| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the articular phrase ho laos {Ὁ λαὸς | ho laòs} followed by the demonstrative houtos {οὗτος | hoûtos}, creating an emphatic designation “this people,” which has a pointed, almost prophetic tone. The dative phrase tois cheilesin {τοῖς χείλεσίν | toîs kheílesin} functions instrumentally, indicating the means by which the honoring takes place. The verb tima {τιμᾷ | timâ} stands in the present tense, depicting ongoing or characteristic behavior.
The second clause begins with the adversative construction hē de kardia {ἡ δὲ καρδία | hē dè kardía}, where de sets up a strong contrast between outward expression and inward reality, and kardia becomes the subject of the new clause. The genitive auton {αὐτῶν | autôn} is possessive, “their heart,” highlighting a corporate inner disposition. The adverb porro {πόρρω | pórrō} precedes the verb apechei {ἀπέχει | apé-khei}, intensifying the spatial metaphor of distance: “is far away.” The prepositional phrase ap’ emou {ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ | ap’ emoû} marks the source and point of separation, with the first person pronouns me {με | me} and emou {ἐμοῦ | emoû} representing the divine speaker within the prophetic citation.
Syntactically, the verse employs sharp antithesis: “honors Me with the lips” versus “the heart is far away from Me.” The Greek parataxis preserves a tight, balanced structure that is mirrored in English by coordinating the two clauses with “but.” The translation retains the literal “lips” and “heart” to preserve the metaphorical contrast between external confession and internal allegiance, while rendering apechei as “is far away” / “are a long way” to keep the distance metaphor vivid and accessible. |