Matthew 12:31
Διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν, πᾶσα ἁμαρτία καὶ βλασφημία ἀφεθήσεται τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, ἡ δὲ τοῦ Πνεύματος βλασφημία οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται τοῖς ἀνθρώποις·
A Sentence Built Around One Repeated Verb
This verse sounds solemn because Greek repeats the same verb twice.
First the sentence speaks about forgiveness. Then it repeats the same wording with one crucial difference:
will be forgiven → will not be forgiven
Greek creates the force of the statement not through complicated grammar, but through careful repetition and contrast.
Transliteration
Dia touto legō hymin, pasa hamartia kai blasphēmia aphethēsetai tois anthrōpois, hē de tou Pneumatos blasphēmia ouk aphethēsetai tois anthrōpois
Literal Translation
“Because of this I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven to people, but the blasphemy of the Spirit will not be forgiven to people.”
Grammar Focus — The Repeated Future Passive Verb
The key verb of the verse is:
ἀφεθήσεται
This means:
“will be forgiven”
The form is:
- future tense — speaking about what will happen
- passive voice — forgiveness is received from another
Greek repeats the exact same verb twice:
ἀφεθήσεται
“will be forgiven”
οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται
“will not be forgiven”
The second statement feels powerful because Greek repeats the same wording while adding only the negative οὐκ.
Vocabulary Builder — Sin and Forgiveness Language
| Greek Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Beginner Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἁμαρτία | hamartia | sin | Originally connected with missing a target or mark. |
| βλασφημία | blasphēmia | blasphemy | Speech showing disrespect or insult. |
| Πνεύματος | Pneumatos | Spirit | Related to breath, wind, or spirit. |
| ἀφεθήσεται | aphethēsetai | will be forgiven | Connected with release, sending away, or pardon. |
The Strong Opening Διὰ τοῦτο
The verse begins with:
Διὰ τοῦτο
This means:
“Because of this”
or
“For this reason”
Greek uses this phrase to connect the statement tightly to what came before.
The sentence therefore sounds deliberate and authoritative from the very beginning.
How the Contrast Dominates the Verse
The verse is carefully balanced:
πᾶσα ἁμαρτία καὶ βλασφημία
every sin and blasphemy
ἡ δὲ τοῦ Πνεύματος βλασφημία
but the blasphemy of the Spirit
Greek first opens the statement widely:
“every sin…”
Then it narrows to one specific category.
The structure itself creates the seriousness of the contrast.
Beginner Practice Activity
Match the Greek word with its meaning.
| Greek | Your Match |
|---|---|
| ἁμαρτία | A. Spirit |
| Πνεύματος | B. sin |
| ἀφεθήσεται | C. will be forgiven |
Small Grammar Challenge: Which single Greek word turns “will be forgiven” into “will not be forgiven”?
Listening to the Weight of the Repetition
This verse teaches beginners how Greek can create solemn emphasis through repetition and contrast rather than through long explanation.
The repeated future passive verb ἀφεθήσεται holds the entire sentence together. The small negative οὐκ completely changes the second statement. And the narrowing movement from “every sin” to one specific blasphemy gives the verse its powerful seriousness.
As readers continue learning Greek, they begin noticing how repeated wording often becomes one of the strongest tools for emphasis inside the New Testament.
