Biblical Lexicon

ὅθεν G3606

Conj | 15× in 2 senses

From where, whence (of spatial origin); by extension, therefore, for which reason (inferential connective).

This compact adverb bridges physical space and logical reasoning in the New Testament. In its spatial sense, ὅθεν asks 'from where?' — as when an unclean spirit returns to the house 'from which' it came (Matt 12:44; Luke 11:24), or a master reaps 'where' he did not sow (Matt 25:24). But in Hebrews especially, ὅθεν shifts to an inferential marker meaning 'therefore' or 'for which reason' (Heb 2:17; 3:1; 7:25; 8:3), drawing theological conclusions with logical precision. German 'woher' preserves the spatial root, while Spanish 'por lo cual' captures the inferential leap.

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Senses

1. from where, whence (spatial/source) — A relative adverb of spatial origin meaning 'from where' or 'whence,' indicating the place or source from which someone or something comes. The unclean spirit returns to the house 'from which' it departed (Matt 12:44; Luke 11:24); the harsh master reaps 'from where' he did not sow (Matt 25:24, 26). Spanish 'de donde/desde donde,' French 'd'où,' and German 'woher' all preserve the directional, source-oriented meaning. Eight occurrences anchor this concrete spatial usage across the Synoptics and Acts. 8×

GEOGRAPHY_SPACE › Spacial Positions › Locative Interrogatives

AR["حَيثُ", "حَيْثُ", "مِن-حَيثُ", "مِن-هُنا", "مِن-هُناكَ", "مِنْ-حَيْثُ"]·ben["অতএব", "যেখান-থেকে", "সেখান-হইতে"]·DE["woher", "ὅθεν"]·EN["from-there", "from-where", "from-which"]·FR["d'où"]·heb["מִשָּׁם", "מֵאֲשֶׁר"]·HI["जहअन-से", "जहाँ-से", "जहाँसे", "जहां-से", "जिस-से"]·ID["dari-mana", "dari-sana"]·IT["da-dove"]·jav["mila", "nglempakaken", "saking-ngrika", "saking-pundi", "saking-punika"]·KO["~에서", "거기서", "거기에서", "그러므로"]·PT["de-onde", "donde"]·RU["откуда"]·ES["de-donde", "desde-donde"]·SW["ambapo", "kutoka", "kutoka-hapo", "kutoka-pale-", "kwa-hivyo", "mahali-ambapo"]·TR["bu-yüzden", "bundan", "nereden", "oradan"]·urd["اِس-سے", "جہاں-سے"]

Matt 12:44, Matt 25:24, Matt 25:26, Luke 11:24, Acts 14:26, Acts 28:13, Heb 11:19, 1 John 2:18

2. therefore, for which reason (inferential) — An inferential conjunction meaning 'therefore,' 'hence,' or 'for which reason,' representing a semantic extension from spatial origin to logical ground. Concentrated in Hebrews (2:17; 3:1; 7:25; 8:3), it introduces weighty theological conclusions: 'Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect' (Heb 2:17). Paul uses it similarly in Acts 26:19 for a conclusion drawn from the Damascus road vision. Spanish 'por lo cual' makes the inferential force explicit, while French 'd'où' retains the etymological link to origin. 7×

DISCOURSE_NAMES › Discourse Markers › Therefore Particles

AR["لِذٰلِكَ"]·ben["অতএব", "তাই"]·DE["woher", "ὅθεν", "Ὅθεν"]·EN["Therefore", "therefore"]·FR["d'où"]·heb["מִשָּׁם", "עַל-כֵּן", "עַל־כֵּן"]·HI["इसलिए", "इसलिये", "जिस्से"]·ID["Karena-itu,", "Oleh-karena-itu", "Sebab-itu", "dari-situ", "oleh-karena-itu", "sebab-itu"]·IT["da-dove"]·jav["Mila,", "mila", "pramila"]·KO["그래서", "그러므로"]·PT["Por-isso", "Portanto,", "pelo-que", "por-isso"]·RU["Посему", "Потому", "Почему", "отчего", "почему"]·ES["Por-lo-cual", "por-lo-cual"]·SW["Kwa-hiyo", "kwa-hivyo", "kwa-hiyo"]·TR["Bu-yüzden", "Bunun-için", "bu-yüzden", "bundan-dolayı", "bunun-için"]·urd["اس-لیے", "اِس-لیے"]

Matt 14:7, Acts 26:19, Heb 2:17, Heb 3:1, Heb 7:25, Heb 8:3, Heb 9:18

BDB / Lexicon Reference

ὅθεν, relative adverb whence, ὑπὸ πλατανίστῳ, ὅ. ῥέεν ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐξ Ἐνετῶν, ὅ. ἡμιόνων γένοςRefs; also, from whom or which, ὅθεν περ Ὁμηρίδαι ἄρχονται, Διὸς ἐκ προοιμίου Refs 5th c.BC+; ὅθεν δή Refs 8th c.BC+ __b in Attic dialect Prose, ὅθεν δή from whatever source, in what manner soever, Refs 5th c.BC+; also ἄλλοθεν ὁθενοῦν from any other place whatsoever, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 for…