φύλλα (phulla) in Revelation 22:2: Noun Nominative Plural Neuter
φύλλα (phulla) in Revelation 22:2
Textual Witness
The witness reads φύλλα in Revelation 22:2 with the morphology label "Noun Nominative Plural Neuter"; this guide is limited to that exact occurrence in the Textus Receptus witness.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form reinforces a scene of abundant foliage attached to the tree of life, with the leaves described as serving healing.
How To Communicate It
In translation and teaching, the form supports saying 'the leaves of the tree' and keeps attention on their stated function rather than on grammatical labels alone.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Neuter gender is a grammatical class only and should not be turned into a theological gender claim.
- If syntax is uncertain, describe only the conservative relationship that the verse makes clear.
What Does The Label Mean?
Noun: this word names a leaf, a concrete part of the tree, not an action or modifier.
Nominative: this form can mark a subject or a loose nominative phrase, and here it is read within the clause as part of the stated tree description.
Plural: the form refers to more than one leaf, which fits the picture of the tree bearing foliage.
Neuter: the noun belongs to the neuter grammatical class, which is a language feature and does not by itself carry a theological gender claim.
What The Form Does In This Verse
τὰ φύλλα τοῦ ξύλου
The phrase is governed by the sentence describing the tree of life and its purpose, with the leaves named as one feature of the tree.
It functions as the leaf phrase in the description, identifying the foliage that belongs to the tree and is directed toward healing.
It is not the main subject of the verse and does not by itself decide the focus of the whole clause.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The plural noun names the leaves connected to healing in the final vision.
Plural nominative subject-like phrase. names the leaves of the tree as the feature directed toward healing. Attached to τὰ φύλλα τοῦ ξύλου. Governed by the clause describing their purpose. The form identifies the plural feature; Revelation's vision context supplies the symbolic force.
What part of the tree is named for healing? The plural noun names the leaves of the tree.
Direct: The plural noun phrase directly supports rendering the leaves of the tree.
The noun identifies the leaves, but their full symbolic meaning comes from the final-vision context.
Nominative noun explains the whole symbol: The noun names the leaves; Revelation's scene supplies their meaning and function.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The witness reads φύλλα in Revelation 22:2 with the morphology label "Noun Nominative Plural Neuter"; this guide is limited to that exact occurrence in the Textus Receptus witness.
The lemma is φύλλον, a leaf, so the form points to foliage rather than a different lexeme or concept.
The plural form matches the picture of many leaves on the tree, and the article plus genitive phrase ties them to the tree of life.
The verse presents the tree of life as having leaves that serve a healing purpose for the nations.
Within the chapter's life-giving imagery, the leaf image supports the broader vision of restoration and provision.
For readers, the grammar helps show that the text is not speaking of one leaf in isolation but of the tree's leaves as part of its restorative role.
Do not derive a hidden doctrine from neuter gender, and do not make the case form override the plainly local sense created by the phrase and verse.