γάρ, a conjunction, which according to its composition, γέ and ἄρα (equivalent to ἀρ), is properly a particle of affirmation and conclusion, denoting truly therefore, verily as the case stands, "the thing is first affirmed by the particle γέ, and then is referred to what precedes by the force of the particle ἄρα (Klotz ad Devar. ii. 1, p. 232; cf. Kühner, ii., p. 724; (Jelf, § 786; Winers Grammar, 445f (415f))). Now since by a new affirmation not infrequently the reason and nature of something previously mentioned are set forth, it comes to pass that, by the use of this particle, either the reason and cause of a foregoing statement is added, whence arises the causal or argumentative force of the particle, for (Latinnam,enim; German denn); or some previous declaration is explained, whence γάρ takes on an explicative force: for, the fact is, namely (Latinvidelicet, German nämlich). Thus the force of the particle is either conclusive, or demonstrative, or explicative and declaratory; cf. Rost in Passow's Lexicon, i., p. 535ff; Kühner, ii., pp. 724ff, 852ff; (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word). The use of the particle in the N. T. does not differ from that in the classics. I. Its primary and original Conclusive force is seen in questions (in Greek writings also in exclamations) and answers expressed with emotion; where, according to the connexion, it may be freely represented by assuredly, verily, forsooth, why, then, etc.: ἐν γάρ τούτῳ etc. ye profess not to know whence he is; herein then is assuredly a marvellous thing, why, herein etc. Joh_9:30; οὐ γάρ, ἀλλά etc. by no means in this state of things, nay verily, but etc. Act_16:37; certainly, if that is the case, 1Co_8:11 L T Tr WH. It is joined to interrogative particles and pronouns: μή γάρ etc. Joh_7:41 (do ye then suppose that the Christ comes out of Galilee? What, doth the Christ, etc.?); μή γάρ ... οὐκ, 1Co_11:22 ("what! since ye are so eager to eat and drink, have ye not," etc.?); τίς γάρ, τί γάρ: Mat_27:23 (τί γάρ κακόν ἐποίησεν, ye demand that he be crucified like a malefactor, Why, what evil hath he done?); Mat_9:5 (your thoughts are evil; which then do ye suppose to be the easier, etc.?); Mat_16:26; Mat_23:17; Mat_23:19; Luk_9:25; Act_19:35; τί γάρ; for τί γάρ ἐστι, what then? i. e. what, under these circumstances, ought to be the conclusion? Php_1:18 (cf. Ellicott at the passage); πῶς γάρ, Act_8:31; cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 245ff; Kühner, ii., p. 726; (Jelf, ii., p. 608); Winer's Grammar, 447 (416). Here belongs also the vexed passage Luk_18:14 ἤ γάρ ἐκεῖνος (so G T Tr marginal reading, but L WH Tr text παῥ ἐκεῖνον) or do ye suppose then that that man went down approved of God? cf. Winer's Grammar, 241 (226). II. It adduces the Cause or gives the Reason of a preceding statement or opinion; 1. universally: Mat_2:5; Mat_6:24; Mar_1:22; Mar_9:6; Luk_1:15; Luk_1:18; Luk_21:4; Joh_2:25; Act_2:25; Rom_1:9; Rom_1:11; 1Co_11:5; Heb_2:8; 1Jn_2:19; Rev_1:3, and very often. In Joh_4:44 γάρ assigns the reason why now at length Jesus betook himself into Galilee; for the authority denied to a prophet in his own country (Galilee), he had previously to seek and obtain among strangers; cf. Joh_4:45; Meyer (yet see edition 6 (Weiss)) at the passage; Strauss, Leben Jesu, i. 725 edition 3; Neander, Leben Jesu, p. 385f edition 1 (American translation, pp. 100, 168); Ewald, Jahrbb. d. Biblical Wissensch. x., p. 108ff. 2. Often the sentences are connected in such a way that either some particular statement is established by a general proposition (`the particular by the universal'), as in Mat_7:8; Mat_13:12; Mat_22:14; Mar_4:22; Mar_4:25; Joh_3:20; 1Co_12:12; Heb_5:13, etc.; or what has been stated generally, is proved to be correctly stated by a particular instance (`the universal by the particular'): Mar_7:10; Luk_12:52; Luk_12:58; Rom_7:2; 1Co_1:26; 1Co_12:8. 3. To sentences in which something is commanded or forbidden, γάρ annexes the reason why the thing must either be done or avoided: Mat_1:20; Mat_2:20; Mat_3:9; Mat_7:2; Rom_13:11; Col_3:3; 1Th_4:3; Heb_2:2, and very often. In Php_2:13 γάρ connects the verse with Php_2:12 thus: work out your salvation with most intense earnestness, for nothing short of this accords with God's saving efficiency within your souls, to whom you owe both the good desire and the power to execute that desire. 4. To questions, γάρ annexes the reason why the question is asked: Mat_2:2 (we ask this with good reason, for we have seen the star which announces his birth); Mat_22:28; Rom_14:10; 1Co_14:9; Gal_1:10. 5. Frequently the statement which contains the cause is interrogative; τίς, τί γάρ: Luk_22:27; Rom_4:3; Rom_11:34; 1Co_2:16; 1Co_7:16; Heb_1:5; Heb_12:7; τί γάρ for τί γάρ ἐστι, Rom_3:3 (cf. Fritzsche at the passage; (Ellicott on Php_1:18)); ἵνα τί γάρ, 1Co_10:29; ποίᾳ γάρ, Jas_4:14 (WH text omits; Tr brackets γάρ). 6. Sometimes in answers it is so used to make good the substance of a preceding question that it can be rendered yea, assuredly: 1Co_9:10; 1Th_2:20; cf. Kühner, ii., p. 724. 7. Sometimes it confirms, not a single statement, but the point of an entire discussion: Rom_2:25 (it is no advantage to a wicked Jew, for etc.). On the other hand, it may so confirm but a single thought as to involve the force of asseveration and be rendered assuredly, yea: Rom_15:27 (εὐδόκησαν γάρ); so also καί γάρ, Php_2:27. 8. It is often said that the sentence of which γάρ introduces the cause, or renders the reason, is not expressed, but must be gathered from the context and supplied in thought. But that this ellipsis is wholly imaginary is clearly shown by Klotz ad Devar. ii. 1, p. 236f, cf. Winer's Grammar, 446f (415f). The particle is everywhere used in reference to something expressly stated. Suffice it to append a very few examples; the true nature of many others is shown under the remaining heads of this article: In Mat_5:12 before γάρ some supply 'nor does this happen to you alone'; but the reason is added why a great reward in heaven is reserved for those who suffer persecution, which reason consists in this, that the prophets also suffered persecution, and that their reward is great no one can doubt. In Rom_8:18 some have supplied 'do not shrink from this suffering with Christ'; but on the use of γάρ here, see III. a. below. On Mar_7:28 (T Tr WH omit; L brackets γάρ), where before καί γάρ some supply 'but help me,' or 'yet we do not suffer even the dogs to perish with hunger,' see 10 b. below. In Act_9:11 before γάρ many supply 'he will listen to thee'; but it introduces the reason for the preceding command. 9. When in successive statements γάρ is repeated twice or thrice, or even four or five times, either a. one and the same thought is confirmed by as many arguments, each having its own force, as there are repetitions of the particle (Meyer denies the coordinate use of γάρ in the N. T., asserting that the first is argumentative, the second explicative, see his commentaries on the passage to follow, also on Rom_8:6): Mat_6:32; Rom_16:18 f; or b. every succeeding statement contains the reason for its immediate predecessor, so that the statements are subordinate one to another: Mar_6:52; Mat_16:25-27; Joh_3:19; Joh_5:21; Act_2:15; Rom_4:13-15; Romans 8:2 f, 5 ; 1Co_3:3; 1Co_9:15-17 (where five times in G L T Tr WH); 1Co_16:7; Jas_2:10, etc.; or c. it is repeated in a different sense: Mar_9:39-41; Rom_5:6 f (where cf. Winer's Grammar, 453 (422)); Rom_10:2-5 (four times); Jas_4:14 (WH text omits; Tr brackets the first γάρ, L WH marginal reading omit the second). 10. καί γάρ (on which cf. Kühner, ii., p. 854f; Winer's Grammar, 448 (417); (Ellicott on 2Th_3:10)) is a. for, and truly (etenim,namque, (the simple rendering for is regarded as inexact by many; cf. Meyer on 2Co_13:4 and see Hartung, Partikeln, i. 137f; Krüger, § 69, 32, 21)): Mar_14:70; Luk_22:37 (L Tr brackets γάρ); 1Co_5:7; 1Co_11:9; 1Co_12:13. b. for also, for even (nametiam): Mat_8:9; Mar_10:45; Luk_6:32; Joh_4:45; 1Co_12:14, etc. In Mar_7:28 καί γάρ (R G L brackets) τά κυνάρια etc. the woman, by adducing an example, confirms what Christ had said, but the example is of such a sort as also to prove that her request ought to be granted. τέ γάρ for indeed (German dennja): Rom_7:7; cf. Fritzsche at the passage; Winer's Grammar, 448 (417). ἰδού γάρ, see under ἰδού. III. It serves to explain, make clear, illustrate, a preceding thought or word: for equivalent to that is, namely; a. so that it begins an exposition of the thing just announced (cf. Winer's Grammar, 454f (423f)): Mat_1:18 (R G); ; Luk_11:30; Luk_18:32. In Rom_8:18 γάρ introduces a statement setting forth the nature of the συνδοξασθῆναι just mentioned. b. so that the explanation is intercalated into the discourse, or even added by way of appendix: Mat_4:18; Mar_1:16; Mar_2:15; Mar_5:42; Rom_7:1; 1Co_16:5. In Mar_16:4 the information ἦν γάρ μέγας σφόδρα is added to throw light on all that has been previously said (in Mar_16:3 f) about the stone. IV. As respects position: γάρ never occupies the first place in a sentence, but the second, or third, or even the fourth (ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ γάρ υἱός, 2Co_1:19 according to true text). Moreover, not the number but the nature of the word after which it stands is the point to be noticed, Hermann on Sophocles Phil. 1437.

γάρ gar 1,041x for; it is, however, frequently used with an ellipsis of the clause to which it has reference, and its force must then be variously expressed: Mat_15:27 ; Mat_27:23 , et al.; it is also sometimes epexegetic, or introductory of an intimated detail of circumstances, now, then, Mat_1:18

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. expli\-cative and epexegetic: Mat_4:18 ; Mat_19:12 , Mar_1:16 ; Mar_5:42 ; Mar_16:4 , Luk_11:30 , Rom_7:1 , 1Co_16:5 , al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat_9:5 ; Mat_27:23 , Luk_9:25 ; Luk_22:27 , Joh_9:30 , Act_8:31 ; Act_16:37 ; Act_19:35 , Rom_15:26 , 1Co_9:10 , Php_1:18 (Ellie., in l ), 1Th_2:20 , al. 3. Causal: Mat_1:21 ; Mat_2:2 ; Mat_2:5-6 , Mar_1:22 ; Mar_9:6 , Luk_1:15 ; Luk_1:18 , Joh_2:25 , Act_2:25 , Rom_1:9-11 , 1Co_11:5 , Rev_1:3 , al. ; giving the reason for a command or prohibition, Mat_2:20 ; Mat_3:9 , Rom_13:11 , Col_3:3 , 1Th_4:3 , al. ; where the cause is contained in an interrog. statement, Luk_22:27 , Rom_3:3 ; Rom_4:3 , 1Co_10:29 ; καὶ γάρ , for also, Mar_10:45 , Luk_6:32 , 1Co_5:7 , al. ; id . as in cl . = etenim, where the καὶ loses its connective force (El., § 78, 6; Kόhner3 , ii, 854 f .), Mar_14:70 , Luk_1:66 ; Luk_22:37 , 2Co_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: 2Co_1:19 . Yet "not the number but the nature of the word after which it stands is the point to be noticed" ( v. Thayer , s.v. ).

γάρ [page 121] For the ascensive force of καὶ γάρ , as in Rom_11:1 , cf. P Passalacqua .9 (iii/B.C.) (= Witkowski .2 , p. 54) φρόντισον οὖν , ὅπως μὴ ἀδικηθῆι ὁ ἄνθρωπος · καὶ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἐστὶν ἐνταῦθα περὶ Π ., where Letronne (P Par p. 401) renders, aie soin qu il ne soit fait aucun tort ΰ cet homme; car, de plus, son pθre est employι ici auprθs de P. In P Oxy IV. 743 .22 (B.C. 2) καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ὅλος διαπον [ο ]ῦμαι εἰ Ἕλενος χαλκοὺς ἀπόλε [σ ]εν , I am quite upset at Helenos loss of the money (Edd.), the same phrase seems to do little more than introduce a new subject. In P Flor III. 367 .6 (iii/A.D.) καὶ γὰρ καὶ πολλάκις μου ἐπιστείλαντός σοι κτλ ., the locution introduces the ground of a complaint just conveyed in the mention of the addressee s ἀπάνθρωποι . ἐπιστολαί . The ordinary uses of γάρ need not be illustrated, unless we give one example of the γάρ beginning an exposition of a matter just announced, where our idiom omits : thus P Rein 7 7 (? B.C. 141) h̔̓ν̣άγ̣κασμαι τ̣η̣̣ν ἐφ᾽ ὑμα̣̑ς καταϕ̣υγη̣̣ν π [οι ]ήσασθ̣αι ἵν̣α τ̣ύχω βοηθείας . Το̣ῦ γα̣̣ρ κτλ . (the statement of grievance follows). [Supplemental from 1930 edition] For γάρ , as in Mar_16:8 , cf. P Amh II. 133 .4 (early ii/A.D.), P Oxy IX. 1223 .33 (late iv/A.D.).

γάρ "for", Lat. enim, and like it, regularly placed after the first word of a sentence: "to introduce the reason": ARGUMENTATIVE, "to introduce the reason for" a statement, which usually precedes:—when it precedes the statement, it may be rendered "since, as", Ἀτρείδη, πολλοὶ γὰρ τεθνᾶσιν Ἀχαιοί, χρὴ πόλεμον παῦσαι Il. "the statement of which γάρ gives the reason may be omitted", οὐ γάρ τί μοι Ζεὺς ἦν ὁ κηρύξας τάδε [yes], "for" it was not Zeus, etc., Soph. ; ἔστι γὰρ οὕτω [yes], for so it is, i. e. yes certainly, Plat. ; οἵδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ εἰσί: τοῦτο γάρ σε δήξεται [I say this], "for" it will sting thee, Eur. : —in Conditional Propositions, where the Condition is omitted, it may be transl. "for otherwise, else", οὐ γὰρ ἄν με ἔπεμπον πάλιν, (sc. εἰ μὴ ἐπίστευον), Xen. EPEXEGETIC, where γάρ is used to begin a promised narration, λεκτέα ἃ γιγνώσκω: ἔχει γὰρ ἡ χώρα πεδία κάλλιστα I must relate what I know; "now", the country has most beautiful plains, Xen. ; so, after the introductory forms, σκέψασθε δέ, δῆλον δέ, τεκμήριον δέ, μαρτύριον δέ, μέγιστον δέ, Plat. , etc.; τούτου δὲ τεκμήριον: τόδε γάρ . . , Hdt. :—in ἀλλὰ γάρ, a clause must be supplied between ἀλλά and γάρ, as, ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἤκουσα "but" [say no more], for I heard, Aesch. STRENGTHENING, "a question", like Lat. nam, Engl. "why, what", τίς γάρ σε ἧκεν; "why" who hath sent thee? Il. ; τί γάρ; "quid enim"? i. e. it must be so, Soph. "a wish", with the opt., κακῶς γὰρ ἐξόλοιο "O" that you might perish! Eur. ; in Hom. mostly αἲ γάρ, attic εἰ or εἴθε γάρ, Lat. utinam, O that! so also πῶς γάρ "would that".

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: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. __2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. __3. Causal: Mat.1:21 2:2, 5, 6, 3:23, Mrk.1:22, 9:6, Luk.1:15, 18, Jhn.2:25, Act.2:25, Rom.1:9, 11, 1Co.11:5, Rev.1:3, al.; giving the reason for a command or prohibition, Mat.2:20 3:9, Rom.13:11, Col.3:3, 1Th.4:3, al.; where the cause is contained in an interrog. statement, Luk.22:27, Rom.3:3 4:3, 1Co.10:29; καὶ γάρ, for also, Mrk.10:45, Luk.6:32, 1Co.5:7, al. id. as in cl. = etenim, where the καί loses its connective force (Bl., §78, 6; Kühner 3, ii, 854f.), Mrk.14:70, Luk.1:66 22:37, 2Co.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: 2Co.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). (AS)