τοῦ

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 τοῦ

   TOU

   the
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ⸃,

   HI-na MÊ MEI-nêi e-PI TOU stau-ROU TA SÔ-ma-ta en TÔI sab-BA-TÔI

   so that the bodies not {they} might remain on the cross in the Sabbath
3. sentence🔊 Οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ⸂ἐπεὶ παρασκευὴ ἦν, ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ⸃, ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου, ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πιλᾶτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη καὶ ἀρθῶσιν.

   HOI OUN i-ou-DAI-oi e-PEI pa-ra-skeu-Ê ÊN HI-na MÊ MEI-nêi e-PI TOU stau-ROU TA SÔ-ma-ta en TÔI sab-BA-TÔI ÊN GAR me-GA-LÊ hê hê-ME-ra e-KEI-nou TOU sab-BA-TOU Ê-RÔ-tê-san TON pi-LA-ton HI-na ka-te-a-GÔ-sin au-TÔN TA SKE-LÊ KAI ar-THÔ-sin

   therefore the Jews since Preparation {it} was so that the bodies not {they} might remain on the cross in the Sabbath for the day of that {∅} Sabbath {it} was high {they} asked {the} Pilate so that their {∅} legs {they} might be broken and be taken away

Exegesis

A purpose clause follows, introduced by hina {ἵνα | hína} with negative mē {μὴ | mē} and the aorist subjunctive meinē {μείνῃ | meínē}, hina mē meinē epi tou staurou ta sōmata {ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα | hína mē meínē epí tou stauroû tá sṓmata}, expressing the intent that the bodies not remain on the cross.

The prepositional phrase en tō sabbatō {ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ | en tō sabbátō} adds temporal limitation, further explained by a parenthetical clause introduced with gar {γὰρ | gar}: ēn gar megalē hē hēmera ekeinou tou sabbatou {ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου | ēn gar megálē hē hēméra ekeínou tou sabbátou}, which clarifies that this particular Sabbath was a “great” or festival day, likely in connection with Passover.

Root and etymology

osteon🔊 ὀστέονomicron–sigma–tau–epsilon–omicron–nu

“bone”

• 🔊 ὀστέαo-sté-abonesEzekiel 37:4 LXX
• 🔊 ὀστοῦνo-stoûnboneHebrews 11:22 LXX context