| 25. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the adverb proton {πρῶτον | prō-ton} “first,” establishing a temporal and logical priority for what follows. The postpositive conjunction de {δὲ | dè} introduces a contrast with what precedes while remaining in second position, so it is rendered at the beginning of the English sentence as “But.” The impersonal verb dei {δεῖ | dêi} functions as the main verbal idea, conveying divine necessity and governing two coordinated infinitives, pathein {παθεῖν | pa-theîn} “to suffer” and apodokimasthenai {ἀποδοκιμασθῆναι | a-po-do-ki-mas-thê-nai} “to be rejected.” Both infinitives share the same implied subject, the accusative pronoun auton {αὐτὸν | au-tòn} “him,” which in context refers to Jesus. The coordination with kai {καὶ | kaì} links suffering and rejection tightly as a unified divinely ordained experience. The prepositional genitive phrase apo tēs geneas tautēs {ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης | apó tês ge-ne-âs taú-tês} specifies the source or agent of the rejection in a collective sense, “from/by this generation,” highlighting corporate opposition. In translation, the impersonal construction is expressed with “it is necessary for Him” in a more formal style and “He must” in a more dynamic style, while parallel English verb phrases (“to suffer… and to be rejected” / “endure… and be turned away”) preserve the coordinated infinitival structure and the close link between suffering and rejection. |