Understanding δήπου (depou) Strong’s G1222: The Profound Certainty That Reveals Divine Providence in Scripture

Pronunciation Guide: day-POO

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1222: The Greek adverb δήπου (depou) conveys a sense of assured certainty, literally meaning “surely” or “without doubt.” It combines affirmation with subtle emphasis, expressing what is considered obvious or self-evident to both the speaker and listener. In biblical usage, it often introduces a statement that the author expects the audience to readily acknowledge as true.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Adverb
• Compound word from δή (indeed, truly) and που (somewhere, in some way)
• Classical Greek origin
• Primarily used in didactic (teaching) passages
• Relatively rare in Koine Greek literature, appearing only once in the New Testament
• Often used in rhetorical arguments to establish common ground

δήπου Morphology:

• δήπου – invariable adverb form (does not decline)

Origin & History

The term δήπου evolved from classical Greek rhetoric where it functioned as a discourse marker to signal shared knowledge between speaker and audience. In Plato’s dialogues, particularly in “Republic” and “Symposium,” δήπου appears frequently in Socrates’ arguments to establish premises that his interlocutors would presumably accept. Similarly, Aristotle employs it in “Nicomachean Ethics” when referring to principles he considers self-evident to his educated audience.

In the Septuagint (LXX), δήπου appears sparingly, notably in 4 Maccabees 3:16, where the author uses it to emphasize what should be obvious to Jewish readers regarding the law’s moral authority. The infrequency of δήπου in biblical Greek highlights its specialized rhetorical function, reserved for moments when authors wished to emphasize certainty about matters they expected their audience to acknowledge without dispute.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A rhetorical marker indicating what should be obvious or generally acknowledged
• An emphatic adverb expressing certainty with an appeal to shared understanding
• A discursive particle that subtly invites the reader/listener to agree with a statement
• A linguistic tool for establishing common ground in theological arguments

δήπου Translation Options:

• “Surely” – Captures the certainty component but misses the appeal to shared knowledge
• “As you surely know” – Reflects both certainty and the assumption of audience agreement
• “Doubtless” – Emphasizes the lack of doubt while maintaining formal tone
• “Of course” – Conveys the self-evident nature of the statement that follows
• “Presumably” – Highlights the expectation of agreement, though slightly weaker than the original Greek

Biblical Usage

The adverb δήπου appears only once in the entire New Testament, in Hebrews 2:16, making it one of the rarest Greek terms in Scripture. This singular occurrence is significant, as the author of Hebrews employs it at a crucial juncture in his argument about the Messiah’s incarnation. The author uses δήπου to introduce what he considers an obvious theological truth—that Jesus took on human nature rather than angelic nature—as if saying, “as we all obviously know.”

This strategic placement of δήπου in Hebrews reveals the author’s rhetorical sophistication. By employing this term, he establishes common theological ground with his Jewish-Christian audience before advancing more complex arguments about Messiah’s priesthood in subsequent chapters. The rarity of this term suggests its deliberate selection to emphasize a foundational premise upon which later theological insights depend.

• “For surely [δήπου] He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.” Hebrews 2:16

Cultural Insights

The rhetorical function of δήπου in Hebrews reflects Hellenistic Jewish educational methods prevalent in first-century diaspora communities. Educated Jews in the Greco-Roman world were familiar with classical rhetorical techniques, including the establishment of common ground (koinonia) before advancing more contentious arguments. The author of Hebrews demonstrates this training by using δήπου to mark a statement about Messiah’s incarnation as human rather than angelic—a point that both Jewish Christians and their non-believing Jewish counterparts would likely accept based on messianic expectations from the Tanakh.

This rhetorical strategy parallels methods employed in the rabbinic teaching practice of kal vachomer (light and heavy), where teachers would begin with a readily accepted premise before proceeding to more challenging concepts. By using δήπου, the author signals to his audience that he is building his case on shared theological foundations, a sophisticated approach that would have resonated with readers accustomed to both synagogue teaching and Hellenistic philosophical discourse.

Theological Significance

The singular appearance of δήπου in Hebrews 2:16 carries profound theological weight, as it introduces a statement about the very nature of Messiah’s incarnation. By using this term, the author emphasizes a fundamental truth of God’s redemptive plan—that Yahweh chose to save humanity by becoming human, not by becoming an angel or some other being. This underscores the incredible specificity and intentionality of divine love, demonstrating that God’s salvation plan targeted fallen humanity directly rather than operating through intermediary beings.

This truth illuminates the personal nature of God’s covenant faithfulness. The use of δήπου emphasizes that Messiah’s identification with “Abraham’s descendants” rather than angels should be self-evident to believers, revealing both God’s particular love for His covenant people and the universal implications of salvation extending through Abraham’s lineage to all nations. This single adverb thus highlights a cornerstone of biblical theology—that Yahweh works through particular people and concrete historical circumstances to accomplish His universal redemptive purposes, embodying both transcendent glory and intimate, incarnational love.

Personal Application

When we grasp the significance of δήπου in Hebrews 2:16, we encounter a profoundly personal truth—that the God of the universe considered it “obvious” that He would become one of us rather than remaining distant. This certainty about God’s incarnational approach to salvation challenges us to recognize how deeply He desired connection with humanity. The “of course” quality embedded in this term invites us to see God’s personal intervention in human history not as surprising but as the most natural expression of His character.

In our own spiritual journeys, embracing this “δήπου perspective” transforms how we approach difficulties. When facing trials, we can remind ourselves, “Of course God enters my suffering—that’s who He is!” This shift from seeing God’s intervention as exceptional to recognizing it as His consistent character can revolutionize our prayers and expectations, helping us approach Him with confident trust rather than tentative hope.

Related Words

• δή (de) – “indeed, truly” – A particle expressing certainty without the conversational element of δήπου. Used to emphasize the reality or importance of a statement rather than appealing to shared knowledge. See G1211
• ἀληθῶς (alethos) – “ah-lay-THOCE” – “truly, genuinely” – Expresses factual truth rather than rhetorical certainty, focusing on accuracy rather than shared understanding. See G230
• ἀμήν (amen) – “ah-MAIN” – “verily, truly” – Unlike δήπου, ἀμήν is declarative rather than conversational, often serving as a solemn affirmation without the assumption of audience agreement. See G281
• πάντως (pantos) – “PAN-toce” – “by all means, surely” – Conveys absolute certainty without the subtle appeal to audience knowledge characteristic of δήπου. See G3843
• γάρ (gar) – “GAR” – “for, because” – While not directly equivalent, γάρ often introduces explanations for things the author believes should be readily apparent to readers, serving a complementary function to δήπου in rhetorical discourse. See G1063

Did you Know?

• Did you know that δήπου is one of only a handful of Greek words that appear exactly once in the entire New Testament (hapax legomena)? This singularity highlights its special rhetorical purpose in Hebrews, where the author carefully selected this rare term to establish common ground with his audience at a crucial point in his theological argument about Messiah’s incarnation.
• Did you know that the rhetorical technique embodied in δήπου—assuming shared knowledge with one’s audience—was highly valued in ancient Jewish educational methods? The Talmudic practice of “b’vaday” (certainly) similarly functioned to establish points of agreement before advancing more complex halakhic (legal) discussions, showing how the author of Hebrews was drawing on both Greek rhetoric and Jewish teaching traditions simultaneously.
• Did you know that modern Greek still uses a form of δήπου in conversational Greek? The term “δηλαδή” (diladi), which evolved from the ancient δήπου, serves a similar function in contemporary Greek discourse, indicating “that is to say” or “obviously,” showing the enduring usefulness of linguistic markers that establish common ground between speakers and listeners across millennia.

Remember This

δήπου reminds us that God’s most profound acts of love—including the incarnation of Messiah as human rather than angelic—should be viewed not as surprising exceptions but as the natural, expected expressions of His faithful character.