| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the coordinating conjunction kai {καὶ | kaí}, linking this clause to the surrounding narrative. The noun phrase ho kapnòs tou basanismoû autōn {ὁ καπνὸς τοῦ βασανισμοῦ αὐτῶν | ho kapnòs tou basanismoû autōn} ‘the smoke of their torment’ features the head noun kapnòs {καπνὸς | kapnòs} with two genitives. The prepositional idiom eis aiōnas aiōnōn {εἰς αἰῶνας αἰώνων | eis aiōnas aiōnōn} ‘for ages of ages’ intensifies the duration. The verb anabaínei {ἀναβαίνει | anabaínei} ‘ascends’ denotes continuous ascent. In the clause kai ouk échousin anápausin hēméras kai nyktós {καὶ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἀνάπαυσιν ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός | kaí ouk échousin anápausin hēméras kai nyktós} ‘and they have no rest day or night,’ the present indicative échousin {ἔχουσιν | échousin} with the accusative noun anápausin {ἀνάπαυσιν | anápausin} underscores uninterrupted suffering. The substantival participle proskynoûntes {προσκυνοῦντες | pros-kynoûntes} ‘worshiping’ serves as the subject. The conditional clause ei tis lambánei tò cháragma tou onómatos autoû {εἴ τις λαμβάνει τὸ χάραγμα τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ | eí tis lambánei tò cháragma tou onómatos autoû} ‘if anyone receives the mark of its name’ extends the warning universally. The repeated kai conjunctions create a cumulative structure that underscores the perpetual consequence of idolatrous allegiance. |