Beautiful Façade: ὡραῖος (Strong’s G5611: hōraios) Masks Whitewashed Tombs

Strong’s G5611: Derived from ὥρα (season, hour), hōraios denotes ripeness, timeliness, and by extension, beauty. In Classical and Koine Greek, it carried connotations of seasonable beauty and peak condition, often used to describe physical attractiveness or the prime of life, while in NT usage adds layers of superficial vs genuine beauty.

U – Unveiling the Word

The term ὡραῖος (hōraios) fundamentally relates to that which is timely, seasonable, or occurring at the right hour (ὥρα). Its evolution in meaning led to describing things at their peak or prime, particularly regarding beauty and appearance. In the New Testament, Jesus notably uses this word in Matthew 23:27 to describe whitewashed tombs – beautiful on the outside but containing death within. This powerful metaphor highlights the contrast between external appearances and internal reality, a theme particularly relevant to modern discussions about authenticity versus superficiality in religious practice. Early church fathers often used this term when discussing the deceptive nature of worldly beauty versus true spiritual beauty.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὡραῖος, hōraios, /hoˈrai.os/
• Detailed pronunciation: ho (as in “hope”) – RAI (as in “rye”) – os (as in “dose”)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• ὥρα (hora) – base word meaning “hour, season, time”
• -αιος (-aios) – adjectival suffix indicating “belonging to” or “characteristic of”

D – Defining Meanings

• Coming at the right time, seasonable
• Beautiful, fair, lovely
• In prime condition, at its peak

For compound words:
The suffix -αιος transforms the temporal noun ὥρα into an adjective describing qualities associated with proper timing or seasonal ripeness

Translation Options:

• “Beautiful” – captures the aesthetic quality but misses temporal aspects
• “Seasonably perfect” – preserves both timing and quality aspects
• “In its prime” – conveys the peak condition implied by proper timing

E – Exploring Similar Words

• καλός (kalos, /kaˈlos/) – generally beautiful or good, more broad than ὡραῖος See G2570
• εὐπρεπής (euprepēs, /eupreˈpes/) – becoming, suitable in appearance See G2158
• ὥριμος (hōrimos, /ˈho.ri.mos/) – ripe, mature See G5610

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As an adjective, ὡραῖος exhibits:

• Gender: Masculine, Feminine, Neuter forms
• Number: Singular and Plural
• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Declension: First/Second declension adjective pattern

Example morphological changes:

• Masculine nominative singular: ὡραῖος
• Feminine nominative singular: ὡραία
• Neuter nominative singular: ὡραῖον

Cross-references:

• Related noun: ὥρα (hora)
• Related adverb: ὡραίως (hōraiōs)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons provide a rich understanding of ὡραῖος. BDAG emphasizes its development from temporal beauty to general attractiveness. Thayer’s highlights its connection to ὥρα and the concept of ripeness or prime condition. LSJ provides extensive classical usage examples showing its evolution from “timely” to “beautiful.” Vine’s notes its use in the Septuagint for Hebrew words relating to physical beauty. Strong’s connects it to seasonal appropriateness. LEH emphasizes its aesthetic qualities in Hellenistic literature. Moulton and Milligan document its common usage in papyri for describing physical appearance and prime condition of goods.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 23:27: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful [ὡραῖοι] but within are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”

Additional References:
Acts 3:2
Acts 3:10
Romans 10:15

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The concept of ὡραῖος provides a fascinating lens through which to view the relationship between timing, beauty, and authenticity. Its evolution from describing seasonal appropriateness to physical beauty, and its use in Jesus’ teaching about hypocritical religious practice, offers profound insights into the nature of true spiritual beauty. The good news of Jesus Christ emphasizes that while humans often focus on external appearances, God looks at the heart, calling us to cultivate internal beauty that reflects His character rather than merely maintaining an attractive façade.

D – Did You Know?

1. The word’s connection to ὥρα (hour) gives us the English word “horology” (the study of time measurement)
2. In Byzantine Greek, it became a common term for icons and religious art
3. The word appears in ancient marketplace receipts describing produce at its peak freshness

Strong’s G5611: From ὥρα (hora), ὡραῖος describes that which comes at the right time or season, evolving to mean beautiful or in its prime. In NT usage, it often carries implications about the relationship between external beauty and internal reality, particularly in religious contexts.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: beauty, appearance, seasonality, timing, ripeness, prime, religious-hypocrisy, external-beauty, authenticity, biblical-greek, matthew-23, pharisees​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​