| 48. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the narrative connector kai {καὶ | kaí} “and,” linking this scene to the preceding events. The participle apokritheis {ἀποκριθεὶς | apokritheís} “having answered” functions as a circumstantial participle, introducing the main finite verb eipen {εἶπεν | eîpen} “He said” in a standard speech-introduction formula often rendered “answered and said.” The explicit subject ho Iesous {ὁ Ἰησοῦς | ho Iē-soûs} “Jesus” precedes the verb, highlighting that He is the one interpreting the situation. The direct address autois {αὐτοῖς | autoîs} “to them” identifies the arresting group as the audience of His question.
The rhetorical question is introduced by hos epi lesten {Ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν | Hōs epí lēstḕn}, literally “as against a robber,” where hos marks comparison and epi with the accusative signals hostile movement “against” a target. The finite verb exelthate {ἐξήλθατε | exḗlthate} “you came out” portrays the group as having gone forth deliberately, echoing the language of a raid or expedition. The following prepositional phrase meta machairon kai xylon {μετὰ μαχαιρῶν καὶ ξύλων | metá machairôn kaí xýlōn} “with swords and clubs” details the weapons carried, creating an image of excessive force. Finally, the infinitive sullabein {συλλαβεῖν | syllabeîn} “to seize, arrest” expresses purpose, with the object me {με | me} “me” placed at the end for emphasis, underlining the irony that such force is being used against Jesus.
In translation, the participial construction is smoothed into “answered and said” in the formal reconstruction to preserve the solemn narrative cadence, while the rhetorical question is rendered with “Have you come out” / “Did you come out” to retain the sense of a probing challenge. The sequence of comparative phrase, verb of motion, instruments (“swords and clubs”), and purpose infinitive is maintained, so that the English foregrounds both the hostile intention and the disproportionate nature of the armed approach. |