Revelation 22:7
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔρχομαι ταχύ. μακάριος ὁ τηρῶν τοὺς λόγους τῆς προφητείας τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου.
Modern Greek Pronunciation: kai idou érchomai tachý. makários o ti̱rṓn tous lógous ti̱s profi̱teías tou vivlíou toútou.
Literal English Translation: And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
Koine Greek Structure Explained
- καὶ ἰδοὺ – Coordinating conjunction + interjection: “And behold!” (ἰδοὺ from ἰδέ, used for dramatic focus).
- ἔρχομαι – Present middle/passive indicative 1st singular from ἔρχομαι, “I am coming.” Expresses a near-future action with present vividness.
- ταχύ – adverb, “quickly, soon.”
- μακάριος – nominative masculine singular adjective, “blessed, happy.” Often used in beatitude-style declarations.
- ὁ τηρῶν – article + present active participle masculine singular from τηρέω, “the one who keeps.”
- τοὺς λόγους – accusative plural of λόγος, “words, sayings.”
- τῆς προφητείας – genitive singular of προφητεία, “prophecy”; modifies “words.”
- τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου – genitive singular noun + demonstrative: “of this book.”
Modern Greek Translation
Και ιδού, έρχομαι σύντομα. Μακάριος εκείνος που τηρεί τα λόγια της προφητείας αυτού του βιβλίου.
Notable Shifts in Form and Expression
- ἰδοὺ → ιδού: Retained, but less formal in tone.
- ἔρχομαι ταχύ → έρχομαι σύντομα: Adverb ταχύ replaced by more familiar σύντομα (“soon”).
- ὁ τηρῶν → εκείνος που τηρεί: Participle replaced with full relative clause.
- τοὺς λόγους → τα λόγια: “Words” made more colloquial with λόγια over formal λόγους.
- τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου → αυτού του βιβλίου: Genitive noun + demonstrative phrase restructured to modern order.
Grammar Comparison Table
| Feature | Koine Greek | Modern Greek | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Future Expectation | ἔρχομαι ταχύ | έρχομαι σύντομα | Adverb updated; tense retained for immediacy |
| Participle Phrase | ὁ τηρῶν | εκείνος που τηρεί | Participle becomes relative clause |
| Word Choice for “Words” | τοὺς λόγους | τα λόγια | Lexical simplification |
| Genitive Construction | τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου | αυτού του βιβλίου | Genitive structure inverted to match modern order |
The Blessed Guardian
In this prophetic beatitude, Koine Greek relies on vivid present tenses and elegant participles to deliver urgency and reward. Modern Greek gently unpacks those structures, making them feel immediate yet familiar. The heart of the message remains intact—watchfulness, blessing, and the nearness of fulfillment—but its garments have shifted with time from poetic compression to plainspoken clarity.
