πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου λέγοντες ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ πολλοὺς πλανήσουσιν. (Mark 13:6)
A Prophetic Warning Framed in Verbs
In Mark 13:6, Jesus issues a solemn warning during His eschatological discourse on the Mount of Olives. While the surface message is clear — deception is coming — the Greek grammar beneath His words gives it weight and precision. The interplay of future tense, participles, and prepositional constructions intensifies the danger and divine foresight of this prophecy. Let us walk through this verse word by word, guided by its grammatical force.
1. πολλοὶ γὰρ ἐλεύσονται — The Future Comes in Crowds
Parsing
- πολλοί — nominative masculine plural adjective: “many”
- ἐλεύσονται — future middle indicative, 3rd person plural of ἔρχομαι: “they will come”
This is a classic subject–verb unit. The future middle voice here emphasizes the subject’s involvement: these individuals will come on their own initiative, perhaps even for their own benefit or self-promotion.
Theological Implication
This is not just a future event; it’s an organized pattern. The future middle form carries the sense of deliberate movement — intentional deception by self-assertive individuals.
2. ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου — Bearing His Name in Vain
Prepositional Force
– ἐπὶ + dative = “on the basis of,” “in the name of”
– τῷ ὀνόματί μου = “my name”
This construction expresses association or authority. These individuals are not nameless — they claim association with Jesus. The phrase indicates false representatives, appearing under the guise of Christ’s identity.
3. λέγοντες ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι — The Present of a Lie
Participial Structure
– λέγοντες — present active participle, nominative masculine plural of λέγω: “saying”
– ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι — “I am”
The participle λέγοντες modifies πολλοί, indicating how they come: by continually declaring, “I am.”
The Force of ἐγώ εἰμι
The phrase ἐγώ εἰμι (“I am”) carries deep theological weight. In John’s Gospel, it echoes the divine name (cf. Exodus 3:14). Here in Mark, the blasphemous boldness lies in that these false Christs are not merely speaking about Jesus — they are identifying themselves as Him.
4. καὶ πολλοὺς πλανήσουσιν — The Tragedy of Success
Parsing
– πλανήσουσιν — future active indicative, 3rd person plural of πλανάω: “they will lead astray”
– πολλούς — accusative masculine plural: “many”
This final clause delivers the disturbing outcome: many will be deceived. The word πλανάω conveys the idea of wandering, being led astray — spiritually disoriented. The placement of πολλούς before the verb adds emphasis: it’s not a small deception; it will be widespread.
Grammar Table: Key Structures in Mark 13:6
| Greek Word | Parsing | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐλεύσονται | Future Middle Indicative, 3rd Plural | Main Verb | They will come |
| ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου | Preposition + Dative | Describes Basis of Coming | In/under my name |
| λέγοντες | Present Active Participle, Nom. Plural | Manner of Coming | Saying |
| ἐγώ εἰμι | Personal Pronoun + Present Verb | False Identity Claim | I am (He) |
| πλανήσουσιν | Future Active Indicative, 3rd Plural | Result Clause | They will deceive |
Final Reflection: When Grammar Warns the Church
The verbs of Mark 13:6 form a chilling prophecy. The false prophets don’t arrive silently; they come proclaiming, claiming, and tragically, persuading. Through future tenses and participles, the Greek text paints a vivid portrait of deception’s method and impact. The Church must be vigilant — not just theologically, but grammatically — discerning who truly bears the name of Christ.
