Matthew 1:21

We're back to Matthew, chapter 1. Verse 21 reads:

τέξεται δε υιόν και καλέσεις το όνομα αυτού Ιησούν,
αυτός γαρ σώσει τον λαόν αυτού από των αμαρτιών αυτών

First of all, note that there are two postpositive words: δε ('and, but') and γαρ ('for'). So in the English translation those words will come first in their phrase.

And/but she will bring forth a son and you will call the name of him Jesus
for he will save the people of him from the sins of them.

Clearly not idiomatic English. Phrases showing possession, such as:

το όνομα αυτού . . . . . . the name of him
τον λαόν αυτού . . . . . . . the people of him
των αμαρτιών αυτών . . . . . . . the sins of them

are characteristic and idiomatic in Greek, but in English we change the word order:

his name, his people, their sins.

Note that one result of this change is the loss of definite article, which is not translated; e.g., we don't say 'his the name', we say 'his name.'

The word 'τέξεται' is the future third person singular of the verb 'τίκτω', which means, more or less, 'to bring forth'. In theory, the subject of this verb (which is not separately expressed) could be male or female; in the context, it is translated 'she', as referring to Mary.

But note that there is no separate word for 'she' in the Greek.

More on this verse next time. Χαίρετε!