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There are less than 70 optatives in the entire NT. In general, it can be said that the optative is the mood used when a speaker wishes to portray an action as possible. It usually addresses cognition, but may be used to appeal to the volition. Along with the subjunctive and imperative, the optative is one of potential or oblique moods.
- Voluntative Optative (Optative of Obtainable Wish, Volitive Optative)
This is the use of the optative in an independent clause to express an obtainable wish or a prayer. It is frequently an appeal to the will, in particular when used in prayers.
- Rom 3:3-4 If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? (4) May it never be! But let God be [found] true, and every man [be found] a liar
- Potential Optative
This use of the optative occurs with the particle an in the apodosis of an incomplete fourth class condition. It is used to indicate a consequence in the future of an unlikely condition. There are no complete fourth class conditions in the NT. The protasis (which also uses the optative) needs to be supplied. The idea is If he could do something, he would do this. Only a handful of examples occur in the NT, all in Luke's writings.
- Luke 1:62 They were making signs to his father as to what he would want to call him
- Acts 17:18 Some [of the philosophers] were saying, "What would this babbler say?"
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