Prepositions in New Testament Greek are indeclinable words that express relationships—spatial, temporal, logical, or causal—between nouns and other sentence elements, with their meaning shaped by the case they govern (genitive, dative, or accusative). Common examples include ἐν (“in” with dative), εἰς (“into” with accusative), and ἐκ (“from” with genitive), each altering nuance based on case. Some prepositions, like διά or μετά, shift meaning entirely depending on whether they govern the genitive or accusative. These words are also foundational in forming compound verbs (e.g., ἐκβάλλω, “I cast out”), where the prepositional prefix modifies the verb’s force or direction. In verses like Luke 24:49, the use of ἐν with the dative pinpoints location, illustrating how prepositions clarify narrative setting and theological emphasis. Their precise usage is essential for accurate translation and interpretation, as they often carry significant exegetical weight.
What Are Prepositions?
In New Testament Greek, prepositions are indeclinable words that express spatial, temporal, logical, or other relationships between nouns and other elements in the sentence. They typically precede a noun or pronoun in a specific case—genitive, dative, or accusative—which influences the precise meaning of the phrase.
Greek prepositions are highly flexible and nuanced, with meanings often shaped by the case they govern. Accurate understanding of prepositions is critical to proper exegesis and translation.
Overview of Common Prepositions
| Preposition | Case | Basic Meaning | Example (BYZ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐν | + Dative | in, on, among, by means of | ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ – “in the world” (John 17:11) |
| εἰς | + Accusative | into, toward, for | εἰς τὸν οἶκον – “into the house” (Matthew 9:28) |
| ἐκ / ἐξ | + Genitive | out of, from | ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ – “from heaven” (John 3:13) |
| ἀπό | + Genitive | from, away from | ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς – “from the earth” (Revelation 14:3) |
| διά | + Genitive / Accusative | through (Gen.); because of (Acc.) | διὰ πίστεως – “through faith” (Ephesians 2:8) |
| πρός | + Accusative | to, toward, with | πρὸς τὸν Θεόν – “toward God” (John 1:1) |
| κατά | + Genitive / Accusative | down from (Gen.); according to (Acc.) | κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον – “according to the gospel” (Romans 2:16) |
| μετά | + Genitive / Accusative | with (Gen.); after (Acc.) | μετὰ τῶν μαθητῶν – “with the disciples” (John 11:54) |
| ὑπέρ | + Genitive / Accusative | on behalf of (Gen.); above/beyond (Acc.) | ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν – “on behalf of us” (Romans 5:8) |
| ὑπό | + Genitive / Accusative | by (Gen.); under (Acc.) | ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ – “by God” (1 Corinthians 1:1) |
| ἐπί | + Gen. / Dat. / Acc. | upon, on, over, at | ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους – “on the mountain” (Matthew 5:1) |
Case Matters: Shifting Meanings
Many Greek prepositions shift in meaning based on the case of the following noun. For example, διά with the genitive means “through”, but with the accusative it means “because of”. Similarly, μετά means “with” when governing the genitive but “after” when used with the accusative. This flexibility highlights the importance of observing both the preposition and its object.
Compound Verbs
Many verbs in the New Testament are compound forms where a preposition is prefixed to a verbal root, modifying or intensifying the action. For example:
- ἐκβάλλω – “I cast out” (ἐκ + βάλλω)
- προσέρχομαι – “I come to” (πρός + ἔρχομαι)
These compound verbs often preserve the core meaning of the preposition, making a knowledge of common prepositions essential for understanding verbal nuance.
Illustrative Verse: Luke 24:49
καθίσατε ἐν τῇ πόλει Ἱερουσαλὴμ
The preposition ἐν governs the dative noun τῇ πόλει, meaning “in the city.” This construction specifies location and shows the disciples were to remain within the boundaries of Hierousalēm.
Why Prepositions Matter
Greek prepositions play a vital role in defining location, direction, cause, manner, and agency. They often carry significant theological and narrative weight, shaping the relationships between subjects, objects, and actions. Mastery of their meanings in each case form not only sharpens translation accuracy but also deepens exegetical insight into the inspired Word.
