1
πᾶν ῥῆμα ὃ ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον τοῦτο φυλάξῃ ποιεῖν· οὐ προσθήσεις ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸ οὐδὲ ἀφελεῖς ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ.
Every word that I command you today, this you shall observe to do; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
This verse is numbered 12:32 in many English Bibles (KJV, RSV, ESV) but 13:1 in the Hebrew and in Rahlfs. It is the 'canon formula' (cf. Deut 4:2; Rev 22:18–19): the word commanded is to be neither augmented nor diminished. Placed here it frames the apostasy laws — to follow other gods would be precisely to 'add' to YHWH's exclusive claim. The fronted πᾶν ῥῆμα ὅ… resumed by τοῦτο is a Hebraizing casus pendens.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ῥῆμα; fronted object resumed by τοῦτο)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'every / all'; neuter πᾶν agrees with ῥῆμα; the totalizing 'every word' makes the command comprehensive — no part of the divine instruction is optional or negotiable.
ῥῆμαword / thingAccusativefronted accusative (casus pendens, resumed by τοῦτο)→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / utterance / matter'; renders Hebrew דָּבָר, which spans both 'word' and 'thing'; here the totality of YHWH's commandments delivered through Moses; the fronting is a Hebraizing pendent construction.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐντέλλομαι)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; neuter accusative ὅ agrees with ῥῆμα and is the object of the verb of commanding.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic first-person: Moses speaking)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic pronoun; Moses is the speaker, but as YHWH's authorized mediator — the first-person command carries divine authority (cf. v. 19, the same ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι formula closing the chapter).
ἐντέλλομαίI commandPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb of the relative clause→ customary present (standing, ongoing command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / enjoin'; renders צִוָּה; the present tense and the adverb σήμερον ('today') give the Deuteronomic preaching its characteristic immediacy — the law is delivered as a present, living address to 'this day's' hearers.
σοιto youDativeindirect object (2nd person singular: Israel as a single addressee)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): the singular 'you' addresses Israel collectively as one covenant partner — a characteristic Deuteronomic device alternating with the plural (note ὑμᾶς, ὑμῶν in v. 4).
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; a signature Deuteronomic term collapsing the distance between the Moab generation and every later hearer — the covenant is renewed 'today' each time the words are heard (cf. 5:3; 26:16; 30:15).
τοῦτοthisAccusativeresumptive demonstrative (picks up πᾶν ῥῆμα ὅ…)→ participant referenceοὗτος: demonstrative pronoun; τοῦτο resumes the fronted πᾶν ῥῆμα ὅ…, completing the Hebraizing casus-pendens construction ('every word… — this you shall keep').
φυλάξῃyou shall observe / keepFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · φυλάσσωmain verb (apodosis of the pendent construction)→ imperatival future (legal command)φυλάσσω: 'guard / keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the middle future φυλάξῃ has imperatival force, as often in legal Greek; 'keeping' the word means both safeguarding and obeying it — a key Deuteronomic verb (cf. v. 19, φυλάσσειν).
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with φυλάξῃ: 'keep to do')→ present infinitive (ongoing performance)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; the pairing φυλάσσειν ποιεῖν ('keep-to-do') renders שָׁמַר לַעֲשׂוֹת, a Deuteronomic idiom stressing that observance is not merely intellectual assent but enacted obedience.
οὐnotnegative particle (with προσθήσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσθήσειςyou shall addFut Act Indic 2 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not add')→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)προστίθημι: 'add / put to'; renders יָסַף; οὐ προσθήσεις with the prohibitive future forms half of the canon-formula (cf. 4:2); to 'add' to YHWH's word would corrupt it as surely as to subtract.
ἐπ᾽to / uponpreposition + accusative (object of adding)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾽: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object of adding).
αὐτὸitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾽ (referring to ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceαὐτός: anaphoric pronoun referring to ῥῆμα ('the word'); neuter to agree with its antecedent.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative conjunction (linking the two prohibitions)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'and not / nor'; joins the second half of the canon-formula in antithetical balance with οὐ προσθήσεις.
ἀφελεῖςyou shall take awayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀφαιρέωmain verb (second prohibition)→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)ἀφαιρέω: 'take away / remove'; renders גָּרַע; the add/subtract antithesis (προστίθημι / ἀφαιρέω) brackets the integrity of the divine word — it is to be transmitted whole, neither inflated nor diminished (cf. Rev 22:18–19).
ἀπ᾽frompreposition + genitive (source of removal)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾽: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source of removal).
αὐτοῦitGenitivegenitive object of ἀπ᾽ (referring to ῥῆμα)→ relational specificationαὐτός: anaphoric pronoun referring to ῥῆμα; genitive as object of ἀπό.
2
ἐὰν δὲ ἀναστῇ ἐν σοὶ προφήτης ἢ ἐνυπνιαζόμενος ἐνύπνιον καὶ δῷ σοι σημεῖον ἢ τέρας
But if there arises among you a prophet or one who dreams a dream, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
δέ marks the move from the framing v. 1 to the first concrete case. ἐάν + subjunctive introduces a casuistic 'if'-clause typical of legal codes; the protasis runs through v. 3, with the apodosis (the prohibition οὐκ ἀκούσεσθε) beginning at v. 4. The case is deliberately hard: the sign or wonder is granted and may even come true (v. 3), so the test is not whether the prophet has power but where he points it.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing protasis + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive (ἀναστῇ… δῷ… ἔλθῃ) it forms the casuistic protasis of the case-law, rendering Hebrew כִּי / אִם in legal formulation.
δὲbut / anddevelopmental particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; here a developmental marker moving from the canon-formula (v. 1) to the first apostasy case.
ἀναστῇarisesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (anticipated event within ἕως-clause)ἀνίστημι (intrans. aor.): 'arise / stand up / appear'; renders קוּם; the idiom 'a prophet arises among you' (cf. 18:15) is neutral as to legitimacy — the verb describes emergence, not validation.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: 'in your midst')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in your midst').
σοὶyouDativedative object of ἐν (2nd person singular: 'among you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοί): the danger arises 'within' Israel itself, not from outside — the seducer is an insider, which makes the threat more insidious.
προφήτηςprophetNominativesubject of ἀναστῇ→ participant prominenceπροφήτης: 'prophet'; renders נָבִיא; the figure claims to speak for God; the chapter establishes that even prophetic credentials and confirmed signs cannot license a call to other gods (contrast the true-prophet test of 18:21–22).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the alternative figure, the dream-diviner.
ἐνυπνιαζόμενοςone dreamingPres Mid Part Nom Sg Masc · ἐνυπνιάζομαιsubstantival participle (second subject, parallel to προφήτης)→ customary present participle (one whose practice is dreaming)ἐνυπνιάζομαι: 'dream / have dreams'; renders חֹלֵם חֲלוֹם; the substantival participle 'a dreamer of a dream' names the oneiromantic diviner; the figure-pairing prophet/dreamer covers the two classic channels of revelation (cf. Num 12:6; Joel 3:1).
ἐνύπνιονa dreamAccusativecognate accusative (with ἐνυπνιαζόμενος: 'dreaming a dream')→ object specificationἐνύπνιον: 'dream'; the cognate accusative ἐνυπνιαζόμενος ἐνύπνιον ('dreaming a dream') is a Hebraism rendering the figura etymologica חֹלֵם חֲלוֹם, intensifying the activity.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δῷgivesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · δίδωμιsecond verb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical deposit)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; here the prophet 'gives' a sign — i.e., announces or produces a predictive token to authenticate his message.
σοιyouDativeindirect object of δῷ→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of δῷ.
σημεῖονa signAccusativedirect object of δῷ→ object specificationσημεῖον: 'sign / token'; renders אוֹת; a predictive or authenticating mark; the same word-pair σημεῖον ἢ τέρας is the standard LXX 'sign and wonder' formula (cf. Exod 7:3; Deut 6:22).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τέραςa wonderAccusativedirect object of δῷ (parallel to σημεῖον)→ object specificationτέρας: 'wonder / portent'; renders מוֹפֵת; a marvel that compels attention; the law's force is that even a genuine τέρας does not validate a summons away from YHWH.
3
καὶ ἔλθῃ τὸ σημεῖον ἢ τὸ τέρας ὃ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς σὲ λέγων πορευθῶμεν καὶ λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις οὓς οὐκ οἴδατε
and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' whom you have not known,
The decisive clause: ἔλθῃ ('it comes to pass') concedes that the sign may actually be fulfilled — the seducer's predictive power is real. The trap is sprung by the content of his speech: πορευθῶμεν καὶ λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις, the hortatory-subjunctive invitation to communal apostasy. The verse isolates the criterion of true prophecy in Deuteronomy: not efficacy but fidelity to YHWH alone.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλθῃcomes to passAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν of v. 2)→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι: 'come / come about'; here idiomatic for a prediction's fulfilment (the sign 'comes', i.e., comes true); the concession that it actually occurs is the crux — the test is not the prophet's accuracy but his object of worship.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with σημεῖον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σημεῖονsignNominativesubject of ἔλθῃ→ participant prominenceσημεῖον: now articular, referring back to the σημεῖον of v. 2.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with τέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τέραςwonderNominativesubject of ἔλθῃ (parallel to σημεῖον)→ participant prominenceτέρας: articular, referring back to the τέρας of v. 2.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐλάλησεν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, neuter accusative, antecedent σημεῖον/τέρας.
ἐλάλησενhe spokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the seducer's prior announcement)λαλέω: 'speak'; the prophet had 'spoken' the sign in advance — i.e., predicted it; the same verb recurs in v. 6 (ἐλάλησεν… πλανῆσαι) as the legal ground for his condemnation.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceσὲ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of attendant circumstance (introducing direct speech)→ present participle (Hebraizing 'saying' to introduce quotation)λέγω (part. λέγων): the participle 'saying' renders the Hebrew לֵאמֹר, the standard quotative marker introducing direct discourse.
πορευθῶμενlet us goAor Pass Subj 1 Pl · πορεύομαιhortatory subjunctive (the seducer's invitation)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (call to communal action)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the hortatory 'let us go' renders נֵלְכָה; the idiom 'go after / go and serve other gods' (לכת אחרי / לעבד אלהים אחרים) is the chapter's defining sin — apostasy framed as a communal journey away from YHWH.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λατρεύσωμενlet us serveAor Act Subj 1 Pl · λατρεύωhortatory subjunctive (coordinate with πορευθῶμεν)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (call to idolatrous worship)λατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders עָבַד; in the LXX λατρεύω denotes specifically religious service/worship (cf. the first commandment, Exod 20:5); the phrase λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις is the verbatim formula of the prohibited apostasy, recurring at vv. 7 and 14.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of λατρεύσωμεν (cultic service is rendered 'to' the gods)→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'god'; here the false 'other gods'; λατρεύω governs the dative, the object of cultic devotion.
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying θεοῖς)→ sphere or referenceἕτερος: 'other / different'; renders אֲחֵרִים; θεοὶ ἕτεροι ('other gods') is the standard LXX rendering of the polemical phrase for rival deities (Exod 20:3; Deut 5:7).
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of οἴδατε)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, masculine accusative plural, antecedent θεοῖς ἑτέροις.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with οἴδατε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἴδατεyou have knownPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · οἶδαverb of relative clause (note shift to plural address)→ perfect with present force (settled state of not-knowing)οἶδα: 'know'; perfect with present meaning; 'gods whom you have not known' marks them as foreign to Israel's covenant experience — they have no saving history with Israel, unlike YHWH who 'brought you out of Egypt' (v. 6). Note the shift from singular σέ to plural οἴδατε, characteristic of Deuteronomic Numeruswechsel.
4
οὐκ ἀκούσεσθε τῶν λόγων τοῦ προφήτου ἐκείνου ἢ τοῦ ἐνυπνιαζομένου τὸ ἐνύπνιον ἐκεῖνο, ὅτι πειράζει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς ὑμῶν.
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of the dream, because the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
The apodosis answering the protasis of vv. 2–3: do not heed the seducer. The ὅτι-clause supplies the theological key to the whole chapter: πειράζει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμᾶς ('the LORD your God is testing you'). The seductive prophet is, unwittingly, an instrument of divine probation. The purpose — εἰδέναι εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε… ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας… καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς — directly echoes the Shema (Deut 6:5); covenant love is here defined as exclusive loyalty proven under temptation.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀκούσεσθε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκούσεσθεyou shall listenFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (prohibition: apodosis)→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)ἀκούω: 'hear / listen / heed'; renders שָׁמַע; with the genitive (τῶν λόγων) it means 'give heed to / obey'; the prohibitive future οὐκ ἀκούσεσθε answers the protasis — and pointedly contrasts with v. 5 (τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε, 'his voice you shall heed') and v. 19 (ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου): Israel must hear YHWH, not the seducer.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with λόγων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγωνwordsGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούσεσθε ('heed the words')→ relational specificationλόγος: 'word / saying'; renders דָּבָר; the genitive object of ἀκούω marks the seducer's message as the thing not to be obeyed.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with προφήτου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφήτουprophetGenitivegenitive (possessor of the words)→ relational specificationπροφήτης: the seducing prophet of v. 2, now anaphorically 'that prophet'.
ἐκείνουthatGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying προφήτου)→ relational specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the distancing demonstrative ('that prophet') marks him with juridical distaste, the figure already identified in the protasis.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the substantival participle ἐνυπνιαζομένου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνυπνιαζομένουone dreamingPres Mid Part Gen Sg Masc · ἐνυπνιάζομαιsubstantival participle (parallel to προφήτου)→ customary present participleἐνυπνιάζομαι: 'dream'; the genitive substantival participle 'the one dreaming the dream' parallels 'that prophet'; the redundant articular construction echoes the protasis of v. 2.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἐνύπνιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνύπνιονdreamAccusativecognate accusative (object of the participle ἐνυπνιαζομένου)→ object specificationἐνύπνιον: 'dream'; the cognate accusative again renders the Hebrew figura etymologica (cf. v. 2).
ἐκεῖνοthatAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἐνύπνιον)→ object specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; distancing demonstrative paralleling ἐκείνου with the prophet.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (introducing the theological ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the reason the seducer must be ignored — and the chapter's central theological disclosure.
πειράζειtests / is testingPres Act Indic 3 Sg · πειράζωmain verb of the causal clause→ progressive present (the testing is in process through the very temptation)πειράζω: 'test / try / prove'; renders נִסָּה; here in the positive OT sense of probation — YHWH proves Israel's loyalty (cf. Gen 22:1; Exod 16:4; Deut 8:2), not in the later sense of malicious tempting (James 1:13). The progressive present makes the seducer's appearance itself the occasion of an ongoing divine test of the heart.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of πειράζει→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the subject of the testing is YHWH himself — the seducer is merely the unwitting instrument.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός, in apposition to κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeappositive to κύριος ('the LORD, God')→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the covenant title κύριος ὁ θεός (renders יהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ) binds the testing to the covenant relationship; though the possessive ὑμῶν follows the verb here, the full title 'the LORD your God' is implied.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of πειράζει (2nd person plural)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): the plural object continues the Numeruswechsel; the whole people is on probation.
εἰδέναιto knowPerf Act Inf · οἶδαinfinitive of purpose (with πειράζει: 'tests… to know')→ stative perfect infinitive (the state of knowing)οἶδα (perf. inf. εἰδέναι): 'know'; the purpose infinitive 'to know whether you love him' is an anthropomorphic idiom (cf. Gen 22:12) — not that YHWH lacks knowledge, but that the test brings the heart's love into demonstrated reality.
εἰwhetherinterrogative particle (introducing indirect question)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'whether / if'; introduces the indirect question that is the object of εἰδέναι.
ἀγαπᾶτεyou lovePres Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀγαπάωverb of the indirect question→ progressive present (ongoing covenant love)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; renders אָהֵב; in Deuteronomy covenant 'love' for YHWH is not mere affection but loyal, exclusive devotion expressed in obedience (cf. 6:5; 10:12; 11:1); the present tense describes love as a continuing disposition, here put to the proof.
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of ἀγαπᾶτε→ object specificationκύριος: the object of covenant love; the wording quotes the Shema (Deut 6:5).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativeappositive to κύριον→ object specificationθεός: 'God'; κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν, the full covenant title as direct object of love.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεόν)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θεόν).
ἐξwith / frompreposition + genitive (Hebraizing 'with the whole of')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / out of'; the construction ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας renders the Hebrew בְּכָל ('with all'); the LXX uses ἐξ for the source/measure of the love, mirroring the Shema (6:5).
ὅληςwholeGenitiveattributive adjective (with καρδίας)→ relational specificationὅλος: 'whole / entire'; renders כֹּל; the totalizing 'with all your heart' demands undivided devotion — the very thing the seducer attacks.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with καρδίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαςheartGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ→ relational specificationκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵבָב; in Hebrew anthropology the seat of will, mind, and resolve, not mere emotion — the whole inner person directed to YHWH.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with καρδίας)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with καρδίας).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second member of the Shema-pair)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξwith / frompreposition + genitive (second member: 'with the whole soul')→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (second member: 'with the whole soul').
ὅληςwholeGenitiveattributive adjective (with ψυχῆς)→ relational specificationὅλος: 'whole'; the second 'all' (ψυχή) completes the Shema-pair; Deut 13 reproduces only heart and soul (not 'strength'), as at 4:29 and 10:12.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ψυχῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχῆςsoulGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ→ relational specificationψυχή: 'soul / life / self'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; the whole living self, even to the point of life itself; loving YHWH 'with all the soul' anticipates the willingness to forfeit even one's nearest kin (vv. 7–12) for covenant loyalty.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with ψυχῆς)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with ψυχῆς).
5
ὀπίσω κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν πορεύεσθε καὶ αὐτὸν φοβηθήσεσθε καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ φυλάξεσθε καὶ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε καὶ αὐτῷ προστεθήσεσθε.
After the LORD your God you shall walk, and him you shall fear, and his commandments you shall keep, and his voice you shall heed, and to him you shall cleave.
Over against the seducer's πορευθῶμεν… ὀπίσω θεῶν ἑτέρων stands the true direction: ὀπίσω κυρίου… πορεύεσθε ('walk after the LORD'). Five verbs in asyndetic-then-coordinate sequence — walk after, fear, keep, heed, cleave — define exclusive covenant loyalty as a total orientation of life. The chain answers point-for-point the temptation: where the prophet said 'let us go after other gods', Israel must go after YHWH; where Israel was told 'do not heed (οὐκ ἀκούσεσθε) the prophet' (v. 4), here 'his voice you shall heed (ἀκούσεσθε)'.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ὀπίσωafterpreposition + genitive (direction of allegiance)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; renders אַחֲרֵי; 'to walk after' (הלך אחרי) is covenant-allegiance language — Israel must 'follow' YHWH exactly as the seducer urged following other gods (v. 3), turning the idiom back to its rightful object.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the proper object of Israel's following, in pointed contrast to the θεοὶ ἕτεροι of v. 3.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveappositive to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the covenant title 'the LORD your God' grounds the charge in relationship.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θεοῦ).
πορεύεσθεyou shall walkPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (first of five loyalty-verbs)→ imperatival present (standing command to follow)πορεύομαι: 'go / walk'; renders הָלַךְ; the present imperative directs a continual 'walking after' YHWH — the metaphor of life as a journey on YHWH's way (cf. v. 6, τῆς ὁδοῦ… πορεύεσθαι).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of φοβηθήσεσθε (fronted for emphasis)→ participant referenceαὐτός: anaphoric pronoun; the fronted 'him' (αὐτόν) before each verb sharpens the exclusivity — him and no other you shall fear.
φοβηθήσεσθεyou shall fearFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (second loyalty-verb)→ imperatival future (legal command)φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence'; renders יָרֵא; the 'fear of the LORD' in Deuteronomy is reverent loyalty, not terror (cf. 6:13; 10:20); the deponent-passive future has imperatival force.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάξεσθε (fronted)→ object specificationἐντολή: 'commandment'; renders מִצְוָה; keeping the commandments is the concrete content of covenant love (cf. v. 19; 1 John 5:3).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἐντολάς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with ἐντολάς).
φυλάξεσθεyou shall keepFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (third loyalty-verb)→ imperatival future (legal command)φυλάσσω: 'keep / guard / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the same verb as v. 1 (φυλάξῃ) and v. 19 (φυλάσσειν), framing the chapter with the duty of observance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούσεσθε ('heed his voice')→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice'; renders קוֹל; 'to hear the voice of the LORD' (שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל) means to obey (cf. v. 19); the genitive object of ἀκούω marks the thing obeyed — pointedly the opposite of heeding the seducer's λόγοι (v. 4).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with φωνῆς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with φωνῆς).
ἀκούσεσθεyou shall heedFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (fourth loyalty-verb)→ imperatival future (legal command)ἀκούω: 'hear / obey'; the same verb negated in v. 4 (οὐκ ἀκούσεσθε) is here positive — Israel's hearing belongs to YHWH alone; the antithesis is the structural pivot of the case.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷto himDativedative object of προστεθήσεσθε ('cleave to him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: anaphoric pronoun; dative of the one cleaved to.
προστεθήσεσθεyou shall cleave / be joinedFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · προστίθημιmain verb (fifth and climactic loyalty-verb)→ imperatival future (legal command)προστίθημι (pass.): 'be added to / attach oneself / cleave'; renders דָּבַק ('cling') in this context of covenant adherence (cf. 10:20; 11:22; 30:20); the passive 'be joined to him' is the climax of the loyalty-chain — total attachment to YHWH, the antithesis of going after other gods.
6
καὶ ὁ προφήτης ἐκεῖνος ἢ ὁ τὸ ἐνύπνιον ἐνυπνιαζόμενος ἐκεῖνος ἀποθανεῖται· ἐλάλησεν γὰρ πλανῆσαί σε ἀπὸ κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου τοῦ ἐξαγαγόντος σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου τοῦ λυτρωσαμένου σε ἐκ τῆς δουλείας, ἐξῶσαί σε ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ ἧς ἐνετείλατό σοι κύριος ὁ θεός σου πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτῇ· καὶ ἀφανιεῖς τὸν πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν.
And that prophet or that dreamer of the dream shall be put to death, for he spoke to lead you astray from the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, who redeemed you from slavery, to thrust you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk; and you shall remove the evil from among you yourselves.
The verdict: the seducer ἀποθανεῖται ('shall be put to death'). The γάρ-clause states the legal ground — he spoke πλανῆσαι ('to lead astray') from YHWH, named here by the great redemptive titles (who brought you from Egypt, who redeemed you from slavery). The crime is rebellion against the Redeemer himself. The verse closes with the recurring purge-formula ἀφανιεῖς τὸν πονηρόν ('you shall remove the evil', cf. 17:7; 19:19; 1 Cor 5:13).
Word-by-word analysis· 54 words
καὶandnarrative/legal conjunction (introducing the verdict)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with προφήτης)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προφήτηςprophetNominativesubject of ἀποθανεῖται→ participant prominenceπροφήτης: the seducing prophet of the case, now the condemned subject.
ἐκεῖνοςthatNominativedemonstrative adjective (with προφήτης)→ participant prominenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; distancing demonstrative, marking the condemned figure.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle substantivizing the participle ἐνυπνιαζόμενος→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἐνύπνιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνύπνιονdreamAccusativeobject of the participle ἐνυπνιαζόμενος→ object specificationἐνύπνιον: 'dream'; cognate object of the participle (cf. vv. 2, 4).
ἐνυπνιαζόμενοςdreamingPres Mid Part Nom Sg Masc · ἐνυπνιάζομαιsubstantival participle (second subject, parallel to προφήτης)→ customary present participleἐνυπνιάζομαι: 'dream'; the articular participle 'the one dreaming the dream' parallels the prophet as the second possible offender.
ἐκεῖνοςthatNominativedemonstrative adjective (with the participial subject)→ participant prominenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; resumes the distancing demonstrative for the dreamer.
ἀποθανεῖταιshall be put to deathFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (the verdict)→ imperatival future (judicial sentence)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders the Hebrew יוּמָת ('he shall be put to death'); the future has the force of a legal sentence; the death penalty for the false-prophet-seducer is grounded in the gravity of inciting covenant treason.
ἐλάλησενhe spokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb of the causal clause (ground of the verdict)→ constative aorist (the completed criminal act of speech)λαλέω: 'speak'; his crime is one of speech — he 'spoke' to seduce; the same verb that announced the sign (v. 3) now condemns him; in Deuteronomy the false word is itself the capital offense (cf. 18:20).
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive: ground of the sentence)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the legal rationale for the death penalty.
πλανῆσαίto lead astrayAor Act Inf · πλανάωinfinitive of purpose/result (with ἐλάλησεν: 'spoke to lead astray')→ verbal action or stateπλανάω: 'lead astray / deceive / cause to wander'; renders הִדִּיחַ / הִתְעָה; the verb governs the whole indictment — the seducer's aim was to make Israel 'wander' from the path of YHWH; cognate to πλάνη ('error/deception') in NT polemic against apostasy (1 John 4:6).
σεyouAccusativedirect object of πλανῆσαι→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of πλανῆσαι.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'away from the LORD')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; marks the apostasy as separation/defection from YHWH himself.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the One from whom the seducer would draw Israel away, identified by his redemptive acts in the following participles.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveappositive to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; 'the LORD your God' — the covenant Redeemer.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θεοῦ).
τοῦthe (one)Genitivearticle substantivizing the participle ἐξαγαγόντος→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐξαγαγόντοςwho brought outAor Act Part Gen Sg Masc · ἐξάγωattributive participle (Exodus-credal title of YHWH)→ constative aorist participle (the foundational redemptive act)ἐξάγω: 'lead out / bring out'; renders הוֹצִיא; 'who brought you out of the land of Egypt' is the foundational LXX exodus-formula (cf. Exod 20:2); naming YHWH thus makes apostasy not merely error but ingratitude toward the Redeemer.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξαγαγόντος→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξαγαγόντος.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source of deliverance)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source of deliverance).
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; γῆ Αἰγύπτου ('land of Egypt'), the place of bondage.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of definition (with γῆς)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of מִצְרַיִם; the land of slavery from which YHWH delivered Israel.
τοῦthe (one)Genitivearticle substantivizing the participle λυτρωσαμένου→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λυτρωσαμένουwho redeemedAor Mid Part Gen Sg Masc · λυτρόωattributive participle (second redemptive title, parallel to ἐξαγαγόντος)→ constative aorist participle (completed act of ransoming)λυτρόω (mid.): 'redeem / ransom / set free by payment'; renders פָּדָה / גָּאַל; the redemption-language (λύτρον, 'ransom') casts the exodus as YHWH's purchase of Israel as his own — to follow other gods is to repudiate one's Redeemer (cf. 7:8; 9:26).
σεyouAccusativedirect object of λυτρωσαμένου→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of λυτρωσαμένου.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source of redemption)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source of redemption).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with δουλείας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δουλείαςslaveryGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationδουλεία: 'slavery / bondage'; renders עֲבָדִים / בֵּית עֲבָדִים ('house of slaves'); note the irony with λατρεύω/δουλεία: YHWH freed Israel from δουλεία to Egypt; to 'serve' (λατρεύω) other gods is to return to bondage.
ἐξῶσαίto thrust outAor Act Inf · ἐξωθέωinfinitive of purpose (parallel to πλανῆσαι: the seducer's further aim)→ verbal action or stateἐξωθέω: 'thrust out / push away / expel'; renders הִדִּיחַ; a forceful synonym for πλανῆσαι, intensifying the indictment — the seducer would violently 'push' Israel off the path YHWH commanded.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξῶσαι→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξῶσαι.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation from the way)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation from the way).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ὁδοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδοῦwayGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationὁδός: 'way / road / path'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; 'the way in which YHWH commanded you to walk' is the metaphor of covenant obedience as a path (cf. v. 5, πορεύεσθε); apostasy is departure from the road.
ἧςin whichGenitiverelative pronoun (attracted to the case of ὁδοῦ; antecedent the way)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, feminine genitive by attraction to ὁδοῦ; logically the object/locus of the walking ('the way in which…').
ἐνετείλατόcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the prior divine command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; the same verb as v. 1 (ἐντέλλομαι) and v. 19; here YHWH 'commanded' the way of life — the path the seducer would abandon.
σοιyouDativeindirect object of ἐνετείλατο→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of ἐνετείλατο.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the One who commanded the way.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativeappositive to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the covenant title repeated.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θεός).
πορεύεσθαιto walkPres Mid Inf · πορεύομαιcomplementary infinitive (with ἐνετείλατο: 'commanded… to walk')→ verbal action or stateπορεύομαι: 'walk / go'; the infinitive completes the command — to walk in YHWH's way; echoes the charge of v. 5 (πορεύεσθε).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in it')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in it').
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (referring to ὁδοῦ, 'the way')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: anaphoric pronoun, feminine to agree with ὁδός ('the way').
καὶand soconjunction (introducing the purge-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here consequential — 'and so'; introduces the recurring Deuteronomic conclusion to capital cases.
ἀφανιεῖςyou shall remove / make away withFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀφανίζωmain verb (the purge-formula)→ imperatival future (legal command)ἀφανίζω: 'remove / make disappear / blot out'; renders בִּעֵר ('burn away / purge'); the formula ἀφανιεῖς τὸν πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν ('you shall purge the evil from among you') recurs throughout Deuteronomy's criminal law (17:7, 12; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21–24; 24:7) and is cited by Paul at 1 Cor 5:13.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πονηρόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevil (one / thing)Accusativedirect object of ἀφανιεῖς (substantival adjective)→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; renders רָע; the substantive 'the evil' may denote the evil person (the seducer) or the evil thing/situation; the purge cleanses the covenant community of the contaminating apostasy.
ἐξfrom amongpreposition + genitive (separation from the community)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation from the community).
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (the community to be cleansed)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἐξ (the community to be cleansed).
αὐτῶνyourselvesGenitiveintensive pronoun (with ὑμῶν: 'from your own selves')→ relational specificationαὐτός: intensive, 'from among you yourselves'; the doubling ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν underlines that the evil is internal — purging it is self-purification of the covenant body.
7
ἐὰν δὲ παρακαλέσῃ σε ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἐκ πατρός σου ἢ ἐκ μητρός σου ἢ ὁ υἱός σου ἢ ἡ θυγάτηρ σου ἢ ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἐν κόλπῳ σου ἢ ὁ φίλος ὁ ἴσος τῆς ψυχῆς σου λάθρᾳ λέγων βαδίσωμεν καὶ λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις οὓς οὐκ ᾔδεις σὺ καὶ οἱ πατέρες σου,
But if your brother by your father or by your mother, or your son or your daughter, or the wife in your bosom, or the friend who is equal to your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' whom neither you nor your fathers have known,
The second case (vv. 7–12) raises the stakes from the public prophet to the most intimate relations. The list — brother (same father or mother), son, daughter, the wife ἐν κόλπῳ σου ('of your bosom'), the friend ὁ ἴσος τῆς ψυχῆς σου ('like your own self') — is deliberately exhaustive of the closest human bonds. The enticement is secret (λάθρᾳ), and the words are the same formula of apostasy (βαδίσωμεν… λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις). The law thus tests the love-command of v. 4 at its hardest point (cf. Matt 10:37).
Word-by-word analysis· 52 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; opens the second casuistic case, parallel in form to v. 2.
δὲbut / anddevelopmental particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the transition to the second, more intimate case.
παρακαλέσῃentices / urgesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · παρακαλέωverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ verbal action or stateπαρακαλέω: 'urge / exhort / entreat'; renders הִסִּית ('incite / instigate'); the verb normally has positive senses ('comfort, encourage'), but here the sinister sense 'incite to evil' — the intimate one's persuasive pressure makes the temptation especially dangerous.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of παρακαλέσῃ→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of παρακαλέσῃ.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἀδελφός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφόςbrotherNominativesubject of παρακαλέσῃ (first member of the kinship list)→ participant prominenceἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָח; heads the list of intimates; the qualification 'by your father or by your mother' specifies full or half sibling — the closest blood-tie.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἀδελφός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with ἀδελφός).
ἐκby / frompreposition + genitive (origin: 'by your father')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / by'; here of parentage — the brother sharing one's father.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (parentage)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; specifies the brother's relation through the father.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with πατρός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with πατρός).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκby / frompreposition + genitive (origin: 'by your mother')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (origin: 'by your mother').
μητρόςmotherGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (parentage)→ relational specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; renders אֵם; the alternative parentage — even a half-brother through the mother is included.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with μητρός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with μητρός).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with υἱός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόςsonNominativesubject (second member of the list)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; one's own child — the bond a parent would least suspect or resist.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with υἱός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with υἱός).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with θυγάτηρ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγάτηρdaughterNominativesubject (third member of the list)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the list pairs son and daughter to include all one's children.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θυγάτηρ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θυγάτηρ).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γυνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativesubject (fourth member of the list)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'wife / woman'; renders אִשָּׁה; here specifically the wife, qualified by the tender phrase ἡ ἐν κόλπῳ σου.
ἡthe (who is)Nominativearticle (attributive, with the prepositional phrase ἐν κόλπῳ σου)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (intimacy: 'in your bosom')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (intimacy: 'in your bosom').
κόλπῳbosomDativedative object of ἐν→ sphere or referenceκόλπος: 'bosom / lap / embrace'; renders חֵיק; 'the wife of your bosom' (cf. 28:54; Mic 7:5) is an idiom of the most intimate marital affection — making her enticement the supreme test of loyalty between spouse and God.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with κόλπῳ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with κόλπῳ).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with φίλος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φίλοςfriendNominativesubject (fifth and climactic member of the list)→ participant prominenceφίλος: 'friend / beloved'; renders רֵעַ; the closest friend, beyond kinship — the bond of chosen affection, here qualified as 'equal to your own soul.'
ὁthe (who is)Nominativearticle (attributive, with ἴσος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἴσοςequalNominativeattributive adjective (modifying φίλος)→ participant prominenceἴσος: 'equal / like'; the phrase ὁ ἴσος τῆς ψυχῆς σου ('equal to your soul') renders כְּנַפְשְׁךָ ('like your own self/soul'); the dearest friend, loved as oneself — even this bond must not override loyalty to YHWH.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ψυχῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχῆςsoul / selfGenitivegenitive of comparison (with ἴσος: 'equal to your soul')→ relational specificationψυχή: 'soul / self / life'; the same word as in the Shema-echo of v. 4 (ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς) — pointedly, the friend 'equal to your soul' must yield to loving YHWH 'with all your soul.'
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with ψυχῆς)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with ψυχῆς).
λάθρᾳsecretlyadverb of manner→ clausal contributionλάθρᾳ: 'secretly / in secret'; renders בַּסֵּתֶר; the secrecy marks the enticement as covert seduction — the intimate exploits trust and privacy, which makes detection and prosecution all the harder, and the loyalty-test the more searching.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of attendant circumstance (introducing direct speech)→ present participle (quotative)λέγω (part.): the quotative 'saying' (= Hebrew לֵאמֹר) introduces the enticer's words.
βαδίσωμενlet us goAor Act Subj 1 Pl · βαδίζωhortatory subjunctive (the enticer's invitation)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (call to apostasy)βαδίζω: 'walk / go'; a near-synonym of πορεύομαι; the variation from πορευθῶμεν (v. 3) is stylistic, but the temptation is identical — 'let us go and serve other gods.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λατρεύσωμενlet us serveAor Act Subj 1 Pl · λατρεύωhortatory subjunctive (coordinate with βαδίσωμεν)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (call to idolatrous worship)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; the verbatim apostasy-formula λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις, identical to v. 3 and v. 14 — the constant refrain of the seducer across all three cases.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of λατρεύσωμεν→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'god'; the 'other gods', object of the prohibited service.
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (with θεοῖς)→ sphere or referenceἕτερος: 'other'; θεοὶ ἕτεροι, the standard polemical phrase for rival deities.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ᾔδεις)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, antecedent θεοῖς ἑτέροις.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ᾔδεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾔδειςyou knewPlpf Act Indic 2 Sg · οἶδαverb of the relative clause→ pluperfect with imperfect/past force (settled past ignorance)οἶδα (plpf. ᾔδεις): 'know'; the pluperfect functions as a simple past — 'gods whom neither you nor your fathers had known'; their foreignness to Israel's covenant history (and the fathers') marks them as having no claim on Israel's allegiance (cf. v. 3, οὐκ οἴδατε).
σὺyouNominativesubject of ᾔδεις (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; paired with 'your fathers' to span the whole covenant generation — these gods belong to no part of Israel's heritage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πατέρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of ᾔδεις (coordinate with σύ)→ participant prominenceπατήρ (pl. πατέρες): 'fathers / ancestors'; the appeal to the fathers' ignorance of these gods reinforces the gods' alien status — they are no part of the patriarchal covenant tradition.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with πατέρες)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with πατέρες).
8
ἀπὸ τῶν θεῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν περικύκλῳ ὑμῶν τῶν ἐγγιζόντων σοι ἢ τῶν μακρὰν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἀπ᾽ ἄκρου τῆς γῆς ἕως ἄκρου τῆς γῆς,
from the gods of the nations that are round about you, those near to you or those far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth,
v. 8 amplifies the 'other gods' of v. 7: they are the gods of the surrounding nations — whether near or far, ἀπ᾽ ἄκρου τῆς γῆς ἕως ἄκρου τῆς γῆς ('from one end of the earth to the other'). The merism of total geographical span underscores that no foreign deity, however near or exotic, can have any claim on Israel; the temptation is comprehensive, and so must be the refusal.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source of the 'other gods')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; specifies the source-pool of the alien gods — 'from among the gods of the nations.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with θεῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῶνgodsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationθεός: 'god'; the gods of the nations — the deities of the surrounding peoples whose worship Israel is forbidden.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἐθνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive of possession ('gods of the nations')→ relational specificationἔθνος: 'nation / gentile people'; renders גּוֹי; the surrounding pagan nations whose gods pose the perennial temptation to Israel (cf. 12:30).
τῶνthe (which are)Genitivearticle (attributive, with περικύκλῳ ὑμῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περικύκλῳround aboutadverb (with genitive ὑμῶν: 'around you')→ clausal contributionπερικύκλῳ: 'round about / all around'; renders סְבִיבוֹת; the nations encircling Israel — the immediate cultural-religious pressure on every side.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive (with περικύκλῳ: 'around you')→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with περικύκλῳ: 'around you').
τῶνthe (which are)Genitivearticle substantivizing the participle ἐγγιζόντων→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐγγιζόντωνnear (drawing near)Pres Act Part Gen Pl Masc/Neut · ἐγγίζωattributive participle (modifying ἐθνῶν: 'those near you')→ customary present participle (those that are near)ἐγγίζω: 'draw near / be near'; renders קָרוֹב; the participle 'those near to you' begins the near/far merism — neither proximity nor distance exempts a foreign god from the prohibition.
σοιto youDativedative (with ἐγγιζόντων: 'near to you')→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (with ἐγγιζόντων: 'near to you').
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (near vs. far)→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῶνthe (which are)Genitivearticle (attributive, with μακράν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μακρὰνfaradverb (with ἀπὸ σοῦ: 'far from you')→ clausal contributionμακράν: 'far / at a distance'; renders רָחוֹק; completes the near/far merism — the gods of distant peoples are equally forbidden.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (with μακράν: 'far from you')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (with μακράν: 'far from you').
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀπό.
ἀπ᾽frompreposition + genitive (start of the geographical merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; the construction ἀπ᾽ ἄκρου… ἕως ἄκρου ('from end… to end') is a merism of total geographical extent.
ἄκρουendGenitivegenitive object of ἀπ᾽ (one extreme of the merism)→ relational specificationἄκρον: 'end / extremity / edge'; renders קָצֶה; the 'end of the earth' marks the maximal limit — no distance is too great for the prohibition to reach.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive of definition (with ἄκρου)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / land'; here the whole earth, the span of the merism.
ἕωςto / as far aspreposition + genitive (other extreme of the merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / as far as'; completes the ἀπό… ἕως merism of total extent.
ἄκρουendGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (the opposite extreme)→ relational specificationἄκρον: 'end / extremity'; the opposite pole of the geographical merism.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive of definition (with ἄκρου)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth'; closes the merism — from one end of the earth to the other, no foreign god anywhere may be served.
9
οὐ συνθελήσεις αὐτῷ καὶ οὐκ εἰσακούσῃ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ, οὐκ ἐπιποθήσεις ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ οὐδ᾽ οὐ μὴ σκεπάσῃς αὐτόν·
you shall not consent to him, and you shall not listen to him, and your eye shall not spare him, you shall not have pity on him, nor shall you ever conceal him;
The apodosis answers the intimate enticement with a fivefold negation that mirrors the fivefold loyalty-charge of v. 5 in reverse: do not consent, do not listen, do not let the eye spare, do not pity, do not conceal. The phrase οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ('your eye shall not spare') is the chapter's most severe and difficult demand — natural affection (the very intimacy catalogued in v. 7) must not deflect covenant justice. The emphatic οὐδ᾽ οὐ μὴ σκεπάσῃς ('you shall by no means conceal him') uses the strongest Greek negation.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
οὐnotnegative particle (with συνθελήσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνθελήσειςyou shall consentFut Act Indic 2 Sg · συνθέλωmain verb (first of five prohibitions)→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)συνθέλω: 'consent / agree / will together with'; the compound συν- ('with') stresses joining one's will to the enticer's; renders אָבָה ('be willing'); to 'consent' would be the first step into shared guilt.
αὐτῷto himDativedative object of συνθελήσεις→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of συνθελήσεις.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with εἰσακούσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσακούσῃyou shall listenFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰσακούωmain verb (second prohibition)→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)εἰσακούω: 'listen to / heed / give ear'; the compound εἰσ- intensifies ('hearken to'); renders שָׁמַע; with the genitive αὐτοῦ — 'do not give him a hearing' (cf. the negated ἀκούσεσθε of v. 4).
αὐτοῦto himGenitivegenitive object of εἰσακούσῃ→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of εἰσακούσῃ.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with φείσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φείσεταιshall spareFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · φείδομαιmain verb (third prohibition; subject ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου)→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)φείδομαι: 'spare / show mercy / hold back'; renders חוּס; 'your eye shall not spare' (לֹא תָחוֹס עֵינְךָ) is a recurring Deuteronomic idiom for the suppression of pity in judicial execution (cf. 7:16; 19:13, 21; 25:12); the most sobering demand of the chapter — affection must not obstruct covenant justice. This severity must be read within its ancient theocratic-judicial frame, not as a standing warrant.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ὀφθαλμός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμόςeyeNominativesubject of φείσεται→ participant prominenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; the eye stands by metonymy for compassionate feeling — 'your eye shall not pity' means natural tenderness must not stay the hand of justice against apostasy.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with ὀφθαλμός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with ὀφθαλμός).
ἐπ᾽onpreposition + dative (with φείσεται: 'spare him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾽: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (with φείσεται: 'spare him').
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of ἐπ᾽→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐπ᾽.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπιποθήσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιποθήσειςyou shall yearn over / pityFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐπιποθέωmain verb (fourth prohibition)→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)ἐπιποθέω: 'long for / yearn over'; here renders חָמַל ('have compassion / spare'); the verb that elsewhere expresses tender longing (Phil 1:8) is here forbidden — one must not let yearning affection for the intimate enticer shield him from justice.
ἐπ᾽overpreposition + dative (with ἐπιποθήσεις)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾽: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (with ἐπιποθήσεις).
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of ἐπ᾽→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐπ᾽.
οὐδ᾽norcoordinating negative (introducing the emphatic fifth prohibition)→ clausal contributionοὐδέ: 'and not / nor'; links the final, most emphatic prohibition.
οὐnotpart of the emphatic double negative οὐ μή (with subjunctive)→ participant referenceοὐ μή: the emphatic double negative with the aorist subjunctive expresses the strongest possible denial — 'you shall by no means conceal him.'
μὴnotpart of the emphatic double negative οὐ μή→ clausal qualification or emphasisμὴ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
σκεπάσῃςyou shall conceal / shelterAor Act Subj 2 Sg · σκεπάζωmain verb (fifth prohibition; subjunctive with οὐ μή)→ emphatic prohibitive subjunctive (absolute denial)σκεπάζω: 'cover / shelter / hide / protect'; renders כִּסָּה ('cover/conceal'); 'you shall by no means conceal him' forbids harboring or screening the apostate intimate from justice — concealment would make one complicit; the duty of disclosure overrides the bond of secrecy the enticer exploited (λάθρᾳ, v. 7).
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of σκεπάσῃς→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of σκεπάσῃς.
10
ἀναγγέλλων ἀναγγελεῖς περὶ αὐτοῦ· αἱ χεῖρές σου ἔσονται ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἐν πρώτοις ἀποκτεῖναι αὐτόν, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτῳ.
By reporting you shall report concerning him; your hands shall be upon him first to put him to death, and the hands of all the people afterward.
Over against concealment (v. 9) stands the duty of disclosure, expressed by the emphatic cognate ἀναγγέλλων ἀναγγελεῖς ('reporting you shall report' — a Hebraizing infinitive-absolute construction). The one enticed must be the first to act against the enticer: αἱ χεῖρές σου… ἐν πρώτοις, then 'the hands of all the people.' The 'hand of the witness first' rule (cf. 17:7) both verifies the accuser's sincerity and binds the whole community in the execution.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἀναγγέλλωνreportingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἀναγγέλλωcognate participle (Hebraizing infinitive-absolute construction with ἀναγγελεῖς)→ present participle intensifying the finite verb (emphatic)ἀναγγέλλω: 'report / announce / disclose'; the figura etymologica ἀναγγέλλων ἀναγγελεῖς renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute הַגֵּד תַּגִּיד ('you shall surely report'), expressing emphatic certainty — the duty to denounce is absolute and overrides the bond of intimacy.
ἀναγγελεῖςyou shall reportFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (with cognate participle: emphatic command)→ imperatival future (emphatic legal command)ἀναγγέλλω: 'report / make known'; the finite verb completes the infinitive-absolute idiom — the enticed party must publicly disclose the crime, the opposite of σκεπάζω ('conceal', v. 9).
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (the matter reported)→ spatial or relational framingπερὶ: meaning 'concerning'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (the matter reported).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of περί→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of περί.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with χεῖρες)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖρέςhandsNominativesubject of ἔσονται→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; 'your hands upon him first' refers to the act of execution (stoning, v. 11); the witness/accuser strikes first as proof of conviction and to assume responsibility before God (cf. 17:7).
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with χεῖρες)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with χεῖρες).
ἔσονταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predicting the act of execution)→ imperatival/predictive future (the hands shall be upon him)εἰμί (fut. ἔσονται): 'be'; 'the hands shall be upon him' is an idiom for laying hold to execute; the future has legal force.
ἐπ᾽uponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction: 'upon him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾽: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction: 'upon him').
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾽→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπ᾽.
ἐνamong / atpreposition + dative (idiomatic: 'first / among the first')→ spatial or relational framingἐν πρώτοις: idiom 'first / among the first'; renders בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה ('at the first'); marks the accuser's hand as the one to strike first.
πρώτοιςfirstDativesubstantival adjective (with ἐν: 'first')→ sphere or referenceπρῶτος: 'first'; the dative with ἐν means 'at the first / before all others' — the witness initiates the execution.
ἀποκτεῖναιto put to deathAor Act Inf · ἀποκτείνωinfinitive of purpose (with αἱ χεῖρες… ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν: 'upon him to kill him')→ constative aorist infinitiveἀποκτείνω: 'kill / put to death'; renders הָרַג / הֵמִית; the infinitive of purpose states the aim of the laid-on hands — capital punishment for the proven apostate.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ἀποκτεῖναι→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀποκτεῖναι.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with χεῖρες)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖρεςhandsNominativesubject (the people's hands, second in sequence)→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; after the accuser strikes first, the whole people join — corporate participation seals the community's repudiation of the apostasy.
παντὸςallGenitiveattributive adjective (with λαοῦ)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all the people' — the execution is a corporate act of the covenant community.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivepossessive genitive (with χεῖρες: 'the hands of all the people')→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; the covenant community of Israel, whose corporate participation in the execution makes the purge a communal act.
ἐπ᾽atpreposition + dative (idiomatic: 'at the last / afterward')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτῳ: idiom 'at the last / afterward'; renders בָּאַחֲרֹנָה; the people's hands follow the accuser's.
ἐσχάτῳlastDativesubstantival adjective (with ἐπ᾽: 'afterward')→ sphere or referenceἔσχατος: 'last / final'; the sequence first(πρώτοις)/last(ἐσχάτῳ) frames the order of execution — accuser then community.
11
καὶ λιθοβολήσουσιν αὐτὸν ἐν λίθοις καὶ ἀποθανεῖται, ὅτι ἐζήτησεν ἀποστῆσαί σε ἀπὸ κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου τοῦ ἐξαγαγόντος σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας.
And they shall stone him with stones, and he shall die, because he sought to draw you away from the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
The mode of execution is stoning (λιθοβολήσουσιν… ἐν λίθοις), the standard penalty for apostasy and idolatry (cf. 17:5; Lev 20:2). The ὅτι-clause supplies the same rationale as v. 6: ἐζήτησεν ἀποστῆσαί σε ('he sought to turn you away') from YHWH the Redeemer. The verb ἐζήτησεν ('sought', from ζητέω) parallels the chapter's interest in seeking/inquiry (cf. ἐραυνήσεις, v. 15), and 'house of slavery' (οἶκος δουλείας) reprises the exodus-credo.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative/legal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λιθοβολήσουσινthey shall stoneFut Act Indic 3 Pl · λιθοβολέωmain verb (mode of execution)→ imperatival future (prescribed penalty)λιθοβολέω: 'stone / pelt with stones'; renders סָקַל / רָגַם; stoning was the prescribed communal mode of execution for apostasy and idolatry (cf. 17:5; Lev 24:14), enabling the whole people to participate (v. 10) and distributing responsibility.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of λιθοβολήσουσιν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of λιθοβολήσουσιν.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument: 'with stones')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental dative use, 'with / by means of'; a Hebraizing instrumental ἐν (rendering בְּ).
λίθοιςstonesDativedative of instrument (with λιθοβολήσουσιν)→ sphere or referenceλίθος: 'stone'; the cognate instrument with λιθοβολέω ('stone with stones') is an emphatic Hebraism (cf. בָּאֲבָנִים).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθανεῖταιhe shall dieFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (result of stoning)→ predictive/imperatival future (the death sentence carried out)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the result of the stoning; the same verb sealed the verdict in v. 6 (ἀποθανεῖται), binding the two cases in parallel.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (ground of the penalty)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the legal rationale, parallel to v. 6.
ἐζήτησενhe soughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ζητέωmain verb of the causal clause→ constative aorist (the completed criminal intent)ζητέω: 'seek / attempt'; renders בִּקֵּשׁ; here 'he sought to turn you away' — the intent itself constitutes the crime; the verb of seeking ironically inverts the proper 'seeking' of YHWH (cf. the diligent inquiry ἐραυνήσεις, v. 15).
ἀποστῆσαίto draw awayAor Act Inf · ἀφίστημιcomplementary infinitive (with ἐζήτησεν: 'sought to draw away')→ verbal action or stateἀφίστημι (trans. aor.): 'cause to revolt / draw away / make defect'; renders הִדִּיחַ; cognate to ἀποστασία ('apostasy/rebellion'); the seducer's aim was Israel's defection from YHWH — the essence of the sin the chapter legislates against.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἀποστῆσαι→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀποστῆσαι.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation from YHWH)→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation from YHWH).
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the One from whom the enticer would draw Israel away.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveappositive to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the covenant title 'the LORD your God.'
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θεοῦ).
τοῦthe (one)Genitivearticle substantivizing the participle ἐξαγαγόντος→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐξαγαγόντοςwho brought outAor Act Part Gen Sg Masc · ἐξάγωattributive participle (exodus-credal title, as in v. 6)→ constative aorist participle (the foundational redemptive act)ἐξάγω: 'bring out'; the exodus-formula 'who brought you out of the land of Egypt' repeats v. 6, anchoring the prohibition of apostasy in YHWH's act of deliverance.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξαγαγόντος→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξαγαγόντος.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source of deliverance)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source of deliverance).
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; γῆ Αἰγύπτου, the land of bondage.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of definition (with γῆς)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of מִצְרַיִם.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (epexegetic: 'out of the house of slavery')→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (epexegetic: 'out of the house of slavery').
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the phrase ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας ('out of the house of slavery') renders מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים, the classic exodus epithet for Egypt (cf. Exod 20:2; Deut 5:6; 6:12) — Egypt as a 'house of bondage' from which YHWH freed Israel.
δουλείαςof slaveryGenitivegenitive of definition (with οἴκου)→ relational specificationδουλεία: 'slavery / bondage'; renders עֲבָדִים; the same word as v. 6 (ἐκ τῆς δουλείας) — to serve (λατρεύω) other gods would be to re-enter the very bondage from which YHWH redeemed Israel.
12
καὶ πᾶς Ισραηλ ἀκούσας φοβηθήσεται καὶ οὐ προσθήσουσιν ἔτι ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τὸ πονηρὸν τοῦτο ἐν ὑμῖν.
And all Israel, when they hear, shall fear, and they shall no longer do according to this evil thing among you.
The case closes with the deterrence-formula: all Israel will hear and fear (ἀκούσας φοβηθήσεται) and not repeat 'this evil thing' (cf. 17:13; 19:20; 21:21). The collective 'fear' here is the salutary deterrent dread of consequences, distinct from the reverent fear of YHWH in v. 5 (φοβηθήσεσθε). The negated προσθήσουσιν ('they shall not add/repeat') verbally echoes the canon-formula of v. 1 (οὐ προσθήσεις).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the deterrent clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςallNominativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; 'all Israel' — the whole community is the audience of the deterrent example.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationἸσραήλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the covenant people as a whole, here the deterred audience.
ἀκούσαςhaving heard / when they hearAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἀκούωcircumstantial participle (temporal: 'when they hear')→ aorist participle (antecedent action: upon hearing)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the temporal participle agrees grammatically with the singular πᾶς Ισραηλ; 'when all Israel hears' of the execution, the report itself becomes the deterrent — hearing leading to fear, the opposite of the heeding forbidden in v. 4.
φοβηθήσεταιshall fearFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (the deterrent effect)→ predictive future (the intended deterrent result)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; here the deterrent dread that follows public report of judgment (cf. 17:13; 19:20) — distinct from the reverent 'fear' of YHWH commanded in v. 5, though the wholesome end is the same: covenant fidelity preserved.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with προσθήσουσιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσθήσουσινthey shall add / do againFut Act Indic 3 Pl · προστίθημιmain verb (with infinitive ποιῆσαι: 'shall not do again')→ predictive future (the deterrent outcome)προστίθημι: 'add / continue / do again'; the idiom οὐ προσθήσουσιν… ποιῆσαι ('they shall not continue/again to do') renders לֹא יוֹסִיפוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת; verbally echoes the canon-formula's οὐ προσθήσεις (v. 1) — Israel will 'add' no such evil again.
ἔτιany longer / againtemporal adverb (with the negated verb: 'no longer')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / again'; with the negative, 'no longer / never again'; renders עוֹד.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with προσθήσουσιν)→ constative aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do / commit'; completes the idiom 'they shall not do again' — the deterred repetition of apostasy.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/standard: 'according to')→ spatial or relational framingκατά: 'according to'; renders כְּ; 'according to this evil thing' = in the manner of this evil deed.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / matterAccusativeaccusative object of κατά→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר; here 'thing/deed' (the deed of apostasy); note the inclusio with v. 1, where πᾶν ῥῆμα was the divine word to be kept — here the evil ῥῆμα to be never repeated.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πονηρόν, in attributive position)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativeattributive adjective (with ῥῆμα: 'this evil thing')→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; renders רָע; 'this evil thing' is the apostasy; cf. τὸν πονηρόν ('the evil') purged in v. 6.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; deictically points to the specific apostasy just legislated.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: 'among you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'among you').
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐν ('among you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): the plural 'among you' frames the apostasy as a corporate danger to be purged from the community's midst.
13
ἐὰν δὲ ἀκούσῃς ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεών σου ὧν κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι κατοικεῖν σε ἐκεῖ λεγόντων
But if you hear, in one of your cities which the LORD your God gives you to dwell there, people saying,
The third and gravest case (vv. 13–19) escalates from individuals (prophet, intimate) to a whole community — a city of the land YHWH gives. The protasis runs through v. 14; ἐὰν… ἀκούσῃς ('if you hear') sets up the report whose truth must then be tested (v. 15). The cities are precisely those YHWH 'gives you to dwell' (δίδωσιν… κατοικεῖν) — the gift of the land makes its corruption by apostasy the more intolerable.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; opens the third casuistic case, parallel to vv. 2 and 7.
δὲbut / anddevelopmental particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the transition to the third, gravest case — corporate apostasy.
ἀκούσῃςyou hearAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἀκούωverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctiveἀκούω: 'hear'; the report of a city's apostasy reaches the hearer; this 'hearing' must be tested (v. 15) before action — the same verb that frames the chapter's drama of what Israel should and should not heed (vv. 4, 5, 12, 19).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in one of your cities')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in one of your cities').
μιᾷoneDativesubstantival numeral (with τῶν πόλεων: 'one of the cities')→ measure or countεἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the feminine dative μιᾷ, 'in one of your cities' — even a single apostate city threatens the whole.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with πόλεων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεώνcitiesGenitivepartitive genitive (with μιᾷ: 'one of the cities')→ relational specificationπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; the cities of the promised land, given by YHWH — making their apostasy a defilement of the gift.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with πόλεων)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with πόλεων).
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (attracted to the case of πόλεων; antecedent the cities)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, feminine genitive by attraction to πόλεων; logically the accusative object of δίδωσιν.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of δίδωσιν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the Giver of the land and its cities.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativeappositive to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the covenant title 'the LORD your God.'
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θεός).
δίδωσίνgivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of the relative clause→ customary/futuristic present (the standing gift of the land)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the land-gift formula ('which the LORD your God gives you') is pervasive in Deuteronomy (cf. 12:10; 19:1); the present tense frames the gift as YHWH's ongoing bestowal.
σοιto youDativeindirect object of δίδωσιν→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of δίδωσιν.
κατοικεῖνto dwellPres Act Inf · κατοικέωinfinitive of purpose (with δίδωσιν: 'gives… to dwell')→ imperfectiveκατοικέω: 'dwell / settle / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the land is given for settled habitation — the secure dwelling YHWH provides is precisely what apostasy forfeits (cf. v. 17, ἀοίκητος, 'uninhabited').
σεyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive κατοικεῖν→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): the accusative subject of κατοικεῖν, 'that you should dwell.'
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (with κατοικεῖν)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; renders שָׁם; locates the dwelling in the given cities.
λεγόντωνsayingPres Act Part Gen Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple (genitive, loosely construed: 'of people saying' = report of what is said)→ present participle (quotative, introducing the report)λέγω (part. λεγόντων): the genitive plural participle 'saying' (a somewhat loose construction, perhaps genitive absolute or partitive) introduces the content of the report you 'hear' — the seducers' speech quoted in v. 14.
14
ἐξήλθοσαν ἄνδρες παράνομοι ἐξ ὑμῶν καὶ ἀπέστησαν πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν λέγοντες πορευθῶμεν καὶ λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις οὓς οὐκ ᾔδειτε,
'Lawless men have gone out from among you and have led astray all the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods,' whom you have not known,
The report's content: ἄνδρες παράνομοι ('lawless men', lit. 'sons of Belial' in Hebrew) have arisen from within Israel and 'led astray' (ἀπέστησαν, from ἀφίστημι, the same verb as v. 11) a whole city's inhabitants to serve other gods. The corporate scale distinguishes this case: the instigators have corrupted not an individual but an entire πόλις, with the same apostasy-formula (πορευθῶμεν… λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἐξήλθοσανhave gone outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb of the reported speech→ constative aorist (the completed emergence of the agitators)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; the Hellenistic 3rd plural ending -οσαν (for -ον) is characteristic of LXX Greek; 'lawless men have gone out from among you' — the corrupters arose from within Israel itself, as in v. 2 (ἐν σοί).
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of ἐξήλθοσαν→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אֲנָשִׁים; the agents of the city's corruption.
παράνομοιlawlessNominativeattributive adjective (with ἄνδρες)→ participant prominenceπαράνομος: 'lawless / transgressing / wicked'; renders בְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַל ('sons of Belial/worthlessness'); the LXX interprets the Hebrew epithet as 'lawbreakers' — those who violate the covenant law and incite others to do likewise.
ἐξfrom amongpreposition + genitive (source: 'from among you')→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source: 'from among you').
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'from among you' — the corrupters are insiders, members of the covenant community gone rogue.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστησανhave led astray / made to revoltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀφίστημιmain verb (the act of corrupting the city)→ constative aorist (the completed seduction of the city)ἀφίστημι (trans. aor.): 'cause to revolt / draw away / make defect'; renders הִדִּיחַ; the same verb as ἀποστῆσαι in v. 11 — here in the corporate sense, they made a whole city 'revolt' from YHWH; cognate to ἀποστασία.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with τοὺς κατοικοῦντας)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all the inhabitants' — the apostasy is total, embracing the whole city's population.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle substantivizing the participle κατοικοῦντας→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦνταςinhabiting / inhabitantsPres Act Part Acc Pl Masc · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (direct object of ἀπέστησαν)→ customary present participle (the resident population)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; the participle 'those inhabiting the city' = its residents; the same verb as v. 13 (κατοικεῖν) and v. 16 (κατοικοῦντας) — the dwellers given the land have become its corrupters.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of the participle κατοικοῦντας ('inhabiting the city')→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; the corrupted city, soon to be placed under the ban (vv. 16–17).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive genitive (with πόλιν)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with πόλιν).
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple of attendant circumstance (introducing the seducers' words)→ present participle (quotative)λέγω (part. λέγοντες): the quotative 'saying' (= Hebrew לֵאמֹר) introduces the now-familiar apostasy-formula.
πορευθῶμενlet us goAor Pass Subj 1 Pl · πορεύομαιhortatory subjunctive (the seducers' invitation)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (call to apostasy)πορεύομαι: 'go'; the apostasy-formula repeats verbatim the call of v. 3 (πορευθῶμεν), tying all three cases together by their identical temptation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λατρεύσωμενlet us serveAor Act Subj 1 Pl · λατρεύωhortatory subjunctive (coordinate with πορευθῶμεν)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (call to idolatrous worship)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; the third occurrence of λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις (cf. vv. 3, 7) — the constant refrain of incitement across prophet, intimate, and city.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of λατρεύσωμεν→ sphere or referenceθεός: 'god'; the 'other gods', object of the prohibited service.
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (with θεοῖς)→ sphere or referenceἕτερος: 'other'; θεοὶ ἕτεροι, the standard phrase for rival deities.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ᾔδειτε)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, antecedent θεοῖς ἑτέροις.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ᾔδειτε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾔδειτεyou have knownPlpf Act Indic 2 Pl · οἶδαverb of the relative clause→ pluperfect with past force (settled past ignorance)οἶδα (plpf. 2 pl. ᾔδειτε): 'know'; 'gods whom you had not known' — the plural form parallels v. 3 (οὐκ οἴδατε) and v. 7 (οὐκ ᾔδεις); the foreignness of these gods to Israel's experience underscores their illegitimacy.
15
καὶ ἐρωτήσεις καὶ ἐραυνήσεις σφόδρα, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀληθὴς σαφῶς ὁ λόγος, γεγένηται τὸ βδέλυγμα τοῦτο ἐν ὑμῖν,
then you shall inquire and search out diligently, and behold, if the report is clearly true, and this abomination has been done among you,
Before any action, the law demands rigorous investigation: ἐρωτήσεις καὶ ἐραυνήσεις σφόδρα ('you shall inquire and search out thoroughly'). The doubled verbs of inquiry plus σφόδρα ('exceedingly') make due process mandatory — the gravest penalty (the ban) requires the most careful establishment of fact. Only ἐὰν… ἀληθὴς… ὁ λόγος ('if the report is true') and the βδέλυγμα ('abomination') confirmed does the sentence of v. 16 follow.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶand / thenconjunction (apodosis marker after the protasis of vv. 13–14)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here resumptive/apodotic, 'then' — introducing the response to the report.
ἐρωτήσειςyou shall inquireFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐρωτάωmain verb (first of two investigation-verbs)→ imperatival future (mandatory due process)ἐρωτάω: 'ask / inquire / question'; renders דָּרַשׁ ('seek / investigate'); the duty of inquiry before judgment guards against rash or false condemnation — a procedural safeguard built into even this severest of laws.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐραυνήσειςyou shall search outFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐραυνάωmain verb (second investigation-verb, intensifying the first)→ imperatival future (mandatory thorough examination)ἐραυνάω (later ἐρευνάω): 'search / examine / investigate thoroughly'; renders חָקַר ('search out / probe'); the pairing ἐρωτήσεις καὶ ἐραυνήσεις σφόδρα demands the most painstaking establishment of fact before the irreversible ban is imposed.
σφόδραdiligently / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying the inquiry)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very much / exceedingly'; renders הֵיטֵב ('well / thoroughly'); the adverb stresses the exhaustive care required — the severity of the penalty is matched by the rigor of the proof demanded.
καὶandconjunction (introducing the verified finding)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection (introducing the established fact)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold / lo'; renders הִנֵּה; the presentative particle marks the outcome of the inquiry — 'and behold, [if] the report proves true' (the conditional 'if' is implicit in the construction).
ἀληθὴςtrueNominativepredicate adjective (with ὁ λόγος: 'the report is true')→ participant prominenceἀληθής: 'true / real'; renders אֱמֶת / נָכוֹן; the report must be verified as factually true before the ban may proceed — truth, established by inquiry, is the precondition of judgment.
σαφῶςclearlyadverb (modifying ἀληθής: 'clearly true')→ clausal contributionσαφῶς: 'clearly / plainly / certainly'; renders the Hebrew נָכוֹן ('established / certain'); the report must be not merely plausible but clearly, certainly established — no doubtful case warrants the ban.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λόγος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγοςreport / wordNominativesubject (with predicate ἀληθής: 'the report is true')→ participant prominenceλόγος: 'word / report / account'; renders דָּבָר; here the report of the city's apostasy, whose truth must be clearly established.
γεγένηταιhas come about / has been donePerf Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the established fact of the abomination)→ perfect (completed act with abiding result: the abomination stands committed)γίνομαι (perf. γεγένηται): 'come about / happen / be done'; the perfect indicates a settled, accomplished fact — 'this abomination has [actually] been committed among you'; the perfect stresses the abiding defilement that warrants the ban.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with βδέλυγμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βδέλυγμαabominationNominativesubject of γεγένηται→ participant prominenceβδέλυγμα: 'abomination / detestable thing'; renders תּוֹעֵבָה; the strongest LXX term for cultic abhorrence, used especially of idolatry (cf. 7:25–26; 17:4); the word that, in 'abomination of desolation' (Dan 9:27; Matt 24:15), names the supreme idolatrous defilement — here the city's apostasy is precisely such a βδέλυγμα.
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (with βδέλυγμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; points to the specific apostasy reported.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: 'among you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'among you').
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐν ('among you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): the abomination 'among you' — internal to the covenant people, defiling the whole.
16
ἀναιρῶν ἀνελεῖς πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν τῇ πόλει ἐκείνῃ ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας, ἀναθέματι ἀναθεματιεῖτε αὐτὴν καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ·
by destroying you shall utterly destroy all the inhabitants in that city with the edge of the sword; with a ban you shall devote it to destruction, and everything in it,
The verdict on a confirmed apostate city: total destruction. Two emphatic cognate constructions (Hebraizing infinitive-absolutes) frame it — ἀναιρῶν ἀνελεῖς ('destroying you shall destroy') and ἀναθέματι ἀναθεματιεῖτε ('with a ban you shall devote to the ban'). This is the ḥērem (חרם): the city and all in it are 'devoted' to YHWH by annihilation, removed from common use. The ban-vocabulary (ἀνάθεμα / ἀναθεματίζω) belongs to the conquest theology of Deuteronomy and must be read within its ancient theocratic-judicial setting.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἀναιρῶνdestroyingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἀναιρέωcognate participle (Hebraizing infinitive-absolute with ἀνελεῖς)→ present participle intensifying the finite verb (emphatic)ἀναιρέω: 'destroy / kill / do away with'; the figura etymologica ἀναιρῶν ἀνελεῖς renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute הַכֵּה תַכֶּה ('you shall surely strike down'), expressing absolute certainty and completeness of the destruction.
ἀνελεῖςyou shall destroyFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀναιρέωmain verb (with cognate participle: emphatic command)→ imperatival future (emphatic legal sentence)ἀναιρέω: 'destroy / put to death'; the finite verb completes the infinitive-absolute idiom — the inhabitants are to be utterly destroyed; the second-singular addresses Israel as agent of the corporate judgment.
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with τοὺς κατοικοῦντας)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the inhabitants — the ban admits no survivors among the guilty population.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle substantivizing the participle κατοικοῦντας→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦνταςinhabitantsPres Act Part Acc Pl Masc · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (direct object of ἀνελεῖς)→ customary present participle (the resident population)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; 'all the inhabitants' — the same root as the land-gift of v. 13 (κατοικεῖν); those who turned the gift of dwelling into apostasy forfeit both.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with πόλει)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city'; the apostate city, now under sentence.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (with πόλει)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the distancing demonstrative marks the condemned city, as it marked the condemned prophet (vv. 4, 6).
ἐνwith / bypreposition + dative (instrument/manner: 'by slaughter of the sword')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental/modal, 'with / by means of' (Hebraizing ἐν, rendering בְּ).
φόνῳslaughterDativedative of manner/instrument (with ἐν: 'by slaughter')→ sphere or referenceφόνος: 'slaughter / killing / murder'; the phrase ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ('with the slaughter of the sword') renders לְפִי חָרֶב ('by the edge/mouth of the sword'), the standard idiom for military execution under the ban.
μαχαίραςof the swordGenitivegenitive of means/definition (with φόνῳ)→ relational specificationμάχαιρα: 'sword / knife'; renders חֶרֶב; the instrument of the ban-execution; 'slaughter of the sword' is the idiom for putting a population to death in war/judgment.
ἀναθέματιwith a banDativecognate dative (Hebraizing infinitive-absolute with ἀναθεματιεῖτε)→ sphere or referenceἀνάθεμα: 'devoted thing / accursed thing / ban'; renders חֵרֶם; the cognate dative ἀναθέματι ἀναθεματιεῖτε renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute הַחֲרֵם תַּחֲרִים ('you shall utterly devote to destruction'); the ḥērem places persons/things irrevocably under YHWH's claim by total destruction. In the NT ἀνάθεμα becomes 'accursed' (Rom 9:3; 1 Cor 16:22; Gal 1:8–9).
ἀναθεματιεῖτεyou shall devote to destructionFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀναθεματίζωmain verb (with cognate dative: the ban-sentence)→ imperatival future (emphatic legal sentence; note shift to plural)ἀναθεματίζω: 'devote to destruction / put under the ban / curse'; renders הֶחֱרִים; the shift to 2nd plural (ἀναθεματιεῖτε) makes the whole community the executor of the ban; to 'devote' the city is to surrender it wholly to YHWH by annihilation — the strongest expression of intolerance toward idolatry in the land.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of ἀναθεματιεῖτε (the city)→ participant referenceαὐτός: anaphoric pronoun, feminine to agree with πόλις ('the city').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the ban to all contents)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταeverythingAccusativesubstantival adjective (second object of ἀναθεματιεῖτε)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / everything'; the ban extends beyond the inhabitants to all the city's contents — total devotion to destruction, nothing exempted (contrast v. 18, where nothing of the ban may be kept).
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle substantivizing the prepositional phrase ἐν αὐτῇ→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in it')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in it').
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (referring to the city)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: anaphoric pronoun, feminine, referring to the city — 'all that is in it' falls under the ban.
17
καὶ πάντα τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῆς συνάξεις εἰς τὰς διόδους αὐτῆς καὶ ἐμπρήσεις τὴν πόλιν ἐν πυρὶ καὶ πάντα τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῆς πανδημεὶ ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου, καὶ ἔσται ἀοίκητος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, οὐκ ἀνοικοδομηθήσεται ἔτι.
And all its spoil you shall gather into its streets, and you shall burn the city with fire, and all its spoil entirely, before the LORD your God; and it shall be uninhabited forever, it shall not be rebuilt again.
The ban is consummated by fire: all the city's spoil (σκῦλα) is heaped in the open squares (διόδους) and burned together with the city ἐναντίον κυρίου ('before the LORD') — the destruction is framed as a holocaust-offering, the whole given over to YHWH (cf. the Hebrew כָּלִיל, 'whole burnt offering', behind πανδημεί). The site is to remain ἀοίκητος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ('an everlasting ruin'), never rebuilt — a perpetual monument to the cost of apostasy (cf. Josh 6:26; the fate of Jericho).
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative/legal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with σκῦλα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; all the spoil — nothing is to be salvaged for private gain (cf. v. 18).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with σκῦλα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκῦλαspoilAccusativedirect object of συνάξεις→ object specificationσκῦλον (pl. σκῦλα): 'spoil / plunder / booty'; renders שָׁלָל; ordinarily spoil could be taken in war (cf. 20:14), but under the ḥērem the devoted city's goods may not be appropriated — they too are destroyed, sanctifying the whole to YHWH.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivepossessive genitive (with σκῦλα)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with σκῦλα).
συνάξειςyou shall gatherFut Act Indic 2 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (gathering the spoil for burning)→ imperatival future (legal command)συνάγω: 'gather / collect / bring together'; renders קָבַץ; the spoil is gathered into a heap for total burning — the assembling itself prepares the holocaust.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction: 'into the streets')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'into the streets').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with διόδους)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διόδουςstreets / thoroughfaresAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationδίοδος: 'passage / thoroughfare / open square'; renders רְחוֹב ('open place / public square'); the open public space where the spoil is heaped for burning — the destruction is conducted openly, before all.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivepossessive genitive (with διόδους)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with διόδους).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμπρήσειςyou shall burnFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐμπίμπρημιmain verb (burning the city)→ imperatival future (legal command)ἐμπίμπρημι (fut. ἐμπρήσεις): 'set on fire / burn up'; renders שָׂרַף (בָּאֵשׁ); the city and its spoil are consumed by fire — the mode of total devotion that leaves nothing to be reclaimed.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativedirect object of ἐμπρήσεις→ object specificationπόλις: 'city'; the apostate city itself given to the flames.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument: 'with fire')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental, 'with / by means of' (Hebraizing ἐν, rendering בְּ).
πυρὶfireDativedative of instrument (with ἐμπρήσεις)→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the instrument of total destruction; fire as the agent of the ban consecrates the city wholly to YHWH by consuming it.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (resuming the spoil)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with σκῦλα; resumptive)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the spoil is emphatically reiterated as wholly burned.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with σκῦλα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκῦλαspoilAccusativeobject (resumptive, with the burning)→ object specificationσκῦλον: 'spoil'; the booty consumed together with the city.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivepossessive genitive (with σκῦλα)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with σκῦλα).
πανδημεὶwholly / all togetheradverb (manner: 'in entirety / as a whole')→ clausal contributionπανδημεί: 'wholly / in a mass / with the whole community'; here renders the sense of כָּלִיל ('whole / entire / whole burnt offering'); the spoil is burned 'in its entirety' as a total offering — the city becomes, in effect, a holocaust to YHWH.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (the burning done as an offering 'before the LORD')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the burning ἐναντίον κυρίου frames the total destruction as a cultic act performed in YHWH's presence — the city is given to him as a whole offering.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the One before whom the ban is enacted as an offering.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveappositive to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the covenant title 'the LORD your God.'
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θεοῦ).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the perpetual sentence)→ 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 (the perpetual condition of the site)→ predictive future (the abiding state of ruin)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; the city 'shall be' a perpetual ruin — the future states the lasting consequence.
ἀοίκητοςuninhabitedNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀοίκητος: 'uninhabited / desolate'; the alpha-privative of οἰκέω ('dwell'); renders תֵּל ('ruin-mound / perpetual heap'); the city given for dwelling (κατοικεῖν, v. 13) becomes the un-dwellable — the reversal is exact and permanent.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (extent of time: 'forever')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς τὸν αἰῶνα: 'forever / for all time'; renders עַד עוֹלָם / לְעוֹלָם; the perpetuity of the ruin.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with αἰῶνα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰῶναage / foreverAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (with εἰς)→ object specificationαἰών: 'age / eternity'; εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, 'forever'; the ruin is to be perpetual — a standing memorial of judgment on apostasy.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀνοικοδομηθήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνοικοδομηθήσεταιit shall be rebuiltFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοικοδομέωmain verb (prohibition of rebuilding)→ prohibitive future (it shall never be rebuilt)ἀνοικοδομέω: 'rebuild / build up again'; renders בָּנָה; the prohibition of rebuilding (cf. Josh 6:26 of Jericho) makes the ruin permanent — no future habitation may erase the memorial of judgment.
ἔτιagaintemporal adverb (with the negated verb: 'never again')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / again'; with the negative, 'no more / never again'; renders עוֹד.
18
οὐ προσκολληθήσεται ἐν τῇ χειρί σου οὐδὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀναθέματος, ἵνα ἀποστραφῇ κύριος ἀπὸ θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ δώσει σοι ἔλεος καὶ ἐλεήσει σε καὶ πληθυνεῖ σε, ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσεν κύριος τοῖς πατράσιν σου,
Nothing of the devoted thing shall cleave to your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fury of his anger and give you mercy and have compassion on you and multiply you, as the LORD swore to your fathers,
A safeguard against the temptation that destroyed Achan (Josh 7): nothing of the ḥērem may 'cleave to your hand.' The purpose clause turns the dark law toward mercy: ἵνα ἀποστραφῇ κύριος ἀπὸ θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ ('that the LORD may turn from his fierce anger') and instead give ἔλεος ('mercy'), compassion, and increase — fulfilling the oath to the fathers. Obedience in purging apostasy is thus the path to covenant blessing, not merely the avoidance of wrath.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
οὐnotnegative particle (with προσκολληθήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσκολληθήσεταιshall cleave / clingFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · προσκολλάωmain verb (prohibition; subject οὐδέν)→ prohibitive future (legal prohibition)προσκολλάω (pass.): 'be glued to / cleave / cling'; renders דָּבַק; ironically the same verb-root used positively at v. 5 (προστεθήσεσθε / 'cleave to YHWH') and at Gen 2:24 (a man 'cleaves' to his wife) — here forbidden: nothing of the accursed thing may 'cling' to the Israelite's hand.
ἐνin / topreposition + dative (locative: 'to your hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'to your hand').
τῇtheDativearticle (with χειρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρίhandDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in/to your hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; 'to your hand' — the hand that struck in execution (v. 10) must not now grasp any of the banned goods for itself.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with χειρί)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with χειρί).
οὐδὲνnothingNominativesubject of προσκολληθήσεται→ participant prominenceοὐδείς: 'no one / nothing'; the neuter οὐδέν, 'nothing of the ban' — the prohibition is absolute, admitting no exception (cf. Achan's sin, Josh 7:1, 21).
ἀπὸof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of the devoted thing')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive: 'of the devoted thing').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἀναθέματος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναθέματοςdevoted thing / banGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (partitive)→ relational specificationἀνάθεμα: 'devoted/accursed thing'; renders חֵרֶם; the banned goods belong wholly to YHWH by destruction; to take any is to take what is his and to bring the ban's curse upon oneself (cf. Josh 7:11–12, where Israel itself becomes ἀνάθεμα through Achan).
ἵναthatpurpose conjunction (introducing the goal: divine mercy)→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: 'that / so that'; introduces the purpose of obedience — the turning away of wrath and the gift of mercy.
ἀποστραφῇmay turn awayAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἀποστρέφωverb of the purpose clause (subjunctive with ἵνα)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (that he may turn from his anger)ἀποστρέφω (pass.): 'turn away / turn back'; renders שׁוּב; 'that the LORD may turn from his fierce anger' — covenant obedience averts divine wrath; the same verb-root (ἀφίστημι/ἀποστρέφω) that named the seducer's defection is here YHWH's turning toward mercy.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀποστραφῇ→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the One whose anger is turned away by Israel's obedience.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from his anger')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from his anger').
θυμοῦfuryGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationθυμός: 'fury / hot anger / passion'; renders חָרוֹן; the phrase θυμὸς τῆς ὀργῆς ('the fury of the anger') is an emphatic doublet rendering חֲרוֹן אַף ('burning of anger') — the most intense expression of divine wrath against apostasy, which obedience averts.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ὀργῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀργῆςangerGenitivegenitive of definition (with θυμοῦ: 'the fury of his anger')→ relational specificationὀργή: 'anger / wrath'; the doublet θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς intensifies — the deep, settled wrath of God against covenant betrayal.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with ὀργῆς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with ὀργῆς).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the purpose: positive blessings)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειshall giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (within the purpose: future after ἵνα, by Hebraizing parataxis)→ predictive future (the promised gift of mercy)δίδωμι: 'give'; the future indicative after the ἵνα-subjunctive (a Hebraizing shift) continues the purpose into promise — YHWH will 'give you mercy'; the same Giver of the land (v. 13) gives covenant compassion to the obedient.
σοιto youDativeindirect object of δώσει→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of δώσει.
ἔλεοςmercyAccusativedirect object of δώσει→ object specificationἔλεος: 'mercy / compassion / lovingkindness'; renders רַחֲמִים / חֶסֶד; the dark law of the ban is purposed toward ἔλεος — the goal of purging apostasy is the restoration of covenant mercy, not merely retribution.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλεήσειshall have compassionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐλεέωmain verb (cognate with ἔλεος: 'give mercy and have mercy')→ predictive future (the promised compassion)ἐλεέω: 'have mercy / show compassion'; renders רִחַם; the cognate pairing δώσει… ἔλεος καὶ ἐλεήσει emphatically reiterates YHWH's mercy; the verb Paul echoes in the mercy-theology of Rom 9:15–18.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐλεήσει→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐλεήσει.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πληθυνεῖshall multiplyFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πληθύνωmain verb (third promised blessing)→ predictive future (the promised increase)πληθύνω: 'multiply / increase'; renders רָבָה / הִרְבָּה; the increase of the people fulfills the patriarchal promise (Gen 22:17); covenant faithfulness in purging apostasy secures the blessing of multiplication sworn to the fathers.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of πληθυνεῖ→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of πληθυνεῖ.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον: 'in the manner which')→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner that / just as') is an adverbial accusative idiom of comparison.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (ὃν τρόπον: 'as / just as')→ object specificationτρόπος: 'manner / way'; the phrase ὃν τρόπον renders כַּאֲשֶׁר ('just as'); introduces the appeal to the patriarchal oath as the ground of the promised increase.
ὤμοσενsworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὄμνυμιverb of the comparative clause→ constative aorist (the completed patriarchal oath)ὄμνυμι: 'swear (an oath)'; renders נִשְׁבַּע; the oath to the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; cf. Gen 22:16–17) grounds the promise of multiplication — the blessing flows from YHWH's sworn covenant fidelity, not Israel's merit.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ὤμοσεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the One who swore the oath to the patriarchs.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with πατράσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατράσινfathersDativeindirect object of ὤμοσεν (to whom the oath was sworn)→ sphere or referenceπατήρ (dat. pl. πατράσιν): 'fathers / ancestors'; the patriarchs to whom YHWH swore the promise of a great nation; the appeal closes the chapter's theology by binding present obedience to ancient promise.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with πατράσιν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with πατράσιν).
19
ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου φυλάσσειν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ὅσας ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον ποιεῖν τὸ καλὸν καὶ τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου.
if you hear the voice of the LORD your God, to keep all his commandments which I command you today, to do what is good and pleasing before the LORD your God.
The chapter closes by making the blessings of v. 18 conditional: ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου ('if you hear/obey the voice of the LORD'). The verb of hearing (ἀκούω) that ran through the chapter — what not to heed (v. 4), whose voice to heed (v. 5) — culminates here: covenant life depends on heeding YHWH and keeping all his commandments. The closing inclusio echoes v. 1 verbatim (ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον), and 'to do what is good and pleasing before the LORD' sums up the whole law of loyalty.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of the concluding promise)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; the closing condition on which the blessings of v. 18 depend — obedience to YHWH's voice.
ἀκούσῃςyou hear / obeyAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἀκούωverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctiveἀκούω: 'hear / obey'; with the genitive τῆς φωνῆς, 'hearken to / obey the voice'; the chapter's key verb culminates here — to obey YHWH's voice is the antithesis of heeding the seducer (v. 4) and the realization of the charge of v. 5.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούσῃς ('obey the voice')→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice'; renders קוֹל; 'to hear the voice of the LORD' (שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל יהוה) is the Deuteronomic idiom for obedience (cf. v. 5); the same φωνή Israel was charged to heed at v. 5.
κυρίουLORDGenitivepossessive genitive (with φωνῆς: 'the voice of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; whose voice is to be obeyed.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveappositive to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the covenant title 'the LORD your God,' framing obedience as relationship.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θεοῦ).
φυλάσσεινto keepPres Act Inf · φυλάσσωinfinitive of purpose/epexegesis (with ἀκούσῃς: 'obey… so as to keep')→ present infinitive (ongoing observance)φυλάσσω: 'keep / guard / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the same verb as v. 1 (φυλάξῃ) and v. 5 (φυλάξεσθε), forming an inclusio — obeying the voice means keeping all the commandments.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἐντολάς)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; 'all his commandments' — total, not selective, obedience, echoing the 'every word' of v. 1 and the 'whole heart/soul' of v. 4.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσειν→ object specificationἐντολή: 'commandment'; renders מִצְוָה; keeping all the commandments is the concrete shape of loving YHWH with all the heart (v. 4) and cleaving to him (v. 5).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive (with ἐντολάς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with ἐντολάς).
ὅσαςas many as / whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐντέλλομαι)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as many as / all that'; the relative ὅσας ('all which') with πάσας stresses the comprehensiveness of the commandments to be kept.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic, as in v. 1: Moses the mediator)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic 'I'; Moses again as authorized mediator — the verbatim ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον closes the inclusio opened at v. 1.
ἐντέλλομαίI commandPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of the relative clause→ customary present (standing command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; the verbatim repetition of v. 1 (ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον) frames the whole chapter as a single charge — bracketed by the canon-formula and the call to obedience.
σοιto youDativeindirect object of ἐντέλλομαι→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of ἐντέλλομαι.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverb→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; the signature Deuteronomic 'today' closes the inclusio with v. 1 — the command is ever-present, addressed to each generation of hearers.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωinfinitive of purpose (the goal of obedience: 'to do the good')→ present infinitive (ongoing performance)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; renders עָשָׂה; the pairing of keeping (φυλάσσειν) and doing (ποιεῖν) recalls v. 1 (φυλάξῃ ποιεῖν) — obedience is enacted, not merely professed.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with καλόν, substantival)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καλὸνgoodAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ποιεῖν: 'the good')→ object specificationκαλός: 'good / beautiful / right'; renders טוֹב / הַיָּשָׁר; 'to do the good' sums up the life of covenant fidelity; the phrase τὸ καλὸν καὶ τὸ ἀρεστόν ('the good and the pleasing') defines the goal of all the commandments.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἀρεστόν, substantival)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρεστὸνpleasingAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of ποιεῖν: 'the pleasing')→ object specificationἀρεστός: 'pleasing / acceptable'; renders הַיָּשָׁר ('the right / upright'); 'what is good and pleasing before the LORD' is the Deuteronomic standard of conduct (cf. 6:18; 12:25, 28); the goal is not abstract virtue but what is acceptable in YHWH's sight.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (evaluative perspective: 'in the sight of the LORD')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; renders לִפְנֵי / בְּעֵינֵי; the good and pleasing are measured 'before the LORD' — his evaluation, not human opinion, is the standard; the same ἐναντίον that framed the burning-offering of v. 17 here frames the life of obedience.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the One before whom Israel's conduct is judged good and pleasing.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveappositive to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the covenant title closes the chapter — 'the LORD your God,' the One whose exclusive love and service the whole chapter has defended.
σουyourGenitivepossessive genitive (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive genitive (with θεοῦ).