Mark 9:4:8Mark.9.4.W8TAB

ἦσαν

êsan

they were

Transliteration
Ê-san
Extended
AY-san
IPA
/ˈɛː.san/

Meaning by language

English
they were

Greek · tap a syllable to hear it

Result
ἦ + σαν
ê + san
êsan

Alphabet Analysis

Etai — as in machine
Sigmas — as in sit
Alphaah — as in father
Nun — as in new

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Diphthongs
Accents & breathings

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The word

Word in context

  1. word

    Ê-san

  2. sentence

    KAI Ō-phthē au-TOIS hē-LEE-as SYN mō-yü-SEI KAI Ê-san syl-la-loûn-tes tôi ee-ay-SOO

Exegesis

The second clause, again introduced by kai, shifts aspectual focus with the imperfect esan {ἦσαν | êsan} plus the present participle syllalountes {συλλαλούντες | syllaloúntes}, a periphrastic construction indicating ongoing, durative action: “they were talking together.” The participle’s nominative plural refers back to Elijah and Moses as the ones engaged in dialogue.

Root and etymology

eimiepsilon–iota–mu–iota

to be, exist

In contextMark 9:4

And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus .

About this coordinate

Mark 9:4:8 is a BCV:P reference — Book · Chapter · Verse · Word Position. It addresses word 8 of Mark 9:4, so the Greek word ἦσαν (êsan) can be cited, linked and studied at exactly this position rather than somewhere in the verse. In the Biblical Knowledge Coordinate System the same position is written Mark.9.4.W8, which extends further down to each syllable (Mark.9.4.W8.S1) and character.