Tag Archives: Mark 9:13

He Has Come and They Did: Perfect Arrival and Fulfilled Rejection in Mark 9:13

Posted on September 13, 2025 by Advanced Greek Grammar
Ἀλλὰ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι καὶ Ἠλίας ἐλήλυθε, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν, καθὼς γέγραπται ἐπ’ αὐτόν. (Mark 9:13) Grammar at the Crossroads of Prophecy

Mark 9:13 concludes a conversation between Jesus and His disciples about the identity of Elijah and his role in redemptive history. But what makes this verse grammatically rich is how tense, aspect, and scriptural allusion are woven into a compressed statement of fulfilled prophecy. Jesus declares that Elijah “has come” — a perfect tense of arrival — and that others “did to him what they wished” — a past aorist of mistreatment.

This lesson focuses on: – The emphatic placement of Ἠλίας – The use of the perfect active indicative ἐλήλυθε – The narrative function of aorist + relative clause – The interpretive weight of καθὼς γέγραπται as a fulfillment formula

Focus Phenomena Perfect tense for completed arrival with continuing relevance Aorist tense to narrate completed historical mistreatment Relative clause (ὅσα ἠθέλησαν) expressing unrestricted mistreatment Scriptural citation formula καθὼς γέγραπται (as it is written) Morphological Breakdown ἐλήλυθε Root: ἔρχομαι (irregular) Form: Perfect Active Indicative, 3rd Person Singular Lexical Meaning: “he has come,” “he has arrived” Contextual Notes: The perfect tense suggests not only that Elijah has come (i.e.,… Learn Koine Greek
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Already Come: Fulfilled Prophecy in Mark 9:13

Posted on September 1, 2013 by New Testament Greek
Ἀλλὰ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι καὶ Ἠλίας ἐλήλυθε, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ ὅσα ἠθέλησαν, καθὼς γέγραπται ἐπ’ αὐτόν (Mark 9:13)

But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.

ἀλλὰ λέγω ὑμῖν: A Prophetic Contrast

The phrase ἀλλὰ λέγω ὑμῖν (“but I say to you”) is a formula used frequently by Jesus to introduce authoritative teaching that corrects or deepens prior understanding.

– ἀλλὰ introduces a strong contrast. – λέγω is present active indicative — “I am saying.” – ὑμῖν is dative plural — “to you.”

This line prepares the hearers for a startling revelation, clarifying their misconceptions about the coming of Elijah.… Learn Koine Greek

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