-
Greek Lessons
- The Eye That Spoke: Verbal Aspect and Narrative Shame in Genesis 9:22
- The Command of Silence: Aorist Authority in Luke 9:21
- The Touch of Faith: Participial Description and Narrative Tension in Matthew 9:20
- Freedom in Service: Paradoxical Grammar in 1 Corinthians 9:19
- Mercy and Hardening: Parallel Clauses in Romans 9:18
-
Category
Category Archives: Syntax
Revelation 5:13 and the Greek of Cosmic Doxology
Καὶ πᾶν κτίσμα ὃ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης ἐστί, καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς πάντα, ἤκουσα λέγοντας· τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου καὶ τῷ ἀρνίῳ ἡ εὐλογία καὶ ἡ τιμὴ καὶ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. (Revelation 5:13)
And every creature that is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all the things in them, I heard saying: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the power forever and ever.”… Learn Koine Greek
Greek Grammar Lesson from Luke 21:2
Εἶδε δέ τινα χήραν πενιχρὰν βάλλουσαν ἐκεῖ λεπτὰ δύο, (Luke 21:2)
Focus Topic: Object-Complement Structure and Present Participle in Action Description
This short narrative clause captures an act of humble generosity using a combination of accusative objects and a participle of simultaneous action. The grammar tightly links identity, character, and activity through elegant syntax.
Main Verb: εἶδεεἶδε is aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular, from ὁράω (“he saw”). It introduces the entire observation — Jesus sees a specific person doing a specific act.
Accusative Direct Object: τινα χήραν πενιχράνThis phrase serves as the object of the verb εἶδε (“he saw”):
Phrase Form Translation τινα Accusative feminine singular of τις (indefinite) “a certain” χήραν πενιχράν Noun + adjective in accusative “poor widow”The word order places πενιχράν (“poor”) after the noun for emphasis — this widow is identified not just by status but by her poverty.… Learn Koine Greek
Conditional Parallelism and Prophetic Syntax in John 15:20
Μνημονεύετε τοῦ λόγου οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν· οὐκ ἔστι δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν, καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν· εἰ τὸν λόγον μου ἐτήρησαν, καὶ τὸν ὑμέτερον τηρήσουσιν. (John 15:20)
Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will also keep yours.
The Syntax of Conditional ParallelismThis verse presents a powerful example of conditional parallelism in Koine Greek: two clauses beginning with εἰ (“if”), each followed by a future main verb. The construction is carefully designed to deliver prophetic contrast between rejection and reception — persecution versus obedience — while reinforcing the identity of Jesus’ followers with Him.… Learn Koine Greek
Measured Speech and Integrity: The Syntax of the Diaconal Ethos
Διακόνους ὡσαύτως σεμνούς, μὴ διλόγους, μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας, μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς, (1 Timothy 3:8)
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not attending to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
Overview: Elliptical Syntax in Household CodesThis verse continues Paul’s instructions regarding church leadership, shifting to the qualifications for διάκονοι (deacons). The main verb is implied from previous context—specifically from verse 2’s verb “δεῖ” (it is necessary)—and so this line is structured elliptically (i.e., with missing but understood grammatical elements).
List of Traits: Coordinated Adjectival and Participial PhrasesEach qualification in this verse modifies the implied subject Διακόνους (deacons):
σεμνούς – respectful, dignified μὴ διλόγους – not double-tongued μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ προσέχοντας – not addicted to much wine μὴ αἰσχροκερδεῖς – not greedy for dishonest gainThe first two are adjectival modifiers, while the latter two are negative participial phrases, all agreeing with the accusative plural noun Διακόνους due to the ellipsis of the infinitive verb.… Learn Koine Greek
The 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 GreekGreat 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
“ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ δοκιμήν, ἡ δὲ δοκιμὴ ἐλπίδα”: The Spiritual Sequence of Endurance (Romans 5:4)
From Endurance to Hope
In Romans 5:3–4, Paul outlines a logical and spiritual progression that turns affliction into character and hope:
ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ δοκιμήν, ἡ δὲ δοκιμὴ ἐλπίδα “And endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”
These two clauses form part of a spiritual sequence: θλῖψις → ὑπομονὴ → δοκιμή → ἐλπίς Paul presents this not merely as moral development, but as God’s transformative work in suffering.
ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ δοκιμήν, ἡ δὲ δοκιμὴ ἐλπίδα Morphological Breakdown ἡ {hē} – Form: nominative feminine singular definite article; Refers to: each subject noun (first ὑπομονὴ, then δοκιμὴ). δὲ {de} – Form: coordinating conjunction; Meaning: “and,” “but”; Usage: links logical or sequential steps—here, marking movement from one stage to another.… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Grammar, Syntax, Theology
Leave a comment
Stay, Warn, and Ascend Not: Participles, Infinitives, and the Prepositional Force of the Spirit
Καὶ ἀνευρόντες τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐπεμείναμεν αὐτοῦ ἡμέρας ἑπτά· οἵτινες τῷ Παύλῳ ἔλεγον διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος μὴ ἀναβαίνειν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. (Acts 21:4)
A Journey Paused, a Warning Issued
Acts 21:4 offers a quiet moment of dramatic tension in the unfolding journey of Paul toward Jerusalem. Luke recounts that, upon finding the disciples in Tyre, they stayed for seven days — and during that time, the disciples, through the Spirit, urged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Behind this scene lies a tapestry of meaningful Greek grammar, including:
An aorist participle expressing temporal sequence A first person plural verb of persistence A relative pronoun with clarifying nuance A present infinitive in negated form The powerful agency construction διὰ τοῦ ΠνεύματοςThis verse blends syntax with spiritual urgency.… Learn Koine Greek
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
Posted in Ancient Greek, Syntax
Leave a comment
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 Greek