Adjective

Summary

An adjective is a word that describes a person(s), place(s), or thing(s). Within a sentence, an adjective usually describes a noun.

Article

In Koiné Greek, adjectives generally match the noun they describe in gender and number. Attributive adjectives specifically must also match the nouns they describe in case. Any Greek adjective can take the form of all three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Adjectives show these various forms by using the same kinds of word endings as nouns. Greek adjectives are listed in a lexicon according to their masculine nominative singular forms.

Note

Adjectives change form according to their base forms, NOT the base forms of the nouns they are describing. For example, the feminine dative singular form of the adjective πάς is always πάςῃ. The form will not change when describing any feminine dative noun. This remains true regardless of the kind of feminine dative word ending that appears on the noun.

Form

Paradigm

Most adjectives in Koiné Greek use one of the following sets of word endings. However, there are more sets of word endings for adjectives in Greek than are listed here. See adjective_paradigms for more. See especially Master Table 1 and Master Table 2 Master Tables.

• 2-1-2 Uncontracted adjectives

• 2-1-2 Contract adjectives

• 2-1-2 Special paradigms

• 3-1-3 Adjectives

• 2-2-2 άμαρτωλός (or 2-1-2) exception

• 3-3-3 Adjectives

• Cardinal numerals

Table A-1 [2-1-2 adjectives] η

Table A-1 displays 2-1-2 uncontracted adjectives

with the feminine in “η” and the neuter in “ον”

[2-1-2] η - ἀγαθός,”good”

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Singular
Nominative	ἀγαθός	ἀγαθή	ἀγαθόν
Genitive	ἀγαθοῦ	ἀγαθῆς	ἀγαθοῦ
Dative	ἀγαθῷ	ἀγαθῇ	ἀγαθῷ
Accusative	ἀγαθόν	ἀγαθήν	ἀγαθόν
Vocative	ἀγαθέ	ἀγαθή	ἀγαθόν
Plural
Nominative	ἀγαθοί	ἀγαθαί	ἀγαθά
Genitive	ἀγαθῶν	ἀγαθῶν	ἀγαθῶν
Dative	ἀγαθοῖς	ἀγαθαῖς	ἀγαθοῖς
Accusative	ἀγαθούς	ἀγαθάς	ἀγαθά
Vocative	ἀγαθοί	ἀγαθαί	ἀγαθά

Table A-2 [2-1-2 adjectives] α

Table A-2 displays 2-1-2 uncontracted adjectives

with the feminine in “α” and the neuter in “ον”

[2-1-2] α - ἃγioς, “holy”

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Singular
Nominative	ἅγιος	ἁγία	ἅγιον
Genitive	ἁγίου	ἁγιάς	ἁγίου
Dative	ἁγίῳ	ἁγἰᾳ	ἁγίῳ
Accusative	ἃγιον	ἁγίαν	ἃγιον
Vocative	ἅγιε	ἁγία	ἅγιον
Plural
Nominative	ἃγιοι	ἃγιαι	ἃγια
Genitive	ἁγίων	ἁγίων	ἁγίων
Dative	ἁγίοις	ἁγίαις	ἁγίοις
Accusative	ἁγίους	ἁγίας	ἃγια
Vocative	ἃγιοι	ἃγιαι	ἃγια

Table A-3 [2-1-2] ο

Table A-3 displays 2-1-2 uncontracted adjectives

with an “ο” in the neuter

[2-1-2] ο -ἂλλος, “other, another”

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Singular
Nominative	ἂλλος	ἂλλη	ἂλλο
Genitive	ἂλλου	ἂλλης	ἂλλου
Dative	ἂλλῳ	ἂλλῃ	ἂλλῳ
Accusative	ἂλλον	ἂλλην	ἂλλο
Plural
Nominative	ἄλλοι	ἄλλαι	ἂλλα
Genitive	ἂλλων	ἂλλων	ἂλλων
Dative	ἂλλοις	ἂλλαις	ἂλλοις
Accusative	ἂλλους	ἂλλας	ἂλλα

Table A-4 [3-1-3]

Table A-4 is a paradigm for adjectives with stems ending in a “ντ”

The stem in the masculine and neuter singular is παντ. When adding the “σ” in the nominative singular or “σι in the dative plural the ντ drops out and the adjective then becomes πας or πασι.

[3-1-3] πᾶς, “all, every”

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Singular
Nominative	πᾶς	πᾶσα	πᾶν
Genitive	παντός	πάσης	παντός
Dative	παντί	πάσῃ	παντί
Accusative	πάντα	πᾶσαν	πᾶν
Plural
Nominative	πάντες	πᾶσαι	πάντα
Genitive	πάντων	πασῶν	πάντων
Dative	πᾶσι(ν)	πάσαις	πᾶσι(ν)
Accusative	πάντας	πάσας	πάντα

Examples

Example A-5 agreement in number and gender

Ephesians 1:3, “who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing”

ὁ	εὐλογήσας	ἡμᾶς	ἐν	πάσῃ	εὐλογίᾳ	πνευματικῇ
ho	eulogēsas	hēmas	en	pasē	eulogia	pneumatikē
who	has blessed	us	with	every	blessing	spiritual

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing

In the above example the adjectives πάςῃ and πνευματικῇ are in feminine singular form. They agree with the noun εὐλογιᾳ in gender and number. These adjectives are both attributive. Therefore, they also agree in case.

Example A-6 agreement in gender

John 10:11,

ἐγώ	εἰμι	ὁ	ποιμὴν	ὁ	καλός.
Egō	eimi	ho	poimēn	ho	kalos.
I	I am	the	shepherd	the	good

I am the good shepherd.

The adjective always appears in the form that represents the true gender of the noun. The pronoun ἐγώ (“I”) is in singular form; (but is it masculine, feminine, or neuter?) The above example is a statement of Jesus (a man). Therefore, any adjective describing ἐγώ (Jesus) must also appear in singular form, and because Jesus is a man, it must be masculine singular.

In this example, the adjective ποίμην appears to be feminine because it ends with “ην”. However, the adjective ποίμην uses a different set of word endings than listed above. In this example, both ποιμήν and καλός are nominative masculine singular.

Function

Describes a noun

The most common use of adjectives is to describe a noun directly. There are two kinds of adjectives that function in this way, attributive adjectives and predicative adjectives.

In Koiné Greek, an attributive adjective may come either before or after the noun it describes. Attributive adjectives are usually paired with the definite article, but not always. As stated above, attributive adjectives must agree with the noun(s) they describe in gender, case, and number.

Example A-7

Matthew 12:35

ὁ	ἀγαθὸς	ἄνθρωπος	ἐκ	τοῦ	ἀγαθοῦ	θησαυροῦ
ho	agathos	anthrōpos	ek	tou	agathou	thēsaurou
the	good	man	out of	the	good	treasure

The good man from the good treasure

Predicative adjectives are adjectives that describe nouns using a linking verb.

Often the linking verb is not present in the Greek text and must be supplied when translating in English. Predicte adjectives must agree with the noun they are modifying in gender and number. Some languages need a verb in every sentence, so the understood verb may be added to the translation in order to make the sentence grammatically correct in the target language.

Note

Sometimes, predicative adjectives and attributive adjectives look identical and must be distinguished from the context.

Note

Adjectives that function as predicative adjectives are classified as nouns (“NP”) in the UGNT.

Example A-8

Matthew 5:3

Μακάριοι		οἱ	πτωχοὶ	τῷ	πνεύματι
makarioi		hoi	ptōchoi	tō	pneumati
Blessed	(are)	the	poor	the	in spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Note: In this example, οἱ πτωχοὶ is the subject of the sentence. Μακάριοι is the predicate noun. The Linking verb εἰμί is missing.

Example A-9

John 3:33, :header-rows: 0

ὁ	θεὸς	ἀληθής	ἐστιν
ho	Theos	alēthēs	estin
the	God	true	he is
“God is true”

Note: In this example ἀληθής is the predicate noun.

Example A-10

James 1:12,

Μακάριος		ἀνὴρ	ὃς	ὑπομένει	πειρασμόν
makarios		anēr	hos	hypomenei	peirasmon
Blessed	is the	man	who	he endures	a trial

“Blessed is the man who endures testing.”

Functions as a noun

A nominal adjective is an adjective that itself functions as a noun in the sentence rather than describing a noun.

When an adjective itself functions as a noun in a sentence, the adjective is describing some unnamed person or object. It is NOT describing some other noun in the sentence. Therefore, there is no other noun with which the adjective can agree in gender, case, or number. When an adjective functions as a noun, its case word ending is determined by how the word functions within the sentence. Its gender and number word ending is determined by the actual unnamed person or object to which the adjective refers. In Koiné Greek, nominal adjectives are often paired with the definite article, but not always.

Note

Adjectives that function as nominal adjectives are classified as nouns (“NS”) in the UGNT.

Example A-11

Romans 1:17

καθὼς	γέγραπται	ὁ	δὲ	δίκαιος		ἐκ	πίστεως	ζήσεται
kathōs	gegraptai	ho	de	dikaios		ek	pisteōs	zēsetai
just as	it has been written	the	but	righteous	[man/person]	by	faith	he will live

..”just as it is written, “But the righteous one will live by faith.”

Functions as an adverb

An adverbial adjective is an adjective that functions as an adverb, meaning that it describes a verb instead of a noun.

When an adjective is used as an adverb, usually the adjective will have a neuter accusative (or sometimes neuter dative) word ending. The most common of these adjectives that used adverbs include:

βραχύ (“short”)	ἲδιον (“one’s own”)	μίκρον (“small”)
ὀλίγον (“little”)	μόνον (“alone”)	πολύ (“many”)
πρῶτον (“first”)	ὕστερον “(second”)

Example A-12

Matthew 6:33

ζητεῖτε	δὲ	πρῶτον	τὴν	βασιλείαν
zēteite	de	proton	tēn	basileian
you seek	but	first	the	kingdom

“But seek first his kingdom”

Ascriptive adjectives

An ascriptive adjective is an adjective that functions as an attributive adjective and is NOT paired with the definite article.

The noun being described by an ascriptive adjective may or may not be paired with the definite article.

Example A-13 ascriptive adjective

1 John 2:7

οὐκ	ἐντολὴν	καινὴν	γράφω	ὑμῖν	ἀλλ’	ἐντολὴν	παλαιὰν
ouk	entolēn	kainēn	graphō	hymin	all’	entolēn	palaian
not	commandment	new	I write	to you	but	commandment	old

I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment…

Restrictive adjectives

A restrictive adjective is an adjective that functions as an attributive adjective and IS paired with the definite article

The noun being described by a restrictive adjective may or may not be paired with the definite article but is always a definite noun.

Example A-14 restrictive adjective

John 2:1

Καὶ	τῇ	ἡμέρᾳ	τῇ	τρίτῃ	γάμος	ἐγένετο
Kai	tē	hēmera	tē	trite	gamos	egeneto
And	the	on day	the	third	wedding	there was

and there was a wedding on the third day

Positive, Comparison, and Superlative adjectives

adjectives that compare two or more items

A comparative adjective expresses a comparison between two or more items.

In Koiné Greek, a comparative adjective is often formed by adding a specific kind of word ending to the base form of that adjective. These comparative adjective word endings differ according to gender: -τερος (masculine), -τερα (feminine), or -τερον (neuter).

(Some irregular adjectives take the suffixes -(ι)ων or -ον instead.)

Example A-15

John 13:16

οὐκ	ἔστιν	δοῦλος	μείζων	τοῦ	κυρίου	αὐτοῦ
ouk	estin	doulos	meizōn	tou	kyriou	autou
not	he is	a slave	greater	than	master	his

“a servant is not* greater than his master”

Note

Some adjectives use the comparative word ending while conveying a superlative meaning. You must always be observant of the context and take it into account when translating an adjective with a comparative word ending.

Example A-16

In Matthew 23:11, Jesus is speaking to the crowds and to his disciples and so in this context a superlative (μέγιστος) use would normally be expected.

Matthew 23:11

ὁ	δὲ	μείζων	ὑμῶν	ἔσται	ὑμῶν	διάκονος
ho	de	meizōn	hymōn	estai	hymōn	diakonos
but	the	greatest	of you	will be	of you	servant

But the greatest among you will be your servant

Superlative

adjectives with stronger meaning

An intensive adjective has a stronger degree of meaning than a typical adjective.

Note

Sometime the writer will use the plain adjective (positive use) with a comparative or superlative meaning; or a comparative adjective with a superlative meaning. It is therefore always important to notice the context in which the adjective is used.

adjectives with strongest meaning

A superlative adjective has a meaning strengthened to its greatest degree.

In Koiné Greek, a superlative adjective is often formed by adding a specific kind of word ending to the base form of that adjective. These superlative adjective word endings differ according to gender:

-τατος (masculine), -τατη (feminine), and -τατον (neuter),

OR

-ιστος (masculine), -ιστη (feminine), and -ιστον (neuter).

Example A-17

1 Corinthians 15:9

ἐγὼ	γάρ	εἰμι	ὁ	ἐλάχιστος	τῶν	ἀποστόλων
egō	gar	eimi	ho	elachistos	tōn	apostolōn
I	for	I am	the	least	of the	apostles

For I am the least of the apostles.

Example A-18

In this example John uses the postive but it is in comparison to the hireling.

John 10:11
ἐγώ	εἰμι	ὁ	ποιμὴν	ὁ	καλός
egō	eimi	ho	poimēn	ho	kalos
I	I am	the	shepherd	the	good

I am the good shepherd…

Example A-19

Mark 4:1

καὶ	συνάγεται	πρὸς	αὐτὸν	ὄχλος	πλεῖστος
kai	synagetai	pros	auton	ochlos	pleistos
and	it is gathered	to	him	crowd	very large

“and a large crowd gathered around him”

Example A-20

Luke 1:3, “most excellent Theophilus”

κράτιστε	Θεόφιλε
kratiste	Theophile
most excellent	Theophilus

Table A-21 Common Comparatives and Superlatives

Table A-21 Common Positive, Comparative & Superlatives
	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
		-τερος, -α, -ον (ι)ων, -ον	-τατοσ, -η, ο -ιστος, -α, -ον
good	αγθός, -η, -ον
better, braver		ἀμείνων, -ον
best, excellent			ἄριστος, -η, -ον
better, more virtuous		βελτίων, -ιον
best, most virtuous			βέλτιστος, -η, -ον
better, stronger		κρείττων, -ον
best, strongest			κράτιστος, -η, -ον
true	ἀληθής, -ες	άληθέστερος, -α, -ο	άληθέστατος, -η, -ον
free from anxiety	ἄλυπος, -ον	ἀλυπότερος
necessary	αναγκαῖος, -α, -ον	ἀναγκαιότερος
bearable	ανεκτός, -ον	ἀνακτότερος
shameful	αίσχρός, -α, -ον
more shameful		αἰσχίων, -ιον
most shameful			αἴσχιστος, -η, -ον

Table A-21a Common Comparatives (cont.)

Table A-21a Common Positive, Comparative & Superlatives (cont.)
	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
		-τερος, -α, -ον (ι)ων, -ον	-τατοσ, -η, ο -ιστος, -α, -ον
weak, powerless	ασθενής, ες	ἀσθενέστερος, -α, -ον
heavy	βαρύς, -εῖα, -ύ	βαρύτερος, -α, -ον	βαρύτατος, -η, -ον
inside, inner	ἔσω	ἐσώτερος, -α, -ον
outside, farther out	ἔξω	ἐξωτερος, -α, -ον
hostile	εχθρός, -α, -ον
more hostile		ἐχθίων, -ιον
most hostile			ἔχθιστος, -η, -ον
sweet	ἡδύς, -εῖα, -ύν
sweeter		ἡδίων, -ιον
sweetest			ἤδιστος, -η, -ον
lesser, inferior	ἤσσςν, -ον

Table A-21b Common Comparatives (cont.)

Table A-21b Common Positive, Comparative & Superlatives (cont.)
	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
		-τερος, -α, -ον (ι)ων, -ον	-τατοσ, -η, ο -ιστος, -α, -ον
bad/evil	κακός, -ή, -όν
morally worse		κακίων, -ιον
morally worst			κάκιστος, -η, -ον
worse/ more severe		χείρων, -ον
worst			χείριστος, -η, -ον
lessor degree/ worse/weaker		ἤττων, -ον
worst/ least poorest			ἤκιστα
beautiful/good	καλός, -α, -ον
more beatiful/ better		καλλίων, -ιον
most beautiful/ best			κάλλιστος, -η, -ον
below/ lower	κατώ	κατώτερος, -α, -οω

Table A-21c Common Comparatives (cont.)

Table A-21c Common Positive, Comparative & Superlatives (cont.)
	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
		-τερος, -α, -ον (ι)ων, -ον	-τατοσ, -η, ο -ιστος, -α, -ον
big/ great	μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα
bigger/ greater		μείζων, -ον
biggest/ greatest			μέγιστος, -η, -ον μειζότερος
small	μικρός, -α, -ον
smaller		μικρότερος, -α, -ον
smallest			μικρότατος, -α, -ον
smaller in quantity or dimensions		ἐλάττων
smallest in quantity, dimensions, or least in status			ἐλάχιστος, -η, -ον
least			ἤκιστα
foolish/ stupid	μςρὀς, -α, -οω	μωρότερος, -α, -ον	μωρότατος, -η, -ον

Table A-21d Common Comparatives (cont.)

Table A-21d Common Positive, Comparative & Superlatives (cont.)
	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
		-τερος, -α, -ον (ι)ων, -ον	-τατοσ, -η, ο -ιστος, -α, -ον
few relatively small in number	ὁλίγος, -η, -ον
fewest			ὀλίγιστος, -η, -ον
fewer		μείων
to have of, less of		ἐλάττων, -ον
to have fewer, worse, or weaker on a scale of evaluation		ἥττων
fewest, smallest in quantity or dimensions, or least in status			ἐλάχιστος, -α, -ον
least			ἥκιστα
abundant/ more abundant	περισσός, -η, -ον	περισσότερος, -τερα, ον
trustworthy/ faithful	πιστός, -η, -ον	πιστότερος, -α, -ον	πιστότατος, -η, -ον
many	πολύς, πολλά, πολύ
more		πλείων, -ιον πλέων, -ον
most			πλεῖστος, -η, -ον
old/ older, elder	πρέσβυς	πρεσβύτερος, -α, -ον

Table A-21e Common Comparatives (cont.)

Table A-21e Common Positive, Comparative & Superlatives (cont.)
	Positive	Comparative	Superlative
		-τερος, -α, -ον (ι)ων, -ον	-τατοσ, -η, ο -ιστος, -α, -ον
before/ earlier	πρό	πρότερος, -α, -ον
first			πρῶτος, -η, -ον
easy	ῥᾳδιος, -α, -ον
easier		ῥᾴων, ῥᾴον
easiest			ῥᾷστος, -α, -ον
wise, clever, skillful	σοφός, -η, -ον	σοφώτερος, -α, -ον	σοφώτατος, -η, -ον
swift, quick, speedy	ταχύς, ταχεῖα, ταχύ
quicker		θάττων, θᾶττον
quickest			τάχιστος, -η, -ον
later, subsequent	ὕστερος
high/ highest	ὕψι		ὕψιστος, -η, -ον