Tag Archives: Matthew 3:13

Τότε παραγίνεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰορδάνην πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ

Matthew’s language is quiet but deliberate. Jesus doesn’t declare, explain, or teach here—he simply comes. The grammar, though, speaks volumes. Every verb, preposition, and infinitive pulls the reader toward something deeply intentional: submission, purpose, and movement into God’s unfolding plan.

Grammatical Foundations

The verb παραγίνεται is in the present tense, though the context is clearly past. This is the historical present—a storytelling technique that draws the reader in. Jesus comes from Galilee, not “came,” making the action vivid, almost cinematic. It makes the reader pause and watch him arrive.… Learn Koine Greek

Τότε παραγίνεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰορδάνην πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ. Introduction

Matthew 3:13 introduces the solemn moment when ὁ Ἰησοῦς voluntarily approaches ὁ Ἰωάννης to be baptized. The verse’s Greek structure reveals deliberate verbal sequencing and spatial-temporal framing that underscore intentionality and submission. This analysis will explore the grammatical details of the present middle deponent verb παραγίνεται, the genitive articular infinitive τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι, and the directional prepositional phrases that structure the sentence semantically and theologically.

Temporal Coordination: Τότε

– Τότε is an adverb meaning “then” or “at that time.” – It functions as a discourse marker, introducing a new narrative action temporally linked to preceding events.… Learn Koine Greek