Tag Archives: Matthew 2:1

Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα Genitive Absolute Construction: Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος

This opening clause is a classic example of the genitive absolute, a syntactic feature where a genitive noun or pronoun and a genitive participle form a phrase independent of the main clause.

– Τοῦ Ἰησοῦ: genitive singular of Ἰησοῦς (Jesus) – γεννηθέντος: aorist passive participle, genitive singular masculine of γεννάω (to be born)

This construction functions temporally: “when Jesus was born”. The particle δὲ is postpositive, softening the transition rather than indicating contrast.

Locative Phrase: ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας

– ἐν Βηθλέεμ: prepositional phrase indicating location; Βηθλέεμ is indeclinable.… Learn Koine Greek