Διὸ ἐκλήθη ὁ ἀγρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἀγρὸς αἵματος ἕως τῆς σήμερον. (Matthew 27:8)
Therefore that field was called Field of Blood to this day.
Grammatical Snapshot
This verse gives a historical explanation for a place-name, using a divine passive and a temporal clause to establish both the origin and ongoing significance of the event. It is part of the narrative explaining how the field bought with Judas’s returned silver came to be known as the “Field of Blood.”
Key Grammar Points
- διὸ – a conjunction meaning “therefore” or “for this reason.” It indicates logical consequence.
- ἐκλήθη – aorist passive indicative, 3rd person singular of καλέω, “to call.” It means “was called.” The passive suggests divine or communal designation.
- ὁ ἀγρὸς ἐκεῖνος – “that field”; demonstrative adjective ἐκεῖνος agrees with ἀγρὸς (nominative masculine singular).
- ἀγρὸς αἵματος – “Field of Blood”; genitive of specification or identification (what kind of field).
- ἕως τῆς σήμερον – literally, “until today.” This is an idiomatic Greek phrase meaning “up to the present day.” The genitive τῆς with the adverb σήμερον forms a temporal limit.
Syntax and Word Order
– The structure begins with a causal conjunction (διὸ), then moves to the main verb (ἐκλήθη), which is fronted for narrative emphasis.
– The subject ὁ ἀγρὸς ἐκεῖνος follows the verb, a common structure in Koine for highlighting the action first.
– The predicate nominative ἀγρὸς αἵματος renames the subject, and the final clause ἕως τῆς σήμερον gives the temporal scope of the naming.
Morphology Table
| Greek Word | Parsing | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| διὸ | Inferential conjunction | Logical connector | Therefore, for this reason |
| ἐκλήθη | Aorist Passive Indicative, 3rd singular | Main verb (divine/community passive) | was called |
| ὁ ἀγρὸς ἐκεῖνος | Nominative Masculine Singular | Subject of ἐκλήθη | that field |
| ἀγρὸς αἵματος | Nominative + Genitive | Predicate nominative (naming) | Field of blood |
| ἕως τῆς σήμερον | Preposition + Genitive Article + Adverb | Temporal expression | until today |
Historical and Linguistic Notes
– The aorist passive ἐκλήθη emphasizes a completed naming in the past, possibly by public consensus or divine providence.
– The phrase ἕως τῆς σήμερον is a Hebraic idiom carried into Koine (cf. Hebrew עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה), reinforcing the Semitic style of the narrative.
– The repetition of “field” in both subject and predicate is a stylistic feature, emphasizing the change in identity or function of the land.
Echoes That Still Speak
This verse is more than a record of renaming—it’s a syntactic memorial. The divine passive, the enduring temporal clause, and the vivid imagery of “blood” crystallize a moment of betrayal into a place that still carries the weight of consequence. The grammar, like the field, speaks—of judgment, memory, and identity.
