| 41. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the relative pronoun hai {αἵ | haí} introducing a clause that further identifies the women named in the previous verse. The coordinating kai {καὶ | kaí} following it adds the nuance “also,” linking their past actions to their present presence at the crucifixion scene. The temporal conjunction hote {ὅτε | hó-te} introduces a subordinate temporal clause, “when He was in Galilee,” with en {ἦν | ê-n} as an imperfect indicative that sets an ongoing past backdrop to their discipleship. The prepositional phrase en tē Galilaia {ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ | en tē̂ Ga-li-laí-a} functions as a locative setting for the imperfect verbs ēkolouthoun {ἠκολούθουν | ē-ko-loú-thoun} and diēkonoun {διηκόνουν | di-ē-kó-noun}. These twin imperfects, “were following” and “were serving,” depict continual, habitual action over time, underscoring sustained discipleship rather than a single event. Each verb takes autō {αὐτῷ | au-tō̂} as a dative complement, showing that their following and service were directed specifically to Him. A new coordinated group is then introduced with kai allai pollai {καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαί | kaí ál-lai pol-laí}, “and many other {women},” followed by another relative clause with hai {αἵ | haí} plus the aorist participle synanabasai {συναναβᾶσαι | sy-na-na-bâ-sai}. This participle, modified by autō in the dative, “having come up together with Him,” presents a completed pilgrimage action whose result is that they are now in Jerusalem with Him. The prepositional phrase eis Hierosolyma {εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα | eis Hi-e-ro-só-ly-ma} expresses goal or destination. Syntactically, Mark employs parallel relative clauses and coordinated verbs to show continuity between their earlier ministry in Galilee and their faithful accompaniment to Jerusalem, which guided the choice of English aspect (“used to follow,” “were serving,” “had come up,” “had traveled with”) to mirror the Greek imperfect and aorist nuances within a narrative past context. |