Demonstrative Pronouns

Biblical Greek Lesson 14

Demonstrative pronouns are words used to indicate or emphasize particular persons, objects, or concepts. These pronouns are typically used to show proximity (this vs. that) and can also convey emphasis.

Demonstrative pronouns follow the case, gender, and number system of the nouns, changing form based on whether the word they modify is masculine, feminine, neuter, and whether it's singular or plural.

οὗτος (“this”)

It is used to refer to something or someone close in proximity, time, or focus, either literally or conceptually. Emphatic use can emphasize a specific person, thing, or idea in a sentence.

Masculine:

Singular:

Nominative: οὗτος (this)

Genitive/Ablative: τούτου (of this)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: τούτῳ (to/for this)

Accusative: τοῦτον (this)

Plural:

Nominative: οὗτοι (these)

Genitive/Ablative: τούτων (of these)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: τούτοις (to/for these)

Accusative: τούτους (these)

Feminine:

Singular:

Nominative: αὕτη (this)

Genitive/Ablative: ταύτης (of this)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: ταύτῃ (to/for this)

Accusative: ταύτην (this)

Plural:

Nominative: αὗται (these)

Genitive/Ablative: τούτων (of these)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: ταύταις (to/for these)

Accusative: ταύτας (these)

Neuter:

Singular:

Nominative: τοῦτο (this)

Genitive/Ablative: τούτου (of this)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: τούτῳ (to/for this)

Accusative: τοῦτο (this)

Plural:

Nominative: ταῦτα (these)

Genitive/Ablative: τούτων (of these)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: τούτοις (to/for these)

Accusative: ταῦτα (these)

John 6:14: οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης ὁ ἐρχόμενος εἰς τὸν κόσμον.

οὗτος functions as a demonstrative pronoun for identifying or emphasizing something nearby or immediately relevant in space, time, or focus. It frequently introduces or highlights the subject of attention in a discourse.

ἐκεῖνος (“that”)

It refers to something farther away or separate from the speaker or subject. Emphatic use for emphasis or contrast, distinguishing a particular person, thing, or idea from others. Contrastive use is often paired with οὗτος to draw a contrast between two entities.

Masculine:

Singular:

Nominative: ἐκεῖνος (that)

Genitive/Ablative: ἐκείνου (of that)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: ἐκείνῳ (to/for that)

Accusative: ἐκεῖνον (that)

Plural:

Nominative: ἐκεῖνοι (those)

Genitive/Ablative: ἐκείνων (of those)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: ἐκείνοις (to/for those)

Accusative: ἐκείνους (those)

Feminine:

Singular:

Nominative: ἐκείνη (that)

Genitive/Ablative: ἐκείνης (of that)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: ἐκείνῃ (to/for that)

Accusative: ἐκείνην (that)

Plural:

Nominative: ἐκεῖναι (those)

Genitive/Ablative: ἐκείνων (of those)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: ἐκείναις (to/for those)

Accusative: ἐκείνας (those)

Neuter:

Singular:

Nominative: ἐκεῖνο (that)

Genitive/Ablative: ἐκείνου (of that)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: ἐκείνῳ (to/for that)

Accusative: ἐκεῖνο (that)

Plural:

Nominative: ἐκεῖνα (those)

Genitive/Ablative: ἐκείνων (of those)

Dative/Locative/Instrumental: ἐκείνοις (to/for those)

Accusative: ἐκεῖνα (those)

John 1:18: ὁ μονογενὴς υἱός, ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρός, ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

ἐκεῖνος is a demonstrative pronoun used to denote distance in space, time, or emphasis, contrasting with closer or immediate entities denoted by οὗτος. It often serves to highlight, distinguish, or provide emphasis.

Vocabulary:

τέκνον: “Child,” “Born one”

σπέρμα: “Seed”

πράσσω: “To practice,” “To do”

ἀνομία: “Lawlessness”

φανερός: “Manifest, evident”

σφάζω: “To slay as a sacrifice”