Lesson 9 | Μι Indicatives
Introducing Μι Verbs: More Exceptions to the Rules?
No doubt, at this point in your study of Koine Greek, you have wondered, “Why are there so many exceptions to all the rules?” Well, the “rules” simply describe the shape of the language at a given period in time. Many “exceptions” result from features that were still being carried over from the past or later developments that were just beginning to take shape.
Languages change over time. New words (and even letters) are added, while others go unused and drop out. Syntax (the “rules” that govern word order), morphology (how words are inflected), punctuation, all shift and change according to common practice. Formal and informal styles blend. And figures of speech, which are typically very contextual, sometimes change with every generation. Language is not static.
Matthew 6, from a 1410 edition of Wycliffe's New Testament
For example, compare the text of the Lord's prayer (Matt 6:9–13) from the following editions spanning six-hundred years of the English language.
Wycliffe Bible (1380) First translation of the Bible in English And thus ye schulen preye, Oure fadir that art in heuenes, halewid be thi name; thi kyngdoom come to; be thi wille don `in erthe as in heuene; yyue to vs this dai oure `breed ouer othir substaunce; and foryyue to vs oure dettis, as we foryyuen to oure dettouris; and lede vs not in to temptacioun, but delyuere vs fro yuel.
Tyndale Bible (1525) After thys maner therfore praye ye. O oure father which arte in heve halowed be thy name. Let thy kyngdome come. Thy wyll be fulfilled as well in erth as it ys in heven. Geve vs this daye oure dayly breede. And forgeve vs oure treaspases eve as we forgeve oure trespacers. And leade vs not into teptacion: but delyver vs fro evell.
King James Version (1611) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
American Standard Version (1901) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
New Living Translation (1996) Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
When we pick up the Greek NT, we are seeing a snapshot of the Greek language as taken from a motion film. The Greek NT has elements of the Greek language that were fading out, some that were being introduced, and some features that remained consistent for centuries.
Μι verbs are a great example of the transformation of the Greek language. Earlier forms of ancient Greek used μι verbs extensively, but they began fading out in the Classical period (1500–300 BC). That decline continued through the Koine period (300 BC–AD 600). By the Byzantine era (AD 600–1500), μι verbs had either become obsolete or transformed into ω-themed verbs.¹ The Greek NT fits right in the middle of this span of history. In its pages, we find a handful of persistent μι verbs. One interesting example is ἵστημ (I cause to stand, set in place). The -μι form occurs 153 times in the NT. But in Romans 3:31, Paul uses the -ω form, ἱστάνομεν (from ἱστάνω). Clearly, Paul and his readers were acquainted with both forms.
Μι verbs vary their forms significantly. Thankfully, the Greek NT contains only a handful. You have already encountered a few μι verbs in your vocabulary: εἴμι, ἵστημι, δίδωμι, and ἀφίημι. Rather than presenting all the possible forms, most grammar texts today encourage students to learn a few guidelines. In the steps that follow, we provide one key and four rules for recognizing μι verbs.