John 19:31

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An Exegetical Examination of Grammatical Concord in John 19:31

This exegetical analysis addresses a common grammatical feature found in the New Testament, specifically concerning the apparent discord between a plural subject and a singular verb. The focus is on John 19:31, where the clause ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ presents the neuter plural subject τὰ σώματα (“the bodies”) with the third-person singular subjunctive verb μείνῃ (“may remain”). This study will explore the grammatical principles underlying this construction, drawing upon textual criticism, lexical insights, and an analysis of potential translation variants, ultimately proposing an informed understanding of the passage.

ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ (Nestle 1904)

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• The primary difference observed in this specific clause between the Nestle 1904 text and the SBLGNT (2010) is a minor variation in word order. Nestle 1904 reads ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα, while SBLGNT (2010) presents τὰ σώματα ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ. Both readings are well-attested and do not alter the meaning or the grammatical issue under consideration.
• No significant textual variants affect the singular verbal form μείνῃ or the plural nominal form τὰ σώματα in this clause across major critical editions.

The Nestle-Aland 28th edition (NA28) concurs with the presented Greek text regarding the clause under examination, specifically maintaining the reading ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ. The grammatical construction of a singular verb with a neuter plural subject is consistently attested across major critical editions, indicating its stability in the textual tradition.

Lexical considerations illuminate the semantic range of the key terms:

• μείνῃ (from μένω, “to remain, stay, abide, endure”). BDAG defines μένω, inter alia, as “to continue to be in a place, remain, stay” (BDAG, 631). Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) entry for μένω highlights its usage in the Septuagint and New Testament to denote persistence or remaining in a state or place, though here it refers to the literal, physical presence of bodies on the cross (Kittel, vol. 4, pp. 574-588).
• τὰ σώματα (from σῶμα, “body”). BDAG defines σῶμα primarily as “body,” referring to the physical organism of humans or animals (BDAG, 989-991). In this context, it unambiguously refers to the physical remains of the crucified individuals.
• ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ (“upon the cross”). σταυρός refers to the cross as an instrument of execution.
• ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ (“on the Sabbath”). This phrase specifies the time during which the bodies should not remain.

Translation Variants with Grammatical and Rhetorical Analysis

The apparent grammatical ‘anomaly’ of a singular verb μείνῃ (“may remain”) governing a plural subject τὰ σώματα (“the bodies”) is a well-recognized feature of Koine Greek grammar, particularly when the subject is a neuter plural noun. This phenomenon is not an anomaly but rather a standard grammatical practice.

• Grammatical Analysis: In Koine Greek, a neuter plural subject frequently takes a singular verb, especially when the subject is conceived of as a collective unit rather than as discrete individual entities. Daniel B. Wallace, in Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, states that “a neuter plural subject takes a singular verb when the author wishes to emphasize the collectivity of the subjects” (Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, 396-397). In John 19:31, the collective aspect of “the bodies” (i.e., the entirety of the corpses) is emphasized, leading to the use of a singular verb. This grammatical construction is sometimes described as synesis or constructio ad sensum, where the agreement is based on the sense rather than strict grammatical form; however, for neuter plurals taking a singular verb, it is often simply a standard rule in Koine Greek. Other examples in the New Testament demonstrating this principle, such as when a collection of things or events is described collectively, underscore its pervasive nature (e.g., a phrase like τὰ δένδρα φύεται, “the trees grow,” literally “grows,” exemplifies this treatment in Koine Greek). The clause is a purpose clause, introduced by ἵνα, indicating the Jewish leaders’ desire to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath, an act prohibited by Deuteronomic law (Deut 21:22-23).
• Rhetorical and Theological Analysis: The use of the singular verb reinforces the urgency and collective nature of the decree. The concern is not about one specific body but about the collection of crucified individuals, whose presence on the cross would desecrate the Sabbath. The collective singular verb subtly underscores the unity of the problem being addressed—the general prohibition against leaving any bodies, understood as a collective defilement. The emphasis is on the singular event of bodies remaining, rather than the individual remaining of each body.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The grammatical construction in John 19:31, featuring a singular verb μείνῃ with a neuter plural subject τὰ σώματα, is a standard and intentional feature of Koine Greek grammar. It effectively conveys the idea of the “bodies” being treated as a collective unit, thus requiring a singular verbal agreement. This construction is neither an error nor an anomaly but a grammatically sound expression of the collective nature of the subject.

Based on this analysis, the following translation suggestions are offered, aiming to faithfully represent both the grammatical structure and the theological implications of the passage:

1. “so that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath.”
   This translation offers a very literal rendering, implicitly acknowledging the collective sense of “the bodies” within standard English grammatical structures.
2. “lest the corpses should stay upon the cross during the Sabbath.”
   This version employs “corpses” for a slightly more direct and formal tone and “should stay” to capture the nuance of the subjunctive mood within a purpose clause, while still treating the plural subject as a collective unit.
3. “to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath.”
   This translation provides a more idiomatic English expression for the purpose clause, directly conveying the intent behind the action without sacrificing the collective understanding of the subject implied by the Greek grammar.

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