ἐφʼ

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 ἐφʼ

   eph

   on
2. sentence🔊 καὶ τὰ στρατεύματα τὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ ἐφʼ ἵπποις λευκοῖς ἐνδεδυμένοι βύσσινον λευκὸν καθαρόν

   kai ta stra-TEU-ma-ta ta en tôi ou-ra-NÔI ê-ko-LOU-thei au-TÔI eph HIP-pois leu-KOIS en-de-dy-ME-noi BYS-si-non leu-KON ka-tha-RON

   and the armies the in the heaven were following him on horses white clothed fine linen white pure

Exegesis

The phrase eph hippois leukois {ἐφʼ ἵπποις λευκοῖς | eph híp-pois leu-koîs} denotes manner and means (“on white horses”), and the participle endedumenoi {ἐνδεδυμένοι | en-de-du-mé-noi} functions circumstantially to describe their state, governing the accusative modifiers bussinon leukon katharon {βύσσινον λευκὸν καθαρόν | býs-si-non leu-kón ka-tha-rón}, which cumulatively emphasize the purity and status of the linen. English translation renders these participial and descriptive elements as finite and participial phrases to preserve both the ongoing action and the vivid portrayal of the troops’ regal and spotless attire.