γάρ

γάρ,

co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα,

verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.;

1. explicative and epexegetic: Matthew 4:18; 19:12, Mark 1:16; 5:42; 16:4, Luke 11:3o, Romans 7:1, 1 Corinthians 16:5, al.

2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Matthew 9:5; 27:23, Luke 9:25; 22:27, John 9:30, Acts 8:31; 16:37; 19:35, Romans 15:26, 1 Corinthians 9:10, Philippians 1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1 Thessalonians 2:20, al.

3. Causal: Matthew 1:21; 2:2, 5, 6, 3:23, Mark 1:22; 9:6, Luke 1:15, 18, John 2:25, Acts 2:25, Romans 1:9, 11, 1 Corinthians 11:5, Revelation 1:3, al.; giving the reason for a command or prohibition, Matthew 2:20; 3:9, Romans 13:11, Colossians 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, al.; where the cause is contained in an interrog. statement, Luke 22:27, Romans 3:3; 4:3, 1 Corinthians 10:29; καὶ γάρ, for also, Mark 10:45, Luke 6:32, 1 Corinthians 5:7, al. id. as in cl. = etenim, where the καί loses its connective force (Bl., §78, 6; Kühner 3, ii, 854f.), Mark 14:70, Luke 1:66; 22:37, 2 Corinthians 13:4. The proper place of γάρ is after the first word in a clause, but in poets it often comes third or fourth, and so in late prose: 2 Corinthians 1:19. Yet "not the number but the nature of the word after which it stands is the point to be noticed" (see Thayer, see word).