Last updated

Noun · Grammar concept

Noun: Special uses of the genitive

Special uses of the genitive is a noun topic in Koine (biblical) Greek. This page gathers its forms, paradigms, and function, drawn from the lessons of Reading Greek Deeply.

Noun1 lesson4 paradigms

SyntaxNoun – Special uses of the genitive

The uses of the genitive covered so far are summarized in the below table:

In addition to these uses, the genitive is used for things like reference to a fraction of a whole, indication of one’s age, and location near something:

  • (603) A fraction of a whole
  • καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῆς γῆς κατεκάη (Rev 8:7)
Syntax-semantics: Noun – Special uses of the genitive
UseExamplesSection
As argument of some verbsἐγὼ ἅπτομαιτοῦ λίθου3.2.3.2
Relating two nounsὁ οἶκοςτοῦ λίθου3.2.3.2, 26.3.3.2
Possessionὁ γὰρ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μέλλει παραδίδοσθαι εἰς χεῖραςἀνθρώπων(Luke 9:44)7.2.3.2
Temporalοὗτος ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸννυκτὸς(John 3:2)28.4.3.2
Genitive absoluteμὴ ἔχοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος πραθῆναι (Matt 18:25)19.2.3.3
Event participantἵνα καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀποκαλύψειτῆς δόξηςαὐτοῦ χαρῆτε (1 Pet 4:13)40.2.3.2
Partitiveἕκαστος ὑμῶν (Luke 13:15)43.4.3.1

fromLesson 50.3

Become a fluent reader of the biblical languages

This Greek wiki is like a bike manual - it explains the mechanics of Greek. The Biblingo app trains you to ride the bike. Spend 15 minutes a day in the app, and you will build reading fluency in Koine Greek. Start a free 10-day trial in minutes and start building reading fluency today.

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).