Every label in the word-by-word view links here. You don’t need to learn a language to use it: each entry says what the label means, why it can matter, and shows it in a real verse.
A word of caution: grammar helps you see what the text says, but it rarely settles a question by itself. Read it alongside the context, the whole passage and good commentaries.
In the word-by-word view, “Colours” shows each word’s job in its sentence:
The person or thing the sentence is about: the one doing the verb (or, with a passive verb, the one it is done to).
Greek and Hebrew often leave the subject inside the verb itself. “He gave” can be one word, so the app shows who “he” is when it’s known.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The word that says what happens or what is. Each clause is built around one.
Following the verbs is the quickest way into a passage: who acts, and what they do.
Jesus wept.
The person or thing that receives the action of the verb.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The person who receives or benefits, usually with “to” or “for” in English.
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
With verbs like “is” or “become”, the word that describes or renames the subject.
Word order in Greek doesn’t decide which is subject and which is complement; the article usually does.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Words and phrases that add the circumstances: time, place, manner, means, reason or purpose.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Pictures the action as in progress, continuing or happening again and again. In statements it is usually present time.
Greek “tense” is mostly about how an action is viewed (as ongoing or as a whole), not only when it happens.
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Like the present, but in past time: something that was going on, kept happening or was attempted.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
An action expected, promised or commanded for the future.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Pictures the action as a single whole, without describing it as ongoing. In statements it is usually past time: “he loved”, “she went”.
Be careful: the aorist doesn’t mean “once for all” by itself. It simply tells the event without drawing attention to its progress.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
A completed action whose result continues. “It has been written”, so it stands written.
Often theologically rich: the past event and its lasting result together.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.
A completed action whose results stood at a point in the past.
Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.
The subject performs the action.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The subject is involved in its own action: doing something to itself, for itself, or with special personal interest.
English has no middle, so translations choose between active and passive wording.
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
The subject receives the action. Often the one acting is God, even when not named (sometimes called the “divine passive”).
Ask “done by whom?” When no one is named, the context often points to God.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Some verbs only appear in middle or passive forms but have an ordinary active meaning, like “come” or “answer”.
Don’t read a passive meaning into these; the form is just how the word works.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Presents something as real: it happened, is happening or will happen. Also used in ordinary questions.
Jesus wept.
Presents an action as possible or intended, often after “that”, “so that”, “if” or “whoever”.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Tells someone to do something. Also used in prayers: “Your kingdom come.”
In commands, a present often means “keep doing” and an aorist “do this”.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Expresses a wish or a remote possibility. Rare in the New Testament.
Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?
The verb used like a noun or to express purpose: “to live”, “to die”.
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
A verb used like an adjective or noun: “the one believing”, “having gone”. It can describe a person or add the circumstances of the main verb.
Participles carry a lot of Greek’s meaning. Look at which main verb they hang on.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
The form a noun takes when it is the subject (or describes the subject).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Usually translated with “of”. It can mean belonging, source, content or description, so “the love of Christ” can mean Christ’s love for us or our love for him.
Many debates in Bible study turn on what a genitive means. Context decides.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Used for the person something is given to or done for, and for the means or manner: “by grace”.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
The form a noun takes when it receives the action, and after some prepositions.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Used to address someone directly.
So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Greek has “the” but no word for “a”. It uses “the” more than English, even with names and with “God”, so translations often leave it out (shown in brackets).
Whether a noun has “the” can matter, as in John 1:1.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1st person is the speaker (I, we), 2nd the one spoken to (you), 3rd someone else (he, she, it, they).
Greek and Hebrew verbs carry the person inside them, so “we know” is one word.
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Singular is one, plural more than one. Hebrew also has a dual for pairs, like eyes and hands.
English “you” hides the difference; Greek and Hebrew show whether one person or a whole church is meant.
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
Nouns belong to a gender class (masculine, feminine, and in Greek neuter), and other words agree with them. It is grammar, not a statement about sex.
Agreement in gender shows which words belong together, which helps with words like “this” and “it”.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
The basic stem: the plain meaning of the verb. Most Hebrew verbs are Qal.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Usually the passive of Qal (“was created”), sometimes reflexive (“hid himself”).
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made them.
Often intensifies the action or makes something into a state: “break” becomes “shatter”, “be holy” becomes “make holy”.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name.
The passive of the Piel stem.
My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Usually causative: “make someone do” or “cause to happen”.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
The passive of the Hiphil: being caused to do something.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
Usually reflexive (“sanctify yourselves”) or repeated action (“walk about”).
And after he had become the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.
Parts of Daniel and Ezra (and one verse of Jeremiah) are in Aramaic, a sister language. Its stems (Peal, Pael, Haphel, Aphel, Hitpeel…) work much like the Hebrew ones: simple, intensive, causative and their passives.
and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.
A few verbs use rarer stems (such as Hishtaphel, “bow down”). They usually work like one of the main ones.
“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.”
Views an action as complete. Usually past (“he created”), but also used for states and for things so certain they are spoken of as done.
Prophets sometimes use it for the future, as if already done (the “prophetic perfect”).
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Views an action as not complete: future, repeated, habitual, possible or wished for.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
“And” joined to an imperfect form, used to move a story along in the past: “and God said… and there was light”.
A chain of these is the backbone of Hebrew narrative. Where the chain breaks, the writer is pausing to explain or highlight.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
“And” joined to a perfect form, usually continuing a future, a command or a habitual action.
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
“And” with an imperfect form, often expressing purpose or result: “so that”.
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
A direct command or request.
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.
A wish or mild command, usually for a third person: “let there be”, “may he”.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Encouragement or resolve, for the speaker: “let us”, “I will”.
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation!
The construct form works like “to …” or “when …”. The absolute form is often doubled with another verb for emphasis: “you shall surely die”.
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”
Describes ongoing action or a person by what they do: “the one who keeps”. Passive participles mean “the one who is…ed”: “blessed”.
Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The ordinary form of a noun.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
A noun joined tightly to the next word, which English says with “of”: “the Spirit of God”.
Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Aramaic marks “the” with an ending rather than a prefix.
and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.
Hebrew joins short words to the front of the next word: and (ve-), the (ha-), in or with (be-), to (le-), from (mi-), like (ke-). The app shows each part separately.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
A small word that points out the definite object of the verb. English has no equivalent, so it isn’t translated.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Hebrew adds pronouns to the end of words: “shepherd-my” is “my shepherd”.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Verses from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Grammar codes from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0); explanations written for Clearspring.