LESSON TWENTY ONE : LIQUID VERBS Memorization of Vocabulary 21 (includes vocabulary of 1 John 2:1-6) ἀληθως ἀλλα ἀναγγελλω ἀπαγγελλω ἀπολαµβανω ἀποστελλω ἐντολη ἐπαγγελοµαι ἡµετερων ἱλασµος λαµβανω µενω µονος ὁς δ ἀν ὁφειλω παρακλητος περιπατεω στελλω τελειοω τεκνιον τηρεω χαιρω ψευστης truly (from ἀληθης whose genitive plural is ἀληθων) but I disclose, report, proclaim I proclaim I receive I send commandment I promise our (genitive form see under pronouns) difficult word to translate. KJV, NASB propitiation; RSV expiation; NIV sacrifice of atonement. I take I remain only, alone but whoever (ὁς relative pronoun who ; ἀν particle, at times, used for making things indefinite) I ought helper, intercessor Ι walk, conduct myself I avoid I perfect, bring to its goal little child (cf. τεκνον - child, descendant, παιδιον [see 2:14, 18]- infant, very young child; βρηφος - baby, infant (3 rd declension, a neuter noun see 1 Peter 2:2). In 1 John, τεκνια is used in 2:1, 12, 28; 3:7; 4:4. I keep I rejoice liar A. Introduction This study has to do with the future and aorist tenses for verbs whose stem end in a liquid (λ, µ, ν) or ρ. B. Response to addition of σ (sign of tense for future and 1 st aorist) We note the following: 1. There is tendency in Greek language to avoid a σ after a liquid or ρ. 1
The following tend to happen in the case of the future: a. Insertion of ε between the liquid and the σ. b. Dropping of the σ, following the general rule that σ between two vowels is dropped. The point is that the insertion of the ε (no. 1) means that the σ is between the ε and the vowel of the ending. c. Contracting of the ε with the vowel (or diphthong) of ending, following - εω verb contraction rules Examples: The verb stem of the verb στελλω is στελ. Applying the three steps above, we observe: a. στελ + ε + σ + ω (that is, inserted ε, future sign of tense, and first person ending) b. στελ + ε + ω (the σ having dropped) c. στελω (the ε and ω having contracted) The following tend to happen in the case of the aorist: a. Dropping of the σ b. Lengthening of the stem for compensation Example: a. εστελ + σ + α b. εστελ + α but instead of εστελα we have εστειλα, the iota added to lengthen the stem. In 1 John 2:24, we have three forms of µενω (I remain). The first one is µενετω (present imperative let him remain), the second µεινῃ (1 st aorist subjunctive) and the third is µενειτε which is future indicative active second person plural. How did we get the future form? 1. Begin with stem of µενω which is µεν 2. Add σ sign of tense, and ετε which is 2 nd person plural. Thus: µεν + σ + ετε 3. Insert ε between the liquid and the sign of tense. Thus: µεν + ε + σ + ετε 4. Drop the σ since it has come between two vowels, and end up with µεν + ε + ετε 2
5. Contraction of ε and ε ending in ει following the rules of contraction 6. The end result is µενεῖτε For the aorist subjunctive µεινη, we begin with the stem (µεν ), add σ as sign of tense, and then the 3 rd person aorist subjunctive ending (ῃ, cf. λυσῃ ) and end up with µεν+ σ+ῃ. This is followed by dropping of the σ (see the steps above) ending up with µεν+ῃ. The vowel of the stem (ε) is then lengthened for compensation ending up with µεινῃ Note: The θ of aorist passive and the µ of the perfect middle/passive do not bring any change to the stem of liquid verbs (as does the σ). This is the same with τ when that happens to apply. Just to demonstrate these observations, let us take αιρω across the different tenses: present form tense future aorist perfect active perfect passive aorist passive αἰρω ἀρῶ ἠρα ἠρκα ἠρµαι ἠρθην Looking at other forms, this is a stem lengthened by addition of ι. The verb stem is αρ (see further Discussion in previous lesson particularly the consonantal iota (ι) addition to form the present tense stem. αρ+ε+σ+ω σ is dropped having come between two vowels. The ε and ω then contract, ending with αρῶ αρ/σ/α. Being aorist the α is lengthened to η giving us ηρ/σ/α. But still we have a σ following ρ and ρ does not like that. So σ goes leaving us with ηρα. The η is already long and so no compensation is visible αρ/κ/α. Kappa (κ) is welcome by ρ and the two stay. Being a perfect though, there is the lengthening of vowel α to η in lieu of reduplication leaving us with ἠρ/κα αρ/µ/αι. The ρ welcomes µ and the two remain. Vowel α is lengthened to η in lieu of reduplication, leaving us with ἠρ/µαι αρ/θ/ην. Being aorist α is lengthened. Since θ is welcome by ρ, final form ends up as ἠρ/θ/ην. In 1 John, there are several liquid or ρ verbs but their forms are mainly in present tense. Exceptions include the µενω and αµαρτανω aorist forms used above as 3
examples, ὀφειλω (3:16, 4:11) whose aorist form is ὀφελον, λαµβανω whose aorist is ἐλαβον (it also serves an example of a verb that lengthens by addition of αν plus another nasal [in this case the µ] in the stem), ἀπολαµβανω (5:8) whose stem is λαβ (see λαµβανω), χαιρω (5:10) whose aorist passive form is ἐχαρην (note the lengthening of stem in the present), and the aorist form of ἐπαγγελλοµαι in the exercise below. Taking one of them through the process we took αἰρω above, would be helpful: present tense form future aorist perfect passive aorist passive ἀπαγγελλω ἀπαγγελῶ ἀπηγγειλα ἀπηγγελµαι ἀπηγγελην Noting that all other forms have single λ tells us that the second λ in the present is a lengthening effected by the addition of the iota consonant see patterns of lengthening above. Leaving out one λ we get the stem απαγγελ απαγγελ/ε/σ/ω, the σ dropped out leaving ἀπαγγελ/ε/ω, the ε and ω contract, ending with επαγγελῶ απαγγελ/σ/α, the σ drops out and for compensation the stem vowel (ε) is lengthened to ει. After taking care of the augment requirements for aorist indicative we end up with ἀπηγγειλα απαγγελ/µαι. Since a liquid accepts µ the only change needed is requirement of augment. So, we end up with ἀπηγγελµαι απαγγελ/ην (this takes 2 nd aorist form no θ in passive). Since the liquid λ has no problem with what follows, we (after taking care of augment requirement) end up with ἀπηγγελην Focusing on the future and 1 st aorist where the σ is affected, we note: 1. ἀποστελλω has future as ἀποστελῶ and 1 st aorist as ἀπεστειλα. These have gone through the process of the σ addition as ἀπαγγελλω used as example above 2. ἀπαγγελλοµαι has its 1 st aorist as ἀπηγγειλαµην 3. ἀναγγελλω has its future as ἀναγγελῶ and 1 st aorist as ἀνηγγειλα Exercise 21 21.1: Indicate the process by which we end up with ἐπηγγειλατο (1 st aorist middle indicative from ἀπαγγελλω) in 1 John 2:24 21.2: Do a translation of 1 John 2:1-6, paying close attention to what has been learned so far 2:1 Τεκνία µου, ταῦτα γράφω ὑµῖν ἵνα µὴ ἁµάρτητε. καὶ ἐάν τις ἁµάρτῃ, παράκλητον ἔχοµεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν δίκαιον 2 καὶ αὐτὸς 4
ἱλασµός ἐστιν περὶ τῶν ἁµαρτιῶν ἡµῶν, οὐ περὶ τῶν ἡµετέρων δὲ µόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ ὅλου τοῦ κόσµου. 3 Καὶ ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκοµεν ὅτι ἐγνώκαµεν αὐτόν, ἐὰν τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ τηρῶµεν. 4 ὁ λέγων ὅτι Ἔγνωκα αὐτόν, καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ µὴ τηρῶν, ψεύστης ἐστίν, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀλήθεια οὐκ ἔστιν 5 ὃς δ ἂν τηρῇ αὐτοῦ τὸν λόγον, ἀληθῶς ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ τετελείωται. ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκοµεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐσµεν 6 ὁ λέγων ἐν αὐτῷ µένειν ὀφείλει καθὼς ἐκεῖνος περιεπάτησεν καὶ αὐτὸς περιπατεῖν. Some further helps 1. τεκνια - plural of τεκνιον (little child see also 2:12, 28; 3:7; 4:4). Cf. τεκνον - child, descendant; παιδιον - infant, very young child (see 2:14, 18); βρηφος - baby, infant (see 1 Peter 2:2 3 rd declension, neuter noun). 2. µου - form of ἐγω (I). Note that both ἐµου and µου are used 3. ταυτα - form of οὑτος (this) 4. γραφω - I write 5. ὑµιν - form of συ (you) 6. ἱνα - used with subjunctive (that, in order that) 7. ἁµαρτητε - form of αµαρτανω (I sin) 8. τις - anyone 9. ἁµαρτῃ - form of ἁµαρτανω. Relate to ἁµαρτητε, above. 10. παρακλητον - from of παρακλητος (helper, intercessor, advocate) 11. ἐχοµεν - from ἐχω (I have) 12. προς - see prepositions 13. πατερα - form of πατηρ (3 rd declension noun) 14. δικαιον - form of δικαιος (righteous, just) 15. αὐτος - he (see pronouns) 16. ἱλασµος - propitiation, expiation (good for word study). Note that KJV and NASB translate it as propitiation, RSV as expiation and the NIV sacrifice of atonement 17. περι - see prepositions 18. ἁµαρτιων - from of αµαρτια. It agrees with the article των. 19. ἡµετερων - from of ἡµετερος (see pronouns) 20. µονον - form of µονος (only, alone) 21. ἀλλα - but (Greek occasionally uses δε [which also means and, even ] For contrast, but the regular contrast particle is ἀλλα. 22. ὁλος - whole, all, complete, entire 23. κοσµου - form of κοσµος (world). Note it agrees with the adjective ὁλου and article του. 24. τουτῳ - form of οὑτος (this) 25. γινωσκοµεν - form of γινωσκω. cf. λυω 26. ἐ/γνω/κ/αµεν - form of γινωσκω 27. αὐτον - form of αὐτος 5
28. ἐντολας - form of ἐντολη(commandment). Note that it agrees with the article τας. 29. αὐτου - form of αυτος 30. τηρωµεν - form of τηρεω (I keep). Used with εαν in this clause, must be a subjunctive. Review expression of conditions (see comment on conditional sentences under miscellaneous last lesson) 31. λεγων - form of λεγω (I say) 32. ὁτι - that, because (see comment under miscellaneous) 33. ἐγνωκα - from γινωκω 34. ψευστης - liar (masculine noun - cf. προφητης) 35. τουτῳ - form of relate this to ουτος 36. ἀληθεια - truth 37. ὁς δ αν - these three words need to be taken together but whoever (ὁς - relative pronoun [who], δε at times means but, and αν is at times used to make things indefinite (for example, ος here), but is itself untranslatable. Note its use in conditional sentences also (see under miscellaneous) 38. τηρῃ - form of τηρεω 39. αὐτου τον λογον - his word. Note that when you have both a possessive pronoun and an article with the same word, the possessive pronoun takes prominence. It would not make good sense to say the word of his so we just say his word 40. ἀληθως - adverb from αληθης (true, 3 rd declension adjective) 41. ἀγαπη - love. Good for word study (how it relates to other words meaning love also) 42. θεου - form of θεος 43. τετελειωται - from τελειοω (I perfect) 44. ἐσµεν - form of the verb to be, ειµι. 45. µενειν - form µενω (I remain) 46. ὀφειλει - form of ὀφειλω (I ought) 47. καθως - just as, in as much as (adverb) 48. ἐκεινος - that (see pronouns) 49. περι/ε/πατη/σ/εν - from περιπατεω (I walk). 55. οὑτως - thus (adverb) 56. περιπατειν - related to περιπατεω (I walk) Samuel M. Ngewa Africa International University 6