supersquirel's definitions
"to" means direction and does not necessarily include the arrival at the final location.
“Onto” means one previous location has been left and the subject is now “on” a new location. It includes the arrival at the new location.
“Into” means a previous location has been left and the subject is now “in” a new location. It includes the arrival at the new location.
“Unto” is used when neither “on” nor “in” would effectively describe the state of the subject with respect to its final location. This is demonstrated well with, not a physical location, but an abstract state of being. Take this sentence for example:
“God put Adam into the garden to tend to fruit trees”
“Unto” does not mean the same as “to”. If they did then they would be interchangeable in all scenarios yet they are not interchangeable here. If the first “to” is swapped with “unto” then the tense of the verb has to change to accommodate:
“God put Adam into the garden unto tending to fruit trees.”
To the one who desires to eliminate “unto” and leave the English speaker only with “to” they may as well eliminate “onto” and “into also. If it is omitted, we are left without a way of specifying the same senses as “onto” and “into” when discussing abstract topics, not just spiritual topics but any such movement from one state to another. The word "unto" is useful in the English language today. Therefore, it is not archaic just like any other useful word is not archaic.
“Onto” means one previous location has been left and the subject is now “on” a new location. It includes the arrival at the new location.
“Into” means a previous location has been left and the subject is now “in” a new location. It includes the arrival at the new location.
“Unto” is used when neither “on” nor “in” would effectively describe the state of the subject with respect to its final location. This is demonstrated well with, not a physical location, but an abstract state of being. Take this sentence for example:
“God put Adam into the garden to tend to fruit trees”
“Unto” does not mean the same as “to”. If they did then they would be interchangeable in all scenarios yet they are not interchangeable here. If the first “to” is swapped with “unto” then the tense of the verb has to change to accommodate:
“God put Adam into the garden unto tending to fruit trees.”
To the one who desires to eliminate “unto” and leave the English speaker only with “to” they may as well eliminate “onto” and “into also. If it is omitted, we are left without a way of specifying the same senses as “onto” and “into” when discussing abstract topics, not just spiritual topics but any such movement from one state to another. The word "unto" is useful in the English language today. Therefore, it is not archaic just like any other useful word is not archaic.
"And Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
by supersquirel October 30, 2025
Get the untomug.