| 14. Linguistic Exegesis The opening hoi de eipan {οἱ δὲ εἶπαν | hoí dè eîpan} frames the disciples’ response as a counterpoint to Jesus’ question. A triadic sequence of contrasted nominative subjects, marked by men {μὲν | mén}, de {δὲ | dè}, and the substantivized adjectives alloi {ἄλλοι | álloi} and heteroi {ἕτεροι | héteroi}, structures multiple opinion groups. The accusative names (John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah) function as implied predicates of “say,” and the final disjunction ē {ἢ | ē} plus the partitive genitive tōn prophētōn {τῶν προφητῶν | tôn prophētôn} introduces a broader category of prophets. The formal uses “Some…others…and yet others” to mirror the Greek contrast, while the dynamic employs “Some people think you are” to clarify the conversational context. |