Just like English prepositional phrases, Greek prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and end with that preposition’s object. Prepositional phrases can function adverbially or adjectivally. video
NOTE: Unlike English prepositions, the meaning of Greek prepositions changes based on the case of the OP as in the example of δια below (cf. BBG 8.3). Study chapter 8 in BBG.
ανα
OP always Accusative
- Distributive: in the midst of; each, apiece (with numbers)
- Spatial (in composition with verbs): up, motion upwards
αντι
OP always Genitive
- Substitution: instead of, in place of
- Exchange/Equivalence: for, as, in the place of
The notions of exchange and substitution are quite similar, often blending into each other.
Cause (debatable): because of
απο
OP always Genitive
- Separation (from place or person): away from
- Source: from, out of
- Cause: because of
- Partitive (i.e., substituting for a partitive gen.): of
- Agency (rare): by, from
δια
With Genitive OP
- Agency: by, through
- Means: through
- Spatial: through
- Temporal: through(out), during
With Accusative OP
- Cause: because of, on account of, for the sake of
- Spatial (rare): through
εις
OP is always accusative
- Spatial: into, toward, in
- Temporal: for, throughout
- Purpose: for, in order to, to
- Result: so that, with the result that
- Reference/Respect: with respect to, with reference to
- Advantage: for
- Disadvantage: against
- in the place of εν (with its various nuances)
εκ
OP always genitive
- Source: out of, from
- Separation: away from, from
- Temporal: from, from this point…on
- Cause: because of
- Partitive (i.e., substituting for a partitive gen.): of
- Means: by, from
εν
OP always dative
- Spatial/Sphere: in (and various other translations)
- Temporal: in, within, when, while, during
- Association (often close personal relationship): with
- Cause: because of
- Instrumental: by, with
- Reference/Respect: with respect to/with reference to
- Manner: with
- Thing Possessed: with (in the sense of which possesses)
- Standard (=Dative of Rule): according to the standard of
- As an equivalent for εις (with verbs of notion)
επι
With Genitive OP
- Spatial: on, upon, at near
- Temporal: in the time of, during
- Cause: on the basis of
With Dative OP
- Spatial: on, upon, against, at, near
- Temporal: at, at the time of, during
- Cause: on the basis of
With Accusative OP
- Spatial: on, upon, to, up to, against
- Temporal: for, over a period of
κατα
With Genitive OP
- Spatial: down from, throughout
- Opposition: against
- Source: from
With Accusative OP
- Standard: in accordance with, corresponding to
- Spatial: along, through (extension); toward, up to (direction)
- Temporal: at, during
- Distributive: “indicating the division of a greater whole into individual parts”
- Purpose: for the purpose of
- Reference/Respect: with respect to, with reference to
μετα
With Genitive OP
- Association/Accompaniment: with, in company with
- Spatial: with, among
- Manner (Attendant Circumstance): with
With Accusative OP
- Temporal: after, behind
- Spatial (rare): after, behind
παρα
With Genitive OP
- Source/Spatial: from
- Agency: from, by
With Dative OP
- Spatial: near, beside
- Sphere: in the sight of, before (someone)
- Association: with (someone/something)
- Virtually equivalent to simple dative
With Accusative OP
- Spatial: by, alongside of, near, on
- Comparison: in comparison to, more than
- Opposition: against, contrary to
περι
With Genitive OP
- Reference: concerning
- Advantange/Representation: on behalf of, for (= υπερ)
With Accusative OP
- Spatial: around, near
- Temporal: about, near
- Reference/Respect: with regard/reference to
προ
OP always genitive
- Spatial: before, in front of, at
- Temporal: before
- Rank/Priority: before
προς
OP is always accusative
- Purpose: for, for the purpose of
- Spatial: toward
- Temporal: toward, for (duration)
- Result: so that, with the result that
- Opposition: against
- Association: with, in company with (with stative verbs)
συν
OP always dative
- Expresses accompaniment/association: with, in association (company) with
υπερ
With Genitive OP
- Representation/Advantage: on behalf of, for the sake of
- Reference/Respect: concerning, with reference to (= περι)
- Substitution: in the place of, instead of (= αντι) (such instances also involve representation)
With Accusative OP
- Spatial: over, above
- Comparison: more than, beyond
υπο
With Genitive OP
- (Ultimate) Agency: by
- Intermediate Agency (with active verbs): through
- Means: by (rare)
With Accusative OP
- Spatial: under, below
- Subordination: under (the rule of)
