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Greek

For

γάρStrong’s G1063

gar

Appears in 1,016 verses of the New Testament

In short

Gar is the Greek word usually translated “for”, “indeed” and “however”. It appears in 1,016 verses of the New Testament.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”
2 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV
Meaning

Usually translated “for”, “indeed” and “however”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated
  • for 1037
  • indeed 21
  • however 2
  • therefore 2
  • then 2
  • though 2
  • truly 2
  • as for 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most
  • Romans 132
  • Matthew 127
  • 1 Corinthians 100
  • Luke 93
  • Hebrews 87
  • Acts 77

27 books in all.

Explore in Scripture
All 1,016 verses, by book
2 Thessalonians 5
2:73:23:73:103:11
Philemon 3
1:71:151:22
1 John 3
2:194:205:3
2 John 1
1:11
3 John 2
1:31:7
Jude 1
1:4
Greek dictionary

γάρ gar · for

γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “for” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

FOR, preposition

[Latin per.; The English, for; to forbid. for corresponds in sense with the Latin pro, as fore does with proe, but pro and proe are probably contracted from prod, proed. The Latin por, in composition, as in porrigo, is probably contracted from porro, Gr. which is the English far. The Gr. are from the same root. The radical sense of for is to go, to pass, to advance, to reach or stretch.]

  1. Against; in the place of; as a substitute or equivalent, noting equal value or satisfactory compensation, either in barter and sale, in contract, or in punishment. 'And Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for flocks, and for the cattle of the herds; ' that is, according to the original, he gave them bread against horses like the Gr.“Buy us and our land for bread” Genesis 47:19
  2. In the place of; instead of; noting substitution of persons, or agency of one in the place of another with equivalent authority.
  3. In exchange of; noting one thing taken or given in place of another; as, to quit the profession of law for that of a clergyman.
  4. In the place of; instead of; as, to translate a poem line for line.
All definitions and other forms of “for”
  1. In the character of; noting resemblance; a sense derived from substitution or standing in the place of, like in the Greek.
  2. Towards; with the intention of going to.
  3. In advantage of; for the sake of; on account of; that is, towards, noting use, benefit or purpose.
  4. Conducive to; beneficial to; in favor of.
  5. Leading or inducing to, as a motive.
  6. Noting arrival, meeting, coming or possession.
  7. Towards the obtaining of; in order to the arrival at or possession of.
  8. Against; in opposition to; with a tendency to resist and destroy; as a remedy for the headache or toothache.
  9. Against or on account of; in prevention of.
  10. Because; on account of; by reason of.
  11. With respect or regard to; on the part of.
  12. Through a certain space; during a certain time; as, to travel for three days; to sail for seven weeks; he holds his office for life; he traveled on sand for ten miles together.
  13. In quest of; in order to obtain; as, to search for arguments; to recur to antiquity for examples.
  14. According to; as far as.
  15. Noting meeting, coming together, or reception.
  16. Towards; of tendency to; as an inclination for drink.
  17. In favor of; on the part or side of; that is, towards or inclined to.
  18. With a view to obtain; in order to possess.
  19. Towards; with tendency to, or in favor of.
  20. Notwithstanding; against; in opposition to.
  21. for the use of; to be used in; that is, towards, noting advantage.
  22. In recompense of; in return of.
  23. In proportion to; or rather, looking towards, regarding.
  24. By means of.
  25. By the want of.
  26. for my life or heart, though my life were to be given in exchange, or as the price of purchase. Numbers 1:44
  27. for to, denoting purpose. for was anciently placed before the infinitives of verbs, and the use is correct, but now obsolete except in vulgar language.

FOR, conjunction

  1. The word by which a reason is introduced of something before advanced. 'That ye may be the children of your father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.' In such sentences, for has the sense of because, by reason that, as in No.14; with this difference that in No.14, the word precedes a single noun, and here it precedes a sentence or clause; but the phrase seems to be elliptical, for this cause or reason, which follows, he maketh his sun to rise, etc. Romans 13:6
  2. Because; on this account that; properly, for that.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.

Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.