Greek Form Guide

εὐδόκησα. (eudokesa) in Matthew 3:17: Verb First Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative

εὐδόκησα. (eudokesa) in Matthew 3:17

Textual Witness

εὐδόκησα. eudokesa Verb First Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative

The witness reads εὐδόκησα. in Matthew 3:17.

How The Form Affects Interpretation

The verb completes the declaration with divine pleasure in the Son.

How To Communicate It

Use this form to show that the heavenly declaration includes both identity and approval.

What Not To Say

  • Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
  • Do not detach well-pleased from the in-whom relation to the Son.
  • 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?

Part of Speech

Verb: the form names an action or state in the clause.

Tense / Aspect

Aorist: commonly views the action as a whole event. It should not be treated as automatically punctiliar or automatically past in every context.

Voice

Active: presents the subject as carrying out the action.

Mood

Indicative: presents the verbal idea as an assertion in the clause.

Person

First person: the speaker is included in the verbal form.

Case

Not applicable: this finite verb form is not using noun case to mark its clause role.

Number

Singular: the verb's number should be read with its subject in this clause.

Gender

Not applicable: this finite verb form does not use grammatical gender.

What The Form Does In This Verse

Attached To

In whom

Governed By

The final clause of the heavenly declaration

Role In The Phrase

It states the speaker's delight or good pleasure in the Son.

What It Is Not Doing

It does not reduce divine approval to verb aspect alone.

How Much The Form Matters Here

Interpretive Weight

High: The verb gives the declaration's explicit divine approval.

Syntax Profile

Finite predicate in the well-pleased clause. states the speaker's pleasure in the Son. Attached to in whom. Governed by the final clause of the heavenly declaration. The verb should be read with in whom and the Sonship declaration.

Reader Question

What does the voice say about the Son? The voice says, in him I am well pleased.

Translation Effect

Direct: The form directly supports a rendering such as I am well pleased.

Where Caution Is Needed

The verb states approval, but aspect should not be overread apart from the declaration.

Fallacies To Avoid

Aorist verb defines the full timing of divine pleasure: The form states the declaration's content; timing and theological scope must be read from context and canon.

How The Interpretation Is Derived

Textual Witness

The witness reads εὐδόκησα. in Matthew 3:17.

Lexical Identity

The lemma eudokeo means to be well pleased or take delight; here the verb states divine pleasure in the Son.

Grammar In Context

The first-person verb belongs to the heavenly voice and is governed by the in-whom clause.

Passage Meaning

The heavenly voice declares delight in Jesus at his baptism.

Canonical Fit

The form fits Matthew's presentation of Jesus as the obedient beloved Son.

Communication Use

In teaching, connect the verb to the Sonship declaration and baptism scene.

Do Not Derive

Do not use aorist aspect alone to define the timing or extent of divine pleasure.