| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the adverb palin {πάλιν | pá-lin} "again," marking repeated action and the king’s persistent outreach. The aorist active indicative verb apesteilen {ἀπέστειλεν | apé-stei-len} "he sent" establishes a new dispatch of doulous {δούλους | doú-lous} "servants," qualified by allous {ἄλλους | állous} "other." The present participle legōn {λέγων | lḗ-gōn} "saying" introduces the direct command. The imperative eipate {Εἴπατε | Éi-pa-te} "say" addresses tois keklēmenois {τοῖς κεκλημένοις | toîs ke-klē-mé-nois} "those who have been invited," emphasizing their prior summons. The interjection idou {Ἰδοὺ | Idòu} "look" signals attention to the announcement: to ariston {τὸ ἄριστόν | tò á-ris-tón} "the best" as the banquet, followed by hētoimaka {ἡτοίμακα | hē-toí-ma-ka} "I have prepared," indicating completed action with ongoing effects. The list of provisions—hoi tauroi mou {οἱ ταῦροί μου | hoî tau-roí mou} "my oxen" and ta sitista {τὰ σιτιστὰ | tà si-ti-stà} "the fattened animals"—are described by the perfect passive participle tethymena {τεθυμένα | te-thy-mé-na} "slaughtered," joined by kai {καὶ | kaì} and culminating in panta hetoima {πάντα ἕτοιμα | pán-ta hé-toi-ma} "all things ready." The final imperative deute {δεῦτε | déu-te} "come" summons the invitees to the gamos {γάμους | gá-mous} "wedding feasts." This paratactic sequence of imperatives and participles highlights both the thorough provision and the urgency of the invitation. |