Welcome to Lesson 11 of the Latinum Institute's Koine Greek course for English speakers. In this lesson, we will explore the Greek verb ἔχω (echō), which means "to have" or "to hold." This is one of the most fundamental and frequently used verbs in Koine Greek, appearing throughout the New Testament and other Hellenistic texts. For a complete index of all lessons in this course, please visit https://latinum.substack.com/p/index.
Definition: The verb ἔχω (echō) primarily means "to have" or "to possess," but it can also mean "to hold," "to keep," "to be able," or "to be in a certain state or condition." It is a versatile verb that appears in many idiomatic expressions in Koine Greek.
FAQ Schema Q: What does ἔχω mean in Koine Greek? A: ἔχω (echō) means "to have," "to hold," or "to possess." It can also express states of being, ability, or relationships. The verb is used both literally (to have physical objects) and figuratively (to have qualities, conditions, or relationships).
Educational Schema Course: Koine Greek Language Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate Topic: Basic Verbs - ἔχω (to have) Learning Objectives: Students will learn to recognize, pronounce, and use the verb ἔχω in various contexts Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of Greek alphabet and pronunciation Materials: This lesson text, practice exercises, authentic Greek texts
How this topic word will be used: In this lesson, you will encounter ἔχω in various forms and contexts. We will see it used with direct objects (having things), in expressions of physical or emotional states (having pain, joy, etc.), and in idiomatic expressions. The examples progress from simple constructions to more complex uses, helping you build confidence in recognizing and understanding this essential verb.
Key Takeaways: -
ἔχω is an omega verb (ω-verb) that follows regular conjugation patterns -
It can mean "have," "hold," "possess," or express states of being -
The verb often appears with accusative direct objects -
It is used in many idiomatic expressions that differ from English usage -
Understanding ἔχω is essential for reading Koine Greek texts
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11.1a ὁ the (ho) ἄνθρωπος man (an-thrō-pos) ἔχει has (e-khei) δύο two (dy-o) υἱούς sons (hui-ous) 11.1b The man has two sons
11.2a οἱ the (hoi) μαθηταὶ disciples (ma-thē-tai) οὐκ not (ouk) ἔχουσιν have (e-khou-sin) ἄρτον bread (ar-ton) 11.2b The disciples do not have bread
11.3a ἔχω I-have (e-khō) χαρὰν joy (kha-ran) μεγάλην great (me-ga-lēn) ἐν in (en) τῇ the (tē) καρδίᾳ heart (kar-di-a) μου my (mou) 11.3b I have great joy in my heart
11.4a τί what (ti) ἔχεις you-have (e-kheis) ἐν in (en) τῇ the (tē) χειρί hand (khei-ri) σου your (sou) 11.4b What do you have in your hand?
11.5a πίστιν faith (pis-tin) ἔχομεν we-have (e-kho-men) εἰς in (eis) τὸν the (ton) θεόν God (the-on) 11.5b We have faith in God
11.6a ἡ the (hē) γυνὴ woman (gy-nē) εἶχεν had (ei-khen) δώδεκα twelve (dō-de-ka) ἔτη years (e-tē) ἀσθένειαν sickness (as-the-nei-an) 11.6b The woman had sickness for twelve years
11.7a οὐ not (ou) πάντες all (pan-tes) ἔχουσιν have (e-khou-sin) τὴν the (tēn) γνῶσιν knowledge (gnō-sin) 11.7b Not all have the knowledge
11.8a εἰ if (ei) ἀγάπην love (a-ga-pēn) ἔχετε you-have (e-khe-te) ἐν among (en) ἀλλήλοις one-another (al-lē-lois) 11.8b If you have love among one another
11.9a τὸ the (to) παιδίον child (pai-di-on) ἔχει has (e-khei) πέντε five (pen-te) ἄρτους loaves (ar-tous) κριθίνους barley (kri-thi-nous) 11.9b The child has five barley loaves
11.10a ἐξουσίαν authority (ex-ou-si-an) ἔχω I-have (e-khō) θεῖναι to-lay-down (thei-nai) τὴν the (tēn) ψυχήν life (psy-khēn) μου my (mou) 11.10b I have authority to lay down my life
11.11a πῶς how (pōs) ἔχεις you-have (e-kheis) φίλε friend (phi-le) 11.11b How are you, friend? (literally: How do you have yourself?)
11.12a οἱ the (hoi) πτωχοὶ poor (ptō-khoi) οὐδὲν nothing (ou-den) ἔχουσιν have (e-khou-sin) 11.12b The poor have nothing
11.13a εἰρήνην peace (ei-rē-nēn) ἔχετε you-have (e-khe-te) μετὰ with (me-ta) πάντων all (pan-tōn) ἀνθρώπων men (an-thrō-pōn) 11.13b Have peace with all men
11.14a τέκνα children (tek-na) οὐκ not (ouk) εἶχον they-had (ei-khon) οἱ the (hoi) δύο two (dy-o) 11.14b The two did not have children
11.15a ἔχει he-has (e-khei) ὦτα ears (ō-ta) ἀκούειν to-hear (a-kou-ein) 11.15b He has ears to hear
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11.1 ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἔχει δύο υἱούς. The man has two sons.
11.2 οἱ μαθηταὶ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἄρτον. The disciples do not have bread.
11.3 ἔχω χαρὰν μεγάλην ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου. I have great joy in my heart.
11.4 τί ἔχεις ἐν τῇ χειρί σου; What do you have in your hand?
11.5 πίστιν ἔχομεν εἰς τὸν θεόν. We have faith in God.
11.6 ἡ γυνὴ εἶχεν δώδεκα ἔτη ἀσθένειαν. The woman had sickness for twelve years.
11.7 οὐ πάντες ἔχουσιν τὴν γνῶσιν. Not all have the knowledge.
11.8 εἰ ἀγάπην ἔχετε ἐν ἀλλήλοις. If you have love among one another.
11.9 τὸ παιδίον ἔχει πέντε ἄρτους κριθίνους. The child has five barley loaves.
11.10 ἐξουσίαν ἔχω θεῖναι τὴν ψυχήν μου. I have authority to lay down my life.
11.11 πῶς ἔχεις, φίλε; How are you, friend?
11.12 οἱ πτωχοὶ οὐδὲν ἔχουσιν. The poor have nothing.
11.13 εἰρήνην ἔχετε μετὰ πάντων ἀνθρώπων. Have peace with all men.
11.14 τέκνα οὐκ εἶχον οἱ δύο. The two did not have children.
11.15 ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν. He has ears to hear.
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11.1 ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἔχει δύο υἱούς.
11.2 οἱ μαθηταὶ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἄρτον.
11.3 ἔχω χαρὰν μεγάλην ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου.
11.4 τί ἔχεις ἐν τῇ χειρί σου;
11.5 πίστιν ἔχομεν εἰς τὸν θεόν.
11.6 ἡ γυνὴ εἶχεν δώδεκα ἔτη ἀσθένειαν.
11.7 οὐ πάντες ἔχουσιν τὴν γνῶσιν.
11.8 εἰ ἀγάπην ἔχετε ἐν ἀλλήλοις.
11.9 τὸ παιδίον ἔχει πέντε ἄρτους κριθίνους.
11.10 ἐξουσίαν ἔχω θεῖναι τὴν ψυχήν μου.
11.11 πῶς ἔχεις, φίλε;
11.12 οἱ πτωχοὶ οὐδὲν ἔχουσιν.
11.13 εἰρήνην ἔχετε μετὰ πάντων ἀνθρώπων.
11.14 τέκνα οὐκ εἶχον οἱ δύο.
11.15 ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν.
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The verb ἔχω is a regular omega verb (ω-verb) in Koine Greek. It follows the standard conjugation patterns for this class of verbs.
Present Tense Conjugation: -
ἔχω (e-khō) - I have -
ἔχεις (e-kheis) - you have (singular) -
ἔχει (e-khei) - he/she/it has -
ἔχομεν (e-kho-men) - we have -
ἔχετε (e-khe-te) - you have (plural) -
ἔχουσι(ν) (e-khou-si[n]) - they have
Imperfect Tense (Past Continuous): -
εἶχον (ei-khon) - I was having/had -
εἶχες (ei-khes) - you were having/had -
εἶχε(ν) (ei-khe[n]) - he/she/it was having/had -
εἴχομεν (ei-kho-men) - we were having/had -
εἴχετε (ei-khe-te) - you were having/had -
εἶχον (ei-khon) - they were having/had
Key Usage Points: -
Direct Objects: ἔχω typically takes its object in the accusative case: -
ἔχω βιβλίον (I have a book) - βιβλίον is accusative -
Duration of Time: When expressing how long someone has had something, Greek uses the accusative of duration: -
εἶχεν δώδεκα ἔτη ἀσθένειαν (she had sickness for twelve years) -
Idiomatic Uses: -
πῶς ἔχεις; (How are you?) - literally "How do you have?" -
καλῶς ἔχει (It is well) - literally "It has well" -
With Infinitives: ἔχω can be used with infinitives to express ability or something to do: -
ἔχω λέγειν (I have [something] to say)
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Case Confusion: English speakers often forget that the object of ἔχω must be in the accusative case, not nominative. -
Wrong: ἔχω ὁ ἄρτος -
Correct: ἔχω τὸν ἄρτον -
Word Order: While Greek word order is flexible, placing ἔχω at the very end of a long sentence can make it unclear what the subject is. -
Negation: Remember to use οὐ (ou) before consonants and οὐκ (ouk) before vowels when negating ἔχω. -
οὐκ ἔχω (I do not have) -
οὐ with other forms starting with consonants -
Aspect Confusion: English speakers may struggle with when to use present (ἔχω) versus imperfect (εἶχον). The imperfect emphasizes ongoing or repeated action in the past.
Unlike English, which uses auxiliary verbs for different tenses (I have, I had, I will have), Greek changes the verb ending itself. Also, Greek doesn't require a separate word for "do" in questions and negatives as English does ("Do you have?" vs. τί ἔχεις;).
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Identify what tense you need (present for current possession, imperfect for past possession) -
Conjugate ἔχω according to the subject (I, you, he/she/it, we, you all, they) -
Put the object in the accusative case -
Remember that word order is flexible, but verb often comes early in the sentence -
For questions, no auxiliary verb is needed - just use question words or intonation
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Understanding ἔχω in its cultural context helps English speakers grasp its full range of meanings in Koine Greek texts. In the Hellenistic world, the concept of "having" extended beyond mere possession to encompass relationships, social status, and spiritual conditions.
Social and Economic Context: In the ancient Mediterranean world, what one "had" often determined social standing. The distinction between those who ἔχουσιν (have) and those who οὐκ ἔχουσιν (do not have) appears frequently in texts discussing social justice and charity. The phrase οἱ ἔχοντες (those who have) became a way to refer to the wealthy class.
Philosophical Usage: Greek philosophers used ἔχω in abstract ways that influenced Koine Greek. The Stoics spoke of ἔχειν ἀρετήν (having virtue) as an internal possession more valuable than external goods. This philosophical background enriches New Testament uses of ἔχω when discussing spiritual possessions.
Religious Context: In Jewish-Greek texts like the Septuagint, ἔχω translates various Hebrew concepts of possession and relationship. The idea of "having" God's favor, wisdom, or spirit became central to religious expression. Early Christians adopted and adapted these uses.
Idiomatic Expressions: Many Greek idioms using ἔχω don't translate directly to English: -
ἔχειν ἐν γαστρί (to have in the womb) = to be pregnant -
καλῶς ἔχειν (to have well) = to be well/appropriate -
οὕτως ἔχειν (to have thus) = to be in this condition
Medical Language: Greek medical writers used ἔχω to describe patients' conditions. πῶς ἔχεις; could be a doctor's question about health, not just a casual greeting. This medical usage appears in healing narratives.
Legal Contexts: In legal documents, ἔχω indicated possession, rights, and obligations. Understanding these uses helps when reading passages about law, inheritance, or social obligations in Koine texts.
For English speakers, recognizing these cultural layers prevents overly literal translations and opens up the rich metaphorical world of Koine Greek expression.
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This passage describes Jesus at the pool of Bethesda, encountering a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years. The text demonstrates multiple uses of ἔχω in narrative context.
ἦν there-was (ēn) δὲ and (de) ἐκεῖ there (e-kei) ἄνθρωπός a-man (an-thrō-pos) τις certain (tis) τριάκοντα thirty (tri-a-kon-ta) καὶ and (kai) ὀκτὼ eight (ok-tō) ἔτη years (e-tē) ἔχων having (e-khōn) ἐν in (en) τῇ the (tē) ἀσθενείᾳ weakness (as-the-nei-a) αὐτοῦ his (au-tou). τοῦτον this-one (tou-ton) ἰδὼν seeing (i-dōn) ὁ the (ho) Ἰησοῦς Jesus (Iē-sous) κατακείμενον lying-down (ka-ta-kei-me-non) καὶ and (kai) γνοὺς knowing (gnous) ὅτι that (ho-ti) πολὺν much (po-lyn) ἤδη already (ē-dē) χρόνον time (khro-non) ἔχει he-has (e-khei), λέγει says (le-gei) αὐτῷ to-him (au-tō), Θέλεις do-you-want (the-leis) ὑγιὴς healthy (hy-gi-ēs) γενέσθαι to-become (ge-nes-thai); ἀπεκρίθη answered (a-pe-kri-thē) αὐτῷ to-him (au-tō) ὁ the (ho) ἀσθενῶν sick-man (as-the-nōn), Κύριε Lord (Ky-ri-e), ἄνθρωπον man (an-thrō-pon) οὐκ not (ouk) ἔχω I-have (e-khō).
ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπός τις τριάκοντα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη ἔχων ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ αὐτοῦ. τοῦτον ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς κατακείμενον καὶ γνοὺς ὅτι πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον ἔχει, λέγει αὐτῷ, Θέλεις ὑγιὴς γενέσθαι; ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ἀσθενῶν, Κύριε, ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἔχω.
And there was there a certain man who had been in his sickness for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been in that condition a long time, he says to him, "Do you want to become well?" The sick man answered him, "Lord, I have no man."
ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπός τις τριάκοντα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη ἔχων ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ αὐτοῦ. τοῦτον ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς κατακείμενον καὶ γνοὺς ὅτι πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον ἔχει, λέγει αὐτῷ, Θέλεις ὑγιὴς γενέσθαι; ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ἀσθενῶν, Κύριε, ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἔχω.
This passage showcases three different uses of ἔχω: -
ἔχων (e-khōn) - Present participle, "having." This describes the man's ongoing condition. The participle agrees with ἄνθρωπός in case, number, and gender (nominative singular masculine). -
ἔχει (e-khei) - Present indicative, "he has." Here it means "he has been" in the sense of duration. Note the accusative of duration: πολὺν χρόνον (much time). -
οὐκ ἔχω (ouk e-khō) - Present indicative with negation, "I do not have." The sick man uses this to express his lack of human help.
For English Speakers: Notice how Greek uses the present tense with time expressions to indicate duration ("has been sick for 38 years"), where English would use the present perfect. Also observe the participial construction (ἔχων ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ) which English renders as "who had been in his sickness."
The passage also demonstrates the flexibility of ἔχω - from physical possession (not having a man to help) to expressing a state of being (having sickness/being sick). This multiplicity of uses makes ἔχω one of the most important verbs to master in Koine Greek.
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11.16a ἄνθρωπός a-man (an-thrō-pos) τις certain (tis) πλούσιος rich (plou-si-os) εἶχεν had (ei-khen) οἰκονόμον steward (oi-ko-no-mon)
11.17a ὁ the (ho) δὲ and (de) οἰκονόμος steward (oi-ko-no-mos) κακῶς badly (ka-kōs) εἶχεν had (ei-khen) τὰ the (ta) ὑπάρχοντα possessions (hy-par-khon-ta) τοῦ of-the (tou) κυρίου master (ky-ri-ou)
11.18a εἶπεν said (ei-pen) οὖν therefore (oun) ὁ the (ho) κύριος master (ky-ri-os) τί what (ti) ἀκούω I-hear (a-kou-ō) περὶ about (pe-ri) σοῦ you (sou) οὐκέτι no-longer (ou-ke-ti) ἔχεις you-have (e-kheis) ἐξουσίαν authority (ex-ou-si-an) οἰκονομεῖν to-manage (oi-ko-no-mein)
11.19a ὁ the (ho) δὲ and (de) οἰκονόμος steward (oi-ko-no-mos) εἶπεν said (ei-pen) ἐν in (en) ἑαυτῷ himself (he-au-tō) τί what (ti) ποιήσω shall-I-do (poi-ē-sō) οὐκ not (ouk) ἔχω I-have (e-khō) ἰσχὺν strength (is-khyn) σκάπτειν to-dig (skap-tein)
11.20a καλέσας calling (ka-le-sas) οὖν therefore (oun) ἕνα one (he-na) ἕκαστον each (he-kas-ton) τῶν of-the (tōn) χρεοφειλετῶν debtors (khre-o-phei-le-tōn) ἔλεγεν he-said (e-le-gen) πόσον how-much (po-son) ὀφείλεις you-owe (o-phei-leis) ἔχεις you-have (e-kheis) γράμματα documents (gram-ma-ta)
11.21a ὁ the (ho) δὲ and (de) εἶπεν said (ei-pen) ἑκατὸν hundred (he-ka-ton) βάτους baths (ba-tous) ἐλαίου oil (e-lai-ou) ἔχω I-have (e-khō) τὸ the (to) γράμμα document (gram-ma) ὧδε here (hō-de)
11.22a ταχέως quickly (ta-khe-ōs) λαβὼν taking (la-bōn) τὸ the (to) γράμμα document (gram-ma) ἔγραψεν he-wrote (e-gra-psen) πεντήκοντα fifty (pen-tē-kon-ta) νῦν now (nyn) ἔχεις you-have (e-kheis) νέον new (ne-on) γράμμα document (gram-ma)
11.23a ἕτερος another (he-te-ros) ἦλθεν came (ēl-then) ὃς who (hos) εἶχεν had (ei-khen) χρέος debt (khre-os) ἑκατὸν hundred (he-ka-ton) κόρων measures (ko-rōn) σίτου wheat (si-tou)
11.24a ὁ the (ho) οἰκονόμος steward (oi-ko-no-mos) εἶπεν said (ei-pen) αὐτῷ to-him (au-tō) γράψον write (gra-pson) ὀγδοήκοντα eighty (og-do-ē-kon-ta) ἔχε have (e-khe) τὸ the (to) καινὸν new (kai-non) γράμμα document (gram-ma)
11.25a οὕτως thus (hou-tōs) πάντες all (pan-tes) οἱ the (hoi) χρεοφειλέται debtors (khre-o-phei-le-tai) ἔσχον had (es-khon) ἔλεος mercy (e-le-os) καὶ and (kai) ὁ the (ho) οἰκονόμος steward (oi-ko-no-mos) εἶχεν had (ei-khen) φίλους friends (phi-lous)
11.26a ὅτε when (ho-te) ὁ the (ho) κύριος master (ky-ri-os) ἤκουσεν heard (ē-kou-sen) ἐθαύμασεν he-marveled (e-thau-ma-sen) ὅτι that (ho-ti) φρόνησιν wisdom (phro-nē-sin) εἶχεν had (ei-khen) ὁ the (ho) οἰκονόμος steward (oi-ko-no-mos)
11.27a οἱ the (hoi) υἱοὶ sons (hui-oi) τοῦ of-the (tou) κόσμου world (kos-mou) φρονιμώτεροι wiser (phro-ni-mō-te-roi) εἰσὶν are (ei-sin) καὶ and (kai) ἔχουσιν have (e-khou-sin) σοφίαν wisdom (so-phi-an) πρακτικήν practical (prak-ti-kēn)
11.28a ὁ the (ho) ἔχων having (e-khōn) φίλους friends (phi-lous) ἐκ from (ek) τοῦ the (tou) μαμωνᾶ mammon (ma-mō-na) ἕξει will-have (he-xei) τόπον place (to-pon) ἐν in (en) ταῖς the (tais) αἰωνίοις eternal (ai-ō-ni-ois) σκηναῖς dwellings (skē-nais)
11.29a πᾶς everyone (pas) ὁ who (ho) ἔχων has (e-khōn) ὦτα ears (ō-ta) ἀκούειν to-hear (a-kou-ein) ἀκουέτω let-him-hear (a-kou-e-tō) τί what (ti) ἔχει has (e-khei) ἡ the (hē) παραβολὴ parable (pa-ra-bo-lē) διδάσκειν to-teach (di-das-kein)
11.30a οἱ the (hoi) μαθηταὶ disciples (ma-thē-tai) ἔχοντες having (e-khon-tes) ἀπορίαν perplexity (a-po-ri-an) ἠρώτων asked (ē-rō-tōn) τίς who (tis) δύναται is-able (dy-na-tai) ἔχειν to-have (e-khein) σωτηρίαν salvation (sō-tē-ri-an)
11.16 ἄνθρωπός τις πλούσιος εἶχεν οἰκονόμον. A certain rich man had a steward.
11.17 ὁ δὲ οἰκονόμος κακῶς εἶχεν τὰ ὑπάρχοντα τοῦ κυρίου. And the steward was handling his master's possessions badly.
11.18 εἶπεν οὖν ὁ κύριος· τί ἀκούω περὶ σοῦ; οὐκέτι ἔχεις ἐξουσίαν οἰκονομεῖν. Therefore the master said, "What do I hear about you? You no longer have authority to manage."
11.19 ὁ δὲ οἰκονόμος εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ· τί ποιήσω; οὐκ ἔχω ἰσχὺν σκάπτειν. And the steward said within himself, "What shall I do? I do not have strength to dig."
11.20 καλέσας οὖν ἕνα ἕκαστον τῶν χρεοφειλετῶν ἔλεγεν· πόσον ὀφείλεις; ἔχεις γράμματα; Therefore, calling each one of the debtors, he said, "How much do you owe? Do you have the documents?"
11.21 ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ἑκατὸν βάτους ἐλαίου. ἔχω τὸ γράμμα ὧδε. And he said, "A hundred baths of oil. I have the document here."
11.22 ταχέως λαβὼν τὸ γράμμα ἔγραψεν πεντήκοντα. νῦν ἔχεις νέον γράμμα. Quickly taking the document, he wrote fifty. "Now you have a new document."
11.23 ἕτερος ἦλθεν ὃς εἶχεν χρέος ἑκατὸν κόρων σίτου. Another came who had a debt of a hundred measures of wheat.
11.24 ὁ οἰκονόμος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· γράψον ὀγδοήκοντα. ἔχε τὸ καινὸν γράμμα. The steward said to him, "Write eighty. Have the new document."
11.25 οὕτως πάντες οἱ χρεοφειλέται ἔσχον ἔλεος καὶ ὁ οἰκονόμος εἶχεν φίλους. Thus all the debtors received mercy and the steward had friends.
11.26 ὅτε ὁ κύριος ἤκουσεν, ἐθαύμασεν ὅτι φρόνησιν εἶχεν ὁ οἰκονόμος. When the master heard, he marveled that the steward had wisdom.
11.27 οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ κόσμου φρονιμώτεροί εἰσιν καὶ ἔχουσιν σοφίαν πρακτικήν. The sons of the world are wiser and have practical wisdom.
11.28 ὁ ἔχων φίλους ἐκ τοῦ μαμωνᾶ ἕξει τόπον ἐν ταῖς αἰωνίοις σκηναῖς. The one having friends from mammon will have a place in the eternal dwellings.
11.29 πᾶς ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω τί ἔχει ἡ παραβολὴ διδάσκειν. Everyone who has ears to hear, let him hear what the parable has to teach.
11.30 οἱ μαθηταὶ ἔχοντες ἀπορίαν ἠρώτων· τίς δύναται ἔχειν σωτηρίαν; The disciples, having perplexity, asked, "Who is able to have salvation?"
11.16 ἄνθρωπός τις πλούσιος εἶχεν οἰκονόμον.
11.17 ὁ δὲ οἰκονόμος κακῶς εἶχεν τὰ ὑπάρχοντα τοῦ κυρίου.
11.18 εἶπεν οὖν ὁ κύριος· τί ἀκούω περὶ σοῦ; οὐκέτι ἔχεις ἐξουσίαν οἰκονομεῖν.
11.19 ὁ δὲ οἰκονόμος εἶπεν ἐν ἑαυτῷ· τί ποιήσω; οὐκ ἔχω ἰσχὺν σκάπτειν.
11.20 καλέσας οὖν ἕνα ἕκαστον τῶν χρεοφειλετῶν ἔλεγεν· πόσον ὀφείλεις; ἔχεις γράμματα;
11.21 ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ἑκατὸν βάτους ἐλαίου. ἔχω τὸ γράμμα ὧδε.
11.22 ταχέως λαβὼν τὸ γράμμα ἔγραψεν πεντήκοντα. νῦν ἔχεις νέον γράμμα.
11.23 ἕτερος ἦλθεν ὃς εἶχεν χρέος ἑκατὸν κόρων σίτου.
11.24 ὁ οἰκονόμος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· γράψον ὀγδοήκοντα. ἔχε τὸ καινὸν γράμμα.
11.25 οὕτως πάντες οἱ χρεοφειλέται ἔσχον ἔλεος καὶ ὁ οἰκονόμος εἶχεν φίλους.
11.26 ὅτε ὁ κύριος ἤκουσεν, ἐθαύμασεν ὅτι φρόνησιν εἶχεν ὁ οἰκονόμος.
11.27 οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ κόσμου φρονιμώτεροί εἰσιν καὶ ἔχουσιν σοφίαν πρακτικήν.
11.28 ὁ ἔχων φίλους ἐκ τοῦ μαμωνᾶ ἕξει τόπον ἐν ταῖς αἰωνίοις σκηναῖς.
11.29 πᾶς ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω τί ἔχει ἡ παραβολὴ διδάσκειν.
11.30 οἱ μαθηταὶ ἔχοντες ἀπορίαν ἠρώτων· τίς δύναται ἔχειν σωτηρίαν;
Special Uses of ἔχω in Parable Narrative: -
Idiomatic Expression: κακῶς ἔχειν (11.17) - literally "to have badly," meaning "to handle badly" or "to be in a bad state." This construction with an adverb + ἔχω is common in narrative. -
Aorist Forms: Note ἔσχον (11.25) - the aorist of ἔχω uses a different stem (σχ-). This is an important irregular form: -
ἔσχον - I had/received -
ἔσχες - you had -
ἔσχε(ν) - he/she/it had -
ἔσχομεν - we had -
ἔσχετε - you (pl.) had -
ἔσχον - they had -
Future Tense: ἕξει (11.28) shows the future of ἔχω: -
ἕξω - I will have -
ἕξεις - you will have -
ἕξει - he/she/it will have -
ἕξομεν - we will have -
ἕξετε - you (pl.) will have -
ἕξουσι(ν) - they will have -
Participle Uses: The parable shows multiple participial forms: -
ἔχων (masculine nominative singular) - "having/the one who has" -
ἔχοντες (masculine nominative plural) - "having/those who have" These often function as substantives: ὁ ἔχων = "the one who has" -
Imperative: ἔχε (11.24) - the imperative "have!" or "take!" This form is less common but appears in direct speech. -
With Infinitive: ἔχω + infinitive can express: -
Ability: οὐκ ἔχω ἰσχὺν σκάπτειν - "I am not able to dig" (literally: "I don't have strength to dig") -
Purpose/Content: τί ἔχει ἡ παραβολὴ διδάσκειν - "what the parable has to teach" -
Narrative Techniques: Parables often use ἔχω to establish initial conditions (εἶχεν οἰκονόμον - "had a steward") and to show changes in status or relationship throughout the story.
Common Parable Patterns with ἔχω: -
Introduction of possessions or relationships -
Expression of lack or need (οὐκ ἔχω) -
Changes in having/not having as plot development -
Final state of having as story resolution
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The Latinum Institute has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006, pioneering audio-based approaches to ancient language acquisition. These lessons represent a unique method that combines traditional philological rigor with modern pedagogical insights.
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