Questions – Special Uses

ObjectivesLearning objectives

The syntax and semantics of questions that do not reflect a request for information

VocabularyVocabulary

Greek	Gloss	Part of speech	Paradigm
ἡ πρόθεσις, -εως	the purpose	noun	B.a.γ.v
ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης, -ου	the manager of a house	noun	B.a.α.iv
διατάσσω σοι ποιεῖν	(I) order you (dat) to do	verb	C.a.ζ
παρέχω σοί τι	(I) cause you (dat) something (acc)	verb	C.a.α
ἕστηκα	(I) stand	verb	C.a.ε
ἀνοίγω θύραν	(I) make possible	phrase

SyntaxSyntax-semantics: Questions – Special uses

We described questions as indicating that the speaker does not have some information and wants to obtain that information from the addressee. However, questions are also sometimes asked when the speaker expects a certain answer or knows an answer and does not expect a response at all. Rhetorical questions are the prototypical example of this, though other questions also do not expect a response.

NoteLeading yes-no questions

First, some yes-no questions are leading, i.e. the speaker expects the addressee to give a certain answer. Leading yes-no questions are asked with the negative words οὐχί and μή in initial position. The use of initial οὐ or οὐχί signals to the addressee that a positive answer is expected:

Example 463οὐ/οὐχί expects positive answer

οὐχὶ υἱός ἐστιν Ἰωσὴφ οὗτος; (Luke 4:22)

Is this not Joseph’s son?

This is asked by people in Nazareth, and since Jesus grew up there, they knew the answer – even though Jesus is now doing something they didn’t expect, he is indeed Joseph’s son. With μή or μήτι, a negative answer is expected:

Example 464μή expects negative answer

μὴ λίθον ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ; (Matt 7:9)

Will he really give a stone to him?

Jesus asks this question about a father who would give a stone instead of the fish requested by his son, but the form of his question expects a negative answer. The same question could, in theory, expect a negative or positive answer depending on the context and the speaker, but the presence of μή indicates that Jesus does not think a father would give a stone rather than a fish.

NoteExclamatives

An exclamative uses the form of a question, but it usually indicates that something holds to a surprising degree, as Jesus says in

Example 465Exclamative

πῶς δύσκολόν ἐστιν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν; (Mark 10:24)

How difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God?

Jesus is referring to how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom, but even though πῶς is used, he is not asking his disciples to tell him how difficult it is. While the form of this clause is a question, information is not being sought – it is not functioning like an ordinary question. Rather, Jesus is saying that it is very difficult, even surprisingly difficult, for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

NoteRhetorical questions

Rhetorical questions are similar to exclamatives in that they do not expect an answer. The key characteristic is that the speaker already has an answer and is making a point rather than seeking information from the addressee:

Example 466Rhetorical question

τίς δύναται ἁμαρτίας ἀφεῖναι εἰ μὴ μόνος ὁ θεός; (Luke 5:21)

Who is able to forgive sins besides God alone?

The scribes and Pharisees are not asking who outside of God is able to forgive sins. They are asking a question that they already have an answer to – no one can forgive sins besides God.

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