Educated in Egypt: Passive Voice and Descriptive Contrast in Acts 7:22

καὶ ἐπαιδεύθη Μωϋσῆς πάσῃ σοφίᾳ Αἰγυπτίων, ἦν δὲ δυνατὸς ἐν λόγοις καὶ ἐν ἔργοις. — Acts 7:22

The Grammar of Formation and Power

Stephen’s speech before the Sanhedrin offers a rare insight into the early Christian view of Moses’ upbringing and abilities. Acts 7:22 presents Moses not merely as a Hebrew, but as someone shaped by the wisdom of Egypt and gifted with remarkable influence. The Greek grammar balances a divine passive with a descriptive contrast, giving us both the process of education and the character it produced.

ἐπαιδεύθη… πάσῃ σοφίᾳ Αἰγυπτίων: The Divine Passive of Education

The verb ἐπαιδεύθη (“he was educated”) is in the aorist passive, indicating that Moses underwent a process of instruction at a point in the past.… Learn Koine Greek

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Dying to the Law, Belonging to Another: Aorist Passives, Purpose Clauses, and Union with the Risen Christ

ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐθανατώθητε τῷ νόμῳ διὰ τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι ὑμᾶς ἑτέρῳ, τῷ ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγερθέντι, ἵνα καρποφορήσωμεν τῷ Θεῷ. (Romans 7:4) Dead to Law, Alive to Fruitfulness

In Romans 7:4, Paul uses a striking metaphor to describe the believer’s transition from the dominion of the Law to life in Christ. The grammar of the verse is rich and theological: we see an aorist passive verb, a telic infinitive, a relative clause, and a final purpose clause that brings it all together.

This verse is a theological masterpiece, and its Greek syntax is the frame that holds it in place.… Learn Koine Greek

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Made Alive Together: Grammar and Grace in Colossians 2:13

Καὶ ὑμᾶς, νεκροὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς παραπτώμασι καὶ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν, συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ, χαρισάμενος ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα, (Colossians 2:13)

Modern Greek Pronunciation: kai ymâs, nekroùs óntas en toîs paraptṓmasi kai ti̱ akrobystía ti̱s sarkòs ymōn, synezōopoíi̱sen ymâs syn autó̱, charisámenos hi̱mîn pánta ta paraptṓmata.

Literal English Translation: And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made alive together with him, having graciously forgiven us all the trespasses.

Koine Grammar Breakdown Καὶ ὑμᾶς – accusative plural pronoun, “And you,” object of the main verb. νεκροὺς ὄντας – accusative plural participial phrase, “being dead”: – νεκροὺς: accusative plural adjective, “dead”; – ὄντας: present participle of εἰμί, “being.”… Learn Koine Greek
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The Red Horse and the Grammar of Chaos: Verbal Force in Revelation 6:4

καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἄλλος ἵππος πυρρός, καὶ τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἐδόθη αὐτῷ λαβεῖν τὴν εἰρήνην ἐκ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἵνα ἀλλήλους σφάξωσι, καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ μάχαιρα μεγάλη. — Revelation 6:4

A Horse of Fire: Unleashing Judgment through Grammar

This dramatic apocalyptic verse unleashes the second horseman of the apocalypse: a fiery red horse symbolizing conflict and bloodshed. The Greek grammar in this single sentence orchestrates a chain of violent outcomes, structured through strategic use of aorist verbs, infinitives, subjunctives, and divine passives that build momentum from heavenly decree to earthly destruction.

ἐξῆλθεν…καὶ ἐδόθη: The Structure of Divine Permission

The opening verb ἐξῆλθεν (“went out”) sets the apocalyptic scene in motion.… Learn Koine Greek

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When the Verb Speaks Judgment: Future, Aorist, and the Theology of Response in Isaiah 65:12 LXX

Ἐγὼ παραδώσω ὑμᾶς εἰς μάχαιραν πάντες ἐν σφαγῇ πεσεῖσθε ὅτι ἐκάλεσα ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐχ ὑπηκούσατε ἐλάλησα καὶ παρηκούσατε καὶ ἐποιήσατε τὸ πονηρὸν ἐναντίον ἐμοῦ καὶ ἃ οὐκ ἐβουλόμην ἐξελέξασθε (Isaiah 65:12 LXX)

 

A Chain of Clauses with Grammatical Progression

This verse unfolds as a sequence of clauses that move from a future prophetic threat to a retrospective indictment. The transition of tenses—from the future indicative to multiple aorist indicatives—is not random; it serves to contrast what will come with what has already transpired. The grammar sharpens the theological edge of the prophecy: the future judgment is certain because the past responses to God’s calls have been persistently disobedient.… Learn Koine Greek

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When Case Endings Heal: Declensions and Mercy in Mark 3:5

Καὶ περιβλεψάμενος αὐτοὺς μετ’ ὀργῆς, συλλυπούμενος ἐπὶ τῇ πωρώσει τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, λέγει τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ· ἔκτεινον τὴν χεῖρά σου. καὶ ἐξέτεινε, καὶ ἀποκατεστάθη ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ ὑγιὴς ὡς ἡ ἄλλη. (Mark 3:5)

And having looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he says to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored, sound as the other.

Setting the Scene with Declensions

The verse unfolds in three movements shaped by morphology: (1) Jesus’ stance toward the crowd (μετ’ ὀργῆς; ἐπὶ τῇ πωρώσει), (2) his address to the sufferer (τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ), and (3) the result reported with precise agreement (ἡ χείρ αὐτοῦ ὑγιής ὡς ἡ ἄλλη).… Learn Koine Greek

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Grammatical Analysis of Ephesians 5:22

Grammatical Analysis of Ephesians 5:22 Αἱ γυναῖκες τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν ὑποτάσσεσθε ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ Word Breakdown Greek Word Gloss Grammatical Analysis Αἱ the Article, Nominative Plural Feminine — agrees with γυναῖκες γυναῖκες wives Noun, Nominative Plural Feminine — subject of the verb τοῖς to the Article, Dative Plural Masculine — agrees with ἀνδράσιν ἰδίοις own Adjective, Dative Plural Masculine — emphasizes personal relationship ἀνδράσιν husbands Noun, Dative Plural Masculine — indirect object of the verb ὑποτάσσεσθε submit yourselves Verb, Present Middle/Passive Imperative, 2nd Person Plural — exhortation directed at the subject ὡς as Conjunction — introduces the comparison clause τῷ Κυρίῳ to the Lord Article + Noun, Dative Singular Masculine — standard or model for the submission Syntactical Analysis Αἱ γυναῖκες — nominative subject of the verb ὑποτάσσεσθε.… Learn Koine Greek
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Fruitful Grammar: Participles and Growth in Mark 4:8

Καὶ ἄλλο ἔπεσεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν καλήν καὶ ἐδίδου καρπὸν ἀναβαίνοντα καὶ αὐξανόμενα, καὶ ἔφερεν ἓν τριάκοντα καὶ ἓν ἑξήκοντα καὶ ἓν ἑκατόν. (Mark 4:8)

This verse, nestled within the Parable of the Sower, may appear simple in story, but it hides deep syntactic and theological riches. With participles describing spiritual process and coordinate clauses quantifying divine abundance, Mark 4:8 uses Greek grammar to proclaim the silent miracle of receptive hearts. Let’s trace the steps.

The Aorist Fall: ἔπεσεν

The main event begins with the aorist active indicative verb ἔπεσεν (“it fell”). This punctiliar action marks a single moment: the sowing is done, the seed has landed.… Learn Koine Greek

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Zeal and Persecution in Acts 22:4: Relative Clause, Coordinated Participles, and Legal Terminology in Paul’s Defense

ὃς ταύτην τὴν ὁδὸν ἐδίωξα ἄχρι θανάτου, δεσμεύων καὶ παραδιδοὺς εἰς φυλακὰς ἄνδρας τε καὶ γυναῖκας, Relative Pronoun and Contextual Link: ὃς ὃς: Relative pronoun, nominative masculine singular—”who.” Refers back to Paul himself as the speaker, continuing the autobiographical narrative in his defense before the Jerusalem crowd. Introduces a relative clause summarizing Paul’s past behavior. Direct Object and Definite Accusation: ταύτην τὴν ὁδὸν ταύτην: Demonstrative pronoun, accusative singular feminine—”this.” τὴν ὁδὸν: Accusative singular feminine of ὁδός, “way,” a term used throughout Acts to refer to the Christian movement. Together: “this way” or “this path”—a reference to the early Christian faith. This phrase reflects insider terminology within the nascent Church but is used here in a judicial self-indictment.… Learn Koine Greek
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The Refusal of the Invited: A Study in Aspect and Rejection in Matthew 22:3

καὶ ἀπέστειλε τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν.

In the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1–14), Jesus crafts a narrative that is both deeply theological and profoundly human. At its heart lies a moment of refusal—simple in form, yet devastating in implication:

καὶ ἀπέστειλε τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν.

“And he sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, but they were not willing to come.” This verse encapsulates the tragic irony of divine invitation met with human indifference.… Learn Koine Greek

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