LESSON VII -- Masculine Nouns of the First Declension. Prepositions

LESSON VII

Masculine Nouns of the First Declension. Prepositions

77. Vocabulary

�ggelov, �, an angel, a messenger.
�gw, I lead
�p�, with gen., from
b�llw, I throw, I cast, I put.
di�, with gen., through;
with acc., on account of.
e�v, prep., into. �k (�x before vowels), prep. with gen., out of.
�n, prep. with dat., in
qe�v, �, a god, God (When it means God, qe�v may have the article).

�
k�smov, �, a world
l�qov, �, a stone
maqjt�v, �, a disciple
m�nw, I remain.
met�, prep. with gen., with; with acc., after.
o�ran�v, �, heaven
p�mpw, I send.
pr�v, prep. with acc., to.
prof�tjv, �, a prophet.
t�knon, t�, a child
t�pov, �, a place
f�rw, I bear, I bring.

78. Nouns of the first declension ending in -jv are masculine.

79. The declension of prof�tjv, �, a prophet, is as follows:

Sing.
�
Plur.

N.�prof�tjv
G.�prof�tou
D.�prof�t�
A.�prof�tjn
V.�prof�ta � N.V.�prof�tai
G.�profjt�n
D.�prof�taiv
A.�prof�tav

It will be observed that although prof�tjv is masculine it is a true first-declension noun, being just like a feminine noun of the first declension except in the nominative, genitive, and vocative singular.

maqjt�v is declined like prof�tjv, except for the accent.

Prepositions

80. Prepositions express relationship. Thus in the sentence, the book is in the desk, the preposition in expresses a certain relationship between the book and the desk. In the sentence, the book is on the desk, a different relationship is expressed (by the preposition on).

In English, nouns standing after prepositions are always in the same case (the "objective" case). But in Greek different prepositions take different cases.

81. The preposition �n meaning in, always takes the dative case. Thus in the house is expressed by �n t� o�k� ; in the truth by �n t� �ljqe�� etc. The preposition e�v, meaning into, on the other hand, always takes the accusative. Thus into the house is expressed by e�v t�n o�kon. Finally, the preposition �p� always takes the genitive. Thus from the house is expressed by �p� to� o�kou.

82. These three prepositions illustrate the general principle that the genitive is the case of separation, the dative the case of rest in a place, and the accusative the case of motion toward a place. Prepositions expressing separation naturally take the genitive, prepositions expressing rest in a place naturally take the dative, and prepositions expressing motion toward a place naturally take the accusative.

83. But a very great number of usages of prepositions cannot be reduced to any such general rule. Thus many

prepositions that do not express any idea of separation take the genitive.

84. It should be observed that �n, e�v, and �k are all proclitics (see � 64) .

85. �n, e�v, �k, and �p� each take only one case, and pr�v is not commonly used with any case except the accusative. But many other prepositions take several cases. Those that take several cases often have quite a different meaning when used with one case from their meaning when used with another case. Thus di� with the genitive means through; di� with accusative, on account of; met� with the genitive means with; met� with the accusative, after.

86. In studying the vocabularies it is quite insufficient to learn how the prepositions are to be translated, but it is also necessary to learn with what case they are construed in any particular meaning. Thus it is quite insufficient to say that �n means in. What should rather be said is that " �n-with-the-dative" means in. The phrase " �n- with-the-dative" should form in the student's mind one absolutely indivisible idea; �n should never be thought of apart from its case. In the same way, but still more obviously, it is insufficient to say that met� means with or after. What should rather be said is that "met� -with-the-genitive " means with, and that " met� -with-the-accusative" means after. This same method of study should be applied to all prepositions.

87. A further important principle is that of precision. in learning the meanings of prepositions. It is true that no one English word or phrase is capable of translating in all instances a single Greek preposition. Sometimes, for example, �n with the dative cannot be translated by in in English. But the proper method is to learn first the usual meaning

before proceeding to the unusual. A reversal of this method will lead to hopeless confusion. Let the student, therefore, so far as prepositions are concerned, adhere for the present rigidly to the translations given in the vocabularies. In that way a feeling for the really fundamental meaning of the prepositions will be formed, and further on the derived meanings can be studied without confusion.

88. Finally, the importance of this subject should be noticed. Few things more necessary for a correct understanding of the New Testament than a precise acquaintance with the common prepositions. The prepositions therefore should always be singled out from the vocabularies for special attention, and when new prepositions are learned the old ones should be reviewed.

89. Exercises

I. 1. o� maqjta� t�n profjt�n m�nousin �n t� k�sm�. 2. o� kako� b�llousin l�qouv e�v t�n o�kon t�n maqjt�n. 3. � qe�v p�mpei to�v �gg�louv e�v t�n k�mon. 4. � prof�tjv p�mpei to�v maqjt�v to� kur�ou �k t�n o�kwn e�v t�n �kkljs�an. 5. � qe�v �ge�rei to�v nekro�v �k qan�tou. 6. lamb�nete t� kal� d�ra �p� t�n t�kwn. 7. �gomen t� t�kna �k t�n o�kwn. 8. met� to�v �gg�louv p�mpei � qe�v t�n u��n. 9. met� t�n �ggelwn �gei � k�riov to�v dika�ouv e�v t�n o�ran�n. 10. di� t�n �d�n t�v �r�mou f�rousin o� do�loi t� d�ra e�v �llon t�pon. 11. di� t�n graf�n t�n profjt�n gin�skomen t�n k�rion. 12. di� t�n d�xan to� qeo� �ge�rei � k�riov to�v nekro�v. 13. f�rousin to�v nekro�v e�v t�n �rjmon. 14. o� maqjta� did�skousi t� �gaq� t�kna �n t� �kkljs��. 15. di� t�n �l�qeian bl�pousin o� maqjta� to�v �gaqo�v do�louv ka� to�v u�o�v t�n profjt�n pr�v to�v mikro�v o�kouv t�n maqjt�n. 16. di� t�n �l�qeian bl�pousin o� prof�tai t�n q�naton. 17. �p� t�v �r�mou �gousin o� maqjta� to�v �gaqo�v do�louv ka� to�v u�o�v t�n profjt�n pr�v to�v mikro�v o�kouv t�n maqjt�n.

18. di� t�n basile�an to� qeo� f�romen t� kak�. 19. di� t�v yuc�v t�n �delf�n bl�pei kak�. 20. kal�v � o�ran�v; kak�v � k�smov.

II. 1. In the world we have death, and in the Church life. 2. The prophets lead the righteous disciples of the Lord into the way of the desert. 3. The child is throwing a stone into the little house. 4. The man is saying a good word to the disciples and is leading the disciples to the Lord.1 ¹ 5. The disciples are remaining in the church and are saying a parable to the other prophets. 6. Through the voice of the prophet the Lord is teaching the disciples. 7. On account of the Church the disciples and the apostles write good words to the brethren. 8. On account of the children the prophet is sending the evil men into the desert. 9. After the Lord the apostle sees the disciple. 10. The prophets are teaching the disciples with the children. 11. They are bringing the disciples to the Lord. 12. The Lord is remaining with the prophet in another place. 13. The righteous are leading the disciples through the desert to the Lord. 14. We see the days of the Son of God in the evil world. 15. Evil are the days; good are the churches. 16. Through the word of the Lord God raises the dead.

Sing.	�	Plur.
N.�prof�tjv G.�prof�tou D.�prof�t� A.�prof�tjn V.�prof�ta	�	N.V.�prof�tai G.�profjt�n D.�prof�taiv A.�prof�tav