Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Fourth Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 19ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Δ′ ΙΘ′

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

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

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

Theme

Hezekiah prays, Isaiah answers, and the Lord shatters Sennacherib without Jerusalem falling.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 4 Kingdoms 19 (= 2 Kings 19 MT) follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The chapter is the great Hezekiah–Sennacherib deliverance narrative, closely parallel to Isaiah 37, and the LXX of Kingdoms here renders the Hebrew with a markedly Hebraising, paratactic καί-style. The chapter falls into clear movements: Hezekiah, hearing the Rabshakeh's blasphemy, tears his garments, puts on sackcloth, and enters the house of the LORD, sending a delegation to the prophet Isaiah son of Amos (vv. 1–4); Isaiah's first oracle of reassurance — μὴ φοβηθῇς ('do not fear') and the promise of a 'spirit' that will turn Sennacherib home to die by the sword (vv. 5–7); the Rabshakeh's return and Sennacherib's renewed threat by letter, the classic Assyrian taunt that no god of the nations delivered them (vv. 8–13); Hezekiah's prayer, in which he spreads the letter before the LORD enthroned upon the cherubim and confesses σὺ εἶ ὁ θεὸς μόνος ('you alone are God') of all the kingdoms of the earth (vv. 14–19); Isaiah's magnificent oracle against Sennacherib — the virgin daughter of Zion who shakes her head, the boast of the cedars and the hook in the nose (vv. 20–28); the sign of the self-sown harvest and the surviving remnant taking root downward and bearing fruit upward (vv. 29–31); the LORD's verdict that the Assyrian shall not enter or shoot an arrow against the city (vv. 32–34); and the climactic stroke of the Angel of the LORD slaying 185,000 in the camp, Sennacherib's withdrawal to Nineveh, and his assassination by his sons in the temple of Nisroch (vv. 35–37). Notable LXX features include the messenger-formula τάδε λέγει κύριος (vv. 3, 6, 20, 32), the divine epithet κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ('LORD God of hosts/powers', v. 20), the throne-formula ὁ καθήμενος ἐπὶ τῶν χερουβιν (v. 15), and the vivid anthropomorphic judgement θήσω τὰ ἄγκιστρά μου ἐν τοῖς μυκτῆρσίν σου ('I will put my hooks in your nostrils', v. 28).

1

καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Εζεκιας καὶ διέρρηξεν τὰ ἱμάτια ἑαυτοῦ καὶ περιεβάλετο σάκκον καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς οἶκον κυρίου

And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard, that he tore his garments and put on sackcloth and entered the house of the LORD.

Narrative onset (temporal frame opening the deliverance episode)καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν
The chapter opens with the classic LXX narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο + ὡς-temporal clause, a Hebraism rendering וַיְהִי כְּ. The king's three reflexive acts — tearing garments, donning sackcloth, entering the temple — form a graded ritual of penitential lament that pivots the crisis of ch. 18 toward prophetic appeal.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 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 (impersonal narrative-onset formula)→ constative aorist (sets the temporal frame)γίνομαι: 'become / happen / come to be'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, the standard LXX device for introducing a new narrative episode framed by a temporal clause.
ὡςwhentemporal conjunction (introducing ὡς-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'when / as'; here temporal, rendering כְּ + infinitive; introduces the circumstance triggering the king's response.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of temporal clause→ constative aorist (the act of hearing)ἀκούω: 'hear / listen'; the object (the Rabshakeh's report of ch. 18) is left implicit; the verb ἀκούω is a leitmotif of the chapter, recurring of both the blasphemous words and the LORD's hearing of the prayer.
theNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject (in apposition to Εζεκιας)→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the title precedes the name in the Hebraizing word-order ὁ βασιλεὺς Εζεκιας ('King Hezekiah').
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject (proper name in apposition to ὁ βασιλεύς)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: transliteration of Hebrew חִזְקִיָּהוּ ('YHWH strengthens'); in Rahlfs' Kingdoms the name is declined as a first-declension masculine (nom. Εζεκιας, gen. Εζεκιου, acc. Εζεκιαν), hence treated here as a declinable noun with case.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis marker after ὡς-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the apodotic καί following the ὡς-temporal clause is a Hebraism (rendering the waw of the apodosis); it links the trigger ('when he heard') to the main response.
διέρρηξενhe toreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαρρήγνυμιmain verb (first of three coordinated responses)→ constative aorist (decisive ritual act)διαρρήγνυμι: 'tear apart / rend'; renders קָרַע; the tearing of garments is the conventional Near-Eastern gesture of grief and alarm (cf. Gen 37:34; 2 Kgdms 1:11).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἱμάτια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of διέρρηξεν→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment / cloak'; renders בֶּגֶד; the plural denotes the royal outer robes whose rending dramatizes the gravity of the threat.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive possessive genitive (with ἱμάτια)→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun 'his own'; emphasizes that the king performs the lament personally upon his own person.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περιεβάλετοhe put on / clothed himselfAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · περιβάλλωmain verb (second coordinated response)→ constative aorist (reflexive middle: clothing oneself)περιβάλλω: 'put around / clothe'; the middle περιεβάλετο ('clothed himself') renders לָבַשׁ; donning sackcloth (שַׂק) is the standard sign of mourning and humiliation before God.
σάκκονsackclothAccusativedirect object of περιεβάλετο→ object specificationσάκκος: 'sackcloth / coarse haircloth'; loanword rendering שַׂק; coarse goat-hair fabric worn next to the skin as a sign of grief, penitence, and supplication.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενhe enteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (third coordinated response, climactic)→ constative aorist (decisive entry)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; renders בּוֹא; the king's entry into the temple is the climactic act of the verse — the crisis is brought directly before YHWH's presence.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction of entry)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of entry).
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; οἶκος κυρίου ('house of the LORD') renders בֵּית יְהוָה, the standard designation of the Jerusalem temple.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἶκον)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive κυρίου marks the temple as YHWH's own dwelling, the fitting place to bring the Assyrian threat.
2

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ελιακιμ τὸν οἰκονόμον καὶ Σομναν τὸν γραμματέα καὶ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῶν ἱερέων περιβεβλημένους σάκκους πρὸς Ησαιαν τὸν προφήτην υἱὸν Αμως

And he sent Eliakim the steward and Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, clothed in sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, son of Amos.

Narrative continuation (Hezekiah's delegation to the prophet)καὶ ἀπέστειλεν
Hezekiah dispatches a high-ranking embassy — palace steward, royal scribe, and senior priests, all in sackcloth — to the prophet. The naming of Isaiah as τὸν προφήτην υἱὸν Αμως anchors the oracle that follows in a known prophetic figure and is verbally identical to Isa 37:2.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενhe sentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (Hezekiah dispatches the embassy)→ constative aorist (single sending)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; the sending of an official delegation to the prophet is the formal mechanism of royal consultation of YHWH.
ΕλιακιμEliakimaccusative object of ἀπέστειλεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλιακιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְיָקִים ('God raises up'); indeclinable in the LXX; the palace steward who in ch. 18 headed the delegation to the Rabshakeh.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἰκονόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκονόμονstewardAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ελιακιμ→ object specificationοἰκονόμος: 'household manager / steward'; renders אֲשֶׁר עַל הַבַּיִת ('who is over the house'), the chief palace official second only to the king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣομνανShebnaAccusativeaccusative object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationΣομνας: transliteration of Hebrew שֶׁבְנָא; declined here as a first-declension masculine (acc. Σομναν); the royal scribe / secretary.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with γραμματέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γραμματέαscribeAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Σομναν→ object specificationγραμματεύς: 'scribe / secretary'; renders סֹפֵר; a senior administrative office responsible for royal correspondence and records.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πρεσβυτέρους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβυτέρουςeldersAccusativeaccusative object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationπρεσβύτερος: 'elder / senior'; renders זָקֵן; the elders of the priests are the senior cultic leadership, lending the embassy religious weight.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἱερέων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωνpriestsGenitivepartitive/possessive genitive (with πρεσβυτέρους)→ relational specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the genitive plural identifies the elders as belonging to the priestly class.
περιβεβλημένουςclothedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Acc Masc Pl · περιβάλλωcircumstantial participle (modifying the whole delegation)→ perfect participle (resultant state of being clothed)περιβάλλω (perf. mid./pass. ptcp.): 'having clothed oneself / clothed'; the perfect denotes the abiding state — the envoys arrive already dressed in sackcloth, visually embodying the king's lament before the prophet.
σάκκουςsackclothAccusativeaccusative of respect/object with the participle (clothed in sackcloth)→ object specificationσάκκος: 'sackcloth'; the accusative plural with the middle/passive participle expresses what they are clothed in; the shared sackcloth links the envoys to the king's penitential posture of v. 1.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward the prophet)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward the prophet).
ΗσαιανIsaiahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationΗσαιας: transliteration of Hebrew יְשַׁעְיָהוּ ('YHWH is salvation'); declined here as a first-declension masculine (acc. Ησαιαν); the great prophet whose oracle dominates the chapter.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with προφήτην)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφήτηνprophetAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ησαιαν→ object specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet / spokesman'; renders נָבִיא; the title establishes Isaiah's authority to deliver the divine word that turns the narrative.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition (patronymic)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic υἱὸν Αμως ('son of Amos') is the standard identification of the prophet (cf. Isa 1:1; 37:2).
Αμωςof Amosgenitive of relationship (indeclinable patronymic)→ participant identificationΑμως: transliteration of Hebrew אָמוֹץ (the prophet's father, distinct from the prophet Amos עָמוֹס); indeclinable in the LXX.
3

καὶ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτόν τάδε λέγει Εζεκιας ἡμέρα θλίψεως καὶ ἐλεγμοῦ καὶ παροργισμοῦ ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη ὅτι ἦλθον υἱοὶ ἕως ὠδίνων καὶ ἰσχὺς οὐκ ἔστιν τῇ τικτούσῃ

And they said to him, 'Thus says Hezekiah: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and provocation, for sons have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength in her who gives birth.

Reported speech (the delegation delivers Hezekiah's message)καὶ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτόν
The envoys relay the king's words with the messenger-formula τάδε λέγει (here of a human king). The triple genitive ἡμέρα θλίψεως καὶ ἐλεγμοῦ καὶ παροργισμοῦ characterizes the day, and the vivid birth-image — children come to the birth-canal with no strength to deliver — figures Judah's helpless extremity.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the delegation speaks)→ constative aorist (delivery of the message)λέγω: the aorist εἶπον (here 3 pl.) introduces the envoys' relay of Hezekiah's message; the verb of saying governs the messenger-formula that follows.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Isaiah)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the pronoun refers to Isaiah, the recipient of the royal message.
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: content of the message)→ participant referenceὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: 'this / these'; the formula τάδε λέγει renders כֹּה אָמַר, the standard messenger-formula; applied here to a human king (Hezekiah) rather than to YHWH, framing his words as an authoritative royal communiqué.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (vivid quotation marker)λέγω (pres.): the present λέγει in the citation-formula gives the king's words present immediacy as they are relayed to the prophet.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject of λέγει→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: the king as the speaking subject of the messenger-formula (gen. Εζεκιου, acc. Εζεκιαν in Rahlfs); declinable, here nominative.
ἡμέραa dayNominativepredicate nominative (fronted: 'a day of ... is this day')→ participant prominenceἡμέρα: 'day'; renders יוֹם; the fronted predicate ἡμέρα θλίψεως ('a day of distress') is emphatic, characterizing the present crisis by its threefold genitive train.
θλίψεωςof distressGenitiveattributive genitive (qualifying ἡμέρα)→ relational specificationθλῖψις: 'affliction / distress / pressure'; renders צָרָה; the first member of the threefold characterization of the day, evoking the squeeze of the siege-crisis.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλεγμοῦof rebukeGenitiveattributive genitive (qualifying ἡμέρα)→ relational specificationἐλεγμός: 'rebuke / reproof / chastisement'; renders תּוֹכֵחָה; the day is one in which Judah experiences correction and reproach, here from the Assyrian taunt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παροργισμοῦof provocationGenitiveattributive genitive (qualifying ἡμέρα)→ relational specificationπαροργισμός: 'provocation / vexation / wrath-provoking'; renders נְאָצָה ('contempt / spurning'); completes the threefold genitive, marking the day as one of provocation — both Judah's anguish and the LORD's being provoked by the blasphemer.
theNominativearticle (with ἡμέρα αὕτη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραdayNominativesubject (resumptive: 'this day')→ participant prominenceἡμέρα: the resumptive subject ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη ('this day') picks up the fronted predicate, completing the equational clause 'a day of distress ... is this day.'
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέρα)→ participant referenceοὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο: 'this'; the demonstrative localizes the threefold characterization in the present moment of crisis.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (introducing explanatory clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the metaphor explaining why the day is one of such distress.
ἦλθονhave comeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιverb of causal clause→ constative aorist (the children have arrived at the birth)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the children have 'come as far as the birth-pangs' — the metaphor of labor reaching its critical stage figures Judah's desperate extremity.
υἱοὶsons / childrenNominativesubject of ἦλθον→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son / child'; here the children in the womb of the birth-metaphor (rendering בָּנִים), poised at delivery but unable to be born — an image of crisis without resolution.
ἕωςto / as far aspreposition + genitive (extent: 'up to the birth-pangs')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'up to / as far as'; marks the children's having reached the very point of delivery.
ὠδίνωνbirth-pangsGenitivegenitive object of ἕως→ relational specificationὠδίς (pl. ὠδῖνες): 'birth-pang / labor-pain'; renders מַשְׁבֵּר ('mouth of the womb / birthstool'); the metaphor of arriving at the birth-canal without strength to deliver expresses the moment of greatest danger and helplessness.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰσχὺςstrengthNominativesubject of ἔστιν→ participant prominenceἰσχύς: 'strength / power'; renders כֹּחַ; the lack of strength to give birth is the crux of the metaphor — the danger has reached its peak but deliverance is humanly impossible.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of existence (negated)→ gnomic/stative present (present incapacity)εἰμί: 'be / exist'; the negated ἔστιν ('there is no strength') states the present impossibility of deliverance by human means, setting up the appeal for divine intervention.
τῇto theDativearticle (with τικτούσῃ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τικτούσῃher who gives birthPres Act Ptcp Dat Fem Sg · τίκτωsubstantival participle (dative of possession: 'for the one giving birth')→ present participle (the woman in the act of labor)τίκτω: 'bear / give birth'; the substantival participle τῇ τικτούσῃ ('to her who is giving birth') completes the metaphor — the mother in labor has no strength left, figuring Judah powerless to save herself in the moment of crisis.
4

εἴ πως εἰσακούσεται κύριος ὁ θεός σου πάντας τοὺς λόγους Ραψακου ὃν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὸν βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ ὀνειδίζειν θεὸν ζῶντα καὶ βλασφημεῖν ἐν λόγοις οἷς ἤκουσεν κύριος ὁ θεός σου καὶ λήμψῃ προσευχὴν περὶ τοῦ λείμματος τοῦ εὑρισκομένου

Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his lord sent to reproach the living God and to blaspheme with words which the LORD your God heard; so take up a prayer for the remnant that is found.

Petition (the hope clause that is the heart of the appeal)εἴ πως εἰσακούσεται
The εἴ πως ('if perhaps / would that') clause voices the cautious hope that YHWH has himself heard the blasphemy and will act. The verse turns the Rabshakeh's words into evidence against Assyria before the divine judge, and ends with the imperative λήμψῃ — the request that Isaiah lift up intercession for the surviving remnant.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
εἴifconditional/optative particle (with πως: 'if perhaps')→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; with πως forms εἴ πως ('if somehow / perhaps / it may be that'), expressing a hopeful, tentative wish rather than a real condition.
πωςperhaps / somehowmodal adverb (enclitic, with εἴ)→ clausal contributionπως: enclitic 'somehow / perhaps'; the combination εἴ πως renders אוּלַי ('perhaps'), voicing guarded hope that YHWH will respond.
εἰσακούσεταιwill hearFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰσακούωmain verb of the hope-clause→ predictive future (hoped-for divine response)εἰσακούω: 'hear / hearken / heed'; the compound εἰσ- intensifies (give heed to / take note of); renders שָׁמַע; the hope is that YHWH will not merely hear but act upon the Rabshakeh's blasphemy.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of εἰσακούσεται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; κύριος ὁ θεός σου ('the LORD your God', addressing Isaiah's God) is the one whose hearing is the sole ground of hope.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; in apposition to κύριος, the full title κύριος ὁ θεός σου stresses covenant relationship.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεός; addressing Isaiah)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the second-person singular addresses the prophet Isaiah — 'the LORD your God,' appealing to the prophet's special relation to YHWH.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λόγους)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; πάντας τοὺς λόγους ('all the words') stresses the totality of the blasphemous speech now laid before God.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λόγους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of εἰσακούσεται→ object specificationλόγος: 'word / saying'; renders דָּבָר; the Rabshakeh's words become the object of YHWH's hearing — the blasphemy is itself the evidence summoning divine judgement.
Ραψακουof the RabshakehGenitivegenitive of source (with λόγους)→ relational specificationΡαψακης: a transliteration of the Assyrian title rab-šāqê ('chief cupbearer / chief officer'), treated in the LXX as a name; declined as a first-declension masculine (gen. Ραψακου, nom. Ραψακης at v. 8); the Assyrian envoy whose taunt is recounted in ch. 18.
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀπέστειλεν, antecedent Ραψακου)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; the relative clause identifies the Rabshakeh as the commissioned agent of Assyrian blasphemy; the resumptive αὐτόν that follows is a Hebraism (redundant pronoun in a relative clause).
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the commissioning)ἀποστέλλω: 'send (with a commission)'; the Assyrian king dispatched the Rabshakeh precisely to reproach the living God — the verb sets up the two purpose-infinitives that follow.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeresumptive pronoun (redundant object, Hebraism in relative clause)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the resumptive αὐτόν duplicating the relative ὅν is a Hebraism (Hebrew אֲשֶׁר ... אֹתוֹ), the redundant pronoun characteristic of Semitic relative clauses carried over into translation-Greek.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἀπέστειλεν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων ('king of the Assyrians') is the recurring designation of Sennacherib throughout the chapter.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλεύς)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, here genitive plural ('of the Assyrians'), declined; renders אַשּׁוּר; the phrase βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων is the standard LXX rendering of מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר.
theNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςlord / masterNominativenominative in apposition to βασιλεύς→ participant prominenceκύριος: here in its ordinary sense 'lord / master' (the Rabshakeh's human overlord, the Assyrian king), NOT the divine name — context makes clear ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ ('his lord') refers to Sennacherib as the Rabshakeh's superior.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with κύριος; referring to the Rabshakeh)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; identifies the Assyrian king as the Rabshakeh's own lord, underscoring the chain of command behind the blasphemy.
ὀνειδίζεινto reproachPres Act Inf · ὀνειδίζωinfinitive of purpose (with ἀπέστειλεν)→ present infinitive (purpose of the sending)ὀνειδίζω: 'reproach / revile / taunt'; renders חָרַף; the first purpose-infinitive — the Rabshakeh was sent precisely 'to reproach the living God,' framing the offence as direct insult to YHWH.
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object of ὀνειδίζειν→ object specificationθεός: 'God'; here the object reproached; the anarthrous θεὸν ζῶντα ('a living God') sets the true God against the dead idols of v. 18.
ζῶνταlivingPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Sg · ζάωattributive participle (modifying θεόν)→ present participle (characterizing attribute: the ever-living God)ζάω: 'live / be alive'; the attributive participle θεὸν ζῶντα ('the living God') renders אֱלֹהִים חַי; the epithet is theologically loaded — the LORD lives and acts, unlike the lifeless idols Assyria has burned (v. 18).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the two purpose-infinitives)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βλασφημεῖνto blasphemePres Act Inf · βλασφημέωinfinitive of purpose (coordinate with ὀνειδίζειν)→ present infinitive (purpose of the sending)βλασφημέω: 'blaspheme / revile / speak impiously'; renders גָּדַף; the second purpose-infinitive names the offence in its gravest form — speech that insults the divine majesty itself.
ἐνwith / inpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with words')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental: 'with words').
λόγοιςwordsDativedative of instrument (with βλασφημεῖν)→ sphere or referenceλόγος: 'word'; the instrumental dative ἐν λόγοις ('with words') specifies that the blasphemy was committed verbally — the very words YHWH himself heard.
οἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative by attraction, antecedent λόγοις)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun, dative οἷς by attraction to its antecedent λόγοις; introduces the clause asserting that YHWH has personally heard the blasphemous words.
ἤκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the divine hearing as accomplished fact)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the claim that κύριος ... ἤκουσεν ('the LORD heard') the blasphemy makes God the direct witness — the petition rests on the fact that the offence has already reached the divine ear.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἤκουσεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine name as subject of the hearing repeats the hope of the opening clause — YHWH himself has registered the insult.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; in apposition, completing the full title κύριος ὁ θεός σου repeated from the opening of the verse.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεός; addressing Isaiah)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; again addressing the prophet, framing the appeal in terms of YHWH's relation to Isaiah.
καὶand socoordinate conjunction (with consequential/imperatival force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with a mild consequential force ('and so'), linking the recital of blasphemy to the resulting request for intercession.
λήμψῃyou shall take upFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (future with imperatival/jussive force)→ imperatival future (the request to Isaiah: 'lift up a prayer')λαμβάνω: 'take / take up / receive'; the future λήμψῃ here carries imperatival force (rendering Hebrew weqatal וְנָשָׂאתָ), 'you shall lift up / take up a prayer' — the request that Isaiah make intercession on Judah's behalf.
προσευχὴνa prayerAccusativedirect object of λήμψῃ→ object specificationπροσευχή: 'prayer / petition'; renders תְּפִלָּה; the prayer requested is intercessory — that the prophet lift up supplication for the surviving remnant of Judah.
περὶfor / concerningpreposition + genitive (on behalf of)→ spatial or relational framingπερί + gen.: 'concerning / on behalf of'; marks the remnant as the beneficiary of the intercession.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λείμματος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λείμματοςremnantGenitivegenitive object of περί→ relational specificationλεῖμμα: 'remnant / remainder / what is left'; renders שְׁאֵרִית; the surviving portion of Judah — those not yet swept away by Assyria — for whom intercession is sought; the remnant-theme reaches its climax at v. 31.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with εὑρισκομένου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὑρισκομένουthat is foundPres Mid/Pass Ptcp Gen Neut Sg · εὑρίσκωattributive participle (modifying λείμματος)→ present passive participle (the remnant presently remaining)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; the passive participle τοῦ εὑρισκομένου ('that is found / that remains') qualifies the remnant as the portion still surviving and discoverable — those left after Assyria's devastation, for whom prayer is offered.
5

καὶ ἦλθον οἱ παῖδες τοῦ βασιλέως Εζεκιου πρὸς Ησαιαν

And the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

Narrative continuation (the embassy reaches the prophet)καὶ ἦλθον οἱ παῖδες
A brief narrative bridge confirming that the delegation of v. 2 has arrived; it sets the stage for Isaiah's first oracle in vv. 6–7.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθονcameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the servants' arrival)→ constative aorist (completed journey)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; renders בּוֹא; the arrival of the king's servants before the prophet completes the dispatch of v. 2.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with παῖδες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδεςservantsNominativesubject of ἦλθον→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / child / attendant'; renders עֶבֶד; here the royal officials of v. 2 collectively designated as the king's 'servants.'
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with βασιλέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivepossessive genitive (with παῖδες)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the genitive marks the servants as belonging to King Hezekiah.
Εζεκιουof HezekiahGenitivegenitive in apposition to βασιλέως→ relational specificationΕζεκιας (gen. Εζεκιου): the genitive form of the king's name in Rahlfs' Kingdoms; declinable, here genitive.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΗσαιανIsaiahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationΗσαιας (acc. Ησαιαν): the prophet; declinable proper name, here accusative as goal of the embassy.
6

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ησαιας τάδε ἐρεῖτε πρὸς τὸν κύριον ὑμῶν τάδε λέγει κύριος μὴ φοβηθῇς ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων ὧν ἤκουσας ὧν ἐβλασφήμησαν τὰ παιδάρια βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων

And Isaiah said to them, 'Thus shall you say to your lord: Thus says the LORD: Do not fear because of the words which you heard, with which the lackeys of the king of Assyria blasphemed me.

Prophetic response (the first oracle of reassurance)καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ησαιας
Isaiah answers with a double messenger-formula: 'thus shall you say to your lord ... thus says the LORD,' embedding YHWH's own word inside the prophet's instruction. The reassurance μὴ φοβηθῇς ('do not fear') is the salvation-oracle's classic opening, dismissing the blasphemy of the Assyrian king's παιδάρια ('lackeys') as no real threat.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (prophet's speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν introduces Isaiah's authoritative response to the royal delegation.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (the envoys)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'them'; the dative marks the delegation as the recipients of the prophet's instruction.
ΗσαιαςIsaiahNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceΗσαιας: the prophet as speaking subject; declinable, here nominative.
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of ἐρεῖτε)→ participant referenceὅδε: 'this / these'; τάδε ἐρεῖτε ('thus you shall say') is the first of the doubled messenger-formula, instructing the envoys what to report to their lord.
ἐρεῖτεyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Pl · λέγω (εἴρω)main verb (instruction to the envoys, imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command to relay the message)λέγω / εἴρω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say / tell'; the future ἐρεῖτε has imperatival force ('thus you shall say'), directing the envoys to carry the oracle back to Hezekiah.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονlord / masterAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationκύριος: here in the ordinary sense 'lord / master' — the envoys' royal master Hezekiah, NOT the divine name; τὸν κύριον ὑμῶν ('your lord') renders אֲדֹנֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with κύριον)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your'; identifies Hezekiah as the envoys' royal master.
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: second messenger-formula)→ participant referenceὅδε: 'this / these'; τάδε λέγει κύριος ('thus says the LORD') is the embedded divine messenger-formula, now with YHWH himself as speaker.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (vivid divine speech-marker)λέγω (pres.): the present in τάδε λέγει κύριος renders כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, marking the words that follow as direct divine speech of present authority.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of λέγει (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here the divine speaker of the oracle of reassurance.
μὴnotnegative particle (with φοβηθῇς: prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative of prohibition with the aorist subjunctive; μὴ φοβηθῇς ('do not fear') is the classic opening of the salvation-oracle (cf. Gen 15:1; Isa 41:10).
φοβηθῇςfearAor Pass Subj 2 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (prohibitive subjunctive: reassurance)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not begin to fear)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; renders יָרֵא; the prohibitive μὴ φοβηθῇς is the heart of the oracle — YHWH dispels the terror produced by the Assyrian taunt.
ἀπὸbecause of / frompreposition + genitive (cause of fear)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό + gen.: 'from / because of'; here marks the cause of the fear (the words heard), a Hebraism rendering מִפְּנֵי / מִן.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with λόγων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγωνwordsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationλόγος: 'word'; the blasphemous words of the Rabshakeh, the cause of the dread the oracle dispels.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (object of ἤκουσας, attracted to gen.)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, genitive ὧν by attraction to λόγων; introduces the clause 'which you heard.'
ἤκουσαςyou heardAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀκούωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the hearing of the words)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the second singular addresses Hezekiah directly — the words he heard reported by his envoys.
ὧνwith whichGenitiverelative pronoun (with ἐβλασφήμησαν, genitive of means/respect)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, genitive ὧν; the antecedent is the words — 'with which the lackeys blasphemed (me)'; the case reflects attraction and the construction of βλασφημέω with a genitive of the words used.
ἐβλασφήμησανblasphemedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · βλασφημέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the act of blasphemy)βλασφημέω: 'blaspheme / revile'; renders גָּדַף; the offence is attributed to the Assyrian king's underlings, diminishing the dignity of the blasphemers even as their words are taken with deadly seriousness by YHWH.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with παιδάρια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριαlackeys / servant-boysNominativesubject of ἐβλασφήμησαν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'young servant / lad / lackey'; diminutive of παῖς; renders נַעַר; the dismissive term reduces the imposing Assyrian envoys to mere 'servant-boys' of their king — a deliberate belittling of the blasphemers.
βασιλέωςof the kingGenitivepossessive genitive (with παιδάρια)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the genitive marks the lackeys as belonging to the Assyrian king.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλέως)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, genitive plural, declined; βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων is the standard designation of Sennacherib.
7

ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ δίδωμι ἐν αὐτῷ πνεῦμα καὶ ἀκούσεται ἀγγελίαν καὶ ἀποστραφήσεται εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ καὶ καταβαλῶ αὐτὸν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ ἐν τῇ γῇ αὐτοῦ

Behold, I am putting a spirit in him, and he will hear a report and return to his own land, and I will cut him down by the sword in his own land.

Divine first-person announcement (content of the oracle)ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ δίδωμι
The oracle's content: YHWH himself, in emphatic first person (ἰδοὺ ἐγώ), will place a 'spirit' in Sennacherib that drives him home upon hearing a report, where he will fall by the sword. The sequence — spirit, report, return, sword — compresses the whole remainder of the chapter (vv. 35–37) into a fourfold prophecy.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (focus marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the demonstrative particle introduces the divine announcement with vivid immediacy, fixing attention on what YHWH is about to do.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun: YHWH himself)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun stresses YHWH's direct personal agency — it is the LORD himself who will move Sennacherib's mind and end his life.
δίδωμιI am putting / givePres Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (futuristic present: divine first-person act)→ futuristic present (imminent action presented as underway)δίδωμι: 'give / put / place'; renders נָתַן; the present δίδωμι ('I am putting') with future force expresses the certainty and immediacy of the divinely-induced impulse placed in Sennacherib.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in him')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in him').
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of ἐν (Sennacherib)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'him'; refers to Sennacherib — the 'spirit' is placed within him to redirect his purpose.
πνεῦμαa spiritAccusativedirect object of δίδωμι→ object specificationπνεῦμα: 'spirit / breath / wind'; renders רוּחַ; here a divinely-sent disposition or impulse — an inner compulsion (anxiety, rumor-driven alarm) that will turn the king homeward; cf. the 'spirit' of 3 Kgdms 22:21–23.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκούσεταιhe will hearFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (consequence of the implanted spirit)→ predictive future (the coming report)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the king will 'hear a report' (the rumor of Tirhakah's advance, v. 9) — the operation of the implanted spirit producing alarm and retreat.
ἀγγελίανa report / messageAccusativedirect object of ἀκούσεται→ object specificationἀγγελία: 'report / tidings / news'; renders שְׁמוּעָה; the rumor that will alarm Sennacherib and prompt his withdrawal — fulfilled in the news of v. 9.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποστραφήσεταιhe will returnFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (predicted withdrawal)→ predictive future (turning back homeward)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; the passive-form future (with active sense) renders שׁוּב; Sennacherib's enforced retreat to his own land, fulfilled at v. 36.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ ('to his own land') = Assyria, the destination of his forced retreat.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivepossessive genitive (with γῆν)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; marks the land as Sennacherib's own — Assyria, where his death awaits.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (climactic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταβαλῶI will cut down / fellFut Act Indic 1 Sg · καταβάλλωmain verb (climactic divine first-person act)→ predictive future (the decreed death)καταβάλλω: 'throw down / cast down / fell'; renders נָפַל (Hiphil) / 'cause to fall'; the first-person future makes YHWH the agent of Sennacherib's death by the sword — fulfilled in the assassination of v. 37.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of καταβαλῶ→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him'; Sennacherib, the object of the decreed downfall.
ἐνby / withpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by the sword')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental 'by / with', a Hebraism rendering בְּ; here 'by the sword.'
ῥομφαίᾳa swordDativedative of instrument (with καταβαλῶ)→ sphere or referenceῥομφαία: 'sword / large broadsword'; renders חֶרֶב; the instrument of Sennacherib's death — fulfilled when his sons strike him with the sword (ἐν μαχαίρᾳ) in v. 37.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with γῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; ἐν τῇ γῇ αὐτοῦ ('in his own land') stresses the irony — the king who marched against Judah will die safely back home, struck down where he felt secure.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivepossessive genitive (with γῇ)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the repetition of αὐτοῦ ('his own land') seals the prophecy: Sennacherib's downfall will come in Assyria itself.
8

καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ραψακης καὶ εὗρεν τὸν βασιλέα Ἀσσυρίων πολεμοῦντα ἐπὶ Λομνα ὅτι ἤκουσεν ὅτι ἀπῆρεν ἀπὸ Λαχις

And the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.

Narrative resumption (the scene shifts back to the Assyrian camp)καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ραψακης
The narrative leaves Jerusalem to follow the Rabshakeh back to his king. The double ὅτι ('because ... that') explains the troop movement: the king had broken camp at Lachish and was now besieging Libnah. The geographic notices ground the oracle of vv. 6–7 in the historical campaign.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (the Rabshakeh's return)→ constative aorist (completed return)ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the Rabshakeh returns from Jerusalem to rejoin his king on campaign.
Ραψακηςthe RabshakehNominativesubject of ἐπέστρεψεν→ participant prominenceΡαψακης: the Assyrian chief officer (rab-šāqê); here nominative — declined as a first-declension masculine, hence treated as a declinable noun with case.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb (the Rabshakeh locates his king)→ constative aorist (the finding)εὑρίσκω: 'find / discover'; renders מָצָא; the Rabshakeh finds the king already moved on to a new siege.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object of εὗρεν→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the object found — Sennacherib, designated by the recurring title βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλέα)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, genitive plural, declined.
πολεμοῦνταfighting / making warPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Sg · πολεμέωsupplementary participle (with εὗρεν: 'found him fighting')→ present participle (ongoing action of besieging)πολεμέω: 'make war / fight / besiege'; renders נִלְחָם; the supplementary participle after εὗρεν describes the king as engaged in active siege-warfare against Libnah.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against'; here in hostile sense, the object of the siege.
ΛομναLibnahaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΛομνα: transliteration of Hebrew לִבְנָה (Libnah), a fortified town in the Judean Shephelah; indeclinable place-name in the LXX.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the explanation for the Rabshakeh's change of location — the king had moved on.
ἤκουσενhe had heardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of causal clause→ constative aorist (prior hearing)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the Rabshakeh had heard that the king had broken camp; explains why he went to Libnah rather than Lachish.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (introducing object clause of ἤκουσεν)→ clausal contributionὅτι: 'that'; here a content-marker introducing the substance of what was heard.
ἀπῆρενhe had departedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαίρωverb of object clause (what was heard)→ constative aorist (the departure from Lachish)ἀπαίρω: 'depart / break camp / set out'; renders נָסַע; the king's removal from Lachish to Libnah is the reported troop movement.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (point of departure)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (point of departure).
ΛαχιςLachishgenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΛαχις: transliteration of Hebrew לָכִישׁ (Lachish), the major Judean fortress whose siege by Sennacherib is famously depicted in Assyrian reliefs; indeclinable place-name in the LXX.
9

καὶ ἤκουσεν περὶ Θαρακα βασιλέως Αἰθιόπων λέγων ἰδοὺ ἐξῆλθεν πολεμεῖν μετὰ σοῦ καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους πρὸς Εζεκιαν λέγων

And he heard concerning Tirhakah king of the Ethiopians, saying, 'Behold, he has come out to fight with you'; and he turned back and sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying:

Narrative development (the report that triggers the second threat)καὶ ἤκουσεν περὶ Θαρακα
The 'report' foretold in v. 7 now arrives: news of Tirhakah's advance from the south. Yet rather than withdraw at once, Sennacherib renews his pressure on Jerusalem by letter — the renewed threat of vv. 10–13. The double λέγων brackets both the report received and the message sent.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσενhe heardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (the king hears the report)→ constative aorist (the hearing)ἀκούω: 'hear'; Sennacherib hears the alarming report of Tirhakah's advance — the ἀγγελία promised in v. 7.
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (topic of the report)→ spatial or relational framingπερὶ: meaning 'concerning'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (topic of the report).
ΘαρακαTirhakahGenitivegenitive object of περί→ relational specificationΘαρακα: transliteration of Hebrew תִּרְהָקָה (Tirhakah), the Cushite (Ethiopian/Nubian) ruler of the 25th Egyptian dynasty; here in the genitive (περὶ Θαρακα), treated as a declined first-declension form.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Θαρακα→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the apposition βασιλέως Αἰθιόπων identifies Tirhakah as ruler of the Ethiopians/Cushites.
Αἰθιόπωνof the EthiopiansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλέως)→ relational specificationΑἰθίοψ: 'Ethiopian / Cushite'; renders כּוּשׁ; the genitive plural identifies Tirhakah's realm — the Nubian power threatening Assyria's southern flank.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the content of the report)→ present participle (Hebraizing λέγων-formula)λέγω: the participle λέγων ('saying') is the LXX's standard rendering of לֵאמֹר, introducing direct discourse — here the content of the report.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; introduces the alarming news with vividness.
ἐξῆλθενhe has come outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιverb of the reported content→ constative aorist (Tirhakah's sortie)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come out'; renders יָצָא; Tirhakah has marched out to give battle, the threat that unsettles Sennacherib.
πολεμεῖνto fightPres Act Inf · πολεμέωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐξῆλθεν)→ present infinitive (purpose of the sortie)πολεμέω: 'make war / fight'; the purpose-infinitive — Tirhakah comes out 'to fight with you,' i.e., against Sennacherib.
μετὰwith / againstpreposition + genitive (here adversative: 'against you')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: lit. 'with'; in a hostile context with πολεμέω it carries the sense 'against' — to wage war against.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά (Sennacherib)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'; addresses Sennacherib in the report — Tirhakah comes against him.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστρεψενhe turned backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (the king's reaction)→ constative aorist (turning back / again)ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn / turn back / again'; here likely 'again' (idiomatic, rendering שׁוּב + following verb): Sennacherib once more sends messengers — renewing his demand even as the report unsettles him.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενhe sentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (the king dispatches messengers)→ constative aorist (the sending)ἀποστέλλω: 'send (with a commission)'; Sennacherib dispatches envoys with the threatening letter that follows in vv. 10–13.
ἀγγέλουςmessengersAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν→ object specificationἄγγελος: 'messenger / envoy'; renders מַלְאָךְ; here human envoys bearing Sennacherib's letter (contrast the ἄγγελος κυρίου of v. 35).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΕζεκιανHezekiahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationΕζεκιας (acc. Εζεκιαν): the king; declinable, here accusative as the recipient of the threatening message.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the letter's content)→ present participle (Hebraizing λέγων-formula)λέγω: the participle λέγων again renders לֵאמֹר, introducing the words of the Assyrian letter that begins at v. 10.
10

μὴ ἐπαιρέτω σε ὁ θεός σου ἐφ᾿ ᾧ σὺ πέποιθας ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ λέγων οὐ μὴ παραδοθῇ Ιερουσαλημ εἰς χεῖρας βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων

'Do not let your God on whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Reported threat (the heart of the blasphemous letter)μὴ ἐπαιρέτω σε ὁ θεός σου
The letter opens with the blasphemy proper: a prohibition warning Hezekiah not to be 'lifted up' (deceived/buoyed) by his God's promise that Jerusalem will not fall. The redundant ἐφ᾿ ᾧ ... ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ ('on whom ... on him') is a Hebraism. The emphatic οὐ μὴ + subjunctive quotes Judah's confidence in order to mock it.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
μὴnotnegative particle (with ἐπαιρέτω: prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the prohibitive negative with the third-person imperative; 'let not ... deceive you.'
ἐπαιρέτωlet him lift up / deceivePres Act Impv 3 Sg · ἐπαίρωmain verb (third-person prohibitive imperative)→ prohibitive present imperative (do not let it continue)ἐπαίρω: 'lift up / raise / exalt'; here in the sense 'buoy up with false hope / deceive / mislead'; renders נָשָׁא (Hiphil, 'beguile / mislead'); the taunt: do not let your God raise your hopes with empty promises.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐπαιρέτω (Hezekiah)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; Hezekiah, the addressee of the threatening letter.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativesubject of ἐπαιρέτω→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεός σου ('your God') — the Assyrian reduces YHWH to merely Hezekiah's national deity, a category-error the prayer of vv. 15–19 will refute.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεός)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the possessive frames YHWH belittlingly as a merely local god.
ἐφ᾿onpreposition + dative (object of trust; elided ἐπί)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'on / upon'; with πέποιθα marks the object of reliance; the elided form ἐφ᾿ stands before the relative ᾧ.
whomDativerelative pronoun (dative, antecedent θεός)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun, dative ᾧ governed by ἐπί; 'on whom you trust'; the resumptive ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ that follows is a Hebraism.
σὺyouNominativesubject of πέποιθας (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun stresses Hezekiah's personal reliance, which the taunt aims to undermine.
πέποιθαςyou trustPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · πείθωverb of relative clause→ perfect with present force (settled state of trust)πείθω (perf. πέποιθα): 'trust / have confidence / rely'; the second perfect πέποιθα has present meaning ('I trust'); renders בָּטַח; Hezekiah's reliance on YHWH is precisely what the Assyrian seeks to shatter.
ἐπ᾿onpreposition + dative (resumptive, Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'on'; ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ resumes the relative ᾧ — a redundant repetition characteristic of Semitic relative clauses (Hebrew אֲשֶׁר ... עָלָיו).
αὐτῷhimDativeresumptive pronoun (with ἐπ᾿; Hebraism)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the resumptive αὐτῷ ('on him') duplicates the relative ᾧ, a Hebraism rendering the Hebrew resumptive pronoun in the relative clause.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the quoted promise)→ present participle (Hebraizing λέγων-formula)λέγω: the participle introduces the promise attributed (mockingly) to YHWH/Hezekiah — that Jerusalem will not be surrendered.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: emphatic negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή forms the emphatic double negative οὐ μή ('by no means / surely not').
μὴnotnegative particle (with οὐ + subjunctive: emphatic denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the second member of οὐ μή; with the aorist subjunctive παραδοθῇ it expresses strong denial of a future possibility.
παραδοθῇshall be given overAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιverb of the quoted promise (emphatic future denial)→ aorist subjunctive with οὐ μή (emphatic denial of surrender)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up / surrender'; renders נָתַן (Niphal); the quoted confidence — Jerusalem 'shall by no means be given' into Assyrian hands — is exactly what the Assyrian mocks but YHWH will vindicate (vv. 32–34).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemsubject of παραδοθῇ (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלַͅם; indeclinable in the LXX (in this form); the city whose deliverance is the whole subject of the chapter.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'into the hand of')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the idiom εἰς χεῖρας ('into the hands of') renders בְּיַד ('into the power of'); to be given 'into the hand' = to be conquered and subjugated.
βασιλέωςof the kingGenitivepossessive genitive (with χεῖρας)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the genitive identifies whose hand — the Assyrian king's.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλέως)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, genitive plural, declined.
11

ἰδοὺ σὺ ἤκουσας πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησαν βασιλεῖς Ἀσσυρίων πάσαις ταῖς γαῖς τοῦ ἀναθεματίσαι αὐτάς καὶ σὺ ῥυσθήσῃ

'Behold, you have heard all that the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, devoting them to destruction; and shall you be delivered?

Reported threat (the empirical argument from Assyrian conquest)ἰδοὺ σὺ ἤκουσας
The taunt's central argument: the documented record of Assyrian conquest proves no resistance succeeds. The articular infinitive of purpose τοῦ ἀναθεματίσαι ('to devote to destruction') uses the loaded LXX verb of ḥerem-annihilation. The final καὶ σὺ ῥυσθήσῃ is rhetorically a sneering question — 'and you, will you escape?'
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; calls Hezekiah to face the historical evidence of Assyrian invincibility.
σὺyouNominativesubject of ἤκουσας (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun confronts Hezekiah personally with the record of conquest.
ἤκουσαςyou have heardAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb→ constative aorist (Hezekiah's knowledge of the record)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the Assyrian appeals to common knowledge — Hezekiah surely knows the fate of all who resisted Assyria.
πάνταallAccusativedirect object of ἤκουσας (substantival: 'all things')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totality of Assyrian conquests, the empirical basis of the threat.
ὅσαwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (correlative, object of ἐποίησαν)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as / whatever'; correlative with πάντα — 'all, as much as the Assyrian kings have done.'
ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the record of conquest)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the deeds of the Assyrian kings — their systematic devastation of resisting nations.
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativesubject of ἐποίησαν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the plural βασιλεῖς Ἀσσυρίων ('kings of Assyria') invokes the whole dynastic record of empire, not just Sennacherib.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλεῖς)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, genitive plural, declined.
πάσαιςallDativeattributive adjective (with γαῖς)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; πάσαις ταῖς γαῖς ('to all the lands') universalizes the claim — no land has escaped.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with γαῖς)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαῖςlandsDativedative (of the lands acted upon: 'to all the lands')→ sphere or referenceγῆ (dat. pl. γαῖς): 'land / country'; renders אֲרָצוֹת; the dative marks the lands as the objects of Assyrian devastation.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with the articular infinitive ἀναθεματίσαι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναθεματίσαιto devote to destructionAor Act Inf · ἀναθεματίζωarticular infinitive of purpose/result (τοῦ + inf.)→ aorist infinitive (purpose: utter destruction)ἀναθεματίζω: 'devote to destruction / place under the ban'; renders חָרַם (the ḥerem of total annihilation); the articular infinitive τοῦ ἀναθεματίσαι expresses the purpose/result — the Assyrians annihilated the lands utterly; the term ironically applies to Israel's own holy-war vocabulary, now turned against the nations.
αὐτάςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀναθεματίσαι (the lands)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; refers to the lands (γαῖς) devoted to destruction.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (with rhetorical-interrogative force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introduces the sneering rhetorical question — 'and (you suppose) you will be delivered?'
σὺyouNominativesubject of ῥυσθήσῃ (emphatic, contrastive)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun sets Hezekiah's hope in mocking contrast with the universally-defeated nations — 'and YOU will escape?'
ῥυσθήσῃshall you be deliveredFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb (rhetorical-interrogative future)→ predictive future (sneering rhetorical question expecting 'no')ῥύομαι: 'rescue / deliver / save'; renders נָצַל; the passive future ῥυσθήσῃ ('will you be rescued?') is a taunting question implying impossibility — yet it is precisely the deliverance YHWH will grant (the verb's appearance here is heavy with dramatic irony).
12

μὴ ἐξείλαντο αὐτοὺς οἱ θεοὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν οὓς διέφθειραν οἱ πατέρες μου τήν τε Γωζαν καὶ τὴν Χαρραν καὶ Ραφες καὶ υἱοὺς Εδεμ τοὺς ἐν Θαεσθεν

'Did the gods of the nations deliver them, whom my fathers destroyed — Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?

Reported threat (the theological argument from the impotence of the nations' gods)μὴ ἐξείλαντο αὐτοὺς οἱ θεοὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν
The taunt's theological climax: the interrogative μή expects the answer 'no' — the gods of the conquered nations did not save them. A roll-call of destroyed places (Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, Eden-in-Telassar) furnishes the evidence. This is the very blasphemy that levels YHWH with the dead idols, and which Hezekiah's prayer will overturn.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
μὴsurely notinterrogative particle (expecting negative answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: as an interrogative particle introducing a question that expects the answer 'no' — 'the gods did not deliver them, did they?'
ἐξείλαντοdid they deliverAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ constative aorist (the question of past deliverance)ἐξαιρέω: 'take out / rescue / deliver'; the middle ἐξειλάμην = 'rescue for oneself / deliver'; renders נָצַל (Hiphil); the question denies that any national god rescued its people from Assyria.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλαντο (the nations)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; the conquered nations whose gods proved powerless.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with θεοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὶgodsNominativesubject of ἐξείλαντο→ participant prominenceθεός: 'god'; here the pagan deities of the nations — which the prayer of v. 18 will declare to be no gods at all but mere wood and stone.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἐθνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοί)→ relational specificationἔθνος: 'nation / people / Gentiles'; renders גּוֹי; the nations conquered by Assyria, whose tutelary gods failed them.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of διέφθειραν, antecedent the nations)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; introduces the catalogue of destroyed nations.
διέφθειρανdestroyedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαφθείρωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the conquests)διαφθείρω: 'destroy / ruin utterly'; renders שָׁחַת; the Assyrian fathers' total destruction of these peoples.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πατέρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of διέφθειραν→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father / ancestor'; οἱ πατέρες μου ('my fathers') = the prior Assyrian kings, whose conquests Sennacherib claims as precedent.
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitive (with πατέρες)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; Sennacherib invokes his royal predecessors as 'my fathers.'
τήνtheAccusativearticle (with Γωζαν)→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεboth / andcoordinating enclitic particle (beginning the list)→ discourse linkage or contrastτε: enclitic 'and / both'; τήν τε ... καί ... opens the catalogue of destroyed places.
ΓωζανGozanAccusativeaccusative in apposition (first place destroyed; with article τήν)→ noun-phrase markingΓωζαν: transliteration of Hebrew גּוֹזָן (Gozan), a region on the Habor river in upper Mesopotamia; here with the feminine article τήν (acc.), treated as declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Χαρραν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαρρανHaranAccusativeaccusative in apposition (second place destroyed)→ object specificationΧαρραν: transliteration of Hebrew חָרָן (Haran), the ancient Mesopotamian city of Abraham's sojourn (Gen 11:31); here with article τήν (acc.), declinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΡαφεςRezephaccusative object (third place destroyed; indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡαφες: transliteration of Hebrew רֶצֶף (Rezeph), a city in the Assyrian sphere; indeclinable place-name in the LXX (no article).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object (fourth item: the sons of Eden)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son / inhabitant'; υἱοὺς Εδεμ ('sons of Eden') = the people of Beth-Eden (Bit-Adini), an Aramean state on the Euphrates.
Εδεμof Edengenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΕδεμ: transliteration of Hebrew עֶדֶן (Eden = Beth-Eden / Bit-Adini), an Aramean principality; indeclinable in the LXX; not to be confused with the garden of Eden.
τοὺςthe onesAccusativearticle (substantizing the locative phrase: 'those in Telassar')→ noun-phrase markingὁ, ἡ, τό: the article τοὺς ἐν Θαεσθεν ('the ones in Telassar') localizes the sons of Eden to their dwelling-place.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΘαεσθενTelassardative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΘαεσθεν: transliteration of Hebrew תְּלַשָּׂר (Telassar), the region where the sons of Eden dwelt; indeclinable place-name in the LXX, closing the catalogue of Assyrian conquests.
13

ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ βασιλεὺς Αιμαθ καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Αρφαδ καὶ ποῦ ἐστιν Σεπφαρουαιν Ανα καὶ Αυα

'Where is the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad, and where is the king of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?'

Reported threat (the closing taunt: 'where are they now?')ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ βασιλεὺς Αιμαθ
The letter ends with the rhetorical ποῦ ἐστιν ('where is?') refrain, listing kings and cities (Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, Ivvah) who have vanished before Assyria. The question form drives home the supposed futility of resistance — and so the supposed futility of Hezekiah's trust.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (of place)→ clausal contributionποῦ: 'where?'; the taunting rhetorical question — the kings of the conquered cities are nowhere, swept away by Assyria.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential/locative)→ stative present (the question of present whereabouts)εἰμί: 'be / exist'; 'where IS the king?' — the implied answer is 'gone,' destroyed by Assyria.
theNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἐστιν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the first of the vanished kings invoked in the taunt.
Αιμαθof Hamathgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑιμαθ: transliteration of Hebrew חֲמָת (Hamath), the major Aramean city-state on the Orontes; indeclinable in the LXX.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle (with βασιλεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject (second king in the list)→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Arpad, another fallen Aramean power.
Αρφαδof Arpadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑρφαδ: transliteration of Hebrew אַרְפָּד (Arpad), a north-Syrian city near Aleppo, repeatedly paired with Hamath as a conquered state; indeclinable in the LXX.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (of place; repeated)→ clausal contributionποῦ: 'where?'; the refrain is repeated, intensifying the rhetorical force of the catalogue.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential/locative, repeated)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; introduces the second cluster of vanished places.
ΣεπφαρουαινSepharvaimsubject of ἐστιν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣεπφαρουαιν: transliteration of Hebrew סְפַרְוַיִם (Sepharvaim), a city deported by Assyria (cf. 4 Kgdms 17:24); indeclinable in the LXX.
ΑναHenasubject (in apposition; indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑνα: transliteration of Hebrew הֵנַע (Hena), a place subjugated by Assyria; indeclinable in the LXX.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑυαIvvahsubject (in apposition; indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑυα: transliteration of Hebrew עִוָּה (Ivvah/Avva), the last of the conquered cities named; indeclinable in the LXX, closing the blasphemous letter.
14

καὶ ἔλαβεν Εζεκιας τὰ βιβλία ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν ἀγγέλων καὶ ἀνέγνω αὐτά καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς οἶκον κυρίου καὶ ἀνέπτυξεν αὐτὰ Εζεκιας ἐναντίον κυρίου

And Hezekiah took the letters from the hand of the messengers and read them, and went up to the house of the LORD, and Hezekiah spread them out before the LORD.

Narrative pivot (Hezekiah brings the threat into the divine presence)καὶ ἔλαβεν Εζεκιας τὰ βιβλία
The verse stages the prayer that follows through a chain of five verbs: took, read, went up, spread out. The gesture of spreading the letter ἐναντίον κυρίου ('before the LORD') literally lays the blasphemy before YHWH as the divine judge — converting the Assyrian taunt into a legal exhibit in the heavenly court.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (first of the chain)→ constative aorist (the taking)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; Hezekiah takes the letters from the envoys' hand, the first step toward laying them before YHWH.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: the king; declinable, here nominative.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with βιβλία)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βιβλίαletters / documentsAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationβιβλίον: 'document / scroll / letter'; renders סֵפֶר; the plural denotes the written dispatch (the letter, possibly multiple sheets) of Sennacherib.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (source: 'from the hand')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρὸς ('from the hand of') is a Hebraism rendering מִיַּד — the letter passes from the envoys' hand to the king's.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἀγγέλων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγγέλωνmessengersGenitivepossessive genitive (with χειρός)→ relational specificationἄγγελος: 'messenger / envoy'; the Assyrian envoys who delivered Sennacherib's letter (cf. v. 9).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέγνωreadAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγινώσκωmain verb (second of the chain)→ constative aorist (the reading)ἀναγινώσκω: 'read / read aloud'; renders קָרָא; Hezekiah reads the letter, taking in the full blasphemy before bringing it to YHWH.
αὐτάthemAccusativedirect object of ἀνέγνω (the letters)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; the letters just received.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (third of the chain)→ constative aorist (the ascent to the temple)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the king goes up to the temple, the appropriate venue for laying the matter before YHWH (cf. v. 1).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; οἶκος κυρίου ('house of the LORD') = the Jerusalem temple, where the prayer will be uttered.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἶκον)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the temple as YHWH's dwelling.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέπτυξενspread out / unrolledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναπτύσσωmain verb (climactic gesture of the chain)→ constative aorist (the spreading-out)ἀναπτύσσω: 'unfold / unroll / spread open'; renders פָּרַשׂ; the act of spreading the letter open 'before the LORD' is the dramatic heart of the verse — Hezekiah submits the written blasphemy directly to the divine reader.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object of ἀνέπτυξεν (the letters)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; the letters, now spread open before YHWH.
ΕζεκιαςHezekiahNominativesubject (repeated for emphasis with the climactic verb)→ participant prominenceΕζεκιας: the king's name is repeated with the climactic verb ἀνέπτυξεν, focusing attention on this decisive act of faith.
ἐναντίονbefore / in the presence ofpreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'before the LORD')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; the letter is spread out 'before the LORD' — laying the case before the divine judge.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine presence before whom the blasphemy is laid out for judgement.
15

καὶ εἶπεν κύριε ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπὶ τῶν χερουβιν σὺ εἶ ὁ θεὸς μόνος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς βασιλείαις τῆς γῆς σὺ ἐποίησας τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν

And he said, 'O LORD God of Israel, who sits enthroned upon the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth; you made heaven and earth.

Hezekiah's prayer: invocation and confession (the heart of the chapter)καὶ εἶπεν
The prayer opens with a magnificent invocation built on three appositional titles — LORD, God of Israel, the one enthroned upon the cherubim — followed by the great monotheistic confession σὺ εἶ ὁ θεὸς μόνος ('you alone are God') over all earthly kingdoms, and the creation-claim σὺ ἐποίησας τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν. The theology directly answers the Assyrian's category-error: YHWH is not one national god among many but the sole Creator-King.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introduces the prayer)→ constative aorist (the prayer's utterance)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν introduces Hezekiah's prayer — the theological and dramatic center of the chapter.
κύριεO LORDVocativevocative of address (opening the invocation)→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the vocative opens the prayer with direct address to the covenant God.
theNominativearticle (with θεός, in apposition to κύριε)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative for vocative (in apposition to κύριε)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the nominative-for-vocative ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the God of Israel') is a Hebraism (the article with a noun of address); identifies YHWH by his covenant bond with Israel.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the covenant people whose God YHWH is — the title grounds the prayer in covenant relationship.
the oneNominativearticle (substantizing the participle καθήμενος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καθήμενοςwho sits enthronedPres Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · κάθημαιsubstantival participle (third title in the invocation)→ present participle (the abiding posture of enthronement)κάθημαι: 'sit / be enthroned'; the substantival participle ὁ καθήμενος ἐπὶ τῶν χερουβιν ('the one enthroned upon the cherubim') renders the throne-formula יֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים (cf. 1 Kgdms 4:4; Ps 79:2 LXX) — YHWH enthroned above the ark's cherubim, the cosmic King.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (position: 'upon')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position: 'upon').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with χερουβιν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χερουβινcherubimgenitive object of ἐπί (indeclinable; throne-formula)→ clausal contributionχερουβιν: transliteration of Hebrew כְּרוּבִים (cherubim), the winged throne-guardians over the ark; indeclinable in the LXX; the formula 'enthroned upon the cherubim' presents YHWH as the enthroned cosmic King — answering the Assyrian denial of his sovereignty.
σὺyouNominativesubject of εἶ (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun fronts the great confession — 'YOU are God alone,' setting YHWH apart from every false god of v. 12.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula of the confession)→ stative present (the abiding truth confessed)εἰμί: 'be'; σὺ εἶ ὁ θεὸς μόνος ('you are the only God') is the confessional heart of the prayer — a declaration of strict monotheism over against the gods of the nations.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominative (with εἶ)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the predicate ὁ θεὸς μόνος ('the only God') asserts that YHWH alone is truly God, refuting the Assyrian premise that he is merely Judah's local deity.
μόνοςalone / onlyNominativepredicate adjective (with θεός: 'God alone')→ participant prominenceμόνος: 'alone / only'; renders לְבַדְּךָ; the emphatic μόνος is the linchpin of the monotheistic confession — there is no other God beside YHWH (cf. v. 19).
ἐνin / overpreposition + dative (sphere of sovereignty)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in / among / over'; marks the universal scope of YHWH's sole deity — over all the kingdoms of the earth.
πάσαιςallDativeattributive adjective (with βασιλείαις)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; πάσαις ταῖς βασιλείαις ('over all the kingdoms') universalizes YHWH's dominion — directly countering the Assyrian boast of conquering every kingdom (v. 11).
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with βασιλείαις)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλείαιςkingdomsDativedative object of ἐν (sphere of sovereignty)→ sphere or referenceβασιλεία: 'kingdom / royal dominion'; renders מַמְלָכָה; YHWH is God over all earthly kingdoms — including Assyria itself, whose king thought himself supreme.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivepossessive genitive (with βασιλείαις)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / land'; τῆς γῆς ('of the earth') extends YHWH's sole rule over the whole inhabited world.
σὺyouNominativesubject of ἐποίησας (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun, repeated, introduces the creation-claim — it is YOU who made all things.
ἐποίησαςyou madeAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (creation-claim)→ constative aorist (the completed act of creation)ποιέω: 'make / create'; renders עָשָׂה; the creation-claim σὺ ἐποίησας τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν grounds YHWH's universal kingship in his being Maker of all — the ultimate refutation of the impotent man-made idols of v. 18.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οὐρανόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανὸνheavenAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησας→ object specificationοὐρανός: 'heaven / sky'; renders שָׁמַיִם; the first member of the merism 'heaven and earth' = the totality of creation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνearthAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησας (coordinate with οὐρανόν)→ object specificationγῆ: 'earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; the second member of the merism — together 'heaven and earth' express the whole created order made by YHWH.
16

κλῖνον κύριε τὸ οὖς σου καὶ ἄκουσον ἄνοιξον κύριε τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου καὶ ἰδὲ καὶ ἄκουσον τοὺς λόγους Σενναχηριμ οὓς ἀπέστειλεν ὀνειδίζειν θεὸν ζῶντα

'Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to reproach the living God.

Hezekiah's prayer: the petition proper (a chain of imperatives)κλῖνον κύριε τὸ οὖς σου
The petition unfolds in a chain of five anthropomorphic imperatives — incline, hear, open, see, hear — calling YHWH to attend personally to the blasphemy. The repeated vocative κύριε and the sensory pairing (ear/eye, hear/see) heighten the urgency. The object is τοὺς λόγους Σενναχηριμ, naming the blasphemer for the first time as the one who sent words to reproach the living God.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
κλῖνονinclineAor Act Impv 2 Sg · κλίνωmain verb (first imperative of the petition)→ aorist imperative (urgent appeal for attention)κλίνω: 'bend / incline / turn'; renders נָטָה; the anthropomorphic 'incline your ear' (κλῖνον τὸ οὖς) is a vivid plea that YHWH bend down to listen (cf. Ps 16:6; 30:3 LXX).
κύριεO LORDVocativevocative of address→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the repeated vocative punctuates the petition with direct, urgent address.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with οὖς)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὖςearAccusativedirect object of κλῖνον→ participant referenceοὖς: 'ear'; renders אֹזֶן; the anthropomorphism asks YHWH to bend his ear toward the prayer and the blasphemy alike.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with οὖς)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the divine ear.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄκουσονhearAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (second imperative)→ aorist imperative (urgent appeal)ἀκούω: 'hear'; renders שָׁמַע; paired with κλῖνον — 'incline ... and hear'; the appeal that YHWH heed the blasphemous words.
ἄνοιξονopenAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνοίγωmain verb (third imperative)→ aorist imperative (urgent appeal for attention)ἀνοίγω: 'open'; renders פָּקַח; the anthropomorphic 'open your eyes' (ἄνοιξον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς) asks YHWH to look upon the situation and act.
κύριεO LORDVocativevocative of address (repeated)→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the repeated vocative again intensifies the plea.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ὀφθαλμούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμούςeyesAccusativedirect object of ἄνοιξον→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; the divine eyes — YHWH is asked to see the threat against his people and his name.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with ὀφθαλμούς)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the divine eyes.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδὲseeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (fourth imperative)→ aorist imperative (urgent appeal)ὁράω (aor. impv. ἰδέ): 'see / look'; renders רָאָה; paired with ἄνοιξον — 'open your eyes and see'; the appeal that YHWH behold the blasphemy and act.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄκουσονhearAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (fifth imperative, resumptive)→ aorist imperative (climactic appeal)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the imperative is repeated, now governing the explicit object τοὺς λόγους Σενναχηριμ — YHWH is summoned to hear the very words of the blasphemer.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with λόγους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of ἄκουσον→ object specificationλόγος: 'word'; the blasphemous words of Sennacherib, now laid before YHWH for judgement.
Σενναχηριμof Sennacheribgenitive of source (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣενναχηριμ: transliteration of Hebrew סַנְחֵרִיב (Akkadian Sîn-aḫḫē-erība), the Assyrian king; indeclinable in the LXX; named here as the author of the blasphemous letter.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀπέστειλεν, antecedent λόγους)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; introduces the clause specifying the purpose of the words sent.
ἀπέστειλενhe sentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the sending of the words)ἀποστέλλω: 'send'; Sennacherib sent his words precisely to reproach the living God — framing the blasphemy as deliberate and purposive.
ὀνειδίζεινto reproachPres Act Inf · ὀνειδίζωinfinitive of purpose (with ἀπέστειλεν)→ present infinitive (purpose of the sending)ὀνειδίζω: 'reproach / revile / taunt'; renders חָרַף; the purpose-infinitive ὀνειδίζειν θεὸν ζῶντα ('to reproach the living God') echoes v. 4, framing the offence as a direct insult to YHWH himself.
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object of ὀνειδίζειν→ object specificationθεός: 'God'; the object reproached — the living God, set against the dead idols of v. 18.
ζῶνταlivingPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Sg · ζάωattributive participle (modifying θεόν)→ present participle (characterizing attribute: the ever-living God)ζάω: 'live'; the attributive θεὸν ζῶντα ('the living God') renders אֱלֹהִים חַי; the epithet contrasts YHWH's living power with the lifeless idols Assyria has burned — the very contrast Hezekiah will develop in vv. 18–19.
17

ὅτι ἀληθείᾳ κύριε ἠρήμωσαν βασιλεῖς Ἀσσυρίων τὰ ἔθνη

'For truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid the nations waste,

Hezekiah's prayer: concession of the Assyrian record (ground for the petition)ὅτι ἀληθείᾳ κύριε
Hezekiah candidly concedes the truth of the Assyrian boast — they have indeed devastated the nations — but the concession (vv. 17–18) sets up the crucial qualification of v. 18b: those 'gods' were no gods at all. The dative ἀληθείᾳ ('in truth / truly') frames the admission as honest realism, not despair.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (introducing the concession)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces Hezekiah's frank acknowledgement of the Assyrian conquests, grounding the petition in realism.
ἀληθείᾳtruly / in truthDativedative of manner (adverbial: 'in truth')→ sphere or referenceἀλήθεια: 'truth'; the adverbial dative ἀληθείᾳ ('truly / in truth') renders אָמְנָם; Hezekiah honestly grants the factual record of Assyrian conquest before drawing the theological distinction.
κύριεO LORDVocativevocative of address→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the vocative keeps the prayer in direct address even amid the concession.
ἠρήμωσανlaid wasteAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐρημόωmain verb (the concession)→ constative aorist (the historical devastation)ἐρημόω: 'lay waste / make desolate'; renders חָרַב / שָׁמֵם; the kings of Assyria have indeed reduced the nations to ruin — Hezekiah does not deny the empire's military record.
βασιλεῖςkingsNominativesubject of ἠρήμωσαν→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; βασιλεῖς Ἀσσυρίων ('kings of Assyria'), echoing the boast of v. 11.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλεῖς)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, genitive plural, declined.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativedirect object of ἠρήμωσαν→ object specificationἔθνος: 'nation / people'; renders גּוֹי; the nations devastated by Assyria — the same peoples whose gods are said to have failed them (v. 12).
18

καὶ ἔδωκαν τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ πῦρ ὅτι οὐ θεοί εἰσιν ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἔργα χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων ξύλα καὶ λίθοι καὶ ἀπώλεσαν αὐτούς

'and they have given their gods to the fire, for they were no gods but only the work of human hands, wood and stone, and they destroyed them.

Hezekiah's prayer: the theological qualification (the heart of the apologetic)καὶ ἔδωκαν τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ πῦρ
The decisive theological move: the gods burned by Assyria were no gods at all (οὐ θεοί εἰσιν) but mere ἔργα χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων ('the work of human hands'), wood and stone. Their destruction proves nothing about YHWH, the living Creator (v. 15). The polemic against idols anticipates Isa 44 and is foundational to OT monotheism.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκανthey gaveAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (the burning of the nations' gods)→ constative aorist (the act of casting into fire)δίδωμι: 'give / hand over'; ἔδωκαν ... εἰς τὸ πῦρ ('they gave to the fire') = consigned the idols to be burned; renders נָתַן בָּאֵשׁ; the Assyrians burned the captured idols, but this only exposed their lifelessness.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with θεούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκαν→ object specificationθεός: 'god'; here the so-called gods of the nations — idols, which the following clause denies are gods at all.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεούς)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their'; the gods belonging to the conquered nations.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πῦρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πῦρfireAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationπῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the fire that consumed the wooden idols — proof of their impotence, since a real god could not be burned.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (introducing the theological qualification)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the crucial qualification — they could be burned because they were not gods at all.
οὐnotnegative particle (with εἰσιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the flat negation οὐ θεοί ('not gods') is the polemical core — the idols have no divine reality.
θεοίgodsNominativepredicate nominative (negated: 'not gods')→ participant prominenceθεός: 'god'; the predicate οὐ θεοί εἰσιν ('they are not gods') denies the divinity of the idols outright — the foundation of OT anti-idol polemic.
εἰσινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (copula, negated)→ stative present (their non-divine nature)εἰμί: 'be'; the present asserts the abiding truth — the idols simply are not gods.
ἀλλ᾿butadversative conjunction (elided ἀλλά)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; the strong adversative introduces the true nature of the idols against the denial just made.
than / but onlyparticle (with ἀλλά: 'but only / except')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or / than'; the combination ἀλλ᾿ ἤ functions idiomatically as 'but only / except' (a Hebraism rendering כִּי אִם), restricting the idols to mere human artifacts.
ἔργαworksNominativepredicate nominative (true nature of the idols)→ participant prominenceἔργον: 'work / product / handiwork'; ἔργα χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων ('the works of human hands') renders מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם — the idols are manufactured objects, not deities (cf. Ps 113:12 LXX; Isa 44:9–20).
χειρῶνof handsGenitivegenitive of source (with ἔργα)→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων ('of human hands') stresses the human, manufactured origin of the idols.
ἀνθρώπωνof menGenitivepossessive genitive (with χειρῶν)→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'human being / man'; the idols are the product of mere mortals — utterly unlike the Maker of heaven and earth (v. 15).
ξύλαwood / pieces of woodNominativenominative in apposition (the material of the idols)→ participant prominenceξύλον: 'wood / timber / log'; renders עֵץ; in apposition to ἔργα, naming the lowly material of the idols — wood that can be burned.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λίθοιstonesNominativenominative in apposition (the material of the idols)→ participant prominenceλίθος: 'stone'; renders אֶבֶן; with ξύλα ('wood and stone') the merism names the entire material substance of the idols — inert matter, nothing more.
καὶand socoordinate conjunction (consequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with consequential force — being mere wood and stone, they could be (and were) destroyed.
ἀπώλεσανthey destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (the Assyrians destroyed the idols)→ constative aorist (the destruction)ἀπόλλυμι: 'destroy / ruin / do away with'; the Assyrians 'destroyed them' (the idols) — but the destruction of lifeless objects proves nothing against the living God who cannot be so handled.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀπώλεσαν (the idols)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; the wood-and-stone idols, destroyed precisely because they were no gods.
19

καὶ νῦν κύριε ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν σῶσον ἡμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ γνώσονται πᾶσαι αἱ βασιλεῖαι τῆς γῆς ὅτι σὺ κύριος ὁ θεὸς μόνος

'And now, O LORD our God, save us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.'

Hezekiah's prayer: the climactic petition and its doxological purposeκαὶ νῦν κύριε ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν
The prayer climaxes with καὶ νῦν ('and now') — the petition proper: σῶσον ἡμᾶς ('save us'). The purpose-clause (καὶ γνώσονται ... ὅτι) lifts the request above mere survival: deliverance is sought so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know YHWH alone is God. The closing σὺ κύριος ὁ θεὸς μόνος recapitulates the confession of v. 15, framing the whole prayer as a doxological inclusio.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (with νῦν: transition to petition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: with νῦν forms καὶ νῦν ('and now'), the rhetorical pivot from premises to petition (rendering וְעַתָּה).
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition marker)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν marks the turn to the actual request after the theological groundwork of vv. 15–18.
κύριεO LORDVocativevocative of address→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the vocative opens the climactic petition.
theNominativearticle (with θεός, nominative-for-vocative)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative for vocative (in apposition to κύριε)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ('our God') — the possessive ἡμῶν moves from the universal confession to the intimate covenant appeal.
ἡμῶνourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεός)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'our'; the covenant appeal — YHWH is not only the universal God but 'our God,' bound to Israel.
σῶσονsaveAor Act Impv 2 Sg · σῴζωmain verb (the central petition)→ aorist imperative (urgent plea for deliverance)σῴζω: 'save / deliver / rescue'; renders יָשַׁע (Hiphil); σῶσον ἡμᾶς ('save us') is the heart of the prayer — the plea for deliverance from the Assyrian hand.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of σῶσον→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. pl. ἡμᾶς): 'us'; Judah and Jerusalem, the object of the requested salvation.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source/separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source/separation).
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'out of the hand')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ ('out of his hand') = from Sennacherib's power; the idiom inverts the Assyrian threat of v. 10 (εἰς χεῖρας — 'into the hand').
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with χειρός; Sennacherib)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; refers to Sennacherib, from whose hand deliverance is sought.
καὶthat / so thatcoordinate conjunction (with purpose/result force)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with consecutive/final force ('so that'), introducing the doxological purpose of the deliverance.
γνώσονταιmay knowFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (purpose/result clause)→ predictive future (the intended recognition)γινώσκω: 'know / recognize / acknowledge'; renders יָדַע; the 'recognition formula' — deliverance is sought so that all kingdoms may know YHWH alone is God; a recurrent OT theme (cf. Exod 14:18; Ezek passim).
πᾶσαιallNominativeattributive adjective (with βασιλεῖαι)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; πᾶσαι αἱ βασιλεῖαι ('all the kingdoms') universalizes the audience of the revelation — the whole world will learn YHWH's sole deity.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with βασιλεῖαι)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖαιkingdomsNominativesubject of γνώσονται→ participant prominenceβασιλεία: 'kingdom'; renders מַמְלָכָה; all the earthly kingdoms — the very ones Assyria boasted of conquering (v. 11) — will come to acknowledge YHWH.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivepossessive genitive (with βασιλεῖαι)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth'; τῆς γῆς ('of the earth') extends the scope of the recognition worldwide.
ὅτιthatcomplementizer (content of the knowledge)→ clausal contributionὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of what all kingdoms will know — the monotheistic confession.
σὺyouNominativesubject of the implied copula (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic pronoun recapitulates the confession of v. 15 — 'YOU, O LORD, are God alone.'
κύριοςare the LORDNominativepredicate nominative (with implied εἶ)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the confession identifies YHWH himself as the one and only God.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominative (with implied εἶ)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεὸς μόνος ('God alone') closes the prayer with the same confession that opened it (v. 15), forming a doxological inclusio.
μόνοςalone / onlyNominativepredicate adjective (with θεός)→ participant prominenceμόνος: 'alone / only'; the emphatic μόνος recapitulates the monotheistic claim of v. 15 — YHWH is the sole God, the truth all nations will come to know through Judah's deliverance.
20

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ησαιας υἱὸς Αμως πρὸς Εζεκιαν λέγων τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ἃ προσηύξω πρός με περὶ Σενναχηριμ βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων ἤκουσα

And Isaiah son of Amos sent to Hezekiah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel: What you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.'

Prophetic answer (the LORD's response to the prayer; opens the great oracle)καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ησαιας
The prayer is answered. Isaiah sends word with the expanded messenger-formula κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('LORD God of hosts, God of Israel'). The fronted relative ἃ προσηύξω ('what you prayed') with the emphatic closing ἤκουσα ('I have heard') directly fulfills the hope of v. 4 (εἴ πως εἰσακούσεται) — YHWH has indeed heard.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 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 (Isaiah sends his answer)→ constative aorist (the sending of the oracle)ἀποστέλλω: 'send'; Isaiah dispatches the divine answer to Hezekiah — the prophetic response to the prayer of vv. 15–19.
ΗσαιαςIsaiahNominativesubject of ἀπέστειλεν→ participant prominenceΗσαιας: the prophet; declinable, here nominative.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic υἱὸς Αμως ('son of Amos') again identifies the prophet (cf. v. 2).
Αμωςof Amosgenitive of relationship (indeclinable patronymic)→ participant identificationΑμως: transliteration of Hebrew אָמוֹץ (Isaiah's father); indeclinable in the LXX.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΕζεκιανHezekiahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationΕζεκιας (acc. Εζεκιαν): the king; declinable, here accusative as recipient of the oracle.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the oracle)→ present participle (Hebraizing λέγων-formula)λέγω: the participle λέγων renders לֵאמֹר, introducing the messenger-formula and the great oracle that follows.
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: messenger-formula)→ participant referenceὅδε: 'this / these'; τάδε λέγει κύριος ('thus says the LORD') is the standard prophetic messenger-formula, here expanded with the fuller divine titles.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (vivid divine speech-marker)λέγω (pres.): the present in the citation-formula gives the divine word present authority.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of λέγει (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine speaker, here given the expanded titles 'God of hosts' and 'God of Israel.'
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the first appositional title — κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ('the LORD God of hosts').
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with δυνάμεων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωνof hosts / of powersGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationδύναμις: 'power / host / army'; the title ὁ θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ('God of hosts/powers') is the LXX's rendering of יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (the LORD of armies/hosts) — YHWH as commander of the heavenly armies, fitting for the oracle of military deliverance that follows.
theNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition (second title)→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the second appositional title ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the God of Israel') binds the cosmic 'God of hosts' to his covenant people.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the covenant people whose God answers Hezekiah's prayer.
whatAccusativerelative pronoun (fronted object of προσηύξω / ἤκουσα)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, neuter plural ἅ ('the things which'); fronted for emphasis — 'what you prayed ... I have heard.'
προσηύξωyou prayedAor Mid Indic 2 Sg · προσεύχομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (Hezekiah's completed prayer)προσεύχομαι: 'pray'; renders פָּלַל (Hithpael); refers back to the prayer of vv. 15–19 — YHWH explicitly acknowledges having received it.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction of prayer)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of prayer).
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (YHWH as addressee)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; YHWH speaks in the first person — the prayer was directed 'to me,' and 'I have heard.'
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (topic of the prayer)→ spatial or relational framingπερὶ: meaning 'concerning'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (topic of the prayer).
ΣενναχηριμSennacheribgenitive object of περί (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣενναχηριμ: transliteration of Hebrew סַנְחֵרִיב; indeclinable in the LXX; the subject of the prayer and of the oracle that follows.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Σενναχηριμ→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the apposition βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων identifies Sennacherib.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλέως)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, genitive plural, declined.
ἤκουσαI have heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (the divine reassurance, emphatically final)→ constative aorist (the accomplished hearing of the prayer)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the emphatic clause-final ἤκουσα ('I have heard') is the divine answer to the hope of v. 4 (εἴ πως εἰσακούσεται) — YHWH has heard the prayer and will now act through the oracle that follows.
21

οὗτος ὁ λόγος ὃν ἐλάλησεν κύριος ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ἐξουδένησέν σε καὶ ἐμυκτήρισέν σε παρθένος θυγάτηρ Σιων ἐπὶ σοὶ κεφαλὴν αὐτῆς ἐκίνησεν θυγάτηρ Ιερουσαλημ

This is the word which the LORD has spoken against him: 'The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and mocked you; the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.

The oracle proper begins (the LORD's word against Sennacherib)οὗτος ὁ λόγος ὃν ἐλάλησεν κύριος
The oracle opens with a citation-formula (οὗτος ὁ λόγος ὃν ἐλάλησεν κύριος) and then turns to direct second-person address of Sennacherib. The personification of Jerusalem as παρθένος θυγάτηρ Σιων ('virgin daughter of Zion') who despises and shakes her head at the would-be conqueror is one of the most memorable images of OT prophecy (cf. Isa 37:22).
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of the citation-formula)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; οὗτος ὁ λόγος ('this is the word') introduces the oracle as the authoritative divine pronouncement against Sennacherib.
theNominativearticle (with λόγος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγοςwordNominativepredicate nominative (with implied copula)→ participant prominenceλόγος: 'word / pronouncement'; renders דָּבָר; the prophetic word spoken by YHWH against the Assyrian — a formal oracle of judgement.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐλάλησεν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; 'which the LORD has spoken.'
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the divine utterance)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; the LORD has spoken this word 'against him' — a decreed sentence.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐλάλησεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine speaker of the oracle.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile: 'against him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here hostile, 'against'; the word is spoken 'against him,' i.e., against Sennacherib.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (Sennacherib)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him'; Sennacherib, the target of the oracle (before the address shifts to second person).
ἐξουδένησένhas despisedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξουδενέωmain verb (Zion's scorn of Sennacherib)→ constative aorist (the act of scorn, viewed as accomplished)ἐξουδενέω: 'despise / treat as nothing / hold in contempt'; renders בָּזָה; the virgin daughter of Zion holds the mighty Assyrian in utter contempt — a stunning reversal of the power-relation.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξουδένησέν (Sennacherib, now addressed)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the address shifts to second person — Sennacherib is now directly mocked.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμυκτήρισένhas mocked / sneered atAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μυκτηρίζωmain verb (coordinate with ἐξουδένησέν)→ constative aorist (the act of derision)μυκτηρίζω: 'turn up the nose at / sneer / mock' (lit. 'to wrinkle the nose,' from μυκτήρ 'nostril'); renders לָעַג; the vivid verb of contemptuous derision — Zion sneers at the boastful king.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐμυκτήρισέν→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; Sennacherib, object of the derision.
παρθένοςvirginNominativesubject (in apposition: 'the virgin daughter')→ participant prominenceπαρθένος: 'virgin / maiden'; renders בְּתוּלָה; the title 'virgin daughter of Zion' presents Jerusalem as an unviolated maiden — untouched and inviolable, hence able to scorn the would-be ravisher.
θυγάτηρdaughterNominativesubject (in apposition to παρθένος)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the personification θυγάτηρ Σιων ('daughter of Zion') renders בַּת צִיּוֹן — the city portrayed as a woman who defies the Assyrian.
Σιωνof Ziongenitive of apposition/relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣιων: transliteration of Hebrew צִיּוֹן (Zion), the temple-mount and, by extension, Jerusalem; indeclinable in the LXX.
ἐπὶatpreposition + dative (at / against: 'at you')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'at / against'; ἐπὶ σοί ('at you') marks Sennacherib as the object of the head-shaking gesture of derision.
σοὶyouDativedative object of ἐπί (Sennacherib)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοί): 'you'; the one at whom Jerusalem shakes her head.
κεφαλὴνheadAccusativedirect object of ἐκίνησεν→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; the shaking of the head (κεφαλὴν ... ἐκίνησεν) is a gesture of scorn and triumphant derision (cf. Ps 21:8; 108:25 LXX).
αὐτῆςherGenitivepossessive genitive (with κεφαλήν)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'; the head of daughter Jerusalem, shaken in contempt.
ἐκίνησενshook / waggedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κινέωmain verb (the gesture of derision)→ constative aorist (the head-shaking)κινέω: 'move / shake / wag'; renders נוּעַ (Hiphil); the wagging of the head is the gesture of mocking triumph — Jerusalem treats the great king as a defeated laughingstock.
θυγάτηρdaughterNominativesubject of ἐκίνησεν (in apposition)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; θυγάτηρ Ιερουσαλημ ('daughter of Jerusalem') parallels 'daughter of Zion,' completing the personification.
Ιερουσαλημof Jerusalemgenitive of apposition/relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלַͅם; indeclinable in the LXX; the city personified as the defiant 'daughter.'
22

τίνα ὠνείδισας καὶ ἐβλασφήμησας καὶ ἐπὶ τίνα ὕψωσας φωνήν καὶ ἦρας εἰς ὕψος τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου εἰς τὸν ἅγιον τοῦ Ισραηλ

'Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel!

The oracle: the prophetic indictment (the rhetorical interrogation)τίνα ὠνείδισας καὶ ἐβλασφήμησας
The oracle presses home the enormity of Sennacherib's offence through a double rhetorical question (τίνα ... ἐπὶ τίνα), revealing that the object of his reproach and arrogance is none other than the Holy One of Israel. The lifting of voice and eyes 'on high' figures presumptuous self-exaltation against God himself.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
τίναwhomAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ὠνείδισας)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'who? whom?'; the question τίνα ὠνείδισας ('whom did you reproach?') exposes the true target of Sennacherib's blasphemy.
ὠνείδισαςdid you reproachAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ὀνειδίζωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ constative aorist (the act of reproach)ὀνειδίζω: 'reproach / revile / taunt'; renders חָרַף; the same verb used of the offence in vv. 4, 16 — now turned into an accusing question against the king.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβλασφήμησαςblasphemedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · βλασφημέωmain verb (coordinate with ὠνείδισας)→ constative aorist (the act of blasphemy)βλασφημέω: 'blaspheme / revile'; renders גָּדַף; pairs with ὀνειδίζω to name the full gravity of the offence — reviling speech against the divine majesty.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing second question)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile: 'against whom')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against'; introduces the second rhetorical question.
τίναwhomAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ἐπί)→ participant referenceτίς: interrogative 'whom?'; 'against whom have you raised your voice?' — again pointing to the unspeakable answer: the Holy One of Israel.
ὕψωσαςdid you raise / exaltAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ὑψόωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ constative aorist (the act of raising the voice)ὑψόω: 'lift up / exalt / raise high'; renders רוּם (Hiphil); to 'raise the voice' against someone is to challenge and defy — here, presumptuously, against God.
φωνήνvoiceAccusativedirect object of ὕψωσας→ object specificationφωνή: 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; the raised voice of arrogant defiance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦραςliftedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · αἴρωmain verb (coordinate)→ constative aorist (the act of lifting the eyes)αἴρω: 'lift / raise / take up'; renders נָשָׂא; to lift the eyes 'on high' is a gesture of arrogant ambition — here aimed against the Most High himself.
εἰςto / onpreposition + accusative (direction: 'on high')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'on high').
ὕψοςheight / on highAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'on high')→ object specificationὕψος: 'height / loftiness'; εἰς ὕψος ('to the height / on high') marks the presumptuous direction of the king's gaze — toward heaven, toward God.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ὀφθαλμούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμούςeyesAccusativedirect object of ἦρας→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; lifting the eyes on high = arrogant aspiration, the antithesis of humility before God.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with ὀφθαλμούς)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; Sennacherib's own eyes, raised in pride.
εἰςagainstpreposition + accusative (the answer to the questions)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here 'against / toward'; introduces the climactic answer — the offence was directed against the Holy One of Israel.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἅγιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅγιονHoly OneAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of εἰς: the answer)→ object specificationἅγιος: 'holy / Holy One'; ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ Ισραηλ ('the Holy One of Israel') renders קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, a favorite title of Isaiah for YHWH — the climactic, awe-laden answer: it is against the Holy One that the king has dared to speak.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; with ἅγιον)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the title 'Holy One of Israel' binds YHWH's transcendent holiness to his covenant people.
23

ἐν χειρὶ ἀγγέλων σου ὠνείδισας κύριον καὶ εἶπας ἐν τῷ πλήθει τῶν ἁρμάτων μου ἐγὼ ἀναβήσομαι εἰς ὕψος ὀρέων μηροὺς τοῦ Λιβάνου καὶ ἔκοψα τὸ μέγεθος τῆς κέδρου αὐτοῦ τὰ ἐκλεκτὰ κυπαρίσσων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἦλθον εἰς μελον τέλους αὐτοῦ δρυμοῦ Καρμήλου αὐτοῦ

'By the hand of your messengers you reproached the Lord and said: With the multitude of my chariots I will ascend to the height of the mountains, to the flanks of Lebanon; and I cut down the greatness of its cedar and the choicest of its cypresses, and I came to the farthest height of its end, to its thicket of Carmel.

The oracle: quotation of Sennacherib's boast (his arrogance in his own words)ἐν χειρὶ ἀγγέλων σου ὠνείδισας κύριον
The oracle now quotes Sennacherib's own boast back to him, the emphatic ἐγώ ('I') dominating the conqueror's self-glorying speech. The imagery is of unstoppable ascent — climbing Lebanon, felling its mighty cedars and choice cypresses, penetrating to its remotest heights. The text here is difficult (note μελον, an obscure/corrupt form); the sense is of reaching the uttermost extremity of the forest.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by the hand of')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental, 'by means of'; ἐν χειρί ('by the hand of') is a Hebraism rendering בְּיַד — through the agency of the messengers.
χειρὶhandDativedative of instrument (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρὶ ἀγγέλων ('by the hand of messengers') = through his envoys, by whom Sennacherib conveyed his reproach.
ἀγγέλωνof messengersGenitivepossessive genitive (with χειρί)→ relational specificationἄγγελος: 'messenger / envoy'; the human envoys through whom the king sent his blasphemy.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἀγγέλων)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; Sennacherib's own messengers.
ὠνείδισαςyou reproachedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ὀνειδίζωmain verb→ constative aorist (the reproach)ὀνειδίζω: 'reproach / revile'; renders חָרַף; the king reproached the Lord through his envoys — the offence repeated.
κύριονthe LordAccusativedirect object of ὠνείδισας→ object specificationκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה (or אֲדֹנָי); the object reproached — the Lord himself; here the divine name, not a human master.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπαςyou saidAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introduces the quoted boast)→ constative aorist (the boastful speech)λέγω: 'say'; introduces the direct quotation of Sennacherib's arrogant boast that follows.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with the multitude')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental, 'with / by means of'; introduces the means of the boasted conquest.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πλήθει)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλήθειmultitudeDativedative of instrument (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceπλῆθος: 'multitude / great number'; renders רֹב; the king boasts of the sheer number of his war-chariots — the basis of his confidence.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἁρμάτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁρμάτωνchariotsGenitivepartitive genitive (with πλήθει)→ relational specificationἅρμα: 'chariot'; renders רֶכֶב; the war-chariots, the elite striking force of the Assyrian army and the emblem of its might.
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἁρμάτων)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the boast is relentlessly self-centered — 'my chariots.'
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun: the boaster)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun dominates the boast — the king's hubristic self-assertion 'I will ascend,' the very pride the oracle condemns.
ἀναβήσομαιI will ascendFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the boast of unstoppable ascent)→ predictive future (the king's vaunted intent)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the boast of climbing to the very heights of Lebanon figures Sennacherib's claim to reach and conquer anything, however lofty.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ὕψοςheightAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationὕψος: 'height'; εἰς ὕψος ὀρέων ('to the height of the mountains') — the loftiest summits, symbol of the unattainable that the king claims to attain.
ὀρέωνof mountainsGenitivepartitive genitive (with ὕψος)→ relational specificationὄρος: 'mountain'; renders הַר; the mountain-heights of Lebanon, the goal of the boasted ascent.
μηροὺςflanks / recessesAccusativeaccusative in apposition (further goal: 'the flanks of Lebanon')→ object specificationμηρός: lit. 'thigh'; here metaphorically 'flank / recess / far side'; renders יַרְכָה ('innermost part / recess'); the king claims to penetrate even the remotest reaches of Lebanon.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with Λιβάνου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛιβάνουLebanonGenitivegenitive of relationship (with μηρούς)→ relational specificationΛίβανος: 'Lebanon'; renders לְבָנוֹן; the mountain range famed for its towering cedars, here declined (gen. Λιβάνου); symbol of grandeur the king claims to conquer.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκοψαI cut downAor Act Indic 1 Sg · κόπτωmain verb (the boast of felling the cedars)→ constative aorist (the vaunted conquest, viewed as accomplished)κόπτω: 'cut / fell / strike'; renders כָּרַת; the felling of Lebanon's great cedars is a stock image of a conqueror's destructive reach (cf. Isa 10:34).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with μέγεθος)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέγεθοςgreatness / tall statureAccusativedirect object of ἔκοψα→ object specificationμέγεθος: 'greatness / magnitude / lofty stature'; here the towering height of the cedar — the king boasts of felling even the greatest of trees.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with κέδρου)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κέδρουcedarGenitivepossessive genitive (with μέγεθος)→ relational specificationκέδρος: 'cedar'; renders אֶרֶז; the cedar of Lebanon, emblem of majesty and strength, here felled in the king's boast.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivepossessive genitive (with κέδρου; referring to Lebanon)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'its'; the cedar belonging to Lebanon.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἐκλεκτά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκλεκτὰchoicestAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ἔκοψα: 'the choicest')→ object specificationἐκλεκτός: 'chosen / choice / select'; renders מִבְחָר; 'the choicest of its cypresses' — even the finest trees fall to the conqueror's axe in his vaunt.
κυπαρίσσωνof cypressesGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἐκλεκτά)→ relational specificationκυπάρισσος: 'cypress'; renders בְּרוֹשׁ; the cypress, like the cedar, a noble timber-tree of Lebanon.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivepossessive genitive (with κυπαρίσσων; Lebanon's)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'its'; the cypresses belonging to Lebanon.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθονI cameAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the boast of reaching the remotest height)→ constative aorist (the vaunted penetration)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the king boasts of having penetrated to the very farthest extremity of the forest — the climax of his self-glorying ascent.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
μελονthe height / extremityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (textually difficult form)→ object specificationμελον: an obscure and probably corrupt form in this verse; the sense (with τέλους αὐτοῦ, 'of its end') is 'the farthest height/lodging at its extremity'; some witnesses read μέρος ('part') or μέσον; the Hebrew has מְלוֹן קִצֹּה ('the lodging-place of its farthest border'). Retained verbatim from Rahlfs.
τέλουςof its endGenitivegenitive of relationship (with μελον)→ relational specificationτέλος: 'end / extremity / limit'; renders קֵץ; 'of its end' = the farthest border of the forest, the remotest point the king claims to reach.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivepossessive genitive (with τέλους)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'its'; the end belonging to Lebanon/the forest.
δρυμοῦof the thicket / forestGenitivegenitive in apposition (the forest of Carmel)→ relational specificationδρυμός: 'thicket / wood / forest'; renders יַעַר; the dense forest, here associated with Carmel — the luxuriant garden-land the conqueror claims to penetrate.
Καρμήλουof CarmelGenitivegenitive of relationship (with δρυμοῦ)→ relational specificationΚάρμηλος: 'Carmel' (lit. 'garden-land / fruitful field'); renders כַּרְמֶל; here declined (gen. Καρμήλου); the fertile, wooded heights — the boast claims dominion even over the most fruitful and remote regions.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivepossessive genitive (closing the boast)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'its'; the closing possessive of the boast, underscoring the king's claim to have reached the uttermost recesses of the land.
24

ἐγὼ ἔψυξα καὶ ἔπιον ὕδατα ἀλλότρια καὶ ἐξηρήμωσα τῷ ἴχνει τοῦ ποδός μου πάντας ποταμοὺς περιοχῆς

'I cooled myself and drank foreign waters, and with the sole of my foot I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.'

The oracle: continuation of Sennacherib's boast (the conqueror's hubris over nature)ἐγὼ ἔψυξα καὶ ἔπιον
The boast continues with the king claiming mastery even over water — drinking foreign streams and drying up whole rivers with the mere tread of his foot. The image of drying rivers underfoot is the ultimate hyperbole of self-deifying power, the arrogance that the rest of the oracle will expose as folly (v. 25).
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun, repeated)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' again opens the line — the relentless self-assertion of the boaster.
ἔψυξαI cooled myselfAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ψύχωmain verb (the boast)→ constative aorist (the vaunted act)ψύχω: 'cool / refresh / make cold'; here 'I cooled myself / refreshed myself'; the king boasts of refreshing himself with waters wherever he campaigned, as if no land's resources could resist him.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπιονI drankAor Act Indic 1 Sg · πίνωmain verb (the boast)→ constative aorist (the vaunted act)πίνω: 'drink'; renders שָׁתָה; to drink 'foreign waters' is to claim the resources of conquered lands as one's own — a boast of total mastery.
ὕδαταwatersAccusativedirect object of ἔπιον→ object specificationὕδωρ (pl. ὕδατα): 'water'; renders מַיִם; the waters of foreign lands, drunk as a sign of conquest.
ἀλλότριαforeign / strangeAccusativeattributive adjective (with ὕδατα)→ object specificationἀλλότριος: 'belonging to another / foreign / strange'; renders זָר; the waters belong to others — the king boasts of seizing what is not his.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξηρήμωσαI dried upAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξερημόωmain verb (the climactic hyperbole)→ constative aorist (the vaunted feat)ἐξερημόω: 'lay utterly waste / dry up completely'; the compound intensifies — the king boasts of drying up whole rivers, a hyperbole of total dominion over nature; renders the Hebrew of drying up the streams of Egypt (cf. Isa 37:25).
τῷwith theDativearticle (with ἴχνει)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἴχνειsole / footprintDativedative of instrument (with ἐξηρήμωσα)→ sphere or referenceἴχνος: 'footprint / sole of the foot / track'; renders כַּף ('sole'); the instrumental dative — 'with the sole of my foot I dried up rivers' is the supreme image of effortless, self-deifying power.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ποδός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποδόςfootGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἴχνει)→ relational specificationπούς: 'foot'; renders רֶגֶל; 'the sole of my foot' — the mere tread of the king, boasted to dry up rivers.
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitive (with ποδός)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the boast's relentless first-person possessive — 'my foot.'
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with ποταμούς)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totalizing 'all the rivers' caps the hyperbole — nothing escaped the king's drying tread.
ποταμοὺςriversAccusativedirect object of ἐξηρήμωσα→ object specificationποταμός: 'river / stream'; renders יְאֹר / נָהָר; the rivers (perhaps the canals of Egypt) dried up in the boast — a claim to control the very waters of the earth.
περιοχῆςof the besieged place / fortressGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ποταμούς)→ relational specificationπεριοχή: 'enclosure / siege / fortified place'; renders מָצוֹר ('siege / fortress / Egypt'); the 'rivers of the besieged place' — the waters of fortified, beleaguered lands, claimed to have been dried up before the king's advance.
25

ἔπλασα αὐτήν νῦν ἤγαγον αὐτήν καὶ ἐγενήθη εἰς ἐπάρσεις ἀποικεσιῶν μαχίμων πόλεις ὀχυράς

'Did you not hear long ago that I formed it, and now I have brought it to pass, that it should become heaps of ruins of fortified cities — captured colonies of warriors?'

The oracle: the divine rejoinder (YHWH's sovereignty behind the conquests)ἔπλασα αὐτήν
The oracle turns the boast on its head: the conquests Sennacherib credits to himself were in fact decreed and 'formed' by YHWH long ago. The shift to divine first person (ἔπλασα ... ἤγαγον — 'I formed ... I brought') asserts that the Assyrian is merely the unwitting instrument of a sovereign plan, reducing fortified cities to ruins by YHWH's prior decree (cf. Isa 37:26).
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ἔπλασαI formed / fashionedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · πλάσσωmain verb (divine first-person: prior decree)→ constative aorist (the ancient forming of the plan)πλάσσω: 'form / mould / fashion'; renders יָצַר; YHWH 'formed / shaped' the whole course of events long ago — the conquests the king boasts of were divinely fashioned in advance (the verb of the potter at Gen 2:7; Isa 29:16).
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of ἔπλασα→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it'; the feminine refers to the decreed event/plan (or the devastation) that YHWH long ago formed and now brings to pass.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (contrast with the ancient forming)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; contrasts the present fulfillment with the ancient decree — what was 'formed' long ago is 'now' brought to pass.
ἤγαγονI have brought (to pass)Aor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἄγωmain verb (divine first-person: the bringing to fulfillment)→ constative aorist (the realization of the decree)ἄγω: 'lead / bring'; renders בּוֹא (Hiphil); 'now I have brought it to pass' — YHWH has executed the plan he formed; the king's conquests are the outworking of divine purpose, not autonomous achievement.
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of ἤγαγον→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it'; the decreed event now realized.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit becameAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (result of the decree)→ constative aorist (the resultant devastation)γίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'become / come to be'; the passive ἐγενήθη marks the result of YHWH's decree — fortified cities reduced to ruin-heaps; the divine purpose, not Assyrian might, accomplished it.
εἰςinto / to bepreposition + accusative (predicate: 'become into')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: predicative 'into / to be', a Hebraism rendering לְ after הָיָה ('become to / turn into').
ἐπάρσειςheaps / mounds of ruinsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (predicate)→ object specificationἔπαρσις: 'a raising up / mound / heap'; here 'heaps (of ruins)'; renders the Hebrew of cities turned into ruinous mounds (גַּלִּים נִצִּים) — the decreed devastation of the conquered cities.
ἀποικεσιῶνof removed colonies / deportationsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἐπάρσεις)→ relational specificationἀποικεσία: 'removal / colony / deportation / exile'; the cities became ruin-heaps of deported populations — the displaced colonies that fell before Assyria, all within YHWH's decree.
μαχίμωνof warriors / fighting menGenitivegenitive (with ἀποικεσιῶν or πόλεις: 'of warriors')→ relational specificationμάχιμος: 'warlike / fit for battle / fighting man'; the warriors who garrisoned the fortified cities — even these strong places fell as decreed.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the fortified cities)→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; the fortified cities reduced to ruin-heaps by YHWH's decree, despite their strength.
ὀχυράςfortified / strongAccusativeattributive adjective (with πόλεις)→ object specificationὀχυρός: 'strong / fortified / secure'; renders בְּצוּרוֹת; the strongest, most defended cities — yet even these fell, proving the conquest was YHWH's doing, not the king's.
26

καὶ οἱ ἐνοικοῦντες ἐν αὐταῖς ἠσθένησαν τῇ χειρί ἔπτηξαν καὶ κατῃσχύνθησαν ἐγένοντο χόρτος ἀγροῦ ἢ χλωρὰ βοτάνη χλόη δωμάτων καὶ πάτημα ἀπέναντι ἑστηκότος

'And their inhabitants were weak of hand; they were dismayed and put to shame; they became as the grass of the field, or green herbage, the grass of the housetops, and a thing trampled before one who stands against it.

The oracle: the helplessness of the conquered (continuation of the divine rejoinder)καὶ οἱ ἐνοικοῦντες ἐν αὐταῖς ἠσθένησαν
The inhabitants of the fallen cities are portrayed as utterly powerless — weak-handed, dismayed, shamed — and likened in a chain of vegetal images to grass of the field and rooftop weeds that wither at once. The point is that their fall was not Assyrian prowess but their own God-decreed frailty; the same fate will not touch Zion, whom YHWH defends.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱthe onesNominativearticle (substantizing the participle ἐνοικοῦντες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνοικοῦντεςinhabitants / those dwellingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἐνοικέωsubstantival participle (subject: 'the inhabitants')→ present participle (those dwelling in the cities)ἐνοικέω: 'dwell in / inhabit'; the substantival participle οἱ ἐνοικοῦντες ('the dwellers / inhabitants') designates the populations of the conquered cities.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
αὐταῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (the cities)→ sphere or referenceαὐτός: 'them'; the fortified cities of v. 25, whose inhabitants are now described.
ἠσθένησανwere weakAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀσθενέωmain verb (the inhabitants' weakness)→ constative aorist (their incapacity)ἀσθενέω: 'be weak / powerless / sick'; renders קָצַר ('be short of hand' = powerless); ἠσθένησαν τῇ χειρί ('were weak in hand') = they had no power to resist — the cause of their fall was their own God-given frailty.
τῇin theDativearticle (with χειρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρίhandDativedative of respect (with ἠσθένησαν: 'weak in hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the dative of respect — 'weak as to the hand,' i.e., powerless to act or fight (a Hebraism, קִצְרֵי יָד).
ἔπτηξανthey were dismayed / coweredAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πτήσσωmain verb (their terror)→ constative aorist (the cowering)πτήσσω: 'crouch / cower / be terrified'; renders חַת ('be shattered / dismayed'); the inhabitants cowered in terror — broken before the invader.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατῃσχύνθησανwere put to shameAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · καταισχύνωmain verb (their humiliation)→ constative aorist (the shaming)καταισχύνω: 'put to shame / disgrace / confound'; renders בּוֹשׁ; the conquered peoples were utterly humiliated — their gods could not save them (cf. v. 12).
ἐγένοντοthey becameAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (introducing the similes)→ constative aorist (the reduction to frailty)γίνομαι: 'become'; introduces the chain of vegetal similes — the conquered became as fragile and transient as grass.
χόρτοςgrassNominativepredicate nominative (first simile)→ participant prominenceχόρτος: 'grass / hay / fodder'; renders חָצִיר; the grass of the field, image of what springs up and withers in a day (cf. Ps 89:6 LXX; Isa 40:6) — the transience of the conquered nations.
ἀγροῦof the fieldGenitivegenitive of relationship (with χόρτος)→ relational specificationἀγρός: 'field / countryside'; renders שָׂדֶה; 'grass of the field,' the most ephemeral of growths.
ordisjunctive conjunction (introducing parallel simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; links the parallel images of fragile vegetation.
χλωρὰgreenNominativeattributive adjective (with βοτάνη)→ participant prominenceχλωρός: 'green / pale-green / fresh'; renders יֶרֶק; the fresh green herb, vivid but short-lived.
βοτάνηherbage / plantNominativepredicate nominative (second simile)→ participant prominenceβοτάνη: 'herb / fodder-plant / vegetation'; renders דֶּשֶׁא; green herbage, another image of fragile, transient growth.
χλόηgrass / young shootNominativepredicate nominative (third simile)→ participant prominenceχλόη: 'young green growth / tender grass'; χλόη δωμάτων ('grass of the housetops') renders חֲצִיר גַּגּוֹת — rooftop weeds that sprout in shallow soil and wither before they grow, the proverbial image of what perishes at once (cf. Ps 128:6 LXX).
δωμάτωνof housetopsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with χλόη)→ relational specificationδῶμα: 'house / roof / housetop'; renders גַּג; the flat housetops where shallow-rooted grass sprouts and quickly dies — image of fleeting, doomed life.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάτημαa thing trampledNominativepredicate nominative (final image)→ participant prominenceπάτημα: 'something trodden / a trampled thing' (from πατέω, 'to tread'); the conquered are like vegetation trampled underfoot — utterly without resistance before the one who stands over them.
ἀπέναντιbefore / in front ofpreposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἀπέναντι: 'opposite / before / in front of'; marks the trampled grass as helpless before the one standing over it.
ἑστηκότοςone who standsPerf Act Ptcp Gen Masc Sg · ἵστημιsubstantival participle (genitive object of ἀπέναντι)→ perfect participle (the standing one)ἵστημι (perf. ptcp. ἑστηκώς): 'stand / have taken one's stand'; the perfect participle 'one standing (firm)' — the conquered wither like trodden grass before the firmly-standing foe; the image underscores their helplessness, contrasted with Zion's coming security under YHWH.
27

καὶ τὴν καθέδραν σου καὶ τὴν ἔξοδόν σου καὶ τὴν εἴσοδόν σου ἔγνων καὶ τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ

'But your sitting down and your going out and your coming in I know, and your rage against me.

The oracle: YHWH's omniscient surveillance of the kingκαὶ τὴν καθέδραν σου ... ἔγνων
The oracle turns to YHWH's total knowledge of Sennacherib: his sitting, going out, and coming in — a merism for the king's whole life and activity — are all known to God, including his rage against YHWH himself. The omniscience-claim answers the king's pretensions: the one he reviled has been watching his every move.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶand / butcoordinate conjunction (mild contrast)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with mild adversative force — over against the king's boasting, YHWH declares his complete knowledge of him.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with καθέδραν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καθέδρανsitting down / dwellingAccusativedirect object of ἔγνων (first of the merism)→ object specificationκαθέδρα: 'seat / sitting / dwelling'; renders שֶׁבֶת ('sitting / dwelling'); the king's 'sitting down' = his repose at home, the first member of the merism of total surveillance.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with καθέδραν)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the king's own sitting, known to YHWH.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἔξοδον)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔξοδόνgoing outAccusativedirect object of ἔγνων (second of the merism)→ object specificationἔξοδος: 'going out / departure / exit'; renders צֵאת; the king's 'going out' (to war or business), second member of the merism 'going out and coming in' = all his activity.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἔξοδον)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the king's going out, known to YHWH.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with εἴσοδον)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἴσοδόνcoming inAccusativedirect object of ἔγνων (third of the merism)→ object specificationεἴσοδος: 'coming in / entrance'; renders בּוֹא; the king's 'coming in' (his return); 'going out and coming in' is a standard Hebraism for the totality of one's activity (cf. Deut 28:6; Ps 120:8 LXX).
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with εἴσοδον)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the king's coming in, all known to YHWH.
ἔγνωνI knowAor Act Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (the omniscience-claim)→ constative aorist with present force ('I have come to know / I know')γινώσκω: 'know / perceive'; renders יָדַע; the emphatic ἔγνων ('I know') asserts YHWH's complete knowledge of the king's every movement and intention — nothing is hidden from God.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θυμόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυμόνrage / furyAccusativedirect object of ἔγνων (climactic)→ object specificationθυμός: 'rage / fury / passion'; renders רֹגֶז ('raging / agitation'); the king's fury against YHWH is known to God — the climactic object of the omniscience-claim, setting up the judgement of v. 28.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θυμόν)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the king's own rage.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile: 'against me')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against'; the king's rage is directed against YHWH himself.
ἐμέmeAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (YHWH)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. ἐμέ): 'me'; the emphatic accusative — the king's fury is against YHWH personally, the offence that now draws judgement.
28

διὰ τὸ ὀργισθῆναί σε ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ καὶ τὸ στρῆνός σου ἀνέβη ἐν τοῖς ὠσίν μου καὶ θήσω τὰ ἄγκιστρά μου ἐν τοῖς μυκτῆρσίν σου καὶ χαλινὸν ἐν τοῖς χείλεσίν σου καὶ ἀποστρέψω σε ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἦλθες ἐν αὐτῇ

'Because you raged against me, and your arrogance has come up into my ears, I will put my hooks in your nostrils and a bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came.'

The oracle: the verdict against Sennacherib (the hook and bridle)διὰ τὸ ὀργισθῆναί σε ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ
The climactic judgement: because of the king's rage and arrogance, YHWH will treat him like a captured beast — putting hooks in his nostrils and a bridle in his lips (the very treatment Assyrian reliefs depict their own captives receiving) and dragging him back the way he came. The reversal is total: the master of nations becomes a led animal.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (causal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'because of / on account of'; with the articular infinitive τὸ ὀργισθῆναι expresses the ground of the coming judgement.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with the articular infinitive ὀργισθῆναι)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀργισθῆναίto be angry / your ragingAor Pass Inf · ὀργίζωarticular infinitive (causal: 'because you raged')→ aorist infinitive (the cause: the king's rage)ὀργίζω (aor. pass. 'be angry'): 'make angry / (pass.) be enraged'; renders רָגַז; the articular infinitive διὰ τὸ ὀργισθῆναί σε ('because you raged') names the king's fury against YHWH as the ground of judgement.
σεyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the accusative subject of the articular infinitive — Sennacherib, the one who raged.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against'; the rage was directed against YHWH.
ἐμὲmeAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (YHWH)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. ἐμέ): 'me'; YHWH, the object of the king's rage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with στρῆνος)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στρῆνόςarrogance / insolenceNominativesubject of ἀνέβη→ participant prominenceστρῆνος: 'insolence / arrogance / wanton luxury'; renders שַׁאֲנָן ('complacent self-confidence'); the king's overweening arrogance has 'come up into the ears' of YHWH — it has reached the divine notice and provokes judgement.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with στρῆνος)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the king's own arrogance.
ἀνέβηhas come upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the arrogance reaching YHWH)→ constative aorist (the arrogance has risen to God's notice)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / come up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the king's arrogance 'has come up into my ears' — the same verb of his boasted ascent (v. 23) now describes his insolence rising to the very hearing of God, who will requite it.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (locative: 'into my ears')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'into my ears').
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ὠσίν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὠσίνearsDativedative object of ἐν (locative)→ sphere or referenceοὖς (dat. pl. ὠσίν): 'ear'; renders אֹזֶן; the arrogance has reached 'my ears' — God has heard it, fulfilling the petition that YHWH 'incline his ear and hear' (v. 16).
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitive (with ὠσίν)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the divine ears.
καὶand socoordinate conjunction (consequential: introducing the verdict)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with consequential force, introducing the divine sentence that follows from the king's rage.
θήσωI will putFut Act Indic 1 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (the verdict: the hook)→ predictive future (the decreed humiliation)τίθημι: 'put / place / set'; renders שׂוּם; θήσω τὰ ἄγκιστρά μου ('I will put my hooks') — the vivid image of leading a captured beast, the very treatment Assyrian art shows inflicted on prisoners; YHWH will so handle the proud king.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἄγκιστρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγκιστράhooksAccusativedirect object of θήσω→ object specificationἄγκιστρον: 'hook / fish-hook'; renders חַח ('hook / ring'); the nose-hook by which captured animals (and prisoners) were led — the supreme image of the conqueror reduced to a led beast.
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἄγκιστρα)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the hooks are YHWH's own — it is God who will lead the king captive.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with μυκτῆρσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μυκτῆρσίνnostrilsDativedative object of ἐν (locative)→ sphere or referenceμυκτήρ (dat. pl. μυκτῆρσιν): 'nostril'; renders אַף; the hook 'in your nostrils' — the cognate of the verb μυκτηρίζω (v. 21, 'sneer'): the nose that sneered will itself be hooked.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with μυκτῆρσιν)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the king's own nostrils.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
χαλινὸνa bridle / bitAccusativedirect object (with implied θήσω)→ object specificationχαλινός: 'bridle / bit'; renders מֶתֶג ('bridle / muzzle'); the bit 'in your lips' completes the image of the king as a draft-animal led wherever YHWH directs.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with χείλεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χείλεσίνlipsDativedative object of ἐν (locative)→ sphere or referenceχεῖλος (dat. pl. χείλεσιν): 'lip / edge'; renders שָׂפָה; the bridle 'in your lips' — the mouth that blasphemed will be bitted like a beast's.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with χείλεσιν)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the king's own lips.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποστρέψωI will turn backFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (the decreed return)→ predictive future (the forced retreat)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / send back'; renders שׁוּב (Hiphil); YHWH will 'turn you back' — the king will be dragged home the way he came, fulfilling the oracle of v. 7 and anticipated again at v. 33.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἀποστρέψω→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; Sennacherib, to be turned back.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (the route of return)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: here 'by / along' (the way); a Hebraism rendering בְּ with דֶּרֶךְ.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ὁδῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδῷway / roadDativedative (route: 'by the way')→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; the road by which the king came will be the road of his humiliating retreat.
by whichDativerelative pronoun (dative, antecedent ὁδῷ)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun, dative ᾗ; 'by which you came'; the resumptive ἐν αὐτῇ that follows is a Hebraism.
ἦλθεςyou cameAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the king's approach)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the way 'you came' — the route of invasion will become the route of retreat.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (resumptive, Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: the resumptive ἐν αὐτῇ ('by it') duplicates the relative ᾗ, a Hebraism rendering the Hebrew resumptive pronoun in the relative clause (אֲשֶׁר ... בָּהּ).
αὐτῇitDativeresumptive pronoun (with ἐν; Hebraism)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'it'; the resumptive αὐτῇ ('by it') refers back to the way (ὁδῷ), redundantly closing the relative clause in Semitic fashion.
29

καὶ τοῦτό σοι τὸ σημεῖον φάγῃ τοῦτον τὸν ἐνιαυτὸν αὐτόματα καὶ τῷ ἔτει τῷ δευτέρῳ τὰ ἀνατέλλοντα καὶ ἔτι τρίτῳ σπορὰ καὶ ἄμητος καὶ φυτεία ἀμπελώνων καὶ φάγεσθε τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῶν

And this shall be the sign for you: this year you shall eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs up from that, and in the third year there shall be sowing and reaping and the planting of vineyards, and you shall eat their fruit.

The sign to Hezekiah (assurance of restored normal life)καὶ τοῦτό σοι τὸ σημεῖον
The oracle now addresses Hezekiah (σοι) with a confirming sign. Over three years, agricultural life will move from eating only self-sown growth (the disruption of the invasion) to full restoration — sowing, reaping, and vineyard-planting. The sign assures that the land's normal rhythms, and thus Judah's continued life, will resume (cf. Isa 37:30).
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῦτόthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; τοῦτό ... τὸ σημεῖον ('this is the sign') introduces the confirmatory token granted to Hezekiah.
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage (Hezekiah)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'for you'; the sign is given to Hezekiah as personal assurance.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with σημεῖον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σημεῖονsignNominativepredicate nominative→ participant prominenceσημεῖον: 'sign / token'; renders אוֹת; a confirming pledge that the prophetic word will be fulfilled — here the resumption of agriculture guarantees deliverance and continued life.
φάγῃyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (the first year's provision)→ predictive future (assured eating)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; renders אָכַל; in the first year, with normal farming disrupted by the invasion, the people will eat only what grows of itself — yet they will eat, a pledge of survival.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with ἐνιαυτόν)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; 'this year' — the present year of crisis.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἐνιαυτόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνιαυτὸνyearAccusativeaccusative of time (extent: 'this year')→ object specificationἐνιαυτός: 'year'; renders שָׁנָה; the accusative of extent — 'during this year' the people eat the self-sown produce.
αὐτόματαthings growing of themselvesAccusativedirect object of φάγῃ (substantival)→ object specificationαὐτόματος: 'self-acting / spontaneous / of itself'; the neuter plural τὰ αὐτόματα ('what grows of itself') renders סָפִיחַ — the volunteer grain that springs up unsown, the only food available when fields cannot be worked during invasion.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷin theDativearticle (with ἔτει)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔτειyearDativedative of time (when: 'in the second year')→ sphere or referenceἔτος: 'year'; the dative of time marks the second year's provision.
τῷtheDativearticle (with δευτέρῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτέρῳsecondDativeordinal adjective (with ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceδεύτερος: 'second'; the second year — still without full cultivation, but with the renewed growth that springs from the previous year's self-sown crop.
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantizing ἀνατέλλοντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνατέλλονταwhat springs upPres Act Ptcp Acc Neut Pl · ἀνατέλλωsubstantival participle (object: what grows in the second year)→ present participle (the self-renewing growth)ἀνατέλλω: 'rise / spring up / sprout'; the substantival τὰ ἀνατέλλοντα ('what springs up') renders שָׁחִיס — the secondary self-sown growth of the second year, again eaten without normal sowing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτιyet / in additionadverb (with the third year)→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / further'; marks the progression to the third year, the year of full restoration.
τρίτῳthird (year)Dativeordinal adjective (dative of time: 'in the third year')→ sphere or referenceτρίτος: 'third'; in the third year (with ἔτει understood) normal agriculture fully resumes — the climax of the sign of restored life.
σπορὰsowingNominativesubject (with implied 'there shall be')→ participant prominenceσπορά: 'sowing / seed'; renders זָרַע; the resumption of sowing marks the return of normal farming after the disruption of the invasion.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄμητοςreaping / harvestNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceἄμητος: 'harvest / reaping'; renders קָצַר; the reaping that follows sowing — the full agricultural cycle restored.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυτείαplantingNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceφυτεία: 'planting / plantation'; renders נָטַע; the planting of vineyards — a sign of settled, long-term life and confidence in the future, since vines take years to bear.
ἀμπελώνωνof vineyardsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with φυτεία)→ relational specificationἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; the vineyards whose planting and fruitfulness signal full restoration of the land's life.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φάγεσθεyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (the full enjoyment of the harvest)→ predictive future (assured fruitfulness)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the plural φάγεσθε ('you [all] shall eat') promises that the people will enjoy the fruit of their own vineyards — full restoration of secure, settled life in the land.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with καρπόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρπὸνfruitAccusativedirect object of φάγεσθε→ object specificationκαρπός: 'fruit / produce'; renders פְּרִי; the fruit of the vineyards — the tangible pledge of restored prosperity and the LORD's deliverance.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive genitive (with καρπόν; the vineyards')→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their'; the fruit belonging to the vineyards just planted.
30

καὶ προσθήσει τὸ διασεσῳσμένον οἴκου Ιουδα τὸ ὑπολειφθὲν ῥίζαν κάτω καὶ ποιήσει καρπὸν ἄνω

And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.

The remnant restored (the agricultural image applied to Judah)καὶ προσθήσει τὸ διασεσῳσμένον οἴκου Ιουδα
The harvest-sign is now applied to the people: the surviving remnant of Judah will, like a healthy plant, take root downward and bear fruit upward. The double image (root below, fruit above) figures both renewed stability and renewed productivity. The verb προσθήσει + infinitive is a Hebraism for 'do again.'
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσθήσειshall again / shall continueFut Act Indic 3 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (auxiliary 'again', Hebraism with following sense-verb)→ predictive future (renewed action)προστίθημι: 'add / put to'; in the idiom προσθήσει ... ('he will add to [do] ...') it functions as a Hebraism rendering יָסַף ('do again / continue'); here: the remnant 'will again take root' — renewed life after near-destruction.
τὸtheNominativearticle (substantizing διασεσῳσμένον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διασεσῳσμένονthat which is preserved / the survivorPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · διασῴζωsubstantival participle (subject: 'the surviving part')→ perfect passive participle (the rescued/preserved remnant)διασῴζω: 'bring safely through / preserve / rescue'; the perfect passive participle τὸ διασεσῳσμένον ('that which has been preserved / the survivor') denotes the remnant of Judah brought safely through the Assyrian crisis — the answer to the prayer for the λεῖμμα of v. 4.
οἴκουof the houseGenitivepartitive/possessive genitive (with διασεσῳσμένον)→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house / household'; οἴκου Ιουδα ('of the house of Judah') = the surviving population of the kingdom of Judah.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; with οἴκου)→ participant identificationΙουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה (Judah); indeclinable in the LXX; the southern kingdom whose remnant is here promised renewal.
τὸtheNominativearticle (substantizing ὑπολειφθέν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπολειφθὲνthat which is left / the remnantAor Pass Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · ὑπολείπωsubstantival participle (in apposition to διασεσῳσμένον)→ aorist passive participle (the portion left behind)ὑπολείπω: 'leave behind / leave remaining'; the passive participle τὸ ὑπολειφθέν ('that which has been left / the remnant') restates 'the survivor' — the remnant theme central to the chapter (cf. vv. 4, 31).
ῥίζανrootAccusativedirect object (with implied verb of rooting: 'shall take root')→ object specificationῥίζα: 'root'; renders שֹׁרֶשׁ; ῥίζαν κάτω ('root downward') — the remnant, like a thriving plant, will sink roots, the image of restored stability and security in the land.
κάτωdownward / belowadverb of place (with ῥίζαν)→ clausal contributionκάτω: 'down / below / downward'; renders לְמָטָּה; the downward direction of the root, paired with the upward direction of the fruit — total renewal, below and above.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσειshall bear / makeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the fruit-bearing)→ predictive future (renewed fruitfulness)ποιέω: 'make / produce / bear'; ποιήσει καρπόν ('shall bear fruit') is the LXX idiom for producing fruit (cf. Gen 1:11); the remnant will be fruitful — restored not merely to survival but to flourishing.
καρπὸνfruitAccusativedirect object of ποιήσει→ object specificationκαρπός: 'fruit'; renders פְּרִי; the upward fruit complements the downward root — the full image of a restored, flourishing people.
ἄνωupward / aboveadverb of place (with καρπόν)→ clausal contributionἄνω: 'up / above / upward'; renders לְמָעְלָה; the upward direction of the fruit completes the merism with κάτω — root below, fruit above: comprehensive restoration of the remnant.
31

ὅτι ἐξ Ιερουσαλημ ἐξελεύσεται κατάλειμμα καὶ ἀνασῳζόμενος ἐξ ὄρους Σιων ὁ ζῆλος κυρίου τῶν δυνάμεων ποιήσει τοῦτο

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and a survivor out of Mount Zion; the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall accomplish this.

Ground of the remnant-promise (the zeal of the LORD as guarantor)ὅτι ἐξ Ιερουσαλημ ἐξελεύσεται κατάλειμμα
The causal ὅτι grounds the remnant-renewal of v. 30: a remnant and survivors will issue from Jerusalem and Mount Zion. The clause closes with the resounding guarantee ὁ ζῆλος κυρίου τῶν δυνάμεων ποιήσει τοῦτο ('the zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this') — the divine passion for his people and name, not human strength, secures the outcome (cf. Isa 9:6 LXX; 37:32).
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (grounding the promise)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; grounds the remnant-renewal in the certainty that a remnant will indeed go forth from Jerusalem.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemgenitive object of ἐξ (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלַͅם; indeclinable in the LXX; the city from which the remnant goes forth — preserved, not destroyed as the Assyrian threatened.
ἐξελεύσεταιshall go forthFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the remnant's issuing)→ predictive future (assured survival and outgoing)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; renders יָצָא; a remnant 'will go forth from Jerusalem' — the city survives and produces a surviving people, the opposite of the conquest the Assyrian boasted.
κατάλειμμαa remnantNominativesubject of ἐξελεύσεται→ participant prominenceκατάλειμμα: 'remnant / what is left over'; renders שְׁאֵרִית; the surviving remnant of Judah — the realization of the hope voiced in the prayer of v. 4.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνασῳζόμενοςa survivor / one being rescuedPres Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ἀνασῴζωsubstantival participle (subject, parallel to κατάλειμμα)→ present passive participle (the one being preserved)ἀνασῴζω: 'save / preserve / rescue'; the participle ὁ ἀνασῳζόμενος ('the one being rescued / a survivor') parallels κατάλειμμα; renders פְּלֵיטָה ('escaped remnant') — those who escape from Mount Zion, preserved by YHWH.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (with Σιων)→ relational specificationὄρος: 'mountain'; ἐξ ὄρους Σιων ('out of Mount Zion') — the temple-mount, source of the surviving remnant, parallel to Jerusalem.
Σιωνof Ziongenitive of apposition (indeclinable; with ὄρους)→ participant identificationΣιων: transliteration of Hebrew צִיּוֹן (Zion); indeclinable in the LXX; the holy mountain, secure under YHWH's protection.
theNominativearticle (with ζῆλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζῆλοςzeal / jealous ardorNominativesubject of ποιήσει→ participant prominenceζῆλος: 'zeal / jealousy / ardor'; renders קִנְאָה; the 'zeal of the LORD of hosts' is his passionate commitment to his people and his name — the driving force that guarantees the deliverance and renewal (cf. Isa 9:6 LXX).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivepossessive genitive (with ζῆλος)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the zeal belongs to YHWH — it is his ardor that accomplishes the salvation.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with δυνάμεων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωνof hosts / of powersGenitivegenitive of relationship (with κυρίου)→ relational specificationδύναμις: 'power / host / army'; κυρίου τῶν δυνάμεων ('the LORD of hosts') renders יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת; the title (cf. v. 20) underscores that the commander of the heavenly armies stands behind the promise.
ποιήσειshall do / accomplishFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the divine guarantee)→ predictive future (certain accomplishment)ποιέω: 'do / make / accomplish'; renders עָשָׂה; the emphatic guarantee — 'the zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this' — places the outcome entirely in God's hands, not Judah's military strength.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedirect object of ποιήσει→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; refers to the whole promised deliverance and remnant-renewal — guaranteed by YHWH's own zeal.
32

οὐχ οὕτως τάδε λέγει κύριος πρὸς βασιλέα Ἀσσυρίων οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν πόλιν ταύτην καὶ οὐ τοξεύσει ἐκεῖ βέλος καὶ οὐ προφθάσει αὐτὴν θυρεός καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκχέῃ πρὸς αὐτὴν πρόσχωμα

Not so! Thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not enter this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor confront it with a shield, nor cast up a siege-ramp against it.

The LORD's verdict on the city (the fourfold negation)οὐχ οὕτως τάδε λέγει κύριος
The oracle reaches its verdict on Jerusalem with the messenger-formula and a fourfold negation: the king will not enter, not shoot, not confront with shield, not cast up a siege-ramp. The piling up of negations (οὐκ ... οὐ ... οὐ ... οὐ μή) emphatically forecloses every stage of an assault — the city is utterly secure.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
οὐχnotnegative particle (with οὕτως)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐχ before rough breathing): 'not'; οὐχ οὕτως ('not so') emphatically rejects the Assyrian's confident assumption that the city will fall.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (negated)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; οὐχ οὕτως ('not so') — contradicting the king's expectation; the LXX here diverges from the MT's לָכֵן ('therefore'), reading instead a flat denial of the Assyrian assumption.
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: messenger-formula)→ participant referenceὅδε: 'this / these'; τάδε λέγει κύριος ('thus says the LORD') is the messenger-formula introducing the verdict on the city.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (vivid divine speech-marker)λέγω (pres.): the present in the citation-formula gives the divine verdict present authority.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of λέγει (divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine speaker pronouncing the verdict on Sennacherib.
πρὸςconcerning / againstpreposition + accusative (with reference to)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: here 'concerning / with reference to'; the verdict is spoken about the king of Assyria.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Assyria, subject of the verdict.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλέα)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, genitive plural, declined.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with εἰσελεύσεται; first negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the first of the fourfold negation foreclosing the assault.
εἰσελεύσεταιshall enterFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (first negation: no entry)→ predictive future (decreed impossibility)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; renders בּוֹא; the king 'shall not enter this city' — the most basic denial: Jerusalem will not be taken.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; 'this city' = Jerusalem, the object of YHWH's protective verdict.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with πόλιν)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; 'this city' — Jerusalem, emphatically pointed out as the secure object of divine defense.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (second negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the second negation of the fourfold series.
τοξεύσειshall shootFut Act Indic 3 Sg · τοξεύωmain verb (second negation: no arrow)→ predictive future (decreed impossibility)τοξεύω: 'shoot with a bow'; renders יָרָה; the king 'shall not shoot an arrow there' — not even a single shot will be fired against the city.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; refers to Jerusalem — not even there will an arrow be loosed.
βέλοςarrow / missileAccusativedirect object of τοξεύσει→ object specificationβέλος: 'arrow / dart / missile'; renders חֵץ; the arrow that will never be shot — the city will not even come under attack.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (third negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the third negation of the series.
προφθάσειshall confront / come beforeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · προφθάνωmain verb (third negation: no shielded assault)→ predictive future (decreed impossibility)προφθάνω: 'come before / anticipate / confront'; here 'come up against / confront'; renders קָדַם; no shielded soldier will advance to confront the city — the assault is foreclosed at every stage.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of προφθάσει (the city)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it'; the city, which no shield-bearer will confront.
θυρεόςa shieldNominativesubject of προφθάσει→ participant prominenceθυρεός: 'large oblong shield' (the big door-shaped shield); renders מָגֵן; 'no shield shall confront it' — by metonymy, no shielded assault-troops will advance against the wall.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: emphatic, fourth negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή forms the emphatic οὐ μή ('by no means'), the strongest of the four negations.
μὴnotnegative particle (with οὐ + subjunctive: emphatic denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the second member of οὐ μή; with the subjunctive ἐκχέῃ it emphatically denies any siege-works.
ἐκχέῃshall pour out / cast upAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐκχέωmain verb (fourth negation, emphatic: no siege-ramp)→ aorist subjunctive with οὐ μή (emphatic denial)ἐκχέω: 'pour out / heap up'; renders שָׁפַךְ ('pour out [a siege-mound]'); 'he shall by no means cast up a siege-ramp against it' — the final and most emphatic negation, foreclosing even the preparations for a siege.
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτὴνitAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the city)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it'; the city, against which no siege-ramp will be raised.
πρόσχωμαsiege-ramp / moundAccusativedirect object of ἐκχέῃ→ object specificationπρόσχωμα: 'mound / siege-ramp / earthwork'; renders סֹלְלָה; the earthen ramp heaped against a city wall to breach it — the standard Assyrian siege-tactic, here forbidden even to begin.
33

τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἦλθεν ἐν αὐτῇ ἀποστραφήσεται καὶ εἰς τὴν πόλιν ταύτην οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται λέγει κύριος

By the way by which he came, by it he shall return, and into this city he shall not enter, says the LORD.

The verdict confirmed (return, not entry; sealed by the divine signature)τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἦλθεν ἐν αὐτῇ ἀποστραφήσεται
The verdict is restated and sealed with λέγει κύριος ('says the LORD'). The king will retrace his route of advance as a route of retreat (echoing v. 28), and will never enter Jerusalem. The resumptive ᾗ ... ἐν αὐτῇ ('by which ... by it') is the same Hebraism as in v. 28.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
τῇby theDativearticle (with ὁδῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδῷway / roadDativedative (route: 'by the way')→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'way / road'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; the road of advance becomes the road of retreat — the king goes back the way he came (cf. v. 28).
by whichDativerelative pronoun (dative, antecedent ὁδῷ)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun, dative ᾗ; 'by which he came'; the resumptive ἐν αὐτῇ that follows is a Hebraism.
ἦλθενhe cameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the king's advance)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the route by which the king came in invasion.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (resumptive, Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: the resumptive ἐν αὐτῇ ('by it') duplicates the relative ᾗ — a Hebraism rendering the Hebrew resumptive pronoun.
αὐτῇitDativeresumptive pronoun (with ἐν; Hebraism)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'it'; refers back to the way (ὁδῷ), redundantly closing the relative clause.
ἀποστραφήσεταιhe shall returnFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (the decreed retreat)→ predictive future (the forced return)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; the passive-form future (active sense) renders שׁוּב; the king will retreat by his route of advance — the humiliation foretold in vv. 7 and 28.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; 'this city' = Jerusalem, which the king will never enter.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with πόλιν)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; 'this city,' the secure object of YHWH's verdict, repeated from v. 32.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with εἰσελεύσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation — the king 'shall not enter.'
εἰσελεύσεταιshall enterFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (the decisive denial of conquest)→ predictive future (decreed impossibility)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter'; the repetition of οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται from v. 32 seals the verdict — Jerusalem will not be taken, the city remains inviolate.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (concluding divine signature)→ historic present (the divine guarantor)λέγω (pres.): λέγει κύριος ('says the LORD') is the prophetic signature-formula (rendering נְאֻם יְהוָה), setting the divine seal on the verdict.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of λέγει→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine authority guaranteeing the oracle's fulfillment.
34

καὶ ὑπερασπιῶ ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης δι᾿ ἐμὲ καὶ διὰ Δαυιδ τὸν δοῦλόν μου

And I will shield this city, for my own sake and for the sake of David my servant.

The ground of deliverance (YHWH's own name and the Davidic covenant)καὶ ὑπερασπιῶ ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης
The oracle closes with the positive promise of divine protection (ὑπερασπιῶ, 'I will be a shield over') and its double ground: δι᾿ ἐμέ ('for my own sake' — YHWH's name and honor) and διὰ Δαυιδ τὸν δοῦλόν μου ('for the sake of David my servant' — the Davidic covenant). Deliverance rests not on Judah's merit but on God's commitments.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑπερασπιῶI will shield / protectFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ὑπερασπίζωmain verb (divine first-person promise of protection)→ predictive future (the assured defense)ὑπερασπίζω: 'cover with a shield / protect / defend' (from ὑπέρ + ἀσπίς, 'shield'); renders גָּנַן ('shield / defend'); YHWH himself will be the shield over the city — the divine counterpart to the human θυρεός denied to the Assyrian (v. 32).
ὑπὲρover / forpreposition + genitive (on behalf of / over)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + gen.: 'over / on behalf of'; with ὑπερασπιῶ it doubly stresses the protective covering — YHWH stands as a shield 'over' the city.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive object of ὑπέρ→ relational specificationπόλις: 'city'; 'this city' = Jerusalem, the object of YHWH's protective shielding.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (with πόλεως)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; 'this city,' Jerusalem, defended by God himself.
δι᾿for the sake ofpreposition + accusative (causal/purposive)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'because of / for the sake of'; introduces the first ground of the deliverance — YHWH's own self.
ἐμὲmyselfAccusativeaccusative object of δι᾿ (YHWH himself)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. ἐμέ): 'me / myself'; δι᾿ ἐμέ ('for my own sake') — YHWH acts to vindicate his own name and honor, blasphemed by the Assyrian.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διὰfor the sake ofpreposition + accusative (causal/purposive)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'for the sake of'; introduces the second ground — the Davidic covenant.
ΔαυιδDavidaccusative object of διά (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΔαυιδ: transliteration of Hebrew דָּוִד (David); indeclinable in the LXX; the deliverance is grounded in YHWH's covenant promise to David and his dynasty (2 Kgdms 7), of which Jerusalem is the seat.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with δοῦλον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόνservantAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Δαυιδ→ object specificationδοῦλος: 'servant / slave'; renders עֶבֶד; 'David my servant' is the covenant title (cf. 2 Kgdms 7:5; 3 Kgdms 11:13) — the Davidic covenant is the foundation of Jerusalem's preservation.
μουmyGenitivepossessive genitive (with δοῦλον)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; David belongs to YHWH as his chosen servant — the bond that secures the dynasty's city.
35

καὶ ἐγένετο ἕως νυκτὸς καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ ἐπάταξεν ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ τῶν Ἀσσυρίων ἑκατὸν ὀγδοήκοντα πέντε χιλιάδας καὶ ὤρθρισαν τὸ πρωί καὶ ἰδοὺ πάντες σώματα νεκρά

And it came to pass that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred eighty-five thousand; and they rose early in the morning, and behold, they were all dead bodies.

The fulfillment: the angel's stroke (the climactic deliverance)καὶ ἐγένετο ἕως νυκτὸς καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἄγγελος κυρίου
The oracle is fulfilled with the chapter's climactic event: the Angel of the LORD goes out by night and strikes 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. The narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο frames the catastrophe; the morning discovery (ὤρθρισαν τὸ πρωί καὶ ἰδού — 'and behold') and the stark πάντες σώματα νεκρά ('all dead bodies') render the divine intervention with grim economy.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 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 (narrative-onset formula)→ constative aorist (sets the temporal frame)γίνομαι: 'happen / come to be'; καὶ ἐγένετο renders וַיְהִי, framing the climactic event of the angel's stroke.
ἕωςuntil / duringpreposition + genitive (temporal: 'that night')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / up to'; with νυκτός marks the night as the time of the divine stroke ('it came to pass that night / by night').
νυκτὸςnightGenitivegenitive of time (with ἕως)→ relational specificationνύξ (gen. νυκτός): 'night'; renders לַיְלָה; the night is the time of the angel's stroke — divine judgement falling under cover of darkness while the camp sleeps.
καὶandapodotic conjunction (Hebraism)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the apodotic καί after the temporal frame, a Hebraism linking 'it came to pass that night' to the main event.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the angel's going forth)→ constative aorist (the decisive intervention)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; renders יָצָא; the Angel of the LORD 'went out' to execute the divine sentence — the same verb the Assyrian used of his sortie (v. 9), now of God's avenger.
ἄγγελοςangelNominativesubject of ἐξῆλθεν→ participant prominenceἄγγελος: 'messenger / angel'; ἄγγελος κυρίου ('the Angel of the LORD') renders מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה — the divine agent of judgement (cf. Exod 12:23; 2 Kgdms 24:16); the contrast with Sennacherib's human ἄγγελοι (v. 9) is pointed.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἄγγελος)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the angel acts as YHWH's own executor of judgement.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (the slaughter)→ constative aorist (the decisive blow)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / kill'; renders נָכָה; the angel 'struck' the camp — the single decisive blow that annihilates the Assyrian host without any Israelite arms (cf. the same verb of the firstborn-plague, Exod 12:29).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with παρεμβολῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῇcampDativedative of place (locative: 'in the camp')→ sphere or referenceπαρεμβολή: 'camp / army / encampment'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the military camp of the Assyrian army, the site of the divine slaughter.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with Ἀσσυρίων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivepossessive genitive (with παρεμβολῇ)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, genitive plural, declined; the camp belonging to the Assyrians.
ἑκατὸνhundredcardinal numeral (indeclinable; with χιλιάδας)→ measure or countἑκατόν: 'hundred'; indeclinable cardinal; first element of the number 185,000 — the staggering toll of the divine stroke.
ὀγδοήκονταeightycardinal numeral (indeclinable)→ measure or countὀγδοήκοντα: 'eighty'; indeclinable cardinal; second element of the number.
πέντεfivecardinal numeral (indeclinable)→ measure or countπέντε: 'five'; indeclinable cardinal; the hundred-eighty-five thousand slain — a number underscoring the totality of the catastrophe.
χιλιάδαςthousandsAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξεν (the number struck)→ object specificationχιλιάς: 'thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; the accusative χιλιάδας ('thousands') counts the slain — 185,000 men struck down in a single night.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὤρθρισανthey rose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὀρθρίζωmain verb (the morning discovery)→ constative aorist (the rising at dawn)ὀρθρίζω: 'rise early / do at dawn'; renders שָׁכַם (Hiphil); the survivors (or onlookers) 'rose early in the morning' to discover the catastrophe — the grim dawn revealing the divine judgement.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρωί, adverbial)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωίmorning / earlyadverb of time (with ὤρθρισαν)→ clausal contributionπρωί: 'early / in the morning'; τὸ πρωί ('at dawn') reinforces ὤρθρισαν — the discovery at first light.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the discovery)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (marking the discovery)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; the dramatic ἰδού stages the shocking morning sight — the whole host lying dead.
πάντεςallNominativesubject (substantival: 'all of them')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; πάντες ('all of them') stresses the totality of the slaughter — not a man of the struck host survived.
σώματαbodies / corpsesNominativepredicate nominative (with implied 'were')→ participant prominenceσῶμα: 'body / corpse'; renders פֶּגֶר; σώματα νεκρά ('dead bodies / corpses') — the stark verdict of the morning: the once-mighty army reduced to a field of the dead.
νεκράdeadNominativeattributive adjective (with σώματα)→ participant prominenceνεκρός: 'dead'; renders מֵתִים; the chilling final word of the scene — the whole host lies dead, the threat of vv. 10–13 utterly undone by the living God they reviled.
36

καὶ ἀπῆρεν καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν Σενναχηριμ βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐν Νινευη

And Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went and returned and dwelt in Nineveh.

The withdrawal (fulfillment of vv. 7, 28, 33)καὶ ἀπῆρεν καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν
The chain of three verbs (departed, went, returned) traces Sennacherib's humiliating retreat to Nineveh — the precise fulfillment of the oracle's repeated promise that he would return the way he came (vv. 7, 28, 33). The mighty king who boasted of conquering all simply goes home and settles down, his campaign broken.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῆρενdeparted / broke campAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαίρωmain verb (first of the retreat-chain)→ constative aorist (breaking camp)ἀπαίρω: 'depart / break camp / set out'; renders נָסַע; the king breaks camp — the same verb used of his troop-movement at v. 8, now of his retreat.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwent / journeyedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (second of the retreat-chain)→ constative aorist (the journey)πορεύομαι: 'go / journey / travel'; renders הָלַךְ; the second verb in the chain of homeward retreat.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (third of the retreat-chain)→ constative aorist (the return home)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the king 'returned' — the exact fulfillment of the oracle's repeated ἀποστραφήσεται/ἀποστρέψω (vv. 7, 28, 33).
ΣενναχηριμSennacheribsubject of the retreat-verbs (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣενναχηριμ: transliteration of Hebrew סַנְחֵרִיב; indeclinable in the LXX; the once-boastful king now in inglorious retreat.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Σενναχηριμ→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the title βασιλεὺς Ἀσσυρίων, here attached one last time to the defeated king.
Ἀσσυρίωνof the AssyriansGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλεύς)→ relational specificationἈσσύριος: 'Assyrian'; gentilic noun, genitive plural, declined.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾤκησενdwelt / settledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · οἰκέωmain verb (the king settles at home)→ constative aorist (taking up residence)οἰκέω: 'dwell / inhabit / settle'; renders יָשַׁב; the king 'settled' in Nineveh — the campaign abandoned, the threat against Jerusalem utterly ended.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΝινευηNinevehdative object of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΝινευη: transliteration of Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nineveh), the Assyrian capital on the Tigris; indeclinable in the LXX; the king's home, where his story will end with his murder (v. 37).
37

καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτοῦ προσκυνοῦντος ἐν οἴκῳ Νεσεραχ θεοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ Αδραμελεχ καὶ Σαρασαρ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπάταξαν αὐτὸν ἐν μαχαίρᾳ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐσώθησαν εἰς γῆν Αραρατ καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν Ασορδαν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ

And it came to pass, while he was worshipping in the temple of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat; and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

The end of Sennacherib (final fulfillment: death by the sword)καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτοῦ προσκυνοῦντος
The chapter ends with Sennacherib's assassination — fittingly, while worshipping his own god in the temple of Nisroch, his sons strike him down with the sword, fulfilling the oracle of v. 7 (καταβαλῶ αὐτὸν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ). The blasphemer of the living God dies powerless before his lifeless idol; his sons flee, and Esarhaddon succeeds. The deliverance is complete.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 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 (narrative-onset formula)→ constative aorist (sets the temporal frame)γίνομαι: 'happen / come to be'; καὶ ἐγένετο renders וַיְהִי, framing the final event — the king's assassination — with a genitive-absolute temporal clause.
αὐτοῦwhile heGenitivegenitive absolute (subject of προσκυνοῦντος)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'he'; the genitive αὐτοῦ with the participle προσκυνοῦντος forms a genitive absolute — 'while he was worshipping.'
προσκυνοῦντοςworshippingPres Act Ptcp Gen Masc Sg · προσκυνέωgenitive absolute participle (temporal)→ present participle (the act in progress at the moment of death)προσκυνέω: 'bow down / worship / do obeisance'; renders שָׁחָה (Hishtaphel); the irony is sharp — the king who reviled the living God is struck down in the very act of worshipping his impotent idol.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
οἴκῳhouse / templeDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house / temple'; οἶκος Νεσεραχ ('the temple of Nisroch') — the shrine of the Assyrian god, the scene of the king's death.
Νεσεραχof Nisrochgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; with οἴκῳ)→ participant identificationΝεσεραχ: transliteration of Hebrew נִסְרֹךְ (Nisroch), the Assyrian deity in whose temple Sennacherib was murdered; indeclinable in the LXX; an otherwise unattested divine name.
θεοῦgodGenitivegenitive in apposition to Νεσεραχ→ relational specificationθεός: 'god'; here θεοῦ αὐτοῦ ('his god') — the pagan deity Nisroch, in apposition; the irony recalls vv. 12, 18: the powerless gods of the nations.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; Nisroch, the king's own god — who cannot protect him from his murderous sons.
καὶandapodotic conjunction (Hebraism, after the genitive absolute)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the apodotic καί after the temporal genitive-absolute, a Hebraism linking the circumstance to the main event.
ΑδραμελεχAdrammelechsubject of ἐπάταξαν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑδραμελεχ: transliteration of Hebrew אַדְרַמֶּלֶךְ (Adrammelech), one of Sennacherib's parricidal sons; indeclinable in the LXX.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣαρασαρSharezersubject of ἐπάταξαν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΣαρασαρ: transliteration of Hebrew שַׂרְאֶצֶר (Sharezer), the other parricidal son; indeclinable in the LXX.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativenominative in apposition (to the two named sons)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ('his sons') in apposition identifies the assassins as the king's own offspring — the ultimate domestic betrayal.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with υἱοί)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the sons belonging to Sennacherib — who turn against him.
ἐπάταξανstruck downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πατάσσωmain verb (the assassination)→ constative aorist (the fatal blow)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / kill'; renders נָכָה; the same verb used of the angel's stroke (v. 35) — the king who escaped the angel's blade falls to his sons' sword, the oracle of v. 7 fulfilled.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξαν→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him'; Sennacherib, struck down by his own sons.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with the sword')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental 'with / by'; a Hebraism rendering בְּ; 'with the sword.'
μαχαίρᾳa swordDativedative of instrument (with ἐπάταξαν)→ sphere or referenceμάχαιρα: 'sword / dagger'; renders חֶרֶב; the sword fulfills v. 7 (καταβαλῶ αὐτὸν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ — 'I will fell him by the sword') — the king dies by the very means YHWH decreed, in his own land.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject of ἐσώθησαν (emphatic: the sons)→ participant prominenceαὐτός: 'they'; the sons, who escape after the murder.
ἐσώθησανescaped / were savedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · σῴζωmain verb (the sons' flight)→ constative aorist (the escape)σῴζω (aor. pass. 'be saved / escape'): 'save / preserve'; here 'they escaped / got away safely' — the same verb of the salvation Hezekiah prayed for (σῶσον, v. 19), now ironically of the murderers' flight.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationγῆ: 'land'; εἰς γῆν Αραρατ ('to the land of Ararat') = the region of Urartu, north of Assyria, the place of the assassins' refuge.
Αραρατof Araratgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name; with γῆν)→ participant identificationΑραρατ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲרָרָט (Ararat = Urartu), the mountainous region of Armenia; indeclinable in the LXX; the land to which the parricides fled.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβασίλευσενreigned / became kingAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb (the succession)→ ingressive aorist (accession to the throne)βασιλεύω: 'be king / reign'; renders מָלַךְ; the ingressive aorist marks Esarhaddon's accession — the dynastic succession that closes the narrative.
ΑσορδανEsarhaddonsubject of ἐβασίλευσεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑσορδαν: transliteration of Hebrew אֵסַר חַדֹּן (Esarhaddon), Sennacherib's son and successor on the Assyrian throne; indeclinable in the LXX.
theNominativearticle (with υἱός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Ασορδαν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ('his son') identifies Esarhaddon as Sennacherib's heir.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with υἱός)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; Esarhaddon belonging to Sennacherib as his son and successor.
ἀντ᾿in place ofpreposition + genitive (substitution: 'in place of')→ spatial or relational framingἀντί + gen.: 'instead of / in place of'; renders תַּחַת; the dynastic succession-formula — Esarhaddon reigns 'in place of' his murdered father.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἀντ᾿ (the dead king)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'him'; Sennacherib, in whose place Esarhaddon now reigns — the final word of the chapter, sealing the downfall of the blasphemer and the triumph of the living God.