| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with kai {Καὶ | Kaí}, linking this scene to the preceding narrative and marking a new stage in the story. The genitive absolute construction diagenomenou tou sabbatou {διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου | diagenoménou tou sabbátou} provides a temporal setting, “after the Sabbath had passed,” independent of the main clause, signaling the transition from Sabbath rest to permitted activity. The coordinated subject group is expressed by three nominative phrases in sequence: Maria hē Magdalēnē {Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ | María hē Magdalēnḗ}, Maria hē tou Iakōbou {Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου | María hē tou Iakṓbou}, kai Salōmē {καὶ Σαλώμη | kaí Salṓmē}, with the article plus genitive construction hē tou Iakōbou identifying the second Mary relationally as “the one of James,” that is, his mother. The finite verb ēgorasān {ἠγόρασαν | ēgórasan} governs the direct object arōmata {ἀρώματα | arṓmata}, forming the main narrative clause that describes their concrete preparation. The purpose of this purchase is introduced by hina {ἵνα | hína}, which here marks a purpose clause. Within this clause, the participle elthousai {ἐλθοῦσαι | elthoûsai} (feminine plural, agreeing with the three women) functions temporally, “after they had come,” preceding the subjunctive aleipsōsin {ἀλείψωσιν | aleípsōsin}, the main verb of the purpose clause, which expresses intended action. The object auton {αὐτόν | autón} refers to the known male figure previously mentioned in the passion narrative. The syntax moves from temporal framing (genitive absolute) to identified agents (the women), to their preparatory action (buying spices), and finally to their intended act (anointing), a progression that highlights deliberate devotion and sets the stage for the resurrection discovery that follows. In translation, the formal rendering preserves the participial nuance (“after they had come”) and explicit purpose (“so that…they might anoint”), while the dynamic version slightly reshapes the sequence (“so they could go and anoint”) for contemporary clarity, without altering the underlying temporal and purpose relationships. |