Luke 4:40

An Exegetical Analysis of Grammatical Structures in Luke 4:40

This exegetical study of An Exegetical Analysis of Grammatical Structures in Luke 4:40 is based on a b-greek discussion from June 3, 2001. The original inquiry centered on the syntax of the phrase ἅπαντες ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας νόσοις ποικίλαις ἤγαγον αὐτοὺς πρὸς αὐτόν. Specifically, questions were raised regarding the use of the relative clause ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας instead of a simpler participial construction, and the accusative case of ἀσθενοῦντας.

The main exegetical issue revolves around clarifying the precise grammatical relationship between the main clause subject ἅπαντες, the relative clause ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας νόσοις ποικίλαις, and the direct object ἀσθενοῦντας. Misinterpretation often arises from assuming the ailing individuals are the active subjects, rather than understanding them as the objects of care brought by others. Correctly parsing this structure is crucial for an accurate translation that reflects the agency of those who brought the sick to Jesus, distinguishing them from the sick themselves.

δύνοντος δὲ τοῦ ἡλίου πάντες ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας νόσοις ποικίλαις ἤγαγον αὐτοὺς πρὸς αὐτόν· ὁ δὲ ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ αὐτῶν τὰς χεῖρας ἐπιθεὶς ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτούς. (Nestle 1904)

Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):

• No significant word differences in the clause πάντες ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας νόσοις ποικίλαις ἤγαγον αὐτοὺς πρὸς αὐτόν. The text is largely stable in this section across critical editions.

Textual criticism (NA28): The specific phrase under examination, πάντες ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας νόσοις ποικίλαις ἤγαγον αὐτοὺς πρὸς αὐτόν, presents no significant textual variants in the apparatus of the Novum Testamentum Graece (NA28). This indicates a high degree of textual stability for this particular construction.

Lexical notes:

• ἀσθενοῦντας (from ἀσθενέω): This is an accusative plural masculine/feminine participle used substantivally, meaning “those who are weak,” “sick people,” or “ailing ones.” BDAG defines ἀσθενέω as “to be weak, sick.” In this context, the participle acts as a direct object, designating the persons afflicted by illness.
• εἶχον (from ἔχω): The imperfect active indicative of ἔχω, meaning “to have” or “to possess.” In this construction with an accusative participle, it denotes a state of possession or responsibility for the ailing individuals.
• ἅπαντες (from πᾶς): Nominative masculine plural, meaning “all” or “everyone.” It serves as the antecedent for the relative pronoun ὅσοι.
• νόσοις ποικίλαις: Dative plural, meaning “with various diseases” or “afflicted by various diseases.” This dative functions as an instrument or manner, describing the condition of the ἀσθενοῦντας.
• ἤγαγον (from ἄγω): Aorist active indicative of ἄγω, meaning “they brought” or “they led.” This is the main verb of the sentence, with ἅπαντες as its subject.

Translation Variants

The grammatical and rhetorical analysis of Luke 4:40 reveals a carefully constructed sentence that clarifies the agents involved in bringing the sick to Jesus. The structure ἅπαντες ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας νόσοις ποικίλαις is not a pleonastic or “loquacious” form without purpose, but rather a precise way to distinguish between those who were sick and those who brought them.

The use of ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας instead of a simpler participial phrase like ἅπαντες ἀσθενοῦντες is significant. If Luke had written ἅπαντες ἀσθενοῦντες ἤγαγον, it would grammatically imply “all who were sick brought themselves.” However, the relative clause ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας clarifies that the subject of the bringing (ἤγαγον) is ἅπαντες (everyone), who are further defined by the relative clause as “those who had (i.e., were responsible for, or were caring for) ailing people.” This construction emphasizes the active role of the caregivers or family members in bringing the sick, rather than the sick persons’ own volition or ability to travel. This is a rhetorical choice that underscores the gravity of their condition and the compassion of their caretakers. The construction does not appear to be a direct Hebrew construction but a natural expression within Koine Greek.

Regarding the case of ἀσθενοῦντας, it is correctly in the accusative plural because it functions as the direct object of the verb εἶχον (“they had”). The initial assumption that a participle must match the case of the subject (i.e., be nominative) is incorrect for this specific construction. While participles often agree with the subject in periphrastic constructions or as attributive/predicative modifiers, here ἀσθενοῦντας acts as a substantive noun, serving as the object of the transitive verb ἔχω. The subject of the relative clause is ὅσοι (nominative), referring back to ἅπαντες. Thus, “all (nominative) who (nominative) had (verb) sick people (accusative)… brought (verb) them (accusative) to him.” This clarifies that the ailing ones were the *recipients* of care and transportation, not the primary agents.

Conclusions and Translation Suggestions

The analysis confirms that Luke 4:40 employs a specific grammatical structure to convey agency and responsibility. The phrase ἅπαντες ὅσοι εἶχον ἀσθενοῦντας identifies “everyone” as the agents who “had” or “were responsible for” sick people, and it was these agents who “brought” the sick to Jesus. The sick themselves are presented as the objects of this action, underscoring their inability to come on their own and the active compassion of those around them.

1. A more literal translation, emphasizing the “having” or “possessing” of the sick:
   “Now when the sun was setting, everyone who had people ailing with various diseases brought them to him.”
2. A more fluid translation, highlighting the responsibility and care for the sick:
   “When the sun was setting, all those who were caring for people afflicted with various diseases brought them to him.”
3. A concise translation, focusing on the people and their condition:
   “At sunset, everyone with people suffering from various diseases brought them to Jesus.”