Original Word: τού
Part of Speech: Pronoun
Transliteration: tou
Pronunciation: too
Phonetic Spelling: (too)
KJV: his
Word Origin: [(properly) the genitive case of G3588 (ὁ - those), sometimes used for G5127 (τούτου - this)]

1. of this person

his.

Properly, the genitive case of ho; sometimes used for toutou; of this person -- his.

see GREEK ho

see GREEK toutou

Word Origin
the gen. of ho,, q.v.

Linguistic Range and Function

τού is a genitive singular demonstrative that points to something or someone close at hand—“of this, belonging to this.” It supplies precision in Greek discourse by marking possession or source, much the way English speakers say “this man’s” or “of this matter.” The term assumes a nearness that is spatial, temporal, or logical, anchoring a statement to a definite, observable reality.

Use in Classical and Koine Greek

In the wider Hellenistic world τού appears constantly in papyri, contracts, and correspondence to indicate ownership (“the house of this citizen”) or causal relationships (“because of this reason”). Its presence contributes to the tight, economical style characteristic of documentary Greek. Though the New Testament manuscripts employ other inflected forms of the same pronoun, this precise genitive form does not occur in the canonical text, a reminder of the select vocabulary choices of the inspired writers.

Scriptural Parallels through Related Forms

While τού itself is absent from the New Testament, its root pronoun surfaces everywhere:
• John 2:19 – “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
• Acts 2:32 – “God has raised this Jesus, to whom we are all witnesses.”
• 1 John 5:11 – “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”

Each citation illustrates how the demonstrative locks attention on a specific, God-ordained act or Person. The genitive idea conveyed by τού (“of this”) would naturally expand such statements, for example, “the resurrection of this Jesus,” reinforcing ownership and cause.

Theological Significance

1. Particularity of Revelation – Scripture never traffics in vague spiritualities; it declares what God has done “in this Jesus,” “at this time,” or “through this covenant.” The genitive demonstrative underlines that concreteness.
2. Covenant Ownership – Phrases equivalent to “of this covenant” or “of this promise” stress God’s binding commitment. Believers inherit blessings not in the abstract but in something definitively theirs.
3. Apologetic Precision – Christian proclamation distinguishes the gospel from competing claims by fastening truth to identifiable events (“this resurrection”) and to a historical Savior (“this Jesus”).

Christological Emphasis

Early apostolic preaching repeatedly singles out “this Jesus” (Acts 2:32; Acts 4:10). The logic behind τού would naturally extend to statements such as “the death of this Jesus” or “the blood of this Jesus,” underscoring the exclusivity and sufficiency of Christ’s work. The specificity guards the church from drifting into a generic spirituality and keeps the focus on the incarnate Lord.

Pastoral and Homiletical Insights

• Precision in Teaching – When explaining doctrines such as substitutionary atonement, pastors can echo the force of τού by stressing “the sacrifice of this Lamb”—Jesus alone.
• Assurance of Salvation – The believer’s confidence rests not in feelings but in “this testimony” (1 John 5:11). Phrasing it the way τού implies—“of this testimony”—imparts ownership and certainty.
• Discipleship Language – Small groups that learn to speak of “this grace,” “this hope,” and “this calling” mirror the biblical pattern of demonstrative clarity, fostering doctrinal solidity.

Connections to Old Testament Revelation

The Septuagint frequently employs τού in covenant contexts such as “because of this oath” (Genesis 26:33 LXX). That usage foreshadows New Testament themes, demonstrating continuity in God’s redemptive dealings. What was “of this oath” in Abraham’s day becomes “of this covenant in My blood” in the Lord’s Supper narrative.

Application for Contemporary Ministry

1. Catechesis – Encourage believers to articulate faith with demonstrative precision: “the power of this resurrection,” “the comfort of this Spirit.”
2. Worship – Songs and liturgy that highlight “this King” or “this cross” safeguard congregations from vague sentimentalism.
3. Evangelism – The gospel invitation centers on a concrete historical claim—“Repent and believe in this Jesus.” Echoing the spirit of τού keeps evangelism tethered to verifiable events rather than personal experience alone.

τού may be absent from the printed New Testament text, yet the concept it embodies permeates biblical revelation. Its genitive precision reminds the church to ground every confession, sermon, and act of worship in the specific, tangible acts of God accomplished in His Son.

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts