Greek - prepositions

Prepositions: indicates the relationship between two words

The meaning of a preposition depends upon the case of the object, which means the object must be identified first. The preposition's form does not change with case, however, the terminal vowel will change if the next word begins with a vowel - the final vowel on the preposition is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe. If the next word has a rough breathing vowel, the preposition's final consonant also changes (as well as the vowel being lost); eg μετά ὧν -> μεθ' ὧν

Preposition Accusative Dative Genitive Example Hold the cursor over the Bible verse to see the translation
ἀνά up , motion upwards     καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀνακεκύλισται λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. (Mark 16:4)
ἀντί     in the place of, instead of, because (?) ᾿Ιησοῦν, ὃς ἀντὶ τῆς προκειμένης αὐτῷ χαρᾶς ὑπέμεινε σταυρὸν (Heb 12:2)
ἀπό     away from, from, out of, because of, of, by, from πολλῷ οὖν μᾶλλον δικαιωθέντες νῦν ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ σωθησόμεθα δι᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς. (Rom 5:9)
διά on account of, because of, for the sake of, (through)   through, by means of, during, trhought out σωθήσεται δὲ διὰ τῆς τεκνογονίας, ἐὰν μείνωσιν ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ καὶ ἁγιασμῷ μετὰ σωφροσύνης.(1 Tim 2:15)
εἰς into, toward, in
for, throughout
for, in order to, to
so that, with the result that
for
against (disadvantage)
line-height:1.3em; in place of ἐν

    πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων εἰς ἔργον διακονίας, εἰς οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ.(Eph 4:12)
ἐκ     out of, from
away from
because of
of
means: by, from
πίετε ἐξ[1]αὐτοῦ πάντες (Matt 26:27)
ἐν   in, within, while, during
with
because of
by, with (instrumental)
with respect to (reference)
according to the standard of
  αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι ῾Αγίῳ. (Mark 1:8)
ἐπί on, upon, to, up to, against
for, over a period of
on, upon, against, at near
at, during
on the basis of
on, upon, at, near
at the time of, during
on the basis of
ὃς τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν αὐτὸς ἀνήνεγκεν ἐν τῷ σώματι αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον,(1 Pet 2:24)
κατά in accordance with,
along, toward, up to
at, during
for the purpose of
with respet to
  down (from), against, throughout Ὁι ἄνδρες ὁμοίως, συνοικοῦντες κατὰ γνῶσιν (1 Peter 3:7)
μετά after , behind   with, in company with ἔρχομαί σοι ταχύ καὶ πολεμήσω μετ᾿ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ τοῦ στόματός μου (Rev 2:16b)
παρα beside, along, at the side of beside, near, in sight of from beside, from, in the presence of Εγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ Θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ ᾿Ιωάννης· (John 1:6)
περί   around, near
about
reference to, with regard
concerning
on behalf of, for
᾿ Οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν οὖν οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι περὶ αὐτοῦ (John 9:18)
πρό     before, in front of, at
rank: before
before (in time)
ἐπ᾿ ἐλπίδι ζωῆς αἰωνίου, ἣν ἐπηγγείλατο ὁ ἀψευδὴς Θεὸς πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων (Titus 1:2)
προς for, for the purpose of
to, towards
so that, with the result that
against
with, in company with
    πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος καὶ ὠφέλιμος πρὸς διδασκαλίαν, πρὸς ἐλεγμόν, πρὸς ἐπανόρθωσιν, πρὸς παιδείαν τὴν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ (2 Tim 3:16)
συν   with, together with, association with   συνέχομαι δὲ ἐκ τῶν δύο, τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων εἰς τὸ ἀναλῦσαι καὶ σὺν Χριστῷ εἶναι· πολλῷ γὰρ μᾶλλον κρεῖσσον· (Phil 1:23)
ὑπέρ over, above
more than, beyond
  on behalf of, for sake of
concerning, with reference to
in place of, instead of
Οὐκ ἔστι μαθητὴς ὑπὲρ τὸν διδάσκαλον οὐδὲ δοῦλος ὑπὲρ τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ.(Matt 10:24)
ὑπο under, below   by (action by someone), through (with verb) Τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος· (Matt 1:22)
χωρις     without, apart from  

(…) indicates rare occurrence or with controversy

[1] Note the final consonant changes due to a vowel begining the next word

References

References and definitions were taken from: Wallace, DB (1996) Greek Grammar. Beyond the Basics, Zondervan, Grand Rapids

Mark 16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large

Hebrew 12:2 [Jesus] who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

1 Timothy 2:15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Ephesians 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (ESV)

Mat 26:27b "Drink of it, all of you (ESV)

Mark 1:8 but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding (NKJV)

Rev 2:16b I will make war with them with the sword of my mouth.

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John

John 9:18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

Philippians 1:23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Matthew 10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

Matthew 1:22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying

Prepositions – basic (two cards)

Preposition Accusative Dative Genitive
ανα up    
αντι     in the place of, instead of
ἀπο     From, away from
δια on account of, because of   through, by means of, during, after
εἰς into, in, to, among    
επι on, to , against on the basis of on, over, when
ἐκ, ἐζ     from, out of, as a result of
ἐν   in, with, among  
       
κατα down (to), according to, about, during   down (from), against, throughout

 

Preposition Accusative Dative Genitive
μετα after   with
οπισω     behind, after
παρα beside, along, at the side of beside, near, in sight of from beside, from, in the presence of
περι around   for, concerning
προς to, towards    
προ     Before, in front of
συν   with, together with  
ὐπο under   by (action by someone)
ὐπερ above   in behalf of
χωρις     without, apart from

 

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NOTE WELL: These pages do not replace texts by professional Greek Scholars. They are a summary of basic grammar for use by the Author. The Author makes no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, as to the accuracy or completement of the information provided.

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