ὡσεί G5616
Approximately, about (with numbers); like, as if, as though (in comparisons)
This small but versatile adverb does double duty in the New Testament. With numbers and measurements, hōsei means 'approximately'—'about five thousand men' (Matt 14:21), 'about thirty years of age' (Luke 3:23). The French 'environ' and German 'etwa' capture this approximating function precisely. In its comparative use, the word introduces vivid similes: the Spirit descends 'as a dove' (Matt 3:16), the crowd is 'like sheep without a shepherd' (Matt 9:36), and Jesus' sweat becomes 'as drops of blood' (Luke 22:44). Though easily overlooked, hōsei is the quiet architect of some of Scripture's most memorable imagery.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Used with numerals or time expressions to indicate approximation: 'about, approximately, roughly.' Luke particularly favors this usage—'about five thousand' (Luke 9:14), 'about thirty years old' (Luke 3:23), 'about eight days later' (Luke 9:28). The French 'environ' and German 'etwa' are near-perfect equivalents, while Spanish 'como' serves both this and the comparative sense. Covers 12 of 21 occurrences. 12×
AR["نَحْوَ"]·ben["প্রায়", "ὡσεὶ-প্রায়"]·DE["etwa"]·EN["about"]·FR["environ"]·heb["כְּ-", "כְּבֶן-", "כְּמוֹ"]·HI["जैसे", "लगभग"]·ID["kira-kira", "sekitar"]·IT["come"]·jav["kados", "kira-kira", "kirang-langkung"]·KO["같은", "대략", "마치", "약"]·PT["cerca-de", "de-cerca-de"]·RU["на-", "около", "около-"]·ES["como"]·SW["kama", "karibu", "karibu-"]·TR["gibi", "yaklaşık", "üç-bin"]·urd["تقریباً", "جیسا", "قریباً"]
2. sense 2 — Introduces comparisons and similes: 'like, as if, as though.' The Spirit descends upon Jesus 'as a dove' (Matt 3:16), the crowds are 'as sheep without a shepherd' (Matt 9:36), and in Gethsemane Jesus' sweat falls 'as drops of blood' (Luke 22:44). The disciples dismissed the women's report 'as idle talk' (Luke 24:11). The Spanish 'como' and German 'etwa' overlap here, but the comparative force is distinct from mere approximation. Covers 9 occurrences. 9×
AR["كَ", "كَ-", "كَأَنَّهُ", "كَرِدَاءٍ", "كَـ", "كَـ-"]·ben["মত", "মতন", "মতো", "যেন", "যেমন"]·DE["etwa"]·EN["as", "as-", "as-if", "as-of", "like", "like-"]·FR["environ", "etwa"]·heb["כְּ", "כְּ-", "כְּמוֹ", "כְּמוֹ-"]·HI["जैसा", "जैसे", "मानो"]·ID["seperti"]·IT["come", "ōsei"]·jav["kados"]·KO["-처럼", "같이", "같이-", "마치"]·PT["como", "como-se"]·RU["живых", "как", "как-", "как-будто"]·ES["como"]·SW["kama", "kama-"]·TR["gibi", "gibi-", "sanki"]·urd["جیسا", "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
ὡσεί or ὡς εἰ, adverb as if, as though; with various moods: __I with optative, ἴσαν, ὡς εἴ τε πυρὶ χθὼν πᾶσα νέμοιτο Refs 8th c.BC+ __I.2 ὡσεί τε with subjunctive, ἐρίλησ᾽ ὡς εἴ τε πατὴρ ὃν παῖδα φιλήσῃ Refs 8th c.BC+ __I.3 ὡς εἰ or ὡς εἴ τε, with indicative, ἕπονθ᾽ ὡς εἴ τε μετὰ κτίλον ἕσπετο μῆλα Refs 8th c.BC+ __II in comparisons, like, just as, Refs 8th c.BC+, etc.: with participle, Refs 8th…