Skip to content

Luke 11:18


Footnote:

41

Syntax:

  • ἐκβάλλειν — present active infinitive of ἐκβάλλω (to cast out, expel)

  • με — accusative singular of ἐγώ (me)

  • τὰ δαιμόνια — nominative or accusative plural neuter of τὸ δαιμόνιον (demon, spirit, divinity)

In the phrase ἐκβάλλειν με τὰ δαιμόνια, there would seem to be confusion over subject and object roles:

  • The construction implies: "to cast me out the demons/divinities," which is normally ungrammatical, semantically incoherent.

  • If τὰ δαιμόνια is the subject (i.e., the demons are casting me out), we must use a finite verb (e.g., ἐκβάλλουσι με τὰ δαιμόνια) or restructure accordingly.

  • If the intention is to say "to cast out the demons from me", then με should be in the genitive of separation or governed by a preposition.

Since both are in the accusative, the word δαιμόνια only fits in its neutral sense (divinity/divine power), otherwise we must change words, as every translation seems to have done by replacing the infinitive (to cast out) with a 1st person (I cast out). 

(See Logeion on the word.)