adjective
oligos
Greekὀλίγος (oligos)
Strong’sG3641
small, brief, few, soon
stem olig-41 times in the New Testamentin 11 of 27 books15 of 26 forms occur
Translated as
2 rarer renderings are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.
What it means
ὀλίγος, -η, -ον
(on οὐχ ὁλ., v. infr.), [in LXX chiefly for מְעַט;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G3641 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidol-ee'-gos
puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat
Fromof uncertain affinity;
King James+ almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
| Job in the sentence case | masculine singular | feminine singular | neuter singular | masculine plural | feminine plural | neuter plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | oligos2×ὀλίγος | oligas | oligem10×ὀλίγον | oligois7×ὀλίγοι | oligais1×ὀλίγαι | oligeim6×ὀλίγα |
| object accusative | oligon3×ὀλίγον | oligan1×ὀλίγην | oligoin | oligain2×ὀλίγας | ||
| direct address vocative | oligor | oligar | oligoir | oligair | ||
| of, belonging to genitive | oligou1×ὀλίγου | oligau1×ὀλίγης | oligeu1×ὀλίγων | oligoiu1×ὀλίγων | oligaiu | oligeiu |
| to, for dative | oligo1×ὀλίγῳ | oliga | olige3×ὀλίγῳ | oligoi1×ὀλίγοις | oligai | oligei |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
olig is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
41 occurrences, every one of them listed
oligos“small”subjectnominative singular2×
Acts 12:18“small”Gineratau de hēmerau ate tarachos ouk oligos en toi stratiōtoi, tinem ara tos Petros gineta.At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
Acts 19:23“little”Gineta de kata ton kairon ekeinon tarachos ouk oligos peri tau hodau.About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
oligon“some”objectaccusative singular3×
Acts 14:28“little”diatribale de chronon ouk oligon sun toi mathētoi.And they spent a long time there with the disciples.
1 Timothy 4:8“some”tas gar sōmatikas gumnasias pros oligon atō ōfelimas, tas de eusebeias pros panteim ōfelimas atō, epangelian echarōtas zōau tau nun kai tau mellarōtau.For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
Revelation 12:12“short”dia houtem eufrainivōr, toir ouranoir kai toir en autoi skēnarōtoir. ouai tan gēan kai tan thalassan, hoti katabainata tos diabolos pros vin, echarōtos thumon megon, horarētos hoti oligon kairon echatō.Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
oligou“small”of, belonging togenitive singular1×
Acts 27:20“small”mēte de hēliou mēte astreiu epifainarōteiu epi polloterain hēmerain, cheimōnou tē ouk oligou epikeierōtou, loipem periairite elpias pantas teu sōzirō nin.When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.
oligo“a little”to, fordative singular1×
1 Timothy 5:23“a little”mēketi hudropotasōr, alla oino oligo chresōr dia ton stomachon kai tain puknain su astheniain.Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
oligan“little”objectaccusative singular1×
Acts 19:24“little”Dēmētrios gar tinos onome, argurokopos, poiarōtos naoin argurouoin Artemiau parechete toi technitoi ouk oligan ergasian,It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen.
oligau“small”of, belonging togenitive singular1×
Acts 15:2“small”gineratau de stasiau kai zētēsiau ouk oligau to Paulo kai to Barnabao pros autoin tassala anabainarō Paulon kai Barnabaon kai tinoin alloin ek autoiu pros toin apostoloin kai presbuteroin eis Ierousalēm peri teu zētēmeu houteu.And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
oligem“little”subject or objectdirect singular10×
Mark 1:19“a little”kai probainaratos oligem horata Iakōbon ton tou Zebedaiou kai Iōannon ton adelfon autou, kai autoin en te ploie katartizarōtoin teim diktueim,Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.
Mark 6:31“while”kai legatō autoi; Deute vis autois kata idian eis erēmon topon kai anapauevar oligem. ale gar tois ercherōtois kai tois hupagarōtois pollois, kai oude esthiara eukairale.And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Luke 5:3“a little”embainaratos de eis henem teiu ploieiu, hem ate Simōnou, erōtata auton apo tau gēau epanagara oligem, kathizaratos de ek teu ploieu didaskate toin ochloin.Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.
Luke 7:47“little”heu charin, legamō si, afiēkilē tais hamartais autau tais pollais, hoti agapata pollem; ho de oligem afiēkitō, oligem agapatō.Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
2 Corinthians 8:15“little”kathōs grafitē; Tos tem pollem ouk pleonazata, kai tos tem oligem ouk elattonata.As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”
James 4:14“a little while”hotinois ouk epistevō tem tau aurion poias tas zōas vu; atmias gar avō tas pros oligem fainerōtas, epeita kai afanizirōtas;You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
1 Peter 1:6“for a little while”en ho agallievō, oligem arti ei darōtem lupiratois en poikiloi peirasmoi,In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
1 Peter 5:10“a little while”tos de theos pantau chariau, tos kalaratos vin eis tan aiōnian autou doxan en Christo, oligem pascharatoin autos katartizati, stērizati, sthenati, themeliati.And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
Revelation 17:10“a little while”tois pente piptala, tos henos atō, tos allos oupō erchata, kai hotan erchateia oligem auton datō menara,There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. But when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
Luke 7:47“little”heu charin, legamō si, afiēkilē tais hamartais autau tais pollais, hoti agapata pollem; ho de oligem afiēkitō, oligem agapatō.Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
oligeu“few things”of, belonging togenitive singular1×
Luke 10:42“few things”oligeu de atō chreias ē heneu; Mariam gar tan agathan merian eklegeta hotinas ouk afairiti autau.But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
olige“short time”to, fordative singular3×
Acts 26:28“short time”tos de Agrippaos pros ton Paulon; En olige min peithasō Christianon poiara.Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”
Acts 26:29“short time”tos de Paulos; Euchemoia an to theo kai en olige kai en mege ouk monon sin alla kai pantoin toin akouarōtoin mu sēmeron ginera toioutoin hopoios kai mis amō parektos toiu desmoiu houtoiu.“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”
Ephesians 3:3“brief”kata apokalupsian gnōrizita mi tem mustēriem, kathōs prografama en olige,that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
oligois“few”subjectnominative plural7×
Matthew 7:14“few”hoti stenas tas pulas kai thlibirētas tas hodas tas apagarōtas eis tan zōan, kai oligois alō tois heuriskarōtois autan.But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 9:37“few”tote legatō toi mathētoi autou; Tos men therismos pollos, tois de ergatois oligois;Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Matthew 22:14“few”pollois gar alō klētois oligois de eklektois.For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Luke 10:2“few”legate de pros autoin; Tos men therismos pollos, tois de ergatois oligois; divar oun tou kuriou tou therismou hopōs ergatoin ekballateia eis ton therismon autou.And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.
Luke 13:23“a few”legata de tinos auto; Kurior, ei oligois tois sōzirōtois? tos de legata pros autoin;“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
Acts 17:12“a few”pollois men oun ek autoiu pisteuala, kai taiu Hellēniaiu gunaikaiu taiu euschēmōnaiu kai anēroiu ouk oligois.As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.
1 Peter 3:20“a few”apeitharatoi pote hote apekdechete tas tou theou makrothumias en hēmerai Nōe kataskeuazirōtau kibōtau eis han oligois, houtem atō oktō psuchais, diasōzila dia hudōreu.who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.
oligoiu“short”of, belonging togenitive plural1×
1 Peter 5:12“short”Dia Silouanou vi tou pistou adelfou, hōs logizemō, dia oligoiu grafama, parakalarōtos kai epimarturarōtos houtan arō alēthan charian tou theou; eis han histanavar.Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
oligoi“a few”to, fordative plural1×
Mark 6:5“a few”kai ouk dunete ekei poiara oudenan dunamian, ei mē oligoi arrōstoi epititharatos tain cheirain therapeuata;So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
oligais“a few”subjectnominative plural1×
Acts 17:4“a few”kai tinois ek autoiu peithila kai prosklērila to Paulo kai to Silao, toiu tē seberōtoiu Hellēnoiu plēthem pollem gunaikaiu tē taiu prōtaiu ouk oligais.Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.
oligain“light”objectaccusative plural2×
Luke 12:48“light”tos de mē gnōskaratos poiaratos de axieim plēgaiu deriti oligain. panto de ho dōita pollem, pollem zētiti para autou, kai ho paratithela pollem, perissoterem aitali auton.But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
Hebrews 12:10“short”tois men gar pros oligain hēmerain kata tem dokarōtem autoi paideuale, tos de epi tem sumferarōtem eis tem metalambara tau hagiotau autou.Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
oligeim“a few”subject or objectdirect plural6×
Matthew 15:34“a few”kai legatō autoi tos Iēsus; Posoin artoin echavō? tois de legala; Hepta, kai oligeim ichthudieim.“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
Matthew 25:21“a few”fēate auto tos kurios autou; Euōs, doulor agathor kai pistor, epi oligeim ase pistos, epi polleiu sin kathistanami; eiserchasar eis tan charan tou kuriou su.His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
Matthew 25:23“a few”fēate auto tos kurios autou; Euōs, doulor agathor kai pistor, epi oligeim ase pistos, epi polleiu sin kathistanami; eiserchasar eis tan charan tou kuriou su.His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
Mark 8:7“a few”kai echale ichthudieim oligeim; kai eulogaratos auteim legata kai houteim paratitharō.They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.
Revelation 2:14“a few”alla echamō kata su oligeim, hoti echasō ekei kratarōtoin tan didachan Balaam, hos didaskate to Balak ballara skandalem enōpion toiu huioiu Israēl, esthiara eidōlothuteim kai porneuara;But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
Revelation 3:4“a few”alla echasō oligeim onomeim en Sardiai heim ouk molunala teim himatieim autoiu, kai peripatali meta mu en leukei, hoti axiois alō.But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.