θεός
theos
Modern Summary of Abbott-Smith’s Lexicon (1922)
The word *θεός* (theos) primarily means "a god or deity" and is also used to refer to "God" in monotheistic contexts. In polytheistic usage, it can describe individual gods or deities, as seen in various plural references. When referring to the one true God, it is often accompanied by specific grammatical constructions or prepositions to emphasize divine nature, character, or relationship, and it can also be used in a Hebraistic sense to refer to judges.
God; the supreme Deity
Etymologically, theos traces to of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with (ὁ)) the supreme Divinity. In the King James Version, this word is translated as X exceeding, God, god(-ly, and -ward).
Its Hebrew parallels include אֱלֹהִים (ĕlôhîym), אֵל (êl), revealing shared conceptual ground across the biblical languages.
The semantic range of theos — spanning meanings like exceeding, God, god — suggests a word whose full significance cannot be captured by a single English term.
Lexical data derived from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. See full disclaimer
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אֱלֹהִים
ĕlôhîym
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
אֵל
êl
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
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אֱלֹהִים
ĕlôhîym
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
אֵל
êl
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
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