Clarification of Greek Verb Morphology vs Sentence Tagging

Michael Ransom

Hello everyone. This is a question about how Logos displays morphology and sentence type definitions, and whether I should normally expect those definitions to be the same within a sentence.

I'm working through Ephesians chapter 4 to identify all of the imperative statements. Ephesians 4:25 says "let each one of you speak the truth ... " Hovering over that phrase shows that it is an imperative present verb form. The context menu (right click) has this tagged as a declarative sentence.

Verse 28 says "let the thief no longer steal ...". Hovering shows it is tagged as imperative present, and the context menu shows it is an imperative sentence.

What is driving the sentence type (declarative vs imperative)? I was going on the assumption that an imperative verb form would result in an imperative sentence. I suppose what I'm really after is understanding where Paul intended something to be understood as a "make sure you act this way" statement.

I'm trying to get a better understanding of these details as part of my study group preparation. For perspective, I have not used the word "morphology" in a complete sentence until ~ a week ago, so it's very possible I'm trying to run before learning to walk.

Thanks for clarifying this!

Mike

Graham Criddle

Hi Michael

In Logos, the sentence definitions are derived from the Sentence Types Dataset (produced by Logos) and I suggest, for context, you review the documentation for this dataset.

Information relating to an Imperative Sentence, for example, is available here

MJ. Smith

Michael Ransom said:

I was going on the assumption that an imperative verb form would result in an imperative sentence.

Kendell H. Easley, User-Friendly Greek: A Common Sense Approach to the Greek New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1994), 74–76. said:

4.4.2. Special Uses of the Imperative

The Greek imperative is not limited to positive commands. Be alert for four specialized uses.
4.4.2.1. Prohibition imperative. A negative command is sometimes expressed by μή followed by a present imperative. In such instances, an action already under way must be stopped, although sometimes common sense indicates that this implication is too subtle. Note that this differs from the prohibition subjunctive (4.2.1.3).

μὴ γογγύζετε μετʼ ἀλλήλων.

Stop grumbling with one another (John 6:43).

μὴ ἐρεθίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν.

Stop vexing your children (Col. 3:21).

PREFERABLE: Don’t vex your children.

In the first example, context indicates that grumbling was already under way. It must stop. In the second instance, we should not infer that all the fathers of Colossae were vexing their children. The point of the present tense is simply, If you are vexing them, stop it immediately. The preferred translation is more generally applicable for this negative command. The guideline for recognizing this kind of imperative is to note whether μή preceeds a present imperative. When the implication is to stop doing an action, this is worth sermonic attention.
4.4.2.2. Permission imperative. Do you remember that Greek has a third person imperative that English does not have? This was a way of requesting a course of action for someone not actually present. One way to accommodate this is with the translation device “let him [ask]” or “let them [ask].” A stronger translation is often possible.

ζητησάτω εἰρήνην καὶ διωξάτω αὐτήν.

Let him seek peace and let him pursue it (1 Pet. 3:12).

ALTERNATIVE: He must seek peace and must pursue it.

μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι.

But also let our people keep learning to do good works (Tit. 3:14).

ALTERNATIVE: Our people are to learn to do good works.

The guideline for recognizing this kind of imperative is to note the third person. In a sermon perhaps the best approach is to offer two translation possibilities.
4.4.2.3. Request imperative. Sometimes second person imperatives are used when one equal speaks to another or when an inferior speaks to a superior. In such cases common sense requires that we understand a request rather than a command. Some grammars call this the imperative of entreaty. When one of my students says to me, “Give me an extension on my term paper,” I recognize a plea. The word please is implied even if it is not used. Similarly, prayers in the New Testament often have imperative verbs, yet we understand them as humble requests rather than as commands.

ποίησόν με ὠς ἕνα τῶν μισθίων σου.

Make me as one of your hired hands [please] (Luke 15:19).

καὶ ἄφες ὑμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας.

And [please] forgive us our sins (Luke 11:4).

The guideline for recognizing the request imperative is to ask whether an equal or superior is addressed and to ask whether the word please is implied. Special sermonic attention is not usually required.
4.4.2.4. Conditional imperative. Both English and Greek use the formula IMPERATIVE + AND/KAI + FUTURE INDICATIVE to mean “if … then.” Consider the following: “Study hard and you’ll pass the exam.” Clearly the meaning is, If you study hard, then you’ll pass the exam.

μόνον πίστενσον, καὶ σωθήσεται.

GOOD: Only believe, and she will be saved (Luke 8:50).

BETTER: If only you believe, then she will be saved.

ζητεῖτε, καὶ εὑρήσετε.

GOOD: Keep seeking, and you will find (Luke 11:9).

BETTER: If you keep seeking, then you will find.

Notice that the indicative verbs following the imperative are in the future tense, which is usual for a conditional imperative. The guideline for recognizing this kind of imperative is to discover whether the formula IMPERATIVE + KAI + FUTURE INDICATIVE points to an “if … then” meaning. In a sermon, it may be helpful to suggest the “if … then” understanding, since English versions do not usually adopt this “better” rendering.

4.4.3. Summary of the Imperative

In most ways the Greek imperative parallels the English imperative.
1. The command imperative is, naturally, the main sense of the imperative.
2. The Greek prohibition imperative often carries a sense of ceasing an action—an idea that is missing from English.
3. The permission imperative has no English parallel, because English lacks a third person imperative.
4. The request imperative is a common-sense category based on the observation that imperatives do not always imply a command. Sometimes they represent an entreaty.
5. Conditional imperatives are an alternative way to make an “if … then” statement.

In addition, the finite verb rules the clause not the sentence in multi-clause sentences.

Michael Ransom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1314596#Comment_1314596

Thanks, Graham. I found that documentation in my oft-overlooked "Instructions About How to Use Logos" folder.

Have a great day.

Mike

Michael Ransom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1314600#Comment_1314600

Thank you for sending these definitions, MJ. The examples were helpful.

Have a great day.

Mike