Then He Spoke: Aorist and Dative Direction in Matthew 23:1

Posted on January 1, 2023 by New Testament Greek
Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησε τοῖς ὄχλοις καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ (Matthew 23:1)

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples.

The Moment Before the Rebuke

Matthew 23 begins with a formal and significant transition. The use of Τότε (“then”) marks a shift in narrative time and tone, preparing the audience for one of Jesus’ most scathing critiques—his denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees. This short verse is grammatically simple but theologically loaded. The grammar establishes a formal speech moment in which the audience is defined and the action is definitive.

ἐλάλησε: Aorist Declarative Action

The main verb ἐλάλησε (“he spoke”) is in the aorist active indicative, conveying a completed, past action.… Learn Koine Greek

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Nouns in New Testament Greek

Posted on December 30, 2022 by New Testament Greek
1. Definition and Function

Definition of a Noun: A noun (ὄνομα) is a word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

Functions of Nouns in a Sentence: Nouns can serve multiple roles, such as:

Subject: The main actor in a sentence.

Direct Object: The recipient of the action.

Indirect Object: Indicates to whom or for whom the action is done.

 

2. Gender of Nouns

Nouns in NT Greek are classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. This affects agreement with articles and adjectives.

Masculine: Generally denotes male beings.

Example: ἀνήρ (“man”) in John 1:6.

Feminine: Typically denotes female beings.

Example: γυναῖκα (“woman”) in Luke 8:2.… Learn Koine Greek

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What Is Man? Interrogatives and Subjunctives in Hebrews 2:6

Posted on December 26, 2022 by New Testament Greek
διεμαρτύρατο δὲ πού τις λέγων· τί ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος ὅτι μιμνήσκῃ αὐτοῦ, ἢ υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου ὅτι ἐπισκέπτῃ αὐτόν; (Hebrews 2:6) The Echo of Wonder in Precise Greek Form

In Hebrews 2:6, the author introduces a citation that carries both literary reverence and theological astonishment. The syntax is shaped by two rhetorical questions—quoted from Psalm 8—that explore the mystery of God’s mindfulness toward humanity. But this verse is not merely poetic; it is constructed with linguistic precision that frames divine condescension in Koine Greek elegance.

This article explores:

The impersonal introduction διεμαρτύρατο δὲ πού τις λέγων The use of interrogative particles τί and conjunction ὅτι in embedded questions The significance of the subjunctive verbs μιμνήσκῃ and ἐπισκέπτῃ διεμαρτύρατο δὲ πού τις λέγων – A Formal but Vague Citation

The phrase διεμαρτύρατο δὲ πού τις λέγων introduces the quotation.… Learn Koine Greek

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“What Then Shall I Do?”: Greek Grammar and the Question of Kingship

Posted on December 15, 2022 by New Testament Greek
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἀποκριθεὶς πάλιν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί οὖν θέλετε ποιήσω ὃν λέγετε τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων; (Mark 15:12)

“And Pilate again answered and said to them, ‘What then do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?’”

In Mark 15:12, Pilate confronts the crowd with a haunting question that reverberates through the Passion narrative. The verse — ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἀποκριθεὶς πάλιν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί οὖν θέλετε ποιήσω ὃν λέγετε τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων; — employs aorist participles, interrogative pronouns, and layered direct discourse. The grammar sharpens the rhetorical edge of the question: what do you want me to do with the one you call “King of the Jews”?… Learn Koine Greek

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God as Witness: Oaths, Participles, and Verbal Force in 2 Corinthians 11:31

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Advanced Greek Grammar
Ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ οἶδεν, ὁ ὢν εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι. (2 Corinthians 11:31)

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

Paul’s Solemn Appeal

In 2 Corinthians 11:31, Paul concludes a section of boasting in weakness with an oath before God. The verse reads: “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.” The syntax combines a solemn witness formula (οἶδεν), a relative clause identifying God (ὁ ὢν εὐλογητὸς), and a content clause (ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι) that affirms Paul’s truthfulness.… Learn Koine Greek

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Written for Our Warning: Typology and the Ends of the Ages

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Exegesis & Hermeneutics
Ταῦτα δὲ πάντα τύποι συνέβαινον ἐκείνοις, ἐγράφη δὲ πρὸς νουθεσίαν ἡμῶν, εἰς οὓς τὰ τέλη τῶν αἰώνων κατήντησεν. (1 Corinthians 10:11)

Now these things all happened to them as types, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Exegetical Analysis

Paul, after recounting a series of Israel’s failures in the wilderness (vv.1–10), offers a theological summary in this verse. He begins with ταῦτα δὲ πάντα — “now these things all,” referencing the historical incidents just described (idolatry, immorality, grumbling). The verb συνέβαινον (imperfect indicative middle/passive of συμβαίνω) means “were happening” or “came to pass,” with a durative aspect suggesting ongoing historical unfolding.… Learn Koine Greek

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Greek Grammatical and Syntactic Analysis of 2 John 1:11

Posted on November 1, 2022 by New Testament Greek
ὁ γὰρ λέγων αὐτῷ χαίρειν κοινωνεῖ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς. Definite Article and Articular Participle: ὁ λέγων

– ὁ λέγων: nominative masculine singular articular present active participle of λέγω, meaning “the one who says” or “he who says”

The article ὁ with the participle λέγων forms a substantival participial phrase, functioning as the subject of the main verb κοινωνεῖ. This construction allows the participle to stand on its own as a noun phrase.

γάρ as a Coordinating Conjunction

– γάρ: explanatory coordinating conjunction, “for” or “because”

It introduces the reason for the preceding command (i.e., not to greet or receive someone who does not bring the true doctrine).… Learn Koine Greek

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The One Who Opposes: Participles and Blasphemous Self-Exaltation in 2 Thessalonians 2:4

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Greek Insights
ὁ ἀντικείμενος καὶ ὑπεραιρόμενος ἐπὶ πάντα λεγόμενον Θεὸν ἢ σέβασμα, ὥστε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ καθίσαι, ἀποδεικνύντα ἑαυτὸν ὅτι ἔστι Θεός. (2 Thessalonians 2:4) The Language of Rebellion and Deception

In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul gives a vivid grammatical profile of the “man of lawlessness” (v.3), using a tight sequence of present participles, an ὥστε clause of result, and a climactic declaration of false divinity. The Greek builds a theological portrait through layered grammar—one that reveals both his opposition to God and his delusional exaltation above all things sacred.

ὁ ἀντικείμενος καὶ ὑπεραιρόμενος – The One Opposing and Exalting Himself ὁ ἀντικείμενος – present middle/passive participle, nominative masculine singular from ἀντίκειμαι, “the one who opposes” (standing against) καὶ ὑπεραιρόμενος – present middle participle from ὑπεραίρομαι, “exalting oneself, lifting oneself above”

These participles serve as descriptive modifiers of the subject (the man of lawlessness), emphasizing continuous and deliberate opposition to everything divine and revered.… Learn Koine Greek

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“ἐχάρησαν”: The Second Aorist Passive Deponent of Joy in Matthew 2:10

Posted on October 2, 2022 by New Testament Greek
The Grammar of Overwhelming Joy

As the magi finally see the star—confirmation of divine guidance—the text states: “they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” The Greek verb ἐχάρησαν {echarēsan} is a grammatical paradox: passive in form, but active in function. It is a second aorist passive deponent of χαίρω {chairō}, “to rejoice.”

This moment captures the fulfillment of hope and divine direction, but the grammar does more than narrate emotion—it intensifies, structures, and highlights it. The deponent nature of the verb, combined with an emphatic cognate accusative, constructs a vivid theological and literary crescendo.

Ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα.… Learn Koine Greek
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The Error of the Unknowing: Scripture, Power, and the Correction of Christ

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Exegesis & Hermeneutics
Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πλανᾶσθε μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ· (Matthew 22:29)

But answering, Jesus said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”

Exegetical Analysis

The participle ἀποκριθεὶς (“answering”) introduces Jesus’ reply, functioning as a standard narrative marker in Koine Greek for verbal interaction. It links directly with εἶπεν (“he said”), providing a formal structure to the confrontation. The main assertion is contained in the second-person plural verb πλανᾶσθε (“You are mistaken”), present passive indicative, showing that the error is both active and ongoing. The verb comes from πλανάω, a term frequently used for theological and moral deception, especially self-deception.… Learn Koine Greek

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