| 24. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with hodēgoi {ὁδηγοὶ | hō-dē-gói} ‘guides’ modified by the adjective typhloi {τυφλοί | ty-phl-ó-i} ‘blind’, identifying the addressed as misguided leaders. The participle diylizontes {διϋλίζοντες | di-yli-zón-tes} ‘straining out’ takes the accusative konopa {κώνωπα | kô-nō-pa} ‘the gnat’, highlighting meticulous attention to trivial impurities. The conjunction de {δὲ | dè} introduces contrast with ten kamelon {τὴν κάμηλον | tḕn ka-mḗ-lon} ‘the camel’, object of katapinontes {καταπίνοντες | ka-ta-pí-non-tes} ‘swallowing’, creating an ironic hyperbole that underscores the speakers’ inconsistency. Greek uses parallel participles and coordinated objects to juxtapose legalistic scrutiny with gross negligence. |