Tag Archives: ἤθελεν

Greek Grammar Lesson from Luke 18:13

Luke 18:13

καὶ ὁ τελώνης μακρόθεν ἑστὼς οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν ἐπᾶραι, ἀλλ’ ἔτυπτεν εἰς τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ λέγων· ὁ Θεός, ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ.

Focus Topic: Periphrastic Construction and Emotional Imperfects

This verse uses vivid tense and mood choices to emphasize humility, unworthiness, and heartfelt prayer. Key features include the perfect participle with stative force, the imperfect for durative emotional action, and a rare optative of entreaty in the prayer.

Perfect Participle with Stative Aspect: ἑστώς

ἑστώς is a perfect active participle, nominative masculine singular, from ἵστημι (“to stand”). It describes the tax collector’s position as a settled state — he had taken his stand and remained at a distance (μακρόθεν).… Learn Koine Greek

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