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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
Prepositions2023-12-11T12:15:24-08:00

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 […]

Instrumental Case2023-12-11T12:15:45-08:00

Genitive Case

Genitive Case

The case of definition or description.

The Genitive of Description

This use is closest to the root idea of the case. The genitive limits a noun much like an adjective. It falls under this classification when it does not fit any other. This use is also referred to as “the Attributive Genitive” or “the Qualitative Genitive.” It emphasizes kind.

The Genitive of Possession

The Genitive frequently defines, describes, and limits by denoting ownership.

The Genitive of Relationship

The Genitive may describe a person having some genital or marital relationship with another person. This relationship may extend to a household. In this usage the noun is omitted because it is clear from the context or it is well known to the recipients. The definite article usually occurs in the proper gender along with the Genitive of the person related.

The Adverbial Genitive

The Adverbial Genitive is used to describe, define, and limit as to kind of – time, place, general reference, and measure. The emphasis is this kind and not that kind.

Genitive of Time

Kind of time is defined. It may answer the question “what kind of time?” it is this kind of time in which something takes place, it is this time and not that time.

Genitive of Place

The kind of place is defined. The idea of contact is prominent. It may answer the question “what kind of place?” The emphasis is on kind, i.e. the kind of place within which an event takes place. It is “here and not there.” It limits to a kind of place. This use does not occur frequently in the N.T., since place is usually described by the Locative.

Genitive of Reference

The […]

Genitive Case2023-12-11T12:16:23-08:00

Biblical Greek First Year Lesson 8

Class Notes

Prepositions

Prepositions are adverbs specialized to define more clearly the meaning of case, many of which came to be used in composition with verbs. When the word functions as an adverb it does not need an object; however, when serving as a preposition it required an object.

Some words can function as either prepositions or adverbs, depending on whether they have an object:

 

Preposition: “She walked across the bridge.” (“Across” is a preposition because it relates to “the bridge.”)

 

Adverb: “She walked across.” (“Across” functions as an adverb because it has no object and modifies the verb “walked.”)

The Greek preposition is used to better define the idea of case. They assist the cases by aiding in clarifying the meaning of the case. The case governs the meaning of the preposition. Therefore, the preposition does not give the meaning to the case, for they do not govern the case.

As an example for how the meaning of the preposition is governed by the case it is used with we can examine the different meanings of παρά (para) based upon what case the noun is expressing.  παρά (para) primarily means “beside,” “alongside,” or “near. The English word parallel is derived from παράλληλος (parallēlos), which is a compound of two parts: παρά (para): Meaning “beside” or “alongside.” ἀλληλος (allēlos): Meaning “one another.”

Ablative: from the side of.

Locative: by the side of.

Accusative: beside, beyond, against (contrary to).

By the nature of the Nominative and Vocative cases, they do not use prepositions. Therefore, the cases that use prepositions are the genitive, ablative, dative, locative, instrumental, and accusative.

When used in compound with the verbs the prepositions have two common uses.

The preposition is merely local. I throw out combines ἐκ […]

Biblical Greek First Year Lesson 82024-10-25T14:28:29-07:00

Verb

The Greek Verb

The verb is the part of a sentence that expresses the action or state of being. Some verbs require an object to complete the sentence where others do not due to their inherent meaning. Transitive or intransitive is a characteristic of the verb, not expressed or modified by the voice. Transitive verbs take a direct object. Intransitive verbs do not need a direct object to complete their meaning.

Five Identifying Features of the Greek Verb

The Greek verb has five identifying features: Mode (Mood), Tense, Voice, Person, Number.

Mode (Mood)

Represents the way in which the action is perceived. Two viewpoints are expressed: that which is actual and that which is possible.

Tense

Identifies type and time of action. The kind of action is the principle idea involved with the Greek tense, whereas the time of action is secondary. Kinds of actions are continuous, occurring, and completed.

Voice

Indicates how the subject relates to the action or state of the verb.

Active

The subject is producing the action or state expressed by the verb.

Middle

The subject participates in or directly benefits from the result of the action or state expressed in the verb.

Passive

The subject receives the action or state of the verb.

Person and Number

Person and number determine the relation of the subject to the action of the verb. The verb will always agree with its subject in person and number.

Deponent or Defective Verbs

Deponent means “to lay aside” and defective is used to imply that a word has no active voice. However, both terms are inadequate to describe the use of a middle or passive in place of the active voice. The active form did exist; however, through use dropped off because the middle or passive voice by the nature of the word and its use became predominate. However, to say it has “laid aside” its active voice is incorrect and contrary to the history of […]

Verb2023-12-11T12:19:31-08:00
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