Quick Definition
at least, indeed, really
Strong's Definition
Derivation: a primary particle of emphasis or qualification (often used with other particles prefixed)
KJV Usage: and besides, doubtless, at least, yet
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
γέ, an enclitic particle, answering exactly to no one word in Latin or English; used by the Biblical writers much more rarely than by Greek writers. How the Greeks use it, is shown by (among others) Hermann ad Vig., p. 822ff; Klotz ad Devar. ii. 1, p. 272ff; Rost in Passow's Lexicon, i., p. 538ff; (Liddell and Scott, under the word; T. S. Evans in Journ. of class. and sacr. Philol. for 1857, pp. 187ff). It indicates that the meaning of the word to which it belongs has special prominence, and therefore that that word is to be distinguished from the rest of the sentence and uttered with greater emphasis. This distinction "can be made in two ways, by mentioning either the least important or the most; thus it happens that γέ seems to have contrary significations: 'at least' and 'even'" (Hermann, the passage cited, p. 822).
1. where what is least is indicated; indeed, truly, at least: διά γέ τήν ἀναίδειαν, Luk_11:8 (where, since the force of the statement lies in the substantive not in the preposition, the Greek should have read διά τήν γέ ἀναίδειαν, cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 327; Rost, the passage cited, p. 542; (Liddell and Scott, under the word IV.)); διά γέ τό παρέχειν μοι κόπον, at least for this reason, that she troubleth me (A. V. yet because etc.), Luk_18:5 (better Greek διά τό γέ etc.).
2. where what is most or greatest is indicated; even: ὅς γέ the very one who etc., precisely he who etc. (German deresjaist,welcher etc.), Rom_8:32; cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 305; Matthiae, Lex. Euripides i., p. 613f.
3. joined to other particles it strengthens their force;
a. ἀλλά γέ (so most editions) or ἀλλαγε (Griesbach) (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 5, 2): Luk_24:21; 1Co_9:2; see ἀλλά, I. 10.
b. ἄρα γέ or ἄραγε, see ἄρα, 4. ἄρα γέ, see ἄρα, the passage cited εἴγε (so G T, but L Tr WH εἰ γέ; cf. Winers Grammar, as above; Lipsius Gram. Unters., p. 123), followed by the indicative if indeed, seeing that, of a thing believed to be correctly assumed (Herm. ad Vig., p. 831; cf. Fritzsche, Praeliminarien as above with p. 67ff; Anger, Laodicenerbrief, p. 46; (Winer's Grammar, 448 (417f). Others hold that Hermann's statement does not apply to the N. T. instances. According to Meyer (see notes on 2Co_5:3; Eph_3:2; Gal_3:4) the certainty of the assumption resides not in the particle but in the context; so Ellicott (on Galatians, the passage cited; also Ephesians, the passage cited); cf. Lightfoot on Galatians, the passage cited; Col_1:23. Hermann's canon, though assented to by Bornemann (Cyrop. 2, 2, 3, p. 132), Stallbaum (Meno, p. 36), others, is qualified by Bäumlein (Partikeln, p. 64f), who holds that γέ often has no other effect than to emphasize the condition expressed by εἰ; cf. also Winer edition Moulton, p. 561)), if, that is to say; on the assumption that (see εἴπερ under the word εἰ, III. 13): Eph_3:2; Eph_4:21; Col_1:23; with καί added, if that also, if it be indeed (German wenndennauch): εἴγε (L Tr WH marginal reading εἰ περ) καί ἐνδυσάμενοι, οὐ γυμνοί εὑρεθησόμεθα if indeed we shall be found actually clothed (with a new body), not naked, 2Co_5:3 (cf. Meyer at the passage); εἴγε καί εἰκῇ namely, τοσαῦτα ἐπάθετε, if indeed, as I believe, ye have experienced such benefits in vain, and have not already received harm from your inclination to Judaism, Gal_3:4 (yet cf. Meyer, Ellicott, Lightfoot, others at the passage).
d. εἰ δέ μήγε (or εἰ δέ μή γέ Lachmann Treg.) (also in Plato, Aristophanes, Plutarch, others; cf. Bornemann, Scholia ad Luc., p. 95; Klotz ad Devar. ii. 2, p. 527), stronger than εἰ δέ μή (Buttmann, 393 (336f); cf. Winer's Grammar, 583 (543); 605 (563); Meyer on 2Co_11:16), a. after affirmative sentences, but unless perchance, but if not: Mat_6:1; Luk_10:6; Luk_13:9.
b. after negative sentences, otherwise, else, in the contrary event: Mat_9:17 Luk_5:36; Luk_14:32; 2Co_11:16.
e. καίγε (so G T, but L Tr WH καί γέ; cf. references under εἴγε above) (cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii. 1, p. 319; (Winers Grammar, 438 (408))), a. and at least: Luk_19:42 (Tr text WH omit; L Tr marginal reading brackets).
b. and truly, yea indeed, yea and: Act_2:18; Act_17:27 L T Tr WH.
f. καίτοιγε (so G T WH, but L καίτοι γέ, Tr καί τοι γέ; cf. references under c. above. Cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii. 2, p. 654; Winers Grammar, 444 (413)), although indeed, and yet indeed: Joh_4:2; also in Act_14:17 (R G); Rec. g. μενουγγε see in its place. h. μήτιγε, see μήτι (and in its place).
STRONGS NT 1065: διάγεδιάγε, see γέ, 1.
STRONGS NT 1065: μήγεμήγε, εἰ δέ μήγε, see γέ, 3 d.
STRONGS NT 1065: ὅσγεὅσγε, for ὅς γέ, see γέ, 2.
STRONGS NT 1065: τοιγετοιγε in καίτοιγε, see γέ, 3 f.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
γε Genesis 24 x
an enclitic particle imparting emphasis; indicating that a particular regard is to be had to the term to which it is attached. Its force is to be conveyed, when this is possible, by various expression; at least, indeed, even
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
γε ,
enclitic postpositive particle, rarer in κοινή than in cl ., giving special prominence to the word to which it is attached, distinguishing it as the least or the most important ( Thayer , s.v. ), indeed, at least, even (but not always translatable into English);
1. used alone: Luk_11:8 ; Luk_18:5 Rom_8:32 .
2. More freq . with other particles: αλλά γε , Luk_24:21 , 1Co_9:2 ; ἄρα γε , Mat_7:20 ; Mat_17:26 , Act_17:27 ; ἆρά γε , Act_8:30 ; εἴ γε ( Rec. εἴγε ), 2Co_5:3 , Gal_3:4 , Eph_3:2 ; Eph_4:21 , Col_1:23 ( v. Meyer , Ellic ., on Ga, Eph, ll . c .; Lft ., on Ga, Col, ll . c .); εἰ δὲ μήγε , following an affirmation, Mat_6:1 , Luk_10:6 ; Luk_13:9 ; a negation, Mat_9:17 , Luk_5:36-37 ; Luk_14:32 , 2Co_11:16 ; καί γε ( Rec. καίγε , cl . καὶ . . . γε ), Luk_19:42 ( WH om .), Act_2:18 ; Act_17:27 ; καίτοιγε ( L καίτοι γε , Tr . καί τοι γε ), Joh_4:2 ; μενοῦνγε ( v. s.v. ); μήτι γε , see μήτι ; ὄφελόν γε , 1Co_4:8 .†
διά -γε ( WH , διά γε ), see γέ .
μήγε , see γε .
ὅσγε = ὅς γε , see γέ .
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
γε / μήγε [pages 121, 409]
A good example of the emphasis imparted by this particle is afforded by P Lond 42 .18 (B.C. 168) (= I. p. 30, Selections , p. 10) εἰς πᾶν τι ἐληλυθυῖα διὰ τὴν τοῦ σίτου τιμήν , καὶ . δο [κο ]ῦσα ν [ῦ ]γ [γ ]ε σοῦ παραγενομένου τεύξεσθαί τινος ἀναψυχῆς , having come to the last extremity because of the high price of corn, and thinking that now at last on your return I should obtain some relief. The same document, l. 23, illustrates the μήτιγε of 1Co_6:3 μὴ ὅτι γε τοσούτου χρόνου ἐπιγεγονότος , not to speak of so much time having gone by (see Proleg. p. 240). For the combination εἰ δὲ μή γε cf. P Oxy VIII. 1159 .6 (late iii/A.D.) εἰ δὲ μή γε , σύνταξαι αὐτῷ ὅτι ἐλεύσεται μέχρι ιε̄ Φαμενώθ , otherwise, arrange with him that he shall come by the 13th Phamenoth (Ed.), Chrest. I. 167 .25 (B.C. 131) προνοήθητι ὡς μάλιστα μὲν συνπληρωθήσεται τὰ τοῦ παρελθόντος ἔτους κεφ [ά ]λαια , εἰ δὲ μή γε , οὐκ ἐλάσσω τῶν κ̄ζ̄ (ταλάντων ), if possible, . . . but if not, at any rate . . . , Cagnat IV. 833 (Hierapolis, after ii/A.D.) οὐδενὶ δὲ ἑτέρῳ ἐξέσται κηδευθῆναι· εἰ δὲ μή γε , ὁ ἐπιχειρήσας δώσει τῷ ἱερωτάτῳ ταμείῳ δηνάρια μύρια the editor needlessly extrudes γε . On εἴ γε , καίτοι γε , μενοῦν γε , etc., see these combinations in their places below.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
γε, enclitic postpositive particle, rarer in κοινή than in cl., giving special prominence to the word to which it is attached, distinguishing it as the least or the most important (Thayer, see word),
indeed, at least, even (but not always translatable into English);
__1. used alone: Luk.11:8 18:5 Rom.8:32.
__2. More frequently with other particles: αλλά γε, Luk.24:21, 1Co.9:2; ἄρα γε, Mat.7:20 17:26, Act.17:27; ἆρά γε, Act.8:30; εἴ γε (Rec. εἴγε), 2Co.5:3, Gal.3:4, Eph.3:2 4:21, Col.1:23 (see Meyer, Ellic., on Ga, Eph, ll. with; Lft., on Ga, Col, ll. with); εἰ δὲ μήγε, following an affirmation, Mat.6:1, Luk.10:6 13:9; a negation, Mat.9:17, Luk.5:36, 37 14:32, 2Co.11:16; καί γε (Rec. καίγε, cl. καὶ . . . γε), Luk.19:42 (WH om.), Act.2:18 17:27; καίτοιγε (L καίτοι γε, Tr. καί τοι γε), Jhn.4:2; μενοῦνγε (see see word); μήτι γε, see: μήτι; ὄφελόν, 1Co.4:8.
† (AS)
