καινὴν (kainen) in John 13:34: Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine

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.

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

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

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

Jesus' statement about a new commandment

The commandment phrase in John 13:34

καινὴν is a Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine within "ἐντολὴν καινὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους·". The accusative singular adjective modifies commandment and marks the command as new.

The adjective does not make the command disconnected from earlier Scripture. Jesus defines its shape by his own love.

High: The form matters because it functions as modifier in John 13:34.

Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine. qualifies the commandment Jesus gives. Attached to Jesus' statement about a new commandment. Governed by the commandment phrase in John 13:34. The syntax should be explained from the clause, not isolated from the passage.

How does Jesus describe the commandment he gives? The adjective marks it as new.

Direct: The form directly supports a new commandment.

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 use new to erase continuity with Scripture. The verse defines the command by Jesus' love. grammatical gender proves theology: Grammatical gender is a language feature and should not be pressed beyond the verse.

The Textus Receptus witness for John 13:34 reads καινὴν with the morphology label Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine.

The lemma is καινός. The guide uses the gloss "fresh, new" only to orient this occurrence.

καινὴν appears in the phrase "ἐντολὴν καινὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους·". The accusative singular adjective modifies commandment and marks the command as new.

John 13:34 gives the disciples a new commandment to love one another as Jesus has loved them.

The form fits John's presentation of Jesus' love as the pattern for the community.

When teaching John 13:34, use the adjective to show the command's fresh shape in Jesus' own love.

The adjective does not make the command disconnected from earlier Scripture. Jesus defines its shape by his own love.