| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The opening connective de {δὲ | dé} links this response to the preceding narrative, with the present tense legei {λέγει | lé-gei} as a historical present for vividness. The prepositional construction Dia tēn oligopistian hymōn {Διὰ τὴν ὀλιγοπιστίαν ὑμῶν | Diá tḕn o-li-go-pis-tí-an hy-môn} expresses causation (“because of your little faith”), with the accusative governing the abstract noun. The solemn particle amēn gar legō hymin {ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν | a-mḗn gár lé-gō hy-mîn} signals authoritative instruction. A third-class conditional (ean + subjunctive) in the protasis, ean echēte pistin hōs kokkon sinapeōs {ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως | e-án É-chē-te pís-tin hōs kók-kon si-ná-pe-ōs}, introduces a real yet contingent possibility, with the simile marked by hōs. The apodosis begins with the future indicative ereite {ἐρεῖτε | e-reî-te} plus the dative object tō orei toutō {τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ | tô Ó-rei toú-tō}. Within the quotation, the aorist imperative Metaba {Μετάβα | Me-tá-ba} issues the command, met by the future middle metabēsetai {μεταβήσεται | me-ta-Bḗ-se-tai}, demonstrating the efficacy of faith. The closing clause kai ouden adynatēsei hymin {καὶ οὐδὲν ἀδυνατήσει ὑμῖν | kaí ou-DÉN a-dy-na-Tḗ-sei hy-mîn} employs ouden as subject and the future indicative verb to affirm absolute capability for the disciples. |