The Greek Case System
The idea of a case is foreign to English, but it is an essential part of Greek grammar, as well as German and Latin. For instance, if I were to say in English, “God loves me,” and “I love God,” I would spell the word “God” the same way in both instances. In the first example, “God” is the subject of the verb “loves,” and in the second example, “God” is the object of the verb “love.” If I were to express these same thoughts in Greek, I would write them as follows: “God loves me” = theos agapą me; “I love God” = egō agapō theon. Now theos and theon are the exact same word, “God,” but when used as a different part of speech (e.g., subject versus object of verb), then the ending will reflect that difference; e.g., theos is the subject case, and theon is the object case, but both mean “God.”
The following are the different cases and their forms:
Greek Form – Case – Case Meaning
Theos – Nominative – Subject of verb
Theou – Genitive – Denotes description/possession
Theou – Ablative – Denotes separation
Theǭ – Dative – Denotes focus of interest/indirect object
Theǭ – Locative – Denotes location
Theǭ – Instrumental – Denotes means or method
Theon – Accusative – Denotes direct object of verb
Thee – Vocative – Denotes address
There are eight different case functions in New Testament Greek, with
the genitive and ablative having the same form, and the dative, locative and instrumental also having the same form. Later on, when you begin to use the Analytical Greek Lexicon, you will discover that the ablative is not listed as a separate case with the genitive form, and neither are the locative and instrumental listed as separate cases with the dative form. Thus, you will make that distinction yourself; i.e., when you find a word listed as a genitive, you will then decide, based on how it is used in the text, whether or not it is a genitive or ablative, and what kind, and the same will be true for the dative. Each of these cases have important significance, and using theos as our example, we will now look at each of these cases in a sentence structure to see how they are used and how they are to be interpreted.
1. Nominative Case: Used as the subject, predicate object, or independently in titles.
Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (en archę̄ epoiēsen ho theos ton ouranon kai tēn gēn). The nominative or subject case also indicates that the noun is producing the action of the verb. Thus, “God” (theos) is the one who “created the heaven and the earth.”
2. Genitive Case: Expresses the idea of description/possession
Romans 8:16: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (auto to pneuma summarturei tǭ pneumati hēmōn hoti esmen tekna theou). In the phrase, “children of God” (tekna theou), the word “God” (theou) is in the genitive, thus describing the kind of children, as well as whose children we are; i.e., we are God’s children.
3. Ablative Case: Expresses the idea of source or separation.
John 1:6: “There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.” (egeneto anthrōpos, apestalmenos [para theou], onoma autǭ Iōannēs)
The phrase, “from God” (para theou) denotes separation in and of itself, with the inclusion of the preposition para (para-from). However, for our purposes, this is an excellent example of the ablative case that denotes separation; thus, the man was sent “from God” as an act of God separating him and sending him apart from others.
The other thing to note is that both the genitive and ablative cases have the same form. Therefore, the only way to distinguish between the two is the context of the sentence. That is why it is so very important to understand the context of a passage so that one can rightly interpret what is being said.
4. Dative Case: Used as the indirect object. Expresses how or with what something is done, or expresses relationships of place where and time when. These relationships can be expressed by the English prepositions to or for, with or by, and in or at.
Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (doxa en hupsistois [theǭ] kai epi gēs eirēnē en anthrōpois eudokias). The phrase, “to God” (theǭ), is in the dative case as it expresses “God” as being the focus of interest of the nominal clause, “Glory in the highest” (a nominal clause is one in which there is no verb, but only nouns – e.g., “Joy to Mom the homemaker”; here, there is no verb in the clause, and it would be considered a nominal clause).
5. Locative Case: Expresses the idea that points to its actual location or position with reference to time.
John 3:21: “But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (ho de poiōn tēn alētheian erchetai pros to phōs, hina phanerōthē| autou ta erga
hoti [en theǭ] estin eirgasmena)
The phrase, “in God” (en theǭ), is in the locative case because it is emphasizing just where these “works” have their origin – “in God.” Thus, the sphere of origin is located “in God.”
6. Instrumental Case: Expresses the case is that of means; i.e., the
means by which something is done or carried out.
Mark 10:27: “Looking upon them, Jesus said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.’” (emblepsas autois ho Iēsous legei, [Para anthrōpois] adunaton all ou [para theō̢], panta gar dunata [para tō̢ theǭ])
In this section of Mark, Jesus had just finished conversing with the rich young ruler, and Jesus had told him that he would be able to follow Him if he sold everything he had and gave it to the poor. Upon hearing this, the young man walked away sorrowfully because he was quite wealthy. Jesus in turn told His disciples that it would be very difficult for wealthy people to enter into the Kingdom of God. His disciples then asked, “Then who can be saved?” (Mk. 10:26b). Jesus responded with the above statement in verse 27. The phrases in bold are all in the instrumental, case; i.e., they describe the means by which something can or cannot be done. Thus, men in and of themselves, do not have the means to turn from trusting in their riches for their security to trusting in God, but God, on the other hand, does have the means, by
His Spirit, to cause men to turn from trusting in their wealth to trusting in Him.
7. Accusative Case: Used as the direct object of a verb, or to communicate relationships of motion, space, or time.
Romans 15:6: “that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (hina homothumadon en heni stomati doxadzēte [ton theon] kai patera tou kuriou hēmōn Iēsou Christou)
Here in this instance, God is the direct object of the glorification given by believers, and NO ONE ELSE (ton theon)!
8. Vocative Case: Used for exclamations and emphatic address.
Matthew 27:46: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, `Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, `My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”‘ (peri de tēn enatēn hōran aneboēsen ho Iēsous phœnę̄ megalę̄ legōn, Ēli Ēli lema sabachthani? Tout estin, [thee mou thee mou], hinati me egkatelipes?)
Here, the bold words, “My God, My God,” are in the case of address; i.e., “God” is in the vocative case of address (thee).
Assignment: Read John 1:12. Considering the case usage for “God” in the verse, what observations and interpretations can you see for the “children of God”? Are there any applications you can draw?
Consider God's Word 