[Note: There is no tense formative in the aorist subjunctive]
[Note: There is no augment in the aorist subjunctive]
Dependent Clauses
The most common use of the subjunctive is in dependent or conditional clauses. In fact, if the if the translator sees an ἐάν, ἐι, or ἄν they should start looking for a verb in the subjunctive case.
Example
Mark 8:35
ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν
hos ean thelē tēn psychēn autou sōsai, apolesei autēn
who ever continually wishes the soul of him to save, he will lose it
whoever wants to save his soul will lose it
[Note: the word for word translation picks up on the continual aspect of the present subjunctive.]
Independent Clauses
The subjunctive case may also be used in an independent clause that is
1) Asking a question or is seeking an answer, or in a
2) Rhetorical question that is asking a question for the purpose of directing the hearers thinking, but not expecting an answer.
Example expecting an answer
Matthew 11:3
σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ἢ ἕτερον προσδοκῶμεν?
sy ei ho erchomenos, ē heteron prosdokōmen?
You are you the one who is coming or another shall we expect?
Are you the one coming, or are we expecting another?
[Note: In order to pick up on the continuous aspect of the present subjunctive, this could be translated - Are you the one who is coming or are we to continue looking for another?]
Example rhetorical question
Romans 6:1
ἐπιμένωμεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσῃ?
epimenōmen tē hamartia, hina hē charis pleonasē?
Shall we continue in sin in order that the grace may abound?
Should we continue in sin so that grace may abound?
[Note: πλεονάσῃ is an aorist subjunctive following a ἵνα clause. See ______ below.]
Subjunctive of Purpose/Result
ἵνα + a verb in the Subjunctive mood may be used to express the purpose for or result from a course of action. Approximately one-third (1/3) of uses of the subjunctive case in the New Testament fall into this category.
Acts 16:30
"κύριοι, τί με δεῖ ποιεῖν, ἵνα σωθῶ?
"kyrioi, ti me dei poiein, hina sōthō?
Sirs, what I it is necessary to do in order that I may be saved?
“Sirs, what must I do in order to be saved?”
Exhortative Subjunctive
The Exhortative Subjunctive is also known as the Hortatory Subjunctive. It occurs almost always as a first-person plural expression. It is a polite way of encouraging others to join the speaker in a course of action. Sometimes it is also used as a command.
egeiresthe, agōmen! idou, ēngiken ho paradidous me!"
Arise, Let us go Look he is approaching the one who is betraying me
Get up, that we might go. Behold, the one betraying me has approached
[Note: In this example ἐγείρεσθε is a second person plural imperative. Therefore the force of the imperative is carried over onto “Let us go.”]
Prohibitive Subjunctive
μή + a verb in the aorist subjunctive is used to indicate a prohibition.
οὐ μή + a verb in the aorist subjunctive is used to indicate an emphatic prohibition. Jesus uses this form to express that something will never happen. It adds extra strength to the prohibition.
Example of Simple prohibition
Matthew 1:20
μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαρίαν τὴν γυναῖκά σου
mē phobēthēs paralabein Marian tēn gynaika sou
not do fear to take Mary the wife of you
you should not fear to take Mary as your wife,
Example of emphatic prohibition
Matthew 24:35
οἱ δὲ λόγοι μου οὐ μὴ παρέλθωσιν
hoi de logoi mou ou mē parelthōsin
the but words of me never they will pass away
but my words may certainly not pass away.
General Subjunctive
The subjunctive may also occur without any of the key words (ἄν, ἐάν, ἕως, ὅταν, ὁς αν,or ὄπου ἄν) to indicate something that is possible or even probable.
Matthew 13:29
ἐκριζώσητε ἅμα αὐτοῖς τὸν σῖτον.
ekrizōsēte hama autois ton siton.
you may uproot together with it the wheat
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
[ Note could use Matthew 18:23 - The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man…]
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