independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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The census and the birth in Bethlehem 2:1–7
vv. 1–3 — the decree: the whole world set moving
1
Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναιςindependent — Septuagintal ἐγένετο δέ frame — a new scene, opened on the world stage
ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστουindependent — asyndetic content of the frame — the empire moves; Augustus set against the true σωτήρ of v. 11
ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην.content — epexegetic infinitive — the decree's content; οἰκουμένη, the Roman world
2
αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετοindependent — parenthetical dating — πρώτη 'first' (or adverbially 'before'), the famous crux left open
ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου.participial — genitive absolute — the disputed synchronism (Quirinius' attested census: A.D. 6, Josephus)
3
καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι,independent — iterative imperfect — the whole population in motion
ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν.phrase modifier — distributive apposition — ἕκαστος parcels out the πάντες
vv. 4–5 — Joseph and Mary up to the city of David
4
Ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲθ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυὶδindependent — the general movement narrows to one Davidide — 'up' to the hill country of Judea
ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλέεμ,relative — the name supplied — Mic 5:2 hovers unquoted
διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυίδ,cause — διὰ τό + infinitive — Davidic descent, the reason providence rides Caesar's decree
5
ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ ἐμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ,purpose — purpose infinitive — the perfect participle: betrothal a settled status; some witnesses add γυναικί
οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ.participial — ἔγκυος a NT hapax — visibly pregnant on the journey
vv. 6–7 — the birth: manger for lack of room
6
Ἐγένετο δὲindependent — the second ἐγένετο δέ frame — the decisive moment arrives
ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖphrase modifier — ἐν τῷ + infinitive temporal — forward-leaning on ἐπλήσθησαν
ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν,independent — asyndetic content of the frame — the term completed in Bethlehem, not Nazareth
7
καὶ ἔτεκεν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον,independent — πρωτότοκος — legally weighted: the consecration of v. 23 waits on it
καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸνindependent — ordinary newborn care (cf. Wis 7:4) — the King swaddled
καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν φάτνῃ,independent — the φάτνη — feeding-trough, soon the sign of vv. 12, 16
διότι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τόπος ἐν τῷ καταλύματι.cause — κατάλυμα — public inn or household guest-room (cf. 22:11), left open
The shepherds, the angel, and the Gloria 2:8–20
vv. 8–14 — night watch, epiphany, and the angels' hymn
8
Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇindependent — the lowly first audience — David's own trade, near David's town
ἀγραυλοῦντεςparticipial — periphrastic participle — ἀγραυλέω, a NT hapax: out overnight with the flock
καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν.participial — second periphrastic participle — cognate accusative, 'keeping the watches'
9
καὶ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖςindependent — ἐπέστη — the sudden angelic arrival (cf. 24:4; Acts 12:7)
καὶ δόξα κυρίου περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς,independent — the Shekinah blazes over a sheep-field, not the temple
καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν.independent — Septuagintal cognate accusative — the numinous dread of theophany
10
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄγγελος·independent — the speech-frame for the gospel proclamation
Μὴ φοβεῖσθε,content — the stock angelic reassurance — present imperative: stop fearing
ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάληνcause — performative εὐαγγελίζομαι — the angel evangelizes; χαρά, the infancy narrative's keynote
ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῷ λαῷ,relative — παντὶ τῷ λαῷ — Israel first, already opening toward the nations (v. 32)
11
ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτὴρcontent — the good news itself — the Lukan σήμερον of salvation (4:21; 19:9); σωτήρ against Caesar's claim
ὅς ἐστιν χριστὸς κύριος ἐν πόλει Δαυίδ.relative — the piled titles — χριστὸς κύριος, Messiah-Lord; the birthplace seals v. 4
12
καὶ τοῦτο ὑμῖν τὸ σημεῖον,content — verbless — the confirming token announced
εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον καὶ κείμενον ἐν φάτνῃ.content — the paradoxical sign — lowliness itself the credential
13
καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἐγένετο σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίουindependent — στρατιά — the army of heaven, mustered to announce peace
αἰνούντων τὸν θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων·participial — constructio ad sensum — plural participles for the massed host
14
Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷcontent — the GLORIA, first colon — verbless acclamation heavenward
καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας.content — second colon — genitive εὐδοκίας (ℵ* A B* D W), 'people of his favor,' against the Byzantine nominative
vv. 15–20 — to Bethlehem: the sign verified, the word spread
15
Καὶ ἐγένετοindependent — the καὶ ἐγένετο frame again — flush-left
ὡς ἀπῆλθον ἀπ’ αὐτῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οἱ ἄγγελοι,conditional — temporal ὡς (typed cnd; no temporal key) — forward-leaning on ἐλάλουν
οἱ ποιμένες ἐλάλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους·independent — inceptive imperfect — the resolve forms as the light fades
Διέλθωμεν δὴ ἕως Βηθλέεμcontent — hortatory subjunctive with urgent δή
καὶ ἴδωμεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο τὸ γεγονὸςcontent — ῥῆμα — the Semitic 'word-thing': the spoken event, to be seen
ὃ ὁ κύριος ἐγνώρισεν ἡμῖν.relative — behind the angel, the Lord himself
16
καὶ ἦλθαν σπεύσαντεςindependent — σπεύσαντες — eager obedience to the word
καὶ ἀνεῦραν τήν τε Μαριὰμ καὶ τὸν Ἰωσὴφ καὶ τὸ βρέφοςindependent — ἀνεῦραν — found by searching; the τε … καί groups the family
κείμενον ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ·participial — the sign of v. 12 confirmed word for word
17
ἰδόντες δὲparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἐγνώρισαν
ἐγνώρισαν περὶ τοῦ ῥήματος τοῦ λαληθέντος αὐτοῖς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου τούτου.independent — the shepherds turn heralds — their ἐγνώρισαν answers the Lord's ἐγνώρισεν (v. 15)
18
καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν περὶ τῶν λαληθέντων ὑπὸ τῶν ποιμένων πρὸς αὐτούς·independent — the crowd's passing wonder — foil to Mary's keeping
19
ἡ δὲ Μαριὰμ πάντα συνετήρει τὰ ῥήματα ταῦταindependent — durative imperfect — the first treasuring-refrain (cf. v. 51)
συμβάλλουσα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς.participial — συμβάλλουσα — throwing the events together, weighing their meaning
20
καὶ ὑπέστρεψαν οἱ ποιμένεςindependent — the scene closes homeward — ὑποστρέφω, a Lukan favorite
δοξάζοντες καὶ αἰνοῦντες τὸν θεὸν ἐπὶ πᾶσινparticipial — their praise answers the host's Gloria — αἰνοῦντες echoes v. 13
οἷς ἤκουσαν καὶ εἶδονrelative — relative attracted to the dative — on πᾶσιν
καθὼς ἐλαλήθη πρὸς αὐτούς.comparative — the word proven true point for point
Circumcision and presentation — Simeon, the Nunc Dimittis, and Anna 2:21–40
v. 21 — the eighth day: circumcised and named
21
Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν,conditional — temporal ὅτε (typed cnd; no temporal key) — Lev 12:3; forward-leaning on ἐκλήθη
καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς,independent — apodotic καί (Septuagintal) — the heaven-appointed name, 'YHWH saves'
τὸ κληθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγγέλου πρὸ τοῦ συλλημφθῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ.participial — attributive participle — Gabriel's word (1:31) kept to the letter
vv. 22–24 — up to Jerusalem: the firstborn presented, the poor's offering
22
Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωϋσέως,conditional — temporal ὅτε (typed cnd) — the forty days of Lev 12; the section's law-refrain begins
ἀνήγαγον αὐτὸν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμαindependent — the child's first entry into the city of his destiny
παραστῆσαι τῷ κυρίῳ,purpose — purpose infinitive — the firstborn consecrated (Exod 13:2, 12)
23
καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν νόμῳ κυρίου ὅτιcomparative — citation formula — the presentation grounded in Torah
Πᾶν ἄρσεν διανοῖγον μήτραν ἅγιον τῷ κυρίῳ κληθήσεται,content — Exod 13:2, 12 — the firstborn belongs to the Lord
24
καὶ τοῦ δοῦναι θυσίαν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον ἐν τῷ νόμῳ κυρίου,purpose — second purpose infinitive, coordinate with παραστῆσαι
ζεῦγος τρυγόνων ἢ δύο νοσσοὺς περιστερῶν.phrase modifier — Lev 12:8 — the alternative for those who cannot afford a lamb: the family's poverty, quietly
vv. 25–32 — Simeon: the promise kept, the NUNC DIMITTIS
25
Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνθρωπος ἦν ἐν Ἰερουσαλὴμindependent — ἰδού — a new figure steps into the temple scene
ᾧ ὄνομα Συμεών,relative — verbless naming clause — dative of possession
καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος δίκαιος καὶ εὐλαβής,independent — verbless predication — the character sketch
προσδεχόμενος παράκλησιν τοῦ Ἰσραήλ,participial — προσδεχόμενος — the remnant's posture (cf. v. 38); παράκλησις, Isa 40:1
καὶ πνεῦμα ἦν ἅγιον ἐπ’ αὐτόν·independent — the Spirit resting as on the prophets
26
καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ κεχρηματισμένον ὑπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίουindependent — periphrastic pluperfect — χρηματίζω, the oracle-verb
μὴ ἰδεῖν θάνατονcontent — the oracle's content — 'see death,' the Semitic idiom for dying
πρὶν ἢ ἂν ἴδῃ τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου.conditional — temporal πρὶν ἤ + subjunctive (typed cnd) — the two seeings set against each other
27
καὶ ἦλθεν ἐν τῷ πνεύματι εἰς τὸ ἱερόν·independent — Spirit-led timing — the meeting engineered from above
καὶ ἐν τῷ εἰσαγαγεῖν τοὺς γονεῖς τὸ παιδίον Ἰησοῦνphrase modifier — ἐν τῷ + infinitive temporal — forward-leaning on ἐδέξατο (v. 28)
τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὸ εἰθισμένον τοῦ νόμου περὶ αὐτοῦ,purpose — genitive articular infinitive of purpose — the law-note again
28
καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέξατο αὐτὸ εἰς τὰς ἀγκάλαςindependent — apodotic καί — the promised sight becomes an embrace
καὶ εὐλόγησεν τὸν θεὸνindependent — praise before prophecy
καὶ εἶπεν·independent — the speech-frame for the canticle
29
Νῦν ἀπολύεις τὸν δοῦλόν σου, δέσποτα, κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ·content — NUNC DIMITTIS opens — the watchman dismissed; δεσπότης, the slave's own word for his lord
30
ὅτι εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου τὸ σωτήριόν σου,cause — the ground of the dismissal — the oracle of v. 26 fulfilled; σωτήριον, Isa 40:5; 52:10 LXX
31
ὃ ἡτοίμασας κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν λαῶν,relative — the plural λαῶν — already wider than Israel
32
φῶς εἰς ἀποκάλυψιν ἐθνῶν καὶ δόξαν λαοῦ σου Ἰσραήλ.phrase modifier — apposition to τὸ σωτήριον — Isa 42:6; 49:6: the canticle's climax and Luke's whole horizon
vv. 33–35 — the oracle to Mary: the sign opposed, the sword
33
καὶ ἦν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ θαυμάζοντες ἐπὶ τοῖς λαλουμένοις περὶ αὐτοῦ.independent — periphrastic imperfect — ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ read; later witnesses substitute 'Joseph'
34
καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Συμεὼνindependent — the blessing before the dark word
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ·independent — to Mary alone — the oracle is hers
Ἰδοὺ οὗτος κεῖται εἰς πτῶσιν καὶ ἀνάστασιν πολλῶν ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλcontent — κεῖται — set like the stone of Isa 8:14–15; fall first, then rising
καὶ εἰς σημεῖον ἀντιλεγόμενον,phrase modifier — coordinate εἰς-phrase — the sign that provokes contradiction
35
καὶ σοῦ δὲ αὐτῆς τὴν ψυχὴν διελεύσεται ῥομφαία,content — the personal aside to Mary — ῥομφαία, the great blade of grief (cf. Ezek 14:17)
ὅπως ἂν ἀποκαλυφθῶσιν ἐκ πολλῶν καρδιῶν διαλογισμοί.purpose — ὅπως ἄν — the child's division lays every heart bare; arguably modifying the whole oracle
vv. 36–38 — Anna: the second witness
36
Καὶ ἦν Ἅννα προφῆτις, θυγάτηρ Φανουήλ, ἐκ φυλῆς Ἀσήρ·independent — the paired female witness — a northern tribe still represented in the remnant
αὕτη προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ἡμέραις πολλαῖς,independent — verbless — the perfect participle carries the predication (cf. 1:7)
ζήσασα μετὰ ἀνδρὸς ἔτη ἑπτὰ ἀπὸ τῆς παρθενίας αὐτῆς,participial — the biography compressed — seven years married from her maidenhood
37
καὶ αὐτὴ χήρα ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων,independent — verbless — her age, or eighty-four years of widowhood, left open
ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦrelative — customary imperfect — she never left
νηστείαις καὶ δεήσεσιν λατρεύουσα νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν.participial — λατρεύουσα — cultic service around the clock; the fronted datives of means
38
καὶ αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐπιστᾶσαparticipial — preposed participle — the same providential timing as Simeon's; leans on ἀνθωμολογεῖτο
ἀνθωμολογεῖτο τῷ θεῷindependent — ἀνθομολογέομαι — a NT hapax of answering praise; τῷ θεῷ read over τῷ κυρίῳ
καὶ ἐλάλει περὶ αὐτοῦ πᾶσιν τοῖς προσδεχομένοις λύτρωσιν Ἰερουσαλήμ.independent — iterative imperfect — to the whole waiting remnant (cf. v. 25; 24:21)
vv. 39–40 — home to Nazareth: the first growth-summary
39
Καὶ ὡς ἐτέλεσαν πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὸν νόμον κυρίου,conditional — temporal ὡς (typed cnd) — the law-keeping complete; forward-leaning on ἐπέστρεψαν
ἐπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν εἰς πόλιν ἑαυτῶν Ναζαρέθ.independent — the Jerusalem frame closes — homeward to the hidden years
40
Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτοindependent — durative imperfects — the growth-notice (cf. 1:80 of John)
πληρούμενον σοφίᾳ,participial — present participle — the wisdom v. 47 will display
καὶ χάρις θεοῦ ἦν ἐπ’ αὐτό.independent — the divine favor resting — twin to v. 52
The boy Jesus in the temple 2:41–52
vv. 41–45 — the Passover, and the boy missing
41
Καὶ ἐπορεύοντο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ κατ’ ἔτος εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ τῇ ἑορτῇ τοῦ πάσχα.independent — customary imperfect — the pilgrim household (Deut 16:16)
42
καὶ ὅτε ἐγένετο ἐτῶν δώδεκα,conditional — temporal ὅτε (typed cnd) — the threshold of Law-responsibility; the first of four frames leaning on ὑπέμεινεν
ἀναβαινόντων αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἑορτῆςparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; the second frame
43
καὶ τελειωσάντων τὰς ἡμέρας,participial — second genitive absolute — the festival week done; the third frame
ἐν τῷ ὑποστρέφειν αὐτοὺςphrase modifier — ἐν τῷ + infinitive temporal — the fourth stacked frame
ὑπέμεινεν Ἰησοῦς ὁ παῖς ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ,independent — the verb finally strikes after four leaning frames
καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ.independent — οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ read over the harmonizing 'Joseph and his mother'
44
νομίσαντες δὲ αὐτὸν εἶναι ἐν τῇ συνοδίᾳparticipial — causal participle — the natural assumption; leans on ἦλθον
ἦλθον ἡμέρας ὁδὸνindependent — a day northward before the loss is felt
καὶ ἀνεζήτουν αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς συγγενεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς γνωστοῖς,independent — inceptive imperfect — ἀναζητέω, the intensive search-verb
45
καὶ μὴ εὑρόντεςparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ὑπέστρεψαν
ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμindependent — the steps retraced
ἀναζητοῦντες αὐτόν.participial — the search continues through the return
vv. 46–50 — found among the teachers: the exchange
46
καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ἡμέρας τρεῖςindependent — the καὶ ἐγένετο frame once more — three days of loss
εὗρον αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷindependent — asyndetic content of the frame — found where he belongs
καθεζόμενον ἐν μέσῳ τῶν διδασκάλωνparticipial — the learner's posture — yet at the center
καὶ ἀκούοντα αὐτῶνparticipial — hearing first
καὶ ἐπερωτῶντα αὐτούς·participial — the rabbinic give-and-take
47
ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες οἱ ἀκούοντες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῇ συνέσει καὶ ταῖς ἀποκρίσεσιν αὐτοῦ.independent — ἐξίσταντο — the wisdom of v. 40 on public display
48
καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸνparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἐξεπλάγησαν
ἐξεπλάγησαν,independent — the parents' shock — relief and reproach together
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ·independent — Mary speaks — the reproach
Τέκνον, τί ἐποίησας ἡμῖν οὕτως;content — the tender vocative sharpens the reproach
ἰδοὺ ὁ πατήρ σου κἀγὼ ὀδυνώμενοι ἐζητοῦμέν σε.content — 'your father' — Mary's word for Joseph, about to be recast in v. 49
49
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς·independent — Jesus' first recorded words in the Gospel
Τί ὅτι ἐζητεῖτέ με;content — the counter-question — τί ὅτι, 'why is it that?'
οὐκ ᾔδειτεcontent — the question expecting yes — they of all people should have known
ὅτι ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου δεῖ εἶναί με;content — ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός — 'house' or 'affairs,' deliberately open; the Lukan divine δεῖ; 'my Father' answers 'your father'
50
καὶ αὐτοὶ οὐ συνῆκαν τὸ ῥῆμαindependent — even the parents — the mystery still veiled
ὃ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς.relative — the saying kept, not grasped
vv. 51–52 — down to Nazareth: obedience, treasuring, growth
51
καὶ κατέβη μετ’ αὐτῶνindependent — down from Jerusalem — the geography of obedience
καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Ναζαρὲθindependent — back to the hidden years
καὶ ἦν ὑποτασσόμενος αὐτοῖς.independent — periphrastic imperfect — continual filial subjection: the Son under his parents
καὶ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ διετήρει πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς.independent — the treasuring-refrain again (v. 19) — διετήρει, kept carefully
52
Καὶ Ἰησοῦς προέκοπτεν τῇ σοφίᾳ καὶ ἡλικίᾳ καὶ χάριτι παρὰ θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις.independent — the closing growth-summary — 1 Sam 2:26: Samuel's pattern on the greater Son
Analysis. Luke 2 is narrative in Luke's most Septuagintal manner, and the layout shows it: the ἐγένετο δέ / καὶ ἐγένετο frames sit flush-left (vv. 1, 6, 15, 46) with their temporal machinery — ἐν τῷ + infinitive phrases, genitive absolutes, ὅτε/ὡς clauses — leaning forward, anchor-less, on the main verb below, most spectacularly in vv. 42–43, where four stacked frames (ὅτε ἐγένετο ἐτῶν δώδεκα, ἀναβαινόντων, τελειωσάντων, ἐν τῷ ὑποστρέφειν) hang over the single blow ὑπέμεινεν, 'he stayed behind.' Against the purple mainline, speech hangs blue beneath its verbs of saying: the angel's annunciation chains under εἶπεν down through its γάρ-ground and the ὅτι of the good news (vv. 10–12); the two canticle-fragments stand as cola — the Gloria's two verbless lines under λεγόντων (v. 14), the NUNC DIMITTIS under εἶπεν with its ὅτι-ground and the relative-plus-apposition pair expanding τὸ σωτήριον (vv. 29–32); and the Exod 13:2, 12 citation hangs under γέγραπται in its καθώς-formula (v. 23), with Lev 12:8's poor-offering in apposition at v. 24. Cruxes the layout inherits rather than resolves: the Quirinius synchronism of v. 2 is printed and left unresolved (πρώτη 'first,' or adverbially 'before Quirinius governed'); εὐδοκίας in v. 14 is the early genitive ('people of his favor,' ℵ* A B* D W), against the later Byzantine nominative; κατάλυμα (v. 7) is glossed 'inn / guest-room' and left open; ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου (v. 49) is rendered 'in the things of my Father' with the house/affairs ambiguity named in the tag; and ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ stands at v. 33 where later witnesses write 'Joseph.' The chapter's shape is a set of framed scenes closed by refrains: Mary's treasuring (vv. 19, 51) and the twin growth-summaries (vv. 40, 52).