| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The statement begins with the adverb ouketi {οὐκέτι | ou-ké-ti} ‘no longer’, which introduces both negation and a temporal boundary, indicating that a previous condition has ceased. The verb eimi {εἰμὶ | ei-mí} ‘I am’ functions as a copula linking the subject to the predicate adjective axios {ἄξιος | á-xi-os} ‘worthy’, forming an evaluative assertion about the speaker. The infinitive klēthēnai {κληθῆναι | klē-thē-nai} ‘to be called’ serves as a complementary infinitive, expressing the sphere in which worthiness is denied, while the phrase huios sou {υἱός σου | hui-ós sou} ‘your son’ stands as the nominative subject of the infinitive with the genitive sou marking possession. The aorist active imperative poiēsōn {ποίησόν | poi-ē-són} ‘make, treat’ introduces the petition, with me {με | me} as its direct object. The comparative particle hōs {ὡς | hōs} ‘as, like’ marks a comparison between the speaker’s desired status and that of hena tōn misthiōn sou {ἕνα τῶν μισθίων σου | hé-na tôn mis-thi-ōn sou} ‘one of your hired servants’, where the genitive phrase tôn misthiōn sou functions as a partitive genitive specifying the larger group from which “one” is drawn. The word order moves from the renunciation of filial worthiness to the request for a reduced status, heightening the sense of humility and self-abasement before the plea. |