| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the narrative kai egeneto {καὶ ἐγένετο | kaí egéneto} ‘and it happened,’ introducing a new event. This is followed by the articular infinitive clause en tō epanelthein auton labonta tēn basileian {ἐν τῷ ἐπανελθεῖν αὐτὸν λαβόντα τὴν βασιλείαν | en tôi epaneltheîn autòn labónta tḕn basileían}, functioning as a temporal ‘when he returned,’ while labonta ‘having received’ indicates that his return occurs already possessing the kingdom. The main verb eipen {εἶπεν | eîpen} ‘he said’ frames a summons through the passive infinitive phōnēthēnai {φωνηθῆναι | phōnēthênai} ‘to be called,’ and its object tous doulous toutous {τοὺς δούλους τούτους | toùs doúlous toútous} ‘these servants’ is then defined by the relative clause hois dedōkei to argyrion {οἷς δεδώκει τὸ ἀργύριον | hoîs dedṓkei tò argýrion} ‘to whom he had given the money,’ highlighting the result of the prior entrustment. The purpose clause introduced by hina {ἵνα | hína} ‘so that’ with gnoi {γνοῖ | gnoî} ‘he might know’ clarifies his motive, while ti {τί | tí} ‘what’ leads into diepragmateusanto {διεπραγματεύσαντο | diepragmateúsanto} ‘they had gained by trading,’ which represents the evaluative outcome. The structure moves from temporal context to royal command, servant specification, and evaluative purpose, underscoring themes of stewardship and accountability. |