| 24. Linguistic Exegesis The sentence opens with the coordinating conjunction kai {καί | kaí} linking this statement to the preceding narrative. The nominative phrase hoi men {οἱ μὲν | hoi mén} functions substantivally, meaning “some,” with the particle men anticipating a contrast completed by de. The verb epeithonto {ἐπείθοντο | e-PEI-thon-to} is an imperfect middle/passive indicative, portraying an ongoing process of being persuaded rather than a completed decision. The dative phrase tois legomenois {τοῖς λεγομένοις | toîs le-go-ME-nois} is an article plus a participle used substantivally, “the things being said,” and functions as a dative of means or instrument, indicating that the persuasion came through the spoken message.
The second clause introduces the contrasting group with hoi de {οἱ δὲ | hoi dé}, “but others,” again a substantival article plus particle pair, now set off by the comma after legomenois, which marks the break between the two contrasted responses. The verb epistoun {ἠπίστουν | e-PI-stoun} is imperfect active, conveying continuous or repeated disbelief rather than a momentary doubt. Syntactically, the men…de construction balances the two groups and highlights the division in response to the same message, while the parallel imperfect verbs underscore ongoing, characteristic reactions. In translation, the substantival articles are rendered as “some” and “others,” and the imperfect aspect is brought out with “were being persuaded / were disbelieving” in the more literal rendering, and with “were convinced / refused to believe” in the dynamic rendering to express the sustained nature of their responses. |