ἀληθινοὶ (alethinoi) in John 4:23: Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine

Adjective: the form names a quality or descriptor in the sentence.

Not applicable: this nominal form does not carry verbal tense or aspect.

Not applicable: this nominal form does not use verbal voice.

Not applicable: this nominal form does not use verbal mood.

Not applicable: this nominal form is not marked for verbal person.

Nominative: case helps show how the form relates to the surrounding phrase or clause.

Plural: number marks whether the form is grammatically singular or plural in this occurrence.

Masculine: grammatical gender belongs to the form and should not be turned into a separate theological claim by itself.

The phrase about true worshipers

Jesus' statement about worshipers in John 4:23

ἀληθινοὶ is a Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine within "καὶ νῦν ἐστιν, ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοὶ προσκυνηταὶ προσκυνήσουσι τῷ πατρὶ ἐν". The nominative plural adjective modifies worshipers and distinguishes the kind of worshipers in view.

The adjective does not make worship true merely by intensity or sincerity. Jesus defines the worship by relation to the Father and by spirit and truth.

High: The form matters because it functions as modifier in John 4:23.

Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine. qualifies the worshipers Jesus names. Attached to the phrase about true worshipers. Governed by Jesus' statement about worshipers in John 4:23. The syntax should be explained from the clause, not isolated from the passage.

What kind of worshipers does Jesus name? The adjective marks them as true worshipers.

Direct: The form directly supports true worshipers.

The same morphology label can function differently in another verse. The immediate wording should decide the contextual force. Grammar identifies the form's role; the passage supplies the interpretive weight. Grammatical gender is not a separate theological claim.

Grammar alone proves doctrine: The form supports interpretation only as it serves the verse and its context. form label replaces context: Do not define true worship from the adjective alone. Jesus' following words explain the worship he means. grammatical gender proves theology: Grammatical gender is a language feature and should not be pressed beyond the verse.

The Textus Receptus witness for John 4:23 reads ἀληθινοὶ with the morphology label Adjective Nominative Plural Masculine.

The lemma is ἀληθινός. The guide uses the gloss "true, real, genuine" only to orient this occurrence.

ἀληθινοὶ appears in the phrase "καὶ νῦν ἐστιν, ὅτε οἱ ἀληθινοὶ προσκυνηταὶ προσκυνήσουσι τῷ πατρὶ ἐν". The nominative plural adjective modifies worshipers and distinguishes the kind of worshipers in view.

John 4:23 says the hour is coming and now is when true worshipers will worship the Father.

The form fits John's movement from place-bound dispute toward worship shaped by Jesus' revelation.

When teaching John 4:23, use the adjective to show that Jesus distinguishes genuine worshipers from merely located worship.

The adjective does not make worship true merely by intensity or sincerity. Jesus defines the worship by relation to the Father and by spirit and truth.