1 Kingdoms 24 — Greek, Translation, Interlinear & Discourse

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

καὶ ἀνέβη Δαυιδ ἐκεῖθεν καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς στενοῖς Εγγαδδι

And David went up from there and dwelt in the strongholds of En-gedi.

Narrative setting (scene-establishing main clause)καὶ ἀνέβη Δαυιδ

The chapter opens with paratactic καί-narration typical of LXX historical prose; the two coordinated aorists ἀνέβη … ἐκάθισεν trace David's movement (up from the previous location) and settlement (in the En-gedi strongholds), establishing the geographical stage for Saul's pursuit.

Word-by-word analysis· 10 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (movement of the protagonist)→ verbal action or stateἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the verb suits the ascent into the rugged highland refuges above the Dead Sea oasis of En-gedi.

ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX of Kingdoms; the fugitive future king is the grammatical and theological subject of the chapter.

ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source)→ clausal contributionἐκεῖθεν: 'from there / thence'; the deictic adverb links the scene to the preceding narrative (the wilderness of Maon, ch. 23), marking continuity of David's flight.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐκάθισενdwelt / settledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (settlement)→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω: 'sit / settle / take up residence'; renders יָשַׁב; here in the sense of 'dwell / encamp' in the strongholds, not merely 'sit down.'

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).

τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

στενοῖςstrongholds / narrow placesDativedative of place (locative: 'in the strongholds')→ sphere or referenceστενός (subst. neut. pl. τὰ στενά): 'narrow place / defile / stronghold'; renders מְצָדוֹת ('fastnesses'); the substantivized adjective denotes the inaccessible cliff-refuges by which En-gedi was militarily defensible.

ΕγγαδδιEn-gedigenitive of place (indeclinable place-name: 'of En-gedi')→ participant identificationΕγγαδδι: transliteration of Hebrew עֵין גֶּדִי ('spring of the kid'); indeclinable in the LXX; the oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea, whose limestone caves furnish the setting for the cave-episode.

καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς ἀνέστρεψεν Σαουλ ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἀπηγγέλη αὐτῷ λεγόντων ὅτι Δαυιδ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Εγγαδδι

And it came to pass, when Saul returned from following the Philistines, that it was reported to him, saying, 'Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.'

Temporal-circumstantial frame (καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς + finite verb)καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς

The formula καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς ('and it came to pass when') is the standard LXX rendering of וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר, framing the subordinate temporal circumstance (Saul's return) under which the main report arrives. The impersonal ἀπηγγέλη … λεγόντων is a Hebraizing construction ('it was reported, saying').

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 (temporal-frame formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'become / happen / come to pass'; the formula καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς renders וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר, an idiomatic LXX scene-setting device introducing a new temporal episode.

ὡςwhentemporal conjunction (introducing subordinate clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'when / as'; here temporal, rendering כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the circumstance of Saul's return.

ἀνέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναστρέφωverb of temporal subordinate clause→ verbal action or stateἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; Saul breaks off the Philistine campaign to resume the pursuit of David — the personal vendetta overrides the national defense.

ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliteration of Hebrew שָׁאוּל ('asked'); indeclinable in the LXX; the reigning but rejected king, here the antagonist-pursuer.

ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).

ὄπισθενbehind / followingadverb/improper preposition (with genitive: 'from following')→ spatial or relational framingὄπισθεν: 'behind / after'; the phrase ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν τῶν ἀλλοφύλων ('from behind the Philistines') is a Hebraism rendering מֵאַחֲרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים, 'from pursuing the Philistines.'

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistines / foreignersGenitivegenitive (object of ὄπισθεν)→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: lit. 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines') in Kingdoms; the term frames Israel's enemy by ethnic otherness rather than by transliterated name.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing main clause after temporal frame)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀπηγγέληit was reportedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (impersonal passive report)→ verbal action or stateἀπαγγέλλω (aor. pass.): 'report / announce'; renders נָגַד (Hophal); the impersonal passive 'it was reported to him' leaves the informants unnamed, a common Hebraizing idiom.

αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (recipient of the report)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (recipient of the report).

λεγόντωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Gen Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple (Hebraizing 'saying' introducing direct speech)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. ptcp.): the genitive plural λεγόντων is a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר ('saying'); the loose grammatical agreement (genitive plural after an impersonal passive) reflects the wooden calque on the Hebrew infinitive, introducing the quoted report.

ὅτιthatconjunction (recitative ὅτι, introducing direct speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here recitative ('ὅτι-recitativum'), functioning like quotation marks before the direct report.

ΔαυιδDavidsubject of the verbless report clause→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of the verbless report clause.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).

τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place (locative: 'in the wilderness')→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; renders מִדְבָּר; the arid wilderness of En-gedi is David's natural refuge and the LXX's recurring stage for the fugitive period.

ΕγγαδδιEn-gedigenitive of place (indeclinable: 'of En-gedi')→ participant identificationΕγγαδδι: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of place (indeclinable: 'of En-gedi').

καὶ ἔλαβεν μεθ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ τρεῖς χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν ἐκλεκτοὺς ἐκ παντὸς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐπορεύθη ζητεῖν τὸν Δαυιδ καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πρόσωπον Σαδαιεμ

And he took with him three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of Sadaiem.

Sequential narrative action (Saul's mobilization)καὶ ἔλαβεν

Coordinated aorists ἔλαβεν … ἐπορεύθη advance the plot: Saul levies an elite force and sets out. The disproportion (three thousand picked troops against a fugitive band) heightens the pathos of David's later self-description as 'a dead dog' and 'a single flea' (v. 15).

Word-by-word analysis· 23 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (mustering of troops)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / select'; renders לָקַח; here of conscripting a military detachment.

μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετά (+ gen.): 'with'; here marking the force Saul takes along.

ἑαυτοῦhimselfGenitivereflexive pronoun (object of μετά: 'with himself')→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; μεθ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ ('with himself') renders עִמּוֹ, emphasizing Saul as the personal leader of the expedition.

τρεῖςthreeAccusativenumeral (attributive with χιλιάδας)→ measure or countτρεῖς: 'three'; the accusative agrees with χιλιάδας.

χιλιάδαςthousandAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν (numeral noun)→ object specificationχιλιάς: '(group of) a thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; three thousand picked men echoes the same number at 1 Kgdms 26:2, marking the magnitude of Saul's obsession.

ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivepartitive/descriptive genitive ('thousand of men')→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man / male / warrior'; renders אִישׁ; the genitive specifies the human composition of the thousands.

ἐκλεκτοὺςchosenAccusativeattributive adjective (in apposition to χιλιάδας: 'choice men')→ object specificationἐκλεκτός: 'chosen / select / elite'; renders בָּחוּר; the troops are crack soldiers, intensifying the unequal contest.

ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source/partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source/partitive).

παντὸςallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying Ισραηλ)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all / whole'; ἐκ παντὸς Ισραηλ ('out of all Israel') stresses the national scope of the levy mustered against a single man.

ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of source (indeclinable: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the national people from whom the elite force is drawn.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (deponent: setting out)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'go / journey / proceed'; renders הָלַךְ; the aorist-passive form is the standard LXX way of expressing the deponent middle 'he went.'

ζητεῖνto seekPres Act Inf · ζητέωinfinitive of purpose (with verb of motion)→ verbal action or stateζητέω: 'seek / search for'; renders בִּקֵּשׁ; here in the hostile sense of hunting David down (cf. ζητεῖ τὴν ψυχήν σου, v. 10).

τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the proper name as object of ζητεῖν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΔαυιδDavidobject of ζητεῖν (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of ζητεῖν (indeclinable, articular).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ζητεῖν (parallel to Δαυιδ)→ object specificationἀνήρ: here David's loyal band of followers, the object of Saul's search alongside David himself.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (David's men)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (David's men).

ἐπὶin front of / uponpreposition + accusative (with πρόσωπον: 'in front of')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'in front of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (with πρόσωπον: 'in front of').

πρόσωπονface / frontAccusativeaccusative (idiomatic ἐπὶ πρόσωπον: 'on/before the face of')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / front'; the phrase ἐπὶ πρόσωπον renders עַל־פְּנֵי ('in front of / facing'), a Hebraizing locative idiom designating the terrain before the named feature.

ΣαδαιεμSadaiemindeclinable place-name (object of ἐπὶ πρόσωπον)→ participant identificationΣαδαιεμ: a Graecized place-name corresponding to the Hebrew expression about 'the rocks of the wild goats' (צוּרֵי הַיְּעֵלִים); the LXX here transliterates rather than translates, treating the element as an indeclinable toponym.

καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὰς ἀγέλας τῶν ποιμνίων τὰς ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ σπήλαιον καὶ Σαουλ εἰσῆλθεν παρασκευάσασθαι καὶ Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ ἐσώτερον τοῦ σπηλαίου ἐκάθηντο

And he came to the flocks of the sheep that were by the road, and there was a cave there; and Saul went in to make ready, and David and his men were sitting in the inner part of the cave.

Scene-narrowing sequence (arrival, cave, dual entry)καὶ ἦλθεν

The narration zooms from the broad pursuit to the decisive locale: the sheepfolds, the cave (σπήλαιον), Saul's unwitting entry παρασκευάσασθαι (a delicate euphemism), and the disclosure that David and his men are already seated ἐσώτερον ('in the innermost part'). The juxtaposition of Saul εἰσῆλθεν and David … ἐκάθηντο sets the trap of irony: the hunter is now within the hunted's reach.

Word-by-word analysis· 29 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come / arrive'; renders בּוֹא; Saul reaches the pastoral area where the cave is located.

εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of motion).

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀγέλαςflocks / foldsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal)→ object specificationἀγέλη: 'herd / flock / fold'; the phrase τὰς ἀγέλας τῶν ποιμνίων ('the flocks of the sheep') renders the Hebrew גִּדְרוֹת הַצֹּאן ('sheepfolds'); the LXX reads the enclosures via the animals gathered in them.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ποιμνίωνsheep / flocksGenitivegenitive (defining ἀγέλας: 'flocks of sheep')→ relational specificationποίμνιον: 'flock (of sheep)'; renders צֹאן; the pastoral setting is incidental but vivid, the everyday scene against which the royal drama unfolds.

τὰςthe (which were)Accusativearticle (attributive, resuming ἀγέλας: 'the ones by the road')→ noun-phrase markingἡ (article in attributive position): the repeated article τὰς ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ functions as a relative ('which were by the road'), a common Greek attributive-prepositional construction.

ἐπὶby / onpreposition + genitive (location: 'on/by the road')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location: 'on/by the road').

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁδοῦroad / wayGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location)→ relational specificationὁδός: 'road / way'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; locates the sheepfolds along the route Saul travels.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there was')→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf.): 'be / exist'; the existential ἦν ἐκεῖ σπήλαιον ('there was a cave there') supplies the crucial stage-prop in descriptive background tense.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the cave at the spot just described.

σπήλαιονcaveNominativesubject of ἦν (existential 'there was a cave')→ participant prominenceσπήλαιον: 'cave / cavern'; renders מְעָרָה; the limestone caves of the En-gedi cliffs; this single cave becomes the theatre of the whole episode.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).

εἰσῆλθενwent inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (Saul's entry)→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; renders בּוֹא; Saul enters the very cave where David hides — the providential coincidence that drives the plot.

παρασκευάσασθαιto make ready / to relieve himselfAor Mid Inf · παρασκευάζωinfinitive of purpose (euphemistic)→ verbal action or stateπαρασκευάζω (aor. mid.): lit. 'prepare / make ready (oneself)'; here a discreet euphemism rendering the Hebrew idiom לְהָסֵךְ אֶת־רַגְלָיו ('to cover his feet,' i.e., to relieve himself); the LXX softens the bodily detail into a generic 'make ready.'

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing contrastive disclosure)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable; co-subject with οἱ ἄνδρες)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable; co-subject with οἱ ἄνδρες).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (co-subject: David's men)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: David's followers, here hidden with him in the cave's depths.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.

ἐσώτερονin the inner partadverb/improper preposition (with genitive: 'farther inside')→ spatial or relational framingἐσώτερον: comparative adverb 'farther within / in the innermost part'; with the genitive τοῦ σπηλαίου it places David deep in the recesses, hidden in the darkness while Saul stands silhouetted at the entrance.

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

σπηλαίουcaveGenitivegenitive (with ἐσώτερον: 'the inner part of the cave')→ relational specificationσπήλαιον: see above; the genitive specifies the space within which David is concealed.

ἐκάθηντοwere sittingImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · κάθημαιmain verb (background description of David's position)→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι (impf.): 'sit / be seated'; the imperfect ἐκάθηντο pictures David and his men already in place, motionless in the dark — a tense of suspended waiting against which Saul's vulnerable entry plays out.

καὶ εἶπον οἱ ἄνδρες Δαυιδ πρὸς αὐτόν ἰδοὺ ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη ἣν εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς σὲ παραδοῦναι τὸν ἐχθρόν σου εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου καὶ ποιήσεις αὐτῷ ὡς ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ καὶ ἀφεῖλεν τὸ πτερύγιον τῆς διπλοΐδος τῆς Σαουλ λαθραίως

And the men of David said to him, 'Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, "I will deliver your enemy into your hands, and you shall do to him as is good in your eyes."' And David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.

Direct speech (the men's exhortation) + David's measured responseκαὶ εἶπον οἱ ἄνδρες Δαυιδ

The men interpret the providential coincidence as a divine oracle of opportunity (ἡ ἡμέρα … ἣν εἶπεν κύριος). David acts — but only minimally: against the implied license to kill (ποιήσεις … ὡς ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου) he merely cuts the robe-skirt λαθραίως ('secretly'). The gap between the men's words and David's deed embodies the chapter's restraint-theology.

Word-by-word analysis· 44 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction, plural subject)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; the aorist εἶπον introduces the men's collective urging.

οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (David's men as speakers)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: David's followers, here the collective voice of pragmatic opportunism.

Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's men')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's men').

πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).

αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (David as addressee)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (David as addressee).

ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (attention-marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / see'; renders הִנֵּה; a deictic particle dramatizing the supposed fulfilment of the divine promise in the present moment.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἡμέραdayNominativesubject of the verbless clause ('this is the day')→ participant prominenceἡμέρα: 'day'; renders יוֹם; 'the day' is read as the appointed day of YHWH's deliverance of the enemy.

αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (predicate/attributive: 'this day')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the near demonstrative identifies the present moment as the prophesied one.

ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object within the relative clause)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; the accusative ἥν is the object of εἶπεν … περί implied, 'concerning which the LORD said.'

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of relative clause (the alleged divine word)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: here ascribing a deliverance-oracle to YHWH; no such verbatim oracle is recorded, so the men generalize from God's broader promises to David.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of εἶπεν (the LORD as speaker of the oracle)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here YHWH is invoked as the author of the supposed deliverance-promise, lending divine warrant to the men's urging.

πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (recipient of the divine word)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (recipient of the divine word).

σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (David as addressee of the oracle)→ participant referenceσὲ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (David as addressee of the oracle).

παραδοῦναιto deliver / hand overAor Act Inf · παραδίδωμιinfinitive (content of the divine saying: 'that I will deliver')→ verbal action or stateπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; renders נָתַן (in the war-oracle sense); the standard idiom for delivering an enemy into someone's power.

τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐχθρόνenemyAccusativedirect object of παραδοῦναι→ object specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy / foe'; renders אוֹיֵב; the irony is sharp — Saul is 'the enemy,' yet also the LORD's anointed, the tension David alone perceives.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship ('your enemy')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('your enemy').

εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal: 'into your hands')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal: 'into your hands').

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χεῖράςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiomatic: 'into your hand[s]')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου renders בְּיָדְךָ ('into your hand'), the idiom for power and control over a captured enemy.

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 (continuing the oracle)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ποιήσειςyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of the quoted oracle (permission/prediction)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; the future here has imperatival/permissive force, sanctioning David to deal with the enemy as he sees fit — the very license David declines to exploit.

αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (Saul as recipient of the action)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (Saul as recipient of the action).

ὡςascomparative particle (introducing manner clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / according as'; introduces the standard by which David is told he may act.

ἀγαθὸνgoodAccusativepredicate adjective (substantival: 'what is good')→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; the phrase ὡς ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ('as good in your eyes') renders כַּטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ, the Hebrew idiom for 'whatever seems best to you.'

ἐνinpreposition + dative (evaluative: 'in your eyes')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (evaluative: 'in your eyes').

ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (idiomatic: 'in the eyes')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου renders בְּעֵינֶיךָ, the Hebraism for personal judgment or estimation.

καὶandnarrative conjunction (transition to David's deed)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (David's action)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι (intrans. aor.): 'rise / get up'; renders קוּם; David rises from his concealment to approach the unsuspecting Saul.

ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀφεῖλενcut off / removedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφαιρέωmain verb (the decisive deed)→ verbal action or stateἀφαιρέω: 'take away / remove / cut off'; renders כָּרַת ('cut') in the gesture-sense; David removes only the robe's skirt — a deliberately restrained, non-lethal act that nonetheless proves his access to Saul's very person.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πτερύγιονskirt / wingAccusativedirect object of ἀφεῖλεν→ object specificationπτερύγιον: diminutive of πτέρυξ ('wing'); 'wing / corner / skirt' of a garment; renders כָּנָף ('wing / corner / hem'); the 'wing' of the robe is the loose hanging edge, easily reached and severed without disturbing its wearer.

τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

διπλοΐδοςrobe / double-cloakGenitivegenitive (the garment from which the skirt is cut)→ relational specificationδιπλοΐς: 'double-folded garment / cloak'; renders מְעִיל ('robe'); the outer mantle of office; cutting its 'wing' carries symbolic weight, since elsewhere the tearing of a robe signifies the tearing-away of the kingdom (cf. 1 Kgdms 15:27–28).

τῆςthe (of)Genitivearticle (genitive, with the indeclinable name: 'of Saul')→ noun-phrase markingἡ (article governing indeclinable Σαουλ): the feminine genitive article here marks the possessor; LXX often inserts the article to decline an otherwise indeclinable Hebrew name.

ΣαουλSaulgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'Saul's [robe]')→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of possession (indeclinable: 'Saul's [robe]').

λαθραίωςsecretlyadverb of manner→ clausal contributionλαθραίως: 'secretly / stealthily'; underscores that David neither confronts nor harms Saul — the deed is covert and bloodless, the opposite of the assassination his men envisioned.

καὶ ἐγενήθη μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐπάταξεν καρδία Δαυιδ αὐτόν ὅτι ἀφεῖλεν τὸ πτερύγιον τῆς διπλοΐδος αὐτοῦ

And it came to pass afterward that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the skirt of his robe.

Consequence: David's conscience reacts to his own deedκαὶ ἐγενήθη μετὰ ταῦτα

The temporal frame καὶ ἐγενήθη μετὰ ταῦτα introduces the inner consequence: ἐπάταξεν καρδία Δαυιδ αὐτόν ('David's heart struck him') is the LXX idiom for conscience-stricken remorse. Even the minimal act against the anointed disturbs David, motivating the disavowal of v. 7.

Word-by-word analysis· 16 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 (temporal-frame formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass.): the scene-setting formula καὶ ἐγενήθη here introduces the aftermath of the deed.

μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'after'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (temporal).

ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal: 'after these things')→ object specificationοὗτος: μετὰ ταῦτα is the standard LXX temporal formula for narrative succession, here marking the brief interval before remorse sets in.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (apodotic καί after temporal frame)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here apodotic, a Hebraism (rendering the waw of the main clause after a temporal protasis); best left untranslated in idiomatic English.

ἐπάταξενsmote / struckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (conscience-idiom)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; renders נָכָה; the idiom ἐπάταξεν καρδία … αὐτόν ('the heart struck him') denotes a sudden stab of conscience — the same construction recurs at 2 Kgdms 24:10 of David after the census.

καρδίαheartNominativesubject of ἐπάταξεν ('David's heart smote')→ participant prominenceκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב; in Hebrew anthropology the seat of conscience and moral reflection, here personified as the agent that 'strikes' David.

Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's heart')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's heart').

αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξεν (David as the one struck)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐπάταξεν (David as the one struck).

ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the ground of the conscience-pang — even the cutting of the robe.

ἀφεῖλενhe had cut offAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφαιρέωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateἀφαιρέω: 'cut off / remove'; resumes the verb of v. 5, now framed as the cause of remorse.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πτερύγιονskirt / wingAccusativedirect object of ἀφεῖλεν→ object specificationπτερύγιον: see v. 5; the same garment-corner, here recalled as the object of regret.

τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

διπλοΐδοςrobeGenitivegenitive (the garment)→ relational specificationδιπλοΐς: see v. 5; Saul's robe of office.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Saul's robe)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Saul's robe).

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτοῦ μηδαμῶς μοι παρὰ κυρίου εἰ ποιήσω τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ χριστῷ κυρίου ἐπενέγκαι χεῖρά μου ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ὅτι χριστὸς κυρίου ἐστὶν οὗτος

And David said to his men, 'The LORD forbid me, that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to lay my hand upon him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.'

Direct speech: David's theological refusal (climax of section B)καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτοῦ

David's oath-formula μηδαμῶς μοι παρὰ κυρίου ('far be it from me, from the LORD') invokes YHWH against the very act his men advocated. The verse turns on the triple κυρίου/κύριος: παρὰ κυρίου and χριστὸς κυρίου name the Tetragrammaton (the LORD and his anointing), while τῷ κυρίῳ μου ('my lord') is David's deferential title for Saul as human sovereign. The inviolability of τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου is the chapter's central conviction.

Word-by-word analysis· 32 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 authoritative rebuke of his men's counsel.

τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄνδραςmenAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (David's men as addressees)→ object specificationἀνήρ: David's followers, whom he must restrain.

μηδαμῶςby no means / far be itadverb of negation (oath-formula head)→ clausal contributionμηδαμῶς: 'by no means / not at all'; the phrase μηδαμῶς μοι παρὰ κυρίου renders the Hebrew imprecatory formula חָלִילָה לִּי מֵיהוָה ('far be it from me before the LORD'), a strong self-deprecation invoking God against the deed.

μοιfor meDativedative of reference (in the oath-formula: 'for me')→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'for me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of reference (in the oath-formula: 'for me').

παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source: 'from the LORD')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά (+ gen.): 'from'; in the oath-formula παρὰ κυρίου marks YHWH as the one before whom and from whom the impossibility of the act is declared.

κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of παρά (the LORD in the oath)→ relational specificationκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; David swears 'before the LORD,' grounding his refusal in reverence for God himself, not merely in respect for Saul.

εἰthat / ifconjunction (Hebraizing oath-particle introducing emphatic negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: in oath-contexts the LXX uses εἰ to render the Hebrew אִם of the self-imprecatory oath, where 'if I do X' carries the force of an emphatic 'I will surely not do X.'

ποιήσωI should doAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ποιέωverb of the oath-clause (the forsworn act)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; the subjunctive in the εἰ-oath clause names the very deed (harming Saul) that David renounces under oath.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ῥῆμαthing / deedAccusativedirect object of ποιήσω→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / matter / thing'; renders דָּבָר, which in Hebrew spans both 'word' and 'deed'; here 'this thing' = the act of killing the king.

τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (attributive: 'this thing')→ participant referenceοὗτος: the near demonstrative points to the deed his men had urged.

τῷto the / to myDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κυρίῳlordDativedative of disadvantage ('to my lord' = against Saul)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: here HUMAN — 'my lord,' David's deferential title for Saul as reigning king (rendering אֲדֹנִי); not the divine name. David honors the office even while fleeing the man, refusing to do harm 'to my lord.'

μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship ('my lord')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('my lord').

τῷtheDativearticle (in apposition: 'the anointed')→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χριστῷanointedDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ ('to my lord, the anointed')→ sphere or referenceχριστός: 'anointed one'; renders מָשִׁיחַ; the title for the king consecrated by anointing; the apposition τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ χριστῷ κυρίου fuses Saul's human lordship with his sacral status as YHWH's anointed.

κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (defining χριστῷ: 'the LORD's anointed')→ relational specificationκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; χριστὸς κυρίου ('the LORD's anointed') is the chapter's key theological phrase — Saul is sacrosanct because YHWH himself anointed him, and to strike him is to violate God's own choice.

ἐπενέγκαιto lay / bring uponAor Act Inf · ἐπιφέρωepexegetical infinitive (explaining τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο)→ verbal action or stateἐπιφέρω: 'bring/lay upon'; the idiom ἐπενέγκαι χεῖρα ἐπί τινα ('to lay a hand upon someone') renders שָׁלַח יָד בְּ ('stretch out the hand against'), the standard expression for a violent assault.

χεῖράhandAccusativedirect object of ἐπενέγκαι→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; here the instrument of the renounced violence.

μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession ('my hand')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('my hand').

ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction; elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction; elided).

αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (Saul)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (Saul).

ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the theological ground of the refusal.

χριστὸςanointedNominativepredicate nominative ('he is the anointed')→ participant prominenceχριστός: see above; the predicate restates the reason — Saul's anointed status is the decisive fact.

κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (defining χριστός: 'of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the repetition of χριστὸς κυρίου seals the argument: it is the LORD's anointing, not Saul's conduct, that grants inviolability.

ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicating anointed-status of Saul)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the copula asserts Saul's standing status as the LORD's anointed.

οὗτοςthis manNominativesubject of ἐστίν (demonstrative: 'this one' = Saul)→ participant referenceοὗτος: the near demonstrative emphatically points to Saul present below, the very man whom David has spared.

καὶ ἔπεισεν Δαυιδ τοὺς ἄνδρας αὐτοῦ ἐν λόγοις καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἀναστάντας θανατῶσαι τὸν Σαουλ καὶ ἀνέστη Σαουλ καὶ κατέβη εἰς τὴν ὁδόν

And David persuaded his men with words and did not permit them to rise up and put Saul to death. And Saul arose and went down to the road.

Resolution of section B: restraint enacted, Saul departs unharmedκαὶ ἔπεισεν Δαυιδ

David translates conviction into command: ἔπεισεν … ἐν λόγοις ('persuaded with words') and οὐκ ἔδωκεν ('did not permit'); the infinitives ἀναστάντας θανατῶσαι spell out the prevented assassination. Saul then rises and descends unaware (ἀνέστη … κατέβη), the irony complete — his life has been in another's hand and he never knew it.

Word-by-word analysis· 24 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἔπεισενpersuadedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πείθωmain verb (David restrains his men by argument)→ verbal action or stateπείθω: 'persuade / win over'; renders שִׁסַּע / the sense of restraining by speech; the effective aorist marks that David's words actually prevailed over the men's bloodlust.

τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἔπεισεν→ object specificationἀνήρ: David's followers, the object of his persuasion.

ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by words')→ spatial or relational framingἐν (+ dat.): here instrumental, a Hebraizing use of בְּ ('with / by means of').

λόγοιςwordsDativedative of means ('with words')→ sphere or referenceλόγος: 'word / argument'; the means of David's restraint — persuasion, not coercion.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔδωκεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἔδωκενpermitted / gaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (negated: 'did not allow')→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give'; here in the idiom δίδωμι + infinitive = 'permit / allow'; renders נָתַן ('give / allow'); David withholds permission for the killing.

αὐτοῖςthemDativedative of indirect object (those denied permission)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (those denied permission).

ἀναστάνταςrising upAor Act Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · ἀνίστημιcircumstantial participle (agreeing with the implied subject of the infinitive)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι (aor. ptcp.): 'rise up / set about'; the participle pictures the men's intended movement to attack — the very 'rising' David forbids.

θανατῶσαιto put to deathAor Act Inf · θανατόωcomplementary infinitive (the prevented act, after ἔδωκεν)→ verbal action or stateθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; renders הֵמִית; the explicit verb of execution makes clear what David's restraint prevented — the assassination of the king.

τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the proper name as object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΣαουλSaulobject of θανατῶσαι (indeclinable, articular)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of θανατῶσαι (indeclinable, articular).

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (Saul's unsuspecting departure)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι (intrans. aor.): 'rise / get up'; Saul rises and leaves, never knowing how near death he had been.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (Saul's descent)→ verbal action or stateκαταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; Saul descends from the cave to the road, the literal counterpart to David's earlier ascent (v. 1).

εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of motion).

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁδόνroad / wayAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal)→ object specificationὁδός: 'road / way'; Saul returns to the road from which he had turned aside, resuming his journey unaware.

καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ἐκ τοῦ σπηλαίου καὶ ἐβόησεν Δαυιδ ὀπίσω Σαουλ λέγων κύριε βασιλεῦ καὶ ἐπέβλεψεν Σαουλ εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκυψεν Δαυιδ ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ

And David rose up after him out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, 'My lord the king!' And Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground and did obeisance to him.

Scene-shift: David emerges and addresses Saul from a safe distance (opening section C)καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ

A chain of five aorists (ἀνέστη … ἐβόησεν … ἐπέβλεψεν … ἔκυψεν … προσεκύνησεν) stages the confrontation. David's vocative κύριε βασιλεῦ and his prostration (ἔκυψεν … προσεκύνησεν) display continued submission even from the position of demonstrated power: he speaks as a loyal subject, not a rival.

Word-by-word analysis· 35 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀνέστηrose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (David emerges)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι (intrans. aor.): 'rise / get up'; David rises and follows Saul out of the cave to call after him.

ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('after him')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; with the genitive αὐτοῦ marks David following in Saul's wake; renders אַחֲרֵי.

αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ὀπίσω.

ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

σπηλαίουcaveGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (source: 'out of the cave')→ relational specificationσπήλαιον: see v. 4; David exits the hiding-place he had occupied.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐβόησενcried outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βοάωmain verb (David calls out)→ verbal action or stateβοάω: 'cry out / shout'; renders קָרָא; David calls loudly across the distance that guarantees his own safety.

ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('after Saul')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: here 'after / behind Saul,' the direction of David's shout.

ΣαουλSaulgenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable).

λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct address)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. ptcp.): the participle λέγων introduces the vocative cry; a common LXX construction rendering לֵאמֹר.

κύριεmy lordVocativevocative of address (to Saul)→ direct addressκύριος: here HUMAN — the deferential vocative 'my lord' addressed to Saul; renders אֲדֹנִי; David hails the king with full honorific respect, not as the divine name.

βασιλεῦO kingVocativevocative in apposition to κύριε ('my lord the king')→ direct addressβασιλεύς: 'king'; the vocative βασιλεῦ pairs with κύριε to form the courtly address 'my lord the king,' acknowledging Saul's royal office.

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐπέβλεψενlookedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιβλέπωmain verb (Saul turns to look)→ verbal action or stateἐπιβλέπω: 'look upon / look back'; renders נָבַט / פָּנָה; Saul turns at the voice to see David behind him.

εἰςto / towardpreposition + accusative (direction of gaze)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of gaze).

τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantivizing ὀπίσω: 'the parts behind')→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὀπίσωbehindadverb (substantivized with τά: 'the things behind')→ clausal contributionὀπίσω: here adverbial with the article, εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ('to the things behind him' = 'behind himself'); a Hebraizing locative for turning around.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship ('behind him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('behind him').

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἔκυψενbowed downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κύπτωmain verb (David's bodily deference)→ verbal action or stateκύπτω: 'bend / stoop / bow down'; renders קָדַד; David bends low before the king he has just spared, a physical act of homage.

ἐπὶupon / topreposition + accusative ('on his face')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative ('on his face').

πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (idiomatic: 'on the face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; ἔκυψεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον … ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν renders the Hebrew gesture of full prostration, וַיִּקֹּד אַפַּיִם אָרְצָה ('he bowed with his face to the ground').

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his face')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his face').

ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + accusative ('to the ground')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative ('to the ground').

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γῆνground / earthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('to the ground')→ object specificationγῆ: 'earth / ground'; ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν completes the prostration-idiom, David's face touching the earth in homage.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

προσεκύνησενdid obeisanceAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσκυνέωmain verb (act of homage)→ verbal action or stateπροσκυνέω: 'do obeisance / prostrate oneself / worship'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; here civil homage to the king (with the dative αὐτῷ), the same verb used elsewhere for worship of God, the context determining the register.

αὐτῷto himDativedative of the one honored (Saul)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of the one honored (Saul).

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Σαουλ ἵνα τί ἀκούεις τῶν λόγων τοῦ λαοῦ λεγόντων ἰδοὺ Δαυιδ ζητεῖ τὴν ψυχήν σου

And David said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to the words of the people, saying, "Behold, David seeks your life"?'

Opening of David's apologia: rebuttal of the slanderκαὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Σαουλ

David's speech proper begins with a rhetorical question, ἵνα τί ('why?'), challenging Saul for heeding slanderers who claim David seeks his life (ζητεῖ τὴν ψυχήν σου). The demonstration that follows (vv. 11–12) inverts the charge: it is Saul whose life lay in David's hand, not the reverse.

Word-by-word analysis· 19 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 direct address to Saul.

ΣαουλSaulaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable).

ἵναwhyinterrogative (with τί: 'why? / to what end?')→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why? / for what purpose?'; an elliptical idiom ('that what [may happen]?') rendering לָמָּה; introduces David's reproachful question.

τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (with ἵνα: 'why')→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative pronoun; in the fixed phrase ἵνα τί it forms the adverbial 'why.'

ἀκούειςdo you listenPres Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb of the question→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear / listen / heed'; with the genitive (τῶν λόγων) it means 'give heed to'; David charges Saul with crediting hostile rumor.

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

λόγωνwordsGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούεις (thing heeded)→ relational specificationλόγος: 'word / report'; the slanderous reports of David's alleged plot.

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of source (whose words: 'of the people')→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; here the courtiers/populace who carry the slander against David to the king.

λεγόντωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Gen Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple (agreeing with λαοῦ/λόγων, introducing the quoted slander)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. ptcp.): the genitive plural λεγόντων introduces the content of the rumor; a Hebraizing 'saying' (לֵאמֹר).

ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; dramatizes the slanderers' accusation.

ΔαυιδDavidsubject of the quoted clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of the quoted clause (indeclinable).

ζητεῖseeksPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζητέωmain verb of the quoted slander→ verbal action or stateζητέω: 'seek'; the idiom ζητεῖν τὴν ψυχήν τινος ('seek someone's life') renders בִּקֵּשׁ נֶפֶשׁ, meaning to plot someone's death — the charge David refutes.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ψυχήνlife / soulAccusativedirect object of ζητεῖ ('your life')→ object specificationψυχή: 'soul / life'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; in the idiom 'seek the life' it denotes the very life of the person, i.e., to kill.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your life')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your life').

ἰδοὺ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ἑοράκασιν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὡς παρέδωκέν σε κύριος σήμερον εἰς χεῖρά μου ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ καὶ οὐκ ἠβουλήθην ἀποκτεῖναί σε καὶ ἐφεισάμην σου καὶ εἶπα οὐκ ἐποίσω χεῖρά μου ἐπὶ κύριόν μου ὅτι χριστὸς κυρίου οὗτός ἐστιν

Behold, in this day your eyes have seen how the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave; and I was not willing to kill you, but I spared you, and I said, 'I will not lay my hand upon my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'

Evidential core: David's proof of innocence (delivery, restraint, oath)ἰδοὺ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ

David appeals to Saul's own eyes (ἑοράκασιν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου) as witnesses: YHWH delivered Saul into David's hand, yet David refused to kill (οὐκ ἠβουλήθην … ἐφεισάμην). The reported inner resolve (εἶπα οὐκ ἐποίσω … ἐπὶ κύριόν μου) reprises v. 7's theology: κύριόν μου is Saul as human lord, χριστὸς κυρίου names the LORD's anointing.

Word-by-word analysis· 42 words

ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; summons Saul's attention to the demonstrable evidence.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).

τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time ('in this day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ('on this day') stresses the immediacy of the proof.

ταύτῃthisDativedemonstrative (attributive: 'this day')→ participant reference or interestοὗτος: the near demonstrative anchoring the evidence in the present.

ἑοράκασινhave seenPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (Saul's eyes as witnesses)→ verbal action or stateὁράω (perf.): 'see / perceive'; the perfect ἑοράκασιν denotes a completed seeing with abiding result — Saul's own eyes have witnessed and so cannot deny the proof.

οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὀφθαλμοίeyesNominativesubject of ἑοράκασιν ('your eyes')→ participant prominenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the eyes are personified as the witnesses of the evidence David is about to display.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your eyes')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your eyes').

ὡςhow / thatconjunction (introducing object clause after 'seen')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: here 'how / that'; introduces the content of what Saul's eyes have seen.

παρέδωκένdeliveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιverb of the object clause (the divine delivery)→ verbal action or stateπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver'; renders נָתַן (war-oracle sense); the LORD himself delivered Saul into David's power — the fulfilment of the men's words in v. 5, but turned to mercy.

σεyouAccusativedirect object of παρέδωκεν (Saul handed over)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of παρέδωκεν (Saul handed over).

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of παρέδωκεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is the agent who delivered Saul into David's hand, making David's restraint an act of obedience toward God.

σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; emphasizes that the deliverance happened this very day, before Saul's own eyes.

εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal: 'into my hand')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal: 'into my hand').

χεῖράhandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiomatic: 'into my hand')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; εἰς χεῖρά μου ('into my hand') = into David's power; the inversion of the slander of v. 10.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).

τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

σπηλαίῳcaveDativedative of place (locative: 'in the cave')→ sphere or referenceσπήλαιον: see v. 4; the place of the providential delivery.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἠβουλήθην)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἠβουλήθηνI was willingAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · βούλομαιmain verb (negated: 'I was unwilling')→ verbal action or stateβούλομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'will / wish / be willing'; the negated οὐκ ἠβουλήθην ('I was not willing') asserts David's deliberate, principled refusal to kill — not mere failure of opportunity.

ἀποκτεῖναίto killAor Act Inf · ἀποκτείνωcomplementary infinitive (after ἠβουλήθην)→ verbal action or stateἀποκτείνω: 'kill / slay'; renders הָרַג; the blunt verb names exactly what David declined to do to the king in his power.

σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἀποκτεῖναι→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀποκτεῖναι.

καὶbutcoordinate conjunction (adversative sense in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐφεισάμηνI sparedAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · φείδομαιmain verb (the positive counterpart of the refusal)→ verbal action or stateφείδομαι: 'spare / refrain from harming'; with the genitive σου ('I spared you'); renders חוּס / חָמַל; the positive expression of David's mercy.

σουyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐφεισάμην (the one spared)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐφεισάμην (the one spared).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἶπαI saidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb (reporting David's inner resolve)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπα, Hellenistic α-form): 'say'; David reports the very words of his self-resolve in the cave, reprising v. 7.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐποίσω)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐποίσωI will lay / bring uponFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπιφέρωmain verb of the quoted resolve (future denial)→ verbal action or stateἐπιφέρω (fut. ἐποίσω): 'bring/lay upon'; the idiom ἐποίσω χεῖρα ἐπί ('I will lay a hand upon') renders שָׁלַח יָד בְּ; David's reported vow not to assault the king.

χεῖράhandAccusativedirect object of ἐποίσω→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the instrument of violence David vows to withhold.

ἐπὶupon / againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).

κύριόνmy lordAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('against my lord' = Saul)→ object specificationκύριος: here HUMAN — 'my lord,' David's title for Saul as king (rendering אֲדֹנִי); David refuses violence against his human sovereign, not against the divine name.

ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the theological ground, as in v. 7.

χριστὸςanointedNominativepredicate nominative ('he is the anointed')→ participant prominenceχριστός: 'anointed one'; renders מָשִׁיחַ; Saul's anointed status, repeated from v. 7, is the abiding reason for his inviolability.

κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (defining χριστός: 'the LORD's anointed')→ relational specificationκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; χριστὸς κυρίου names YHWH's own anointing of Saul, the warrant of his sacrosanctity.

οὗτόςthis manNominativesubject of ἐστιν (demonstrative: 'this one' = Saul)→ participant referenceοὗτος: the near demonstrative pointing to Saul present before David.

ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicating anointed-status of Saul)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; asserts Saul's standing identity as the LORD's anointed.

καὶ ἰδοὺ τὸ πτερύγιον τῆς διπλοΐδος σου ἐν τῇ χειρί μου ἐγὼ ἀφῄρηκα τὸ πτερύγιον καὶ οὐκ ἀπέκταγκά σε καὶ γνῶθι καὶ ἰδὲ σήμερον ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κακία ἐν τῇ χειρί μου οὐδὲ ἀσέβεια καὶ ἀθέτησις καὶ οὐχ ἡμάρτηκα εἰς σέ καὶ σὺ δεσμεύεις τὴν ψυχήν μου λαβεῖν αὐτήν

And behold, the skirt of your robe is in my hand: I cut off the skirt and did not kill you. Know, then, and see this day that there is no evil in my hand, nor impiety, nor rebellion; and I have not sinned against you, yet you bind my life to take it.

Material evidence presented + the appeal to recognize innocenceκαὶ ἰδοὺ τὸ πτερύγιον

David produces the physical proof — the severed skirt in his hand — and draws the inference with two perfects (ἀφῄρηκα … ἀπέκταγκά) stressing abiding result: 'I have cut, yet I have not killed.' The double imperative γνῶθι καὶ ἰδέ summons Saul to acknowledge David's innocence (no κακία, ἀσέβεια, or ἀθέτησις), heightened by the contrastive σὺ δεσμεύεις ('yet you hunt my life').

Word-by-word analysis· 49 words

καὶandnarrative/coordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (pointing to the evidence)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; David holds up the proof for Saul to see.

τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πτερύγιονskirt / wingNominativesubject of the verbless clause ('the skirt is in my hand')→ participant prominenceπτερύγιον: see v. 5; the severed robe-corner, now the visible exhibit of David's restraint.

τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

διπλοΐδοςrobeGenitivegenitive (the garment: 'of your robe')→ relational specificationδιπλοΐς: see v. 5; Saul's robe of office.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your robe')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your robe').

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in my hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in my hand').

τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χειρίhandDativedative of place (locative: 'in my hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the same hand that could have struck now holds only a piece of cloth — the proof of mercy.

ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun (foregrounding David's agency)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun stresses 'I myself' cut the robe — and yet 'I myself' did not kill; it sharpens the contrast between capacity and restraint.

ἀφῄρηκαI have cut offPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀφαιρέωmain verb (perfect of abiding result)→ verbal action or stateἀφαιρέω (perf.): 'cut off / remove'; the perfect ἀφῄρηκα ('I have cut off') marks the deed as done and its result present in David's hand — a completed act open to inspection.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πτερύγιονskirtAccusativedirect object of ἀφῄρηκα→ object specificationπτερύγιον: see v. 5; repeated for emphasis on the limited, symbolic nature of the act.

καὶand yetcoordinate conjunction (adversative in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and yet'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀπέκταγκα)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀπέκταγκάI have killedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (negated perfect)→ verbal action or stateἀποκτείνω (perf. ἀπέκταγκα): 'kill'; the negated perfect contrasts with ἀφῄρηκα — David has cut the robe but has decidedly not taken the life; the perfect underlines that Saul stands alive as living proof.

σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκταγκα→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀπέκταγκα.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing imperatives)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

γνῶθιknowAor Act Impv 2 Sg · γινώσκωimperative (appeal to recognition)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; renders יָדַע; David commands Saul to draw the obvious conclusion from the evidence.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἰδὲseeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ὁράωimperative (paired with γνῶθι)→ verbal action or stateὁράω (aor. impv. ἰδέ): 'see / perceive'; the doublet γνῶθι καὶ ἰδέ ('know and see') is a Hebraizing pair urging full recognition of David's innocence.

σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; the evidence is available this very day.

ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause after γνῶθι/ἰδέ)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: introduces the content to be recognized.

οὐκno / notnegative particle (with ἔστιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated: 'there is no')→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be / exist'; the existential 'there is no evil in my hand' declares David's hands clean of malicious intent.

κακίαevil / maliceNominativesubject of ἔστιν ('no evil')→ participant prominenceκακία: 'evil / wickedness / malice'; renders רָעָה; David disclaims any harmful intent — 'in my hand' is metonymy for his actions.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).

τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χειρίhandDativedative of place ('in my hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; metonymy for deed/intent; the same 'hand' that held the skirt holds no evil.

οὐδὲnornegative coordinating conjunction ('nor')→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'nor / and not'; extends the denial to further categories of guilt.

ἀσέβειαimpiety / ungodlinessNominativesubject (coordinate with κακία: 'nor impiety')→ participant prominenceἀσέβεια: 'impiety / ungodliness'; renders פֶּשַׁע / רֶשַׁע; denies any offense against God — fitting, since to harm the anointed would be impiety.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀθέτησιςrebellion / breachNominativesubject (coordinate: 'nor rebellion')→ participant prominenceἀθέτησις: 'setting aside / breach / rebellion'; the noun denotes a repudiation of loyalty; David denies any treasonous breach of his duty to the king.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οὐχnotnegative particle (with ἡμάρτηκα; aspirated before rough breathing)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐχ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἡμάρτηκαI have sinnedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἁμαρτάνωmain verb (negated perfect)→ verbal action or stateἁμαρτάνω (perf.): 'sin / do wrong / offend'; renders חָטָא; the perfect with negation asserts David's enduring innocence of any wrong against Saul.

εἰςagainstpreposition + accusative ('against you')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here 'against' (of wrong done to a person); renders the Hebrew לְ of offense.

σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς ('against you')→ participant referenceσέ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of εἰς ('against you').

καὶyet / andcoordinate conjunction (adversative in context: 'yet')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'yet'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (contrast with David's innocence)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic 'you' sets Saul's hostile pursuit in pointed contrast to David's blamelessness.

δεσμεύειςyou bind / huntPres Act Indic 2 Sg · δεσμεύωmain verb (Saul's persistent action)→ verbal action or stateδεσμεύω: 'bind / tie up / lie in wait for'; here in the sense of 'lay snares for / hunt down' (rendering the Hebrew צָדָה, 'lie in wait'); David charges Saul with relentlessly seeking his life.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ψυχήνlife / soulAccusativedirect object of δεσμεύεις ('my life')→ object specificationψυχή: 'life / soul'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; the very life Saul pursues, though David has just spared Saul's.

μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession ('my life')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('my life').

λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωinfinitive of purpose (with δεσμεύεις: 'in order to take it')→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the infinitive of purpose makes Saul's deadly intent explicit: he hunts David's life 'to take it.'

αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of λαβεῖν (resumptive: 'it' = the life)→ participant referenceαὐτή: the resumptive pronoun (a Hebraizing redundancy) restates ψυχήν as the object of λαβεῖν.

δικάσαι κύριος ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ καὶ ἐκδικήσαι με κύριος ἐκ σοῦ καὶ ἡ χείρ μου οὐκ ἔσται ἐπὶ σοί

May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.

Submission to divine arbitration (the case committed to YHWH)δικάσαι κύριος

David renounces self-vindication and commits the matter to YHWH as judge and avenger (δικάσαι … ἐκδικήσαι, optatives of wish). The concluding disclaimer ἡ χείρ μου οὐκ ἔσται ἐπὶ σοί ('my hand shall not be against you') reaffirms his non-retaliation — vengeance, if any, belongs to the LORD, not to David.

Word-by-word analysis· 21 words

δικάσαιmay he judgeAor Act Opt 3 Sg · δικάζωmain verb (optative of wish: appeal for divine adjudication)→ verbal action or stateδικάζω: 'judge / give judgment'; renders שָׁפַט; the optative δικάσαι ('may he judge') invokes YHWH as the arbiter who will rightly decide between the two parties.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of δικάσαι→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is invoked as the supreme judge between David and Saul.

ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')→ spatial or relational framingἀνά: in the fixed phrase ἀνὰ μέσον ('in the midst of / between'); renders בֵּין … וּבֵין.

μέσονthe midstAccusativeaccusative in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('between')→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ ('between me and you') is a Hebraizing legal idiom for adjudication between two parties.

ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive (first party: 'between me')→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): the emphatic first-person pronoun as one party to the dispute.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

σοῦyouGenitivegenitive (second party: 'and you')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): the other party, Saul.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐκδικήσαιmay he avengeAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ἐκδικέωmain verb (optative of wish: divine vindication)→ verbal action or stateἐκδικέω: 'avenge / vindicate / exact justice'; renders נָקַם; David asks YHWH (not himself) to vindicate him — the LORD will exact whatever justice is due.

μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἐκδικήσαι (the one vindicated)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐκδικήσαι (the one vindicated).

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκδικήσαι→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine avenger, repeated for emphasis.

ἐκon / frompreposition + genitive ('from/on you' = from Saul's hand)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: here 'from / at the hand of'; ἐκδικῆσαι … ἐκ σοῦ ('avenge me from you') renders the Hebrew נָקַם מִן, 'take vengeance from / upon.'

σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from you')→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐκ ('from you').

καὶbutcoordinate conjunction (adversative in context: 'but')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χείρhandNominativesubject of ἔσται ('my hand')→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; metonymy for personal action/violence; David vows that he himself will not act against Saul.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔσται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (future denial of retaliation)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'will be'; the idiom ἡ χείρ μου οὐκ ἔσται ἐπὶ σοί ('my hand shall not be against you') renders יָדִי לֹא תִהְיֶה בָּךְ, a solemn pledge of non-violence.

ἐπὶagainstpreposition + dative ('against you')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (+ dat.): here hostile, 'against'; David's hand will not be raised against the king.

σοίyouDativedative object of ἐπί ('against you')→ participant reference or interestσοί: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐπί ('against you').

καθὼς λέγεται ἡ παραβολὴ ἡ ἀρχαία ἐξ ἀνόμων ἐξελεύσεται πλημμέλεια καὶ ἡ χείρ μου οὐκ ἔσται ἐπὶ σέ

As the ancient proverb says, 'Out of the lawless shall come forth wrongdoing'; but my hand shall not be against you.

Proverbial warrant + renewed disclaimer of retaliationκαθὼς λέγεται ἡ παραβολὴ ἡ ἀρχαία

David cites a wisdom-proverb (ἡ παραβολὴ ἡ ἀρχαία) to argue that wickedness springs from the wicked — implying that if he were the schemer Saul fears, his guilt would already have shown itself; since it has not, he is innocent. He repeats the disclaimer of v. 13 (ἡ χείρ μου οὐκ ἔσται ἐπὶ σέ), framing the speech with the pledge of non-violence.

Word-by-word analysis· 18 words

καθὼςascomparative conjunction (introducing the proverb)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'as / just as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the cited proverb as warrant for David's claim.

λέγεταιis saidPres Pass Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of the comparative clause (impersonal passive: 'it is said')→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres. pass.): 'is said'; the impersonal passive introduces the proverbial citation as common, time-honored wisdom.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

παραβολὴproverb / parableNominativesubject of λέγεται ('the proverb')→ participant prominenceπαραβολή: 'proverb / parable / comparison'; renders מָשָׁל; the standard LXX term for a wisdom-saying or maxim.

ἡtheNominativearticle (attributive, with ἀρχαία)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀρχαίαancientNominativeattributive adjective ('the ancient proverb')→ participant prominenceἀρχαῖος: 'ancient / old'; renders קַדְמֹנִי; marks the saying as venerable and authoritative by age.

ἐξout of / frompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ (ἐξ before vowel): 'out of / from'; marks the source from which wickedness proceeds.

ἀνόμωνthe lawless / wickedGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (substantival: 'from the lawless')→ relational specificationἄνομος: 'lawless / wicked'; substantival genitive plural 'from the wicked'; renders רְשָׁעִים; the proverb traces wrongdoing to the wrongdoers themselves.

ἐξελεύσεταιshall come forthFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb of the proverb→ verbal action or stateἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; renders יָצָא; the gnomic future expresses the proverb's general principle: wickedness issues from the wicked, not from the innocent.

πλημμέλειαwrongdoing / wickednessNominativesubject of ἐξελεύσεται ('wrongdoing')→ participant prominenceπλημμέλεια: 'fault / offense / wrongdoing'; renders רֶשַׁע ('wickedness'); the proverb's point: had David been wicked, his deeds would betray it; his sparing of Saul proves the opposite.

καὶbutcoordinate conjunction (adversative in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χείρhandNominativesubject of ἔσται ('my hand')→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; the repeated disclaimer, framing the speech with David's pledge of restraint.

μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔσται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (renewed denial of retaliation)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut.): the pledge of v. 13 repeated, sealing David's refusal to harm the king.

ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative ('against you')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (+ acc.): here hostile, 'against'; note the variation from the dative of v. 13 (ἐπὶ σοί) to the accusative here (ἐπὶ σέ), a stylistic alternation without change of sense.

σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('against you')→ participant referenceσέ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί ('against you').

καὶ νῦν ὀπίσω τίνος σὺ ἐκπορεύῃ βασιλεῦ Ισραηλ ὀπίσω τίνος καταδιώκεις σύ ὀπίσω κυνὸς τεθνηκότος καὶ ὀπίσω ψύλλου ἑνός

And now, after whom do you come out, O king of Israel? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, and after a single flea?

Rhetorical climax: the disproportion of the king's pursuitκαὶ νῦν ὀπίσω τίνος σὺ ἐκπορεύῃ

Two parallel rhetorical questions (ὀπίσω τίνος … ὀπίσω τίνος) expose the absurdity of a king mobilizing an army against a fugitive whom David self-deprecatingly calls 'a dead dog' (κυνὸς τεθνηκότος) and 'a single flea' (ψύλλου ἑνός). The bathos shames Saul: his royal dignity is squandered on a worthless quarry.

Word-by-word analysis· 19 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition marker)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν ('and now') is a discourse-marker introducing the rhetorical turn to direct appeal.

ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('after whom')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; with the interrogative genitive τίνος ('after whom'); renders אַחֲרֵי מִי.

τίνοςwhomGenitiveinterrogative pronoun (genitive object of ὀπίσω)→ relational specificationτίς: interrogative pronoun; the genitive τίνος after ὀπίσω forms the question 'after whom?'

σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (the king himself)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic 'you' stresses the incongruity of the king personally undertaking such a chase.

ἐκπορεύῃdo you come outPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐκπορεύομαιmain verb of the first question→ verbal action or stateἐκπορεύομαι: 'go out / march out'; renders יָצָא; of a king going out to war/pursuit — here against an unworthy target.

βασιλεῦO kingVocativevocative of address→ direct addressβασιλεύς: 'king'; the vocative βασιλεῦ Ισραηλ ('O king of Israel') underscores Saul's dignity — making the triviality of the pursuit all the more glaring.

Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; defines Saul's royal office over the whole nation.

ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (second question)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: repeated for rhetorical parallelism.

τίνοςwhomGenitiveinterrogative pronoun (genitive object of ὀπίσω)→ relational specificationτίς: 'whom'; the second 'after whom?' intensifies the reproach.

καταδιώκειςdo you pursuePres Act Indic 2 Sg · καταδιώκωmain verb of the second question→ verbal action or stateκαταδιώκω: 'pursue closely / hunt down'; the intensive compound κατα- stresses the dogged relentlessness of Saul's chase; renders רָדַף.

σύyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (repeated for emphasis)→ participant referenceσύ: the repeated emphatic pronoun sharpens the indictment of the king's conduct.

ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (answer to the question)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: now introducing the self-deprecating answers.

κυνὸςa dogGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω ('after a dog')→ relational specificationκύων: 'dog'; in the ancient Near East a term of contempt; κυνὸς τεθνηκότος ('a dead dog') is the lowest possible self-abasement (cf. 2 Kgdms 9:8; 16:9).

τεθνηκότοςdeadPerf Act Ptcp Gen Sg Masc · θνῄσκωattributive participle (modifying κυνός: 'a dead dog')→ verbal action or stateθνῄσκω (perf. ptcp.): 'have died / be dead'; the perfect participle 'dead' intensifies the worthlessness — not merely a dog, but a dead one, utterly beneath a king's notice.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (second image)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: introducing the second self-deprecating image.

ψύλλουa fleaGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω ('after a flea')→ relational specificationψύλλος: 'flea'; renders פַּרְעֹשׁ; the flea is proverbially insignificant and elusive — a fitting image for a harmless fugitive unworthy of a royal manhunt (cf. 1 Kgdms 26:20).

ἑνόςa single / oneGenitivenumeral (attributive: 'one flea')→ relational specificationεἷς (gen. ἑνός): 'one / a single'; the addition 'one flea' heightens the bathos — the king pursues a single, negligible insect.

γένοιτο κύριος εἰς κριτὴν καὶ δικαστὴν ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον σοῦ ἴδοι κύριος καὶ κρίναι τὴν κρίσιν μου καὶ δικάσαι μοι ἐκ χειρός σου

May the LORD be judge and arbiter between me and you; may the LORD look and judge my cause, and give me justice from your hand.

Closing appeal of David's speech: YHWH as judge (inclusio with v. 13)γένοιτο κύριος εἰς κριτὴν καὶ δικαστήν

David ends as he began (v. 13), invoking YHWH as κριτής and δικαστής to adjudicate between the parties. A series of optatives (γένοιτο … ἴδοι … κρίναι … δικάσαι) commits David's cause wholly to divine vindication 'from your hand' (ἐκ χειρός σου), declining all self-help vengeance.

Word-by-word analysis· 26 words

γένοιτοmay he be / becomeAor Mid Opt 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (optative of wish)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. opt.): 'become / be'; γένοιτο κύριος εἰς κριτήν ('may the LORD become / act as judge') is a Hebraizing idiom (הָיָה לְ, 'be for / serve as') invoking YHWH in the judicial role.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of γένοιτο→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; invoked as the divine judge.

εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as judge')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here predicative (εἰς + acc. = 'to be / as'), a Hebraism rendering לְ in the phrase 'be for a judge.'

κριτὴνjudgeAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'as judge')→ object specificationκριτής: 'judge'; renders שֹׁפֵט; one who decides a case authoritatively.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

δικαστὴνarbiter / judgeAccusativepredicate accusative (coordinate with κριτήν)→ object specificationδικαστής: 'judge / arbiter'; near-synonym of κριτής; the doublet κριτὴν καὶ δικαστήν reinforces the appeal to full divine adjudication.

ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')→ spatial or relational framingἀνά: in ἀνὰ μέσον ('between').

μέσονthe midstAccusativeaccusative in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('between')→ object specificationμέσος: 'midst'; the legal idiom for adjudication between parties.

ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive (first party)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): the first party to the dispute.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (repeated ἀνὰ μέσον for the second party)→ spatial or relational framingἀνά: the repetition ἀνὰ μέσον … καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον reflects the full Hebrew idiom בֵּין … וּבֵין.

μέσονthe midstAccusativeaccusative in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον→ object specificationμέσος: see above.

σοῦyouGenitivegenitive (second party: 'and you')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): the other party, Saul.

ἴδοιmay he lookAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (optative of wish: 'may he see/regard')→ verbal action or stateὁράω (aor. opt. ἴδοι): 'see / look upon / regard'; David asks YHWH to take notice of his cause — divine attention as the prelude to judgment.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἴδοι→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine observer and judge.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

κρίναιmay he judgeAor Act Opt 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (optative of wish)→ verbal action or stateκρίνω: 'judge / decide'; renders שָׁפַט / דִּין; David asks YHWH to render a verdict on his case.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κρίσινcause / caseAccusativedirect object of κρίναι (cognate: 'judge my case')→ object specificationκρίσις: 'judgment / case / cause'; the cognate accusative κρίναι τὴν κρίσιν μου ('judge my judgment') renders the Hebrew idiom שָׁפַט מִשְׁפָּט / דִּין דִּין, asking God to take up and decide David's legal cause.

μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession ('my cause')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('my cause').

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

δικάσαιmay he give me justiceAor Act Opt 3 Sg · δικάζωmain verb (optative of wish)→ verbal action or stateδικάζω: 'judge / vindicate / give justice'; with the dative μοι ('give judgment for me'), David asks YHWH to rule in his favor and so deliver him.

μοιfor meDativedative of advantage ('give judgment for me')→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'for me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage ('give judgment for me').

ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source: 'from your hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / out of the power of'; ἐκ χειρός σου ('from your hand') asks for deliverance out of Saul's grasp.

χειρόςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from the hand')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; metonymy for power/control; David seeks vindication that frees him from Saul's hostile grip.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your hand')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your hand').

καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς συνετέλεσεν Δαυιδ τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα λαλῶν πρὸς Σαουλ καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ ἦ φωνή σου αὕτη τέκνον Δαυιδ καὶ ἦρεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ Σαουλ καὶ ἔκλαυσεν

And it came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, 'Is this your voice, my son David?' And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

Hinge into Saul's response (temporal frame + emotional reversal)καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς συνετέλεσεν Δαυιδ

The temporal frame καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ('and it came to pass when') marks the transition to section D. Saul's reaction is a sudden reversal: the incredulous question ἦ φωνή σου αὕτη ('is this your voice?') with the tender address τέκνον Δαυιδ ('my son David'), followed by the formula ἦρεν τὴν φωνὴν … καὶ ἔκλαυσεν ('he lifted his voice and wept') — Saul is broken by David's mercy.

Word-by-word analysis· 28 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-frame formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. mid.): the formula καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς renders וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר, introducing the new scene of Saul's reply.

ὡςwhentemporal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'when / as'; temporal, introducing the circumstance of David's finishing his speech.

συνετέλεσενfinished / completedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντελέωverb of temporal clause→ verbal action or stateσυντελέω: 'complete / finish'; renders כִּלָּה; David brings his appeal to its end.

ΔαυιδDavidsubject of συνετέλεσεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of συνετέλεσεν (indeclinable).

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ῥήματαwordsAccusativedirect object of συνετέλεσεν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / saying'; renders דָּבָר; David's whole speech (vv. 10–16) summed up as 'these words.'

ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative (attributive: 'these words')→ object specificationοὗτος: the near demonstrative pointing back to David's foregoing speech.

λαλῶνspeakingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λαλέωcircumstantial participle (manner/complement of συνετέλεσεν)→ verbal action or stateλαλέω (pres. ptcp.): 'speak'; the participle λαλῶν ('in speaking') complements συνετέλεσεν: 'finished speaking,' a Hebraizing redundancy (כְּכַלּוֹת … לְדַבֵּר).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (apodotic after temporal frame)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Saul's response introduced)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Saul's stunned reply.

ἦis it / indeedinterrogative particle (introducing a yes/no question)→ discourse linkage or contrastἦ: an interrogative/asseverative particle, here introducing Saul's incredulous question 'Is this your voice?'

φωνήvoiceNominativesubject of the verbless question ('is this your voice')→ participant prominenceφωνή: 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; Saul recognizes David by his voice across the distance.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your voice')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your voice').

αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (predicate: 'this [is]')→ participant referenceοὗτος: the near demonstrative; 'is this your voice?' — wonder mixed with emotion.

τέκνονchild / my sonVocativevocative of address (term of endearment)→ direct addressτέκνον: 'child / son'; renders בְּנִי ('my son'); a striking term of paternal affection from the man who had been hunting David — the address signals Saul's emotional collapse.

ΔαυιδDavidvocative in apposition to τέκνον (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as vocative in apposition to τέκνον (indeclinable).

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἦρενlifted upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αἴρωmain verb (idiom: lift the voice)→ verbal action or stateαἴρω: 'lift / raise'; the idiom ἦρεν τὴν φωνὴν … καὶ ἔκλαυσεν ('lifted his voice and wept') renders נָשָׂא קוֹל וַיֵּבְךְּ, a Hebraism for loud weeping.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

φωνὴνvoiceAccusativedirect object of ἦρεν ('his voice')→ object specificationφωνή: 'voice'; here in the weeping-idiom.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his voice')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his voice').

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἔκλαυσενweptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κλαίωmain verb (Saul's weeping)→ verbal action or stateκλαίω: 'weep / cry'; renders בָּכָה; Saul's tears mark the chapter's emotional turning-point — the hunter weeps before the one he hunted.

καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς Δαυιδ δίκαιος σὺ ὑπὲρ ἐμέ ὅτι σὺ ἀνταπέδωκάς μοι ἀγαθά ἐγὼ δὲ ἀνταπέδωκά σοι κακά

And Saul said to David, 'You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, but I have repaid you evil.'

Saul's confession of David's righteousnessκαὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς Δαυιδ

Saul openly confesses David's moral superiority: δίκαιος σὺ ὑπὲρ ἐμέ ('you are more righteous than I'). The antithetical chiasm — σὺ ἀνταπέδωκάς … ἀγαθά / ἐγὼ … ἀνταπέδωκά … κακά (good for evil, evil for good) — is the moral heart of the chapter, vindicating David from the slander of v. 10.

Word-by-word analysis· 19 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 Saul's confession.

ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable).

δίκαιοςrighteousNominativepredicate adjective ('you are righteous')→ participant prominenceδίκαιος: 'righteous / just / in the right'; renders צַדִּיק; Saul declares David to be in the right in their dispute.

σὺyouNominativesubject pronoun (emphatic: 'you')→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic 'you' (David) over against 'I' (Saul) in the moral comparison.

ὑπὲρmore thanpreposition + accusative (comparative: 'than')→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ (+ acc.): here comparative, 'more than'; δίκαιος σὺ ὑπὲρ ἐμέ ('you are more righteous than I') renders the Hebrew comparative צַדִּיק אַתָּה מִמֶּנִּי.

ἐμέme / IAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπέρ (the standard of comparison)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. ἐμέ): the comparison-point — Saul measures himself against David and finds himself wanting.

ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the ground of Saul's verdict.

σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you,' contrasted with the following ἐγώ.

ἀνταπέδωκάςyou have repaidAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀνταποδίδωμιmain verb of the causal clause (David's recompense)→ verbal action or stateἀνταποδίδωμι: 'repay / requite / render in return'; renders גָּמַל / שִׁלֵּם; the prefix ἀντ- stresses requital — David returned good in exchange for Saul's hostility.

μοιto meDativedative of indirect object (Saul as recipient)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (Saul as recipient).

ἀγαθάgood thingsAccusativedirect object of ἀνταπέδωκας ('good')→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; neuter plural 'good things'; renders טוֹבָה; the good David rendered = sparing Saul's life.

ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun (contrast with σύ)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' (Saul) over against David, completing the antithesis.

δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; marks the contrast between David's good and Saul's evil.

ἀνταπέδωκάI have repaidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀνταποδίδωμιmain verb (Saul's recompense)→ verbal action or stateἀνταποδίδωμι: see above; Saul confesses that he requited David's good with evil — the inversion of justice.

σοιto youDativedative of indirect object (David as recipient)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (David as recipient).

κακάevil thingsAccusativedirect object of ἀνταπέδωκα ('evil')→ object specificationκακός: 'evil / bad'; neuter plural 'evil things'; renders רָעָה; the harm Saul inflicted by his relentless pursuit, now confessed.

καὶ σὺ ἀπήγγειλάς μοι σήμερον ἃ ἐποίησάς μοι ἀγαθά ὡς ἀπέκλεισέν με κύριος σήμερον εἰς χεῖράς σου καὶ οὐκ ἀπέκτεινάς με

And you have declared to me today the good things you did to me, how the LORD shut me up today into your hands, and you did not kill me.

Saul elaborates the proof of David's goodnessκαὶ σὺ ἀπήγγειλάς μοι σήμερον

Saul acknowledges what David's evidence (the robe) declared: YHWH had 'shut him up' (ἀπέκλεισεν) into David's hands, yet David did not kill him (οὐκ ἀπέκτεινάς με). The verb ἀπέκλεισεν ('shut up / hand over') echoes παρέδωκεν of v. 11 — Saul now confirms the very deliverance David had claimed.

Word-by-word analysis· 21 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you' (David) as the one who has shown the proof.

ἀπήγγειλάςyou declaredAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (David's disclosure)→ verbal action or stateἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / declare / make known'; renders נָגַד / הִגִּיד; David's showing of the robe and his speech amounted to a declaration of his goodwill.

μοιto meDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.

σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; the events of this very day are the substance of David's declaration.

ἃthe things whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object: 'the things which')→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; neuter plural ἅ ('the things which') introduces the relative clause defining the 'good.'

ἐποίησάςyou didAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause ('which you did')→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; the good David 'did' = his act of sparing Saul.

ἀγαθάgood thingsAccusativeaccusative in apposition / antecedent of ἅ ('good things')→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; neuter plural; the benefits David conferred on Saul by his mercy.

ὡςhow / thatconjunction (introducing explanatory clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'how / that'; introduces the specific instance of David's good — the LORD's delivery of Saul into his hand.

ἀπέκλεισένshut up / deliveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκλείωverb of the ὡς-clause (the divine handing-over)→ verbal action or stateἀποκλείω: 'shut up / shut in / hand over'; renders סִגֵּר ('deliver up / shut in'); Saul acknowledges that YHWH 'shut him up' into David's power — echoing παρέδωκεν of v. 11.

μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκλεισεν (Saul handed over)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀπέκλεισεν (Saul handed over).

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀπέκλεισεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; even Saul confesses that YHWH was the agent who delivered him into David's hand.

σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; repeated for emphasis on the immediacy of the proof.

χεῖράςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς ('into your hands')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; εἰς χεῖράς σου ('into your hands') = into David's power; Saul concedes his life had been at David's mercy.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your hands')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your hands').

καὶand yetcoordinate conjunction (adversative in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and yet'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀπέκτεινας)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀπέκτεινάςyou killedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (negated: 'you did not kill')→ verbal action or stateἀποκτείνω: 'kill / slay'; the negated aorist confirms David's mercy from Saul's own mouth — the climactic admission that David spared him.

μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκτεινας→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀπέκτεινας.

καὶ ὅτι εἰ εὕροιτό τις τὸν ἐχθρὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν θλίψει καὶ ἐκπέμψαι αὐτὸν ἐν ὁδῷ ἀγαθῇ καὶ κύριος ἀνταποτείσει αὐτῷ ἀγαθά καθὼς πεποίηκας σήμερον

And if a man should find his enemy in distress and send him away on a good road, then the LORD will repay him with good, even as you have done today.

Generalizing maxim: the LORD rewards mercy to an enemyκαὶ ὅτι εἰ εὕροιτό τις

Saul universalizes David's act into a moral principle: whoever finds an enemy helpless and sends him away unharmed will be repaid by YHWH with good (κύριος ἀνταποτείσει αὐτῷ ἀγαθά). The closing καθὼς πεποίηκας σήμερον ('as you have done today') applies the maxim directly to David, pronouncing a blessing on him.

Word-by-word analysis· 24 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὅτιthat / forconjunction (introducing the maxim)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here introducing Saul's generalizing reflection, loosely 'and [I know] that...'

εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; with the optative εὕροιτο introduces a generalizing/potential condition.

εὕροιτόshould findAor Mid Opt 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of the protasis (potential optative)→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω (aor. mid. opt.): 'find'; the optative in the protasis frames a general supposition: 'if anyone were to find...'

τιςsomeone / a manNominativesubject of εὕροιτο (indefinite: 'anyone')→ participant referenceτις: indefinite pronoun 'someone / a man'; generalizes the principle beyond David to anyone.

τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐχθρὸνenemyAccusativedirect object of εὕροιτο ('his enemy')→ object specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy'; renders אוֹיֵב; the very word David's men used of Saul (v. 5), now turned around in Saul's reflection.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship ('his enemy')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('his enemy').

ἐνinpreposition + dative (state/circumstance)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (state/circumstance).

θλίψειdistress / afflictionDativedative of circumstance ('in distress')→ sphere or referenceθλῖψις: 'affliction / distress / trouble'; renders צָרָה; the enemy found 'in distress' = helpless and at one's mercy, as Saul was in the cave.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐκπέμψαιshould send awayAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ἐκπέμπωverb of the protasis (coordinate optative)→ verbal action or stateἐκπέμπω: 'send out / send away / let go'; renders שִׁלַּח; to release the helpless enemy unharmed — exactly what David did with Saul.

αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐκπέμψαι (the enemy released)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐκπέμψαι (the enemy released).

ἐνonpreposition + dative ('on a good road')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative ('on a good road').

ὁδῷroad / wayDativedative of place ('on a way')→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'road / way'; ἐν ὁδῷ ἀγαθῇ ('on a good road') = sending him off safely and kindly.

ἀγαθῇgoodDativeattributive adjective ('a good way')→ sphere or referenceἀγαθός: 'good'; the 'good way' connotes a safe, benevolent send-off, the opposite of harm.

καὶthen / andcoordinate conjunction (apodosis-marker after condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here apodotic, introducing the consequence of the condition ('then the LORD will repay').

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀνταποτείσει (apodosis)→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH himself is the one who will reward the merciful act.

ἀνταποτείσειwill repayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνταποτίνωmain verb of the apodosis (divine recompense)→ verbal action or stateἀνταποτίνω: 'repay / requite in full'; the double-compound ἀντ-απο- intensifies the sense of full requital; renders שִׁלֵּם; YHWH will recompense the merciful with good.

αὐτῷhimDativedative of indirect object (the one rewarded)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the one rewarded).

ἀγαθάgood thingsAccusativedirect object of ἀνταποτείσει ('good')→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; neuter plural; the divine reward for mercy shown to an enemy.

καθὼςas / even ascomparative conjunction (applying the maxim to David)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'as / just as'; applies the general principle directly to David's deed.

πεποίηκαςyou have donePerf Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωverb of the comparative clause (David's deed)→ verbal action or stateποιέω (perf.): 'do / make'; the perfect πεποίηκας ('you have done') marks David's act of mercy as accomplished and standing — the very deed Saul prays God will reward.

σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; anchors David's exemplary mercy in the present day.

καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ γινώσκω ὅτι βασιλεύων βασιλεύσεις καὶ στήσεται ἐν χερσίν σου βασιλεία Ισραηλ

And now, behold, I know that you shall surely reign, and the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hands.

Saul's recognition of David's destined kingshipκαὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ γινώσκω

Saul confesses the great secret of the narrative: ἐγὼ γινώσκω ὅτι βασιλεύων βασιλεύσεις ('I know that you shall surely reign'). The figura etymologica βασιλεύων βασιλεύσεις (participle + cognate future) renders the Hebrew infinitive-absolute construction מָלֹךְ תִּמְלוֹךְ, expressing the certainty of David's accession; the dynasty's establishment 'in your hands' inverts Saul's own failed kingship.

Word-by-word analysis· 15 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition marker)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν introduces Saul's climactic confession.

ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; dramatizes the solemn acknowledgment that follows.

ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I myself' — even Saul, David's rival, knows it.

γινώσκωI knowPres Act Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (Saul's settled knowledge)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; renders יָדַע; Saul's admission of certain knowledge that David will succeed him is a stunning concession from the reigning king.

ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause after γινώσκω)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: introduces the content of Saul's knowledge.

βασιλεύωνsurely reigningPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · βασιλεύωparticiple (cognate, intensifying βασιλεύσεις: figura etymologica)→ verbal action or stateβασιλεύω (pres. ptcp.): 'reign / be king'; the participle βασιλεύων with the cognate future βασιλεύσεις renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute מָלֹךְ תִּמְלוֹךְ ('you shall surely reign'), a figura etymologica expressing the certainty of David's kingship.

βασιλεύσειςyou shall reignFut Act Indic 2 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb of the object clause (the prophesied reign)→ verbal action or stateβασιλεύω (fut.): 'reign / become king'; the cognate-future completion of the figura etymologica; David's reign is presented as a settled certainty.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

στήσεταιshall be established / standFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (the kingdom's establishment)→ verbal action or stateἵστημι (fut. mid.): 'stand / be established'; renders קוּם / נָכוֹן; the kingdom of Israel will 'stand firm' in David's hands — a permanence Saul's own house was denied (cf. 1 Kgdms 13:13–14).

ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in your hands')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in your hands').

χερσίνhandsDativedative of place ('in your hands')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χερσίν σου ('in your hands') = under David's secure control; the same 'hands' that spared Saul will hold the kingdom.

βασιλείαkingdomNominativesubject of στήσεται ('the kingdom')→ participant prominenceβασιλεία: 'kingdom / kingship / reign'; renders מַמְלָכָה / מְלוּכָה; the kingship over Israel that will pass to David.

Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; defines the kingdom as that of the whole nation.

καὶ νῦν ὄμοσόν μοι ἐν κυρίῳ ὅτι οὐκ ἐξολεθρεύσεις τὸ σπέρμα μου ὀπίσω μου καὶ οὐκ ἀφανιεῖς τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός μου

And now swear to me by the LORD that you will not destroy my seed after me, and that you will not blot out my name from my father's house.

Saul's demand for a dynastic oathκαὶ νῦν ὄμοσόν μοι ἐν κυρίῳ

Recognizing David's coming reign, Saul exacts an oath by YHWH (ὄμοσόν μοι ἐν κυρίῳ) for the protection of his line: that David will neither destroy his seed (οὐκ ἐξολεθρεύσεις τὸ σπέρμα) nor blot out his name (οὐκ ἀφανιεῖς τὸ ὄνομα) — the standard ancient-Near-Eastern fear that a new dynasty would exterminate the old. David's later treatment of Mephibosheth (2 Kgdms 9) fulfils this oath.

Word-by-word analysis· 26 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition to request)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν introduces the practical demand following the recognition.

ὄμοσόνswearAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ὀμνύωmain verb (imperative: Saul's demand)→ verbal action or stateὀμνύω: 'swear / take an oath'; renders נִשְׁבַּע; Saul requires a binding sworn pledge from David.

μοιto meDativedative of indirect object (the one to whom the oath is sworn)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the one to whom the oath is sworn).

ἐνbypreposition + dative (oath-formula: 'by the LORD')→ spatial or relational framingἐν (+ dat.): in the oath-idiom ὄμοσον ἐν κυρίῳ ('swear by the LORD'), rendering the Hebrew הִשָּׁבַע בַּיהוָה — YHWH is invoked as guarantor of the oath.

κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of ἐν (the LORD as oath-guarantor)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton יהוה; David is to swear 'by the LORD,' binding the oath with the divine name.

ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of the oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: introduces the sworn content.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐξολεθρεύσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐξολεθρεύσειςyou will destroy / cut offFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb of the oath-content (negated)→ verbal action or stateἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate / cut off'; the LXX intensive for כָּרַת / הִשְׁמִיד; Saul's fear is the total annihilation of his descendants by the incoming dynasty.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

σπέρμαseed / offspringAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεύσεις→ object specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / offspring / descendants'; renders זֶרַע; Saul's posterity, whom he fears David will exterminate.

μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship ('my seed')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('my seed').

ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('after me')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; ὀπίσω μου ('after me') = my descendants who survive me; renders אַחֲרַי.

μουmeGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω ('after me')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ὀπίσω ('after me').

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second oath-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀφανιεῖς)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀφανιεῖςyou will blot out / effaceFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀφανίζωmain verb of the second oath-clause (negated)→ verbal action or stateἀφανίζω: 'make disappear / efface / blot out'; renders הִשְׁמִיד / מָחָה; to 'blot out a name' is to erase a family's memory and continuance — the second great dynastic fear.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὄνομάnameAccusativedirect object of ἀφανιεῖς ('my name')→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; the family 'name' embodies its memory and ongoing identity; to blot it out is to end the house.

μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession ('my name')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('my name').

ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the house')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from the house').

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from the house')→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house / household / family line'; renders בַּיִת; here the family/dynasty of Saul's father.

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive (defining οἴκου: 'my father's house')→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός μου ('the house of my father') denotes Saul's whole ancestral line, whose continuance he seeks to secure.

μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship ('my father')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship ('my father').

καὶ ὤμοσεν Δαυιδ τῷ Σαουλ καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Σαουλ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ καὶ Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὴν Μεσσαρα στενήν

And David swore to Saul; and Saul departed to his own place, but David and his men went up to the stronghold of Messara.

Conclusion: the oath sworn and the parting of the ways (section E)καὶ ὤμοσεν Δαυιδ τῷ Σαουλ

The chapter closes with three coordinated aorists: David swears (ὤμοσεν), Saul departs (ἀπῆλθεν), and David and his men ascend to the stronghold (ἀνέβησαν). The mutual withdrawal — Saul to 'his own place,' David back up to the heights — leaves the reconciliation provisional; David does not yet trust himself to the king, foreshadowing the renewed estrangement of the following chapters.

Word-by-word analysis· 23 words

καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὤμοσενsworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀμνύωmain verb (David fulfils Saul's demand)→ verbal action or stateὀμνύω: 'swear / take an oath'; renders נִשְׁבַּע; David grants the oath Saul demanded in v. 22, binding himself to spare Saul's line.

τῷto the / toDativearticle (governing the indeclinable name in the dative)→ noun-phrase markingὁ (dat. article with Σαουλ): marks Saul as the dative indirect object; the LXX adds the article to decline the indeclinable Hebrew name.

ΣαουλSauldative of indirect object (indeclinable: 'to Saul')→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of indirect object (indeclinable: 'to Saul').

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀπῆλθενdepartedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (Saul's departure)→ verbal action or stateἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; renders הָלַךְ; Saul leaves the scene, the confrontation ended.

εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of motion).

τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς ('to his place')→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; renders מָקוֹם; εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ('to his own place') = Saul returns home, presumably to Gibeah.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his place')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('his place').

καὶbutcoordinate conjunction (contrastive in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (co-subject: David's men)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: David's followers, who ascend with him to the refuge.

ἀνέβησανwent upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (David's ascent to the stronghold)→ verbal action or stateἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; David does not follow Saul home but withdraws upward to a defensible refuge — prudent distance despite the reconciliation, framing the chapter with the ascent of v. 1.

εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of motion).

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΜεσσαραMessaraindeclinable place-name (in apposition with στενήν)→ participant identificationΜεσσαρα: a transliteration of Hebrew מְצוּדָה ('stronghold / fastness'); the LXX treats the Hebrew common noun as a proper place-name, qualified by στενήν ('the narrow [stronghold of] Messara').

στενήνnarrow / strongholdAccusativeattributive adjective (with Μεσσαρα: 'the narrow stronghold')→ object specificationστενός: 'narrow'; substantivally 'narrow place / defile / stronghold' (cf. τοῖς στενοῖς, v. 1); the feminine στενήν agrees with the article τήν, designating the inaccessible refuge to which David ascends.

The First Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 24ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Α′ ΚΔ′

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Translation & textual notes