Last updated
Verb · Grammar concept
Verb: Verb - β, π, φ endings
Verb - β, π, φ endings is a verb topic in Koine (biblical) Greek. This page gathers its forms, paradigms, and function, drawn from the lessons of Reading Greek Deeply.
MorphologyVerb - β, π, φ endings
- When an ending beginning with σ is attached, the labial contracts to form ψ, e.g. βλέπ-σω → βλέψω
- When a psv ending beginning with θ is attached, either:
- The θ drops out, e.g. ἐστράφ-θην → ἐστράφην (from στρέφομαι)
- The labial changes to φ, e.g. ἀπεκάλυπτ-θην → ἀπεκάλυφθην (from ἀποκαλύπτω)
| Ending drops | Ending combines | |
|---|---|---|
| σ | – | βλέψω/ἔβλεψα |
| Passive | στραφήσομαι/ἐστράφην | ἀποκαλυφθήσεται/ἀπεκαλύφθην |
| Perf | γέγραφα | γέγραμμαι/ γέγραπται |
fromLesson 40.1
SemanticsVerb – Luo (7 – Futurate)
Luo may be used to refer to future events that are expected to occur for some reason, similar to how it can be used for events that have already been decided upon (38.1.3.2):
- (391) Future event expected to occur Μεσσίας ἔρχεται (John 4:25)
- The Messiah is coming
The Samaritan woman is not describing the Messiah as being literally on his way at this moment, nor is she saying that the Messiah has already decided to come. Rather, she knows that the Messiah is going to come at a future time. Because she expects him to come, she can use the present. Expected or scheduled eventualities like these are called futurates. This is a common use of present tense forms across languages. We are distinguishing between futurates and the pre-stage of an event based on whether the speaker has decided to perform the event (pre-stage) or is merely expecting the event for some reason (futurate). In both cases, the eventuality is expected to occur, and because of this, its occurrence is more certain than a normal future event referred to by Luso.
fromLesson 40.1
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.
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).