ιδού άγγελος κυρίου
κατ' όναρ εφάνη αυτῴ
λέγων,
Ιωσήφ υιός Δαυίδ,
μη φοβηθῄς παραλαβείν Μαρίαμ την γυναίκα σου,
το γαρ εν αυτῄ
γεννηθέν εκ πνεύματός εστιν αγίου
Last time we looked at the first three lines; Joseph had resolved to send Mary away, but after that an angel had appeared to him in a dream.
The next word is grammatically important - λέγων
This word is a present participle of the verb λέγω (I say). In the participle form, here, it can be translated 'saying'. It is the masculine nominative singular form of the present participle, meaning that it modifies the word 'άγγελος', the angel. In other words, the angel is saying something (to Joseph) (in a dream).
The angel first addresses Joseph: Ιωσήφ υιός Δαυίδ ("Joseph, son of David")
and then tells him to do something; or in this case, not to do something:
μη φοβηθῄς
do not be afraid
The word 'μη' is the negating part of this phrase; the part we translate as 'not.' The second word, 'φοβηθῄς', is a subjunctive form of the aorist tense of the verb 'φοβέω', meaning 'to fear'. The subjunctive here stands in for an imperative form, in other words, a command to not be afraid. But there is an addition or a complement to the meaning of this verb in this instance:
μη φοβηθῄς
do not be afraid
παραλαβείν Μαρίαμ την γυναίκα σου,
to take Mary the wife of you
(to take Mary as your wife)
The word 'παραλαβείν' is an infinitive, and is used here much as we would use the infinitive in English.
Why should Joseph not be afraid to take Mary as his wife? The rest of the verse explains:
το γαρ εν αυτῄ
that for in her
The word 'γαρ' is another postpositive, like 'δε'; even though it comes second in the Greek phrase, in the English translation is should come first: for that in her
γεννηθέν εκ πνεύματός εστιν αγίου was conceived out of a spirit is holy (was conceived of the holy spirit)
Note that this is traditionally translated 'out of the holy spirit', although there is no word for 'the' in the Greek.
Χαίρετε!
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