The Instrumental Case

The case of means or association.

The Instrumental of Means

Usually this use expresses impersonal means. It is closest to the root idea of the case. This use may be determined by the ability to use the words “by means of” or “by” in the translation. Sometimes “with” may be used in translation with the idea of association. (cf. The Instrumental of Agency below).

The Instrumental of Cause

This use expresses cause, motive, or occasion. It goes behind the intermediate means to the original cause or factor producing a result. It may refer to an external cause and thus a motive. This use is determined by the ability to use the word “because” in the translation.

The Instrumental of Manner

This use indicates the method by means of which the action is carried out. A circumstance accompanying the action of the verb is indicated. This use may answer the question “how?” or “in what manner?”.

The Instrumental of Measure

The Instrumental is used to express measure in comparative phrases. Two points of time or space are separated by means of an intervening distance. It is used chiefly with reference to time in the N.T. (The locative indicates a definite point in time. The Instrumental indicates two points separated by an interval of time.).

The Instrumental of Association

The word in the Instrumental indicates that person(s) or thing(s) which accompany or take part in the action of the verb. The key to this use is to find a second party who furnishes the means of association. It often occurs with compounds of σύν. This use, which is also refered to as the “Commutative,” occurs frequently in the N.T. It […]