I was reading through Matthew 14 for a project I am working on, and found a fabulous example of “stylistic variation” wherein the writer has drawn out the suspense in wonderful ways. The text comes from the interaction between Herod and the daughter of Herodias, concerning the beheading of John. In Mark’s version of this event, he tells us at the outset that Herod had beheaded John in 6:14, backfilling what had happened in v. 17.
In Matthew’s version, he lets the reader learn about the fate of John as it happens, from a narrative standpoint. There is no mention of beheading before the request is made by Herodias’ daughter. Take a look at how it comes together.
Matthew 14:6-7 (NASB) But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Thereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
The stage is set that she is going to make a request, it is just a matter of what. Based on Herod’s oath, the sky is very nearly the limit to what it may be. Other than the fact that the account of Herod’s birthday is contiguous with the discussion of the Baptist in vv. 1-5. Verse 5 even makes it sound as though the impasse regarding John’ future is where the discussion of him will end (“And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they regarded him as a prophet”).
Regarding Matthew’s style, he nearly always places the verb of speaking introducing a reported speech at the beginning of the speech, not in the middle or end. There are a few exceptions, and 14:8 is one of them. There are predominantly three different ways of adding prominence to something, outlined in my discourse grammar:
§ breaking an established or expected pattern (i.e. markedness),
§ adding redundant information,
§ creating (or magnifying) a discontinuity, delaying whatever it is that follows.
In the case of Matthew 14:8, we have a couple of these factors in play. First, the quotative frame φησίν is inserted in the midst of the quote, rather than at the beginning as is expected. By the time that it occurs, the reader has already read an imperative Δός that would have clued them in that there has been an shift from narrative to reported speech. We are expecting a request based on Herod’s offer. So by the time we actually get to the quotative frame φησίν, it serves more of a disambiguating function rather than really being semantically required to know what is going on.
It is not just the placement of the quotative frame in the midst of the speech that is significant. Look at where it is placed. We are expecting a request, and we get it. However, the item that is requested is delayed until after the quotative frame. What’s more, it is delayed until after the pro-adverb ὧδε and the prepositional phrase ἐπὶ πίνακι. Both of these items are considered adjuncts, meaning they are not needed to complete the thought of the clause. Instead, they offer extra description. Adjuncts typically follow the complements (i.e. direct object, in this case), rather than vice versa.
The effect of phrasing Matthew 14:8 in this way is to use various delay tactics of grammar to draw out the moment, just as one might do during the Oscars having to tear open an envelope, or having a drum roll. Placing the quotative frame somewhere other than the beginning of the speech stands out, as does the use of a historical present. The ordering of the complement and the adjuncts further contributes to the delay. We knew something was going to be requested, and the fact that Herodias puts in her two cents heightens our interest even more. The net result is a skillfully shaped disclosure of information to best accomplish the writer’s purposes. Based on the fact that Mark uses a whole different strategy of disclosure supports the notion that each writer had unique objectives.
I have been reading through the Shepherd of Hermas as night, and there the quotative frames frequently are found in the midst of the speech. Next time you come across a non-initial verb of speaking, take a closer look at where it falls and what effect this placement has on the overall clause. If you have other examples of such usage, post it in a comment for others to read.
