ἡ δὲ Ἡρῳδιὰς ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἤθελεν αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο· (Mark 6:19)
When Verbs Smolder: The Force of the Imperfect Tense
This compact verse in Mark captures the simmering hatred of Herodias toward John the Baptist. Its power lies not in a dramatic climax, but in the tension between desire and inability, sustained by the grammatical fabric of imperfect verbs. Every verb in this verse is in the imperfect tense, creating a cinematic effect: a long-burning resentment that cannot yet ignite into action.
This article explores:
- The repeated use of the imperfect tense to express sustained hostility
- The lexical and emotional nuance of ἐνεῖχεν
- The contrastive structure ἤθελεν… καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο
- The narrative pacing and theological reflection embedded in the verbal aspect
ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ – Grudge with a Grip
The verb ἐνεῖχεν is from ἐνέχω, meaning “to hold against,” “to bear a grudge,” or “to be hostile toward.” This is not a simple emotion—it is a fixed inner posture.
Grammatical Details:
- ἐνεῖχεν – 3rd person singular imperfect active indicative
- αὐτῷ – dative of disadvantage, meaning “against him”
The imperfect tense here indicates continuous action in past time: Herodias didn’t just become angry once—she kept bearing a grudge, day after day. The resentment festers, and Greek makes us feel the duration.
ἤθελεν… ἀποκτεῖναι – The Desire to Destroy
The next clause presents another imperfect verb: ἤθελεν (“she was wishing/wanting”) from θέλω.
Verbal Analysis:
- ἤθελεν – 3rd person singular imperfect active indicative
- ἀποκτεῖναι – aorist active infinitive, expressing the result or object of the desire (“to kill”)
Again, the imperfect creates a sustained mood: Herodias kept on wanting to kill him. It was not a passing thought, but a recurring passion. The use of the infinitive ἀποκτεῖναι is stark: this was not abstract malice, but targeted intention.
καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο – Desire Thwarted
The final clause delivers the twist: καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο – “and she was not able.”
Grammatical Note:
- ἠδύνατο – 3rd person singular imperfect middle/passive indicative from δύναμαι, “to be able”
This verb, too, is in the imperfect, indicating that she continued in her inability. It wasn’t a single failed attempt—it was ongoing frustration. Her desire was strong, her grudge fierce, but circumstances restrained her.
Imperfect Tension
| Greek Form | Verbal Aspect | Lexical Meaning | Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐνεῖχεν | Imperfect active | She was holding a grudge | Lasting resentment |
| ἤθελεν ἀποκτεῖναι | Imperfect + infinitive | She was desiring to kill | Sustained, violent intent |
| οὐκ ἠδύνατο | Imperfect middle | She was unable | Powerless hatred |
Burning Without Fire: A Final Reflection
In three short clauses, Mark uses three imperfect verbs to paint the slow torment of Herodias’s hate. This is grammar that paces like a caged animal. Her passion to destroy John is relentless—but so is her limitation.
Greek does not rush. It lingers:
- ἐνεῖχεν: She was always holding that grudge.
- ἤθελεν ἀποκτεῖναι: Her murderous will remained unchecked.
- οὐκ ἠδύνατο: The opportunity never came.
In the unfolding of God’s purposes, evil can be fierce but still fettered. The imperfect tense becomes a theological window: the wicked may rage for a season, but God governs the timeline.
Herodias was ready, resolved, and resentful—but until God’s appointed time, she could not act. Greek grammar says it with slow-burning intensity: evil burns—but not beyond what God permits.
