Greek Word for so
Greek: οὕτως
Transliteration: houtōs
Pronunciation: HOO-tose
Meaning and Usage
The word οὕτως (houtōs) primarily means:
- “in this way”
- “in this manner”
- “thus” or “so” (as in “like this”)
It is an adverb of manner, not an adverb of degree. In other words, it answers the question “How?” rather than “How much?”
In John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
The word “so” (οὕτως) is pointing back to the previous verses (especially verse 14), where Jesus said:
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up…”
So when Jesus says in verse 16, “God so loved the world…”, He is saying:
“God loved the world in this way — by giving His Son to be lifted up, just as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness.”
Summary
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Greek word | οὕτως (houtōs) |
| Meaning | “in this way,” “in this manner,” “thus” |
| Function | Adverb of manner (answers “How?”) |
| In John 3:16 | Refers to the method of God’s love |
| Connection to v. 14 | “Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” |
Short Version You Can Use
The word “so” in John 3:16 is the Greek word οὕτως (houtōs), which means “in this way” or “in this manner.” It does not primarily mean “how much,” but rather points to the method of God’s love — by giving His only Son to be lifted up on the cross, just as The Bronze Serpent was lifted up in the wilderness.