σύ; (su) in John 1:21: P-2NS
σύ; (su) in John 1:21
Textual Witness
The witness reads σύ in John 1:21 within the question, 'Ἠλίας εἶ σύ;'.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form sharpens the address and makes the question personal, but the surrounding verbs and replies carry the main interpretive weight.
How To Communicate It
Readers can hear the verse as a direct challenge: 'Are you Elijah? Are you the prophet?'.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Nominative case here does not by itself prove special emphasis in every translation.
- Do not turn grammatical gender or person into a theological claim beyond the verse.
What Does The Label Mean?
Pronoun: the word points to a participant already in view, here the one being questioned.
Nominative: the form commonly marks the subject or a related emphasis in a clause, and here it stands with the verb of being in a direct question.
Singular: the form is grammatically singular in this occurrence and addresses one person.
Common in function: this pronoun can appear with masculine or feminine reference, and the form itself does not make a gendered theological claim.
What The Form Does In This Verse
εἶ
The pronoun is linked to the second person singular verb and helps form the question, 'Are you Elijah?'.
It identifies the person addressed and gives the question direct force toward John.
It does not name a new subject, and it does not by itself decide identity beyond the conversational address.
How Much The Form Matters Here
Moderate: The pronoun sharpens the direct identity question pressed on John.
Second-person singular nominative pronoun. identifies John as the one being asked about his identity. Attached to the question asking whether John is Elijah. Governed by the direct question in the delegation's exchange with John. The pronoun marks direct address and can carry local emphasis, while the surrounding question supplies the identity issue.
Who is being pressed for an answer? John is the person directly addressed by the question.
Direct: The form directly supports English "you" in the question.
Nominative pronoun placement can sound pointed here, but the verse's dialogue determines the force.
Pronoun emphasis overclaim: Do not make the pronoun itself decide John's identity; his answer and the larger scene carry that claim.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The witness reads σύ in John 1:21 within the question, 'Ἠλίας εἶ σύ;'.
The lemma is σύ, a second person pronoun meaning 'you'.
The nominative form fits a direct, pointed question and supports the personal focus of the exchange without requiring extra emphasis beyond the context.
The speakers are pressing John for a clear self-identification, asking whether he is Elijah or the prophet.
The form fits the repeated pattern of direct questioning and denial in the verse, where personal reference is central to the dialogue.
In translation or teaching, the form can be rendered plainly as 'you' while preserving the directness of the question.
Do not derive a separate theological claim from the pronoun's case or assume more than the verse states about identity or status.