| 29. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative opens with the articular participle ho de apokritheis {ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς | ho de apokritheîs} ‘but he answered’, foregrounding the son’s initial reply. This is followed by the aorist active indicative eipen {εἶπεν | eî-pen} ‘he said’, introducing the direct speech. The negative particle ou {Οὐ | Oú} ‘not’ precedes thelo {θέλω | thé-lō} ‘I want’, signaling a categorical refusal. The adverb hysteron {ὕστερον | hý-ste-ron} ‘later’ marks a shift in time, and the particle de {δὲ | dè} resumes the narrative contrast. The participle metamelētheis {μεταμεληθεὶς | me-ta-me-lē-theîs} ‘having regretted’ indicates an internal reversal, leading to the aorist action of apelthen {ἀπῆλθεν | a-pêl-then} ‘he went away’. The progression from refusal through reflection to compliance underpins the parable’s theological emphasis. |