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Chapter 31 · Lesson 31.4 · Conjunction
Conjunction – οὖν
ObjectivesLearning objectives
- The semantics of the conjunction οὖν and how it relates to causation
VocabularyVocabulary
| Greek | Gloss | Part of speech | Paradigm |
|---|---|---|---|
| ὀφείλω σοί τι | (I) owe you (dat) something (acc) | verb | C.a.α |
| ὁ λιμός, -οῦ | the famine | noun | B.a.β.i |
| ἔσωθεν | from inside | adverb | |
| πόθεν | from where? | question word | |
| μηδέ | nor | particle | |
| ἐπικαλεῖ σε | (he) calls on you (acc) | verb | C.a.β |
SemanticsSemantics: Conjunction – οὖν
A word like οὖν is very similar to ὅτι or γάρ in that both utilize the idea of causation. One of the main differences is the order in which the cause and effect are given. For example, the following two statements have the same relationship between the events:
Πέτρος ἔφαγε τὸν ἄρτον ὅτι ἐθέλησεν αὐτόν
Peter ate the bread because he desired it
Πέτρος ἐθέλησε τὸν ἄρτον, οὗτος οὖν ἔφαγεν αὐτόν
Peter desired the bread; therefore, he ate it
The basic difference between ‘because’ and ‘therefore’ in these two sentences is whether the cause or effect is listed first. With ὅτι, the effect is listed first, and with οὖν, the cause is listed first.
In our discussion of γάρ (24.4.4.1), we said that conjunctions may be used for different kinds of causation, such as to introduce evidence for something being true (called the evidential function) or the reason why something was being said (called the speech-act function). On the other hand, ὅτι was not used with these two functions unless it had a comma marking an intonation break before it. The conjunction οὖν is more like γάρ. It is regularly used to give the reason why something is true or the reason why something is being said, in addition to being used for real-world causation where a cause is given that affects something in the world.
πεσὼν οὖν ὁ σύνδουλος αὐτοῦ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν (Matt 18:29)
Therefore, after his fellow servant fell down, he implored him
This verse follows a description of the ungrateful servant choking his fellow servant and demanding he be paid. The events of the servant falling down and begging the other servant represent the real-world effects of the first servant demanding he be paid.
In the evidential function, οὖν is used to draw a conclusion, as in “Peter ate the bread; therefore, he desired it,” or in other words, “Peter ate the bread, so now we know he desired it.”
τί οὖν; σὺ Ἠλίας εἶ; (John 1:21)
What then ? Are you Elijah?
In this context, the people are asking what they should conclude about John given that he has just told them he is not the Christ. Can they conclude that he is, in fact, Elijah if he is not the Christ and is doing the kinds of signs he is doing. In other words, the people are asking “Certain signs and preaching have taken place; what can we conclude then–that you are Elijah?”
Finally, the speech-act function is found with both imperatives and questions where someone is asking a question or giving a command for a certain reason. After Jesus says that he has all authority in heaven and on earth, he says:
πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη (Matt 28:19)
Therefore, go make disciples of all nations
The conjunction οὖν provides the effect of Jesus having all authority. Since he has all authority, he can perform the speech-act of giving a command to make disciples of all nations.
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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).