| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with hote oun ēristēsan {Ὅτε οὖν ἠρίστησαν | hó-te oun ē-rís-tē-san} ‘after they had breakfast,’ linking the conversation to the completed meal and carrying the narrative forward from what came before. The repeated legei {λέγει | lé-gei} keeps the scene vivid and divides the exchange into three short turns of speech. Tō Simōni Petrō {τῷ Σίμωνι Πέτρῳ | tôi Sí-mō-ni Pé-trō} identifies the one being addressed, while ho Iēsous {ὁ Ἰησοῦς | ho Iē-soûs} is named after the speaking verb so that the act of addressing comes to the front. Simon Iōannou {Σίμων Ἰωάννου | Sí-mōn I-ō-án-nou} gives Peter a personal, familial designation rather than a bare title. The core question agapas me pleon toutōn {ἀγαπᾷς με πλέον τούτων | a-ga-pâs me plé-on toú-tōn} places the love question first and leaves the comparison open, so the wording does not force a specific referent for these. Peter’s reply shifts to philō {φιλῶ | phi-lô}, and oidas {οἶδας | oî-das} frames his answer as something Jesus already knows. The closing boske ta arnia mou {Βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου | bó-ske ta ar-ní-a mou} moves from dialogue to entrusted care, presenting the lambs as belonging to Jesus and placing the pastoral charge on Peter. |