New Testament Greek

ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ, σὺ οὐκ οἶδας ἄρτι, γνώσῃ δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα

The verbs ἀπεκρίθη and εἶπεν are both used here, forming a typical Johannine speech introduction.

– ἀπεκρίθη is the aorist passive (deponent) indicative of ἀποκρίνομαι, meaning “he answered.” – εἶπεν is the aorist active indicative of λέγω, meaning “he said.”

The pairing emphasizes a deliberate and thoughtful reply. Jesus’ words here follow Peter’s confused objection to the footwashing, and the double verb construction adds weight to Jesus’ explanation.

This relative clause — “What I am doing” — uses:

– Ὃ: neuter singular relative pronoun, meaning “what” or “that which.”… Learn Koine Greek

In ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ Φίλιππος· διακοσίων δηναρίων ἄρτοι οὐκ ἀρκοῦσιν αὐτοῖς ἵνα ἕκαστος αὐτῶν βραχύ τι λάβῃ (John 6:7), Philip responds with incredulity to Jesus’ implied command to feed the crowd. His sentence is logical, almost mathematical — but behind it is a powerful grammatical construction: the ἵνα clause of purpose coupled with the subjunctive verb λάβῃ. This is not merely syntax for wishful thinking — it expresses an unreachable ideal. Even with two hundred denarii worth of bread, it would not suffice in order that each might receive even a little. The grammar of purpose here is darkened by impossibility.… Learn Koine Greek

In this tender exchange from the resurrection narrative, the grammar of John 20:13 invites readers into a moment of confusion, sorrow, and implicit hope. The text uses narrative verbs, direct and indirect discourse, interrogatives, and a pair of finely nuanced aorists to show that even grammar can carry tears.

Καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῇ ἐκεῖνοι· γύναι, τί κλαίεις; Λέγει αὐτοῖς· ὅτι ἦραν τὸν κύριόν μου, καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν (John 20:13)

“And they say to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She says to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him.’”… Learn Koine Greek