| 32. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the subject phrase ho de Iesous {Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς | ho dè Iēsoûs} “but Jesus,” which marks a narrative transition and foregrounds Him as the focus of the scene. The aorist middle participle proskalesamenos {προσκαλεσάμενος | pros-ka-le-SÁ-me-nos} “having called to Himself” precedes the main verb eipen {εἶπεν | eî-pen} “he said,” indicating a prior, preparatory action (summoning the disciples) that leads into the reported speech. Inside the quotation, the present middle verb splagchnizomai {Σπλαγχνίζομαι | splang-khnÍ-zo-mai} “I have compassion” presents Jesus’ emotional response as ongoing and deeply felt. The prepositional phrase epi ton ochlon {ἐπὶ τὸν ὄχλον | epì ton Ókh-lon} specifies the object of this compassion, directing His concern toward the gathered crowd. The causal clause hoti ēdē hēmerai treis prosmenousin moi {ὅτι ἤδη ἡμέραι τρεῖς προσμένουσίν μοι | hóti ḗdē hēmérai treîs pros-MÉ-nou-sin moi} explains the reason: they have remained with Him for three days, with the nominative time expression emphasizing the length of their stay. The following clause kai ouk echousin ti phagosin {καὶ οὐκ ἔχουσιν τί φάγωσιν | kaì ouk É-khou-sin tí FÁ-gō-sin} adds their lack of food, using the subjunctive phagosin to speak of eating as a potential action that cannot occur. The infinitival phrase kai apolysai autous nesteis ou thelō {καὶ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτοὺς νήστεις οὐ θέλω | kaì a-po-LŬ-sai au-TOUS Nḗ-steis ou THÉ-lō} functions as the object of “I do not want,” presenting Jesus’ deliberate refusal to dismiss them while they are fasting or hungry. Finally, the clause mēpote eklythōsin en tē hodō {μήποτε ἐκλυθῶσιν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ | mḗ-pote ek-lu-THŌ-sin en têi ho-DŌi} gives the feared result or negative purpose, “lest they might faint on the way,” with the prepositional phrase locating the danger during the journey home. The English renderings preserve this progression from Jesus’ inward compassion to His practical decision, and then to the potential consequence He seeks to prevent, thereby conveying both His emotional and physical care for the crowd. |