| 6. Linguistic Exegesis The conjunction hoste {ὥστε | hṓ-ste} introduces a result clause that flows from Jesus’ preceding teaching on marriage. The verbal complex ouketi eisin duo alla sarx mia {οὐκέτι εἰσὶν δύο ἀλλὰ σὰρξ μία | ou-ké-ti eí-sin dý-o allà sárx mía} first negates the prior state of being “two” and then affirms the new reality of “one flesh,” using a predicate nominative structure to express a profound relational and covenantal unity. The relative clause ho oun ho theos synezeuxen {ὃ οὖν ὁ θεὸς συνέζευξεν | hó oûn ho theós synézeuxen} employs ho {ὃ | hó} to refer back to this united couple as a single entity, with oun {οὖν | oûn} marking logical inference and the aorist verb synezeuxen {συνέζευξεν | synézeuxen} presenting God’s joining as a decisive, completed act. The closing clause anthropos me chorizeto {ἄνθρωπος μὴ χωριζέτω | ánthrōpos mḗ chōrizétō} uses anthropos generically for “a human being” and a third person present imperative with me {μὴ | mḗ} to express a standing prohibition: no human is authorized to sever what God has established. The English renderings follow this progression from result (their unity), to divine action (God’s joining), to ethical implication (the prohibition of human separation). |