Matthew 16:15 — ExegesisTAB

The verse begins with legei {λέγει | lé-gei} “he says,” a historical present that vividly introduces the ongoing discourse. The dative autois {αὐτοῖς | au-toîs} “to them” marks the disciples as the audience. The emphatic Hymeis {Ὑμεῖς | hy-meîs} “you” is fronted in the clause, and the postpositive de {δὲ | dé} “but” signals a shift from the preceding discussion of public opinion. The interrogative phrase tina me legete einai {τίνα με λέγετε εἶναι | tí-na me lé-ge-te eî-nai} places tina “whom” and me “me” as objects of legete “you say,” with einai “to be” as the complementary infinitive. The literal word order (“whom do you say me to be”) is rendered naturally as “who do you say that I am,” preserving both the emphatic position of “you” and the force of the question.