Lesson 23

23.1 The Circumstantial⬆

ⲉⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ I, hearing
ⲉⲕⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ you, hearing
ⲉⲣⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ etc.
ⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
ⲉⲥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
ⲉⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
ⲉⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅
the man, hearing

The Circumstantial is used only in subordinate clauses modifying either a particular element of the main clause or the main clause as a whole. Such clauses describe an activity or state existing simultaneously with the time designated by the verb of the main clause and do not, in themselves, have a tense. They correspond to various English constructions: nominative absolutes, participial modifiers, or temporal clauses with "as, while, when" and a progressive verb form. Typical uses in Coptic include

  1. subject complement:

    ⲉⲓⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧ ϩⲁϩⲧⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲣⲡⲉ, ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲙ̅ ⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ.
    Standing near the temple, I saw a great crowd.

  2. object complement:

    ⲁⲩϩⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲁⲅⲟⲣⲁ.
    They found the man sitting in the marketplace.
    ⲁⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲩⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ.
    We saw them walking on the road.

  3. complement to the entire main clause:

    ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲁϩ ϫⲱ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲓϣⲁϫⲉ, ⲁⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛ̅ ϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ.
    As our teacher was saying these things, a great wonder occurred.

If the context requires it, circumstantial clauses may also be translated as causal, concessive, or conditional clauses.

There are several important special uses of circumstantial clauses in Coptic:

  1. They are regularly used as relative clauses to modify an indefinite antecedent. Contrast

    ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲁϫⲉ
    the man who understands my words
    ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥⲉⲓⲙⲉ ⲉ ⲛⲁϣⲁϫⲉ
    a man who understands my words

    Such indefinite antecedents include ⲗⲁⲁⲩ, ⲟⲩⲁ, ⲟⲩⲟⲛ, and ϩⲟⲉⲓⲛⲉ. Further examples will be found in the exercises.

  2. Certain verbs are regularly followed by the Circumstantial of a complementary verb:

    ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲩϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ̅.
    They continued talking the whole night.
    ⲁⲥⲗⲟ ⲉⲥⲣⲓⲙⲉ.
    She stopped crying.

  3. The Circumstantial of ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ is regularly used to introduce direct quotation after appropriate verbs:

    ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱϣⲃ̅ ⲛⲁⲩ, ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ...
    He answered them, saying...

The Circumstantial is not negated. Instead, the circumstantial prefix ⲉ-, also called the circumstantial converter, is added to the negative of the First Present:

ⲉ-ⲛϯⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲁⲛ
I, not hearing
ⲉ-ⲛⲅ̅ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲁⲛ
you, not hearing

After ⲉ- the syllabic pronunciation of ⲛ is given up; the stroke is not needed, but is sometimes retained.

23.2 Nouns as adjectives⬆

In Coptic, as in English, a large number of nouns may do double duty as adjectives (cf. pencil sharpener, bookstore, brick wall, etc.). The order is reversed in Coptic, with the modifying noun second, preceded by the adjectival linking ⲛ̅ (ⲙ̅):

ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲧ ⲛ̅ ϩⲁⲧ
a silver cup
ⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ ϫⲁⲉⲓⲉ
a desert place
ⲡⲉϥⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛ̅ ⲥⲱⲙⲁ
his corporeal form (lit. body-form)
ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲉⲣⲟ ⲛ̅ ⲕⲱϩⲧ̅
a fiery river

Such items are very frequent, but not as freely formed as their English counterparts. In some cases two translations are possible: ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲧ ⲛ̅ ⲏⲣⲡ̅ a wine cup or a cup of wine. Note that, as with adjectives, the construction differs from the genitive by the absence of an article on the second noun.

Several words form a large number of compounds whose meanings are more or less completely predictable. Among these are

  • ⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ (place of), as in

    ⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ ϣⲱⲡⲉ dwelling place
    ⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲱⲙ eating place, refectory
    ⲙⲁ ⲙ̅ ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ road, path
    ⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ ⲕⲁ-ⲟⲉⲓⲕ pantry (place for putting bread)

  • ⲥⲁ ⲛ̅ (seller of, vendor of, dealer in), as in

    ⲥⲁ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲃ̅ⲧ fish-monger
    ⲥⲁ ⲛ̅ ⲁϥ meat-seller
    ⲥⲁ ⲛ̅ ⲏⲣⲡ̅ wine-seller
    ⲥⲁ ⲛ̅ ϩⲁⲧ dealer in silver

A glance through the final Glossary will provide dozens of further examples.

The nouns ⲣⲱⲙⲉ and ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ often occur redundantly in this construction; the order of the nouns may be reversed:

ⲧⲉϥⲥⲱⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
his sister (lit., woman-sister)
ⲡϩⲁⲙϣⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ
the carpenter (lit., man-carpenter)
ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ ϫⲁϫⲉ
the enemy (lit., enemy-man)

Noun-noun modification does not always correspond exactly to English idiom, but little difficulty will be met in translating these constructions. Most of them will not be given separate listing in the vocabularies or Glossary.

Vocabulary 23⬆

Greek words:

Exercises⬆

    1. ⲟⲩⲟⲩϩⲟⲣ ⲉϥⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ a dead dog
    2. ⲟⲩⲥⲩⲛⲁⲅⲱⲅⲏ ⲉⲥⲕⲏⲧ ϩⲁϩⲧⲛ̅ ⲧⲁⲅⲟⲣⲁ a synagogue built beside the marketplace
    3. ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲏϩ ϩⲓ ⲡϫⲁⲉⲓⲉ a man living in the desert
    4. ⲟⲩϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲉ-ⲛϥ̅ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ ⲡⲉϥϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ a slave who does not obey his master
    5. ⲟⲩϣⲏⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ ⲉϥϯ ⲟⲩⲃⲉ ⲡⲉϥⲥⲟⲛ a little boy who fights with his brother
    6. ⲟⲩϩⲗ̅ⲗⲱ ⲉⲥⲥⲏϭ an old woman who is paralyzed
    7. ⲟⲩϩⲏⲧ ⲉϥⲛⲁϣⲧ̅ a hardened heart
    8. ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲉ-ⲛⲥ̅ⲙⲏⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲛ a peace which is not enduring
    9. ⲟⲩⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲉⲥⲉⲉⲧ a pregnant woman
    10. ϩⲉⲛϩⲏⲕⲉ ⲉⲩϩⲕⲁⲉⲓⲧ some poor people who are hungry
    11. ⲟⲩϩⲓⲏ ⲉ-ⲛⲥ̅ⲙⲟⲧⲛ̅ ⲁⲛ a road which is not easy
    12. ⲟⲩⲡⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ a holy spirit
    13. ⲡⲉⲥⲟⲩⲟ ⲉⲧ ⲕⲏ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲁⲡⲟⲑⲏⲕⲏ the grain which is in the barn
    14. ⲟⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲉϥⲟϣ a numerous crowd
    15. ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ ⲉϥⲁⲗⲏⲩ ⲉϫⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϩⲧⲟ a soldier riding on a horse
    1. ϩⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙ̅ ⲙⲉ true words
    2. ⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⲛ̅ ⲃⲉⲛⲓⲡⲉ an iron door
    3. ⲟⲩⲥ⳨ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ ⲛ̅ ϣⲉ a wooden cross
    4. ⲟⲩⲏⲓ ⲛ̅ ⲱⲛⲉ a stone house
    5. ϩⲉⲛⲥⲛⲁⲩϩ ⲛ̅ ⲃⲉⲛⲓⲡⲉ iron fetters
    6. ⲛ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙ̅ ⲙⲉⲧⲁⲛⲟⲓⲁ the repentant words / the words of repentance
    7. ⲡⲁⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ ϣⲱⲡⲉ my dwelling-place
    8. ⲟⲩⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛ̅ ⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ an angelic form
    9. ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲙ̅ ⲙⲉ the true faith
    10. ⲟⲩⲥⲏϥⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲕⲱϩⲧ̅ a fiery sword / a sword of fire
    11. ⲟⲩⲙⲩⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ a divine mystery
    12. ⲡⲉⲛⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲱⲙ our refectory
    13. ϩⲉⲛⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ ⲛ̅ ϫⲁϫⲉ some enemy soldiers
    14. ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲧ ⲛ̅ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉ a milk-cup / a cup of milk
    15. ⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ ϩⲁⲣⲉϩ a guardhouse
    1. ⲉⲛϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲁⲅⲟⲣⲁ, ⲁⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲡϩⲏⲅⲉⲙⲱⲛ ⲉϥϩⲱⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ. As we were sitting in the market, we saw the governor approaching.
    2. ϯⲛⲁϭⲱ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ ⲉⲓϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ. I will stay here, looking forward to the day of the Lord.
    3. ⲉⲣⲉ-ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲉ ⲑⲉⲛⲉⲉⲧⲉ, ⲁⲩϩⲉ ⲉⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲉϥⲕⲏ ϩⲓϫⲙ̅ ⲡⲕⲁϩ. As the brothers were walking to the monastery, they found a dead man on the ground.
    4. ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲥⲟⲩⲟ ⲉ ⲧⲁⲡⲟⲑⲏⲕⲏ. They continued bringing the grain to the barn.
    5. ⲁⲗⲱⲧⲛ̅! ⲛ̅ϯⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲁⲛ ⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉ ϩⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲓⲙⲓⲛⲉ. Stop! (pl.) I do not want to hear words of this sort.
    6. ⲁⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉϥⲃⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ ⲑⲉⲛⲉⲉⲧⲉ. We saw him leaving the monastery.
    7. ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲛ ⲥⲟⲩⲟ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲛⲁⲡⲟⲑⲏⲕⲏ, ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ ϣⲉ. We have no grain in our barn, but we have much wood.
    8. ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉ ⲛ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲁⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ, ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϫⲉ ϩⲉⲛⲙⲉ ⲛⲉ. Listen to the words of my mouth, because they are true.
    9. ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲟⲩϩⲟⲣ ⲉϥϥⲓ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛ̅ ϭⲣⲟⲟⲙⲡⲉ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ. I saw a dog carrying a little dove in its mouth.
    10. ⲁⲩⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲟϥ ⲛ̅ϭⲓ ⲛⲉⲧ ⲟⲩⲏϩ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲡⲉⲣⲓⲭⲱⲣⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲓⲟⲣⲇⲁⲛⲏⲥ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ. All the ones who dwell in the region of the Jordan came to him.
    11. ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲣⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲧ ⲏⲡ ⲉ ⲕⲏⲙⲉ. These are the names of the brothers who are ascribed to Egypt (i.e., who are Egyptian).
    12. ⲛⲉⲓⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲓϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲕ ⲛⲉ. I didn't know that these books were yours (ms. sg.).
    13. ⲉⲛϩⲏⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲧⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ, ⲁⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲉϥⲟϣ ⲉϥⲡⲏⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ̅ ⲧⲡⲩⲗⲏ. When we were near the city, we saw a numerous crowd running out through the gate.
    14. ⲉϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲁϩⲧⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲣⲡⲉ, ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩⲃⲗ̅ⲗⲉ ⲛ̅ ϩⲏⲕⲉ ⲉϥϯ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥϩⲱⲃ ⲛ̅ ϭⲓϫ. Walking beside the temple, he saw a poor blind man selling his handicraft.
    15. ⲙⲛ̅-ϭⲟⲙ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲛ ⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̅ ϩⲉⲛⲇⲁⲓⲙⲱⲛ ⲛ̅ ⲁⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲧⲟⲛ. It is impossible for us to cast out unclean demons.
    16. ⲁϥⲟⲩⲱ ⲉϥⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϥϭⲱϣⲧ̅ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲡⲣⲟ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ. He stopped writing and glanced at the door of his cell.
    17. ϩⲁⲡⲥ̅ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛⲗⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ. It is necessary for us to depart from here.
    18. ⲁⲥϭⲱ ⲉⲥⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲉϫⲙ̅ ⲡⲙⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲥⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ ⲛ̅ ϩⲁⲓ. She kept weeping over the death of her beloved husband.
    19. ⲁϥⲗⲟ ⲉϥⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥϩⲱⲃ ⲛ̅ ϭⲓϫ. He stopped bringing us his handiwork.
    20. ⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲇⲉ, ⲉϥϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ ⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ⲉϥⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ, ⲁϥⲕⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲓⲟⲣⲇⲁⲛⲏⲥ, ⲉϥⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲡ̅ⲛ̅ⲁ̅ ϩⲓ ⲧⲉⲣⲏⲙⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ ϩⲁϩ ⲛ̅ ϩⲟⲟⲩ, ⲉⲩⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ϩⲓⲧⲙ̅ ⲡⲇⲓⲁⲃⲟⲗⲟⲥ, ⲁⲩⲱ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲟⲩⲉⲙ-ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ϩⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ. ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ, ⲁϥϩⲕⲟ. Jesus, perfect in the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, walking in the spirit in the wilderness for many days, being tempted by the devil, and he did not eat anything in those days. When they were completed, he became hungry.
    21. ⲁⲓϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ ⲉⲓⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛ̅ ϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ. I sat down writing for three hours.
    22. ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲩⲣⲓⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲩϣⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ̅. They kept weeping for the whole night.
    23. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲛϭⲱ ⲉⲛϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ. We did not continue praying when we heard these things.
    24. ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁⲥⲟⲩⲱ ⲉⲥϣⲱⲛⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲥⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ. Immediately, she ceased being sick and became well.
    25. ⲁⲓⲗⲟ ⲉⲓϯ ⲛ̅ ϩⲉⲛⲟⲉⲓⲕ ⲛⲁⲩ. I stopped giving bread to them.
    26. ⲁϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲉϥⲉⲡⲓϯⲙⲁ ⲛⲁⲩ. He spoke with them, rebuking them.
    27. ⲙⲛ̅-ⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ ⲛⲉϥⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ. The ones who do not obey his commandments have no salvation.
    28. ⲁⲩⲁϩⲉⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩ ϩⲁϩⲧⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥⲥ⳨ⲟ̅ⲥ̅ ⲉⲩⲣⲓⲙⲉ. They stood beside his cross, weeping.
    29. ⲁϥⲉⲡⲓϯⲙⲁ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ, "ⲙ̅ⲡⲣ̅ϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲓϩⲱⲃ." He rebuked them, saying, "Tell no man about this thing."