John 6:26 — Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ζητεῖτέ με, οὐχ ὅτι εἴδετε σημεῖα, ἀλλ’ ὅτι ἐφάγετε ἐκ τῶν ἄρτων καὶ ἐχορτάσθητε.
Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate from the loaves and were filled.”
Koine Greek Grammar and Syntax Analysis
- Ἀπεκρίθη — Aorist passive indicative, 3rd singular. Though middle in form, passive in voice here. Common Koine usage for “answered.”
- αὐτοῖς — Dative plural of the 3rd person pronoun, indirect object of the verb “answered.”
- ὁ Ἰησοῦς — Nominative subject. The article marks Jesus as the known referent.
- καὶ εἶπεν — Coordinated with ἀπεκρίθη. Aorist active indicative, 3rd singular. Simple narrative sequence.
- ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν — Repetition of ἀμὴν introduces solemn declaration. λέγω is present active indicative, 1st person singular. ὑμῖν is dative plural, indirect object.
- ζητεῖτέ με — Present active indicative, 2nd person plural. Emphatic subject “you” implied by verb form. με is accusative singular, direct object.
- οὐχ ὅτι εἴδετε σημεῖα — “Not because you saw signs.” εἴδετε is aorist active indicative, 2nd plural from ὁράω. σημεῖα is accusative plural, object.
- ἀλλ’ ὅτι ἐφάγετε ἐκ τῶν ἄρτων — Contrast clause. ἐφάγετε is aorist active indicative, 2nd plural. ἐκ τῶν ἄρτων: “from the loaves,” partitive genitive.
- καὶ ἐχορτάσθητε — Aorist passive indicative, 2nd plural. “You were filled” (satiated), common Koine passive of χορτάζω.
Comparison with Classical Greek Usage
- Ἀπεκρίθη…καὶ εἶπεν — In Classical Greek, ἀποκρίνομαι often appears with supplementary participles or infinitives. The direct use with καί and εἶπεν is simpler and more characteristic of Koine.
- Repetition of ἀμὴν — This double Semitic loanword “ἀμὴν ἀμὴν” is a striking Hebraism; it has no Classical Greek parallel. A Classical speaker might use ἦ μὴν or νὴ Δία for emphasis.¹
- λέγω ὑμῖν — Classical authors often used φημί, or indirect speech; the direct “λέγω ὑμῖν” is more pointed and typical of Koine direct discourse.
- ζητεῖτέ με — Present tense for actual seeking is common in both Koine and Classical, but Classical style might embed this clause in indirect speech.
- οὐχ ὅτι…ἀλλ’ ὅτι — Koine favors this kind of causal coordination, while Classical authors might restructure this with participles (e.g., μὴ ὁρῶντες σημεῖα…ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸ φαγεῖν).
- ἐφάγετε ἐκ τῶν ἄρτων — Partitive ἐκ with genitive is seen in both dialects, though Classical Greek may use the partitive genitive without a preposition.
- ἐχορτάσθητε — The passive of χορτάζω was rare in Classical Greek and had a more rustic tone. Koine normalized it.
Semantic and Stylistic Shifts
- Solemnity via repetition — “ἀμὴν ἀμὴν” reflects a Semitic background, intensifying the assertion. Classical Greek avoids repetition of this sort for solemnity.
- Simplified syntax — The structure is linear and paratactic, often characteristic of spoken Koine; Classical style favors hypotaxis and embedded clauses.
- Emotive verbs — Verbs like χορτάζομαι (to be filled/satisfied) carry a vividness more common in Koine narrative than in Classical moral or philosophical prose.
- Direct confrontation — The shift from indirect, polite refutation to direct critique (“you seek me… not because… but because…”) is rhetorically sharper in Koine and reflective of prophetic, urgent tone.
Koine and Classical Comparison Table
| Koine Usage | Classical Usage | Observations |
|---|---|---|
| ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν | ἦ μὴν λέγω σοι / νὴ Δία | Semitic formula in Koine, absent in Classical. |
| ζητεῖτέ με | ζητεῖς με / indirect form with participles | Direct address more common in Koine speech. |
| οὐχ ὅτι…ἀλλ’ ὅτι | μὴ…ἀλλὰ διὰ τό + infinitive | Koine favors explicit causal clauses. |
| ἐχορτάσθητε | χορτάζεσθε (rare) | Passive form normalized in Koine, rare in Classical. |
| Linear, paratactic narrative | Complex, hypotactic structure | Stylistic simplification in Koine for oral clarity. |
Footnote:
¹ The phrase νὴ Δία (pronounced nē Diá) is a Classical Greek oath meaning “By Zeus!” or “I swear by Zeus!”
Breakdown:
– νή (nē): A particle used to introduce an oath, similar to “by” in English.
– Δία (Día): The accusative form of Ζεύς (Zeus), the king of the Greek gods.
So νὴ Δία literally means “By Zeus!” and was commonly used in Classical Greek literature (e.g., in the works of Homer, Plato, or Thucydides) as a strong oath or expression of emphasis, much like saying “I swear to God!” in modern English.
