Deuteronomy 12 — Greek, Translation, Interlinear & Discourse

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

καὶ ταῦτα τὰ προστάγματα καὶ αἱ κρίσεις ἃς φυλάξετε τοῦ ποιεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἧς κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν δίδωσιν ὑμῖν ἐν κλήρῳ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἃς ὑμεῖς ζῆτε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

And these are the ordinances and the judgments which you shall keep to do in the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives you as an inheritance, all the days which you live upon the land.

Superscription introducing the legal core (chs. 12–26)καὶ ταῦτα τὰ προστάγματα

v.1 is the heading of the whole law-code: the demonstrative ταῦτα plus the doublet προστάγματα καὶ κρίσεις ('statutes and judgments') signals the transition from the paraenetic frame (chs. 5–11) to the specific legislation. The relative clause ἃς φυλάξετε τοῦ ποιεῖν binds keeping and doing, and the land-clause grounds the law's validity in the gift of the land for the whole duration of Israel's life there.

Word-by-word analysis· 34 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (connecting to the preceding paraenesis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here a transitional connective linking the heading of the law-code to the foregoing exhortation of ch. 11; renders the Hebrew waw.

ταῦταtheseNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject/predicate of nominal clause)→ participant referenceοὗτος: the neuter plural ταῦτα heads the superscription; renders Hebrew אֵלֶּה; it points forward to the statutes that follow throughout chs. 12–26.

τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

προστάγματαordinancesNominativepredicate nominative (in apposition to ταῦτα)→ participant prominenceπρόσταγμα: 'ordinance / decree / commandment'; renders Hebrew חֻקִּים ('statutes'); the doublet πρόσταγμα-κρίσις is the LXX's standard rendering of the Deuteronomic pair חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים, designating the engraved and the case-law strands of the covenant law.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κρίσειςjudgmentsNominativepredicate nominative (coordinate with προστάγματα)→ participant prominenceκρίσις: 'judgment / legal decision / ordinance'; renders Hebrew מִשְׁפָּטִים; in Deuteronomic usage the κρίσεις are the case-law judgments adjudicated by Moses, paired with the apodictic προστάγματα.

ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of φυλάξετε)→ participant referenceὅς: feminine accusative plural agreeing with κρίσεις (and by extension προστάγματα); introduces the obligation-clause.

φυλάξετεyou shall keepFut Act Indic 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb of relative clause (obligation)→ imperatival future (legal obligation)φυλάσσω: 'guard / keep / observe'; renders Hebrew שָׁמַר; the future has imperatival force, a Semitic legal idiom; 'keeping' the commandments is the cardinal Deuteronomic verb of covenant fidelity (cf. 4:2; 6:2).

τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the articular infinitive (purpose)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the genitive article τοῦ + infinitive ποιεῖν forms a purpose/result construction ('so as to do'), a frequent LXX rendering of the Hebrew infinitive construct with לְ.

ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωarticular infinitive of purpose (with τοῦ)→ durative present (ongoing observance)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; renders Hebrew עָשָׂה; the pairing φυλάσσω … ποιεῖν ('keep … to do') is the classic Deuteronomic formula uniting careful observance with active performance of the law.

ἐπὶupon / inpreposition + genitive (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'upon / in (the land)'; locates the validity of the law within the territory of the promise.

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders Hebrew אֲדָמָה / אֶרֶץ; here the promised land in which alone these statutes have their proper setting.

ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (object of δίδωσιν, attracted to genitive of γῆς)→ relational specificationὅς: the relative, properly accusative as object of δίδωσιν, is attracted into the genitive case of its antecedent γῆς — a common Greek attraction also frequent in the LXX.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of δίδωσιν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; subject of the land-gift, the foundational covenant act presupposed by all the legislation that follows.

ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; renders Hebrew אֱלֹהִים; the appositional κύριος ὁ θεός renders יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, the Deuteronomic covenant-name formula.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πατέρωνfathersGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεός: 'God of the fathers')→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father / ancestor'; renders Hebrew אָבוֹת; 'the God of your fathers' anchors the present generation's law in the patriarchal promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (cf. 1:8).

ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατέρων)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): possessive 'your'; the second-person plural addresses the whole assembled people of Israel.

δίδωσινgivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (the land-gift)→ durative/futuristic present (the gift in process of fulfilment)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders Hebrew נֹתֵן (participle); the present tense renders the Hebrew participle, presenting the gift of the land as a present, ongoing reality on the threshold of the conquest.

ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object (dative of recipient)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl.): 'to you'; the recipients of the land-gift.

ἐνin / aspreposition + dative (manner/condition)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: here 'as / by way of (an inheritance)', a Hebraizing use of ἐν rendering the bêth of manner/status.

κλήρῳinheritance / allotmentDativedative with ἐν (manner: 'as an allotment')→ sphere or referenceκλῆρος: 'lot / allotment / inheritance'; renders Hebrew יְרֻשָּׁה / נַחֲלָה; the land is given not as conquest-spoil but as a divinely apportioned inheritance, the κλῆρος being the portion assigned by lot to each tribe.

πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἡμέρας)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; the accusative πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας is an accusative of duration of time ('throughout all the days').

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('all the days')→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the phrase πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας renders כָּל־הַיָּמִים ('all the days'), an idiom for the entire duration of life in the land.

ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (accusative of duration in relative clause)→ participant referenceὅς: feminine accusative plural agreeing with ἡμέρας; the relative continues the temporal scope.

ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject of ζῆτε (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ (nom. pl.): the expressed pronoun ὑμεῖς lends slight emphasis ('you yourselves').

ζῆτεlivePres Act Indic 2 Pl · ζάωverb of relative clause (duration of life)→ durative present (continuous living)ζάω: 'live / be alive'; renders Hebrew חַי; bounds the obligation of the law to the entire span of Israel's life in the land.

ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location).

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γῆςland / earthGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location)→ relational specificationγῆ: the repetition of ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς forms an inclusio framing the verse, binding statute-keeping to dwelling in the land.

ἀπωλείᾳ ἀπολεῖτε πάντας τοὺς τόπους ἐν οἷς ἐλάτρευσαν ἐκεῖ τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν οὓς ὑμεῖς κληρονομεῖτε αὐτούς ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων τῶν ὑψηλῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν θινῶν καὶ ὑποκάτω δένδρου δασέος.

With destruction you shall destroy all the places where the nations whom you are to dispossess served their gods, upon the high mountains and upon the hills and under every leafy tree.

Apodictic command (positive content of v.1's obligation)ἀπωλείᾳ ἀπολεῖτε

v.2 launches the legislation proper with an emphatic cognate-dative construction ἀπωλείᾳ ἀπολεῖτε ('with destruction you shall destroy'), the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew infinitive absolute אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן. The threefold topography — high mountains, hills, under every leafy tree — is the stereotyped Deuteronomistic catalogue of illicit cult-sites (cf. 1 Kgs 14:23; 2 Kgs 16:4; Jer 2:20).

Word-by-word analysis· 29 words

ἀπωλείᾳwith destructionDativecognate dative (Hebraism: rendering of infinitive absolute)→ sphere or referenceἀπώλεια: 'destruction / ruin'; cognate dative with ἀπολεῖτε; this dativus cognatus renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute אַבֵּד before its finite verb, intensifying it ('you shall utterly destroy'); the same device appears in v.1 of Exod 11 (ἐκβαλεῖ ὑμᾶς ἐκβολῇ).

ἀπολεῖτεyou shall destroyFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (apodictic command)→ imperatival future (legal command intensified by cognate dative)ἀπόλλυμι: 'destroy / ruin / blot out'; renders Hebrew אָבַד (Piel תְּאַבְּדוּן); the future has imperatival force; the totalizing demand to obliterate every Canaanite cult-site is the negative counterpart to the single-sanctuary law that follows.

πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with τόπους)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; the totality πάντας τοὺς τόπους leaves no Canaanite shrine standing.

τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

τόπουςplacesAccusativedirect object of ἀπολεῖτε→ object specificationτόπος: 'place / site'; renders Hebrew מָקוֹם; pointedly the same word used for the single chosen 'place' (τόπος) in v.5 — the many illicit τόποι are to be destroyed, the one chosen τόπος sought; the lexical contrast is deliberate.

ἐνin / wherepreposition + dative (location, with relative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location, with relative).

οἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (locative: 'in which / where')→ participant reference or interestὅς: masculine dative plural agreeing with τόπους; with ἐν forms the locative 'in which (places)'.

ἐλάτρευσανthey served / worshippedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λατρεύωverb of relative clause (the nations' cult)→ constative aorist (the nations' habitual cult, summed up)λατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders Hebrew עָבַד; in the LXX λατρεύω is the technical term for religious service/worship (as opposed to δουλεύω for ordinary servitude); the subject is the dispossessed nations, the implied antecedent picked up by οὕς below.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive, Hebraizing)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive adverb after the relative ἐν οἷς is a Hebraism rendering the resumptive שָׁם ('where … there'); the same deictic ἐκεῖ will dominate the chosen-place section (vv. 5–14) in a pointed reversal.

τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐλάτρευσαν (the object of cult)→ sphere or referenceθεός: here plural 'gods'; renders Hebrew אֱלֹהִים (of pagan deities); λατρεύω + dative names the recipients of the illicit worship — the Canaanite pantheon.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῖς)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their'; refers to the dispossessed nations.

οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of κληρονομεῖτε; antecedent = the nations)→ participant referenceὅς: masculine accusative plural; its antecedent is the implied 'nations' (ἔθνη) whose gods were just named; introduces the second relative clause.

ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject of κληρονομεῖτε (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ (nom. pl.): the explicit ὑμεῖς contrasts Israel with the nations whose cult is to be destroyed.

κληρονομεῖτεyou dispossess / inheritPres Act Indic 2 Pl · κληρονομέωverb of relative clause (act of dispossession)→ futuristic present (the dispossession in process)κληρονομέω: 'inherit / take possession of / dispossess'; renders Hebrew יָרַשׁ, which carries both senses; here causative-transitive with personal object ('dispossess them'); the present renders the imminent conquest as underway.

αὐτούςthemAccusativeresumptive object of κληρονομεῖτε (Hebraism, doubling the relative)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl.): the redundant resumptive pronoun after the relative οὕς ('whom … them') is a Hebraism calquing the Hebrew resumptive object-suffix.

ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (location of the cult-sites)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location of the cult-sites).

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὀρέωνmountainsGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location)→ relational specificationὄρος: 'mountain'; renders Hebrew הָרִים; 'on the high mountains' is the first member of the stereotyped Deuteronomistic triad of illicit high-place worship.

τῶνtheGenitivearticle (attributive with ὑψηλῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὑψηλῶνhighGenitiveattributive adjective (with ὀρέων)→ relational specificationὑψηλός: 'high / lofty'; renders Hebrew רָמִים; the 'high mountains' are the classic locus of Canaanite open-air sanctuaries (bāmôt).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (second member of the triad)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (second member of the triad).

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θινῶνhillsGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location)→ relational specificationθίς (gen. pl. θινῶν): properly 'heap / dune / sandbank', here used for 'hills'; renders Hebrew גְּבָעוֹת ('hills'); the second member of the high-place triad, the lower elevations paired with the high mountains.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὑποκάτωunderimproper preposition + genitive (location: 'beneath')→ spatial or relational framingὑποκάτω: 'underneath / below'; renders Hebrew תַּחַת; governs the genitive δένδρου; the third member of the triad — the sacred trees of fertility cult.

δένδρουtreeGenitivegenitive object of ὑποκάτω→ relational specificationδένδρον: 'tree'; renders Hebrew עֵץ; the phrase 'under every leafy tree' (ὑποκάτω δένδρου δασέος = תַּחַת כָּל־עֵץ רַעֲנָן) is the stock idiom for arboreal fertility shrines (cf. Jer 2:20; Ezek 6:13).

δασέοςleafy / luxuriantGenitiveattributive adjective (with δένδρου)→ relational specificationδασύς: 'leafy / bushy / luxuriant'; renders Hebrew רַעֲנָן ('green / luxuriant'); the dense, evergreen tree was associated with the vitality cults of Canaan and so a natural shrine-site to be destroyed.

καὶ κατασκάψετε τοὺς βωμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ συντρίψετε τὰς στήλας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ ἄλση αὐτῶν ἐκκόψετε καὶ τὰ γλυπτὰ τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν κατακαύσετε πυρί καὶ ἀπολεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ἐκ τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου.

And you shall tear down their altars and break their pillars, and their sacred groves you shall cut down, and the carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire, and their name shall perish from that place.

Continuation: itemized demolition (elaborating v.2's command)καὶ κατασκάψετε

v.3 itemizes the demolition through a chain of four future-imperatival verbs, each with its own cultic object: altars torn down, pillars broken, Asherim cut down, images burned. The climactic result-clause καὶ ἀπολεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ('and their name shall perish') deliberately foreshadows — by sharp contrast — the chosen place where YHWH will set HIS name (v.5). The destruction of the gods' name is the negative foil to the name-theology of the sanctuary.

Word-by-word analysis· 32 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

κατασκάψετεyou shall tear downFut Act Indic 2 Pl · κατασκάπτωmain verb (first demolition command)→ imperatival future (legal command)κατασκάπτω: 'demolish / dig down / raze'; renders Hebrew נָתַץ; the compound κατα- intensifies, 'tear down to the ground'; applied to the βωμοί (altars) of Canaanite worship.

τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

βωμοὺςaltarsAccusativedirect object of κατασκάψετε→ object specificationβωμός: 'altar (pagan)'; renders Hebrew מִזְבְּחֹת; significantly the LXX reserves βωμός for illegitimate/pagan altars and θυσιαστήριον (cf. v.27) for the legitimate altar of YHWH — a consistent lexical distinction maintaining the cultic boundary.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with βωμούς)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their', i.e. the nations'.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

συντρίψετεyou shall break in piecesFut Act Indic 2 Pl · συντρίβωmain verb (second demolition command)→ imperatival future (legal command)συντρίβω: 'crush / shatter / break in pieces'; renders Hebrew שָׁבַר; the standing stones (στῆλαι) of the cult are to be smashed.

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

στήλαςpillarsAccusativedirect object of συντρίψετε→ object specificationστήλη: 'pillar / standing stone'; renders Hebrew מַצֵּבוֹת — the cultic massebot, sacred standing stones representing the deity, prohibited at 16:22 though once tolerated (Gen 28:18).

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰtheAccusativearticle (object fronted before its verb)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἄλσηsacred groves / AsherimAccusativedirect object of ἐκκόψετε (fronted)→ object specificationἄλσος: 'grove / sacred wood'; renders Hebrew אֲשֵׁרִים (the Asherah-poles/cult-objects of the goddess Asherah); the LXX interprets the wooden cult-symbols as 'groves', reflecting their arboreal character; their cutting down is a recurring reform-motif (cf. 2 Kgs 18:4; 23:14).

ἐκκόψετεyou shall cut downFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐκκόπτωmain verb (third demolition command)→ imperatival future (legal command)ἐκκόπτω: 'cut down / cut off / fell'; renders Hebrew גָּדַע; the verb appropriate to felling the wooden Asherim; the object-verb inversion (ἄλση … ἐκκόψετε) gives the clause rhetorical variation within the demolition-chain.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰtheAccusativearticle (object fronted)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γλυπτὰcarved imagesAccusativedirect object of κατακαύσετε (fronted)→ object specificationγλυπτός: 'carved / graven (image)'; renders Hebrew פְּסִילִים; the carved idols of the gods, condemned by the second commandment (5:8); their burning is the climactic act of cult-eradication.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεῶνgodsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γλυπτά)→ relational specificationθεός: 'gods'; the carved images 'of their gods' — the idols are not the gods themselves but their crafted representations.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεῶν)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεῶν).

κατακαύσετεyou shall burn upFut Act Indic 2 Pl · κατακαίωmain verb (fourth demolition command)→ imperatival future (legal command)κατακαίω: 'burn up / consume with fire'; renders Hebrew שָׂרַף; the compound κατα- denotes complete consumption; burning is the definitive destruction of an idol, reducing it to nothing (cf. 7:5, 25).

πυρίwith fireDativedative of instrument (with κατακαύσετε)→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; renders Hebrew בָּאֵשׁ; instrumental dative; the same fire of judgment that the nations use for their own children (v.31) is here turned against their idols.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀπολεῖταιshall perishFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (result clause)→ predictive future (consequence of demolition)ἀπόλλυμι (mid.): 'perish / be destroyed'; renders Hebrew אָבַד; the middle/intransitive 'shall perish'; the blotting-out of the gods' name from the place is the antithesis of YHWH causing his name to be invoked at the chosen place (v.5).

τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of ἀπολεῖται→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; renders Hebrew שֵׁם; the 'name' of a deity is its presence, reputation, and cultic existence; its perishing from the place is its total eradication — directly contrasted with the name-dwelling theology of the central sanctuary (vv. 5, 11, 21).

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their', i.e. the gods'/the nations'.

ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

τόπουplaceGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (separation)→ relational specificationτόπος: 'place'; once more the keyword τόπος, here the doomed pagan site from which the gods' name is erased.

ἐκείνουthatGenitivedemonstrative adjective (with τόπου)→ relational specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the remote demonstrative distances the condemned pagan site, setting it apart from the chosen τόπος about to be commanded.

οὐ ποιήσετε οὕτως κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ ὑμῶν.

You shall not do so to the LORD your God.

Negative principle (pivot from demolition to the sanctuary-law)οὐ ποιήσετε οὕτως

v.4 is the hinge of the whole chapter: a terse prohibition that closes the demolition unit and opens the sanctuary-law. Israel may not worship YHWH 'in this way' — i.e. by the multi-site, high-place pattern of Canaan just described. The identical sentence recurs verbatim at v.31, framing the central-sanctuary law as an inclusio between two prohibitions of Canaanite cultic method.

Word-by-word analysis· 7 words

οὐnotnegative particle (with future indicative = prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the negative with the future indicative ποιήσετε forms an emphatic prohibition (the 'apodictic' legal negation), stronger than μή + subjunctive; renders the Hebrew לֹא + imperfect.

ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (prohibition)→ imperatival future (apodictic prohibition)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders Hebrew עָשָׂה; οὐ ποιήσετε οὕτως ('you shall not do so') is the categorical legal negation that both ends the demolition section and is echoed at v.31.

οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (referring back to the Canaanite cult)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; renders Hebrew כֵּן; refers anaphorically to the manner of worship practiced by the nations at their cult-sites — Israel must not approach YHWH by that syncretistic method.

κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of relationship/disadvantage (object of worship)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; dative 'to/for the LORD'; the worship in view is the worship directed to YHWH himself, which must not be conducted in the Canaanite manner.

τῷtheDativearticle (with θεῷ in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'God'; κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ ὑμῶν renders יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, the covenant formula; the appositional structure binds the Tetragrammaton to Israel's covenant God.

ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεῷ)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'your'; the covenant relationship ('your God') heightens the impropriety of treating YHWH like the Canaanite deities.

ἀλλ᾿ ἢ εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ἐν μιᾷ τῶν φυλῶν ὑμῶν ἐπονομάσαι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ ἐπικληθῆναι καὶ ἐκζητήσετε καὶ εἰσελεύσεσθε ἐκεῖ.

But rather to the place which the LORD your God will choose, in one of your tribes, to set his name there to be invoked — there you shall seek him out and there you shall come.

Adversative pivot: the central-sanctuary principle (counterpoint to vv.2–4)ἀλλ᾿ ἢ εἰς τὸν τόπον

v.5 is the theological heart of the chapter and the charter of cultic centralization. The strong adversative ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but rather') turns from the many destroyed sites to the one chosen place. The chosen-place formula τὸν τόπον ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος is the leitmotif recurring in vv. 11, 14, 18, 21, 26. The infinitives ἐπονομάσαι … ἐπικληθῆναι articulate the name-theology: YHWH himself sets his name there so that it may be invoked — the seedbed of temple ideology (1 Kgs 8:29) and the backdrop of John 4:20–24.

Word-by-word analysis· 28 words

ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative conjunction (elided ἀλλά)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but / rather'; the strong adversative marks the decisive turn from the prohibited Canaanite sites to the one legitimate place; combined with ἤ it forms the emphatic 'but only / but rather'.

ἢrather / but onlyparticle (with ἀλλά forming exceptive 'but only')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'than / rather'; the combination ἀλλ᾿ ἤ is a fixed LXX idiom ('except / but only / but rather'), here rendering Hebrew כִּי אִם; it isolates the single chosen place as the sole legitimate cult-site.

εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'to / toward'; directional, with an implied verb of motion ('but [you shall come] to the place').

τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the chosen place)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; the keyword of the chapter, now in its decisive sense: the single chosen sanctuary, set against the many condemned τόποι of v.2; renders Hebrew מָקוֹם.

ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκλέξηται)→ participant referenceὅς: masculine accusative singular agreeing with τόπον; opens the chosen-place formula.

ἂν(ever)modal particle (with subjunctive in indefinite relative clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the relative clause as indefinite/prospective ('whichever place he will choose'); the choice lies wholly in the future divine election, here unnamed (later Jerusalem).

ἐκλέξηταιhe will chooseAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of indefinite relative clause (divine election of the place)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (future divine choice)ἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select out'; renders Hebrew בָּחַר; the middle stresses YHWH choosing for himself; this verb is the technical term of the chosen-place formula throughout the chapter and a key Deuteronomic election-word (cf. the chosen people, 7:6).

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκλέξηται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH alone is the agent of the choice — the sanctuary's legitimacy rests on divine election, not human convenience or ancestral tradition.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν = יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.

ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεός)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεός).

ἐνinpreposition + dative (location among the tribes)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in / among'; locates the chosen place within the tribal allotments.

μιᾷoneDativesubstantival numeral (object of ἐν: 'in one [of the tribes]')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the feminine dative μιᾷ agrees with the implied φυλῇ; 'in one of your tribes' stresses singularity — YHWH will choose precisely one location, in one tribal territory, not many.

τῶνof theGenitivepartitive article (with φυλῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

φυλῶνtribesGenitivepartitive genitive (with μιᾷ)→ relational specificationφυλή: 'tribe'; renders Hebrew שְׁבָטִים; the partitive 'one of your tribes' anticipates the later choice of Judah/Jerusalem (cf. Ps 78:67–68).

ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with φυλῶν)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with φυλῶν).

ἐπονομάσαιto set / nameAor Act Inf · ἐπονομάζωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐκλέξηται: choose … to set his name)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the choice)ἐπονομάζω: 'name / put a name upon'; renders Hebrew שׂוּם שֵׁם ('to put the name'); the infinitive of purpose states why YHWH chooses the place: to set his name there; the name-placing is the act by which YHWH claims and inhabits the sanctuary.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object of ἐπονομάσαι→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; renders Hebrew שֵׁם; the divine name set at the chosen place is the mode of YHWH's presence — the Deuteronomic 'Name-theology' that mediates between transcendence and localized worship; directly antithetical to the perishing name of the idols (v.3).

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his', i.e. YHWH's; the name belongs to YHWH alone, set by his own choice.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (locating the name)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the deictic adverb, repeated through the section, fixes worship at the one place; renders Hebrew שָׁם; the very word that marked the pagan sites (v.2) is now claimed for YHWH's sanctuary.

ἐπικληθῆναιto be invoked / called uponAor Pass Inf · ἐπικαλέωepexegetical infinitive (explaining the name-setting)→ telic/epexegetical aorist passive infinitiveἐπικαλέω (pass.): 'be invoked / be called upon / have one's name called over'; renders Hebrew לְשַׁכֵּן ('to make dwell') / נִקְרָא שֵׁם; the passive 'to be invoked there' signals that the place becomes the locus where YHWH's name is called upon in worship; the LXX's rendering links the name-placing with cultic invocation.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the main commands)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐκζητήσετεyou shall seek outFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐκζητέωmain verb (command to seek the place)→ imperatival future (legal command)ἐκζητέω: 'seek out / search after'; renders Hebrew דָּרַשׁ; the intensive compound ἐκ- denotes diligent seeking; Israel is to 'seek' the chosen place — a verb later used both positively (seeking YHWH) and, ironically, negatively at v.30 (do not 'seek out' the gods of the nations).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἰσελεύσεσθεyou shall come / enterFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (command to go to the place)→ imperatival future (legal command)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in / come'; renders Hebrew בּוֹא; pilgrimage to the chosen place is enjoined — the act of 'coming there' is the practical outworking of centralization.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (goal of coming)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: the second ἐκεῖ in the verse hammers the locative emphasis — there, and only there, is the place of legitimate worship.

καὶ οἴσετε ἐκεῖ τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματα ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ θυσιάσματα ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς ἀπαρχὰς ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς εὐχὰς ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ ἑκούσια ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ πρωτότοκα τῶν βοῶν ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν προβάτων ὑμῶν.

And there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices and your firstfruits and your vows and your freewill offerings and the firstborn of your oxen and of your sheep.

Continuation: the offerings brought to the chosen place (consequence of v.5)καὶ οἴσετε ἐκεῖ

v.6 catalogues, in a long καί-chain, the seven categories of offering to be brought to the chosen place: burnt offerings, sacrifices, firstfruits/tithes, vows, freewill offerings, and the firstborn of herd and flock. The fronted ἐκεῖ ('there') keeps the locative centralization in view: every form of worship-gift is funnelled to the single sanctuary.

Word-by-word analysis· 32 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

οἴσετεyou shall bringFut Act Indic 2 Pl · φέρωmain verb (command to bring offerings)→ imperatival future (legal command)φέρω (fut. οἴσω): 'bring / carry'; renders Hebrew בּוֹא (Hiphil) / נָשָׂא; the suppletive future οἴσετε governs the entire catalogue of offerings; bringing them 'there' is the positive correlate of cultic centralization.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (fronted, locative emphasis)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the fronted adverb continues the relentless locative refrain of the section — all offerings to the one place.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁλοκαυτώματαburnt offeringsAccusativedirect object of οἴσετε (first item)→ object specificationὁλοκαύτωμα: 'whole burnt offering'; renders Hebrew עֹלוֹת; from ὅλος + καίω ('wholly burned'), the sacrifice consumed entirely on the altar; the foremost of the offerings, expressing total devotion to YHWH.

ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θυσιάσματαsacrificesAccusativedirect object of οἴσετε (second item)→ object specificationθυσίασμα: 'sacrifice / slaughtered offering'; renders Hebrew זְבָחִים; the shared/communion sacrifices (as opposed to the wholly-consumed ὁλοκαυτώματα), of which the worshipper partook in a sacred meal.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀπαρχὰςfirstfruitsAccusativedirect object of οἴσετε (third item)→ object specificationἀπαρχή: 'firstfruits / first portion'; here rendering Hebrew מַעְשְׂרֹת ('tithes') and/or תְּרוּמֹת; the first/best portion of produce dedicated to YHWH (cf. 18:4; 26:2).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

εὐχὰςvows / votive offeringsAccusativedirect object of οἴσετε (fourth item)→ object specificationεὐχή: 'vow / prayer / votive offering'; renders Hebrew נְדָרִים; the offerings promised to YHWH in a vow, payable only at the chosen place (cf. v.26; 23:21–23).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἑκούσιαfreewill offeringsAccusativedirect object of οἴσετε (fifth item)→ object specificationἑκούσιος: 'voluntary / freewill'; here substantival neuter plural 'freewill offerings'; renders Hebrew נְדָבוֹת; spontaneous gifts beyond obligation, distinguished from the vowed εὐχαί.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πρωτότοκαfirstbornAccusativedirect object of οἴσετε (sixth item)→ object specificationπρωτότοκος: 'firstborn'; renders Hebrew בְּכֹרוֹת; the firstborn of the herds and flocks belong to YHWH (Exod 13:2, 12) and are to be brought to the chosen place (cf. 15:19–20).

τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

βοῶνoxen / cattleGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πρωτότοκα)→ relational specificationβοῦς: 'ox / head of cattle'; renders Hebrew בָּקָר; the large livestock, the firstborn of which are dedicated.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

προβάτωνsheep / flockGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πρωτότοκα)→ relational specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep / small cattle'; renders Hebrew צֹאן; the small livestock, paired with βόες to denote all domestic herd-animals.

καὶ φάγεσθε ἐκεῖ ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν καὶ εὐφρανθήσεσθε ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οὗ ἂν τὴν χεῖρα ἐπιβάλητε ὑμεῖς καὶ οἱ οἶκοι ὑμῶν καθότι εὐλόγησέν σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου.

And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice over everything to which you put your hand, you and your households, inasmuch as the LORD your God has blessed you.

Continuation: the sacred meal and rejoicing (climax of vv.5–7)καὶ φάγεσθε ἐκεῖ

v.7 gives the affective climax of the centralization law: worship at the chosen place is not grim duty but a joyful sacred meal 'before the LORD'. The verbs φάγεσθε and εὐφρανθήσεσθε ('eat … rejoice') define Deuteronomic worship as communal celebration. The causal clause καθότι εὐλόγησέν σε ('inasmuch as he has blessed you') grounds the joy in YHWH's prior blessing — worship is response to grace.

Word-by-word analysis· 29 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

φάγεσθεyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (the sacred meal)→ imperatival/predictive future (the cultic meal enjoined)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; renders Hebrew אָכַל; the communion-meal eaten 'before the LORD' from the shared sacrifices is the heart of Deuteronomic worship-joy; eating in the divine presence signifies covenant fellowship.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (locative refrain)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; again the chosen place — even the festal meal is centralized.

ἐναντίονbefore / in the presence ofimproper preposition + genitive (before YHWH)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders Hebrew לִפְנֵי; 'before the LORD' is the cultic formula for the sacred precinct where worship is enacted in YHWH's manifest presence (cf. vv. 12, 18).

κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; eating 'before the LORD' makes the meal an act of worship in his presence.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: covenant formula κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εὐφρανθήσεσθεyou shall rejoiceFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · εὐφραίνωmain verb (festal joy)→ imperatival/predictive future (cultic rejoicing enjoined)εὐφραίνω (pass. 'rejoice / be glad'): renders Hebrew שָׂמַח; the passive/deponent 'you shall rejoice' is the signature verb of Deuteronomic worship (cf. vv. 12, 18; 16:11, 14); joy before YHWH is not optional but commanded.

ἐπὶover / inpreposition + dative (cause/sphere of rejoicing)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'over / in / on account of'; marks the ground or sphere of the rejoicing — all the fruit of one's labor.

πᾶσινall things / everythingDativesubstantival adjective (object of ἐπί)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; substantival neuter plural dative 'over all things'; the totality of the worshipper's enterprises and produce.

οὗto whichGenitiverelative pronoun (adverbial genitive: 'whereon')→ relational specificationὅς: the genitive οὗ here functions almost adverbially ('whereunto / in respect of which') introducing the relative clause about laying the hand; renders Hebrew אֲשֶׁר.

ἂν(ever)modal particle (indefinite relative with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: marks the relative clause as indefinite ('whatever you put your hand to').

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χεῖραhandAccusativedirect object of ἐπιβάλητε (idiom: 'put the hand to')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the idiom ἐπιβάλλειν τὴν χεῖρα ('put/lay the hand to') renders Hebrew מִשְׁלַח יָד ('undertaking / enterprise'), denoting one's labor and ventures whose fruit is the occasion of rejoicing.

ἐπιβάλητεyou put / layAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἐπιβάλλωverb of indefinite relative clause→ aorist subjunctive (indefinite, with ἄν)ἐπιβάλλω: 'put upon / lay to'; with τὴν χεῖρα forms the idiom for undertaking work; the aorist subjunctive with ἄν generalizes to every enterprise.

ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, resuming the 2nd plural)→ participant referenceσύ (nom. pl.): the explicit ὑμεῖς, joined with 'your households', makes the rejoicing a corporate family act.

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.

οἶκοιhouseholdsNominativesubject (coordinate with ὑμεῖς)→ participant prominenceοἶκος: 'house / household / family'; renders Hebrew בָּתִּים; the inclusion of the whole household marks worship-joy as a family celebration, not an individual cult-act.

καθότιinasmuch as / according ascausal/comparative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθότι: 'inasmuch as / according as / because'; renders Hebrew אֲשֶׁר; introduces the causal ground of the rejoicing — the measure of joy corresponds to the measure of YHWH's blessing.

εὐλόγησένhas blessedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωverb of causal clause→ constative aorist (the accomplished blessing)εὐλογέω: 'bless'; renders Hebrew בֵּרַךְ; YHWH's blessing — fertility, harvest, prosperity — is the prior gift that both supplies the offerings and grounds the joy; worship is gratitude in act.

σεyouAccusativedirect object of εὐλόγησεν (note shift to singular)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. sg.): the shift from plural to singular σε (and σου below) is characteristic of Deuteronomy's fluid 'you' (Numeruswechsel), addressing Israel now as a corporate individual.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of εὐλόγησεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula, here with singular σου.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (singular)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. sg.): 'your'; the singular continues the Numeruswechsel.

οὐ ποιήσετε πάντα ἃ ἡμεῖς ποιοῦμεν ὧδε σήμερον ἕκαστος τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.

You shall not do all the things which we are doing here today, each one what is pleasing in his own sight.

Contrast: the present disorder versus the coming orderοὐ ποιήσετε πάντα

v.8 contrasts the present wilderness situation — where 'each does what is right in his own eyes' (ἕκαστος τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ) — with the settled, centralized worship that will obtain in the land. The phrase anticipates the refrain of Judges (17:6; 21:25) describing the chaos of pre-monarchic Israel; here it is precisely the disorder that the central-sanctuary law is meant to abolish.

Word-by-word analysis· 13 words

οὐnotnegative particle (with future = prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation of the future indicative forming a prohibition; renders Hebrew לֹא.

ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (prohibition)→ imperatival future (prohibition of present disorder)ποιέω: 'do / act'; the prohibition contrasts future ordered worship in the land with the present improvised practice of the wilderness.

πάνταall thingsAccusativedirect object of ποιήσετε→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all the things which we do here' — the sum of the current improvised, decentralized practices.

ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ποιοῦμεν)→ participant referenceὅς: neuter accusative plural agreeing with πάντα.

ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject of ποιοῦμεν (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ (nom. pl.): the explicit ἡμεῖς ('we') sets the present generation's practice over against the future regulated worship — Moses speaks of the current, transitional situation.

ποιοῦμενwe are doingPres Act Indic 1 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ descriptive present (current practice)ποιέω: 'do'; the present describes what is happening now in the wilderness encampment, before the settled order of the land.

ὧδεhereadverb of place (the present location)→ clausal contributionὧδε: 'here'; renders Hebrew פֹּה; 'here' in the wilderness/plains of Moab, contrasted with 'there' (ἐκεῖ) at the future chosen place.

σήμερονtodayadverb of time (the present day)→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders Hebrew הַיּוֹם; the Deuteronomic 'today' of the present generation standing before Moses, contrasted with the settled future in the land.

ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject in apposition (distributive: 'each man')→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; distributive; 'each one [doing] what is pleasing in his own sight' describes the unregulated individualism of present worship that centralization will replace.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀρεστὸνpleasing thingAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of implied ποιεῖ)→ object specificationἀρεστός: 'pleasing / agreeable'; substantival neuter 'what is pleasing'; renders Hebrew הַיָּשָׁר ('what is right'); the phrase τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ('what is pleasing in his own sight') matches the Judges refrain (Judg 17:6) for self-directed, subjective worship — the very disorder the law abolishes.

ἐνώπιονbefore / in the sight ofimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the sight of'; renders Hebrew בְּעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of'); the contrast is pointed: now each acts by his own eyes, but the new order requires doing what is pleasing in YHWH's sight (cf. v.25, 28).

αὐτοῦhis (own)Genitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (reflexive sense)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his own'; reflexive in force; each man's own subjective standard — to be replaced by the objective standard of YHWH's pleasure at the chosen place.

οὐ γὰρ ἥκατε ἕως τοῦ νῦν εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσιν καὶ εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν ἣν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν δίδωσιν ὑμῖν.

For you have not yet come up to now into the rest and into the inheritance which the LORD your God gives you.

Causal explanation (grounding the prohibition of v.8)οὐ γὰρ ἥκατε

v.9 grounds v.8: the present improvised worship is tolerated only because Israel has 'not yet' (ἕως τοῦ νῦν) reached the rest and inheritance. The pairing κατάπαυσις ('rest') and κληρονομία ('inheritance') describes the settled life in the land, the precondition for centralized worship; 'rest' (Hebrew מְנוּחָה) becomes a key theological term (cf. Ps 95:11; Heb 3–4).

Word-by-word analysis· 20 words

οὐnotnegative particle (with ἥκατε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation; renders Hebrew לֹא.

γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; post-positive causal particle giving the reason the present disorder (v.8) is permitted — the land-rest has not yet been attained.

ἥκατεyou have comePerf Act Indic 2 Pl · ἥκωmain verb (negated: 'you have not yet arrived')→ perfect-stative (present state of having arrived, here negated)ἥκω: 'have come / be present / have arrived'; the verb is present in form but perfect/stative in sense ('to be in a state of having arrived'); renders Hebrew בּוֹא; the negation 'you have not yet come into the rest' explains the provisional character of present worship.

ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal: 'up to')→ spatial or relational framingἕως + gen.: 'until / up to'; here temporal with τοῦ νῦν ('up to the present').

τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing νῦν)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article makes the adverb νῦν substantival ('the present').

νῦνnowadverb of time (substantivized: 'the present')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; with the article τοῦ νῦν = 'the present moment'; renders Hebrew עַד־עָתָּה ('until now').

εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'into'; the goal not yet reached — the rest of the land.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κατάπαυσινrestAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal)→ object specificationκατάπαυσις: 'rest / resting-place'; renders Hebrew מְנוּחָה; the 'rest' is the settled, secure life in the land (cf. v.10); this term becomes the locus of a major theology of divine rest taken up at Ps 95:11 and Heb 3:11–4:11.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal, parallel)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal, parallel).

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (parallel to κατάπαυσιν)→ object specificationκληρονομία: 'inheritance / heritage'; renders Hebrew נַחֲלָה; the allotted land-possession, paired with 'rest' to name the goal of the conquest; the worship-order of the chapter presupposes its attainment.

ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δίδωσιν)→ participant referenceὅς: feminine accusative singular agreeing with κληρονομίαν.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of δίδωσιν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the inheritance is YHWH's gift, as throughout the chapter (cf. v.1).

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν.

δίδωσινgivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause→ futuristic present (the gift on the verge of fulfilment)δίδωμι: 'give'; the present renders the Hebrew participle, presenting the land-gift as imminent and certain.

ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object (dative of recipient)→ participant reference or interestὑμῖν: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (dative of recipient).

καὶ διαβήσεσθε τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ κατοικήσετε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἧς κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν κατακληρονομεῖ ὑμῖν καὶ καταπαύσει ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐχθρῶν ὑμῶν τῶν κύκλῳ καὶ κατοικήσετε μετὰ ἀσφαλείας.

And you shall cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God gives you to inherit, and he will give you rest from all your enemies round about, and you shall dwell in safety.

Temporal-conditional projection (the future settlement)καὶ διαβήσεσθε τὸν Ιορδάνην

v.10 projects the future fulfilment that v.9 said had 'not yet' come: crossing the Jordan, dwelling in the land, rest from enemies, and secure habitation. The verb καταπαύσει ('he will give rest') picks up κατάπαυσις from v.9, and μετὰ ἀσφαλείας ('in safety') describes the secure dwelling that makes centralized worship possible.

Word-by-word analysis· 30 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

διαβήσεσθεyou shall cross overFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (the Jordan crossing)→ predictive future (the imminent conquest)διαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders Hebrew עָבַר; crossing the Jordan is the decisive threshold from wilderness wandering into the promised inheritance (cf. Josh 3–4).

τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative object of διαβήσεσθε (declined proper noun)→ object specificationΙορδάνης: the Jordan river; a Graecized, declinable transliteration of Hebrew יַרְדֵּן (gen. Ιορδάνου, acc. Ιορδάνην); the boundary between the plains of Moab and the land of promise.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

κατοικήσετεyou shall dwellFut Act Indic 2 Pl · κατοικέωmain verb (settlement in the land)→ predictive future (settled habitation)κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle / inhabit'; renders Hebrew יָשַׁב; the compound κατα- denotes permanent settlement, as opposed to nomadic sojourning; this settled dwelling is the precondition for the central sanctuary.

ἐπὶin / uponpreposition + genitive (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location).

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; the promised territory, the locus of both dwelling and worship.

ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (attracted to genitive of γῆς)→ relational specificationὅς: the relative, logically object of κατακληρονομεῖ, attracted into the genitive of its antecedent γῆς.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of κατακληρονομεῖ→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula.

κατακληρονομεῖgives to inherit / apportionsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · κατακληρονομέωverb of relative clause (the land-apportionment)→ futuristic present (the apportioning as good as accomplished)κατακληρονομέω: 'give as an inheritance / cause to inherit / apportion'; renders Hebrew נָחַל (Hiphil); the causative compound means YHWH himself parcels out the inheritance to Israel — the land is a divine grant, not a human seizure.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

καταπαύσειhe will give restFut Act Indic 3 Sg · καταπαύωmain verb (YHWH grants rest)→ predictive future (divine gift of rest)καταπαύω: 'cause to rest / give rest'; renders Hebrew נוּחַ (Hiphil); cognate with κατάπαυσις (v.9); the transitive 'he will give you rest from your enemies' is the security that the centralizing law presupposes (cf. 25:19; 2 Sam 7:1).

ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of καταπαύσει→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of καταπαύσει.

ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; marks the enemies from whom YHWH gives rest.

πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (with ἐχθρῶν)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the rest is comprehensive — from every surrounding foe.

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐχθρῶνenemiesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationἐχθρός: 'enemy / hostile'; renders Hebrew אֹיְבִים; the surrounding nations from whom YHWH's rest delivers Israel.

τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with adverbial κύκλῳ, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κύκλῳround aboutadverb (attributive with article: 'the ones round about')→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: 'round about / on every side'; renders Hebrew מִסָּבִיב; though formally the dative of κύκλος, it functions adverbially; with the article τῶν it modifies the enemies ('the ones all around').

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

κατοικήσετεyou shall dwellFut Act Indic 2 Pl · κατοικέωmain verb (secure dwelling)→ predictive future (settled, safe habitation)κατοικέω: 'dwell'; the repetition (cf. earlier in the verse) frames the verse, now qualified by μετὰ ἀσφαλείας — secure settlement is the climactic precondition for the chosen sanctuary.

μετὰwith / inpreposition + genitive (manner/accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; here of accompanying circumstance, 'in safety'.

ἀσφαλείαςsafety / securityGenitivegenitive object of μετά (manner: 'in security')→ relational specificationἀσφάλεια: 'security / safety / firmness'; renders Hebrew בֶּטַח ('securely'); the secure, unthreatened dwelling that the divine rest provides — the social condition under which the worship of the chosen place can be established.

καὶ ἔσται ὁ τόπος ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ ἐκεῖ οἴσετε πάντα ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῖν σήμερον τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματα ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ θυσιάσματα ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ ἐπιδέκατα ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς ἀπαρχὰς τῶν χειρῶν ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ δόματα ὑμῶν καὶ πᾶν ἐκλεκτὸν τῶν δώρων ὑμῶν ὅσα ἐὰν εὔξησθε τῷ θεῷ ὑμῶν.

And it shall be that the place which the LORD your God will choose for his name to be invoked there — there you shall bring all that I command you today: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the firstfruits of your hands, and your gifts and every choice thing of your gifts, whatever you vow to your God.

Resumption of the chosen-place formula (restating vv.5–6 in the future-settled frame)καὶ ἔσται ὁ τόπος

v.11 restates the chosen-place law of vv.5–6 now keyed explicitly to the future settlement of v.10. The emphatic double ἐκεῖ ἐκεῖ ('there … there') — left as anacoluthon-like fronting — drives home the locative centralization. The catalogue of offerings expands that of v.6 (adding ἐπιδέκατα, δόματα, ἐκλεκτὸν τῶν δώρων), all converging on the one place where YHWH's name is invoked.

Word-by-word analysis· 57 words

καὶandcoordinate 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 (presentative: 'and it shall come to pass')→ predictive future (presentative formula)εἰμί (fut. ἔσομαι): 'be'; καὶ ἔσται renders Hebrew וְהָיָה, the standard presentative formula introducing a future circumstance ('and it shall be that …'); it sets up the apodosis about the chosen place.

ὁtheNominativearticle (with τόπος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

τόποςplaceNominativesubject (nominative absolute, resumed by ἐκεῖ)→ participant prominenceτόπος: 'place'; the keyword, here as a nominative pendens ('as for the place …') resumed by the locative ἐκεῖ — a Hebraizing construction (casus pendens).

ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκλέξηται)→ participant referenceὅς: masculine accusative singular agreeing with τόπος; the chosen-place formula resumes.

ἂν(ever)modal particle (indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: marks the relative as prospective; the choice still lies in the future.

ἐκλέξηταιwill chooseAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of indefinite relative clause (divine election)→ prospective aorist subjunctiveἐκλέγομαι: 'choose for oneself'; the leitmotif-verb (cf. vv. 5, 14, 18, 21, 26); YHWH's sovereign election of the single sanctuary.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκλέξηται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula.

ἐπικληθῆναιto be invokedAor Pass Inf · ἐπικαλέωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐκλέξηται)→ telic aorist passive infinitive (purpose of the choice)ἐπικαλέω (pass.): 'be invoked / be called upon'; renders Hebrew לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ ('to make his name dwell'); the purpose of the divine choice is that the name be invoked there; the name-theology of v.5 is restated.

τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνομα, accusative of respect)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὄνομαnameAccusativeaccusative of respect with ἐπικληθῆναι ('his name to be invoked')→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; the divine name set at the place; the accusative functions as the subject-matter of the passive infinitive (the name being what is invoked).

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his', i.e. YHWH's.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (locating the name)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the first of the doubled ἐκεῖ, locating the name at the place.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive, beginning the apodosis)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: the second ἐκεῖ resumes the casus-pendens 'the place' and opens the main clause ('there you shall bring …'); the emphatic juxtaposition ἐκεῖ ἐκεῖ underscores the singularity of the cult-site.

οἴσετεyou shall bringFut Act Indic 2 Pl · φέρωmain verb (command to bring offerings)→ imperatival future (legal command)φέρω (fut. οἴσω): 'bring'; as in v.6, the offerings are funnelled to the one place.

πάνταallAccusativedirect object of οἴσετε (antecedent of ὅσα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totality of what is commanded.

ὅσαas many things asAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐντέλλομαι)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as many as / whatever'; neuter accusative plural; quantitative relative summing the commanded offerings.

ἐγὼINominativesubject of ἐντέλλομαι (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' is Moses, the covenant mediator delivering YHWH's commands.

ἐντέλλομαιcommandPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause→ performative present (the act of commanding now)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / enjoin'; renders Hebrew צִוָּה; the deponent present is performative — Moses commands in the very act of speaking; cf. the same verb at vv. 14, 21, 28.

ὑμῖνyouDativeindirect object (dative)→ participant reference or interestὑμῖν: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (dative).

σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the Deuteronomic 'today' of the covenant address (cf. v.8); renders Hebrew הַיּוֹם.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁλοκαυτώματαburnt offeringsAccusativeappositional object (specifying πάντα ὅσα)→ object specificationὁλοκαύτωμα: 'whole burnt offering'; the first specified category, as in v.6.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θυσιάσματαsacrificesAccusativeappositional object→ object specificationθυσίασμα: 'sacrifice'; the communion offerings, as in v.6.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐπιδέκαταtithesAccusativeappositional object→ object specificationἐπιδέκατον: 'tithe / tenth-part'; renders Hebrew מַעְשֵׂר; the tenth of produce dedicated to YHWH, brought to the chosen place (cf. v.17; 14:22–26).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀπαρχὰςfirstfruitsAccusativeappositional object→ object specificationἀπαρχή: 'firstfruits / heave-offering'; here 'the firstfruits of your hands' = the contributions/offerings of one's labor; renders Hebrew תְּרוּמַת יֶדְכֶם.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χειρῶνhandsGenitivegenitive of source (with ἀπαρχάς)→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; 'firstfruits of the hands' denotes the offerings produced by one's own labor; renders Hebrew יֶדְכֶם.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

δόματαgiftsAccusativeappositional object→ object specificationδόμα: 'gift / offering'; renders Hebrew מַתָּנֹת; general term for dedicated gifts, distinct from the vowed and freewill categories.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἐκλεκτόν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'every'; 'every choice thing of your gifts' — the best of the votive offerings.

ἐκλεκτὸνchoice thingAccusativesubstantival adjective (object: 'choice/select [gift]')→ object specificationἐκλεκτός: 'choice / select / excellent'; from the same root as ἐκλέγομαι; renders Hebrew מִבְחַר; the best/select portion of the vowed gifts; the lexical echo of the 'chosen' (ἐκλεκτός) gift at the 'chosen' (ἐκλέξηται) place is striking.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

δώρωνgiftsGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἐκλεκτόν)→ relational specificationδῶρον: 'gift / present / offering'; renders Hebrew נֶדֶר / נְדָרִים; the votive gifts, of which the choicest is brought.

ὅσαwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εὔξησθε)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'whatever / as much as'; neuter accusative plural; introduces the vow-clause covering all the votive gifts.

ἐὰνif / whateverconditional particle (with subjunctive, indefinite)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if (ever)'; with ὅσα and the subjunctive forms an indefinite relative ('whatever you may vow').

εὔξησθεyou may vowAor Mid Subj 2 Pl · εὔχομαιverb of indefinite relative clause→ aorist subjunctive (indefinite, prospective vow)εὔχομαι: 'vow / pray'; renders Hebrew נָדַר; cognate with εὐχή (v.6); any vow made to YHWH must be discharged at the chosen place.

τῷto theDativearticle (with θεῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεῷGodDativedative (indirect object of εὔξησθε: 'vow to God')→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'God'; the recipient of the vow is YHWH; renders Hebrew לַיהוה.

καὶ εὐφρανθήσεσθε ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν ὑμεῖς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν οἱ παῖδες ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ παιδίσκαι ὑμῶν καὶ ὁ Λευίτης ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν πυλῶν ὑμῶν ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ μερὶς οὐδὲ κλῆρος μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν.

And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your menservants and your maidservants, and the Levite who is at your gates, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you.

Climactic rejoicing with the whole household and the Leviteκαὶ εὐφρανθήσεσθε ἐναντίον κυρίου

v.12 climaxes the centralization law with communal rejoicing 'before the LORD', now expanding the household-list of v.7 to include sons, daughters, slaves of both sexes, and — pointedly — the landless Levite 'at your gates'. The causal clause (ὅτι … οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ μερὶς οὐδὲ κλῆρος) grounds the Levite's inclusion: having no tribal allotment, he depends on Israel's worship-generosity (cf. 18:1–2). Joy at the sanctuary is to be socially inclusive.

Word-by-word analysis· 40 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εὐφρανθήσεσθεyou shall rejoiceFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · εὐφραίνωmain verb (cultic rejoicing)→ imperatival/predictive future (commanded joy)εὐφραίνω (pass.): 'rejoice / be glad'; the signature Deuteronomic worship-verb (cf. v.7); here the joy is shared by the entire household and the Levite.

ἐναντίονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders Hebrew לִפְנֵי; the cultic 'before the LORD' at the chosen place.

κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: covenant formula.

ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, heading the inclusive list)→ participant referenceσύ (nom. pl.): the explicit ὑμεῖς heads the catalogue of rejoicers.

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.

υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; renders Hebrew בָּנִים; the next generation included in worship-joy.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders Hebrew בָּנוֹת; daughters share equally in the festal joy.

οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

παῖδεςmenservantsNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / male slave / child'; here 'menservants'; renders Hebrew עֲבָדִים; even bondservants are included in the worship-celebration, a mark of Deuteronomic social inclusivity.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

παιδίσκαιmaidservantsNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: 'maidservant / female slave'; renders Hebrew אֲמָהוֹת / שְׁפָחוֹת; female slaves too share the joy of the sanctuary.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὁtheNominativearticle (with Λευίτης)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΛευίτηςLeviteNominativesubject (coordinate; the landless cult-servant)→ participant prominenceΛευίτης: 'Levite'; a Graecized declinable gentilic from Hebrew לֵוִי; the member of the priestly tribe without territorial inheritance (cf. v.19; 18:1–2), dependent on Israel's offerings and so included in the festal joy.

ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing the prepositional phrase)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article + prepositional phrase ('the one at your gates') functions as an attributive participle-equivalent describing the Levite's dwelling among the townships.

ἐπὶat / inpreposition + genitive (location: 'at the gates')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'at / in'; 'the Levite at your gates' = dwelling within your towns; the 'gates' stand by metonymy for the settlements.

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πυλῶνgatesGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location)→ relational specificationπύλη: 'gate'; renders Hebrew שְׁעָרִים; 'within your gates' is a Deuteronomic idiom (metonymy) for 'in your towns/settlements'; the Levite resides scattered among the towns, not in a tribal land of his own.

ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; renders Hebrew כִּי; introduces the reason for including the Levite — his landlessness.

οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation.

ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of existence (with dative of possession)→ stative present (existential)εἰμί: 'be / there is'; with the dative αὐτῷ forms the possessive construction 'he has no …' (dative of possession), rendering Hebrew אֵין לוֹ.

αὐτῷto him / he (has)Dativedative of possession (with ἔστιν: 'he has')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'to him'; dative of possession — the Levite has no land-portion.

μερὶςportionNominativesubject of ἔστιν (the lacking possession)→ participant prominenceμερίς: 'portion / share / part'; renders Hebrew חֵלֶק; the Levite has no allotted share of land; instead, as Deut 18:2 declares, 'the LORD is his portion' (κύριος αὐτὸς κλῆρος αὐτοῦ).

οὐδὲnornegative coordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'nor / and not'; couples μερίς and κλῆρος in negation.

κλῆροςinheritance / lotNominativesubject of ἔστιν (coordinate with μερίς)→ participant prominenceκλῆρος: 'lot / allotted inheritance'; renders Hebrew נַחֲלָה; the tribal land-allotment which the Levites alone do not receive; the pairing μερὶς … κλῆρος is a fixed idiom for one's landed inheritance.

μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (association, elided μετά)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with / among'; 'with you' = among the rest of the tribes who do receive land.

ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά (association)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'with you'; among the landholding tribes.

πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ μὴ ἀνενέγκῃς τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματά σου ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ οὗ ἐὰν ἴδῃς.

Take heed to yourself that you do not offer up your burnt offerings in any place that you may see,

Restatement of the principle (negative warning, vv.13–14)πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ

v.13 restates the centralization law in personal, singular form: the warning-formula πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ ('take heed to yourself') — frequent in the chapter (cf. vv. 19, 30) — guards against offering burnt offerings 'in any place you see', i.e. at any self-chosen site. The prohibition is the negative counterpart to the positive command of v.14.

Word-by-word analysis· 13 words

πρόσεχεtake heedPres Act Impv 2 Sg · προσέχωmain verb (imperative of warning)→ durative present imperative (continual vigilance)προσέχω: 'attend to / take heed / beware'; with the reflexive σεαυτῷ ('to yourself') renders Hebrew הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ ('guard yourself'); the present imperative enjoins continual self-watchfulness; a recurrent admonitory formula in Deuteronomy (cf. 4:9; vv. 19, 30 here).

σεαυτῷto yourselfDativereflexive pronoun (dative with πρόσεχε)→ participant reference or interestσεαυτοῦ: reflexive 'yourself'; the dative σεαυτῷ with προσέχω is a Hebraism rendering the ethical dative of הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ, intensifying the personal responsibility of the hearer.

μὴlest / notnegative particle (introducing prohibitive/object clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: 'lest / that not'; with the aorist subjunctive ἀνενέγκῃς it forms a negative purpose/object clause after the warning verb ('take heed … that you do not offer').

ἀνενέγκῃςyou offer upAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἀναφέρωverb of negative object clause (with μή)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (prohibited act of offering)ἀναφέρω: 'bring up / offer up'; renders Hebrew הֶעֱלָה ('cause to go up', the technical verb for offering the עֹלָה); the prohibition forbids offering burnt sacrifices at any place of one's own choosing — only the chosen place is licit.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁλοκαυτώματάburnt offeringsAccusativedirect object of ἀνενέγκῃς→ object specificationὁλοκαύτωμα: 'whole burnt offering'; the sacrifice that may be offered only at the chosen place; profane slaughter for meat (v.15) is distinguished precisely from this sacral offering.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).

παντὶeveryDativeattributive adjective (with τόπῳ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'every'; 'in every place' — i.e. any and every self-chosen site, the disorder the law forbids.

τόπῳplaceDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceτόπος: 'place'; the keyword again — here the forbidden 'any place', set against the single chosen τόπος of v.14.

οὗwhich / whereGenitiverelative pronoun (adverbial: 'wherever')→ relational specificationὅς: the genitive οὗ here is adverbial-locative ('where / wherever'); renders Hebrew אֲשֶׁר; with ἐάν and the subjunctive it generalizes ('any place that you may chance to see').

ἐὰν(ever)conditional particle (indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: with the subjunctive marks the relative as indefinite — 'whatever place you happen to see'.

ἴδῃςyou may seeAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ὁράωverb of indefinite relative clause→ aorist subjunctive (indefinite)ὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see'; 'any place you may see' — i.e. any site that strikes your eye as suitable; the subjective, eye-led choice (echoing 'what is right in his own eyes', v.8) is precisely what is prohibited.

ἀλλ᾿ ἢ εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ὁ θεός σου αὐτὸν ἐν μιᾷ τῶν φυλῶν σου ἐκεῖ ἀνοίσεις τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματά σου καὶ ἐκεῖ ποιήσεις πάντα ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον.

but only in the place which the LORD your God will choose, it, in one of your tribes — there you shall offer up your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you today.

Positive counterpart (the chosen place, restating v.5 in the singular)ἀλλ᾿ ἢ εἰς τὸν τόπον

v.14 supplies the positive command answering v.13's prohibition, restating the chosen-place formula in the second singular: only at YHWH's chosen place, in one tribe, may burnt offerings be made and all commands performed. The redundant resumptive αὐτόν ('it') after the relative is a Hebraism; the double ἐκεῖ again marks the locative exclusivity.

Word-by-word analysis· 32 words

ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; with ἤ the exceptive idiom 'but only', as in v.5.

ἢrather / but onlyparticle (with ἀλλά: 'but only')→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: the fixed ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but only / except'), rendering Hebrew כִּי אִם; restricts offering to the single chosen place.

εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 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.

τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the chosen place)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; the keyword, the single chosen sanctuary.

ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκλέξηται)→ participant referenceὅς: masculine accusative singular agreeing with τόπον.

ἂν(ever)modal particle (indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: marks the prospective choice.

ἐκλέξηταιwill chooseAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of indefinite relative clause (divine election)→ prospective aorist subjunctiveἐκλέγομαι: 'choose'; the leitmotif-verb of the chosen-place formula.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκλέξηται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula, here with singular σου.

σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (singular)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (singular).

αὐτὸνitAccusativeresumptive pronoun (redundant object, Hebraism)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the resumptive αὐτόν after the relative ὅν ('the place which … it') redundantly repeats the object, calquing the Hebrew resumptive pronoun within the relative clause.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (location among tribes)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location among tribes).

μιᾷoneDativesubstantival numeral (object of ἐν)→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; feminine dative agreeing with implied φυλῇ; the singularity of the place — 'in one of your tribes', as in v.5.

τῶνof theGenitivepartitive article→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

φυλῶνtribesGenitivepartitive genitive (with μιᾷ)→ relational specificationφυλή: 'tribe'; 'one of your tribes' — the future location (Judah/Jerusalem).

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (locative emphasis)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the first of the doubled ἐκεῖ, fronted for emphasis.

ἀνοίσειςyou shall offer upFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀναφέρωmain verb (command to offer)→ imperatival future (legal command, singular)ἀναφέρω: 'offer up'; the same verb as v.13 (ἀνενέγκῃς) but now positive — the burnt offerings forbidden 'anywhere' are commanded 'there', at the chosen place.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁλοκαυτώματάburnt offeringsAccusativedirect object of ἀνοίσεις→ object specificationὁλοκαύτωμα: 'whole burnt offering'; offered only at the chosen place.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (second occurrence, emphatic)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: the second 'there' — all cultic acts are to be performed at the one place.

ποιήσειςyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (command to perform all)→ imperatival future (legal command)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; all the commanded cultic acts are to be carried out only at the chosen place.

πάνταallAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις (antecedent of ὅσα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totality of commanded acts.

ὅσαwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐντέλλομαι)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as many as / whatever'; quantitative relative.

ἐγὼINominativesubject of ἐντέλλομαι (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: Moses the covenant mediator.

ἐντέλλομαίcommandPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause→ performative present (commanding in the act of speaking)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / enjoin'; the performative present; cf. vv. 11, 21, 28.

σοιyouDativeindirect object (dative, singular)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (dative, singular).

σήμερονtodayadverb of time→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the Deuteronomic 'today' of the covenant address.

ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιθυμίᾳ σου θύσεις καὶ φάγῃ κρέα κατὰ τὴν εὐλογίαν κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου ἣν ἔδωκέν σοι ἐν πάσῃ πόλει ὁ ἀκάθαρτος ἐν σοὶ καὶ ὁ καθαρὸς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ φάγεται αὐτὸ ὡς δορκάδα ἢ ἔλαφον.

But in all the desire of your soul you may slaughter and eat meat, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which he has given you, in every city; the unclean among you and the clean shall eat it together, as one eats the gazelle or the deer.

Concession: profane (non-sacrificial) slaughter permitted in the townsἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιθυμίᾳ σου

v.15 introduces the great concession that centralization makes necessary: since not every slaughter can be brought to a distant sanctuary, ordinary 'profane' (non-sacrificial) slaughter for meat is permitted 'in all the desire of your soul' in any town. The gazelle-and-deer analogy (ὡς δορκάδα ἢ ἔλαφον) — game animals never offered in sacrifice — marks this as common food, not cult; hence clean and unclean alike may eat it. The single restriction (v.16) is the blood.

Word-by-word analysis· 39 words

ἀλλ᾿butadversative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; with ἤ marks the turn to the concession — over against the sacral restriction, ordinary slaughter is now freely allowed.

ἢratherparticle (with ἀλλά)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: the idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ here shifts from restriction to permission ('but rather / yet').

ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/measure)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in / according to'; 'in all the desire of your soul' = as much as you wish.

πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (with ἐπιθυμίᾳ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the measure of the concession is one's full appetite.

ἐπιθυμίᾳdesire / appetiteDativedative of measure (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἐπιθυμία: 'desire / longing / appetite'; renders Hebrew אַוַּת נַפְשְׁךָ ('the desire of your soul'); here a neutral term for legitimate appetite for meat, not the negative 'lust' of later usage.

θύσειςyou may slaughterFut Act Indic 2 Sg · θύωmain verb (permission to slaughter)→ permissive future (concession, not command)θύω: 'slaughter / sacrifice / kill (for food)'; renders Hebrew זָבַח; here the future is permissive ('you may slaughter'); notably θύω, normally cultic, is here used of profane (non-sacrificial) butchering — a deliberate desacralizing of ordinary slaughter that centralization required.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

φάγῃyou may eatFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (permission to eat)→ permissive future (concession)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the permission to eat meat freely in the towns, distinct from the sacral meal 'before the LORD' (v.7).

κρέαmeat / fleshAccusativedirect object of φάγῃ→ object specificationκρέας (pl. κρέα): 'flesh / meat'; renders Hebrew בָּשָׂר; ordinary meat for the table, the object of the concession; the same word is central to the blood-rationale (v.23, 'the life with the flesh').

κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (measure/proportion)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to / in proportion to'; the meat-eating is proportioned to YHWH's blessing — abundance permits abundance.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

εὐλογίανblessingAccusativeaccusative object of κατά→ object specificationεὐλογία: 'blessing / benefit'; renders Hebrew בִּרְכַּת; the prosperity YHWH grants (cf. v.7); the enjoyment of meat is a gift of, and measured by, divine blessing.

κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive of source (with εὐλογίαν)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the source of the blessing.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: covenant formula.

ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔδωκεν)→ participant referenceὅς: feminine accusative singular agreeing with εὐλογίαν.

ἔδωκένhe has givenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the granted blessing)δίδωμι: 'give'; the blessing is YHWH's gift; renders Hebrew נָתַן.

σοιyouDativeindirect object (dative)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (dative).

ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).

πάσῃeveryDativeattributive adjective (with πόλει)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'every'; 'in every city' — the profane slaughter is allowed throughout the towns, in deliberate contrast to the single sanctuary.

πόλειcityDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city / town'; renders Hebrew שַׁעַר ('gate' = town); the locus of permitted profane slaughter, opposed to the one chosen place.

ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing ἀκάθαρτος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀκάθαρτοςunclean (person)Nominativesubject (substantival adjective)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean / impure'; renders Hebrew טָמֵא; the ritually unclean person, ordinarily barred from sacral meals, may freely partake of profane meat — proof that this eating is non-cultic.

ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: 'among you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'among / in'; 'the unclean among you' — within the community.

σοὶyouDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. sg.): 'among you'; the community as the sphere of reference.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing καθαρός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

καθαρὸςclean (person)Nominativesubject (substantival adjective, coordinate)→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; renders Hebrew טָהוֹר; the clean and unclean eating 'together' (ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό) shows the meat is non-sacral; in the sanctuary the unclean would be excluded.

ἐπὶto / atpreposition + accusative (idiom: 'together')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: in the phrase ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, 'at the same place / together'; a fixed idiom for joint action (cf. Acts 2:1); renders Hebrew יַחְדָּו.

τὸtheAccusativearticle (in idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

αὐτὸsameAccusativeintensive/identity pronoun (in idiom: 'the same place')→ participant referenceαὐτός: in ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, 'the same'; the whole phrase = 'together / in common'; clean and unclean share the meal indiscriminately.

φάγεταιshall eatFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (the shared eating)→ permissive future (concession)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the singular collects both subjects (clean and unclean) eating together.

αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of φάγεται (the meat)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it', i.e. the κρέα (meat).

ὡςascomparative particle (introducing the game-animal analogy)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the comparison with game animals that are never sacrificed — clinching the non-cultic character of the slaughter.

δορκάδαgazelleAccusativeaccusative of comparison (with ὡς)→ object specificationδορκάς: 'gazelle / roe'; renders Hebrew צְבִי; a clean but non-sacrificial game animal; one eats domestic meat in the town just as one eats hunted gazelle — without any cultic act.

ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; couples the two game animals.

ἔλαφονdeer / hartAccusativeaccusative of comparison (with ὡς, coordinate)→ object specificationἔλαφος: 'deer / hart / stag'; renders Hebrew אַיָּל; like the gazelle, a clean game animal not used in sacrifice; the pair gazelle-and-deer is the standard biblical exemplar of edible-but-non-sacrificial meat (cf. v.22; 14:5; 15:22).

πλὴν τὸ αἷμα οὐ φάγεσθε ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκχεεῖτε αὐτὸ ὡς ὕδωρ.

Only the blood you shall not eat; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.

Exceptive limit: the blood prohibition (the single restriction on profane slaughter)πλὴν τὸ αἷμα

v.16 states the one inviolable limit on the broad concession of v.15: the adversative πλήν ('only / except') isolates the blood as the absolute exception. The fronted τὸ αἷμα and the curt οὐ φάγεσθε give the prohibition apodictic weight; the blood is to be 'poured out on the ground like water' (ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκχεεῖτε αὐτὸ ὡς ὕδωρ) — returned to the earth, not consumed. The rationale follows at v.23; the prohibition grounds Lev 17:11 and Acts 15:20, 29.

Word-by-word analysis· 12 words

πλὴνonly / exceptadversative/exceptive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'only / except / nevertheless'; renders Hebrew רַק; isolates the single exception to the generous permission of v.15 — everything is allowed, only the blood is forbidden.

τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αἷμα, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect object of φάγεσθε (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; renders Hebrew דָּם; the fronting underscores the singular focus; the blood is forbidden because it is the seat of life (v.23); the prohibition is foundational for Lev 17:11 and the apostolic decree of Acts 15:20, 29.

οὐnotnegative particle (with future = prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: emphatic negation of the future, the apodictic prohibition; renders Hebrew לֹא.

φάγεσθεyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (prohibition)→ imperatival future (apodictic prohibition)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the absolute prohibition of eating blood, the one universal restriction binding alongside the meat-concession; cf. Gen 9:4; Lev 7:26–27; 17:10–14.

ἐπὶupon / onpreposition + accusative (direction onto)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'onto / upon'; the blood is poured down onto the ground.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γῆνground / earthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (goal of pouring)→ object specificationγῆ: 'ground / earth'; renders Hebrew אֶרֶץ; pouring the blood onto the ground returns the life to its source and disposes of it reverently, not as an offering but as a renunciation of consuming it.

ἐκχεεῖτεyou shall pour outFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐκχέωmain verb (positive command attached to the prohibition)→ imperatival future (legal command)ἐκχέω: 'pour out / spill'; renders Hebrew שָׁפַךְ; the blood must be poured out on the ground 'like water' — i.e. ordinarily, not collected or ritually manipulated as at the altar (contrast v.27, where sacrificial blood is poured against the altar's base).

αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of ἐκχεεῖτε (the blood)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it', i.e. the αἷμα (blood).

ὡςas / likecomparative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the simile 'like water' — the blood is to be disposed of as commonly as water poured on the ground.

ὕδωρwaterAccusativeaccusative of comparison (with ὡς)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; renders Hebrew מַיִם; the comparison 'like water' stresses the unceremonious return of the blood to the earth — not a sacral act but a disposal that respects the life-principle without ingesting it.

οὐ δυνήσῃ φαγεῖν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσίν σου τὸ ἐπιδέκατον τοῦ σίτου σου καὶ τοῦ οἴνου σου καὶ τοῦ ἐλαίου σου τὰ πρωτότοκα τῶν βοῶν σου καὶ τῶν προβάτων σου καὶ πάσας εὐχάς ὅσας ἂν εὔξησθε καὶ τὰς ὁμολογίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς ἀπαρχὰς τῶν χειρῶν ὑμῶν.

You will not be able to eat within your towns the tithe of your grain and your wine and your oil, the firstborn of your oxen and of your sheep, nor any of your vows which you may vow, nor your votive offerings, nor the firstfruits of your hands.

Counter-limit: the sacral dues may NOT be eaten in the townsοὐ δυνήσῃ φαγεῖν

v.17 sets the necessary boundary of the v.15 concession: while ordinary meat may be eaten anywhere, the sacred dues — tithe, firstborn, vows, votive and firstfruit offerings — may not (οὐ δυνήσῃ, 'you are not permitted') be eaten in the towns. These holy things belong to the chosen place alone (v.18). The list distinguishes sacral from profane consumption, the structural key of vv. 15–19.

Word-by-word analysis· 45 words

οὐnotnegative particle (with δυνήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation; renders Hebrew לֹא.

δυνήσῃyou will be able / are permittedFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb (negated permission/possibility)→ imperatival future (denial of permission)δύναμαι: 'be able / be permitted'; renders Hebrew לֹא תוּכַל ('you may not / you are not allowed'); here the modal sense is deontic — not physical inability but ritual prohibition; the sacred dues are simply not licit for ordinary consumption in the towns.

φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωcomplementary infinitive (with δυνήσῃ)→ aorist infinitive (the prohibited act)ἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'to eat'; the act forbidden in the towns for the holy dues, which belong to the sacral meal at the chosen place.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).

ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πόλεσίνtownsDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city / town'; renders Hebrew שְׁעָרֶיךָ ('your gates / towns'); the local settlements, where profane meat may be eaten but the holy dues may not.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐπιδέκατονtitheAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν (first item)→ object specificationἐπιδέκατον: 'tithe / tenth'; renders Hebrew מַעֲשַׂר; the tithe of agricultural produce, sacred to YHWH and eaten only at the chosen place (cf. 14:22–26).

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

σίτουgrainGenitivegenitive of content (with ἐπιδέκατον)→ relational specificationσῖτος: 'grain / wheat'; renders Hebrew דָּגָן; the first of the triad grain-wine-oil, the staple produce of the land subject to tithe.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

οἴνουwineGenitivegenitive of content (coordinate)→ relational specificationοἶνος: 'wine'; renders Hebrew תִּירוֹשׁ ('new wine'); the second of the grain-wine-oil triad.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐλαίουoilGenitivegenitive of content (coordinate)→ relational specificationἔλαιον: 'olive oil'; renders Hebrew יִצְהָר; the third of the triad grain-wine-oil, the classic summary of the land's agricultural bounty (cf. 7:13; 11:14).

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πρωτότοκαfirstbornAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν (further item)→ object specificationπρωτότοκος: 'firstborn'; the firstborn of herd and flock belonging to YHWH (cf. v.6), eaten only at the chosen place.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

βοῶνoxenGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationβοῦς: 'ox / cattle'; the large livestock.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

προβάτωνsheepGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep / flock'; the small livestock.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with εὐχάς)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all your vows', none of which may be discharged by eating in the towns.

εὐχάςvowsAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν (further item)→ object specificationεὐχή: 'vow / votive offering'; renders Hebrew נְדָרִים; vowed offerings discharged only at the chosen place (cf. v.6, 26).

ὅσαςwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εὔξησθε)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as many as / whatever'; feminine accusative plural agreeing with εὐχάς.

ἂν(ever)modal particle (indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: marks the relative as indefinite ('whatever vows you make').

εὔξησθεyou may vowAor Mid Subj 2 Pl · εὔχομαιverb of indefinite relative clause→ aorist subjunctive (indefinite vow)εὔχομαι: 'vow'; renders Hebrew נָדַר; note the shift to plural (εὔξησθε, ὑμῶν) within the singular address — Deuteronomy's characteristic Numeruswechsel.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁμολογίαςvotive professions / freewill confessionsAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν (further item)→ object specificationὁμολογία: 'confession / acknowledgment / votive declaration'; here a freewill/votive offering made by solemn declaration; renders Hebrew נְדָבָה / נֵדֶר; the offering professed and pledged before YHWH.

ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (plural)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (plural).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀπαρχὰςfirstfruitsAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν (final item)→ object specificationἀπαρχή: 'firstfruits / contribution'; renders Hebrew תְּרוּמַת יֶדְכֶם; the offerings of one's hands, as at v.6, 11 — reserved for the chosen place.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χειρῶνhandsGenitivegenitive of source (with ἀπαρχάς)→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; 'firstfruits of the hands' = the offerings of one's labor.

ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου φάγῃ αὐτὰ ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ᾧ ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ὁ θεός σου αὐτῷ σὺ καὶ ὁ υἱός σου καὶ ἡ θυγάτηρ σου ὁ παῖς σου καὶ ἡ παιδίσκη σου καὶ ὁ προσήλυτος ὁ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν ὑμῶν καὶ εὐφρανθήσῃ ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου ἐπὶ πάντα οὗ ἂν ἐπιβάλῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου.

but before the LORD your God you shall eat them, in the place which the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, and the sojourner who is in your towns; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God over everything to which you put your hand.

Positive counterpart: the holy dues eaten at the chosen place with rejoicingἀλλ᾿ ἢ ἐναντίον κυρίου

v.18 answers v.17 positively: the holy dues are to be eaten 'before the LORD' at the chosen place, in inclusive company (son, daughter, slaves, and the resident sojourner). The verse echoes v.7 and v.12 (eating and rejoicing before YHWH) and adds the προσήλυτος, the resident alien, extending the joy beyond Israel proper — a notable inclusivity. The blessing-formula closes the unit on enterprise and joy.

Word-by-word analysis· 59 words

ἀλλ᾿butadversative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but'; with ἤ the exceptive 'but only', turning from prohibition (v.17) to the proper place of consumption.

ἢratherparticle (with ἀλλά)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: the fixed ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but only').

ἐναντίονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; the cultic 'before the LORD' (cf. v.7); the holy dues are eaten in YHWH's presence at the sanctuary.

κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: covenant formula.

φάγῃyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (command to eat at the place)→ imperatival future (legal command)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the sacral meal of the holy dues, eaten only before YHWH at the chosen place.

αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object of φάγῃ (the holy dues of v.17)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them', i.e. the tithes, firstborn, vows, and firstfruits of v.17.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).

τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

τόπῳplaceDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceτόπος: 'place'; the chosen sanctuary, the sole locus for eating the holy things.

ᾧwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative, agreeing with τόπῳ)→ participant reference or interestὅς: masculine dative singular agreeing with τόπῳ; opens the chosen-place formula.

ἂν(ever)modal particle (indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: marks the prospective divine choice.

ἐκλέξηταιwill chooseAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of indefinite relative clause→ prospective aorist subjunctiveἐκλέγομαι: 'choose'; the leitmotif-verb.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκλέξηται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula.

αὐτῷit / for himselfDativeresumptive/ethical dative (Hebraism)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative αὐτῷ resumes the relative ᾧ ('the place which … it') as a Hebraizing resumptive, or functions as an ethical/reflexive dative ('which he will choose for himself'); either way it calques the Hebrew resumptive construction.

σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic, heading the household list)→ participant referenceσύ (nom. sg.): the explicit 'you' heads the inclusive catalogue of participants in the sacral meal.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

υἱόςsonNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the household member; as in v.12 the family shares the worship.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θυγάτηρdaughterNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

παῖςmanservantNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / male slave'; the bondservant included in the meal.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: 'maidservant / female slave'.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

προσήλυτοςsojourner / resident alienNominativesubject (coordinate; the resident alien)→ participant prominenceπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner / resident alien / proselyte'; renders Hebrew גֵּר; the LXX's standard rendering of the resident non-Israelite; his inclusion in the sacral joy extends the worship-community beyond ethnic Israel — a striking inclusivity (cf. 16:11, 14).

ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing the prepositional phrase)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: article + phrase ('the one in your towns') describing the sojourner's residence.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).

ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πόλεσινtownsDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'town'; the sojourner dwells within Israel's settlements; renders Hebrew שְׁעָרֶיךָ.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

εὐφρανθήσῃyou shall rejoiceFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · εὐφραίνωmain verb (festal joy, singular)→ imperatival/predictive future (commanded joy)εὐφραίνω (pass.): 'rejoice'; the Deuteronomic worship-joy (cf. vv. 7, 12), here in the singular; the sacral meal of the holy dues is a joyful celebration before YHWH.

ἐναντίονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; the rejoicing too is 'before the LORD'.

κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: covenant formula.

ἐπὶoverpreposition + accusative (ground/sphere of joy)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'over / concerning'; the sphere of the rejoicing — all one's labors and their fruit.

πάνταeverythingAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ἐπί)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / everything'; the totality of one's enterprises (cf. v.7).

οὗto whichGenitiverelative pronoun (adverbial: 'whereto')→ relational specificationὅς: genitive οὗ functioning adverbially ('whereunto'), as in v.7.

ἂν(ever)modal particle (indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: indefinite ('whatever you undertake').

ἐπιβάλῃςyou put / layAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐπιβάλλωverb of indefinite relative clause→ aorist subjunctive (indefinite)ἐπιβάλλω: 'put / lay to'; with τὴν χεῖρα the idiom for undertaking work (cf. v.7); the singular here matches the address.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χεῖράhandAccusativedirect object of ἐπιβάλῃς (idiom: 'put the hand to')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the idiom ἐπιβάλλειν τὴν χεῖρα for one's labor/enterprise, as in v.7; renders Hebrew מִשְׁלַח יָד.

πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς τὸν Λευίτην πάντα τὸν χρόνον ὅσον ἐὰν ζῇς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite all the time, as long as you live upon the land.

Parenthetic admonition: do not forsake the Leviteπρόσεχε σεαυτῷ

v.19 is a brief admonition repeating the warning-formula πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ (cf. v.13) and protecting the landless Levite (cf. v.12): because he has no inheritance, Israel must never abandon him to want. The temporal phrase 'all the time, as long as you live in the land' makes the obligation perpetual, binding for the whole duration of life in the land (echoing v.1).

Word-by-word analysis· 15 words

πρόσεχεtake heedPres Act Impv 2 Sg · προσέχωmain verb (imperative of warning)→ durative present imperative (continual vigilance)προσέχω: 'take heed / beware'; the admonitory formula with σεαυτῷ (cf. v.13); here guarding the welfare of the Levite.

σεαυτῷto yourselfDativereflexive pronoun (dative with πρόσεχε)→ participant reference or interestσεαυτοῦ: reflexive 'yourself'; the Hebraizing ethical dative of הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ.

μὴlestnegative particle (negative object clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: 'lest / that not'; with the subjunctive after the warning verb.

ἐγκαταλίπῃςyou forsakeAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐγκαταλείπωverb of negative object clause (with μή)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (prohibited act)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon / leave behind'; renders Hebrew עָזַב; the strong double-compound ('leave utterly behind') heightens the prohibition — the Levite is never to be neglected; the same verb voices abandonment-language in the Psalms (Ps 22:1, ἐγκατέλιπες).

τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ΛευίτηνLeviteAccusativedirect object of ἐγκαταλίπῃς→ object specificationΛευίτης: 'Levite'; the landless cult-servant (cf. v.12); his perpetual support is a recurring Deuteronomic concern (14:27; 18:1–8; 26:11–13).

πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with χρόνον, accusative of duration)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all the time' = perpetually; accusative of extent of time.

τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

χρόνονtimeAccusativeaccusative of extent of time→ object specificationχρόνος: 'time / period'; πάντα τὸν χρόνον = 'the whole time / always'; renders Hebrew כָּל־יָמֶיךָ.

ὅσονas long asAccusativerelative adjective (temporal: 'for as long as')→ object specificationὅσος: 'as much/long as'; accusative of duration agreeing with χρόνον; introduces the temporal clause bounding the obligation to Israel's life in the land.

ἐὰν(ever)conditional particle (indefinite, with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: with ζῇς generalizes ('however long you may live').

ζῇςyou livePres Act Subj 2 Sg · ζάωverb of indefinite temporal clause→ durative present subjunctive (ongoing life)ζάω: 'live'; the obligation extends throughout the whole span of life in the land (cf. v.1, ζῆτε).

ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location).

τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γῆςland / earthGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (location)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; 'upon the land', echoing v.1; the care for the Levite is part of the perpetual life of obedience in the promised land.

ἐὰν δὲ ἐμπλατύνῃ κύριος ὁ θεός σου τὰ ὅριά σου καθάπερ ἐλάλησέν σοι καὶ ἐρεῖς φάγομαι κρέα ἐὰν ἐπιθυμήσῃ ἡ ψυχή σου ὥστε φαγεῖν κρέα ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιθυμίᾳ τῆς ψυχῆς σου φάγῃ κρέα.

But when the LORD your God enlarges your borders, just as he has spoken to you, and you say, 'I will eat meat,' because your soul desires to eat meat, in all the desire of your soul you may eat meat.

New conditional case: meat-eating when the borders are enlargedἐὰν δὲ ἐμπλατύνῃ κύριος

v.20 opens a fresh conditional case (ἐὰν δέ) extending the meat-concession of v.15 to the future situation when YHWH 'enlarges the borders' so that the chosen place becomes distant. The desire-language (ἐπιθυμήσῃ … ἐπιθυμίᾳ τῆς ψυχῆς) repeats v.15's ἐπιθυμία, and the permission 'you may eat meat' (φάγῃ κρέα) reaffirms profane slaughter — now explicitly for those far from the sanctuary (v.21).

Word-by-word analysis· 33 words

ἐὰνif / whenconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if / when'; with the subjunctive introduces the protasis of a future-more-vivid condition; renders Hebrew כִּי.

δὲbut / andtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but / and'; marks the transition to a new legal case.

ἐμπλατύνῃenlarges / widensPres Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐμπλατύνωverb of protasis (with ἐάν)→ present subjunctive (condition viewed as process)ἐμπλατύνω: 'enlarge / widen / make broad'; renders Hebrew הִרְחִיב ('enlarge the border'); the enlargement of territory (cf. 19:8) increases the distance to the sanctuary and so makes the meat-concession necessary.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐμπλατύνῃ→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is the giver of the enlarged territory.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὅριάbordersAccusativedirect object of ἐμπλατύνῃ→ object specificationὅριον: 'boundary / border / territory'; renders Hebrew גְּבוּל; the enlarged borders of the promised land (cf. the Abrahamic promise, Gen 15:18).

καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθάπερ: 'just as / exactly as'; renders Hebrew כַּאֲשֶׁר; the enlargement fulfils YHWH's prior promise.

ἐλάλησένhe has spokenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of comparative clause→ constative aorist (the prior promise)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders Hebrew דִּבֶּר; refers to YHWH's earlier promise to enlarge Israel's territory (cf. Gen 15:18; Exod 23:31; Deut 19:8).

σοιto youDativeindirect object (dative)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object (dative).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἐρεῖςyou sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωverb continuing the protasis (future in conditional sense)→ futuristic indicative (anticipated speech)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; the anticipated speech of the Israelite ('I will eat meat'); renders Hebrew וְאָמַרְתָּ; future indicative functioning within the conditional frame.

φάγομαιI will eatFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb of quoted speech (the desire stated)→ volitive future (expressed wish)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the quoted resolve 'I will eat meat' expresses the legitimate appetite the law accommodates.

κρέαmeatAccusativedirect object of φάγομαι→ object specificationκρέας (pl. κρέα): 'flesh / meat'; the object of legitimate desire.

ἐὰνif / becauseconditional conjunction (causal-conditional)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if / when'; here giving the occasion of the desire ('if/because your soul longs').

ἐπιθυμήσῃdesiresAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐπιθυμέωverb of conditional clause→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the arising of desire)ἐπιθυμέω: 'desire / long for'; renders Hebrew אִוָּה; cognate with ἐπιθυμία; the natural craving for meat, here treated as legitimate, not sinful.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ψυχήsoul / appetiteNominativesubject of ἐπιθυμήσῃ→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / self / appetite'; renders Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ; here in the sense of the seat of appetite/desire; the same word will denote 'life' in the blood-rationale (v.23) — a key lexical link within the chapter.

ὥστεso asconjunction introducing result/purpose infinitive→ discourse linkage or contrastὥστε: 'so as to / so that'; here with the infinitive φαγεῖν expressing the object of the desire ('to eat meat').

φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωinfinitive (with ὥστε, object of desire)→ aorist infinitive (the desired act)ἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'to eat'; the content of the appetite.

κρέαmeatAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν→ object specificationκρέας: 'meat'; repeated for emphasis through the verse — the desired food.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (measure)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in / according to'; 'in all the desire of your soul' = to your full appetite (cf. v.15).

πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (with ἐπιθυμίᾳ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the full measure of appetite.

ἐπιθυμίᾳdesireDativedative of measure (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἐπιθυμία: 'desire / appetite'; the phrase ἐν πάσῃ ἐπιθυμίᾳ τῆς ψυχῆς σου repeats v.15 verbatim in substance, framing the meat-concession; renders Hebrew בְּכָל־אַוַּת נַפְשְׁךָ.

τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ψυχῆςsoulGenitivegenitive (subjective: the soul's desire)→ relational specificationψυχή: 'soul / appetite'; the seat of the craving; cf. its sense as 'life' at v.23.

φάγῃyou may eatFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (apodosis: permission granted)→ permissive future (the granted concession)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the apodosis grants the permission — 'you may eat meat' — reaffirming the profane-slaughter concession for those far from the sanctuary.

κρέαmeatAccusativedirect object of φάγῃ→ object specificationκρέας: 'meat'; the fourfold repetition of κρέα in the verse emphatically secures the meat-concession.

ἐὰν δὲ μακρότερον ἀπέχῃ σου ὁ τόπος ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ καὶ θύσεις ἀπὸ τῶν βοῶν σου καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν προβάτων σου ὧν ἂν δῷ ὁ θεός σοι ὃν τρόπον ἐνετειλάμην σοι καὶ φάγῃ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσίν σου κατὰ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν τῆς ψυχῆς σου.

But if the place which the LORD your God will choose for his name to be invoked there is too far from you, then you shall slaughter from your oxen and from your sheep which God gives you, in the manner I commanded you, and you shall eat in your towns according to the desire of your soul.

Conditional case: distance from the sanctuary licenses local slaughterἐὰν δὲ μακρότερον ἀπέχῃ

v.21 makes explicit the practical rationale of the meat-concession: when the chosen place is 'too far' (μακρότερον ἀπέχῃ), local slaughter and eating in the towns are permitted 'according to the desire of your soul'. The chosen-place formula recurs (ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ); the phrase ὃν τρόπον ἐνετειλάμην σοι ('in the manner I commanded') points back to v.15 — the same regulated profane slaughter.

Word-by-word analysis· 52 words

ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive forms the protasis of the case; renders Hebrew כִּי.

δὲbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but / and'; continues the case-law of v.20.

μακρότερονtoo far / farthercomparative adverb (with ἀπέχῃ)→ clausal contributionμακρότερον: comparative adverb of μακράν ('far'), 'too far / at a greater distance'; renders Hebrew יִרְחַק ('be far'); the distance from the sanctuary is the practical ground of the concession.

ἀπέχῃis distantPres Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀπέχωverb of protasis (with ἐάν)→ stative present subjunctive (the condition of distance)ἀπέχω: 'be distant / be far off'; the intransitive 'be away from'; with σου ('from you') describes the sanctuary being too remote for frequent pilgrimage-slaughter.

σουfrom youGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἀπέχῃ)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. sg.): 'from you'; genitive of separation marking the distance from the worshipper.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

τόποςplaceNominativesubject of ἀπέχῃ→ participant prominenceτόπος: 'place'; the chosen sanctuary, here potentially distant.

ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκλέξηται)→ participant referenceὅς: masculine accusative singular agreeing with τόπος.

ἂν(ever)modal particle (indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: marks the prospective choice.

ἐκλέξηταιwill chooseAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of indefinite relative clause→ prospective aorist subjunctiveἐκλέγομαι: 'choose'; the leitmotif-verb of the chosen-place formula.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκλέξηται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula.

ἐπικληθῆναιto be invokedAor Pass Inf · ἐπικαλέωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐκλέξηται)→ telic aorist passive infinitiveἐπικαλέω (pass.): 'be invoked / called upon'; the name-theology formula (cf. vv. 5, 11); renders Hebrew לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὄνομαnameAccusativeaccusative of respect with ἐπικληθῆναι→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; the divine name invoked at the place.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his', i.e. YHWH's.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (locating the name)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the locative marker of the name-theology.

καὶthen / andapodosis-marker (Hebraizing waw of apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introduces the apodosis after the conditional protasis ('if … then'), a Hebraism rendering the waw apodoseos.

θύσειςyou shall slaughterFut Act Indic 2 Sg · θύωmain verb of apodosis (permission to slaughter)→ permissive future (concession)θύω: 'slaughter / kill (for food)'; the profane slaughter permitted in the towns when the sanctuary is distant, as in v.15.

ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; partitive, 'some of your oxen'.

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

βοῶνoxenGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἀπό)→ relational specificationβοῦς: 'ox / cattle'; the large livestock from which profane meat is taken.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive source).

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

προβάτωνsheepGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἀπό)→ relational specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep / flock'; the small livestock; the herd-and-flock pair denotes all domestic meat-animals.

ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (object of δῷ, attracted to genitive)→ relational specificationὅς: the relative, logically accusative object of δῷ, attracted into the genitive of its antecedents (βοῶν, προβάτων).

ἂν(ever)modal particle (indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: marks the relative as indefinite.

δῷgivesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of indefinite relative clause→ aorist subjunctive (indefinite)δίδωμι: 'give'; the livestock too is YHWH's gift; the meat enjoyed is from herds divinely granted.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεόςGodNominativesubject of δῷ→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; here without κύριος, the giver of the herds.

ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (in the idiom ὃν τρόπον)→ participant referenceὅς: in the fixed phrase ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner which'), an adverbial accusative.

τρόπονmanner / wayAccusativeadverbial accusative (in the idiom ὃν τρόπον: 'in the way that')→ object specificationτρόπος: 'manner / way'; ὃν τρόπον = 'just as / in the manner that'; renders Hebrew כַּאֲשֶׁר; refers to the regulated profane slaughter of v.15.

ἐνετειλάμηνI commandedAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of comparative clause→ constative aorist (the prior command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command'; the aorist points back to the earlier instruction (v.15) about how the slaughter is to be done; Moses cites his own prior command.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

φάγῃyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (permission to eat in the towns)→ permissive future (concession)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; eating profane meat in the towns, distinct from the sanctuary-meal.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).

ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

πόλεσίνtownsDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'town'; the local settlements where profane meat may be eaten.

κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (measure)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; the eating is proportioned to one's appetite.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἐπιθυμίανdesireAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (measure)→ object specificationἐπιθυμία: 'desire / appetite'; the legitimate craving for meat, the measure of the concession (cf. vv. 15, 20).

τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ψυχῆςsoulGenitivesubjective genitive (the soul's desire)→ relational specificationψυχή: 'soul / appetite'; the seat of desire — soon to reappear as 'life' in the blood-rationale (v.23).

ὡς ἔσθεται ἡ δορκὰς καὶ ἡ ἔλαφος οὕτως φάγῃ αὐτό ὁ ἀκάθαρτος ἐν σοὶ καὶ ὁ καθαρὸς ὡσαύτως ἔδεται.

As the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you shall eat it; the unclean among you and the clean alike shall eat it.

Renewed gazelle-and-deer analogy (clinching the non-cultic character)ὡς ἔσθεται ἡ δορκὰς

v.22 reiterates the gazelle-and-deer analogy of v.15 to confirm that this slaughter is wholly profane: domestic meat is to be eaten exactly as game is eaten, with no cultic constraint, so that clean and unclean alike (ὁ ἀκάθαρτος … καὶ ὁ καθαρός) may partake. The comparison clinches the desacralized status of ordinary butchery, setting up the one limit that remains — the blood (v.23).

Word-by-word analysis· 19 words

ὡςascomparative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / just as'; introduces the gazelle-and-deer comparison, as in v.15.

ἔσθεταιis eatenPres Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωverb of comparative clause (passive)→ gnomic present (customary truth)ἐσθίω (alt. ἔσθω, pass. ἔσθεται): 'be eaten'; the gnomic present states the customary way game-meat is consumed; the passive with nominative subjects (δορκάς, ἔλαφος) = 'as gazelle and deer are eaten'.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

δορκὰςgazelleNominativesubject of ἔσθεται→ participant prominenceδορκάς: 'gazelle / roe'; the clean but non-sacrificial game animal (cf. v.15); the paradigm of meat eaten without cult.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἔλαφοςdeer / hartNominativesubject of ἔσθεται (coordinate)→ participant prominenceἔλαφος: 'deer / hart'; the second game animal; gazelle-and-deer together are the standard example of edible-but-non-sacrificial meat.

οὕτωςsoadverb of manner (correlative with ὡς)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'so / thus'; the correlative 'as … so', completing the comparison.

φάγῃyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (permission to eat)→ permissive future (concession)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the domestic meat is eaten exactly as game — without cultic restriction.

αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of φάγῃ (the meat)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it', i.e. the meat.

ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing ἀκάθαρτος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀκάθαρτοςunclean (person)Nominativesubject (substantival adjective)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the ritually impure may eat profane meat, proof of its non-sacral character (cf. v.15).

ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'among you'.

σοὶyouDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. sg.): 'among you'; the community.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing καθαρός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

καθαρὸςclean (person)Nominativesubject (substantival adjective, coordinate)→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; clean and unclean eat alike — the meat is common food, not sacrifice.

ὡσαύτωςlikewiseadverb of manner ('in the same way')→ clausal contributionὡσαύτως: 'likewise / in the same way'; underlines the indiscriminate sharing of the profane meal.

ἔδεταιshall eatFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (the clean person's eating)→ permissive future (concession)ἐσθίω (fut. ἔδομαι): 'eat'; the alternate future form ἔδεται (beside φάγομαι); both clean and unclean 'shall eat alike', confirming the non-cultic status of the meat.

πρόσεχε ἰσχυρῶς τοῦ μὴ φαγεῖν αἷμα ὅτι τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ψυχή οὐ βρωθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ μετὰ τῶν κρεῶν.

Take strong heed not to eat blood, because the blood is its life; the life shall not be eaten with the flesh.

Rationale of the blood prohibition (the theological core, vv.23–25)πρόσεχε ἰσχυρῶς

v.23 gives the theological rationale of the blood prohibition, the heart of vv. 15–25: the warning-formula is intensified by ἰσχυρῶς ('strongly') — 'take strong heed not to eat blood'. The reason is the identification of blood with life: ὅτι τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ψυχή ('because the blood is its life'). The same ψυχή that 'desires' meat (vv. 20–21) is the life carried in the blood, which must not be consumed 'with the flesh'. This grounds Lev 17:11 and Acts 15:20, 29.

Word-by-word analysis· 18 words

πρόσεχεtake heedPres Act Impv 2 Sg · προσέχωmain verb (imperative of warning)→ durative present imperative (intensified vigilance)προσέχω: 'take heed / beware'; the admonitory formula (cf. vv. 13, 19), here heightened by ἰσχυρῶς to mark the gravity of the blood prohibition.

ἰσχυρῶςstronglyadverb of degree (intensifying πρόσεχε)→ clausal contributionἰσχυρῶς: 'strongly / firmly'; renders Hebrew רַק חֲזַק ('only be strong/firm'); the intensifier signals that the blood prohibition is uniquely weighty among the meat-regulations.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive of purpose/content)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the genitive article with μὴ φαγεῖν forms a negative articular infinitive ('to not eat'), expressing the content of the warning.

μὴnotnegative particle (with infinitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negation of the infinitive.

φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωarticular infinitive (content of the warning)→ aorist infinitive (the prohibited act)ἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'to eat'; the act forbidden — eating blood; the prohibition is absolute and trans-cultic (cf. v.16; Gen 9:4; Lev 17:10–14).

αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; the forbidden substance, identified in the next clause with life itself.

ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; renders Hebrew כִּי; introduces the rationale — the theological ground of the prohibition.

τὸtheNominativearticle (with αἷμα, subject)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

αἷμαbloodNominativesubject of the nominal clause ('the blood is life')→ participant prominenceαἷμα: 'blood'; subject of the equational clause τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ψυχή ('the blood is its life'); renders Hebrew הַדָּם הוּא הַנֶּפֶשׁ; the theological axiom underlying all biblical blood-law (Lev 17:11, 14).

αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the animal's blood)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'its', referring to the slaughtered animal — its blood is its life.

ψυχήlifeNominativepredicate nominative (equational: 'the blood [is] life')→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'life / soul / life-principle'; renders Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ; in the verbless clause τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ψυχή the blood is equated with the life-force; the same ψυχή that 'desires' (vv. 20–21) is the life resident in the blood, which therefore may not be eaten; cf. Lev 17:11 ('the life of the flesh is in the blood').

οὐnotnegative particle (with βρωθήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation of the future, the apodictic prohibition.

βρωθήσεταιshall be eatenFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · βιβρώσκωmain verb (passive prohibition)→ imperatival future passive (apodictic prohibition)βιβρώσκω (fut. pass. βρωθήσεται): 'be eaten / be consumed as food'; the passive 'the life shall not be eaten' restates the prohibition in terms of the life-principle; one must not ingest the life along with the flesh.

ἡtheNominativearticle (with ψυχή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ψυχὴlifeNominativesubject of βρωθήσεται→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'life'; here the life-in-the-blood that must not be consumed with the meat; the repetition of ψυχή binds the rationale tightly — life belongs to God, not to the human table.

μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with / together with'; the life (blood) must be separated from the flesh before eating.

τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κρεῶνflesh / meatGenitivegenitive object of μετά (accompaniment)→ relational specificationκρέας (pl. κρεῶν): 'flesh / meat'; the flesh may be eaten, but not 'the life with the flesh' — the blood must be drained first; renders Hebrew בָּשָׂר; the same word as the desired meat (vv. 15, 20–21), now distinguished from the life it carries.

οὐ φάγεσθε ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκχεεῖτε αὐτὸ ὡς ὕδωρ.

You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.

Restatement of the blood prohibition (echoing v.16)οὐ φάγεσθε

v.24 restates the blood prohibition of v.16 almost verbatim, now following the rationale of v.23: 'you shall not eat it; pour it out on the ground like water.' The repetition frames the rationale (v.23) between two identical commands (vv. 16, 24), driving home that the blood is to be returned to the earth, never consumed.

Word-by-word analysis· 9 words

οὐnotnegative particle (with future = prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: emphatic negation of the future; the apodictic prohibition.

φάγεσθεyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (prohibition)→ imperatival future (apodictic prohibition)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the prohibition of eating blood, repeated from v.16 (the shift to plural φάγεσθε is the usual Numeruswechsel).

ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (direction onto)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'onto'; the blood poured down onto the ground.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γῆνground / earthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (goal of pouring)→ object specificationγῆ: 'ground'; the blood returned to the earth, as in v.16.

ἐκχεεῖτεyou shall pour outFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐκχέωmain verb (positive command)→ imperatival future (legal command)ἐκχέω: 'pour out'; the blood is poured on the ground 'like water', as in v.16; renders Hebrew שָׁפַךְ.

αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of ἐκχεεῖτε (the blood)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it', i.e. the blood.

ὡςas / likecomparative particle→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; the simile 'like water', as in v.16.

ὕδωρwaterAccusativeaccusative of comparison (with ὡς)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the unceremonious disposal of the blood; the verbatim repetition of v.16 (ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκχεεῖτε αὐτὸ ὡς ὕδωρ) seals the prohibition.

οὐ φάγῃ αὐτό ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς σου μετὰ σέ ἐὰν ποιήσῃς τὸ καλὸν καὶ τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου.

You shall not eat it, that it may be well with you and with your sons after you, if you do what is good and pleasing before the LORD your God.

Motive clause: blessing for obedience to the blood prohibitionοὐ φάγῃ αὐτό

v.25 attaches a motive-clause to the blood prohibition: abstaining brings well-being 'with you and your sons after you' (ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται). The conditional ἐὰν ποιήσῃς τὸ καλὸν καὶ τὸ ἀρεστόν ('if you do what is good and pleasing') ties obedience to intergenerational blessing — the typical Deuteronomic reward-formula (cf. 4:40; 6:18). Note the pointed contrast with v.8's τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ('pleasing in his own eyes'): now it is what is pleasing 'before the LORD'.

Word-by-word analysis· 25 words

οὐnotnegative particle (prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation of the future; the prohibition restated a third time (cf. vv. 16, 24).

φάγῃyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (prohibition)→ imperatival future (prohibition)ἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the blood prohibition, now in the singular and attached to a blessing-motive.

αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of φάγῃ (the blood)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it', i.e. the blood.

ἵναthatpurpose conjunction (introducing final clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: 'that / so that'; renders Hebrew לְמַעַן; introduces the purpose/result — well-being as the reward of obedience.

εὖwelladverb (predicative with γένηται: 'it may go well')→ clausal contributionεὖ: 'well / rightly'; the phrase εὖ σοι γένηται ('it may be well with you') renders Hebrew יִיטַב לְךָ, the classic Deuteronomic blessing-formula (cf. 4:40; 5:16; 6:18).

σοιto you / with youDativedative of advantage (with γένηται)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. sg.): 'with you'; the recipient of the well-being.

γένηταιit may beAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of purpose clause (with ἵνα)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the coming-about of well-being)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be / happen'; in εὖ … γένηται 'it may go well'; the well-being is the divinely-granted result of covenant obedience.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage (coordinate with σοι)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; the well-being extends to the descendants — Deuteronomic blessing is intergenerational (cf. v.28; 4:40).

μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (succession)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; 'your sons after you' = your posterity; renders Hebrew אַחֲרֶיךָ.

σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of μετά→ participant referenceσύ (acc. sg.): 'you'; the point of reference for the succeeding generations.

ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of reward)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive sets the condition of the blessing — doing what is good and pleasing.

ποιήσῃςyou doAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ποιέωverb of conditional clause→ aorist subjunctive (the condition of obedience)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; the condition of the blessing is doing 'the good and the pleasing' before YHWH.

τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing καλόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

καλὸνgood thingAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ποιήσῃς)→ object specificationκαλός: 'good / right / fitting'; substantival 'the good'; renders Hebrew הַטּוֹב; what is morally and covenantally right in YHWH's sight.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing ἀρεστόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀρεστὸνpleasing thingAccusativesubstantival adjective (object, coordinate)→ object specificationἀρεστός: 'pleasing / acceptable'; renders Hebrew הַיָּשָׁר ('the right'); 'the good and the pleasing before the LORD' pointedly reverses v.8's 'what is pleasing in his own eyes' — the standard is now YHWH's, not the individual's.

ἐναντίονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; renders Hebrew בְּעֵינֵי / לִפְנֵי; the evaluative standard is YHWH's judgment, not human self-will.

κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: covenant formula.

πλὴν τὰ ἅγιά σου ἐὰν γένηταί σοι καὶ τὰς εὐχάς σου λαβὼν ἥξεις εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ.

Only your holy things which you may have, and your vows, you shall take and come to the place which the LORD your God will choose for his name to be invoked there.

Counter-limit (parallel to v.17): the holy things go to the chosen placeπλὴν τὰ ἅγιά σου

v.26 balances the blood-section by reasserting, with πλήν ('only'), that the sacred dues — the holy things and vows — must still be carried to the chosen place. The participle λαβών ('taking') with the future ἥξεις ('you shall come') describes the pilgrimage; the chosen-place formula recurs once more (ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ), keeping the central sanctuary in view even within the meat-concession material.

Word-by-word analysis· 28 words

πλὴνonly / butadversative/exceptive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'only / except'; renders Hebrew רַק; sets the holy things apart from the profane meat — they alone must go to the sanctuary.

τὰtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing ἅγια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἅγιάholy thingsAccusativedirect object (fronted, of λαβών/ἥξεις)→ object specificationἅγιος: 'holy'; substantival neuter plural 'the holy things'; renders Hebrew קָדָשִׁים; the consecrated offerings, distinct from common meat, reserved for the chosen place.

ἐὰνifconditional conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if / whatever'; with γένηται, 'whatever holy things you may have'.

γένηταίyou may have / come to beAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of conditional clause→ aorist subjunctive (indefinite possession)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be'; here 'whatever holy things come to be yours' (i.e. that you possess); the subjunctive generalizes.

σοιto youDativedative of possession (with γένηται)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. sg.): 'to/for you'; dative of possession.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

εὐχάςvowsAccusativedirect object (coordinate with ἅγια)→ object specificationεὐχή: 'vow / votive offering'; the vowed offerings, discharged only at the chosen place (cf. vv. 6, 11, 17).

λαβὼνtakingAor Act Part Nom Masc Sg · λαμβάνωcircumstantial participle (attendant: 'taking … you shall come')→ aorist participle (antecedent/attendant action)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; the aorist participle λαβών ('having taken') describes the action attending the journey — one takes up the holy things and brings them to the sanctuary; coordinate with the main verb ἥξεις.

ἥξειςyou shall comeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἥκωmain verb (the pilgrimage to the place)→ predictive/imperatival future (the required coming)ἥκω: 'come / arrive'; the future ἥξεις ('you shall come') describes the pilgrimage to the chosen place to present the holy things; cf. the negated perfect ἥκατε at v.9.

εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 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.

τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the chosen place)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; the chosen sanctuary, the destination of the pilgrimage.

ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκλέξηται)→ participant referenceὅς: masculine accusative singular agreeing with τόπον.

ἂν(ever)modal particle (indefinite relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: marks the prospective choice.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκλέξηται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὄνομαnameAccusativeaccusative of respect with ἐπικληθῆναι→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; the divine name invoked at the chosen place.

αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his', i.e. YHWH's.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (locating the name)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the locative marker of the name-theology, recurring for the last time in the chapter's chosen-place formula.

καὶ ποιήσεις τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματά σου τὰ κρέα ἀνοίσεις ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου τὸ δὲ αἷμα τῶν θυσιῶν σου προσχεεῖς πρὸς τὴν βάσιν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου τὰ δὲ κρέα φάγῃ.

And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh, upon the altar of the LORD your God; but the blood of your sacrifices you shall pour against the base of the altar of the LORD your God, and the flesh you shall eat.

Sacrificial procedure at the chosen place (flesh and blood distinguished)καὶ ποιήσεις τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματά σου

v.27 prescribes the procedure for the burnt offerings at the chosen place, sharply distinguishing the sacral handling of blood from its profane disposal (vv. 16, 24): here the blood of the sacrifices is poured 'against the base of the altar' (πρὸς τὴν βάσιν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου), not on the ground. Note the lexical care: the legitimate altar is θυσιαστήριον (vs. the pagan βωμός of v.3). The flesh of the peace-offerings is eaten by the worshipper.

Word-by-word analysis· 35 words

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ποιήσειςyou shall offer / makeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (cultic 'offer')→ imperatival future (legal command)ποιέω: 'do / make / offer'; in cultic contexts ποιέω renders Hebrew עָשָׂה in the technical sense 'offer / perform (a sacrifice)'; here 'offer your burnt offerings'.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ὁλοκαυτώματάburnt offeringsAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις→ object specificationὁλοκαύτωμα: 'whole burnt offering'; the sacrifice wholly consumed on the altar; here its flesh and blood are both placed on the altar.

τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρέα, in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

κρέαfleshAccusativeaccusative in apposition / object of ἀνοίσεις→ object specificationκρέας (pl. κρέα): 'flesh / meat'; here the flesh of the burnt offering, placed entirely on the altar (unlike the peace-offering whose flesh is eaten); in apposition to ὁλοκαυτώματα and object of the following ἀνοίσεις.

ἀνοίσειςyou shall offer upFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀναφέρωmain verb (offering the flesh on the altar)→ imperatival future (legal command)ἀναφέρω: 'offer up / bring up'; renders Hebrew הֶעֱלָה; the flesh of the burnt offering is sent up on the altar in smoke (cf. vv. 13–14).

ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (onto the altar)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'upon / onto'; the flesh placed onto the altar.

τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the altar)→ object specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar (of YHWH)'; renders Hebrew מִזְבֵּחַ; the LXX reserves θυσιαστήριον for the legitimate altar of YHWH, against βωμός for the pagan altars (v.3) — a deliberate lexical distinction maintaining the cultic boundary.

κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with θυσιαστήριον)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the altar belongs to YHWH alone.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: covenant formula.

τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αἷμα, fronted)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting blood with flesh)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; marks the contrast between the handling of the flesh (on the altar) and the blood (against its base).

αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect object of προσχεεῖς (fronted)→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; the sacrificial blood, here handled sacrally — poured against the altar's base, not on the ground (contrast vv. 16, 24); the blood-life belongs to God and is rendered to him at the altar.

τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θυσιῶνsacrificesGenitivegenitive of source (with αἷμα)→ relational specificationθυσία: 'sacrifice'; renders Hebrew זְבָחִים; the blood of the sacrifices, distinct from the blood of profane slaughter (which goes to the ground).

προσχεεῖςyou shall pour againstFut Act Indic 2 Sg · προσχέωmain verb (sacral pouring of blood)→ imperatival future (legal command)προσχέω: 'pour against / pour upon'; renders Hebrew שָׁפַךְ (here against the altar); the compound προσ- ('toward') marks the sacral direction — the blood is dashed/poured against the altar's base, the ritual act that returns the life to God (contrast ἐκχέω 'pour out [on the ground]', vv. 16, 24).

πρὸςagainst / topreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'against / at'; the blood directed against the altar-base.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

βάσινbase / footAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the altar's base)→ object specificationβάσις: 'base / foot / pedestal'; renders Hebrew יְסוֹד ('foundation/base of the altar'); the blood is poured against the altar's base, the prescribed sacrificial gesture (cf. Lev 4:7, 18).

τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βάσιν)→ relational specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar (of YHWH)'; the legitimate altar, against βωμός for the pagan ones (v.3).

κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with θυσιαστηρίου)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: covenant formula.

τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρέα, fronted)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

δὲbut / andparticle (post-positive, marking the third item)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but / and'; introduces the disposition of the flesh of the peace-offerings — eaten by the worshipper.

κρέαflesh / meatAccusativedirect object of φάγῃ (fronted)→ object specificationκρέας: 'flesh'; here the flesh of the communion/peace-offerings, which (unlike the burnt offering) the worshipper eats in the sacred meal (cf. v.7).

φάγῃyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (eating the sacrificial flesh)→ imperatival/permissive futureἐσθίω (fut. φάγομαι): 'eat'; the worshipper eats the flesh of the peace-offerings at the sanctuary — the joyful sacral meal of v.7; the blood, however, is rendered to God at the altar, never eaten.

φυλάσσου καὶ ἄκουε καὶ ποιήσεις πάντας τοὺς λόγους οὓς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς σου δι᾿ αἰῶνος ἐὰν ποιήσῃς τὸ καλὸν καὶ τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου.

Guard and hear and do all these words which I command you, that it may be well with you and with your sons forever, if you do what is good and pleasing before the LORD your God.

Hortatory summary (closing the blood-and-sanctuary unit)φυλάσσου καὶ ἄκουε

v.28 closes the section with a triple hortatory chain — guard, hear, do — and the perpetual blessing-formula (εὖ σοι … δι᾿ αἰῶνος, 'forever'). It echoes v.25 ('that it may be well with you … if you do what is good and pleasing'), now extended εἰς αἰῶνα ('forever'). The verbs φυλάσσω-ἀκούω-ποιέω sum the Deuteronomic ethic of attentive, obedient covenant-keeping (cf. v.1; 6:3).

Word-by-word analysis· 34 words

φυλάσσουguard / observePres Mid Impv 2 Sg · φυλάσσωmain verb (hortatory imperative)→ durative present imperative (continual observance)φυλάσσω (mid.): 'guard / keep / observe'; the middle φυλάσσου ('keep for yourself / be on guard') renders Hebrew שְׁמֹר; the cardinal Deuteronomic verb of covenant fidelity (cf. v.1, φυλάξετε).

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ἄκουεhearPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (hortatory imperative)→ durative present imperative (continual hearing/obeying)ἀκούω: 'hear / listen / obey'; renders Hebrew שָׁמַע; the signature Deuteronomic verb (cf. the Shema, 6:4); hearing implies obedient response, not mere audition.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

ποιήσειςyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future, completing the chain)→ imperatival future (legal command)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; completing the triad guard-hear-do; the future has imperatival force; renders Hebrew וְעָשִׂיתָ — the doing flows from the hearing.

πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with λόγους)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all these words' — the entire body of command, anticipating the canon-formula of v.32 (nothing added or removed).

τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of ποιήσεις→ object specificationλόγος: 'word / matter / command'; renders Hebrew דְּבָרִים; 'these words' are the commandments of the chapter and code; the totality (πάντας) prepares for the canon-formula at 12:32.

οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐντέλλομαι)→ participant referenceὅς: masculine accusative plural agreeing with λόγους.

ἐγὼINominativesubject of ἐντέλλομαι (emphatic)→ participant referenceἐγώ: Moses the covenant mediator, speaking with delegated authority.

ἵναthatpurpose conjunction (final clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: 'that / so that'; introduces the purpose — perpetual well-being; renders Hebrew לְמַעַן.

εὖwelladverb (with γένηται: 'it may go well')→ clausal contributionεὖ: 'well'; the blessing-formula εὖ σοι γένηται, as in v.25, now extended 'forever'.

σοιto you / with youDativedative of advantage (with γένηται)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. sg.): 'with you'; recipient of the well-being.

γένηταιit may beAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of purpose clause (with ἵνα)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the coming-about of well-being)γίνομαι: 'become / happen'; εὖ … γένηται, 'it may go well'; the reward of obedience.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage (coordinate with σοι)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; the blessing extends to the descendants, as in v.25; the obedience of one generation secures the welfare of the next.

δι᾿through / forpreposition + genitive (temporal extent, elided διά)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: 'through / for (a duration)'; in δι᾿ αἰῶνος = 'forever / perpetually'.

αἰῶνοςage / foreverGenitivegenitive object of διά (temporal extent)→ relational specificationαἰών: 'age / eternity'; δι᾿ αἰῶνος renders Hebrew עַד־עוֹלָם ('forever'); the perpetual scope of the blessing intensifies v.25's promise.

ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of reward)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; the condition of the perpetual blessing, repeated from v.25.

ποιήσῃςyou doAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ποιέωverb of conditional clause→ aorist subjunctive (condition of obedience)ποιέω: 'do'; doing the good and the pleasing — the condition of the blessing.

τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing καλόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

καλὸνgood thingAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ποιήσῃς)→ object specificationκαλός: 'good / right'; 'the good', as in v.25; renders Hebrew הַטּוֹב.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing ἀρεστόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἀρεστὸνpleasing thingAccusativesubstantival adjective (object, coordinate)→ object specificationἀρεστός: 'pleasing / acceptable'; 'the pleasing before the LORD', again reversing v.8's 'pleasing in his own eyes'; renders Hebrew הַיָּשָׁר.

ἐναντίονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; the standard is YHWH's evaluation.

κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.

τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: covenant formula.

ἐὰν δὲ ἐξολεθρεύσῃ κύριος ὁ θεός σου τὰ ἔθνη εἰς οὓς σὺ εἰσπορεύῃ ἐκεῖ κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου σου καὶ κατακληρονομήσῃς αὐτοὺς καὶ κατοικήσῃς ἐν τῇ γῇ αὐτῶν.

But when the LORD your God cuts off the nations into whose land you are going there to dispossess them from before you, and you take possession of them and dwell in their land,

Conditional protasis opening the final warning (vv.29–31)ἐὰν δὲ ἐξολεθρεύσῃ κύριος

v.29 opens the closing warning of the chapter with a conditional protasis: when YHWH has cut off the Canaanite nations and Israel has dispossessed and settled in their land, a new danger arises — the temptation to imitate their cult (v.30). The verb ἐξολεθρεύσῃ ('utterly destroy / cut off') is the standard LXX rendering of the ḥerem-destruction; the conquest sets the stage for the spiritual peril of syncretism.

Word-by-word analysis· 30 words

ἐὰνif / whenconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if / when'; with the subjunctive introduces the protasis; renders Hebrew כִּי.

δὲbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but / and'; marks the transition to the closing warning.

ἐξολεθρεύσῃcuts off / utterly destroysAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωverb of protasis (with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (the completed conquest)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / cut off / exterminate'; renders Hebrew הִכְרִית; the strong compound (ἐξ-) of the ḥerem-destruction language; YHWH himself cuts off the nations before Israel (cf. 7:1–2).

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐξολεθρεύσῃ→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is the agent of the conquest.

ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: covenant formula.

τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἔθνηnationsAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεύσῃ→ object specificationἔθνος: 'nation / people'; renders Hebrew גּוֹיִם; the Canaanite nations whose land Israel inherits and whose cult is the deadly temptation.

εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (with relative: 'into whose land')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'into / to'; with the relative οὕς denotes entry into the nations' territory.

οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἰς; antecedent ἔθνη)→ participant referenceὅς: masculine accusative plural; constructio ad sensum with ἔθνη (neuter), construing the nations as persons; 'into whom you go' = into whose land.

σὺyouNominativesubject of εἰσπορεύῃ (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ (nom. sg.): the explicit 'you' emphasizing Israel's entry.

εἰσπορεύῃyou are going inPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰσπορεύομαιverb of relative clause→ futuristic present (the imminent entry)εἰσπορεύομαι: 'enter / go in'; renders Hebrew בָּא; the present of imminent action — Israel is on the verge of entering the land to dispossess its nations.

ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive, Hebraism)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive adverb after the relative ('into whom … there') is a Hebraism calquing the resumptive שָׁם.

κληρονομῆσαιto dispossess / inheritAor Act Inf · κληρονομέωinfinitive of purpose (with εἰσπορεύῃ)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the entry)κληρονομέω: 'inherit / dispossess / take possession of'; renders Hebrew יָרַשׁ; the purpose of the entry is to inherit the nations' land by dispossessing them.

τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of κληρονομῆσαι→ object specificationγῆ: 'land'; the territory of the nations, to become Israel's inheritance.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with γῆν)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their', i.e. the nations'.

ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; in ἀπὸ προσώπου σου ('from before you'), a Hebraism.

προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'from before')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου σου ('from your face / before you') renders Hebrew מִפָּנֶיךָ — the nations are driven out before Israel's advance.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

κατακληρονομήσῃςyou take possession of / dispossessAor Act Subj 2 Sg · κατακληρονομέωverb continuing the protasis (with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (the act of dispossession)κατακληρονομέω: 'take full possession of / dispossess'; renders Hebrew יָרַשׁ (Qal/Hiphil); the intensive compound (κατα-) here with personal object 'dispossess them' — Israel takes over the nations' inheritance.

αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of κατακληρονομήσῃς→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them', i.e. the nations dispossessed.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

κατοικήσῃςyou dwellAor Act Subj 2 Sg · κατοικέωverb completing the protasis (with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (the settling in the land)κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle'; renders Hebrew יָשַׁב; Israel settles in the land of the dispossessed nations — the very situation that breeds the temptation to adopt their cult (v.30).

ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).

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 nations' former territory, now Israel's dwelling.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with γῇ)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their', i.e. the dispossessed nations'.

πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ μὴ ἐκζητήσῃς ἐπακολουθῆσαι αὐτοῖς μετὰ τὸ ἐξολεθρευθῆναι αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου σου οὐ μὴ ἐκζητήσῃς τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτῶν λέγων πῶς ποιοῦσιν τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν ποιήσω κἀγώ.

take heed to yourself that you do not seek to follow after them after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not seek out their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods? I too will do likewise.'

Apodosis: the warning against syncretistic inquiry (the heart of vv.29–31)πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ

v.30 is the apodosis and the climax of the warning: the warning-formula πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ (cf. vv. 13, 19, 23) guards against the deadly fascination of asking 'how did these nations serve their gods?' with the resolve 'I too will do likewise' (ποιήσω κἀγώ). The double-negative οὐ μή with ἐκζητήσῃς gives an emphatic prohibition. The very verb ἐκζητέω that should seek the chosen place (v.5) must never seek the nations' gods — a pointed inversion.

Word-by-word analysis· 30 words

μὴlestnegative particle (negative object clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: 'lest / that not'; with the subjunctive after the warning verb.

ἐκζητήσῃςyou seekAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐκζητέωverb of negative object clause (with μή)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (prohibited seeking)ἐκζητέω: 'seek out / search after'; renders Hebrew דָּרַשׁ; the very verb commanded toward the chosen place (v.5, ἐκζητήσετε) is here forbidden toward the nations' gods — a deliberate, ironic inversion: seek YHWH's place, never the idols.

ἐπακολουθῆσαιto follow afterAor Act Inf · ἐπακολουθέωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐκζητήσῃς)→ aorist infinitive (the prohibited following)ἐπακολουθέω: 'follow after / pursue'; the double-compound (ἐπ-ακολουθέω) intensifies 'closely follow'; to follow the nations in their cultic ways is to apostatize from YHWH.

αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐπακολουθῆσαι→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'them', i.e. the nations; ἐπακολουθέω takes the dative of the one followed.

μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; with the articular infinitive τὸ ἐξολεθρευθῆναι forms a temporal clause ('after they are destroyed').

τὸtheAccusativearticle (with the infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: articular infinitive marker; τὸ ἐξολεθρευθῆναι = 'the being-destroyed', a temporal construction with μετά.

ἐξολεθρευθῆναιto be destroyedAor Pass Inf · ἐξολεθρεύωarticular infinitive (temporal, with μετά τό)→ aorist passive infinitive (the completed destruction)ἐξολεθρεύω (pass.): 'be utterly destroyed / be cut off'; the passive of the verb in v.29; the irony is sharp — after YHWH destroys the nations precisely because of their abominable cult, Israel must not adopt that very cult.

αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἐξολεθρευθῆναι→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; accusative subject of the passive infinitive — the nations who are destroyed.

ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; in ἀπὸ προσώπου σου, as in v.29.

προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'from before')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου σου ('from before you'), rendering Hebrew מִפָּנֶיךָ.

οὐnotnegative particle (with μή, emphatic double negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή forms the emphatic οὐ μή + subjunctive, the strongest Greek negation ('by no means').

μὴnotnegative particle (with οὐ: emphatic prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the second member of οὐ μή; renders the absolute Hebrew prohibition with emphatic force.

ἐκζητήσῃςyou seek outAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐκζητέωmain verb (emphatic prohibition with οὐ μή)→ aorist subjunctive of emphatic prohibition (οὐ μή)ἐκζητέω: 'seek out'; the repetition with οὐ μή makes the prohibition absolute — Israel must never investigate the nations' gods; the same verb (v.5) that seeks YHWH's place must never seek the idols.

τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of ἐκζητήσῃς→ object specificationθεός: 'gods'; the pagan deities of the nations; to 'seek them out' is to inquire after their cult with intent to imitate.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεούς)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their', i.e. the nations'.

λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ durative present participle (the manner of the seeking)λέγω: 'say'; the present participle λέγων introduces the quoted thought — the dangerous curiosity that leads to apostasy; renders Hebrew לֵאמֹר.

πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (introducing the quoted question)→ clausal contributionπῶς: 'how / in what way'; the interrogative of the dangerous inquiry — 'how do these nations serve their gods?'; the curiosity itself is the snare.

ποιοῦσινdo / servePres Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of the quoted question→ customary present (the nations' habitual cult)ποιέω: 'do / perform / serve'; here of cultic service ('how do they do [worship] for their gods?'); the customary present describes the nations' established cult-practice.

τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

ἔθνηnationsNominativesubject of ποιοῦσιν→ participant prominenceἔθνος: 'nation'; the Canaanite nations whose cult is the object of forbidden curiosity.

ταῦταtheseNominativedemonstrative adjective (with ἔθνη)→ participant prominenceοὗτος: 'these'; the demonstrative ταῦτα points to the specific nations being dispossessed.

τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ποιοῦσιν (the recipients of cult)→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'gods'; ποιέω + dative names the deities for whom the cult is performed.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῖς)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their', i.e. the nations'.

ποιήσωI will doFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of the quoted resolve→ volitive future (the resolve to imitate)ποιέω: 'do'; the quoted resolve 'I too will do (likewise)' — the fatal conclusion of the forbidden inquiry; the imitation of pagan cult is the apostasy the chapter forbids from start (v.4) to finish (v.31).

κἀγώI also / I tooNominativesubject of ποιήσω (emphatic, crasis καί + ἐγώ)→ participant prominenceκἀγώ: crasis of καὶ ἐγώ ('and I / I too'); the emphatic 'I too will do likewise' voices the self-implicating resolve to copy the nations — the precise temptation against which the whole chapter is directed.

οὐ ποιήσεις οὕτως κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ σου τὰ γὰρ βδελύγματα ἃ κύριος ἐμίσησεν ἐποίησαν τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν ὅτι τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν κατακαίουσιν ἐν πυρὶ τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν.

You shall not do so to the LORD your God; for they did for their gods the abominations which the LORD hated, because they burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.

Closing prohibition (inclusio with v.4) and its horrific rationaleοὐ ποιήσεις οὕτως κυρίῳ

v.31 closes the chapter by repeating verbatim the prohibition of v.4 ('You shall not do so to the LORD your God'), forming an inclusio that brackets the entire central-sanctuary law between two identical refusals of Canaanite cultic method. The rationale escalates to its most horrific: the nations practiced 'the abominations the LORD hated' for their gods — even burning their own sons and daughters in fire (child-sacrifice, the Molech cult; cf. 18:10; Lev 18:21; Jer 7:31). The horror seals why Israel must never imitate them.

Word-by-word analysis· 31 words

οὐnotnegative particle (with future = prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: emphatic negation of the future; the apodictic prohibition, repeated from v.4.

ποιήσειςyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (prohibition)→ imperatival future (apodictic prohibition)ποιέω: 'do'; οὐ ποιήσεις οὕτως ('you shall not do so') repeats v.4 (there plural ποιήσετε, here singular) forming the framing inclusio of the chapter; Israel must not worship YHWH by the abominable Canaanite method.

οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (referring to the Canaanite cult)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'so / thus'; renders Hebrew כֵּן; refers to the manner of the nations' worship just described (v.30) — Israel must not approach YHWH in that way.

κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of relationship (object of worship)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the worship of YHWH must not be conducted in the pagan manner.

τῷtheDativearticle (with θεῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ→ sphere or referenceθεός: covenant formula κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ σου = יהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, as in v.4.

τὰtheAccusativearticle (with βδελύγματα, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the rationale of the prohibition — the nations' cult is abominable, even murderous.

βδελύγματαabominationsAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησαν (fronted)→ object specificationβδέλυγμα: 'abomination / detestable thing'; renders Hebrew תּוֹעֵבֹת; the strongest LXX term for cultic horror; the nations' worship is not neutral 'religion' but abomination that YHWH hates.

ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐμίσησεν)→ participant referenceὅς: neuter accusative plural agreeing with βδελύγματα.

κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐμίσησεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH's hatred of the abominations is the ground of Israel's prohibition.

ἐμίσησενhatedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μισέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (YHWH's settled hatred)μισέω: 'hate / detest'; renders Hebrew שָׂנֵא; YHWH's hatred of the abominations is not arbitrary aversion but moral revulsion, supremely at child-sacrifice (next clause).

ἐποίησανthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the nations' practice)→ constative aorist (the nations' established cult)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; 'they did/performed [the abominations] for their gods'; the nations enacted the detestable cult, the very thing Israel is forbidden to imitate.

τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐποίησαν (the recipients of the cult)→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'gods'; the deities for whom the abominations were performed.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῖς)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their', i.e. the nations'.

ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (introducing the supreme horror)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; renders Hebrew כִּי; introduces the climactic instance of abomination — child-sacrifice.

τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of κατακαίουσιν (fronted)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the nations' own sons, burned in sacrifice — the most heinous of the abominations; child-sacrifice (the Molech cult) is repeatedly condemned (18:10; Lev 18:21; 20:2–5; Jer 7:31; 32:35).

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱούς)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their', i.e. the nations' own children — the horror that they immolate their own offspring.

καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.

τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativedirect object of κατακαίουσιν (coordinate)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; sons and daughters alike are immolated — the totality of the horror; the same children who should rejoice at YHWH's sanctuary (v.12) are burned by the nations to their gods.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θυγατέρας)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their'.

κατακαίουσινthey burn upPres Act Indic 3 Pl · κατακαίωmain verb (the supreme abomination)→ customary present (their habitual practice)κατακαίω: 'burn up / consume with fire'; renders Hebrew שָׂרַף; the same verb used of burning the idols (v.3) is here used of the nations burning their own children — the abomination's full horror; the present tense marks the ongoing, customary practice.

ἐνinpreposition + dative (instrument/means)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in / with'; instrumental, 'in the fire'.

πυρὶfireDativedative of means (with κατακαίουσιν)→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; renders Hebrew בָּאֵשׁ; the fire of child-sacrifice; the same πῦρ that should consume the idols (v.3) here consumes children — the ultimate perversion of cult.

τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.

θεοῖςgodsDativedative of recipient (for whom the children are burned)→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'gods'; the deities to whom the children are offered; the final word of the chapter's warning fixes the abomination's object — false gods, for whom Israel's God will brook no imitation.

αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῖς)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their', i.e. the nations'; the chapter ends on the gods of the nations — over against whom stands the LORD who alone chooses the place where his name is invoked.

The Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 12ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟΝΟΜΙΟΝ ΙΒ′

Theme

Translation & textual notes