τὸν

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 τὸν

   ton

   the
2. sentence🔊 ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω ὁ δὲ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο

   ho es-THI-ōn ton mê es-THI-on-ta mê ek-sou-the-NEI-tō ho de mê es-THI-ōn ton es-THI-on-ta mê kri-NE-tō ho the-OS gar au-TON pro-se-LA-be-to

   the the one eating the not the one eating not let him not despise the but not the one eating the the one eating not let him not judge the God for him welcomed

Exegesis

It begins with the substantival participial phrase ho esthiōn {ὁ ἐσθίων | ho esthí-ōn} “the one who eats” as the grammatical subject, followed by the object ton mē esthionta {τόν μὴ ἐσθίοντα | tón mē esthí-on-ta} “the one not eating,” and the prohibitive construction mē exoutheneitō {μὴ ἐξουθενείτω | mē ex-ou-the-neí-tō} “let him not despise.” The negative particle mē directly precedes the imperative, forming a prohibition.

The second clause, introduced by the postpositive de {δὲ | de}, mirrors the first: ho mē esthiōn {ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων | ho mē esthí-ōn} “the one not eating” is the subject, ton esthionta {τόν ἐσθίοντα | tón esthí-on-ta} “the one eating” the object, and mē krinetō {μὴ κρινέτω | mē kri-né-tō} “let him not judge” the corresponding prohibition. This symmetrical syntax underscores mutual responsibility and forbids both contempt and judgment from either side of the dietary practice divide.