Lexical Summary de: but, and, now, moreover Original Word: δέ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance also, and, but, moreover, now. A primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc. -- also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English). HELPS Word-studies 1161 dé (a conjunction) – moreover, indeed now . . . , on top of this . . . , next . . . NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition but, and, now, (a connective or adversative particle) NASB Translation after (2), also (2), another* (8), even (4), even though (1), former* (1), however (6), moreover (1), moreover* (1), nevertheless (1), now (267), or (6), other (1), other hand (4), others* (3), partly (1), rather (1), so (12), suppose* (1), then (6), therefore (1), though (1), what (1), when (3), whereas (2), yes (1), yet (25). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1161: δέδέ (related to δή, as μέν to μήν, cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii. 2, p. 355), a particle adversative, distinctive, disjunctive, but, moreover (Winers Grammar, § 53, 7 and 10, 2); it is much more frequent in the historical parts of the N. T. than in the other books, very rare in the Epistles of John and the Apocalypse. (On its general neglect of elision (when the next word begins with a vowel) cf. Tdf. Proleg., p. 96; WHs Appendix, p. 146; Winers Grammar, § 5, 1a.; Buttmann, p. 10f) It is used: 1. universally, by way of opposition and distinction; it is added to statements opposed to a preceding statement: ἐάν ὀφθαλμός κτλ. Matthew 6:23; ἐλεύσονται δέ ἡμέραι, Mark 2:20; it opposes persons to persons or things previously mentioned or thought of — either with strong emphasis: ἐγώ δέ, Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44; ἡμεῖς δέ, 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 10:13; σύ δέ, Matthew 6:6; ὑμεῖς δέ, Mark 8:29; οἱ δέ υἱοί τῆς βασιλείας, Matthew 8:12; αἱ ἀλώπεκες ... ὁ δέ υἱός τοῦ ἀνθρώπου Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58; πᾶς ὁ λαός ... οἱ δέ φαρισαῖοι, Luke 7:29f; ὁ δέ πνευματικός, 1 Corinthians 2:15, and often; — or with a slight discrimination, ὁ δέ, αὐτός δέ: Mark 1:45; Mark 5:34; Mark 6:37; Mark 7:6; Matthew 13:29, 37, 52; Matthew 15:23ff; Luke 4:40, 43; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:8; Luke 8:10, 54; Luke 15:29; οἱ δέ, Matthew 2:5; Mark 3:4; Mark 8:28, etc., etc.; with the addition also of a proper name, as ὁ δέ Ἰησοῦς: Matthew 8:22 (Tdf. omits Ἰησοῦς); 2. μέν ... δέ, see μέν. 3. after negative sentences, but, but rather (German wohlaber): Matthew 6:19f (μή θησαυρίζετε ... θησαυρίζετε δέ); 4. it is joined to terms which are repeated with a certain emphasis, and with such additions as tend to explain and establish them more exactly; in this use of the particle we may supply a suppressed negative clause and give its force in English by inserting I say, and that, so then, etc.): Romans 3:21f (not that common δικαιοσύνη which the Jews boasted of and strove after, but δικαιοσυνεσς ... διά πίστεως); Romans 9:30; 1 Corinthians 2:6 (σοφίαν δέ οὐ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου); Galatians 2:2 (I went up, not of my own accord, but etc.); Philippians 2:8; cf. Klotz ad Dev. ii. 2, p. 361f; L. Dindorf in Stephanus Thesaurus ii. col. 928; (cf. Winer's Grammar, 443 (412)). 5. it serves to mark a transition to something new (δέ metabatic); by this use of the particle, the new addition is distinguished from and, as it were, opposed to what goes before: Matthew 1:18; Matthew 2:19; Matthew 10:21; Luke 12:13; Luke 13:1; John 7:14, 37; Acts 6:1; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 8:1, etc., etc.; so also in the phrase ἐγένετο δέ, see γίνομαι, 2 c. 6. it introduces explanations and separates them from the things to be explained: John 3:19; John 6:39; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 7:6, 29; Ephesians 5:32, etc.; — especially remarks and explanations intercalated into the discourse, or added, as it were, by way of appendix: Mark 5:13 (ἦσαν δέ etc. R L brackets); 7. after a parenthesis or an explanation which had led away from the subject under discussion, it serves to take up the discourse again (cf. Winer's Grammar, 443 (412)): Matthew 3:4; Luke 4:1; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 10:2; Ephesians 2:4; cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii. 2, p. 376f. 8. it introduces the apodosis and, as it were, opposes it to the protasis: Acts 11:17 R G (1 Macc. 14:29; 2 Macc. 1:34); after a participial construction which has the force of a protasis: Colossians 1:22 (21); cf. Matthiae 2:1470; Kühner, 2:818; (Jelf, § 770); Klotz as above, p. 370f; (Buttmann, 364 (312)). 9. καί ... δέ, but ... also, yea and, moreover also: Matthew 10:18; Matthew 16:18; Luke 2:35 (WH text omits; L Tr brackets δέ); John 6:51; John 15:27; Acts 3:24; Acts 22:29; Romans 11:23; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 John 1:3; 2 Peter 1:5; cf. Klotz as above, p. 645f; Buttmann, 364 (312); (also Winer's Grammar, 443 (413); Ellicott on 1 Timothy 3:10; Meyer on John 6:51). ἐάν δέ yea even if: John 8:16. 10. δέ never stands as the first word in the sentence, but generally second; and when the words to which it is added cannot be separated, it stands third (as in Matthew 10:11; Matthew 18:25; Mark 4:34; Luke 10:31; Acts 17:6; Acts 28:6; Galatians 3:23; 2 Timothy 3:8, etc.; in οὐ μόνον δέ, Romans 5:3, 11, etc.), or even in the fourth place, Matthew 10:18; John 6:51; John 8:16; 1 John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 4:18; (Luke 22:69 L T Tr WH). Strong’s Greek 1161, δέ, appears approximately 2,810 times in the Greek New Testament. Though often rendered “but,” “and,” or “now,” its real force is to mark a transition—sometimes contrasting, sometimes sequential, always purposeful. Understanding its use helps modern readers trace the flow of biblical argument, narrative, and exhortation, revealing the inspired authors’ careful movement from one thought to the next. Grammatical and Stylistic Function • Post-positive conjunction: almost always the second word in its clause, allowing the initial word to carry emphasis while δέ quietly signals the relationship. Textual and Exegetical Significance Failing to observe δέ can flatten a passage’s structure; noticing it often reveals: 1. A deliberate contrast of ideas (Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit…”) Usage in the Synoptic Gospels • Matthew often positions δέ to highlight messianic fulfillment. Matthew 1:18: “Now (δέ) the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.” The conjunction brings prophetic expectation directly into historical realization. Usage in Acts Acts employs δέ more than any other New Testament book. Luke uses it to: 1. Link geographic expansion: “But (δέ) you will receive power… and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Usage in Pauline Epistles Paul’s logic turns on δέ to: In Galatians 2:20 Paul places δέ twice: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but (δέ) Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up (δέ) for me.” Each δέ completes the gospel-centered contrast. Usage in Johannine Writings John prefers stark contrasts—light versus darkness, truth versus lie. δέ frequently marks these dichotomies: In Revelation, δέ balances judgment with promise (Revelation 2:17). Revelatory Pattern in Prophetic and Apocalyptic Texts When δέ appears in quotations of Hebrew prophecy, it often mirrors the Hebrew waw-consecutive, maintaining narrative continuity while introducing climactic fulfillment (Matthew 12:17-18; Isaiah 42:1). Theological Emphases Signaled by δέ 1. Grace over law: Galatians 3:11-12. Preaching and Teaching Implications • Observing δέ allows preachers to honor inspired structure, helping congregations follow the Spirit-intended flow. Historical Reception and Translation Early English versions alternated “but,” “and,” and “now,” sometimes omitting δέ when English style seemed to require fewer conjunctions. Modern essentially literal translations, including the Berean Standard Bible, more consistently preserve it, aiding readers’ awareness of the inspired text’s connective tissue. Summary Although δέ is small, Scripture’s message travels on its hinge. Whether contrasting darkness with light, death with life, or law with grace, δέ steadily guides readers through revelation’s unfolding story, ensuring they neither miss a pivot of truth nor lose the narrative thread that binds Genesis to Revelation. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 1:2 ConjGRK: Ἰσαάκ Ἰσαὰκ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν KJV: begat Isaac; and Isaac begat INT: Issac Isaac moreover was father of Matthew 1:2 Conj Matthew 1:3 Conj Matthew 1:3 Conj Matthew 1:3 Conj Matthew 1:4 Conj Matthew 1:4 Conj Matthew 1:4 Conj Matthew 1:5 Conj Matthew 1:5 Conj Matthew 1:5 Conj Matthew 1:6 Conj Matthew 1:6 Conj Matthew 1:7 Conj Matthew 1:7 Conj Matthew 1:7 Conj Matthew 1:8 Conj Matthew 1:8 Conj Matthew 1:8 Conj Matthew 1:9 Conj Matthew 1:9 Conj Matthew 1:9 Conj Matthew 1:10 Conj Matthew 1:10 Conj Matthew 1:10 Conj Strong's Greek 1161 |
    |