1
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ἔτει τρίτῳ τῷ Ωσηε υἱῷ Ηλα βασιλεῖ Ισραηλ ἐβασίλευσεν Εζεκιας υἱὸς Αχαζ βασιλέως Ιουδα
And it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.
The chapter opens with the LXX's stereotyped regnal-formula καὶ ἐγένετο … ἐβασίλευσεν, rendering the Hebrew וַיְהִי … מָלַךְ. The reign of Hezekiah is synchronized with the northern king Hoshea (a hallmark of the Kingdoms editorial frame), and his paternity and realm are specified. The καίγε translator renders the Hebrew syntax with strict formal equivalence.
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.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-frame formula)→ constative aorist (narrative setting)γίνομαι: 'become / happen / come to pass'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, the standard narrative opener marking a new temporal episode; it sets the chronological frame within which the main clause (ἐβασίλευσεν Εζεκιας) unfolds.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ἔτειyearDativedative of time (locative-temporal)→ sphere or referenceἔτος: 'year'; renders שָׁנָה; the dative of time within the synchronistic formula dates Hezekiah's accession against the reign of the northern king.
τρίτῳthirdDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceτρίτος: ordinal 'third'; renders שְׁלִישִׁית; specifies the regnal year of Hoshea in which Hezekiah's reign began.
τῷofDativearticle (dative, with the indeclinable name Ωσηε)→ noun-phrase markingthe article supplies declension to the indeclinable name Ωσηε, marking it as the genitive-equivalent reference point ('the third year belonging to Hoshea').
ΩσηεHosheaindeclinable proper noun (king of Israel, dated against)→ participant identificationΩσηε: transliteration of Hebrew הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshea son of Elah), the last king of the northern kingdom; indeclinable in the LXX, its case supplied by the article τῷ.
υἱῷsonDativedative in apposition to Ωσηε→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic 'son of Elah' identifies Hoshea precisely within the dynastic record.
ΗλαElahindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship: father of Hoshea)→ participant identificationΗλα: transliteration of Hebrew אֵלָה (Elah); indeclinable; the father of Hoshea.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Ωσηε ('king of Israel')→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; here designates Hoshea's office over the northern kingdom.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship: realm of Hoshea)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; here the northern kingdom specifically, as distinct from Judah.
ἐβασίλευσενbegan to reignAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb of the apodosis (accession)→ ingressive aorist (entered upon kingship)βασιλεύω: 'reign / be king'; renders מָלַךְ; the aorist here is ingressive, marking the inception of Hezekiah's reign — the main statement governed by the temporal frame.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject (declined nominative)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: Graecized form of Hebrew חִזְקִיָּהוּ ('YHWH strengthens'); in this chapter it is declined as a first-declension masculine (gen. Εζεκιου, dat. Εζεκια, acc. Εζεκιαν); the nominative here marks him as subject of the accession.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Εζεκιας→ participant prominenceυἱός: the patronymic links Hezekiah to his father Ahaz, the apostate king of 4 Kgdms 16, against whom Hezekiah's reform stands in pointed contrast.
ΑχαζAhazindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship: father of Hezekiah)→ participant identificationΑχαζ: transliteration of Hebrew אָחָז (Ahaz); indeclinable; the father whose idolatries (ch. 16) Hezekiah will reverse.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition (Ahaz / Hezekiah as 'king of Judah')→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): the title attaches the southern throne to the line of Ahaz and Hezekiah.
ΙουδαJudahindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship: realm of Judah)→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה; the southern kingdom over which Hezekiah reigns.
2
υἱὸς εἴκοσι καὶ πέντε ἐτῶν ἦν ἐν τῷ βασιλεύειν αὐτὸν καὶ εἴκοσι καὶ ἐννέα ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ὄνομα τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ Αβου θυγάτηρ Ζαχαριου
He was a son of twenty-five years when he became king, and twenty-nine years he reigned in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Abi, daughter of Zechariah.
The standard Kingdoms accession notice: age at accession, regnal length, capital, and the queen-mother's name. The idiom υἱὸς … ἐτῶν ('a son of … years') is a Hebraism rendering בֶּן … שָׁנָה for stating age, retained literally by the καίγε translator.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
υἱὸςsonNominativepredicate nominative (idiom of age: 'a son of … years')→ participant prominenceυἱός: in the idiom υἱὸς … ἐτῶν ('son of … years') the noun renders the Hebrew בֶּן used to express age; not literal sonship but a Hebraism for 'X years old'.
εἴκοσιtwentycardinal numeral (indeclinable, with πέντε: 'twenty-five')→ measure or countεἴκοσι: 'twenty'; indeclinable cardinal; combines with πέντε to give Hezekiah's age at accession (twenty-five).
καὶandconjunction (joining numerals)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πέντεfivecardinal numeral (indeclinable)→ measure or countπέντε: 'five'; indeclinable cardinal; with εἴκοσι yields 'twenty-five'.
ἐτῶνyearsGenitivegenitive of measure (with the age-idiom)→ relational specificationἔτος (gen. pl. ἐτῶν): 'years'; the partitive/measure genitive completes the age-formula 'a son of twenty-five years'.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula of the age-notice)→ stative imperfect (describing his state at accession)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν supplies the durative background state ('he was … years old') at the point of his accession.
ἐνin / whenpreposition + articular infinitive (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν τῷ + infinitive: a temporal construction ('when / while') rendering the Hebrew בְּ + infinitive construct, common in the LXX.
τῷtheDativearticle (with articular infinitive βασιλεύειν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύεινto become kingPres Act Inf · βασιλεύωarticular infinitive (temporal clause: 'when he became king')→ ingressive (entering upon reign)βασιλεύω: 'reign'; the articular infinitive ἐν τῷ βασιλεύειν αὐτόν renders בְּמָלְכוֹ ('when he became king'), with the accusative subject αὐτόν.
αὐτὸνheAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτός: the accusative subject of βασιλεύειν, normal Greek construction for the subject of an articular infinitive.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἴκοσιtwentycardinal numeral (indeclinable, with ἐννέα: 'twenty-nine')→ measure or countεἴκοσι: here combines with ἐννέα to state the length of Hezekiah's reign (twenty-nine years).
καὶandconjunction (joining numerals)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐννέαninecardinal numeral (indeclinable)→ measure or countἐννέα: 'nine'; indeclinable cardinal; with εἴκοσι gives the twenty-nine-year reign.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of duration (extent of time)→ object specificationἔτος (acc. pl. ἔτη): the accusative of extent measures the duration of the reign 'twenty-nine years'.
ἐβασίλευσενhe reignedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb (summary of reign-length)→ constative aorist (the reign as a whole)βασιλεύω: the constative aorist sums up the full span of Hezekiah's rule from the vantage of the finished record.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemindeclinable proper noun (locative: capital of the reign)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; indeclinable in this Hebraizing form; the Davidic capital, the focal point of the chapter's later siege-drama.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of an implied copula ('the name … was Abi')→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; the nominal clause καὶ ὄνομα τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ renders the Hebrew וְשֵׁם אִמּוֹ, the standard queen-mother notice in the Kingdoms accession formula.
τῇtheDativearticle (dative of possession with μητρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητρὶmotherDativedative of possession ('to his mother [belonged] the name')→ sphere or referenceμήτηρ (dat. μητρί): 'mother'; the dative of possession in the nominal clause; the queen-mother's name is a regular datum of the Judahite accession formulae.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying μητρί)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying μητρί).
ΑβουAbiindeclinable proper noun (predicate of the name-clause: the mother's name)→ participant identificationΑβου: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִי (Abi, fuller form Abijah, 2 Chr 29:1); indeclinable; the name of Hezekiah's mother.
θυγάτηρdaughterNominativenominative in apposition to Αβου→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the patronymic identifies the queen-mother as daughter of Zechariah.
Ζαχαριουof ZechariahGenitivegenitive of relationship (father of Abi)→ relational specificationΖαχαριας (gen. Ζαχαριου): Graecized form of Hebrew זְכַרְיָה ('YHWH remembers'); here declined as a first-declension genitive identifying the father of the queen-mother.
3
καὶ ἐποίησεν τὸ εὐθὲς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν Δαυιδ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.
The Deuteronomistic verdict formula ἐποίησεν τὸ εὐθὲς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου ('did the right in the eyes of the LORD') renders עָשָׂה הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יהוה. Hezekiah is measured by the Davidic standard (κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν Δαυιδ) — the highest commendation in Kings, shared with few kings of Judah.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (evaluation formula)→ constative aorist (his reign summarized morally)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the standard verb of the Deuteronomistic evaluation formula, summing up the moral character of a reign.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing εὐθές)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐθὲςright / upright thingAccusativesubstantivized adjective (direct object: 'the right')→ object specificationεὐθύς (neut. εὐθές): 'straight / right / upright'; renders הַיָּשָׁר; the substantivized neuter τὸ εὐθές denotes morally right conduct as judged by YHWH's covenant standard.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/perspective)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere/perspective).
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative object of ἐν (Hebraism: 'in the eyes of')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός (dat. pl. ὀφθαλμοῖς): 'eye'; the idiom ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς κυρίου renders בְּעֵינֵי יהוה ('in the eyes of the LORD'), i.e. in his estimation/judgment.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμοῖς)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): here the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive marks YHWH as the one whose evaluative 'eyes' set the moral standard for Hezekiah's reign.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard of comparison)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: 'according to'; introduces the Davidic measure by which Hezekiah's righteousness is gauged.
πάνταallAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of κατά: 'all that')→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. pl. n. πάντα): 'all'; together with the relative ὅσα forms 'according to all that …'.
ὅσαas much asAccusativerelative pronoun (introducing comparison clause)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; renders אֲשֶׁר / כֹּל אֲשֶׁר; the neuter plural ὅσα governs the relative clause specifying David's conduct as the standard.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause (David's deeds)→ constative aorist (David's reign as completed model)ποιέω: repeated to set David's conduct as the benchmark; the comparison κατὰ … ὅσα ἐποίησεν Δαυιδ is the highest Deuteronomistic accolade.
ΔαυιδDavidindeclinable proper noun (subject of the relative clause)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד; indeclinable in the LXX; the founding king and the covenant standard against which Judah's kings are judged.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with πατήρ in apposition to Δαυιδ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativenominative in apposition to Δαυιδ ('his father')→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father'; here 'forefather/ancestor', since David is Hezekiah's dynastic forebear, not literal father; renders אָב, used broadly of royal ancestry.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατήρ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (modifying πατήρ).
4
αὐτὸς ἐξῆρεν τὰ ὑψηλὰ καὶ συνέτριψεν πάσας τὰς στήλας καὶ ἐξωλέθρευσεν τὰ ἄλση καὶ τὸν ὄφιν τὸν χαλκοῦν ὃν ἐποίησεν Μωυσῆς ὅτι ἕως τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκείνων ἦσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ θυμιῶντες αὐτῷ καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν Νεεσθαν
He himself removed the high places, and shattered all the pillars, and utterly destroyed the sacred groves and the bronze serpent that Moses had made — for until those days the sons of Israel had been burning incense to it — and he called it Nehushtan.
The emphatic αὐτός ('he himself') heads a chain of three reform-verbs (ἐξῆρεν … συνέτριψεν … ἐξωλέθρευσεν) cataloguing Hezekiah's cultic purge. The climax is the breaking of Moses' bronze serpent (Num 21:8–9), which had degenerated into an idol receiving incense; Hezekiah renames it Νεεσθαν ('a bronze thing'), a contemptuous demystification. The ὅτι-clause is an explanatory aside accounting for the serpent's destruction.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (foregrounding the reformer)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the intensive nominative 'he himself' foregrounds Hezekiah as the personal agent of reform, rendering the Hebrew emphatic הוּא; it sets him apart from his predecessors who tolerated the high places.
ἐξῆρενremovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαίρωmain verb (first reform act)→ constative aorist (decisive removal)ἐξαίρω: 'remove / take away / abolish'; renders הֵסִיר; the standard verb for dismantling illicit cult installations; the high places (בָּמוֹת) had been tolerated even under good kings before Hezekiah.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑψηλὰhigh placesAccusativesubstantivized adjective (direct object: the shrines)→ object specificationὑψηλός (neut. pl. ὑψηλά): 'high'; the substantivized τὰ ὑψηλά renders הַבָּמוֹת ('the high places'), the local hilltop sanctuaries; their removal is the signature act of Hezekiah's (and later Josiah's) centralizing reform.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέτριψενshatteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντρίβωmain verb (second reform act)→ constative aorist (violent breaking)συντρίβω: 'break in pieces / shatter / crush'; renders שִׁבַּר; a forceful verb of demolition, used of smashing the sacred standing-stones; the same root will describe the broken reed of Egypt (τεθλασμένην, v. 21) by thematic resonance.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying στήλας)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. pl. f. πάσας): 'all'; emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the purge — no pillar left standing.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στήλαςpillarsAccusativedirect object of συνέτριψεν→ object specificationστήλη (acc. pl. στήλας): 'pillar / standing-stone'; renders מַצֵּבוֹת, the cultic massebot associated with Canaanite and syncretistic worship; prohibited in Deut 16:22.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξωλέθρευσενutterly destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (third reform act)→ constative aorist (total destruction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; renders כָּרַת ('cut down/off'); the ἐξ- prefix intensifies to total annihilation; a charged covenant verb often used of the destruction of idols and idolaters.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄλσηsacred grovesAccusativedirect object of ἐξωλέθρευσεν→ object specificationἄλσος (acc. pl. ἄλση): lit. 'grove / sacred wood'; the LXX's standard rendering of אֲשֵׁרָה / אֲשֵׁרִים (Asherah-poles/images); the cultic objects of the goddess Asherah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the object of ἐξωλέθρευσεν to the serpent)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄφινserpentAccusativedirect object (the bronze serpent)→ object specificationὄφις (acc. ὄφιν): 'serpent / snake'; renders נָחָשׁ; this is the very bronze serpent Moses made in the wilderness (Num 21:8–9), originally an instrument of healing that had become an idol — its destruction marks the boldest stroke of the reform.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (attributive position with χαλκοῦν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χαλκοῦνbronzeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ὄφιν)→ object specificationχαλκοῦς (acc. χαλκοῦν): 'made of bronze/copper'; renders נְחֹשֶׁת; the material descriptor anticipates the contemptuous name Νεεσθαν ('mere bronze thing') at the verse's end.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν, modifying ὄφιν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. ὅν): relative pronoun introducing the clause identifying the serpent as Mosaic in origin — heightening the scandal that even a Mosaic relic had become idolatrous.
ἐποίησενmadeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause (Moses' fashioning of the serpent)→ constative aorist (the original making)ποιέω: recalls the making of the bronze serpent at Num 21:9; the relic's sacred pedigree makes Hezekiah's willingness to destroy it all the more striking.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of the relative clause→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined as a second-declension noun in the LXX; the maker of the bronze serpent whose misused relic Hezekiah now destroys.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (introducing explanatory aside)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; renders כִּי; introduces the narrator's explanation for why the serpent had to be destroyed — it had become an object of incense.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / up to'; here marking the temporal extent of the abuse ('until those days').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμερῶνdaysGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal)→ relational specificationἡμέρα (gen. pl. ἡμερῶν): 'day'; the idiom ἕως τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκείνων ('until those days') renders עַד הַיָּמִים הָהֵמָּה, marking how long the idolatrous abuse of the serpent had persisted.
ἐκείνωνthoseGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμερῶν)→ relational specificationἐκεῖνος (gen. pl. ἐκείνων): 'those'; the remote demonstrative points to the period up to Hezekiah's reform, when the practice was finally ended.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic imperfect (with θυμιῶντες)→ durative imperfect (habitual past practice)εἰμί: the imperfect ἦσαν with the participle θυμιῶντες forms a periphrastic construction expressing the ongoing, habitual practice of incense-burning over a long period.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (of the periphrastic verb)→ participant prominenceυἱός (nom. pl. υἱοί): 'sons'; the idiom οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons/children of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: here the covenant nation as a whole, who had perverted the bronze serpent into an object of worship.
θυμιῶντεςburning incensePres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · θυμιάωparticiple (with ἦσαν: periphrastic imperfect)→ imperfective (habitual cultic action)θυμιάω: 'burn incense / offer sacrifice by burning'; renders קָטַר (Piel); incense-offering signals full cultic worship — the bronze serpent had become a divine object, not merely a memorial; this idolatry is precisely what Hezekiah's reform abolishes.
αὐτῷto itDativedative (recipient of the incense: the serpent)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): the dative of the recipient of cultic offering — the people burned incense 'to it' (the serpent), treating the relic as a deity.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενhe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming act)→ constative aorist (act of renaming)καλέω: 'call / name'; renders קָרָא; the renaming is a speech-act of demystification — to call the idol by a merely descriptive name strips it of its false numinous aura.
αὐτὸνitAccusativedirect object (the serpent, now renamed)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): the object of renaming — the formerly venerated serpent, now reduced to 'Nehushtan'.
ΝεεσθανNehushtanindeclinable proper noun (predicate accusative: the new name)→ participant identificationΝεεσθαν: transliteration of Hebrew נְחֻשְׁתָּן (Nehushtan), a wordplay on נְחֹשֶׁת ('bronze') and נָחָשׁ ('serpent'); the name is contemptuous — 'mere bronze thing' — reducing the venerated relic to its base metal and denying it any divine status.
5
ἐν κυρίῳ θεῷ Ισραηλ ἤλπισεν καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτὸν οὐκ ἐγενήθη ὅμοιος αὐτῷ ἐν βασιλεῦσιν Ιουδα καὶ ἐν τοῖς γενομένοις ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ
In the LORD, the God of Israel, he hoped; and after him there was none like him among the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.
The fronted prepositional phrase ἐν κυρίῳ θεῷ Ισραηλ ('in the LORD, God of Israel') gives emphatic prominence to the object of Hezekiah's trust. The incomparability formula (οὐκ ἐγενήθη ὅμοιος αὐτῷ) — applied both forward and backward through the line of Judah's kings — is the strongest such praise in Kings, paralleled (with a different emphasis) only of Josiah at 23:25.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (object of trust, fronted for emphasis)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative with ἐλπίζω marks the object of trust ('to hope in'); the fronting of the whole phrase before the verb gives YHWH rhetorical prominence as the ground of Hezekiah's confidence.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of ἐν (the one trusted)→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine name as the object of Hezekiah's hope sets the theological keynote of the chapter — trust in YHWH against the Assyrian threat.
θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ ('God of Israel')→ sphere or referenceθεός (dat. θεῷ): 'God'; renders אֱלֹהֵי; the appositional title κύριος θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the LORD, God of Israel') is a covenant formula binding YHWH to his people.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship with θεῷ)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: here the covenant people as a whole; the title 'God of Israel' affirms that Judah's king trusts the same covenant Lord.
ἤλπισενhe hoped / trustedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐλπίζωmain verb (Hezekiah's defining act of trust)→ constative aorist (the settled disposition of his reign)ἐλπίζω: 'hope / trust / put confidence in'; renders בָּטַח; the verb is thematically central — the whole chapter turns on the question of where trust is placed (cf. πέποιθας, vv. 19–24, of misplaced trust in Egypt).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετ᾿afterpreposition + accusative (temporal: 'after him')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + accusative (elided μετ᾿ before vowel): 'after'; here temporal, opening the incomparability formula projected forward through later kings.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of μετά→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of μετά.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐγενήθη)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ before vowel): the negation forming the incomparability statement 'there was none like him'.
ἐγενήθηwas / aroseAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (incomparability formula)→ constative aorist (no comparable king ever arose)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'become / come to be'; renders הָיָה; in the incomparability formula 'there did not come to be one like him' — a superlative verdict on Hezekiah's faith.
ὅμοιοςlikeNominativepredicate adjective ('[none] like [him]')→ participant prominenceὅμοιος: 'like / similar'; renders כָּמֹהוּ; the predicate of the incomparability formula, governing the dative αὐτῷ ('like him').
αὐτῷto himDativedative of comparison (with ὅμοιος)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): the dative governed by ὅμοιος, the standard construction for 'like/similar to him'.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: among the kings)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: among the kings).
βασιλεῦσινkingsDativedative object of ἐν (the comparison-set)→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς (dat. pl. βασιλεῦσιν): the body of Judah's kings against whom Hezekiah is measured and found unequalled.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship with βασιλεῦσιν)→ participant identificationΙουδα: the southern kingdom; the comparison is restricted to the Davidic line of Judah's kings.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the backward comparison)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: those before him)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: those before him).
τοῖςthoseDativearticle (substantivizing the participle γενομένοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενομένοιςwho wereAor Mid Ptcp Dat Masc Pl · γίνομαιsubstantival participle (with τοῖς: 'those who were [before him]')→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. mid. ptcp.): 'become / come to be'; substantivized as 'those who came to be' = his predecessors; the formula thus reaches both forward (μετ᾿ αὐτόν) and backward (ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ) across Judah's whole royal history.
ἔμπροσθενbeforepreposition + genitive (temporal: 'before him')→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of'; here temporal, 'before him', completing the comprehensive both-directions incomparability claim.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἔμπροσθεν→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἔμπροσθεν.
6
καὶ ἐκολλήθη τῷ κυρίῳ οὐκ ἀπέστη ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐφύλαξεν τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ὅσας ἐνετείλατο Μωυσῇ
And he clung to the LORD; he did not turn away from following him, and he kept his commandments, as many as he commanded Moses.
Three covenant-loyalty statements expand v. 5: he 'clung' to YHWH (ἐκολλήθη, a Deuteronomic term for covenant attachment, Deut 10:20), did not 'turn aside' from him, and 'kept' his Mosaic commandments. The triad casts Hezekiah as the ideal Deuteronomic king.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκολλήθηhe clungAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κολλάωmain verb (covenant attachment)→ constative aorist (settled allegiance)κολλάω (aor. pass. with mid. sense): 'join / cleave / cling to'; renders דָּבַק, the classic Deuteronomic verb for covenant devotion ('cleave to the LORD', Deut 10:20; 11:22; 13:5); the passive form has the reflexive sense 'attached himself'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative object of ἐκολλήθη (object of devotion)→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative governed by κολλάω ('cling to'); Hezekiah's fidelity is to YHWH alone.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀπέστη)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστηhe turned awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφίστημιmain verb (negated apostasy)→ constative aorist (he never defected)ἀφίστημι (aor. ἀπέστη): 'withdraw / depart / fall away'; renders סוּר; with οὐκ it denies any apostasy — Hezekiah never turned from following YHWH; the same root will describe Hezekiah's earlier 'removing' of the high places' (ἀπέστησεν, v. 22) ironically in the Rabshakeh's mouth.
ὄπισθενfrom followingpreposition + genitive (idiom: 'from behind him')→ spatial or relational framingὄπισθεν: 'behind / after'; the idiom οὐκ ἀπέστη ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ renders לֹא סָר מֵאַחֲרָיו ('did not turn from after him'), i.e. did not cease to follow YHWH; a Hebraism for discipleship/allegiance.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ὄπισθεν→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ὄπισθεν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐφύλαξενhe keptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φυλάσσωmain verb (covenant obedience)→ constative aorist (sustained obedience)φυλάσσω: 'guard / keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the standard covenant verb for keeping the commandments, sealing the portrait of Hezekiah as the Torah-obedient king.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of ἐφύλαξεν→ object specificationἐντολή (acc. pl. ἐντολάς): 'commandment'; renders מִצְוָה; the Mosaic commandments, whose observance defines covenant faithfulness.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's commandments)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the LORD's commandments).
ὅσαςas many asAccusativerelative pronoun (introducing relative clause)→ participant referenceὅσος (acc. pl. f. ὅσας): 'as many as'; agreeing with ἐντολάς; renders אֲשֶׁר, identifying the commandments as those given through Moses.
ἐνετείλατοhe commandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (YHWH's commanding through Moses)→ constative aorist (the giving of the law)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / give orders'; renders צִוָּה; the subject is YHWH, who commanded these statutes to Moses; the deponent middle is the LXX's standard form for divine command.
ΜωυσῇMosesDativedative indirect object (recipient of the command)→ sphere or referenceΜωυσῆς (dat. Μωυσῇ): the mediator of the law; YHWH commanded the statutes 'to Moses', who delivered them to Israel; Hezekiah's fidelity is to this Mosaic Torah.
7
καὶ ἦν κύριος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν πᾶσιν οἷς ἐποίει συνῆκεν καὶ ἠθέτησεν ἐν τῷ βασιλεῖ Ἀσσυρίων καὶ οὐκ ἐδούλευσεν αὐτῷ
And the LORD was with him; in all that he did he prospered. And he rebelled against the king of the Assyrians and did not serve him.
The presence-formula ἦν κύριος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('the LORD was with him') is the covenant reward for the faithfulness of vv. 5–6 and the ground of his success (συνῆκεν, here 'he prospered'). On that basis he 'rebelled' (ἠθέτησεν) against Assyria — the political act that triggers Sennacherib's invasion later in the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (presence-formula)→ durative imperfect (ongoing divine presence)εἰμί: the imperfect ἦν in the presence-formula κύριος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('the LORD was with him') renders יְהוָה עִמּוֹ, a covenant idiom of divine accompaniment and favor (cf. Gen 39:2; 1 Sam 18:14).
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (of the presence-formula)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH's accompanying presence is the source of Hezekiah's success and the warrant for his revolt against Assyria.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive (elided μετ᾿): 'with'; in the presence-formula denotes accompanying favor and protection.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere).
πᾶσινall thingsDativesubstantival adjective (object of ἐν: 'in all')→ sphere or referenceπᾶς (dat. pl. n. πᾶσιν): 'all'; with the relative οἷς, 'in all that he did' — the comprehensiveness of his success.
οἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative by attraction, object of ἐποίει)→ participant reference or interestὅς (dat. pl. οἷς): the relative attracted to the case of its antecedent πᾶσιν; 'in all (the things) which he did'.
ἐποίειhe didImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause (his ongoing undertakings)→ customary imperfect (habitual activity)ποιέω: the imperfect ἐποίει expresses Hezekiah's habitual undertakings, all of which prospered under YHWH's blessing.
συνῆκενhe prospered / had successAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνίημιmain verb (result of divine presence)→ constative aorist (achieved success)συνίημι: lit. 'understand / perceive'; here the καίγε translator renders שָׂכַל in its sense 'act wisely / have success / prosper' (cf. the same verb-equivalence at 1 Sam 18:14–15); 'in all he did he prospered' — divine accompaniment yielding effective wisdom and success.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠθέτησενhe rebelledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀθετέωmain verb (political revolt)→ constative aorist (decisive act of rebellion)ἀθετέω: 'set at nought / repudiate / rebel against'; renders מָרַד; the verb of breaking a vassal-treaty; Hezekiah's repudiation of Assyrian overlordship; the same verb recurs on the Rabshakeh's lips (ἠθέτησας, v. 20) accusing him of treaty-breaking.
ἐνagainstpreposition + dative (Hebraism: object of rebellion)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative here renders the Hebrew בְּ after מָרַד ('rebel against'); a Hebraistic construction where Greek would normally take a simple object or κατά + genitive.
τῷtheDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative object (the one rebelled against)→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): the Assyrian overlord (Sennacherib, or his predecessor); the suzerain whose yoke Hezekiah throws off.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship: 'king of the Assyrians')→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: 'Assyrians'; the gentilic for the people of Assyria; in this Hebraizing text it functions indeclinably as a fixed genitive plural in the recurring title βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ('king of the Assyrians'), the dominant imperial power of the chapter.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐδούλευσεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐδούλευσενhe servedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δουλεύωmain verb (negated: refused vassalage)→ constative aorist (refusal of servitude)δουλεύω: 'serve / be a slave/vassal to'; renders עָבַד; with οὐκ, Hezekiah refused to render the tribute-service of an Assyrian vassal — the concrete form his rebellion took.
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of ἐδούλευσεν (the Assyrian king)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐδούλευσεν (the Assyrian king).
8
αὐτὸς ἐπάταξεν τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους ἕως Γάζης καὶ ἕως ὁρίου αὐτῆς ἀπὸ πύργου φυλασσόντων καὶ ἕως πόλεως ὀχυρᾶς
He himself struck the Philistines as far as Gaza and its border, from the watchtower to the fortified city.
The emphatic αὐτός again foregrounds Hezekiah's personal agency (cf. v. 4). His defeat of the Philistines as far as Gaza demonstrates the concrete fruit of YHWH's presence (v. 7). The merism ἀπὸ πύργου φυλασσόντων … ἕως πόλεως ὀχυρᾶς ('from watchtower to fortified city') denotes comprehensive conquest of every settlement type.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ participant referenceαὐτός: the intensive 'he himself', echoing v. 4, foregrounds Hezekiah as the active agent of military success — the human counterpart of YHWH's enabling presence.
ἐπάταξενhe struckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (military defeat)→ constative aorist (decisive victory)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / defeat'; renders הִכָּה (Hiphil of נכה); the standard verb for military defeat in the historical books; here Hezekiah's victorious campaign against Philistia.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἀλλοφύλους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλουςPhilistinesAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξεν→ object specificationἀλλόφυλος (acc. pl. ἀλλοφύλους): lit. 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the LXX's regular rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines'); the perennial enemy on Judah's coastal flank.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent of conquest)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'as far as / up to'; marks the geographical reach of the campaign — to Gaza, the southernmost Philistine city.
ΓάζηςGazaGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (limit of the campaign)→ relational specificationΓάζα (gen. Γάζης): the chief southern Philistine city; here declined as a first-declension noun (gen. Γάζης); the campaign's southern terminus.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'as far as'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (extent).
ὁρίουborderGenitivegenitive object of ἕως→ relational specificationὅριον (gen. ὁρίου): 'boundary / territory / border'; renders גְּבוּל; the conquest extended to Gaza's surrounding territory, not merely the city.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (Gaza's border)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. f. αὐτῆς): 'its', referring to Gaza (feminine); the border belonging to the city.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: the construction ἀπὸ … ἕως ('from … to') forms a merism for totality — every kind of settlement from smallest to greatest was struck.
πύργουwatchtowerGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (first pole of merism)→ relational specificationπύργος (gen. πύργου): 'tower / watchtower'; renders מִגְדָּל; the phrase πύργος φυλασσόντων ('tower of watchmen/guards') denotes an isolated guard-post, the smallest defended structure.
φυλασσόντωνof watchmenPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Pl · φυλάσσωsubstantival participle (genitive: 'of those keeping watch')→ verbal action or stateφυλάσσω (pres. act. ptcp.): 'guard / keep watch'; substantivized 'watchmen'; the idiom πύργος φυλασσόντων renders מִגְדַּל נוֹצְרִים ('watchtower of guards'), an outpost — the lowest end of the settlement merism.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (to the merism's other pole)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (second pole of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (second pole of merism).
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive object of ἕως→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. πόλεως): 'city'; renders עִיר; with ὀχυρᾶς, the 'fortified city' is the largest defended settlement — the upper end of the merism.
ὀχυρᾶςfortifiedGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying πόλεως)→ relational specificationὀχυρός (gen. f. ὀχυρᾶς): 'strong / fortified'; renders מִבְצָר; the 'fortified city' completes the merism 'from watchtower to fortified city' (comprehensive conquest); the same adjective recurs of the cities Sennacherib takes (v. 13).
9
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ τετάρτῳ βασιλεῖ Εζεκια αὐτὸς ἐνιαυτὸς ὁ ἕβδομος τῷ Ωσηε υἱῷ Ηλα βασιλεῖ Ισραηλ ἀνέβη Σαλαμανασσαρ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ἐπὶ Σαμάρειαν καὶ ἐπολιόρκει ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν
And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah — that is, the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel — that Shalmaneser king of the Assyrians came up against Samaria and laid siege to it.
A retrospective dating notice (καὶ ἐγένετο … ἀνέβη) opens the Samaria flashback, double-synchronized to Hezekiah's fourth year and Hoshea's seventh. The recollection of the North's fall (already narrated at ch. 17) functions as an ominous precedent: the Assyrian who destroyed Samaria for covenant infidelity now threatens Jerusalem.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 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 (temporal-frame formula)→ constative aorist (narrative setting)γίνομαι: the formula καὶ ἐγένετο (Hebrew וַיְהִי) opens the dated flashback to the siege of Samaria, framing the synchronistic chronology that follows.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἔτει)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔτειyearDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἔτος (dat. ἔτει): 'year'; the dative of time dates the siege to Hezekiah's fourth regnal year.
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive, with τετάρτῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τετάρτῳfourthDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceτέταρτος: ordinal 'fourth'; the regnal year of Hezekiah pinpointing the start of the Samaria siege.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative of reference (Hebraism: 'belonging to king Hezekiah')→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): the dative βασιλεῖ Εζεκια ('to king Hezekiah') renders the Hebrew לְ of dating, attaching the year to the king's reign.
ΕζεκιαHezekiahDativedative in apposition to βασιλεῖ (declined name)→ sphere or referenceΕζεκιας (dat. Εζεκια): here declined in the dative; the reference-point for the synchronistic dating of the siege.
αὐτὸςthat [year]Nominativeresumptive pronoun (subject of equational clause: 'it [is] …')→ participant referenceαὐτός: here resumptive/identifying ('that same [year]'), introducing the parallel synchronism with Hoshea's reign — a Hebraistic equational construction (הִיא הַשָּׁנָה).
ἐνιαυτὸςyearNominativepredicate nominative (the equated year)→ participant prominenceἐνιαυτός: 'year'; a synonym of ἔτος used to vary the synchronistic equation ('that is the seventh year of Hoshea'); renders שָׁנָה.
ὁtheNominativearticle (attributive, with ἕβδομος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἕβδομοςseventhNominativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἐνιαυτός)→ participant prominenceἕβδομος: ordinal 'seventh'; the regnal year of Hoshea synchronized with Hezekiah's fourth.
τῷofDativearticle (with indeclinable Ωσηε)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΩσηεHosheaindeclinable proper noun (reference-point of the second synchronism)→ participant identificationΩσηε: Hoshea son of Elah, the last northern king, in whose seventh year the siege began; case supplied by the article τῷ.
υἱῷsonDativedative in apposition to Ωσηε→ sphere or referenceυἱός: the patronymic 'son of Elah', identifying Hoshea (cf. v. 1).
ΗλαElahindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΗλα: Elah, father of Hoshea (cf. v. 1).
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Ωσηε ('king of Israel')→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: Hoshea's title over the northern kingdom.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the northern kingdom whose capital is about to fall.
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the Assyrian advance)→ constative aorist (the campaign)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / advance'; renders עָלָה; the standard verb for a military campaign 'going up' against a target; the same verb introduces Sennacherib's advance (v. 13) and the Rabshakeh's claim to come up at YHWH's command (v. 25).
ΣαλαμανασσαρShalmaneserindeclinable proper noun (subject of ἀνέβη)→ participant identificationΣαλαμανασσαρ: transliteration of Hebrew שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר (Shalmaneser V), the Assyrian king who besieged Samaria; indeclinable.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Σαλαμανασσαρ→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: the title in the recurring formula βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ('king of the Assyrians').
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: 'Assyrians'; the fixed genitive plural in the title βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: 'against'; here marks the hostile object of the Assyrian campaign.
ΣαμάρειανSamariaAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (target of attack)→ object specificationΣαμάρεια (acc. Σαμάρειαν): the capital of the northern kingdom; here declined as a first-declension noun; the besieged city whose fall foreshadows the threat to Jerusalem.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπολιόρκειhe laid siegeImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · πολιορκέωmain verb (durative siege action)→ durative imperfect (the protracted siege)πολιορκέω: 'besiege / blockade a city'; renders צוּר (Qal); the imperfect captures the three-year duration of the siege (v. 10).
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (Hebraistic, with the siege-verb)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (elided ἐπ᾿): the redundant ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν after the verb of besieging reflects the Hebrew עָלֶיהָ, a Hebraistic resumptive construction typical of the καίγε layer.
αὐτήνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the besieged city)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. f. αὐτήν): 'it', referring to Samaria, the object of the siege.
10
καὶ κατελάβετο αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τέλους τριῶν ἐτῶν ἐν ἔτει ἕκτῳ τῷ Εζεκια αὐτὸς ἐνιαυτὸς ἔνατος τῷ Ωσηε βασιλεῖ Ισραηλ καὶ συνελήμφθη Σαμάρεια
And he captured it at the end of three years; in the sixth year of Hezekiah — that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel — Samaria was taken.
The siege's conclusion is again double-dated (Hezekiah's sixth year / Hoshea's ninth). The passive συνελήμφθη Σαμάρεια ('Samaria was taken') restates the capture in the passive voice, a solemn closural notice of the northern kingdom's end.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατελάβετοhe capturedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταλαμβάνωmain verb (the capture)→ constative aorist (decisive seizure)καταλαμβάνω: 'seize / capture / overtake'; renders לָכַד; the middle κατελάβετο 'he took (for himself)'; the fall of Samaria, the climax of the three-year siege.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (Samaria)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. f. αὐτήν): 'it', the captured city.
ἀπὸat / frompreposition + genitive (temporal terminus)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: in the temporal phrase ἀπὸ τέλους τριῶν ἐτῶν ('from/at the end of three years') marks the point at which the siege concluded.
τέλουςendGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (temporal)→ relational specificationτέλος (gen. τέλους): 'end / completion'; renders קֵץ / מִקְצֵה; 'at the end of three years' specifies the siege's duration.
τριῶνthreeGenitivecardinal numeral (modifying ἐτῶν)→ relational specificationτρεῖς (gen. τριῶν): 'three'; here declined in the genitive with ἐτῶν; the three-year span of the siege.
ἐτῶνyearsGenitivegenitive of measure (with τέλους / τριῶν)→ relational specificationἔτος (gen. pl. ἐτῶν): 'years'; the measure of the siege's duration.
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 (dat. ἔτει): the year of the capture, Hezekiah's sixth.
ἕκτῳsixthDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceἕκτος: ordinal 'sixth'; Hezekiah's sixth regnal year, when Samaria fell.
τῷofDativearticle (with declined name Εζεκια)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕζεκιαHezekiahDativedative of reference (the dating-king)→ sphere or referenceΕζεκιας (dat. Εζεκια): the reference-king for the first synchronism of the capture.
αὐτὸςthat [year]Nominativeresumptive pronoun (equational clause)→ participant referenceαὐτός: resumptive 'that same [year]', introducing the parallel synchronism with Hoshea (cf. v. 9).
ἐνιαυτὸςyearNominativepredicate nominative (the equated year)→ participant prominenceἐνιαυτός: 'year', in the synchronistic equation with Hoshea's ninth year.
ἔνατοςninthNominativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἐνιαυτός)→ participant prominenceἔνατος: ordinal 'ninth'; Hoshea's ninth and final regnal year, when his capital fell.
τῷofDativearticle (with indeclinable Ωσηε)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΩσηεHosheaindeclinable proper noun (reference-point of second synchronism)→ participant identificationΩσηε: Hoshea, the last king of Israel, in whose ninth year Samaria was captured.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Ωσηε ('king of Israel')→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς: Hoshea's title.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the northern kingdom, now fallen.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνελήμφθηwas takenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (passive restatement of the capture)→ constative aorist (the city's fall)συλλαμβάνω (aor. pass. συνελήμφθη): 'seize / capture'; the passive restates the capture from the city's standpoint ('Samaria was taken'), a solemn closural notice of the northern kingdom's demise.
ΣαμάρειαSamariaNominativesubject of the passive verb (the fallen city)→ participant prominenceΣαμάρεια (nom.): the capital of the North; here declined as nominative subject of the passive; its fall is the grim precedent invoked against Jerusalem later (v. 34).
11
καὶ ἀπῴκισεν βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων τὴν Σαμάρειαν εἰς Ἀσσυρίους καὶ ἔθηκεν αὐτοὺς ἐν Αλαε καὶ ἐν Αβωρ ποταμῷ Γωζαν καὶ Ορη Μήδων
And the king of the Assyrians carried Samaria away into Assyria, and settled them in Halah and in Habor, by the river Gozan, and in the mountains of the Medes.
The exile-notice (ἀπῴκισεν … ἔθηκεν) lists the resettlement sites of the deported northerners. The geographical specificity (Halah, Habor by the Gozan, the mountains of the Medes) gives documentary solemnity to the dispersion that ended the ten-tribe kingdom (cf. 17:6).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῴκισενcarried away into exileAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποικίζωmain verb (deportation)→ constative aorist (the act of deportation)ἀποικίζω: 'remove to a colony / deport / carry into exile'; renders הִגְלָה (Hiphil of גלה); the technical term for the Assyrian policy of mass deportation that dissolved national identity.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἀπῴκισεν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: the king of Assyria as the agent of deportation (the title's referent shifts to Sargon II historically, though unnamed here).
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Σαμάρειαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαμάρειανSamariaAccusativedirect object of ἀπῴκισεν (the population deported)→ object specificationΣαμάρεια (acc. Σαμάρειαν): by metonymy the city stands for its inhabitants, who are the ones deported.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination of exile)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'into'; marks the destination of the deportation.
ἈσσυρίουςAssyria / the AssyriansAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationἈσσύριος (acc. pl. Ἀσσυρίους): here declined as accusative plural ('into [the land of] the Assyrians'); the exiles are removed to the Assyrian heartland.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔθηκενsettled / placedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (resettlement)→ constative aorist (the act of settling)τίθημι (aor. ἔθηκεν): 'put / place / settle'; renders שׂוּם / נָתַן; here the resettling of the deportees in specific Assyrian-controlled regions.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the deportees)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them', the deported Israelites.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place of resettlement)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place of resettlement).
ΑλαεHalahindeclinable place name (locative)→ participant identificationΑλαε: transliteration of Hebrew חֲלַח (Halah); indeclinable; a region of Assyrian resettlement (cf. 17:6).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
ΑβωρHaborindeclinable place name (locative)→ participant identificationΑβωρ: transliteration of Hebrew חָבוֹר (Habor); indeclinable; a river/region of resettlement.
ποταμῷriverDativedative in apposition (locating Habor / Gozan)→ sphere or referenceποταμός (dat. ποταμῷ): 'river'; renders נָהָר; in apposition designating the watercourse (the Habor/Gozan) along which the exiles were settled.
ΓωζανGozanindeclinable place name (in apposition to ποταμῷ)→ participant identificationΓωζαν: transliteration of Hebrew גּוֹזָן (Gozan); indeclinable; the region of the river by which the exiles dwelt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΟρηmountainsAccusativeaccusative (locative goal: 'the mountains of the Medes')→ object specificationὄρος (acc. pl. ὄρη): 'mountain(s)'; renders הָרֵי; the final resettlement zone, 'the mountains of the Medes', the easternmost reach of the dispersion.
Μήδωνof the MedesGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying Ορη)→ relational specificationΜῆδος (gen. pl. Μήδων): 'Medes'; renders מָדַי; the territory of the Medes, far to the east, underscoring the scattering of the northern tribes to the empire's distant frontiers.
12
ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅτι οὐκ ἤκουσαν τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου θεοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ παρέβησαν τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ πάντα ὅσα ἐνετείλατο Μωυσῆς ὁ δοῦλος κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησαν
because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant — all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded — and they neither listened nor did it.
The causal formula ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ('because / in return for which'), reinforced redundantly by ὅτι, supplies the theological rationale for the fall of Samaria: covenant disobedience. The four negated/transgression verbs (οὐκ ἤκουσαν … παρέβησαν … οὐκ ἤκουσαν … οὐκ ἐποίησαν) hammer the point — the North fell not by Assyrian might alone but by its own apostasy, the implicit warning hovering over Judah.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
ἀνθ᾿becausepreposition + genitive (causal idiom, with ὧν)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί (elided ἀνθ᾿ before rough breathing): in the idiom ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ('in return for which / because') renders תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר / עַל אֲשֶׁר, a causal connective assigning the reason for judgment.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (object of ἀντί, forming the causal phrase)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. pl. ὧν): the relative within the fixed causal idiom ἀνθ᾿ ὧν.
ὅτιthat / becausecausal conjunction (reinforcing ἀνθ᾿ ὧν, Hebraistic redundancy)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; the redundant pairing ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅτι reflects the Hebrew עַל אֲשֶׁר … כִּי, a doubling typical of the strongly literal καίγε translation.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἤκουσαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσανthey obeyed / heardAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωverb of causal clause (negated obedience)→ constative aorist (the people's persistent disobedience)ἀκούω: 'hear / obey'; the idiom ἀκούειν τῆς φωνῆς ('hear/obey the voice') renders שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל, where 'hearing the voice' means obeying; with οὐκ, their fundamental covenant failure.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἤκουσαν (the thing heard/obeyed)→ relational specificationφωνή (gen. φωνῆς): 'voice'; renders קוֹל; ἀκούειν + genitive of the voice = to obey; the 'voice of the LORD' is his covenant command.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with φωνῆς)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the voice disobeyed is YHWH's own.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου ('their God')→ relational specificationθεός (gen. θεοῦ): 'God'; the appositional 'the LORD their God' underscores the covenant bond they broke — it was their own God they disobeyed.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying θεοῦ)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; binds YHWH to the people as their covenant God, aggravating the guilt of their disobedience.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adversative force: 'but rather')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρέβησανthey transgressedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παραβαίνωverb of causal clause (active transgression)→ constative aorist (covenant violation)παραβαίνω: 'go aside / transgress / overstep'; renders עָבַר (in the sense of violating); the active counterpart to their failure to obey — they not only failed to hear but actively breached the covenant.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with διαθήκην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of παρέβησαν→ object specificationδιαθήκη (acc. διαθήκην): 'covenant'; renders בְּרִית; the Sinai covenant whose stipulations the North violated; its breach is the legal ground of the deportation.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's covenant)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his', referring to YHWH; the covenant belongs to him as the suzerain.
πάνταallAccusativeappositional accusative (summarizing the covenant content)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. pl. n. πάντα): 'all'; in loose apposition to διαθήκην — 'all that Moses commanded' = the full covenant law.
ὅσαas much asAccusativerelative pronoun (introducing relative clause)→ participant referenceὅσος (acc. pl. n. ὅσα): 'as much/many as'; identifies the covenant content as the Mosaic commandments.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (Moses' commanding)→ constative aorist (the giving of the law)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; here Moses is the human agent who delivered the covenant commands; cf. the same verb of YHWH commanding Moses in v. 6.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of the relative clause→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: the lawgiver through whom the covenant was mediated, here titled 'the servant of the LORD'.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with δοῦλος in apposition to Μωυσῆς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλοςservantNominativenominative in apposition to Μωυσῆς→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; the honorific title ὁ δοῦλος κυρίου ('the servant of the LORD') renders עֶבֶד יהוה, a title of highest covenant dignity for Moses (cf. Deut 34:5; Josh 1:1).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with δοῦλος)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; Moses' lordship-bond as YHWH's authorized servant lends the commands their binding force.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἤκουσαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσανthey listenedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (resumptive negation of obedience)→ constative aorist (settled refusal to hear)ἀκούω: the repeated οὐκ ἤκουσαν resumptively reinforces the indictment — a Hebraistic doubling stressing the totality of the people's refusal to obey.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐποίησαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (final negation: failure to act)→ constative aorist (failure to obey in deed)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; with οὐκ, the climactic charge — they neither heard nor did the covenant commands; the pairing 'hear … do' (שָׁמַע … עָשָׂה) is the standard covenant idiom for full obedience, here wholly negated.
13
καὶ τῷ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῳ ἔτει βασιλεῖ Εζεκιου ἀνέβη Σενναχηριμ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ἐπὶ τὰς πόλεις Ιουδα τὰς ὀχυρὰς καὶ συνέλαβεν αὐτάς
And in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came up against the fortified cities of Judah and seized them.
The narrative returns to Hezekiah's own reign with a fresh dated notice. Sennacherib's advance (ἀνέβη, echoing Shalmaneser's at v. 9) against Judah's fortified cities (τὰς πόλεις … τὰς ὀχυράς) is the consequence of Hezekiah's rebellion (v. 7); the same Assyrian threat that destroyed the North now reaches the South.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtheDativearticle (with τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῳfourteenthDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceτεσσαρεσκαιδέκατος: ordinal 'fourteenth'; renders אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה; Hezekiah's fourteenth regnal year, the date of Sennacherib's invasion (701 BC).
ἔτειyearDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἔτος (dat. ἔτει): 'year'; the dative of time dating the invasion.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative of reference (the dating-king)→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): the dative βασιλεῖ Εζεκιου attaches the year to Hezekiah's reign.
ΕζεκιουHezekiahGenitivegenitive of relationship (declined name: 'of king Hezekiah')→ relational specificationΕζεκιας (gen. Εζεκιου): here declined in the genitive ('of Hezekiah'); the reference-point for dating the invasion.
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the Assyrian campaign)→ constative aorist (the invasion)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / advance against'; renders עָלָה; the standard verb for a military campaign; echoes Shalmaneser's advance on Samaria (v. 9), drawing the ominous parallel between North and South.
ΣενναχηριμSennacheribindeclinable proper noun (subject of ἀνέβη)→ participant identificationΣενναχηριμ: transliteration of Hebrew סַנְחֵרִיב (Sennacherib), king of Assyria (705–681 BC), whose 701 BC campaign against Judah forms the chapter's central crisis; indeclinable.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Σενναχηριμ→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: the title in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: 'against'; marks the cities as the target of the campaign.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with πόλεις)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationπόλις (acc. pl. πόλεις): 'cities'; renders עָרֵי; the fortified towns of Judah, captured before Jerusalem itself is threatened (Sennacherib's annals claim forty-six).
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship with πόλεις)→ participant identificationΙουδα: the southern kingdom whose cities are now under attack.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (attributive repetition, with ὀχυράς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀχυρὰςfortifiedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying πόλεις, second-attributive position)→ object specificationὀχυρός (acc. pl. f. ὀχυράς): 'strong / fortified'; renders הַבְּצֻרוֹת; the repeated article (τὰς πόλεις … τὰς ὀχυράς) is the second-attributive construction emphasizing that even the strongest cities fell.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέλαβενhe seizedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (capture of the cities)→ constative aorist (the seizure)συλλαμβάνω: 'seize / capture'; renders תָּפַשׂ; the active here (contrast the passive συνελήμφθη of Samaria, v. 10) presents Sennacherib as the conquering agent.
αὐτάςthemAccusativedirect object (the cities)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. f. αὐτάς): 'them', the captured cities of Judah.
14
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Εζεκιας βασιλεὺς Ιουδα ἀγγέλους πρὸς βασιλέα Ἀσσυρίων εἰς Λαχις λέγων ἡμάρτηκα ἀποστράφητι ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ὃ ἐὰν ἐπιθῇς ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ βαστάσω καὶ ἐπέθηκεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ἐπὶ Εζεκιαν βασιλέα Ιουδα τριακόσια τάλαντα ἀργυρίου καὶ τριάκοντα τάλαντα χρυσίου
And Hezekiah king of Judah sent messengers to the king of the Assyrians at Lachish, saying, 'I have sinned; withdraw from me. Whatever you impose on me I will bear.' And the king of the Assyrians laid upon Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
Hezekiah sues for terms: the embassy to Lachish carries a confession (ἡμάρτηκα, 'I have sinned'), a plea for withdrawal, and an open-ended pledge of payment. The Assyrian responds with crushing tribute. This abject submission stands in tension with the trust-portrait of vv. 5–7 and sets up the later, more resolute reliance on YHWH (ch. 19).
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (dispatch of envoys)→ constative aorist (the embassy)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch (on a mission)'; renders שָׁלַח; the verb of formal diplomatic dispatch; the same verb introduces the Assyrian embassy in reverse (v. 17).
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject (declined nominative)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: nominative subject; the king who now sues for peace.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Εζεκιας→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: the title 'king of Judah'.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙουδα: the southern kingdom.
ἀγγέλουςmessengersAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationἄγγελος (acc. pl. ἀγγέλους): 'messenger / envoy'; renders מַלְאָכִים; here human diplomatic envoys (not angels), the bearers of Hezekiah's submission.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the recipient)→ object specificationβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): the king of Assyria, the addressee of the embassy.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (location of the Assyrian camp)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here directional-locative, marking Lachish as where the Assyrian king was campaigning.
ΛαχιςLachishindeclinable place name (location)→ participant identificationΛαχις: transliteration of Hebrew לָכִישׁ (Lachish); indeclinable; the key fortified city of the Shephelah, Sennacherib's siege-base (famously depicted on his Nineveh reliefs).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (pres. act. ptcp.): the participle λέγων ('saying') renders the Hebrew לֵאמֹר, a stereotyped marker introducing direct speech in the LXX.
ἡμάρτηκαI have sinnedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἁμαρτάνωmain verb of direct speech (confession)→ resultative perfect (a state of guilt confessed)ἁμαρτάνω (perf. ἡμάρτηκα): 'sin / do wrong / offend'; renders חָטָאתִי; here political 'wrongdoing' — Hezekiah's confession of treaty-breaking against his overlord; the perfect stresses the abiding state of his offense.
ἀποστράφητιwithdrawAor Pass Impv 2 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb of direct speech (imperative plea)→ ingressive aorist imperative (a single act of withdrawal)ἀποστρέφω (aor. pass. impv. with intransitive sense): 'turn back / withdraw / depart'; renders שׁוּב; Hezekiah's plea that the Assyrian turn back from his land; the same root recurs (ἀποστρέψεις, v. 24) in the Rabshakeh's taunt.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό (elided ἀπ᾿): 'from'; marks the withdrawal away from Hezekiah.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (1st person pronoun)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): 'me'; the emphatic first-person pronoun in Hezekiah's plea.
ὃwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐπιθῇς, antecedent of βαστάσω)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. ὅ): the relative with ἐάν ('whatever') forms an indefinite condition — whatever burden is imposed will be borne.
ἐὰνeverconditional particle (with subjunctive, indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if / -ever'; with the relative ὅ and the subjunctive ἐπιθῇς, forms the indefinite 'whatever you may impose'.
ἐπιθῇςyou imposeAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ verbal action or stateἐπιτίθημι (aor. subj.): 'lay/put upon / impose'; renders נָתַן עַל; the subjunctive in the indefinite condition; the same verb describes the actual imposition (ἐπέθηκεν) in the next clause.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (burden imposed upon)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (elided ἐπ᾿): 'upon'; the burden laid 'upon me'.
ἐμέmeAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (1st person pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. ἐμέ): 'me'; the emphatic accusative, the one on whom the burden is laid.
βαστάσωI will bearFut Act Indic 1 Sg · βαστάζωmain verb of direct speech (apodosis: pledge to pay)→ predictive future (commitment to pay)βαστάζω: 'bear / carry / endure'; renders נָשָׂא; Hezekiah pledges to 'bear' (pay) whatever tribute is demanded — an open-ended submission.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming narrative after speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέθηκενhe laid uponAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (imposition of tribute)→ constative aorist (the levy)ἐπιτίθημι (aor. ἐπέθηκεν): 'lay/impose upon'; renders שָׂם עַל; the Assyrian king takes Hezekiah at his word and imposes the tribute (the verb echoes Hezekiah's own ἐπιθῇς).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἐπέθηκεν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: the king of Assyria, who sets the tribute.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (the one taxed)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: 'upon'; marks Hezekiah as the one on whom the levy falls.
ΕζεκιανHezekiahAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (declined name)→ object specificationΕζεκιας (acc. Εζεκιαν): here declined in the accusative; the one taxed by Assyria.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Εζεκιαν→ object specificationβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king of Judah', appositional to Hezekiah.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙουδα: the southern kingdom.
τριακόσιαthree hundredAccusativecardinal numeral (modifying τάλαντα)→ object specificationτριακόσιοι (acc. n. τριακόσια): 'three hundred'; here declined agreeing with τάλαντα; the silver portion of the tribute.
τάλανταtalentsAccusativeaccusative of the levy (silver measure)→ object specificationτάλαντον (acc. pl. τάλαντα): 'talent' (a large weight of precious metal); renders כִּכָּר; the standard unit of tribute-reckoning.
ἀργυρίουof silverGenitivegenitive of material (with τάλαντα)→ relational specificationἀργύριον (gen. ἀργυρίου): 'silver / money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the metal of the larger portion of the tribute.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τριάκονταthirtycardinal numeral (indeclinable, modifying τάλαντα)→ measure or countτριάκοντα: 'thirty'; indeclinable cardinal; the gold portion of the tribute.
τάλανταtalentsAccusativeaccusative of the levy (gold measure)→ object specificationτάλαντον (acc. pl. τάλαντα): the talents of gold; Sennacherib's own annals record a comparable (larger) figure of tribute.
χρυσίουof goldGenitivegenitive of material (with τάλαντα)→ relational specificationχρυσίον (gen. χρυσίου): 'gold'; renders זָהָב; the metal of the smaller portion of the tribute.
15
καὶ ἔδωκεν Εζεκιας πᾶν τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ εὑρεθὲν ἐν οἴκῳ κυρίου καὶ ἐν θησαυροῖς οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως
And Hezekiah gave all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's house.
Hezekiah meets the levy by emptying both sacred and royal treasuries (οἴκῳ κυρίου … οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως). The detail that the silver came even from the house of the LORD signals the depth of the crisis — and prepares for the still more drastic stripping of the temple gold in v. 16.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (handing over the tribute)→ constative aorist (the payment)δίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκεν): 'give'; renders נָתַן; here the surrender of the tribute-silver to Assyria.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject (declined nominative)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: nominative subject; the king paying the tribute.
πᾶνallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀργύριον)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. n. πᾶν): 'all'; emphasizes that the entire silver reserve was given — nothing held back.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἀργύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀργύριονsilverAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν→ object specificationἀργύριον: 'silver / money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the metal of the tribute, drawn from temple and palace stores.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with the participle εὑρεθέν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὑρεθὲνthat was foundAor Pass Ptcp Acc Neut Sg · εὑρίσκωattributive participle (modifying ἀργύριον)→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω (aor. pass. ptcp.): 'find'; the passive participle τὸ εὑρεθέν ('that was found') renders הַנִּמְצָא, denoting the silver actually on hand in the treasuries.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (with ἐν: the temple)→ sphere or referenceοἶκος (dat. οἴκῳ): 'house'; the idiom οἶκος κυρίου ('house of the LORD') renders בֵּית יהוה, the temple — that its silver was given underlines the severity of the levy.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκῳ)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the temple is YHWH's house, its treasury now drained for tribute.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
θησαυροῖςtreasuriesDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceθησαυρός (dat. pl. θησαυροῖς): 'treasury / storehouse'; renders אוֹצָרוֹת; the royal treasuries, the second source of the tribute.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θησαυροῖς: 'treasuries of the house')→ relational specificationοἶκος (gen. οἴκου): 'house'; here the royal palace ('the king's house').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with βασιλέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςking'sGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's house)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; the palace ('king's house') whose treasuries are emptied alongside the temple's.
16
ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ συνέκοψεν Εζεκιας τὰς θύρας ναοῦ κυρίου καὶ τὰ ἐστηριγμένα ἃ ἐχρύσωσεν Εζεκιας βασιλεὺς Ιουδα καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὰ βασιλεῖ Ἀσσυρίων
At that time Hezekiah cut off the doors of the temple of the LORD and the doorposts that Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid with gold, and gave them to the king of the Assyrians.
The temporal marker ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ introduces the final, most painful measure: Hezekiah strips the gold overlay from the very temple doors and doorposts he himself had earlier gilded (ἃ ἐχρύσωσεν Εζεκιας) — an ironic self-undoing of his own pious adornment, exposing the futility of buying off Assyria.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle (with καιρῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρῷtimeDativedative of time (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceκαιρός (dat. καιρῷ): 'time / season / occasion'; renders עֵת; the phrase ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ('at that time') marks the temporal setting of the temple-stripping.
ἐκείνῳthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying καιρῷ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος (dat. ἐκείνῳ): 'that'; the remote demonstrative pointing to the crisis-moment of the tribute.
συνέκοψενcut offAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συγκόπτωmain verb (stripping the temple)→ constative aorist (the act of cutting/stripping)συγκόπτω: 'cut up / cut off / hack'; renders קִצַּץ (Piel, 'cut off/strip'); here Hezekiah strips the gold from the temple doors and posts — the same gold he had earlier applied.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject (declined nominative)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: nominative subject; the king reduced to dismantling his own temple adornment.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with θύρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραςdoorsAccusativedirect object of συνέκοψεν→ object specificationθύρα (acc. pl. θύρας): 'door'; renders דַּלְתוֹת; the gold-plated temple doors, now stripped for tribute.
ναοῦtempleGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θύρας: 'doors of the temple')→ relational specificationναός (gen. ναοῦ): 'temple / sanctuary'; renders הֵיכָל; the inner shrine of YHWH's house, whose doors Hezekiah strips.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with ναοῦ)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the temple is YHWH's, deepening the pathos of its plundering for a foreign king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle ἐστηριγμένα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐστηριγμέναdoorposts / supportsPerf Pass Ptcp Acc Neut Pl · στηρίζωsubstantival participle (direct object: the fixed supports)→ verbal action or stateστηρίζω (perf. pass. ptcp.): 'fix firmly / support'; the substantivized τὰ ἐστηριγμένα ('the things fixed/fastened') denotes the doorposts or pillar-supports of the temple, here rendering the Hebrew אֹמְנוֹת ('pillars/doorposts'); also stripped of their gold.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐχρύσωσεν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. pl. n. ἅ): the relative referring back to the doorposts, introducing the poignant note that Hezekiah himself had gilded them.
ἐχρύσωσενhad overlaid with goldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · χρυσόωverb of relative clause (Hezekiah's prior gilding)→ constative aorist (the earlier act of adornment)χρυσόω: 'gild / overlay with gold'; renders צִפָּה (with gold); the relative clause recalls Hezekiah's earlier pious gilding of the temple, now undone — an ironic reversal of his own devotion.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject of the relative clause (declined nominative)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: the same king who once gilded the temple now strips it — the repeated naming sharpens the irony.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Εζεκιας→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king of Judah'.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙουδα: the southern kingdom.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (handing over the gold)→ constative aorist (the payment)δίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκεν): 'give'; the stripped gold is handed over to the Assyrian king as tribute.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object (the gold from doors and posts)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. n. αὐτά): 'them', the gold stripped from the temple.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative indirect object (the recipient)→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): the king of Assyria, recipient of the tribute.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
17
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων τὸν Θαρθαν καὶ τὸν Ραφις καὶ τὸν Ραψακην ἐκ Λαχις πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Εζεκιαν ἐν δυνάμει βαρείᾳ ἐπὶ Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἀνέβησαν καὶ ἦλθον εἰς Ιερουσαλημ καὶ ἔστησαν ἐν τῷ ὑδραγωγῷ τῆς κολυμβήθρας τῆς ἄνω ἥ ἐστιν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ τοῦ ἀγροῦ τοῦ γναφέως
And the king of the Assyrians sent the Tartan and the Rabsaris and the Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a heavy force against Jerusalem; and they went up and came to Jerusalem and took their stand at the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the road of the fuller's field.
Despite the tribute, the Assyrian sends a high-level delegation (the Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh) with a heavy force to demand outright surrender. The precise topographical note — the conduit of the upper pool on the fuller's-field road — is verbatim the setting of Isaiah's earlier confrontation with Ahaz (Isa 7:3), binding this scene to the Isaianic tradition (cf. the parallel Isa 36:2).
Word-by-word analysis· 47 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (dispatch of the delegation)→ constative aorist (the dispatch)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch'; renders שָׁלַח; the Assyrian now sends envoys to Jerusalem (mirroring Hezekiah's embassy in reverse, v. 14), but to demand surrender, not negotiate tribute.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἀπέστειλεν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: the king of Assyria (Sennacherib), still at Lachish.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Θαρθαν, supplying case to the indeclinable title)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΘαρθανTartanindeclinable title (accusative object of ἀπέστειλεν, case via article)→ participant identificationΘαρθαν: transliteration of Hebrew תַּרְתָּן (Tartan), an Assyrian military title (the commander-in-chief / field marshal), treated here as a proper name; indeclinable, with case supplied by τόν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ραφις)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΡαφιςRabsarisindeclinable title (accusative object, case via article)→ participant identificationΡαφις: the LXX's rendering of Hebrew רַב סָרִיס (Rab-saris), the 'chief eunuch / chief officer', another Assyrian court title functioning as a name; indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ραψακην)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΡαψακηνRabshakehAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν (declined title)→ object specificationΡαψακης (acc. Ραψακην): rendering of Hebrew רַב שָׁקֵה (Rab-shakeh), the 'chief cupbearer / senior official', the chief spokesman of the embassy; here declined as a first-declension masculine (gen. Ραψακου); the dominant speaker of vv. 19–35.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΛαχιςLachishindeclinable place name (point of departure)→ participant identificationΛαχις: Lachish, Sennacherib's siege-headquarters, from which the delegation is dispatched.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king'; here Hezekiah, the addressee of the embassy.
ΕζεκιανHezekiahAccusativeaccusative in apposition to βασιλέα (declined name)→ object specificationΕζεκιας (acc. Εζεκιαν): the target of the Assyrian delegation.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (accompaniment/instrument: 'with a force')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative here renders the Hebrew בְּ of accompaniment ('with a heavy army'), a show of force backing the diplomatic demand.
δυνάμειforce / armyDativedative of accompaniment (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceδύναμις (dat. δυνάμει): 'power / force / army'; renders חַיִל; here the military escort lending intimidating weight to the embassy.
βαρείᾳheavyDativeattributive adjective (modifying δυνάμει)→ sphere or referenceβαρύς (dat. f. βαρείᾳ): 'heavy / weighty / strong'; renders כָּבֵד; a 'heavy force' — a formidable army to overawe Jerusalem.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: 'against'; marks Jerusalem as the destination and target.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemindeclinable proper noun (goal of the advance)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: the Davidic capital, now the focus of the Assyrian threat.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβησανthey went upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the envoys' advance)→ constative aorist (the journey up to Jerusalem)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; the ascent to Jerusalem in the highlands; the envoys move up from Lachish in the Shephelah.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθονthey cameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival)→ constative aorist (arrival at the city)ἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθον): 'come / go'; renders בּוֹא; the envoys' arrival at Jerusalem.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemindeclinable proper noun (destination of arrival)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: the destination reached by the embassy.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστησανthey took their standAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (positioning at the conduit)→ constative aorist (taking up position)ἵστημι (aor. intransitive ἔστησαν): 'stand / take a stand'; renders עָמַד; the envoys position themselves at a strategic, symbolic spot for the confrontation.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὑδραγωγῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑδραγωγῷconduitDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceὑδραγωγός (dat. ὑδραγωγῷ): 'water-channel / conduit / aqueduct'; renders תְּעָלָה; the channel of the upper pool — the same charged location as Isaiah's meeting with Ahaz (Isa 7:3).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with κολυμβήθρας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κολυμβήθραςpoolGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ὑδραγωγῷ: 'conduit of the pool')→ relational specificationκολυμβήθρα (gen. κολυμβήθρας): 'pool / reservoir'; renders בְּרֵכָה; the city's upper reservoir, vital to Jerusalem's water supply during a siege.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (attributive, with ἄνω)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνωupperadverb used attributively (with article: 'the upper [pool]')→ clausal contributionἄνω: 'above / upper'; an indeclinable adverb here used adjectivally (τῆς ἄνω) to specify the upper pool, rendering הָעֶלְיוֹנָה.
ἥwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν, modifying κολυμβήθρας)→ participant referenceὅς (nom. f. ἥ): the relative introducing the locating clause that fixes the pool's position on the fuller's-field road.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (locative copula)→ stative present (a fixed topographical fact)εἰμί: the present ἐστιν gives the enduring location of the pool, a precise topographical note shared with Isa 36:2.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ὁδῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδῷroadDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceὁδός (dat. ὁδῷ): 'road / way'; renders מְסִלָּה; the highway along which the pool lay.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἀγροῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγροῦfieldGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ὁδῷ: 'road of the field')→ relational specificationἀγρός (gen. ἀγροῦ): 'field'; renders שָׂדֶה; the fuller's field, a known landmark outside the city wall.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with γναφέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γναφέωςfullerGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀγροῦ: 'field of the fuller')→ relational specificationγναφεύς (gen. γναφέως): 'fuller / cloth-cleaner / launderer'; renders כֹּבֵס; the fuller's field, where cloth was washed and bleached — a fixed topographical marker (cf. Isa 7:3; 36:2).
18
καὶ ἐβόησαν πρὸς Εζεκιαν καὶ ἐξῆλθον πρὸς αὐτὸν Ελιακιμ υἱὸς Χελκιου ὁ οἰκονόμος καὶ Σομνας ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ Ιωας υἱὸς Ασαφ ὁ ἀναμιμνῄσκων
And they called out to Hezekiah, and there came out to them Eliakim son of Hilkiah the steward, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder.
The envoys summon the king, but instead his three highest officials emerge: Eliakim (the palace steward), Shebna (the scribe), and Joah (the recorder). The trio — named again at v. 37 — frames the whole Rabshakeh episode; their offices represent the civil administration of Judah confronting the empire's spokesmen.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβόησανthey called outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · βοάωmain verb (the summons)→ constative aorist (the shout/summons)βοάω: 'cry out / shout / call'; renders קָרָא; the envoys' loud summons to the king to come parley.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the summons)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the summons).
ΕζεκιανHezekiahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (declined name)→ object specificationΕζεκιας (acc. Εζεκιαν): the king summoned, who sends his officials in his stead.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθονcame outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the officials' emergence)→ constative aorist (going out from the city/king)ἐξέρχομαι (aor. ἐξῆλθον): 'go/come out'; renders יָצָא; the officials come out (presumably from the wall/gate) to meet the envoys on the king's behalf.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (collective: the embassy)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): 'him', here referring collectively to the Rabshakeh as chief spokesman of the embassy.
ΕλιακιμEliakimindeclinable proper noun (subject of ἐξῆλθον)→ participant identificationΕλιακιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְיָקִים ('God raises up'); indeclinable; Hezekiah's palace steward, the chief of the three officials.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Ελιακιμ (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic 'son of Hilkiah'.
Χελκιουof HilkiahGenitivegenitive of relationship (father of Eliakim, declined name)→ relational specificationΧελκιας (gen. Χελκιου): Graecized form of Hebrew חִלְקִיָּהוּ (Hilkiah); here declined in the genitive; the father of Eliakim.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with οἰκονόμος, marking Eliakim's office)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκονόμοςstewardNominativenominative in apposition to Ελιακιμ (his office)→ participant prominenceοἰκονόμος: 'household-manager / steward / palace administrator'; renders אֲשֶׁר עַל הַבַּיִת ('the one over the house'), the chief palace official — the highest court office (cf. Isa 22:15–24).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣομναςShebnaNominativesubject (coordinate with Ελιακιμ, declined name)→ participant prominenceΣομνας: Graecized form of Hebrew שֶׁבְנָא (Shebna); here declined as a first-declension nominative; the royal scribe/secretary.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with γραμματεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γραμματεὺςscribeNominativenominative in apposition to Σομνας (his office)→ participant prominenceγραμματεύς: 'scribe / secretary'; renders סֹפֵר; the royal secretary, a senior administrative and diplomatic office.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωαςJoahindeclinable proper noun (subject, coordinate)→ participant identificationΙωας: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹאָח (Joah); here indeclinable; the third official, the recorder.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Ιωας (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: the patronymic 'son of Asaph'.
Ασαφof Asaphindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΑσαφ: transliteration of Hebrew אָסָף (Asaph); indeclinable; the father of Joah.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle ἀναμιμνῄσκων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναμιμνῄσκωνrecorderPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ἀναμιμνῄσκωsubstantival participle (Joah's office: 'the one who records/reminds')→ verbal action or stateἀναμιμνῄσκω (pres. act. ptcp.): 'remind / call to mind'; the substantivized ὁ ἀναμιμνῄσκων ('the recorder / remembrancer') renders הַמַּזְכִּיר, the royal official who kept the annals and managed state memoranda.
19
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Ραψακης εἴπατε δὴ πρὸς Εζεκιαν τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεὺς ὁ μέγας βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων τίς ἡ πεποίθησις αὕτη ἣν πέποιθας
And the Rabshakeh said to them, 'Say now to Hezekiah: Thus says the great king, the king of the Assyrians: What is this confidence in which you have trusted?'
The Rabshakeh opens with the imperial messenger-formula τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεὺς ὁ μέγας ('Thus says the great king') — a deliberate parody of the prophetic τάδε λέγει κύριος, setting Sennacherib as a rival sovereign whose word challenges YHWH's. His opening question (τίς ἡ πεποίθησις …;) frames the entire speech around the theme of misplaced trust (πέποιθας / πεποίθησις).
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the Rabshakeh's address)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say'; introduces the Rabshakeh's first speech to the officials.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the three officials)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them', Hezekiah's officials.
ΡαψακηςRabshakehNominativesubject (declined title)→ participant prominenceΡαψακης (nom.): the chief Assyrian spokesman; the principal speaker of the entire dialogue (vv. 19–35).
εἴπατεsayAor Act Impv 2 Pl · λέγωmain verb of direct speech (imperative to the officials)→ ingressive aorist imperative (relay this message)λέγω (aor. impv. εἴπατε): 'say / tell'; the Rabshakeh commands the officials to relay his words to Hezekiah, casting himself as the mouthpiece of the great king.
δὴnow / prayemphatic/hortatory particle (with the imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: an emphatic particle adding urgency or insistence to the imperative ('say now / do say'); renders the Hebrew נָא.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the message)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the message).
ΕζεκιανHezekiahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (declined name)→ object specificationΕζεκιας (acc. Εζεκιαν): the addressee of the relayed message; note the Rabshakeh pointedly omits Hezekiah's royal title, a calculated diplomatic slight.
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: content of the message)→ participant referenceὅδε (acc. pl. n. τάδε): 'these things / thus'; the formula τάδε λέγει renders כֹּה אָמַר, here applied to 'the great king' in deliberate mimicry of the prophetic τάδε λέγει κύριος.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of the messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (immediacy of the royal word)λέγω (pres. λέγει): the present in the messenger-formula gives the king's word a sense of present authority — an imperial counter-claim to prophetic speech.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of λέγει→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: the king of Assyria, styled 'the great king', the speaker behind the Rabshakeh's words.
ὁtheNominativearticle (attributive, with μέγας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέγαςgreatNominativeattributive adjective (modifying βασιλεύς: 'the great king')→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; the title ὁ βασιλεὺς ὁ μέγας ('the great king') renders the Akkadian royal style šarru rabû (Hebrew הַמֶּלֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל), the Assyrian emperor's self-designation as overlord of kings.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition ('king of the Assyrians')→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: repeated in apposition, specifying 'the great king' as the king of Assyria.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
τίςwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of the question)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who / what'; renders מָה; opens the taunting rhetorical question about the basis of Judah's confidence.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with πεποίθησις)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεποίθησιςconfidenceNominativepredicate nominative (the thing questioned)→ participant prominenceπεποίθησις: 'confidence / trust / reliance'; a noun built on the perfect stem of πείθω, renders בִּטָּחוֹן; the keyword of the speech — the Rabshakeh interrogates the very ground of Judah's hope.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying πεποίθησις)→ participant referenceοὗτος (nom. f. αὕτη): 'this'; the demonstrative sharpens the contempt — 'this confidence of yours', as if it were patently groundless.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (cognate object of πέποιθας)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. f. ἥν): the relative as a cognate-accusative object of πέποιθας ('the confidence which you have trusted'), a Hebraistic figura etymologica.
πέποιθαςyou have trustedPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · πείθωverb of relative clause (the act of trusting)→ stative perfect (a settled state of reliance)πείθω (2nd perf. πέποιθα, 'trust / rely on'): renders בָּטַח; the perfect denotes a settled state of confidence; the root πειθ-/πεποιθ- recurs insistently through the speech (vv. 20, 21, 22, 24), each time probing the misplacement of Judah's trust against the true object of trust in v. 5 (ἤλπισεν).
20
εἶπας πλὴν λόγοι χειλέων βουλὴ καὶ δύναμις εἰς πόλεμον νῦν οὖν τίνι πεποιθὼς ἠθέτησας ἐν ἐμοί
You have said — but they are mere words of the lips — 'Counsel and strength are for war.' Now then, in whom have you trusted, that you have rebelled against me?
The Rabshakeh derides Hezekiah's strategy as λόγοι χειλέων ('mere words of the lips') — talk without the military substance (βουλὴ καὶ δύναμις) that real war requires. The verse turns on the dismissive πλήν and returns to the trust-theme (τίνι πεποιθώς), pressing the question of where the rebel's confidence actually lies.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
εἶπαςyou have saidAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb (quoting Hezekiah's claim)→ constative aorist (the claim made)λέγω (aor. 2 sg. εἶπας): 'say'; introduces Hezekiah's supposed boast, which the Rabshakeh immediately dismisses as empty talk.
πλὴνbut / onlyadversative/restrictive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'but / except / only'; renders אַךְ; here restrictive-dismissive, cutting off the boast: '[they are] only words of the lips'.
λόγοιwordsNominativepredicate nominative (characterizing the boast)→ participant prominenceλόγος (nom. pl. λόγοι): 'word'; the phrase λόγοι χειλέων ('words of the lips') renders דְּבַר שְׂפָתַיִם — mere talk, lip-service with no substance behind it.
χειλέωνof lipsGenitivegenitive of source (with λόγοι)→ relational specificationχεῖλος (gen. pl. χειλέων): 'lip'; renders שְׂפָתַיִם; 'words of the lips' = empty speech, contrasted with the real resources of war.
βουλὴcounselNominativesubject (of an implied clause: 'counsel … are for war')→ participant prominenceβουλή: 'counsel / plan / strategy'; renders עֵצָה; the strategic deliberation that war demands — which the Rabshakeh implies Judah lacks.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δύναμιςstrengthNominativesubject (coordinate with βουλή)→ participant prominenceδύναμις: 'power / military strength'; renders גְּבוּרָה; together with βουλή names the two real requisites of war (strategy and force), which mere words cannot supply.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose/reference)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: here 'for / with a view to', specifying the sphere where counsel and strength are needed — war.
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose)→ object specificationπόλεμος (acc. πόλεμον): 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the arena in which empty words are exposed as worthless.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (with οὖν: 'now then')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; with οὖν forms the transitional 'now then', pivoting to the direct challenge.
οὖνtheninferential particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: 'then / therefore'; draws the inference: given the emptiness of the boast, on what does the revolt actually rest?
τίνιin whomDativeinterrogative pronoun (dative object of πεποιθώς)→ participant reference or interestτίς (dat. τίνι): interrogative 'who / what'; the dative governed by πεποιθώς — 'trusting in whom?'; the Rabshakeh demands to know the object of Judah's confidence.
πεποιθὼςtrustingPerf Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · πείθωcircumstantial participle (causal/attendant: 'on what trusting')→ stative perfect (a settled reliance)πείθω (perf. ptcp. πεποιθώς): 'having put trust / relying'; the perfect participle again presses the trust-theme (cf. v. 19); the question exposes Hezekiah's revolt as resting on some confidence the Rabshakeh intends to demolish.
ἠθέτησαςyou have rebelledAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀθετέωmain verb (the act of rebellion questioned)→ constative aorist (the rebellion as fact)ἀθετέω: 'set at nought / break faith / rebel'; renders מָרַד; the same verb used of Hezekiah's revolt at v. 7 — here thrown back accusingly, framing the rebellion as a breach of treaty-faith.
ἐνagainstpreposition + dative (Hebraism: object of rebellion)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative renders the Hebrew בְּ after מָרַד ('rebel against'), a Hebraistic construction (cf. v. 7).
ἐμοίmeDativedative object (the one rebelled against)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): 'me'; the Rabshakeh speaks for the great king — 'against me' = against Assyria's sovereign.
21
νῦν ἰδοὺ πέποιθας σαυτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν ῥάβδον τὴν καλαμίνην τὴν τεθλασμένην ταύτην ἐπ᾿ Αἴγυπτον ὃς ἂν στηριχθῇ ἀνὴρ ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν καὶ εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τρήσει αὐτήν οὕτως Φαραω βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου πᾶσιν τοῖς πεποιθόσιν ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν
Now behold, you have trusted yourself to this bruised reed-staff, to Egypt; on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
The famous 'bruised reed' image (ῥάβδον τὴν καλαμίνην τὴν τεθλασμένην) caricatures reliance on Egypt: a splintered reed-staff not merely useless but actively treacherous, piercing the hand that leans on it. The image is verbatim the same as Isa 36:6, part of the close Isaiah-Kings parallel. πέποιθας again drives the trust-theme.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (with ἰδού: discourse marker)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; with ἰδού introduces the next stage of the argument, focusing on Egypt.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (attention-marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a deictic particle directing attention to the exposed folly of trusting Egypt.
πέποιθαςyou have trustedPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · πείθωmain verb (the misplaced trust named)→ stative perfect (settled reliance)πείθω (perf. πέποιθας): 'trust / rely'; the trust-keyword again; here the object of trust is finally named as Egypt, the 'bruised reed'.
σαυτῷyourselfDativereflexive pronoun (dative: 'trusted yourself to')→ participant reference or interestσεαυτοῦ (dat. σαυτῷ): 'yourself'; the reflexive dative with πέποιθας; 'you have committed yourself in trust' to Egypt.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (object of reliance)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: 'upon / on'; with the trust-verb marks the thing relied upon (the reed).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ῥάβδον)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥάβδονstaff / rodAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the reed-staff)→ object specificationῥάβδος (acc. ῥάβδον): 'staff / rod'; renders מִשְׁעֶנֶת / קָנֶה; the walking-staff metaphor for the support one leans on — here exposed as worthless.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with καλαμίνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καλαμίνηνof reedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ῥάβδον)→ object specificationκαλάμινος (acc. f. καλαμίνην): 'made of reed / reedy'; from κάλαμος ('reed'); renders הַקָּנֶה הָרָצוּץ; a reed-staff is inherently fragile — the image's first stroke of contempt.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with τεθλασμένην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεθλασμένηνbruised / crushedPerf Pass Ptcp Acc Fem Sg · θλάωattributive participle (modifying ῥάβδον)→ resultative perfect (in a permanently broken state)θλάω (perf. pass. ptcp. τεθλασμένην): 'crush / bruise / break'; renders רָצוּץ; the perfect participle marks the reed as already cracked/splintered — not just weak but dangerously broken, the climax of the image.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ῥάβδον)→ participant referenceοὗτος (acc. f. ταύτην): 'this'; the demonstrative points scornfully at Egypt as 'this' broken reed.
ἐπ᾿onpreposition + accusative (appositional: 'on Egypt')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (elided ἐπ᾿): repeated to identify the reed explicitly — 'on Egypt'.
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ῥάβδον (the reed = Egypt)→ object specificationΑἴγυπτος (acc. Αἴγυπτον): here declined; identified outright as the 'bruised reed' — the political ally on which Judah leaned (cf. the anti-Egyptian polemic of Isa 30–31).
ὃςwhichNominativerelative pronoun (introducing the conditional image)→ participant referenceὅς (nom. ὅς): the relative here heads a conditional-relative clause ('on which, if a man lean …'); the masculine form loosely picks up the staff-image.
ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive στηριχθῇ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: the modal particle marking the conditional/indefinite force of the subjunctive ('if ever a man lean').
στηριχθῇleansAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · στηρίζωverb of conditional-relative clause (subjunctive)→ verbal action or stateστηρίζω (aor. pass. subj.): 'support / lean / prop oneself'; renders סָמַךְ; the passive-reflexive 'should lean himself on it'; the verb pointedly echoes τὰ ἐστηριγμένα (v. 16) — what one leans on here proves treacherous.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of στηριχθῇ→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the generic 'anyone' who would rely on the reed.
ἐπ᾿onpreposition + accusative (object leaned upon)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object leaned upon).
αὐτήνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the reed)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. f. αὐτήν): 'it', the reed-staff (feminine ῥάβδος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσελεύσεταιit will go intoFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (apodosis: the reed pierces)→ predictive future (certain injurious result)εἰσέρχομαι (fut. εἰσελεύσεται): 'go/come into'; here the splintered reed 'enters' (penetrates) the hand — the treacherous result of leaning on it.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction of penetration)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of penetration).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραhandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationχείρ (acc. χεῖρα): 'hand'; renders כַּף / יָד; the hand that leans on the reed is the one it injures.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the man's hand)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the man's hand).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τρήσειit will pierceFut Act Indic 3 Sg · τιτράωmain verb (the wounding result)→ predictive future (certain injury)τιτράω / τετραίνω (fut. τρήσει): 'bore through / pierce / perforate'; renders נָקַב; the broken reed not only fails as a support but actively wounds — the perfect emblem of treacherous Egypt.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of τρήσει (the hand)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. f. αὐτήν): 'it', the hand (χείρ, feminine) which the reed pierces.
οὕτωςsoadverb of manner (drawing the application)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; applies the image — 'so is Pharaoh to all who trust in him', making the metaphor explicit.
ΦαραωPharaohindeclinable proper noun (subject of the implied copula)→ participant identificationΦαραω: transliteration of Hebrew פַּרְעֹה; indeclinable; the Egyptian king, identified as the treacherous reed to those who rely on him.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Φαραω→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the title 'king of Egypt' identifying Pharaoh.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλεύς)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): here declined; Pharaoh's realm, the false hope of Judah.
πᾶσινto allDativeattributive adjective (modifying πεποιθόσιν)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς (dat. pl. πᾶσιν): 'all'; the universal scope — Pharaoh fails everyone who trusts him.
τοῖςthoseDativearticle (substantivizing πεποιθόσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεποιθόσινwho trustPerf Act Ptcp Dat Masc Pl · πείθωsubstantival participle (dative of disadvantage: 'to those trusting')→ stative perfect (settled reliance)πείθω (perf. ptcp. πεποιθόσιν): 'those who have put trust'; the trust-keyword again, generalizing the warning: all who rely on Egypt will be pierced like the hand on the reed.
ἐπ᾿onpreposition + accusative (object of trust)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object of trust).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (Pharaoh)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): 'him', Pharaoh — the one whose trust proves ruinous.
22
καὶ ὅτι εἶπας πρός με ἐπὶ κύριον θεὸν πεποίθαμεν οὐχὶ αὐτὸς οὗτος οὗ ἀπέστησεν Εζεκιας τὰ ὑψηλὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ θυσιαστήρια αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν τῷ Ιουδα καὶ τῇ Ιερουσαλημ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τούτου προσκυνήσετε ἐν Ιερουσαλημ
And if you say to me, 'We have trusted in the LORD God,' is he not the very one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, 'You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem'?
The Rabshakeh's most theologically barbed argument: he turns Hezekiah's own reform against him. If Judah trusts the LORD, has not Hezekiah just abolished that LORD's high places and altars (vv. 4, 22), centralizing worship in Jerusalem? The pagan envoy misreads the centralization as an affront to the deity — a profound irony, since the reform was in fact obedience to YHWH.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative/argumentative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅτιif / thatconjunction (introducing the supposed objection)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here introducing a hypothetical claim ('and [if] you say …'); renders כִּי; sets up the anticipated retort that Judah trusts YHWH.
εἶπαςyou sayAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωverb of the conditional clause (Judah's claim)→ constative aorist (the claim voiced)λέγω (aor. εἶπας): introduces the quoted profession of trust in YHWH that the Rabshakeh sets out to undermine.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (1st person pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; the Rabshakeh as addressee of the supposed reply.
ἐπὶinpreposition + accusative (object of trust)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative with the trust-verb: 'in / upon', marking YHWH as the professed object of reliance.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the professed object of trust)→ object specificationκύριος (acc. κύριον): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; in the quoted confession of Judah, 'we trust in the LORD our God' — genuine trust in YHWH, which the envoy will perversely attack.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative in apposition to κύριον→ object specificationθεός (acc. θεόν): 'God'; appositional 'the LORD [our] God'; the covenant God of Judah.
πεποίθαμενwe have trustedPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · πείθωmain verb of the quoted confession→ stative perfect (settled trust)πείθω (perf. 1 pl. πεποίθαμεν): 'we have put our trust'; the trust-keyword in Judah's own mouth — the one true confidence (cf. v. 5) which the Rabshakeh seeks to discredit.
οὐχὶis it notinterrogative negative (expecting affirmative answer)→ clausal contributionοὐχί: emphatic 'not'; in a question it expects the answer 'yes' — 'is he not the very one …?'; renders הֲלוֹא.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject: 'the very one')→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'himself / the very one'; with οὗτος sharpens the identification of YHWH as the deity whose shrines Hezekiah dismantled.
οὗτοςthis oneNominativedemonstrative pronoun (in apposition to αὐτός)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this one'; reinforcing αὐτός — 'this same God', whose high places were removed.
οὗwhoseGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive of possession, modifying high places/altars)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. οὗ): 'whose'; the genitive relative — the high places and altars 'of whom' (= belonging to YHWH) Hezekiah removed.
ἀπέστησενremovedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφίστημιverb of relative clause (Hezekiah's reform)→ constative aorist (the act of removal)ἀφίστημι (aor. trans. ἀπέστησεν): 'remove / take away'; here transitive 'removed'; the Rabshakeh recasts Hezekiah's pious reform (v. 4) as an offense against the deity — a pagan misreading of cult-centralization.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject of the relative clause (declined name)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: the reformer-king whose own act is turned against him in the envoy's argument.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ὑψηλά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑψηλὰhigh placesAccusativesubstantivized adjective (direct object of ἀπέστησεν)→ object specificationὑψηλός (neut. pl. ὑψηλά): 'high'; substantivized 'the high places' (cf. v. 4); the very shrines whose removal the envoy construes as impiety.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's high places)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his', i.e. YHWH's; the Rabshakeh attributes the high places to YHWH, ignoring that they were syncretistic and rightly abolished.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with θυσιαστήρια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριαaltarsAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστησεν (coordinate with ὑψηλά)→ object specificationθυσιαστήριον (acc. pl. θυσιαστήρια): 'altar'; the LXX's term for a legitimate altar (vs. βωμός for pagan altars); renders מִזְבְּחֹת; the local altars likewise removed by the reform.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's altars)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; again attributed to YHWH in the envoy's argument.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of relative clause (Hezekiah's centralizing command)→ constative aorist (the decree)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Hezekiah's command of cult-centralization — worship only at the Jerusalem altar.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Ιουδα, supplying dative case)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙουδαJudahindeclinable proper noun (dative addressee, case via article)→ participant identificationΙουδα: the southern kingdom/people, addressee of Hezekiah's centralization command; case supplied by τῷ.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇtoDativearticle (with Ιερουσαλημ, supplying dative case)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemindeclinable proper noun (dative addressee, case via article)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: the capital, addressee of the command; the city to whose single altar worship is now restricted.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (location of worship)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in front of'; renders לִפְנֵי; marks the single legitimate place of worship — before the Jerusalem altar.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θυσιαστηρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationθυσιαστήριον (gen. θυσιαστηρίου): 'altar'; the one legitimate temple altar in Jerusalem, the focus of the centralized cult.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying θυσιαστηρίου)→ relational specificationοὗτος (gen. τούτου): 'this'; deictic 'this altar' — the Jerusalem altar singled out by Hezekiah's command.
προσκυνήσετεyou shall worshipFut Act Indic 2 Pl · προσκυνέωmain verb of the quoted command (directive future)→ directive future (a command in future form)προσκυνέω: 'bow down / worship / do obeisance'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; the future-as-command 'you shall worship'; Hezekiah's centralization of worship to Jerusalem — which the envoy distorts into evidence against trusting YHWH.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemindeclinable proper noun (locative: place of worship)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: the sole sanctioned place of worship under Hezekiah's reform.
23
καὶ νῦν μίχθητε δὴ τῷ κυρίῳ μου βασιλεῖ Ἀσσυρίων καὶ δώσω σοι δισχιλίους ἵππους εἰ δυνήσῃ δοῦναι σεαυτῷ ἐπιβάτας ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς
And now, make a wager with my lord the king of the Assyrians, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to set riders upon them.
A contemptuous challenge: the Rabshakeh offers two thousand horses on the wager that Judah cannot even find riders for them — a jeer at Judah's military insignificance. Note that here κύριος is the human 'my lord the king of Assyria', not the Tetragrammaton.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal/transitional adverb→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; introduces the mocking proposition.
μίχθητεmake a wagerAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · μίγνυμιmain verb (imperative challenge)→ ingressive aorist imperative (enter into the bargain)μίγνυμι (aor. pass. impv. μίχθητε): lit. 'be mixed / join'; here renders the Hebrew הִתְעָרֶב ('make a wager / pledge'), a challenge-formula: 'come, strike a bargain with my master'; the contemptuous dare that follows exposes Judah's weakness.
δὴnow / prayemphatic particle (with the imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: emphatic particle (Hebrew נָא) sharpening the dare.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳlordDativedative object of μίχθητε (the human master)→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): here NOT the Tetragrammaton but the human 'lord/master' — 'my lord the king of Assyria'; renders אֲדֹנִי; the Rabshakeh refers to his own sovereign.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the Rabshakeh's master)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; 'my lord' — the Rabshakeh's own master, the Assyrian king.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): 'king'; appositional 'my lord the king of Assyria'.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσωI will giveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the wager's offer)→ predictive/conditional future (terms of the bet)δίδωμι (fut. δώσω): 'give'; the Rabshakeh offers the horses, confident Judah cannot supply riders — a humiliating dare.
σοιto youDativedative indirect object (2nd person)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; the addressee (Hezekiah/Judah) of the mocking offer.
δισχιλίουςtwo thousandAccusativecardinal numeral (modifying ἵππους)→ object specificationδισχίλιοι (acc. δισχιλίους): 'two thousand'; here declined agreeing with ἵππους; the absurdly generous offer that underscores Judah's lack of cavalry.
ἵππουςhorsesAccusativedirect object of δώσω→ object specificationἵππος (acc. pl. ἵππους): 'horse'; renders סוּסִים; the horses Judah supposedly cannot even man — a jab at its negligible chariotry.
εἰifconditional particle (introducing the condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; introduces the sneering condition — if Judah can even muster the riders.
δυνήσῃyou will be ableFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · δύναμαιverb of conditional clause→ predictive future (the doubted ability)δύναμαι (fut. δυνήσῃ): 'be able / can'; renders יָכֹל; the Rabshakeh doubts Judah's capacity even to field riders for free horses.
δοῦναιto set / provideAor Act Inf · δίδωμιcomplementary infinitive (with δυνήσῃ)→ constative aorist infinitiveδίδωμι (aor. inf. δοῦναι): 'give / set / provide'; the complementary infinitive — 'able to provide for yourself riders'.
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage)→ participant reference or interestσεαυτοῦ (dat. σεαυτῷ): 'for yourself'; the reflexive underscores that Judah must supply its own riders — which it cannot.
ἐπιβάταςridersAccusativedirect object of δοῦναι→ object specificationἐπιβάτης (acc. pl. ἐπιβάτας): 'rider / mounted man'; renders רֹכְבִים; the cavalrymen Judah lacks — the point of the entire taunt.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (position on the horses)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position on the horses).
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the horses)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them', the two thousand horses.
24
καὶ πῶς ἀποστρέψεις τὸ πρόσωπον τοπάρχου ἑνὸς τῶν δούλων τοῦ κυρίου μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ ἤλπισας σαυτῷ ἐπ᾿ Αἴγυπτον εἰς ἅρματα καὶ ἱππεῖς
How then will you turn back the face of even one governor among the least of my lord's servants? Yet you have set your hope on Egypt for chariots and horsemen.
The Rabshakeh presses the military mockery: Judah cannot repel even one minor provincial governor among the least of the Assyrian king's servants — so its reliance on Egyptian chariotry (ἤλπισας … ἐπ᾿ Αἴγυπτον) is laughable. The trust-verb shifts here to ἐλπίζω, the very verb used of Hezekiah's true trust in v. 5 — now redeployed of misplaced confidence in Egypt.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (rhetorical question)→ clausal contributionπῶς: 'how'; renders אֵיךְ; introduces the rhetorical question expecting the answer 'you cannot at all'.
ἀποστρέψειςwill you turn backFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb of the rhetorical question→ predictive future (the impossible feat)ἀποστρέφω (fut. ἀποστρέψεις): 'turn back / repel'; the idiom ἀποστρέφειν τὸ πρόσωπον ('turn back the face') renders הֵשִׁיב פְּנֵי — to repulse or rebuff someone; Judah cannot rebuff even a minor officer.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρόσωπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativedirect object of ἀποστρέψεις (idiom: 'turn back the face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; renders פָּנִים; in the idiom 'turn back the face of' = repel/rebuff the advance of an officer.
τοπάρχουgovernorGenitivegenitive (the one whose 'face' is in view)→ relational specificationτοπάρχης (gen. τοπάρχου): 'local ruler / district governor / petty commander'; here one of the lowest Assyrian officers, whom Judah still cannot withstand.
ἑνὸςoneGenitivenumeral in apposition to τοπάρχου ('a single one')→ relational specificationεἷς (gen. ἑνός): 'one'; 'one single governor' — emphasizing that not even the least Assyrian officer can be repelled.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with δούλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλωνservantsGenitivepartitive genitive ('one of the servants')→ relational specificationδοῦλος (gen. pl. δούλων): 'servant / slave / vassal-official'; renders עֲבָדִים; the Assyrian king's subordinate officers, of whom even the least overmatches Judah.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with κυρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουlordGenitivegenitive of possession (the human master)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): again the human 'my lord' (the king of Assyria), not the Tetragrammaton; renders אֲדֹנִי.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the Rabshakeh's master)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; 'my lord' = the Assyrian king.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (attributive, with ἐλαχίστων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλαχίστωνleastGenitivesuperlative adjective (modifying δούλων: 'the least')→ relational specificationἐλάχιστος (gen. pl. ἐλαχίστων): superlative 'least / smallest'; renders קְטַנִּים / the least; intensifies the humiliation — Judah cannot face even the lowest-ranking Assyrian officer.
καὶyet / andcoordinate conjunction (adversative force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'yet'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤλπισαςyou have set your hopeAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐλπίζωmain verb (Judah's misplaced reliance on Egypt)→ constative aorist (the settled but futile hope)ἐλπίζω (aor. ἤλπισας): 'hope / trust'; renders בָּטַח; pointedly the same verb used of Hezekiah's true hope in YHWH at v. 5 — here redeployed to mock Judah's misplaced hope in Egypt's chariotry.
σαυτῷfor yourselfDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage)→ participant reference or interestσεαυτοῦ (dat. σαυτῷ): 'for yourself'; the reflexive stresses Judah's self-interested but futile reliance.
ἐπ᾿onpreposition + accusative (object of hope)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative with ἐλπίζω: 'upon', marking Egypt as the object of the false hope.
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the false hope)→ object specificationΑἴγυπτος (acc. Αἴγυπτον): here declined; the 'bruised reed' (v. 21) on which Judah vainly relies for military aid.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose: what is hoped from Egypt)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: 'for / with a view to'; what Judah hopes to gain from Egypt — chariots and cavalry.
ἅρματαchariotsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationἅρμα (acc. pl. ἅρματα): 'chariot'; renders רֶכֶב; Egypt's celebrated chariotry, the supposed military advantage Judah hopes for.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἱππεῖςhorsemenAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (coordinate with ἅρματα)→ object specificationἱππεύς (acc. pl. ἱππεῖς): 'horseman / cavalryman'; renders פָּרָשִׁים; the cavalry of Egypt, the other element of the hoped-for aid — ironically the very thing Judah was just mocked for lacking (v. 23).
25
καὶ νῦν μὴ ἄνευ κυρίου ἀνέβημεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον τοῦτον τοῦ διαφθεῖραι αὐτόν κύριος εἶπεν πρός με ἀνάβηθι ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ταύτην καὶ διάφθειρον αὐτήν
And now, was it without the LORD that we came up against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it.'
The Rabshakeh's most audacious stroke: he claims YHWH's own commission for the invasion ('the LORD said to me: Go up … and destroy it'). The question framed with μή expects 'no' — 'surely not without the LORD'. The blasphemy of putting a divine oracle in the pagan king's mouth sets up the central theological contest of chs. 18–19; here κύριος is the Tetragrammaton.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtransitional adverb→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; introduces the climactic theological claim of the first speech.
μὴsurely not?interrogative negative (question expecting 'no')→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: in a question, expects the answer 'no'; here 'was it WITHOUT the LORD that we came up? [Surely not!]' — i.e. it was indeed by the LORD's sending.
ἄνευwithoutpreposition + genitive (absence)→ spatial or relational framingἄνευ: 'without / apart from'; renders מִבַּלְעֲדֵי; 'without the LORD' — the Rabshakeh denies that the campaign lacks divine sanction.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἄνευ→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): here the Tetragrammaton יהוה — the Rabshakeh blasphemously claims YHWH's own authorization for the Assyrian invasion.
ἀνέβημενwe came upAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb of the rhetorical question→ constative aorist (the campaign as fact)ἀναβαίνω (aor. ἀνέβημεν): 'go up / advance'; the campaign-verb (cf. vv. 9, 13); the Rabshakeh claims the invasion itself was YHWH-commissioned.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with τόπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the target)→ object specificationτόπος (acc. τόπον): 'place'; renders מָקוֹם; 'this place' = Jerusalem/Judah, the object of the supposedly divinely-sanctioned attack.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying τόπον)→ participant referenceοὗτος (acc. τοῦτον): 'this'; the deictic 'this place' — Jerusalem, where the speech is delivered.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with the articular infinitive of purpose διαφθεῖραι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαφθεῖραιto destroyAor Act Inf · διαφθείρωarticular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ + infinitive)→ verbal action or stateδιαφθείρω (aor. inf. διαφθεῖραι): 'destroy utterly / ruin'; renders שָׁחַת / הִשְׁחִית; the τοῦ + infinitive expresses purpose ('in order to destroy it'); the destruction of Jerusalem is cast as the divine commission.
αὐτόνitAccusativedirect object of διαφθεῖραι (the place)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): 'it', the place (τόπος, masculine) to be destroyed.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of εἶπεν (the alleged divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος (nom.): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the Rabshakeh attributes to YHWH a direct oracle commissioning the Assyrian — the height of the blasphemy that ch. 19 will refute.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the alleged oracle)→ constative aorist (the claimed divine word)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces the supposed YHWH-oracle to the Assyrian — a fabricated prophetic word in a pagan's mouth.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (recipient of the oracle)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (recipient of the oracle).
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Rabshakeh/king)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; the Assyrian as the supposed recipient of the divine commission.
ἀνάβηθιgo upAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb of the quoted oracle (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (divine command to attack)ἀναβαίνω (aor. impv. ἀνάβηθι): 'go up'; the alleged divine command to invade — ironically using the same campaign-verb, now placed in YHWH's supposed mouth.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the target of the oracle)→ object specificationγῆ (acc. γῆν): 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; 'this land' = Judah, the object of the claimed divine command.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying γῆν)→ participant referenceοὗτος (acc. f. ταύτην): 'this'; the deictic 'this land', Judah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the oracle)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διάφθειρονdestroyPres Act Impv 2 Sg · διαφθείρωmain verb of the quoted oracle (imperative)→ durative present imperative (carry out the destruction)διαφθείρω (pres. impv. διάφθειρον): 'destroy / ruin'; the second command of the alleged oracle; the present imperative urges the carrying-out of the destruction — the climactic blasphemy of attributing Jerusalem's ruin to YHWH's own word.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of διάφθειρον (the land)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. f. αὐτήν): 'it', the land (γῆ, feminine) to be destroyed.
26
καὶ εἶπεν Ελιακιμ υἱὸς Χελκιου καὶ Σομνας καὶ Ιωας πρὸς Ραψακην λάλησον δὴ πρὸς τοὺς παῖδάς σου Συριστί ὅτι ἀκούομεν ἡμεῖς καὶ οὐ λαλήσεις μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν Ιουδαϊστί καὶ ἵνα τί λαλεῖς ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν τοῦ λαοῦ τοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ τείχους
And Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, 'Speak now to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak with us in Judean in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.'
Alarmed by the propaganda effect on the listening defenders, the officials beg the Rabshakeh to switch to Aramaic (Συριστί), the diplomatic lingua franca, rather than continue in Judean (Ιουδαϊστί), the vernacular the people understand. The request inadvertently confirms how dangerous the speech is — and invites the Rabshakeh's deliberately public, crude escalation in v. 27.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (singular verb with compound subject, Hebraizing)→ constative aorist (the plea)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): the singular verb with a compound subject (Eliakim, Shebna, Joah) reflects Hebrew syntax, where the verb agrees with the first/nearest subject.
ΕλιακιμEliakimindeclinable proper noun (first subject)→ participant identificationΕλιακιμ: the palace steward (cf. v. 18), chief of the delegation.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Ελιακιμ (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son of Hilkiah'.
Χελκιουof HilkiahGenitivegenitive of relationship (declined name)→ relational specificationΧελκιας (gen. Χελκιου): Hilkiah, father of Eliakim (cf. v. 18).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣομναςShebnaNominativesubject (second member, declined name)→ participant prominenceΣομνας: the scribe (cf. v. 18).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωαςJoahindeclinable proper noun (third subject)→ participant identificationΙωας: the recorder (cf. v. 18).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
Ραψακηνthe RabshakehAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (declined title)→ object specificationΡαψακης (acc. Ραψακην): the Assyrian spokesman, addressed by the officials.
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb of direct speech (imperative request)→ ingressive aorist imperative (a polite request)λαλέω (aor. impv. λάλησον): 'speak'; the officials' request that the Rabshakeh address them in Aramaic.
δὴplease / nowpolite/hortatory particle (with the imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: the entreating particle (Hebrew נָא), softening the imperative to a polite plea.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (recipients)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (recipients).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with παῖδας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδάςservantsAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the officials self-designate)→ object specificationπαῖς (acc. pl. παῖδας): 'servant / attendant'; renders עֲבָדִים; the officials humbly style themselves 'your servants', a courteous diplomatic self-reference.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying παῖδας)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the deferential 'your servants', addressed to the Rabshakeh.
Συριστίin Aramaicadverb of manner (the language requested)→ participant identificationΣυριστί: 'in Aramaic / Syrian'; an adverb of language; renders אֲרָמִית; Aramaic was the international diplomatic language understood by officials but not the common people of Jerusalem.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; gives the reason — the officials understand Aramaic.
ἀκούομενwe understandPres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀκούωverb of causal clause→ durative present (ongoing comprehension)ἀκούω: 'hear / understand'; here 'we understand (Aramaic)'; renders שֹׁמְעִים; the officials can follow Aramaic, so the message would remain confidential.
ἡμεῖςweNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (contrast with the people)→ participant referenceἐγώ (nom. pl. ἡμεῖς): 'we'; emphatic, contrasting the Aramaic-literate officials with the monoglot populace on the wall.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with λαλήσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λαλήσειςyou shall speakFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (prohibitive future: 'do not speak')→ prohibitive future (negative request)λαλέω (fut. λαλήσεις): the future with οὐ functions as a polite prohibition ('please do not speak'); the officials ask him to avoid the vernacular.
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά (elided μεθ᾿): 'with'; 'speak with us'.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of μεθ᾿→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'us', the officials.
Ιουδαϊστίin Judeanadverb of manner (the language to be avoided)→ participant identificationΙουδαϊστί: 'in Judean / in the language of Judah'; renders יְהוּדִית; the Hebrew/Judean vernacular understood by the common people — precisely the audience the officials wish to shield from the demoralizing message.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἵναwhyinterrogative particle (with τί: 'why?')→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: in the idiom ἵνα τί ('to what end / why?') renders לָמָּה; introduces the reproachful question.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (with ἵνα: 'why')→ participant referenceτίς (acc. n. τί): interrogative 'what'; in ἵνα τί ('for what purpose / why').
λαλεῖςdo you speakPres Act Indic 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb of the question→ progressive present (the ongoing public speech)λαλέω: 'speak'; the reproach — 'why do you (insist on) speaking in the people's hearing?'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere: 'in the ears')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: 'in the ears').
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ὠσίν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὠσὶνearsDativedative of place (idiom: 'in the ears of')→ sphere or referenceοὖς (dat. pl. ὠσίν): 'ear'; the idiom ἐν τοῖς ὠσίν ('in the ears of') renders בְּאָזְנֵי — within earshot of the people, the very thing the officials fear.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose ears)→ relational specificationλαός (gen. λαοῦ): 'people'; renders עָם; the common populace of Jerusalem manning the wall, vulnerable to the propaganda.
τοῦwho isGenitivearticle (substantizing the prepositional phrase: 'the [people] on the wall')→ noun-phrase markingthe article τοῦ + prepositional phrase ἐπὶ τοῦ τείχους functions attributively ('the people who are on the wall').
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with τείχους)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τείχουςwallGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position of the people)→ relational specificationτεῖχος (gen. τείχους): 'wall / city-wall'; renders חוֹמָה; the city ramparts where the defenders stand, overhearing the parley.
27
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Ραψακης μὴ ἐπὶ τὸν κύριόν σου καὶ πρὸς σὲ ἀπέστειλέν με ὁ κύριός μου λαλῆσαι τοὺς λόγους τούτους οὐχὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας τοὺς καθημένους ἐπὶ τοῦ τείχους τοῦ φαγεῖν τὴν κόπρον αὐτῶν καὶ πιεῖν τὸ οὖρον αὐτῶν μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν ἅμα
And the Rabshakeh said to them, 'Was it to your master and to you that my lord sent me to speak these words, and not to the men sitting on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?'
The Rabshakeh rebuffs the plea with a calculated coarseness: he insists his message is aimed precisely at the common defenders, whom he depicts in the grossest siege-horror terms — reduced to eating their own excrement and drinking their own urine. The vulgarity is strategic: it dramatizes the famine of a prolonged siege to break the people's will. Here both κύριος-forms are human (your master = Hezekiah; my lord = the Assyrian king).
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the retort)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces the Rabshakeh's crude refusal.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the officials)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them', the three officials.
Ραψακηςthe RabshakehNominativesubject (declined title)→ participant prominenceΡαψακης: the Assyrian spokesman.
μὴsurely not?interrogative negative (question expecting 'no')→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: in a question expects 'no'; here 'was it [only] to your master and to you …? [No!]', setting up the assertion that his words are aimed at all the people.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (target of the message)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: here 'to / for', marking the supposed (limited) addressees of the message.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόνmasterAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the human master)→ object specificationκύριος (acc. κύριον): here the human 'master' — 'your master' = Hezekiah; not the Tetragrammaton; renders אֲדֹנֶיךָ.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (the officials' master)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; 'your master' = Hezekiah, the officials' sovereign.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (target)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (target).
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the officials)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σέ): 'you', the officials.
ἀπέστειλένsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb of the rhetorical question→ constative aorist (the commission)ἀποστέλλω (aor. ἀπέστειλεν): 'send'; the Rabshakeh denies that his commission was limited to the officials — it targets the whole people.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me', the Rabshakeh as the one sent.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόςlordNominativesubject of ἀπέστειλεν (the human master)→ participant prominenceκύριος (nom.): here the human 'my lord' = the Assyrian king who sent the Rabshakeh; not the Tetragrammaton; renders אֲדֹנִי.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the Rabshakeh's master)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; 'my lord' = the king of Assyria.
λαλῆσαιto speakAor Act Inf · λαλέωinfinitive of purpose (with ἀπέστειλεν)→ aorist infinitiveλαλέω (aor. inf. λαλῆσαι): 'speak'; the infinitive of purpose — the king sent him to deliver this message.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λόγους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of λαλῆσαι→ object specificationλόγος (acc. pl. λόγους): 'word'; the message itself, intended for public consumption.
τούτουςtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying λόγους)→ object specificationοὗτος (acc. pl. τούτους): 'these'; 'these words' — the demoralizing speech.
οὐχὶnot [rather]interrogative negative (expecting affirmative: 'rather to …')→ clausal contributionοὐχί: emphatic 'not'; in the question it asserts the true target — 'was it not rather to the men on the wall?'
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (the true target)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (the true target).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the real audience)→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'men'; the defenders on the wall — the Rabshakeh's deliberately targeted audience.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with the participle καθημένους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καθημένουςsittingPres Mid Ptcp Acc Masc Pl · κάθημαιattributive participle (modifying ἄνδρας)→ durative (the men stationed on the wall)κάθημαι (pres. mid. ptcp.): 'sit / be stationed'; renders יֹשְׁבִים; the men 'sitting/posted' on the wall — the besieged defenders.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with τείχους)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τείχουςwallGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position of the men)→ relational specificationτεῖχος (gen. τείχους): 'wall'; the rampart where the defenders are posted.
τοῦ[doomed] toGenitivearticle (with the articular infinitive φαγεῖν, expressing destiny/result)→ noun-phrase markingthe τοῦ + infinitive here expresses impending destiny ('men who are to eat …'), describing the horror of the coming siege-famine.
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωarticular infinitive (destiny/result of the besieged)→ verbal action or stateἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; renders אָכַל; the grotesque siege-image — the defenders will be reduced to eating their own excrement; a stock horror of ancient siege warfare (cf. Deut 28:53–57).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κόπρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κόπρονdungAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν→ object specificationκόπρος (acc. κόπρον): 'dung / excrement'; renders חֲרֵיהֶם (Qere צוֹאָתָם); the crude siege-horror image meant to terrify the defenders into surrender.
αὐτῶνtheir ownGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying κόπρον)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their own', intensifying the degradation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πιεῖνto drinkAor Act Inf · πίνωarticular infinitive (coordinate with φαγεῖν)→ aorist infinitive (the act of drinking)πίνω (aor. inf. πιεῖν): 'drink'; renders שָׁתָה; the parallel horror — drinking their own urine, the extremity of siege-deprivation.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with οὖρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὖρονurineAccusativedirect object of πιεῖν→ object specificationοὖρον (acc.): 'urine'; renders שֵׁינֵיהֶם (Qere מֵימֵי רַגְלֵיהֶם); the parallel image of siege-extremity.
αὐτῶνtheir ownGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying οὖρον)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their own'.
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά (elided μεθ᾿): 'with'; 'with you' — the Rabshakeh pointedly includes the officials in the coming horror.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of μεθ᾿ (the officials)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'you (pl.)', the officials, included in the besieged's fate.
ἅμαtogetheradverb (intensifying the shared fate)→ clausal contributionἅμα: 'together / at the same time'; renders יַחְדָּו; underscores that officials and people alike face the same siege-horror — a calculated psychological threat.
28
καὶ ἔστη Ραψακης καὶ ἐβόησεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Ιουδαϊστὶ καὶ ἐλάλησεν καὶ εἶπεν ἀκούσατε τοὺς λόγους τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων
And the Rabshakeh stood and cried out with a loud voice in Judean, and spoke and said, 'Hear the words of the great king, the king of the Assyrians!'
Spurning the officials' plea, the Rabshakeh stands, raises his voice (φωνῇ μεγάλῃ), and addresses the wall directly in Judean (Ιουδαϊστί) — the very thing he was asked not to do. The herald-formula ἀκούσατε τοὺς λόγους τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως ('Hear the words of the great king') opens the second, public speech aimed squarely at the people's morale.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστηstoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (taking a public stance)→ ingressive aorist (rose to address the crowd)ἵστημι (aor. intransitive ἔστη): 'stand / take one's stand'; the Rabshakeh assumes a herald's posture to address the wall publicly.
Ραψακηςthe RabshakehNominativesubject (declined title)→ participant prominenceΡαψακης: the Assyrian spokesman.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβόησενcried outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βοάωmain verb (loud public address)→ constative aorist (the shout)βοάω (aor. ἐβόησεν): 'cry out / shout'; the loud cry reaching the people on the wall, deliberately public.
φωνῇwith a voiceDativedative of manner (with μεγάλῃ)→ sphere or referenceφωνή (dat. φωνῇ): 'voice'; the dative of manner φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ('with a loud voice') renders בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל; he projects his voice for maximum public effect.
μεγάλῃloudDativeattributive adjective (modifying φωνῇ)→ sphere or referenceμέγας (dat. f. μεγάλῃ): 'great / loud'; the volume ensures the demoralizing message reaches all the defenders.
Ιουδαϊστὶin Judeanadverb of manner (the language used)→ participant identificationΙουδαϊστί: 'in Judean'; the vernacular the people understand — the Rabshakeh pointedly uses the very language the officials begged him to avoid (v. 26).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (the act of speaking)→ constative aorist (the speech-act)λαλέω (aor. ἐλάλησεν): 'speak'; part of the layered speech-introduction (ἐβόησεν … ἐλάλησεν … εἶπεν), a Hebraizing accumulation of verbs of utterance.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introducing the proclamation)→ constative aorist (the address)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): the final verb of the speech-introduction chain, leading into the herald's summons.
ἀκούσατεhearAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb of direct speech (herald's summons)→ ingressive aorist imperative (a call to attention)ἀκούω (aor. impv. ἀκούσατε): 'hear / listen'; renders שִׁמְעוּ; the herald-formula 'hear the words of the great king' — a public proclamation demanding attention.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λόγους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of ἀκούσατε→ object specificationλόγος (acc. pl. λόγους): 'word'; the royal message about to be proclaimed.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with βασιλέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεγάλουgreatGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying βασιλέως)→ relational specificationμέγας (gen. μεγάλου): 'great'; the imperial title 'the great king' (cf. v. 19), the Assyrian self-designation.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of source (whose words)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; the king of Assyria, on whose authority the proclamation is made.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
29
τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεύς μὴ ἐπαιρέτω ὑμᾶς Εζεκιας λόγοις ὅτι οὐ μὴ δύνηται ὑμᾶς ἐξελέσθαι ἐκ χειρός μου
Thus says the king: Let not Hezekiah deceive you with words, for he will by no means be able to deliver you out of my hand.
The public speech opens, again with the royal messenger-formula, by driving a wedge between the people and their king: Hezekiah's reassurances are mere 'words' (λόγοις) that cannot save. The emphatic οὐ μή + subjunctive ('by no means') flatly denies Judah any deliverance from the Assyrian 'hand' — language soon to be answered when YHWH delivers Jerusalem from that very hand (ch. 19).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει)→ participant referenceὅδε (acc. pl. n. τάδε): the messenger-formula τάδε λέγει ('thus says'), again mimicking prophetic diction for the Assyrian king.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of the messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (immediacy of the royal word)λέγω (pres. λέγει): the present in the citation-formula, lending the king's word present authority.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεύςkingNominativesubject of λέγει→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: the great king of Assyria, the speaker of the proclamation.
μὴnotnegative particle (with 3rd-person imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative with the third-person imperative ἐπαιρέτω forms a prohibition: 'let not Hezekiah …'.
ἐπαιρέτωlet him deceive / exaltPres Act Impv 3 Sg · ἐπαίρωmain verb of direct speech (third-person prohibition)→ durative present imperative (let him not keep deceiving)ἐπαίρω (pres. impv. ἐπαιρέτω): lit. 'lift up / raise'; here in the sense 'buoy up with false hope / mislead', renders יַשִּׁא ('let [him] not deceive', root נשׁא II 'beguile'); the king warns the people not to be carried away by Hezekiah's empty reassurances.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐπαιρέτω (the people)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you (pl.)', the people addressed directly over the heads of their leaders.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject of ἐπαιρέτω (declined name)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: named to the people as the deceiver — a calculated effort to undermine their loyalty.
λόγοιςwith wordsDativedative of instrument (the means of the alleged deception)→ sphere or referenceλόγος (dat. pl. λόγοις): 'word'; the instrumental dative — Hezekiah deceives 'with words', mere talk (cf. λόγοι χειλέων, v. 20) without power to save.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; gives the reason the people should not trust Hezekiah — he cannot deliver them.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: emphatic denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή forms the emphatic οὐ μή ('by no means'), the strongest Greek negation.
μὴby no meansnegative particle (οὐ μή + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with οὐ and the subjunctive δύνηται forms the emphatic future denial — 'he will absolutely not be able'.
δύνηταιhe be ablePres Mid Subj 3 Sg · δύναμαιverb of the οὐ μή clause (subjunctive)→ emphatic future denial (with οὐ μή)δύναμαι (pres. subj. δύνηται): 'be able'; with οὐ μή denies categorically that Hezekiah can rescue the people.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξελέσθαι→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you', the people Hezekiah supposedly cannot deliver.
ἐξελέσθαιto deliverAor Mid Inf · ἐξαιρέωcomplementary infinitive (with δύνηται)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose: rescue)ἐξαιρέω (aor. mid. inf. ἐξελέσθαι): 'take out / rescue / deliver'; renders הִצִּיל (Hiphil of נצל); the key deliverance-verb of the speech (and the chapter's theological contest) — the Rabshakeh denies any rescue, whether by Hezekiah or by YHWH (v. 35).
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
χειρόςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'out of the hand')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; the idiom ἐκ χειρός ('out of the hand of') renders מִיָּד, denoting deliverance from power/control; recurs as the leitmotif of the boast (vv. 33, 34, 35).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's hand)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the king speaks of his own irresistible 'hand' (power).
30
καὶ μὴ ἐπελπιζέτω ὑμᾶς Εζεκιας πρὸς κύριον λέγων ἐξαιρούμενος ἐξελεῖται ἡμᾶς κύριος οὐ μὴ παραδοθῇ ἡ πόλις αὕτη ἐν χειρὶ βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων
And let not Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, 'The LORD will surely deliver us; this city shall by no means be given into the hand of the king of the Assyrians.'
The most theologically pointed thrust of the public speech: the Rabshakeh attacks not just Hezekiah's competence but trust in YHWH himself. He quotes Hezekiah's faith-slogan — the cognate ἐξαιρούμενος ἐξελεῖται ('will surely deliver', a Hebraizing infinitive-absolute) — only to deny it. Here κύριος is the Tetragrammaton, and the boast that the city will not be 'given into the hand' of Assyria is exactly what ch. 19 will overturn.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative/coordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with 3rd-person imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: forms the prohibition with ἐπελπιζέτω.
ἐπελπιζέτωlet him make to trustPres Act Impv 3 Sg · ἐπελπίζωmain verb of direct speech (third-person prohibition)→ durative present imperative (let him not keep encouraging trust)ἐπελπίζω (pres. impv. ἐπελπιζέτω): 'cause to hope / encourage to trust'; the causative ἐπ-ελπίζω renders יַבְטַח (Hiphil of בָּטַח, 'make to trust'); the king forbids Hezekiah from directing the people's hope toward YHWH.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐπελπιζέτω→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you', the people.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject of ἐπελπιζέτω (declined name)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: the king who would point the people to YHWH.
πρὸςin / towardpreposition + accusative (object of trust)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + accusative: here 'in / toward', marking YHWH as the object toward whom the trust is directed.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the object of trust)→ object specificationκύριος (acc. κύριον): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the true object of Judah's hope, which the Rabshakeh seeks to discredit.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing Hezekiah's quoted slogan)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (pres. ptcp. λέγων): the participle introduces the faith-slogan the Rabshakeh attributes to Hezekiah.
ἐξαιρούμενοςsurelyPres Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ἐξαιρέωcognate participle (intensifying ἐξελεῖται: Hebraism)→ intensive (rendering the Hebrew infinitive absolute)ἐξαιρέω (pres. mid. ptcp. ἐξαιρούμενος): the cognate participle + finite verb (ἐξαιρούμενος ἐξελεῖται) renders the Hebrew infinitive-absolute construction הַצֵּל יַצִּיל ('will surely deliver'), expressing emphatic certainty of YHWH's rescue — the very confidence the Rabshakeh denies.
ἐξελεῖταιwill deliverFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb of the quoted slogan→ predictive future (Hezekiah's confident claim)ἐξαιρέω (fut. mid. ἐξελεῖται): 'rescue / deliver'; the deliverance-keyword; Hezekiah's slogan that YHWH will surely deliver — which the narrative will vindicate in ch. 19.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἐξελεῖται→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. pl. ἡμᾶς): 'us', the people of Jerusalem in Hezekiah's quoted confession.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐξελεῖται (the divine deliverer)→ participant prominenceκύριος (nom.): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the subject of the deliverance-claim — YHWH himself, whose power to save the Rabshakeh dares to deny.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: emphatic denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή the emphatic negation 'by no means'.
μὴby no meansnegative particle (οὐ μή + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with οὐ and the subjunctive παραδοθῇ forms the emphatic denial within Hezekiah's quoted slogan.
παραδοθῇbe given overAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιverb of the οὐ μή clause (subjunctive)→ emphatic future denial (with οὐ μή)παραδίδωμι (aor. pass. subj. παραδοθῇ): 'hand over / deliver up / surrender'; renders נָתַן (Niphal, 'be given'); the slogan's claim — Jerusalem will not be surrendered to Assyria; the irony is that ch. 19 proves this true.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with πόλις)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλιςcityNominativesubject of παραδοθῇ→ participant prominenceπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; Jerusalem, the city whose deliverance is at stake.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying πόλις)→ participant referenceοὗτος (nom. f. αὕτη): 'this'; 'this city' — Jerusalem, deictically present.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (Hebraism: 'into the hand of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative here renders the Hebrew בְּיַד ('into the hand of'), denoting surrender into power; a Hebraistic locative-instrumental.
χειρὶhandDativedative object of ἐν (idiom: 'into the hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ (dat. χειρί): 'hand'; the idiom ἐν χειρί ('into the hand of') = into the power of; the deliverance/non-surrender motif of the speech.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession (whose hand)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; the king of Assyria, into whose hand Hezekiah's slogan says the city will not be given.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
31
μὴ ἀκούετε Εζεκιου ὅτι τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ποιήσατε μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ εὐλογίαν καὶ ἐξέλθατε πρός με καὶ πίεται ἀνὴρ τὴν ἄμπελον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνὴρ τὴν συκῆν αὐτοῦ φάγεται καὶ πίεται ὕδωρ τοῦ λάκκου αὐτοῦ
Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of the Assyrians: Make a treaty of peace with me and come out to me, and every man will drink from his own vine and every man eat from his own fig tree and drink the water of his own cistern,
The Rabshakeh shifts from threat to seduction: surrender ('make a blessing/treaty with me and come out') is dressed in the idyllic covenant-imagery of every man under his own vine and fig tree (cf. 1 Kgs 4:25; Mic 4:4) — a deliberate appropriation of Israel's own peace-vocabulary to make capitulation attractive. The negated present imperative μὴ ἀκούετε urges ongoing refusal to heed Hezekiah.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
μὴnotnegative particle (with present imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with the present imperative ἀκούετε forms a prohibition of ongoing action ('do not [keep] listening').
ἀκούετεlistenPres Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb of direct speech (prohibition to the people)→ durative present imperative (stop heeding)ἀκούω (pres. impv. ἀκούετε): 'hear / heed / obey'; renders שָׁמַע; with μή and the genitive Εζεκιου, 'do not obey Hezekiah'.
ΕζεκιουHezekiahGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούετε (declined name)→ relational specificationΕζεκιας (gen. Εζεκιου): here declined in the genitive, as the object of the verb of hearing (ἀκούω + gen. of person heeded).
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the king's counter-offer as the reason to ignore Hezekiah.
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει)→ participant referenceὅδε (acc. pl. n. τάδε): the messenger-formula again introducing the king's words.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of the messenger-formula→ historic presentλέγω (pres. λέγει): the citation-present introducing the surrender-offer.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of λέγει→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: the king of Assyria.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
ποιήσατεmakeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of direct speech (imperative offer)→ ingressive aorist imperative (enter into the agreement)ποιέω (aor. impv. ποιήσατε): 'make / do'; the idiom ποιήσατε … εὐλογίαν ('make a blessing') renders עֲשׂוּ … בְרָכָה, an idiom for concluding terms of peace/surrender ('make your peace with me').
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (the party to the treaty)→ spatial or relational framingμετά (elided μετ᾿): 'with'; the party with whom peace is to be made — the Assyrian king.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): 'me', the king (through the Rabshakeh's mouth).
εὐλογίανa peace-treaty / blessingAccusativedirect object of ποιήσατε→ object specificationεὐλογία (acc. εὐλογίαν): lit. 'blessing'; renders בְּרָכָה, here in the idiomatic sense of 'terms of peace / a treaty of submission'; the surrender is euphemized as a 'blessing'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέλθατεcome outAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb of direct speech (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (the act of surrender)ἐξέρχομαι (aor. impv. ἐξέλθατε): 'come out'; renders צְאוּ; the call to surrender — come out of the besieged city to the Assyrian.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me', the king to whom the people are to surrender.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the promised reward)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πίεταιwill drinkFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · πίνωmain verb (the idyllic promise)→ predictive future (promised security)πίνω (fut. mid. πίεται): 'drink'; the promise that each man will drink (the wine of) his own vine — the imagery of secure, settled prosperity, ironically borrowed from Israel's own peace-ideal.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject (distributive: 'each man')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; distributive 'each man' enjoying his own produce.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄμπελον)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄμπελονvineAccusativedirect object of πίεται (metonymy: the vine's wine)→ object specificationἄμπελος (acc. ἄμπελον): 'vine / grapevine'; renders גֶּפֶן; 'drink his vine' = drink the wine of his own vine — the first element of the vine-and-fig peace idiom.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἄμπελον)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his own', emphasizing secure private ownership.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject (distributive, parallel clause)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: repeated distributive 'each man', now with the fig tree.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with συκῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συκῆνfig treeAccusativedirect object of φάγεται (metonymy: the fig's fruit)→ object specificationσυκῆ (acc. συκῆν): 'fig tree'; renders תְּאֵנָה; the vine-and-fig pairing is the classic OT emblem of peace and security (1 Kgs 4:25; Mic 4:4) — cynically deployed here to gild surrender.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying συκῆν)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his own'.
φάγεταιwill eatFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (parallel to πίεται)→ predictive future (promised plenty)ἐσθίω (fut. mid. φάγεται): 'eat'; renders אָכַל; eating one's own figs — settled agrarian security under Assyrian terms.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πίεταιwill drinkFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · πίνωmain verb (third promised blessing)→ predictive future (promised provision)πίνω (fut. mid. πίεται): the repeated 'will drink', now of the water of one's own cistern — completing the picture of secure self-sufficiency.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativedirect object of πίεται→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; renders מַיִם; drinking from one's own cistern signifies undisturbed domestic security — ironically dangled before a people whose water-supply (the upper pool, v. 17) the Assyrians now menace.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with λάκκου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκουcisternGenitivegenitive of source (with ὕδωρ: 'water of the cistern')→ relational specificationλάκκος (gen. λάκκου): 'cistern / pit / reservoir'; renders בּוֹר; the household water-store, emblem of secure settled life.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying λάκκου)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his own', completing the threefold 'his own' (vine, fig, cistern).
32
ἕως ἔλθω καὶ λάβω ὑμᾶς εἰς γῆν ὡς γῆ ὑμῶν γῆ σίτου καὶ οἴνου καὶ ἄρτου καὶ ἀμπελώνων γῆ ἐλαίας ἐλαίου καὶ μέλιτος καὶ ζήσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνητε καὶ μὴ ἀκούετε Εζεκιου ὅτι ἀπατᾷ ὑμᾶς λέγων κύριος ῥύσεται ἡμᾶς
until I come and take you to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine and bread and vineyards, a land of olives, of oil and honey; and you shall live and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah, for he deceives you when he says, 'The LORD will deliver us.'
The seduction culminates in a euphemized promise of deportation: exile to 'a land like your own', described in near-Edenic covenant terms (grain, wine, bread, vineyards, olives, oil, honey — echoing the 'land flowing with milk and honey'). The grim reality of forced resettlement (cf. vv. 11) is masked as life-versus-death (ζήσετε … οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνητε). The speech closes by repeating the warning against Hezekiah's faith-claim that κύριος (YHWH) will deliver.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; renders עַד; introduces the temporal clause — the idyllic life lasts 'until' the deportation, here recast as a benefit.
ἔλθωI comeAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of temporal clause (subjunctive with ἕως)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι (aor. subj. ἔλθω): 'come'; the king's coming to carry off the people — euphemized as a future visitation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λάβωtakeAor Act Subj 1 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of temporal clause (coordinate subjunctive)→ emphatic future denial (οὐ μή + subjunctive)λαμβάνω (aor. subj. λάβω): 'take / carry off'; renders לָקַח; the verb of deportation, here dressed as relocation to a better land.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of λάβω→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you', the people to be deported.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
γῆνa landAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination of deportation)→ object specificationγῆ (acc. γῆν): 'land'; renders אֶרֶץ; the land of exile, falsely promised as comparable to Judah.
ὡςlikecomparative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; renders כְּ; introduces the comparison 'a land like your own land' — the deceptive reassurance.
γῆlandNominativenominative of comparison (with ὡς: 'like [your] land')→ participant prominenceγῆ (nom.): the comparison-standard ('like your land'); the nominative after ὡς in the elliptical comparison.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying γῆ)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your'; 'your own land' as the (false) measure of the land of exile.
γῆa landNominativenominative in apposition (describing the land of exile)→ participant prominenceγῆ (nom.): begins the appositional description — 'a land of grain and wine …' — echoing the Deuteronomic praise of the promised land.
σίτουof grainGenitivegenitive of description (with γῆ)→ relational specificationσῖτος (gen. σίτου): 'grain / wheat'; renders דָּגָן; the first of the land's bounties, recalling Deut 8:8.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἴνουof wineGenitivegenitive of description (with γῆ)→ relational specificationοἶνος (gen. οἴνου): 'wine'; renders תִּירוֹשׁ; the produce of the vine, part of the idealized abundance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄρτουof breadGenitivegenitive of description (with γῆ)→ relational specificationἄρτος (gen. ἄρτου): 'bread'; renders לֶחֶם; staple sustenance, part of the rosy picture of exile.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμπελώνωνof vineyardsGenitivegenitive of description (with γῆ)→ relational specificationἀμπελών (gen. pl. ἀμπελώνων): 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; vineyards as a mark of settled, prosperous land.
γῆa landNominativenominative in apposition (second description)→ participant prominenceγῆ (nom.): the second appositional 'a land of …', extending the list to olives, oil, and honey.
ἐλαίαςof the oliveGenitivegenitive of description (with γῆ)→ relational specificationἐλαία (gen. ἐλαίας): 'olive / olive tree'; renders זַיִת; the olive, another staple of the idealized land (Deut 8:8).
ἐλαίουof oilGenitivegenitive of description (with γῆ)→ relational specificationἔλαιον (gen. ἐλαίου): 'olive oil'; the produce of the olive, prized commodity of the land.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέλιτοςof honeyGenitivegenitive of description (with γῆ)→ relational specificationμέλι (gen. μέλιτος): 'honey'; renders דְּבַשׁ; honey completes the catalogue, evoking the 'land flowing with milk and honey' — a calculated echo of Israel's own covenant land-promise turned to propaganda.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζήσετεyou shall liveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ζάωmain verb (the promise of survival)→ predictive future (promised life)ζάω (fut. ζήσετε): 'live'; renders חָיָה; the choice framed as life — surrender means living, resistance means death.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: emphatic)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή the emphatic negation.
μὴby no meansnegative particle (οὐ μή + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with οὐ and the subjunctive ἀποθάνητε, the emphatic denial 'you shall surely not die'.
ἀποθάνητεyou dieAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of the οὐ μή clause (subjunctive)→ emphatic future denial (with οὐ μή)ἀποθνῄσκω (aor. subj. ἀποθάνητε): 'die'; with οὐ μή, the king promises survival to those who surrender — the life/death antithesis driving the appeal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with present imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with the present imperative ἀκούετε, the repeated prohibition.
ἀκούετεlistenPres Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (renewed prohibition)→ durative present imperative (stop heeding)ἀκούω (pres. impv. ἀκούετε): the renewed 'do not listen to Hezekiah' (cf. v. 31), framing the closing warning.
ΕζεκιουHezekiahGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούετε (declined name)→ relational specificationΕζεκιας (gen. Εζεκιου): the object of the verb of heeding; the king whose counsel must be ignored.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; the charge that Hezekiah is deceiving the people.
ἀπατᾷdeceivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπατάωverb of causal clause→ progressive present (ongoing deception)ἀπατάω: 'deceive / mislead'; renders יַסִּית / נשׁא; the accusation that Hezekiah's faith-claim is a deception — the climactic attack on trust in YHWH.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἀπατᾷ→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you', the people allegedly being deceived.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing Hezekiah's slogan)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (pres. ptcp. λέγων): introduces the quoted faith-slogan once more.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ῥύσεται (the divine deliverer in the quoted slogan)→ participant prominenceκύριος (nom.): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the subject of the deliverance-claim the Rabshakeh derides — 'the LORD will deliver us'.
ῥύσεταιwill deliverFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb of the quoted slogan→ predictive future (Hezekiah's confident claim)ῥύομαι (fut. ῥύσεται): 'rescue / deliver / save'; renders הִצִּיל / נָצַל; a synonym of ἐξαιρέω (vv. 29–30); Hezekiah's confession that YHWH will rescue — the very claim ch. 19 will vindicate against the boast of v. 35.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ῥύσεται→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. pl. ἡμᾶς): 'us', the people of Jerusalem in the quoted confession of faith.
33
μὴ ῥυόμενοι ἐρρύσαντο οἱ θεοὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ χώραν ἐκ χειρὸς βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων
Have the gods of the nations ever actually delivered, each his own land, out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians?
The speech reaches its theological climax: a rhetorical question (μή expecting 'no') with the Hebraizing cognate participle ῥυόμενοι ἐρρύσαντο ('did they actually deliver?') asserts that no nation's gods have rescued their lands from Assyria. The fatal error — soon refuted — is to class YHWH among the impotent national deities of conquered peoples (vv. 34–35).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
μὴsurely not?interrogative negative (question expecting 'no')→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: in a question expects the answer 'no' — 'have the gods of the nations delivered …? [No!]'.
ῥυόμενοιactually / at allPres Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ῥύομαιcognate participle (intensifying ἐρρύσαντο: Hebraism)→ intensive (rendering the Hebrew infinitive absolute)ῥύομαι (pres. mid. ptcp. ῥυόμενοι): the cognate participle + finite verb (ῥυόμενοι ἐρρύσαντο) renders the Hebrew infinitive-absolute הַצֵּל הִצִּילוּ ('did they really deliver?'), expressing emphatic interrogation — pointedly using the same deliverance-root as Hezekiah's faith-slogan (ῥύσεται, v. 32).
ἐρρύσαντοdid they deliverAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ῥύομαιmain verb of the rhetorical question→ constative aorist (the alleged record of the gods)ῥύομαι (aor. ἐρρύσαντο): 'rescue / deliver'; the question asserts that no national god has ever delivered its land from Assyria — the premise of the blasphemy that YHWH likewise cannot.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with θεοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὶgodsNominativesubject of ἐρρύσαντο (the pagan national deities)→ participant prominenceθεός (nom. pl. θεοί): 'gods'; here the pagan national deities (not YHWH); renders אֱלֹהֵי; the Rabshakeh's category-error is to count YHWH among these powerless idols.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἐθνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεοί: 'gods of the nations')→ relational specificationἔθνος (gen. pl. ἐθνῶν): 'nation / Gentile people'; renders גּוֹיִם; the conquered peoples whose gods failed to save them.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive pronoun (in apposition to θεοί)→ participant referenceἕκαστος: 'each one'; distributive — 'each [god] his own land', individualizing the universal claim of divine impotence.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with χώραν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive pronoun (genitive of possession, modifying χώραν)→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: 'his own'; the reflexive stresses each god's failure to protect even its own territory.
χώρανlandAccusativedirect object of ἐρρύσαντο→ object specificationχώρα (acc. χώραν): 'land / region / country'; renders אֶרֶץ; the territory each national god allegedly failed to deliver.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'out of the hand')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; the recurring leitmotif ἐκ χειρός ('out of the hand of') = from the power of Assyria (cf. vv. 29, 34, 35).
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession (whose hand)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; the king of Assyria, the irresistible conqueror in the boast.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the Assyriansindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationἈσσύριοι: the fixed genitive in βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
34
ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς Αιμαθ καὶ Αρφαδ ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς Σεπφαρουαιν καὶ ὅτι ἐξείλαντο Σαμάρειαν ἐκ χειρός μου
Where is the god of Hamath and Arpad? Where is the god of Sepharvaim? And [where are the gods] that they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
The taunt is itemized with a roll-call of cities whose gods could not save them — Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim — culminating in Samaria, the closest and most ominous example (cf. vv. 9–12). The repeated ποῦ ἐστιν ('where is …?') is the classic mockery of impotent deities; the implication is devastating: if these gods failed, so must Judah's.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (taunting question)→ clausal contributionποῦ: 'where?'; renders אַיֵּה; the mocking 'where is …?' formula used to deride defeated nations' gods (cf. Deut 32:37).
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (interrogative copula)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'where is [now]?' — the gods are gone, having failed to protect their cities.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςgodNominativesubject of ἐστιν (the pagan god)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'god'; the patron deity of Hamath and Arpad, now impotent — a pagan god, not YHWH.
Αιμαθof Hamathindeclinable place name (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΑιμαθ: transliteration of Hebrew חֲמָת (Hamath), a Syrian city-state conquered by Assyria; indeclinable; its god could not save it.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑρφαδArpadindeclinable place name (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΑρφαδ: transliteration of Hebrew אַרְפָּד (Arpad), a north-Syrian city near Hamath, also fallen to Assyria; indeclinable.
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (second taunting question)→ clausal contributionποῦ: 'where?'; the repeated taunt, now of Sepharvaim's god.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (interrogative copula)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the repeated 'where is?'.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςgodNominativesubject of ἐστιν (the pagan god)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'god'; the deity of Sepharvaim, likewise unable to save.
Σεπφαρουαινof Sepharvaimindeclinable place name (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΣεπφαρουαιν: transliteration of Hebrew סְפַרְוַיִם (Sepharvaim), a city whose deportees were resettled in Samaria (17:24); indeclinable; another conquered people whose god failed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅτιthatconjunction (elliptical: '[where are the gods] that …')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; here in an elliptical/Hebraistic construction — the sense is 'and [where are they], seeing that they did [not] deliver Samaria from my hand?'; the LXX renders the compressed Hebrew literally.
ἐξείλαντοthey deliveredAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐξαιρέωverb of the ὅτι clause (the gods' failure)→ constative aorist (the failure to deliver)ἐξαιρέω (aor. mid. ἐξείλαντο): 'deliver / rescue'; the deliverance-keyword again; the implied negative — the gods did NOT deliver Samaria from Assyria, the most recent and nearest proof.
ΣαμάρειανSamariaAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλαντο (the unrescued city)→ object specificationΣαμάρεια (acc. Σαμάρειαν): the fallen northern capital (vv. 9–12); the most damning example — even Israel's own territory was not delivered.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
χειρόςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'out of the hand')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): the recurring 'out of my hand' (= my power); the Assyrian's boast of irresistibility.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's hand)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the king's power, from which no god has rescued.
35
τίς ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς θεοῖς τῶν γαιῶν οἳ ἐξείλαντο τὰς γᾶς αὐτῶν ἐκ χειρός μου ὅτι ἐξελεῖται κύριος τὴν Ιερουσαλημ ἐκ χειρός μου
Who among all the gods of the lands has delivered their lands out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
The blasphemy peaks: no god of any land has delivered its territory — so on what grounds should YHWH (κύριος) deliver Jerusalem? By naming κύριος in the same breath as the impotent national gods, the Rabshakeh directly challenges YHWH's uniqueness. This is the precise affront Hezekiah will lay before YHWH (19:15–19) and that the angel of the LORD will answer (19:35) — the theological hinge of the whole episode.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who?'; renders מִי; 'which of all the gods …?' — expecting the answer 'none'.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (partitive: 'among')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: here partitive 'among all the gods'.
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective (modifying θεοῖς)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς (dat. pl. πᾶσιν): 'all'; the universal scope — no god of any land has succeeded.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with θεοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐν (the comparison-set)→ sphere or referenceθεός (dat. pl. θεοῖς): 'gods'; the pagan national deities, among whom the Rabshakeh blasphemously implies YHWH belongs.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with γαιῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαιῶνlandsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεοῖς: 'gods of the lands')→ relational specificationγαῖα (gen. pl. γαιῶν): 'land / earth / country' (a poetic/variant form of γῆ); renders אֲרָצוֹת; the various conquered territories.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐξείλαντο)→ participant referenceὅς (nom. pl. οἵ): the relative — 'who delivered their lands' — describing the (nonexistent) successful god.
ἐξείλαντοdeliveredAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐξαιρέωverb of relative clause (the gods' record)→ constative aorist (the alleged record of failure)ἐξαιρέω (aor. mid. ἐξείλαντο): 'deliver'; again the deliverance-keyword — the implied answer is that none delivered their lands.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with γᾶς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γᾶςlandsAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλαντο→ object specificationγῆ (acc. pl. γᾶς): 'land'; here in a variant accusative-plural form; the territories the gods failed to rescue.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying γᾶς)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their', the gods' own lands.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
χειρόςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'out of the hand')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): the recurring 'out of my hand' motif.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's hand)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the king's power.
ὅτιthatconjunction (result/consecutive: 'that [therefore]')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that / so that'; here consecutive — given the universal failure of the gods, on what basis 'should the LORD deliver Jerusalem?'
ἐξελεῖταιshould deliverFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb of the consecutive clause→ predictive future (rhetorically denied)ἐξαιρέω (fut. mid. ἐξελεῖται): 'deliver'; the deliverance-keyword now applied to YHWH — the blasphemous denial that the LORD can do what no god has done; ch. 19:35 will refute it decisively.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐξελεῖται (YHWH, set among the failed gods)→ participant prominenceκύριος (nom.): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the climactic blasphemy lies in ranking κύριος among the impotent national gods — the very error that will bring divine judgment on Sennacherib (ch. 19).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιερουσαλημ, supplying accusative)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemindeclinable proper noun (object of ἐξελεῖται, case via article)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: the city YHWH is challenged to deliver — and will, against the Assyrian boast (19:32–34).
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
χειρόςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'out of the hand')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): the final occurrence of the 'out of my hand' refrain — the power from which the Rabshakeh claims even YHWH cannot rescue.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's hand)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the closing assertion of Assyrian invincibility — the boast YHWH will shatter.
36
καὶ ἐκώφευσαν καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ λόγον ὅτι ἐντολὴ τοῦ βασιλέως λέγων οὐκ ἀποκριθήσεσθε αὐτῷ
But they kept silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, 'You shall not answer him.'
The people meet the blasphemous tirade with disciplined silence — not from intimidation but in obedience to Hezekiah's command ('You shall not answer him'). The restraint is its own kind of faith: rather than engage the taunt, the matter is referred to YHWH (ch. 19). The participle λέγων ('saying'), loosely attached to ἐντολή, is a Hebraistic לֵאמֹר construction.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶbut / andnarrative conjunction (adversative force here)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκώφευσανthey kept silentAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κωφεύωmain verb (the people's silence)→ constative aorist (the disciplined silence)κωφεύω: 'be silent / hold one's peace'; from κωφός ('mute / deaf'); renders הֶחֱרִישׁ; the people's deliberate silence in the face of the taunt — obedience, not paralysis.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀπεκρίθησαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθησανthey answeredAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (negated: gave no reply)→ constative aorist (the withheld answer)ἀποκρίνομαι (aor. pass. dep. ἀπεκρίθησαν): 'answer / reply'; renders עָנָה; with οὐκ — they gave not a word, in obedience to the royal order.
αὐτῷhimDativedative indirect object (the Rabshakeh)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'him', the Rabshakeh, who received no reply.
λόγονa wordAccusativeaccusative of content (cognate-like: 'answer a word')→ object specificationλόγος (acc. λόγον): 'word'; the accusative of content — 'answered not a word', a Hebraism (דָּבָר) emphasizing total silence.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; gives the reason for the silence — the king's standing command.
ἐντολὴcommandNominativesubject of an implied copula ('[it was] the command')→ participant prominenceἐντολή: 'command / order'; renders מִצְוָה; the nominal clause 'for the command of the king [was]…' — Hezekiah's prior instruction governs the people's response.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with βασιλέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςking'sGenitivegenitive of source (whose command)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; here Hezekiah, whose order to keep silent the people obey.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (Hebraistic, loosely attached to ἐντολή)→ imperfective participle (pleonastic speech-marker)λέγω (pres. ptcp. λέγων): the participle 'saying' renders לֵאמֹר; though grammatically loose (masculine nom. agreeing with the implied king rather than the feminine ἐντολή), it is a standard Hebraism introducing the content of the command.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκριθήσεσθε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκριθήσεσθεyou shall answerFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb of the quoted command (prohibitive future)→ prohibitive future (a binding order)ἀποκρίνομαι (fut. ἀποκριθήσεσθε): 'answer'; the future with οὐκ functions as a prohibition — Hezekiah's order 'you shall not answer him', the reason for the people's silence.
αὐτῷhimDativedative indirect object (the Rabshakeh)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'him', the Rabshakeh, whom the people are forbidden to answer.
37
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ελιακιμ υἱὸς Χελκιου ὁ οἰκονόμος καὶ Σομνας ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ Ιωας υἱὸς Ασαφ ὁ ἀναμιμνῄσκων πρὸς Εζεκιαν διερρηχότες τὰ ἱμάτια καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν αὐτῷ τοὺς λόγους Ραψακου
And Eliakim son of Hilkiah the steward, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their garments torn, and reported to him the words of the Rabshakeh.
The three officials (named in full again, framing the episode with v. 18) return to the king with torn garments (διερρηχότες τὰ ἱμάτια) — the conventional sign of grief, distress, and outrage at blasphemy. Their report of the Rabshakeh's words sets the stage for Hezekiah's own rending of garments and his recourse to the LORD and to Isaiah in chapter 19.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενcame inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (singular with compound subject, Hebraizing)→ constative aorist (the return)εἰσέρχομαι (aor. εἰσῆλθεν): 'go/come in'; renders בּוֹא; the singular verb with a compound subject follows Hebrew agreement; the officials return into the king's presence.
ΕλιακιμEliakimindeclinable proper noun (first subject)→ participant identificationΕλιακιμ: the palace steward (cf. vv. 18, 26).
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Ελιακιμ (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son of Hilkiah'.
Χελκιουof HilkiahGenitivegenitive of relationship (declined name)→ relational specificationΧελκιας (gen. Χελκιου): Hilkiah, father of Eliakim.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with οἰκονόμος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκονόμοςstewardNominativenominative in apposition to Ελιακιμ (his office)→ participant prominenceοἰκονόμος: 'household-manager / palace steward'; the chief court office (cf. v. 18).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣομναςShebnaNominativesubject (second member, declined name)→ participant prominenceΣομνας: the scribe (cf. v. 18).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with γραμματεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γραμματεὺςscribeNominativenominative in apposition to Σομνας (his office)→ participant prominenceγραμματεύς: 'scribe / secretary'; the royal secretary (cf. v. 18).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωαςJoahindeclinable proper noun (third subject)→ participant identificationΙωας: the recorder (cf. v. 18).
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Ιωας (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son of Asaph'.
Ασαφof Asaphindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΑσαφ: Asaph, father of Joah.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing ἀναμιμνῄσκων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναμιμνῄσκωνrecorderPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ἀναμιμνῄσκωsubstantival participle (Joah's office)→ verbal action or stateἀναμιμνῄσκω (pres. act. ptcp.): the substantivized ὁ ἀναμιμνῄσκων ('the recorder / remembrancer'), renders הַמַּזְכִּיר (cf. v. 18); the trio is named in full, framing the Rabshakeh episode.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΕζεκιανHezekiahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (declined name)→ object specificationΕζεκιας (acc. Εζεκιαν): the king to whom the officials return and report.
διερρηχότεςhaving tornPerf Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · διαρρήγνυμιcircumstantial participle (manner: 'with torn garments')→ resultative perfect (garments in a torn state)διαρρήγνυμι (perf. act. ptcp. διερρηχότες): 'tear / rend apart'; renders קָרַע; the perfect denotes the resulting torn state; rending one's garments is the conventional sign of grief, alarm, and horror at blasphemy (cf. Hezekiah's own response, 19:1).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἱμάτια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of διερρηχότες→ object specificationἱμάτιον (acc. pl. ἱμάτια): 'garment / cloak'; renders בְּגָדִים; the torn clothes express the officials' distress and outrage at the Rabshakeh's blasphemy.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνήγγειλανthey reportedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (the report to the king)→ constative aorist (the report)ἀναγγέλλω (aor. ἀνήγγειλαν): 'announce / report / declare'; renders הִגִּיד; the officials relay the Rabshakeh's words to Hezekiah — the report that precipitates the king's appeal to YHWH and Isaiah in ch. 19.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object (Hezekiah)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'to him', the king.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λόγους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of ἀνήγγειλαν→ object specificationλόγος (acc. pl. λόγους): 'word'; the Rabshakeh's blasphemous speech, now reported to the king.
Ραψακουof the RabshakehGenitivegenitive of source (whose words; declined title)→ relational specificationΡαψακης (gen. Ραψακου): the Assyrian spokesman, here declined in the genitive; his words — closing the chapter and opening the way to Hezekiah's prayer and Isaiah's oracle of deliverance (ch. 19).