Greek adjective · G3641
ὀλίγος
oligosol-ee'-gos
little/few
40 uses in the Greek text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: olígos
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's G3641is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 11 of 27New Testament books
- 13spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · G3641
puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat
The King James renders it: + almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
oligos is rendered "little/few". It stands 40 times in the Greek text, across eleven books.
- Ten of the uses stand in Acts, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
- The Greek text spells it thirteen different ways.
The first use
But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:14ὀλίγοι
The first use, in the order of the New Testament's books.
Where the word stands
Ten of the word's forty uses are in Acts.
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- few8
- a little7
- a few6
- little5
- small4
- a few things3
- a little while2
- a short1
- brief1
- for a little while1
- on a few1
- so little1
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| ὀλιγόπιστος | oligopistos | of little faith | Uses5 |
| ὀλιγωρέω | oligoreo | to despise | Uses1 |
| ὀλιγόψυχος | oligopsychos | fainthearted | Uses1 |
The words it stands beside
All 40, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
13 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- ὀλίγον13
- ὀλίγα6
- ὀλίγοι6
- ὀλίγῳ4
- ὀλίγας2
- ὀλίγος2
- ὀλίγαι.¶1
- ὀλίγην1
- ὀλίγης1
- ὀλίγοι.¶1
- ὀλίγοις1
- ὀλίγου1
and 1 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- adjective · accusative (object) · neuter singular9A-ASN
- adjective · nominative (subject) · masculine plural7A-NPM
- adjective · accusative (object) · neuter plural6A-APN
- adjective · accusative (object) · masculine singular3A-ASM
- adjective · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singular3A-DSN
- adjective · accusative (object) · feminine plural2A-APF
- adjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singular2A-NSM
- adjective · accusative (object) · feminine singular1A-ASF
- adjective · dative (“to / for”) · masculine plural1A-DPM
- adjective · dative (“to / for”) · masculine singular1A-DSM
- adjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter plural1A-GPN
- adjective · genitive (“of”) · feminine singular1A-GSF
Matthew
six uses
But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
- ὀλίγοιoligoiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: few
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
- ὀλίγοιoligoiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: few
“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
- ὀλίγαoligaadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluraltagged: a few
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- ὀλίγοιoligoiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: few
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!’
- ὀλίγαoligaadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluraltagged: a few things
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!’
- ὀλίγαoligaadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluraltagged: a few things
Mark
four uses
Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: a little
So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
- ὀλίγοιςoligoisadjective · dative (“to / for”) · masculine pluraltagged: on a few
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.
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: a little
They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.
- ὀλίγαoligaadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluraltagged: a few
Luke
six uses
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.
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: a little
Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: little
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: little
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.
- ὀλίγοιoligoiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: few
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.
- ὀλίγαςoligasadjective · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: few
“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
- ὀλίγοιoligoiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: few
Acts
ten uses
At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
- ὀλίγοςoligosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: small
And they spent a long time there with the disciples.
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · masculine singulartagged: little
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.
- ὀλίγηςoligesadjective · genitive (“of”) · feminine singulartagged: small
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.
- ὀλίγαι.¶oligaiadjective · nominative (subject) · feminine pluraltagged: a few
As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.
- ὀλίγοι.¶oligoiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: a few
About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
- ὀλίγοςoligosadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine singulartagged: small
It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen.
- ὀλίγηνoligenadjective · accusative (object) · feminine singulartagged: little
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”
- ὀλίγῳoligoadjective · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singulartagged: so little
“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.”
- ὀλίγῳoligoadjective · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singulartagged: a little
When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.
- ὀλίγουoligouadjective · genitive (“of”) · masculine singulartagged: small
2 Corinthians
one use
As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: little
Ephesians
one use
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
- ὀλίγῳoligoadjective · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singulartagged: brief
1 Timothy
two uses
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.
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · masculine singulartagged: a little
Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
- ὀλίγῳoligoadjective · dative (“to / for”) · masculine singulartagged: a little
Hebrews
one use
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.
- ὀλίγαςoligasadjective · accusative (object) · feminine pluraltagged: a few
James
one use
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.
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: a little
1 Peter
four uses
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: for a little while
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.
- ὀλίγοιoligoiadjective · nominative (subject) · masculine pluraltagged: few
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.
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: a little while
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.
- ὀλίγωνoligonadjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter pluraltagged: few
Revelation
four uses
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.
- ὀλίγαoligaadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluraltagged: a few things
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.
- ὀλίγαoligaadjective · accusative (object) · neuter pluraltagged: a few
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.”
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · masculine singulartagged: a short
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.
- ὀλίγονoligonadjective · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: a little while
Where it leads
Studies that open this word1
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.