| 17. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the imperative peithesthe {Πείθεσθε | Peíthesthe} ‘be persuaded, obey’, which demands heartfelt compliance rather than mere outward conformity. This is followed by the dative phrase tois hēgoumenois hymōn {τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν | toîs hēgouménois hymôn} ‘to your leaders’, where the participle hēgoumenois designates appointed overseers. The second imperative hypeikete {ὑπείκετε | hypeíkete} ‘yield to them’ underscores practical submission. The causal clause autoi gar agrypnousin hyper tōn psychōn hymōn {αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀγρυπνοῦσιν ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν | autoí gár agrypnoûsin hypèr tôn psychôn hymôn} uses the intensive pronoun autoi to stress personal vigilance; agrypnousin with hyper plus the genitive psychōn portrays relentless watchfulness over the believers’ welfare. The comparative participial phrase hōs logon apodosontes {ὡς λόγον ἀποδώσοντες | hōs lógon apodṓsontes} describes those ‘about to render an account’, implying forthcoming testimony. The purpose clause hina meta charas touto poiōsin kai mē stenazontes {ἵνα μετὰ χαρᾶς τοῦτο ποιῶσιν καὶ μὴ στενάζοντες | hína metà charâs toûto poiôsin kaí mḕ stenázontes} expresses the desired outcome that leaders carry out their duty ‘with joy’ rather than ‘with groaning’. Finally, the nominal clause alysiteles gar hymin touto {ἀλυσιτελὲς γὰρ ὑμῖν τοῦτο | alysitelès gár hymîn toûto} declares that such reluctance would be ‘unprofitable for you’, anchoring the exhortation in the readers’ own best interest. |