| 38. Linguistic Exegesis The clause begins with ho de theos {ὁ δὲ θεὸς | ho dè the-òs} as the marked subject, with the postpositive de {δὲ | dè} linking this statement to the preceding discourse on sowing seed and highlighting divine initiative. The main verb didōsin {δίδωσιν | dí-dō-sin} in the present active indicative expresses an ongoing divine action rather than a one-time event. The dative autōi {αὐτῷ | au-tôi} serves as the indirect object, referring back to the planted seed. Placement of the accusative sōma {σῶμα | sô-ma} immediately after the verb emphasizes the gift of a body. The connective kathōs {καθὼς | kath-ṓs} with the aorist ēthélēsen {ἠθέλησεν | ē-thé-lē-sen} introduces the standard of God’s sovereign determination. The coordinated distributive phrase kai hekástōi tôn spermatōn idíon sōma {καὶ ἑκάστῳ τῶν σπερμάτων ἴδιον σῶμα | kaí he-kás-tōi tôn sper-má-tōn í-di-on sô-ma} assigns “its own body” to each seed, with idíon {ἴδιον | í-di-on} preceding sōma to underscore individual distinction. Both clauses are rendered to preserve the balance between divine sovereignty and the resulting variety of bodily forms. |