Last updated

Chapter 19 · Lesson 19.4 · Conjunction

Conjunction – ὅπου ‘where’

2 min read3-question quiz

ObjectivesLearning objectives

  • The syntax and semantics of the conjunction ὅπου

VocabularyVocabulary

GreekGlossPart of speechParadigm
ὁμοίωςlikewiseadverb
ποτίζω σε τήν(I) give you (acc) a drink (acc)verbC.a.θ
ἄνωupadverb
βάπτω τὴν τῆς(I) dip the (acc)verbC.a.η
κρίνω σε(I) judge you (acc)verbC.a.ια
ἐξέρχομαι ἐκ τόπου(I) come out of a place (gen)verbC.a.α

GrammarGrammar Topic: Conj – ὅπου

The conjunction ὅπου is a kind of relative pronoun. Relative pronouns introduce a relative clause. Relative clauses are subordinate clauses that modify a noun, as in The man who listened to the teacher where who is a relative pronoun that introduces the clause listened to the teacher which modifies the noun phrase the man. The specific man we are referring to is the one that listened to the teacher.

SyntaxSyntax-Semantics: Conj – ὅπου

You may have noticed that ὅπου looks very similar to the question word ποῦ ‘where?’ The conjunction ὅπου has the same meaning of ‘where,’ but instead of questioning a location, it is used to introduce a relative clause that refers to a location, as in Peter went to the place where Jesus told him to go. In this example, the conjunction where is modifying the noun the place, and the location described is the place Jesus told him to go. Many languages, such as English, use the same word to both question locations and refer to locations in relative clauses. Greek adds an initial ο to distinguish the relative pronoun from the question word.

There are two basic options for what ὅπου can modify. It can either modify an explicit noun that refers to a location, or it can modify an implicit location associated with a verb:

Example 166Relative clause that modifies an explicit location

Modifying a noun:

ἦλθον εἰς Θεσσαλονίκην ὅπου ἦν συναγωγὴ τῶν Ἰουδαίων (Acts 17:1)

They came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews

Example 167Relative clause that modifies an implicit location

Modifying a verb:

ὅπου ἐγὼ ὑπάγω [where I am going away to] you are not able to come (John 8:21)

In Acts 17:1, ὅπου further describes the place ‘Thessalonica’ as a location where there was a synagogue. In John 8:21, the verb ὑπάγω ‘go away’ has a location argument – you always go away to somewhere else. Here, ὅπου refers to the location to which Jesus says he is going.

Besides referring to physical locations, ὅπου may also refer to a hypothetical world:

Example 168Hypothetical world

ὅπου [where] there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer a sacrifice for sins (Heb 10:18)

There is no physical location in view in Heb 10:18, but ὅπου refers to a hypothetical world which is introduced as part of the argument of the text. This is very close to a conditional sentence with if. ‘Wherever,’ or ‘if,’ you have forgiveness, then you don’t need a sacrifice.

Lesson 19.4 quiz

Check your understanding

3 questions · self-graded

  1. 1How does Greek distinguish the relative ὅπου ‘where’ from the question word ποῦ ‘where?’
  2. 2According to this lesson, what can a clause introduced by ὅπου modify or refer to?Select all that apply
  3. 3In Heb 10:18, ‘where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer a sacrifice,’ ὅπου functions very close to a conditional ‘if.’True or false

End of Chapter 19Take the Chapter 19 exam8 questions covering all 4 lessons in this chapter

Grammar concept free in the Koine Greek Wiki

Conjunction: ὅπου

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

New Testament text shown on hover: Greek from the SBLGNT, © 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0; English from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain).