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In the eight-case system, the genitive defines, describes, qualifies,
restricts, limits. In this respect it is similar to an adjective, but is
more emphatic. Under the five-case system, the genitive case may be defined
as the case of qualification (or limitation as to kind) and _(
occasionally)_ separation. The genitive is the most exegetically significant
case to understand for exegesis and it must be mastered. We have had to
omit large portions of Wallace's discussion and all of the exegetical examples.
Be sure to read his full grammar on the genitive.
A. Adjectival Genitive
This broad category really touches the heart of the genitive. If the
genitive is primarily descriptive, then it is largely similar to the adjective
in functions. "The chief thing to remember is that the Genitive often
practically does the duty of an adjective, distinguishing two otherwise
similar things" (Moule, 38). However, although the genitive is primarily
adjectival in force, it is more emphatic than a simple adjective would
be.
Descriptive Genitive [ characterized by, described by ]
The genitive describes the head noun in a loose manner. The nature of
the collocation of the two nouns in this construction is usually quite
ambiguous. This is the "catch-all" genitive, the "drip pan" genitive,
the "black hole" of genitive categories that tries to such many
a genitive into its grasp!
- Rom 3:12 Let us put on the armor of light
Possessive Genitive [ belonging to, possessed by ]
The substantive in the genitive possesses the thing to which it stands
related. That is, in some sense the head noun is owned by the genitive
noun. Such ownership at times can be broadly defined and need not imply
the literal (and sometimes harsh) idea of possession of physical property.
Instead of the word of replace it with belonging to or _possessed
by_.
- Matt 26:51 the slave of the high priest
- John 20:28 Thomas said to him, " My lord and my God."
Genitive of Relationship
The substantive in the genitive indicates a familial relationship, typically
the progenitor of the person named by the head noun.
- Matt 20:20 the mother of the sons of Zebedee
- John 21:15 Simon, [son] of John
Partitive (Wholative) Genitive [ which is a part of ]
The substantive in the genitive denotes the whole of which the
head noun is a part. This is a phenomenological use of the genitive that
requires the head noun to have a lexical nuance indicating portion.
For example, "some of the Pharisees," "one of you,"
"a tenth of the city," "the branch of the tree," "a
piece of pie."
- Luke 19:8 half of my possessions
- Rom 11:17 some of the branches
Attributive Genitive (Hebrew Genitive, Genitive of Quality)
The genitive substantive specifies an attribute or innate quality of
the head substantive. If the noun in the genitive can be converted into
an attributive adjective, modifying the noun to which the genitive stand
related, then the genitive is likely an attributive genitive.
- Luke 18:6 judge of unrighteousness (= unrighteous judge)
- Rom 6:6 body of sin (= sinful body)
Attributed Genitive
This is just the opposite, semantically, of the attributive genitive.
The head noun, rather than the genitive, is functioning (in sense) as an
attributive adjective. If it is possible to convert the noun to which the
genitive stands related into a mere adjective, then the genitive is a good
candidate for this category. One simple way to do this conversion is to
omit the of in tranlation between the head noun and geitive, and
change the head noun into its corresponding adjective. Thus "newness
of life" becomes "new life."
- Rom 6:4 so that ... thus also we should walk in newness of life.
- Eph 1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power (= his surpassingly great power)
Genitive of Material [ made out of, consisting of ]
The genitive substantive specifies the material out of which the head
noun is made.
- Mark 2:21 a patch [made out] of unshrunk cloth
- Rev 18:12 cargo of gold and silver and precious stone
Genitive of Content [full of, containing]
The genitive substantive specifies the contents of the word to which
it is related. This word may be either a noun, adjective, or verb.
- John 21:8 the net full of fish
- Luke 2:40 Now the child continued to grow and become strong, (being) filled with wisdom (or full of wisdom)
*Genitive in Simple Apposition
Comments relating to both "Genitive in Simple Apposition"
and "Genitive of Apposition."*
The substantive in the genitive case refers to the same thing as the
substantive to which it is related. The equation, however, is not exact.
By "appositional genitive" we mean both kinds of apposition
(simple and gen. of apposition). Insert which is, namely,
or who is between the head noun and the genitive noun. If this makes
sense, an appositional genitive is likely.
Both categories fit the which is formula, so another test needs
to be used to distinguish the two. If the word of can be used before
the genitive in question, then it is a genitive of apposition. If it cannot,
then it is simple apposition related to another genitive.
Genitive in Simple Apposition
In simple apposition, both nouns are in the genitive case and the appositive
does not name a specific example that falls within the category
named by the noun to which it is related. Rather, it simply gives a different
designation that either clarifies who is the one named or shows a different
relation to the rest of the clause than what the first noun by itself could
display.
- Matt 2:11 They saw the child with Mary, his mother
- Eph 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
*Genitive of Apposition (Epexegetical Genitive, Genitive of Definition)
[ which is, that is, namely, who is ]*
See the opening comments in the previous category.
In the genitive of apposition, the head noun will (1) state a large
category, (2) be ambiguous, or (3) be metaphorical in its meaning, while
the genitive names a concrete or specific example that either falls within
that category, clarifies its ambiguity, or brings the metaphor down to
earth.
- Luke 22:1 the feast of unleavened bread
- John 2:21 He was speaking concerning the temple of his body (= the temple, which is his body)
Genitive of Subordination [ over ]
The genitive substatntive specifies that which is subordinated to or
under the dominion of the head noun.
- Matt 9:34 the ruler over the demons
Ablatival Genitive
The ablatival genitive basically involves the notion of separation.
This idea can be static (i.e., in a separate state) or progressive (movement
away from, so as to become separated). The emphasis may be on either the
state resulting from the separation or the cause of separation (in the
latter, origin or source is emphasized). For the most part, the ablative
gentive is being repaced in Koine Greek by ek or apo with the genitive.
Genitive of Separation [ out of, away from, from ]
The genitive substantive is that from which the verb or sometimes the
head noun is separated. Thus the genitive is used to indicate the point
of departure.
- Matt 10:14 Shake the dust from your feet.
- Eph 2:12 having been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel.
Genitive of Comparison [ than ]
Then genitive substantive, almost always after a comparative adjective
(e.g., pleiwn, meizwn), is used to indicate comparison. The genitive, then,
is the standard against which the comparison is made.
- Matt 6:25 Is not your life worth more than food?
- John 14:28 The Father is greater than I [am]
Verbal Genitive (Genitive Related to a Verbal Noun)
The subjective, objective, and plenary genitives are used with head
nouns that involve a verbal idea. That is, the head noun has a verb as
a cognate (e.g., Basileus has Basileuw as cognate).
Subjective Genitive
The genitive substantive functions semantically as the subject
of the verbal idea implicit in the head noun. If a subjective genitive
is suspected, attempt to convert the verbal noun to which the genitive
is related into a verbal form and turn the genitive into its subject. Thus,
for example, "the revelation of Jesus Christ" in Gal 1:12 becomes
"[What/the fact that] Jesus Christ reveals."
- Matt 24:27 So will the coming of the Son of Man be (= So shall it be when the Son of Man comes).
- Rom 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ (= Who will separate us from Christ's love for us)?
Objective Genitive
The genitive substantive functions semantically as the direct object
of the verbal idea implicit in the head noun. When an objective genitive
is suspected, attempt to convert the verbal noun to which the genitive
is related into a verbal form and turn the genitive into its direct object.
Thus, for example, "a demonstration of his righteousness" in
Rom 3:25 becomes "demonstrating his righteousness." A simpler
and less fool-proof method is to supply for the word of the words
for, about, concerning, toward, or sometimes
against.
- Matt 12:31 But the blasphemy of the Spirit will not be forgiven (= blasphemy against the Spirit " or "blaspheming the Spirit").
- Luke 11:42 Woe to you Pharisees! For ... you neglected justice and love that you have for God!
Plenary Genitive
The noun in the genitive is both subjective and objective. In
most cases, the subjective produces the objective notion. Simply apply
the "keys" used for the subjective and objective genitives.
If both ideas seem to fit in a given passage, _and do not contradict
but rather complement on another_, then there is a good possibility
that the genitive in question is a plenary genitive.
- 2Cor 5:14 for the love of Christ constrains us
- Rom 5:5 The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Adverbial Genitive
This is the use of the genitive that is similar in force to an adverb.
As well, often this use of the genitive has the force of a prepositional
phrase. Thus the genitive will normally be related to a verb or adjective
rather than a noun. (Even in instances where it is dependent on a noun,
there is usually an implicit verbal idea in the noun.)
Genitive of Time [ within which, during which ]
The genitive substantive indicates the kind of time, or time
within which the word to which it stands related takes place. The
easiest way to remember the genitive of time (as opposed to the dat.
and acc. of time) is to relate the genitive back to its basal signifiance.
The genitive is the case of quality, attribute, description, or kind.
Thus, the genitive of times indicates kind of time.
- John 3:2 He came to him during the night.
- 1Thess 2:9 working night and day
Genitive of Association [ in association with ]
The genitive substantive indicates the one with whom the noun to which
it stands related is associated.
- Matt 23:30 We would not have shared with them in the blood of the prophets
- Rom 8:17 Now if we are children, [we are] also heirs: on the one hand, heirs of God, on the other hand, fellow heirs with Christ.
After Certain Words
There are some uses of the genitive that do not neatly fit into any
of the above categories. Or, if they do fit into one of the above categories,
they are related to a word other than a noun.
Genitive After Certain Verbs (as a Direct Object)
Certain verbs take a genitive substantive as a direct object. These
verbs commonly correspond in meaning to some other function of the genitive,
e.g., separation, partitive, source, etc. The predominant uses can be grouped
into four types of verbs: sensation, _emotion/volition, sharing,
ruling_.
- Mark 5:41 Touching the hand of the little girl, he said to her, "Talitha cum."
Genitive After Certain Adjectives (and Adverbs)
Certain adjectives (such as axios, "worth [of]") and adverbs
normally take a genitive "object". In many instances the adjective/adverb
is an embedded transitive verb, thus taking an objective genitive (e.g.
"he is deserving of X" means "he deserves X") or involving
a partitive idea.
- Matt 26:66 He is deserving of death.
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