γέ, an enclitic particle, answering exactly to no one word in Latin or English; used by the Biblical writers much more rarely than by Greek writers. How the Greeks use it, is shown by (among others) Hermann ad Vig., p. 822ff; Klotz ad Devar. ii. 1, p. 272ff; Rost in Passow's Lexicon, i., p. 538ff; [Liddell and Scott, under the word; T. S. Evans in Journ. of class. and sacr. Philol. for 1857, pp. 187ff]. It indicates that the meaning of the word to which it belongs has special prominence, and therefore that that word is to be distinguished from the rest of the sentence and uttered with greater emphasis. This distinction "can be made in two ways, by mentioning either the least important or the most; thus it happens that γέ seems to have contrary significations: at least and even" (Hermann, the passage cited, p. 822).
1. where what is least is indicated; indeed, truly, at least: διά γε τὴν ἀναίδειαν, Luke 11:8 (where, since the force of the statement lies in the substantive not in the preposition, the Greek should have read διὰ τήν γε ἀναίδ., cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 327; Rost, the passage cited, p. 542; [Liddell and Scott, under the word IV.]); διά γε τὸ παρέχειν μοι κόπον, at least for this reason, that she troubleth me [A. V. yet because etc.], Luke 18:5 (better Greek διὰ τό γε etc.).
2. where what is most or greatest is indicated; even: ὅς γε the very one who etc., precisely he who etc. (German der es ja ist, welcher etc.), Romans 8:32; cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 305; Matthiae, Lex. Euripides i., p. 613f.
3. joined to other particles it strengthens their force;
a. ἀλλά γε [so most editions] or ἀλλάγε [Griesbach] (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 5, 2): Luke 24:21; 1 Corinthians 9:2; see ἀλλά, I. 10.
b. ἄρα γε or ἄραγε, see ἄρα, 4. ἆρά γε, see ἆρα, 1.
c. εἴγε [so G T, but L Tr WH εἴ γε; cf. Winers Grammar, as above; Lipsius Gram. Unters., p. 123], followed by the indicative if indeed, seeing that, "of a thing believed to be correctly assumed" (Herm. ad Vig., p. 831; cf. Fritzsche, Praeliminarien as above with p. 67ff; Anger, Laodicenerbrief, p. 46; [Winer's Grammar, 448 (417f). Others hold that Hermann's statement does not apply to the N. T. instances. According to Meyer (see notes on 2 Corinthians 5:3; Ephesians 3:2; Galatians 3:4) the certainty of the assumption resides not in the particle but in the context; so Ellicott (on Galatians, the passage cited; also Ephesians, the passage cited); cf. Bp. Lightfoot on Galatians, the passage cited; Colossians 1:23. Hermann's canon, though assented to by Bornemann (Cyrop. 2, 2, 3, p. 132), Stallbaum (Meno, p. 36), others, is qualified by Bäumlein (Partikeln, p. 64f), who holds that γέ often has no other effect than to emphasize the condition expressed by εἰ; cf. also Winer Moulton edition, p. 561]), if, that is to say; on the assumption that, (see εἴπερ under the word εἰ, III. 13): Ephesians 3:2; Ephesians 4:21; Colossians 1:23; with καί added, if that also, if it be indeed, (German wenn denn auch): εἴγε [L Tr WH marginal reading εἴ περ] καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοὶ, οὐ γυμνοὶ εὑρεθ. if indeed we shall be found actually clothed (with a new body), not naked, 2 Corinthians 5:3 (cf. Meyer at the passage); εἴγε καὶ εἰκῆ namely, τοσαῦτα ἐπάθετε, if indeed, as I believe, ye have experienced such benefits in vain, and have not already received harm from your inclination to Judaism, Galatians 3:4 [yet cf. Meyer, Ellicott, Bp. Lightfoot, others at the passage].
d. εἰ δὲ μήγε [or εἰ δὲ μή γε Lachmann Treg.] (also in Plato, Aristophanes, Plutarch, others; cf. Bornemann, Scholia ad Luc., p. 95; Klotz ad Devar. ii. 2, p. 527), stronger than εἰ δὲ μή [Buttmann, 393 (336f); cf. Winer's Grammar, 583 (543); 605 (563); Meyer on 2 Corinthians 11:16],
α. after affirmative sentences, but unless perchance, but if not: Matthew 6:1; Luke 10:6; Luke 13:9.
β. after negative sentences, otherwise, else, in the contrary event: Matthew 9:17; Luke 5:36; Luke 14:32; 2 Corinthians 11:16.
e. καίγε [so G T, but L Tr WH καί γε; cf. references under εἴγε above] (cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii. 1, p. 319; [Winers Grammar, 438 (408)]),
α. and at least: Luke 19:42 [Tr text WH omit; L Tr marginal reading brackets].
β. and truly, yea indeed, yea and: Acts 2:18; Acts 17:27 L T Tr WH.
f. καίτοιγε [so G T WH, but L καίτοι γε, Tr καί τοι γε; cf. references under c. above. Cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii. 2, p. 654; Winers Grammar, 444 (413)], although indeed, and yet indeed: John 4:2; also in Acts 14:17 [R G]; Acts 17:27 Rec.
g. μενοῦνγε see in its place.
h. μήτιγε, see μήτι [and in its place].

Related entries:

διάγε, see γέ, 1.

μήγε, εἰ δὲ μήγε, see γέ, 3 d.

τοίγε in καίτοιγε, see γέ, 3 f.

ὅσγε, for ὅς γε, γέ, 2.