| 38. Linguistic Exegesis The sentence begins with the inclusive subject pas ho laos {πᾶς ὁ λαός | pâs ho laós} ‘all the people,’ a collective construction that stresses the breadth of the response. The imperfect orthrizen {ὤρθριζεν | órthrizen} presents the action as repeated or customary in the past, so the scene depicts an ongoing pattern rather than a single arrival. The prepositional phrase pros auton {πρὸς αὐτόν | prós autón} ‘toward Him’ identifies Jesus as the goal of the crowd’s movement, while en tō hierō {ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ | en tôi hierōi} ‘in the temple’ places the action in a public sacred setting. The final infinitival clause akouein autou {ἀκούειν αὐτοῦ | akoúein autoû} ‘to hear Him’ functions as a purpose clause, explaining why the people came early: their intention was attentive listening. The Greek order leaves the purpose clause for the end, giving the hearing motif final emphasis in English as well. |