Καὶ προσελθὼν εἷς γραμματεὺς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· διδάσκαλε, ἀκολουθήσω σοι ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέρχῃ. (Matthew 8:19)
And one scribe, having approached, said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you may go.”
The Scene in Syntax
In Matthew 8:19, a scribe steps forward to make a bold declaration of discipleship. The grammar is layered with narrative participles, verbs of speech, and a conditional clause that reveals both commitment and uncertainty. Let us unfold the structure of this verse to see how Greek grammar conveys the drama of devotion.
1. Καὶ προσελθὼν — The Aorist Participle of Approach
Parsing
- προσελθών — aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular of προσέρχομαι, “to come/approach”
This is an aorist participle of attendant circumstance, functioning temporally: “and having come” or more smoothly, “and one scribe came”. The participle sets the stage for the main verb εἶπεν.
2. εἷς γραμματεύς εἶπεν αὐτῷ — Narrative Core
Parsing
- εἷς — numeral adjective: “one”
- γραμματεύς — nominative masculine singular: “scribe”
- εἶπεν — aorist active indicative, 3rd singular of λέγω, “he said”
The scribe is introduced as an individual (εἷς) — not a collective voice, but a single, deliberate speaker. The aorist εἶπεν presents his declaration as a completed, decisive speech act.
3. Διδάσκαλε — The Vocative of Respect
– Διδάσκαλε — vocative of διδάσκαλος, “teacher”
– This is a respectful address, though in Matthew’s Gospel, scribes often approach Jesus with mixed motives. The grammar here carries honorific force.
4. ἀκολουθήσω σοι — Future Active of Commitment
Parsing
- ἀκολουθήσω — future active indicative, 1st singular of ἀκολουθέω, “I will follow”
- σοι — dative singular of σύ, “to you”
The scribe makes a pledge: “I will follow you.” The future tense indicates intent, a decision oriented toward what is to come. Yet as the context will show, Jesus challenges the depth of this promise.
5. ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέρχῃ — Conditional Clause of Place
Structure
- ὅπου — adverb of place: “where”
- ἐάν — particle of contingency, often paired with the subjunctive
- ἀπέρχῃ — present middle/passive subjunctive, 2nd singular of ἀπέρχομαι, “you go”
This construction translates: “wherever you might go.”
The combination of ὅπου + ἐάν + subjunctive expresses indefinite contingency — the scribe is pledging unconditional following, though his resolve will soon be tested.
Grammar Table: Matthew 8:19
| Greek Word/Phrase | Parsing | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| προσελθών | Aorist Active Participle, Nom. Masc. Sg. | Genitive Absolute / Temporal | Having come |
| εἷς γραμματεύς | Numeral + Noun, Nom. Masc. Sg. | Subject | One scribe |
| εἶπεν | Aorist Active Indicative, 3rd Sg. | Main Verb | He said |
| ἀκολουθήσω σοι | Future Active Indicative, 1st Sg. + Dative Pronoun | Verb + Indirect Object | I will follow you |
| ὅπου ἐὰν ἀπέρχῃ | Adverb + Particle + Subjunctive | Conditional Clause | Wherever you might go |
The Grammar of Commitment
This verse’s grammar shows both boldness and fragility. The aorist participle sets the moment in motion, the future indicative voices determination, and the subjunctive clause frames an open-ended commitment. Yet the syntax also reveals tension: pledging “wherever” is easier in words than in reality. The grammar of discipleship here is both a promise and a question — will intent become endurance?
