| 34. Linguistic Exegesis The statement begins with the neuter adjective kalon {Καλὸν | ka-lon} ‘good’ serving as a predicate with an implied copula, followed by the inferential conjunction oun {οὖν | oun} that links this conclusion to preceding context. The noun phrase to halas {τὸ ἅλας | to ha-las} ‘the salt’ establishes the topic. A conditional protasis is introduced by ean {ἐὰν | e-an} ‘if’, with de {δὲ | de} ‘but’ marking contrast and kai {καὶ | kai} ‘even’ intensifying the scenario: “if even salt become-tasteless,” using the aorist passive subjunctive to portray potential loss of essential quality. The apodosis appears as a rhetorical question with the prepositional phrase en tini {ἐν τίνι | en ti-ni} ‘by what’, anticipating no means of restoration. The future passive artythēsetai {ἀρτυθήσεται | ar-tu-thē-sé-tai} ‘will be seasoned’ underscores that seasoning is an external action, highlighting the impossibility of regaining what is lost. |