Intermediate Greek Grammar by David L. Mathewson

Author:David L. Mathewson [Mathewson, David L. and Elodie Ballantine Emig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL006410, REL006220, REL006400, Greek language (Biblical—Grammar), Greek language (Biblical—Syntax), Bible (New Testament—Language and style)
ISBN: 9781493404636
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2016-06-13T16:00:00+00:00

Number

7.15. Concerning number, Greek verb endings indicate singularity and plurality.12 All verb forms in Greek, except for the infinitive, are inflected for number. The general rule is that the number of the Greek verb ending will agree with the subject (whether the subject is specified or not). However, there are a number of exceptions to this.

Number Agreement

7.16. It is easy to find examples where the rule is followed: singular subject with singular verb ending, and plural subject with plural verb ending.

Καὶ οἱ πατριάρχαι ζηλώσαντες τὸν Ἰωσὴφ ἀπέδοντο εἰς Αἴγυπτον· (Acts 7:9) And the patriarchs being jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. (plural subject with plural participle and indicative verb)

ἐγὼ Παῦλος ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί, ἐγὼ ἀποτίσω· (Philem. 19) I, Paul, write in my own hand, I will pay back. (singular subjects and verbs)

ἀπεκρίθη εἷς ἐκ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων λέγων μοι· (Rev. 7:13) One of the elders answered, saying to me.

Number Disagreement

7.17. However, this pattern is not always followed, and the careful reader will notice a number of exceptions.

1. The most obvious exception is when a neuter plural subject occurs with a singular verb ending, though grammars do not agree on why this is the case. Wallace says, “Since the neuter usually refers to impersonal things (including animals), the singular verb regards the plural subject as a collective whole” (399), but collective wholes can be found with plural verbs (see Mark 3:11; Luke 24:11), and persons, not just impersonal things, can also be conceived of as a collective whole with a singular verb.

καὶ τὰ ἐμὰ πάντα σά ἐστιν (John 17:10) And all my things are yours.

μηκέτι ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖν καθὼς καὶ τὰ ἔθνη περιπατεῖ ἐν ματαιότητι τοῦ νοὸς αὐτῶν (Eph. 4:17) You should no longer walk as the gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind. (a personal plural neuter subject with a singular verb)

Καὶ ὅταν τελεσθῇ τὰ χίλια ἔτη, λυθήσεται ὁ Σατανᾶς ἐκ τῆς φυλακῆς αὐτοῦ (Rev. 20:7) And whenever the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison.

Moreover, there are numerous examples where this exception is not observed and neuter plural subjects are found with plural verb endings. In contrast to Wallace’s statement above, Robertson (403) has suggested that “usually a neuter plural in the NT that has a personal or collective meaning has a plural verb,”13 though this is only a tendency.14

πάντα γὰρ ταῦτα τὰ ἔθνη ἐπιζητοῦσιν· (Matt. 6:32) For the gentiles are seeking after all these things. (a personal plural neuter subject with a plural verb)

τὰ δὲ ζιζάνιά εἰσιν οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ πονηροῦ (Matt. 13:38) The weeds are the children of the evil one.

The neuter subject is impersonal, but perhaps it was regarded as personal due to being equated metaphorically with “the children of the evil one.”

καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καὶ φρίσσουσιν. (James 2:19) The demons also believe, and they shudder.

καὶ ἑπτὰ λαμπάδες πυρὸς καιόμεναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου, ἅ εἰσιν τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ (Rev. 4:5) And [I saw] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

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