STRONGS G687:
ἆρα, an interrogative particle ["implying anxiety or impatience on the part of the questioner." Liddell and Scott, under the word] (of the same root as the preceding
ἄρα, and only differing from it in that more vocal stress is laid upon the first syllable, which is therefore circumflexed);
1. num igitur,
i. e. marking an inferential question to which a negative answer is expected:
Luke 18:8; with
γε rendering it more pointed,
ἆρά γε [G T
ἆράγε]:
Acts 8:30; [
ἆρα οὖν...
διώκομεν Lachmann edition min. also major marginal reading
are we then pursuing etc.
Romans 14:19].
2. ergone i. e. a question to which an affirmative answer is expected, in an interrogative apodosis (German
so ist also wohl?),
he is then? Galatians 2:17 (where others
[e. g. Lachmann] write
ἄρα, so that this example is referred to those mentioned under
ἄρα, 3, and is rendered
Christ is then a minister of sin; but
μὴ γένοιτο, which follows, is everywhere by Paul opposed to a question). Cf. Winers Grammar, 510f (475f) [also Buttmann, 247 (213), 371 (318);
Herm. ad Vig., p. 820ff;
Klotz ad Devar. ii., p. 180ff; speaking somewhat loosely, it may be said "
ἆρα expresses bewilderment as to a possible conclusion...
ἆρα hesitates, while
ἄρα concludes." Bp. Lightfoot on Galatians, the passage cited].
Related entry:
[ἆράγε, see ἆρα, 1.]
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