Weeks 11–12: Introduction to Middle Voice

Introduction

So far, you’ve studied verbs in the active voice, where the subject performs the action (e.g., “The man writes the book”). Now we introduce a new and very important concept in Greek: the middle voice.

The middle voice is one of the distinctive features of Greek—it expresses actions where the subject is somehow personally involved in the action, often receiving the benefit or acting with special interest.

Understanding the middle voice is essential for accurate translation, because many New Testament verbs appear in this form.

Step 1: Voices in Greek

Greek verbs have three voices:

1. Active voice – subject performs the action.

   • γράφω (graphō) = “I write.”

2. Middle voice – subject participates in or benefits from the action.

   • γράφομαι (graphomai) = “I write for myself / I have something written for me.”

3. Passive voice – subject receives the action.

   • γράφομαι (graphomai) can also mean “I am written.” (In the present tense, the middle and passive share the same endings.)

👉 For now, focus on the middle voice—actions done with personal involvement.

Step 2: Middle Voice Endings

In the present and future tenses, the middle and passive voices share the same endings. Context determines the meaning.

Present / Future Middle-Passive Endings

Step 3: Example with λύω (luō, “loosen”)

Present Middle-Passive

• λύομαι (luomai) → I loosen for myself / I am being loosened.

• λύῃ (luei) → You loosen for yourself / You are being loosened.

• λύεται (luetai) → He/she loosens for himself / He/she is being loosened.

• λυόμεθα (luometha) → We loosen for ourselves / We are being loosened.

• λύεσθε (luesthe) → You (all) loosen for yourselves / You are being loosened.

• λύονται (luontai) → They loosen for themselves / They are being loosened.

👉 Notice the personal involvement: the subject is somehow connected to the action’s result.

Step 4: Middle Voice in the NT

1. Matthew 27:5

• ἀπήγξατο (apēgxato) → “he hanged himself.”

• The middle form shows the subject acted on himself.

2. Acts 22:16

• βάπτισαι (baptisai) → “be baptized” (middle form, though often translated as passive).

3. 1 Corinthians 6:11

• ἐλούσασθε (elousasthe) → “you washed yourselves.”

Step 5: How to Recognize the Middle

When you see endings like -ομαι, -εται, -ονται, think:

• Could this be a reflexive action (the subject acts on himself/herself)?

• Could this be an action done for the subject’s own interest or benefit?

• Or is it passive (action received)?

Context is always the guide.

Practice Assignments

1. Paradigm Drill
Conjugate λύομαι in the present middle-passive. Translate each form with both middle and passive senses.

2. Identification
Decide if the following are middle or passive in meaning:

1. βάπτισαι (Acts 22:16).

2. ἐλούσασθε (1 Cor. 6:11).

3. γράφομαι.

3. Translation Practice
Translate into English:

1. ὁ μαθητης λύεται.

2. λυόμεθα τὸν νόμον.

3. ἀποκρίνῃ τῷ κυρίῳ.

4. Writing Exercise
Write 3 sentences of your own using the middle voice. Provide English translations.

Encouragement

The middle voice may feel unusual because English does not have a direct equivalent. But don’t be discouraged—think of it as highlighting the personal involvement of the subject.

The more you encounter middle forms in the New Testament, the more natural they will feel. Pay attention to verbs like baptize, wash, answer, put on—they often appear in the middle voice.

By learning the middle, you are gaining access to one of the richest features of biblical Greek—a voice that captures nuance, personal agency, and spiritual depth.

Keep practicing—you are mastering forms that reveal how the New Testament writers expressed actions of deep personal significance.