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Greek Lessons
- The Question of Eternal Life: Syntax of Testing and Inquiry in Luke 10:25
- The Grammar of Astonishment and Difficulty
- The Urgency of Flight: Syntax, Eschatology, and the Grammar of Mission in Matthew 10:23
- Provoking the Lord: The Peril of Presumption
- The Great Priest Over God’s House: The Foundation of Confident Access
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Category
Category Archives: Grammar
Greek Grammar Lesson from Luke 19:4
Καὶ προδραμὼν ἔμπροσθεν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ συκομορέαν, ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτόν, ὅτι δι’ ἐκείνης ἤμελλε διέρχεσθαι. (Luke 19:4)
And running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see him, because he was about to pass that way.
Purpose Clause with ἵνα and Complementary Infinitive with Imperfect of IntentionThis verse describes Zacchaeus’ eager action to see Jesus. It includes a temporal participle, a purpose clause, and an imperfect verb of intent followed by a complementary infinitive. The grammar contributes to the narrative energy and forward motion.
Aorist Participle: προδραμώνπροδραμών is an aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular, from προτρέχω (“to run ahead”).… Learn Koine Greek
Aspect and Negation in Koine Greek: The Case of ἠδυνήθησαν in Hebrews 3:19
Καὶ βλέπομεν ὅτι οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν εἰσελθεῖν δι’ ἀπιστίαν. (Hebrews 3:19)
And we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
The Grammatical Core: Tense, Aspect, and VoiceThis verse contains a compact but theologically loaded statement. The key verb, ἠδυνήθησαν, raises an essential grammatical question about tense, aspect, and negation in Koine Greek. In this article, we will explore how the aorist passive deponent form interacts with negation and how it affects the temporal and aspectual contours of the statement.
Dissecting the VerbsLet’s examine the two primary verbs in this sentence:
Greek Parsing Meaning βλέπομεν Present active indicative, 1st person plural of βλέπω “We see” — present, continuous action ἠδυνήθησαν Aorist passive deponent indicative, 3rd person plural of δύναμαι “They were not able” — viewed as a whole event What Is a Deponent Passive?… Learn Koine GreekGreek Grammar Lesson from 1 Timothy 3:6
Μὴ νεόφυτον, ἵνα μὴ τυφωθεὶς εἰς κρίμα ἐμπέσῃ τοῦ διαβόλου. (1 Timothy 3:6)
Not a recent convert, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Subjunctive Purpose Clause with Aorist Passive ParticipleThis verse, part of the qualifications for overseers, demonstrates how Greek syntax expresses caution and consequence. It features a negative command, a purpose clause, and a passive participle indicating a precondition.
Adjective Used Substantivally: νεόφυτοννεόφυτον (“newly planted,” i.e., a recent convert) is an accusative singular adjective used substantivally. It is the object of an implied verb such as χειροτονείτω (“he must not appoint”) from the broader context.… Learn Koine Greek
They Burned the Books: Aorist Verbs and Volitional Finality in Acts 19:19
In ἱκανοὶ δὲ τῶν τὰ περίεργα πραξάντων συνενέγκαντες τὰς βίβλους κατέκαιον ἐνώπιον πάντων· καὶ συνεψήφισαν τὰς τιμὰς αὐτῶν καὶ εὗρον ἀργυρίου μυριάδας πέντε (Acts 19:19), Luke narrates a dramatic turning point in Ephesus. Practitioners of magic renounce their former lives — not just inwardly, but visibly and economically — by publicly burning their spellbooks. The grammar here is ablaze with meaning: a cascade of aorist participles and indicative verbs captures a decisive, irrevocable act. The Greek doesn’t merely report events — it performs their finality.
Morphological Breakdown ἱκανοὶ – Root: ἱκανός Form: nominative masculine plural adjective Lexical Meaning: “many,” “a considerable number” Contextual Notes: Often denotes sufficiency or quantity — “a good number of them.”… Learn Koine GreekSeeing No One Else: The Art of Exception Clauses and Partitive Constructions
Ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου. (Galatians 1:19)
But I saw no other of the apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord.
Paul’s Personal Testimony and Apostolic DistinctionThis brief verse from Paul’s autobiographical defense in Galatians offers more than a factual statement about his travels — it is a masterclass in Greek syntax. Paul carefully crafts a statement to defend his independence from the Twelve, yet acknowledges one crucial exception: James, the brother of the Lord.
The Greek here demonstrates several elegant syntactic features, especially the partitive genitive, exception clauses with εἰ μή, and apposition.… Learn Koine Greek
Greek Grammar Lesson from Matthew 19:9
Λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐπὶ πορνείᾳ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην, μοιχᾶται· καὶ ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμήσας μοιχᾶται. (Matthew 19:9)
But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Conditional Construction with ἂν and Subjunctive + Present Indicative ResultThis verse illustrates a conditional sentence formed with the particle ἂν and a subjunctive verb in the protasis, followed by a present indicative in the apodosis. It also highlights syntactical exceptions and participial usage with theological implications regarding marriage and divorce.… Learn Koine Greek
Shipwrecked by Conscience: Greek Grammar in Warnings of Faith
Ἔχων πίστιν καὶ ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, ἥν τινες ἀπωσάμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν (1 Timothy 1:19)
Having faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.
In this passage, Paul weaves together participles, relative pronouns, and metaphors to issue a stern warning about moral integrity and belief: ἔχων πίστιν καὶ ἀγαθὴν συνείδησιν, ἥν τινες ἀπωσάμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν from 1 Timothy 1:19. The grammar mirrors the danger Paul describes — a subtle drifting that leads to spiritual catastrophe. Let us unpack this verse phrase by phrase.
Grammatical Highlights ἔχων — present active participle, masculine singular; describes the subject as “having” both faith and conscience.… Learn Koine GreekPaul Meets James: Greek Grammar in Apostolic Assembly
Τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ εἰσῄει ὁ Παῦλος σὺν ἡμῖν πρὸς Ἰάκωβον, πάντες τε παρεγένοντο οἱ πρεσβύτεροι. (Acts 21:18)
And on the next day, Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
In Acts 21:18, Luke describes Paul’s formal visit to James in Jerusalem. The verse — τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ εἰσῄει ὁ Παῦλος σὺν ἡμῖν πρὸς Ἰάκωβον, πάντες τε παρεγένοντο οἱ πρεσβύτεροι — uses temporal participles, motion verbs, and collective subjects to capture a moment of leadership convergence. The grammar here emphasizes not only chronology, but the solemnity and unity of the church leaders in action.
Grammatical Highlights τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ — dative feminine singular participle; “on the next day.”… Learn Koine GreekUnderstanding Correlative Pronouns and Adverbs in NT Greek
In New Testament Greek, correlative pronouns and adverbs play a significant role in connecting ideas and providing clarity in descriptions of place, manner, time, and more. These correlatives appear in various categories like demonstrative, interrogative, indefinite, and relative pronouns and adverbs, often forming pairs or groups that help establish relationships in the text.
Here’s a brief overview of these categories in NT Greek:
1. Demonstrative: These pronouns and adverbs point to specific things, people, or concepts (e.g., “this,” “that,” “here”).
2. Interrogative: These ask questions about identity, place, time, manner, and other qualities (e.g., “who?” “where?” “when?”).
3. Indefinite: These refer to non-specific entities (e.g.,… Learn Koine Greek
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The Grammar of Prayer: Temporal Clauses and Didactic Requests in Luke 11:1
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐν τόπῳ τινὶ προσευχόμενον, ὡς ἐπαύσατο, εἶπέ τις τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν· κύριε, δίδαξον ἡμᾶς προσεύχεσθαι, καθὼς καὶ Ἰωάννης ἐδίδαξε τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ. (Luke 11:1)
A Scene of Transition
Luke 11:1 opens the famous teaching of the Lord’s Prayer with a carefully structured narrative frame. The verse describes Jesus praying in a certain place, then records a disciple’s request: “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Grammatically, Luke uses temporal clauses, participial constructions, and verbs of request to transition from narrative into discourse. Each form contributes to the reverent tone and theological significance of the moment.… Learn Koine Greek
