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Biblical Greek First Year Lesson 10
Class Notes
The First Declension
The first declension encompasses primarily feminine nouns because they are characterized by certain endings and follow a specific pattern in their cases.
First Declension Endings:
| Case | Singular | Plural |
| Nominative | α / η | αι |
| Genitive/Ablative | ας / ης | ῶν |
| Dative/Locative/Instrumental | ᾳ / ῃ | αις |
| Accusative | αν / ην | ας |
| Vocative
|
α / η | αι |
Nominative Singular: Ends in α or η. The naming case, typically used for the subject.
Genitive/Ablative Singular: ας or ης. Genitive expresses limitation. Ablative emphasizes source or separation.
Dative/Locative/Instrumental Singular: ᾳ or ῃ, used for indirect objects. It is the case of personal association.
Accusative Singular: αν or ην, the direct object form.
Vocative Singular: Usually identical to the nominative and used for direct address.
Plural Forms: The nominative and vocative plural end is αι, genitive/ablative is ῶν, dative/locative/instrumental is αις (for indirect objects), and accusative plural is ας.
The Article Agreement
Nouns take articles and adjectives that agree in gender, number, and case. Feminine nouns take the feminine forms of articles and adjectives, and masculine nouns take masculine forms.
Feminine Definite Article Forms:
| Case | Singular | Plural |
| Nominative | ἡ | αἱ |
| Genitive/Ablative | τῆς | τῶν |
| Dative/Locative/Instrumental | τῇ | ταῖς |
| Accusative | τήν | τάς |
Masculine Definite Article Forms:
Although the First Declension is primarily feminine, a few masculine nouns belong to this declension (e.g., μαθητής, “disciple”; νεανίας, “young man”).
The masculine article forms applied to First Declension nouns are as follows:
| Case | Singular | Plural |
| Nominative | ὁ | οἱ |
| Genitive/Ablative | τοῦ | τῶν |
| Dative/Locative/Instrumental | τῷ | τοῖς |
| Accusative | τόν | τούς |
Examples of the article with First Declension Nouns:
- Feminine First Declension Example (χώρα – “country”):
- Singular:
- Nominative: ἡ χώρα – “the country”
- Genitive/Ablative: τῆς χώρας – “of/from the country”
- Dative/Locative/Instrumental: τῇ χώρᾳ – ” for/with/by the country”
- Accusative: τήν χώραν – “the country” (direct object)
- Plural:
- Nominative: αἱ χῶραι – “the countries”
- Genitive/Ablative: τῶν χωρῶν – ” of/from the countries”
- Dative/Locative/Instrumental: ταῖς χώραις – ” for/with/by the countries”
[…]
- Singular:
The Greek Noun Declensions
Declensions
Class Notes Download Second Declension
In linguistic terms, declension refers to the way nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in languages, particularly inflected ones like Greek, Latin, or Hebrew, change their form to express different grammatical categories such as case (nominative, genitive, etc.), number (singular, plural), and gender (masculine, feminine, neuter). In Greek and Hebrew, declensions are crucial because they help to indicate the function of a word in a sentence, such as whether it is the subject, object, or shows possession, among other roles.
First Declension: The first declension is characterized by long vowel endings like -η and -α in the nominative singular. Typically includes nouns that are mostly feminine but also some masculine nouns.
Second Declension: The second declension is categorized by o class vowels. Masculine nouns generally have endings in -ος (e.g., λόγος) in the nominative singular, while neuter nouns end in -ον.
Third Declension: This declension is more irregular and diverse, containing nouns of all three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter). The nouns in the third declension can have various stem endings and exhibit more complex case endings, such as -ς (e.g., βασιλεύς).
Gender refers to a system of noun classification that affects how nouns and related words (such as adjectives, pronouns, and verbs) are inflected in a language. In languages with grammatical gender, nouns are categorized into specific gender classes, which often determine the form of associated words (e.g., adjectives and pronouns) and can sometimes affect the verb conjugation.
In Koine Greek, there are three grammatical genders:
- Masculine: This gender is often used for nouns referring to males but also includes many inanimate objects and abstract concepts. For example, ἀδελφός (adelphos) means “brother” and is […]
Example (τύπος)
An example (τύπος) represents the broader category, principle, or concept it relates to by providing a concrete and relatable demonstration of quality and characteristics. Therefore, example (τύπος) can also be used for an imprint or pattern.
After some of the disciples saw the resurrected Lord, they informed the others who were not present with them that Christ, indeed, was raised from the dead. Thomas responded to their report by stating that unless he saw the imprint of the nails in Christ’s hands, he would not believe, John 20:25.
While the Israelites were in the wilderness, God gave Moses an example of how the Tabernacle in which God would dwell among His people was to be designed, Acts 7:44. The Tabernacle was a shadow of the real heavenly Temple and, therefore, had to be done in accordance with all that God told Moses, Hebrews 8:5.
Adam was a type of the One to come that would save all those who believe in Him. Through Adam’s sin, he condemned the entire human race, for we all sinned in Adam, Romans 5:14. In contrast to the death that Adam brought, through the one to come, who is Christ, all are made alive, 1 Corinthians 15:22. In Adam we died, but in Christ we live. These two types explain the relationship the human race has to its head. We are not individually created beings; instead, we are propagated and, therefore, subject to the likeness and image of our head. After Adam trespassed and sinned, he had children after his likeness and image, Genesis 5:3. Therefore, his children, including us, are born spiritually separated from God and subject to physical death. All those who believe in Christ’s death for sins and […]
Outwardly conforming (συσχηματίζω)
Outwardly conforming (συσχηματίζω) means putting on a mask to appear as something you’re not. It is to conform one’s mind and character to another’s pattern.
Suschēmatizō (συσχηματίζω) is derived from a word that means to be in the appearance or likeness of something else. When God the Son wrapped Himself in flesh, He was found in the likeness of a man; however, He was still fully God. He emptied Himself of His outward display of Deity and wrapped Himself in flesh, Philippians 2:8. As Christians, we are not part of the world system, for in Christ we are crucified to it, and it to us. However, Christ chose not to remove us from it; therefore, we are to use it but not abuse it, realizing that the outward form of the world is always changing, 1 Corinthians 7:31. It is the one who does the desirous will of God that abide into the age, 1 John 2:17.
In Romans 12:2, we are instructed not to put on a mask (outwardly conform ourselves) as though we are under law. Christians do not govern their lives by law, Romans 6:14. We are not to be inarticulate babblers who need a tutor because we are sons, Ephesians 1:5 (having marked off our bounds to the placement of sons through Jesus Christ unto Himself, according to the good pleasure of His desirous will). Sons do not need governors and tutors, which is what the law served as, Galatians 3:24. In contrast to living by law we are to train our senses to know what is proper from what lacks in character and govern our lives by grace out from faith, Hebrews 5:14; Romans 1:17. This standard needs no law […]