κύριε, ὁ παῖς μου βέβληται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ παραλυτικός, δεινῶς βασανιζόμενος. (Matthew 8:6)
A Cry for Help in the Syntax of Suffering
Matthew 8:6 captures the plea of the centurion on behalf of his suffering servant. The sentence is rich in emotional weight and grammatical nuance, portraying:
A perfect passive verb expressing a completed and lasting condition
Locative prepositional structure identifying the setting
A predicate adjective defining his medical condition
A present passive participle showing ongoing torment
Let’s explore this prayer of urgency through a detailed grammar table.
Grammatical Analysis Table
| Greek Phrase | Form & Morphology | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| κύριε | Vocative singular masculine | Direct address | “Lord” — a respectful title showing faith and urgency |
| ὁ παῖς μου | Nominative singular + possessive pronoun | Subject | “my servant” — object of concern |
| βέβληται | Perfect passive indicative, 3rd person singular from βάλλω |
Main verb | “has been thrown / lies” — permanent state of being cast down |
| ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ | Preposition + dative feminine singular | Locative expression | “in the house” — shows confinement |
| παραλυτικός | Predicate adjective, nominative masculine singular | Describes subject | “paralyzed” — condition resulting from the passive verb |
| δεινῶς βασανιζόμενος | Adverb + present passive participle from βασανίζω |
Descriptive modifier of subject | “being terribly tormented” — ongoing suffering in vivid form |
Observations from the Syntax of Mercy
The verb βέβληται is in the perfect passive, indicating that the servant has been cast down and remains in that state.
The location — “in the house” — is not incidental: it underscores isolation and helplessness.
The predicate adjective παραλυτικός names the medical condition.
The participle βασανιζόμενος paints the emotional depth of the suffering — and the adverb δεινῶς intensifies it (“terribly”).
> The centurion’s plea is grammatically simple, but theologically profound. It is a sentence where passive forms cry out for divine intervention.
When the Grammar Groans
This verse shows that the grammar of suffering matters:
The perfect passive tells us the condition is not new, but enduring.
The present participle tells us the pain is not over, but ongoing.
The dative place phrase tells us the servant is not moving, but confined.
And the vocative Κύριε tells us who can intervene.
Even the syntax calls for healing — and Jesus answers.
