| 29. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the coordinating conjunction kai {καὶ | kaí}, linking this scene to the surrounding crucifixion narrative. The articular participial phrase hoi pariontes {οἱ παριόντες | hoí pa-ri-ÓN-tes} functions substantively as the subject, “those who were passing by.” The main finite verb is the imperfect eblasphēmoun {ἐβλασφήμουν | eb-las-PHĒ-moun}, portraying the mockery as a continuous, repeated action. Two nominative participles, kinountes {κινοῦντες | ki-NŌUN-tes} “shaking” and legontes {λέγοντες | LÉ-gon-tes} “saying,” are circumstantial, describing actions that accompany the main verbal action and elaborating how the blaspheming is expressed. The direct object auton {αὐτόν | au-TÓN} precedes kinountes, so the syntax emphasizes that all these actions are directed toward “Him,” the crucified one.
The gesture phrase tas kephalas autōn {τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν | tàs ke-pha-LÀS au-TÔN} uses an accusative object with a genitive pronoun to depict the conventional sign of derision, “their heads.” The participle legontes introduces direct speech, marked in English by quotation marks and a colon-equivalent. Within the taunt, ouai {οὐαί | ou-AÍ} is an interjection functioning emotively, here best taken as a sarcastic “Aha” or “So.”
The articular participial construction ho katalyōn {ὁ καταλύων | ho ka-ta-LÝ-ōn} acts as a vocative-like designation, “you who destroy,” recalling Jesus’ earlier words about the temple. It governs two participles in asyndetic balance: “destroying the temple” and “building {it} in three days.” The phrase en trisin hēmerais {ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις | en TRI-sin hē-MÉ-rais} is a dative of time, indicating the temporal frame “within three days.” The final participle oikodomōn {οἰκοδομῶν | oi-ko-do-MÔN} picks up the second half of the remembered saying, completing the ironic quotation. In translation, the participial chain is rendered with finite verbs and smoother clause connections to reflect natural English narrative while preserving the ongoing, mocking character indicated by the imperfect and participles. |