ἀγαπητός, (agapetos) in Matthew 3:17: Adjective Nominative Singular Masculine
ἀγαπητός, (agapetos) in Matthew 3:17
Textual Witness
The witness reads ἀγαπητός, in Matthew 3:17.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The adjective qualifies the Sonship declaration with beloved language.
How To Communicate It
Use this form to show that the declaration is personal and approving, not merely titular.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Do not detach beloved from Son or from the well-pleased clause.
- 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?
Adjective: the form describes or qualifies another word in the clause.
Nominative: Nominative marks how the form functions in this occurrence.
Singular: the number should be read from this occurrence, not generalized beyond the clause.
Masculine: grammatical gender marks form agreement and does not by itself make a theological claim.
What The Form Does In This Verse
Son
The heavenly declaration over Jesus
It modifies Son and describes Jesus as beloved.
It does not reduce divine love to a grammar label.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The adjective qualifies Jesus' Sonship in the heavenly declaration.
Adjectival modifier of Son. describes the Son as beloved. Attached to Son. Governed by the heavenly declaration over Jesus. The adjective should be read as part of my beloved Son.
What kind of Son does the voice name? The voice names him as the beloved Son.
Direct: The form directly supports the rendering beloved.
The adjective qualifies the declaration, while broader theology of divine love requires broader context.
Beloved adjective alone defines divine love: The occurrence modifies Son in this declaration; wider doctrine must draw from wider Scripture.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The witness reads ἀγαπητός, in Matthew 3:17.
The lemma agapetos means beloved; here it qualifies Son in the heavenly declaration.
The nominative adjective agrees with Son and belongs inside the identity declaration.
The heavenly voice identifies Jesus as the beloved Son.
The form fits Matthew's portrayal of Jesus as the Son who is pleasing to the Father.
In teaching, keep beloved joined to Son and the well-pleased clause.
Do not use the adjective alone to define every aspect of divine love.