| 38. Linguistic Exegesis The opening interjection idou {Ἰδοὺ | idou} ‘behold’ serves as an attention marker. The verb aphietai {ἀφίεται | aphí-etai} ‘is left’ in the present passive indicative with the dative pronoun humin {ὑμῖν | hū-mîn} specifies an ongoing state of abandonment affecting the addressed group. The nominative phrase ho oikos humon {ὁ οἶκος ὑμῶν | ho oî-kos hū-mōn} ‘your house’ uses the definite article and genitive pronoun to denote possession. Placement of the predicative adjective eremos {ἔρημος | é-rē-mos} ‘desolate’ at the sentence end heightens the emphasis on the resultant ruin. The single independent clause structure underscores the irrevocability of the judgment pronounced. |