John 21:16 — ExegesisTAB

The verse is organized around three repeated speech-introductions with legei {λέγει | lé-gei} ‘he says,’ a narrative present that keeps the exchange immediate and measured. The opening phrase palin deuteron {πάλιν δεύτερον | pá-lin deú-te-ron} is deliberately redundant, intensifying the sense of repetition and showing that the question is being pressed a second time rather than merely restated. The address Simon Ioannou {Σίμων Ἰωάννου | Sí-mon I-ō-án-nou} ‘Simon, son of John’ places Simon in a relational frame that recalls his calling and identity. The question agapās me {ἀγαπᾷς με | a-ga-pâs me} uses direct second-person singular address, while the reply sy oidas hoti philō se {σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε | sý oî-das hó-ti phi-lô se} is shaped by the emphatic pronoun sy {σὺ | sý} and the content clause introduced by hoti {ὅτι | hó-ti}, making the speaker’s knowledge the basis of Simon’s answer. The final imperative poimaine ta probata mou {Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου | Poí-mai-ne ta pró-ba-ta mou} stands in sentence-final position, giving the commission climactic force; the present imperative signals ongoing pastoral responsibility, while mou {μου | mou} underscores that the sheep remain Jesus’ possession even as Peter is entrusted to care for them. The English renderings preserve the repeated dialogue structure, while the dynamic version varies the reporting verbs to reflect natural conversation without losing the threefold rhythm.