The Verse in Focus (Luke 14:5)
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἶπε· τίνος ὑμῶν υἱὸς ἢ βοῦς εἰς φρέαρ ἐμπεσεῖται, καὶ οὐκ εὐθέως ἀνασπάσει αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου;
A Legal Counterquestion: ἀποκριθεὶς… εἶπε
The verse begins with καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἶπε — “and answering to them, he said.” The verb ἀποκριθεὶς is an aorist passive participle of ἀποκρίνομαι, functioning idiomatically as “answering.” Though passive in form, this deponent verb has active meaning in context.
The main verb εἶπε is aorist active indicative — a narrative mainstay in direct discourse. This grammatical pairing is typical of Gospel dialogue and sets up Jesus’ pointed legal-rhetorical question.
Τίνος ὑμῶν υἱὸς ἢ βοῦς: Rhetorical Setup
Τίνος ὑμῶν — “which of you” — introduces a question of personal experience and moral testing. The genitive ὑμῶν (“of you”) qualifies τίνος (“who/which”), engaging the listener directly.
Jesus presents two hypothetical subjects: υἱὸς (“son”) or βοῦς (“ox”). The use of ἢ (“or”) leaves either option open. The dramatic impact lies in the contrast between a beloved human and a valuable animal — both deserving of rescue, especially in an emergency.
εἰς φρέαρ ἐμπεσεῖται: The Crisis
The verb ἐμπεσεῖται is future middle indicative, 3rd person singular of ἐμπίπτω (“to fall into”). The middle voice can carry reflexive nuance — “falls in,” implying an accidental plunge.
εἰς φρέαρ (“into a pit/well”) defines the situation: an urgent, life-threatening scenario. Jesus appeals to the innate human instinct to rescue, even on a day of rest.
καὶ οὐκ εὐθέως ἀνασπάσει αὐτὸν: Immediate Action
εὐθέως — “immediately” — adds urgency. The verb ἀνασπάσει is future active indicative of ἀνασπάω (“to pull up,” “draw out”), here meaning to lift out or rescue.
The construction καὶ οὐκ…; expects a positive answer — a common rhetorical strategy in Greek. Jesus assumes that every person would act quickly, even on the Sabbath, thus exposing hypocrisy in those who would condemn healing.
ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου: The Sabbath Frame
This prepositional phrase gives the legal and theological tension its setting. ἐν + dative marks time — “on the day.” The phrase τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ σαββάτου (“on the Sabbath day”) places this moral test squarely within Jewish halakhic boundaries.
The implication: if mercy toward animals and family is permissible on the Sabbath, how much more justified is healing a human being?
The Law of Immediate Mercy
Luke 14:5 is not just a question — it’s a rebuke wrapped in logic. Jesus appeals to universally understood actions (ἀνασπάσει), personal stakes (υἱὸς ἢ βοῦς), and urgent settings (φρέαρ, εὐθέως). His grammar is tight, his word choices vivid. Through a carefully crafted sentence, he reframes the Sabbath not as restriction, but as a stage for mercy. Greek grammar here becomes the instrument of divine justice — swift, compassionate, and unforgettable.
