Greek word · G687

ἆρα

ara

no?

With a circumflex accent (ἆρα) it is a question particle, often hinting that the answer is no or showing concern ('Can it be that...?'). With an acute accent (ἄρα) it is an inferential particle meaning 'then, so, therefore'.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἆρα,

interrog. particle,

implying anxiety or impatience, "quite rare and only in Luke and Paul, therefore a literary word" (Bl., §77, 2).

1. (num igitur) expecting a neg. reply, Luke 18:8; ἆρά γε, Acts 8:30.

2. (ergone) in apodosis, expecting an affirm. reply, Galatians 2:17 (Bl., l.with; Lft., Ga., in l.; MM, see word).

† (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Galatians 2:17

Range of meaning

With a circumflex accent (ἆρα) it is a question particle, often hinting that the answer is no or showing concern ('Can it be that...?'). With an acute accent (ἄρα) it is an inferential particle meaning 'then, so, therefore'.

Against the English

KJV 'is therefore Christ' and ESV 'is Christ then' follow the inferential sense inside a question. BSB 'does that make Christ' and NIV 'doesn't that mean' combine both: a question that draws a conclusion. YLT 'then' is similar.

Used elsewhere in the period

The question form ἆρα appears elsewhere in the New Testament only at Luke 18:8 ('will he find faith on earth?') and Acts 8:30 ('Do you understand what you are reading?'). Inferential ἄρα is very common in Paul (e.g. Gal 3:7, 29; 4:31; Rom 8:1). The grammar of Blass–Debrunner–Funk (BDF §440) discusses the question particle. Ancient manuscripts were written without accents, so the choice is editorial.

From the study of Luke 18:8

Range of meaning

A Greek particle that marks a direct question, often with a note of anxiety, doubt or impatience: 'then…?', 'do you suppose…?', 'will he really…?'. It is not the same as the unaccented ἄρα, which means 'so, therefore.'

Against the English

English versions simply turn it into a question ('will he find…?'), which loses its worried tone. The Latin Vulgate catches it with 'putas' ('do you think?'). The supplied gloss 'surely not' makes the expected answer a firm no, which goes further than the particle does.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the interrogative ἆρα appears only here, in Acts 8:30 ('do you really understand what you are reading?') and in Gal 2:17 (in many editions). BDAG classes it as a question particle expressing anxiety or impatience.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 18:8 ἆρα surely not

    I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

    Here: Turns the sentence into a worried, searching question, something like 'will he really find…?' It leans toward doubt but does not state the answer. The supplied gloss 'surely not' overstates it.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 8:30 ἆρά Surely not

    So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 2:17 ἆρα surely not [is]

    But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!

    Here: Accented this way, it marks a question and hints that the answer should be no: 'Is Christ, then...?' The ancient manuscripts had no accents. With different accents (ἄρα) the same letters mean 'then, therefore', and the clause becomes the objector's conclusion: 'then Christ is...'. The question either way is whether Christ really is that.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.