| 24. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with legō {λέγω | légō} as an emphatic declaration, with the postpositive gar {γὰρ | gàr} linking this warning to its parabolic context. The dative hymin {ὑμῖν | hū-mîn} addresses the audience directly, and the conjunction hoti {ὅτι | hó-ti} introduces the ensuing content clause. Within it, the indefinite oudeis {οὐδεὶς | oudeìs} precedes the future middle geusetai {γεύσεται | geú-se-tai}, creating a categorical negation of participation. The genitive phrase tōn andrōn ekeinōn tōν keklēmenōν {τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τῶν κεκλημένων | tôn andrōn ekeínōn tôn kek-lē-mé-nōn} specifies the excluded group—those previously invited—its perfect passive participle underscoring the completed invitation’s ongoing relevance. The possessive mou tou deipnou {μου τοῦ δείπνου | mou toû deí-pnou} personalizes the feast, specifying the denied meal. The fronting of oudeis and the placement of the qualified genitive before the verb highlight the ironic reversal: those once summoned are now barred from tasting the feast. |