Verb – λ, ρ endings

ObjectivesLearning objectives

• The morphology of verbs with stems ending in λ or ρ
• The use of Luo in generics
• > 1 Although the logic of the passage is often helpful in determining whether an adjective has an open scale or closed scale interpretation, a common linguistic test is the (in)ability to modify the end of the scale with a “maximality modifier” such as totally or completely (mentioned briefly in Sem A). I do not know of a good example of this in the NT, but a good example is found in Josephus’ Ant 3.33: παντάπασιν ἄνυδρον εὑρόντες τὴν γῆν ‘they found the land completely waterless.’ The maximality modifier παντάπασιν refers to the highest possible degree of something, i.e. the end of the scale, so its modification of the adjective ἄνυδρον shows that we should interpret ἄνυδρον as a closed scale.

VocabularyVocabulary

NoteAorist Active Indicative, participle, infinitive

• The σ of Elusa drops before λ and ρ, e.g. ἤγειρ-σα → ἤγειρα

NoteLuso active indicative

• When the σ drops out, the theme vowel of the ending lengthens, e.g. ἐγερ-σομεν → ἐγεροῦμεν (o → ου)
• The lengthening pattern is similar to ε-contract verbs (compare 25.2.3.1)

NotePassive forms

• Some verbs retain the psv θ, but it drops out from others, e.g. σπείρω becomes ἐσπάρ-ην
• Other verbs exhibit both patterns, e.g. ἀπαγγέλλω: ἀπηγγέλθην or ἀπηγγέλην

NoteLeluka

• The λ and ρ are normally retained before the κ ending, e.g. ἀποστέλλω becomes ἀπέσταλκα or ἀπέσταλμαι

Some verbs end in λ or ρ in Luo, but because their stems change in the other forms, they end up following a different pattern. For these verbs, you will have to memorize how the stems change. One common example is βάλλω. The Luso form βαλῶ behaves as expected. However, the Aorist ἔβαλον is thematic. The stem in Leluka act and the Aorist and Luso passive is βλη, so the λ does not interact with the ending. You will need to memorize the different forms for each verb.

SemanticsSemantics: Verb – Luo (8 – Generics)

Verb – Luo: all 4 parts on one page →Also in Lesson 38.1, Lesson 40.1, Lesson 43.2

Generic sentences express a regular pattern of events or states:

• (414) Generic sentence:

ἀλώπεκες φωλεοὺς ἔχουσιν (Matt 8:20)

• Foxes have holes

In this case, a generalization is made about what foxes have – they ordinarily have holes. As a generalization, generic sentences have two important properties. First, they allow for exceptions. If one fox does not have a hole, ‘foxes have holes’ is not necessarily false. Second, generic sentences often refer to kinds rather than individuals. The word ‘foxes’ does not refer to a specific fox or even a specific group of foxes. Rather, it refers to the entire class of animals that would be categorized as foxes. This is the kind interpretation of a noun, and it is common with bare plural nouns, such as we have in ἀλώπεκες ‘foxes.’ As illustrated with this example, the verbal form for generic sentences is often the Luo form.