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Greek Lessons
- 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
- Obedience and Retaliation: Conditional Justice and Grammatical Warfare in 2 Corinthians 10:6
- The Body Prepared: Syntax and Sacrifice in Hebrews 10:5–6
- Names, Appositions, and the Grammar of Betrayal
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Category
Category Archives: Declensions
Declensions That Reveal the Heart: Grammatical Exposure in Luke 16:14
Ἤκουον δὲ ταῦτα πάντα οἱ Φαρισαῖοι φιλάργυροι ὑπάρχοντες, καὶ ἐξεμυκτήριζον αὐτόν. (Luke 16:14)
Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were hearing all these things, and they were ridiculing him.
How Grammar Discloses CharacterLuke 16:14 exposes the reaction of the Pharisees to Jesus’ teachings on money and faithfulness. But this revelation isn’t only in the content—it’s also in the grammar. The participles, pronouns, and declined nouns carry narrative weight. Greek declensions subtly reveal who the Pharisees are and what drives them.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ταῦτα πάντα Demonstrative + adjective, accusative neuter plural Direct object of ἤκουον “All these things”—refers to Jesus’ prior teaching οἱ Φαρισαῖοι 2nd declension masculine nominative plural noun with article Subject of ἤκουον and ἐξεμυκτήριζον The religious group in view, cast in grammatically definite terms φιλάργυροι 2nd declension masculine nominative plural adjective Predicate adjective modifying οἱ Φαρισαῖοι “Lovers of money”—not incidental, but grammatically attached to their identity ὑπάρχοντες Present participle, nominative masculine plural Circumstantial participle modifying οἱ Φαρισαῖοι “Being” or “existing as” lovers of money—adds a continuous state of character αὐτόν 3rd person singular masculine personal pronoun, accusative Direct object of ἐξεμυκτήριζον Refers to Jesus—“they were ridiculing him” Nominative Chain: Layering Identity through DeclensionLuke doesn’t simply say, “The Pharisees heard and mocked.”… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions of Judgment: The Grammar of Compassion in Matthew 25:45
Τότε ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ’ ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. (Matthew 25:45)
Then he will answer them, saying, “Truly I say to you, insofar as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
When Case Usage Reveals the Weight of ActionIn this solemn pronouncement of judgment, Jesus uses sharp grammatical structure to expose the implications of neglecting “the least.” The verse pivots on dative and genitive forms that identify recipients of compassion—or the lack thereof. The pronouns and demonstratives are declined with precision to frame a universal judgment grounded in specific grammatical choices.… Learn Koine Greek
The Declensions of Humiliation: Morphology in Mark 15:20
Καὶ ὅτε ἐνέπαιξαν αὐτῷ, ἐξέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὴν πορφύραν καὶ ἐνέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὰ ἱμάτια τὰ ἴδια, καὶ ἐξάγουσιν αὐτὸν ἵνα σταυρώσωσιν αὐτόν. (Mark 15:20)
And when they had mocked Him, they took off from Him the purple robe and dressed Him in His own garments, and they lead Him out so that they might crucify Him.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes αὐτῷ (first occurrence) 3rd person pronoun, dative masculine singular Dative of indirect object “To Him” — recipient of the mockery αὐτόν (first occurrence) 3rd person pronoun, accusative masculine singular Accusative direct object of ἐξέδυσαν Him — the one being stripped τὴν πορφύραν Noun, accusative feminine singular with article Accusative object, specifying what was removed “The purple robe” — royal mockery garment αὐτόν (second occurrence) 3rd person pronoun, accusative masculine singular Accusative direct object of ἐνέδυσαν Him — the one being dressed τὰ ἱμάτια Noun, accusative neuter plural with article Accusative object, what was put on Him “The garments” — His original clothing τὰ ἴδια Adjective functioning substantively, accusative neuter plural Attributive to ἱμάτια “His own” — marks personal possession αὐτόν (third occurrence) 3rd person pronoun, accusative masculine singular Accusative direct object of ἐξάγουσιν Him — the one being led out αὐτόν (fourth occurrence) 3rd person pronoun, accusative masculine singular Accusative direct object of σταυρώσωσιν Him — the one to be crucified Datives and Accusatives in Narrative FlowThe sole dative (αὐτῷ) anchors the opening clause, marking the target of ridicule.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions in Testimony: How Case and Pronoun Shape Discipleship in John 15:27
Καὶ ὑμεῖς δὲ μαρτυρεῖτε, ὅτι ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς μετ’ ἐμοῦ ἐστε. (John 15:27)
And you also bear witness, because from the beginning you are with me.
The Syntax of Witness and WithnessThis verse climaxes Jesus’ teaching on the coming of the Paraclete and the witness of His followers. It moves from mission to identity using a series of declined personal pronouns and prepositional phrases. Though short, the verse is rich with grammatical nuance—linking testimony not just to speech, but to a shared relational history “from the beginning.”
Declension Analysis Table Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ὑμεῖς 2nd person plural personal pronoun, nominative Subject of μαρτυρεῖτε Emphatic due to position and pronoun choice; indicates “you yourselves” ἀρχῆς 1st declension feminine genitive singular noun Genitive object of preposition ἀπό “From the beginning” — temporal genitive defining the witness’s origin ἐμοῦ 1st person singular personal pronoun, genitive Object of preposition μετά “With me” — genitive used after μετά in sense of association Case and Emphasis: The Force of Pronouns– ὑμεῖς (nominative) is not required grammatically since the verb μαρτυρεῖτε already encodes 2nd person plural.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions that Distinguish Sight and Life: Grammar at Work in John 14:19
Ἔτι μικρὸν καὶ ὁ κόσμος με οὐκέτι θεωρεῖ, ὑμεῖς δὲ θεωρεῖτέ με, ὅτι ἐγὼ ζῶ καὶ ὑμεῖς ζήσεσθε. (John 14:19)
Yet a little while, and the world no longer sees me; but you see me, because I live and you also will live.
Reading the Line Through Its DeclinablesThe verse contrasts two communities—ὁ κόσμος and ὑμεῖς—by way of nominative subjects and accusative objects (με) repeated across clauses. Declinable pronouns and the articular noun do the heavy lifting: they mark who sees, who does not, and why the disciples’ perception becomes participation in life.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Form Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ὁ κόσμος 2nd declension, nominative masculine singular with article Subject of θεωρεῖ “The world” as a definite entity; articular nominative marks a corporate subject.… Learn Koine GreekDeclensions and Authority: Case Roles in Romans 13:4
Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστι σοὶ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς, φοβοῦ· οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ· Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν εἰς ὀργὴν, ἔκδικος τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι. (Romans 13:4)
For he is a servant of God for your good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to the one who practices evil.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Form Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes Θεοῦ 2nd declension masculine singular Genitive singular, genitive of possession Marks God as the one to whom the servant belongs; repeated twice for emphasis.… Learn Koine GreekDeclensions in Exhortation: Morphology in 1 Thessalonians 4:1
Τὸ λοιπὸν οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἐρωτῶμεν ὑμᾶς καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ, καθὼς παρελάβετε παρ’ ἡμῶν τὸ πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖν καὶ ἀρέσκειν Θεῷ, ἵνα περισσεύητε μᾶλλον· (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
Finally then, brothers, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, just as you received from us how it is necessary for you to walk and to please God, that you may abound more.
Declension Analysis Table Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes ἀδελφοί Noun, vocative masculine plural Direct address Sets a fraternal, pastoral tone ὑμᾶς (first occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, accusative plural Accusative direct object of ἐρωτῶμεν and παρακαλοῦμεν The audience of the appeal κυρίῳ Noun, dative masculine singular with article Dative of sphere or respect Marks the sphere in which the appeal is made — “in the Lord” Ἰησοῦ Proper noun, genitive masculine singular Genitive of relationship Identifies the Lord as Jesus ἡμῶν 1st person pronoun, genitive plural Genitive of source Indicates from whom the teaching was received ὑμᾶς (second occurrence) 2nd person pronoun, accusative plural Subject of infinitives περιπατεῖν and ἀρέσκειν Accusative of reference with infinitives Θεῷ Noun, dative masculine singular Dative of advantage Marks God as the one pleased by the believers’ walk Vocatives Framing Pastoral AppealThe vocative ἀδελφοί places the audience in a relationship of familial warmth and shared faith, setting the tone for exhortation.… Learn Koine Greek
Declensions That Call and Cleanse: The Grammar of Divine Approach in James 4:8
Ἐγγίσατε τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐγγιεῖ ὑμῖν. καθαρίσατε χεῖρας ἁμαρτωλοί καὶ ἁγνίσατε καρδίας δίψυχοι. (James 4:8)
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse hands, sinners, and purify hearts, double-minded ones.
Grammatical Structure and Spiritual UrgencyThis piercing exhortation from the epistle of James combines imperative verbs with powerfully declined nouns and vocatives. Through dative, accusative, and vocative cases, the verse calls for decisive, inward and outward repentance, grounding its message in formal syntactic clarity. The declensions not only identify who is being addressed—but what kind of transformation they need.
Declinable Elements: A Closer Look Greek Word Morphology Case & Syntactic Role Notes τῷ Θεῷ 2nd declension masculine dative singular noun with article Dative of direction (“toward”) “Draw near to God” — the indirect object of nearness and communion ὑμῖν 2nd person personal pronoun, dative plural Dative of advantage (indirect object) “He will draw near to you” — reciprocal action marked by case parallel χεῖρας 3rd declension feminine accusative plural noun Accusative direct object of καθαρίσατε Outward deeds symbolized — the hands to be cleansed ἁμαρτωλοί 2nd declension masculine vocative plural adjective Vocative of direct address A wake-up call — identifying the audience as sinners καρδίας 1st declension feminine accusative plural noun Accusative direct object of ἁγνίσατε Symbolic of inner life — hearts must be purified δίψυχοι 2nd declension masculine vocative plural adjective Vocative of direct address Literally “double-souled” — denotes wavering loyalty Case Patterns and Theological Force– The dative τῷ Θεῷ and ὑμῖν frame a mutual approach: you move toward God, and He moves toward you.… Learn Koine Greek
