Matthew 20:26:16Matt.20.26.W16TAB

διάκονος,

diakonos

servant

Transliteration
di-A-ko-nos
Extended
di-AH-koh-nohs
IPA
/diˈa.ko.nos/

Meaning by language

English
servant

Greek · tap a syllable to hear it

Result
δι + ά + κο + νος,
di + a + ko + nos
diakonos

Alphabet Analysis

Deltath — as in this
Iotai — as in machine
Alphaah — as in father
Kappak — as in kite
Omicrono — as in omit (short)
Nun — as in new
Omicrono — as in omit (short)
Sigma (final)s — used only at end of words

Tap any key to hear its pronunciation

Diphthongs
Accents & breathings
,

Now you try — trace the word:

The word

Word in context

  1. word

    di-A-ko-nos

  2. clause

    al HOS AN THE-lê en hy-MIN ME-gas ye-NES-thai ES-tai hy-MÔN di-A-ko-nos

  3. sentence

    ookh HOO-tôs ES-tai en hy-MIN al HOS AN THE-lê en hy-MIN ME-gas ye-NES-thai ES-tai hy-MÔN di-A-ko-nos

Exegesis

The relative clause hos an thele en hymin megas genesthai {ὃς ἂν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν μέγας γενέσθαι | hos an thélē en hymîn mégas genésthai} is generic: hos with the modal particle an plus the subjunctive thele expresses an open-ended condition, ‘whoever might desire.’ The infinitive genesthai depends on thele, forming the content of the desire, ‘to become great.’ The positioning of megas before genesthai highlights the quality sought (greatness) before the process of becoming.

The concluding main clause estai hymon diakonos {ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος | éstai hymôn diákonos} uses a future copula with a predicate nominative to state the required role, ‘will be your servant.’ The genitive hymon marks those to whom the service is rendered, stressing relational orientation. The repetition of en hymin / hymon encloses the saying with communal focus, indicating that the redefined greatness operates inside the disciple community. In translation, the future forms are preserved to keep the sense of authoritative decree, the generic relative clause is rendered with “whoever” / “anyone,” and the term diakonos is kept as “servant” to preserve its theological resonance of service as true greatness.

Root and etymology

diakoneodelta–iota–alpha–kappa–omicron–nu–epsilon–omega

to serve, wait on, minister

In contextMatthew 20:26

It will not be this way among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, he shall be your servant .

About this coordinate

Matthew 20:26:16 is a BCV:P reference — Book · Chapter · Verse · Word Position. It addresses word 16 of Matthew 20:26, so the Greek word διάκονος, (diakonos) can be cited, linked and studied at exactly this position rather than somewhere in the verse. In the Biblical Knowledge Coordinate System the same position is written Matt.20.26.W16, which extends further down to each syllable (Matt.20.26.W16.S1) and character.