Future tense: predictive (will) or command (shall)

[tonychanyt]

Berean Literal Bible, Matthew 20:

18 "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death."

will be betrayed
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular

They will condemn
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural

The context determined the above future tenses, which pointed to future happenings. Further, there was a grammatical clue: third-person futures are often predictive.

On the other hand, Mt 22:

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Love
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular

The context indicated that the above was a command. Also, commands were often written in 2nd person.

Another example in Matthew 5:

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Be
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural

A prohibition in Matthew 6:

5a “When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites."

οὐκ was a negative participle.

do not be
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural

Using οὐκ with the future tense is a strong way of expressing a negative command.

How can you tell if the future tense in Biblical Greek is making a command versus making a prediction?

1. Analyze the context.
2. 3rd person futures often were predictions.
3. 2nd person futures often were commands.
4. 2nd person futures with a negative participle often were prohibitions.

 

[David Lamb]

Berean Literal Bible, Matthew 20:


will be betrayed
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular

They will condemn
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural

The context determined the above future tenses, which pointed to future happenings. Further, there was a grammatical clue: third-person futures are often predictive.

On the other hand, Mt 22:


Love
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular

The context indicated that the above was a command. Also, commands were often written in 2nd person.

Another example in Matthew 5:


Be
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural

A prohibition in Matthew 6:


οὐκ was a negative participle.

do not be
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural

Using οὐκ with the future tense is a strong way of expressing a negative command.

How can you tell if the future tense in Biblical Greek is making a command versus making a prediction?

1. Analyze the context.
2. 3rd person futures often were predictions.
3. 2nd person futures often were commands.
4. 2nd person futures with a negative participle often were prohibitions.

We need to be careful with the English, too, when considering "shall" and "will". It's less common now, but not that many years ago in the UK, "shall" was used (especially with first person singular and plural) for the straightforward future tense. If using the AV/KJV, we find verses such as:

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1Jo 3:2 AV)