πᾶς

Meaning

• All
• Every
• The whole

Adjective.

The sense of πᾶς depends on whether it modifies a singular or plural noun, and whether that noun is countable or uncountable.

Emphasizes each individual item.

Examples:

• πᾶς ἄνθρωπος — “every man” (John 1:9plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigJohn 1:9
  
  Greek Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. ESV The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. NIV The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. NLT The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.)
• πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων — “everyone who believes” (John 3:16plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigJohn 3:16
  
  Greek οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. ESV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.…)

Refers to the totality or collective group.

Examples:

• πάντες ἄνθρωποι — “all people” (Romans 5:12plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRomans 5:12
  
  Greek Διὰ τοῦτο ὥσπερ δι’ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ἡ ἁμαρτία εἰς τὸν κόσμον εἰσῆλθεν καὶ διὰ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ θάνατος, καὶ οὕτως εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους ὁ θάνατος διῆλθεν, ἐφ’ ᾧ πάντες ἥμαρτον ESV Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned- NIV Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned…)
• πάντα τὰ ἔθνη — “all the nations” (Matthew 28:19plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMatthew 28:19
  
  Greek πορευθέντες μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος, ESV Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, NIV Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…)

Acts like a noun meaning “everyone” or “everything” or “all”

Examples:

• τὰ πάντα — “all things” (Colossians 1:16plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigColossians 1:16
  
  Greek ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα, εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι· τὰ πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται, ESV For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him.…)
• πάντες — “everyone” or “all people” (Romans 3:23plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRomans 3:23
  
  Greek πάντες γὰρ ἥμαρτον καὶ ὑστεροῦνται τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ, ESV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, NIV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, NLT For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. KJV For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;)

πᾶς ὁ … often means “everyone who …”

Example:

• πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων → “everyone who believes”

ὁ πᾶς … (less common) can mean “the whole …”

• Example: ὁ πᾶς οἶκος → “the whole house.”

In the New Testament, πᾶς often emphasizes universality under God's purpose, e.g.

• “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRomans 3:23
  
  Greek πάντες γὰρ ἥμαρτον καὶ ὑστεροῦνται τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ, ESV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, NIV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, NLT For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. KJV For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;)
• “Everyone who believes will be saved” (John 3:16plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigJohn 3:16
  
  Greek οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. ESV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.…)
• “Christ is before all things” (Colossians 1:17plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigColossians 1:17
  
  Greek καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν πρὸ πάντων καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκεν. ESV And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. NIV He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. NLT He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.)

πᾶς is one of the most important words for expressing the inclusive scope of the gospel message.