Lexical Summary
hekastos: each, every, every one
Original Word: ἕκαστος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: hekastos
Pronunciation: heh-KAS-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (hek'-as-tos)
KJV: any, both, each (one), every (man, one, woman), particularly
NASB: each, each one, each man, everyone, each man's, each person, every man
Word Origin: [as if a superlative of hekas (afar)]
1. each or every
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
any, both, each one
As if a superlative of hekas (afar); each or every -- any, both, each (one), every (man, one, woman), particularly.
HELPS Word-studies
1538 hékastos (from hekas, "separate") – each (individual) unit viewed distinctly, i.e. as opposed to "severally" (as a group).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. word
Definitioneach, every
NASB Translationeach (36), each man (4), each man's (3), each one (22), each one's (1), each person (2), every (1), every man (2), every one (2), every* (1), everyone (4), personal (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1538: ἕκαστοςἕκαστος,
ἑκάστη,
ἕκαστον, the
Sept. for
אִישׁ (from
Homer down),
each, every;
a. joined to a substantive: ἕκαστον δένδρον, Luke 6:44; ἑκάστῳ στρατιώτῃ, John 19:23; κατά μῆνα ἕκαστον, every month, Revelation 22:2 (not Rec.); καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν, Hebrews 3:13; cf. Winers Grammar, 111 (106); Buttmann, § 127, 30. preceded by εἷς, Latinunusquisque, every one: with a substantive, Ephesians 4:16; Revelation 22:2 Rec. b. used substantively: John 7:53 (Rec.); Acts 4:35; Romans 2:6; Galatians 6:4, etc.; once plural ἕκαστοι: Revelation 6:11 Rec. With a partitive genitive added: ἡμῶν, Romans 14:12; ὑμῶν, Luke 13:15; 1 Corinthians 1:12; Hebrews 6:11; αὐτῶν, John 6:7 (R G); τῶν σπερμάτων, 1 Corinthians 15:38. εἷς ἕκαστος, every one (see εἷς, 4 b.): without a partitive genitive, Acts 20:31; Colossians 4:6; with a partitive genitive, Luke 4:40; Acts 2:3; Acts 17:27; 1 Corinthians 12:18, etc. ἕκαστος, when it denotes individually, every one of many, is often added appositively to nouns and pronouns and verbs in the plural number (Matthiae, ii., p. 764f; (Winers Grammar, 516 (481); Buttmann, 131 (114))): ἡμεῖς ἀκούομεν ἕκαστος, Acts 2:8; σκορπισθῆτε ἕκαστος, John 16:32; ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ..., ἕκαστος ..., Luke 2:3; add, Acts 3:26; 1 Peter 4:10; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 20:13; likewise εἷς ἕκαστος, Acts 2:6; Acts 21:26; ὑμεῖς οἱ καθ' ἕνα ἕκαστος τήν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἀγαπάτω, you one by one, each one of you severally, Ephesians 5:33. In imitation of the Hebrew, ἕκαστος τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ (לְאָחִיו אִישׁ, Genesis 26:31), Matthew 18:35; μετά τοῦ πλησίον αὐτοῦ (אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ אִישׁ, Judges 6:29, etc.), Ephesians 4:25, cf. Hebrews 8:11 Rec.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Word’s Function Strong’s Greek 1538 underscores the singular responsibility, privilege, and destiny of every person. Whether the context is judgment, gifting, daily conduct, or gospel invitation, Scripture repeatedly draws attention to the individual within the collective.
Individual Accountability before God
The New Testament employs 1538 to affirm that no one hides in the crowd when standing before the Lord.
• Romans 14:12: “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
• 2 Corinthians 5:10 affirms the same principle regarding the judgment seat of Christ.
• Revelation 20:13 extends the accountability to the final resurrection: “And each one was judged according to his deeds.”
These passages stress personal moral responsibility and refute any notion that corporate identity removes individual consequence.
Personal Stewardship of Gifts and Resources
The term highlights God’s tailor-made grace distributions.
• 1 Corinthians 12:7: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
• Ephesians 4:7: “But to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
• 1 Peter 4:10 urges believers to “serve one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God,” emphasizing that no member is empty-handed. Ministry effectiveness therefore rises when every believer discovers and deploys his or her unique endowment.
Every Believer’s Direct Participation in Ministry
Paul’s house-church instructions rely on 1538:
• 1 Corinthians 14:26: “When you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation…”
The verse envisions a gathered body where every member contributes, safeguarding against both clericalism and passivity.
Diversity within the Unity of the Church
While one Lord and one gospel bind the body, 1538 reminds us that God assigns distinct callings.
• 1 Corinthians 3:5-10 presents Paul and Apollos as servants through whom “the Lord assigned to each his role,” validating varied ministries while protecting unity.
• 1 Corinthians 15:38 uses agricultural imagery: “God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed its own body,” illustrating harmonious diversity.
Universal yet Personal Gospel Call
Acts 2 repeatedly employs 1538 as Peter’s Pentecost sermon is heard “in his own language” and culminates with the command, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you” (Acts 2:38). Salvation is offered to all, but accepted one heart at a time.
Divine Judgment and Reward
Jesus promises retribution or reward based on individual response and faithfulness:
• Matthew 16:27: “The Son of Man…will repay each one according to what he has done.”
• Revelation 22:12 echoes the same pledge at Scripture’s close.
Such passages furnish both warning and hope, motivating holy living.
Pastoral Applications
1. Preach for decision: since Scripture addresses each hearer, sermons should call for personal response.
2. Equip every saint: leadership is successful only when “every joint” supplies its part (Ephesians 4:16).
3. Counsel responsibility: marriage ethics (1 Corinthians 7:2) and household duties (Ephesians 5:33) rest on individual obedience, not spousal performance.
4. Encourage generosity: “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart” (2 Corinthians 9:7), affirming voluntary, cheerful giving.
Historical Theological Reflection
Church fathers such as Tertullian and Augustine appealed to the word’s individual emphasis to argue against inherited guilt for personal sins and to uphold free, accountable faith. Reformers likewise cited Romans 14:12 to confront institutional mediation of salvation, insisting on the believer’s direct reckoning before God.
Devotional Considerations
Meditating on verses containing 1538 fosters:
• Humility—God’s grace appointments differ.
• Diligence—my work will be tested (1 Corinthians 3:13).
• Assurance—Christ knows my name and labor (Revelation 2:23).
• Charity—since each member is graced, I honor all in the body.
In sum, Strong’s Greek 1538 breathes through the New Testament as a steady reminder that while God loves the world, He addresses the heart of each person, assigns grace to each believer, and will finally judge and reward each soul according to His righteous standard.
Forms and Transliterations
εκασταις εκαστη εκάστη ἑκάστη εκαστην εκάστην ἑκάστην εκάστης εκαστοι ἕκαστοι εκαστον έκαστον ἕκαστον εκαστος έκαστος ἕκαστος εκαστου εκάστου ἑκάστου εκαστω εκάστω ἑκάστῳ ekaste ekastē ekasten ekastēn ekasto ekastō ekastoi ekaston ekastos ekastou hekaste hekastē hekáste hekástē hekasten hekastēn hekásten hekástēn hekasto hekastō hekastoi hekástoi hekástōi hékastoi hekaston hékaston hekastos hékastos hekastou hekástou
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