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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
Matthew 2:13 and the Greek of Divine Intervention and Urgency
Ἀναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου φαίνεται κατ’ ὄναρ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ λέγων· ἐγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν εἴπω σοι· μέλλει γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό. (Matthew 2:13)
And after they had departed, behold, an angel of the LORD appears in a dream to Joseph, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him.”
Grammatical Precision and Narrative Speed Ἀναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν Genitive aorist participle of ἀναχωρέω (“to depart, withdraw”).… Learn Koine GreekBy the Sea: Grammatical Transition and Narrative Framing in Matthew 13:1
Ἐν δὲ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐξελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῆς οἰκίας ἐκάθητο παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν· (Matthew 13:1)
On that day, Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.
Setting for Parables: Literary and Theological Context of Matthew 13:1This verse introduces the third major discourse in Matthew’s Gospel — the parable discourse (Matthew 13). With restrained but intentional grammar, Matthew shifts the reader’s attention from the private space of the house to the open expanse of the sea, where Jesus delivers a series of parables to the crowds. The syntax employs participial sequencing, narrative aorists, and spatial prepositions to establish both a physical transition and a theological frame for the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.… Learn Koine Greek
Greek Grammar Lesson from John 13:1
Πρὸ δὲ τῆς ἑορτῆς τοῦ πάσχα εἰδὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἐλήλυθεν αὐτοῦ ἡ ὥρα ἵνα μεταβῇ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, ἀγαπήσας τοὺς ἰδίους τοὺς ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, εἰς τέλος ἠγάπησεν αὐτούς. (John 13:1)
Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
Circumstantial Participle, Content Clause, and Purpose ClauseThis verse serves as a theological preamble to the passion narrative in John. The syntax weaves together a temporal phrase, a perfect participle, a content clause, and a climactic indicative verb expressing the fullness of Jesus’ love.… Learn Koine Greek
Faith Among the Honorable: A Greek Look at Acts 17:12
Πολλοὶ μὲν οὖν ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐπίστευσαν, καὶ τῶν Ἑλληνίδων γυναικῶν τῶν εὐσχημόνων καὶ ἀνδρῶν οὐκ ὀλίγοι. (Acts 17:12)
So then many of them believed, and also not a few of the noble Greek women and men.
The Response of Faithπολλοὶ μὲν οὖν ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐπίστευσαν – “So then many of them believed.”
πολλοὶ – “many,” masculine plural nominative, subject of the verb. μὲν οὖν – a common discourse marker: μὲν signals a contrast to follow; οὖν (“therefore”) links to prior argument or result—here, the result of Paul’s preaching in Beroea (cf. Acts 17:11). ἐξ αὐτῶν – “of them,” referring to the Jews in the synagogue.… Learn Koine GreekThe Sign Refused: Divine Grief and Human Unbelief in Mark 8:12
Mark 8:12 is located in a section where the Pharisees confront Jesus, demanding a sign from heaven to test him (Mark 8:11). The verse you provided is Jesus’ deeply emotional and solemn response. This marks a turning point in the narrative as Jesus increasingly distances himself from those demanding proof and moves toward his passion. His refusal to give a sign is both judgment and lament.
Structural Analysisκαὶ ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ λέγει· τί ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ; ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον.
The verse flows in three movements:
ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ — an inner groaning of grief or exasperation.… Learn Koine GreekThe Fiery Dragon Appears: A Greek Look at Revelation 12:3
Καὶ ὤφθη ἄλλο σημεῖον ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἰδοὺ δράκων πυρρὸς μέγας, ἔχων κεφαλὰς ἑπτὰ καὶ κέρατα δέκα, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτοῦ ἑπτὰ διαδήματα, (Revelation 12:3)
And another sign was seen in heaven: behold, a great fiery red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns.
A Sign in the Skyκαὶ ὤφθη ἄλλο σημεῖον ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ – “And another sign appeared in heaven.”
ὤφθη – aorist passive of ὁράω, “to see,” meaning “was seen” or “appeared.” A divine, visionary passive. ἄλλο σημεῖον – “another sign.” σημεῖον refers to a symbolic vision, not a literal entity.… Learn Koine GreekVisions and Revelations: A Costly Boast in 2 Corinthians 12:1
Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι· ἐλεύσομαι γὰρ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις κυρίου (2 Corinthians 12:1)
To boast indeed is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord
Καυχᾶσθαι δὴ οὐ συμφέρει μοι: Boasting Is Not ProfitableThe opening clause is a powerful mix of honesty and irony:
– Καυχᾶσθαι is the present middle infinitive of καυχάομαι, meaning “to boast” or “to glory.” – δὴ is a particle that adds emphasis or urgency — “indeed,” “certainly,” or “now.” – οὐ συμφέρει is a present active indicative of συμφέρω, “it is beneficial,” here negated — “it is not profitable.”… Learn Koine Greek
“Παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστιν θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν;”: Quoted Marvel and Divine Origin in Mark 12:11
Mark 12:11 quotes Psalm 118:23 (LXX) but in a distinctly Markan narrative context, applied by Jesus to His rejection and vindication. This line forms part of Jesus’ quotation following the parable of the vineyard, where He applies the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone to Himself. The Greek construction here captures divine initiative, completed action, and perceptual astonishment—with grammatical precision.
Quoting the CornerstoneIn Mark 12:11, Jesus concludes His citation of Psalm 118:22–23 with these words:
Παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστιν θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν; “From the Lord this came to be, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”
Here, Jesus reinforces that the unexpected exaltation of the rejected one (Himself) is entirely God’s work.… Learn Koine Greek
The Will and the Timing: Apollos’ Delay in 1 Corinthians 16:12
1 Corinthians 16:12 appears near the close of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church. After addressing matters of doctrine, ethics, and worship, Paul turns to personal and logistical concerns (ch. 16). In this verse, he explains the situation with Apollos — a respected teacher in Corinth (cf. 1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4–6). Some Corinthians evidently wanted Apollos to return. Paul clarifies that while he urged Apollos to visit, Apollos chose not to do so at the present time, intending to come later when opportunity allowed.
Structural AnalysisΠερὶ δὲ Ἀπολλῶ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ πολλὰ παρεκάλεσα αὐτὸν ἵνα ἔλθῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν· καὶ πάντως οὐκ ἦν θέλημα ἵνα νῦν ἔλθῃ, ἐλεύσεται δὲ ὅταν εὐκαιρήσῃ.… Learn Koine Greek
Greek Grammar Lesson from Mark 9:12
Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἠλίας μὲν ἐλθὼν πρῶτον ἀποκαθιστᾷ πάντα· καὶ πῶς γέγραπται ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἵνα πολλὰ πάθῃ καὶ ἐξουδενωθῇ; (Mark 9:12)
But answering, He said to them, ‘Elijah indeed comes first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He should suffer many things and be despised?'”
Focus Topic: Contrast with μὲν… καί, Aorist and Present Participles, and Purpose Clause with ἵναThis verse captures a moment of Christological teaching in response to the disciples’ question about Elijah. It uses contrast, rhetorical questioning, and a purpose clause to highlight the paradox of the suffering Son of Man despite the promised restoration.… Learn Koine Greek