Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The First Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 2ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Α′ Β′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Hannah's song of reversal stands over the corruption of Eli's sons and the promise of a faithful priest.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 1 Kingdoms 2 (= 1 Samuel 2) follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The chapter opens with the Song of Hannah (vv. 1–10), a major poetic canticle that became the principal scriptural model for the Magnificat of Mary (Luke 1:46–55). The opening line ἐστερεώθη ἡ καρδία μου ἐν κυρίῳ ('my heart is made firm in the LORD', v. 1) stands behind μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν κύριον (Luke 1:46); εὐφράνθην ἐν σωτηρίᾳ σου ('I rejoiced in your salvation', v. 1) behind ἠγαλλίασεν τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου (Luke 1:47); the reversal couplets τόξον δυνατῶν ἠσθένησεν ('the bow of the mighty is broken', v. 4), πλήρεις ἄρτων ἠλαττώθησαν … οἱ πεινῶντες παρῆκαν γῆν (v. 5), and ἀνιστᾷ ἀπὸ γῆς πένητα … ἐγείρει πτωχόν (v. 8) behind καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς, πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν (Luke 1:52–53); and the κύριος θανατοῖ καὶ ζωογονεῖ ('the LORD kills and makes alive', v. 6) declaration sounds the deepest note of YHWH's absolute sovereignty over life and death (cf. Deut 32:39). The κέρας ('horn') exalted in v. 1 and the κέρας χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ ('horn of his anointed') raised at the canticle's close (v. 10) frame the song with royal-messianic imagery later echoed at Luke 1:69 (ἤγειρεν κέρας σωτηρίας). The canticle is the only direct mention of a 'king' / 'anointed one' in 1 Samuel before the monarchy exists — a proleptic announcement of the Davidic king. The narrative then turns dark: Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas, υἱοὶ λοιμοί ('worthless sons') who 'did not know the LORD' (v. 12), seize the sacrificial portions by force, despising the offering of the LORD (vv. 13–17; the Hebrew further charges them with lying with the women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting, a clause the Greek of v. 22 in this edition does not represent). Against this foil the boy Samuel grows, ministering before the LORD girded in a linen ephod (εφουδ βαρ, v. 18) — his mother bringing him a little robe year by year (v. 19) — increasing in favor with the LORD and with men (v. 26; cf. Luke 2:52 of Jesus). The chapter closes with the oracle of the unnamed ἄνθρωπος θεοῦ ('man of God', v. 27) against the house of Eli: because Eli has honored his sons above YHWH (v. 29), the LORD reverses his earlier promise — τοὺς δοξάζοντάς με δοξάσω καὶ ὁ ἐξουθενῶν με ἀτιμωθήσεται ('those who honor me I will honor, and the one who despises me shall be dishonored', v. 30) — announcing the cutting off of Eli's seed, the death of both sons ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ ('on one day', v. 34), and the raising up of a faithful priest (ἱερέα πιστόν, v. 35) who will walk before YHWH's anointed forever.

1

καὶ εἶπεν ἐστερεώθη ἡ καρδία μου ἐν κυρίῳ ὑψώθη κέρας μου ἐν θεῷ μου ἐπλατύνθη ἐπὶ ἐχθροὺς τὸ στόμα μου εὐφράνθην ἐν σωτηρίᾳ σου

And she said: My heart is made firm in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God; my mouth is enlarged over my enemies, I rejoiced in your salvation.

Opening of the Song of Hannah (poetic canticle; direct speech)καὶ εἶπεν
The Song of Hannah begins with a quatrain of first-person verbs of exaltation, each a passive or deponent aorist with YHWH as the agent of the speaker's reversal. This opening line is the chief Septuagintal model for the Magnificat: ἐστερεώθη ἡ καρδία μου ἐν κυρίῳ stands behind μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν κύριον (Luke 1:46), and εὐφράνθην ἐν σωτηρίᾳ σου behind ἠγαλλίασεν τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου (Luke 1:47). The exalted κέρας ('horn') opens an inclusio closed at v. 10 (κέρας χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ).
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενshe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction; subject Hannah implied)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: the unexpressed subject is Hannah (Αννα); MT prefixes 'and Hannah prayed and said', but the LXX here gives the bare καὶ εἶπεν, launching directly into the canticle; the verb introduces the longest stretch of poetry in the books of Kingdoms.
ἐστερεώθηwas made firm / is strengthenedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · στερεόωmain verb (predicate of καρδία)→ verbal action or stateστερεόω: 'make firm / strengthen / establish'; renders Hebrew עָלַץ ('exult'), the LXX construing the heart's exultation as a divinely-given firmness; the passive with ἐν κυρίῳ marks YHWH as the ground and agent of the strengthening — the conceptual seed of Luke 1:46 (μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν κύριον).
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαheartNominativesubject of ἐστερεώθη→ participant prominenceκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב, the seat of will, thought, and emotion; the heart 'made firm in the LORD' denotes inner stability and joy grounded in God, not mere feeling.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (ground / sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (ground / sphere).
κυρίῳLORDDativedative object of ἐν (ground of strengthening)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative ἐν κυρίῳ names YHWH as the sphere and source of Hannah's confidence; the divine name dominates the canticle (occurring at vv. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10).
ὑψώθηwas exalted / lifted highAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὑψόωmain verb (predicate of κέρας)→ verbal action or stateὑψόω: 'raise high / exalt'; the passive with God as agent prefigures the Magnificat's reversal verb ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς (Luke 1:52); the exaltation of the 'horn' is a metaphor for restored dignity, strength, and vindication.
κέραςhornNominativesubject of ὑψώθη→ participant prominenceκέρας: meaning 'horn'; it serves as subject of ὑψώθη.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (ground)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (ground).
θεῷGodDativedative object of ἐν (parallel to ἐν κυρίῳ)→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the parallel ἐν κυρίῳ … ἐν θεῷ μου is synonymous poetic parallelism, the two divine titles paired as the single ground of exaltation.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐπλατύνθηwas enlarged / opened wideAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πλατύνωmain verb (predicate of στόμα)→ verbal action or stateπλατύνω: 'make broad / enlarge'; renders רָחַב; 'my mouth is widened over my enemies' is an idiom for bold, triumphant speech — the silenced sufferer (cf. her former silent prayer, 1:13) now speaks freely in vindication over her foes.
ἐπὶover / againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ἐχθροὺςenemiesAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy / foe'; renders אוֹיֵב; the enemies are at the personal level Hannah's rival Peninnah (1:6), but the canticle universalizes them into all who oppose YHWH and his lowly ones (cf. v. 10, the ἀντίδικος made weak).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with neuter στόμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόμαmouthNominativesubject of ἐπλατύνθη→ participant prominenceστόμα: 'mouth'; renders פֶּה; the widened mouth is the organ of the praise and proclamation that the whole canticle embodies.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
εὐφράνθηνI rejoiced / was made gladAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · εὐφραίνωmain verb (first-person climax of the quatrain)→ verbal action or stateεὐφραίνω: 'gladden / make joyful'; the passive 'I was made glad' renders שָׂמַח; this clause is the direct seed of ἠγαλλίασεν τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου (Luke 1:47), gladness explicitly grounded ἐν σωτηρίᾳ σου ('in your salvation').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (ground of joy)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (ground of joy).
σωτηρίᾳsalvationDativedative object of ἐν (ground of gladness)→ sphere or referenceσωτηρία: 'salvation / deliverance'; renders יְשׁוּעָה; the joy is not in the gift (the child) but in the Giver's saving act; cf. Luke 1:47 τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου, where the same root underlies σωτήρ.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (YHWH's salvation)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (YHWH's salvation).
2

ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἅγιος ὡς κύριος καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν δίκαιος ὡς ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν οὐκ ἔστιν ἅγιος πλὴν σοῦ

For there is none holy as the LORD, and there is none righteous as our God; there is none holy besides you.

Causal ground of the exultation of v. 1 (incomparability creed)ὅτι
The triple οὐκ ἔστιν … grounds Hannah's joy in YHWH's incomparability — holiness, righteousness, and once more holiness 'besides you'. The shift from third-person (ὡς κύριος) to second-person address (πλὴν σοῦ) turns the creed into prayer, a hallmark of Hebrew hymnody preserved in the Greek.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding v. 1)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the theological ground of the exultation — YHWH's incomparable holiness.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἔστιν)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (οὐκ ἔστιν: 'there is none')→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: the existential οὐκ ἔστιν renders אֵין ('there is no'); the threefold repetition builds the incomparability formula characteristic of OT monotheistic confession (cf. Exod 15:11).
ἅγιοςholyNominativepredicate adjective (substantival: 'a holy one')→ participant prominenceἅγιος: 'holy / set apart'; renders קָדוֹשׁ; YHWH's holiness is his transcendent otherness and moral purity; cf. Luke 1:49 (ἅγιον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ), continuing the Magnificat's dependence on this song.
ὡςas / likecomparative particle (incomparability)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; in the formula οὐκ ἔστιν … ὡς κύριος ('none holy like the LORD') it asserts not similarity but unique incomparability.
κύριοςLORDNominativenominative of comparison (with ὡς)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the standard of all holiness against which no rival can be measured.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (second member)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς = 'which do not have.'
δίκαιοςrighteousNominativepredicate adjective (substantival)→ participant prominenceδίκαιος: 'righteous / just'; renders צַדִּיק; pairs YHWH's holiness with his justice — the two attributes that ground both Hannah's vindication and the coming judgment of Eli's house.
ὡςascomparative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative of comparison (with ὡς)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ('our God') confessional, binding the incomparable deity to the covenant community.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (covenant relation)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (covenant relation).
οὐκnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (third member)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς = 'which do not have.'
ἅγιοςholyNominativepredicate adjective (resumptive of first member)→ participant prominenceἅγιος: the repetition of 'holy' forms an envelope around 'righteous', the central declaration being YHWH's unrivalled holiness.
πλὴνbesides / exceptimproper preposition + genitive (exception)→ spatial or relational framingπλήν: 'except / besides'; renders בִּלְתִּי / זוּלָה; introduces the exclusive monotheistic clause 'none besides you', shifting to direct address.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of πλήν (direct address to YHWH)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): the second-person pronoun turns the creed into prayer; the move from 'the LORD' to 'you' marks the intimacy of Hannah's address to her God.
3

μὴ καυχᾶσθε καὶ μὴ λαλεῖτε ὑψηλά μὴ ἐξελθάτω μεγαλορρημοσύνη ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν ὅτι θεὸς γνώσεων κύριος καὶ θεὸς ἑτοιμάζων ἐπιτηδεύματα αὐτοῦ

Do not boast, and do not speak lofty things; let no arrogant speech come out of your mouth, for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and a God who prepares his deeds.

Hortatory warning issuing from the incomparability creed (apostrophe to the proud)μὴ καυχᾶσθε
The canticle turns to address the arrogant with a triad of prohibitions against boastful speech, grounded (ὅτι) in YHWH as θεὸς γνώσεων ('God of knowledge') who weighs all deeds. The boasting motif (καυχάομαι) anticipates its full development at v. 10 (μὴ καυχάσθω ὁ φρόνιμος …), framing the song's central section.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
μὴnotnegation (prohibitive, with present imperative)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: the negative of prohibition; with the present imperative καυχᾶσθε it forbids a continuing or habitual practice ('stop boasting / do not keep boasting').
καυχᾶσθεboastPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · καυχάομαιmain verb (prohibition)→ verbal action or stateκαυχάομαι: 'boast / glory'; renders the Hebrew root for proud speech; the verb dominates v. 10's climactic series (μὴ καυχάσθω … ἐν τούτῳ καυχάσθω), and underlies Paul's 'let the one who boasts boast in the Lord' (1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17, citing Jer 9:23–24, a kindred text).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegation (prohibitive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
λαλεῖτεspeakPres Act Impv 2 Pl · λαλέωmain verb (prohibition)→ verbal action or stateλαλέω: 'speak'; with ὑψηλά ('lofty things') as object, the phrase forbids arrogant, self-exalting speech.
ὑψηλάlofty things / haughtilyAccusativeneuter plural adjective as object/adverbial (content of speech)→ object specificationὑψηλός: 'high / lofty / haughty'; the neuter plural ὑψηλά as object of λαλεῖτε denotes proud, presumptuous words; the same root that exalts the horn (ὑψώθη, v. 1) here describes condemnable human self-exaltation — exaltation belongs to God's gift, not human boasting.
μὴnotnegation (prohibitive, with aorist imperative)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐξελθάτωlet it come outAor Act Impv 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (third-person prohibition)→ verbal action or stateἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; the third-person imperative with subject μεγαλορρημοσύνη personifies arrogant speech as something that 'comes out' of the mouth — to be forbidden exit.
μεγαλορρημοσύνηarrogant speech / big talkNominativesubject of ἐξελθάτω→ participant prominenceμεγαλορρημοσύνη: 'great-speaking / boastfulness'; a rare LXX compound (μεγαλο- + ῥῆμα) rendering עָתָק ('arrogance, insolent things'); denotes presumptuous, overweening words against God and neighbor — the very opposite of the humble confidence Hannah models.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόματοςmouthGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationστόμα: 'mouth'; the same organ that in v. 1 was 'enlarged' for righteous praise is here warned against arrogant speech — the mouth's use distinguishes the humble from the proud.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (2nd person plural)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (2nd person plural).
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the prohibitions)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: introduces the reason boasting is folly — YHWH knows and weighs all.
θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominative (θεὸς γνώσεων κύριος)→ participant prominenceθεός: predicate of κύριος; 'the LORD is a God of knowledge.'
γνώσεωνof knowledge(s)Genitivegenitive of quality / attribute (modifying θεός)→ relational specificationγνῶσις (pl. γνώσεων): 'knowledge'; the genitive plural (a Hebraistic intensive, rendering דֵּעוֹת) denotes the all-knowing God who sees the heart and weighs every deed — therefore boasting is exposed as folly before him.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (θεὸς γνώσεων κύριος)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the subject of the predicate 'God of knowledge.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominative (second attribute)→ participant prominenceθεὸς: meaning 'God'; it serves as predicate nominative (second attribute).
ἑτοιμάζωνpreparingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἑτοιμάζωattributive participle (modifying θεός)→ verbal action or stateἑτοιμάζω: 'prepare / make ready / establish'; the participle θεὸς ἑτοιμάζων ἐπιτηδεύματα αὐτοῦ presents God as the one who weighs/orders deeds (MT: 'by him actions are weighed'); the LXX reads YHWH as the one who establishes his own purposes.
ἐπιτηδεύματαdeeds / designs / practicesAccusativedirect object of ἑτοιμάζων→ object specificationἐπιτήδευμα: 'pursuit / practice / deed'; renders עֲלִילוֹת; the object 'his deeds' marks YHWH as the sovereign orderer of actions — the God who both knows and arranges, before whom human boasting collapses.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἐπιτηδεύματα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ἐπιτηδεύματα).
4

τόξον δυνατῶν ἠσθένησεν καὶ ἀσθενοῦντες περιεζώσαντο δύναμιν

The bow of the mighty has grown weak, and those who were weak have girded themselves with strength.

First reversal-couplet of the canticle (antithetical parallelism)τόξον δυνατῶν
The canticle's central section of reversals begins: the strong made weak, the weak strengthened. The wordplay ἠσθένησεν / ἀσθενοῦντες (same root ἀσθεν-) binds the antithesis tightly. This couplet stands behind καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς (Luke 1:52).
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
τόξονbowNominativesubject of ἠσθένησεν→ participant prominenceτόξον: 'bow'; renders קֶשֶׁת; the bow is the standard symbol of military might; 'the bow of the mighty is broken/weakened' opens the reversal section — human power fails before YHWH.
δυνατῶνof the mightyGenitivegenitive of possession (substantival adjective: 'the mighty ones')→ relational specificationδυνατός: 'mighty / powerful'; substantival genitive plural 'of the mighty'; the δυνατοί whose weapon fails correspond to the δυνάστας God casts down in Luke 1:52, and reappear as ὁ δυνατός warned against boasting in v. 10.
ἠσθένησενhas grown weak / is brokenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀσθενέωmain verb (predicate of τόξον)→ verbal action or stateἀσθενέω: 'be weak / fail'; the aorist here is gnomic, expressing the characteristic pattern of YHWH's action; the same root recurs in the next clause's participle, forming the antithetical wordplay strong→weak / weak→strong.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (antithetical)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀσθενοῦντεςthose who are weakPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · ἀσθενέωsubstantival participle (subject of περιεζώσαντο)→ verbal action or stateἀσθενέω: 'be weak'; the substantival participle 'those who are weak' is the antithetical counterpart of δυνατῶν — the same root used for both poles underscores the completeness of the reversal.
περιεζώσαντοgirded themselvesAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · περιζώννυμιmain verb (predicate of ἀσθενοῦντες)→ verbal action or stateπεριζώννυμι: 'gird about / equip'; the middle 'girded themselves' renders אָזַר; girding the loins is preparation for strength and battle; the same verb describes Samuel girded with the ephod (περιεζωσμένον, v. 18) — the weak boy who will outlast the mighty house of Eli.
δύναμινstrength / powerAccusativeaccusative of content (what they gird on)→ object specificationδύναμις: 'power / strength / might'; renders חַיִל; cognate with δυνατῶν above — the strength that the mighty lose is the very strength with which the weak are now clothed; the reversal is total.
5

πλήρεις ἄρτων ἠλαττώθησαν καὶ οἱ πεινῶντες παρῆκαν γῆν ὅτι στεῖρα ἔτεκεν ἑπτά καὶ ἡ πολλὴ ἐν τέκνοις ἠσθένησεν

Those full of bread have been brought low, and the hungry have forsaken the land; for the barren has borne seven, and she who had many children has languished.

Continuing reversal-couplets, climaxing in the barren-and-fertile antithesis (Hannah's own situation)πλήρεις ἄρτων
Two further antitheses: the well-fed humbled, the hungry satisfied (cf. πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν, Luke 1:53); then the barren bearing seven while the many-childed languishes — the reversal that touches Hannah's own story (cf. Peninnah, 1:6) and universalizes it. ἑπτά ('seven') is the number of fullness, not a literal count (Hannah bore six, vv. 21).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
πλήρειςthose fullNominativesubstantival adjective (subject of ἠλαττώθησαν)→ participant prominenceπλήρης: 'full / filled'; substantival 'the full ones' (renders שְׂבֵעִים, 'the sated'); the well-fed who hire themselves out for bread — their fullness reversed into want.
ἄρτωνof bread / loavesGenitivegenitive of content (with πλήρεις: 'full of bread')→ relational specificationἄρτος: 'bread / loaf'; renders לֶחֶם; the genitive of fullness specifies the satisfaction that is about to be reversed.
ἠλαττώθησανhave been brought low / diminishedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἐλαττόωmain verb (predicate of πλήρεις)→ verbal action or stateἐλαττόω: 'make less / diminish / bring low'; the passive (God the implied agent) renders חָדֵל / נִשְׂכָּרוּ; the full are reduced to need — antithetical to the hungry who are satisfied.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (antithetical)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεινῶντεςthose who hungerPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · πεινάωsubstantival participle (subject of παρῆκαν)→ verbal action or stateπεινάω: 'hunger / be hungry'; the substantival 'the hungry' is the exact lexeme behind πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν (Luke 1:53), where the Magnificat develops this very reversal.
παρῆκανhave forsaken / passed overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρίημιmain verb (predicate of πεινῶντες)→ verbal action or stateπαρίημι: 'let go / relax / pass over / forsake'; the LXX 'the hungry have forsaken the land' renders a difficult Hebrew (MT: 'the hungry have ceased [to hunger]'); the sense is that the formerly hungry no longer need to toil for the land's bread — their want is satisfied.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of παρῆκαν→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; here the cultivated ground from which the hungry once wrung their bread, now forsaken because they are filled.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding / illustrating the reversals)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: introduces the climactic reversal — the barren and the fertile — closest to Hannah's own experience.
στεῖραbarren womanNominativesubject of ἔτεκεν→ participant prominenceστεῖρα: 'barren woman'; renders עֲקָרָה; the very word used of Hannah's condition and of Elizabeth (Luke 1:7, 36); the barren bearing 'seven' is the canticle's most autobiographical reversal.
ἔτεκενhas borneAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (predicate of στεῖρα)→ verbal action or stateτίκτω: 'bear / give birth'; renders יָלַד; the barren who 'bore seven' — the act of God reversing the deepest of human shames (cf. v. 21, where Hannah bears five more).
ἑπτάsevennumeral (object of ἔτεκεν; indeclinable)→ measure or countἑπτά: 'seven'; renders שִׁבְעָה; the indeclinable numeral signifies completeness and fullness rather than a literal tally — the barren is granted the perfect number of children, the symbol of total blessing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (antithetical)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
the (she)Nominativearticle (substantizing πολλή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολλὴshe who had manyNominativesubstantival adjective (subject of ἠσθένησεν)→ participant prominenceπολύς: 'much / many'; ἡ πολλὴ ἐν τέκνοις ('the one abounding in children') is the antithesis of the στεῖρα — the proud mother of many (like Peninnah) is the one who now languishes.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (respect: 'in children')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (respect: 'in children').
τέκνοιςchildrenDativedative of respect (with πολλή)→ sphere or referenceτέκνον: 'child'; renders בָּנִים; the sphere of the proud mother's former boast, now turned to weakness.
ἠσθένησενhas languished / grown weakAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀσθενέωmain verb (predicate of ἡ πολλή)→ verbal action or stateἀσθενέω: 'be weak / languish'; the same verb that opened the reversal section (the bow of the mighty, v. 4) now closes this couplet — the many-childed mother languishes while the barren rejoices.
6

κύριος θανατοῖ καὶ ζωογονεῖ κατάγει εἰς ᾅδου καὶ ἀνάγει

The LORD kills and makes alive; he brings down to Hades and brings up.

Sovereignty-creed: the climax of the reversals (absolute power over life and death)κύριος θανατοῖ
The reversals reach their theological floor: YHWH's absolute sovereignty over life and death itself (cf. Deut 32:39, the nearest parallel). The four present verbs (θανατοῖ / ζωογονεῖ / κατάγει / ἀνάγει) are gnomic, describing YHWH's characteristic and unrivalled power; this verse is the deepest ground of the Magnificat's confidence in the God who casts down and raises up.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of the four verbs→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the divine name fronted as the sole agent of these absolute reversals — life, death, descent, and ascent are all in his hand alone.
θανατοῖkills / puts to deathPres Act Indic 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (first of antithetical pair)→ verbal action or stateθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; renders מֵמִית; the declaration κύριος θανατοῖ καὶ ζωογονεῖ ('the LORD kills and makes alive') is the canticle's strongest assertion of divine sovereignty, echoing Deut 32:39 (ἐγὼ ἀποκτενῶ καὶ ζῆν ποιήσω).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (antithetical pair)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζωογονεῖmakes alive / preserves alivePres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζωογονέωmain verb (antithesis to θανατοῖ)→ verbal action or stateζωογονέω: 'make alive / bring to life / keep alive'; renders מְחַיֶּה; paired with θανατοῖ in the merism life-and-death, asserting that the whole span of existence is at YHWH's disposal.
κατάγειbrings downPres Act Indic 3 Sg · κατάγωmain verb (second antithetical pair)→ verbal action or stateκατάγω: 'lead/bring down'; renders מוֹרִיד; with εἰς ᾅδου describes descent to the realm of the dead — the parallel of θανατοῖ, intensifying the death-pole of the merism.
εἰςto / intopreposition + genitive (direction; idiomatic εἰς ᾅδου)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (direction; idiomatic εἰς ᾅδου).
ᾅδουHades / the graveGenitivegenitive with εἰς (idiomatic: 'to [the house] of Hades')→ relational specificationᾅδης: 'Hades / the underworld'; renders שְׁאוֹל (Sheol); the genitive εἰς ᾅδου is the idiomatic LXX expression for 'down to the realm of the dead'; YHWH's reach extends even there — he both brings down and brings up (ἀνάγει).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (antithetical)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνάγειbrings upPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνάγωmain verb (antithesis to κατάγει)→ verbal action or stateἀνάγω: 'lead/bring up'; renders מַעַל; the ascent-pole answering κατάγει εἰς ᾅδου; the verb is taken up in NT resurrection language (cf. ἀναγαγών … ἐκ νεκρῶν, Heb 13:20; Rom 10:7).
7

κύριος πτωχίζει καὶ πλουτίζει ταπεινοῖ καὶ ἀνυψοῖ

The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and also exalts.

Sovereignty-creed continued: economic and social reversalsκύριος πτωχίζει
Paralleling v. 6, four gnomic presents assert YHWH's reversing power over wealth and status. ταπεινοῖ καὶ ἀνυψοῖ ('he humbles and exalts') is the conceptual core of καθεῖλεν δυνάστας … καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς (Luke 1:52); the same root ταπειν- runs through both texts.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of the four verbs→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the anaphoric repetition of the divine name (vv. 6, 7) hammers home that all reversal is his act.
πτωχίζειmakes poorPres Act Indic 3 Sg · πτωχίζωmain verb (first antithetical pair)→ verbal action or stateπτωχίζω: 'make poor / reduce to poverty'; renders מוֹרִישׁ; paired with πλουτίζει in the wealth-merism; the same root πτωχ- describes the πτωχός raised from the dunghill in v. 8.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (antithetical)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πλουτίζειmakes richPres Act Indic 3 Sg · πλουτίζωmain verb (antithesis to πτωχίζει)→ verbal action or stateπλουτίζω: 'make rich / enrich'; renders מַעֲשִׁיר; the antithesis poor/rich completes the economic reversal — wealth too is wholly a divine bestowal, not a human achievement (cf. v. 10, the rich warned not to boast).
ταπεινοῖbrings low / humblesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ταπεινόωmain verb (second antithetical pair)→ verbal action or stateταπεινόω: 'humble / bring low'; renders מַשְׁפִּיל; this root underlies both the Magnificat's ταπεινούς whom God exalts (Luke 1:52) and Hannah's own ταπείνωσις (cf. 1:11); the verb names the down-pole of the status-reversal.
καὶand (also)coordinate conjunction (antithetical)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and (also)'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνυψοῖlifts up / exaltsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνυψόωmain verb (antithesis to ταπεινοῖ)→ verbal action or stateἀνυψόω: 'raise on high / exalt'; an intensive compound of ὑψόω (the verb that exalted Hannah's horn, v. 1); the up-pole answering ταπεινοῖ; God alone both casts down and lifts up — the engine of the entire canticle.
8

ἀνιστᾷ ἀπὸ γῆς πένητα καὶ ἀπὸ κοπρίας ἐγείρει πτωχὸν καθίσαι μετὰ δυναστῶν λαῶν καὶ θρόνον δόξης κατακληρονομῶν αὐτοῖς

He raises the poor from the ground and lifts the needy from the dunghill, to seat them with the mighty of peoples, granting them a throne of glory as an inheritance.

Reversal-creed climax: the exaltation of the lowly to royal honorἀνιστᾷ ἀπὸ γῆς
The reversals crest in the raising of the destitute (πένητα / πτωχόν) from the lowest place (γῆς / κοπρίας) to the highest (μετὰ δυναστῶν … θρόνον δόξης). This is the verse most directly echoed in καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς (Luke 1:52); the throne-of-glory inheritance also points forward to the Davidic king of v. 10.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἀνιστᾷraises upPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (subject κύριος carried over from v. 7)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι: 'raise up / set on his feet'; renders מֵקִים; the verb of lifting the prostrate, here the destitute lifted from the dust — the same verb God uses of raising up a faithful priest (ἀναστήσω, v. 35) and underlying NT resurrection (ἀνάστασις).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source: lowest place)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source: lowest place).
γῆςground / dustGenitivegenitive of source (with ἀπό)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / dust / ground'; renders עָפָר ('dust'); the lowest place from which the poor man is lifted — the image of one prostrate in the dirt raised to a throne.
πένηταpoor manAccusativedirect object of ἀνιστᾷ→ object specificationπένης: 'poor / needy laborer'; renders דָּל; the toiling poor man, parallel to πτωχός; the object of God's lifting action.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (synonymous parallelism)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source, parallel)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source, parallel).
κοπρίαςdunghill / refuse-heapGenitivegenitive of source (with ἀπό)→ relational specificationκοπρία: 'dunghill / refuse-heap'; renders אַשְׁפֹּת; the place of utter degradation and outcast misery (cf. Job 2:8; Lam 4:5); the contrast dunghill→throne is the sharpest social reversal in the canticle.
ἐγείρειraises / liftsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγείρωmain verb (parallel to ἀνιστᾷ)→ verbal action or stateἐγείρω: 'raise / lift up'; renders יָרִים; synonymous with ἀνιστᾷ; the same verb of God 'raising up' the lowly, and in the NT of raising the dead (cf. Luke 1:69 ἤγειρεν κέρας σωτηρίας, again drawing on this canticle's imagery).
πτωχὸνneedy / poor manAccusativedirect object of ἐγείρει→ object specificationπτωχός: 'poor / beggar / destitute'; renders אֶבְיוֹן; the most extreme term for the destitute (cf. the πτωχοί of the Beatitudes, Luke 6:20); object of God's raising — the same root as πτωχίζει in v. 7.
καθίσαιto seat / to make sitAor Act Inf · καθίζωinfinitive of purpose (result of the raising)→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω: 'seat / cause to sit'; the infinitive of purpose expresses the goal of the lifting — to enthrone the poor man alongside princes; the enthronement of the lowly anticipates the messianic throne of v. 10.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
δυναστῶνof the mighty / rulersGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationδυνάστης: 'ruler / potentate / mighty one'; renders נְדִיבִים ('nobles'); the very word the Magnificat uses for those God casts down (καθεῖλεν δυνάστας, Luke 1:52) — here the lowly are seated among them, the reversal complete.
λαῶνof peoplesGenitivegenitive (modifying δυναστῶν: 'rulers of peoples')→ relational specificationλαός: 'people / nation'; renders עַם; the 'mighty of peoples' are the great ones of the nations, into whose ranks God seats the once-destitute.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θρόνονthroneAccusativedirect object of κατακληρονομῶν→ object specificationθρόνος: 'throne / seat of honor'; renders כִּסֵּא; the throne of glory bequeathed to the poor is the summit of the reversal — the lowest become royal heirs (cf. the throne of David, 2 Sam 7).
δόξηςof gloryGenitivegenitive of quality (modifying θρόνον: 'throne of glory')→ relational specificationδόξα: 'glory / honor / splendor'; renders כָּבוֹד; the throne's glory marks the heights to which God lifts the lowly — a glory inherited, not earned.
κατακληρονομῶνgranting as an inheritancePres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · κατακληρονομέωattributive/circumstantial participle (modifying the subject κύριος)→ verbal action or stateκατακληρονομέω: 'give as a possession / cause to inherit'; renders יַנְחִילֵם; the participle presents YHWH as the one who bequeaths the throne of glory — what is given is a permanent inheritance, not a temporary favor.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (recipients of the inheritance)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl.): the recipients are the lifted poor — the plural generalizes the single πένης/πτωχός into the whole company of the lowly whom God exalts.
9

διδοὺς εὐχὴν τῷ εὐχομένῳ καὶ εὐλόγησεν ἔτη δικαίου ὅτι οὐκ ἐν ἰσχύι δυνατὸς ἀνήρ

Granting the vow to the one who vows, he blessed the years of the righteous; for not by strength is a man mighty.

Transition from the reversals to the destiny of the righteous (with thematic statement)διδοὺς εὐχὴν
The canticle turns from the great reversals to the contrasting destinies of the godly and the wicked. God grants the vow to the one who prays (a glance back at Hannah's own answered vow, 1:11) and blesses the righteous, grounded (ὅτι) in the thematic axiom 'not by strength is a man mighty' — which v. 10 will unfold into the full renunciation of all human boasting.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
διδοὺςgranting / givingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · δίδωμιcircumstantial participle (subject κύριος carried over)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give / grant'; the participle continues the description of YHWH's characteristic action; 'granting the vow to the one who vows' recalls God's answer to Hannah's own prayer-vow (1:11, 27) — the canticle's frame in personal experience.
εὐχὴνvow / prayerAccusativedirect object of διδοὺς→ object specificationεὐχή: 'vow / prayer'; renders נֶדֶר; here the granting of what was vowed/asked — God gives to the petitioner the very thing pledged or requested.
τῷtheDativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐχομένῳto the one who vows / praysPres Mid Ptcp Dat Sg Masc · εὔχομαιsubstantival participle (dative indirect object)→ verbal action or stateεὔχομαι: 'pray / vow'; the cognate of εὐχή; the figura etymologica 'granting the vow to the one who vows' is a Hebraizing echo-construction emphasizing the certainty of answered prayer.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐλόγησενhe blessedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (subject κύριος)→ verbal action or stateεὐλογέω: 'bless / speak well of / favor'; renders בֵּרַךְ; God blesses the years (the lifespan) of the righteous — a counterpart to cutting off the days of the wicked (cf. the days cut off from Eli's house, vv. 31–32).
ἔτηyearsAccusativedirect object of εὐλόγησεν→ object specificationἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the 'years of the righteous' that God blesses denote a full, favored lifespan — the opposite of the foreshortened days of the wicked.
δικαίουof the righteous oneGenitivegenitive of possession (substantival: 'the righteous')→ relational specificationδίκαιος: 'righteous'; the substantival genitive names the recipient of blessing; picks up δίκαιος from v. 2 (YHWH himself righteous) — the righteous God blesses the righteous.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding axiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: introduces the thematic maxim that human strength is not the source of true might — the seed of v. 10's renunciation of all boasting.
οὐκnotnegation (fronted for emphasis)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (means)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (means).
ἰσχύιstrengthDativedative of means (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἰσχύς: 'strength / might'; renders כֹּחַ; the maxim 'not by strength is a man mighty' denies that human power achieves anything of itself — strength is God's gift (cf. δίδωσιν ἰσχύν, v. 10), as the reversals have shown.
δυνατὸςmighty / strongNominativepredicate adjective (with implied ἐστίν)→ participant prominenceδυνατός: 'mighty / able'; the predicate of ἀνήρ; the maxim 'no man is mighty by his own strength' anticipates the warning to ὁ δυνατός not to boast in his might (v. 10), tying the canticle's halves together.
ἀνήρa manNominativesubject (with implied copula)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man / male / warrior'; renders אִישׁ / גֶּבֶר; the generic 'man' whose might, the canticle insists, is never self-generated.
10

κύριος ἀσθενῆ ποιήσει ἀντίδικον αὐτοῦ κύριος ἅγιος μὴ καυχάσθω ὁ φρόνιμος ἐν τῇ φρονήσει αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ καυχάσθω ὁ δυνατὸς ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ καυχάσθω ὁ πλούσιος ἐν τῷ πλούτῳ αὐτοῦ ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἐν τούτῳ καυχάσθω ὁ καυχώμενος συνίειν καὶ γινώσκειν τὸν κύριον καὶ ποιεῖν κρίμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς κύριος ἀνέβη εἰς οὐρανοὺς καὶ ἐβρόντησεν αὐτὸς κρινεῖ ἄκρα γῆς καὶ δίδωσιν ἰσχὺν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν ἡμῶν καὶ ὑψώσει κέρας χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ

The LORD will make his adversary weak; the LORD is holy. Let not the wise boast in his wisdom, and let not the mighty boast in his might, and let not the rich boast in his riches; but let the one who boasts boast in this: to understand and to know the LORD, and to do judgment and righteousness in the midst of the earth. The LORD has gone up into the heavens and has thundered; he himself will judge the ends of the earth, and he gives strength to our kings and will exalt the horn of his anointed.

Climactic close of the canticle: renunciation of boasting and the horn of the anointed kingκύριος ἀσθενῆ ποιήσει
The much-expanded LXX close (far longer than MT) gathers the whole song into a final renunciation of all human boasting — in wisdom, might, riches — except boasting in knowing YHWH and doing justice (the kernel of Jer 9:23–24, cited by Paul at 1 Cor 1:31). It crescendos into cosmic theophany (YHWH thunders from heaven, judges the ends of the earth) and the climactic, anachronistic-yet-proleptic mention of his anointed king (κέρας χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ) — the first 'messiah' note in 1 Samuel, an inclusio with the exalted κέρας of v. 1 and the seed of Luke 1:69 (ἤγειρεν κέρας σωτηρίας).
Word-by-word analysis· 75 words
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ποιήσει→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the divine name opens the final movement, naming YHWH as the one who shatters his adversary.
ἀσθενῆweakAccusativeobject complement (with ἀντίδικον: 'will make his adversary weak')→ object specificationἀσθενής: 'weak / feeble'; the predicate accusative in the double-accusative construction 'will make [his adversary] weak'; the same root (ἀσθεν-) that ran through the reversals (vv. 4–5) now seals the fate of YHWH's opponent.
ποιήσειwill makeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (double-accusative: make X Y)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'make / do'; in the double-accusative 'make his adversary weak' it asserts YHWH's certain victory over every opponent — a fitting close to a canticle of reversals.
ἀντίδικονadversary / opponentAccusativedirect object of ποιήσει→ object specificationἀντίδικος: 'adversary / opponent at law'; renders the one who contends against YHWH (or his people); the legal nuance fits the canticle's justice-theme; in the NT the word is used of the devil (1 Pet 5:8).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἀντίδικον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ἀντίδικον).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of nominal clause (κύριος ἅγιος)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the bare nominal acclamation 'the LORD is holy' resumes the incomparability creed of v. 2 (none holy as the LORD), grounding the warning against boasting that follows.
ἅγιοςholyNominativepredicate adjective (κύριος ἅγιος: 'the LORD is holy')→ participant prominenceἅγιος: 'holy'; the acclamation recalls v. 2; the LORD's holiness is the ground on which all human self-glory is forbidden.
μὴnotnegation (prohibitive, with 3rd-person imperative)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
καυχάσθωlet him boastPres Mid Impv 3 Sg · καυχάομαιmain verb (third-person prohibition, first of triad)→ verbal action or stateκαυχάομαι: 'boast / glory'; the triple μὴ καυχάσθω (wise / mighty / rich) is the canticle's most quoted line, lying behind Jer 9:23–24 LXX (μὴ καυχάσθω ὁ σοφὸς … ὁ ἰσχυρὸς … ὁ πλούσιος) and through it Paul's ὁ καυχώμενος ἐν κυρίῳ καυχάσθω (1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17).
theNominativearticle (substantizing φρόνιμος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φρόνιμοςthe wise / prudentNominativesubject of καυχάσθω (first of three)→ participant prominenceφρόνιμος: 'wise / prudent / sensible'; the first of the three figures forbidden to boast — wisdom, like might and wealth, is a divine gift, not ground for self-glory.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere of boasting)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere of boasting).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φρονήσειwisdom / prudenceDativedative object of ἐν (sphere)→ sphere or referenceφρόνησις: 'understanding / wisdom / prudence'; cognate with φρόνιμος; the wise are forbidden to glory in their own intellectual capacity.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegation (prohibitive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
καυχάσθωlet him boastPres Mid Impv 3 Sg · καυχάομαιmain verb (second prohibition)→ verbal action or stateκαυχάομαι: the second member of the triad, against the mighty.
theNominativearticle (substantizing δυνατός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνατὸςthe mightyNominativesubject of καυχάσθω (second of three)→ participant prominenceδυνατός: 'mighty'; picks up the δυνατοί whose bow was broken (v. 4) and the maxim of v. 9 — the strong man may not glory in a might that is not his own.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμειmight / powerDativedative object of ἐν (sphere)→ sphere or referenceδύναμις: 'power / might'; cognate with δυνατός; the same δύναμις with which the weak were girded (v. 4) — power belongs to God to give and withdraw.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegation (prohibitive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
καυχάσθωlet him boastPres Mid Impv 3 Sg · καυχάομαιmain verb (third prohibition)→ verbal action or stateκαυχάομαι: the third member of the triad, against the rich.
theNominativearticle (substantizing πλούσιος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλούσιοςthe richNominativesubject of καυχάσθω (third of three)→ participant prominenceπλούσιος: 'rich / wealthy'; the third figure — riches too are God's to give (πλουτίζει, v. 7) and remove; the triad wise/mighty/rich is the comprehensive catalogue of grounds for human pride.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλούτῳriches / wealthDativedative object of ἐν (sphere)→ sphere or referenceπλοῦτος: 'wealth / riches'; cognate with πλούσιος; the sphere of the rich man's forbidden boast.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀλλ᾿butadversative conjunction (elided before vowel)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; introduces the positive counterpart to the threefold prohibition — the one legitimate ground of boasting.
rather / thanparticle (with ἀλλά: 'but rather')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: in the combination ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but rather / except') it sharpens the exclusive contrast — boast in nothing except this one thing.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere of legitimate boasting)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere of legitimate boasting).
τούτῳthisDativedemonstrative (cataphoric: pointing forward to the infinitives)→ participant reference or interestοὗτος: the cataphoric 'in this' looks ahead to the content — understanding and knowing the LORD; the legitimate boast is relational and ethical, not in self-possessed advantages.
καυχάσθωlet him boastPres Mid Impv 3 Sg · καυχάομαιmain verb (positive imperative)→ verbal action or stateκαυχάομαι: the positive command 'let him boast' — the same verb four times in this verse, three forbidden and one commanded; the structure is the source of Paul's ὁ καυχώμενος ἐν κυρίῳ καυχάσθω (1 Cor 1:31).
theNominativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καυχώμενοςthe one who boastsPres Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · καυχάομαιsubstantival participle (subject of καυχάσθω)→ verbal action or stateκαυχάομαι: the substantival participle ὁ καυχώμενος ('the boaster') is exactly the subject of Paul's citation (ὁ καυχώμενος ἐν κυρίῳ καυχάσθω, 1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17), drawn from this line via Jer 9:23–24.
συνίεινto understandPres Act Inf · συνίημιepexegetic infinitive (content of τούτῳ)→ verbal action or stateσυνίημι: 'understand / comprehend / discern'; the first epexegetic infinitive spelling out the one legitimate boast — to understand (and so to know) the LORD; cf. Jer 9:24 (συνίειν καὶ γινώσκειν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γινώσκεινto knowPres Act Inf · γινώσκωepexegetic infinitive (paired with συνίειν)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; relational knowledge of YHWH; the foil to Eli's sons who 'did not know the LORD' (οὐκ εἰδότες τὸν κύριον, v. 12) — knowing God is the one boast, ignoring him the great sin.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of συνίειν / γινώσκειν→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the object of true understanding and knowledge — the only worthy ground of human glory.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωepexegetic infinitive (ethical complement of knowing)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / practice'; the third infinitive adds the ethical dimension — knowing God issues in doing justice (cf. Jer 9:24 ποιῶν ἔλεος καὶ κρίμα καὶ δικαιοσύνην).
κρίμαjudgment / justiceAccusativedirect object of ποιεῖν→ object specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / justice'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; doing justice is the practical outworking of knowing the just God (cf. δίκαιος, v. 2).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δικαιοσύνηνrighteousnessAccusativedirect object of ποιεῖν (paired with κρίμα)→ object specificationδικαιοσύνη: 'righteousness / justice'; renders צְדָקָה; the standard OT word-pair κρίμα καὶ δικαιοσύνη ('justice and righteousness') sums up covenant ethics — the boast that pleases God.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
μέσῳthe midstDativedative with ἐν (idiomatic: 'in the midst of')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς ('in the midst of the earth') universalizes the doing of justice — God's righteousness is to be enacted across all the earth, anticipating the cosmic judgment that follows.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive with μέσῳ ('midst of the earth')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth'; the sphere of justice broadens to the whole earth, leading into the cosmic theophany of YHWH's judgment over all.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀνέβη→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the divine name opens the closing theophany — YHWH ascending and thundering as cosmic judge.
ἀνέβηhas gone up / ascendedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (theophanic)→ verbal action or stateἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; YHWH 'has gone up into the heavens' is theophanic imagery of the enthroned divine warrior-judge (cf. Pss 18:13; 47:5); the ascent precedes the thunder of judgment.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
οὐρανοὺςheavensAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοὐρανός: 'heaven / sky'; the plural οὐρανοί (Hebraizing, rendering שָׁמַיִם) is the cosmic throne-room from which YHWH thunders judgment over the earth.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβρόντησενhas thunderedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βροντάωmain verb (theophanic)→ verbal action or stateβροντάω: 'thunder'; the thunder of the divine voice is classic theophany (cf. 1 Sam 7:10; Ps 29); YHWH's thunder routs his enemies — the cosmic counterpart of making the adversary weak (v. 10a).
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (emphatic subject of κρινεῖ)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the intensive 'he himself' stresses that YHWH alone, in person, is the universal judge — no rival shares his bench.
κρινεῖwill judgeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (universal judgment)→ verbal action or stateκρίνω: 'judge / decide'; YHWH 'will judge the ends of the earth' extends his justice (κρίμα, above) to the whole creation; the universal-judgment note gives the canticle an eschatological horizon taken up in NT proclamation.
ἄκραends / extremitiesAccusativedirect object of κρινεῖ→ object specificationἄκρον (pl. ἄκρα): 'extremity / end'; ἄκρα γῆς ('the ends of the earth') renders אַפְסֵי אָרֶץ; the scope of YHWH's judgment is total, the same horizon as 'the ends of the earth' in the Davidic-messianic psalms (Ps 2:8; 72:8).
γῆςof earthGenitivegenitive (with ἄκρα: 'ends of the earth')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth'; the whole inhabited world subject to YHWH's verdict.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δίδωσινhe givesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (gift of royal strength)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give'; YHWH 'gives strength to our kings' — the very ἰσχύς that no man has of himself (v. 9) is God's gift to the king; the first-person plural 'our kings' is striking on Hannah's lips before any monarchy exists, a proleptic announcement of the Davidic kingship.
ἰσχὺνstrengthAccusativedirect object of δίδωσιν→ object specificationἰσχύς: 'strength / might'; the same word as the maxim of v. 9 (οὐκ ἐν ἰσχύι) — the strength denied to self-reliant man is granted by God to his anointed king.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with βασιλεῦσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῦσινkingsDativedative indirect object (recipients of strength)→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the mention of 'our kings' anticipates the monarchy that 1 Samuel will inaugurate (Saul, then David); on Hannah's lips it is proleptic — the song already looks to the anointed king.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying βασιλεῦσιν)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying βασιλεῦσιν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑψώσειwill exaltFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑψόωmain verb (climactic; inclusio with v. 1 ὑψώθη)→ verbal action or stateὑψόω: 'exalt / lift high'; the same verb that exalted Hannah's horn in v. 1 (ὑψώθη κέρας μου) now closes the canticle exalting the horn of the anointed — an inclusio binding personal and messianic exaltation; cf. ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς (Luke 1:52).
κέραςhornAccusativedirect object of ὑψώσει→ object specificationκέρας: meaning 'horn'; it serves as direct object of ὑψώσει.
χριστοῦof his anointedGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying κέρας)→ relational specificationχριστός: 'anointed (one)'; renders מָשִׁיחַ (Messiah); the climactic word of the canticle and the first occurrence of 'the LORD's anointed' in 1 Samuel — proleptic of the Davidic king and, in Christian reading, of Christ; the whole song crescendos to this messianic note.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (YHWH's anointed)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (YHWH's anointed).
11

καὶ κατέλιπον αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ ἀπῆλθον εἰς Αρμαθαιμ καὶ τὸ παιδάριον ἦν λειτουργῶν τῷ προσώπῳ κυρίου ἐνώπιον Ηλι τοῦ ἱερέως

And they left him there before the LORD and departed to Armathaim; and the child was ministering before the face of the LORD, in the presence of Eli the priest.

Narrative resumption after the canticle: Samuel left to ministerκαὶ κατέλιπον
The narrative resumes from ch. 1: Hannah and Elkanah leave Samuel at the sanctuary and return home. The periphrastic ἦν λειτουργῶν ('was ministering') introduces the refrain of Samuel's service before the LORD (cf. vv. 18, 26), set in deliberate contrast to the corruption of Eli's sons announced in the next verse.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέλιπονthey leftAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταλείπωmain verb (subject: Hannah and Elkanah)→ verbal action or stateκαταλείπω: 'leave behind / leave'; renders עָזַב; the parents leave Samuel at the sanctuary, fulfilling Hannah's vow to dedicate him (1:11, 28).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Samuel)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Samuel).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the sanctuary at Shiloh, where Samuel will remain in service.
ἐνώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (presence)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the recurring phrase ἐνώπιον κυρίου frames Samuel's whole childhood as lived 'before the LORD' (vv. 11, 18, 21).
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive with ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; Samuel is left in YHWH's own presence at the sanctuary.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῆλθονthey departedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (the parents return home)→ verbal action or stateἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the parents return to their home town, leaving the child behind in service.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΑρμαθαιμArmathaimaccusative of destination (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΑρμαθαιμ: transliteration of Hebrew הָרָמָתַיִם (Ramathaim / Ramah), Elkanah's home town (1:1, 19); indeclinable in the LXX.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (contrastive shift to Samuel)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchild / boyNominativesubject of periphrastic ἦν λειτουργῶν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'small child / lad / young servant'; diminutive of παῖς; the recurring designation of Samuel through the chapter (vv. 11, 18, 21, 26); both 'little boy' and 'young attendant', it underscores his youth against the gravity of his calling.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (with λειτουργῶν)→ participant referenceεἰμί: with the participle λειτουργῶν forms a periphrastic imperfect expressing Samuel's continuous, habitual ministry — 'was [regularly] ministering'.
λειτουργῶνministeringPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λειτουργέωparticiple of periphrastic imperfect (with ἦν)→ verbal action or stateλειτουργέω: 'minister / perform [cultic] service'; renders שֵׁרֵת; the technical term for sanctuary service; the refrain Σαμουηλ … λειτουργῶν (vv. 11, 18) sets the faithful child against the unfaithful priests, source of the English 'liturgy'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with προσώπῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσώπῳface / presenceDativedative (idiomatic: 'to/before the face of')→ sphere or referenceπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; λειτουργῶν τῷ προσώπῳ κυρίου ('ministering to the face of the LORD') is a Hebraism (לִפְנֵי) for serving in the LORD's presence at the sanctuary.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive (with προσώπῳ)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
ἐνώπιονin the presence ofimproper preposition + genitive (under Eli's oversight)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: here 'in the presence of / under the oversight of' Eli — Samuel serves the LORD but under the aged priest's tutelage.
ΗλιEligenitive with ἐνώπιον (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΗλι: transliteration of Hebrew עֵלִי (Eli), the priest at Shiloh; indeclinable in the LXX.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἱερέως, appositional to Ηλι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ηλι→ relational specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; Eli's priestly office is the very thing his sons defile and that the oracle of vv. 27–36 will strip from his house.
12

καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ηλι τοῦ ἱερέως υἱοὶ λοιμοὶ οὐκ εἰδότες τὸν κύριον

Now the sons of Eli the priest were worthless sons; they did not know the LORD.

Antithetical character-introduction (the foil to Samuel)καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ηλι
Set against the faithful παιδάριον (v. 11), Eli's sons are introduced with a damning verdict: υἱοὶ λοιμοί ('worthless / pestilent sons') who 'did not know the LORD'. Their ignorance of YHWH is the exact negation of the canticle's one legitimate boast — γινώσκειν τὸν κύριον (v. 10) — making them the embodiment of what the song condemns.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶnow / andnarrative conjunction (contrastive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (the sons of Eli)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the sons (Hophni and Phinehas, named v. 34) whose corruption drives the chapter's judgment-oracle.
ΗλιEligenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΗλι: transliteration of עֵלִי; indeclinable.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἱερέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ηλι→ relational specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; the office that makes their corruption a sacrilege — priests who do not know the God they serve.
υἱοὶsonsNominativepredicate nominative (υἱοὶ λοιμοί: 'worthless sons')→ participant prominenceυἱός: the repeated 'sons' in predicate position (a Hebraism, בְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַל 'sons of worthlessness') forms the idiom 'worthless men'.
λοιμοὶworthless / pestilentNominativepredicate adjective (with υἱοί)→ participant prominenceλοιμός: lit. 'pestilence / plague'; as an adjective 'pestilent / pernicious / worthless'; the LXX rendering of בְּלִיַּעַל ('Belial / worthlessness'); υἱοὶ λοιμοί = 'scoundrels' — men who spread moral contagion (cf. the same idiom of the men at Gibeah, of Nabal).
οὐκnotnegation (with εἰδότες)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
εἰδότεςknowingPerf Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · οἶδαcircumstantial participle (οὐκ εἰδότες: 'not knowing')→ verbal action or stateοἶδα: 'know'; the perfect participle (present force) with οὐκ — 'they did not know the LORD' — the precise antithesis of the canticle's command γινώσκειν τὸν κύριον (v. 10); to not know YHWH while serving as his priests is the root of their sacrilege.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of εἰδότες→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the God whom the priests of all people ought to know, yet do not.
13

καὶ τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ ἱερέως παρὰ τοῦ λαοῦ παντὸς τοῦ θύοντος καὶ ἤρχετο τὸ παιδάριον τοῦ ἱερέως ὡς ἂν ἡψήθη τὸ κρέας καὶ κρεάγρα τριόδους ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ

And as for the priest's due from the people, from everyone sacrificing: the priest's servant would come, whenever the meat was being boiled, with a three-pronged flesh-fork in his hand.

Description of the sons' abuse of the sacrificial customary rightκαὶ τὸ δικαίωμα
The narrator details how the priesthood was corrupted at the very point of the sacrifice. The legitimate priestly portion (δικαίωμα) is twisted into greedy seizure: the servant comes with a three-pronged fork while the meat still boils. The iterative imperfect ἤρχετο ('would come') marks habitual practice.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with δικαίωμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαίωμαdue / customary rightNominativenominative absolute (topic: 'as for the priest's due')→ participant prominenceδικαίωμα: 'ordinance / customary right / legal due'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the legitimate priestly portion of the sacrifice (cf. Lev 7:31–34); the irony is sharp — the lawful 'due' becomes the occasion of lawless seizure.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἱερέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive of possession (the priest's due)→ relational specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; the priestly portion that the sons abuse.
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingπαρὰ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of source (with παρά)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; the worshipers from whom the priest's portion is taken; the sons' greed defrauds the very covenant people who come to worship.
παντὸςall / everyGenitiveattributive (modifying λαοῦ / θύοντος)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; the abuse touched every worshiper without exception.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θύοντος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύοντοςsacrificingPres Act Ptcp Gen Sg Masc · θύωattributive participle (modifying λαοῦ: 'everyone who sacrifices')→ verbal action or stateθύω: 'sacrifice / slaughter [for sacrifice]'; renders זָבַח; the participle defines the people as worshipers in the act of offering — the moment of the sons' predation.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming after the nominative absolute)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤρχετοwould comeImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the iterative imperfect ἤρχετο depicts the recurring custom — 'the servant would [regularly] come' — establishing the abuse as routine, not occasional.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονservant / ladNominativesubject of ἤρχετο→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: here 'young servant / attendant' (not Samuel, but the priests' agent) — a pointed lexical irony: the same word names both faithful Samuel (v. 11) and the sons' grasping errand-boy.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἱερέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive of possession (the priest's servant)→ relational specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; the servant acts as agent of the corrupt priests.
ὡςwhenever / astemporal conjunction (with ἄν: 'whenever')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / when'; with ἄν and the aorist forms an indefinite-temporal clause ('whenever the meat was boiled'), reinforcing the habitual sense.
ἂν(whenever)modal particle (with ὡς, indefinite temporal)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: the modal particle generalizing the temporal clause to repeated occurrence.
ἡψήθηwas boiledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἕψωverb of indefinite-temporal clause→ verbal action or stateἕψω: 'boil / cook'; renders בָּשַׁל; the meat was being boiled as the sacrificial portions were prepared; the servant comes before the proper time (cf. v. 15, before the fat is burned).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with κρέας)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρέαςmeat / fleshNominativesubject of ἡψήθη→ participant prominenceκρέας: 'meat / flesh'; renders בָּשָׂר; the sacrificial flesh the sons greedily seize.
καὶand (with)coordinate conjunction (circumstantial: 'with a fork in hand')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and (with)'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κρεάγραflesh-hook / forkNominativesubject of an implied verbal idea (in the servant's hand)→ participant prominenceκρεάγρα: 'flesh-hook / meat-fork'; lit. 'flesh-catcher' (κρέας + ἀγρέω); renders מַזְלֵג; the implement of the sons' predation, plunged into the pot to spear up meat.
τριόδουςthree-prongedNominativeattributive adjective (modifying κρεάγρα)→ participant prominenceτριόδους: 'three-toothed / three-pronged' (τρι- + ὀδούς, 'tooth'); the fork has three prongs to seize the largest possible portion — a vivid detail of the sons' greed.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle (with χειρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρὶhandDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the fork in the servant's hand, ready to plunder the boiling pot.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying χειρί)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying χειρί).
14

καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτὴν εἰς τὸν λέβητα τὸν μέγαν ἢ εἰς τὸ χαλκίον ἢ εἰς τὴν κύθραν πᾶν ὃ ἐὰν ἀνέβη ἐν τῇ κρεάγρᾳ ἐλάμβανεν ἑαυτῷ ὁ ἱερεύς κατὰ τάδε ἐποίουν παντὶ Ισραηλ τοῖς ἐρχομένοις θῦσαι κυρίῳ ἐν Σηλωμ

And he would thrust it into the great cauldron, or into the bronze pot, or into the kettle; everything that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. Thus they did to all Israel, to those who came to sacrifice to the LORD at Selom.

Continuation of the abuse-description (iterative); generalizing summaryκαὶ ἐπάταξεν
The greed is spelled out: the fork is thrust into any vessel and whatever it spears the priest keeps. The closing summary κατὰ τάδε ἐποίουν παντὶ Ισραηλ ('thus they did to all Israel') universalizes the offense — every worshiper at Shiloh was defrauded, making it a national scandal that profanes the worship of YHWH.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενhe would thrust / strikeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (gnomic/iterative within customary description)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω: 'strike / thrust'; renders הִכָּה; here the servant 'would strike/plunge' the fork into the pot — the aorist within the customary description has iterative force (the recurring act of seizure).
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (the fork, κρεάγρα)→ participant referenceαὐτός: refers back to the feminine κρεάγρα ('fork') of v. 13.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λέβητα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέβηταcauldronAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationλέβης: 'cauldron / large kettle'; renders כִּיּוֹר / סִיר; the first of three cooking vessels listed, indicating the indiscriminate reach of the seizure.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μέγαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέγανgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λέβητα)→ object specificationμέγας: 'great / large'; 'the great cauldron' — the size detail underscores the appetite for plunder.
ordisjunctive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; the threefold ἤ … ἤ lists alternative vessels — no pot was off-limits.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with χαλκίον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χαλκίονbronze potAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationχαλκίον: 'bronze/copper vessel'; from χαλκός ('bronze'); a metal cooking pot — the second vessel in the list.
ordisjunctive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κύθραν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύθρανkettle / potAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationκύθρα (= χύτρα): 'earthen pot / kettle'; the third vessel; the variety of pots (cauldron, bronze pot, kettle) shows the fork was thrust into whatever was cooking.
πᾶνeverythingAccusativedirect object of ἐλάμβανεν (fronted)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / everything'; the totality of what the fork brought up was taken — nothing was left to chance or restraint.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀνέβη's clause)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; 'whatever came up on the fork'.
ἐὰνif / -everconditional particle (ὃ ἐάν: 'whatever')→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: with the relative ὅ forms the indefinite 'whatever', generalizing the seizure to all the fork could spear.
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωverb of the indefinite relative clause→ verbal action or stateἀναβαίνω: 'come up / rise'; whatever 'came up' on the fork from the pot — the lucky catch the priest claimed as his.
ἐνon / withpreposition + dative (instrument/location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrument/location).
τῇtheDativearticle (with κρεάγρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρεάγρᾳfork / flesh-hookDativedative of instrument (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceκρεάγρα: 'flesh-hook / fork' (see v. 13); the instrument of the seizure.
ἐλάμβανενwould takeImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the iterative imperfect 'would take for himself' marks the routine, settled greed of the priest — the heart of the indictment.
ἑαυτῷfor himselfDativereflexive dative of advantage→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; 'for himself' — the self-serving motive exposed; the portion meant for God and the worshiper is taken for the priest's own appetite.
theNominativearticle (with ἱερεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεύςpriestNominativesubject of ἐλάμβανεν→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; the office-holder turned plunderer — the abuse is the more grievous because committed by those set apart to serve.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (manner)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; κατὰ τάδε ('in this manner / thus') introduces the generalizing summary of the abuse.
τάδεthis manner / thusAccusativedemonstrative (with κατά: 'in this way')→ object specificationὅδε: 'this'; κατὰ τάδε generalizes the foregoing description into a settled practice.
ἐποίουνthey didImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (iterative imperfect, summary)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do'; the plural shifts from the single servant/priest to the sons collectively — 'thus they [habitually] did to all Israel'.
παντὶto allDativedative (modifying Ισραηλ: 'to all Israel')→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the offense was universal — every Israelite worshiper at Shiloh suffered it.
ΙσραηλIsraeldative of disadvantage (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the covenant people defrauded by their own priests.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἐρχομένοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρχομένοιςto those who camePres Mid Ptcp Dat Pl Masc · ἔρχομαιsubstantival participle (in apposition to Ισραηλ)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; 'those coming to sacrifice' — pilgrim worshipers, defrauded at the very moment of their devotion.
θῦσαιto sacrificeAor Act Inf · θύωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐρχομένοις)→ verbal action or stateθύω: 'sacrifice'; the purpose of their coming — to worship YHWH — is precisely what the sons exploit.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative indirect object (recipient of sacrifice)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the sacrifice belongs to YHWH — to defraud it is to sin against him directly (cf. v. 17).
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
ΣηλωμSelom / Shilohdative of place (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣηλωμ: transliteration of Hebrew שִׁלֹה (Shiloh), the central sanctuary where the ark and tent resided in this period; indeclinable in the LXX.
15

καὶ πρὶν θυμιαθῆναι τὸ στέαρ ἤρχετο τὸ παιδάριον τοῦ ἱερέως καὶ ἔλεγεν τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ θύοντι δὸς κρέας ὀπτῆσαι τῷ ἱερεῖ καὶ οὐ μὴ λάβω παρὰ σοῦ ἑφθὸν ἐκ τοῦ λέβητος

And even before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, 'Give meat to roast for the priest, for I will not take boiled meat from you out of the cauldron.'

Intensification of the abuse: contempt for the LORD's portion (the fat)καὶ πρὶν θυμιαθῆναι
The offense deepens: the servant demands raw meat before the fat — the LORD's portion — has even been burned, inverting the proper order of the sacrifice (Lev 3:16). The emphatic οὐ μή + subjunctive ('I will absolutely not take boiled') exposes a brazen insistence on the choicest, roastable cuts.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὶνbeforetemporal conjunction (with infinitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastπρίν: 'before'; with the aorist infinitive θυμιαθῆναι forms 'before the fat was burned' — the temporal marker that exposes the violation of sacrificial order.
θυμιαθῆναιto be burned (as offering)Aor Pass Inf · θυμιάωinfinitive with πρίν (temporal)→ verbal action or stateθυμιάω: 'burn (as incense/offering) / make smoke'; renders הִקְטִיר; the burning of the fat to YHWH was the central act of the offering (Lev 3:16, 'all the fat is the LORD's'); to seize meat before this is direct sacrilege.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with στέαρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στέαρfatAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive θυμιαθῆναι→ object specificationστέαρ: 'fat / suet'; renders חֵלֶב; the fat belonged exclusively to YHWH and had to be burned first; the sons' seizure before its burning is the heart of their contempt for the LORD's offering (v. 17).
ἤρχετοwould comeImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the iterative imperfect continues the habitual depiction from v. 13.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονservant / ladNominativesubject of ἤρχετο→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'young servant'; the priests' grasping agent (cf. v. 13), again ironically the same word used of faithful Samuel.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἱερέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive of possession (the priest's servant)→ relational specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλεγενwould sayImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (iterative imperfect introducing demand)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; the imperfect marks the habitual demand the servant would make.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἀνδρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρὶmanDativedative indirect object (addressee of the demand)→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the worshiper offering the sacrifice, addressed (and bullied) by the servant.
τῷtheDativearticle (with θύοντι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύοντιwho was sacrificingPres Act Ptcp Dat Sg Masc · θύωattributive participle (modifying ἀνδρί)→ verbal action or stateθύω: 'sacrifice'; identifies the man as the offerer at the very moment of his worship.
δὸςgiveAor Act Impv 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (imperative within quoted demand)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give'; the curt aorist imperative 'give!' conveys the servant's brazen, demanding tone toward the worshiper.
κρέαςmeatAccusativedirect object of δὸς→ object specificationκρέας: 'meat / flesh'; the raw flesh demanded for roasting.
ὀπτῆσαιto roastAor Act Inf · ὀπτάωinfinitive of purpose (with κρέας)→ verbal action or stateὀπτάω: 'roast / broil'; renders צָלָה; the priest wants meat fit for roasting (the choicer preparation), not boiled — a demand for the best cuts beyond any lawful portion.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἱερεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖpriestDativedative of advantage (for the priest)→ sphere or referenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; the beneficiary of the extorted meat.
καὶand / forcoordinate conjunction (explanatory)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegation (part of emphatic οὐ μή)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negation (part of emphatic οὐ μή).
μὴnotnegation (emphatic οὐ μή + subjunctive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ μή: the double negative with the aorist subjunctive (λάβω) is the strongest form of denial in Greek — 'I will by no means take' — conveying the servant's adamant refusal of boiled meat.
λάβωI will takeAor Act Subj 1 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (subjunctive of emphatic denial)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; in οὐ μὴ λάβω, the emphatic denial 'I will surely not take' — the priest's servant refuses the worshiper's offer of the proper boiled portion, insisting on raw meat for roasting.
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingπαρὰ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive of source (with παρά)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): the worshiper from whom the meat is taken.
ἑφθὸνboiled (meat)Accusativedirect object of λάβω (adjective used substantivally)→ object specificationἑφθός: 'boiled / sodden'; verbal adjective of ἕψω ('boil'); the boiled meat (the proper portion) is contemptuously refused in favor of raw flesh for roasting.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λέβητος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέβητοςcauldronGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationλέβης: 'cauldron'; the pot in which the proper boiled portion was cooked — what the servant disdains.
16

καὶ ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ θύων θυμιαθήτω πρῶτον ὡς καθήκει τὸ στέαρ καὶ λαβὲ σεαυτῷ ἐκ πάντων ὧν ἐπιθυμεῖ ἡ ψυχή σου καὶ εἶπεν οὐχί ὅτι νῦν δώσεις καὶ ἐὰν μή λήμψομαι κραταιῶς

And the man who was sacrificing would say, 'Let the fat first be burned, as is fitting, and then take for yourself whatever your soul desires.' But he would say, 'No, you shall give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.'

The pious worshiper's protest answered by the priest's threat of violenceκαὶ ἔλεγεν ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ θύων
The worshiper's reasonable protest — let God's portion be offered first, then take all you wish — is met with a blunt refusal and a threat of force (λήμψομαι κραταιῶς, 'I will take it by force'). The contrast between the layman's reverence and the priest's violence completes the indictment: the offense is willful, not ignorant.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλεγενwould sayImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; the worshiper's habitual, reasonable reply.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἔλεγεν→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the pious worshiper whose protest models proper reverence over against the priest's greed.
theNominativearticle (with θύων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύωνwho was sacrificingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · θύωattributive participle (modifying ἀνήρ)→ verbal action or stateθύω: 'sacrifice'; the offerer in the act of worship.
θυμιαθήτωlet it be burnedAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · θυμιάωmain verb (third-person imperative within quotation)→ verbal action or stateθυμιάω: 'burn (as offering)'; the worshiper insists the fat be burned to YHWH first, as the law requires — the antithesis of the servant's demand in v. 15.
πρῶτονfirstadverb (temporal sequence)→ clausal contributionπρῶτον: 'first'; God's portion comes first — the very priority the sons overturn.
ὡςascomparative conjunction (manner)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as'; ὡς καθήκει = 'as is proper / fitting', appealing to the established sacrificial order.
καθήκειis fittingPres Act Indic 3 Sg · καθήκωverb of comparative clause→ verbal action or stateκαθήκω: 'be fitting / proper / due'; the impersonal 'as is fitting' invokes the divine norm for sacrifice — the worshiper, not the priest, speaks for what is right.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with στέαρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στέαρfatNominativesubject of θυμιαθήτω→ participant prominenceστέαρ: 'fat'; the LORD's portion that must be burned first (Lev 3:16).
καὶand (then)coordinate conjunction (consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and (then)'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λαβὲtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (concessive imperative)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take'; the worshiper grants generous permission — take all you wish, only after God is honored first; his liberality exposes the needlessness of the sons' violence.
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativereflexive dative of advantage→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ: reflexive 'yourself'; the worshiper's open-handed concession.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (partitive source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive source).
πάντωνall thingsGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'from all that your soul desires' — the worshiper's generosity is total, conditioned only on God's priority.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, attracted to the case of its antecedent πάντων.
ἐπιθυμεῖdesiresPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιθυμέωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateἐπιθυμέω: 'desire / long for'; 'whatever your soul desires' is a Hebraism (כֹּל אֲשֶׁר תְּאַוֶּה נַפְשְׁךָ) for unrestricted choice.
theNominativearticle (with ψυχή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήsoul / appetiteNominativesubject of ἐπιθυμεῖ→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / self / appetite'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here the seat of desire/appetite — 'all your soul desires'.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ψυχή)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ψυχή).
καὶbut / andnarrative conjunction (adversative in force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the servant's blunt reply)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; the shift from imperfect (the worshiper's habitual plea) to aorist (the servant's flat 'No') sharpens the refusal.
οὐχίnoemphatic negative response→ clausal contributionοὐχί: emphatic 'no!'; the curt rejection of the worshiper's pious request.
ὅτιfor / (rather)conjunction (introducing the counter-demand)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here introducing the grounds/content of the refusal — 'no, [for] you shall give it now'.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (emphatic immediacy)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; the insistence on immediate surrender — before the fat is burned, in defiance of the law.
δώσειςyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (future of demand/command)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give'; the imperatival future 'you shall give' functions as a command backed by the threat that follows.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the threat-condition — 'and if not...'.
μήnotnegation (in the elliptical protasis 'if not')→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: the elliptical 'if not [you give it]' threatens forcible seizure.
λήμψομαιI will takeFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (apodosis: threat of seizure)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the future with κραταιῶς ('by force') makes explicit the violence underlying the priesthood's corruption — robbery of the worshiper, and of God.
κραταιῶςby force / forciblyadverb of manner (modifying λήμψομαι)→ clausal contributionκραταιῶς: 'forcibly / with violence'; from κραταιός ('strong'); the brazen threat of armed seizure caps the indictment — the sons' sin is violent, not merely greedy.
17

καὶ ἦν ἡ ἁμαρτία τῶν παιδαρίων ἐνώπιον κυρίου μεγάλη σφόδρα ὅτι ἠθέτουν τὴν θυσίαν κυρίου

And the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for they were treating the offering of the LORD with contempt.

Narrator's theological verdict on the sons' conductκαὶ ἦν ἡ ἁμαρτία
The narrator pronounces verdict: the sin was 'very great before the LORD' (μεγάλη σφόδρα), the offense aimed not merely at worshipers but at God himself, for they 'set at nought' (ἠθέτουν) the LORD's offering. This verdict prepares directly for the judgment-oracle of vv. 27–36.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predication of state)→ participant referenceεἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect frames the sin as an ongoing, settled state, not a single lapse.
theNominativearticle (with ἁμαρτία)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁμαρτίαsinNominativesubject of ἦν→ participant prominenceἁμαρτία: 'sin / offense'; renders חַטָּאת; the narrator names the conduct theologically — it is sin against YHWH, the ground of the coming judgment.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with παιδαρίων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίωνyoung men / servantsGenitivegenitive of possession (whose sin)→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: here plural 'the young men' — the sons of Eli and/or their agents; the word's recurrence (cf. faithful Samuel, v. 11) underscores by contrast how this παιδάριον-service is defiled.
ἐνώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (in God's sight)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the sight of'; the sin is reckoned 'before the LORD' — its gravity measured by God's own evaluation, not merely human.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive with ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
μεγάληgreatNominativepredicate adjective (with ἦν)→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; the magnitude of the sin, intensified by σφόδρα.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying μεγάλη)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly / very'; standard LXX rendering of מְאֹד; 'very great' marks the sin as of the gravest order — fit ground for the destruction of Eli's house.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the reason the sin was so great — contempt for the LORD's offering.
ἠθέτουνthey were treating with contempt / setting at noughtImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀθετέωverb of causal clause (iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateἀθετέω: 'reject / set aside / treat with contempt / annul'; renders נִאֵץ ('despise / spurn'); the imperfect marks a settled disposition — they habitually scorned the LORD's offering, the deepest charge in the indictment.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυσίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίανoffering / sacrificeAccusativedirect object of ἠθέτουν→ object specificationθυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; renders מִנְחָה / זֶבַח; to despise the LORD's offering is to despise the LORD himself — the same θυσία Eli is later charged with plundering (v. 29).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's offering)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the offering belongs to YHWH — its profanation is sacrilege against him.
18

καὶ Σαμουηλ ἦν λειτουργῶν ἐνώπιον κυρίου παιδάριον περιεζωσμένον εφουδ βαρ

And Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a child girded with a linen ephod.

Refrain of Samuel's faithful service (contrastive with vv. 12–17)καὶ Σαμουηλ ἦν λειτουργῶν
The narrative returns to Samuel with the refrain ἦν λειτουργῶν ἐνώπιον κυρίου (cf. v. 11), framing the corrupt priests between two notices of the faithful child. The linen ephod (εφουδ βαρ) marks him as a true cultic minister; περιεζωσμένον ('girded') verbally echoes the weak who 'gird themselves with strength' in the canticle (περιεζώσαντο, v. 4).
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (contrastive shift back to Samuel)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: transliteration of Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל (Samuel); indeclinable in the LXX; the faithful child set in deliberate contrast to Eli's worthless sons.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (with λειτουργῶν)→ participant referenceεἰμί: forms the periphrastic imperfect with λειτουργῶν — Samuel's continuous, faithful service.
λειτουργῶνministeringPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λειτουργέωparticiple of periphrastic imperfect (with ἦν)→ verbal action or stateλειτουργέω: 'minister / serve [in the cult]'; the refrain (cf. v. 11) presents Samuel as the true minister over against the priests who profane the cult — the genuine successor already foreshadowed.
ἐνώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; ἐνώπιον κυρίου, the refrain locating Samuel's life before God (vv. 11, 18, 21).
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive with ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
παιδάριονa childNominativeappositive to Σαμουηλ→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'small child / young attendant'; the recurring designation of Samuel; though only a child, he ministers faithfully where grown priests fail.
περιεζωσμένονgirdedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Sg Neut · περιζώννυμιcircumstantial/attributive participle (modifying παιδάριον)→ verbal action or stateπεριζώννυμι: 'gird about'; the perfect participle describes the settled state of being girded with the ephod; the same verb as the canticle's περιεζώσαντο δύναμιν (v. 4) — the weak child 'girded' for service, an embodiment of the song's reversals.
εφουδephodaccusative of respect (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionεφουδ: transliteration of Hebrew אֵפוֹד ('ephod'), a priestly vestment; the LXX leaves the cultic term untransliterated and indeclinable (cf. v. 28); marks Samuel as a legitimate sanctuary minister.
βαρlinenattributive (indeclinable transliteration, with εφουδ)→ clausal contributionβαρ: transliteration of Hebrew בַּד ('linen'); εφουδ βαρ = 'a linen ephod' (cf. אֵפוֹד בָּד, the simple priestly garment, as worn also by David, 2 Sam 6:14); the LXX carries the Hebrew word over untranslated.
19

καὶ διπλοΐδα μικρὰν ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνέφερεν αὐτῷ ἐξ ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας ἐν τῷ ἀναβαίνειν αὐτὴν μετὰ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς θῦσαι τὴν θυσίαν τῶν ἡμερῶν

And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it up to him from year to year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

Tender narrative detail: Hannah's continuing maternal devotionκαὶ διπλοΐδα μικρὰν
The poignant detail of the annually-renewed 'little robe' (διπλοΐδα μικράν) shows Hannah's continuing love for the son she gave to the LORD; the iterative imperfect ἀνέφερεν and the Hebraistic ἐξ ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας ('from year to year') mark the yearly pilgrimage rhythm against which Samuel grows.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διπλοΐδαrobe / mantleAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν→ object specificationδιπλοΐς: 'double cloak / mantle / robe'; renders מְעִיל; a folded outer garment; the 'little robe' anticipates the priestly/prophetic mantle Samuel will wear (cf. 15:27; 28:14), and movingly recalls a mother's hand-made gift.
μικρὰνlittle / smallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying διπλοΐδα)→ object specificationμικρός: 'small / little'; sized for a growing child — a detail of maternal tenderness, the robe enlarged year by year as he grows.
ἐποίησενwould makeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (customary/iterative in context)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'make'; the aorist here has customary force within the yearly-pilgrimage frame — 'she would make'.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantage (Samuel)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'for him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (Samuel).
theNominativearticle (with μήτηρ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτηρmotherNominativesubject of ἐποίησεν→ participant prominenceμήτηρ: 'mother'; Hannah, whose devotion did not end with the dedication of her son; the maternal note grounds the canticle's joy in real ongoing love.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying μήτηρ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying μήτηρ).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέφερενwould bring upImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναφέρωmain verb (iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateἀναφέρω: 'bring/carry up'; the imperfect marks the repeated yearly action of bringing the robe up to the sanctuary.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object (Samuel)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (Samuel).
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (in the temporal idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (in the temporal idiom).
ἡμερῶνdaysGenitivegenitive in temporal idiom (with ἐξ)→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; in the idiom ἐξ ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας ('from days to days') = 'year by year', a Hebraism (מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה) for the annual cycle of festival pilgrimage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (in the temporal idiom)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (in the temporal idiom).
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative in temporal idiom (with εἰς)→ object specificationἡμέρα: completes the idiom 'from year to year'.
ἐνin / whenpreposition + dative articular infinitive (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν τῷ + infinitive: a temporal construction ('when / while'), here 'when she went up'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with articular infinitive ἀναβαίνειν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναβαίνεινgoing upPres Act Inf · ἀναβαίνωarticular infinitive (temporal, with ἐν τῷ)→ verbal action or stateἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; the standard verb for pilgrimage 'up' to the sanctuary; here the yearly ascent to Shiloh.
αὐτὴνsheAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτός: the accusative subject of ἀναβαίνειν — 'when she went up'.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἀνδρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρὸςhusbandGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'husband / man'; Elkanah, with whom Hannah made the yearly pilgrimage (cf. 1:3).
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἀνδρός)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying ἀνδρός).
θῦσαιto offer / sacrificeAor Act Inf · θύωinfinitive of purpose (purpose of the ascent)→ verbal action or stateθύω: 'sacrifice'; the purpose of the yearly ascent — to offer the annual sacrifice.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυσίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίανsacrificeAccusativedirect object of θῦσαι→ object specificationθυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; the same word for the offering despised by Eli's sons (v. 17) — here offered faithfully by Samuel's parents.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμερῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμερῶνof the days (yearly)Genitivegenitive (θυσίαν τῶν ἡμερῶν: 'the yearly sacrifice')→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; θυσία τῶν ἡμερῶν ('the sacrifice of the days') = the annual/yearly sacrifice (cf. זֶבַח הַיָּמִים, 1:21).
20

καὶ εὐλόγησεν Ηλι τὸν Ελκανα καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ λέγων ἀποτείσαι σοι κύριος σπέρμα ἐκ τῆς γυναικὸς ταύτης ἀντὶ τοῦ χρέους οὗ ἔχρησας τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ

And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, saying, 'May the LORD repay you offspring from this woman in return for the loan you lent to the LORD.' And the man went away to his own place.

Eli's priestly blessing on Elkanah and Hannah (with vow/loan motif)καὶ εὐλόγησεν Ηλι
Eli pronounces a priestly blessing, employing the striking commercial metaphor of repayment for a loan: Hannah 'lent' (ἔχρησας) Samuel to the LORD, and Eli asks the LORD to 'repay' (ἀποτείσαι) her with further offspring. The optative ἀποτείσαι is a true precative wish, fulfilled at once in v. 21 — a touch of grace amid the surrounding judgment on Eli's own house.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐλόγησενblessedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (Eli's priestly act)→ verbal action or stateεὐλογέω: 'bless'; renders בֵּרַךְ; Eli exercises his proper priestly function of blessing — a glimpse of the office rightly used, contrasting his sons' abuse of it.
ΗλιElisubject (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΗλι: transliteration of עֵלִי; indeclinable.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Ελκανα, marking it accusative)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕλκαναElkanahdirect object (indeclinable name; case shown by article τόν)→ noun-phrase markingΕλκανα: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְקָנָה (Elkanah), Samuel's father; indeclinable in the LXX, its case marked only by the article.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object (coordinate with Ελκανα)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife / woman'; Hannah, blessed together with her husband.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying γυναῖκα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying γυναῖκα).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; the participle of speaking introduces the content of the blessing.
ἀποτείσαιmay he repayAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of blessing (optative of wish)→ verbal action or stateἀποτίνω: 'pay back / repay / recompense'; a commercial term; the optative of wish 'may the LORD repay' frames the blessing as a prayer for divine recompense — Hannah's gift of Samuel is treated as a loan God will repay with more children.
σοιto youDativedative indirect object (the recipient of repayment)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (the recipient of repayment).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀποτείσαι→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD himself is invoked as the one who will repay the loan.
σπέρμαoffspring / seedAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσαι→ object specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / offspring'; renders זֶרַע; the 'repayment' is further children — fulfilled in v. 21 (three sons and two daughters).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γυναικός)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικὸςwomanGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationγυνή: 'woman'; Hannah, the source of the promised offspring.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative (modifying γυναικός)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; deictic, pointing to Hannah present at the blessing.
ἀντὶin return for / in place ofpreposition + genitive (exchange/recompense)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'instead of / in return for'; the preposition of exchange — children given in return for the loaned child.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with χρέους)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χρέουςloan / debtGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationχρέος: 'loan / debt / obligation'; cognate with ἔχρησας below; the gift of Samuel is figured as a loan to YHWH — a striking devotional metaphor for total dedication.
οὗwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction to χρέους)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, attracted to the case of χρέους.
ἔχρησαςyou lentAor Act Indic 2 Sg · κίχρημιverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateκίχρημι / χράω: 'lend'; cognate with χρέος; 'the loan you lent to the LORD' — Hannah's own word at 1:28 (κιχρῶ αὐτὸν τῷ κυρίῳ, 'I lend him to the LORD'); dedication framed as a loan God graciously repays.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative indirect object (recipient of the loan)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD as the one to whom Samuel was 'lent'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῆλθενwent awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (closing the episode)→ verbal action or stateἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; Elkanah returns home after the blessing.
theNominativearticle (with ἄνθρωπος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of ἀπῆλθεν→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man'; Elkanah, designated simply 'the man' as he returns home.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with τόπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative of destination (with εἰς)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place / home'; 'his own place' — Ramah (cf. v. 11).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying τόπον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying τόπον).
21

καὶ ἐπεσκέψατο κύριος τὴν Ανναν καὶ ἔτεκεν ἔτι τρεῖς υἱοὺς καὶ δύο θυγατέρας καὶ ἐμεγαλύνθη τὸ παιδάριον Σαμουηλ ἐνώπιον κυρίου

And the LORD visited Hannah, and she bore yet three sons and two daughters; and the boy Samuel grew great before the LORD.

Fulfillment of Eli's blessing and resumption of the Samuel-refrainκαὶ ἐπεσκέψατο κύριος
Eli's blessing is immediately fulfilled: the LORD 'visits' Hannah (ἐπεσκέψατο, the verb of gracious divine intervention) with five more children. The verse closes with the growth-refrain ἐμεγαλύνθη τὸ παιδάριον Σαμουηλ — the passive of μεγαλύνω, the very verb that opens the Magnificat (μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου, Luke 1:46) and that will describe Samuel's continued increase (v. 26; cf. Luke 2:40, 52 of Jesus).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπεσκέψατοvisitedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (gracious divine intervention)→ verbal action or stateἐπισκέπτομαι: 'visit / look upon (to help) / attend to'; renders פָּקַד; the verb of God's gracious intervention to bless (cf. Gen 21:1 of Sarah; Luke 1:68, 78; 7:16); here YHWH 'visits' Hannah with the promised offspring.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐπεσκέψατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD himself fulfills the priestly blessing of v. 20.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Ανναν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑννανHannahAccusativedirect object of ἐπεσκέψατο→ object specificationΑννα (acc. Ανναν): transliteration of Hebrew חַנָּה (Hannah, 'grace / favor'); unlike many transliterated names, it is declined in the LXX (first-declension), here accusative; the singer of the canticle, now blessed with more children.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκενshe boreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (Hannah's childbearing)→ verbal action or stateτίκτω: 'bear / give birth'; the once-barren (στεῖρα) now bears repeatedly — the literal fulfillment of her own canticle's reversal (στεῖρα ἔτεκεν ἑπτά, v. 5).
ἔτιyet / besidesadverb (additional: 'yet more')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / besides'; the additional children beyond Samuel — the abundance of the repaid loan.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativenumeral (modifying υἱούς)→ measure or countτρεῖς: 'three'; declinable numeral, accusative agreeing with υἱούς.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of ἔτεκεν→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; three additional sons granted to Hannah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δύοtwoAccusativenumeral (modifying θυγατέρας; indeclinable)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; with Samuel, the total of six children fills out the 'seven' of the canticle's hyperbole (v. 5) all but symbolically.
θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativedirect object of ἔτεκεν (coordinate with υἱούς)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; two daughters complete the gracious recompense.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming Samuel-refrain)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμεγαλύνθηgrew great / was magnifiedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · μεγαλύνωmain verb (Samuel's growth)→ verbal action or stateμεγαλύνω: 'make great / magnify'; the passive 'was made great / grew' describes Samuel's God-given increase; the same verb that opens the Magnificat (μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν κύριον, Luke 1:46) and the growth-refrain echoed of Jesus (cf. Luke 2:40, 52).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyNominativesubject of ἐμεγαλύνθη→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child / boy'; the recurring designation of Samuel, here growing 'before the LORD'.
ΣαμουηλSamuelappositive to παιδάριον (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: transliteration of שְׁמוּאֵל; indeclinable.
ἐνώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; the refrain ἐνώπιον κυρίου frames Samuel's growth as lived in God's sight.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive with ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
22

καὶ Ηλι πρεσβύτης σφόδρα καὶ ἤκουσεν ἃ ἐποίουν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ

Now Eli was very old, and he heard what his sons were doing to the sons of Israel.

Transition to Eli's response: the aged priest hears of the abusesκαὶ Ηλι πρεσβύτης σφόδρα
The narrative turns to Eli's reaction. His extreme age (πρεσβύτης σφόδρα) underscores both his diminished authority and his failure to restrain his sons earlier. This Greek text reports only that he heard 'what his sons were doing to the sons of Israel' — the Hebrew (MT) adds here the further charge that they lay with the women serving at the entrance of the tent of meeting, a clause not represented in this Septuagint edition.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶnow / andnarrative conjunction (introducing new scene)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΗλιElisubject of the nominal clause (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΗλι: transliteration of עֵלִי; indeclinable.
πρεσβύτηςold manNominativepredicate nominative (with implied copula)→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτης: 'old man / aged one'; renders זָקֵן; Eli's advanced age explains both his weakened grip and the urgency of the succession theme (the same word recurs in the oracle, v. 32, of the priestly line cut off).
σφόδραveryadverb of degree (intensifying πρεσβύτης)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; 'very old' — emphasizing Eli's frailty and the lateness of his attempt at correction.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (Eli's hearing of the abuses)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear'; Eli hears the reports of his sons' conduct — the trigger for his rebuke; the verb dominates the following verses (the 'report', ἀκοή, vv. 23–24).
the things whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίουν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, neuter plural 'the things which'.
ἐποίουνwere doingImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause (iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do'; the imperfect marks the sons' continuing, habitual misconduct against the worshipers.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐποίουν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; Hophni and Phinehas, the perpetrators.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (Eli's sons)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (Eli's sons).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of disadvantage (whom they wronged)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; 'the sons of Israel' — the worshiping people harmed by the priests' greed; the verbal echo (sons of Eli wronging sons of Israel) sharpens the indictment.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
23

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἵνα τί ποιεῖτε κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ὃ ἐγὼ ἀκούω ἐκ στόματος παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ κυρίου

And he said to them, 'Why do you do according to this matter, which I hear from the mouth of all the LORD's people?'

Eli's rebuke (interrogative reproach)καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς
Eli's rebuke opens with the reproachful ἵνα τί ('why?'). The appeal to the universal report — 'from the mouth of all the LORD's people' — shows the abuses are public knowledge; yet his words remain mere remonstrance, lacking the priestly authority to remove his sons, hence the oracle's later charge that he honored them above God (v. 29).
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; introduces Eli's reproach to his sons.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (the sons)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (the sons).
ἵνα(why)particle (in interrogative ἵνα τί: 'why?')→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: in the idiom ἵνα τί ('to what end? / why?') it forms a reproachful question — 'for what purpose do you act thus?'
τίwhy / for whatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (with ἵνα: 'why')→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative; ἵνα τί renders לָמָּה ('why'), a Hebraistic reproach-question.
ποιεῖτεdo you doPres Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (interrogative)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do'; the present tense reproaches an ongoing practice — 'why do you keep doing...'.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/manner)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm/manner).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαmatter / reportAccusativeaccusative object of κατά→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר (which means both 'word' and 'thing'); 'this matter' = the reported misconduct.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (modifying ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the specific reported conduct.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀκούω)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun (of ἀκούω)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' stresses that even Eli himself hears the public report — the scandal is undeniable.
ἀκούωhearPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear'; the present tense — 'which I keep hearing' — marks the persistent, widespread report.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
στόματοςmouthGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationστόμα: 'mouth'; 'from the mouth of all the people' — the report comes from the whole community, underscoring its public notoriety.
παντὸςallGenitiveattributive (modifying λαοῦ)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the entire people speaks of it — the scandal is universal.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive (with στόματος / παντός)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; the covenant community, here 'the LORD's people', whose testimony condemns the priests.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's people)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; 'the LORD's people' — the offense is against the people who belong to YHWH, hence against YHWH.
24

μή τέκνα ὅτι οὐκ ἀγαθὴ ἡ ἀκοή ἣν ἐγὼ ἀκούω μὴ ποιεῖτε οὕτως ὅτι οὐκ ἀγαθαὶ αἱ ἀκοαί ἃς ἐγὼ ἀκούω τοῦ μὴ δουλεύειν λαὸν θεῷ

No, my children! For the report I hear is not good; do not do so, for the reports I hear are not good — they keep the people from serving God.

Eli's plea continued (weak prohibition)μή τέκνα
Eli's rebuke is tender but feeble — 'No, my children!' — appealing to the bad 'report' (ἀκοή) rather than exercising priestly discipline. The closing clause τοῦ μὴ δουλεύειν λαὸν θεῷ ('so that the people do not serve God') names the gravest consequence: the sons' conduct is turning the people away from the worship of YHWH. The mildness here is precisely what the oracle will condemn (v. 29).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
μήno / do notnegation (elliptical prohibition / dissuasion)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: here an elliptical 'no!' / 'do not [do this]', a gentle dissuasive opening to the rebuke.
τέκναchildrenVocativevocative of address→ direct addressτέκνον: 'child'; the affectionate vocative 'my children' (renders בָּנַי) reveals Eli's paternal tenderness — and his fatal indulgence; he pleads where he should command.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; grounds the dissuasion in the bad report.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἀγαθή)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἀγαθὴgoodNominativepredicate adjective (with ἡ ἀκοή)→ participant prominenceἀγαθός: 'good'; litotes — 'not good' = thoroughly bad; understates the gravity, characteristic of Eli's soft approach.
theNominativearticle (with ἀκοή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀκοήreport / rumorNominativesubject (with implied copula)→ participant prominenceἀκοή: 'report / what is heard / rumor'; cognate with ἀκούω; the widespread 'report' of the sons' conduct — Eli's concern is notably for the report's badness more than the deed's sinfulness.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀκούω)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, feminine accusative.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject (of ἀκούω)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I' — even their own father hears it.
ἀκούωhearPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear'; the present marks the ongoing report.
μὴdo notnegation (prohibitive, with present imperative)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: prohibitive.
ποιεῖτεdoPres Act Impv 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (prohibition)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do'; 'do not do so' — the prohibition, mild and unenforced, which the sons ignore (v. 25).
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; refers to the abuses just described.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; restates the ground of the prohibition (parallel to the first ὅτι).
οὐκnotnegation (with ἀγαθαί)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἀγαθαὶgoodNominativepredicate adjective (plural, with αἱ ἀκοαί)→ participant prominenceἀγαθός: 'good'; the plural restates the litotes — 'the reports are not good'.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with ἀκοαί)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀκοαίreportsNominativesubject (plural restatement)→ participant prominenceἀκοή: 'report'; the plural intensifies — many reports, all bad; the repetition betrays Eli's anxiety about reputation.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀκούω)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, feminine plural accusative.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject (of ἀκούω)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I'.
ἀκούωhearPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear'.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive δουλεύειν, result/genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ + infinitive: a genitive articular infinitive expressing result/consequence ('so as not to serve').
μὴnotnegation (with the infinitive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
δουλεύεινto servePres Act Inf · δουλεύωarticular infinitive (result: 'so that they do not serve')→ verbal action or stateδουλεύω: 'serve (as a slave) / worship'; renders עָבַד; the consequence of the sons' abuse — the people are being turned away from serving/worshiping God; the gravest harm is theological, not merely social.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive δουλεύειν→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; the accusative subject of the infinitive — 'the people not serving God'.
θεῷGodDativedative object of δουλεύειν (whom they serve)→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'God'; the dative complement of δουλεύω — the people are being deterred from the worship of God himself.
25

ἐὰν ἁμαρτάνων ἁμάρτῃ ἀνὴρ εἰς ἄνδρα καὶ προσεύξονται ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ πρὸς κύριον καὶ ἐὰν τῷ κυρίῳ ἁμάρτῃ τίς προσεύξεται ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἤκουον τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν ὅτι βουλόμενος ἐβούλετο κύριος διαφθεῖραι αὐτούς

If a man sins against a man, then they will pray for him to the LORD; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will pray for him? But they would not listen to the voice of their father, because the LORD was minded to destroy them.

Eli's theological warning, then the narrator's verdict on the sons' obduracyἐὰν ἁμαρτάνων ἁμάρτῃ
Eli reasons that sin against a man may be mediated by intercession, but sin against the LORD himself leaves no human mediator. The narrator then delivers the chilling verdict: the sons would not listen, because the LORD was already minded to destroy them (βουλόμενος ἐβούλετο, a Hebraistic infinitive-absolute construction) — divine judgment and human obduracy meeting, as in the hardening of Pharaoh (cf. Exod 11:10; Rom 9:18).
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the first conditional case — sin against a fellow human.
ἁμαρτάνωνsinningPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἁμαρτάνωcircumstantial participle (Hebraistic intensifier with ἁμάρτῃ)→ verbal action or stateἁμαρτάνω: 'sin / miss the mark'; the participle + finite verb (ἁμαρτάνων ἁμάρτῃ) renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute (חָטֹא יֶחֱטָא), an intensive 'if a man indeed sins'.
ἁμάρτῃshould sinAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἁμαρτάνωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ verbal action or stateἁμαρτάνω: the aorist subjunctive in the conditional — 'if a man sins'; paired with the participle for Hebraistic emphasis.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of ἁμάρτῃ→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the generic agent of sin.
εἰςagainstpreposition + accusative (object of offense)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here 'against' (one wronged) — sin directed at a fellow human.
ἄνδραa manAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the human victim of the sin — for whom intercession is possible.
καὶthenapodotic καί (introducing apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here apodotic ('then'), introducing the consequence of the condition — a Hebraism (וְ in the apodosis).
προσεύξονταιthey will prayFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · προσεύχομαιmain verb of apodosis→ verbal action or stateπροσεύχομαι: 'pray / intercede'; for sin against a man, others can intercede with the LORD; the impersonal plural ('they will pray') generalizes the possibility of mediation.
ὑπὲρfor / on behalf ofpreposition + genitive (advantage)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ: 'on behalf of'; intercession 'for him', the sinner.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive with ὑπέρ (the sinner)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive with ὑπέρ (the sinner).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of prayer)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of prayer).
κύριονLORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (to whom prayer is made)→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD, to whom intercession is directed for sin against a fellow human.
καὶbut / andcoordinate conjunction (introducing contrasting case)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (second case)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; the second, graver conditional — sin against the LORD himself.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳagainst the LORDDativedative of disadvantage (the one sinned against)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the dative 'against the LORD' marks the graver offense — the very sin of which the sons are guilty (v. 17), leaving no human mediator.
ἁμάρτῃshould sinAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἁμαρτάνωverb of second protasis→ verbal action or stateἁμαρτάνω: 'sin'; the aorist subjunctive — 'if he sins against the LORD'.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of προσεύξεται)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who?'; the rhetorical question expects the answer 'no one' — sin against God admits no human intercessor; an ominous word over Eli's sons.
προσεύξεταιwill prayFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσεύχομαιmain verb (rhetorical question)→ verbal action or stateπροσεύχομαι: 'pray / intercede'; 'who will intercede for him?' — the absence of a mediator seals the sons' doom.
ὑπὲρforpreposition + genitive (advantage)→ spatial or relational framingὑπὲρ: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (advantage).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive with ὑπέρ→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive with ὑπέρ.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative: shift to verdict)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἤκουον)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἤκουονthey would not listenImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (narrator's verdict; iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear / heed / obey'; the imperfect 'they kept not listening' marks the sons' settled refusal to heed their father — obduracy that meets and serves the divine purpose to destroy them.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἤκουον (what they did not heed)→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice'; ἀκούειν τῆς φωνῆς ('listen to the voice') is a Hebraism (שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל) for 'obey'; the sons did not obey their father.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πατρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose voice)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; Eli, whose paternal rebuke went unheeded.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατρός)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying πατρός).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (theological ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the theological reason for the sons' deafness — the divine resolve to destroy them.
βουλόμενοςbeing minded / willingPres Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · βούλομαιcircumstantial participle (Hebraistic intensifier with ἐβούλετο)→ verbal action or stateβούλομαι: 'will / intend / be minded'; the participle + finite verb (βουλόμενος ἐβούλετο) renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute, an intensive 'the LORD was firmly resolved' — the same construction-type as Pharaoh's hardening.
ἐβούλετοwas minded / willedImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · βούλομαιmain verb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateβούλομαι: 'will / be determined'; the imperfect of settled divine purpose; the sons' obduracy and YHWH's judicial will coincide (cf. the hardening theology of Exod 4–14; Rom 9:18) — their refusal to repent is both their sin and the execution of divine judgment.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐβούλετο→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; YHWH himself the subject of the resolve to destroy — the theological key to the sons' incorrigibility.
διαφθεῖραιto destroyAor Act Inf · διαφθείρωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐβούλετο)→ verbal action or stateδιαφθείρω: 'destroy / ruin utterly'; the object of the divine resolve; anticipates the oracle of judgment (vv. 31–34) — the deaths of Hophni and Phinehas (fulfilled at 4:11).
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of διαφθεῖραι→ participant referenceαὐτός: the sons of Eli, the objects of the divine sentence of destruction.
26

καὶ τὸ παιδάριον Σαμουηλ ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἐμεγαλύνετο καὶ ἀγαθὸν καὶ μετὰ κυρίου καὶ μετὰ ἀνθρώπων

And the boy Samuel kept going on and growing great, and he was good both with the LORD and with men.

Growth-refrain (third occurrence), framing the judgment-oracleκαὶ τὸ παιδάριον Σαμουηλ
The third growth-refrain (cf. vv. 18, 21) is placed pointedly between the doomed sons (v. 25) and the oracle against Eli's house (vv. 27–36): as the old priesthood falls, the new minister rises. The triad 'going on, growing great, good with the LORD and with men' is the direct model for the summary of Jesus' boyhood at Luke 2:52 (προέκοπτεν … χάριτι παρὰ θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (contrastive juxtaposition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child / boy'; the recurring designation of Samuel; his rise is set against the fall of Eli's house.
ΣαμουηλSamuelappositive to παιδάριον (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: transliteration of שְׁמוּאֵל; indeclinable.
ἐπορεύετοkept going on / advancedImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (durative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed / advance'; the imperfect of continuing progress; 'kept going on' = made steady advance — the verb behind Luke's προέκοπτεν ('advanced', Luke 2:52).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμεγαλύνετοkept growing greatImpf Pass Indic 3 Sg · μεγαλύνωmain verb (durative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateμεγαλύνω: 'make great / magnify'; the passive imperfect 'kept being made great' — continual divine increase; cognate with the Magnificat's opening μεγαλύνει (Luke 1:46) and the growth-refrain of v. 21.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀγαθὸνgoodNominativepredicate adjective (with implied ἦν: 'was good')→ participant prominenceἀγαθός: 'good'; the neuter ἀγαθόν agrees with the neuter παιδάριον; Samuel was 'good / in favor' both with God and with people — the precise antithesis of the υἱοὶ λοιμοί (v. 12) and the model of Luke 2:52.
καὶboth / andcoordinating particle (καὶ … καί: 'both … and')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί … καί: the correlative 'both … and' linking favor with God and with men.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (relation/favor)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; 'good with the LORD' = standing in favor before him.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; favor 'with the LORD' — the foundation of Samuel's standing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (relation/favor)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (relation/favor).
ἀνθρώπωνmenGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man / human being'; favor 'with men' — the dual favor (God and people) directly echoed in Luke 2:52 (χάριτι παρὰ θεῷ καὶ ἀνθρώποις) of the boy Jesus.
27

καὶ ἦλθεν ἄνθρωπος θεοῦ πρὸς Ηλι καὶ εἶπεν τάδε λέγει κύριος ἀποκαλυφθεὶς ἀπεκαλύφθην πρὸς οἶκον πατρός σου ὄντων αὐτῶν ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ δούλων τῷ οἴκῳ Φαραω

And a man of God came to Eli and said, 'Thus says the LORD: I revealed myself plainly to the house of your father when they were in the land of Egypt, slaves to the house of Pharaoh.'

Arrival of the prophetic messenger; opening of the judgment-oracleκαὶ ἦλθεν ἄνθρωπος θεοῦ
An unnamed ἄνθρωπος θεοῦ ('man of God', the standard term for a prophet) delivers the oracle with the messenger-formula τάδε λέγει κύριος. The oracle opens with the history of divine grace — YHWH's self-revelation to Aaron's house in Egypt and election to priesthood (vv. 27–28) — establishing the covenantal background against which the indictment (v. 29) and reversal (v. 30) will fall. The Hebraistic ἀποκαλυφθεὶς ἀπεκαλύφθην ('revealing I revealed') emphasizes the certainty of that ancient self-disclosure.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival of the prophet)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the arrival of the prophetic messenger sets the judgment-scene.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (ἄνθρωπος θεοῦ: 'man of God')→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man'; ἄνθρωπος θεοῦ ('man of God') is the stock LXX designation of a prophet (אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים; cf. Deut 33:1; 1 Kgs 13); the messenger here remains anonymous, his authority resting wholly on the word he bears.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive (with ἄνθρωπος: 'man of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the genitive of relationship marks the messenger as God's prophetic agent.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΗλιEliaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΗλι: transliteration of עֵלִי; indeclinable; the recipient of the judgment-oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; introduces the oracle.
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative (object of λέγει: messenger-formula)→ object specificationὅδε: 'this'; τάδε λέγει κύριος ('thus says the LORD') is the standard LXX prophetic messenger-formula (כֹּה אָמַר יהוה), marking the words as YHWH's own.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula (historic/aoristic present)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: the present λέγει in the citation-formula gives the divine word present authority — 'the LORD says (now)'.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of λέγει (the divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; YHWH is the true speaker of the oracle, the prophet only his mouth.
ἀποκαλυφθεὶςrevealing myselfAor Pass Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἀποκαλύπτωcircumstantial participle (Hebraistic intensifier with ἀπεκαλύφθην)→ verbal action or stateἀποκαλύπτω: 'uncover / reveal'; the participle + finite verb (ἀποκαλυφθεὶς ἀπεκαλύφθην) renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute (נִגְלֹה נִגְלֵיתִי), 'I surely revealed myself' — emphasizing the reality and graciousness of YHWH's ancient self-disclosure to the priestly line.
ἀπεκαλύφθηνI revealed myselfAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (divine first-person)→ verbal action or stateἀποκαλύπτω: the aorist passive (with reflexive sense, 'I revealed myself') of God's self-disclosure to Aaron's house in Egypt — the gracious foundation now betrayed; cognate with NT ἀποκάλυψις ('revelation').
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (recipient of revelation)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (recipient of revelation).
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / household / dynasty'; 'the house of your father' = the priestly line of Aaron/Levi; οἶκος is the keyword of the oracle (vv. 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36), its fate the oracle's whole subject.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with οἶκον)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father / ancestor'; Eli's ancestral house, the Aaronic priesthood.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατρός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying πατρός).
ὄντωνbeing / when they werePres Act Ptcp Gen Pl Masc · εἰμίgenitive absolute (temporal: 'when they were')→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: the genitive absolute ὄντων αὐτῶν ('when they were') sets the time of revelation — during the Egyptian bondage, before the priesthood was constituted.
αὐτῶνthey / themGenitivesubject of the genitive absolute (with ὄντων)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'they'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as subject of the genitive absolute (with ὄντων).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
γῇlandDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ = 'in the land of Egypt', the place of the founding revelation.
ΑἰγύπτῳEgyptDativedative in apposition to γῇ (place name)→ sphere or referenceΑἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; declinable in the LXX (unlike Φαραω); the place of Israel's bondage and of YHWH's self-revelation to the priestly ancestors (cf. Exod 3–4).
δούλωνslavesGenitivegenitive (in apposition to αὐτῶν: 'they being slaves')→ relational specificationδοῦλος: 'slave'; the ancestors were 'slaves to the house of Pharaoh' when YHWH revealed himself — divine grace reaching them in bondage, magnifying the ingratitude of the present priests.
τῷtheDativearticle (with οἴκῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative (servitude: 'slaves to the house')→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house / household'; the 'house of Pharaoh' to which the ancestors were enslaved — pointedly contrasted with the 'house of your father' chosen for the priesthood.
ΦαραωPharaohgenitive of possession (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΦαραω: transliteration of פַּרְעֹה (Egyptian pr-ꜥȝ); indeclinable in the LXX; the oppressor whose house enslaved Israel before the deliverance.
28

καὶ ἐξελεξάμην τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός σου ἐκ πάντων τῶν σκήπτρων Ισραηλ ἐμοὶ ἱερατεύειν καὶ ἀναβαίνειν ἐπὶ θυσιαστήριόν μου καὶ θυμιᾶν θυμίαμα καὶ αἴρειν εφουδ καὶ ἔδωκα τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρός σου τὰ πάντα τοῦ πυρὸς υἱῶν Ισραηλ εἰς βρῶσιν

And I chose the house of your father out of all the tribes of Israel to serve me as priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod; and I gave to the house of your father all the fire-offerings of the sons of Israel for food.

The grace recalled: election to priesthood and its privilegesκαὶ ἐξελεξάμην
The oracle details the gift now abused: divine election (ἐξελεξάμην) of Eli's house from all the tribes to the full priestly ministry (priesthood, altar, incense, ephod), with the right to the sacrificial portions for food. The catalogue of privileges magnifies the ingratitude — they were given the offerings as a gift, yet seized them by violence (vv. 13–17).
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξελεξάμηνI choseAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιmain verb (divine election)→ verbal action or stateἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select out'; renders בָּחַר; the verb of divine election; YHWH chose Eli's house for the priesthood — the privilege whose abuse the oracle condemns.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativedirect object of ἐξελεξάμην→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / dynasty'; the chosen priestly house — keyword of the oracle.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πατρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father / ancestor'; the Aaronic ancestor.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατρός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying πατρός).
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (selection from)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (selection from).
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive (modifying σκήπτρων)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; chosen from all the tribes — the singularity of the privilege underscores the gravity of its abuse.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with σκήπτρων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκήπτρωνtribesGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationσκῆπτρον: lit. 'staff / scepter', here 'tribe'; renders שֵׁבֶט, which means both 'staff' and 'tribe'; the LXX uses σκῆπτρον (lit. translation of 'staff') for the tribes of Israel — Eli's house chosen out of them all.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
ἐμοὶfor meDativedative of advantage (the priesthood is for YHWH)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): the emphatic dative 'for me / to serve me' stresses that the priesthood exists for YHWH's service — precisely what the sons inverted into self-service.
ἱερατεύεινto serve as priestPres Act Inf · ἱερατεύωinfinitive of purpose (the purpose of election)→ verbal action or stateἱερατεύω: 'serve as priest / perform priestly office'; renders כִּהֵן; the first of the priestly functions granted — the very office the sons defile.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀναβαίνεινto go upPres Act Inf · ἀναβαίνωinfinitive of purpose (coordinate)→ verbal action or stateἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; here to ascend to the altar — the priestly approach to YHWH's altar, a granted privilege.
ἐπὶupon / topreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
θυσιαστήριόνaltarAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar [of sacrifice]'; a distinctively biblical-Greek coinage (from θυσιάζω) for the legitimate altar of YHWH; the altar 'of mine' (μου) the priests serve.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's altar)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the LORD's altar).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θυμιᾶνto burn incensePres Act Inf · θυμιάωinfinitive of purpose (coordinate)→ verbal action or stateθυμιάω: 'burn incense / make offering smoke'; the priestly privilege of offering incense (cf. the fat the sons seized before burning, v. 15).
θυμίαμαincenseAccusativedirect object of θυμιᾶν→ object specificationθυμίαμα: 'incense / fragrant offering'; cognate with θυμιάω; the substance of the incense-offering — recalled accusingly in v. 29 ('my incense').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἴρεινto bear / wearPres Act Inf · αἴρωinfinitive of purpose (coordinate)→ verbal action or stateαἴρω: 'lift / carry / wear'; here 'to wear/bear the ephod' — the priestly vestment of oracular inquiry; the same ephod faithful Samuel wears (v. 18).
εφουδephoddirect object of αἴρειν (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionεφουδ: transliteration of אֵפוֹד ('ephod'); indeclinable in the LXX; the priestly vestment, here a granted privilege of the chosen house.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκαI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine grant of the portions)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give'; YHWH gave the sacrificial portions as a gift — the point being that the sons turned a gift into plunder (v. 16, λήμψομαι κραταιῶς).
τῷtheDativearticle (with οἴκῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative indirect object (recipient of the gift)→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house'; the priestly house to which the portions were given.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πατρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father / ancestor'.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατρός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying πατρός).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with πάντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάνταall thingsAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκα→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all the fire-offerings' — the full portion granted to the priests, generously, not grudgingly.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πυρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πυρὸςof fire / fire-offeringsGenitivegenitive (τὰ … τοῦ πυρός: 'the things of the fire')→ relational specificationπῦρ: 'fire'; τὰ … τοῦ πυρός renders אִשֵּׁי ('fire-offerings / offerings made by fire'); the priestly share of what was offered on the altar by fire.
υἱῶνof sonsGenitivegenitive of source (the offerings of the Israelites)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') = the Israelite worshipers whose fire-offerings supply the priests' portion.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
βρῶσινfoodAccusativeaccusative of purpose (with εἰς: 'for food')→ object specificationβρῶσις: 'eating / food'; the portions were given the priests for sustenance — a lawful provision the sons perverted into greedy seizure.
29

καὶ ἵνα τί ἐπέβλεψας ἐπὶ τὸ θυμίαμά μου καὶ εἰς τὴν θυσίαν μου ἀναιδεῖ ὀφθαλμῷ καὶ ἐδόξασας τοὺς υἱούς σου ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ ἐνευλογεῖσθαι ἀπαρχῆς πάσης θυσίας Ισραηλ ἔμπροσθέν μου

Why then have you looked upon my incense and my offering with a shameless eye, and honored your sons above me, blessing yourselves with the firstfruits of every offering of Israel before me?

The accusation: Eli has honored his sons above YHWHκαὶ ἵνα τί ἐπέβλεψας
The indictment turns directly on Eli. The reproachful ἵνα τί ('why?') charges him with looking greedily on the offering 'with a shameless eye' and, decisively, with honoring his sons above God (ἐδόξασας … ὑπὲρ ἐμέ). This δοξάζω ('honor') is the hinge-word: it sets up the great reversal-principle of v. 30 (τοὺς δοξάζοντάς με δοξάσω). Eli's complicity — sharing in the plundered firstfruits — makes him a partner in the sacrilege.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the accusation)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἵνα(why)particle (interrogative ἵνα τί: 'why?')→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: in ἵνα τί ('why / to what end') a reproachful question — here the accusatory 'why have you...?'
τίwhyAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (with ἵνα)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative; ἵνα τί renders לָמָּה ('why').
ἐπέβλεψαςyou have looked uponAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐπιβλέπωmain verb (the accusation, 2nd person to Eli)→ verbal action or stateἐπιβλέπω: 'look upon / regard'; here with a covetous nuance ('looked greedily upon'); the second person singular addresses Eli directly — he too has eyed the offering with desire, sharing his sons' sin.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (object of the gaze)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object of the gaze).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with θυμίαμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυμίαμάincenseAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationθυμίαμα: 'incense'; 'my incense' — the offering belongs to YHWH; to covet it is to sin against him.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's incense)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the LORD's incense).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςupon / atpreposition + accusative (object of the gaze)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object of the gaze).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυσίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίανoffering / sacrificeAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationθυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; 'my offering' — the same θυσία the sons despised (v. 17); the possessive 'my' makes the theft a direct affront to YHWH.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀναιδεῖshamelessDativeattributive adjective (modifying ὀφθαλμῷ)→ sphere or referenceἀναιδής: 'shameless / impudent'; the 'shameless eye' is the covetous, irreverent gaze on what belongs to God — a vivid idiom for greed without conscience.
ὀφθαλμῷeyeDativedative of manner/instrument (with ἀναιδεῖ)→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the dative of manner — 'with a shameless eye'; the eye as the organ of covetous desire (cf. the 'evil eye' idiom).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the decisive charge)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐδόξασαςyou honoredAor Act Indic 2 Sg · δοξάζωmain verb (the central accusation)→ verbal action or stateδοξάζω: 'glorify / honor'; the pivotal charge — Eli 'honored his sons above me'; this verb sets up the great reversal-principle of v. 30 (τοὺς δοξάζοντάς με δοξάσω), where God promises to honor those who honor him and dishonor those who despise him.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱούςsonsAccusativedirect object of ἐδόξασας→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; Eli's sons, whom he honored — by indulgence and by sharing their plunder — above YHWH himself.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying υἱούς)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying υἱούς).
ὑπὲρabovepreposition + accusative (comparison: 'above me')→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: 'above / beyond / more than'; the comparative 'above me' is the heart of the sin — preferring sons to God.
ἐμὲmeAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπέρ (YHWH himself)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. ἐμέ): the emphatic 'me' — YHWH; to honor sons above God is the essence of Eli's failure (cf. Jesus' words, Matt 10:37).
ἐνευλογεῖσθαιto bless yourselvesPres Mid Inf · ἐνευλογέωepexegetic/result infinitive (how he honored them)→ verbal action or stateἐνευλογέω: 'bless'; the middle 'to bless yourselves / fatten yourselves' (with the firstfruits) explains the favoritism — Eli and his sons enriched themselves on the choicest offerings; the infinitive shows the manner of the dishonoring of God.
ἀπαρχῆςwith the firstfruitsGenitivegenitive (object/source of ἐνευλογεῖσθαι)→ relational specificationἀπαρχή: 'firstfruits / first/best portion'; renders רֵאשִׁית; the choicest part of every offering, due to God, taken by the priests for self-enrichment.
πάσηςof everyGenitiveattributive (modifying θυσίας)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'every / all'; 'of every offering' — the seizure was total and systematic.
θυσίαςofferingGenitivegenitive (with ἀπαρχῆς: firstfruits of the offering)→ relational specificationθυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; the firstfruits of every Israelite sacrifice, plundered by the priests.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
ἔμπροσθένbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (in God's presence)→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of'; 'before me' — the offense is committed openly in YHWH's own presence, compounding its insolence.
μουmeGenitivegenitive with ἔμπροσθεν (YHWH)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive with ἔμπροσθεν (YHWH).
30

διὰ τοῦτο τάδε εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ εἶπα ὁ οἶκός σου καὶ ὁ οἶκος τοῦ πατρός σου διελεύσεται ἐνώπιόν μου ἕως αἰῶνος καὶ νῦν φησιν κύριος μηδαμῶς ἐμοί ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἢ τοὺς δοξάζοντάς με δοξάσω καὶ ὁ ἐξουθενῶν με ἀτιμωθήσεται

Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I said that your house and the house of your father would walk before me forever; but now, says the LORD, far be it from me! For those who honor me I will honor, and the one who despises me shall be dishonored.

The reversal of the promise, grounded in the principle of honor and dishonorδιὰ τοῦτο τάδε εἶπεν κύριος
The διὰ τοῦτο ('therefore') turns from accusation to sentence. YHWH had promised the priestly house a perpetual standing before him (διελεύσεται … ἕως αἰῶνος), but 'now' (νῦν) revokes it (μηδαμῶς, 'by no means'). The ground is the great theological principle τοὺς δοξάζοντάς με δοξάσω καὶ ὁ ἐξουθενῶν με ἀτιμωθήσεται — a reversal-maxim of the same shape as the Magnificat and the Song of Hannah itself: God exalts those who honor him and humbles those who despise him.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
διὰbecause of / thereforepreposition + accusative (causal: 'on account of this')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'on account of'; διὰ τοῦτο ('therefore') marks the transition from indictment to sentence.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (object of διά)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; refers back to the accusation of v. 29.
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative (object of εἶπεν: messenger-formula)→ object specificationὅδε: τάδε εἶπεν κύριος ('thus says the LORD') — the messenger-formula again introducing the divine sentence.
εἶπενsays / has saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; in the formula τάδε εἶπεν κύριος the aorist functions like the prophetic perfect — the LORD has spoken his verdict.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
theNominativearticle (with θεός, in apposition to κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριος (κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the full title κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the LORD, the God of Israel') lends solemn covenantal weight to the sentence.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the covenant people whose God pronounces this verdict.
εἶπαI saidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb (recalling the earlier promise)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; the first-singular εἶπα (Koine sigmatic aorist of λέγω) recalls YHWH's earlier promise of a perpetual priesthood — the very word now reversed by 'but now'.
theNominativearticle (with οἶκός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκόςhouseNominativesubject of διελεύσεται→ participant prominenceοἶκος: 'house / dynasty'; Eli's priestly house, promised perpetual standing.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying οἶκος)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying οἶκος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with οἶκος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκοςhouseNominativesubject (coordinate with ὁ οἶκός σου)→ participant prominenceοἶκος: 'house'; the ancestral priestly house, jointly promised perpetuity.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πατρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father / ancestor'.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατρός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying πατρός).
διελεύσεταιwould walk / passFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb of the recalled promise→ verbal action or stateδιέρχομαι: 'go through / walk / pass'; 'walk before me' (διελεύσεται ἐνώπιόν μου) is an idiom for ministering in the priestly office in YHWH's presence (cf. 'walk before me', Gen 17:1); the promise that the house would so serve forever.
ἐνώπιόνbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; priestly service 'before' YHWH.
μουmeGenitivegenitive with ἐνώπιον (YHWH)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive with ἐνώπιον (YHWH).
ἕωςuntil / foreverimproper preposition + genitive (extent of time)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; ἕως αἰῶνος ('forever') renders עַד עוֹלָם — the perpetuity of the promise now revoked.
αἰῶνοςage / foreverGenitivegenitive with ἕως (ἕως αἰῶνος: 'forever')→ relational specificationαἰών: 'age / eternity'; ἕως αἰῶνος = 'forever'; the unconditional-sounding promise that the sons' sin has forfeited.
καὶbut / andadversative conjunction (introducing the reversal)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (the decisive 'but now')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; the pivotal 'but now' marks the turn from the former promise to its revocation — divine grace freely given, now justly withdrawn.
φησινsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · φημίparenthetical verb of speaking (oracle-marker)→ verbal action or stateφημί: 'say / declare'; the parenthetical φησιν κύριος ('says the LORD') is the prophetic 'oracle' marker (נְאֻם יהוה), authenticating the reversal as YHWH's own word.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of φησιν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
μηδαμῶςby no means / far be itadverb of strong negation (exclamatory)→ clausal contributionμηδαμῶς: 'by no means / not at all'; the emphatic 'far be it from me!' (μηδαμῶς ἐμοί) — YHWH refuses to let the promised perpetuity stand in the face of such contempt.
ἐμοίwith me / for meDativedative (with μηδαμῶς: 'far be it from me')→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): the dative in the exclamation μηδαμῶς ἐμοί ('by no means with/for me') — God will not so act.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (grounding the reversal in the principle)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the governing principle of honor and dishonor.
ἀλλ᾿butadversative conjunction (elided)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; with ἤ ('but rather') it sharpens the contrast — instead, the principle holds.
ratherparticle (ἀλλ᾿ ἤ: 'but rather')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: in ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but rather / except') it introduces the operative maxim.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with participle δοξάζοντάς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοξάζοντάςthose who honorPres Act Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · δοξάζωsubstantival participle (object of δοξάσω)→ verbal action or stateδοξάζω: 'honor / glorify'; the participle 'those who honor me' — the maxim's first clause; picks up ἐδόξασας of v. 29 (Eli honored sons above God) to state the inverted principle: honor of God is repaid with honor.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of δοξάζοντάς→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): YHWH, the object of true honor.
δοξάσωI will honorFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δοξάζωmain verb (apodosis of the maxim)→ verbal action or stateδοξάζω: 'glorify / praise'; the future δοξάσω renders the Hebrew אֲנְוֵהוּ (a disputed form, 'I will praise/beautify/build him a habitation'); the LXX reads it as praise; note the lexical echo of δεδόξασται in v. 1 — the LORD is glorified, and the singer responds by glorifying.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (antithetical)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with participle ἐξουθενῶν)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐξουθενῶνthe one who despisesPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἐξουθενέωsubstantival participle (subject of ἀτιμωθήσεται)→ verbal action or stateἐξουθενέω: 'despise / treat as nothing / set at naught'; the participle 'the one who despises me' — the maxim's negative clause; the verb the NT uses of the rejected Christ (Acts 4:11; cf. Luke 18:9), here of those who scorn YHWH.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἐξουθενῶν→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): YHWH, despised by Eli's house.
ἀτιμωθήσεταιshall be dishonoredFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀτιμόωmain verb (negative apodosis of the maxim)→ verbal action or stateἀτιμόω: 'dishonor / treat with contempt'; the passive 'shall be dishonored' (by God) — the antithesis of δοξάσω; the despiser of God is himself brought to shame, the exact reversal that befalls the house of Eli.
31

ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται καὶ ἐξολεθρεύσω τὸ σπέρμα σου καὶ τὸ σπέρμα οἴκου πατρός σου

Behold, days are coming when I will cut off your seed and the seed of your father's house.

Announcement of judgment with the prophetic 'days are coming' formulaἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται
The sentence is announced with the classic prophetic formula ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται ('behold, days are coming', cf. Amos 4:2; Jer 7:32; 31:31). The judgment is the cutting off (ἐξολεθρεύσω) of Eli's 'seed' — the end of his priestly line, fulfilled in the slaughter of the priests of Nob (1 Sam 22) and the deposition of Abiathar (1 Kgs 2:27).
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ἰδοὺbeholddemonstrative particle (attention-marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the attention-marker fronting the announcement of judgment.
ἡμέραιdaysNominativesubject of ἔρχονται→ participant prominenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἡμέραι ἔρχονται ('days are coming') is the prophetic formula introducing an impending decisive act of God.
ἔρχονταιare comingPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (futuristic present)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the present tense conveys the certainty and nearness of the coming days of judgment.
καὶand / whencoordinate conjunction (introducing the content of the days)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξολεθρεύσωI will utterly destroy / cut offFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (the announced judgment)→ verbal action or stateἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / cut off / exterminate'; renders הִכְרִית; the strong compound (ἐξ-) of total destruction; the cutting off of Eli's line — repeated in v. 33 — the core of the sentence.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with σπέρμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπέρμαseed / offspringAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεύσω→ object specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / descendants'; renders זֶרַע; 'your seed' = Eli's descendants, who are to be cut off — the loss of posterity, the severest of curses in Israel.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying σπέρμα)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying σπέρμα).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with σπέρμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπέρμαseed / offspringAccusativedirect object (coordinate with τὸ σπέρμα σου)→ object specificationσπέρμα: 'seed'; the ancestral line as well — the whole priestly house is under sentence.
οἴκουof the houseGenitivegenitive of relationship (with σπέρμα)→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the ancestral priestly house whose seed is cut off.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with οἴκου)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father / ancestor'.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατρός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying πατρός).
32

καὶ οὐκ ἔσται σου πρεσβύτης ἐν οἴκῳ μου πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας

And there shall not be an old man of yours in my house all the days.

Specification of the judgment: no elder of Eli's house to surviveκαὶ οὐκ ἔσται σου πρεσβύτης
The judgment is sharpened: no member of Eli's house will reach old age in the priestly service. The word πρεσβύτης ('old man') ironically recalls v. 22, where Eli himself is πρεσβύτης σφόδρα ('very old'): he will be the last of his line to grow old in the LORD's house; his descendants will be cut off in their prime (cf. v. 33).
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἔσται)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔσταιthere shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential, with negation)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the existential 'there shall not be' announces the absence of any aged survivor from Eli's line.
σουof yoursGenitivegenitive of possession (an elder belonging to your house)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'of you / yours'; the old man would be one of Eli's descendants.
πρεσβύτηςold man / elderNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτης: 'old man / elder'; the same word used of Eli himself (v. 22) — none of his line will live to old age in office; the curse of premature death on the dynasty.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house'; 'my house' = YHWH's sanctuary/service; no aged priest of Eli's line will serve there.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's house)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the LORD's house).
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive (modifying ἡμέρας; accusative of duration)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ('all the days') = perpetually — the perpetuity once promised (ἕως αἰῶνος, v. 30) is now inverted into perpetual exclusion.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration of time→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative of extent — 'for all time'; the dynasty's exclusion is permanent.
33

καὶ ἄνδρα οὐκ ἐξολεθρεύσω σοι ἀπὸ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου μου ἐκλιπεῖν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ καταρρεῖν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶς περισσεύων οἴκου σου πεσοῦνται ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ ἀνδρῶν

And a man of yours I will not utterly cut off from my altar — only to make his eyes fail and his soul waste away; and all the abundance of your house shall fall by the sword of men.

A reserved survivor doomed to grief; the rest to fall by the swordκαὶ ἄνδρα οὐκ ἐξολεθρεύσω σοι
A grim qualification: one man will be spared from total cutting off at the altar — but only to live in grief, his eyes failing and his soul wasting away (the survivor who watches the dynasty's ruin). The remainder, all the 'abundance' of the house, will fall ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ ἀνδρῶν ('by the sword of men') — fulfilled in the massacre at Nob (1 Sam 22:18–19).
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνδραa manAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεύσω (fronted)→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the single survivor not entirely cut off from the altar — preserved only to suffer.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἐξολεθρεύσω)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐξολεθρεύσωI will cut offFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (with negation: one not wholly cut off)→ verbal action or stateἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / cut off'; the same verb as v. 31, here negated for one survivor — spared from death at the altar, but only for a life of grief.
σοιof yours / for youDativedative of reference/possession (a man belonging to you)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'for/of you'; the man is of Eli's house.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θυσιαστηρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἀπό)→ relational specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; the altar-service from which the survivor is not wholly removed — but his survival is itself a torment.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's altar)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the LORD's altar).
ἐκλιπεῖνto make failAor Act Inf · ἐκλείπωinfinitive of result/purpose (the survivor's fate)→ verbal action or stateἐκλείπω: 'fail / give out / be consumed'; 'to make his eyes fail' denotes the wasting of grief and weeping — the spared survivor lives only to mourn the ruin of his house.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ὀφθαλμούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyesAccusativeaccusative subject/object of the infinitive ἐκλιπεῖν→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the failing eyes are the image of grief and longing unfulfilled (cf. Deut 28:65).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the survivor's eyes)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the survivor's eyes).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταρρεῖνto waste away / meltPres Act Inf · καταρρέωinfinitive of result/purpose (coordinate with ἐκλιπεῖν)→ verbal action or stateκαταρρέω: 'flow down / waste away / melt'; 'his soul to waste away' — the inner consuming of sorrow; the survivor's life dissolves in grief over his house's fate.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ψυχήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴνsoul / lifeAccusativeaccusative subject/object of καταρρεῖν→ object specificationψυχή: 'soul / life'; the inner self consumed by sorrow — total grief, body and soul.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the survivor's soul)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the survivor's soul).
καὶand / butcoordinate conjunction (the fate of the rest)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςall / everyoneNominativesubject (with περισσεύων; constructio ad sensum with plural verb)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / every'; πᾶς περισσεύων ('all the remainder') governs the plural πεσοῦνται by sense — the whole surviving multitude of the house.
περισσεύωνremaining / aboundingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · περισσεύωsubstantival participle (with πᾶς: 'all who remain')→ verbal action or stateπερισσεύω: 'abound / be left over / remain'; 'all the abundance/remnant of your house' — those not the single spared survivor; they fall by the sword (the same word recurs in v. 36 of the surviving beggar).
οἴκουof the houseGenitivegenitive of relationship (with περισσεύων)→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the remainder belonging to Eli's house.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying οἴκου)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying οἴκου).
πεσοῦνταιshall fallFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb (plural by sense, with πᾶς περισσεύων)→ verbal action or stateπίπτω: 'fall'; 'shall fall by the sword' — the violent death of Eli's house, fulfilled at the massacre of the priests of Nob (1 Sam 22:18–19).
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrument)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrument).
ῥομφαίᾳswordDativedative of instrument (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceῥομφαία: 'sword / large blade'; renders חֶרֶב; the instrument of the dynasty's violent end — death 'by the sword of men'.
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivegenitive of source (whose sword)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; 'the sword of men' — human agents will execute the divine sentence (so Doeg and Saul, 1 Sam 22).
34

καὶ τοῦτό σοι τὸ σημεῖον ὃ ἥξει ἐπὶ τοὺς δύο υἱούς σου τούτους Οφνι καὶ Φινεες ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ ἀποθανοῦνται ἀμφότεροι

And this shall be the sign for you, which will come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on one day they shall both die.

The authenticating sign: the death of both sons on one dayκαὶ τοῦτό σοι τὸ σημεῖον
The oracle gives a near-term, verifiable sign (σημεῖον) guaranteeing the whole word: Hophni and Phinehas — here first named — will die ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ ('on one day'). This is fulfilled precisely at 1 Sam 4:11, 17, when both fall in the same battle as the ark is captured; the sign authenticates the larger judgment on the house.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῦτόthisNominativedemonstrative (subject/predicate of nominal clause)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; points forward to the sign about to be specified.
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage/reference (the sign is for Eli)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'for you'; the sign is given to Eli as confirmation.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with σημεῖον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σημεῖονsignNominativepredicate nominative (the sign)→ participant prominenceσημεῖον: 'sign / token'; renders אוֹת; a confirming event that authenticates the whole prophecy — a near-term proof of the larger, longer-term judgment.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἥξει)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun.
ἥξειwill comeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἥκωverb of relative clause (predictive)→ verbal action or stateἥκω: 'come / arrive'; the sign 'will come upon' the two sons — their imminent death.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwoAccusativenumeral (modifying υἱούς; indeclinable)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; the two sons who will die together.
υἱούςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; Hophni and Phinehas, the agents of the sacrilege now under the sign of death.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying υἱούς)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying υἱούς).
τούτουςtheseAccusativedemonstrative (modifying υἱούς)→ object specificationοὗτος: 'these'; deictic, pointing to the named sons.
ΟφνιHophniapposition to υἱούς (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΟφνι: transliteration of Hebrew חָפְנִי (Hophni); indeclinable in the LXX; one of Eli's two wicked sons (cf. 1:3).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΦινεεςPhinehasapposition to υἱούς (indeclinable name)→ participant identificationΦινεες: transliteration of Hebrew פִּינְחָס (Phinehas); indeclinable in the LXX; the other wicked son (not to be confused with the zealous Phinehas of Num 25); both die at 1 Sam 4:11.
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (time)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (time).
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ ('on one day') — the simultaneous death of both, the precise and striking sign fulfilled at 1 Sam 4:11.
μιᾷoneDativenumeral/adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; 'on one [single] day' — the simultaneity is the heart of the sign's evidential force.
ἀποθανοῦνταιthey shall dieFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (predictive)→ verbal action or stateἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the blunt 'they shall die' — fulfilled exactly when both fall in the Philistine battle (1 Sam 4:11, 17).
ἀμφότεροιbothNominativesubject (intensive: 'both of them')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: 'both'; emphasizes that the two die together — the sign's distinctive mark.
35

καὶ ἀναστήσω ἐμαυτῷ ἱερέα πιστόν ὃς πάντα τὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ μου καὶ τὰ ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ μου ποιήσει καὶ οἰκοδομήσω αὐτῷ οἶκον πιστόν καὶ διελεύσεται ἐνώπιον χριστοῦ μου πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας

And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do all that is in my heart and in my soul; and I will build him a sure house, and he will walk before my anointed all the days.

The positive promise: a faithful priest with a sure house before the anointedκαὶ ἀναστήσω ἐμαυτῷ ἱερέα πιστόν
Over against the doomed house, YHWH promises to raise up (ἀναστήσω) a faithful priest (ἱερέα πιστόν) with a 'sure house' (οἶκον πιστόν) who will walk before 'my anointed' (χριστοῦ μου) forever. The verse points beyond Samuel to the Zadokite priesthood established under Solomon (1 Kgs 2:35) and, in its juxtaposition of faithful priest and royal anointed, anticipates the priest-king hope; χριστοῦ μου echoes the χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ that crowned the Song of Hannah (v. 10).
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (turn to the positive promise)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀναστήσωI will raise upFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (divine raising of a new priest)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι: 'raise up / set up'; the same verb that raised the poor in the canticle (ἀνιστᾷ, v. 8); here God raises a faithful priest to replace the fallen house — the constructive counterpart to the judgment; the verb of raising up deliverers and, ultimately, of resurrection.
ἐμαυτῷfor myselfDativereflexive dative of advantage→ sphere or referenceἐμαυτοῦ: reflexive 'for myself'; the new priest is raised for YHWH's own service — the priesthood restored to its true purpose (cf. ἐμοὶ ἱερατεύειν, v. 28).
ἱερέαpriestAccusativedirect object of ἀναστήσω→ object specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; the promised replacement for Eli's corrupt line — pointing to Zadok (1 Kgs 2:35) and the enduring faithful priesthood.
πιστόνfaithfulAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἱερέα)→ object specificationπιστός: 'faithful / trustworthy'; the defining quality of the new priest, in pointed contrast to the faithless sons; the word recurs of the 'sure house' below.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ποιήσει)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; introduces the priest's defining obedience.
πάνταall thingsAccusativedirect object of ποιήσει→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the faithful priest does 'all' that is in God's heart and soul — total obedience, the antithesis of the sons' self-will.
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantizing the prepositional phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle (with καρδίᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίᾳheartDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in my heart')→ sphere or referenceκαρδία: 'heart'; 'what is in my heart' = God's will and purpose; the faithful priest aligns wholly with it — recalling the same word that opened the canticle (ἐστερεώθη ἡ καρδία μου, v. 1).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (God's heart)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (God's heart).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantizing the prepositional phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ψυχῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχῇsoulDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in my soul')→ sphere or referenceψυχή: 'soul'; 'what is in my soul' parallels 'my heart' — the whole inner purpose of God, which the faithful priest fulfills.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (God's soul)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (God's soul).
ποιήσειwill doFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause (the priest's obedience)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do'; the faithful priest 'will do' all God's will — the very obedience the house of Eli refused.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἰκοδομήσωI will buildFut Act Indic 1 Sg · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (the divine establishment of a house)→ verbal action or stateοἰκοδομέω: 'build'; 'I will build him a house' is the idiom for establishing an enduring dynasty (cf. οἶκος built for David, 2 Sam 7:11, 27); the faithful priest's line replaces Eli's torn-down house.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantage (the faithful priest)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'for him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (the faithful priest).
οἶκονhouseAccusativedirect object of οἰκοδομήσω→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / dynasty'; the enduring priestly line, contrasted with the demolished οἶκος of Eli (vv. 30–33).
πιστόνsure / faithfulAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying οἶκον)→ object specificationπιστός: 'faithful / sure / enduring'; οἶκος πιστός ('a sure house') is the same phrase used of the Davidic promise (cf. 2 Sam 7:16); the established, lasting house granted the faithful priest.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διελεύσεταιhe will walkFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb (the priest's perpetual ministry)→ verbal action or stateδιέρχομαι: 'walk / pass'; the same verb of priestly ministry as v. 30 (διελεύσεται ἐνώπιόν μου) — but now the faithful priest 'walks before my anointed' perpetually; the perpetuity forfeited by Eli is granted to the faithful line.
ἐνώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; the faithful priest serves before the king — the priesthood ordered toward the anointed.
χριστοῦanointedGenitivegenitive with ἐνώπιον (the anointed king)→ relational specificationχριστός: 'anointed (one)'; renders מָשִׁיחַ; 'my anointed' = the LORD's anointed king (David and his line); the word inclusio-links to the canticle's climactic κέρας χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ (v. 10) — the faithful priest ministers before the messianic king.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's anointed)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the LORD's anointed).
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive (modifying ἡμέρας; accusative of duration)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ('all the days / forever') — the perpetuity restored to the faithful priesthood, inverting v. 32's perpetual exclusion of Eli's house.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration of time→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; 'all the days' = perpetually; the lasting tenure of the faithful priest before the anointed.
36

καὶ ἔσται ὁ περισσεύων ἐν οἴκῳ σου ἥξει προσκυνεῖν αὐτῷ ὀβολοῦ ἀργυρίου λέγων παράρριψόν με ἐπὶ μίαν τῶν ἱερατειῶν σου φαγεῖν ἄρτον

And it shall be that everyone who remains in your house will come to bow down to him for an obol of silver, saying, 'Put me into one of your priestly offices, that I may eat bread.'

Closing humiliation: the survivors of Eli's house reduced to beggingκαὶ ἔσται ὁ περισσεύων
The oracle ends on a note of utter humiliation: any survivor of Eli's house will come begging the faithful priest for a menial place and a coin's worth of bread. This is the final reversal — the house that once seized the choicest offerings by force (vv. 13–16) is reduced to begging for the lowliest priestly scrap; the closing παράρριψόν με … φαγεῖν ἄρτον ('cast me in … to eat bread') seals the canticle's theme of the proud brought low (cf. vv. 4–8) as the frame of the entire chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (futuristic formula: 'and it shall come to pass')→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; καὶ ἔσται ('and it shall come to pass') is the standard LXX narrative-prophetic formula (וְהָיָה) introducing a future scenario.
theNominativearticle (with participle περισσεύων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περισσεύωνthe one remainingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · περισσεύωsubstantival participle (subject)→ verbal action or stateπερισσεύω: 'remain / be left over'; 'the one remaining of your house' — the survivor(s) of Eli's line (cf. v. 33); the same word now describes the reduced remnant come to beg.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house'; Eli's house, now reduced to beggars.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying οἴκῳ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying οἴκῳ).
ἥξειwill comeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἥκωmain verb (the survivor's coming to beg)→ verbal action or stateἥκω: 'come'; the survivor 'will come' to the faithful priest as a suppliant — the same verb used of the sign that 'will come' on the sons (v. 34).
προσκυνεῖνto bow downPres Act Inf · προσκυνέωinfinitive of purpose (with ἥξει)→ verbal action or stateπροσκυνέω: 'bow down / do obeisance / prostrate'; the survivor of the once-proud priestly house must now prostrate before the faithful priest — the deepest social humiliation, the proud brought to the dust (cf. v. 8).
αὐτῷto himDativedative object of προσκυνεῖν (the faithful priest)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: refers to the faithful priest of v. 35, before whom Eli's survivor must bow.
ὀβολοῦfor an obolGenitivegenitive of price (for a coin of silver)→ relational specificationὀβολός: 'obol' (a small coin, one-sixth of a drachma); the genitive of price — begging 'for an obol of silver'; the trifling sum underscores the depth of the house's destitution.
ἀργυρίουof silverGenitivegenitive of material (with ὀβολοῦ)→ relational specificationἀργύριον: 'silver / money'; 'an obol of silver' — a pittance, the measure of the once-wealthy priests' ruin.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; introduces the beggar's plea.
παράρριψόνput / cast me inAor Act Impv 2 Sg · παραρρίπτωmain verb (imperative within the beggar's plea)→ verbal action or stateπαραρρίπτω: 'throw beside / cast in / assign casually'; the self-abasing 'cast me into [any place]' — the survivor begs to be tossed into the lowest priestly position; the demeaning verb (lit. 'fling me in alongside') measures the humiliation.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of παράρριψόν→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): the begging survivor of Eli's house.
ἐπὶinto / topreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
μίανoneAccusativenumeral (substantival: 'one of')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; 'one of your priestly offices' — the survivor asks for any single post, however lowly.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἱερατειῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερατειῶνpriestly officesGenitivepartitive genitive (with μίαν)→ relational specificationἱερατεία: 'priestly office / priesthood'; the partitive 'one of your priestly offices' — the survivor of the deposed house begs a place in the new priesthood, dependent on the faithful priest he once would have outranked.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (the faithful priest's offices)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the faithful priest's offices).
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωinfinitive of purpose (the aim of the plea)→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the goal is mere survival — 'that I may eat bread'; the house that gorged on stolen offerings (vv. 13–16) now begs a morsel, the canticle's reversal (πλήρεις ἄρτων ἠλαττώθησαν, v. 5) come full circle.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread'; the bare necessity the once-rich priestly house must now beg — a closing echo of the canticle's reversal of the full and the hungry (v. 5), sealing the chapter's unity of theme.