καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν πάντες θυμοῦ ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ ἀκούοντες ταῦτα
Luke 4:28 captures the dramatic moment when a congregation’s admiration turns into explosive anger. The Greek structure vividly portrays a collective emotional reaction, showing how swiftly hearts can harden when confronted with uncomfortable truths.
Grammatical Foundations
καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν πάντες θυμοῦ—”And all were filled with rage.”
- ἐπλήσθησαν—aorist passive indicative, 3rd person plural from πίμπλημι, meaning “they were filled” or “became full.”
- πάντες—nominative masculine plural, “all,” emphasizing the totality of the crowd.
- θυμοῦ—genitive singular from θυμός, “wrath” or “rage,” functioning as a genitive of content (“filled with anger”).
ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ—”in the synagogue.” A prepositional phrase indicating the location where the reaction took place.
ἀκούοντες ταῦτα—”while hearing these things.”
- ἀκούοντες—present active participle, nominative masculine plural from ἀκούω, meaning “hearing” or “listening.”
- ταῦτα—accusative neuter plural demonstrative pronoun, “these things,” referring to Jesus’ provocative statements in the preceding verses.
The participial phrase indicates the cause or circumstance of their anger: it happened as they listened to Jesus.
Exegetical and Theological Implications
Luke 4:28 reveals the volatility of the crowd’s heart. They had marveled earlier at Jesus’ gracious words, but when his message exposed their assumptions and nationalistic pride, their admiration turned to fury. The passive form ἐπλήσθησαν suggests that their anger overwhelmed them—it was not carefully reasoned but an eruption of passion.
Theologically, the verse highlights a key theme in Luke’s Gospel: prophetic truth often provokes hostility, especially when it challenges familiar religious or ethnic boundaries. Jesus’ message about God’s mercy extending to outsiders (as in Elijah and Elisha’s ministries) stirred latent prejudices into open rage.
Linguistic and Historical Perspectives
πίμπλημι is a strong verb meaning “to fill completely,” often used metaphorically for emotions in Greek literature. Here it describes not a gentle filling but a sudden flooding of violent anger. θυμός typically refers to passionate anger, as opposed to ὀργή (which can be more settled wrath).
Synagogues were places of teaching, prayer, and communal identity. That such intense anger would erupt there underscores how deeply Jesus’ words cut across cultural and religious expectations. His confrontation was not with outsiders but with his own hometown community.
Table: Verbal and Structural Features in Luke 4:28
| Text | Greek Verb / Phrase | Form | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luke 4:28 | ἐπλήσθησαν | Aorist passive indicative, 3rd person plural | “They were filled”; describes being overcome by emotion |
| Luke 4:28 | πάντες θυμοῦ | Nominative plural + genitive singular | “All with anger”; totality of the group filled with rage |
| Luke 4:28 | ἀκούοντες ταῦτα | Present active participle + demonstrative pronoun | “While hearing these things”; indicates cause or circumstance |
The Verse as a Paradigm of Koine Greek Richness
Luke 4:28 shows the expressive power of Koine Greek with economy and precision. Through one participle, one verb, and simple yet vivid terms, the text conveys collective passion, internal upheaval, and inevitable conflict. It reminds readers that the gospel often confronts before it comforts—and that divine truth demands a response, whether of faith or fury.
