| 38. Linguistic Exegesis The clause begins with the conditional particle ei {εἰ | eí} ‘if’, followed by the postpositive conjunction de {δέ | dé} ‘but’ to signal contrast. The indefinite pronoun tis {τις | tis} ‘anyone’ broadens the statement universally. The present active indicative of agnoei {ἀγνοεῖ | ag-nō-eî} ‘not to know, not to recognize’ conveys an ongoing failure to grasp the preceding instruction. In the apodosis the present passive indicative of agnoeitai {ἀγνοεῖται | ag-nō-eî-tai} ‘to remain unrecognized’ expresses the fitting consequence. The repetition of the root agnoe- underscores the reciprocal relation between recognizing and being recognized. |