Greek Prepositions

Just like English prepositional phrases, Greek prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and end with that preposition's OP. Prepositional phrases can function adverbially or adjectivally. video

NOTE: Unlike English prepositions, the meaning of Greek prepositions changes based on the case of the OP as in the example of δια below (cf. BBG 8.3). Study chapter 8 in BBG.

ανα

OP always Accusative

• Distributive: in the midst of; each, apiece (with numbers)

• Spatial (in composition with verbs): up, motion upwards

αντι

OP always Genitive

• Substitution: instead of, in place of

• Exchange/Equivalence: for, as, in the place of

The notions of exchange and substitution are quite similar, often blending into each other.

απο

OP always Genitive

• Separation (from place or person): away from

• Source: from, out of

• Cause: because of

• Partitive (i.e., substituting for a partitive gen.): of

• Agency (rare): by, from

δια

With Genitive OP

• Agency: by, through

• Means: through

• Spatial: through

• Temporal: through(out), during

With Accusative OP

• Cause: because of, on account of, for the sake of

• Spatial (rare): through

εις

OP is always accusative

• Spatial: into, toward, in

• Temporal: for, throughout

• Purpose: for, in order to, to

• Result: so that, with the result that

• Reference/Respect: with respect to, with reference to

• Advantage: for

• Disadvantage: against

• in the place of εν (with its various nuances)

εκ

OP always genitive

• Source: out of, from

• Separation: away from, from

• Temporal: from, from this point...on

• Cause: because of

• Partitive (i.e., substituting for a partitive gen.): of

• Means: by, from

εν

OP always dative

• Spatial/Sphere: in (and various other translations)

• Temporal: in, within, when, while, during

• Association (often close personal relationship): with

• Cause: because of

• Instrumental: by, with

• Reference/Respect: with respect to/with reference to

• Manner: with

• Thing Possessed: with (in the sense of which possesses)

• Standard (=Dative of Rule): according to the standard of

• As an equivalent for εις (with verbs of notion)

επι

With Genitive OP

• Spatial: on, upon, at near

• Temporal: in the time of, during

• Cause: on the basis of

With Dative OP

• Spatial: on, upon, against, at, near

• Temporal: at, at the time of, during

• Cause: on the basis of

With Accusative OP

• Spatial: on, upon, to, up to, against

• Temporal: for, over a period of

κατα

With Genitive OP

• Spatial: down from, throughout

• Opposition: against

• Source: from

With Accusative OP

• Standard: in accordance with, corresponding to

• Spatial: along, through (extension); toward, up to (direction)

• Temporal: at, during

• Distributive: "indicating the division of a greater whole into individual parts"

• Purpose: for the purpose of

• Reference/Respect: with respect to, with reference to

μετα

With Genitive OP

• Association/Accompaniment: with, in company with

• Spatial: with, among

• Manner (Attendant Circumstance): with

With Accusative OP

• Temporal: after, behind

• Spatial (rare): after, behind

παρα

With Genitive OP

• Source/Spatial: from

• Agency: from, by

With Dative OP

• Spatial: near, beside

• Sphere: in the sight of, before (someone)

• Association: with (someone/something)

• Virtually equivalent to simple dative

With Accusative OP

• Spatial: by, alongside of, near, on

• Comparison: in comparison to, more than

• Opposition: against, contrary to

περι

With Genitive OP

• Reference: concerning

• Advantage/Representation: on behalf of, for (= υπερ)

With Accusative OP

• Spatial: around, near

• Temporal: about, near

• Reference/Respect: with regard/reference to

προ

OP always genitive

• Spatial: before, in front of, at

• Temporal: before

• Rank/Priority: before

προς

OP is always accusative

• Purpose: for, for the purpose of

• Spatial: toward

• Temporal: toward, for (duration)

• Result: so that, with the result that

• Opposition: against

• Association: with, in company with (with stative verbs)

συν

OP always dative

• Expresses accompaniment/association: with, in association (company) with

υπερ

With Genitive OP

• Representation/Advantage: on behalf of, for the sake of

• Reference/Respect: concerning, with reference to (= περι)

• Substitution: in the place of, instead of (= αντι) (such instances also involve representation)

With Accusative OP

• Spatial: over, above

• Comparison: more than, beyond

υπο

With Genitive OP

• (Ultimate) Agency: by

• Intermediate Agency (with active verbs): through

• Means: by (rare)

With Accusative OP

• Spatial: under, below

• Subordination: under (the rule of)