Brief Overview of ῥηθείς (Strong’s G4483: rhētheis)

Strong’s G4483: A passive participle derived from εἴρω/ἐρῶ meaning “having been spoken” or “that which was said.” Frequently used in the New Testament to introduce fulfilled prophecies and divine declarations, emphasizing the authoritative nature and completion of God’s spoken word.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ῥηθείς carries significant theological weight in the New Testament, particularly in Matthew’s Gospel, where it frequently introduces fulfilled prophecies. As a passive participle, it emphasizes that God is the ultimate speaker, with humans being the recipients of His revealed word. Early church fathers often highlighted this word’s usage to demonstrate the reliability of divine prophecy and its fulfillment in Christ. Today, it continues to underscore the authority and certainty of God’s spoken word, reminding us that His promises are sure and His prophecies trustworthy.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ῥηθείς, rhētheis, /ray-thice/
• Detailed pronunciation: ray-THACE (with emphasis on second syllable)
• Part of Speech: Verb (Aorist Passive Participle)

Etymology:

• Root: εἴρω/ἐρῶ (to say, speak)
• Stem: ῥη- (aorist passive stem)
• Suffix: -θείς (aorist passive participle marker)

D – Defining Meanings

• That which has been spoken
• Having been said
• The spoken word (particularly of divine utterances)

For compound words:
This is not a compound word but a morphological form of εἴρω/ἐρῶ.

Translation Options:

• “having been spoken” – emphasizing completed action
• “that was said” – highlighting past reference
• “which was spoken” – focusing on the specific utterance

E – Exploring Similar Words

• λεχθείς (lechtheis) /lekh-thice/ – similar passive participle from λέγω
  See G3004
• λαληθείς (lalētheis) /lal-ay-thice/ – passive participle from λαλέω
  See G2980

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as an aorist passive participle:

• Tense: Aorist (completed action)
• Voice: Passive (receiving the action)
• Participle Form: Verbal adjective
• Case, Number, Gender agreement with modified noun

Examples:

• Nominative singular masculine: ῥηθείς
• Genitive singular masculine: ῥηθέντος
• Dative singular masculine: ῥηθέντι
• Accusative singular masculine: ῥηθέντα

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its use in formula quotations, particularly in Matthew. Thayer’s notes its frequent occurrence in prophetic fulfillment passages. LSJ provides examples from classical usage. Vine’s highlights its significance in divine pronouncements. Strong’s connects it to the concept of authoritative declaration. Moulton and Milligan note its formal usage in legal and official documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“All this took place to fulfill what had [ῥηθείς] been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:” Matthew 1:22

Additional References:
Matthew 2:15
Matthew 2:17
Matthew 2:23
Matthew 3:3
Matthew 4:14
Matthew 8:17
Matthew 12:17
Matthew 13:35
Matthew 21:4

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ῥηθείς powerfully demonstrates God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises through Jesus Christ. It proclaims the good news that God’s word is reliable and His promises are sure. This word appears consistently in contexts where prophecies find their fulfillment in Christ, showing that Jesus is the ultimate confirmation of God’s spoken word, the Yes and Amen to all God’s promises.

D – Did You Know?

1. This word appears most frequently in Matthew’s Gospel, supporting his emphasis on prophecy fulfillment.
2. Ancient Greek legal documents used this term to indicate authoritative pronouncements.
3. Early Christian writers used this word to emphasize the divine authority behind Scripture.

Strong’s G4483: A passive participle derived from εἴρω/ἐρῶ meaning “having been spoken” or “that which was said.” Frequently used in the New Testament to introduce fulfilled prophecies and divine declarations, emphasizing the authoritative nature and completion of God’s spoken word.

Part of speech: Verb (Aorist Passive Participle)