Notes On Koine Greek: Part 28

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1. Koine Greek Prepositions: The general rule of thumb regarding prepositions

is this: A preposition “joins” with the noun to reveal movement, time or location.
In Greek, as Dave Black points out, the preposition ALWAYS comes before the
noun (hence the term: pre – position). Prepositions are words that verbs are often
just waiting on, so the sentence can be smoothed out and finished.
2. Prepositions Table #1: Here, I will offer a number of prepositions tables,
each different in its own right, though, still containing the same materials. Use
whatever is easiest for you to recall:

Prepositions Table #1 (By Movement, Time & Location)

Movement
avna, = Up; each; apiece
avpo, = Away from; from;
because of; of; by
eij = Into; toward; in;
throughout; so that
evk = Out of; away from;
from; of; because of; by
kata, = Down from;
throughout; against;
according to; for the purpose
of; with reference to
para = By; near; alongside;
from; beside; in the sight of;
in comparison to; against
pro,j = Toward; for; with
uvpo, = through; by; under;
below
*Note that no “cases” are mentioned in this table!
Time
dia, = During; throughout;
through; by; because of; on
account of; for the sake of
peri, = On behalf of; for;
concerning; around; with
reference to
Location
avnti, = In the place of; instead of;
for; as
evn = Within; among; in; with; by;
while; when; because of
evpi, = On; near; at; during; on the
basis of; against; over a period
meta = After; among; with
pro, = In front of; before
su,n = With; in association with
uvpe,r = In place of; on behalf of; for
the sake of; more than; over above;
beyond; over
 3. Prepositions Table #2: In this table, I have arranged the prepositions
according to how they function in relation to the noun cases. Do take note of the
fact that no prepositions are in the Nominative or Vocative cases!

Prepositions Table #2 (By Case)

Genitive
avnti, = In the place of;
instead of; for; as
avpo, = Away from; from;
because of; of; by
dia, = During; throughout;
through; by
evk = Out of; away from;
from; of; because of; by
evpi, = On; near; at; during;
on the basis of
kata, = Down from;
throughout; against
meta = Among; with
para = By; from
peri, = On behalf of; for;
concerning
pro, = In front of; before
uvpe,r = In place of; on
behalf of; for the sake of
uvpo, = Through; by
Dative Accusative
evn = Within; among; in; avna, = Up; each; apiece
with; by; while; when;
because of
evpi, = On; near; at; during; dia, = because of; on
on the basis of; against; account of; for the sake of
over a period
para = Near; beside; in the eij = Into; toward; in;
sight of throughout; so that
su,n = With; in association evpi, = On; to; near; during;
with against; over a period of
kata, = in accordance with;
according to; during; for the
purpose of; with reference
to
meta = After
para = Near; alongside of;
from; in comparison to;
against
peri, = Around; with
reference to
pro,j = Toward; for; with
uvpe,r = More than; over
above; beyond; over
uvpo, = Under; below
 4. Prepositions Tube: This illustration is akin to what you would find in many
modern Koine Greek grammars. Here’s my take:
pro,j = Toward; for;
with uvpe,r = More than; over
above; beyond; over
avna, = Up; each; apiece
eij = Into; toward; in;
throughout; so that

evpi, = On; near; at; Also: uvpo, = Through;

during; on the basis of by

avpo, = Away from;

from; because of;
of; by
dia, = During; through-
out; through; by

pro, = In front of;

before
meta = Among; with;
after

evn = Within; among; in;

para = Near; along- with; by; while; when;
side of; from; in com- because of
parison to; against evk = Out of; away from;
from; of; because of; by
kata, = Down from;
peri, = Around; with throughout; against uvpo, = Under; below
reference to

su,n = With; in associ-

ation with *Note: The only one I had trouble adding to this chart was: avnti, = In the place of;
instead of; for; as.

5. A Lame Mnemonic Device: If prepositions denote movement, time and

location, this mnemonic, using the first letter of each preposition to form an
acronym, may help you remember the 16 prepositions: Pam’s pee keep u up
adam? (It has movement: the pee; time: the night; and location: Adam’s place.)