Matthew 5:18

Vocabulary (Greek word by word)

ἀμὴν (exclam) "Truly" is from amen, which is from the Hebrew, meaning "truly", "of a truth" and "so be it". It has no history in Greek before the NT.

γὰρ (adv) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for", "since" and "as". In an abrupt question it means "why" and "what".

λέγω (1st sg pres ind act) "I tell" is from lego means "pick up", "choose for oneself", "pick out" and "count", "recount", "tell over", "say", "speak", "teach", "mean", "boast of", "tell of", "recite", "nominate" and "command".

ὑμῖν, (pron 2nd pl dat) "You" is from humas and humon, which is a plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you".

ἕως (conj) "Till" is from heos, which means "till", "until", "while" and "so long as".

ἂν (conj) Untranslated is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event.

παρέλθῃ (3rd sg aor subj) "Pass" is parerchomai, which means "go by", "pass by", "outstrip" (in speed), "pass" (time), "outwit", "past events" (in time), "disregard", "pass unnoticed", "escape notice" and "pass without heeding".

ὁ (article sg masc nom)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

οὐρανὸς (noun sg masc nom) "Heaven" is from ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky", "heaven as the seat of the gods", "the sky", "the universe" and "the climate".

καὶ (conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "also". After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also". Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also" and "just".

ἡ (article sg fem nom)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

γῆ, (noun sg fem nom) "Earth" is from ge, which means "the element of earth", "land" (country), "arable land", "the ground" and "the world" as the opposite of the sky. Like our English word "earth", it means both dirt and the planet.

ἰῶτα (irreg) "Jot" is from iota, which means the Greek letter iota, "line", "stroke" and anything very small.

ἓν (noun sg neut nom) "One" is from heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

ἢ (conj) "Or" is from e which is a particle meaning "either", "or" or "than".

μία (adj sg fem nom) "One" is from heis, which means "one", "single" and "one and the same". This adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. The feminine singular form is mia.

κερέα (noun pl neut nom/acc) [κεραίᾶ] (noun sg fem nom)] "Tittle" is from keraia, which means "horn", "the antenna of crustaceans", "anything projecting like a horn", "yard-arm", "crane arm", "horns of moon", etc. It also means the top of a letter sticking out on a capital gamma "Γ". In MODERN Greek, the small apostrophe like mark to distinguish numbers from letters is horn-shaped and therefore called a keraia.  However, neither the Greek not the Hebrew of the era used diacritical marks. They were invented in the Middle Ages. The plural word has a similar meaning "horn of an animal", "a bow", "an instrument for blowing", "a drinking horn", "horn points" [for writing instruments], "objects shaped like horns", "the wing" [of an army], "branch of a river", "corps of men", "sailyard", "mountain peak" and "anything made of horn".

οὐ μὴ (partic) "In no wise" is from ou me, the two forms of Greek negative used together. Ou is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. Mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.

παρέλθῃ (3rd sg aor subj act) "Pass" is from parerchomai, which means "go by", "pass by", "outstrip" (in speed), "pass" (time), "outwit", "past events" (in time), "disregard", "pass unnoticed", "escape notice" and "pass without heeding".

ἀπὸ (prep) "From" is from apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause.

τοῦ  (article sg masc ge) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

νόμου (noun sg masc gen) "The law" is from nomos, which means "anything assigned", "a usage", "custom", "law", "ordinance" or "that which is a habitual practice". It is the basis of the English words "norm" and "normal".

ἕως (conj) "Till" is heos, which means "till", "until", "while" and "so long as".

[ἂν] (conj) Untranslated is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event.

πάντα (adv or adj pl neut nom/acc) "All" is from pas, which means "all", "the whole", "every", "anyone", "all kinds" and "anything". As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side" and "altogether".

γένηται. (3rd sg aor subj mid) "Be fulfilled" is from ginomai, which means "to become", "to come into being", "to happen" and "to be produced". It means changing into a new state of being.

KJV — word by word

For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why". However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause". 

Verily -- The word translated as "verily" is from the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly", but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap". See this article discussing this "amen phrase."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.

say -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say" and "to speak", but it also means "to teach", which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself". Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.

unto -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, but the translator must decide which preposition to use: a "to" as an indirect object.

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc.

Till -- The word translated as "till" means "until" or "while." With the particle below and the subjunctive form of the verb, the sense is until some unknown time.

missing "when" -- (MW) Untranslated word meaning "when" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".

missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

heaven -- The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. It is singular here. The phrase here includes the article "the" which is left out of the KJV, so "the sky". When Christ talks about, for example, "the Father in heaven" it is always plural, literally "the skies". So this is more limited, possibly referring to the planet's sky rather than all of the universe.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also". After words implying sameness "as".

missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

earth -- The word translated as "earth" means the physical planet, "land" and "dirt". It also uses an article that is left out of the KJV, "the ground". See this article for more on these words.

pass, -- The "pass" verb means literally "start beyond" and can mean "go by", "pass by", "go by" or "pass over". The sense here could be "pass by", "surpass", but the sense of "pass away" as in "end" is not at all clear. The word means to pass the time and can refer to times past, but it also means to "outwit" and "elude" and "be superior". It also means to "pass by" a place or to "arrive" at a place. In the Latin Vulgate, this verb was translated as "transit" which means "to cross". This verb is not in the future tense, but a form indicating something that might happen at some point in time. The verb is singular though there are two words following it, both in the form of a subject. One explanation for this is that the two together are considered a single unit.

one -- The Greek word translated as "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same".

jot -- "Jot" is from the Greek word for the letter iota, which is our letter "i". More generally, it mean any "line" or writing "stroke". It also means anything very small. This is a vertical line contrasting with the following word for a horizontal line.

or -- "Or" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth".

one -- The Greek word translated as "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same".

tittle -- (CW) "Tittle" is a word that means "horn" and anything projecting horizontally like a horn of an animal. The relevant meaning here is the horizontal line at the top of a letter like the top stroke of a capital gamma "Γ".

shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.

in no wise -- The phrase "in no wise" comes from the use of the two forms of negative in Greek, ou and me. The first is the objective negative, the negative of fact, while the second is the subjective negative, the negative of opinion. Jesus uses them together for a sense of impossibility. "Never" is the simplest form to translate this.

pass -- The second "pass" is also single, again, despite this time being preceded by the multiple noun as a compound subject.  However, it is also more difficult to think of the "iota, one, and one apostrophe" as a unit, especially since the "one" and the "apostrophe" do not agree in form.

from -- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from".

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") than the English "the". See this article for more. 

law, -- The Greek word translated as "law" describes the social norms, which can be from "tradition", "common practice" or the "laws". Jesus also uses it to refer to the first five books of the OT written by Moses. Because the references are to writing, we can assume Christ is referring to the written law.

till -- The word translated as "till" means "until" or "while".

missing "when" -- (MW) Untranslated word meaning "when" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".

all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every" and similar ideas. While technically, this is an adjective, it is often used as a pronoun or a noun. It is the subject of the verb, "happens". The form is plural, neuter, but the verb is singular, but plural neuter subjects take a singular verb as a conglomeration.

missing "should" or "might" -- (WF) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if", "when", "whoever" and other conditional clauses.

be -- (WF) This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive and in the present tense but the verb is not passive and not in the present tense.

fulfilled. -- (WW) The word translated as "fulfilled" means "to become", that is, to enter into a new state. When applied to events, this word means "to happen". This is not the Greek word translated in the previous verse, Matthew 5:17, as "fulfill," which is the word that the NT typically uses as "fulfilled". This verb is in the subjunctive voice indicating a probability. It is also in a form referring to a subject acting on itself. However, this is also in the aorist tense, indicating something that happens at a point in time. It is singular with a plural neuter subject, "everything".

NIV — word by word

For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why". However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause". 

truly -- The word translated as "truly" is from the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly", but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap". See this article discussing this "amen phrase."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.

tell -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say" and "to speak", but it also means "to teach", which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself". Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.

you, -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc.

until -- The word translated as "until" means "until" or "while".

missing "when" -- (MW) Untranslated word meaning "when" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is often how we use the word "when".

missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

heaven -- The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. It is singular here. The phrase here includes the article "the" which is left out of the KJV, so "the sky". When Christ talks about, for example, "the Father in heaven" it is always plural, literally "the skies". So this is more limited, possibly referring to the planet's sky rather than all of the universe.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also". After words implying sameness "as".

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, "the". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

earth -- The word translated as "earth" means the physical planet, "land" and "dirt". It also uses an article that is left out of the KJV, "the ground". See this article for more on these words.

disappear, -- (WW) The "disappear" verb means literally "start beyond" and can mean "go by", "pass by", "go by" or "pass over". The sense here could be "pass by", "surpass", but the sense of "pass away" as in "end" is not at all clear. The word means to pass the time and can refer to times past, but it also means to "outwit" and "elude" and "be superior". It also means to "pass by" a place or to "arrive" at a place. In the Latin Vulgate, this verb was translated as "transit" which means "to cross". This verb is not in the future tense, but a form indicating something that might happen at some point in time. The verb is singular though there are two words following it, both in the form of a subject. One explanation for this is that the two together are considered a single unit.

not -- (CW) The "not" comes from the use of the two forms of negative in Greek, ou and me. The first is the objective negative, the negative of fact, while the second is the subjective negative, the negative of opinion. Jesus uses them together for a sense of impossibility. "Never" is the simplest form to translate this.

missing "one" -- (MW) The untranslated word "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same".

the smallest letter, -- "The smallest letter" is from the Greek word for the letter iota, which is our letter "i". More generally, it means any "line" or writing "stroke". It also means anything very small. This is a horizontal line contrasting with the following word for a horizontal line.

not -- (WW) "Not" is translated from a Greek word that means primarily "or" but serves as "than" in a comparison. The same word could also be the exclamation "hi" or the adverb meaning "in truth".

missing "one" -- (MW) The untranslated word "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same".

the least stroke of a pen -- "The least stroke of a pen" is a word that means "horn" and anything projecting horizontally like a horn of an animal. The relevant meaning here is the horizontal line at the top of a letter like the top stroke of a capital gamma "Γ".

will -- (CW) This helping verb "will" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.

by any means -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "by any means" in the Greek source.

disappear -- The second "disappear " is also single, again, despite this time being preceded by the multiple noun as a compound subject.  However, it is also more difficult to think of the "iota, one, and one apostrophe" as a unit, especially since the "one" and the "apostrophe" do not agree in form.

from -- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from".

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") than the English "the". See this article for more. 

Law, -- The Greek word translated as "law" describes the social norms, which can be from "tradition", "common practice" or the "laws". Jesus also uses it to refer to the first five books of the OT written by Moses. Because the references are to writing, we can assume Christ is referring to the written law.

until -- The word translated as "till" means "until" or "while".

missing "possibly" -- Untranslated is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English but "possibly" is close. This word works similarly to the "might" or "should" of a subjunctive verb, but we don't want to confuse it with the subjunctive so using "possibly" provides a consistent translation. This particle usually suggests the subjunctive form of the verb but can be used without it.   

everything -- The word translated as "everything" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every" and similar ideas. While technically, this is an adjective, it is often used as a pronoun or a noun. Again, we have a problem with the form matching that of "the law" but as an object here, that is, what the law becomes "it becomes all". However, it could also be the subject of the sentence as the neuter "everything", "everything comes into being". The form is plural, neuter, the verb is singular, but plural neuter subjects take a singular verb as a conglomeration.

is -- (WF) This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive and in the present tense but the verb is not passive and not in the present tense.

accomplished. -- (WW) The word translated as "accomplished" means "to become", that is, to enter into a new state. When applied to events, this word means "to happen". This verb is in the subjunctive voice indicating a probability. It is also in a form referring to a subject acting on itself. However, this is also in the aorist tense, indicating something that happens at a point in time. It is singular. It is singular with a plural neuter subject. "everything".