| 11. Linguistic Exegesis kai hoi emporoi tēs gēs {Καὶ οἱ ἔμποροι τῆς γῆς | kaì hoi émporoi tês gēs} “and the merchants of the earth” opens with an article–noun phrase marked by the genitive tēs gēs, specifying the sphere of trading. Two coordinated present active verbs, klaiousin kai penthousin {κλαίουσιν καὶ πενθοῦσιν | klaíousin kaì penthoûsin} “weep and mourn,” convey ongoing lamentation. The prepositional phrase ep’ autēn {ἐπʼ αὐτήν | epʼ autḗn} “over her” designates the fallen city as the focus of grief. The conjunction hoti {ὅτι | hóti} introduces a causal clause explaining the reason for sorrow. Within that clause, ton gomon autōn {τὸν γόμον αὐτῶν | tón gómon autôn} “their cargo” functions as the accusative object, while oudeis agorazei {οὐδεὶς ἀγοράζει | oudeís agorázei} “no one buys,” with the adverb ouketi {οὐκέτι | oukétī} “no longer” placed for emphasis, underscores the complete cessation of trade. |