1
ἐν ἔτει δωδεκάτῳ τῷ Αχαζ βασιλεῖ Ιουδα ἐβασίλευσεν Ωσηε υἱὸς Ηλα ἐν Σαμαρείᾳ ἐπὶ Ισραηλ ἐννέα ἔτη
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
The chapter opens with the standard synchronistic regnal formula of Kingdoms, dating the accession of the northern king to the regnal year of his Judahite contemporary (Ahaz). Hoshea is the last king of Israel; the nine-year reign-length already anticipates the kingdom's end. The Hebraic temporal construction ἐν ἔτει + ordinal renders בִּשְׁנַת + numeral.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal: 'in the … year')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal: 'in the … year').
ἔτειyearDativedative of time (locative-temporal)→ sphere or referenceἔτος: 'year'; renders שָׁנָה; the temporal dative ἐν ἔτει + ordinal is the standard LXX rendering of the Hebrew regnal-date formula בִּשְׁנַת that frames every reign in Kingdoms.
δωδεκάτῳtwelfthDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceδωδέκατος: 'twelfth'; the ordinal synchronises Hoshea's accession with the twelfth year of Ahaz of Judah, the chronological anchor of the regnal formula.
τῷofDativearticle (with Αχαζ, in apposition to the dating)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑχαζAhazindeclinable proper noun (the Judahite king of the synchronism)→ participant identificationΑχαζ: transliteration of Hebrew אָחָז; indeclinable in the LXX; Ahaz of Judah is the reference-point of the synchronistic dating; his apostasy is narrated in ch. 16.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Αχαζ ('king of Judah')→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; in apposition to the indeclinable Αχαζ it supplies the case-marking the name itself cannot bear.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (genitival: 'king of Judah')→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה; indeclinable; here functioning as a genitive of relationship ('king of Judah') though uninflected in form.
ἐβασίλευσενbegan to reignAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb (accession statement)→ ingressive aorist (became king / began to reign)βασιλεύω: 'be king / reign'; renders מָלַךְ; the ingressive aorist ἐβασίλευσεν marks the inception of a reign, the standard verb of the accession formula in Kingdoms.
ΩσηεHosheasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΩσηε: transliteration of Hebrew הוֹשֵׁעַ; indeclinable in the LXX; Hoshea son of Elah is the twentieth and final king of the northern kingdom (2 Kgs 15:30; 17:1–6).
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Ωσηε (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; renders בֶּן; supplies the nominative case for the indeclinable patronymic that follows.
Ηλαof Elahindeclinable proper noun (patronymic: 'son of Elah')→ participant identificationΗλα: transliteration of Hebrew אֵלָה; indeclinable; the father of Hoshea, not to be confused with King Elah son of Baasha (1 Kgs 16:6–14).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΣαμαρείᾳSamariaDativedative of place (the royal city)→ sphere or referenceΣαμάρεια: Greek form of Hebrew שֹׁמְרוֹן; declined as a first-declension noun in the LXX; the capital founded by Omri (1 Kgs 16:24) and the seat of the northern monarchy whose fall this chapter records.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (rule 'over')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (rule 'over').
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable: the people ruled)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; here denotes the northern kingdom over which Hoshea reigned, distinct from Judah of the synchronism.
ἐννέαnineindeclinable cardinal numeral (modifying ἔτη)→ measure or countἐννέα: 'nine'; indeclinable cardinal; the reign-length, the final clause of the accession formula; nine years is the briefest possible frame for the kingdom's last king before its fall.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of duration ('for nine years')→ object specificationἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the accusative of extent of time gives the duration of Hoshea's reign.
2
καὶ ἐποίησεν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου πλὴν οὐχ ὡς οἱ βασιλεῖς Ισραηλ οἳ ἦσαν ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ
And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD, only not as the kings of Israel who were before him.
The stock Deuteronomistic verdict ἐποίησεν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου ('did evil in the eyes of the LORD') is qualified by πλὴν οὐχ ὡς ('only not as'): Hoshea's evil is real but lesser than his predecessors'. The concession is striking — the kingdom falls not because its last king was the worst, but because of the accumulated guilt the theodicy of vv. 7–23 will expound.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (evaluative formula)→ constative aorist (summary verdict on the whole reign)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; ἐποίησεν τὸ πονηρόν is the fixed Deuteronomistic verdict-formula recurring for nearly every northern king in Kingdoms.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing πονηρόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativesubstantivized adjective (direct object: 'the evil thing')→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; the substantivized neuter τὸ πονηρόν renders הָרַע ('the evil'); in the verdict-formula it denotes cultic disloyalty to YHWH, especially the worship of other gods.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/evaluative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere/evaluative).
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of sphere (idiom: 'in the eyes of')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the idiom ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου renders בְּעֵינֵי יהוה ('in the eyes of YHWH'), the standard Hebraism for divine evaluation.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (possessor of the evaluating 'eyes')→ relational specificationκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive κυρίου marks YHWH as the one whose evaluation condemns the reign.
πλὴνonly / exceptadversative/restrictive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'only / except / nevertheless'; renders רַק; introduces a restrictive qualification mitigating the verdict — Hoshea's evil, though real, falls short of his predecessors'.
οὐχnotnegative adverb (with ὡς)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐχ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ὡςascomparative particle ('as / like')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; the comparison οὐχ ὡς οἱ βασιλεῖς Ισραηλ measures Hoshea against the standard set by the preceding northern kings.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativenominative of comparison (the standard of comparison)→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς (pl. βασιλεῖς): 'kings'; the northern monarchs preceding Hoshea, against whose greater wickedness his is measured.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable (genitival: 'kings of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; here the northern kingdom whose kings form the comparative standard.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἦσαν)→ participant referenceοἳ: meaning 'who'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (subject of ἦσαν).
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of relative clause (existential/temporal)→ descriptive imperfect (state prior to Hoshea)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): 'be'; the imperfect denotes the past existence of the earlier kings; 'who were before him' fixes the temporal frame of the comparison.
ἔμπροσθενbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (temporal: 'before him')→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of'; here temporal ('previous to'), rendering לְפָנָיו; marks the predecessors as the prior standard.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἔμπροσθεν (referring to Hoshea)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἔμπροσθεν (referring to Hoshea).
3
ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἀνέβη Σαλαμανασαρ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων καὶ ἐγενήθη αὐτῷ Ωσηε δοῦλος καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν αὐτῷ μαναα
Against him came up Shalmaneser king of the Assyrians, and Hoshea became his servant and rendered him tribute.
The fronting of ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ('against him') before the verb ἀνέβη throws emphasis on Hoshea as the target of Assyrian aggression. ἀναβαίνω ('come up') is the standard military verb of campaign; the vassal-relationship is summarised by ἐγενήθη … δοῦλος ('became a servant') and the rendering of μαναα (tribute), a transliteration of Hebrew מִנְחָה.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here hostile, 'against'; the fronted ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν marks Hoshea as the object of attack.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (Hoshea)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (Hoshea).
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (military advance)→ constative aorist (single campaign-event)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / come up'; renders עָלָה; the standard idiom for a military campaign mounted against a city or king (cf. v. 5).
ΣαλαμανασαρShalmanesersubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαλαμανασαρ: transliteration of Hebrew שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר; indeclinable; Shalmaneser V of Assyria (727–722 BC), who reduced Hoshea to vassalage and began the siege of Samaria.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Σαλαμανασαρ→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; in apposition, supplying the case for the indeclinable royal name.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship ('king of the Assyrians')→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; the gentilic in the genitive plural ('king of the Assyrians'), the LXX's usual phrasing where MT has מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר ('king of Assyria').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηbecameAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (predicate: 'became a servant')→ constative aorist (entry into vassal-status)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'become / come to be'; with the predicate δοῦλος denotes Hoshea's reduction to tributary vassalage under Assyria.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of relationship ('his servant', i.e. servant to him)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of relationship ('his servant', i.e. servant to him).
ΩσηεHosheasubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΩσηε: indeclinable; subject of ἐγενήθη — the king of Israel reduced to vassal-servant.
δοῦλοςservant / vassalNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐγενήθη)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; renders עֶבֶד; in the political idiom of vassalage 'servant' = tributary vassal; the term marks Hoshea's submission, soon to be broken by his rebellion (v. 4).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστρεψενrendered / brought backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb ('paid back / returned tribute')→ constative aorist (recurrent tribute summarised)ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn / bring back / return'; here in the sense 'render / pay over' tribute (rendering הֵשִׁיב); the vassal returns the μαναα due to his overlord.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object (to Shalmaneser)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (to Shalmaneser).
μανααtribute / offeringdirect object (indeclinable loanword)→ clausal contributionμαναα: an indeclinable transliteration of Hebrew מִנְחָה ('gift / tribute / offering'); the LXX retains the Hebrew word untranslated for the annual tribute paid by the vassal; the same term recurs in v. 4.
4
καὶ εὗρεν βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ἐν τῷ Ωσηε ἀδικίαν ὅτι ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους πρὸς Σηγωρ βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου καὶ οὐκ ἤνεγκεν μαναα τῷ βασιλεῖ Ἀσσυρίων ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ ἐκείνῳ καὶ ἐπολιόρκησεν αὐτὸν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτὸν ἐν οἴκῳ φυλακῆς
And the king of the Assyrians found in Hoshea wrongdoing, in that he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and did not bring tribute to the king of the Assyrians in that year; and the king of the Assyrians besieged him and bound him in a prison house.
Hoshea's vassal-rebellion is exposed: he sought an Egyptian alliance (Σηγωρ, 'So') and withheld the annual μαναα. The ὅτι-clause supplies the grounds (the ἀδικία, 'wrongdoing / breach of faith'). The Assyrian response is summarised proleptically — siege (ἐπολιόρκησεν) and the binding of Hoshea — before the fuller siege-narrative of vv. 5–6.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb ('discovered / detected')→ constative aorist (act of detection)εὑρίσκω: 'find / discover'; renders מָצָא; here 'detect' a breach of vassal-loyalty — the Assyrian uncovers Hoshea's conspiracy.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject ('the king of the Assyrians')→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject ('the king of the Assyrians').
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: gentilic; 'king of the Assyrians' = the Assyrian overlord.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere: 'in Hoshea')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: 'in Hoshea').
τῷtheDativearticle (with the indeclinable Ωσηε)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΩσηεHosheaobject of ἐν (indeclinable; case borne by τῷ)→ participant identificationΩσηε: indeclinable; the article τῷ supplies the dative; 'found in Hoshea' = detected in his conduct.
ἀδικίανwrongdoingAccusativedirect object of εὗρεν→ object specificationἀδικία: 'wrongdoing / injustice / treachery'; renders קֶשֶׁר ('conspiracy') here; the breach of the vassal-treaty is framed as moral fault.
ὅτιbecause / in thatcausal/epexegetical conjunction (grounds of the ἀδικία)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that / because'; introduces the explanatory clause specifying the content of the treachery.
ἀπέστειλενhe sentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb of causal clause→ constative aorist (act of diplomatic overture)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch'; renders שָׁלַח; Hoshea's sending of envoys to Egypt is the overt act of rebellion against Assyria.
ἀγγέλουςmessengersAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationἄγγελος: 'messenger / envoy'; renders מַלְאָךְ; here human diplomatic envoys, not angelic beings; the sense is determined by the political context.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΣηγωρSoaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣηγωρ: the LXX form of Hebrew סוֹא ('So'), the Egyptian ruler with whom Hoshea sought alliance; indeclinable; identification uncertain (perhaps Osorkon IV or a place-name).
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Σηγωρ→ object specificationβασιλέα: meaning 'king'; it serves as accusative in apposition to Σηγωρ.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of relationship ('king of Egypt')→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): 'Egypt'; the alliance with Egypt against Assyria is the recurring fatal strategy of the small Levantine states.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second ground of the ἀδικία)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἤνεγκενbringAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φέρωverb of causal clause (the withheld tribute)→ constative aorist (failure to deliver)φέρω (aor. ἤνεγκεν): 'bring / carry'; renders הֶעֱלָה / הֵבִיא; the non-delivery of the annual tribute is the breach that triggers Assyrian reprisal.
μανααtributedirect object (indeclinable loanword)→ clausal contributionμαναα: indeclinable transliteration of Hebrew מִנְחָה ('tribute'); the same term as in v. 3 — what Hoshea formerly rendered he now withholds.
τῷto theDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative indirect object ('to the king')→ sphere or referenceβασιλεῖ: meaning 'king'; it serves as dative indirect object ('to the king').
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἈσσυρίων: meaning 'of the Assyrians'; it serves as genitive of relationship.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἐνιαυτῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνιαυτῷyearDativedative of time ('in that year')→ sphere or referenceἐνιαυτός: 'year'; renders שָׁנָה; the annual cycle of tribute — 'in that year' he failed to deliver it.
ἐκείνῳthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἐνιαυτῷ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative pins the offence to a specific year of withheld tribute.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the Assyrian reprisal)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπολιόρκησενbesiegedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πολιορκέωmain verb (military reprisal)→ constative aorist (act of laying siege)πολιορκέω: 'besiege / blockade'; renders צוּר ('lay siege'); the standard verb for the Assyrian investment of a rebellious city; here proleptic of the full siege of vv. 5–6.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Hoshea)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Hoshea).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject (the Assyrian king)→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject (the Assyrian king).
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἈσσυρίων: meaning 'of the Assyrians'; it serves as genitive of relationship.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδησενboundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δέωmain verb ('bound / imprisoned')→ constative aorist (act of imprisonment)δέω: 'bind / fetter'; renders אָסַר; the imprisonment of the captured vassal-king, a standard fate of rebel rulers in Assyrian practice.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Hoshea)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Hoshea).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place ('in a house')→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house'; with φυλακῆς forms οἶκος φυλακῆς ('prison house'), rendering בֵּית כֶּלֶא.
φυλακῆςof imprisonment / prisonGenitivegenitive of description ('house of custody' = prison)→ relational specificationφυλακή: 'guard / custody / prison'; the genitive οἴκῳ φυλακῆς ('house of custody') is the LXX idiom for a prison; Hoshea ends his reign a captive before Samaria itself falls.
5
καὶ ἀνέβη ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς Σαμάρειαν καὶ ἐπολιόρκησεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν τρία ἔτη
And the king of the Assyrians came up against all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
The twofold ἀνέβη … ἀνέβη ('came up … went up') traces the campaign from the whole land down to the capital itself. The three-year duration (τρία ἔτη) of the siege measures the desperate final resistance of the northern kingdom and sets up the dated fall in v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (campaign against the land)→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; renders עָלָה; the first of two ascents — first against the whole land, then specifically against Samaria.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἈσσυρίων: meaning 'of the Assyrians'; it serves as genitive of relationship.
ἐνagainst / inpreposition + dative (extent over the land)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: here with ἀναβαίνω in a quasi-hostile/extensive sense 'throughout / against all the land', a Hebraizing use rendering בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ.
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (modifying γῇ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all the land' = the entire northern kingdom, overrun before the capital is invested.
τῇtheDativearticle (with γῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇlandDativedative of place/extent→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; the territory of the northern kingdom now overrun.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (advance on the capital)→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: the repeated verb narrows the campaign from land to city; the resumptive ἀνέβη focuses the assault on Samaria itself.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΣαμάρειανSamariaAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the besieged capital)→ object specificationΣαμάρεια: the capital; the goal of the second ascent and the object of the three-year siege.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπολιόρκησενbesiegedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πολιορκέωmain verb (laying of the siege)→ constative aorist (the siege as a single completed undertaking)πολιορκέω: 'besiege'; renders צוּר; the siege of Samaria, the climactic military act before the city's capture.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided).
αὐτὴνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (Samaria)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (Samaria).
τρίαthreeAccusativecardinal numeral (modifying ἔτη)→ measure or countτρεῖς, τρία: 'three'; the three-year length of the siege measures the kingdom's protracted final agony.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of duration→ object specificationἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the accusative of extent of time gives the siege-duration.
6
ἐν ἔτει ἐνάτῳ Ωσηε συνέλαβεν βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων τὴν Σαμάρειαν καὶ ἀπῴκισεν τὸν Ισραηλ εἰς Ἀσσυρίους καὶ κατῴκισεν αὐτοὺς ἐν Αλαε καὶ ἐν Αβωρ ποταμοῖς Γωζαν καὶ Ορη Μήδων
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of the Assyrians took Samaria, and carried Israel away to the Assyrians and settled them in Halah and by Habor, the rivers of Gozan, and the mountains of the Medes.
The dated capture (722 BC) and the deportation are stated in three coordinated verbs: συνέλαβεν ('captured'), ἀπῴκισεν ('deported'), κατῴκισεν ('resettled'). The verb-pair ἀπῳκίζω/κατοικίζω is the technical Assyrian-deportation vocabulary that will recur in the chapter's mirror-image: Israel deported out (v. 6), the nations deported in (v. 24). The toponyms (Halah, Habor, Gozan, the cities of the Medes) locate the diaspora of the northern tribes.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ἔτειyearDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἔτος: 'year'; the dating of the fall to a regnal year of Hoshea.
ἐνάτῳninthDativeattributive ordinal (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceἔνατος: 'ninth'; the ninth (and final) year of Hoshea's reign is the year of Samaria's fall, completing the nine-year frame of v. 1.
Ωσηεof Hosheaindeclinable (genitival: 'of Hoshea')→ participant identificationΩσηε: indeclinable; the regnal year is reckoned by Hoshea even though he is already imprisoned (v. 4).
συνέλαβενtook / capturedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (capture of the city)→ constative aorist (the decisive capture)συλλαμβάνω: 'seize / capture / take'; renders לָכַד ('capture'); the fall of Samaria in 722 BC, the end of the northern kingdom.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἈσσυρίων: meaning 'of the Assyrians'; it serves as genitive of relationship.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Σαμάρειαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαμάρειανSamariaAccusativedirect object of συνέλαβεν→ object specificationΣαμάρεια: the captured capital; its fall is the formal end of the kingdom of Israel.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῴκισενcarried away / deportedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποικίζωmain verb (deportation of Israel)→ constative aorist (the act of exile)ἀποικίζω: 'remove to a colony / deport'; renders הִגְלָה ('exile'); the technical verb for Assyrian forced resettlement; its counterpart κατῴκισεν (resettling the deportees) follows, and the reverse process is applied to the incoming nations in v. 24.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object of ἀπῴκισεν (indeclinable; case borne by τόν)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern people, deported as a whole; the article τόν supplies the accusative.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination of exile)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination of exile).
Ἀσσυρίουςthe AssyriansAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationἈσσύριος: gentilic; εἰς Ἀσσυρίους ('to the Assyrians / to Assyria') names the destination of the exile, repeated at v. 23 as the chapter's grim refrain.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατῴκισενsettledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατοικίζωmain verb (resettlement of the exiles)→ constative aorist (act of resettlement)κατοικίζω: 'cause to dwell / settle'; renders הוֹשִׁיב; the causative of resettlement; the deportees are planted in fixed locations across the Assyrian empire — the same verb used of the nations brought into Samaria (v. 24).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the exiles of Israel)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the exiles of Israel).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΑλαεHalahindeclinable place-name (locative with ἐν)→ participant identificationΑλαε: transliteration of Hebrew חֲלַח (Halah); indeclinable place-name; a region of Assyrian resettlement, perhaps in upper Mesopotamia.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΑβωρHaborindeclinable place-name→ participant identificationΑβωρ: transliteration of Hebrew חָבוֹר (Habor); indeclinable; the Habor is a tributary of the Euphrates, here associated with the rivers of Gozan.
ποταμοῖςriversDativedative in apposition ('the rivers of Gozan')→ sphere or referenceποταμός: 'river'; renders נְהַר; 'the rivers of Gozan' locate the region of the Habor along which the deportees were settled.
Γωζανof Gozanindeclinable place-name (genitival: 'rivers of Gozan')→ participant identificationΓωζαν: transliteration of Hebrew גּוֹזָן (Gozan); indeclinable; a district of upper Mesopotamia on the Habor.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΟρηmountainsAccusativeaccusative of place ('the mountains of the Medes')→ object specificationὄρος (pl. ὄρη): 'mountain'; renders הָרֵי ('mountains of'); the Median highlands as a further place of exile; the LXX here reflects עָרֵי / הָרֵי מָדַי ('cities/mountains of the Medes').
Μήδωνof the MedesGenitivegenitive of relationship ('of the Medes')→ relational specificationΜῆδος: 'Mede'; the genitive plural locates the deportation as far as the Median highlands east of Assyria — the scattering of the ten tribes across the empire.
7
καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτι ἥμαρτον οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ αὐτῶν τῷ ἀναγαγόντι αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ὑποκάτωθεν χειρὸς Φαραω βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν θεοὺς ἑτέρους
And it came to pass, because the sons of Israel sinned against the LORD their God who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and they feared other gods,
This verse is the theological hinge of the whole chapter. The narrative ἐγένετο pauses, and the ὅτι ('because') introduces the long causal indictment that runs through v. 23. The sin is defined first relationally — ἥμαρτον … τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ αὐτῶν ('they sinned against the LORD their God') — and aggravated by the participial reminder of the exodus-redemption (τῷ ἀναγαγόντι, 'who brought them up'). The summary charge ἐφοβήθησαν θεοὺς ἑτέρους ('they feared other gods') heads the catalogue of apostasy and inverts the covenant's first demand.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (Hebraizing narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο)→ constative aorist (transitional narrative marker)γίνομαι (aor. mid. ἐγένετο): 'come to be / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי, here introducing the reflective explanation rather than a new event — a deliberate pause to expound the cause of the catastrophe.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (heading the whole theodicy)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / that'; renders כִּי; this single causal particle governs the entire indictment of vv. 7–23 — the exile happened because of all that follows.
ἥμαρτονsinnedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἁμαρτάνωmain verb of causal clause (the foundational charge)→ constative aorist (the settled fact of national sin)ἁμαρτάνω: 'sin / miss the mark / offend'; renders חָטָא; the aorist sums up the entire history of northern apostasy as a single accomplished offence against YHWH; the dative τῷ κυρίῳ marks the offended party.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject ('the sons of Israel')→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people — here the very people redeemed from Egypt who now sin against their redeemer.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable (genitival: 'sons of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the covenant nation as a whole, here the northern kingdom whose fall is being explained.
τῷagainst theDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative of (dis)advantage / the one offended ('sinned against the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative τῷ κυρίῳ marks YHWH as the one against whom the sin is committed — the relational core of the indictment.
θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ ('their God')→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the apposition κυρίῳ θεῷ αὐτῶν ('the LORD their God') intensifies the offence — the betrayed party is their own covenant God.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their God')→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('their God').
τῷthe one whoDativearticle (substantivizing the participle ἀναγαγόντι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναγαγόντιwho brought upAor Act Ptc Dat Sg Masc · ἀνάγωattributive participle (modifying κυρίῳ θεῷ: the redeeming act)→ constative aorist participle (the foundational exodus deliverance)ἀνάγω: 'bring up / lead up'; renders הֶעֱלָה; the articular participle τῷ ἀναγαγόντι identifies YHWH precisely as the God of the exodus — the aggravating clause: they sinned against the very God who redeemed them from Egypt (cf. the same self-identification in v. 36).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀναγαγόντι→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀναγαγόντι.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source of the exodus)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source of the exodus).
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of source (with Αἰγύπτου)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ('out of the land of Egypt') is the fixed exodus-formula.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of location ('land of Egypt')→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): 'Egypt'; the house of bondage from which YHWH redeemed Israel — the redemption that makes the apostasy so grievous.
ὑποκάτωθενfrom underimproper preposition + genitive ('from under the hand')→ spatial or relational framingὑποκάτωθεν: 'from underneath / from under'; renders מִתַּחַת; with χειρός it depicts liberation from oppressive power — 'from under the hand of Pharaoh.'
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ὑποκάτωθεν→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; the 'hand' is the idiom for power/dominion; 'from under the hand of Pharaoh' = from Egyptian domination.
Φαραωof Pharaohindeclinable (genitival: 'hand of Pharaoh')→ participant identificationΦαραω: indeclinable transliteration of Hebrew פַּרְעֹה; the oppressor of the exodus, recalled here to magnify the redemption Israel has spurned.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Φαραω→ relational specificationβασιλέως: meaning 'king'; it serves as genitive in apposition to Φαραω.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of relationship ('king of Egypt')→ relational specificationΑἰγύπτου: meaning 'of Egypt'; it serves as genitive of relationship ('king of Egypt').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second clause of the causal indictment)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐφοβήθησανthey fearedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb of second causal clause (the act of apostasy)→ constative aorist (the settled fact of false worship)φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence / worship'; renders יָרֵא; in cultic contexts 'fear' = religious reverence/worship; the charge ἐφοβήθησαν θεοὺς ἑτέρους ('they feared other gods') is the headline of the apostasy and the exact inversion of the covenant demand to fear YHWH alone (cf. vv. 35–39); the verb φοβέομαι is the keyword of the chapter's syncretism-theme, recurring of the resettled nations in vv. 25, 32, 33, 41.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of ἐφοβήθησαν→ object specificationθεός (pl. θεούς): 'gods'; here pagan deities; θεοὺς ἑτέρους renders אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים ('other gods'), the Deuteronomic formula for the forbidden objects of worship (Deut 5:7; 6:14).
ἑτέρουςotherAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θεούς)→ object specificationἕτερος: 'other / another (of a different kind)'; renders אֲחֵרִים; 'other gods' = deities other than YHWH, whose worship breaks the first commandment and the covenant's exclusivity.
8
καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν τοῖς δικαιώμασιν τῶν ἐθνῶν ὧν ἐξῆρεν κύριος ἀπὸ προσώπου υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς Ισραηλ ὅσοι ἐποίησαν
and they walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had driven out from before the sons of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, whatever things they did,
The apostasy is now specified as cultural-religious assimilation: Israel 'walked in the statutes (δικαιώμασιν) of the nations' that YHWH had dispossessed before them — the supreme irony, since the conquest itself was a judgment on those very practices. The clause καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς Ισραηλ adds the kings as a parallel source of the corrupting δικαιώματα.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the indictment)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθησανthey walkedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (metaphorical: 'walked in the statutes')→ constative aorist (the chosen manner of life)πορεύομαι: 'go / walk / conduct oneself'; renders הָלַךְ; 'walking in' statutes is the Hebraic metaphor for adopting a way of life; here Israel patterns its conduct on pagan, not covenant, norms.
τοῖςin theDativearticle (with δικαιώμασιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώμασινstatutes / customsDativedative of manner/sphere ('in the statutes')→ sphere or referenceδικαίωμα (pl. δικαιώματα): 'statute / ordinance / requirement'; the standard LXX rendering of חֻקּוֹת ('statutes'); used ironically here — the δικαιώματα are not YHWH's righteous decrees but the pagan customs of the nations; the same word denotes the LORD's true statutes in vv. 13, 19, 34, 37, sharpening the perversion.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἐθνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive of source/possession ('statutes of the nations')→ relational specificationἔθνος (pl. ἐθνῶν): 'nation / gentile'; renders גּוֹיִם; the Canaanite nations whose abominations occasioned their own expulsion; for Israel to adopt their δικαιώματα is to court the same fate.
ὧνwhomGenitiverelative pronoun (object of ἐξῆρεν, attracted to gen.)→ relational specificationὧν: meaning 'whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἐξῆρεν, attracted to gen.).
ἐξῆρενdrove out / removedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαίρωverb of relative clause (the divine dispossession)→ constative aorist (the conquest as completed judgment)ἐξαίρω: 'remove / take away / drive out'; renders הוֹרִישׁ / הִשְׁמִיד; YHWH's dispossession of the nations was itself a judgment on their cult — making Israel's imitation of them doubly culpable; the same verb is used of God 'removing' the nations in v. 11 (ἀπῴκισεν there).
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐξῆρεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is the agent of the conquest-dispossession, underscoring that the very practices Israel adopts are those he judged.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'from before')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from before / from the presence of') renders מִפְּנֵי, the Hebraism for dispossession 'from before' Israel.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship ('sons of Israel')→ relational specificationυἱός (pl. υἱῶν): 'son'; 'from before the sons of Israel' = the nations expelled to make room for Israel's possession of the land.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable (genitival: 'sons of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the covenant people for whom the land was cleared.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the kings as a parallel source)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativenominative (loosely appended: 'and the kings of Israel [in the things] which they did')→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς (pl. βασιλεῖς): 'kings'; the northern kings are named as the second source of the corrupting statutes — their innovations (esp. Jeroboam's, v. 21) are added to the nations' customs; the syntax is loose, reflecting the underlying Hebrew.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable (genitival: 'kings of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern monarchs collectively.
ὅσοιwhatever / as many asNominativerelative/correlative pronoun ('whatever things they did')→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; the correlative ὅσοι … ἐποίησαν gathers up the whole sum of the kings' deeds as a further category of the corrupting δικαιώματα.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the totality of royal practice)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; 'whatever they did' sums up the accumulated practices of the northern kings as the second wellspring of Israel's corruption alongside the nations' customs.
9
καὶ ὅσοι ἠμφιέσαντο οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ λόγους οὐχ οὕτως κατὰ κυρίου θεοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν ἑαυτοῖς ὑψηλὰ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν ἀπὸ πύργου φυλασσόντων ἕως πόλεως ὀχυρᾶς
and as many things as the sons of Israel cloaked, words not right, against the LORD their God; and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from the watchtower to the fortified city,
The verse is notoriously difficult. The verb ἠμφιέσαντο ('they clothed / cloaked') renders the rare Hebrew וַיְחַפְּאוּ ('they did secretly / covered over'), suggesting covert, dissembled apostasy — they cloaked 'words not right' (λόγους οὐχ οὕτως) against their God. The concrete result is architectural: ᾠκοδόμησαν … ὑψηλά ('they built high places') throughout the land, the merism ἀπὸ πύργου φυλασσόντων ἕως πόλεως ὀχυρᾶς ('from watchtower to fortified city') marking total saturation of the land with illicit shrines.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅσοιas many things asNominativecorrelative pronoun (cognate-like object of ἠμφιέσαντο)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; here gathering the sum of the covert deeds; the syntax is awkward, reflecting a difficult Hebrew Vorlage.
ἠμφιέσαντοthey cloaked / did secretlyAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀμφιέννυμιmain verb ('clothed / covered over' = acted covertly)→ constative aorist (the covert apostasy)ἀμφιέννυμι (mid. ἠμφιέσαντο): lit. 'clothe oneself / put around'; here renders the rare Hebrew verb חָפָא ('do covertly / cover over'); the LXX understands it as 'cloaking / dissembling' — Israel disguised impious 'words' as if righteous; one of the chapter's hardest renderings.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject ('the sons of Israel')→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): the covenant people, again named as the subject of the apostasy.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable (genitival: 'sons of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of ἠμφιέσαντο ('cloaked words')→ object specificationλόγος (pl. λόγους): 'word / matter / thing'; renders דְּבָרִים; 'words/things not right' = the impious affairs they covertly devised against YHWH.
οὐχnotnegative adverb (with οὕτως)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐχ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
οὕτωςright / thusadverb ('not so / not right')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; the idiom λόγους οὐχ οὕτως ('words not so / not right') renders דְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא־כֵן ('things that were not right'), denoting conduct improper before God.
κατὰagainstpreposition + genitive (hostile: 'against')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: 'against'; the covert words are directed κατὰ κυρίου — against the LORD himself.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of κατά (the offended party)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the covert impiety is directed against YHWH their own God.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου ('their God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the apposition again stresses the betrayal of their own covenant deity.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the concrete cultic result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾠκοδόμησανthey builtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (construction of illicit shrines)→ constative aorist (the building programme)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; renders בָּנָה; the reflexive ἑαυτοῖς ('for themselves') marks the high places as their own self-willed cult-installations, contrary to the central sanctuary.
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativedative reflexive (of advantage: 'for themselves')→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; the recurring ἑαυτοῖς (vv. 9, 10, 16, 32) stresses the self-devised, autonomous character of the illicit worship.
ὑψηλὰhigh placesAccusativedirect object (substantivized: 'high places / shrines')→ object specificationὑψηλός: 'high / lofty'; the substantivized neuter plural τὰ ὑψηλά is the LXX's standard rendering of בָּמוֹת ('high places'), the local hilltop sanctuaries condemned throughout Kingdoms; the term recurs of the resettled nations' shrines in vv. 29, 32.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
πάσαιςallDativeattributive adjective (modifying πόλεσιν)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all / every'; 'in all their cities' marks the total geographical saturation of the land with high places.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with πόλεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπόλις (pl. πόλεσιν): 'city'; renders עָרִים; every settlement, large or small, had its high place.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό … ἕως: the merism ἀπὸ πύργου … ἕως πόλεως ὀχυρᾶς ('from watchtower to fortified city') expresses totality — the smallest outpost to the greatest fortress.
πύργουwatchtowerGenitivegenitive of source (first pole of merism)→ relational specificationπύργος: 'tower / watchtower'; renders מִגְדָּל; the πύργος φυλασσόντων ('tower of watchmen / watchtower') is the smallest fortified outpost, the lower pole of the merism.
φυλασσόντωνof watchmenPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · φυλάσσωsubstantivized participle (genitive: 'of those keeping watch')→ verbal action or stateφυλάσσω: 'guard / keep watch'; the substantivized participle πύργου φυλασσόντων = 'watchtower' (lit. 'tower of those keeping guard'), rendering מִגְדַּל נוֹצְרִים.
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (end of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (end of merism).
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of end-point (second pole of merism)→ relational specificationπόλις: 'city'; the πόλις ὀχυρά ('fortified city') is the upper pole of the merism — the greatest stronghold.
ὀχυρᾶςfortifiedGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying πόλεως)→ relational specificationὀχυρός: 'strong / fortified'; renders מִבְצָר; 'fortified city' completes the merism — illicit shrines spanned the whole land from least to greatest.
10
καὶ ἐστήλωσαν ἑαυτοῖς στήλας καὶ ἄλση ἐπὶ παντὶ βουνῷ ὑψηλῷ καὶ ὑποκάτω παντὸς ξύλου ἀλσώδους
and they set up for themselves pillars and sacred groves on every high hill and under every leafy tree,
The cultic apparatus is itemised: στῆλαι (standing-stones/pillars, מַצֵּבוֹת) and ἄλση (sacred groves / Asherah-poles, אֲשֵׁרִים). The stereotyped Deuteronomistic locale ἐπὶ παντὶ βουνῷ ὑψηλῷ καὶ ὑποκάτω παντὸς ξύλου ἀλσώδους ('on every high hill and under every leafy tree') is the formula for Canaanite-style fertility worship (cf. Deut 12:2; 1 Kgs 14:23).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐστήλωσανthey set up (pillars)Aor Act Indic 3 Pl · στηλόωmain verb (erection of cult-pillars)→ constative aorist (the act of erecting)στηλόω: 'set up as a pillar / erect a stele'; a denominative verb from στήλη, forming a figura etymologica with its object στήλας; renders הִצִּיב מַצֵּבוֹת ('they erected pillars').
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativedative reflexive (of advantage)→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; the recurring 'for themselves' again stresses the self-willed cult.
στήλαςpillarsAccusativedirect object of ἐστήλωσαν (cognate)→ object specificationστήλη (pl. στήλας): 'pillar / standing-stone / stele'; renders מַצֵּבוֹת, the sacred standing-stones of Canaanite cult, forbidden in Israel (Deut 16:22); the cognate object with ἐστήλωσαν is a figura etymologica.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄλσηsacred grovesAccusativedirect object (second cult-object)→ object specificationἄλσος (pl. ἄλση): 'grove / sacred wood'; the standard LXX rendering of אֲשֵׁרָה/אֲשֵׁרִים (the Asherah cult-pole or grove); the goddess Asherah's symbol, repeatedly condemned; recurs at v. 16.
ἐπὶonpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
παντὶeveryDativeattributive adjective (modifying βουνῷ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'every'; 'on every high hill' is part of the fixed Deuteronomistic formula for diffuse hilltop worship.
βουνῷhillDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceβουνός: 'hill / mound'; renders גִּבְעָה; the elevated sites favoured for fertility worship.
ὑψηλῷhighDativeattributive adjective (modifying βουνῷ)→ sphere or referenceὑψηλός: 'high / lofty'; 'every high hill' (ἐπὶ παντὶ βουνῷ ὑψηλῷ) renders עַל כָּל גִּבְעָה גְבֹהָה, the stock phrase for illicit cult-sites.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑποκάτωunderimproper preposition + genitive ('under')→ spatial or relational framingὑποκάτω: 'under / beneath'; renders תַּחַת; the second locale of the formula — the shaded ground beneath leafy trees, a setting for the fertility cult.
παντὸςeveryGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ξύλου)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'every'; 'under every leafy tree' completes the stereotyped pair high hill / leafy tree.
ξύλουtreeGenitivegenitive object of ὑποκάτω→ relational specificationξύλον: 'wood / tree'; renders עֵץ; the tree under which the cult was practised.
ἀλσώδουςleafy / shadyGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ξύλου)→ relational specificationἀλσώδης: 'woody / leafy / shady' (cognate with ἄλσος); renders רַעֲנָן ('luxuriant / green'); 'every leafy tree' completes the Deuteronomistic locale-formula for fertility worship.
11
καὶ ἐθυμίασαν ἐκεῖ ἐν πᾶσιν ὑψηλοῖς καθὼς τὰ ἔθνη ἃ ἀπῴκισεν κύριος ἐκ προσώπου αὐτῶν καὶ ἐποίησαν κοινωνοὺς καὶ ἐχάραξαν τοῦ παροργίσαι τὸν κύριον
and they burned incense there on all the high places, like the nations whom the LORD had carried away from before them; and they made associates and engraved (images), to provoke the LORD to anger;
The illicit worship is now act (ἐθυμίασαν, 'burned incense') and motive — imitation of the very nations YHWH had removed (καθὼς τὰ ἔθνη ἃ ἀπῴκισεν κύριος, echoing v. 8). The closing infinitival clause τοῦ παροργίσαι τὸν κύριον ('to provoke the LORD to anger') states the theological upshot: their cult is reckoned as deliberate provocation of YHWH, the verb παροργίζω being a Deuteronomistic keyword (cf. v. 17).
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθυμίασανthey burned incenseAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θυμιάωmain verb (act of illicit sacrifice)→ constative aorist (the cultic act)θυμιάω: 'burn incense / offer sacrifice by burning'; renders קִטֵּר; the characteristic act at the high places; incense-burning to other gods is a recurring charge in Kingdoms.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (at the high places of v. 10)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the deictic adverb points back to the high places and sites of v. 10.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective (modifying ὑψηλοῖς)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; 'on all the high places' again marks the totality of the illicit cult.
ὑψηλοῖςhigh placesDativesubstantivized adjective (dative of place: 'high places')→ sphere or referenceὑψηλός: substantivized neuter plural for בָּמוֹת ('high places'); cf. v. 9; the recurring locus of the apostate worship.
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction ('like / just as')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר / כְּ; introduces the damning comparison: Israel worshipped exactly like the dispossessed nations.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsNominativenominative of comparison (subject of the implied verb)→ participant prominenceἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nations'; the Canaanite peoples whose cult Israel imitated; the comparison repeats the irony of v. 8.
ἃwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀπῴκισεν)→ participant referenceἃ: meaning 'whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἀπῴκισεν).
ἀπῴκισενcarried away / removedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποικίζωverb of relative clause (the divine dispossession)→ constative aoristἀποικίζω: 'remove / deport'; the same verb used of Israel's own exile (v. 6) — pointedly: the nations Israel imitated were themselves removed by YHWH, and Israel will share their fate.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἀπῴκισεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the agent of the nations' removal.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from before')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; ἐκ προσώπου αὐτῶν ('from before them'), the dispossession idiom; cf. v. 8.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (the Israelites, before whom the nations were removed)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (the Israelites, before whom the nations were removed).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησανthey madeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb ('made associates' / fashioned cult-objects)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make'; here with κοινωνούς in an obscure idiom — perhaps 'made associates/partners' (idols joined to YHWH) or 'made [things] in common'; the underlying Hebrew (דְּבָרִים) is uncertain.
κοινωνοὺςassociates / partnersAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησαν (obscure idiom)→ object specificationκοινωνός: 'partner / associate / sharer'; an obscure rendering here — possibly 'they made [idols as] partners [to YHWH],' or a misreading of the Hebrew; the LXX of this clause is notoriously difficult and diverges from MT (דְּבָרִים רָעִים, 'evil things').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐχάραξανthey engravedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · χαράσσωmain verb ('engraved / carved [images]')→ constative aoristχαράσσω: 'engrave / carve / inscribe'; here probably 'they carved [idols],' continuing the idol-fabrication theme; the obscure pairing ἐποίησαν κοινωνοὺς καὶ ἐχάραξαν reflects a difficult Vorlage.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle + infinitive (articular infinitive of purpose/result)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παροργίσαιto provoke to angerAor Act Inf · παροργίζωarticular infinitive of purpose/result ('so as to provoke')→ telic/consecutive aorist infinitive (the upshot of the apostasy)παροργίζω: 'provoke to anger / enrage'; renders הִכְעִיס; the articular infinitive τοῦ παροργίσαι is a Deuteronomistic keyword for the effect of idolatry on YHWH (cf. v. 17; 1 Kgs 14:9; 16:33); their whole cult amounts to deliberate provocation of the LORD.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of παροργίσαι→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the object of the provocation — Israel's idolatry is an affront aimed (in effect) at YHWH himself.
12
καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τοῖς εἰδώλοις οἷς εἶπεν κύριος αὐτοῖς οὐ ποιήσετε τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο κυρίῳ
and they served the idols, concerning which the LORD had said to them, 'You shall not do this thing,' against the LORD.
The catalogue of cultic crimes closes the first theodicy-panel with the gravest framing: their idol-service (ἐλάτρευσαν τοῖς εἰδώλοις) was done in direct defiance of an express divine prohibition (οὐ ποιήσετε τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο). The contrast εἰδώλοις … κυρίῳ sets the worthless idols against the LORD whose explicit command they transgressed.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάτρευσανthey servedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (cultic service of idols)→ constative aorist (the act of idol-worship)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship (cultically)'; renders עָבַד; λατρεύω denotes specifically religious service due to God alone; rendered to εἴδωλα it is idolatry par excellence; recurs of Baal in v. 16 and of the nations' gods in v. 33.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with εἰδώλοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰδώλοιςidolsDativedative object of ἐλάτρευσαν (the objects of worship)→ sphere or referenceεἴδωλον (pl. εἰδώλοις): 'idol / image / phantom'; renders גִּלּוּלִים / אֱלִילִים; in the LXX εἴδωλον is the standard pejorative for pagan cult-images, connoting their unreality; λατρεύω + dative names them as the (illegitimate) objects of divine service.
οἷςconcerning whichDativerelative pronoun (dative: 'concerning/about which')→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun; the dative οἷς ('concerning which') links the idols to the divine prohibition that follows.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of relative clause (the divine command)→ constative aorist (the prior prohibition)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say'; introduces the express divine prohibition that aggravates the guilt — they served idols God had explicitly forbidden.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the lawgiver whose prohibition was flouted.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (the recipients of the command)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (the recipients of the command).
οὐnotnegative adverb (with the prohibitive future)→ participant referenceοὐ + future: the construction οὐ ποιήσετε ('you shall not do') is the LXX rendering of the Hebrew prohibitive לֹא + imperfect, the form of the apodictic commandments of the Decalogue.
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωverb of the quoted prohibition (volitive future)→ prohibitive future (apodictic command)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the future οὐ ποιήσετε is volitive/prohibitive ('you shall not do'), the standard apodictic-law form; the quoted command underscores that the idolatry was a knowing transgression.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / wordAccusativedirect object of ποιήσετε ('this thing')→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / matter / thing'; renders דָּבָר; here 'this thing' = the act of idol-worship just described; ῥῆμα in the LXX often denotes a deed or affair, not merely an utterance.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; points to the idolatrous practice as the precise thing forbidden.
κυρίῳagainst the LORDDativedative (of relation/disadvantage: 'with respect to / against the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the final dative κυρίῳ frames the whole act as committed in relation to — against — YHWH himself; the verse closes the panel by setting the worthless εἴδωλα against the LORD whose word was spurned.
13
καὶ διεμαρτύρατο κύριος ἐν τῷ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐν τῷ Ιουδα ἐν χειρὶ πάντων τῶν προφητῶν αὐτοῦ παντὸς ὁρῶντος λέγων ἀποστράφητε ἀπὸ τῶν ὁδῶν ὑμῶν τῶν πονηρῶν καὶ φυλάξατε τὰς ἐντολάς μου καὶ τὰ δικαιώματά μου καὶ πάντα τὸν νόμον ὃν ἐνετειλάμην τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν ὅσα ἀπέστειλα αὐτοῖς ἐν χειρὶ τῶν δούλων μου τῶν προφητῶν
And the LORD testified solemnly against Israel and against Judah by the hand of all his prophets, every seer, saying, 'Turn back from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes and all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to them by the hand of my servants the prophets.'
The theodicy turns to YHWH's persistent prophetic warning: διεμαρτύρατο ('solemnly testified / charged') is the key verb of covenant-witness. The summons is the classic prophetic call to repentance — ἀποστράφητε ('turn back') from evil ways and keep the commandments, statutes, and law. The double 'by the hand of … the prophets' (inclusio with v. 23) frames the prophets as the instruments of the spurned offer of mercy. Note that Judah is included alongside Israel, anticipating vv. 18–19.
Word-by-word analysis· 54 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διεμαρτύρατοtestified solemnlyAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · διαμαρτύρομαιmain verb (covenant-testimony / solemn warning)→ constative aorist (the sustained prophetic witness summed up)διαμαρτύρομαι: 'testify solemnly / charge / warn earnestly'; renders הֵעִיד (Hiphil of עוּד, 'bear witness / admonish'); the verb of covenant-lawsuit witness; YHWH formally warns Israel through the prophets, making their disobedience inexcusable; the cognate noun μαρτύρια ('testimonies') follows in v. 15, and the verb recurs there.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH himself is the one who warns, through the agency of the prophets.
ἐνagainst / inpreposition + dative (the addressees of the warning)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: with διαμαρτύρομαι, 'testify in/against'; renders בְּ; here 'against Israel and Judah' as the objects of the solemn charge.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐν (indeclinable; case borne by τῷ)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern kingdom, primary object of the warning.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνagainst / inpreposition + dative→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ιουδα)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙουδαJudahobject of ἐν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable; the southern kingdom is included in the warning, anticipating its own indictment in v. 19.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by the hand of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν χειρί: 'by the hand of', a Hebraism (בְּיַד) for agency; the prophets are the instruments of the divine warning.
χειρὶhandDativedative of means (idiom: 'by the hand of')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρί + genitive = 'through the agency of'; renders בְּיַד; frames the prophets as YHWH's mediating agents.
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying προφητῶν)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all his prophets' stresses the comprehensiveness of the warning — no prophet was withheld.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with προφητῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφητῶνprophetsGenitivegenitive (the agents of the warning)→ relational specificationπροφήτης (pl. προφητῶν): 'prophet'; renders נָבִיא; the prophets are the LORD's covenant-messengers; 'his prophets' marks them as YHWH's own envoys; the term forms an inclusio with v. 23 (τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ τῶν προφητῶν).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
παντὸςeveryGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ὁρῶντος)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'every'; 'every seer' broadens the category of prophetic messengers to include the seers (ὁρῶντες).
ὁρῶντοςseerPres Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · ὁράωsubstantivized participle ('seer' = the one who sees)→ verbal action or stateὁράω: 'see'; the substantivized participle ὁ ὁρῶν ('the seer') renders חֹזֶה / רֹאֶה, the older term for prophet; 'every seer' is in apposition to the prophets, covering the whole prophetic office.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse; agreeing with κύριος)→ circumstantial present participle (Hebraistic 'saying')λέγω: the participle λέγων is the standard Hebraism (לֵאמֹר) introducing the content of the warning as direct speech.
ἀποστράφητεturn backAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · ἀποστρέφωimperative (the call to repentance)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive turning)ἀποστρέφω (aor. pass. impv. ἀποστράφητε): 'turn back / return / repent'; renders שׁוּבוּ; the cardinal prophetic summons to repentance — turn away from evil ways back to YHWH; its rejection (v. 14) seals the verdict.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ὁδῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδῶνwaysGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationὁδός (pl. ὁδῶν): 'way / road / manner of life'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; 'your evil ways' is the metaphor for the whole pattern of apostate conduct to be abandoned.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (attributive, with πονηρῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρῶνevilGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ὁδῶν)→ relational specificationπονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; 'your evil ways' (τῶν ὁδῶν ὑμῶν τῶν πονηρῶν) names the conduct from which repentance is demanded.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the positive counterpart of the summons)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάξατεkeepAor Act Impv 2 Pl · φυλάσσωimperative (positive command: 'keep')→ ingressive aorist imperative (begin keeping)φυλάσσω: 'keep / guard / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the positive side of the summons — to keep the commandments; the verb is the covenant-obedience keyword (cf. its negation in v. 19, οὐκ ἐφύλαξεν).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολάςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάξατε→ object specificationἐντολή (pl. ἐντολάς): 'commandment / precept'; renders מִצְוֺת; the first member of the triad commandments/statutes/law that defines covenant obedience.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δικαιώματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώματάstatutesAccusativedirect object of φυλάξατε (second member of the triad)→ object specificationδικαίωμα (pl. δικαιώματα): 'statute / ordinance'; renders חֻקּוֹת; here YHWH's true statutes — pointedly the same word used in v. 8 for the nations' customs, now reclaimed for the LORD's righteous decrees.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying νόμον)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all the law' marks the comprehensive scope of the covenant obligation.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativedirect object of φυλάξατε (third member of the triad)→ object specificationνόμος: 'law'; renders תּוֹרָה; 'all the law' is the third and summative member of the obedience-triad; the whole Mosaic instruction given through the fathers.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐνετειλάμην)→ participant referenceὃν: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἐνετειλάμην).
ἐνετειλάμηνI commandedAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (the original giving of the law)→ constative aorist (the historic commandment at Sinai)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / enjoin'; renders צִוָּה; the divine first-person 'I commanded your fathers' grounds the obligation in the Sinai covenant; cognate with ἐντολή above.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with πατράσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατράσινfathersDativedative indirect object ('to your fathers')→ sphere or referenceπατήρ (pl. πατράσιν): 'father / ancestor'; renders אָבוֹת; the law was given to the ancestors at Sinai — the inherited covenant the present generation has betrayed.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὅσαwhich thingsAccusativecorrelative pronoun (object of ἀπέστειλα)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; gathers up the whole prophetic message sent to the fathers.
ἀπέστειλαI sentAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb of relative clause (the sending of the prophetic word)→ constative aorist (the historic prophetic mission)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch'; renders שָׁלַח; YHWH sent the law and warnings 'by the hand of my servants the prophets' — the prophets as the divinely-sent messengers, forming the inclusio with v. 23.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (the fathers)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (the fathers).
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by the hand of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental: 'by the hand of').
χειρὶhandDativedative of means (idiom: 'by the hand of')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρί + genitive = 'through'; the repeated agency-formula frames the prophets again as the LORD's instruments.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with δούλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλωνservantsGenitivegenitive (in apposition with τῶν προφητῶν)→ relational specificationδοῦλος (pl. δούλων): 'servant / slave'; renders עֲבָדִים; 'my servants the prophets' (οἱ δοῦλοι μου οἱ προφῆται) is a fixed Deuteronomistic/Jeremianic title for the prophets as YHWH's commissioned agents (cf. v. 23; Jer 7:25).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with προφητῶν, appositional)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφητῶνprophetsGenitivegenitive in apposition to δούλων ('my servants the prophets')→ relational specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet'; in apposition to δούλων — the title 'my servants the prophets' closes the warning and reappears in v. 23 as the fulfilled word of judgment.
14
καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν καὶ ἐσκλήρυναν τὸν νῶτον αὐτῶν ὑπὲρ τὸν νῶτον τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν
But they did not listen, and they hardened their neck more than the neck of their fathers.
The decisive refusal: οὐκ ἤκουσαν ('they did not listen') answers the summons of v. 13 with flat disobedience, and ἐσκλήρυναν τὸν νῶτον αὐτῶν ('they stiffened their neck') is the Deuteronomistic idiom for obstinacy (cf. ὑψηλὸς τράχηλος / ἐσκληροτράχηλος). The comparative ὑπὲρ τὸν νῶτον τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν ('more than their fathers') makes the present generation worse than its already-rebellious ancestors.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἤκουσανthey listenedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (the refusal to obey)→ constative aorist (the settled refusal)ἀκούω: 'hear / listen / obey'; renders שָׁמַע; οὐκ ἤκουσαν ('they did not hear/obey') is the direct rejection of the prophetic call of v. 13; in Hebrew idiom 'to hear' = 'to obey,' so the phrase denotes disobedience, not mere inattention.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσκλήρυνανthey hardened / stiffenedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · σκληρύνωmain verb (the idiom of obstinacy)→ constative aorist (the act of hardening)σκληρύνω: 'harden / make stiff'; renders הִקְשָׁה; the same verb used of Pharaoh's hardened heart (Exod 11:10); 'stiffened the neck' (ἐσκλήρυναν τὸν νῶτον) is the idiom for stubborn refusal of YHWH's yoke (cf. Deut 10:16; Jer 7:26).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νῶτον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νῶτονneck / backAccusativedirect object of ἐσκλήρυναν→ object specificationνῶτος: 'back / neck'; here renders עֹרֶף ('neck'); the stiffened neck is the metaphor for refusing to bend to the divine will, like an ox refusing the yoke.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὑπὲρmore thanpreposition + accusative (comparative: 'beyond / more than')→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + acc.: 'beyond / more than'; the comparative use renders the Hebrew comparative מִן; the present generation's obstinacy exceeds the fathers'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νῶτον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νῶτονneckAccusativeaccusative of comparison (object of ὑπέρ)→ object specificationνῶτος: the repeated 'neck' sharpens the comparison: their hardness surpasses the already-stiff necks of their ancestors.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with πατέρων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρωνfathersGenitivegenitive of comparison ('than their fathers')→ relational specificationπατήρ (pl. πατέρων): 'father / ancestor'; the wilderness generation and subsequent rebels; the comparison brands the present generation as the climax of a long history of obstinacy.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
15
καὶ τὰ μαρτύρια αὐτοῦ ὅσα διεμαρτύρατο αὐτοῖς οὐκ ἐφύλαξαν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω τῶν ματαίων καὶ ἐματαιώθησαν καὶ ὀπίσω τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν περικύκλῳ αὐτῶν ὧν ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς τοῦ μὴ ποιῆσαι κατὰ ταῦτα
And his testimonies, as many as he testified to them, they did not keep; and they went after vanities and became vain, and after the nations round about them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them not to do as they did.
The fronted object τὰ μαρτύρια αὐτοῦ ('his testimonies', cognate with διεμαρτύρατο, v. 13) emphasises what was rejected. The verse contains the chapter's most pointed idol-polemic: ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω τῶν ματαίων καὶ ἐματαιώθησαν ('they went after vanities and became vain') — a play on μάταιος/ματαιόομαι that encapsulates the principle that worshippers become like what they worship (cf. Ps 113:8 LXX; Jer 2:5; Rom 1:21). The closing clause underscores the willful imitation of the nations against an express prohibition.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with μαρτύρια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτύριαtestimoniesAccusativefronted direct object of ἐφύλαξαν→ object specificationμαρτύριον (pl. μαρτύρια): 'testimony / witness / solemn charge'; renders עֵדוֹת; cognate with διεμαρτύρατο (v. 13); 'his testimonies' = the covenant stipulations solemnly attested by YHWH; fronting them stresses the gravity of their rejection.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὅσαas many asAccusativecorrelative pronoun (object of διεμαρτύρατο)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as many as'; gathers the whole body of solemn charges.
διεμαρτύρατοhe testifiedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · διαμαρτύρομαιverb of relative clause (the solemn warning)→ constative aoristδιαμαρτύρομαι: 'testify solemnly / warn'; cognate with μαρτύρια; the figura etymologica τὰ μαρτύρια … διεμαρτύρατο underlines that the very testimonies YHWH witnessed were spurned (cf. v. 13).
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object.
οὐκnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐφύλαξανthey keptAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (the failure to obey)→ constative aorist (settled disobedience)φυλάσσω: 'keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the negation οὐκ ἐφύλαξαν directly reverses the command φυλάξατε of v. 13 — they did not keep what they were charged to keep.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθησανthey wentAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (apostate following)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / walk'; 'went after' (ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω) renders הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי, the idiom for cultic allegiance/discipleship — here pledged to worthless idols.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (allegiance: 'after')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; ὀπίσω + genitive renders אַחֲרֵי; 'to go after' a deity = to give it cultic allegiance.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ματαίων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ματαίωνvanities / worthless thingsGenitivesubstantivized adjective (object of ὀπίσω: 'the vanities')→ relational specificationμάταιος: 'vain / empty / worthless'; substantivized τὰ μάταια ('the vanities') renders הֶבֶל ('vapor / nothingness'), a standard idol-polemic term denoting the unreality and worthlessness of false gods; sets up the wordplay with ἐματαιώθησαν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐματαιώθησανthey became vainAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ματαιόωmain verb (the result of idolatry: becoming like the idol)→ constative aorist (the resultant emptiness)ματαιόω (pass.): 'become vain / be made worthless / futile'; cognate with μάταιος; the wordplay ὀπίσω τῶν ματαίων καὶ ἐματαιώθησαν ('after vanities … and became vain') encapsulates the biblical principle that worshippers become like what they worship (cf. Ps 113:8 LXX; Jer 2:5; quoted in Rom 1:21, ἐματαιώθησαν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second object of 'went after')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (allegiance)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: the repeated 'after' extends the apostate allegiance from the vanities to the surrounding nations.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἐθνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationἔθνος (pl. ἐθνῶν): 'nation / gentile'; the surrounding peoples whose cult Israel emulated.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (attributive, with περικύκλῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περικύκλῳround aboutadverb (attributive: 'round about them')→ clausal contributionπερικύκλῳ: 'all around / round about'; renders סְבִיבוֹת; 'the nations round about them' = the immediately neighbouring peoples whose influence proved so corrupting.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (the Israelites surrounded)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (the Israelites surrounded).
ὧνconcerning whomGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive: 'concerning whom')→ relational specificationὧν: meaning 'concerning whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (genitive: 'concerning whom').
ἐνετείλατοhe commandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (the prohibition concerning the nations)→ constative aorist (the historic command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; renders צִוָּה; YHWH had expressly forbidden imitation of these nations (cf. Deut 12:30–31; Lev 18:3); the imitation is thus knowing transgression.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle + infinitive (articular infinitive, content of the command)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the infinitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative used with the infinitive; τοῦ μὴ ποιῆσαι = 'not to do', the prohibitive content of the command.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωarticular infinitive (content of the prohibition)→ aorist infinitive (the forbidden imitation)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the articular infinitive τοῦ μὴ ποιῆσαι κατὰ ταῦτα ('not to do according to these things') states what YHWH forbade — the very practices Israel adopted.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard/norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to / like'; 'to do according to these things' = to imitate the nations' practices.
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of κατά)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; ταῦτα refers to the abominable practices of the nations forbidden to Israel.
16
ἐγκατέλιπον τὰς ἐντολὰς κυρίου θεοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς χώνευμα δύο δαμάλεις καὶ ἐποίησαν ἄλση καὶ προσεκύνησαν πάσῃ τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τῷ Βααλ
They forsook the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves a molten image, two calves, and made sacred groves, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
The asyndetic opening ἐγκατέλιπον ('they forsook') heightens the climactic catalogue of the worst sins: the abandoned commandments (reversing v. 13), the two molten calves (χώνευμα δύο δαμάλεις — Jeroboam's calves of Bethel and Dan, 1 Kgs 12:28), the sacred groves, the worship of πάσῃ τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ('all the host of heaven'), and the service of Baal. This is the densest concentration of the chapter's apostasy-vocabulary.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ἐγκατέλιπονthey forsookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐγκαταλείπωmain verb (asyndetic; the climactic abandonment)→ constative aorist (the act of apostasy)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon / leave behind'; renders עָזַב; the asyndeton (no connective) marks the start of the climactic list; 'forsook the commandments' directly reverses the φυλάξατε τὰς ἐντολάς of v. 13.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of ἐγκατέλιπον→ object specificationἐντολή (pl. ἐντολάς): 'commandment'; renders מִצְוֺת; the very commandments they were charged to keep (v. 13) are now forsaken — the hinge from warning to wholesale apostasy.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source ('commandments of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the commandments belong to YHWH their God, deepening the betrayal.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; 'the LORD their God' again stresses the abandoned covenant relationship.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησανthey madeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (fabrication of idols)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make'; the reflexive ἑαυτοῖς marks the self-willed manufacture of cult-images — the calves of Jeroboam.
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativedative reflexive (of advantage)→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; the recurring ἑαυτοῖς (cf. vv. 9, 10) brands the idolatry as self-devised.
χώνευμαmolten imageAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησαν→ object specificationχώνευμα: 'cast/molten object, image of cast metal'; renders מַסֵּכָה; a metal idol cast in a mould; here defined by the apposition δύο δαμάλεις as Jeroboam's golden calves.
δύοtwoindeclinable cardinal numeral (with δαμάλεις)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; indeclinable here; the two calves correspond to the two royal shrines of the northern kingdom, Bethel and Dan (1 Kgs 12:28–29).
δαμάλειςcalves / heifersAccusativeaccusative in apposition to χώνευμα→ object specificationδάμαλις (pl. δαμάλεις): 'heifer / young cow / calf'; renders עֲגָלִים ('calves'); the two golden calves made by Jeroboam I, the founding sin of the northern kingdom and the recurring touchstone of its condemnation (cf. v. 21; 1 Kgs 12:28).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησανthey madeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (making of cult-objects)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make'; here the manufacture of the ἄλση (Asherah-poles).
ἄλσηsacred grovesAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησαν→ object specificationἄλσος (pl. ἄλση): 'grove / sacred wood'; renders אֲשֵׁרָה; the Asherah cult-object, recurring from v. 10; the worship of the goddess Asherah alongside the calves.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσεκύνησανthey worshipedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · προσκυνέωmain verb (act of prostrate worship)→ constative aoristπροσκυνέω: 'bow down / worship / do obeisance'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; the act of prostrate adoration; here directed to the astral cult — 'all the host of heaven'; the verb recurs in the covenant prohibition of v. 35.
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (modifying δυνάμει)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all the host of heaven' = the totality of the astral powers worshipped.
τῇtheDativearticle (with δυνάμει)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμειhost / armyDativedative object of προσεκύνησαν ('worshiped the host')→ sphere or referenceδύναμις: 'power / army / host'; here ἡ δύναμις τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ('the host of heaven') renders צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם, the sun, moon, and stars worshipped as deities — astral cult condemned in Deut 4:19; 17:3.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οὐρανοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitivegenitive of relationship ('host of heaven')→ relational specificationοὐρανός: 'heaven / sky'; renders שָׁמַיִם; 'the host of heaven' = the celestial bodies as objects of forbidden astral worship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάτρευσανthey servedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (cultic service of Baal)→ constative aoristλατρεύω: 'serve / worship cultically'; renders עָבַד; the service due to YHWH alone is rendered to Baal — the climax of the apostasy-catalogue; cf. v. 12 (idols) and v. 33 (the nations' gods).
τῷtheDativearticle (with Βααλ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλBaaldative object of ἐλάτρευσαν (indeclinable; case borne by τῷ)→ participant identificationΒααλ: transliteration of Hebrew בַּעַל ('lord / master'); indeclinable; the Canaanite storm- and fertility-god, chief rival of YHWH in the northern kingdom (esp. under Ahab and Jezebel, 1 Kgs 16–18); the article τῷ supplies the dative case.
17
καὶ διῆγον τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν ἐν πυρὶ καὶ ἐμαντεύοντο μαντείας καὶ οἰωνίζοντο καὶ ἐπράθησαν τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου παροργίσαι αὐτόν
And they passed their sons and their daughters through fire, and practiced divinations and used auguries, and they sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
The catalogue reaches its nadir: child sacrifice (διῆγον … ἐν πυρί, 'passed through fire'), divination (ἐμαντεύοντο μαντείας) and augury (οἰωνίζοντο) — the occult practices proscribed in Deut 18:10. The climactic ἐπράθησαν τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρόν ('they sold themselves to do evil') casts apostasy as total self-surrender to wickedness; the closing παροργίσαι αὐτόν ('to provoke him') echoes v. 11 and seals the indictment, leading directly to the divine wrath of v. 18.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διῆγονthey passed / made passImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · διάγωmain verb (the rite of child sacrifice)→ iterative/customary imperfect (the repeated practice)διάγω: 'lead through / make pass'; renders הֶעֱבִיר (Hiphil of עָבַר); 'to make pass through fire' is the technical idiom for child sacrifice (cf. Deut 18:10; 2 Kgs 16:3; 23:10, the Molech-cult); the imperfect διῆγον marks it as a recurring practice.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of διῆγον→ object specificationυἱός (pl. υἱούς): 'son'; the victims of the fire-rite — their own children offered in sacrifice.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with θυγατέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativedirect object of διῆγον (coordinate with υἱούς)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ (pl. θυγατέρας): 'daughter'; renders בָּנוֹת; sons and daughters alike were sacrificed — the comprehensiveness intensifies the horror.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνin / throughpreposition + dative (instrument/locale of the rite)→ spatial or relational framingἐν πυρί: 'in/through fire'; the prepositional phrase completes the child-sacrifice idiom (διάγω ἐν πυρί), rendering בָּאֵשׁ.
πυρὶfireDativedative object of ἐν→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the instrument of the sacrificial rite; the same horror recurs of the Sepharvites in v. 31.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμαντεύοντοthey practiced divinationImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · μαντεύομαιmain verb (occult practice; cognate with μαντείας)→ iterative/customary imperfectμαντεύομαι: 'practice divination / prophesy (of false seers)'; renders קָסַם; the cognate construction ἐμαντεύοντο μαντείας ('divined divinations') is a figura etymologica intensifying the charge; divination is proscribed in Deut 18:10.
μαντείαςdivinationsAccusativecognate accusative (object of ἐμαντεύοντο)→ object specificationμαντεία (pl. μαντείας): 'divination / soothsaying'; the cognate object renders קְסָמִים; the figura etymologica emphasises the prevalence of the forbidden practice.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἰωνίζοντοthey used auguriesImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · οἰωνίζομαιmain verb (second occult practice)→ iterative/customary imperfectοἰωνίζομαι: 'take omens / practice augury (from the flight/cries of birds)'; renders נִחֵשׁ ('practice augury/enchantment'); another forbidden divinatory art (Deut 18:10; Lev 19:26).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπράθησανthey sold themselvesAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πιπράσκωmain verb (metaphor of total self-surrender to evil)→ constative aorist (the decisive self-surrender)πιπράσκω (aor. pass. ἐπράθησαν): 'sell'; the passive 'they were sold / sold themselves' renders הִתְמַכֵּר ('sell oneself'); the metaphor of selling oneself to do evil casts total enslavement to sin (cf. 1 Kgs 21:20, 25 of Ahab; echoed in Rom 7:14, πεπραμένος ὑπὸ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν).
τοῦtoGenitivearticle + infinitive (articular infinitive of purpose/result)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωarticular infinitive (purpose/result of the self-sale)→ telic aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do'; τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρόν ('to do evil') states the aim to which they sold themselves; echoes the verdict-formula of v. 2.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πονηρόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativesubstantivized adjective (object of ποιῆσαι)→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil'; τὸ πονηρόν ('the evil') = cultic disloyalty to YHWH; the same phrase frames the king's verdict (v. 2), now applied to the whole people.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (evaluative idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (evaluative idiom).
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of sphere (idiom: 'in the eyes of')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου ('in the eyes of the LORD'), the evaluative Hebraism of v. 2.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (the evaluating party)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the one before whose eyes the evil is done.
παροργίσαιto provoke to angerAor Act Inf · παροργίζωinfinitive of purpose/result (asyndetic, intensifying)→ telic aorist infinitiveπαροργίζω: 'provoke to anger'; renders הַכְעִיס; the asyndetic infinitive παροργίσαι αὐτόν ('to provoke him') restates the upshot of v. 11; the whole catalogue of sin amounts to provocation of YHWH — leading immediately to his wrath in v. 18.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of παροργίσαι (the LORD)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of παροργίσαι (the LORD).
18
καὶ ἐθυμώθη κύριος σφόδρα ἐν τῷ Ισραηλ καὶ ἀπέστησεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐχ ὑπελείφθη πλὴν φυλὴ Ιουδα μονωτάτη
And the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence, and there was left none but the tribe of Judah only.
The theodicy reaches its turning point: the accumulated provocation (v. 17) issues in divine wrath, ἐθυμώθη κύριος σφόδρα ('the LORD was very angry'), and the sentence ἀπέστησεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ('removed them from his presence') — the theological description of the exile as banishment from YHWH's sight. The remnant clause (πλὴν φυλὴ Ιουδα μονωτάτη, 'only the tribe of Judah') narrows the survivors to the south, setting up the indictment of Judah in v. 19.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθυμώθηwas angryAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θυμόωmain verb (the divine wrath)→ ingressive aorist (kindling of anger)θυμόω (pass.): 'be angry / become enraged'; renders חָרָה אַף ('the anger burned'); the divine θυμός is the just response to the provocation (παροργίσαι, v. 17); the verb roots in θυμός, the keyword of divine wrath.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the offended God whose wrath now falls.
σφόδραvery / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying ἐθυμώθη)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly / very'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies the wrath — not mere displeasure but burning anger.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (object of the anger)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: with θυμόω, 'angry with/at'; renders בְּ; Israel is the object of the wrath.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐν (indeclinable; case borne by τῷ)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern kingdom, object of the divine wrath.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστησενremovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφίστημιmain verb (the act of removal/exile)→ constative aorist (the decisive removal)ἀφίστημι (trans. aor. ἀπέστησεν): 'remove / put away / cause to depart'; renders הֵסִיר; the theological term for the exile as YHWH's removal of Israel from his presence; reprised in v. 23 (μετέστησεν).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (Israel)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Israel).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with προσώπου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό ('from his presence')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ('from his presence') is the theological idiom for the exile as banishment from YHWH's sight; recurs in vv. 20, 23.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the LORD's).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the remnant clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐχnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐχ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ὑπελείφθηwas leftAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὑπολείπωmain verb (the remnant statement)→ constative aorist (the resultant remnant)ὑπολείπω (pass.): 'be left over / remain'; renders נִשְׁאַר; 'there was left none but Judah' restricts the surviving people to the south — the remnant theme; the singular agrees with the following φυλή.
πλὴνexceptrestrictive particle ('except / only')→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'except / only'; renders רַק / זוּלָתִי; introduces the sole exception to the removal — the tribe of Judah.
φυλὴtribeNominativesubject of ὑπελείφθη (the surviving remnant)→ participant prominenceφυλή: 'tribe'; renders שֵׁבֶט; 'the tribe of Judah' represents the southern kingdom (with Benjamin) spared for now — its own fall will come later (586 BC).
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable (genitival: 'tribe of Judah')→ participant identificationΙουδα: indeclinable; the surviving southern tribe.
μονωτάτηalone / onlyNominativesuperlative adjective (predicate: 'Judah alone')→ participant prominenceμόνος (superl. μονώτατος): 'alone / only'; the emphatic superlative μονωτάτη ('utterly alone') stresses that Judah was the sole survivor of the removal — a solitary remnant, soon shown to be no more faithful (v. 19).
19
καί γε Ιουδας οὐκ ἐφύλαξεν τὰς ἐντολὰς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἐν τοῖς δικαιώμασιν Ισραηλ οἷς ἐποίησαν
Moreover Judah also did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they had made.
The emphatic καί γε ('moreover / and indeed even') turns the indictment southward: even Judah, the spared remnant of v. 18, οὐκ ἐφύλαξεν τὰς ἐντολάς ('did not keep the commandments') — the same charge as Israel (cf. v. 13's φυλάξατε) — and walked in Israel's δικαιώματα. The note universalises the apostasy and forewarns Judah's own coming judgment, even as the narrative returns to Israel in v. 20.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καίandconjunction (with γε, emphatic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γεindeed / evenemphatic particle (intensifying καί)→ discourse linkage or contrastγε: emphatic/limitative particle; καί γε ('moreover / even') renders the Hebrew גַּם ('also / even'); throws emphasis on Judah as also guilty, surprising after the remnant-statement of v. 18.
ΙουδαςJudahNominativesubject (here declined as a Greek noun)→ participant prominenceΙουδας: here the name is declined (nom. Ιουδας) rather than left indeclinable as in v. 13; the southern kingdom personified as subject — even Judah is implicated.
οὐκnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐφύλαξενkeptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φυλάσσωmain verb (Judah's failure to obey)→ constative aorist (settled disobedience)φυλάσσω: 'keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the negation οὐκ ἐφύλαξεν reverses the command φυλάξατε (v. 13) — Judah is no more obedient than Israel; the same verb in v. 15 of Israel.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of ἐφύλαξεν→ object specificationἐντολή (pl. ἐντολάς): 'commandment'; renders מִצְוֺת; the same commandments Israel forsook (v. 16), now also unkept by Judah.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source ('commandments of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the commandments are YHWH's.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου ('their God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; 'the LORD their God' — the covenant relationship Judah too betrayed.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶbut / andcoordinate conjunction (adversative in force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθησανthey walkedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (the plural shifts to the people of Judah)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'walk / conduct oneself'; the shift to plural (Judah's people) continues the 'walking in statutes' idiom of v. 8 — Judah adopted Israel's apostate ways.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/manner)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere/manner).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with δικαιώμασιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώμασινstatutesDativedative of manner/sphere ('in the statutes')→ sphere or referenceδικαίωμα (pl. δικαιώμασιν): 'statute / ordinance'; renders חֻקּוֹת; the δικαιώματα Ισραηλ ('statutes of Israel') are the corrupt northern practices, the same ironic use of the word as in v. 8 — Judah walked in Israel's apostate customs rather than YHWH's.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable (genitival: 'statutes of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern kingdom whose corrupt customs Judah imitated.
οἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative by attraction; object of ἐποίησαν)→ participant reference or interestοἷς: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (dative by attraction; object of ἐποίησαν).
ἐποίησανthey made / didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause (the statutes Israel devised)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make'; 'the statutes of Israel which they made' = the self-devised cultic customs of the north (cf. v. 8), now adopted by Judah.
20
καὶ ἀπεώσαντο τὸν κύριον ἐν παντὶ σπέρματι Ισραηλ καὶ ἐσάλευσεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοὺς ἐν χειρὶ διαρπαζόντων αὐτούς ἕως οὗ ἀπέρριψεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ
And they rejected the LORD in all the seed of Israel, and he shook them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until he cast them away from his presence.
A summarising verdict embracing both kingdoms (παντὶ σπέρματι Ισραηλ, 'all the seed of Israel'): they rejected (ἀπεώσαντο) the LORD, and he responded with a chain of judgments — ἐσάλευσεν ('shook'), ἔδωκεν … ἐν χειρὶ διαρπαζόντων ('gave them into the hand of plunderers'), culminating in ἀπέρριψεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ('cast them from his presence'), the third occurrence of the banishment-idiom (vv. 18, 20, 23).
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεώσαντοthey rejected / thrust awayAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀπωθέωmain verb (the people's rejection of YHWH)→ constative aorist (the decisive repudiation)ἀπωθέω (mid. ἀπεώσαντο): 'thrust away / reject / repudiate'; renders מָאַס / נָאַץ; the people 'pushed away' YHWH — a violent image of covenant repudiation; cf. the divine counterpart ἀπέρριψεν ('cast away') at the verse's end.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of ἀπεώσαντο→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD himself is the one rejected — the ultimate covenant offence.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/extent)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere/extent).
παντὶallDativeattributive adjective (modifying σπέρματι)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all the seed of Israel' embraces both kingdoms, universalising the rejection.
σπέρματιseed / offspringDativedative of sphere ('in all the seed')→ sphere or referenceσπέρμα: 'seed / offspring / descendants'; renders זֶרַע; 'all the seed of Israel' = the entire covenant people, north and south — the whole nation has rejected YHWH.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable (genitival: 'seed of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; here the whole covenant people, not just the north.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the divine response)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσάλευσενhe shookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σαλεύωmain verb (first divine judgment)→ constative aoristσαλεύω: 'shake / agitate / make to totter'; renders עִנָּה / הֵנִיעַ ('afflict / make to wander'); the image of God shaking the people loose from their security, the first in the chain of judgments.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενhe gaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (handing over to enemies)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give / hand over'; renders נָתַן; 'gave them into the hand of plunderers' is the judgment-formula for delivering Israel to its enemies (cf. Judg 2:14); the 'hand' = power/dominion.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (idiom: 'into the hand of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν χειρί: 'into/by the hand of'; the Hebraism (בְּיַד) for handing over to another's power.
χειρὶhandDativedative of means ('into the hand of')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the 'hand' as power/dominion; here the power of the plunderers.
διαρπαζόντωνof plunderersPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · διαρπάζωsubstantivized participle (genitive: 'those plundering')→ verbal action or stateδιαρπάζω: 'plunder / pillage / despoil'; the substantivized participle οἱ διαρπάζοντες ('plunderers / despoilers') renders שֹׁסִים; the enemies into whose power YHWH gave the people.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of διαρπαζόντων→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of διαρπαζόντων.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (with οὗ: 'until')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως οὗ: 'until'; renders עַד אֲשֶׁר; introduces the terminal point of the judgments — the final casting-away.
οὗwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (with ἕως, forming the temporal conjunction)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὗ: meaning 'which'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέρριψενhe cast awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπορρίπτωmain verb (the terminal judgment)→ constative aorist (the final expulsion)ἀπορρίπτω: 'throw away / cast off'; renders הִשְׁלִיךְ; the violent climax — God 'cast them away from his presence,' answering the people's ἀπεώσαντο with his own decisive rejection; the banishment-idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου recurs from v. 18.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό ('from his presence')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ('from his presence'), the third occurrence of the exile-as-banishment idiom (vv. 18, 20, 23).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the LORD's).
21
ὅτι πλὴν Ισραηλ ἐπάνωθεν οἴκου Δαυιδ καὶ ἐβασίλευσαν τὸν Ιεροβοαμ υἱὸν Ναβατ καὶ ἐξέωσεν Ιεροβοαμ τὸν Ισραηλ ἐξόπισθεν κυρίου καὶ ἐξήμαρτεν αὐτοὺς ἁμαρτίαν μεγάλην
For Israel was torn away from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king; and Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.
The causal ὅτι reaches back to the origin of the northern apostasy: the schism that tore (ἐπάνωθεν, 'away from') Israel from the house of David, and the founding sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat. The two verbs ἐξέωσεν ('drove away') and ἐξήμαρτεν ('made to sin') with the cognate ἁμαρτίαν μεγάλην ('a great sin') frame Jeroboam as the archetypal leader-into-sin — 'the sin of Jeroboam' being the refrain of northern condemnation throughout Kingdoms.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (tracing the deeper cause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; renders כִּי; introduces the historical root of the apostasy — the schism and Jeroboam's sin.
πλὴνindeed / whenparticle (here roughly 'indeed / now when')→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'except / but / indeed'; here a discourse-particle launching the historical retrospect; the clause is elliptical, reflecting a difficult Hebrew (כִּי קָרַע, 'for he tore').
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable; with implied passive 'was torn')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern tribes torn from the Davidic house at the schism of 1 Kgs 12.
ἐπάνωθενaway fromimproper preposition + genitive ('from off / away from')→ spatial or relational framingἐπάνωθεν: 'from above / away from'; renders מֵעַל; the secession 'from off the house of David' (cf. 1 Kgs 12:19); the same preposition denotes Israel's removal from its own land in v. 23.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of ἐπάνωθεν→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house / dynasty'; ὁ οἶκος Δαυιδ ('the house of David') = the Davidic dynasty in Jerusalem from which the north broke away.
Δαυιδof Davidindeclinable (genitival: 'house of David')→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable; the dynastic founder whose house the northern tribes rejected at the schism.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβασίλευσανthey made kingAor Act Indic 3 Pl · βασιλεύωmain verb (factitive: 'they made [him] king')→ constative aorist (the act of enthronement)βασιλεύω: usually 'reign', but here transitive/factitive 'cause to reign / make king' (rendering הִמְלִיךְ); the northern tribes enthroned Jeroboam, inaugurating the rival monarchy.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιεροβοαμ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεροβοαμJeroboamdirect object of ἐβασίλευσαν (indeclinable; case borne by τόν)→ participant identificationΙεροβοαμ: transliteration of Hebrew יָרָבְעָם; indeclinable; Jeroboam I son of Nebat, first king of the north, who established the calf-cult (1 Kgs 12); his 'sin' is the byword of northern apostasy.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition (patronymic)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; supplies the accusative for the indeclinable patronymic.
Ναβατof Nebatindeclinable (patronymic: 'son of Nebat')→ participant identificationΝαβατ: transliteration of Hebrew נְבָט; indeclinable; the father of Jeroboam, named in the recurring formula 'Jeroboam son of Nebat.'
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέωσενdrove awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξωθέωmain verb (Jeroboam's leading of Israel astray)→ constative aoristἐξωθέω (aor. ἐξέωσεν): 'drive out / thrust away / expel'; renders הִדִּיחַ ('drive away / seduce'); Jeroboam 'drove Israel from following the LORD' — the leader who turned the nation to apostasy.
ΙεροβοαμJeroboamsubject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙεροβοαμ: indeclinable; the agent of the nation's apostasy.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object of ἐξέωσεν (indeclinable; case borne by τόν)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the people Jeroboam led astray.
ἐξόπισθενfrom following / from behindimproper preposition + genitive ('from after / from following')→ spatial or relational framingἐξόπισθεν: 'from behind / from after'; renders מֵאַחֲרֵי; 'drove Israel from following the LORD' — the reverse of the allegiance-idiom 'to go after' (cf. v. 15); apostasy as turning away from discipleship to YHWH.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐξόπισθεν→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD from whose following Israel was driven.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξήμαρτενmade to sinAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαμαρτάνωmain verb (causative: 'caused [them] to sin')→ constative aoristἐξαμαρτάνω: in the causative sense 'cause to sin / lead into sin'; renders הֶחֱטִיא; with the cognate ἁμαρτίαν it forms a figura etymologica; 'made Israel sin' is the fixed verdict on Jeroboam (1 Kgs 14:16; 15:30) — the leader who caused the nation to sin.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξήμαρτεν→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξήμαρτεν.
ἁμαρτίανsinAccusativecognate accusative (with ἐξήμαρτεν)→ object specificationἁμαρτία: 'sin'; the cognate accusative ἁμαρτίαν μεγάλην ('a great sin') intensifies the charge — the calf-cult that defined and doomed the northern kingdom.
μεγάληνgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἁμαρτίαν)→ object specificationμέγας: 'great'; renders גְדוֹלָה; the magnitude of Jeroboam's sin matches its catastrophic consequence — the exile of the whole kingdom.
22
καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἐν πάσῃ ἁμαρτίᾳ Ιεροβοαμ ᾗ ἐποίησεν οὐκ ἀπέστησαν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς
And the sons of Israel walked in all the sin of Jeroboam which he committed; they did not depart from it,
The verse states the relentless continuity of the apostasy: Israel 'walked in all the sin of Jeroboam' and οὐκ ἀπέστησαν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς ('did not depart from it') — the negative counterpart of the prophetic call ἀποστράφητε (v. 13). The refusal to turn away seals the inevitability of the removal narrated in v. 23.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθησανthey walkedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (walking in Jeroboam's sin)→ constative aorist (the sustained pattern)πορεύομαι: 'walk / conduct oneself'; the recurring 'walk in' idiom (vv. 8, 19); here 'walked in all the sin of Jeroboam' = persisted in the calf-cult.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject ('the sons of Israel')→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): the covenant people, here persisting in the founding sin.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable (genitival: 'sons of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern people.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere).
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἁμαρτίᾳ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'all the sin of Jeroboam' = the entirety of his apostate cult-system.
ἁμαρτίᾳsinDativedative of sphere ('in the sin')→ sphere or referenceἁμαρτία: 'sin'; 'the sin of Jeroboam' is the stock phrase for the calf-cult and its associated apostasy that defined the northern kingdom.
Ιεροβοαμof Jeroboamindeclinable (genitival: 'sin of Jeroboam')→ participant identificationΙεροβοαμ: indeclinable; the originator of the sin in which Israel persisted.
ᾗwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative by attraction; object of ἐποίησεν)→ participant reference or interestᾗ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (dative by attraction; object of ἐποίησεν).
ἐποίησενhe committedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause (Jeroboam's act)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make / commit'; 'the sin which he did' — Jeroboam's founding apostasy, perpetuated by his successors.
οὐκnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἀπέστησανthey departedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀφίστημιmain verb (intransitive: 'they did not depart')→ constative aorist (the persistent refusal)ἀφίστημι (intrans. aor. ἀπέστησαν): 'depart / withdraw / stand away'; renders סוּר; οὐκ ἀπέστησαν ('they did not depart') is the negative of the call ἀποστράφητε (v. 13) — they would not turn from the sin; ironically the same root as YHWH's removal (ἀπέστησεν, v. 18).
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation, elided)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation, elided).
αὐτῆςitGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the sin)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀπό (the sin).
23
ἕως οὗ μετέστησεν κύριος τὸν Ισραηλ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ καθὼς ἐλάλησεν κύριος ἐν χειρὶ πάντων τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ τῶν προφητῶν καὶ ἀπῳκίσθη Ισραηλ ἐπάνωθεν τῆς γῆς αὐτοῦ εἰς Ἀσσυρίους ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης
until the LORD removed Israel from his presence, as the LORD had spoken by the hand of all his servants the prophets; and Israel was carried away from off its own land to the Assyrians, to this day.
The theodicy closes by sealing the exile as the fulfilment of the prophetic word: μετέστησεν κύριος ('the LORD removed') answers the warning of v. 13 (καθὼς ἐλάλησεν … ἐν χειρὶ … τῶν προφητῶν, inclusio with that verse), and ἀπῳκίσθη Ισραηλ … εἰς Ἀσσυρίους reprises the deportation of v. 6. The terminal phrase ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') stamps the exile as the enduring present reality and bridges to the resettlement narrative of vv. 24–41.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
ἕωςuntilconjunction (with οὗ: 'until')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως οὗ: 'until'; renders עַד אֲשֶׁר; marks the terminus of the persistence in sin — the removal.
οὗwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (with ἕως)→ relational specificationοὗ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (with ἕως).
μετέστησενremovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μεθίστημιmain verb (the act of removal/exile)→ constative aorist (the decisive removal)μεθίστημι (trans. aor. μετέστησεν): 'remove / transfer / displace'; renders הֵסִיר; a near-synonym of ἀπέστησεν (v. 18); 'the LORD removed Israel from his presence' restates the theological essence of the exile.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH himself is the agent of the exile — not merely Assyria.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object of μετέστησεν (indeclinable; case borne by τόν)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the northern people removed.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό ('from his presence')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; the banishment-idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, third and climactic occurrence (vv. 18, 20, 23).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the LORD's).
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing the fulfilment-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'just as / according as'; introduces the fulfilment formula — the removal happened exactly as the prophets had foretold.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of comparative clause (the prior prophetic word)→ constative aorist (the spoken word now fulfilled)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; 'as the LORD spoke by the hand of … the prophets' makes the exile the precise fulfilment of the prophetic warning of v. 13 — forming an inclusio around the theodicy.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐλάλησεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the one who both warned and now executes.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by the hand of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν χειρί: 'by the hand of'; the agency-Hebraism (בְּיַד), framing the prophets as the LORD's spokesmen; cf. v. 13.
χειρὶhandDativedative of means (idiom: 'by the hand of')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρί + genitive = 'through the agency of'; recalls the same phrase in v. 13, closing the prophetic inclusio.
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying δούλων)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all his servants the prophets' echoes v. 13 — the warning was comprehensive, and so is its vindication.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with δούλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλωνservantsGenitivegenitive (in apposition with τῶν προφητῶν)→ relational specificationδοῦλος (pl. δούλων): 'servant'; 'my/his servants the prophets' — the fixed Deuteronomistic title (cf. v. 13); the prophets through whom the word of judgment came.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with προφητῶν, appositional)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφητῶνprophetsGenitivegenitive in apposition to δούλων→ relational specificationπροφήτης (pl. προφητῶν): 'prophet'; closes the prophetic inclusio (v. 13); the prophets' word of warning is now fulfilled in the exile.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῳκίσθηwas carried awayAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποικίζωmain verb (the passive of deportation)→ constative aorist (the accomplished exile)ἀποικίζω (pass. ἀπῳκίσθη): 'be deported / removed to a colony'; the passive of the verb used actively in v. 6; 'Israel was carried away' states the exile as accomplished fact, completing the theodicy.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject of ἀπῳκίσθη (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the deported northern people.
ἐπάνωθενfrom offimproper preposition + genitive ('from off / away from')→ spatial or relational framingἐπάνωθεν: 'from above / away from'; renders מֵעַל; 'from off its own land' — the same preposition used of the schism (v. 21); now Israel is torn from the land itself.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐπάνωθεν→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; renders אֲדָמָה; 'its own land' = the promised land from which Israel is now uprooted, the final reversal of the conquest.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (Israel's land)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Israel's land).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination of exile)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination of exile).
Ἀσσυρίουςthe AssyriansAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationἈσσύριος: gentilic; εἰς Ἀσσυρίους ('to the Assyrians') reprises the deportation-destination of v. 6, framing the theodicy with the bare fact of exile.
ἕωςuntil / topreposition + genitive (temporal extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; with τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης forms the formula 'to this day.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive of time ('to this day')→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') renders עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, the narrator's formula marking the exile as the abiding present situation; recurs in vv. 34, 41.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; 'this day' is the narrator's own time — the exile endures as a present, unreversed reality.
24
καὶ ἤγαγεν βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος τὸν ἐκ Χουνθα καὶ ἀπὸ Αια καὶ ἀπὸ Αιμαθ καὶ Σεπφαρουαιν καὶ κατῳκίσθησαν ἐν πόλεσιν Σαμαρείας ἀντὶ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ ἐκληρονόμησαν τὴν Σαμάρειαν καὶ κατῴκησαν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῆς
And the king of the Assyrians brought people from Babylon and the man from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities.
The narrative now mirrors v. 6: as Israel was deported out, so foreign peoples are deported in. The list of source-regions (Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, Sepharvaim) names the imported populations who will become the Samaritans. The phrase ἀντὶ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ('in place of the sons of Israel') marks the substitution, and ἐκληρονόμησαν ('took possession / inherited') ironically applies the conquest-vocabulary of inheritance to these newcomers.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤγαγενbroughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἄγωmain verb (the importing of foreign peoples)→ constative aorist (the act of resettlement-import)ἄγω (aor. ἤγαγεν): 'lead / bring'; renders הֵבִיא; the Assyrian king 'brought' deportees from across the empire to repopulate Samaria — the reverse of Israel's deportation (v. 6).
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: gentilic; the Assyrian overlord directing the population-exchange policy.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΒαβυλῶνοςBabylonGenitivegenitive of source ('from Babylon')→ relational specificationΒαβυλών: Greek form of Hebrew בָּבֶל; declined; one of the source-regions of the imported settlers; their god (Succoth-benoth) appears in v. 30.
τὸνthe (man)Accusativearticle (substantivized: 'the [people/man] from Cuthah')→ noun-phrase markingὁ ἐκ Χουνθα: 'the one from Cuthah'; the substantivized article with prepositional phrase denotes the people-group from that place; reflects a collective singular in the Hebrew.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΧουνθαCuthahindeclinable place-name (source)→ participant identificationΧουνθα: transliteration of Hebrew כּוּת/כּוּתָה (Cuthah); indeclinable; a Babylonian city; the Cuthites (cf. Χουθ, v. 30) were so prominent that 'Cutheans' became a Jewish name for the Samaritans.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΑιαAvvaindeclinable place-name (source)→ participant identificationΑια: transliteration of Hebrew עַוָּא (Avva); indeclinable; a source-region of the settlers (the Avvites, cf. v. 31).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΑιμαθHamathindeclinable place-name (source)→ participant identificationΑιμαθ: transliteration of Hebrew חֲמָת (Hamath); indeclinable; a Syrian city; the men of Hamath made Ashima (v. 30).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣεπφαρουαινSepharvaimindeclinable place-name (source)→ participant identificationΣεπφαρουαιν: transliteration of Hebrew סְפַרְוַיִם (Sepharvaim); indeclinable; whose people burned their children to Adrammelech and Anammelech (v. 31).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατῳκίσθησανthey were settledAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · κατοικίζωmain verb (passive of resettlement)→ constative aoristκατοικίζω (pass.): 'be settled / caused to dwell'; the passive of the verb used of Israel's resettlement in v. 6; the imported peoples are planted in Samaria's cities.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative of place ('in the cities')→ sphere or referenceπόλις (pl. πόλεσιν): 'city'; the cities of Samaria, emptied of Israel and now repopulated.
Σαμαρείαςof SamariaGenitivegenitive of relationship ('cities of Samaria')→ relational specificationΣαμάρεια: the former northern kingdom/region, now the territory of the imported peoples.
ἀντὶin place ofpreposition + genitive (substitution: 'instead of')→ spatial or relational framingἀντί + gen.: 'instead of / in place of'; renders תַּחַת; marks the settlers as the replacements for the deported Israelites — the substitution that gives rise to the Samaritans.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί ('sons of Israel')→ relational specificationυἱός (pl. υἱῶν): the deported Israelites whom the newcomers replace.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable (genitival: 'sons of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the exiled people now replaced.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκληρονόμησανtook possessionAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κληρονομέωmain verb (the newcomers' taking of the land)→ constative aoristκληρονομέω: 'inherit / take possession of'; renders יָרַשׁ; the conquest-vocabulary of 'inheriting' the land is ironically applied to the foreign settlers — they 'inherit' Samaria as Israel once inherited Canaan.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Σαμάρειαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαμάρειανSamariaAccusativedirect object of ἐκληρονόμησαν→ object specificationΣαμάρεια: the region inherited by the settlers.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατῴκησανthey dweltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατοικέωmain verb (settled habitation)→ constative aorist (entry into settled dwelling)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the intransitive 'dwelt' (distinct from causative κατοικίζω) — the settlers took up permanent residence in the cities of Samaria.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with πόλεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπόλις (pl. πόλεσιν): 'city'; the cities of Samaria now inhabited by the foreign settlers.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (Samaria's)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Samaria's).
25
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ἀρχῇ τῆς καθέδρας αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐφοβήθησαν τὸν κύριον καὶ ἀπέστειλεν κύριος ἐν αὐτοῖς τοὺς λέοντας καὶ ἦσαν ἀποκτέννοντες ἐν αὐτοῖς
And it came to pass at the beginning of their dwelling there that they did not fear the LORD, and the LORD sent the lions among them, and they were killing some of them.
The settlers' initial failure — οὐκ ἐφοβήθησαν τὸν κύριον ('they did not fear the LORD') — repeats the very verb of Israel's apostasy (ἐφοβήθησαν, v. 7), now in the negative: the newcomers did not reverence the God of the land. YHWH's response, sending lions (τοὺς λέοντας), demonstrates that the land remains under his jurisdiction even after Israel's exile; the periphrastic ἦσαν ἀποκτέννοντες ('were killing') stresses the ongoing depredation.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (Hebraizing narrative formula)→ constative aorist (transitional marker)γίνομαι (aor. mid. ἐγένετο): καὶ ἐγένετο renders וַיְהִי, introducing a new narrative episode — the affair of the lions.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ἀρχῇbeginningDativedative of time ('at the beginning')→ sphere or referenceἀρχή: 'beginning'; ἐν ἀρχῇ τῆς καθέδρας αὐτῶν ('at the beginning of their settlement') marks the initial period of the newcomers' residence, before they learned to fear YHWH.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with καθέδρας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καθέδραςdwelling / settlingGenitivegenitive ('of their dwelling')→ relational specificationκαθέδρα: 'seat / settled dwelling / habitation'; renders שֶׁבֶת ('dwelling'); 'the beginning of their settling' = the early days of the foreign occupation of Samaria.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
οὐκnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐφοβήθησανthey fearedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (the settlers' failure to reverence YHWH)→ constative aoristφοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence / worship'; renders יָרֵא; οὐκ ἐφοβήθησαν τὸν κύριον ('they did not fear the LORD') — the same verb that headed Israel's apostasy (v. 7, of fearing other gods); the newcomers' neglect of the God of the land prompts the lions; φοβέομαι is the leitmotif of the syncretism-section (vv. 28, 32, 33, 41).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of ἐφοβήθησαν→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the God of the land whom the settlers initially failed to reverence.
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 (the divine sending of the lions)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send'; renders שָׁלַח; YHWH 'sent the lions among them' — a demonstration that the land's God still rules it; the lion as instrument of divine judgment (cf. 1 Kgs 13:24; 20:36).
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἀπέστειλεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the sovereign over the land of Samaria even after Israel's removal.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: 'among them')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'among them').
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν ('among them')→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐν ('among them').
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λέοντας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέονταςlionsAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationλέων (pl. λέοντας): 'lion'; renders אֲרָיוֹת; the lions are the agent of divine chastisement, signalling that the land is not ownerless but belongs to YHWH; the definite article (τοὺς λέοντας) may indicate the well-known lions of the region.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦσανthey wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic construction (with ἀποκτέννοντες)→ imperfect (durative, with the participle)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): the imperfect of εἰμί forms a periphrastic imperfect with ἀποκτέννοντες, stressing the continuous, ongoing nature of the killing.
ἀποκτέννοντεςkillingPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · ἀποκτέννωparticiple of periphrastic imperfect ('were killing')→ durative present participle (ongoing slaughter)ἀποκτέννω (= ἀποκτείνω): 'kill / slay'; the periphrastic ἦσαν ἀποκτέννοντes ('were killing') renders a Hebrew participial construction (הָיוּ הֹרְגִים), emphasising the lions' continual depredation among the settlers.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative ('among them' = some of them)→ spatial or relational framingἐν αὐτοῖς: 'among them'; the partitive sense — the lions were killing some of the settlers.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (the victims)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐν (the victims).
26
καὶ εἶπον τῷ βασιλεῖ Ἀσσυρίων λέγοντες τὰ ἔθνη ἃ ἀπῴκισας καὶ ἀντεκάθισας ἐν πόλεσιν Σαμαρείας οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τὸ κρίμα τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἀπέστειλεν εἰς αὐτοὺς τοὺς λέοντας καὶ ἰδού εἰσιν θανατοῦντες αὐτούς καθότι οὐκ οἴδασιν τὸ κρίμα τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς γῆς
And they spoke to the king of the Assyrians, saying, 'The nations whom you carried away and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the ordinance of the god of the land, and he has sent the lions among them; and behold, they are putting them to death, because they do not know the ordinance of the god of the land.'
The report frames the lions theologically (from the settlers' pagan perspective): they do not know τὸ κρίμα τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς γῆς ('the ordinance/manner of the god of the land'), a phrase reflecting the ancient Near Eastern notion of territorial deities with their own cult-protocols. The doubling of the phrase (opening and closing the report) and the deictic ἰδού ('behold') give the speech urgency. The narrator preserves the settlers' viewpoint — 'the god of the land' — even as the reader knows this is YHWH.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the report to the king)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπον): 'say'; the settlers (or their officials) report the crisis to the Assyrian king.
τῷto theDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative indirect object ('to the king')→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the Assyrian king who must remedy the crisis.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: gentilic; the overlord responsible for the resettlement.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ durative present participle (the accompanying words)λέγω: the participle λέγοντες is the Hebraism (לֵאמֹר) introducing the content of the report.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsNominativesubject ('the nations ... do not know')→ participant prominenceἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nation / people'; here the imported settler-peoples, designated as 'nations' — gentiles ignorant of YHWH's cult.
ἃwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀπῴκισας)→ participant referenceἃ: meaning 'whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἀπῴκισας).
ἀπῴκισαςyou carried awayAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποικίζωverb of relative clause (addressed to the king)→ constative aoristἀποικίζω: 'deport / remove'; here second-person, addressed to the king who deported and resettled these peoples; same verb as vv. 6, 11.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀντεκάθισαςyou settled / set in their placeAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀντικαθίζωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristἀντικαθίζω: 'set down in place of / settle as a replacement'; the prefix ἀντι- echoes ἀντί (v. 24) — the settlers were placed in Samaria as substitutes for the exiled Israelites.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπόλις (pl. πόλεσιν): 'city'; the cities of Samaria into which they were settled.
Σαμαρείαςof SamariaGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationΣαμάρεια: the region of resettlement.
οὐκnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔγνωσανthey knowAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb of the report (their ignorance)→ constative aorist (gnomic/stative: 'do not know')γινώσκω: 'know / understand'; οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ('they did not/do not know') — the settlers are ignorant of the proper cult of the land's deity; knowledge of 'the ordinance of the god of the land' is presented as the prerequisite for safe habitation.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κρίμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίμαordinance / mannerAccusativedirect object of ἔγνωσαν→ object specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / ordinance / manner / custom'; here renders מִשְׁפָּט in the sense of 'the (cultic) custom/protocol'; τὸ κρίμα τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς γῆς = 'the prescribed manner of worshipping the god of the land' — the religious protocol the settlers lack.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦgodGenitivegenitive ('of the god of the land')→ relational specificationθεός: 'god'; from the settlers' pagan viewpoint YHWH is 'the god of the land' (ὁ θεὸς τῆς γῆς) — one territorial deity among many; the narrator preserves their perspective, though the reader knows this is YHWH.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of relationship ('god of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; 'the god of the land' reflects the ancient notion of deities bound to specific territories.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (within the report)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενhe has sentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (the god's sending of the lions, in the report)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send'; the report attributes the lions to 'the god of the land' — confirming (from the pagan side) the divine causation stated in v. 25.
εἰςamong / againstpreposition + accusative (direction: 'among/against them')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'among/against them').
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of εἰς.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λέοντας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέονταςlionsAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationλέων (pl. λέοντας): 'lion'; the lions of v. 25, now referred to in the report to the king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδούbeholdinterjection (deictic: 'behold')→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the deictic particle gives the report immediacy and urgency — the killing is happening now.
εἰσινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic construction (with θανατοῦντες)→ present (durative, with the participle)εἰμί (pres. εἰσιν): forms a periphrastic present with θανατοῦντες, stressing the ongoing slaughter.
θανατοῦντεςputting to deathPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · θανατόωparticiple of periphrastic present ('are putting to death')→ durative present participle (ongoing killing)θανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; the periphrastic εἰσιν θανατοῦντες ('are killing') matches the periphrastic of v. 25, conveying the continuous deadly threat from the lions.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of θανατοῦντες (the settlers)→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of θανατοῦντες (the settlers).
καθότιbecausecausal conjunction ('inasmuch as / because')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθότι: 'because / inasmuch as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר / יַעַן; reiterates the cause — their ignorance of the proper cult of the land's god.
οὐκnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
οἴδασινthey knowPerf Act Indic 3 Pl · οἶδαmain verb of causal clause (present-sense perfect)→ stative perfect (present meaning: 'they do not know')οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present sense); the repetition of the ignorance-charge (now with οἶδα rather than γινώσκω) closes the report by re-stating the cause — they lack knowledge of YHWH's required worship.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κρίμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίμαordinance / mannerAccusativedirect object of οἴδασιν→ object specificationκρίμα: 'ordinance / custom'; the repeated τὸ κρίμα τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς γῆς frames the report as an inclusio around the central problem — ignorance of YHWH's cult-protocol.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦgodGenitivegenitive ('of the god of the land')→ relational specificationθεός: 'god'; again from the settlers' perspective, 'the god of the land.'
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; closes the doubled phrase 'the ordinance of the god of the land.'
27
καὶ ἐνετείλατο ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων λέγων ἀπάγετε ἐκεῖθεν καὶ πορευέσθωσαν καὶ κατοικείτωσαν ἐκεῖ καὶ φωτιοῦσιν αὐτοὺς τὸ κρίμα τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς γῆς
And the king of the Assyrians commanded, saying, 'Bring back there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the ordinance of the god of the land.'
The king's solution treats the lions as a cultic problem: an exiled Israelite priest must be sent back to 'enlighten' the settlers in the proper worship of the land's god. The future φωτιοῦσιν ('they shall enlighten/teach') with κρίμα picks up the report's keyword. The irony is sharp: the remedy for ignorance of YHWH is supplied by the very priesthood of the discredited northern cult (the Bethel sanctuary, v. 28).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (the royal command)→ constative aoristἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; renders צִוָּה; the king issues the remedial order — the same verb used of YHWH's commands (vv. 13, 15, 34, 35), here of a human king's decree.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεὺς: meaning 'king'; it serves as subject.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: gentilic; the king who orders the priest's return.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the command)→ circumstantial present participle (Hebraistic 'saying')λέγω: λέγων introduces the direct speech of the decree (Hebraism, לֵאמֹר).
ἀπάγετεbring back / takePres Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀπάγωimperative (the order to officials)→ present imperative (directive to the deportation-officials)ἀπάγω: 'lead away / bring / take'; here in the sense 'take/bring (one of the priests) back there'; renders הוֹלִיכוּ; the command to convey an exiled priest back to Samaria.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source)→ clausal contributionἐκεῖθεν: 'from there / thence'; renders מִשָּׁם; from the place of exile, whence the priest is to be brought back; the object 'one of the priests' is supplied from v. 28.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πορευέσθωσανlet them goPres Mid Impv 3 Pl · πορεύομαιthird-person imperative (jussive)→ present imperative (jussive directive)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the third-person imperative πορευέσθωσαν ('let them go') directs the priest's party to travel to Samaria.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατοικείτωσανlet them dwellPres Act Impv 3 Pl · κατοικέωthird-person imperative (jussive)→ present imperative (jussive directive)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; the priest is to take up residence among the settlers, the precondition for instructing them.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; renders שָׁם; in Samaria, the destination of the returning priest.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (purpose-result of the dwelling)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φωτιοῦσινthey shall teach / enlightenFut Act Indic 3 Pl · φωτίζωfuture (expressing purpose/result: 'so that he/they may teach')→ future of purpose/resultφωτίζω: 'give light / enlighten / instruct'; renders יוֹרֵם / יוֹרֶה ('teach'); the metaphor of 'enlightening' = instructing the settlers in YHWH's cult; the same verb (participle φωτίζων) describes the priest's activity in v. 28.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the settlers to be taught)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the settlers to be taught).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κρίμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίμαordinance / mannerAccusativeaccusative of content (what they are to be taught)→ object specificationκρίμα: 'ordinance / custom'; the cultic protocol of 'the god of the land' (cf. v. 26) that the priest is to teach the settlers.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦgodGenitivegenitive ('of the god of the land')→ relational specificationθεός: 'god'; still 'the god of the land' from the imperial-pagan standpoint.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; the territory whose god must be appeased.
28
καὶ ἤγαγον ἕνα τῶν ἱερέων ὧν ἀπῴκισαν ἀπὸ Σαμαρείας καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν Βαιθηλ καὶ ἦν φωτίζων αὐτοὺς πῶς φοβηθῶσιν τὸν κύριον
And they brought one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria, and he settled in Bethel and was teaching them how they should fear the LORD.
The command is executed: an exiled priest is brought back and settles at Βαιθηλ ('Bethel') — the very seat of Jeroboam's calf-cult (1 Kgs 12:29), a pointed location for instruction in 'the fear of the LORD.' The periphrastic ἦν φωτίζων ('was teaching') and the indirect question πῶς φοβηθῶσιν τὸν κύριον ('how they should fear the LORD') return to the chapter's keyword φοβέομαι, now applied positively — yet the sequel (vv. 29–33) shows the instruction yielded only syncretism.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤγαγονthey broughtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἄγωmain verb (execution of the command)→ constative aoristἄγω (aor. ἤγαγον): 'bring / lead'; the command of v. 27 is carried out — an exiled priest is brought back to Samaria.
ἕναoneAccusativedirect object (numeral: 'one of the priests')→ measure or countεἷς (acc. ἕνα): 'one'; 'one of the priests' — a single representative of the exiled northern priesthood is returned.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἱερέων, partitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωνpriestsGenitivepartitive genitive ('one of the priests')→ relational specificationἱερεύς (pl. ἱερέων): 'priest'; renders כֹּהֲנִים; the priests of the (northern) cult who had been deported; one is brought back to instruct the settlers — ironically a priest of the discredited calf-shrines.
ὧνwhomGenitiverelative pronoun (object of ἀπῴκισαν, attracted to gen.)→ relational specificationὧν: meaning 'whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἀπῴκισαν, attracted to gen.).
ἀπῴκισανthey had carried awayAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποικίζωverb of relative clause (the prior deportation)→ constative aorist (anterior to the main verb)ἀποικίζω: 'deport / remove'; the priest had been among those deported in v. 6; the same verb that runs through the chapter (vv. 6, 11, 23, 26).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΣαμαρείαςSamariaGenitivegenitive of source ('from Samaria')→ relational specificationΣαμάρεια: the homeland from which the priest had been exiled and to which he now returns.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάθισενhe settled / satAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (the priest's taking up residence)→ ingressive aorist (took up residence)καθίζω: 'sit / settle / take one's seat'; renders יָשַׁב; the priest settled at Bethel, establishing his teaching-base.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΒαιθηλBethelindeclinable place-name (locative)→ participant identificationΒαιθηλ: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית־אֵל ('house of God'); indeclinable; the southern royal sanctuary of the northern kingdom, site of one of Jeroboam's golden calves (1 Kgs 12:29) — a pointedly ironic seat for teaching 'the fear of the LORD.'
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (with φωτίζων)→ imperfect (durative, with the participle)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): forms the periphrastic imperfect ἦν φωτίζων ('was teaching'), stressing the priest's ongoing instructional activity.
φωτίζωνteaching / enlighteningPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · φωτίζωparticiple of periphrastic imperfect ('was teaching')→ durative present participle (ongoing instruction)φωτίζω: 'enlighten / instruct'; the periphrastic ἦν φωτίζων continues the metaphor of v. 27 — the priest 'gave light' to the settlers concerning YHWH's worship.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the settlers)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the settlers).
πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (introducing indirect question)→ clausal contributionπῶς: 'how'; introduces the indirect deliberative question πῶς φοβηθῶσιν ('how they should fear'), the content of the priest's teaching.
φοβηθῶσινthey should fearAor Pass Subj 3 Pl · φοβέομαιsubjunctive of indirect deliberative question→ deliberative aorist subjunctive ('how they are to fear')φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence / worship'; the deliberative subjunctive πῶς φοβηθῶσιν τὸν κύριον ('how they should fear the LORD') returns the chapter's keyword to its proper object — yet the sequel shows the lesson produced only syncretism (vv. 32–33, 41).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of φοβηθῶσιν→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the narrator's term ('the LORD') for the deity the settlers' report called merely 'the god of the land' — the reader knows the true identity that the settlers only dimly grasp.
29
καὶ ἦσαν ποιοῦντες ἔθνη ἔθνη θεοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ ἔθηκαν ἐν οἴκῳ τῶν ὑψηλῶν ὧν ἐποίησαν οἱ Σαμαρῖται ἔθνη ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν ἐν αἷς κατῴκουν ἐν αὐταῖς
But nation by nation they were making their own gods, and they put them in the house of the high places which the Samaritans had made — each nation in their cities in which they dwelt.
Despite the priest's instruction, the result is syncretism: ἔθνη ἔθνη ('nation by nation', a Hebraic distributive repetition rendering גּוֹי גּוֹי) each made θεοὺς αὐτῶν ('their own gods') and installed them in the old Israelite high-place shrines (ἐν οἴκῳ τῶν ὑψηλῶν). The settlers adopt the cultic infrastructure of the Samaritans while retaining their ancestral deities — the religious blend that the following verses itemise.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶbut / andnarrative conjunction (adversative in force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦσανthey wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (with ποιοῦντες)→ imperfect (durative)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): forms the periphrastic imperfect ἦσαν ποιοῦντες ('were making'), stressing the persistent idol-fabrication of the settlers despite the priest's teaching.
ποιοῦντεςmakingPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · ποιέωparticiple of periphrastic imperfect ('were making')→ durative present participle (ongoing fabrication)ποιέω: 'make / do'; the periphrastic ἦσαν ποιοῦντες emphasises the continual manufacture of national idols, set in defiant contrast to the priest's instruction in YHWH-worship.
ἔθνηnation (by nation)Nominativedistributive repetition (subject: 'nation by nation')→ participant prominenceἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nation'; the distributive repetition ἔθνη ἔθνη ('nation by nation') renders the Hebrew גּוֹי גּוֹי, denoting that each settler-group made its own gods separately.
ἔθνη(by) nationNominativedistributive repetition (second member)→ participant prominenceἔθνος: the doubled ἔθνη ἔθνη is a Hebraic distributive idiom = 'each several nation'; each ethnic group fashioned its own deities.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of ποιοῦντες→ object specificationθεός (pl. θεούς): 'gods'; the national deities each group manufactured — the specific idols are named in vv. 30–31.
αὐτῶνtheir ownGenitivegenitive of possession ('their own gods')→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their own'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('their own gods').
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔθηκανthey put / placedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · τίθημιmain verb (installation of the idols)→ constative aoristτίθημι (aor. ἔθηκαν): 'put / place / set'; the national idols were installed in the pre-existing Israelite high-place shrines — syncretism of cult-object and cult-site.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place ('in the house of the high places')→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house'; ὁ οἶκος τῶν ὑψηλῶν ('the house/shrine of the high places') renders בֵּית הַבָּמוֹת, the buildings of the bāmâ-sanctuaries that Israel had built and the settlers now reused.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ὑψηλῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑψηλῶνhigh placesGenitivesubstantivized adjective (genitive: 'of the high places')→ relational specificationὑψηλός: substantivized neuter for בָּמוֹת ('high places'); the same shrines condemned earlier in the chapter (vv. 9, 11), now repurposed by the settlers for their own gods.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησαν, attracted to gen.)→ relational specificationὧν: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἐποίησαν, attracted to gen.).
ἐποίησανhad madeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause (the Samaritans' prior building)→ constative aorist (anterior)ποιέω: 'make'; 'which the Samaritans had made' — the high-place shrines built by the former Israelite inhabitants.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with Σαμαρῖται)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαμαρῖταιSamaritansNominativesubject of ἐποίησαν→ participant prominenceΣαμαρίτης (pl. Σαμαρῖται): 'Samaritan'; renders שֹׁמְרֹנִים; here denoting the former Israelite inhabitants of Samaria who built the high places — the term that will come to designate the syncretistic mixed population descended from this resettlement.
ἔθνηthe nations (each)Nominativesubject (resumptive: 'the nations [did so]')→ participant prominenceἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nations'; resumptive — the settler-nations placed their gods, each in their own cities; the loose syntax reflects the Hebrew.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with πόλεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπόλις (pl. πόλεσιν): 'city'; each nation set its gods in its own assigned cities.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, resumptive Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, resumptive Hebraism).
αἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (locative: 'in which')→ participant reference or interestαἷς: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (locative: 'in which').
κατῴκουνthey dweltImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · κατοικέωverb of relative clause (habitual dwelling)→ customary imperfectκατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; the imperfect κατῴκουν marks their settled habitation; the resumptive ἐν αὐταῖς ('in them') is a Hebraism (the pleonastic resumptive pronoun after the relative).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (resumptive, pleonastic Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐν αὐταῖς: the resumptive 'in them' after the relative αἷς is a Hebraism (rendering אֲשֶׁר … בָּהֶן), redundant in Greek but standard in the LXX.
αὐταῖςthemDativeresumptive pronoun (Hebraism: 'in which … in them')→ participant reference or interestαὐταῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as resumptive pronoun (Hebraism: 'in which … in them').
30
καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες Βαβυλῶνος ἐποίησαν τὴν Σοκχωθβαινιθ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες Χουθ ἐποίησαν τὴν Νηριγελ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες Αιμαθ ἐποίησαν τὴν Ασιμαθ
And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
A systematic catalogue pairs each source-people (Babylon, Cuth, Hamath) with the deity it 'made.' The repeated structure οἱ ἄνδρες X ἐποίησαν τὴν Y emphasises the manufactured, man-made character of these gods (cf. the idol-polemic of v. 15). The transliterated divine names (Σοκχωθβαινιθ, Νηριγελ, Ασιμαθ) preserve foreign cult-names; the feminine article τήν treats each as the cult-image of that deity.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject ('the men of Babylon')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man'; renders אַנְשֵׁי ('the men of'); 'the men of Babylon' = the Babylonian settler-group.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of relationship ('men of Babylon')→ relational specificationΒαβυλών: 'Babylon'; one of the source-cities of v. 24; its settlers' deity was Succoth-benoth.
ἐποίησανmadeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (fabrication of the deity's image)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make'; the repeated ἐποίησαν stresses that these 'gods' are manufactured artifacts — the idol-polemic of the chapter.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the divine name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣοκχωθβαινιθSuccoth-benothindeclinable divine name (object of ἐποίησαν)→ participant identificationΣοκχωθβαινιθ: transliteration of Hebrew סֻכּוֹת בְּנוֹת (Succoth-benoth); indeclinable; the deity (or cult-object) of the Babylonian settlers; meaning and identification disputed (perhaps 'booths of daughters' or the goddess Ṣarpanitu/Banitu).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject ('the men of Cuth')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man'; 'the men of Cuth' = the Cuthite settlers (cf. Χουνθα, v. 24).
Χουθof Cuthindeclinable place-name (genitival: 'men of Cuth')→ participant identificationΧουθ: transliteration of Hebrew כּוּת (Cuth); indeclinable; the Cuthites, whose prominence gave the Jewish name 'Cutheans' to the Samaritans.
ἐποίησανmadeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make'; the Cuthites fashioned Nergal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the divine name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝηριγελNergalindeclinable divine name (object of ἐποίησαν)→ participant identificationΝηριγελ: transliteration of Hebrew נֵרְגַל (Nergal); indeclinable; the Mesopotamian god of the underworld and plague, chief deity of Cuth — a well-attested Babylonian deity.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject ('the men of Hamath')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man'; 'the men of Hamath' = the Hamathite settlers (cf. Αιμαθ, v. 24).
Αιμαθof Hamathindeclinable place-name (genitival: 'men of Hamath')→ participant identificationΑιμαθ: transliteration of Hebrew חֲמָת (Hamath); indeclinable; the Syrian city whose settlers made Ashima.
ἐποίησανmadeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make'; the Hamathites fashioned Ashima.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the divine name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑσιμαθAshimaindeclinable divine name (object of ἐποίησαν)→ participant identificationΑσιμαθ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲשִׁימָא (Ashima); indeclinable; the deity of the men of Hamath, perhaps a Syrian goddess; possibly connected with the cult of Ashima attested at Elephantine.
31
καὶ οἱ Ευαῖοι ἐποίησαν τὴν Εβλαζερ καὶ τὴν Θαρθακ καὶ οἱ Σεπφαρουαιν κατέκαιον τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν ἐν πυρὶ τῷ Αδραμελεχ καὶ Ανημελεχ θεοῖς Σεπφαρουαιν
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
The catalogue concludes with the Avvites (Nibhaz and Tartak) and, climactically, the Sepharvites, whose cult of Adrammelech and Anammelech involved κατέκαιον … ἐν πυρί ('they burned their children in fire') — the same horror Israel itself had committed (διῆγον … ἐν πυρί, v. 17). The imperfect κατέκαιον marks it as their customary practice; the verse closes the syncretism-catalogue by showing the imported cults to be as abominable as the apostasy that doomed Israel.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with Ευαῖοι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕυαῖοιAvvitesNominativesubject (gentilic: 'the Avvites')→ participant prominenceΕυαῖος (pl. Ευαῖοι): gentilic, 'the Avvites'; the people from Avva (Αια, v. 24); declined as a Greek noun; their deities were Nibhaz and Tartak.
ἐποίησανmadeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (fabrication of the deities)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make'; the Avvites fashioned their two gods.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the divine name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕβλαζερNibhazindeclinable divine name (object of ἐποίησαν)→ participant identificationΕβλαζερ: the LXX form of Hebrew נִבְחַז (Nibhaz); indeclinable; a deity of the Avvites; otherwise unknown and disputed in identification.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the divine name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΘαρθακTartakindeclinable divine name (object of ἐποίησαν)→ participant identificationΘαρθακ: transliteration of Hebrew תַּרְתָּק (Tartak); indeclinable; the second deity of the Avvites; identification uncertain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with the indeclinable Σεπφαρουαιν)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣεπφαρουαινSepharvitessubject (indeclinable; here = the people of Sepharvaim)→ participant identificationΣεπφαρουαιν: indeclinable; here with the article οἱ denoting the people of Sepharvaim; their cult involved child sacrifice to Adrammelech and Anammelech.
κατέκαιονthey burnedImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · κατακαίωmain verb (the customary rite of child sacrifice)→ iterative/customary imperfect (the recurring practice)κατακαίω: 'burn up / burn completely'; renders שָׂרַף; the imperfect κατέκαιον marks the customary practice; 'burned their children in fire' is the Molech-type child sacrifice, the same horror Israel committed (v. 17), now perpetrated by the settlers.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςchildren / sonsAccusativedirect object of κατέκαιον→ object specificationυἱός (pl. υἱούς): 'son / child'; the victims of the fire-sacrifice; echoes the υἱούς of v. 17 — the settlers replicate Israel's worst sin.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (instrument/locale of the rite)→ spatial or relational framingἐν πυρί: 'in fire'; the same phrase as v. 17, marking the fire-sacrifice.
πυρὶfireDativedative object of ἐν→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; the instrument of the child sacrifice offered to the Sepharvite gods.
τῷtoDativearticle (with the divine name Αδραμελεχ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑδραμελεχAdrammelechindeclinable divine name (dative recipient of the sacrifice)→ participant identificationΑδραμελεχ: transliteration of Hebrew אַדְרַמֶּלֶךְ (Adrammelech); indeclinable; a god of Sepharvaim to whom children were burned; the name contains the element -melech ('king'), associated with the Molech-type child cult.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑνημελεχAnammelechindeclinable divine name (dative recipient, coordinate)→ participant identificationΑνημελεχ: transliteration of Hebrew עֲנַמֶּלֶךְ (Anammelech); indeclinable; the second god of Sepharvaim; like Adrammelech it bears the -melech element of the child-sacrifice cult.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative in apposition (the two named deities as 'gods of Sepharvaim')→ sphere or referenceθεός (pl. θεοῖς): 'gods'; in apposition to Adrammelech and Anammelech — 'the gods of Sepharvaim'; the dative completes the recipients of the sacrifice.
Σεπφαρουαινof Sepharvaimindeclinable (genitival: 'gods of Sepharvaim')→ participant identificationΣεπφαρουαιν: indeclinable; 'the gods of Sepharvaim' closes the catalogue of imported deities, the most abominable because of the child sacrifice.
32
καὶ ἦσαν φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον καὶ κατῴκισαν τὰ βδελύγματα αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις τῶν ὑψηλῶν ἃ ἐποίησαν ἐν Σαμαρείᾳ ἔθνος ἔθνος ἐν πόλει ἐν ᾗ κατῴκουν ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ ἦσαν φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς ἱερεῖς τῶν ὑψηλῶν καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς ἐν οἴκῳ τῶν ὑψηλῶν
And they were fearing the LORD, and they established their abominations in the houses of the high places which they had made in Samaria, each nation in the city in which they dwelt; and they were fearing the LORD, and they made for themselves priests of the high places, and made for themselves (a service) in the house of the high places.
The verse articulates the core of Samaritan syncretism with a deliberate doubling: twice ἦσαν φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον ('they were fearing the LORD'), yet between and after the refrains they install τὰ βδελύγματα αὐτῶν ('their abominations') in the high-place shrines and ordain their own non-Levitical ἱερεῖς τῶν ὑψηλῶν ('priests of the high places'). The reflexive ἑαυτοῖς twice underscores the self-devised, illegitimate cult — the same pattern as apostate Israel (vv. 9, 16, 31).
Word-by-word analysis· 46 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦσανthey wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (with φοβούμενοι)→ imperfect (durative)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): forms the periphrastic imperfect ἦσαν φοβούμενοι ('they were fearing'), the keynote refrain of the syncretism-section, stressing the ongoing but partial reverence.
φοβούμενοιfearingPres Mid Ptc Nom Pl Masc · φοβέομαιparticiple of periphrastic imperfect ('were fearing')→ durative present participle (ongoing reverence)φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence / worship'; the periphrastic ἦσαν φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον is the refrain of the Samaritan religion — a real but compromised reverence for YHWH alongside idolatry; recurs in vv. 33, 41.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of φοβούμενοι→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD whom they 'feared' even while serving idols.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (adversative in force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατῴκισανthey established / installedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατοικίζωmain verb (installation of the idols)→ constative aoristκατοικίζω: 'cause to dwell / install / settle'; here used of installing the idols ('caused their abominations to dwell') in the shrines — an ironic personification, as if the idols took up residence like the settlers (cf. the same verb of the people in vv. 6, 24).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with βδελύγματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βδελύγματαabominationsAccusativedirect object of κατῴκισαν→ object specificationβδέλυγμα (pl. βδελύγματα): 'abomination / detestable thing'; renders שִׁקּוּצִים / תּוֹעֵבוֹת; the strongest LXX term of cultic revulsion, here for the settlers' idols — the narrator's own evaluation of the 'gods' catalogued in vv. 30–31.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with οἴκοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκοιςhousesDativedative of place ('in the houses of the high places')→ sphere or referenceοἶκος (pl. οἴκοις): 'house / shrine'; οἱ οἶκοι τῶν ὑψηλῶν ('the houses of the high places') = the bāmâ-shrine buildings, reused for the imported cults (cf. v. 29).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ὑψηλῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑψηλῶνhigh placesGenitivesubstantivized adjective (genitive: 'of the high places')→ relational specificationὑψηλός: substantivized for בָּמוֹת ('high places'); the recurring shrines of the chapter, now hosting the foreign idols.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησαν)→ participant referenceἃ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἐποίησαν).
ἐποίησανthey had madeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause (the building of the shrines)→ constative aorist (anterior)ποιέω: 'make'; 'which they [the Samaritans] had made in Samaria' — the shrines built by the former inhabitants (cf. v. 29).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΣαμαρείᾳSamariaDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceΣαμάρεια: the region where the high-place shrines stood.
ἔθνοςnation (by nation)Nominativedistributive repetition (subject: 'each nation')→ participant prominenceἔθνος: 'nation'; the distributive ἔθνος ἔθνος ('nation by nation', cf. v. 29 ἔθνη ἔθνη) renders גּוֹי גּוֹי — each settler-group worshipped in its own assigned city.
ἔθνος(by) nationNominativedistributive repetition (second member)→ participant prominenceἔθνος: the doubled ἔθνος ἔθνος is the Hebraic distributive idiom = 'each several nation.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
πόλειcityDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city'; each nation in its own city.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, with the relative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, with the relative).
ᾗwhichDativerelative pronoun (locative: 'in which')→ participant reference or interestᾗ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (locative: 'in which').
κατῴκουνthey dweltImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · κατοικέωverb of relative clause (habitual dwelling)→ customary imperfectκατοικέω: 'dwell'; the resumptive ἐν αὐτῇ ('in it') after the relative ᾗ is the same pleonastic Hebraism as v. 29.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (resumptive, pleonastic Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐν αὐτῇ: resumptive 'in it' after the relative ᾗ — the Hebraism (אֲשֶׁר … בָּהּ).
αὐτῇitDativeresumptive pronoun (Hebraism)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as resumptive pronoun (Hebraism).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (second refrain)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦσανthey wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (second refrain)→ imperfect (durative)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): the repeated periphrastic auxiliary; the doubling of ἦσαν φοβούμενοι frames the verse and underscores the divided cult.
φοβούμενοιfearingPres Mid Ptc Nom Pl Masc · φοβέομαιparticiple of periphrastic imperfect (second refrain)→ durative present participleφοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence'; the second occurrence of the refrain ἦσαν φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον in this verse — the reverence for YHWH coexists with the idol-installation and the illegitimate priesthood.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of φοβούμενοι→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD reverenced in name even amid the syncretistic cult.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησανthey made / appointedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (ordination of priests)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / appoint'; with ἱερεῖς, 'appointed priests'; the reflexive ἑαυτοῖς marks the self-instituted, illegitimate priesthood (cf. the same idiom of Jeroboam, 1 Kgs 12:31).
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativedative reflexive (of advantage)→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; the recurring ἑαυτοῖς (cf. vv. 9, 10, 16) brands the priesthood as self-devised, not divinely sanctioned.
ἱερεῖςpriestsAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησαν→ object specificationἱερεύς (pl. ἱερεῖς): 'priest'; renders כֹּהֲנִים; 'priests of the high places' = non-Levitical priests for the bāmâ-cult, the very abuse of Jeroboam (1 Kgs 12:31; 13:33) now repeated by the settlers.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ὑψηλῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑψηλῶνhigh placesGenitivesubstantivized adjective (genitive: 'priests of the high places')→ relational specificationὑψηλός: substantivized for בָּמוֹת; 'priests of the high places' staff the illegitimate shrine-cult.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησανthey made / performedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (officiating in the shrines; object elliptical)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / do / perform'; here likely 'they performed [rites/sacrifices] for themselves in the house of the high places'; the object is elliptical, reflecting a compressed Hebrew — the priests officiated in the bāmâ-shrines.
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativedative reflexive (of advantage)→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; again the self-serving, autonomous character of the cult.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place ('in the house of the high places')→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house / shrine'; ὁ οἶκος τῶν ὑψηλῶν — the shrine where the appointed priests officiated.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ὑψηλῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑψηλῶνhigh placesGenitivesubstantivized adjective (genitive)→ relational specificationὑψηλός: substantivized for בָּמוֹת; the recurring shrine-locus closes the verse, sealing the picture of full-blown syncretistic worship.
33
τὸν κύριον ἐφοβοῦντο καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν ἐλάτρευον κατὰ τὸ κρίμα τῶν ἐθνῶν ὅθεν ἀπῴκισεν αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖθεν
They feared the LORD, and they served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom he had carried them away.
This verse is the crystallised thesis of the chapter's closing section and of Samaritan origins: τὸν κύριον ἐφοβοῦντο καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν ἐλάτρευον ('they feared the LORD and served their own gods'). The fronted τὸν κύριον and the balanced clauses (φοβέομαι of YHWH / λατρεύω of the idols) capture the divided allegiance — a worship of YHWH alongside ancestral cults, κατὰ τὸ κρίμα τῶν ἐθνῶν ('after the custom of the nations'). It is precisely this divided heart that v. 34 and the covenant-recollection of vv. 35–39 condemn.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον, fronted)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativefronted direct object of ἐφοβοῦντο→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; fronted for emphasis — 'the LORD they feared' — setting up the antithesis with 'their own gods'; the divided object of worship is the heart of the syncretism.
ἐφοβοῦντοthey fearedImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (reverence for YHWH)→ customary imperfect (habitual reverence)φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence / worship'; the imperfect ἐφοβοῦντο marks habitual reverence for YHWH; balanced against ἐλάτρευον — they 'feared' the LORD yet 'served' idols, the defining syncretism.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the two halves of the divided cult)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with θεοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐλάτρευον→ sphere or referenceθεός (pl. θεοῖς): 'gods'; 'their own gods' = the ancestral deities of vv. 30–31, served alongside YHWH.
αὐτῶνtheir ownGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their own'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐλάτρευονthey servedImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (cultic service of the idols)→ customary imperfect (habitual service)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship cultically'; the imperfect ἐλάτρευον marks ongoing idol-service; the verb-pair φοβέομαι/λατρεύω (cf. v. 35) captures the divided worship — YHWH 'feared,' the idols 'served'; the same verb of Israel's service of Baal (v. 16).
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard/norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; the idol-service followed 'the custom of the nations' — the inherited cult-protocols of their homelands.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κρίμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίμαcustom / mannerAccusativeaccusative object of κατά→ object specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / custom / manner'; here 'the custom of the nations' — the religious usage of their countries of origin; the same word that ran through vv. 26–27 ('the ordinance of the god of the land').
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἐθνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive of relationship ('custom of the nations')→ relational specificationἔθνος (pl. ἐθνῶν): 'nation'; the settler-peoples whose ancestral customs they followed in serving their gods.
ὅθενfrom whererelative adverb of place ('from whence')→ clausal contributionὅθεν: 'whence / from where'; renders מִשָּׁם אֲשֶׁר; introduces the relative clause locating the nations' origin — the lands from which they were deported.
ἀπῴκισενhe had carried awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποικίζωverb of relative clause (the deportation of the settlers)→ constative aorist (anterior)ἀποικίζω: 'deport / remove'; the recurring chapter-verb (vv. 6, 11, 23, 26, 28); the subject is the Assyrian king (or impersonal 'one'); the settlers were themselves deportees, carrying their cults with them.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀπῴκισεν→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀπῴκισεν.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (resumptive: 'thence')→ clausal contributionἐκεῖθεν: 'from there'; the resumptive ὅθεν … ἐκεῖθεν ('whence … from there') is a Hebraism (מִשָּׁם after the relative); marks the lands of origin from which the deportees and their cults came.
34
ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης αὐτοὶ ἐποίουν κατὰ τὸ κρίμα αὐτῶν αὐτοὶ φοβοῦνται καὶ αὐτοὶ ποιοῦσιν κατὰ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτῶν καὶ κατὰ τὴν κρίσιν αὐτῶν καὶ κατὰ τὸν νόμον καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν ἣν ἐνετείλατο κύριος τοῖς υἱοῖς Ιακωβ οὗ ἔθηκεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ισραηλ
To this day they were acting according to their former custom: they fear, and they do according to their statutes and according to their ordinance, and according to the law and according to the commandment which the LORD commanded the sons of Jacob, whose name he made Israel.
The 'to this day' formula (cf. v. 23) renders the syncretism a permanent condition. The verse is syntactically dense and somewhat ambiguous: the settlers continue 'according to their [own] custom,' yet the latter clauses set against them the true standard — the δικαιώματα, κρίσις, νόμος and ἐντολή that the LORD commanded τοῖς υἱοῖς Ιακωβ ('the sons of Jacob') whom he renamed Israel. The patriarchal renaming (Gen 32:28; 35:10) grounds the covenant identity the settlers neither share nor honor; the four-fold cultic vocabulary (statutes/judgment/law/commandment) recalls the obedience-triad of v. 13.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
ἕωςuntil / topreposition + genitive (temporal extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') — the narrator's formula stamping the syncretism as the enduring present reality (cf. vv. 23, 41).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive of time ('to this day')→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης renders עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — the divided worship persists into the narrator's own time.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; 'this day' = the present situation of the syncretistic Samaritans.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceαὐτός: the emphatic αὐτοί ('they themselves'), repeated through the verse, stresses the settlers as the persistent subjects of the divided cult.
ἐποίουνthey were actingImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (habitual practice)→ customary imperfect (ongoing practice)ποιέω: 'do / act'; the imperfect ἐποίουν κατὰ τὸ κρίμα αὐτῶν ('they kept acting according to their own custom') describes the settlers' persistent adherence to their ancestral practice.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κρίμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίμαcustom / mannerAccusativeaccusative object of κατά ('their custom')→ object specificationκρίμα: 'custom / manner'; 'their custom' = their inherited, syncretistic practice (cf. v. 33).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceαὐτός: emphatic 'they'; the repeated pronoun keeps the settlers in focus as the agents of the compromised worship.
φοβοῦνταιthey fearPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (present tense: enduring 'fear')→ customary present (the abiding reverence)φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence'; the shift to the present φοβοῦνται underscores that the (partial) reverence for YHWH continues 'to this day'; the chapter's keyword again, here describing the abiding divided cult.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceαὐτός: emphatic 'they'; continues the focus on the settlers.
ποιοῦσινthey doPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (present: their ongoing practice measured against the law)→ customary presentποιέω: 'do'; the present ποιοῦσιν introduces the contrast with the divine standard — they 'do' (i.e., fail to do truly) according to the statutes, law, and commandment YHWH gave Israel; the clause is ironic/contrastive: their practice does not in fact conform to the LORD's covenant.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δικαιώματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώματαstatutesAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (first member of the standard)→ object specificationδικαίωμα (pl. δικαιώματα): 'statute / ordinance'; renders חֻקּוֹת; the first of the four-fold covenant standard (statutes/judgment/law/commandment) the LORD gave Israel — the standard against which the settlers' worship is implicitly judged.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κρίσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίσινjudgment / ordinanceAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (second member of the standard)→ object specificationκρίσις: 'judgment / ordinance / legal decision'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the second member of the covenant-standard; a near-synonym of κρίμα but here the divinely-given 'judgment/ordinance.'
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (third member of the standard)→ object specificationνόμος: 'law'; renders תּוֹרָה; the third member — the Mosaic law given to Israel; cf. the obedience-triad of v. 13.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολήνcommandmentAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (fourth member of the standard)→ object specificationἐντολή: 'commandment'; renders מִצְוָה; the fourth member; the singular 'commandment' summing up the covenant obligation given to Israel.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐνετείλατο)→ participant referenceἣν: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἐνετείλατο).
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (the divine commanding)→ constative aorist (the historic giving of the law)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; renders צִוָּה; cognate with ἐντολή; YHWH 'commanded' the sons of Jacob — grounding the covenant standard in the patriarchal/Sinai history the settlers do not share.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the covenant-giver to Israel.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object ('to the sons of Jacob')→ sphere or referenceυἱός (pl. υἱοῖς): 'son'; 'the sons of Jacob' = Israel as the covenant people descended from the renamed patriarch; the proper recipients of the law, distinguished from the foreign settlers.
Ιακωβof Jacobindeclinable (genitival: 'sons of Jacob')→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliteration of Hebrew יַעֲקֹב; indeclinable; the patriarch whose renaming to Israel (next clause) grounds the covenant identity of the true Israel.
οὗwhoseGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive: 'whose name')→ relational specificationοὗ: meaning 'whose'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (genitive: 'whose name').
ἔθηκενhe made / setAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιverb of relative clause (the patriarchal renaming)→ constative aoristτίθημι (aor. ἔθηκεν): 'put / set / appoint'; 'whose name he made Israel' refers to YHWH's renaming of Jacob as Israel (Gen 32:28; 35:10); ἔθηκεν τὸ ὄνομα = 'he gave/appointed the name', grounding the covenant identity.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνομα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκεν→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; the name 'Israel' conferred on Jacob — the covenant designation of the people the settlers are emphatically not.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Jacob's name)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Jacob's name).
ΙσραηλIsraelpredicate (indeclinable: the conferred name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the new name given to Jacob (Gen 32:28); here the covenant identity that defines the true people of YHWH over against the syncretistic newcomers.
35
καὶ διέθετο κύριος μετ᾿ αὐτῶν διαθήκην καὶ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς λέγων οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε θεοὺς ἑτέρους καὶ οὐ προσκυνήσετε αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐ λατρεύσετε αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐ θυσιάσετε αὐτοῖς
And the LORD made a covenant with them and commanded them, saying, 'You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them;'
The narrator recalls the covenant (διαθήκην … διέθετο, the figura etymologica for covenant-making) the LORD made with Israel, and quotes its core demand as a four-fold prohibition: do not fear (φοβηθήσεσθε), bow to (προσκυνήσετε), serve (λατρεύσετε), or sacrifice to (θυσιάσετε) other gods. The four verbs systematically forbid every mode of cult — exactly the modes the Samaritans (and apostate Israel) practised. The prohibition of 'fearing other gods' is the precise inversion of the chapter's syncretism-refrain (vv. 32–33).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέθετοmadeAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · διατίθημιmain verb (covenant-making; cognate with διαθήκην)→ constative aorist (the historic covenant)διατίθημι (mid. διέθετο): 'arrange / make (a covenant)'; renders כָּרַת (בְּרִית); the cognate construction διέθετο … διαθήκην ('made a covenant') is the standard LXX idiom for covenant-establishment (כָּרַת בְּרִית, 'cut a covenant').
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the covenant-maker.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; the covenant was made 'with them' (Israel), the partners to whom the prohibition applies.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of μετά (the covenant-partners, Israel)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (the covenant-partners, Israel).
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of διέθετο (cognate)→ object specificationδιαθήκη: 'covenant / disposition'; renders בְּרִית; the cognate object of διέθετο; the Sinai covenant whose central demand follows; the term recurs in v. 38.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (the covenant charge)→ constative aoristἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; renders צִוָּה; the covenant came with an explicit command — the four-fold prohibition of false worship that follows.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the prohibition)→ circumstantial present participle (Hebraistic 'saying')λέγω: λέγων introduces the direct quotation of the covenant command (Hebraism, לֵאמֹר).
οὐnotnegative adverb (with prohibitive future)→ participant referenceοὐ + future: the prohibitive future οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε ('you shall not fear') is the apodictic-law form (rendering לֹא + imperfect), as in the Decalogue.
φοβηθήσεσθεyou shall fearFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · φοβέομαιverb of the prohibition (first of four; volitive future)→ prohibitive future (apodictic command)φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence / worship'; οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε θεοὺς ἑτέρους ('you shall not fear other gods') is the first of the four prohibitions and the exact inverse of the syncretism-refrain (vv. 32–33) and of Israel's founding sin (v. 7); the covenant demands exclusive reverence for YHWH.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of φοβηθήσεσθε→ object specificationθεός (pl. θεούς): 'gods'; θεοὺς ἑτέρους ('other gods'), the Deuteronomic formula (אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים), the forbidden objects of all four cultic acts.
ἑτέρουςotherAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θεούς)→ object specificationἕτερος: 'other / another'; 'other gods' = deities other than YHWH; cf. v. 7.
καὶand / norcoordinate conjunction (linking the prohibitions)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative adverb (with prohibitive future)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative adverb (with prohibitive future).
προσκυνήσετεyou shall bow downFut Act Indic 2 Pl · προσκυνέωverb of the prohibition (second of four)→ prohibitive futureπροσκυνέω: 'bow down / do obeisance / worship'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; the second prohibition — no prostrate worship of other gods; the verb used of Israel's astral worship in v. 16.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative object of προσκυνήσετε (the other gods)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of προσκυνήσετε (the other gods).
καὶand / norcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative adverb (with prohibitive future)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative adverb (with prohibitive future).
λατρεύσετεyou shall serveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · λατρεύωverb of the prohibition (third of four)→ prohibitive futureλατρεύω: 'serve / worship cultically'; renders עָבַד; the third prohibition — no cultic service of other gods; the verb of Israel's idol-service (vv. 12, 16) and of the settlers' (v. 33).
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of λατρεύσετε→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of λατρεύσετε.
καὶand / norcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative adverb (with prohibitive future)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative adverb (with prohibitive future).
θυσιάσετεyou shall sacrificeFut Act Indic 2 Pl · θυσιάζωverb of the prohibition (fourth of four)→ prohibitive futureθυσιάζω: 'sacrifice / offer sacrifice'; renders זָבַח; the fourth and climactic prohibition — no sacrifice to other gods; the four verbs (fear/bow/serve/sacrifice) exhaustively forbid every mode of cult, sealing the covenant's demand for exclusive worship of YHWH.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative object of θυσιάσετε→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of θυσιάσετε.
36
ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἢ τῷ κυρίῳ ὃς ἀνήγαγεν ὑμᾶς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐν ἰσχύι μεγάλῃ καὶ ἐν βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ αὐτὸν φοβηθήσεσθε καὶ αὐτῷ προσκυνήσετε καὶ αὐτῷ θύσετε
but only the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great strength and with a high arm — him you shall fear, and to him you shall bow down, and to him you shall sacrifice.
The strong exceptive ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but rather / only') turns the four prohibitions of v. 35 into their positive: YHWH alone is to be feared, worshipped, and sacrificed to. He is identified, as in v. 7, by the exodus — ὃς ἀνήγαγεν ὑμᾶς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ('who brought you up out of Egypt') — with the classic deliverance-formula ἐν ἰσχύι μεγάλῃ καὶ ἐν βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ ('with great strength and a high/uplifted arm'). Three of the four cultic verbs (fear/bow/sacrifice) are now reasserted with YHWH as their exclusive object (αὐτόν … αὐτῷ … αὐτῷ).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ὅτιfor / butconjunction (introducing the positive counterpart)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here 'but / rather' (or causal 'for'); with ἀλλ᾿ ἤ it heightens the exclusive antithesis between other gods and YHWH.
ἀλλ᾿butadversative particle (with ἤ, exceptive: 'but only', elided)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; with ἤ forms the strong exceptive ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('except / but only'), rendering כִּי אִם; marks YHWH as the sole legitimate object of worship.
ἢthan / butparticle (with ἀλλά: exceptive 'but only')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or / than'; in the combination ἀλλ᾿ ἤ it functions as the exceptive 'but only' — the LORD and no other.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative (the exclusive object: 'but only the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the sole legitimate object of fear, worship, and sacrifice — the redeemer-God identified by the exodus.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἀνήγαγεν)→ participant referenceὃς: meaning 'who'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (subject of ἀνήγαγεν).
ἀνήγαγενbrought upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνάγωverb of relative clause (the exodus self-identification)→ constative aorist (the foundational deliverance)ἀνάγω: 'bring up / lead up'; renders הֶעֱלָה; 'who brought you up out of Egypt' is the exodus self-identification of YHWH (cf. v. 7, τῷ ἀναγαγόντι), the redemptive ground of the claim to exclusive worship.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἀνήγαγεν→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀνήγαγεν.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of source (with Αἰγύπτου)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, the fixed exodus-formula (cf. v. 7).
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of location ('land of Egypt')→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): 'Egypt'; the land of bondage from which YHWH redeemed Israel — the redemption grounding the exclusive-worship claim.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with strength')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental, 'with'; introduces the deliverance-formula 'with great strength and a high arm.'
ἰσχύιstrengthDativedative of means ('with great strength')→ sphere or referenceἰσχύς: 'strength / might / power'; renders כֹּחַ; 'with great strength' is part of the standard exodus deliverance-formula (cf. Exod 32:11; Deut 4:34).
μεγάλῃgreatDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἰσχύι)→ sphere or referenceμέγας: 'great'; intensifies the power displayed in the exodus.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
βραχίονιarmDativedative of means ('with a high arm')→ sphere or referenceβραχίων: 'arm'; renders זְרוֹעַ; the 'high/uplifted arm' (βραχίων ὑψηλός = זְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה / רָמָה) is the classic anthropomorphic idiom for YHWH's mighty redemptive intervention in the exodus (Deut 5:15; 26:8).
ὑψηλῷhigh / upliftedDativeattributive adjective (modifying βραχίονι)→ sphere or referenceὑψηλός: 'high / uplifted'; 'a high arm' = the raised, outstretched arm of divine power; the same adjective used cultically of the 'high places' now describes YHWH's redemptive might.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativefronted direct object of φοβηθήσεσθε (emphatic)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the fronted, emphatic αὐτόν ('him') stresses exclusivity — him alone you shall fear; reasserts positively the prohibition of v. 35.
φοβηθήσεσθεyou shall fearFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (positive command: fear YHWH alone)→ volitive future (covenant command)φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence'; the positive counterpart of v. 35 — 'him you shall fear'; the proper object of the chapter's keyword, exclusively YHWH.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷto himDativefronted dative object of προσκυνήσετε (emphatic)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: emphatic 'to him'; exclusive object of worship.
προσκυνήσετεyou shall bow downFut Act Indic 2 Pl · προσκυνέωmain verb (positive command)→ volitive futureπροσκυνέω: 'bow down / worship'; positively reasserted — bow to YHWH alone (cf. the prohibition of v. 35).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷto himDativefronted dative object of θύσετε (emphatic)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: emphatic 'to him'; exclusive recipient of sacrifice.
θύσετεyou shall sacrificeFut Act Indic 2 Pl · θύωmain verb (positive command)→ volitive futureθύω: 'sacrifice / offer'; renders זָבַח; positively reasserted — sacrifice to YHWH alone; completes the trio (fear/bow/sacrifice) of exclusive worship, answering the prohibitions of v. 35.
37
καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα καὶ τὸν νόμον καὶ τὰς ἐντολάς ἃς ἔγραψεν ὑμῖν φυλάσσεσθε ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας καὶ οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε θεοὺς ἑτέρους
And the statutes and the judgments and the law and the commandments which he wrote for you, you shall keep to do all the days; and you shall not fear other gods.
The covenant command continues with the four-fold body of written law (statutes, judgments, law, commandments — ἃς ἔγραψεν, 'which he wrote'), to be kept φυλάσσεσθε ποιεῖν ('observe to do') πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ('all the days'). The recurring prohibition οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε θεοὺς ἑτέρους ('you shall not fear other gods') closes the verse as a refrain (cf. vv. 35, 38), hammering home the covenant's central demand of exclusive loyalty.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δικαιώματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώματαstatutesAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσεσθε (first member)→ object specificationδικαίωμα (pl. δικαιώματα): 'statute / ordinance'; renders חֻקִּים; the first of the four-fold body of covenant law to be kept; cf. the obedience-triad of v. 13.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρίματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίματαjudgmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσεσθε (second member)→ object specificationκρίμα (pl. κρίματα): 'judgment / ordinance'; renders מִשְׁפָּטִים; the second member; here the LORD's righteous legal decisions, not the pagan 'custom' of vv. 33–34.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσεσθε (third member)→ object specificationνόμος: 'law'; renders תּוֹרָה; the third member — the Mosaic law as a whole.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολάςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσεσθε (fourth member)→ object specificationἐντολή (pl. ἐντολάς): 'commandment'; renders מִצְוֺת; the fourth member of the written law to be kept perpetually.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔγραψεν)→ participant referenceἃς: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἔγραψεν).
ἔγραψενhe wroteAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γράφωverb of relative clause (the written law)→ constative aorist (the historic writing of the law)γράφω: 'write'; renders כָּתַב; 'which he wrote for you' grounds the obligation in the written, permanent covenant document — the law is not custom but inscribed divine command.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage ('wrote for you')→ participant reference or interestὑμῖν: meaning 'for you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage ('wrote for you').
φυλάσσεσθεyou shall keepPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · φυλάσσωimperative (covenant command to keep the law)→ present imperative (durative obligation)φυλάσσω: 'keep / observe / guard'; renders שָׁמַר; the covenant keyword (cf. vv. 13, 19); the present imperative φυλάσσεσθε commands continual observance — the obligation Israel failed and the settlers ignore.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with φυλάσσεσθε: 'observe to do')→ present infinitive (ongoing performance)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; the idiom φυλάσσεσθε ποιεῖν ('observe to do') renders שָׁמַר לַעֲשׂוֹת — to keep the law by carrying it out, not merely assenting to it.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all the days' = perpetually, for all time.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration ('all the days')→ object specificationἡμέρα (pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ('all the days') = the perpetual, unbroken obligation of obedience.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the refrain)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative adverb (with prohibitive future)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative adverb (with prohibitive future).
φοβηθήσεσθεyou shall fearFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · φοβέομαιverb of the recurring prohibition (refrain)→ prohibitive futureφοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence'; the refrain οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε θεοὺς ἑτέρους ('you shall not fear other gods') recurs from v. 35 and again in v. 38 — the drumbeat of the covenant's central demand for exclusive loyalty.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of φοβηθήσεσθε→ object specificationθεός (pl. θεούς): 'gods'; θεοὺς ἑτέρους ('other gods'), the forbidden objects of worship.
ἑτέρουςotherAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θεούς)→ object specificationἕτερος: 'other'; 'other gods', the Deuteronomic formula for forbidden deities.
38
καὶ τὴν διαθήκην ἣν διέθετο μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν οὐκ ἐπιλήσεσθε καὶ οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε θεοὺς ἑτέρους
And the covenant which he made with you, you shall not forget; and you shall not fear other gods.
The fronted τὴν διαθήκην ('the covenant') emphasises the object not to be forgotten (οὐκ ἐπιλήσεσθε). 'Forgetting' the covenant (ἐπιλανθάνομαι, rendering שָׁכַח) is the Deuteronomic shorthand for apostasy (cf. Deut 4:23). The verse again closes with the refrain οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε θεοὺς ἑτέρους, the third occurrence of the demand for exclusive worship.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with διαθήκην, fronted)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativefronted direct object of ἐπιλήσεσθε→ object specificationδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; renders בְּרִית; the Sinai covenant of v. 35, fronted for emphasis; not to be forgotten — the foundation of Israel's exclusive relationship with YHWH.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of διέθετο)→ participant referenceἣν: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of διέθετο).
διέθετοhe madeAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · διατίθημιverb of relative clause (covenant-making; cognate with διαθήκην)→ constative aoristδιατίθημι (mid. διέθετο): 'make (a covenant)'; the cognate διέθετο … διαθήκην (cf. v. 35) — 'the covenant which he covenanted with you.'
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; the covenant 'with you' (Israel), the covenant-partners addressed.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
οὐκnotnegative adverb (with prohibitive future)→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐπιλήσεσθεyou shall forgetFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐπιλανθάνομαιmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not forget')→ prohibitive futureἐπιλανθάνομαι: 'forget / neglect'; renders שָׁכַח; 'do not forget the covenant' — in Deuteronomic idiom 'forgetting' the covenant/YHWH is tantamount to apostasy (Deut 4:23; 6:12; 8:11); the prohibition guards covenant-memory.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the refrain)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative adverb (with prohibitive future)→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negative adverb (with prohibitive future).
φοβηθήσεσθεyou shall fearFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · φοβέομαιverb of the recurring prohibition (refrain)→ prohibitive futureφοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence'; the refrain οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε θεοὺς ἑτέρους recurs a third time (vv. 35, 37, 38), insistently restating the covenant's demand for exclusive worship of YHWH.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of φοβηθήσεσθε→ object specificationθεός (pl. θεούς): 'gods'; 'other gods', the forbidden objects of reverence.
ἑτέρουςotherAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θεούς)→ object specificationἕτερος: 'other'; the Deuteronomic 'other gods.'
39
ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἢ τὸν κύριον θεὸν ὑμῶν φοβηθήσεσθε καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξελεῖται ὑμᾶς ἐκ πάντων τῶν ἐχθρῶν ὑμῶν
but only the LORD your God you shall fear, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
The exceptive ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but only', as in v. 36) reasserts the positive demand: fear the LORD your God alone — and attaches a promise: αὐτὸς ἐξελεῖται ὑμᾶς ('he will deliver you') from all enemies. Exclusive worship is bound to covenant blessing — the very security the apostate north forfeited (vv. 18–23). The pronoun αὐτός is emphatic: he, and no other god, is the deliverer.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ὅτιfor / butconjunction (with ἀλλ᾿ ἤ, exceptive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / but'; with ἀλλ᾿ ἤ heightens the exclusive antithesis (cf. v. 36).
ἀλλ᾿butadversative particle (exceptive 'but only', elided)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; ἀλλ᾿ ἤ = 'except / but only', rendering כִּי אִם; marks YHWH as the sole object of reverence.
ἢthan / butparticle (with ἀλλά: exceptive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: in ἀλλ᾿ ἤ, the exceptive 'but only' — the LORD and no other.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativefronted direct object of φοβηθήσεσθε→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; fronted as the exclusive object of reverence — 'the LORD your God you shall fear.'
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative in apposition to κύριον ('your God')→ object specificationθεός: 'God'; 'the LORD your God' — the covenant relationship that grounds the exclusive claim and the promise of deliverance.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your God')→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your God').
φοβηθήσεσθεyou shall fearFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (positive command: fear YHWH alone)→ volitive future (covenant command)φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence'; the positive demand reasserted — fear the LORD your God exclusively; the keyword now bound to the promise of deliverance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the promise)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸςheNominativeemphatic subject pronoun ('he himself')→ participant referenceαὐτός: the emphatic αὐτός ('he himself') stresses that YHWH, and no other god, is the deliverer — the ground of the exclusive-worship demand.
ἐξελεῖταιwill deliverFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (the promise of deliverance)→ predictive future (covenant promise)ἐξαιρέω (mid. ἐξελεῖται): 'take out / rescue / deliver'; renders הִצִּיל / נָצַל; the promise that exclusive worship of YHWH secures deliverance from all enemies — the blessing the apostate north forfeited.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξελεῖται→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξελεῖται.
ἐκout of / frompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ἐχθρῶν)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all your enemies' — comprehensive deliverance promised to the faithful.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἐχθρῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθρῶνenemiesGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from your enemies')→ relational specificationἐχθρός (pl. ἐχθρῶν): 'enemy / foe'; renders אֹיְבִים; the foes from whom YHWH delivers the obedient — pointedly, the very Assyrians to whom the disobedient north was handed over.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your enemies')→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession ('your enemies').
40
καὶ οὐκ ἀκούσεσθε ἐπὶ τῷ κρίματι αὐτῶν ὃ αὐτοὶ ποιοῦσιν
But they did not listen, but acted according to their former custom.
After the recollection of the covenant demand (vv. 35–39), the narrator delivers the verdict in a syntactically abrupt clause: they 'did not listen/obey' (οὐκ ἀκούσεσθε — formally future but functioning as the narrator's summary of their persistent refusal), but continued 'according to their former custom' (τῷ κρίματι αὐτῶν, cf. v. 34). The disobedience that doomed Israel (οὐκ ἤκουσαν, v. 14) characterises the settlers too.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶbut / andnarrative conjunction (adversative in force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative adverb→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἀκούσεσθεthey listened / will listenFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (the verdict of disobedience; person/tense shifts abruptly)→ gnomic/summary future (the settled refusal to obey)ἀκούω: 'hear / listen / obey'; the form is second-person future (ἀκούσεσθε) but functions as the narrator's verdict ('they would not obey'), an abrupt shift from the quoted command to summary — a known roughness of this LXX section; 'not hearing' = disobedience (cf. οὐκ ἤκουσαν, v. 14, of Israel).
ἐπὶaccording to / uponpreposition + dative ('they continued in / acted according to')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: here 'in accordance with / upon'; with κρίματι, 'they acted upon/according to their custom' — they persisted in their own practice rather than obeying.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κρίματι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίματιcustom / mannerDativedative object of ἐπί ('their custom')→ sphere or referenceκρίμα: 'custom / manner'; 'their former custom' (τὸ κρίμα αὐτῶν, cf. vv. 33–34) — the syncretistic practice they would not abandon for the covenant demand.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ποιοῦσιν)→ participant referenceὃ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ποιοῦσιν).
αὐτοὶthey (themselves)Nominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceαὐτός: emphatic 'they themselves'; stresses the settlers' own persistent agency in the syncretism.
ποιοῦσινthey do / practisePres Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause (their ongoing practice)→ customary present (the continuing practice)ποιέω: 'do / practise'; the present ποιοῦσιν marks the syncretistic practice as ongoing 'to this day' (cf. v. 41) — the verdict: they kept doing what their custom dictated rather than obeying YHWH.
41
καὶ ἦσαν τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον καὶ τοῖς γλυπτοῖς αὐτῶν ἦσαν δουλεύοντες καί γε οἱ υἱοὶ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῶν καθὰ ἐποίησαν οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν ποιοῦσιν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης
So these nations feared the LORD and served their carved images, both they and their children and their children's children; as their fathers did, so they do to this day.
The chapter closes by restating the thesis of v. 33 as a settled, generational reality: these nations 'feared the LORD' (ἦσαν … φοβούμενοι) and 'served their carved images' (τοῖς γλυπτοῖς … ἦσαν δουλεύοντες) — the two periphrastic imperfects framing the permanent divided cult. The extension καί γε οἱ υἱοὶ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν υἱῶν ('both they and their children's children') and the final ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') stamp the syncretism as the abiding character of the Samaritans — a fitting, ironic close to the chapter that began with Israel's own fall for the identical sin of dividing its worship.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶand / sonarrative conjunction (concluding summary)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦσανthey wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (with φοβούμενοι)→ imperfect (durative)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): forms the periphrastic imperfect ἦσαν … φοβούμενοι ('were fearing'), the closing restatement of the syncretism-refrain (cf. v. 32).
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsNominativesubject ('these nations')→ participant prominenceἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nation'; the imported settler-peoples (vv. 24–33), the ancestors of the Samaritans, here gathered as the subject of the final verdict.
ταῦταtheseNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ participant prominenceοὗτος: 'these'; 'these nations' = the specific settler-groups catalogued above.
φοβούμενοιfearingPres Mid Ptc Nom Pl Masc · φοβέομαιparticiple of periphrastic imperfect ('were fearing')→ durative present participleφοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence'; the chapter's keyword, here in its final occurrence — they 'feared the LORD' yet served idols; the divided cult sealed as permanent (cf. vv. 32, 33).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of φοβούμενοι→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD reverenced in the compromised, divided worship of the Samaritans.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the second half of the divided cult)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with γλυπτοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γλυπτοῖςcarved imagesDativedative object of δουλεύοντες→ sphere or referenceγλυπτόν (pl. γλυπτοῖς): 'carved/graven image'; renders פְּסִילִים / פֶּסֶל; the cult-statues the settlers continued to serve alongside YHWH; a new term in the chapter, summing up the idols of vv. 29–31.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἦσανthey wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (with δουλεύοντες)→ imperfect (durative)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): the second periphrastic auxiliary, balancing the first; ἦσαν δουλεύοντες ('were serving') matches ἦσαν φοβούμενοι, the two clauses framing the divided cult.
δουλεύοντεςservingPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · δουλεύωparticiple of periphrastic imperfect ('were serving')→ durative present participle (ongoing service)δουλεύω: 'serve / be enslaved to'; renders עָבַד; 'serving their carved images' — the idolatrous half of the divided worship; the periphrastic stresses its continual character; a near-synonym of λατρεύω (vv. 33, 35).
καίeven / alsoconjunction (with γε, emphatic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'even'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γεindeed / evenemphatic particle (intensifying καί)→ discourse linkage or contrastγε: emphatic particle; καί γε ('both / even', rendering גַּם) extends the syncretism explicitly to the descendants — it is not a one-generation lapse but a heritable condition.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶchildren / sonsNominativesubject (extending to the next generation)→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son / child'; 'their children' — the syncretism passed to the next generation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶchildren / sonsNominativesubject ('children's children')→ participant prominenceυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son / child'; οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν υἱῶν ('the children of the children') = grandchildren and beyond — the syncretism perpetuated through generations.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνchildrenGenitivegenitive of relationship ('children of the children')→ relational specificationυἱός (pl. υἱῶν): 'son / child'; the generational extension of the syncretism.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καθὰjust ascomparative conjunction ('just as')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the comparison — the children do exactly as the fathers did, the syncretism unchanged across generations.
ἐποίησανdidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of comparative clause (the fathers' practice)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / practise'; 'as their fathers did' — the founding settlers' syncretism, now the inherited norm.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πατέρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of ἐποίησαν→ participant prominenceπατήρ (pl. πατέρες): 'father / ancestor'; the first settler-generation whose syncretistic practice set the enduring pattern.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ποιοῦσινthey doPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the abiding present practice)→ customary present (the enduring syncretism)ποιέω: 'do / practise'; the present ποιοῦσιν ('they do [so]') answers the aorist ἐποίησαν — as the fathers did, so the descendants do; the syncretism persists into the narrator's own day.
ἕωςuntil / topreposition + genitive (temporal extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day'), the closing formula (cf. vv. 23, 34), stamping the Samaritan syncretism as the abiding present reality.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive of time ('to this day')→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης renders עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה; the chapter ends, as it explained the exile (v. 23), with the enduring 'to this day' — here marking the permanence of the syncretism that gave rise to the Samaritans.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; 'this day' — the narrator's own time, in which the divided worship still persists; the final word of the chapter's grand theodicy and its ironic Samaritan epilogue.