Greek Form Guide

πορνείας, (porneias) in Matthew 5:32: Noun Genitive Singular Feminine

πορνείας, (porneias) in Matthew 5:32

Textual Witness

πορνείας, porneias Noun Genitive Singular Feminine

The witness reads πορνείας in Matthew 5:32 within the phrase παρεκτὸς λόγου πορνείας.

How The Form Affects Interpretation

The form keeps the exception phrase grammatically tied to a specific matter, helping readers avoid treating the word as a detached proof-text.

How To Communicate It

Use the form to show that Jesus names a serious category of covenant breach, while keeping interpretation governed by the whole saying and its pastoral context.

What Not To Say

  • Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
  • Genitive case marks relationship here, but the surrounding phrase decides the specific relation.
  • Grammatical gender is a form class only and must not be turned into a claim about men, women, or culpability.

What Does The Label Mean?

Part of Speech

Noun: the word names the concept of sexual immorality rather than describing an action in this form.

Case

Genitive: the form marks a dependent relationship, here helping specify the matter described in the exception phrase.

Number

Singular: the form presents the matter as one stated category in the saying rather than as a list of separate acts.

Gender

Feminine: the noun belongs to the feminine grammatical class, which is a language feature and not a claim about women or men.

What The Form Does In This Verse

Attached To

λόγου

Governed By

The form depends on the exception phrase παρεκτὸς λόγου and qualifies the kind of matter in view.

Role In The Phrase

It specifies the content or category of the exception, so the phrase points to a matter of sexual immorality within Jesus' statement.

What It Is Not Doing

It does not by itself settle every pastoral question about divorce, nor does the genitive alone define the full scope of the exception.

How Much The Form Matters Here

Interpretive Weight

High: The genitive names the matter in the exception phrase within Jesus' marriage and divorce teaching.

Syntax Profile

Genitive noun qualifying the matter in view. specifies the kind of matter named by the exception phrase. Attached to the exception phrase around a matter of sexual immorality. Governed by the noun logou in the exception construction. The form is pastorally significant, but the full teaching must be read from Jesus' whole sentence and context.

Reader Question

What kind of matter does the exception phrase name? The genitive identifies a matter of sexual immorality within the exception phrase.

Translation Effect

Direct: The form directly supports wording such as except for a matter of sexual immorality.

Where Caution Is Needed

The genitive names the matter, but it does not settle every pastoral question about divorce and remarriage. The lexical and pastoral scope of the term must be handled from the passage, not from the case ending alone.

Fallacies To Avoid

Genitive case becomes a complete divorce policy: The form identifies the exception matter; the broader teaching and pastoral application require the full context.

How The Interpretation Is Derived

Textual Witness

The witness reads πορνείας in Matthew 5:32 within the phrase παρεκτὸς λόγου πορνείας.

Lexical Identity

The lemma πορνεία names sexual immorality broadly, but the immediate saying supplies the pastoral and covenantal frame.

Grammar In Context

The genitive form attaches to λόγου, so the phrase is not a free-standing slogan but a dependent qualification in the sentence.

Passage Meaning

In this verse the form supports reading the exception as a serious matter named inside Jesus' marriage and divorce teaching.

Canonical Fit

The use fits the wider biblical concern for sexual faithfulness and covenant integrity, while still needing the whole passage to govern application.

Communication Use

For teaching, explain that the grammar names the matter of the exception, but the ethical weight comes from Jesus' whole sentence.

Do Not Derive

Do not use the genitive case alone to build a full pastoral policy, and do not make grammatical gender carry any gendered theological claim.