Ἰησοῦν· (Iesoun) in Matthew 1:21: Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
Ἰησοῦν· (Iesoun) in Matthew 1:21
Textual Witness
The witness reads Ἰησοῦν in Matthew 1:21 within the phrase τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form reinforces that Jesus is the given name of the child in the announcement, but the verse's meaning rests on the full clause about saving from sins.
How To Communicate It
This form can be explained simply as the named person in the naming statement, which helps readers follow the announcement without overreading the case ending.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Accusative singular masculine here marks the name's sentence role, not a separate doctrinal point.
- Do not turn grammatical gender into a theological gender claim.
What Does The Label Mean?
Noun: the form names a person and functions as a referential term in the sentence.
Accusative: the form commonly marks the direct object, or another object-like role, in the clause.
Singular: the form refers to one named individual in this occurrence.
Masculine: the noun is grammatically masculine here, which identifies its form class and does not by itself make a theological claim about gender.
What The Form Does In This Verse
καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν
The form is coordinated with the naming phrase and stands as the named identifier given to the child. The verb of naming frames it as the name to be assigned, not as the subject of the clause.
It functions as the accusative name-form that completes the naming action and identifies the child as Jesus.
It is not the subject of the sentence, and the case alone does not say anything more than the name's clause role.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The accusative form completes the naming command in the birth announcement where the reason for Jesus' name is stated.
Accusative name-form in a naming construction. identifies the name to be given to the child in the announcement. Attached to καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν. Governed by the naming verb καλέσεις and the name phrase. The form supports the naming construction; the following clause states the saving mission.
What name is the child to receive? The accusative name-form identifies Jesus as the name assigned in the command.
Direct: The accusative directly supports rendering the naming clause as 'you shall call his name Jesus'.
The case supports the naming construction but does not itself explain the name's saving significance. The reason for the name comes from 'he shall save his people from their sins'. The masculine form is grammatical and should not be made into a separate theological claim.
Case alone proves the full interpretation: The accusative supplies the name in the construction; Matthew 1:21 supplies the mission statement. grammatical gender carries a theological claim: The gender label describes Greek form class or agreement and should not be made into a separate doctrinal claim.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The witness reads Ἰησοῦν in Matthew 1:21 within the phrase τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν.
The lemma is Ἰησοῦς, the proper name rendered Jesus, and the form here is one inflected occurrence of that same lexical item.
The accusative form works with the naming verb to present the assigned name in the sentence. It supports the identification of the promised child, but the saving claim comes from the clause that follows.
In context, the verse says the child is to be named Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.
This form fits the broader canonical use of the name Jesus as the personal designation of the Lord, while this verse gives the local reason for that name.
For readers and teachers, the grammar highlights the naming action and keeps attention on the promised identity and mission of the child.
Do not derive extra theological content from accusative case, singular number, or masculine gender beyond the sentence role actually needed here.