Luke 21:2
εἶδε δέ τινα χήραν πενιχρὰν βάλλουσαν ἐκεῖ λεπτὰ δύο,
Focus Topic: Object-Complement Structure and Present Participle in Action Description
This short narrative clause captures an act of humble generosity using a combination of accusative objects and a participle of simultaneous action. The grammar tightly links identity, character, and activity through elegant syntax.
Main Verb: εἶδε
εἶδε is aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular, from ὁράω (“he saw”). It introduces the entire observation — Jesus sees a specific person doing a specific act.
Accusative Direct Object: τινα χήραν πενιχράν
This phrase serves as the object of the verb εἶδε (“he saw”):
| Phrase | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| τινα | Accusative feminine singular of τις (indefinite) | “a certain” |
| χήραν πενιχράν | Noun + adjective in accusative | “poor widow” |
The word order places πενιχράν (“poor”) after the noun for emphasis — this widow is identified not just by status but by her poverty.
Present Participle: βάλλουσαν
βάλλουσαν is present active participle, accusative feminine singular, from βάλλω (“to throw, to put in”). It agrees with τινα χήραν and describes a simultaneous action — “as she was putting in.” The present tense suggests continuous or immediate action.
Location Phrase: ἐκεῖ
ἐκεῖ means “there.” It likely refers to the temple treasury mentioned in the preceding verse, providing spatial context for the action.
Accusative Object of the Action: λεπτὰ δύο
λεπτὰ (“small coins”) is a neuter plural noun, and δύο is the cardinal number “two.” These are the items being placed — the direct object of βάλλουσαν. The vocabulary and word order emphasize the modesty of the offering.
Key Observations
- The participial construction βάλλουσαν… λεπτὰ δύο provides action that defines the woman.
- Her identity, character, and action are tightly linked in the accusative phrase governed by εἶδε.
- The grammar emphasizes that Jesus does not merely notice the gift, but sees the person — in her poverty, action, and devotion.
Syntax of Significance
The elegance of the grammar reflects the theological weight of the moment: a poor widow offering what little she has. The participial structure ties action directly to character, and the accumulation of accusatives focuses the reader’s attention not on what is given, but on who gives it — and how.
