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Greek Lessons
- The Grammar of Perception and Presence
- Opened Eyes and Stern Silence: Syntax and Tension in Matthew 9:30
- Shining Like Lightning: Syntax, Transformation, and Prayer in Luke 9:29
- The Syntax of Survival: Postdiluvian Duration in a Simple Sentence
- Confession in the Aorist: Pharaoh’s Syntax of Contrition
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Category
Tag Archives: ἦν
“ἦν… ἐκεῖ”: The Imperfect Tense of Presence in John 2:1
Καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ γάμος ἐγένετο ἐν Κανὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ ἦν ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐκεῖ. (John 2:1)
And on the third day, a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
The Mother Was ThereThe clause καὶ ἦν ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐκεῖ appears understated, yet its grammatical structure offers insightful narrative and theological signals. The use of ἦν {ēn}, the imperfect tense of εἰμί, and the adverb ἐκεῖ {ekeī}, meaning “there,” produces a sense of continued, established presence.
This clause is not just background information—it’s a scene-setting device that positions Jesus’ mother at the center of what is about to unfold.… Learn Koine Greek
Imperfect Indicative: The Progressive Imperfect
THE PROGRESSIVE IMPERFECT
The Imperfect is used of action in progress in past time.
Mark 12:41; καὶ πολλοὶ πλούσιοι ἔβαλλον πολλά, and many that were rich were casting in much.
Luke 1:66; καὶ γὰρ χεὶρ κυρίου ἦν μετ’ αὐτοῦ, for the hand of the Lord was with him.
John 11:36; Ἴδε πῶς ἐφίλει αὐτόν, behold how he loved him.
The statement respecting the translation of the Progressive Present (cf.THE PROGRESSIVE PRESENT), applies to the Imperfect also. Notice the third example above, and see also Luke 2:51, his mother kept [διετήρει] all these things in her heart; in Luke 24:32, A.V., did not our heart burn within us, is better than R.V.,… Learn Koine Greek
