| 27. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with kai {καί | kaí} ‘and’, linking this sentence to the surrounding crucifixion narrative and continuing the flow of events. The preposition syn {σύν | sún} with the dative autō {αὐτῷ | au-tô̄} forms the phrase ‘with Him’, placing the unnamed central figure at the focal point and portraying the criminals’ execution in relation to Him. The main verb staurousin {σταυροῦσιν | stau-roû-sin} is a historical present, which in context is rendered with an English past tense (“they crucified/nailed up”) to sound natural while preserving the vividness of the action in explanation. The direct object dyo lēstas {δύο λῃστάς | dý-o lē-stás} specifies both the number and the type of criminals.
The two participial-like segments hena ek dexiōn {ἕνα ἐκ δεξιῶν | hé-na ek de-xiô̄n} and hena ex euōnymōn {ἕνα ἐξ εὐωνύμων | hé-na ex eu-ō-ný-mōn} are coordinate phrases, each beginning with hena {ἕνα | hé-na} ‘one’, followed by ek/ex plus a genitive plural. Here the genitives dexiōn and euōnymōn function as spatial genitives, denoting position “on the right” and “on the left” relative to autou {αὐτοῦ | au-toû} ‘of Him’. This creates a symmetrical structure: central crucifixion with one criminal on each side. In translation, this symmetry is preserved by parallel English phrases (“one on His right and one on His left” / “one to His right and one to His left”), while the preposition syn is rendered either “with” (formal) or “alongside” (dynamic) to convey close association. The narrative thus underscores both the humiliation of being numbered with criminals and the central, distinguished position of the One in the middle. |