Quantifier – πᾶς ‘all’ plural

ObjectivesLearning objectives

The morphology of the quantifier πᾶς (pl) and its syntax and semantics

VocabularyVocabulary

Greek	Gloss	Part of speech	Paradigm
ἡ σφραγίς, -ῖδος	the seal (ring)	noun	B.a.γ.iv
ἡ ῥαφίς, -ίδος	the needle	noun	B.a.γ.iv
τέλειος, -α, -ον	finished	adjective	A.a.β
πτύω	(I) spit	verb	C.a.α
ἡ γωνία, -ας	the corner	noun	B.a.α.ii
καθώς	like	adverb

MorphologyMorphology: Quantifier – πᾶς plural

Remember: the masc/neut stem is ‘πάντ-’ and has 3rd declension endings, and the fem stem is ‘πᾶσ-’ and has 1st declension endings (see 7.3.3.1)
In the masc/neut dat pl, the σ makes the ντ drop out, so the vowel lengthens and the accent becomes circumflex (πάντ-σι > πᾶ-σι); compare to the nom sg

Morphology: Quantifier – πᾶς plural

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	πάντ-ες	πᾶσ-αι	πάντ-α
Genitive	πάντ-ων	πασ-ῶν	πάντ-ων
Dative	πᾶ-σι(ν)	πάσ-αις	πᾶ-σι(ν)
Accusative	πάντ-ας	πάσ-ας	πάντ-α

SyntaxSyntax-Semantics: Quantifier – πᾶς plural

In the plural, πᾶς is almost always found with the article, which is the opposite of what we saw with the singular. The main exception to this is the phrase πάντες ἄνθρωποι which means ‘all people’ (see Semantics B for further discussion). Other than that, we almost always see the plural form of the quantifier ‘all’ with the article followed by either a noun or a participle:

Example 162Before a regular noun/participle

πάντες γὰρ οἱ προφῆται … ἐπροφήτευσαν (Matt 11:13)

For all the prophets … prophesied

In this case, the entire class of prophets prophesied, which is equivalent to ‘every prophet.’ In other words, the two phrases πᾶς προφήτης ‘every prophet’ and πάντες οἱ προφήται ‘all the prophets’ normally mean the same thing (again, see Semantics B for a proposal of the difference).

There are two other uses of the plural quantifier you should take note of. First, it can be used with plural personal pronouns or demonstrative pronouns. With both personal pronouns and demonstratives, the quantifier may precede the pronoun or follow it:

Example 163Before a personal pronoun

πάντες δὲ ὑμεῖς ἀδελφοί ἐστε (Matt 23:8)

But you all are brothers

(164) After a demonstrative ἀπέθανον οὗτοι πάντες (Heb 11:13)

These all died

Finally, the last use of the plural πᾶς is to refer to everyone or everything without modifying a noun. When people are referred to, πάντες is used:

Example 165Without modifying a noun

πάντες ἥμαρτον (Rom 5:12)

Everyone sinned

When referring to inanimate things, as in ‘everything’ rather than ‘everyone,’ the neut πάντα is used. Paul’s incredible statement in 1 Cor 3:21 πάντα ὑμῶν ἐστιν ‘everything is yours’ reflects this use.

Become a fluent reader of the biblical languages

Biblingo is the only language-learning app (mobile and web) that provides everything you need to go from zero knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, and Latin to reading the Bible in its original and historic languages — all in one place.

Start Free Trial