| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The imperative θέτε {θέτε | thé-te} ‘set, place’ carries the main command, and οὖν {οὖν | oûn} links it inferentially to the preceding warning. The phrase ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν {ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν | en taîs kar-dí-ais hy-môn} is a locative idiom that points to the seat of inward resolve, not emotion alone. The negative particle μὴ {μὴ | mē} governs προμελετᾶν {προμελετᾶν | pro-me-le-tân} to forbid advance rehearsal, and ἀπολογηθῆναι {ἀπολογηθῆναι | a-po-lo-gē-thê-nai} completes the thought by naming the defense speech that must not be precomposed. The syntax compresses the response into a single inner decision: place the matter firmly within the will, and do not prepare a speech in advance. |