Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Second Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 12ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Β′ ΙΒ′

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

Nathan confronts David, judgment enters his house, the child dies, and Solomon is born under mercy.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 2 Kingdoms 12 (= 2 Samuel 12 MT) 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 chapter is one of the great prophetic confrontation-scenes of the Hebrew Bible, rendered in the LXX with close fidelity to its Hebrew Vorlage. Nathan, sent by κύριος, traps David through a juridical parable (vv. 1–4): a rich man with countless flocks (ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια πολλὰ σφόδρα) spares his own herds and seizes the poor man's single ewe lamb (ἀμνὰς μία μικρά), which had grown up with him 'as a daughter' (ὡς θυγάτηρ). David, kindled with anger (ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ … σφόδρα), pronounces the offender a 'son of death' (υἱὸς θανάτου) and demands sevenfold restitution (ἀποτείσει ἑπταπλασίονα). Nathan's verdict σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνήρ ('you are the man', v. 7) turns the parable into self-condemnation and opens the LXX's rendering of the messenger-formula τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ. The oracle (vv. 7–12) recites YHWH's benefactions — anointing, deliverance from Saul, the house and wives of his lord — and indicts David for despising the word of the LORD by the sword (ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ) against Uriah the Hittite (τὸν Ουριαν τὸν Χετταῖον) and the taking of his wife; the sentence is twofold: the sword will never depart from David's house (οὐκ ἀποστήσεται ῥομφαία ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου σου ἕως αἰῶνος), and a public, talionic retribution will fall in the sight of all Israel and 'this sun' (ἐναντίον τοῦ ἡλίου τούτου). David's confession ἡμάρτηκα τῷ κυρίῳ ('I have sinned against the LORD', v. 13) is met by the announcement that the LORD has 'put away' (παρεβίβασεν) his sin so that he shall not die, yet the child born to him must die (vv. 13–14). The narrative of the child's illness, David's seven-day fast in sackcloth, the servants' fear, and David's astonishing response upon the death — ἐγὼ πορεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἀναστρέψει πρός με ('I shall go to him, but he will not return to me', v. 23) — forms one of Scripture's most searching meditations on grief and hope (vv. 15–23). The chapter closes with restoration: the birth of Solomon (Σαλωμων), loved by the LORD and named Ιδεδι (Jedidiah, 'beloved of the LORD') through Nathan (vv. 24–25), and Joab's capture of Rabbah of the Ammonites (Ραββαθ υἱῶν Αμμων), David's seizure of the crown, and the subjugation of the Ammonite cities (vv. 26–31).

1

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν κύριος τὸν Ναθαν τὸν προφήτην πρὸς Δαυιδ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ δύο ἦσαν ἄνδρες ἐν πόλει μιᾷ εἷς πλούσιος καὶ εἷς πένης

And the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to David, and he came to him and said to him, 'There were two men in one city, one rich and one poor.'

New narrative episode: divine commission of the prophet (main narrative)καὶ ἀπέστειλεν κύριος
The καί-initial clause links this scene directly to the close of ch. 11 (David's marriage to Bathsheba and the LORD's displeasure); the agent is κύριος himself, who sends Nathan as the bearer of judgment. The parable opens abruptly with δύο ἦσαν ἄνδρες, a classic case-story setup whose juridical function is concealed by its narrative form.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (divine commissioning act)→ constative aorist (single decisive act of sending)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / send out (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; the compound ἀπο- stresses dispatch on a mission; the LORD's sending of the prophet is the formal opening of the judgment scene, paralleling prophetic commissioning elsewhere (cf. 1 Kgdms 15:1; 16:1).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (divine sender)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine name as subject identifies the entire confrontation as YHWH's own initiative against David, not Nathan's private complaint.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Ναθαν, in acc slot)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝαθανNathandirect object of ἀπέστειλεν (indeclinable proper noun, governed by acc. article τόν)→ noun-phrase markingΝαθαν: transliteration of Hebrew נָתָן ('he has given'); indeclinable in the LXX, here marked accusative only by the article τόν; Nathan is the court prophet who earlier delivered the dynastic promise of 2 Kgdms 7 and now its judicial counterpart.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with προφήτην, in apposition to Ναθαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφήτηνprophetAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ναθαν ('Nathan the prophet')→ object specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet / spokesman'; renders נָבִיא; the appositive title marks Nathan's official capacity — he comes not as courtier but as the authorized bearer of the divine word.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX of Kingdoms; the recipient of both the dynastic promise and now the prophetic indictment.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενhe came in / enteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (Nathan's arrival)→ constative aorist (single act of entry)εἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter / come to'; renders בּוֹא; the prophet's entry into the royal presence frames the audience-scene in which the parable will be delivered.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (= David)→ participant referenceαὐτός: third-person pronoun; referent is David.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ 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: 'say / speak'; the aorist εἶπεν introduces Nathan's parable, presented in direct discourse.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object (= David, addressee)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: dative of the indirect object marking David as the addressee of the parable.
δύοtwoNominativenumeral (with ἄνδρες: 'two men')→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; indeclinable cardinal numeral; the abrupt 'two men were …' is the conventional opening of a juridical case-parable (māšāl), inviting the hearer to render judgment.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there were')→ descriptive imperfect (scene-setting)εἰμί (impf.): the imperfect ἦσαν sets the descriptive background of the parable; existential 'there were two men'.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (predicate of existence)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man / male'; renders אִישׁ; the two ἄνδρες are the rich and the poor man — the term ἀνήρ recurs pointedly at v. 7 (σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνήρ).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
πόλειcityDativedative of place (locative: 'in a city')→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; the single shared city heightens the proximity — and thus the injustice — of rich and poor neighbors.
μιᾷoneDativenumeral adjective (modifying πόλει: 'one city')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; feminine dative μιᾷ agrees with πόλει; 'one city' underlines that the two men share a single community.
εἷςoneNominativesubject (partitive: 'the one')→ measure or countεἷς: 'one'; the distributive εἷς … καὶ εἷς ('one … and one') renders the Hebrew אֶחָד … וְאֶחָד, contrasting the two men.
πλούσιοςrichNominativepredicate adjective (with εἷς: 'one was rich')→ participant prominenceπλούσιος: 'rich / wealthy'; renders עָשִׁיר; the rich man corresponds, in the parable's juridical logic, to David himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (contrastive pair)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἷςoneNominativesubject (partitive: 'the other')→ measure or countεἷς: the second member of the εἷς … καὶ εἷς contrast.
πένηςpoorNominativepredicate adjective (with εἷς: 'one was poor')→ participant prominenceπένης: 'poor / needy (one who works for his living)'; renders רָשׁ; the poor man, who possesses only a single ewe lamb, evokes pathos and stands for Uriah and his sole wife.
2

καὶ τῷ πλουσίῳ ἦν ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια πολλὰ σφόδρα

And the rich man had flocks and herds, exceedingly many.

Descriptive elaboration (parable background: the rich man's abundance)καὶ τῷ πλουσίῳ
The dative of possession (τῷ πλουσίῳ ἦν) introduces the contrast that drives the parable: the rich man's vast holdings make his theft of the single lamb gratuitous. The hyperbolic πολλὰ σφόδρα ('exceedingly many') anticipates David's own God-given abundance recited at v. 8.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷto theDativearticle (with πλουσίῳ, dative of possession)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλουσίῳrich manDativedative of possession (with ἦν: 'the rich man had')→ sphere or referenceπλούσιος: substantivized adjective 'the rich man'; the dative of possession (τῷ πλουσίῳ ἦν) is the standard LXX way of rendering the Hebrew הָיָה לְ ('belonged to').
ἦνthere was / he hadImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (possessive existential)→ descriptive imperfect (background state)εἰμί (impf.): with the dative of possession, 'the rich man had'; the imperfect maintains the descriptive register of the parable.
ποίμνιαflocksNominativesubject (of ἦν, possessed item)→ participant prominenceποίμνιον: 'flock (of sheep/goats)'; renders צֹאן; the small cattle of the rich man, contrasted with the single ἀμνάς of the poor man in v. 3.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βουκόλιαherdsNominativesubject (coordinate with ποίμνια)→ participant prominenceβουκόλιον: 'herd (of cattle)'; renders בָּקָר; the pairing ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια ('flocks and herds') is a merism for total livestock wealth.
πολλὰmanyNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια)→ participant prominenceπολύς: 'much / many'; neuter plural πολλά agrees with the neuter plural nouns; emphasizes the gratuitousness of the rich man's later theft.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying πολλά)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very much / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; πολλὰ σφόδρα ('exceedingly many') is a stock LXX intensification, here underlining the obscene disproportion at the heart of the parable.
3

καὶ τῷ πένητι οὐδὲν ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἀμνὰς μία μικρά ἣν ἐκτήσατο καὶ περιεποιήσατο καὶ ἐξέθρεψεν αὐτήν καὶ ἡδρύνθη μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ἐκ τοῦ ἄρτου αὐτοῦ ἤσθιεν καὶ ἐκ τοῦ ποτηρίου αὐτοῦ ἔπινεν καὶ ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ αὐτοῦ ἐκάθευδεν καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ ὡς θυγάτηρ

But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had acquired and kept alive and reared; and it grew up with him and with his sons together; it ate of his bread and drank of his cup and slept in his bosom, and it was to him as a daughter.

Antithetical elaboration (parable background: the poor man's single lamb)καὶ τῷ πένητι οὐδὲν
The verse heaps tender domestic detail to maximize pathos: the lamb eats, drinks, and sleeps in intimate household fellowship and is loved ὡς θυγάτηρ ('as a daughter'). The string of imperfects (ἤσθιεν, ἔπινεν, ἐκάθευδεν) paints habitual, cherished intimacy, sharpening the outrage of its seizure and pointing toward Uriah's single wife.
Word-by-word analysis· 50 words
καὶand / butnarrative conjunction (here adversative in force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷto theDativearticle (with πένητι, dative of possession)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πένητιpoor manDativedative of possession (with implied ἦν: 'the poor man had')→ sphere or referenceπένης: 'poor man'; the dative of possession parallels v. 2 (τῷ πλουσίῳ ἦν), with the verb 'to be' elided; the antithesis rich/poor is the parable's structural backbone.
οὐδὲνnothingNominativesubject (possessed: 'nothing')→ participant prominenceοὐδείς (n. οὐδέν): 'nothing'; renders אֵין … כֹּל; the absolute οὐδέν, qualified only by ἀλλ᾿ ἤ, throws the single lamb into stark relief.
ἀλλ᾿butadversative conjunction (elided ἀλλά before vowel)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; with ἤ forms the idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('except / but only'), rendering Hebrew כִּי אִם.
than / exceptparticle (with ἀλλά: 'except')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: here in the fixed combination ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('except, only'); together they restrict the poor man's possessions to the single lamb.
ἀμνὰςewe lambNominativesubject (the sole possession)→ participant prominenceἀμνάς: 'ewe lamb (female lamb)'; renders כִּבְשָׂה; the feminine form is deliberate, allowing the lamb to be loved 'as a daughter' (ὡς θυγάτηρ) and to figure the wife Bathsheba/Uriah's wife.
μίαoneNominativenumeral adjective (modifying ἀμνάς)→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; 'one little ewe lamb' — the singularity is the heart of the pathos and the juridical point.
μικράlittleNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀμνάς)→ participant prominenceμικρός: 'small / little'; renders קְטַנָּה; intensifies the lamb's vulnerability and the cruelty of its seizure.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκτήσατο, antecedent ἀμνάς)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; feminine accusative ἥν agrees with ἀμνάς and serves as object of the following verbs.
ἐκτήσατοhe acquiredAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · κτάομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (act of acquisition)κτάομαι: 'acquire / get / obtain'; renders קָנָה; the middle voice stresses acquisition for oneself — the lamb is the poor man's own treasured possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περιεποιήσατοhe kept / preservedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · περιποιέωverb of relative clause (coordinate)→ constative aoristπεριποιέω (mid.): 'keep alive / preserve / save for oneself'; the middle περιεποιήσατο emphasizes the loving care with which the poor man preserved the lamb.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέθρεψενhe reared / nourishedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκτρέφωverb of relative clause (coordinate)→ constative aoristἐκτρέφω: 'rear / bring up / nourish'; renders גָּדַל (Piel); the verb normally used of raising children, reinforcing the lamb's quasi-filial status.
αὐτήνit / herAccusativedirect object (= the lamb)→ participant referenceαὐτός: feminine accusative resuming the lamb as object.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡδρύνθηit grew upAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἁδρύνωmain verb (intransitive: 'grew up / matured')→ constative aorist (process of growth)ἁδρύνω (aor. pass. ἡδρύνθη): 'grow large / mature'; the passive is used intransitively ('grew up'); renders גָּדַל; the lamb matured within the household as one of the family.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά (= the poor man)→ relational specificationαὐτός: genitive of accompaniment; the lamb grew up 'with him.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationυἱός (pl. υἱῶν): 'son'; renders בָּנִים; the lamb shared the family life of the poor man's children, heightening the intimacy.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱῶν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱῶν).
ἐπὶin / onpreposition + accusative (in the idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (in the idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (in the idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτόsameAccusativesubstantival pronoun (idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό: 'together')→ participant referenceαὐτός: in the fixed idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ('together, in the same place'), rendering יַחְדָּו; the lamb lived together with the family as one of its members.
ἐκfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἄρτου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρτουbreadGenitivegenitive of source (partitive: 'of his bread')→ relational specificationἄρτος: 'bread / food'; renders לֶחֶם; the lamb's eating 'of his bread' is the language of table-fellowship, intensifying the family bond.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄρτου)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἄρτου).
ἤσθιενit ateImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (habitual)→ customary imperfect (habitual intimacy)ἐσθίω (impf.): 'eat'; the imperfect ἤσθιεν marks habitual action — the lamb regularly ate from the poor man's own food, like a member of the household.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive source).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ποτηρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποτηρίουcupGenitivegenitive of source (partitive: 'of his cup')→ relational specificationποτήριον: 'cup / drinking-vessel'; renders כּוֹס; drinking from the master's own cup is a further sign of cherished intimacy.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ποτηρίου)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ποτηρίου).
ἔπινενit drankImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · πίνωmain verb (habitual)→ customary imperfectπίνω (impf.): 'drink'; the imperfect ἔπινεν continues the picture of habitual table-fellowship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with κόλπῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κόλπῳbosomDativedative of place (locative: 'in his bosom')→ sphere or referenceκόλπος: 'bosom / lap / fold of the garment'; renders חֵיק; sleeping 'in his bosom' is the language of conjugal/parental intimacy — and the same κόλπος recurs at vv. 8, 11 of David's wives, tightening the parable's application.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with κόλπῳ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κόλπῳ).
ἐκάθευδενit sleptImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · καθεύδωmain verb (habitual)→ customary imperfectκαθεύδω (impf.): 'sleep / lie down'; the imperfect completes the trio of habitual verbs (ate, drank, slept), portraying the lamb's place in the household as that of a beloved child.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνit wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predicative: 'it was to him as')→ descriptive imperfectεἰμί (impf.): with the dative αὐτῷ and ὡς θυγάτηρ, 'it was to him as a daughter.'
αὐτῷto himDativedative of reference / advantage (= the poor man)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: dative of reference, 'to him' — i.e., in his eyes and affection.
ὡςas / likecomparative particle (introducing predicate comparison)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; renders כְּ; introduces the climactic comparison ὡς θυγάτηρ.
θυγάτηρdaughterNominativepredicate nominative (comparison: 'as a daughter')→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the climactic ὡς θυγάτηρ transforms the lamb from livestock into a beloved family member — the rhetorical sting that will make David's verdict against the rich man a verdict against himself.
4

καὶ ἦλθεν πάροδος τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ πλουσίῳ καὶ ἐφείσατο λαβεῖν ἐκ τῶν ποιμνίων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκ τῶν βουκολίων αὐτοῦ τοῦ ποιῆσαι τῷ ξένῳ ὁδοιπόρῳ ἐλθόντι πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν ἀμνάδα τοῦ πένητος καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὴν τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ ἐλθόντι πρὸς αὐτόν

And a traveler came to the rich man, and he was sparing to take from his own flocks and from his own herds to prepare for the stranger, the wayfarer who had come to him; and he took the poor man's ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.

Narrative climax of the parable (the act of injustice)καὶ ἦλθεν πάροδος
The arrival of the traveler triggers the offense: the rich man 'spares' (ἐφείσατο) his own abundant herds and instead seizes the poor man's single lamb. The verb φείδομαι recurs pointedly at v. 6 (περὶ οὗ οὐκ ἐφείσατο). The triple description of the guest (ξένῳ, ὁδοιπόρῳ, ἐλθόντι) underscores that hospitality, a duty, became the occasion for theft.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival of the traveler)→ constative aorist (single event)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; renders בּוֹא; the traveler's arrival sets the parable's crisis in motion.
πάροδοςtraveler / passerbyNominativesubject (of ἦλθεν)→ participant prominenceπάροδος: lit. 'a passing by / a way past'; here used concretely of a passing traveler (rendering הֵלֶךְ, 'a wayfarer / traveler'); the abstract-for-concrete usage is a Septuagintal idiom.
τῷto theDativearticle (with ἀνδρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρὶmanDativedative (recipient: 'to the man')→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ (dat. ἀνδρί): 'man'; the dative marks the rich man as the one to whom the traveler came.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πλουσίῳ, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλουσίῳrichDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀνδρί: 'the rich man')→ sphere or referenceπλούσιος: 'rich'; in the second-attributive position τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ πλουσίῳ ('the rich man').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐφείσατοhe spared / was sparingAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · φείδομαιmain verb (refusing to take from his own)→ constative aoristφείδομαι: 'spare / be sparing / refrain'; renders חָמַל; the rich man 'spared' (was unwilling to use up) his own flocks — the same verb returns ironically at v. 6 (οὐκ ἐφείσατο, of his lack of pity for the poor man).
λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐφείσατο: 'spared to take')→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; the aorist infinitive complements ἐφείσατο — he was sparing (i.e., reluctant) to take from his own herds.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (partitive source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive source).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ποιμνίων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιμνίωνflocksGenitivegenitive of source (partitive: 'from his flocks')→ relational specificationποίμνιον: 'flock'; the rich man's own flocks, which he refused to diminish.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ποιμνίων)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ποιμνίων).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (partitive source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive source).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with βουκολίων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουκολίωνherdsGenitivegenitive of source (partitive: 'from his herds')→ relational specificationβουκόλιον: 'herd (of cattle)'; the rich man's own cattle, likewise spared.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with βουκολίων)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with βουκολίων).
τοῦthe / so asGenitivearticle with articular infinitive (purpose: τοῦ ποιῆσαι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ + infinitive: the genitive article introduces a purpose/result infinitive construction ('in order to prepare').
ποιῆσαιto prepare / makeAor Act Inf · ποιέωarticular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ ποιῆσαι: 'to prepare [a meal]')→ constative aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do / make / prepare'; here 'prepare (a meal)' for the guest; the articular infinitive τοῦ ποιῆσαι expresses purpose — the meal of hospitality is the occasion of the theft.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with ξένῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ξένῳstranger / guestDativedative of advantage ('for the stranger')→ sphere or referenceξένος: 'stranger / guest / foreigner'; here the guest for whom hospitality is owed; the LXX piles up ξένῳ ὁδοιπόρῳ ἐλθόντι to stress the visitor's claim on the host's generosity.
ὁδοιπόρῳwayfarerDativedative in apposition / attributive (with ξένῳ: 'the traveling guest')→ sphere or referenceὁδοιπόρος: 'wayfarer / traveler (one on a journey)'; renders אֹרֵחַ; reinforces πάροδος, emphasizing the guest is a passing traveler owed hospitality.
ἐλθόντιwho had comeAor Act Ptc Dat Masc Sg · ἔρχομαιattributive participle (modifying ξένῳ ὁδοιπόρῳ)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (aor. ptc.): the attributive participle ἐλθόντι ('having come') further specifies the guest as the one who had come to the rich man.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (= the rich man)→ participant referenceαὐτός: refers to the rich man, to whom the traveler came.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential climax)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενhe tookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the act of theft)→ constative aorist (decisive seizure)λαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the same verb λαμβάνω recurs at vv. 9, 10, 11 of David's 'taking' of Uriah's wife — the parable's verb of theft is the indictment's verb of sin.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀμνάδα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμνάδαewe lambAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationἀμνάς (acc. ἀμνάδα): 'ewe lamb'; the seized treasure of the poor man, figuring the wife taken from Uriah.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πένητος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πένητοςpoor manGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἀμνάδα: 'the poor man's ewe lamb')→ relational specificationπένης (gen. πένητος): 'poor man'; the genitive marks the lamb as belonging to the poor man — the rightful owner whose sole possession is stolen.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησενhe preparedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (prepared the lamb as a meal)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / prepare'; here 'prepared (as food)'; the rich man slaughters and dresses the stolen lamb for his guest.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (= the lamb)→ participant referenceαὐτός: feminine accusative resuming the lamb as object of ἐποίησεν.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with ἀνδρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρὶmanDativedative of advantage ('for the man')→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ (dat. ἀνδρί): the guest, here called 'the man who had come to him.'
τῷtheDativearticle (with the participle ἐλθόντι, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλθόντιwho had comeAor Act Ptc Dat Masc Sg · ἔρχομαιattributive participle (modifying ἀνδρί: 'the man who had come')→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (aor. ptc.): the attributive participle again identifies the guest as the one who had come — the repetition frames the whole crime as committed for the sake of a single meal of hospitality.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (= the rich man)→ participant referenceαὐτός: refers to the rich man, to whom the guest had come.
5

καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Δαυιδ σφόδρα τῷ ἀνδρί καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Ναθαν ζῇ κύριος ὅτι υἱὸς θανάτου ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο

And David was kindled with anger exceedingly against the man, and David said to Nathan, 'As the LORD lives, the man who has done this is a son of death!'

Dramatic turn: David's verdict on the parable (unwitting self-condemnation)καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Δαυιδ
The cognate construction ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ ('was angered with anger') is a Hebraism intensifying David's rage; the oath-formula ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives') gives juridical weight. The verdict υἱὸς θανάτου ('son of death') pronounces capital sentence — David condemns himself, and the participial ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο is echoed verbatim by Nathan in v. 7.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθυμώθηwas kindled with angerAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θυμόωmain verb (David's emotional reaction)→ ingressive aorist (entering a state of anger)θυμόω (aor. pass.): 'be angry / be enraged'; renders חָרָה (Qal); the passive ἐθυμώθη ('became angry') with the cognate dative ὀργῇ is a Hebraism for intense wrath; David's anger at injustice is real and righteous — and self-directed without his knowing.
ὀργῇwith angerDativecognate dative (intensifying ἐθυμώθη: Hebraism)→ sphere or referenceὀργή: 'anger / wrath'; the cognate dative ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ renders the Hebrew emphatic construction (חָרָה אַף), intensifying the verb — 'was greatly angered.'
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; subject of ἐθυμώθη.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying the anger)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; piles a third intensifier onto the already-emphatic ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ.
τῷat theDativearticle (with ἀνδρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρίmanDativedative of reference / against ('against the man')→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ (dat. ἀνδρί): 'man'; the object of David's anger — the rich man of the parable, who is David himself.
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 verdict spoken to Nathan.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; subject of εἶπεν.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΝαθανNathanaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαθαν: indeclinable; the addressee of David's verdict.
ζῇlivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωverb of oath-formula (ζῇ κύριος: 'as the LORD lives')→ gnomic / asseverative present (oath-formula)ζάω: 'live / be alive'; the oath-formula ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives') renders חַי יְהוָה, the strongest Israelite asseveration, binding the speaker's word to the very life of God; here it lends mortal seriousness to David's verdict.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ζῇ (the LORD, in oath-formula)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; in the oath-formula ζῇ κύριος the divine name guarantees David's pronouncement — a tragic irony, since the LORD is the very one judging David.
ὅτιthat / surelyconjunction (introducing the content of the oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that / surely / because'; after an oath-formula ὅτι introduces the asseverated content ('[I swear] that …'), rendering the Hebrew כִּי of asseveration.
υἱὸςsonNominativepredicate nominative (with implied ἐστιν: 'is a son of death')→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the idiom υἱὸς θανάτου ('son of death') is a Hebraism (בֶּן־מָוֶת) meaning 'one deserving / doomed to death' — a juridical death-sentence.
θανάτουof deathGenitivegenitive of quality / destiny (with υἱός: 'son of death')→ relational specificationθάνατος: 'death'; the genitive in the Hebraism υἱὸς θανάτου designates the man as belonging to death, i.e., liable to capital punishment (cf. 1 Kgdms 20:31; 26:16).
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject (the man who did this)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο ('the man who has done this') is the grammatical subject David condemns — and the precise phrase Nathan turns back on him in v. 7 (σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνήρ).
the (who)Nominativearticle (with attributive participle ποιήσας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιήσαςhaving doneAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ποιέωattributive participle (modifying ἀνήρ: 'the man who has done')→ conditional aorist participle ('if/when a man does them')ποιέω (aor. ptc.): 'do / commit'; the attributive ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο ('the one who has done this') identifies the offender; the very same participial phrase is echoed by Nathan in v. 7, sealing the self-condemnation.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of ποιήσας)→ participant referenceοὗτος (n. τοῦτο): 'this'; the object of the participle — 'this (deed).'
6

καὶ τὴν ἀμνάδα ἀποτείσει ἑπταπλασίονα ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅτι ἐποίησεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο καὶ περὶ οὗ οὐκ ἐφείσατο

And he shall repay the ewe lamb sevenfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.

Continuation of David's verdict (restitution penalty)καὶ τὴν ἀμνάδα ἀποτείσει
Beyond the death-sentence, David imposes restitution: the lamb must be repaid ἑπταπλασίονα ('sevenfold'), an intensification of the fourfold restitution of Exod 22:1 (LXX) toward symbolic completeness. The double causal ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅτι … καὶ περὶ οὗ ('because … and because') grounds the sentence in both the deed and the heartlessness (οὐκ ἐφείσατο, picking up ἐφείσατο of v. 4).
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀμνάδα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμνάδαewe lambAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσει (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationἀμνάς (acc. ἀμνάδα): 'ewe lamb'; the object of restitution, fronted before its verb for emphasis.
ἀποτείσειhe shall repayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb (sentence of restitution)→ predictive / jussive future (legal obligation)ἀποτίνω: 'pay back / make restitution'; renders שָׁלַם (Piel); the legal term for compensatory repayment (cf. Exod 22:1–4 LXX); the future here functions as a binding legal sentence.
ἑπταπλασίοναsevenfoldAccusativeadverbial accusative (measure of restitution: 'sevenfold')→ object specificationἑπταπλασίων: 'sevenfold'; the LXX reads 'sevenfold' (a number of symbolic completeness) where MT has אַרְבַּעְתַּיִם ('fourfold', cf. Exod 22:1); the heightened figure underscores the totality of the offender's liability.
ἀνθ᾿in return for / becausepreposition + genitive (causal idiom ἀνθ᾿ ὧν; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'in place of / in return for'; in the idiom ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ('because, in return for which') it introduces a causal clause, rendering the Hebrew עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר / תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר.
ὧνwhich thingsGenitiverelative pronoun (in causal idiom ἀνθ᾿ ὧν)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. pl. ὧν): relative pronoun; in ἀνθ᾿ ὧν the genitive plural forms the causal connective 'because.'
ὅτιthat / becauseconjunction (epexegetic with ἀνθ᾿ ὧν: 'because')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; reinforces the causal ἀνθ᾿ ὧν, a redundant double-causal typical of LXX translation Greek.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of causal clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the deed itself is the first ground of the sentence — 'because he did this thing.'
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / matterAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר, which (like the Hebrew) means both 'word' and 'thing/deed'; here 'this thing' (the deed).
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος (n. τοῦτο): 'this'; modifies ῥῆμα — 'this thing/deed.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the second cause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περὶconcerning / becausepreposition + genitive (causal idiom περὶ οὗ)→ spatial or relational framingπερί: 'concerning / on account of'; in περὶ οὗ ('because of which / inasmuch as') it introduces the second ground of the sentence.
οὗwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (in causal idiom περὶ οὗ)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. οὗ): relative pronoun in the causal connective περὶ οὗ ('because').
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐφείσατο)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates ἐφείσατο — the second ground is the man's pitilessness.
ἐφείσατοhe had pity / sparedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · φείδομαιverb of causal clause (negated)→ constative aoristφείδομαι: 'spare / have pity'; the same verb of v. 4 (where the rich man 'spared' his own herds) now appears negated — he 'had no pity' on the poor man; the lexical echo is the parable's moral hinge.
7

καὶ εἶπεν Ναθαν πρὸς Δαυιδ σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ἐγώ εἰμι ἔχρισά σε εἰς βασιλέα ἐπὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι ἐρρυσάμην σε ἐκ χειρὸς Σαουλ

And Nathan said to David, 'You are the man who has done this. Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you as king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul.'

Prophetic unmasking and oracle of indictment (climax of the scene)σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνὴρ
Nathan's σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνήρ ('you are the man') is the rhetorical pivot of the chapter, collapsing parable into accusation by repeating David's own ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο (v. 5). The messenger-formula τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ launches the oracle; the emphatic ἐγώ εἰμι twice ('it is I who …') heaps up YHWH's prior benefactions (anointing, rescue) as the foil for David's ingratitude.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Nathan's decisive prophetic word.
ΝαθανNathansubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαθαν: indeclinable; the prophet now speaks as YHWH's mouthpiece.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the addressee now unmasked as the offender.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic second-person pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic personal pronoun, fronted for maximal force — 'YOU are the man'; the accusatory deixis is the heart of the prophetic confrontation.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula: 'you are')→ stative present (identification)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula in the identifying sentence σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνήρ ('you are the man'), the most famous line of the chapter.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativepredicate nominative (identification: 'the man')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; ὁ ἀνήρ deliberately repeats David's own words from v. 5, turning his verdict back upon himself; the verbal echo is the structural climax of the parable.
the (who)Nominativearticle (with attributive participle ποιήσας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιήσαςhaving doneAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ποιέωattributive participle (modifying ἀνήρ: 'who has done this')→ conditional aorist participle ('if/when a man does them')ποιέω (aor. ptc.): the attributive ὁ ποιήσας τοῦτο repeats David's exact phrase from v. 5 — Nathan applies David's self-pronounced sentence to David himself.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of ποιήσας)→ participant referenceοὗτος (n. τοῦτο): 'this (deed)'; object of the participle.
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: content of the oracle)→ participant referenceὅδε (n. pl. τάδε): 'these things'; the formula τάδε λέγει κύριος renders כֹּה אָמַר יהוה, the standard prophetic messenger-formula introducing direct divine speech.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (vivid divine speech-marker)λέγω (pres.): the present λέγει in the messenger-formula presents the divine word as immediately authoritative — 'thus says the LORD.'
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of λέγει (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD himself is the speaker of the indictment-oracle.
theNominativearticle (with θεός, in apposition to κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος ('the God of Israel')→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the title κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the LORD, the God of Israel') stresses the covenant relationship that David has violated.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'God of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; here in genitival relation to θεός — the covenant God of the nation.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic personal pronoun; with εἰμι it forms ἐγώ εἰμι ('it is I who …'), foregrounding YHWH as the gracious benefactor whom David has spurned.
εἰμιam / it isPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (in emphatic ἐγώ εἰμι + finite verb construction)→ stative present (emphatic self-predication)εἰμί: here in the Hebraizing ἐγώ εἰμι ἔχρισα construction (rendering אָנֹכִי + perfect verb), where ἐγώ εἰμι functions as an emphatic 'it is I who anointed' rather than a true periphrasis.
ἔχρισάI anointedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · χρίωmain verb (divine benefaction: anointing)→ constative aorist (the foundational act of David's kingship)χρίω: 'anoint'; renders מָשַׁח, the verb that gives 'Messiah / Christ' (χριστός); YHWH's anointing of David through Samuel (1 Kgdms 16:13) is recalled as the first of his benefactions.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (= David)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the recipient of YHWH's anointing.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as king')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: with βασιλέα, the predicative εἰς βασιλέα ('as / to be king') renders the Hebrew לְ of result/role.
βασιλέαkingAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'as king')→ object specificationβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; David was anointed εἰς βασιλέα ('to be king') over Israel.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (rule over)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: 'over'; with the accusative denotes royal authority over Israel.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable: 'over Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the domain of David's anointed kingship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun, second occurrence)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the second emphatic ἐγώ εἰμι reinforces the litany of divine grace — 'it is I who also rescued you.'
εἰμιam / it isPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (emphatic ἐγώ εἰμι + finite verb)→ stative present (emphatic self-predication)εἰμί: again in the Hebraizing ἐγώ εἰμι ἐρρυσάμην construction ('it is I who rescued').
ἐρρυσάμηνI rescued / deliveredAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb (divine benefaction: deliverance)→ constative aoristῥύομαι: 'rescue / deliver / save'; renders נָצַל (Hiphil); YHWH's deliverance of David from Saul's persecution (1 Kgdms 18–26) is the second great benefaction David has repaid with sin.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (= David)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): the recipient of YHWH's deliverance.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source: deliverance from)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source: deliverance from).
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive of source (idiom 'from the hand of')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; the idiom ἐκ χειρός ('from the hand/power of') renders מִיַּד, denoting deliverance from someone's power or grasp.
ΣαουλSaulgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Saul')→ participant identificationΣαουλ: transliteration of שָׁאוּל; indeclinable; David's predecessor and persecutor, from whose hand YHWH rescued him.
8

καὶ ἔδωκά σοι τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κυρίου σου καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας τοῦ κυρίου σου ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ σου καὶ ἔδωκά σοι τὸν οἶκον Ισραηλ καὶ Ιουδα καὶ εἰ μικρόν ἐστιν προσθήσω σοι κατὰ ταῦτα

And I gave you your lord's house and your lord's wives into your bosom, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that were too little, I would add to you yet more.

Continuation of the benefaction-recital (the LORD's lavish gifts)καὶ ἔδωκά σοι
The double ἔδωκά σοι ('I gave you') extends the litany of grace: Saul's house, Saul's wives 'into your bosom' (ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ σου — the same κόλπος of the parable's lamb, v. 3), and the whole house of Israel and Judah. The conditional εἰ μικρόν ἐστιν … προσθήσω ('and if that were too little, I would add more') underscores the boundlessness of divine generosity, making David's grasping the more inexcusable.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκάI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine benefaction: gift)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the first of two ἔδωκά σοι clauses cataloguing YHWH's gifts to David — the verb of grace stands in pointed contrast to David's ἔλαβες ('you took', v. 9).
σοιto youDativedative indirect object (= David)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; the recipient of the divine gifts.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκα→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / household / dynasty'; renders בַּיִת; here the royal household of Saul, transferred to David.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with κυρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουlord / masterGenitivegenitive of possession ('your lord's house')→ relational specificationκύριος: here in the human sense 'lord / master' (NOT the Tetragrammaton) — Saul, David's former royal lord; renders אָדוֹן; the context (τοῦ κυρίου σου, 'your lord') is human, dynastic succession.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with κυρίου: 'your lord')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; Saul is 'your lord' — David's predecessor whom he served.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαςwivesAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκα (second gift)→ object specificationγυνή (acc. pl. γυναῖκας): 'woman / wife'; renders נָשִׁים; Saul's wives passed to David as part of the royal inheritance — the mention of γυναῖκας here sets up the talionic seizure of David's own wives in vv. 11–12.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with κυρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουlord / masterGenitivegenitive of possession ('your lord's wives')→ relational specificationκύριος: again human 'lord / master' (Saul), NOT the Tetragrammaton; the genitive marks the wives as belonging to David's former lord.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with κυρίου)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; with κυρίου, 'your lord' = Saul.
ἐνin / intopreposition + dative (locative: 'into your bosom')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'into your bosom').
τῷtheDativearticle (with κόλπῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κόλπῳbosomDativedative of place ('into your bosom')→ sphere or referenceκόλπος: 'bosom / lap'; the same word used of the lamb in v. 3 (ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ αὐτοῦ); the deliberate echo ties the parable to its application — David received wives into his bosom but stole another man's beloved.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with κόλπῳ)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the bosom is David's own.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second ἔδωκα clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκάI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (further benefaction)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: the second ἔδωκά σοι extends the catalogue of gifts to the whole nation.
σοιto youDativedative indirect object (= David)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; recipient of the gift of the nation.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκα→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; here 'the house of Israel and Judah' = the whole nation given into David's rule.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'house of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern tribes / nation, given to David.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'and Judah')→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of יְהוּדָה; indeclinable; David's own tribe, paired with Israel to denote the united kingdom.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing conditional)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; introduces the conditional 'if that were too little' — a rhetorical concession magnifying YHWH's readiness to give more.
μικρόνlittle / smallNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστιν: 'is too little')→ participant prominenceμικρός: 'small / little'; renders מְעַט; the sense is 'too little' — the gifts already given, even if deemed insufficient, would have been generously supplemented.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of protasis (copula: 'if it is little')→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the conditional clause.
προσθήσωI will addFut Act Indic 1 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb of apodosis (would add more)→ predictive future (in apodosis: 'I would add')προστίθημι: 'add / increase'; renders יָסַף; the future in the apodosis expresses YHWH's willingness to multiply his gifts — 'I would add to you yet more.'
σοιto youDativedative indirect object (= David)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; recipient of the hypothetical further gifts.
κατὰaccording to / as much aspreposition + accusative (measure: 'in like measure')→ spatial or relational framingκατά: 'according to'; in κατὰ ταῦτα ('in like measure, such things as these') it indicates that YHWH would add gifts of the same abundant kind.
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of κατά)→ participant referenceοὗτος (n. pl. ταῦτα): 'these things'; refers to the gifts already enumerated — 'such things as these.'
9

τί ὅτι ἐφαύλισας τὸν λόγον κυρίου τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ τὸν Ουριαν τὸν Χετταῖον ἐπάταξας ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἔλαβες σεαυτῷ εἰς γυναῖκα καὶ αὐτὸν ἀπέκτεινας ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ υἱῶν Αμμων

Why is it that you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his eyes? Uriah the Hittite you struck down with the sword, and his wife you took for yourself as a wife, and him you killed with the sword of the sons of Ammon.

Indictment proper: the accusation of the crimeτί ὅτι ἐφαύλισας
The accusatory question τί ὅτι ('why is it that …') turns from benefaction to charge. The summary indictment — 'you despised the word of the LORD' — is then itemized in three fronted accusations (τὸν Ουριαν … ἐπάταξας / τὴν γυναῖκα … ἔλαβες / αὐτὸν ἀπέκτεινας), each placing the object first for emphasis. The verb ἔλαβες ('you took') answers YHWH's ἔδωκα ('I gave', v. 8): grace received, theft returned.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
τίwhyAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (adverbial: 'why')→ participant referenceτίς (n. τί): interrogative; in the idiom τί ὅτι ('why is it that …', rendering מַדּוּעַ) it introduces a reproachful question — the rhetorical opening of the accusation.
ὅτιthatconjunction (with τί: 'why is it that')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; combines with τί to form the reproachful interrogative 'why is it that.'
ἐφαύλισαςyou despisedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · φαυλίζωmain verb of accusatory question→ constative aorist (the act of contempt)φαυλίζω: 'despise / treat as worthless / make light of'; renders בָּזָה; David's sin is framed as contempt for YHWH's revealed will — the root issue beneath the adultery and murder.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λόγον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγονwordAccusativedirect object of ἐφαύλισας→ object specificationλόγος: 'word / command'; renders דָּבָר; 'the word of the LORD' = YHWH's commandment (against murder and adultery), which David has held in contempt.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with λόγον: 'the word of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive κυρίου marks the despised word as YHWH's own commandment.
τοῦso as toGenitivearticle with articular infinitive (result/purpose: τοῦ ποιῆσαι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ + infinitive: introduces a result/purpose construction — 'so as to do what is evil.'
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωarticular infinitive of result (τοῦ ποιῆσαι: 'to do evil')→ constative aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do'; the articular infinitive expresses the result/aim of despising YHWH's word — doing what is evil in his sight.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πονηρόν, substantivized)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativesubstantivized adjective (object of ποιῆσαι: 'the evil thing')→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; renders רַע; τὸ πονηρόν ('the evil') is the deuteronomistic formula for covenant violation — 'to do the evil in the eyes of the LORD' (cf. Judg 2:11; 2 Kgdms 11:27).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere: 'in his eyes')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: 'in his eyes').
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of sphere (idiom 'in the eyes of')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός (dat. pl. ὀφθαλμοῖς): 'eye'; the idiom ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ ('in his eyes') renders בְּעֵינָיו, denoting YHWH's evaluative judgment.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= the LORD's eyes)→ relational specificationαὐτός: refers to the LORD — the deed is evil in his sight.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ουριαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΟυριανUriahAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξας (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationΟυριας (acc. Ουριαν): 'Uriah' (Hebrew אוּרִיָּה); declined in the LXX as a first-declension masculine (gen. Ουριου, v. 10), hence parsed as a noun with case; the loyal Hittite warrior David had killed.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Χετταῖον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧετταῖονHittiteAccusativegentilic adjective in apposition to Ουριαν ('the Hittite')→ object specificationΧετταῖος: 'Hittite'; renders חִתִּי; a declinable gentilic; the repeated epithet 'the Hittite' underscores that Uriah, though a foreigner, was more faithful to covenant duty than the king of Israel.
ἐπάταξαςyou struck downAor Act Indic 2 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (first itemized charge)→ constative aorist (act of killing)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / kill'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); David is charged as the agent of Uriah's death though it was the Ammonites' sword that fell — the moral responsibility is his.
ἐνwith / bypreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with the sword')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental: 'with the sword').
ῥομφαίᾳswordDativedative of instrument ('with the sword')→ sphere or referenceῥομφαία: 'sword (large, broad blade)'; renders חֶרֶב; the instrument of Uriah's death and the keyword of the sentence (v. 10: the sword will never depart from David's house).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second charge)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβες (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationγυνή (acc. γυναῖκα): 'woman / wife'; Bathsheba, Uriah's wife; the fronting of 'his wife' before the verb intensifies the accusation.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= Uriah's wife)→ relational specificationαὐτός: refers to Uriah — 'his wife.'
ἔλαβεςyou tookAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (second itemized charge)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the same verb of the rich man's theft (v. 4, ἔλαβεν); David's 'taking' of Uriah's wife is the parable enacted, and it stands against YHWH's 'giving' (ἔδωκα, v. 8).
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage: 'for yourself')→ participant reference or interestσεαυτοῦ (dat. σεαυτῷ): reflexive 'yourself'; the dative of advantage stresses David's self-serving acquisition.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as a wife')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: with γυναῖκα, predicative 'as a wife' (rendering לְאִשָּׁה).
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'as a wife')→ object specificationγυνή (acc. γυναῖκα): 'wife'; the predicate of result — David took Bathsheba to be his own wife.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third charge)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκτεινας (fronted; = Uriah)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him' = Uriah; the fronted object resumes the charge of murder with finality.
ἀπέκτειναςyou killedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (third itemized charge)→ constative aoristἀποκτείνω: 'kill / put to death'; renders הָרַג; the blunt verb of murder seals the indictment — David is the killer, though the blade was Ammonite.
ἐνwith / bypreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
ῥομφαίᾳswordDativedative of instrument ('with the sword')→ sphere or referenceῥομφαία: 'sword'; the second occurrence in the verse — the Ammonites' sword that David wielded by proxy.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of possession (with ῥομφαίᾳ: 'the sword of the sons of Ammon')→ relational specificationυἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'son'; in 'the sword of the sons of Ammon' the genitive specifies whose blade physically struck Uriah — yet the guilt is laid on David.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliteration of עַמּוֹן; indeclinable; υἱῶν Αμμων ('sons of Ammon') is the standard LXX designation of the Ammonites, against whom David was at war (ch. 11).
10

καὶ νῦν οὐκ ἀποστήσεται ῥομφαία ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου σου ἕως αἰῶνος ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅτι ἐξουδένωσάς με καὶ ἔλαβες τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ Ουριου τοῦ Χετταίου τοῦ εἶναί σοι εἰς γυναῖκα

And now the sword shall never depart from your house forever, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

Sentence of judgment, part 1: the perpetual swordκαὶ νῦν
The transitional καὶ νῦν ('and now') moves from indictment to sentence. The first penalty is dynastic and perpetual: οὐκ ἀποστήσεται ῥομφαία … ἕως αἰῶνος ('the sword shall never depart … forever') — the sword David wielded against Uriah will now stalk his own house (fulfilled in Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah). The causal ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅτι recapitulates the two grounds: contempt of YHWH (ἐξουδένωσάς με) and the seizure of the wife.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (transition to sentence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (logical transition: 'and now therefore')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; in καὶ νῦν ('and now', rendering וְעַתָּה) it marks the pivot from accusation to verdict — the consequential 'therefore.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποστήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; with ἕως αἰῶνος forms 'shall never … forever.'
ἀποστήσεταιshall departFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀφίστημιmain verb (sentence: the sword's permanence)→ predictive future (irrevocable decree)ἀφίστημι (fut. mid.): 'depart / withdraw / stand off'; renders סוּר; the negated future declares the perpetual presence of the sword in David's house — a dynastic curse fulfilled in the violence among his sons.
ῥομφαίαswordNominativesubject (of ἀποστήσεται)→ participant prominenceῥομφαία: 'sword'; now the subject — the very instrument of David's crime (v. 9) becomes the abiding judgment upon his household.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from your house')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from your house').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἐκ: 'from your house')→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house / dynasty'; renders בַּיִת; here David's royal house/dynasty, which the sword will never leave.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκου)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the house is David's own.
ἕωςuntil / foreverpreposition + genitive (temporal extent: ἕως αἰῶνος)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; in ἕως αἰῶνος ('forever', rendering עַד־עוֹלָם) it expresses the unending duration of the sentence.
αἰῶνοςage / foreverGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal: 'forever')→ relational specificationαἰών: 'age / eternity'; ἕως αἰῶνος ('forever') stresses the perpetuity of the dynastic curse.
ἀνθ᾿becausepreposition + genitive (causal idiom ἀνθ᾿ ὧν; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: in ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ('because'), introducing the grounds for the sentence.
ὧνwhich thingsGenitiverelative pronoun (in causal idiom ἀνθ᾿ ὧν)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. pl. ὧν): relative pronoun in the causal connective ἀνθ᾿ ὧν.
ὅτιbecauseconjunction (reinforcing ἀνθ᾿ ὧν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; the redundant double-causal ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅτι is characteristic of LXX translation Greek.
ἐξουδένωσάςyou despised / set at naughtAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐξουδενόωverb of causal clause (first ground)→ constative aoristἐξουδενόω: 'despise / set at naught / treat as nothing'; renders בָּזָה; a stronger synonym of φαυλίζω (v. 9) — David's sin is fundamentally contempt for YHWH himself ('you despised me').
μεmeAccusativedirect object (= the LORD)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me' = YHWH; the personal object makes the offense a direct affront to God.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβεςyou tookAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of causal clause (second ground)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; the recurring verb of theft — the second ground of the sentence is the seizure of Uriah's wife.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβες→ object specificationγυνή (acc. γυναῖκα): 'wife'; Bathsheba, taken from Uriah.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with Ουριου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΟυριουUriahGenitivegenitive of possession (= Uriah's wife)→ relational specificationΟυριας (gen. Ουριου): 'Uriah'; the genitive form confirms the name is declined in the LXX (cf. acc. Ουριαν, v. 9); the murdered husband.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Χετταίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧετταίουHittiteGenitivegentilic adjective (with Ουριου: 'Uriah the Hittite')→ relational specificationΧετταῖος (gen. Χετταίου): 'Hittite'; the recurring epithet again foregrounds the foreigner's fidelity against the king's treachery.
τοῦso as / toGenitivearticle with articular infinitive (purpose/result: τοῦ εἶναι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ + infinitive: introduces the purpose/result clause 'to be your wife.'
εἶναίto bePres Act Inf · εἰμίarticular infinitive of purpose/result (τοῦ εἶναι: 'to be [your wife]')→ present infinitive (the abiding relationship chosen)εἰμί: 'be'; the articular infinitive τοῦ εἶναι expresses the intended outcome — that Bathsheba should become David's own wife.
σοιto you / yourDativedative of advantage / reference ('to be yours')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; with εἶναι εἰς γυναῖκα, 'to be your wife.'
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as a wife')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: predicative with γυναῖκα, 'to be (as) a wife.'
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'as a wife')→ object specificationγυνή (acc. γυναῖκα): 'wife'; the predicate of the result clause — Bathsheba became David's wife by his crime.
11

τάδε λέγει κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξεγείρω ἐπὶ σὲ κακὰ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου σου καὶ λήμψομαι τὰς γυναῖκάς σου κατ᾿ ὀφθαλμούς σου καὶ δώσω τῷ πλησίον σου καὶ κοιμηθήσεται μετὰ τῶν γυναικῶν σου ἐναντίον τοῦ ἡλίου τούτου

Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am raising up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

Sentence of judgment, part 2: the public, talionic retributionτάδε λέγει κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ
A second messenger-formula introduces the talionic sentence. The interjection ἰδού + emphatic ἐγώ + futuristic ἐξεγείρω frames an imminent divine act. The penalty mirrors the crime measure-for-measure: David took secretly, so his wives will be taken openly (κατ᾿ ὀφθαλμούς σου, 'before your eyes') and given to a 'neighbor' (τῷ πλησίον σου) — fulfilled in Absalom (2 Kgdms 16:21–22). The phrase ἐναντίον τοῦ ἡλίου τούτου ('in the sight of this sun') stresses the public reversal of David's secrecy.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: messenger-formula)→ participant referenceὅδε (n. pl. τάδε): the messenger-formula τάδε λέγει κύριος introduces the second movement of the sentence.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic presentλέγω (pres.): 'says'; the formulaic present of authoritative divine speech.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of λέγει (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD pronounces the talionic sentence.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection ('behold')→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the attention-marker dramatizes the imminence of the judgment about to be announced.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic pronoun stressing YHWH as the personal agent of the coming evil — it is the LORD himself who raises it up.
ἐξεγείρωI raise upPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξεγείρωmain verb (futuristic present: 'I am raising up')→ futuristic present (imminent divine act presented as underway)ἐξεγείρω: 'rouse / raise up / stir up'; renders קוּם (Hiphil); the present tense for a future act conveys certainty — the calamity is already on its way.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction: 'against you')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: 'against'; with the accusative denotes hostile action directed at David.
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (= David)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σέ): 'you'; the target of the raised-up evil.
κακὰevils / calamityAccusativedirect object of ἐξεγείρω ('evil things')→ object specificationκακός (n. pl. κακά): 'evil / calamity / disaster'; renders רָעָה; here the troubles to arise within David's own family — the same root as the τὸ πονηρόν he committed (v. 9), a fitting reciprocity.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source: 'out of your house')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source: 'out of your house').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ: 'out of your house')→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the calamity springs from within David's own family — his sons will be the instruments of the curse.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκου)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the house is David's own.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψομαιI will takeFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (talionic seizure of wives)→ predictive future (divine act of retribution)λαμβάνω (fut. mid. λήμψομαι): 'take'; the very verb of David's sin (ἔλαβες, vv. 9–10) now in YHWH's mouth — divine talion: as David took, so it will be taken from him.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκάςwivesAccusativedirect object of λήμψομαι→ object specificationγυνή (acc. pl. γυναῖκας): 'wives'; David's own wives, to be taken in public retribution for his secret seizure of one.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with γυναῖκας)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the wives are David's own.
κατ᾿beforepreposition + accusative (idiom: 'before your eyes'; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingκατά: in κατ᾿ ὀφθαλμούς ('before the eyes of') it stresses the public, witnessed nature of the act — the reversal of David's secrecy.
ὀφθαλμούςeyesAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (idiom: 'before your eyes')→ object specificationὀφθαλμός (acc. pl. ὀφθαλμούς): 'eye'; κατ᾿ ὀφθαλμούς σου ('before your eyes') — David will witness his own humiliation.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμούς)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the eyes are David's own.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσωI will giveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (giving the wives to the neighbor)→ predictive futureδίδωμι (fut. δώσω): 'give'; pointedly the same verb as YHWH's earlier gifts to David (ἔδωκα, v. 8) — now turned to judgment: the LORD gives David's wives away.
τῷto theDativearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborDativedative indirect object (recipient: 'to your neighbor')→ sphere or referenceπλησίον: 'neighbor / one nearby'; substantivized adverb (rendering רֵעַ); the unnamed 'neighbor' is fulfilled in Absalom (2 Kgdms 16:21–22), David's own son.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πλησίον: 'your neighbor')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the neighbor is David's own kin/associate.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κοιμηθήσεταιhe shall lieFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάωmain verb (the act of public defilement)→ predictive futureκοιμάω (fut. pass. κοιμηθήσεται): 'lie down / sleep (euphemism for sexual intercourse)'; renders שָׁכַב; the deponent-passive form is used intransitively — 'he shall lie with.'
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with γυναικῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικῶνwivesGenitivegenitive object of μετά ('with your wives')→ relational specificationγυνή (gen. pl. γυναικῶν): 'wives'; David's wives, defiled publicly by the neighbor.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with γυναικῶν)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the wives are David's own.
ἐναντίονin the sight ofpreposition + genitive (public exposure: 'before')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לְעֵינֵי / נֶגֶד; the public exposure is the precise reversal of David's secrecy (v. 12).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἡλίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡλίουsunGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον ('in the sight of the sun')→ relational specificationἥλιος: 'sun'; renders שֶׁמֶשׁ; 'before this sun' is a vivid Hebraism for 'in broad daylight, openly' — the antithesis of David's hidden sin.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (with ἡλίου: 'this sun')→ relational specificationοὗτος (gen. τούτου): 'this'; the deictic 'this sun' lends immediacy and concreteness to the public exposure.
12

ὅτι σὺ ἐποίησας κρυβῇ κἀγὼ ποιήσω τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ἐναντίον παντὸς Ισραηλ καὶ ἀπέναντι τούτου τοῦ ἡλίου

For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before this sun.

Causal ground and antithesis (secret deed vs. public judgment)ὅτι σὺ ἐποίησας κρυβῇ
The verse states the talionic principle explicitly through a σύ … κἀγώ ('you … but I') antithesis: David's deed was κρυβῇ ('secretly'), the LORD's response will be public — ἐναντίον παντὸς Ισραηλ ('before all Israel') and ἀπέναντι τούτου τοῦ ἡλίου ('before this sun'). The crasis κἀγώ (καὶ ἐγώ) sharpens the contrast between the human sinner and the divine judge.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the public judgment)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the rationale of the public penalty — the secrecy of David's deed warrants its public requital.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic, in σύ … κἀγώ antithesis)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic pronoun heading the antithesis 'you (did) … but I (will do).'
ἐποίησαςyou didAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (David's secret deed)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; David's deed, done in secret, is set against YHWH's public act (ποιήσω).
κρυβῇsecretlyadverb of manner ('in secret')→ clausal contributionκρυβῇ: 'secretly / in secret'; adverbial; renders בַּסֵּתֶר; the secrecy of David's sin is the very thing that calls forth a public judgment.
κἀγὼbut INominativesubject (crasis καὶ ἐγώ; emphatic antithesis)→ participant prominenceκἀγώ: crasis of καὶ ἐγώ ('and I / but I'); the emphatic divine 'I' answers David's 'you' — the LORD will requite the secret deed openly.
ποιήσωI will doFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the LORD's public act of judgment)→ predictive futureποιέω (fut. ποιήσω): 'do'; the same verb as David's ἐποίησας — divine reciprocity: what David did in secret, the LORD will do in the open.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / matterAccusativedirect object of ποιήσω→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / thing'; renders דָּבָר; 'this thing' = the announced retribution of v. 11.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος (n. τοῦτο): 'this'; refers to the judgment just announced.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (public exposure: 'before all Israel')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; the public witness of 'all Israel' magnifies the reversal of David's secrecy.
παντὸςallGenitiveattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ: 'all Israel')→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. παντός): 'all'; modifies Ισραηλ — the whole nation will witness the judgment.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive object of ἐναντίον (indeclinable: 'all Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the nation as public witness of the retribution.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέναντιbefore / oppositepreposition + genitive (public exposure: 'before this sun')→ spatial or relational framingἀπέναντι: 'before / over against / in full view of'; a near-synonym of ἐναντίον, here varying the expression; renders נֶגֶד; reinforces the open, daylight publicity of the judgment.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (with ἡλίου: 'this sun')→ relational specificationοὗτος (gen. τούτου): 'this'; deictic 'this sun,' echoing v. 11.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἡλίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡλίουsunGenitivegenitive object of ἀπέναντι ('before the sun')→ relational specificationἥλιος: 'sun'; the repeated 'before this sun' (cf. v. 11) is the Hebraic idiom for utterly public, open action — the antithesis of David's κρυβῇ.
13

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ τῷ Ναθαν ἡμάρτηκα τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ εἶπεν Ναθαν πρὸς Δαυιδ καὶ κύριος παρεβίβασεν τὸ ἁμάρτημά σου οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς

And David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the LORD.' And Nathan said to David, 'The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.'

Confession and absolution (the turning point of the scene)καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ τῷ Ναθαν
David's two-word confession ἡμάρτηκα τῷ κυρίῳ ('I have sinned against the LORD') — in the perfect tense, marking an abiding state of guilt acknowledged — is met immediately by Nathan's announcement of forgiveness: κύριος παρεβίβασεν τὸ ἁμάρτημά σου ('the LORD has put away your sin'). The emphatic οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ('you shall surely not die') reverses David's own υἱὸς θανάτου verdict (v. 5) — yet the death-sentence is not annulled but transferred (v. 14).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces David's confession.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the penitent king.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Ναθαν, marking dative)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝαθανNathandative indirect object (indeclinable proper noun, marked by article τῷ)→ noun-phrase markingΝαθαν: indeclinable; the addressee, marked dative only by the article τῷ.
ἡμάρτηκαI have sinnedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἁμαρτάνωmain verb (confession)→ perfect of abiding state (acknowledged guilt that stands)ἁμαρτάνω (perf. ἡμάρτηκα): 'sin / miss the mark'; renders חָטָאתִי; the perfect tense conveys a present, abiding condition of guilt confessed — David's stark two-word admission contrasts with Saul's evasive confessions (1 Kgdms 15:24–30) and echoes Ps 50(51):6 LXX.
τῷagainst theDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳLORDDativedative of the person wronged ('against the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative of disadvantage names YHWH as the one sinned against — David recognizes that, behind the wronged Uriah, the offense is ultimately against God (cf. Ps 50(51):6).
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 Nathan's word of absolution.
ΝαθανNathansubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαθαν: indeclinable; the prophet pronounces forgiveness.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; recipient of the absolution.
καὶalsoadverbial conjunction (here 'also / for his part')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: 'also / even'; here adverbial — 'the LORD also (in response to your confession) has put away your sin.'
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of παρεβίβασεν)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD himself, against whom David sinned, is the one who removes the sin.
παρεβίβασενhas put away / transferredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραβιβάζωmain verb (act of forgiveness)→ constative aorist (decisive act of removal)παραβιβάζω: 'cause to pass over / set aside / remove'; renders הֶעֱבִיר ('caused to pass away'); the LXX's image is of the sin being 'made to pass over' — removed from David's account; cf. the cognate idiom for forgiveness in Mic 7:18; Zech 3:4.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἁμάρτημα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁμάρτημάsinAccusativedirect object of παρεβίβασεν→ object specificationἁμάρτημα: 'sin / sinful deed'; renders חַטָּאת; the concrete 'sin / offense' that the LORD has removed (the form ἁμάρτημα focuses on the specific act, as distinct from ἁμαρτία as a state).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἁμάρτημα)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the sin is David's own, now put away.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: emphatic negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; with μή forms the emphatic double negation οὐ μή ('surely not').
μὴnotnegative particle (with οὐ + subjunctive: emphatic future denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with οὐ and the aorist subjunctive forms the strongest Greek negation of a future event — 'you shall by no means die.'
ἀποθάνῃςyou shall dieAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (in οὐ μή construction: emphatic future denial)→ emphatic subjunctive of denial (οὐ μή: 'you shall by no means die')ἀποθνῄσκω (aor. subj.): 'die'; in the οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς construction the aorist subjunctive expresses emphatic assurance — David's own death-sentence (υἱὸς θανάτου, v. 5) is lifted from him, though death will fall on the child (v. 14).
14

πλὴν ὅτι παροξύνων παρώξυνας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς κυρίου ἐν τῷ ῥήματι τούτῳ καί γε ὁ υἱός σου ὁ τεχθείς σοι θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖται

Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly provoked the enemies of the LORD, the son also that has been born to you shall surely die.

Qualification of the absolution (the transferred sentence)πλὴν ὅτι
The adversative πλήν ('nevertheless') qualifies the forgiveness: pardon does not erase consequence. The Hebraistic figura etymologica παροξύνων παρώξυνας ('provoking you have provoked' = 'you have utterly provoked') renders the emphatic infinitive absolute, intensifying the charge that David's sin gave the LORD's enemies occasion to blaspheme. The cognate-dative death-formula θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖται ('he shall surely die', cf. Gen 2:17) pronounces the child's fate — judgment fulfilled vicariously.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
πλὴνneverthelessadversative conjunction ('however / nevertheless')→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'except / nevertheless / only'; renders אֶפֶס / אַךְ; marks the crucial qualification — forgiveness is granted, but a consequence remains.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (grounding the child's death)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the ground of the transferred sentence.
παροξύνωνprovokingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · παροξύνωcognate participle (figura etymologica intensifying παρώξυνας)→ intensive (Hebraism rendering infinitive absolute)παροξύνω (pres. ptc.): 'provoke / irritate / incite'; the cognate participle παροξύνων with the finite παρώξυνας renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute (נִאֵץ נִאַצְתָּ), 'you have utterly provoked'; the LXX's standard device for the construction.
παρώξυναςyou have provokedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · παροξύνωmain verb of causal clause (with cognate participle)→ constative aorist (intensified by the cognate participle)παροξύνω (aor.): the finite verb of the figura etymologica; David's sin 'utterly provoked' — i.e., gave great occasion of contempt to — the enemies of the LORD; the MT here speaks of causing the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐχθρούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθροὺςenemiesAccusativedirect object of παρώξυνας→ object specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy / hostile one'; renders אֹיֵב; 'the enemies of the LORD' are those who would mock God's name because of David's scandal — the public dimension of the sin's consequence.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἐχθρούς: 'enemies of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the enemies are God's, and David's sin handed them an occasion to deride him.
ἐνby / inpreposition + dative (instrumental/causal: 'by this deed')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental/causal: 'by this deed').
τῷtheDativearticle (with ῥήματι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥήματιdeed / matterDativedative of means (with ἐν: 'by this deed')→ sphere or referenceῥῆμα (dat. ῥήματι): 'word / thing / deed'; renders דָּבָר; 'by this thing/deed' — David's sin is the instrument by which the LORD's enemies were provoked.
τούτῳthisDativedemonstrative adjective (with ῥήματι)→ participant reference or interestοὗτος (dat. τούτῳ): 'this'; specifies the deed just indicted.
καίalso / indeedadverbial conjunction (with γε: emphatic 'indeed')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: with γε forms the emphatic καί γε ('and indeed / yea even'), rendering the Hebrew גַּם; here it introduces the inescapable consequence.
γεindeedemphatic particle (with καί: 'yea even')→ discourse linkage or contrastγε: emphatic enclitic particle; καί γε intensifies the announcement of the child's death.
theNominativearticle (with υἱός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόςsonNominativesubject (of ἀποθανεῖται)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the child born of David and Bathsheba, on whom the deferred death-sentence will fall.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱός: 'your son')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the son is David's own.
the (who)Nominativearticle (with attributive participle τεχθείς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεχθείςbornAor Pass Ptc Nom Masc Sg · τίκτωattributive participle (modifying υἱός: 'who has been born to you')→ verbal action or stateτίκτω (aor. pass. ptc. τεχθείς): 'be born / be brought forth'; renders יִלּוֹד / הַיִּלּוֹד; the passive participle 'the one born to you' specifies the particular child under sentence.
σοιto youDativedative of advantage (with τεχθείς: 'born to you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; the child born for David.
θανάτῳwith death / surelyDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying ἀποθανεῖται)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος (dat. θανάτῳ): 'death'; the cognate dative θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖται renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute מוֹת יָמוּת ('he shall surely die'); the same construction as Gen 2:17 LXX — certainty and inevitability of the death.
ἀποθανεῖταιshall dieFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (sentence of the child's death)→ predictive future (irrevocable, intensified by cognate dative)ἀποθνῄσκω (fut. mid. ἀποθανεῖται): 'die'; with the cognate dative θανάτῳ it is the strongest possible assertion of certain death; David lives, but the consequence falls on the child.
15

καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Ναθαν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔθραυσεν κύριος τὸ παιδίον ὃ ἔτεκεν ἡ γυνὴ Ουριου τῷ Δαυιδ καὶ ἠρρώστησεν

And Nathan went away to his house. And the LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah bore to David, and it fell sick.

Narrative resumption: the sentence begins to be executedκαὶ ἀπῆλθεν Ναθαν
Nathan's departure closes the oracle-scene; the narrative resumes its main line. The fulfillment of v. 14 begins at once: ἔθραυσεν κύριος ('the LORD struck') the child. The designation ἡ γυνὴ Ουριου ('the wife of Uriah') — not 'Bathsheba' — keeps the crime in view even at the child's birth, while τῷ Δαυιδ ('to David') marks the paternity now under judgment.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῆλθενwent awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (Nathan's departure)→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; renders הָלַךְ; Nathan withdraws, his prophetic task complete, and the narrative turns to the unfolding of the sentence.
ΝαθανNathansubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαθαν: indeclinable; departs after delivering the word.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / home'; Nathan returns to his own dwelling.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= Nathan's house)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; Nathan's own house.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔθραυσενstruck / shatteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θραύωmain verb (divine act against the child)→ constative aorist (decisive blow)θραύω: 'shatter / crush / smite'; renders נָגַף; the strong verb (lit. 'shatter') stresses the severity of the divine stroke that begins the fulfillment of v. 14.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of ἔθραυσεν)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD is the explicit agent — the child's illness is the announced judgment, not mere misfortune.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with παιδίον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίονchild / infantAccusativedirect object of ἔθραυσεν→ object specificationπαιδίον: 'little child / infant'; renders יֶלֶד; the diminutive heightens the pathos — a newborn; the narrative will also call it παιδάριον ('little boy') in the following verses.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔτεκεν, antecedent παιδίον)→ participant referenceὅς (n. ὅ): relative pronoun; neuter accusative agreeing with παιδίον.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristτίκτω: 'bear / give birth to'; renders יָלַד; the child whom Bathsheba bore — the relative clause keeps the parentage (and the sin) in view.
theNominativearticle (with γυνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativesubject of ἔτεκεν→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; here Bathsheba, pointedly named only as ἡ γυνὴ Ουριου ('the wife of Uriah') — the narrator withholds her name to keep the offense before the reader.
Ουριουof UriahGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γυνή: 'wife of Uriah')→ relational specificationΟυριας (gen. Ουριου): 'Uriah'; the declined genitive again names the murdered husband; calling Bathsheba 'Uriah's wife' even now underscores the enormity of the sin.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Δαυιδ, marking dative)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDaviddative of advantage (indeclinable proper noun, marked by article τῷ: 'bore to David')→ noun-phrase markingΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the child was born 'to David' — the dative marks his paternity, now under judgment.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠρρώστησενit fell sickAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀρρωστέωmain verb (the child's illness)→ ingressive aorist (entering the state of sickness)ἀρρωστέω: 'be ill / fall sick'; renders אָנַשׁ (Niphal, 'be incurably sick'); the ingressive aorist marks the onset of the fatal illness that drives the next scene.
16

καὶ ἐζήτησεν Δαυιδ τὸν θεὸν περὶ τοῦ παιδαρίου καὶ ἐνήστευσεν Δαυιδ νηστείαν καὶ εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ηὐλίσθη ἐν σάκκῳ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

And David sought God concerning the little boy, and David fasted a fast, and went in and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground.

Narrative development: David's penitential intercessionκαὶ ἐζήτησεν Δαυιδ τὸν θεὸν
David responds to the child's illness with intense supplication: he 'sought God' (ἐζήτησεν τὸν θεόν), fasted (cognate-accusative ἐνήστευσεν νηστείαν, a Hebraism), and lay all night in sackcloth on the ground. The accumulation of penitential acts portrays a king casting himself wholly on divine mercy in hope the sentence might yet be reversed (cf. v. 22).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐζήτησενsoughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ζητέωmain verb (David's seeking of God)→ constative / ingressive aorist (entreaty)ζητέω: 'seek / inquire of / entreat'; renders בִּקֵּשׁ; 'to seek God' is the idiom for earnest prayer and supplication (cf. בִּקֵּשׁ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים) — David appeals for the child's life.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the praying father.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object of ἐζήτησεν→ object specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; David seeks God himself, the only one who can reverse the announced death.
περὶconcerning / forpreposition + genitive (concern: 'for the child')→ spatial or relational framingπερὶ: meaning 'concerning'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (concern: 'for the child').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with παιδαρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίουlittle boy / childGenitivegenitive object of περί ('concerning the child')→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: 'little boy / young child'; renders נַעַר; a near-synonym of παιδίον (v. 15), used throughout vv. 16–21 for the sick child; the diminutive sustains the pathos.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνήστευσενfastedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · νηστεύωmain verb (with cognate accusative νηστείαν)→ constative aoristνηστεύω: 'fast / abstain from food'; renders צוּם; with the cognate object νηστείαν it forms a Hebraism (figura etymologica) intensifying the act — 'fasted a fast.'
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the fasting king.
νηστείανa fastAccusativecognate accusative (with ἐνήστευσεν: Hebraism)→ object specificationνηστεία: 'fasting / a fast'; the cognate accusative ἐνήστευσεν νηστείαν renders the Hebrew construction (cf. the figura etymologica with צוּם), emphasizing the intensity of David's abstinence.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενhe went inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (entering to spend the night)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; David withdraws into his chamber to spend the night in mourning and supplication.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ηὐλίσθηspent the night / lodgedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · αὐλίζομαιmain verb (passing the night)→ constative aoristαὐλίζομαι (aor. pass. ηὐλίσθη): 'spend the night / lodge / pass the night in the open'; renders לוּן; David passed the night lying on the ground in sackcloth — a posture of deep mourning and self-abasement.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/clothing: 'in sackcloth')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (manner/clothing: 'in sackcloth').
σάκκῳsackclothDativedative of manner / attire ('in sackcloth')→ sphere or referenceσάκκος: 'sackcloth (coarse haircloth)'; renders שַׂק; the traditional garment of mourning and penitence; David's wearing it expresses both grief and contrition.
ἐπὶupon / onpreposition + genitive (position: 'on the ground')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position: 'on the ground').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςground / earthGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί ('on the ground')→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): 'earth / ground'; renders אֶרֶץ; lying on the bare ground rather than a bed is the posture of extreme mourning (cf. v. 17, where the elders try to raise him 'from the ground').
17

καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἐγεῖραι αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν καὶ οὐ συνέφαγεν αὐτοῖς ἄρτον

And the elders of his house rose up over him to raise him from the ground, but he would not, and he did not eat bread with them.

Narrative development: the elders' failed interventionκαὶ ἀνέστησαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι
The household elders attempt to lift David from the ground (τοῦ ἐγεῖραι αὐτόν), but the king refuses (οὐκ ἠθέλησεν) and will not break his fast with them — his mourning is total and unyielding. The intensity of his abstention sets up the servants' astonishment when, after the child's death, he abruptly rises and eats (vv. 20–21).
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστησανrose upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀνίστημιmain verb (the elders' action)→ constative aoristἀνίστημι (aor. act. intr. ἀνέστησαν): 'rise up / stand up'; renders קוּם; the elders 'rose up over him' — approached and stood by the prostrate king to urge him up.
ἐπ᾿over / besidepreposition + accusative (position: 'over him'; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: 'over / beside / to'; the elders stood over David where he lay on the ground.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (= David)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him' = the prostrate David.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πρεσβύτεροι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτεροιeldersNominativesubject (of ἀνέστησαν)→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτερος: 'elder / older man'; renders זְקֵנִים; the senior members of the royal household, who attempt to comfort and rouse the king.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πρεσβύτεροι: 'elders of his house')→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house / household'; the elders belong to David's own household.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= David's house)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the household is David's own.
τοῦto / so asGenitivearticle with articular infinitive (purpose: τοῦ ἐγεῖραι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ + infinitive: introduces the purpose clause 'to raise him.'
ἐγεῖραιto raiseAor Act Inf · ἐγείρωarticular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ ἐγεῖραι: 'to raise him up')→ verbal action or stateἐγείρω: 'raise / rouse / lift up'; the purpose of the elders' approach — to get David off the ground.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐγεῖραι (= David)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him' = David, whom they sought to raise.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the ground')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from the ground').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςgroundGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἀπό: 'from the ground')→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): 'ground'; David lay on the bare earth (v. 16); the elders try to lift him from it.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (here adversative in force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἠθέλησεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates David's willingness.
ἠθέλησενhe was willingAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θέλωmain verb (David's refusal)→ constative aorist (refusal of will)θέλω (aor. ἠθέλησεν): 'wish / be willing'; renders אָבָה; David 'would not' be raised — his refusal expresses the depth of his self-abasing supplication.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with συνέφαγεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates the eating.
συνέφαγενhe ate withAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνεσθίωmain verb (refusal of shared meal)→ constative aoristσυνεσθίω (aor. συνέφαγεν): 'eat with / share a meal'; the compound συν- stresses table-fellowship; David refused even to break bread with his household — his fast was absolute.
αὐτοῖςwith themDativedative of association (with συνέφαγεν: 'with them')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'them' = the elders; the dative of association marks those with whom David refused to eat.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of συνέφαγεν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread / food'; renders לֶחֶם; 'to eat bread' is the idiom for taking a meal; David ate nothing.
18

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ καὶ ἀπέθανε τὸ παιδάριον καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ δοῦλοι Δαυιδ ἀναγγεῖλαι αὐτῷ ὅτι τέθνηκεν τὸ παιδάριον ὅτι εἶπαν ἰδοὺ ἐν τῷ ἔτι τὸ παιδάριον ζῆν ἐλαλήσαμεν πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ οὐκ εἰσήκουσεν τῆς φωνῆς ἡμῶν καὶ πῶς εἴπωμεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὅτι τέθνηκεν τὸ παιδάριον καὶ ποιήσει κακά

And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died; and David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, 'Behold, while the child was still alive we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice; how then shall we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm.'

Narrative climax: the child's death and the servants' dreadκαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ
The temporal formula καὶ ἐγένετο … καί ('and it came to pass … that', a Hebraism rendering וַיְהִי) introduces the death on the seventh day. The servants' fear and inner deliberation are reported in direct speech: having failed to move David while the child lived, they dread how he will react to the news of death — fearing he may 'do harm' (ποιήσει κακά), perhaps to himself. The verb τέθνηκεν (perfect) recurs as the dreaded word.
Word-by-word analysis· 52 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (in temporal formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal formula καὶ ἐγένετο)→ constative aorist (narrative time-marker)γίνομαι (aor. ἐγένετο): 'become / happen / come to pass'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο … καί renders the Hebrew narrative וַיְהִי, a standard LXX time-marker introducing a decisive event.
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (temporal: 'on the day')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal: 'on the day').
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'on the day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; renders יוֹם; the temporal frame for the child's death.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἑβδόμῃ, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑβδόμῃseventhDativeordinal adjective (with ἡμέρᾳ: 'the seventh day')→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος: 'seventh'; renders שְׁבִיעִי; the seventh day of the child's illness — the number completing a full cycle, after which the death occurs.
καὶthat / andnarrative conjunction (apodotic καί completing ἐγένετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the apodotic καί following καὶ ἐγένετο is a Hebraism (the 'and' of the וַיְהִי … וַ construction); best rendered 'that' in English.
ἀπέθανεdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (the child's death)→ constative aorist (the decisive event)ἀποθνῄσκω (aor. ἀπέθανε): 'die'; the fulfillment of the sentence of v. 14 (θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖται).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject (of ἀπέθανε)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'little boy / child'; the dying child; the word recurs five times in this verse, hammering the dreaded fact.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐφοβήθησανwere afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (the servants' fear)→ ingressive aorist (became afraid)φοβέομαι (aor. pass. ἐφοβήθησαν): 'fear / be afraid'; renders יָרֵא; the servants' dread of reporting the death drives the inner deliberation that follows.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with δοῦλοι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλοιservantsNominativesubject (of ἐφοβήθησαν)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'servant / slave'; renders עֶבֶד; David's household servants, here called δοῦλοι (and παῖδες in v. 19).
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's servants')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the servants belong to David.
ἀναγγεῖλαιto tell / reportAor Act Inf · ἀναγγέλλωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐφοβήθησαν: 'afraid to tell')→ constative aorist infinitive (the negated act of disclosure)ἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / report / tell'; renders הִגִּיד; the infinitive completes 'were afraid to report' — the dreaded act of breaking the news.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object (= David)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'to him' = David, the one to be told.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of the report)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the dreaded message.
τέθνηκενhas died / is deadPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωverb of content clause (perfect: 'is dead')→ perfect of resultant state ('is [now] dead')θνῄσκω (perf. τέθνηκεν): 'be dead'; the perfect denotes the abiding state — 'the child is dead'; this is the word the servants dread to speak.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject (of τέθνηκεν)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child'; the subject of the dreaded report.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (introducing the servants' reasoning)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the explanation of their fear — their inner deliberation reported in direct speech.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction of the servants' thought)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν, Hellenistic 1-aor. ending): 'say'; introduces the servants' reasoning to one another.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; opens the servants' anxious reflection.
ἐνwhile / inpreposition + dative (temporal, with articular infinitive: 'while')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: with the articular infinitive (ἐν τῷ … ζῆν) forms a temporal clause 'while (the child) was alive' — a common LXX construction rendering Hebrew בְּ + infinitive.
τῷtheDativearticle (with the infinitive ζῆν, articular)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔτιstill / yetadverb (temporal: 'still alive')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet'; renders עוֹד; 'while the child was yet alive.'
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with παιδάριον, accusative subject of infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive ζῆν ('the child being alive')→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'child'; the accusative subject of the infinitive ζῆν in the temporal clause.
ζῆνto live / being alivePres Act Inf · ζάωarticular infinitive (in temporal clause ἐν τῷ … ζῆν: 'while alive')→ present infinitive (the act of living)ζάω (pres. inf. ζῆν): 'live'; the articular infinitive with ἐν τῷ expresses contemporaneous time — 'while the child was alive.'
ἐλαλήσαμενwe spokeAor Act Indic 1 Pl · λαλέωmain verb (the servants' prior speaking)→ constative aoristλαλέω (aor. ἐλαλήσαμεν): 'speak'; the servants had spoken to David (to comfort/rouse him) while the child lived, but in vain.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (= David)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him' = David.
καὶand / butnarrative conjunction (here adversative)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with εἰσήκουσεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates the listening.
εἰσήκουσενhe listened / heededAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσακούωmain verb (David's prior refusal to heed)→ constative aoristεἰσακούω: 'listen to / heed / obey'; the compound εἰσ- intensifies attentive hearing; renders שָׁמַע; David 'did not heed our voice' — he would not be consoled while the child lived.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of εἰσήκουσεν ('listened to our voice')→ relational specificationφωνή (gen. φωνῆς): 'voice'; renders קוֹל; the verb of hearing takes the genitive of the thing heard.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with φωνῆς: 'our voice')→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'our'; the servants' own voice, which David disregarded.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing rhetorical question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (deliberative question: 'how shall we')→ clausal contributionπῶς: 'how?'; introduces a deliberative question expressing the servants' dilemma — 'how can we possibly tell him?'
εἴπωμενshall we tellAor Act Subj 1 Pl · λέγωmain verb (deliberative subjunctive)→ deliberative subjunctive ('how are we to tell?')λέγω (aor. subj. εἴπωμεν): 'say / tell'; the deliberative subjunctive voices the servants' anxious uncertainty about delivering the news.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (= David)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him' = David.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing content of feared report)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the dreaded content again.
τέθνηκενis deadPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωverb of content clause (perfect)→ perfect of resultant stateθνῄσκω (perf. τέθνηκεν): 'be dead'; the repeated perfect underscores the finality of the news they must give.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject (of τέθνηκεν)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child'; subject of the dreaded report.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing feared consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσειhe may doFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (feared reaction of David)→ predictive future (apprehensive: 'he may do')ποιέω (fut. ποιήσει): 'do'; the servants fear David's reaction — 'he will do harm,' perhaps to himself; the future expresses apprehension about the consequence of the news.
κακάharm / evilAccusativedirect object of ποιήσει ('do harm')→ object specificationκακός (n. pl. κακά): 'evil / harm'; renders רָעָה; the servants fear that, in his grief, David might 'do something terrible' — the ambiguity (harm to himself or others) heightens the suspense.
19

καὶ συνῆκεν Δαυιδ ὅτι οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ ψιθυρίζουσιν καὶ ἐνόησεν Δαυιδ ὅτι τέθνηκεν τὸ παιδάριον καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ εἰ τέθνηκεν τὸ παιδάριον καὶ εἶπαν τέθνηκεν

And David perceived that his servants were whispering, and David understood that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, 'Is the child dead?' And they said, 'He is dead.'

Narrative resolution: David discerns the truthκαὶ συνῆκεν Δαυιδ
The two cognitive verbs συνῆκεν ('perceived') and ἐνόησεν ('understood') trace David's quick inference from the servants' whispering (ψιθυρίζουσιν) to the fact of death. His direct question εἰ τέθνηκεν ('is he dead?') and the servants' terse τέθνηκεν ('he is dead') resolve the tension the previous verse built — preparing for David's astonishing change of demeanor in v. 20.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνῆκενperceivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνίημιmain verb (David's perception)→ constative aoristσυνίημι (aor. συνῆκεν): 'understand / perceive / discern'; renders בִּין; David grasps the situation from the servants' behavior.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the perceiving king.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content clause of συνῆκεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces what David perceived.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδεςservantsNominativesubject of ψιθυρίζουσιν→ participant prominenceπαῖς (pl. παῖδες): 'servant / attendant / child'; here 'servants' (= the δοῦλοι of v. 18); renders עֲבָדִים.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= David's servants)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the servants are David's own.
ψιθυρίζουσινare whisperingPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ψιθυρίζωverb of content clause (retained present in indirect discourse)→ descriptive present (the ongoing whispering David observes)ψιθυρίζω: 'whisper / mutter'; an onomatopoeic verb; the servants' furtive whispering is what tips David off; the present tense is retained from David's point of view (vivid).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνόησενunderstoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · νοέωmain verb (David's inference)→ constative aoristνοέω (aor. ἐνόησεν): 'understand / perceive / realize'; a near-synonym of συνίημι; David draws the conclusion that the child is dead.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content clause of ἐνόησεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces what David understood.
τέθνηκενis deadPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωverb of content clause (perfect)→ perfect of resultant stateθνῄσκω (perf. τέθνηκεν): 'be dead'; the recurring perfect; David realizes the child is dead.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject (of τέθνηκεν)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child'; the deceased child.
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 direct question to his servants.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with παῖδας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδαςservantsAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationπαῖς (acc. pl. παῖδας): 'servants'; the addressees of David's question.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= David's servants)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'.
εἰis …? / whetherinterrogative particle (direct question: 'is …?')→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if / whether'; here introducing a direct question (a Hebraism / Semitic interrogative usage), rendering Hebrew הֲ — 'is the child dead?'
τέθνηκενis deadPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωmain verb of David's question (perfect)→ perfect of resultant stateθνῄσκω (perf. τέθνηκεν): 'be dead'; David asks directly whether the child has died.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject (of τέθνηκεν)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child'; subject of David's question.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the servants' reply)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν): 'say'; the servants' answer.
τέθνηκενhe is deadPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωmain verb (the servants' one-word answer)→ perfect of resultant stateθνῄσκω (perf. τέθνηκεν): 'be dead'; the servants' terse confirmation — a single word answering David's question.
20

καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ ἐκ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐλούσατο καὶ ἠλείψατο καὶ ἤλλαξεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ καὶ ᾔτησεν ἄρτον φαγεῖν καὶ παρέθηκαν αὐτῷ ἄρτον καὶ ἔφαγεν

And David arose from the ground, and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes, and went into the house of God and worshiped him; and he went into his own house and asked for bread to eat, and they set bread before him, and he ate.

Narrative reversal: David's astonishing change of conductκαὶ ἀνέστη Δαυιδ ἐκ τῆς γῆς
A rapid chain of seven aorists (arose, washed, anointed, changed, entered, worshiped, asked) marks David's abrupt reversal: mourning ends the moment the child dies. His first act is worship (προσεκύνησεν) in the house of God — submission to the divine verdict — followed by the resumption of ordinary life (eating). The conduct so confounds his servants that they question him in v. 21.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (David rises)→ constative aorist (decisive change)ἀνίστημι (aor. intr. ἀνέστη): 'rise / stand up'; David rises 'from the ground' (cf. v. 16), reversing his mourning posture the instant the child dies.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the ground')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from the ground').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςgroundGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἐκ: 'from the ground')→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): 'ground'; David leaves the mourning-posture on the earth.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλούσατοwashed himselfAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · λούωmain verb (bathing)→ constative aoristλούω (aor. mid. ἐλούσατο): 'wash / bathe'; the middle 'washed himself'; renders רָחַץ; the cleansing marks the end of mourning.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠλείψατοanointed himselfAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀλείφωmain verb (anointing with oil)→ constative aoristἀλείφω (aor. mid. ἠλείψατο): 'anoint / rub with oil'; renders סוּךְ; anointing with oil, suspended during mourning, is resumed — a sign of returning to normal life.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤλλαξενchangedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀλλάσσωmain verb (changing clothes)→ constative aoristἀλλάσσω (aor. ἤλλαξεν): 'change / exchange'; David exchanges his sackcloth (v. 16) for ordinary garments — the visible end of mourning.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἱμάτια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαclothes / garmentsAccusativedirect object of ἤλλαξεν→ object specificationἱμάτιον (pl. ἱμάτια): 'garment / clothing'; renders בְּגָדִים; David puts off mourning attire.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἱμάτια)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενwent inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (entering the house of God)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; David goes into the sanctuary to worship — his first act after rising.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; 'the house of God' = the sanctuary/tent housing the ark in Jerusalem (the Temple not yet built).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἶκον: 'house of God')→ relational specificationθεός (gen. θεοῦ): 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the dwelling of the LORD, where David worships in submission to the divine judgment.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσεκύνησενworshipedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσκυνέωmain verb (act of worship)→ constative aoristπροσκυνέω: 'worship / do obeisance / bow down'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; David's worship is the theological heart of the scene — he bows to the LORD's verdict rather than rebelling against it.
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of προσεκύνησεν (= God)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'him' = God; προσκυνέω here takes the dative of the one worshiped.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενwent inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (entering his own house)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in'; David returns to his own house to resume ordinary life.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; David's own residence.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= David's house)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾔτησενasked forAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αἰτέωmain verb (request for food)→ constative aoristαἰτέω (aor. ᾔτησεν): 'ask / request'; David asks for food, breaking his fast now that mourning has ended.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of ᾔτησεν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread / food'; the food David requests.
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωinfinitive of purpose (with ᾔτησεν ἄρτον: 'bread to eat')→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the infinitive of purpose — David asks for bread in order to eat.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρέθηκανthey set beforeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρατίθημιmain verb (the servants serve food)→ constative aoristπαρατίθημι (aor. παρέθηκαν): 'set before / serve'; the servants set food before David; the compound παρα- denotes placing alongside, here 'serving a meal.'
αὐτῷbefore himDativedative indirect object (= David)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'to/before him' = David.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of παρέθηκαν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread / food'; the food served to David.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφαγενhe ateAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (David eats)→ constative aoristἐσθίω (aor. ἔφαγεν): 'eat'; David breaks his fast — the act that astonishes his servants (v. 21).
21

καὶ εἶπαν οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν τί τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ὃ ἐποίησας ἕνεκα τοῦ παιδαρίου ἔτι ζῶντος ἐνήστευες καὶ ἔκλαιες καὶ ἠγρύπνεις καὶ ἡνίκα ἀπέθανεν τὸ παιδάριον ἀνέστης καὶ ἔφαγες ἄρτον καὶ πέπωκας

And his servants said to him, 'What is this thing that you have done? For the child's sake, while it was still alive, you fasted and wept and kept watch; but when the child died, you rose up and ate bread and drank.'

The servants' bewildered question (setting up David's reflection)καὶ εἶπαν οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ
The servants articulate the paradox of David's conduct: three imperfects of mourning (ἐνήστευες, ἔκλαιες, ἠγρύπνεις — fasted, wept, kept watch) while the child lived, set against the verbs of normality (ἀνέστης, ἔφαγες, πέπωκας) once it died — the reverse of expected behavior. Their question τί τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ('what is this thing?') invites David's theological explanation in vv. 22–23.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν): introduces the servants' question.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδεςservantsNominativesubject (of εἶπαν)→ participant prominenceπαῖς (pl. παῖδες): 'servants'; David's attendants.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= David's servants)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (= David)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him' = David.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate: 'what is')→ participant referenceτίς (n. τί): interrogative 'what?'; opens the servants' bewildered question about David's conduct.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / matterNominativesubject (of implied ἐστιν: 'what is this thing')→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר; 'this thing' = David's puzzling behavior.
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος (n. τοῦτο): 'this'; refers to David's conduct.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησας, antecedent ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceὅς (n. ὅ): relative pronoun; 'which you have done.'
ἐποίησαςyou have doneAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the servants ask about the strange thing David has done.
ἕνεκαfor the sake ofpreposition + genitive (cause/reason: 'for the child's sake')→ spatial or relational framingἕνεκα: 'on account of / for the sake of'; renders בַּעֲבוּר; introduces the reason for David's earlier mourning — the child.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with παιδαρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίουchildGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκα ('for the child's sake')→ relational specificationπαιδάριον (gen. παιδαρίου): 'child'; the object of David's prior grief.
ἔτιstilladverb (temporal: 'still living')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet'; with ζῶντος, 'while it was still alive.'
ζῶντοςliving / alivePres Act Ptc Gen Neut Sg · ζάωgenitive absolute participle (with τοῦ παιδαρίου: 'while the child was alive')→ verbal action or stateζάω (pres. ptc. ζῶντος): 'live'; the genitive participle (agreeing with παιδαρίου) forms a temporal expression — 'while the child was yet alive.'
ἐνήστευεςyou fastedImpf Act Indic 2 Sg · νηστεύωmain verb (habitual mourning, first of three imperfects)→ customary/durative imperfect (ongoing mourning)νηστεύω (impf. ἐνήστευες): 'fast'; the imperfect marks David's sustained fasting while the child lived — the first of three mourning-verbs.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκλαιεςyou weptImpf Act Indic 2 Sg · κλαίωmain verb (second mourning imperfect)→ durative imperfectκλαίω (impf. ἔκλαιες): 'weep / cry'; renders בָּכָה; David's continual weeping during the child's illness.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠγρύπνειςyou kept watch / lay awakeImpf Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀγρυπνέωmain verb (third mourning imperfect)→ durative imperfectἀγρυπνέω (impf. ἠγρύπνεις): 'be sleepless / keep watch / lie awake'; the third verb of mourning — David's sleepless vigil during the illness.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (here adversative: contrast)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunction ('when')→ discourse linkage or contrastἡνίκα: 'when / at the time when'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; marks the turning point — the moment of death.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω (aor. ἀπέθανεν): 'die'; the death that, contrary to expectation, ended David's mourning.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject (of ἀπέθανεν)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child'; the deceased child.
ἀνέστηςyou rose upAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (David's reversal, first of three aorists)→ constative aoristἀνίστημι (aor. ἀνέστης): 'rise up'; David's rising contrasts sharply with the mourning imperfects — the servants find it inexplicable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφαγεςyou ateAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (David's eating)→ constative aoristἐσθίω (aor. ἔφαγες): 'eat'; David's resumption of food after the death.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of ἔφαγες→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread / food'; David ate bread — broke the fast.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πέπωκαςyou have drunkPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · πίνωmain verb (David's drinking; perfect of resultant state)→ perfect of resultant state (the completed, abiding act)πίνω (perf. πέπωκας): 'drink'; the perfect 'you have drunk' rounds off the servants' catalogue of David's surprising return to normal life.
22

καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ ἐν τῷ τὸ παιδάριον ἔτι ζῆν ἐνήστευσα καὶ ἔκλαυσα ὅτι εἶπα τίς οἶδεν εἰ ἐλεήσει με κύριος καὶ ζήσεται τὸ παιδάριον

And David said, 'While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, and the child may live?'

David's explanation, part 1 (the logic of fasting in hope)καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ
David explains his fasting as an act of hope, not despair: while the child lived, prayer and fasting were meaningful because the outcome was uncertain — τίς οἶδεν εἰ ἐλεήσει με κύριος ('who knows whether the LORD will be gracious?'). The temporal ἐν τῷ … ζῆν ('while alive') echoes the servants' phrasing. David's theology holds together submission to the decree and earnest petition while hope remains.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 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 reply to his servants.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
ἐνwhilepreposition + dative (temporal, with articular infinitive: 'while')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: with the articular infinitive ἐν τῷ … ζῆν forms a temporal clause 'while (the child) was alive.'
τῷtheDativearticle (with the infinitive ζῆν, articular)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with παιδάριον, accusative subject of infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive ζῆν→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'child'; the accusative subject of ζῆν in the temporal clause.
ἔτιstilladverb (temporal: 'still alive')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet'; 'while still alive.'
ζῆνto live / being alivePres Act Inf · ζάωarticular infinitive (temporal clause ἐν τῷ … ζῆν: 'while alive')→ present infinitive (the act of living)ζάω (pres. inf. ζῆν): 'live'; with ἐν τῷ, contemporaneous time — 'while the child was alive.'
ἐνήστευσαI fastedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · νηστεύωmain verb (David's fasting)→ constative aorist (summary of the period of fasting)νηστεύω (aor. ἐνήστευσα): 'fast'; David summarizes his prior fasting (the imperfect of v. 21 now viewed as a completed whole).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκλαυσαI weptAor Act Indic 1 Sg · κλαίωmain verb (David's weeping)→ constative aoristκλαίω (aor. ἔκλαυσα): 'weep'; David's weeping during the child's illness.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the fasting)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces David's inner reasoning.
εἶπαI saidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb (David's prior reasoning, speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπα): 'say'; introduces David's prior inner thought, reported in direct speech.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of οἶδεν)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who?'; the idiom τίς οἶδεν ('who knows?') expresses tentative hope — the outcome lies in God's freedom (cf. Joel 2:14; Jonah 3:9).
οἶδενknowsPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · οἶδαmain verb (in the idiom τίς οἶδεν: 'who knows?')→ perfect with present meaning ('knows')οἶδα (perf. with pres. sense): 'know'; in τίς οἶδεν the perfect functions as a present — 'who knows?' — leaving room for divine mercy.
εἰwhetherconjunction (introducing indirect question after οἶδεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'whether / if'; introduces the indirect question — 'whether the LORD will be gracious.'
ἐλεήσειwill be gracious / show mercyFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐλεέωverb of indirect question→ predictive future (in the sphere of hope)ἐλεέω (fut. ἐλεήσει): 'have mercy / show compassion'; renders חָנַן; David hoped YHWH might be gracious and spare the child — the verb of covenant compassion.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἐλεήσει (= David)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; David, the object of the hoped-for mercy.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of ἐλεήσει)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD, whose free mercy David hoped for even under judgment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result of mercy)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζήσεταιshall liveFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ζάωmain verb (the hoped-for outcome)→ predictive future (object of hope)ζάω (fut. mid. ζήσεται): 'live'; the hoped-for result of divine mercy — that the child might live; the fasting was meaningful only while this possibility remained.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject (of ζήσεται)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child'; the child whose life David hoped to obtain.
23

καὶ νῦν τέθνηκεν ἵνα τί τοῦτο ἐγὼ νηστεύω μὴ δυνήσομαι ἐπιστρέψαι αὐτὸ ἔτι ἐγὼ πορεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἀναστρέψει πρός με

But now he is dead. Why should I fast for this? Can I bring it back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

David's explanation, part 2 (the finality of death and hope of reunion)καὶ νῦν τέθνηκεν
The pivot καὶ νῦν τέθνηκεν ('but now he is dead') grounds David's changed conduct. Two rhetorical questions (ἵνα τί … νηστεύω; 'why should I fast?' and μὴ δυνήσομαι ἐπιστρέψαι; 'can I bring it back?') concede the irreversibility of death. The closing antithesis — ἐγὼ πορεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἀναστρέψει πρός με ('I shall go to him, but he will not return to me') — is one of Scripture's most poignant statements of grief and, arguably, of hope beyond death.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (here adversative: 'but now')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (the changed situation: 'but now')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν marks the decisive shift from the time of hope to the time of acceptance.
τέθνηκενhe is deadPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · θνῄσκωmain verb (the present fact: 'he is dead')→ perfect of resultant state ('he is [now] dead')θνῄσκω (perf. τέθνηκεν): 'be dead'; the abiding fact of death that renders fasting pointless.
ἵναwhyconjunction (in idiom ἵνα τί: 'why? to what end?')→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: in the idiom ἵνα τί ('why? for what purpose?', rendering לָמָּה) it introduces a rhetorical question about the point of continued fasting.
τίwhat / whyAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (in idiom ἵνα τί: 'why?')→ participant referenceτίς (n. τί): interrogative; with ἵνα forms ἵνα τί ('to what end? why?').
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (adverbial accusative: 'for this reason / in this case')→ participant referenceοὗτος (n. τοῦτο): 'this'; here adverbial — 'why in this case should I fast?'
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I'; David stresses the futility of his own continued fasting.
νηστεύωshould I fastPres Act Indic 1 Sg · νηστεύωmain verb (deliberative rhetorical question)→ deliberative present ('why should I fast?')νηστεύω (pres. νηστεύω): 'fast'; in the rhetorical question 'why should I fast?' — the act has lost its purpose now that the outcome is fixed.
μὴsurely not …?interrogative particle (expecting negative answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: in a question, μή expects the answer 'no' — 'I cannot bring him back, can I?' (Greek question-marker anticipating denial).
δυνήσομαιshall I be ableFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb (rhetorical question expecting 'no')→ predictive future (rhetorical, anticipating denial)δύναμαι (fut. δυνήσομαι): 'be able'; with μή, 'I shall not be able …, shall I?' — David concedes he cannot reverse the death.
ἐπιστρέψαιto bring backAor Act Inf · ἐπιστρέφωcomplementary infinitive (with δυνήσομαι: 'able to bring back')→ purpose (telic)ἐπιστρέφω (aor. inf. ἐπιστρέψαι): 'turn back / bring back / restore'; the transitive sense here — to bring the child back to life; David acknowledges the impossibility.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of ἐπιστρέψαι (= the child)→ participant referenceαὐτός (n. αὐτό): 'it' = the child (neuter, agreeing with παιδάριον).
ἔτιagain / any moreadverb ('again / further')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / again'; with the negated possibility — 'bring it back again,' which cannot be done.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic, in the closing antithesis)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I'; opens the famous antithesis 'I shall go to him …'.
πορεύσομαιI shall goFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (David's own future journey to the dead)→ predictive future (certain destiny)πορεύομαι (fut. πορεύσομαι): 'go / journey'; David will one day go to where the child is (Sheol / death); the verb frames death as a journey to be shared, hinting at reunion.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to him')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to him').
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (= the child)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him' = the dead child, to whom David will go.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (here adversative: contrast)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (emphatic: 'he himself')→ participant prominenceαὐτός: emphatic 'he himself' = the child; the antithesis turns on the irreversibility of death — the living may go to the dead, but the dead do not return to the living.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀναστρέψει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; negates the child's return.
ἀναστρέψειwill returnFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (the child's non-return)→ predictive future (the finality of death)ἀναστρέφω (fut. ἀναστρέψει): 'turn back / return'; the child 'will not return to me' — the stark finality of death, set against David's own certain journey toward it.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to me')→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to me').
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (= David)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me' = David; the child will not come back to him.
24

καὶ παρεκάλεσεν Δαυιδ Βηρσαβεε τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτὴν καὶ ἐκοιμήθη μετ᾿ αὐτῆς καὶ συνέλαβεν καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱόν καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Σαλωμων καὶ κύριος ἠγάπησεν αὐτόν

And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her; and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Solomon, and the LORD loved him.

Narrative resolution: comfort, restoration, and the birth of Solomonκαὶ παρεκάλεσεν Δαυιδ Βηρσαβεε
Grace follows judgment. David now comforts Bathsheba — here at last named (Βηρσαβεε) and called 'his wife' (τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ), the relationship now legitimate. The fruit is Solomon (Σαλωμων), whose name (from שָׁלוֹם, 'peace') signals reconciliation. The clause καὶ κύριος ἠγάπησεν αὐτόν ('and the LORD loved him') is the theological heart of the restoration, grounding the renaming of v. 25.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεκάλεσενcomfortedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παρακαλέωmain verb (David comforts Bathsheba)→ constative aoristπαρακαλέω (aor. παρεκάλεσεν): 'comfort / console / encourage'; renders נִחַם (Piel); David consoles his grieving wife — an act of tenderness signaling the move from judgment to restoration.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable.
ΒηρσαβεεBathshebadirect object of παρεκάλεσεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΒηρσαβεε: transliteration of בַּת־שֶׁבַע ('Bathsheba'); indeclinable; named here for the first time in the chapter — no longer 'the wife of Uriah' but David's own wife, marking the change from sin to legitimate union.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Βηρσαβεε ('his wife')→ object specificationγυνή (acc. γυναῖκα): 'wife'; Bathsheba is now 'his wife' — the legitimate designation, contrasting with 'the wife of Uriah' (v. 15).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γυναῖκα: 'his wife')→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; Bathsheba is David's own wife.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενwent inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (euphemism for marital union)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in (to)'; the idiom εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτήν ('went in to her') is a standard biblical euphemism for marital relations (rendering בּוֹא אֶל).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτὴνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (= Bathsheba)→ participant referenceαὐτός (f. αὐτήν): 'her' = Bathsheba.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκοιμήθηlayAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάωmain verb (marital relations)→ constative aoristκοιμάω (aor. pass. ἐκοιμήθη): 'lie down / sleep (with)'; the euphemism for sexual union; renders שָׁכַב; here within legitimate marriage.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel).
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive object of μετά (= Bathsheba)→ relational specificationαὐτός (f. gen. αὐτῆς): 'her' = Bathsheba.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέλαβενshe conceivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (conception)→ constative aoristσυλλαμβάνω (aor. συνέλαβεν): 'conceive / become pregnant'; renders הָרָה; the conception of Solomon, the child of restoration.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth)→ constative aoristτίκτω (aor. ἔτεκεν): 'bear / give birth'; Bathsheba bears a son — Solomon, David's heir.
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object of ἔτεκεν→ object specificationυἱός (acc. υἱόν): 'son'; the child born of the now-legitimate marriage, the future king.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενhe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming)→ constative aoristκαλέω (aor. ἐκάλεσεν): 'call / name'; the idiom ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ('he called his name') renders קָרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ; the subject is David (some traditions read 'she called').
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνομα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσεν (idiom 'called his name')→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; in the naming idiom ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= the child's name)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his' = the child's.
ΣαλωμωνSolomonpredicate / name (indeclinable proper noun, naming the child)→ participant identificationΣαλωμων: transliteration of שְׁלֹמֹה ('Solomon'), connected with שָׁלוֹם ('peace'); indeclinable; the name signals the peace and restoration following judgment — Solomon will be David's successor.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (theological climax)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of ἠγάπησεν)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD's love for Solomon is the theological key to the restoration — the child of judgment's aftermath is the beloved of God.
ἠγάπησενlovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωmain verb (divine love for the child)→ constative aorist (settled disposition)ἀγαπάω (aor. ἠγάπησεν): 'love'; renders אָהֵב; the LORD's love for Solomon anchors the renaming Ιδεδι ('beloved of the LORD') in v. 25 and frames Solomon's election.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ἠγάπησεν (= Solomon)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him' = Solomon, the object of the LORD's love.
25

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐν χειρὶ Ναθαν τοῦ προφήτου καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ιδεδι ἕνεκεν κυρίου

And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, for the LORD's sake.

Divine confirmation: the renaming of Solomon through Nathanκαὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐν χειρὶ Ναθαν
The LORD sends word 'by the hand of' (ἐν χειρί, a Hebraism) Nathan — the same prophet who pronounced judgment now brings the word of grace, framing the chapter with his ministry. The name Ιδεδι (Jedidiah, יְדִידְיָהּ, 'beloved of the LORD') seals the declaration of v. 24 (κύριος ἠγάπησεν αὐτόν); ἕνεκεν κυρίου ('for the LORD's sake') grounds the name in divine election.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενhe sentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (the LORD sends word)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send'; the subject is the LORD (κύριος of v. 24), who sends a word of love by Nathan — the same verb that opened the chapter (v. 1), now in grace rather than judgment.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental, in idiom ἐν χειρί: 'by the hand of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: in the Hebraism ἐν χειρί ('by the hand/agency of', rendering בְּיַד) it denotes mediation through the prophet.
χειρὶhandDativedative of means (idiom 'by the hand of')→ sphere or referenceχείρ (dat. χειρί): 'hand'; ἐν χειρὶ Ναθαν ('by the hand of Nathan') is the standard idiom for prophetic mediation of the divine word.
ΝαθανNathangenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Nathan')→ participant identificationΝαθαν: indeclinable; the prophet who delivered both the judgment and now the word of grace — an inclusio framing the chapter.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with προφήτου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφήτουprophetGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ναθαν ('Nathan the prophet')→ relational specificationπροφήτης (gen. προφήτου): 'prophet'; the appositive title marks the official, divinely-authorized character of the message.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενhe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming)→ constative aoristκαλέω (aor. ἐκάλεσεν): 'call / name'; the subject is Nathan (or the LORD through him), who gives the child the additional, divinely-bestowed name.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνομα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσεν (naming idiom)→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; the naming idiom ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= the child's name)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his' = Solomon's.
ΙδεδιJedidiahpredicate / name (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙδεδι: transliteration of יְדִידְיָהּ ('Jedidiah', 'beloved of the LORD'); indeclinable; the name given by divine word, confirming κύριος ἠγάπησεν αὐτόν (v. 24) — Solomon is marked from birth as the LORD's beloved and chosen heir.
ἕνεκενfor the sake ofpreposition + genitive (cause: 'for the LORD's sake')→ spatial or relational framingἕνεκεν: 'on account of / for the sake of'; renders בַּעֲבוּר; the name was given 'because of / for the sake of the LORD' — grounding the child's identity in YHWH's love.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκεν ('for the LORD's sake')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the name Jedidiah is given for YHWH's own sake — the divine love is the reason for the name.
26

καὶ ἐπολέμησεν Ιωαβ ἐν Ραββαθ υἱῶν Αμμων καὶ κατέλαβεν τὴν πόλιν τῆς βασιλείας

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and took the royal city.

New narrative unit: the Ammonite war resumed (Joab at Rabbah)καὶ ἐπολέμησεν Ιωαβ
The chapter's final movement returns to the Ammonite campaign suspended at ch. 11 (during which the Bathsheba affair occurred). Joab besieges and takes Rabbah, the Ammonite capital, designated τὴν πόλιν τῆς βασιλείας ('the royal city') — likely the citadel or 'city of kingship'; v. 27 calls it 'the city of waters.' The shift to public military narrative closes the private drama of judgment and restoration.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (new unit)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπολέμησενfought / made warAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πολεμέωmain verb (Joab's campaign)→ constative aoristπολεμέω (aor. ἐπολέμησεν): 'wage war / fight'; renders לָחַם (Niphal); Joab continues the siege of Rabbah begun in ch. 11.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: transliteration of יוֹאָב ('Joab'); indeclinable; David's commander-in-chief, who had been the instrument of Uriah's death (ch. 11) and now completes the Ammonite conquest.
ἐνagainst / atpreposition + dative (locative/hostile: 'against Rabbah')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: with the dative here marks the place/object of the warfare — 'fought at/against Rabbah.'
ΡαββαθRabbahobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΡαββαθ: transliteration of רַבָּה ('Rabbah'); indeclinable; the capital of Ammon (modern Amman); Ραββαθ υἱῶν Αμμων is its full designation.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with Ραββαθ: 'Rabbah of the sons of Ammon')→ relational specificationυἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'son'; 'Rabbah of the sons of Ammon' distinguishes the Ammonite capital.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: transliteration of עַמּוֹן; indeclinable; the Ammonites, against whom David had been at war.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέλαβενtook / capturedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταλαμβάνωmain verb (capture of the city)→ constative aoristκαταλαμβάνω (aor. κατέλαβεν): 'seize / capture / take'; renders לָכַד; the compound κατα- intensifies — Joab captures the key part of the city.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativedirect object of κατέλαβεν→ object specificationπόλις (acc. πόλιν): 'city'; renders עִיר; the captured city of Rabbah.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with βασιλείας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλείαςkingdom / royaltyGenitivegenitive of quality (with πόλιν: 'the royal city')→ relational specificationβασιλεία (gen. βασιλείας): 'kingdom / royalty / royal power'; renders מְלוּכָה; 'the city of the kingdom' = the royal citadel/capital — the seat of Ammonite kingship (the parallel 'city of waters,' v. 27, denotes its water-source stronghold).
27

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ιωαβ ἀγγέλους πρὸς Δαυιδ καὶ εἶπεν ἐπολέμησα ἐν Ραββαθ καὶ κατελαβόμην τὴν πόλιν τῶν ὑδάτων

And Joab sent messengers to David and said, 'I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city of waters.'

Joab's report and summons to Davidκαὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ιωαβ ἀγγέλους
Joab reports his success to David through messengers, naming his capture 'the city of waters' (τὴν πόλιν τῶν ὑδάτων) — the lower city controlling Rabbah's water-supply, whose fall doomed the citadel. The report sets up the deferential summons of v. 28, in which Joab, ever the politic commander, invites David to complete the conquest and claim its glory.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (Joab dispatches messengers)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send'; Joab sends word of his victory to the king.
ΙωαβJoabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωαβ: indeclinable; David's commander.
ἀγγέλουςmessengersAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationἄγγελος (acc. pl. ἀγγέλους): 'messenger / envoy'; renders מַלְאָךְ; here human messengers carrying Joab's report to David.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the recipient of Joab's report.
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; Joab's message)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Joab's report (conveyed via the messengers).
ἐπολέμησαI have foughtAor Act Indic 1 Sg · πολεμέωmain verb (Joab's first-person report)→ constative aorist (completed campaign)πολεμέω (aor. ἐπολέμησα): 'wage war'; Joab reports his successful assault on Rabbah.
ἐνagainst / atpreposition + dative (locative/hostile: 'against Rabbah')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative/hostile: 'against Rabbah').
ΡαββαθRabbahobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΡαββαθ: indeclinable; the Ammonite capital.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατελαβόμηνI have takenAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · καταλαμβάνωmain verb (Joab's capture)→ constative aoristκαταλαμβάνω (aor. mid. κατελαβόμην): 'seize / capture'; the middle voice here (with active sense) — Joab reports taking the city's water-stronghold.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativedirect object of κατελαβόμην→ object specificationπόλις (acc. πόλιν): 'city'; the captured part of Rabbah.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ὑδάτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑδάτωνwatersGenitivegenitive of quality (with πόλιν: 'the city of waters')→ relational specificationὕδωρ (gen. pl. ὑδάτων): 'water'; renders מַיִם; 'the city of waters' is the lower town controlling Rabbah's water-supply; its capture made the citadel's fall inevitable.
28

καὶ νῦν συνάγαγε τὸ κατάλοιπον τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ παρέμβαλε ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν καὶ προκαταλαβοῦ αὐτήν ἵνα μὴ προκαταλάβωμαι ἐγὼ τὴν πόλιν καὶ κληθῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν

Now therefore gather the rest of the people and encamp against the city and capture it first, lest I myself capture the city first, and my name be called upon it.

Joab's deferential summons to David (the politic conclusion)καὶ νῦν συνάγαγε
Joab's καὶ νῦν ('now therefore') turns from report to summons: a chain of imperatives (συνάγαγε, παρέμβαλε, προκαταλαβοῦ) invites David to lead the final assault. The purpose clause ἵνα μὴ … κληθῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν ('lest my name be called upon it') reveals Joab's political tact: the honor of taking the capital must belong to the king, not the general — a courtier's deference that also shields Joab from suspicion of rivalry.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (transition to summons)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (logical transition: 'now therefore')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν ('now therefore') marks the shift from report to exhortation.
συνάγαγεgatherAor Act Impv 2 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (imperative to David)→ aorist imperative (decisive command)συνάγω (aor. impv. συνάγαγε): 'gather / assemble'; renders אָסַף; Joab urges David to muster the remaining forces for the final assault.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κατάλοιπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατάλοιπονremainder / restAccusativedirect object of συνάγαγε ('the rest of the people')→ object specificationκατάλοιπος (n. κατάλοιπον): 'remaining / the rest'; renders יֶתֶר; 'the rest of the people' = the forces not already engaged in the siege.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeople / armyGenitivegenitive (partitive/possessive: 'rest of the people')→ relational specificationλαός (gen. λαοῦ): 'people'; here the people under arms — the army; renders עַם.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρέμβαλεencampAor Act Impv 2 Sg · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (second imperative)→ aorist imperativeπαρεμβάλλω (aor. impv. παρέμβαλε): 'encamp / lay siege'; renders חָנָה; Joab directs David to lay siege against the city for the final blow.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: 'against'; with the accusative, hostile encampment against the city.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('against the city')→ object specificationπόλις (acc. πόλιν): 'city'; Rabbah, to be finally taken by the king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προκαταλαβοῦcapture it firstAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · προκαταλαμβάνωmain verb (third imperative)→ aorist imperativeπροκαταλαμβάνω (aor. mid. impv. προκαταλαβοῦ): 'seize beforehand / capture first'; the double compound προ-κατα- stresses being the first to take the city — Joab wants David to have priority.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of προκαταλαβοῦ (= the city)→ participant referenceαὐτός (f. αὐτήν): 'it' = the city.
ἵναlest / so thatconjunction (negative purpose: ἵνα μή 'lest')→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: 'in order that'; with μή it forms a negative purpose clause ('lest'), introducing Joab's politic concern.
μὴnotnegative particle (with ἵνα: 'lest')→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: 'not'; with ἵνα forms the negative purpose.
προκαταλάβωμαιI should capture firstAor Mid Subj 1 Sg · προκαταλαμβάνωverb of negative purpose clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (in purpose clause)προκαταλαμβάνω (aor. mid. subj. προκαταλάβωμαι): 'capture first'; Joab fears that if he takes the capital, the glory (and the city's naming) would attach to him rather than the king.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic: 'I myself')→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I' = Joab; he emphasizes that the honor should not fall to him.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativedirect object of προκαταλάβωμαι→ object specificationπόλις (acc. πόλιν): 'city'; the city Joab refrains from taking himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the purpose clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κληθῇbe calledAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · καλέωverb of negative purpose clause (subjunctive)→ aorist passive subjunctive (in purpose clause)καλέω (aor. pass. subj. κληθῇ): 'be called / named'; the idiom 'my name be called upon it' (rendering נִקְרָא שְׁמִי עָלֶיהָ) denotes ownership/claim — to capture a city was to have one's name attached to it as conqueror; Joab cedes that honor to David.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὄνομα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομάnameNominativesubject (of κληθῇ)→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; in the idiom 'my name be called upon it' — Joab's name, which he does not wish attached to the conquest.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα: 'my name')→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; Joab's own name.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (idiom 'called upon it'; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: 'upon'; in the idiom 'the name called upon it' denoting claim/ownership of the conquered city.
αὐτήνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (= the city)→ participant referenceαὐτός (f. αὐτήν): 'it' = the city, upon which a name would be called.
29

καὶ συνήγαγεν Δαυιδ πάντα τὸν λαὸν καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς Ραββαθ καὶ ἐπολέμησεν ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ κατελάβετο αὐτήν

And David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and captured it.

Narrative fulfillment: David completes the conquestκαὶ συνήγαγεν Δαυιδ
David acts on Joab's summons: a swift chain of aorists (gathered, went, fought, captured) records his personal completion of the conquest. The verbs answer Joab's imperatives of v. 28 point for point (συνάγαγε → συνήγαγεν, παρέμβαλε / προκαταλαβοῦ → ἐπολέμησεν / κατελάβετο), so that the honor of taking Rabbah belongs to the king.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνήγαγενgatheredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (David musters the army)→ constative aoristσυνάγω (aor. συνήγαγεν): 'gather / assemble'; David obeys Joab's command (συνάγαγε, v. 28), mustering all the people for the final assault.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the king now personally leads the campaign.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with λαόν: 'all the people')→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. πάντα): 'all'; David gathers the whole army, not just the remnant.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeople / armyAccusativedirect object of συνήγαγεν→ object specificationλαός (acc. λαόν): 'people'; here the army; renders עַם.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (David marches to Rabbah)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι (aor. pass. ἐπορεύθη): 'go / journey / march'; David marches to the front.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΡαββαθRabbahaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΡαββαθ: indeclinable; the Ammonite capital, David's destination.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπολέμησενfoughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πολεμέωmain verb (David's assault)→ constative aoristπολεμέω (aor. ἐπολέμησεν): 'wage war / fight'; David personally engages the city.
ἐνagainst / atpreposition + dative (locative/hostile: 'against it')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative/hostile: 'against it').
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (= the city)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (f. dat. αὐτῇ): 'it' = Rabbah.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατελάβετοcapturedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταλαμβάνωmain verb (capture of the city)→ constative aorist (decisive conquest)καταλαμβάνω (aor. mid. κατελάβετο): 'seize / capture'; David takes the city — the honor falls to the king, as Joab intended (v. 28).
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of κατελάβετο (= the city)→ participant referenceαὐτός (f. αὐτήν): 'it' = Rabbah, now captured.
30

καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸν στέφανον Μελχολ τοῦ βασιλέως αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ σταθμὸς αὐτοῦ τάλαντον χρυσίου καὶ λίθου τιμίου καὶ ἦν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς Δαυιδ καὶ σκῦλα τῆς πόλεως ἐξήνεγκεν πολλὰ σφόδρα

And he took the crown of Milcom their king from his head — its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stone — and it was set on David's head; and he carried off the spoil of the city, exceedingly much.

Narrative climax of the conquest: the crown and the spoilκαὶ ἔλαβεν τὸν στέφανον
David takes the royal crown — Μελχολ here renders the Hebrew מַלְכָּם (Milcom, the Ammonite god, or 'their king') — a massive ornament weighing a talent of gold, set with precious stone, and places it on his own head, symbolizing the transfer of sovereignty. The verb ἔλαβεν ('took') quietly recalls David's earlier sinful 'takings' (vv. 4, 9–10), but here it is legitimate royal conquest. The chapter that began with theft and judgment ends with the king crowned and laden with spoil — yet the reader knows the sword remains in his house.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (David takes the crown)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take'; here legitimate royal seizure of the enemy crown — a quiet echo of the sinful 'takings' earlier in the chapter (vv. 4, 9), now redeemed as rightful conquest.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with στέφανον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στέφανονcrownAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationστέφανος (acc. στέφανον): 'crown / wreath'; renders עֲטָרָה; the royal crown of Ammon, a symbol of sovereignty now transferred to David.
ΜελχολMilcom / their kinggenitive of possession (indeclinable; in apposition to τοῦ βασιλέως)→ participant identificationΜελχολ: transliteration of Hebrew מַלְכָּם ('Milcom', the Ammonite national god, or read as malkām, 'their king'); indeclinable; the LXX takes it as a name in apposition to 'their king' — the crown belonged to Milcom/the Ammonite king.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with βασιλέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession (with στέφανον: 'crown of their king')→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the Ammonite king (or Milcom as divine 'king'), whose crown David takes.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλέως: 'their king')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their' = the Ammonites'; the king/god belonging to them.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from his head')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from his head').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with κεφαλῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλῆςheadGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἀπό: 'from his head')→ relational specificationκεφαλή (gen. κεφαλῆς): 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; the crown is taken from the head of the Ammonite king/idol.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (= the king's head)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his' = the Ammonite king's (or Milcom's).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (parenthetical: the crown's weight)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with σταθμός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σταθμὸςweightNominativesubject (of implied ἦν: 'its weight was')→ participant prominenceσταθμός: 'weight'; renders מִשְׁקָל; introduces the parenthetical note on the crown's massive weight — a talent of gold.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (= the crown's weight)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'its' = the crown's.
τάλαντονa talentNominativepredicate nominative (with implied ἦν: 'was a talent')→ participant prominenceτάλαντον: 'talent (a large unit of weight, c. 34 kg)'; renders כִּכָּר; a talent of gold is an enormous weight — likely the crown was suspended above rather than worn, signaling immense value.
χρυσίουof goldGenitivegenitive of material (with τάλαντον: 'talent of gold')→ relational specificationχρυσίον (gen. χρυσίου): 'gold'; renders זָהָב; the material of the crown's weight.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λίθουstoneGenitivegenitive of material (coordinate with χρυσίου: 'and precious stone')→ relational specificationλίθος (gen. λίθου): 'stone'; with τιμίου, 'precious stone'; renders אֶבֶן יְקָרָה; the crown was set with a costly gem.
τιμίουpreciousGenitiveattributive adjective (with λίθου: 'precious stone')→ relational specificationτίμιος (gen. τιμίου): 'precious / costly / of great value'; renders יְקָרָה; describes the gemstone adorning the crown.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνit wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the crown set on David's head)→ descriptive imperfect (resultant state)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be'; 'it was upon David's head' — the crown, symbol of sovereignty, now rests on the head of the king of Israel.
ἐπὶupon / onpreposition + genitive (position: 'on the head')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position: 'on the head').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with κεφαλῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλῆςheadGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί ('on the head of David')→ relational specificationκεφαλή (gen. κεφαλῆς): 'head'; the crown passes from the Ammonite king's head to David's — a vivid image of conquest and transferred dominion.
Δαυιδof Davidgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'David's head')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the crown now rests on David's head.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σκῦλαspoil / plunderAccusativedirect object of ἐξήνεγκεν (fronted)→ object specificationσκῦλον (pl. σκῦλα): 'spoil / plunder / booty'; renders שָׁלָל; the plunder David carried off from the city.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of source (with σκῦλα: 'spoil of the city')→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. πόλεως): 'city'; the conquered Rabbah, source of the spoil.
ἐξήνεγκενhe carried off / brought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκφέρωmain verb (David takes the plunder)→ constative aoristἐκφέρω (aor. ἐξήνεγκεν): 'carry out / bring forth'; renders הוֹצִיא; David brought out the city's plunder.
πολλὰmuchAccusativeattributive adjective (with σκῦλα: 'much spoil')→ object specificationπολύς (n. pl. πολλά): 'much / many'; the spoil was abundant.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying πολλά)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; πολλὰ σφόδρα ('exceedingly much') — the same intensifier used of the rich man's flocks in v. 2, an ironic frame: the chapter that opened with overabundance and theft closes with abundant rightful spoil.
31

καὶ τὸν λαὸν τὸν ὄντα ἐν αὐτῇ ἐξήγαγεν καὶ ἔθηκεν ἐν τῷ πρίονι καὶ ἐν τοῖς τριβόλοις τοῖς σιδηροῖς καὶ διήγαγεν αὐτοὺς διὰ τοῦ πλινθείου καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησεν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσιν υἱῶν Αμμων καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Δαυιδ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς εἰς Ιερουσαλημ

And the people who were in it he brought out and put to the saw and to iron threshing-sledges, and made them pass through the brick-kiln; and so he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

Narrative conclusion: subjugation of Ammon and return to Jerusalemκαὶ τὸν λαὸν τὸν ὄντα ἐν αὐτῇ ἐξήγαγεν
The chapter ends with the harsh fate of the Ammonite populace — set to forced labor (or, on a harsher reading, brutal execution) with saws, iron sledges, and brick-kilns — and the extension of this treatment to all the Ammonite cities. The summary οὕτως ἐποίησεν ('so he did') and the final return εἰς Ιερουσαλημ close both the war-narrative and the whole chapter, returning the king and the people home — the public triumph balancing the private judgment with which the chapter began.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of ἐξήγαγεν (fronted)→ object specificationλαός (acc. λαόν): 'people'; here the Ammonite populace of the conquered city.
τὸνthe (who)Accusativearticle (with attributive participle ὄντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνταbeing / who werePres Act Ptc Acc Masc Sg · εἰμίattributive participle (modifying λαόν: 'who were in it')→ verbal action or stateεἰμί (pres. ptc. ὄντα): 'being'; the attributive participle 'the people who were in it' specifies the inhabitants of the captured city.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in it')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in it').
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (= the city)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (f. dat. αὐτῇ): 'it' = the city.
ἐξήγαγενbrought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωmain verb (David removes the populace)→ constative aoristἐξάγω (aor. ἐξήγαγεν): 'lead out / bring out'; renders הוֹצִיא; David brought the people out of the city for forced labor.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔθηκενput / setAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (set them to labor)→ constative aoristτίθημι (aor. ἔθηκεν): 'put / place / set'; renders שִׂים; David 'put them to' the saw and threshing-tools — i.e., set them to hard labor (or, on a harsher reading, subjected them to it as instruments of execution).
ἐνto / atpreposition + dative (instrument/assignment: 'to the saw')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrument/assignment: 'to the saw').
τῷtheDativearticle (with πρίονι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρίονιsawDativedative of instrument/assignment ('to the saw')→ sphere or referenceπρίων (dat. πρίονι): 'saw'; renders מְגֵרָה; the saw is the first of the labor-implements (or instruments of punishment) to which the Ammonites were assigned.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνto / atpreposition + dative (instrument/assignment)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrument/assignment).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with τριβόλοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τριβόλοιςthreshing-sledgesDativedative of instrument/assignment ('to the threshing-sledges')→ sphere or referenceτρίβολος (dat. pl. τριβόλοις): 'threshing-sledge / threshing-instrument' (lit. 'three-pronged' implement); renders חֲרוּצֵי הַבַּרְזֶל; the iron threshing-sledges used in agricultural labor (or as instruments of harsh treatment).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with σιδηροῖς, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σιδηροῖςironDativeattributive adjective (with τριβόλοις: 'iron threshing-sledges')→ sphere or referenceσιδηροῦς (dat. pl. σιδηροῖς): 'made of iron'; renders בַּרְזֶל; describes the threshing-sledges as iron-toothed.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διήγαγενmade them pass throughAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διάγωmain verb (passing them through the brick-kiln)→ constative aoristδιάγω (aor. διήγαγεν): 'lead through / make pass through'; renders הֶעֱבִיר; David made the Ammonites pass through / labor at the brick-kiln (the MT's 'brick-kiln' מַלְבֵּן); the phrase has been variously understood as forced brick-making labor or harsh punishment.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of διήγαγεν (= the Ammonites)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them' = the Ammonite people.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (passage: 'through the kiln')→ spatial or relational framingδιὰ: meaning 'through'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (passage: 'through the kiln').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πλινθείου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλινθείουbrick-kiln / brickworksGenitivegenitive object of διά ('through the brick-kiln')→ relational specificationπλινθεῖον (gen. πλινθείου): 'brick-kiln / brick-mould / brickworks'; renders מַלְבֵּן; the place of brick-making — David subjected the Ammonites to brick-labor (or harsh treatment there).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὕτωςthus / soadverb of manner ('in this way')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so / in this manner'; renders כֵּן; summarizes that David treated all Ammonite cities the same way.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (summary of David's treatment)→ constative aorist (summarizing)ποιέω (aor. ἐποίησεν): 'do'; οὕτως ἐποίησεν ('so he did') generalizes David's treatment to all the Ammonite cities.
πάσαιςallDativeattributive adjective (with πόλεσιν: 'all the cities')→ sphere or referenceπᾶς (f. dat. pl. πάσαις): 'all'; David's treatment extended to every Ammonite city.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with πόλεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative (with ἐποίησεν: 'did to the cities')→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. pl. πόλεσιν): 'cities'; the Ammonite cities, all subjected to the same conquest and labor.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πόλεσιν: 'cities of the sons of Ammon')→ relational specificationυἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'son'; 'cities of the sons of Ammon' = all the Ammonite towns.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ammon')→ participant identificationΑμμων: indeclinable; the Ammonites, whose subjugation completes the campaign.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (final clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (David's return home)→ constative aorist (narrative closure)ἐπιστρέφω (aor. ἐπέστρεψεν): 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the chapter closes with David's return to Jerusalem — the campaign and the whole narrative arc resolved.
ΔαυιδDavidsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: indeclinable; the king returns home victorious.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (compound subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with λαός: 'all the people')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the whole army returns with the king.
theNominativearticle (with λαός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeople / armyNominativesubject (compound with Δαυιδ: 'David and all the people')→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; here the army, returning with David — the public, communal resolution closing the chapter.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to Jerusalem')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to Jerusalem').
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of יְרוּשָׁלִַם; indeclinable; the City of David, the destination that closes the chapter — the king restored, victorious, and home, though under the abiding shadow of the sword pronounced in v. 10.