Ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθε, καὶ οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτὸν, ἀλλ’ ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν· οὕτω καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπ’ αὐτῶν. (Matthew 17:12)
This verse is part of Jesus’ explanation following the Transfiguration, interpreting Elijah’s return in light of John the Baptist’s ministry. The grammar intertwines prophetic fulfillment with impending passion, using perfective tenses, adversative conjunctions, and prophetic futurity.
Emphatic Declaration: Ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν
The personal pronoun ἐγώ is unnecessary for grammatical sense but here is used emphatically—“But I tell you.” The conjunction δέ contrasts Jesus’ statement with previous expectation, while ὑμῖν marks the audience. This is a formal and authoritative prophetic introduction.
Prophetic Perfect: Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθε
The aorist indicative ἦλθε (“has come” / “came”) conveys a completed event. The adverb ἤδη (“already”) underscores the unexpected reality: Elijah’s coming is not future but past. This is an example of prophetic fulfillment reinterpreted through realized events.
Rejection Stated: οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτὸν
The verb ἐπέγνωσαν (aorist of ἐπιγινώσκω, “to recognize, acknowledge”) communicates failure to identify or accept him. The negative particle οὐκ marks a stark negation of recognition despite his arrival.
Adversative Outcome: ἀλλ’ ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν
The adversative conjunction ἀλλά pivots to the contrasting reality—they not only failed to recognize him but acted against him. The verb ἐποίησαν (aorist of ποιέω) with ἐν αὐτῷ (“to him” or “against him”) introduces the scope clause ὅσα ἠθέλησαν (“whatever they wanted”). The aorist ἠθέλησαν (from θέλω) shows determined will now past and completed.
Parallel Prediction: οὕτω καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
οὕτω καὶ (“in the same way also”) introduces a typological parallel: the fate of the Son of Man mirrors Elijah’s rejection. The future verb μέλλει plus present infinitive πάσχειν (“is about to suffer”) signals an imminent and inevitable event, framed in prophetic certainty.
Syntax Table: From Fulfillment to Forecast
| Greek Phrase | Grammar Role | Interpretive Insight |
|---|---|---|
| Ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν | Emphatic subject + present indicative | Marks an authoritative prophetic declaration |
| Ἠλίας ἤδη ἦλθε | Aorist indicative with temporal adverb | Asserts the completed arrival of Elijah |
| οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτὸν | Aorist indicative with negation | Denotes refusal or failure to recognize |
| ἀλλ’ ἐποίησαν… ὅσα ἠθέλησαν | Adversative clause + relative clause | Depicts hostile and unrestrained action |
| μέλλει πάσχειν ὑπ’ αὐτῶν | Future periphrastic with present infinitive | Indicates certain, imminent suffering |
Grammar as Prophetic Mirror
Matthew 17:12 is carefully structured to place past and future side by side. The aorists recount fulfilled prophecy in John the Baptist’s rejection, while the future-infinitive construction anticipates the Son of Man’s passion. The syntax itself becomes a prophetic mirror—what has been done to the forerunner will be done to the Messiah.
