Verse in Focus
Galatians 6:4 : τὸ δὲ ἔργον ἑαυτοῦ δοκιμαζέτω ἕκαστος, καὶ τότε εἰς ἑαυτὸν μόνον τὸ καύχημα ἕξει καὶ οὐκ εἰς τὸν ἕτερον·
Modern Pronunciation: to de Érgon eaftoú dokimazéto ékastos, ke tóte is eaftón mónon to kávchima éxi ke ouk is ton héteron.
Literal English: But the work of himself let each one test, and then to himself alone he will have the boasting and not to the other.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
- τὸ δὲ ἔργον – “but the work”
– τὸ: nominative/accusative neuter singular article
– δὲ: postpositive particle (marks mild contrast)
– ἔργον: accusative neuter singular noun (“deed, work”) - ἑαυτοῦ – genitive masculine singular reflexive pronoun (“his own”)
- δοκιμαζέτω – 3rd person singular present active imperative of δοκιμάζω (“let him test/prove”)
- ἕκαστος – nominative masculine singular adjective (“each”) acting as subject
- τότε – adverb (“then”)
- εἰς ἑαυτὸν μόνον – prepositional phrase (“to himself alone”)
– εἰς: preposition + accusative
– ἑαυτὸν: reflexive pronoun
– μόνον: adverb (“only”) - τὸ καύχημα – accusative neuter singular (“boast, boasting”)
- ἕξει – 3rd person singular future active indicative of ἔχω (“he will have”)
- καὶ οὐκ εἰς τὸν ἕτερον – “and not to the other”
– negation οὐκ with prepositional phrase indicating contrast
What Happens in Modern Greek?
Modern Greek simplifies several elements while retaining the core structure. Here’s a natural rendering:
Ας εξετάζει ο καθένας το δικό του έργο, και τότε θα έχει καύχημα μόνο για τον εαυτό του και όχι για τον άλλον.
Transformations Observed
- Imperative: Koine uses 3rd person imperative δοκιμαζέτω (“let him test”) – a form rarely used today. Modern Greek opts for a more general imperative: ας εξετάζει (“let each one examine”).
- Pronouns: The reflexive ἑαυτοῦ / ἑαυτὸν survives but has simplified in form and frequency. Modern Greek uses τον εαυτό του.
- Case Loss: Koine uses accusative and genitive reflexives precisely; Modern Greek uses analytic prepositional constructions.
- Word Order: The Koine frontloads the object (τὸ ἔργον), while Modern Greek begins with the subject-verb structure: ο καθένας εξετάζει.
Table of Comparison
| Feature | Koine Greek | Modern Greek | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Person Imperative | δοκιμαζέτω | ας εξετάζει | 3rd person imperatives now expressed with modal forms |
| Reflexive Pronouns | ἑαυτοῦ, ἑαυτὸν | εαυτό του | Simplified and restructured |
| Case Usage | Genitive/Accusative | Mostly Accusative + Prepositions | Genitive use narrowed in Modern Greek |
| Boast (καύχημα) | τὸ καύχημα ἕξει | θα έχει καύχημα | Future tense form aligns closely |
Reflections from the Grammar Shift
This verse reveals a linguistic path from high grammatical control to greater expressive clarity. While Koine uses compact, inflected forms to convey reflexivity, imperatives, and emphasis, Modern Greek externalizes these ideas using helper verbs, simplified forms, and clearer syntax. Yet remarkably, the backbone remains: the verse still challenges the reader to own their actions—grammatically and ethically.
