Καὶ ἐλθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν Πέτρου εἶδεν τὴν πενθερὰν αὐτοῦ βεβλημένην καὶ πυρέσσουσαν· (Matthew 8:14)
And Jesus, having come into the house of Peter, saw his mother-in-law lying down and burning with fever.
In this brief yet intimate moment from Matthew 8:14, we encounter a quiet narrative shift: from the public to the private, from the multitudes to a family dwelling. But the grammar carries depth. Each verb and participle contributes to a portrait of physical affliction met by divine presence. Let us walk into the Greek text, examining its precision and theological resonance.
Verbs and Participles at Work
This verse is anchored by the main verb εἶδεν (“he saw”), but the participles frame both the entrance and the condition of the sick woman. The structure is careful, vivid, and medical in tone — suitable to a healing narrative.
| Greek Word | Form | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐλθών | Aorist Participle Active, Nom. Masc. Sing. | Temporal – “having come” | Coming in (before the main verb) |
| εἶδεν | Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Sing. | Main Verb | He saw |
| βεβλημένην | Perfect Participle Passive, Acc. Fem. Sing. | Describes state of the woman | Lying down / cast (into bed) |
| πυρέσσουσαν | Present Participle Active, Acc. Fem. Sing. | Describes ongoing condition | Burning with fever |
Temporal and Visual Structure
The narrative begins with the aorist participle ἐλθών (“having come”), marking background temporal action. This introduces the setting and shifts the scene from Jesus’ journey to his observant presence. Greek often uses the aorist participle this way — to set the stage before the main verb unfolds. The spotlight then falls on εἶδεν (“he saw”), the key verb of perception.
But what Jesus “saw” is conveyed with two participles:
- βεβλημένην – a perfect passive participle from βάλλω, meaning “having been cast down” or “lying down,” implying that the woman had already been sick for some time.
- πυρέσσουσαν – a present active participle from πυρέσσω, indicating an ongoing fever.
The perfect participle describes a past action with continuing result (she is still bedridden), while the present participle describes a present process (actively burning with fever). Together, they paint a medical picture: she was struck down and remains under the affliction of heat.
Syntax of Compassion: Seeing More Than Illness
There’s more than observation here. The Greek verb εἶδεν is not simply visual — in biblical narrative, seeing often leads to intervention. Jesus does not merely notice. His perception is purposeful. Grammatically, this verse sets us up for action in the next verse, but the structure prepares the emotional and theological weight of healing in advance.
The Perfect and the Present: A Fever Framed in Time
Greek participles are more than verbal adjectives — they often encode theological tempo. The perfect tense of βεβλημένην implies that this wasn’t a passing moment. The sickness had settled in. The woman had been cast down, with no strength to rise. Meanwhile, πυρέσσουσαν tells us the fever still raged — the affliction was ongoing at the moment of encounter.
But with the entry of Jesus, the participles of affliction are about to be replaced — not just with healing, but with service (see verse 15). The participial grammar shifts from passive illness to active response. Greek shows us not only what is happening but when and how intensely.
When the Word Enters the House
Matthew 8:14 reveals how Greek grammar is a narrative tool. The entrance of Jesus, the sequencing of tenses, the dual use of participles — all signal a transformation. The woman’s fever is detailed with linguistic precision: perfect to show settled misery, present to show current suffering. But the story turns on one verb: εἶδεν. Jesus saw. And that sight leads to touch, healing, and restored dignity.
In Greek, seeing is never passive. When the Word enters the house, everything — even a fever — comes into view for redemption.
