In this scene from the calling of the first disciples, Luke captures a quiet but significant moment by the lakeshore using vivid participles, perfect tenses, and spatial prepositions: καὶ εἶδε δύο πλοῖα ἑστῶτα παρὰ τὴν λίμνην· οἱ δὲ ἁλιεῖς ἀποβάντες ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ἀπέπλυνον τὰ δίκτυα from Luke 5:2. The grammar here sets the stage for divine encounter by portraying ordinary activity with precise and poetic construction.
The Greek Text in Focus
καὶ εἶδε δύο πλοῖα ἑστῶτα παρὰ τὴν λίμνην· οἱ δὲ ἁλιεῖς ἀποβάντες ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ἀπέπλυνον τὰ δίκτυα (Luke 5:2)
“And he saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen, having disembarked from them, were washing the nets.”
Grammatical Highlights
- εἶδε — aorist indicative active, third singular (“he saw”), the main verb initiating the scene.
- πλοῖα — accusative neuter plural, object of εἶδε (“boats”).
- ἑστῶτα — perfect participle active, accusative neuter plural (“having stood” or “stationed”), modifying πλοῖα.
- παρὰ τὴν λίμνην — prepositional phrase with accusative, indicating location (“beside the lake”).
- οἱ ἁλιεῖς — nominative masculine plural (“the fishermen”), subject of the second clause.
- ἀποβάντες — aorist participle active, masculine plural nominative (“having disembarked”), temporally prior to the main verb.
- ἀπέπλυνον — imperfect indicative active, third plural (“they were washing”), a durative past action.
- τὰ δίκτυα — accusative neuter plural, direct object of ἀπέπλυνον (“the nets”).
The Perfect Participle: Still and Ready
The use of the perfect participle ἑστῶτα (“having stood,” from the verb ἵστημι) to describe the boats indicates a completed action with continuing result — they had been stationed and remained so. The perfect tense often describes a settled state. The boats are ready, unmoving, prepared — yet unused. It is a grammatical stillness before divine activity.
Participial Sequence and Temporal Flow
Greek participles often convey temporal priority. Here, ἀποβάντες (“having disembarked”) precedes the main action ἀπέπλυνον (“they were washing”). The fishermen first left the boats, then began the routine of cleaning their nets. This temporal sequence is clear in Greek even without conjunctions. The imperfect ἀπέπλυνον suggests repeated or ongoing action — a process, not a single moment.
Prepositions and Place
The phrase παρὰ τὴν λίμνην uses παρά with the accusative to show movement toward or alongside something — here, the lake. Unlike ἐν (in) or πρός (toward), παρά evokes nearness without entry. The boats stand not in the lake but beside it — a place of readiness and transition.
| Word | Form | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| εἶδε | Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Sing. | Main verb | He saw |
| ἑστῶτα | Perfect Participle Active, Acc. Neut. Pl. | Describes the boats | Having stood |
| παρὰ τὴν λίμνην | Preposition + Accusative | Location | Beside the lake |
| ἀποβάντες | Aorist Participle Active, Nom. Masc. Pl. | Action prior to main verb | Having disembarked |
| ἀπέπλυνον | Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Pl. | Main verb of second clause | They were washing |
| τὰ δίκτυα | Accusative Neuter Plural | Direct object | The nets |
Preparing for the Unexpected
Luke 5:2 presents more than just narrative setup — its grammar reflects the quiet readiness of those about to encounter Jesus. The perfect participle shows stillness with lingering force. The aorist participle and imperfect verb create temporal layering: they had disembarked, and they were washing — unknowing that their lives were about to change. The Greek invites the reader to pause at the moment before movement — to see, like Jesus, the potential waiting on the shore.
