Monday, March 11, 2024

Watch Out for Greek Prepositions!

Greek prepositions can be slippery beasts.

In class today I'm introducing the prepositions. Sometimes a Greek preposition can be added to a verb. But it's not always clear whether the preposition should be taken directionally or not. The verb ekballō is comprised of the preposition ek and the verb ballō. Thus:

"ek" = out

"ballō = I throw

Hence "I throw out." 

BUT ...

The verb anaginōskō ("I read") is made up of:

"ana" = up

ginōskō = I know

But the verb definitely doesn't mean "I know up." 

English can have the same problem. You don't have to have been born and raised in Hawaii like me to know that a pineapple isn't an apple that grows on a pine tree! 

Beware of over-exegeting  prepositions!