22 Paul Danove It is restricted to verb phrases that have four characteristics: (1) a verb of communication is followed by λέγω (or another verb of communication) or even by two verbs of communication; (2) at most one of the verbs is finite in form and the other[s] participial in form; (3) the verbs are not coordinated by a conjunction; and (4) only the last verb has its third complement lexically realized. Λέγω melding is deemed a distinctive grammatical phenomenon ba- sed on the unique manner in which it links the syntactic, semantic, and lexical requirements of its participating verbs. In the Septuagint and the New Testament, only λέγω melding and coordination (by a conjunction) permit a second (and, on occasion, a third) verb to intrude prior to the lexical realization of the initial verb’s required third complement when this complement’s definite semantic content has not received prior con- textual clarification. It differs from coordination, however, in placing a novel restriction on the lexical realization of the verbs’ second (experi- encer) complements. Like coordination, λέγω melding permits one or two verbs to intrude between an initial verb of communication and the lexical realization of the third complement whose definite semantic content has not received prior clarification. Λέγω melding has 591 occurrences (419 in LXX and 172 in NT) in association with 21 verbs of communication: αἰτέω (ask); ἀναγγέλλω (announce, tell); ἀπαγγέλλω (announce, tell); ἀποκρίνομαι (answer, respond); δέομαι (ask, beg); δηλόω (reveal, inform); διαλογίζομαι (discuss); διασαφέω (explain); διαστέλλομαι (command); ἐντέλλομαι (command); ἐπαγγέλλω (promise); ἐπερωτάω (ask); ἐρωτάω (ask); κελεύω (urge, order); κηρύσσω (proclaim); [a second] λέγω (say); ὁρκίζω (implore); παραγγέλλω (command); παρακαλέω (urge); προστάσσω (command); and συντάσσω (command).7 Among these, 576 occurrences 16; 51:25; Bar 2:20; Ezek 33:10, 30a, 30b; 37:11; Dan 3:36; OGDan 3:36; OGBel 34; Matt 13:3; 14:27; 23:1; 28:18; Luke 14:6; John 8:12; Acts 8:26; 26:31; 28:25; Rev 4:1; 17:1; 21:9); μαρτυρέω (testify: John 1:15, 32); ὀμνύω (swear: Gen 24:7; Josh 14:9; Judg 15:13 [A]; 21:1, 18; 1 Sam 6:2; 19:6; 28:10; 2 Sam 3:35; 1 Kgs 1:13, 17, 30; 2:8, 23, 35n; 1 Macc 7:15, 35; Jer 45:16; 47:9; Heb 6:13); προσεύχομαι (pray: 2 Chr 30:18; Tob 3:1; Isa 37:15; 38:2; 44:17; Jer 39:16; Matt 26:42; Luke 22:41); προφητεύω (prophesy: 1 Kgs 22:12; 2 Chr 18:11; 20:37; Jer 33:9; 39:3; 44:19; Jude 14); συλλαλέω (speak with: Luke 4:36; Acts 7:26); and φωνέω (call: Mark 10:49; Luke 8:54; Acts 16:28; Rev 14:18); ψευδομαρτυρέω (testify falsely: Mark 14:57). The study omits four verbs of communication whose rare occurrence prevents a deter- 7 mination whether their null third complements must be definite: διϊσχυρίζομαι (insist: Luke 22:59); παραβιάζομαι (urge, press: Gen 19:3, 9; Deut 1:43; 1 Sam 28:23; 2 Kgs 2:17; 5:16; Amos 6:10; Jon 1:13; Luke 24:29); παραινέω (advise: 2 Macc 7:25, 26 [R]; 3 Macc 5:17; 7:12 [A]; Acts 27:9); and παρηγορέω (advise: 4 Macc 12:2). Five verbs of communication with the same syntactic and semantic properties as λέγω do not appear with intruding verbs of communication: διηγέομαι (tell), ἐπιλύω (explain), ἐπιτάσσω (command), προλέγω (say in advance), and φημί (say).