| 39. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the negated universal expression οὐ πᾶσα σὰρξ {οὐ πᾶσα σὰρξ | ou pâ-sa sàrx} “not every kind of flesh,” immediately followed by the intensive adjective ἡ αὐτὴ σάρξ {ἡ αὐτὴ σάρξ | hē aut-hē sárx} “the same flesh,” introducing a contrast. The adversative conjunction ἀλλὰ {ἀλλὰ | allà} “but” launches a categorical series, each item marked by ἄλλη {ἄλλη | állē} “another” with the particles μὲν/δὲ {μὲν/δὲ | mèn/dè} balancing the list. The first category, ἄλλη μὲν ἀνθρώπων {ἄλλη μὲν ἀνθρώπων | állē mèn anth-rṓ-pōn}, specifies “another for humans,” with the implied σὰρξ. Subsequent ellipses are resolved in ἄλλη δὲ σὰρξ κτηνῶν {ἄλλη δὲ σὰρξ κτηνῶν | állē dè sárx ktē-nṓn}, “another flesh for beasts,” ἄλλη δὲ σὰρξ πτηνῶν {ἄλλη δὲ σὰρξ πτηνῶν | állē dè sárx ptē-nṓn}, “another flesh for birds,” and ἄλλη δὲ ἰχθύων {ἄλλη δὲ ἰχθύων | állē dè ikh-thú-ōn}, “another for fish.” The genitive plurals articulate distinct subgroups within creation. Translators render the genitives with possessive or belonging phrases to preserve the parallel structure. |