| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The clause opens with legei {λέγει | lé-gei} ‘he says,’ a historical present that creates immediacy in the dialogue. The indirect object auto {αὐτῷ | au-tō} identifies the one addressed, and Thomas {Θωμᾶς | Thō-mās} appears before the vocative Kyrie {Κύριε | ký-ri-e}, framing the speech as a respectful appeal. The first question, ouk oidamen {οὐκ οἴδαμεν | ouk oi-da-men} with pou {ποῦ | poû} and hypageis {ὑπάγεις | hy-pá-geis}, focuses on destination; the perfect form carries present-state force, describing an ongoing lack of understanding. The second question, introduced by pos {πῶς | pôs}, uses dynametha {δυνάμεθα | dy-ná-me-tha} plus eidenai {εἰδέναι | ei-dé-nai} to express inability rather than mere ignorance. The accusative hodon {ὁδόν | ho-dón} is specific and pointed, so the verse moves from not knowing the destination to not being able to identify the route. The lack of an overt conjunction between the two questions makes the second rise directly out of the first. |