If That’s the Case: Marriage and Discipleship in Matthew 19:10

Posted on October 1, 2019 by Biblical Greek
λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ· Εἰ οὕτως ἐστὶν ἡ αἰτία τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μετὰ τῆς γυναικός, οὐ συμφέρει γαμῆσαι

After Jesus’ strict teaching on divorce, the disciples respond with an almost stunned objection. Their words in Matthew 19:10 are brief but packed with realism—and their grammar reflects that intensity. This isn’t a question, it’s a conclusion. Their reaction reveals just how radical Jesus’ view of marriage sounded in a first-century context.

Grammatical Foundations

The verb λέγουσιν is present active indicative, 3rd person plural: “they say.” Combined with the dative pronoun αὐτῷ, it introduces direct speech to Jesus. The speakers are identified next: οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ—his disciples.… Learn Koine Greek

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Power in Weakness: Divine Strength and the Subjunctive of Purpose in 2 Corinthians 12:9

Posted on September 12, 2019 by New Testament Greek
καὶ εἴρηκέ μοι· ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς μου ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται. ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπ’ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ. The Grammar of Surrender and Strength

2 Corinthians 12:9 records the Lord’s personal word to Paul in response to his plea for relief. But the answer is unexpected and transformative: not deliverance, but grace. Not removal of weakness, but infusion of power. And it is Greek grammar—specifically the use of the perfect tense, present indicative, and subjunctive of purpose—that unfolds this paradox. In this verse, divine power is not revealed despite weakness, but through it, and the syntax itself teaches us to embrace God’s logic of grace.… Learn Koine Greek

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Matthew 11:29 and the Language of Invitation

Posted on September 11, 2019 by New Testament Greek
Matthew 11:29 ἄρατε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς καὶ μάθετε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι πρᾷός εἰμι καὶ ταπεινὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ εὑρήσετε ἀνάπαυσιν ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν· Literal English Translation

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Layered Meanings in Common Vocabulary ἄρατε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς The verb ἄρατε is the 2nd person plural aorist active imperative of αἴρω—”lift, take up.” In Classical Greek, this verb often implies burden or removal (e.g., lifting off a siege). Here, it forms a paradox: taking up a burden leads to rest.… Learn Koine Greek
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When the Evil One Comes”: A Study of Ellipsis and Implicit Action in Matthew 13:19

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Advanced Greek Grammar
παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ μὴ συνιέντος, ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρὸς καὶ αἴρει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς. The Parable of the Sower and the Hidden Verb

In Matthew 13:19, Jesus begins to interpret the parable of the sower — explaining what happens to the seed sown along the path. The verse opens with a participial construction that appears complete but contains a subtle grammatical gap:

> “Every one who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and takes away what was sown in his heart…”

This sentence is elliptical — it omits a finite verb that we instinctively supply based on context.… Learn Koine Greek

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Fragments that Speak: Greek Grammar in a Question of Memory

Posted on August 1, 2019 by New Testament Greek

Today we analyze a single interrogative sentence from Jesus that is both grammatically intricate and theologically evocative: ὅτε τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους ἔκλασα εἰς τοὺς πεντακισχιλίους, καὶ πόσους κοφίνους κλασμάτων πλήρεις ἤρατε; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· δώδεκα from Mark 8:19. It is a question designed not for information, but for confrontation — and grammar plays a crucial role in shaping that rhetorical impact.

The Greek Text in Focus

ὅτε τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους ἔκλασα εἰς τοὺς πεντακισχιλίους, καὶ πόσους κοφίνους κλασμάτων πλήρεις ἤρατε; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· δώδεκα (Mark 8:19)

“When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”… Learn Koine Greek

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Slaves Who Promise Freedom: Participles, Paradox, and Passive Conquest in 2 Peter 2:19

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Greek Insights
ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοῖς ἐπαγγελλόμενοι, αὐτοὶ δοῦλοι ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς· ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται, τούτῳ καὶ δεδούλωται. (2 Peter 2:19) Deception in Voice and Form

This verse from 2 Peter delivers a scathing rebuke against false teachers who promise liberty, yet are themselves enslaved to corruption. The Greek construction powerfully reinforces this moral irony, through its layered participles, passives, and causal logic.

We will examine the verse’s core grammar using a structured table, highlighting:

– Present participles that describe deceptive activity and true condition – A genitive of subjection that defines the master – A dative of subjection that follows a perfect passive verb – A causal clause structured around identity and subjugation

Grammatical Analysis Table Greek Phrase Form & Morphology Function Meaning ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοῖς ἐπαγγελλόμενοι Present middle participle, nominative plural masculine from ἐπαγγέλλομαι Adjectival participle modifying the false teachers “promising them freedom” — deceptive appearance of liberty αὐτοὶ δοῦλοι ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς Present active participle (ὑπάρχοντες) + genitive of subjection Predicate description “they themselves are slaves of corruption” — contrasting reality to their message ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται Relative pronoun in dative + perfect passive indicative, 3rd sg.… Learn Koine Greek
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Why Then Did Moses Command It? A Grammar Inquiry from Matthew 19:7

Posted on July 1, 2019 by New Testament Greek
Matthew 19:7

λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· τί οὖν Μωσῆς ἐνετείλατο δοῦναι βιβλίον ἀποστασίου καὶ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν;

Modern Greek Pronunciation: légousin aftó̱: ti ú̱n Mōsís enetílato doúnai vivlíon apostasíou kai apolý̱sai aftín?

Literal English Translation: They say to him: Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?

Koine Greek Breakdown λέγουσιν – present active indicative 3rd person plural from λέγω, “they say”. αὐτῷ – dative masculine singular pronoun, “to him”. τί – interrogative pronoun, “why”. οὖν – particle, “then”, signaling inference or emphasis. Μωσῆς – proper noun, nominative masculine singular, “Moses”. ἐνετείλατο – aorist middle indicative 3rd singular from ἐντέλλομαι, “he commanded”.… Learn Koine Greek
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She Held a Grudge: Imperfects and the Tension of Unfulfilled Malice in Mark 6:19

Posted on June 25, 2019 by New Testament Greek
ἡ δὲ Ἡρῳδιὰς ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἤθελεν αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο· (Mark 6:19) When Verbs Smolder: The Force of the Imperfect Tense

This compact verse in Mark captures the simmering hatred of Herodias toward John the Baptist. Its power lies not in a dramatic climax, but in the tension between desire and inability, sustained by the grammatical fabric of imperfect verbs. Every verb in this verse is in the imperfect tense, creating a cinematic effect: a long-burning resentment that cannot yet ignite into action.

This article explores:

The repeated use of the imperfect tense to express sustained hostility The lexical and emotional nuance of ἐνεῖχεν The contrastive structure ἤθελεν… καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο The narrative pacing and theological reflection embedded in the verbal aspect ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ – Grudge with a Grip

The verb ἐνεῖχεν is from ἐνέχω, meaning “to hold against,” “to bear a grudge,” or “to be hostile toward.”… Learn Koine Greek

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Joy in the Descent: Greek Grammar in Luke 19:6

Posted on June 1, 2019 by New Testament Greek
καὶ σπεύσας κατέβη, καὶ ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν χαίρων. (Luke 19:6)

Modern Greek Pronunciation: ke spévsas katévi, ke ypédexthe aftón chaíron.

Literal English Translation: And having hurried, he came down, and received him rejoicing.

Koine Verbal Texture καὶ – conjunction: “and”. Joins sequential actions. σπεύσας – aorist active participle, nom. masc. sing.; from σπεύδω: “having hurried”. Temporal participle, preceding main verb. κατέβη – aorist indicative active, 3rd person singular; from καταβαίνω: “he descended” / “came down”. ὑπεδέξατο – aorist indicative middle, 3rd person singular; from ὑποδέχομαι: “he welcomed / received [into his home]”. αὐτὸν – accusative masculine singular pronoun; object of ὑπεδέξατο. χαίρων – present active participle, nom.… Learn Koine Greek
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The Urgency of Ritual Purity: Final Clauses, Passive Subjunctives, and Coordinated Requests

Posted on May 31, 2019 by New Testament Greek
Οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ, ἐπεὶ παρασκευὴ ἦν· ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου· ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πιλᾶτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη, καὶ ἀρθῶσιν. (John 19:31) When Timing Meets Theology

John 19:31 is not just a historical footnote — it’s a theologically dense verse about urgency, religious custom, and human action at the crucifixion. The Greek reveals purpose clauses, passive subjunctives, and a glimpse of how grammatical structure can reflect theological irony. The Jewish leaders seek to preserve Sabbath purity while overseeing the death of the Messiah — and John’s grammar heightens this paradox.… Learn Koine Greek

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