| 15. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the articular prepositional phrase ho epi tou domatos {ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος | ho epì tou dô-ma-tos}, which functions substantivally and is best rendered “the one who is on the housetop.” This subject is followed by two aorist active imperatives in the third person singular, mē katabato {μὴ καταβάτω | mē ka-ta-bá-tō} and mēde eiselthato {μηδὲ εἰσελθάτω | mē-dé ei-sel-thá-tō}, joined by the negative coordinating conjunction mēde, forming a tightly parallel double prohibition. The infinitive arai {ἆραι | â-rai} is an aorist active infinitive of purpose that depends especially on eiselthato, explaining the reason one might be tempted to reenter: “to take up” possessions. The prepositional phrase ek tēs oikias autou {ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ | ek tês oi-kí-as au-toû} specifies the source of removal, “out of his house,” with autou marking personal ownership. In English, the Greek third person imperatives are rendered either as an impersonal command (“let the one… not go down”) or, in more idiomatic form, as a second person directive addressing the hearers about such a person (“do not let him go down”), while preserving the urgent, immediate tone of flight without delay. |