Greek word · G3689

ὄντως

ontōs

really

An adverb from the verb 'to be,' literally 'in a way that actually is.' It means really, truly, in fact, as opposed to only apparently or in name.

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

ὄντως

adv. (ὤν, ptcp. of εἰμί, sum) [in LXX: Numbers 22:37 (אׇמְנָם), Jeremiah 3:23 (אָכֵן), Jeremiah 10:19 (אַךְ), 3Ki.12:24, Wisdom of Solomon 17:14 * ;]

really, actually, truly: Mark 11:32, Luke 23:47 24:34, John 8:36, 1 Corinthians 14:25, Galatians 3:21 4:1-31 ἡ ὄ. ζωή, 1 Timothy 6:19; ἡ ὄ. χήρα, 1 Timothy 5:3 5:5 5:16 †

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: An adverb from the verb 'to be,' literally 'in a way that actually is.' It means really, truly, in fact, as opposed to only apparently or in name.
Against the English: 'Indeed' (KJV, WEB), 'truly' (BSB) and 'really' (YLT) are all accurate. Some modern versions turn it into 'really in need' or 'genuinely in need.' That is a fair reading of verse 5, but it brings the explanation into verse 3.
Used elsewhere in the period: Luke 24:34: 'The Lord has risen indeed (ὄντως).' 1 Cor 14:25: 'God is really among you.' 1 Timothy uses it three times for widows (5:3, 5, 16) and once in 6:19 for 'the life that is truly life.'

Range of meaning: Really, actually, in fact. An adverb formed from the participle of "to be" ("in a way that is"). It marks what is real as opposed to what only seems to be, or is claimed or named.
Against the English: "Indeed" (KJV, BSB, WEB) originally meant "in deed, in actual fact" and fit well. Today "indeed" mostly sounds like an intensifier ("very free"). YLT's "in reality" and renderings such as "really" or "truly" keep the contrast with a freedom that is only imagined.
How it drifted: In older English "indeed" was "in dede," in fact or in reality. In modern speech it has weakened mainly into emphasis.
Used elsewhere in the period: In Plato, ta ontōs onta means "the things that truly are" as opposed to appearances. NT: "The Lord has risen indeed" (Luke 24:34, really, in fact); "widows who are really widows" (1 Tim 5:3, 5, 16, genuine as opposed to nominal); "the life that is truly life" (1 Tim 6:19).

Range of meaning: An adverb from the participle of 'to be': 'in reality, really, truly, actually'. It confirms that something really is so, often against appearance or doubt.
Against the English: 'Certainly' (KJV, WEB) and 'Surely' (BSB, NIV, NLT) are fine, but they can sound like a guess, as in 'surely he must have been'. YLT's 'Really' and CSB's 'really' keep the sense of 'in actual fact', a statement of how things are.
How it drifted: In everyday English, 'surely' often expresses an assumption or a hope ('surely he'll come'), which is weaker than the Greek. This is a matter of tone, not a real error.
Used elsewhere in the period: Luke 24:34, 'The Lord has really (ontōs) risen and has appeared to Simon'. Mark 11:32 says the people held John to be 'really a prophet'. 1 Corinthians 14:25 says 'God is really among you'. In the papyri and in literary Greek it is a common confirming adverb.

Mark · 1

Mark 11:32 ὄντως truly

But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.

Luke · 2

Luke 23:47 ὄντως Certainly

When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

Here: 'Really' or 'in actual fact'. It confirms something that had been in dispute. The charges, the mockery and the cross all said otherwise, and he now declares how things actually stood. Luke uses the same word in 24:34: 'The Lord has really risen.'
Luke 24:34 ὄντως Indeed

and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”

John · 1

John 8:36 ὄντως indeed

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Here: "In actual fact," as opposed to the freedom the listeners claimed but did not have (v. 33). It describes freedom that is real, not freedom that is merely stronger.

1 Corinthians · 1

1 Corinthians 14:25 ὄντως certainly

and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

Here: 'Really, in fact!': an outsider who arrived skeptical now admits it is real. It echoes the 'surely' of Isaiah 45:14.

Galatians · 1

Galatians 3:21 ὄντως indeed

Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

Here: "Really, in actual fact." It strengthens the conclusion: in that case righteousness genuinely would have come by law.

1 Timothy · 4

1 Timothy 5:3 ὄντως truly

Honor the widows who are truly widows.

Here: 'Really, in fact' as opposed to only in name. Verse 5 defines it: a widow who has been 'left all alone' with no family to support her and who puts her hope in God.
1 Timothy 5:5 ὄντως indeed

The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.

Here: 'In reality, in fact'. It picks up verse 3, 'honour widows who are real widows', and marks off the woman whose widowhood leaves her truly without support from those who are widows only in name.
1 Timothy 5:16 ὄντως truly

If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.

Here: "Really" or "truly". It picks up the phrase "real widows" from vv. 3 and 5, where a real widow is one "left all alone", with no family to support her, whose hope is in God.
1 Timothy 6:19 ὄντως [is] truly

treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Here: 'Real, genuine.' Used here like an adjective: life that actually deserves the name. The letter uses the same word for 'real widows' (5:3, 5, 16), so it contrasts the genuine article with what only looks like it.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.