New Testament Greek Syntax

The Dative Case

Expressing the idea of personal interest, accompaniment and means

Later Greek replaces the dative with a prepositional phrase, which process is evident in the NT

The pure dative expresses personal interest in someone or something

The prime function of the dative is to serve as an object complement - Common

The noun or pronoun in the dative is the person or thing which receives the the direct object of an active verb, or the subject of a passive verb, cf. Wallace.

Often the classification merges with the dative of interest and may be classified as such, so Turner

Sometimes with a preposition: en, epi = "to"

Active:

I will repay all things TO YOU

panta apodwsw soi

Passive:

We are manifested TO GOD

qew/ pefanerwmeqa

Most datives can be classified as datives of interest, so Turner

Identifying the one for whose benefit something is done - "for"

Sometimes with a preposition: en, epi = "for", "to", ..

She has done a good thing FOR ME

kalon ergon hrgasato en emoi

Most datives can be classified as datives of interest, so Turner

Identifying the one who will be adversely affected by the action - "against"

Sometimes with a preposition: en, epi = "against"

Herodias had a grudge AGAINST HIM

hJ HJrw/diaV eneicen aurw/

A dative can function adverbially, limiting a verb or adjective

In this usage the dative identifies a person or thing possessing little or no interest in, but mere reference to

Translate "with reference to", "concerning", "about", "in regard to"

Sometimes with a preposition: en, epi = "about" .....

Be not anxious ABOUT your LIFE

mh merminate th/ yuch/ umwn

Identifying the person to whom something belongs

Often translated with a possessive pronoun, "his", "her"

the name TO HIM was John = HIS name was John

onoma autw/ IwannhV

Identifying the person whose feelings or viewpoint are linked to the action of the verb.

Translate: "as far as I am concerned", "in my opinion"

beautiful TO GOD = beautiful as far as God is concerned

asteioV tw/ qew/

Expressing the idea of location, place, position.

Identifying a spot or place

Note: Wallace includes this class under Dative of Sphere.

Sometimes with a preposition: en, epi, para, proV = "at", "by", "on", "with", "in", "beside", "among", "upon", ......

they put it UPON his HEAD

epeqhkan autou th/ kefalh/

Identifying a particular point in time "when" the action of the main verb is performed

Sometimes with a preposition: en, epi = "when", "while", "at", "during", "on", .....

ON THE FIRST [DAY] of the week

th/ mia/ twn sabbatwn

Identifying a metaphorical spacial idea

Sometimes with a preposition: en, epi, para "in the sphere of", "in the realm of" ......

having been found IN APPEARANCE as a man

schmati euJreqeiV wJV anqrwpoV

iidentifying "in conformity with / in accordance with" a rule, code or standard of conduct

as many as will live TO THIS STANDARD (ACCORDING TO THIS STANDARD), peace upon them

oJsoi tw/ kanoni toutw/ stoichsousin, eirhnh ep autouV

Expressing the idea of means or instrument, indicating that by/with which the action of the verb was performed

Identifying the impersonal means (instrument) by which an action is performed

Sometimes with a preposition: en = "by", "with", "by means of"

Note: personal agency is expressed by uJpo + gentitive

because he had often been bound BY FETTERS and CHAINS

dia to auton pollakiV pedaiV kai aJusesin dedesqai

Identifying what caused the action to be performed

Sometimes with a preposition: en, epi = "because of", "on the basis of"

I am perishing here BECAUSE OF FAMINE

egw limw/ wde apollumai

As an adverb describing an accompanying circumstance, or manner (method), by which the action of the verb is performed

Sometimes expressed with a preposition: en + dat. = "in", meta+ gen. = "with"

he speaks WITH BOLDNESS (= BOLDLY)

parrhsia/ lalei

Identifying those persons or things that acompany the action performed

Often occurring with verbs with a sun prefix

Sometimes with a preposition: en, para, sun = "with"

he made us alive WITH CHRIST

sunezwopoihsn tw/ Cristw/

Identifying the intervening measure between two points, usually an interval of time

Sometimes with a preposition: en = Difference by - "during", "much", "in addition to", ...

FOR A LONG TIME he had worn no garment

gronw/ iJkanw/ oiuk ededusato iJmation

Identifying the personal agent by whom the action is performed

Translation: "by", "through"

has been tamed by humankind

dedamastai th/ fusei th/ anqrwpinh/

Identifying the material (rather than tool) used to perform the action

written not WITH INK

eggrammenh ou melani

Identifying the content that is used by a verb of filling

he was filled WITH WISDOM

being filled WITH WISDOM

plhroumenon sofia/

The use of the dative after certain words

Certain verbs prompt the direct object to take the dative case instead of the accusative case

As with the dative of indirect object, these datives may be classified as datives of interest

Such verbs have a dative sense eg. "I obey him" = "I am obedient to him"; "I rebuke him" = "I speak sternly to him"

Usually translated by to or in, eg pisteuw, followed by the dative, "I believe/trust IN ......."

Applicable to verbs of trusting, obeying, serving, worshipping, thanksgiving, belief, following, rebuking, helping, pleasing, commanding, ....

Sometimes with a preposition: en

I serve God's LAW

I submit to LAW of God

douleuw nomw/ qeou

A dative after verbs of saying or commanding is sometimes classed as a dative of direct object although technically the words, stated or assumed, function as the object received by the dative and thus the dative properly functions as an indirect object.

he asked, "what about you?"

he said "and you" TO THEM

eipen autoiV uJmeiV de

Datives often follow certain compound verbs because the prepositional prefix by nature takes a dative, eg. sun, "with". Such datives may be classed as a dative of direct object, although technically they are a dative of accompaniment / dative complement.

Jesus strictly warned them

he having spoken against THEM

oJ epitimhsaV autoiV. The prefix epi + dat. = "against"

BDF provides the following word groupings:

i] To do good, benefit, harm, etc. with dative or accusative

ii] To serve, make a slave to

iii] To show, reveal, seem

iv] to say, tell, write, announce, boast before, praise, confess, bear witness

v] To command, censure - most times take a dative

vi] To trust, obey

vii] To be angry, envy, thank, owe

The nouns are usually verbal nouns and the adjectives often prompt the classification of dative of reference

The nouns usually carry the idea of personal interest

service TO THE SAINTS

diakonian toiV aJgioiV

*A less than common usage*

A Syntax of New Testament Greek

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