| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the conjunctive kai {Καὶ | Kaí}, tightly linking this action to the sequence of bowl judgments already underway. The expression ho tritos {ὁ τρίτος | ho trí-tos} functions as a substantivized ordinal, “the third,” with the noun “angel” understood from the preceding context, so the Greek can simply name the ordinal to carry the subject. The finite verb execheen {ἐξέχεεν | ex-É-khe-en} is an aorist active indicative, presenting the pouring out as a single, decisive act. The direct object ten phialen autou {τὴν φιάλην αὐτοῦ | tḕn phi-Á-lēn au-TŪ} combines the article, noun, and possessive genitive pronoun to depict a specific bowl assigned to this angel. The prepositional phrase eis tous potamous kai tas pegas ton hydaton {εἰς τοὺς ποταμοὺς καὶ τὰς πηγὰς τῶν ὑδάτων | eis toûs po-ta-MOÛS kai tàs pē-GÁS tōn hy-DÁ-tōn} identifies two coordinated objects (“rivers” and “springs”) governed by a single preposition “into,” with the genitive ton hydaton modifying both and emphasizing that all sources of fresh water are affected. The final clause kai egeneto haima {καὶ ἐγένετο αἷμα | kaí e-GÉ-ne-to HÁi-ma} employs the intransitive aorist middle egeneto, “it became,” with a predicate nominative haima, “blood,” summarizing the result of the judgment as a dramatic transformation. English rendering preserves the sequential structure (conjunction plus ordinal), the single decisive action of pouring, the comprehensive scope of the objects, and the climactic placement of “blood” at the end of the sentence to mirror the Greek emphasis. |