| 7. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative begins with hoi de {οἱ δὲ | hoí de} linking this clause contrastively to the prior context. The imperfect middle verb dielogizonto {διελογίζοντο | dielogízonto} denotes ongoing, mutual reasoning, and en heautois {ἐν ἑαυτοῖς | en heautoîs} indicates that this deliberation occurred internally among the group. The participle legontes {λέγοντες | légontes} functions circumstantially to introduce the content of their internal speech. Hoti {ὅτι | hóti} marks the start of indirect discourse, which English idiomatically renders as direct quotation. Within that clause, artous {Ἄρτους | Ártous} is fronted for thematic emphasis, and the negator ouk {οὐκ | ouk} immediately precedes the aorist elabomen {ἐλάβομεν | elábomen}, highlighting their completed failure to bring bread. |