BIBLE GREEK WORD STUDY
Pas (πᾶς) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
πᾶς (pas) is a high-frequency Greek adjective meaning 'all,' 'every,' or 'the whole,' used to express totality or universality throughout the New Testament.
Meaning of the word
π�ς (pas, Strong's G3956) is a Greek adjective whose core sense is totality or completeness. Depending on context it is rendered 'all,' 'every,' 'any,' or 'the whole,' and it functions either with an article ('the whole of') or without it ('every, each'). Its flexibility makes it one of the most common words in the Greek New Testament, appearing in roughly 136 verses.
The word changes form to agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. The example verses from Matthew illustrate this range: πᾶν (neuter singular) in 5:11 and 7:17, πᾶσιν (masculine/neuter plural dative) in 5:15, πάντα (neuter plural) in 5:18, πᾶς (masculine singular) in 5:22, 5:28, 5:32, πάσῃ (feminine singular dative) in 6:29, and Πάντα (neuter plural with article) in 7:12.
Usage in Scripture
In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), π�ς carries an absolute, sweeping force. Jesus uses it to extend claims to every person (5:22, 5:28, 5:32), to encompass every kind of evil spoken against His followers (5:11), and to reach every corner of the house lit by a lamp (5:15). The word likewise frames the totality of Scripture: 'till all things be accomplished' (5:18).
Beyond moral universals, πᾶς also covers material and practical matters: Solomon 'in all his glory' (6:29), the everyday needs the Gentiles seek (6:32), and the things to be added to those who seek God's kingdom first (6:33). It introduces the Golden Rule's 'all things whatsoever' (7:12) and the universal scope of asking, seeking, and knocking (7:7), and it grounds the principle that every good tree bears good fruit (7:17).
The word in detail
- G3956 πᾶς (pas): the principal Greek word for totality. It translates as 'all,' 'every,' 'any,' or 'whole,' and inflects through masculine, feminine, and neuter singular and plural forms to match the noun it modifies. With the article it stresses 'the whole of'; without the article it tends toward 'each, every.' Its frequency and flexibility make it indispensable for expressing universality in the Greek New Testament.
Example verses
- Matthew 5:11 πᾶν ('all manner of') gathers every category of false speech directed at the disciples into one sweeping accusation, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the persecution they may face.
- Matthew 5:22 πᾶς with 'whoever' (subject) extends the prohibition against anger to every individual without exception, universalizing the standard Jesus sets.
- Matthew 5:18 πάντα ('all things') frames the absolute endurance of the Law until its complete fulfillment, signaling totality of scope in eschatological terms.
- Matthew 7:12 Πάντα ('All things therefore whatsoever') opens the Golden Rule with the strongest universal quantifier, extending Jesus' command to every conceivable case.
Common questions
Is πᾶς one word or many?
It is one lexical item (Strong's G3956) that simply inflects for gender, number, and case. Forms such as πᾶς, πᾶν, πάντα, πᾶσιν, and πάσῃ are all instances of the same word πᾶς.
What is the difference between πᾶς with the article and without it?
With the article (e.g., ὁ πᾶς) it tends to mean 'the whole of,' emphasizing the group as a unit. Without the article (e.g., πᾶς ἄνθρωπος) it leans toward 'every' or 'each,' treating individuals one by one.
How common is πᾶς in the New Testament?
It is one of the highest-frequency words in the Greek New Testament, with occurrences across roughly 110 distinct verses (about 136 occurrences total), spanning gospels, epistles, and Revelation.