### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
G5213 (hymîn) is the dative plural form of the second-person personal pronoun ὑμεῖς (hymeis, `{{G5210}}`), meaning "you" (plural). As a dative case, its core meaning revolves around the indirect object, indicating the recipient, beneficiary, or sometimes the instrument or means by which an action is performed. It always refers to a group of people being addressed by the speaker. Its semantic range is broad, encompassing:
1. **Recipient:** The one *to whom* something is given, said, or done (e.g., "Peace be *to you*").
2. **Beneficiary:** The one *for whom* something is done (e.g., "I go to prepare a place *for you*").
3. **Possession:** Less directly, but in certain constructions, it can imply possession or belonging (e.g., "It is given *to you* to know the mysteries," implying the mysteries are "yours" to know).
4. **Means/Instrument:** The agent or means *by whom* or *through whom* something is accomplished (e.g., "through you" or "by you").
5. **Association:** Indicating accompaniment or relationship (e.g., "with you").
The precise nuance of hymîn is highly dependent on the verb it modifies, any accompanying prepositions, and the broader context of the sentence.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
G5213 (hymîn) is one of the most frequently occurring words in the New Testament, appearing thousands of times. Its pervasive presence underscores the communal and relational nature of the New Covenant. It is predominantly found in:
* **Direct Teachings and Commands:** Jesus frequently addresses His disciples corporately, as in the Sermon on the Mount, where many of the blessings and commands are directed *to you* (plural). For instance, "Blessed are *you* when others revile *you* and persecute *you* and utter all kinds of evil against *you* falsely on my account" [[Matthew 5:11]]. Here, hymîn emphasizes the collective experience and destiny of the disciples.
* **Apostolic Letters:** Paul and other New Testament authors consistently address their letters to entire churches or groups of believers. The instructions, exhortations, and theological explanations are delivered *to them* as a body. For example, "Grace *to you* and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" [[Romans 1:7]]. This opening greeting sets the tone for a message intended for the entire community.
* **Promises and Warnings:** Many divine promises and warnings are given to the collective "you." "For the promise is *for you* and for *your* children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself" [[Acts 2:39]]. This highlights the corporate inheritance and responsibility of the covenant people.
* **Narrative Contexts:** When Jesus or the apostles speak to a crowd or a specific group, hymîn is used to specify the audience. "Unless *you* repent, *you* will all likewise perish" [[Luke 13:3]].
The consistent use of hymîn in these contexts reveals that God's plan and interaction are often with a collective body, whether it be the disciples, the early church, or humanity at large. It distinguishes between individual and corporate address, emphasizing shared experience and responsibility within the community of faith.
### Related Words & Concepts
As an inflection of the second-person plural pronoun, G5213 is intrinsically linked to its other case forms:
* ὑμεῖς (hymeis, `{{G5210}}`): The nominative plural "you" (subject of a verb).
* ὑμῶν (hymōn, `{{G5216}}`): The genitive plural "your" or "of you" (indicating possession or origin).
* ὑμᾶς (hymas, `{{G5209}}`): The accusative plural "you" (direct object of a verb or object of a preposition).
These forms collectively define the second-person plural address in the New Testament. G5213 stands in contrast to the singular second-person pronoun σύ (sy, `{{G4771}}`) and its inflections, which address an individual. This distinction is crucial for understanding whether a statement is directed personally or corporately.
The concept of "the Church" (ἐκκλησία, ekklēsia, `{{G1577}}`), "the body of Christ" (σῶμα Χριστοῦ, sōma Christou, `{{G4983}}`), "the saints" (ἅγιοι, hagioi, `{{G40}}`), and "the brethren" (ἀδελφοί, adelphoi, `{{G80}}`) are often the groups referred to by hymîn. These terms underscore the collective identity and shared destiny of believers, which hymîn implicitly conveys.
### Theological Significance
The frequent and varied use of G5213 (hymîn) carries profound theological significance:
1. **Corporate Identity of the Church:** The prevalence of hymîn highlights that God's redemptive work and covenant relationship are not solely with isolated individuals but with a corporate body. Salvation, sanctification, and mission are often presented as realities experienced and enacted by the community of faith. Believers are called into a collective, not just a personal, relationship with God.
2. **Covenantal Relationship:** The consistent address *to you* (plural) signifies a direct, personal, and covenantal relationship between God/Christ and His people. It implies a reciprocal relationship where God initiates and speaks to His chosen ones, and they are called to respond collectively.
3. **Shared Responsibility and Privilege:** Many commands, exhortations, and promises are directed *to* the collective "you," emphasizing shared responsibility in obedience, mutual encouragement, and collective participation in God's purposes. Similarly, the privileges of grace, peace, and the kingdom are often bestowed upon the community as a whole. For instance, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing *them* in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching *them* to obey everything I have commanded *you*." [[Matthew 28:19-20]] The commission is given to the disciples as a group.
4. **Divine Initiative and Grace:** Often, hymîn underscores God's gracious initiative *towards* humanity or His people. Grace is given *to you*, peace is granted *to you*, the kingdom is prepared *for you*. This emphasizes that divine blessings are freely bestowed upon the recipients.
### Summary
G5213 (hymîn) is the dative plural of the second-person pronoun "you," signifying the recipient, beneficiary, or instrument of an action directed towards a group. Its pervasive use throughout the New Testament is highly significant, underscoring the corporate nature of the New Covenant. It highlights the communal identity of believers, the direct and relational address of God to His people, and the shared responsibilities and privileges within the body of Christ. Understanding hymîn is crucial for grasping the collective dimension of Christian faith and the intimate, yet plural, relationship between God and His Church.
TRV