1
καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐγήρασεν Σαμουηλ καὶ κατέστησεν τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ δικαστὰς τῷ Ισραηλ
And it came to pass, when Samuel grew old, that he appointed his sons as judges for Israel.
The chapter opens with the classic LXX narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass'), rendering the Hebrew וַיְהִי, which sets a temporal frame for a new episode. The temporal clause ὡς ἐγήρασεν Σαμουηλ ('when Samuel grew old') establishes the institutional crisis — succession — that drives the whole chapter; Samuel's age recalls the parallel failure of Eli's sons in chs. 2–4, foreshadowing the corruption of his own sons in v. 3.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ 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 (narrative-framing formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι: 'become / come to be / happen'; the impersonal καὶ ἐγένετο renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי, which introduces a temporal setting for a new episode; ubiquitous in LXX historical narrative.
ὡςwhentemporal conjunction (introducing temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: here temporal, 'when / as'; introduces the circumstantial clause that supplies the occasion for the main action (the appointment of judges).
ἐγήρασενgrew oldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γηράσκωverb of temporal clause→ verbal action or stateγηράσκω: 'grow old / age'; renders זָקֵן; Samuel's old age is the trigger of the succession crisis, echoing the same motif applied to Joshua (Josh 13:1) and anticipating the elders' explicit appeal to it in v. 5 (σὺ γεγήρακας).
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: transliteration of Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל ('name of God' / 'heard of God'); indeclinable in the LXX; the last of the judges and the prophet who will anoint Israel's first two kings.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis marker after temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introduces the apodosis after the ὡς-clause, a Hebraizing construction (waw-apodosis) common in LXX narrative.
κατέστησενhe appointedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb (the act of appointment)→ verbal action or stateκαθίστημι: 'set / appoint / install (in office)'; renders שִׂים / נָתַן in administrative contexts; the same verb recurs in the elders' demand κατάστησον ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς βασιλέα (v. 5), linking Samuel's flawed appointment of judges to their demand for a king.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of κατέστησεν→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; Samuel's sons stand in deliberate parallel to the corrupt sons of Eli (1 Kgdms 2:12–17), a recurring motif of failed hereditary succession that motivates the people's appeal for a different kind of leadership.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying υἱούς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying υἱούς).
δικαστὰςjudgesAccusativeaccusative of result / predicate (appointed 'as judges')→ object specificationδικαστής: 'judge'; renders שֹׁפֵט; the office is that of the judges who led Israel before the monarchy; the irony is sharp — appointed to render δίκη ('justice'), Samuel's sons will pervert δικαιώματα ('judgments', v. 3).
τῷforDativearticle (with dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldative of advantage (indeclinable: 'for Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX, here functioning as a dative of advantage governed by the article τῷ; denotes the covenant people as the object of the judicial appointment.
2
καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ πρωτότοκος Ιωηλ καὶ ὄνομα τοῦ δευτέρου Αβια δικασταὶ ἐν Βηρσαβεε
And these are the names of his sons: the firstborn Joel, and the name of the second, Abia; judges in Beersheba.
v. 2 is a verbless naming-formula, καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα ('and these are the names'), a standard LXX genealogical construction rendering וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת. It identifies the two sons (Joel and Abia) and locates their judicial seat at Beersheba — the southernmost extremity of Israel, far from Samuel's own circuit (cf. 7:16–17), which may itself hint at their unaccountability.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ταῦταtheseNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of verbless clause)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this / these'; neuter plural ταῦτα agrees with ὀνόματα; the cataphoric demonstrative ('these are the names') points forward to the list that follows, a fixed LXX naming-formula.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀνόματαnamesNominativepredicate nominative (verbless clause: 'these are the names')→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; the plural ὀνόματα heads the naming-formula; the verbless construction (no copula) reflects the Hebrew nominal sentence.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὀνόματα)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; genitive plural, 'of his sons'; the named sons are the subject of the corruption-notice that follows in v. 3.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying υἱῶν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying υἱῶν).
πρωτότοκοςfirstbornNominativepredicate / appositional (the firstborn, named Joel)→ participant prominenceπρωτότοκος: 'firstborn'; renders בְּכוֹר; here introduces the elder son by rank before naming him, a standard genealogical ordering.
ΙωηλJoelnominative in apposition (indeclinable: name of the firstborn)→ participant identificationΙωηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹאֵל ('YHWH is God'); indeclinable in the LXX; the name of Samuel's firstborn (cf. 1 Chr 6:33, where his descendant Heman is traced).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of verbless clause (the name of the second)→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; the construction ὄνομα τοῦ δευτέρου ('the name of the second') is a fixed naming-idiom; cf. ὄνομα τοῦ δευτέρου at Gen 4:19 and elsewhere.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (substantivizing δευτέρου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτέρουsecondGenitivesubstantivized ordinal adjective (genitive: 'of the second')→ relational specificationδεύτερος: 'second'; ordinal numeral, substantivized with the article ('the second [son]'); renders מִשְׁנֶה / שֵׁנִי in birth-order listings.
ΑβιαAbianominative in apposition (indeclinable: name of the second son)→ participant identificationΑβια: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִיָּה ('YHWH is my father'); indeclinable in the LXX; the name of Samuel's second son.
δικασταὶjudgesNominativepredicate nominative (both sons functioned as judges)→ participant prominenceδικαστής: 'judge'; nominative plural summarizing the joint office of both sons; resumes δικαστάς of v. 1 and sets up the contrast with their corrupt conduct in v. 3.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ΒηρσαβεεBeershebadative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name: location of office)→ participant identificationΒηρσαβεε: transliteration of Hebrew בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע ('well of seven / of the oath'); indeclinable in the LXX; the southern boundary of Israel ('from Dan to Beersheba'), far from Samuel's northern circuit — the geographic remoteness underscores the sons' lack of oversight.
3
καὶ οὐκ ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν ὁδῷ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξέκλιναν ὀπίσω τῆς συντελείας καὶ ἐλάμβανον δῶρα καὶ ἐξέκλινον δικαιώματα
And his sons did not walk in his way, but turned aside after gain, and were taking bribes and perverting judgments.
v. 3 supplies the moral grounds for the elders' demand: the sons διδ not walk ἐν ὁδῷ αὐτοῦ ('in his way'), i.e. Samuel's. The shift from aorist (ἐξέκλιναν, 'turned aside') to imperfects (ἐλάμβανον … ἐξέκλινον, 'kept taking … kept perverting') depicts the bribe-taking and perversion of justice as habitual, ongoing practice. The wordplay ἐξέκλιναν … ἐξέκλινον (turning aside / turning aside justice) frames the moral and the judicial corruption with one verb.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (adversative force in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἐπορεύθησαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ before vowel): objective negation of the indicative verb.
ἐπορεύθησανthey walkedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (the sons' failure to follow Samuel's path)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'go / walk / proceed'; renders הָלַךְ; the deponent aorist passive form is normal; 'to walk in someone's way' (πορεύομαι ἐν ὁδῷ) is a Hebraism for adopting one's manner of life, especially moral and covenantal conduct (cf. Deut 8:6).
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the subject resumes the named sons of v. 2; their failure is the immediate cause of the people's request.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner of life)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (manner of life).
ὁδῷwayDativedative object of ἐν (idiomatic: 'in the way')→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'way / road / manner of life'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; in the idiom πορεύομαι ἐν ὁδῷ, 'way' denotes a pattern of conduct; not walking in Samuel's 'way' means departing from his upright judicial integrity.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Samuel's way)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Samuel's way).
καὶand / butcoordinate conjunction (adversative in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέκλινανthey turned asideAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (deviation toward gain)→ verbal action or stateἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / deviate / bend away'; renders נָטָה; the same verb is repeated in ἐξέκλινον δικαιώματα below, framing both their personal corruption and their judicial perversion with one root — they 'turned aside' toward gain and 'turned aside' justice.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (direction of pursuit)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; as improper preposition with genitive renders אַחֲרֵי; 'turning aside after' something is a Hebraic idiom for devoted pursuit, often of illicit objects (cf. going 'after' other gods); here the object of pursuit is dishonest gain.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συντελείαςgain / profitGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω (the object of corrupt pursuit)→ relational specificationσυντέλεια: lit. 'completion / fulfilment', but here rendering בֶּצַע ('unjust gain / profit'); the sons pursued profit rather than justice; the LXX choice is striking, treating illicit gain as the 'end / completion' toward which the corrupt heart bends.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάμβανονthey were takingImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (habitual bribe-taking)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; the shift to the imperfect (from the aorists above) marks the bribe-taking as ongoing, habitual practice rather than a single act; the verb λαμβάνω recurs throughout the king-warning (λήμψεται, vv. 11, 13, 14, 16) — the corruption of the judges anticipates the seizure of the king.
δῶραbribes / giftsAccusativedirect object of ἐλάμβανον→ object specificationδῶρον: 'gift'; here in the negative sense 'bribe', rendering שֹׁחַד; taking δῶρα to pervert justice is condemned throughout the Torah (Exod 23:8; Deut 16:19); the term seals the verdict on the sons' corruption.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέκλινονthey were pervertingImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (habitual perversion of justice)→ verbal action or stateἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / pervert'; here transitive with δικαιώματα as object — 'to bend / pervert judgments'; the imperfect marks habitual practice; the same verb described their moral deviation above (ἐξέκλιναν), making the wordplay explicit: those who turned aside themselves now turn justice aside.
δικαιώματαjudgments / ordinancesAccusativedirect object of ἐξέκλινον→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'just decree / judgment / ordinance'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; ironic here, since δικαίωμα is the very word used for τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ βασιλέως ('the manner of the king', vv. 9, 11) — the people's flight from corrupt δικαιώματα leads them to embrace the king's δικαίωμα, which proves more oppressive still.
4
καὶ συναθροίζονται ἄνδρες Ισραηλ καὶ παραγίνονται εἰς Αρμαθαιμ πρὸς Σαμουηλ
And the men of Israel gathered together and came to Armathaim, to Samuel.
v. 4 advances the plot with two historic presents (συναθροίζονται … παραγίνονται), a vivid LXX narrative device rendering Hebrew imperfect-consecutives, which dramatize the collective movement of the assembly. The men of Israel gather and come to Samuel's home town of Armathaim (Ramah; cf. 7:17), the setting for the confrontation to follow.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συναθροίζονταιthey gather togetherPres Mid/Pass Indic 3 Pl · συναθροίζωmain verb (historic present: assembly)→ verbal action or stateσυναθροίζω: 'gather together / assemble'; the compound συν- stresses corporate gathering; renders קָבַץ / אָסַף; the historic present (where Hebrew has a narrative past) heightens the immediacy of the collective action.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man / male / member of a community'; ἄνδρες Ισραηλ ('men of Israel') renders אַנְשֵׁי / זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; the parallel at v. 4 MT specifies 'all the elders of Israel'; the assembled representatives act for the whole nation.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'men of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; here functioning as a genitive of relationship with ἄνδρες ('men of Israel'), denoting the corporate body that brings the demand.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παραγίνονταιthey come / arrivePres Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (historic present: arrival)→ verbal action or stateπαραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive / present oneself'; renders בּוֹא; the second historic present continues the vivid sequence of the assembly's movement toward Samuel.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΑρμαθαιμArmathaimaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name: destination)→ participant identificationΑρμαθαιμ: the LXX form of Hebrew הָרָמָתָיִם / רָמָה (Ramah/Ramathaim); indeclinable; Samuel's home town and judicial seat (cf. 1:1; 7:17), where he built an altar to the LORD.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (toward a person)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (toward a person).
ΣαμουηλSamuelaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable: the person approached)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: indeclinable; the object of πρός, the prophet-judge whom the assembly confronts with their demand.
5
καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ ἰδοὺ σὺ γεγήρακας καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου οὐ πορεύονται ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ σου καὶ νῦν κατάστησον ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς βασιλέα δικάζειν ἡμᾶς καθὰ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἔθνη
And they said to him, 'Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your way; and now appoint over us a king to judge us, just as also the rest of the nations.'
The demand is structured in two halves joined by καὶ νῦν ('and now'), the classic Hebrew rhetorical pivot (וְעַתָּה) from grounds to request: the grounds are Samuel's age and his sons' corruption (echoing v. 3 verbatim, ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ σου); the request is κατάστησον … βασιλέα ('appoint a king'). The decisive clause is καθὰ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἔθνη ('just as also the rest of the nations') — the desire to be like the surrounding nations is precisely what makes the request a covenantal problem (cf. Deut 17:14).
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say / speak'; the Hellenistic aorist εἶπαν (with -αν ending for classical εἶπον) is standard in the LXX; introduces the elders' direct-speech demand.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (dative of the addressee)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative αὐτῷ marks Samuel as the recipient of the speech.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection (calling attention)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a presentative particle (frozen aorist imperative of εἶδον) directing attention to the situation that grounds the request.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic second-person pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: the explicit pronoun is emphatic, foregrounding Samuel personally — 'you yourself have grown old' — and contrasting him with his unworthy sons.
γεγήρακαςyou have grown oldPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · γηράσκωmain verb (the first ground of the demand)→ verbal action or stateγηράσκω: 'grow old'; the perfect γεγήρακας expresses a present, abiding condition resulting from past aging — 'you are now an old man'; it picks up the narrator's ἐγήρασεν of v. 1, turning it into the people's own appeal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοίsonsNominativesubject (of πορεύονται)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the people's appeal to the sons' conduct repeats the narrator's verdict of v. 3, now voiced as a grievance.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying υἱοί)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying υἱοί).
οὐnotnegative particle (negating πορεύονται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation of the indicative.
πορεύονταιthey walkPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (the second ground of the demand)→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'walk / go'; the present tense (vs. the aorist ἐπορεύθησαν of v. 3) presents the sons' deviation as their ongoing, current manner of life; 'to walk in your way' is the Hebraism for following Samuel's moral example.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner of life)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (manner of life).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδῷwayDativedative object of ἐν (idiomatic: 'in your way')→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'way / manner of life'; the people quote the very idiom of v. 3 (ἐν ὁδῷ αὐτοῦ), now in the second person ('your way'), making their grievance an echo of the narrator's verdict.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (Samuel's way)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Samuel's way).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (with νῦν: rhetorical pivot)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (logical pivot from grounds to request)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; the phrase καὶ νῦν renders the Hebrew rhetorical pivot וְעַתָּה, which regularly marks the transition from stated grounds to the consequent request or exhortation.
κατάστησονappointAor Act Impv 2 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb (the imperative demand)→ verbal action or stateκαθίστημι: 'set / appoint / install'; the imperative deliberately echoes κατέστησεν of v. 1 (Samuel appointing judges) — the people now demand that Samuel 'appoint' a king instead, asking him to institute the very office that will displace his own.
ἐφ᾿overpreposition + accusative (authority over: elided ἐπί)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: 'over / upon'; the construction κατάστησον ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς βασιλέα ('appoint over us a king') expresses the imposition of royal authority; cf. the king-law of Deut 17:14–15 (τάξεις ἐπὶ σεαυτὸν ἄρχοντα).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of ἐφ᾿ (those over whom the king rules)→ participant referenceἐγώ (pl.): the first-person plural object marks the people as the subjects-to-be of royal rule.
βασιλέαa kingAccusativedirect object of κατάστησον→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the keyword of the chapter, here voiced for the first time; the demand for a βασιλεύς is the institutional pivot from the era of the judges to the monarchy.
δικάζεινto judgePres Act Infin · δικάζωinfinitive of purpose (the king's intended function)→ verbal action or stateδικάζω: 'judge / give judgment'; renders שָׁפַט; the purpose infinitive states the king's intended function — to render the justice the corrupt judges failed to give; ironically the king's δικαίωμα (vv. 9–18) will prove a heavier burden than corrupt judges.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of δικάζειν→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of δικάζειν.
καθὰjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing the comparison)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כְּ / כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the fateful comparison to the nations that defines the request as a covenantal departure.
καὶalsoadverbial / ascensive (intensifying the comparison)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here adverbial 'also / even', strengthening the comparison: a king 'just as also' the other nations have.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λοιπὰrest of / remainingNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ participant prominenceλοιπός: 'remaining / rest / other'; τὰ λοιπὰ ἔθνη ('the rest of the nations') frames Israel as wishing to be merely one more nation among the others, surrendering its distinct status as YHWH's covenant people directly ruled by him.
ἔθνηnationsNominativesubject of implied verb (the standard of comparison)→ participant prominenceἔθνος: 'nation / people / gentiles'; renders גּוֹי; the 'nations' are the surrounding peoples whose form of governance Israel wishes to adopt; the desire to be 'like the nations' (cf. v. 20) is the theological heart of the chapter's critique.
6
καὶ ἦν πονηρὸν τὸ ῥῆμα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Σαμουηλ ὡς εἶπαν δὸς ἡμῖν βασιλέα δικάζειν ἡμᾶς καὶ προσηύξατο Σαμουηλ πρὸς κύριον
And the word was evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us'; and Samuel prayed to the LORD.
v. 6 records Samuel's reaction with the idiom ἦν πονηρὸν … ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('was evil in the eyes of'), the Hebraism רַע בְּעֵינֵי for displeasure. The people's request is restated in compressed, blunt form (δὸς ἡμῖν βασιλέα, 'give us a king'). Samuel's response is exemplary: rather than reacting against the people, he προσηύξατο πρὸς κύριον ('prayed to the LORD'), redirecting the rejection to the One actually rejected (v. 7).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate πονηρόν)→ participant referenceεἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν in the construction ἦν πονηρὸν … ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς renders הָיָה רַע בְּעֵינֵי, the standard Hebrew idiom for something being displeasing to someone.
πονηρὸνevil / displeasingNominativepredicate adjective (with ἦν: 'was evil')→ participant prominenceπονηρός: 'evil / bad / displeasing'; renders רַע; in the idiom 'evil in the eyes of' it means 'displeasing / offensive'; Samuel perceives the request as wrong, though the LORD will reframe the offense as directed against himself, not Samuel.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαword / matterNominativesubject (of ἦν)→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / saying / matter / thing'; renders דָּבָר, which (like ῥῆμα here) means both 'word' and 'matter / affair'; the 'word' is the people's request for a king; cf. πᾶν τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου in v. 10.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (idiomatic locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (idiomatic locative).
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative object of ἐν (idiomatic: 'in the eyes of')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the phrase ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς τινος ('in the eyes of someone') is a Hebraism (בְּעֵינֵי) for someone's judgment or evaluation; here it marks Samuel's personal assessment of the request.
Σαμουηλof Samuelgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'Samuel's eyes')→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: indeclinable; functions as genitive ('in the eyes of Samuel').
ὡςwhentemporal conjunction (introducing temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: temporal 'when / as'; introduces the moment of the people's speech that displeased Samuel.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωverb of temporal clause (re-introducing the demand)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: the same Hellenistic aorist εἶπαν as v. 5; re-cites the demand in compressed form.
δὸςgiveAor Act Impv 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of quoted demand (imperative)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give'; the blunt imperative δὸς ἡμῖν βασιλέα ('give us a king') is a sharper restatement of κατάστησον … βασιλέα (v. 5); the LORD answers it in v. 22 by telling Samuel to make a king reign over them.
ἡμῖνto usDativeindirect object (dative of advantage)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (pl.): the dative ἡμῖν marks the people as the intended recipients of the king.
βασιλέαa kingAccusativedirect object of δός→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the demanded gift, repeated from v. 5; the people treat kingship as a benefit to be given, unaware it is a yoke (vv. 11–18).
δικάζεινto judgePres Act Infin · δικάζωinfinitive of purpose (the king's function)→ verbal action or stateδικάζω: 'judge'; repeats the purpose infinitive of v. 5; the requested function (judging) is what the king will displace with conscription and taxation.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of δικάζειν→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of δικάζειν.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming main line)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσηύξατοprayedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσεύχομαιmain verb (Samuel's response)→ verbal action or stateπροσεύχομαι: 'pray'; renders הִתְפַּלֵּל; Samuel's characteristic response (cf. 7:5; 12:23) — rather than rebuking the people, he brings the matter to the LORD; his intercessory role is a hallmark of the chapter and of his prophetic office.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: indeclinable; the subject of προσηύξατο.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of prayer)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of prayer).
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the One addressed in prayer)→ object specificationκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the accusative κύριον is the object of Samuel's prayer; the LORD is the true sovereign whom the people are in fact rejecting (v. 7).
7
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ λαοῦ καθὰ ἂν λαλήσωσίν σοι ὅτι οὐ σὲ ἐξουθενήκασιν ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἐμὲ ἐξουδενώκασιν τοῦ μὴ βασιλεύειν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν
And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Hearken to the voice of the people, according to whatever they say to you; for it is not you they have set at naught, but me they have rejected from reigning over them.'
v. 7 is the theological heart of the chapter. The LORD's command ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς ('hearken to the voice') concedes the request but the ὅτι-clause reframes it: the people have rejected not Samuel but YHWH himself from reigning (τοῦ μὴ βασιλεύειν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν). The LXX uses two near-synonymous compounds, ἐξουθενέω ('set at naught') and ἐξουδενόω ('reduce to nothing'), in deliberate parallel for the single Hebrew root מָאַס — a stylistic doubling that underscores the gravity of the rejection of divine kingship.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 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: the aorist εἶπεν introduces direct YHWH-speech; the formula εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ recurs at v. 22, framing the chapter's divine speeches.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject marks this as unmediated divine speech in answer to Samuel's prayer.
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: addressee)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: indeclinable; the recipient of the divine word.
ἄκουεhearkenPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (divine command to comply)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear / listen / obey'; with the genitive (τῆς φωνῆς) it means 'heed / obey'; the present imperative directs continual compliance; the same command recurs in vv. 9 and 22, ironically framing divine concession to a people who themselves will not listen (v. 19).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἄκουε (what is to be heeded)→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; ἀκούειν τῆς φωνῆς ('heed the voice') is the Hebraism שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל for obedience; the irony is sharp — Samuel is told to obey the voice of a people who are refusing to obey their God.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of possession (whose voice)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; the covenant people (rendering עַם), here the demanding assembly; their 'voice' is the request for a king.
καθὰaccording ascomparative conjunction (introducing the manner of compliance)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'according as / just as'; with ἄν + subjunctive forms a general/indefinite clause ('according to whatever').
ἂν-evermodal particle (with subjunctive: indefinite clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the indefiniteness of the clause with the subjunctive λαλήσωσιν ('according to whatever they say').
λαλήσωσίνthey may sayAor Act Subj 3 Pl · λαλέωverb of indefinite comparative clause→ verbal action or stateλαλέω: 'speak / say'; the subjunctive with καθὰ ἄν gives the clause a general sense — Samuel is to comply with whatever the people demand, a sweeping concession that intensifies the gravity of their choice.
σοιto youDativeindirect object (dative of addressee)→ participant reference or interestσύ: the dative σοι marks Samuel as the one addressed by the people's demands.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (introducing the divine rationale)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the reason Samuel should not take the request personally — the rejection is aimed at God, not at him.
οὐnotnegative particle (negating σέ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the negation is fronted with σέ for emphasis ('not you').
σὲyouAccusativedirect object (emphatic, fronted: 'not you')→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic accusative σέ, fronted before its verb, sets up the antithesis 'not you … but me'; the LORD identifies himself, not Samuel, as the object of the rejection.
ἐξουθενήκασινthey have set at naughtPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξουθενέωmain verb (the rejection, first member of antithesis)→ verbal action or stateἐξουθενέω: 'set at naught / despise / reject as worthless'; renders מָאַס ('reject'); the perfect marks a settled act of contempt; paired with the near-synonym ἐξουδενόω below, the LXX renders the single Hebrew verb with two cognate compounds for rhetorical emphasis.
ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative (introducing the antithesis, elided ἀλλά)→ clausal contributionἀλλά: 'but'; the strong adversative sets the true object of rejection (God) against the apparent one (Samuel).
ἢratherparticle (reinforcing the antithesis: 'but rather')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: here in the combination ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but rather / except'), a Hebraizing idiom (rendering כִּי אִם) reinforcing the contrast — 'it is not you, but rather me.'
ἐμὲmeAccusativedirect object (emphatic, fronted: 'me')→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic accusative ἐμέ (vs. enclitic με) is fronted to stress the true object of the rejection — YHWH himself; the divine 'me' is the climax of the antithesis.
ἐξουδενώκασινthey have rejectedPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξουδενόωmain verb (the rejection, second member of antithesis)→ verbal action or stateἐξουδενόω: 'reduce to nothing / set at naught / despise'; a near-synonym of ἐξουθενέω, both rendering מָאַס; the deliberate variation between the two cognate verbs (one for Samuel, one for God) is a stylistic feature of the Greek Samuel, heightening the rhetorical force of the divine verdict.
τοῦthe / fromGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive of result/separation)→ noun-phrase markingthe genitive article τοῦ with the infinitive βασιλεύειν forms an articular infinitive expressing the consequence/aim of the rejection — 'so as not to reign / from reigning'.
μὴnotnegative particle (negating the infinitive βασιλεύειν)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negation proper to infinitives; with τοῦ … βασιλεύειν it expresses the rejected reality — that YHWH should reign over them.
βασιλεύεινto reignPres Act Infin · βασιλεύωarticular infinitive (of result/separation: 'from reigning')→ verbal action or stateβασιλεύω: 'reign / be king'; the cognate verb of βασιλεύς — the people's demand for a human βασιλεύς is precisely a rejection of YHWH's own βασιλεύειν over them; the verb anchors the chapter's theology of divine vs. human kingship (cf. v. 9, βασιλεύσει; v. 22, βασίλευσον).
ἐπ᾿overpreposition + genitive (authority over: elided ἐπί)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + genitive: 'over'; expresses the sphere of YHWH's rejected kingship — 'over them'.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἐπ᾿ (those over whom God would reign)→ relational specificationαὐτός: the genitive plural marks the people as those over whom YHWH would have reigned, had they not rejected his kingship.
8
κατὰ πάντα τὰ ποιήματα ἃ ἐποίησάν μοι ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας ἀνήγαγον αὐτοὺς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης καὶ ἐγκατέλιπόν με καὶ ἐδούλευον θεοῖς ἑτέροις οὕτως αὐτοὶ ποιοῦσιν καὶ σοί
According to all the deeds that they have done to me from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day — they forsook me and served other gods — so they are doing also to you.
v. 8 grounds the verdict of v. 7 in Israel's whole history of apostasy. The κατά-phrase ('according to all the deeds') sets the present rejection within a pattern stretching ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας … ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('from the day … until this day'). The historical résumé (ἐγκατέλιπόν με … ἐδούλευον θεοῖς ἑτέροις, 'they forsook me and served other gods') casts the demand for a king as continuous with idolatry; the closing οὕτως … καὶ σοί ('so also to you') consoles Samuel by aligning his experience with God's own.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard/conformity)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: 'according to / in conformity with'; introduces the pattern of past conduct to which the present rejection conforms.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ποιήματα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; the totalizing πάντα frames Israel's apostasy as a comprehensive, persistent pattern, not isolated lapses.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιήματαdeedsAccusativeaccusative object of κατά→ object specificationποίημα: 'thing done / deed / work'; renders מַעֲשֶׂה; the cognate noun anticipates the verb ἐποίησαν ('they have done') and ποιοῦσιν ('they are doing'), tying the present act to the long record of Israel's deeds.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησαν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, neuter accusative plural, agreeing with ποιήματα; introduces the relative clause specifying the deeds.
ἐποίησάνthey have doneAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; the aorist summarizes the entire pattern of Israel's conduct toward God; paired with the present ποιοῦσιν below, it links the past pattern to the present act of rejecting divine kingship.
μοιto meDativeindirect object (dative of disadvantage: 'against me')→ participant reference or interestἐγώ: the dative μοι marks YHWH as the one against whom the deeds were done; the divine first person personalizes Israel's apostasy as an offense against God himself.
ἀφ᾿frompreposition + genitive (temporal starting point: elided ἀπό)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; the construction ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας … ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('from the day … until this day') is a temporal merism for the whole span of Israel's national history.
ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (attracted to the case of ἡμέρας)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, genitive feminine singular, in the idiom ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας ('from the day on which'); the relative is attracted into the genitive of its antecedent ἡμέρας.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἀφ᾿ (temporal: starting point)→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the 'day' of the Exodus marks the beginning of the historical span surveyed.
ἀνήγαγονI brought upAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀνάγωverb of temporal relative clause (the Exodus)→ verbal action or stateἀνάγω: 'lead up / bring up'; renders הֶעֱלָה; the standard verb for the Exodus deliverance ('brought up out of Egypt'); the first-person ἀνήγαγον recalls YHWH's foundational saving act, against which Israel's apostasy is all the more stark.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀνήγαγον→ participant referenceαὐτός: the people of Israel as the object of the Exodus deliverance.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source: elided ἐκ)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'out of / from'; marks Egypt as the place of bondage from which Israel was brought up.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (place of origin)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of מִצְרַיִם; the place of bondage; the Exodus is the benchmark of YHWH's kingship that the people now implicitly reject.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal end-point)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; closes the temporal merism at the present moment ('until this day').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal end-point)→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; 'this day' is the present moment of the demand for a king, the latest instance in the long pattern.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; the deictic ταύτης anchors the merism at the narrative present.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (specifying the deeds)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγκατέλιπόνthey forsookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐγκαταλείπωmain verb (specifying the apostasy: abandonment)→ verbal action or stateἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon / desert'; renders עָזַב; the compound intensifies the simple λείπω — a thorough abandonment; the standard verb for covenant apostasy (cf. Deut 28:20; Judg 2:12–13).
μεmeAccusativedirect object (the abandoned LORD)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the enclitic accusative με; YHWH is the one forsaken — the demand for a king is the latest form of this abandonment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐδούλευονthey servedImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (the positive side of apostasy: idol-service)→ verbal action or stateδουλεύω: 'serve / be a slave to'; renders עָבַד; the imperfect marks the idol-service as habitual; ironically, those who served (ἐδούλευον) other gods will themselves become slaves (δοῦλοι, v. 17) to the king they demand.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐδούλευον (the objects of false service)→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'god'; the dative with δουλεύω marks the recipients of service; here the false 'other gods'.
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying θεοῖς)→ sphere or referenceἕτερος: 'other / another (of a different kind)'; θεοὶ ἕτεροι renders אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים ('other gods'), the standard Deuteronomic phrase for the forbidden deities (cf. Exod 20:3; Deut 6:14).
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (drawing the comparison)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; correlates the past pattern with the present act — 'so [in just this manner] they are doing also to you.'
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject (emphatic: 'they themselves')→ participant prominenceαὐτός: the emphatic nominative ('they themselves') stresses the continuity of the same people in the same pattern of conduct.
ποιοῦσινare doingPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the present application of the pattern)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; the present tense brings the historical pattern (ἐποίησαν) into the narrative now — 'so they are doing'; the verb closes the inclusio of ποιήματα … ἐποίησαν … ποιοῦσιν within the verse.
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive: 'also to you')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here 'also / even'; aligns Samuel's experience of rejection with God's own — a word of consolation embedded in the verdict.
σοίto youDativeindirect object (dative: Samuel as object of the same conduct)→ participant reference or interestσύ: the accented dative σοί (not enclitic σοι) is emphatic, closing the verse with the consoling parallel — what the people do to Samuel they have long done to God.
9
καὶ νῦν ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῶν πλὴν ὅτι διαμαρτυρόμενος διαμαρτύρῃ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἀπαγγελεῖς αὐτοῖς τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ βασιλέως ὃς βασιλεύσει ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς
And now hearken to their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them, and shall declare to them the manner of the king who will reign over them.
v. 9 repeats καὶ νῦν ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς (cf. v. 7) and adds the crucial stipulation introduced by πλήν ('only / except'): before granting the king, Samuel must διαμαρτυρόμενος διαμαρτύρῃ — a cognate construction (figura etymologica) rendering the Hebrew infinitive absolute הָעֵד תָּעִיד ('solemnly testify / warn'). The content of the warning is τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ βασιλέως, the 'manner / ordinance of the king' (Hebrew מִשְׁפַּט הַמֶּלֶךְ), which the rest of the chapter spells out (vv. 11–18).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (with νῦν: resumptive command)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (logical pivot to the command)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν (וְעַתָּה) again marks the pivot from the verdict (vv. 7–8) to the renewed command to comply.
ἄκουεhearkenPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (renewed command to comply)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'heed / obey'; with the genitive τῆς φωνῆς, 'obey the voice'; the command repeats v. 7 verbatim, sealing the divine concession before the warning is stipulated.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἄκουε→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice'; the people's demand, which Samuel is to heed.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (whose voice)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their'; the genitive marks the people as the owners of the voice to be heeded.
πλὴνonly / exceptadversative/limiting particle (introducing the stipulation)→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'only / nevertheless / except'; renders אֶפֶס / אַךְ; introduces the limiting condition on the concession — compliance is granted, but solemn warning must accompany it.
ὅτιthatconjunction (with πλήν: introducing the stipulated clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here in the combination πλὴν ὅτι ('only that / except that'), introducing the content of the stipulation.
διαμαρτυρόμενοςsolemnly testifyingPres Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · διαμαρτύρομαιparticiple in cognate construction (figura etymologica with διαμαρτύρῃ)→ verbal action or stateδιαμαρτύρομαι: 'solemnly testify / charge / warn'; the participle paired with the finite διαμαρτύρῃ is the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew infinitive absolute construction (הָעֵד תָּעִיד), expressing emphatic certainty — 'you shall surely / solemnly warn'; the compound δια- adds thoroughness.
διαμαρτύρῃyou shall warnFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · διαμαρτύρομαιmain verb (the solemn warning commanded)→ verbal action or stateδιαμαρτύρομαι: the finite future paired with the cognate participle; the future here has imperatival force (the duty laid on Samuel); the doubled root underscores the seriousness of the testimony Samuel must give before the king is granted.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (dative of those warned)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative αὐτοῖς marks the people as the recipients of the solemn warning.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπαγγελεῖςyou shall declareFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (the act of declaring the king's manner)→ verbal action or stateἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce / declare'; renders נָגַד / הִגִּיד; the future continues the imperatival force; Samuel is to make fully known the practices of monarchy before the people commit themselves.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (dative of recipients)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (dative of recipients).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαίωμαmanner / ordinanceAccusativedirect object of ἀπαγγελεῖς→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'just decree / ordinance / customary right'; here renders מִשְׁפָּט in the phrase מִשְׁפַּט הַמֶּלֶךְ ('the manner / customary practice of the king'); it denotes the established mode of operation a king will impose — not 'rights' he is owed but the practices he will exact; ironic echo of the perverted δικαιώματα of v. 3.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession/relationship (whose manner)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the genitive specifies whose 'manner' is being declared — τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ βασιλέως is the catchphrase introducing vv. 11–18; cf. its near-verbatim repetition at v. 11.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of βασιλεύσει)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, nominative masculine singular, agreeing with βασιλέως; introduces the relative clause describing the king's rule.
βασιλεύσειwill reignFut Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωverb of relative clause (the king's future rule)→ verbal action or stateβασιλεύω: 'reign / be king'; the same verb used of YHWH's rejected reign in v. 7 (βασιλεύειν) is now applied to the human king — the human βασιλεύσει replaces the divine βασιλεύειν; the lexical echo is pointed.
ἐπ᾿overpreposition + accusative (authority over: elided ἐπί)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: 'over'; expresses the sphere of the king's coming rule.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (those ruled)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the people as the subjects of the king's rule.
10
καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ πᾶν τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοὺς αἰτοῦντας παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ βασιλέα
And Samuel told all the word of the LORD to the people who were asking from him a king.
v. 10 narrates Samuel's faithful execution of the commission of v. 9: he speaks πᾶν τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου ('all the word of the LORD') — the totalizing πᾶν stresses complete disclosure. The participial phrase τοὺς αἰτοῦντας … βασιλέα ('the ones asking for a king') re-identifies the addressees by their defining act, framing the king-warning that follows as a direct answer to their request.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενtold / saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Samuel relaying the divine word)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: 'say / tell'; the aorist marks Samuel's faithful transmission of the divine message to the people, fulfilling the command of v. 9.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: indeclinable; the prophet faithfully conveys what the LORD has told him.
πᾶνallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ῥῆμα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; πᾶν τὸ ῥῆμα ('all the word') emphasizes that Samuel held nothing back — the full divine message, including the warning, is delivered.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαwordAccusativedirect object of εἶπεν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / saying / matter'; renders דָּבָר; 'the word of the LORD' is the content of vv. 7–9 that Samuel now relays; cf. τὸ ῥῆμα of v. 6.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (whose word)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive marks the divine origin and authority of the word Samuel transmits.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of address)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of address).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the addressees)→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; the covenant people, here the assembly demanding a king; the recipients of Samuel's report.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰτοῦνταςaskingPres Act Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · αἰτέωattributive participle (modifying λαόν: 'who were asking')→ verbal action or stateαἰτέω: 'ask / request / demand'; the articular participle τοὺς αἰτοῦντας identifies the people by their characteristic act — they are 'the askers for a king'; the present aspect presents the demand as their persistent, defining posture.
παρ᾿frompreposition + genitive (source of the request: elided παρά)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + genitive: 'from (the side of)'; marks Samuel as the one from whom the king is requested.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of παρ᾿ (Samuel, from whom they ask)→ relational specificationαὐτός: refers to Samuel — the people ask the king 'from him', i.e. through his agency as the LORD's prophet.
βασιλέαa kingAccusativedirect object of αἰτοῦντας→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the object of the people's request, repeated from vv. 5–6; the keyword that the king-warning of vv. 11–18 now unpacks.
11
καὶ εἶπεν τοῦτο ἔσται τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ βασιλέως ὃς βασιλεύσει ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς τοὺς υἱοὺς ὑμῶν λήμψεται καὶ θήσεται αὐτοὺς ἐν ἅρμασιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἱππεῦσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ προτρέχοντας τῶν ἁρμάτων αὐτοῦ
And he said, 'This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and set them in his chariots and among his horsemen, and as runners before his chariots.'
v. 11 opens the body of the mishpat hammelek with the cataphoric τοῦτο ἔσται τὸ δικαίωμα ('this will be the manner'), pointing forward to the catalogue of royal exactions. The first item is the conscription of sons — λήμψεται ('he will take') is the leitmotif verb (vv. 11, 13, 14, 16) of the warning. The military uses (chariots, horsemen, runners) depict a standing army that consumes Israel's young men, the opposite of the protection the people sought.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Samuel's direct-speech declaration of the king's manner; subject (Samuel) carried over from v. 10.
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject, cataphoric)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the cataphoric τοῦτο points forward to the catalogue of exactions, a standard way of opening a formal pronouncement.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate τὸ δικαίωμα)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the future ἔσται introduces the predicted reality of royal practice; renders the Hebrew יִהְיֶה.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαίωμαmanner / ordinanceNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceδικαίωμα: 'customary practice / ordinance'; resumes the catchphrase of v. 9 (τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ βασιλέως = מִשְׁפַּט הַמֶּלֶךְ); here it heads the actual catalogue of what the king will do.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession/relationship→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; whose manner is described; the phrase repeats v. 9 almost verbatim, forming a frame around Samuel's relaying of the word.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of βασιλεύσει)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun agreeing with βασιλέως; introduces the relative clause as in v. 9.
βασιλεύσειwill reignFut Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωverb of relative clause→ verbal action or stateβασιλεύω: 'reign'; repeats v. 9; the human reign that displaces YHWH's (v. 7).
ἐφ᾿overpreposition + accusative (authority over: elided ἐπί)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: 'over'; the shift to second person ('over you', ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς) makes the warning directly confrontational.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of ἐφ᾿ (those ruled)→ participant referenceσύ (pl.): the second-person plural directly addresses the demanding people as the future subjects of the king.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the king's first exaction is the people's sons — fronted before its verb for emphasis; the conscription of sons heads the list of losses.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying υἱούς)→ relational specificationσύ (pl.): 'your'; the repeated ὑμῶν throughout vv. 11–17 hammers home that everything taken belongs to the people.
λήμψεταιhe will takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the king's act of seizure)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the Hellenistic future λήμψεται; this is the leitmotif verb of the king-warning (repeated vv. 13, 14, 16) — the king is characterized above all as one who 'takes'; it deliberately echoes the corrupt judges who 'were taking' (ἐλάμβανον) bribes (v. 3).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θήσεταιhe will set / appointFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (assigning the conscripts)→ verbal action or stateτίθημι (mid.): 'set / place / appoint'; renders שִׂים; the middle voice ('he will set for himself') stresses the king's self-interested disposal of the conscripted sons into military service.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of θήσεται (the sons)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the conscripted sons as the object of the king's assignment.
ἐνin / amongpreposition + dative (sphere of service)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere of service).
ἅρμασινchariotsDativedative object of ἐν (sphere of military assignment)→ sphere or referenceἅρμα: 'chariot'; renders רֶכֶב / מֶרְכָּבָה; the chariotry is the elite, expensive arm of an ancient army; conscription into it removes sons permanently from family agriculture into royal warfare.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's chariots)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the repeated αὐτοῦ throughout vv. 11–17 stresses that all the produce of the people's loss accrues to the king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἱππεῦσινhorsemenDativedative object of ἐν (second sphere of service)→ sphere or referenceἱππεύς: 'horseman / cavalryman'; renders פָּרָשׁ; the second military category; chariotry and cavalry together evoke the full apparatus of a professional army built from conscripted Israelite youth.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's horsemen)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's horsemen).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προτρέχονταςrunning beforePres Act Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · προτρέχωparticiple in predicate (a third use of the sons: as runners)→ verbal action or stateπροτρέχω: 'run before / run ahead'; the participle describes the sons set 'as runners before his chariots' — royal outrunners/heralds (cf. 2 Kgdms 15:1; 3 Kgdms 1:5, the practice of Absalom and Adonijah); a demeaning, dangerous service in the king's retinue.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁρμάτωνchariotsGenitivegenitive (before which they run)→ relational specificationἅρμα: 'chariot'; the genitive τῶν ἁρμάτων marks what the runners precede; resumes ἅρμασιν above, framing the sons' service entirely around the king's chariotry.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's chariots)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's chariots).
12
καὶ θέσθαι αὐτοὺς ἑαυτῷ χιλιάρχους καὶ ἑκατοντάρχους καὶ θερίζειν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τρυγᾶν τρυγητὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ποιεῖν σκεύη πολεμικὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ σκεύη ἁρμάτων αὐτοῦ
And he will make them for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and to reap his harvest and gather his vintage, and to make his weapons of war and the equipment of his chariots.
v. 12 continues the catalogue with a string of infinitives (θέσθαι … θερίζειν … τρυγᾶν … ποιεῖν) dependent on the sense of the foregoing — the king will appoint the sons as military officers and conscript their labor for his harvests, vineyards, and armaments. The sweep from military command to agricultural drudgery to weapons-manufacture shows the king commandeering the full productive capacity of the people's young men for his own household and war-machine.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θέσθαιto make / appointAor Mid Infin · τίθημιinfinitive (continuing the king's actions: 'and to appoint')→ verbal action or stateτίθημι (aor. mid.): 'set / appoint / make'; the middle infinitive θέσθαι … ἑαυτῷ ('to appoint for himself') continues θήσεται of v. 11; the infinitive string of v. 12 hangs loosely on the future-sense of the warning, a Hebraizing paratactic construction.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative subject/object of the infinitive (the sons)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the conscripted sons, now appointed as officers.
ἑαυτῷfor himselfDativereflexive dative of advantage (to the king's own benefit)→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; ἑαυτῷ ('for himself') stresses that the king's appointments serve his own interest, not the people's — a recurring note in the warning.
χιλιάρχουςcommanders of thousandsAccusativepredicate accusative (the office to which sons are appointed)→ object specificationχιλίαρχος: 'commander of a thousand / chiliarch'; renders שַׂר אֶלֶף; a high military rank; the king draws his officer corps from the people's own sons.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἑκατοντάρχουςcommanders of hundredsAccusativepredicate accusative (parallel military office)→ object specificationἑκατόνταρχος: 'commander of a hundred / centurion'; renders שַׂר חֲמִשִּׁים / מֵאוֹת; paired with χιλίαρχος, the two ranks evoke the full military hierarchy the king will staff from conscripted Israelites.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θερίζεινto reapPres Act Infin · θερίζωinfinitive (a further forced use: agricultural labor)→ verbal action or stateθερίζω: 'reap / harvest'; renders קָצַר; the king conscripts the sons for his own harvest-labor; with its cognate object θερισμόν it forms a figura etymologica ('to reap his reaping').
θερισμὸνharvestAccusativecognate accusative (object of θερίζειν)→ object specificationθερισμός: 'harvest / reaping'; the cognate object of θερίζειν; renders קָצִיר; underscores that the king takes the labor as well as its produce.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's harvest)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's harvest).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τρυγᾶνto gather (the vintage)Pres Act Infin · τρυγάωinfinitive (a further forced use: vintage labor)→ verbal action or stateτρυγάω: 'gather ripe fruit / harvest the vintage'; renders בָּצַר; with its cognate object τρυγητόν it forms another figura etymologica ('to vintage his vintage'), paralleling θερίζειν θερισμόν.
τρυγητὸνvintageAccusativecognate accusative (object of τρυγᾶν)→ object specificationτρυγητός: 'vintage / grape-harvest'; the cognate object of τρυγᾶν; the grape harvest joins the grain harvest as labor commandeered by the king.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's vintage)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's vintage).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιεῖνto makePres Act Infin · ποιέωinfinitive (a further forced use: weapons-manufacture)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'make / manufacture'; the king conscripts the sons as armorers and chariot-wrights; the catalogue moves from fighting and farming to the manufacture of war-materiel.
σκεύηimplements / weaponsAccusativedirect object of ποιεῖν→ object specificationσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): 'vessel / implement / equipment'; renders כְּלִי; with πολεμικά it means 'weapons of war' / military hardware.
πολεμικὰof warAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying σκεύη)→ object specificationπολεμικός: 'of war / warlike'; σκεύη πολεμικά = 'weapons of war'; the king's war-machine is built by the labor of the people's sons.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's weapons)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's weapons).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σκεύηequipmentAccusativedirect object of ποιεῖν (second object: chariot-gear)→ object specificationσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): here 'equipment / gear'; σκεύη ἁρμάτων = 'the gear / fittings of the chariots'; the manufacture of chariot-equipment rounds out the war-materiel the sons must produce.
ἁρμάτωνof chariotsGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying σκεύη)→ relational specificationἅρμα: 'chariot'; the genitive plural specifies the equipment as chariot-gear; resumes the chariot-motif of v. 11.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's chariots)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's chariots).
13
καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας ὑμῶν λήμψεται εἰς μυρεψοὺς καὶ εἰς μαγειρίσσας καὶ εἰς πεσσούσας
And he will take your daughters as perfumers and as cooks and as bakers.
v. 13 turns from sons to daughters, again with the leitmotif λήμψεται ('he will take'), the object τὰς θυγατέρας fronted in parallel to τοὺς υἱούς (v. 11). The three εἰς-phrases (μυρεψούς, μαγειρίσσας, πεσσούσας) name domestic-service roles — perfumers, cooks, bakers — for the royal household; the king's appetite reaches into every Israelite family's women as well as men.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (fronted in parallel to υἱούς of v. 11)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the daughters are taken in parallel to the sons of v. 11 — the king's exactions spare neither gender; the fronting mirrors τοὺς υἱούς.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θυγατέρας)→ relational specificationσύ (pl.): 'your'; the repeated ὑμῶν continues to mark each thing taken as the people's own.
λήμψεταιhe will takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the king's seizure of daughters)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the leitmotif verb repeated from v. 11; here applied to the daughters.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (purpose/role: 'as')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: here of result/role ('to be / as'), a Hebraizing use (לְ) marking the function into which the daughters are pressed.
μυρεψοὺςperfumersAccusativeaccusative of role (object of εἰς)→ object specificationμυρεψός: 'perfumer / maker of ointments'; renders רַקָּחָה; one who compounds perfumed oils — a luxury craft for the royal court; the king's daughters-servants supply his cosmetic luxuries.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (purpose/role)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'as'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose/role).
μαγειρίσσαςcooksAccusativeaccusative of role (object of εἰς)→ object specificationμαγείρισσα: 'female cook'; the feminine of μάγειρος; renders טַבָּחָה; the daughters are taken to prepare the king's food.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (purpose/role)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'as'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose/role).
πεσσούσαςbakers (lit. women baking)Pres Act Ptcp Acc Pl Fem · πέσσωsubstantivized participle (accusative of role: object of εἰς)→ verbal action or stateπέσσω: 'cook / bake'; the feminine participle τὰς πεσσούσας ('the women who bake') functions substantivally as a third domestic role ('bakers'); renders אֹפָה; the triad perfumers/cooks/bakers covers the king's culinary and cosmetic household needs.
14
καὶ τοὺς ἀγροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ τοὺς ἀμπελῶνας ὑμῶν καὶ τοὺς ἐλαιῶνας ὑμῶν τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς λήμψεται καὶ δώσει τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ
And he will take your fields and your vineyards and your good olive-groves, and give them to his servants.
v. 14 moves from persons to property: the king will take the people's best fields, vineyards, and olive-groves (the three staples of the Israelite agrarian economy — grain, wine, oil) and redistribute them to his courtiers (δώσει τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ). The pairing λήμψεται … δώσει ('he will take … and give') exposes the redistributive injustice — what is seized from the many is handed to the king's retainers.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγροὺςfieldsAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (first of three)→ object specificationἀγρός: 'field / farmland'; renders שָׂדֶה; the grain-fields, the first of the three agrarian staples the king will seize; land was the inalienable patrimony of Israelite families (cf. the Naboth episode, 3 Kgdms 21).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμπελῶναςvineyardsAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (second of three)→ object specificationἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; the second staple (wine); cf. v. 15, where the vineyards' yield is also tithed.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλαιῶναςolive-grovesAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (third of three)→ object specificationἐλαιών: 'olive-orchard / olive-grove'; renders זַיִת (collective); the third staple (oil); fields, vineyards, and olive-groves together comprise the threefold produce (grain, wine, oil) basic to Israelite life (cf. Deut 7:13).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with attributive ἀγαθούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθοὺςgood / bestAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying the seized properties)→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; in second-attributive position (τοὺς ... τοὺς ἀγαθούς), modifying the whole triad — the king takes the best of the lands; renders טוֹב; he seizes not marginal plots but the choicest holdings.
λήμψεταιhe will takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the king's seizure of land)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the leitmotif verb again, now of landed property; the verb stands after its three fronted objects, gathering them all under the single act of royal expropriation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειhe will giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the king's redistribution)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give'; the pairing λήμψεται … δώσει ('take … give') exposes the redistributive injustice — the king takes from the people and gives to his own retainers; renders נָתַן.
τοῖςto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλοιςservants / slavesDativeindirect object of δώσει (the beneficiaries)→ sphere or referenceδοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; here the king's officials/retainers (rendering עֶבֶד); ironic in light of v. 17, where the people themselves become δοῦλοι — the king enriches his slaves at the cost of enslaving the free.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's servants)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's servants).
15
καὶ τὰ σπέρματα ὑμῶν καὶ τοὺς ἀμπελῶνας ὑμῶν ἀποδεκατώσει καὶ δώσει τοῖς εὐνούχοις αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ
And he will take a tithe of your seed and your vineyards, and give it to his eunuchs and to his servants.
v. 15 introduces the verb ἀποδεκατώσει ('he will take a tenth'), the royal tithe on seed and vineyards. The king's 10% claim on agricultural yield parallels — and competes with — the tithe owed to the LORD and the Levites (Num 18; Deut 14): the people will now owe a second tithe to a human master. The beneficiaries are the king's εὐνοῦχοι (court officials) and δοῦλοι.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπέρματαseed / grainAccusativedirect object of ἀποδεκατώσει (fronted)→ object specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / sown grain / produce of the field'; renders זֶרַע; the grain-yield, on which the king levies a tithe; the plural denotes the various sown crops.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμπελῶναςvineyardsAccusativedirect object of ἀποδεκατώσει (second item tithed)→ object specificationἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; the vineyards, already liable to seizure (v. 14), are also subject to the tithe — a double burden on the same holdings.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀποδεκατώσειhe will take a tithe ofFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδεκατόωmain verb (the royal tithe)→ verbal action or stateἀποδεκατόω: 'take/exact a tenth, tithe'; renders עָשַׂר (Piel); the king's 10% levy directly parallels the tithe owed to the LORD (Lev 27:30; Num 18:21) — the people will pay a second, royal tithe; the verb recurs in vv. 16–17.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειhe will giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (redistribution of the tithe)→ verbal action or stateδίδωμι: 'give'; again the take-and-give pattern (cf. v. 14): the tithe extracted from the people is bestowed on the king's court.
τοῖςto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐνούχοιςeunuchs / officialsDativeindirect object of δώσει (the beneficiaries)→ sphere or referenceεὐνοῦχος: 'eunuch / court official'; renders סָרִיס, which denotes a court officer (often, but not always, a literal eunuch); these are the king's high functionaries who profit from the people's tithe.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλοιςservantsDativeindirect object of δώσει (second group of beneficiaries)→ sphere or referenceδοῦλος: 'servant / slave'; the king's retainers, joined with the εὐνοῦχοι as recipients of the tithe; cf. v. 14.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
16
καὶ τοὺς δούλους ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς δούλας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ βουκόλια ὑμῶν τὰ ἀγαθὰ καὶ τοὺς ὄνους ὑμῶν λήμψεται καὶ ἀποδεκατώσει εἰς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ
And he will take your menservants and your maidservants and your best herds and your donkeys, and will tithe them for his works.
v. 16 extends the seizures to the people's own slaves (male and female), their best cattle, and their donkeys — the working capital of the household economy. The two leitmotif verbs converge here: λήμψεται ('he will take') and ἀποδεκατώσει ('he will tithe'), the latter now applied to laborers and beasts pressed εἰς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ('for his works' — royal building projects and corvée labor).
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλουςmenservantsAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (first item)→ object specificationδοῦλος: 'male slave / servant'; renders עֶבֶד; the king takes even the people's own slaves — the household labor force is requisitioned; the irony deepens toward v. 17, where the free people become slaves themselves.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλαςmaidservantsAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (second item)→ object specificationδούλη: 'female slave / maidservant'; renders שִׁפְחָה; the female counterpart to δοῦλος; the king's seizure spares neither the people's male nor female slaves.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουκόλιαherds / cattleAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (third item)→ object specificationβουκόλιον: 'herd of cattle'; renders בָּקָר; the cattle-herds, draft and food animals essential to the agrarian economy; the king takes the best of them (τὰ ἀγαθά).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with attributive ἀγαθά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὰbest / goodAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying βουκόλια)→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good / best'; as with the lands of v. 14, the king takes the choicest of the herds, not the inferior stock.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνουςdonkeysAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (fourth item)→ object specificationὄνος: 'donkey / ass'; renders חֲמוֹר; the donkeys, the basic beasts of burden and transport; their loss cripples the household's ability to work and trade.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
λήμψεταιhe will takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the king's seizure)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the leitmotif verb, standing after its four fronted objects, gathering slaves, cattle, and donkeys under one act of seizure.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποδεκατώσειhe will titheFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδεκατόωmain verb (the tithe of labor/livestock)→ verbal action or stateἀποδεκατόω: 'take a tenth / tithe'; repeats v. 15; here the tithe falls on the seized workforce and beasts, pressed into the king's projects.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'for his works')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: 'for / unto'; expresses the purpose to which the tithed labor and livestock are put — the king's projects.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔργαworksAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the king's labor-projects)→ object specificationἔργον: 'work / labor / project'; renders מְלָאכָה; 'his works' are the king's building and labor undertakings — the corvée that consumes the people's resources; cf. the slave-labor motif of v. 17.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's works)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's works).
17
καὶ τὰ ποίμνια ὑμῶν ἀποδεκατώσει καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθε αὐτῷ δοῦλοι
And he will tithe your flocks; and you yourselves will be slaves to him.
v. 17 climaxes the catalogue: after the final tithe (on the flocks) comes the devastating summary — καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθε αὐτῷ δοῦλοι ('and you yourselves will be slaves to him'). The emphatic ὑμεῖς and the predicate δοῦλοι deliver the verdict the whole warning has built toward: a people who refused YHWH's reign to be 'like the nations' will end as the slaves of their own king — the very condition (Egyptian slavery) from which YHWH had redeemed them (v. 8).
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποίμνιαflocksAccusativedirect object of ἀποδεκατώσει (fronted)→ object specificationποίμνιον: 'flock (of sheep/goats)'; renders צֹאן; the small livestock, completing the tally of seized property; the king's tithe now reaches the last category of wealth.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀποδεκατώσειhe will titheFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδεκατόωmain verb (the final tithe)→ verbal action or stateἀποδεκατόω: 'take a tenth / tithe'; the third occurrence (cf. vv. 15, 16); the tithe of the flocks closes the list of exactions before the summary verdict of enslavement.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the climactic summary)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑμεῖςyou yourselvesNominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ (pl.): the explicit, emphatic ὑμεῖς ('you yourselves') is climactic — after all the property, the people themselves are the final 'possession' the king reduces; the pronoun makes the verdict unmistakably personal.
ἔσεσθεwill beFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίcopula (with predicate δοῦλοι)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the future ἔσεσθε δοῦλοι ('you will be slaves') is the summary verdict of the whole warning; renders Hebrew וִהְיִיתֶם … לַעֲבָדִים.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of relation (slaves to him: the king)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative αὐτῷ marks the king as the master to whom the people will be enslaved.
δοῦλοιslavesNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσεσθε)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; the climactic predicate — those who served (ἐδούλευον, v. 8) other gods and demanded a king to be free 'like the nations' will themselves become δοῦλοι; the same word used of the king's retainers (vv. 14, 16) now describes the whole nation, completing the reversal from the Exodus freedom of v. 8.
18
καὶ βοήσεσθε ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐκ προσώπου βασιλέως ὑμῶν οὗ ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς καὶ οὐκ ἐπακούσεται κύριος ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ὅτι ὑμεῖς ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς βασιλέα
And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you chose for yourselves, and the LORD will not answer you in those days, because you yourselves chose for yourselves a king.
v. 18 closes the king-warning with its dire consequence: βοήσεσθε ('you will cry out') ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('in that day'). The verb βοάω is the very cry of distress that, in Exodus, brought YHWH's saving response (Exod 2:23; 3:7); here, by contrast, οὐκ ἐπακούσεται κύριος ('the LORD will not answer'). The reason is stated twice with the verb ἐξελέξασθε ('you chose'): the king is their own free choice (οὗ ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς … ὑμεῖς ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς), so they must bear its consequences.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βοήσεσθεyou will cry outFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · βοάωmain verb (the future cry of distress)→ verbal action or stateβοάω: 'cry out / shout (in distress)'; renders זָעַק / צָעַק; the same cry that in the Exodus moved YHWH to deliver (Exod 2:23–25; 3:7–9) here goes unanswered — a deliberate, tragic inversion: the people's self-chosen oppression will not call forth deliverance as Egypt's imposed oppression did.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when the cry will come)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('in that day') points to the future time of royal oppression when the cry will arise.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the distal demonstrative points to the coming day of regret under the king.
ἐκbecause of / frompreposition + genitive (cause: 'because of')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + genitive: here causal, 'because of / on account of'; the idiom ἐκ προσώπου ('from the face of') is a Hebraism (מִפְּנֵי) meaning 'because of / before' the oppressive king.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiomatic: 'because of')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; in ἐκ προσώπου (מִפְּנֵי) the noun is bleached to a causal preposition — the people cry out 'because of' the king who oppresses them.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose presence/oppression)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the king is now the cause of the people's distress — the gift they demanded becomes the oppressor they flee.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying βασιλέως)→ relational specificationσύ (pl.): 'your king' — the possessive underscores that this oppressor is of their own choosing.
οὗwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐξελέξασθε)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; though formally genitive in spelling, here it functions as the object of ἐξελέξασθε ('whom you chose'); refers to the king.
ἐξελέξασθεyou choseAor Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐκλέγομαιverb of relative clause (the people's choice)→ verbal action or stateἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select'; renders בָּחַר; striking, since ἐκλέγομαι usually describes YHWH's election of Israel — here the people usurp the role of chooser, electing a king for themselves; the middle voice (ἑαυτοῖς) stresses their self-interested choice.
ἑαυτοῖςfor yourselvesDativereflexive dative of advantage→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; ἑαυτοῖς ('for yourselves') stresses that the king is their own self-chosen project — the responsibility, and the consequences, are theirs.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἐπακούσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation of the future indicative — the divine non-response is stated as certain.
ἐπακούσεταιwill answer / heedFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπακούωmain verb (the divine non-response)→ verbal action or stateἐπακούω: 'listen to / answer / heed (a prayer)'; the compound ἐπ- denotes favorable response to a cry; renders עָנָה; the divine refusal to ἐπακούσεται answers the people's refusal to ἀκούειν Samuel (v. 19) — they will not listen, so in that day they will not be heard.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (of ἐπακούσεται)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD who answered Israel's cry in Egypt will not answer their cry under the king they preferred to him.
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobjective genitive (whom he will not answer)→ relational specificationσύ (pl.): the genitive marks the people as the ones whose cry will go unanswered; ἐπακούω with the genitive of the person heard.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (when God will not answer)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ('in those days') resumes ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, framing the whole period of royal oppression as one of unanswered prayer.
ἐκείναιςthoseDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέραις)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'those'; the distal demonstrative, resuming ἐκείνῃ above.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (giving the reason for non-response)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the ground of the divine refusal — the people's own choice of a king.
ὑμεῖςyou yourselvesNominativesubject (emphatic: stressing their responsibility)→ participant referenceσύ (pl.): the emphatic ὑμεῖς underscores the people's culpability — 'you yourselves' chose this; the responsibility cannot be displaced onto God or Samuel.
ἐξελέξασθεchoseAor Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐκλέγομαιmain verb of causal clause (the people's choice)→ verbal action or stateἐκλέγομαι: 'choose'; the repetition of ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς (cf. earlier in the verse) hammers home the point — the king is wholly their own self-chosen decision; the twofold statement frames the verse with the motif of culpable choice.
ἑαυτοῖςfor yourselvesDativereflexive dative of advantage→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: 'for yourselves'; repeats the reflexive of the earlier clause, sealing the people's self-implication.
βασιλέαa kingAccusativedirect object of ἐξελέξασθε→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the object of their choice, closing the king-warning on the keyword that opened it (vv. 5–6).
19
καὶ οὐκ ἠβούλετο ὁ λαὸς ἀκοῦσαι τοῦ Σαμουηλ καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ οὐχί ἀλλ᾿ ἢ βασιλεὺς ἔσται ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς
But the people would not listen to Samuel; and they said to him, 'No! But rather a king shall be over us.'
v. 19 marks the decisive narrative turn: despite the full warning, οὐκ ἠβούλετο ὁ λαὸς ἀκοῦσαι ('the people would not listen'). Their refusal to ἀκοῦσαι Samuel ironically mirrors the LORD's command that Samuel ἄκουε their voice (vv. 7, 9, 22) — they demand to be heard but will not hear. Their blunt οὐχί ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ('No, but rather') uses the same adversative construction (ἀλλ᾿ ἤ) the LORD used in v. 7, now in the people's own defiant mouth.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶbut / andnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἠβούλετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation of the indicative.
ἠβούλετοwas willingImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · βούλομαιmain verb (the people's refusal of will)→ verbal action or stateβούλομαι: 'will / wish / be willing'; the imperfect (with augment ἠ-) marks a sustained unwillingness; renders אָבָה; οὐκ ἠβούλετο ἀκοῦσαι ('refused to listen') is a stock Hebraism for obstinate refusal (cf. Deut 1:26).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject (of ἠβούλετο)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the covenant people, here in their collective refusal; the singular verb with the collective noun is normal.
ἀκοῦσαιto listen / heedAor Act Infin · ἀκούωcomplementary infinitive (object of ἠβούλετο)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear / heed / obey'; with the genitive (τοῦ Σαμουηλ) it means 'obey'; the people's refusal to ἀκοῦσαι Samuel ironically inverts the LORD's threefold command that Samuel ἄκουε their voice (vv. 7, 9, 22).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the genitive of the person heeded)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαμουηλSamuelgenitive object of ἀκοῦσαι (indeclinable: the one not heeded)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: indeclinable; here governed by the genitive article τοῦ as the person whom the people refuse to heed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the people's defiant reply)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: the Hellenistic aorist εἶπαν; introduces the people's emphatic insistence on a king.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (dative of the addressee: Samuel)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative marks Samuel as the addressee of their refusal.
οὐχίno!emphatic negative (rejecting Samuel's counsel)→ clausal contributionοὐχί: emphatic form of οὐ, 'no indeed / by no means'; renders לֹא; the blunt refusal of the warning, setting up the adversative 'but rather'.
ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative (elided ἀλλά)→ clausal contributionἀλλά: 'but'; in the combination ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but rather'), the same emphatic construction the LORD used in v. 7 — now turned by the people against the divine warning.
ἢratherparticle (reinforcing the adversative: 'but rather')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: in ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but rather / except'), a Hebraizing idiom (כִּי אִם) intensifying the contrast — the people will have nothing but a king.
βασιλεὺςa kingNominativesubject (predicate of ἔσται)→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the people's fixed demand; the keyword, now in the nominative as the subject of 'shall be over us'.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (the demanded reality)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; the future ἔσται with quasi-volitive force expresses the people's determination — 'a king there shall be over us'; renders יִהְיֶה.
ἐφ᾿overpreposition + accusative (authority over: elided ἐπί)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: 'over'; the people themselves now use the language of v. 5 (ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς), demanding the very rule whose burdens Samuel has described.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of ἐφ᾿ (those to be ruled)→ participant referenceἐγώ (pl.): the people willingly place themselves under royal rule, sealing their choice despite the warning.
20
καὶ ἐσόμεθα καὶ ἡμεῖς κατὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη καὶ δικάσει ἡμᾶς βασιλεὺς ἡμῶν καὶ ἐξελεύσεται ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν καὶ πολεμήσει τὸν πόλεμον ἡμῶν
'And we ourselves also will be like all the nations, and our king will judge us and will go out before us and fight our wars.'
v. 20 gives the people's full rationale, restating the fatal aspiration of v. 5 — κατὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ('like all the nations'). The three desired royal functions (δικάσει … ἐξελεύσεται … πολεμήσει: 'judge … go out before … fight our wars') reveal what they want from a king: judicial leadership and, above all, military command (ἐξελεύσεται ἔμπροσθεν is the idiom for leading an army into battle). They want a warrior-king like the nations' — the role YHWH himself had filled (cf. 7:10).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσόμεθαwe will beFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίcopula (the people's aspiration)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: 'be'; ἐσόμεθα … κατὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ('we will be like all the nations') restates the aspiration of v. 5; the desire to be like the nations is the theological crux the LORD condemned in v. 7.
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive: 'we also')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here 'also / too', emphasizing that Israel too wants to join the ranks of the nations.
ἡμεῖςwe ourselvesNominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ (pl.): the emphatic ἡμεῖς ('we ourselves') stresses Israel's deliberate self-identification with the surrounding nations, abandoning its distinct status as YHWH's directly-ruled people.
κατὰlike / according topreposition + accusative (standard of comparison)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: 'according to / like'; κατὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ('like all the nations') is the comparative formula of the demand, echoing καθὰ … τὰ λοιπὰ ἔθνη of v. 5.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totalizing πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ('all the nations') universalizes the comparison — Israel wants to be like every other nation.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (the standard of comparison)→ object specificationἔθνος: 'nation / gentile people'; renders גּוֹי; the nations whose mode of governance Israel covets; the wish to be 'like the nations' is the antithesis of Israel's vocation to be a distinct, holy people (Exod 19:5–6).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δικάσειwill judgeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δικάζωmain verb (the first desired royal function)→ verbal action or stateδικάζω: 'judge'; the first function the people want from the king (cf. δικάζειν, vv. 5–6); the judicial role that Samuel's corrupt sons failed to fulfill (v. 3).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of δικάσει→ participant referenceἐγώ (pl.): the people as the objects of the king's judging.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject (of δικάσει and following verbs)→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the subject of the three desired functions; the keyword once more, now as the agent of judging and war.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying βασιλεύς)→ relational specificationἐγώ (pl.): 'our king' — the people claim the king as their own, the very possessive that will recur in 'our wars'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξελεύσεταιwill go outFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the second desired royal function: military leadership)→ verbal action or stateἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come out'; ἐξελεύσεται ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν ('he will go out before us') is the military idiom (יָצָא לִפְנֵי) for a leader heading an army into battle; the people want a warrior-king who marches at their head.
ἔμπροσθενbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (position: 'before us')→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of'; with the genitive; in the military idiom 'go out before' the army, it denotes leadership in the vanguard of battle.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of ἔμπροσθεν (the army he leads)→ relational specificationἐγώ (pl.): the people as the army the king will lead.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πολεμήσειwill fightFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πολεμέωmain verb (the third desired royal function: warfare)→ verbal action or stateπολεμέω: 'wage war / fight'; with its cognate object τὸν πόλεμον it forms a figura etymologica ('fight our war'); the people's deepest desire is a king to fight their battles — the role YHWH himself had just performed in routing the Philistines (7:10).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεμονwarAccusativecognate accusative (object of πολεμήσει)→ object specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; the cognate object of πολεμήσει; renders מִלְחָמָה; 'fight our wars' names the military deliverance the people crave — forgetting that YHWH was their warrior (Exod 15:3; 1 Kgdms 7:10).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying πόλεμον)→ relational specificationἐγώ (pl.): 'our wars'; the closing possessive frames the people's whole rationale around their own security and identity among the nations.
21
καὶ ἤκουσεν Σαμουηλ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰ ὦτα κυρίου
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and spoke them into the ears of the LORD.
v. 21 portrays Samuel as the faithful mediator: he ἤκουσεν ('heard') all the people's words and ἐλάλησεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰ ὦτα κυρίου ('spoke them into the ears of the LORD'). The anthropomorphic idiom εἰς τὰ ὦτα ('into the ears') is the same Hebraism for intimate communication seen elsewhere in the LXX; Samuel does not decide on his own authority but brings the matter back to God, as in v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (Samuel's hearing of the people)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'hear / listen'; here with the accusative (πάντας τοὺς λόγους) it means simply 'hear / take in' the words; Samuel, unlike the people (v. 19), does listen — and conveys what he hears to God.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: indeclinable; the faithful mediator between people and God.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λόγους)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; πάντας τοὺς λόγους ('all the words') stresses that Samuel reports the people's demand in full, holding nothing back from the LORD.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of ἤκουσεν→ object specificationλόγος: 'word / saying'; renders דָּבָר; the people's demand of vv. 19–20, which Samuel relays to the LORD.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of possession (whose words)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; the covenant people whose insistent words Samuel carries to God.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (Samuel reporting to the LORD)→ verbal action or stateλαλέω: 'speak'; the act of relaying the people's words to God; Samuel's mediation mirrors his prayer in v. 6 — he consistently refers the decision to the LORD.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐλάλησεν (the words)→ participant referenceαὐτός: refers to τοὺς λόγους — the people's words, which Samuel reports verbatim to God.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiomatic direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (idiomatic direction).
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὦταearsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiomatic: 'into the ears')→ object specificationοὖς (pl. ὦτα): 'ear'; the idiom λαλέω εἰς τὰ ὦτα ('speak into the ears') renders the Hebraism דִּבֶּר בְּאָזְנֵי for intimate, direct communication; applied here anthropomorphically to the LORD, it vividly depicts Samuel's report as a confidential address to God.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (whose ears)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive 'of the LORD' completes the anthropomorphic idiom; Samuel brings the people's demand to the true King they are rejecting.
22
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῶν καὶ βασίλευσον αὐτοῖς βασιλέα καὶ εἶπεν Σαμουηλ πρὸς ἄνδρας Ισραηλ ἀποτρεχέτω ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ
And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Hearken to their voice, and make a king reign over them.' And Samuel said to the men of Israel, 'Let each man go back to his own city.'
v. 22 closes the chapter with the LORD's final word, framing it with v. 7's formula (εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ … ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς). The concession is now explicit: βασίλευσον αὐτοῖς βασιλέα ('make a king reign over them'), the cognate construction (βασίλευσον … βασιλέα) sealing the institution of monarchy. Samuel then dismisses the assembly (ἀποτρεχέτω ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ, 'let each go to his own city'), an open-ended close that holds the actual choice of a king (Saul) in suspense until ch. 9.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (divine speech-introduction)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces the LORD's final word; the formula εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Σαμουηλ closes the inclusio with v. 7.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD gives the decisive verdict granting the people's request.
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: addressee)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: indeclinable; the recipient of the LORD's final command.
ἄκουεhearkenPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (the renewed command to comply)→ verbal action or stateἀκούω: 'heed / obey'; the third occurrence of ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς (cf. vv. 7, 9); the threefold command frames the chapter — the LORD insists Samuel grant the request, even as it constitutes a rejection of God.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἄκουε→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice'; the people's demand, which Samuel is finally to grant.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (whose voice)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their'; the people's voice that the LORD concedes to.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βασίλευσονmake a king reign / set a kingAor Act Impv 2 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb (the command to institute monarchy)→ verbal action or stateβασιλεύω: here causative/transitive in the aorist imperative, 'cause to reign / install as king'; with its cognate object βασιλέα it forms a figura etymologica ('king a king for them'); the same verb used for YHWH's rejected reign (v. 7) and the king's coming reign (vv. 9, 11) now becomes Samuel's commission — the divine concession is sealed.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedative of advantage (for the people)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative marks the people as those for whom the king is installed.
βασιλέαa kingAccusativecognate/direct object of βασίλευσον→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the cognate object of βασίλευσον; the keyword reaches its resolution — the king the people demanded (vv. 5–6) is now to be granted.
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 closing word)→ verbal action or stateλέγω: introduces Samuel's dismissal of the assembly; the second εἶπεν of the verse, now with Samuel as subject.
ΣαμουηλSamuelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαμουηλ: indeclinable; the prophet who, having received the LORD's word, dismisses the people.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ἄνδραςmenAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the assembled men)→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; ἄνδρας Ισραηλ resumes the ἄνδρες Ισραηλ of v. 4, framing the episode — the men who came to demand a king are now dismissed to await it.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'men of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; functions as a genitive of relationship with ἄνδρας ('men of Israel').
ἀποτρεχέτωlet him go backPres Act Impv 3 Sg · ἀποτρέχωmain verb (third-person imperative of dismissal)→ verbal action or stateἀποτρέχω: 'run off / go away / depart'; the third-person imperative (distributive with ἕκαστος) dismisses the assembly; the colloquial 'run along home' tone closes the confrontation on a deliberately anticlimactic note, deferring the actual king-making to ch. 9.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject (distributive: 'each man')→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; the distributive subject — every man returns individually to his own city; the same distributive idiom (ἕκαστος εἰς) closes many LXX assembly scenes.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationπόλις: 'city / town'; renders עִיר; each man's home town, to which he is sent back to await the king; the dispersal closes the chapter in narrative suspension.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (each man's own city)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his own'; closes the chapter on the note of dispersal, each to his own place, the demand granted but the king not yet named.