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Conjunction · Grammar concept
Conjunction: Conjunction - ἤ
Conjunction - ἤ is a conjunction topic in Koine (biblical) Greek. This page gathers its forms, paradigms, and function, drawn from the lessons of Reading Greek Deeply.
SyntaxConjunction - ἤ
There are several different constructions in which ἤ is found. First, it may connect two similar syntactic elements:
- (337) Separating similar syntactic elements
- ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων; (Matt 21:25)
- From heaven or from people?
fromLesson 35.1
SemanticsConjunction - ἤ
The examples with ἤ given above are all in questions or imperatives. This is not accidental. When ἤ is used, a choice is given between two options, and this usually implies that the speaker does not know which of the two options happened or will happen (or at least, the speaker wants the addressee to choose between the two options). It is a bit odd to say ‘John came from heaven or from earth,’ but it is perfectly normal to turn the statement into a question: ‘Did John come from heaven or earth?’ Thus, ἤ is far more common with moods or tenses where something is unknown, such as in the imperative, questions, or the future (see Semantics D for more on mood and modality). The basic function of ἤ, then, is for the speaker to present two alternative situations, either of which may occur in the real world.
fromLesson 35.1
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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).