25 Λέγω Melding in the Septuagint and New Testament both verbs have the same lexical realization of their second complements: either the initial verb of communication (2), the following verb of com- munication (3), or neither verb (3) but never both verbs have their second complement lexically realized.10 The restriction even holds in the three occurrences of three linked verbs that permit the same lexical realization of their second complement: only the first (1) or second (2) but never two verbs have their second complement lexically realized.11 Thus, in these 514 occurrences, two or three linked verbs that permit the same lexical realization of their second complement never appear with more than one of these complements lexically realized; and both or all three verbs govern the same concluding third complement. This indicates that their syntactic, semantic, and lexical requirements not merely are linked as in coordination but are melded in such a manner that both or all three verbs lexically realize only one first, second, and third complement as if they constituted a single verb. The same restriction, however, does not extend to the second comple- ment when the linked verbs do not permit the same lexical realization of their second complements. This appears with 77 occurrences of λέγω melding in which the initial verb, unlike λέγω, permits the lexical reali- zation of its second complement only as an accusative case noun phrase (N+acc), a genitive case noun phrase (N+gen), or an ἐν prepositional phrase (P/ἐν); and the final verb, like λέγω, permits its lexical realization only as a dative case noun phrase (N+dat) or a πρός prepositional phrase (P/πρός). In the 76 occurrences of two such linked verbs, either the initial verb (70 occurrences) or second verb (2 occurrences) or neither verb (2 occurrences) or both verbs (2 occurrences) may appear with their second complement lexically realized.12 The one occurrence of λέγω melding Second complement of the initial verb lexically realized and second complement 10 of the second verb null (2 occurrences in NT): ἀποκρίνομαι + φημί (N+dat: Luke 23:3) and ἀπαγγέλλω + ὀμνύω (N+dat: Heb 6:13). Second complement of the initial verb null and second complement of the second verb lexically realized (3 occurrences in LXX): ἀποκρίνομαι + ἀπαγγέλλω (N+dat: Jdth 6:17); ἀπαγγέλλω + [a second] ἀπαγγέλλω (1 Sam 10:16a; 22:22). Second complement of the initial verb lexically realized and second comple- ment of the second verb null (3 occurrences = 2 in LXX and 1 in NT): ἀποκρίνομαι + φημί (Matt 8:8); ἀποκρίνομαι + προσλέγω (2 Macc 7:8); ἀπαγγέλλω + [a second] ἀπαγγέλλω (Judg 14:12). Second complement of the initial verb lexically realized and second complement of 11 the second and third verb null (1 occurrence in LXX): ἀποκρίνομαι + λέγω + λέγω (P/πρός: Gen 23:10). Second complement of the initial and third verb null and second complement of the second verb lexically realized (2 occurrences in NT): ἀποκρίνομαι + λέγω + λέγω (N+dat: Matt 22:1); ἀποκρίνομαι + λέγω + λέγω (P/πρός: Luke 14:3). Second complement of verb of communication lexically realized and second comple- 12 ment of λέγω null (70 occurrences = 38 in LXX and 32 in NT): δέομαι (N+gen: Deut 3:23; 1 Kgs 8:47; 2 Chr 6:37; Luke 5:12); ἐπερωτάω (N+acc: Gen 24:23; 43:7; 2 Kgs 19:10 [A]; Jer