John 21:12 — ExegesisTAB

The historical present legei {λέγει | lé-gei} ‘says’ keeps the scene immediate and vivid, introducing direct speech without slowing the narrative. The sequence autois ho Iesous {αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς | au-toîs ho Iē-soûs} ‘to them, Jesus’ places the recipients before the speaker’s name, creating a focused opening that leads quickly into the invitation. Deute aristesate {Δεῦτε ἀριστήσατε | Deû-te a-ris-tē-sa-te} ‘come, eat breakfast’ combines a summons with a meal command, so the movement toward the table and the act of eating are linked as one hospitable act. The contrastive de in oudeis de etolma {οὐδεὶς δὲ ἐτόλμα | ou-deìs dè e-tól-ma} ‘no one dared’ shifts the tone from invitation to restraint; the imperfect portrays their hesitation as continuing rather than momentary. The genitive ton matheton {τῶν μαθητῶν | tôn ma-thē-tôn} ‘of the disciples’ identifies the whole group whose silence is in view, and exetasai {ἐξετάσαι | ex-e-tá-sai} ‘to ask’ depends on etolma to express the unrealized act of questioning. The direct quotation Sy tis ei {Σὺ τίς εἶ | Sý tís eî} ‘You, who are You?’ is fronted for emphasis and reads as an identity challenge rather than a request for information. The participle eidotes {εἰδότες | ei-dó-tes} ‘knowing’ supplies the reason for their restraint, and the hoti-clause ho kyrios estin {ὅτι ὁ κύριός ἐστιν | hóti ho ký-ri-os éstin} ‘that the Lord is’ provides the narrative climax: the disciples already recognize Jesus’ identity, so explicit questioning is unnecessary.