1
καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν Αχααβ τῇ Ιεζαβελ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ πάντα ἃ ἐποίησεν Ηλιου καὶ ὡς ἀπέκτεινεν τοὺς προφήτας ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ
And Ahab told Jezebel his wife all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed the prophets with the sword.
The chapter opens with Hebraizing καί-parataxis (καὶ ἀνήγγειλεν), picking up directly from the slaughter of the Baal-prophets at the Kishon (18:40). Ahab functions as messenger, not actor; the report to Jezebel is what triggers the death-threat that drives the entire chapter. The double object — 'all that Elijah did' and 'how he killed the prophets' — frames the coming conflict as Jezebel's vengeance for her prophets.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνήγγειλενtold / reportedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (report-introducing)→ constative aorist (single completed act of reporting)ἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / report / declare'; renders Hebrew נָגַד (Hiphil); the ἀνα- compound suggests bringing word back up to a superior; here Ahab carries the news of Carmel back to the palace and to Jezebel, the true power behind the throne.
ΑχααβAhabsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑχααβ: transliteration of Hebrew אַחְאָב; indeclinable in the LXX; king of Israel and husband of Jezebel; here he is reduced to a reporter of Elijah's deeds, the passive conduit of the conflict rather than its agent.
τῇthe / toDativearticle (with Ιεζαβελ, dative of indirect object)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεζαβελJezebelindirect object (indeclinable, governed by dative article τῇ)→ noun-phrase markingΙεζαβελ: transliteration of Hebrew אִיזֶבֶל; indeclinable, but here marked as dative by the article τῇ; the Sidonian princess and Baal-patroness whose lethal response drives the chapter; her name becomes a byword for idolatrous persecution (cf. Rev 2:20).
γυναικὶwifeDativedative in apposition to Ιεζαβελ ('his wife')→ sphere or referenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; in apposition to Jezebel, underlining the marital bond that made her idolatry royal policy (16:31).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with γυναικί)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with γυναικί).
πάνταallAccusativedirect object of ἀνήγγειλεν (neuter plural: 'all things')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; the neuter plural πάντα ('all the things') sums up the whole Carmel narrative of ch. 18 as the content of Ahab's report.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (neuter plural, object of ἐποίησεν)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; the neuter plural ἅ resumes πάντα and introduces the relative clause specifying what Elijah did.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (summary of Elijah's deeds at Carmel)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the aorist gathers up the whole drama of ch. 18 — the fire from heaven and the rout of Baal — into a single reported act.
ΗλιουElijahsubject of ἐποίησεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΗλιου: the LXX form of Hebrew אֵלִיָּהוּ ('Yah is my God'); indeclinable in this book; the protagonist of the chapter, whose triumph at Carmel now becomes the cause of his flight.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking second object-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὡςhow / thatconjunction (introducing indirect statement: 'how he killed')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'how / that / as'; here introduces a reported clause parallel to the relative clause above, specifying the most inflammatory detail of the report — the killing of the prophets.
ἀπέκτεινενhe killedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκτείνωverb of indirect clause→ constative aorist (the slaughter at the Kishon, 18:40)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill / put to death'; renders הָרַג; refers to Elijah's execution of the 450 prophets of Baal at the brook Kishon (18:40); this is precisely the act Jezebel will avenge.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with προφήτας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφήταςprophetsAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκτεινεν→ object specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet'; renders נָבִיא; here the prophets of Baal (cf. 18:19, 22, 40); the irony is sharp — Jezebel had earlier killed the prophets of the LORD (18:4, 13), and now avenges her own.
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 / large broadsword'; renders חֶרֶב; the instrumental ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ is a Hebraism (בְּחֶרֶב); the phrase recurs in Elijah's complaint (vv. 10, 14) where the prophets of the LORD are killed 'with the sword.'
2
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ιεζαβελ πρὸς Ηλιου καὶ εἶπεν εἰ σὺ εἶ Ηλιου καὶ ἐγὼ Ιεζαβελ τάδε ποιήσαι μοι ὁ θεὸς καὶ τάδε προσθείη ὅτι ταύτην τὴν ὥραν αὔριον θήσομαι τὴν ψυχήν σου καθὼς ψυχὴν ἑνὸς ἐξ αὐτῶν
And Jezebel sent to Elijah and said, 'If you are Elijah and I am Jezebel — so may God do to me and more also — by this hour tomorrow I will make your life like the life of one of them.'
Jezebel's response is a self-imprecatory oath (τάδε ποιήσαι μοι ὁ θεός καὶ τάδε προσθείη), the standard Hebrew oath-formula כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה … וְכֹה יוֹסִף. The opening εἰ-clause ('if you are Elijah and I am Jezebel') is a defiant assertion of identity and power. The threat is precise and bounded — ταύτην τὴν ὥραν αὔριον ('by this hour tomorrow') — a deadline that gives the prophet a single night, and it is this measured menace, not open pursuit, that breaks his nerve.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 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 (sending of a messenger)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send / send off (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; Jezebel sends a messenger (implied) πρὸς Ηλιου to deliver the oath; she acts where Ahab merely reported.
ΙεζαβελJezebelsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙεζαβελ: as in v. 1; here nominative subject of the sending and the speaking.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΗλιουElijahobject of πρός (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of πρός (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Jezebel's direct speech (delivered through the messenger she sent).
εἰifconditional particle (protasis of a defiant assertion)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; here introduces a real-condition clause used rhetorically — 'if you are Elijah (as you are), and I am Jezebel (as I am)' — asserting that the contest is now between the two of them directly.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic 2nd person pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic personal pronoun; sets Elijah over against Jezebel (ἐγώ) in a face-to-face confrontation.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate identification)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the present copula in the identifying clause 'you are Elijah.'
ΗλιουElijahpredicate nominative (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as predicate nominative (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the parallel clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic 1st person pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic pronoun; 'and I am Jezebel' — the queen sets her own identity and authority over against the prophet's.
ΙεζαβελJezebelpredicate nominative (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙεζαβελ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as predicate nominative (indeclinable).
τάδεthese things / thusAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of ποιήσαι: oath-formula)→ participant referenceὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: 'this'; the formula τάδε ποιήσαι μοι ὁ θεὸς καὶ τάδε προσθείη renders the Hebrew oath כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה … וְכֹה יוֹסִיף ('may God do so to me and add so'), a self-curse invoking unspecified divine penalty if the speaker fails to act.
ποιήσαιmay he doAor Act Opt 3 Sg · ποιέωoptative of wish (oath-formula)→ volitive optative (imprecation)ποιέω (aor. opt.): the optative ποιήσαι expresses a wish/imprecation — 'may God do (these things) to me'; the optative of wish is the standard LXX rendering of the oath-imprecation, calling down a self-curse.
μοιto meDativedative of disadvantage (object of the self-curse)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage (object of the self-curse).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGod / godNominativesubject of ποιήσαι→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God / a god'; on the lips of the Baal-worshipping Jezebel the reference is most naturally to her own deity, though the oath-formula is verbally identical to Israelite usage; the irony is that she invokes 'God' to threaten God's prophet.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second member of the oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάδεthese thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of προσθείη)→ participant referenceὅδε: the repeated τάδε in the second clause ('and so may he add') intensifies the oath, leaving the magnitude of the threatened curse deliberately open.
προσθείηmay he addAor Act Opt 3 Sg · προστίθημιoptative of wish (second member of oath-formula)→ volitive optative (intensifying imprecation)προστίθημι (aor. opt.): 'add / add to'; renders יוֹסִיף; 'and so may he add' — the second optative escalates the self-curse, a fixed pair with ποιήσαι in the LXX oath-formula (cf. 1 Sam 3:17; 14:44; 2 Sam 3:35).
ὅτιthat / surelyconjunction (introducing the content/asseveration of the oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here introduces the substance of the sworn threat (an asseverative use following an oath, ≈ Hebrew כִּי), 'surely … I will make.'
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with ὥραν, accusative of time)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; ταύτην τὴν ὥραν αὔριον ('this hour tomorrow') sets a precise 24-hour deadline for the threatened execution.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ὥραν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὥρανhour / timeAccusativeaccusative of time (extent/point: 'by this hour')→ object specificationὥρα: 'hour / time / season'; the accusative of time marks the deadline; 'this hour tomorrow' renders the Hebrew כָּעֵת מָחָר.
αὔριονtomorrowtemporal adverb→ clausal contributionαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; renders מָחָר; the bounded deadline both menaces and, paradoxically, grants Elijah the night in which to flee.
θήσομαιI will make / setFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · τίθημιmain verb of the sworn threat (future)→ predictive/promissory future (threat)τίθημι (fut. mid.): 'put / set / make'; renders שִׂים; the middle θήσομαι ('I will make for myself / set') governs τὴν ψυχήν σου — 'I will make your life (like the life of one of them),' i.e., I will have you killed as you killed them.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ψυχήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήνlife / soulAccusativedirect object of θήσομαι→ object specificationψυχή: 'life / soul / self'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'life' in the concrete sense of mortal existence; the word ψυχή recurs as a leitmotif of the chapter — Elijah flees 'for his life' (v. 3), asks for his 'life' to be taken (v. 4), and complains they seek his 'life' (vv. 10, 14).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχήν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ψυχήν).
καθὼςjust as / likecomparative conjunction ('like the life of')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'as / just as'; introduces the lex-talionis comparison — Elijah's life is to be made like the life of one of the slain prophets, measure for measure.
ψυχὴνlife / soulAccusativeaccusative in the comparative clause (object understood with θήσομαι)→ object specificationψυχή: the second ψυχήν completes the talion — 'like the life of one of them (the prophets of Baal)'; the repetition binds Elijah's fate to those he killed.
ἑνὸςof oneGenitivegenitive (partitive: 'of one of them')→ relational specificationεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the genitive ἑνός ('of one') with the partitive ἐξ αὐτῶν singles out an individual prophet of Baal as the measure of Elijah's threatened death.
ἐξof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive).
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (partitive: the slain prophets)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'them'; refers to the prophets of Baal killed at Carmel (v. 1); the partitive 'one of them' makes the threat exact retribution in kind.
3
καὶ ἐφοβήθη Ηλιου καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἀπῆλθεν κατὰ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ καὶ ἔρχεται εἰς Βηρσαβεε τὴν Ιουδα καὶ ἀφῆκεν τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ
And Elijah was afraid, and he rose and went away for his life, and he comes to Beersheba of Judah, and he left his servant there.
The verse is a rapid chain of καί-coordinated verbs (ἐφοβήθη … ἀνέστη … ἀπῆλθεν … ἔρχεται … ἀφῆκεν) tracing the flight in staccato narrative. Striking is the shift to the historic present ἔρχεται ('he comes'), heightening the immediacy of the arrival at Beersheba — the southernmost town of Judah, the very edge of the inhabited land before the wilderness. Leaving the servant there marks Elijah's choice of total solitude for what follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐφοβήθηwas afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (emotional reaction)→ ingressive aorist (became afraid)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; renders יָרֵא; the deponent-passive aorist marks the onset of fear; the irony is acute — the prophet who faced 450 prophets and called down fire now panics at a single threat, exposing the human frailty beneath the prophetic office.
ΗλιουElijahsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (sequential action)→ constative aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up / set out'; renders קוּם; here in the idiomatic sense 'he got up (and set out),' a common Hebraism prefacing a journey; the same verb structures the chapter's risings (vv. 6, 8, 21).
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 (departure)→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; renders הָלַךְ; the ἀπο- compound stresses departure-from; here the flight from Jezreel southward.
κατὰfor / according topreposition + accusative (purpose/regard: 'for his life')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: here in the idiom κατὰ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ, a Hebraism rendering אֶל־נַפְשׁוֹ ('for his life / to save his life'); the phrase frames the flight as self-preservation — the very life Jezebel threatened (v. 2) and Elijah will soon ask to surrender (v. 4).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ψυχήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴνlife / soulAccusativeobject of κατά (idiom: 'for his life')→ object specificationψυχή: 'life'; the leitmotif word again (cf. vv. 2, 4, 10, 14); Elijah flees to preserve the life he will shortly beg God to take.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive pronoun (genitive of possession)→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun, 'his own'; intensifies the self-preservational sense of the idiom.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔρχεταιhe comesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (historic present)→ historic present (vivid narrative)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the shift to the historic present ἔρχεται within a chain of aorists makes the arrival at Beersheba vivid and immediate — the goal of the flight reached.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΒηρσαβεεBeershebaobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒηρσαβεε: transliteration of Hebrew בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע; indeclinable; the southernmost town of Judah ('from Dan to Beersheba'), at the threshold of the Negev wilderness; reaching it marks the extreme southern limit of safe habitation.
τὴνthe / ofAccusativearticle (attributive, marking Ιουδα as a qualifier of Beersheba)→ noun-phrase markingthe article τήν substantivizes the following indeclinable Ιουδα into an attributive phrase, 'the (Beersheba) of Judah,' distinguishing this Beersheba as belonging to the territory of Judah.
ΙουδαJudahattributive qualifier of Βηρσαβεε (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה; indeclinable; here a territorial designation, 'of Judah,' locating Beersheba in the southern kingdom, outside Ahab's and Jezebel's jurisdiction — yet Elijah does not stop even there.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀφῆκενleftAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφίημιmain verb→ constative aoristἀφίημι: 'leave / let go / send away'; renders עָזַב / נוּחַ (Hiphil); Elijah leaves his servant behind at Beersheba, choosing to go on into the wilderness utterly alone — the solitude essential to the despair and theophany that follow.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with παιδάριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονservant / young manAccusativedirect object of ἀφῆκεν→ object specificationπαιδάριον: diminutive of παῖς, 'lad / young servant / attendant'; renders נַעַר; Elijah's personal attendant, left behind so the prophet enters the wilderness alone.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with παιδάριον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with παιδάριον).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the leaving of the servant at Beersheba; the adverb marks the boundary between the inhabited land and the wilderness Elijah now enters alone.
4
καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπορεύθη ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὁδὸν ἡμέρας καὶ ἦλθεν καὶ ἐκάθισεν ὑπὸ ραθμ ἓν καὶ ᾐτήσατο τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἀποθανεῖν καὶ εἶπεν ἱκανούσθω νῦν λαβὲ δὴ τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ κύριε ὅτι οὐ κρείσσων ἐγώ εἰμι ὑπὲρ τοὺς πατέρας μου
And he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a single broom-tree; and he asked that he might die, and said, 'It is enough now; take my life from me, O LORD, for I am no better than my fathers.'
The emphatic αὐτός ('he himself') marks Elijah's now total isolation. The death-prayer ἱκανούσθω νῦν, λαβὲ δὴ τὴν ψυχήν μου ('it is enough now; take my life') is the emotional nadir of the chapter and the precise inversion of Jezebel's threat (v. 2): she would take his life; he now begs God to take it. The despairing rationale — οὐ κρείσσων ἐγώ εἰμι ὑπὲρ τοὺς πατέρας μου ('I am no better than my fathers') — confesses prophetic failure and mortality, the very self-pity the LORD will dismantle in vv. 11–18.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (emphatic subject)→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'he himself'; stresses that, having left the servant behind (v. 3), Elijah now goes on entirely alone into the wilderness — the solitude that frames the death-wish and the theophany.
ἐπορεύθηwent / journeyedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (journey into the wilderness)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / journey / travel'; renders הָלַךְ; the deponent aorist; the same verb will mark the great forty-day journey to Horeb (v. 8) and Elisha's following of Elijah (v. 21).
ἐνin / intopreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἐρήμῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwilderness / desertDativedative of place (locative: 'in the wilderness')→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert / wasteland'; renders מִדְבָּר; the substantivized adjective; the wilderness is the classic biblical locus of testing, divine encounter, and Exodus-typology (Israel's forty years; Moses at Horeb) — all evoked here.
ὁδὸνa journey / roadAccusativeaccusative of extent (cognate-like: 'a day's journey')→ object specificationὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; here accusative of spatial extent, ὁδὸν ἡμέρας ('a day's journey'), renders Hebrew דֶּרֶךְ יוֹם; measures the depth of his withdrawal from Beersheba.
ἡμέραςof a dayGenitivegenitive of measure (with ὁδόν: 'a day's journey')→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; genitive of measure; contrasts pointedly with the forty days of v. 8 — one day to the edge of despair, forty to the mountain of God.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; here 'came (to a stopping-place)'; the aorist marks the end of the day's walking before he sits down.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθισενsat downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit down / take a seat'; renders יָשַׁב; the posture of exhaustion and resignation; Elijah sits beneath the broom-tree to await death.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (position: 'under')→ spatial or relational framingὑπὸ: meaning 'under'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position: 'under').
ραθμbroom-tree / juniperobject of ὑπό (untranslated transliteration)→ clausal contributionραθμ: a transliteration (not translation) of Hebrew רֹתֶם, the white broom (Retama raetam) of the Negev, a desert shrub large enough to give shade; the LXX simply carries over the Hebrew word, treating it as indeclinable; the broom-tree is the only shelter in the wasteland.
ἓνone / a singleAccusativenumeral adjective (modifying ραθμ: 'one broom-tree')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the neuter ἕν agrees ad sensum with the transliterated ραθμ; 'one (single) broom-tree' — a lone shrub for a lone, despairing man, the image underscoring his isolation.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾐτήσατοhe asked / requestedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · αἰτέωmain verb (governing infinitive ἀποθανεῖν)→ constative aoristαἰτέω (mid.): 'ask / request (for oneself)'; the middle voice marks personal involvement — he asks for himself; renders שָׁאַל; the object of the asking is his own death (ἀποθανεῖν), the inversion of Jezebel's threat on his life.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ψυχήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴνlife / soulAccusativeaccusative (idiomatic: 'asked his life (= himself) to die')→ object specificationψυχή: 'life / soul / self'; the construction ᾐτήσατο τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἀποθανεῖν renders Hebrew וַיִּשְׁאַל אֶת־נַפְשׁוֹ לָמוּת ('he asked for his life/soul to die'); the leitmotif ψυχή reaches its lowest point — he asks his own life to end.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχήν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ψυχήν).
ἀποθανεῖνto dieAor Act Inf · ἀποθνῄσκωcomplementary infinitive (content of the request)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the aorist infinitive expresses the content of Elijah's request — death itself; this prayer the LORD will answer not with death but with food, an angel, and a commission.
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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elijah's death-prayer in direct discourse.
ἱκανούσθωlet it be enoughPres Pass Impv 3 Sg · ἱκανόωmain verb (impersonal imperative)→ imperatival (resigned plea)ἱκανόω: 'make sufficient / be enough'; the passive imperative ἱκανούσθω ('let it be enough') renders Hebrew רַב ('enough!'); an impersonal cry of resignation — 'enough now,' the labor and the life have gone on long enough.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; intensifies the immediacy of the plea — let it be enough at this very moment.
λαβὲtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative addressed to the LORD)→ imperatival (entreaty)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; the aorist imperative λαβέ is Elijah's direct petition to the LORD to take his life; the same root recurs in the complaint (vv. 10, 14) 'they seek my life to take it (λαβεῖν).'
δὴplease / nowentreaty particle (softening the imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: emphatic/entreaty particle, rendering Hebrew נָא; softens the imperative λαβέ to an earnest plea, 'take, I pray.'
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ψυχήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήνlife / soulAccusativedirect object of λαβέ→ object specificationψυχή: the third occurrence of the leitmotif in this verse; Elijah hands over to God the very life he had fled to preserve (v. 3) and that Jezebel had sworn to take (v. 2).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχήν)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ψυχήν).
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation, elided before vowel).
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (separation: 'from me')→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): the emphatic genitive of the first-person pronoun; 'take my life from me' — the redundancy of μου … ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ underscores the totality of the surrender.
κύριεO LORDVocativevocative of address (to YHWH)→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the vocative addresses YHWH directly — Elijah's despair is voiced as prayer, not mere complaint; he still turns to the LORD even in asking to die.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (giving the reason)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the despairing rationale for the death-wish.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κρείσσων)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κρείσσωνbetterNominativepredicate adjective (comparative: 'no better')→ participant prominenceκρείσσων: comparative of ἀγαθός, 'better / superior'; renders טוֹב (comparative); Elijah confesses he is 'no better than his fathers' — neither more successful nor more deserving of survival; the despairing measure of self-worth the LORD will overturn.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic; 'I am no better' — the self-focus that the theophany and commission (vv. 11–18) will redirect outward to God's larger purpose and to the remnant.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'I am not better')→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the present copula of the self-assessment.
ὑπὲρthan / abovepreposition + accusative (comparison after comparative)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: 'beyond / above / than'; here used to express comparison after the comparative κρείσσων (a Hebraism rendering מִן), 'better than'; ὑπέρ for comparison is characteristic of LXX Greek.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πατέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραςfathersAccusativeobject of ὑπέρ (term of comparison)→ object specificationπατήρ (pl. πατέρας): 'father / forefather'; renders אָב; 'my fathers' = his ancestors, the prophets and faithful before him; Elijah measures himself against them and finds himself their equal in failure — and in mortality.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατέρας: 'my fathers')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατέρας: 'my fathers').
5
καὶ ἐκοιμήθη καὶ ὕπνωσεν ἐκεῖ ὑπὸ φυτόν καὶ ἰδού τις ἥψατο αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἀνάστηθι καὶ φάγε
And he lay down and slept there under a plant; and behold, someone touched him and said to him, 'Arise and eat.'
Sleep (ἐκοιμήθη … ὕπνωσεν) follows the death-prayer; into the prophet's exhaustion comes the unexpected — marked by the presentative ἰδού ('behold') — the touch of an unidentified figure (τις, 'someone,' revealed in v. 7 as 'the angel of the LORD'). God answers the request to die not with death but with provision: ἀνάστηθι καὶ φάγε ('arise and eat').
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκοιμήθηlay down / fell asleepAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάομαιmain verb→ ingressive aorist (lay down to sleep)κοιμάομαι: 'lie down / fall asleep'; renders שָׁכַב; the deponent-passive aorist; the exhausted prophet lies down beneath the tree, his death-wish unfulfilled.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὕπνωσενsleptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑπνόωmain verb (near-synonym, intensifying)→ constative aoristὑπνόω: 'sleep / go to sleep'; renders יָשֵׁן; paired with ἐκοιμήθη as a near-synonymous doublet emphasizing the depth of his exhausted sleep.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; under the broom-tree in the wilderness.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingὑπὸ: meaning 'under'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
φυτόνplant / treeAccusativeobject of ὑπό→ object specificationφυτόν: 'plant / tree / growth'; here the LXX uses the generic Greek word for the broom-tree it had transliterated (ραθμ) in v. 4 — a stylistic variation, both referring to the same shrub under which Elijah lies.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (with ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδούbeholdpresentative interjection (vivid disclosure)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the presentative particle introduces the sudden, unexpected appearance of the heavenly visitor into the scene of despair.
τιςsomeoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite pronoun, 'someone / a certain one'; the visitor is at first unidentified, heightening the mystery; v. 7 names him 'the angel of the LORD.'
ἥψατοtouchedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἅπτωmain verb (governing genitive αὐτοῦ)→ constative aoristἅπτομαι (mid.): 'touch / take hold of'; renders נָגַע; governs the genitive (αὐτοῦ); the gentle physical touch awakens the sleeping prophet — a tender mode of divine address, repeated in v. 7.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἥψατο→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἥψατο.
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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the angel's command.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object of εἶπεν→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of εἶπεν.
ἀνάστηθιariseAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (command)→ imperatival (rousing command)ἀνίστημι (aor. impv.): 'rise / get up'; renders קוּם; the angel commands the prostrate prophet to rise and take nourishment — life reasserted against the death-wish.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φάγεeatAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (command)→ imperativalἐσθίω (aor. impv. φάγε): 'eat'; renders אָכַל; the imperative of provision; the food supplied (v. 6) will sustain the forty-day journey (v. 8).
6
καὶ ἐπέβλεψεν Ηλιου καὶ ἰδοὺ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ἐγκρυφίας ὀλυρίτης καὶ καψάκης ὕδατος καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἔφαγεν καὶ ἔπιεν καὶ ἐπιστρέψας ἐκοιμήθη
And Elijah looked, and behold, at his head a cake baked on coals and a cruse of water; and he rose and ate and drank, and turned and lay down again.
Elijah looks (ἐπέβλεψεν) and the presentative ἰδού discloses the provision waiting at his head: a coal-baked cake of spelt (ἐγκρυφίας ὀλυρίτης) and a jar of water (καψάκης ὕδατος). He obeys — rises, eats, drinks — but then turns and lies down again (ἐπιστρέψας ἐκοιμήθη), still weary, still in the grip of his despair, requiring the second visitation of 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.
ἐπέβλεψενlooked / looked upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιβλέπωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (directed his gaze)ἐπιβλέπω: 'look upon / look up / regard'; renders נָבַט / רָאָה; the ἐπι- compound directs the gaze; the awakened prophet looks and sees the provision.
ΗλιουElijahsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (with ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; discloses the miraculous provision to the prophet's (and reader's) eyes.
πρὸςat / bypreposition + genitive (position: 'at the head of')→ spatial or relational framingπρός + gen.: here in the locative sense 'at / beside'; πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ('at his head') renders Hebrew מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו, the place by a sleeper's head.
κεφαλῆςheadGenitivegenitive object of πρός (position)→ relational specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; the provision is set within easy reach, at the head of the sleeping man.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with κεφαλῆς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κεφαλῆς).
ἐγκρυφίαςa coal-baked cakeNominativesubject (nominative, copula understood: 'there was a cake')→ participant prominenceἐγκρυφίας: 'a cake baked in (hot) ashes / on coals'; renders עֻגַת רְצָפִים ('a cake baked on hot stones'); from ἐγκρύπτω ('hide in'), i.e., bread buried in embers to bake; the same term used of the bread Sarah baked for the angelic visitors (Gen 18:6).
ὀλυρίτηςof speltNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἐγκρυφίας: 'of spelt')→ participant prominenceὀλυρίτης: 'made of ὄλυρα (spelt / coarse grain)'; describes the cake as a humble spelt loaf; the provision is plain but life-giving, the desert equivalent of manna for the new-Exodus journey.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καψάκηςa cruse / jarNominativesubject (nominative: 'and a jar of water')→ participant prominenceκαψάκης: 'a flask / cruse / earthen jar'; renders צַפַּחַת; a small vessel for liquid; the same word for the jar of water at Elijah's head appears in the parallel provision-narratives of the book.
ὕδατοςof waterGenitivegenitive of content (with καψάκης: 'a jar of water')→ relational specificationὕδωρ (gen. ὕδατος): 'water'; the genitive of content; bread and water — the minimal sustenance for survival in the waterless wilderness, supplied by divine care.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (obedient response)→ constative aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise'; Elijah obeys the command ἀνάστηθι of v. 5; the deed answers the word.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφαγενateAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb→ constative aoristἐσθίω: 'eat'; fulfills the command φάγε of v. 5.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπιενdrankAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίνωmain verb→ constative aoristπίνω: 'drink'; renders שָׁתָה; he drinks from the cruse of water; eating and drinking together restore his strength.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιστρέψαςturning / againAor Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἐπιστρέφωcircumstantial participle (modal/adverbial: 'turned and …')→ aorist participle (antecedent/coincident action: 'turning')ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn / turn back / return'; the aorist participle ἐπιστρέψας here functions adverbially ('turning' = 'again'), a Hebraism (שׁוּב used to express repetition); 'he lay down again' — still wearied, not yet ready for the journey.
ἐκοιμήθηlay down / sleptAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάομαιmain verb→ ingressive aoristκοιμάομαι: 'lie down / sleep'; as in v. 5; Elijah sleeps a second time, his weariness so deep that one provision is not enough — hence the second visitation of v. 7.
7
καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐκ δευτέρου καὶ ἥψατο αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἀνάστα φάγε ὅτι πολλὴ ἀπὸ σοῦ ἡ ὁδός
And the angel of the LORD returned a second time and touched him and said to him, 'Arise, eat, for the journey is too great for you.'
The anonymous τις of v. 5 is now named: ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου ('the angel of the LORD'). The second touch and command (ἀνάστα, φάγε) escalate the first, and the reason is given — πολλὴ ἀπὸ σοῦ ἡ ὁδός ('the journey is too great for you'): the food is not merely to revive but to provision a forty-day march. Divine care looks ahead to a purpose Elijah does not yet know.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the angel returns 'a second time' (ἐκ δευτέρου), the persistence of divine provision toward a despairing servant.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἄγγελος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἄγγελος: 'messenger / angel'; renders מַלְאָךְ; here the anonymous toucher of v. 5 is identified as 'the angel of the LORD,' a heavenly emissary of YHWH; the genitive κυρίου marks divine commissioning of the provision.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession/source (with ἄγγελος)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; 'the angel of the LORD' (ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου) is the standard LXX phrase מַלְאַךְ יהוה; the provision is explicitly YHWH's, not chance.
ἐκfor / apreposition + genitive (idiom: 'a second time')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ δευτέρου: idiomatic, 'a second time / again'; renders שֵׁנִית; marks the repetition of the angelic visitation, underscoring divine patience.
δευτέρουsecond timeGenitivegenitive in temporal idiom (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationδεύτερος: 'second'; the ordinal in the fixed phrase ἐκ δευτέρου ('a second time'); the two visitations frame the provision as deliberate and sufficient for the long road.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἥψατοtouchedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἅπτωmain verb (governing genitive αὐτοῦ)→ constative aoristἅπτομαι: 'touch'; as in v. 5; the repeated touch rouses the deeply sleeping prophet a second time.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἥψατο→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἥψατο.
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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the angel's second command, now with a stated reason.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object of εἶπεν→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of εἶπεν.
ἀνάσταariseAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (command)→ imperativalἀνίστημι (aor. impv., athematic form ἀνάστα): 'rise / get up'; a variant imperative beside ἀνάστηθι of v. 5; the same rousing command, now urgent before the great journey.
φάγεeatAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (command, asyndetic)→ imperativalἐσθίω (aor. impv. φάγε): 'eat'; the second command to eat, now justified by the road ahead.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; gives the reason for the second feeding — the magnitude of the journey to come.
πολλὴgreat / too muchNominativepredicate adjective (with ἡ ὁδός: 'the journey is great')→ participant prominenceπολύς: 'much / great / long'; here predicate, 'too great' — the road is more than the unfed prophet could endure; the comparative sense ('too great for you') is contextual, with ἀπὸ σοῦ marking the measure.
ἀπὸfor / frompreposition + genitive (measure: 'too great for you')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό + gen.: here a Hebraism (מִן of comparison/excess), πολλὴ ἀπὸ σοῦ ('great beyond you / too great for you'); the construction conveys that the journey exceeds Elijah's unaided strength.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (measure of comparison)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'; the road is too long for your strength — hence the divine provision must sustain you.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with ὁδός)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδόςjourney / road / wayNominativesubject (of implied copula: 'the journey is great')→ participant prominenceὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; the forty-day road to Horeb (v. 8); the same word marks the 'wilderness road of Damascus' in the commission (v. 15).
8
καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἔφαγεν καὶ ἔπιεν καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἐν τῇ ἰσχύι τῆς βρώσεως ἐκείνης τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας καὶ τεσσαράκοντα νύκτας ἕως ὄρους Χωρηβ
And he rose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights, as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.
The obedient triplet (ἀνέστη … ἔφαγεν … ἔπιεν) of v. 6 is repeated, now leading to action: ἐν τῇ ἰσχύι τῆς βρώσεως ἐκείνης ('in the strength of that food') Elijah walks forty days and forty nights to Horeb. The forty/forty figure and the goal of Horeb make the Moses-typology explicit (Exod 24:18; 34:28; Deut 9:9): the prophet returns to the mountain where the covenant was given, to encounter God as Moses did.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb→ constative aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise'; fulfills the second command ἀνάστα (v. 7); now the rising leads not back to sleep but to the great journey.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφαγενateAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb→ constative aoristἐσθίω: 'eat'; the second feeding, now sufficient for the road.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπιενdrankAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίνωmain verb→ constative aoristπίνω: 'drink'; completes the nourishment that will sustain forty days.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwent / journeyedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (the great journey)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; the same verb as v. 4, but where the one-day journey ended in despair, this forty-day journey leads to theophany.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (instrumental/causal: 'in the strength of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental/causal: 'in the strength of').
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἰσχύι)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἰσχύιstrengthDativedative of means (with ἐν: 'by the strength')→ sphere or referenceἰσχύς: 'strength / might'; renders כֹּחַ; 'in the strength of that food' — the supernatural sustaining power of the divine provision, recalling the manna that sustained Israel and the fasting of Moses on the same mountain.
τῆςthe / thatGenitivearticle (with βρώσεως)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βρώσεωςfood / eatingGenitivegenitive of source (with ἰσχύι: 'strength of the food')→ relational specificationβρῶσις: 'food / eating'; renders אֲכִילָה; the single meal of the angel becomes a forty-day supply of strength — a miracle of provision analogous to manna.
ἐκείνηςthatGenitivedemonstrative adjective (with βρώσεως: 'that food')→ relational specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; deictic, pointing back to the specific coal-baked cake and water of v. 6.
τεσσαράκονταfortynumeral (with ἡμέρας: 'forty days')→ measure or countτεσσαράκοντα: 'forty'; indeclinable numeral; renders אַרְבָּעִים; the forty days and nights evoke Moses' fast on Horeb (Exod 34:28; Deut 9:9) and Israel's forty years — a signal of Exodus/Sinai typology.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (with τεσσαράκοντα)→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; accusative of temporal extent; the forty days measure the duration of the journey to the mountain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τεσσαράκονταfortynumeral (with νύκτας: 'forty nights')→ measure or countτεσσαράκοντα: the repeated numeral with 'nights' completes the Mosaic formula 'forty days and forty nights.'
νύκταςnightsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (with τεσσαράκοντα)→ object specificationνύξ (pl. νύκτας): 'night'; accusative of temporal extent; 'forty days and forty nights' is the fixed biblical idiom for an extended, divinely measured span.
ἕωςas far as / untilpreposition + genitive (spatial limit: 'as far as')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; marks the goal of the journey; renders עַד.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (goal of journey)→ relational specificationὄρος (gen. ὄρους): 'mountain'; renders הַר; 'the mountain of God,' the place of the Sinai covenant; Elijah retraces the path to the foundational site of Israel's relationship with YHWH.
ΧωρηβHorebindeclinable place-name (in apposition to ὄρους)→ participant identificationΧωρηβ: transliteration of Hebrew חֹרֵב; indeclinable; Horeb is the Deuteronomic name for Sinai, 'the mountain of God,' where Moses met YHWH in the burning bush and received the Law; Elijah's destination ties his theophany to Moses' (Exod 33–34).
9
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἐκεῖ εἰς τὸ σπήλαιον καὶ κατέλυσεν ἐκεῖ καὶ ἰδοὺ ῥῆμα κυρίου πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν τί σὺ ἐνταῦθα Ηλιου
And he entered there into the cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'
At Horeb Elijah enters 'the cave' (τὸ σπήλαιον, with the article — perhaps the very cleft of the rock where Moses saw God's glory, Exod 33:22). The presentative ἰδού introduces the coming of the word of the LORD (ῥῆμα κυρίου), and the searching question τί σὺ ἐνταῦθα; ('what are you doing here?') opens the dialogue — not a request for information but a summons to self-examination, repeated verbatim in v. 13.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενenteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; renders בּוֹא; Elijah enters the cave at Horeb, a place of shelter and of divine encounter.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; at Horeb; the adverb is repeated within the verse, anchoring the action at the holy mountain.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with σπήλαιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπήλαιονcaveAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationσπήλαιον: 'cave / den'; renders מְעָרָה; the definite article ('the cave') may point to a known site — traditionally linked to the cleft of the rock where Moses was hidden as YHWH's glory passed by (Exod 33:22), reinforcing the Moses-Elijah parallel.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέλυσενlodged / restedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταλύωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταλύω: 'unloose / put up for the night / lodge'; renders לוּן; the intransitive sense 'find lodging / spend the night'; Elijah settles in the cave, his journey ended.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: the second 'there' in the verse, emphasizing the cave as the locus of what follows.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (with ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; introduces the sudden coming of the divine word, the hinge from journey to revelation.
ῥῆμαwordNominativesubject (verbless clause: 'the word of the LORD (came)')→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / utterance / matter'; renders דָּבָר; 'the word of the LORD' (ῥῆμα κυρίου) is the prophetic revelation-formula; the verbless construction (ἰδοὺ ῥῆμα κυρίου πρὸς αὐτόν) renders the Hebrew הִנֵּה דְבַר־יהוה אֵלָיו, vivid and immediate.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with ῥῆμα)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the word that comes to Elijah is YHWH's own word, the authoritative divine address at the mountain.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the word)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the word).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the LORD's question; the subject is the LORD (through his word).
τίwhat / whyNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate: 'what (are) you (doing)')→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative pronoun, 'what / why'; the elliptical question τί σὺ ἐνταῦθα ('what (is) you here?' = 'what are you doing here?') renders Hebrew מַה־לְּךָ פֹה; not a request for information but a probing of the prophet's flight and despair.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; 'what are you doing here?' — the pronoun underscores the personal challenge to Elijah specifically.
ἐνταῦθαhereadverb of place (predicate in the elliptical question)→ adverbial qualificationἐνταῦθα: 'here / in this place'; the question implies Elijah is where he ought not to be — fled far from his prophetic post in Israel to a cave at the edge of the world.
ΗλιουElijahvocative of address (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: indeclinable; here in direct address; the LORD names the prophet, making the question pointedly personal.
10
καὶ εἶπεν Ηλιου ζηλῶν ἐζήλωκα τῷ κυρίῳ παντοκράτορι ὅτι ἐγκατέλιπόν σε οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὰ θυσιαστήριά σου κατέσκαψαν καὶ τοὺς προφήτας σου ἀπέκτειναν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ ὑπολέλειμμαι ἐγὼ μονώτατος καὶ ζητοῦσι τὴν ψυχήν μου λαβεῖν αὐτήν
And Elijah said, 'I have been very zealous for the LORD Almighty, because the sons of Israel have forsaken you; they have torn down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword, and I alone am left, and they seek my life to take it.'
Elijah's answer is the lament Paul quotes at Rom 11:3: ζηλῶν ἐζήλωκα ('I have been very zealous'), followed by the fourfold charge — Israel has forsaken, demolished, killed — and the climactic ὑπολέλειμμαι ἐγὼ μονώτατος ('I alone am left'). The cognate construction ζηλῶν ἐζήλωκα is an emphatic Hebraism (infinitive absolute). This verse and its near-twin v. 14 supply the 'remnant of one' that the LORD will correct in v. 18 (the 7,000) — the precise text of Paul's argument in Romans 11:2–4 that God has not rejected his people.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elijah's complaint, his answer to the LORD's question.
ΗλιουElijahsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ζηλῶνbeing zealousPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ζηλόωparticiple in cognate construction (intensifying ἐζήλωκα)→ intensive (Hebraistic infinitive-absolute calque)ζηλόω: 'be zealous / jealous'; the participle ζηλῶν with the cognate perfect ἐζήλωκα calques the Hebrew infinitive-absolute construction קַנֹּא קִנֵּאתִי ('I have been exceedingly zealous'); Elijah pleads his zeal for YHWH as the ground of his right to complain. Paul cites this clause at Rom 11:3.
ἐζήλωκαI have been zealousPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ζηλόωmain verb (perfect of settled state)→ intensive perfect (abiding zeal)ζηλόω (perf.): the perfect ἐζήλωκα expresses a zeal that has been and remains characteristic of Elijah; with the participle it forms the emphatic 'I have been very zealous for the LORD'; the dative τῷ κυρίῳ marks the object of devotion.
τῷthe / forDativearticle (with κυρίῳ, dative of advantage/object of zeal)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳfor the LORDDativedative object of ζηλόω ('zealous for the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative τῷ κυρίῳ names the one for whom Elijah is zealous; in the Hebrew, 'for the LORD, the God of hosts.'
παντοκράτοριAlmighty / of hostsDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ ('the LORD Almighty')→ sphere or referenceπαντοκράτωρ: 'all-ruling / almighty'; the LXX's frequent rendering of צְבָאוֹת ('of hosts') in the title יהוה אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֹת ('the LORD God of hosts'); stresses YHWH's universal sovereignty — the very power Elijah feels has abandoned the field to Jezebel.
ὅτιbecause / thatcausal conjunction (grounds of the lament)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the charges against Israel that justify Elijah's despair.
ἐγκατέλιπόνthey have forsakenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐγκαταλείπωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aorist (summary indictment)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon / leave behind'; renders עָזַב; the first of the threefold indictment — Israel has abandoned the covenant LORD; the same root (ὑπολέλειμμαι) ironically describes Elijah as the one 'left' (remnant) in the next clause.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐγκατέλιπον (addressed to the LORD)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): the complaint shifts to second-person address to YHWH — 'they have forsaken you' — making the lament a direct appeal to God.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐγκατέλιπον→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the covenant people as a whole; the indictment is corporate, which makes the LORD's reply about the 7,000 (v. 18) all the more pointed.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the covenant nation; in Paul's use (Rom 11) 'Israel' is precisely the people God has not cast off, the remnant proving the point.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with θυσιαστήρια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριάaltarsAccusativedirect object of κατέσκαψαν→ object specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar (of sacrifice)'; renders מִזְבֵּחַ; 'your altars' = the altars of YHWH, torn down in the Baalizing apostasy; cf. Elijah's repair of the LORD's altar at Carmel (18:30).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θυσιαστήρια)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θυσιαστήρια).
κατέσκαψανthey tore downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατασκάπτωmain verb (second indictment)→ constative aoristκατασκάπτω: 'dig down / demolish / raze'; renders הָרַס; the violent dismantling of the LORD's altars; in v. 14 the synonym καθεῖλαν ('pulled down') replaces it, the only substantive variation between the twin complaints.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with προφήτας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφήταςprophetsAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκτειναν→ object specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet'; here the prophets of YHWH, killed by Jezebel (18:4, 13); the same word and verb (ἀπέκτεινεν, v. 1) that described Elijah's slaying of Baal's prophets now describes Israel's slaying of the LORD's — the tragic symmetry of the chapter.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with προφήτας)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with προφήτας).
ἀπέκτεινανthey killedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (third indictment)→ constative aoristἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; renders הָרַג; the killing of YHWH's prophets, the climax of the apostasy; Paul abridges this clause in Rom 11:3 ('they have killed your prophets').
ἐνwithpreposition + 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 instrumental ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ, as in v. 1; the same weapon by which Elijah slew Baal's prophets has been turned against the LORD's — the lex talionis that terrifies Elijah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (climax of complaint)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑπολέλειμμαιI am leftPerf Pass Indic 1 Sg · ὑπολείπωmain verb (perfect of present state)→ resultative perfect (abiding condition of being the sole survivor)ὑπολείπω (perf. pass.): 'leave remaining / be left over'; renders יָתַר (Niphal); the perfect ὑπολέλειμμαι ('I am left / I alone remain') is the heart of the complaint and of Paul's citation (Rom 11:3, κἀγὼ ὑπελείφθην μόνος); the very root λείπω generates Paul's 'remnant' (λεῖμμα, Rom 11:5) — God's answer to Elijah's despairing 'remnant of one.'
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic; 'I, I alone' — the self-isolating climax the LORD will correct: not Elijah alone, but seven thousand (v. 18).
μονώτατοςutterly aloneNominativepredicate adjective (superlative: 'entirely alone')→ participant prominenceμόνος (superl. μονώτατος): 'alone / only,' superlative 'utterly/entirely alone'; an intensified form heightening Elijah's sense of total isolation; renders the Hebrew 'I, I alone, am left'; the superlative makes the LORD's correction (the 7,000) the more dramatic.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζητοῦσιthey seekPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ζητέωmain verb (present of ongoing threat)→ progressive present (the pursuit continues)ζητέω: 'seek / search for'; renders בָּקַשׁ; the present tense conveys the ongoing pursuit of Elijah's life; 'they seek my life to take it' echoes Jezebel's threat (v. 2) and is part of Paul's citation (Rom 11:3).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ψυχήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήνlife / soulAccusativedirect object of ζητοῦσι→ object specificationψυχή: 'life'; the leitmotif word once more (vv. 2, 3, 4); 'they seek my life' — the pursuit Elijah fled and the LORD will redirect by commissioning him back into action.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχήν)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ψυχήν).
λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωinfinitive of purpose (with ζητοῦσι: 'seek to take')→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take'; the infinitive of purpose, 'they seek my life to take it'; the same verb (λαβέ) by which Elijah asked the LORD to take his life (v. 4) — what he wished for, his enemies now intend.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of λαβεῖν (resumptive: 'to take it')→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτήν): resumptive pronoun referring back to τὴν ψυχήν μου; the redundant object ('my life … to take it') is a Hebraism, reproducing the resumptive pronoun of the Hebrew.
11
καὶ εἶπεν ἐξελεύσῃ αὔριον καὶ στήσῃ ἐνώπιον κυρίου ἐν τῷ ὄρει ἰδοὺ παρελεύσεται κύριος καὶ πνεῦμα μέγα κραταιὸν διαλῦον ὄρη καὶ συντρῖβον πέτρας ἐνώπιον κυρίου οὐκ ἐν τῷ πνεύματι κύριος καὶ μετὰ τὸ πνεῦμα συσσεισμός οὐκ ἐν τῷ συσσεισμῷ κύριος
And he said, 'You shall go out tomorrow and stand before the LORD on the mountain; behold, the LORD will pass by, and a great strong wind tearing apart mountains and shattering rocks before the LORD — the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake — the LORD was not in the earthquake.'
The LORD commands Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain (ἐξελεύσῃ … στήσῃ ἐνώπιον κυρίου), recalling Moses' standing on Sinai. Then the presentative ἰδού announces the passing of the LORD (παρελεύσεται κύριος), echoing Exod 33:22 (YHWH 'passes by' Moses). Three mighty natural phenomena follow — wind, earthquake (v. 11), fire (v. 12) — each emphatically negated by the refrain οὐκ ἐν … κύριος: the LORD is not in the elemental violence, overturning the storm-god theophany pattern (Baal, the storm-god, is implicitly repudiated).
Word-by-word analysis· 40 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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the LORD's command and the theophany-announcement.
ἐξελεύσῃyou shall go outFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (command in future form)→ imperatival future (directive)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come out'; renders יָצָא; the future ἐξελεύσῃ functions as a command ('you shall go out') — Elijah is to leave the cave and present himself; he in fact does not go out until v. 13, after the elements pass.
αὔριονtomorrowtemporal adverb→ clausal contributionαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; the same word as Jezebel's deadline (v. 2), now marking the appointed time of theophany rather than threatened death.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στήσῃyou shall standFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (command in future form)→ imperatival future (directive)ἵστημι (fut. mid.): 'stand / take one's stand'; renders עָמַד; 'you shall stand before the LORD on the mountain' — the posture of a servant awaiting his master, recalling Moses on Sinai (Exod 33:21, 'stand upon the rock').
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive ('before the LORD')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the standing 'before the LORD' marks the audience the theophany grants; the word recurs three times in vv. 11–12 (twice 'before the LORD,' once of the wind 'before the LORD').
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD before whom Elijah stands.
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὄρει)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειmountainDativedative of place (locative: 'on the mountain')→ sphere or referenceὄρος (dat. ὄρει): 'mountain'; Horeb, 'the mountain of God'; the site of the theophany, deliberately the same as Moses' Sinai encounter.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; introduces the announcement of the LORD's passing — the climactic disclosure of the chapter.
παρελεύσεταιwill pass byFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · παρέρχομαιmain verb (announcement of the passing)→ predictive futureπαρέρχομαι: 'pass by / pass alongside'; renders עָבַר; the LORD 'passing by' (παρελεύσεται κύριος) deliberately echoes Exod 33:19, 22, where YHWH's glory 'passes before' Moses in the cleft of the rock — the defining Mosaic theophany, now repeated for Elijah.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of παρελεύσεται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD himself is the subject of the passing — the theophany is personal divine self-disclosure.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the wind)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πνεῦμαwind / spiritNominativesubject (verbless: 'and (there came) a wind')→ participant prominenceπνεῦμα: 'wind / breath / spirit'; renders רוּחַ; here clearly 'wind,' a tearing tempest; the same word πνεῦμα will recur in the negation 'the LORD was not in the wind' and contrasts with the gentle αὔρα of v. 12.
μέγαgreatNominativeattributive adjective (with πνεῦμα)→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great / large'; the neuter μέγα agrees with πνεῦμα; the magnitude of the wind sets up the surprise that the LORD is not in it.
κραταιὸνstrong / mightyNominativeattributive adjective (with πνεῦμα)→ participant prominenceκραταιός: 'strong / mighty / powerful'; renders חָזָק; doubles with μέγα to emphasize the violence of the wind, making its emptiness of God the more striking.
διαλῦονtearing apartPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Neut · διαλύωattributive participle (with πνεῦμα: 'wind … tearing apart mountains')→ verbal action or stateδιαλύω: 'dissolve / break up / tear apart'; the present participle describes the wind's ongoing destructive force on the mountains; the cosmic upheaval matches the storm-theophany pattern that the negation will subvert.
ὄρηmountainsAccusativedirect object of διαλῦον→ object specificationὄρος (pl. ὄρη): 'mountain'; the object of the wind's tearing; the very mountains are rent, yet the LORD is not in the wind.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συντρῖβονshatteringPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Neut · συντρίβωattributive participle (with πνεῦμα, parallel to διαλῦον)→ verbal action or stateσυντρίβω: 'crush / break in pieces / shatter'; renders שָׁבַר; the present participle parallels διαλῦον; the wind shatters rocks — total elemental violence preceding the LORD's passing.
πέτραςrocksAccusativedirect object of συντρῖβον→ object specificationπέτρα (pl. πέτρας): 'rock / crag'; renders סֶלַע; the rocks shattered by the wind; the imagery of rent mountains and broken rocks is the conventional storm-theophany the narrative then deliberately empties of the divine presence.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive ('before the LORD')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before'; the wind rages 'before the LORD' — heralding his approach but not containing him.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
οὐκnotnegative particle (the refrain of negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ before vowel): the emphatic refrain οὐκ ἐν τῷ πνεύματι κύριος ('the LORD was not in the wind'), repeated for earthquake and fire; the threefold negation is the theological heart of the theophany — God is not to be identified with the violent forces of nature.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with πνεύματι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πνεύματιwindDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in the wind')→ sphere or referenceπνεῦμα (dat. πνεύματι): 'wind'; the refrain locates the absence: 'the LORD (was) not in the wind'; the verbless clause renders the Hebrew לֹא בָרוּחַ יהוה.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of verbless negated clause→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the absent-from-the-wind LORD; he comes not in power but in stillness (v. 12).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the earthquake)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal sequence)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; structures the sequence of phenomena (after the wind … after the earthquake … after the fire), building toward the climactic stillness.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πνεῦμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πνεῦμαwindAccusativeobject of μετά (temporal: 'after the wind')→ object specificationπνεῦμα: 'wind'; 'after the wind' the earthquake comes; the sequence moves from one negated element to the next.
συσσεισμόςearthquakeNominativesubject (verbless: 'an earthquake (came)')→ participant prominenceσυσσεισμός: 'a shaking-together / earthquake / commotion'; renders רַעַשׁ; from συσσείω ('shake violently'); the second great phenomenon, equally emptied of the divine presence.
οὐκnotnegative particle (refrain)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the second negation in the refrain, 'the LORD was not in the earthquake.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with συσσεισμῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συσσεισμῷearthquakeDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in the earthquake')→ sphere or referenceσυσσεισμός (dat. συσσεισμῷ): 'earthquake'; the refrain repeats — 'the LORD (was) not in the earthquake' — building the cumulative negation toward the still voice.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of verbless negated clause→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; again the LORD is declared absent from the violent sign.
12
καὶ μετὰ τὸν συσσεισμὸν πῦρ οὐκ ἐν τῷ πυρὶ κύριος καὶ μετὰ τὸ πῦρ φωνὴ αὔρας λεπτῆς κἀκεῖ κύριος
And after the earthquake a fire — the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a light breeze, and there was the LORD.
The sequence reaches its climax. Fire, the third element (the very fire Elijah called down at Carmel), is also emptied of the divine presence (οὐκ ἐν τῷ πυρὶ κύριος). Then comes the famous φωνὴ αὔρας λεπτῆς ('a sound of a light/thin breeze') — and the verbless κἀκεῖ κύριος ('and there (was) the LORD'). The LORD reveals himself not in cataclysm but in a barely-audible stillness; the theology overturns Baal's storm-theophany and redefines how God meets his despairing prophet — in quietness, not spectacle.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal sequence)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; continues the sequence — after the earthquake, the fire.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with συσσεισμόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συσσεισμὸνearthquakeAccusativeobject of μετά (temporal: 'after the earthquake')→ object specificationσυσσεισμός: 'earthquake'; as in v. 11; the second phenomenon now past.
πῦρfireNominativesubject (verbless: 'a fire (came)')→ participant prominenceπῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the third great phenomenon; pointedly, fire was the sign by which the LORD answered Elijah at Carmel (18:38) — but here the LORD is not in the fire, teaching the prophet a new mode of divine encounter.
οὐκnotnegative particle (refrain)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the third negation, 'the LORD was not in the fire,' completing the threefold refrain.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with πυρὶ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πυρὶfireDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in the fire')→ sphere or referenceπῦρ (dat. πυρί): 'fire'; the refrain locates the absence — 'the LORD (was) not in the fire'; the climactic negation before the disclosure of the still voice.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of verbless negated clause→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; absent from the fire, present in the breeze.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the turning-point)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal sequence)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; the final 'after the fire' introduces the climactic phenomenon — the still voice.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πῦρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πῦρfireAccusativeobject of μετά (temporal: 'after the fire')→ object specificationπῦρ: 'fire'; the last of the three elements now past; what follows is the divine self-revelation.
φωνὴsound / voiceNominativesubject (verbless: 'a sound (came)')→ participant prominenceφωνή: 'sound / voice'; renders קוֹל; the famous φωνὴ αὔρας λεπτῆς renders the enigmatic Hebrew קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה ('a sound of thin silence / a still small voice'); here it is the medium of the LORD's presence — paradoxically a 'sound,' yet of the faintest breeze.
αὔραςof a breezeGenitivegenitive of source/content (with φωνή: 'sound of a breeze')→ relational specificationαὔρα: 'breeze / gentle air / breath of wind'; the soft moving air contrasts utterly with the πνεῦμα μέγα κραταιόν of v. 11; the LORD comes in the gentlest stirring, not the tempest.
λεπτῆςlight / thinGenitiveattributive adjective (with αὔρας: 'a light breeze')→ relational specificationλεπτός: 'fine / thin / light / delicate'; renders דַּקָּה; the breeze is barely perceptible — the famous 'still small voice'; the delicacy of the sign teaches that God's deepest self-disclosure may come in quietness, not in overwhelming power.
κἀκεῖand therecrasis (καὶ ἐκεῖ: 'and there')→ clausal contributionκἀκεῖ: crasis of καὶ ἐκεῖ, 'and there'; the emphatic locative — 'and there (was) the LORD'; after three negations, the affirmation falls in this single small word: the LORD is in the stillness.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (verbless: 'there (was) the LORD')→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the climactic affirmation κἀκεῖ κύριος ('and there was the LORD') answers the threefold οὐκ … κύριος — the divine presence is found at last, in the breath of silence.
13
καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν Ηλιου καὶ ἐπεκάλυψεν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ μηλωτῇ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ ἐξῆλθεν καὶ ἔστη ὑπὸ τὸ σπήλαιον καὶ ἰδοὺ πρὸς αὐτὸν φωνὴ καὶ εἶπεν τί σὺ ἐνταῦθα Ηλιου
And it came to pass, when Elijah heard, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the cave; and behold, a voice came to him, and it said, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'
The narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ('and it came to pass when') marks the prophet's response. Hearing the still voice, Elijah covers his face with his mantle (μηλωτή) — the gesture of Moses, who hid his face before God (Exod 3:6), and the very mantle he will soon cast over Elisha (v. 19). He goes out and stands at the cave-mouth, and the question of v. 9 is repeated verbatim (τί σὺ ἐνταῦθα Ηλιου), framing the dialogue and giving Elijah a second chance to answer differently — which he does not (v. 14).
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (with ἐγένετο, formulaic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative temporal formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become / happen'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ('and it came to pass when') renders Hebrew וַיְהִי כַּ, a standard LXX narrative time-marker introducing a new development.
ὡςwhen / astemporal conjunction ('when')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'when / as'; here temporal, marking the moment of Elijah's hearing as the trigger for his action.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristἀκούω: 'hear / listen'; renders שָׁמַע; Elijah hears the still voice (v. 12) — the faint sound that the tempest, quake, and fire could not convey; hearing it, he recognizes the divine presence and veils his face.
ΗλιουElijahsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis of the ἐγένετο-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπεκάλυψενcovered / wrappedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπικαλύπτωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπικαλύπτω: 'cover over / veil'; renders לוּט; Elijah wraps his face — the reverent gesture of one who dares not look on God, like Moses (Exod 3:6) and the seraphim (Isa 6:2); awe, not the earlier despair, now governs him.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρόσωπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativedirect object of ἐπεκάλυψεν→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / countenance'; renders פָּנִים; the veiled face is the posture of reverent fear before the divine presence.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πρόσωπον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πρόσωπον).
ἐνin / withpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
τῇtheDativearticle (with μηλωτῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηλωτῇmantle / sheepskinDativedative of instrument ('with his mantle')→ sphere or referenceμηλωτή: 'sheepskin / mantle of skin'; renders אַדֶּרֶת; the prophetic mantle, Elijah's distinctive garment; with it he veils his face here and casts it over Elisha (v. 19); it becomes the token of prophetic succession (cf. 4 Kgdms 2:8, 13–14), and the word recurs in Heb 11:37 of the persecuted faithful.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive pronoun (genitive of possession, with μηλωτῇ)→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: 'his own'; reflexive, emphasizing that it is Elijah's own mantle — the same one soon to mark Elisha's call.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; Elijah at last obeys the command ἐξελεύσῃ (v. 11), emerging from the cave to stand before the LORD.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστηstoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb→ constative aoristἵστημι: 'stand'; fulfills στήσῃ (v. 11); Elijah takes his stand at the cave-mouth, before the LORD, awaiting the word.
ὑπὸat / bypreposition + accusative (position: 'at the cave-mouth')→ spatial or relational framingὑπό + acc.: here 'at / just under,' i.e., at the entrance of the cave; the same preposition used of the broom-tree (v. 4) and the plant (v. 5).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with σπήλαιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπήλαιονcaveAccusativeobject of ὑπό (position)→ object specificationσπήλαιον: 'cave'; the same cave he entered (v. 9); now he stands at its mouth in the LORD's presence.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (with ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; introduces the renewed coming of the voice to Elijah.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
φωνὴvoice / soundNominativesubject (verbless: 'a voice (came) to him')→ participant prominenceφωνή: 'voice / sound'; the same word as the φωνὴ αὔρας λεπτῆς of v. 12; now the gentle sound becomes articulate speech, addressing Elijah by name.
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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the repeated question; the subject is the LORD speaking through the voice.
τίwhat / whyNominativeinterrogative pronoun (elliptical question)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: the repeated question τί σὺ ἐνταῦθα ('what are you doing here?'), verbatim from v. 9; the LORD asks again, giving Elijah opportunity to move beyond his complaint — yet he repeats it unchanged (v. 14).
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; the personal challenge renewed.
ἐνταῦθαhereadverb of place (predicate in elliptical question)→ adverbial qualificationἐνταῦθα: 'here'; as in v. 9, the question presses Elijah on his presence at the mountain rather than at his prophetic post.
ΗλιουElijahvocative of address (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: indeclinable; the LORD again addresses the prophet by name, personalizing the summons.
14
καὶ εἶπεν Ηλιου ζηλῶν ἐζήλωκα τῷ κυρίῳ παντοκράτορι ὅτι ἐγκατέλιπον τὴν διαθήκην σου οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὰ θυσιαστήριά σου καθεῖλαν καὶ τοὺς προφήτας σου ἀπέκτειναν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ ὑπολέλειμμαι ἐγὼ μονώτατος καὶ ζητοῦσι τὴν ψυχήν μου λαβεῖν αὐτήν
And Elijah said, 'I have been very zealous for the LORD Almighty, because the sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant; they have pulled down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword, and I alone am left, and they seek my life to take it.'
Elijah's second answer is almost verbatim with v. 10 — the same self-justifying zeal, the same indictment, the same 'I alone am left.' Two small variations: 'they have forsaken your covenant (τὴν διαθήκην σου)' for 'they have forsaken you,' and καθεῖλαν ('pulled down') for κατέσκαψαν. The prophet has heard the still voice but not yet relinquished his despairing self-isolation; the LORD's reply (vv. 15–18) will answer not the complaint but the man — with commission and the truth of the 7,000 remnant (cited Rom 11:4).
Word-by-word analysis· 38 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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elijah's repeated complaint.
ΗλιουElijahsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ζηλῶνbeing zealousPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ζηλόωparticiple in cognate construction (with ἐζήλωκα)→ intensive (Hebraistic infinitive-absolute calque)ζηλόω: as in v. 10; the cognate ζηλῶν ἐζήλωκα again renders the emphatic Hebrew קַנֹּא קִנֵּאתִי; the verbatim repetition shows the prophet's fixed self-understanding.
ἐζήλωκαI have been zealousPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ζηλόωmain verb (perfect of settled state)→ intensive perfectζηλόω (perf.): 'I have been very zealous'; as in v. 10.
τῷthe / forDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳfor the LORDDativedative object of ζηλόω→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; 'for the LORD' — the object of Elijah's zeal, as in v. 10.
παντοκράτοριAlmighty / of hostsDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ→ sphere or referenceπαντοκράτωρ: 'almighty'; the LXX's rendering of צְבָאוֹת ('of hosts'); as in v. 10, 'the LORD Almighty.'
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the indictment, as in v. 10.
ἐγκατέλιπονthey have forsakenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐγκαταλείπωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aoristἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon'; as in v. 10, but here the object is 'your covenant' rather than 'you' — a slight variation specifying the breach as covenant-abandonment.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with διαθήκην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of ἐγκατέλιπον→ object specificationδιαθήκη: 'covenant / testament'; renders בְּרִית; 'your covenant' — the variation from v. 10 ('you') names what Israel has forsaken: the Sinai covenant, fittingly invoked at Horeb, the very mountain where it was given.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with διαθήκην)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with διαθήκην).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐγκατέλιπον→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'sons'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, as in v. 10.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the covenant people, as in v. 10.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with θυσιαστήρια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριάaltarsAccusativedirect object of καθεῖλαν→ object specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; 'your altars,' as in v. 10.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θυσιαστήρια)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θυσιαστήρια).
καθεῖλανthey pulled downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καθαιρέωmain verb (second indictment)→ constative aoristκαθαιρέω: 'take down / pull down / demolish'; renders הָרַס; here it replaces κατέσκαψαν of v. 10 — a near-synonym, the only verbal variation in the indictment; both mean the violent destruction of the LORD's altars.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with προφήτας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφήταςprophetsAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκτειναν→ object specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet'; the prophets of YHWH, as in v. 10.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with προφήτας)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with προφήτας).
ἀπέκτεινανthey killedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (third indictment)→ constative aoristἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; as in v. 10; the killing of YHWH's prophets, the clause Paul cites at Rom 11:3.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
ῥομφαίᾳswordDativedative of instrument→ sphere or referenceῥομφαία: 'sword'; ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ, as in vv. 1, 10.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (climax)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑπολέλειμμαιI am leftPerf Pass Indic 1 Sg · ὑπολείπωmain verb (perfect of present state)→ resultative perfectὑπολείπω (perf. pass.): 'be left remaining'; as in v. 10; 'I alone am left' — the despairing claim of a remnant of one, which the LORD immediately corrects with the 7,000 (v. 18); cited Rom 11:3 and answered in the λεῖμμα-theology of Rom 11:5.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic; 'I, alone,' as in v. 10.
μονώτατοςutterly aloneNominativepredicate adjective (superlative)→ participant prominenceμόνος (superl. μονώτατος): 'utterly alone'; as in v. 10; the superlative the LORD's reply will overturn.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζητοῦσιthey seekPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ζητέωmain verb (present of ongoing threat)→ progressive presentζητέω: 'seek'; as in v. 10; 'they seek my life,' the ongoing pursuit.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ψυχήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήνlife / soulAccusativedirect object of ζητοῦσι→ object specificationψυχή: 'life'; the leitmotif word again, as in v. 10.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχήν)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ψυχήν).
λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωinfinitive of purpose (with ζητοῦσι)→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take'; the infinitive of purpose, 'to take it,' as in v. 10.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of λαβεῖν (resumptive)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτήν): resumptive pronoun, as in v. 10; the Hebraizing resumption 'my life … to take it.'
15
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς αὐτόν πορεύου ἀνάστρεφε εἰς τὴν ὁδόν σου καὶ ἥξεις εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν ἐρήμου Δαμασκοῦ καὶ χρίσεις τὸν Αζαηλ εἰς βασιλέα τῆς Συρίας
And the LORD said to him, 'Go, return on your way, and you shall come to the wilderness road of Damascus, and you shall anoint Hazael as king of Syria.'
The LORD answers the complaint not with consolation or rebuke but with a commission — the cure for despair is renewed mission. πορεύου, ἀνάστρεφε ('go, return') sends Elijah back from the edge of the world into the heart of the political struggle. The first task: anoint Hazael king of Syria (Damascus). The three anointings (Hazael, Jehu, Elisha, vv. 15–16) set in motion the agents of judgment against the apostate house of Ahab — God's answer to Israel's apostasy is not abandonment but providential action.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the LORD's commission, the climactic divine response.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD, who was found in the still voice, now speaks his commissioning word.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
πορεύουgoPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (command)→ imperatival (sending)πορεύομαι (pres. impv.): 'go / proceed'; renders לֵךְ; the command to depart reverses the flight; the prophet who fled into the wilderness is sent back to his mission.
ἀνάστρεφεreturnPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (command, asyndetic with πορεύου)→ imperativalἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; 'return on your way' — Elijah is to retrace his steps northward; the same imperative Elijah will use to Elisha (v. 20).
εἰςon / topreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ὁδόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδόνway / roadAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationὁδός: 'way / road'; 'your way' = the way back, the route of return to the land and the mission; the word ὁδός recurs three times in vv. 15 (cf. ἡ ὁδός, v. 7).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὁδόν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὁδόν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἥξειςyou shall comeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἥκωmain verb (predictive future / directive)→ predictive futureἥκω: 'come / arrive / reach'; renders בּוֹא; the future marks the destination Elijah is to reach — the wilderness road of Damascus, gateway to the anointing of Hazael.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ὁδόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδὸνroad / wayAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationὁδός: 'way / road'; 'the road of the wilderness of Damascus' — the desert route leading to the Aramean capital; renders Hebrew מִדְבַּרָה דַמֶּשֶׂק.
ἐρήμουof the wildernessGenitivegenitive (attributive: 'wilderness road')→ relational specificationἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; here genitive qualifying ὁδόν — 'the wilderness road of Damascus'; the desert reappears, but now as a road back to mission, not a refuge of despair.
Δαμασκοῦof DamascusGenitivegenitive (attributive: 'of Damascus')→ relational specificationΔαμασκός (gen. Δαμασκοῦ): 'Damascus'; the capital of Aram/Syria; a declinable Greek place-name (hence the genitive form); the destination of the first commission — to anoint a foreign king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
χρίσειςyou shall anointFut Act Indic 2 Sg · χρίωmain verb (commission, future as command)→ imperatival futureχρίω: 'anoint'; renders מָשַׁח; the verb from which χριστός ('anointed one / Messiah') derives; here the prophet anoints a king — a remarkable act, anointing even a foreign (Syrian) monarch as YHWH's instrument; χρίσεις is repeated for each of the three commissions (vv. 15–16).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Αζαηλ, marking accusative)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑζαηλHazaeldirect object of χρίσεις (indeclinable, governed by τόν)→ participant identificationΑζαηλ: transliteration of Hebrew חֲזָאֵל; indeclinable; the usurper who becomes king of Aram-Damascus and a scourge of Israel (4 Kgdms 8:7–15); the first of the three agents of judgment, his accusative marked by the article τόν.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as king')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here predicative ('as / to be'), a Hebraism (לְ of result/office); 'anoint him as king,' marking the office to which Hazael is designated.
βασιλέαkingAccusativepredicative accusative (office: 'as king')→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the office to which Hazael is anointed; the same construction (εἰς βασιλέα) for Jehu in v. 16.
τῆςofGenitivearticle (with Συρίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Συρίαςof SyriaGenitivegenitive (of place: 'king of Syria')→ relational specificationΣυρία (gen. Συρίας): 'Syria / Aram'; a declinable Greek name (hence the genitive); the kingdom of Aram-Damascus, Israel's northeastern rival; Hazael's realm.
16
καὶ τὸν Ιου υἱὸν Ναμεσσι χρίσεις εἰς βασιλέα ἐπὶ Ισραηλ καὶ τὸν Ελισαιε υἱὸν Σαφατ ἀπὸ Αβελμαουλα χρίσεις εἰς προφήτην ἀντὶ σοῦ
And Jehu son of Nimshi you shall anoint as king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
The commission continues with the second and third anointings: Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel (the executioner of Ahab's house, 4 Kgdms 9–10), and Elisha son of Shaphat as prophet ἀντὶ σοῦ ('in your place'). The naming of Elisha as successor is the LORD's gentle answer to Elijah's death-wish: the prophet who asked to die is given not death but a disciple who will continue and extend his work — the antidote to 'I alone am left.'
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιου, marking accusative object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙουJehudirect object of χρίσεις (indeclinable, governed by τόν)→ participant identificationΙου: transliteration of Hebrew יֵהוּא; indeclinable; the army commander anointed king who annihilates the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal (4 Kgdms 9–10); the second agent of judgment, fronted before its verb for emphasis.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ιου ('son of Nimshi')→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic identifier; 'son of Nimshi' (more precisely grandson, cf. 4 Kgdms 9:2, 14) locates Jehu in his lineage.
ΝαμεσσιNimshigenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Nimshi')→ participant identificationΝαμεσσι: transliteration of Hebrew נִמְשִׁי; indeclinable; the ancestor of Jehu in the patronymic.
χρίσειςyou shall anointFut Act Indic 2 Sg · χρίωmain verb (commission, future as command)→ imperatival futureχρίω: 'anoint'; as in v. 15; the second anointing — Jehu to be king over Israel; in fact this commission is carried out by Elisha's agent (4 Kgdms 9:1–6), showing prophetic continuity.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as king')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: predicative 'as,' as in v. 15.
βασιλέαkingAccusativepredicative accusative (office)→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the office to which Jehu is anointed; ἐπὶ Ισραηλ ('over Israel') specifies his realm — unlike Hazael (foreign), Jehu rules God's own people.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (rule: 'over Israel')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over'; renders עַל; marks the sphere of Jehu's kingship — 'king over Israel.'
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern kingdom over which Jehu will reign.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third commission)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ελισαιε, marking accusative)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕλισαιεElishadirect object of χρίσεις (indeclinable, governed by τόν)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: transliteration of Hebrew אֱלִישָׁע ('God is salvation'); indeclinable; Elijah's disciple and prophetic successor, whose call is narrated in vv. 19–21; the third agent, and the LORD's personal gift to the lonely prophet.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ελισαιε ('son of Shaphat')→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic 'son of Shaphat' identifies Elisha; repeated at v. 19.
ΣαφατShaphatgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Shaphat')→ participant identificationΣαφατ: transliteration of Hebrew שָׁפָט; indeclinable; Elisha's father, of Abel-meholah.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (origin: 'from Abel-meholah')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό + gen.: 'from'; marks Elisha's place of origin.
ΑβελμαουλαAbel-meholahobject of ἀπό (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑβελμαουλα: transliteration of Hebrew אָבֵל מְחוֹלָה; indeclinable; a town in the Jordan valley, Elisha's home, where Elijah will find him plowing (v. 19).
χρίσειςyou shall anointFut Act Indic 2 Sg · χρίωmain verb (commission, future as command)→ imperatival futureχρίω: 'anoint'; the third anointing — Elisha as prophet; though prophets were not normally anointed with oil, the verb marks his formal designation and empowerment as successor; in narrative fulfillment Elijah casts his mantle over Elisha (v. 19).
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as prophet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: predicative 'as,' as in vv. 15–16.
προφήτηνprophetAccusativepredicative accusative (office: 'as prophet')→ object specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet'; the office to which Elisha is designated; he succeeds to the very role Elijah felt he alone held (vv. 10, 14) — the LORD provides continuity.
ἀντὶin place ofpreposition + genitive (substitution: 'in your place')→ spatial or relational framingἀντί + gen.: 'instead of / in place of'; renders תַּחַת; 'in your place' marks Elisha as Elijah's successor; the despairing prophet who asked to die is told his work will go on through another — a gentle resolution of the death-wish.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί ('in place of you')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'; Elisha is appointed prophet 'in your place,' designating the succession that frees Elijah from his sense of irreplaceable solitude.
17
καὶ ἔσται τὸν σῳζόμενον ἐκ ῥομφαίας Αζαηλ θανατώσει Ιου καὶ τὸν σῳζόμενον ἐκ ῥομφαίας Ιου θανατώσει Ελισαιε
And it shall be that the one who escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death; and the one who escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.
The three anointed agents form an inescapable chain of judgment against the apostate kingdom. The future-formula καὶ ἔσται introduces a chiastic-progressive scheme: whoever escapes Hazael's sword, Jehu kills; whoever escapes Jehu's sword, Elisha kills. Elisha's 'sword' is the prophetic word (cf. Hos 6:5), the killing power of God's pronounced judgment — the prophet who succeeds Elijah wields a deadlier instrument than the kings. No apostate escapes; yet (v. 18) a faithful remnant is preserved.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (with ἔσται, future-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (future-formula introducing the outcome)→ predictive futureεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; the formula καὶ ἔσται ('and it shall be / come to pass') renders Hebrew וְהָיָה, introducing the foretold sequence of judgment.
τὸνthe oneAccusativearticle substantivizing the participle (object, fronted)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σῳζόμενονthe one escaping / survivingPres Pass Ptcp Acc Sg Masc · σῴζωsubstantival participle (object of θανατώσει)→ verbal action or stateσῴζω: 'save / rescue / preserve'; the passive participle ὁ σῳζόμενος ('the one who is saved/escapes') renders Hebrew הַנִּמְלָט ('the one who escapes'); here ironic — the one who survives one sword falls to the next; the substantival participle is fronted as object of θανατώσει.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (escape from)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + gen.: 'from / out of'; marks that from which one escapes — Hazael's sword.
ῥομφαίαςswordGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from the sword of Hazael')→ relational specificationῥομφαία: 'sword'; the leitmotif weapon of the chapter (vv. 1, 10, 14) reappears, now as the instrument of judgment Hazael wields against Israel.
Αζαηλof Hazaelgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'sword of Hazael')→ participant identificationΑζαηλ: indeclinable; the first agent; Hazael's wars against Israel inflict heavy slaughter (4 Kgdms 8:12; 10:32).
θανατώσειshall put to deathFut Act Indic 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (predictive)→ predictive futureθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; renders הֵמִית (Hiphil of מוּת); the causative force ('cause to die'); Jehu will kill those Hazael's sword spares — the relentless progression of judgment.
ΙουJehusubject of θανατώσει (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙου: indeclinable; the second agent; Jehu's purge of Ahab's house and the Baal-cult (4 Kgdms 9–10) is the bloody fulfillment of this word.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second member of the chain)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνthe oneAccusativearticle substantivizing the participle (object, fronted)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σῳζόμενονthe one escaping / survivingPres Pass Ptcp Acc Sg Masc · σῴζωsubstantival participle (object of second θανατώσει)→ verbal action or stateσῴζω: 'escape / survive'; the repeated participle continues the chain — the survivor of Jehu's sword falls to Elisha's word.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (escape from)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (escape from).
ῥομφαίαςswordGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from the sword of Jehu')→ relational specificationῥομφαία: 'sword'; here Jehu's sword; Elisha's instrument, by contrast, is the prophetic word, also figured as a 'sword' of judgment.
Ιουof Jehugenitive of possession (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙου: indeclinable; whose sword the third group escapes only to meet Elisha.
θανατώσειshall put to deathFut Act Indic 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (predictive)→ predictive futureθανατόω: 'put to death'; Elisha's killing is effected by the word of judgment he pronounces (e.g., the bears of 4 Kgdms 2:24; the death-oracles he speaks), the prophetic word as lethal as the royal sword.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject of θανατώσει (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; the third agent, completing the inescapable triad; the prophet-successor shares in the executive judgment of God upon apostate Israel.
18
καὶ καταλείψεις ἐν Ισραηλ ἑπτὰ χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν πάντα γόνατα ἃ οὐκ ὤκλασαν γόνυ τῷ Βααλ καὶ πᾶν στόμα ὃ οὐ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ
And you shall leave in Israel seven thousand men, all the knees that have not bowed the knee to Baal, and every mouth that has not worshiped him.
The climactic correction of Elijah's 'I alone am left': the LORD declares he will leave (καταλείψεις, lit. 'you shall leave') seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed to Baal. This is the verse Paul cites at Rom 11:4 (κατέλιπον ἐμαυτῷ ἑπτακισχιλίους ἄνδρας) as the OT proof that God preserves a believing remnant 'by the election of grace' (Rom 11:5) and has not rejected his people. The shift from κατέλιπον (Paul, with God as subject — 'I have kept for myself') to the LXX καταλείψεις (Elijah as agent — 'you shall leave') is a notable feature of the citation; the substance is identical — a divinely preserved remnant of the faithful.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταλείψειςyou shall leave / keepFut Act Indic 2 Sg · καταλείπωmain verb (the remnant-promise)→ predictive/promissory futureκαταλείπω: 'leave behind / leave remaining / preserve'; renders הִשְׁאַרְתִּי ('I have left/kept'); the LXX has 2nd-person καταλείψεις ('you (Elijah) shall leave'), while Paul (Rom 11:4) and the Hebrew read 1st-person ('I have kept for myself, κατέλιπον ἐμαυτῷ'); the same root λείπω as ὑπολέλειμμαι ('I am left,' vv. 10, 14) — the LORD answers Elijah's despairing 'remnant of one' with a remnant of seven thousand.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐν (indeclinable: 'in Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the remnant is preserved within the very nation Elijah declared wholly apostate — God's faithful are hidden where the prophet saw only abandonment; central to Paul's argument that God has not cast off Israel (Rom 11:1–5).
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (with χιλιάδας: 'seven thousand')→ measure or countἑπτά: 'seven'; indeclinable numeral; renders שֶׁבַע; with χιλιάδας, 'seven thousand' — a number both literal and symbolically complete (seven = fullness), denoting the full preserved remnant; Paul renders it ἑπτακισχιλίους (Rom 11:4).
χιλιάδαςthousandsAccusativedirect object of καταλείψεις (with ἑπτά: 'seven thousand')→ object specificationχιλιάς: 'a thousand / group of a thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; the accusative plural χιλιάδας with ἑπτά gives the total of the faithful remnant; the object of the divine preserving.
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivegenitive (partitive/of content: 'thousand of men')→ relational specificationἀνήρ (gen. pl. ἀνδρῶν): 'man'; renders אִישׁ; specifies the seven thousand as men; Paul includes ἄνδρας in his citation (ἑπτακισχιλίους ἄνδρας, Rom 11:4).
πάνταallAccusativeadjective (with γόνατα: 'all the knees')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; the neuter πάντα agrees with γόνατα; defines the remnant by their fidelity — all the knees that have not bowed.
γόναταkneesAccusativeaccusative in apposition to χιλιάδας ('all the knees')→ object specificationγόνυ (pl. γόνατα): 'knee'; renders בֶּרֶךְ; the bending of the knee is the gesture of worship/submission; 'all the knees that have not bowed to Baal' defines the remnant by their refusal of idolatrous worship.
ἃwhichNominativerelative pronoun (neuter plural, subject of ὤκλασαν)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; the neuter plural ἅ agrees with γόνατα; introduces the defining relative clause.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ὤκλασαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὤκλασανbowed / bentAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὀκλάζωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (settled refusal)ὀκλάζω: 'bend the knee / crouch / kneel down'; renders כָּרַע; the aorist sums up the remnant's steadfast refusal; 'have not bowed the knee to Baal' is the defining mark of the faithful (cf. the cognate accusative γόνυ that follows).
γόνυthe kneeAccusativecognate/adverbial accusative (with ὤκλασαν: 'bowed the knee')→ object specificationγόνυ: 'knee'; the singular γόνυ as cognate-like accusative with ὤκλασαν ('bow the knee'), a Hebraism intensifying the idiom; reinforces that not one act of knee-bending to Baal stained the remnant.
τῷto the / toDativearticle (with Βααλ, marking dative)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλBaalindirect object (indeclinable, governed by dative τῷ)→ participant identificationΒααλ: transliteration of Hebrew בַּעַל ('lord / master'); indeclinable; the Canaanite storm-god whose prophets Elijah slew (ch. 18); marked dative by the article τῷ; not bowing 'to Baal' defines covenant fidelity; the LXX sometimes treats Βααλ with the feminine article (τῇ Βααλ, by attraction to ἡ αἰσχύνη, 'the shame'), but here the masculine τῷ stands.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeadjective (with στόμα: 'every mouth')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'every'; the neuter πᾶν agrees with στόμα; parallels πάντα γόνατα — knees and mouth, the whole person's refusal of idolatry.
στόμαmouthAccusativeaccusative in apposition (parallel to γόνατα: 'every mouth')→ object specificationστόμα: 'mouth'; renders פֶּה; the mouth that has not 'kissed' Baal (the Hebrew נָשַׁק, the act of homage to an idol); the LXX renders the kissing as προσκύνησις ('worship') — fidelity in act (knee) and devotion (mouth).
ὃwhichNominativerelative pronoun (neuter singular, subject of προσεκύνησεν)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; the neuter singular ὅ agrees with στόμα; introduces the second defining clause of the remnant.
οὐnotnegative particle (with προσεκύνησεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσεκύνησενworshipedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσκυνέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (settled refusal)προσκυνέω: 'bow down / worship / do homage'; renders נָשַׁק ('kiss,' in the idiom of homage to an idol); the LXX interprets the kiss as an act of worship; 'every mouth that has not worshiped him' completes the portrait of the faithful remnant — uncontaminated in body and devotion.
αὐτῷhim / itDativedative object of προσεκύνησεν (= Baal)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'him'; refers to Baal; the remnant has given him no worship — the negative criterion of the seven thousand whom God has kept.
19
καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἐκεῖθεν καὶ εὑρίσκει τὸν Ελισαιε υἱὸν Σαφατ καὶ αὐτὸς ἠροτρία ἐν βουσίν δώδεκα ζεύγη βοῶν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν τοῖς δώδεκα καὶ ἐπῆλθεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπέρριψε τὴν μηλωτὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν
And he departed from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat; and he was plowing with oxen — twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he himself among the twelve; and Elijah came up to him and threw his mantle upon him.
Elijah obeys the commission. The historic present εὑρίσκει ('he finds') gives immediacy to the discovery of Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen — a sign of substantial wealth and of the comprehensive scope (twelve = all Israel) of the succession. The 'anointing' of v. 16 is fulfilled not with oil but with the casting of the mantle (ἐπέρριψε τὴν μηλωτήν), the symbolic transfer of prophetic identity and call; the same mantle Elijah used to veil his face before God (v. 13) now claims a successor.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῆλθενdepartedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; Elijah leaves Horeb to carry out the commission — the despair behind him, the mission resumed.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source)→ clausal contributionἐκεῖθεν: 'from there'; from Horeb, the place of theophany; the prophet returns to the land and the work.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὑρίσκειfindsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb (historic present)→ historic present (vivid narrative)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; renders מָצָא; the historic present makes the discovery of Elisha vivid; the third commission (v. 16) is the first to be carried out — the prophet-successor is found at once.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ελισαιε, marking accusative)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕλισαιεElishadirect object of εὑρίσκει (indeclinable, governed by τόν)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; Elisha, found exactly as the LORD foretold (v. 16); his accusative marked by τόν.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ελισαιε ('son of Shaphat')→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic, as in v. 16, confirming this is the man the LORD designated.
ΣαφατShaphatgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣαφατ: indeclinable; Elisha's father, as in v. 16.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing circumstantial clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (intensive pronoun: 'he himself')→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'he himself'; introduces the description of Elisha at his labor.
ἠροτρίαwas plowingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀροτριάωmain verb (imperfect of ongoing background action)→ descriptive imperfect (action in progress)ἀροτριάω: 'plow / till'; renders חָרַשׁ; the imperfect ἠροτρία ('was plowing') paints the scene — Elisha at honest agricultural work, the ordinary life from which God calls him; cf. the call of the laboring (Amos 7:14–15).
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental/accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental/accompaniment).
βουσίνoxenDativedative of means/accompaniment ('with oxen')→ sphere or referenceβοῦς (dat. pl. βουσίν): 'ox / cattle'; renders בָּקָר; the draft animals of the plow; the herd's size (twelve yoke) signals wealth and the totality (twelve tribes) of Israel that the new prophet will serve.
δώδεκαtwelvenumeral (with ζεύγη: 'twelve yoke')→ clausal contributionδώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable numeral; renders שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר; the twelve yoke of oxen evoke the twelve tribes — Elisha's call has all-Israel scope; the number recurs in the verse ('he himself among the twelve').
ζεύγηyoke / pairsNominativeappositional nominative (specifying the oxen: 'twelve yoke')→ participant prominenceζεῦγος (pl. ζεύγη): 'yoke / pair (of animals)'; renders צֶמֶד; twelve pairs of plowing oxen, a sign of large landholding; the same word recurs in vv. 19, 21.
βοῶνof oxenGenitivegenitive (of content: 'yoke of oxen')→ relational specificationβοῦς (gen. pl. βοῶν): 'ox'; the genitive specifies the yoke as of oxen.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (position: 'before him')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in front of'; the eleven yoke went ahead, with Elisha driving the twelfth — the picture of a great cooperative plowing.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐνώπιον.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativesubject (intensive pronoun)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'he himself'; Elisha himself drove the last (twelfth) yoke — present at his labor when the call comes.
ἐνamong / withpreposition + dative (position: 'among the twelve')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (position: 'among the twelve').
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with δώδεκα, substantivizing)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δώδεκαtwelvenumeral substantivized by τοῖς ('among the twelve')→ clausal contributionδώδεκα: 'twelve'; here substantivized ('the twelve (yoke)'); Elisha 'among the twelve' — driving the twelfth pair himself; the repetition fixes the twelve-tribe symbolism.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπῆλθενcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἐπέρχομαι: 'come upon / come up to / approach'; renders עָבַר; Elijah comes up to Elisha — the moment of the call; subject is Elijah.
ἐπ᾿to / uponpreposition + accusative (direction, elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction, elided).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (= Elisha)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐπ᾿ (= Elisha).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέρριψεthrew uponAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιρρίπτωmain verb (the symbolic act of call)→ constative aorist (decisive act)ἐπιρρίπτω: 'throw upon / cast over'; renders שָׁלַךְ (Hiphil); the casting of the mantle (μηλωτή) over Elisha is the symbolic transfer of the prophetic office — the narrative fulfillment of the 'anointing' commanded in v. 16; cf. the mantle's later role in the succession (4 Kgdms 2:13–14).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with μηλωτὴν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηλωτὴνmantle / sheepskinAccusativedirect object of ἐπέρριψε→ object specificationμηλωτή: 'sheepskin / mantle'; the prophetic garment, as in v. 13; cast over Elisha, it claims him for the prophetic office and binds him to Elijah; its transfer at Elijah's ascension seals the succession (4 Kgdms 2:8, 13–14).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with μηλωτὴν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with μηλωτὴν).
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (direction, elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction, elided).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (= Elisha)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): 'him'; the mantle is cast 'upon him' (Elisha), the gesture that calls and consecrates.
20
καὶ κατέλιπεν Ελισαιε τὰς βόας καὶ κατέδραμεν ὀπίσω Ηλιου καὶ εἶπεν καταφιλήσω τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ ἀκολουθήσω ὀπίσω σου καὶ εἶπεν Ηλιου ἀνάστρεφε ὅτι πεποίηκά σοι
And Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, 'Let me kiss my father, and I will follow after you.' And Elijah said, 'Return, for what have I done to you?'
Elisha's immediate response — he leaves the oxen and runs after Elijah — shows the mantle's claim accepted. His request to kiss his father (and mother, in the Hebrew) before following is a request for leave-taking, not refusal. Elijah's reply ἀνάστρεφε, ὅτι πεποίηκά σοι ('return, for what have I done to you?') is enigmatic: it both releases Elisha and reminds him of the irrevocable claim now laid upon him — the deed of calling has been done and cannot be undone.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέλιπενleftAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταλείπωmain verb→ constative aorist (decisive abandonment)καταλείπω: 'leave behind / forsake'; the same verb as the remnant-promise (καταλείψεις, v. 18); here Elisha 'leaves' the oxen — his decisive break with his former life to follow the prophet.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; now the active subject — he responds to the call by abandoning his plow.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with βόας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βόαςoxenAccusativedirect object of κατέλιπεν→ object specificationβοῦς (acc. pl. βόας): 'ox'; the oxen of his plowing, left behind — the livelihood relinquished for the prophetic call.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέδραμενran afterAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατατρέχωmain verb→ constative aoristκατατρέχω: 'run down / run after'; renders רוּץ (with אַחֲרֵי); the eager haste of Elisha's pursuit of Elijah — readiness, not reluctance, marks the call's reception.
ὀπίσωafterpreposition + genitive (direction: 'after Elijah')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; renders אַחֲרֵי; 'after Elijah' — the language of discipleship (cf. ὀπίσω σου below, and v. 21); the same idiom underlies NT 'follow after me.'
ΗλιουElijahobject of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable).
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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elisha's request; subject is Elisha.
καταφιλήσωlet me kissFut Act Indic 1 Sg · καταφιλέωmain verb (cohortative-like future: request)→ volitive future (request for leave)καταφιλέω: 'kiss affectionately / kiss farewell'; the κατα- compound intensifies (a fervent, lingering kiss); the future expresses a wish/request, 'let me kiss'; the desire to bid farewell to his father (and mother, MT) before following — a request for leave-taking, not a hesitation like Lk 9:61.
τὸνthe / myAccusativearticle (with πατέρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativedirect object of καταφιλήσω→ object specificationπατήρ (acc. πατέρα): 'father'; Elisha's father Shaphat; the request to take leave of his parents shows the cost and the propriety of his break from home; the Hebrew adds 'and my mother.'
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατέρα)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατέρα).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκολουθήσωI will followFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκολουθέωmain verb (future of intention)→ volitive/predictive future (commitment)ἀκολουθέω: 'follow / accompany (as a disciple)'; renders הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי; the verb of discipleship par excellence; 'I will follow after you' is Elisha's pledge of commitment — the very word the Gospels use of following Jesus.
ὀπίσωafterpreposition + genitive (direction: 'after you')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after'; 'follow after you' — the discipleship idiom repeated, sealing Elisha's intention.
σουyouGenitiveobject of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ὀπίσω.
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-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elijah's reply.
ΗλιουElijahsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable).
ἀνάστρεφεreturn / go backPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (command)→ imperatival (permission)ἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; the same imperative the LORD spoke to Elijah (v. 15); here it grants Elisha leave to go and take farewell — permission, not dismissal; the call stands.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (introducing the enigmatic reason)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces Elijah's cryptic reason; the clause is variously read as a question ('what have I done to you?') or statement ('for I have done (something) to you').
πεποίηκάI have donePerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (perfect of accomplished act)→ resultative perfect (the deed stands done)ποιέω (perf.): 'do / make'; the perfect πεποίηκα ('I have done') stresses the abiding effect of the act of calling; the enigmatic ὅτι πεποίηκά σοι ('for what have I done to you?' / 'for I have done (this) to you') renders Hebrew כִּי מֶה־עָשִׂיתִי לָךְ — at once releasing Elisha and reminding him the call is irrevocable.
σοιto youDativedative of advantage/relation (with πεποίηκα)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; the object of Elijah's enigmatic deed — the casting of the mantle that has already laid an unbreakable claim on Elisha.
21
καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν ἐξόπισθεν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλαβεν τὰ ζεύγη τῶν βοῶν καὶ ἔθυσεν καὶ ἥψησεν αὐτὰ ἐν τοῖς σκεύεσι τῶν βοῶν καὶ ἔδωκεν τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὀπίσω Ηλιου καὶ ἐλειτούργει αὐτῷ
And he turned back from following him and took the yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled them with the gear of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate; and he rose and went after Elijah and ministered to him.
Elisha's response is total and irreversible: he slaughters his yoke of oxen, burns the plowing-gear as fuel to cook them, and feeds the people — a sacrificial farewell-feast that destroys the means of return to his old life. Then he rises (ἀνέστη, the chapter's recurring verb of new beginning), goes after Elijah, and 'ministers to him' (ἐλειτούργει αὐτῷ). The chapter that began with a prophet fleeing alone in despair ends with that prophet no longer alone — succession secured, mission renewed, the lonely 'I' answered by a faithful disciple.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστρεψενturned backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; Elisha obeys Elijah's ἀνάστρεφε (v. 20), turning back from following — but only to take final leave; the obedience confirms his discipleship.
ἐξόπισθενfrom following / from behindpreposition/adverb + genitive (separation: 'from behind him')→ spatial or relational framingἐξόπισθεν: 'from behind'; with the genitive αὐτοῦ, 'from following him'; Elisha turns back from Elijah's track to complete his farewell before fully joining him.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἐξόπισθεν (= Elijah)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐξόπισθεν (= Elijah).
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→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; Elisha takes his yoke of oxen — the beginning of the decisive sacrifice that burns his bridges to the old life.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ζεύγη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζεύγηyoke / pairAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationζεῦγος (pl. ζεύγη): 'yoke / pair'; as in v. 19; here the yoke of oxen Elisha was driving (his own pair), now slaughtered for the feast.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with βοῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βοῶνof oxenGenitivegenitive (of content: 'yoke of oxen')→ relational specificationβοῦς (gen. pl. βοῶν): 'ox'; the oxen of the yoke; their slaughter is the sacrificial sealing of Elisha's call.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔθυσενslaughtered / sacrificedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θύωmain verb→ constative aoristθύω: 'sacrifice / slaughter'; renders זָבַח; the verb carries sacrificial overtones — the slaughter of the oxen is a farewell-offering and communal feast, consecrating the break with his past.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἥψησενboiled / cookedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἕψωmain verb→ constative aoristἕψω: 'boil / cook (by boiling)'; renders בָּשַׁל; Elisha cooks the meat using the wooden plowing-gear as fuel — the destruction of his farming implements making return impossible; the feast that follows binds the community to his new calling.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object of ἥψησεν (= the oxen)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. n. pl. αὐτά): 'them'; the slaughtered oxen, now boiled for the people.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with the gear')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental: 'with the gear').
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with σκεύεσι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκεύεσιgear / implementsDativedative of instrument ('with the implements of the oxen' = the plowing-gear)→ sphere or referenceσκεῦος (dat. pl. σκεύεσι): 'vessel / implement / gear'; renders כְּלִי; 'the gear of the oxen' = the wooden yokes and plows, here used as firewood to cook the sacrifice — the burning of his livelihood signals the irrevocability of his commitment.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with βοῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βοῶνof the oxenGenitivegenitive (of relationship: 'the gear of the oxen')→ relational specificationβοῦς (gen. pl. βοῶν): 'ox'; the gear belonging to the oxen — the plowing equipment burned for the feast.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; Elisha gives the cooked meat to the people — a communal farewell-feast, sharing his wealth before leaving it all behind.
τῷto theDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativeindirect object of ἔδωκεν→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; renders עָם; the local people (his household and field-workers) who share the feast — witnesses to and beneficiaries of Elisha's decisive call.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφαγονthey ateAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb→ constative aoristἐσθίω: 'eat'; the people eat the feast — the communal seal on Elisha's departure into prophetic service.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb→ constative aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise / set out'; the chapter's recurring verb of new action (vv. 3, 5, 6, 8); here it marks Elisha's decisive setting-out into the prophetic life — the same verb that earlier marked the despairing Elijah's risings now marks the disciple's commission.
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→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; the same verb of Elijah's wilderness journeys (vv. 4, 8); now Elisha 'goes after' Elijah — discipleship enacted, the lonely prophet given a companion.
ὀπίσωafterpreposition + genitive (direction: 'after Elijah')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'after'; 'after Elijah' — the discipleship idiom (cf. v. 20), now fulfilled in deed; Elisha follows as Elijah's attendant.
ΗλιουElijahobject of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΗλιου: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλειτούργειministered / servedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · λειτουργέωmain verb (imperfect of ongoing service)→ inceptive/customary imperfect (entered upon continuing service)λειτουργέω: 'serve / minister (in an official or sacred capacity)'; renders שָׁרַת; the imperfect denotes ongoing, habitual service — Elisha 'used to minister to him'; the verb (whence 'liturgy') often has cultic/official overtones; the chapter ends with the once-solitary prophet now attended by a faithful servant-successor, the despair of vv. 4, 10, 14 fully answered.
αὐτῷto himDativedative object of ἐλειτούργει (= Elijah)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'to him'; Elijah, whom Elisha now serves; cf. 4 Kgdms 3:11, where Elisha is identified as the one 'who poured water on the hands of Elijah.'