Present Subjunctive Active
Biblical Greek Lesson 15
The Present Subjunctive Active verb represents an action that is viewed as continuous, repetitive, or habitual, and it is used in situations involving uncertainty or possibility.
The subjunctive mood reflects uncertainty, potentiality, or intent regarding an action. It indicates that the action is not a definite fact but something that could occur under specific conditions.
The Present Subjunctive Active is formed by taking the present tense stem of the verb, adding the appropriate connecting vowel (-ω- or -η-), and appending the subjunctive endings.
Subjunctive Active Endings:
Person | Singular | Plural
1st | -ω | -ωμεν
2nd | -ῃς | -ητε
3rd | -ῃ | -ωσι(ν)
The Present Subjunctive Active of εἰμί ('to be') is irregular, as it does not follow the typical conjugation patterns of regular verbs. Instead, it has unique forms.
The paradigm of the Present Subjunctive Active for εἰμί:
Person | Singular | Plural
1st | ὦ | ὦμεν
2nd | ᾖς | ἦτε
3rd | ᾖ | ὦσι(ν)
The subjunctive forms of εἰμί utilize a long connecting vowel (ω or η), as is typical in the subjunctive mood.
The endings align with the standard subjunctive endings for thematic verbs in Greek.
The subjunctive mood is often used in purpose clauses introduced by the conjunction ἵνα.
Present Subjunctive (John 3:17)
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλʼ ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος διʼ αὐτοῦ.
Aorist Subjunctive (John 12:23)
But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀποκρίνεται αὐτοῖς λέγων ἐλήλυθεν ἡ ὥρα ἵνα δοξασθῇ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
The μή is predominately used as the negative for the subjective mood.
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mtthew 26:41.
γρηγορεῖτε καὶ προσεύχεσθε, ἵνα μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς πειρασμόν· τὸ μὲν πνεῦμα πρόθυμον ἡ δὲ σὰρξ ἀσθενής.
The subjunctive mood does not convey absolute time in any tense. Instead, it is aspectual, meaning it conveys the type or quality of the action rather than its timing. However, its function can be influenced by the context and by the tense of the verb used within the subjunctive.
The subjunctive mood predominately uses two tenses:
Present Subjunctive: Indicates continuous, habitual, or ongoing action.
Aorist Subjunctive: Indicates simple, undefined, or completed action.
The tense does not refer to past, present, or future time in the subjunctive but instead reflects the aspect (the kind of action).
The time element in a sentence with the subjunctive is determined by the main verb or the overall context of the clause. For example:
In future-oriented clauses, the subjunctive looks forward in time.
In purpose clauses, it typically refers to an action yet to occur.
In conditional sentences, it relates to a hypothetical or potential action.
When the subjunctive is used with particles like ἐάν ("if"), it often refers to potential or future action:
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).
ἐν τούτῳ γνώσονται πάντες ὅτι ἐμοὶ μαθηταί ἐστε, ἐὰν ἀγάπην ἔχητε ἐν ἀλλήλοις.
ἐὰν ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους...
"If perhaps you should love one another..." (a future condition based on ongoing action, ἀγαπᾶτε is present subjunctive).
Purpose Clauses with ἵνα (Future-Oriented):
Subjunctive verbs in clauses introduced by ἵνα ("in order that") often look forward:
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:21)
ἵνα πάντες ἓν ὦσιν, καθὼς σύ, πάτερ, ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν σοί, ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἡμῖν ὦσιν, ἵνα ὁ κόσμος πιστεύῃ ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας.
ἵνα πιστεύσωσιν
"In order that they should believe." (πιστεύσωσιν, aorist subjunctive, expresses a simple future-oriented purpose).
Conditional Clauses (Uncertain or Hypothetical Time):
Subjunctive verbs in conditional clauses express a potential action tied to the condition:
“Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” (John 7:51)
μὴ ὁ νόμος ἡμῶν κρίνει τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ πρῶτον παρʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ ⸂γνῷ τί ποιεῖ⸃;
ἐὰν ζητῇ τις εἰπεῖν
"If perhaps anyone should seek to speak..." (ζητῇ, present subjunctive, continuous or habitual seeking).
Prohibitions with μή (General Time):
Subjunctive verbs negated by μή express prohibitions, often future-oriented:
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
γρηγορεῖτε καὶ προσεύχεσθε,* ἵνα μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς πειρασμόν· τὸ μὲν πνεῦμα πρόθυμον ἡ δὲ σὰρξ ἀσθενής.
μὴ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς πειρασμόν (Matthew 26:41)
"Should not enter into temptation." (εἰσέλθῃς, aorist subjunctive, a simple, undefined action to avoid).
Vocabulary
ἁμαρτάνω, I sin
ἀναβαίνω, I go up, acend
ἀνά, on, upon, up
ἵνα, in order that
μεριμνάω, care about
ἀργός, idle
σπερμολόγος, a seed picker
ἀγαπῶμεν, we should love
γινώσκωμεν, we should experientially know
μένωμεν, we should abide
ἔχωμεν, we should have
ὁμολογῶμεν, we should verbally agree (confess)
πλανηθῶμεν, we should be caused to wander, led astray
ἁμάρτῃς, you should sin