Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Fourth Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 4ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Δ′ Δ′

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

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

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

Theme

Elisha multiplies oil, gives and restores a son, heals the poisoned stew, and feeds the hungry in famine.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 4 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The chapter is a tightly woven cycle of Elisha miracle-narratives: the multiplication of the widow's oil to redeem her two sons from the creditor (vv. 1–7); the great woman of Shunem (ἡ Σωμανῖτις), her hospitality, the promised son, and Elisha's oracle that she will embrace a son εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ('at this season', vv. 8–17); the child's sudden death, the mother's hard ride to Carmel, the failure of Gehazi with the staff, and Elisha's raising of the boy by stretching himself upon him until the flesh grew warm (διεθερμάνθη ἡ σὰρξ) and the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes (vv. 18–37); the healing of the poisoned pot, when wild gourds brought 'death in the pot' (θάνατος ἐν τῷ λέβητι) and meal made it harmless (vv. 38–41); and the feeding of a hundred men with twenty barley loaves and the prophetic word φάγονται καὶ καταλείψουσιν ('they shall eat and shall have some left', vv. 42–44). The LXX vocabulary is rich in Hebraisms (ζῇ κύριος, 'as the LORD lives', v. 30; τάδε λέγει κύριος, v. 43) and the chapter is a sustained witness to the prophet as the bearer of life against death and scarcity. The feeding miracle in particular (vv. 42–44) — small provision, a doubting servant, a divine word of sufficiency, eating with a surplus left over — stands as the direct Old-Testament type behind the Gospel feedings of the multitudes (Mark 6:30–44; 8:1–10; John 6:1–14), where the same pattern of insufficient bread, the disciples' protest, blessing, and gathered leftovers recurs.

1

καὶ γυνὴ μία ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν τῶν προφητῶν ἐβόα πρὸς Ελισαιε λέγουσα ὁ δοῦλός σου ὁ ἀνήρ μου ἀπέθανεν καὶ σὺ ἔγνως ὅτι δοῦλος ἦν φοβούμενος τὸν κύριον καὶ ὁ δανιστὴς ἦλθεν λαβεῖν τοὺς δύο υἱούς μου ἑαυτῷ εἰς δούλους

And a certain woman from among the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, 'Your servant my husband has died, and you know that your servant was one who feared the LORD; and the creditor has come to take my two sons for himself as slaves.'

New narrative episode (opens the widow's-oil miracle)καὶ γυνὴ μία
The chapter opens with paratactic καί and a fronted subject (γυνὴ μία, 'a certain woman') marking a fresh episode within the Elisha cycle. The imperfect ἐβόα ('kept crying out') depicts the widow's persistent, urgent appeal; her speech moves from bereavement (her husband's death) to imminent catastrophe (the creditor seizing her sons), framing the prophet's act as rescue from social annihilation.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject (fronted: new episode)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; here a widow of one of the prophetic guild, introduced anonymously as the recipient of the first miracle of the chapter.
μίαone / a certainNominativeattributive numeral (functioning as indefinite: 'a certain')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the feminine μία here functions as an indefinite article ('a certain woman'), a usage common in later Greek and the LXX rendering אַחַת / אִשָּׁה אַחַת.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'from among')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here partitive, 'from among'; the woman belongs to the families of the prophetic guild.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (partitive object of ἀπό)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the idiom οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν προφητῶν ('the sons of the prophets') renders בְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים, a technical term for members of the prophetic guilds gathered around Elijah and Elisha (cf. vv. 38; 1 Kgdms 10:5; 4 Kgdms 2:3–7).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφητῶνprophetsGenitiveattributive genitive ('sons of the prophets')→ relational specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet'; renders נָבִיא; the genitive identifies the guild to which the dead husband belonged, establishing his piety and the legitimacy of the widow's claim on the prophet's help.
ἐβόαkept crying outImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · βοάωmain verb (imperfect of the appeal)→ iterative/durative imperfect (persistent, urgent crying)βοάω: 'cry out / shout / call for help'; renders צָעַק / זָעַק; the imperfect ἐβόα portrays a continuous, repeated outcry, conveying the desperation of the widow before the prophet.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΕλισαιεElishaaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: transliteration of Hebrew אֱלִישָׁע ('God is salvation'); indeclinable in the LXX; the prophet-successor of Elijah and the central figure of the entire chapter.
λέγουσαsayingPres Act Ptcp Fem Nom Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ redundant participle of speech (Hebraism: לֵאמֹר)λέγω (pres. ptcp.): the feminine participle λέγουσα introduces direct discourse, a standard LXX rendering of the Hebrew infinitive לֵאמֹר; agrees with γυνή.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλόςservantNominativesubject (in apposition to ὁ ἀνήρ μου)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; renders עֶבֶד; here the widow calls her dead husband 'your servant' before Elisha, an honorific self-deprecation acknowledging the husband's discipleship under the prophet; the word also sets up the grim wordplay with the creditor's intent to make her sons δούλους (slaves).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δοῦλος)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with δοῦλος).
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνήρhusbandNominativesubject (in apposition: 'my husband')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; renders אִישׁ; here the deceased husband, identified by both his relation to the woman (ἀνήρ μου) and his discipleship (ὁ δοῦλός σου).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἀνήρ)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἀνήρ).
ἀπέθανενhas diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb of the direct speech→ constative aorist (the completed fact of bereavement)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the husband's death is the precipitating catastrophe; death (and its reversal) is the dominant theme of the whole chapter.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic 'you' appeals to Elisha's own knowledge of the husband's piety, strengthening the widow's claim on the prophet's intervention.
ἔγνωςknowAor Act Indic 2 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (appeal to the prophet's knowledge)→ constative aorist (settled knowledge)γινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; renders יָדַע; the aorist ἔγνως appeals to what Elisha already knows — that the dead man feared the LORD — making the prophet a witness to the husband's righteousness.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause of ἔγνως)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δοῦλοςservantNominativepredicate nominative (with ἦν)→ participant prominenceδοῦλος: here the predicate of the husband — 'he was a servant' — i.e. a devout follower of the prophetic vocation, qualified by the participle φοβούμενος.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (periphrastic with φοβούμενος)→ descriptive imperfect (settled past characteristic)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν with the participle φοβούμενος forms a periphrastic description of the husband's habitual piety.
φοβούμενοςfearingPres Mid Ptcp Masc Nom Sg · φοβέομαιpredicate participle (periphrastic with ἦν: 'was fearing')→ characterizing present participle (habitual reverence)φοβέομαι: 'fear / revere'; renders יָרֵא; the idiom 'one who fears the LORD' (φοβούμενος τὸν κύριον) is the standard OT designation of the devout worshipper (cf. Ps 111[112]:1); it certifies the husband's covenant fidelity.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of φοβούμενος→ object specificationκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the husband's reverence is directed to YHWH himself, marking him as a true Israelite.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the crisis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δανιστὴςcreditorNominativesubject (of ἦλθεν)→ participant prominenceδανιστής (δανειστής): 'moneylender / creditor'; renders נֹשֶׁה; under ancient debt-slavery law a creditor could seize the children of an insolvent debtor (cf. Exod 21:7; Lev 25:39; Neh 5:5); the threat is the legal enslavement of the widow's two sons.
ἦλθενhas comeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the creditor's arrival)→ constative aorist (the catastrophe now present)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; renders בּוֹא; the aorist marks the creditor's arrival as an accomplished, present danger demanding immediate response.
λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωinfinitive of purpose (with ἦλθεν)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the coming)λαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; renders לָקַח; the infinitive of purpose specifies the creditor's intent — to take the sons as collateral-slaves.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwoAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying υἱούς)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; indeclinable numeral here in an accusative phrase; the two sons are the woman's only remaining family and her sole means of survival.
υἱούςsonsAccusativedirect object of λαβεῖν→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the sons are the object of the creditor's seizure; their redemption is the goal of the miracle that follows.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱούς)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱούς).
ἑαυτῷfor himselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive: 'for himself')→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; the dative ἑαυτῷ ('for himself') stresses the creditor's self-interested appropriation of the boys as his own slaves.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (predicative: 'as slaves')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here predicative ('as / to be'), a Hebraism rendering לְ of result or status.
δούλουςslavesAccusativepredicate accusative (result: 'as slaves')→ object specificationδοῦλος: 'slave'; the grim echo of δοῦλός (the husband's honorific 'servant' of the prophet, v. 1a) now becomes literal bondage threatened for the sons — the same word frames the loss the miracle will avert.
2

καὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε τί ποιήσω σοι ἀνάγγειλόν μοι τί ἐστίν σοι ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ ἡ δὲ εἶπεν οὐκ ἔστιν τῇ δούλῃ σου οὐθὲν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ὃ ἀλείψομαι ἔλαιον

And Elisha said, 'What shall I do for you? Tell me what you have in the house.' And she said, 'Your servant has nothing in the house except oil with which I shall anoint myself.'

Dialogue: the prophet's inquiry and the widow's replyκαὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε
Elisha's double question (τί ποιήσω σοι … τί ἐστίν σοι) is diagnostic, locating the resource on which the miracle will operate. The widow's reply, marked by the contrastive ἡ δὲ εἶπεν, reduces her assets to almost nothing — a single flask of anointing-oil — establishing the maximal scarcity against which the abundance of vv. 5–6 will shine.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν introduces Elisha's reply to the widow's outcry.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; here the nominative subject of εἶπεν.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιήσω)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative pronoun 'what?'; the deliberative question τί ποιήσω σοι ('what shall I do for you?') opens Elisha's diagnostic exchange.
ποιήσωshall I doAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ποιέωdeliberative subjunctive (main clause of question)→ deliberative aorist subjunctive ('what am I to do?')ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the deliberative subjunctive ποιήσω frames the prophet's willingness to act once the resource is identified.
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'for you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
ἀνάγγειλόνtellAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive command to report)ἀναγγέλλω: 'report / declare / tell'; renders נָגַד (Hiphil); the imperative requests an inventory of the widow's household resources.
μοιto meDativeindirect object (of ἀνάγγειλόν)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (of ἀνάγγειλόν).
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of ἐστίν, indirect question)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: here heads the indirect question 'what you have in the house.'
ἐστίνis / there isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of indirect question (existential)→ stative presentεἰμί: existential 'is there / have'; the construction τί ἐστίν σοι (lit. 'what is there to you') is the Greek possessive dative idiom, 'what you have.'
σοιto youDativedative of possession ('what you have')→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession ('what you have').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (locative: 'in the house')→ sphere or referenceοἶκος: 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת; the domestic setting locates the miracle within the private sphere of the widow's home.
sheNominativesubject (article used pronominally with δέ)→ participant referenceὁ, ἡ, τό: the article ἡ with δέ functions as a pronoun ('and she'), a standard Greek device for tracking the change of speaker.
δὲand / butnarrative continuative (post-positive, change of speaker)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; with the pronominal article ἡ it marks the turn from prophet to widow.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the widow's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the widow's inventory of her near-empty house.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (with negative: 'there is nothing')→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: existential; οὐκ ἔστιν … οὐθέν ('there is not … nothing') is an emphatic double negation underscoring total destitution.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλῃservantDativedative of possession ('your servant has')→ sphere or referenceδούλη: 'female servant / handmaid'; renders שִׁפְחָה / אָמָה; the widow refers to herself in the deferential third person ('your servant'), matching her husband's title δοῦλός σου in v. 1.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δούλῃ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with δούλῃ).
οὐθὲνnothingNominativesubject of ἔστιν (emphatic negation)→ participant prominenceοὐθείς (= οὐδείς): 'no one / nothing'; the later spelling οὐθέν is common in the LXX; it stresses the widow's absolute poverty — nothing at all, except the one flask of oil.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceοἴκῳ: meaning 'house'; it serves as dative of place (locative).
ὅτιfor / thatconjunction (here introducing the exceptive clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here combined with ἀλλ᾿ ἢ in the heavy LXX exceptive construction ('except'), calquing the Hebrew כִּי אִם.
ἀλλ᾿exceptpart of exceptive construction (ἀλλ᾿ ἤ: 'except')→ clausal contributionἀλλά: 'but'; in the combination ἀλλ᾿ ἤ it forms the exceptive 'except / but only', a Hebraism rendering כִּי אִם.
than / butpart of exceptive construction (ἀλλ᾿ ἤ)→ clausal contributionἤ: 'or / than'; the pleonastic ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἤ is a stacked LXX exceptive idiom, all rendering the single Hebrew exception-marker.
with whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀλείψομαι)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; the clause ὃ ἀλείψομαι ('that with which I shall anoint myself') defines the single exception — a small amount of cosmetic/medicinal oil.
ἀλείψομαιI shall anoint myselfFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἀλείφωverb of relative clause→ future middle (intended/customary self-anointing)ἀλείφω: 'anoint / rub with oil'; the middle ἀλείψομαι ('anoint myself') indicates the oil is a small personal quantity for grooming — the most meager of resources, which becomes the matter of the miracle.
ἔλαιονoilAccusativeaccusative in apposition / object (the substance: 'oil')→ object specificationἔλαιον: 'olive oil'; renders שֶׁמֶן; the single jar of oil is the seed of abundance — the leitmotif of the first miracle (vv. 2, 6, 7).
3

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτήν δεῦρο αἴτησον σαυτῇ σκεύη ἔξωθεν παρὰ πάντων τῶν γειτόνων σου σκεύη κενά μὴ ὀλιγώσῃς

And he said to her, 'Go, ask for yourself vessels from outside, from all your neighbors — empty vessels; do not get few.'

Prophetic command (preparation for the miracle)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτήν
Elisha's instructions begin the miracle's mechanism: gather many empty vessels. The emphatic repetition σκεύη … σκεύη κενά and the prohibition μὴ ὀλιγώσῃς ('do not get few') signal that the available abundance is limited only by the woman's faith-driven capacity to receive — the more vessels, the more oil.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elisha's instructions to the widow.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτήνherAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
δεῦροcome / goadverb used as imperative ('come now!')→ clausal contributionδεῦρο: 'come here / go'; an adverb functioning as a hortatory interjection, frequently used in the LXX to launch a command (cf. v. 7).
αἴτησονaskAor Act Impv 2 Sg · αἰτέωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive request)αἰτέω: 'ask / request / borrow'; renders שָׁאַל; here the request is to borrow vessels from the neighbors — the gathering on which the miracle depends.
σαυτῇfor yourselfDativereflexive dative of advantage→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun 'yourself'; the dative σαυτῇ ('for yourself') stresses that the gathering is for the widow's own benefit and rescue.
σκεύηvesselsAccusativedirect object of αἴτησον→ object specificationσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): 'vessel / container / jar'; renders כְּלִי; the empty vessels are the measure of the miracle — the oil fills as many as are gathered.
ἔξωθενfrom outsideadverb of place (source: 'from outside')→ clausal contributionἔξωθεν: 'from outside / from without'; the vessels are to be sought beyond the widow's own depleted household — from the neighbors.
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingπαρὰ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive (modifying γειτόνων: 'all your neighbors')→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totalizing πάντων maximizes the supply of vessels and thus the scope of the abundance.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γειτόνωνneighborsGenitivegenitive of source (object of παρά)→ relational specificationγείτων: 'neighbor'; renders שָׁכֵן; the community's vessels become the receptacles of the divine provision.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with γειτόνων)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with γειτόνων).
σκεύηvesselsAccusativedirect object (resumptive repetition)→ object specificationσκεῦος: the repetition σκεύη … σκεύη κενά is emphatic, focusing on the emptiness that the oil will fill.
κενάemptyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying σκεύη)→ object specificationκενός: 'empty / void'; renders רֵיק; the emptiness of the vessels is the precondition for the miracle — only what is empty can be filled.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀλιγώσῃςget few / skimpAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ὀλιγόωprohibitive subjunctive (μή + aor. subj.)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not gather few)ὀλιγόω: 'make few / diminish / be sparing'; renders מָעַט (Hiphil); the prohibition μὴ ὀλιγώσῃς ('do not be sparing / do not gather few') urges the widow to maximize her receptivity — the limit of the gift is set by her own gathering.
4

καὶ εἰσελεύσῃ καὶ ἀποκλείσεις τὴν θύραν κατὰ σοῦ καὶ κατὰ τῶν υἱῶν σου καὶ ἀποχεεῖς εἰς τὰ σκεύη ταῦτα καὶ τὸ πληρωθὲν ἀρεῖς

And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and behind your sons, and you shall pour into these vessels, and what is filled you shall set aside.

Continuation of the prophetic command (the private rite)καὶ εἰσελεύσῃ
The string of futures with imperatival force (εἰσελεύσῃ … ἀποκλείσεις … ἀποχεεῖς … ἀρεῖς) prescribes a private, hidden act behind a shut door — paralleling the secrecy of v. 33 in the raising of the child. The miracle is to occur out of public view, within the family circle; only the result (the filled and sold oil) becomes public.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσελεύσῃyou shall go inFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (future with imperatival force)→ imperatival future (command framed as prediction)εἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; renders בּוֹא; the future with imperatival force is a Hebraism (the Hebrew weqatal of command); the woman is to go into her house to perform the rite privately.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκλείσειςyou shall shutFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκλείωmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command)ἀποκλείω: 'shut / close up'; renders סָגַר; the shutting of the door (cf. vv. 5, 21, 33) marks the private space of the miracle, sealed off from public gaze.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρανdoorAccusativedirect object of ἀποκλείσεις→ object specificationθύρα: 'door'; renders דֶּלֶת; the shut door recurs as a marker of secret, sacred action throughout the chapter.
κατὰbehind / uponpreposition + genitive ('behind you', idiomatic)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: here 'behind / upon'; the idiom ἀποκλείω τὴν θύραν κατά τινος ('shut the door behind/over someone') renders the Hebrew סָגַר בְּעַד, 'shut behind.'
σοῦyouGenitiveobject of κατά→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of κατά.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰbehindpreposition + genitive (parallel: 'behind your sons')→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'behind'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (parallel: 'behind your sons').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitiveobject of κατά→ relational specificationυἱός: the sons, whose redemption from the creditor is the goal, are also the helpers in the rite (they bring the vessels, vv. 5–6).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱῶν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱῶν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποχεεῖςyou shall pourFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποχέωmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command)ἀποχέω: 'pour off / pour out'; renders יָצַק; the act of pouring the single jar into many vessels is the visible mechanism of the multiplication.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκεύηvesselsAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationσκεῦος: the gathered empty vessels now become the receptacles of the flowing oil.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying σκεύη)→ object specificationοὗτος: 'this / these'; the deictic ταῦτα points to the borrowed vessels just commanded.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πληρωθὲνwhat is filledAor Pass Ptcp Neut Acc Sg · πληρόωsubstantival participle (object of ἀρεῖς: 'the filled [vessel]')→ resultative aorist passive participle (the completed filling)πληρόω: 'fill / make full'; renders מָלֵא; the articular participle τὸ πληρωθέν ('the thing that has been filled') denotes each full vessel to be set aside as it is completed.
ἀρεῖςyou shall set asideFut Act Indic 2 Sg · αἴρωmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command)αἴρω: 'lift / take up / remove'; renders נָסַע / סוּר; here 'set aside / move away' the full vessel to make room for filling the next — an orderly procedure that lets the miracle continue uninterrupted.
5

καὶ ἀπῆλθεν παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐποίησεν οὕτως καὶ ἀπέκλεισεν τὴν θύραν κατ᾿ αὐτῆς καὶ κατὰ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῆς αὐτοὶ προσήγγιζον πρὸς αὐτήν καὶ αὐτὴ ἐπέχεεν

And she went away from him and did so, and she shut the door behind herself and behind her sons; they kept bringing the vessels near to her, and she kept pouring.

Execution of the command (the miracle in process)καὶ ἀπῆλθεν παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ
The narrative reports the widow's exact obedience (ἐποίησεν οὕτως, 'she did so') and then shifts to two imperfects — προσήγγιζον … ἐπέχεεν ('they kept bringing … she kept pouring') — that depict the continuous, ongoing flow of oil from vessel to vessel, the cinematic heart of the miracle.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπῆλθενwent awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (departure)→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; renders הָלַךְ; the widow leaves the prophet to carry out his instructions.
παρ᾿frompreposition + genitive (source: 'from him')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from (the side of)'; the elided form before αὐτοῦ.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of παρά (Elisha)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of παρά (Elisha).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (obedient action)→ constative aorist (complete obedience)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the phrase ἐποίησεν οὕτως ('she did so / thus') is the LXX obedience-formula (cf. וַתַּעַשׂ כֵּן), marking exact compliance with the prophetic word.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (referring to the command)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; points back to Elisha's instructions in vv. 3–4.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέκλεισενshutAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκλείωmain verb (the door shut)→ constative aoristἀποκλείω: 'shut'; fulfils the command of v. 4; the shut door secures the private space of the miracle.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρανdoorAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκλεισεν→ object specificationθύρα: 'door'; the recurring marker of secret, sacred action.
κατ᾿behindpreposition + genitive ('behind herself')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: 'behind / over'; the elided form before αὐτῆς.
αὐτῆςherselfGenitiveobject of κατά→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'herself'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of κατά.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰbehindpreposition + genitive (parallel: 'behind her sons')→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'behind'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (parallel: 'behind her sons').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitiveobject of κατά→ relational specificationυἱός: the sons, now shut in with their mother as her assistants in the rite.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱῶν)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱῶν).
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject (emphatic: 'they', the sons)→ participant prominenceαὐτός: the emphatic nominative αὐτοί distinguishes the sons (who bring the vessels) from the mother (who pours), dividing the labor of the miracle.
προσήγγιζονkept bringing nearImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · προσεγγίζωmain verb (imperfect of repeated action)→ iterative imperfect (vessel after vessel)προσεγγίζω: 'bring near / approach'; here transitive, 'kept bringing (the vessels) near'; the imperfect depicts the repeated handing of empty vessels to the pouring mother.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτήνherAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὴsheNominativesubject (emphatic: 'she', the mother)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the emphatic αὐτή balances αὐτοί — the sons bring, she pours; the rhythmic contrast underlines the cooperative ongoing miracle.
ἐπέχεενkept pouringImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιχέωmain verb (imperfect of continuous action)→ durative imperfect (the unbroken flow of oil)ἐπιχέω: 'pour upon / pour in'; the imperfect ἐπέχεεν portrays the continuous outpouring; the oil does not run out as long as there are vessels — the visible token of divine abundance.
6

ἕως ἐπλήσθησαν τὰ σκεύη καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῆς ἐγγίσατε ἔτι πρός με σκεῦος καὶ εἶπον αὐτῇ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι σκεῦος καὶ ἔστη τὸ ἔλαιον

until the vessels were filled. And she said to her sons, 'Bring me yet another vessel.' But they said to her, 'There is no more vessel.' And the oil stopped.

Climax: the oil fills all and ceasesἕως ἐπλήσθησαν τὰ σκεύη
The temporal ἕως-clause caps the flowing imperfects of v. 5: the oil continues 'until the vessels were filled.' The dialogue then dramatizes the limit — there is no more vessel, and the oil stands still (ἔστη). The miracle is bounded only by the receptacles gathered, vindicating Elisha's earlier μὴ ὀλιγώσῃς (v. 3).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with aorist: 'until')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; introduces the endpoint of the continuous pouring of v. 5.
ἐπλήσθησανwere filledAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πίμπλημιverb of temporal clause→ constative aorist passive (completed filling)πίμπλημι: 'fill'; renders מָלֵא; the passive ἐπλήσθησαν ('were filled') marks the completion of the abundance — every borrowed vessel is now full of oil.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκεύηvesselsNominativesubject of ἐπλήσθησαν→ participant prominenceσκεῦος: the vessels, now all full, are the measured limit of the miracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the mother's request for one more vessel.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationυἱός: the sons, the addressees of the mother's request.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱούς)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱούς).
ἐγγίσατεbring nearAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐγγίζωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (request another vessel)ἐγγίζω: 'bring near / draw near'; here transitive, 'bring (a vessel) near to me'; the mother asks for one more receptacle, expecting the oil still to flow.
ἔτιstill / yetadverb (temporal: 'yet another')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet'; expresses the expectation of continued supply.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
μεmeAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
σκεῦοςvesselAccusativedirect object of ἐγγίσατε→ object specificationσκεῦος: 'vessel'; the singular here ('one more vessel') anticipates the shortage just about to be revealed.
καὶand / butnarrative conjunction (mild adversative here)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the sons' reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: the aorist εἶπον (3 pl.) introduces the sons' answer reporting the end of the vessels.
αὐτῇto herDativeindirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'to her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: existential 'there is'; οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι σκεῦος ('there is no longer a vessel') marks the natural end of the receptacles — and hence of the pouring.
ἔτιstill / any moreadverb (temporal: 'any longer')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / any more'; the negated ἔτι signals exhaustion of vessels, not of oil.
σκεῦοςvesselNominativesubject of ἔστιν→ participant prominenceσκεῦος: the last vessel is full; no empty one remains to receive more oil.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστηstopped / stood stillAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (the oil ceases)→ ingressive aorist (came to a stop)ἵστημι: 'stand / stop'; the intransitive aorist ἔστη ('stood still / stopped') of the oil is vivid: the supply continued precisely as long as there were vessels and ceased the instant they ran out — the miracle is sufficient and self-limiting.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔλαιονoilNominativesubject of ἔστη→ participant prominenceἔλαιον: 'oil'; the personified oil that 'stood still' — the leitmotif substance of the whole episode, now multiplied to the full capacity of the gathered vessels.
7

καὶ ἦλθεν καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε δεῦρο καὶ ἀπόδου τὸ ἔλαιον καὶ ἀποτείσεις τοὺς τόκους σου καὶ σὺ καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου ζήσεσθε ἐν τῷ ἐπιλοίπῳ ἐλαίῳ

And she came and reported to the man of God; and Elisha said, 'Go, sell the oil and pay off your debts, and you and your sons shall live on the rest of the oil.'

Resolution: debt paid, family sustainedκαὶ ἦλθεν καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν
The episode resolves as the widow reports back and Elisha gives the practical command: sell the oil, pay the creditor, and live on the surplus. The threefold outcome — debt cleared, sons freed, family fed — completes the rescue from enslavement announced in v. 1; the leftover (ἐπιλοίπῳ ἐλαίῳ) anticipates the surplus-motif of the feeding miracle in vv. 42–44.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 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 (the widow returns)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the widow returns to the prophet to report the miracle's completion.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγγειλενreportedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (the report)→ constative aoristἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce'; renders נָגַד; the widow tells the prophet what has happened, prompting his final instruction.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπῳmanDativeindirect object (of ἀπήγγειλεν)→ sphere or referenceἄνθρωπος: 'man'; the title ὁ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ θεοῦ ('the man of God', אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים) is the standard designation of Elisha throughout the chapter (vv. 9, 16, 21, 22, 25, 27, 40, 42), marking him as the authorized bearer of divine power.
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('man of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the genitive in the title 'man of God' designates Elisha as belonging to and acting for God, not a divine title for Elisha himself.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elisha's closing instruction.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; nominative subject of εἶπεν.
δεῦροgo / comeadverb used as imperative ('go now!')→ clausal contributionδεῦρο: hortatory interjection launching the command (as in v. 3).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπόδουsellAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive command)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / sell'; the middle ἀπόδου ('sell for your own benefit') directs the widow to convert the oil into cash to discharge the debt.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔλαιονoilAccusativedirect object of ἀπόδου→ object specificationἔλαιον: 'oil'; the multiplied oil now becomes the means of redemption — sold to pay the creditor.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποτείσειςyou shall pay offFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (command)ἀποτίνω: 'pay back / repay (a debt)'; the legal-financial term for discharging an obligation; the proceeds of the oil clear the debt that threatened the sons' enslavement.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόκουςdebts / interestAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσεις→ object specificationτόκος: lit. 'offspring', hence 'interest / what a loan brings forth'; renders the debt owed to the δανιστής of v. 1; the proceeds cover both principal and interest.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with τόκους)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with τόκους).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σὺyouNominativesubject (with οἱ υἱοί: compound subject of ζήσεσθε)→ participant referenceσύ: 'you'; the widow herself, now secure together with her sons.
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.
υἱοίsonsNominativesubject (compound with σύ)→ participant prominenceυἱός: the two sons, redeemed from slavery and now provided for — the full reversal of the threat in v. 1.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱοί)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱοί).
ζήσεσθεyou shall liveFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ζάωmain verb (future of provision)→ predictive future (assured survival)ζάω: 'live / be alive'; renders חָיָה; the future ζήσεσθε ('you shall live') promises ongoing sustenance from the surplus — the miracle secures not only freedom but daily livelihood.
ἐνon / bypreposition + dative (means: 'live on')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental/means here, 'live on (the rest of the oil).'
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιλοίπῳremaining / restDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἐλαίῳ)→ sphere or referenceἐπίλοιπος: 'remaining / left over'; the surplus oil after the debt is paid; the 'leftover' motif (cf. καταλείψουσιν, v. 43) signals divine sufficiency that exceeds the immediate need.
ἐλαίῳoilDativedative of means (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἔλαιον: 'oil'; the remaining oil, beyond what was needed for the debt, becomes the family's continuing means of life.
8

καὶ ἐγένετο ἡμέρα καὶ διέβη Ελισαιε εἰς Σουμαν καὶ ἐκεῖ γυνὴ μεγάλη καὶ ἐκράτησεν αὐτὸν φαγεῖν ἄρτον καὶ ἐγένετο ἀφ᾿ ἱκανοῦ τοῦ εἰσπορεύεσθαι αὐτὸν ἐξέκλινεν τοῦ ἐκεῖ φαγεῖν

And it happened one day that Elisha passed over to Shunem, and there was a great woman there, and she constrained him to eat bread; and it happened, as often as he passed through, that he would turn aside there to eat.

New episode (the Shunammite cycle begins)καὶ ἐγένετο ἡμέρα
The episode-opening formula καὶ ἐγένετο ἡμέρα ('and it came to pass one day', cf. v. 11) introduces the second and longest movement of the chapter. The 'great woman' (γυνὴ μεγάλη) of wealth and standing presses hospitality on the prophet; the second ἐγένετο with the articular infinitives establishes the habitual pattern of Elisha's lodging that sets up the building of the roof-chamber.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (episode-opening formula)→ constative aorist (narrative onset)γίνομαι: 'become / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass') renders וַיְהִי, the standard LXX narrative-onset formula opening a new scene.
ἡμέραa dayNominativesubject of ἐγένετο ('one day')→ participant prominenceἡμέρα: 'day'; here adverbial in force, 'one day / on a certain day' (cf. v. 11).
καὶand / thatnarrative conjunction (apodotic καί after ἐγένετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the apodotic καί following καὶ ἐγένετο is a Hebraism (the waw of the apodosis); often left untranslated or rendered 'that.'
διέβηpassed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb (Elisha's journey)→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders עָבַר; Elisha's itinerant ministry brings him through Shunem.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; nominative subject of διέβη.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΣουμανShunemaccusative of place (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΣουμαν: transliteration of Hebrew שׁוּנֵם (Shunem), a town in the territory of Issachar (Josh 19:18); indeclinable; the home of the 'great woman' whose gentilic Σωμανῖτις follows in v. 12.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (with implied 'was')→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the verbless clause καὶ ἐκεῖ γυνὴ μεγάλη ('and there [was] a great woman') is a Hebraic nominal sentence introducing the new character.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject (of implied copula)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman'; the Shunammite, the central human figure of vv. 8–37.
μεγάληgreat / wealthyNominativepredicate adjective (modifying γυνή)→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; renders גְּדוֹלָה; here in the sense of 'eminent / wealthy / of high standing' (cf. 1 Kgdms 25:2); her social position frames her capacity for lavish hospitality.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκράτησενconstrainedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρατέωmain verb (the woman urges hospitality)→ constative aoristκρατέω: 'seize / hold / constrain'; renders חָזַק (Hiphil); here 'pressed / urged strongly' — she insists that Elisha stay and eat, an emphatic act of hospitality (cf. Luke 24:29).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐκράτησεν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐκράτησεν.
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐκράτησεν)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the constraint)ἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the infinitive expresses the purpose of her pressing — to share a meal; the suppletive aorist φαγεῖν is the standard form.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread / food'; renders לֶחֶם; 'to eat bread' is a Hebraism for sharing a meal; bread recurs as a motif climaxing in the feeding of vv. 42–44.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (formula introducing habitual pattern)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: the second καὶ ἐγένετο introduces the recurring custom of Elisha's lodging that establishes the need for the roof-chamber.
ἀφ᾿frompreposition + genitive (idiomatic: 'as often as')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: in the idiom ἀφ᾿ ἱκανοῦ ('frequently / often enough / as often as'), an adverbial phrase denoting habitual recurrence.
ἱκανοῦenough / oftenGenitivesubstantival adjective (object of ἀπό: 'often')→ relational specificationἱκανός: 'sufficient / considerable'; the phrase ἀφ᾿ ἱκανοῦ here renders the sense 'frequently / on his many passings-through.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσπορεύεσθαιpassing through / going inPres Mid Inf · εἰσπορεύομαιarticular infinitive (genitive: 'of his going in')→ durative present infinitive (repeated entering)εἰσπορεύομαι: 'go in / enter'; the articular infinitive τοῦ εἰσπορεύεσθαι with accusative subject αὐτόν expresses the recurring occasions of Elisha's visits.
αὐτὸνhe / himAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτός: accusative subject of εἰσπορεύεσθαι ('whenever he passed through').
ἐξέκλινενhe would turn asideImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (imperfect of habit)→ customary imperfect (habitual turning aside)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / deviate'; renders סוּר; the customary imperfect ἐξέκλινεν describes Elisha's habit of turning in at her house to eat whenever he passed — the basis for the permanent lodging proposed in v. 10.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (with φαγεῖν)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the habitual meal at the Shunammite's house.
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωarticular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ … φαγεῖν: 'to eat')→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of turning aside)ἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the articular infinitive of purpose τοῦ … φαγεῖν specifies why Elisha turned aside — to share the woman's table.
9

καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς ἰδοὺ δὴ ἔγνων ὅτι ἄνθρωπος τοῦ θεοῦ ἅγιος οὗτος διαπορεύεται ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς διὰ παντός

And the woman said to her husband, 'See now, I know that this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually.'

Dialogue: the woman's discernment of the prophetκαὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ
The Shunammite's perception (ἔγνων, 'I know / I have perceived') that Elisha is 'a holy man of God' motivates the practical proposal of v. 10. The attention-marker ἰδοὺ δή ('see now') and the adverbial διὰ παντός ('continually') emphasize both her conviction and the regularity of the prophet's visits.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the woman's words to her husband.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject→ participant prominenceγυνή: the Shunammite, who takes the initiative throughout the episode.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραhusbandAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; her husband, who appears only briefly (vv. 9, 14, 22–23) and is characterized as old (πρεσβύτης, v. 14).
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄνδρα)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἄνδρα).
ἰδοὺbehold / seeattention-marker (interjection)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold / see'; renders הִנֵּה; a fixed presentative particle (originally an imperative of εἶδον) drawing attention to what follows.
δὴnow / indeedemphatic particle (with ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: emphatic/hortatory particle 'now / pray'; ἰδοὺ δή strengthens the appeal to the husband's attention.
ἔγνωνI know / I perceiveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (the woman's perception)→ constative aorist (settled recognition)γινώσκω: 'know / perceive / recognize'; renders יָדַע; the aorist ἔγνων ('I have come to know') expresses the woman's settled spiritual discernment of Elisha's holiness.
ὅτιthatconjunction (object clause of ἔγνων)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativepredicate nominative (with οὗτος)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man'; here the title 'man of God' is qualified by ἅγιος ('holy'), the woman's reverent assessment of the prophet.
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('man of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the standard title naming Elisha as belonging to God.
ἅγιοςholyNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἄνθρωπος)→ participant prominenceἅγιος: 'holy / set apart'; renders קָדוֹשׁ; the woman's recognition of Elisha's sanctity motivates her wish to provide a fitting, permanent lodging.
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject: 'this [is]')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this (one)'; the deictic subject of the verbless predication 'this is a holy man of God.'
διαπορεύεταιpasses throughPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · διαπορεύομαιverb of relative/descriptive clause→ customary present (habitual passing-by)διαπορεύομαι: 'pass through / travel about'; renders עָבַר; the present describes Elisha's regular itinerant passing by their house.
ἐφ᾿by / uponpreposition + accusative ('by us')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: here 'by / past / to us'; the elided form before ἡμᾶς.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of ἐφ᾿→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐφ᾿.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (idiomatic: 'continually')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: in the idiom διὰ παντός ('continually / always'), an adverbial phrase of constant recurrence.
παντόςall (the time)Genitivesubstantival (with διά: 'continually')→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; in διὰ παντός ('through all [time]') the neuter genitive forms a standard idiom for 'continually / regularly.'
10

ποιήσωμεν δὴ αὐτῷ ὑπερῷον τόπον μικρὸν καὶ θῶμεν αὐτῷ ἐκεῖ κλίνην καὶ τράπεζαν καὶ δίφρον καὶ λυχνίαν καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ εἰσπορεύεσθαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐκκλινεῖ ἐκεῖ

Let us make him, please, a small upper room, and let us set there for him a bed and a table and a stool and a lampstand; and it shall be that when he comes to us, he will turn aside there.

Proposal: build the prophet's chamberποιήσωμεν δὴ αὐτῷ
The woman's proposal uses two hortatory subjunctives (ποιήσωμεν … θῶμεν, 'let us make … let us set') and a furnishing-list (bed, table, stool, lamp) that paints a complete, dignified guest-room. The closing future construction (ἔσται … ἐκκλινεῖ) projects the prophet's settled lodging — the chamber that will become the scene of the boy's death and raising (vv. 21, 32).
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ποιήσωμενlet us makeAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ποιέωhortatory subjunctive (main verb)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (proposal)ποιέω: 'make / build'; renders עָשָׂה; the hortatory ποιήσωμεν ('let us make') frames the building of the chamber as a joint act of the couple.
δὴplease / nowhortatory particle (softening the proposal)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: 'now / pray'; lends the hortatory subjunctive a tone of earnest entreaty.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'for him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
ὑπερῷονupper roomAccusativedirect object of ποιήσωμεν (with τόπον in apposition)→ object specificationὑπερῷον: 'upper room / roof-chamber'; renders עֲלִיָּה; a built structure on the flat roof, a private guest-space; this same ὑπερῷον becomes the room of the boy's death and Elisha's raising of him (vv. 11, 21, 32).
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ὑπερῷον→ object specificationτόπος: 'place / space'; in apposition, 'an upper room, a small place'; specifies the modest scale of the structure.
μικρὸνsmallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τόπον)→ object specificationμικρός: 'small / little'; the modesty of the chamber matches the unassuming hospitality offered to the prophet.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θῶμενlet us setAor Act Subj 1 Pl · τίθημιhortatory subjunctive (main verb)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (proposal)τίθημι: 'place / set / put'; renders שׂוּם / נָתַן; θῶμεν ('let us set') introduces the furnishing of the chamber.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'for him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; in the chamber being built.
κλίνηνbedAccusativedirect object of θῶμεν (first item of the list)→ object specificationκλίνη: 'bed / couch'; renders מִטָּה; the bed is the first and most significant furnishing — on it the dead child will be laid (vv. 21, 32) and raised.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τράπεζανtableAccusativedirect object (second item)→ object specificationτράπεζα: 'table'; renders שֻׁלְחָן; part of the complete furnishing of the guest-room.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δίφρονstool / seatAccusativedirect object (third item)→ object specificationδίφρος: 'seat / stool / chair'; renders כִּסֵּא; a seat for the prophet's use.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λυχνίανlampstandAccusativedirect object (fourth item)→ object specificationλυχνία: 'lampstand'; renders מְנוֹרָה; the lamp completes the four-item furnishing — bed, table, seat, light — a fully appointed dwelling worthy of a holy man.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (apodosis-introducing formula)→ predictive future (Hebraism: 'and it shall be that')εἰμί: the future ἔσται here renders וְהָיָה, the Hebrew formula 'and it shall come to pass that', introducing the expected outcome of providing the room.
ἐνin / whenpreposition + articular infinitive (temporal: 'when')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + articular infinitive: a temporal construction ('when he comes'), a frequent LXX rendering of Hebrew בְּ + infinitive.
τῷtheDativearticle (with articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσπορεύεσθαιcoming inPres Mid Inf · εἰσπορεύομαιarticular infinitive (temporal with ἐν)→ durative present infinitive (whenever he comes)εἰσπορεύομαι: 'go in / come'; the temporal infinitive ('when he comes to us') describes the recurring occasions of the prophet's visits.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
καὶand / thatapodotic καί (after ἔσται)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic καί completing the וְהָיָה construction ('it shall be … that he will turn aside').
ἐκκλινεῖhe will turn asideFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (apodosis)→ predictive future (the anticipated result)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside'; the future ἐκκλινεῖ projects the prophet's settled habit of lodging in the new chamber whenever he passes through.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; in the prepared upper room.
11

καὶ ἐγένετο ἡμέρα καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἐκεῖ καὶ ἐξέκλινεν εἰς τὸ ὑπερῷον καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ἐκεῖ

And it happened one day that he came there and turned aside into the upper room and slept there.

Narrative fulfilment (the prophet uses the chamber)καὶ ἐγένετο ἡμέρα
The episode-formula καὶ ἐγένετο ἡμέρα (cf. v. 8) reports the realization of the woman's plan: Elisha comes, turns aside into the upper room, and sleeps there. The chain of aorists (εἰσῆλθεν, ἐξέκλινεν, ἐκοιμήθη) moves the narrative briskly to the next exchange, in which the prophet seeks to repay her.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (episode-formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass'), the narrative-onset formula (cf. v. 8).
ἡμέραa dayNominativesubject of ἐγένετο ('one day')→ participant prominenceἡμέρα: 'day'; adverbial 'one day / on a certain day.'
καὶand / thatapodotic καί (after ἐγένετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic, the waw of the apodosis after καὶ ἐγένετο.
εἰσῆλθενhe came inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; Elisha arrives at the house as foreseen.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; at the Shunammite's house.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέκλινενhe turned asideAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb→ constative aoristἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside'; here the aorist reports the single act foreseen in the habitual ἐξέκλινεν of v. 8.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπερῷονupper roomAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationὑπερῷον: 'upper room'; the chamber just built for him (v. 10).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκοιμήθηsleptAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (deponent: 'slept')κοιμάομαι: 'lie down / sleep'; renders שָׁכַב; the deponent aorist ἐκοιμήθη ('he slept'); the same verb later describes the dead child laid on the bed (ἐκοίμισεν, v. 21) — a verbal link between rest and death in the chamber.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; in the upper room.
12

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Γιεζι τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ κάλεσόν μοι τὴν Σωμανῖτιν ταύτην καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτήν καὶ ἔστη ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ

And he said to Gehazi his servant, 'Call this Shunammite woman for me.' And he called her, and she stood before him.

Dialogue setup (Gehazi summons the woman)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Γιεζι
Gehazi (Γιεζι), Elisha's servant, is introduced as the intermediary; he will recur as the failed agent of the staff (vv. 29–31) and the announcer of the woman's childlessness (v. 14). The woman's standing 'before him' (ἔστη ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ) sets the stage for the prophet's offer of reward.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elisha's instruction to his servant.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΓιεζιGehaziobject of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓιεζι: transliteration of Hebrew גֵּיחֲזִי (Gehazi), Elisha's personal servant; indeclinable; his role as intermediary and later failed agent (vv. 14, 25, 27, 29–31, 36) recurs through the episode.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with παιδάριον in apposition to Γιεζι)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονservant / young manAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Γιεζι→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'young servant / attendant'; renders נַעַר; the diminutive of παῖς, designating Gehazi's role as Elisha's personal attendant (cf. vv. 25, 38, 41).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with παιδάριον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with παιδάριον).
κάλεσόνcallAor Act Impv 2 Sg · καλέωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive command)καλέω: 'call / summon'; renders קָרָא; Elisha bids Gehazi summon the woman for the exchange of vv. 13–16.
μοιfor meDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'for me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣωμανῖτινShunammiteAccusativedirect object of κάλεσόν→ object specificationΣωμανῖτις (acc. Σωμανῖτιν): 'the Shunammite (woman)'; a declinable gentilic noun from Σουμαν/Shunem (cf. v. 8); used as the woman's standing designation (vv. 12, 25, 36).
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying Σωμανῖτιν)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the deictic ταύτην ('this Shunammite') points to the woman already in view.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενhe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (Gehazi obeys)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call'; Gehazi summons the woman as commanded.
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσεν→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐκάλεσεν.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστηshe stoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (intransitive)→ ingressive aorist (took her stand)ἵστημι: 'stand'; the intransitive aorist ἔστη ('she stood / presented herself') indicates her coming to attend the prophet.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive ('before him')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; a common LXX preposition for standing in someone's presence.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐνώπιον.
13

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ εἰπὸν δὴ πρὸς αὐτήν ἰδοὺ ἐξέστησας ἡμῖν πᾶσαν τὴν ἔκστασιν ταύτην τί δεῖ ποιῆσαί σοι εἰ ἔστιν λόγος σοι πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα ἢ πρὸς τὸν ἄρχοντα τῆς δυνάμεως ἡ δὲ εἶπεν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λαοῦ μου ἐγώ εἰμι οἰκῶ

And he said to him, 'Say now to her: Behold, you have shown us all this care; what is to be done for you? Is there a word to speak for you to the king or to the commander of the army?' But she said, 'I dwell in the midst of my own people.'

Dialogue: the prophet's offer and the woman's replyκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ
Elisha, through Gehazi, offers to repay the woman's lavish care (ἔκστασιν, 'attentive solicitude') with political intercession before king or army-commander. Her terse reply — 'I dwell among my own people' — declines, content and self-sufficient; this very contentment sets up the unspoken need (childlessness) that Gehazi must reveal in v. 14.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: Elisha instructs Gehazi what to say to the woman.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (Gehazi)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (Gehazi).
εἰπὸνsayAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperativeλέγω (aor. impv. εἰπόν): 'say / speak'; Elisha relays his message through Gehazi to the woman.
δὴnow / pleasehortatory particle (with imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: 'now / pray'; softens the imperative εἰπόν.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτήνherAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
ἰδοὺbeholdattention-marker (interjection)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; introduces the prophet's acknowledgment of her care.
ἐξέστησαςyou have taken pains / shown careAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐξίστημιmain verb (the woman's solicitude)→ constative aoristἐξίστημι: lit. 'put out of place / amaze'; with the cognate object ἔκστασιν it renders the Hebrew חָרַד אֶל ('to be anxiously attentive toward'), i.e. 'you have shown us all this anxious care'; the figura etymologica intensifies the sense of devoted attention.
ἡμῖνfor usDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestἡμῖν: meaning 'for us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
πᾶσανallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔκστασιν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; quantifies the totality of her devoted service.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔκστασινcare / solicitudeAccusativecognate accusative (with ἐξέστησας)→ object specificationἔκστασις: lit. 'displacement / amazement'; here the cognate accusative ('all this care/solicitude') renders the Hebrew חֲרָדָה ('anxious concern'); the figura etymologica (ἐξέστησας … ἔκστασιν) is a Hebraizing emphatic construction.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔκστασιν)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; points to the care just rendered (the chamber and meals).
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιῆσαι)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: 'what?'; opens the question of fitting recompense.
δεῖmust / is to bePres Act Indic 3 Sg · δεῖimpersonal verb ('what must be done?')→ obligatory present (necessity)δεῖ: impersonal 'it is necessary / one must'; τί δεῖ ποιῆσαί σοι ('what must be done for you?') frames the prophet's wish to reward her appropriately.
ποιῆσαίto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with δεῖ)→ aorist infinitive (complement of necessity)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the infinitive complement of δεῖ, 'what must be done for you.'
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'for you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
εἰwhether / is there?conjunction (introducing a direct question / Hebraism)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: normally 'if'; in LXX it frequently introduces a direct question (rendering the Hebrew interrogative ה), here 'is there a word to speak for you?'
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (in question)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: existential; 'is there a matter/word [to raise] for you?'
λόγοςa word / matterNominativesubject of ἔστιν→ participant prominenceλόγος: 'word / matter / case'; renders דָּבָר; here 'a word to be spoken on your behalf', i.e. intercession or petition at court.
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'for you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; Elisha's standing is such that he can mediate for her at the highest level of the state.
ordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; offers an alternative addressee for the intercession.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχονταcommanderAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationἄρχων: 'ruler / commander'; renders שַׂר; with τῆς δυνάμεως, 'the commander of the army', the chief military officer.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωςarmy / hostGenitivegenitive (with ἄρχοντα: 'commander of the army')→ relational specificationδύναμις: 'power / force / army'; renders צָבָא; 'the commander of the host' is the supreme military authority, second to the king.
sheNominativesubject (pronominal article with δέ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ, ἡ, τό: article used pronominally ('and she'), marking the change of speaker.
δὲbutadversative (post-positive, change of speaker)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; marks the woman's contrasting reply.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the woman's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces her brief, self-sufficient answer.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
μέσῳmidstDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in the midst of')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λαοῦ μου ('in the midst of my own people') expresses her settled, secure place within her kin and community — she needs no royal favor.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive (with μέσῳ: 'midst of my people')→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; here her own kin/community; the phrase signals contentment and rootedness.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with λαοῦ)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with λαοῦ).
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I'; with εἰμι and οἰκῶ stresses her own contented self-location among her people.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with ἐγώ; here near-pleonastic with οἰκῶ)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the construction ἐγώ εἰμι οἰκῶ ('I — I dwell') is a Hebraizing reduplication of the pronoun emphasizing her secure dwelling.
οἰκῶI dwellPres Act Indic 1 Sg · οἰκέωmain verb (her self-description)→ stative present (settled dwelling)οἰκέω: 'dwell / live'; renders יָשַׁב; 'I dwell among my own people' politely declines the offer of intercession — she lacks nothing the king could grant, leaving her childlessness as the unspoken want.
14

καὶ εἶπεν τί δεῖ ποιῆσαι αὐτῇ καὶ εἶπεν Γιεζι τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ καὶ μάλα υἱὸς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῇ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς πρεσβύτης

And he said, 'What then is to be done for her?' And Gehazi his servant said, 'Truly, she has no son, and her husband is old.'

Dialogue: discovering the woman's needκαὶ εἶπεν τί δεῖ ποιῆσαι
Elisha repeats his question (τί δεῖ ποιῆσαι αὐτῇ) now to Gehazi, who supplies the missing information: she is childless and her husband aged — the classic OT predicament of barrenness (cf. Sarah, Hannah). This diagnosis prepares the oracle of v. 16.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: Elisha now consults Gehazi about what can be done for the woman.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιῆσαι)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: 'what?'; repeats the question of v. 13 now directed to the servant.
δεῖmust / is to bePres Act Indic 3 Sg · δεῖimpersonal verb→ obligatory present (necessity)δεῖ: impersonal 'it is necessary'; 'what must be done for her?'
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with δεῖ)→ aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do'; the infinitive complement of δεῖ.
αὐτῇfor herDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'for her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Gehazi's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gehazi's diagnosis of the woman's need.
ΓιεζιGehazisubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓιεζι: indeclinable; nominative subject of εἶπεν.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονservantNominativenominative in apposition to Γιεζι→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'young servant'; Gehazi's standing designation as Elisha's attendant.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with παιδάριον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with παιδάριον).
καὶtruly / indeedasseverative particle (with μάλα)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here in the asseverative combination καὶ μάλα ('truly indeed / and yet'), introducing Gehazi's emphatic statement of fact.
μάλαtruly / certainlyadverb of emphasis→ clausal contributionμάλα: 'very / certainly / truly'; the phrase καὶ μάλα emphasizes the certainty of the observation that follows.
υἱὸςsonNominativesubject of ἔστιν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the want of a son is the woman's deepest, unspoken need — the lack the prophet's oracle will remedy.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated)→ verbal action or stateεἰμί: existential; υἱὸς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῇ ('she has no son') states the predicament of barrenness.
αὐτῇto herDativedative of possession ('she has')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'to her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession ('she has').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρhusbandNominativesubject (of implied copula)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; her husband, whose old age compounds the apparent impossibility of bearing a son.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἀνήρ)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἀνήρ).
πρεσβύτηςold / an old manNominativepredicate nominative ('is old')→ participant prominenceπρεσβύτης: 'old man / elder'; renders זָקֵן; the husband's advanced age makes the promise of a son a true miracle, echoing the Abraham–Sarah narrative (Gen 18:11–14).
15

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτήν καὶ ἔστη παρὰ τὴν θύραν

And he called her, and she stood by the door.

Narrative bridge (the woman summoned to hear the oracle)καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτήν
A brief transitional verse: the woman is recalled and takes her stand at the doorway to receive Elisha's announcement. Her standing 'by the door' (παρὰ τὴν θύραν) keeps her at the threshold of the chamber, the same liminal space where the miracle-words are spoken.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενhe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; the woman is recalled to hear the oracle directly.
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσεν→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐκάλεσεν.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστηshe stoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (intransitive)→ ingressive aorist (took her stand)ἵστημι: 'stand'; the intransitive aorist ἔστη; she presents herself at the doorway.
παρὰby / atpreposition + accusative (position: 'by the door')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + acc.: 'beside / at'; positions the woman at the threshold of the chamber.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρανdoorAccusativeobject of παρά→ object specificationθύρα: 'door'; the recurring threshold-marker (cf. vv. 4, 5, 21, 33).
16

καὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε πρὸς αὐτήν εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ὡς ἡ ὥρα ζῶσα σὺ περιειληφυῖα υἱόν ἡ δὲ εἶπεν μή κύριέ μου μὴ διαψεύσῃ τὴν δούλην σου

And Elisha said to her, 'At this season, about this time next year, you shall be embracing a son.' But she said, 'No, my lord, do not deceive your servant.'

The promise-oracle (turning point of the episode)καὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε πρὸς αὐτήν
Elisha's annunciation — εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον … σὺ περιειληφυῖα υἱόν ('at this season … you shall be embracing a son') — directly echoes the angelic promise to Sarah (Gen 18:10, 14 LXX, εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον). The woman's disbelieving protest (μή … μὴ διαψεύσῃ, 'do not deceive your servant') mirrors Sarah's reaction, marking the gift as humanly impossible and divinely given.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the promise-oracle.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; nominative subject of εἶπεν.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτήνherAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
εἰςat / towardpreposition + accusative (temporal: 'at this season')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: temporal 'at / about'; εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ('at this season') is the precise verbal echo of Gen 18:14 LXX, marking the annunciation typology.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρὸνseason / appointed timeAccusativeobject of εἰς (temporal)→ object specificationκαιρός: 'appointed time / season'; renders מוֹעֵד; the fixed time a year hence at which the promise will be fulfilled (cf. v. 17).
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying καιρόν)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; 'this season' = the same time next year.
ὡςabout / ascomparative/temporal particle ('about this time')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: here temporal-approximative, 'about / at the time of'; ὡς ἡ ὥρα ζῶσα ('about the living/reviving hour') renders כָּעֵת חַיָּה ('at the time of reviving / this time next year'), a Hebrew idiom for the same season a year later.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὥραhour / timeNominativesubject (of the temporal phrase)→ participant prominenceὥρα: 'hour / time / season'; in the idiom ἡ ὥρα ζῶσα ('the living/reviving hour'), part of the calque of כָּעֵת חַיָּה.
ζῶσαliving / revivingPres Act Ptcp Fem Nom Sg · ζάωattributive participle (modifying ὥρα)→ characterizing present participle ('living' / reviving season)ζάω (pres. ptcp.): 'live'; the participle ζῶσα in ἡ ὥρα ζῶσα literally renders the Hebrew חַיָּה ('living') of כָּעֵת חַיָּה — 'at the reviving time', i.e. spring or the same season next year when life renews; the life-vocabulary foreshadows both the birth and the later raising of the son.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic, with periphrastic participle)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; the addressee of the promise.
περιειληφυῖαembracing / holdingPerf Act Ptcp Fem Nom Sg · περιλαμβάνωpredicate participle (periphrastic with implied εἶ/ἔσῃ: 'you shall be embracing')→ perfect participle (resultant state of holding a child)περιλαμβάνω: 'embrace / clasp / take in one's arms'; the perfect participle περιειληφυῖα ('having embraced / holding') depicts the woman with the promised son in her arms; the periphrastic construction with the implied future copula expresses the certain future state.
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object of περιειληφυῖα→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the long-desired son now promised — the gift that answers the unspoken need of v. 14.
sheNominativesubject (pronominal article with δέ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ, ἡ, τό: pronominal article ('and she'), change of speaker.
δὲbutadversative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the woman's protesting reply.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the woman's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces her disbelieving protest.
μήno / not sonegative particle (here an exclamation: 'no!')→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: here a standalone protest, 'no / do not [say so]'; the woman recoils from a promise too good to risk believing.
κύριέlord / sirVocativevocative of address (to Elisha)→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): here a human honorific, 'my lord / sir', the woman's respectful address to Elisha — not the Tetragrammaton; renders אֲדֹנִי.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with κύριε)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κύριε).
μὴdo notnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'do not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαψεύσῃdeceive / lie toAor Mid Subj 2 Sg · διαψεύδομαιprohibitive subjunctive (μή + aor. subj.)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not deceive)διαψεύδομαι: 'deceive / play false / disappoint'; the prohibition μὴ διαψεύσῃ ('do not deceive / raise false hope') expresses the woman's fear of a cruel disappointment, like Sarah's incredulous laughter; her reluctance to hope underscores the seeming impossibility of the promise.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούληνservantAccusativedirect object of διαψεύσῃ→ object specificationδούλη: 'female servant / handmaid'; the woman's deferential self-reference ('your servant'), matching the widow's usage in v. 2.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δούλην)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with δούλην).
17

καὶ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβεν ἡ γυνὴ καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱὸν εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ὡς ἡ ὥρα ζῶσα ὡς ἐλάλησεν πρὸς αὐτὴν Ελισαιε

And the woman conceived and bore a son at this season, about this time, as Elisha had spoken to her.

Fulfilment of the promise (the son is born)καὶ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβεν ἡ γυνὴ
The promise of v. 16 is fulfilled verbatim: the verse repeats εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ὡς ἡ ὥρα ζῶσα and adds the fulfilment-formula ὡς ἐλάλησεν … Ελισαιε ('as Elisha had spoken'), the prophetic word-and-fulfilment pattern. The conception (ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβεν, 'conceived') answers the barrenness of v. 14 and sets up the crisis of the boy's death.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (idiomatic: 'conceive')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: in the idiom ἐν γαστρὶ λαμβάνω/ἔχω ('conceive', lit. 'take in the womb'), a Hebraism rendering הָרָה.
γαστρὶwombDativedative (with ἐν: 'in the womb')→ sphere or referenceγαστήρ: 'belly / womb'; the idiom ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβεν ('conceived') is the standard LXX expression for conception (cf. Gen 25:21).
ἔλαβενconceived / tookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (with ἐν γαστρί: 'conceived')→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; in the idiom ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβεν means 'conceived'; the fulfilment begins exactly as promised.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject→ participant prominenceγυνή: the Shunammite, now bearing the promised son.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb→ constative aorist (the birth accomplished)τίκτω: 'give birth / bear'; renders יָלַד; the completion of the promise — the barren woman bears a son.
υἱὸνa sonAccusativedirect object of ἔτεκεν→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the promised child, whose later death and raising are the heart of the episode.
εἰςatpreposition + accusative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: temporal 'at'; repeats the promise-formula of v. 16.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρὸνseasonAccusativeobject of εἰς (temporal)→ object specificationκαιρός: 'appointed time / season'; the fulfilment matches the promised time exactly.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying καιρόν)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; 'this season' as foretold.
ὡςabout / astemporal-approximative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'about / as'; repeats ὡς ἡ ὥρα ζῶσα from v. 16.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὥραtime / hourNominativesubject of the temporal phrase→ participant prominenceὥρα: 'time / season'; in the idiom ἡ ὥρα ζῶσα ('the reviving season').
ζῶσαliving / revivingPres Act Ptcp Fem Nom Sg · ζάωattributive participle (modifying ὥρα)→ characterizing present participleζάω (pres. ptcp.): 'live'; ἡ ὥρα ζῶσα calques כָּעֵת חַיָּה ('this time next year'); the life-vocabulary frames the birth that will soon be tested by death.
ὡςascomparative conjunction (fulfilment-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / just as'; introduces the prophetic fulfilment-clause ('as Elisha had spoken').
ἐλάλησενhad spokenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of comparative clause (fulfilment)→ constative aorist (the prior word now fulfilled)λαλέω: 'speak'; the formula ὡς ἐλάλησεν ('as he had spoken') seals the word-and-fulfilment pattern, certifying the oracle as divinely effective.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτὴνherAccusativeobject of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject of ἐλάλησεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; the prophet whose word has now come true.
18

καὶ ἡδρύνθη τὸ παιδάριον καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἐξῆλθεν τὸ παιδάριον πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ πρὸς τοὺς θερίζοντας

And the child grew up, and it happened, when the child went out to his father, to the reapers,

New movement (the child's death begins)καὶ ἡδρύνθη τὸ παιδάριον
A time-leap: the child grows up (ἡδρύνθη), and the narrative formula ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ('it happened, when') introduces the fatal day. The boy's going out to his father among the reapers locates the crisis in the harvest field — ordinary life about to be shattered by sudden death.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡδρύνθηgrew upAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἁδρύνωmain verb→ constative aorist (the child's growth)ἁδρύνω: 'make full-grown / ripen / strengthen'; the passive ἡδρύνθη ('grew up / grew strong') renders גָּדַל; compresses the years from infancy to boyhood in a single word.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchild / boyNominativesubject of ἡδρύνθη→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'little child / boy'; the diminutive (here the Shunammite's son, not Gehazi) recurs as the key term of the death-and-raising narrative (vv. 18–35).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass'); the onset-formula introducing the fatal incident.
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunction (with ἐξῆλθεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastἡνίκα: 'when / at the time when'; renders the Hebrew temporal clause introducing the day of the crisis.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; renders יָצָא; the boy goes out from the house to join his father in the fields.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchild / boyNominativesubject of ἐξῆλθεν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: the boy; the repetition keeps him in focus as the narrative subject.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; the aged husband (v. 14), now at work overseeing the harvest.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατέρα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατέρα).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (parallel: 'to the reapers')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (parallel: 'to the reapers').
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θερίζονταςreapersPres Act Ptcp Masc Acc Pl · θερίζωsubstantival participle (object of πρός: 'the reapers')→ characterizing present participle (those who reap)θερίζω: 'reap / harvest'; the articular participle τοὺς θερίζοντας ('the reapers') sets the scene at harvest; the heat of the harvest field explains the sunstroke implied in v. 19.
19

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ τὴν κεφαλήν μου τὴν κεφαλήν μου καὶ εἶπεν τῷ παιδαρίῳ ἆρον αὐτὸν πρὸς τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ

that he said to his father, 'My head, my head!' And he said to the servant, 'Carry him to his mother.'

The onset of the fatal afflictionκαὶ εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα
The boy's anguished cry — the doubled τὴν κεφαλήν μου, τὴν κεφαλήν μου ('my head, my head!') — vividly suggests heatstroke in the harvest field. The father's brisk command to carry him to his mother sends the dying child back to the very arms (the mother's knees, v. 20) where the promise was given.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶand / thatapodotic καί (completing ἐγένετο ἡνίκα of v. 18)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic, resolving the temporal protasis of v. 18 ('it happened … that he said').
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the boy's cry)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the child's cry of distress.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the boy cries out to his father in the field.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατέρα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατέρα).
τὴνthe / myAccusativearticle (with κεφαλήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλήνheadAccusativeaccusative of exclamation ('my head!')→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; the cry τὴν κεφαλήν μου ('my head!') is an accusative of exclamation expressing acute pain — classically read as sunstroke.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with κεφαλήν)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κεφαλήν).
τὴνthe / myAccusativearticle (with κεφαλήν, emphatic repetition)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλήνheadAccusativeaccusative of exclamation (repeated)→ object specificationκεφαλή: the emphatic doubling τὴν κεφαλήν μου, τὴν κεφαλήν μου dramatizes the intensity of the boy's suffering.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with κεφαλήν)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κεφαλήν).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the father's command)→ constative aoristλέγω: the father now instructs the servant.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίῳservant / young manDativeindirect object (the servant addressed)→ sphere or referenceπαιδάριον: 'young servant'; here a field-hand of the father (distinct from the sick boy), commanded to carry the child home.
ἆρονcarry / take upAor Act Impv 2 Sg · αἴρωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (urgent command)αἴρω: 'lift / carry'; the father bids the servant carry the stricken boy home to his mother — back to the source of maternal care.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἆρον→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἆρον.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητέραmotherAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; renders אֵם; the boy is sent to his mother, the Shunammite, in whose arms he will die.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with μητέρα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with μητέρα).
20

καὶ ἦρεν αὐτὸν πρὸς τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ἐπὶ τῶν γονάτων αὐτῆς ἕως μεσημβρίας καὶ ἀπέθανεν

And he carried him to his mother, and he lay on her knees until noon, and he died.

The death of the child (the central crisis)καὶ ἦρεν αὐτὸν
The terse chain of aorists (ἦρεν … ἐκοιμήθη … ἀπέθανεν) moves swiftly from carrying to lying to dying. The boy expires 'on his mother's knees' at noon — the place of intimacy and the height of the day — making the loss maximally poignant. ἀπέθανεν here is the death the rest of the episode will reverse.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦρενcarriedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αἴρωmain verb (the servant obeys)→ constative aoristαἴρω: 'lift / carry'; the servant carries out the father's command of v. 19.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἦρεν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἦρεν.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητέραmotherAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; the Shunammite receives her dying son.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with μητέρα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with μητέρα).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκοιμήθηlayAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (deponent: 'lay / reclined')κοιμάομαι: 'lie down / sleep'; the deponent aorist ἐκοιμήθη ('he lay'); the same verb used of Elisha's rest (v. 11) here describes the boy's final lying-down, blurring sleep and death — a euphemism that the explicit ἀπέθανεν then makes brutally clear.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γονάτωνkneesGenitiveobject of ἐπί (position: 'on her knees')→ relational specificationγόνυ (pl. γόνατα): 'knee'; renders בֶּרֶךְ; the child dying 'on his mother's knees' is a tableau of tenderness and helplessness; the lap that held the promised child becomes the place of his death.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with γονάτων)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with γονάτων).
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal: 'until noon')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; marks the duration of the boy's decline.
μεσημβρίαςnoon / middayGenitiveobject of ἕως (temporal)→ relational specificationμεσημβρία: 'midday / noon'; renders צָהֳרַיִם; the boy dies at the height of the day — the time of fiercest heat, consistent with the sunstroke implied by his cry.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ 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 climactic death)→ constative aorist (the fact of death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the blunt ἀπέθανεν ('he died') is the crisis of the whole episode — the promised son is dead; everything that follows works toward its reversal in vv. 32–35.
21

καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκοίμισεν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν κλίνην τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἀπέκλεισεν κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξῆλθεν

And she carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door behind him, and went out.

The mother's faith-act (the dead boy on the prophet's bed)καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν αὐτὸν
Rather than mourn, the mother acts: she carries the dead boy up to the prophet's chamber and lays him on Elisha's own bed — a silent confession that the man of God who gave the son can restore him. The shut door (ἀπέκλεισεν κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ) deliberately echoes vv. 4–5 and anticipates v. 33, sealing the place of the coming miracle.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνήνεγκενcarried upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναφέρωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναφέρω: 'carry up / bring up'; renders עָלָה (Hiphil); the mother carries the dead boy up to the roof-chamber, the prophet's room.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἀνήνεγκεν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀνήνεγκεν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκοίμισενlaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κοιμίζωmain verb→ constative aoristκοιμίζω: 'lay down / put to bed' (causative of κοιμάομαι); the mother lays the dead child on the bed; the verb's connotation of 'putting to sleep' softens death into rest, anticipating the awakening to come.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐκοίμισεν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐκοίμισεν.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλίνηνbedAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationκλίνη: 'bed'; the very bed furnished for the prophet (v. 10); laying the child there expresses the mother's confident appeal to the man of God.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπουmanGenitivegenitive of possession (with κλίνην: 'bed of the man')→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man'; in the title 'the man of God', here possessor of the bed.
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('man of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the title 'man of God' (Elisha); the bed's association with him is the ground of the mother's hope.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέκλεισενshutAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκλείωmain verb→ constative aoristἀποκλείω: 'shut'; the mother shuts the door on the dead boy — concealing the death, perhaps from her husband, and reserving the chamber for the prophet's intervention (cf. v. 33).
κατ᾿behind / uponpreposition + genitive ('behind him')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: 'behind / over'; the elided form before αὐτοῦ; the idiom 'shut behind him', as in v. 4.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of κατ᾿→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of κατ᾿.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; the mother leaves the chamber to set out for the prophet at Carmel (v. 22).
22

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς καὶ εἶπεν ἀπόστειλον δή μοι ἓν τῶν παιδαρίων καὶ μίαν τῶν ὄνων καὶ δραμοῦμαι ἕως τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπιστρέψω

And she called her husband and said, 'Send me, please, one of the servants and one of the donkeys, and I will run to the man of God and return.'

Dialogue: the mother prepares to seek the prophetκαὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς
The mother requests transport without disclosing the death — her resolve is to reach Elisha at speed (δραμοῦμαι, 'I will run'). Her confident καὶ ἐπιστρέψω ('and I will return') is left deliberately ambiguous; she conceals the crisis even from her husband, focusing all on reaching the man of God.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; the mother summons her husband to arrange her journey.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραhusbandAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσεν→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'husband'; the father, still unaware that the boy is dead.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄνδρα)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἄνδρα).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces her request.
ἀπόστειλονsendAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (request)ἀποστέλλω: 'send'; renders שָׁלַח; the mother asks for a servant and a donkey to make her urgent journey.
δήplease / nowhortatory particle (with imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: 'now / pray'; lends the imperative a tone of urgent request.
μοιto me / for meDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
ἓνoneAccusativedirect object of ἀπόστειλον (partitive: 'one of')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the neuter ἕν with the partitive genitive τῶν παιδαρίων ('one of the servants').
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίωνservantsGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἕν)→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: 'young servant'; one of the household's field-servants, to accompany her.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μίανoneAccusativedirect object (partitive: 'one of the donkeys')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the feminine μίαν with the partitive τῶν ὄνων ('one of the she-donkeys').
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνωνdonkeysGenitivepartitive genitive (with μίαν)→ relational specificationὄνος: 'donkey / she-ass'; renders אָתוֹן; the mount for her swift journey to Carmel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δραμοῦμαιI will runFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · τρέχωmain verb (future of intent)→ predictive future (urgent resolve)τρέχω (fut. δραμοῦμαι): 'run'; renders רוּץ; the verb conveys the urgency of the mother's mission — she will hasten to the prophet.
ἕωςto / as far aspreposition + genitive (goal: 'as far as')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: here 'as far as / up to'; marks Elisha as the goal of her journey.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπουmanGenitiveobject of ἕως (the man of God)→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man'; in the title 'the man of God', the goal of her ride.
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('man of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the title designating Elisha.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιστρέψωI will returnFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (future of intent)→ predictive future (confident return)ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; the mother's promise to return masks her undisclosed grief and expresses her settled resolve to bring back help.
23

καὶ εἶπεν τί ὅτι σὺ πορεύῃ πρὸς αὐτὸν σήμερον οὐ νεομηνία οὐδὲ σάββατον ἡ δὲ εἶπεν εἰρήνη

And he said, 'Why are you going to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath.' But she said, 'Peace.'

Dialogue: the husband's question, the wife's curt replyκαὶ εἶπεν τί ὅτι
The husband's question assumes one normally visits a prophet only on festal days (new moon, sabbath). The wife deflects with a single word — εἰρήνη ('[it is] well / peace') — concealing the death and brooking no delay; the laconic answer heightens the suspense and her single-minded urgency.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the husband's question)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the husband's puzzled question.
τίwhyAccusativeinterrogative (adverbial: 'why?')→ participant referenceτίς, τί: 'what / why'; the idiom τί ὅτι ('why is it that?') renders the Hebrew מַדּוּעַ.
ὅτιthatconjunction (part of idiom τί ὅτι: 'why?')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: in the idiom τί ὅτι, 'why is it that?'
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; the husband marks his surprise at her sudden initiative.
πορεύῃare goingPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb of the question→ progressive present (action in progress)πορεύομαι: 'go / travel'; renders הָלַךְ; the present depicts her setting out 'today', against the normal festal occasions for visiting a prophet.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of πρός (Elisha)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός (Elisha).
σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; the husband notes that today is not a customary day for such a visit.
οὐnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νεομηνίαnew moonNominativepredicate nominative (of implied 'it is')→ participant prominenceνεομηνία (νουμηνία): 'new moon / first of the month'; renders חֹדֶשׁ; a regular festal day on which a prophet might be consulted (cf. Amos 8:5).
οὐδὲnornegative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'nor / and not'; couples sabbath with new moon as the customary occasions.
σάββατονsabbathNominativepredicate nominative (of implied 'it is')→ participant prominenceσάββατον: 'sabbath'; transliteration of שַׁבָּת; the weekly day of rest, another regular occasion for visiting the prophet.
sheNominativesubject (pronominal article with δέ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ, ἡ, τό: pronominal article ('and she'), change of speaker.
δὲbutadversative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the wife's curt reply.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the wife's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces her single-word answer.
εἰρήνηpeace / it is wellNominativenominative (elliptical: 'it is peace / all is well')→ participant prominenceεἰρήνη: 'peace / well-being'; renders שָׁלוֹם; her one-word reply εἰρήνη ('[it is] well') both reassures her husband and conceals the death — a controlled, faith-laden deflection (cf. v. 26).
24

καὶ ἐπέσαξεν τὴν ὄνον καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς τὸ παιδάριον αὐτῆς ἄγε πορεύου μὴ ἐπίσχῃς μοι τοῦ ἐπιβῆναι ὅτι ἐὰν εἴπω σοι

And she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, 'Drive on and go; do not hold back from me in the riding, unless I tell you.'

The urgent departure (the hard ride to Carmel)καὶ ἐπέσαξεν τὴν ὄνον
The mother saddles the donkey herself and urges the servant to drive on without slackening (μὴ ἐπίσχῃς … τοῦ ἐπιβῆναι). The clipped commands (ἄγε πορεύου) convey breathless haste; she will not slow the pace except at her own word, dramatizing her single-minded race against death.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέσαξενsaddledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισάττωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπισάττω: 'saddle / load up'; renders חָבַשׁ; the mother herself saddles the donkey — a sign of her urgency and resolve.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνονdonkeyAccusativedirect object of ἐπέσαξεν→ object specificationὄνος: 'donkey / she-ass'; the mount requested in v. 22.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces her commands to the servant.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονservantAccusativeobject of πρός (her servant)→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'young servant'; the household servant accompanying her on the ride.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with παιδάριον)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with παιδάριον).
ἄγεdrive on / comePres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἄγωmain verb (imperative)→ durative present imperative (keep driving)ἄγω: 'lead / drive'; here 'drive on / get moving' — an urgent command to set the donkey going.
πορεύουgoPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative)→ durative present imperative (keep going)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the paired imperatives ἄγε πορεύου ('drive on, go!') convey breathless urgency.
μὴdo notnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'do not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπίσχῃςhold back / slackenAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐπέχωprohibitive subjunctive (μή + aor. subj.)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (do not slow down)ἐπέχω: 'hold back / restrain / check'; the prohibition μὴ ἐπίσχῃς ('do not hold back / slacken') orders the servant not to slow the pace of the riding.
μοιfor meDativedative of reference / advantage→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'for me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of reference / advantage.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιβῆναιriding / mountingAor Act Inf · ἐπιβαίνωarticular infinitive (genitive: 'in the riding')→ aorist infinitive (the act of riding)ἐπιβαίνω: 'mount / ride upon'; the articular infinitive τοῦ ἐπιβῆναι ('the riding') is the object of restraint — 'do not slacken me from riding (at full speed).'
ὅτιunless / exceptconjunction (with ἐάν: exception)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here with ἐάν forming the exception 'except when / unless'; 'do not slow down unless I tell you.'
ἐὰνif / whenconditional conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if / when'; with εἴπω, the conditional exception governing the prohibition.
εἴπωI tellAor Act Subj 1 Sg · λέγωverb of conditional clause→ aorist subjunctive (contingent command)λέγω: the aorist subjunctive εἴπω ('I should tell [you]'); she reserves to herself alone the right to call a halt.
σοιyouDativeindirect object (of εἴπω)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (of εἴπω).
25

δεῦρο καὶ πορεύσῃ καὶ ἐλεύσῃ πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Καρμήλιον καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς εἶδεν Ελισαιε ἐρχομένην αὐτήν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Γιεζι τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ ἰδοὺ δὴ ἡ Σωμανῖτις ἐκείνη

'Come, and you shall go and come to the man of God, to Mount Carmel.' And it happened, when Elisha saw her coming, that he said to Gehazi his servant, 'Behold now, that Shunammite woman!'

Journey and arrival (the prophet sees her coming)δεῦρο καὶ πορεύσῃ
The woman's last urgent words give way to the narrative of her arrival at Carmel. The formula ἐγένετο ὡς εἶδεν ('it happened when he saw') shifts the viewpoint to Elisha, who spots her from afar and identifies her to Gehazi (ἰδοὺ δὴ ἡ Σωμανῖτις ἐκείνη). The recognition sets up the dispatch of Gehazi in v. 26.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
δεῦροcomeadverb used as imperative ('come!')→ clausal contributionδεῦρο: hortatory 'come!'; the woman's final urging (to herself or the servant) to press on to the prophet.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πορεύσῃyou shall goFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (future with imperatival force)→ imperatival future (urging onward)πορεύομαι: 'go'; the future with imperatival force continues the urgent command to travel to the prophet.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλεύσῃyou shall comeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival futureἔρχομαι (fut. ἐλεύσῃ): 'come / arrive'; reaches the goal — arrival at the man of God.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωπονmanAccusativeobject of πρός (the man of God)→ object specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man'; in the title 'the man of God', the destination of her ride.
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('man of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the title designating Elisha.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄροςmountainAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationὄρος: 'mountain'; renders הַר; Mount Carmel, Elisha's location (cf. 2:25; 4:27); a long, hard ride from Shunem.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with adjective Καρμήλιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚαρμήλιονCarmel / of CarmelAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ὄρος: 'Mount Carmel')→ object specificationΚαρμήλιος: 'of Carmel'; here the declined adjective τὸ ὄρος τὸ Καρμήλιον ('the Carmel mountain'), from Hebrew הַכַּרְמֶל; treated as a declinable adjective rather than indeclinable place-name.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass'), introducing the moment of Elisha's sighting her.
ὡςwhen / astemporal conjunction (with εἶδεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'when / as'; introduces the temporal clause of the prophet's seeing.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristὁράω (aor. εἶδεν): 'see'; renders רָאָה; Elisha sees the woman approaching from a distance.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject of εἶδεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; subject of εἶδεν.
ἐρχομένηνcomingPres Mid Ptcp Fem Acc Sg · ἔρχομαιsupplementary participle (with εἶδεν: 'saw her coming')→ progressive present participle (her approach in progress)ἔρχομαι (pres. ptcp.): 'come'; the supplementary participle ἐρχομένην describes what Elisha perceives — the woman in the act of approaching.
αὐτήνherAccusativeaccusative subject of the participle (object of εἶδεν)→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative subject of the participle (object of εἶδεν).
καὶand / thatapodotic καί (after ἐγένετο ὡς)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic, completing the ἐγένετο ὡς construction.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: Elisha speaks to Gehazi, identifying the approaching woman.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΓιεζιGehaziobject of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓιεζι: indeclinable; Elisha's servant.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with παιδάριον in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονservantAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Γιεζι→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'young servant'; Gehazi's standing designation.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with παιδάριον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with παιδάριον).
ἰδοὺbeholdattention-marker (interjection)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; calls Gehazi's attention to the approaching figure.
δὴnow / indeedemphatic particle (with ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastδή: 'now / indeed'; ἰδοὺ δή intensifies the pointing-out.
theNominativearticle (with Σωμανῖτις)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣωμανῖτιςShunammiteNominativesubject (verbless presentation: 'there is the Shunammite')→ participant prominenceΣωμανῖτις: 'the Shunammite (woman)'; the declinable gentilic (nominative here); the prophet recognizes her at a distance.
ἐκείνηthatNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying Σωμανῖτις)→ participant prominenceἐκεῖνος: 'that (one)'; the deictic ἐκείνη ('that Shunammite') points to the distant figure now identified.
26

νῦν δράμε εἰς ἀπαντὴν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐρεῖς εἰ εἰρήνη σοι εἰ εἰρήνη τῷ ἀνδρί σου εἰ εἰρήνη τῷ παιδαρίῳ ἡ δὲ εἶπεν Εἰρήνη

'Now run to meet her and say: Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?' And she said, 'It is well.'

Dispatch of Gehazi and the threefold inquiryνῦν δράμε εἰς ἀπαντὴν αὐτῆς
Elisha sends Gehazi to meet her with a threefold εἰ εἰρήνη ('is it well?') — for herself, her husband, and the child. The woman's single εἰρήνη ('it is well') to the servant again conceals the death (cf. v. 23), reserving the truth for the prophet himself, to whom she will pour out her grief in v. 28.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
νῦνnowadverb of time (with imperative)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; lends urgency to the command to run and meet her.
δράμεrunAor Act Impv 2 Sg · τρέχωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (run at once)τρέχω (aor. impv. δράμε): 'run'; Elisha bids Gehazi hurry to meet the woman.
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here in the idiom εἰς ἀπαντήν ('to meet / to a meeting with'), a Hebraism rendering לִקְרַאת.
ἀπαντὴνmeetingAccusativeobject of εἰς (idiomatic: 'to meet')→ object specificationἀπάντησις / ἀπαντή: 'a meeting / encounter'; εἰς ἀπαντὴν αὐτῆς ('to meet her') is a standard LXX idiom for going out toward someone.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (with ἀπαντήν: 'meeting of her')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with ἀπαντήν: 'meeting of her').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (instruction)λέγω (fut. ἐρεῖς): 'say'; the future with imperatival force directs Gehazi's words to the woman.
εἰis it? (whether)interrogative particle (direct question, Hebraism)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: introducing a direct question (LXX usage rendering interrogative ה): 'is it well?'
εἰρήνηpeace / wellNominativepredicate nominative (of implied 'is it')→ participant prominenceεἰρήνη: 'peace / well-being'; the threefold εἰ εἰρήνη ('is it well?') inquires after the welfare of the woman, husband, and child — the third unwittingly touching the very crisis.
σοιwith youDativedative of reference ('well with you')→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'with you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of reference ('well with you').
εἰis it?interrogative particle (second inquiry)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'is it?'; second of the three questions.
εἰρήνηpeace / wellNominativepredicate nominative→ participant prominenceεἰρήνη: 'well-being'; here of the husband.
τῷthe / with theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρίhusbandDativedative of reference ('well with your husband')→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ: 'husband'; the aged father, after whose welfare Gehazi is to inquire.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἀνδρί)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἀνδρί).
εἰis it?interrogative particle (third inquiry)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'is it?'; the third question, concerning the child — the heart of the matter.
εἰρήνηpeace / wellNominativepredicate nominative→ participant prominenceεἰρήνη: 'well-being'; here of the child, now dead though Gehazi does not know it.
τῷthe / with theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίῳchildDativedative of reference ('well with the child')→ sphere or referenceπαιδάριον: 'child / boy'; the Shunammite's son, the subject of the unspoken crisis.
sheNominativesubject (pronominal article with δέ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ, ἡ, τό: pronominal article ('and she'), change of speaker.
δὲand / butnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the woman's reply to Gehazi.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the woman's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces her brief answer to the servant.
ΕἰρήνηIt is well / peaceNominativenominative (elliptical reply: 'it is well')→ participant prominenceεἰρήνη: 'peace / well'; her one-word reply εἰρήνη ('all is well') to Gehazi again conceals the death, reserving the truth for Elisha (cf. v. 23).
27

καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς Ελισαιε εἰς τὸ ὄρος καὶ ἐπελάβετο τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤγγισεν Γιεζι ἀπώσασθαι αὐτήν καὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε ἄφες αὐτήν ὅτι ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῆς κατώδυνος αὐτῇ καὶ κύριος ἀπέκρυψεν ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἀνήγγειλέν μοι

And she came to Elisha at the mountain and grasped his feet; and Gehazi drew near to push her away, but Elisha said, 'Let her be, for her soul is in bitter anguish within her, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.'

Encounter: the woman's grief and the prophet's restraintκαὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς Ελισαιε
The woman bypasses Gehazi and clutches the prophet's feet — an act of desperate supplication. Gehazi's instinct to push her off is checked by Elisha (ἄφες αὐτήν, 'let her be'), who discerns her bitter anguish. Strikingly, the prophet confesses that the LORD has hidden the cause from him (κύριος ἀπέκρυψεν ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ) — even the man of God does not know everything; the revelation will come through her own words.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 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→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the woman reaches the prophet on the mountain.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΕλισαιεElishaobject of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; the prophet she has come to find.
εἰςat / topreposition + accusative (location reached)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (location reached).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄροςmountainAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationὄρος: 'mountain'; Mount Carmel, where Elisha was.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπελάβετοgrasped / took hold ofAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιλαμβάνομαιmain verb (with genitive object)→ constative aorist (deponent: 'took hold of')ἐπιλαμβάνομαι: 'take hold of / grasp' (+ gen.); the woman clasps the prophet's feet — a gesture of urgent, clinging supplication.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποδῶνfeetGenitivegenitive object of ἐπελάβετο→ relational specificationπούς (pl. πόδες): 'foot'; renders רֶגֶל; grasping the feet is a posture of humble, desperate entreaty (cf. v. 37; Matt 28:9).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ποδῶν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ποδῶν).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤγγισενdrew nearAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγγίζωmain verb (Gehazi's approach)→ constative aoristἐγγίζω: 'draw near / approach'; Gehazi moves in to remove her, misjudging the situation (as he later fails with the staff).
ΓιεζιGehazisubject of ἤγγισεν (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓιεζι: indeclinable; the servant who would push her away.
ἀπώσασθαιto push awayAor Mid Inf · ἀπωθέωinfinitive of purpose (with ἤγγισεν)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of approaching)ἀπωθέω: 'push away / thrust off'; the middle infinitive ἀπώσασθαι ('to thrust her away') expresses Gehazi's intent to keep her from the prophet.
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object of ἀπώσασθαι→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀπώσασθαι.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative here)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Elisha intervenes)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elisha's restraining word.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; subject of εἶπεν.
ἄφεςlet be / leaveAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀφίημιmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (command of restraint)ἀφίημι: 'let go / leave alone / permit'; ἄφες αὐτήν ('let her be') restrains Gehazi and shows the prophet's compassion for the suffering woman.
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object of ἄφες→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἄφες.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the reason for leaving her be — her deep distress.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoulNominativesubject (of implied 'is')→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / life / inner self'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; 'her soul is in bitter anguish' describes the depth of her grief.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχή)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ψυχή).
κατώδυνοςin bitter anguishNominativepredicate adjective (modifying ψυχή)→ participant prominenceκατώδυνος: 'in deep pain / grievously distressed'; the intensive κατ- compound conveys overwhelming inner anguish; renders מָרָה ('bitter').
αὐτῇwithin herDativedative of reference ('to / within her')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'within her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of reference ('to / within her').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀπέκρυψεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; Elisha confesses that YHWH has hidden the matter from him — the prophet's knowledge is dependent and partial, granted by God.
ἀπέκρυψενhas hiddenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρύπτωmain verb (divine concealment)→ constative aoristἀποκρύπτω: 'hide / conceal'; renders סָתַר / עָלַם; the LORD has withheld the cause of her grief from the prophet, underscoring that prophetic insight is a gift, not an autonomous power.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (source: 'from me')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; the elided form before ἐμοῦ.
ἐμοῦmeGenitiveobject of ἀπ᾿→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as object of ἀπ᾿.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνήγγειλένtoldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (negated)→ constative aoristἀναγγέλλω: 'report / make known'; οὐκ ἀνήγγειλέν μοι ('he has not told me') confirms the prophet's ignorance of the boy's death until the woman herself reveals it.
μοιto meDativeindirect object (of ἀνήγγειλέν)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (of ἀνήγγειλέν).
28

ἡ δὲ εἶπεν μὴ ᾐτησάμην υἱὸν παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου μου οὐκ εἶπα οὐ πλανήσεις μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ

But she said, 'Did I ask a son from my lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me?'

Disclosure: the mother's reproach reveals the lossἡ δὲ εἶπεν
The woman finally discloses her grief — not by stating the death directly but by a double rhetorical question that throws her earlier protest (v. 16) back at the prophet: she had not asked for a son, and had begged him not to raise false hope. The reproach makes plain that the promised child has died, supplying the very knowledge the LORD had hidden from Elisha (v. 27).
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
sheNominativesubject (pronominal article with δέ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ, ἡ, τό: pronominal article ('and she'), change of speaker.
δὲbutadversative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the woman's pointed reply.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces her reproachful disclosure.
μὴ(did I) not? / surely notinterrogative particle (expecting negative answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: introduces a question anticipating the answer 'no' — 'I did not ask for a son, did I?'; underscores that the gift was unsought.
ᾐτησάμηνdid I askAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · αἰτέωmain verb of the rhetorical question→ constative aorist (rhetorical recollection)αἰτέω: 'ask / request'; the middle ᾐτησάμην ('did I ask for myself?') recalls that she never solicited the son — implying that the God who unexpectedly gave him cannot now justly take him away.
υἱὸνa sonAccusativedirect object of ᾐτησάμην→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the unsought, now-lost child.
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from (the side of)'; the source from whom the son might have been requested.
τοῦthe / myGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουlordGenitiveobject of παρά→ relational specificationκύριος: here a human honorific, 'my lord' (= Elisha), not the Tetragrammaton; renders אֲדֹנִי; the woman addresses the prophet with deferential reproach.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with κυρίου)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κυρίου).
οὐκ(did I) notinterrogative negative (expecting 'yes')→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐ: in a question expecting the answer 'yes' — 'did I not say…?'; recalls her words of v. 16.
εἶπαdid I sayAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb of the second rhetorical question→ constative aorist (recalling her earlier words)λέγω (aor. εἶπα, later form): 'say'; οὐκ εἶπα ('did I not say?') points back to her plea in v. 16.
οὐdo notnegative particle (with future as prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with the future πλανήσεις forms an emphatic prohibition ('you shall not deceive').
πλανήσειςyou shall deceive / misleadFut Act Indic 2 Sg · πλανάωmain verb (prohibitive future, recalling v. 16)→ prohibitive future ('do not deceive me')πλανάω: 'lead astray / deceive / mislead'; the future-as-prohibition οὐ πλανήσεις μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ('do not mislead me') restates her v. 16 fear of false hope; with the boy now dead, the dread seems realized — sharpening the appeal for the prophet to act.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive ('with me')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; the elided form before ἐμοῦ; the idiom 'deal falsely with me.'
ἐμοῦmeGenitiveobject of μετ᾿→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as object of μετ᾿.
29

καὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε τῷ Γιεζι ζῶσαι τὴν ὀσφύν σου καὶ λαβὲ τὴν βακτηρίαν μου ἐν τῇ χειρί σου καὶ δεῦρο ὅτι ἐὰν εὕρῃς ἄνδρα οὐκ εὐλογήσεις αὐτόν καὶ ἐὰν εὐλογήσῃ σε ἀνήρ οὐκ ἀποκριθήσῃ αὐτῷ καὶ ἐπιθήσεις τὴν βακτηρίαν μου ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ παιδαρίου

And Elisha said to Gehazi, 'Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, you shall not greet him; and if anyone greets you, you shall not answer him; and you shall lay my staff on the face of the child.'

Commission: Gehazi sent ahead with the staffκαὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε τῷ Γιεζι
Elisha dispatches Gehazi with extreme urgency — gird the loins, take the staff, greet no one on the road — to lay the prophet's staff on the dead boy's face. The injunction against greetings (οὐκ εὐλογήσεις … οὐκ ἀποκριθήσῃ) stresses speed and single-minded mission (cf. Luke 10:4). The attempt at mediated, instrumental cure will fail (v. 31), so that the prophet must come himself.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elisha's urgent commission to Gehazi.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; subject of εἶπεν.
τῷthe / toDativearticle (with Γιεζι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓιεζιGehaziindirect object (indeclinable, with article)→ participant identificationΓιεζι: indeclinable; here with the dative article τῷ marking the recipient of the command.
ζῶσαιgirdAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · ζώννυμιmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (command for action)ζώννυμι: 'gird / fasten a belt'; the middle ζῶσαι ('gird yourself') in the idiom ζῶσαι τὴν ὀσφύν ('gird up your loins') renders חֲגֹר מָתְנֶיךָ, a Hebraism for readying oneself for swift, strenuous action.
τὴνthe / yourAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀσφύνloins / waistAccusativedirect object of ζῶσαι→ object specificationὀσφῦς: 'loin / waist'; renders מָתְנַיִם; 'gird your loins' = tuck up the garment for running — a posture of readiness for the urgent errand.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀσφύν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὀσφύν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λαβὲtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperativeλαμβάνω: 'take'; Gehazi is to take the prophet's staff as the instrument of the intended cure.
τὴνthe / myAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βακτηρίανstaffAccusativedirect object of λαβὲ→ object specificationβακτηρία: 'staff / rod'; renders מִשְׁעֶנֶת; the prophet's staff, sent as a kind of extension of his authority (cf. Moses' and Elijah's rods); its failure here (v. 31) shows that life-giving power is not magically transferable but bound to the prophet's own person and prayer.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with βακτηρίαν)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with βακτηρίαν).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (instrumental/locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental/locative).
τῇthe / yourDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρίhandDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in your hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; the staff is to be carried in Gehazi's hand for the errand.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρί)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with χειρί).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δεῦροgo / comeadverb used as imperative ('go!')→ clausal contributionδεῦρο: hortatory 'go / come on'; sets Gehazi off on the errand.
ὅτιif / forconjunction (here introducing the conditional instruction)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here introducing the protasis-like instruction about the road ('if you meet anyone…').
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with εὕρῃς, the condition of meeting someone on the way.
εὕρῃςyou meet / findAor Act Subj 2 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of conditional clause→ aorist subjunctive (contingent meeting)εὑρίσκω: 'find / meet'; renders מָצָא; 'if you encounter anyone' on the road.
ἄνδραa man / anyoneAccusativedirect object of εὕρῃς→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; here 'anyone' encountered on the journey.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with prohibitive future)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐλογήσειςyou shall greet / blessFut Act Indic 2 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (prohibitive future)→ prohibitive future ('do not greet')εὐλογέω: 'bless / greet'; renders בֵּרֵךְ, which in greeting-contexts means 'salute'; οὐκ εὐλογήσεις ('do not greet') forbids the time-consuming courtesies of the road, demanding total haste (cf. Luke 10:4).
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of εὐλογήσεις→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of εὐλογήσεις.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; the reverse case — someone greeting Gehazi.
εὐλογήσῃgreets / blessesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · εὐλογέωverb of conditional clause→ aorist subjunctive (contingent greeting)εὐλογέω: 'greet / bless'; 'if anyone greets you' on the way.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of εὐλογήσῃ→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of εὐλογήσῃ.
ἀνήρa man / anyoneNominativesubject of εὐλογήσῃ→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man / anyone'; the one who might greet Gehazi.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with prohibitive future)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκριθήσῃyou shall answerFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (prohibitive future)→ prohibitive future ('do not answer')ἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / reply'; renders עָנָה; οὐκ ἀποκριθήσῃ ('do not answer') completes the no-greeting injunction, sealing the mission's urgency.
αὐτῷhimDativeindirect object (of ἀποκριθήσῃ)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (of ἀποκριθήσῃ).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιθήσειςyou shall layFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (imperatival future: the mission's goal)→ imperatival future (the appointed act)ἐπιτίθημι: 'place upon / lay on'; renders שׂוּם / נָתַן עַל; ἐπιθήσεις τὴν βακτηρίαν ('you shall lay the staff') is the prescribed instrumental cure — laying the prophet's staff on the dead boy's face; its failure prepares for Elisha's personal intervention.
τὴνthe / myAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βακτηρίανstaffAccusativedirect object of ἐπιθήσεις→ object specificationβακτηρία: 'staff'; the prophet's rod, to be set on the child's face.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with βακτηρίαν)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with βακτηρίαν).
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeobject of ἐπί (position: 'on the face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; renders פָּנִים; the staff is to be laid on the boy's face — the seat of breath and life.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίουchildGenitivegenitive of possession (with πρόσωπον)→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: 'child / boy'; the dead son, the object of the intended revival.
30

καὶ εἶπεν ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ παιδαρίου ζῇ κύριος καὶ ζῇ ἡ ψυχή σου εἰ ἐγκαταλείψω σε καὶ ἀνέστη Ελισαιε καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὀπίσω αὐτῆς

And the mother of the child said, 'As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.' And Elisha arose and went after her.

Insistence: the mother refuses to go without the prophet himselfκαὶ εἶπεν ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ παιδαρίου
The mother's oath-formula (ζῇ κύριος καὶ ζῇ ἡ ψυχή σου, 'as the LORD lives and as your soul lives') is the strongest form of Hebrew asseveration; the εἰ-clause is an elliptical oath ('[may evil befall me] if I leave you') meaning 'I will absolutely not leave you.' She rejects the staff-by-proxy solution and demands Elisha's own presence — and he relents, arising and following her.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the mother's oath of insistence.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτηρmotherNominativesubject→ participant prominenceμήτηρ: 'mother'; the Shunammite, here designated by her bereaved role.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίουchildGenitivegenitive of relationship ('mother of the child')→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: 'child'; the dead boy; the designation 'mother of the child' keeps the bereavement in focus.
ζῇlivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωmain verb (oath-formula)→ gnomic present (the standing oath-formula)ζάω: 'live'; the formula ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives') renders חַי יהוה, the strongest Hebrew oath, invoking the living God as guarantor of the speaker's resolve.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ζῇ (oath-formula)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; in the oath ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives') the living God is invoked to bind the vow.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζῇlivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωmain verb (second member of oath)→ gnomic present (oath-formula)ζάω: 'live'; ζῇ ἡ ψυχή σου ('as your soul lives') is the secondary oath-clause invoking the life of the addressee (Elisha), reinforcing the vow (cf. 1 Kgdms 1:26; 25:26).
the / yourNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχήsoul / lifeNominativesubject of the second ζῇ→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / life'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; 'your soul / life' (Elisha's), invoked in the oath; here a human reference, not divine.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχή)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ψυχή).
εἰ(surely not) / ifparticle of the negative oath (elliptical: 'I will surely not')→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: in oath-formulae the εἰ-clause is elliptical for a self-imprecation ('[may God do so to me] if I…'), giving an emphatic negative: 'I will absolutely not leave you'; a Hebraism (אִם in oaths).
ἐγκαταλείψωI will leave / forsakeFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐγκαταλείπωmain verb of the oath-clause→ emphatic negated future (within the oath: 'I will not leave')ἐγκαταλείπω: 'leave behind / forsake / abandon'; in the oath-construction the affirmative future εἰ ἐγκαταλείψω means emphatically 'I will not forsake you' — she will not depart without the prophet himself.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐγκαταλείψω→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐγκαταλείψω.
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 (intransitive)→ ingressive aorist (got up)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up'; the intransitive aorist ἀνέστη ('he arose'); Elisha yields to her insistence and sets out himself.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject of ἀνέστη (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; the prophet who now goes in person.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (deponent)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the deponent aorist ἐπορεύθη; Elisha follows the mother back toward the dead child.
ὀπίσωafter / behindpreposition + genitive ('after her')→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; renders אַחֲרֵי; Elisha goes 'after her', following her lead back to Shunem.
αὐτῆςherGenitiveobject of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ὀπίσω.
31

καὶ Γιεζι διῆλθεν ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπέθηκεν τὴν βακτηρίαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ παιδαρίου καὶ οὐκ ἦν φωνὴ καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀκρόασις καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς ἀπαντὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῷ λέγων οὐκ ἠγέρθη τὸ παιδάριον

And Gehazi went on ahead of her and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no voice and no response; and he turned back to meet him and reported to him, saying, 'The child has not awakened.'

Failure of the staff (the mediated cure fails)καὶ Γιεζι διῆλθεν ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῆς
Gehazi obeys exactly, laying the staff on the boy's face, but the result is stark double negation — οὐκ ἦν φωνὴ καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀκρόασις ('no voice and no response'; cf. the same idiom of the powerless Baal at 3 Kgdms 18:29). The staff-by-proxy fails; Gehazi reports οὐκ ἠγέρθη ('he has not awakened'), the verb of resurrection that only the prophet's own action (vv. 34–35) will achieve.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΓιεζιGehazisubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓιεζι: indeclinable; the servant carrying out the staff-errand.
διῆλθενwent on / passed aheadAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristδιέρχομαι: 'go through / go ahead'; Gehazi hurries on in front of the mother to reach the child first.
ἔμπροσθενahead of / beforepreposition + genitive ('ahead of her')→ spatial or relational framingἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of / ahead of'; renders לִפְנֵי; Gehazi outpaces the mother to lay the staff on the boy.
αὐτῆςherGenitiveobject of ἔμπροσθεν→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἔμπροσθεν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέθηκενlaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιτίθημι: 'lay upon'; Gehazi places the staff on the boy's face exactly as commanded (v. 29).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βακτηρίανstaffAccusativedirect object of ἐπέθηκεν→ object specificationβακτηρία: 'staff'; the prophet's rod, here proving powerless apart from Elisha's own presence.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; the boy's face, where the staff was laid.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίουchildGenitivegenitive of possession (with πρόσωπον)→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: 'child'; the dead boy, unmoved by the staff.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative here)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: existential 'there was'; οὐκ ἦν φωνή ('there was no voice') marks the staff's total failure to revive the boy.
φωνὴvoice / soundNominativesubject of ἦν→ participant prominenceφωνή: 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; the absence of any voice from the child signals that he remains dead (cf. the lifeless Baal, 3 Kgdms 18:29).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: existential; the doubled οὐκ ἦν … οὐκ ἦν emphasizes the boy's utter unresponsiveness.
ἀκρόασιςresponse / hearingNominativesubject of ἦν→ participant prominenceἀκρόασις: 'a hearing / heeding / response'; 'no response' — the child neither speaks nor stirs; the staff cannot raise the dead.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστρεψενturned backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; Gehazi returns to report the failure to Elisha.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiomatic: 'to meet')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: in the idiom εἰς ἀπαντήν ('to meet'), as in v. 26.
ἀπαντὴνmeetingAccusativeobject of εἰς (idiomatic: 'to meet him')→ object specificationἀπαντή: 'meeting'; εἰς ἀπαντὴν αὐτοῦ ('to meet him') — Gehazi goes back toward Elisha.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive (with ἀπαντήν: 'meeting of him')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with ἀπαντήν: 'meeting of him').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγγειλενreportedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb→ constative aoristἀπαγγέλλω: 'report / announce'; Gehazi brings word of the staff's failure.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (Elisha)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (Elisha).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Masc Nom Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ redundant participle of speech (Hebraism)λέγω (pres. ptcp.): the participle λέγων introduces direct discourse, rendering Hebrew לֵאמֹר.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠγέρθηhas awakened / been raisedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐγείρωmain verb (the report's content)→ constative aorist passive (no rousing occurred)ἐγείρω: 'rouse / raise / wake'; renders קוּץ / עוּר; the passive ἠγέρθη ('was awakened / raised') is the resurrection-verb; its negation here (οὐκ ἠγέρθη, 'he has not awakened') sets in relief the true raising accomplished only when the prophet himself acts (vv. 34–35).
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject of ἠγέρθη→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child'; the boy, who has not been roused by the staff.
32

καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ελισαιε εἰς τὸν οἶκον καὶ ἰδοὺ τὸ παιδάριον τεθνηκὸς κεκοιμισμένον ἐπὶ τὴν κλίνην αὐτοῦ

And Elisha came into the house, and behold, the child was dead, laid out on his bed.

Arrival at the death-sceneκαὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ελισαιε εἰς τὸν οἶκον
Elisha enters and the narrator, through ἰδού ('behold'), presents the scene as the prophet sees it: the child dead and laid out on the bed (the prophet's own bed, v. 21). The two perfect participles τεθνηκὸς κεκοιμισμένον ('dead, laid out') fix the boy's condition as settled fact — the starting point for the raising that follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενcame inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; Elisha arrives at the house and the death-chamber.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; the prophet now present in person.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the Shunammite's house, where the dead boy lies in the upper room.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (presentative with ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdattention-marker (presentative interjection)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; presents the death-scene through the prophet's eyes.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject (of the presentative clause)→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child'; the dead boy, presented to view.
τεθνηκὸςdead / having diedPerf Act Ptcp Neut Nom Sg · θνῄσκωpredicate participle (describing the child)→ resultative perfect participle (settled state of death)θνῄσκω (perf. ptcp.): 'be dead'; the perfect τεθνηκός ('dead / having died and remaining so') states the boy's settled condition — death as accomplished and continuing fact.
κεκοιμισμένονlaid outPerf Mid Ptcp Neut Nom Sg · κοιμίζωpredicate participle (describing the child)→ resultative perfect participle (laid and remaining laid)κοιμίζω (perf. mid./pass. ptcp.): 'lay down / put to rest'; κεκοιμισμένον ('laid out') describes the corpse resting on the bed (cf. v. 21); the pairing with τεθνηκός keeps the 'sleep' euphemism in tension with the blunt 'dead.'
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὴνthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλίνηνbedAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationκλίνη: 'bed'; the prophet's bed (vv. 10, 21) on which the dead boy lies.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with κλίνην: 'his [Elisha's] bed')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κλίνην: 'his [Elisha's] bed').
33

καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ελισαιε εἰς τὸν οἶκον καὶ ἀπέκλεισεν τὴν θύραν κατὰ τῶν δύο ἑαυτῶν καὶ προσηύξατο πρὸς κύριον

And Elisha went into the house and shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.

Preparation for the raising (shut door, prayer)καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ελισαιε εἰς τὸν οἶκον
Elisha shuts the door 'behind the two of them' (himself and the dead child) — the same secrecy-motif as vv. 4–5, 21 — and prays to the LORD. The miracle is grounded not in technique or the staff but in prayer (προσηύξατο πρὸς κύριον); the raising will be God's answer, the prophet his instrument.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενwent inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in'; Elisha enters the chamber alone with the dead child.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; the prophet entering to pray and act.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouse / roomAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / room'; here the upper chamber where the boy lies.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέκλεισενshutAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκλείωmain verb→ constative aoristἀποκλείω: 'shut'; the recurring shut-door of secret, sacred action (cf. vv. 4, 5, 21); the raising happens away from all eyes.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρανdoorAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκλεισεν→ object specificationθύρα: 'door'; sealed for the private miracle.
κατὰbehindpreposition + genitive ('behind the two of them')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: 'behind / upon'; the idiom 'shut the door behind', as in v. 4.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwoGenitivenumeral (with ἑαυτῶν: 'the two of them')→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; the prophet and the dead child, shut in together.
ἑαυτῶνthemselvesGenitivereflexive pronoun (with δύο: 'the two of them')→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: reflexive; τῶν δύο ἑαυτῶν ('the two of themselves') = Elisha and the boy alone in the sealed room.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσηύξατοprayedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσεύχομαιmain verb (deponent)→ constative aoristπροσεύχομαι: 'pray'; renders הִתְפַּלֵּל; the prophet's prayer to YHWH is the true source of the raising — the miracle is petitionary, not magical.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of prayer)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of prayer).
κύριονLORDAccusativeobject of πρός (the addressee of prayer)→ object specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; Elisha prays to YHWH, who alone gives life to the dead; the prophet's power is derivative and dependent on this petition.
34

καὶ ἀνέβη καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ἐπὶ τὸ παιδάριον καὶ ἔθηκεν τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ διέκαμψεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν καὶ διεθερμάνθη ἡ σὰρξ τοῦ παιδαρίου

And he went up and lay upon the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands, and bent himself over him; and the flesh of the child grew warm.

The act of raising (the prophet stretched on the child)καὶ ἀνέβη καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ἐπὶ τὸ παιδάριον
Elisha enacts a full-body identification with the dead child — mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands — bending himself over him; the threefold ἐπί structure conveys complete contact, as if pressing his own life into the corpse (cf. Elijah, 3 Kgdms 17:21). The result, διεθερμάνθη ἡ σὰρξ ('the flesh grew warm'), is the first sign that life is returning.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up / mount'; renders עָלָה; Elisha climbs onto the bed to stretch himself over the boy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκοιμήθηlayAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάομαιmain verb (deponent)→ constative aoristκοιμάομαι: 'lie down'; the deponent aorist ἐκοιμήθη; Elisha lies upon the dead child — the same verb that marked the boy's death-as-sleep (v. 20), now reversed by the prophet's life-giving descent.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'child'; the dead boy on whom the prophet stretches himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔθηκενputAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb→ constative aoristτίθημι: 'place / put'; governs the threefold contact (mouth, eyes, hands) of the prophet upon the child.
τὸthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόμαmouthAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκεν→ object specificationστόμα: 'mouth'; renders פֶּה; the mouth-to-mouth contact suggests the transfer of breath/life (cf. Gen 2:7; 3 Kgdms 17:21).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Elisha's mouth)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Elisha's mouth).
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὸthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόμαmouthAccusativeobject of ἐπί (the child's mouth)→ object specificationστόμα: 'mouth'; the boy's mouth, receiving the prophet's.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the child's mouth)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the child's mouth).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second contact)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyesAccusativedirect object (implied ἔθηκεν: Elisha's eyes)→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; the eye-to-eye contact continues the prophet's total identification with the dead child.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Elisha's eyes)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Elisha's eyes).
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τοὺςthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyesAccusativeobject of ἐπί (the child's eyes)→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the boy's eyes, which will later open (v. 35).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the child's eyes)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the child's eyes).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third contact)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativedirect object (implied ἔθηκεν: Elisha's hands)→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the hand-to-hand contact completes the threefold identification (mouth, eyes, hands).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Elisha's hands)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (Elisha's hands).
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὰςthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeobject of ἐπί (the child's hands)→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the boy's hands, covered by the prophet's.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the child's hands)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the child's hands).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέκαμψενbent himself overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διακάμπτωmain verb→ constative aoristδιακάμπτω: 'bend / stoop over'; Elisha bends his whole body over the child, pressing himself upon the corpse to convey warmth and life.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'upon'; the elided form before αὐτόν.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the child)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐπ᾿ (the child).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διεθερμάνθηgrew warmAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · διαθερμαίνωmain verb (the first sign of returning life)→ ingressive aorist passive (began to be warmed)διαθερμαίνω: 'warm through / heat thoroughly'; the passive διεθερμάνθη ('grew warm') marks the first physical sign of life returning to the dead boy — warmth replacing the cold of death.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σὰρξfleshNominativesubject of διεθερμάνθη→ participant prominenceσάρξ: 'flesh'; renders בָּשָׂר; 'the flesh of the child grew warm' — the bodily evidence that the boy is coming back to life.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίουchildGenitivegenitive of possession (with σάρξ: 'flesh of the child')→ relational specificationπαιδάριον: 'child'; the boy, whose warming flesh signals reviving life.
35

καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν καὶ ἀνέβη καὶ συνέκαμψεν ἐπὶ τὸ παιδάριον ἕως ἑπτάκις καὶ ἤνοιξεν τὸ παιδάριον τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ

And he turned back and walked in the house to and fro, and went up and bent himself over the child seven times; and the child opened his eyes.

The completion of the raising (seven sneezes / opened eyes)καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν καὶ ἐπορεύθη
Elisha paces the room (ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, 'to and fro') and stretches over the boy a second time, repeating the act 'up to seven times' — the number of completeness. The climax, ἤνοιξεν … τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ('opened his eyes'; MT adds the boy sneezed seven times), declares the resurrection accomplished: the dead child lives.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέστρεψενturned backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; Elisha rises from the child and turns to pace the room.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwalkedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (deponent)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / walk'; the deponent aorist; Elisha walks back and forth in the room, perhaps in intercessory expectation.
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.
οἰκίᾳhouseDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceοἰκία: 'house / room'; renders בַּיִת; the chamber in which the raising occurs.
ἔνθενthis wayadverb of place (with the next ἔνθεν: 'to and fro')→ clausal contributionἔνθεν: 'from here / on this side'; the pair ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν means 'on this side and on that / to and fro', describing the prophet's pacing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔνθενthat wayadverb of place (completing the idiom 'to and fro')→ clausal contributionἔνθεν: in ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, 'back and forth'; conveys restless, expectant movement.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up / mount'; Elisha climbs onto the bed again for the second stretching.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέκαμψενbent himself overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συγκάμπτωmain verb→ constative aoristσυγκάμπτω: 'bend together / stoop over'; a variant of διέκαμψεν (v. 34); Elisha again presses himself upon the child.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'child'; the boy, now warming back to life.
ἕωςup topreposition (with ἑπτάκις: 'up to seven times')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: here 'up to / as many as'; with ἑπτάκις expresses the repetition's full extent.
ἑπτάκιςseven timesnumerical adverb (with ἕως)→ clausal contributionἑπτάκις: 'seven times'; renders שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים; the number of completeness/perfection; the MT specifies the child sneezed seven times — the full, decisive sign of life restored.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (climax)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤνοιξενopenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωmain verb (the climactic sign of life)→ constative aorist (the decisive act)ἀνοίγω: 'open'; renders פָּקַח; the boy's opening of his eyes is the unmistakable proof of resurrection — the eyes closed in death (v. 20) now open in restored life.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονchildNominativesubject of ἤνοιξεν→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'child'; the now-living boy, opening his eyes.
τοὺςthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyesAccusativedirect object of ἤνοιξεν→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the boy's eyes, opened in token of his return to life.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμούς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμούς).
36

καὶ ἐξεβόησεν Ελισαιε πρὸς Γιεζι καὶ εἶπεν κάλεσον τὴν Σωμανῖτιν ταύτην καὶ ἐκάλεσεν καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε λαβὲ τὸν υἱόν σου

And Elisha cried out to Gehazi and said, 'Call this Shunammite woman.' And he called her, and she came in to him; and Elisha said, 'Take your son.'

Restoration of the son to the motherκαὶ ἐξεβόησεν Ελισαιε πρὸς Γιεζι
The raising is now made public: Elisha summons the mother through Gehazi and gives the simple, momentous command λαβὲ τὸν υἱόν σου ('take your son') — the mirror-reversal of her bereavement. The wording anticipates the Gospel echo at Luke 7:15 (the son of the widow of Nain), where Jesus 'gave him to his mother.'
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξεβόησενcried out / calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκβοάωmain verb→ constative aoristἐκβοάω: 'cry out / call aloud'; the compound ἐκ- intensifies; Elisha calls out for Gehazi to summon the mother.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; subject of ἐξεβόησεν.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΓιεζιGehaziobject of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓιεζι: indeclinable; the servant called to fetch the mother.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the command to summon the woman.
κάλεσονcallAor Act Impv 2 Sg · καλέωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperativeκαλέω: 'call / summon'; Elisha bids Gehazi summon the mother to receive her son, echoing the summons of v. 12.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣωμανῖτινShunammiteAccusativedirect object of κάλεσον→ object specificationΣωμανῖτις (acc. Σωμανῖτιν): 'the Shunammite (woman)'; declinable gentilic; the bereaved mother, about to receive her living son.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying Σωμανῖτιν)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; deictic, as in v. 12.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενhe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (Gehazi obeys)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call'; Gehazi summons the mother.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενshe came inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; the mother enters the chamber where her living son lies.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of πρός (Elisha)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of πρός (Elisha).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the climactic restoration-word.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; subject of εἶπεν.
λαβὲtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (joyful command)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; λαβὲ τὸν υἱόν σου ('take your son') restores the living child to the mother — the exact reversal of her loss; the phrase resonates with Luke 7:15 (the widow of Nain's son).
τὸνthe / yourAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόνsonAccusativedirect object of λαβὲ→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the restored child, given back alive to his mother.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱόν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱόν).
37

καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἡ γυνὴ καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ προσεκύνησεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐξῆλθεν

And the woman came in and fell at his feet and bowed to the ground; and she took up her son and went out.

Resolution: worship and the son taken upκαὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἡ γυνὴ
The episode closes with the mother's wordless response: she falls at the prophet's feet (the same gesture as her supplication, v. 27, now turned to thanksgiving) and bows to the ground in worship, then takes up her living son and departs. The chain of aorists mirrors v. 20's death-sequence in reverse — now life, gratitude, and going out.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθενcame inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in'; the woman enters at the prophet's call.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman'; the Shunammite, now receiving her living son.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb→ constative aoristπίπτω: 'fall'; renders נָפַל; she falls at the prophet's feet — now in gratitude, where before (v. 27) it was in anguished supplication.
ἐπὶatpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
τοὺςthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδαςfeetAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationπούς: 'foot'; falling at the feet is a gesture of homage and thanksgiving (cf. v. 27; Luke 8:41).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πόδας)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πόδας).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσεκύνησενbowed / worshipedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσκυνέωmain verb→ constative aoristπροσκυνέω: 'bow down / do obeisance / worship'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; here reverent homage to the prophet (and through him to God) in gratitude for the restored child.
ἐπὶto / onpreposition + accusative (direction: 'to the ground')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to the ground').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνground / earthAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ object specificationγῆ: 'earth / ground'; 'bowed to the ground' describes full prostration in homage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtook upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take / take up'; she takes her living son as the prophet commanded (λαβέ, v. 36) — obedience meeting gift.
τὸνthe / herAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸνsonAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the once-dead, now-living child, taken up into his mother's arms (cf. the embrace foretold, περιειληφυῖα, v. 16).
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱόν)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with υἱόν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; the mother departs with her living son, closing the Shunammite episode on a note of restored life.
38

καὶ Ελισαιε ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς Γαλγαλα καὶ ὁ λιμὸς ἐν τῇ γῇ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν προφητῶν ἐκάθηντο ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε τῷ παιδαρίῳ αὐτοῦ ἐπίστησον τὸν λέβητα τὸν μέγαν καὶ ἕψε ἕψεμα τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν προφητῶν

And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and Elisha said to his servant, 'Set on the great pot and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets.'

New episode (the poisoned pot at Gilgal)καὶ Ελισαιε ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς Γαλγαλα
A new scene: Elisha at Gilgal during a famine (ὁ λιμὸς ἐν τῇ γῇ), with the prophetic guild gathered before him. His order to boil a large pot of stew for the company sets up the crisis of the poisoned pottage and another life-from-death miracle, this time over food in a time of scarcity.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; the prophet, now at Gilgal.
ἐπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; Elisha comes back to Gilgal, a center of the prophetic guilds (cf. 2:1).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΓαλγαλαGilgalaccusative of place (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓαλγαλα: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְגָּל (Gilgal); indeclinable; a center of prophetic activity associated with Elijah and Elisha.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (circumstantial)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λιμὸςfamineNominativesubject (of implied 'was')→ participant prominenceλιμός: 'famine / hunger'; renders רָעָב; the famine context heightens the value of the food and the gravity of the poisoned pot (cf. 8:1).
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 (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; the famine grips the whole land, making provision scarce.
καὶandnarrative 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.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐκάθηντο→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν προφητῶν ('the sons of the prophets'), the prophetic guild (cf. v. 1), here gathered around Elisha as disciples.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφητῶνprophetsGenitiveattributive genitive ('sons of the prophets')→ relational specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet'; the guild whose members sit before Elisha as their master.
ἐκάθηντοwere sittingImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · κάθημαιmain verb (imperfect of setting)→ descriptive imperfect (ongoing posture)κάθημαι: 'sit'; the imperfect ἐκάθηντο ('were sitting') depicts the disciples seated before the prophet, as students before a teacher (cf. Acts 22:3).
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive ('before him')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; the disciples sit in the prophet's presence.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐνώπιον.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elisha's command to his servant.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; subject of εἶπεν.
τῷthe / toDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδαρίῳservantDativeindirect object (his servant)→ sphere or referenceπαιδάριον: 'young servant'; Elisha's attendant (Gehazi or another), commanded to prepare the stew.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with παιδαρίῳ)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with παιδαρίῳ).
ἐπίστησονset onAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐφίστημιmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (command)ἐφίστημι: 'set upon / place over (the fire)'; the command to put the large pot on to boil; renders שָׁפֹת (set a pot on the fire).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέβηταpot / cauldronAccusativedirect object of ἐπίστησον→ object specificationλέβης: 'cauldron / cooking-pot'; renders סִיר; the large communal pot — the vessel of the 'death in the pot' (v. 40) and its healing (v. 41).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μέγαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέγανgreat / largeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λέβητα)→ object specificationμέγας: 'great / large'; the big pot is needed to feed the whole prophetic company.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕψεboil / cookPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἕψωmain verb (imperative)→ durative present imperative (carry out the cooking)ἕψω: 'boil / cook / seethe'; renders בָּשַׁל; the command to boil pottage for the company.
ἕψεμαpottage / stewAccusativecognate accusative (with ἕψε: 'boil a boiling')→ object specificationἕψεμα: 'that which is boiled / pottage / stew'; renders נָזִיד; the cognate accusative ἕψε ἕψεμα ('boil a stew') is a figura etymologica; the same word recurs in vv. 39–40.
τοῖςthe / for theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage ('for the sons')→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; the stew is for the sons of the prophets, the hungry guild in famine-time.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφητῶνprophetsGenitiveattributive genitive ('sons of the prophets')→ relational specificationπροφήτης: 'prophet'; the guild to be fed.
39

καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἷς εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν συλλέξαι αριωθ καὶ εὗρεν ἄμπελον ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ καὶ συνέλεξεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς τολύπην ἀγρίαν πλῆρες τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐνέβαλεν εἰς τὸν λέβητα τοῦ ἑψέματος ὅτι οὐκ ἔγνωσαν

And one went out into the field to gather herbs and found a wild vine and gathered from it wild gourds, his garment full, and came and cut them into the pot of pottage, for they did not know what they were.

The contamination of the pot (the unknown gourds)καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἷς εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν
One of the guild, foraging in the famine, gathers wild gourds from an unknown vine and shreds them into the communal pot. The explanatory ὅτι οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ('for they did not know') excuses the deadly mistake as ignorance, not malice — setting up the cry of 'death in the pot' and the prophet's remedy.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; one of the company goes out to forage for greens.
εἷςoneNominativesubject (substantival numeral: 'one [of them]')→ measure or countεἷς: 'one'; one of the sons of the prophets, the unnamed forager.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγρὸνfieldAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationἀγρός: 'field / countryside'; renders שָׂדֶה; the open country where wild plants are gathered in the famine.
συλλέξαιto gatherAor Act Inf · συλλέγωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐξῆλθεν)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of going out)συλλέγω: 'gather / collect'; renders לָקַט; the purpose of the foraging — to collect edible greens.
αριωθherbs / greensdirect object of συλλέξαι (indeclinable transliteration)→ clausal contributionαριωθ: an untranslated transliteration of Hebrew אֹרֹת ('herbs / greens / mallows'); the LXX leaves the rare word in Hebrew form; indeclinable; the edible plants the forager sought (cf. the herbs of 2 Kings 4:39 MT).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find'; he discovers an unfamiliar wild vine in the field.
ἄμπελονvineAccusativedirect object of εὗρεν→ object specificationἄμπελος: 'vine'; here a wild vine (a wild gourd-vine, גֶּפֶן שָׂדֶה), whose fruit is poisonous.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field'; the place of the wild vine.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέλεξενgatheredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλέγωmain verb→ constative aoristσυλλέγω: 'gather'; he collects the wild fruit from the vine.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; the elided form before αὐτῆς (the vine).
αὐτῆςitGenitiveobject of ἀπ᾿ (the vine)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἀπ᾿ (the vine).
τολύπηνgourds / wild fruitAccusativedirect object of συνέλεξεν→ object specificationτολύπη: lit. 'a ball / clew (of wool)', here used for the round wild gourds (פַּקֻּעֹת שָׂדֶה, 'wild gourds'); the fruit gathered into the garment.
ἀγρίανwildAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τολύπην)→ object specificationἄγριος: 'wild / of the field'; renders שָׂדֶה ('of the field'); the wildness of the gourds signals their unknown, harmful nature.
πλῆρεςfullAccusativepredicate adjective (modifying ἱμάτιον: 'his garment full')→ object specificationπλήρης: 'full'; the neuter πλῆρες agrees with ἱμάτιον; he fills the fold of his cloak with the gourds.
τὸthe / hisAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιονgarment / cloakAccusativeaccusative of respect (with πλῆρες: 'full as to his garment')→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'cloak / outer garment'; renders בֶּגֶד; the cloak's fold serves as a makeshift basket for the gourds.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἱμάτιον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἱμάτιον).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνέβαλενcast / cut inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐμβάλλωmain verb→ constative aoristἐμβάλλω: 'throw in / put in'; he shreds the gourds into the boiling pot, unknowingly poisoning the stew.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέβηταpotAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationλέβης: 'pot / cauldron'; the great communal pot now contaminated.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑψέματοςpottage / stewGenitivegenitive (with λέβητα: 'pot of pottage')→ relational specificationἕψεμα: 'pottage / stew'; the stew being boiled (cf. v. 38).
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (explanatory)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the narrator's exculpatory note.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔγνωσανthey knewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb of the causal clause→ constative aoristγινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ('they did not know') explains that the poisoning was inadvertent — they failed to recognize the gourds as harmful.
40

καὶ ἐνέχει τοῖς ἀνδράσιν φαγεῖν καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἐσθίειν αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ ἑψήματος καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνεβόησαν καὶ εἶπον θάνατος ἐν τῷ λέβητι ἄνθρωπε τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο φαγεῖν

And he poured it out for the men to eat; and it happened, as they were eating of the pottage, that behold, they cried out and said, 'Death in the pot, O man of God!' And they could not eat.

The crisis: 'death in the pot'καὶ ἐνέχει τοῖς ἀνδράσιν φαγεῖν
As the men begin to eat, they recoil with the alarmed cry θάνατος ἐν τῷ λέβητι ('death in the pot!') addressed to the man of God — a vivid recognition that the food is poisonous. The famine-stricken company cannot eat (οὐκ ἠδύναντο φαγεῖν), setting up the prophet's remedy; the death-motif recurs, now in the food itself.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνέχειpoured outImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγχέωmain verb (imperfect)→ descriptive imperfect (the serving in process)ἐγχέω: 'pour in / pour out / dish up'; the imperfect ἐνέχει ('he was pouring out / ladling') describes the serving of the stew to the men.
τοῖςthe / for theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδράσινmenDativeindirect object (for the men)→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the men of the prophetic guild, served from the pot.
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐνέχει)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of serving)ἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the stew is poured out for them to eat.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass'), introducing the moment of alarm.
ἐνin / aspreposition + articular infinitive (temporal: 'while')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + articular infinitive: temporal 'while / as', a frequent LXX construction.
τῷtheDativearticle (with articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐσθίεινeatingPres Act Inf · ἐσθίωarticular infinitive (temporal with ἐν)→ durative present infinitive (the eating in progress)ἐσθίω: 'eat'; the temporal infinitive ('as they were eating') with accusative subject αὐτούς.
αὐτοὺςthey / themAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτός: accusative subject of ἐσθίειν ('as they were eating').
ἐκof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of the pottage')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: partitive 'of / from'; they eat some of the stew.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑψήματοςpottage / stewGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἐκ)→ relational specificationἕψημα (= ἕψεμα): 'pottage / boiled stew'; the contaminated dish from the pot.
καὶand / thatapodotic καί (after ἐγένετο)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: apodotic, completing the ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ … construction.
ἰδοὺbeholdattention-marker (interjection)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; dramatizes the sudden alarm.
ἀνεβόησανcried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβοάωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (broke out in a cry)ἀναβοάω: 'cry out / shout'; the men's alarmed outcry on tasting the poison.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces their cry of alarm.
θάνατοςdeathNominativesubject (verbless exclamation: 'death [is] in the pot')→ participant prominenceθάνατος: 'death'; renders מָוֶת; the cry θάνατος ἐν τῷ λέβητι ('death in the pot!') names the poison vividly — death lurking in the very food meant to sustain life in famine.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέβητιpotDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceλέβης: 'pot / cauldron'; the poisoned cooking-pot.
ἄνθρωπεO manVocativevocative of address (to Elisha)→ direct addressἄνθρωπος (voc. ἄνθρωπε): 'man'; in the address ἄνθρωπε τοῦ θεοῦ ('O man of God'), the men appeal to Elisha by his standing title, expecting him to remedy the danger.
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('man of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the title designating Elisha, to whom the alarmed appeal is directed.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠδύναντοthey couldImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (imperfect, negated)→ descriptive imperfect (sustained inability)δύναμαι: 'be able'; οὐκ ἠδύναντο φαγεῖν ('they could not eat') marks the food as inedible — death has rendered the famine-relief useless, until the prophet acts.
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωcomplementary infinitive (with ἠδύναντο)→ aorist infinitive (complement of ability)ἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the complement of ἠδύναντο — they were unable to eat the poisoned stew.
41

καὶ εἶπεν λάβετε ἄλευρον καὶ ἐμβάλετε εἰς τὸν λέβητα καὶ εἶπεν Ελισαιε πρὸς Γιεζι τὸ παιδάριον ἔγχει τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἐσθιέτωσαν καὶ οὐκ ἐγενήθη ἔτι ἐκεῖ ῥῆμα πονηρὸν ἐν τῷ λέβητι

And he said, 'Take meal and cast it into the pot.' And Elisha said to Gehazi the servant, 'Pour out for the people and let them eat.' And there was no longer any harmful thing in the pot.

The remedy: meal heals the potκαὶ εἶπεν λάβετε ἄλευρον
Elisha's remedy is a prophetic sign-act: meal cast into the pot neutralizes the poison. The resolution οὐκ ἐγενήθη ἔτι … ῥῆμα πονηρόν ('there was no longer any harmful thing') closes the death-motif — the food that bore death now safely nourishes. As with the oil and the child, the prophet's word turns death to life.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elisha's command for the remedy.
λάβετεtakeAor Act Impv 2 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperativeλαμβάνω: 'take'; the command to fetch meal as the agent of healing.
ἄλευρονmeal / flourAccusativedirect object of λάβετε→ object specificationἄλευρον: 'meal / flour'; renders קֶמַח; an ordinary substance made the vehicle of the miracle — the prophetic sign-act that purges the poison (cf. the salt at 2:21; the wood at 6:6).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμβάλετεcast inAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐμβάλλωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperativeἐμβάλλω: 'throw in / put in'; the meal is to be cast into the pot — the same verb (cf. ἐνέβαλεν, v. 39) now used for the remedy rather than the contamination.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέβηταpotAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationλέβης: 'pot / cauldron'; the poisoned pot, now to be healed.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the further command to serve the now-safe food.
ΕλισαιεElishasubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλισαιε: indeclinable; subject of εἶπεν.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΓιεζιGehaziobject of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓιεζι: indeclinable; the servant told to serve the food.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with παιδάριον in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονservantAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Γιεζι→ object specificationπαιδάριον: 'young servant'; Gehazi's designation.
ἔγχειpour outPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐγχέωmain verb (imperative)→ durative present imperative (serve out)ἐγχέω: 'pour in / ladle out / serve'; the same verb as ἐνέχει (v. 40), now commanding the serving of the cleansed stew.
τῷthe / for theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativeindirect object (for the people)→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; here the company of the prophetic guild, to be served the healed stew.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσθιέτωσανlet them eatPres Act Impv 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (third-person imperative)→ durative present imperative (permission/command to eat)ἐσθίω: 'eat'; the third-person imperative ἐσθιέτωσαν ('let them eat') — the same command recurs in the feeding miracle (vv. 42–43), binding the two food-miracles together.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηthere wasAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (negated existential)→ constative aorist (the result achieved)γίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'become / come to be'; οὐκ ἐγενήθη … ῥῆμα πονηρόν ('there came to be no harmful thing') declares the poison neutralized — the pot is safe.
ἔτιany longeradverb (temporal: 'any more')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / any longer'; the negated ἔτι confirms the harm is wholly removed.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; in the pot.
ῥῆμαthing / matterNominativesubject of ἐγενήθη→ participant prominenceῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר, which can mean 'thing'; here ῥῆμα πονηρόν ('a harmful thing') = the poison; the same word recurs in the fulfilment-formula of v. 44 (τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου).
πονηρὸνharmful / evilNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ῥῆμα)→ participant prominenceπονηρός: 'evil / harmful / bad'; renders רָע; describes the deadly contamination now removed.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέβητιpotDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceλέβης: 'pot'; the cleansed cauldron, now safe to eat from.
42

καὶ ἀνὴρ διῆλθεν ἐκ Βαιθσαρισα καὶ ἤνεγκεν πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον τοῦ θεοῦ πρωτογενημάτων εἴκοσι ἄρτους κριθίνους καὶ παλάθας καὶ εἶπεν δότε τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἐσθιέτωσαν

And a man came from Baal-shalishah and brought to the man of God twenty barley loaves of the firstfruits and fresh ears of grain; and he said, 'Give to the people that they may eat.'

New episode (the feeding miracle begins)καὶ ἀνὴρ διῆλθεν ἐκ Βαιθσαρισα
The final episode — the feeding of the hundred — opens with the arrival of firstfruits: twenty barley loaves and fresh grain. The small provision and Elisha's command δότε τῷ λαῷ ('give to the people') establish the pattern that the Gospel feedings reprise (Mark 6:37–44; John 6:9, where barley loaves likewise figure). The famine-context (v. 38) makes the surplus all the more striking.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; an unnamed man who brings firstfruits to the prophet.
διῆλθενcame / passed throughAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristδιέρχομαι: 'come / pass through'; the man travels from his town to where Elisha is.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΒαιθσαρισαBaal-shalishahgenitive of source (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΒαιθσαρισα: transliteration of Hebrew בַּעַל שָׁלִשָׁה (Baal-shalishah), a town probably in the Ephraimite hill country; indeclinable; the man's place of origin.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤνεγκενbroughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φέρωmain verb→ constative aoristφέρω (aor. ἤνεγκεν): 'bring / carry'; the man brings firstfruits to the prophet, as one would bring offerings to a sanctuary (cf. Num 18:13; Deut 18:4).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωπονmanAccusativeobject of πρός (the man of God)→ object specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man'; in the title 'the man of God', the recipient of the firstfruits — Elisha standing in the place where offerings are due.
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship ('man of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the title designating Elisha.
πρωτογενημάτωνof firstfruitsGenitivegenitive of material/source (with ἄρτους: 'loaves of firstfruits')→ relational specificationπρωτογένημα: 'firstfruits / first produce'; renders בִּכּוּרִים / רֵאשִׁית; the offering of the earliest harvest, normally given to priests — here brought to the prophet, marking Elisha's quasi-sacral standing.
εἴκοσιtwentyattributive numeral (modifying ἄρτους)→ measure or countεἴκοσι: 'twenty'; indeclinable numeral; twenty loaves — small provision for a hundred men, the point of the servant's objection (v. 43).
ἄρτουςloavesAccusativedirect object of ἤνεγκεν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'loaf / bread'; renders לֶחֶם; the twenty barley loaves to be multiplied — the bread-motif of the chapter reaches its climax (cf. v. 8).
κριθίνουςbarleyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἄρτους)→ object specificationκρίθινος: 'of barley'; renders שְׂעֹרִים; barley was the food of the poor; the same detail recurs at the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:9, 13), strengthening the typological link.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παλάθαςfresh grain / cakesAccusativedirect object (coordinate with ἄρτους)→ object specificationπαλάθη: 'a cake of pressed fruit'; here renders the Hebrew כַּרְמֶל ('fresh/garden grain, new ears'); the second portion of the offering brought to the prophet.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Elisha's command to distribute the loaves.
δότεgiveAor Act Impv 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (command to distribute)δίδωμι: 'give'; δότε τῷ λαῷ ('give to the people') echoes the Gospel feedings (δότε αὐτοῖς ὑμεῖς φαγεῖν, Mark 6:37) — the prophet commands distribution despite apparent insufficiency.
τῷthe / to theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativeindirect object (to the people)→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; the hundred men to be fed (v. 43).
καὶand / thatcoordinate conjunction (purpose-result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσθιέτωσανlet them eatPres Act Impv 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (third-person imperative)→ durative present imperative (let them eat)ἐσθίω: 'eat'; ἐσθιέτωσαν ('let them eat') repeats the command of v. 41, framing the feeding as a divine provision of food.
43

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λειτουργὸς αὐτοῦ τί δῶ τοῦτο ἐνώπιον ἑκατὸν ἀνδρῶν καὶ εἶπεν δὸς τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἐσθιέτωσαν ὅτι τάδε λέγει κύριος φάγονται καὶ καταλείψουσιν

And his servant said, 'What, shall I set this before a hundred men?' And he said, 'Give to the people that they may eat; for thus says the LORD: They shall eat and shall have some left over.'

Objection and the prophetic word of sufficiencyκαὶ εἶπεν ὁ λειτουργὸς αὐτοῦ
The servant's protest — τί δῶ τοῦτο ἐνώπιον ἑκατὸν ἀνδρῶν ('how shall I set this before a hundred men?') — voices the impossibility, exactly as the disciples do at the Gospel feedings (John 6:9; Mark 6:37). Elisha answers with the messenger-formula τάδε λέγει κύριος ('thus says the LORD') and the oracle of abundance φάγονται καὶ καταλείψουσιν ('they shall eat and have some left'), the prophetic guarantee of more-than-enough.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the servant's objection)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the servant's incredulous protest.
theNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λειτουργὸςservant / ministerNominativesubject→ participant prominenceλειτουργός: 'attendant / minister / servant'; renders מְשָׁרֵת; Elisha's attendant (Gehazi), here doubting the sufficiency of the loaves.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with λειτουργός)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with λειτουργός).
τίwhat / howAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of δῶ)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: 'what / how'; the incredulous question 'what is this to set before so many?'
δῶshall I set / giveAor Act Subj 1 Sg · δίδωμιdeliberative subjunctive (in the question)→ deliberative aorist subjunctive ('am I to set?')δίδωμι: 'give / set before'; the deliberative δῶ ('shall I give/set?') expresses the servant's sense of the loaves' inadequacy for a hundred men.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedirect object of δῶ (the meager provision)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the small amount of bread, contemptuously or despairingly indicated.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive ('before a hundred men')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in front of'; the loaves are to be set before the assembled company.
ἑκατὸνa hundredattributive numeral (modifying ἀνδρῶν)→ measure or countἑκατόν: 'hundred'; indeclinable numeral; the hundred men to be fed from twenty loaves — a 1:5 ratio that makes the surplus miraculous.
ἀνδρῶνmenGenitiveobject of ἐνώπιον (the hundred men)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the hundred men of the company, the recipients of the feeding.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Elisha's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the prophet's reiterated command and oracle.
δὸςgiveAor Act Impv 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (firm repeated command)δίδωμι: 'give'; δὸς τῷ λαῷ ('give to the people') repeats the command of v. 42 against the servant's doubt — faith acts before it sees.
τῷthe / to theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativeindirect object (to the people)→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; the hundred men.
καὶand / thatcoordinate conjunction (purpose-result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐσθιέτωσανlet them eatPres Act Impv 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (third-person imperative)→ durative present imperativeἐσθίω: 'eat'; ἐσθιέτωσαν ('let them eat'), the recurring feeding-command (vv. 41, 42).
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (grounding the command in the oracle)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the prophetic word that grounds the command.
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: content of the oracle)→ participant referenceὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: 'this / these'; the formula τάδε λέγει κύριος ('thus says the LORD') renders כֹּה אָמַר יהוה, the prophetic messenger-formula, here guaranteeing the miracle by divine word.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of the messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (the living authority of the divine word)λέγω (pres.): the present λέγει in the citation-formula τάδε λέγει κύριος gives the divine word ongoing authority — the LORD is, as it were, speaking it now.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of λέγει (the divine speaker)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the oracle of sufficiency is YHWH's own word, the guarantee of the surplus.
φάγονταιthey shall eatFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (content of the oracle)→ predictive future (divine assurance)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγονται): 'eat'; the oracle φάγονται καὶ καταλείψουσιν ('they shall eat and have some left') promises both satisfaction and surplus — the very pattern fulfilled in the Gospel feedings (cf. the leftover baskets, Mark 6:43; John 6:13).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταλείψουσινthey shall have left overFut Act Indic 3 Pl · καταλείπωmain verb (content of the oracle)→ predictive future (the promised surplus)καταλείπω: 'leave behind / leave over'; καταλείψουσιν ('they shall leave [some] over') is the surplus-word — divine provision exceeds the need; the leftover motif recurs from the oil (ἐπιλοίπῳ, v. 7) and anticipates the Gospel baskets of fragments.
44

καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ κατέλιπον κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου

And they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

Fulfilment and closing formulaκαὶ ἔφαγον καὶ κατέλιπον
The chapter closes with the exact fulfilment of the oracle: ἔφαγον καὶ κατέλιπον ('they ate and had some left'), sealed by the word-and-fulfilment formula κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου ('according to the word of the LORD'). The two verbs answer φάγονται καὶ καταλείψουσιν of v. 43 verbatim, and the whole feeding stands as the Old-Testament type behind the Gospel multiplications of bread.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφαγονthey ateAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (fulfilment of φάγονται)→ constative aorist (the oracle fulfilled)ἐσθίω (aor. ἔφαγον): 'eat'; the aorist fulfils the future φάγονται of v. 43 — the hundred men eat their fill from the twenty loaves.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέλιπονthey had left overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταλείπωmain verb (fulfilment of καταλείψουσιν)→ constative aorist (the surplus realized)καταλείπω (aor. κατέλιπον): 'leave over'; fulfils the future καταλείψουσιν of v. 43 — there is a surplus, the proof of divine more-than-sufficiency (cf. the leftover fragments, Mark 6:43; John 6:13).
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative ('according to')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; introduces the fulfilment-formula measuring the event against the divine word.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαwordAccusativeobject of κατά (the divine word)→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / utterance'; renders דָּבָר; τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου ('the word of the LORD') is the prophetic oracle of v. 43, now shown effective; the same noun (ῥῆμα) that named the 'harmful thing' in the pot (v. 41) here names the life-giving divine word — framing the chapter's movement from death to abundance.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source ('word of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the chapter's final word grounds the whole cycle of miracles in the effective word of YHWH — the God who through his prophet brings life, freedom, and abundance out of death and scarcity.