11
THIRD DECLENSION: PART 1
NOUNS
11.1. By now you are very comfortable with nouns and adjectives of the first and second declensions. Although you once thought them to be strange creatures (compared with English), they have become familiar friends. There is also a third declension, used for both nouns and adjectives, which we will learn in this chapter. Before you begin, you might want to review the two earlier chapters on nouns (chaps. 2 and 3).
11.2. If you can pronounce the following nonsense phrase and drill it into your head, you will have most of what you need to know for third-declension nouns:
Saucy a, S own sin os
Repeat it enough times to make it second nature. It may sound like an “applesauce” recipe or perhaps even flippant, but it works. Now we need to make the leap to Greek. The nonsense phrase above is simply a mnemonic device to help you remember the basic third-declension endings:
ς ος ι α, ες ων σιν ας
Third-declension nouns do not use connecting vowels, so the stem ends with an unbuffered consonant. In the first and second declensions there is always an omicron or an epsilon connecting vowel, even if it sometimes lengthens to omega or eta. You learned the first sets of noun endings with the connecting vowel, since that made each ending easier to pronounce and thus easier to memorize. But the third-declension endings are harder to pronounce as individual morphemes, since several of them are not complete syllables, because they do not include a vowel. That is why it is easier to learn them as a continuous phrase, since you can now pronounce syllables rather than hissing and grunting.
Complete Case Ending Chart
11.3. Do not worry—you are not going to memorize the chart below in the form in which you see it here. It looks more complicated than the noun ending chart you worked with earlier, but follow the notes below, and you will do just fine. This chart shows the technical endings for first and second declensions in the shaded columns.
| Decl. | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |||
| Gend. | (M/f) | (F/m) | N | M/F | N | |||
| NS | ος | ς | α/η | — | ον | ν | ς | — |
| GS | ου | υ | ας/ης | ς | ου | υ | ος | ος |
| DS | ῳ | ι | ᾳ/ῃ | ι | ῳ | ι | ι | ι |
| AS | ον | ν | αν/ην | ν | ον | ν | α/ν | — |
| NP | οι | ι | αι | ι | α | α | ες | α |
| GP | ων | ν | ων | ν | ων | ν | ων | ων |
| DP | οις | ις | αις | ις | οις | ις | σι(ν) | σι(ν) |
| AP | ους | υς | ας | ς | α | α | ας | α |
In the third declension both masculine and feminine nouns use the same set of endings, which is why there is only one column marked “M/F.” Third-declension neuter nouns use the same basic set of endings, though there are a few variations.
For the third-declension endings as a group, compare them with the first- and second-declension endings in the left columns for similarities; if you focus on the technical endings (shaded columns), there will be more-obvious similarities than if you think in terms of the entire ending. Notice that there are no connecting vowels used with third-declension endings. These endings are, indeed, slightly different from the first and second declensions, but if you learn the nonsense, “applesauce” phrase above, you will have the basic endings in good shape. Just remember that there are some variations in the neuter as well as in some of the masculine and feminine forms. The nu at the end of the dative plural is movable; it is usually present but may drop out in some situations. You do not need to know when or why; just be able to recognize either one as a dative plural ending.
You will want to remember that for third-declension nouns, the genitive singular ending is usually -ος. This can be easily mistaken for a second-declension nominative singular ending. You can distinguish these two forms on one of two bases (sometimes either or both; sometimes only the second). First, the article will be your best friend, since the forms of the article do not change. Thus even an odd-looking third-declension noun, if it has an article, will be easily identifiable. Of course, not all nouns have articles. So, second, the lexical form is crucial. If the lexical form ends with “-ος, ου + article,” it is a second-declension noun, and an -ος ending is, of course, nominative; if the lexical form ends with a consonant (other than the sigma in -ος), it is third declension, and an -ος ending on a word indicates genitive case.[1]
Third-Declension Noun Patterns
11.4. Here are several third-declension nouns. Look up each one in your lexicon, and study the entry. The same pattern of information is given in the lexical form as for other nouns that you have already learned. What information does the lexicon give for each of these words?
ἰχθύς, “fish”
στάχυς, “head of grain”
ἰσχύς, “strength”
ὗς, “sow” (i.e., adult female pig)
What is the nominative and genitive case form for each word? What gender?
If we were to list a complete set of forms, they would look like this example:
ἰχθύς, ἰχθύος, ἰχθύϊ, ἰχθύν, ἰχθύες, ἰχθύων, ἰχθύσιν, ἰχθύας
The pattern in the next three examples (which you should also look up in your lexicon) will be slightly different. There is no sigma for the nominative singular ending. For the first one, πῦρ, this is because it is neuter, so that is expected. The second two, however, are not neuter. Some masculine or feminine third-declension nouns do not have a sigma in the nominative singular; they appear to be using the nominative neuter singular ending (“blank” or “null”).[2]
πῦρ, “fire”
χείρ, “hand”
αἰών, “age”
Variations in Third-Declension Nouns
11.5. The examples given above evidence a fairly regular pattern of endings, but the morphology of the third declension is far more varied than that of the first two declensions. Most third-declension nouns do not have such a simple pattern of endings. There is diversity of opinion among Greek teachers as to how much time (and memorization) is appropriate here. This textbook follows a more minimalist approach. That means that you may not be able to identify every detail of every odd third-declension form, but if you learn the basics well (especially the standard set of endings), you will be able to identify most of the more frequent ones. The trade-off for having less grunt work in the memorization department is that you will need to look up the less-common forms. (A fairly complete set of forms is given in app. A.) But you must master the basics—well!
The Square of Stops
11.6. The primary reason for the variation in the third declension is the absence of a connecting vowel. As a result, there are some clashing combinations of consonants that are difficult to pronounce. To avoid such combinations, Greek modifies the spelling of third-declension nouns when certain combinations of consonants occur.[3] These changes may be summarized in a table called the square of stops.
Square of Stops
| + σ = | ||||
| Labials | π | β | φ | ψ |
| Velars | κ | γ | χ | ξ |
| Dentals | τ | δ | θ | σ |
The name for this table comes from two factors. First, the nine key letters are arranged deliberately in a square. Second, these nine letters are classified by linguists as stops. This refers to how the flow of air is stopped in your mouth as the sound is produced.[4] When a stop is followed by an s sound (in Greek that is the sigma), the two letters are combined to produce the letter in the far right-hand column. The table reads horizontally. For example, a pi, beta, or phi, when combined with a sigma, results in a psi.[5]
The square of stops is a very important tool that is necessary to understand third-declension nouns. We will also use it repeatedly in later chapters for verbs. It is important that you memorize it exactly, including the exact sequence of letters in each row, since we will later use this table vertically as well as horizontally.[6] The point of the chart—which we will use and reuse throughout the remainder of the book in multiple contexts—is that certain kinds of letters act in a certain, predictable way.
The following examples are intended to help you understand the principle involved as it is applied in third-declension nouns. Do not be discouraged by the seemingly endless mass of data in the following paragraphs. You do not need to memorize the explanations or be able to explain every such change whenever you encounter a third-declension noun, but if you grasp the gist of these examples, you will not be frustrated when you see similar changes elsewhere.
Labials + σ ► ψ
11.7. When a sigma is added to a labial (π, β, φ), the result is the combination/compound letter psi. Here is an example of how this works. (This is only for illustration; you need not memorize the specifics.)
λαῖλαψ, λαίλαπος, ἡ, “storm”
stem = λαιλαπ- + σ = λαῖλαψ
The lexical form for the Greek equivalent of our English word storm is λαῖλαψ, λαίλαπος, ἡ, “storm.” The stem for this word is λαιλαπ-. Note that the last letter of the stem is a labial (pi). The feminine singular nominative ending in the third declension is sigma. The square of stops tells us that when the letter pi is followed by a sigma, the result is the compound letter psi (π + σ = ψ); thus the feminine singular nominative form of the word is λαῖλαψ (not λαῖλαπς). In the genitive, however, the sigma is not adjacent to the labial, because the ending is ος—the omicron separates the two consonants—so the form is λαίλαπος.
| Luke 8:23, κατέβη (it descended) λαῖλαψ ἀνέμου εἰς τὴν λίμνην. | A windstorma descended on the lake. |
a Formally: “a storm of wind” |
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Without the detailed explanation (which is fairly obvious if you follow the same pattern as for λαῖλαψ above), the following paragraphs show what happens in some other instances.
Velars + σ ► ξ
11.8. When a sigma is added to a velar (κ, γ, χ), the result is the combination/compound letter xi. For example:
σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ, flesh
stem = σαρκ- + σ = σάρξ
| John 1:14, ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο (he became) καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν. | The Word became flesh and lived among us. |
Dentals + σ ► σ
11.9. When a sigma is added to a dental (τ, δ, θ), the result is the letter sigma. For example:
ἐλπίς, ἐλπίδος, ἡ, hope
stem = ἐλπιδ- + σ = ἐλπίς
| 2 Cor. 1:7, ἡ ἐλπὶς ἡμῶν βεβαία (it is secure) ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν. | Our hope for you is secure. |
Double Change
11.10. Some letter combinations undergo more than one change. For example, the word night (νύξ, νυκτός, ἡ) is formed as follows:
stem = νυκτ- + σ [τ + σ] = σ ► νυκς (an “intermediate form” that never appears in a Greek text),
then κ + σ = ξ ► νύξ (the spelling always found in Greek)
| Matt. 4:2, νηστεύσας ἡμέρας τεσσεράκοντα (forty) καὶ νύκτας τεσσεράκοντα. | He fasted forty days and forty nights. |
Liquid Nouns
11.11. First, a definition: a liquid is any word whose stem ends with either λ, μ, ν, or ρ.[7] This type of word is not limited to nouns; we will later meet liquid verbs. All liquid nouns, however, are third declension by definition, since the stem ends with a consonant.
There are two key things to remember about liquids.
A sigma will not stand after a liquid; it will drop out.
In a liquid, short vowels that occur between a pair of final consonants in the stem usually drop out or lengthen.
Below are two examples of liquid nouns.
1. ποιμήν, -ποιμένος, ὁ, shepherd, pastor. To find the stem, start with the singular genitive form, ποιμένος. Drop the case ending (ος); the stem is thus ποιμεν-, so you know this is a liquid noun, since the last letter of the stem is a nu, one of the liquids. In the singular nominative form, the ending sigma is dropped after the nu, and the epsilon is lengthened to eta since the short vowel, epsilon, is sandwiched between the two consonants, mu and nu, thus ποιμήν.
stem = ποιμεν- + σ [ν + σ] = ν and μεν ► μην ► ποιμήν
| Matt. 25:32, ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων. | The shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. |
| John 10:14, Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς καὶ γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ καὶ γινώσκουσί με τὰ ἐμά.a | I am the good shepherd, and I know my own, and my own know me. |
a For τὰ ἐμά, see ἐμός in §10.25; with the neuter plural article, it means “the things of me,” or “my own things.” In this context, it refers to the shepherd’s sheep. “My own” is a good option for an English equivalent. |
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| Job 1:16, Πῦρ ἔπεσεν (it fell) ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ κατέκαυσεν (it burned) τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τοὺς ποιμένας κατέφαγεν (it consumed) ὁμοίως. | Fire fell from heaven and burned the sheep, and it consumed the shepherds likewise. |
2. πατήρ, πατρός, ὁ, father. The word πατήρ undergoes multiple changes in the creation of the various case forms, most of which you need not worry about.[8] To find the stem, start with the singular genitive form, πατρός, and drop the case ending (ος), thus πατρ- (or as it appears in some cases, πατερ-). The singular nominative ending sigma drops off after rho, and the epsilon (which drops out in the genitive singular as well as in both dative forms), lengthens between the consonants tau and rho. The full set of forms is as follows: πατήρ, πατρός, πατρί, πατέρα, πατέρες, πατέρων, πατράσιν, πατέρας.
stem = πατ[ε]ρ + σ[ρ + σ] = ρ and τ[ε]ρ ► τηρ ► πατήρ
| Mark 9:24, ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ παιδίου ἔλεγεν, Πιστεύω. | The father of the child said, “I believe.” |
| Mark 8:38, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔλθῃ (he will come) ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. | The Son of Man will come in the glory of his father with the holy angels. |
| 2 Clem. 20.5, Τῷ μόνῳ θεῷ ἀοράτῳ, πατρὶ τῆς ἀληθείας, τῷ ἐξαποστείλαντι (one who sent) ἡμῖν τὸν σωτῆρα καὶ ἀρχηγὸν τῆς ἀφθαρσίας, δι᾿ οὗ καὶ ἐφανέρωσεν ἡμῖν τὴν ἀλήθειαν καὶ τὴν ἐπουράνιον ζωήν, αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.a ἀμήν. | To the only God, invisible, Father of truth, to the one who sent to us the Savior and Founder of immortality, through whom also he revealed to us truth and heavenly life, to him be glory forever. Amen. |
a αἰών, ῶνος, ὁ is also a third-declension word; the complete paradigm is given in app. A. The phrase εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων is formally, “unto the ages of the ages,” but is best communicated in English as “forever.” |
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Six Key, Representative Paradigms
11.12. There are a number of changes similar to those described above that take place in third-declension words, mostly because the stem ends with a consonant and there is no connecting vowel. As a consequence some consonant combinations result in spelling changes. There are also some third-declension words whose stem does not appear to end in a consonant. This is often because historically the stem once ended in a digamma (e.g., βασιλεύς) or a consonantal iota (e.g., πόλις and πίστις).[9] Both of these letters are archaic in Koine, though the changes they produced in earlier stages of the language are still visible. (See app. E for more information on these archaic letters.)
The easiest way to identify the gender, number, and case of a third-declension noun is to look for the article. If there is an article, then identifying the form is easy, since the article will always match the chart that you learned in chapter 2. Many third-declension nouns will have an article.
For those nouns without an article, a helpful approach is to study several representative words that illustrate the most common changes. Familiarity, without having to memorize more forms, will often provide enough clues to point you in the right direction. In using the following paradigms, if you can match the nominative and genitive form of a word to one of those given here, you can tell what the rest of the forms will be. A larger set of third-declension noun paradigms is given for reference in appendix A.
| σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ, flesh | ὄνομα, ατος, τό, name | ἄρχων, οντος, ὁ, ruler | |
| NS | σάρξ | ὄνομα | ἄρχων |
| GS | σαρκός | ὀνόματος | ἄρχοντος |
| DS | σαρκί | ὀνόματι | ἄρχοντι |
| AS | σάρκα | ὄνομα | ἄρχοντα |
| NP | σάρκες | ὀνόματα | ἄρχοντες |
| GP | σαρκῶν | ὀνομάτων | ἀρχόντων |
| DP | σαρξί(ν) | ὀνόμασι(ν) | ἄρχουσι(ν) |
| AP | σάρκας | ὀνόματα | ἄρχοντας |
| ἔθνος, ους, τό, nation | βασιλεύς, έως, ὁ, king | πόλις, εως, ἡ, city | |
| NS | ἔθνος | βασιλεύς | πόλις |
| GS | ἔθνους | βασιλέως | πόλεως |
| DS | ἔθνει | βασιλεῖ | πόλει |
| AS | ἔθνος | βασιλέα | πόλιν |
| NP | ἔθνη | βασιλεῖς | πόλεις |
| GP | ἐθνῶν | βασιλέων | πόλεων |
| DP | ἔθνεσι(ν) | βασιλεῦσι(ν) | πόλεσι(ν) |
| AP | ἔθνη | βασιλεῖς | πόλεις |
Other frequent third-declension words (used more than 50 times in the NT) include γυνή, χάρις, ἐλπίς, ὕδωρ, φῶς, αἰών, ἀνήρ, πατήρ, and μήτηρ.
11.13. Examples of Third-Declension Nouns
| Rom. 11:13, εἰμὶ ἐγὼ ἐθνῶν ἀπόστολος. | I am an apostle of the Gentiles. |
| Rom. 5:1, Δικαιωθέντες (being justified) οὖν ἐκ πίστεως εἰρήνην ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. | Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Mark 6:14, ἤκουσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἡρῴδης, φανερὸν γὰρ ἐγένετο τὸ ὄνομαa αὐτοῦ. | King Herod heard [this], for his name had become well known. |
a ὄνομα, ατος, τό, “name,” here refers to Jesus’ reputation. |
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| Mark 14:38, τὸ μὲν πνεῦμα πρόθυμον ἡ δὲ σὰρξ ἀσθενής.a | On the one hand, the spirit is willing, but on the other hand, the flesh is weak.b |
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a A published translation would not likely make the μέν . . . δέ contrast explicit, since it makes for somewhat clumsy English. b You will need to supply a verb in this sentence. |
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| Heb. 4:16, προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεοςa καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν. | Therefore let us approach with confidence the throne of grace in order that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need. |
a ἔλεος, ους, τό, “mercy,” follows the same pattern of endings as ἔθνος, for which see above. |
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| Ezek. 48:31, αἱ πύλαι τῆς πόλεως ἐπ᾿ ὀνόμασιν φυλῶν τοῦ Ἰσραήλ. | The gates of the city [will be named] after the names of the tribes of Israel. |
| John 4:17, ἀπεκρίθη (answered) ἡ γυνὴ καὶ εἶπεν (said) αὐτῷ, Οὐκ ἔχω ἄνδρα. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Καλῶς εἶπας (you have said) ὅτι Ἄνδρα οὐκ ἔχω. | Who is speaking in the first sentence? In the second sentence? To whom are these people speaking? How do you know? What is said? What case is ἄνδρα (both times), and why is that case used here? |
| Eph. 5:25, Οἱ ἄνδρες, ἀγαπᾶτε (love!) τὰς γυναῖκας, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἠγάπησεν (loved) τὴν ἐκκλησίαν καὶ ἑαυτὸν παρέδωκεν (gave) ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς. | How would ἄνδρες and γυναῖκας be represented in English? (It is not the usual gloss; check your lexicon.) What gender is αὐτῆς, and why is it that gender? How could you say it in English? |
| Mark 3:22, οἱ γραμματεῖς οἱ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων ἔλεγον (were saying) ὅτι Βεελζεβοὺλ ἔχει καὶ ὅτι ἐν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια. | How is the second instance of οἱ functioning? What information do the two instances of ὅτι supply? What is καί linking? |
| Luke 1:33, βασιλεύσει (he will reign) ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰακὼβ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶναςa καὶ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔσται (there will be) τέλος. | |
a εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας is an idiom: “forever.” |
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| T. Ash. 7.7, ἐπισυνάξει (he will gather) ὑμᾶς κύριος ἐν πίστει δι᾿ ἐλπίδα εὐσπλαγχνίαςa αὐτοῦ, διὰb Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακώβ. | |
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a εὐσπλαγχνία, ας, ἡ, “tenderheartedness, tender mercy, benevolence” b The preposition διά may be used with either the genitive or accusative case, but in this text all three objects are indeclinable forms. The context of the statement suggests that we should understand these forms to be accusative. |
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| Ign. Eph. 17.1, μὴ ἀλείφεσθεa (be besmeared!) δυσωδίανb τῆς διδασκαλίας τοῦ ἄρχοντος τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου. | |
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a An accusative with the verb ἀλείφω may identify either what/who is anointed or besmeared, or it may identify the material with which the action is performed. b δυσωδία, ας, ἡ, “filth” |
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11.15. Third-declension forms are marked in bold.
Jesus’ First Disciples
2εἶδεν (he saw) δύο πλοῖα ἑστῶτα (which were anchored) παρὰ τὴν λίμνην· οἱ δὲ ἁλιεῖς ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀποβάντες (having disembarked) ἔπλυνον (were washing) τὰ δίκτυα. 3ἐμβὰς (having embarked) δὲ εἰς ἓν (one) τῶν πλοίων, ὃ ἦν (was) Σίμωνος, ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἐπαναγαγεῖν (to put out) ὀλίγον, καθίσας (having sat down) δὲ ἐκ τοῦ πλοίου ἐδίδασκεν (he was teaching) τοὺς ὄχλους. 4ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο (he finished) λαλῶν (speaking), εἶπεν (he said) πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα, Ἐπανάγαγε (put out!) εἰς τὸ βάθος καὶ χαλάσατε (let down!) τὰ δίκτυα ὑμῶν εἰς ἄγραν. 5καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς (answering) Σίμων εἶπεν (said), Ἐπιστάτα,a δι᾿ ὅλης νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες (having worked) οὐδὲν ἐλάβομεν (we have caught)· ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ῥήματί σου χαλάσω (I will let down) τὰ δίκτυα. 6καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσαντες (having done) συνέκλεισανb (they were filled) πλῆθος ἰχθύων πολύ,c διερρήσσετο (were breaking) δὲ τὰ δίκτυα αὐτῶν. 7καὶ κατένευσαν τοῖς μετόχοις ἐν τῷ ἑτέρῳ πλοίῳ τοῦ ἐλθόντας (coming) συλλαβέσθαιd αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἦλθον (they came) καὶ ἔπλησαν (they filled) ἀμφότερα τὰ πλοῖα ὥστε βυθίζεσθαι (to sink) αὐτά. 8ἰδὼν (seeing) δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος προσέπεσεν (fell before) τοῖς γόνασιν Ἰησοῦ λέγων (saying), Ἔξελθε (depart!) ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, κύριε.e 9θάμβος γὰρ περιέσχεν (had seized) αὐτὸν καὶ πάντας τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῇ ἄγρᾳ τῶν ἰχθύων ὧν συνέλαβον (they had caught), 10ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ Ἰωάννην υἱοὺς Ζεβεδαίου, οἳ ἦσαν (were) κοινωνοὶ τῷ Σίμωνι. καὶ εἶπεν (said) πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Μὴ φοβοῦ (be afraid!)· ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν.f 11καὶ καταγαγόντες (having brought) τὰ πλοῖα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἀφέντες (having left) πάντα (all) ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
a “Master,” vocative case (see app. D).
b συνέκλεισαν ► συγκλείω. When the preposition συν is prefixed to the verb κλείω, the combination ν + κ becomes γκ for euphony. In the aorist form συνέκλεισαν the augment separates these two consonants, so the nu does not change to gamma.
c The form πολύ here uses partial third-declension endings. See the forms of this word in chapter 6.
d τοῦ . . . συλλαβέσθαι, “to help”
e “Lord,” vocative case (see app. D).
f ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν, “you will catch alive”
11.16. Vocabulary for Chapter 11
| Part of Speech | Definition | Possible Glosses | Frequency | |
| Word | NT | LXX | ||
| Nouns | ||||
| πατήρ, πατρός, ὁ | A male parent or ancestor; metaphorically of someone esteemed; God as Father (of Jesus or a believer) | father | 413 | 1,451 |
| πνεῦμα, ατος, τό | Air in motion (“wind”); one aspect of a human’s immaterial being (ctr. σῶμα, “body”); an attitude or disposition; a divine person, the third member of the godhead (in orthodox Christian theology); an incorporeal, supernatural being (e.g., an angel) | wind, breeze; spirit; Spirit | 379 | 382 |
| πίστις, εως, ἡ | Confidence based on the reliability of the one trusted; that which is believed; a characteristic of someone in whom confidence can be placed | faith, belief; the faith; faithfulness | 243 | 59 |
| ὄνομα, ατος, τό | A designation used to identify, either specifically (i.e., a proper name) or generally (referring to a category) | name, reputation | 231 | 1,045 |
| ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ | An adult human male; a specific man as related to a woman (i.e., a husband)a | man, male; husband | 216 | 1,918 |
| γυνή, αικός, ἡ | An adult human female; a specific woman as related to a man (i.e., a wife) | woman; wife | 215 | 1,074 |
| χείρ, χειρός, ἡ | The body part at the end of the arm containing fingers (“hand”; occasionally of an animal, e.g., a dog’s paw); one component of that part (i.e., “finger”) or occasionally the entire member, arm as a whole; that which may be produced with the hand (“handwriting”; numerous metaphorical uses, esp. in the LXX) | hand, finger; handwriting | 177 | 1,943 |
| ἔθνος, ους, τό | A group of people viewed as an entity on the basis of kinship, geography, or custom; in the plural often refers to non-Jews, i.e., Gentiles | nation; Gentiles (pl.) | 162 | 1,003 |
| πόλις, εως, ἡ | A population center of varying size and population; by metonymy it may refer to the people who live in that place | city, town | 162 | 1,576 |
| χάρις, ιτος, ἡ | A disposition marked by generosity, frequently unmotivated by the worth of the recipient; a response to such generosity; with reference to God, divine favor or work for the benefit of others at no cost to them | grace, favor, kindness; thanks, gratitude | 155 | 164 |
| σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ | The material that covers the bones of a human or animal body (“flesh”); the physical body; a living being with a physical body; humans as physical beings; an immaterial aspect of a person viewed as a source of or subject to sinful desires (ethical use) | flesh, body; sinful nature | 147 | 215 |
| σῶμα, ατος, τό | A structured physical unit viewed as a whole, whether human, animal, plant, etc.; a unified group of people, in the NT often Christian believers as a whole, both living, dead, and yet to be | body | 142 | 136 |
| αἰών, ῶνος, ὁ | A long period of time, in either the past or the future; a segment of time as a particular unit of history; eternity (if context suggests no end) | age, eternity | 122 | 750 |
| βασιλεύς, έως, ὁ | A man who is the supreme ruler in a country by right of succession to the throne; God as the supreme ruler of everything that exists by right of being the Creator | king | 115 | 3,476 |
| κρίμα, ατος, τό | The evaluation of conduct by a court of law; the legal decision as a result of such evaluation; the process of bringing a legal claim before a court of law | judging, judgment; decision, verdict; lawsuit | 27 | 255 |
a In the LXX ἀνήρ is often used as a distributive pronoun with the same meaning as ἕκαστος. This is a very formal translation of the Hebrew idiom; it is not at all a native Greek idiom. For example, Judg. 16:5, ἡμεῖς δώσομέν σοι ἀνὴρ χιλίους καὶ ἑκατὸν ἀργυρίου, “we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
11.17. Key Things to Know for Chapter 11
Know the third-declension endings.
Third-declension nouns do not have a connecting vowel.
What is the square of stops, and why is it important?
Be familiar with, but do not try to memorize, the six key representative paradigms for third-declension nouns. Study their forms, and review them frequently.