τὸ

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 τὸ

   to

   the
2. sentence🔊 θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν σοὶ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς φοβοῦ οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι

   the-OU gar di-a-ko-NOS es-TIN SOI eis to a-ga-THON e-AN de to ka-KON poi-ÊS pho-BOU ou gar ei-KÊ tên MA-khai-ran pho-REI the-OU gar di-a-ko-NOS es-TIN EK-di-kos eis or-GÊN tôi to ka-KON PRAS-son-ti

   of God for servant is to you into the good if but the evil you do be afraid not for in vain the sword he bears of God for servant is avenger into wrath to the the evil doing

Exegesis

The copular clause estin soi eis to agathon {ἐστιν σοὶ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν | é-stin soí eis tò a-ga-thón} uses the dative soi ‘to you’ and the prepositional phrase eis to agathon ‘for good’ to express purpose.

The conditional protasis ean de to kakon poieis {ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς | e-àn dè tò ka-kón poi-êis} with the subjunctive poi-êis conveys any act of wrongdoing, leading to the imperative phobou {φοβοῦ | pho-boû} ‘be afraid.’

The statement then repeats the agent as theou gar diakonos estin {θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονος ἐστιν | the-oû gàr di-á-ko-nos é-stin}, apposing ekdikos {ἔκδικος | ék-di-kos} ‘avenger’ with eis orgēn {εἰς ὀργὴν | eis or-gḕn} ‘for wrath’ directed towards tōi to kakon prassonti {τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι | tôi tò ka-kón pràs-son-ti}, emphasizing the ruler’s dual role to protect good and punish evil.

Root and etymology

laos🔊 λαόςlambda–alpha–omicron–sigma

“public worker on behalf of the people”

• 🔊 λειτουργίαlei-tour-gí-aservice, ministryHebrews 8:6