Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος δύο τινὰς τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ὁ Ἰωάννης ἔπεμψε πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν λέγων· σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἢ ἕτερον προσδοκῶμεν; (Luke 7:19)
The Prophet’s Inquiry: A Sentence of Sacred Hesitation
Luke 7:19 captures a moment of profound suspense: John the Baptist, once the confident forerunner, now sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus a direct and daring question. But this is no ordinary query. Its construction in the Greek reveals layers of theological nuance and grammatical precision that both preserve and portray the tension between expectation and revelation.
Background Action: Aorist Middle Participle in Focus
The verse opens with the participial phrase:
Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος δύο τινὰς τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ
“And having called to himself two certain ones of his disciples”
The key participle προσκαλεσάμενος is parsed as:
- Tense: Aorist — the action is completed and punctiliar.
- Voice: Middle — indicating John’s personal involvement in the summoning.
- Case and Number: Nominative masculine singular — modifying ὁ Ἰωάννης.
This circumstantial participle sets the stage. Though imprisoned, John acts deliberately. The middle voice emphasizes intentionality: he chooses whom to send.
The phrase δύο τινὰς (“two certain ones”) is notable. The indefinite pronoun τινὰς adds a tone of narrative selectivity, implying these were not random but chosen witnesses. Luke blends specificity (δύο) with generality (τινὰς) — subtly balancing historical detail with literary function.
Main Verb: Apostolic Motion
ἔπεμψε πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν
“he sent [them] to Jesus”
The verb ἔπεμψε (aorist active indicative of πέμπω) carries missionary overtones. John sends his disciples with a question — a prophetic act of inquiry. It is no accident that Luke uses this verb, which elsewhere echoes divine sending.
The prepositional phrase πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν is unambiguous in direction and intent. The disciples are dispatched not to gather rumors, but to seek Jesus personally.
The Introduced Question: Direct Speech with Lexical Force
λέγων· σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἢ ἕτερον προσδοκῶμεν;
“saying: Are you the Coming One, or are we to expect another?”
This clause contains the heart of the tension, and its grammar is sharp.
σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος
The emphatic personal pronoun σὺ stands first, drawing contrast. You — not someone else. The verb εἶ (present indicative of εἰμί) simply states identity, linking σὺ to the nominative predicate ὁ ἐρχόμενος.
The phrase ὁ ἐρχόμενος is a substantival present participle, formed from ἔρχομαι. It functions as a title: “the Coming One.” This participle — grammatically ongoing — speaks of present expectation, rooted in past prophetic vision. It is a Messianic label, pregnant with anticipation.
ἢ ἕτερον προσδοκῶμεν;
The disjunctive particle ἢ introduces the alternative. The word ἕτερον (“another of a different kind”) is accusative singular masculine — likely understood as “another [man/Messiah].”
The verb προσδοκῶμεν is first person plural, present active subjunctive of προσδοκάω (“to expect” or “to wait for”). The subjunctive captures uncertainty and potentiality — Are we to keep expecting…?
Taken together, the question is sincere and suspenseful, not cynical. It reflects the prophetic struggle to reconcile current experience with eschatological hope.
Table: Grammatical Insights from Luke 7:19
| Greek Word | Form | Function | Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| προσκαλεσάμενος | Aorist Middle Participle | Background action of summoning | Highlights personal initiative of John |
| ἔπεμψε | Aorist Active Indicative | Main narrative verb | Establishes apostolic motion and intent |
| ὁ ἐρχόμενος | Present Middle/Passive Participle (Substantival) | Predicate nominative | Messianic title with ongoing expectation |
| προσδοκῶμεν | Present Active Subjunctive | Deliberative question | Conveys uncertainty, longing, and doubt |
The Question That Still Stands
Luke 7:19 ends not with resolution but with a question — one grammatically and theologically suspended between the indicative and the subjunctive, the known and the unknown. John’s words speak for every heart that has seen the power of Jesus but wonders if He is truly the One.
Is this all? Is He enough? Or should we expect another?
The syntax reveals the sacred space between certainty and longing. It teaches that even prophetic voices, firm in calling, may tremble in waiting. But the Greek makes clear — the Messiah must be identified not merely by title, but by His deeds and the answer only He can give.
