EAN and IF EVER

Before we start Chapter 18 time for another word study.

If you read the #gospels in #newtestamentgreek and also read #Classicalgreek you have probably noticed #koinegreek in the #newtestament uses #ean and #subjunctive a lot more than #ei and subjunctive or #optative.

So a note on #EAN

EAN is defined as a Conjunction used at the start of a clause that contains a #conditional statement expressed by the use of the #subjunctive #verb mode in GREEK. It is a fusion of EI - IF and AN a conditional marker and has an #adverbial function!

It does not just say if  but it shows you that some that might might happen a probable condition event or action is a topic. Probable NOT Actual.

Compare if you have a dictionary ei to ean,  ho (relative not article) to hotan and epeidan to epei etc.

IF A THEN B is possible

oR ean mee A = NOT IF B is NOT ? UNLESS EXCEPT

Then we have ean and av plus relatives changing who what or which to SO EVER or EVER
Who A does B then ... UNFILLED CONDITION

As far as I can make out from my VERY limited knowledge of Aramaic and some googling of Aramaic that language has several ways of saying IF or IF SO EVER IF THAT and one of them is Word the site transcribed as Aen OeAn or D'eaN ... mmm very similar to AN and EAN?

I can see Jesus picking that form cos the word had a very similar meaning in both Greek and Aramaic and as several of the disciples may have been bilingual ...?

However the important thing to remember is that if you see EAN you will see a SUBJUNCTIVE verb and the sentence that verb appears in will be what grammar texts call CONDITIONAL.

A statement about something that is probable hypothetical general ... uncertain not fixed or finished ...

This is perhaps more elegant logical and powerful  than the English language's can could shall should may might etc...etc ...?

If you are reading this because you can't read Greek but are intrigued by notes in your commentary YES SUBJUNCTIVE is VERY IMPORTANT in GREEK.

Keep an eye out for those subjunctives. Some translators and commentators tend to under stress or over simplify them!

And use the Conditional carefully and thoughtfully in English too ?

More about AN

ἄν

ἄν is best described as the Conditional Marker in Greek.

It is usually but not always translated as would or should.

Here are some prose samples

From Plato's Apology the iterative

Διηρώτων ἄν αὐτοὺς τί λέγοιεν I often asked them what they meant.

Ἄν From Demosthenes 3.27

ἄλλα σιωπῶ, πόλλ̕ ἂν ἔχων εἰπεῖν but I am silent though/ I would have / having much to say

ἄν with Subjunctive ὅπου ἂν ὦ Wherever I may be .

Ἄν in a Compounds becomes Whenever ἐάν ἐπειδάν ὅταν

ἐάν κελεύῃ πειθόμεθα when if ever he orders we obey

ἐάν ἔλθη νικήσομεν whenever he comes we (will) win

A set showing εἰ and ἄν in IF A THEN B statements

εἰ ταῦτα ἐγίγνετο ἀπέθνῃσκεν ἄν if this was happening he would be dying

εἰ ταῦτα ἐγένετο ἀπέθανεν ἄν if this had happened he would have died

εἰ ταῦτα ἐγένοιτο ἀποθάνοι ἄν if this should happen he would die

Indirect ἔφη εἰ ταῦτα ἐγένετο ἀποθανεῖν ἄν

More on The Subjunctive

The Function and use of the Subjunctive.

Look for an η or ω where there would normally be a ο or ου or ε or ει

ὦ ᾖς ᾖ ὦμεν ᾖτε ὦσι

ONE Exhortations requests appeals with First Person Present Aorist.

Μηδ̓ ἀποκρίνωμαι οὖν Xenophon and am I not therefore to respond

TWO Negative Commands or Prohibitions

Second or Third person Aorist Only Use negative μή μὴ ἐκδῶτέ με

THREE In a final clause after ὅπως ὡς ἵνα that in order that so that

FOUR Conditional Whenever statements with ἐάν or ἐπειδαν

ἐπειδαν διαπράξωμαι ἃ δέομαι ἥξω When(ever) I (shall) have accomplished what I needed to I will come (back).

SIX After Verbs expressing fear with μή Δεδιὼς μή λαβών με δίκην ἐπιθᾖ

Or this rare example of a Perfect subjunctive from Demosthenes 19.3

Δέδοικα μή τινα λήθην ὑμῖν πεποιήκῃ I fear that some forgetfulness by you may have caused …

I probably left out a couple

Go to Goodwin's Greek Grammar which has about 30 plus pages but I suggest you do this after finiding and reading more prose samples so you will not overwhelmed by that amount of detail?

Introducing the Subjunctive.

This the Subjunctive of the Verb εἰμί and applies to most verbs except Contracts

Look for an η or ω where there would normally be a ο or ου or ε or ει

ὦ ᾖς ᾖ ὦμεν ᾖτε ὦσι

ei + e becomes eei o + o becomes oomen

The subjunctive is used to express an unfixed probable indefinite action but alsot to express encourage what some books call hortatory ad requests and proposals.