| 21. Linguistic Exegesis The verse continues with the nominative participle epithymōn {ἐπιθυμῶν | e-pi-thu-mṓn} “desiring,” which functions circumstantially to express an ongoing state of longing. This is complemented by the aorist passive infinitive chortasthēnai {χορτασθῆναι | khor-ta-sthê-nai} “to be fed,” highlighting passive reception of sustenance. The prepositional phrase apo tôn piptontōn {ἀπὸ τῶν πιπτόντων | a-pò tôn pi-ptón-tōn} uses a genitive articular participle to substantivize what was available, while the following phrase apo tês trapezēs tou plousiou {ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης τοῦ πλουσίου | a-pò tês tra-pé-zēs toû ploû-sí-ou} combines source and possession genitives to situate the food at the rich man’s table. The adversative conjunction alla kai {ἀλλὰ καὶ | al-là kaì} “but even” sets up a sharp contrast leading into the second clause. The participial subject hoi erkhómenoi {οἱ ἐρχόμενοι | hoí er-khó-me-noi} “the dogs coming” plus the imperfect verb epeileikhon {ἐπέλειχον | e-pé-lei-khon} “were licking” conveys repeated action directed at the object phrase ta helkē autoû {τὰ ἕλκη αὐτοῦ | tà hél-kē au-toû}, emphasizing the indignity of the dogs’ attention. Participial structures in Greek are rendered with finite verbs in English to preserve clarity and maintain the original contrast. |