ἐζήτει⸃

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 ἐζήτει⸃

   e-ZÊ-tei

   {He} was seeking
2. clause🔊 ἐκ τούτου ⸂ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐζήτει⸃ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτόν οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι ⸀ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες·

   ek TOU-tou ho pi-LA-tos e-ZÊ-tei a-po-LY-sai au-TON hoi DE i-ou-DAI-oi e-KRAU-ga-san LE-gon-tes

   from this {the} Pilate {He} was seeking to release him but the Jews {They} cried out saying
3. sentence🔊 ἐκ τούτου ⸂ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐζήτει⸃ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτόν οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι ⸀ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες· Ἐὰν τοῦτον ἀπολύσῃς, οὐκ εἶ φίλος τοῦ Καίσαρος· πᾶς ὁ βασιλέα ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν ἀντιλέγει τῷ Καίσαρι.

   ek TOU-tou ho pi-LA-tos e-ZÊ-tei a-po-LY-sai au-TON hoi DE i-ou-DAI-oi e-KRAU-ga-san LE-gon-tes e-AN TOU-ton a-po-LY-sês ouk EI PHI-los TOU KAI-sa-ros PAS ho ba-si-LE-a he-au-TON poi-ÔN an-ti-LE-yei TOI KAI-sa-ri

   from this {the} Pilate {He} was seeking to release him but the Jews {They} cried out saying if this man you release you are not friend of {the} Caesar everyone making himself who king opposes to {the} Caesar

Exegesis

The subject–verb sequence ho Pilatos ezetei apolusai auton {ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐζήτει ἀπολῦσαι αὐτόν | ho Pilâ-tos ezḗ-tei apolŷ-sai autón} places Pilate’s ongoing intention in focus, with the imperfect ezetei conveying repeated or continuous attempts, and the infinitive apolusai expressing his purpose to release Jesus.

The apodosis ouk ei philos tou Kaisaros {οὐκ εἶ φίλος τοῦ Καίσαρος | ouk eî phí-los toû Kaí-sa-ros} states a categorical consequence: Pilate would not be a “friend of Caesar,” evoking a technical term for political loyalty.