Prepositions

Prepositions

A word placed typically before a noun or pronoun used in place of a noun and indicates the relationships of that noun or pronoun to a verb, an adjective, or another noun or pronoun.

Prepositions Used with One Case

Preposition	Case	Translation
ἀνἀ	Accusative	up, again
ἀπὀ	Ablative	from, away from
έκ	Ablative	from, out from (source), out from within
είς	Accusative	into, unto, with reference to, because of, against (hostility)
πρό	Ablative	before

Prepositions Used with Two Case

Preposition	Case	Translation	Case	Translation
άντί	Ablative	instead of- substitution	Genitive	Against (opposed to)
έν	Locative	in, with in, among (in the plural)	Instrumental	by (means of), with
μετά	Genitive	with (loosely associated with, accompanied by)	Accusative	after
περί	Genitive	about, generally concerning	Accusative	around (position); about (specifically concerning)
σὐν	Dative	together with (intimately)	Locative	with (close association)
ὑπέρ	Genitive	On behalf of, for the sake of, in place of (substitution)	Accusative	over, above, beyond
ὑπο	Ablative	by (direct agency)	Accusative	under

Prepositions Used with Three Case

Preposition	Case	Translation	Case	Translation	Case	Translation
ἐπί	Genitive	upon, on (Emphatic, contact), at, by	Locative	upon, on, at, over (position)	Accusative	upon, on the basis of, on the occasion of, against (oppression). Up to (without going over)
διά	Ablative	possibly – through (source)	Genitive	through (intermediate agency)	Accusative	on account of, because of
κατά	Ablative	down from	Genitive	down upon, against (contrary to)	Accusative	according to, with reference to, as measured by
παρά	Ablative	from (The side of)	Locative	by the side of	Accusative	beside, beyond, against, (contrary to)
πρός

Instrumental Case

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 […]