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G686 ἄρα (ára)
Greek
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Quick Definition

ἄρα Disj.prt. then, therefore, since

Strong's Definition

probably from 142 (through the idea of drawing a conclusion); a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive (as follows)

KJV Usage: haply, (what) manner (of man), no doubt, perhaps, so be, then, therefore, truly, wherefore. Often used in connection with other particles, especially 1065 or 3767 (after) or 1487 (before). Compare also 687

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

part.

89.46 · Relations · Result

so, then, consequently, as a result a marker of result as an inference from what has preceded (frequently used in questions and in the result clause of conditional sentences)

MAT 7:20 · MAT 12:28 · MAT 17:26 · MAT 18:1 · MAT 19:25 · MAT 19:27 · LUK 1:66 · LUK 11:20 · LUK 11:48 · ACT 11:18 · ROM 5:18 · ROM 7:3 · ROM 7:21 · ROM 7:25 · ROM 8:1 · ROM 8:12 · ROM 9:16 · ROM 9:18 · ROM 10:17 · ROM 14:12 · ROM 14:19 · 1CO 5:10 · 1CO 7:14 · 1CO 15:14 · 1CO 15:15 · 1CO 15:18 · 2CO 1:17 · 2CO 5:14 · 2CO 7:12 · GAL 2:21 · GAL 3:7 · GAL 3:29 · GAL 5:11 · GAL 6:10 · EPH 2:19 · 1TH 5:6 · 2TH 2:15 · HEB 4:9 · HEB 12:8

71.7 · Mode · Possible, Impossible

possible a marker of the possibility of something being true

MAT 24:45 · MRK 4:41 · LUK 8:25 · LUK 12:42 · LUK 22:23

71.19 · Mode · Certain, Uncertain

perhaps a degree of uncertainty

MRK 11:13 · ACT 8:22 · ACT 12:18 · ACT 17:27 · ACT 21:38

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

ἄρα, an illative particle (akin, as it seems, to the verbal root APQ to join, to be fitted, [cf. Curtius § 488 ; Vanitek p- 47]), whose use among native Greeks is illustrated fully by Kiihner ii. §$ 509, 545; [Jelf §§ 787-789], and Klotz ad Devar. ii. pp. 160-180, among others; [for a statement of diverse views see Biumlein, Griech. Partikeln, p. 19 sq.]. It intimates that, “under these circumstances something either is so or becomes so” (Klotz loc. p. 167): Lat. igitur, consequently, [differing from οὖν in ‘denoting a subjective impression rather than a positive conclusion.” L. and S. (see 5 below)]. In the N. T. it is used frequently by Paul, but in the writings of John and in the so-called Catholic Epistles it does not occur. On its use in the N. T. cf. W. §§ 53, 8 a. and 61,6. Itis found 1. subjoined to another word : Ro. vii. 21; viii.1; Gal. iii. 7; ἐπεὶ ἄρα since, if it were otherwise, 1 Co. vii. 14; [v. 10, cf. B. §149,5]. When placed after pronouns and interrogative particles, it refers to a preceding assertion or fact, or even to something existing only inthe mind. τίς ἄρα who then? Mt. xviii. 1 (1. e. one certainly will be the greater, who then?); Mt. xix. 25 (i. e. certainly some will be saved; you say that the rich will not; who then?); Mt. xix. 27; xxiv. 45 (I bid you be ready; who then etc.? the question follows from this command of mine); Mk. iv. 41; Lk. i. 66 (from all these things doubtless something follows ; what, then ?) ; LK. viii. 25 ; xii. 42; xxii. 23 (it will be one of us, which then ?); Acts xii. 18 (Peter has disappeared; what, then, has become of him?). εἰ ἄρα, Mk. xi. 13 (whether, since the tree had leaves, he might also find some fruit on it) ; Acts vii. 1 [Ree.] (ἄρα equiv. to ‘since the witnesses testify thus’); Acts viii. 22 (if, since thy sin is so grievous, perhaps the thought ete.) ; εἴπερ dpa, 1 Co. xv. 15, (Δ) τ, εἰ dpa, Gen. xviii. 3). οὐκ dpa, Acts xxi. 38 (thou hast a knowledge of Greek; art thou not then the Egyptian, as I suspected ?); μήτι dpa (Lat. num igitur), did I then ete., 2 Co. i. 17. 2. By a use doubtful in Grk. writ. (ef. B. 371 (318); [W. 558 (519)]) it is placed at the beginning of a sentence; and so, so then, accordingly, equiv. to ὥστε with a finite verb: ἄρα μαρτυρεῖτε [μάρτυpes ἐστε T Tr WH], Lk. xi. 48 (Mt. xxiii. 81 ὥστε paptupeite); Ro. x. 17; 1 Co. xv. 18; 2 Co. v. 14 (15) (in LT Tr WH noconditional protasis preceding) ; 2 Co. vii. 12; Gal. iv. 31 (LT Tr WH &é); Heb. iv. 9. 3. inan apodosis, after a protasis with εἰ, in order to bring out what follows as a matter of course, (Germ. so ist ja the obvious inference is): Lk. xi. 20; Mt. xii. 28; 2 Co. ν. 14 (15) (R G, a protasis with εἰ preceding); Gal. ii. 21; iii. 29; v.11; Heb. xii. 8; joined to another word, 1 Co. xv. 14. 4. with yé, rendering it more pointed, dpaye [14 Tr uniformly ἄρα ye; so R WH in Acts xvii. 27; cf. W. p.45; Lips. Gram. Untersuch. p. 123], surely then, so then, (Lat. itaque ergo): Mt. vii. 20; xvii. 26; Acts xi. 18 (1, T Tr WH om. γέ) ; and subjoined to a word, Acts xvii. 27 [W. 299 (281)]. 5. ἄρα οὖν, a combination peculiar to Paul, at the beginning of a sentence (W. 445 (414); B. 371 (318), [dpa ad internam potius caussam spectat, οὖν magis ad externam.” Kotz ad Devar. ii. p. 717; ἄρα is the more logical, οὖν the more formal connective; “ ἄρα is illative, οὖν continuative,” Win. 1. ο.; ef. also Kushner § 545, 3]), [R. V.] so then, (Lat. hine igitur) : Ro. v. 18; vii. 3, 25; viii. 12; ix. 16, 18; xiv. 12 (L Tr om. WH br. οὖν) ; 19 [L mre. ἄρα]; Galfyi, 10: phat 19. Phys 65 2. ΤῊ: 1 15. dpa, an interrogative particle [“implying anxiety or impatience on the part of the questioner.” L. and S. s. v.], (of the same root as the preceding ἄρα, and only differing from it in that more vocal stress is laid upon the first syllable, which is therefore circumflexed) ; 1: num igitur, i. e. marking an inferential question to which a negative answer is expected: Lk. xviii. 8; with ye rendering it more pointed, dpa ye [G T dpaye]: Acts viii. 30; [ἄρα οὖν... . διώκομεν Lehm. ed. min. also maj. mrg. are we then pursuing ete. Ro. xiv. 19]. 2. ergone i.e. a question to which an affirmative answer is expected, in an interrogative apodosis, (Germ. so ist also wohl ?), he is then? Gal. ii. 17 (where others [e. g. Lchm.] write dpa, so that this example is referred to those mentioned under dpa, 3, and is rendered Christ is then a minister of sin; but μὴ γένοιτο, which follows, is everywhere by Paul opposed to a question). Cf. W. 510 (475) sq. [also B. 247 (213), 371 (318); Herm. ad Vig. p. 820 sqq.; Klotz ad Deyar. ii. p. 180 sqq.; speaking somewhat loosely, it may be said “ ἄρα expresses bewilderment as to a possible conclusion. . . dpa hesitates, while ἄρα coneludes.” Bp. Lghtft. on Gal. 1. ¢.].

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

ἄρα, illative particle, expressing a more subjective or informal inference than οὖν, then: prop. (as in cl.), the second word in the sentence, Ro 7:21 8:1, Ga 3:7; ἐπεὶ ἄρα, I Co 7:14 (with another word between) 5:10; as the first word, Lk 11:48, Ac 11:18, Ro 10:17, I Co 15:18, II Co 5:15 7:12, He 4:9; so prop. in apodosis after protasis with εἰ, Mt 12:28, Lk 11:20, Ga 2:21 3:29 5:11, He 12:8 (κενὸν ἄρα), I Co 15:14; often in interrogations, direct and indirect, τίς (τί) ἄρα, Mt 18:1 19:25, 27 24:45, Mk 4:41, Lk 1:66 8:25 12:42 22:23, Ac 12:18; εἰ ἄρα, Mk 11:13, Ac 8:22; εἴπερ ἄρα, I Co 15:15; οὐκ ἄρα, Ac 21:38; μήτι ἄρα, II Co 1:17; in strengthened forms, ἄρα γε, ἄραγε, Mt 7:20 17:26, Ac 17:27, and more freq. ἄρα οὖν (Epp. Paul.), so then, Ro 5:18 7:3, 25 8:12 9:16, 18 14:12, 19, Ga 6:10, Eph 2:19, I Th 5:6, II Th 2:15 (Bl., § 77, 2; 78, 5; MM, s.v.).†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

ἄρα. For εἰ ἄρα, sz forte, as in Mk 115, Ac 855, cf. P Petr II. 13 (19)® (middle of iii/B.c.) (= Witkowski, p. 19) εἰ 8 ἄρα μὴ ὁρᾶις ὃν δυνατόν, P Hal ri 172 (middle of iii/B.c.), εἰ δὲ ἄρα δεῖ αὐτοῖς σταθμοὺς δίδοίσθ᾽αι πία]ρὰ τῶν οἰκονόμων, διδότωσαν α[ὐ]τοῖς τοὺς ἀναγκαίους. See also P Oxy VII. τογοῦῦ (iii/A.D.) μὴ ἀμελήσῃς μὴ ἄρα ποτὲ θέλῃς μ[εἸτὰ σ[ο]ῦ [ρ]αείδι τὴν τήρησιν τῆς ὅλης οἰκίας παραδιδόναι, “do not neglect this, lest indeed you choose to hand over the keeping of the whole house to Herais” (Ed.): cf. P Amh 11. 84” (ii/iii A.D.) . . . Jpevos μὴ ἄρα τι

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

ἄρα (ara) — therefore. ἄρᾰ, Epic dialect ῥά (which is enclitic and used after monosyllables, ἦ, ὅς, γάρ, etc., or words ending in a vowel or diphthong, e.g. ἐπεί), before a consonant ἄρ (perhaps cf. Lithuanian i[rtilde] 'and'): expressing consequence, then, or mere succession, there and then, and in many derived uses. __A EARLIER USAGE: to denote, __A.I immediate transition, there and then, straightway, ὣς φάτο βῆ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ Ὄνειρος[Refs 8th c.BC+]: after a participle, ὣς εἰπὼν κατ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἕζετο[Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὕτως ἄρα[Refs 5th c.BC+]; often in apodosi, as αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ θηήσατο.. αὐτίκ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἤλυθεν[Refs 8th c.BC+]: in enumerations, e. g. in Homer's catalogue, then, next, οἱ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ Ἀθήνας εἶχον[Refs]; so in genealogies, Σίσυφος.. ὁ δ᾽ ἄ. Γλαῦκον τέκεθ᾽ υἱόν[Refs] __A.I.2 to draw attention, mark you! τὸν τρεῖς μὲν ἐπιρρήσσεσκον.. τῶν ἄλλων Ἀχιλεὺς δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐπιρρήσσεσκε καὶ οἶος[Refs]: to point a moral or general statement, φευγόντων δ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἂρ κλέος ὄρνυται οὔτε τις ἀλκή[Refs] __A.II connexion, such as, __A.II.1 that of antecedent and consequent, οἰνοχόει.. ἄσβεστος δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐνῶρτο γέλως[Refs]: also in questions, τίς τ᾽ ἄρ τῶν ὄχ᾽ ἄριστος ἔη; who then (say you) was.. ? [Refs]he it was, whom.., [Refs], thus, then he spoke.—This usage is universal in Greek. __A.II.2 explanation of that which precedes, χωόμενον κατὰ θυμὸν ἐϋζώνοιο γυναικὸς τήν ῥα.. ἀπηύρων whom (and for this cause he was angry) they had taken away, [Refs]; εἰ μὴ ὑπερφίαλον ἔπος ἔκβαλε.. φῆ ῥ᾽ ἀέκητι θεῶν φυγέειν for he said, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; so with relatives, ἐκ δ᾽ ἔθορε κλῆρος ὃν ἄρ᾽ ἤθελον αὐτοί the very one which.., [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B LATER USAGE, always with inferential force: 1. in drawing conclusions (more subjective than οὖν), ἄριστον ἄ. ἡ εὐδαιμονία[Refs 4th c.BC+]: especially by way of informal inference, as it seems, οὐκ ἄ. σοί γε πατὴρ ἦν Πηλεύς[Refs 8th c.BC+]; οὕτω κοινόν τι ἄ. χαρᾷ καὶ λύπῃ δάκρυά ἐστιν so true is it that.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so in announcing the discovery or correction of an error, as οὐκ ἐννενοήκαμεν ὅτι εἰσὶν ἄ... [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰκότως ἄ. οὐκ ἐγίγνετο· ὡς γὰρ ἐγὼ νῦν πυνθάνομαι.. [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.2 in questions, expressing the anxiety of the questioner, τίς ἄ. ῥύσετα; who is there to save ? [Refs 4th c.BC+]; so in exclamations to heighten the expression of emotion, οἵαν ἄρ᾽ ἥβην.. ἀπώλεσεν what a band of youth was that.. ! [Refs]; so ὡς ἄρα[Refs 5th c.BC+]; πῶς ἄ.; οὕτως ἄ., etc.; ἄ. alone, ἔζης ἄ.[Refs 5th c.BC+]: especially in ironical comments, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.3 epexegetic, namely, ἐρῶ, ὡς ἄ... [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.4 for τοι ἄρα, τἄρα, see entry τοι [Refs] __B.5 εἰ (or ἐάν) μὴ ἄ. unless perhaps, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; separated from εἰ μή, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.6 in hypothetical clauses, to indicate the improbability of the supposition, ἢν ἄ. ποτὲ κατὰ γῆν βιασθῶσιν[Refs 5th c.BC+]; or simply, perhaps (sometimes separated from εἰ), εἴ τις οὖν ὑμῶν ἄ... ὑπελάμβανεν[Refs 5th c.BC+] __C IN CRASIS, frequently τἄρα, μεντἄρα, οὐτἄρα: also δήξομἄρα for δήξομαι ἄ., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἰμώξετἄρα, κλαύσἄρα, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __D ἄρα never stands first in the sentence in Classical Greek [Refs 4th c.BC+], but is found at the beginning of an apodosis in [NT], and first in a sentence, [NT+2nd c.AD+]; in conclusion of syllogism, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

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