BBG Chapter 34 — Indicative of δίδωμι

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Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar, Mounce, 4th Edition
Data: MACULA Greek TAGNT (~415 tokens of δίδωμι and compounds NT-wide)

1. The μι-Verb Class

Greek verbs fall into two main classes based on how they form the present indicative active:

μι-verbs are called athematic because they lack the thematic (connecting) vowel. Their endings attach directly to the stem.

Three characteristic features of μι-verbs:
1. Reduplicated present stem — the first consonant + ι is repeated before the stem
2. No thematic vowel — endings directly on the stem
3. Athematic endings — different from the standard present active endings

Note: μι-verbs are not a new category of verb — they use the same roots and meanings as ω-verbs. They are simply a different (older) conjugation pattern. Once you recognize the μι pattern, parsing becomes straightforward.

2. δίδωμι — The Primary μι-Verb Paradigm

δίδωμι means "I give" (the root is δο-/δω-). It is the most important μι-verb for GNT reading because:
- It occurs ~415 times in the NT
- Its compound παραδίδωμι ("hand over, betray, deliver") is even more frequent (~120 times)
- The stem alternates: δω- (long, in singular) / δο- (short, in plural)

3. Present Active Indicative of δίδωμι

Note: The stem alternates between δω- (singular) and δο- (plural). The endings (-μι, -ς, -σι, -μεν, -τε, -ασι) are the athematic endings — compare with the present active endings of ω-verbs (ω, εις, ει, ομεν, ετε, ουσι) to see the difference.

4. Imperfect Active Indicative of δίδωμι

Note: The imperfect of μι-verbs takes the augment (ἐ-) just like ω-verbs. The athematic imperfect uses secondary active endings directly on the stem (with vowel contraction in many forms).

5. Aorist Active Indicative of δίδωμι

The aorist of δίδωμι is ἔδωκα — it uses a κ suffix (like the perfect) but is aorist in meaning and context.

Note: The κ in ἔδωκα is NOT a perfect marker here — it is an aorist form of δίδωμι that uses κ as part of the aorist stem. The context (no reduplication, augment present) confirms it is aorist, not perfect. This is one of the most commonly misidentified forms in beginning Greek.

6. Present and Imperfect Middle/Passive Indicative

Present Middle/Passive

Imperfect Middle/Passive

7. Aorist Passive Indicative

The aorist passive of δίδωμι: ἐδόθην

8. Key Compound: παραδίδωμι

παραδίδωμι = παρά ("alongside/over") + δίδωμι = "hand over, deliver, betray"

This is one of the most theologically significant verbs in the NT, used for:
- Judas betraying Jesus (Matt 26:15)
- God/Jesus "delivering over" for our sins (Rom 4:25; 8:32)
- Handing on tradition (1 Cor 11:2, 23; 15:3)

It conjugates exactly like δίδωμι — only the prefix changes:

Note: In compound verbs, the augment is inserted between the prefix and the stem: παρα + ἐ + δίδωμι = παρεδίδουν. The prefix vowel elides before the augment: παρά → παρ- + ε- = παρε-.

9. Other Common Compounds of δίδωμι in the GNT

10. Stem Alternation Summary

11. Diagnostic Summary