Refiner Word Study ousia (G3776)
G3776  ·  Greek  ·  Strong's Concordance
οὐσία
ousia
2 occurrences in Scripture Greek

"substance, property, goods, fortune, Lk. 15:12, 13*"

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Definition and meaning

What does ousia mean in Greek?

2
Occurrences in Scripture
G3776
Strong's number
Greek
Original language

substance, property, goods, fortune, Lk. 15:12, 13*

In the original Greek the word is written: οὐσία

Historical context

What was happening when this word was written?

Roman-Occupied Judea (c. 4 BC-AD 30)

Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.

The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.

Scripture references

Top 2 Bible verses with ousia

These are the most notable occurrences of ousia (G3776) across the King James Bible.

Luke 15:12

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

Luke 15:13

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions about ousia

What does ousia mean in Greek?

Strong's G3776 (ousia) is a Greek word that means: substance, property, goods, fortune, Lk. 15:12, 13* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.

How many times does ousia appear in the Bible?

The word ousia (G3776) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.

What is Strong's number G3776?

Strong's G3776 is ousia, a Greek word defined as: substance, property, goods, fortune, Lk. 15:12, 13*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.

Is ousia in the Old Testament or New Testament?

ousia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.