| 35. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the conjunction kai {καὶ | kai} linking this sentence to the preceding narrative, followed by the aorist participle proelthon {προελθὼν | proelthōn} ‘having gone forward,’ which sets up a circumstantial action prior to the main imperfect verbs. The adverbial accusative mikron {μικρὸν | mikrón} modifies the participle, indicating the limited distance. The imperfect indicative epipten {ἔπιπτεν | épipten} describes an ongoing or repeated action, suggesting a gradual or continued falling to the ground. The prepositional phrase epi tēs gēs {ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς | epí tēs gēs} clarifies the physical posture, emphasizing humility and distress. Another kai {καὶ | kai} coordinates the next imperfect verb proseucheto {προσηύχετο | proseúcheto} ‘he was praying,’ so the sequence is: movement, posture, and sustained prayer. The content of the prayer is introduced by hina {ἵνα | hína}, which here functions to introduce a content clause (what He was praying) rather than a pure purpose clause. Within this hina-clause, the conditional particle ei {εἰ | ei} combines with dynaton {δυνατόν | dynatón} and the verb estin {ἐστιν | estín} to form the conditional sense “if it is possible.” The aorist subjunctive parelthē {παρέλθῃ | parélthē} expresses a desired but uncertain outcome: that the hora {ὥρα | hōra} ‘hour’ might pass away from Him. The prepositional phrase ap’ autou {ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ | ap autoû} marks Jesus as the one from whom this critical time is requested to pass. The Greek word order places the request for the hour to pass near the end, giving it climactic emphasis, which the translations mirror by retaining the final position of “the hour” in the sentence. |