Matthew 20:22 — ExegesisTAB

The verse opens with the aorist participial clause apokritheis de ho Iesous {ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς | a-po-kri-theìs de ho Iē-soûs} “having answered, but Jesus,” where the circumstantial participle precedes the subject and main verb eipen {εἶπεν | eî-pen} “said,” a common narrative pattern that foregrounds the responsive nature of Jesus’ speech. The direct quotation begins with a negated assertion, Ouk oidate {Οὐκ οἴδατε | ouk oî-da-te} “you do not know,” which challenges the disciples’ understanding, followed by the object clause introduced by ti {τί | tí} “what” and completed by aiteisthe {αἰτεῖσθε | ai-teîs-the} “you are asking,” presenting their request as misguided. The following interrogative clause dynasthe piein {δύνασθε πιεῖν | dý-nas-the pi-eîn} “are you able to drink” functions as a rhetorical question, probing their readiness to share His fate. This is specified by the relative clause to poterion ho ego mello pinein {τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ μέλλω πίνειν | to po-tḗ-ri-on ho e-gṓ mél-lō pí-nein}, where the “cup” metaphorically denotes the destiny of suffering Jesus is about to experience, with mello plus infinitive expressing imminent future. The narrative then resumes with legousin auto {λέγουσιν αὐτῷ | lé-gou-sin au-tô} “they say to Him,” using the present tense for vividness, and their concise response dynametha {Δυνάμεθα | Dy-ná-me-tha} “we are able” reveals confident but naïve self-assurance. The English rendering maintains the sequence of challenge and response, preserving the rhetorical force of the questions and the metaphorical nuance of the “cup.”