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Greek Lessons
- Verbal Aspect in New Testament Greek: Imperfective vs. Perfective
- Chiasmus, Inclusio, and Anaphora in New Testament Greek
- Numbered and Named: Genitive Constructions and Enumerated Tribes in Revelation 7:7
- Semantic Range of Greek Verbs in the New Testament: A Case Study on ἀγαπάω and φιλέω
- Released to Serve Anew: Aorist Passives, Participles, and the Tension of Transformation in Romans 7:6
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Category
Tag Archives: John 13:7
What I Do Now, You Will Understand Later: Mystery and Timing in John 13:7
The Verse in Focus (John 13:7)
ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ, σὺ οὐκ οἶδας ἄρτι, γνώσῃ δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα
ἀπεκρίθη… εἶπεν: A Formal ResponseThe 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.
Ὃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ: The Present MysteryThis relative clause — “What I am doing” — uses:
– Ὃ: neuter singular relative pronoun, meaning “what” or “that which.”… Learn Koine Greek
