| 47. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the periphrastic verbal construction ēn didaskōn {ἦν διδάσκων | ēn didáskōn}, in which the imperfect form of eimi combines with a present participle to portray continuous, habitual teaching activity (“He was teaching”). The adverbial accusative phrase to kath’ hēmeran {τὸ καθʼ ἡμέραν | tò kath' hēméran} functions as a temporal modifier meaning “day by day,” intensifying the sense of regularity. The prepositional phrase en tō hierō {ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ | en tôi hierō} locates this ongoing action within the temple complex. A contrast is then introduced with hoi de archiereis {οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς | hoi dè archiereîs}, where the conjunction de is attached to the article, marking a shift from Jesus’ ministry to the hostile response of the authorities. Coordinated with this first subject are hoi grammateis and hoi protoi tou laou {οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι τοῦ λαοῦ | hoi grammateîs kaì hoi prōtoi tou laou}, forming a compound subject that encompasses both religious and social leaders. The imperfect verb ezetoun {ἐζήτουν | ezētoun} presents their hostile intent as ongoing and persistent, while the aorist infinitive apolesai {ἀπολέσαι | apolésai} expresses the purpose of their seeking, “to destroy.” In translation, the Greek word order is slightly adjusted to maintain natural subject–verb–object flow, while preserving the aspectual nuance of continuous teaching and sustained opposition through the periphrastic construction and imperfect verb rendered as “was teaching” and “were seeking / were trying.” |