Text in Focus: Hebrews 3:19
καὶ βλέπομεν ὅτι οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν εἰσελθεῖν δι’ ἀπιστίαν.
Literal Translation
And we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
The Grammatical Core: Tense, Aspect, and Voice
This verse contains a compact but theologically loaded statement. The key verb, ἠδυνήθησαν, raises an essential grammatical question about tense, aspect, and negation in Koine Greek. In this article, we will explore how the aorist passive deponent form interacts with negation and how it affects the temporal and aspectual contours of the statement.
Dissecting the Verbs
Let’s examine the two primary verbs in this sentence:
| Greek | Parsing | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| βλέπομεν | Present active indicative, 1st person plural of βλέπω | “We see” — present, continuous action |
| ἠδυνήθησαν | Aorist passive deponent indicative, 3rd person plural of δύναμαι | “They were not able” — viewed as a whole event |
What Is a Deponent Passive?
The verb δύναμαι (“to be able”) is middle/passive in form but active in meaning across all its tenses. It is a classic example of a deponent verb, which means it lacks active forms but still has an active sense.
Thus, ἠδυνήθησαν does not mean “they were enabled,” but simply “they were able” — or in this case, “they were not able” due to οὐκ.
The Role of the Aorist
The aorist tense here presents the action of inability as a completed whole — a summary of past failure. It doesn’t emphasize the process of failing to enter, but the fact that they didn’t.
Contrast with what a present tense would express:
– Present: οὐ δύνανται — “they are not able” (ongoing inability)
– Aorist: οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν — “they failed to be able” (concluded fact)
This aligns with the historical review in Hebrews 3, referencing the Exodus generation that perished in the wilderness.
εἰσελθεῖν: Complementary Infinitive
The verb εἰσελθεῖν (aorist active infinitive of εἰσέρχομαι, “to enter”) functions as the complement of ἠδυνήθησαν — the action they failed to do.
The structure is:
– ἠδυνήθησαν + εἰσελθεῖν = “they were able to enter”
With negation:
– οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν εἰσελθεῖν = “they were not able to enter”
The Reason: δι’ ἀπιστίαν
– δι’ = preposition taking the accusative here, meaning “because of” or “on account of”
– ἀπιστίαν = accusative singular of ἀπιστία (“unbelief”)
This prepositional phrase explains the cause of their inability: not divine opposition, not external barriers — but faithlessness.
Comparison with Other NT Usage
Luke 14:20
καὶ ἕτερος εἶπεν· Γυναῖκα ἔγημα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν.
“And another said: ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’”
This shows a present-tense negated deponent (οὐ δύναμαι) with complementary infinitive ἐλθεῖν. It conveys current inability, not past failure.
Romans 8:7
οὐ γὰρ ὑποτάσσεται τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὐδὲ γὰρ δύναται.
“For it does not submit to the law of God, for it is not even able to.”
Here again, δύναται (present) shows a constant state of inability.
Thematic and Theological Implications
The grammar in Hebrews 3:19 supports a sharp theological point:
– Present reality: βλέπομεν — “we see now”
– Past result: οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν — “they were unable”
– Cause: δι’ ἀπιστίαν — “because of unbelief”
It implies that unbelief locks out the promised rest, not because God changes, but because faith is the means of entry. The aorist captures the finality of their failure — they could not, and did not enter.
Final Reflection: The Grammar of Judgment
Hebrews 3:19 is a single verse with immense force. Its use of the aorist passive deponent, combined with negation and complementary infinitive, reflects a completed failure grounded in unbelief. The Koine grammar intensifies the theological meaning: this is not about a temporary lapse, but a decisive and irreversible spiritual consequence.
In Koine Greek, even inability can be a grammatical key to understanding divine justice.
