1
καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ ἐνάτῳ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ μηνὶ τῷ δεκάτῳ ἦλθεν Ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος καὶ πᾶσα ἡ δύναμις αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ Ιερουσαλημ καὶ παρενέβαλεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν περίτειχος κύκλῳ
And it happened in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, and all his army, against Jerusalem, and he encamped against it and built against it a siege-wall round about.
καὶ ἐγενήθη is the LXX's stock rendering of the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי ('and it came to pass'), here introducing the dated onset of the final siege; the heaped temporal data (ninth year, tenth month) gives the chronicle the precision of an official annal, fixing the catastrophe in calendar time.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit happenedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal temporal formula)→ constative aorist (narrative onset)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'become / come to pass'; the impersonal καὶ ἐγενήθη renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, the standard episode-opening formula; in the kaige section of 4 Kingdoms ἐγενήθη (rather than ἐγένετο) is the favored form, a marker of the recension's translation profile.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔτειyearDativedative of time (locative-temporal)→ sphere or referenceἔτος: 'year'; renders שָׁנָה; the regnal-year dating (here Zedekiah's ninth) is the chronicle's anchor for the siege's beginning, matched at v. 2 by the eleventh year for its end.
τῷtheDativearticle (with attributive ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνάτῳninthDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceἔνατος: 'ninth'; ordinal of ἐννέα; the second-attributive position (τῷ ἔτει τῷ ἐνάτῳ) is a Hebraizing word-order calquing שָׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִית.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλείαςreignGenitivegenitive (defining the year: 'of his reign')→ relational specificationβασιλεία: 'reign / kingdom / kingship'; renders מַלְכוּת / מְלֻכָה; here in the temporal sense 'of his reign' — the reckoning is by Zedekiah's regnal years.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Zedekiah's reign)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Zedekiah's reign).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὶmonthDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceμήν: 'month'; renders חֹדֶשׁ; the tenth month (Tebet, Dec/Jan) is the precise calendrical onset of the siege (cf. Jer 52:4; Ezek 24:1).
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δεκάτῳtenthDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying μηνὶ)→ sphere or referenceδέκατος: 'tenth'; ordinal of δέκα; again in Hebraizing second-attributive order (τῷ μηνὶ τῷ δεκάτῳ).
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival of the besieger)→ constative aorist (single decisive arrival)ἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθεν): 'come / go'; renders בּוֹא; the singular verb governs the compound subject (Nebuchadnezzar + his whole army), agreeing with the nearer leading subject as often in Hebrew syntax.
ΝαβουχοδονοσορNebuchadnezzarsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαβουχοδονοσορ: transliteration of Hebrew נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר (Akkadian Nabû-kudurri-uṣur); indeclinable in the LXX; the Babylonian king who is the human agent of Jerusalem's fall and Judah's exile.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Ναβουχοδονοσορ→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the title 'king of Babylon' recurs as a refrain through the chapter (vv. 6, 8, 11, 20, 21, 22, 23), naming the imperial power that dismantles Judah.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλεὺς)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'; renders בָּבֶל; declined as a third-declension noun in the LXX; the seat of the empire to which temple, treasure, and people are carried away.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶσαallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying δύναμις)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; feminine πᾶσα agrees with δύναμις; 'all his army' stresses the totality of the besieging force.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύναμιςarmy / forceNominativesubject (second, coordinate subject)→ participant prominenceδύναμις: 'power / force / army'; in the historical books δύναμις regularly renders חַיִל in the military sense 'army, host'; here the whole Babylonian war-host accompanying the king.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here in hostile sense 'against'; renders עַל; the military advance 'against Jerusalem' opens the siege-narrative.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלִַם; indeclinable in the LXX (contrast the declinable Ἱεροσόλυμα of later Greek); the besieged covenant city, soon to be burned.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρενέβαλενhe encampedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (military encampment)→ constative aoristπαρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / draw up in line / lay siege'; renders חָנָה; a standard military term in the LXX historical books for setting an army in position against a city.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (elided before vowel; hostile)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided before vowel; hostile).
αὐτὴνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (= the city)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπ᾿ (= the city).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾠκοδόμησενhe builtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (construction of siege-works)→ constative aoristοἰκοδομέω: 'build'; renders בָּנָה; here of constructing the siege-works — the encircling wall by which a besieger seals off a city.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (elided)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'against'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided).
αὐτὴνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπ᾿.
περίτειχοςsiege-wallAccusativedirect object of ᾠκοδόμησεν→ object specificationπερίτειχος: 'surrounding wall / siege-wall / circumvallation'; renders דָּיֵק ('siege-wall, bulwark'); the encircling rampart by which the Babylonians cut Jerusalem off from relief and supply, sealing its fate.
κύκλῳround aboutadverb (dative used adverbially: 'all around')→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: 'round about / in a circle'; an adverbial dative of κύκλος; renders סָבִיב; underscores the complete encirclement of the city.
2
καὶ ἦλθεν ἡ πόλις ἐν περιοχῇ ἕως τοῦ ἑνδεκάτου ἔτους τοῦ βασιλέως Σεδεκιου
And the city came under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
The siege's duration is summarized in a single clause: the city 'came into a state of being hemmed in' (ἐν περιοχῇ) for nearly two years, from the ninth (v. 1) to the eleventh year of Zedekiah. The idiom ἦλθεν … ἐν περιοχῇ ('came into siege-confinement') is a literal calque of the Hebrew וַתָּבֹא הָעִיר בַּמָּצוֹר.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (idiomatic: 'came into a state of')→ constative aoristἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθεν): here in the idiom ἦλθεν ἐν περιοχῇ, literally 'the city came into siege-confinement'; a Hebraizing calque of בּוֹא בַּמָּצוֹר for the city's passing under blockade.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλιςcityNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; here Jerusalem, the subject through the siege-account; the personified city 'comes into' the condition of blockade.
ἐνin / underpreposition + dative (state / condition)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (state / condition).
περιοχῇsiege / confinementDativedative of state (with ἐν: 'under siege')→ sphere or referenceπεριοχή: 'enclosure / blockade / siege-confinement'; renders מָצוֹר; the abstract noun describes the besieged condition — the city hemmed in by the surrounding wall of v. 1.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal terminus)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; renders עַד; marks the end-point of the siege's duration.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑνδεκάτουeleventhGenitiveattributive ordinal (modifying ἔτους)→ relational specificationἑνδέκατος: 'eleventh'; the eleventh and final year of Zedekiah's reign (586 BC), in which Jerusalem fell.
ἔτουςyearGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal terminus)→ relational specificationἔτος (gen. ἔτους): 'year'; the eleventh year forms the chronological bracket with the ninth year of v. 1, framing the roughly eighteen-month siege.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive (in apposition / defining the regnal year)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; here of the Judahite king Zedekiah, by whose regnal years the siege is dated.
Σεδεκιουof ZedekiahGenitivegenitive in apposition to βασιλέως→ relational specificationΣεδεκιας (gen. Σεδεκιου): transliteration of Hebrew צִדְקִיָּהוּ ('YHWH is my righteousness'); Judah's last king, installed by Nebuchadnezzar (24:17); declined as a first-declension masculine in the LXX.
3
ἐνάτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς καὶ ἐνίσχυσεν ὁ λιμὸς ἐν τῇ πόλει καὶ οὐκ ἦσαν ἄρτοι τῷ λαῷ τῆς γῆς
On the ninth of the month the famine grew strong in the city, and there were no loaves for the people of the land.
The verse fronts the date (ἐνάτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς, 'on the ninth of the [fourth] month') before the main clause, a Hebraizing fronted-circumstance; the redundant καί before ἐνίσχυσεν renders the Hebrew waw of the apodosis. The famine reaching its peak (ἐνίσχυσεν ὁ λιμός) is the human-level cause of the wall's breach in v. 4.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἐνάτῃon the ninthDativedative of time (fronted date)→ sphere or referenceἔνατος (fem. ἐνάτη): 'ninth'; the substantivized feminine (sc. ἡμέρᾳ) means 'on the ninth [day]'; the fronted date marks the precise day the famine broke the city.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὸςof the monthGenitivepartitive genitive (with the ordinal date)→ relational specificationμήν (gen. μηνός): 'month'; 'the ninth of the month' (cf. Jer 52:6, the fourth month); the partitive genitive locates the day within the month.
καὶandapodotic conjunction (Hebraizing waw after fronted date)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here the apodotic καί introducing the main clause after the fronted temporal phrase, a calque of the Hebrew waw-consecutive following a circumstantial element.
ἐνίσχυσενgrew strong / prevailedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐνισχύωmain verb (intensification of the famine)→ ingressive-constative aorist (the famine reached its height)ἐνισχύω: 'grow strong / prevail / be severe'; renders חָזַק; intransitive here — the famine 'grew strong / intensified', the standard idiom for a siege-famine reaching the point of collapse.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λιμὸςfamineNominativesubject→ participant prominenceλιμός: 'famine / hunger'; renders רָעָב; the siege-famine, whose horrors are detailed in the parallel Lam 2:20; 4:10; here its intensification forces the city's fall.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. πόλει): 'city'; the besieged Jerusalem, where the famine rages.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result-like)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἦσαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ before vowel): the objective negative; 'there were not' bread — the concrete, total result of the famine.
ἦσανthere wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (existential, negated)→ imperfect (ongoing state of dearth)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): 'be / exist'; the negated existential οὐκ ἦσαν ἄρτοι ('there were no loaves') renders the Hebrew אֵין־לֶחֶם; the imperfect depicts the persisting absence of food.
ἄρτοιloaves / breadNominativesubject of ἦσαν (existential)→ participant prominenceἄρτος (pl. ἄρτοι): 'loaf / bread'; renders לֶחֶם; the plural 'loaves' stands for food/bread generally; its absence marks total starvation in the besieged city.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷfor the peopleDativedative of advantage / possession ('for the people')→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; the dative of possession/advantage ('there was no bread for the people') — the ordinary population, not the soldiery, is in view.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive (defining: 'people of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): 'land / earth'; the phrase λαὸς τῆς γῆς renders עַם הָאָרֶץ ('the people of the land'), a stock idiom for the ordinary populace of Judah (cf. vv. 19); their starvation marks the breaking of the common people.
4
καὶ ἐρράγη ἡ πόλις καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ πολέμου ἐξῆλθον νυκτὸς ὁδὸν πύλης τῆς ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν τειχέων αὕτη ἥ ἐστιν τοῦ κήπου τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ οἱ Χαλδαῖοι ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν κύκλῳ καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὁδὸν τὴν Αραβα
And the city was breached, and all the men of war went out by night by the way of the gate between the two walls — this is the way of the king's garden — while the Chaldeans were around the city; and he went by the way of the Arabah.
The passive ἐρράγη ('was breached') marks the turning-point: with the wall broken, the soldiery flees under cover of darkness (νυκτὸς) by a concealed route — the gate between the double walls. The narrator's aside αὕτη ἥ ἐστιν τοῦ κήπου τοῦ βασιλέως ('this is the way of the king's garden') is a Hebraizing topographical gloss; the encircling Chaldeans (οἱ Χαλδαῖοι … κύκλῳ) make the flight desperate. The final clause shifts to the singular ἐπορεύθη — the king himself fleeing toward the Arabah.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρράγηwas breachedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ῥήγνυμιmain verb (passive: the wall broken open)→ constative aorist (decisive breach)ῥήγνυμι (aor. pass. ἐρράγη): 'break / burst / breach'; renders בָּקַע (Niphal, 'be broken into'); 'the city was breached' — the Babylonians broke through Jerusalem's wall, the military catastrophe toward which the siege has built.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλιςcityNominativesubject of ἐρράγη→ participant prominenceπόλις: 'city'; 'the city was breached' = the wall was broken open, by metonymy of the whole for its defensive wall.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἄνδρες)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; 'all the men of war' — the entire garrison attempts the breakout once the wall fails.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (compound: 'the men of war')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man'; οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ πολέμου ('the men of war') is a calque of אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה, the standard Hebrew phrase for soldiers/the fighting force.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολέμουwarGenitivegenitive of quality (defining ἄνδρες: 'men of war')→ relational specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; the genitive ἄνδρες τοῦ πολέμου = 'fighting men, soldiers'; renders מִלְחָמָה.
ἐξῆλθονwent outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the breakout)→ constative aorist (the night sortie)ἐξέρχομαι (aor. ἐξῆλθον): 'go out / depart'; renders יָצָא; the night-sortie of the garrison out of the breached city, an attempted escape rather than a counter-attack.
νυκτὸςby nightGenitivegenitive of time (within which: 'during the night')→ relational specificationνύξ (gen. νυκτός): 'night'; the genitive of time ('by night') marks the cover of darkness for the flight; renders לַיְלָה.
ὁδὸνby the way ofAccusativeaccusative of route / extent of space→ object specificationὁδός: 'way / road'; the accusative of route (ὁδὸν πύλης, 'by the way of the gate') renders the Hebrew דֶּרֶךְ used adverbially for the path taken; cf. ὁδὸν τὴν Αραβα at the verse's end.
πύληςof the gateGenitivegenitive (defining the route: 'way of the gate')→ relational specificationπύλη: 'gate'; renders שַׁעַר; the specific gate of escape, located between the two walls.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with attributive phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')→ spatial or relational framingἀνά: in the fixed phrase ἀνὰ μέσον (+ gen.) 'in the midst of / between'; a Hebraizing rendering of בֵּין; describes the gate set between the inner and outer walls.
μέσονthe midstAccusativeaccusative (in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle / midst'; with ἀνά forms the prepositional idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('between'), here locating the gate 'between the two walls'.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τειχέωνwallsGenitivegenitive after ἀνὰ μέσον ('between the walls')→ relational specificationτεῖχος (gen. pl. τειχέων): 'wall / city-wall'; renders חוֹמָה / the dual חֹמֹתַיִם ('the two walls'); the gate between the double fortification provided a concealed exit toward the Kidron and the Arabah.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of explanatory aside)→ participant referenceοὗτος (fem. αὕτη): 'this'; introduces the narrator's topographical gloss identifying the gate's route ('this is the way of the king's garden'), a parenthetical Hebraizing identification.
ἥwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν)→ participant referenceὅς (fem. ἥ): relative pronoun; 'which is [the way] of the king's garden'.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (in the explanatory relative clause)→ gnomic/identifying presentεἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): 'be'; the identifying present in the narrator's gloss equating the escape-route with the path of the royal garden.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κήπουgardenGenitivegenitive (defining the route: 'of the garden')→ relational specificationκῆπος: 'garden / orchard'; renders גַּן; the king's garden lay at the southeast of the city near the pool of Siloam, affording a screened line of flight.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςking'sGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's garden)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; the royal garden, marking the route as part of the palace precincts.
καὶand / whilecoordinate conjunction (circumstantial: 'now the Chaldeans...')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introduces a circumstantial clause (verbless), 'now the Chaldeans were around the city', explaining the danger of the flight.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαλδαῖοιChaldeansNominativesubject of a verbless circumstantial clause→ participant prominenceΧαλδαῖος (pl. Χαλδαῖοι): 'Chaldean'; renders כַּשְׂדִּים; the Babylonians, named here by their ethnic/tribal designation; their encirclement (ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν κύκλῳ) made the breakout perilous.
ἐπὶaround / againstpreposition + accusative (position: 'around the city')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against / upon / around'; with κύκλῳ describes the Chaldeans' encircling positions about the city.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationπόλις (acc. πόλιν): 'city'; Jerusalem, surrounded by the Chaldean army.
κύκλῳround aboutadverb (dative used adverbially)→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: 'round about'; adverbial dative of κύκλος (renders סָבִיב); reiterates the complete encirclement, raising the stakes of the night escape.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (return to main line)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηhe wentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (singular: the king's own flight)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι (aor. pass. ἐπορεύθη): 'go / journey / proceed'; the shift to the singular focuses on the king (Zedekiah) himself, who took the route toward the Arabah, setting up his pursuit and capture in v. 5.
ὁδὸνby the way ofAccusativeaccusative of route→ object specificationὁδός: 'way / road'; again the accusative of route ('by the way toward the Arabah'); renders דֶּרֶךְ הָעֲרָבָה.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with indeclinable Αραβα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑραβαArabahindeclinable place-name (object of the route-phrase)→ participant identificationΑραβα: transliteration of Hebrew הָעֲרָבָה ('the Arabah'), the Jordan rift / Jericho plain; indeclinable here (governed by the feminine article τὴν); the route of flight down toward the Jordan, where Zedekiah will be overtaken.
5
καὶ ἐδίωξεν ἡ δύναμις τῶν Χαλδαίων ὀπίσω τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ κατέλαβον αὐτὸν ἐν Αραβωθ Ιεριχω καὶ πᾶσα ἡ δύναμις αὐτοῦ διεσπάρη ἐπάνωθεν αὐτοῦ
And the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from about him.
The pursuit-and-capture sequence follows directly on the king's flight (v. 4): ἐδίωξεν … κατέλαβον ('pursued … overtook'). The capture ἐν Αραβωθ Ιεριχω ('in the plains of Jericho') ironically locates the last Davidic king's downfall in the very plain through which Israel first entered the land (Josh 3–6). The scattering of his force (διεσπάρη ἐπάνωθεν αὐτοῦ) seals his isolation.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐδίωξενpursuedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διώκωmain verb (the pursuit)→ constative aoristδιώκω: 'pursue / chase / persecute'; renders רָדַף; the Chaldean force gives chase after the fleeing king down the Arabah.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύναμιςarmyNominativesubject→ participant prominenceδύναμις: 'force / army'; here the pursuing Chaldean army (rendering חַיִל); contrast Zedekiah's own δύναμις, soon scattered.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαλδαίωνChaldeansGenitivegenitive (defining δύναμις: 'army of the Chaldeans')→ relational specificationΧαλδαῖος (gen. pl. Χαλδαίων): 'Chaldean'; renders כַּשְׂדִּים; the Babylonian pursuers.
ὀπίσωafterpreposition + genitive (in pursuit of)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; with the genitive 'after the king'; renders אַחֲרֵי, the standard idiom for pursuit.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; Zedekiah, the fugitive.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέλαβονthey overtookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταλαμβάνωmain verb (capture)→ constative aorist (decisive seizure)καταλαμβάνω: 'overtake / seize / catch'; renders נָשַׂג / לָכַד; the plural (the pursuers as agents) captures the singular king; the compound κατα- marks successful overtaking.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (the king)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the king).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place of capture)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place of capture).
Αραβωθthe plains ofindeclinable place-name (with Ιεριχω)→ participant identificationΑραβωθ: transliteration of Hebrew עַרְבוֹת ('plains of', construct plural of עֲרָבָה); indeclinable; Αραβωθ Ιεριχω = 'the plains of Jericho', the Jordan-valley flats where the fleeing king was caught.
ΙεριχωJerichoindeclinable place-name (defining Αραβωθ)→ participant identificationΙεριχω: transliteration of Hebrew יְרִיחוֹ ('Jericho'); indeclinable; the city by whose plains Zedekiah is overtaken — a bitter inversion of Israel's entry into the land at this same place.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶσαallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying δύναμις)→ participant prominenceπᾶς (fem. πᾶσα): 'all / whole'; 'all his army' — the totality of Zedekiah's force, now dispersed.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύναμιςarmyNominativesubject (the king's own force)→ participant prominenceδύναμις: 'force / army'; here Zedekiah's own troops, scattered in contrast to the Chaldean δύναμις that prevailed.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the king's).
διεσπάρηwas scatteredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · διασπείρωmain verb (passive: dispersal of the troops)→ constative aoristδιασπείρω (aor. pass. διεσπάρη): 'scatter abroad / disperse'; renders נָפַץ / פּוּץ; the root of διασπορά ('Diaspora'); the king's army melts away from around him, leaving him defenceless.
ἐπάνωθενfrom aboutpreposition / adverb + genitive (separation: 'away from')→ spatial or relational framingἐπάνωθεν: 'from above / from about / away from'; with the genitive 'from around him'; a literalistic kaige rendering of מֵעָלָיו ('from upon/about him'), describing the troops deserting their king.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive after ἐπάνωθεν (separation)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive after ἐπάνωθεν (separation).
6
καὶ συνέλαβον τὸν βασιλέα καὶ ἤγαγον αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Βαβυλῶνος εἰς Δεβλαθα καὶ ἐλάλησεν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ κρίσιν
And they seized the king and brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and he pronounced sentence upon him.
The captured king is hauled to Nebuchadnezzar's field-headquarters at Riblah (Δεβλαθα) in the land of Hamath. The judicial idiom ἐλάλησεν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ κρίσιν ('he spoke judgment with him' = 'pronounced sentence on him') is a literal calque of the Hebrew וַיְדַבְּרוּ אִתּוֹ מִשְׁפָּט; the sentence is executed in v. 7.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέλαβονthey seizedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (arrest)→ constative aoristσυλλαμβάνω: 'seize / arrest / take captive'; renders תָּפַשׂ; the Chaldeans physically apprehend the captured king for transfer to their sovereign.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativedirect object (Zedekiah)→ object specificationβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king'; here Zedekiah, now a prisoner.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤγαγονthey broughtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἄγωmain verb (leading the prisoner)→ constative aoristἄγω (aor. ἤγαγον): 'lead / bring'; renders עָלָה / הֵבִיא; the prisoner is led up to Nebuchadnezzar's headquarters.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward a person)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward a person).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Nebuchadnezzar)→ object specificationβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king'; here the king of Babylon, before whom Zedekiah is arraigned.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλέα)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'; the title 'king of Babylon' marks the supreme judge of Zedekiah's fate.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (place to which)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (place to which).
ΔεβλαθαRiblahindeclinable place-name (goal of motion)→ participant identificationΔεβλαθα: transliteration of Hebrew רִבְלָה ('Riblah'); indeclinable; Nebuchadnezzar's military headquarters in the land of Hamath on the Orontes, where Judah's leaders are sentenced and executed (cf. vv. 20–21).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενhe pronouncedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (in the idiom 'spoke judgment')→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak'; in the idiom ἐλάλησεν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ κρίσιν ('spoke judgment with him') it renders Hebrew דִּבֶּר מִשְׁפָּט, i.e. 'passed sentence upon him'; the subject is the king of Babylon.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (elided; Hebraizing 'with him')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen. (elided μετ᾿): 'with'; the literal 'spoke judgment with him' calques the Hebrew דִּבֶּר אֶת/אִתּוֹ, a forensic idiom for arraigning and sentencing.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿.
κρίσινjudgment / sentenceAccusativeaccusative (cognate-like object: 'spoke a sentence')→ object specificationκρίσις: 'judgment / sentence / verdict'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the object of the speaking-verb gives the idiom its forensic force — Nebuchadnezzar formally condemns the rebel vassal-king.
7
καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς Σεδεκιου ἔσφαξεν κατ᾿ ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς Σεδεκιου ἐξετύφλωσεν καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτὸν ἐν πέδαις καὶ ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα
And he slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he blinded the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with fetters and brought him to Babylon.
The sentence is carried out with terrible precision: the sons slaughtered 'before his eyes' (κατ᾿ ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ), and then those very eyes put out (τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς … ἐξετύφλωσεν) — the slaughter of his line is the last thing the last Davidic king ever sees. The fronting of the objects (τοὺς υἱοὺς, τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς) gives each atrocity rhetorical weight; the chain of καί-coordinated aorists drives the irreversible ruin to Babylon.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of ἔσφαξεν (fronted)→ object specificationυἱός (pl. υἱούς): 'son'; renders בֵּן; the sons (heirs) of Zedekiah, whose slaughter extinguishes the reigning royal line before the king's eyes.
Σεδεκιουof ZedekiahGenitivegenitive of relationship (Zedekiah's sons)→ relational specificationΣεδεκιας (gen. Σεδεκιου): 'Zedekiah'; the deposed king; the repeated naming heightens the personal horror of the scene.
ἔσφαξενhe slaughteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σφάζωmain verb (the killing of the sons)→ constative aoristσφάζω: 'slaughter / slay / butcher'; renders שָׁחַט; a brutal, sacrificial-slaughter term (used of cutting animals' throats), underscoring the savagery of the dynastic execution.
κατ᾿beforepreposition + accusative (elided; 'before the eyes of')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc. (elided κατ᾿): in the phrase κατ᾿ ὀφθαλμοὺς ('before the eyes of') it renders לְעֵינֵי ('in the sight of'); the spatial idiom makes Zedekiah the forced eyewitness of his sons' deaths.
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyesAccusativeaccusative object of κατ᾿ ('before [his] eyes')→ object specificationὀφθαλμός (pl. ὀφθαλμούς): 'eye'; renders עַיִן; 'before his eyes' — the same eyes that are then destroyed, a deliberate narrative cruelty.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Zedekiah's eyes)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Zedekiah's eyes).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyesAccusativedirect object of ἐξετύφλωσεν (fronted)→ object specificationὀφθαλμός (pl. ὀφθαλμούς): 'eye'; the repetition of ὀφθαλμούς binds the two atrocities — what the eyes were forced to see becomes the reason they are destroyed; cf. Jer 39:7.
Σεδεκιουof ZedekiahGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationΣεδεκιας (gen. Σεδεκιου): 'Zedekiah'; the threefold naming in vv. 6–7 keeps the doomed king relentlessly in focus.
ἐξετύφλωσενhe blindedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκτυφλόωmain verb (the blinding)→ constative aoristἐκτυφλόω: 'blind utterly / put out the eyes'; the compound ἐκ- of τυφλόω ('make blind') renders עִוֵּר (Piel, 'blind'); fulfils the paradox of Ezek 12:13 — Zedekiah would be brought to Babylon yet 'not see it'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδησενhe boundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δέωmain verb (binding the prisoner)→ constative aoristδέω: 'bind / tie / fetter'; renders אָסַר; the blinded king is shackled for deportation, reduced from sovereign to chained captive.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐνwith / inpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with fetters')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental 'with', a Hebraizing use of בְּ; 'bound him with fetters'.
πέδαιςfettersDativedative of instrument (the shackles)→ sphere or referenceπέδη (pl. πέδαις): 'fetter / shackle (for the feet)'; renders נְחֻשְׁתַּיִם ('bronze fetters'); the bronze chains binding the deposed king for his journey into exile.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤγαγενhe broughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἄγωmain verb (deportation of the king)→ constative aoristἄγω (aor. ἤγαγεν): 'lead / bring'; renders בּוֹא (Hiphil); the blinded, fettered king is carried off to Babylon — the end of the Judahite monarchy as a reigning power.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΒαβυλῶναBabylonAccusativeaccusative of goal (place to which)→ object specificationΒαβυλών (acc. Βαβυλῶνα): 'Babylon'; the place of exile; the last reigning Davidic king ends his life a blind prisoner there (cf. Jer 52:11).
8
καὶ ἐν τῷ μηνὶ τῷ πέμπτῳ ἑβδόμῃ τοῦ μηνός αὐτὸς ἐνιαυτὸς ἐννεακαιδέκατος τῷ Ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλεῖ Βαβυλῶνος ἦλθεν Ναβουζαρδαν ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος ἑστὼς ἐνώπιον βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος εἰς Ιερουσαλημ
And in the fifth month, on the seventh of the month — that was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon — Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, who stood before the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
A fresh dated episode (fifth month, seventh day, nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar) opens the destruction-and-deportation unit. The parenthetical αὐτὸς ἐνιαυτὸς ἐννεακαιδέκατος ('that was the nineteenth year') is a verbless equational aside synchronizing the Judahite and Babylonian reckonings. Nebuzaradan is introduced with his title ἀρχιμάγειρος ('chief cook' = captain of the guard) and the courtier-formula ἑστὼς ἐνώπιον ('standing before' the king) marking his high rank.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (new episode)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὶmonthDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceμήν (dat. μηνί): 'month'; the fifth month (Ab, Jul/Aug), the month of the temple's burning, commemorated thereafter in Jewish mourning (Tisha b'Av tradition).
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέμπτῳfifthDativeattributive ordinal (modifying μηνὶ)→ sphere or referenceπέμπτος: 'fifth'; the fifth month in Hebraizing second-attributive order (τῷ μηνὶ τῷ πέμπτῳ).
ἑβδόμῃon the seventhDativedative of time (substantivized ordinal: 'on the seventh [day]')→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος (fem. ἑβδόμη): 'seventh'; the substantivized feminine (sc. ἡμέρᾳ) gives the day of the month; cf. the variant 'tenth' at Jer 52:12.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνόςmonthGenitivepartitive genitive (with the ordinal date)→ relational specificationμήν (gen. μηνός): 'month'; 'the seventh of the month'.
αὐτὸςthat veryNominativeintensive pronoun (subject of equational aside)→ participant referenceαὐτός: here intensive 'that same / that very'; introduces the synchronizing parenthetical 'that was the nineteenth year', equating the date with Nebuchadnezzar's regnal count.
ἐνιαυτὸςyearNominativepredicate nominative (verbless equational clause)→ participant prominenceἐνιαυτός: 'year'; renders שָׁנָה; the parenthetical 'that very [year was the] nineteenth year' synchronizes the two chronologies (Judahite event-date and Babylonian regnal year).
ἐννεακαιδέκατοςnineteenthNominativepredicate adjective (ordinal, with ἐνιαυτὸς)→ participant prominenceἐννεακαιδέκατος: 'nineteenth' (ἐννέα-καί-δέκατος); the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar (586 BC), the year of Jerusalem's destruction.
τῷof / toDativearticle (dative of reference)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝαβουχοδονοσορNebuchadnezzardative of reference (indeclinable, with the article τῷ)→ noun-phrase markingΝαβουχοδονοσορ: 'Nebuchadnezzar'; indeclinable, but governed by the dative article τῷ — 'the nineteenth year with reference to Nebuchadnezzar', i.e. of his reign.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Ναβουχοδονοσορ→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): 'king'; in apposition, 'Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon'.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλεῖ)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival of Nebuzaradan)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθεν): 'come'; renders בּוֹא; the verb whose subject (after the long temporal preface) is Nebuzaradan, arriving in person to execute the city's destruction.
ΝαβουζαρδανNebuzaradansubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαβουζαρδαν: transliteration of Hebrew נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן (Akkadian Nabû-zēr-iddina); indeclinable; the Babylonian official charged with razing Jerusalem and deporting its people.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with title)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχιμάγειροςcaptain of the guardNominativenominative in apposition to Ναβουζαρδαν (title)→ participant prominenceἀρχιμάγειρος: literally 'chief cook / head butcher'; a calque of the Hebrew title רַב־טַבָּחִים ('chief of the executioners/guard'), i.e. the commander of the royal bodyguard; the title recurs as a refrain (vv. 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 20) marking Nebuzaradan as the executor of judgment.
ἑστὼςstandingPerf Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἵστημιperfect participle (attributive: 'who stood before')→ perfect with present force (settled standing)ἵστημι (pf. ptcp. ἑστώς): 'stand'; the intransitive perfect 'standing' has present force; ἑστὼς ἐνώπιον τοῦ βασιλέως ('standing before the king') is a courtier-idiom (rendering עֹמֵד לִפְנֵי) denoting one in the king's immediate service and high trust.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; marks Nebuzaradan's status as an attendant of the king's own court.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; the king of Babylon, in whose presence Nebuzaradan serves.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλέως)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of motion).
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemindeclinable place-name (goal of ἦλθεν)→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: 'Jerusalem'; indeclinable; the city Nebuzaradan enters in order to destroy it.
9
καὶ ἐνέπρησεν τὸν οἶκον κυρίου καὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ πάντας τοὺς οἴκους Ιερουσαλημ καὶ πᾶν οἶκον ἐνέπρησεν
And he burned the house of the LORD and the house of the king and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire.
The destruction is itemized in descending order of sanctity and rank: the temple (οἶκον κυρίου), the palace (οἶκον τοῦ βασιλέως), then all the houses of Jerusalem. The verb ἐνέπρησεν frames the verse as an inclusio (it opens and closes the clause), the repetition hammering home the totality of the conflagration that ends the First Temple.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνέπρησενhe burnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐμπίπρημιmain verb (the burning)→ constative aoristἐμπίπρημι (aor. ἐνέπρησεν): 'set on fire / burn up'; renders שָׂרַף (בָּאֵשׁ); the technical term for the deliberate incineration of the city; its repetition at the verse's end frames the destruction as comprehensive.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativedirect object (the temple)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / temple'; ὁ οἶκος κυρίου ('the house of the LORD') is the standard LXX designation of the Jerusalem temple (rendering בֵּית יְהוָה); its burning is the theological centre of the catastrophe.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (defining οἶκον: the temple)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the LXX surrogate for the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here in the construct 'house of the LORD' = the temple; the divine name marks the burned sanctuary as YHWH's own dwelling, making its destruction the apex of the judgment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativedirect object (the palace)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; ὁ οἶκος τοῦ βασιλέως ('the house of the king') = the royal palace; renders בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ; the seat of David's dynasty, burned together with the temple.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's house)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; here the Judahite king; the palace, the dynastic seat, perishes with the sanctuary.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying οἴκους)→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. pl. πάντας): 'all'; the burning extends from the two chief buildings to 'all the houses of Jerusalem' — total urban destruction.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουςhousesAccusativedirect object (the city's dwellings)→ object specificationοἶκος (pl. οἴκους): 'house'; here the dwellings and buildings of the whole city, all consumed.
Ιερουσαλημof Jerusalemindeclinable proper noun (genitival: 'houses of Jerusalem')→ participant identificationΙερουσαλημ: 'Jerusalem'; indeclinable; in genitival relation to οἴκους ('the houses of Jerusalem').
καὶand / evencoordinate conjunction (summarizing/emphatic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here epexegetic-emphatic, 'even every great house', summing up the totality before the repeated verb.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying οἶκον)→ object specificationπᾶς (neut. πᾶν): 'every / all'; the singular distributive 'every house' (cf. the Hebrew 'every great house', בֵּית גָּדוֹל) reinforces that nothing of substance was left standing.
οἶκονhouseAccusativedirect object of the second ἐνέπρησεν→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the summary object 'every house', burned in the closing repetition of the verb.
ἐνέπρησενhe burnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐμπίπρημιmain verb (closing the inclusio)→ constative aoristἐμπίπρημι (aor. ἐνέπρησεν): 'set on fire'; its repetition at the clause's close forms an inclusio (ἐνέπρησεν … ἐνέπρησεν), framing and totalizing the destruction of Jerusalem by fire.
10
ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος
[these things did] the captain of the guard.
Verse 10 in this Greek text is reduced to the bare nominative ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος — a vestigial fragment of the fuller MT (2 Kgs 25:10, where Nebuzaradan's troops break down the walls of Jerusalem). In Rahlfs the verse-number carries only the subject-phrase, the predicate having dropped out in the textual transmission of the kaige section; the title alone stands, identifying the agent of the foregoing destruction.
Word-by-word analysis· 2 words
ὁtheNominativearticle (with title)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχιμάγειροςcaptain of the guardNominativenominative (subject-phrase; predicate lost in transmission)→ participant prominenceἀρχιμάγειρος: 'chief cook / captain of the guard' (= רַב־טַבָּחִים); here standing alone as v. 10, a truncated remnant where the MT reads that the army of the Chaldeans under the captain broke down the city walls; the Greek preserves only the agent's title.
11
καὶ τὸ περισσὸν τοῦ λαοῦ τὸ καταλειφθὲν ἐν τῇ πόλει καὶ τοὺς ἐμπεπτωκότας οἳ ἐνέπεσον πρὸς βασιλέα Βαβυλῶνος καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν τοῦ στηρίγματος μετῆρεν Ναβουζαρδαν ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος
And the rest of the people who were left in the city, and the deserters who had gone over to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away into exile.
Three categories of survivors are fronted as the objects (the remnant in the city, the deserters who went over, and 'the rest of the support/multitude') before the main verb μετῆρεν ('removed / deported') and its subject Nebuzaradan. The piling-up of objects before a single deporting verb conveys the comprehensiveness of the exile — Jerusalem is emptied.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with substantivized adjective)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περισσὸνremainder / restAccusativedirect object (substantivized adjective: 'the rest')→ object specificationπερισσός: 'surplus / remaining'; substantivized τὸ περισσόν = 'the remnant, what was left over'; renders יֶתֶר; the surviving population still in the city after the slaughter and famine.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivepartitive genitive (defining τὸ περισσὸν)→ relational specificationλαός (gen. λαοῦ): 'people'; the partitive genitive 'the remnant of the people' — those of the populace not killed in the siege.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with attributive participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταλειφθὲνthat was leftAor Pass Ptcp Acc Sg Neut · καταλείπωattributive participle (modifying τὸ περισσὸν)→ verbal action or stateκαταλείπω (aor. pass. ptcp. καταλειφθέν): 'leave behind / leave remaining'; renders שָׁאַר / נִשְׁאַר; the articular participle 'the [remnant] that was left in the city' — those who survived to be deported.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. πόλει): 'city'; Jerusalem, where the remnant had remained.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second object)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with substantivized participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐμπεπτωκόταςthe desertersPerf Act Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · ἐμπίπτωsubstantivized participle (second object: 'those who had defected')→ perfect (settled state of having gone over)ἐμπίπτω (pf. ptcp. ἐμπεπτωκότας): 'fall in / fall upon'; here in the idiom 'those who had fallen away / gone over' to the king of Babylon, i.e. the deserters who surrendered during the siege (cf. Jer 39:9); the perfect marks their accomplished defection.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐνέπεσον)→ participant referenceὅς (pl. οἵ): relative pronoun introducing the explanatory clause 'who had gone over'.
ἐνέπεσονhad gone overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐμπίπτωverb of relative clause (the act of defection)→ constative aoristἐμπίπτω (aor. ἐνέπεσον): 'fall in / defect'; in the idiom ἐνέπεσον πρὸς βασιλέα ('fell away to / went over to the king'), rendering נָפַל אֶל ('defect to'); describes those who surrendered to Babylon during the siege.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (the party defected to)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (the party defected to).
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king'; the king of Babylon, to whom the deserters had surrendered.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλέα)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third object)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with substantivized adjective)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λοιπὸνrest / remainderAccusativedirect object (substantivized adjective: 'the remainder')→ object specificationλοιπός: 'remaining / rest'; substantivized τὸ λοιπόν = 'the remnant, the rest'; renders the Hebrew הֶהָמוֹן / יֶתֶר; here the residual mass of the populace.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στηρίγματοςmultitude / supportGenitivegenitive (defining τὸ λοιπὸν)→ relational specificationστήριγμα: 'support / stay / mainstay'; here apparently rendering the Hebrew הֶהָמוֹן ('the multitude') of 2 Kgs 25:11 (or אָמוֹן); the kaige translator construes the term as the populace's 'mainstay/body' — 'the rest of the supporting mass' carried off.
μετῆρενhe carried awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μεταίρωmain verb (the deportation)→ constative aoristμεταίρω (aor. μετῆρεν): 'remove / carry away / deport'; renders הֶגְלָה ('take into exile'); the single deporting verb governs the three fronted object-groups — the comprehensive second deportation of Judah.
ΝαβουζαρδανNebuzaradansubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαβουζαρδαν: 'Nebuzaradan'; indeclinable; the agent of the deportation.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with title)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχιμάγειροςcaptain of the guardNominativenominative in apposition to Ναβουζαρδαν→ participant prominenceἀρχιμάγειρος: 'captain of the guard'; the recurring title (cf. vv. 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20) keeping Nebuzaradan in focus as the executor of exile.
12
καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν πτωχῶν τῆς γῆς ὑπέλιπεν ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος εἰς ἀμπελουργοὺς καὶ εἰς γαβιν
But some of the poor of the land the captain of the guard left behind to be vinedressers and field-laborers.
A counterpoint to the deportation of v. 11: the very poorest (τῶν πτωχῶν τῆς γῆς) are deliberately left (ὑπέλιπεν) to work the land as vinedressers and laborers. The partitive ἀπό ('some of') and the purpose-εἰς ('to be vinedressers') express Babylon's economic policy — keep the destitute to maintain agricultural production for the empire.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶand / butcoordinate conjunction (contrastive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸ[some] ofpreposition + genitive (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here partitive 'some of'; renders מִן in partitive sense — only a portion (the poorest) of the land's population is left.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πτωχῶνpoorGenitivepartitive genitive (substantivized: 'the poor')→ relational specificationπτωχός: 'poor / destitute / beggarly'; substantivized 'the poor'; renders דַּלַּת הָאָרֶץ ('the poorest of the land'); the very lowest economic class, deemed not worth deporting.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive (defining πτωχῶν: 'poor of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): 'land'; 'the poor of the land' = the indigent rural population of Judah.
ὑπέλιπενhe left behindAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑπολείπωmain verb (the leaving-behind)→ constative aoristὑπολείπω (aor. ὑπέλιπεν): 'leave behind / leave remaining'; renders הִשְׁאִיר; the deliberate retention of the poor as a labor force, in contrast to the deportation (μετῆρεν) of v. 11.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with title)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχιμάγειροςcaptain of the guardNominativesubject (title of Nebuzaradan)→ participant prominenceἀρχιμάγειρος: 'captain of the guard'; Nebuzaradan again, administering the post-conquest settlement.
εἰςto be / aspreposition + accusative (purpose / role)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here of resultant role/purpose, 'to be / as'; a Hebraizing לְ of designation — left 'to be vinedressers'.
ἀμπελουργοὺςvinedressersAccusativeaccusative of purpose / predicate (role assigned)→ object specificationἀμπελουργός: 'vinedresser / vine-tender'; renders כֹּרְמִים; the poor are kept to work the vineyards — the land's economy maintained for Babylon's benefit.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςto be / aspreposition + accusative (purpose / role)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to be'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose / role).
γαβινfield-laborersindeclinable loanword (predicate role)→ clausal contributionγαβιν: an untranslated transliteration of the Hebrew יֹגְבִים ('field-workers / plowmen', from יָגֵב) at 2 Kgs 25:12; left as a loanword by the kaige translator alongside ἀμπελουργούς; the poor become tillers of the soil.
13
καὶ τοὺς στύλους τοὺς χαλκοῦς τοὺς ἐν οἴκῳ κυρίου καὶ τὰς μεχωνωθ καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν τὴν χαλκῆν τὴν ἐν οἴκῳ κυρίου συνέτριψαν οἱ Χαλδαῖοι καὶ ἦραν τὸν χαλκὸν αὐτῶν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα
And the bronze pillars that were in the house of the LORD, and the stands, and the bronze sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and they carried off their bronze to Babylon.
The great Solomonic bronze fixtures — the twin pillars (Jachin and Boaz), the wheeled stands (μεχωνωθ), and the molten sea — are itemized as fronted objects of συνέτριψαν ('they shattered'). The Chaldeans break up the immovable bronzes to transport the metal; the doubled τὴν ἐν οἴκῳ κυρίου stresses that these are the temple's own sacred furnishings, now reduced to scrap freight for Babylon.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στύλουςpillarsAccusativedirect object of συνέτριψαν (fronted)→ object specificationστῦλος (pl. στύλους): 'pillar / column'; renders עַמּוּד; the two great bronze pillars Jachin and Boaz that stood before the temple porch (1 Kgs 7:15–22; cf. v. 17 below).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χαλκοῦςbronzeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying στύλους)→ object specificationχαλκοῦς: 'of bronze / brazen'; renders נְחֹשֶׁת; the pillars' material — the bronze that makes them worth breaking up and hauling away.
τοὺςthe [ones]Accusativearticle (with attributive prepositional phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, in attributive phrase)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, in attributive phrase).
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceοἶκος (dat. οἴκῳ): 'house / temple'; ἐν οἴκῳ κυρίου = 'in the house of the LORD', locating the pillars in the temple precincts.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (the temple)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): the LXX surrogate for the Tetragrammaton יהוה; 'house of the LORD' = the temple; marks the plundered bronzes as sacred property.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second object)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (feminine, with loanword μεχωνωθ)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεχωνωθthe standsindeclinable loanword (direct object, governed by τὰς)→ clausal contributionμεχωνωθ: an untranslated transliteration of Hebrew מְכֹנוֹת ('stands / bases'), the ten wheeled bronze laver-stands Solomon made for the temple (1 Kgs 7:27–37); indeclinable, governed by the feminine article τάς; the kaige translator leaves the technical term as a loanword (cf. v. 16).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third object)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θάλασσανseaAccusativedirect object (the bronze laver)→ object specificationθάλασσα (acc. θάλασσαν): 'sea'; renders יָם; here the great cast-bronze basin called 'the Sea' that stood in the temple court (1 Kgs 7:23–26), used for priestly washing.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χαλκῆνbronzeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θάλασσαν)→ object specificationχαλκοῦς (fem. χαλκῆ): 'of bronze'; the Sea's material, the reason for its destruction and removal.
τὴνthe [one]Accusativearticle (with attributive prepositional phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceοἶκος (dat. οἴκῳ): 'house / temple'; the repeated ἐν οἴκῳ κυρίου re-marks the Sea as a temple furnishing.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (the temple)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): surrogate for the Tetragrammaton יהוה; 'of the LORD', sanctifying the plundered Sea.
συνέτριψανthey broke in piecesAor Act Indic 3 Pl · συντρίβωmain verb (the breaking-up of the bronzes)→ constative aoristσυντρίβω (aor. συνέτριψαν): 'shatter / break in pieces / crush'; renders שִׁבֵּר; the Chaldeans smash the immovable bronze fixtures to carry off the metal — a brutal desacralizing of the temple's furniture.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαλδαῖοιChaldeansNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΧαλδαῖος (pl. Χαλδαῖοι): 'Chaldean'; the Babylonians, agents of the temple's despoiling.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦρανthey carried offAor Act Indic 3 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (removal of the metal)→ constative aoristαἴρω (aor. ἦραν): 'lift / take up / carry away'; renders נָשָׂא; the broken bronze is hauled to Babylon as plunder.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χαλκὸνbronzeAccusativedirect object of ἦραν (the metal)→ object specificationχαλκός (acc. χαλκόν): 'bronze / copper'; renders נְחֹשֶׁת; the metal of the shattered pillars, stands, and Sea, taken as imperial loot.
αὐτῶνof them / theirGenitivegenitive of possession (the bronzes' metal)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'of them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the bronzes' metal).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΒαβυλῶναBabylonAccusativeaccusative of goal→ object specificationΒαβυλών (acc. Βαβυλῶνα): 'Babylon'; the destination of the temple's stripped bronze.
14
καὶ τοὺς λέβητας καὶ τὰ ιαμιν καὶ τὰς φιάλας καὶ τὰς θυίσκας καὶ πάντα τὰ σκεύη τὰ χαλκᾶ ἐν οἷς λειτουργοῦσιν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἔλαβεν
And the pots and the shovels and the bowls and the censers and all the bronze vessels with which they ministered, he took.
The catalogue continues with the smaller liturgical bronzes — pots, shovels, bowls, censers — and a summarizing 'all the bronze vessels with which they ministered'. The resumptive ἐν οἷς … ἐν αὐτοῖς ('with which … with them') is a Hebraizing redundant-pronoun relative clause (אֲשֶׁר … בָּם). The single verb ἔλαβεν ('he took') gathers the whole inventory into Nebuzaradan's plunder.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέβηταςpotsAccusativedirect object (of ἔλαβεν)→ object specificationλέβης (pl. λέβητας): 'pot / cauldron / kettle'; renders סִיר; the large bronze cooking/ash pots used in the temple service.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (neuter, with loanword ιαμιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ιαμινshovelsindeclinable loanword (direct object, governed by τὰ)→ clausal contributionιαμιν: an untranslated transliteration (of Hebrew יָעִים, 'shovels', the ash-scoops of the altar, 2 Kgs 25:14); indeclinable, governed by the neuter plural article τά; another kaige loanword left untranslated.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φιάλαςbowlsAccusativedirect object→ object specificationφιάλη (pl. φιάλας): 'bowl / basin'; renders מִזְרָק ('sprinkling-bowl'); the bronze (and later gold/silver, v. 15) basins for blood and libations in the temple service.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυίσκαςcensers / incense-spoonsAccusativedirect object→ object specificationθυίσκη (pl. θυίσκας): 'censer / incense-pan / incense-spoon'; renders כַּף ('spoon/pan') or מַחְתָּה; the vessels for offering incense, part of the temple's plundered cultic equipment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (summarizing)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying σκεύη)→ object specificationπᾶς (neut. pl. πάντα): 'all'; the summarizing 'all the bronze vessels' gathers the remaining cultic bronzes into the inventory.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκεύηvessels / implementsAccusativedirect object (summary term)→ object specificationσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): 'vessel / implement / article'; renders כְּלִי; the general term for the temple's service-implements, here specified as bronze.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χαλκᾶbronzeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying σκεύη)→ object specificationχαλκοῦς (neut. pl. χαλκᾶ): 'of bronze'; specifies the material of the summarized vessels (distinguished from the gold/silver of v. 15).
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental, in relative clause)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental 'with', a Hebraizing בְּ; introduces the relative clause 'with which they ministered'.
οἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative, antecedent σκεύη)→ participant reference or interestὅς (dat. pl. οἷς): relative pronoun, 'with which'; antecedent τὰ σκεύη.
λειτουργοῦσινthey ministerPres Act Indic 3 Pl · λειτουργέωverb of relative clause (cultic service)→ customary present (regular liturgical use)λειτουργέω: 'minister / perform priestly service'; renders שֵׁרֵת; the technical LXX verb for cultic/liturgical service (whence 'liturgy'); the customary present describes the vessels' regular use in the now-defunct temple worship.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (resumptive, Hebraizing redundant pronoun)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: the resumptive ἐν αὐτοῖς ('with them') redundantly repeats the relative — a literalistic calque of the Hebrew אֲשֶׁר … בָּם ('which … with them'), a hallmark of the kaige translation style.
αὐτοῖςthemDativeresumptive pronoun (redundant with οἷς)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): the redundant resumptive pronoun closing the Hebraizing relative clause.
ἔλαβενhe tookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the taking of the vessels)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take / seize'; renders לָקַח; the single verb (subject: the captain of the guard) governs the whole fronted catalogue of bronze vessels.
15
καὶ τὰ πυρεῖα καὶ τὰς φιάλας τὰς χρυσᾶς καὶ τὰς ἀργυρᾶς ἔλαβεν ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος
And the fire-pans and the bowls, the gold ones and the silver ones, the captain of the guard took.
The inventory rises from bronze to precious metal: the fire-pans and the bowls 'of gold and of silver' are taken by the captain of the guard. The substantivized adjectives τὰς χρυσᾶς … τὰς ἀργυρᾶς ('the gold ones … the silver ones') mark these as the most valuable temple plunder, reserved to Nebuzaradan's personal seizure.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πυρεῖαfire-pans / censersAccusativedirect object→ object specificationπυρεῖον (pl. πυρεῖα): 'fire-pan / censer / coal-pan'; renders מַחְתָּה; the pans for carrying altar-coals/incense, here of precious metal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φιάλαςbowlsAccusativedirect object→ object specificationφιάλη (pl. φιάλας): 'bowl / basin'; renders מִזְרָק; here the gold and silver sprinkling-bowls.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with substantivized adjective)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χρυσᾶςgold onesAccusativesubstantivized adjective (specifying material)→ object specificationχρυσοῦς (fem. pl. χρυσᾶς): 'golden / of gold'; renders זָהָב; substantivized 'the gold ones', the most precious of the seized vessels.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with substantivized adjective)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀργυρᾶςsilver onesAccusativesubstantivized adjective (specifying material)→ object specificationἀργυροῦς (fem. pl. ἀργυρᾶς): 'silver / of silver'; renders כֶּסֶף; substantivized 'the silver ones'; the gold-and-silver pairing marks the highest-value plunder.
ἔλαβενhe tookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the seizing)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take / seize'; renders לָקַח; the captain personally takes the precious-metal vessels.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with title)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχιμάγειροςcaptain of the guardNominativesubject (title of Nebuzaradan)→ participant prominenceἀρχιμάγειρος: 'captain of the guard'; Nebuzaradan, the recurring agent of the plunder.
16
στύλους δύο ἡ θάλασσα ἡ μία καὶ τὰ μεχωνωθ ἃ ἐποίησεν Σαλωμων τῷ οἴκῳ κυρίου οὐκ ἦν σταθμὸς τοῦ χαλκοῦ πάντων τῶν σκευῶν
As for the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands that Solomon had made for the house of the LORD — there was no weighing of the bronze of all these vessels.
A summarizing appraisal in a pendent (casus pendens) construction: the items are listed in fronted absolute form (στύλους δύο, ἡ θάλασσα ἡ μία, τὰ μεχωνωθ) and then resolved in the comment οὐκ ἦν σταθμός ('there was no weighing') — the bronze was beyond reckoning. The relative ἃ ἐποίησεν Σαλωμων ('which Solomon made') frames the loss as the undoing of the temple's founding glory.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
στύλουςpillarsAccusativeaccusative of respect / pendent (heading the summary)→ object specificationστῦλος (pl. στύλους): 'pillar'; the two great bronze pillars again; the loose fronted accusative heads the summary appraisal of the temple bronze.
δύοtwonumeral (indeclinable, modifying στύλους)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; indeclinable numeral; the pair Jachin and Boaz.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θάλασσαseaNominativenominative (pendent / loose case in the summary list)→ participant prominenceθάλασσα: 'sea'; the single great bronze laver-basin; the shift to the nominative in the list reflects the loose, appositional (casus-pendens) syntax of the summary.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with numeral)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μίαoneNominativenumeral adjective (modifying θάλασσα)→ measure or countεἷς (fem. μία): 'one'; 'the one sea' — there was a single great Sea, distinguished from the plural stands and pillars.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (neuter, with loanword μεχωνωθ)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεχωνωθthe standsindeclinable loanword (governed by τὰ)→ clausal contributionμεχωνωθ: transliteration of Hebrew מְכֹנוֹת ('stands'); indeclinable; the wheeled bronze laver-stands (cf. v. 13); a kaige loanword.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν)→ participant referenceὅς (neut. pl. ἅ): relative pronoun, 'which'; introduces the clause attributing the fixtures to Solomon's making.
ἐποίησενmadeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause (Solomon's making)→ constative aoristποιέω (aor. ἐποίησεν): 'make / do'; renders עָשָׂה; recalls Solomon's original fashioning of these bronzes (1 Kgs 7), so that their destruction is the unmaking of the temple's founding splendor.
ΣαλωμωνSolomonNominativesubject of ἐποίησεν→ participant prominenceΣαλωμων: 'Solomon'; transliteration of Hebrew שְׁלֹמֹה; here nominative subject (the name is declinable in the LXX, gen. Σαλωμωνος); the temple's builder, whose great bronzes are now scrap.
τῷfor theDativearticle (dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of advantage ('for the house')→ sphere or referenceοἶκος (dat. οἴκῳ): 'house / temple'; the dative 'for the house of the LORD' — the purpose for which Solomon made the bronzes.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (the temple)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): surrogate for the Tetragrammaton יהוה; 'house of the LORD' = the temple.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἦν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ): the objective negative; 'there was no weighing' — the metal was beyond measure.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential, negated)→ imperfect (descriptive state)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be / exist'; the negated existential 'there was no weight/weighing' renders אֵין מִשְׁקָל; the bronze was too vast to be weighed.
σταθμὸςweight / weighingNominativesubject of ἦν (existential)→ participant prominenceσταθμός: 'weight / measure / standard'; renders מִשְׁקָל; 'there was no weighing' = the quantity of bronze was incalculable, underscoring the magnitude of the loss.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χαλκοῦbronzeGenitivegenitive (defining σταθμὸς: weight of the bronze)→ relational specificationχαλκός (gen. χαλκοῦ): 'bronze'; the metal whose weight could not be reckoned.
πάντωνof allGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying σκευῶν)→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. pl. πάντων): 'all'; 'of all the vessels' — the total mass of the temple's bronze furnishings.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκευῶνvesselsGenitivegenitive (the vessels whose bronze was beyond weighing)→ relational specificationσκεῦος (gen. pl. σκευῶν): 'vessel / implement'; the temple bronzes collectively, whose metal could not be weighed.
17
ὀκτωκαίδεκα πήχεων ὕψος τοῦ στύλου τοῦ ἑνός καὶ τὸ χωθαρ ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὸ χαλκοῦν καὶ τὸ ὕψος τοῦ χωθαρ τριῶν πήχεων σαβαχα καὶ ῥοαὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ χωθαρ κύκλῳ τὰ πάντα χαλκᾶ καὶ κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ τῷ στύλῳ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἐπὶ τῷ σαβαχα
Eighteen cubits was the height of the one pillar, and the capital upon it was of bronze, and the height of the capital was three cubits, with lattice-work and pomegranates upon the capital round about, all of bronze; and the second pillar was the same, with its lattice-work.
An architectural footnote describing the despoiled pillars in their former glory: eighteen cubits high, surmounted by a bronze capital (χωθαρ) of three cubits, wreathed with lattice-work (σαβαχα) and pomegranates (ῥοαί). The cluster of transliterated technical terms (χωθαρ, σαβαχα) is characteristic of the kaige translator's reluctance to render specialized cultic-architectural vocabulary. The note closes with κατὰ τὰ αὐτά ('likewise') for the second pillar.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
ὀκτωκαίδεκαeighteennumeral (indeclinable, measure of height)→ clausal contributionὀκτωκαίδεκα: 'eighteen' (ὀκτώ-καί-δεκα); indeclinable numeral; the height of each pillar in cubits (1 Kgs 7:15).
πήχεωνcubitsGenitivegenitive of measure (with the numeral)→ relational specificationπῆχυς (gen. pl. πήχεων): 'cubit' (forearm-length, c. 45 cm); renders אַמָּה; the genitive of measure 'eighteen cubits [in height]'.
ὕψοςheightNominativesubject / predicate of the measure-statement→ participant prominenceὕψος: 'height'; renders קוֹמָה; 'the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits'.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στύλουpillarGenitivegenitive (defining ὕψος: 'height of the pillar')→ relational specificationστῦλος (gen. στύλου): 'pillar'; one of the two great bronze pillars.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with numeral)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑνόςoneGenitivenumeral adjective (modifying στύλου: 'the one pillar')→ relational specificationεἷς (gen. ἑνός): 'one'; 'the one [first] pillar', the measurements then extended to the second (κατὰ τὰ αὐτά).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (neuter, with loanword χωθαρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χωθαρcapitalindeclinable loanword (subject, governed by τὸ)→ clausal contributionχωθαρ: an untranslated transliteration of Hebrew כֹּתֶרֶת ('capital, crown' of a pillar); indeclinable, governed by the neuter article τό; the ornamental bronze capital crowning each pillar (1 Kgs 7:16); a kaige loanword.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + genitive (elided; position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen. (elided ἐπ᾿): 'upon'; the capital sat upon the pillar.
αὐτοῦitGenitivegenitive after ἐπ᾿ (= the pillar)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive after ἐπ᾿ (= the pillar).
τὸtheNominativearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χαλκοῦνof bronzeNominativeattributive adjective (modifying χωθαρ: 'the bronze capital')→ participant prominenceχαλκοῦς (neut. χαλκοῦν): 'of bronze'; specifies the capital's material.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕψοςheightNominativesubject (height of the capital)→ participant prominenceὕψος: 'height'; here of the capital, three cubits high.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with loanword)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χωθαρcapitalindeclinable loanword (genitive sense, governed by τοῦ)→ clausal contributionχωθαρ: 'capital' (כֹּתֶרֶת); indeclinable; here in genitival relation ('the height of the capital').
τριῶνthreeGenitivenumeral (genitive of measure with πήχεων)→ relational specificationτρεῖς (gen. τριῶν): 'three'; the capital's height in cubits.
πήχεωνcubitsGenitivegenitive of measure→ relational specificationπῆχυς (gen. pl. πήχεων): 'cubit'; 'three cubits' the height of the capital.
σαβαχαlattice-workindeclinable loanword (in apposition / nominative sense)→ clausal contributionσαβαχα: an untranslated transliteration of Hebrew שְׂבָכָה ('network, lattice, grating'); indeclinable; the decorative interwoven bronze net adorning the capital (1 Kgs 7:17); a kaige loanword (cf. ἐπὶ τῷ σαβαχα below).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ῥοαὶpomegranatesNominativesubject (ornaments on the capital)→ participant prominenceῥόα / ῥοιά (pl. ῥοαί): 'pomegranate'; renders רִמּוֹן; the rows of bronze pomegranates ornamenting the capital's lattice (1 Kgs 7:18, 20), a stock decorative motif of the temple.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with loanword)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χωθαρcapitalindeclinable loanword (governed by τοῦ)→ clausal contributionχωθαρ: 'capital' (כֹּתֶרֶת); the pomegranates were set 'upon the capital round about'.
κύκλῳround aboutadverb (dative used adverbially)→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: 'round about'; adverbial dative (renders סָבִיב); the ornaments encircled the capital.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with πάντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάνταall thingsNominativesubstantivized adjective (summary: 'the whole')→ participant prominenceπᾶς (neut. pl. πάντα): 'all'; τὰ πάντα = 'the whole, all of it' — summarizing that the entire structure (capital, lattice, pomegranates) was of bronze.
χαλκᾶof bronzeNominativepredicate adjective (modifying τὰ πάντα)→ participant prominenceχαλκοῦς (neut. pl. χαλκᾶ): 'of bronze'; 'all of bronze' — the metal whose immeasurable mass v. 16 lamented.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (in the idiom κατὰ τὰ αὐτά: 'likewise')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: in the phrase κατὰ τὰ αὐτά ('in the same way, likewise'); renders כָּאֵלֶּה; extends the description to the second pillar.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with αὐτὰ)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτὰsameAccusativeintensive/identical pronoun (in idiom 'the same things')→ participant referenceαὐτός (neut. pl. αὐτά): 'same'; τὰ αὐτά = 'the same things'; with κατά forms 'likewise', the second pillar matching the first.
τῷfor theDativearticle (dative of reference)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στύλῳpillarDativedative of reference ('for/as to the pillar')→ sphere or referenceστῦλος (dat. στύλῳ): 'pillar'; the dative of reference, 'likewise as to the second pillar'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτέρῳsecondDativeordinal adjective (modifying στύλῳ)→ sphere or referenceδεύτερος (dat. δευτέρῳ): 'second'; the second of the two pillars, identical to the first.
ἐπὶupon / withpreposition + dative (position / accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'upon / at'; here 'with its lattice', the second pillar likewise having its σαβαχα.
τῷtheDativearticle (with loanword σαβαχα)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σαβαχαlattice-workindeclinable loanword (governed by τῷ)→ clausal contributionσαβαχα: 'lattice / network' (שְׂבָכָה); indeclinable; the second pillar too had its lattice-work; a kaige loanword closing the architectural note.
18
καὶ ἔλαβεν ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος τὸν Σαραιαν ἱερέα τὸν πρῶτον καὶ τὸν Σοφονιαν υἱὸν τῆς δευτερώσεως καὶ τοὺς τρεῖς τοὺς φυλάσσοντας τὸν σταθμὸν
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the priest of the second order and the three keepers of the threshold.
Nebuzaradan now arrests Judah's surviving religious leadership: the chief priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the three door-keepers. The titling ἱερέα τὸν πρῶτον ('the first/chief priest') and υἱὸν τῆς δευτερώσεως ('of the second order') is a literal rendering of the Hebrew priestly hierarchy. These named captives are led to Riblah for execution (vv. 20–21).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (new episode)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the arrest)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take / seize / arrest'; renders לָקַח; here of taking the leaders into custody for transfer to the king of Babylon.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with title)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχιμάγειροςcaptain of the guardNominativesubject (title of Nebuzaradan)→ participant prominenceἀρχιμάγειρος: 'captain of the guard'; Nebuzaradan, now executor of the leadership's arrest.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with name)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαραιανSeraiahAccusativedirect object (the chief priest)→ object specificationΣαραιας (acc. Σαραιαν): transliteration of Hebrew שְׂרָיָה ('YHWH has prevailed'); declined as a first-declension masculine; the chief priest of Jerusalem at its fall, ancestor of Ezra (Ezra 7:1).
ἱερέαpriestAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Σαραιαν (title)→ object specificationἱερεύς (acc. ἱερέα): 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; with τὸν πρῶτον = 'the chief priest' (כֹּהֵן הָרֹאשׁ).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρῶτονchief / firstAccusativeordinal adjective (modifying ἱερέα: 'chief priest')→ object specificationπρῶτος: 'first / chief'; ἱερέα τὸν πρῶτον = 'the chief priest', the highest cultic office, here led to his death.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with name)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣοφονιανZephaniahAccusativedirect object (the second priest)→ object specificationΣοφονιας (acc. Σοφονιαν): transliteration of Hebrew צְפַנְיָה ('YHWH has hidden/treasured'); declined; the deputy/second priest (cf. Jer 52:24), not the prophet of the same name.
υἱὸνson / priestAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Σοφονιαν (title)→ object specificationυἱός (acc. υἱόν): 'son'; here in the idiom υἱὸν τῆς δευτερώσεως ('son of the second order') = the priest of the second rank/deputy high priest; 'son of' marks membership in a class (a Hebraism, בֶּן).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτερώσεωςsecond order / rankGenitivegenitive (defining υἱὸν: 'of the second order')→ relational specificationδευτέρωσις: 'doubling / second rank / second order'; renders מִשְׁנֶה ('second, deputy'); 'the priest of the second order' = the deputy to the chief priest (כֹּהֵן הַמִּשְׁנֶה).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with numeral)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativenumeral (substantivized: 'the three')→ measure or countτρεῖς (acc. τρεῖς): 'three'; 'the three' threshold-keepers, the senior gatekeeper-priests.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλάσσονταςkeeping / guardingPres Act Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · φυλάσσωattributive participle (modifying τοὺς τρεῖς)→ customary present (their standing duty)φυλάσσω (pres. ptcp. φυλάσσοντας): 'guard / keep watch'; renders שֹׁמְרֵי (הַסַּף); 'those keeping the threshold' = the keepers of the door/threshold, senior temple gatekeepers (cf. 2 Kgs 23:4).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σταθμὸνthreshold / doorwayAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσοντας→ object specificationσταθμός (acc. σταθμόν): here 'threshold / door-post / gateway' (rendering סַף, 'threshold'); the object guarded by the three keepers — note the same word means 'weight' at v. 16, the kaige translator using it for both Hebrew terms by homonymy.
19
καὶ ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἔλαβεν εὐνοῦχον ἕνα ὃς ἦν ἐπιστάτης ἐπὶ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῶν πολεμιστῶν καὶ πέντε ἄνδρας τῶν ὁρώντων τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ βασιλέως τοὺς εὑρεθέντας ἐν τῇ πόλει καὶ τὸν γραμματέα τοῦ ἄρχοντος τῆς δυνάμεως τὸν ἐκτάσσοντα τὸν λαὸν τῆς γῆς καὶ ἑξήκοντα ἄνδρας τοῦ λαοῦ τῆς γῆς τοὺς εὑρεθέντας ἐν τῇ πόλει
And from the city he took one eunuch who was overseer over the men of war, and five men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city, and the scribe of the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city.
A second list of captives, this time the military and civil leadership: a eunuch-overseer of the soldiers, five royal courtiers ('those who saw the king's face'), the muster-scribe of the army-commander, and sixty men of the people of the land. The repeated τοὺς εὑρεθέντας ἐν τῇ πόλει ('found in the city') frames the round-up as a systematic purge of every surviving figure of authority.
Word-by-word analysis· 54 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / out of'; renders מִן; 'from the city' he took the following officials.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. πόλεως): 'city'; Jerusalem, the source of the seized officials.
ἔλαβενhe tookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the seizing)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take / seize'; the captain takes the city's surviving leadership for execution.
εὐνοῦχονeunuch / officerAccusativedirect object→ object specificationεὐνοῦχος: 'eunuch / court-official'; renders סָרִיס; a high palace/military official (the term need not imply castration in administrative contexts); here the overseer of the soldiery.
ἕναoneAccusativenumeral adjective (modifying εὐνοῦχον)→ measure or countεἷς (acc. ἕνα): 'one'; 'one eunuch / a certain officer'.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἦν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, 'who'; introduces the description of the eunuch's office.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (relative clause)→ imperfect (his standing office)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be'; 'who was overseer', describing his military role.
ἐπιστάτηςoverseerNominativepredicate nominative→ participant prominenceἐπιστάτης: 'overseer / commander / one set over'; renders פָּקִיד; the officer in charge of the men of war.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + genitive (authority over)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'over'; of official authority, 'overseer over the men of war'.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρῶνmenGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί→ relational specificationἀνήρ (gen. pl. ἀνδρῶν): 'man'; οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ πολεμισταί = the fighting men, the soldiery.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολεμιστῶνwarriorsGenitiveattributive (modifying ἀνδρῶν: 'men of war')→ relational specificationπολεμιστής (gen. pl. πολεμιστῶν): 'warrior / fighting-man'; renders אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה / מִלְחָמָה; the soldiers under the eunuch's command.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πέντεfivenumeral (indeclinable, modifying ἄνδρας)→ measure or countπέντε: 'five'; indeclinable numeral; the five royal courtiers seized.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object (second group)→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'man'; the five men of the royal inner circle.
τῶνof thoseGenitivearticle (with participle, partitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁρώντωνwho sawPres Act Ptcp Gen Pl Masc · ὁράωsubstantivized participle (partitive: 'of those seeing')→ customary present (their privileged access)ὁράω (pres. ptcp. ὁρώντων): 'see'; the idiom οἱ ὁρῶντες τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ βασιλέως ('those who see the king's face') renders רֹאֵי פְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, a court-idiom for the king's intimate counselors with direct audience (cf. Esth 1:14).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativedirect object of ὁρώντων→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; renders פָּנִים; 'the king's face' = direct access to the royal presence, the mark of a chief counselor.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's face)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; the Judahite king, whose closest courtiers these were.
τοὺςthe [ones]Accusativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὑρεθένταςwho were foundAor Pass Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · εὑρίσκωattributive participle (modifying ἄνδρας)→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω (aor. pass. ptcp. εὑρεθέντας): 'find'; renders נִמְצָא; 'those found in the city' — caught in the fallen Jerusalem; the phrase recurs at the verse's end, framing the round-up.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. πόλει): 'city'; Jerusalem, where the courtiers were captured.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γραμματέαscribeAccusativedirect object (third figure)→ object specificationγραμματεύς (acc. γραμματέα): 'scribe / secretary'; renders סֹפֵר; here the military secretary responsible for the muster-rolls of the army.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντοςcommanderGenitivegenitive (defining γραμματέα: 'scribe of the commander')→ relational specificationἄρχων (gen. ἄρχοντος): 'ruler / commander / officer'; renders שַׂר; here the commander of the army, whose scribe handled conscription.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωςarmyGenitivegenitive (defining ἄρχοντος: 'commander of the army')→ relational specificationδύναμις (gen. δυνάμεως): 'force / army'; renders צָבָא; the host whose commander the scribe served.
τὸνthe [one]Accusativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκτάσσονταwho musteredPres Act Ptcp Acc Sg Masc · ἐκτάσσωattributive participle (modifying γραμματέα)→ customary present (his enrolling function)ἐκτάσσω (pres. ptcp. ἐκτάσσοντα): 'draw up / enroll / muster'; renders the Hiphil of צָבָא / the muster-function; describes the scribe who conscripted/enrolled the people of the land for war.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of ἐκτάσσοντα→ object specificationλαός (acc. λαόν): 'people'; the populace mustered/conscripted by the scribe.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive (defining λαὸν: 'people of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): 'land'; λαὸς τῆς γῆς = עַם הָאָרֶץ, the ordinary populace of Judah, enrolled for the war.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἑξήκονταsixtynumeral (indeclinable, modifying ἄνδρας)→ measure or countἑξήκοντα: 'sixty'; indeclinable numeral; the sixty common men also seized.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object (fourth group)→ object specificationἀνήρ (acc. pl. ἄνδρας): 'man'; the sixty men of the people of the land.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivepartitive genitive (modifying ἄνδρας)→ relational specificationλαός (gen. λαοῦ): 'people'; 'of the people of the land' — common Judahites, perhaps leading citizens.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive (defining λαοῦ: 'people of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): 'land'; λαὸς τῆς γῆς (עַם הָאָרֶץ) again, the ordinary populace.
τοὺςthe [ones]Accusativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὑρεθένταςwho were foundAor Pass Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · εὑρίσκωattributive participle (modifying ἄνδρας)→ verbal action or stateεὑρίσκω (aor. pass. ptcp. εὑρεθέντας): 'find'; the repeated 'found in the city' closes the inventory of captives, stressing the thoroughness of the purge.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. πόλει): 'city'; Jerusalem, the place of their capture.
20
καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτοὺς Ναβουζαρδαν ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος καὶ ἀπήγαγεν αὐτοὺς πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Βαβυλῶνος εἰς Δεβλαθα
And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.
The seized leaders (vv. 18–19) are taken by Nebuzaradan to Nebuchadnezzar's headquarters at Riblah — the same place where Zedekiah was sentenced (v. 6). The verse forms a deliberate echo of v. 6 (ἤγαγον … πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Βαβυλῶνος εἰς Δεβλαθα), binding the fate of the leaders to that of the king.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 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 (taking the captives)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take / seize'; resuming the arrests of vv. 18–19, now to transport the prisoners.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the seized leaders)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the seized leaders).
ΝαβουζαρδανNebuzaradansubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαβουζαρδαν: 'Nebuzaradan'; indeclinable; the captain who conducts the prisoners to Riblah.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with title)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχιμάγειροςcaptain of the guardNominativenominative in apposition to Ναβουζαρδαν→ participant prominenceἀρχιμάγειρος: 'captain of the guard'; the recurring title (final occurrence in the chapter), keeping Nebuzaradan as the agent of judgment.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγαγενbrought / led awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπάγωmain verb (leading the prisoners off)→ constative aoristἀπάγω (aor. ἀπήγαγεν): 'lead away / carry off'; renders הוֹלִיךְ; the compound ἀπο- marks removal to another place — the captives taken off to Riblah for execution.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward a person)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward a person).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Nebuchadnezzar)→ object specificationβασιλεύς (acc. βασιλέα): 'king'; the king of Babylon, before whom the prisoners are brought (echoing v. 6).
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλέα)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (place to which)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (place to which).
ΔεβλαθαRiblahindeclinable place-name (goal of motion)→ participant identificationΔεβλαθα: 'Riblah' (רִבְלָה); indeclinable; Nebuchadnezzar's Syrian headquarters, where the captive leaders, like the king, meet their judgment (v. 21).
21
καὶ ἔπαισεν αὐτοὺς βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος καὶ ἐθανάτωσεν αὐτοὺς ἐν Δεβλαθα ἐν γῇ Αιμαθ καὶ ἀπῳκίσθη Ιουδας ἐπάνωθεν τῆς γῆς αὐτοῦ
And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was exiled from its land.
The leaders are executed at Riblah, ἐν γῇ Αιμαθ ('in the land of Hamath'). The unit and the whole destruction-account then close with the lapidary exile-formula καὶ ἀπῳκίσθη Ιουδας ἐπάνωθεν τῆς γῆς αὐτοῦ ('and Judah was exiled from its land') — a theological summary statement marking the end of the kingdom of Judah as a people in its land, echoing the same formula used for the northern kingdom at 17:23.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπαισενstruck them downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παίωmain verb (the striking)→ constative aoristπαίω (aor. ἔπαισεν): 'strike / smite / beat'; renders נָכָה / הִכָּה; here of the fatal blow, paired with ἐθανάτωσεν — 'struck them down and put them to death'.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the captive leaders)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the captive leaders).
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Babylon, personally ordering the executions.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλεὺς)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐθανάτωσενput to deathAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (the execution)→ constative aoristθανατόω (aor. ἐθανάτωσεν): 'put to death / execute'; renders הֵמִית; the formal killing of the captives, completing what ἔπαισεν began.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
ΔεβλαθαRiblahindeclinable place-name (place of execution)→ participant identificationΔεβλαθα: 'Riblah' (רִבְלָה); indeclinable; the place of the executions.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceγῆ (dat. γῇ): 'land'; ἐν γῇ Αιμαθ = 'in the land of Hamath', locating Riblah within the Syrian district of Hamath on the Orontes.
ΑιμαθHamathindeclinable place-name (defining γῇ)→ participant identificationΑιμαθ: transliteration of Hebrew חֲמָת ('Hamath'); indeclinable; the region of central Syria where Riblah lay, Nebuchadnezzar's campaign base.
καὶand / socoordinate conjunction (summarizing/result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here resultative-summarizing, introducing the closing exile-formula.
ἀπῳκίσθηwas exiledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποικίζωmain verb (the exile-formula)→ constative aorist (decisive, summary act)ἀποικίζω (aor. pass. ἀπῳκίσθη): 'remove from home / send into exile / deport'; renders גָּלָה; the solemn passive 'Judah was exiled' is the theological summary of the catastrophe (cf. the same formula for Israel at 17:23: ἀπῳκίσθη Ισραηλ).
ΙουδαςJudahNominativesubject (the people/nation personified)→ participant prominenceΙουδας: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה ('Judah'); here nominative subject, the people/kingdom personified; declinable (gen. Ιουδα); 'Judah was exiled' marks the end of the kingdom in its land.
ἐπάνωθενfrompreposition / adverb + genitive (separation: 'away from')→ spatial or relational framingἐπάνωθεν: 'from above / away from'; with the genitive 'from its land'; a literalistic kaige rendering of מֵעַל ('from upon'), here marking removal/separation of the people from their soil.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive after ἐπάνωθεν (separation)→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): 'land'; the promised land from which Judah is now removed — the loss of the covenant inheritance.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (Judah's land)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Judah's land).
22
καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ καταλειφθεὶς ἐν γῇ Ιουδα οὓς κατέλιπεν Ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος καὶ κατέστησεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν τὸν Γοδολιαν υἱὸν Αχικαμ υἱοῦ Σαφαν
And as for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left behind — he appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan.
A pendent (casus pendens) construction opens the Gedaliah episode: 'the people left in Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar left behind' stands as a hanging nominative, resumed by ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν ('over them') with the main verb κατέστησεν ('he appointed'). Gedaliah is given full pedigree (son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan), linking him to the reforming scribal family that protected Jeremiah (Jer 26:24).
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (new episode)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (pendent nominative)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativependent nominative (resumed by ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν)→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the surviving remnant left in Judah after the deportation; the hanging nominative is resumed by the pronoun αὐτῶν later in the verse.
ὁthe [one]Nominativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταλειφθεὶςwho was leftAor Pass Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · καταλείπωattributive participle (modifying λαὸς)→ verbal action or stateκαταλείπω (aor. pass. ptcp. καταλειφθείς): 'leave behind / leave remaining'; renders נִשְׁאַר; 'the people left behind' = the poor remnant not deported (cf. v. 12).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceγῆ (dat. γῇ): 'land'; ἐν γῇ Ιουδα = 'in the land of Judah', where the remnant remained.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (defining γῇ)→ participant identificationΙουδα: 'Judah'; here the indeclinable genitival form (גְּהוּדָה) defining γῇ — 'the land of Judah'; contrast the declined nominative Ιουδας at v. 21.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of κατέλιπεν; constructio ad sensum, plural)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. pl. οὕς): relative pronoun, 'whom'; the plural (after the collective singular λαός) is a constructio ad sensum, treating 'the people' as the many individuals left.
κατέλιπενhad left behindAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταλείπωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristκαταλείπω (aor. κατέλιπεν): 'leave behind'; renders הִשְׁאִיר; 'whom Nebuchadnezzar left behind' — the active counterpart to καταλειφθείς, naming the king as the one who spared the remnant.
ΝαβουχοδονοσορNebuchadnezzarsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαβουχοδονοσορ: 'Nebuchadnezzar'; indeclinable; the king who both deported the many and left the remnant.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Ναβουχοδονοσορ→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; 'king of Babylon'.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλεὺς)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (resuming the pendent subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here resumes the main line after the pendent nominative, introducing the governing verb κατέστησεν.
κατέστησενhe appointedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb (the appointment)→ constative aoristκαθίστημι (aor. κατέστησεν): 'appoint / set / establish (over)'; renders הִפְקִיד / שָׂם; the standard term for installing an official; Nebuchadnezzar appoints Gedaliah as governor of the remnant.
ἐπ᾿overpreposition + genitive (elided; authority over)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen. (elided ἐπ᾿): 'over'; ἐπ᾿ αὐτῶν ('over them') resumes the pendent λαός — Gedaliah set 'over them', the remnant.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive after ἐπ᾿ (resumes the pendent λαός)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive after ἐπ᾿ (resumes the pendent λαός).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with name)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓοδολιανGedaliahAccusativedirect object of κατέστησεν→ object specificationΓοδολιας (acc. Γοδολιαν): transliteration of Hebrew גְּדַלְיָהוּ ('YHWH is great'); declined as a first-declension masculine; the governor appointed over Judah, soon assassinated (v. 25).
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Γοδολιαν (patronymic)→ object specificationυἱός (acc. υἱόν): 'son'; introduces the patronymic 'son of Ahikam'.
Αχικαμof Ahikamindeclinable proper noun (patronymic genitive)→ participant identificationΑχικαμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲחִיקָם ('my brother has arisen'); indeclinable; Gedaliah's father, the official who protected Jeremiah from death (Jer 26:24).
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (grandfather's patronymic)→ relational specificationυἱός (gen. υἱοῦ): 'son'; the genitive 'son of Shaphan' giving the grandfather's name in the pedigree.
Σαφανof Shaphanindeclinable proper noun (patronymic genitive)→ participant identificationΣαφαν: transliteration of Hebrew שָׁפָן ('Shaphan'); indeclinable; the scribe of Josiah's reign who read the rediscovered law-book (2 Kgs 22:8–10); his family were patrons of reform and of Jeremiah.
23
καὶ ἤκουσαν πάντες οἱ ἄρχοντες τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτῶν ὅτι κατέστησεν βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος τὸν Γοδολιαν καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς Γοδολιαν εἰς Μασσηφαθ καὶ Ισμαηλ υἱὸς Ναθανιου καὶ Ιωαναν υἱὸς Καρηε καὶ Σαραιας υἱὸς Θανεμαθ ὁ Νετωφαθίτης καὶ Ιεζονιας υἱὸς τοῦ Μαχαθι αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτῶν
And when all the commanders of the army, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah — namely Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan son of Kareah, and Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
On hearing of Gedaliah's appointment, the scattered Judahite army-officers and their men rally to him at Mizpah (Μασσηφαθ). The roster of named captains — Ishmael, Johanan, Seraiah, Jaazaniah — sets the stage for the assassination: Ishmael, named first, will be the murderer (v. 25). The verse pairs the listing with the repeated αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτῶν ('they and their men'), an inclusio framing the muster.
Word-by-word analysis· 48 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤκουσανheardAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (the hearing)→ constative aoristἀκούω (aor. ἤκουσαν): 'hear / learn'; renders שָׁמַע; the captains learn of Gedaliah's appointment, prompting their gathering.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἄρχοντες)→ participant prominenceπᾶς (pl. πάντες): 'all'; the whole body of surviving army-officers.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςcommandersNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἄρχων (pl. ἄρχοντες): 'ruler / commander / captain'; renders שָׂרֵי; the military officers of the disbanded Judahite forces.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωςarmyGenitivegenitive (defining ἄρχοντες: 'commanders of the army')→ relational specificationδύναμις (gen. δυνάμεως): 'force / army'; renders חֲיָלִים / חַיִל; the troops the officers commanded.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativeintensive pronoun (in apposition to ἄρχοντες)→ participant referenceαὐτός (pl. αὐτοί): intensive 'they themselves'; αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτῶν ('they and their men') is a stock pairing for a leader with his retinue.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (coordinate: 'their men')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man'; the soldiers/retainers under the captains.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of ἤκουσαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the indirect-discourse content of what they heard.
κατέστησενhad appointedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίστημιverb of the ὅτι-clause→ constative aoristκαθίστημι (aor. κατέστησεν): 'appoint'; the report of Gedaliah's installation, echoing v. 22.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of the ὅτι-clause→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Babylon, who made the appointment.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλεὺς)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with name)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓοδολιανGedaliahAccusativedirect object of κατέστησεν→ object specificationΓοδολιας (acc. Γοδολιαν): 'Gedaliah'; the appointed governor.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθονthey cameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the gathering)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθον): 'come'; renders בּוֹא; the captains come to Gedaliah at Mizpah to submit to the new order.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward a person)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward a person).
ΓοδολιανGedaliahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationΓοδολιας (acc. Γοδολιαν): 'Gedaliah'; the governor to whom they rally.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (place to which)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (place to which).
ΜασσηφαθMizpahindeclinable place-name (goal of motion)→ participant identificationΜασσηφαθ: transliteration of Hebrew מִצְפָּה ('Mizpah', 'watchtower'); indeclinable; the Benjaminite town that became Gedaliah's administrative seat after Jerusalem's fall.
καὶand / namelycoordinate conjunction (introducing the roster)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introducing the appositional roster of the captains who came.
ΙσμαηλIshmaelindeclinable proper noun (in apposition to ἄρχοντες)→ participant identificationΙσμαηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׁמָעֵאל ('God hears'); indeclinable; named first — the future assassin of Gedaliah (v. 25), of the royal seed.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; 'son of Nethaniah'.
Ναθανιουof NethaniahGenitivepatronymic genitive (defining υἱὸς)→ relational specificationΝαθανιας (gen. Ναθανιου): transliteration of Hebrew נְתַנְיָה ('YHWH has given'); declined; Ishmael's father.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωανανJohananindeclinable proper noun (in the roster)→ participant identificationΙωαναν: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹחָנָן ('YHWH has been gracious'); indeclinable; Johanan son of Kareah, later leader of the flight to Egypt (Jer 41–43).
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; 'son of Kareah'.
Καρηεof Kareahindeclinable proper noun (patronymic)→ participant identificationΚαρηε: transliteration of Hebrew קָרֵחַ ('Kareah'); indeclinable; Johanan's father.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣαραιαςSeraiahNominativesubject (in the roster)→ participant prominenceΣαραιας: 'Seraiah' (שְׂרָיָה); declined nominative; a captain (distinct from the chief priest of v. 18).
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; 'son of Tanhumeth'.
Θανεμαθof Tanhumethindeclinable proper noun (patronymic)→ participant identificationΘανεμαθ: transliteration of Hebrew תַּנְחֻמֶת ('Tanhumeth'); indeclinable; Seraiah's father.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with gentilic)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝετωφαθίτηςNetophathiteNominativegentilic adjective (in apposition to Σαραιας)→ participant prominenceΝετωφαθίτης: 'Netophathite', the gentilic of Netophah (נְטֹפָתִי), a village near Bethlehem; declined as a first-declension masculine; marks Seraiah's town of origin.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙεζονιαςJaazaniahNominativesubject (in the roster)→ participant prominenceΙεζονιας: transliteration of Hebrew יְזַנְיָהוּ / יַאֲזַנְיָהוּ ('YHWH hears'); declined nominative; the fourth named captain.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; 'son of the Maacathite'.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with gentilic)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜαχαθιMaacathiteindeclinable gentilic (governed by τοῦ)→ participant identificationΜαχαθι: transliteration of Hebrew הַמַּעֲכָתִי ('the Maacathite', of Maacah/Beth-maacah); indeclinable, governed by the genitive article τοῦ; gives Jaazaniah's father's gentilic origin.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativeintensive pronoun (closing the inclusio)→ participant referenceαὐτός (pl. αὐτοί): intensive 'they themselves'; closes the framing pair αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτῶν begun earlier in the verse.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (the captains' retinues)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man'; the men/retainers of the four captains, completing the muster at Mizpah.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
24
καὶ ὤμοσεν Γοδολιας αὐτοῖς καὶ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς μὴ φοβεῖσθε πάροδον τῶν Χαλδαίων καθίσατε ἐν τῇ γῇ καὶ δουλεύσατε τῷ βασιλεῖ Βαβυλῶνος καὶ καλῶς ἔσται ὑμῖν
And Gedaliah swore to them and to their men and said to them, 'Do not fear the passing-by of the Chaldeans; settle in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.'
Gedaliah seals his governorship with an oath of reassurance and a programmatic counsel: do not fear, settle (καθίσατε), serve Babylon (δουλεύσατε), and prosper. The reassurance formula μὴ φοβεῖσθε ('do not fear') and the promise καλῶς ἔσται ὑμῖν ('it will be well with you') echo the prophetic counsel of Jeremiah to accept Babylonian rule (Jer 27; 40:9) — a path of survival that Ishmael's violence (v. 25) will destroy.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὤμοσενsworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀμνύωmain verb (the oath)→ constative aoristὀμνύω (aor. ὤμοσεν): 'swear (an oath)'; renders שָׁבַע (Niphal); Gedaliah binds himself by oath to guarantee the captains' safety under Babylonian rule.
ΓοδολιαςGedaliahNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΓοδολιας: 'Gedaliah'; declined nominative; the governor, reassuring the gathered captains.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (indirect object of ὤμοσεν: the captains)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (indirect object of ὤμοσεν: the captains).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδράσινmenDativedative (coordinate indirect object: 'their men')→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ (dat. pl. ἀνδράσιν): 'man'; the captains' retinues, also included in the oath.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say'; introduces Gedaliah's direct counsel to the captains.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (indirect object of εἶπεν)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (indirect object of εἶπεν).
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the subjective negative used with the imperative; μὴ φοβεῖσθε = 'do not fear', the standard reassurance formula.
φοβεῖσθεfearPres Mid/Pass Impv 2 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (prohibitive imperative)→ prohibitive present imperative (cease/do not fear)φοβέομαι (pres. impv. φοβεῖσθε): 'fear / be afraid'; renders יָרֵא; μὴ φοβεῖσθε ('do not be afraid') is the classic LXX reassurance formula, here urging the captains not to dread the Chaldean presence.
πάροδονpassing-by / presenceAccusativedirect object of φοβεῖσθε (cause of fear)→ object specificationπάροδος (acc. πάροδον): 'a passing by / passage / coming through'; here the object of fear — the 'passage/presence of the Chaldeans' (rendering the Hebrew 'serving the Chaldeans', עֲבֹד; the Greek construes it as their threatening passage); Gedaliah bids them not dread the Babylonian forces moving through the land.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαλδαίωνChaldeansGenitivegenitive (defining πάροδον: 'passage of the Chaldeans')→ relational specificationΧαλδαῖος (gen. pl. Χαλδαίων): 'Chaldean'; the Babylonians whose presence the captains fear.
καθίσατεsettle / dwellAor Act Impv 2 Pl · καθίζωmain verb (imperative of counsel)→ ingressive aorist imperative (take up residence)καθίζω (aor. impv. καθίσατε): 'sit / settle / dwell'; renders יָשַׁב; Gedaliah's counsel to settle peaceably in the land rather than flee or resist.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceγῆ (dat. γῇ): 'land'; the land of Judah, where Gedaliah urges them to remain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δουλεύσατεserveAor Act Impv 2 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (imperative of counsel)→ ingressive aorist imperative (submit in service)δουλεύω (aor. impv. δουλεύσατε): 'serve / be subject to'; renders עָבַד; the counsel of political submission to Babylon — the prophetic path of survival (cf. Jer 27:11).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative object of δουλεύσατε (the one served)→ sphere or referenceβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): 'king'; δουλεύω governs the dative; 'serve the king of Babylon'.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλεῖ)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the promise)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καλῶςwelladverb (predicate with ἔσται: 'it will be well')→ clausal contributionκαλῶς: 'well / rightly'; in the idiom καλῶς ἔσται ὑμῖν ('it will be well with you'), rendering יִיטַב לָכֶם; the conditional promise of welfare for submission.
ἔσταιit will beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the promise of welfare)→ predictive future (assurance of well-being)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; impersonal 'it will be well with you' — the promised result of peaceful submission, tragically nullified by Ishmael's coup.
ὑμῖνwith you / for youDativedative of advantage ('well for you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'you'; the dative of advantage in the welfare-formula 'it will be well for you'.
25
καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν τῷ ἑβδόμῳ μηνὶ ἦλθεν Ισμαηλ υἱὸς Ναθανιου υἱοῦ Ελισαμα ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος τῶν βασιλέων καὶ δέκα ἄνδρες μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπάταξεν τὸν Γοδολιαν καὶ ἀπέθανεν καὶ τοὺς Ιουδαίους καὶ τοὺς Χαλδαίους οἳ ἦσαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς Μασσηφαθ
And it happened in the seventh month that Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal seed, came, and ten men with him, and he struck down Gedaliah, and he died, and also the Judeans and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
A fresh dated episode (καὶ ἐγενήθη … 'in the seventh month') narrates the assassination. Ishmael's royal lineage (ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος τῶν βασιλέων, 'of the royal seed') frames the murder as a Davidic-claimant's strike against a Babylonian appointee. The terse paratactic chain ἐπάταξεν … ἀπέθανεν ('struck … died') and the killing of the Judeans and Chaldeans with him shatter Gedaliah's fragile peace, triggering the flight to Egypt (v. 26).
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (new episode)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit happenedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal temporal formula)→ constative aorist (episode onset)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'come to pass'; the impersonal καὶ ἐγενήθη renders וַיְהִי, opening the assassination episode (as at vv. 1, 27).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑβδόμῳseventhDativeattributive ordinal (modifying μηνὶ)→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος (dat. ἑβδόμῳ): 'seventh'; the seventh month (Tishri), some two months after the temple's burning; the assassination is commemorated in the post-exilic Fast of Gedaliah.
μηνὶmonthDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceμήν (dat. μηνί): 'month'; the seventh month of the assassination.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (Ishmael's arrival)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθεν): 'come'; Ishmael comes to Mizpah with his men under the guise of fellowship (cf. Jer 41:1–2) to carry out the murder.
ΙσμαηλIshmaelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσμαηλ: 'Ishmael' (יִשְׁמָעֵאל); indeclinable; the royal-blooded assassin of Gedaliah.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; 'son of Nethaniah'.
Ναθανιουof NethaniahGenitivepatronymic genitive→ relational specificationΝαθανιας (gen. Ναθανιου): 'Nethaniah' (נְתַנְיָה); declined; Ishmael's father.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (grandfather's patronymic)→ relational specificationυἱός (gen. υἱοῦ): 'son'; 'son of Elishama', the grandfather in the pedigree.
Ελισαμαof Elishamaindeclinable proper noun (patronymic genitive)→ participant identificationΕλισαμα: transliteration of Hebrew אֱלִישָׁמָע ('God has heard'); indeclinable; Ishmael's grandfather, linking him to the royal house (a son of Elishama appears in David's line).
ἐκof / frompreposition + genitive (origin/descent)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / of'; ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος ('of the seed') marks descent — Ishmael's royal lineage.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπέρματοςseed / lineageGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (descent)→ relational specificationσπέρμα (gen. σπέρματος): 'seed / offspring / lineage'; renders זֶרַע; ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος τῶν βασιλέων = 'of the royal seed', marking Ishmael as a Davidic claimant, which colors the assassination as a dynastic act.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωνkingsGenitivegenitive (defining σπέρματος: 'seed of the kings')→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. pl. βασιλέων): 'king'; 'the royal seed' = the Davidic dynasty; Ishmael's blood-claim against the non-royal governor Gedaliah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δέκαtennumeral (indeclinable, modifying ἄνδρες)→ measure or countδέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable numeral; the ten conspirators accompanying Ishmael.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (coordinate: Ishmael's accomplices)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man'; the ten men with Ishmael who carried out the killings.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (elided; accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen. (elided μετ᾿): 'with'; the ten men 'with him'.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενstruck downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (the assassination)→ constative aoristπατάσσω (aor. ἐπάταξεν): 'strike / smite (fatally)'; renders נָכָה / הִכָּה; the death-blow against Gedaliah.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with name)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓοδολιανGedaliahAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξεν→ object specificationΓοδολιας (acc. Γοδολιαν): 'Gedaliah'; the murdered governor.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέθανενhe diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (the result of the blow)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω (aor. ἀπέθανεν): 'die'; renders מוּת; the terse 'and he died' confirms the assassination's success, the paratactic style heightening its starkness.
καὶand / alsocoordinate conjunction (extending the object of ἐπάταξεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here 'and also', resuming ἐπάταξεν to add further victims — the Judeans and Chaldeans with Gedaliah.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙουδαίουςJudeansAccusativedirect object (further victims of ἐπάταξεν)→ object specificationΙουδαῖος (pl. Ιουδαίους): 'Judean / Jew'; the Judean officials/men with Gedaliah at Mizpah, also slain (cf. Jer 41:3).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαλδαίουςChaldeansAccusativedirect object (further victims)→ object specificationΧαλδαῖος (pl. Χαλδαίους): 'Chaldean'; the Babylonian soldiers/garrison stationed with Gedaliah, also killed — an act of open rebellion against Babylon that makes flight inevitable.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἦσαν)→ participant referenceὅς (pl. οἵ): relative pronoun, 'who'; refers to the Judeans and Chaldeans present with Gedaliah.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of relative clause→ imperfect (attendant circumstance)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): 'be'; 'who were with him at Mizpah' — describing the company gathered around Gedaliah.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (elided; accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen. (elided μετ᾿): 'with'; those 'with him' (Gedaliah).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ (= Gedaliah)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿ (= Gedaliah).
εἰςat / inpreposition + accusative (place, used for ἐν)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: here used for location 'at Mizpah' (a Koine/Hebraizing blurring of εἰς and ἐν); marks the scene of the massacre.
ΜασσηφαθMizpahindeclinable place-name (location of the killing)→ participant identificationΜασσηφαθ: 'Mizpah' (מִצְפָּה); indeclinable; Gedaliah's seat, where he and his company were slaughtered.
26
καὶ ἀνέστη πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἀπὸ μικροῦ καὶ ἕως μεγάλου καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες τῶν δυνάμεων καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς Αἴγυπτον ὅτι ἐφοβήθησαν ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν Χαλδαίων
And all the people, from the least to the greatest, and the commanders of the forces, arose and went into Egypt, for they were afraid before the Chaldeans.
The assassination's aftermath: the whole remnant, 'from the least to the greatest' (the merism ἀπὸ μικροῦ … ἕως μεγάλου), together with the army-commanders, flees to Egypt in fear of Chaldean reprisal. The flight ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν Χαλδαίων ('from the face of the Chaldeans') is a tragic reversal of the Exodus — the people return to Egypt, undoing the foundational journey out of it, and emptying the land entirely (cf. Jer 43).
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (the rising-up to flee)→ constative aoristἀνίστημι (aor. ἀνέστη): 'rise up / set out'; renders קוּם; the whole remnant 'rises up' to flee; the singular agrees with the collective πᾶς ὁ λαός.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying λαὸς)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; the entire surviving populace.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; the remnant left in Judah, now fleeing en masse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: in the merism ἀπὸ μικροῦ … ἕως μεγάλου ('from small to great'), rendering מִקָּטֹן וְעַד גָּדוֹל, an idiom for the totality of the population.
μικροῦsmall / leastGenitivesubstantivized adjective (genitive, first pole of merism)→ relational specificationμικρός (gen. μικροῦ): 'small / little / least'; the lower pole of the social merism — the humblest of the people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the merism)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (end of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; the upper limit of the merism, 'to the greatest'.
μεγάλουgreat / greatestGenitivesubstantivized adjective (genitive, second pole of merism)→ relational specificationμέγας (gen. μεγάλου): 'great / important / greatest'; the upper pole — the highest of the people; 'from least to greatest' = all without exception.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the commanders)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςcommandersNominativecoordinate subject→ participant prominenceἄρχων (pl. ἄρχοντες): 'commander / officer'; the military captains (cf. v. 23), who lead the flight.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωνforces / armiesGenitivegenitive (defining ἄρχοντες: 'commanders of the forces')→ relational specificationδύναμις (gen. pl. δυνάμεων): 'force / army'; the troops the captains led.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθονthey went intoAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (entering Egypt)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι (aor. εἰσῆλθον): 'enter / go into'; renders בּוֹא; the remnant 'goes into Egypt' — the tragic anti-Exodus, fleeing back to the land of former bondage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativeaccusative of goal→ object specificationΑἴγυπτος (acc. Αἴγυπτον): 'Egypt'; renders מִצְרַיִם; declined; the destination of the flight — a reversal of the Exodus, against Jeremiah's explicit warning (Jer 42–43).
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the motive of the flight — fear of Babylonian reprisal for Gedaliah's murder.
ἐφοβήθησανthey were afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιverb of causal clause→ constative/ingressive aoristφοβέομαι (aor. pass. ἐφοβήθησαν): 'fear / be afraid'; renders יָרֵא; the very fear Gedaliah had told them not to feel (μὴ φοβεῖσθε, v. 24) now drives them to abandon the land.
ἀπὸbefore / frompreposition + genitive (Hebraizing 'from the face of')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from the face of'), a Hebraism rendering מִפְּנֵי ('because of, before'); marks the Chaldeans as the cause/object of fear.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive (in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου)→ relational specificationπρόσωπον (gen. προσώπου): 'face / presence'; renders פָּנִים; ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν Χαλδαίων = 'from before the Chaldeans', i.e. for fear of them.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαλδαίωνChaldeansGenitivegenitive (defining προσώπου)→ relational specificationΧαλδαῖος (gen. pl. Χαλδαίων): 'Chaldean'; the Babylonians, whose feared vengeance empties the land of its last inhabitants.
27
καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν τῷ τριακοστῷ καὶ ἑβδόμῳ ἔτει τῆς ἀποικεσίας τοῦ Ιωακιμ βασιλέως Ιουδα ἐν τῷ δωδεκάτῳ μηνὶ ἑβδόμῃ καὶ εἰκάδι τοῦ μηνὸς ὕψωσεν Ευιλμαρωδαχ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν Ιωακιμ βασιλέως Ιουδα καὶ ἐξήγαγεν αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου φυλακῆς αὐτοῦ
And it happened in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of his prison-house.
The book's final episode opens with the familiar dated formula (καὶ ἐγενήθη). After the bleak emptying of the land, the narrative leaps thirty-seven years to a note of hope: Evil-merodach, on his accession, 'lifts up the head' (ὕψωσεν τὴν κεφαλήν) of the exiled Jehoiachin (here Ιωακιμ) and releases him from prison. The idiom ὕψωσεν τὴν κεφαλήν renders נָשָׂא רֹאשׁ ('lift up the head' = pardon/restore to favor), a deliberate reversal of the humiliation that began the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (new/final episode)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit happenedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal temporal formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'come to pass'; καὶ ἐγενήθη (= וַיְהִי) opens the closing episode of the book.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle (with compound ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τριακοστῷthirtiethDativeattributive ordinal (with ἑβδόμῳ: 'thirty-seventh')→ sphere or referenceτριακοστός: 'thirtieth'; with καὶ ἑβδόμῳ forms the compound ordinal 'thirty-seventh' (year of the exile).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the compound numeral)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἑβδόμῳseventhDativeattributive ordinal (with τριακοστῷ)→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος (dat. ἑβδόμῳ): 'seventh'; completes 'thirty-seventh year' — c. 561 BC, the year of Jehoiachin's release.
ἔτειyearDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἔτος (dat. ἔτει): 'year'; the thirty-seventh year of the exile, dating the release.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποικεσίαςexile / deportationGenitivegenitive (defining the year: 'of the exile')→ relational specificationἀποικεσία (= ἀποικία): 'exile / deportation / captivity'; renders גָּלוּת; the captivity of Jehoiachin (deported in 597 BC, 24:12), by whose years the date is reckoned.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with name)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωακιμJehoiachinindeclinable proper noun (genitival: 'exile of Jehoiachin')→ participant identificationΙωακιμ: here = Jehoiachin (Hebrew יְהוֹיָכִין, the exiled young king), though the Greek form coincides with that of his father Jehoiakim; indeclinable; the king released from prison after thirty-seven years.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ιωακιμ→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; 'king of Judah', the title retained for the exiled Jehoiachin.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (defining βασιλέως)→ participant identificationΙουδα: 'Judah'; indeclinable genitival form; 'king of Judah'.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δωδεκάτῳtwelfthDativeattributive ordinal (modifying μηνὶ)→ sphere or referenceδωδέκατος (dat. δωδεκάτῳ): 'twelfth'; the twelfth month (Adar) of the release.
μηνὶmonthDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceμήν (dat. μηνί): 'month'; the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year.
ἑβδόμῃon the seventhDativedative of time (with εἰκάδι: 'twenty-seventh')→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος (fem. ἑβδόμῃ): 'seventh'; with εἰκάδι ('twentieth') forms 'the twenty-seventh' day (cf. the variant 25th at Jer 52:31).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the compound date)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰκάδιtwentiethDativedative of time (with ἑβδόμῃ: 'twenty-seventh')→ sphere or referenceεἰκάς (dat. εἰκάδι): 'the twentieth (day)'; ἑβδόμῃ καὶ εἰκάδι = 'on the twenty-seventh', the day of Jehoiachin's release.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὸςmonthGenitivepartitive genitive (with the ordinal date)→ relational specificationμήν (gen. μηνός): 'month'; 'the twenty-seventh of the month'.
ὕψωσενlifted upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑψόωmain verb (the act of pardon/exaltation)→ constative aoristὑψόω (aor. ὕψωσεν): 'lift up / exalt / raise'; in the idiom ὕψωσεν τὴν κεφαλήν ('lifted up the head'), rendering נָשָׂא רֹאשׁ ('pardon, restore to favor, single out'); the gesture of release and rehabilitation that ends the book on a note of hope.
ΕυιλμαρωδαχEvil-merodachsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕυιλμαρωδαχ: transliteration of Hebrew אֱוִיל מְרֹדַךְ (Akkadian Amēl-Marduk, 'man of Marduk'); indeclinable; Nebuchadnezzar's son and successor, who released Jehoiachin on his accession (c. 562 BC).
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Ευιλμαρωδαχ→ participant prominenceβασιλεύς: 'king'; 'king of Babylon', the new Babylonian sovereign.
Βαβυλῶνοςof BabylonGenitivegenitive of place (defining βασιλεὺς)→ relational specificationΒαβυλών (gen. Βαβυλῶνος): 'Babylon'.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνιαυτῷyearDativedative of time (the accession year)→ sphere or referenceἐνιαυτός (dat. ἐνιαυτῷ): 'year'; 'in the year of his reign' = his accession year, when royal acts of clemency were customary.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλείαςreignGenitivegenitive (defining ἐνιαυτῷ: 'year of his reign')→ relational specificationβασιλεία (gen. βασιλείας): 'reign / kingship'; Evil-merodach's accession-year, the occasion of the amnesty.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Evil-merodach's reign)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Evil-merodach's reign).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλὴνheadAccusativedirect object of ὕψωσεν (in the idiom 'lifted up the head')→ object specificationκεφαλή (acc. κεφαλήν): 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; in the idiom 'lifted up the head of Jehoiachin' = restored him to dignity/favor (cf. the contrasting ominous use at Gen 40:19); marks the reversal of his long humiliation.
ΙωακιμJehoiachinindeclinable proper noun (genitival: 'head of Jehoiachin')→ participant identificationΙωακιμ: = Jehoiachin (יְהוֹיָכִין); indeclinable; the exiled king whose head is lifted up — the surviving Davidic heir.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ιωακιμ→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; 'king of Judah', the royal title preserved for the released captive.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (defining βασιλέως)→ participant identificationΙουδα: 'Judah'; indeclinable; 'king of Judah'.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξήγαγενbrought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωmain verb (the release from prison)→ constative aoristἐξάγω (aor. ἐξήγαγεν): 'lead out / bring out'; renders הוֹצִיא; the literal release of Jehoiachin from confinement — a small but real act of liberation closing the book.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Jehoiachin)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Jehoiachin).
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ (ἐξ before vowel): 'out of'; 'out of his prison-house'.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ→ relational specificationοἶκος (gen. οἴκου): 'house'; in the phrase οἶκος φυλακῆς = 'prison-house', the place of Jehoiachin's long confinement.
φυλακῆςprison / custodyGenitivegenitive (defining οἴκου: 'house of custody')→ relational specificationφυλακή (gen. φυλακῆς): 'guard / custody / prison'; renders כֶּלֶא / בֵּית הַכֶּלֶא; the prison from which Jehoiachin is freed.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (his prison)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (his prison).
28
καὶ ἐλάλησεν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὰ καὶ ἔδωκεν τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ ἐπάνωθεν τῶν θρόνων τῶν βασιλέων τῶν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι
And he spoke kindly with him and set his throne above the thrones of the kings who were with him in Babylon.
The clemency deepens: Evil-merodach 'speaks good things' (ἐλάλησεν … ἀγαθά) with Jehoiachin — a deliberate inversion of Nebuchadnezzar's ἐλάλησεν … κρίσιν ('spoke judgment') against Zedekiah in v. 6 — and grants him precedence (ἐπάνωθεν, 'above') over the other captive kings in Babylon. The Davidic heir is honored at the empire's center; the throne-language quietly keeps the dynastic hope alive.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενhe spokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (the kindly speech)→ constative aoristλαλέω (aor. ἐλάλησεν): 'speak'; here ἐλάλησεν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθά ('spoke good things with him') — a pointed reversal of ἐλάλησεν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ κρίσιν ('spoke judgment with him') at v. 6; kindness replaces condemnation.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (elided; Hebraizing 'with him')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen. (elided μετ᾿): 'with'; 'spoke with him', a Hebraizing דִּבֶּר אֶת/אִתּוֹ; here in a friendly sense.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ (= Jehoiachin)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿ (= Jehoiachin).
ἀγαθὰgood things / kindlyAccusativedirect object (content of speaking: 'good things')→ object specificationἀγαθός (neut. pl. ἀγαθά): 'good'; substantivized 'good things', the object of the speaking; renders טוֹבוֹת; 'spoke kindly / graciously', the diplomatic idiom for favorable treatment.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενhe set / gaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (granting the throne)→ constative aoristδίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκεν): 'give / set / place'; renders נָתַן; 'gave/set his throne' = granted Jehoiachin a seat of honor, with נָתַן used idiomatically for assigning a position.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θρόνονthroneAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν→ object specificationθρόνος (acc. θρόνον): 'throne / seat of honor'; renders כִּסֵּא; Jehoiachin's seat of dignity, set above those of the other captive kings — a residual symbol of Davidic kingship.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Jehoiachin's throne)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Jehoiachin's throne).
ἐπάνωθενabovepreposition / adverb + genitive (precedence: 'above')→ spatial or relational framingἐπάνωθεν: 'above / over'; with the genitive 'above the thrones', a literalistic kaige rendering of מֵעַל ('above'); marks Jehoiachin's precedence over the other royal captives.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θρόνωνthronesGenitivegenitive after ἐπάνωθεν (the other kings' seats)→ relational specificationθρόνος (gen. pl. θρόνων): 'throne'; the seats of the other captive kings, over which Jehoiachin's is exalted.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωνkingsGenitivegenitive (defining θρόνων: 'thrones of the kings')→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. pl. βασιλέων): 'king'; the other deposed/vassal kings held at the Babylonian court, whom Jehoiachin now outranks.
τῶνwho [were]Genitivearticle (with prepositional phrase: 'those with him')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τῶν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('those with him') substantivizes the prepositional phrase — 'the kings who were with him' at Babylon.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (elided; accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen. (elided μετ᾿): 'with'; the other kings 'with him' in Babylon (i.e. fellow captives).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ (= Jehoiachin)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετ᾿ (= Jehoiachin).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΒαβυλῶνιBabylonDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceΒαβυλών (dat. Βαβυλῶνι): 'Babylon'; the imperial capital where the captive kings were held, and where Jehoiachin is now honored above them.
29
καὶ ἠλλοίωσεν τὰ ἱμάτια τῆς φυλακῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤσθιεν ἄρτον διὰ παντὸς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ
And he changed his prison garments, and he ate bread continually before him all the days of his life.
The signs of restored dignity: the prison clothes are exchanged (ἠλλοίωσεν τὰ ἱμάτια τῆς φυλακῆς), and Jehoiachin eats at the king's table 'continually' (διὰ παντός) for the rest of his life. The change of garments and the perpetual royal meal are conventional ancient-Near-Eastern marks of rehabilitation and honor — the captive king restored to courtly status.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠλλοίωσενhe changedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀλλοιόωmain verb (changing the garments)→ constative aoristἀλλοιόω (aor. ἠλλοίωσεν): 'change / alter'; renders שִׁנָּה; 'he changed [his] prison garments' — Jehoiachin exchanges the clothes of confinement for those of an honored guest; the subject is Jehoiachin himself (or, with the king as agent, 'he had them changed').
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of ἠλλοίωσεν→ object specificationἱμάτιον (pl. ἱμάτια): 'garment / clothing'; renders בֶּגֶד; here the prison-clothes laid aside — a change of dress signaling a change of status.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλακῆςprisonGenitivegenitive (defining ἱμάτια: 'prison garments')→ relational specificationφυλακή (gen. φυλακῆς): 'prison / custody'; τὰ ἱμάτια τῆς φυλακῆς = 'the garments of his imprisonment', the marks of his former captivity now removed.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (his imprisonment)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (his imprisonment).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤσθιενhe ateImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (customary eating at the royal table)→ customary imperfect (habitual, repeated action)ἐσθίω (impf. ἤσθιεν): 'eat'; the imperfect ἤσθιεν ('used to eat / would eat') expresses the habitual, ongoing privilege — Jehoiachin regularly dined at the king's table, the mark of a permanent place at court.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of ἤσθιεν→ object specificationἄρτος (acc. ἄρτον): 'bread / food'; 'eat bread before [the king]' = take meals at the royal table, an idiom of favored, dependent status (cf. 2 Sam 9:7, Mephibosheth at David's table).
διὰcontinually / throughpreposition (in the idiom διὰ παντός: 'continually')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: in the fixed phrase διὰ παντός ('through all [time], continually'); marks the unbroken regularity of the royal provision.
παντὸςall [time]Genitivegenitive (in the idiom διὰ παντός)→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. παντός): 'all'; διὰ παντός = 'continually, always'; the meals were provided without interruption.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism (לִפְנֵי); 'before him' = in the king's presence, i.e. at the royal table — the highest honor.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (= the king)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐνώπιον (= the king).
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (accusative of duration, with ἡμέρας)→ object specificationπᾶς (fem. pl. πάσας): 'all'; 'all the days', the accusative of extent of time.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration of time ('all the days')→ object specificationἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ ('all the days of his life') is a stock LXX idiom (כָּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו) for lifelong duration.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζωῆςlifeGenitivegenitive (defining ἡμέρας: 'days of his life')→ relational specificationζωή (gen. ζωῆς): 'life'; 'the days of his life' — the honor lasted to the end of Jehoiachin's days.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Jehoiachin's life)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Jehoiachin's life).
30
καὶ ἡ ἑστιατορία αὐτοῦ ἑστιατορία διὰ παντὸς ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ἐξ οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως λόγον ἡμέρας ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ
And his allowance, a continual allowance, was given him from the king's house, the matter of each day in its day, all the days of his life.
The closing verse of 4 Kingdoms — and of the entire Kingdoms corpus (1–4 Kingdoms) — settles on the daily royal allowance granted Jehoiachin for life. The doubled ἑστιατορία ('allowance, a continual allowance') and the idiom λόγον ἡμέρας ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ('the matter of each day in its day', a Hebraism, דְּבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ) underscore the unfailing daily provision. The corpus that began with the rise of the monarchy ends not in triumph but in a quiet, sustained mercy: the Davidic heir alive, fed, and honored in exile — an ember of hope on which the deferred promise to David rests.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (final verse)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑστιατορίαallowance / maintenanceNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἑστιατορία: 'a feasting / provision / maintenance allowance'; renders אֲרֻחָה ('allowance, ration'); the regular food/maintenance grant given Jehoiachin from the royal household.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Jehoiachin's allowance)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Jehoiachin's allowance).
ἑστιατορίαallowanceNominativeappositional repetition (emphatic: 'a continual allowance')→ participant prominenceἑστιατορία: the repetition (ἡ ἑστιατορία αὐτοῦ ἑστιατορία διὰ παντός) is a Hebraizing emphatic restatement — 'his allowance, a perpetual allowance' — underscoring the unbroken regularity of the provision.
διὰcontinually / throughpreposition (in the idiom διὰ παντός: 'continually')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: in διὰ παντός ('continually, perpetually'); the allowance never lapsed.
παντὸςall [time]Genitivegenitive (in the idiom διὰ παντός)→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. παντός): 'all'; διὰ παντός = 'always, without interruption'.
ἐδόθηwas givenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (passive: the granting of the allowance)→ constative aorist (the settled grant)δίδωμι (aor. pass. ἐδόθη): 'give'; renders נִתַּן (Niphal); the passive 'was given to him' — the royal grant of perpetual provision, the book's final main verb.
αὐτῷto himDativedative (indirect object of ἐδόθη)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (indirect object of ἐδόθη).
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ (ἐξ before vowel): 'from / out of'; the source of the allowance — the king's household.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ→ relational specificationοἶκος (gen. οἴκου): 'house / household'; ἐξ οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως = 'from the king's house' — the Babylonian royal treasury/household supplying the provision.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's house)→ relational specificationβασιλεύς (gen. βασιλέως): 'king'; the king of Babylon, from whose house the daily allowance came.
λόγονmatter / portionAccusativeaccusative (in the idiom λόγον ἡμέρας: 'the matter of a day')→ object specificationλόγος (acc. λόγον): 'word / matter / account'; in the idiom λόγον ἡμέρας ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ (= דְּבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ, 'the matter of a day in its day') it means 'a daily portion / each day's due', the fixed daily ration.
ἡμέραςof a dayGenitivegenitive (defining λόγον: 'the portion of a day')→ relational specificationἡμέρα (gen. ἡμέρας): 'day'; 'the matter/portion of a day' — the daily quota of provision.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (temporal: 'in its day')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal: 'in its day').
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (in the idiom 'in its day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα (dat. ἡμέρᾳ): 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ αὐτοῦ = 'on its [appointed] day', completing the Hebraism 'the matter of a day in its day' — provision apportioned daily, never failing.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'its [own] day')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'its [own] day').
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (accusative of duration)→ object specificationπᾶς (fem. pl. πάσας): 'all'; 'all the days', accusative of extent of time.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration of time→ object specificationἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ ('all the days of his life'), the closing lifelong-duration idiom of the book — the mercy endured to the very end.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζωῆςlifeGenitivegenitive (defining ἡμέρας: 'days of his life')→ relational specificationζωή (gen. ζωῆς): 'life'; 'the days of his life' — the final word-group of 4 Kingdoms, closing the Kingdoms corpus on a note of sustained, daily mercy to the surviving Davidic heir.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Jehoiachin's life)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Jehoiachin's life).