ἤγγικε (eggiken) in Matthew 4:17: Verb Third Person Singular Perfect Active Indicative
ἤγγικε (eggiken) in Matthew 4:17
Textual Witness
The witness reads ἤγγικε in Matthew 4:17.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The verb makes nearness the reason attached to Jesus' command.
How To Communicate It
Use it to show why the command to repent is grounded in kingdom nearness.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Do not separate the verb from the kingdom of heaven subject.
- Do not build a full doctrine from this form alone.
- Do not use morphology to detach the word from Matthew's immediate argument.
What Does The Label Mean?
Verb: the form names an action or state in the clause.
Perfect: views a completed action with a resulting state or continuing relevance in context.
Active: presents the subject as carrying out the action.
Indicative: presents the verbal idea as an assertion in the clause.
Third person: the form speaks about someone or something rather than directly addressing the hearers.
Not applicable: this finite verb form is not using noun case to mark its clause role.
Singular: the verb's number should be read with its subject in this clause.
Not applicable: this finite verb form does not use grammatical gender.
What The Form Does In This Verse
The kingdom has drawn near
The kingdom-nearness clause
States that the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.
Do not make perfect aspect settle every timing question about the kingdom.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The verb states the reason for the repentance command.
Perfect predicate of the kingdom clause. states that the kingdom has drawn near. Attached to the kingdom has drawn near. Governed by the kingdom-nearness clause. Read with the kingdom of heaven as subject.
Why does Jesus command repentance? Because the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.
Direct: The form directly supports has drawn near.
The verb states nearness, while Matthew develops kingdom timing across the Gospel.
Perfect tense solves all kingdom timing: The perfect form contributes to the clause but does not replace Matthew's full kingdom witness.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The witness reads ἤγγικε in Matthew 4:17.
The lemma ἐγγίζω carries the gloss "I come near, approach", and here it states nearness or approach in relation to the kingdom.
The perfect verb predicates the nearness of the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus grounds repentance in the kingdom's nearness.
The form fits Matthew's already-arriving kingdom proclamation.
Use it to show why the command to repent is grounded in kingdom nearness.
Do not use the perfect alone to settle the kingdom's full timing.