| 10. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the coordinating conjunction kai {καὶ | kaí} linking back to the preceding vision, followed by the noun phrase hoi basileis hepta {οἱ βασιλεῖς ἑπτὰ | hoí ba-si-leîs hep-tà} “the kings seven,” where the article and cardinal numeral mark a definite group. The verb eisin {εἰσιν | ei-sin} “are” affirms their current status. A triadic series of nominative clauses—hoi pente epesan {οἱ πέντε ἔπεσαν | hoí pén-te é-pe-san} “the five fell,” ho heis estin {ὁ εἷς ἐστιν | ho heîs é-stin} “the one is,” ho allos oupō ēlthen {ὁ ἄλλος οὔπω ἦλθεν | ho ál-los oú-pō ḗl-then} “the other has not yet come”—creates a progression from past fall to present existence and future coming. The conjunction kai {καὶ | kaí} introduces the temporal clause hotan elthē {ὅταν ἔλθῃ | hó-tan é-lthē}, where hotan plus aorist subjunctive conveys an indefinite future (“whenever he comes”). Finally, the impersonal verb deî with infinitive meinai and adverbial oligon in oligon auton dei meinai {ὀλίγον αὐτὸν δεῖ μεῖναι | o-lí-gon au-tón deî meî-nai} expresses necessary duration: “it is necessary to remain a little.” The Greek asyndeton and precise article use heighten the sense of unfolding successive rule. |