1
ἐὰν δέ τις λάβῃ γυναῖκα καὶ συνοικήσῃ αὐτῇ καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν μὴ εὕρῃ χάριν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ὅτι εὗρεν ἐν αὐτῇ ἄσχημον πρᾶγμα καὶ γράψει αὐτῇ βιβλίον ἀποστασίου καὶ δώσει εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖ αὐτὴν ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ
But if a man takes a wife and lives with her, and it comes about that she does not find favor before him because he has found in her an unseemly matter, then he shall write her a certificate of divorce and give it into her hands and send her away from his house,
The chapter opens with the standard casuistic formula ἐὰν δέ τις + subjunctive ('but if someone …'), introducing the protasis of the divorce statute; δέ marks the shift from the foregoing laws. The case is built up by a chain of subjunctives (λάβῃ, συνοικήσῃ, εὕρῃ) governed by the conditional ἐάν, with the apodosis carried by the futures γράψει, δώσει, ἐξαποστελεῖ. The whole of vv. 1–3 forms a single extended protasis whose only true apodosis comes at v. 4 (οὐ δυνήσεται).
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing protasis, + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the protasis of a casuistic (case-) law; takes the subjunctive (λάβῃ); the formula ἐὰν δέ τις is the LXX's standard rendering of Hebrew כִּי / אִם opening a legal case.
δέbut / nowpost-positive connective (transition to new statute)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive particle marking the transition from the preceding laws of ch. 23 to a fresh case.
τιςsomeone / a manNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite pronoun, 'someone, a certain man'; the generic legal subject of the case-law; here implicitly a husband.
λάβῃtakesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (entering the married state)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; λαμβάνω γυναῖκα ('take a wife') renders לָקַח אִשָּׁה, the standard Hebrew idiom for contracting marriage; the aorist subjunctive frames the marriage as the entry-point of the legal case.
γυναῖκαa wife / womanAccusativedirect object of λάβῃ→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; with λαμβάνω it denotes the woman taken in marriage, the central figure of the four-verse statute.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking protasis verbs)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνοικήσῃlives withAor Act Subj 3 Sg · συνοικέωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (entering cohabitation)συνοικέω: 'dwell together with / live in marriage with'; renders בָּעַל ('to be master / husband of, to consummate marriage'); the dative αὐτῇ marks the wife as the partner of cohabitation; the verb confirms a consummated, not merely betrothed, union.
αὐτῇwith herDativedative of association (with συνοικήσῃ)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. f. αὐτῇ): personal pronoun; the dative complement of συνοικέω, 'dwell with her.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall come aboutFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (Hebraizing apodotic formula 'and it shall be')→ predictive future (transitional formula)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the formula καὶ ἔσται renders the Hebrew apodosis-marker וְהָיָה, a transitional 'and it shall come to pass'; here it introduces the further condition (ἐὰν μὴ εὕρῃ) within the larger case.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (nested condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces a nested condition specifying the ground of divorce within the larger case.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive εὕρῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative used with non-indicative moods; here negates εὕρῃ in the conditional clause.
εὕρῃshe findsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of nested protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ constative aorist subjunctiveεὑρίσκω: 'find'; the idiom εὑρίσκω χάριν ἐναντίον τινός ('find favor before someone') renders מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי; the play on εὕρῃ / εὗρεν (she does not find favor / he has found a fault) is deliberate.
χάρινfavorAccusativedirect object of εὕρῃ→ object specificationχάρις: 'favor / goodwill'; renders חֵן; the loss of favor in the husband's eyes is the subjective ground that occasions the divorce.
ἐναντίονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (evaluative perspective)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the eyes of'; Hebraism rendering בְּעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of'); marks the husband's subjective estimation.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον (the husband)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. m.): the husband, before whom the wife fails to find favor.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (giving objective ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the stated objective cause for the loss of favor.
εὗρενhe has foundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of causal clause→ constative aorist (the husband's discovery)εὑρίσκω: here the husband is subject — he has 'found' (discovered) some fault; the repetition of the verb (she does not find favor / he has found a fault) is rhetorically pointed.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in her')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in her').
αὐτῇherDativeobject of ἐν (the wife)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐν (the wife).
ἄσχημονunseemly / shamefulAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying πρᾶγμα)→ object specificationἀσχήμων: 'unseemly / indecent / shameful'; ἄσχημον πρᾶγμα renders the famously vague Hebrew עֶרְוַת דָּבָר ('nakedness/indecency of a thing'); the indefiniteness of this phrase is precisely what the Hillel/Shammai schools and later the Pharisees of Matt 19:3 debated — whether it meant only sexual misconduct (Shammai) or any displeasing thing (Hillel).
πρᾶγμαmatter / thingAccusativedirect object of εὗρεν→ object specificationπρᾶγμα: 'thing / matter / deed'; renders דָּבָר; the studied vagueness of ἄσχημον πρᾶγμα leaves the grounds of divorce legally undefined, fueling later rabbinic and Gospel debate.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing apodotic action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γράψειhe shall writeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · γράφωmain verb (procedural future)→ predictive/prescriptive future (legal procedure)γράφω: 'write'; the prescriptive future expresses the required legal procedure; the writing of a formal document distinguishes Israelite divorce from arbitrary dismissal and affords the woman documentary protection of her free status.
αὐτῇfor herDativedative of advantage (the recipient of the document)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'for her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (the recipient of the document).
βιβλίονa certificate / documentAccusativedirect object of γράψει→ object specificationβιβλίον: 'book / scroll / written document'; renders סֵפֶר; here a formal legal instrument; βιβλίον ἀποστασίου is the technical 'bill of divorce' (Hebrew סֵפֶר כְּרִיתֻת), cited by Jesus at Matt 19:7 / Mark 10:4 (βιβλίον ἀποστασίου).
ἀποστασίουof divorce / of repudiationGenitivegenitive of definition (qualifying βιβλίον)→ relational specificationἀποστάσιον: 'divorce / repudiation' (lit. 'a standing-away'); renders כְּרִיתֻת ('cutting off'); the phrase βιβλίον ἀποστασίου becomes the fixed NT term for the divorce-certificate; the noun is built on ἀφίστημι ('stand away from'), the same root as ἀποστασία ('apostasy / departure').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειhe shall giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (procedural future)→ prescriptive future (legal procedure)δίδωμι: 'give / place'; the handing of the document 'into her hands' constitutes legal delivery (traditio), completing the act of divorce and authenticating her freedom to remarry.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction: 'into the hands')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'into the hands').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeobject of εἰς (idiom of legal delivery)→ object specificationχείρ (pl. χεῖρας): 'hand'; εἰς τὰς χεῖρας renders בְּיָדָהּ ('into her hand'); the 'placing into the hand' is the formal act of transfer that makes the divorce documentary and final.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (with χεῖρας)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with χεῖρας).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαποστελεῖhe shall send awayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (procedural future)→ prescriptive future (act of dismissal)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / dismiss'; the intensive compound (ἐξ-απο-) renders שִׁלַּח ('send off') and denotes formal release from the household; the same verb recurs as ἐξαποστείλας at v. 4, knitting the statute together.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of ἐξαποστελεῖ→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξαποστελεῖ.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source: 'out of the house')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source: 'out of the house').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with οἰκίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίαςhouseGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source of dismissal)→ relational specificationοἰκία: 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת; departure 'from his house' marks the dissolution of the marital household and the wife's removal from the husband's domestic authority.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἰκίας)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with οἰκίας).
2
καὶ ἀπελθοῦσα γένηται ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ
and having departed she becomes another man's wife,
v. 2 carries the case forward with the aorist participle ἀπελθοῦσα ('having gone away') and the subjunctive γένηται; the woman's becoming the wife of 'another man' (ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ) is the pivotal second link that will make the first husband's later reclamation an abomination (v. 4).
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπελθοῦσαhaving departedAor Act Part Nom Sg Fem · ἀπέρχομαιcircumstantial participle (subject = the divorced woman)→ antecedent aorist participle (departure preceding remarriage)ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the feminine aorist participle agrees with the divorced wife; her departure from the first household is the necessary antecedent of the new union.
γένηταιshe becomesAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (entering a new marriage)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be'; the idiom γίνομαι ἀνδρί ('become to a man') renders הָיְתָה לְאִישׁ ('she becomes a man's [wife]'), the Hebrew idiom for entering marriage; the dative ἀνδρί marks the new husband.
ἀνδρὶto a man / husbandDativedative of possession/relation (the second husband)→ sphere or referenceἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; renders אִישׁ; the dative with γίνομαι denotes the man to whom she now belongs in marriage.
ἑτέρῳanotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀνδρί)→ sphere or referenceἕτερος: 'other / another'; renders אַחֵר; the 'other man' is the decisive second party whose union 'defiles' the woman with respect to her first husband (v. 4).
3
καὶ μισήσῃ αὐτὴν ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἔσχατος καὶ γράψει αὐτῇ βιβλίον ἀποστασίου καὶ δώσει εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖ αὐτὴν ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ ἢ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἔσχατος ὃς ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν ἑαυτῷ γυναῖκα
and the latter husband comes to hate her and writes her a certificate of divorce and gives it into her hands and sends her away from his house — or the latter husband dies, who had taken her to himself as a wife —
v. 3 sets out the two ways the second marriage may end: divorce (μισήσῃ … ἐξαποστελεῖ, echoing v. 1 nearly verbatim) or death of the second husband (ἢ ἀποθάνῃ). Either outcome leaves the woman free again — and it is precisely her return to availability that the apodosis of v. 4 forbids the first husband to exploit.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μισήσῃcomes to hateAor Act Subj 3 Sg · μισέωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (conceiving aversion)μισέω: 'hate / reject'; renders שָׂנֵא; in marriage-and-divorce contexts שָׂנֵא functions semi-technically for repudiation ('to set aside / divorce'), so 'hate' here connotes legal rejection as much as emotion (cf. Deut 22:13).
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of μισήσῃ→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of μισήσῃ.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρman / husbandNominativesubject of μισήσῃ→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; here the second husband, specified by the attributive ὁ ἔσχατος.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἔσχατος, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔσχατοςlatter / lastNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceἔσχατος: 'last / latter'; renders אַחֲרוֹן; designates the second husband in contrast to ὁ πρότερος ('the former', v. 4); the pairing ἔσχατος / πρότερος structures the whole statute.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γράψειwritesFut Act Indic 3 Sg · γράφωmain verb (procedural future, parallel to v. 1)→ prescriptive future (repeating the divorce procedure)γράφω: the second husband repeats verbatim the procedure of v. 1; the deliberate near-identical wording underlines that the woman is doubly, lawfully divorced.
αὐτῇfor herDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'for her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
βιβλίονa certificateAccusativedirect object of γράψει→ object specificationβιβλίον ἀποστασίου: the divorce-document, repeated from v. 1; see note there.
ἀποστασίουof divorceGenitivegenitive of definition (qualifying βιβλίον)→ relational specificationἀποστάσιον: 'repudiation'; see v. 1.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειgivesFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (procedural future)→ prescriptive future (legal delivery)δίδωμι: handing the document into her hands; the act of legal delivery, as in v. 1.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationχεῖρας: meaning 'hands'; it serves as object of εἰς.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαποστελεῖsends awayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (procedural future)→ prescriptive future (dismissal)ἐξαποστέλλω: the second husband dismisses her from his house, exactly as in v. 1.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίαςhouseGenitiveobject of ἐκ→ relational specificationοἰκίας: meaning 'house'; it serves as object of ἐκ.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (alternative outcome)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the second possible end of the marriage — the death of the latter husband — parallel to his divorcing her.
ἀποθάνῃdiesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (alternative subjunctive after ἤ)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the husband's death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the death of the second husband equally frees the woman; either way she becomes available, which is the situation the statute addresses.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρman / husbandNominativesubject of ἀποθάνῃ→ participant prominenceἀνὴρ: meaning 'man'; it serves as subject of ἀποθάνῃ.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἔσχατος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔσχατοςlatterNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceἔσχατος: the 'latter' husband, repeated for clarity in the alternative clause.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἔλαβεν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun introducing a clause describing the latter husband as the one who 'had taken her as a wife.'
ἔλαβενhad takenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the prior marriage-taking)λαμβάνω: 'take'; λαμβάνω … γυναῖκα again the marriage-idiom (cf. v. 1); the relative clause confirms the second union was a full, lawful marriage.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἔλαβεν.
ἑαυτῷto himselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive)→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun, 'to/for himself'; emphasizes that he took her as his own wife — a complete marital appropriation.
γυναῖκαas a wifeAccusativepredicate accusative (object complement of ἔλαβεν)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; predicate accusative completing λαμβάνω … γυναῖκα ('take as wife').
4
οὐ δυνήσεται ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ πρότερος ὁ ἐξαποστείλας αὐτὴν ἐπαναστρέψας λαβεῖν αὐτὴν ἑαυτῷ γυναῖκα μετὰ τὸ μιανθῆναι αὐτήν ὅτι βδέλυγμά ἐστιν ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου καὶ οὐ μιανεῖτε τὴν γῆν ἣν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν δίδωσιν ὑμῖν ἐν κλήρῳ
the former husband who sent her away will not be able to return and take her to himself as a wife after she has been defiled, for it is an abomination before the LORD your God; and you shall not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
v. 4 is the long-delayed apodosis: the former husband 'will not be able' (οὐ δυνήσεται) to take her back. The prohibition is grounded by a double ὅτι-logic: it is βδέλυγμα ('an abomination') before YHWH, and it would defile (μιανεῖτε) the covenant land. The second-person plural shift (οὐ μιανεῖτε … ὑμῖν) widens the address from the individual case to the whole nation whose land must not be polluted. This is the verse the Pharisees cite to Jesus in Matt 19:7 / Mark 10:4.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
οὐnotnegative particle (with δυνήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation with the indicative; the flat prohibition 'he will not be able' has the force of an absolute legal interdiction.
δυνήσεταιwill be ableFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb (apodosis of the statute)→ prohibitive future (legal incapacity)δύναμαι: 'be able / be permitted'; the future οὐ δυνήσεται renders לֹא יוּכַל ('he shall not be able'); it expresses not mere inability but legal disqualification — the act is barred to him.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρman / husbandNominativesubject of δυνήσεται→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: the former husband, the subject of the prohibition.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with πρότερος, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρότεροςformer / firstNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceπρότερος: 'former / earlier'; renders רִאשׁוֹן; in contrast to ὁ ἔσχατος ('the latter', v. 3); the former husband is the one barred from reclaiming her.
ὁthe (one who)Nominativearticle (substantivizing the participle ἐξαποστείλας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐξαποστείλαςwho sent awayAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἐξαποστέλλωattributive participle (further identifying the husband)→ antecedent aorist participle (the prior dismissal)ἐξαποστέλλω: the substantivized participle ('the one who sent her away') recalls the husband's own original act of divorce (v. 1), underscoring the irony — having freely dismissed her, he cannot now reclaim her.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of ἐξαποστείλας→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξαποστείλας.
ἐπαναστρέψαςreturning / againAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἐπαναστρέφωcircumstantial participle (adverbial: 'turning back to')→ coincident aorist participle (the act of reversal)ἐπαναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; the double compound (ἐπ-ανα-) intensifies the sense of reversal; here it functions adverbially ('he may not, turning back again, take her') — the resumption of the dissolved marriage is precisely what is forbidden.
λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωcomplementary infinitive (with δυνήσεται)→ aorist infinitive (the forbidden act)λαμβάνω: the complementary infinitive of δύναμαι; λαβεῖν … γυναῖκα again the marriage-idiom — what he cannot do is re-marry her.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of λαβεῖν→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of λαβεῖν.
ἑαυτῷto himselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive)→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive, 'to himself as wife'; echoes ἑαυτῷ γυναῖκα of v. 3.
γυναῖκαas a wifeAccusativepredicate accusative (with λαβεῖν)→ object specificationγυνή: predicate accusative, 'as wife.'
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal, governing articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; with the articular infinitive τὸ μιανθῆναι forms a temporal clause, 'after she has been defiled.'
τὸthe (act of)Accusativearticle (with articular infinitive μιανθῆναι)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μιανθῆναιto have been defiledAor Pass Inf · μιαίνωarticular infinitive (object of μετά: temporal clause)→ aorist passive infinitive (completed defilement)μιαίνω: 'defile / pollute'; renders טָמֵא (Hothpaal/passive); the passive 'after she has been defiled' refers not to moral fault in the woman but to the legal-ritual status created by the intervening marriage — for the first husband to take her back would be to treat the second, lawful union as if it were adultery; cf. the same root in οὐ μιανεῖτε τὴν γῆν below.
αὐτήνherAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive μιανθῆναι→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative subject of the infinitive μιανθῆναι.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (grounding the prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the theological ground of the law — it is an abomination before YHWH.
βδέλυγμάan abominationNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐστιν)→ participant prominenceβδέλυγμα: 'abomination / detestable thing'; renders תּוֹעֵבָה; the strongest term of cultic-moral revulsion in Deuteronomy (cf. 7:25; 17:1; 18:12; 22:5), marking the reclamation as something YHWH abhors — the same word used of idolatry and forbidden practices.
ἐστινit isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate βδέλυγμα)→ gnomic/stative present (standing fact)εἰμί: the copula linking the act to the predicate 'abomination'; the present states a settled evaluative truth.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (evaluative: 'in the LORD's sight')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; locates the abomination in YHWH's own evaluation, not merely social custom.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the act is detestable in the eyes of the covenant God himself.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεός σου ('the LORD your God') is the characteristic Deuteronomic covenant formula, binding the law to Israel's personal relationship with YHWH.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (2nd sg. possessive)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): the singular 'your' addresses the individual Israelite in covenant relationship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending to national consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μιανεῖτε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μιανεῖτεyou shall defileFut Act Indic 2 Pl · μιαίνωmain verb (prohibitive future, 2nd person plural)→ prohibitive future (national imperative)μιαίνω: 'defile / pollute'; the shift to second-person plural broadens the address from the individual husband to all Israel; the same root as μιανθῆναι above links the woman's 'defilement' to the danger of defiling the land — sexual-marital sin is conceived as land-polluting (cf. Lev 18:24–28; Num 35:33–34).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of μιανεῖτε→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; the promised land is the gift whose holiness must be preserved; defilement of the land threatens Israel's tenure upon it.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δίδωσιν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. f. ἥν): relative pronoun introducing the clause describing the land as YHWH's gift.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of δίδωσιν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; YHWH is the giver of the land in inheritance.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν, the covenant formula in the plural matching the plural address.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (2nd pl. possessive)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your', plural, matching the national address.
δίδωσινis givingPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause→ progressive/futuristic present (the ongoing gift of the land)δίδωμι: 'give'; the present δίδωσιν ('is giving') is the characteristic Deuteronomic way of speaking of the land as YHWH's present, ongoing covenant gift (cf. Deut 4:1; 5:16; 11:31).
ὑμῖνto youDativedative indirect object (recipients of the land)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'to you', the people as recipients of the inheritance.
ἐνas / inpreposition + dative (manner: 'as an inheritance')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'as'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (manner: 'as an inheritance').
κλήρῳan inheritance / allotmentDativeobject of ἐν (manner of the giving)→ sphere or referenceκλῆρος: 'lot / allotted portion / inheritance'; renders נַחֲלָה; ἐν κλήρῳ ('as an inheritance') marks the land as the divinely apportioned possession of Israel, whose purity the divorce-statute serves to protect.
5
ἐὰν δέ τις λάβῃ γυναῖκα προσφάτως οὐκ ἐξελεύσεται εἰς τὸν πόλεμον καὶ οὐκ ἐπιβληθήσεται αὐτῷ οὐδὲν πρᾶγμα ἀθῷος ἔσται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐνιαυτὸν ἕνα εὐφρανεῖ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἣν ἔλαβεν
But if a man takes a wife recently, he shall not go out to war, and no business shall be laid upon him; he shall be free at his house for one year, and he shall gladden his wife whom he has taken.
The same casuistic opening as v. 1 (ἐὰν δέ τις λάβῃ γυναῖκα) now introduces a humane exemption: the newly married man (προσφάτως) is released from war and public levy for a year. The purpose is explicitly conjugal — εὐφρανεῖ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ('he shall gladden his wife') — a striking subordination of military necessity to the joy of the new household.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the protasis of a new case-law, parallel in form to v. 1.
δέbut / nowpost-positive connective (new statute)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the shift to a new, unrelated statute.
τιςsomeone / a manNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)→ participant referenceτις: the generic legal subject, here a newly married man.
λάβῃtakesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (entering marriage)λαμβάνω: λαμβάνω γυναῖκα, the marriage-idiom again (cf. v. 1).
γυναῖκαa wifeAccusativedirect object of λάβῃ→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the bride whose first year of marriage the law protects.
προσφάτωςrecently / newlyadverb of time (qualifying λάβῃ)→ clausal contributionπροσφάτως: 'recently / freshly / newly'; renders the sense of חָדָשׁ ('new'); marks the marriage as recent, the trigger for the year-long exemption.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐξελεύσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξελεύσεταιhe shall go outFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (apodosis: the exemption)→ prohibitive future (legal exemption)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; ἐξέρχομαι εἰς πόλεμον ('go out to war') is the standard idiom for military campaign (cf. Num 1:3); the negated future grants exemption from conscription.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλεμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεμονwarAccusativeobject of εἰς→ object specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the newlywed is exempt from the campaign for which other able men are mustered.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπιβληθήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιβληθήσεταιshall be laid uponFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιβάλλωmain verb (extending the exemption to civic levy)→ prohibitive future (no burden imposed)ἐπιβάλλω: 'lay/impose upon'; the passive ἐπιβληθήσεται with αὐτῷ ('upon him') extends the exemption from war to any public obligation or levy (οὐδὲν πρᾶγμα) — the year is to be wholly free.
αὐτῷupon himDativedative of disadvantage (with ἐπιβληθήσεται)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'upon him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage (with ἐπιβληθήσεται).
οὐδὲνnoNominativeattributive adjective (modifying πρᾶγμα)→ participant prominenceοὐδείς: 'no one / nothing'; the neuter οὐδέν with πρᾶγμα = 'no matter / no business' shall be imposed on him.
πρᾶγμαbusiness / matterNominativesubject of ἐπιβληθήσεται→ participant prominenceπρᾶγμα: 'matter / business / public duty'; here any official obligation; the same noun as v. 1 (ἄσχημον πρᾶγμα) but in a wholly different sense.
ἀθῷοςfree / exempt / innocentNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀθῷος: 'free from obligation / unpunished / innocent'; renders נָקִי; usually 'innocent / guiltless', but here in the sense 'free / exempt' — released from public duty to remain at home.
ἔσταιhe shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate ἀθῷος)→ predictive future (the granted status)εἰμί (fut.): 'he shall be free'; states the man's exempt status for the year.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with οἰκίᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίᾳhouseDativedative of place (where he remains)→ sphere or referenceοἰκία: 'house / home'; the place where the exempt man remains to enjoy his marriage.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνιαυτὸνfor a yearAccusativeaccusative of duration (extent of time)→ object specificationἐνιαυτός: 'year'; renders שָׁנָה; the accusative of duration marks the length of the exemption — one full year of married freedom.
ἕναoneAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying ἐνιαυτόν)→ measure or countεἷς (acc. m. ἕνα): 'one'; renders אֶחָד; emphasizes the precise span — exactly one year.
εὐφρανεῖhe shall gladdenFut Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐφραίνωmain verb (the purpose of the exemption)→ predictive/telic future (the intended gladdening)εὐφραίνω: 'gladden / make joyful / cheer'; renders שִׂמַּח (Piel of שׂמח); the verb makes the wife's joy the explicit aim of the whole exemption — a remarkable elevation of conjugal happiness over military and civic claims.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of εὐφρανεῖ→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the bride whose gladdening is the law's stated goal.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἣνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔλαβεν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. f. ἥν): relative pronoun, 'whom he has taken.'
ἔλαβενhe has takenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the marriage already contracted)λαμβάνω: the marriage-idiom recurs; the relative clause closes the verse with a backward glance to the recent wedding that occasioned the exemption.
6
οὐκ ἐνεχυράσεις μύλον οὐδὲ ἐπιμύλιον ὅτι ψυχὴν οὗτος ἐνεχυράζει
You shall not take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for this man takes a life in pledge.
An apodictic 'you shall not' in the second-person singular future, the characteristic Deuteronomic prohibition form. The motivation-clause ὅτι ψυχὴν … ἐνεχυράζει ('for he takes a life in pledge') reasons that to seize the means of grinding grain is to seize the means of life itself; the verb ἐνεχυράζω frames the whole pledge-law cluster (cf. vv. 10–13, 17).
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐνεχυράσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation; with the future ἐνεχυράσεις forms an apodictic prohibition ('you shall not').
ἐνεχυράσειςyou shall take in pledgeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐνεχυράζωmain verb (apodictic prohibition)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)ἐνεχυράζω: 'take as a pledge / hold as security'; renders חָבַל ('take in pledge'); the technical verb of the pledge-laws; the future with οὐ functions as an absolute prohibition, equivalent to an imperative.
μύλονa mill / millstoneAccusativedirect object of ἐνεχυράσεις→ object specificationμύλος: 'mill / millstone'; renders רֵחַיִם; the hand-mill for grinding daily grain; its seizure would deprive a household of the means to prepare bread — the same word for the slave's millstone at Exod 11:5.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'nor / not even'; extends the prohibition to the second, upper stone of the mill.
ἐπιμύλιονan upper millstoneAccusativedirect object of ἐνεχυράσεις (parallel to μύλον)→ object specificationἐπιμύλιον: 'upper millstone / rider-stone' (lit. 'the thing upon the mill'); renders רֶכֶב ('the upper/rider stone'); since a mill is useless without both stones, naming each separately makes the prohibition airtight — neither part may be taken.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (motivation-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the reason — to pledge the mill is to pledge a life.
ψυχὴνa life / soulAccusativedirect object of ἐνεχυράζει (emphatically fronted)→ object specificationψυχή: 'life / soul / living person'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'life' in the sense of the means of livelihood — the fronted position (ψυχὴν … ἐνεχυράζει) drives home that taking the mill is tantamount to taking the man's very life-support.
οὗτοςthis manNominativesubject of ἐνεχυράζει (demonstrative)→ participant referenceοὗτος: demonstrative pronoun, 'this one'; the would-be creditor; the demonstrative makes the indictment pointed and personal.
ἐνεχυράζειtakes in pledgePres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐνεχυράζωverb of causal clause→ gnomic present (general principle)ἐνεχυράζω: the same verb as the prohibition, now in the present of general principle — whoever does this 'is taking a life in pledge'; the repetition seals the argument that pledging the mill is morally equivalent to pledging the debtor's life.
7
ἐὰν δὲ ἁλῷ ἄνθρωπος κλέπτων ψυχὴν τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ καταδυναστεύσας αὐτὸν ἀποδῶται ἀποθανεῖται ὁ κλέπτης ἐκεῖνος καὶ ἐξαρεῖς τὸν πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν
But if a man is caught stealing a person from among his brothers, the sons of Israel, and having overpowered him he sells him, that thief shall die; and you shall remove the evil one from among you.
A casuistic capital statute: if a man is caught (ἁλῷ) kidnapping (κλέπτων ψυχήν) and selling a fellow Israelite, the death penalty applies. The verse closes with the Deuteronomic purge-formula ἐξαρεῖς τὸν πονηρόν ('you shall remove the evil one'), which recurs throughout the law-code (cf. 13:5; 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21–24).
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the protasis of the kidnapping case-law.
δὲbut / nowpost-positive connective (new statute)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the new case.
ἁλῷis caughtAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἁλίσκομαιverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (being caught in the act)ἁλίσκομαι: 'be caught / be taken / be convicted'; the passive subjunctive ἁλῷ ('if he be caught') presupposes detection and conviction; the verb is the technical term for being apprehended in a crime.
ἄνθρωποςa manNominativesubject of ἁλῷ→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; renders אִישׁ; the generic offender of the case.
κλέπτωνstealingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · κλέπτωcircumstantial participle (complementary: caught in the act of)→ progressive present participle (caught while stealing)κλέπτω: 'steal'; κλέπτων ψυχήν ('stealing a person/life') is the LXX rendering of גֹּנֵב נֶפֶשׁ — man-stealing or kidnapping, the crime the eighth commandment prohibits in its original sense (cf. Exod 21:16); the present participle marks the man caught in the very act.
ψυχὴνa person / soulAccusativedirect object of κλέπτων→ object specificationψυχή: 'person / life / soul'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'a human being' — the stolen 'soul' is a living Israelite person; cf. the same noun at v. 6 in a different sense ('life / livelihood').
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἀδελφῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivepartitive genitive (the victim is one 'of his brothers')→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother / kinsman'; renders אָח; in Deuteronomy 'brother' denotes the fellow Israelite as covenant-kin; kidnapping a brother is an assault on the covenant community itself.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀδελφῶν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with ἀδελφῶν).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν, appositional)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive in apposition to ἀδελφῶν→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') is the standard LXX designation of the covenant people (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל); the apposition specifies that the 'brother' is a fellow Israelite.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the genitive 'of Israel' identifying the covenant nation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταδυναστεύσαςhaving overpoweredAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · καταδυναστεύωcircumstantial participle (antecedent to ἀποδῶται)→ antecedent aorist participle (subjugation preceding sale)καταδυναστεύω: 'oppress / overpower / subjugate'; renders הִתְעַמֵּר ('treat as a slave / deal tyrannically with'); describes the violent enslavement of the kidnapped brother prior to his sale; the aggravating element that turns theft into a capital crime.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of καταδυναστεύσας→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of καταδυναστεύσας.
ἀποδῶταιhe sellsAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιverb of protasis (subjunctive, completing the crime)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of sale)ἀποδίδωμι (mid. 'sell'): 'give over for a price / sell'; the middle ἀποδῶται means 'sell (for one's own profit)'; the sale into slavery completes the crime and triggers the death penalty (cf. Exod 21:16, where mere possession or sale of a kidnapped man is capital).
ἀποθανεῖταιshall dieFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (apodosis: the sentence)→ prescriptive future (mandated death penalty)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the future ἀποθανεῖται with legal force ('he shall surely be put to death') renders the Hebrew מוֹת יוּמַת idiom; the same verb-form recurs at v. 16 (ἀποθανεῖται of personal responsibility).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κλέπτης)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλέπτηςthiefNominativesubject of ἀποθανεῖται→ participant prominenceκλέπτης: 'thief'; renders גַּנָּב; here the man-stealer specifically; the noun picks up the participle κλέπτων, branding the kidnapper a 'thief' of the gravest kind.
ἐκεῖνοςthatNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying κλέπτης)→ participant prominenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative singles out the particular offender for the sentence — 'that thief.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing purge-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαρεῖςyou shall removeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐξαίρωmain verb (Deuteronomic purge-formula)→ prescriptive future (the command to purge)ἐξαίρω: 'remove / take away / put away'; renders בִּעֵר ('burn out / purge'); the formula ἐξαρεῖς τὸν πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν is the recurrent Deuteronomic purge-clause (cf. 13:5; 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21), the same formula Paul quotes at 1 Cor 5:13.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πονηρόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevil / evil oneAccusativedirect object of ἐξαρεῖς (substantivized adjective)→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil / wicked (one)'; renders רַע; in the purge-formula it denotes both the evil person and the evil he embodies; removing him purges the community of the contagion of his crime.
ἐξfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation).
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobject of ἐξ (the community purged)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'from among you'; the shift to plural addresses the whole community responsible for executing the purge.
αὐτῶνyourselvesGenitiveintensive pronoun (with ὑμῶν: 'from your very selves')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): intensifying ὑμῶν, 'from among your own selves'; the emphatic ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν stresses that the evil is to be rooted out of the community's own midst.
8
πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ ἐν τῇ ἁφῇ τῆς λέπρας φυλάξῃ σφόδρα ποιεῖν κατὰ πάντα τὸν νόμον ὃν ἐὰν ἀναγγείλωσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ Λευῖται ὃν τρόπον ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν φυλάξασθε ποιεῖν
Take heed to yourself in the plague of leprosy: you shall observe very carefully to do according to all the law which the Levitical priests shall declare to you; as I commanded you, so shall you take care to do.
An imperatival warning (πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ, 'take heed to yourself') introduces the law of the leprosy-plague, directing obedience to the priestly instruction of Leviticus 13–14. The verse mixes singular (πρόσεχε, φυλάξῃ) and plural (ὑμῖν, φυλάξασθε) address, characteristic of Deuteronomy's fluid number; the framing ὃν τρόπον ἐνετειλάμην ('as I commanded') roots the command in Moses' own prior charge.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
πρόσεχεtake heedPres Act Impv 2 Sg · προσέχωmain verb (imperatival warning)→ durative present imperative (continual vigilance)προσέχω: 'attend to / give heed / beware'; πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ ('take heed to yourself') renders הִשָּׁמֶר ('guard yourself'), a frequent Deuteronomic admonition (cf. 4:9; 6:12; 12:13); the present imperative calls for sustained vigilance.
σεαυτῷto yourselfDativedative (reflexive object of πρόσεχε)→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun, 'yourself'; the dative complement of πρόσεχε; the warning is intensely personal.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/circumstance)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere/circumstance).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἁφῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁφῇplague / infectionDativeobject of ἐν (sphere of the warning)→ sphere or referenceἁφή: 'touch / mark / plague-spot'; renders נֶגַע ('plague-mark / affliction'); the technical term in Leviticus 13–14 for the diagnostic 'mark' of leprous disease; here the dative of sphere — 'in the matter of the leprous plague.'
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with λέπρας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λέπραςleprosyGenitivegenitive of definition (with ἁφῇ: 'plague of leprosy')→ relational specificationλέπρα: 'leprosy / scale-disease'; renders צָרַעַת; a broad category of skin (and garment/house) afflictions regulated by the priests; the ἁφὴ τῆς λέπρας is the diagnosable infection-mark of Lev 13.
φυλάξῃyou shall observeAor Mid Subj 2 Sg · φυλάσσωmain verb (volitive subjunctive / emphatic command)→ volitive aorist subjunctive (binding injunction to keep)φυλάσσω (mid.): 'guard / keep / observe (carefully)'; renders שָׁמַר; the middle φυλάξῃ ('take care for yourself to keep') with σφόδρα stresses scrupulous compliance with the priestly diagnosis and quarantine procedures.
σφόδραvery / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying φυλάξῃ)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly / very much'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies the command to observe — the leprosy regulations demand the strictest care.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with φυλάξῃ)→ present infinitive (the doing enjoined)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; φυλάσσω ποιεῖν ('take care to do') is a Hebraistic pairing (שָׁמַר לַעֲשׂוֹת) frequent in Deuteronomy (cf. 5:1; 6:3; 28:1) — careful, deliberate performance of the law.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/standard)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; marks the law as the norm of conduct.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying νόμον)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / whole'; 'according to all the law' demands complete, not selective, obedience to the priestly instruction.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativeobject of κατά→ object specificationνόμος: 'law / instruction'; renders תּוֹרָה; here the specific Levitical torah governing leprosy (Lev 13–14), which the priests are charged to teach and apply.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀναγγείλωσιν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. m. ὅν): relative pronoun introducing the clause describing what the priests declare.
ἐὰνevermodal particle (with subjunctive, generalizing the relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: here = ἄν, generalizing the relative ('whatever law they declare'); takes the subjunctive ἀναγγείλωσιν.
ἀναγγείλωσινthey declareAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἀναγγέλλωverb of generalized relative clause→ constative aorist subjunctive (the priests' ruling)ἀναγγέλλω: 'announce / declare / report'; renders הִגִּיד ('tell / make known'); the priests' role is teaching and diagnostic declaration — they 'announce' the verdict of clean/unclean and the requisite procedure.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative indirect object (the people instructed)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'to you'; the plural addresses the whole people who must heed the priestly ruling.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεῖς)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsNominativesubject of ἀναγγείλωσιν→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the priests are the authoritative interpreters and appliers of the leprosy-torah (Lev 13:2).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with Λευῖται, appositional)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευῖταιLevites / LeviticalNominativenominative in apposition to ἱερεῖς→ participant prominenceΛευίτης: 'Levite'; οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ Λευῖται ('the Levitical priests' / 'the priests, the Levites') is the characteristic Deuteronomic designation of the priesthood (cf. 17:9; 18:1; 27:9), reflecting Deuteronomy's distinctive merging of priest and Levite.
ὃνin whichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον: 'in the manner which')→ participant referenceὅς (acc. m.): with τρόπον forms the idiom ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner that / just as').
τρόπονmanner / wayAccusativeadverbial accusative (ὃν τρόπον = 'just as')→ object specificationτρόπος: 'way / manner'; the phrase ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner which / just as') is a fixed adverbial idiom equating the present command with Moses' earlier charge.
ἐνετειλάμηνI commandedAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of comparative clause→ constative aorist (Moses' prior command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / give orders'; renders צִוָּה; Moses speaks in the first person, grounding the present instruction in his own previously-given charge; the same verb recurs in vv. 18, 20, 22 (ἐντέλλομαι).
ὑμῖνyouDativedative indirect object (of ἐνετειλάμην)→ participant reference or interestὑμῖν: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (of ἐνετειλάμην).
φυλάξασθεtake care / observeAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (concluding plural imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (set yourselves to keep)φυλάσσω (mid.): the plural imperative φυλάξασθε resumes the singular φυλάξῃ above, closing the verse with a renewed charge; φυλάξασθε ποιεῖν ('take care to do') repeats the Hebraistic pairing — careful obedience is the refrain.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with φυλάξασθε)→ present infinitive (the doing enjoined)ποιέω: 'do'; closes the verse with the third reference to 'doing' the law, underscoring that knowledge of the priestly ruling must issue in scrupulous practice.
9
μνήσθητι ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος ὁ θεός σου τῇ Μαριαμ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἐκπορευομένων ὑμῶν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου
Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the way as you were coming out of Egypt.
An imperatival appeal to memory (μνήσθητι, 'remember') anchors the leprosy-law in the cautionary case of Miriam (Num 12), who was struck with leprosy for opposing Moses. The genitive absolute ἐκπορευομένων ὑμῶν ('as you were coming out') fixes the event in the wilderness journey, making the warning concrete and historical.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
μνήσθητιrememberAor Pass Impv 2 Sg · μιμνῄσκομαιmain verb (imperative of remembrance)→ ingressive aorist imperative (call to active recollection)μιμνῄσκομαι: 'remember / call to mind'; renders זָכַר; μνήσθητι ('remember!') is a frequent Deuteronomic summons (cf. 5:15; 8:2; 9:7; 25:17); here it invokes the Miriam episode as a living warning against contempt for the leprosy-procedure and the authority behind it.
ὅσαwhat / all thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν, neuter plural)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as / whatever'; the neuter plural ὅσα ('the things that') is the object of remembrance — all that the LORD did to Miriam.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause (the divine act)→ constative aorist (the past judgment on Miriam)ποιέω: 'do / make'; here of YHWH's act of judgment — striking Miriam with leprosy (Num 12:10); the aorist points to a definite, remembered historical event.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH himself is the one who struck Miriam, underscoring that the leprosy-law is backed by divine sanction.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεός σου, the covenant formula, binding the remembered act to Israel's own God.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): the singular 'your', personalizing the covenant relationship.
τῇtoDativearticle (with Μαριαμ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜαριαμMiriamdative indirect object (with article: 'to Miriam')→ participant identificationΜαριαμ: transliteration of Hebrew מִרְיָם; indeclinable in the LXX, here governed by the article τῇ to mark the dative ('to Miriam'); the reference is to Num 12, where Miriam, struck with leprosy for challenging Moses, was shut outside the camp seven days.
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ὁδῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδῷway / roadDativedative of place (ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ: 'on the way')→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ('on the way') situates the Miriam-episode in the wilderness march from Egypt.
ἐκπορευομένωνas ... were coming outPres Mid Part Gen Pl Masc · ἐκπορεύομαιgenitive absolute (temporal: 'while you were coming out')→ contemporaneous present participle (action ongoing at the time)ἐκπορεύομαι: 'go out / proceed'; the genitive absolute ἐκπορευομένων ὑμῶν ('while you were coming out') sets the remembered judgment within the journey from Egypt; renders the Hebrew temporal infinitive construction בְּצֵאתְכֶם.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive subject of the absolute participle→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): the subject of the genitive absolute; the shift to plural embraces the whole people on the wilderness journey.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitiveobject of ἐξ (the place departed)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): 'Egypt'; ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ('out of Egypt') the standard Exodus formula; the memory of Miriam belongs to the same formative wilderness period that grounds so much of Deuteronomy's parenesis.
10
ἐὰν ὀφείλημα ᾖ ἐν τῷ πλησίον σου ὀφείλημα ὁτιοῦν οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ ἐνεχυράσαι τὸ ἐνέχυρον
If there is a debt owed you by your neighbor, any debt whatever, you shall not go into his house to seize his pledge.
A casuistic law opening the pledge-cluster (vv. 10–13): if a neighbor owes any debt, the creditor must not enter the debtor's house to take the pledge. The prohibition protects the debtor's domestic dignity — the creditor may not invade the home and choose the security himself, but must wait outside (v. 11).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the protasis of the pledge-statute.
ὀφείλημαa debtNominativesubject of ᾖ→ participant prominenceὀφείλημα: 'debt / what is owed'; renders מַשָּׁאָה / the sense of a loan; the same noun stands behind the petition 'forgive us our debts' (Matt 6:12); here the legal obligation the neighbor owes.
ᾖthere isPres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of protasis (subjunctive of existence)→ stative present subjunctive (the existing debt)εἰμί (subj. ᾖ): 'be / exist'; ἐὰν … ᾖ ('if there be') posits the existence of a debt as the condition of the case.
ἐνin / withpreposition + dative (idiom: 'a debt in [the case of] your neighbor')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: here idiomatic — ὀφείλημα ᾖ ἐν τῷ πλησίον ('a debt rests with your neighbor'), i.e. your neighbor owes you something.
τῷthe / yourDativearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborDativeobject of ἐν (the debtor)→ sphere or referenceπλησίον: 'neighbor / fellow' (substantivized adverb); renders רֵעַ; the debtor is the creditor's 'neighbor' — a fellow-Israelite to be treated with covenant consideration, not as a mere debtor.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πλησίον)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with πλησίον).
ὀφείλημαa debtNominativenominative in apposition (resumptive: 'a debt, any whatever')→ participant prominenceὀφείλημα: the repetition with ὁτιοῦν generalizes — 'any debt whatever'; the doubling broadens the law to cover every kind of loan.
ὁτιοῦνof any kind whateverNominativeindefinite pronoun (generalizing ὀφείλημα)→ participant referenceὁστισοῦν (n. ὁτιοῦν): 'whatsoever / any at all'; the indefinite generalizes the debt — the protection applies regardless of the loan's size or nature.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with εἰσελεύσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσελεύσῃyou shall go inFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (apodictic prohibition)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)εἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; the negated future οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ ('you shall not enter') forbids the creditor from invading the debtor's home — the heart of the law's protection of domestic dignity.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal of entry)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of entry).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with οἰκίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίανhouseAccusativeobject of εἰς (the debtor's home)→ object specificationοἰκία: 'house / home'; the debtor's dwelling, which the creditor may not enter; the home is a protected space the lender's claim does not override.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the debtor's)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the debtor's).
ἐνεχυράσαιto seize as a pledgeAor Act Inf · ἐνεχυράζωinfinitive of purpose (with εἰσελεύσῃ)→ aorist infinitive (the forbidden purpose)ἐνεχυράζω: 'take as a pledge'; the infinitive of purpose ('to take the pledge') names the very act the creditor must not perform by invasion — he may receive a pledge, but not choose and seize it himself within the house.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἐνέχυρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνέχυρονpledgeAccusativedirect object of ἐνεχυράσαι→ object specificationἐνέχυρον: 'pledge / security / pawn'; renders עֲבוֹט / חֲבֹל; the object given as security for a loan; the cognate noun-and-verb pairing (ἐνέχυρον / ἐνεχυράζω) dominates vv. 10–13.
11
ἔξω στήσῃ καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗ τὸ δάνειόν σού ἐστιν ἐν αὐτῷ ἐξοίσει σοι τὸ ἐνέχυρον ἔξω
You shall stand outside, and the man to whom your loan belongs shall bring out the pledge to you outside.
The positive counterpart to v. 10: instead of entering, the creditor 'stands outside' (ἔξω, emphatically framing the verse at both ends) while the debtor himself brings out the pledge. The debtor thus retains the dignity of choosing what to surrender, and his home remains inviolate.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἔξωoutsideadverb of place (where the creditor must stand)→ clausal contributionἔξω: 'outside / without'; the emphatic position (ἔξω στήσῃ … τὸ ἐνέχυρον ἔξω) brackets the verse, hammering home that the whole transaction takes place outside the debtor's door.
στήσῃyou shall standFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (prescribed conduct of the creditor)→ prescriptive future (the required posture)ἵστημι (fut. mid. στήσῃ): 'stand / take one's stand'; the creditor is to remain standing outside; the middle/intransitive future prescribes the proper, deferential conduct of the lender.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἄνθρωπος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of ἐξοίσει (the debtor)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; here the debtor, who himself brings out the pledge — preserving his agency in the transaction.
οὗto whom / whoseGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive in the relative clause)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. m. οὗ): relative pronoun; οὗ τὸ δάνειόν … ἐν αὐτῷ ('in whom the loan is') = 'the man who has your loan', i.e. the borrower.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with δάνειον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δάνειόνloanNominativesubject of ἐστιν (in the relative clause)→ participant prominenceδάνειον: 'loan / debt'; renders מַשָּׁאת; the sum lent, here viewed as resting 'in' the borrower (ἐν αὐτῷ) — he is the one carrying the obligation.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δάνειον)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the loan is the creditor's — 'your loan' — owed by the debtor.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (existence/location of the loan)→ stative present (the standing obligation)εἰμί: 'be'; here locating the loan 'in' the borrower — the debt rests upon him.
ἐνin / uponpreposition + dative (idiom: the debt resting on him)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (idiom: the debt resting on him).
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of ἐν (the debtor)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. m.): 'him'; the borrower in whom the obligation resides.
ἐξοίσειshall bring outFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκφέρωmain verb (the debtor's action)→ prescriptive future (the debtor brings out the pledge)ἐκφέρω: 'carry out / bring forth'; the debtor himself ἐξοίσει ('shall bring out') the pledge to the waiting creditor — the act that preserves his dignity and the inviolability of his home.
σοιto youDativedative indirect object (the creditor)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; the creditor receives the pledge at the door.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἐνέχυρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνέχυρονpledgeAccusativedirect object of ἐξοίσει→ object specificationἐνέχυρον: 'pledge / security'; the object brought out by the debtor; see v. 10.
ἔξωoutsideadverb of place (closing frame, repeated)→ clausal contributionἔξω: the repeated 'outside' closes the verse, reinforcing that the entire pledge-transaction occurs at the threshold, never within.
12
ἐὰν δὲ ὁ ἄνθρωπος πένηται οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ ἐν τῷ ἐνεχύρῳ αὐτοῦ
But if the man is poor, you shall not sleep in his pledge.
A further condition narrows the case to the poor debtor: if the man is destitute (πένηται), the creditor must not 'sleep in his pledge' — i.e. keep the pledged garment overnight — since it is the poor man's only covering. The clause sets up the positive command of v. 13.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the refining condition — the case of the poor debtor.
δὲbut / andpost-positive connective→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the narrowing of the case to the poor.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἄνθρωπος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of πένηται (the debtor)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man'; the debtor, now specified as poor.
πένηταιis poorPres Mid Subj 3 Sg · πένομαιverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ stative present subjunctive (the condition of poverty)πένομαι: 'be poor / be needy / toil for one's living'; the cognate of πένης ('poor laborer', v. 14); the verb denotes one who must work to survive and has no surplus — for such a man the pledged cloak is his only blanket.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κοιμηθήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κοιμηθήσῃyou shall sleepFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · κοιμάωmain verb (apodictic prohibition)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)κοιμάω (pass. 'lie down / sleep'): 'sleep / lie down'; the idiom κοιμηθῆναι ἐν τῷ ἐνεχύρῳ ('sleep in/on the pledge') means to keep the pledged garment overnight as one's own bedding while the poor owner goes without; the prohibition forbids the creditor from retaining the cloak at night.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (with the pledge)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (with the pledge).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἐνεχύρῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνεχύρῳpledgeDativeobject of ἐν (the pledged garment)→ sphere or referenceἐνέχυρον: 'pledge'; here specifically the poor man's outer garment (cf. v. 13, ἱμάτιον), which doubled as his nighttime covering (cf. Exod 22:26–27).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the debtor's pledge)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the debtor's pledge).
13
ἀποδόσει ἀποδώσεις τὸ ἐνέχυρον αὐτοῦ περὶ δυσμὰς ἡλίου καὶ κοιμηθήσεται ἐν τῷ ἱματίῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ εὐλογήσει σε καὶ ἔσται σοι ἐλεημοσύνη ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου
You shall surely return his pledge to him about sunset, and he shall sleep in his garment and shall bless you; and it shall be mercy for you before the LORD your God.
The positive resolution of vv. 10–12, opened by the emphatic cognate construction ἀποδόσει ἀποδώσεις ('you shall surely return'), a Hebraism rendering the infinitive absolute. The creditor must restore the garment by sunset so the poor man can sleep in it; the result is twofold — the debtor's blessing and, before YHWH, ἐλεημοσύνη ('mercy / righteousness') credited to the lender (cf. the same ledger-language at Gen 15:6; Ps 111:9 LXX).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ἀποδόσειsurely (returning)Dativecognate dative (intensifying ἀποδώσεις: Hebraism)→ sphere or referenceἀπόδοσις: 'a giving back / restoration'; the cognate dative ἀποδόσει ἀποδώσεις renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute הָשֵׁב תָּשִׁיב ('you shall surely restore'); the construction expresses certainty and obligation — the return of the pledge is non-negotiable.
ἀποδώσειςyou shall returnFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (emphatic command)→ prescriptive future intensified by cognate dative (obligatory restoration)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / restore / repay'; the prescriptive future with the cognate dative forms the emphatic 'you shall surely restore'; the creditor's duty is to return, not retain, the poor man's pledge.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἐνέχυρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνέχυρονpledgeAccusativedirect object of ἀποδώσεις→ object specificationἐνέχυρον: 'pledge'; the garment to be restored; see vv. 10–12.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the debtor's)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the debtor's).
περὶabout / aroundpreposition + accusative (temporal approximation)→ spatial or relational framingπερί + acc.: 'about / around (a time)'; περὶ δυσμὰς ἡλίου ('about sunset') sets the deadline for return — before nightfall, when the poor man needs his cloak for warmth.
δυσμὰςsetting / sundownAccusativeobject of περί (temporal: 'sunset')→ object specificationδυσμή (pl. δυσμαί): 'setting (of the sun) / west'; δυσμαὶ ἡλίου ('the sun's setting') = sunset; renders בּוֹא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ; the daily deadline by which the cloak must be restored (cf. Exod 22:26).
ἡλίουof the sunGenitivegenitive (with δυσμάς: 'setting of the sun')→ relational specificationἥλιος: 'sun'; the genitive specifies whose setting — that of the sun; the same noun governs the sunset-deadline of the wage-law at v. 15 (ἐπιδύσεται ὁ ἥλιος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κοιμηθήσεταιhe shall sleepFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάωmain verb (consequence: the debtor's rest)→ predictive future (the resulting rest)κοιμάω (pass.): 'sleep / lie down'; the poor man κοιμηθήσεται ἐν τῷ ἱματίῳ ('shall sleep in his garment') — the cloak restored becomes again his nighttime covering; the verb echoes the prohibition of v. 12 (οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ), now resolved in the debtor's favor.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (with the garment)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (with the garment).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἱματίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱματίῳgarment / cloakDativeobject of ἐν (the restored cloak)→ sphere or referenceἱμάτιον: 'garment / outer cloak'; renders שַׂלְמָה / בֶּגֶד; the large outer mantle that served the poor as both clothing by day and blanket by night — hence its retention overnight would be a real hardship (cf. Exod 22:26–27; Amos 2:8).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐλογήσειhe shall blessFut Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (the debtor's grateful response)→ predictive future (the blessing that follows)εὐλογέω: 'bless / speak well of'; renders בֵּרַךְ; the grateful poor man's blessing of the creditor; in the OT a blessing from the needy carries real weight before God — it becomes the occasion of the lender's own credit (the following clause).
σεyouAccusativedirect object of εὐλογήσει (the creditor)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the creditor whom the poor debtor blesses.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the divine reckoning)→ 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 divine crediting)→ predictive future (the reckoned result)εἰμί (fut.): 'it shall be'; introduces the theological reckoning — the act of mercy is credited to the lender before God; cf. the parallel 'reckoning' language at v. 15 (καὶ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ ἁμαρτία), where withholding is reckoned as sin.
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage (the creditor's credit)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to/for you'; the mercy is reckoned to the creditor's account before YHWH.
ἐλεημοσύνηmercy / righteousnessNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἐλεημοσύνη: 'mercy / almsgiving / merciful righteousness'; here the LXX renders Hebrew צְדָקָה ('righteousness') by ἐλεημοσύνη — a key semantic bridge whereby 'righteousness' toward the poor becomes 'mercy/almsgiving' (cf. the same equation in Tobit, Sirach, and Matt 6:1–4 v.l.); the merciful return of the pledge counts as righteousness before God.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (evaluative perspective)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; the act is credited as mercy in YHWH's own estimation, not merely in human view.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος: the rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the mercy is reckoned before YHWH himself.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεός σου, the covenant formula.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the covenant relationship grounds the reckoning of mercy.
14
οὐκ ἀπαδικήσεις μισθὸν πένητος καὶ ἐνδεοῦς ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου ἢ ἐκ τῶν προσηλύτων τῶν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσίν σου
You shall not withhold by fraud the wage of a poor and needy man, whether from your brothers or from the sojourners who are in your cities.
An apodictic prohibition opening the wage-law (vv. 14–15): the wage of a poor hired laborer must not be defrauded, whether the worker be an Israelite brother or a resident sojourner (προσήλυτος). The pairing 'brother or sojourner' makes the protection comprehensive, extending Israel's social ethics to the non-citizen resident.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀπαδικήσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπαδικήσειςyou shall withhold by fraudFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀπαδικέωmain verb (apodictic prohibition)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)ἀπαδικέω: 'wrong / defraud / withhold unjustly'; the compound (ἀπο- + ἀδικέω) intensifies 'do injustice' toward 'defraud / keep back wrongfully'; renders עָשַׁק ('oppress / withhold wages'); the same wrong condemned at Lev 19:13 and Jas 5:4 (the held-back wage that 'cries out').
μισθὸνwage / hireAccusativedirect object of ἀπαδικήσεις→ object specificationμισθός: 'wage / pay / hire'; renders שָׂכָר / פְּעֻלָּה; the day-laborer's earned pay, on which his survival depends; the term is central to the wage-justice tradition (Lev 19:13; Mal 3:5; Jas 5:4).
πένητοςof a poor manGenitivegenitive (the wage's owner)→ relational specificationπένης: 'poor / needy (laborer)'; renders עָנִי; one who lives by his daily toil (cf. πένομαι, v. 12); the poor man is most vulnerable to wage-theft because he has no reserves.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνδεοῦςand needyGenitivegenitive adjective (coordinate with πένητος)→ relational specificationἐνδεής: 'in want / needy / destitute'; renders אֶבְיוֹן; the doubling 'poor and needy' (πένης καὶ ἐνδεής) is a standard OT pairing for the destitute (cf. Deut 15:11), emphasizing acute economic vulnerability.
ἐκfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'one of')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: here partitive — 'from among your brothers', identifying the worker's possible class.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀδελφῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivepartitive genitive (one class of worker)→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother / fellow-Israelite'; the worker may be a covenant brother; cf. v. 7.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (alternative class)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the alternative class of worker — the resident sojourner — extending the protection beyond the Israelite.
ἐκfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with προσηλύτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτωνsojourners / proselytesGenitivepartitive genitive (the second class of worker)→ relational specificationπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner / resident alien / proselyte' (lit. 'one who has come to'); renders גֵּר; the resident non-Israelite, a protected class throughout Deuteronomy (cf. 10:18–19; 24:17, 19–21); the LXX's προσήλυτος later acquires the religious sense 'convert.'
τῶνthe (who are)Genitivearticle (attributive, with the following prepositional phrase)→ noun-phrase markingὁ (gen. pl.): the article substantizes the following phrase — 'those who are in your cities.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with πόλεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσίνcitiesDativeobject of ἐν (where the sojourners reside)→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. pl. πόλεσιν): 'city / town'; renders עִיר / שַׁעַר ('gate / town'); 'in your cities' locates the sojourners as settled residents within Israel's towns, fully entitled to wage-justice.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πόλεσιν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with πόλεσιν).
15
αὐθημερὸν ἀποδώσεις τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐπιδύσεται ὁ ἥλιος ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ ὅτι πένης ἐστὶν καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔχει τὴν ἐλπίδα καὶ οὐ καταβοήσεται κατὰ σοῦ πρὸς κύριον καὶ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ ἁμαρτία
The same day you shall pay his wage; the sun shall not set upon it, for he is poor and sets his hope on it; lest he cry out against you to the LORD, and it be sin in you.
The positive command — pay the wage the same day (αὐθημερόν), before sunset — with a three-fold motivation: the worker is poor and 'sets his hope on it'; lest he cry out (καταβοήσεται) to YHWH against the employer; and lest the withholding 'be sin in you.' The cry of the unpaid laborer reaching the LORD is exactly the scene James invokes (Jas 5:4); the 'reckoned sin' parallels the 'reckoned mercy' of v. 13.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
αὐθημερὸνthe same dayadverb of time (fronted for emphasis)→ clausal contributionαὐθήμερον: 'on the same day / that very day'; the emphatic front position stresses immediacy — the wage must be paid the day it is earned, not deferred; renders the Hebrew בְּיוֹמוֹ ('on his day').
ἀποδώσειςyou shall payFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (positive command)→ prescriptive future (mandatory same-day payment)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / pay (what is due)'; the same verb as the pledge-return of v. 13 — here 'pay (the wage owed)'; the laborer's pay is a debt that must be discharged at once.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μισθόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μισθὸνwageAccusativedirect object of ἀποδώσεις→ object specificationμισθός: 'wage / pay'; the laborer's earned pay, owed and payable the same day; see v. 14.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the worker's wage)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the worker's wage).
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπιδύσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιδύσεταιshall set uponFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιδύωmain verb (the sunset deadline)→ prohibitive future (the sun must not set on unpaid wages)ἐπιδύω: 'set upon / go down upon'; ἐπιδύσεται ὁ ἥλιος ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ ('the sun shall not set upon it') sets the sunset deadline for payment; the same idiom Paul echoes for anger at Eph 4:26 (ὁ ἥλιος μὴ ἐπιδυέτω ἐπὶ τῷ παροργισμῷ ὑμῶν).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἥλιος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubject of ἐπιδύσεται→ participant prominenceἥλιος: 'sun'; the setting sun marks the daily wage-deadline, as it marked the pledge-return deadline of v. 13 (δυσμὰς ἡλίου).
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + dative (elided: 'upon it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'upon'; 'upon it' (i.e. the unpaid wage) — the sun must not go down while the debt stands.
αὐτῷitDativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the wage)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): 'it' — the unpaid wage upon which the sun must not set.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (motivation)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the reason — the laborer's poverty and dependence.
πένηςpoorNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐστίν)→ participant prominenceπένης: 'poor / needy'; the worker lives hand-to-mouth on his daily wage; see v. 14.
ἐστὶνhe isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate πένης)→ stative present (his standing condition)εἰμί: 'be'; states the laborer's poverty as the ground of the urgency.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (object of hope)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'on / in'; ἐν αὐτῷ ἔχει τὴν ἐλπίδα ('on it he sets his hope') — the wage is the focus of the poor man's expectation.
αὐτῷitDativeobject of ἐν (the wage)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): 'it' — the wage, the object of the laborer's hope.
ἔχειhe sets / hasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb of causal clause→ durative present (his abiding dependence)ἔχω: 'have / hold'; ἔχει τὴν ἐλπίδα ('he holds/sets his hope') renders נֹשֵׂא אֶת־נַפְשׁוֹ ('he lifts up his soul/life to it'); the Hebrew idiom of longing is rendered by the language of hope — the laborer's whole expectation hangs on this pay.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἐλπίδα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλπίδαhope / expectationAccusativedirect object of ἔχει→ object specificationἐλπίς: 'hope / expectation'; here the laborer's livelihood-expectation; the LXX's choice of ἐλπίς for the Hebrew idiom of 'lifting the soul' poignantly frames the wage as the poor man's hope of survival.
καὶand / lestcoordinate conjunction (here introducing the apprehended consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: 'and'; in context introducing the feared outcome — '(do this) lest he cry out'; the negated future functions as a warning.
οὐnotnegative particle (with καταβοήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταβοήσεταιhe shall cry outFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταβοάωmain verb (apprehended consequence: the laborer's outcry)→ predictive future (the feared appeal to YHWH)καταβοάω: 'cry out against / appeal loudly'; the compound (κατά 'against') renders זָעַק / צָעַק ('cry out'); the unpaid laborer's outcry to YHWH against his employer recalls the blood of Abel and the cry of enslaved Israel (Exod 2:23), and is exactly the scene of Jas 5:4, where the withheld wages 'cry out' and reach 'the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.'
κατὰagainstpreposition + genitive (hostile: 'against you')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: 'against'; the outcry is directed against the defrauding employer.
σοῦyouGenitiveobject of κατά (the employer)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σοῦ): 'you'; the employer against whom the laborer cries.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the appeal)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; the cry is addressed to YHWH, the court of last appeal for the wronged poor.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeobject of πρός (the one appealed to)→ object specificationκύριος: the rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH hears the cry of the oppressed laborer and acts as his avenger (cf. Exod 22:23; Jas 5:4).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the reckoning)→ 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 divine reckoning of guilt)→ predictive future (the reckoned sin)εἰμί (fut.): 'it shall be'; ἔσται ἐν σοὶ ἁμαρτία ('there shall be sin in you') is the negative counterpart of v. 13's ἔσται σοι ἐλεημοσύνη — withholding is reckoned as sin, as returning the pledge was reckoned as mercy.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in you').
σοὶyouDativeobject of ἐν (the employer charged with sin)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοί): 'in you'; the sin is reckoned to the employer's account before YHWH.
ἁμαρτίαsinNominativesubject of ἔσται (predicate of the reckoning)→ participant prominenceἁμαρτία: 'sin / guilt'; renders חֵטְא; the withheld wage is not a mere economic lapse but a sin before God, incurring guilt — the gravest possible framing of wage-theft.
16
οὐκ ἀποθανοῦνται πατέρες ὑπὲρ τέκνων καὶ υἱοὶ οὐκ ἀποθανοῦνται ὑπὲρ πατέρων ἕκαστος τῇ ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτίᾳ ἀποθανεῖται
Fathers shall not be put to death for children, and sons shall not be put to death for fathers; each shall die for his own sin.
A principle of individual culpability in capital cases, framed as a chiastic double prohibition (fathers ... for children / sons ... for fathers) climaxing in the maxim ἕκαστος τῇ ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτίᾳ ἀποθανεῖται ('each shall die for his own sin'). It governs judicial procedure (no vicarious execution) and becomes the seed of the developed doctrine of personal responsibility at Ezek 18 and Jer 31:30; cited at 2 Kgs 14:6 / 2 Chr 25:4.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποθανοῦνται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθανοῦνταιshall be put to deathFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (apodictic prohibition)→ prohibitive future (judicial prohibition)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die / be put to death'; renders יוּמַת (Hophal, 'be put to death'); here judicially — fathers are not to be executed for the crimes of children; the verb frames the whole verse, recurring three times (×3) to bind the principle together.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of ἀποθανοῦνται→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; the parental generation, not to be executed for their offspring's guilt.
ὑπὲρfor / on behalf ofpreposition + genitive (substitutionary: 'in place of')→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + gen.: 'for / on behalf of / in place of'; here in the sense 'in the stead of / on account of' — fathers shall not bear the death-penalty in the children's place.
τέκνωνchildrenGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ (the children)→ relational specificationτέκνον: 'child / offspring'; renders בָּנִים; the children whose guilt may not be visited capitally upon the parents.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the parallel clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of the second ἀποθανοῦνται→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; renders בָּנִים; the chiastic counterpart — sons not executed for fathers; together the two clauses bar all vicarious capital punishment within the family line.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with the second ἀποθανοῦνται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθανοῦνταιshall be put to deathFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (parallel prohibition)→ prohibitive future (judicial prohibition)ἀποθνῄσκω: the repeated verb in the parallel clause; sons likewise are not to be executed for their fathers' crimes.
ὑπὲρfor / on behalf ofpreposition + genitive (substitutionary)→ spatial or relational framingὑπέρ + gen.: 'in the place of'; sons not dying in their fathers' stead.
πατέρωνfathersGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ (the fathers)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; in the parallel clause the fathers whose guilt may not be visited on the sons.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject of ἀποθανεῖται (distributive)→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; renders אִישׁ ('a man / each'); the distributive subject of the climactic maxim — every person individually.
τῇfor the / by hisDativearticle (with ἁμαρτίᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive possessive (with ἁμαρτίᾳ)→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun, 'his own'; the emphatic 'his own sin' isolates personal guilt as the sole ground of capital liability — the heart of the principle.
ἁμαρτίᾳsinDativedative of cause (the ground of death: 'for his own sin')→ sphere or referenceἁμαρτία: 'sin / guilt'; renders חֵטְא; the dative of cause — each dies on account of his own sin, not another's; the same noun as the 'reckoned sin' of v. 15, here defining the limit of judicial liability.
ἀποθανεῖταιshall dieFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (the climactic maxim)→ prescriptive future (the principle of personal liability)ἀποθνῄσκω: the third and climactic occurrence; the singular ἀποθανεῖται ('each shall die') states the positive principle behind the two prohibitions — capital guilt is strictly personal, the foundation later expanded at Ezek 18:20 ('the soul that sins shall die') and Jer 31:30.
17
οὐκ ἐκκλινεῖς κρίσιν προσηλύτου καὶ ὀρφανοῦ καὶ χήρας καὶ οὐκ ἐνεχυράσεις ἱμάτιον χήρας
You shall not pervert the judgment of a sojourner and an orphan and a widow, and you shall not take a widow's garment in pledge.
Two apodictic prohibitions protecting the classic Deuteronomic triad of the vulnerable — sojourner, orphan, widow (προσήλυτος, ὀρφανός, χήρα). The first forbids perverting their legal judgment (ἐκκλινεῖς κρίσιν); the second forbids taking a widow's garment in pledge, recalling the pledge-laws of vv. 10–13. The triad recurs in the gleaning laws of vv. 19–21.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐκκλινεῖς)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκκλινεῖςyou shall pervert / turn asideFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (apodictic prohibition)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / bend / pervert'; ἐκκλίνω κρίσιν ('bend judgment') renders הִטָּה מִשְׁפָּט ('pervert justice'), a standard idiom for judicial corruption (cf. Deut 16:19; 27:19; Exod 23:6); to 'turn aside' the case of the weak is to deny them fair hearing.
κρίσινjudgment / justiceAccusativedirect object of ἐκκλινεῖς→ object specificationκρίσις: 'judgment / legal case / justice'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the legal due owed to the vulnerable in court; perverting it is a grave covenant offense (cf. the curse of Deut 27:19).
προσηλύτουof a sojournerGenitivegenitive (whose judgment, first of the triad)→ relational specificationπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner / resident alien'; renders גֵּר; first member of the vulnerable triad; the resident non-Israelite, lacking kin and land, is especially exposed to judicial abuse.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀρφανοῦof an orphanGenitivegenitive (second of the triad)→ relational specificationὀρφανός: 'orphan / fatherless'; renders יָתוֹם; second member of the triad; the fatherless child has no paternal advocate in a patriarchal legal system.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
χήραςof a widowGenitivegenitive (third of the triad)→ relational specificationχήρα: 'widow'; renders אַלְמָנָה; third member of the triad; the husbandless woman, like the orphan and sojourner, stands under YHWH's special protection (Deut 10:18; Ps 68:5).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the second prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐνεχυράσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνεχυράσειςyou shall take in pledgeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐνεχυράζωmain verb (second apodictic prohibition)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)ἐνεχυράζω: 'take as a pledge'; the same verb as vv. 6, 10; here applied to the widow's garment — her vulnerability makes seizing her clothing as security categorically forbidden, an absolute version of the pledge-protections of vv. 10–13.
ἱμάτιονgarment / cloakAccusativedirect object of ἐνεχυράσεις→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment / cloak'; the widow's outer garment, the same essential covering protected for the poor man at v. 13; taking it from a widow is wholly prohibited.
χήραςof a widowGenitivegenitive of possession (whose garment)→ relational specificationχήρα: 'widow'; the repetition of χήρα closes the verse, sharpening the focus on the most defenseless figure of the triad.
18
καὶ μνησθήσῃ ὅτι οἰκέτης ἦσθα ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ ἐλυτρώσατό σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐκεῖθεν διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο
And you shall remember that you were a household-slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing.
The memory-motivation that grounds the social-justice laws: 'remember that you were a slave in Egypt and YHWH redeemed you.' Israel's own experience of bondage and redemption (ἐλυτρώσατο, 'redeemed') is the moral basis for protecting the vulnerable; the formula διὰ τοῦτο … ἐντέλλομαι ('therefore I command') recurs verbatim in vv. 20 and 22.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μνησθήσῃyou shall rememberFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · μιμνῄσκομαιmain verb (memory-command, future with imperatival force)→ prescriptive future (the duty of remembrance)μιμνῄσκομαι: 'remember'; the future μνησθήσῃ ('you shall remember') has imperatival force, the Deuteronomic memory-summons (cf. v. 9, 15:15; 16:12); recalling slavery in Egypt is the recurring ethical engine of Deuteronomy's compassion-laws.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of remembrance)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content remembered — the slavery and redemption.
οἰκέτηςa household-slaveNominativepredicate nominative (with ἦσθα)→ participant prominenceοἰκέτης: 'household-slave / domestic servant'; renders עֶבֶד; 'you were a slave in Egypt' is the foundational memory; οἰκέτης stresses the domestic, bonded character of Israel's servitude.
ἦσθαyou wereImpf Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (past state of slavery)→ durative imperfect (the ongoing past condition of bondage)εἰμί (impf. ἦσθα): 'you were'; the imperfect depicts the enduring past condition of slavery — a state, not a moment; the second-person singular addresses each Israelite as personally rescued.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
γῇthe land ofDativedative of place (with Αἰγύπτῳ)→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ ('in the land of Egypt') the place of bondage.
ΑἰγύπτῳEgyptDativedative in apposition to γῇ (place of slavery)→ sphere or referenceΑἴγυπτος (dat. Αἰγύπτῳ): 'Egypt'; the land of Israel's slavery, from which YHWH redeemed them — the moral reference-point of the whole compassion-cluster.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλυτρώσατόredeemedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · λυτρόωmain verb (the divine act of redemption)→ constative aorist (the completed redemption)λυτρόω (mid. 'ransom / redeem'): 'redeem / ransom / set free by payment'; renders פָּדָה / גָּאַל; the great Exodus-redemption verb; YHWH 'redeemed' Israel from slavery — the act that obligates Israel to deal mercifully with the vulnerable; the noun-group (λύτρον, ἀπολύτρωσις) underlies NT redemption-theology (cf. Mark 10:45; Titus 2:14).
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐλυτρώσατο→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the individual Israelite as the redeemed object of God's saving act.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐλυτρώσατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: the rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is the redeemer of Israel from Egypt.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεός σου, the covenant formula identifying the redeemer.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source: 'from there')→ clausal contributionἐκεῖθεν: 'from there / thence'; the deictic adverb points back to Egypt as the place from which YHWH redeemed Israel.
διὰbecause of / forpreposition + accusative (causal: 'on account of this')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'because of / on account of'; διὰ τοῦτο ('therefore / for this reason') draws the practical conclusion — because you were redeemed, you must obey this command.
τοῦτοthisAccusativeobject of διά (demonstrative)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; διὰ τοῦτο = 'for this reason', linking the redemption-memory to the obligation.
ἐγώINominativesubject of ἐντέλλομαι (emphatic: Moses)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic personal pronoun stresses Moses' personal authority as covenant-mediator in giving the command.
σοιyouDativedative indirect object (of ἐντέλλομαι)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; the individual Israelite commanded.
ἐντέλλομαιI commandPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (Moses' charge)→ performative present (the act of commanding in the saying of it)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; renders צִוָּה; the present is performative — in speaking, Moses commands; the formula ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο is repeated verbatim in vv. 20 and 22, binding the gleaning-laws to the same redemption-logic.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐντέλλομαι)→ present infinitive (the doing commanded)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; the content of the command — to do 'this thing' (the compassion-law just given).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / word / matterAccusativedirect object of ποιεῖν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר (which means both 'word' and 'thing'); τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ('this word/matter') = the commandment just given; the Hebraism uses 'word' for the commanded deed.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; specifies the particular command to be obeyed.
19
ἐὰν δὲ ἀμήσῃς ἀμητὸν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ σου καὶ ἐπιλάθῃ δράγμα ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ σου οὐκ ἐπαναστραφήσῃ λαβεῖν αὐτό τῷ πτωχῷ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ ἔσται ἵνα εὐλογήσῃ σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν χειρῶν σου
But if you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in your field, you shall not turn back to take it; it shall be for the poor and the sojourner and the orphan and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the works of your hands.
The first of three gleaning-laws (vv. 19–21): the forgotten sheaf (δράγμα) must be left for the vulnerable — here a fourfold list (poor, sojourner, orphan, widow). The harvester may not 'turn back' for it; the purpose-clause ἵνα εὐλογήσῃ σε κύριος ('that the LORD may bless you') makes generosity to the poor the channel of divine blessing on one's labor. The scenario is the very setting of Ruth 2.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the protasis of the gleaning-law.
δὲbut / nowpost-positive connective (new statute)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the new case.
ἀμήσῃςyou reapAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἀμάωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of reaping)ἀμάω: 'reap / mow / harvest'; renders קָצַר; the cognate ἀμήσῃς ἀμητόν ('reap a harvest') forms a figura etymologica (verb + cognate noun), a Hebraistic emphatic construction.
ἀμητὸνharvestAccusativecognate accusative (with ἀμήσῃς)→ object specificationἄμητος: 'harvest / reaping'; the cognate accusative with ἀμάω ('reap a reaping') renders the Hebrew קָצִיר; the figura etymologica intensifies — 'when you do your reaping.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷthe / yourDativearticle (with ἀγρῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of place (where reaping occurs)→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field'; renders שָׂדֶה; the harvested field, the setting of the forgotten sheaf and of Ruth's gleaning.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιλάθῃyou forgetAor Mid Subj 2 Sg · ἐπιλανθάνομαιverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of forgetting)ἐπιλανθάνομαι: 'forget / overlook'; renders שָׁכַח; the inadvertent forgetting of a sheaf becomes a providential provision for the poor — the law turns an oversight into charity; note the deliberate contrast with μνησθήσῃ ('remember', v. 18).
δράγμαa sheafAccusativedirect object of ἐπιλάθῃ→ object specificationδράγμα: 'sheaf / handful of cut grain'; renders עֹמֶר; the bound bundle of stalks left in the field; the forgotten sheaf is the object of the law's provision (cf. Ruth 2:7, 15).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷthe / yourDativearticle (with ἀγρῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field'; the repetition (ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ σου) reinforces that the sheaf lies in the owner's own field, yet is to be ceded to the poor.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπαναστραφήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπαναστραφήσῃyou shall turn backFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · ἐπαναστρέφωmain verb (apodosis: the prohibition)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)ἐπαναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; the same double-compound verb as v. 4 (ἐπαναστρέψας); here 'you shall not turn back' to retrieve the forgotten sheaf — once left, it belongs to the poor; cf. the parallel ἐπαναστρέψεις / ἐπανατρυγήσεις of vv. 20–21.
λαβεῖνto takeAor Act Inf · λαμβάνωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐπαναστραφήσῃ)→ aorist infinitive (the forbidden retrieval)λαμβάνω: 'take'; the infinitive of purpose — you shall not turn back 'to take' the sheaf; reclaiming it would rob the poor of their portion.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of λαβεῖν (the sheaf)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. n.): 'it' — the forgotten sheaf, not to be retrieved.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with πτωχῷ, dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πτωχῷpoor manDativedative of advantage (first recipient)→ sphere or referenceπτωχός: 'poor / destitute / beggar'; renders עָנִי; a stronger term than πένης (the laboring poor) — πτωχός suggests utter destitution; the first of the four recipients of the sheaf.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtheDativearticle (with προσηλύτῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτῳsojournerDativedative of advantage (second recipient)→ sphere or referenceπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner / resident alien'; the second recipient; the vulnerable triad (sojourner, orphan, widow) here expanded by the πτωχός.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὀρφανῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀρφανῷorphanDativedative of advantage (third recipient)→ sphere or referenceὀρφανός: 'orphan'; the third recipient of the gleaning-provision.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇtheDativearticle (with χήρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χήρᾳwidowDativedative of advantage (fourth recipient)→ sphere or referenceχήρα: 'widow'; the fourth recipient; this is the situation in which Ruth the Moabite widow gleans in Boaz's field (Ruth 2).
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the sheaf's assignment)→ predictive future (the destined provision)εἰμί (fut.): 'it shall be (for)'; the forgotten sheaf 'shall belong to' the four classes — the dative-of-advantage construction assigns it to the poor as their right.
ἵναso thatpurpose conjunction (introducing telic clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: 'in order that'; introduces the purpose — divine blessing as the reward of generosity to the poor.
εὐλογήσῃmay blessAor Act Subj 3 Sg · εὐλογέωverb of purpose clause (subjunctive with ἵνα)→ telic aorist subjunctive (the intended blessing)εὐλογέω: 'bless'; the same verb as the poor man's blessing at v. 13; here YHWH himself blesses the generous harvester — charity to the poor is the conduit of divine blessing on all one's work.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of εὐλογήσῃ→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of εὐλογήσῃ.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of εὐλογήσῃ→ participant prominenceκύριος: the rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is the giver of the blessing on the generous.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεός σου, the covenant formula.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere of blessing)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere of blessing).
πᾶσιallDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔργοις)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the blessing extends to every work of the hands — total prosperity as the reward of generosity.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἔργοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔργοιςworksDativeobject of ἐν (the sphere blessed)→ sphere or referenceἔργον: 'work / deed / labor'; renders מַעֲשֵׂה; 'all the works of your hands' is a Deuteronomic blessing-formula (cf. 2:7; 14:29; 16:15; 28:12), here tied to charity toward the poor.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with χειρῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρῶνhandsGenitivegenitive (whose works: 'of your hands')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; 'the works of your hands' = all one's labor and enterprise, the sphere of the promised blessing.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρῶν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with χειρῶν).
20
ἐὰν δὲ ἐλαιαλογήσῃς οὐκ ἐπαναστρέψεις καλαμήσασθαι τὰ ὀπίσω σου τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ ἔσται καὶ μνησθήσῃ ὅτι οἰκέτης ἦσθα ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο
But if you gather your olives, you shall not go back over to glean what is behind you; it shall be for the sojourner and the orphan and the widow. And you shall remember that you were a household-slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.
The second gleaning-law: after the olive harvest, one may not go back to strip the trees a second time; what remains is for the triad (sojourner, orphan, widow). The verse closes by repeating the Egypt-memory formula of v. 18 verbatim (μνησθήσῃ … διὰ τοῦτο … ἐντέλλομαι), binding the olive-law to the same redemption-logic.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the protasis of the olive-gleaning law.
δὲbut / nowpost-positive connective (new statute)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the second gleaning-case.
ἐλαιαλογήσῃςyou gather olivesAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐλαιαλογέωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the olive-harvest)ἐλαιαλογέω: 'gather olives / beat the olive-trees' (ἐλαία 'olive' + λέγω 'gather'); a rare compound rendering Hebrew חָבַט ('beat off') the olives; the olive-harvest is gathered by beating the branches (cf. Isa 17:6; 24:13).
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπαναστρέψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπαναστρέψειςyou shall go back overFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐπαναστρέφωmain verb (apodosis: the prohibition)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)ἐπαναστρέφω: 'turn back / go over again'; the same verb-family as vv. 4, 19; here 'you shall not go back over' the olive-trees a second time — the afterglean belongs to the poor.
καλαμήσασθαιto gleanAor Mid Inf · καλαμάομαιinfinitive of purpose (with ἐπαναστρέψεις)→ aorist infinitive (the forbidden second gleaning)καλαμάομαι: 'glean / gather the leftover stalks' (from καλάμη 'stalk / stubble'); renders עוֹלֵל ('go over the boughs again'); the gleaning of what remains after the main harvest — precisely the right reserved for the poor (Lev 19:9–10).
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantizing ὀπίσω: 'what is behind')→ noun-phrase markingτό (acc. pl. n.): the article substantizes the adverb ὀπίσω — 'the things behind you', i.e. the olives left on the trees.
ὀπίσωbehindadverb (with article: 'what is behind you')→ clausal contributionὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; τὰ ὀπίσω σου ('what is behind you') = the produce left after the first pass; what the harvester leaves in his wake belongs to the gleaners.
σουyou / yourGenitivegenitive (with ὀπίσω: 'behind you')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'you'; ὀπίσω σου, 'behind you', marks the leavings of the harvest pass.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with προσηλύτῳ, dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτῳsojournerDativedative of advantage (first recipient)→ sphere or referenceπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner'; first of the triad receiving the olive-afterglean.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὀρφανῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀρφανῷorphanDativedative of advantage (second recipient)→ sphere or referenceὀρφανός: 'orphan'; second of the triad.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇtheDativearticle (with χήρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χήρᾳwidowDativedative of advantage (third recipient)→ sphere or referenceχήρα: 'widow'; third of the triad receiving the olive-afterglean.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the afterglean's assignment)→ predictive future (the destined provision)εἰμί (fut.): 'it shall be (for)'; the leftover olives are assigned to the triad as their right.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the memory-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μνησθήσῃyou shall rememberFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · μιμνῄσκομαιmain verb (memory-command)→ prescriptive future (the duty of remembrance)μιμνῄσκομαι: 'remember'; the memory-formula of v. 18 repeated, grounding the olive-law in the Egypt-redemption; the future has imperatival force.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of remembrance)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the remembered fact of slavery.
οἰκέτηςa household-slaveNominativepredicate nominative (with ἦσθα)→ participant prominenceοἰκέτης: 'household-slave'; renders עֶבֶד; the repeated memory of bondage in Egypt; see v. 18.
ἦσθαyou wereImpf Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (past state of slavery)→ durative imperfect (the past condition of bondage)εἰμί (impf. ἦσθα): 'you were'; the imperfect of the enduring past state of slavery, as in v. 18.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
γῇthe land ofDativedative of place (with Αἰγύπτῳ)→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, the place of bondage.
ΑἰγύπτῳEgyptDativedative in apposition to γῇ→ sphere or referenceΑἴγυπτος (dat. Αἰγύπτῳ): 'Egypt'; the land of slavery, the moral reference-point repeated from v. 18.
διὰbecause of / forpreposition + accusative (causal)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'on account of'; διὰ τοῦτο, 'therefore', the inferential link to the command.
τοῦτοthisAccusativeobject of διά (demonstrative)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; διὰ τοῦτο, 'for this reason.'
ἐγώINominativesubject of ἐντέλλομαι (emphatic: Moses)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic pronoun, Moses as covenant-mediator; as in v. 18.
σοιyouDativedative indirect object (of ἐντέλλομαι)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you.'
ἐντέλλομαιI commandPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (Moses' charge)→ performative present (commanding in the saying)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command'; the performative present, as in v. 18; the whole formula διὰ τοῦτο … ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο is repeated verbatim.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐντέλλομαι)→ present infinitive (the doing commanded)ποιέω: 'do'; the content of the command — to perform this statute.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / wordAccusativedirect object of ποιεῖν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר; τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, 'this commandment'; see v. 18.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; specifying the particular command.
21
ἐὰν δὲ τρυγήσῃς τὸν ἀμπελῶνά σου οὐκ ἐπανατρυγήσεις αὐτὸν τὰ ὀπίσω σου τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ ἔσται
But if you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it a second time to glean; what is behind you shall be for the sojourner and the orphan and the widow.
The third gleaning-law, parallel to vv. 19–20: after the grape-harvest one may not go back over the vineyard for a second picking; the gleanings are for the sojourner, orphan, and widow. The cognate pairing τρυγήσῃς … ἐπανατρυγήσεις ('harvest … re-harvest') makes the prohibition vivid; the verse omits the Egypt-formula, which returns to close the whole unit at v. 22.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the protasis of the vintage-gleaning law.
δὲbut / nowpost-positive connective (new statute)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the third gleaning-case.
τρυγήσῃςyou gather grapesAor Act Subj 2 Sg · τρυγάωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the grape-harvest)τρυγάω: 'gather (ripe fruit) / harvest grapes'; renders בָּצַר ('cut off, gather grapes'); the technical verb for the vintage; the same root recurs in the compound ἐπανατρυγήσεις below and in Rev 14:18–19.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀμπελῶνα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμπελῶνάvineyardAccusativedirect object of τρυγήσῃς→ object specificationἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; the harvested vineyard, third of the three agricultural settings (grain-field, olive-grove, vineyard) covered by the gleaning-laws.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπανατρυγήσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπανατρυγήσειςyou shall glean over againFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐπανατρυγάωmain verb (apodosis: the prohibition)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)ἐπανατρυγάω: 'go over the vines again / re-glean'; the double-compound (ἐπ-ανα- + τρυγάω) means to harvest the vineyard a second time; renders עוֹלֵל ('go over the grapes again'); the prohibition reserves the second picking for the poor (cf. Lev 19:10).
αὐτὸνitAccusativedirect object of ἐπανατρυγήσεις (the vineyard)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. m.): 'it' — the vineyard, not to be picked a second time.
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (substantizing ὀπίσω)→ noun-phrase markingτό (acc. pl. n.): substantizes ὀπίσω — 'what is behind you', the grapes left after the first picking.
ὀπίσωbehindadverb (with article: 'what is behind you')→ clausal contributionὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; τὰ ὀπίσω σου ('what is behind you'), the vintage-leavings reserved for the poor, as in v. 20.
σουyou / yourGenitivegenitive (with ὀπίσω)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'you'; ὀπίσω σου, 'behind you.'
τῷfor theDativearticle (with προσηλύτῳ, dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτῳsojournerDativedative of advantage (first recipient)→ sphere or referenceπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner'; first of the triad receiving the vintage-afterglean.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὀρφανῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀρφανῷorphanDativedative of advantage (second recipient)→ sphere or referenceὀρφανός: 'orphan'; second of the triad.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇtheDativearticle (with χήρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χήρᾳwidowDativedative of advantage (third recipient)→ sphere or referenceχήρα: 'widow'; third of the triad receiving the vintage-afterglean.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the afterglean's assignment)→ predictive future (the destined provision)εἰμί (fut.): 'it shall be (for)'; the vintage-leavings are assigned to the triad as their right, closing the third gleaning-law.
22
καὶ μνησθήσῃ ὅτι οἰκέτης ἦσθα ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο
And you shall remember that you were a household-slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.
The chapter closes by repeating the Egypt-memory formula a third time (cf. vv. 18, 20) word-for-word, sealing the whole social-justice cluster: Israel's redemption from slavery is the abiding ground of its obligation to protect the poor, the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow. The threefold refrain (μνησθήσῃ … διὰ τοῦτο … ἐντέλλομαι) gives the section its liturgical, almost catechetical, cadence.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μνησθήσῃyou shall rememberFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · μιμνῄσκομαιmain verb (closing memory-command)→ prescriptive future (the duty of remembrance)μιμνῄσκομαι: 'remember'; the third and final occurrence of the memory-formula (cf. vv. 18, 20), closing the chapter with the foundational summons to recall Egypt; the future has imperatival force.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of remembrance)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the remembered fact of slavery.
οἰκέτηςa household-slaveNominativepredicate nominative (with ἦσθα)→ participant prominenceοἰκέτης: 'household-slave'; renders עֶבֶד; the slavery-memory, repeated from vv. 18, 20; see v. 18.
ἦσθαyou wereImpf Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (past state of slavery)→ durative imperfect (the past condition of bondage)εἰμί (impf. ἦσθα): 'you were'; the imperfect of the enduring past state of bondage, as in vv. 18, 20.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
γῇthe land ofDativedative of place (with Αἰγύπτῳ)→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, the place of bondage.
ΑἰγύπτῳEgyptDativedative in apposition to γῇ→ sphere or referenceΑἴγυπτος (dat. Αἰγύπτῳ): 'Egypt'; the land of slavery, the moral reference-point that closes the chapter.
διὰbecause of / forpreposition + accusative (causal)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'on account of'; διὰ τοῦτο, 'therefore', the inferential link to the command.
τοῦτοthisAccusativeobject of διά (demonstrative)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; διὰ τοῦτο, 'for this reason.'
ἐγώINominativesubject of ἐντέλλομαι (emphatic: Moses)→ participant referenceἐγώ: emphatic pronoun, Moses as covenant-mediator; as in vv. 18, 20.
σοιyouDativedative indirect object (of ἐντέλλομαι)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you.'
ἐντέλλομαιI commandPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (Moses' closing charge)→ performative present (commanding in the saying)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command'; the performative present; the closing repetition of ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο seals the chapter's parenetic refrain.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐντέλλομαι)→ present infinitive (the doing commanded)ποιέω: 'do'; the content of the command — to perform this statute; the chapter ends, like so much of Deuteronomy, on the note of doing the word.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / wordAccusativedirect object of ποιεῖν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר; τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, 'this commandment'; the chapter's final substantive, fittingly the 'word/deed' to be done.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the last word of the chapter, pointing to the whole cluster of commands just given.