Verse in Greek
καὶ προδραμὼν ἔμπροσθεν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ συκομορέαν, ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτόν, ὅτι δι’ ἐκείνης ἤμελλε διέρχεσθαι.
Focus Topic: Purpose Clause with ἵνα and Complementary Infinitive with Imperfect of Intention
This verse describes Zacchaeus’ eager action to see Jesus. It includes a temporal participle, a purpose clause, and an imperfect verb of intent followed by a complementary infinitive. The grammar contributes to the narrative energy and forward motion.
Aorist Participle: προδραμών
προδραμών is an aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular, from προτρέχω (“to run ahead”). It gives background information — “having run ahead.” It is connected to the main verb ἀνέβη.
Main Verb: ἀνέβη
ἀνέβη is aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular, from ἀναβαίνω (“to go up, to climb”). Zacchaeus climbed a tree as a result of running forward. The prepositional phrase ἐπὶ συκομορέαν (“on a sycamore tree”) marks the physical object of ascent.
Purpose Clause: ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτόν
ἵνα introduces a purpose clause, with ἴδῃ as the aorist active subjunctive of ὁράω — “so that he might see him.” The subjunctive expresses intended result.
Causal Clause: ὅτι δι’ ἐκείνης ἤμελλε διέρχεσθαι
ὅτι introduces the reason for the action — “because through that [way] he was about to pass.”
| Verb | Parsing | Function |
|---|---|---|
| ἤμελλε | Imperfect active indicative, 3rd singular, from μέλλω | “he was about to” — verb of intention/future imminence |
| διέρχεσθαι | Present middle infinitive, from διέρχομαι | Complementary infinitive — “to pass through” |
Key Observations
- The aorist participle προδραμών shows the prior, eager action of running ahead.
- The aorist indicative ἀνέβη marks the climactic action of ascending the tree.
- ἵνα ἴδῃ expresses purpose: seeing Jesus is Zacchaeus’ motivating goal.
- μέλλω + infinitive διέρχεσθαι indicates what Jesus was about to do, justifying Zacchaeus’ anticipation.
Dynamic Movement in Syntax
The grammatical structure mirrors the physical movement in the scene: urgency (aorist participle), climax (main aorist verb), goal (purpose clause), and motivation (causal clause). Zacchaeus’ spiritual longing is encoded in rapid, purpose-driven syntax, echoing his eagerness to encounter the Lord.
