1
καὶ τὸ παιδάριον Σαμουηλ ἦν λειτουργῶν τῷ κυρίῳ ἐνώπιον Ηλι τοῦ ἱερέως καὶ ῥῆμα κυρίου ἦν τίμιον ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἦν ὅρασις διαστέλλουσα
And the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli the priest; and the word of the LORD was precious in those days, there was no distinct vision.
The chapter opens with two periphrastic-imperfect circumstantial clauses (ἦν λειτουργῶν; ἦν τίμιον) that set the stage rather than advance the plot: Samuel's ongoing temple service, and the rarity of revelation. The double ἦν frames the era as one of liturgical continuity but prophetic silence, preparing for the breakthrough of the call.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboy / ladNominativesubject (with appositional Σαμουηλ)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: diminutive of παῖς, 'little boy / young servant'; renders Hebrew נַעַר; the term stresses Samuel's youth and dependent status, heightening the wonder that the LORD's word should come to him rather than to the established priesthood.
ΣαμουηλSamuelappositional subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: transliteration of Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the name (popularly etymologized 'asked of God / heard of God', cf. 1:20) frames the boy whose chief act in this chapter is to hear and to be heard by the LORD.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula of periphrastic imperfect (with λειτουργῶν)→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf.): the imperfect ἦν with the present participle λειτουργῶν forms a periphrastic imperfect ('was ministering'), expressing Samuel's habitual, continuing temple service as the settled backdrop to the narrative.
λειτουργῶνministering / servingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λειτουργέωparticiple in periphrasis with ἦν→ verbal action or stateλειτουργέω: 'serve / minister (esp. in cultic/priestly office)'; renders Hebrew שֵׁרֵת; the LXX uses λειτουργέω for sanctioned sacred service, dignifying the boy's role at the sanctuary even before his prophetic vocation.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of the one served (with λειτουργῶν)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative marks the LORD as the object of Samuel's cultic service — his ministry is to God directly, mediated through the sanctuary at Shiloh.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the presence ofpreposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the sight of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; locates Samuel's service under Eli's priestly oversight, setting up the irony that the divine word will bypass the senior priest for the boy.
ΗλιEligenitive object of ἐνώπιον (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΗλι: transliteration of Hebrew עֵלִי; indeclinable in the LXX; the aged priest of Shiloh under whose charge Samuel serves and against whose house the chapter's oracle is directed.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἱερέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ηλι→ relational specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the appositional title underscores Eli's official cultic standing, against which his impending judgement is the more striking.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing second circumstantial clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ῥῆμαwordNominativesubject (of ἦν τίμιον)→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / utterance / thing-said'; renders Hebrew דָּבָר; ῥῆμα κυρίου denotes prophetic revelation, the divine communication that is precisely what is in short supply in 'those days.'
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (the LORD's word)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the genitive marks the word as originating from YHWH — divine revelation, not human counsel.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate τίμιον)→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf.): the second ἦν links the subject ῥῆμα κυρίου to its predicate τίμιον, describing the chronic condition of the era rather than a momentary fact.
τίμιονprecious / rareNominativepredicate adjective (with ἦν)→ participant prominenceτίμιος: 'valued / costly / rare'; renders Hebrew יָקָר, which here carries the nuance 'rare, scarce' (something precious because seldom found); the LXX preserves the double sense — the divine word is both prized and in short supply.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with ἡμέραις)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'in the days')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the plural with ἐκείναις denotes a whole era; ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις is a stock LXX temporal formula ('in those days') framing the period of revelatory scarcity.
ἐκείναιςthoseDativedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέραις)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that / those'; the distal demonstrative sets the era at a remove from the narrator's vantage, casting the prophetic drought as a bygone, dark period now to be broken.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἦν)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ: objective negative; here negating the existence of διαστέλλουσα vision — there simply was no clear revelatory seeing.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential copula (with οὐκ: 'there was no')→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf.): existential use ('there was'); with the negative it asserts the absence of prophetic vision throughout the era.
ὅρασιςvisionNominativesubject (of existential ἦν)→ participant prominenceὅρασις: 'sight / vision / appearance'; renders Hebrew חָזוֹן; the technical term for prophetic vision — its absence is the precise complement to the rarity of the ῥῆμα κυρίου, a comprehensive picture of revelatory silence.
διαστέλλουσαdistinguishing / making clearPres Act Part Nom Sg Fem · διαστέλλωattributive participle (modifying ὅρασις)→ verbal action or stateδιαστέλλω: 'distinguish / set apart / make distinct'; the present participle qualifies ὅρασις as a vision that 'makes things clear / breaks through'; it glosses Hebrew נִפְרָץ ('widespread' or 'breaking forth'), the LXX construing the rarity as the lack of any clearly-discriminating revelatory seeing.
2
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ Ηλι ἐκάθευδεν ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἤρξαντο βαρύνεσθαι καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο βλέπειν
And it came to pass on that day that Eli was sleeping in his place, and his eyes had begun to grow heavy, and he could not see.
The καὶ ἐγένετο … καί construction is a Hebraism (וַיְהִי) marking a temporal setting followed by the main event-clause. The notice of Eli's failing eyes (ἤρξαντο βαρύνεσθαι … οὐκ ἠδύνατο βλέπειν) is both literal and symbolic: the priest who cannot see physically also lacks the διαστέλλουσα vision of v. 1, in pointed contrast to the boy about to hear God.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 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 of temporal-onset formula (καὶ ἐγένετο)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor.): 'become / happen / come to pass'; καὶ ἐγένετο renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי, introducing a temporal frame; the following καί before the main clause is the apodotic καί characteristic of this Hebraism.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; here ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ designates the specific occasion of the call, narrowing from the era ('those days,' v. 1) to a single decisive day/night.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; pins the action to the particular day on which the LORD breaks the silence.
καὶandapodotic καί (introducing main clause after temporal frame)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the apodotic καί following καὶ ἐγένετο + temporal phrase, a Hebraism left untranslated in idiomatic English ('… that Eli was sleeping').
ΗλιElisubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΗλι: the aged priest; his physical posture (sleeping, in his own place) and failing sight characterize him as passive and dim, foil to the alert, hearing boy.
ἐκάθευδενwas sleeping / was lying downImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · καθεύδωmain verb (background imperfect)→ verbal action or stateκαθεύδω: 'sleep / lie down'; renders Hebrew שָׁכַב; the imperfect depicts Eli's settled night-repose, setting the nocturnal scene of the call (cf. Samuel sleeping, v. 3).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with τόπῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπῳplaceDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceτόπος: 'place / spot'; renders Hebrew מָקוֹם; Eli's customary sleeping-quarters within the sanctuary precincts.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with τόπῳ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with τόπῳ).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ὀφθαλμοὶ)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὶeyesNominativesubject (of ἤρξαντο)→ participant prominenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders Hebrew עַיִן; Eli's failing eyes function symbolically — the priest's loss of sight mirrors the era's loss of διαστέλλουσα vision (v. 1).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμοὶ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμοὶ).
ἤρξαντοhad begunAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἄρχωmain verb (ingressive, with complementary infinitive)→ verbal action or stateἄρχομαι (aor. mid.): 'begin'; takes the complementary infinitive βαρύνεσθαι; the middle marks the onset of Eli's progressive blindness — a process already underway.
βαρύνεσθαιto grow heavy / dimPres Mid/Pass Inf · βαρύνωcomplementary infinitive (with ἤρξαντο)→ verbal action or stateβαρύνω: 'weigh down / make heavy'; in the passive of eyes, 'grow dim/heavy'; renders Hebrew כָּהָה ('grow dim'); the same verb describes Pharaoh's heart being 'made heavy' — here applied to the literal heaviness of failing sight.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἠδύνατο)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἠδύνατοhe could / was ableImpf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb (with complementary infinitive βλέπειν)→ verbal action or stateδύναμαι (impf.): 'be able'; with οὐκ and the infinitive βλέπειν, 'he could not see'; the imperfect frames Eli's blindness as a continuing state, completing the symbolic picture of the unseeing priest.
βλέπεινto seePres Act Inf · βλέπωcomplementary infinitive (with ἠδύνατο)→ verbal action or stateβλέπω: 'see / look'; renders Hebrew רָאָה; Eli's incapacity to see physically stands in pointed counterpoint to Samuel, who will 'hear' the LORD and later 'see' the vision (ὅρασις, v. 15).
3
καὶ ὁ λύχνος τοῦ θεοῦ πρὶν ἐπισκευασθῆναι καὶ Σαμουηλ ἐκάθευδεν ἐν τῷ ναῷ οὗ ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ
And the lamp of God before it was tended; and Samuel was sleeping in the temple, where the ark of God was.
The lamp of God 'before it was tended/replenished' marks the time as the small hours before dawn, when the sanctuary lamp had nearly burned down but had not yet been refilled. The clause locating Samuel ἐν τῷ ναῷ οὗ ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ places the boy in maximal proximity to the divine presence enthroned over the ark — the appropriate setting for revelation.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λύχνος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λύχνοςlampNominativesubject (of an implied verbless clause)→ participant prominenceλύχνος: 'lamp'; renders Hebrew נֵר; the lamp of God is the sanctuary menorah/lamp that was to burn through the night (cf. Exod 27:20–21); its near-spent state marks the pre-dawn hour.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive (the lamp belonging to God / in God's sanctuary)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders Hebrew אֱלֹהִים; the lamp 'of God' denotes the sacred sanctuary lamp; the genitive marks it as cultic property dedicated to divine service.
πρὶνbeforetemporal conjunction (with infinitive: 'before')→ discourse linkage or contrastπρίν: 'before'; with the aorist infinitive ἐπισκευασθῆναι it forms a temporal clause, 'before it was tended/replenished' — fixing the moment at the lamp's lowest ebb, just before the morning maintenance.
ἐπισκευασθῆναιto be tended / replenishedAor Pass Inf · ἐπισκευάζωinfinitive with πρίν (temporal clause)→ verbal action or stateἐπισκευάζω: 'put in order / refit / repair'; the passive infinitive here means the lamp's being trimmed and refilled; the clause situates the call before the morning servicing of the lamp, i.e. in the deep of night.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the Samuel-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the boy is now located precisely within the sanctuary, near the ark — the spatial setting prepares for the LORD's call.
ἐκάθευδενwas sleepingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · καθεύδωmain verb (background imperfect)→ verbal action or stateκαθεύδω: 'sleep / lie down'; the same verb as of Eli (v. 2), pairing the two sleepers; but where Eli's sleep is mere repose, Samuel's will be interrupted by the divine voice.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ναῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ναῷtemple / sanctuaryDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceναός: 'temple / sanctuary / shrine'; renders Hebrew הֵיכָל; the term for the inner sanctuary building at Shiloh; Samuel's sleeping within it places him in the holiest accessible space.
οὗwhererelative adverb of place ('where')→ participant referenceοὗ: relative adverb 'where'; introduces the locative relative clause specifying the sanctuary as the place where the ark was kept.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with κιβωτὸς)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of verbless relative clause ('where the ark [was]')→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: 'box / chest / ark'; renders Hebrew אֲרוֹן; the ark of the covenant, locus of the divine presence enthroned between the cherubim; its proximity makes the sanctuary the fitting place for the LORD to speak.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession (the ark of God)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ('the ark of God') names the sacred object as God's own, the throne-footstool of his earthly presence.
4
καὶ ἐκάλεσεν κύριος Σαμουηλ Σαμουηλ καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ ἐγώ
And the LORD called, 'Samuel, Samuel'; and he said, 'Here I am.'
The aorist ἐκάλεσεν is the chapter's hinge — the first divine speech-act after the era of silence. The doubled vocative Σαμουηλ Σαμουηλ is the LXX's intensive personal summons (cf. Abraham, Moses, Jacob), and Samuel's ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ('Here I am') is the classic ready-to-obey response — though here misdirected, since he supposes Eli is calling.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (divine call)→ verbal action or stateκαλέω: 'call / summon / name'; renders Hebrew קָרָא; the verb recurs as the leitmotif of the chapter (vv. 4, 5, 6, 8, 10), tracking the call repeatedly mistaken before it is rightly received.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the explicit divine subject identifies the caller for the reader, even though Samuel does not yet recognize the voice.
ΣαμουηλSamuelvocative object of address (indeclinable; first of doubled call)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the first member of the emphatic doubled vocative; direct address by name as the object of ἐκάλεσεν.
ΣαμουηλSamuelvocative (second of doubled call: intensive summons)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the doubled name (Σαμουηλ Σαμουηλ) is a Hebraic intensive vocative of urgent personal summons, paralleling Ἀβραὰμ Ἀβραάμ (Gen 22:11) and Μωυσῆ Μωυσῆ (Exod 3:4).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Samuel's response)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say'; introduces Samuel's reply; the subject shifts to Samuel, whose ἰδοὺ ἐγώ answers a summons he misattributes to Eli.
ἰδοὺbehold / herepresentative interjection (with ἐγώ: 'here I am')→ clausal contributionἰδού: presentative particle 'behold / look'; renders Hebrew הִנֵּה; the phrase ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ('here I am, הִנֵּנִי') is the formulaic response of availability and readiness to obey (cf. Gen 22:1; Exod 3:4; Isa 6:8).
ἐγώINominativepredicate of presentative ἰδού ('here [am] I')→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic personal pronoun; with ἰδού forms the self-presenting response 'here I am'; Samuel's prompt obedience is genuine, though directed to the wrong master.
5
καὶ ἔδραμεν πρὸς Ηλι καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ὅτι κέκληκάς με καὶ εἶπεν οὐ κέκληκά σε ἀνάστρεφε κάθευδε καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν καὶ ἐκάθευδεν
And he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me'; and he said, 'I did not call you; go back, sleep.' And he went back and slept.
The first of three parallel scenes (vv. 5, 6, 8). Each has the same structure: Samuel runs/goes to Eli with ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ὅτι κέκληκάς με; Eli denies (οὐ κέκληκά σε) and sends him back to sleep. The perfect κέκληκα (both Samuel's and Eli's) frames the call as a standing, present-relevant act, sharpening the dramatic irony — a call has truly been issued, but not by Eli.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδραμενhe ranAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τρέχωmain verb (sequential action)→ verbal action or stateτρέχω (aor. ἔδραμεν): 'run'; renders Hebrew רוּץ; the eager running conveys Samuel's prompt, dutiful response to what he takes to be Eli's summons — zeal without yet the knowledge of its true source.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΗλιEliaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΗλι: the misidentified caller; Samuel naturally assumes the voice is the priest's, the only authority who would summon him at night.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Samuel's words to Eli.
ἰδοὺbehold / herepresentative interjection (with ἐγώ)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ('here I am') again expresses ready availability; the repetition across the call-scenes underscores Samuel's consistent obedience.
ἐγώINominativepredicate of presentative ἰδού→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as predicate of presentative ἰδού.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces Samuel's reason for coming — his (mistaken) conviction that Eli had called.
κέκληκάςyou have calledPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · καλέωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateκαλέω (perf.): the perfect κέκληκας ('you have called') presents the summons as an accomplished act with present effect; the irony is that a call has indeed been issued and stands — but the LORD, not Eli, is its author.
μεmeAccusativedirect object (of κέκληκας)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of κέκληκας).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Eli's reply)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Eli's denial and instruction.
οὐnotnegative adverb (with κέκληκά)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative adverb (with κέκληκά).
κέκληκάI have calledPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · καλέωmain verb (Eli's denial)→ verbal action or stateκαλέω (perf.): Eli's οὐ κέκληκά σε ('I have not called you') truthfully denies authorship; the matched perfects (κέκληκας / κέκληκα) lock the dialogue around the question of who has truly issued the summons.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (of κέκληκά)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of κέκληκά).
ἀνάστρεφεgo back / returnPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; the present imperative directs Samuel to return to his place; paired with κάθευδε in asyndeton, it forms Eli's brusque dismissal.
κάθευδεsleep / lie downPres Act Impv 2 Sg · καθεύδωmain verb (imperative, asyndetic with ἀνάστρεφε)→ verbal action or stateκαθεύδω: 'sleep'; the imperative resumes the verb of the night-setting (vv. 2–3); Eli sends the boy back to bed, not yet discerning the divine source.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστρεψενhe went backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (compliance)→ verbal action or stateἀναστρέφω (aor.): Samuel's obedient return enacts Eli's command (ἀνάστρεφε), the aorist marking the accomplished compliance.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθευδενhe slept / lay downImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · καθεύδωmain verb (resultant state)→ verbal action or stateκαθεύδω (impf.): the shift to the imperfect after the aorist ἀνέστρεψεν depicts Samuel settling back into sleep — the calm before the call recurs.
6
καὶ προσέθετο κύριος καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Σαμουηλ Σαμουηλ καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς Ηλι τὸ δεύτερον καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ὅτι κέκληκάς με καὶ εἶπεν οὐ κέκληκά σε ἀνάστρεφε κάθευδε
And the LORD called again, 'Samuel, Samuel'; and he went to Eli a second time and said, 'Here I am, for you called me'; and he said, 'I did not call you, my child; go back, sleep.'
The second call-scene. προσέθετο … καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ('he added and called' = 'he called again') is a Hebraism (יָסַף + verb) for repeated action. The explicit τὸ δεύτερον ('a second time') marks the numbered escalation toward the climactic third/fourth call. The scene closely mirrors v. 5, building the pattern of obedience-without-recognition.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσέθετοhe did again / proceededAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (auxiliary in Hebraistic 'again' construction)→ verbal action or stateπροστίθημι (aor. mid.): 'add / proceed to do again'; προσέθετο … καὶ ἐκάλεσεν is a calque of the Hebrew idiom יָסַף + verb ('he again called'); the auxiliary verb carries the sense 'once more,' marking the second summons (cf. v. 8, v. 21).
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD persists in calling, the divine initiative undeterred by Samuel's misrecognition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking auxiliary to main verb)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (the actual calling)→ verbal action or stateκαλέω: the leitmotif verb; with προσέθετο it forms 'called again.'
ΣαμουηλSamuelvocative object of address (first of doubled call)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: first member of the renewed doubled vocative.
ΣαμουηλSamuelvocative (second of doubled call)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the doubled name repeats the intensive personal summons of v. 4.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηhe wentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (sequential action)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'go / proceed'; renders Hebrew הָלַךְ; the verb varies from ἔδραμεν (v. 5, 'ran') to ἐπορεύθη ('went'), perhaps a slight diminution of haste as the repeated summons begins to puzzle the boy.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΗλιEliaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: again the misidentified caller.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with adverbial δεύτερον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δεύτερονsecond timeAccusativeadverbial accusative (ordinal: 'a second time')→ object specificationδεύτερος: 'second'; the articular adverbial accusative τὸ δεύτερον means 'the second time / again'; the explicit numbering builds the threefold/fourfold pattern of the call-sequence.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Samuel's repeated reply, verbatim as in v. 5.
ἰδοὺbehold / herepresentative interjection (with ἐγώ)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; the formula ἰδοὺ ἐγώ recurs unchanged.
ἐγώINominativepredicate of presentative ἰδού→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as predicate of presentative ἰδού.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces Samuel's stated reason, identical to v. 5.
κέκληκάςyou have calledPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · καλέωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateκαλέω (perf.): the perfect again presents the call as an accomplished, present-effective act, attributed to Eli.
μεmeAccusativedirect object (of κέκληκας)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of κέκληκας).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Eli's reply)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Eli's second denial.
οὐnotnegative adverb (with κέκληκά)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative adverb (with κέκληκά).
κέκληκάI have calledPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · καλέωmain verb (Eli's denial)→ verbal action or stateκαλέω (perf.): Eli's repeated οὐ κέκληκά σε continues to disclaim the summons; the unvarying denial heightens the suspense before recognition dawns in v. 8.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (of κέκληκά)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of κέκληκά).
ἀνάστρεφεgo back / returnPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateἀναστρέφω: 'return'; Eli again sends the boy back, repeating the dismissal of v. 5.
κάθευδεsleep / lie downPres Act Impv 2 Sg · καθεύδωmain verb (imperative, asyndetic)→ verbal action or stateκαθεύδω: 'sleep'; the recurring command to return to bed marks Eli's still-unenlightened state.
7
καὶ Σαμουηλ πρὶν ἢ γνῶναι θεὸν καὶ ἀποκαλυφθῆναι αὐτῷ ῥῆμα κυρίου
Now Samuel, before he knew God, and before the word of the LORD was revealed to him —
A narrator's parenthetical interrupting the call-sequence to explain why Samuel keeps misattributing the voice: he did not yet 'know God' experientially, and the ῥῆμα κυρίου had not yet been 'revealed' (ἀποκαλυφθῆναι) to him. The two πρίν-infinitives place this lack of relationship and revelation as the precondition for the confusion. The verse echoes v. 1's revelatory drought at the personal level.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶnow / andconjunction introducing parenthetical aside→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (topical, fronted; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: fronted as the topic of the explanatory aside; the verse describes his spiritual state, not an action.
πρὶνbeforetemporal conjunction (with ἢ + infinitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastπρίν: 'before'; the combination πρὶν ἤ ('before') with the aorist infinitive γνῶναι expresses anteriority — Samuel's state prior to knowing God.
ἢthan / [before]particle reinforcing πρίν (πρὶν ἤ = 'before')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: with πρίν forms the fuller temporal idiom πρὶν ἤ ('before [ever]'); the doubled particle is common in the LXX and Koine.
γνῶναιto knowAor Act Inf · γινώσκωinfinitive with πρὶν ἤ (temporal clause)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know / come to know (relationally)'; renders Hebrew יָדַע; the 'knowing' here is experiential acquaintance with God through revelation, not mere intellectual awareness — Samuel served God (v. 1) but had not yet personally received his word.
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object (of γνῶναι)→ object specificationθεός: 'God'; the object of the not-yet-attained knowing; the anarthrous θεόν stresses the category — Samuel had not yet had personal revelatory encounter with God.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking second infinitive clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλυφθῆναιto be revealedAor Pass Inf · ἀποκαλύπτωinfinitive (coordinate with γνῶναι under πρὶν ἤ)→ verbal action or stateἀποκαλύπτω: 'uncover / reveal'; renders Hebrew גָּלָה (Niphal 'be revealed'); the passive with ῥῆμα κυρίου as subject and αὐτῷ ('to him') as recipient marks divine self-disclosure — the very thing 'rare in those days' (v. 1) now about to occur.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of recipient (with ἀποκαλυφθῆναι)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of recipient (with ἀποκαλυφθῆναι).
ῥῆμαwordNominativesubject of the passive infinitive ἀποκαλυφθῆναι→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / utterance'; ῥῆμα κυρίου recalls v. 1, framing the whole call as the breaking of the personal revelatory silence in Samuel's own experience.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (the LORD's word)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the word that has not yet been revealed is specifically the LORD's prophetic word.
8
καὶ προσέθετο κύριος καλέσαι Σαμουηλ ἐν τρίτῳ καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς Ηλι καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ὅτι κέκληκάς με καὶ ἐσοφίσατο Ηλι ὅτι κύριος κέκληκεν τὸ παιδάριον
And the LORD called Samuel yet again, a third time; and he arose and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me'; and Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy.
The third call-scene reaches the cognitive turning-point. Here προσέθετο takes the complementary infinitive καλέσαι ('called again') and ἐν τρίτῳ ('a third time') completes the numbered sequence. The decisive verb is ἐσοφίσατο ('perceived/grew wise'): Eli at last discerns that κύριος is the caller. The perfect κέκληκεν (now with κύριος as subject) confirms what the matched perfects of vv. 5–6 had ironically pointed toward.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσέθετοhe did againAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (auxiliary with complementary infinitive)→ verbal action or stateπροστίθημι (aor. mid.): here construed with the infinitive καλέσαι ('proceeded to call' = 'called again'), the Hebraistic 'again' idiom; the third occurrence of προσέθετο in the call (cf. v. 6) marks the relentless divine persistence.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the third summons confirms beyond doubt that the call is divine.
καλέσαιto callAor Act Inf · καλέωcomplementary infinitive (with προσέθετο)→ verbal action or stateκαλέω (aor. inf.): the leitmotif verb, now as the complement of προσέθετο; the construction 'added to call' = 'called yet again.'
ΣαμουηλSamuelobject of καλέσαι (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the one called; here named once (the doubled vocative is not repeated in the third instance in the LXX).
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (ordinal: 'a third time')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: with the ordinal τρίτῳ forms the temporal phrase ἐν τρίτῳ ('a third time / on the third [occasion]'), completing the numbered call-sequence.
τρίτῳthird [time]Dativedative ordinal (with ἐν: temporal)→ sphere or referenceτρίτος: 'third'; the threefold call (ἐν τρίτῳ) climaxes the misrecognized summons and triggers Eli's discernment.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηhe aroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (sequential action)→ verbal action or stateἀνίστημι (aor. intrans.): 'rise / get up'; renders Hebrew קוּם; the added notice that Samuel 'arose' (not in vv. 5–6) heightens the deliberate, fully roused response on the climactic third call.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηhe wentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (sequential action)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'go'; Samuel goes to Eli a third time, repeating the now-familiar pattern.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΗλιEliaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: the priest, who on this third approach finally grasps the truth.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Samuel's reply, identical to vv. 5–6.
ἰδοὺbehold / herepresentative interjection (with ἐγώ)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; the formula ἰδοὺ ἐγώ once more.
ἐγώINominativepredicate of presentative ἰδού→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as predicate of presentative ἰδού.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces Samuel's reason, still attributing the call to Eli.
κέκληκάςyou have calledPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · καλέωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateκαλέω (perf.): the third repetition of κέκληκάς με; Samuel still cannot identify the true caller — but his words finally provoke Eli's recognition.
μεmeAccusativedirect object (of κέκληκας)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of κέκληκας).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the recognition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσοφίσατοperceived / grew wiseAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · σοφίζωmain verb (cognitive turning-point)→ verbal action or stateσοφίζω (aor. mid.): 'become wise / understand / discern'; renders Hebrew בִּין (Hiphil 'perceive'); the middle here means Eli 'grew wise to' / 'figured out' the situation — the precise verb of insight that resolves the threefold confusion.
ΗλιElisubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: though blind and slow, the old priest finally perceives the divine source — a flicker of the spiritual discernment proper to his office.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (content of ἐσοφίσατο)→ clausal contributionὅτι: 'that'; introduces the object-clause stating what Eli discerned.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of the ὅτι-clause→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the content of Eli's insight — it is the LORD, not himself, who calls.
κέκληκενhas called / is callingPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωverb of the ὅτι-clause→ verbal action or stateκαλέω (perf.): now with κύριος as subject, the perfect κέκληκεν resolves the chain of κέκληκας/κέκληκα — the true author of the standing summons is disclosed: the LORD has called the boy.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboy / ladAccusativedirect object (of κέκληκεν)→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'boy'; echoes v. 1, framing the wonder of the moment — the LORD calls not the priest but the παιδάριον, the lowly servant-child.
9
καὶ εἶπεν ἀνάστρεφε κάθευδε τέκνον καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν καλέσῃ σε καὶ ἐρεῖς λάλει κύριε ὅτι ἀκούει ὁ δοῦλός σου καὶ ἐπορεύθη Σαμουηλ καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ
And he said, 'Go back, sleep, child; and it shall be, if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.”' And Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Having discerned the source, Eli gives the crucial teaching. The conditional ἐὰν καλέσῃ σε with the future ἐρεῖς frames the prescribed response. The taught formula λάλει, κύριε, ὅτι ἀκούει ὁ δοῦλός σου ('Speak, LORD, for your servant hears') is the theological heart of the chapter: the proper posture before revelation is attentive submission. The address τέκνον ('child') shows Eli's tender authority over the boy.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Eli's instruction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Eli's decisive counsel to Samuel.
ἀνάστρεφεgo back / returnPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (imperative)→ verbal action or stateἀναστρέφω: 'return'; the same command as vv. 5–6, but now joined to instruction rather than mere dismissal — Eli sends him back, this time prepared to answer rightly.
κάθευδεsleep / lie downPres Act Impv 2 Sg · καθεύδωmain verb (imperative, asyndetic)→ verbal action or stateκαθεύδω: 'sleep'; Samuel is to return to his sleeping-place to await the next call.
τέκνονchildvocative of address→ clausal contributionτέκνον: 'child / offspring'; vocative of affectionate address; renders Hebrew בְּנִי ('my son'); marks the warm, paternal relationship between the old priest and the boy, the more poignant given the oracle's judgement on Eli's own sons.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing apodosis-setup)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (Hebraistic 'and it shall be' formula)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (fut.): καὶ ἔσται renders the Hebrew וְהָיָה, a stock formula introducing a future conditional scenario ('and it shall come to pass, if …'); it sets up the protasis ἐὰν καλέσῃ σε.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the protasis of a future-more-vivid condition, taking the subjunctive καλέσῃ; the renewed call is treated as expected.
καλέσῃhe callsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καλέωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ verbal action or stateκαλέω (aor. subj.): the leitmotif verb in the protasis; the implicit subject is the LORD, whom Eli now knows to be the caller.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (of καλέσῃ)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of καλέσῃ).
καὶthen / andapodotic καί (introducing the apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic καί after the protasis ('… then you shall say'), a Hebraism.
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb of apodosis (instructional future)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (fut. ἐρεῖς): 'you shall say'; the future has imperatival force, prescribing the exact words Samuel is to use — Eli scripts the proper response to revelation.
λάλειspeakPres Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (imperative within quoted formula)→ verbal action or stateλαλέω: 'speak'; renders Hebrew דַּבֵּר; the present imperative invites the LORD to continue speaking — the posture of the attentive recipient of revelation; the heart of the taught formula.
κύριεLORD / O LordVocativevocative of address (within the formula)→ direct addressκύριος (voc.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; here the vocative κύριε directly addresses the LORD as the one to whom Samuel is to listen — the divine caller, not a human master (note: at v. 10 the LXX omits this κύριε, Samuel saying simply λάλει).
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; grounds the invitation — the LORD may speak because his servant is listening.
ἀκούειhears / is listeningPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear / listen / obey'; renders Hebrew שָׁמַע; the present tense expresses the servant's continuous attentiveness; in the LXX ἀκούω often carries the nuance 'hear-and-obey,' so the formula declares both attention and submission.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with δοῦλός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservant / slaveNominativesubject (of ἀκούει)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; renders Hebrew עֶבֶד; Samuel's self-designation as the LORD's δοῦλος expresses total submission; the term, humbler than θεράπων, fits the posture of one wholly at the divine disposal.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with δοῦλός: 'your servant')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; binds Samuel to the LORD as his very own servant, the relational basis of the listening.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming narration)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηhe wentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (Samuel's compliance)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'go'; Samuel obediently returns to his place to await the call, having been instructed.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the obedient boy, now prepared to receive the word.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκοιμήθηhe lay down / sleptAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάωmain verb (resultant action)→ verbal action or stateκοιμάω (aor. pass.): 'lie down / fall asleep'; renders Hebrew שָׁכַב; a variation on καθεύδω (vv. 2–3, 5); Samuel takes his place to await the LORD's renewed approach.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with τόπῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπῳplaceDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceτόπος: 'place'; Samuel's own sleeping-spot within the sanctuary, echoing v. 2 (Eli ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ); the parallel locations frame the two sleepers.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with τόπῳ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with τόπῳ).
10
καὶ ἦλθεν κύριος καὶ κατέστη καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν ὡς ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ λάλει ὅτι ἀκούει ὁ δοῦλός σου
And the LORD came and stood and called him as before, time and again; and Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant hears.'
The decisive call. The pair ἦλθεν … κατέστη ('came and took his stand') marks an intensified, quasi-theophanic presence — no longer a disembodied voice but the LORD standing present. ὡς ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ ('as time and again' = as on the previous occasions) renders the Hebrew כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם. Samuel now answers with the taught formula, though the LXX omits κύριε (simply λάλει), perhaps reflecting Samuel's awe.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 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 (theophanic approach)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθεν): 'come'; renders Hebrew בּוֹא; the LORD's 'coming' marks an intensified presence beyond the earlier off-stage calling — the divine approach to the waiting servant.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the explicit divine subject of the climactic approach.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέστηstood / took his standAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb (theophanic posture)→ verbal action or stateκαθίστημι (aor. intrans. κατέστη): 'set oneself / take a stand / be present'; renders Hebrew יָצַב/עָמַד (Hithpael 'station oneself'); the LORD's 'standing' before Samuel evokes prophetic theophany (cf. the LORD standing by/over the prophet), making the call a personal encounter.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (the decisive call)→ verbal action or stateκαλέω: the leitmotif verb reaches its climactic, now rightly-received instance.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (of ἐκάλεσεν)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of ἐκάλεσεν).
ὡςascomparative particle (with ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the comparison ὡς ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ ('as on each previous time'), likening this call to the foregoing ones.
ἅπαξonceadverb (first of doubled distributive ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ)→ clausal contributionἅπαξ: 'once'; the doubled ἅπαξ καὶ ἅπαξ ('once and once' = 'time after time / as each previous time') renders the Hebrew distributive idiom כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם, indicating the call was repeated just as before.
καὶandconjunction within the doubled adverbial phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἅπαξonceadverb (second of doubled distributive)→ clausal contributionἅπαξ: the second member of the distributive doublet; together = 'time and again, as on each prior occasion.'
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 (Samuel's response)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Samuel's now rightly-directed reply.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the boy at last answers the LORD directly, having been taught the formula.
λάλειspeakPres Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (imperative; Samuel's response)→ verbal action or stateλαλέω: 'speak'; Samuel uses the formula taught in v. 9, but the LXX here omits the vocative κύριε (reading simply λάλει) — possibly reflecting reverent reticence or a textual variation; the invitation to the divine word is nonetheless complete.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; grounds the invitation in the servant's listening, as in v. 9.
ἀκούειhears / is listeningPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear / obey'; the present marks Samuel's continuous attentiveness — the posture in which true revelation is received.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with δοῦλός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservant / slaveNominativesubject (of ἀκούει)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant'; Samuel's self-identification as the LORD's δοῦλος, repeating v. 9 and sealing his submissive readiness.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with δοῦλός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with δοῦλός).
11
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ποιῶ τὰ ῥήματά μου ἐν Ισραηλ ὥστε παντὸς ἀκούοντος αὐτὰ ἠχήσει ἀμφότερα τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ
And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Behold, I am doing my words in Israel, so that of everyone who hears them, both his ears shall ring.'
The first words of the long-awaited revelation. ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ποιῶ ('behold, I am doing') uses a futuristic present of imminent divine action. The ὥστε result-clause vividly anticipates the horror of the deed: ἠχήσει ἀμφότερα τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ ('both his ears shall ring/tingle'), a stock idiom (cf. 2 Kgs 21:12; Jer 19:3) for stunned dread at appalling news.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 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 (divine speech introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces the LORD's oracle to Samuel — the content of the long-silent ῥῆμα κυρίου now finally spoken.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the divine speaker of the oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΣαμουηλSamuelaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the recipient of his first prophetic word — a word of judgement against the house under whom he serves.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection (with ἐγὼ ποιῶ)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; renders Hebrew הִנֵּה; the attention-marker that opens prophetic announcements of imminent divine action.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun stresses YHWH's personal agency — it is the LORD himself who 'does' the coming deed; the same emphatic ἐγώ that opens many divine oracles.
ποιῶI am doingPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (futuristic present of divine action)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make / perform'; renders Hebrew עָשָׂה; the present tense in a future context conveys the certainty and imminence of the divine deed — the judgement is as good as begun.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ῥήματά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥήματάwords / thingsAccusativedirect object (of ποιῶ)→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / matter / thing-done'; renders Hebrew דָּבָר, which spans both 'word' and 'deed/thing'; here τὰ ῥήματά μου ('my words/things') denotes the deeds the LORD has spoken and will now enact — the announced judgement made fact.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ῥήματά)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ῥήματά).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative/sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative/sphere).
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐν (indeclinable; sphere of the deed)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the deed is to take place 'in Israel,' marking it as a public, nation-wide act of divine judgement, not a private matter of one priestly house.
ὥστεso thatresult conjunction (introducing consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastὥστε: 'so that / with the result that'; introduces a result clause describing the appalled reaction the deed will provoke.
παντὸςof everyoneGenitivegenitive (possessor of τὰ ὦτα: 'everyone's ears')→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'every / all'; παντὸς ἀκούοντος ('of everyone who hears') is a genitive whose referent owns the 'ears' that will ring; the universality stresses that no hearer will remain unmoved.
ἀκούοντοςwho hearsPres Act Part Gen Sg Masc · ἀκούωattributive participle (with παντὸς)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear'; the substantival participle 'everyone hearing'; the irony is sharp — the word once 'rare' (v. 1) will, when enacted, make every hearer's ears ring with dread.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object (of ἀκούοντος; = τὰ ῥήματά)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; the neuter plural refers back to τὰ ῥήματά — the report of the LORD's deeds.
ἠχήσειshall ring / tingleFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἠχέωmain verb of result clause→ verbal action or stateἠχέω: 'sound / ring / resound'; renders Hebrew צָלַל ('tingle / quiver'); the idiom 'both ears will ring' (cf. 4 Kgdms 21:12; Jer 19:3) denotes the stunned, ringing shock that grips anyone who hears of so dreadful a judgement.
ἀμφότεραbothNominativeattributive adjective (with τὰ ὦτα: 'both ears')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: 'both'; intensifies the idiom — not one ear but both will ring, the whole faculty of hearing overwhelmed by dread.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ὦτα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὦταearsNominativesubject (of ἠχήσει)→ participant prominenceοὖς (pl. ὦτα): 'ear'; the subject of the ringing; the image makes the coming judgement a thing whose mere report physically jolts the hearer.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (resumptive, with τὰ ὦτα)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'his'; resumes παντὸς ἀκούοντος — 'the ears of him (everyone who hears)'; a Hebraizing resumptive pronoun.
12
ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐπεγερῶ ἐπὶ Ηλι πάντα ὅσα ἐλάλησα εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἄρξομαι καὶ ἐπιτελέσω
In that day I will raise up against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house; I will begin and I will finish.
The deed of v. 11 is now identified as the enactment of an earlier prophecy (cf. the man of God in ch. 2). ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('in that day') marks the appointed time of judgement. The merism ἄρξομαι καὶ ἐπιτελέσω ('I will begin and complete') guarantees the judgement's totality — once begun it will be carried through to the end.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('in that day') designates the appointed day of judgement — an eschatologically weighted formula in prophetic speech.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; points to the determined future day on which the LORD enacts his word against Eli's house.
ἐπεγερῶI will raise up / bring to passFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπεγείρωmain verb (divine first-person announcement)→ verbal action or stateἐπεγείρω: 'raise up / rouse / bring about (against)'; the compound ἐπ- with ἐπὶ Ηλι marks hostile direction — the LORD will 'raise up' against Eli the full execution of what he has spoken; renders Hebrew קוּם (Hiphil 'carry out / establish').
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here 'against'; marks Eli as the target of the announced judgement.
ΗλιEliaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: the priest against whose house the prior word and now its fulfilment are directed.
πάνταall thingsAccusativedirect object (of ἐπεγερῶ; antecedent of ὅσα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάντα ὅσα ('all that') stresses the comprehensiveness of the judgement — nothing of the prior threat will go unfulfilled.
ὅσαas much as / whateverAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐλάλησα; modifying πάντα)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; the relative πάντα ὅσα ('all that') introduces the content of the prior divine word now to be enacted.
ἐλάλησαI have spokenAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λαλέωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateλαλέω: 'speak'; refers back to the LORD's earlier announcement of judgement on Eli's house (cf. the man of God, 1 Kgdms 2:27–36); the aorist marks that completed prior speech now reaching fulfilment.
εἰςconcerning / againstpreposition + accusative (reference: 'concerning')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here 'with reference to / against'; specifies the house of Eli as the subject of the prior word.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouse / householdAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / household / dynasty'; renders Hebrew בַּיִת; here 'house' denotes Eli's whole priestly line, the object of the everlasting judgement (cf. vv. 13–14).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἶκον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with οἶκον).
ἄρξομαιI will beginFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἄρχωmain verb (first member of merism)→ verbal action or stateἄρχομαι (fut. mid.): 'begin'; the pair ἄρξομαι καὶ ἐπιτελέσω ('I will begin and complete') is a merism of totality — the judgement, once initiated, will be carried fully through; renders the Hebrew הָחֵל וְכַלֵּה idiom of completed action.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the merism pair)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιτελέσωI will complete / finishFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπιτελέωmain verb (second member of merism)→ verbal action or stateἐπιτελέω: 'bring to completion / accomplish fully'; the compound stresses the carrying-through to the very end; with ἄρξομαι it asserts that the judgement will be both begun and consummated without remission.
13
καὶ ἀνήγγελκα αὐτῷ ὅτι ἐκδικῶ ἐγὼ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἕως αἰῶνος ἐν ἀδικίαις υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ὅτι κακολογοῦντες θεὸν υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐνουθέτει αὐτοὺς καὶ οὐδ᾿ οὕτως
And I have told him that I am avenging his house forever for the iniquities of his sons, because his sons were reviling God and he did not admonish them — and not even so [did he restrain them].
The oracle states the basis of judgement. The perfect ἀνήγγελκα ('I have declared') reaffirms the prior warning. Two causal ὅτι-clauses ground the everlasting vengeance: the sons' iniquities (reviling God) and Eli's failure to admonish (οὐκ ἐνουθέτει). The elliptical closing καὶ οὐδ᾿ οὕτως ('and not even so [did he correct them]') leaves Eli's negligence hanging in damning incompleteness.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνήγγελκαI have declared / toldPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (divine declaration)→ verbal action or stateἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / report / declare'; renders Hebrew נָגַד (Hiphil); the perfect ἀνήγγελκα marks the LORD's prior disclosure to Eli (cf. 2:27–36) as a standing, present-relevant announcement — Eli was forewarned.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of recipient (with ἀνήγγελκα; = Eli)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of recipient (with ἀνήγγελκα; = Eli).
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (content of ἀνήγγελκα)→ clausal contributionὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the declaration.
ἐκδικῶI am avenging / punishingPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐκδικέωverb of the ὅτι-clause (futuristic/durative present)→ verbal action or stateἐκδικέω: 'avenge / exact justice / punish'; renders Hebrew שָׁפַט/נָקַם; the present expresses the LORD's settled judicial purpose against Eli's house — a vengeance now set in motion and continuing 'forever.'
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun, with ἐκδικῶ)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun underscores that the LORD himself is the judge and avenger — the punishment is divine, not merely circumstantial.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouse / householdAccusativedirect object (of ἐκδικῶ)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / dynasty'; the object of the everlasting vengeance — Eli's whole priestly line, not he alone.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἶκον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with οἶκον).
ἕωςuntil / foreverpreposition + genitive (extent of time)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; ἕως αἰῶνος ('forever / to eternity') marks the permanence of the judgement — an irrevocable, perpetual sentence on the house of Eli.
αἰῶνοςage / eternityGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal extent)→ relational specificationαἰών: 'age / eternity'; renders Hebrew עוֹלָם; ἕως αἰῶνος denotes the unending duration of the judgement — recurring in v. 14 to stress its irreversibility.
ἐνfor / on account ofpreposition + dative (causal: 'because of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: here causal ('on account of / for'), a Hebraizing use of בְּ; specifies the ground of the vengeance — the iniquities of Eli's sons.
ἀδικίαιςiniquitiesDativedative of cause (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἀδικία: 'wrongdoing / iniquity / injustice'; renders Hebrew עָוֺן; the plural denotes the manifold sins of Eli's sons (Hophni and Phinehas), the cause of the perpetual judgement.
υἱῶνof sonsGenitivegenitive (subjective: the sons' iniquities)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the genitive marks Eli's sons as the perpetrators of the ἀδικίαι; their priestly office made their sins the more grievous.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱῶν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱῶν).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (second ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the explanatory ground, spelling out the iniquity just named.
κακολογοῦντεςreviling / speaking evil ofPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · κακολογέωparticiple in periphrastic-style predication (with implied ἦσαν: 'were reviling')→ verbal action or stateκακολογέω: 'speak evil of / revile / curse'; renders Hebrew קִלֵּל ('curse/treat with contempt'); the participle (with implied 'were') depicts the sons' habitual blasphemous contempt — the MT reads 'cursing for/against themselves' (מְקַלְלִים לָהֶם), but the LXX makes God the explicit object (θεόν), heightening the gravity.
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object (of κακολογοῦντες)→ object specificationθεός: 'God'; the LXX names God as the direct object of the sons' reviling — an explicit charge of blasphemy that grounds the everlasting judgement.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (of the participial predication)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the subject of κακολογοῦντες — Eli's sons, repeated to clarify the agents of the blasphemy.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱοὶ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱοὶ).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding Eli's failure)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἐνουθέτει)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐνουθέτειhe admonished / warnedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · νουθετέωmain verb (Eli's culpable omission)→ verbal action or stateνουθετέω: 'admonish / warn / set right'; the negated imperfect οὐκ ἐνουθέτει ('he was not admonishing them') indicts Eli's chronic failure to discipline his sons — the parental/priestly negligence that draws his house into the judgement.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (of ἐνουθέτει; = the sons)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of ἐνουθέτει; = the sons).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐδ᾿not evennegative adverb (elided οὐδέ, with οὕτως)→ clausal contributionοὐδέ (elided οὐδ᾿): 'not even / nor'; with οὕτως forms the elliptical clause καὶ οὐδ᾿ οὕτως ('and not even so [did he restrain them]'); the suppressed verb leaves the indictment trailing in damning incompleteness — even confronted, Eli did nothing decisive.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (with elliptical clause)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; in the idiom οὐδ᾿ οὕτως ('not even so') it points to Eli's persistent inaction despite full knowledge — a Hebraic ellipsis (cf. וְלֹא כִהָה בָם) charging him with failing to check his sons.
14
ὤμοσα τῷ οἴκῳ Ηλι εἰ ἐξιλασθήσεται ἀδικία οἴκου Ηλι ἐν θυμιάματι καὶ ἐν θυσίαις ἕως αἰῶνος
I have sworn to the house of Eli: the iniquity of the house of Eli shall not be atoned for by incense or by sacrifices forever.
The oracle climaxes in a divine oath. ὤμοσα ('I have sworn') invokes the strongest form of irrevocable commitment. The εἰ ('if') is the Hebraistic oath-formula for emphatic negation (אִם = 'surely not'): 'I swear that the iniquity shall NOT be expiated.' The pairing θυμίαμα / θυσίαι ('incense / sacrifices') covers the whole cultic means of atonement — none of it can ever lift this guilt.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ὤμοσαI have swornAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὄμνυμιmain verb (divine oath)→ verbal action or stateὄμνυμι (aor. ὤμοσα): 'swear (an oath)'; renders Hebrew נִשְׁבַּע; the LORD's self-binding oath gives the judgement absolute finality — what is sworn cannot be revoked (cf. Ps 110:4; Heb 6:13–18).
τῷto theDativearticle (with οἴκῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκῳhouse / householdDativedative (concerning/against the house of Eli)→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house / dynasty'; the dative marks the house of Eli as the object of the sworn judgement — the oath is sworn 'with respect to / against' it.
Ηλιof Eligenitive of possession (with οἴκῳ; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: the priest whose house is sworn under irrevocable judgement; the name recurs twice in this verse for solemn emphasis.
εἰ[surely not]particle of emphatic negation in oath-formula→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: in oath-contexts the LXX uses εἰ to render the Hebrew אִם, which in a sworn statement functions as a strong negative ('[may such-and-such happen] if …' = 'surely … not'); thus εἰ ἐξιλασθήσεται means 'it shall surely NOT be atoned for.'
ἐξιλασθήσεταιshall be atoned for / expiatedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐξιλάσκομαιmain verb (apodosis of oath; emphatically negated)→ verbal action or stateἐξιλάσκομαι: 'make atonement / expiate / propitiate'; renders Hebrew כִּפֶּר; the technical cultic term for the removal of guilt; under the oath-εἰ it is emphatically denied — no rite can ever cleanse this iniquity.
ἀδικίαiniquityNominativesubject (of ἐξιλασθήσεται)→ participant prominenceἀδικία: 'iniquity / wrongdoing'; renders Hebrew עָוֺן; the guilt of Eli's house that no sacrifice can lift — its inexpiability is the heart of the oath.
οἴκουof the houseGenitivegenitive (subjective/possessive: the house's iniquity)→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the genitive binds the inexpiable guilt specifically to the house of Eli.
Ηλιof Eligenitive of possession (with οἴκου; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: repeated for emphasis — 'the iniquity of the house of Eli'; the doubled naming drives home whose guilt is at stake.
ἐνby / withpreposition + dative (instrumental means)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental ('by means of'); names the cultic means that will prove powerless to expiate the guilt.
θυμιάματιincenseDativedative of means (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceθυμίαμα: 'incense / incense-offering'; renders Hebrew מִנְחָה (here, or קְטֹרֶת); paired with θυσίαι it represents the whole sacrificial apparatus — none of which can atone for this house.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνby / withpreposition + dative (instrumental means)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental means).
θυσίαιςsacrificesDativedative of means (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceθυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; renders Hebrew זֶבַח; with θυμίαμα forms a merism for the entire cult; the LORD's oath declares the guilt of Eli's house beyond the reach of any sacrificial remedy.
ἕωςuntil / foreverpreposition + genitive (extent of time)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; ἕως αἰῶνος ('forever') seals the permanence — the inexpiability is everlasting, echoing v. 13.
αἰῶνοςage / eternityGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal extent)→ relational specificationαἰών: 'age / eternity'; renders Hebrew עוֹלָם; the repeated ἕως αἰῶνος (cf. v. 13) frames the entire judgement of Eli's house as perpetual and irreversible.
15
καὶ κοιμᾶται Σαμουηλ ἕως πρωὶ καὶ ὤρθρισεν τὸ πρωὶ καὶ ἤνοιξεν τὰς θύρας οἴκου κυρίου καὶ Σαμουηλ ἐφοβήθη ἀπαγγεῖλαι τὴν ὅρασιν τῷ Ηλι
And Samuel slept until morning; and he rose early in the morning and opened the doors of the house of the LORD; and Samuel feared to report the vision to Eli.
The narrative resumes after the oracle. The historic present κοιμᾶται ('sleeps') vivifies the transition to morning. Samuel resumes his ordinary temple duty (opening the doors) — a touch of normalcy after the night's dread revelation. The closing clause names the human drama: ἐφοβήθη ἀπαγγεῖλαι ('he feared to report') the ὅρασις (vision) to the very man it condemns.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κοιμᾶταιsleeps / lay sleepingPres Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateκοιμάω: 'lie down / sleep'; the historic present κοιμᾶται brings the scene before the reader's eyes; Samuel lies through the night until morning after receiving the weighty oracle.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the recipient of the vision, now bearing its burden into the morning.
ἕωςuntilpreposition (temporal: 'until')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; with πρωί marks the duration of Samuel's sleep up to dawn.
πρωὶmorningadverb of time (indeclinable: 'morning')→ clausal contributionπρωί: 'early / in the morning'; an indeclinable adverbial noun; ἕως πρωί ('until morning') marks the night's end and the return to daily routine.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὤρθρισενhe rose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀρθρίζωmain verb (sequential action)→ verbal action or stateὀρθρίζω: 'rise early / do at dawn'; renders Hebrew הִשְׁכִּים; denotes the conscientious early start to the day's sanctuary duties — Samuel keeps his service even under the weight of the vision.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with adverbial πρωὶ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωὶmorningadverbial accusative of time (with article: 'in the morning')→ clausal contributionπρωί: here τὸ πρωί ('in the morning') as an articular adverbial accusative of time, reinforcing ὤρθρισεν — early at daybreak.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤνοιξενhe openedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωmain verb (sequential action)→ verbal action or stateἀνοίγω: 'open'; renders Hebrew פָּתַח; opening the sanctuary doors at dawn was part of the daily liturgical service — the detail shows Samuel faithfully performing his ordinary duties (cf. λειτουργῶν, v. 1).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with θύρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραςdoorsAccusativedirect object (of ἤνοιξεν)→ object specificationθύρα: 'door / gate'; renders Hebrew דֶּלֶת; the doors of the sanctuary, whose opening marks the start of the day's worship.
οἴκουof the houseGenitivegenitive (the house to which the doors belong)→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house'; here οἶκος κυρίου ('house of the LORD') = the sanctuary at Shiloh, the dwelling of the divine presence.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκου)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the sanctuary belongs to the LORD whose word Samuel has just received.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the inner tension)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: named again as the subject of the emotional clause — the boy caught between the divine word and his affection/awe for Eli.
ἐφοβήθηhe feared / was afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (with complementary infinitive)→ verbal action or stateφοβέομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'fear / be afraid'; renders Hebrew יָרֵא; Samuel's fear is the natural dread of a young servant compelled to deliver a ruinous oracle to his revered master — the human cost of the prophetic vocation.
ἀπαγγεῖλαιto report / announceAor Act Inf · ἀπαγγέλλωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐφοβήθη)→ verbal action or stateἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce / bring word'; renders Hebrew נָגַד; the very act Eli will shortly demand (v. 17) — Samuel shrinks from the painful duty of relaying judgement.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ὅρασιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅρασινvisionAccusativedirect object (of ἀπαγγεῖλαι)→ object specificationὅρασις: 'vision'; renders Hebrew מַרְאָה; pointedly echoes v. 1 (οὐκ ἦν ὅρασις διαστέλλουσα) — the very ὅρασις that was lacking in 'those days' has now been granted to Samuel, the drought broken in the person of the boy.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Ηλι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΗλιElidative of recipient (with ἀπαγγεῖλαι; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: the recipient Samuel fears to face — the one whom the vision condemns.
16
καὶ εἶπεν Ηλι πρὸς Σαμουηλ Σαμουηλ τέκνον καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ ἐγώ
And Eli said to Samuel, 'Samuel, my child'; and he said, 'Here I am.'
Now it is Eli who calls Samuel — a role-reversal from the night. The doubled-then-tender address Σαμουηλ τέκνον ('Samuel, child') and Samuel's familiar ἰδοὺ ἐγώ echo the call-scenes, but now the summons is human and known. The brief exchange sets up Eli's adjuration in v. 17.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Eli's address)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Eli's summons — now the priest, not the LORD, calls Samuel.
ΗλιElisubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: the priest takes the initiative, sensing Samuel has something to tell.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΣαμουηλSamuelaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the one addressed.
ΣαμουηλSamuelvocative of address (within the quotation)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: vocative; Eli calls the boy by name, the address now coming from the known human master rather than the unrecognized divine voice.
τέκνονchildvocative of address (appositional)→ clausal contributionτέκνον: 'child'; the affectionate vocative (cf. v. 9) underscores the tender bond between Eli and Samuel, lending pathos to the dreadful word about to be reported.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Samuel's reply)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Samuel's response to Eli's call.
ἰδοὺbehold / herepresentative interjection (with ἐγώ)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ('here I am') once more — but now the answer to a human summons he rightly recognizes, framing the role-reversal of the morning scene.
ἐγώINominativepredicate of presentative ἰδού→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as predicate of presentative ἰδού.
17
καὶ εἶπεν τί τὸ ῥῆμα τὸ λαληθὲν πρὸς σέ μὴ δὴ κρύψῃς ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ τάδε ποιήσαι σοι ὁ θεὸς καὶ τάδε προσθείη ἐὰν κρύψῃς ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ῥῆμα ἐκ πάντων τῶν λόγων τῶν λαληθέντων σοι ἐν τοῖς ὠσίν σου
And he said, 'What is the word that was spoken to you? Do not hide it from me. May God do thus to you, and thus add, if you hide from me a word out of all the words spoken to you in your ears.'
Eli demands the vision with a binding oath-formula. The prohibition μὴ δὴ κρύψῃς ('do not hide') is reinforced by the conditional self-curse τάδε ποιήσαι σοι ὁ θεὸς καὶ τάδε προσθείη ('may God do thus and so to you'), the standard biblical imprecation invoking unspecified disaster upon the one who conceals. The optatives (ποιήσαι, προσθείη) express the wish-curse. Eli accepts in advance whatever the word may be.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Eli's demand)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Eli's adjuration.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of the question)→ participant referenceτίς: 'what / who'; the interrogative opens Eli's direct demand to know the content of the divine word.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαwordNominativesubject of the question (τί τὸ ῥῆμα)→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / matter'; here the specific oracle spoken to Samuel; Eli wants the precise content.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with participle λαληθὲν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαληθὲνspokenAor Pass Part Nom Sg Neut · λαλέωattributive participle (modifying ῥῆμα)→ verbal action or stateλαλέω (aor. pass. part.): 'spoken'; the articular participle τὸ λαληθέν ('that was spoken') qualifies the ῥῆμα as the divine utterance Samuel received in the night.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceσέ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive κρύψῃς: prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative of prohibition; with the aorist subjunctive κρύψῃς forms a prohibitive ('do not hide').
δὴnow / pleaseemphatic particle (urgency with the prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: emphatic/hortatory particle, 'now / pray / by all means'; renders Hebrew נָא; lends urgency and earnestness to Eli's plea.
κρύψῃςyou hide / concealAor Act Subj 2 Sg · κρύπτωmain verb (prohibitive subjunctive with μὴ δή)→ verbal action or stateκρύπτω: 'hide / conceal'; renders Hebrew כָּחַד; the prohibitive subjunctive forbids any concealment of the word — Eli insists on full disclosure regardless of its content.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό (elided ἀπ᾿): 'from'; with ἐμοῦ marks Eli as the one from whom nothing is to be withheld.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (with κρύψῃς)→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as genitive object of ἀπό (with κρύψῃς).
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative (object of ποιήσαι; oath-formula)→ object specificationὅδε (τάδε): 'these things / thus'; in the imprecation τάδε ποιήσαι … καὶ τάδε προσθείη ('may God do thus … and add thus'), τάδε stands in for the unspecified disaster the curse invokes — a stock self-curse formula (cf. Ruth 1:17; 1 Kgdms 14:44).
ποιήσαιmay he doAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (optative of wish/imprecation)→ verbal action or stateποιέω (aor. opt.): 'do / make'; the optative ποιήσαι expresses the wish-curse — 'may God do (thus) to you'; the optative mood is the classic vehicle of the biblical self-imprecation.
σοιto youDativedative of disadvantage (with ποιήσαι)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage (with ποιήσαι).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεὸς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (of ποιήσαι and προσθείη)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the one invoked to execute the curse; calling on God as the agent of the imprecation gives the oath its binding seriousness.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the two curse-clauses)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάδεthus / and moreAccusativedemonstrative (object of προσθείη; intensifying the curse)→ object specificationὅδε (τάδε): the second τάδε in the doubled imprecation ('and may he add thus also'), intensifying the threatened punishment — the formula's repetition heightens its solemnity.
προσθείηmay he addAor Act Opt 3 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (optative of wish/imprecation, paired with ποιήσαι)→ verbal action or stateπροστίθημι (aor. opt.): 'add'; καὶ τάδε προσθείη ('and may he add thus') escalates the curse — 'may God do this and more besides'; the optative pair (ποιήσαι … προσθείη) is the fixed shape of the biblical self-curse oath.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of the oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the condition that would trigger the curse — Samuel's concealment of any part of the word.
κρύψῃςyou hide / concealAor Act Subj 2 Sg · κρύπτωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ verbal action or stateκρύπτω (aor. subj.): 'hide'; the protasis of the oath — any concealment would invoke the curse; the repetition of κρύπτω (cf. the prohibition above) drives home the demand for total disclosure.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as genitive object of ἀπό.
ῥῆμαa wordAccusativedirect object (of κρύψῃς)→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word'; here 'a (single) word/thing' — Eli forbids the concealment of even one item out of the whole oracle.
ἐκout of / from amongpreposition + genitive (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'out of'; partitive, marking the single ῥῆμα as drawn from the totality of the words spoken.
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive (with λόγων: 'all the words')→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; ἐκ πάντων τῶν λόγων ('from all the words') stresses comprehensiveness — nothing of the entire oracle may be withheld.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with λόγων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγωνwordsGenitivegenitive (partitive, with ἐκ πάντων)→ relational specificationλόγος: 'word / saying'; renders Hebrew דָּבָר; here the whole body of the oracle spoken to Samuel, every part of which Eli demands.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with participle λαληθέντων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαληθέντωνspokenAor Pass Part Gen Pl Masc · λαλέωattributive participle (modifying λόγων)→ verbal action or stateλαλέω (aor. pass. part.): 'spoken'; τῶν λαληθέντων σοι ('that were spoken to you') qualifies the words as the divine communication Samuel received.
σοιto youDativedative of recipient (with λαληθέντων)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of recipient (with λαληθέντων).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative idiom).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ὠσίν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὠσίνearsDativedative of place (with ἐν: idiomatic 'in your ears')→ sphere or referenceοὖς (dat. pl. ὠσίν): 'ear'; the idiom ἐν τοῖς ὠσίν σου ('in your ears') renders Hebrew בְּאָזְנֶיךָ, a Hebraism for direct, personal oral communication — the word came to Samuel's own hearing.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὠσίν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὠσίν).
18
καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν Σαμουηλ πάντας τοὺς λόγους καὶ οὐκ ἔκρυψεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν Ηλι κύριος αὐτός τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ποιήσει
And Samuel reported all the words and hid nothing from him. And Eli said, 'It is the LORD himself; let him do what is good in his sight.'
Samuel obeys the adjuration completely (πάντας … οὐκ ἔκρυψεν), the positive answering of v. 15's fear and v. 17's demand. Eli's response is a model of pious resignation: κύριος αὐτός ('it is the LORD himself') acknowledges the divine source, and τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ποιήσει ('let him do what is good in his sight') submits without protest to the very judgement pronounced against him.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγγειλενhe reported / toldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (Samuel's disclosure)→ verbal action or stateἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce'; the very act Samuel feared (ἀπαγγεῖλαι, v. 15); he now carries it out fully, the aorist marking the completed, faithful delivery.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the boy proves a faithful conduit of the word, overcoming his fear — his first act of true prophetic courage.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive (with τοὺς λόγους)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάντας τοὺς λόγους ('all the words') answers Eli's demand for full disclosure (ἐκ πάντων τῶν λόγων, v. 17) — Samuel holds back nothing.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λόγους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object (of ἀπήγγειλεν)→ object specificationλόγος: 'word'; the whole content of the oracle, now relayed in full.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἔκρυψεν)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔκρυψενhe hid / concealedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρύπτωmain verb (litotic emphasis on full disclosure)→ verbal action or stateκρύπτω: 'hide'; οὐκ ἔκρυψεν ('he hid nothing') directly fulfils Eli's adjuration μὴ … κρύψῃς (v. 17); the litotes underlines the completeness of Samuel's honesty.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (= Eli)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀπό (= Eli).
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 (Eli's submission)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Eli's pious response to the dread word.
ΗλιElisubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: the condemned priest, who receives the sentence with remarkable submission rather than protest.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of the verbless clause (κύριος αὐτός)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; Eli's confession κύριος αὐτός ('it is the LORD himself') acknowledges the divine origin of the word and so its rightful authority over him.
αὐτόςhimself / heNominativeintensive pronoun (with κύριος: 'the LORD himself')→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'himself'; the intensive pronoun stresses that it is the LORD in person who has spoken — Eli bows to no human verdict but to God's own decree.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with substantival ἀγαθὸν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὸνgood / what is goodAccusativedirect object (substantival adjective, of ποιήσει)→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; τὸ ἀγαθόν ('what is good') as the object of ποιήσει; Eli leaves the verdict to God's own judgement of what is good — pious resignation rendering Hebrew הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינָיו.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (evaluative: 'in his sight')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the sight of'; Hebraism rendering בְּעֵינָיו ('in his eyes'); the phrase τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ defers entirely to the LORD's own assessment of what is good and right.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (= the LORD)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐνώπιον (= the LORD).
ποιήσειhe will do / let him doFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (jussive-force future of resignation)→ verbal action or stateποιέω (fut.): 'do / make'; the future here carries a tone of acceptance ('he will do / let him do what is good'); Eli's submission echoes later expressions of pious resignation (cf. 2 Sam 15:26) — the human acceptance of the irrevocable divine word.
19
καὶ ἐμεγαλύνθη Σαμουηλ καὶ ἦν κύριος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἔπεσεν ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν
And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and none of his words fell to the ground.
The closing summary of Samuel's establishment. Three coordinated clauses: he grew (ἐμεγαλύνθη), the LORD was with him (ἦν κύριος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ — the formula of divine accompaniment and blessing), and none of his words 'fell to the ground' (οὐκ ἔπεσεν … ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν), an idiom for unfailing prophetic reliability — every word Samuel spoke came true.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμεγαλύνθηhe grew / became greatAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · μεγαλύνωmain verb (Samuel's maturation/exaltation)→ verbal action or stateμεγαλύνω (aor. pass.): 'make great / magnify'; in the passive 'grow up / become great'; renders Hebrew גָּדַל; describes both Samuel's physical maturing and his rising stature and reputation under divine favor.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the boy now grows into the established prophet of all Israel.
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 (formula of divine accompaniment)→ participant referenceεἰμί (impf.): the imperfect ἦν in ἦν κύριος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('the LORD was with him') expresses the LORD's enduring, accompanying presence — the classic biblical formula of divine blessing and empowerment (cf. Gen 39:2; Josh 6:27).
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (of ἦν)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD's abiding presence with Samuel is the ground of his prophetic reliability.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά (elided μετ᾿): 'with'; in the formula 'the LORD was with him' marks divine accompaniment, favor, and empowerment.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with ἔπεσεν)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb (idiom of prophetic reliability)→ verbal action or stateπίπτω: 'fall'; the idiom οὐκ ἔπεσεν … ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ('did not fall to the ground') renders Hebrew לֹא הִפִּיל אַרְצָה — a metaphor for words that fail to come true; that none of Samuel's words fell means every one was fulfilled, certifying him as a true prophet.
ἀπὸfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of all')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here partitive ('of / from among'); ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν λόγων ('of all his words') — not one out of the whole fell.
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive (with λόγων)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; stresses the total reliability — every single word stood.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with λόγων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγωνwordsGenitivegenitive (partitive, with ἀπὸ πάντων)→ relational specificationλόγος: 'word'; Samuel's prophetic utterances, all of which were divinely confirmed.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with λόγων)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with λόγων).
ἐπὶupon / topreposition + accusative (direction: 'to the ground')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to the ground').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνground / earthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (goal: 'to the ground')→ object specificationγῆ: 'earth / ground / land'; renders Hebrew אֶרֶץ; in the idiom 'fall to the ground' the γῆ is where an unfulfilled word would land — Samuel's words never did, marking his unimpeachable prophetic credentials.
20
καὶ ἔγνωσαν πᾶς Ισραηλ ἀπὸ Δαν καὶ ἕως Βηρσαβεε ὅτι πιστὸς Σαμουηλ εἰς προφήτην τῷ κυρίῳ
And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was trustworthy as a prophet to the LORD.
The whole nation acknowledges Samuel. The geographic merism ἀπὸ Δαν καὶ ἕως Βηρσαβεε ('from Dan to Beersheba') is the standard idiom for the entire land of Israel, north to south. The content of their knowledge — πιστὸς … εἰς προφήτην τῷ κυρίῳ ('trustworthy as a prophet to the LORD') — establishes Samuel's office: a reliable, divinely-accredited prophet.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔγνωσανknew / recognizedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (with constructio ad sensum plural subject)→ verbal action or stateγινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; renders Hebrew יָדַע; the plural ἔγνωσαν with the collective πᾶς Ισραηλ is a constructio ad sensum; all Israel came to recognize Samuel's prophetic legitimacy.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive (with Ισραηλ: 'all Israel')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; πᾶς Ισραηλ ('all Israel') as the collective subject; the nationwide scope matches the geographic merism that follows.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (collective; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the whole covenant nation now acknowledges Samuel.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of geographic merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; ἀπὸ Δαν … ἕως Βηρσαβεε is the classic merism for the full extent of the land, north to south.
ΔανDangenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΔαν: transliteration of Hebrew דָּן; indeclinable; the northernmost city of Israel, the northern pole of the merism 'from Dan to Beersheba.'
καὶand / evenconjunction (within the merism: 'and to')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςto / as far aspreposition + genitive (end of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; marks the southern terminus of the merism.
ΒηρσαβεεBeershebagenitive object of ἕως (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒηρσαβεε: transliteration of Hebrew בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע; indeclinable; the southernmost city, the southern pole of the merism — together with Dan it denotes the entire land of Israel.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (content of ἔγνωσαν)→ clausal contributionὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the nation's recognition.
πιστὸςfaithful / trustworthyNominativepredicate adjective (of an implied copula: 'Samuel [is] trustworthy')→ participant prominenceπιστός: 'faithful / trustworthy / reliable'; renders Hebrew נֶאֱמָן; the key term certifying Samuel's prophetic office — he is a dependable, divinely-confirmed prophet whose words come true (cf. v. 19).
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject of the ὅτι-clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: now publicly established as the trustworthy prophet of the LORD.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicative role: 'as a prophet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here predicative ('as / to be'), a Hebraizing use of לְ; πιστὸς εἰς προφήτην = 'confirmed/trustworthy as a prophet.'
προφήτηνprophetAccusativeaccusative of role (with εἰς: 'as a prophet')→ object specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet / spokesman'; renders Hebrew נָבִיא; the formal office Samuel now holds — the recognized mouthpiece of the LORD to all Israel, inaugurating the prophetic era.
τῷto theDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative (of the one served: prophet 'to/for the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the dative marks Samuel as the LORD's own prophet — accredited to and by YHWH, echoing his service τῷ κυρίῳ in v. 1.
21
καὶ προσέθετο κύριος δηλωθῆναι ἐν Σηλωμ ὅτι ἀπεκαλύφθη κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ καὶ ἐπιστεύθη Σαμουηλ προφήτης γενέσθαι τῷ κυρίῳ εἰς πάντα Ισραηλ ἀπ᾿ ἄκρων τῆς γῆς καὶ ἕως ἄκρων καὶ Ηλι πρεσβύτης σφόδρα καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ πορευόμενοι ἐπορεύοντο καὶ πονηρὰ ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτῶν ἐνώπιον κυρίου
And the LORD continued to reveal himself at Shiloh, for the LORD was revealed to Samuel; and Samuel was confirmed to become a prophet to the LORD for all Israel, from one end of the land to the other. And Eli was very old, and his sons kept going on [in their way], and their way was evil before the LORD.
The LXX closes with an expansion. προσέθετο … δηλωθῆναι ('continued to reveal himself') marks ongoing revelation at Shiloh — the silence of v. 1 decisively broken. Samuel is confirmed (ἐπιστεύθη) as prophet to all Israel ἀπ᾿ ἄκρων τῆς γῆς καὶ ἕως ἄκρων ('from end to end'). The verse closes with a dark foil: Eli very aged, his sons persisting (πορευόμενοι ἐπορεύοντο, an emphatic Hebraistic figura etymologica) in a way that is πονηρά ('evil') before the LORD — keeping the coming judgement in view.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσέθετοhe continued / did againAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (auxiliary with infinitive δηλωθῆναι)→ verbal action or stateπροστίθημι (aor. mid.): 'add / continue to'; with the infinitive δηλωθῆναι ('continued to reveal himself'), the same Hebraistic idiom as in the call-scenes (vv. 6, 8) — now the LORD repeatedly reveals himself, the revelatory drought of v. 1 reversed.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD himself is the subject of the renewed, ongoing self-revelation.
δηλωθῆναιto be revealed / make himself knownAor Pass Inf · δηλόωcomplementary infinitive (with προσέθετο)→ verbal action or stateδηλόω: 'make clear / show / reveal'; renders Hebrew גָּלָה/רָאָה (Niphal); the passive δηλωθῆναι ('to be made manifest / reveal himself') describes the LORD's continued self-disclosure at Shiloh — divine presence now reliably accessible.
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΣηλωμShilohobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣηλωμ: transliteration of Hebrew שִׁלֹה; indeclinable; Shiloh, the location of the sanctuary and ark, where the LORD continues to reveal himself through Samuel — the cult-center of pre-monarchic Israel.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; grounds the ongoing revelation in the fact that the LORD had revealed himself to Samuel.
ἀπεκαλύφθηwas revealedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωverb of causal clause→ verbal action or stateἀποκαλύπτω: 'uncover / reveal'; the same verb as the negated infinitive of v. 7 (ἀποκαλυφθῆναι) — what had not yet happened to Samuel there has now decisively occurred: the LORD ἀπεκαλύφθη ('was revealed') to him.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (of ἀπεκαλύφθη)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD who has revealed himself to Samuel.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΣαμουηλSamuelaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: the recipient of the LORD's self-revelation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιστεύθηwas confirmed / accreditedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πιστεύωmain verb (Samuel's accreditation)→ verbal action or stateπιστεύω (aor. pass.): 'be entrusted / be confirmed as trustworthy'; cognate with πιστός (v. 20); the passive ἐπιστεύθη means Samuel 'was accredited / proven faithful' to be a prophet — divinely and publicly vouched for.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (of ἐπιστεύθη; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: confirmed in the prophetic office to all Israel.
προφήτηςprophetNominativepredicate nominative (with γενέσθαι: 'to become a prophet')→ participant prominenceπροφήτης: 'prophet'; renders Hebrew נָבִיא; the office Samuel is confirmed to hold — predicate of the infinitive γενέσθαι.
γενέσθαιto become / to beAor Mid Inf · γίνομαιinfinitive (complement of ἐπιστεύθη: 'confirmed to become')→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. inf.): 'become / come to be'; with ἐπιστεύθη and predicate προφήτης expresses the role Samuel is confirmed to fill — 'to become a prophet to the LORD.'
τῷto theDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative (prophet to/for the LORD)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; Samuel is the LORD's prophet, accredited to him as in v. 20.
εἰςfor / topreposition + accusative (extent/benefit: 'for all Israel')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'for / to'; marks all Israel as the scope of Samuel's prophetic ministry.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive (with Ισραηλ)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάντα Ισραηλ ('all Israel') as the comprehensive scope of Samuel's prophetic office.
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of εἰς (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the whole nation, the field of Samuel's ministry.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (start of geographic merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό (elided ἀπ᾿): 'from'; ἀπ᾿ ἄκρων … καὶ ἕως ἄκρων ('from one end to the other') is a merism for the whole land, parallel to 'from Dan to Beersheba' (v. 20).
ἄκρωνends / extremitiesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (first pole of merism)→ relational specificationἄκρον: 'tip / extremity / end'; renders Hebrew קָצֶה; the plural ἄκρα denotes the far borders of the land — its outermost reaches.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςland / earthGenitivegenitive (the land whose ends are meant)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; here the land of Israel, whose extremities frame the merism of total extent.
καὶand / toconjunction (within the merism)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςto / as far aspreposition + genitive (end of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; marks the opposite extremity, completing 'from end to end.'
ἄκρωνends / extremitiesGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (second pole of merism)→ relational specificationἄκρον: 'end / extremity'; the second pole; ἀπ᾿ ἄκρων … ἕως ἄκρων = 'from end to end,' affirming the universal reach of Samuel's prophetic authority over Israel.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the foil of Eli's house)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΗλιElisubject (of verbless clause; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλι: the aged priest, now set in dark contrast to the rising prophet — the closing notice keeps the judgement of vv. 11–14 in view.
πρεσβύτηςold man / agedNominativepredicate noun (of implied copula: 'Eli [was] very aged')→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτης: 'old man / aged one'; renders Hebrew זָקֵן; with σφόδρα ('very') marks Eli's advanced age — his life and house nearing their appointed end.
σφόδραvery / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying πρεσβύτης)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; standard LXX rendering of מְאֹד; Eli is 'very old,' the closing emphasis on his frailty heightening the contrast with the ascendant Samuel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the sons)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (of πορευόμενοι ἐπορεύοντο)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; Eli's sons, whose persistent wickedness (vv. 13) is the cause of the judgement and is here restated as the chapter's closing shadow.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱοὶ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱοὶ).
πορευόμενοιgoing / persistingPres Mid/Pass Part Nom Pl Masc · πορεύομαιparticiple in figura etymologica (with ἐπορεύοντο)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (pres. part.): 'go / walk / conduct oneself'; the participle πορευόμενοι with the finite ἐπορεύοντο is a figura etymologica calquing the Hebrew infinitive-absolute construction (הָלוֹךְ הָלְכוּ), 'they kept right on going' — an emphatic idiom for their persistent course of conduct.
ἐπορεύοντοkept going / continuedImpf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (with cognate participle; iterative imperfect)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι (impf.): 'walk / conduct oneself'; the imperfect with the cognate participle stresses the unrelenting continuation of the sons in their (evil) way — 'they went on and on,' i.e. persisted unrepentant.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the evaluative clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πονηρὰevil / wickedNominativepredicate adjective (of ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτῶν)→ participant prominenceπονηρός: 'evil / wicked / bad'; renders Hebrew רַע; the predicate πονηρά ('evil [was] their way') delivers the narrator's verdict on the sons' conduct — the moral antithesis of Samuel's faithfulness.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with ὁδὸς)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδὸςway / conductNominativesubject (of verbless clause with πονηρὰ)→ participant prominenceὁδός: 'way / road / manner of life'; renders Hebrew דֶּרֶךְ; the metaphorical 'way' = the sons' habitual conduct, here judged evil — sealing the contrast that frames the chapter's close.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὁδὸς)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὁδὸς).
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (evaluative perspective)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the sight of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; their way is evil 'before the LORD' — judged by the divine standard, the perspective that grounds the coming judgement and recalls Samuel's service ἐνώπιον Ηλι in v. 1.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD before whom the sons' evil way stands condemned — the final word of the chapter, holding the announced judgement in suspension.