Reading Biblical Greek Part 3: Noun Declension Basics

Series Outline

• Part 1: The Greek Alphabet & Pronunciation Guide
• Part 2: Understanding Verb Conjugation
• Part 3: Part 3: Noun Declension Basics
• Part 4: Prefixes, Suffixes, and Compound Words
• Part 5: Prepositions & Articles in Greek
• Part 6: Basic Sentence Structure & Syntax
• Part 7: Vocabulary Building & Common Biblical Terms

Introduction

Now that you’ve learned the Greek alphabet and how to conjugate verbs in the present tense, it’s time to explore how nouns work in biblical Greek. Just like verbs, Greek nouns change their forms based on their role in a sentence. This is called declension. In this part, you’ll learn the basics of noun declension, focusing on the most common cases and how they affect the form of the noun.

What Is Noun Declension?

Declension refers to the changing of a noun’s form to show its function in a sentence. In English, we primarily use word order to tell who is doing what (e.g., “The man sees the dog” vs. “The dog sees the man”). In Greek, word endings (not word order) tell us if a noun is the subject, object, or showing possession.

In biblical Greek, nouns are declined according to case, number, and gender:

1. Case: Refers to the role of the noun (subject, object, possession, etc.).
2. Number: Refers to whether the noun is singular or plural.
3. Gender: Greek nouns are masculine, feminine, or neuter, and their endings change accordingly.

The Five Cases in Greek

In Greek, there are five cases that affect how nouns are declined:

1. Nominative: Indicates the subject of the sentence.

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• Example: “The man sees the dog.” (The man is the subject.)

1. Genitive: Shows possession or origin.

• Example: “The man’s dog is here.” (The man owns the dog.)

1. Dative: Indicates the indirect object (to whom or for whom the action is done).

• Example: “The man gives the dog to the boy.” (The boy is the indirect object.)

1. Accusative: Indicates the direct object (what is directly affected by the action).

• Example: “The man sees the dog.” (The dog is the direct object.)

1. Vocative: Used when addressing someone directly.

• Example: “Man, where is your dog?” (Addressing the man directly.)

First Declension Example: Feminine Nouns

Let’s start with the first declension, which primarily includes feminine nouns. We’ll use the noun ἡμέρα (hēmera, meaning “day”) as our example.

• Nominative: ἡμέρα (hēmera) – “The day is beautiful.”
• Genitive: ἡμέρας (hēmeras) – “The events of the day.”
• Dative: ἡμέρᾳ (hēmerāi) – “To the day” (e.g., “I will speak to the day”).
• Accusative: ἡμέραν (hēmeran) – “He sees the day.”
• Vocative: ἡμέρα (hēmera) – “Day, shine brightly!”

Second Declension Example: Masculine Nouns

Next, let’s look at the second declension, which includes many masculine nouns. We’ll use the noun λόγος (logos, meaning “word” or “reason”).

• Nominative: λόγος (logos) – “The word was spoken.”
• Genitive: λόγου (logou) – “The meaning of the word.”
• Dative: λόγῳ (logōi) – “To the word” (e.g., “I will give attention to the word”).
• Accusative: λόγον (logon) – “He heard the word.”
• Vocative: λόγε (loge) – “Word, speak truth!”

Third Declension Example: Neuter Nouns

Finally, the third declension includes nouns that don’t fit neatly into the first or second patterns. Let’s use σῶμα (sōma, meaning “body”) as an example.

• Nominative: σῶμα (sōma) – “The body is strong.”
• Genitive: σώματος (sōmatos) – “The strength of the body.”
• Dative: σώματι (sōmati) – “To the body.”
• Accusative: σῶμα (sōma) – “He sees the body.”
• Vocative: σῶμα (sōma) – “Body, move quickly!”

Practice Section: Decline Nouns

Using the noun λόγος (logos) as an example, try to decline it in all cases and numbers. Once you’re comfortable with this noun, try the same exercise with the noun ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos, meaning “man” or “person”).

Example Sentences to Practice:

• Nominative: ὁ λόγος ἐστὶν ἀληθής. (The word is true.)
• Genitive: ἡ διδασκαλία τοῦ λόγου. (The teaching of the word.)
• Accusative: ἀκούω τὸν λόγον. (I hear the word.)
• Dative: λέγω τῷ λόγῳ. (I speak to the word.)

Homework and Next Steps

• Memorize Case Endings: Start by memorizing the singular and plural endings for the nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative cases.
• Practice Declining Nouns: Choose five nouns from the New Testament and practice declining them in all cases and numbers.
• Identify Cases in Scripture: Use an interlinear Bible or an online tool like Blue Letter Bible to find Greek nouns in the New Testament and identify their case, number, and gender.

Conclusion

You’ve now learned the basics of noun declension in biblical Greek! Understanding how nouns change based on their case is key to unlocking the meaning of sentences in the New Testament. In Part 4, we’ll explore prefixes, suffixes, and compound words, so you can see how Greek words are formed and how their meanings can be expanded.

Part 4: Prefixes, Suffixes, and Compound Words