1
καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν εἰσέλθῃς εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι ἐν κλήρῳ καὶ κατακληρονομήσῃς αὐτὴν καὶ κατοικήσῃς ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς
And it shall be, when you enter into the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and dwell upon it,
The formula καὶ ἔσται ἐάν ('and it shall be, when/if') is the standard LXX rendering of וְהָיָה כִּי, the casuistic conditional that opens a new legal unit; the threefold subjunctive sequence εἰσέλθῃς … κατακληρονομήσῃς … κατοικήσῃς (enter, inherit, settle) frames the rite as contingent upon the completed conquest and settlement, anchoring worship in the gift of the land.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ 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 of apodosis-frame (impersonal 'it shall come to pass')→ predictive future (legal/temporal framing)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be / come to pass'; the impersonal καὶ ἔσται renders Hebrew וְהָיָה, a discourse marker introducing the conditions under which a law takes effect; it signals the opening of a new legislative unit.
ἐὰνwhen / ifconditional conjunction (introducing protasis + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if / when(ever)'; with the subjunctive it renders כִּי in casuistic law; here temporal-conditional ('when you enter'), the entry being assumed as certain.
εἰσέλθῃςyou enterAor Act Subj 2 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιverb of protasis (first member of the entry-inherit-settle sequence)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (act of entering, viewed as a single completed step)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come into'; renders בּוֹא; the aorist subjunctive presents the entry into the land as the threshold condition of the whole rite — firstfruits presuppose possession of the soil.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the promised land)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; here the land of promise, the territorial gift on which the entire firstfruits liturgy depends.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δίδωσιν, antecedent γῆν)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; the accusative ἥν is the object of δίδωσιν within the relative clause defining the land as YHWH's gift.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of δίδωσιν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; subject of the giving — the land is YHWH's sovereign grant, not a human conquest-prize.
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'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the apposition κύριος ὁ θεός σου ('the LORD your God') is the leitmotif of Deuteronomy, binding the divine name to the covenant relationship with the addressee.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεός)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): the singular 'your' addresses Israel as a single covenant partner — the characteristic Deuteronomic 'thou,' personalising the law for each hearer.
δίδωσίνgivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (the land as gift)→ present of characteristic/ongoing action (the standing gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the present tense presents the gift of the land as a settled, ongoing reality of the covenant — a recurrent Deuteronomic formula (cf. 26:2).
σοιto youDativedative indirect object (recipient of the gift)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): the dative of the singular addressee; Israel as a unified recipient of the land-grant.
ἐνas / inpreposition + dative (manner/status: 'as an inheritance')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: here with κλήρῳ in the sense 'as an allotted inheritance,' rendering the Hebrew idiom of inheritance/possession (נַחֲלָה).
κλήρῳinheritance / allotmentDativedative with ἐν (status: 'as an allotted portion')→ sphere or referenceκλῆρος: 'lot / allotted portion / inheritance'; renders נַחֲלָה; the land is given ἐν κλήρῳ, by divine allotment, evoking the tribal land-distribution and the theology of the land as YHWH's apportioned gift.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second member of the sequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατακληρονομήσῃςyou take possession ofAor Act Subj 2 Sg · κατακληρονομέωverb of protasis (second member: inherit/possess)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (taking possession as a completed act)κατακληρονομέω: 'take possession of / inherit by lot'; the intensive κατα- compound renders יָרַשׁ ('dispossess and occupy'); it denotes not merely receiving but actively entering into and holding the inheritance.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of κατακληρονομήσῃς (referring to γῆν)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem. αὐτήν): resumptive pronoun referring back to τὴν γῆν, the land taken into possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third member of the sequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατοικήσῃςyou dwellAor Act Subj 2 Sg · κατοικέωverb of protasis (third member: settle/dwell)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (taking up settled habitation)κατοικέω: 'settle / dwell / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the third and culminating verb of the sequence — entry, possession, and settled dwelling complete the precondition for the firstfruits rite.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + genitive (elided before vowel; location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (elided before vowel; location).
αὐτῆςitGenitivegenitive object of ἐπ᾿ (the land dwelt upon)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem. αὐτῆς): pronoun referring to the land; ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς ('upon it') completes the settlement clause.
2
καὶ λήμψῃ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀπαρχῆς τῶν καρπῶν τῆς γῆς σου ἧς κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι καὶ ἐμβαλεῖς εἰς κάρταλλον καὶ πορεύσῃ εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ
then you shall take from the firstfruits of the produce of your land which the LORD your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place which the LORD your God chooses to have his name invoked there,
The apodosis unfolds in three future indicatives with imperatival force (λήμψῃ … ἐμβαλεῖς … πορεύσῃ), the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew weqatal-chain of legal instruction. The destination is defined by the central-sanctuary formula τὸν τόπον ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ('the place the LORD chooses'), the refrain of Deuteronomic cult-centralisation (cf. 12:5, 11, 14), here specified by the name-theology ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψῃyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb of apodosis (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (legal instruction)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; the future with imperatival force renders the Hebrew weqatal (וְלָקַחְתָּ); the worshipper is to take a portion of the firstfruits as the cultic gift.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'from the firstfruits')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here partitive, 'some of / a portion from'; the offering is taken ἀπό the firstfruits, a representative part standing for the whole harvest.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπαρχῆςfirstfruitsGenitivegenitive with ἀπό (partitive: source of the offering)→ relational specificationἀπαρχή: 'firstfruits / first portion / first-offering'; renders רֵאשִׁית; the first and best of the harvest, owed to YHWH as acknowledgment that the land and its yield are his gift; the term carries rich theological freight, reused in the NT for Christ and the Spirit (1 Cor 15:20; Rom 8:23).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρπῶνfruits / produceGenitivegenitive (defining the firstfruits: 'of the produce')→ relational specificationκαρπός: 'fruit / produce / crop'; renders פְּרִי; the genitive specifies that the ἀπαρχή consists of the agricultural yield of the land.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of source (the produce 'of your land')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land / ground / soil'; here the cultivated ground whose produce yields the firstfruits.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with γῆς)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with γῆς).
ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (attracted to gen. of antecedent γῆς; object of δίδωσιν)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. fem. ἧς): relative pronoun whose case is attracted to its antecedent γῆς; logically the object of δίδωσιν ('the land which he gives').
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of δίδωσιν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; again the land is named as YHWH's gift, the theological ground of the firstfruits obligation.
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: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative in apposition to κύριος.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεός).
δίδωσίνgivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (the land as gift)→ present of standing/ongoing giftδίδωμι: 'give'; the present again frames the land as YHWH's continuing grant, the basis for returning its firstfruits to him.
σοιto youDativedative indirect object (recipient)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (recipient).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμβαλεῖςyou shall putFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐμβάλλωmain verb (imperatival future: second action)→ imperatival future (legal instruction)ἐμβάλλω: 'put in / cast into / place within'; the compound ἐν- marks placement inside a container; the worshipper deposits the firstfruits in the basket for transport to the sanctuary.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction into container)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction into container).
κάρταλλονbasketAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the firstfruits basket)→ object specificationκάρταλλος: 'basket' (specifically a tapering, pointed-bottom basket); renders טֶנֶא; the cultic vessel for carrying the firstfruits; the same word recurs at vv. 4 as the priest receives it — the basket is the tangible focus of the rite.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πορεύσῃyou shall goFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperatival future: third action)→ imperatival future (legal instruction)πορεύομαι: 'go / journey / proceed'; renders הָלַךְ; the pilgrimage to the central sanctuary, the third and climactic act of the sequence, brings the offering to the chosen place.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with τόπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the chosen sanctuary)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place / site'; renders מָקוֹם; ὁ τόπος ὃν ἐκλέξηται κύριος ('the place the LORD chooses') is the central-sanctuary formula of Deuteronomy (cf. 12:5, 11, 14), the single legitimate site of sacrificial worship.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκλέξηται, antecedent τόπον)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. masc. ὅν): relative pronoun introducing the choice-clause defining the place.
ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive in relative clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the relative clause as indefinite/conditional ('whichever place he chooses'); standard with the subjunctive in such constructions.
ἐκλέξηταιhe choosesAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιverb of indefinite relative clause (divine election of the place)→ aorist subjunctive (the act of choosing, viewed indefinitely)ἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select / elect'; renders בָּחַר; the verb of divine election applied to the sanctuary-site; the same root governs the chapter's climactic mutual-election in vv. 17–18, binding cult-place and covenant-people under one theology of divine choice.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐκλέξηται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD is the one who chooses the place where his name will dwell.
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: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative in apposition to κύριος.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεός).
ἐπικληθῆναιto be invoked / to be called uponAor Pass Inf · ἐπικαλέωinfinitive of purpose (purpose of the choosing)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose: that the name be invoked)ἐπικαλέω (aor. pass. inf.): 'call upon / name / invoke'; the passive ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ('that his name be invoked/named there') renders the name-theology of לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ שָׁם ('to cause his name to dwell there'); the chosen place is where YHWH's name is set and called upon — the locus of legitimate worship.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνομα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativeaccusative subject of the passive infinitive ἐπικληθῆναι→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; the divine Name as YHWH's presence and reputation localised at the sanctuary — the Deuteronomic 'Name-theology' that mediates divine immanence without compromising transcendence.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὄνομα).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (locating the name at the chosen site)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the deictic adverb fixes the invocation of the Name at the single chosen place, reinforcing cult-centralisation.
3
καὶ ἐλεύσῃ πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα ὃς ἐὰν ᾖ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτόν ἀναγγέλλω σήμερον κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ μου ὅτι εἰσελήλυθα εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ὤμοσεν κύριος τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν δοῦναι ἡμῖν
And you shall come to the priest who is in office in those days, and you shall say to him, 'I declare today to the LORD my God that I have entered into the land which the LORD swore to our fathers to give to us.'
The worshipper's first spoken formula (ἀναγγέλλω σήμερον … ὅτι εἰσελήλυθα) is a confessional declaration before the priest: the perfect εἰσελήλυθα ('I have entered') affirms the completed fulfilment of the promise to the fathers. The clause ὃς ἐὰν ᾖ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ('whoever is priest in those days') anticipates the institution's perpetuity across generations.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλεύσῃyou shall comeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (legal instruction)ἔρχομαι (fut. ἐλεύσομαι): 'come / go'; the worshipper approaches the officiating priest, the cultic mediator who receives the offering and witnesses the declaration.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward person)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward person).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἱερέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέαpriestAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the officiating priest)→ object specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the cultic functionary who receives the firstfruits basket and presides at the altar; in Deuteronomy the priesthood is Levitical.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ᾖ; antecedent ἱερέα)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun introducing the indefinite clause 'whoever is priest in those days.'
ἐὰνeverconditional particle (generalising the relative: 'whoever')→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: here equivalent to ἄν, generalising the relative ὅς to 'whoever happens to be'; marks the perpetuity of the office across generations.
ᾖis / may bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of indefinite relative clause→ present subjunctive (general/indefinite reference)εἰμί (pres. subj. ᾖ): 'be'; with ὃς ἐάν it forms 'whoever may be (in office)' — the law applies to the priest serving at any given time.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with ἡμέραις)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'in those days')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ('in those days') renders בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם, locating the rite at whatever future time the worshipper performs it.
ἐκείναιςthoseDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέραις)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that / those'; the demonstrative points forward to the indefinite future days when the rite will be enacted.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the declaration)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb introducing direct speech (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (prescribed liturgical speech)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say / speak'; introduces the first of the chapter's two recited liturgical formulas; the prescribed words make worship a scripted act of remembrance and confession.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the priest)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. masc. αὐτόν): pronoun referring to the priest, the addressee of the entry-declaration.
ἀναγγέλλωI declarePres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb of the worshipper's declaration (performative present)→ performative present (the declaration is enacted in the speaking)ἀναγγέλλω: 'declare / announce / report'; the compound ἀνα- conveys 'report up/back'; renders הִגַּדְתִּי; the performative present effects the very confession it names — to say it is to make the declaration before God.
σήμερονtodayadverb of time (the present day of the rite)→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; the emphatic 'today' is a Deuteronomic keyword (cf. vv. 16–18) collapsing the distance between the founding moment and each generation's re-enactment of the covenant.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative indirect object (the addressee of the declaration)→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; though spoken to the priest, the declaration is directed κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ — confession before God himself.
τῷtheDativearticle (with θεῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ→ sphere or referenceθεός (dat. θεῷ): 'God'; the apposition κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ μου ('to the LORD my God') personalises the confession — note the shift to the singular 'my.'
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεῷ)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; the first-person possessive marks the individual worshipper's personal covenant claim on YHWH.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing content of the declaration)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the substance of the confession — the declarative content of what is announced to YHWH.
εἰσελήλυθαI have enteredPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιverb of the ὅτι-clause (content of declaration)→ resultative perfect (a completed entry with abiding effect)εἰσέρχομαι (perf. εἰσελήλυθα): 'have entered / have come in'; the perfect tense affirms the accomplished and abiding fact of entry into the land — the promise to the fathers (v. 3b) is now fulfilled and stands realised in the worshipper's present.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the promised land)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land'; the land of promise, now entered, the object of the patriarchal oath.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ὤμοσεν... δοῦναι; antecedent γῆν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. fem. ἥν): relative pronoun introducing the oath-clause defining the land.
ὤμοσενsworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὄμνυμιverb of relative clause (the patriarchal oath)→ constative aorist (the completed oath to the fathers)ὄμνυμι: 'swear (an oath)'; renders נִשְׁבַּע; the divine oath to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) is the bedrock of Deuteronomic land-theology — the gift of the land rests on YHWH's sworn promise.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ὤμοσεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; YHWH as the one who swore the land-oath to the fathers.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with πατράσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατράσινfathersDativedative indirect object of ὤμοσεν (recipients of the oath)→ sphere or referenceπατήρ (dat. pl. πατράσιν): 'father'; οἱ πατέρες ('the fathers') are the patriarchs to whom YHWH swore the land — the foundation of the covenant's continuity across generations.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατράσιν)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'our'; the shift from singular ('my God') to communal ('our fathers') incorporates the individual worshipper into the corporate story of Israel.
δοῦναιto giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιinfinitive complementing ὤμοσεν (content of the oath)→ aorist infinitive (the substance of the sworn promise)δίδωμι (aor. inf. δοῦναι): 'to give'; the complementary infinitive states the content of the oath — that YHWH would give the land; the gift sworn to the fathers is now realised for their descendants.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative indirect object of δοῦναι (the present generation as heirs)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): 'to us'; the oath sworn to the fathers is fulfilled 'to us' — the living generation inherits the promise.
4
καὶ λήμψεται ὁ ἱερεὺς τὸν κάρταλλον ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν σου καὶ θήσει αὐτὸν ἀπέναντι τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου
And the priest shall take the basket from your hands and shall set it before the altar of the LORD your God.
The priest now acts: he takes the basket from the worshipper's hands and sets it ἀπέναντι τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου ('before the altar'). The transfer from the worshipper's hands to the altar's front dramatises the offering's passage from human possession into the sphere of YHWH; the rite is consummated by physical placement before the divine presence.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψεταιshall takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (priest as subject; ritual receipt)→ predictive/prescriptive future (the priest's prescribed action)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; the priest receives the firstfruits basket, the cultic act of accepting the offering on YHWH's behalf.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of λήμψεται and θήσει→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; the cultic mediator who receives the offering and places it before the altar — the human agent of its consecration.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κάρταλλον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κάρταλλονbasketAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (the firstfruits basket)→ object specificationκάρταλλος: 'basket'; the same vessel of v. 2, now passing from the worshipper's hands to the priest — the tangible focus of the rite.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source: 'out of the hands')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source: 'out of the hands').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with χειρῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρῶνhandsGenitivegenitive with ἐκ (source of the basket)→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. pl. χειρῶν): 'hand'; ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν σου ('from your hands') dramatises the transfer of the gift from worshipper to priest — the offering leaves human possession.
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).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second priestly act)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θήσειshall setFut Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (priest sets the basket before the altar)→ predictive/prescriptive futureτίθημι (fut. θήσει): 'place / set / put down'; renders הִנִּיחַ; the priest deposits the basket before the altar, completing the offering's presentation to YHWH.
αὐτὸνitAccusativedirect object of θήσει (the basket)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. masc. αὐτόν): pronoun referring to τὸν κάρταλλον, the basket set before the altar.
ἀπέναντιbefore / in front ofimproper preposition + genitive (position before the altar)→ spatial or relational framingἀπέναντι: 'before / opposite / in front of'; renders לִפְנֵי; locates the offering directly before the altar, in YHWH's presence — the spatial idiom of cultic presentation.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θυσιαστηρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitivegenitive object of ἀπέναντι (the altar)→ relational specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar / place of sacrifice'; renders מִזְבֵּחַ; the LXX-coined term (from θυσιάζω) reserved for the legitimate altar of YHWH, distinguished from βωμός (pagan altar); the focal point of sacrificial worship at the chosen place.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (the altar belongs to the LORD)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the altar is YHWH's, marking the offering's destination as the divine presence itself.
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 (gen. θεοῦ): 'God'; the apposition κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου completes the Deuteronomic divine-name formula.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεοῦ).
5
καὶ ἀποκριθήσῃ καὶ ἐρεῖς ἔναντι κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου Συρίαν ἀπέβαλεν ὁ πατήρ μου καὶ κατέβη εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ παρῴκησεν ἐκεῖ ἐν ἀριθμῷ βραχεῖ καὶ ἐγένετο ἐκεῖ εἰς ἔθνος μέγα καὶ πλῆθος πολὺ καὶ μέγα
And you shall respond and say before the LORD your God, 'My father abandoned Syria and went down into Egypt and sojourned there in small number, and there he became a great nation and a multitude many and great.'
This is the second and central liturgical recitation — the 'little historical creed,' the great Heilsgeschichte confession compressing Israel's whole salvation-narrative. The LXX's opening line Συρίαν ἀπέβαλεν ὁ πατήρ μου ('my father abandoned Syria') diverges sharply from the Hebrew אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי ('a wandering/perishing Aramean was my father'): the translator read the participle אֹבֵד as a transitive verb ('cast off / lost') and 'Aram' as its object rather than as a predicate describing the father. The doublet ἀποκριθήσῃ καὶ ἐρεῖς ('answer and say') renders the Hebrew וְעָנִיתָ וְאָמַרְתָּ, a liturgical formula introducing solemn declaration.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκριθήσῃyou shall respondFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (imperatival future; first of the 'answer and say' doublet)→ imperatival future (prescribed liturgical response)ἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / respond / declare solemnly'; renders עָנָה; in such liturgical formulas 'answer' does not presuppose a question but introduces a weighty pronouncement; the doublet ἀποκριθήσῃ καὶ ἐρεῖς (cf. v. 13; 27:14) frames the creed as formal avowal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (doublet)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb introducing the recited creed (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (prescribed liturgical speech)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; introduces the words of the creed proper; the scripted confession turns personal worship into recitation of the communal salvation-story.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the creed is recited coram Deo — directly before the LORD at his altar.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the confession is made in YHWH's own presence.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεοῦ: meaning 'God'; it serves as genitive in apposition to κυρίου.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεοῦ).
ΣυρίανSyriaAccusativedirect object of ἀπέβαλεν (the LXX's distinctive construal)→ object specificationΣυρία: 'Syria / Aram'; the LXX renders אֲרַמִּי ('an Aramean') by the place-name Συρίαν and makes it the object of ἀπέβαλεν — 'my father abandoned/forsook Syria.' This is the celebrated creed-crux: where Hebrew predicates a 'wandering/perishing Aramean' of the patriarch (Jacob, or Abraham), the LXX construes Aram as the land the father left behind, reading אֹבֵד as transitive.
ἀπέβαλενabandoned / cast offAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποβάλλωmain verb of the creed's opening line→ constative aorist (a completed past act of the patriarch)ἀποβάλλω: 'cast off / throw away / abandon / lose'; the LXX's rendering of the participle אֹבֵד (root אבד, 'perish / be lost'), here read transitively/actively so that the father is the one who 'lost' or 'abandoned' Aram-Syria. The translator's choice transforms a confession of the father's precarious wandering existence into a statement that he forsook his homeland — one of the most discussed divergences between the LXX and MT in the Pentateuch.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with πατήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατήρfatherNominativesubject of ἀπέβαλεν→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father'; ὁ πατήρ μου ('my father') is the patriarchal ancestor — traditionally identified with Jacob (who fled to and from Aram), though some read Abraham (who came out of Aram-Mesopotamia); the singular subject of the whole creed's first movement.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατήρ)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατήρ).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (next event of the creed)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (the descent into Egypt)→ constative aorist (the completed descent)καταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; 'going down' to Egypt is the fixed idiom of the patriarchal and Joseph narratives (Gen 46:3–4), Egypt being lower than Canaan both topographically and theologically — the descent into the place of bondage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination of the descent)→ object specificationΑἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of מִצְרַיִם; the land of sojourn and subsequent bondage, the setting for the creed's middle movement.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρῴκησενsojournedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παροικέωmain verb (the patriarch's resident-alien status in Egypt)→ constative aorist (the completed period of sojourn)παροικέω: 'sojourn / dwell as a resident alien'; renders גּוּר; the cognate πάροικος denotes the legally vulnerable status of the non-citizen — Israel began in Egypt not as masters but as dependent sojourners, which makes the later affliction the more poignant and the deliverance the more gracious.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (in Egypt)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; locating the sojourn in Egypt; the repeated ἐκεῖ (vv. 5) keeps Egypt in focus as the place of both lowliness and miraculous growth.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/state)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (manner/state).
ἀριθμῷnumberDativedative with ἐν (state: 'in small number')→ sphere or referenceἀριθμός: 'number'; ἐν ἀριθμῷ βραχεῖ ('in small number / few in number') renders בִּמְתֵי מְעָט ('with few men'); the smallness of the original band heightens the contrast with the great nation it became — divine multiplication from nothing.
βραχεῖsmall / fewDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀριθμῷ)→ sphere or referenceβραχύς: 'short / small / few'; emphasises that Israel entered Egypt as a tiny group; the antithesis to the ἔθνος μέγα that follows.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the turn to growth)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοhe becameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (transformation into a great nation)→ constative aorist (the accomplished transformation)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be'; the singular subject (the father / the people-in-the-father) 'became' a great nation — the fulfilment of the patriarchal promise of innumerable descendants (Gen 12:2; 46:3); the corporate identity of Israel emerges from the single ancestor.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (in Egypt)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: meaning 'there'; it shapes time, manner, location, or discourse flow in the clause.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (predicate/result: 'into a nation')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here predicative ('became into a nation'), a Hebraism rendering לְ of result with הָיָה — 'became a great nation.'
ἔθνοςnationAccusativeaccusative predicate of ἐγένετο (with εἰς)→ object specificationἔθνος: 'nation / people'; renders גּוֹי; Israel became a 'great nation' in Egypt, the promise to the patriarchs realised even in the land of sojourn before the deliverance.
μέγαgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνος)→ object specificationμέγας: 'great'; renders גָּדוֹל; ἔθνος μέγα echoes the promise to Abraham (Gen 12:2) — the nation's greatness is the visible token of covenant fidelity.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πλῆθοςmultitudeAccusativeaccusative predicate (coordinate with ἔθνος)→ object specificationπλῆθος: 'multitude / great number'; renders רָב / עָצוּם; reinforces ἔθνος μέγα with the note of sheer numerical abundance — the fulfilment of the promise of descendants as numerous as the stars.
πολὺmany / numerousAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying πλῆθος)→ object specificationπολύς: 'much / many / numerous'; intensifies πλῆθος.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέγαgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying πλῆθος; emphatic doubling)→ object specificationμέγας: 'great'; the second μέγα reinforces πλῆθος πολὺ καὶ μέγα ('a multitude many and great'), a piling-up of synonyms typical of the creed's exuberant style celebrating Israel's growth.
6
καὶ ἐκάκωσαν ἡμᾶς οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι καὶ ἐταπείνωσαν ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἡμῖν ἔργα σκληρά
And the Egyptians ill-treated us and humbled us and laid upon us hard labors.
The creed pivots from growth to oppression with a triad of verbs (ἐκάκωσαν … ἐταπείνωσαν … ἐπέθηκαν) describing escalating mistreatment — ill-treatment, humiliation, and the imposition of hard labor. Note the shift to first-person plural (ἡμᾶς, ἡμῖν): the worshipper identifies himself with the enslaved ancestors, making the historical affliction his own confessed memory.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάκωσανill-treatedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κακόωmain verb (first of the oppression-triad)→ constative aorist (the completed mistreatment)κακόω: 'mistreat / harm / oppress'; renders רָעַע / עָנָה; the same verb of Gen 15:13 ('they will afflict them four hundred years') — the creed deliberately echoes the covenant prophecy to Abraham, framing the affliction as foreseen and bounded.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἐκάκωσαν→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. pl. ἡμᾶς): 'us'; the first-person plural draws the worshipper into solidarity with the afflicted ancestors — their suffering is confessed as 'ours.'
οἱtheNominativearticle (with Αἰγύπτιοι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἰγύπτιοιEgyptiansNominativesubject of the oppression-verbs→ participant prominenceΑἰγύπτιος: 'Egyptian'; the gentilic used substantively; the Egyptians are named as the human agents of the affliction, in contrast to YHWH as the agent of deliverance (v. 8).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second verb of triad)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐταπείνωσανhumbled / afflictedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ταπεινόωmain verb (second of the oppression-triad)→ constative aoristταπεινόω: 'humble / humiliate / bring low'; renders עָנָה; the cognate noun ταπείνωσις recurs at v. 7 as the affliction YHWH 'sees' — the verbal echo binds the affliction to its divine remedy.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἐταπείνωσαν→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐταπείνωσαν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third verb of triad)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέθηκανlaid uponAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (third of the oppression-triad)→ constative aoristἐπιτίθημι: 'place upon / impose / lay on'; the compound ἐπι- conveys the burdening imposition of forced labor (cf. Exod 1:11); renders שִׂים / נָתַן; the hard labor laid 'upon us' is the concrete form of the affliction.
ἡμῖνon usDativedative indirect object of ἐπέθηκαν→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): 'on us'; the dative of the burdened party — the labor is imposed upon the enslaved people.
ἔργαworks / laborsAccusativedirect object of ἐπέθηκαν→ object specificationἔργον: 'work / labor / task'; renders עֲבֹדָה; ἔργα σκληρά ('hard labors') denotes the brick-and-mortar slavery of Exod 1:13–14; the plural marks the multiple oppressive tasks of bondage.
σκληράhardAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔργα)→ object specificationσκληρός: 'hard / harsh / severe'; renders קָשֶׁה; the same root family used for Pharaoh's 'hardening' — the labor is as unyielding as the heart that imposed it.
7
καὶ ἀνεβοήσαμεν πρὸς κύριον τὸν θεὸν τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν καὶ εἰσήκουσεν κύριος τῆς φωνῆς ἡμῶν καὶ εἶδεν τὴν ταπείνωσιν ἡμῶν καὶ τὸν μόχθον ἡμῶν καὶ τὸν θλιμμὸν ἡμῶν
And we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction and our toil and our oppression.
The pivot of the creed: human outcry (ἀνεβοήσαμεν) meets divine response (εἰσήκουσεν … εἶδεν). The structure mirrors Exod 2:23–25 (Israel cried, God heard, saw, knew). A threefold object of divine seeing — ταπείνωσιν … μόχθον … θλιμμὸν ('affliction, toil, oppression') — answers the threefold affliction of v. 6, showing YHWH's perception matching the full extent of the suffering.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνεβοήσαμενwe cried outAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀναβοάωmain verb (the outcry of the oppressed)→ constative aorist (the completed cry for help)ἀναβοάω: 'cry out / cry aloud'; the compound ἀνα- intensifies the cry sent up to heaven; renders זָעַק / צָעַק; the cry of the oppressed (Exod 2:23) is the hinge on which the salvation-narrative turns — affliction provokes the outcry that summons divine intervention.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of the cry).
κύριονLORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the one cried to)→ object specificationκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the cry is directed to YHWH, the covenant God, not to any human deliverer.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεὸν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative in apposition to κύριον→ object specificationθεός (acc. θεόν): 'God'; the apposition τὸν θεὸν τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν ('the God of our fathers') grounds the appeal in the patriarchal covenant — Israel cries to the God already bound by oath to the fathers.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with πατέρων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρωνfathersGenitivegenitive (defining God: 'God of the fathers')→ relational specificationπατήρ (gen. pl. πατέρων): 'father'; the patriarchs whose covenant-God is invoked; the appeal to ancestral covenant is the implicit ground of confidence that the cry will be heard.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατέρων)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατέρων).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (divine response)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσήκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσακούωmain verb (divine hearing of the cry)→ constative aorist (the completed act of hearing)εἰσακούω: 'hear / heed / listen favorably'; the compound εἰσ- implies attentive, responsive hearing (not mere perception) — to 'hear the voice' is to act on it; renders שָׁמַע; the divine hearing is the answer to the outcry of v. 7a.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of εἰσήκουσεν and εἶδεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; YHWH is the active subject of the deliverance-sequence (hear, see, bring out).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of εἰσήκουσεν (the thing heard)→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice / cry / sound'; renders קוֹל; εἰσακούω governs the genitive of the thing heard; YHWH heard 'our voice' — the cry of the afflicted reaches and moves him.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with φωνῆς)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with φωνῆς).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second divine response)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (divine seeing of the affliction)→ constative aorist (the completed act of seeing)ὁράω (aor. εἶδεν): 'see / perceive'; renders רָאָה; the divine 'seeing' of the affliction (cf. Exod 3:7) is no passive observation but the prelude to redemptive action — God sees in order to deliver.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ταπείνωσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταπείνωσινaffliction / humiliationAccusativedirect object of εἶδεν (first of the triad of sufferings seen)→ object specificationταπείνωσις: 'humiliation / affliction / lowliness'; the cognate noun of ἐταπείνωσαν (v. 6) — what the Egyptians inflicted, YHWH now sees; renders עֳנִי; the same word the Magnificat applies to Mary's 'low estate' (Luke 1:48).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ταπείνωσιν)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ταπείνωσιν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μόχθον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μόχθονtoil / hardshipAccusativedirect object of εἶδεν (second of the triad)→ object specificationμόχθος: 'toil / hardship / wearisome labor'; renders עָמָל; denotes the grinding exhaustion of forced labor; the second member of the suffering-triad seen by YHWH.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with μόχθον)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with μόχθον).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θλιμμὸν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θλιμμὸνoppression / afflictionAccusativedirect object of εἶδεν (third of the triad)→ object specificationθλιμμός: 'pressure / oppression / affliction' (a rare noun cognate with θλίβω, 'press / squeeze'); renders לַחַץ ('oppression / squeezing'); the third member of the suffering-triad, capturing the crushing constraint of bondage; cf. the cognate θλῖψις so prominent in the NT.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θλιμμὸν)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θλιμμὸν).
8
καὶ ἐξήγαγεν ἡμᾶς κύριος ἐξ Αἰγύπτου αὐτὸς ἐν ἰσχύι μεγάλῃ καὶ ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ καὶ ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ τῷ ὑψηλῷ καὶ ἐν ὁράμασιν μεγάλοις καὶ ἐν σημείοις καὶ ἐν τέρασιν
And the LORD brought us out of Egypt himself with great strength and with a mighty hand and with his uplifted arm and with great visions and with signs and with wonders.
The climax of the creed: the Exodus itself, narrated with the classic Deuteronomic deliverance-formula 'with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm' (ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ καὶ ἐν βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ; cf. 4:34; 5:15; 7:19). The emphatic αὐτός ('he himself') stresses that YHWH alone, by no human or angelic proxy, accomplished the deliverance. A cascade of instrumental ἐν-phrases (strength, hand, arm, visions, signs, wonders) heaps up the means of divine power.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the deliverance)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξήγαγενbrought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωmain verb (the Exodus deliverance)→ constative aorist (the completed act of deliverance)ἐξάγω: 'lead out / bring out'; renders יָצָא (Hiphil הוֹצִיא); the standard Exodus-verb for YHWH's act of bringing Israel out of Egypt — the defining saving deed of the OT and the ground of all covenant obligation (cf. Exod 20:2).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἐξήγαγεν→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc. pl. ἡμᾶς): 'us'; the worshipper confesses the Exodus as his own deliverance — 'he brought us out,' not merely 'them.'
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐξήγαγεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; YHWH as the sole agent of the Exodus.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source of the deliverance)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source of the deliverance).
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (place of departure)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): the land of bondage out of which YHWH brought Israel — the negative pole of the salvation-narrative.
αὐτὸςhimselfNominativeintensive pronoun (emphasising κύριος: 'he himself')→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive pronoun, 'himself'; stresses that YHWH personally and alone effected the deliverance — no human leader and no angel is credited; the emphatic αὐτός underlines divine sole-agency in the Exodus.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: means of deliverance)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: here instrumental ('with / by means of'), a Hebraism rendering בְּ of instrument; governs the cascade of power-phrases that follow.
ἰσχύιstrengthDativedative of means (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἰσχύς: 'strength / might / power'; the first of the instrumental phrases; renders כֹּחַ / עֹז; YHWH's sheer power as the means of deliverance.
μεγάλῃgreatDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἰσχύι)→ sphere or referenceμέγας: 'great'; intensifies ἰσχύι — the deliverance was wrought by 'great strength.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (next instrumental phrase)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
χειρὶhandDativedative of means (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ ('with a mighty hand') is the classic Deuteronomic Exodus-formula (Deut 4:34; 5:15; 7:19), rendering בְּיָד חֲזָקָה; the divine 'hand' is the anthropomorphic image of YHWH's irresistible power.
κραταιᾷmightyDativeattributive adjective (modifying χειρὶ)→ sphere or referenceκραταιός: 'strong / mighty / powerful'; renders חָזָק; the 'mighty hand' overpowers Pharaoh's resistance and breaks the bondage of Egypt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
βραχίονιarmDativedative of means (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceβραχίων: 'arm'; ἐν βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ ('with an uplifted/outstretched arm') renders בִּזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה; paired with the 'mighty hand,' the 'outstretched arm' completes the Deuteronomic deliverance-formula — the image of YHWH reaching out in power to save.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with βραχίονι)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with βραχίονι).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὑψηλῷ, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑψηλῷuplifted / highDativeattributive adjective (modifying βραχίονι: 'his uplifted arm')→ sphere or referenceὑψηλός: 'high / lofty / uplifted'; renders נְטוּיָה ('stretched out'); the uplifted arm is the gesture of decisive divine intervention in the Exodus.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
ὁράμασινvisions / great sightsDativedative of means (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceὅραμα: 'vision / sight / spectacle'; renders מֹרָא ('terror / awesome deed') — the LXX read the Hebrew as מַרְאֶה ('sight / vision') or rendered the awe-inspiring deeds as 'great sights'; ἐν ὁράμασιν μεγάλοις denotes the visible, awe-striking manifestations of divine power in the plagues and the sea-crossing.
μεγάλοιςgreatDativeattributive adjective (modifying ὁράμασιν)→ sphere or referenceμέγας: 'great'; the 'great sights' are the awesome public displays of YHWH's deliverance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
σημείοιςsignsDativedative of means (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceσημεῖον: 'sign / token'; renders אוֹת; the 'signs' of the Exodus (the plagues and wonders) attest YHWH's power and identity; σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ('signs and wonders') is the fixed Deuteronomic word-pair for the Exodus miracles (Deut 4:34; 7:19), echoed throughout Scripture (Acts 7:36).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental).
τέρασινwondersDativedative of means (with ἐν; final member of the cascade)→ sphere or referenceτέρας: 'wonder / portent / marvel'; renders מוֹפֵת; the second half of the σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα pair; the 'wonders' are the prodigious, fear-inspiring acts of the Exodus that close the creed's recital of divine power.
9
καὶ εἰσήγαγεν ἡμᾶς εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον καὶ ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν τὴν γῆν ταύτην γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι
And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
The creed reaches its goal: εἰσήγαγεν ('brought in') answers ἐξήγαγεν ('brought out', v. 8) — the saving movement is complete, from Egypt out to the land in. The land is characterised by the classic formula γῆ ῥέουσα γάλα καὶ μέλι ('a land flowing with milk and honey'), the recurrent epithet of the promised land (Exod 3:8; Num 13:27) signalling abundant fertility — the fitting climax of the salvation-narrative the firstfruits acknowledge.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσήγαγενbrought inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσάγωmain verb (entry into the land)→ constative aorist (the completed in-bringing)εἰσάγω: 'lead in / bring into'; renders בּוֹא (Hiphil); the deliberate counterpart to ἐξάγω (v. 8): YHWH not only brought Israel out of Egypt but brought them in to the land — the negative and positive poles of redemption.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of εἰσήγαγεν→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of εἰσήγαγεν.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with τόπον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the land/sanctuary)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; ὁ τόπος οὗτος ('this place') denotes the promised land (and by extension the place of worship); the deictic τοῦτον makes the gift present and tangible at the moment of confession.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying τόπον)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the demonstrative brings the salvation-story to the worshipper's own present standing-place — 'this place' where he now offers.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the gift of the land)→ constative aorist (the completed gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; the aorist ἔδωκεν here (vs. the present δίδωσιν of vv. 1–2) views the land-gift as an accomplished historical fact — the promise sworn to the fathers now fulfilled and possessed.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative indirect object (recipient of the land)→ participant reference or interestἡμῖν: meaning 'to us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object (recipient of the land).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν→ object specificationγῆ: 'land'; the gift par excellence — the promised land, object of the patriarchal oath now realised.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying γῆν)→ participant referenceοὗτος (acc. fem. ταύτην): 'this'; again the deictic anchors the gift in the worshipper's present possession.
γῆνa landAccusativeaccusative in apposition to τὴν γῆν ταύτην→ object specificationγῆ: the second, anarthrous γῆν introduces the descriptive epithet 'a land flowing with milk and honey,' a Hebraic appositional restatement (אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ).
ῥέουσανflowingPres Act Ptcp Acc Fem Sg · ῥέωattributive participle (modifying γῆν)→ present participle (describing a continuing quality of the land)ῥέω: 'flow / run'; renders זוּב ('flow / ooze'); the participle ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι ('flowing with milk and honey') is the fixed epithet of the promised land's fertility, the milk of pasturage and the honey of orchard and wild — a land of superabundant nourishment.
γάλαmilkAccusativeaccusative of content (with ῥέουσαν: 'flowing with milk')→ object specificationγάλα: 'milk'; renders חָלָב; the milk of flocks and herds, token of pastoral abundance; with μέλι forms the proverbial pair for the land's fertility.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέλιhoneyAccusativeaccusative of content (with ῥέουσαν: 'flowing with honey')→ object specificationμέλι: 'honey'; renders דְּבַשׁ; the honey of bees and of fruit (date-syrup), token of natural sweetness and plenty; completes the formula celebrating the land's richness.
10
καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἐνήνοχα τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τῶν γενημάτων τῆς γῆς ἧς ἔδωκάς μοι κύριε γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι καὶ ἀφήσεις αὐτὰ ἀπέναντι κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου καὶ προσκυνήσεις ἐκεῖ ἔναντι κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου
And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the produce of the land which you gave me, O LORD, a land flowing with milk and honey. And you shall set them down before the LORD your God and shall worship there before the LORD your God.
The καὶ νῦν ('and now') marks the rhetorical turn from recited history to present act: on the basis of all YHWH has done (vv. 5–9), the worshipper now presents the firstfruits. The perfect ἐνήνοχα ('I have brought') and the direct vocative κύριε ('O LORD') make the offering a personal, present transaction with God. The closing instructions (ἀφήσεις … προσκυνήσεις) shift back to second-person prescription: set down the gift and worship.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (transition to present act)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (marking the rhetorical pivot)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν renders וְעַתָּה, the characteristic Hebrew hinge from narration/argument to consequent action — here from the recited creed to the present offering.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection (drawing attention to the offering)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold / look'; an interjection (frozen aor. imperative of ὁράω) rendering הִנֵּה; presents the firstfruits to YHWH's attention — 'here, look, I have brought.'
ἐνήνοχαI have broughtPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · φέρωmain verb (the act of presentation)→ resultative perfect (the offering brought and now present)φέρω (perf. ἐνήνοχα): 'bring / carry / bear'; the perfect tense (with its characteristic reduplicated stem) presents the offering as brought and now lying present before God — the completed act with abiding result, the firstfruits here and now in hand.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀπαρχὴν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπαρχὴνfirstfruitsAccusativedirect object of ἐνήνοχα→ object specificationἀπαρχή: 'firstfruits'; the cultic gift of vv. 2, now formally presented; the first and best of the produce, offered in acknowledgment that the land and its yield are YHWH's gift.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with γενημάτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενημάτωνproduce / fruitsGenitivegenitive defining ἀπαρχὴν (the firstfruits 'of the produce')→ relational specificationγένημα: 'produce / yield / fruit (of the earth)'; renders פְּרִי / תְּבוּאָה; distinct from γέννημα ('offspring'); denotes what the ground brings forth — the agricultural increase from which the firstfruits are taken.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of source (the produce 'of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; the source of the produce, again named as YHWH's gift in the following relative clause.
ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (attracted to gen. of γῆς; object of ἔδωκας)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. fem. ἧς): relative pronoun, case attracted to antecedent γῆς; logically the object of ἔδωκας.
ἔδωκάςyou gaveAor Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (direct address to YHWH)→ constative aorist (the completed gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; the second-person ἔδωκάς addresses YHWH directly — the worshipper turns from speaking of God to speaking to him; the gift of the land is acknowledged face to face.
μοιto meDativedative indirect object of ἔδωκας→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. μοι): 'to me'; the worshipper personally claims the land-gift — 'which you gave me.'
κύριεO LORDVocativevocative of direct address→ direct addressκύριος (voc. κύριε): rendering of the Tetragrammaton in direct address; the vocative marks the turn to direct prayer — the offering is presented to YHWH's face.
γῆνa landAccusativeaccusative in apposition (resuming the land-epithet)→ object specificationγῆ: the anarthrous γῆν resumes the 'land flowing with milk and honey' formula of v. 9, restating the land's character even as its firstfruits are offered back.
ῥέουσανflowingPres Act Ptcp Acc Fem Sg · ῥέωattributive participle (modifying γῆν)→ present participle (continuing quality of the land)ῥέω: 'flow'; the repeated epithet (cf. v. 9) keeps the land's God-given fertility before the worshipper as he returns its first portion.
γάλαmilkAccusativeaccusative of content (with ῥέουσαν)→ object specificationγάλα: 'milk'; see v. 9.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέλιhoneyAccusativeaccusative of content (with ῥέουσαν)→ object specificationμέλι: 'honey'; see v. 9.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (return to prescription)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀφήσειςyou shall set down / leaveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀφίημιmain verb (imperatival future: depositing the offering)→ imperatival future (prescribed ritual act)ἀφίημι: 'leave / set down / let go'; renders הִנִּיחַ; here 'you shall set/leave them down' before the LORD — the worshipper relinquishes the firstfruits, depositing them in YHWH's presence as a completed gift.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object of ἀφήσεις (the firstfruits)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. neut. pl. αὐτά): 'them'; the firstfruits/produce set down before the LORD.
ἀπέναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (position before)→ spatial or relational framingἀπέναντι: 'before / in front of'; renders לִפְנֵי; locates the deposited offering in YHWH's presence (cf. v. 4).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπέναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεοῦ: meaning 'God'; it serves as genitive in apposition to κυρίου.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεοῦ).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (final prescribed act)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσκυνήσειςyou shall worship / bow downFut Act Indic 2 Sg · προσκυνέωmain verb (imperatival future: act of worship)→ imperatival future (prescribed worship)προσκυνέω: 'bow down / do obeisance / worship'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; the bodily prostration before YHWH that consummates the firstfruits rite — the gift is completed by adoration, worship as the proper response to the remembered salvation.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (at the sanctuary)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; at the chosen place, before the altar — worship localised at the sanctuary of the Name.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; the worship is rendered coram Deo, in YHWH's very presence.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεοῦ: meaning 'God'; it serves as genitive in apposition to κυρίου.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεοῦ).
11
καὶ εὐφρανθήσῃ ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς οἷς ἔδωκέν σοι κύριος ὁ θεός σου καὶ τῇ οἰκίᾳ σου σὺ καὶ ὁ Λευίτης καὶ ὁ προσήλυτος ὁ ἐν σοί
And you shall rejoice in all the good things which the LORD your God gave to you and to your household — you and the Levite and the sojourner who is among you.
The rite ends not in solemnity but in joy: εὐφρανθήσῃ ('you shall rejoice'), the characteristic Deuteronomic command to rejoice before the LORD over his gifts (cf. 12:7, 12, 18; 16:11). The joy is shared communally — the worshipper, his household, the Levite (the landless cultic servant), and the προσήλυτος (the resident sojourner) — embodying the inclusive table-fellowship of Deuteronomic worship, in which the dependent and the alien are welcomed into the celebration.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐφρανθήσῃyou shall rejoiceFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · εὐφραίνωmain verb (imperatival future: command to rejoice)→ imperatival future (prescribed joy before the LORD)εὐφραίνω (pass. 'be glad / rejoice'): renders שָׂמַח; the Deuteronomic command to rejoice before YHWH over his gifts is a hallmark of its worship-theology — covenant obedience issues in festal joy, not grim duty; here the firstfruits celebration is to be shared with the whole community.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/object of rejoicing)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere/object of rejoicing).
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀγαθοῖς)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the joy embraces 'all the good things' — the totality of YHWH's benefactions, not merely the harvest.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀγαθοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθοῖςgood thingsDativesubstantival adjective (object of rejoicing, with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceἀγαθός: 'good'; the neuter plural τὰ ἀγαθά ('the good things') denotes the sum of YHWH's material blessings — the land, its produce, and all covenant benefits; renders טוֹב/טוּב.
οἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (attracted to dat. of ἀγαθοῖς; object of ἔδωκεν)→ participant reference or interestὅς (dat. pl. οἷς): relative pronoun, case attracted to its antecedent ἀγαθοῖς; logically the object of ἔδωκεν ('the good things which he gave').
ἔδωκένgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (YHWH's giving of the good things)→ constative aorist (the completed bestowal)δίδωμι: 'give'; YHWH is again named as the giver of all good — the ground of the worshipper's joy is the recognition that every blessing is a gift.
σοιto youDativedative indirect object of ἔδωκεν→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object of ἔδωκεν.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἔδωκεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the divine benefactor.
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: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative in apposition to κύριος.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεός).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the gift to the household)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇtheDativearticle (with οἰκίᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίᾳhouse / householdDativedative indirect object (coordinate with σοι: 'and to your household')→ sphere or referenceοἰκία: 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת; the gift and the joy extend to the whole household — the covenant blessing is corporate, embracing the family unit.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἰκίᾳ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with οἰκίᾳ).
σὺyouNominativenominative (subject in apposition, resuming the rejoicer)→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic nominative pronoun resuming the subject of εὐφρανθήσῃ; introduces the list of co-celebrants — 'you and the Levite and the sojourner.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining co-celebrants)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with Λευίτης)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίτηςLeviteNominativenominative (co-celebrant in the rejoicing)→ participant prominenceΛευίτης: 'Levite'; the member of the priestly-cultic tribe who, holding no tribal land-allotment (cf. 10:9; 18:1–2), depends on the offerings and the generosity of the community; characteristically included in Deuteronomic feasts as one of the landless to be provided for and welcomed into joy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with προσήλυτος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσήλυτοςsojourner / proselyteNominativenominative (co-celebrant in the rejoicing)→ participant prominenceπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner / resident alien / proselyte'; the LXX's standard rendering of גֵּר; the non-native who dwells among Israel, legally vulnerable and so a recurrent object of Deuteronomic protection and inclusion (cf. 10:18–19); here welcomed into the firstfruits joy alongside the Israelite and the Levite.
ὁthe (who)Nominativearticle functioning as relative (with ἐν σοί: 'who is among you')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article ὁ ἐν σοί ('the one among you') functions attributively/relatively, specifying the sojourner as the one resident within the community.
ἐνamong / inpreposition + dative (location: 'among you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location: 'among you').
σοίyouDativedative object of ἐν (the sojourner dwelling among Israel)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοί): 'you / among you'; ὁ ἐν σοί locates the sojourner within the covenant community, present and to be embraced in its celebration.
12
ἐὰν δὲ συντελέσῃς ἀποδεκατῶσαι πᾶν τὸ ἐπιδέκατον τῶν γενημάτων τῆς γῆς σου ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ τρίτῳ τὸ δεύτερον ἐπιδέκατον δώσεις τῷ Λευίτῃ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ καὶ φάγονται ἐν ταῖς πόλεσίν σου καὶ ἐμπλησθήσονται
And when you finish tithing all the tithe of the produce of your land in the third year, the second tithe, you shall give it to the Levite and to the sojourner and to the orphan and to the widow, and they shall eat in your cities and be filled.
A new casuistic unit (ἐὰν δέ, 'and when') opens the third-year tithe legislation. The 'second tithe' (τὸ δεύτερον ἐπιδέκατον) of the third year is given not consumed at the sanctuary but distributed locally to the four classic dependent groups — Levite, sojourner, orphan, widow — who are to eat and be satisfied 'in your cities.' The quartet of beneficiaries embodies the Deuteronomic ethic of provision for the landless and vulnerable.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
ἐὰνwhen / ifconditional conjunction (introducing protasis + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'when / if'; with the subjunctive opens a new casuistic legal unit (the tithe legislation), rendering כִּי.
δὲnow / andtransitional particle (post-positive; marking new unit)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive particle marking the transition from the firstfruits rite (vv. 1–11) to the distinct tithe legislation (vv. 12–15).
συντελέσῃςyou finish / completeAor Act Subj 2 Sg · συντελέωverb of protasis (completion of the tithing)→ effective aorist subjunctive (bringing the tithing to completion)συντελέω: 'complete / finish / bring to an end'; the compound συν- stresses full completion; renders כָּלָה; the protasis fixes the moment when all the tithing of the third-year harvest has been carried out.
ἀποδεκατῶσαιto titheAor Act Inf · ἀποδεκατόωcomplementary infinitive (with συντελέσῃς: 'finish tithing')→ aorist infinitive (the act of tithing as completed)ἀποδεκατόω: 'tithe / give/take a tenth'; renders עָשַׂר (Piel); the verb denotes setting apart the tenth of the produce as a sacred due — the complement of συντελέσῃς, 'when you have finished tithing.'
πᾶνallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἐπιδέκατον)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / the whole'; emphasises that the entire tithe is to be set apart — none withheld.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἐπιδέκατον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιδέκατονtithe / tenthAccusativedirect object of ἀποδεκατῶσαι→ object specificationἐπιδέκατον: 'tithe / tenth part'; renders מַעֲשֵׂר; the tenth of the produce owed to YHWH; in the third year this tithe is redirected to local charitable distribution (the 'poor tithe' of 14:28–29).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with γενημάτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενημάτωνproduceGenitivegenitive defining ἐπιδέκατον (the tithe 'of the produce')→ relational specificationγένημα: 'produce / yield'; the agricultural increase from which the tithe is taken (cf. v. 10).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of source (the produce 'of your land')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; the source of the tithed produce.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with γῆς)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with γῆς).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἔτει)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔτειyearDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'in the year')→ sphere or referenceἔτος: 'year'; ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ τρίτῳ ('in the third year') specifies the triennial cycle of the charitable tithe (cf. 14:28; 26:12).
τῷtheDativearticle (with τρίτῳ, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίτῳthirdDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceτρίτος: 'third'; the ordinal marking the third year of the sabbatical-cycle reckoning as the 'year of tithing' devoted to the poor.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἐπιδέκατον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δεύτερονsecondAccusativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἐπιδέκατον)→ object specificationδεύτερος: 'second'; τὸ δεύτερον ἐπιδέκατον ('the second tithe') is the LXX's specifying designation, reflecting the later distinction between the annual festal tithe and the triennial charity tithe; it identifies which tithe is here in view.
ἐπιδέκατονtitheAccusativedirect object of δώσεις (resuming the tithe to be given)→ object specificationἐπιδέκατον: 'tithe'; the object of δώσεις — this second/third-year tithe is to be given over to the dependent classes.
δώσειςyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of apodosis (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (legal prescription)δίδωμι: 'give'; the apodosis-verb prescribing the distribution of the tithe to the four dependent groups — the act of covenant charity.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Λευίτῃ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίτῃLeviteDativedative indirect object (first beneficiary)→ sphere or referenceΛευίτης (dat. Λευίτῃ): 'Levite'; the landless cultic servant, first of the four classic recipients of charity in Deuteronomy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷto theDativearticle (with προσηλύτῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτῳsojournerDativedative indirect object (second beneficiary)→ sphere or referenceπροσήλυτος (dat. προσηλύτῳ): 'sojourner / resident alien'; the second of the dependent quartet (Levite, sojourner, orphan, widow), the standard Deuteronomic list of the vulnerable to be provided for.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷto theDativearticle (with ὀρφανῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀρφανῷorphanDativedative indirect object (third beneficiary)→ sphere or referenceὀρφανός: 'orphan / fatherless'; renders יָתוֹם; the fatherless child without legal protector — the third member of the vulnerable quartet, paradigmatic object of divine and covenantal concern (cf. 10:18; Ps 68:5).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇto theDativearticle (with χήρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χήρᾳwidowDativedative indirect object (fourth beneficiary)→ sphere or referenceχήρα: 'widow'; renders אַלְמָנָה; the husbandless woman without economic support — the fourth of the vulnerable quartet; 'the orphan and the widow' are the classic biblical pair under God's special protection (cf. James 1:27).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result of the giving)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φάγονταιthey shall eatFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (the beneficiaries' consumption)→ predictive future (the intended result of the tithe)ἐσθίω (fut. mid. φάγονται): 'eat'; the purpose of the charitable tithe — the dependent are to eat their fill; the local consumption 'in your cities' distinguishes this tithe from the festal tithe eaten at the sanctuary.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with πόλεσίν)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσίνcitiesDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in your cities')→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. pl. πόλεσιν): 'city / town'; ἐν ταῖς πόλεσίν σου ('within your gates/cities') renders בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ; the local, decentralised distribution of the third-year tithe, in contrast to the sanctuary-centred firstfruits and festal tithes.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with πόλεσίν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πόλεσίν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμπλησθήσονταιshall be filled / satisfiedFut Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἐμπίμπλημιmain verb (the satisfaction of the beneficiaries)→ predictive future (the goal: satisfaction of the needy)ἐμπίμπλημι (pass. 'be filled / satisfied'): renders שָׂבַע; the goal of the charitable tithe is not mere subsistence but satisfaction — the vulnerable are to eat and be filled, an expression of covenant generosity and the land's God-given abundance shared with the needy.
13
καὶ ἐρεῖς ἐναντίον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου ἐξεκάθαρα τὰ ἅγια ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας μου καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτὰ τῷ Λευίτῃ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ κατὰ πάσας τὰς ἐντολάς ἃς ἐνετείλω μοι οὐ παρῆλθον τὴν ἐντολήν σου καὶ οὐκ ἐπελαθόμην
And you shall say before the LORD your God, 'I have cleared out the holy things from my house and have given them to the Levite and to the sojourner and to the orphan and to the widow, according to all the commandments which you commanded me; I have not transgressed your commandment nor forgotten it.'
The second great recitation of the chapter (paralleling the firstfruits creed of vv. 5–10): a formal declaration of covenant fidelity made before YHWH. The worshipper affirms that he has discharged the tithe-obligation in full (ἐξεκάθαρα … ἔδωκα) and protests that he has neither transgressed nor forgotten the commandment (οὐ παρῆλθον … οὐκ ἐπελαθόμην). The avowal-of-innocence form has cultic parallels, declaring ritual and moral integrity at the sanctuary.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb introducing the declaration (imperatival future)→ imperatival future (prescribed liturgical speech)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; introduces the tithe-declaration, the second scripted confession of the chapter — covenant worship as recited avowal.
ἐναντίονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the declaration is made coram Deo, in YHWH's presence.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεοῦ: meaning 'God'; it serves as genitive in apposition to κυρίου.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεοῦ).
ἐξεκάθαραI have cleared out / removedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐκκαθαίρωmain verb of the declaration (first avowal)→ constative aorist (the completed removal of the holy things)ἐκκαθαίρω: 'clear out / cleanse thoroughly / purge'; the compound ἐκ- means to remove completely; renders בִּעַר ('remove / clear away'); the worshipper has fully cleared the consecrated tithe-portion out of his house, withholding none — the verb is later reused by Paul (1 Cor 5:7, ἐκκαθάρατε) for purging out the old leaven.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἅγια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅγιαholy thingsAccusativedirect object of ἐξεκάθαρα→ object specificationἅγιος: 'holy'; τὰ ἅγια ('the holy things') denotes the consecrated tithe-portion set apart for YHWH; renders הַקֹּדֶשׁ; the sacred status of the tithe makes its proper disposal a matter of cultic integrity.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with οἰκίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίαςhouseGenitivegenitive with ἐκ (source: 'out of my house')→ relational specificationοἰκία: 'house / household'; the holy things are cleared 'out of my house' — the private storehouse is emptied of the sacred portion, which must not be retained for personal use.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἰκίας)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with οἰκίας).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second avowal)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκαI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the act of giving the tithe)→ constative aorist (the completed distribution)δίδωμι: 'give'; the worshipper has given the tithe to the four dependent groups exactly as commanded — positive fulfilment of the charitable obligation.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκα (the holy things)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. neut. pl. αὐτά): 'them'; the holy things given to the dependent classes.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Λευίτῃ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίτῃLeviteDativedative indirect object (first recipient)→ sphere or referenceΛευίτης (dat. Λευίτῃ): 'Levite'; the first of the four recipients, repeating the quartet of v. 12 — fulfilment matches command precisely.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷto theDativearticle (with προσηλύτῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτῳsojournerDativedative indirect object (second recipient)→ sphere or referenceπροσήλυτος (dat. προσηλύτῳ): 'sojourner'; the second recipient (cf. v. 12).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷto theDativearticle (with ὀρφανῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀρφανῷorphanDativedative indirect object (third recipient)→ sphere or referenceὀρφανός (dat. ὀρφανῷ): 'orphan'; the third recipient (cf. v. 12).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇto theDativearticle (with χήρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χήρᾳwidowDativedative indirect object (fourth recipient)→ sphere or referenceχήρα (dat. χήρᾳ): 'widow'; the fourth recipient, completing the quartet of the vulnerable (cf. v. 12).
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/standard)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to / in conformity with'; introduces the standard of obedience — the giving conformed to all the divine commandments.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἐντολάς)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the obedience claimed is comprehensive — 'according to all the commandments,' withholding nothing.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολάςcommandmentsAccusativeaccusative object of κατά→ object specificationἐντολή: 'commandment / precept'; renders מִצְוָה; the divine commandments governing the tithe; the standard against which the worshipper measures his obedience.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐνετείλω; antecedent ἐντολάς)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. fem. pl. ἅς): relative pronoun introducing the clause defining the commandments as divinely given.
ἐνετείλωyou commandedAor Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (direct address to YHWH)→ constative aorist (the completed act of commanding)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / enjoin / charge'; renders צִוָּה; the second-person address (as in v. 10) turns the avowal into direct speech to YHWH — 'which you commanded me.'
μοιmeDativedative indirect object of ἐνετείλω→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object of ἐνετείλω.
οὐnotnegative particle (with παρῆλθον)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; the negation of the first protestation of innocence.
παρῆλθονI transgressed / passed byAor Act Indic 1 Sg · παρέρχομαιmain verb (protestation: 'I did not transgress')→ constative aorist (denial of any past transgression)παρέρχομαι: 'pass by / pass over / transgress'; renders עָבַר ('cross over / transgress'); to 'pass by' the commandment is to neglect or violate it; the worshipper denies any such transgression — a claim of integral covenant-keeping.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολήνcommandmentAccusativedirect object of παρῆλθον→ object specificationἐντολή: 'commandment'; the singular here denotes the commandment as a whole — the worshipper has not stepped past it in any respect.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἐντολήν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἐντολήν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second protestation)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπελαθόμην)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: 'not' (pre-vocalic form); the negation of the second protestation.
ἐπελαθόμηνI forgotAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐπιλανθάνομαιmain verb (protestation: 'I did not forget')→ constative aorist (denial of any forgetting)ἐπιλανθάνομαι: 'forget / neglect'; renders שָׁכַח; to 'forget' the commandment is the cardinal Deuteronomic danger (cf. 6:12; 8:11); the worshipper denies both active transgression and passive forgetting — full positive remembrance and obedience.
14
καὶ οὐκ ἔφαγον ἐν ὀδύνῃ μου ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐκάρπωσα ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν εἰς ἀκάθαρτον οὐκ ἔδωκα ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν τῷ τεθνηκότι ὑπήκουσα τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ μου ἐποίησα καθὰ ἐνετείλω μοι
And I did not eat of them in my mourning, nor offer any of them for an unclean use, nor give any of them to the dead; I obeyed the voice of the LORD my God, I did according to all you commanded me.
The declaration continues with a triad of denials (οὐκ ἔφαγον … οὐκ ἐκάρπωσα … οὐκ ἔδωκα) renouncing any defilement of the holy tithe — eating it in mourning, devoting it to an unclean purpose, or offering it to the dead (possibly a polemic against funerary/chthonic cult). Two positive affirmations close the avowal: I obeyed (ὑπήκουσα) and I did (ἐποίησα) as commanded — the worshipper's integrity stated both negatively and positively.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔφαγον)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔφαγονI ateAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (first denial)→ constative aorist (denial of a defiling act)ἐσθίω (aor. ἔφαγον): 'eat'; the worshipper denies eating the holy portion 'in his mourning' — a state of ritual impurity; the holy tithe must not be consumed by one in a defiled condition (cf. Hos 9:4; Lev 7:20).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (state/circumstance)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (state/circumstance).
ὀδύνῃgrief / mourningDativedative with ἐν (state: 'in my mourning')→ sphere or referenceὀδύνη: 'pain / grief / sorrow'; renders אֹנִי ('mourning'); ἐν ὀδύνῃ μου ('in my grief/mourning') refers to the ritually unclean state of bereavement; eating the holy things while in mourning would profane them.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀδύνῃ)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὀδύνῃ).
ἀπ᾿of / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of them')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: partitive, 'of / from'; ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ('of them') refers to the holy things — none of them was eaten in mourning.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive with ἀπό (partitive: the holy things)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the consecrated tithe-portions.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐκάρπωσα; second denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάρπωσαI devoted / offeredAor Act Indic 1 Sg · καρπόωmain verb (second denial)→ constative aorist (denial of an unclean offering)καρπόω: 'offer / present as produce / devote'; cognate with καρπός ('fruit'); here 'I did not devote/offer any of them for an unclean purpose'; renders בָּעַר; the holy tithe was not diverted to any defiling or illegitimate use.
ἀπ᾿ofpreposition + genitive (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive).
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive with ἀπό (partitive)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive with ἀπό (partitive).
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'for an unclean use')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here of purpose/result — 'for an unclean (purpose).'
ἀκάθαρτονuncleanAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of εἰς: 'for an unclean thing')→ object specificationἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean / impure'; renders טָמֵא; εἰς ἀκάθαρτον ('for an unclean use/thing') denotes any ritually defiling purpose to which the holy portion must not be turned.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔδωκα; third denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκαI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (third denial)→ constative aorist (denial of a funerary offering)δίδωμι: 'give'; 'I did not give any of them to the dead' — denying use of the holy tithe in funerary or chthonic rites; the prohibition may polemicise against the cult of the dead and food-offerings to the deceased common in the ancient Near East.
ἀπ᾿ofpreposition + genitive (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (partitive).
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive with ἀπό (partitive)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive with ἀπό (partitive).
τῷto theDativearticle (with τεθνηκότι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεθνηκότιto the dead onePerf Act Ptcp Dat Masc Sg · θνῄσκωsubstantival participle (dative indirect object: 'to the dead')→ perfect participle (one in the settled state of having died)θνῄσκω (perf. ptcp. τεθνηκώς): 'have died / be dead'; the substantival perfect participle ὁ τεθνηκώς ('the dead one') denotes one in the abiding state of death; the holy portion was not given to/for the dead — no funerary food-offering was made from it.
ὑπήκουσαI obeyed / listenedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὑπακούωmain verb (first positive affirmation)→ constative aorist (affirmation of obedience)ὑπακούω: 'obey / listen / hearken'; lit. 'hear under / submit to'; renders שָׁמַע (with בְּקוֹל); 'I obeyed the voice of the LORD' is the positive counterpart to the preceding denials — covenant fidelity stated affirmatively.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ὑπήκουσα (the thing obeyed)→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice'; ὑπακούω governs the genitive; 'the voice of the LORD' is the divine command to be obeyed — to hear YHWH's voice is to do his will.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (defining φωνῆς: 'voice of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου→ relational specificationθεοῦ: meaning 'God'; it serves as genitive in apposition to κυρίου.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῦ)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεοῦ).
ἐποίησαI didAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (second positive affirmation)→ constative aorist (affirmation of performance)ποιέω: 'do / make / perform'; 'I did according to all you commanded' — the final affirmation that obedience was carried into action, not mere intention; doing, not only hearing, the commandment.
καθὰaccording ascomparative conjunction (introducing standard of obedience)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'according as / just as'; renders כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר; introduces the measure of the performed obedience — exactly as commanded.
ἐνετείλωyou commandedAor Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of comparative clause (direct address to YHWH)→ constative aorist (the completed command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge'; the second-person address continues the direct prayer to YHWH; the worshipper's deeds conform exactly to what God commanded.
μοιmeDativedative indirect object of ἐνετείλω→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object of ἐνετείλω.
15
κάτιδε ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ ἁγίου σου ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ εὐλόγησον τὸν λαόν σου τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ τὴν γῆν ἣν ἔδωκας αὐτοῖς καθὰ ὤμοσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν δοῦναι ἡμῖν γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι
Look down from your holy dwelling, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the land which you have given them, as you swore to our fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
The avowal of obedience issues in a bold petition (κάτιδε … εὐλόγησον, two aorist imperatives addressed to YHWH): having kept the commandment, the worshipper may now ask God to look down from his holy heavenly dwelling and bless the people and the land. The heavenly localisation (ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ) complements the Name-theology of the earthly sanctuary — YHWH dwells in heaven yet sets his Name at the chosen place. The blessing-request invokes the patriarchal oath once more (καθὰ ὤμοσας).
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
κάτιδεlook downAor Act Impv 2 Sg · καθοράωmain verb (imperative petition to YHWH)→ aorist imperative (urgent petition for a single decisive act)καθοράω (aor. impv. κάτιδε): 'look down / behold from above'; the compound κατα- expresses looking down from a height; renders הַשְׁקִיפָה ('look down'); the worshipper boldly summons YHWH's gaze from heaven upon his people — petition grounded in demonstrated obedience.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source of the looking)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source of the looking).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouse / dwellingGenitivegenitive with ἐκ (source: 'from your holy dwelling')→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house / dwelling'; ὁ οἶκος ὁ ἅγιός σου ('your holy dwelling') is here YHWH's heavenly abode (as the following ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ clarifies), the celestial counterpart of the earthly sanctuary.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἁγίου, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁγίουholyGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying οἴκου)→ relational specificationἅγιος: 'holy'; the heavenly dwelling is 'holy' — the sphere of YHWH's transcendent presence from which he looks down to bless.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκου)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with οἴκου).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (epexegetical: 'that is, from heaven')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: the second ἐκ-phrase specifies the first — 'from your holy dwelling, (that is) from heaven.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with οὐρανοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitivegenitive with ἐκ (specifying the holy dwelling as heaven)→ relational specificationοὐρανός: 'heaven / sky'; renders שָׁמַיִם; identifies YHWH's holy dwelling as heaven — the transcendent God who nonetheless sets his Name at the earthly sanctuary; the dual localisation balances divine immanence and transcendence.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐλόγησονblessAor Act Impv 2 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (second imperative petition)→ aorist imperative (petition for blessing)εὐλογέω: 'bless / speak well of / invoke good upon'; renders בָּרַךְ; the worshipper petitions YHWH to bless both people and land — the blessing-request is the fitting climax of covenant obedience, calling down divine favor on the community and its soil.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λαόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativedirect object of εὐλόγησον (first object of blessing)→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; τὸν λαόν σου τὸν Ισραηλ ('your people Israel') names the covenant nation as the object of blessing — the people belonging peculiarly to YHWH.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with λαόν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with λαόν).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (in apposition, with Ισραηλ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable proper noun (in apposition to λαόν)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; 'your people Israel' identifies the covenant nation as YHWH's own — the name carries the whole history of election from Jacob onward.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second object of blessing)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of εὐλόγησον (second object of blessing)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land'; the land too is blessed — its fertility is a covenant gift, and the blessing of the soil sustains the people; the firstfruits and tithe presuppose this blessed productivity.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔδωκας; antecedent γῆν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. fem. ἥν): relative pronoun introducing the clause defining the land as YHWH's gift.
ἔδωκαςyou have givenAor Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (the land-gift, direct address)→ constative aorist (the completed gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; second-person direct address to YHWH — 'the land which you gave them'; the gift fulfils the patriarchal oath named in the next clause.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object of ἔδωκας (the people)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'to them'; the people Israel to whom the land was given.
καθὰas / according ascomparative conjunction (introducing the oath-standard)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'as / just as'; introduces the appeal to the patriarchal oath as the ground of the gift — the land was given in fulfilment of the sworn promise.
ὤμοσαςyou sworeAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ὄμνυμιverb of comparative clause (the patriarchal oath, direct address)→ constative aorist (the completed oath)ὄμνυμι: 'swear'; renders נִשְׁבַּע; the appeal to the oath sworn to the fathers (cf. v. 3) grounds the petition for blessing in YHWH's own sworn fidelity — God is asked to bless in keeping with his promise.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with πατράσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατράσινfathersDativedative indirect object of ὤμοσας (recipients of the oath)→ sphere or referenceπατήρ (dat. pl. πατράσιν): 'father'; the patriarchs to whom the land-oath was sworn (cf. v. 3) — the bedrock of covenant continuity.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατράσιν)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατράσιν).
δοῦναιto giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιinfinitive complementing ὤμοσας (content of the oath)→ aorist infinitive (the substance of the sworn promise)δίδωμι (aor. inf. δοῦναι): 'to give'; the complementary infinitive states the content of the oath (cf. v. 3) — YHWH swore to give the land; the gift is now realised.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative indirect object of δοῦναι→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): 'to us'; the present generation as heirs of the promise (cf. v. 3); note the shift from αὐτοῖς ('to them') to ἡμῖν ('to us'), folding the worshipper into the recipients.
γῆνa landAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the land-epithet)→ object specificationγῆ: the anarthrous γῆν resumes the 'land flowing with milk and honey' formula (cf. vv. 9–10), closing the petition with the land's God-given abundance.
ῥέουσανflowingPres Act Ptcp Acc Fem Sg · ῥέωattributive participle (modifying γῆν)→ present participle (continuing quality of the land)ῥέω: 'flow'; the repeated epithet (cf. vv. 9–10) seals the tithe-declaration with the land's proverbial fertility.
γάλαmilkAccusativeaccusative of content (with ῥέουσαν)→ object specificationγάλα: 'milk'; see v. 9.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέλιhoneyAccusativeaccusative of content (with ῥέουσαν)→ object specificationμέλι: 'honey'; see v. 9; the formula closes the petition and the entire tithe-declaration unit.
16
ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐνετείλατό σοι ποιῆσαι πάντα τὰ δικαιώματα ταῦτα καὶ τὰ κρίματα καὶ φυλάξεσθε καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτὰ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς ὑμῶν
On this day the LORD your God has commanded you to do all these statutes and judgments; and you shall keep and do them with your whole heart and with your whole soul.
The final movement of the chapter and of the law-code proper. The emphatic 'on this day' (ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ) and the recurring σήμερον ('today', vv. 17–18) mark the present moment as the day of covenant ratification. The demand to obey 'with the whole heart and whole soul' (ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας … ψυχῆς) echoes the Shema (Deut 6:5), framing the ratification as wholehearted covenant commitment. Note the shift from singular (σοι) to plural (φυλάξεσθε … ὑμῶν), addressing the whole assembly.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'on this day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ('on this day') solemnly marks the present as the moment of covenant ratification — the 'today' of decision that runs through the whole closing unit.
ταύτῃthisDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ participant reference or interestοὗτος (dat. fem. ταύτῃ): 'this'; the deictic emphasises the immediacy of the ratification day.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; YHWH is the one who commands the covenant obedience.
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: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative in apposition to κύριος.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεός).
ἐνετείλατόcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (the divine command)→ constative aorist (the act of commanding, given today)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / enjoin'; renders צִוָּה; YHWH 'on this day' commands the doing of all the statutes — the law-giving is renewed as a present covenant obligation.
σοιyouDativedative indirect object of ἐνετείλατο→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): 'to you' (singular); Israel addressed as one covenant partner before the plural verbs that follow.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with ἐνετείλατο: content of the command)→ aorist infinitive (the commanded performance)ποιέω (aor. inf. ποιῆσαι): 'do / perform'; the content of the command — to do the statutes; covenant obedience is enacted, not merely assented to.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying δικαιώματα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the obedience demanded is comprehensive — 'all these statutes,' none excepted.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δικαιώματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώματαstatutes / ordinancesAccusativedirect object of ποιῆσαι→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'statute / ordinance / righteous requirement'; renders חֹק / חֻקָּה; the prescribed regulations of the covenant; with κρίματα ('judgments') forms the standard Deuteronomic pair for the law's content (cf. 4:1; 5:1).
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying δικαιώματα)→ object specificationοὗτος (acc. neut. pl. ταῦτα): 'these'; points to the whole body of statutes just expounded in the law-code.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρίματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίματαjudgments / ordinancesAccusativedirect object (coordinate with δικαιώματα)→ object specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / legal decision / ordinance'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the case-law decisions of the covenant; δικαιώματα καὶ κρίματα ('statutes and judgments') is the comprehensive Deuteronomic formula for the divine law.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (shift to plural address)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάξεσθεyou shall keepFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (imperatival future, plural)→ imperatival future (covenant obligation)φυλάσσω (mid. 'keep / observe / guard'): renders שָׁמַר; 'you shall keep' the commandments — the characteristic Deuteronomic verb for covenant observance; the shift to plural (φυλάξεσθε) addresses the whole assembly together.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future, plural)→ imperatival future (covenant obligation)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; the pairing φυλάξεσθε καὶ ποιήσετε ('keep and do') unites careful observance with active performance — to guard the law is to carry it out.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object of ποιήσετε (the statutes and judgments)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. neut. pl. αὐτά): 'them'; the statutes and judgments to be kept and done.
ἐξout of / withpreposition + genitive (source/manner: 'with the whole heart')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: here of manner/source — 'out of / with the whole heart'; the obedience must spring from the inmost self.
ὅληςwholeGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying καρδίας)→ relational specificationὅλος: 'whole / entire'; ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας ('with the whole heart') demands undivided devotion — the Shema's totality (Deut 6:5) applied to covenant obedience.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with καρδίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαςheartGenitivegenitive with ἐξ (the whole heart)→ relational specificationκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב/לֵבָב; in Hebrew anthropology the seat of will, mind, and intention; whole-hearted obedience engages the entire inner person, not mere outward compliance.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (plural; with καρδίας)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your' (plural); the plural pronoun confirms the address to the whole assembly.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξout of / withpreposition + genitive (source/manner)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source/manner).
ὅληςwholeGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ψυχῆς)→ relational specificationὅλος: 'whole'; ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς ('with the whole soul') completes the Shema-pair — heart and soul together signify total covenant devotion.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ψυχῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχῆςsoulGenitivegenitive with ἐξ (the whole soul)→ relational specificationψυχή: 'soul / life / self'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; the whole living self; with καρδία it forms the Shema's idiom of comprehensive, wholehearted love and obedience toward YHWH.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (plural; with ψυχῆς)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (plural; with ψυχῆς).
17
τὸν θεὸν εἵλου σήμερον εἶναί σου θεὸν καὶ πορεύεσθαι ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ φυλάσσεσθαι τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑπακούειν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ
Today you have chosen God to be your God, and to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes and his judgments and to obey his voice.
The reciprocal covenant formula, first half: 'today you have chosen (εἵλου) God to be your God.' The fronted object τὸν θεόν and the verb of election αἱρέομαι frame Israel's deliberate covenant commitment. Three infinitives spell out what choosing YHWH entails: to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes and judgments, and to obey his voice — election issues in obedience. This crux (with its echo at v. 18) is the heart of the chapter's covenant theology of mutual choice.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεὸν, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object of εἵλου (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationθεός: 'God'; the fronted accusative τὸν θεόν emphasises the object of Israel's choice — YHWH himself; Israel chooses God to be its God, a deliberate covenant election.
εἵλουyou choseAor Mid Indic 2 Sg · αἱρέομαιmain verb (Israel's act of choosing YHWH)→ constative aorist (the decisive act of covenant election)αἱρέομαι (mid. 'choose / select for oneself'; aor. εἵλου): the middle of αἱρέω; renders אָמַר (Hiphil, 'cause to declare/avow') in this distinctive LXX rendering — the Hebrew הֶאֱמַרְתָּ ('you have declared/avowed') is rendered by the verb of choosing; Israel 'chose' YHWH to be its God, the human side of the reciprocal election; cf. the deponent's force of deliberate self-committing choice.
σήμερονtodayadverb of time (the day of ratification)→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; the keyword of the ratification unit (vv. 16–18); the covenant is chosen 'today,' the ever-present moment of decision.
εἶναίto bePres Act Inf · εἰμίinfinitive (content of the choice: 'to be your God')→ present infinitive (the abiding relationship chosen)εἰμί (pres. inf. εἶναι): 'to be'; the infinitive states the content of the choice — that YHWH be 'your God'; the covenant-relationship formula (cf. 'I will be your God and you my people').
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεὸν)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the covenant possessive — YHWH chosen to be 'your God.'
θεὸνGodAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἶναι: 'to be your God')→ object specificationθεός: 'God'; the predicate of εἶναι — the relationship into which Israel enters by its choice.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second infinitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πορεύεσθαιto walkPres Mid Inf · πορεύομαιinfinitive (content of the choice: 'to walk in his ways')→ present infinitive (continuing manner of life chosen)πορεύομαι: 'go / walk / conduct oneself'; renders הָלַךְ; 'to walk in his ways' is the Deuteronomic idiom for a whole way of life conformed to YHWH's will (cf. 8:6; 10:12) — election entails ethical conformity.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere: 'in his ways')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: 'in his ways').
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with ὁδοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδοῖςwaysDativedative with ἐν (the sphere of conduct)→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'way / road / path'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; 'his ways' are YHWH's prescribed paths of conduct; walking in them is the metaphor for covenant obedience as a manner of life.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὁδοῖς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὁδοῖς).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (third infinitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάσσεσθαιto keepPres Mid Inf · φυλάσσωinfinitive (content of the choice: 'to keep his statutes')→ present infinitive (continuing observance chosen)φυλάσσω (mid. 'keep / observe'): renders שָׁמַר; to keep his statutes and judgments — the third element of what choosing YHWH entails; careful, continual covenant observance.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δικαιώματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώματαstatutesAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσεσθαι→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'statute / ordinance'; the prescribed regulations of the covenant (cf. v. 16); to be kept as the content of covenant fidelity.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρίματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίματαjudgmentsAccusativedirect object (coordinate with δικαιώματα)→ object specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / ordinance'; the case-law of the covenant (cf. v. 16); paired with δικαιώματα for the law's full content.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with δικαιώματα and κρίματα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with δικαιώματα and κρίματα).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (fourth infinitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑπακούεινto obeyPres Act Inf · ὑπακούωinfinitive (content of the choice: 'to obey his voice')→ present infinitive (continuing obedience chosen)ὑπακούω: 'obey / hearken / submit to'; renders שָׁמַע (with בְּקוֹל); 'to obey his voice' is the climactic element — election issues in heeding YHWH's spoken will; cf. the same verb in the worshipper's avowal at v. 14.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ὑπακούειν (the thing obeyed)→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice'; ὑπακούω governs the genitive; 'his voice' is YHWH's spoken command — to obey it is to live out the covenant choice.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with φωνῆς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with φωνῆς).
18
καὶ κύριος εἵλατό σε σήμερον γενέσθαι σε αὐτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον καθάπερ εἶπέν σοι φυλάσσειν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ
And the LORD has chosen you today to become for him a treasured people, just as he told you, and to keep all his commandments,
The reciprocal counterpart to v. 17: as Israel chose YHWH, so 'the LORD has chosen (εἵλατό) you today' to be λαὸν περιούσιον ('a treasured/special people') — the great covenant-formula of Deuteronomy (7:6; 14:2; Exod 19:5). The rare adjective περιούσιος ('belonging especially, treasured, set apart as one's own possession') becomes a key term of NT ecclesiology (Titus 2:14, λαὸν περιούσιον; cf. 1 Pet 2:9). The mutual election is the theological summit of the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the reciprocal half)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of εἵλατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; YHWH as the subject of the reciprocal election — he chooses Israel as Israel chose him.
εἵλατόchoseAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · αἱρέομαιmain verb (YHWH's act of choosing Israel)→ constative aorist (the decisive divine election)αἱρέομαι (aor. εἵλατο): 'choose / select for oneself'; the divine counterpart to Israel's εἵλου (v. 17); renders אָמַר (Hiphil); YHWH 'chose' Israel today to be his treasured people — the divine side of the mutual covenant election; the same verb-pair frames the reciprocity of the covenant bond.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of εἵλατο (Israel chosen)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; Israel as the object of YHWH's choice.
σήμερονtodayadverb of time (the day of ratification)→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; the keyword of the ratification unit recurs — the divine election too is 'today,' the present covenant moment.
γενέσθαιto becomeAor Mid Inf · γίνομαιinfinitive (content/result of the choice: 'to become a people')→ aorist infinitive (the resulting status)γίνομαι (aor. inf. γενέσθαι): 'become / come to be'; states the purpose/result of the election — that Israel become YHWH's treasured people; the covenant choice constitutes Israel's very identity.
σεyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive γενέσθαι→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the accusative subject of γενέσθαι — 'that you become.'
αὐτῷfor him / to himDativedative of advantage (the people belongs to YHWH)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'to/for him'; the dative of possession/advantage — Israel becomes a people belonging peculiarly to YHWH, his own treasured possession.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativepredicate accusative (with γενέσθαι: 'to become a people')→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; λαὸν περιούσιον ('a treasured people') is the covenant-status into which YHWH's election constitutes Israel — his own special possession among the nations.
περιούσιονtreasured / special / for his own possessionAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λαὸν)→ object specificationπεριούσιος: 'special / select / belonging peculiarly to oneself, treasured possession'; a rare adjective (likely coined by the LXX from περιουσία, 'abundance / property') rendering סְגֻלָּה ('valued personal property / treasure'); λαὸς περιούσιος is the covenant-formula of Deut 7:6; 14:2; Exod 19:5; the NT reuses it of the church (Titus 2:14, λαὸν περιούσιον; cf. λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν, 1 Pet 2:9) — Israel, and then the church, as God's treasured possession.
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing the prior promise)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθάπερ: 'just as / exactly as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; appeals to YHWH's prior word — the election fulfils what he had already spoken.
εἶπένhe said / toldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of comparative clause (the prior divine promise)→ constative aorist (the prior word now fulfilled)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say / tell'; 'just as he told you' grounds the election in YHWH's earlier promise (cf. Exod 19:5–6) — the covenant-status is the keeping of a prior word.
σοιto youDativedative indirect object of εἶπεν→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative indirect object of εἶπεν.
φυλάσσεινto keepPres Act Inf · φυλάσσωinfinitive (purpose/obligation: 'to keep his commandments')→ present infinitive (continuing obligation entailed by election)φυλάσσω: 'keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the election to be a treasured people carries the obligation 'to keep all his commandments' — privilege and responsibility joined; election is unto obedience.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἐντολὰς)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the obligation is comprehensive — 'all his commandments.'
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολὰς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσειν→ object specificationἐντολή: 'commandment'; renders מִצְוָה; the commandments Israel is bound to keep as the treasured people — the covenant's stipulations.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἐντολὰς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἐντολὰς).
19
καὶ εἶναί σε ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν ὡς ἐποίησέν σε ὀνομαστὸν καὶ καύχημα καὶ δόξαστόν εἶναί σε λαὸν ἅγιον κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ σου καθὼς ἐλάλησεν
and to make you high above all the nations, as he has made you renowned and a boast and a glory, that you should be a people holy to the LORD your God, just as he spoke.
The chapter and the law-code close on the exaltation of the elected people: Israel is to be set 'high above all the nations' (ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν) in 'renown, boast, and glory' (ὀνομαστὸν καὶ καύχημα καὶ δόξαστόν), the purpose being that Israel be λαὸν ἅγιον ('a holy people') to YHWH. The triad of honor and the holiness-formula consummate the covenant theology of election: chosen, treasured, and set apart as holy. The closing καθὼς ἐλάλησεν ('just as he spoke') seals it as the fulfilment of the divine word.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the purpose of election)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶναίto be / to make you bePres Act Inf · εἰμίinfinitive (purpose/result: 'that you be high above')→ present infinitive (the resulting exalted status)εἰμί (pres. inf. εἶναι): 'to be'; continues the purpose-construction — the election is unto Israel's being set high above the nations; the divine intent is the people's exaltation.
σεyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive εἶναι→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the accusative subject of εἶναι — 'that you be.'
ὑπεράνωhigh aboveimproper preposition + genitive (superiority: 'above all nations')→ spatial or relational framingὑπεράνω: 'far above / high above'; the double compound (ὑπέρ + ἄνω) intensifies the elevation; renders עֶלְיוֹן ('high / supreme'); Israel is to be exalted above all nations — the covenant privilege of preeminence in honor (cf. Deut 28:1).
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ἐθνῶν)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all'; Israel's exaltation is over 'all the nations' — universal preeminence in praise and honor.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἐθνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive object of ὑπεράνω (the nations over which Israel is exalted)→ relational specificationἔθνος: 'nation / gentile'; renders גּוֹי; 'all the nations' over which the holy, treasured people is set high — the covenant election distinguishes Israel from the surrounding peoples.
ὡςascomparative/causal conjunction (introducing the honor-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / since'; introduces the threefold honor YHWH has bestowed — the ground or manner of Israel's exaltation.
ἐποίησένhe has madeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the ὡς-clause (YHWH's bestowal of honor)→ constative aorist (the completed act of exaltation)ποιέω: 'make / do'; YHWH 'made' Israel renowned — the divine action that constitutes the people's honored status; the triad that follows names the threefold glory bestowed.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; Israel made the object of YHWH's honoring.
ὀνομαστὸνrenowned / namedAccusativepredicate accusative (first of the honor-triad)→ object specificationὀνομαστός: 'named / renowned / famous'; from ὄνομα; renders שֵׁם ('name / renown'); Israel made 'renowned,' possessing a great name among the nations — the first member of the honor-triad (name, praise, glory).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καύχημαboast / praiseAccusativepredicate accusative (second of the honor-triad)→ object specificationκαύχημα: 'boast / object of pride / ground of glorying'; from καυχάομαι ('boast'); renders תְּהִלָּה ('praise'); Israel made an object of praise/boasting — the second member of the honor-triad; the cognate καύχημα is prominent in Paul's theology of glorying (e.g., 1 Cor 5:6; Phil 2:16).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δόξαστόνglorious / a gloryAccusativepredicate accusative (third of the honor-triad)→ object specificationδοξαστός: 'glorious / held in honor / an object of glory'; from δοξάζω; renders תִּפְאֶרֶת ('glory / beauty / adornment'); Israel made 'glorious' — the third and climactic member of the honor-triad (renown, praise, glory) crowning the people's exaltation among the nations.
εἶναίto bePres Act Inf · εἰμίinfinitive (purpose: 'that you be a holy people')→ present infinitive (the resulting holy status)εἰμί (pres. inf. εἶναι): 'to be'; the second purpose-infinitive — the goal of the honor is that Israel be 'a holy people to the LORD'; exaltation serves holiness, not mere prestige.
σεyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive εἶναι→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the accusative subject of εἶναι — 'that you be.'
λαὸνpeopleAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἶναι: 'a holy people')→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; λαὸν ἅγιον ('a holy people') is the consummating covenant-status — Israel set apart for YHWH; cf. λαὸς ἅγιος of Deut 7:6; 14:2, 21, the holiness that flows from election.
ἅγιονholyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λαὸν)→ object specificationἅγιος: 'holy / set apart / consecrated'; renders קָדוֹשׁ; the holiness of the people is its being set apart as YHWH's own — the theological essence of election; the NT applies the same holiness-and-treasure language to the church (1 Pet 2:9, ἔθνος ἅγιον, λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν).
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of advantage/possession (the people holy 'to the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; Israel is holy 'to the LORD' — set apart as belonging to YHWH alone.
τῷtheDativearticle (with θεῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳ→ sphere or referenceθεῷ: meaning 'God'; it serves as dative in apposition to κυρίῳ.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεῷ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεῷ).
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction (sealing with the divine word)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθώς: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; the closing formula grounds the whole covenant-status in YHWH's prior speech — all is the fulfilment of what he said.
ἐλάλησενhe spokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of comparative clause (the divine word now fulfilled)→ constative aorist (the completed divine speech)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; the chapter and the law-code close with 'just as he spoke' — the covenant exaltation of the holy people is the realisation of YHWH's own word, sealing the ratification with the certainty of the divine promise.