Tag Archives: Luke 6:16

Ἰούδαν Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰούδαν Ἰσκαριώτην, ὃς καὶ ἐγένετο προδότης. (Luke 6:16) Two Judases, One Destiny

This verse closes Luke’s listing of the Twelve apostles by presenting two men with the same name: Ἰούδας. Yet one carries a quiet lineage, and the other, a thunderclap of betrayal. The Greek grammar subtly separates identity from destiny by combining genitives of relation and an aorist verb of becoming—framing one man’s tragic transition.

Dissecting the Syntax and Identity Greek Expression Grammatical Function Interpretive Note Ἰούδαν Ἰακώβου Accusative of proper name + genitive of relationship “Judas [son or brother] of James”—likely distinguishing him from the other Judas καὶ Ἰούδαν Ἰσκαριώτην Coordinated accusative noun + adjectival qualifier “And Judas Iscariot”—possibly from ‘ish Qeriyot (“man of Kerioth”) ὃς καὶ ἐγένετο προδότης Relative pronoun + aorist middle verb + predicate noun “Who also became a traitor”—a sobering clause indicating change in moral character Grammatical and Theological Observations Use of Genitive: The phrase Ἰακώβου identifies familial connection—common in Semitic naming, and here used to disambiguate the lesser-known Judas.… Learn Koine Greek