| 28. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the rhetorical question tis gar {τίς γὰρ | tís gàr} ‘for which one’, engaging the audience directly. The prepositional phrase ex hymōn {ἐξ ὑμῶν | éx hū-môn} ‘from you’ specifies the hearers. The participle thelōn {θέλων | thé-lōn} ‘desiring’ modifies the subject’s intent, while the infinitive oikodomēsai {οἰκοδομῆσαι | oi-ko-do-mē-sai} ‘to build’ governs pyrgon {πύργον | pýr-gon} ‘tower’ as its object to set the scenario. The emphatic sequence ouchi prōton kathisas {οὐχὶ πρῶτον καθίσας | ou-khì prô-ton kathí-sas} highlights the necessity of prior action, with kathisas marking a preliminary sitting. The present indicative psēphizei {ψηφίζει | psē-phi-zei} ‘counts’ presents a general principle. Its object tēn dapanēn {τὴν δαπάνην | tēn da-pa-nēn} ‘the cost’ specifies what must be evaluated. The conditional clause ei echei {εἰ ἔχει | ei é-khei} ‘if he has’ introduces resource assessment, and the goal phrase eis apartismon {εἰς ἀπαρτισμόν | eīs a-par-tis-món} ‘for completion’ states the intended outcome. The progression from intention through assessment to goal underscores prudent planning for successful execution. |