κἀκεῖνος

and he, she, it, and that

Definition

Κἀκεῖνος is a compound Greek word meaning 'and that one,' 'and he/she/it,' or 'and that.' It functions to connect a subsequent person or thing to a previously mentioned subject, often adding emphasis or contrast. In the New Testament, it frequently serves to link individuals in a narrative, as seen in Matthew 15:18 where Jesus contrasts what comes from the heart with what is spoken. It can also introduce a new actor or object in a sequence, such as in the parable of the workers where the landowner goes out 'and that one' (Matthew 20:4) to hire more laborers. The word consistently carries a deictic (pointing) force, directing attention to a specific, often contrasted, entity.

Biblical Usage

This word appears 23 times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels and Acts. It is used in narrative contexts to link characters or actions sequentially, often within parables or historical accounts. For example, in Mark 12:4-5, it connects the series of servants sent by the vineyard owner: 'and that one they beat... and that one they killed.' It also appears in reports of disbelief, as in Mark 16:11, 13, linking the disciples' reactions to the news of the resurrection. Its usage is almost entirely in third-person narratives, providing a smooth literary transition between subjects.

Etymology

Κἀκεῖνος is a crasis (contraction) of the conjunction καί (kai, meaning 'and') and the demonstrative pronoun ἐκεῖνος (ekeinos, meaning 'that one' or 'he/she/it'). It is formed by elision and contraction, a common feature in Koine Greek for creating fluid speech and writing. The root ἐκεῖνος itself derives from the adverb ἐκεῖ (ekeî, 'there'), giving it a sense of pointing to something distant or previously mentioned. Thus, κἀκεῖνος literally means 'and that one there.'

Semantic Range

While primarily a grammatical connector, κἀκεῖνος can carry theological weight in passages emphasizing human response or divine contrast. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for neglecting 'the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.' The use of κἀκεῖνος ('and those') in some manuscripts to refer to 'the others' (the tithes of mint, dill, and cumin) subtly highlights the contrast between external ritual and internal virtue, underscoring Jesus' call for holistic obedience that prioritizes the heart. Understanding this connective word helps readers see deliberate narrative links and contrasts in biblical passages.

The use of crasis (contraction) like κἀκεῖνος reflects the spoken, fluid nature of Koine Greek, the common language of the Roman Empire. It indicates a level of literary polish in the New Testament texts, as such contractions were standard in formal writing and rhetoric. For modern readers, it highlights that the biblical authors were crafting coherent narratives and arguments, not just listing facts. The demonstrative force of the word aligns with a cultural context where oral storytelling and clear reference to characters were important for audience comprehension.

ἐκεῖνος (ekeinos, G1565) — The base demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that one,' without the conjunctive 'and.' | καί (kai, G2532) — The simple conjunction 'and,' lacking the specific pointing force of κἀκεῖνος. | αὐτός (autos, G846) — A simpler third-person pronoun ('he, she, it, they') or intensive adjective ('self'), but it does not inherently include the conjunctive 'and' or the deictic (pointing) emphasis.

Word Details

Scripture References