marker of an inference made on the basis of what precedes

ἄρα (Hom.+ [s. Kühner-G. II p. 317ff]) transitional/inferential (illative) particle; in older Gk. (Hom., Hdt., Pla., X. et al. [Aristot., Mech. 851a 22 is corrupt]) never at the beginning of its clause (Denniston 41). Strengthened to ἄρα γε Gen 26:9; Mt 7:20; 17:26; Ac 17:27.—LfgrE s.v.; Rob. 1189f and index; s. also Denniston 32–43.

① marker of an inference made on the basis of what precedes

ⓐ in declarative statement, and w. colloqu. flavor so, then, consequently, you see (B-D-F §451, 2) Ac 11:18. εὑρίσκω ἄ. τὸν νόμον so I find the law Ro 7:21. οὐδὲν ἄρα νῦν κατάκριμα so there is no condemnation now 8:1. γινώσκετε ἄρα you may be sure, then Gal 3:7. After ἐπεί: for otherwise (B-D-F §456, 3) 1 Cor 5:10; 7:14. After εἰ: if then, if on the other hand (SIG 834, 12; Gen 18:3; s. B-D-F §454, 2) 15:15 (εἴπερ ἄρα— really is also prob. here); Hv 3, 4, 3; 3, 7, 5; Hs 6, 4, 1; 8, 3, 3; 9, 5, 7; s. εἰ 6a.

ⓑ freq. in questions which draw an inference fr. what precedes; but oft. simply to enliven the question (Jos., Ant. 6, 200; B-D-F §440, 2) τίς ἄρα who then Mt 18:1; 19:25; 24:45; Mk 4:41; Lk 8:25; 12:42; 22:23. τί ἄ. what then Mt 19:27; Lk 1:66; Ac 12:18; Hm 11:2; GJs 13:1; AcPl Ha 5, 20; 7, 2 and 3 (cp. GrBar 4:12). εἰ ἄρα then (X., An. 3, 2, 22) Ac 7:1 v.l.; οὐκ ἄ. are you not, then Ac 21:38; μήτι ἄ. 2 Cor 1:17. After οὖν 1 Cl 35:3; B 15:7. S. also 3 below.

② to express result

ⓐ then, as a result w. suggestion of emphasis (Herm. Wr. 11, 13 ed. Nock; B-D-F §451, 2d) Mt 12:28; Lk 11:20; 1 Cor 15:14; 2 Cor 5:14; Gal 2:21; 3:29; 5:11; Hb 12:8; 2 Cl 14:4; B 6:19; IEph 8:1. Also 1 Cor 15:18 ἄ. is used to emphasize a further result, and continues the apodosis of vs. 17.

ⓑ at the beg. of a sentence: so, as a result, consequently Lk 11:48; Ro 10:17; 2 Cor 7:12; Hb 4:9. Strengthened to ἄρα γε (Gen 26:9) Mt 7:20; 17:26; to ἄρα οὖν (never elided) so then; here ἄ. expresses the inference and οὖν the transition Ro 5:18; 7:3, 25 (s. ἆρα); 8:12; 9:16, 18; 14:12, 19; Gal 6:10; Eph 2:19; 1 Th 5:6; 2 Th 2:15; 2 Cl 8:6; 14:3; B 9:6; 10:2; ITr 10.

③ to express someth. tentative, perhaps, conceivably.—KClark, Gingrich Festschr. ’72, 70–84 (w. survey fr. LXX to Mod. Gk.): in addition to its inferential mng., ἄρα is employed in the context of the tentative, the uncertain, the unresolved, the contingent, e.g. possibly Ac 12:18; conceivably Mk 4:41, or it may be rendered by a phrase: would you say? Mt 24:45 (on these three last pass. s. 1b).—Also in indirect questions εἰ ἄ. whether (perhaps) (PPetr II, 13 [19] 9; Num 22:11) Mk 11:13; Ac 5:8 D; 8:22; 17:27 (εἰ ἄρα γε); s. εἰ 6a.—JGrimm, Die Partikel ἄρα im frühen griech. Epos, Glotta 40, ’62, 3–41; Denniston 32–43; JBlomqvist, Gk. Particles in Hell. Prose, diss. Lund, ’69.—EDNT. M-M.