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The vocative is the case used for addressing someone or, on occasion,
for uttering exclamations. A substantive in the vocative is used in direct
address to designate the addressee. It technically has no syntactical relation
to the main clause.
Simple Address
This is the use of the vocative without w preceding it. For the
most part, no special significance is to be attached to the use of the
vocative in such instances. (in many instance, however, there will obviously
be great emotion in the utterance. In such cases, the context will be determinative.)
- Matt 9:22 Jesus said, "Take heart, daughter! Your faith has saved you."
- Luke 4:23 No doubt you will quote to me this proverb: " Physician, heal yourself."
Emphatic (Emotional) Address
This is the use of the vocative with w preceding it. Here the
presence of the particle w is used in contexts where deep emotion is to
be found.
- Matt 15:28 Jesus said to her, " O woman, great is your faith!"
- Jas 2:20 Do you want to learn, O empty man, that faith without works is worthless?
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