John 18:17 — ExegesisTAB

The sentence opens with legei {λέγει | lé-gei} placed first, a vivid narrative present that drives the scene forward, and oun {οὖν | oûn} links the statement inferentially to the prior exchange. The indirect object tō Petrō {τῷ Πέτρῳ | tôi Pét-rō} comes before the subject, which is identified by the repeated article in hē paidiskē hē thyrōros {ἡ παιδίσκη ἡ θυρωρός | hē pai-dís-kē hē thy-rō-rós}; this apposition binds the two nouns together as one speaker described by both status and function. Mē {Μὴ | Mḕ} begins a question that expects a negative reply, while kai {καὶ | kaì} adds an accusatory “also,” implying Peter is being classed with others already under suspicion. The emphatic sy {σὺ | sỳ} is fronted for stress, and ek tōn mathētōn {ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν | ek tōn ma-thē-tōn} is partitive, so “among” best captures membership within the group rather than mere location. The phrase tou anthrōpou toutou {τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου | toû anthrṓ-pou toú-tou} is deictic, pointing to the man in the immediate narrative without naming Him. The second legei {λέγει | lé-gei} repeats the verbal form and is followed by ekeinos {ἐκεῖνος | e-keî-nos}, an explicit demonstrative that sharpens the identity of the respondent before the terse denial ouk eimi {Οὐκ εἰμί | Oúk ei-mí}. In English, the syntax is smoothed into natural dialogue while keeping the negative-question force and the abruptness of the reply.