| 2. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the coordinating conjunction kai {καὶ | kaí} linking this sentence to the preceding narrative and joining two main actions. The aorist verb ēkolouthēsan {ἠκολούθησαν | ē-ko-loú-thē-san} “they followed” stands first, followed by the indirect object autō {αὐτῷ | au-tō} “to Him” and then the subject noun phrase ochloi polloi {ὄχλοι πολλοί | óch-loi pol-loí} “many crowds,” where the adjective follows the noun in typical Greek order, heightening the impression of a large multitude. A second kai {καὶ | kaí} introduces the closely related outcome that Jesus brings about for those who followed: the aorist etherapeusen {ἐθεράπευσεν | e-the-rá-peu-sen} “he healed” with its object autous {αὐτούς | au-toús} “them.” The adverb ekei {ἐκεῖ | e-keî} “there” closes the sentence, anchoring both following and healing to the same location. The two coordinated aorist verbs present a compact summary: the crowds’ decisive movement toward Jesus and His decisive response of healing. In English, explicit subjects are supplied (“crowds,” “He”) and the clauses are smoothed into a single flowing sentence while preserving the tight linkage between following and healing. |