[B-Greek] middle voice

Mitch Larramore mitchlarramore at yahoo.com
Mon Sep 15 08:42:31 EDT 2003


'The beginner is apt to jump to the conclusion that
the Greek Middle Voice is reflexive. This is not so.
It denotes that the subject performs the action FOR
himself, but TO himself'. (NT Greek, by Dr. Eric Jay,
page 14)

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In my other first year Greek Grammar book, it seems to
say something slightly different than what this
Grammar book says about the Middle Voice. I was under
the strong impression that the middle voice IS used to
show action performed 'TO oneself' by oneself.

In fact, the middle voice of LOUW is given as 'I wash
myself' in my other grammar. This seems like the
subject is performing and directing the action 'TO
himself'. I was even thinking that the idea of 'I get
myself washed' could be either middle or passive. If
middle, 'I get myself washed by my own doing' seems to
mean that the subject is doing the action TO himself.
At first I thought I was just missing a small nuance,
but then it seems bigger now.








=====
Mitch Larramore
Spring Branch, Texas
Student/Memorial High School

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