Matthew 22:39 — ExegesisTAB

The verse continues the prior statement by placing deutera {Δευτέρα | Deutéra} first, giving prominence to the fact that this is the “second” command in a sequence already begun. The connective de {δὲ | dé} links it closely to the preceding “first and great commandment,” indicating continuation rather than contrast. The adjective homoia {ὁμοία | homoía} with the dative pronoun aute {αὐτῇ | autê} forms the clause “a second is like it,” in which “it” points back anaphorically to the earlier command about loving God. The future indicative agapeseis {Ἀγαπήσεις | Agapḗseis} functions as an imperatival future within a legal-ethical context, so the English translation appropriately reflects binding obligation rather than mere prediction. The object phrase ton plesion sou {τὸν πλησίον σου | tón plēsíon sou} combines the article with a substantive adjective and a possessive pronoun to define “your neighbor” as a relationally close other. The comparative conjunction hos {ὡς | hōs} introduces the standard of comparison, making seauton {σεαυτόν | seautón} “yourself” the measure by which love of neighbor is to be evaluated. In English, the implied copula (“a second is like it”) is made explicit, and the imperatival future is rendered with “shall” or direct imperative “Love” to preserve the verse’s authoritative, command-like character.