Καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπός εἰμι ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν, ἔχων ὑπ’ ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας, καὶ λέγω τούτῳ, πορεύθητι, καὶ πορεύεται, καὶ ἄλλῳ, ἔρχου, καὶ ἔρχεται, καὶ τῷ δούλῳ μου, ποίησον τοῦτο, καὶ ποιεῖ. (Matthew 8:9)
For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come,” and he comes; and to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.
Imperatives and Indicatives: Syntax of Obedience
Matthew 8:9 provides a fascinating linguistic window into command structures and response verbs in Koine Greek. The Roman centurion’s speech uses a tightly structured sequence of direct imperatives followed by present indicatives, portraying immediate and unquestioned obedience. This syntax not only reflects military realism but reinforces Jesus’ authority by analogy.
Imperative Forms in Focus
Three imperatives are used by the centurion to describe the commands he gives:
| Imperative | Verb | Parsing | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| πορεύθητι | πορεύομαι | Aorist passive imperative, 2nd singular | “Go!” |
| ἔρχου | ἔρχομαι | Present middle imperative, 2nd singular | “Come!” |
| ποίησον | ποιέω | Aorist active imperative, 2nd singular | “Do (this)!” |
Each imperative is followed by a present indicative describing the result of the command:
πορεύεται — “he goes”
ἔρχεται — “he comes”
ποιεῖ — “he does it”
Aspectual Choices: Aorist vs. Present Imperative
The mix of aorist and present imperatives reveals subtle aspectual differences:
πορεύθητι and ποίησον (aorist): Urgent, punctiliar actions — “just do it.”
ἔρχου (present): More continuous or process-oriented — “be coming,” possibly suggesting an extended approach.
In military contexts, aorist imperatives reflect clear, single-point commands, while present imperatives may suggest state-maintaining or ongoing action.
Indicative Responses: Expressing Immediate Obedience
The indicative verbs are in the present tense, emphasizing that obedience is customary and automatic:
πορεύεται = “he goes”
ἔρχεται = “he comes”
ποιεῖ = “he does it”
By using present indicative forms instead of aorist, the centurion portrays obedience as a standard pattern — not a one-time miracle, but a structural reality of how commands are obeyed in his world.
Lexical Note: ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν
ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν = “under authority” (lit. “under power”)
This emphasizes the centurion’s role as subordinate and yet empowered
His point: If he, a subordinate, can command with effect — how much more Jesus, the divine authority!
Speech Introduction: καὶ λέγω τούτῳ…
The centurion uses direct speech, introduced with:
λέγω τούτῳ — “I say to this one…”
Followed by each command + result pairing.
This reflects vivid narrative immediacy and allows the reader to hear the commands and observe the immediate response — reinforcing his faith in Jesus’ spoken word as effective even at a distance.
Theological and Rhetorical Function
This structure serves several rhetorical goals:
1. Analogy of Authority: Earthly obedience to human command mirrors the divine response to Jesus’ word.
2. Speech-Act Theology: Jesus’ word doesn’t require presence — it accomplishes.
3. Faith as Recognition of Structure: The centurion understands how authority operates — and this grammatical exchange embodies that trust.
Parallel Usage in Luke 7:8
The same narrative appears in Luke 7:8, with nearly identical syntactic structure:
πορεύθητι, καὶ πορεύεται… ποίησον τοῦτο, καὶ ποιεῖ
The consistent repetition of imperative + indicative across both Gospels reinforces the authenticity of this speech form — and the theological importance of recognizing Christ’s spoken authority.
Grammar of Command, Grammar of Faith
In Matthew 8:9, the Roman centurion delivers more than a testimony — he gives a grammatical portrait of authority. The tight pairing of imperatives and indicatives mirrors the precision of military obedience and becomes a metaphor for Jesus’ authority over disease and distance.
In this man’s syntax, Jesus finds great faith (Matthew 8:10). His words not only reveal command — they reveal the kingdom structure embedded in Koine grammar itself.
