Mark 12:4
Καὶ πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἄλλον δοῦλον· κἀκεῖνον λιθοβολήσαντες ἐκεφαλαίωσαν καὶ ἀπέστειλαν ἠτίμωμένον
Transliteration
kai palin apesteilen pros autous allon doulon; kakeinon lithovolēsantes ekephalaiōsan kai apesteilan ētimōmenon
Literal Translation
“And again he sent to them another servant; and that one having stoned, they struck on the head and sent away dishonored.”
Grammar Focus
Aorist Verbs in Narrative Sequence
The verse moves through a rapid chain of completed actions:
ἀπέστειλεν,
ἐκεφαλαίωσαν,
and
ἀπέστειλαν.
The aorist tense presents events as whole actions, giving the narrative a sharp and forceful rhythm.
The Participial Action
λιθοβολήσαντες is an aorist participle meaning “having stoned.”
It introduces an action that happens before the following finite verb.
Vocabulary Builder
ἀποστέλλω
Meaning: “to send”
Form in Verse: ἀπέστειλεν
Frequently used for sending messengers, servants, or apostles.
λιθοβολέω
Meaning: “to stone”
Form in Verse: λιθοβολήσαντες
The participle intensifies the violence before the next action unfolds.
ἀτιμόω
Meaning: “to dishonor”
Form in Verse: ἠτίμωμένον
Describes the servant as being left in a state of humiliation.
Syntax Insight
The syntax moves from sending → violence → humiliation.
The servant remains the central object throughout the sequence.
| Element | Greek | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Main Verb | ἀπέστειλεν | “He sent” |
| Object | ἄλλον δοῦλον | “another servant” |
| Participle | λιθοβολήσαντες | prior action before the main verb |
| Main Verb | ἐκεφαλαίωσαν | “they struck on the head” |
| Result State | ἠτίμωμένον | describes the servant as dishonored |
Practice Prompt
- Identify the tense of ἀπέστειλεν.
- What kind of participle is λιθοβολήσαντες?
- Translate ἄλλον δοῦλον literally.
- Explain how ἠτίμωμένον describes the servant’s condition.
