| 33. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the prohibition me planasthe {μὴ πλανᾶσθε | mḗ planâsthe} ‘do not be deceived’, using the present imperative to convey an ongoing command. This is followed by the gnomic present verb phtheirousin {φθείρουσιν | phthéirousin} ‘they corrupt’, which states a general truth. The direct object is the accusative ethe chresta {ἤθη χρηστὰ | ḗthē chrēstà} ‘good character’, where the adjective chresta qualifies the noun ethe. The subject homilai kakai {ὁμιλίαι κακαί | homilíai kakaí} ‘bad associations’ appears after the verb, following common Greek word order that places the action before the agent. The structure thus forms a two-part statement: an imperative clause warning against self-deception, followed by an indicative clause expressing how corrupting influences damage moral life. The English versions preserve this sequence by first presenting the command and then the resulting maxim. |