Τότε ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ’ ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. (Matthew 25:45)
Then he will answer them, saying, “Truly I say to you, insofar as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
When Case Usage Reveals the Weight of Action
In this solemn pronouncement of judgment, Jesus uses sharp grammatical structure to expose the implications of neglecting “the least.” The verse pivots on dative and genitive forms that identify recipients of compassion—or the lack thereof. The pronouns and demonstratives are declined with precision to frame a universal judgment grounded in specific grammatical choices.
Declension Analysis Table
| Greek Word | Morphology | Case & Syntactic Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| αὐτοῖς | 3rd person personal pronoun, dative plural masculine | Indirect object of ἀποκριθήσεται | “He will answer them”—refers to those under judgment |
| ὑμῖν | 2nd person personal pronoun, dative plural | Indirect object of λέγω | “I say to you”—personal, direct address to the audience |
| ὅσον | Relative pronoun, accusative neuter singular | Object of ἐποιήσατε in temporal expression | “Insofar as…” — introduces the conditional basis of judgment |
| ἑνὶ | Indefinite pronoun, dative masculine singular | Dative of indirect object | “To one (of them)” — key focus of omission |
| τούτων | Demonstrative pronoun, genitive masculine plural | Genitive of comparison or partitive genitive | “Of these”—defines the category to which the “least” belong |
| τῶν ἐλαχίστων | Superlative adjective, genitive masculine plural with article | Genitive in agreement with τούτων | “The least” — socially, economically, or spiritually marginalized |
| ἐμοί | 1st person personal pronoun, dative singular | Dative of indirect object | “To me”—Jesus equates himself with the overlooked |
Grammatical Parallels that Build the Judgment
Jesus intentionally mirrors the syntax:
– οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ…
– οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε
Both clauses follow the same structure: verb + dative object. This repetition ties neglect of the “least” directly to neglect of Jesus.
The Genitive of Compassionate Category
– τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων: The genitive chain expands the identity of “the least.” These are not anonymous figures—they are demonstratively present (“these”) and collectively qualified (“the least”).
– The genitive plural with the superlative intensifies the meaning: this refers to those of lowest earthly status.
Datives of Divine Solidarity
– ἑνὶ and ἐμοί are parallel datives, identifying recipients of the action.
– The implied equivalence in dative case reflects Jesus’ theology of identification with the vulnerable.
Declensions That Condemn Apathy
The grammatical structure of Matthew 25:45 is part of its force. The repetition of dative objects with ἐποιήσατε not only emphasizes what was not done, but also to whom it was not done. The declension of compassion—from the anonymous ἑνὶ to the divine ἐμοί—reveals a profound truth: neglecting the least is neglecting the Lord. In this syntax, grace is weighed and found wanting.
