Reading Passages
Assignment
1. Read the passages aloud in Greek.
2. Vocabulary and commentary is provided for each passage. For words that do not appear in the vocabulary, please use your dictionary.
3. Translate the passages. As you translate the sentences, pay careful attention to words that go together, such as prepositional phrases and relative clauses. Breaking the sentences up into logical units is oftentimes a better first approach than attempting to translate all the words in succession.
To download this assignment as a pdf, click here: AGE Readings 9.
Biblical Reading
1. Jesus gives an analogy for the gifts of the Father:
ἢ τίς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν ἄνθρωπος, ὃν αἰτήσει ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἄρτον—μὴ λίθον ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ; ἢ καὶ ἰχθὺν αἰτήσει—μὴ ὄφιν ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ;
ἄνθρωπος (nom. sg.) ὁ person
ἄρτον (acc. sg.) ὁ bread
ἐπιδίδωμι give to
ἰχθύν (acc. sg.) ὁ fish
λίθον (acc. sg.) ὁ stone
ὄφιν (acc. sg.) ἡ snake
υἱός (nom. sg.) ὁ son
ὑμῶν (gen. pl.) y’all
Mt. 7:9-10
2. After foretelling the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus gives a warning about the future. “Many will come in my name” (πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου), saying
Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ Χριστός, καὶ πολλοὺς πλανήσουσιν. μελλήσετε δὲ ἀκούειν πολέμους καὶ ἀκοὰς πολέμων.
ἀκοάς (acc. pl.) ἡ rumor
ἐγώ (nom. sg.) I
πλανάω, -ήσω lead astray, mislead
πολέμων, πολέμους (gen. and acc. pl.) ὁ war
πολλούς (acc. pl.) ὁ many
Χριστός (nom. sg.) ὁ anointed
Mt. 24:5-6
3. Gabriel foretells John the Baptist to the priest Zechariah:
καὶ ἡ γυνή σου Ἐλισάβετ γεννήσει υἱόν σοι, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννην.
γεννάω, -ήσω beget, bring forth, bear
γυνή (nom. sg.) ἡ wife, woman
σου (gen. sg.) σοι (dat. sg.) you
υἱόν (acc. sg.) ὁ son
Lk. 1:13
4. Jesus initially refuses his brothers’ call to appear at the Feast of the Tabernacles:
λέγει οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ὁ καιρὸς ὁ ἐμὸς οὔπω πάρεστιν, ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὁ ὑμέτερος πάντοτέ ἐστιν ἕτοιμος. οὐ δύναται ὁ κόσμος μισεῖν ὑμᾶς, ἐμὲ δὲ μισεῖ, ὅτι ἐγὼ μαρτυρῶ περὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ πονηρά ἐστιν.
δύναται (3rd sg. pres. indic. mid.) can, be able to
ἐμέ (acc. sg.) me
ἐμός (nom. sg.) ὁ my
ἔργα (nom./acc. pl.) τό work, deed
ἕτοιμος (nom. sg.) ὁ ready
Ἰησοῦς (nom. sg.) ὁ Jesus
καιρός (nom. sg.) ὁ the (right) time
κόσμος (nom. sg.) ὁ world
μαρτυρέω bear witness
οὔπω not yet
πάντοτε all the time
πονηρά (nom./acc. pl.) τό wicked
ὑμᾶς (acc. pl.) y’all
ὑμέτερος (nom. sg.) ὁ y’all’s
Jn. 7:6-7
Notes:
Translate Ὁ καιρὸς ὁ ἐμὸς as though it reads Ὁ ἐμὸς καιρὸς, and ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὁ ὑμέτερος as though it reads ὁ δὲ ὑμέτερος καιρὸς.
The antecedent of αὐτοῦ in the ὅτι clause is κόσμος.
5. Jesus has been speaking of himself as a good shepherd:
διὰ τοῦτό με ὁ πατὴρ ἀγαπᾷ ὅτι ἐγὼ τίθημι τὴν ψυχήν μου, ἵνα πάλιν λάβω αὐτήν. οὐδεὶς αἴρει αὐτὴν ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ τίθημι αὐτὴν ἀπ’ ἐμαυτοῦ.
ἐγώ (nom. sg.) I
ἐμαυτοῦ (gen. sg.) myself
ἐμοῦ (gen. sg.) me
ἵνα so that
λάβω (aorist subjunctive) < λαμβάνω mood required by purpose construction but does not affect meaning; “I can take”
με (acc. sg.) μου (gen. sg.) me
οὐδείς –ένος ὁ no one
πάλιν back, again
πατήρ, πατρός ὁ father
τοῦτο (nom./acc. sg.) τό this
ψυχήν (acc. sg.) ἡ soul, life
Jn. 10:17-18
6. From Jesus’ farewell to his disciples:
ἔτι μικρὸν καὶ ὁ κόσμος με οὐκέτι θεωρεῖ, ὑμεῖς δὲ θεωρεῖτέ με, ὅτι ἐγὼ ζῶ καὶ ὑμεῖς ζήσετε.
ἔτι still
θεωρέω see, look at
κόσμος (nom. sg.) ὁ world
με (acc. sg.) me
μικρόν (adv.) a little
οὐκέτι no longer
ὑμεῖς (nom. pl.) y’all
Jn. 14:19
7. From the sentencing of Jesus:
λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος, Τὸν βασιλέα ὑμῶν σταυρώσω; ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς, Οὐκ ἔχομεν βασιλέα εἰ μὴ Καίσαρα.
ἀπεκρίθησαν (3rd pl.) “answered”
ἀρχιερεῖς (nom. pl.) ὁ high priests
βασιλέα (acc. sg.) ὁ king
ἔχω have
Καῖσαρ –ρος ὁ Caesar
σταυρόω crucify
ὑμῶν (gen. pl.) y’all’s
Jn. 19:15
Note:
In translating the εἰ clause, supply the verb ἔχομεν, which is understood from the previous clause.
8. In discussion of the internal conflict between spirit and flesh, Paul says,
οὐ γὰρ ὃ θέλω τοῦτο πράσσω, ἀλλ’ ὃ μισῶ τοῦτο ποιῶ. εἰ δὲ ὃ οὐ θέλω τοῦτο ποιῶ, σύμφημι τῷ νόμῳ ὅτι καλός.
καλός (nom. sg.) ὁ beautiful, good + ἐστι (understood as repeated from previous verse)
νόμῳ (dat. sg.) ὁ law
σύμφημι agree with (+ dat.)
τοῦτο (nom./acc. sg.) τό this
Rom 7:15-16
Notes:
There are three relative clauses in this sentence. In each, the antecedent of the relative pronoun ὅ, is τοῦτο. In the ὅτι καλός clause, supply ἐστι, which is understood from the previous clause. καλός is an adjective describing the law.
9. Paul emphasizes equality even as some Christians differ in certain practices:
οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἡμῶν ἑαυτῷ ζῇ, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἑαυτῷ ἀποθνῄσκει· ἐάν τε γὰρ ζῶμεν, τῷ κυρίῳ ζῶμεν.
ἑαυτῷ (dat. sg.) himself
ἐάν ~ εἰ
ἡμῶν (gen. pl.) our, of us
κυρίῳ (dat. sg.) ὁ Lord
οὐδείς –ένος ὁ no one
Ro. 14:7-8
10. Addressing a troubled church, Paul offers his service in terms of completing the goal of Christ’s suffering:
νῦν χαίρω ἐν τοῖς παθήμασιν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀνταναπληρῶ τὰ ὑστερήματα τῶν θλίψεων τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῇ σαρκί μου ὑπὲρ τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ, ὅ ἐστιν ἡ ἐκκλησία,…
ἀνταναπληρόω fill up in place
ἐκκλησία (nom. sg.) ἡ church
θλίψεων (gen. pl.) ἡ distress, affliction
μοῦ (gen. sg.) me
νῦν now
πάθημα –ματος τό suffering
σάρξ σαρκός ἡ flesh
ὑμῶν (gen. pl.) y’all
ὑστέρημα –ματος τό lack
Χριστοῦ (gen. sg.) ὁ anointed
Col. 1:24
11. From the description of the plague of locusts:
καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ζητήσουσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι τὸν θάνατον καὶ οὐ μὴ εὑρήσουσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐπιθυμήσουσιν ἀποθανεῖν καὶ φεύγει ὁ θάνατος ἀπ’ αὐτῶν.
ἄνθρωποι (nom. pl.) ὁ person
ἀποθανεῖν (aorist inf. act.) die
ἐπιθυμέω desire for, want to
ἡμέραις (dat. pl.) ἡ days
θάνατος (nom. sg.) θάνατον (acc. sg.) ὁ death
φεύγω flee
Rev 9:6
12. From the prophecies of Ezekiel: The Lord declares some of his future intentions for Israel:
(17.) καὶ ὑμεῖς, πρόβατα, τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος
Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ διακρινῶ ἀνὰ μέσον προβάτου καὶ προβάτου, κριῶν καὶ τράγων· …
(20.) διὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος κύριος
Ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ διακρινῶ ἀνὰ μέσον προβάτου ἰσχυροῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον προβάτου ἀσθενοῦς. …
(22.) καὶ σώσω τὰ πρόβατά μου, … καὶ κρινῶ ἀνὰ μέσον κριοῦ πρὸς κριόν.
(23.) καὶ ἀναστήσω ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ποιμένα ἕνα καὶ ποιμανεῖ αὐτούς, τὸν δοῦλόν μου Δαυιδ, καὶ ἔσται αὐτῶν ποιμήν·
(24.) καὶ ἐγὼ κύριος ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς θεόν, καὶ Δαυιδ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν ἄρχων· ἐγὼ κύριος ἐλάλησα.
(25.) καὶ διαθήσομαι τῷ Δαυιδ διαθήκην εἰρήνης καὶ ἀφανιῶ θηρία πονηρὰ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, καὶ κατοικήσουσιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ ὑπνώσουσιν ἐν τοῖς δρυμοῖς.
(26.) καὶ δώσω αὐτοὺς περικύκλῳ τοῦ ὄρους μου· καὶ δώσω τὸν ὑετὸν ὑμῖν, ὑετὸν εὐλογίας.
(27.) καὶ τὰ ξύλα τὰ ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ δώσει τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ γῆ δώσει τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτῆς, καὶ κατοικήσουσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς αὐτῶν ἐν ἐλπίδι εἰρήνης, …
(28.) …καὶ κατοικήσουσιν ἐν ἐλπίδι, …
(29.) καὶ ἀναστήσω αὐτοῖς φυτὸν εἰρήνης,…
(30.) καὶ γνώσονται ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ θεὸς αὐτῶν, … λέγει κύριος.
(31.) πρόβατά μου καὶ πρόβατα ποιμνίου μού ἐστε, καὶ ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν, λέγει κύριος κύριος.
ἀνὰ μέσον between (+ gen.)
ἀνίστημι –ήσω stand up, appoint
ἀσθενοῦς (gen. sg.) τό weak
ἀφανίζω -ιῶ banish
γῆ (nom. sg.) γῆς (gen. sg.) ἡ earth, land
γνώσονται (3rd pl.) will know
διαθήκην (acc. sg.) ἡ covenant
διαθήσομαι (1st sg.) will arrange
διακρίνω –κρινῶ judge
δοῦλον (acc. sg.) ὁ slave
δρυμοῖς (dat. pl.) ὁ forest
ἐγώ (nom. sg.) I
εἰρήνης (gen. sg.) ἡ peace
ἐλάλησα (1st sg.) spoke
ἕνα (acc. sg.) ὁ one
ἐρήμῳ (dat. sg.) ἡ desert
ἔσομαι (1st sg.) ἔσται (3rd sg.) will be
εὐλογίας (gen. sg.) ἡ blessing
θεόν (acc. sg.) ὁ god
θηρία (nom./acc. pl.) τό beasts
ἰδοῦ Look! Behold!
ἰσχύν (acc. sg.) ἡ strength
ἰσχυροῦ (gen. sg.) τό strong
καρπόν (acc. sg.) ὁ fruit
κατοικέω –ήσω settle
κριοῦ (gen. sg.) κριόν (acc. sg.) κριῶν (gen. pl.) ὁ ram
κύριος (nom. sg.) ὁ lord
μέσῳ (dat. sg.) τό middle
μου my
ξύλα (nom./acc. pl.) τό woods
ὄρους (gen. sg.) τό mountain
πεδίῳ (dat. sg.) ὁ plain
περικύκλῳ (dat. sg.) ὁ surrounding area
πονηρά (nom./acc. pl.) τό wicked
πρόβατα (nom./acc. pl.) προβάτου (gen. sg.) τό sheep
ποιμαίνω ποιμανῶ shepherd
ποιμήν –ένος ὁ shepherd
ποιμνίου (gen. sg.) τό flock
τοῦτο (nom./acc. sg.) τό this
τράγων (gen. pl.) ὁ goat
ὑετὸν (acc. sg.) ὁ shower
ὑμεῖς (nom. pl.) ὑμῖν (dat. pl.) you, y’all
ὑμῶν your, y’all’s
ὑπνόω –ώσω sleep
φυτόν (nom./acc. sg.) τό growth
LXX Ezekiel 34:17-31
13. The Lord intends to destroy the city of Sodom for its wickedness, but Abraham haggles.
Abraham says:
ἐὰν ὦσιν πεντήκοντα δίκαιοι ἐν τῇ πόλει, ἀπολεῖς αὐτούς; οὐκ ἀνήσεις πάντα τὸν τόπον ἕνεκεν τῶν πεντήκοντα δικαίων, ἐὰν ὦσιν ἐν αὐτῇ;
The Lord answers:
Ἐὰν εὕρω ἐν Σοδομοις πεντήκοντα δικαίους ἐν τῇ πόλει, ἀφήσω πάντα τὸν τόπον δι’ αὐτούς.
Abraham says:
ἐὰν δὲ ἐλαττονωθῶσιν οἱ πεντήκοντα δίκαιοι πέντε, ἀπολεῖς ἕνεκεν τῶν πέντε πᾶσαν τὴν πόλιν;
The Lord answers:
Οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσω, ἐὰν εὕρω ἐκεῖ τεσσαράκοντα πέντε.
Abraham says:
Ἐὰν δὲ εὑρεθῶσιν ἐκεῖ τεσσαράκοντα;
The Lord answers:
Οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσω ἕνεκεν τῶν τεσσαράκοντα.
Abraham says:
ἐὰν δὲ εὑρεθῶσιν ἐκεῖ τριάκοντα;
The Lord answers:
Οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσω, ἐὰν εὕρω ἐκεῖ τριάκοντα.
Abraham says:
ἐὰν δὲ εὑρεθῶσιν ἐκεῖ εἴκοσι;
The Lord answers:
Οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσω ἕνεκεν τῶν εἴκοσι.
Abraham says:
ἐὰν δὲ εὑρεθῶσιν ἐκεῖ δέκα;
The Lord answers:
Οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσω ἕνεκεν τῶν δέκα.
ἀνίημι, ἀνήσω throw up, let go
δέκα ten
δίκαιοι (nom. pl.) δικαίων (gen. pl.) δικαίους (acc. pl.) ὁ just, righteous
ἐάν ~ εἰ
εἴκοσι twenty
ἐκεῖ there
ἐλαττονωθῶσιν (3rd pl.) be reduced
ἕνεκεν because of
εὑρεθῶσιν (3rd. pl.) be found
εὕρω ~ εὑρίσκω find
πάντα (acc. sg.) ὁ entire
πᾶσαν (acc. sg.) ἡ entire
πέντε five
πεντήκοντα fifty
πόλει (dat. sg.) πόλιν (acc. sg.) ἡ city
τεσσαράκοντα forty
τόπον (acc. sg.) ὁ place
τριάκοντα thirty
ὦσιν ~ εἰσιν
Selections from LXX Gen 18:24-32.
