δόξαν (doxan) in Romans 3:7: Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
δόξαν (doxan) in Romans 3:7
Textual Witness
The witness reads δόξαν in Romans 3:7 within the phrase εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, so the form must be read inside that directional clause.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form helps the reader hear the clause as goal-oriented, so the argument centers on an action that serves God's glory rather than on glory as the acting agent.
How To Communicate It
In teaching or translation, this form can be explained as part of the phrase that marks purpose or result, helping readers see how the sentence moves toward God's honor.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- The case can suggest role, but the surrounding clause decides the most responsible reading.
- Do not turn grammatical feminine gender into a theological gender claim.
What Does The Label Mean?
Noun: the word names an abstract reality here, namely glory, honor, or splendor, rather than a verb action or modifier.
Accusative: the form commonly marks the direct object of a verb or the goal of a preposition, and here it fits the prepositional phrase.
Singular: the form is grammatically singular in this occurrence, presenting one stated referent rather than a plural set.
Feminine: the noun belongs to the feminine grammatical class, which is a form feature and does not by itself make a theological claim.
What The Form Does In This Verse
εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ
The accusative is governed by the preposition εἰς, which marks movement or direction toward an intended end.
The noun functions as the goal of the phrase, showing that the increase is said to move toward his glory.
The form does not by itself make δόξαν the subject of the sentence, and it does not require a verbal force.
How Much The Form Matters Here
Moderate: The accusative form inside a prepositional phrase marks the direction or goal of the argument toward God's glory.
Object of a goal-oriented preposition. names the goal or direction of the phrase rather than the subject of the sentence. Attached to the phrase toward his glory. Governed by the preposition that frames the phrase. The preposition and clause decide whether the relation is best heard as goal, result, or direction.
Where does the phrase direct the reader's attention? It directs attention toward God's glory as the goal or result named in the phrase.
Direct: The prepositional relation directly affects translation with language such as to, toward, or for his glory.
A preposition plus accusative can mark direction, goal, or result; the immediate argument must decide the nuance.
Prepositional case fixes only one English relation: The case works with the preposition, but the verse decides whether goal, direction, or result is the best explanation. feminine gender adds a theological claim: The feminine form is grammatical and should not be made into a doctrine.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The witness reads δόξαν in Romans 3:7 within the phrase εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, so the form must be read inside that directional clause.
The lemma is δόξα, a noun that can refer to glory, honor, renown, or splendor, and the local context selects the sense.
Because the noun stands after εἰς, the grammar points to an end or goal, not merely a general topic; the clause says the increase was toward his glory.
In this verse, the grammar supports the claim that the truth's increase is described as serving God's glory, which is then used in the argument that follows.
This usage fits the broader biblical pattern in which God's glory is the intended outcome of divine action, but the verse itself still must be read on its own terms.
A careful translation can reflect the directional force with phrasing such as toward his glory, for his glory, or to his glory, depending on style.
Do not derive from the accusative case any claim that the noun is a subject, a person, or a different lexical meaning than the context supports.