μή; num?

τοὺς υἱοὺς τοῦ νυμφῶνος. This is a Hebraism for the friends of the bridegroom—the paranymphs—who accompanied him to meet the bride and her maidens; Judges 14:11. The question would be specially forcible to John’s disciples who had heard him speak of “the joy of the friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29).

νυμφῶνος. Compare the words παρθενών, γυναικών.

ὁ νυμφίος. The term implies a fully-developed Messianic consciousness in the speaker (Hosea 2:19).

νηστεῦσαι. St Matthew (Matthew 9:15) uses the word ‘mourn’ which makes the antithesis more striking (John 16:20).

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament