Personal Possession: ὑμῶν (Strong’s G5216: hymōn) Reveals Divine Intimacy

Strong’s G5216: A personal possessive pronoun derived from ὑμεῖς (you), indicating second person plural possession (“of you,” “your”). Used extensively in the New Testament to emphasize collective ownership, shared responsibility, and communal identity within the body of believers, highlighting the corporate nature of faith.

U – Unveiling the Word

The word ὑμῶν carries profound theological significance as it expresses the concept of collective possession within the community of believers. This second person plural possessive pronoun appears frequently in the New Testament, particularly in contexts where spiritual inheritance, communal responsibility, and shared identity in the Messiah are emphasized. Unlike modern English, which doesn’t distinguish between singular and plural “your,” ὑμῶν specifically addresses a group, highlighting the corporate nature of New Testament faith. This collective emphasis was crucial in early church understanding, as it reinforced the idea that salvation, while personal, is experienced within the context of community. Today, this word continues to remind us that our faith journey, though individual, is meant to be lived out in fellowship with other believers.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑμῶν, hymōn, /hyˈmɔːn/
• Detailed pronunciation: hü-mōn (where ü is pronounced like German ü)
• Part of Speech: Personal Possessive Pronoun

Etymology:

• Derived from ὑμεῖς (hymeis, “you” plural)
• Base form: ὑ- (hy-) indicating second person
• -μῶν (-mōn) genitive plural ending

D – Defining Meanings

• Of you (plural)
• Your (plural)
• Yours (plural)

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

Translation Options:

• “of you all” – emphasizes plurality
• “your (plural)” – distinguishes from singular possession
• “belonging to you (as a group)” – highlights collective ownership

E – Exploring Similar Words

• σοῦ (sou) /soo/ – singular “your” – See G4675
• ὑμέτερος (hymeteros) /hyˈme.te.ros/ – emphatic “your” – See G5212
• ἡμῶν (hēmōn) /heːˈmɔːn/ – “our” – See G2257

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Features of this pronoun:

• Case: Genitive
• Number: Plural
• Person: Second
• Gender: Not specified (applies to all genders)

The genitive case indicates possession or relationship. In English, we would express this through:

• Possessive forms: “your,” “yours”
• “Of” phrases: “of you”
• Prepositional phrases: “belonging to you”

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons consistently emphasize ὑμῶν’s role in expressing collective possession. BDAG highlights its frequent use in epistolary literature, particularly in Paul’s letters, where it reinforces community identity. Thayer’s notes its emphatic nature in certain contexts, especially when contrasting divine and human possession. LSJ provides evidence of its consistent usage from classical through Koine periods. Vine’s emphasizes its importance in expressions of shared spiritual inheritance. Moulton and Milligan document its common usage in papyri, showing its integration into everyday language while maintaining its distinctive plural emphasis.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 5:11: “Blessed are you when people insult you [ὑμῶν] and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.”

Additional References:
Matthew 5:16, John 15:11, Romans 6:14, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Galatians 6:18

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The profound significance of ὑμῶν lies in its emphasis on collective identity and shared spiritual inheritance in the Messiah. This word appears in crucial passages about community life, corporate worship, and shared mission. It reminds us that the good news of King Jesus isn’t merely individual but communal – we are saved into a family, not just as isolated believers. This corporate emphasis challenges modern individualistic interpretations of faith and calls us back to the New Testament vision of church as family, where our possessions, privileges, and responsibilities are shared in loving community.

D – Did You Know?

• ὑμῶν appears over 500 times in the New Testament
• It’s used in every New Testament book except 3 John
• The frequency of its use in Paul’s letters reveals the apostle’s emphasis on community identity in the Messiah

Strong’s G5216: A personal possessive pronoun derived from ὑμεῖς (you), indicating second person plural possession (“of you,” “your”). Used extensively in the New Testament to emphasize collective ownership, shared responsibility, and communal identity within the body of believers, highlighting the corporate nature of faith.

Part of speech: Personal Possessive Pronoun

Tags: possessive pronoun, plural possession, community, corporate identity, biblical Greek, New Testament Greek, pronouns, collective ownership, church community, biblical language​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​