APPENDIX B ON
THE USAGE OF THE GENITIVE CASE
WE have observed, on page 407, under the figure of Antimereia, that while a noun in regimen (i.e., governed by another noun, and thus placed in the genitive case) is used instead of an adjective, it is not always that the genitive case thus used stands for an adjective. The word “of” therefore does not carry with it a uniform signification.
It is used in many ways: and it is ever the business of the student to stop whenever the word “of” is met with, and ask, “What is the meaning of it?” in each case.
Grammarians differ widely as to the mode of classifying the various usages of the genitive case. They differ both as to the classes themselves; the number of their varieties; and the names by which they are called. We therefore present our own.
The name of the case in which the latter of these two nouns is placed is called the genitive, from γενική (genikee), because it designates the genus to which anything is referred, or from which it is generated .
It is, therefore, what we may call the birth-case: i.e., the case of birth or origin, and from that primal sense all its other meanings may be drawn. Our English word “of” is, properly speaking, a preposition governing the objective case; and is thus very often, but by no means always, a representative or substitute for the true genitive. There is therefore a danger in supposing that “of” in English always represents a genitive case in Hebrew or other languages.
The genitive case, of itself, answers the question, Whence? and as the answers to the question may be various in kind, so are the classifications of the nature of the genitive case (in Antimereia of the noun) of various kinds also.
It is sometimes difficult to decide to which class an exampleparticularly belongs. It might often be quite correct to place it under more than one head.
It is for the student, whenever he finds the word “of” as the sign of the genitive, to consider and decide to which of these classes it belongs; and to test it by trying it under each until he can determine the head under which it is to be placed.
We give the examples as they stand in the original, with the interpretation; and the reader must see for himself how it is rendered in the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and the R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.]
The examples given are by no means exhaustive. Ample scope is thus left for further investigation on the part of those who desire to pursue this study.
We have classified them thus:-
The Genitive of
1. Character.
2. Origin and efficient cause.
3. Possession.
4. Apposition.
5. Relation.
6. Material.
7. Contents.
8. Partition.
9. Two Genitives depending one on the other.
1. The Genitive of Character
This is more purely adjectival than the others, and is always emphatic. The emphasis is always to be placed on the adjective thus formed, and not on the noun thus qualified by it. We have given examples under the figure of Antimereia; where they will be found on pages 498-506.
2. The Genitive of Origin and Efficient Cause
This usage marks the source from which anything comes or is supplied; or from which it has its origin. With this we may group the examples denoting the efficient cause producing or effecting, and thus originating, whatever is spoken of.
Numbers 24:4 ; Numbers 24:16. -“Words of God”: i.e., from El, and “the vision of the Almighty”: i.e., from El Shaddai.
Deuteronomy 32:19. -“He abhorred them because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters”: i.e., because of the provocation produced by the conduct of His People.
Ezra 3:7. -“The grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia”: i.e., from him.
Job 14:1. -“Man that is born of a woman”: i.e., woman-born.
Psalms 37:22. -“For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off”: i.e., by Him, in each case: i.e., His blessed ones, His cursed ones.
Isaiah 1:7. -“As the overthrow of strangers”: i.e., as overthrown by strangers. Or, it may be possessive, as strangers’ overthrow: i.e., like Sodom’s and Gomorrah’s overthrow (see verse 9).
Isaiah 9:6. -“Prince of Peace.” The Prince who makes and gives peace, and brings “peace on earth.”
Isaiah 11:2. -“The spirit of wisdom and understanding,” etc.: i.e., who gives wisdom, etc.
Isaiah 53:4. -“Smitten of God”: i.e., by God.
Isaiah 53:5. -“The chastisement of our peace”: i.e., which procured and gives us peace.
Isaiah 54:13. -“All thy children shall be taught of the Lord”: i.e., by Jehovah.
Ezekiel 1:1. -“Visions of God”: i.e., from God.
Haggai 1:13. -“Haggai, the Lord’s messenger”: i.e., the messenger from Jehovah.
Matthew 3:2 , etc.-“The kingdom of the heavens”: i.e., the kingdom which has its origin and source from the heavens. It might be taken as the genitive of character, “heavenly kingdom”; but still only in the above sense, as the words of the Lord teach in John 18:36 : “My kingdom is not of this world.” The word “of” there is not the sign of the genitive case, but is the preposition ἐκ (ek), out of, from, as to its origin. The kingdom depends on the Person of the King. It is the king that makes a kingdom, and not the kingdom the king. It is king-dom, the termination dom denoting jurisdiction. Dom is an abbreviation of doom or judgment. Hence it denotes the sphere in which anything is exercised, as earl-dom, wis-dom, Christen-dom. Hence a king-dom is the sphere where a king exercises his rule and jurisdiction. In his absence, therefore, there can be no kingdom. When the Lord said to His enemies, “The kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21, margin), He meant in the person of the king. He could not mean that it was “within” the hearts of His enemies, who rejected the King and sought His life.
The kingdom for which we pray, therefore, is not “from hence,” but from heaven.
The word “heaven,” here, is used, by Metonymy, for “God.” See further under the Figure Metonymy .
Luke 1:69. -“An horn of salvation”: i.e., which worketh salvation.
The word “horn” is used, by Metonomy (q.v. [Note: Which see.]), for Christ-as being strong and powerful, and able to procure, and bring salvation.
John 6:29. -“This is the work of God”: i.e., which God effects.
John 12:43. -“They loved the praise of men (i.e., that came from men) more than the praise of God (i.e., that comes from God).”
Romans 1:5. -“The obedience of faith” (see margin). Here, the words correspond with the same expression in 16:26.
In the former (in connection with the Gospel which was promised from of old), we have the apostolic grace committed to the apostle of the Gentiles with a view to (εἰς) [ procuring ] obedience produced by faith among all the Gentiles.
In the latter (in connection with the Mystery which was kept secret from of old), we have the apostolic commission committed to the same apostle with the same object unto all the Gentiles.
It is possible that the words “faith” in these two places may be the Antimereia of the noun, and denote faith-obedience: i.e., obedience on faith-principle as distinct from law-principle.
Romans 1:17. -“For therein (i.e., in the Gospel, the good news concerning Christ, verse 16) is the righteousness of God (i.e., which has its source and origin in God), revealed,” and is imputed to man on the principle of faith.
Romans 4:11. -“The righteousness of faith”: i.e., which comes from God as its source, and is enjoyed instrumentally by faith.
Romans 4:13. -“The righteousness of faith”: i.e., imputed on the principle of faith as distinct from law.
Romans 5:18. -“Justification of life”: i.e., which gives life.
Romans 15:4. -“Comfort of the Scriptures”: i.e., the comfort which the Scriptures supply. The word “patience” is better taken by itself, as being patience exercised by us, and combined here with “the comfort” which the Scriptures give.
2 Corinthians 11:26. -“Dangers of rivers”: dangers occasioned by rivers.
Ephesians 2:8. -“The gift of God”: i.e., which God gives.
Ephesians 4:18. -“Being alienated from the life of God”: i.e., destitute of the life which God gives.
Philippians 4:9. -“The God of peace”: i.e., the God who has made peace and gives peace.
This differs from “the peace of God.” See below under the genitive of Possession .
Colossians 1:23. -“The hope of the Gospel”: i.e., produced by it.
Colossians 2:12. -“Faith of the operation of God”: i.e., faith effected, originated and produced by Almighty power.
1 Thessalonians 1:3. -“Work of faith”: i.e., work produced by or proceeding from and having its origin in their faith, when they “turned to God from idols” (verse 9).
“Labour of love”: i.e., the labour or service proceeding from love, as manifested in a desire “to serve the living and true God” (verse 9).
“Patience of hope”: i.e., patience which was the outcome of the hope, while they waited for God’s “Son from heaven” (verse 10).
Hebrews 1:3. -“By the word of his power.” This is hardly His powerful word; but the word which is the instrument, by which His power is carried out.
After certain verbs of sense or feeling, the genitive is used to indicate the source or origin from which the sense or the affection proceeds.
E.g., the verb to hear: -
The source or person from whom the sound of the voice comes, is expressed by the genitive; while the words or that which the voice speaks is put in the accusative case.
In John 10:27, “My sheep hear of my voice” (gen. [Note: en. The Genitive Case.TCTCT)C: i.e., they hear and recognize that which comes from Me, as being Mine; while Matthew 7:24, “Whosoever heareth my words” (acc. [Note: cc. The Accusative Case.TCTCT)C, the words, sayings, facts, truths, or commands which I utter.
In Acts 1:4, we have both in one verse, “the promise which (acc. [Note: cc. The Accusative Case.TCTCT)C ye heard of me” (gen. [Note: en. The Genitive Case.TCTCT)C.
This explains two otherwise difficult and apparently contradictory statements:-
In Acts 9:7, “Hearing a voice” (gen. [Note: en. The Genitive Case.TCTCT)C: i.e., the sound, or the person who was the source of the words; but, in Acts 22:9, “They heard not the voice” (acc. [Note: cc. The Accusative Case.TCTCT)C: i.e., what was actually said.
3. The Genitive of Possession
This is perhaps the most common and frequent use of the genitive case. Its fundamental meaning denoting Whence? is clear. From the origin and source naturally flows Possession, especially in the use of the personal pronouns: “the daughter of me”: i.e., my daughter; “the disciples of Him”: i.e., His disciples. Hence, after the words “son,” “brother,” “wife,” “house,” etc.
We can give only a few of the more difficult and important examples:
Luke 2:49. -“The business of my Father”: i.e., His “will,” which Christ came to do, and of which at the close He could say, “It is finished.” Note these first and last words uttered by the Lord Jesus, teaching us that the will of God was the source of our salvation, the work of Christ the channel of it, and the witness of the Holy Spirit the power of it . See Hebrews 10:7, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:15 .
Ephesians 6:16. -“The shield of faith”: i.e., faith’s shield. The shield which faith possesses and uses: viz., Christ (Genesis 15:1, Psalms 84:11 (12)). It is not the genitive of Apposition, which would regard faith itself as the shield; but, as in the next verse:-
Ephesians 6:17. -“The sword of the Spirit”: i.e., the Spirit’s sword, “which is the word of God.”
Philippians 4:7. -“The peace of God”: i.e., God’s peace; the peace which reigns in His presence, where the end is known from the beginning, producing a peace which nothing can therefore disturb.
It is the unknown future which disturbs our peace; but if our requests are made known to God, we need not be full of care about anything; and something of God’s peace will keep and guard our hearts and minds.
Colossians 1:13. -“The power of darkness”: i.e., the power belonging to Satan.
2 Thessalonians 3:5. -“The patience of Christ” (margin, and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.TCTCT)C: i.e., Christ’s patient waiting; for this is the meaning of ὑπομονή (hypomonee), which always has the idea of endurance and waiting.
2 Timothy 3:17. -“The man of God”: i.e., God’s man. This was the popular name of a prophet, for in him the People recognised God’s spokesman. * [Note: See the Man of God, by the same author and publisher.]
Hebrews 5:6. -“The order of Melchisedek”: i.e., Melchisedek’s order.
Revelation 14:12. -“The patience of the saints”: i.e., possessed and manifested by the saints. Compare 13:10.
4. The Genitive of Apposition
Sometimes the genitive is put by way of Apposition, in which case some such words as these have to be supplied: “ that is to say ,” “ which is ,” etc.
Isaiah 14:14. -“The heights of the clouds”: the height, that is to say the clouds.
John 2:21. -“He spake concerning the temple of the body of him”: which means the temple, that is to say, His body.
Romans 4:11. -“A sign of circumcision”: i.e., circumcision was itself the sign.
Romans 4:13. -“Through righteousness of faith.” There is no article, and the genitive “of faith” is in Apposition: i.e., through “faith-righteousness”: i.e., righteousness on the principle of faith, or on faith-principle.
So verse 18: “Justification of life”: a life-justification (δικαίωσις).
Romans 8:23. -“The firstfruits of the Spirit”: i.e., the firstfruits [ of our inheritance ], that is to say, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:1. -“The house of our tabernacle”: i.e., the house, that is to say, our tabernacle.
2 Corinthians 5:5. -“The earnest of the Spirit”: i.e., the earnest, which is the Spirit. So 2 Corinthians 1:22 .
Ephesians 4:3. -“The bond of peace”: i.e., the bond, which is peace.
Ephesians 4:9. -“The lower parts of the earth”: i.e., the lower parts, that is to say, the earth. Compare Isaiah 14:14 .
Ephesians 6:14. -“The breastplate of righteousness.” Here, it is not the genitive of possession as in verses 16 and 17, but of apposition, Christ’s righteousness being our breastplate.
Hebrews 6:1. -“The foundation of repentance”: i.e., the foundation, that is to say, repentance, etc.
2 Peter 2:6. -“The cities of Sodom and Gomorrha”: i.e., the cities, that is to say, Sodom, etc.
5. The Genitive of Relation and Object
This is perhaps the most interesting of all the usages. It offers a great variety in the manner of expressing the peculiar relation intended; and this relation can be gathered only from the context, and from the general analogy of Scripture truth.
It must be borne in mind that it is often impossible to define and determine the exact sense, in which the genitive case is used. And very frequently it may be used in more senses than one. For example, “the Gospel of Christ” may either refer to origin -the Gospel which has Christ for its author-or relation, which has Christ for its subject. Both in Hebrew and Greek great attention must be paid to the presence or absence of the article, in judging of the sense.
Each example must be interpreted by the context.
Genesis 2:9. -“The tree of life”: i.e., which preserved life.
Genesis 3:24. -“The way of the tree”: i.e., “the way pertaining (or leading) to the tree of life.”
Genesis 1:4. -“The days of his mourning”: i.e., of mourning (lit., weeping) with respect to him or for him.
Judges 13:12. -“What shall be the manner (or ordering) of the child, and of his work”: i.e., what shall be the ordering of the child, and what shall we do with reference to him.
2 Samuel 7:19. -“And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?” The Heb. is: “And this is a law of humanity” (תּוֹרַת הָאָדָם): i.e., the law for, or relating to, or extending to all mankind. Thus is indicated the fact that the blessing given in grace to David was to embrace the whole world in its scope.
Psalms 4:1 (2). -“O God of my righteousness.” This may be, by Antimereia, my righteous God. but it is this, and more: for it is the God who justifies and who defends my righteous cause. All, in fact, that has relation to my righteousness is included.
Psalms 44:22 (23). -“As sheep of slaughter”: i.e., destined for slaughter.
Psalms 102:20 (21). -“The children of death”: i.e., persons destined to die.
Psalms 149:6. -“The exaltations of God are in their throat”: i.e., their praises, exalting God.
Proverbs 1:7. -“The fear of the Lord”: i.e., the fear which is felt with reference to the Lord, as is so beautifully expressed in Psalms 5:7 (8).
Proverbs 30:24. -“Little of the earth”: i.e., the least in the earth: or, earth’s little ones.
Isaiah 3:14. -“The spoil of the poor”: i.e., which they have taken from the poor. Observe that “poor” is singular:-the poor one.
Isaiah 34:5. -“The people of my curse”: i.e., the people devoted to destruction.
Isaiah 55:3. -“The sure mercies of David”: i.e., pertaining to David, which Jehovah promised to him in 2 Samuel 1:7-29 Compare Acts 13:34 .
Jeremiah 50:28. -“The vengeance of his temple”: i.e., the vengeance of God connected with His temple, avenging its destruction on those who had destroyed it.
Ezekiel 20:7. -“The abominations of his eyes”: i.e., pleasing in his eyes.
Joel 1:3-21 (4):19. -“On account of the violence of the sons of Judah”: i.e., the violence against them, as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] This is described in Habakkuk 2:8 .
Zechariah 9:1 -“The eyes of man.” One sense of the Heb. may be “For Jehovah hath an eye of man”: i.e., with respect to man. So that it may be rendered, “For the Lord hath respect to men, and to all the tribes of Israel,” and thus we have a Periphrasis (q.v. [Note: Which see.]) for the Divine providence and care.
Matthew 3:8. -“Fruit meet of repentance”: i.e., fruit worthy with respect to repentance.
Matthew 4:23 ; Matthew 24:14. -“The gospel of the kingdom”: i.e., the good news connected with, or relating to the coming kingdom.
It is often erroneously said that there can be only one “gospel”; but gospel means “good news,” and this good news may be concerning “Christ,” or “the Kingdom,” or “the grace of God,” or “the glory.” And, if words are used to reveal God’s mind and thoughts, we must not confuse or join together things which he has separated.
The “Gospel (or good news) of the Kingdom” was preached when the King appeared; but after His rejection that good news is necessarily in abeyance; and, in its stead, the “Gospel (or good news) of the grace of God” is preached to sinners, both of Jews and Gentiles, until the time of the King’s second appearing shall come, when the good news of the coming King and Kingdom will be again preached. This is the preaching which is referred to in Matthew 24:14, after the Church of God shall have been “caught up to meet the Lord in the air.”
Matthew 6:26. -“Fowls of the air”: i.e., which fly in the heaven or sky.
Matthew 6:28. -“Lilies of the field”: i.e., which grow in the field.
Matthew 10:1. -“Power of unclean spirits”: i.e., with reference to or over them.
Matthew 14:1. -“The fame of Jesus”: i.e., in connection with, or concerning Jesus.
Mark 1:4. -“Baptism of repentance”: i.e., which had reference to, or stood in connection with it.
Mark 11:22. -“Have faith of God”: i.e., with respect to God, toward Him, such faith as his faithfulness demands and warrants. Compare Colossians 2:12 .
Luke 21:4. -“The gifts of God”: i.e., pertaining to God, and which He accepts. This is quite different from Ephesians 2:8, which is the genitive of origin .
John 2:17. -“The zeal of thy house”: i.e., with respect to it, for or concerning it.
John 5:29. -“Resurrection of life”: i.e., with a view to life. “Resurrection of damnation”: i.e., for the purpose of judgment.
John 7:35. -“The dispersion of the Gentiles”: i.e., among. The dispersed people (of the Jews) among the Greeks (Gentiles).
John 17:2. -“Power of all flesh”: i.e., over all flesh. See other examples with ἐξουσία (exousia), power: Matthew 10:1, Mark 6:7 . 1 Corinthians 9:12 .
Acts 4:9. -“A good work of an impotent man”: i.e., as in the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.], “the good deed done to” him.
Acts 23:6 and all other passages where we have the expression “resurrection of (the) dead,” it means the resurrection of dead bodies: i.e., the resurrection connected with dead bodies as such. Acts 24:15, Acts 24:21, Romans 1:4 . 1 Corinthians 15:13, Hebrews 6:2 . 1 Peter 1:3 . but when the resurrection of Christ, or that of His People is spoken of, the preposition ἐκ (ek), out of or from among, is always used. See Acts 4:2 . 1 Corinthians 15:8, etc.
With regard to Philippians 3:11 : “The resurrection of the dead,” there is more than one thing to remark. First, note that the word “resurrection” here is not the ordinary word. It is ἐξανάστασις (exanastasis), out-resurrection. Secondly, that the reading τὴν ἐκ (teen ek), which is from or out of, must be inserted in the Text, according to the R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] and all the Critical Greek Texts. So that the words read: “If by any means I may arrive at the out-resurrection, that which is from among the dead.” We must note, further, that Paul’s stand-point here is that of a Jew. He has been showing all through the chapter what was his standing in the flesh, and what his gains were as a Jew. He is willing, he says, to give up all that he once counted “gain” as a Jew, that he might attain to this blessed and new revelation of a resurrection from among the dead, which was a secret not before revealed-brought to light by Christ and His Gospel (see 1 Corinthians 15:51). It is not that he, as a Christian, having this hope, desired to attain to something higher, which other Christians (or all of them) would not enjoy; but that he, as a Jew, counted his gains but loss, that he might enjoy this blessed hope of the out-resurrection at Christ’s appearing.
Romans 3:22. -“By faith of Jesus Christ”: i.e., faith which has respect to, or which embraces or rests on Him. Some take it as the genitive of Origin, faith which is the gift of Jesus Christ, according to Ephesians 2:8 .
Compare Galatians 3:22 and Revelation 14:12 .
Romans 8:17. -“Joint-heirs of Christ”: i.e., in relation to Christ, and hence partaking with Christ.
Romans 8:36. -“Sheep of slaughter”: i.e., sheep devoted to slaughter. See Psalms 44:22 (23) above.
Romans 9:9. -“For, of promise is this word”: i.e., this word is relating to the promise (i.e., the promise made to Sarah). Lit, “For, of promise, the word is this.”
Romans 10:2. -“They have a zeal of God”: i.e., a zeal for God, or with respect to Him.
A person may have this; and yet be destitute of God’s righteousness, which He has provided for us, and which is in Christ only, apart from all our zeal and all our “works of righteousness which we have done.”
Romans 13:3. -“Not a terror of good works”: i.e., in respect to them.
Romans 16:2. -“Worthily of the saints”: i.e., in connection with, or in a manner becoming to the saints. A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] : “As becometh saints.”
2 Corinthians 10:5. -“Obedience of Christ”: i.e., rendered to the Christ: i.e., loyalty to Him.
Ephesians 4:16. -“Every joint of the supply”: i.e., every joint or sensation for the purpose of supply, or with a view to supply.
Colossians 1:24. -“The afflictions of Christ”: i.e., the afflictions pertaining to Christ Mystical, the apostle having an abundant measure of them as a member of that Body of Christ. So that, if other members had fewer afflictions, Paul made up any deficiency by having more than the average share.
Colossians 2:18. -“Worship of angels.” Here, the word rendered “worship” is θρησκεία (threeskeia) which never means worship, but always religion, or religious ritual. See Acts 26:5, James 1:1-27 (its only occurrences in the New Testament), and Wisd. 14:16, 18, 27 in the Septuagint.
Then, the Greek reads: “Humility and religion,” which, by Hendiadys (q.v. [Note: Which see.]), means religious humility (with emphasis on religious). So that the genitive, here, means pertaining to: i.e., the religious humility pertaining to, Or entertained by angels in their access to God.
The context teaches that this is not proper Christian standing, which is that of “sons,” not of servants (which angels are. See Hebrews 1:14, Hebrews 2:5, and 1 Corinthians 6:3).
Verses 18, 19 may thus be rendered:-“Let no one defraud you of your prize, having pleasure in the religious humility entertained by angels, taking his stand upon the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh (i.e., his Old nature), and not holding fast the Head,” etc.
Titus 2:14. -“Zealous of good works”: i.e., with respect to good works.
Hebrews 3:12. -“An evil heart of unbelief”: i.e., an evil heart in respect to unbelief.
Hebrews 5:13. -“Unskilled of the word of righteousness”: i.e., in respect of the word of righteousness.
Hebrews 9:21. -“Vessels of the ministry”: i.e., pertaining to the ministering.
Hebrews 11:26. -“The reproach of Christ”: i.e., reproach in connection with Christ.
James 1:13. -“Cannot be tempted of evil (marg. [Note: arg. Margin.], evils)”: i.e., is not to be tempted with respect to evil things.
1 Peter 2:19. -“Conscience of God”: i.e., conscience toward God.
1 John 2:5. -“The love of God”: i.e., either our love which goes out to God; or, His love with regard to us (cf. [Note: f. Compare (for Latin, confer).] especially John 14:23).
Revelation 3:10. -“The word of my patience”: i.e., My word, which enjoins a patient waiting.
Revelation 19:10. -“The testimony of Jesus”: i.e., the testimony concerning Jesus.
6. The Genitive of the Material
Denoting that of which anything is made.
Genesis 3:21. -“Coats of skins”: i.e., made out of skins. * [Note: The word for “of skins” is to be omitted according to the class of readings called Severin. See Ginsburg’s Introduction to the Hebrew Bible.]
Genesis 6:14. -“An ark of gopher wood”: i.e., made out of that kind of wood.
Judges 7:13. -“A cake of barley bread”: i.e., bread made out of barley.
Psalms 2:9. -“A rod of iron”: i.e., made of iron.
This might be placed under character, “an iron rod” being put by another figure (Metonymy) for a powerful rule.
2 Samuel 7:2. -“A house of cedar”: i.e., built of cedar-wood.
Daniel 2:38. -“Thou art this head of gold”: i.e., represented by the head of the image, which was made of gold.
7. The Genitive of the Contents
Denoting that with which anything is filled .
1 Samuel 16:20. -“And Jesse took an ass of bread, and a bottle of wine”: i.e., an ass laden with bread, and a bottle filled with wine.”
Matthew 10:42. -“A cup of cold water”: i.e., filled with.
Matthew 26:7. -“An alabaster box of very precious ointment”: i.e., filled with it, or containing it.
John 1:14. -“Full of grace and truth”: i.e., filled with grace and truth (See under Hendiadys).
John 2:7. -Lit., “Fill the waterpots of water”: i.e., full with water.
Acts 7:16. -“A sum of money.”
8. The Genitive of Partition, Separation, or Ablation
This is closely connected with the fundamental idea of the genitive, which answers the question, Whence? This genitive denotes a part taken from the whole, and is so easily recognised that we need add only a very few examples by way of illustration.
Luke 20:35. -Lit., “To attain of that world”: i.e., to have part in it.
1 Corinthians 15:9. -“The least of the apostles.”
1 Peter 1:1. -“Elect sojourners of the dispersion”: i.e., sojourners, being a part of the Diaspora, or “Scattered Nation.”
Rendered by the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.], “strangers scattered.”
9. Two Genitives depending, on each other
Leviticus 7:35. -“This is of the anointing (partition) of Aaron (possession) and of the anointing (partition) of his sons (possession)”: i.e., this is part of the perquisites of the anointing.
John 6:1. -“The sea of Galilee (relation) of Tiberias (apposition)”: i.e., the sea pertaining to Galilee; that is to say, Tiberias (as the Gentiles call it).
Acts 5:32. -“We are witnesses of him (possession) of these things (relation: i.e., with respect to).”
Acts 20:24 and 1 Thessalonians 2:9. -“The gospel of the grace of God ”: i.e., the Gospel of (or concerning, gen. [Note: en. The Genitive Case.] of relation) God’s grace (gen. [Note: en. The Genitive Case.] of origin or possession).
2 Corinthians 5:1. -“The earthly house of us (possession, our) of the tabernacle”: i.e., our earthly house, that is to say, our tabernacle.
Philippians 2:30. -“The lack of you (possession, your) of service (relation: i.e., in respect of service).”
Ephesians 1:18. -“And what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints”: i.e., and what the rich, or exceeding rich glory (Hypallage), pertaining to or in (gen. [Note: en. The Genitive Case.] of relation) the saints. If it is Enallage, it will mean the glorious riches, etc.