Greek · Strong's G537
ἅπας
hápas (hah-pas)
adjective
This adjective means “all” or “whole,” emphasizing completeness or the totality of a group or quantity.
The Greek adjective ἅπας (hápas) broadly signifies "all," "every," or "the whole," often with an emphasis on the entirety or completeness of something. It is closely related to πᾶς (pas), which also means "all" or "every," but ἅπας often carries a slightly stronger sense of being "absolutely all" or "collectively all." It can refer to persons, objects, or even abstract concepts, encompassing every part or member without exception. Its semantic range is wide, extending from a simple numerical totality to a more qualitative sense of universality or undividedness in a given context.
In the New Testament, ἅπας is frequently used to highlight the comprehensive nature of an event or group. For instance, in the book of Acts, it describes the entire community of believers being together or being filled with the Holy Spirit, emphasizing their unity and shared experience. This usage underlines a solidarity among those described, and points to God's Spirit working in a collective way. The word helps to convey the idea that no one was excluded from these significant events, reinforcing the communal aspect of early Christian life and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a gathered company.
While ἅπας does not in itself carry deep theological weight beyond its emphasizing nature, its presence in key passages often underscores important theological truths. When referring to "all things" (Luke 21:12), it can point to the comprehensive scope of trials or divine plans. When describing "all" the people, it suggests a universal impact or involvement in events. The use of ἅπας helps to convey the wide-ranging influence of the gospel message and the inclusive nature of God's actions, affecting every person or every aspect within the specified context.
Strong's 537 (hapas) — the New Testament word for 'all together'
Strong's 537 is ἅπας (hapas), an intensified form of pas (G3956, “all”). Where pas can mean “every” distributively, hapas presses the idea of completeness — “all together,” “the whole,” “absolutely all.” It is the word Luke chooses for those great unifying scenes in Acts: “they were all (hapantes) filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:4), “the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul” (Acts 4:32). Strong's 537 turns up where the New Testament wants to underscore that no one was excluded.
Greek grammarians often note that hapas tends to follow consonant-ending words, where pas would clash phonetically — but the choice is rarely merely stylistic. Hapas carries a flavour of solidarity. In Mark 1:27, when “they were all (hapantes) amazed” by Jesus' exorcism in Capernaum, the word draws the synagogue together into a single reaction. In Luke 21:12, the warning of persecution that will reach “all” disciples is sharpened by the same word.
For preachers and Bible students, Strong's 537 is a small but useful diagnostic: when the Spirit's work is described, when the church's unity is in view, when divine action sweeps over a crowd — hapas is often the word in the Greek behind your English “all.” It is one of those tiny grammatical decisions that quietly preserves the New Testament's vision of a corporate gospel.
Common English renderings
- all
- every
- whole
Key verses
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
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"And all that believed were together, and had all things common;"
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"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
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"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not oneof themsaid that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."
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"Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass."
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"But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake."
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Related words
Common questions
- Strong's 537 is the Greek word ἅπας (hapas), an emphatic form of pas meaning 'all together,' 'absolutely all,' or 'the whole.' It occurs 41 times in the New Testament, especially in Luke-Acts, and stresses completeness or unanimity rather than mere distribution.