| 16. Linguistic Exegesis The clause opens with ho de eipen {ὁ δὲ εἶπεν | ho dé eî-pen}, a common narrative formula in which the article ho functions substantivally (“the one”) and, by context, refers to Jesus. The postpositive conjunction de {δὲ | dé} marks a slight contrast or transition from the preceding exchange. The aorist verb eipen presents His speech as a complete event, introducing the following rhetorical question. The adverb Akmen {Ἀκμὴν | Ak-mḕn} ‘still, yet’ is placed early, giving prominence to the idea of ongoing deficiency. The coordination Akmen kai humeis {Ἀκμὴν καὶ ὑμεῖς | Ak-mḕn kaí hy-meîs} binds “still” with the emphatic plural pronoun “you,” yielding the sense “still you also,” which targets the disciples in light of others’ lack of understanding. The predicate adjective asynetoi {ἀσύνετοί | a-sý-ne-toi} stands in the nominative and is linked to humeis by the present indicative este {ἐστε | é-ste}, forming an equative structure “you are without understanding.” The present tense of este underscores their current, ongoing state rather than a momentary lapse. In English, this is naturally rendered as a direct rhetorical question, preserving the order of emphasis by bringing “still” and “also/even” forward and conveying the mild rebuke of their continued lack of perception. |