| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The verse unfolds as a sequential narrative of three linked actions introduced by kai {καὶ | kaí} ‘and,’ emphasizing the rapid transfer of the severed head. The first clause centers on the passive verb enechthe {ἠνέχθη | ēnéchthē} ‘was brought,’ with the prepositional phrase epi pinaki {ἐπὶ πίνακι | epí pínaki} specifying placement ‘on a platter.’ The second clause, kai edothe to korasio {καὶ ἐδόθη τῷ κορασίῳ | kaí edóthē tō̂ korasíō} ‘and was given to the girl,’ retains the passive focus on the head. The final clause, kai enenken te metri autes {καὶ ἤνεγκεν τῇ μητρὶ αὐτῆς | kaí ḗnenken tē̂ mētrí autês} ‘and she carried it to her mother,’ shifts to active voice, spotlighting the girl’s agency. English supplies the pronoun ‘it’ in the active clause to clarify the object, preserving the Greek’s tight progression. |