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Greek Lessons
- The Grammar of Perception and Presence
- Opened Eyes and Stern Silence: Syntax and Tension in Matthew 9:30
- Shining Like Lightning: Syntax, Transformation, and Prayer in Luke 9:29
- The Syntax of Survival: Postdiluvian Duration in a Simple Sentence
- Confession in the Aorist: Pharaoh’s Syntax of Contrition
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Category
Author Archives: Classical Greek
Comparative Greek Analysis: Hebrews 12:2 in Koine vs. Classical Greek
Ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν, ὃς ἀντὶ τῆς προκειμένης αὐτῷ χαρᾶς ὑπέμεινε σταυρὸν, αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας, ἐν δεξιᾷ τε τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ Θεοῦ κεκάθικεν. (Hebrews 12:2)
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, having despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Grammar and Syntax Analysis (Koine Greek) ἀφορῶντες εἰς – Present active participle, nominative masculine plural, from ἀφοράω (“to look away to,” “to fix one’s gaze upon”). A uniquely Koine construction—Classical Greek prefers βλέπω or ὁρῶ for “look.”… Learn Koine GreekA Kiss of Fellowship: Classical and Koine Greek in 1 Corinthians 16:20
Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες. ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι. (1 Corinthians 16:20)
All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a kiss.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek ἀσπάζονται: Present middle indicative third person plural of ἀσπάζομαι (“to greet”). Koine often uses the middle for reflexive or reciprocal social actions like greetings, blessings, or farewells. ὑμᾶς: Accusative plural pronoun serving as the object of ἀσπάζονται. Koine tends to explicitly include pronouns for clarity and emphasis in community-focused exhortations. οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες: Subject phrase with definite article and adjective. Koine often places the adjective after the noun for emphasis—“the brothers, all of them.”… Learn Koine GreekThe Folded Cloth: Classical and Koine Greek in John 20:7
Καὶ τὸ σουδάριον, ὃ ἦν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ, οὐ μετὰ τῶν ὀθονίων κείμενον, ἀλλὰ χωρὶς ἐντετυλιγμένον εἰς ἕνα τόπον. (John 20:7)
And the face cloth, which had been upon his head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded separately in one place.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek τὸ σουδάριον: Neuter singular noun with article; σουδάριον is a loanword (Latin sudarium, “face cloth”). Koine frequently incorporates such Latinisms in narrative vocabulary, especially in Roman contexts. ὃ ἦν: Relative pronoun ὃ introducing a relative clause with the imperfect indicative of εἰμί (“it was”). The imperfect ἦν expresses past continuous location or condition.… Learn Koine GreekGodliness and Gain: Koine Urgency versus Classical Eloquence
Διαπαρατριβαὶ διεφθαρμένων ἀνθρώπων τὸν νοῦν καὶ ἀπεστερημένων τῆς ἀληθείας, νομιζόντων πορισμὸν εἶναι τὴν εὐσέβειαν· ἀφίστασο ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων. (1 Timothy 6:5)
Constant disputes of corrupted men in mind and deprived of the truth, supposing godliness to be a means of gain; withdraw yourself from such as these.
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax BreakdownThe verse begins with διαπαρατριβαί (“constant disputes”), a rare compound noun intensifying the sense of useless wrangling. It is qualified by a genitive participial phrase, διεφθαρμένων ἀνθρώπων (“of corrupted men”), further described as ἀπεστερημένων τῆς ἀληθείας (“deprived of the truth”), where the perfect passive participle emphasizes a completed and ongoing state of moral blindness.… Learn Koine Greek
Great and Least: Syntax, Status, and the Kingdom in Matthew 5:19
Ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν· ὃς δ’ ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν. (Matthew 5:19)
Whoever therefore breaks one of these least commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, this one will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.
This verse from the Sermon on the Mount is not just a theological assertion—it is a linguistic masterpiece. It balances two parallel clauses about the “least” and the “great” in the Kingdom of Heaven, using carefully chosen moods, conjunctions, and rhetorical structure to elevate moral responsibility.… Learn Koine Greek
When Silence is Impossible: Classical and Koine Greek Compared in Acts 4:20
Οὐ δυνάμεθα γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἃ εἴδομεν καὶ ἠκούσαμεν μὴ λαλεῖν. (Acts 4:20)
For we are not able ourselves not to speak what we have seen and heard.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek
οὐ δυνάμεθα: Present tense first-person plural verb meaning “we are not able.” Koine often uses present tense in statements of ongoing truth or principle, emphasizing continuous inability here.
γάρ: Conjunction introducing explanation or reason. In Koine, γάρ becomes one of the most common connectors, often appearing where Classical Greek might use more sophisticated transitions.
ἡμεῖς: Explicit pronoun for emphasis. In Koine Greek, explicit subject pronouns like ἡμεῖς are used more frequently to underscore personal involvement, especially in passionate or confessional speech.… Learn Koine Greek
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Unwritten Wonders: Koine Economy and Classical Fullness in John’s Epilogue
Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστι γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ·‘(John 20:30)
Many indeed also other signs Jesus did before his disciples, which are not written in this book.
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα: The adverbial correlative construction “μὲν οὖν … καὶ ἄλλα” expresses a summative and concessive force. The word order reflects Koine tendency toward fronting important elements (e.g., “many indeed also other signs”). ἐποίησεν: Aorist active indicative 3rd singular of ποιέω, indicating completed action. It encapsulates the miraculous acts of Jesus as a bounded whole.… Learn Koine Greek
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When Crowds Overwhelm: Grammatical Currents Between Classical and Koine in Mark 3:20
Καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς οἶκον· καὶ συνέρχεται πάλιν ὄχλος, ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι αὐτοὺς μηδὲ ἄρτον φαγεῖν. (Mark 3:20)
And they come into a house; and again a crowd gathers, so that they were not able even to eat bread.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek Καὶ ἔρχονται: Use of the present tense for vividness in narration (historic present), a hallmark of Koine narrative style that brings immediacy. εἰς οἶκον: Simple preposition (εἰς) with accusative noun (οἶκον) showing direction or goal. Koine tends to prefer fewer compounded or sophisticated expressions of motion compared to Classical Greek. καὶ συνέρχεται: Repetition of καὶ at the start of clauses is a stylistic feature of Koine called parataxis—short, coordinate clauses connected by simple conjunctions.… Learn Koine GreekHumility in Greek: A Grammatical Bridge from Classical to Koine in Philippians 2:3
Μηδὲν κατὰ ἐριθείαν ἢ κενοδοξίαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ ἀλλήλους ἡγούμενοι ὑπερέχοντας ἑαυτῶν. (Philippians 2:3)
Nothing according to selfish ambition or vain-glory, but in humility considering one another as surpassing themselves.
1. Key Grammatical Features in Koine Greek μηδὲν: A neuter accusative pronoun often used with implied verbs (like “do”)—a feature increasingly common in Koine, where elliptical constructions are more accepted. κατὰ + accusative: This construction expresses measure or standard (“according to”). It exists in Classical Greek but gains moral-ethical nuance in Koine writings. ἢ: Classical and Koine Greek both use this as “or,” but in Koine, it more frequently connects moral or rhetorical contrasts (ἐριθεία vs.… Learn Koine GreekMatthew 11:29 and the Language of Invitation
Ἄρατε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς καὶ μάθετε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι πρᾷός εἰμι καὶ ταπεινὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ εὑρήσετε ἀνάπαυσιν ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν· (Matthew 11:29)
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Layered Meanings in Common Vocabulary ἄρατε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς The verb ἄρατε is the 2nd person plural aorist active imperative of αἴρω—”lift, take up.” In Classical Greek, this verb often implies burden or removal (e.g., lifting off a siege). Here, it forms a paradox: taking up a burden leads to rest.… Learn Koine Greek