Mark 14:12 — ExegesisTAB

The verse begins with kai {Καὶ | kaí}, which in narrative often functions as a simple connective, linking this scene to the preceding events. The temporal setting is given by the dative phrase tē prōtē hēmera tōn azymōn {τῇ πρώτῃ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν ἀζύμων | tē̂ prṓtē hēmérāi tō̂n azýmōn}, a dative of time specifying “on the first day of Unleavened Bread,” with the genitive tōn azymōn forming a partitive or descriptive genitive, denoting the festival characterized by unleavened bread. The conjunction hote {ὅτε | hóte} introduces a temporal subordinate clause, hote to pascha ethyon {ὅτε τὸ πάσχα ἔθυον | hóte tó páscha éthyon}, in which the imperfect ethyon conveys repeated or customary action in past time, capturing the ongoing sacrificial practice, while to pascha functions as the object of the sacrificing. The main narrative clause centers on legousin autō hoi mathētai autou {λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ | légousin autô hoi mathētái autoû}, where legousin is a historical present that lends vividness to the scene. The subject hoi mathētai autoû is delayed after the verb, a common Greek order that allows the dative autō to be placed immediately after the verb, highlighting the addressee, Jesus. Direct speech follows with the interrogative adverb Pou {Ποῦ | poû} fronted for focus, introducing the disciples’ question. Theleis {θέλεις | théleis} expresses Jesus’ will, and the aorist participle apelthontes {ἀπελθόντες | apelthóntes} functions adverbially, temporally specifying “after going.” The hortatory subjunctive hetoimasōmen {ἑτοιμάσωμεν | hetoimásōmen} expresses the disciples’ proposed action, while the hina-clause hina phagēs to pascha {ἵνα φάγῃς τὸ πάσχα | hína phágēs tó páscha} gives the purpose: that He might eat the Passover. In translation, the temporal and purpose relationships are preserved by rendering the participle with “after we go” and hina with “so that,” while the historical present legousin is conveyed as a simple past in English but retains its narrative immediacy through vivid wording.