καθώς G2531
Just as, even as; how — a comparative conjunction introducing correspondence or manner, rarely used as an interrogative.
Kathos is the New Testament's workhorse conjunction for drawing parallels and establishing patterns: 'just as it is written,' 'even as the Father sent me.' Nearly every occurrence sets up a comparison — linking prophecy to fulfillment, divine action to human response, or one event to another. All major translations converge on simple comparative renderings: 'as/just as' (eng), 'como/así como' (spa), 'comme' (fra), 'wie' (deu). In one notable instance (Acts 15:14), James uses kathos not comparatively but to introduce indirect discourse — 'how God first visited' — a usage Spanish captures distinctly with 'cómo.'
Senses
1. just as — Comparative conjunction meaning 'just as,' 'even as,' or 'as' — introducing a standard of comparison, a fulfilled pattern, or a basis for action. The cross-linguistic unanimity is striking: 'como' (spa), 'comme' (fra), 'wie' (deu) all map to a single comparative function. Pervasive in fulfillment formulas ('just as it is written,' Matt 26:24), ethical exhortations ('love one another as I have loved you,' John 13:34), and theological correspondences ('as the Father sent me,' John 20:21). 182×
AR["كَما", "كَمَا"]·ben["যেমন"]·DE["wie"]·EN["as", "he-said", "just-as"]·FR["comme"]·heb["כְּמוֹ-שֶׁ-", "כַּאֲשֶׁר"]·HI["जैसा", "जैसे"]·ID["Sebab-seperti", "sebagaimana", "seperti"]·IT["come"]·jav["kados", "kados-dene", "kados-dené"]·KO["-같이", "-처럼", "~대로", "~처럼", "같이"]·PT["assim-como", "como", "conforme"]·RU["как"]·ES["así-como", "como", "porque", "según"]·SW["alivyowaamuru", "kama", "kama-", "kama-alivyosema", "kama-ilivyoandikwa", "kama-vile", "kama-walivyoambiwa"]·TR["nasıl", "nasıl-ki", "nitekim", "çünkü-nasıl"]·urd["باپ", "جیسا", "جیسے"]
Matt 21:6, Matt 26:24, Matt 28:6, Mark 4:33, Mark 9:13, Mark 11:6, Mark 14:16, Mark 14:21, Mark 15:8, Mark 16:7, Luke 1:2, Luke 1:55 (+38 more)
2. how — Interrogative or declarative 'how,' introducing the manner or way something happened rather than a comparison. At Acts 15:14, James says Simeon described 'how' (kathos) God first visited the Gentiles. Spanish distinctly renders this 'cómo' (with accent, marking interrogative force), while French and German retain 'comme/wie,' which are ambiguous between comparative and manner senses. This rare usage preserves the classical Greek function of kathos as 'in what way.' 1×
AR["كَيفَ"]·ben["কেমন"]·DE["wie"]·EN["how"]·FR["comme"]·heb["רִאשׁוֹנָה"]·HI["कैसे"]·ID["bagaimana"]·IT["come-"]·jav["kados"]·KO["같이"]·PT["como"]·RU["как"]·ES["cómo"]·SW["jinsi-"]·TR["nasıl"]·urd["جیسے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
καθώς, adverb ={καθά}, Refs 5th c.BC+; even as, NT __2 how, ὑπομιμνῄσκειν κ... Aristeas 263,NT __II of Time, as, when,LXX+2nd c.AD+