Optative Mood

The optative is the verbal mood used least frequently in the New Testament (fewer than 70 times), having been gradually replaced by the subjunctive in the Koine period. Its primary morphological characteristic is the presence of a diphthong with an iota (οι, αι, ειη) before the personal ending.

Morphology: Forms of the Optative (εἰμί and λύω)

Syntax | Uses of the Optative

1. Expressing a Wish, Entreaty, or Apostolic Blessing (Volitive Optative):
• Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν καὶ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς κατευθύναι τὴν ὁδὸν ἡμῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς· (1 Thess 3:11) → “Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.”
• Ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου· γένοιτό μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου. (Luke 1:38) → “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
• The Pauline expression μὴ γένοιτο (15x in the NT, e.g., Rom 6:15; Gal 3:21): uses the negative μή + 3rd sg. Aorist Middle Optative of γίνομαι to express vehement rejection: “May it never be! / Certainly not!”.

2. Indirect Questions (common in Luke's writings):
• Ἐπηρώτων δὲ αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τίς αὕτη εἴη ἡ παραβολή. (Luke 8:9) → “And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.”

3. Conditional Clause (4th Class — Remote Possibility):
• ἀλλ᾽ εἰ καὶ πάσχοιτε διὰ δικαιοσύνην, μακάριοι. (1 Pet 3:14) → “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.”

Vocabulary

Vocabulário do Capítulo

• ἀναγινώσκω: I read (aloud)
• ἑτοιμάζω: I prepare
• καθίζω: I sit down; I seat
• κατοικέω: I dwell, live
• κρατέω: I hold, seize; I retain
• πάσχω: I suffer
• προσφέρω: I bring; I offer
• θηρίον (θηρίου), τό: animal, wild beast, beast
• μέρος (μέρους), τό: part, portion
• φυλακή (φυλακῆς), ἡ: guard, watch; prison
• ἱκανός, ἱκανή, ἱκανόν: sufficient, worthy, many/much
• κακός, κακή, κακόν: bad, evil
• μείζων, μεῖζον: (comp. of μέγας) greater
• ὀλίγος, ὀλίγη, ὀλίγον: small, little
• ὅμοιος, ὁμοία, ὅμοιον: like, similar