| 32. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the infinitives euphranthenai {εὐφρανθῆναι | eu-phran-thê-nai} ‘to rejoice greatly’ and charenai {χαρῆναι | kha-rê-nai} ‘to be glad’, both governed by the imperfect edei {ἔδει | é-dei} ‘it was necessary’, which expresses a fitting response to the son’s restoration. The postpositive conjunction de {δὲ | dè} links back to the father’s previous statement, while hoti {ὅτι | hó-ti} introduces the causal clause. The fronted subject ho adelphos sou houtos {ὁ ἀδελφός σου οὗτος | ho a-del-phós sou hoû-tos} emphasizes relational proximity. Two parallel contrasts follow: nekros ēn kai ezēsen {νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἔζησεν | ne-krós ēn kai é-zē-sen} ‘was dead and has come to life’ and apolōlōs kai heurethē {ἀπολωλὼς καὶ εὑρέθη | a-po-lō-lōs kai heu-ré-thē} ‘was lost and was found’, each coordinated by kai {καὶ | kaí} to underscore the comprehensive reversal, which is naturally rendered in English as paired phrases to convey the climactic joy. |