αὐτοῦ (autou) in Matthew 1:20: Genitive Singular Masculine
αὐτοῦ (autou) in Matthew 1:20
Textual Witness
The witness reads αὐτοῦ in Matthew 1:20, within the phrase ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος, showing a genitive singular pronoun in the deliberation scene.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form supports reading the sentence as Joseph's own reflection being interrupted by the angel, while leaving the main meaning to the full clause and narrative setting.
How To Communicate It
This grammar helps a reader or translator keep the reference clear: the angel appears to Joseph after, or as, he is considering these things.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Do not turn grammatical gender into a theological gender claim.
- If the syntax is constrained by context, state only the conservative relation that the form clearly supports.
What Does The Label Mean?
Pronoun: the form refers to a person or thing already in view, and it can also add emphasis or relation in context.
Genitive: the form usually expresses possession, source, reference, or another dependent relationship rather than direct subject role.
Singular: the form is grammatically singular in this occurrence, so it points to one referent in the clause context.
Masculine: the form is marked masculine in grammar, but that feature only follows the referent's grammatical agreement and does not itself make a theological claim.
What The Form Does In This Verse
ἐνθυμηθέντος
The genitive form fits the participial setting and likely belongs to the clause that describes Joseph's inward reflection, without by itself changing the main action.
It identifies the person whose thinking is in view, so the reader understands that the dream scene follows while Joseph is considering these things.
It is not the subject of the main verb about the angel appearing, and it does not itself state a new action or introduce a different person.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The genitive pronoun marks Joseph as the one considering these things before the angelic message interrupts him.
Genitive pronoun linked to a circumstantial participial phrase. identifies Joseph as the one doing the considering. Attached to the while he considered these things phrase. Governed by the sentence setting up the angel's appearance. The form supports timing and participant reference; the angel's message carries the main revelation.
Who was considering these things? Joseph was considering them when the angel appeared.
Supporting: The form supports renderings such as while he considered these things.
The genitive participates in a circumstantial construction and should not be over-isolated. Masculine grammar follows Joseph as the referent and adds no theological gender claim.
Genitive construction creates hidden doctrine: The form identifies Joseph in the circumstance; the message and narrative carry the meaning.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The witness reads αὐτοῦ in Matthew 1:20, within the phrase ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος, showing a genitive singular pronoun in the deliberation scene.
The lemma αὐτός can serve as a pronoun of reference or emphasis, and here the surface form points back to Joseph already named in the verse context.
Because the pronoun is genitive and linked to the participial phrase, it most naturally marks the person whose thoughts are being described, not the agent of the angel's appearance.
The verse presents the angelic message as coming while Joseph was thinking over these matters, so the scene shifts from inner reflection to divine interruption.
This use of the pronoun fits the Gospel's narrative flow, where attention stays on Joseph as the addressed and instructed human participant.
In translation and teaching, the form helps readers keep Joseph in view and hear the timing of the revelation against his reflection.
Do not infer a separate theological meaning from masculine gender, and do not treat the genitive form as if it alone determines all syntax or emphasis.