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Greek Lessons
- Grammatical Resistance: Pharaoh’s Syntax of Control in Exodus 10:11
- The Accusation in Quotation: Pauline Perception and Koine Rhetoric
- Healing and Heralding: The Grammar of Kingdom Nearness
- The Word Near You: Syntax, Faith, and the Internalization of Truth in Romans 10:8
- Synonyms: Image and Likeness: εἰκών, ὁμοίωσις, and ὁμοίωμα in the Greek New Testament
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Category
Author Archives: New Testament Greek
Greek Grammar Lesson from Philippians 2:25
Ἀναγκαῖον δὲ ἡγησάμην Ἐπαφρόδιτον τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ συνεργὸν καὶ συστρατιώτην μου, ὑμῶν δὲ ἀπόστολον καὶ λειτουργὸν τῆς χρείας μου, πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, (Philippians 2:25)
But I considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you—my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need.
Double Accusative with Infinitive of IntentThis verse provides a rich example of Greek syntax involving a double accusative construction with a complementary infinitive, along with appositional phrases and possessive genitives. The grammar reflects Paul’s personal affection and theological appreciation for Epaphroditus.
Main Verb: ἡγησάμηνἡγησάμην is aorist middle indicative, 1st person singular, from ἡγέομαι (“I consider, I regard”).… Learn Koine Greek
Then He Spoke: Aorist and Dative Direction in Matthew 23:1
Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησε τοῖς ὄχλοις καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ (Matthew 23:1)
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples.
The Moment Before the RebukeMatthew 23 begins with a formal and significant transition. The use of Τότε (“then”) marks a shift in narrative time and tone, preparing the audience for one of Jesus’ most scathing critiques—his denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees. This short verse is grammatically simple but theologically loaded. The grammar establishes a formal speech moment in which the audience is defined and the action is definitive.
ἐλάλησε: Aorist Declarative ActionThe main verb ἐλάλησε (“he spoke”) is in the aorist active indicative, conveying a completed, past action.… Learn Koine Greek
Nouns in New Testament Greek
1. Definition and Function
Definition of a Noun: A noun (ὄνομα) is a word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.
Functions of Nouns in a Sentence: Nouns can serve multiple roles, such as:
Subject: The main actor in a sentence.
Direct Object: The recipient of the action.
Indirect Object: Indicates to whom or for whom the action is done.
2. Gender of Nouns
Nouns in NT Greek are classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. This affects agreement with articles and adjectives.
Masculine: Generally denotes male beings.
Example: ἀνήρ (“man”) in John 1:6.
Feminine: Typically denotes female beings.
Example: γυναῖκα (“woman”) in Luke 8:2.… Learn Koine Greek
What Is Man? Interrogatives and Subjunctives in Hebrews 2:6
διεμαρτύρατο δὲ πού τις λέγων· τί ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος ὅτι μιμνήσκῃ αὐτοῦ, ἢ υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου ὅτι ἐπισκέπτῃ αὐτόν; (Hebrews 2:6)
The Echo of Wonder in Precise Greek Form
In Hebrews 2:6, the author introduces a citation that carries both literary reverence and theological astonishment. The syntax is shaped by two rhetorical questions—quoted from Psalm 8—that explore the mystery of God’s mindfulness toward humanity. But this verse is not merely poetic; it is constructed with linguistic precision that frames divine condescension in Koine Greek elegance.
This article explores:
The impersonal introduction διεμαρτύρατο δὲ πού τις λέγων The use of interrogative particles τί and conjunction ὅτι in embedded questions The significance of the subjunctive verbs μιμνήσκῃ and ἐπισκέπτῃ διεμαρτύρατο δὲ πού τις λέγων – A Formal but Vague CitationThe phrase διεμαρτύρατο δὲ πού τις λέγων introduces the quotation.… Learn Koine Greek
“What Then Shall I Do?”: Greek Grammar and the Question of Kingship
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἀποκριθεὶς πάλιν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί οὖν θέλετε ποιήσω ὃν λέγετε τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων; (Mark 15:12)
“And Pilate again answered and said to them, ‘What then do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?’”
In Mark 15:12, Pilate confronts the crowd with a haunting question that reverberates through the Passion narrative. The verse — ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἀποκριθεὶς πάλιν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί οὖν θέλετε ποιήσω ὃν λέγετε τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων; — employs aorist participles, interrogative pronouns, and layered direct discourse. The grammar sharpens the rhetorical edge of the question: what do you want me to do with the one you call “King of the Jews”?… Learn Koine Greek
Greek Grammatical and Syntactic Analysis of 2 John 1:11
ὁ γὰρ λέγων αὐτῷ χαίρειν κοινωνεῖ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς.
Definite Article and Articular Participle: ὁ λέγων
– ὁ λέγων: nominative masculine singular articular present active participle of λέγω, meaning “the one who says” or “he who says”
The article ὁ with the participle λέγων forms a substantival participial phrase, functioning as the subject of the main verb κοινωνεῖ. This construction allows the participle to stand on its own as a noun phrase.
γάρ as a Coordinating Conjunction– γάρ: explanatory coordinating conjunction, “for” or “because”
It introduces the reason for the preceding command (i.e., not to greet or receive someone who does not bring the true doctrine).… Learn Koine Greek
“ἐχάρησαν”: The Second Aorist Passive Deponent of Joy in Matthew 2:10
The Grammar of Overwhelming Joy
As the magi finally see the star—confirmation of divine guidance—the text states: “they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” The Greek verb ἐχάρησαν {echarēsan} is a grammatical paradox: passive in form, but active in function. It is a second aorist passive deponent of χαίρω {chairō}, “to rejoice.”
This moment captures the fulfillment of hope and divine direction, but the grammar does more than narrate emotion—it intensifies, structures, and highlights it. The deponent nature of the verb, combined with an emphatic cognate accusative, constructs a vivid theological and literary crescendo.
Ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα.… Learn Koine GreekSeeing but Not Hearing: Grammatical Discrepancy and Narrative Tension in Acts 22:9
Οἱ δὲ σὺν ἐμοὶ ὄντες τὸ μὲν φῶς ἐθεάσαντο καὶ ἔμφοβοι ἐγένοντο, τὴν δὲ φωνὴν οὐκ ἤκουσαν τοῦ λαλοῦντός μοι. (Acts 22:9)
Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one speaking to me.
Witnesses to Glory: Literary and Theological Context of Acts 22:9In Acts 22:9, Paul recounts his Damascus road experience before a hostile crowd in Jerusalem. This verse highlights the partial perception of those accompanying him—they saw the light, were terrified, but did not hear the voice. The grammar creates both narrative tension and theological significance, particularly in comparison with Acts 9:7, which presents the same event with different emphasis.… Learn Koine Greek
Not from Ourselves: Sufficiency, Reflexives, and Aorist Infinitives in Paul’s Theology of Ministry
Οὐχ ὅτι ἱκανοί ἐσμεν ἀφ’ ἑαυτῶν λογίσασθαί τι ὡς ἐξ ἑαυτῶν, ἀλλ’ ἡ ἱκανότης ἡμῶν ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ, (2 Corinthians 3:5)
Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to consider anything as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
Where Does Competence Come From?In this reflective and theologically rich verse, Paul addresses the very heart of ministry: the source of one’s adequacy. Using reflexive pronouns, a powerful aorist infinitive, and a bold contrast marked by ἀλλά, Paul distances himself and his coworkers from self-sufficiency and attributes all sufficiency to God.
Let us unpack this verse grammatically and spiritually to see how Paul builds his case not just with logic, but with syntax that humbles the minister and glorifies God.… Learn Koine Greek
Unveiling the Middle Voice: Agency, Reciprocity, and Subject Involvement in Koine Greek
Τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν ἡγνικότες ἐν τῇ ὑπακοῇ τῆς ἀληθείας διὰ Πνεύματος εἰς φιλαδελφίαν ἀνυπόκριτον, ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας ἀλλήλους ἀγαπήσατε ἐκτενῶς, (1 Peter 1:22)
Having purified your souls in obedience to the truth through the Spirit for genuine brotherly love, love one another fervently from the pure heart.
The Middle Voice: What Lies Between Active and Passive?The Greek middle voice stands between the active and passive voices, indicating that the subject of the verb participates in or is affected by the action. In Koine Greek, particularly in the New Testament, the middle voice often conveys:
– Reflexivity: the subject acts upon itself.… Learn Koine Greek
