Matthew 17:21ExegesisTAB

Matthew 17 : 21 Exorcism | Prayer | Fasting
21. Linguistic Exegesis
The sentence begins with the demonstrative touto {τοῦτο | toû-to} establishing focus, followed by the postpositive conjunction de {δὲ | dé} indicating contrast. The article–noun phrase to genos {τὸ γένος | tò gé-nos} serves as the subject “this kind.” The negative particle ouk {οὐκ | ouk} precedes the verb ekporeuetai {ἐκπορεύεται | ek-po-reú-e-tai}, forming a general negation “does not go out.” The exceptive condition ei mē {εἰ μὴ | ei mē} conveys “unless,” marking the prerequisite for expulsion. The phrase en proseuchē kai nesteia {ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ νηστείᾳ | en pros-eu-khḗ kaí nē-steí-a}, with the preposition en governing two dative nouns joined by kai, expresses means by which the expulsion occurs, highlighting the joint necessity of prayer and fasting.

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