Matthew 1:19, continued

και μη θέλων αυτήν δειγματίσαι

We ended last time with Joseph being unwilling ('μη θέλων') to do something- to do what? Here the use of the infinitive parallels a similar use in English:

μη θέλων . . . . δειγματίσαι
not willing to expose to disgrace

The word 'δειγματίσαι' is the aorist infinitive of the verb 'δειγματίζω', which can be translated as 'make an example of' or 'expose to disgrace.' Various translations read 'put (her) to shame', or 'disgrace (her)'.

Where is the 'her'? The pronoun 'αυτήν' precedes the infinitive; it is feminine singular accusative, and refers to Mary.

και μη θέλων αυτήν δειγματίσαι

So Joseph was not willing to expose Mary to disgrace. What happens next?

εβουλήθη λάθρα απολύσαι αυτήν.
(he) planned secretly to send away/release her.
(he) secretly planned to send her away.

The form 'εβουλήθη' (which I talked about briefly on Monday) comes from the verb 'βούλομαι', a deponent verb. A deponent verb, broadly speaking, is a verb which has an active meaning, but middle or passive forms. In this case, 'εβουλήθη' is an aorist passive form, but it means 'planned', or 'wished', or (as the KJV says) 'was minded to.'

Bringing us to another use of the infinitive: was minded to - do what?

εβουλήθη . . . απολύσαι αυτήν.
was minded . . . to send away her.

The aorist infinitive 'απολύσαι' is from the verb 'απολύω', meaning 'release', 'dismiss', or 'put/send away'.

The word 'λάθρα' is an adverb meaning 'secretly'. This adverb indicates the manner in which Joseph intended to send her away: in secret. Adverbs do not inflect, making them an easy part of Greek.

Next time we will return to case usage. Χαίρετε!