRONGS NT 2443: ἵνα

ἵνα,

I. an adverb of place, from Homer down, especially in the poets;

a. where; in what place.

b. to what place; whither. Of the former signification C. F. A. Fritzsche (on Matthew, p. 836; differently in Fritzschiorum Opusco., p. 186ff) thought he had found two examples in Biblical Greek, and H. A. W. Meyer agrees with him. The first, viz. ἵνα μή φυσιοῦσθε, 1 Corinthians 4:6, they explain thus: where (i. e. in which state of things, viz. when ye have learned from my example to think humbly of yourselves) the one is not exalted to the other's disadvantage; the second, ἵνα αὐτούς ζηλοῦτε, Galatians 4:17, thus: where ye zealously court them; but see II. 1 d. below.

II. a final conjunction (for from local direction, indicated by the adverb, the transition was easy to mental direction or intention) denoting purpose and end: to the intent that; to the end that, in order that; ἵνα μή, that not, lest; it is used:

1. properly, of the purpose or end;

a. followed by the optative; only twice, and then preceded by the present of a verb of praying or beseeching, where the wish (optatio) expressed by the prayer gave occasion for the use of the optative: Ephesians 1:17 but WH marginal reading subjunctive; Ephesians 3:16 R G; cf. Winers Grammar, 290 (273); Buttmann, 233 (201); and yet in both instances the relic force of the particle is so weakened that it denotes the substance rather than the end of the prayer; see 2 below.

b. followed by the subjunctive, not only (according to the rule observed by the best Greek writers) after the primary tenses (present, perfect, future) or the imperative, but (in accordance with that well-known negligence with which in later times and especially by Hellenistic writers the distinction between the subjunctive and the optative was disregarded) after preterites even where the more elegant Greek writers were accustomed to use the optative; cf. Hermann ad Vig., p. 847ff; Klotz ad Der. ii., 2 p. 616ff; Winers Grammar, 287ff (270ff); Buttmann, 233 (201). α. after a present: Mark 4:21; Mark 7:9; Luke 6:34; Luke 8:12; Luke 16:28; John 3:15; John 5:34; John 6:30; Acts 2:25; Acts 16:30; Romans 1:11; Romans 3:19; Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 7:29; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 1:17; Galatians 6:13; Philippians 3:8; Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 6:12; Hebrews 9:25; 1 John 1:3; Revelation 3:18; Revelation 11:6, and often. β. after a perfect: Matthew 1:22; Matthew 21:4; John 5:23, ( T Tr WH; cf. e.); ; 1 Corinthians 9:22; 1 John 5:20 (here T Tr WH present indicative; see d.). γ. after an imperative (either present or aorist): Matthew 7:1; Matthew 9:6; Matthew 14:15; Matthew 17:27; Matthew 23:26; Mark 11:25; Mark 13:18; John 4:15; John 5:14; John 7:3 (R G L); ; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Corinthians 11:34; 1 Timothy 4:15; Titus 3:13, etc.; also after a hortative or deliberative subjunctive: Mark 1:38; Luke 20:14; John 6:5 (Rbez L T Tr WH); John 11:16; Hebrews 4:16, etc. δ. after a future: Luke 16:4; Luke 18:5; John 5:20 (here Tdf. present indicative; see d.); John 14:3, 13, 16; 1 Corinthians 15:28; Philippians 1:26. ε. after Historic tenses: after the imperfect, Mark 3:2 (here L Tr future indicative; see c.); Mark 6:41; Mark 8:6; Luke 6:7; Luke 18:15, etc.; after the pluperfect, John 4:8; after the aor, Matthew 19:13; Mark 3:14; Mark 11:28; Mark 14:10 (R. § 139, 37); Luke 19:4, 15; John 5:36 (R G L; cf. β.); John 7:32; John 12:9; Acts 19:4 (?); Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 11:35; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 John 3:5, 8, etc.

c. As secular authors join the final particles ὄφρα, μή, and especially ὅπως, also with the future indicative (cf. Matthiae, § 519, 8 ii., p. 1186ff), as being in nature akin to the subjunctive, so the N. T. writings, according to a usage extremely doubtful among the better Greek writings (cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 629f), also join ἵνα with the same (cf. WHs Appendix, p. 171{b} following; Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word ἵνα, 17): ἵνα θήσω, 1 Corinthians 9:18; L T Tr WH in the following instances: σταυρωσουσιν, Mark 15:20 (not WH (see as above)), δώσουσιν, Luke 20:10; κενώσει, 1 Corinthians 9:15 (not Lachmann) (καταδουλώσουσιν, Galatians 2:4 (but cf. Hort in WH as above, p. 167a)); κερδηθήσονται, 1 Peter 3:1; σφάξουσιν, Revelation 6:4; δώσει, Revelation 8:3; προσκυνήσουσιν (Revelation 9:20); ((cf. 2 a. at the end below)); (ἀναπαήσονται, Revelation 14:13 (see ἀναπαύω) cf. 4 b.); L Tr in the following: κατηγορήσουσιν, Mark 3:2 (cf.

b. e. above); προσκυνήσουσιν, John 12:20; T Tr WH in (θεωρήσουσιν, John 7:3); ξυρήσονται, Acts 21:24; L T WH Tr marginal reading in ἀδικήσουσιν, Revelation 9:4 ((cf. 2 b. below)); (add, ἐρεῖ, Luke 14:10 T WH Tr text; ἐξομολογήσεται, Philippians 2:11 T L marginal reading Tr marginal reading; καυθήσομαι, 1 Corinthians 13:3 T; δώσει, John 17:2 WH Tr marginal reading; ἀναπαύσονται, Revelation 6:11 WH; δώσει, Revelation 13:16 WH marginal reading) (ἵνα καταργήσει τόν θάνατον καί τήν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀνάστασιν δείξει, the Epistle of Barnabas 5, 6 [ET] (so manuscript א, but Hilgenf., Müller, Gebh., others, adopt the subjunctive; yet see Cunningham's note at the passage)); so that the future alternates with the subjunctive: ἵνα ἔσται ... καί εἰσέλθωσιν, Revelation 22:14; γένηται καί ἔσῃ (Vulg.sis), Ephesians 6:3; in other passages L T Tr WH have restored the indicative, as ἵνα ἥξουσι καί προσκυνήσουσιν ... καί γνῶσιν, Revelation 3:9; ἵνα ... πίνητε ... καί καθίσεσθε or καθήσεσθε (but WH text κάθησθε) (Vulg.etsedeatis), Luke 22:30; κάμψῃ καί ἐξομολογήσεται, Philippians 2:11 (T L marginal reading Tr marginal reading); cf. Buttmann, § 139, 88; Winer's Grammar, § 41 b. 1 b. d. By a solecism frequently in the ecclesiastical and Byzantine writings. ἵνα is joined with the indicative present: 1 Corinthians 4:6 (φυσιοῦσθε); Galatians 4:17 (ζηλοῦτε); (cf. Test xii. Patr., test. Gad § 7; the Epistle of Barnabas 6, 5 [ET]; 7, 11 [ET]; Ignatius ad Eph. 4, 2 [ET]; ad Trall. 8, 2 [ET], and other examples in Winers and Alexander Buttmann (1873) as below; but see Hort in WH's Appendix, p. 167{a}, cf., pp. 169^b, 171f); but the indicative is very doubtful in the following passages: (John 4:15 Tr text); (Tdf. θαυμάζετε); T Tr text; Galatians 6:12 T L marginal reading; (1 Thessalonians 4:13 L marginal reading); Titus 2:4 T Tr L marginal reading; 2 Peter 1:10 L; (1 John 5:20 T Tr WH (cf.

b. β. above)); Revelation 12:6 (T Tr τρέφουσιν); (Revelation 13:17 WH marginal reading); cf. Winers Grammar, § 41 b. 1 c.; Buttmann, § 139, 39; Meyer on 1 Corinthians 4:6; Wieseler on Galatians 4:17; (Sophocles as above). (In the earlier Greek writings ἵνα is joined with the indicative of the past tenses alone, 'to denote something which would have been, if something else had been done, but now has not come to pass' Hermann ad Vig. p. 847, cf. Klotz ad Dev. ii., 2, p. 630f; Kühner, § 553, 7 ii., 903; (Jelf, § 813; cf. Jebb in the Appendix to Vincent and Dickson's Modern Greek, § 79).)

e. the final sentence is preceded by preparatory demonstrative expressions (Winer's Grammar, § 23, 5): εἰς τοῦτο, to this end, John 18:37; 1 John 3:8; Romans 14:9; 2 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Peter 3:9; 1 Peter 4:6 (the Epistle of Barnabas 5, 1, 11 [ET]; (14, 5 [ET])); εἰς αὐτό τοῦτο, Ephesians 6:22; Colossians 4:8; διά τοῦτο, John 1:31; 2 Corinthians 13:10; Philemon 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:16; τούτου χάριν, Titus 1:5.

2. In later Greek, and especially in Hellenistic writers, the final force of the particle ἵνα is more or less weakened, so that it is frequently used where the earlier Greeks employed the infinitive, yet so that the leading and the dependent sentence have each its own subject. The first extant instance of this use occurs in the Amphictyonic decree in (pseudo-) Demosthenes, p. 279, 8 (i. e. de coron. § 155): πρεσβευσαι πρός Φίλιππον καί ἀξιουν ἵνα βοηθήσῃ (cf. Odyss. 3, 327 λίσσεσθαι ... ἵνα νημερτες ἐνισπη (cf. 3, 19)), but it increased greatly in subsequent times; cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 8; R. 237 (204); (Green 171f; Goodwin § 45 N. 5 b.; Jebb in the Appendix to Vincent and Dickson's Modern Greek, § 55). Accordingly, ἵνα stands with the subjunctive in such a way that it denotes the purport (or object) rather than the purpose of the action expressed by the preceding verb. This occurs a. after verbs of caring for, deciding, desiring, striving: βλέπειν, 1 Corinthians 16:10; Colossians 4:17; 2 John 1:8; ζητῶ, 1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Corinthians 14:12; φυλάσσομαι, ἵνα μή, 2 Peter 3:17; μεριμνάω, 1 Corinthians 7:34; ζηλόω, 1 Corinthians 14:1; βουλεύομαι, John 11:53 (R G Tr marginal reading συμβουλεύομαι); John 12:10; ἀφίημι, Mark 11:16; John 12:7 L T Tr WH; θέλημα ἐστι, Matthew 18:14; John 6:39f; θέλω, Matthew 7:12; Mark 6:25; Mark 9:30; Mark 10:35; Luke 6:31; so that it alternates with the infinitive, 1 Corinthians 14:5; δίδωμι, to grant, that, Mark 10:37; Revelation 9:5, etc.; ποιῶ, Revelation 13:12 (here L T Tr WH future indicative (cf. 1 c. above)).

b. after verbs of saying (commanding, asking, exhorting; but by no means after κελεύειν (cf. Buttmann, 275 (236))): εἰπεῖν, in the sense of to bid, Matthew 4:3; Mark 3:9; Luke 4:3; also λέγειν, Acts 19:4; 1 John 5:16; ἐρρήθη, Revelation 6:11 (WH future indicative); Revelation 9:4 (L T Tr marginal reading WH indicative future (see 1 c. above)); διαμαρτύρομαι, 1 Timothy 5:21 (otherwise (viz. telic) in Luke 16:28); ἐρωτῶ, to ask, beseech, Mark 7:26; Luke 7:36; Luke 16:27; John 4:47; John 17:15, 21; John 19:31; 2 John 1:5; παρακαλῶ, Matthew 14:36; Mark 5:10, 18; Mark 7:32; Mark 8:22; Luke 8:32; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 16:12, 15; 2 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 9:5; 2 Corinthians 12:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:12, (Josephus, Antiquities 12, 3, 2); προσεύχομαι (which see), Matthew 24:20; (Mark 13:18); Mark 14:35; δέομαι, Luke 9:40; Luke 22:32 (Dionysius Halicarnassus, Antiquities 1, 83); ἐπιτίμω, Matthew 12:16; (Matthew 16:20 L WH text); ; Mark 3:12; Mark 8:30; Mark 10:48; Luke 18:39; ἐντέλλομαι, Mark 13:34; John 15:17; ἐντολήν δίδωμι or λαμβάνω, John 11:57; John 13:34; John 15:12; γράφω, with the involved idea of prescribing, Mark 9:12 (cf. Winers Grammar, 462 (430) and the text of L T); ; Luke 20:28; διαστέλλομαι, Matthew 16:20 (L WH text ἐπιτίμω (see above)); Mark 5:43; Mark 7:36; Mark 9:9; παραγγέλλω, Mark 6:8 (cf. Winer's Grammar, 578 (538)); συντίθεμαι, John 9:22; ἀγγαρεύω, Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; κηρύσσω, Mark 6:12; ἀπαγγέλλω, Matthew 28:10; ἐξορκίζω, Matthew 26:63. (For examples (of its use with the above verbs and others) drawn from the later Greek writings, see Sophocles, Glossary etc. § 88, 1.)

c. after words by which judgment is pronounced concerning that which someone is about to do (or which is going to happen), as to whether it is expedient, befitting, proper, or not; as συμφέρει, Matthew 18:6; Matthew 5:29; John 11:50; John 16:7; λυσιτελεῖ, Luke 17:2; ἀρκετόν, ἐστι, Matthew 10:25; also after ἄξιος, John 1:27; ἱκανός, Matthew 8:8; Luke 7:6; ἐλάχιστον μοι ἐστιν, ἵνα, 1 Corinthians 4:3; ἠγαλλιάσατο ἵνα ἴδῃ, John 8:56; χρείαν ἔχω, John 2:25; John 16:30; 1 John 2:27; ἔδει, ἵνα ἐπί ξύλου πάθη, the Epistle of Barnabas 5, 13 [ET]. (For other examples see Sophocles as above § 88, 3, 4.)

d. after substantives, to which it adds a more exact definition of the thing; after a substantive of time: χρόνον, ἵνα μετανοήσῃ, Revelation 2:21; after ὥρα, John 12:23; John 13:1; John 16:2, 32 (elsewhere ὅτε, John 4:23; John 5:25); in these examples the final force of the particle is still apparent; we also can say time that she should repent (cf. Winers Grammar, 389 (318); Buttmann, 240 (207)); but in other expressions this force has almost disappeared, as in ἐστιν συνήθεια ὑμῖν, ἵνα ... ἀπολύσω, John 18:39; after μισθός, 1 Corinthians 9:18.

e. it looks back to a demonstrative pronoun; cf. Winers Grammar, 338 (317); (Buttmann, § 139, 45): πόθεν μοι τοῦτο, ἵνα ἔλθῃ κτλ. for τό ἐλθεῖν τήν etc. Luke 1:43; especially in John, cf. John 6:29, 50; John 15:13; John 17:3 (here T Tr text indicative; see 1 d. above); 1 John 3:11, 23; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6; Philippians 1:9; ἐν τούτῳ, John 15:8; 1 John 4:17 (Θεοῦ δέ τό δυνατόν ἐν τούτῳ δεικνυται, ἵνα ... ἐξ οὐκ ὄντων ποιῇ τά γινόμενα, Theophil. ad Autol. 2, 13; after τόδε, Epictetus diss. 2, 1, 1; (other examples in Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word 6)).

3. According to a very ancient tenet of the grammarians, accepted by Kühner, § 563, 2 Anm. 3; (T. S. Green, N. T. Gram., p. 172f), and not utterly rejected by Alex. Alexander Buttmann (1873) N. T. Gr., p. 238f (206), ἵνα is alleged to be used not only τελικως, i. e. of design and end, but also frequently ἐκβατικως, i. e. of the result, signifying with the issue, that; with the result, that; so that (equivalent to ὥστε). But C. F. A. Fritzsche on Matthew, p. 836ff and Winer's 338 (317) and 457ff (426ff) have clearly shown, that in all the passages adduced from the N. T. to prove this usage the telic (or final) force prevails: thus in ἵνα μή λυθῇ ὁ νόμος Μωϋσέως, that the law of Moses may not be broken (which directs a man to be circumcised on the eighth and on no other day), John 7:23; οὐκ ἐστε ἐν σκότει, ἵνα ἡ ἡμέρα ὑμᾶς ... καταλάβῃ, that the day should overtake you (cf. the final force as brought out by turning the sentence into the passive form in German umvomTageerfusstzuwerden), 1 Thessalonians 5:4; προσευχέσθω, ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ, let him pray (intent on this, or with this aim), that (subsequently) he may interpret, 1 Corinthians 14:18; likewise ἐπενθήσατε, ἵνα etc. 1 Corinthians 5:2, and μετενόησαν, ἵνα μή, Revelation 9:20; μετάθεσιν, ... ἵνα etc. that the change may be to this end, that etc. Hebrews 12:27; ἵνα μή ... ποιῆτε, that ye may not do, Galatians 5:17 (where ἡ σάρξ and τό πνεῦμα are personified antagonistic forces contending for dominion over the will of the Christian; cf. Wieseler at the passage); the words ἵνα ... φραγῇ κτλ. in Romans 3:19 describe the end aimed at by the law. In many passages where ἵνα has seemed to interpreters to be used ἐκβατικως, the sacred writers follow the dictate of piety, which bids us trace all events back to God as their author and to refer them to God's purposes (Jo. Damascen. orthod. fid. 4, 19 ἔθος τῇ γραφή, τινα ἐκβατικως ὀφείλοντα λέγεσθαι, αἰτιολογικως λέγειν); so that, if we are ever in doubt whether ἵνα is used of design or of result, we can easily settle the question when we can interpret the passage 'that, by God's decree,' or 'that, according to divine purpose' etc.; passages of this sort are the following: Mark 4:12; Luke 9:45; Luke 11:50; Luke 14:10; John 4:36; John 9:2; John 12:40; John 19:28; Romans 5:20; Romans 7:13; Romans 8:17; Romans 11:31; 1 Corinthians 7:29; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 7:9; also the phrase ἵνα πληρωθῇ, accustomed to be used in reference to the O. T. prophecies: Matthew 1:22; Matthew 2:15; Matthew 4:14; Matthew 12:17 L T Tr WH; Matthew 21:4; Matthew 26:56; Matthew 27:35 Rec.; John 13:18; John 17:12; John 19:24, 36; ἵνα πληρωθῇ ὁ λόγος, John 12:38; John 15:25, cf. 18:9,32. (Cf. Winers 461 (429). Prof Sophocles although giving (Lex. under the word ἵνα, 19) a copious collection of examples of the ecbatic use of the word, defends its telic sense in the phrase ἵνα πληρωθῇ, by calling attention not merely to the substitution of ὅπως πληρωθῇ in Matthew 8:17; Matthew 13:35 (cf. Matthew 2:23), but especially to 1 Esdr. 1:54 (εἰς ἀναπλήρωσιν ῤήματος τοῦ κυρίου ἐν στόματι Ιερεμιου); 1 Esdr. 2:1 (εἰς συντέλειαν ῤήματος κυρίου κτλ.); 2 Esdr. 1:1 (τοῦ τελεσθῆναι λόγον κυρίου ἀπό στόματος Ιερεμιου); Josephus, Antiquities 8, 8, 2 at the end ταῦτα δ' ἐπραττετο κατά τήν τοῦ Θεοῦ βουλησιν ἵνα λάβῃ τέλος ἅ προεφήτευσεν Αχιας; cf. Bib. Sacr. 1861, p. 729ff; Luthardt's Zeitschr. 1883, p. 632ff)

4. The elliptical use of the particle;

a. the telic ἵνα often depends on a verb not expressed, but to be repeated or educed from the context (cf. Fritzsche on Matthew, p. 840f; Winers Grammar, 316 (297); (Buttmann, § 139, 47)): ἀλλ' (namely, ἦλθεν, cf. verse 7) ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ, John 1:8; ἀλλ' (namely, ἐγένετο ἀπόκρυφον) ἵνα εἰς φανερόν ἔλθῃ, Mark 4:22; ἀλλ' (namely, κρατεῖτε με) ἵνα etc. Mark 14:49; add, John 15:25; 1 John 2:19.

b. the weakened ἵνα (see 2 above) with the subjunctive (or indicative future (cf. 1 c.), Revelation 14:13 L T Tr WH) denotes something which one wishes to be done by another, so that before the ἵνα a verb of commanding (exhorting, wishing) must be mentally supplied (or, as is commonly said, it forms a periphrasis for the imperative): ἵνα ... ἐπιθῇς τάς χεῖρας αὐτῇ, Mark 5:23; ἡ γυνή ἵνα φοβῆται τόν ἄνδρα, Ephesians 5:33; Galatians 2:10; add 2 Corinthians 8:7; ἵνα ἀναπαύσωνται (L T Tr WH ἀναπαήσονται (see ἀναπαύω at the beginning)), German siesollenruhen (A. V. that they may rest etc.), Revelation 14:13; (perhaps also Colossians 4:16, cf. Lightfoot at the passage) (2 Macc. 1:9; Epictetus ench. 23 (17); diss. 4,1,41; among the earlier Greeks once so, Sophocles O. C. 155; in Latin, Cicero, ad divers. 14, 20 'ibi ut sint omnia parata'; in German stern commands: 'dassdugehest!' 'dassdunichtsäumest!' cf. Winers Grammar, § 43, 5 a.; (Buttmann, 241 (208))).

c. ἵνα without a verb following — which the reader is left to gather from the context; thus we must mentally supply ἐυαγγελιζωμεθα, ἐυαγγελιζωνται in Galatians 2:9, cf. Winers Grammar, 587 (546); (Buttmann, 394 (338)); ἵνα κατά χάριν, namely, ἤ, that the promise may be a gift of grace, Romans 4:16 (Winers Grammar, 598 (556); Buttmann, 392 (336)); ἵνα ἄλλοις ἄνεσις namely, γένηται, 2 Corinthians 8:13 (Winers Grammar, 586 (545); Buttmann, § 129, 22); ἵνα namely, γένηται, 1 Corinthians 1:31, unless preference be given there to an anacoluthon (Winers Grammar, 599 (557); Buttmann, 234 (201)): ἵνα ... καυχάσθω for καυχαται. (ἵνα ὡς ἄνθρωπος, namely, ἐργάζῃ, Epictetus diss. 3, 23, 4.)

5. Generally ἵνα stands first in the final sentence; sometimes, however, it is preceded by those words in width the main force of the sentence lies (Winers Grammar, 550 (511); Buttmann, § 151, 18): Acts 19:4; Romans 11:31 (join τῷ ὑμετέρῳ ἐληι ἵνα); 1 Corinthians 9:15 at the end (R G); 2 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 12:7; Galatians 2:10; τό λοιπόν ἵνα κτλ., 1 Corinthians 7:29 Rec.elz L T. Among N. T. writers, John uses this particle more often, Luke more rarely, than the rest; (on John's use see Winers Grammar, 338f (317f); 461 (430); Buttmann, 236 (203); 244 (210) note; § 140, 10 and 12; on Luke's cf. Buttmann, 235f (203)). It is not found in the Epistle of Jude. (For Schaeffer's references to Greek usage (and editions) see the Lond. (Valpy's) edition of Stephanus under the word, col. 4488.)

Overview of Purpose and Result in Scripture

Across six hundred seventy-one New Testament occurrences, the conjunction expresses intention, design, or divinely directed outcome. It introduces both positive purposes (“that you may have life,” John 20:31) and negative designs (“that they might accuse Him,” Mark 3:2). Whether the subjunctive verb that follows is volitional or declarative, every clause framed by this word unveils the hand of God or the heart of man aiming toward a specific end.

Hina and the Fulfillment of Prophecy

Matthew’s Gospel repeatedly links Christ’s life to Scripture with this conjunction: “All this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled” (Matthew 1:22). Similar formulae in 2:15, 4:14, 12:17, 21:4, 26:56 anchor the incarnation, ministry, and passion of Jesus in the prophetic Word. The grammatical pattern underscores divine intentionality; history unfolds exactly as written.

The Saving Mission of Jesus Christ

John’s Gospel clusters the word around statements of eternal purpose.
• “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
• “I have come so that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness” (John 10:10).
• Christ’s High-Priestly prayer overflows with purpose clauses: unity (17:11, 21-23), joy (17:13), protection (17:15), sanctification (17:19), and glory (17:24).

Each instance discloses the overarching design of redemption, binding the believer’s experience to the Father’s eternal plan.

Prayer Shaped by Hina

Apostolic prayers employ the conjunction to articulate specific petitions:
• Spiritual insight—“asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ…may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better” (Ephesians 1:17).
• Empowered service—“We always pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
• Open doors—“Pray also for us, so that God may open to us a door for the word” (Colossians 4:3).

Such prayers model how intercession aligns earthly needs with heaven’s designs.

Hina in Apostolic Mission Strategy

Paul uses the term to explain missionary planning: “I have made it my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not named, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation” (Romans 15:20). He adjusts itineraries “so that I may spend some time with you” (1 Corinthians 16:6) or delays visits “so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom” (1 Corinthians 2:5). Ministry decisions are filtered through purpose statements that keep gospel priorities central.

Ethical Exhortation and Holy Living

Moral commands are frequently purpose-oriented:
• Personal purity—“Abstain from fleshly passions that wage war against the soul, so that…they may see your good deeds and glorify God” (1 Peter 2:11-12).
• Marital love—“Husbands, love your wives…so that He might sanctify her” (Ephesians 5:25-26).
• Speech—“Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

Ethics are never ends in themselves; they aim at God’s glory and neighbor’s good.

Ecclesial Unity and Mutual Edification

The conjunction structures teaching on corporate harmony: “God has composed the body…so that there should be no division, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:24-25). Apostles write “so that you may know how to conduct yourself in God’s household” (1 Timothy 3:15) and exhort leaders to equip saints “so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12-13).

Warnings and Judicial Hardening

Not all purposes are benevolent. Jesus quotes Isaiah, “so that seeing they may see and not perceive” (Mark 4:12), indicating judicial hardening on willful unbelief. Religious leaders twist tradition “so that you may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:9), and enemies conspire “so that they might put Him to death” (John 11:53). The word thus exposes human schemes even as it affirms God’s sovereign overruling.

Eschatological Certainty

Revelation employs the particle to describe judgments and protections: locusts are told “not to harm the grass…so that they should torment people for five months” (Revelation 9:5); the dragon pursues the woman “so that he might cause her to be swept away” (12:15). Final purposes include the Lamb’s victory “so that the nations might walk by its light” (21:24), assuring readers that the end-time drama follows God’s predetermined aim.

Historical and Patristic Reflection

Early fathers noticed the theological weight of these purpose clauses. Irenaeus argued from John 1:31 that the Baptist’s ministry existed “so that” the Son might be manifested. Augustine expounded Romans 5:20—law entered “so that” sin might abound—as evidence that grace’s superabundance is no afterthought but foreordained.

Application for Contemporary Ministry

1. Preaching: Highlight divine purpose behind every narrative and doctrine, reinforcing confidence that God “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11).
2. Prayer: Craft petitions with clear, biblical aims—conversion, sanctification, mission advance—imitating apostolic patterns.
3. Planning: Evaluate programs and budgets by asking, “so that what?” If the objective does not magnify Christ or edify His people, reconsider.
4. Assurance: Believers facing trial rest in promises like John 16:33—“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace.” Every sorrow is framed by a larger saving purpose.

In Scripture’s grammar, this small conjunction continually lifts the reader’s eyes from immediate circumstances to God’s intentional ends, assuring the church that every command, promise, and event is ordered “so that the purpose of God according to election might stand” (Romans 9:11).

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