ἀπερχομένων δὲ αὐτῶν ἀγοράσαι ἦλθεν ὁ νυμφίος, καὶ αἱ ἕτοιμοι εἰσῆλθον μετ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ ἐκλείσθη ἡ θύρα. (Matthew 25:10)
Now while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and the ready ones went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
Unpacking the Declined Forms
This powerful verse in the Parable of the Ten Virgins pivots on carefully declined words: articles, nouns, and participles that deepen the narrative with precision and tension. Let’s explore their morphology, syntax, and spiritual weight.
Case-by-Case Insight
| Greek Word | Form & Morphology | Case & Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἀπερχομένων | Genitive plural masculine present middle/passive participle of ἀπέρχομαι | Genitive absolute | Used with αὐτῶν to form a genitive absolute clause: “while they were going away” |
| αὐτῶν | Genitive plural masculine personal pronoun | Genitive absolute (subject) | Refers to the foolish virgins; governs the participle |
| ὁ νυμφίος | 2nd declension masculine nominative singular noun with article | Subject of ἦλθεν | The bridegroom enters the scene at the critical moment |
| αἱ ἕτοιμοι | 1st declension feminine nominative plural adjective with article | Subject of εἰσῆλθον | “The ready ones”—emphatic through article + adjective construction |
| μετ’ αὐτοῦ | μετά + genitive pronoun | Genitive of accompaniment | They go in “with him”—refers to the bridegroom |
| εἰς τοὺς γάμους | Preposition + accusative plural masculine noun with article | Accusative of motion toward | Literal and eschatological: “into the wedding feast” |
| ἡ θύρα | 1st declension feminine nominative singular noun with article | Subject of passive verb ἐκλείσθη | The door becomes its own actor—passively closed |
Articular Emphasis: Articles That Speak
– ὁ νυμφίος: The definite article stresses identity—this is the bridegroom, not a generic figure. A Christological echo.
– αἱ ἕτοιμοι: The article + adjective construction is used substantively, turning the adjective “ready” into a noun phrase: “the ready ones,” which excludes the unprepared.
– τοὺς γάμους: The article in the accusative plural further emphasizes that this is the preordained wedding feast.
Declensional Mechanics and Agreement
The article, noun, and adjective in αἱ ἕτοιμοι all agree in gender (feminine), case (nominative), and number (plural). The same applies to τοὺς γάμους. Such harmony reflects precision in the invitation: only those who are truly prepared—by definition—can enter.
Semantic Force and Theological Implication
– The nominative subject ὁ νυμφίος is the decisive agent: his arrival changes everything.
– The genitive absolute ἀπερχομένων δὲ αὐτῶν suggests temporal irony: while the foolish ones were busy buying, the door of grace closed.
– The passive verb ἐκλείσθη with nominative subject ἡ θύρα implies divine closure. It doesn’t say who shut the door—it simply was shut, leaving no room for negotiation.
Declensions That Preach
The declensions in this verse aren’t ornamental—they’re oracular. Every case, number, and article seals layers of meaning: from the solemnity of the bridegroom’s appearance to the tragic finality of a closed door. The ready ones are not described by name—but by readiness. And that’s where the grammar sings: identity formed not by label, but by state.
