Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The First Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 20ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Α′ Κ′

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

David and Jonathan seal their covenant of loyal love as Saul's hatred drives David into exile.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 20 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. Chapter 20 is the great covenant-narrative of David and Jonathan: David's flight from Naioth and his desperate protestation of innocence (vv. 1–11), Jonathan's oath of loyalty and the covenant sworn 'between me and you … and between my seed and your seed forever' (vv. 12–17, 23, 42), the prearranged sign of the arrows shot by the boy in the field (vv. 18–23, 35–40), the new-moon feast at which David's empty place exposes Saul's murderous intent (vv. 24–34), and the secret farewell of weeping and embrace (vv. 41–42). The chapter is rich in Hebraisms: the new-moon term νεομηνία / νουμηνία renders חֹדֶשׁ; the oath-formula ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives', v. 3) calques חַי־יְהוָה; the idiom οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς (v. 2) and the curse-formula τάδε ποιήσαι ὁ θεός … καὶ τάδε προσθείη (v. 13) render Hebrew oath-conventions. Two transliterated terms preserve obscure realia: εργαβ (vv. 19, 41), a stone or marker beside which David hides, and αματταρι (v. 20), apparently the target at which Jonathan shoots. The verb ἀποκαλύπτω τὸ ὠτίον ('uncover the ear', vv. 2, 12, 13) is a calque of גָּלָה אֹזֶן ('to disclose, reveal'). Saul's tirade υἱὲ κορασίων αὐτομολούντων ('son of deserting girls', v. 30) and the verdict υἱὸς θανάτου ('son of death', v. 31) are vivid Semitic idioms. The covenant's enduring formula κύριος ἔσται μάρτυς ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ (v. 42) frames the friendship as a divinely witnessed perpetual bond.

1

καὶ ἀπέδρα Δαυιδ ἐκ Ναυαθ ἐν Ραμα καὶ ἔρχεται ἐνώπιον Ιωναθαν καὶ εἶπεν τί πεποίηκα καὶ τί τὸ ἀδίκημά μου καὶ τί ἡμάρτηκα ἐνώπιον τοῦ πατρός σου ὅτι ἐπιζητεῖ τὴν ψυχήν μου

And David fled from Naioth in Rama and comes before Jonathan and said, 'What have I done, and what is my wrong, and how have I sinned before your father, that he seeks my life?'

New narrative scene (David's flight resumes the action from ch. 19)καὶ ἀπέδρα Δαυιδ
The chapter opens with paratactic καί continuing directly from the Naioth episode of ch. 19. The aorist ἀπέδρα ('fled') is immediately followed by the vivid historic present ἔρχεται ('comes'), heightening David's anxious arrival before Jonathan; his triple question (τί … τί … τί) is a rhetorical protestation of innocence framing the whole covenant dialogue.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέδραfled / ran awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδιδράσκωmain verb (David's flight)→ verbal action or stateἀποδιδράσκω: 'run away / escape secretly'; the second aorist ἀπέδρα renders Hebrew בָּרַח ('flee'); the compound ἀπο- marks decisive departure from danger, here from Saul's reach at Naioth.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX of Kingdoms; the syntactic role (here subject) is shown by word order and verb agreement.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΝαυαθNaiothobject of ἐκ (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΝαυαθ: transliteration of Hebrew נָיוֹת (Naioth), the prophetic settlement at Ramah where Samuel and the band of prophets were (ch. 19:18–24); indeclinable.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ΡαμαRamaobject of ἐν (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΡαμα: transliteration of Hebrew רָמָה (Ramah), Samuel's home town; 'Naioth in Rama' locates the prophetic compound within Ramah; indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔρχεταιcomesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the historic present continues the vivid narration of Jeroboam's homecoming to Sarira.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (presence)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; common in Kingdoms for coming into someone's presence.
ΙωναθανJonathanobject of ἐνώπιον (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוֹנָתָן / יוֹנָתָן ('YHWH has given'), Saul's son and David's covenant friend; indeclinable in the LXX.
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: the aorist εἶπεν introduces David's direct speech, the triple protestation of innocence.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of πεποίηκα)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative pronoun; the anaphoric triple τί … τί … τί builds a rhetorical crescendo of self-defense.
πεποίηκαhave I donePerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of direct question→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; the perfect πεποίηκα stresses David's present accountability for any past deed — 'what is it that I have done (such that its result now stands against me)?'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate with ἀδίκημα)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (predicate with ἀδίκημα).
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδίκημάwrong / offenseNominativesubject of implied copula→ participant prominenceἀδίκημα: 'wrong / unjust deed / offense'; renders עָוֺן / פֶּשַׁע; the concrete noun ('my wrongdoing') sharpens the legal tenor of David's self-defense.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; 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.
τίhow / whatAccusativeinterrogative (adverbial accusative with ἡμάρτηκα)→ participant referenceτί here functions adverbially ('in what respect / how') with the verb of sinning.
ἡμάρτηκαhave I sinnedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἁμαρτάνωmain verb of direct question→ verbal action or stateἁμαρτάνω: 'sin / miss the mark / offend'; renders חָטָא; the perfect parallels πεποίηκα, completing the triad of protested innocence.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitiveobject of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationπατρός: meaning 'father'; it serves as object of ἐνώπιον.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὅτιthatconjunction (causal/result clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here introducing the consequence/ground — 'that (he should) seek my life'.
ἐπιζητεῖhe seeksPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιζητέωverb of ὅτι-clause→ verbal action or stateἐπιζητέω: 'seek after / search for'; the compound ἐπι- intensifies the simple ζητέω; ζητεῖν τὴν ψυχήν ('seek the life') is a fixed LXX idiom for a murderous quest (cf. ζητεῖν τὴν ψυχήν, 1 Kgdms 23:15).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήνlife / soulAccusativedirect object of ἐπιζητεῖ→ object specificationψυχή: 'life / soul / self'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; in the idiom ζητεῖν τὴν ψυχήν it means 'to seek (someone's) life' = to attempt to kill.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
2

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ιωναθαν μηδαμῶς σοι οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ἰδοὺ οὐ μὴ ποιήσῃ ὁ πατήρ μου ῥῆμα μέγα ἢ μικρὸν καὶ οὐκ ἀποκαλύψει τὸ ὠτίον μου καὶ τί ὅτι κρύψει ὁ πατήρ μου τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο οὐκ ἔστιν τοῦτο

And Jonathan said to him, 'Far be it from you! You shall surely not die. Behold, my father will do nothing great or small without uncovering my ear; and why should my father hide this thing from me? This is not so.'

Response: Jonathan's reassurance (turn-taking in dialogue)καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ιωναθαν
Jonathan answers with the strong deprecatory μηδαμῶς ('by no means') and the emphatic double negative οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς. His confidence rests on the assumption that his father keeps no secret from him — the idiom ἀποκαλύπτω τὸ ὠτίον ('uncover the ear', calquing גָּלָה אֹזֶן) recurs through the chapter (vv. 12, 13) as the key term for disclosure.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
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 stateεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object (addressee)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: personal pronoun; dative of the person addressed (David).
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
μηδαμῶςby no means / far be itadverb of negation (deprecatory exclamation)→ clausal contributionμηδαμῶς: 'in no way / by no means'; a strong deprecatory exclamation rendering חָלִילָה ('far be it!'); here softening into reassurance — 'God forbid it should be so for you.'
σοιfor youDativedative of reference (with μηδαμῶς)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): the ethical dative completes the deprecatory idiom — 'may it by no means be for you.'
οὐnotnegative (with μή, emphatic)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative (with μή, emphatic).
μὴnotnegative (οὐ μή emphatic denial)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ μή + aorist subjunctive: the strongest form of Greek negation ('by no means / never'), here a firm assurance of David's safety.
ἀποθάνῃςyou shall dieAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωsubjunctive in emphatic denial (οὐ μή)→ verbal action or stateἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; with οὐ μή the aorist subjunctive forms an emphatic assurance — 'you shall certainly not die'; renders Hebrew לֹא תָמוּת.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; Hebraism rendering הִנֵּה; calls attention to the explanation that follows.
οὐnotnegative (οὐ μή emphatic)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative (οὐ μή emphatic).
μὴnotnegative (οὐ μή emphatic)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ποιήσῃwill doAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ποιέωsubjunctive in emphatic denial→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do'; with οὐ μή — 'my father will certainly not do (anything) without disclosing it to me.'
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατήρfatherNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπατήρ: meaning 'father'; it serves as subject.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ῥῆμαthing / word / matterAccusativedirect object of ποιήσῃ→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר, which (like ῥῆμα here) covers both 'word' and 'deed/affair'; 'a great or small thing' is a merism for 'anything at all.'
μέγαgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ object specificationμέγας: 'great'; the pair μέγα ἢ μικρόν is a merism ('great or small') = 'anything whatsoever.'
ordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μικρὸνsmallAccusativeattributive adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ object specificationμικρός: 'small / little'; completes the merism μέγα ἢ μικρόν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (with negation: 'and not')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἀποκαλύψειwill reveal / uncoverFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (idiom: 'uncover the ear')→ verbal action or stateἀποκαλύπτω: 'uncover / reveal'; ἀποκαλύπτω τὸ ὠτίον calques the Hebrew idiom גָּלָה אֹזֶן ('uncover the ear' = disclose a secret); the verse means: he will not do anything without disclosing it to me.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὠτίονearAccusativedirect object (idiom: 'my ear')→ object specificationὠτίον: diminutive of οὖς, 'ear'; in the idiom ἀποκαλύπτω τὸ ὠτίον = 'to inform / disclose to'; a recurring keyword of the chapter (vv. 2, 12, 13).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; 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.
τίwhyAccusativeinterrogative (adverbial: 'why')→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'why'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative (adverbial: 'why').
ὅτιthatconjunction (in τί ὅτι idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κρύψειwill hideFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κρύπτωverb of rhetorical question→ verbal action or stateκρύπτω: 'hide / conceal'; renders הִסְתִּיר / כָּחַד; the rhetorical question expects the answer 'he would not.'
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατήρfatherNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπατήρ: meaning 'father'; it serves as subject.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / matterAccusativedirect object of κρύψει→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'matter / thing' (see above); 'this matter' = the alleged plan to kill David.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (attributive with ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: demonstrative; 'this thing.'
οὐκnotnegative→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (existential: 'it is not so')→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς = 'which do not have.'
τοῦτοthisNominativesubject of ἔστιν→ participant referenceτοῦτο: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as subject of ἔστιν.
3

καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Δαυιδ τῷ Ιωναθαν καὶ εἶπεν γινώσκων οἶδεν ὁ πατήρ σου ὅτι εὕρηκα χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου καὶ εἶπεν μὴ γνώτω τοῦτο Ιωναθαν μὴ οὐ βούληται ἀλλὰ ζῇ κύριος καὶ ζῇ ἡ ψυχή σου ὅτι καθὼς εἶπον ἐμπέπλησται ἀνὰ μέσον μου καὶ τοῦ θανάτου

And David answered Jonathan and said, 'Your father surely knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he said, "Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be unwilling." But as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, the space between me and death is full, as I have said.'

Counter-response: David's insistence with an oath (dialogue continues)καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Δαυιδ
David counters Jonathan's optimism. The cognate construction γινώσκων οἶδεν ('knowing he knows') renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute יָדֹעַ יָדַע ('surely knows'). David seals his claim with the double oath-formula ζῇ κύριος … καὶ ζῇ ἡ ψυχή σου ('as the LORD lives and as your soul lives'), insisting that only a step (ἀνὰ μέσον … τοῦ θανάτου) separates him from death.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (response-introduction)→ verbal action or stateἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / reply'; the aorist passive form ἀπεκρίθη is the standard LXX deponent for answering; renders עָנָה.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τῷtoDativearticle (dative of indeclinable name)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωναθανJonathanDativedative indirect object (addressee, case shown by article)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
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: the pleonastic ἀπεκρίθη … καὶ εἶπεν ('answered and said') is a Hebraism (וַיַּעַן … וַיֹּאמֶר).
γινώσκωνknowingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · γινώσκωcircumstantial participle (cognate intensifier with οἶδεν)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know'; the participle + finite verb γινώσκων οἶδεν renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute יָדֹעַ יָדַע ('he surely knows'); a classic LXX device for the Semitic figura etymologica.
οἶδενknowsPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · οἶδαmain verb (with cognate participle)→ verbal action or stateοἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present meaning); paired with γινώσκων for emphasis.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατήρfatherNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπατήρ: meaning 'father'; it serves as subject.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὕρηκαI have foundPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of object clause→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω: 'find'; εὑρίσκω χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('find favor in the eyes of') calques מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי, a standard idiom for enjoying someone's goodwill.
χάρινfavorAccusativedirect object of εὕρηκα→ object specificationχάριν: meaning 'favor'; it serves as direct object of εὕρηκα.
ἐνinpreposition + dative→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative.
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativeobject of ἐν (idiom: 'in the eyes')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('in the eyes of') = 'in the estimation of', calquing בְּעֵינֵי.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing reported speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb introducing Saul's supposed inner reasoning→ verbal action or stateλέγω: the subject is Saul — David quotes his father's presumed thought.
μὴnotnegative (with prohibitive subjunctive γνώτω)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
γνώτωlet him knowAor Act Impv 3 Sg · γινώσκωprohibitive imperative (Saul's reported intent)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; the evangelistic purpose — that the people may know YHWH.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedirect object of γνώτω→ participant referenceτοῦτο: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of γνώτω.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject of γνώτω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of γνώτω (indeclinable).
μὴlestconjunction (negative purpose: 'lest')→ discourse linkage or contrastμή here introduces a clause of apprehension/purpose ('lest he be unwilling').
οὐnotnegative (within μὴ … clause)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative (within μὴ … clause).
βούληταιhe be willingPres Mid Subj 3 Sg · βούλομαιsubjunctive of apprehension/purpose clause→ verbal action or stateβούλομαι: 'will / wish / be willing / purpose'; renders אָבָה / חָפֵץ; denotes deliberate volition — the levir's refusal is a choice, not incapacity; the present subjunctive presents his unwillingness as a standing disposition.
ἀλλὰbutstrong adversative→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; marks the pivot to David's solemn oath.
ζῇlivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωverb of oath-formula→ verbal action or stateζάω: 'live'; ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives') calques the Hebrew oath-formula חַי־יְהוָה; the present asserts a standing reality as the ground of the oath.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ζῇ (Tetragrammaton)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine name grounds the most binding form of Hebrew oath, 'as YHWH lives.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζῇlivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωverb of second oath-clause→ verbal action or stateζάω: 'live / be alive'; in the oath ζῇ ἡ ψυχή σου ('your soul lives'), the formula by which Uriah swears by the king's own life; renders the Hebrew asseverative חֵי.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήsoul / lifeNominativesubject of second ζῇ→ participant prominenceψυχή: meaning 'soul'; it serves as subject of second ζῇ.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὅτιthat / forconjunction (content of oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: introduces the substance sworn to.
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר.
εἶπονI saidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωverb of comparative clause→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; David refers back to his own assertion of v. 1.
ἐμπέπλησταιis filled / fullPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐμπίμπλημιmain verb (figurative: the gap is 'filled up')→ verbal action or stateἐμπίμπλημι: 'fill / fill up'; the perfect ἐμπέπλησται renders a difficult Hebrew clause ('there is but a step between me and death'); the LXX images the interval between David and death as already 'filled', i.e., all but closed.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ μέσον: 'between / in the midst of'; a fixed LXX phrase rendering בֵּין … (וּ)בֵין.
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle / midst'; with ἀνά forms the prepositional idiom 'between.'
μουmeGenitivegenitive (first term of 'between')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (first term of 'between').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second term of 'between')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θανάτουdeathGenitivegenitive (second term of 'between')→ relational specificationθάνατος: 'death'; the interval 'between me and death' is all but closed — David's danger is mortal and imminent.
4

καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν πρὸς Δαυιδ τί ἐπιθυμεῖ ἡ ψυχή σου καὶ τί ποιήσω σοι

And Jonathan said to David, 'What does your soul desire, and what shall I do for you?'

Response: Jonathan's offer of help (dialogue turn)καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν πρὸς Δαυιδ
Jonathan, now persuaded, places himself wholly at David's disposal with a double question (τί … καὶ τί). The idiom ἐπιθυμεῖ ἡ ψυχή σου ('your soul desires') keeps the affective register; the deliberative subjunctive ποιήσω invites David to set the plan.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
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 stateεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; with verbs of speaking, marks the addressee — a frequent LXX alternative to the dative.
ΔαυιδDavidobject of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of πρός (indeclinable).
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ἐπιθυμεῖ)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative; 'what (does your soul desire)?'
ἐπιθυμεῖdesiresPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιθυμέωverb of direct question→ verbal action or stateἐπιθυμέω: 'desire / long for'; renders אִוָּה / חָפֵץ; here neutral ('whatever you wish'), with ψυχή as subject.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήsoulNominativesubject of ἐπιθυμεῖ→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / self'; ἡ ψυχή σου as subject of desiring is a Hebraism (נַפְשְׁךָ) = 'whatever you desire.'
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; 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.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιήσω)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (object of ποιήσω).
ποιήσωshall I doAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ποιέωdeliberative subjunctive→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; the aorist subjunctive ποιήσω in a question is deliberative — David asks what action will satisfy the wrong.
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): dative of advantage ('for you / on your behalf').
5

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ιωναθαν ἰδοὺ δὴ νεομηνία αὔριον καὶ ἐγὼ καθίσας οὐ καθήσομαι μετὰ τοῦ βασιλέως φαγεῖν καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖς με καὶ κρυβήσομαι ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ ἕως δείλης

And David said to Jonathan, 'Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I will surely not sit with the king to eat; so you will send me away, and I will hide in the field until evening.'

David lays out the test (proposal in dialogue)καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ιωναθαν
David proposes the concrete scheme. The new-moon festival (νεομηνία) was a recognized feast at which the king's table would be attended; David's deliberate absence becomes the diagnostic test of Saul's intent. The cognate construction καθίσας οὐ καθήσομαι ('sitting I will not sit') is a Hebraism for emphatic refusal.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
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: introduces David's plan.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressee)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (addressee).
ΙωναθανJonathanobject of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of πρός (indeclinable).
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: Hebraism (הִנֵּה) calling attention to the timing.
δὴnow / indeedemphatic particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: enclitic particle of immediacy/urgency; with ἰδού it sharpens the appeal — 'see now.'
νεομηνίαnew moonNominativepredicate nominative (in verbless clause)→ participant prominenceνεομηνία (also νουμηνία, v. 18): 'new moon / first of the month'; renders חֹדֶשׁ; the monthly festival with sacrifices and a royal feast (cf. Num 10:10; 28:11).
αὔριονtomorrowtemporal adverb→ clausal contributionαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; renders מָחָר; sets the timeframe for the test.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I' — David sets himself against the expected pattern of attendance.
καθίσαςsitting (down)Aor Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · καθίζωcircumstantial participle (cognate intensifier with καθήσομαι)→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω: 'sit / sit down'; the participle + finite verb καθίσας οὐ καθήσομαι imitates the Hebrew infinitive absolute, here negated — 'I will absolutely not sit.'
οὐnotnegative→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative.
καθήσομαιI will sitFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb (negated, with cognate participle)→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι: 'sit / be seated'; the negated future with the cognate participle expresses David's firm resolve to absent himself from the king's table.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitiveobject of μετά→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; here Saul; renders מֶלֶךְ; David's absence from the royal table is the crux of the test.
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωinfinitive of purpose ('to eat')→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the purpose infinitive specifies the occasion — the festal meal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαποστελεῖςyou will send awayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (instruction to Jonathan)→ verbal action or stateἐξαποστέλλω (fut.): the finite verb of the emphatic Hebraism; Hadad presses that Pharaoh will indeed release him.
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κρυβήσομαιI will hideFut Pass Indic 1 Sg · κρύπτωmain verb (David's concealment)→ verbal action or stateκρύπτω: 'hide / conceal'; the future passive κρυβήσομαι has intransitive force ('I will hide myself'); the hiding-place is the field (cf. εργαβ, v. 19).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεδίῳfield / plainDativeobject of ἐν (location)→ sphere or referenceπεδίῳ: meaning 'field'; it serves as object of ἐν (location).
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; with genitive marks the temporal terminus.
δείληςeveningGenitiveobject of ἕως (temporal limit)→ relational specificationδείλη: 'late afternoon / evening'; renders עֶרֶב; David must remain hidden until the third evening of the test.
6

ἐὰν ἐπισκεπτόμενος ἐπισκέψηταί με ὁ πατήρ σου καὶ ἐρεῖς παραιτούμενος παρῃτήσατο ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ Δαυιδ δραμεῖν ἕως εἰς Βηθλεεμ τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ ὅτι θυσία τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκεῖ ὅλῃ τῇ φυλῇ

If your father indeed misses me, then you shall say, 'David earnestly begged leave of me to run as far as Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for the whole clan.'

Conditional protasis: the cover story (continuation of David's proposal)ἐὰν ἐπισκεπτόμενος ἐπισκέψηταί με
David scripts the exact excuse Jonathan is to give. Two cognate-intensive constructions stack up — ἐπισκεπτόμενος ἐπισκέψηται ('if he indeed misses me') and παραιτούμενος παρῃτήσατο ('he earnestly asked leave') — both calquing the Hebrew infinitive absolute. The pretext is a family/clan sacrifice at Bethlehem, plausible and pious.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces a future/probable condition with the subjunctive.
ἐπισκεπτόμενοςmissing / notingPres Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἐπισκέπτομαιcircumstantial participle (cognate intensifier)→ verbal action or stateἐπισκέπτομαι: 'visit / look for / take note of'; here 'miss (someone's absence) / look for'; the participle + finite verb renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute ('if he really notes my absence').
ἐπισκέψηταίhe missesAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιverb of protasis (with cognate participle)→ verbal action or stateἐπισκέπτομαι: the aorist subjunctive completes the cognate emphasis; the sense is 'if Saul does indeed notice that I am missing.'
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατήρfatherNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπατήρ: meaning 'father'; it serves as subject.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶand / thenapodosis-marker (Hebraizing waw-apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί here introduces the apodosis after the conditional clause, a Hebraism (waw of apodosis).
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb of apodosis (instruction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (fut. ἐρεῖς): 'you will say'; the future has imperatival force — Joab tells the messenger the exact words to deliver once the king's anger flares: the news of Uriah's death, which will silence the rebuke.
παραιτούμενοςasking leavePres Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · παραιτέομαιcircumstantial participle (cognate intensifier)→ verbal action or stateπαραιτέομαι: 'ask leave / beg off / request permission'; the participle + finite verb παραιτούμενος παρῃτήσατο = 'he earnestly begged leave', another infinitive-absolute calque.
παρῃτήσατοhe begged leaveAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραιτέομαιmain verb of quoted speech (with cognate participle)→ verbal action or stateπαραιτέομαι: the aorist completes the emphatic 'he urgently asked leave of me.'
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (elided before vowel).
ἐμοῦmeGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source of the request)→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as object of ἀπό (source of the request).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of quoted clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of quoted clause (indeclinable).
δραμεῖνto runAor Act Inf · τρέχωcomplementary infinitive (object of παρῃτήσατο)→ verbal action or stateτρέχω (aor. inf. δραμεῖν): 'run'; the infinitive of the requested action — 'to hurry off to Bethlehem.'
ἕωςas far aspreposition (spatial limit, with εἰς)→ spatial or relational framingἕως εἰς: 'as far as / right to'; the doubled marker emphasizes reaching the destination.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΒηθλεεμBethlehemobject of εἰς (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΒηθλεεμ: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית לֶחֶם ('house of bread'), David's home town; indeclinable.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (in apposition to Βηθλεεμ)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeappositive to Βηθλεεμ→ object specificationπόλις: 'city / town'; τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ ('his city') marks Bethlehem as David's ancestral home — the natural place for a family sacrifice.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the reason given in the cover story.
θυσίαsacrificeNominativesubject (verbless clause)→ participant prominenceθυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; renders זֶבַח; θυσία τῶν ἡμερῶν is the annual/recurring family sacrifice.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμερῶνdays / yearlyGenitivegenitive (θυσία τῶν ἡμερῶν: 'yearly sacrifice')→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; θυσία τῶν ἡμερῶν renders זֶבַח הַיָּמִים, the idiom for an annual/recurring sacrifice (cf. 1 Kgdms 1:21).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the sacrifice at Bethlehem.
ὅλῃwholeDativeattributive adjective (with φυλῇ)→ sphere or referenceὅλος: 'whole / entire'; 'for the whole clan' stresses the obligatory, communal nature of the gathering — a credible reason for David's absence.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλῇtribe / clanDativedative of advantage (the sacrifice is 'for the clan')→ sphere or referenceφυλή: 'tribe / clan / kin-group'; renders מִשְׁפָּחָה here ('family/clan') rather than the larger tribe; the sacrifice binds David's extended family.
7

ἐὰν τάδε εἴπῃ ἀγαθῶς εἰρήνη τῷ δούλῳ σου καὶ ἐὰν σκληρῶς ἀποκριθῇ σοι γνῶθι ὅτι συντετέλεσται ἡ κακία παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ

If he says thus, 'Well,' there is peace for your servant; but if he answers you harshly, know that the evil is fully determined by him.

Conditional interpretation of the test (twofold outcome)ἐὰν τάδε εἴπῃ ἀγαθῶς
David specifies how to read Saul's response: a calm answer means peace; a harsh one (σκληρῶς) means Saul's malice is settled. The perfect συντετέλεσται ('it has been fully determined / completed') is the chapter's recurring verdict-word for fixed evil intent (cf. vv. 9, 33).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of εἴπῃ)→ participant referenceὅδε: 'this'; τάδε ('these things') anticipates the quoted reaction.
εἴπῃhe saysAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λέγωverb of protasis→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; the aorist subjunctive in the conditional clause.
ἀγαθῶςwell / kindlyadverb of manner (Saul's favorable reply)→ clausal contributionἀγαθῶς: 'well / favorably'; here as the quoted reply 'Good / Well' or as adverb of manner — a benign reaction signals safety.
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject (verbless clause: 'peace for your servant')→ participant prominenceεἰρήνη: 'peace / well-being'; renders שָׁלוֹם; the apodosis 'there is peace for your servant' = David is safe.
τῷthe / for theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλῳservantDativedative of advantage ('for your servant')→ sphere or referenceδούλῳ: meaning 'servant'; it serves as dative of advantage ('for your servant').
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶbut / andcoordinate conjunction (introducing contrasting condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (second condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σκληρῶςharshlyadverb of manner→ clausal contributionσκληρῶς: 'harshly / severely'; from σκληρός ('hard'); a harsh answer betrays settled hostility.
ἀποκριθῇhe answersAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιverb of second protasis→ verbal action or stateἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer'; the harsh answer is the negative diagnostic.
σοιto youDativedative indirect object→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object.
γνῶθιknowAor Act Impv 2 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb of apodosis (imperative)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω (aor. impv.): 'know / understand / consider'; renders דַּע; David is urged to deliberate decisively.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of γνῶθι)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συντετέλεσταιis fully determinedPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of object clause→ verbal action or stateσυντελέω: 'complete / accomplish / bring to an end'; the perfect συντετέλεσται ἡ κακία ('the evil is fully resolved/determined') is the chapter's verdict-formula for Saul's fixed murderous intent (recurring at vv. 9, 33).
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακίαevil / harmNominativesubject of συντετέλεσται→ participant prominenceκακία: 'evil / malice / harm'; renders רָעָה; here Saul's settled determination to do David harm.
παρ᾿from / on the part ofpreposition + genitive (source/agent, elided)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from / on the part of'; marks Saul as the source of the resolved evil.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of παρά (Saul)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of παρά (Saul).
8

καὶ ποιήσεις ἔλεος μετὰ τοῦ δούλου σου ὅτι εἰσήγαγες εἰς διαθήκην κυρίου τὸν δοῦλόν σου μετὰ σεαυτοῦ καὶ εἰ ἔστιν ἀδικία ἐν τῷ δούλῳ σου θανάτωσόν με σύ καὶ ἕως τοῦ πατρός σου ἵνα τί οὕτως εἰσάγεις με

So you shall show mercy to your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with yourself; but if there is iniquity in your servant, put me to death yourself, and why should you bring me as far as your father?

Appeal grounded in covenant (climax of David's plea)καὶ ποιήσεις ἔλεος
David appeals to the prior covenant (διαθήκη κυρίου) that binds Jonathan to him, asking him to act with ἔλεος ('covenant-loyalty', rendering חֶסֶד). He offers himself for death if guilty (θανάτωσόν με σύ), arguing it would be needless to hand him over to Saul. The covenant motif here anticipates its formal renewal in vv. 12–17, 42.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶand / socoordinate conjunction (consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσειςyou shall do / showFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; ποιέω ἔλεος μετά ('show mercy/kindness with') calques עָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם, the idiom for fulfilling covenant loyalty.
ἔλεοςmercy / loyaltyAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις→ object specificationἔλεος: meaning 'mercy'; it serves as direct object of ποιήσεις.
μετὰwith / towardpreposition + genitive (in ποιέω ἔλεος μετά idiom)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (in ποιέω ἔλεος μετά idiom).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλουservantGenitiveobject of μετά→ relational specificationδοῦλος: David's deferential self-designation again ('your servant').
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the ground of the appeal — the existing covenant.
εἰσήγαγεςyou broughtAor Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰσάγωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateεἰσάγω: 'bring in / lead into'; εἰσάγω εἰς διαθήκην = 'bring into a covenant' (cf. the parallel εἰσάγεις at the verse's end); the aorist points to the covenant already enacted (cf. ch. 18:3).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (entry)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (entry).
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationδιαθήκην: meaning 'covenant'; it serves as object of εἰς.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (διαθήκη κυρίου: covenant sworn before/by the LORD)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the covenant is 'of the LORD' because sworn in his name and under his witness.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόνservantAccusativedirect object of εἰσήγαγες→ object specificationδοῦλος: 'your servant' (David) as object — the one brought into the covenant.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
σεαυτοῦyourselfGenitivereflexive pronoun (object of μετά)→ relational specificationσεαυτοῦ: meaning 'yourself'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as reflexive pronoun (object of μετά).
καὶbut / andcoordinate conjunction (introducing condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰifconditional conjunction (+ indicative)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; with the indicative ἔστιν, a real condition ('if there really is').
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of protasis (existential)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be / exist'; 'if there is iniquity in me.'
ἀδικίαiniquity / wrongNominativesubject of ἔστιν→ participant prominenceἀδικία: 'injustice / iniquity / guilt'; renders עָוֺן; David stakes his life on his innocence.
ἐνinpreposition + dative→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλῳservantDativeobject of ἐν ('in your servant')→ sphere or referenceδοῦλος: 'your servant' (David) again.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
θανάτωσόνput to deathAor Act Impv 2 Sg · θανατόωmain verb of apodosis (imperative)→ verbal action or stateθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; renders מוֹתֵת; the verb the man will echo in his confession (ἐθανάτωσα, v. 10; cf. v. 16), the lexical thread that condemns him.
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
σύyou (yourself)Nominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceσύ: meaning 'you (yourself)'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as emphatic subject pronoun.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'as far as / up to'; 'why bring me (even) as far as your father?'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitiveobject of ἕως→ relational specificationπατήρ: Saul; David argues that delivering him to Saul would be needless if he is innocent.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἵναwhy (ἵνα τί)interrogative idiom (with τί: 'why?')→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why / to what end?'; a fixed LXX interrogative idiom rendering לָמָּה.
τίwhyAccusativeinterrogative (in ἵνα τί idiom)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'why'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative (in ἵνα τί idiom).
οὕτωςthus / soadverb of manner→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; 'why bring me to your father in this way (i.e., at all)?'
εἰσάγειςyou bringPres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰσάγωverb of rhetorical question→ verbal action or stateεἰσάγω: 'bring in / lead'; echoes εἰσήγαγες above — David contrasts being brought into a covenant with being brought before Saul to die.
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
9

καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν μηδαμῶς σοι ὅτι ἐὰν γινώσκων γνῶ ὅτι συντετέλεσται ἡ κακία παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ σέ καὶ ἐὰν μή εἰς τὰς πόλεις σου ἐγὼ ἀπαγγελῶ σοι

And Jonathan said, 'Far be it from you! For if I indeed come to know that the evil is fully determined by my father to come upon you, and if not to your cities, I myself will report it to you.'

Jonathan's pledge of disclosure (response)καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν μηδαμῶς σοι
Jonathan again deprecates the worst (μηδαμῶς σοι) but firmly pledges: if he learns Saul's malice is fixed (the cognate γινώσκων γνῶ echoing v. 3's γινώσκων οἶδεν), he will warn David. The verse is textually compressed; the assurance ἐγὼ ἀπαγγελῶ σοι ('I myself will tell you') sets up the arrow-sign mechanism.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
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 stateεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
μηδαμῶςby no meansdeprecatory exclamation→ clausal contributionμηδαμῶς: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
σοιfor youDativedative of reference→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'for you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of reference.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; grounds the assurance.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γινώσκωνknowingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · γινώσκωcircumstantial participle (cognate intensifier with γνῶ)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: the participle + finite verb γινώσκων γνῶ ('if I indeed come to know') again calques the Hebrew infinitive absolute, echoing v. 3.
γνῶI come to knowAor Act Subj 1 Sg · γινώσκωverb of protasis (with cognate participle)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: aorist subjunctive completing the emphatic 'if I really learn.'
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of γνῶ)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συντετέλεσταιis fully determinedPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of object clause→ verbal action or stateσυντελέω: the verdict-formula συντετέλεσται ἡ κακία ('the evil is resolved') repeats v. 7 and recurs at v. 33.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακίαevilNominativesubject of συντετέλεσται→ participant prominenceκακία: Saul's settled malice (see v. 7).
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from / on the part of'; marks Saul as source of the resolved evil.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitiveobject of παρά→ relational specificationπατήρ: Saul.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τοῦthe (to)Genitivearticular-infinitive marker (genitive of purpose/epexegesis)→ relational specificationthe articular infinitive τοῦ ἐλθεῖν expresses purpose/result — 'to come (upon you).'
ἐλθεῖνto comeAor Act Inf · ἔρχομαιarticular infinitive (purpose/epexegetical)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; the evil is determined 'to come upon you' (the harm to befall David).
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
σέyouAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σέ): the target of Saul's malice — David.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μήnotnegative (ἐὰν μή: elliptical 'if not')→ clausal qualification or emphasisἐὰν μή: 'if not / unless'; the clause is elliptical and textually difficult — apparently 'and if it is not (well, I will warn you so you may flee) to your cities.'
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeobject of εἰς (place of refuge)→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; 'to your cities' — David's places of refuge; the syntax is compressed in the Greek.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐγὼI (myself)Nominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceἐγὼ: meaning 'I (myself)'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as emphatic subject pronoun.
ἀπαγγελῶI will reportFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (pledge)→ verbal action or stateἀπαγγέλλω: 'announce, report, declare'; the formal verb of reporting to authority; Joseph is the intermediary between his family and Pharaoh — his controlled management of the audience will secure the best outcome.
σοιto youDativedative indirect object→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object.
10

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ιωναθαν τίς ἀπαγγελεῖ μοι ἐὰν ἀποκριθῇ ὁ πατήρ σου σκληρῶς

And David said to Jonathan, 'Who will report to me if your father answers you harshly?'

Clarifying question (dialogue turn)καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ιωναθαν
David presses the practical problem: since he will be hiding in the field, how will Jonathan's report reach him? The question τίς ἀπαγγελεῖ μοι motivates the elaborate arrow-signal that Jonathan proceeds to devise (vv. 18–22).
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
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: introduces David's clarifying question.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressee)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (addressee).
ΙωναθανJonathanobject of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of πρός (indeclinable).
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who?'; raises the problem of communication while David is in hiding.
ἀπαγγελεῖwill reportFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb of question→ verbal action or stateἀπαγγέλλω: 'announce / declare / report'; renders הִגִּיד; the LORD will himself 'declare' to David the central promise; the verb frames the dynastic word as a formal divine proclamation — the heart of the covenant.
μοιto meDativedative indirect object→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκριθῇanswersAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιverb of protasis→ verbal action or stateἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer'; the harsh answer (cf. v. 7) is the contingency in view.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατήρfatherNominativesubject of ἀποκριθῇ→ participant prominenceπατήρ: Saul.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
σκληρῶςharshlyadverb of manner→ clausal contributionσκληρῶς: 'harshly'; recalls v. 7 — the negative outcome of the test.
11

καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν πρὸς Δαυιδ πορεύου καὶ μένε εἰς ἀγρόν καὶ ἐκπορεύονται ἀμφότεροι εἰς ἀγρόν

And Jonathan said to David, 'Come, let us go out and stay in the field.' And they both go out into the field.

Transition to private setting (scene shift)καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν πρὸς Δαυιδ
Jonathan moves the conversation to the privacy of the open field, away from listening ears, for the solemn covenant and the planning of the signal. The historic present ἐκπορεύονται with ἀμφότεροι ('both') marks the two friends acting in unison — a small narrative emblem of their bond.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
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 stateεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressee)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (addressee).
ΔαυιδDavidobject of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of πρός (indeclinable).
πορεύουcome / goPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the imperative πορεύου functions as an invitation ('come, let us go').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μένεstayPres Act Impv 2 Sg · μένωmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateμένω: 'remain / stay'; here 'let us stay (a while) in the field' for private conference.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (here with sense of location)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'into / in'; in Koine/LXX εἰς often blurs with ἐν, here 'in the field.'
ἀγρόνfieldAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationἀγρός: 'field / open country'; renders שָׂדֶה; the private setting for the covenant.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκπορεύονταιthey go outPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐκπορεύομαιmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateἐκπορεύομαι: 'go out / depart'; the historic present dramatizes the two friends going out together.
ἀμφότεροιbothNominativesubject (in apposition: 'both of them')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: meaning 'both'; it serves as subject (in apposition: 'both of them').
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ἀγρόνfieldAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationἀγρός: 'field'; the place of the covenant-making.
12

καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν πρὸς Δαυιδ κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ οἶδεν ὅτι ἀνακρινῶ τὸν πατέρα μου ὡς ἂν ὁ καιρὸς τρισσῶς καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀγαθὸν ᾖ περὶ Δαυιδ καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποστείλω πρὸς σὲ εἰς ἀγρόν

And Jonathan said to David, 'The LORD, the God of Israel, knows that I will examine my father at this time tomorrow, three times over; and behold, if it is well concerning David, then I will surely not send to you in the field (with bad news).'

Jonathan's solemn oath opens (covenant section B begins)κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ οἶδεν
Jonathan begins the formal oath by invoking κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ as witness — the full covenant name placing the entire arrangement under divine oversight. He promises to test (ἀνακρινῶ) his father at the appointed time; the textually difficult clause indicates that if all is well for David, no warning will be needed. The verse opens outline section B (vv. 12–17).
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
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 stateεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressee)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (addressee).
ΔαυιδDavidobject of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of πρός (indeclinable).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (Tetragrammaton; invoked as witness)→ participant prominenceκύριος: meaning 'LORD'; it serves as subject (Tetragrammaton; invoked as witness).
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeappositive to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the title ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the God of Israel') stresses the national-covenant deity who oversees the oath.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; here a genitive of relationship though uninflected.
οἶδενknowsPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · οἶδαmain verb (God as knowing witness)→ verbal action or stateοἶδα (perf. with pres. sense): 'know'; in τίς οἶδεν the perfect functions as a present — 'who knows?' — leaving room for divine mercy.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνακρινῶI will examineFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀνακρίνωverb of object clause (Jonathan's pledge)→ verbal action or stateἀνακρίνω: meaning 'I will examine'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verb of object clause (Jonathan's pledge).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativedirect object of ἀνακρινῶ→ object specificationπατέρα: meaning 'father'; it serves as direct object of ἀνακρινῶ.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὡςas / abouttemporal particle (with ἄν: 'at about the time')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς ἄν: 'about / at the time when'; the temporal phrase ὡς ἂν ὁ καιρός renders כָּעֵת מָחָר ('at this time tomorrow').
ἂν(modal particle)modal particle (with ὡς in temporal idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle; with ὡς forms the indefinite-temporal expression.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρὸςtime / seasonNominativesubject of temporal clause ('the time' = tomorrow)→ participant prominenceκαιρός: 'appointed time / season'; ὁ καιρός here = the same hour tomorrow, the moment of the test.
τρισσῶςthree times / thoroughlyadverb (manner/extent)→ clausal contributionτρισσῶς: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: Hebraism (הִנֵּה).
ἀγαθὸνgood / wellNominativepredicate adjective (with ᾖ: 'if it is well')→ participant prominenceἀγαθός: 'good'; 'if it is well concerning David' = if Saul's disposition is favorable.
it isPres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of conditional clause→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the subjunctive in the implicit condition ('if it should be good').
περὶconcerningpreposition + accusative (reference)→ spatial or relational framingπερί + acc.: 'concerning / about'; 'concerning David.'
ΔαυιδDavidobject of περί (indeclinable); Jonathan speaks of David in the third person→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of περί (indeclinable); Jonathan speaks of David in the third person.
καὶthen / andapodosis-marker (Hebraizing)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'then'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative (οὐ μή emphatic)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative (οὐ μή emphatic).
μὴnotnegative (οὐ μή emphatic)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἀποστείλωI sendAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb in emphatic denial (οὐ μή)→ verbal action or stateἀποστέλλω: 'send'; with οὐ μή — 'I will certainly not (need to) send to you (a warning) in the field'; if all is well, no signal of danger will be sent.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
σὲyouAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceσὲ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
εἰςinto / inpreposition + accusative (location)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (location).
ἀγρόνfieldAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationἀγρός: 'field'; David's place of hiding where the signal would be sent.
13

τάδε ποιήσαι ὁ θεὸς τῷ Ιωναθαν καὶ τάδε προσθείη ὅτι ἀνοίσω τὰ κακὰ ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ ἀποκαλύψω τὸ ὠτίον σου καὶ ἐξαποστελῶ σε καὶ ἀπελεύσῃ εἰς εἰρήνην καὶ ἔσται κύριος μετὰ σοῦ καθὼς ἦν μετὰ τοῦ πατρός μου

May God do thus to Jonathan and thus may he add, if I do not bring the evil upon you and uncover your ear and send you away, and you go in peace; and may the LORD be with you as he was with my father.

Self-imprecatory oath-formula (the heart of Jonathan's vow)τάδε ποιήσαι ὁ θεὸς
Jonathan binds himself with the classic Hebrew self-curse τάδε ποιήσαι ὁ θεός … καὶ τάδε προσθείη ('may God do so to me and more also', rendering כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה … וְכֹה יֹסִיף). He swears to disclose any danger (ἀποκαλύψω τὸ ὠτίον σου) and send David away safely, and pronounces the great blessing ἔσται κύριος μετὰ σοῦ ('the LORD be with you'), tacitly conceding that the LORD has departed from Saul and is now with David.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative (object of ποιήσαι, in oath-formula)→ object specificationὅδε: 'this'; τάδε ποιήσαι … καὶ τάδε προσθείη is the standard LXX self-imprecation formula ('may God do thus … and add thus').
ποιήσαιmay he doAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ποιέωoptative of wish (self-curse)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; the aorist optative in the self-curse — 'so may God do to me'.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of ποιήσαι→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the executor of the self-curse.
τῷtoDativearticle (marks dative of indeclinable Ιωναθαν)→ noun-phrase markingthe article τῷ shows the dative case of the otherwise indeclinable name.
ΙωναθανJonathandative (recipient of the curse; case shown by article)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative (recipient of the curse; case shown by article).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative (object of προσθείη)→ object specificationὅδε: the second τάδε intensifies the curse ('and add thus').
προσθείηmay he addAor Act Opt 3 Sg · προστίθημιoptative of wish (intensifying the curse)→ verbal action or stateπροστίθημι: 'add / increase'; renders יֹסִיף; the optative προσθείη completes the formula 'and may he add (still more).'
ὅτιif / thatconjunction (oath-content, with conditional force)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: in oath-formulas introduces the sworn content; here with positive force — 'surely I will disclose' (the curse applies if he fails).
ἀνοίσωI will bring / reportFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀναφέρωverb of sworn content→ verbal action or stateἀναφέρω: 'bring up / report / bring word of'; here 'I will bring word of the evil (intended) against you' — i.e., disclose the danger.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακὰevils / harmAccusativedirect object of ἀνοίσω→ object specificationκακὰ: meaning 'evils'; it serves as direct object of ἀνοίσω.
ἐπὶupon / againstpreposition + accusative (hostile reference)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile reference).
σὲyouAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ participant referenceσὲ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐπί.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψωI will uncoverFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωverb of sworn content (idiom: 'uncover the ear')→ verbal action or stateἀποκαλύπτω: 'uncover / reveal'; ἀποκαλύπτω τὸ ὠτίον ('uncover the ear', calquing גָּלָה אֹזֶן) = 'disclose to'; the third occurrence of the keyword (cf. vv. 2, 12).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὠτίονearAccusativedirect object (idiom)→ object specificationὠτίον: 'ear'; in the disclosure-idiom.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; 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.
ἐξαποστελῶI will send awayFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωverb of sworn content→ verbal action or stateἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / dismiss'; the intensive compound of the chapter's leitmotif ἀποστέλλω; David promises to 'send Uriah off' — and indeed will, but back to the front carrying his own death-warrant (v. 14).
σεyouAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπελεύσῃyou will go awayFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (consequence)→ verbal action or stateἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; 'you will go away in peace' — the desired outcome for David.
εἰςinto / inpreposition + accusative (idiom: 'in peace')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς εἰρήνην: 'in peace / safely'; calques לְשָׁלוֹם; a farewell idiom (cf. v. 42).
εἰρήνηνpeaceAccusativeobject of εἰς (idiom)→ object specificationεἰρήνη: 'peace / safety'; renders שָׁלוֹם.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing blessing)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (blessing-formula)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; ἔσται κύριος μετὰ σοῦ ('the LORD be with you') is the great blessing-formula (cf. Josh 1:5); its application to David tacitly transfers divine favor from Saul to David.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (Tetragrammaton)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine presence-blessing.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
σοῦyouGenitiveobject of μετά→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of μετά.
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'just as'; the comparison 'as he was with my father' poignantly acknowledges the past favor now departed from Saul.
ἦνhe wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of comparative clause→ participant referenceεἰμί: the imperfect ἦν ('used to be / was') marks the LORD's former, now-ended presence with Saul.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςfatherGenitiveobject of μετά→ relational specificationπατήρ: Saul, with whom the LORD formerly was.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
14

καὶ μὲν ἔτι μου ζῶντος καὶ ποιήσεις ἔλεος μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ ἐὰν θανάτῳ ἀποθάνω

And while I am still living, then you shall show mercy to me; and if I die,

Reciprocal demand: David's covenant duty to Jonathan (oath continues)καὶ μὲν ἔτι μου ζῶντος
The oath now turns from blessing to mutual obligation: Jonathan binds David to show ἔλεος (covenant-loyalty) to him while he lives — and (v. 15) to his house after his death. The genitive absolute ἔτι μου ζῶντος ('while I yet live') and the cognate θανάτῳ ἀποθάνω ('if I die the death') frame the lifelong-and-beyond scope of the covenant, looking ahead to David's later kindness to Mephibosheth (2 Kgdms 9).
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὲνindeedparticle (correlative emphasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastμέν: particle of emphasis/correlation; here marking the first member ('while I live …') against the implied 'and after I die' of v. 15.
ἔτιstill / yettemporal adverb (with genitive absolute)→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet'; 'while I am yet living.'
μουI (gen. abs.)Genitivesubject of genitive absolute→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): subject of the genitive-absolute construction ἔτι μου ζῶντος.
ζῶντοςlivingPres Act Ptcp Gen Sg Masc · ζάωgenitive-absolute participle ('while I live')→ verbal action or stateζάω: 'live'; the genitive absolute ἔτι μου ζῶντος = 'while I am still alive', defining the first temporal scope of the covenant duty.
καὶthen / andapodosis-marker (Hebraizing)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'then'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσειςyou shall showFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future: covenant duty)→ verbal action or stateποιέω (fut. ποιήσεις): 'make'; she shall prepare food for herself and her children afterward — the promise being that the supply will suffice.
ἔλεοςmercy / loyaltyAccusativedirect object→ object specificationἔλεος: 'covenant-loyalty / steadfast love'; renders חֶסֶד; the reciprocal obligation of the covenant.
μετ᾿with / towardpreposition + genitive (elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (elided).
ἐμοῦmeGenitiveobject of μετά→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as object of μετά.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the death-contingency)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θανάτῳby deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism, with ἀποθάνω)→ sphere or referenceθανάτῳ: meaning 'by death'; it serves as cognate dative (Hebraism, with ἀποθάνω).
ἀποθάνωI dieAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (with cognate dative)→ verbal action or stateἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the old prophet anticipates his own death and provides for it.
15

οὐκ ἐξαρεῖς ἔλεός σου ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου μου ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ ἐξαίρειν κύριον τοὺς ἐχθροὺς Δαυιδ ἕκαστον ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς γῆς

you shall not withdraw your mercy from my house forever, even when the LORD cuts off the enemies of David, each one from the face of the earth.

Perpetual-covenant demand (apodosis of v. 14's condition)οὐκ ἐξαρεῖς ἔλεός σου
The covenant reaches its widest scope: David must never withdraw ἔλεος from Jonathan's house ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος ('forever'), even after the LORD has destroyed all David's enemies — a clause that anticipates David's kingship and his sworn protection of Jonathan's descendants. The shift to third person (τοὺς ἐχθροὺς Δαυιδ) gives the oath formal, almost legal solemnity.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
οὐκnotnegative→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐξαρεῖςyou shall withdraw / removeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐξαίρωmain verb (negated: prohibition by oath)→ verbal action or stateἐξαίρω: 'take away / remove / purge'; renders בִּעֵר ('purge out'); deuteronomistic purge-language (Deut 19:13); executing Joab removes the bloodguilt from David's house.
ἔλεόςmercy / loyaltyAccusativedirect object→ object specificationἔλεός: meaning 'mercy'; it serves as direct object.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitiveobject of ἀπό→ relational specificationοἴκου: meaning 'house'; it serves as object of ἀπό.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἕωςuntil / foreverpreposition + genitive (temporal extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος: 'forever / to perpetuity'; renders עַד עוֹלָם; the perpetual scope of the covenant.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰῶνοςage / foreverGenitiveobject of ἕως (temporal)→ relational specificationαἰών: 'age / eternity'; in ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος = 'forever'; the covenant transcends the lifetimes of both men (cf. v. 42).
καὶand / evencoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰifconjunction (εἰ μή: 'even when / and surely')→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ μή: here within an oath-context, the elliptical 'and (surely) when …'; the syntax is compressed.
μὴnotnegative (in εἰ μή oath-idiom)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐνin / whenpreposition + articular infinitive (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν τῷ + infinitive: a temporal construction ('when / while'), a frequent LXX calque of the Hebrew בְּ + infinitive construct.
τῷtheDativearticle (with infinitive ἐξαίρειν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐξαίρεινcutting off / removingPres Act Inf · ἐξαίρωarticular infinitive (temporal: 'when the LORD cuts off')→ verbal action or stateἐξαίρω: 'remove / cut off / destroy'; the same verb as ἐξαρεῖς above — a deliberate play: David must not 'cut off' loyalty even when the LORD 'cuts off' his enemies.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive (Tetragrammaton)→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here the accusative subject of the articular infinitive ('when the LORD removes …').
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθροὺςenemiesAccusativedirect object of the infinitive ἐξαίρειν→ object specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy'; renders אֹיֵב; 'the enemies of David' whom the LORD will destroy — a tacit prophecy of David's triumph and kingship.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'David's enemies')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'David's enemies').
ἕκαστονeach oneAccusativedistributive apposition to ἐχθρούς→ object specificationἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; emphasizes the total destruction of David's foes — not one will remain.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
προσώπουfaceGenitiveobject of ἀπό (idiom: 'from the face of')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / surface'; ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς γῆς ('from the face of the earth') calques מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, a totality-idiom for complete removal.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearth / landGenitivegenitive (with προσώπου)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / land'; in the idiom 'from the face of the earth.'
16

ἐξαρθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Ιωναθαν ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου Δαυιδ καὶ ἐκζητήσαι κύριος ἐχθροὺς τοῦ Δαυιδ

(so that) the name of Jonathan not be cut off from the house of David; and may the LORD require it at the hand of David's enemies.

Covenant ratified between the two houses (climax of section B)ἐξαρθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Ιωναθαν
The covenant is now formally cut between the house of Jonathan and the house of David: Jonathan's name is not to be cut off from David's house, and Jonathan calls down divine requital (ἐκζητήσαι κύριος) upon David's enemies. The compressed Greek (an infinitive plus an optative of wish) renders the difficult Hebrew of the covenant-ratification verse.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἐξαρθῆναιto be cut offAor Pass Inf · ἐξαίρωinfinitive (result/purpose of the covenant; here negated in sense)→ verbal action or stateἐξαίρω: meaning 'to be cut off'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as infinitive (result/purpose of the covenant; here negated in sense).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (subject-accusative of infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativesubject-accusative of the infinitive ἐξαρθῆναι→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as subject-accusative of the infinitive ἐξαρθῆναι.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (marks genitive of indeclinable Ιωναθαν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωναθανJonathangenitive of possession (case shown by article)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitiveobject of ἀπό→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house / dynasty'; the 'house of David' — the covenant binds the two lineages together.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of David')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of David').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing imprecation)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκζητήσαιmay he require / seek outAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ἐκζητέωoptative of wish (imprecation)→ verbal action or stateἐκζητέω: 'seek out / require / avenge'; the optative ἐκζητήσαι calls on the LORD to 'require / avenge' — i.e., to hold David's enemies accountable (a covenant sanction); renders דָּרַשׁ / בִּקֵּשׁ.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκζητήσαι (Tetragrammaton)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD as covenant-enforcer and avenger.
ἐχθροὺςenemiesAccusativedirect object of ἐκζητήσαι→ object specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy'; the LORD will 'require it' from / call to account the enemies of David (those who would break faith).
τοῦofGenitivearticle (marks genitive of indeclinable Δαυιδ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive of relationship (case shown by article)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
17

καὶ προσέθετο ἔτι Ιωναθαν ὀμόσαι τῷ Δαυιδ ὅτι ἠγάπησεν ψυχὴν ἀγαπῶντος αὐτόν

And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him with the love of one who loved his own soul.

Narratorial summary of the oath's motive (closing section B)καὶ προσέθετο ἔτι Ιωναθαν ὀμόσαι
The narrator caps the covenant with its motive: Jonathan swears yet again out of love. The idiom προσέθετο … ὀμόσαι ('he added to swear' = 'he swore again') is a Hebraism (יָסַף + infinitive). The phrase ἠγάπησεν ψυχὴν ἀγαπῶντος αὐτόν echoes 18:1, 3 ('Jonathan loved David as his own soul').
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσέθετοhe again / addedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (with complementary infinitive: 'swore again')→ verbal action or stateπροστίθημι: 'add / do again'; the idiom προσέθετο … ὀμόσαι ('he added to swear' = 'he swore once more') calques the Hebrew auxiliary use of יָסַף.
ἔτιstill / againadverb (reinforcing 'again')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / again'; reinforces the repetition of the oath.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ὀμόσαιto swearAor Act Inf · ὀμνύωcomplementary infinitive (with προσέθετο)→ verbal action or stateὀμνύω: 'swear (an oath)'; renders שָׁבַע; the formal verb of oath-taking, sealing the covenant.
τῷtoDativearticle (marks dative of indeclinable Δαυιδ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddative indirect object (case shown by article)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'because'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠγάπησενhe lovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateἀγαπάω (aor. ἠγάπησεν): 'love'; renders אָהֵב; the LORD's love for Solomon anchors the renaming Ιδεδι ('beloved of the LORD') in v. 25 and frames Solomon's election.
ψυχὴνsoul / lifeAccusativeaccusative of the thing loved / cognate-like object→ object specificationψυχὴν: meaning 'soul'; it serves as accusative of the thing loved / cognate-like object.
ἀγαπῶντοςof one lovingPres Act Ptcp Gen Sg Masc · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle (genitive: 'of one who loves')→ verbal action or stateἀγαπάω: meaning 'of one loving'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as substantival participle (genitive: 'of one who loves').
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ἀγαπῶντος→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀγαπῶντος.
18

καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν αὔριον νουμηνία καὶ ἐπισκεπήσῃ ὅτι ἐπισκεπήσεται καθέδρα σου

And Jonathan said, 'Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, for your seat will be noticed empty.'

Jonathan begins the practical arrangements (section C opens)καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν
Section C (vv. 18–23) turns to logistics. Jonathan notes that David's absence will be conspicuous at the new-moon feast (νουμηνία, variant spelling of νεομηνία in v. 5). The wordplay on ἐπισκέπτομαι ('be missed' / 'be noticed') — used twice here — keys the whole episode of David's empty place (vv. 25–27).
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
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 stateεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
αὔριονtomorrowtemporal adverb→ clausal contributionαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; the new moon (and the test) is imminent.
νουμηνίαnew moonNominativepredicate nominative (verbless clause)→ participant prominenceνουμηνία: 'new moon' (variant of νεομηνία, v. 5); renders חֹדֶשׁ; the monthly feast at the royal table.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπισκεπήσῃyou will be missedFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (passive: David noticed absent)→ verbal action or stateἐπισκέπτομαι (fut. pass.): 'be looked for / be missed'; David's absence will be noticed; the verb plays on its earlier sense ('inspect', v. 6) and recurs of the empty 'place' in vv. 25, 27.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the reason David will be missed.
ἐπισκεπήσεταιwill be noticedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιverb of causal clause (the empty seat 'noticed')→ verbal action or stateἐπισκέπτομαι (fut. pass.): the empty 'seat' will be noticed/inspected; the repetition of the verb (figura etymologica) underlines the inevitability of detection.
καθέδραseatNominativesubject of ἐπισκεπήσεται→ participant prominenceκαθέδρα: 'seat / chair / place'; renders מוֹשָׁב; David's customary seat at the king's table, whose emptiness will betray his absence (cf. vv. 25–27).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
19

καὶ τρισσεύσεις καὶ ἐπισκέψῃ καὶ ἥξεις εἰς τὸν τόπον σου οὗ ἐκρύβης ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἐργασίμῃ καὶ καθήσῃ παρὰ τὸ εργαβ ἐκεῖνο

And you shall wait three days and look, and you shall come to your place where you hid on the working day, and you shall sit beside that stone Ergab.

Instructions for David's positioning (test logistics)καὶ τρισσεύσεις
Jonathan directs David to the precise hiding-spot: 'your place' from before, beside the transliterated marker εργαβ (a stone or mound, untranslated by the LXX). The verb τρισσεύσεις ('do for the third (day)') with the adverb τρισσῶς of v. 12 keys the three-day rhythm of the test.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τρισσεύσειςyou shall wait three daysFut Act Indic 2 Sg · τρισσεύωmain verb (instruction)→ verbal action or stateτρισσεύω: 'do for the third time / on the third (day)'; a rare verb (cf. τρισσῶς, v. 12; τρισσεύσω, v. 20); here 'wait until the third day' of the new-moon period.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπισκέψῃyou shall look / watchFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (instruction)→ verbal action or stateἐπισκέπτομαι: 'look / watch out'; David is to be on the lookout — the same verb whose passive described his being 'missed' (v. 18).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἥξειςyou shall comeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἥκωmain verb (instruction)→ verbal action or stateἥκω: 'come / arrive'; David is to come to the appointed place.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; renders מָקוֹם; David's earlier hiding-place.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
οὗwhererelative adverb of place→ participant referenceοὗ: 'where'; relative adverb introducing the relative clause 'where you hid.'
ἐκρύβηςyou hidAor Pass Indic 2 Sg · κρύπτωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateκρύπτω (aor. pass.): 'hide oneself'; refers back to David's earlier concealment (cf. v. 5).
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (time)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (time).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; with the following adjective, 'the working day.'
τῇtheDativearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐργασίμῃworking / businessDativeattributive adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐργάσιμος: 'fit for work / working (day)'; ἡ ἡμέρα ἡ ἐργασίμη = 'the working day' (an ordinary weekday); renders a Hebrew phrase about 'the day of the deed/business.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καθήσῃyou shall sitFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb (instruction)→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι: 'sit / remain'; David is to station himself by the marker stone to await the signal.
παρὰbesidepreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + acc.: 'beside / near.'
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with transliterated noun)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εργαβErgab (a stone / mound)object of παρά (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionεργαβ: an untranslated transliteration of an obscure Hebrew term (perhaps the 'stone Ezel' of MT, or a mound/cairn); the LXX simply transliterates the unknown marker; recurs at v. 41.
ἐκεῖνοthatAccusativedemonstrative (attributive: 'that Ergab')→ object specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative points to a specific known stone, treating εργαβ as a fixed landmark.
20

καὶ ἐγὼ τρισσεύσω ταῖς σχίζαις ἀκοντίζων ἐκπέμπων εἰς τὴν αματταρι

And I myself will shoot three times with the arrows, hurling them, sending them off toward the target.

Jonathan's part of the sign (counterpart to David's positioning)καὶ ἐγὼ τρισσεύσω
The emphatic ἐγώ matches David's positioning with Jonathan's action: he will shoot three arrows toward a target (αματταρι, another transliterated term). The two present participles ἀκοντίζων ἐκπέμπων ('hurling, sending forth') describe the manner of the shooting that will carry the coded message.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγὼI (myself)Nominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceἐγὼ: meaning 'I (myself)'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as emphatic subject pronoun.
τρισσεύσωI will shoot three timesFut Act Indic 1 Sg · τρισσεύωmain verb (Jonathan's action)→ verbal action or stateτρισσεύω: meaning 'I will shoot three times'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb (Jonathan's action).
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχίζαιςarrows / dartsDativedative of instrument→ sphere or referenceσχίζα: lit. 'splinter / split piece of wood'; here 'arrow / shaft / dart'; renders חֵץ; the arrows are the medium of the prearranged code (recurring in vv. 21–22, 36–38).
ἀκοντίζωνhurling / shootingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἀκοντίζωcircumstantial participle (manner)→ verbal action or stateἀκοντίζω: 'hurl / shoot (a javelin or arrow)'; describes the manner of discharging the arrows.
ἐκπέμπωνsending forthPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἐκπέμπωcircumstantial participle (manner, paired with ἀκοντίζων)→ verbal action or stateἐκπέμπω: 'send out / dispatch'; with ἀκοντίζων, a doublet describing the loosing of the arrows toward the mark.
εἰςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction/goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'toward'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction/goal).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with transliterated noun)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αματταριthe target / markobject of εἰς (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionαματταρι: an untranslated transliteration of a Hebrew word for the target/mark (cf. מַטָּרָה, 'target'); the LXX renders the obscure term phonetically; the arrows are shot 'toward the mark.'
21

καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀποστελῶ τὸ παιδάριον λέγων δεῦρο εὑρέ μοι τὴν σχίζαν ἐὰν εἴπω λέγων τῷ παιδαρίῳ ὧδε ἡ σχίζα ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ ὧδε λαβὲ αὐτήν παραγίνου ὅτι εἰρήνη σοι καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν λόγος ζῇ κύριος

And behold, I will send the boy, saying, 'Go, find me the arrow.' If I expressly say to the boy, 'The arrow is on this side of you, here — take it,' then come, for there is peace for you, and there is nothing the matter, as the LORD lives.

The 'safe' signal decoded (first half of the code)καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀποστελῶ τὸ παιδάριον
Jonathan spells out the favorable signal. If the arrow lands 'on this side' (ὧδε … ἀπὸ σοῦ), the boy is told to pick it up nearby — David's cue that all is well (εἰρήνη σοι). The whole arrangement is sealed with the oath-word ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives'), binding the code under divine guarantee.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: Hebraism (הִנֵּה); introduces the detailed code.
ἀποστελῶI will sendFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀποστέλλω: 'send'; Absalom intended to dispatch Joab as his envoy to the king.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboy / ladAccusativedirect object→ object specificationπαιδάριον: diminutive of παῖς, 'small boy / servant lad'; renders נַעַר; the unwitting messenger who retrieves the arrows (vv. 35–41).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of attendant circumstance (speech-marker)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptcp.): the participle λέγων ('saying') is a Hebraism (לֵאמֹר) introducing direct speech.
δεῦροcome / goadverb/interjection (imperatival: 'go!')→ clausal contributionδεῦρο: 'come here / go'; an adverb used as a command of motion.
εὑρέfindAor Act Impv 2 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb (imperative to the boy)→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω: 'find'; the command to the boy to locate the arrow.
μοιfor meDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'for me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχίζανarrowAccusativedirect object of εὑρέ→ object specificationσχίζα: 'arrow / shaft' (see v. 20); the object the boy is to retrieve.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἴπωI sayAor Act Subj 1 Sg · λέγωverb of protasis→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; with the cognate participle λέγων following, an emphatic 'if I expressly say.'
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple (cognate speech-marker reinforcing εἴπω)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptcp.): the redundant εἴπω … λέγων reflects the Hebraic לֵאמֹר construction introducing the quoted words.
τῷto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίῳboyDativedative indirect object→ sphere or referenceπαιδάριον: 'boy'; the addressee of the coded words.
ὧδεhere / on this sideadverb of place (the 'safe' position)→ clausal contributionὧδε: 'here / on this side'; the key code-word for the safe signal — the arrow falls nearby.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχίζαarrowNominativesubject (verbless clause)→ participant prominenceσχίζα: 'arrow'; 'the arrow is on this side of you.'
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (reference: 'on this side of')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ σοῦ: 'on this side of you / short of you' — the arrow nearer than the boy = safety.
σοῦyouGenitiveobject of ἀπό→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἀπό.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὧδεhereadverb of place→ clausal contributionὧδε: 'here'; reinforcing the 'nearby' location.
λαβὲtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative to boy)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / pick up'; the boy is told to take the arrow — confirming the safe code.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object (the arrow)→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the arrow).
παραγίνουcomePres Mid Impv 2 Sg · παραγίνομαιmain verb (imperative to David)→ verbal action or stateπαραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive / appear'; now addressed to David — 'come (out of hiding).'
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; gives the meaning of the safe code.
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject (verbless clause: 'there is peace for you')→ participant prominenceεἰρήνη: 'peace / safety'; renders שָׁלוֹם; 'it is well with you' — David is safe.
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'for you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; οὐκ ἔστιν λόγος = 'there is no matter / nothing wrong.'
λόγοςword / matterNominativesubject of ἔστιν→ participant prominenceλόγος: 'word / matter / cause'; renders דָּבָר; 'there is nothing the matter' (no cause for alarm).
ζῇlivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωverb of oath-formula→ verbal action or stateζάω: ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives') seals the trustworthiness of the code under oath (cf. v. 3).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ζῇ (Tetragrammaton)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the oath-guarantee of the signal.
22

ἐὰν τάδε εἴπω τῷ νεανίσκῳ ὧδε ἡ σχίζα ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ ἐπέκεινα πορεύου ὅτι ἐξαπέσταλκέν σε κύριος

But if I say thus to the young man, 'The arrow is beyond you, farther on,' then go, for the LORD has sent you away.

The 'danger' signal decoded (second half of the code)ἐὰν τάδε εἴπω τῷ νεανίσκῳ
The contrasting signal: if the arrow lands 'beyond' the boy (ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ ἐπέκεινα), David must flee — for 'the LORD has sent you away.' The perfect ἐξαπέσταλκέν frames David's flight not merely as escape from Saul but as divinely willed departure, theologically charging the danger-sign.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative (object of εἴπω)→ object specificationὅδε: 'this'; τάδε anticipates the quoted code-words.
εἴπωI sayAor Act Subj 1 Sg · λέγωverb of protasis→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; the alternative wording for the danger-signal.
τῷto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίσκῳyoung man / ladDativedative indirect object→ sphere or referenceνεανίσκος: 'young man / youth'; a synonym for παιδάριον here (cf. νεανίας, v. 31; νεανίου, v. 37); renders נַעַר.
ὧδεhereadverb of place→ clausal contributionὧδε: 'here'; here introducing the contrasting placement ('the arrow is here — beyond you').
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχίζαarrowNominativesubject (verbless clause)→ participant prominenceσχίζα: 'arrow.'
ἀπὸfrom / beyondpreposition + genitive (reference)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ ἐπέκεινα: 'beyond you and farther on' — the arrow past the boy = the danger code.
σοῦyouGenitiveobject of ἀπό→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἀπό.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέκειναbeyond / farther onadverb of place (the 'danger' position)→ clausal contributionἐπέκεινα: 'beyond / on the far side'; the decisive code-word for danger — the arrow flung past the boy means David must flee.
πορεύουgoPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative to David)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go / depart'; David's cue to flee for his life.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because.'
ἐξαπέσταλκένhas sent awayPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away'; the perfect ἐξαπέσταλκέν σε κύριος ('the LORD has sent you away') casts David's flight as God's own doing — a settled, accomplished divine commission.
σεyouAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐξαπέσταλκέν (Tetragrammaton)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD himself is the agent of David's departure.
23

καὶ τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐλαλήσαμεν ἐγὼ καὶ σύ ἰδοὺ κύριος μάρτυς ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ ἕως αἰῶνος

And as for the word that we have spoken, I and you — behold, the LORD is witness between me and you forever.

Covenant-witness formula seals the arrangement (close of section C)καὶ τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ ἐλαλήσαμεν
Jonathan seals both the practical plan and the covenant with the witness-formula κύριος μάρτυς ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ ἕως αἰῶνος ('the LORD is witness between me and you forever'), which returns expanded as the chapter's closing words (v. 42). The fronted τὸ ῥῆμα (casus pendens) and emphatic ἐγὼ καὶ σύ stress the mutuality of the bond.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with fronted ῥῆμα, casus pendens)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαword / matterNominativenominative absolute (casus pendens: 'as for the word')→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / matter'; the fronted noun (a hanging nominative) names the whole agreement just made; renders דָּבָר.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐλαλήσαμεν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; 'the word which we have spoken.'
ἐλαλήσαμενwe have spokenAor Act Indic 1 Pl · λαλέωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateλαλέω: 'speak'; the first-person plural binds both men to the spoken agreement.
ἐγὼINominativeappositional subject (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: 'I'; with σύ underscores the two parties to the covenant.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σύyouNominativeappositional subject (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: 'you'; the second covenant-party.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: Hebraism (הִנֵּה); points to the LORD as the standing witness.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (verbless clause; Tetragrammaton)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; invoked as the divine witness who guarantees the covenant.
μάρτυςwitnessNominativepredicate nominative (the LORD as witness)→ participant prominenceμάρτυς: 'witness'; renders עֵד; the LORD as witness makes the covenant legally and religiously binding (cf. Gen 31:48–50).
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ μέσον: 'between'; renders בֵּין … וּבֵין.
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle'; with ἀνά forms the 'between' idiom.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive (first party)→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as genitive (first party).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second party)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive (second party)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (second party).
ἕωςforeverpreposition + genitive (temporal extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως αἰῶνος: 'forever / for all time'; renders עַד עוֹלָם; the perpetual duration of the witnessed covenant (cf. vv. 15, 42).
αἰῶνοςage / foreverGenitiveobject of ἕως→ relational specificationαἰών: 'age / eternity'; in ἕως αἰῶνος = 'forever.'
24

καὶ κρύπτεται Δαυιδ ἐν ἀγρῷ καὶ παραγίνεται ὁ μήν καὶ ἔρχεται ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ τὴν τράπεζαν τοῦ φαγεῖν

And David hides in the field; and the new moon comes, and the king comes to the table to eat.

Scene shift to the feast (section D begins)καὶ κρύπτεται Δαυιδ ἐν ἀγρῷ
Section D (vv. 24–34) opens with a cluster of historic presents (κρύπτεται, παραγίνεται, ἔρχεται) that quicken the pace and set the stage: David is in hiding, the festival arrives, and Saul takes his place at the table. The narrative now moves between field and court, building toward the explosion of v. 30.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κρύπτεταιhidesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · κρύπτωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateκρύπτω (mid.): 'hide oneself'; the historic present sets David in concealment as the test begins.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ἀγρῷfieldDativeobject of ἐν→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field'; David's hiding-place (cf. vv. 5, 11).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παραγίνεταιcomes / arrivesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραγίνομαιmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateπαραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive'; the festival 'arrives.'
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήνmonth / new moonNominativesubject of παραγίνεται→ discourse linkage or contrastμήν: 'month / new moon'; here the new-moon festival itself (metonymy); renders חֹדֶשׁ.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔρχεταιcomesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come'; Saul comes to take his place at the festal table.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἔρχεται→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; Saul; renders מֶלֶךְ.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τράπεζανtableAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationτράπεζα: 'table'; renders שֻׁלְחָן; the royal festal table where David's absence will be exposed.
τοῦto (the)Genitivearticle (with infinitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingthe articular infinitive τοῦ φαγεῖν expresses purpose ('to eat').
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωarticular infinitive of purpose→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the purpose of the king's coming to the table.
25

καὶ ἐκάθισεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ τὴν καθέδραν αὐτοῦ ὡς ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ ἐπὶ τῆς καθέδρας παρὰ τοῖχον καὶ προέφθασεν τὸν Ιωναθαν καὶ ἐκάθισεν Αβεννηρ ἐκ πλαγίων Σαουλ καὶ ἐπεσκέπη ὁ τόπος Δαυιδ

And the king sat on his seat as at other times, on the seat by the wall, and he came before Jonathan; and Abner sat at the side of Saul, and David's place was noticed empty.

The seating at the feast (setting the scene for detection)καὶ ἐκάθισεν ὁ βασιλεὺς
The narrator describes the customary seating (ὡς ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ, 'as time and again') — Saul by the wall, Abner beside him — and, with the same key verb as v. 18, notes that David's place ἐπεσκέπη ('was noticed (vacant)'). The detailed staging makes the empty seat conspicuous.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθισενsatAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω: 'sit down / take one's seat'; Saul takes his customary place.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: Saul.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καθέδρανseatAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationκαθέδρα: 'seat / chair'; Saul's habitual place (cf. v. 18).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὡςascomparative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ: 'as at one time and another / as time and again'; an idiom for 'as on previous occasions' (cf. Num 24:1; Judg 16:20).
ἅπαξonceadverb (in idiom 'time and again')→ clausal contributionἅπαξ: 'once'; doubled (ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ) = 'as on other occasions / as usual.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἅπαξonceadverb (second member of idiom)→ clausal contributionἅπαξ: see above; 'as usual.'
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καθέδραςseatGenitiveobject of ἐπί→ relational specificationκαθέδρα: 'seat'; the place by the wall.
παρὰbypreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + acc.: 'beside / by.'
τοῖχονwallAccusativeobject of παρά→ object specificationτοῖχος: 'wall'; renders קִיר; the seat 'by the wall' was the place of honor and safety.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προέφθασενhe came before / precededAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προφθάνωmain verb→ verbal action or stateπροφθάνω: meaning 'he came before'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (marks accusative of indeclinable Ιωναθαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωναθανJonathandirect object (case shown by article)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθισενsatAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω: 'sit'; Abner takes his place beside the king.
ΑβεννηρAbnersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβεννηρ: transliteration of Hebrew אַבְנֵר (Abner), Saul's army commander and kinsman; indeclinable.
ἐκfrom / atpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ πλαγίων: 'at the side(s) of'; idiom for sitting beside.
πλαγίωνsidesGenitiveobject of ἐκ (idiom 'at the side')→ relational specificationπλάγιος (neut. pl. πλάγια): 'side / flank'; ἐκ πλαγίων = 'at the side of', describing Abner's seat next to Saul.
ΣαουλSaulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Saul')→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliteration of Hebrew שָׁאוּל (Saul), first king of Israel; indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπεσκέπηwas noticed (empty)Aor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (passive: place noticed vacant)→ verbal action or stateἐπισκέπτομαι (aor. pass.): 'be noticed / be found (missing)'; the same verb as in v. 18 — David's place is conspicuously empty (the predicted outcome).
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόποςplaceNominativesubject of ἐπεσκέπη→ participant prominenceτόπος: 'place / seat'; David's empty place at the table.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'David's place')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'David's place').
26

καὶ οὐκ ἐλάλησεν Σαουλ οὐδὲν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὅτι εἶπεν σύμπτωμα φαίνεται μὴ καθαρὸς εἶναι ὅτι οὐ κεκαθάρισται

And Saul said nothing on that day, for he thought, 'It is a mischance; he appears to be unclean, because he has not been purified.'

Saul's silence explained (first day, benign assumption)καὶ οὐκ ἐλάλησεν Σαουλ οὐδὲν
On the first day Saul says nothing, attributing David's absence to ritual impurity (μὴ καθαρός … οὐ κεκαθάρισται). The double negative οὐκ … οὐδὲν is a Hebraizing emphatic ('said nothing at all'). The assumption of an accidental σύμπτωμα ('mischance') sets up the contrast with the second day's suspicion (v. 27).
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (negated)→ verbal action or stateλαλέω: 'speak'; οὐκ ἐλάλησεν … οὐδέν = 'said nothing at all', a Hebraizing double negative.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
οὐδὲνnothingAccusativedirect object (emphatic double negative)→ object specificationοὐδείς (neut. οὐδέν): 'nothing'; reinforces οὐκ for emphatic 'nothing whatever.'
ἐνonpreposition + dative (time)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (time).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the first day of the feast.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative (attributive with ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; 'that (first) day.'
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces Saul's reasoning.
εἶπενhe thought / said (to himself)Aor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb introducing inner reasoning→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; here of inner thought ('he said to himself / supposed'), a common LXX idiom.
σύμπτωμαmischance / accidentNominativepredicate nominative (verbless: 'it is a mischance')→ participant prominenceσύμπτωμα: 'chance event / mishap'; here Saul supposes David's absence is due to some accidental ritual contingency (an emission rendering him unclean, cf. Lev 15).
φαίνεταιappears / seemsPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · φαίνωmain verb of reported thought→ verbal action or stateφαίνω (mid.): 'appear / seem'; 'he seems (to be unclean).'
μὴnotnegative (with predicate infinitive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
καθαρὸςclean / pureNominativepredicate adjective (with εἶναι)→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean / ritually pure'; renders טָהוֹר; μὴ καθαρός = 'unclean' (ritually disqualified from the sacrificial meal).
εἶναιto bePres Act Inf · εἰμίcomplementary infinitive (with φαίνεται)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; 'he appears to be unclean.'
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the ground of presumed uncleanness.
οὐnotnegative→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative.
κεκαθάρισταιhas been purifiedPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · καθαρίζωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateκαθαρίζω: 'cleanse / purify'; the perfect οὐ κεκαθάρισται ('he has not been purified') marks David's supposed continuing ritual state — a plausible, innocent explanation for his absence.
27

καὶ ἐγενήθη τῇ ἐπαύριον τοῦ μηνὸς τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ δευτέρᾳ καὶ ἐπεσκέπη ὁ τόπος τοῦ Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς Ιωναθαν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τί ὅτι οὐ παραγέγονεν ὁ υἱὸς Ιεσσαι καὶ ἐχθὲς καὶ σήμερον ἐπὶ τὴν τράπεζαν

And it came to pass on the next day of the month, the second day, that David's place was noticed empty; and Saul said to Jonathan his son, 'Why has the son of Jesse not come, either yesterday or today, to the table?'

Second day: Saul's pointed question (rising tension)καὶ ἐγενήθη τῇ ἐπαύριον
The narrative-time formula καὶ ἐγενήθη ('and it came to pass', rendering וַיְהִי) marks the second day, when the empty place can no longer be explained away. Saul's contemptuous designation ὁ υἱὸς Ιεσσαι ('the son of Jesse') — withholding David's name — already betrays his hostility; the question opens the confrontation.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit came to passAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative-time formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'come to pass / happen'; καὶ ἐγενήθη renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי, framing the new temporal setting.
τῇon theDativearticle (dative of time, with ἐπαύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπαύριονnext day / morrowadverb used substantivally (τῇ ἐπαύριον: 'on the morrow')→ clausal contributionἐπαύριον: 'on the next day / morrow'; with the article = 'the following day' (the second day of the festival).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὸςmonthGenitivepartitive/temporal genitive ('of the month')→ relational specificationμήν: 'month / new moon'; 'the next day of the (new-moon) month.'
τῇtheDativearticle (dative of time)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (in apposition: 'the second day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day.'
τῇtheDativearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτέρᾳsecondDativeordinal adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceδεύτερος: 'second'; the second day of the feast, when absence demands explanation.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis after ἐγενήθη)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπεσκέπηwas noticed (empty)Aor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (passive)→ verbal action or stateἐπισκέπτομαι (aor. pass.): David's place is again noticed vacant (cf. vv. 18, 25), now provoking Saul's demand.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόποςplaceNominativesubject of ἐπεσκέπη→ participant prominenceτόπος: 'place / seat'; David's empty place.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (marks genitive of indeclinable Δαυιδ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive of relationship (case shown by article)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
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: introduces Saul's pointed question.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressee)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (addressee).
ΙωναθανJonathanobject of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of πρός (indeclinable).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with appositive υἱόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeappositive to Ιωναθαν→ object specificationυἱὸν: meaning 'son'; it serves as appositive to Ιωναθαν.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
τίwhyAccusativeinterrogative (adverbial: 'why')→ participant referenceτί ὅτι: 'why is it that?'; the interrogative idiom (cf. v. 2).
ὅτιthatconjunction (in τί ὅτι idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative.
παραγέγονενhas comePerf Act Indic 3 Sg · παραγίνομαιverb of question→ verbal action or stateπαραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive / be present'; the perfect stresses David's continuing non-appearance.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸςsonNominativesubject (contemptuous designation)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; ὁ υἱὸς Ιεσσαι ('the son of Jesse') is Saul's dismissive way of naming David without using his name — a mark of contempt (cf. vv. 30–31).
ΙεσσαιJessegenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Jesse')→ participant identificationΙεσσαι: transliteration of Hebrew יִשַׁי (Jesse), David's father; indeclinable.
καὶeither / bothcoordinate conjunction (καὶ … καί: 'either … or')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ … καί: 'both … and / neither … nor'; here 'yesterday or today.'
ἐχθὲςyesterdaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionἐχθές: 'yesterday'; the first day of the feast.
καὶand / orcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the second day; together 'neither yesterday nor today.'
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τράπεζανtableAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationτράπεζα: 'table'; the royal table from which David is absent.
28

καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ιωναθαν τῷ Σαουλ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ παρῄτηται Δαυιδ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἕως εἰς Βηθλεεμ τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ πορευθῆναι

And Jonathan answered Saul and said to him, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to go as far as Bethlehem his city,'

Jonathan gives the prearranged excuse (executing the plan of v. 6)καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ιωναθαν τῷ Σαουλ
Jonathan delivers, almost verbatim, the cover story David scripted in v. 6: David begged leave (παρῄτηται, the same root as παρῃτήσατο there) to go to Bethlehem for a family observance. The perfect παρῄτηται presents the request as a standing, accomplished fact.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (response-introduction)→ verbal action or stateἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / respond / testify'; here 'has answered/witnessed against you' (κατὰ σοῦ), a forensic sense — the man's own statement stands as testimony condemning him.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τῷtoDativearticle (marks dative of indeclinable Σαουλ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαουλSauldative indirect object (case shown by article)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
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 (pleonastic 'answered and said')→ verbal action or stateλέγω: the pleonastic ἀπεκρίθη … καὶ εἶπεν is a Hebraism (וַיַּעַן … וַיֹּאמֶר).
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object.
παρῄτηταιhas asked leavePerf Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραιτέομαιmain verb of reported excuse→ verbal action or stateπαραιτέομαι: 'ask leave / beg off' (cf. v. 6); the perfect παρῄτηται presents David's request for leave as an accomplished and still-valid fact.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
παρ᾿frompreposition + genitive (elided)→ spatial or relational framingπαρ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (elided).
ἐμοῦmeGenitiveobject of παρά→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as object of παρά.
ἕωςas far aspreposition (spatial limit, with εἰς)→ spatial or relational framingἕως εἰς: 'as far as / right to.'
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΒηθλεεμBethlehemobject of εἰς (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΒηθλεεμ: David's home town (cf. v. 6).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeappositive to Βηθλεεμ→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; 'his city' = Bethlehem.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
πορευθῆναιto goAor Pass Inf · πορεύομαιcomplementary infinitive (with παρῄτηται)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. pass. inf.): 'go / journey'; the action for which David sought leave.
29

καὶ εἶπεν ἐξαπόστειλον δή με ὅτι θυσία τῆς φυλῆς ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ πόλει καὶ ἐνετείλαντο πρός με οἱ ἀδελφοί μου καὶ νῦν εἰ εὕρηκα χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου διασωθήσομαι δὴ καὶ ὄψομαι τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου διὰ τοῦτο οὐ παραγέγονεν ἐπὶ τὴν τράπεζαν τοῦ βασιλέως

And he said, 'Send me away, please, for there is a clan sacrifice for us in the city, and my brothers have commanded me; and now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me slip away and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table.

The excuse elaborated, with narrator's closing noteκαὶ εἶπεν ἐξαπόστειλον δή με
Jonathan continues the quoted excuse, adding the brothers' summons and the deferential εἰ εὕρηκα χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ('if I have found favor in your eyes'). The verse closes with a narratorial note (διὰ τοῦτο … οὐ παραγέγονεν) explaining the absence — a transparent framing that sets up Saul's explosion.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 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 (continuing quoted excuse)→ verbal action or stateεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ἐξαπόστειλονsend awayAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (imperative, quoted request)→ verbal action or stateἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / let go'; the request to be released for the journey (cf. v. 5).
δήplease / nowparticle of entreaty (with imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: enclitic particle softening the imperative into a polite request ('please'); renders the Hebrew נָא.
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; the reason for the request.
θυσίαsacrificeNominativesubject (verbless clause)→ participant prominenceθυσία: 'sacrifice'; the family/clan offering (cf. v. 6).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλῆςclan / tribeGenitivegenitive of relationship ('clan sacrifice')→ relational specificationφυλή: 'clan / family' (cf. v. 6); the kin-group's sacrifice.
ἡμῖνfor usDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestἡμεῖς (dat. ἡμῖν): 'for us' — David's family.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativeobject of ἐν→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city'; Bethlehem.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνετείλαντοcommanded / summonedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb of quoted clause→ verbal action or stateἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / give instruction'; renders צִוָּה; David's brothers have summoned him to the observance.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
μεmeAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοίbrothersNominativesubject of ἐνετείλαντο→ participant prominenceἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָח; David's brothers, who supposedly require his presence.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal/transitional adverb→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; introduces the polite petition.
εἰifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; in the deferential idiom 'if I have found favor.'
εὕρηκαI have foundPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of protasis→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω (perf.): the prophet flatly affirms 'I have found [you]', echoing the king's verb and confirming the indictment to follow.
χάρινfavorAccusativedirect object→ object specificationχάρις: 'favor / goodwill' (חֵן).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (idiom).
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativeobject of ἐν (idiom: 'in the eyes')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; 'in your eyes' = 'in your estimation.'
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
διασωθήσομαιlet me slip away / be allowed offFut Pass Indic 1 Sg · διασῴζωmain verb of apodosis (volitive future)→ verbal action or stateδιασῴζω: 'bring safely through / preserve'; in the passive 'escape / slip away'; here 'let me get away (to attend the sacrifice)' — David's polite request for leave.
δὴpleaseparticle of entreaty→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: softening particle (נָא); 'please.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὄψομαιI will seeFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (purpose of the leave)→ verbal action or stateὁράω (fut. ὄψομαι): 'see'; 'and see my brothers' — the purpose of the visit.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφούςbrothersAccusativedirect object of ὄψομαι→ object specificationἀδελφός: 'brother'; David's brothers.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause, in διὰ τοῦτο idiom)→ spatial or relational framingδιὰ τοῦτο: 'for this reason / therefore'; introduces the narrator's explanatory note.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (object of διά)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; in διὰ τοῦτο.
οὐnotnegative→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative.
παραγέγονενhe has comePerf Act Indic 3 Sg · παραγίνομαιmain verb (narratorial explanation)→ verbal action or stateπαραγίνομαι: 'come / be present'; the narrator's note explains why David has not appeared.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τράπεζανtableAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationτράπεζα: 'table'; the king's table.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession ('the king's table')→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; Saul.
30

καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Σαουλ ἐπὶ Ιωναθαν σφόδρα καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ υἱὲ κορασίων αὐτομολούντων οὐ γὰρ οἶδα ὅτι μέτοχος εἶ σὺ τῷ υἱῷ Ιεσσαι εἰς αἰσχύνην σου καὶ εἰς αἰσχύνην ἀποκαλύψεως μητρός σου

And Saul was furious with anger against Jonathan exceedingly, and said to him, 'Son of deserting girls! Do I not know that you are a partner of the son of Jesse, to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?'

Saul's explosion of rage (climax of section D)καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Σαουλ
Saul erupts. The cognate-dative construction ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ ('was angered with anger') intensifies his fury. His insult υἱὲ κορασίων αὐτομολούντων ('son of deserting/wayward girls') is a vivid Semitic curse impugning Jonathan's mother; he accuses Jonathan of being μέτοχος ('partner / accomplice') of David, to the disgrace of both Jonathan and his mother.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθυμώθηwas angered / became furiousAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θυμόωmain verb (with cognate dative)→ verbal action or stateθυμόω (aor. pass.): 'be angry / become enraged'; the cognate-dative idiom ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ ('was angered with anger') intensifies — Saul flew into a violent rage; renders חָרָה אַף.
ὀργῇwith angerDativecognate/instrumental dative (intensifier)→ sphere or referenceὀργή: 'anger / wrath'; the cognate dative reinforces the verb (a Hebraizing intensification).
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ΙωναθανJonathanobject of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of ἐπί (indeclinable).
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly / very much'; renders מְאֹד; piles further intensity onto Saul's rage.
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: introduces Saul's tirade.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object.
υἱὲsonVocativevocative (insult-address)→ direct addressυἱός (voc. υἱέ): 'son'; the vocative opens a Semitic abusive epithet ('son of …').
κορασίωνof girlsGenitivegenitive of relationship (in insult)→ relational specificationκορασίων: meaning 'of girls'; it serves as genitive of relationship (in insult).
αὐτομολούντωνdeserting / waywardPres Act Ptcp Gen Pl Fem · αὐτομολέωattributive participle (with κορασίων)→ verbal action or stateαὐτομολέω: meaning 'deserting'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as attributive participle (with κορασίων).
οὐnotnegative (in rhetorical question)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative (in rhetorical question).
γὰρfor / indeedexplanatory particle→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; here in a rhetorical question ('do I not know …?').
οἶδαI knowPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · οἶδαverb of rhetorical question→ verbal action or stateοἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present meaning); 'do I not know that today I reign?' — a confident assertion of restored sovereignty.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέτοχοςpartner / accompliceNominativepredicate nominative (with εἶ)→ participant prominenceμέτοχος: meaning 'partner'; it serves as predicate nominative (with εἶ).
εἶyou arePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; 'you are a partner of the son of Jesse.'
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceσὺ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as emphatic subject pronoun.
τῷof theDativearticle (dative with μέτοχος)→ noun-phrase markingμέτοχος takes a dative of association ('partner with/to').
υἱῷsonDativedative of association (with μέτοχος)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; 'partner to the son of Jesse' = David (again named contemptuously).
ΙεσσαιJessegenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Jesse')→ participant identificationΙεσσαι: Jesse, David's father; the dismissive 'son of Jesse' (cf. v. 27).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (result)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here of result ('to your shame').
αἰσχύνηνshameAccusativeobject of εἰς (result)→ object specificationαἰσχύνην: meaning 'shame'; it serves as object of εἰς (result).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; 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.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (result)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (result).
αἰσχύνηνshameAccusativeobject of εἰς (result)→ object specificationαἰσχύνη: 'shame'; repeated for rhetorical force.
ἀποκαλύψεωςuncovering / nakednessGenitivegenitive (αἰσχύνην ἀποκαλύψεως: 'shame of the nakedness')→ relational specificationἀποκαλύψεως: meaning 'uncovering'; it serves as genitive (αἰσχύνην ἀποκαλύψεως: 'shame of the nakedness').
μητρόςmotherGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμητρός: meaning 'mother'; it serves as genitive of relationship.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
31

ὅτι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἃς ὁ υἱὸς Ιεσσαι ζῇ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς οὐχ ἑτοιμασθήσεται ἡ βασιλεία σου νῦν οὖν ἀποστείλας λαβὲ τὸν νεανίαν ὅτι υἱὸς θανάτου οὗτος

For all the days that the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, your kingdom will not be established. Now therefore send and take the young man, for he is a son of death.

Saul's rationale and lethal demand (the murderous logic)ὅτι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας
Saul exposes his real fear: David alive means Jonathan's throne is not secure (οὐχ ἑτοιμασθήσεται ἡ βασιλεία σου). His command ἀποστείλας λαβέ ('send and fetch') and the verdict υἱὸς θανάτου ('son of death' = one doomed to die) make explicit the murderous intent David suspected from the start (v. 1).
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; gives the ground of Saul's rage and demand.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἡμέρας; accusative of duration)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all the days' (accusative of extent of time).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ 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 that …' = as long as.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (accusative of duration in relative clause)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; 'the days which (David) lives.'
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸςsonNominativesubject of ζῇ (contemptuous designation)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; 'the son of Jesse' = David (again unnamed).
ΙεσσαιJessegenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙεσσαι: Jesse.
ζῇlivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateζάω: 'live'; as long as David lives, Saul's dynasty is threatened.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitiveobject of ἐπί→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / ground'; ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς = 'on the earth / alive.'
οὐχnotnegative→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐχ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἑτοιμασθήσεταιwill be establishedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἑτοιμάζωmain verb (Saul's apprehension)→ verbal action or stateἑτοιμάζω: meaning 'will be established'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb (Saul's apprehension).
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλείαkingdom / kingshipNominativesubject of ἑτοιμασθήσεται→ participant prominenceβασιλεία: meaning 'kingdom'; it serves as subject of ἑτοιμασθήσεται.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
νῦνnowtransitional adverb→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; with οὖν, introduces the lethal command.
οὖνthereforeinferential particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: 'therefore'; draws the murderous conclusion.
ἀποστείλαςhaving sentAor Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἀποστέλλωcircumstantial participle (attendant: 'send and …')→ verbal action or stateἀποστέλλω: 'send'; the participle + imperative (ἀποστείλας λαβέ) is a Hebraizing 'send and take' — dispatch men to fetch David.
λαβὲtake / fetchAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / seize / bring'; here 'fetch (him to me)' — the command that David be brought for execution.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίανyoung manAccusativedirect object of λαβέ→ object specificationνεανίας: 'young man / youth'; here David (cf. νεανίσκος, v. 22); the term keeps David nameless in Saul's mouth.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for'; gives the death-sentence rationale.
υἱὸςsonNominativepredicate nominative (idiom: 'son of death')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; υἱὸς θανάτου ('son of death') is a Semitic idiom (בֶּן־מָוֶת) = 'one doomed to die / deserving death' (cf. 2 Kgdms 12:5).
θανάτουof deathGenitivegenitive of quality (in 'son of death' idiom)→ relational specificationθάνατος: 'death'; the idiom pronounces David's death-sentence.
οὗτοςthis one / heNominativesubject (verbless clause: 'he is …')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this (man)'; the contemptuous deictic for David — 'this fellow is a doomed man.'
32

καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ιωναθαν τῷ Σαουλ ἵνα τί ἀποθνῄσκει τί πεποίηκεν

And Jonathan answered Saul, 'Why should he die? What has he done?'

Jonathan's protest (defending David)καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Ιωναθαν τῷ Σαουλ
Jonathan dares to challenge his enraged father with two terse questions that echo David's own protestation in v. 1 (τί πεποίηκα). The defense is courageous and provocative — it triggers Saul's spear-throw in the next verse.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (response-introduction)→ verbal action or stateἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / respond / testify'; here 'has answered/witnessed against you' (κατὰ σοῦ), a forensic sense — the man's own statement stands as testimony condemning him.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τῷtoDativearticle (marks dative of indeclinable Σαουλ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαουλSauldative indirect object (case shown by article)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἵναwhy (ἵνα τί)interrogative idiom (with τί: 'why?')→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why / to what end?'; the fixed interrogative idiom (לָמָּה).
τίwhyAccusativeinterrogative (in ἵνα τί idiom)→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'why'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative (in ἵνα τί idiom).
ἀποθνῄσκειdoes he die / should he diePres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of rhetorical question→ verbal action or stateἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the historic present ἀποθνῄσκει completes the τύπτει–πίπτει–ἀποθνῄσκει chain with stark finality.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of πεποίηκεν)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: 'what?'; echoes David's own τί πεποίηκα (v. 1).
πεποίηκενhas he donePerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of rhetorical question→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do'; 'what has he done (to deserve death)?' — the question of innocence frames the whole chapter.
33

καὶ ἐπῆρεν Σαουλ τὸ δόρυ ἐπὶ Ιωναθαν τοῦ θανατῶσαι αὐτόν καὶ ἔγνω Ιωναθαν ὅτι συντετέλεσται ἡ κακία αὕτη παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ θανατῶσαι τὸν Δαυιδ

And Saul lifted the spear against Jonathan to kill him; and Jonathan knew that this evil was fully determined by his father, to put David to death.

Saul attacks his own son (proof of fixed intent)καὶ ἐπῆρεν Σαουλ τὸ δόρυ
Saul's hurling of the spear at his own son grimly confirms the verdict-formula συντετέλεσται ἡ κακία ('the evil is fully determined', vv. 7, 9). The attack on Jonathan demonstrates beyond doubt that Saul truly intends to kill David — the test of the chapter is conclusively answered.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπῆρενlifted / raisedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπαίρωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἐπαίρω: 'lift up / raise'; the idiom ἐπῆρεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ('lifted up his eyes') renders נָשָׂא עֵינַיִם, a Hebraism for looking up/out into the distance.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δόρυspearAccusativedirect object→ object specificationδόρυ: 'spear'; renders חֲנִית; Saul's characteristic weapon, the recurring emblem of his murderous impulses.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ΙωναθανJonathanobject of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of ἐπί (indeclinable).
τοῦtoGenitivearticular-infinitive marker (genitive of purpose)→ relational specificationthe articular infinitive τοῦ θανατῶσαι expresses purpose ('in order to kill').
θανατῶσαιto killAor Act Inf · θανατόωarticular infinitive of purpose→ verbal action or stateθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; Saul's intent in raising the spear — even against his own heir.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of the infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of the infinitive.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔγνωknewAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (recognition)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know / perceive / discern'; renders יָדַע; here a verb of perception by which Joab reads David's inner disposition — the catalyst for the whole stratagem.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συντετέλεσταιis fully determinedPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of object clause→ verbal action or stateσυντελέω: the verdict-formula συντετέλεσται ἡ κακία ('the evil is resolved') now confirmed by Saul's act (cf. vv. 7, 9).
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακίαevilNominativesubject of συντετέλεσται→ participant prominenceκακία: 'evil / malice'; Saul's settled intent to kill David.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (attributive: 'this evil')→ participant referenceοὗτος (fem. αὕτη): 'this'; points to the now-demonstrated malice.
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from / on the part of.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitiveobject of παρά→ relational specificationπατήρ: Saul, the source of the resolved evil.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
θανατῶσαιto put to deathAor Act Inf · θανατόωepexegetical infinitive (explaining the evil)→ verbal action or stateθανατόω: 'put to death'; the epexegetical infinitive defines the κακία — Saul's determination 'to kill David.'
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (marks accusative of indeclinable Δαυιδ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddirect object of the infinitive (case shown by article)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
34

καὶ ἀνεπήδησεν Ιωναθαν ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης ἐν ὀργῇ θυμοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἔφαγεν ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ τοῦ μηνὸς ἄρτον ὅτι ἐθραύσθη ἐπὶ τὸν Δαυιδ ὅτι συνετέλεσεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ

And Jonathan sprang up from the table in fierce anger, and did not eat bread on the second day of the month, for he was crushed over David, because his father had resolved (evil) against him.

Jonathan's grief-driven departure (close of section D)καὶ ἀνεπήδησεν Ιωναθαν
Jonathan leaps up from the table in anger (ἐν ὀργῇ θυμοῦ, a doubled noun-phrase intensifying his fury) and fasts in grief — ἐθραύσθη ('he was crushed/broken') over David. The verse mirrors David's own danger emotionally and prepares the tender field-farewell of vv. 35–42.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνεπήδησενsprang up / leapt upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναπηδάωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀναπηδάω: meaning 'sprang up'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τραπέζηςtableGenitiveobject of ἀπό→ relational specificationτράπεζα: 'table'; the royal festal table he abandons.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (manner).
ὀργῇangerDativedative of manner→ sphere or referenceὀργή: 'anger / wrath'; ἐν ὀργῇ θυμοῦ ('in anger of wrath') is a doubled, intensifying construction — burning indignation at his father's injustice.
θυμοῦof wrathGenitivegenitive (intensifying ὀργῇ)→ relational specificationθυμός: 'wrath / hot anger'; the genitive intensifies ὀργή (a Hebraizing redundancy).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔφαγενateAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (negated: fasting in grief)→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (aor. ἔφαγεν): 'eat'; the subject is Uriah; the eating and drinking David offers are the very pleasures Uriah refused to take at home in v. 11 — David supplies them at his own table to lower the soldier's guard.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (time)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (time).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτέρᾳsecond (day)Dativesubstantival adjective (dative of time)→ sphere or referenceδεύτερος: 'second'; the second day of the new-moon feast (cf. v. 27).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὸςmonthGenitivegenitive (of the new-moon month)→ relational specificationμήν: 'month / new moon.'
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of ἔφαγεν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread / food'; renders לֶחֶם; 'eat bread' = take food (a Hebraism).
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; gives the reason for the fast.
ἐθραύσθηwas crushed / brokenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θραύωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateθραύω: meaning 'was crushed'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verb of causal clause.
ἐπὶover / forpreposition + accusative (cause of grief)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here 'over / on account of' (the object of grief).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (marks accusative of indeclinable Δαυιδ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDavidobject of ἐπί (case shown by article)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; the deeper ground of the grief.
συνετέλεσενresolved / determined (evil)Aor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateσυντελέω: 'complete / resolve / determine'; the active here ('his father had determined (evil) against him/David') matches the perfect passive συντετέλεσται of vv. 7, 9, 33.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπί (David, or Jonathan)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him'; the object of Saul's resolved malice (David, against whom the death-plan was fixed).
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of συνετέλεσεν→ participant prominenceπατήρ: Saul.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
35

καὶ ἐγενήθη πρωὶ καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ιωναθαν εἰς ἀγρόν καθὼς ἐτάξατο εἰς τὸ μαρτύριον Δαυιδ καὶ παιδάριον μικρὸν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ

And it came to pass in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field, just as he had appointed for the meeting with David, and a small boy was with him.

Scene shift to the field: the sign enacted (section E begins)καὶ ἐγενήθη πρωὶ
Section E (vv. 35–42) opens with the narrative-time formula καὶ ἐγενήθη πρωί ('and it came to pass in the morning'). Jonathan goes out to enact the prearranged signal (καθὼς ἐτάξατο, 'as he had appointed') with a small boy as the unwitting agent of the arrow-code.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit came to passAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative-time formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass.): καὶ ἐγενήθη renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי (cf. v. 27).
πρωὶin the morningtemporal adverb→ clausal contributionπρωί: 'early / in the morning'; renders בֹּקֶר; the morning after the second-day feast.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb→ verbal action or stateἐξέρχομαι: see v. 1.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ἀγρόνfieldAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationἀγρός: 'field'; the appointed meeting-place (cf. vv. 5, 11, 24).
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'just as / according as'; refers to the prearranged plan.
ἐτάξατοhe had appointed / arrangedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · τάσσωverb of comparative clause→ verbal action or stateτάσσω (mid.): 'appoint / arrange / fix'; the middle ἐτάξατο = 'he had arranged (for himself)'; the agreed plan of vv. 18–22.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'for' (purpose).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτύριονmeeting / testimonyAccusativeobject of εἰς (purpose: 'for the appointed meeting')→ object specificationμαρτύριον: 'testimony / witness / appointed meeting'; here the prearranged rendezvous/signal with David — the place where the covenant 'witness' (cf. μάρτυς, v. 23) is honored.
ΔαυιδDavidgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'with David')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: the appointment was 'for/with David.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παιδάριονboy / ladNominativesubject (verbless clause: 'a boy was with him')→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'small boy / servant lad'; the unwitting retriever of the arrows (cf. v. 21).
μικρὸνsmall / littleNominativeattributive adjective (with παιδάριον)→ participant prominenceμικρός: 'small / young'; 'a little boy' — too young to grasp the secret message.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided).
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of μετά.
36

καὶ εἶπεν τῷ παιδαρίῳ δράμε εὑρέ μοι τὰς σχίζας ἐν αἷς ἐγὼ ἀκοντίζω καὶ τὸ παιδάριον ἔδραμε καὶ αὐτὸς ἠκόντιζε τῇ σχίζῃ καὶ παρήγαγεν αὐτήν

And he said to the boy, 'Run, find me the arrows which I am shooting.' And the boy ran, and he himself shot the arrow and sent it past him.

The signal performed (the arrow shot past the boy)καὶ εἶπεν τῷ παιδαρίῳ
Jonathan enacts the code: he sends the boy to retrieve the arrows while he shoots. The imperfect ἠκόντιζε ('he kept shooting') with παρήγαγεν αὐτήν ('he made it go past/beyond') signals — without a word to the boy — the 'danger' code of v. 22 (the arrow beyond the boy means flee).
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
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 stateεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
τῷto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίῳboyDativedative indirect object→ sphere or referenceπαιδάριον: 'boy'; the servant lad.
δράμεrunAor Act Impv 2 Sg · τρέχωmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateτρέχω (aor. impv. δράμε): 'run'; the command to the boy to fetch the arrows.
εὑρέfindAor Act Impv 2 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω: 'find'; 'find me the arrows' (cf. v. 21).
μοιfor meDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'for me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχίζαςarrowsAccusativedirect object of εὑρέ→ object specificationσχίζα: 'arrow / shaft' (cf. v. 20); the boy is to retrieve them.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument, in relative clause)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: here instrumental ('with which').
αἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative of instrument)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun; 'the arrows with which I shoot.'
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I (am shooting).'
ἀκοντίζωI shoot / hurlPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκοντίζωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateἀκοντίζω: 'shoot / hurl' (cf. v. 20); 'the arrows which I am shooting.'
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyNominativesubject of ἔδραμε→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'boy.'
ἔδραμεranAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τρέχωmain verb→ verbal action or stateτρέχω: 'run'; the boy obeys.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (Jonathan)→ participant referenceαὐτὸς: meaning 'he himself'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as emphatic subject pronoun (Jonathan).
ἠκόντιζεkept shootingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκοντίζωmain verb (imperfect)→ verbal action or stateἀκοντίζω: meaning 'kept shooting'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb (imperfect).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχίζῃarrowDativedative of instrument→ sphere or referenceσχίζα: 'arrow'; the instrument of the shot.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρήγαγενsent it past / made it passAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παράγωmain verb→ verbal action or stateπαράγω: meaning 'sent it past'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object (the arrow)→ participant referenceαὐτός (fem. αὐτήν): 'it' — the arrow (σχίζα is feminine).
37

καὶ ἦλθεν τὸ παιδάριον ἕως τοῦ τόπου τῆς σχίζης οὗ ἠκόντιζεν Ιωναθαν καὶ ἀνεβόησεν Ιωναθαν ὀπίσω τοῦ νεανίου καὶ εἶπεν ἐκεῖ ἡ σχίζα ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ ἐπέκεινα

And the boy came as far as the place of the arrow where Jonathan had shot; and Jonathan called out after the lad and said, 'The arrow is there, beyond you, farther on!'

The coded words spoken (danger-sign delivered to David)καὶ ἦλθεν τὸ παιδάριον
Jonathan shouts the prearranged danger-words — ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ ἐπέκεινα ('beyond you, farther on') — ostensibly to the boy, but really to David in hiding. The repetition of the exact code of v. 22 confirms to David that he must flee for his life.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 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→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the boy reaches the spot where the arrow fell.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'boy.'
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (spatial limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'as far as / up to.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπουplaceGenitiveobject of ἕως→ relational specificationτόπος: 'place / spot'; where the arrow landed.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχίζηςarrowGenitivegenitive of relationship ('place of the arrow')→ relational specificationσχίζα: 'arrow' (cf. v. 20).
οὗwhererelative adverb of place→ participant referenceοὗ: 'where'; relative adverb.
ἠκόντιζενhad shotImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκοντίζωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateἀκοντίζω: meaning 'had shot'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verb of relative clause.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject of ἠκόντιζεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἠκόντιζεν (indeclinable).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνεβόησενcalled out / criedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβοάωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀναβοάω: 'cry out / call aloud'; the watchman raises a shout to relay his sighting to the king below.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ὀπίσωafterpreposition + genitive (direction)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; 'after the lad' (calling after him).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίουlad / young manGenitiveobject of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationνεανίας: 'young man / lad'; the boy (cf. νεανίσκος, v. 22).
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: introduces the coded shout.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; pointing to where the arrow lies, beyond the boy.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχίζαarrowNominativesubject (verbless clause)→ participant prominenceσχίζα: 'arrow'; 'the arrow is there, beyond you.'
ἀπὸbeyondpreposition + genitive (reference, in danger-code)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ ἐπέκεινα: the exact danger-code of v. 22 — 'beyond you, farther on' = flee.
σοῦyouGenitiveobject of ἀπό→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἀπό.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέκειναfarther on / beyondadverb of place (the danger code-word)→ clausal contributionἐπέκεινα: 'beyond / on the far side' (cf. v. 22); the decisive code-word telling David to flee.
38

καὶ ἀνεβόησεν Ιωναθαν ὀπίσω τοῦ παιδαρίου αὐτοῦ λέγων ταχύνας σπεῦσον καὶ μὴ στῇς καὶ ἀνέλεξεν τὸ παιδάριον Ιωναθαν τὰς σχίζας πρὸς τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ

And Jonathan called out after his boy, saying, 'Hurry, make haste, do not stand still!' And Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and brought them to his master.

Jonathan hastens the boy (covering the secret exchange)καὶ ἀνεβόησεν Ιωναθαν
Jonathan urges the boy to hurry (ταχύνας σπεῦσον … μὴ στῇς) — partly to maintain the ruse, partly so the boy will not linger to discover David. The boy gathers the arrows and returns to 'his master' (κύριον here = Jonathan as human lord), oblivious to the drama.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνεβόησενcalled outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβοάωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀναβοάω: 'cry out / shout' (cf. v. 37).
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ὀπίσωafterpreposition + genitive (direction)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after'; calling after the boy.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίουboyGenitiveobject of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: 'boy.'
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of attendant circumstance (speech-marker)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptcp.): Hebraism (לֵאמֹר) introducing direct speech.
ταχύναςhasteningAor Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ταχύνωcircumstantial participle (intensifying σπεῦσον)→ verbal action or stateταχύνω: 'hasten / make speed'; the participle + imperative ταχύνας σπεῦσον ('hastening, make haste') is an emphatic Hebraizing 'hurry quickly!'
σπεῦσονmake hasteAor Act Impv 2 Sg · σπεύδωmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateσπεύδω: 'hurry / hasten'; the urgent command to the boy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative (with prohibitive subjunctive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
στῇςstand still / stopAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἵστημιprohibitive subjunctive (μὴ στῇς)→ verbal action or stateἵστημι: 'stand / stop'; μὴ στῇς ('do not stop') — keep the boy moving, away from David's hiding-place.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέλεξενgathered upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναλέγωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀναλέγω: 'gather up / collect'; the boy picks up the arrows.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyNominativesubject of ἀνέλεξεν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'boy.'
Ιωναθανof Jonathangenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'Jonathan's boy')→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'Jonathan's boy').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχίζαςarrowsAccusativedirect object of ἀνέλεξεν→ object specificationσχίζα: 'arrow'; the arrows the boy collects.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονmaster / lordAccusativeobject of πρός (human master)→ object specificationκύριον: meaning 'master'; it serves as object of πρός (human master).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
39

καὶ τὸ παιδάριον οὐκ ἔγνω οὐθέν πάρεξ Ιωναθαν καὶ Δαυιδ ἔγνωσαν τὸ ῥῆμα

And the boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

Narrator's aside: the secret kept (the code understood only by the two)καὶ τὸ παιδάριον οὐκ ἔγνω οὐθέν
A narratorial aside underscores the secrecy: the boy is oblivious (οὐκ ἔγνω οὐθέν, emphatic double negative), but Jonathan and David alone understood τὸ ῥῆμα ('the matter / the word', the very term of the covenant in v. 23). The shared, secret knowledge seals their bond against Saul.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'boy'; the unwitting messenger.
οὐκnotnegative→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔγνωknewAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (negated)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know'; οὐκ ἔγνω οὐθέν = 'knew nothing at all' (emphatic double negative).
οὐθένnothingAccusativedirect object (emphatic negation)→ object specificationοὐθείς (neut. οὐθέν): later-Koine form of οὐδέν, 'nothing'; reinforces οὐκ.
πάρεξexceptpreposition/adverb (exception: 'except')→ spatial or relational framingπάρεξ: meaning 'except'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition/adverb (exception: 'except').
ΙωναθανJonathansubject of ἔγνωσαν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἔγνωσαν (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject of ἔγνωσαν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἔγνωσαν (indeclinable).
ἔγνωσανknewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (plural: the two friends)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know'; the plural ἔγνωσαν binds the two as the sole sharers of the secret.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαmatter / wordAccusativedirect object of ἔγνωσαν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / matter'; τὸ ῥῆμα ('the matter') echoes the covenant-word of v. 23 — the secret shared by the two friends alone.
40

καὶ Ιωναθαν ἔδωκεν τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν τῷ παιδαρίῳ αὐτοῦ πορεύου εἴσελθε εἰς τὴν πόλιν

And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to his boy, 'Go, enter into the city.'

Jonathan dismisses the boy (clearing the way for the farewell)καὶ Ιωναθαν ἔδωκεν τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ
Jonathan sends the boy back to the city with his gear, removing the only witness so that he and David may meet face to face for the farewell. The two imperatives πορεύου εἴσελθε ('go, enter') hasten the boy's departure.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; in the idiom ἔδωκεν ἐν χειρί ('gave into the hand of') it denotes the formal transfer of command authority to Abishai.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκεύηweapons / gearAccusativedirect object→ object specificationσκεύη: meaning 'weapons'; it serves as direct object.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + accusative (delivery)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here 'to / upon' — handing the gear over to the boy to carry.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'boy'; entrusted with carrying the weapons.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
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: introduces the dismissal.
τῷto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίῳboyDativedative indirect object→ sphere or referenceπαιδάριον: 'boy.'
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
πορεύουgoPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go'; sends the boy off.
εἴσελθεenterAor Act Impv 2 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; 'enter the city' — dismissing the boy from the scene.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; the town (Gibeah), where the boy is sent ahead.
41

καὶ ὡς εἰσῆλθεν τὸ παιδάριον καὶ Δαυιδ ἀνέστη ἀπὸ τοῦ εργαβ καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ τρίς καὶ κατεφίλησεν ἕκαστος τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκλαυσεν ἕκαστος τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἕως συντελείας μεγάλης

And when the boy had gone in, David rose up from beside the stone Ergab and fell on his face and bowed to him three times; and they kissed each one his neighbor, and each wept over his neighbor until a great consummation (of weeping).

The secret farewell: embrace and weeping (emotional climax)καὶ ὡς εἰσῆλθεν τὸ παιδάριον
With the boy gone, David emerges from hiding for the tender, dangerous farewell. He bows three times in homage, and the two kiss and weep together — the reciprocal ἕκαστος τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ('each his neighbor') stresses mutuality. The phrase ἕως συντελείας μεγάλης ('until a great consummation') notes that David wept the most (cf. MT). The scene is the emotional summit of the friendship narrative.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὡςwhentemporal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'when / as'; temporal — 'as soon as the boy had gone in.'
εἰσῆλθενhad gone inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιverb of temporal clause→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; the boy enters the city, leaving the field clear.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyNominativesubject of εἰσῆλθεν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'boy'; now off the scene.
καὶand / thenapodosis-marker (Hebraizing)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί here marks the apodosis after the temporal clause (waw of apodosis).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ἀνέστηrose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up'; David emerges from hiding for the farewell.
ἀπὸfrom besidepreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from beside'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with transliterated noun)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εργαβErgab (the stone)object of ἀπό (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionεργαβ: the marker stone/mound beside which David hid (cf. v. 19); an untranslated transliteration of an obscure Hebrew term.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb→ verbal action or stateπίπτω: 'fall'; ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ('fell on his face') is the posture of deep homage/reverence.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeobject of ἐπί (idiom: 'on his face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον = prostration, the deepest gesture of respect (David honoring the king's son and covenant-brother).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσεκύνησενbowed / did obeisanceAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσκυνέωmain verb→ verbal action or stateπροσκυνέω: 'prostrate oneself / do obeisance / worship'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; here the homage paid by a subject to David, hinting that the man already regards David as the rising power.
αὐτῷto himDativedative object of προσεκύνησεν→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of προσεκύνησεν.
τρίςthree timesnumerical adverb→ clausal contributionτρίς: 'thrice / three times'; the threefold prostration expresses the depth of David's homage and love.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατεφίλησενkissedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταφιλέωmain verb (distributive with ἕκαστος)→ verbal action or stateκαταφιλέω: 'kiss fervently / embrace'; the intensive compound κατα- marks an earnest, affectionate kiss of farewell; renders נָשַׁק.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativedistributive subject ('each one his neighbor')→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each'; the distributive ἕκαστος τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ expresses mutual, reciprocal affection — they kissed one another.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighbor / friendAccusativedirect object (in distributive idiom)→ object specificationπλησίον: 'neighbor / fellow' (cf. Exod 11:2); here 'one another' — each kissed the other; renders רֵעַ.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκλαυσενweptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κλαίωmain verb (distributive with ἕκαστος)→ verbal action or stateκλαίω: 'weep / cry'; renders בָּכָה; the friends weep together at parting.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativedistributive subject→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each'; mutual weeping.
τῷover theDativearticle (dative with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighbor / friendDativedative (object of weeping: 'wept over/with his neighbor')→ sphere or referenceπλησίον: 'neighbor / fellow'; 'each wept over his friend.'
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; marks the extent of the weeping.
συντελείαςconsummation / a great dealGenitiveobject of ἕως→ relational specificationσυντέλεια: 'completion / consummation / end'; ἕως συντελείας μεγάλης ('until a great completion') idiomatically = 'until they had wept greatly' — the LXX's rendering of MT 'until David exceeded.'
μεγάληςgreatGenitiveattributive adjective (with συντελείας)→ relational specificationμέγας: 'great'; intensifies — the weeping was profound and prolonged.
42

καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην καὶ ὡς ὀμωμόκαμεν ἡμεῖς ἀμφότεροι ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου λέγοντες κύριος ἔσται μάρτυς ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματός μου καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματός σου ἕως αἰῶνος

And Jonathan said, 'Go in peace; and as we have both sworn, the two of us, in the name of the LORD, saying, "The LORD shall be witness between me and you and between my seed and your seed forever."'

The covenant blessing and dismissal (chapter's climactic close)καὶ εἶπεν Ιωναθαν πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην
The chapter closes with Jonathan's benediction πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην ('go in peace') and the full covenant-witness formula, now expanded to embrace both their descendants: κύριος ἔσται μάρτυς … ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματός μου καὶ … τοῦ σπέρματός σου ἕως αἰῶνος. The perfect ὀμωμόκαμεν ('we have sworn') stresses the standing, irrevocable oath sworn ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου ('in the name of the LORD') — a perpetual bond that David will honor toward Jonathan's house (2 Kgdms 9).
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
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 stateεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πορεύουgoPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go'; πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην ('go in peace') is the standard farewell-blessing (לֵךְ לְשָׁלוֹם); cf. v. 13.
εἰςin / intopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'in peace')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς εἰρήνην: 'in peace / safely'; the farewell idiom (לְשָׁלוֹם).
εἰρήνηνpeaceAccusativeobject of εἰς (idiom)→ object specificationεἰρήνη: 'peace / well-being'; renders שָׁלוֹם; the keynote of the parting blessing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὡςas / inasmuch ascomparative/causal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / since'; recalls the oath as the ground of the peaceful parting.
ὀμωμόκαμενwe have swornPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · ὀμνύωverb of comparative clause→ verbal action or stateὀμνύω: 'swear'; the perfect ὀμωμόκαμεν ('we have sworn (and the oath stands)') stresses the abiding force of the covenant they have both made.
ἡμεῖςweNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceἡμεῖς: emphatic 'we (ourselves)'; stresses both parties to the oath.
ἀμφότεροιbothNominativeappositional ('the two of us')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: 'both'; reinforces the mutuality of the sworn covenant (cf. v. 11).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (means/sphere: 'in the name')→ spatial or relational framingἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου: 'in the name of the LORD'; the oath is sworn invoking the divine name, making it inviolable.
ὀνόματιnameDativeobject of ἐν (idiom)→ sphere or referenceὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; swearing 'in the name of the LORD' invokes him as guarantor and avenger of the oath.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (the divine name invoked; Tetragrammaton)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the name by which the covenant-oath is sworn.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple of attendant circumstance (speech-marker)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptcp.): the plural λέγοντες ('saying') is the Hebraism (לֵאמֹר) introducing the very words of the oath.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἔσται (Tetragrammaton)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; invoked as the perpetual witness of the covenant.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of the quoted oath (witness-formula)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; κύριος ἔσται μάρτυς ('the LORD shall be witness') is the solemn covenant-witness formula (cf. v. 23), here expanded to the descendants.
μάρτυςwitnessNominativepredicate nominative→ participant prominenceμάρτυς: 'witness'; renders עֵד; the LORD as witness makes the covenant perpetually binding on both lines.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ μέσον: 'between'; renders בֵּין … וּבֵין.
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle'; with ἀνά, 'between.'
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive (first party)→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as genitive (first party).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second party)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive (second party)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (second party).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ: meaning 'between'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom).
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom→ object specificationμέσον: meaning 'midst'; it serves as object in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπέρματόςseed / offspringGenitivegenitive (the covenant extended to descendants)→ relational specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / offspring / descendants'; renders זֶרַע; the covenant now binds the two lineages 'forever' (cf. vv. 15–16).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ: meaning 'between'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom).
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom→ object specificationμέσον: meaning 'midst'; it serves as object in ἀνὰ μέσον idiom.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπέρματόςseed / offspringGenitivegenitive (Jonathan's descendants)→ relational specificationσπέρματός: meaning 'seed'; it serves as genitive (Jonathan's descendants).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἕωςforeverpreposition + genitive (temporal extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως αἰῶνος: 'forever / for all time'; renders עַד עוֹלָם; the covenant's perpetual horizon, sealing the chapter (cf. vv. 15, 23).
αἰῶνοςage / foreverGenitiveobject of ἕως→ relational specificationαἰῶνος: meaning 'age'; it serves as object of ἕως.