Brief Overview of σέ (Strong’s G4571: se)
Strong’s G4571: The accusative form of the second person singular personal pronoun “you.” Essential in Greek grammar for indicating the direct object of an action. Its use in the New Testament often appears in contexts of direct divine address or significant personal encounters.
U- Unveiling the Word
Σέ serves a crucial grammatical function in New Testament Greek, appearing first in Matthew 4:6 during Satan’s temptation of Jesus. As the accusative form of “you,” it marks the recipient of an action, often in contexts of divine-human interaction or significant spiritual encounters. The early church recognized its importance in passages expressing personal relationship with God. Today, it reminds us of the personal nature of God’s interaction with individuals.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: σέ, se, /seh/
- Pronunciation Guide: ‘seh’ as in ‘set’ without the ‘t’
- Part of Speech: Personal Pronoun (2nd person singular accusative)
Etymology:
- From Proto-Indo-European *tu-
- Related to Latin te
- Fundamental pronoun present in most Indo-European languages
D – Defining Meanings
- Primary meaning: You (as direct object)
- Secondary meaning: To you, toward you
- Emphatic usage: You yourself
Translation Options:
- You – Standard translation
- Thee – Archaic formal translation
- You yourself – Emphatic translation
E – Exploring Similar Words
- σύ (su) /soo/ – Nominative form of the same pronoun. See G4771
- σοι (soi) /soy/ – Dative form of the same pronoun. See G4671
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
Morphological features as a pronoun:
- Case: Accusative
- Number: Singular
- Person: Second
- Gender: Common (no gender distinction)
This form specifically indicates the direct object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions.
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG notes its frequent use in direct address. Thayer’s emphasizes its accusative function. LSJ traces its development in Greek. Vine’s highlights its personal nature. Strong’s connects it to direct object usage. Moulton and Milligan document its common occurrence in papyri.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
Matthew 4:6: “And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee [σέ]: and in their hands they shall bear thee [σέ] up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
Additional References:
Matthew 5:29, John 17:1, Acts 10:33, Romans 15:3
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author: Work | Text |
|---|---|
| Homer: Iliad | “I beseech you [σέ] by your life” |
| Sophocles: Antigone | “The gods protect you [σέ] in this deed” |
| Plato: Apology | “I question you [σέ] about wisdom” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
Σέ highlights the personal nature of God’s interaction with humanity. Its use in direct address scenarios throughout Scripture reminds us that the good news is inherently personal – God addresses and relates to us as individuals, not merely as a collective.
D – Did You Know?
- One of the most frequently used pronouns in the New Testament
- Often appears in contexts of prayer and divine communication
- Used in all four Gospel accounts of Peter’s denial predictions
Strong’s G4571: The accusative form of “you” in Greek, marking direct object relationships. Frequently used in contexts of divine-human interaction and personal address, emphasizing the individual nature of spiritual relationship.
Part of speech: Personal Pronoun
Tags: grammar, pronouns, direct-object, personal-address, divine-communication, greek-language, individual-relationship, biblical-greek, personal-pronouns, divine-interaction
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
