ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA GRIEGA
Δέ (dé) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
δέ is the most frequent conjunction in the Greek New Testament, a post-positive particle that links clauses with either a continuative ('and,' 'now') or a contrastive ('but,' 'on the other hand') force.
Significado de la palabra
δέ is fundamentally a connective particle. In the Greek New Testament, with 2,341 occurrences, it is by far the most common conjunction, and English translations routinely render it as 'and,' 'but,' 'now,' 'then,' or even leave it untranslated.
The lexicon entry groups its uses into two senses. (1) Copulative: it links clauses sequentially, as in the genealogy of Matthew 1:2ff. ('Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob'), or transitions to a new scene (e.g., Matthew 1:18, 'now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise'). It can also mark an explanatory parenthesis (John 3:19; Ephesians 2:4) or add emphasis through repetition (Romans 3:21-22).
(2) Adversative: δέ contrasts one clause with a preceding one, often implicitly paired with μέν in classical usage. In the NT it usually stands alone, as in Matthew 6:14, 'if (ἐάν) you forgive men... but (δέ) if you do not forgive'—note the adversative force after a conditional. Personal constructions such as 'ἐγὼ δέ' / 'σὺ δέ' (I / you, on the other hand) carry a strong contrastive coloring.
Uso en las Escrituras
Because δέ is so frequent, readers encounter it on nearly every page of the Greek NT. Its force must be judged from context: 'and' in a genealogy, 'now' or 'then' at a scene break (Luke 13:1; John 7:14), 'but' after a negation (Romans 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:21), or 'moreover / also' when used after καί (e.g., Matthew 10:18 'and also before governors').
Translators handle it variably. In narrative sequences it is often left implicit, while in argumentative passages (Paul's epistles) its contrastive force becomes theologically loaded—distinguishing divine action from human effort, faith from works, etc.
La palabra en detalle
- G1161 The most common NT conjunction (2,341×). Post-positive—that is, it never opens a clause but always stands in second position or later. Distinguish the copulative 'and/now' use from the adversative 'but/on the other hand' use; in Paul's letters the latter often bears theological weight.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Matthew 1:2 Here δέ is purely copulative, chaining successive generations in the genealogy: 'Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob...' Translators often smooth this into a simple comma-list in English.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where does δέ sit in a sentence?
It is post-positive: it never comes first in its clause but always in the second word or later, right after the first emphasized term. That placement is itself a clue to what the author is highlighting.
Should δέ always be translated 'but'?
No. The lexicon lists both a copulative ('and/now') and an adversative ('but/on the other hand') use. Translators must judge from context—translating every δέ as 'but' produces an unreadable English text.
Does δέ always contrast with μέν?
Classically yes (μέν...δέ), but in the NT δέ most often stands alone. Its adversative force is then signaled only by context, often by a preceding negation or a personal pronoun ('I, on the other hand...').