καὶ ἀπῆλθε μετ’ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ ὄχλος πολύς, καὶ συνέθλιβον αὐτόν. (Mark 5:24)
A Grammar of Movement and Pressure
This verse may seem like a narrative bridge, a mere transition between events. But in Mark’s Gospel, the grammar is never idle. Verbal aspect, voice, and the rhythm of coordination build a vivid scene of movement, pursuit, and crowd-induced compression.
In this verse, Mark uses a series of verbs—some aorist, some imperfect—to contrast completed decision with ongoing action. This tension conveys theological resonance: Jesus initiates direction, and the world presses in response.
This article explores:
- The aorist verb ἀπῆλθε and its narrative punch
- The imperfect verbs ἠκολούθει and συνέθλιβον as portrayals of relentless motion and pressure
- The role of ὄχλος πολύς as more than a crowd—it’s a character
ἀπῆλθε μετ’ αὐτοῦ – The Deliberate Departure
The verb ἀπῆλθε (“he went away”) comes from ἀπέρχομαι, meaning to depart or go away.
Verbal Form:
- ἀπῆλθε – aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular
- μετ’ αὐτοῦ – “with him,” indicating intentional accompaniment
The aorist tense conveys a single, decisive action. Jesus responds promptly to the request of Jairus in the preceding verse. This verb initiates the movement of the narrative, carrying weight and resolve.
ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ ὄχλος πολύς – The Following That Won’t Stop
This clause shifts from aorist to imperfect: the action now becomes continuous, even overwhelming.
Grammatical Insight:
- ἠκολούθει – imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular of ἀκολουθέω
- ὄχλος πολύς – “a great crowd,” functioning as subject
The imperfect tense here highlights repeated or sustained action. The crowd didn’t follow once—they kept on following. It’s a moving, living mass, drawn to Jesus and unwilling to disperse. The verb ἀκολουθέω in the imperfect evokes the gravitational pull Jesus exerted.
καὶ συνέθλιβον αὐτόν – The Pressure of Presence
Finally, Mark adds a visceral detail: not only did the crowd follow—they were pressing upon him.
Syntax and Force:
- συνέθλιβον – imperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural from συνθλίβω
- αὐτόν – accusative singular pronoun, “him”
This verb means “to press together,” “to crush,” or “to crowd in upon.” It’s the same verb used later when the woman with the hemorrhage touches Jesus’ garment in the dense crowd. The imperfect once again signals ongoing action: the crowd continued to crush Him.
This is not passive observation. It’s bodily, chaotic, suffocating pursuit.
Flow and Force in the Verbs
| Greek Verb | Tense / Form | Aspect / Force | Theological Reflection |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἀπῆλθε | Aorist active (3rd sg.) | Single, decisive action | Jesus sets the course with calm authority |
| ἠκολούθει | Imperfect active (3rd sg.) | Continual following | The crowd pursues with relentless interest |
| συνέθλιβον | Imperfect active (3rd pl.) | Ongoing physical pressure | Proximity without understanding; interest without reverence |
Pressed Without Perceiving: A Final Meditation
Mark’s grammar does not merely narrate—it builds kinetic theology. Jesus moves with intention (ἀπῆλθε), but the crowd overwhelms with confusion and desperation (συνέθλιβον). They follow (ἠκολούθει), yes—but their following crushes.
The imperfect tenses make this clear: Jesus is not followed in quiet reverence, but in restless chaos. He is pressed, pursued, crowded—but not yet known.
Discipleship is not proven by proximity. The verbs of this verse remind us: many followed Jesus bodily—yet faith was not always found in the press.
And so the grammar itself presses us: Do we follow Him with understanding? Or merely crush toward Him in the crowd?
