Greek expresses time, place, and possession with remarkable precision through its case system, prepositions, and modifiers. A phrase like ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ pinpoints a moment, while διὰ δύο ἡμέρας stretches across a span. Motion is mapped clearly: εἰς τὴν πόλιν moves toward, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως moves away, and ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ simply locates. Possession unfolds through genitive constructions (τὸ βιβλίον τοῦ διδασκάλου), pronouns (μου), and adjectives like ἐμός or ἡμέτερος, each adding nuance. These choices aren’t just grammatical—they shape meaning, emphasis, and theological depth, especially in texts where time, space, and relationship converge with spiritual significance.
Expressions of Time
Greek expresses temporal relationships through cases, prepositions, and adverbs. The case and preposition chosen convey whether time is viewed as a specific point, a span, or a limit.
- ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ – “on the day” (point in time; dative case with ἐν)
- ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις – “in those days” (duration within a period; dative)
- διὰ δύο ἡμέρας – “for two days” (duration; accusative)
- ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας – “from the day” (starting point; genitive)
- ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας – “until the day” (ending point; genitive)
- νῦν – “now” (adverb)
- σήμερον – “today” (adverb)
- αὔριον – “tomorrow” (adverb)
- ἐχθές – “yesterday” (adverb)
- πάντοτε – “always” (adverb)
Expressions of Place
Koine Greek distinguishes between location, motion toward, and motion from, largely through case and preposition choice:
- ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ – “in the house” (location; dative)
- εἰς τὴν πόλιν – “into the city” (motion toward; accusative)
- ἐκ τῆς πόλεως – “out of the city” (motion from; genitive)
- πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα – “toward the man” (motion toward; accusative)
- ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάσσης – “away from the sea” (motion from; genitive)
- ἐπάνω τοῦ ὄρους – “on the mountain” (above; genitive)
- ὑπὸ τὴν γῆν – “under the earth” (accusative; often motion beneath, but in Phil 2:10 used idiomatically for comprehensive location)
Expressions of Possession
Possession appears in Greek through the genitive case, possessive pronouns, possessive adjectives, and reflexive forms:
- τὸ βιβλίον τοῦ διδασκάλου – “the teacher’s book” (genitive of possession)
- ἡ οἰκία μου – “my house” (possessive pronoun μου)
- ὁ υἱὸς τῆς γυναικός – “the woman’s son” (genitive of relationship)
- ἐμός, ἐμή, ἐμόν – “my, mine” (singular possessive adjective)
- σός, σή, σόν – “your, yours” (singular possessive adjective)
- ἡμέτερος, ἡμετέρα, ἡμέτερον – “our, ours” (plural possessive adjective)
- ὑμέτερος, ὑμετέρα, ὑμέτερον – “your, yours” (plural possessive adjective)
- ἑαυτοῦ, ἑαυτῆς, ἑαυτοῦ – “his/her/its own” (reflexive possessive)
Case Usage Summary
| Case | Time | Place | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dative | Point in time (ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ), duration within which (ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις) | Location (ἐν τῇ πόλει) | — |
| Accusative | Duration (διὰ δύο ἡμέρας) | Motion toward (εἰς τὴν πόλιν) | — |
| Genitive | Start/End point (ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας, ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας) | Motion from (ἐκ τῆς πόλεως) | Possessor (τὸ βιβλίον τοῦ διδασκάλου) |
Practical Observations
Case and preposition choices in Greek are both grammatical and interpretive. The dative with ἐν can indicate a single point in time or a period within which something occurs. Prepositional nuances like ὑπὸ τὴν γῆν (Phil 2:10) show that accusative forms can serve locative functions for rhetorical emphasis. Possession can be expressed by case endings, pronouns, adjectives, or reflexive forms, each carrying subtle distinctions in meaning.
In exegesis, sensitivity to these distinctions is essential. A shift from one preposition or case to another can mark a change in emphasis, scope, or theological nuance, especially in New Testament passages where spatial, temporal, and relational imagery often overlap.
