| 20. Linguistic Exegesis The conjunction kai {καὶ | kaí} links this clause sequentially to prior context, and the participle idontes {ἰδόντες | idóntes} ‘having seen’ establishes temporal background for the main verb ethaumasan {ἐθαύμασαν | ethaúmasan} ‘they marveled’. Placing the article and noun hoi mathetai {οἱ μαθηταὶ | hoi mathētai} between these verbs emphasizes the disciples as the perceivers. The participle legontes {λέγοντες | légontes} marks the start of direct speech, followed by the interrogative adverb pos {Πῶς | pôs} ‘how’ and the temporal adverb parachrema {παραχῆμα | parakhrêma} ‘immediately’, underscoring the sudden effect. The passive verb exeranthe {ἐξηράνθη | exēránthē} ‘was withered’ focuses on the result without an expressed agent, and the article he {ἡ | hē} with suke {συκῆ | sukē} specifies the fig tree as the subject. This structure intensifies the immediacy and astonishment of the miracle. |