An Exegetical Analysis of Mark 6:20: The Grammatical Function of πολλα/πολλοῖς
This exegetical study of Mark 6:20 is based on a b-greek discussion from Thu Jul 10 15:07:00 EDT 2003. The initial inquiry focused on the final clauses of Mark 6:20, which describe Herod’s reaction to John the Baptizer, specifically the phrase: και ακουσασ αυτου πολλα ηπορει και ηδεωσ αυτου ηκουεν. The central question raised concerned the grammatical function of πολλα: whether it functions as a direct object for an earlier verb, an adverb modifying a subsequent verb, or an object for the participle ακουσασ.
The main exegetical issue revolves around the ambiguity of the Greek term πολλα (or its variant πολλοῖς in modern critical editions), specifically its grammatical case and thus its semantic and syntactical relationship to the surrounding verbs and participles. The choice between parsing πολλα as an accusative noun (‘many things’), an accusative adverb (‘greatly, much’), or the dative variant πολλοῖς (‘in many ways, concerning many things’) profoundly impacts the interpretation of Herod’s emotional and intellectual state regarding John the Baptizer, as well as the flow of the narrative.
Greek text (as presented in the discussion, akin to Nestle 1904 textual tradition):
καὶ ἀκούσας αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἠπόρει καὶ ἡδέως αὐτοῦ ἤκουεν.
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- SBLGNT (and NA28) reads πολλοῖς (dative plural) instead of πολλα (accusative plural), which is a significant textual and grammatical difference.
- A notable textual variant, found in the Majority Text tradition, substitutes the verb ἠπόρει with ἐποίει (imperfect of ποιέω, ‘he did’), leading to the reading πολλὰ ἐποίει (‘he did many things’). The critical text tradition, including SBLGNT, maintains ἠπόρει.
Textual Criticism (NA28), Lexical Notes (KITTEL, BDAG)
The textual apparatus of NA28 (Nestle-Aland 28th edition) indicates strong support for the reading πολλοῖς (dative plural) over πολλα (accusative plural) and for the verb ἠπόρει over ἐποίει. Manuscripts such as א, B, C, D, L, W, Θ, families 1 and 13, and the Byzantine text tradition generally support ἠπόρει. The variant ἐποίει is attested in a minority of manuscripts (e.g., A, some cursives, and the Majority Text) and often appears to be a scribal assimilation, perhaps to simplify the unusual phrasing with ἠπόρει or to present a more active role for Herod.
Lexically, the terms involved present several interpretative possibilities:
- ἀκούσας (akousas): This aorist participle of ἀκούω (‘to hear’) typically signifies an action completed prior to the main verb, establishing an antecedent circumstance. BDAG notes that ἀκούω can take a genitive object (of the person heard, e.g., αὐτοῦ, ‘him’) and an accusative object (of the thing heard, e.g., ‘many things’). However, the combination of both in a single clause is less common, making the parsing of πολλα as a direct object of ἀκούσας grammatically challenging if αὐτοῦ is also a direct object. KITTEL also highlights the varied constructions of ἀκούω, underscoring its flexibility but also potential for ambiguity.
- πολλὰ (polla) / πολλοῖς (pollois):
- If πολλὰ (accusative neuter plural) is read, it can function either as a direct object meaning ‘many things’ or, more commonly in Koine Greek (especially in Mark), as an adverb meaning ‘much, greatly, a lot’. As an adverb, it often emphasizes the degree of the following verb. BDAG provides numerous examples of πολὺς functioning adverbially.
- If πολλοῖς (dative neuter plural, as found in NA28 and SBLGNT) is read, it functions adverbially, meaning ‘in many respects’, ‘on many points’, or ‘with much ado’. This dative form makes its connection to ἀκούσας as a direct object less likely and strongly favors an adverbial role, particularly with ἠπόρει.
- ἠπόρει (ēporei): This is the imperfect indicative of ἀπορέω (‘to be at a loss, to be perplexed, to be in doubt’). The imperfect aspect suggests a continuous or repeated state of perplexity. BDAG emphasizes the sense of being ‘without a way or means,’ hence ‘perplexed’ or ‘distressed.’
- ἡδέως (hēdeōs): This adverb means ‘gladly’ or ‘with pleasure’. BDAG highlights its use to express delight or willingness.
- ἤκουεν (ēkouen): This is the imperfect indicative of ἀκούω, indicating a continuous or repeated action of ‘hearing’ John.
The presence of αὐτοῦ (genitive singular, ‘him’) twice in the clause as the object of ἀκούω strongly suggests that John is the person being heard. This makes it difficult to construe πολλα as a direct object of ἀκούσας referring to ‘many things’ *from* John, as this would typically require a different grammatical construction or a singular accusative object alongside the genitive of the person. Therefore, an adverbial interpretation of πολλα (or πολλοῖς) is grammatically more natural in the critical text tradition.
Translation Variants with Grammatical & Rhetorical Analysis
The interpretation of Mark 6:20 hinges critically on the grammatical parsing of πολλα (or πολλοῖς) and its relationship to the surrounding verbs. Three main approaches emerge from the discussion and textual considerations:
1. πολλα/πολλοῖς as an adverb modifying ἠπόρει (‘to be perplexed’):
This is the most widely accepted interpretation among modern critical scholars and translators, particularly when considering the critical text’s πολλοῖς. The word order, with πολλα/πολλοῖς immediately preceding ἠπόρει, supports this connection. Rhetorically, it emphasizes the *degree* of Herod’s perplexity, portraying him as deeply troubled or greatly at a loss regarding John’s message or actions. Grammatically, ἀκούσας αὐτοῦ functions as an antecedent circumstantial participle, meaning “after hearing him.” The two imperfect verbs, ἠπόρει and ἤκουεν, describe ongoing or habitual states of Herod’s mind and actions.
2. πολλα as an adverb modifying ἀκούσας (‘hearing’):
This interpretation, though less favored due to word order and common Marcan usage, suggests “after hearing him much” or “after hearing him a lot.” While grammatically plausible for πολλα (accusative adverbial), it places less emphasis on Herod’s internal state and more on the *duration or intensity* of his listening. However, the dative πολλοῖς makes this interpretation unlikely, as it would imply “hearing him *in many ways*,” which is semantically awkward.
3. πολλα as an accusative direct object of ἀκούσας (‘hearing many things from him’):
This option, explored in the initial discussion, posits that πολλα refers to the content of John’s teaching. While ἀκούω *can* take both a genitive of person and an accusative of thing, the immediate proximity of αὐτοῦ (genitive) and the absence of clear examples of ἀκούω taking *both* the person and “many things” as an object in the same construction in the NT makes this less likely. Moreover, this interpretation becomes grammatically untenable with the critical text’s reading of πολλοῖς (dative).
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
Based on textual evidence, grammatical analysis, and common Marcan idiom, the most robust interpretation of Mark 6:20 (especially with the critical text reading πολλοῖς) construes the debated term as an adverb modifying Herod’s state of perplexity. Herod’s reaction is presented as a complex blend of confusion and fascination, an ongoing internal conflict that highlights his compromised position. The aorist participle ἀκούσας establishes the temporal context, followed by the imperfect verbs describing Herod’s sustained responses.
- “And after hearing him, he was greatly perplexed and gladly kept listening to him.”
This translation emphasizes the adverbial force of πολλοῖς/πολλα modifying ἠπόρει, highlighting the extent of Herod’s confusion while maintaining the continuous nature of his listening. - “And having heard him, he was perplexed by many things and listened to him with pleasure.”
This rendering interprets πολλοῖς (dative) as denoting the cause or subject of his perplexity (“by many things” or “concerning many things”), offering a slightly different nuance to his confusion while still recognizing the adverbial force and his continued attentiveness. - “And after listening to him much, he was perplexed, and he continued to hear him with pleasure.”
This option considers the less likely, but grammatically possible, adverbial connection of πολλα (if the accusative variant is followed) to ἀκούσας, focusing on the volume or duration of his hearing. It still maintains the subsequent perplexity and pleasure in listening.