| 8. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the connective kai {καί | kaí} linking this statement to the preceding narrative. The finite verb exeleusetai {ἐξελεύσεται | ex-e-leú-se-tai} is future middle, with an implied subject carried over from the context, and it is followed by the infinitive planēsai {πλανῆσαι | pla-nê-sai} functioning as a purpose infinitive, expressing the goal “to deceive.” The direct object of this infinitive is ta ethnē {τὰ ἔθνη | tà éth-nē} “the nations,” further specified by the articular prepositional phrase ta en tais tessarsi gōniais tēs gēs {τὰ ἐν ταῖς τέσσαρσι γωνίαις τῆς γῆς | tà en taîs tés-sar-si gō-ní-ais tês gês}, literally “those in the four corners of the earth,” a stereotyped apocalyptic expression for worldwide scope. The accusative phrase ton Gōg kai Magōg {τὸν Γὼγ καὶ Μαγώγ | tón Gōg kai Ma-gṓg} stands in apposition to “the nations,” presenting Gog and Magog as representative or symbolic hostile powers. A second infinitive, synagagein {συναγαγεῖν | sy-na-ga-geîn}, coordinated conceptually with planēsai, expresses the further purpose “to gather,” with autous {αὐτούς | au-toús} as its object and the prepositional phrase eis ton polemon {εἰς τὸν πόλεμον | eis tón pó-le-mon} indicating purpose or result, “for the war.” The relative clause hōn ho arithmos autōn hōs hē ammos tēs thalassēs {ὧν ὁ ἀριθμὸς αὐτῶν ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης | hōn ho a-ri-thmós autôn hōs hē ám-mos tês tha-lás-sēs} modifies “the nations,” with hōn referring back to them, and presents a nominal clause in which ho arithmos is the subject and the simile with hōs introduces the comparison “like the sand of the sea.” In translation, the Greek infinitival chain is rendered with clear purpose clauses (“to deceive,” “to gather”) and the appositional Gog and Magog is retained in place to preserve the rhetorical force, while the relative clause is converted into a separate but closely linked clause for readability. |