Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, εἶπεν αὐτῇ· μηκέτι ἐκ σοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα μηδεὶς καρπὸν φάγοι. καὶ ἤκουον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ.
Aorist Participle ἀποκριθεὶς and Narrative Framing
The participle ἀποκριθεὶς (aorist passive participle, nominative masculine singular of ἀποκρίνομαι) introduces a typical Semitic-influenced narrative formula, often found in the Gospels: “And answering, Jesus said…” This construction is grammatically redundant in Greek but stylistically Semitic. It functions adverbially, indicating the manner or circumstance of the main verb εἶπεν.
Although ἀποκριθεὶς is morphologically passive, the verb ἀποκρίνομαι is deponent, meaning it has passive forms but active meaning: “he answered”.
Finite Verb εἶπεν and Word Order
The verb εἶπεν (aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular of λέγω) is the main verb of the sentence, meaning “he said.” Its subject is ὁ Ἰησοῦς and its indirect object is αὐτῇ (dative feminine singular of αὐτός), referring to the fig tree mentioned in the narrative context.
The use of the aorist denotes a punctiliar (single completed) action typical of narrative Greek. The word order—Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, εἶπεν αὐτῇ—follows the standard pattern of participle + subject + main verb + dative indirect object.
Prohibition and Subjunctive: μηκέτι… φάγοι
The clause μηκέτι… φάγοι is a prohibition expressed using the aorist subjunctive:
– μηκέτι is a compound negative adverb meaning “no longer” or “never again.”
– φάγοι (aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular of ἐσθίω) occurs in a volitive/jussive construction, often used to express a wish or command in the third person: “May no one ever again eat…”
This is a strong prophetic prohibition expressed in a formal literary register, emphasizing finality and divine authority.
Prepositional Phrase ἐκ σοῦ and Emphasis
The phrase ἐκ σοῦ (preposition with genitive) means “from you”, with σοῦ being the genitive singular of σύ, referring to the tree. It is fronted for emphasis, highlighting the source from which no fruit will ever again be consumed.
Temporal Idiom εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα
The phrase εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (preposition + accusative noun phrase) is a standard biblical expression meaning “forever” or “into the age.” It adds temporal finality to the curse and strengthens the idea introduced by μηκέτι.
Negative Subject μηδεὶς καρπὸν
– μηδεὶς (nominative singular masculine of μηδείς) means “no one.”
– καρπὸν (accusative singular of καρπός) is the object of φάγοι.
Together, this phrase means “no one [may eat] fruit”—the accusative indicates what is being eaten. The position of μηδεὶς before καρπὸν reflects emphasis on the subject of the prohibition.
Imperfect Verb ἤκουον and Narrative Detail
The second sentence—καὶ ἤκουον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ—uses the imperfect verb ἤκουον (imperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural of ἀκούω), indicating ongoing perception in the narrative past. It may imply careful attention or the process of listening over a moment of time.
– οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ (nominative plural with possessive genitive) identifies the disciples as the attentive audience.
Summary of Key Grammatical Features
- ἀποκριθεὶς: aorist passive deponent participle; functions adverbially
- εἶπεν: aorist active indicative; simple past narrative main verb
- μηκέτι: negative adverb; initiates prohibition
- φάγοι: aorist subjunctive; volitive/jussive usage
- ἐκ σοῦ: prepositional phrase with genitive; emphasizes source
- εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα: prepositional phrase with accusative; eternal finality
- ἤκουον: imperfect active indicative; narrative progression
Syntactic Cohesion and Theological Emphasis
This verse displays a tight syntactic structure characteristic of prophetic or judicial speech in the Synoptics. The combination of imperatives, negatives, and participles enhances the authoritative and final nature of Jesus’ speech. The verb forms and their sequencing reflect the solemn weight of divine judgment, while the final imperfect ἤκουον places the disciples as witnesses, thus preserving the speech for the readers.
This structure and grammar work together to underscore the public, prophetic, and permanent nature of the judgment on the fruitless tree, a symbolic act filled with eschatological implications in Hellenistic Greek expression.
