Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Second Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 1 (2 Samuel 1)ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Β′ Α′

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

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

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

Theme

David mourns Saul and Jonathan, executes the Amalekite, and sings the lament of the fallen mighty.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 2 Kingdoms 1 (= 2 Samuel 1 in the Hebrew/English reckoning) follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The Greek title ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Β′ ('of Kingdoms, Book 2') reflects the LXX's division of the Samuel–Kings material into four 'Books of Kingdoms.' The 2 Kingdoms section is widely held to be a kaige-recension text — a deliberately literalistic Greek revision toward the proto-Masoretic Hebrew — and the chapter's diction bears this out: heavy καί-parataxis, wooden renderings (e.g. στήλωσον at v. 19), and transliterated rather than translated names (Σεκελακ, Γελβουε, Γεθ). The chapter falls in two movements. First, the report of Saul's death: David, just returned from striking Amalek (note the dramatic irony that an Amalekite brings the news), receives at Ziklag a survivor of the battle on Mount Gilboa who claims to have dispatched the dying Saul at Saul's own request and who brings Saul's royal diadem (τὸ βασίλειον) and armlet (τὸν χλιδῶνα). David and his men mourn, fast, and then David executes the Amalekite, for he has confessed to killing 'the anointed of the LORD' (τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου, vv. 14, 16) — 'your blood be upon your head' (v. 16). Second, and the chapter's literary summit, is the lament David chants over Saul and Jonathan, the so-called Song of the Bow (vv. 19–27), said to be written 'in the Book of Jashar' (ἐπὶ βιβλίου τοῦ εὐθοῦς, v. 18). Its refrain πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοί ('how are the mighty fallen!') recurs three times (vv. 19, 25, 27); it forbids the news to be told in Gath or Ashkelon lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice (v. 20); it curses the mountains of Gilboa (v. 21); it praises Saul and Jonathan as swifter than eagles and stronger than lions (v. 23); and it culminates in David's intensely personal grief for Jonathan, ἐθαυμαστώθη ἡ ἀγάπησίς σου ἐμοὶ ὑπὲρ ἀγάπησιν γυναικῶν — 'your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women' (v. 26).

1

καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν Σαουλ καὶ Δαυιδ ἀνέστρεψεν τύπτων τὸν Αμαληκ καὶ ἐκάθισεν Δαυιδ ἐν Σεκελακ ἡμέρας δύο

And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking Amalek, that David remained in Ziklag two days.

Narrative onset (temporal-setting formula opening the book)καὶ ἐγένετο
The book opens with καὶ ἐγένετο, the standard LXX rendering of וַיְהִי, a Hebraizing narrative-setting formula that here anchors the action in the immediate aftermath of Saul's death (narrated in 1 Kingdoms 31). The dramatic irony is pointed: David has just returned from defeating the Amalekites (1 Kgdms 30), and it is an Amalekite who will bring the report of Saul's death.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the ubiquitous coordinating conjunction; in the kaige-style narrative of 2 Kingdoms it renders the waw-consecutive almost mechanically, producing the chapter's characteristic paratactic chain.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal setting-formula)→ constative aorist (narrative temporal framing)γίνομαι: 'become / happen / come to pass'; the impersonal καὶ ἐγένετο renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, a formulaic clause-opener that sets the temporal stage for the events that follow.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal, governing the articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; with the articular infinitive (μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν) it forms a temporal clause, 'after the dying of …' = 'after the death of …', a common LXX rendering of אַחֲרֵי + infinitive construct.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποθανεῖνto die / the dyingAor Act Inf · ἀποθνῄσκωarticular infinitive (object of μετά, temporal)→ constative aorist infinitive (the completed fact of death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the articular aorist infinitive τὸ ἀποθανεῖν is governed by μετά to express anteriority; Saul functions as its accusative subject ('after Saul died').
ΣαουλSaulsubject of the infinitive (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliteration of Hebrew שָׁאוּל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the accusative subject of the articular infinitive ἀποθανεῖν, naming the slain king of 1 Kingdoms 31.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis-marking καί after the temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here a Hebraizing apodotic καί, introducing the main clause after the μετά-temporal phrase (a feature of waw-consecutive syntax carried into Greek).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable throughout the LXX; the protagonist of 2 Kingdoms, here named as the one who has returned to Ziklag.
ἀνέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (David's return)→ constative aorist (completed return)ἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; describes David's coming back to Ziklag after the campaign against the Amalekite raiders (1 Kgdms 30).
τύπτωνstriking / from strikingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · τύπτωcircumstantial participle (modifying Δαυιδ: 'having returned from striking')→ imperfective participle (the smiting as ongoing background activity)τύπτω: 'strike / smite'; the present participle τύπτων with ἀνέστρεψεν renders the Hebrew idiom 'David returned from the smiting of Amalek' (מֵהַכּוֹת אֶת־הָעֲמָלֵק); the participle here functions almost gerundially, denoting the action from which David has returned.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Αμαληκ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμαληκAmalekobject of τύπτων (indeclinable; with article)→ participant identificationΑμαληκ: transliteration of Hebrew עֲמָלֵק; indeclinable, but here governed by the article τόν as a quasi-substantive object; the irony that David has just struck Amalek and an Amalekite now reports Saul's death frames the whole chapter.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθισενstayed / remainedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (David's stay at Ziklag)→ constative aorist (the period of staying as a whole)καθίζω: 'sit / settle / stay'; renders יָשַׁב; here 'David stayed/remained' at Ziklag — the verb sets the scene for the messenger's arrival on the third day.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun, resumptive)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun, resumptive).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΣεκελακZiklagobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name, locative)→ participant identificationΣεκελακ: transliteration of Hebrew צִקְלַג (Ziklag); indeclinable; the Philistine town given to David by Achish (1 Kgdms 27:6), which the Amalekites had raided and burned (1 Kgdms 30:1).
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration (extent of time)→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative plural ἡμέρας expresses extent of time, 'for two days', the interval David spent at Ziklag before the messenger came.
δύοtwoAccusativenumeral (modifying ἡμέρας)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; indeclinable numeral here in accusative agreement with ἡμέρας; the two-day interval prepares for the messenger's arrival 'on the third day' (v. 2).
2

καὶ ἐγενήθη τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ἦλθεν ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ Σαουλ καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ διερρωγότα καὶ γῆ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εἰσελθεῖν αὐτὸν πρὸς Δαυιδ καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ

And it came to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came from the camp, from the people of Saul, and his garments were torn and there was earth upon his head; and it came to pass, when he came in to David, that he fell to the ground and did obeisance to him.

Scene-setting with presentative deixis (arrival of the messenger)καὶ ἐγενήθη … καὶ ἰδοὺ
A second setting-formula (καὶ ἐγενήθη, an alternate aorist of γίνομαι) advances to the third day. The presentative καὶ ἰδού ('and behold', rendering וְהִנֵּה) introduces the new character into the audience's view. The torn garments and earth on the head are the conventional signs of a bearer of catastrophic news; the man's prostration before David anticipates his attempt to curry royal favor.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit came to passAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal setting-formula)→ constative aorist (temporal framing)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): an alternative aorist to ἐγένετο, common in the kaige sections; here again the impersonal וַיְהִי-formula, framing the events of the third day.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when: 'on the day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the dative τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ expresses point of time, 'on the third day.'
τῇtheDativearticle (with τρίτῃ, second-attributive position)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίτῃthirdDativeattributive adjective (ordinal, modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceτρίτος: 'third'; the ordinal in second-attributive position (τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ) mirrors the Hebrew construct, 'on the third day' (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי).
καὶandHebraizing apodotic καί (introducing the presentative clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (deictic)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a presentative interjection bringing the newly-arrived man vividly into the audience's view.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of ἦλθεν→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the still-anonymous messenger, only later (v. 8, 13) revealed to be an Amalekite.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival)→ constative aorist (completed arrival)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; renders בּוֹא; the aorist marks the man's arrival from the battlefield.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with παρεμβολῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcamp / armyGenitivegenitive of source (object of ἐκ)→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp / army / battle-array'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the military encampment of Israel from which the man has fled.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source, in apposition)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source, in apposition).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of source (epexegetical to παρεμβολῆς)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; here 'the people of Saul' = Saul's army/host; specifies the man's allegiance and the source of his report.
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'people of Saul')→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; genitive sense ('of Saul') supplied by context.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing circumstantial description)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἱμάτια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsNominativesubject of the verbless/periphrastic clause ('his garments were torn')→ participant prominenceἱμάτιον: 'garment / cloak'; renders בֶּגֶד; torn garments are a conventional sign of mourning and of bearing evil news (cf. Gen 37:34; 1 Kgdms 4:12).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἱμάτια)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἱμάτια).
διερρωγόταtorn / rentPerf Act Ptcp Nom Neut Pl · διαρρήγνυμιpredicate participle (periphrastic: 'his garments were torn')→ perfect participle (resultant state of being torn)διαρρήγνυμι: 'tear apart / rend'; the perfect participle διερρωγότα expresses the abiding state of the garments — already and remaining torn; renders the Hebrew passive participle קְרֻעִים.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γῆearth / dustNominativesubject of verbless clause ('earth was upon his head')→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'earth / soil / dust'; renders אֲדָמָה; dust on the head is the paired mourning-sign with torn clothes, marking the man as a herald of disaster.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with κεφαλῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλῆςheadGenitiveobject of ἐπί (position: 'upon the head')→ relational specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; the locus of the mourning-dust.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with κεφαλῆς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κεφαλῆς).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal setting-formula, second within the verse)→ constative aorist (temporal framing)γίνομαι: a second וַיְהִי-formula introducing the moment of the man's entrance before David.
ἐνin / whenpreposition + dative (temporal, governing articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + articular infinitive: 'while / when'; ἐν τῷ εἰσελθεῖν renders Hebrew בְּ + infinitive construct, a temporal 'when he came in.'
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing the infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσελθεῖνto come inAor Act Inf · εἰσέρχομαιarticular infinitive (temporal clause with ἐν)→ constative aorist infinitive (the act of entering)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come in'; the articular infinitive with ἐν and accusative subject αὐτόν expresses 'when he came in to David.'
αὐτὸνhe / himAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive εἰσελθεῖν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'he'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative subject of the infinitive εἰσελθεῖν.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΔαυιδDavidobject of πρός (indeclinable; goal of approach)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of πρός (indeclinable; goal of approach).
καὶandHebraizing apodotic καί (main clause after temporal infinitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπεσενhe fellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb (act of prostration)→ constative aorist (completed act)πίπτω: 'fall'; here of falling to the ground in obeisance; renders נָפַל; the prostration is the gesture of a subject before his king.
ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + accusative (direction onto)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction onto).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνgroundAccusativeobject of ἐπί (goal of falling)→ object specificationγῆ: 'ground / earth'; here the surface to which the man falls in homage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσεκύνησενdid obeisanceAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσκυνέωmain verb (act of homage)→ constative aorist (completed act of homage)προσκυνέω: 'prostrate oneself / do obeisance / worship'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; here the homage paid by a subject to David, hinting that the man already regards David as the rising power.
αὐτῷto himDativedative complement of προσεκύνησεν→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative complement of προσεκύνησεν.
3

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυιδ πόθεν σὺ παραγίνῃ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς Ισραηλ ἐγὼ διασέσῳσμαι

And David said to him, 'Where do you come from?' And he said to him, 'From the camp of Israel I have escaped.'

Dialogue onset: David's first interrogationκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυιδ
The first of David's three questions to the messenger (cf. vv. 5, 13). The terse exchange πόθεν σὺ παραγίνῃ / ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς Ισραηλ … διασέσῳσμαι establishes the man as a battlefield survivor. The perfect διασέσῳσμαι ('I have escaped/saved myself') stresses his self-presentation as the lone survivor with news.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 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)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): the default LXX speech-verb; introduces David's question.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (addressee)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (addressee).
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πόθενfrom whereinterrogative adverb (source)→ clausal contributionπόθεν: 'whence / from where'; renders אֵי מִזֶּה; opens David's direct question about the man's origin.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic 2nd person pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: the explicit subject pronoun gives the question a pointed, direct address: 'you — where do you come from?'
παραγίνῃdo you come / arrivePres Mid Indic 2 Sg · παραγίνομαιmain verb of the question→ imperfective present (the act of arriving, viewed as present)παραγίνομαι: 'arrive / come / be present'; renders בּוֹא; the present tense suits the man's just-completed arrival, 'where are you coming from?'
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 (the man's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the messenger's answer.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of πρός (addressee)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός (addressee).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source, fronted for emphasis)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source, fronted for emphasis).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with παρεμβολῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp / army'; the Israelite encampment, here named explicitly as 'the camp of Israel.'
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'camp of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; here qualifying παρεμβολῆς.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' foregrounds the man as the surviving witness.
διασέσῳσμαιI have escaped / saved myselfPerf Mid/Pass Indic 1 Sg · διασῴζωmain verb (the man's self-description)→ resultative perfect (escaped and now safe)διασῴζω: 'save through / bring safely through / escape'; the perfect middle/passive διασέσῳσμαι denotes an accomplished and abiding rescue, 'I am one who has escaped'; renders נִמְלַטְתִּי; the verb casts the man as the sole survivor bearing tidings.
4

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυιδ τίς ὁ λόγος οὗτος ἀπάγγειλόν μοι καὶ εἶπεν ὅτι ἔφυγεν ὁ λαὸς ἐκ τοῦ πολέμου καὶ πεπτώκασι πολλοὶ ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἀπέθανον καὶ ἀπέθανεν καὶ Σαουλ καὶ Ιωναθαν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀπέθανεν

And David said to him, 'What is this report? Tell me.' And he said, 'The people fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died; and Saul too and Jonathan his son died.'

Second interrogation and the core reportκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυιδ
David presses for the substance: τίς ὁ λόγος οὗτος ('what is this matter?'). The messenger's reply is a tricolon of escalating gravity: the army fled, many fell and died, and finally — climactically — Saul and Jonathan died. The threefold ἀπέθανον / ἀπέθανεν / ἀπέθανεν (the verb 'died' three times) hammers the news home, with the king's death held to the end for maximum weight.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces David's second question.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τίςwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of the verbless question)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who/what'; here 'what is …?'; renders מָה.
theNominativearticle (with λόγος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγοςword / report / matterNominativesubject of the verbless question ('what is this matter?')→ participant prominenceλόγος: 'word / account / matter'; renders דָּבָר; here 'the report/affair' of the battle whose details David demands.
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative (attributive to λόγος)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; points to the news the man has just begun to bring.
ἀπάγγειλόνreport / tellAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (imperative command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (give the report now)ἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce / bring word'; renders הִגִּיד / נָגַד; David's command that the man deliver the full account.
μοιto meDativedative of indirect object (with ἀπάγγειλόν)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (with ἀπάγγειλόν).
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 (the man's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the report, followed by recitative ὅτι.
ὅτιthat / [quotation]recitative ὅτι (marking direct discourse)→ clausal contributionὅτι: here recitative, equivalent to opening quotation marks before direct speech; common in LXX narrative.
ἔφυγενfledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb of the report (first colon)→ constative aorist (the rout)φεύγω: 'flee'; renders נָס; the collective ὁ λαός takes a singular verb, 'the army fled.'
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeople / armyNominativesubject of ἔφυγεν→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; here the Israelite host that broke and fled before the Philistines.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πολέμου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολέμουbattle / warGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source: 'from the battle')→ relational specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the battle on Gilboa from which the people fled.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second colon)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πεπτώκασιhave fallenPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb (second colon)→ resultative perfect (lie fallen)πίπτω: 'fall'; the perfect πεπτώκασι ('have fallen and lie dead') emphasizes the abiding result; in a battle-report 'fall' is the standard euphemism for being slain.
πολλοὶmanyNominativesubject of πεπτώκασι (substantival adjective)→ participant prominenceπολύς: 'many'; renders רַבִּים; the scale of Israel's casualties.
ἐκof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + gen.: here partitive, 'many of the people.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivepartitive genitive (with πολλοί)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; the host from which the many fell.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέθανονthey diedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (parallel to πεπτώκασι)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the first of three occurrences of this verb in the verse (ἀπέθανον … ἀπέθανεν … ἀπέθανεν), a drumbeat of mortality.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third colon)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (introducing the climactic subjects)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: the second occurrence; the singular verb stands before its compound subject (Saul and Jonathan), focusing each death.
καὶalso / evenadverbial/ascensive καί ('Saul too')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here ascensive, 'also/even Saul', marking the gravest item of the report.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable; with ἀπέθανεν)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: the king, whose death is the pivot of the whole chapter and of David's rise.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable; with ἀπέθανεν)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוֹנָתָן; indeclinable; Saul's son and David's covenant-friend, whose death will be the lament's deepest wound (v. 26).
theNominativearticle (with υἱός, in apposition to Ιωναθαν)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositive to Ιωναθαν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; identifies Jonathan as Saul's son, binding the two deaths together.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱός)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with υἱός).
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (resumptive, closing the colon)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: the third occurrence, repeated after the subjects for emphasis — 'died' brackets the naming of Saul and Jonathan, a Hebraic resumptive that lets the fact of death fall heavily at the verse's end.
5

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ τῷ παιδαρίῳ τῷ ἀπαγγέλλοντι αὐτῷ πῶς οἶδας ὅτι τέθνηκεν Σαουλ καὶ Ιωναθαν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ

And David said to the young man who reported to him, 'How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?'

Follow-up interrogation: David probes the source of the knowledgeκαὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ τῷ παιδαρίῳ
David does not accept the report at face value but demands the man's grounds for asserting the king's death (πῶς οἶδας …). The designation τῷ παιδαρίῳ τῷ ἀπαγγέλλοντι ('the young man who was reporting') is a participial epithet that recurs at v. 6 and v. 13, framing the interrogation.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 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)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces David's probing question.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τῷtheDativearticle (with παιδαρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίῳyoung man / servantDativedative of indirect object (addressee)→ sphere or referenceπαιδάριον: 'young man / lad / servant'; diminutive of παῖς; renders נַעַר; the messenger is here designated a 'young man', a term that need not imply youth so much as subordinate status.
τῷtheDativearticle (with participle ἀπαγγέλλοντι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπαγγέλλοντιreportingPres Act Ptcp Dat Masc Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωattributive participle (modifying παιδαρίῳ)→ imperfective participle (ongoing act of reporting)ἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce'; the attributive participle ('the young man who was reporting to him') characterizes the man by his function as bearer of the news.
αὐτῷto himDativedative complement of the participle→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative complement of the participle.
πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (manner/grounds)→ clausal contributionπῶς: 'how'; renders אֵיךְ; here demanding the epistemic basis: 'how do you know?'
οἶδαςdo you knowPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · οἶδαmain verb of the question→ stative perfect with present meaning ('you know')οἶδα: 'know'; defective perfect with present sense; David asks on what authority the man can affirm the deaths he reports.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause of οἶδας)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content known.
τέθνηκενis dead / has diedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωverb of the ὅτι-clause→ resultative perfect (the state of being dead)θνῄσκω (perf. τέθνηκεν): 'be dead'; the perfect stresses the present state of deadness rather than the act of dying; renders מֵת; the singular verb governs the compound subject Saul and Jonathan.
ΣαουλSaulsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable, coordinate with Σαουλ)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: Saul's son; named with his father in David's anxious question.
theNominativearticle (with υἱός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositive to Ιωναθαν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; identifies Jonathan as Saul's son.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
6

καὶ εἶπεν τὸ παιδάριον τὸ ἀπαγγέλλον αὐτῷ περιπτώματι περιέπεσον ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Γελβουε καὶ ἰδοὺ Σαουλ ἐπεστήρικτο ἐπὶ τὸ δόρυ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ ἅρματα καὶ οἱ ἱππάρχαι συνῆψαν αὐτῷ

And the young man who reported to him said, 'By chance I happened upon Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear, and behold, the chariots and the cavalry-commanders had closed in upon him.'

The eyewitness narrative begins (the Amalekite's account, vv. 6–10)καὶ εἶπεν τὸ παιδάριον
The man now narrates his alleged eyewitness account, differing from the narrator's version in 1 Kgdms 31 (where Saul falls on his own sword). The cognate construction περιπτώματι περιέπεσον ('by a chance-encounter I chanced upon') and the double presentative καὶ ἰδού … καὶ ἰδού stage the scene vividly: Saul propped on his spear, the chariots and cavalry bearing down.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the man's eyewitness account.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονyoung manNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'young man / servant'; the same epithet as v. 5, now in the nominative as subject.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπαγγέλλονreportingPres Act Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωattributive participle (modifying παιδάριον)→ imperfective participleἀπαγγέλλω: the neuter participle agrees with the neuter παιδάριον, 'the young man who was reporting.'
αὐτῷto himDativedative complement of the participle→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative complement of the participle.
περιπτώματιby chance / by a chance-encounterDativecognate dative (with περιέπεσον: dative of manner)→ sphere or referenceπερίπτωμα: 'chance occurrence / mishap'; the cognate dative περιπτώματι περιέπεσον ('by chance I chanced upon') is a figura etymologica intensifying the accidental nature of the encounter, a Hebraizing cognate construction rendering נִקְרֹא נִקְרֵיתִי.
περιέπεσονI happened upon / chanced uponAor Act Indic 1 Sg · περιπίπτωmain verb (the man's encounter)→ constative aorist (the chance encounter)περιπίπτω: 'fall in with / encounter by chance / meet'; with the cognate dative it stresses that the man came upon the scene by accident; the verb literally 'fall around/into', here of stumbling into the battle's aftermath.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὄρει)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειmountainDativelocative dative (object of ἐν)→ sphere or referenceὄρος: 'mountain'; renders הַר; the site of Saul's last stand.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Γελβουε)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓελβουεGilboaappositive to ὄρει (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓελβουε: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְבֹּעַ (Gilboa); indeclinable; the mountain where Saul and his sons fell (1 Kgdms 31:1), cursed in the lament (v. 21).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (with presentative ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; vividly stages Saul within the man's narrative.
ΣαουλSaulsubject of ἐπεστήρικτο (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἐπεστήρικτο (indeclinable).
ἐπεστήρικτοwas leaning / proppedPluperf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστηρίζωmain verb (Saul's posture)→ pluperfect (settled state in past time: 'was propped')ἐπιστηρίζω: 'lean upon / support oneself on'; the pluperfect ἐπεστήρικτο describes Saul's fixed posture, propped on his own spear — gravely wounded but not yet dead.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (support)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (support).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with δόρυ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δόρυspearAccusativeobject of ἐπί (the support)→ object specificationδόρυ: 'spear / shaft'; renders חֲנִית; the spear, Saul's royal weapon (cf. 1 Kgdms 18:10–11; 26:7), now his deathbed prop.
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 (with second ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (second occurrence)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: the second 'behold' brings the pursuing chariotry into view, heightening the peril.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἅρματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅρματαchariotsNominativesubject of συνῆψαν→ participant prominenceἅρμα: 'chariot'; renders רֶכֶב; the Philistine chariotry closing in on the wounded king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἱππάρχαι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱππάρχαιcavalry-commanders / horsemenNominativesubject of συνῆψαν (coordinate with ἅρματα)→ participant prominenceἵππαρχος: 'commander of cavalry / horseman'; here the Greek renders the Hebrew בַּעֲלֵי הַפָּרָשִׁים ('lords of the horsemen'); together with the chariots they represent the mobile force pressing upon Saul.
συνῆψανhad closed in / overtookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · συνάπτωmain verb (the pursuit closing in)→ constative aorist (the converging attack)συνάπτω: 'join together / engage / close with'; here intransitive-like, 'closed in upon / came up against him'; the verb conveys the chariots and horsemen drawing the net tight around Saul.
αὐτῷupon himDativedative complement of συνῆψαν→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'upon him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative complement of συνῆψαν.
7

καὶ ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὰ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶδέν με καὶ ἐκάλεσέν με καὶ εἶπα ἰδοὺ ἐγώ

And he looked behind him and saw me and called me, and I said, 'Here I am.'

Continuation of the eyewitness narrative (Saul turns and summons the man)καὶ ἐπέβλεψεν
The narrative continues in rapid καί-parataxis. Saul, propped and dying, turns, sees the man, and calls; the man answers with the classic response of availability ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ('here I am', rendering הִנֵּנִי), the formula of one who presents himself for service (cf. Gen 22:1; 1 Kgdms 3:4).
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέβλεψενhe lookedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιβλέπωmain verb (Saul's turning gaze)→ constative aoristἐπιβλέπω: 'look upon / look around'; renders פָּנָה / רָאָה; Saul turns his gaze behind him and notices the man.
ἐπὶto / towardpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing ὀπίσω)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀπίσωbehind / the things behindadverb substantivized by τά (object of ἐπί: 'to the things behind him')→ clausal contributionὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; the articular τὰ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ('the parts behind him') renders Hebrew אַחֲרָיו, 'behind him'; Saul looks back over his shoulder.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive (with ὀπίσω: 'behind him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with ὀπίσω: 'behind him').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδένsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb→ constative aoristὁράω (aor. εἶδεν): 'see'; Saul catches sight of the man.
μεmeAccusativedirect object (of εἶδεν)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of εἶδεν).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσένcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; renders קָרָא; Saul summons the man to his side.
μεmeAccusativedirect object (of ἐκάλεσεν)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of ἐκάλεσεν).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπαI saidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the man's response)→ constative aoristλέγω (1 sg. aor. εἶπα, the later sigmatic form): 'I said'; introduces the man's self-presentation.
ἰδοὺbehold / herepresentative particle (in the response-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: here part of the formula ἰδοὺ ἐγώ = 'here I am.'
ἐγώINominativesubject/predicate of the elliptical response ('here am I')→ participant referenceἐγώ: the formula ἰδοὺ ἐγώ renders Hebrew הִנֵּנִי, the response of one presenting himself for service or command.
8

καὶ εἶπέν μοι τίς εἶ σύ καὶ εἶπα Αμαληκίτης ἐγώ εἰμι

And he said to me, 'Who are you?' And I said, 'I am an Amalekite.'

Dialogue within the eyewitness narrative (Saul's question, the man's identity)καὶ εἶπέν μοι
The exchange τίς εἶ σύ / Αμαληκίτης ἐγώ εἰμι discloses the messenger's ethnicity from his own mouth — a self-identification that will prove fatal (v. 13–16), since David has just been warring against Amalek and since the man will claim to have killed the LORD's anointed.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπένsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Saul's question within the narrative)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Saul's question to the man.
μοιto meDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate)→ participant referenceτίς: 'who'; renders מִי; Saul demands the man's identity.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with τίς … σύ)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the question 'who are you?'
σύyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: the explicit pronoun sharpens the direct question.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπαI saidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the man's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the self-identification.
Αμαληκίτηςan AmalekiteNominativepredicate nominative (with εἰμι)→ participant prominenceἈμαληκίτης: 'Amalekite'; gentilic noun (declinable, unlike the place/people-name Αμαληκ), here predicate to ἐγώ; the man's ethnicity is the hinge of his fate, for the Amalekites are Israel's archetypal enemy (Exod 17:14–16; Deut 25:17–19) and the very people David has just destroyed (1 Kgdms 30).
ἐγώINominativesubject (with εἰμι)→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as subject (with εἰμι).
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (Αμαληκίτης ἐγώ εἰμι)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the self-identification 'I am an Amalekite.'
9

καὶ εἶπεν πρός με στῆθι δὴ ἐπάνω μου καὶ θανάτωσόν με ὅτι κατέσχεν με σκότος δεινόν ὅτι πᾶσα ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν ἐμοί

And he said to me, 'Stand, I pray, over me and kill me, for a dreadful darkness has seized me, for all my life is still in me.'

Saul's request for a death-stroke (climax of the eyewitness account)καὶ εἶπεν πρός με
Saul's plea στῆθι δὴ ἐπάνω μου καὶ θανάτωσόν με ('stand over me and kill me') is the crux of the Amalekite's self-incriminating tale. The double ὅτι gives the grounds: the 'dreadful darkness' (σκότος δεινόν) of approaching death has gripped him, yet 'all his life is still in him' — he lingers in agony. Whether true or fabricated, the speech sets up the man's confession to regicide.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 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 (Saul's speech)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Saul's plea.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
μεmeAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
στῆθιstandAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (take your stand)ἵστημι (aor. impv. στῆθι): 'stand / take a stand'; renders עֲמָד; Saul bids the man stand over him to deliver the death-blow.
δὴnow / I prayentreating particle (with the imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: emphatic/entreating particle, renders נָא; softens the command into urgent entreaty, 'stand, I pray.'
ἐπάνωoverimproper preposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπάνω: 'above / over'; renders עַל; Saul asks the man to stand over his fallen body.
μουmeGenitivegenitive (with ἐπάνω: 'over me')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with ἐπάνω: 'over me').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θανάτωσόνkill / put to deathAor Act Impv 2 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (dispatch me)θανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; renders מוֹתֵת; the verb the man will echo in his confession (ἐθανάτωσα, v. 10; cf. v. 16), the lexical thread that condemns him.
μεmeAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the first ground of Saul's plea.
κατέσχενhas seized / grippedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατέχωverb of causal clause→ constative aorist (the seizing)κατέχω: 'hold fast / seize / grip'; renders אָחַז; the 'dreadful darkness' has laid hold of Saul — a vivid image of the swoon preceding death.
μεmeAccusativedirect object (of κατέσχεν)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (of κατέσχεν).
σκότοςdarknessNominativesubject of κατέσχεν→ participant prominenceσκότος: 'darkness'; renders the dizziness/faintness of mortal injury; figuratively the encroaching darkness of death.
δεινόνdreadful / terribleNominativeattributive adjective (modifying σκότος)→ participant prominenceδεινός: 'terrible / dreadful / fearful'; intensifies the darkness; a relatively literary word in this otherwise wooden narrative.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (second ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: introduces the second ground: though dying, Saul has not yet expired.
πᾶσαall / wholeNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ψυχή)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all my life/soul', i.e. Saul is still fully alive though mortally hurt.
theNominativearticle (with ψυχή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήlife / soulNominativesubject of the verbless clause ('all my life is in me')→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / life / life-breath'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'life' in the sense of vital force; the clause πᾶσα ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν ἐμοί = 'my whole life is still within me', i.e. death lingers.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχή)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ψυχή).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ἐμοίmeDativeobject of ἐν (locative: 'in me')→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (emphatic dat. ἐμοί): 'in me'; completes the idiom 'all my life is in me', stressing that Saul still lives and so begs for the coup de grâce.
10

καὶ ἐπέστην ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐθανάτωσα αὐτόν ὅτι ᾔδειν ὅτι οὐ ζήσεται μετὰ τὸ πεσεῖν αὐτόν καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ βασίλειον τὸ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν χλιδῶνα τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ βραχίονος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐνήνοχα αὐτὰ τῷ κυρίῳ μου ὧδε

So I stood over him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his fall; and I took the diadem that was upon his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.

The fatal confession and the presentation of the royal insigniaκαὶ ἐπέστην ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν
The Amalekite's confession: ἐθανάτωσα αὐτόν ('I killed him'), with the regalia produced as proof — τὸ βασίλειον (the royal diadem) and τὸν χλιδῶνα (the armlet). His phrase τῷ κυρίῳ μου ('to my lord') addresses David with the deference of a vassal, the very gesture by which he expects reward but earns death. The perfect ἐνήνοχα ('I have brought') presents the insignia as now lying before David.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶand / sonarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστηνI stood overAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐφίστημιmain verb (the man's action)→ constative aorist (the act of standing over)ἐφίστημι (aor. ἐπέστην): 'stand over / take one's stand upon'; renders עָמַד עַל; the man positions himself over Saul, answering Saul's στῆθι (v. 9).
ἐπ᾿overpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (Saul)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐπ᾿ (Saul).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθανάτωσαI killedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (the confession of regicide)→ constative aorist (the deadly act)θανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; the man's own admission echoes Saul's request θανάτωσόν με (v. 9) and recurs at v. 16 in David's verdict (ἐγὼ ἐθανάτωσα τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου); this verb is the chain that hangs him.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the man's justification.
ᾔδεινI knewPluperf Act Indic 1 Sg · οἶδαverb of causal clause→ pluperfect with imperfect sense ('I knew')οἶδα (pluperf. ᾔδειν): 'I knew'; the pluperfect of οἶδα serves as a simple past 'I knew'; the man claims certain knowledge that Saul could not survive.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of ᾔδειν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces what the man knew.
οὐnotnegative particle (with ζήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates the future ζήσεται.
ζήσεταιhe will liveFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ζάωverb of the object clause (future in indirect discourse)→ predictive future (Saul's certain death)ζάω: 'live'; the future ζήσεται in the ὅτι-clause retains the tense of the original thought, 'he will not live'; the man's rationale for the mercy-killing.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + articular inf.: 'after'; μετὰ τὸ πεσεῖν = 'after the falling.'
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεσεῖνto fall / the fallingAor Act Inf · πίπτωarticular infinitive (temporal with μετά)→ constative aorist infinitiveπίπτω: 'fall'; here 'his fall' = his mortal collapse in battle; the accusative αὐτόν is its subject.
αὐτόνhe / himAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive πεσεῖν→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'he'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative subject of the infinitive πεσεῖν.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβονI tookAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (taking the insignia)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; renders לָקַח; the man takes the royal regalia from Saul's body as tokens to present to David.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with βασίλειον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασίλειονdiadem / royal crownAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβον→ object specificationβασίλειον: 'royal emblem / diadem / crown'; here the kingly headpiece (rendering נֵזֶר, the consecration-crown); its transfer to David symbolically anticipates the kingdom passing from Saul's house to David.
τὸthe (one)Accusativearticle (in attributive position, 'the one that was upon …')→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κεφαλήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλὴνheadAccusativeobject of ἐπί (location of the diadem)→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; the diadem's place upon Saul's head.
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.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with χλιδῶνα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χλιδῶναarmlet / braceletAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβον (coordinate with βασίλειον)→ object specificationχλιδών: 'armlet / bracelet'; renders אֶצְעָדָה; an ornament of the upper arm, here a piece of Saul's royal regalia, paired with the diadem as proof of the man's claim.
τὸνthe (one)Accusativearticle (attributive, 'the one on …')→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with βραχίονος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βραχίονοςarmGenitiveobject of ἐπί (location of the armlet)→ relational specificationβραχίων: 'arm / upper arm'; renders זְרוֹעַ; the place of the armlet on Saul's body.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνήνοχαI have broughtPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · φέρωmain verb (presenting the insignia)→ resultative perfect (brought and now here present)φέρω (perf. ἐνήνοχα): 'bring / carry'; the perfect stresses that the regalia have been brought and now lie before David; the suppletive perfect stem of φέρω.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object (the diadem and armlet)→ participant referenceαὐτὰ: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the diadem and armlet).
τῷto the / myDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳlordDativedative of indirect object (the recipient, David)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: here a human master, not the Tetragrammaton — the Amalekite addresses David as 'my lord' (τῷ κυρίῳ μου), the deferential idiom of a subject before a sovereign; the irony is acute, for the very man who killed one anointed now courts the next.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with κυρίῳ)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κυρίῳ).
ὧδεhereadverb of place→ clausal contributionὧδε: 'here / to this place'; renders הֵנָּה; locates the presentation of the insignia in David's presence at Ziklag.
11

καὶ ἐκράτησεν Δαυιδ τῶν ἱματίων αὐτοῦ καὶ διέρρηξεν αὐτά καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ διέρρηξαν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν

Then David took hold of his garments and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.

Reaction: David and his men begin the mourning (opens section B)καὶ ἐκράτησεν Δαυιδ
The scene shifts from the messenger's speech to David's response. The tearing of garments (διέρρηξεν … διέρρηξαν) is the formal opening gesture of mourning, mirrored by all his men; the verb-root διαρρήγνυμι links back to the torn garments of the messenger himself (v. 2, διερρωγότα), now repeated as authentic grief.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶand / thennarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκράτησενtook hold of / seizedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρατέωmain verb (David's gesture)→ constative aoristκρατέω: 'grasp / take hold of / seize'; here with genitive object (τῶν ἱματίων), 'laid hold of his garments'; renders חָזַק; the prelude to tearing them.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἱματίων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱματίωνgarmentsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκράτησεν→ relational specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment'; κρατέω takes a genitive of the thing grasped; David seizes his own clothes to rend them.
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.
διέρρηξενtoreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαρρήγνυμιmain verb (the act of mourning)→ constative aoristδιαρρήγνυμι: 'tear apart / rend'; renders קָרַע; the tearing of garments is the conventional Israelite mourning rite (cf. Gen 37:34; 2 Kgdms 3:31).
αὐτάthemAccusativedirect object (the garments)→ participant referenceαὐτά: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the garments).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (with ἄνδρες)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the whole company joins David's mourning.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of διέρρηξαν→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; David's followers, his band of fighting men at Ziklag.
οἱthe (who)Nominativearticle (attributive, introducing the prepositional modifier 'with him')→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; the article-plus-prepositional phrase οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ = 'those who were with him.'
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of μετά.
διέρρηξανtoreAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαρρήγνυμιmain verb (the men's mourning, parallel to David's)→ constative aoristδιαρρήγνυμι: the plural repeats David's act for the whole company, signalling communal mourning.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἱμάτια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of διέρρηξαν→ object specificationἱμάτιον: the men's own garments, torn in shared grief.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
12

καὶ ἐκόψαντο καὶ ἔκλαυσαν καὶ ἐνήστευσαν ἕως δείλης ἐπὶ Σαουλ καὶ ἐπὶ Ιωναθαν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν Ιουδα καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ισραηλ ὅτι ἐπλήγησαν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ

And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening over Saul and over Jonathan his son and over the people of Judah and over the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

Threefold mourning enumerated (continuation of section B)καὶ ἐκόψαντο
Three mourning verbs in asyndetic-paratactic series (ἐκόψαντο … ἔκλαυσαν … ἐνήστευσαν) intensify the grief, and a fourfold ἐπί ('over Saul … Jonathan … the people of Judah … the house of Israel') broadens it from the royal house to the whole nation. The causal ὅτι ἐπλήγησαν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ names the catastrophe: the people were struck down by the sword.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκόψαντοthey mourned / beat their breastsAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · κόπτωmain verb (first mourning act)→ constative aoristκόπτω (mid. κόπτομαι): 'beat (the breast) / mourn / lament'; the middle denotes ritual mourning with breast-beating; renders סָפַד; the first of the three mourning verbs.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκλαυσανthey weptAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κλαίωmain verb (second mourning act)→ constative aoristκλαίω: 'weep / cry'; renders בָּכָה; the audible weeping that accompanies the breast-beating.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνήστευσανthey fastedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · νηστεύωmain verb (third mourning act)→ constative aoristνηστεύω: 'fast'; renders צוּם; fasting completes the mourning triad, observed until evening as a sign of grief (cf. 1 Kgdms 31:13).
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; marks the duration of the fast.
δείληςeveningGenitiveobject of ἕως (temporal: 'until evening')→ relational specificationδείλη: 'late afternoon / evening'; renders עֶרֶב; the fast lasted the whole day until nightfall.
ἐπὶover / forpreposition + accusative (object of mourning, first)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over / on account of'; introduces the objects of grief; repeated fourfold for cumulative effect.
ΣαουλSaulobject of ἐπί (indeclinable; first object of mourning)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: the king, first named among the mourned.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (second object)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (second object).
ΙωναθανJonathanobject of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: Saul's son, second among the mourned.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with υἱόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeappositive to Ιωναθαν→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; identifies Jonathan.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (third object)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (third object).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativeobject of ἐπί (third object of mourning)→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; here 'the people of Judah', David's own tribe, broadening the grief beyond the royal house.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'people of Judah')→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה; indeclinable; David's own tribe.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (fourth object)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (fourth object).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeobject of ἐπί (fourth object of mourning)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / household / nation'; here 'the house of Israel', the whole northern people; the grief embraces all Israel.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'house of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the nation as a whole, fallen with its king.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the ground of the mourning.
ἐπλήγησανthey were struck downAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πλήσσωverb of causal clause→ constative aorist passive (the defeat)πλήσσω: 'strike / smite'; the passive ἐπλήγησαν = 'they were struck down'; renders נָפְלוּ / הֻכּוּ; the army's slaughter by the Philistine sword.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrument)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: here instrumental (a Hebraism for בְּ), 'by the sword.'
ῥομφαίᾳswordDativedative of instrument (object of ἐν)→ sphere or referenceῥομφαία: 'sword / large blade'; renders חֶרֶב; the instrument of Israel's slaughter, echoed in the lament (v. 22, ῥομφαία Σαουλ).
13

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ τῷ παιδαρίῳ τῷ ἀπαγγέλλοντι αὐτῷ πόθεν εἶ σύ καὶ εἶπεν υἱὸς ἀνδρὸς παροίκου Αμαληκίτου ἐγώ εἰμι

And David said to the young man who reported to him, 'Where are you from?' And he said, 'I am the son of an Amalekite sojourner.'

Third interrogation: David fixes the man's status before judgmentκαὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ τῷ παιδαρίῳ
David's final question πόθεν εἶ σύ ('where are you from?') re-elicits the man's identity, now stated fully: 'son of an Amalekite sojourner (πάροικος).' The term πάροικος ('resident alien') makes the man not a stranger ignorant of Israel's God but one dwelling among Israel — hence accountable for raising his hand against the LORD's anointed (v. 14).
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces David's third question.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τῷtheDativearticle (with παιδαρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίῳyoung manDativedative of indirect object→ sphere or referenceπαιδάριον: 'young man / servant'; the recurring epithet (vv. 5, 6), here for the last time before the man's death.
τῷtheDativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπαγγέλλοντιreportingPres Act Ptcp Dat Masc Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωattributive participle (modifying παιδαρίῳ)→ imperfective participleἀπαγγέλλω: 'report'; the attributive participle again names the man by his reporting function.
αὐτῷto himDativedative complement of the participle→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative complement of the participle.
πόθενfrom whereinterrogative adverb (origin)→ clausal contributionπόθεν: 'whence'; renders אֵי מִזֶּה; David asks the man's place of origin, eliciting his ethnicity once more.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (of the question)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'where are you from?'
σύyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: explicit subject sharpening the direct address.
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 (the man's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the self-identification.
υἱὸςsonNominativepredicate nominative (with εἰμι)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the man defines himself by lineage, 'son of an Amalekite sojourner.'
ἀνδρὸςof a manGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱός)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the man's father.
παροίκουsojourner / resident alienGenitiveattributive genitive (modifying ἀνδρός)→ relational specificationπάροικος: 'sojourner / resident alien'; renders גֵּר / תּוֹשָׁב; one dwelling among Israel without full citizenship — significant because such a resident is bound by Israel's law and so accountable for striking the LORD's anointed.
ΑμαληκίτουAmalekiteGenitiveattributive genitive (modifying ἀνδρός / παροίκου)→ relational specificationἈμαληκίτης: 'Amalekite'; the gentilic, declined here in the genitive; reaffirms the man's fatal ethnicity (cf. v. 8).
ἐγώINominativesubject (with εἰμι)→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as subject (with εἰμι).
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (of the self-identification)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'I am the son of an Amalekite sojourner.'
14

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυιδ πῶς οὐκ ἐφοβήθης ἐπενεγκεῖν χεῖρά σου διαφθεῖραι τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου

And David said to him, 'How were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the anointed of the LORD?'

David's accusation: the theological ground of the death-sentenceκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυιδ
David's rhetorical question πῶς οὐκ ἐφοβήθης ('how did you not fear?') frames the killing of Saul not as a service but as sacrilege. The decisive phrase τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου ('the anointed of the LORD') is the theological pivot of the whole episode: David's lifelong refusal to harm Saul (1 Kgdms 24; 26) rested on Saul's status as YHWH's anointed, and the Amalekite has done precisely what David would not.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces David's accusing question.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (indignant rhetorical question)→ clausal contributionπῶς: 'how'; here in an indignant rhetorical question expressing horror at the deed, 'how is it that you did not fear …?'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐφοβήθης)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates the verb of fearing.
ἐφοβήθηςyou were afraidAor Pass Indic 2 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb of the question→ constative aorist (the failure to fear)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; deponent passive; renders יָרֵא; David charges that the man ought to have feared to harm the anointed king.
ἐπενεγκεῖνto lay / stretch outAor Act Inf · ἐπιφέρωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐφοβήθης)→ constative aorist infinitiveἐπιφέρω: 'bring upon / lay on'; ἐπενεγκεῖν χεῖρα = 'to lay/raise a hand against', a Hebraism (שָׁלַח יָד) for a violent attack.
χεῖράhandAccusativedirect object of ἐπενεγκεῖν→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; in the idiom 'to lay a hand against', the instrument of the forbidden assault on the anointed.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χεῖρα)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with χεῖρα).
διαφθεῖραιto destroyAor Act Inf · διαφθείρωinfinitive of purpose/result (with ἐπενεγκεῖν χεῖρα)→ constative aorist infinitive (purpose)διαφθείρω: 'destroy / ruin / kill'; renders שָׁחַת; the same verb David used of refusing to harm Saul in the cave (1 Kgdms 26:9, μὴ διαφθείρῃς αὐτόν) — a pointed verbal echo of David's own scruple.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with χριστόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χριστὸνanointed oneAccusativedirect object of διαφθεῖραι→ object specificationχριστός: 'anointed (one)'; renders מָשִׁיחַ; the technical term for the king consecrated by anointing; 'the anointed of the LORD' (χριστὸς κυρίου) is the inviolable status that David honored in Saul and that the Amalekite has violated — the theological crux of the chapter (repeated v. 16).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with χριστόν)→ relational specificationκύριος: here the Tetragrammaton — 'the anointed of YHWH'; the genitive marks Saul as the LORD's own consecrated king, so that the assault is an offense against God himself.
15

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Δαυιδ ἓν τῶν παιδαρίων αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν προσελθὼν ἀπάντησον αὐτῷ καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτόν καὶ ἀπέθανεν

And David called one of his young men and said, 'Go up and fall upon him.' And he struck him, and he died.

Execution of the Amalekite (the sentence carried out)καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Δαυιδ
David summons one of his own servants and orders the execution with terse aorist imperatives (προσελθὼν ἀπάντησον αὐτῷ). The three rapid clauses ἐπάταξεν … ἀπέθανεν deliver the death-stroke without comment — the messenger who claimed to have killed one king is dispatched at the word of the next.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (David summons the executioner)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; David calls one of his retinue to carry out the sentence.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ἓνoneAccusativedirect object (numeral substantive: 'one of …')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the neuter ἕν agrees with the neuter παιδαρίων, 'one of his young men.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with παιδαρίων, partitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίωνyoung men / servantsGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἕν)→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: 'young man / servant'; David's own attendants — the same word used of the Amalekite messenger, here of David's loyal men.
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.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (David's command)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the order of execution.
προσελθὼνapproaching / go upAor Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · προσέρχομαιcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance to the imperative)→ antecedent aorist participle (drawing near, then striking)προσέρχομαι: 'come/go up to / approach'; the aorist participle with the imperative ἀπάντησον functions as a coordinate command, 'go up and fall upon him.'
ἀπάντησονfall upon / meet / dispatchAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀπαντάωmain verb (imperative of execution)→ ingressive aorist imperativeἀπαντάω: 'meet / encounter'; here a euphemism for 'fall upon / set upon to kill' (rendering פָּגַע, 'strike down'); David's order to execute the Amalekite.
αὐτῷhimDativedative complement of ἀπάντησον→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative complement of ἀπάντησον.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (the death-blow)→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; renders נָכָה / הִכָּה; the servant strikes the Amalekite down.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέθανενhe diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (result of the blow)→ constative aorist (the death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the curt final clause records the Amalekite's death — the same verb that tolled through his report of Saul (v. 4) now falls on him.
16

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς αὐτόν τὸ αἷμά σου ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλήν σου ὅτι τὸ στόμα σου ἀπεκρίθη κατὰ σοῦ λέγων ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐθανάτωσα τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου

And David said to him, 'Your blood be upon your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, "I killed the anointed of the LORD."'

David's verdict: self-condemnation by the man's own words (closes section B)καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς αὐτόν
David's juridical pronouncement τὸ αἷμά σου ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλήν σου ('your blood be on your head') places the bloodguilt on the Amalekite himself: he is condemned out of his own mouth (τὸ στόμα σου ἀπεκρίθη κατὰ σοῦ). The cited confession ἐγὼ ἐθανάτωσα τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου seals the sentence, repeating verbatim the title from v. 14 — the man dies for what he boasted of doing.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 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 (David's verdict-speech)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces David's pronouncement of judgment.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with αἷμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμάbloodNominativesubject of the verbless juridical clause→ participant prominenceαἷμα: 'blood / bloodguilt'; renders דָּם; in legal idiom 'your blood' = the guilt and penalty of bloodshed; the formula assigns responsibility for the man's death to himself.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with αἷμα)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with αἷμα).
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (the verbless clause: 'be upon')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'upon'; the formula τὸ αἷμά σου ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλήν σου ('your blood be on your head') is a standard idiom of self-incurred bloodguilt (cf. Josh 2:19; 3 Kgdms 2:37).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κεφαλήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλήνheadAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; the locus on which bloodguilt 'rests'; the man bears the consequences of his own deed.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with κεφαλήν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κεφαλήν).
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the legal ground of the verdict.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with στόμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόμαmouthNominativesubject of ἀπεκρίθη→ participant prominenceστόμα: 'mouth'; renders פֶּה; 'your own mouth' personified as witness against the man — self-testimony that requires no other accuser.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with στόμα)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with στόμα).
ἀπεκρίθηanswered / testifiedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb of the causal clause→ constative aorist (the self-witness)ἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / respond / testify'; here 'has answered/witnessed against you' (κατὰ σοῦ), a forensic sense — the man's own statement stands as testimony condemning him.
κατὰagainstpreposition + genitive (hostile: 'against')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: 'against'; marks the self-testimony as adverse to the speaker.
σοῦyouGenitiveobject of κατά→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of κατά.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the quotation; Hebraizing לֵאמֹר)→ imperfective participleλέγω: the participle λέγων renders the Hebrew quotative לֵאמֹר, introducing the cited confession; it modifies the personified στόμα or the man himself.
ὅτιthat / [quotation]recitative ὅτι (marking the quoted confession)→ clausal contributionὅτι: recitative, opening the verbatim quotation of the man's words.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun in the cited confession)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' of the man's own boast, the very word that condemns him.
ἐθανάτωσαI killedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · θανατόωmain verb of the quoted confession→ constative aorist (the admitted deed)θανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; the cited confession repeats the man's claim of v. 10 (ἐθανάτωσα αὐτόν); his own word, not David's accusation, is the basis of the sentence.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with χριστόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χριστὸνanointed oneAccusativedirect object of ἐθανάτωσα→ object specificationχριστός: 'anointed (one)'; the phrase τὸν χριστὸν κυρίου exactly echoes v. 14; the man is condemned for slaying YHWH's consecrated king.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with χριστόν)→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; 'the anointed of YHWH' — the offended party behind the death-sentence is God himself.
17

καὶ ἐθρήνησεν Δαυιδ τὸν θρῆνον τοῦτον ἐπὶ Σαουλ καὶ ἐπὶ Ιωναθαν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,

Superscription of the lament (opens section C)καὶ ἐθρήνησεν Δαυιδ
The narrator introduces the dirge with a cognate accusative ἐθρήνησεν … τὸν θρῆνον τοῦτον ('lamented this lamentation'), a Hebraizing figura etymologica (קוֹנֵן … אֶת־הַקִּינָה). The dual object 'over Saul and over Jonathan' names the two whose deaths the Song of the Bow will mourn.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθρήνησενlamented / chanted a dirgeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θρηνέωmain verb (cognate-accusative construction)→ constative aorist (the act of lamenting)θρηνέω: 'lament / wail / chant a dirge'; with its cognate object τὸν θρῆνον it renders the Hebrew קוֹנֵן … קִינָה; introduces the formal funeral-song that follows.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θρῆνον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θρῆνονlamentation / dirgeAccusativecognate accusative (with ἐθρήνησεν)→ object specificationθρῆνος: 'dirge / lament / funeral-song'; renders קִינָה; the technical term for an elegy; the cognate accusative is a Hebraism reinforcing the verb.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative (attributive to θρῆνον)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; points forward to the lament about to be quoted (vv. 19–27).
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (object of lament)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over / for'; the object of the dirge.
ΣαουλSaulobject of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: the fallen king, first object of the lament.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (second object)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (second object).
ΙωναθανJonathanobject of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: Saul's son, second object of the lament, and the focus of its climax (v. 26).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with υἱόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeappositive to Ιωναθαν→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; identifies Jonathan as Saul's son.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
18

καὶ εἶπεν τοῦ διδάξαι τοὺς υἱοὺς Ιουδα ἰδοὺ γέγραπται ἐπὶ βιβλίου τοῦ εὐθοῦς

and he gave orders to teach it to the sons of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of the Upright.

The lament's transmission and written source (closes section C)καὶ εἶπεν τοῦ διδάξαι
A textual notice: David ordered the dirge taught to the sons of Judah, and the narrator cites its source — ἐπὶ βιβλίου τοῦ εὐθοῦς, 'in the Book of the Upright', the LXX rendering of סֵפֶר הַיָּשָׁר (the Book of Jashar; cf. Josh 10:13). The genitive articular infinitive τοῦ διδάξαι expresses David's command/purpose.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaid / gave ordersAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (David's directive)→ constative aoristλέγω: here 'commanded / gave word', governing the genitive infinitive of purpose τοῦ διδάξαι, 'said that they should teach.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the infinitive διδάξαι, expressing purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διδάξαιto teachAor Act Inf · διδάσκωgenitive articular infinitive (of purpose/content)→ constative aorist infinitiveδιδάσκω: 'teach'; renders לִמֵּד; the genitive articular infinitive τοῦ διδάξαι expresses David's purpose that the lament be taught to Judah — the dirge is to become a memorized national elegy.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of διδάξαι→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; 'the sons of Judah' = the people of Judah, who are to learn the lament.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'sons of Judah')→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable; David's tribe, to whom the dirge is entrusted.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (introducing the source-citation)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; here calls attention to the written record of the lament.
γέγραπταιit is writtenPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · γράφωmain verb (citation-formula)→ resultative perfect (stands written)γράφω (perf. pass. γέγραπται): 'it is written / stands written'; renders כָּתוּב; the standard citation-formula introducing a written source — here the Book of Jashar.
ἐπὶin / uponpreposition + genitive (location of the writing)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'on / in'; 'written upon/in the book.'
βιβλίουbook / scrollGenitiveobject of ἐπί→ relational specificationβιβλίον: 'book / scroll'; renders סֵפֶר; the documentary collection in which the lament was preserved.
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (with εὐθοῦς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐθοῦςupright / the Upright (One)Genitiveattributive genitive (substantivized: 'of the Upright')→ relational specificationεὐθής: 'straight / upright'; the substantive τοῦ εὐθοῦς renders Hebrew הַיָּשָׁר, giving 'the Book of the Upright' = the Book of Jashar (cf. Josh 10:13), an otherwise lost anthology of Israelite heroic poetry.
19

στήλωσον Ισραηλ ὑπὲρ τῶν τεθνηκότων ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη σου τραυματιῶν πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοί

Set up a monument, O Israel, for the dead upon your high places, for the slain; how are the mighty fallen!

Opening strophe of the lament + first refrain (opens section D)στήλωσον Ισραηλ
The lament proper begins. The opening verb στήλωσον ('erect a monument/stele') is a wooden Greek rendering of the difficult Hebrew הַצְּבִי ('the gazelle/glory'), the kaige translator reading or construing it as a verb of memorial-setting. The slain lie ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη ('upon the heights') of Gilboa. The verse closes with the first sounding of the poem's refrain, πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοί ('how are the mighty fallen!'), which will recur at vv. 25 and 27.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
στήλωσονset up a monument / erect a steleAor Act Impv 2 Sg · στηλόωmain verb (imperative addressed to Israel)→ ingressive aorist imperativeστηλόω: 'set up as a pillar/stele / make a monument'; the kaige translator renders the obscure Hebrew הַצְּבִי יִשְׂרָאֵל ('the glory/gazelle of Israel') by construing צבי as if from נצב ('set up'), yielding an imperative 'erect a memorial, O Israel'; a striking instance of literalistic mis-construal in the Greek.
ΙσραηλO Israelvocative (indeclinable; addressee of the imperative)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; here a vocative address to the nation summoned to mourn its slain.
ὑπὲρfor / overpreposition + genitive (on behalf of / for)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + gen.: 'for / on behalf of'; here 'for the dead', the object of the memorial.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with the participle τεθνηκότων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεθνηκότωνthe dead / those who have diedPerf Act Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · θνῄσκωsubstantival participle (object of ὑπέρ)→ perfect participle (those now dead)θνῄσκω (perf. ptcp.): 'be dead'; the substantival 'the dead' = the fallen of Israel, those lying slain on Gilboa.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'upon'; locates the slain on the heights.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ὕψη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕψηheights / high placesAccusativeobject of ἐπί (location of the slain)→ object specificationὕψος: 'height / high place'; renders בָּמָה / בָּמוֹת; the heights of Gilboa where Israel's warriors fell; the phrase ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη σου recurs at v. 25 (of Jonathan).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὕψη: Israel's high places)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὕψη: Israel's high places).
τραυματιῶνof the slain / woundedGenitivegenitive in apposition / explanatory to τεθνηκότων→ relational specificationτραυματίας: 'one wounded (to death) / slain'; renders חָלָל; epexegetical of 'the dead', specifying death by battle-wounds; recurs at v. 22 and v. 25.
πῶςhowexclamatory adverb (refrain)→ clausal contributionπῶς: here exclamatory, 'how!'; the opening word of the poem's threefold refrain (vv. 19, 25, 27), expressing grieved astonishment at the fall of the mighty.
ἔπεσανhave fallenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb of the refrain→ constative aorist (the fall, mourned as accomplished)πίπτω: 'fall'; renders נָפַל; in the refrain 'how have the mighty fallen!' (πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοί) it is the elegiac heartbeat of the Song of the Bow.
δυνατοίmighty ones / warriorsNominativesubject of ἔπεσαν (substantival adjective)→ participant prominenceδυνατός: 'mighty / powerful'; substantival 'the mighty / the warriors'; renders גִּבּוֹרִים; the heroes Saul and Jonathan (and Israel's fallen champions) whose death the refrain laments.
20

μὴ ἀναγγείλητε ἐν Γεθ καὶ μὴ εὐαγγελίσησθε ἐν ταῖς ἐξόδοις Ἀσκαλῶνος μήποτε εὐφρανθῶσιν θυγατέρες ἀλλοφύλων μήποτε ἀγαλλιάσωνται θυγατέρες τῶν ἀπεριτμήτων

Tell it not in Gath, and proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

Strophe 2: the news must not reach the Philistine citiesμὴ ἀναγγείλητε ἐν Γεθ
A pair of prohibitive subjunctives (μὴ ἀναγγείλητε … μὴ εὐαγγελίσησθε) forbids the telling of the news in Gath and Ashkelon, two of the five Philistine cities. The synonymous parallelism (Gath ‖ streets of Ashkelon; daughters of the Philistines ‖ daughters of the uncircumcised) is classic Hebrew poetic structure; the fear is the triumphant rejoicing (εὐφρανθῶσιν ‖ ἀγαλλιάσωνται) of the enemy women.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
μὴnotnegative particle (prohibitive, with aorist subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the prohibitive negative; with the aorist subjunctive ἀναγγείλητε it forms a prohibition, 'do not tell.'
ἀναγγείλητεtell / reportAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωprohibitive subjunctive (main verb)→ aorist subjunctive of prohibitionἀναγγέλλω: 'report / announce / tell'; renders נָגַד; the prohibition 'tell it not in Gath' is one of the most famous lines of the lament (2 Sam 1:20).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΓεθGathobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name, locative)→ participant identificationΓεθ: transliteration of Hebrew גַּת (Gath); indeclinable; one of the five Philistine cities, home of Goliath (1 Kgdms 17:4).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (prohibitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the second prohibition.
εὐαγγελίσησθεproclaim good news / announceAor Mid Subj 2 Pl · εὐαγγελίζωprohibitive subjunctive (parallel to ἀναγγείλητε)→ aorist subjunctive of prohibitionεὐαγγελίζω (mid. εὐαγγελίζομαι): 'bring/proclaim good news'; renders בָּשַׂר; ironic here — the death of Saul would be 'good news' only to the Philistines; the verb later becomes the NT term for the gospel.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with ἐξόδοις)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐξόδοιςstreets / outgoingsDativeobject of ἐν (locative)→ sphere or referenceἔξοδος: 'way out / street / thoroughfare'; renders חוּצוֹת ('streets / outside places'); the public streets of Ashkelon where news would spread.
Ἀσκαλῶνοςof AshkelonGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἐξόδοις)→ relational specificationἈσκαλών: Ashkelon, another of the five Philistine cities; here declined in the genitive (a place-name with Greek inflection); parallels Gath in the couplet.
μήποτεlestnegative final conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμήποτε: 'lest / so that … not'; introduces the dreaded consequence, the rejoicing of the enemy.
εὐφρανθῶσινrejoice / be gladAor Pass Subj 3 Pl · εὐφραίνωverb of the μήποτε-clause→ aorist subjunctive (feared outcome)εὐφραίνω (pass. 'rejoice'): 'gladden / make merry'; renders שָׂמַח; the joy of the Philistine women at Israel's calamity that the lament dreads.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject of εὐφρανθῶσιν→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; 'daughters of the Philistines' = the Philistine women who would celebrate their warriors' victory with song and dance (cf. 1 Kgdms 18:6–7, where Israel's women had sung of Saul and David).
ἀλλοφύλωνof foreigners / PhilistinesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θυγατέρες)→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the LXX's standard term for the Philistines (rendering פְּלִשְׁתִּים); literally 'those of a different race.'
μήποτεlestnegative final conjunction (parallel, second member)→ discourse linkage or contrastμήποτε: the repetition heightens the parallelism with the previous clause.
ἀγαλλιάσωνταιexult / triumphAor Mid Subj 3 Pl · ἀγαλλιάομαιverb of the second μήποτε-clause (parallel to εὐφρανθῶσιν)→ aorist subjunctive (feared outcome)ἀγαλλιάομαι: 'exult / rejoice greatly / leap for joy'; a stronger synonym of εὐφραίνω; renders עָלַז / גִּיל; the exultant triumph of the enemy women.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject of ἀγαλλιάσωνται (parallel to first θυγατέρες)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: the second 'daughters', completing the synonymous parallelism.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀπεριτμήτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπεριτμήτωνof the uncircumcisedGenitivegenitive of relationship (substantival adjective, with θυγατέρες)→ relational specificationἀπερίτμητος: 'uncircumcised'; renders עֲרֵלִים; a contemptuous designation of the Philistines (cf. 1 Kgdms 17:26), marking them as outside the covenant; parallels ἀλλοφύλων in the couplet.
21

ὄρη τὰ ἐν Γελβουε μὴ καταβῇ δρόσος καὶ μὴ ὑετὸς ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς καὶ ἀγροὶ ἀπαρχῶν ὅτι ἐκεῖ προσωχθίσθη θυρεὸς δυνατῶν θυρεὸς Σαουλ οὐκ ἐχρίσθη ἐν ἐλαίῳ

O mountains in Gilboa, let no dew nor rain fall upon you, nor fields of firstfruits, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul that was not anointed with oil.

Strophe 3: the curse on Gilboaὄρη τὰ ἐν Γελβουε
The poet apostrophizes the mountains of Gilboa and curses them with sterility: no dew, no rain, no fertile 'fields of firstfruits.' The ground for the curse (ὅτι) is that there the warriors' shield was 'defiled' (προσωχθίσθη) — Saul's shield lying cast away, no longer anointed/oiled for battle. The verse is textually difficult; the LXX θυρεὸς … οὐκ ἐχρίσθη ἐν ἐλαίῳ reads the shield as the subject of the un-anointing.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ὄρηmountainsvocative (apostrophe to the mountains)→ clausal contributionὄρος (pl. ὄρη): 'mountain'; vocative address; the poet turns to curse the very terrain that witnessed Saul's death.
τὰthe (those)Nominativearticle (attributive, 'the ones in Gilboa')→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, attributive to ὄρη)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, attributive to ὄρη).
ΓελβουεGilboaobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓελβουε: indeclinable; the mountains of Gilboa, scene of Saul's defeat (v. 6); now cursed with drought.
μὴnot / let notnegative particle (prohibitive, with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with the aorist subjunctive καταβῇ it forms a prohibitive wish/curse, 'let not … fall.'
καταβῇcome down / fallAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταβαίνωprohibitive subjunctive (imprecation)→ aorist subjunctive of prohibition/curseκαταβαίνω: 'come down / descend'; renders יָרַד; here of dew and rain failing to descend on the cursed mountains.
δρόσοςdewNominativesubject of καταβῇ→ participant prominenceδρόσος: 'dew'; renders טַל; the morning moisture vital to dry-land fertility; its withholding makes the curse one of barrenness.
καὶand / norcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnot / nornegative particle (prohibitive, second member)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: repeated for the second item of the curse, rain.
ὑετὸςrainNominativesubject (with the verb καταβῇ understood)→ participant prominenceὑετός: 'rain'; renders מָטָר; paired with dew as the source of fertility now withheld from Gilboa.
ἐφ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc. (elided ἐφ᾿): 'upon'; the dew and rain that must not come 'upon you' (the mountains).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of ἐφ᾿ (the mountains addressed)→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐφ᾿ (the mountains addressed).
καὶand / norcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀγροὶfieldsNominativesubject (elliptical: 'nor fields of firstfruits [come upon you]')→ participant prominenceἀγρός: 'field / open country'; the phrase ἀγροὶ ἀπαρχῶν ('fields of firstfruits/offerings') is a difficult rendering of the obscure Hebrew וּשְׂדֵי תְרוּמֹת; in the curse the fertile fields that yield offerings are denied to Gilboa.
ἀπαρχῶνof firstfruits / offeringsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀγροί)→ relational specificationἀπαρχή: 'firstfruits / first portion / offering'; renders תְּרוּמָה; the fields that would produce the firstfruit-offerings — symbols of fertility now withdrawn.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (ground of the curse)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the reason Gilboa is cursed.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; on those very mountains the disgrace occurred.
προσωχθίσθηwas defiled / cast away in loathingAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · προσοχθίζωmain verb of the causal clause→ constative aorist passiveπροσοχθίζω: 'be vexed / loathe / be made abhorrent'; the passive here renders the Hebrew נִגְעַל ('was defiled / cast away'); the warriors' shield lies polluted and rejected on the battlefield, the very emblem of defeat.
θυρεὸςshieldNominativesubject of προσωχθίσθη→ participant prominenceθυρεός: 'large (door-shaped) shield'; renders מָגֵן; the shield of the mighty, cast away in defeat, defiled on Gilboa.
δυνατῶνof the mightyGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θυρεός)→ relational specificationδυνατός: 'mighty'; 'the shield of the mighty (warriors)' — the heroes' defensive arms abandoned in death.
θυρεὸςshieldNominativesubject (in apposition, focusing on Saul's shield)→ participant prominenceθυρεός: the repetition narrows from the warriors generally to Saul in particular — 'the shield of Saul.'
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'shield of Saul')→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; the king's own shield, the focus of the lament's grief.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐχρίσθη)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates the anointing of the shield.
ἐχρίσθηwas anointedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · χρίωmain verb (the shield no longer oiled)→ constative aorist passiveχρίω: 'anoint / rub with oil'; renders מָשַׁח; shields were rubbed with oil to keep the leather supple for battle; Saul's shield 'was not anointed with oil' — abandoned, no longer tended; the verb χρίω also evokes Saul as χριστός (vv. 14, 16), poignantly: the anointed king's shield goes un-anointed.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument/material)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental, 'with oil.'
ἐλαίῳoilDativedative of instrument (object of ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἔλαιον: 'olive oil'; renders שֶׁמֶן; the oil used to dress shields (and to anoint kings) — its absence marks both the neglected shield and, by overtone, the death of the anointed.
22

ἀφ᾿ αἵματος τραυματιῶν ἀπὸ στέατος δυνατῶν τόξον Ιωναθαν οὐκ ἀπεστράφη κενὸν εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ ῥομφαία Σαουλ οὐκ ἀνέκαμψεν κενή

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back empty, nor did the sword of Saul return empty.

Strophe 4: the heroes' weapons never returned emptyἀφ᾿ αἵματος τραυματιῶν
The praise of the warriors' prowess. The fronted prepositional phrases (ἀφ᾿ αἵματος … ἀπὸ στέατος, 'from the blood … from the fat') vividly evoke the slaughter the heroes dealt. The two parallel cola — Jonathan's bow (τόξον, the title-image 'Song of the Bow') and Saul's sword (ῥομφαία) — each 'did not return empty' (οὐκ ἀπεστράφη / οὐκ ἀνέκαμψεν … κενή), a litotes celebrating their unfailing deadliness in battle.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἀφ᾿frompreposition + genitive (source/separation, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό (elided ἀφ᾿): 'from'; the warriors' weapons drew back 'from the blood of the slain' — i.e. not without having shed it.
αἵματοςbloodGenitiveobject of ἀφ᾿→ relational specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; renders דָּם; the blood of the enemies the heroes slew.
τραυματιῶνof the slainGenitivegenitive of relationship (with αἵματος)→ relational specificationτραυματίας: 'slain / mortally wounded'; renders חֲלָלִים; the enemies fallen before Saul and Jonathan; the same word as v. 19 (now of the foe).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (parallel to ἀφ᾿)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; parallel phrase, 'from the fat of the mighty.'
στέατοςfatGenitiveobject of ἀπό→ relational specificationστέαρ: 'fat / suet'; renders חֵלֶב; 'the fat of the mighty' is a vivid (sacrificial-tinged) image for the choicest, strongest warriors slain in battle.
δυνατῶνof the mightyGenitivegenitive of relationship (with στέατος)→ relational specificationδυνατός: 'mighty'; here the enemy champions whom Saul and Jonathan struck down.
τόξονbowNominativesubject of ἀπεστράφη→ participant prominenceτόξον: 'bow'; renders קֶשֶׁת; Jonathan's weapon, and the eponym of the whole lament ('the Bow', after which the dirge is named in the Hebrew of v. 18).
Ιωναθανof Jonathangenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'bow of Jonathan')→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: indeclinable; Jonathan, the archer (cf. 1 Kgdms 18:4; 20:20–22), whose bow never missed.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀπεστράφη; litotes)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; part of the litotes 'did not turn back empty' = always struck home.
ἀπεστράφηturned backAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (first colon)→ constative aorist passiveἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב (Niphal nāśôg); the bow 'did not turn back empty' — i.e. never withdrew without having killed.
κενὸνemptyNominativepredicate adjective (with τόξον: 'turn back empty')→ participant prominenceκενός: 'empty / without effect'; renders רֵיקָם; the bow never returned 'empty' of blood, i.e. without finding its mark.
εἰςto / backpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'to'; with τὰ ὀπίσω, 'backward.'
τὰtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing ὀπίσω)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀπίσωbehind / backwardadverb substantivized by τά (object of εἰς: 'backward')→ clausal contributionὀπίσω: 'behind / back'; εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω = 'backward'; intensifies 'did not turn back', the bow never retreated unspent.
καὶand / norcoordinate conjunction (joining the parallel colon)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ῥομφαίαswordNominativesubject of ἀνέκαμψεν→ participant prominenceῥομφαία: 'sword'; renders חֶרֶב; Saul's weapon, parallel to Jonathan's bow; the same word as the sword that struck Israel (v. 12).
Σαουλof Saulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'sword of Saul')→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; Saul the swordsman, whose blade never returned empty.
οὐκnotnegative particle (litotes, parallel)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; the parallel litotes.
ἀνέκαμψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνακάμπτωmain verb (second colon)→ constative aoristἀνακάμπτω: 'bend back / return'; renders שׁוּב; varies the verb of the first colon (ἀπεστράφη) — Saul's sword 'did not return empty', a poetic synonym completing the parallelism.
κενήemptyNominativepredicate adjective (with ῥομφαία: 'return empty')→ participant prominenceκενός: 'empty'; the feminine κενή agrees with ῥομφαία; parallel to κενόν in the first colon, completing the couplet's praise of unfailing weapons.
23

Σαουλ καὶ Ιωναθαν οἱ ἠγαπημένοι καὶ ὡραῖοι οὐ διακεχωρισμένοι εὐπρεπεῖς ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτῶν οὐ διεχωρίσθησαν ὑπὲρ ἀετοὺς κοῦφοι καὶ ὑπὲρ λέοντας ἐκραταιώθησαν

Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the lovely, not divided, comely in their life, and in their death they were not parted; swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

Strophe 5: the praise of the two heroes' union and prowessΣαουλ καὶ Ιωναθαν
The most lyrical strophe, praising father and son together: beloved and lovely, undivided in life and undivided (οὐ διεχωρίσθησαν) in death. The closing double comparison — κοῦφοι ὑπὲρ ἀετούς ('swifter than eagles') and ὑπὲρ λέοντας ἐκραταιώθησαν ('stronger than lions') — combines the two emblematic images of speed and strength to crown the warriors' valor.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
ΣαουλSaulsubject / nominative of address (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: indeclinable; named first, the king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωναθανJonathansubject (indeclinable, coordinate with Σαουλ)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: indeclinable; named with his father, the two united in the lament.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with the substantival participle ἠγαπημένοι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἠγαπημένοιbelovedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle (in apposition: 'the beloved')→ perfect participle (settled state of being loved)ἀγαπάω (perf. pass. ptcp.): 'love'; 'the beloved (ones)'; renders הַנֶּאֱהָבִים; the perfect denotes their enduring belovedness; the root ἀγάπη returns in v. 26 (ἀγάπησις) of David's love for Jonathan.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὡραῖοιlovely / beautifulNominativepredicate adjective (coordinate with ἠγαπημένοι)→ participant prominenceὡραῖος: 'beautiful / comely / in one's prime'; renders הַנְּעִימִם ('the pleasant/lovely'); praises the two as graceful and admirable; cognate with ὡραιώθης (v. 26).
οὐnotnegative particle (with διακεχωρισμένοι)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates the participle of separation.
διακεχωρισμένοιdivided / separatedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · διαχωρίζωpredicate participle ('not divided')→ perfect participle (abiding state of non-separation)διαχωρίζω: 'separate / divide'; the perfect passive participle with οὐ = 'not divided/parted'; renders לֹא נִפְרָדוּ; father and son were inseparable in life — and, the next colon adds, in death; anticipates οὐ διεχωρίσθησαν below.
εὐπρεπεῖςcomely / fairNominativepredicate adjective→ participant prominenceεὐπρεπής: 'comely / seemly / fair'; reinforces ὡραῖοι; the two are admirable in appearance and bearing in their lifetime.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/time)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere/time).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ζωῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζωῇlifeDativeobject of ἐν (sphere: 'in their life')→ sphere or referenceζωή: 'life'; renders חַיִּים; contrasted with θάνατος in the parallel colon — united both in life and in death.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with ζωῇ)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ζωῇ).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the death-colon)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (time)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (time).
τῷtheDativearticle (with θανάτῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θανάτῳdeathDativeobject of ἐν (sphere: 'in their death')→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: 'death'; renders מָוֶת; the antithesis to ζωή; the two fell together on Gilboa, undivided to the end.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θανάτῳ)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θανάτῳ).
οὐnotnegative particle (with διεχωρίσθησαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates the verb of separation, completing the 'undivided' motif.
διεχωρίσθησανwere parted / separatedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · διαχωρίζωmain verb (the finite counterpart to διακεχωρισμένοι)→ constative aorist passiveδιαχωρίζω: 'separate'; the finite aorist passive 'they were not parted'; renders לֹא נִפְרָדוּ; restates emphatically that even death did not divide father and son.
ὑπὲρmore than / beyondpreposition + accusative (comparison)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: here comparative, 'more than / beyond'; a Hebraism (מִן of comparison) rendering 'swifter than.'
ἀετοὺςeaglesAccusativeobject of ὑπέρ (standard of comparison)→ object specificationἀετός: 'eagle / vulture'; renders נֶשֶׁר; the proverbial emblem of swiftness; the heroes were 'swifter than eagles.'
κοῦφοιswift / lightNominativepredicate adjective (subject: Saul and Jonathan)→ participant prominenceκοῦφος: 'light / nimble / swift'; renders קַלּוּ ('they were swift'); with ὑπὲρ ἀετούς, 'swifter than eagles' — praising their speed in battle and pursuit.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second comparison)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑπὲρmore than / beyondpreposition + accusative (comparison)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: comparative again, 'stronger than.'
λέονταςlionsAccusativeobject of ὑπέρ (standard of comparison)→ object specificationλέων: 'lion'; renders אֲרָיוֹת; the proverbial emblem of strength; the heroes were 'stronger than lions.'
ἐκραταιώθησανwere strong / grew mightyAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · κραταιόωmain verb (second comparison)→ constative aorist passive (ingressive: 'proved mighty')κραταιόω: 'make strong / strengthen'; the passive 'they were strong / showed themselves mighty'; renders גָּבֵרוּ; with ὑπὲρ λέοντας, 'mightier than lions' — the climactic image of the heroes' strength.
24

θυγατέρες Ισραηλ ἐπὶ Σαουλ κλαύσατε τὸν ἐνδιδύσκοντα ὑμᾶς κόκκινα μετὰ κόσμου ὑμῶν τὸν ἀναφέροντα κόσμον χρυσοῦν ἐπὶ τὰ ἐνδύματα ὑμῶν

O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with your finery, who put golden ornament upon your garments.

Strophe 6: the call to the daughters of Israel to mourn Saulθυγατέρες Ισραηλ … κλαύσατε
In deliberate contrast to the daughters of the Philistines who must not rejoice (v. 20), the daughters of Israel are summoned to weep (κλαύσατε). Saul is remembered as their benefactor: the participial relative clauses (τὸν ἐνδιδύσκοντα … τὸν ἀναφέροντα) recall the prosperity of his reign — scarlet clothing and golden ornament — the spoils and luxury his victories provided.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
θυγατέρεςdaughtersvocative (addressee of κλαύσατε)→ clausal contributionθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the vocative 'daughters of Israel' deliberately answers the 'daughters of the Philistines / uncircumcised' of v. 20 — Israel's women weep where the enemy's would gloat.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'daughters of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; defines the women summoned to mourn.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (object of weeping)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over / for'; the object of the lament, Saul.
ΣαουλSaulobject of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαουλ: the king the women are to mourn as their patron.
κλαύσατεweepAor Act Impv 2 Pl · κλαίωmain verb (imperative addressed to the daughters)→ ingressive aorist imperative (break into weeping)κλαίω: 'weep'; renders בָּכָה; the summons to formal lamentation over the dead king.
τὸνthe (one who)Accusativearticle (substantivizing the participle ἐνδιδύσκοντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνδιδύσκονταclothing / who clothedPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Sg · ἐνδιδύσκωsubstantival participle in apposition to Σαουλ ('the one who clothed you')→ imperfective participle (customary/iterative: who used to clothe)ἐνδιδύσκω: 'clothe / dress'; renders הַמַּלְבִּשׁ; the participle characterizes Saul as the benefactor who provided the women fine apparel from the spoils of his wars.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐνδιδύσκοντα→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐνδιδύσκοντα.
κόκκιναscarlet (garments)Accusativeobject complement (accusative of the clothing material)→ object specificationκόκκινος: 'scarlet / crimson'; renders שָׁנִי; the costly red-dyed cloth, a mark of wealth and luxury that Saul's reign made possible.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with / along with.'
κόσμουadornment / fineryGenitiveobject of μετά→ relational specificationκόσμος: here 'adornment / ornament / finery' (its older sense, cf. 1 Pet 3:3), not 'world'; renders עֲדָנִים / עֲדִי; the jewelry and ornament accompanying the scarlet.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with κόσμου)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κόσμου).
τὸνthe (one who)Accusativearticle (substantivizing the participle ἀναφέροντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναφέρονταputting / placing upPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Sg · ἀναφέρωsecond substantival participle (parallel to ἐνδιδύσκοντα)→ imperfective participle (customary)ἀναφέρω: 'bring up / put on / set upon'; here 'who put golden ornament upon your garments'; renders הַמַּעֲלֶה; continues the portrait of Saul as the source of the women's adornment.
κόσμονornamentAccusativedirect object of ἀναφέροντα→ object specificationκόσμος: 'ornament / adornment'; here the golden decoration set upon the garments.
χρυσοῦνgoldenAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying κόσμον)→ object specificationχρυσοῦς: 'made of gold / golden'; renders זָהָב; the precious adornment, emblem of the prosperity Saul's reign brought.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (placement)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (placement).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἐνδύματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνδύματαgarments / apparelAccusativeobject of ἐπί (where the golden ornament was placed)→ object specificationἔνδυμα: 'garment / clothing'; renders לְבוּשׁ; the women's apparel adorned with gold under Saul's bounty.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἐνδύματα)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἐνδύματα).
25

πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοὶ ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ πολέμου Ιωναθαν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη σου τραυματίας

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan, upon your high places, slain!

Second refrain + turn to Jonathan personallyπῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοὶ
The refrain sounds a second time (cf. v. 19), now expanded by ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ πολέμου ('in the midst of the battle'), and pivots to Jonathan by name. The phrase ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη σου ('upon your high places', the same as v. 19) and the final τραυματίας ('slain') focus the grief on Jonathan alone, preparing the intensely personal lament of v. 26.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
πῶςhowexclamatory adverb (refrain)→ clausal contributionπῶς: exclamatory 'how!'; the second occurrence of the refrain (cf. vv. 19, 27).
ἔπεσανhave fallenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb of the refrain→ constative aoristπίπτω: 'fall'; the recurring elegiac verb of the refrain.
δυνατοὶmighty onesNominativesubject of ἔπεσαν (substantival adjective)→ participant prominenceδυνατός: 'mighty'; the fallen warriors of the refrain.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
μέσῳmidstDativeobject of ἐν (locative: 'in the midst')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ πολέμου = 'in the thick of the battle'; expands the refrain over v. 19, locating the fall in the heat of combat.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πολέμου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολέμουbattle / warGenitivegenitive (with μέσῳ: 'the midst of the battle')→ relational specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; the same word as v. 4; the battle of Gilboa in which Jonathan fell.
ΙωναθανJonathannominative of address / focus (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: indeclinable; the lament now narrows to Jonathan alone, addressed directly (σου), the prelude to David's personal grief.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (location).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ὕψη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕψηheights / high placesAccusativeobject of ἐπί (location of Jonathan's death)→ object specificationὕψος: 'height'; ἐπὶ τὰ ὕψη σου echoes v. 19 verbatim, now applied to Jonathan personally — slain on the heights of Gilboa.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (addressing Jonathan: 'your high places')→ relational specificationσύ: the 2nd-person 'your' addresses Jonathan directly, intensifying the personal grief.
τραυματίαςslain / mortally woundedNominativepredicate/appositive to Ιωναθαν ('Jonathan, slain')→ participant prominenceτραυματίας: 'one slain / mortally wounded'; renders חָלָל; the stark closing word lays Jonathan among the slain (cf. vv. 19, 22).
26

ἀλγῶ ἐπὶ σοί ἄδελφέ μου Ιωναθαν ὡραιώθης μοι σφόδρα ἐθαυμαστώθη ἡ ἀγάπησίς σου ἐμοὶ ὑπὲρ ἀγάπησιν γυναικῶν

I am grieved over you, my brother Jonathan; you were very lovely to me; your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.

Emotional climax: David's personal grief for Jonathanἀλγῶ ἐπὶ σοί
The poem's emotional summit and its only first-person line. David speaks directly: ἀλγῶ ('I am in pain/grief'), ἄδελφέ μου ('my brother'). The three predicates rise to a climax — Jonathan was 'lovely' (ὡραιώθης) to David, his love 'wonderful' (ἐθαυμαστώθη), 'surpassing the love of women' (ὑπὲρ ἀγάπησιν γυναικῶν) — the most personal and tender note in the Song of the Bow.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἀλγῶI grieve / am in painPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀλγέωmain verb (David's first-person grief)→ imperfective present (ongoing anguish)ἀλγέω: 'feel pain / grieve / be distressed'; renders צַר־לִי ('I am distressed'); the present tense conveys David's continuing, present anguish over Jonathan — the poem's only explicit first-person verb.
ἐπὶover / forpreposition + dative (cause/object of grief)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'over / on account of'; the cause of David's pain, Jonathan.
σοίyouDativeobject of ἐπί (Jonathan, addressed)→ participant reference or interestσύ: the direct address 'over you' makes the grief intimate and personal.
ἄδελφέbrotherVocativevocative of address→ direct addressἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָחִי; David calls Jonathan 'my brother' — not by blood but by covenant friendship (1 Kgdms 18:1–4; 20:17), the bond that makes the grief so deep.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἄδελφε)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with ἄδελφε).
ΙωναθανJonathanvocative in apposition to ἄδελφε (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωναθαν: indeclinable; named in direct address, the object of David's lament.
ὡραιώθηςyou were lovely / beautifulAor Pass Indic 2 Sg · ὡραιόομαιmain verb (predicate of Jonathan's loveliness to David)→ constative aorist passiveὡραιόομαι: 'be beautiful / become lovely'; cognate with ὡραῖοι (v. 23); 'you were very lovely/dear to me' (μοι) — David's affectionate estimate of Jonathan; renders נָעַמְתָּ ('you were pleasant').
μοιto meDativedative of reference (with ὡραιώθης: 'lovely to me')→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of reference (with ὡραιώθης: 'lovely to me').
σφόδραexceedingly / veryadverb of degree (intensifying ὡραιώθης)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies how dear Jonathan was to David.
ἐθαυμαστώθηwas wonderful / marvelousAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θαυμαστόωmain verb (predicate of Jonathan's love)→ constative aorist passiveθαυμαστόω: 'make/be wonderful / marvelous'; the passive 'was wondrous'; renders נִפְלְאַתָה; declares Jonathan's love a thing of marvel, beyond ordinary human affection.
theNominativearticle (with ἀγάπησις)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγάπησίςloveNominativesubject of ἐθαυμαστώθη→ participant prominenceἀγάπησις: 'love / affection'; abstract noun from ἀγαπάω (cf. ἠγαπημένοι, v. 23); renders אַהֲבָה; Jonathan's love for David, the bond celebrated as surpassing all other.
σουyourGenitivesubjective genitive (with ἀγάπησις: the love that Jonathan bore)→ relational specificationσύ: 'your love' = the love Jonathan had for David (subjective genitive).
ἐμοὶto meDativedative of reference (the object/direction of Jonathan's love)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (emphatic dat. ἐμοί): 'to me'; specifies that Jonathan's wondrous love was directed toward David.
ὑπὲρmore than / surpassingpreposition + accusative (comparison)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: comparative, 'beyond / more than' (a Hebraism for מִן); 'surpassing the love of women.'
ἀγάπησινloveAccusativeobject of ὑπέρ (standard of comparison)→ object specificationἀγάπησις: the repeated noun, now as the term of comparison — Jonathan's love exceeded even 'the love of women.'
γυναικῶνof womenGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀγάπησιν)→ relational specificationγυνή: 'woman'; renders נָשִׁים; the comparison 'the love of women' — i.e. the deepest natural human love — sets Jonathan's covenant-love for David above all rivals; one of Scripture's most celebrated expressions of friendship.
27

πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοὶ καὶ ἀπώλοντο σκεύη πολεμικά

How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

Final refrain: the close of the lament (and of the chapter)πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοὶ
The refrain sounds a third and final time, now joined to a closing image: ἀπώλοντο σκεύη πολεμικά ('the weapons of war have perished'). The metaphor σκεύη πολεμικά — literally 'instruments of war' — stands for Saul and Jonathan themselves, the fallen champions whose death leaves Israel disarmed. The poem ends as it began, with πῶς ἔπεσαν δυνατοί, sealing the Song of the Bow.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
πῶςhowexclamatory adverb (final refrain)→ clausal contributionπῶς: exclamatory 'how!'; the third and concluding sounding of the refrain (cf. vv. 19, 25), forming an inclusio around the lament.
ἔπεσανhave fallenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίπτωmain verb of the refrain→ constative aoristπίπτω: 'fall'; the elegiac verb, sounded one last time.
δυνατοὶmighty onesNominativesubject of ἔπεσαν (substantival adjective)→ participant prominenceδυνατός: 'mighty'; the fallen heroes Saul and Jonathan.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the closing image)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπώλοντοhave perishedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (the final image)→ constative aorist middleἀπόλλυμι (mid. ἀπώλοντο): 'perish / be destroyed / be lost'; renders אָבְדוּ; closes the lament with the perishing of the 'weapons of war' — the heroes themselves.
σκεύηweapons / instrumentsNominativesubject of ἀπώλοντο→ participant prominenceσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): 'vessel / implement / weapon'; with πολεμικά, 'instruments of war'; here a metaphor for Saul and Jonathan, Israel's living weapons, now lost (renders כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה).
πολεμικάof war / warlikeNominativeattributive adjective (modifying σκεύη)→ participant prominenceπολεμικός: 'of war / warlike'; σκεύη πολεμικά = 'weapons of war'; the final metaphor of the lament, naming the fallen heroes as the perished armaments of Israel — a fitting close to the Song of the Bow.