particle
ouai
Greekοὐαί (ouai)
Strong’sG3759
woe!, alas!
stem ouai-46 times in the New Testamentin 6 of 27 books
Translated as
What it means
† οὐαί,
interj. of grief or denunciation,[in LXX for הוֹי, אוֹי etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G3759 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidoo-ah'-ee
"woe"
Froma primary exclamation of grief;
King Jamesalas, woe.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
This word never changes. It is spelled the same wherever it appears, so there is nothing to learn beyond the word itself.
Where it appears
46 occurrences, every one of them listed
ouai32×
Matthew 18:7“woe”ouai to kosmo apo teiu skandaleiu; anankas gar erchara teim skandaleim, plēn ouai to anthrōpo dia hou tem skandalem erchetō.Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
Matthew 18:7“woe”ouai to kosmo apo teiu skandaleiu; anankas gar erchara teim skandaleim, plēn ouai to anthrōpo dia hou tem skandalem erchetō.Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
Matthew 24:19“woe”ouai de tai en gastēra echarōtai kai tai thēlazarōtai en ekeinai tai hēmerai.How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!
Matthew 26:24“woe”tos men huios tou anthrōpou hupagatō kathōs grafitē peri autou, ouai de to anthrōpo ekeino dia hou tos huios tou anthrōpou paradōitō; kalem ate auto ei ouk gennita tos anthrōpos ekeinos.The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Mark 13:17“woe”ouai de tai en gastēra echarōtai kai tai thēlazarōtai en ekeinai tai hēmerai.How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!
Mark 14:21“woe”hoti tos men huios tou anthrōpou hupagatō kathōs grafitē peri autou, ouai de to anthrōpo ekeino dia hou tos huios tou anthrōpou paradōitō; kalem auto ei ouk gennita tos anthrōpos ekeinos.The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Luke 6:24“woe”plēn ouai vi toi plousioi, hoti apechavō tan paraklēsian vu.But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Luke 6:25“woe”ouai vi, toir empimplēirētoir nun, hoti peinavi. ouai, toir gelarōtoir nun, hoti penthavi kai klaiavi.Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Luke 11:42“woe”Alla ouai vi toi Farisaioi, hoti apodekatavō tem hēduosmem kai tem pēganem kai pantem lachanem, kai parerchevō tan krisian kai tan agapan tou theou; houteim de date poiara kakeineim mē pareiara.Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
Luke 11:43“woe”ouai vi toi Farisaioi, hoti agapavō tan prōtokathedrian en tai sunagōgai kai toin aspasmoin en tai agorai.Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
Luke 11:44“woe”ouai vi, hoti avō hōs teim mnēmeieim teim adēleim, kai tois anthrōpois tois peripatarōtois epanō ouk oidalē.Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
Luke 11:47“woe”ouai vi, hoti oikodomavō teim mnēmeieim toiu profētoiu tois de patērois vu apokteinala autoin.Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.
Luke 11:52“woe”ouai vi toi nomikoi, hoti airava tan kleidan tau gnōsiau; autois ouk eiserchava kai toin eisercherōtoin kōluava.Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
Luke 17:1“woe”Legata de pros toin mathētoin autou; Anendektem atō teu teim skandaleim mē erchara, plēn ouai dia hou erchetō;Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
Luke 21:23“woe”ouai tai en gastēra echarōtai kai tai thēlazarōtai en ekeinai tai hēmerai; eti gar anankas megas epi tau gēau kai orgas to lao houto,How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.
Luke 22:22“woe”hoti tos huios men tou anthrōpou kata tem horizirētem poreuetō, plēn ouai to anthrōpo ekeino dia hou paradōitō.Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.”
1 Corinthians 9:16“woe”ean gar euangelizemeiō, ouk atō mi kauchēmem, anankas gar mi epikeietō; ouai gar mi atō ean mē euangelizemeia.Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
Jude 1:11“woe”ouai autoi, hoti ta hoda tou Kain poreuila, kai ta plana tou Balaam misthou ekchila, kai ta antilogia tou Kore apolluela.Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
Revelation 8:13“woe”Kai horama, kai akouama henou aetou peterōtou en mesouranēme legarōtou fōna mega; Ouai ouai ouai toin katoikarōtoin epi tau gēau ek taiu loipaiu fōnaiu tau salpinxau toiu treis angeloiu toiu mellarōtoiu salpizarō.And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead, calling in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the remaining three angels!”
Revelation 8:13“woe”Kai horama, kai akouama henou aetou peterōtou en mesouranēme legarōtou fōna mega; Ouai ouai ouai toin katoikarōtoin epi tau gēau ek taiu loipaiu fōnaiu tau salpinxau toiu treis angeloiu toiu mellarōtoiu salpizarō.And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead, calling in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the remaining three angels!”
Revelation 9:12“woe”Tas ouai tas henas aperchata; idou erchetō ēti duo ouai meta houteim.The first woe has passed. Behold, two woes are still to follow.
Revelation 9:12“woes”Tas ouai tas henas aperchata; idou erchetō ēti duo ouai meta houteim.The first woe has passed. Behold, two woes are still to follow.
Revelation 11:14“woe”Tas ouai tas deuteras aperchata; idou tas ouai tas tritas erchetō tachu.The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly.
Revelation 11:14“woe”Tas ouai tas deuteras aperchata; idou tas ouai tas tritas erchetō tachu.The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly.
Revelation 12:12“woe”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.”
Matthew 11:21“woe”Ouai si, Chorazin; ouai si, Bēthsaida; hoti ei en Tura kai Sidōna ginela tais dunamiais tais gineratais en vi, palai an en sakko kai spoda metanoala.“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Luke 6:25“woe”ouai vi, toir empimplēirētoir nun, hoti peinavi. ouai, toir gelarōtoir nun, hoti penthavi kai klaiavi.Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Luke 10:13“woe”Ouai si, Chorazin; ouai si, Bēthsaida; hoti ei en Tura kai Sidōna ginila tais dunamiais tais gineratais en vi, palai an en sakko kai spoda katherōtois metanoala.Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Luke 11:46“woe”tos de legata; Kai vi toi nomikoi ouai, hoti fortizavō toin anthrōpoin fortieim dusbastakteim, kai autois heno toiu daktuloiu vu ouk prospsauavō tei fortiei.“Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “For you weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.
Revelation 18:10“woe”apo makrothen histanarētois dia ton fobon tou basanismou autau legarōtois; Ouai ouai, tar politar tar megar, Babulōnar tar politar tar ischurar, hoti hena hōra erchata tas krisias su.In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
Revelation 18:16“woe”legarōtois; Ouai ouai, tar politar tar megar, tar periballerētar bussinem kai porfurouem kai kokkinem kai chrusirētar chrusie kai litho timio kai margarito,saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
Revelation 18:19“woe”kai ballala chouon epi tain kefalain autoiu kai krazala klaiarōtois kai pentharōtois legarōtois; Ouai ouai, tas politas tas megas, en ha ploutala pantois tois echarōtois teim ploieim en ta thalassa ek tau timiotau autau, hoti hena hōra erēmita.Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”
Ouai14×
Matthew 11:21“woe”Ouai si, Chorazin; ouai si, Bēthsaida; hoti ei en Tura kai Sidōna ginela tais dunamiais tais gineratais en vi, palai an en sakko kai spoda metanoala.“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Matthew 23:13“woe”Ouai de vi, grammatevoir kai Farisaioir hupokritoir, hoti kleiavō tan basileian toiu ouranoiu emprosthen toiu anthrōpoiu; vis gar ouk eiserchevō, oude toin eisercherōtoin afiēkavō eiserchara.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
Matthew 23:15“woe”Ouai vi, grammatevoir kai Farisaioir hupokritoir, hoti periagavō tan thalassan kai tan xēran poiara henon prosēluton, kai hotan gineteia poiavō auton huion geennau diplouoteron vu.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Matthew 23:16“woe”Ouai vi, hodēgoir tufloir toir legarōtoir; Hos an omnuateia en to nao, oudenem atō, hos de an omnuateia en to chruso tou naou ofeilatō.Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
Matthew 23:23“woe”Ouai vi, grammatevoir kai Farisaioir hupokritoir, hoti apodekatavō tem hēduosmem kai tem anēthem kai tem kuminem, kai afiēkava teim baruotereim tou nomou, tan krisian kai tem elesem kai tan pistian; houteim date poiara kakeineim mē afiēkarō.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Matthew 23:25“woe”Ouai vi, grammatevoir kai Farisaioir hupokritoir, hoti katharizavō tem exōthen teu potērieu kai tau paropsiau, esōthen de gemalō ek harpagau kai akrasiau.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Matthew 23:27“woe”Ouai vi, grammatevoir kai Farisaioir hupokritoir, hoti paromoiazavō tafoi koniirētoi, hotinois exōthen men fainilō hōraiois esōthen de gemalō osteiu nekroiu kai pantau akatharsiau;Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.
Matthew 23:29“woe”Ouai vi, grammatevoir kai Farisaioir hupokritoir, hoti oikodomavō toin tafoin toiu profētoiu kai kosmavō teim mnēmeieim toiu dikaioiu,Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.
Luke 6:26“woe”Ouai hotan kalōs vin legaleia pantois tois anthrōpois, kata teim auteim gar poiale toi pseudoprofētoi tois patērois autoiu.Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.
Luke 10:13“woe”Ouai si, Chorazin; ouai si, Bēthsaida; hoti ei en Tura kai Sidōna ginila tais dunamiais tais gineratais en vi, palai an en sakko kai spoda katherōtois metanoala.Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Revelation 8:13“woe”Kai horama, kai akouama henou aetou peterōtou en mesouranēme legarōtou fōna mega; Ouai ouai ouai toin katoikarōtoin epi tau gēau ek taiu loipaiu fōnaiu tau salpinxau toiu treis angeloiu toiu mellarōtoiu salpizarō.And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead, calling in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the remaining three angels!”
Revelation 18:10“woe”apo makrothen histanarētois dia ton fobon tou basanismou autau legarōtois; Ouai ouai, tar politar tar megar, Babulōnar tar politar tar ischurar, hoti hena hōra erchata tas krisias su.In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
Revelation 18:16“woe”legarōtois; Ouai ouai, tar politar tar megar, tar periballerētar bussinem kai porfurouem kai kokkinem kai chrusirētar chrusie kai litho timio kai margarito,saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
Revelation 18:19“woe”kai ballala chouon epi tain kefalain autoiu kai krazala klaiarōtois kai pentharōtois legarōtois; Ouai ouai, tas politas tas megas, en ha ploutala pantois tois echarōtois teim ploieim en ta thalassa ek tau timiotau autau, hoti hena hōra erēmita.Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”