Divine Possession: ὑμέτερος (Strong’s G5212: hymeteros) Shows Our Inheritance

Strong’s G5212: Second person plural possessive adjective meaning “your/yours” (belonging to you all). Used in significant theological contexts to emphasize collective ownership of spiritual blessings and responsibilities in the Christian community.

U- Unveiling the Word

The possessive adjective ὑμέτερος carries special significance in New Testament discourse, emphasizing the collective ownership and stewardship of God’s gifts to His people. When used in contexts like “your salvation” or “your faith,” it underscores the shared nature of Christian experience and responsibility. Early church writers used this term to emphasize the corporate nature of spiritual possessions and obligations. Today, this word continues to remind us that our spiritual inheritance and responsibilities are not merely individual but shared within the body of Christ.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑμέτερος, hymeteros, /hoo-MET-er-os/
• Detailed pronunciation: hoo (as in “who”) – MET (as in “met”) – er – os
• Part of Speech: Possessive Adjective

Etymology:

• From ὑμεῖς (you plural)
• Suffix: -τερος (-teros) forming comparative/possessive
• Related to Latin “vester”
• Common Indo-European possessive formation

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary meanings:

1. Belonging to you (plural)
2. Your (collective)
3. Yours (plural possessive)
4. Of your group

For compound words: Not applicable as this is a basic possessive form

Translation Options:

1. “Your” – standard but misses plural aspect
2. “Your collective” – emphasizes plurality
3. “Belonging to you all” – most explicit

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἡμέτερος (hemeteros) /hay-MET-er-os/ – our See G2251
• σός (sos) /sos/ – your (singular) See G4674
• ἴδιος (idios) /ID-ee-os/ – one’s own See G2398

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Adjective Features:

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine, Feminine, Neuter
• Declension: First/Second

Examples:

• ὑμέτερος (masculine nominative singular)
• ὑμετέρα (feminine nominative singular)
• ὑμέτερον (neuter nominative/accusative singular)
• ὑμέτεροι (masculine nominative plural)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes ὑμέτερος in contexts of shared possession and responsibility. Thayer’s notes its use in emphasizing collective ownership. LSJ documents its consistent usage pattern from classical through Koine Greek. Vine’s highlights its importance in passages dealing with corporate spiritual inheritance. Moulton and Milligan show its common usage in legal documents regarding shared property. The lexicons collectively demonstrate how this possessive adjective serves to emphasize collective ownership and responsibility in New Testament discourse.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Luke 6:20: “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for [ὑμέτερος] yours is the kingdom of God.”

Additional References:
John 7:6
John 8:17
John 15:20
Acts 27:34
Romans 11:31

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The use of ὑμέτερος in the New Testament emphasizes the collective nature of our spiritual inheritance and responsibilities. When the Messiah speaks of “your kingdom” or “your salvation,” He addresses us as a community. The good news is that we share in these blessings together as His body. Our inheritance in the Messiah is both personal and corporate, calling us to steward His gifts in community with fellow believers.

D – Did You Know?

1. This form appears in several crucial passages about spiritual inheritance
2. It’s often used in legal documents about shared property rights
3. Early Christian writers used it to emphasize church unity

Strong’s G5212: Second person plural possessive adjective meaning “your/yours” (belonging to you all). Used in significant theological contexts to emphasize collective ownership of spiritual blessings and responsibilities in the Christian community.

Part of speech: Possessive Adjective

Tags: possession, ownership, collective, inheritance, community, responsibility, stewardship, plural, church unity, shared blessings, spiritual gifts, corporate worship, belonging, Christian community, spiritual responsibility​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​