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Unveiling the Word

Understanding the Greek word ὀλίγος (oligos) is crucial for grasping key theological concepts in the New Testament, especially in relation to teachings about faith, the Kingdom of God, and spiritual discipline. Found in Matthew 7:14, oligos is used by Jesus to describe the “few” who find the narrow path to life, highlighting the rarity and difficulty of genuine discipleship. This word carries significance not only in New Testament theology but also in ancient Greek culture, where it often referred to small quantities or the rarity of a particular attribute or quality.

Necessary Information

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Greek Word: ὀλίγος (oligos), pronounced o-LEE-gos.

Etymology: The word oligos derives from the root ὀλίγος, meaning “few,” “little,” or “small.” Its root meaning emphasizes a small number or limited quantity, often in contrast to polys (πολύς), meaning “many.”

Part of Speech: Oligos is an adjective, used to modify nouns by describing their small size or quantity. It can be used both in literal and metaphorical contexts, such as referring to a small number of people or the limited amount of time or resources.

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Defining Meanings

1. Few or Small in Number: The primary meaning of oligos is “few” or “small in number.” In Matthew 7:14, Jesus speaks of the “few” who find the narrow way that leads to life, underscoring the challenging nature of true discipleship.

2. Limited or Insufficient: Oligos can also describe something that is limited in quantity or insufficient, such as time, resources, or abilities. This meaning is often applied to situations where scarcity or limitation plays a central role.

3. Metaphorical Use in Spiritual Contexts: In a spiritual sense, oligos is used to emphasize rarity or exclusivity, as in the few who are chosen or the limited number who can enter the Kingdom of God.

Exploring Similar Words

1. πολύς (polys) [pronunciation: PO-lus]: This word means “many” or “much,” and stands in contrast to oligos. While polys refers to abundance, oligos emphasizes scarcity.

2. ἐλάχιστος (elachistos) [pronunciation: eh-LAH-khis-tos]: This word means “least” or “smallest,” denoting an even smaller quantity or degree than oligos.

3. μικρός (mikros) [pronunciation: mee-KROS]: Similar to oligos, mikros refers to something small, but often carries connotations of physical size rather than number or quantity.

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Case, Number, Gender: Oligos follows standard adjective declension in Greek, meaning its form changes based on the case (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative), number (singular, plural), and gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) of the noun it modifies.

Declension: Oligos belongs to the second declension and changes accordingly. For example, in the nominative masculine singular form, it is ὀλίγος; in the genitive form, it becomes ὀλίγου.

Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek.

Studying Lexicon Insights

According to various Greek lexicons, oligos consistently conveys the idea of a small quantity or rarity. In classical Greek, it often referred to small numbers of people or limited resources. In the New Testament, oligos takes on a more spiritual dimension, particularly in its use by Jesus to contrast the many who travel the broad road to destruction with the few who find the narrow path to life (Matthew 7:14). Lexicons also point out that oligos can carry an emotional or qualitative connotation, not just a numerical one. It often highlights the difficulty or challenge of being among the “few” who are faithful or who persevere.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. Matthew 7:14: “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few [ὀλίγος].”

2. Matthew 9:37: “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few [ὀλίγος].’”

3. Luke 12:48: “But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more [ὀλίγος].”

Analyzing Classical Usage

Author Name of Work English text with the Greek word in parentheses

Plato Republic “The men who love wisdom are few (ὀλίγος).”

Herodotus Histories “The numbers were small (ὀλίγος), but the effort was great.”

Septuagint Judges 7:6 “The number of those who drank from their hand was three hundred men, but the rest were too few (ὀλίγος).”

Noteworthy Summary

The Greek word ὀλίγος (oligos) plays a significant role in the New Testament, emphasizing the rarity or scarcity of true followers of Jesus or laborers for the Kingdom. In Matthew 7:14, Jesus uses oligos to describe the few who find the narrow path to life. The term often highlights spiritual discipline and the challenges that come with being part of a limited group of faithful followers.

Did You Know?

1. Oligos is used 40 times in the New Testament, often to describe the “few” who are spiritually faithful or chosen.

2. The concept of scarcity reflected in oligos is not just about numbers, but about quality—Jesus often used it to emphasize the cost and value of true discipleship.

3. Oligos contrasts with the abundance indicated by polys, showing how few truly commit to the difficult journey of following Christ.