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GREEKBOOK "Looks"

Nouns

Verbs

Prepositions

"Signal Flags"

More "Looks" inside the Book

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    Aug 4, 2008

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    Posted by Timothy R. Butler at 22:24:46 | link | Post a Comment


    Jul 28, 2008

    “Deponent?” … “Defective?” … “Middle/Passive?” — “Calling a ‘horse’ a ‘horse.’”

    There’s a famous older expression from another generation, even another millenium now, regarding “…calling a ‘horse’ a ‘horse’,” which basically means identifying something for what it really is. In the realm of personal character traits, this might mean simply being honest with yourself and/or others. In the realm of language and grammatical terminology, it may have some meaning application as well. For example, within the corpus of Greek grammatical terms, “deponent” is a term appropriately ascribed to a category of Greek verbs appearing with middle or passive endings, yet necessarily translated in the active voice. Examples:
    • ἔρχομαι — Present/Deponent/Indicative/1st person, singular = I am coming, going
    • ἤρχομην — Imperfect/Deponent/Indicative/1st person, singular = I was coming, going
    Notice the "parsing" (identification of tense, voice, mode [mood], person, and number) of the above two examples of the deponent verb, ἔρχομαι. While many (if not most) Greek "parsing" resources will list the parsing of deponent verbs as middle/passive, I have always felt it to be extremely beneficial to "call a 'horse' a 'horse'" when parsing deponent verbs. There are at least two obvious reasons:
    1. It reminds the Greek student that he's looking at a specific category of Greek verbs (deponent), and
    2. It reminds the Greek student not to translate these verbs as middle or passive, since they are neither.
    By "calling a 'horse' a 'horse'" and identifying deponent verbs for what they really are, the Greek student will readily recognize and accurately translate these verb with an active voice translation. Remember, too, that some Greek verbs (like ἔρχομαι) may be deponent in one or more tenses or modes without being deponent in all. [Example: ἤλθον = Aorist/Active/Indicative/1st person, singular/3rd person, plural.] Other “deponent” verbs frequently encountered include: βούλομαι (I am wishing), and πορεύομαι (I am proceeding). "So," you may ask, "when are these deponent verbs appropriately called defective?" (Good question.) By definition, a defective Greek verb is literally the Aorist passive "form" of a deponent verb, which, when translated, is also translated in the active voice within the Aorist tense. An example would be:
    • πορεύομαι — Pres., Deponent, Indic., 1st Sing. = I am proceeding
    • ἐπορεύθην — 1st Aor., Defective, Indic., 1st Sing. = I proceeded
    Note: Some verbs have both an Aorist deponent ("middle") form and and Aorist defective ("passive") form, translated identically:
    • ἀπεκρινάμην 1st Aor., Deponent, Indic., 1st Sing. = I answered
    • ἀπεκρίθην 1st Aor., Defective, Indic., 1st Sing. = I answered
    So, in summary: "Yeeee Hawww! Let's call a 'horse' a 'horse.' Gallop on through Greek, y'all."

    Go to: "It's All Greek to YOU!" (Wermuth's Greek Blog)



    Posted by Robert Wermuth at 7:30:20 | link | Post a Comment


    Jul 21, 2008

    Principal Parts of Frequently Encountered

    The verb tenses in Greek are divided into six basic “systems” called Principal Parts. Each system has a distinct verb stem, from which all the various tenses and their respective “voices” are built (click on first image to open and enlarge to full size within a separate window). In order to recognize a Greek verb, it is necessary to be familiar with its principal parts. The “regular” principal parts system is represented by λύω (click on remaining images in order or download the entire PDF here). The Principal Parts chart represented within the above image files delineates in alphabetical order the principal parts of many frequently encountered “irregular” verbs occurring in the Greek New Testament.

    Go to: "It's All Greek to YOU!" (Wermuth's Greek Blog)



    Posted by Robert Wermuth at 17:3:56 | link | Post a Comment


    Jul 7, 2008

    Greek Diphthongs: “See” What You “Say”

    When working on the memorization of Greek verb endings, it’s important to “see” (in your mind’s eye) what you say (outloud or silently) as you practice. Therefore, regarding the Greek diphthong “ει,” it seems preferable and wise to pronounce it phonetically the same as the identical diphthong in the English word “height,” as opposed to the phonetic sound in the English word “freight.” This is because the “ει” diphthong occurs within the 2nd and 3rd persons of "active voice" verb endings of the Indicative mode (-ει, -εις), later “lengthening” to -ῃ when used in the same persons in the Subjunctive mode (-ῃ,-ῃς). Since the phonetic sound of ῃ is the same as the diphthong in “freight,” it tends to confuse the usage of these separately occurring endings (“ει” in the Indicative; “ῃ” in the Subjunctive, also "middle/passive voice" Indicative 2nd sing.) if pronounced identically. Putting this ει diphthong into a memorable memorization context—as my beginning Greek professor humorously used to remind us:

    “If you should accidentally fall out of bed at night, don’t say ‘Ouch!’ Say, ‘Oh, ice, eye, ahmen, ete, ousi.’” (Indicative mode verb endings: -ω, -εις, -ει, -ομεν, -ετε, -ουσι).

    Go to: "It's All Greek to YOU!" (Wermuth's Greek Blog)



    Posted by Robert Wermuth at 19:38:45 | link | Post a Comment


    May 27, 2008

    The “Bottom Line” on μι-Verbs

    Don’t be intimidated by these “irregular” New Testament Greek verbs. If you pay attention, they too reveal structural “patterns” that you can find some comfort level in recognizing in context. The primary “bottom line” characteristics of μι-Verbs are presented below, and also as a downloadable PDF, which includes Indicative Mode formation charts and a listing of the most frequently occurring μι-Verbs in the New Testament.

    Go to: "It's All Greek to YOU!" (Wermuth's Greek Blog)



    Posted by Robert Wermuth at 9:19:27 | link | Post a Comment


    Mar 15, 2008

    Wermuth’s “Famous Quotes & Memory Joggers” —OR— “Beginning Greek Grammar’s ‘Top 20′”

    When teaching Beginning Greek, I have found it helpful for students to keep a "running list" of clear, concise statements about study methodologies or translation observations that will keep them on track by steering their thinking in the right direction. Below is a listing of those "Famous Quotes and Memory Joggers" that I utilize as I am teaching.
    1. Before completing translation exercises, always study vocabulary and structures (paradigms) first!
    2. The primary "force" (function) of a Greek tense is "kind of action," not "time." "Time" is a consideration occurring and governed via "Indicative Mode" verbs. In all other modes, the focus is "kind of action."
    3. All Greek neuter nouns repeat their “Nominative” endings in the “Accusative” (sing. and plural, respectively).
    4. The Locative, Instrumental, and Dative (L.I.D.) cases can be easily recognized by the "iota" that appears in the ending—for the most part (except with 3rd declension nouns) either an 'iota subscript" or an "iota sandwich" (i.e., -οις or -αις). Even the "L.I.D." case acronym is helpful, since it is also spelled with an "I." So remember, "ι = L.I.D."
    5. When a Greek verb form can be either Middle or Passive, “always try Passive first!”
    6. “Stick to your cases!”
    7. Because of its consistency in appearance and designation of “gender,” the Greek "Definite article" (ὁ, ἡ, τὸ) is your “friend.”
    8. When a Greek pronoun (1st, 2nd, or 3rd personal) appears in the “Nominative” case— singular or plural — it always indicates emphasis.
    9. The only mode that has “augments” (indicator of past time) is the Indicative Mode. (For this and more, see the "Signal Flags" [click] chart image from the side bar of this blog site.)
    10. When you observe a Greek word that looks (in part) like a verb (at the beginning) and that word occurs with a “definite article,” that word must be a participle.
    11. The only two (2) tenses in Greek that utilize a "present stem" (1st principal part) are the Present tense and the Imperfect tense (all voices).
    12. When identifying verb tenses (via their personal endings' thematic vowel), remember "α means Aorist!" (For this and more, see the "Signal Flags" [click] chart image from the side bar of this blog site.)
    13. When observing Greek Subjunctive verbs in context, it's important to ask yourself the following question: "What's the 'use'?" (no kidding). In order to translate a subjunctive word or phrase, you must know what "use" of the Subjunctive governs that word or phrase. Some examples: Is it a "purpose clause" (with ἵνα)? Is it an "if" clause (with ἐάν) is it a 1st person plural "exhortation" ( = "we should . . .")? Is it a "question of doubt as to what the speaker (1st person sing. or plural) should say or do? So, when things apparently seem difficult, remember to ask yourself, "What's the 'use'?!!"
    14. Remember: Aorist Passives (any mood/mode) always utilize endings that are "Active" in appearance.
    15. The "tense sign" indicator ("flag") for 1st Aorist Passive Indicative verb forms is -θη- . (For this and more, see the "Signal Flags" [click] chart image from the side bar of this blog site.)
    16. 1st Aorist Passive Subjunctives can be readily identified by observing the "signal flag" (characteristics) of either a -θῆ- or -θῶ- . (Notice the "circumflex" accents, resulting from the collision of stem vowels with thematic vowels on the endings. For more, including similar qualities for 2nd Aorist Passive Sujunctives, see the "Signal Flags" [click] chart image from the side bar of this blog site.)
    17. 1st Aorist Passive Participles are probably the most "outstanding" Greek forms. Apart from a scant number of verbs (like ἀκολουθεω), whose lexical vocabulary forms have a -θε- incorporated within the stem, these participles may be easily observed and identified by noticing the consistent "signal flag" (characteristics) of that same -θε- quality within the construction of Aorist Passive Participles. For more, including similar qualities for 2nd Aorist Passive Participles, see the "Signal Flags" [click] chart image from the side bar of this blog site.)
    18. Remember: "Eleanor hates sigmas" (σ added to the stem). Yes, your hypothetical cousin "Eleanor"—whose name trans-literally has those smooth, "liquid" Greek letters: λ, ν or ρ—does not like any contact whatsoever with a Greek σ, which, of course, is normally added to Future and 1st Aorist verbs, and which may also find proximity to liquid letters in noun declension scenarios. Other rules apply when these "liquid" letters collide with Greek "sigmas." So, beware: "Eleanor (λ, ν, ρ) hates sigmas!"
    19. When a “Yes” answer is expected to a Greek question, the Greek negative οὐ is used. Example: (Matt. 7:22) οὐ τῷ ὀνόματιἐπροφητεύσαμεν; = We prophesied by Thy name, didn’t we? (Ans.: “Yes.”) The best way to translate the question appropriately, is to “put the answer in the hearer’s mind” through an affirmative statement at the beginning of the question. Also, in the above example, one can almost visualize the questioner affirmatively nodding his head up and down. Conversely, using μή + Indicative mode in direct questions expects a “No” answer. Example: (John 6:67) εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς δώδεκα μή καὶ ὑμεῖς θέλετε ὑπάγειν; = Then Jesus said to the Twelve, "You do not wish to go away also, do you?” Here one can visualize the questioner shaking his head (“No”) from side to side.
    20. Since the only two (2) tenses in Greek that utilize a "present stem" (1st "principal part") are the Present tense and the Imperfect tense (see point 10, above), these are also only two (2) tenses of "Contract Verbs" — verbs whose stems end with either an α, ε, or ο — that are impacted by the collision of vowels that occurs with these types of verbs (i.e. the ending stem vowel + the thematic initial vowel of the personal endings). Of course, the main indicator ("flag") of this resultant collision of vowels is the Greek "circumflex" accent ( ~ ).


    Posted by Robert Wermuth at 16:29:54 | link | Post a Comment


    Jun 8, 2007

    “Christian Love’s Crowning Touch: Loving One Another” (1 John 4:12, Greek & Latin)

    Interestingly, during last Sunday’s worship service, I found the Greek and the Latin complementing each other quite well as I observed the Greek and Latin (side-by-side) text of 1 John 4:12b. In the context of the entire verse, Christians, obligated by the love that God has shown to us in Christ, are told that “if we should love one another, God’s love has been fulfilled/made perfect (τελειόω) in us.” The Latin Vulgate closely parallels the Greek here, using a verbal form (consummata est) from which one can easily recognize the roots of our English word “consummation.” Among the lexical Latin definitions of the root word (including: "add/reckon/total/sum/make up; finish off, end; bring about, achieve/accomplish; bring to perfection; be grown)" is to “put the finishing/crowning touch.” Broken down even further, the student of Latin (or English) can readily spot the basis for the English word “summit” within this Latin word. So, like water increasingly poured into a previously empty glass, or as one standing upon a mountain’s “summit,” God’s love is “fulfilled,” in us, matured to the “crowning touch” when we love one another in Christ.

     



    Posted by Robert Wermuth at 19:57:20 | link | Post a Comment


    Aug 15, 2006

    GREEKBOOK “Looks” at “Signal Flags”

    The “Signal Flags” chart is a systematic “visual tour” of many of the possible characteristics seen within various Greek verbal forms that one encounters in their various tenses, voices, and modes. One or more of these “clues” may be spotted simultaneously by the student, giving him the mental “signal(s)” he needs to help him more quickly to identify that form’s parsing. Notice that the chart is a simulated left-to-right look at any verbal form (including participles and infinitives) that one might encounter, noting the various characteristics to watch for at progressive locations within the word’s structure. Once the “signal flag” clue has been identified, the corresponding tense(s), voice(s), and mode(s) can be traced to the right-hand side of the chart, where a final determination should be possible. While not intended to be an exhaustive overview of the various Greek verbal characteristics, this chart presents most of the regularly occurring ones. Read more...

    Posted by Robert Wermuth at 20:52:0 | link | Post a Comment


    Aug 14, 2006

    1 John 1:7, 9: God’s Forgiveness through Jesus Christ:


    "Arise my soul, arise, shake off thy guilty fears;
    The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears;
    Before the Throne my Surety stands . . .
    My name is written on his hands."     (Charles Wesley, Trinity Hymnal, #223)

    Most of us, as Christians, truly believe that God can and does forgive us our sin debt. But, sometimes, with some sins, we may feel like "hiding" a serious or recurring sin behind or under all the other ones that we're fairly confident are "covered" by God's mercy and grace. Maybe something from our past, or some particular sin from which we just can't seem to "shake off (our) guilty fears." Yes, it's true that 1 John 1:7, 9 that God "cleanses us from all sin . . . from all unrighteousness." Still, we think, "How can we 'hide' this 'really big sin' in with all the others" to convince ourselves that God forgives that one too? Read more...

    Posted by Robert Wermuth at 22:24:35 | link | Post a Comment


    Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 8:29-30: God’s Adopted Children:

    Greek compound verbs have always fascinated me, since like in English (though many people don't recognize or appreciate them because of the words' unfamiliar Latin origins) they carry the resultant meaning derived from the inherent meanings of the two individual Greek words now joined. Most often these Greek compounds have a preposition as part of their forms. In the verses observed here in Ephesians 1, the Greek compound verb (ἐξελέξατο) occurring in an Aorist Middle voice form meaning (along with ἡμᾶς), "He chose us for Himself," comes from the lexical form ἐκλέγω, a compound from the preposition ἐκ (ἐξ- = out of) and the verb λέγω (to say, speak). And this "choosing" or "speaking out" occurred "before the foundation of the world" (v. 4), at which creative point in time God literally "spoke" everything into existence! Read more...

    Posted by Robert Wermuth at 22:23:2 | link | Post a Comment


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