Mood infinitive

Glossary

An infinitive is a verbal noun (e.g., to eat, to run, to go). It expresses aspect (simple, continuous, or repeated action) and voice (active, middle, or passive) like other (finite) verbs, but does not indicate person or number. It can take an object, but usually does not explicitly express a subject.

Example

Example V-NM-1 Mark 2:26

οὓς	οὐκ	ἔξεστιν	φαγεῖν	εἰ μὴ	τοῖς	ἱερεῦσιν
hous	ouk	exestin	phagein	ei mē	tous	hiereis
which	(is) not	authorized	to eat	except	the	priests

which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests

Article

Background

Infinitives are nouns formed from a verb. Therefore, they are referred to as Verbal Nouns.

Verbal Characteristics:

1. The verbal characteristics of Infinitives includes tense (Present, Aorist, and Perfect).

   The tense of an Infinitive does not refer to time, but does refer to Aspect.

   • The Present tense is used to portray continuous or repeated action.

   • The Aorist tense is used to portray simple or undefined action.

   • The Perfect tense is used to portray completed action.

2. The Verbal characteristics of Infinitives also includes Voice.

   • Active Voice – when the subject does the action of the infinitive.

   • Middle Voice – when the subject does the action on itself or in many cases when the verb is deponent.

   • Passive Voice – when the subject is acted upon by something else. It is the recipient of the action.

3. The Infinitive can be modified by an adverb. (See the Verbal uses of the Infinitive below)

4. The Infinitive can take an object. ( See characteristics similar to a noun 3(b) “A direct or indirect object” below)

The Infinitive is indeclinable with the result that the person and number do not change.

Infinitives may have a noun or pronoun in the 3rd person singular accusative form (although it can be in the plural) that acts as the subject of the infinitive. [See Example… V-NM-9a)

The Verbal uses of the infinitive include:

1. Purpose [See Infinitive of Purpose V-NM-6 ]

2. Result [See Infinitives of Result V-NM-7]

3. Cause/Reason [See Infinitives of Cause/Result V-NM-8]

4. Time (with the aid of a preposition) [See Infinitive of Time V-NM-9]

1. πρὸ (with the genitive- τοῦ), or πρίν, or πρὶν ἤ - followed by the infinitive - ( gloss - before ) [See πρὸ or πρίν]

2. ἐν (with the dative – τῷ) followed by the infinitive – (gloss – as, when, while) [See ὲν]

3. μετὰ (with the accusative – τὀ) followed by the infinitive – (gloss – after) [See μετὰ]

4. ἕως (with the genitive - τοῦ) followed by the infinitive – (gloss – until) [See ἕως]

Characteristics similar to a noun (Substantive Use):

1. It can take an article. If the article is present, it will generally be the single neuter article (τὀ).

2. The article can be in any of the cases. If the infinitive is preceded by a preposition, an article will be present and the case of the article will be determined by the preposition.

3. As a Substantive, an Infinitive can be used as:

1. The subject of a sentence, [See Subject]

2. A direct or indirect object in the sentence, [See Direst or Indirect Object]

3. An adjective to modify another word, [See Adjective]

4. In apposition to a noun, or [See Apposition]

5. It can be qualified by an adjective. [See Qualified]

Infinitives occur 2,290 times in the New Testament of which only a little over 300 times are with the article. The vast majority (well over 1,700 times) are without the article.

Form

The basic form for Infinitives are given in:

• Table V-NT Infinitive Morpheme Chart (presented below with comments), and

• Table V-NT-1 Infinitive with theme vowels

Table V-NM-2 Infinitive Morpheme

Table V-NT Non-Indicative Infinitive - Morpheme Chart
	Present	1st Aorist	2nd Aorist	Perfect
Active	ειν	σαι	ειν	κεναι
Middle	εσθαι	σασθαι	εσθαι	σθαι
Passive	εσθαι	θηναι	ηναι	σθαι

Note:

1. The Active and Middle morphemes are the same for both the Present and 2nd Aorist tense; and

2. the Perfect Middle and Perfect Passive morphemes are the same.

Table V-NM-3 Formation of the Present and Aorist Infinitive

The Infinitive is formed by adding the Infinitive morpheme to the verbal root.

V-NM-3 Present Infinitive
Present Tense Stem	+	Infinitive Morpheme
λυ	+	ειν	->	λύειν
to loose

Note: by using the present tense, there is an implication to continually or repeatedly loose (or free).

Table V-NM-4 Paradigm Present and Aorist Infinitive

V-NM-4 Present and Aorist Infinitive Paradigm
	Lexical Form	Active	Middle	Passive
Present	λύω	λύειν	λύεσθαι	λύεσθαι
1st Aorist	λύω	λῦσαι	λύσασθαι	λυθῆναι
2nd Aorist	λάμβανω	λάβειν	λάβεσθαι	λημφθῆναι

Note:

The 2 Aorist Active indicative is ἔλαβον; therefore, the Aorist active and middle infinitives are formed off of the verbal root λαβ. The Aorist Passive indicative is ἐλήμφθην, Therefore, one would expect the Aorist Passive Infinitive to be λήμφναι, but in this case it is treated like a 1st Aorist infinitive resulting in λημφ + θηναι -> λημφθήναι.

Table V-NM-5 Future and Perfect Infinitives

The Future Infinitive is formed by adding the Future Tense Formative (σ) to the appropriate Tense stem (Present active or aorist passive without the augment) and then adding the Present Infinitive morpheme (active, middle, or passive) as appropriate.

Table V-NM-5 Formation of Future Infinitive
Tense Stem	+	Tense Formative	+	Present Infinitive Morpheme	->
λυ	+	σ	+	ειν	->	λὐσειν
to loose

Technically, the Future Infinitive is formed by the Tense Stem + the Tense Formative (σ) + a connecting vowel (ε) + the Present Infinitive Morpheme which is (εν). The two epsilons then contract to ει resulting in ειν. σ + ε + εν -> σ + εε+ ν -> σ + ει + ν -> σειν. It is a lot easier to just learn the Future Infinitive Morpheme as ειν.

The Perfect Infinitive is formed by Reduplication + the Perfect Active Tense Stem + the Tense Formative + the Infinitive Morpheme. (κεναι). We have already seen the kappa followed by a vowel as a perfect tense indicator.

The 2nd Perfect Infinitive, the reduplication would be just the vowel epsilon (ε) without the consonant. Also, the kappa (κ) is dropped from the Infinitive Morpheme for a 2nd Perfect.

Table V-NM-5a Formation of Perfect Infinitive
Reduplication	+	Tense stem	+	Tense Formative	+	Infinitive Morpheme	->
λε	+	λυ	+	κε	->	ναι	->	λελύκεναι
to have loosed

Table V-NM-5b Perfect and Future Infinitive Paradigm
	Lexical Form	Active	Middle
Future	λύω	λύσεον	λύσεσθαι
Perfect	λύω	λελυκέναι	λελύσθαι

Examples:

Verbal uses of the infinitive:

V-NM-6 Infinitive of Purpose

• An Infinitive of Purpose may or may not be preceded by the definite article.

• Prepositions indicating purpose such as (ἐις τὸ) or (πρὁς τό) may be followed by an infinitive.

• An infinitive preceded by an article in the genitive (τοῦ) may be used to indicate purpose.

Example V-NM-6 Infinitive of Purpose with no article

Matthew 2:2

καὶ	ἤλθομεν	προσκυνῆσαι	αὐτῷ
kai	ēlthomen	proskynēsai	autō
and	we came	to worship	Him

and (we) came to worship Him

Example V-NM-6a Infinitive of Purpose preceded by ἔις

Matthew 26:2

ὁ	Υἱὸς	τοῦ	Aνθρώπου	παραδίδοται	εἰς	τὸ	σταυρωθῆναι
ho	Huios	tou	Anthrōpou	paradidotai	eis	to	staurōthēnai
The	Son	of	man	is being handed over	into	the	to be crucified

the Son of Man is being handed over to be crucified.

Example V-NM-6b Infinitive of Purpose preceded by πρός

The infinitive of purpose places a stress on the intention of the person carrying out the action. Therefore it is appropriate to insert such key words as “In order to”, or “for the purpose of” in the translation.

Matthew 6:1

τὴν	δικαιοσύνην	ὑμῶν	μὴ	ποιεῖν	ἔμπροσθεν	τῶν	ἀνθρώπων	πρὸς	τὸ	θεαθῆναι	αὐτοῖς
tēn	dikaiosynēn	hymōn	mē	poiein	emprosthen	tōn	anthrōpōn	pros	to	theathēnai	autois
the	righteousness	of you all	not	to do	before	the	men	in order to	the	be seen	by them

not to do your righteousness before men to be seen by them , or

Do not do your righteousness before men to be seen by them

Example V-NM-6c Infinitive of Purpose preceded by definite article in the Genitive (τοῦ)

Matthew 3:13

παραγίνεται	ὁ	Ἰησοῦς	…	πρὸς	τὸν	Ἰωάννην	τοῦ	βαπτισθῆναι	ὑπ’	αὐτοῦ
paraginetai	ho	Iēsous	…	pros	ton	Iōannēn	tou	baptisthēnai	hyp’	autou
He came	the	Jesus	to		the	John	to	be baptized	by	him

Jesus comes… to John, to be baptized by him.

V-NM-7 Infinitives of Result

• Infinitives of Result place an emphasis on the outcome or result of the verb.

• Infinitives of result may or may not be preceded by the definite article in the genitive case (τοῦ).

• Infinitives of result may be preceded by a number of prepositions, εἰς τό, or ὥστε, or ώς with the infinitive.

• It may be noted that each of these forms (with an infinitive) can also be used to express purpose. The interpreter must determine as to if the writer intended to convey a meaning of purpose or of result based on context. It should also be kept in mind that just because the speaker intends for a particular result to occur, it may not actually happen.

Key words that may help in translating are “with the result that”, “so that”, or “so as.”

Example V-NM-7 Infinitive of Result with no article

Rev 5:5

ἐνίκησεν	ὁ	λέων	ὁ	ἐκ	τῆς	φυλῆς	Ἰούδα	…	ἀνοῖξαι	τὸ	βιβλίον
enikēsen	ho	leōn	ho	ek	tēs	phylēs	Iouda	…	anoixai	to	biblion
he has conquered	the	lion	the (one)	out of	the	tribe	of Judah		so as to open	the	book

Behold, the Lion who is from the tribe of Judah … has conquered in order to open the scroll.

Example V-NM-7a Infinitive of Result with τοῦ

Acts 18:10

οὐδεὶς	ἐπιθήσεταί	σοι	τοῦ	κακῶσαί	σε	διότι	λαός	ἐστί	μοι	πολὺς
oudeis	epithēsetai	soi	tou	kakōsai	se	dioti	laos	esti	moi	polys
no one	will attack	you	the	so as to harm	you	because	people	are	my	many

No one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people.

Example V-NM-7b Infinitive of Result with εἰς τό

Romans 6:12

μὴ

…

βασιλευέτω

ἡ

ἁμαρτία

ἐν

…

ὑμῶν

σώματι

εἰς

τὸ

ὑπακούειν

ταῖς

ἐπιθυμίαις

αὐτοῦ

mē

…

basileuetō

hē

hamartia

en

…

hymōn

sōmati

eis

to

hypakouein

tais

epithymiais

autou

not

_

let reign

the

sin

in

_

your

body

so that

you obey

the

desires

of it

do not let sin rule in your … body, in order to obey its lusts.

Example V-NM-7c Infinitive of Result with ὥστε

The Infinitive of Result with ὥστε may be actual or intended.

Matthew 13:54

ἐδίδασκεν	αὐτοὺς	ἐν	τῇ	συναγωγῇ	αὐτῶν	ὥστε	ἐκπλήσσεσθαι	αὐτοὺς
edidasken	autous	en	tē	synagōgē	autōn	hōste	ekplēssesthai	autous
He was teaching	them	in	the	synagogue	of them	so as	to amaze	them

He taught them in their synagogue so as to astonish them

Example V-NM-8 Infinitive of Cause/Reason

The Infinitive of cause, gives the reason for the occurrence of an action.

Infinitives of cause are preceded by the preposition and definite article - διἀ τό. The helping word “because” may aide in translation.

The following example comes from John 2:24. In this passage we are told that Jesus was not entrusting himself to men even those who claimed to believe in Him. Why? What was the reason or cause?

John 2:24

διὰ	τὸ	αὐτὸν	γινώσκειν	πάντας
dia	to	auton	ginōskein	pantas
because	the	He	to know	all (men)

because he knew all {men} literal translation (old)

[Note: αὐτον is acting as the subject of the infinitive.]

V-NM-9 Infinitive of Time

Time (with the aid of a preposition)

The infinitive may be used with a preposition to indicate a time relationship between two events. One event may occur (“before”, or “while”, or “after” , or “until”) another event.

πρὸ (with or without the genitive- τοῦ), or πριν, or πριν ἤ - followed by the infinitive may be translated with the gloss – before.

Example V-NM-9 Infinitive of Time with the aid of the preposition προ or πριν

Jn 13:19

ἀπ’	ἄρτι	λέγω	ὑμῖν	πρὸ	τοῦ	γενέσθαι
ap’	arti	legō	hymin	pro	tou	genesthai
from	now	I am telling	you	before	the	to happen

From this moment I tell you, before it happens

Example V-NM-9a Infinitive of Time ἐν

ἐν (with the dative – τῷ) followed by the infinitive may be translated with the gloss – as, when, or while

The following example occurs in Luke 2:6. Mary and Joseph had just arrived in Bethlehem.

Luke 2:6

ἐγένετο

δὲ

ἐν

τῷ

εἶναι

αὐτοὺς

ἐκεῖ

ἐπλήσθησαν

αἱ

ἡμέραι

τοῦ

τεκεῖν

αὐτήν

egeneto

de

en

tō

einai

autous

ekei

eplēsthēsan

hai

hēmerai

tou

tekein

autēn

it happened

and

while

…

were

they

there

they were completed

the

days

…

to give birth

to her

And it happened that, while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to deliver.

[Note]: In this example note that “αὐτοὺς” is in the accusative case but serves as the subject of the infinitive “εἶναι”. As a verbal noun, an infinitive cannot have a subject, but be on the look out for a noun in the accustive that acts as if it were the subject of the infinitive. In this instance the pronoun is in the accusative plural instead of accusative singular.

Example V-NM-9b Infinitive of Time (μετὰ)

μετὰ (with the accusative – τὀ) followed by the infinitive may be translated with the gloss – after.

Mark 14:28

ἀλλὰ	μετὰ	τὸ	ἐγερθῆναί	με	προάξω	ὑμᾶς	εἰς	τὴν	Γαλιλαίαν
alla	meta	to	egerthēnai	me	proaxō	hymas	eis	tēn	Galilaian
but	after	…	am raised	I	I will go before	you	into	the	Galilee (region)

But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee

Example V-NM-9c Infinitive of Time (ἕως)

ἕως (with the genitive - τοῦ) followed by the infinitive may be translated with the gloss – until

Acts 8:40

Φίλιππος	…	εὐηγγελίζετο	τὰς	πόλεις	πάσας	ἕως	τοῦ	ἐλθεῖν	αὐτὸν	εἰς	Καισάρειαν.
Philippos	…	euēngelizeto	tas	poleis	pasas	heōs	tou	elthein	auton	eis	Kaisareian
Phillip	…	was preaching the good news	in the	cities	all	until		to came	he	into	Caesarea

Philip … was proclaiming the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

Noun uses of an Infinitive:

As a Substantive, an Infinitive can be used as:

Example V-NM-10 Infinitive as the subject of sentence

An Infinitive can be used as the subject of a sentence. This is especially the case when a complementary verb such as:

• δεῖ (it is necessary),

• ἔξεστιν (it is permitted),

• μἐλλω (I am about),

• δὐnαμαι (I am able),

• ἄρχομαι (I am beginning),

• θἐλω (I wish),

• κελεὐω (I command), and

• ὀφείλω (I ought) are followed by an infinitive.

Philippians 1:21

ἐμοὶ	γὰρ	τὸ	ζῆν	Χριστὸς	καὶ	τὸ	ἀποθανεῖν	κέρδος.
emoi	gar	to	zēn	Christos	kai	to	apothanein	kerdos
To me	for	to	live	(is) Christ	and	to	die	(is) gain

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Example V-NM-10a Infinitive as a direct or indirect object

An infinitive can be used as a direct or indirect object in a sentence. The infinitive may or may not have the article.

Luke 7:40

εἶπεν	πρὸςαὐτόν	Σίμων	ἔχω	σοί	τι	εἰπεῖν
eipen	pros	auton	Simōn	echō	soi	ti	eipein
He said	to	him	Simon	I have	to you	something	to say

He said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

Example V-NM-10b Infinitive modifying another word

An Infinitive may be used as an adjective to modify another word. When used to modify another noun or adjective the infinitive may occur with or without the article. When used as an adjective it is often used epexegetically to explain, clarify, or qualify the preceding noun.

John 4:32

ὁ	δὲ	εἶπεν	αὐτοῖς	ἐγὼ	βρῶσιν	ἔχω	φαγεῖν	ἣν	ὑμεῖς	οὐκ	οἴδατε
ho	de	eipen	autois	egō	brōsin	echō	phagein	hēn	hymeis	ouk	oidate
He	but	he said	to them	I	food	I have	to eat	which	you	not	you know

But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know.”

Example V-NM-10c Infinitive of Apposition

An infinitive can be used in apposition to another noun. In this case it defines the noun as opposed to adding an explanatory comment about the noun. The helping word “Namely” could be used to identify the appositional use of a word.

The passage begins with “This is the will of God…

1 Thessalonians 4:3

ὁ	ἁγιασμὸς	ὑμῶν	ἀπέχεσθαι	ὑμᾶς	ἀπὸ	τῆς	πορνείας
ho	hagiasmos	hymōn	apechesthai	hymas	apo	tēs	porneias
the	sanctification	your	to abstain	you	from	the	sexual immorality

your sanctification: that you keep yourselves from sexual immorality

Note: In this case , the infinitive phrase , “ἀπέχεσθαι (to be away from, to abstain) from sexual immorality” defines the noun hagiasmos (sanctification).

It could also be translated as “This is your sanctification, namely for you to abstain from sexual immorality.

Example V-NM-10d Infinitives qualified by an adjective

An infinitive can also be qualified by an adjective or an adjectival phrase. In the following example an infinitive (τὸ ἐπιτελέσαι) is modified by an infinitival phrase (ἐκ τοῦ ἔχειν).

2 Corinthians 8:11

οὕτως	καὶ	τὸ	ἐπιτελέσαι	ἐκ	τοῦ	ἔχειν
houtōs	kai	to	epitelesai	ek	tou	echein
thus	also	the	completing it	from	what	(you) have

so also there may be the completion, from what you have