| 5. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the emphatic negative particle ouchi {οὐχί | oukhí} ‘certainly not,’ which denies the assumption implicit in the preceding discussion. The verb lego {λέγω | légō} ‘I say’ with the dative pronoun humin {ὑμῖν | hūmîn} ‘to you’ frames a direct address. The adversative conjunction all’ {ἀλλʼ | állʼ} ‘but’ introduces a strong contrast, shifting from what is denied to what is asserted. The conditional protasis consists of the conditional particle ean {ἐὰν | eàn} ‘if’ plus the negative particle me {μὴ | mē} and the present subjunctive metanoete {μετανοῆτε | metanoēte} ‘you repent,’ forming a third-class condition that expresses an open possibility. The present subjunctive underscores the ongoing or decisive nature of repentance. The apodosis begins with the nominative plural pantes {πάντες | pántes} ‘all,’ which universalizes the outcome, followed by the adverb hōsautōs {ὡσαύτως | hōsautōs} ‘likewise,’ linking it to the fate of others. The future middle indicative apoleisthe {ἀπολεῖσθε | apoleîsthe} ‘you will perish’ conveys certain personal ruin. English word order is adjusted to foreground the conditional structure (“unless you repent … you will perish”) while preserving the logical force and universality of the Greek. |