1
ἐὰν δὲ εἰσαγάγῃ σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου εἰς τὴν γῆν εἰς ἣν εἰσπορεύῃ ἐκεῖ κληρονομῆσαι καὶ ἐξαρεῖ ἔθνη μεγάλα ἀπὸ προσώπου σου τὸν Χετταῖον καὶ Γεργεσαῖον καὶ Αμορραῖον καὶ Χαναναῖον καὶ Φερεζαῖον καὶ Ευαῖον καὶ Ιεβουσαῖον ἑπτὰ ἔθνη πολλὰ καὶ ἰσχυρότερα ὑμῶν
And when the LORD your God brings you into the land into which you are entering there to inherit, and casts out great nations from before you — the Hittite and Girgashite and Amorite and Canaanite and Perizzite and Hivite and Jebusite, seven nations many and stronger than you —
The chapter opens with a temporal-conditional protasis (ἐάν + aorist subjunctive) that frames the entire ḥērem instruction: 'whenever the LORD brings you in and casts out the nations …' The seven-nations catalogue, a fixed Deuteronomic formula, is rendered with declinable Greek gentilics; the closing ἑπτὰ ἔθνη πολλὰ καὶ ἰσχυρότερα ὑμῶν underlines that the conquest will be the LORD's act, not Israel's strength.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
ἐὰνif / whenconditional-temporal conjunction (introducing protasis + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if / whenever'; with the aorist subjunctive εἰσαγάγῃ it frames a future-more-vivid condition; here functionally temporal ('whenever'), rendering Hebrew כִּי, marking the conquest as the assured occasion for the commands that follow.
δὲnownarrative-transitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive transitional particle; marks the turn from the close of ch. 6 to the new ḥērem instruction; rendered 'now / and'.
εἰσαγάγῃbrings inAor Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰσάγωverb of conditional protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the act of bringing-in viewed as a single accomplished entry)εἰσάγω: 'bring in / lead into'; the compound εἰσ- stresses entry into the land; renders Hebrew בּוֹא (Hiphil הֵבִיא, 'cause to come in'); the LORD, not Israel, is the grammatical subject — the conquest is divine gift.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (2nd person singular)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (2nd person singular).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; nominative subject of εἰσαγάγῃ and ἐξαρεῖ, making the LORD the sole agent of the conquest.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with appositional 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 recurrent Deuteronomic appositional formula κύριος ὁ θεός σου ('the LORD your God') binds covenant intimacy (σου) to divine sovereignty.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive with θεός).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction of entry)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of entry).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal of entry)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; here the promised land of Canaan, the goal of the divine bringing-in and the inheritance to be possessed.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (with relative ἥν)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (with relative ἥν).
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἰς, antecedent γῆν)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; εἰς ἥν ('into which') resumes γῆν; the doubled εἰς (εἰς τὴν γῆν εἰς ἣν εἰσπορεύῃ) is a Hebraizing resumptive construction calquing אֲשֶׁר … שָׁמָּה.
εἰσπορεύῃyou are enteringPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰσπορεύομαιverb of relative clause (describing Israel's imminent entry)→ futuristic / progressive present (entry presented as already underway)εἰσπορεύομαι: 'enter / go into'; renders בּוֹא; the present tense pictures Israel as already on the threshold of the land, lending the homily immediacy.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive, with εἰσπορεύῃ)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; pleonastic resumptive adverb rendering the Hebrew שָׁמָּה after the relative — a characteristic Septuagintal Hebraism ('the land into which you are entering there').
κληρονομῆσαιto inheritAor Act Inf · κληρονομέωinfinitive of purpose (with εἰσπορεύῃ)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the entry: to take possession)κληρονομέω: 'inherit / take possession of'; renders יָרַשׁ; the inheritance-language frames the land as covenant gift and patrimony, not mere conquest-spoil; a key Deuteronomic theme.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining εἰσαγάγῃ and ἐξαρεῖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαρεῖwill remove / cast outFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαίρωmain verb (the LORD's casting out of the nations)→ predictive future (certain divine act of dispossession)ἐξαίρω: 'lift out / remove / cast away'; the compound ἐξ- marks expulsion from the land; renders נָשַׁל / נָשָׁה ('clear away'); the LORD himself dislodges the nations before Israel.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativedirect object of ἐξαρεῖ→ object specificationἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nation / people / gentile'; renders גּוֹי / גּוֹיִם; the seven Canaanite peoples, named below, are the object of dispossession.
μεγάλαgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ object specificationμέγας: 'great / large'; renders גָּדוֹל; the nations' greatness magnifies the LORD's power in casting them out and reinforces the election-paradox of vv. 7 (Israel is the fewest).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from before')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from before').
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiomatic: 'from before')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; the phrase ἀπὸ προσώπου σου renders the Hebrew מִפָּנֶיךָ ('from before you'), a stock Septuagintal locution for expulsion before an advancing power.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with προσώπου)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with προσώπου).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Χετταῖον, governing the nations-list)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧετταῖονHittiteAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἔθνη (first of the seven nations)→ object specificationΧετταῖος: 'Hittite'; declinable Greek gentilic in -αῖος rendering חִתִּי; the first member of the standard seven-nations list of the Deuteronomic conquest tradition (cf. Deut 20:17; Josh 3:10).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the nations-list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΓεργεσαῖονGirgashiteAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἔθνη (second nation)→ object specificationΓεργεσαῖος: 'Girgashite'; declinable gentilic rendering גִּרְגָּשִׁי; this lesser-known people appears in the conquest lists but rarely elsewhere.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑμορραῖονAmoriteAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἔθνη (third nation)→ object specificationΑμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; declinable gentilic rendering אֱמֹרִי; one of the most prominent Canaanite peoples, sometimes a comprehensive term for the pre-Israelite population (cf. Gen 15:16).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΧαναναῖονCanaaniteAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἔθνη (fourth nation)→ object specificationΧαναναῖος: 'Canaanite'; declinable gentilic rendering כְּנַעֲנִי; the eponymous people of the land of Canaan (Χανααν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΦερεζαῖονPerizziteAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἔθνη (fifth nation)→ object specificationΦερεζαῖος: 'Perizzite'; declinable gentilic rendering פְּרִזִּי; often paired with the Canaanite in the conquest tradition (cf. Gen 13:7).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΕυαῖονHiviteAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἔθνη (sixth nation)→ object specificationΕυαῖος: 'Hivite'; declinable gentilic rendering חִוִּי; the people of Gibeon and Shechem in the conquest narratives (cf. Josh 9:7).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙεβουσαῖονJebusiteAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἔθνη (seventh nation)→ object specificationΙεβουσαῖος: 'Jebusite'; declinable gentilic rendering יְבוּסִי; the people of Jebus/Jerusalem, not finally dispossessed until David (2 Sam 5:6–9); completes the seven-nations roster.
ἑπτὰsevenAccusativenumeral in apposition (summing the nations-list)→ measure or countἑπτά: 'seven'; indeclinable numeral rendering שִׁבְעָה; the number seven gives the list a totalizing, complete force — the full complement of Canaanite peoples to be dispossessed.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativeaccusative in apposition (resumptive summary of the list)→ object specificationἔθνη: meaning 'nations'; it serves as accusative in apposition (resumptive summary of the list).
πολλὰmanyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ object specificationπολύς: 'many / numerous'; renders רַב; the nations' numerousness contrasts pointedly with Israel's fewness (ὀλιγοστοί, v. 7), heightening the election-paradox.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰσχυρότεραstrongerAccusativecomparative adjective (predicative, with genitive of comparison)→ object specificationἰσχυρός (comparative ἰσχυρότερος): 'strong / mighty'; renders עָצוּם; the comparative ἰσχυρότερα ὑμῶν ('stronger than you') makes plain that the victory cannot be Israel's own — it must be the LORD's gift.
ὑμῶνthan youGenitivegenitive of comparison (with ἰσχυρότερα)→ relational specificationThe shift from singular σε / σου (the LORD's bringing-in of 'you') to plural ὑμῶν ('than you [all]') is a characteristic Deuteronomic number-fluctuation (Numeruswechsel) between the people as a single covenant entity and as a collective of individuals.
2
καὶ παραδώσει αὐτοὺς κύριος ὁ θεός σου εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου καὶ πατάξεις αὐτούς ἀφανισμῷ ἀφανιεῖς αὐτούς οὐ διαθήσῃ πρὸς αὐτοὺς διαθήκην οὐδὲ μὴ ἐλεήσητε αὐτούς
and the LORD your God will deliver them into your hands, and you shall strike them; you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them, neither shall you have mercy on them.
The apodosis turns the conquest-promise into command: the LORD delivers (παραδώσει), Israel strikes (πατάξεις) and utterly destroys (cognate-dative ἀφανισμῷ ἀφανιεῖς). Two prohibitions follow — no covenant (οὐ διαθήσῃ … διαθήκην) and no mercy (οὐδὲ μὴ ἐλεήσητε) — the negative counterpart of the ḥērem, guarding against the syncretism the rest of the chapter combats.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis-marker after the protasis of v. 1)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παραδώσειwill deliverFut Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (divine handing-over of the nations)→ predictive future (certain divine act)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; renders נָתַן; the war-idiom 'deliver into your hands' (cf. v. 23) presents victory as a transfer effected by the LORD, with Israel merely executing what he grants.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the seven nations)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the seven nations).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; subject of παραδώσει, again marking the LORD as the agent of conquest.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'into your hands')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (idiom: 'into your hands').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖράςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom of military surrender)→ object specificationχείρ (pl. χεῖρες): 'hand'; the idiom παραδίδωμι εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ('deliver into the hands of') renders נָתַן בְּיַד, denoting the transfer of an enemy into one's power.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χεῖράς)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with χεῖράς).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πατάξειςyou shall strikeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (imperatival future: command to strike)→ imperatival future (command expressed by the future indicative)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / defeat'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); the future has imperatival force (a Hebraism for the command-form); Israel's striking is the executive arm of the LORD's deliverance.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἀφανισμῷwith destructionDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying ἀφανιεῖς)→ sphere or referenceἀφανισμός: 'annihilation / obliteration / making-to-disappear'; the cognate dative ἀφανισμῷ ἀφανιεῖς renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute הַחֲרֵם תַּחֲרִים ('you shall utterly devote to destruction'), the ḥērem-command; the dativus cognatus expresses the absolute certainty and totality of the destruction.
ἀφανιεῖςyou shall destroyFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀφανίζωmain verb (cognate-accusative/dative construction: Hebraism)→ imperatival future (emphatic command to total destruction)ἀφανίζω: 'make disappear / annihilate / destroy utterly'; renders חָרַם (Hiphil), the technical verb of ḥērem (devotion to destruction); with the cognate dative ἀφανισμῷ it forms the LXX's standard rendering of the emphatic infinitive absolute — 'you shall surely and completely destroy them.'
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
οὐnotnegative particle (with the prohibitive future διαθήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: emphatic negation with the future indicative, forming a categorical prohibition ('you shall not …'), characteristic of apodictic law.
διαθήσῃyou shall makeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · διατίθημιmain verb (prohibitive future: 'make no covenant')→ prohibitive future (categorical legal prohibition)διατίθημι (mid. διατίθεμαι): 'arrange / dispose / make (a covenant)'; the idiom διατίθεμαι διαθήκην renders כָּרַת בְּרִית ('cut a covenant'); the prohibition forbids any treaty-relationship with the Canaanites, which would entail recognizing their gods.
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative (party to the covenant)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (party to the covenant).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of διαθήσῃ (cognate object)→ object specificationδιαθήκη: 'covenant / disposition'; renders בְּרִית; the same word that names Israel's bond with the LORD (vv. 9, 12) is here forbidden toward the nations — covenant loyalty is exclusive.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'and not / nor'; joins the second prohibition to the first, with the emphatic subjunctive οὐδὲ μή.
μὴnotnegative particle (with aorist subjunctive: emphatic prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with the aorist subjunctive ἐλεήσητε forms οὐ μή, the strongest Greek negation ('by no means show mercy').
ἐλεήσητεyou shall show mercyAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἐλεέωmain verb (emphatic prohibition with οὐ μή)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (absolute prohibition of pity)ἐλεέω: 'show mercy / have pity'; renders חָנַן ('be gracious'); the prohibition of pity is the negative side of ḥērem — the same word for the divine mercy Israel receives (cf. ἔλεος, v. 9) is forbidden toward the devoted nations, lest pity become the doorway to apostasy. Note the shift to the plural ἐλεήσητε.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
3
οὐδὲ μὴ γαμβρεύσητε πρὸς αὐτούς τὴν θυγατέρα σου οὐ δώσεις τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ οὐ λήμψῃ τῷ υἱῷ σου
Neither shall you make marriages with them: your daughter you shall not give to his son, and his daughter you shall not take for your son.
The intermarriage ban is spelled out chiastically: do not give your daughter to his son, do not take his daughter for your son. The two-directional formula closes every avenue of marital alliance with the Canaanites — the most intimate covenant-bond, and thus the gravest threat of religious assimilation, named explicitly in v. 4.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: continues the chain of prohibitions from v. 2 with the emphatic οὐδὲ μή + subjunctive.
μὴnotnegative particle (with aorist subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γαμβρεύσητεyou shall make marriageAor Act Subj 2 Pl · γαμβρεύωmain verb (emphatic prohibition with οὐ μή)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (absolute ban on intermarriage)γαμβρεύω: 'make a marriage-alliance / become related by marriage'; a denominative of γαμβρός ('son-in-law / kinsman by marriage'), rendering חָתַן (Hithpael הִתְחַתֵּן, 'intermarry'); the intermarriage-ban targets the chief vector of religious apostasy in the land.
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative (party of the marriage-alliance)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (party of the marriage-alliance).
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυγατέρα, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραdaughterAccusativedirect object of δώσεις (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the fronting of τὴν θυγατέρα σου before its verb emphasizes the object of the prohibition — your own daughter is not to be given away into a pagan household.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θυγατέρα)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θυγατέρα).
οὐnotnegative particle (with prohibitive future δώσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειςyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (prohibitive future)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the giving of a daughter in marriage (δώσεις τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ) is one half of the bilateral intermarriage prohibition.
τῷto theDativearticle (with υἱῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῷsonDativeindirect object (recipient of the daughter in marriage)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; here the Canaanite's son, the would-be husband of an Israelite daughter.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱῷ: 'his son')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with υἱῷ: 'his son').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the two halves of the ban)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυγατέρα, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραdaughterAccusativedirect object of λήμψῃ (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: here the Canaanite's daughter, whom an Israelite son is forbidden to take in marriage — the second half of the chiastic intermarriage ban.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θυγατέρα: 'his daughter')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θυγατέρα: 'his daughter').
οὐnotnegative particle (with prohibitive future λήμψῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψῃyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (prohibitive future)→ prohibitive future (categorical command)λαμβάνω (fut. mid. λήμψομαι): 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; 'taking' a daughter in marriage (λαμβάνω γυναῖκα) is the standard biblical marriage-idiom; here forbidden toward the Canaanite daughter.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with υἱῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῷsonDativedative of advantage ('for your son')→ sphere or referenceυἱός: here the Israelite son, for whom the Canaanite daughter is forbidden as wife.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱῷ: 'your son')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with υἱῷ: 'your son').
4
ἀποστήσει γὰρ τὸν υἱόν σου ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ λατρεύσει θεοῖς ἑτέροις καὶ ὀργισθήσεται θυμῷ κύριος εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐξολεθρεύσει σε τὸ τάχος
for he will turn away your son from me, and he will serve other gods; and the LORD will be angered with wrath against you and will destroy you quickly.
γάρ supplies the theological reason for the ban: the Canaanite partner 'will turn away your son from me' (note the abrupt first-person ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ — the LORD speaks directly), leading to the service of other gods, the kindling of divine wrath (ὀργισθήσεται θυμῷ), and swift destruction. Apostasy, not ethnicity, is the danger; intermarriage is forbidden because it is the seedbed of idolatry.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἀποστήσειhe will turn awayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφίστημιmain verb (transitive causal: 'cause to turn away')→ predictive future (the inevitable consequence of intermarriage)ἀφίστημι: transitively 'remove / cause to revolt / turn away'; renders סוּר (Hiphil הֵסִיר, 'cause to turn aside'); the (unexpressed) subject is the Canaanite spouse/father-in-law — the foreign partner draws the Israelite son away from the LORD into apostasy.
γὰρforcausal particle (post-positive, grounding v. 3)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the reason for the intermarriage prohibition — the apostasy it would cause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with υἱόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόνsonAccusativedirect object of ἀποστήσει→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the Israelite son, who is the one turned away from the LORD; the LXX has the singular 'your son,' focusing on the next generation's covenant fidelity.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱόν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with υἱόν).
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation, elided before vowel).
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the LORD, in first person)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): the abrupt first-person 'from me' has the LORD himself as the one departed from; the sudden divine first person within Moses' homily (cf. the Hebrew מֵאַחֲרַי, 'from after me') heightens the personal injury of apostasy — it is desertion of the LORD himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λατρεύσειhe will serveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · λατρεύωmain verb (cultic service of false gods)→ predictive future (the apostasy that follows the turning-away)λατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders עָבַד; the technical verb for religious service/worship; here the son's service of 'other gods' is the apostasy the whole chapter combats (cf. v. 16).
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of λατρεύσει (recipients of cultic service)→ sphere or referenceθεός (pl. dat. θεοῖς): here the pagan 'other gods'; λατρεύω takes the dative of the deity served; the contrast with κύριος ὁ θεός σου is stark — service belongs to the LORD alone.
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying θεοῖς)→ sphere or referenceἕτερος: 'other / different'; renders אֲחֵר; the phrase θεοὶ ἕτεροι ('other gods') is the standard Deuteronomic designation for the forbidden deities (cf. Deut 5:7; 6:14).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀργισθήσεταιwill be angeredFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀργίζωmain verb (divine wrath as response to apostasy)→ predictive future (consequence: the kindling of divine wrath)ὀργίζω (pass. ὀργίζομαι): 'be angry / become wrathful'; renders חָרָה אַף ('the nose/anger burns'); the passive with the cognate dative θυμῷ ('with wrath') intensifies the divine anger against covenant infidelity.
θυμῷwith wrathDativedative of manner / cognate dative (intensifying ὀργισθήσεται)→ sphere or referenceθυμός: 'wrath / hot anger / passion'; the dative θυμῷ intensifies the verb ('be angered with anger'), a Hebraizing reinforcement rendering the burning-anger idiom; divine θυμός is the covenant-sanction against apostasy.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of ὀργισθήσεται and ἐξολεθρεύσει)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the same LORD who elects (v. 6) and loves (v. 8) is also the one whose wrath destroys the unfaithful — election does not cancel covenant-sanction.
εἰςagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: here in hostile sense, 'against'; the wrath is directed εἰς ὑμᾶς ('against you [pl.]').
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (target of wrath, 2nd person plural)→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of εἰς (target of wrath, 2nd person plural).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξολεθρεύσειwill destroyFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (final consequence: destruction of apostate Israel)→ predictive future (covenant-sanction: swift destruction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; the intensive compound (ἐξ- + ὀλεθρεύω) renders שָׁמַד (Hiphil) / כָּרַת; the chilling reversal — the very ḥērem destined for the nations (cf. ἐξολεθρεῦσαι, vv. 10, 23–24) would fall on an apostate Israel.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (2nd person singular)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (2nd person singular).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with adverbial τάχος)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τάχοςquicklyAccusativeadverbial accusative (τὸ τάχος: 'quickly / speedily')→ object specificationτάχος: 'speed / swiftness'; the accusative τὸ τάχος functions adverbially ('quickly / soon'), rendering מַהֵר; the swiftness underscores the severity of the sanction — apostasy brings not delayed but immediate judgment.
5
ἀλλ᾿ οὕτως ποιήσετε αὐτοῖς τοὺς βωμοὺς αὐτῶν καθελεῖτε καὶ τὰς στήλας αὐτῶν συντρίψετε καὶ τὰ ἄλση αὐτῶν ἐκκόψετε καὶ τὰ γλυπτὰ τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν κατακαύσετε πυρί
But thus shall you do to them: their altars you shall tear down, and their pillars you shall shatter, and their groves you shall cut down, and the graven images of their gods you shall burn with fire.
ἀλλά turns from prohibition to positive command: not covenant or marriage but demolition. Four objects (altars, pillars, groves, graven images) are matched with four verbs of destruction (καθελεῖτε, συντρίψετε, ἐκκόψετε, κατακαύσετε), each with the object fronted for emphasis. The fourfold assault on the Canaanite cult is the practical correlate of the ḥērem and is repeated at v. 25.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ἀλλ᾿butadversative conjunction (elided before vowel)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but / rather'; the strong adversative pivots from the prohibited relations (covenant, marriage, mercy) to the required positive action — the demolition of the Canaanite cult.
οὕτωςthusadverb of manner (cataphoric: 'thus, as follows')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; cataphoric, pointing forward to the four demolition-commands; renders כֹּה / כָּכָה.
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future: general heading for the commands)→ imperatival future (programmatic command)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the future has imperatival force and serves as the heading verb under which the four specific demolition-commands are itemized.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of disadvantage ('to/against them')→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage ('to/against them').
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with βωμούς, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βωμοὺςaltarsAccusativedirect object of καθελεῖτε (fronted)→ object specificationβωμός: 'altar / raised platform'; renders מִזְבֵּחַ; in the LXX βωμός frequently denotes a pagan altar (distinct from θυσιαστήριον, the legitimate altar of the LORD), making it the apt term for the Canaanite cult-sites to be torn down.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with βωμούς)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with βωμούς).
καθελεῖτεyou shall tear downFut Act Indic 2 Pl · καθαιρέωmain verb (first demolition-command)→ imperatival future (command to demolish)καθαιρέω: 'take down / demolish / destroy'; renders נָתַץ ('pull down'); the standard verb for dismantling altars and cult-structures.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with στήλας, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στήλαςpillarsAccusativedirect object of συντρίψετε (fronted)→ object specificationστήλη: 'pillar / standing-stone / stele'; renders מַצֵּבָה, the sacred standing-stone of Canaanite worship; its shattering (συντρίψετε) destroys a focus of pagan cult.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with στήλας)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with στήλας).
συντρίψετεyou shall shatterFut Act Indic 2 Pl · συντρίβωmain verb (second demolition-command)→ imperatival future (command to break in pieces)συντρίβω: 'break in pieces / shatter / crush'; renders שָׁבַר; the violent breaking of stone pillars matches the totality of the ḥērem.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἄλση, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄλσηgroves / sacred polesAccusativedirect object of ἐκκόψετε (fronted)→ object specificationἄλσος (pl. ἄλση): 'grove / sacred wood'; the LXX's standard rendering of אֲשֵׁרָה (Asherah), the wooden cult-object/sacred pole of the goddess Asherah; the Greek 'grove' interprets the Hebrew object as a planted sacred wood (cf. Deut 16:21).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄλση)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἄλση).
ἐκκόψετεyou shall cut downFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐκκόπτωmain verb (third demolition-command)→ imperatival future (command to cut down)ἐκκόπτω: 'cut down / hew out / fell'; renders גָּדַע / כָּרַת; the verb fits the felling of the wooden Asherah-poles or sacred groves.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with γλυπτά, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γλυπτὰgraven imagesAccusativedirect object of κατακαύσετε (fronted)→ object specificationγλυπτός: 'carved / graven (thing)'; the neuter plural substantive τὰ γλυπτά renders פְּסִילִים ('carved idols'); the burning of the idols recurs verbatim at v. 25, framing the chapter's polemic against images.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with θεῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῶνgodsGenitivegenitive of possession ('images of their gods')→ relational specificationθεός (pl. gen. θεῶν): here the pagan gods whose images are to be burned; the genitive marks the idols as the cult-objects of these false deities.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεῶν)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεῶν).
κατακαύσετεyou shall burn upFut Act Indic 2 Pl · κατακαίωmain verb (fourth demolition-command)→ imperatival future (command to burn completely)κατακαίω: 'burn up / consume with fire'; the perfective compound κατα- marks complete incineration; renders שָׂרַף בָּאֵשׁ; fire is the ultimate ḥērem-treatment, leaving nothing to be coveted (cf. v. 25).
πυρίwith fireDativedative of instrument (means of burning)→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; the instrumental dative πυρί ('with fire') renders בָּאֵשׁ; fire as the agent of total destruction recurs in the parallel command of v. 25.
6
ὅτι λαὸς ἅγιος εἶ κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ σου καὶ σὲ προείλατο κύριος ὁ θεός σου εἶναί σε αὐτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ὅσα ἐπὶ προσώπου τῆς γῆς
For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; and the LORD your God chose you to be for himself a treasured people above all the nations that are upon the face of the earth.
The theological centre of the chapter: ὅτι grounds the entire separation-command in Israel's identity — a holy people (λαὸς ἅγιος) whom the LORD chose (προείλατο) to be his treasured possession (λαὸν περιούσιον) above all peoples. The coined adjective περιούσιος (rendering סְגֻלָּה, 'treasured possession') is the crux term, taken up at Titus 2:14 and underlying 1 Pet 2:9; election here is the basis for, not the reward of, holiness.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the commands of vv. 1–5)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; renders כִּי; introduces the election-rationale that grounds the whole ḥērem — Israel must be separate because Israel is holy and chosen.
λαὸςpeopleNominativepredicate nominative (with εἶ: 'you are a people')→ participant prominenceλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; the covenant term for Israel as the LORD's own people; λαὸς ἅγιος ('a holy people') defines Israel's vocation of separateness.
ἅγιοςholyNominativeattributive/predicate adjective (with λαός)→ participant prominenceἅγιος: 'holy / set apart'; renders קָדוֹשׁ; holiness here is primarily relational and electional — Israel belongs to the LORD and is therefore separated from the nations and their cult; the basis of the call taken up at 1 Pet 2:9 (ἔθνος ἅγιον).
εἶyou arePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (linking λαός ἅγιος to the subject 'you')→ stative present (settled covenant identity)εἰμί: 'be'; the present copula states Israel's settled identity — not a goal to be achieved but a status already conferred by election.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of relationship/possession ('holy to the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative marks belonging — Israel is holy 'to / for' the LORD, his exclusive possession.
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 relationship (with θεῷ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεῷ).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σὲyouAccusativedirect object of προείλατο (fronted, emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. σέ): the emphatic fronting of σέ ('you') before the verb of election stresses that it is precisely Israel — and no other nation — whom the LORD chose.
προείλατοchose / preferredAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προαιρέωmain verb (the act of divine election)→ constative aorist (the single, decisive act of election)προαιρέω (mid. προαιρέομαι): 'choose deliberately / prefer / select before others'; renders בָּחַר ('choose'); the compound προ- ('before / in preference to') captures the electional sense — the LORD chose Israel in preference to all other peoples; the verb recurs in v. 7 alongside ἐξελέξατο.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of προείλατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD is the sole agent of election — Israel's status is entirely his initiative.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
εἶναίto bePres Act Inf · εἰμίinfinitive of purpose/result (purpose of the election)→ telic present infinitive (the purpose of election: to belong to him)εἰμί (inf. εἶναι): the infinitive expresses the purpose of election — that Israel might be (εἶναι) the LORD's treasured people; election is for relationship and belonging.
σεyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive εἶναι→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative subject of the infinitive εἶναι.
αὐτῷfor himselfDativedative of advantage ('for himself', with εἶναι)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): the dative of advantage marks the LORD as the beneficiary — Israel is to be a treasured people 'for himself,' his own special possession.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἶναι σε: 'that you be a people')→ object specificationλαός (acc. λαόν): the predicate of the infinitive; λαὸν περιούσιον ('a treasured people') is the goal-status of election.
περιούσιονtreasured / specially-possessedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λαόν)→ object specificationπεριούσιος: 'specially one's own / treasured (as a possession beyond the ordinary)'; a LXX coinage (from περιουσία, 'abundance / property') rendering סְגֻלָּה ('treasured private possession'); the crux term — λαὸς περιούσιος ('a people for his own possession') is quoted at Titus 2:14 and parallels 1 Pet 2:9 (λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν); it grounds the election-by-love theology of Rom 9–11.
παρὰabove / beyondpreposition + accusative (comparison: 'above all')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + accusative: 'beyond / above / more than'; the comparative use marks Israel's election as a preference above all other nations.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totalizing 'above all the nations' sets Israel's chosenness against the whole gentile world.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (object of comparison)→ object specificationἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nations / gentiles'; renders גּוֹיִם; the peoples over whom Israel is chosen as the LORD's treasured possession.
ὅσαas many asAccusativerelative pronoun/adjective (modifying ἔθνη: 'all that are')→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as many as / however many'; the relative ὅσα generalizes — every nation that exists on the earth, without exception, is comprehended in the comparison.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (location: 'upon the face')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location: 'upon the face').
προσώπουfaceGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (idiom: 'face of the earth')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / surface'; ἐπὶ προσώπου τῆς γῆς ('upon the face of the earth') renders עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, a Hebraism for the whole inhabited world.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive of relationship (with προσώπου)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / ground'; here the whole earth's surface, over which Israel's election is set.
7
οὐχ ὅτι πολυπληθεῖτε παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη προείλατο κύριος ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐξελέξατο ὑμᾶς ὑμεῖς γάρ ἐστε ὀλιγοστοὶ παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη
Not because you are more numerous than all the nations did the LORD prefer you and choose you out — for you are the fewest of all the nations —
The election is now defined by negation: not (οὐχ ὅτι) numerical greatness was the ground of choice, for Israel is in fact the fewest of peoples (ὀλιγοστοί). The paradox — chosen above all, yet least of all — drives home that election is sheer grace, the very logic Paul deploys in Rom 9–11. The pairing of προείλατο with ἐξελέξατο doubly underscores the act of divine election.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
οὐχnotnegative particle (negating the ὅτι-clause as the ground of election)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐχ before rough breathing): negates the false rationale — it was not Israel's numbers that prompted the LORD's choice.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (the rejected ground of election)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the rejected reason for election; the structure οὐχ ὅτι … ἀλλά (v. 8) contrasts the false ground (numbers) with the true ground (love).
πολυπληθεῖτεyou are more numerousPres Act Indic 2 Pl · πολυπληθέωverb of the rejected causal clause→ stative present (a supposed condition denied)πολυπληθέω: 'be very numerous / abound in multitude'; a rare compound (πολύς + πλῆθος) rendering רֹב ('multitude / greatness in number'); the denial that Israel's numbers prompted election dismantles any notion of merit.
παρὰthanpreposition + accusative (comparison)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + accusative: 'more than / beyond'; comparative use, here in the denied claim that Israel exceeds the nations in number.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ object specificationπάντα: meaning 'all'; it serves as attributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (object of comparison)→ object specificationἔθνη: meaning 'nations'; it serves as accusative object of παρά (object of comparison).
προείλατοchose / preferredAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · προαιρέωmain verb (the act of election, repeated from v. 6)→ constative aorist (the decisive act of election)προαιρέομαι: 'choose / prefer'; repeated from v. 6, here paired with ἐξελέξατο; renders בָּחַר; the repetition emphasizes that the act was wholly the LORD's free choice.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of προείλατο / ἐξελέξατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the sole electing agent.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of προείλατο (2nd person plural)→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of προείλατο (2nd person plural).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξελέξατοchose outAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐκλέγομαιmain verb (second election-verb, parallel to προείλατο)→ constative aorist (the decisive act of selection)ἐκλέγομαι: 'choose out / select for oneself'; the standard LXX election-verb rendering בָּחַר; the compound ἐκ- ('out of') stresses selection from among the nations; the noun-group ἐκλογή / ἐκλεκτός built on this root becomes central to NT election-theology (Rom 9:11; 11:5, 28).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξελέξατο→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξελέξατο.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, with ἐστε)→ participant referenceσύ (pl. nom. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic pronoun heightens the paradox — 'you, of all peoples, are the fewest'; the very ones chosen are the least, magnifying the gratuity of election.
γάρforcausal particle (post-positive, explaining the denial)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; supplies the proof of the denial in v. 7a — far from being numerous, Israel is the smallest of nations.
ἐστεarePres Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίcopula (with predicate ὀλιγοστοί)→ stative present (settled fact of Israel's smallness)εἰμί: 'be'; the present copula states the present reality of Israel's fewness against which election shines as grace.
ὀλιγοστοὶfewest / leastNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστε)→ participant prominenceὀλιγοστός: 'least in number / smallest'; a superlative-flavored form of ὀλίγος, rendering מְעַט ('few'); the climactic word of the election-paradox — the chosen people is the least, so that election can be ascribed to nothing but the LORD's love.
παρὰof / amongpreposition + accusative (comparison: 'fewest compared with')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + accusative: comparative, 'fewer than / least among all the nations.'
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ object specificationπάντα: meaning 'all'; it serves as attributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (object of comparison)→ object specificationἔθνη: meaning 'nations'; it serves as accusative object of παρά (object of comparison).
8
ἀλλὰ παρὰ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν κύριον ὑμᾶς καὶ διατηρῶν τὸν ὅρκον ὃν ὤμοσεν τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν ἐξήγαγεν κύριος ὑμᾶς ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ καὶ ἐν βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ καὶ ἐλυτρώσατο ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραω βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου
but because the LORD loves you and keeps the oath which he swore to your fathers, the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand and with an uplifted arm, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
ἀλλά completes the οὐχ … ἀλλά structure: the true ground of election is the LORD's love (παρὰ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν κύριον ὑμᾶς) and his fidelity to the oath sworn to the fathers. This love issued in the Exodus — the mighty hand and uplifted arm, the redemption (ἐλυτρώσατο) from the house of bondage. Election-by-love grounds the redemption-history and anticipates the divine love-election of Rom 9–11; the articular infinitive τὸ ἀγαπᾶν makes love the explicit cause.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction (completing οὐχ … ἀλλά)→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: 'but / rather'; the strong adversative supplies the true ground of election against the denied ground (numbers) of v. 7 — it was love, not merit.
παρὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (causal: 'because of')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + accusative: here causal, 'because of / on account of'; with the articular infinitive τὸ ἀγαπᾶν it names the cause of election — the LORD's love.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the infinitive ἀγαπᾶν)→ noun-phrase markingThe neuter article τό with the infinitive ἀγαπᾶν forms an articular infinitive ('the loving'), governed by παρά to express cause.
ἀγαπᾶνto love / lovingPres Act Inf · ἀγαπάωarticular infinitive (object of causal παρά: 'because the LORD loves')→ durative present infinitive (the LORD's continuous, abiding love)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; renders אָהַב; the articular infinitive παρὰ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν κύριον ὑμᾶς ('because the LORD loves you') makes divine love the explicit and sole ground of election — the heart of the election-by-love theology echoed in Rom 9–11; κύριον is the accusative subject of the infinitive, ὑμᾶς its object.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἀγαπᾶν→ object specificationκύριος (acc. κύριον): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; subject of the articular infinitive — it is the LORD who loves.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of the infinitive ἀγαπᾶν→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of the infinitive ἀγαπᾶν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second ground: oath-keeping)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διατηρῶνkeepingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · διατηρέωcircumstantial participle (with κύριος: 'the LORD … keeping the oath')→ durative present participle (the LORD's ongoing fidelity to his oath)διατηρέω: 'keep carefully / preserve / maintain'; the intensive compound δια- marks thorough, continuous keeping; renders שָׁמַר; the participle (agreeing with κύριος, subject of ἐξήγαγεν) pairs the LORD's love with his covenant-fidelity to the oath sworn to the patriarchs.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ὅρκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅρκονoathAccusativedirect object of διατηρῶν→ object specificationὅρκος: 'oath / sworn promise'; renders שְׁבוּעָה; the patriarchal oath (to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) is the historical anchor of election — the LORD chose Israel because he had sworn to their fathers.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ὤμοσεν, antecedent ὅρκον)→ participant referenceὃν: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ὤμοσεν, antecedent ὅρκον).
ὤμοσενhe sworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀμνύωverb of relative clause (describing the patriarchal oath)→ constative aorist (the historic act of swearing to the fathers)ὀμνύω / ὄμνυμι: 'swear (an oath)'; renders שָׁבַע (Niphal נִשְׁבַּע); the cognate ὅρκον … ὤμοσεν ('the oath he swore') is a figura etymologica reinforcing the solemnity of the patriarchal promise.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with πατράσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατράσινfathersDativeindirect object of ὤμοσεν (recipients of the oath)→ sphere or referenceπατήρ (dat. pl. πατράσιν): 'father'; renders אָבוֹת; 'your fathers' are the patriarchs to whom the land-oath was sworn (Gen 15; 22:16–18; 26:3; 28:13); the oath grounds election in covenant-history.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πατράσιν)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with πατράσιν).
ἐξήγαγενbrought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωmain verb (the Exodus as the historical expression of election-love)→ constative aorist (the decisive saving act of the Exodus)ἐξάγω: 'lead out / bring out'; renders יָצָא (Hiphil הוֹצִיא); the technical Exodus-verb; the LORD's love and oath issued in the bringing-out of Israel from Egypt — election made history.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐξήγαγεν / ἐλυτρώσατο→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the agent of the Exodus-redemption.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξήγαγεν→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξήγαγεν.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with a hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: here instrumental, 'with / by means of,' a Hebraism rendering בְּ ('with a mighty hand').
χειρὶhandDativedative of instrument (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ ('with a mighty hand') renders בְּיָד חֲזָקָה, a stock Deuteronomic Exodus-formula for the LORD's overwhelming saving power (cf. v. 19; Deut 5:15; 6:21).
κραταιᾷmightyDativeattributive adjective (modifying χειρί)→ sphere or referenceκραταιός: 'strong / mighty'; renders חֲזָקָה; the 'mighty hand' is the standard image of the LORD's irresistible power in the Exodus.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the parallel instrumental phrase)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental, parallel to ἐν χειρί)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (instrumental, parallel to ἐν χειρί).
βραχίονιarmDativedative of instrument (with ἐν)→ sphere or referenceβραχίων: 'arm'; ἐν βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ ('with an uplifted/high arm') renders בִּזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה ('with an outstretched arm'); the paired 'mighty hand and uplifted arm' is the classic Deuteronomic Exodus-couplet (cf. v. 19; Deut 4:34; 26:8).
ὑψηλῷuplifted / highDativeattributive adjective (modifying βραχίονι)→ sphere or referenceὑψηλός: 'high / lofty / uplifted'; the LXX renders the Hebrew נְטוּיָה ('outstretched') here with ὑψηλός ('uplifted'), picturing the arm raised in mighty action.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλυτρώσατοredeemedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · λυτρόωmain verb (the redemption from Egypt)→ constative aorist (the decisive act of ransoming Israel)λυτρόω (mid. λυτρόομαι): 'redeem / ransom / set free (by payment)'; renders פָּדָה / גָּאַל; the redemption-language frames the Exodus as a ransoming of Israel out of slavery; the noun λύτρον ('ransom') underlies the NT's redemption-theology (cf. Titus 2:14, where Christ 'redeems' [λυτρώσηται] a λαὸς περιούσιος).
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'out of')→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'out of').
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ ('out of the house')→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house'; the phrase οἶκος δουλείας ('house of bondage / slavery') renders בֵּית עֲבָדִים, the stock Deuteronomic designation of Egypt as the place of Israel's servitude (cf. Deut 5:6; 6:12; 8:14).
δουλείαςof bondageGenitivegenitive of quality (with οἴκου: 'house of slavery')→ relational specificationδουλεία: 'slavery / bondage'; renders עֲבָדִים; the genitive of quality characterizes Egypt as the realm of servitude from which the LORD redeemed his people.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'out of the hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'out of the hand').
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from the hand/power of')→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραω ('from the hand of Pharaoh') renders מִיַּד פַּרְעֹה — 'hand' as a metonym for power/grasp; Israel is delivered out of Pharaoh's grip.
ΦαραωPharaohgenitive of possession (indeclinable proper noun, with χειρός)→ participant identificationΦαραω: transliteration of Hebrew פַּרְעֹה (Egyptian pr-ꜥȝ, 'great house'); indeclinable in the LXX; the oppressor from whose hand Israel is redeemed.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Φαραω→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the appositional title 'Pharaoh king of Egypt' specifies the historical oppressor; the title recurs in the conquest-promise of v. 24 where the nations' kings will likewise fall.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of relationship (with βασιλέως)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of Hebrew מִצְרַיִם; the land of bondage from which the redemption was effected.
9
καὶ γνώσῃ ὅτι κύριος ὁ θεός σου οὗτος θεός θεὸς πιστός ὁ φυλάσσων διαθήκην καὶ ἔλεος τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτὸν καὶ τοῖς φυλάσσουσιν τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ εἰς χιλίας γενεὰς
And you shall know that the LORD your God, he is God, a faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love him and for those who keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
From the redemption flows a confession of the LORD's character: he is ὁ θεὸς ὁ πιστός ('the faithful God') who keeps διαθήκην καὶ ἔλεος ('covenant and mercy') to a thousand generations of those who love and obey him. The pairing of love (ἀγαπῶσιν) and obedience (φυλάσσουσιν τὰς ἐντολάς) defines covenant-loyalty; this verse echoes the Decalogue's grace-formula (Deut 5:10) and anchors the assurance of the blessings that follow.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γνώσῃyou shall knowFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (call to covenant-knowledge)→ predictive/imperatival future (you shall come to know)γινώσκω: 'know / recognize / acknowledge'; renders יָדַע; covenant 'knowing' is not mere cognition but acknowledgment and trust — Israel is to know the LORD's faithful character from the evidence of the Exodus.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of knowledge)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the object-clause — the content of what Israel is to know about the LORD.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of the ὅτι-clause→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the subject of the confession of divine faithfulness.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
οὗτοςthis one / heNominativedemonstrative pronoun (resumptive subject: 'he is God')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this (one) / he'; resumptive after the subject, emphasizing identity — 'the LORD your God, he [and no other] is God'; renders the emphatic Hebrew הוּא ('he is').
θεόςGodNominativepredicate nominative ('he is God')→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; the predicate of the confession — the LORD alone is truly God (cf. Deut 4:35, 39).
θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominative (with πιστός: 'a faithful God')→ participant prominenceθεός: repeated, now qualified — 'a faithful God'; the repetition (θεός θεὸς πιστός) renders the Hebrew הָאֵל הַנֶּאֱמָן ('the faithful God').
πιστόςfaithfulNominativeattributive adjective (with θεός: 'a faithful God')→ participant prominenceπιστός: 'faithful / trustworthy / reliable'; renders נֶאֱמָן (Niphal of אָמַן); a key covenant-attribute — the LORD's reliability in keeping his sworn word is the ground of Israel's confidence; cf. the NT confession ὁ θεὸς πιστός (1 Cor 1:9; 10:13; 2 Tim 2:13).
ὁthe (one who)Nominativearticle (substantivizing the participle φυλάσσων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλάσσωνkeeping / who keepsPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · φυλάσσωsubstantival participle (in apposition to θεός: 'the one keeping')→ durative present participle (the LORD's continual covenant-keeping)φυλάσσω: 'keep / guard / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the participle ὁ φυλάσσων διαθήκην καὶ ἔλεος ('who keeps covenant and mercy') defines the LORD's faithfulness in action; the same verb describes Israel's required obedience (τοῖς φυλάσσουσιν), binding divine and human faithfulness.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσων→ object specificationδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; renders בְּרִית; the covenant the LORD keeps is the bond established with the patriarchs and renewed at Sinai; here paired with ἔλεος as a near-hendiadys ('covenant-mercy').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλεοςmercyAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσων (paired with διαθήκην)→ object specificationἔλεος: 'mercy / lovingkindness / steadfast love'; the standard LXX rendering of חֶסֶד (covenant-loyalty); the phrase διαθήκην καὶ ἔλεος renders בְּרִית וְחֶסֶד ('the covenant and the steadfast love'), naming the LORD's loyal, faithful love that endures to a thousand generations.
τοῖςfor thoseDativearticle (substantivizing ἀγαπῶσιν; dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαπῶσινwho lovePres Act Part Dat Pl Masc · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle (dative of advantage: beneficiaries of mercy)→ durative present participle (those who continually love him)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; renders אָהַב; 'those who love him' are the covenant-faithful; the participial phrase τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν echoes the Decalogue (Deut 5:10) and defines the recipients of the LORD's covenant-mercy by their love for him.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἀγαπῶσιν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀγαπῶσιν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςfor thoseDativearticle (substantivizing φυλάσσουσιν; dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλάσσουσινwho keepPres Act Part Dat Pl Masc · φυλάσσωsubstantival participle (parallel to ἀγαπῶσιν)→ durative present participle (those who continually keep his commands)φυλάσσω: 'keep / observe'; the pairing of love (ἀγαπῶσιν) with commandment-keeping (φυλάσσουσιν τὰς ἐντολάς) shows that covenant-love is inseparable from obedience — a definition taken up at John 14:15.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάσσουσιν→ object specificationἐντολή: 'commandment / precept'; renders מִצְוָה; the commandments are the concrete content of covenant-obedience whose keeping marks those who love the LORD.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἐντολάς)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἐντολάς).
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (extent: 'to a thousand generations')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: here of extent in time, 'unto / for'; marks the duration of the LORD's covenant-mercy.
χιλίαςa thousandAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying γενεάς)→ object specificationχίλιοι: 'a thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; 'to a thousand generations' is a hyperbolic measure of the boundless, enduring scope of covenant-mercy — vastly exceeding the 'third and fourth generation' of requital (cf. Deut 5:9–10; Exod 20:5–6).
γενεὰςgenerationsAccusativeaccusative of extent (with χιλίας)→ object specificationγενεά: 'generation'; renders דּוֹר; the thousand generations express the LORD's mercy as effectively limitless in time, the asymmetry of grace over judgment.
10
καὶ ἀποδιδοὺς τοῖς μισοῦσιν κατὰ πρόσωπον ἐξολεθρεῦσαι αὐτούς καὶ οὐχὶ βραδυνεῖ τοῖς μισοῦσιν κατὰ πρόσωπον ἀποδώσει αὐτοῖς
and repaying those who hate him to their face, to destroy them; and he will not be slow toward those who hate him: to their face he will repay them.
The participle ἀποδιδούς balances the φυλάσσων of v. 9: the faithful God who keeps mercy for those who love him also repays (ἀποδίδωμι) those who hate him 'to their face' (κατὰ πρόσωπον). The repeated κατὰ πρόσωπον and the οὐχὶ βραδυνεῖ ('he will not delay') stress the directness and certainty of judgment — no displacement onto later generations for the hater himself.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the antithetical participle)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποδιδοὺςrepaying / who repaysPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἀποδίδωμιsubstantival/circumstantial participle (parallel to ὁ φυλάσσων, v. 9)→ durative present participle (the LORD's settled practice of requital)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / repay / requite'; renders שִׁלֵּם (Piel, 'recompense'); the participle ἀποδιδούς balances ὁ φυλάσσων (v. 9) — the same faithful God keeps mercy and repays hatred; ἀποδίδωμι is the lex-talionis requital-verb (cf. Rom 12:19, ἐμοὶ ἐκδίκησις, ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω).
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantivizing μισοῦσιν; dative of disadvantage)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μισοῦσινwho hate (him)Pres Act Part Dat Pl Masc · μισέωsubstantival participle (the objects of requital)→ durative present participle (those who persist in hating him)μισέω: 'hate / reject'; renders שָׂנֵא; 'those who hate him' are the covenant-rejecters, the antithesis of the ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν of v. 9; in covenant idiom 'love' and 'hate' denote loyalty and disloyalty to the LORD.
κατὰto / beforepreposition + accusative (idiom: 'to their face')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: in the idiom κατὰ πρόσωπον ('to/before the face'), rendering אֶל פָּנָיו ('to his face') — the requital is delivered directly and personally to the hater himself, without delay or deferral.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (idiomatic: 'to the face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; the phrase κατὰ πρόσωπον marks the directness of judgment — the hater is repaid in his own person, not vicariously.
ἐξολεθρεῦσαιto destroyAor Act Inf · ἐξολεθρεύωinfinitive of purpose/result (with ἀποδιδούς: 'to destroy them')→ telic aorist infinitive (the aim of the requital: destruction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; the intensive compound renders שָׁמַד / אָבַד; the infinitive expresses the purpose/outcome of the requital — the hater's destruction, the same fate decreed for the apostate (v. 4) and the nations (vv. 23–24).
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαι→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαι.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐχὶnotemphatic negative particle (with βραδυνεῖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐχί: emphatic form of οὐ ('not at all / by no means'); strengthens the denial — the LORD will in no way be slow to requite the hater.
βραδυνεῖwill be slow / will delayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · βραδύνωmain verb (denial of delay in requital)→ predictive future (assurance of prompt judgment)βραδύνω: 'be slow / delay / tarry'; renders אָחַר ('delay'); the denial οὐχὶ βραδυνεῖ ('he will not delay') asserts the certainty and promptness of requital for the hater — judgment is direct and not postponed; cf. the inversion at 2 Pet 3:9 (οὐ βραδύνει κύριος, of the LORD's patience toward repentance).
τοῖςtoward thoseDativearticle (substantivizing μισοῦσιν; dative)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μισοῦσινwho hate (him)Pres Act Part Dat Pl Masc · μισέωsubstantival participle (repeated; objects of requital)→ durative present participle (those who persist in hatred)μισέω: repeated for emphasis; the doubled 'those who hate him' frames the assurance that the LORD's requital reaches the enemy directly and surely.
κατὰto / beforepreposition + accusative (idiom: 'to their face', repeated)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ πρόσωπον: repeated; the second occurrence reinforces the directness of the requital — repaid to the hater's own face.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (idiomatic, repeated)→ object specificationπρόσωπον: meaning 'face'; it serves as accusative object of κατά (idiomatic, repeated).
ἀποδώσειhe will repayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (the finite requital-verb, resuming ἀποδιδούς)→ predictive future (certain act of requital)ἀποδίδωμι: 'repay / requite'; the finite future resumes and confirms the participial ἀποδιδούς — the LORD will surely render to the hater what is due, directly and without delay.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object of ἀποδώσει→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of ἀποδώσει.
11
καὶ φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα ταῦτα ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον ποιεῖν
So you shall keep the commandments and the statutes and the judgments, these which I command you today to do.
The confession of vv. 9–10 issues in command: because the LORD is faithful (keeping mercy, requiting hatred), Israel must keep his commandments, statutes, and judgments. The triad ἐντολάς / δικαιώματα / κρίματα is the standard Deuteronomic summary of the whole law; the first-person ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαι and the 'today' (σήμερον) mark the homily's present, covenant-renewing address.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶand / socoordinate conjunction (consecutive: drawing the command from vv. 9–10)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάξῃyou shall keepFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · φυλάσσωmain verb (imperatival future: command to obey)→ imperatival future (covenant obligation)φυλάσσω (fut. mid. φυλάξῃ): 'keep / observe / guard'; the future has imperatival force; the same verb (φυλάσσω) used of the LORD's covenant-keeping (v. 9) is now turned to Israel's required obedience — covenant faithfulness is reciprocal.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἐντολάς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάξῃ (first member of the legal triad)→ object specificationἐντολή: 'commandment'; renders מִצְוָה; the first of the standard Deuteronomic triad summarizing the whole revealed law.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δικαιώματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώματαstatutes / ordinancesAccusativedirect object of φυλάξῃ (second member of the triad)→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'statute / ordinance / righteous requirement'; renders חֻקִּים ('decrees'); in the LXX δικαίωμα regularly denotes a legal statute (cf. v. 12); the term is taken up in NT discussion of the law's righteous requirement (Rom 8:4).
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 of φυλάξῃ (third member of the triad)→ object specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / legal decision / ordinance'; renders מִשְׁפָּטִים ('judicial rulings'); completes the triad ἐντολάς / δικαιώματα / κρίματα, a comprehensive designation of the whole Deuteronomic law.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (summing the triad: 'these')→ object specificationοὗτος: 'these'; the demonstrative gathers the three categories into a single object of obedience.
ὅσαwhich / as many asAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐντέλλομαι, antecedent ταῦτα)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as many as / whatever'; the relative generalizes — all that the LORD commands, in their entirety, are to be kept.
ἐγὼINominativesubject of ἐντέλλομαι (emphatic first person)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' is Moses, the covenant-mediator, speaking the LORD's law in the homiletic present; the first-person command-formula is characteristic of Deuteronomy's preached law.
ἐντέλλομαίcommandPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (Moses' commissioning of the law)→ performative present (the act of commanding accomplished in the speaking)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / give charge / enjoin'; renders צִוָּה; the performative present — the command is enacted in its very utterance; the cognate of ἐντολή (v. 11a), binding the act of commanding to the commandments themselves.
σοιyouDativeindirect object of ἐντέλλομαι (recipient of the command)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of ἐντέλλομαι (recipient of the command).
σήμερονtodayadverb of time (the homiletic 'today')→ clausal contributionσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; the Deuteronomic 'today' actualizes the covenant for each generation of hearers — the law is commanded not in the past only but 'today,' in the moment of address (cf. Deut 5:3; 6:6; 11:26).
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐντέλλομαι: 'command … to do')→ durative present infinitive (ongoing performance of the commands)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; renders עָשָׂה; the law is commanded not merely to be heard but 'to do' (ποιεῖν) — Deuteronomy insists on doing, not bare knowledge (cf. v. 12, ποιήσητε αὐτά).
12
καὶ ἔσται ἡνίκα ἂν ἀκούσητε πάντα τὰ δικαιώματα ταῦτα καὶ φυλάξητε καὶ ποιήσητε αὐτά καὶ διαφυλάξει κύριος ὁ θεός σού σοι τὴν διαθήκην καὶ τὸ ἔλεος ὃ ὤμοσεν τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν
And it shall be, whenever you hear all these ordinances and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep for you the covenant and the mercy which he swore to your fathers.
The Hebraizing καὶ ἔσται ('and it shall be', rendering וְהָיָה) introduces the blessing-section: whenever Israel hears, keeps, and does the ordinances, the LORD will keep (διαφυλάξει) covenant and mercy. The reciprocity is exact — Israel's keeping (φυλάξητε) draws forth the LORD's keeping (διαφυλάξει), the covenant-mercy sworn to the fathers; obedience is the channel, not the cause, of the blessings catalogued in vv. 13–16.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the apodosis-formula)→ 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 (Hebraizing apodosis-formula καὶ ἔσται)→ predictive future (formulaic protasis-marker)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the impersonal καὶ ἔσται ('and it shall be / and it will come to pass') renders the Hebrew וְהָיָה, a standard formula introducing a temporal-conditional clause that sets up the consequence to follow.
ἡνίκαwhen / whenevertemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive: 'whenever')→ discourse linkage or contrastἡνίκα: 'when / at the time when'; with ἄν and the subjunctive it becomes 'whenever,' marking the recurring condition of hearing and doing; renders עֵקֶב ('because / as a consequence of').
ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive in the temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle generalizing the temporal clause with the subjunctive ('whenever'), marking the condition as repeatable and contingent.
ἀκούσητεyou hearAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἀκούωverb of temporal-conditional clause (first of three: hear)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the act of hearing/heeding)ἀκούω: 'hear / listen / obey'; renders שָׁמַע; in Deuteronomic idiom 'hearing' includes heeding and obeying (cf. the Shema, Deut 6:4); the first of the obedience-triad hear/keep/do.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying δικαιώματα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totality 'all these ordinances' demands comprehensive, not selective, obedience.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δικαιώματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώματαordinances / statutesAccusativedirect object of ἀκούσητε→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'statute / ordinance'; renders מִשְׁפָּטִים here; the object of hearing, keeping, and doing — the revealed legal order Israel must heed.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying δικαιώματα)→ object specificationταῦτα: meaning 'these'; it serves as demonstrative adjective (modifying δικαιώματα).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάξητεyou keepAor Act Subj 2 Pl · φυλάσσωverb of temporal-conditional clause (second: keep)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the act of keeping/observing)φυλάσσω: 'keep / observe'; the second of the obedience-triad; Israel's φυλάξητε is answered by the LORD's διαφυλάξει later in the verse — the reciprocity of covenant-keeping.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσητεyou doAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ποιέωverb of temporal-conditional clause (third: do)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the act of performing them)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; the third of the obedience-triad (hear/keep/do); Deuteronomy's insistence that the law be done, not merely heard, is fulfilled in this climactic verb.
αὐτάthemAccusativedirect object of ποιήσητε (the ordinances)→ participant referenceαὐτά: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ποιήσητε (the ordinances).
καὶthen / andcoordinate conjunction (apodosis-marker: 'then')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introducing the apodosis ('then the LORD will keep …'), a Hebraizing use of the waw-consecutive following the temporal protasis.
διαφυλάξειwill keep / will preserveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · διαφυλάσσωmain verb (apodosis: the LORD's covenant-keeping)→ predictive future (assured divine response to obedience)διαφυλάσσω: 'guard carefully / preserve / keep faithfully'; the intensive compound δια- ('thoroughly') heightens φυλάσσω; the LORD's διαφυλάξει answers Israel's φυλάξητε — divine and human keeping correspond; renders שָׁמַר.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of διαφυλάξει→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the keeper of covenant-mercy.
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.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσού: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
σοιfor youDativedative of advantage ('will keep for you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. σοι): dative of advantage — the covenant-mercy is kept 'for you,' to Israel's benefit.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with διαθήκην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of διαφυλάξει→ object specificationδιαθήκη: 'covenant'; renders בְּרִית; the covenant the LORD keeps for Israel is the patriarchal-Sinaitic bond, here paired with τὸ ἔλεος as the object of divine faithfulness (cf. v. 9).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἔλεος)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔλεοςmercyAccusativedirect object of διαφυλάξει (paired with διαθήκην)→ object specificationἔλεος: 'mercy / steadfast love'; renders חֶסֶד; the pairing διαθήκην καὶ ἔλεος ('the covenant and the mercy') echoes v. 9, naming the loyal covenant-love the LORD preserves for the obedient.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ὤμοσεν, antecedent ἔλεος/διαθήκην)→ participant referenceὃ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ὤμοσεν, antecedent ἔλεος/διαθήκην).
ὤμοσενhe sworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀμνύωverb of relative clause (the patriarchal oath, as in v. 8)→ constative aorist (the historic swearing to the fathers)ὀμνύω: 'swear'; renders שָׁבַע; the covenant-mercy now to be kept is grounded in the same patriarchal oath named in v. 8 — divine faithfulness reaches from the fathers to the present generation.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with πατράσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατράσινfathersDativeindirect object of ὤμοσεν→ sphere or referenceπατήρ (dat. pl. πατράσιν): 'fathers'; the patriarchs to whom the covenant-oath was sworn (cf. v. 8).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πατράσιν)→ relational specificationὑμῶν: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with πατράσιν).
13
καὶ ἀγαπήσει σε καὶ εὐλογήσει σε καὶ πληθυνεῖ σε καὶ εὐλογήσει τὰ ἔκγονα τῆς κοιλίας σου καὶ τὸν καρπὸν τῆς γῆς σου τὸν σῖτόν σου καὶ τὸν οἶνόν σου καὶ τὸ ἔλαιόν σου τὰ βουκόλια τῶν βοῶν σου καὶ τὰ ποίμνια τῶν προβάτων σου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἧς ὤμοσεν κύριος τοῖς πατράσιν σου δοῦναί σοι
And he will love you and bless you and multiply you, and he will bless the offspring of your womb and the fruit of your land — your grain and your wine and your oil, the herds of your cattle and the flocks of your sheep — upon the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.
The blessing flows in a cascade: love, blessing, multiplication, and then a fertility-catalogue — the fruit of the womb, the produce of the land (grain, wine, oil), the increase of herds and flocks. The reciprocal ἀγαπήσει ('he will love') answers Israel's love for the LORD (v. 9) and his prior love in election (v. 8); the blessings are realized 'upon the land' sworn to the fathers, binding gift to oath.
Word-by-word analysis· 55 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀγαπήσειhe will loveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωmain verb (first of the blessing-triad: love)→ predictive future (the LORD's continuing covenant-love)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; renders אָהַב; the LORD's future love answers and continues the electing love of v. 8 (παρὰ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν κύριον ὑμᾶς); covenant love is both the ground of election and the reward of obedience.
σεyouAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐλογήσειhe will blessFut Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (second of the blessing-triad: bless)→ predictive future (assured divine blessing)εὐλογέω: 'bless / speak well of / bestow good'; renders בָּרַךְ; the blessing-verb governs both the people and, in its repetition below, the produce of womb, field, and flock — the comprehensive fruitfulness of covenant life.
σεyouAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πληθυνεῖhe will multiplyFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πληθύνωmain verb (third of the blessing-triad: multiply)→ predictive future (fulfilment of the patriarchal increase-promise)πληθύνω: 'multiply / increase'; renders רָבָה; the multiplication-blessing fulfils the patriarchal promise of innumerable seed (Gen 22:17) — striking against the backdrop of v. 7, where Israel is the fewest of peoples; election's smallness is met by blessing's increase.
σεyouAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐλογήσειhe will blessFut Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (introducing the fertility-catalogue)→ predictive future (blessing extended to all produce)εὐλογέω: repeated; now the blessing reaches the fruit of womb, field, and flock — the threefold fertility (human, agricultural, pastoral) that defines covenant prosperity.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔκγονα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔκγοναoffspringAccusativedirect object of εὐλογήσει (fruit of the womb)→ object specificationἔκγονον: 'offspring / descendant'; renders פְּרִי ('fruit'); τὰ ἔκγονα τῆς κοιλίας ('the offspring of the womb') is the human fertility-blessing, the firstfruit of the catalogue.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with κοιλίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοιλίαςwomb / bellyGenitivegenitive of source (with ἔκγονα: 'offspring of the womb')→ relational specificationκοιλία: 'belly / womb'; renders בֶּטֶן; here the womb as the source of offspring; the human fruitfulness blessed by the LORD.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with κοιλίας)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κοιλίας).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with καρπόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρπὸνfruit / produceAccusativedirect object of εὐλογήσει (produce of the land)→ object specificationκαρπός: 'fruit / produce / yield'; renders פְּרִי; ὁ καρπὸς τῆς γῆς ('the fruit of the land') is the agricultural fertility-blessing, itemized below as grain, wine, and oil.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of source (with καρπόν)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land / ground'; the cultivated land whose produce the LORD blesses.
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).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with σῖτον, in apposition to καρπόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σῖτόνgrain / cornAccusativeaccusative in apposition to καρπόν (first item of the agricultural triad)→ object specificationσῖτος: 'grain / wheat / corn'; renders דָּגָן; grain, wine, and oil (σῖτος, οἶνος, ἔλαιον) form the classic Deuteronomic agricultural triad of the land's staple bounty (cf. Deut 11:14; 28:51).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with σῖτον)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with σῖτον).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶνον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶνόνwineAccusativeaccusative in apposition to καρπόν (second item of the triad)→ object specificationοἶνος: 'wine'; renders תִּירוֹשׁ ('new wine'); the second member of the grain-wine-oil triad of agricultural blessing.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἶνον)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with οἶνον).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἔλαιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔλαιόνoilAccusativeaccusative in apposition to καρπόν (third item of the triad)→ object specificationἔλαιον: 'olive oil'; renders יִצְהָר; the third member of the grain-wine-oil triad, completing the catalogue of the land's staple produce.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἔλαιον)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ἔλαιον).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with βουκόλια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βουκόλιαherdsAccusativeaccusative (pastoral blessing: herds of cattle)→ object specificationβουκόλιον: 'herd (of cattle)'; renders שְׁגַר ('offspring/increase' of cattle); τὰ βουκόλια τῶν βοῶν ('the herds of your cattle') begins the pastoral fertility-blessing, paired below with the flocks of sheep.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with βοῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βοῶνoxen / cattleGenitivegenitive of definition (with βουκόλια: 'herds of cattle')→ relational specificationβοῦς (gen. pl. βοῶν): 'ox / head of cattle'; renders אֲלָפִים; the cattle whose herds are blessed with increase.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with βοῶν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with βοῶν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ποίμνια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποίμνιαflocksAccusativeaccusative (pastoral blessing: flocks of sheep)→ object specificationποίμνιον: 'flock'; renders עַשְׁתְּרֹת ('increase' of the flock); τὰ ποίμνια τῶν προβάτων ('the flocks of your sheep') completes the pastoral fertility-blessing alongside the herds of cattle.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with προβάτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προβάτωνsheepGenitivegenitive of definition (with ποίμνια: 'flocks of sheep')→ relational specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep'; renders צֹאן; the sheep whose flocks are blessed with increase, completing the catalogue of fertility.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with προβάτων)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with προβάτων).
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (location: 'upon the land')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location: 'upon the land').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (place where the blessings are realized)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; the promised land where the fertility-blessings take effect; the gift is grounded in the oath sworn to the fathers.
ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (object of ὤμοσεν, antecedent γῆς; genitive by attraction)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. ἧς): the relative is attracted to the genitive of its antecedent γῆς; 'the land which the LORD swore … to give.'
ὤμοσενhe sworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀμνύωverb of relative clause (the land-oath to the fathers)→ constative aorist (the historic land-oath)ὀμνύω: 'swear'; renders שָׁבַע; the land-oath to the patriarchs (cf. vv. 8, 12) recurs as the guarantee of the blessings' setting — the very land on which Israel is blessed was sworn to the fathers.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ὤμοσεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the one who swore the land-oath.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with πατράσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατράσινfathersDativeindirect object of ὤμοσεν→ sphere or referenceπατήρ (dat. pl. πατράσιν): the patriarchs to whom the land-oath was sworn.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πατράσιν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with πατράσιν).
δοῦναίto giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιinfinitive of purpose (content of the oath: 'to give')→ telic aorist infinitive (the substance of the sworn promise)δίδωμι (inf. δοῦναι): 'give'; the infinitive expresses the content of the oath — the LORD swore 'to give' the land; the land is gift, grounded in promise, the setting of all the blessings.
σοιyouDativeindirect object of δοῦναι (recipient of the land)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of δοῦναι (recipient of the land).
14
εὐλογητὸς ἔσῃ παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη οὐκ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν ἄγονος οὐδὲ στεῖρα καὶ ἐν τοῖς κτήνεσίν σου
You shall be blessed above all the nations; there shall not be among you a barren male or barren female, nor among your cattle.
The blessing is summed up superlatively: 'blessed above all the nations' (παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη) — the same comparative phrase used of Israel's election in vv. 6–7, now of its blessing. The promise of no barrenness, human or animal (οὐκ ἔσται … ἄγονος οὐδὲ στεῖρα), is the negative-side guarantee of the fertility-catalogue of v. 13.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
εὐλογητὸςblessedNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσῃ)→ participant prominenceεὐλογητός: 'blessed / worthy of blessing'; renders בָּרוּךְ; the verbal adjective declares Israel's blessed state above all peoples; though εὐλογητός is more often used of God in the LXX, here it characterizes the blessed people.
ἔσῃyou shall beFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate εὐλογητός)→ predictive future (assured blessed status)εἰμί (fut. ἔσῃ): 'be'; the future copula asserts Israel's coming blessed condition as a settled consequence of obedience.
παρὰabovepreposition + accusative (comparison: 'above all')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + accusative: comparative, 'above / beyond'; the same construction used of Israel's election (vv. 6–7) now describes its blessedness — chosen above all, blessed above all.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ object specificationπάντα: meaning 'all'; it serves as attributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (object of comparison)→ object specificationἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nations'; the peoples above whom Israel is blessed, as it was chosen above them (v. 6).
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔσται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιthere shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential main verb (negated: 'there shall not be')→ predictive future (guarantee against barrenness)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): existential 'there will be'; the negated existential οὐκ ἔσται … ἄγονος promises the complete absence of barrenness among people and cattle — the positive fertility of v. 13 stated as a negative guarantee.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: 'among you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: 'among you').
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐν (the people among whom no barrenness exists)→ participant reference or interestὑμῖν: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐν (the people among whom no barrenness exists).
ἄγονοςbarren / childlessNominativesubject of ἔσται (substantival adjective: 'a childless one')→ participant prominenceἄγονος: 'barren / unfruitful / childless'; renders עָקָר (here of the male); the alpha-privative (ἀ- + γόνος, 'offspring') denotes the absence of progeny — covenant fertility excludes all childlessness.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'nor'; pairs the female with the male in the comprehensive denial of barrenness.
στεῖραbarren (woman)Nominativesubject of ἔσται (substantival: 'a barren woman')→ participant prominenceστεῖρα: 'barren woman'; renders עֲקָרָה; the female counterpart to ἄγονος; the pairing covers both sexes — no Israelite will be without offspring; cf. the reversal-language of Isa 54:1 (στεῖρα) and its NT use (Gal 4:27).
καὶand / alsocoordinate conjunction (extending the promise to livestock)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here 'and also,' extending the no-barrenness promise from the people to their cattle.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: 'among your cattle')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: 'among your cattle').
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with κτήνεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήνεσίνcattle / livestockDativedative object of ἐν (the livestock among which no barrenness exists)→ sphere or referenceκτῆνος (dat. pl. κτήνεσιν): 'beast / livestock'; renders בְּהֵמָה; the promise of fruitfulness extends to the herds and flocks — the whole covenant household, human and animal, is fertile.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with κτήνεσιν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κτήνεσιν).
15
καὶ περιελεῖ κύριος ἀπὸ σοῦ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν καὶ πάσας νόσους Αἰγύπτου τὰς πονηράς ἃς ἑώρακας καὶ ὅσα ἔγνως οὐκ ἐπιθήσει ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ ἐπιθήσει αὐτὰ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς μισοῦντάς σε
And the LORD will remove from you every sickness; and all the evil diseases of Egypt which you have seen and all that you knew, he will not lay upon you, but will lay them upon all who hate you.
The health-blessing: the LORD will remove (περιελεῖ) every sickness, and the dreaded diseases of Egypt — which Israel saw firsthand — he will not lay on them but on their enemies. The plague-reversal motif (the diseases of Egypt redirected against the haters) recalls the Exodus and assures Israel that the judgments witnessed in Egypt will never fall on the covenant people.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περιελεῖwill remove / take awayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · περιαιρέωmain verb (the LORD's removal of sickness)→ predictive future (assured divine act of healing)περιαιρέω: 'take away / remove entirely / strip off'; renders הֵסִיר (Hiphil of סוּר); the compound περι- ('all around') stresses total removal — the LORD will take away every sickness, the health-blessing of covenant obedience.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of περιελεῖ→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the healer who removes sickness (cf. Exod 15:26, 'I am the LORD your healer').
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from you')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from you').
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the one from whom sickness is removed)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀπό (the one from whom sickness is removed).
πᾶσανeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying μαλακίαν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'every / all'; the totality 'every sickness' makes the health-blessing comprehensive — no illness will remain.
μαλακίανsickness / illnessAccusativedirect object of περιελεῖ→ object specificationμαλακία: 'weakness / sickness / illness'; renders חֹלִי / מַדְוֶה ('disease'); the same word the Gospels use of the illnesses Jesus heals (πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν, Matt 4:23; 9:35), echoing this covenant promise of removed sickness.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying νόσους)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; comprehensive — all the diseases of Egypt are in view.
νόσουςdiseasesAccusativedirect object (the diseases not to be laid on Israel)→ object specificationνόσος: 'disease / plague'; renders מַדְוֶה; 'the evil diseases of Egypt' are the plagues and afflictions Israel witnessed in Egypt (cf. Deut 28:60); they are redirected from Israel onto its enemies.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of source/origin (with νόσους: 'diseases of Egypt')→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; the diseases of Egypt — the plagues and pestilences of the land of bondage — which Israel saw and feared.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with πονηράς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηράςevilAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying νόσους)→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil / grievous / harmful'; renders רָע; the 'evil diseases' are the grievous afflictions Israel dreaded; their attributive position (τὰς πονηράς) stresses their malignancy.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἑώρακας, antecedent νόσους)→ participant referenceἃς: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of ἑώρακας, antecedent νόσους).
ἑώρακαςyou have seenPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · ὁράωverb of relative clause (Israel's firsthand experience of Egypt's diseases)→ resultative perfect (a past seeing with abiding effect: Israel still remembers)ὁράω (perf. ἑώρακα): 'see / behold'; renders רָאָה; the perfect stresses Israel's enduring memory of the diseases witnessed in Egypt — their dread of these plagues makes the promise of immunity especially reassuring.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅσαwhatever / all thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔγνως: 'all that you knew')→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as many as / whatever'; generalizes — every disease Israel came to know in Egypt is included in the promise of immunity.
ἔγνωςyou knewAor Act Indic 2 Sg · γινώσκωverb of relative clause (Israel's knowledge of Egypt's diseases)→ constative aorist (Israel's past acquaintance with the diseases)γινώσκω: 'know / experience'; renders יָדַע; here of experiential knowledge — the diseases Israel came to know firsthand in Egypt.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπιθήσει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιθήσειhe will lay / putFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (negated: the LORD will not lay the diseases on Israel)→ predictive future (assurance of immunity)ἐπιτίθημι: 'lay upon / impose / place on'; renders שׂוּם / נָתַן עַל; the negated 'he will not lay (the diseases) upon you' guarantees Israel's exemption from the afflictions of Egypt — contrasted at once with their imposition on the enemies.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (direction: 'upon you')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'upon you').
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the one spared the diseases)→ participant referenceσὲ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (the one spared the diseases).
καὶbut / andcoordinate conjunction (adversative force: 'but')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with adversative force ('but rather'), marking the redirection of the diseases from Israel onto its enemies.
ἐπιθήσειhe will lay / putFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (the diseases imposed on the haters instead)→ predictive future (the redirection of judgment onto enemies)ἐπιτίθημι: repeated; the same verb now positive — the diseases withheld from Israel are laid 'upon all who hate you,' a reversal of the Egyptian plague-pattern in Israel's favor.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object of ἐπιθήσει (the diseases)→ participant referenceαὐτὰ: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐπιθήσει (the diseases).
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (direction: 'upon all who hate you')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'upon all who hate you').
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τοὺς μισοῦντας)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; comprehensive — every one of Israel's enemies receives the redirected diseases.
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantivizing μισοῦντας)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μισοῦντάςwho hate (you)Pres Act Part Acc Pl Masc · μισέωsubstantival participle (the enemies on whom the diseases fall)→ durative present participle (those who persist in hating Israel)μισέω: 'hate'; the enemies of Israel are 'those who hate you' — recalling the haters of the LORD (vv. 9–10); to hate the LORD's people is to hate the LORD, and so to share their requital.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of μισοῦντας→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of μισοῦντας.
16
καὶ φάγῃ πάντα τὰ σκῦλα τῶν ἐθνῶν ἃ κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐ λατρεύσεις τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν ὅτι σκῶλον τοῦτό ἐστίν σοι
And you shall consume all the spoils of the nations which the LORD your God gives you; your eye shall not spare them, and you shall not serve their gods, for this is a snare to you.
The blessing-section closes with command: Israel will 'consume' (φάγῃ) the spoils of the nations the LORD gives, sparing none (οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου), and above all serving no foreign gods, for they are a σκῶλον ('snare / trap'). The prohibition of pity (cf. v. 2) and of idol-service (cf. v. 4) recapitulates the chapter's central concern: the danger that mercy or attraction toward the nations becomes the snare of apostasy.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φάγῃyou shall consume / devourFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἐσθίωmain verb (imperatival future: command to consume the nations)→ imperatival future (command to devour the spoils/peoples)ἐσθίω (fut. mid. φάγομαι): 'eat / consume / devour'; renders אָכַל; the metaphor of 'eating / consuming' the nations (and their spoils) denotes total conquest and dispossession (cf. Num 14:9, 'they are bread for us'); the imperatival future commands Israel to do what the LORD enables.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying σκῦλα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totality — all the spoils of the nations are to be consumed.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with σκῦλα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκῦλαspoils / plunderAccusativedirect object of φάγῃ→ object specificationσκῦλον (pl. σκῦλα): 'spoil / plunder / booty'; renders שָׁלָל or here the peoples themselves as the object of consumption; the LXX reads the nations' goods (or the nations themselves) as the spoil the LORD gives Israel to consume in conquest.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἐθνῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive of source (with σκῦλα: 'spoils of the nations')→ relational specificationἔθνος (gen. pl. ἐθνῶν): 'nations'; the Canaanite peoples whose spoils Israel consumes in the LORD-given conquest.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δίδωσιν, antecedent σκῦλα)→ participant referenceἃ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of δίδωσιν, antecedent σκῦλα).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of δίδωσιν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the giver of the spoils — conquest is gift, not human achievement.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
δίδωσίνgivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (the LORD's giving of the spoils)→ futuristic/customary present (the LORD's certain, ongoing gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the present tense presents the conquest-gift as sure and as good as accomplished — the LORD gives the nations into Israel's hand.
σοιyouDativeindirect object of δίδωσιν→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as indirect object of δίδωσιν.
οὐnotnegative particle (with φείσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φείσεταιshall spareFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · φείδομαιmain verb (prohibition of pity: 'your eye shall not spare')→ imperatival/prohibitive future (command to show no pity)φείδομαι: 'spare / show pity / refrain'; renders חוּס; the idiom οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ('your eye shall not spare') renders לֹא תָחוֹס עֵינְךָ, a Deuteronomic formula for refusing all pity in executing the ḥērem (cf. Deut 13:8; 19:13) — the negative counterpart of v. 2's no-mercy command.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ὀφθαλμός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμόςeyeNominativesubject of φείσεται ('your eye shall not spare')→ participant prominenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the 'eye' as the seat of pity in Hebrew idiom (עַיִן); 'your eye shall not spare them' forbids the compassion that would compromise the ḥērem and open the door to syncretism.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμός).
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + dative (object of sparing, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (object of sparing, elided before vowel).
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐπί (those not to be spared)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐπί (those not to be spared).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with λατρεύσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λατρεύσειςyou shall serveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λατρεύωmain verb (prohibition of idol-service)→ prohibitive future (categorical ban on serving foreign gods)λατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders עָבַד; the prohibition οὐ λατρεύσεις τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν echoes v. 4 and the First Commandment (Deut 5:7–9) — the deepest danger of contact with the nations is the seduction to serve their gods.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with θεοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of λατρεύσεις (the false gods)→ sphere or referenceθεός (pl. dat. θεοῖς): the pagan gods of the nations; λατρεύω takes the dative; their service is the apostasy the whole chapter combats.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεοῖς)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεοῖς).
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the reason for the prohibition — the gods of the nations are a snare.
σκῶλονsnare / stumbling-blockNominativepredicate nominative ('this is a snare')→ participant prominenceσκῶλον: 'thorn / stumbling-block / snare'; renders מוֹקֵשׁ ('trap / snare'); the gods (or the pity toward the nations) are a σκῶλον — a trap that ensnares Israel into apostasy; the same trap-motif recurs at v. 25 (μὴ πταίσῃς, 'lest you stumble') and underlies the NT σκάνδαλον-language.
τοῦτόthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject: 'this is a snare')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; refers to the gods/idols of the nations (or to serving them), identified as the snare.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (linking τοῦτο to σκῶλον)→ stative present (the abiding character of the idols as a snare)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula states the abiding reality — the idols are, by their very nature, a snare to Israel.
σοιto youDativedative of disadvantage ('a snare to you')→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage ('a snare to you').
17
ἐὰν δὲ λέγῃς ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ σου ὅτι πολὺ τὸ ἔθνος τοῦτο ἢ ἐγώ πῶς δυνήσομαι ἐξολεθρεῦσαι αὐτούς
But if you should say in your mind, 'This nation is more numerous than I; how shall I be able to destroy them?' —
A new conditional (ἐὰν δέ, echoing v. 1) opens the fear-not section by voicing Israel's anticipated objection: the nations are too numerous to overcome. The inner speech (ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ σου, 'in your heart') and the rhetorical πῶς δυνήσομαι ('how can I prevail?') dramatize the temptation to fear, which vv. 18–24 will answer by recalling the Exodus.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (with subjunctive λέγῃς)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive frames the anticipated objection as a real possibility; renders כִּי; structurally parallels the opening ἐὰν δέ of v. 1.
δὲbuttransitional particle (post-positive, marking new section)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the turn to the fear-not section, contrasting the confidence of the blessings with the anticipated fear.
λέγῃςyou should sayPres Act Subj 2 Sg · λέγωverb of conditional protasis (inner speech of fear)→ durative present subjunctive (the entertaining of a fearful thought)λέγω: 'say'; here of inner speech/thought ('say in your mind'); the present subjunctive pictures the fear arising and being entertained within.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in your mind')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in your mind').
τῇtheDativearticle (with διανοίᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διανοίᾳmind / heartDativedative of place (sphere of the inner speech)→ sphere or referenceδιάνοια: 'mind / understanding / thought'; renders לֵבָב ('heart' as the seat of thought); 'say in your heart' is the Hebraic idiom for inner reasoning or self-doubt (cf. Deut 8:17; 9:4).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with διανοίᾳ)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with διανοίᾳ).
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of the inner speech, recitative)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: recitative, introducing the quoted thought ('that: this nation is …').
πολὺgreat / numerousNominativepredicate adjective (with τὸ ἔθνος)→ participant prominenceπολύς: 'much / many / numerous'; renders רַב; 'this nation is more numerous (than I)' is the substance of the fear — the disproportion of numbers, the very point conceded in v. 1 (ἔθνη … ἰσχυρότερα ὑμῶν).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἔθνος)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνοςnationNominativesubject (of the inner speech: 'this nation')→ participant prominenceἔθνος: 'nation'; the collective singular for the Canaanite peoples, viewed as a daunting mass.
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνος)→ participant referenceτοῦτο: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as demonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνος).
ἢthancomparative particle (with the implied comparative πολὺ … ἤ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'than'; comparative — 'more numerous than I'; the comparison frames the perceived imbalance of strength.
ἐγώINominativeobject of comparison (with ἤ: 'than I')→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' (Israel personified) set against the numerous nation, dramatizing the felt disproportion.
πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (introducing the rhetorical question)→ clausal contributionπῶς: 'how?'; the rhetorical 'how shall I be able …?' expresses despair at the apparent impossibility of the task — the very fear the section answers.
δυνήσομαιshall I be ableFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb of the rhetorical question→ deliberative-flavored future (expressing doubt of ability)δύναμαι: 'be able / can'; renders יָכֹל; the future in a rhetorical question voices Israel's sense of inadequacy — a doubt resolved by the reminder that the LORD, not Israel, is the agent of conquest.
ἐξολεθρεῦσαιto destroyAor Act Inf · ἐξολεθρεύωcomplementary infinitive (with δυνήσομαι)→ telic aorist infinitive (the feared-impossible task: total destruction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy'; the complementary infinitive names the ḥērem-task that seems beyond Israel's power; the same verb recurs as the LORD's assured act in vv. 23–24.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαι→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαι.
18
οὐ φοβηθήσῃ αὐτούς μνείᾳ μνησθήσῃ ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος ὁ θεός σου τῷ Φαραω καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις
you shall not fear them; you shall surely remember all that the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all the Egyptians,
The answer to the fear of v. 17: 'do not fear them' (οὐ φοβηθήσῃ), but 'surely remember' (cognate-dative μνείᾳ μνησθήσῃ) what the LORD did to Pharaoh and Egypt. Memory of the Exodus is the antidote to fear of the nations — the God who shattered the world-power Egypt will surely overcome the Canaanites. The emphatic cognate-dative underscores the imperative of remembrance.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
οὐnotnegative particle (with prohibitive future φοβηθήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φοβηθήσῃyou shall fearFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (prohibitive future: 'do not fear')→ prohibitive future (the central command of the section)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; renders יָרֵא; the deponent future-passive form with imperatival force; 'do not fear them' (οὐ φοβηθήσῃ) is the keynote of the section (cf. vv. 19, 21) — the standard holy-war exhortation (cf. Deut 1:21; 3:22; 20:1).
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of φοβηθήσῃ→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of φοβηθήσῃ.
μνείᾳwith remembranceDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying μνησθήσῃ)→ sphere or referenceμνεία: 'remembrance / mention'; the cognate dative μνείᾳ μνησθήσῃ ('with remembrance you shall remember' = 'you shall surely remember') renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute זָכֹר תִּזְכֹּר, intensifying the command to remember — memory is the deliberate, emphatic duty that overcomes fear.
μνησθήσῃyou shall rememberFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · μιμνῄσκομαιmain verb (cognate-dative construction: emphatic command to remember)→ imperatival future (emphatic command: surely remember)μιμνῄσκομαι: 'remember / call to mind'; renders זָכַר; with the cognate dative μνείᾳ it forms an emphatic command — remembrance of the LORD's mighty acts in the Exodus is the cure for fear of the nations.
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of remembering and of ἐποίησεν)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much as / all that'; the relative gathers the totality of the LORD's deeds against Egypt as the object of remembrance.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause (the LORD's acts against Egypt)→ constative aorist (the completed deeds of the Exodus)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; 'all that the LORD did to Pharaoh and Egypt' — the plagues, signs, and deliverance — is the content of the saving memory.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the agent of the Exodus-deeds remembered here.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
τῷtoDativearticle (with Φαραω)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΦαραωPharaohdative object (indeclinable proper noun: recipient of the LORD's acts)→ participant identificationΦαραω: transliteration of Hebrew פַּרְעֹה; indeclinable in the LXX (here with the dative article τῷ marking the case); the world-power overthrown in the Exodus, whose defeat assures victory over the Canaanites.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶσιallDativeattributive adjective (modifying Αἰγυπτίοις)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the LORD's acts reached 'all the Egyptians,' the whole nation — a far greater foe than the Canaanites.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with Αἰγυπτίοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἰγυπτίοιςEgyptiansDativedative object (recipients of the LORD's judgments)→ sphere or referenceΑἰγύπτιος: 'Egyptian'; gentilic adjective used substantively; 'all the Egyptians' — the mighty nation of bondage overthrown by the LORD, the paradigm of his power over the nations.
19
τοὺς πειρασμοὺς τοὺς μεγάλους οὓς εἴδοσαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου τὰ σημεῖα καὶ τὰ τέρατα τὰ μεγάλα ἐκεῖνα τὴν χεῖρα τὴν κραταιὰν καὶ τὸν βραχίονα τὸν ὑψηλόν ὡς ἐξήγαγέν σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου οὕτως ποιήσει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν οὓς σὺ φοβῇ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν
the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and those great wonders, the mighty hand and the uplifted arm — as the LORD your God brought you out, so the LORD our God will do to all the nations before whom you are afraid.
The remembered deeds are itemized in apposition to ὅσα ἐποίησεν (v. 18): the great trials, signs, wonders, mighty hand and uplifted arm (recalling v. 8's couplet). The comparative ὡς … οὕτως ('as … so') draws the conclusion: as the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, so he will do to the Canaanite nations Israel fears — the Exodus is the template of the conquest. Note the shift to 'the LORD our God' (ἡμῶν), as Moses identifies with the people.
Word-by-word analysis· 48 words
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πειρασμούς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πειρασμοὺςtrials / testingsAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ὅσα (v. 18; the great trials)→ object specificationπειρασμός: 'trial / testing / ordeal'; renders מַסּוֹת ('trials / proofs'); the 'great trials' are the testing demonstrations of the LORD's power in the Exodus — the plagues and judgments that proved his sovereignty over Egypt.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with μεγάλους)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεγάλουςgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying πειρασμούς)→ object specificationμέγας: 'great'; the greatness of the trials magnifies the LORD's power — and thus the futility of fearing lesser foes.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἴδοσαν, antecedent πειρασμούς)→ participant referenceοὓς: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of εἴδοσαν, antecedent πειρασμούς).
εἴδοσανsawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωverb of relative clause (the eyes that witnessed the Exodus-trials)→ constative aorist (the past act of eyewitness seeing)ὁράω (aor. 3 pl. εἴδοσαν): 'see'; εἴδοσαν is the Hellenistic/Septuagintal 3rd-plural aorist (for εἶδον), common in the LXX; 'which your eyes saw' stresses that the Exodus-deeds were witnessed firsthand — eyewitness memory grounds the call not to fear.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ὀφθαλμοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοίeyesNominativesubject of εἴδοσαν→ participant prominenceὀφθαλμός (pl. ὀφθαλμοί): 'eyes'; 'your eyes saw' — the eyewitness character of the Exodus-generation's experience is the basis of confident remembrance.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμοί)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμοί).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with σημεῖα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σημεῖαsignsAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the signs of the Exodus)→ object specificationσημεῖον: 'sign'; renders אֹתוֹת; the 'signs and wonders' (σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα) are the standard Deuteronomic designation of the Exodus-miracles (cf. Deut 4:34; 6:22; 26:8); the pairing is taken up in the NT for the works of God in Christ and the apostles (Acts 2:22).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with τέρατα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τέραταwonders / portentsAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the wonders of the Exodus)→ object specificationτέρας (pl. τέρατα): 'wonder / portent / marvel'; renders מֹפְתִים; the awe-inspiring marvels of the Exodus, paired with σημεῖα as the classic signs-and-wonders formula.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with μεγάλα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεγάλαgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τέρατα)→ object specificationμέγας: 'great'; the wonders' greatness underscores the surpassing power of the LORD who performed them.
ἐκεῖναthoseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying τέρατα: 'those great wonders')→ object specificationἐκεῖνος: 'those'; the remote demonstrative points back to the well-known wonders of the Exodus, fixed in Israel's memory.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραhandAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the mighty hand of the Exodus)→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; ἡ χεὶρ ἡ κραταιά ('the mighty hand') recalls v. 8 and the Exodus-couplet of the mighty hand and uplifted arm (Deut 4:34; 5:15) — the image of the LORD's irresistible saving power.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κραταιάν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κραταιὰνmightyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying χεῖρα)→ object specificationκραταιός: 'strong / mighty'; renders חֲזָקָה; the 'mighty hand' is the stock image of the LORD's overwhelming power in the Exodus (cf. v. 8).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βραχίονα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βραχίοναarmAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the uplifted arm of the Exodus)→ object specificationβραχίων: 'arm'; ὁ βραχίων ὁ ὑψηλός ('the uplifted arm') completes the Exodus-couplet of v. 8; the paired hand-and-arm imagery (cf. Deut 4:34; 26:8) embodies the LORD's mighty deliverance.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ὑψηλόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑψηλόνuplifted / highAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying βραχίονα)→ object specificationὑψηλός: 'high / uplifted'; renders נְטוּיָה ('outstretched'); the raised arm of mighty action (cf. v. 8).
ὡςascomparative conjunction (correlative with οὕτως: 'as … so')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / just as'; introduces the comparison — as the LORD acted in the Exodus, so he will act against the Canaanites; the ὡς … οὕτως structure makes the Exodus the paradigm of the conquest.
ἐξήγαγένbrought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωverb of comparative clause (the Exodus-bringing-out)→ constative aorist (the accomplished deliverance)ἐξάγω: 'lead out / bring out'; the Exodus-verb (cf. v. 8); the LORD's bringing-out of Israel is the model for what he will now do to the nations.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξήγαγεν→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξήγαγεν.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐξήγαγεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the agent of the Exodus-deliverance.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
οὕτωςsoadverb of manner (correlative with ὡς: 'so')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'so / thus'; completes the ὡς … οὕτως comparison — as in the Exodus, so against the nations.
ποιήσειwill doFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the LORD's coming act against the nations)→ predictive future (assured future conquest, patterned on the Exodus)ποιέω: 'do'; the future ποιήσει ('he will do') applies the Exodus-pattern to the future — the LORD will do to the Canaanites what he did to Egypt.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ποιήσει→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριος→ participant prominenceθεὸς: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative in apposition to κύριος.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεός: 'our God')→ relational specificationἡμῶν: 'our'; the shift from σου ('your God') to ἡμῶν ('our God') has Moses identifying himself with the people — the LORD is the God of the whole covenant community, the shared confidence against the nations.
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνεσιν)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the LORD's Exodus-power will be exercised against 'all the nations' Israel fears — none is exempt.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἔθνεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνεσινnationsDativedative object of ποιήσει (the nations against whom the LORD acts)→ sphere or referenceἔθνος (dat. pl. ἔθνεσιν): 'nations'; the Canaanite peoples, the object of the LORD's coming act, are the very ones Israel fears.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of φοβῇ, antecedent ἔθνεσιν)→ participant referenceοὓς: meaning 'whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (object of φοβῇ, antecedent ἔθνεσιν).
σὺyouNominativesubject of φοβῇ (emphatic)→ participant referenceσύ: the emphatic 'you' highlights the contrast between Israel's fear and the LORD's power — 'the nations whom you fear' will be undone by the God you serve.
φοβῇyou fearPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · φοβέομαιverb of relative clause (Israel's fear of the nations)→ durative present (the ongoing fear to be overcome)φοβέομαι: 'fear'; the present tense names the fear as a present reality — but a fear answered and dissolved by the remembrance of the Exodus.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (idiom: 'before their face')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (idiom: 'before their face').
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'before their presence')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν ('before their face') renders מִפְּנֵיהֶם, the Hebraism for cowering 'before' a feared power; the fear is of facing the nations in battle.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship (with προσώπου)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with προσώπου).
20
καὶ τὰς σφηκίας ἀποστελεῖ κύριος ὁ θεός σου εἰς αὐτούς ἕως ἂν ἐκτριβῶσιν οἱ καταλελειμμένοι καὶ οἱ κεκρυμμένοι ἀπὸ σοῦ
And the LORD your God will send the hornets among them, until those who are left and those hidden from you are destroyed.
The LORD will send the hornets (τὰς σφηκίας) against the nations until even the survivors and those hidden are destroyed. The hornet-motif (cf. Exod 23:28; Josh 24:12) is a divine instrument of conquest that reaches what Israel's sword cannot — the hidden and the remnant. The ἕως ἄν + subjunctive clause guarantees the completeness of the destruction.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with σφηκίας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σφηκίαςhornets / wasp-swarmAccusativedirect object of ἀποστελεῖ (the LORD's instrument of conquest)→ object specificationσφηκία: 'wasps' nest / hornet-swarm'; renders צִרְעָה ('hornet'); the LORD's sending of the hornet against the nations (cf. Exod 23:28; Deut 7:20; Josh 24:12) is a divinely-deployed terror, variously understood as a literal plague of stinging insects or a metaphor for panic/dread that drives out the enemy; it reaches the survivors Israel's own arms cannot.
ἀποστελεῖwill sendFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (the LORD's sending of the hornets)→ predictive future (assured divine act of conquest)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / send forth (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; the LORD 'sends' the hornet as his agent against the nations — the conquest is effected by divinely-commissioned means beyond Israel's own power.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀποστελεῖ→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the sender of the hornet.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
εἰςagainst / amongpreposition + accusative (hostile direction: 'against them')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: here 'against / among'; the hornet is sent 'against them' in hostile commission.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the nations)→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of εἰς (the nations).
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive: 'until')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; with ἄν and the subjunctive marks the terminus of the hornet's work — the complete destruction of the survivors.
ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive in the temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle with the subjunctive in the ἕως-clause, marking the contingent terminus.
ἐκτριβῶσινthey are destroyed / wiped outAor Pass Subj 3 Pl · ἐκτρίβωverb of temporal clause (the destruction of the survivors)→ resultative aorist passive subjunctive (the completed wiping-out)ἐκτρίβω: 'rub out / wipe out / destroy utterly'; renders אָבַד / שָׁמַד; the passive ἐκτριβῶσιν ('be wiped out') marks the survivors as the object of total destruction; the compound ἐκ- intensifies the obliteration.
οἱthoseNominativearticle (substantivizing καταλελειμμένοι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταλελειμμένοιthose left / remainingPerf Pass Part Nom Pl Masc · καταλείπωsubstantival participle (subject of ἐκτριβῶσιν: the survivors)→ resultative perfect participle (those remaining in a settled state of having survived)καταλείπω (perf. pass. part. καταλελειμμένοι): 'leave behind / leave remaining'; renders נִשְׁאָר; 'those left over' are the survivors of the initial conquest, whom the hornet finishes off — the destruction reaches even the remnant.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱthoseNominativearticle (substantivizing κεκρυμμένοι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεκρυμμένοιthose hiddenPerf Pass Part Nom Pl Masc · κρύπτωsubstantival participle (subject of ἐκτριβῶσιν: those in hiding)→ resultative perfect participle (those in a settled state of being hidden)κρύπτω (perf. pass. part. κεκρυμμένοι): 'hide / conceal'; renders נִסְתָּר; 'those hidden from you' are the enemies who escape Israel's notice — but not the LORD's hornet; the divine instrument reaches even the concealed, ensuring total conquest.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'hidden from you')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'hidden from you').
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the one from whom they hide)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀπό (the one from whom they hide).
21
οὐ τρωθήσῃ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν ὅτι κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐν σοί θεὸς μέγας καὶ κραταιός
You shall not be dismayed before them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and mighty God.
The fear-not command is renewed (οὐ τρωθήσῃ, 'you shall not be shattered/dismayed') and grounded (ὅτι) in the LORD's presence 'in your midst' (ἐν σοί) — he is a great and mighty God (θεὸς μέγας καὶ κραταιός). The indwelling presence of the conquering God is the final answer to fear: the nations are great (v. 1), but the God in Israel's midst is greater.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
οὐnotnegative particle (with prohibitive future τρωθήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τρωθήσῃyou shall be dismayed / woundedFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · τιτρώσκωmain verb (prohibitive future: 'do not be shattered')→ prohibitive future (renewed fear-not command)τιτρώσκω (fut. pass. τρωθήσῃ): 'wound / pierce'; here metaphorically 'be shaken / dismayed / broken in courage'; renders עָרַץ ('be terrified / dread'); 'you shall not be dismayed before them' renews the fear-not exhortation in vivid terms — no enemy can wound the courage of those in whom the LORD dwells.
ἀπὸbeforepreposition + genitive (idiom: 'before their face')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (idiom: 'before their face').
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'before their presence')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν ('before their face') renders מִפְּנֵיהֶם — the dread of facing the nations, which the LORD's presence dispels.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship (with προσώπου)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with προσώπου).
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the fear-not command)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; grounds the courage in the LORD's presence and might.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of the implied copula: 'the LORD … is in your midst')→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the indwelling God whose presence is the ground of fearlessness.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in your midst')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: 'in / among'; ἐν σοί ('in you / in your midst') affirms the LORD's indwelling presence among his people — the ground of courage (cf. Deut 6:15; Zeph 3:17).
σοίyouDativedative object of ἐν ('in your midst')→ participant reference or interestσοί: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐν ('in your midst').
θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominative (in apposition: 'a great and mighty God')→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; θεὸς μέγας καὶ κραταιός ('a great and mighty God') is a confessional formula (cf. Deut 10:17; Neh 9:32) asserting the LORD's supreme power — the answer to the nations' greatness (v. 1).
μέγαςgreatNominativeattributive adjective (modifying θεός)→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; the LORD's greatness exceeds that of the 'great nations' (ἔθνη μεγάλα, v. 1) — divine greatness dwarfs every human power.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κραταιόςmightyNominativeattributive adjective (modifying θεός)→ participant prominenceκραταιός: 'mighty / strong'; the same root as the 'mighty hand' (χεὶρ κραταιά, vv. 8, 19); the God who acted with a mighty hand in the Exodus is himself mighty — the nations stronger than Israel (v. 1) are no match for him.
22
καὶ καταναλώσει κύριος ὁ θεός σου τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα ἀπὸ προσώπου σου κατὰ μικρὸν μικρόν οὐ δυνήσῃ ἐξαναλῶσαι αὐτοὺς τὸ τάχος ἵνα μὴ γένηται ἡ γῆ ἔρημος καὶ πληθυνθῇ ἐπὶ σὲ τὰ θηρία τὰ ἄγρια
And the LORD your God will consume these nations from before you little by little; you will not be able to consume them quickly, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you.
A pastoral qualification: the LORD will consume the nations 'little by little' (κατὰ μικρὸν μικρόν), not all at once — lest the land, emptied of inhabitants, become desolate and overrun by wild beasts. The gradualness is not weakness but divine prudence (cf. Exod 23:29–30); even the pace of conquest serves Israel's good. The reduplicated μικρὸν μικρόν renders the Hebrew מְעַט מְעָט.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταναλώσειwill consumeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · καταναλίσκωmain verb (the LORD's gradual consuming of the nations)→ predictive future (assured but gradual divine act)καταναλίσκω: 'consume / use up / destroy completely'; the compound κατα- intensifies ἀναλίσκω ('spend / consume'); renders נָשַׁל ('clear away'); the LORD will gradually 'consume' the nations — total in outcome, gradual in pace.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of καταναλώσει→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the agent of the gradual conquest.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativedirect object of καταναλώσει→ object specificationἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nations'; 'these nations' are the seven Canaanite peoples (v. 1), the object of the gradual divine consuming.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνη)→ object specificationταῦτα: meaning 'these'; it serves as demonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνη).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (idiom: 'from before you')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (idiom: 'from before you').
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'from before you')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; ἀπὸ προσώπου σου ('from before you'), the recurring expulsion-idiom (cf. vv. 1, 19); the nations are cleared from Israel's path.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with προσώπου)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with προσώπου).
κατὰbypreposition + accusative (distributive: 'little by little')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: distributive, in the idiom κατὰ μικρὸν μικρόν ('little by little / bit by bit'), rendering מְעַט מְעָט; marks the gradual, measured pace of the conquest.
μικρὸνlittleAccusativesubstantival adjective (with κατά: 'a little')→ object specificationμικρός: 'small / little'; the reduplicated μικρὸν μικρόν renders the Hebrew distributive מְעַט מְעָט ('little by little'), expressing the incremental pace of dispossession.
μικρόνlittleAccusativesubstantival adjective (reduplicated: 'little by little')→ object specificationμικρός: repeated for the distributive sense; the doubling intensifies the gradualness — the conquest unfolds in stages, by divine design.
οὐnotnegative particle (with δυνήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δυνήσῃyou will be ableFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb (negated: 'you will not be able')→ predictive future (the impossibility/inadvisability of swift conquest)δύναμαι: 'be able'; 'you will not be able to consume them quickly' — not from weakness but from the divine purpose stated in the ἵνα-clause; the gradual pace protects the land.
ἐξαναλῶσαιto consume utterly / make an end ofAor Act Inf · ἐξαναλίσκωcomplementary infinitive (with δυνήσῃ)→ telic aorist infinitive (the swift total consuming that is precluded)ἐξαναλίσκω: 'consume entirely / make a complete end'; the double compound ἐξ-ανα- intensifies the totality; the swift, all-at-once consuming is precluded — not the outcome but the speed is qualified.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξαναλῶσαι→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξαναλῶσαι.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with adverbial τάχος)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τάχοςquicklyAccusativeadverbial accusative (τὸ τάχος: 'quickly')→ object specificationτάχος: 'speed'; the adverbial τὸ τάχος ('quickly'), as in v. 4, renders מַהֵר; here the swiftness is what is denied — the conquest must be gradual.
ἵναlest / so thatpurpose conjunction (with μή: negative purpose)→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα (with μή): introduces a negative purpose clause ('lest / so that … not'); gives the reason for the gradual pace — to prevent the land's desolation.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the purpose subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γένηταιbecomeAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of negative purpose clause ('lest the land become desolate')→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the feared transition to desolation)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be'; the subjunctive in the ἵνα μή clause names the danger to be avoided — the land becoming desolate if emptied too fast (cf. Exod 23:29).
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of γένηται→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'land'; the land that would fall to ruin and wildness if depopulated too suddenly — the gradual conquest preserves it for Israel's flourishing.
ἔρημοςdesolate / desertedNominativepredicate adjective (with γένηται: 'become desolate')→ participant prominenceἔρημος: 'deserted / desolate / wilderness'; renders שְׁמָמָה; an unworked, depopulated land reverts to wilderness, overrun by wild animals — the very outcome the measured pace averts.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second feared outcome)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πληθυνθῇmultiply / increaseAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · πληθύνωverb of negative purpose clause ('lest the beasts multiply')→ ingressive aorist passive subjunctive (the feared proliferation of beasts)πληθύνω (pass.): 'be multiplied / increase'; the same verb used of Israel's blessing (v. 13) is here applied, ironically, to the danger of wild beasts proliferating in a depopulated land; the passive marks the beasts as the multiplying subject.
ἐπὶagainst / uponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction: 'against you')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: here 'against / upon'; the wild beasts would multiply 'against you,' threatening Israel — hence the prudence of gradual conquest.
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the one endangered by the beasts)→ participant referenceσὲ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί (the one endangered by the beasts).
τὰtheNominativearticle (with θηρία)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θηρίαbeastsNominativesubject of πληθυνθῇ→ participant prominenceθηρίον: 'wild beast / animal'; renders חַיָּה; the wild beasts that would overrun a desolate land, a danger the measured pace of conquest forestalls (cf. Exod 23:29).
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἄγρια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγριαwildNominativeattributive adjective (modifying θηρία)→ participant prominenceἄγριος: 'wild / savage / of the field'; renders שָׂדֶה ('of the field'); 'the wild beasts' (τὰ θηρία τὰ ἄγρια) are the savage animals that proliferate in uninhabited land.
23
καὶ παραδώσει αὐτοὺς κύριος ὁ θεός σου εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου καὶ ἀπολέσει αὐτοὺς ἀπωλείᾳ μεγάλῃ ἕως ἂν ἐξολεθρεύσῃ αὐτούς
And the LORD your God will deliver them into your hands, and will destroy them with a great destruction, until he has utterly destroyed them.
The conquest-assurance of v. 2 is renewed: the LORD delivers (παραδώσει) the nations into Israel's hands and destroys them with a great destruction (cognate-dative ἀπωλείᾳ μεγάλῃ) until they are utterly destroyed (ἐξολεθρεύσῃ). The gradualness of v. 22 in no way diminishes the certainty and totality of the outcome — the conquest is sure, though measured in pace.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παραδώσειwill deliverFut Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (the LORD's handing-over of the nations)→ predictive future (certain divine act, echoing v. 2)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; the conquest-idiom of v. 2 is repeated — the LORD delivers the nations into Israel's hands; the renewal frames vv. 17–24 as an inclusio of conquest-assurance.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of παραδώσει→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of παραδώσει.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of παραδώσει→ participant prominenceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the agent of the conquest.
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 relationship (with θεός)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεός).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'into your hands')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (idiom: 'into your hands').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖράς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖράςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom of military surrender)→ object specificationχείρ (pl. χεῖρες): 'hand'; the idiom παραδίδωμι εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ('deliver into the hands of', as in v. 2) marks the transfer of the enemy into Israel's power.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χεῖράς)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with χεῖράς).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπολέσειwill destroyFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (cognate-dative construction: emphatic destruction)→ predictive future (certain, total destruction)ἀπόλλυμι: 'destroy / ruin / cause to perish'; renders אָבַד (Piel) / הָמַם; with the cognate dative ἀπωλείᾳ μεγάλῃ it intensifies the destruction — 'destroy with a great destruction'; the LORD himself accomplishes the ruin of the nations.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀπολέσει→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀπολέσει.
ἀπωλείᾳwith destructionDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying ἀπολέσει)→ sphere or referenceἀπώλεια: 'destruction / ruin / perdition'; the cognate dative ἀπωλείᾳ μεγάλῃ ('with a great destruction') renders the Hebrew construction intensifying the verb (cf. מְהוּמָה גְדֹלָה, 'a great panic/destruction'); the dativus cognatus heightens the totality of the ruin.
μεγάλῃgreatDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀπωλείᾳ)→ sphere or referenceμέγας: 'great'; the greatness of the destruction matches the greatness of the nations (v. 1) — the mighty foe meets a mighty ruin.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive: 'until')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; with ἄν and the subjunctive marks the terminus — until the nations are utterly destroyed; guarantees the completeness of the conquest.
ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive in the temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἂν: meaning 'ever'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξολεθρεύσῃhe utterly destroysAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωverb of temporal clause (the terminus: total destruction)→ resultative aorist subjunctive (the completed extermination)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; the intensive ḥērem-verb (cf. vv. 4, 10, 24); the LORD is the subject — he completes the extermination of the nations, the terminus of the conquest.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεύσῃ→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξολεθρεύσῃ.
24
καὶ παραδώσει τοὺς βασιλεῖς αὐτῶν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν καὶ ἀπολεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ἐκ τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου οὐκ ἀντιστήσεται οὐδεὶς κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου ἕως ἂν ἐξολεθρεύσῃς αὐτούς
And he will deliver their kings into your hands, and their name shall perish from that place; no one shall withstand you to your face, until you have utterly destroyed them.
The conquest-assurance climaxes: even the kings of the nations are delivered into Israel's hands, their very name perishing from the land; none can stand before Israel until they are utterly destroyed. The blotting-out of the name (ἀπολεῖται τὸ ὄνομα) signifies total annihilation of memory and dynasty — the inverse of the LORD's promise to make Israel's name great; the conquest is complete, with Israel now the subject of the final ἐξολεθρεύσῃς.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παραδώσειwill deliverFut Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (the LORD's handing-over of the kings)→ predictive future (certain divine act)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over'; now the very kings of the nations are delivered into Israel's hands — the conquest reaches the apex of enemy power, just as the Exodus overthrew Pharaoh king of Egypt (v. 8).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖςkingsAccusativedirect object of παραδώσει→ object specificationβασιλεύς (pl. βασιλεῖς): 'king'; renders מְלָכִים; the kings of the Canaanite nations, the apex of enemy power, handed over — recalling Pharaoh king of Egypt (v. 8), the paradigmatic defeated king.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with βασιλεῖς)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with βασιλεῖς).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'into your hands')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (idiom: 'into your hands').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom of military surrender)→ object specificationχείρ (pl. χεῖρας): 'hand'; 'into your hands' (now plural ὑμῶν) — the same surrender-idiom as vv. 2, 23.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χεῖρας, 2nd person plural)→ relational specificationThe shift to plural ὑμῶν ('your [pl.] hands') continues the Deuteronomic number-fluctuation between singular and plural address.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπολεῖταιwill perishFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (the perishing of the enemy's name)→ predictive future (the blotting-out of the enemy's name)ἀπόλλυμι (mid. ἀπόλλυμαι): 'perish / be destroyed'; the middle ἀπολεῖται ('shall perish') marks the enemy's name as the perishing subject; the blotting-out of the 'name' signifies total annihilation of memory, lineage, and renown (cf. Deut 9:14; 25:19).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὄνομα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of ἀπολεῖται→ participant prominenceὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; the 'name' as the locus of identity, memory, and continuance; its perishing from the land is the most complete form of destruction — the nations leave no trace.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with ὄνομα).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from that place')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from that place').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with τόπου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπουplaceGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from that place')→ relational specificationτόπος: 'place / region'; renders מָקוֹם; the land from which the enemy's name is blotted out — the very territory Israel is to inherit, cleansed of its former inhabitants' memory.
ἐκείνουthatGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying τόπου)→ relational specificationἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the remote demonstrative specifies the land of conquest as the place purged of the nations' name.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀντιστήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀντιστήσεταιwill withstand / stand againstFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀνθίστημιmain verb (negated, with subject οὐδείς: 'no one shall withstand')→ predictive future (assurance of invincibility)ἀνθίστημι (mid. ἀνθίσταμαι): 'set oneself against / withstand / resist'; renders יָצַב / עָמַד; 'no one shall withstand you' (cf. Josh 1:5; 10:8) assures Israel of invincibility in the LORD-given conquest — the same verb Paul uses of resisting God's ordinance (Rom 13:2).
οὐδεὶςno oneNominativesubject of ἀντιστήσεται (emphatic negation)→ participant prominenceοὐδείς: 'no one / none'; the absolute negation — not a single enemy can stand before Israel while the LORD fights for them.
κατὰbefore / topreposition + accusative (idiom: 'to your face')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: in the idiom κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου ('to your face / before you'), rendering בְּפָנֶיךָ; none can stand 'in your presence' to oppose you.
πρόσωπόνfaceAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (idiom: 'before your face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου ('before your face') — the enemy cannot stand in Israel's presence; the same phrase used of the LORD's requital to the haters' face (v. 10).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πρόσωπόν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with πρόσωπόν).
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive: 'until')→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; with ἄν and the subjunctive marks the terminus — until Israel has utterly destroyed them.
ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive in the temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἂν: meaning 'ever'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξολεθρεύσῃςyou utterly destroyAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωverb of temporal clause (the terminus: Israel's total destruction of them)→ resultative aorist subjunctive (the completed extermination)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; here with Israel as subject (2 sg.) — whereas in v. 23 the LORD destroys, here Israel executes the ḥērem; divine and human action coincide in the conquest, Israel performing what the LORD enables.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεύσῃς→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξολεθρεύσῃς.
25
τὰ γλυπτὰ τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν κατακαύσετε πυρί οὐκ ἐπιθυμήσεις ἀργύριον οὐδὲ χρυσίον ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ οὐ λήμψῃ σεαυτῷ μὴ πταίσῃς δι᾿ αὐτό ὅτι βδέλυγμα κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ σού ἐστιν
The graven images of their gods you shall burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold upon them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.
The chapter returns, as an inclusio with v. 5, to the burning of the graven images — but now adds a sharp warning against the idols' precious metal: do not covet (οὐκ ἐπιθυμήσεις) the silver or gold upon them, nor take it, lest it become a snare (μὴ πταίσῃς, 'lest you stumble'). The reason is decisive: such a thing is βδέλυγμα ('an abomination') to the LORD — the gold of idolatry is itself contaminated and must not enter Israel's life.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with γλυπτά, fronted object)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γλυπτὰgraven imagesAccusativedirect object of κατακαύσετε (fronted)→ object specificationγλυπτός: 'carved / graven (thing)'; the neuter plural τὰ γλυπτά renders פְּסִילִים ('carved idols'); the command to burn the images repeats v. 5 verbatim, forming an inclusio that frames the chapter's polemic against the Canaanite cult.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with θεῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῶνgodsGenitivegenitive of possession ('images of their gods')→ relational specificationθεός (pl. gen. θεῶν): the pagan gods whose images are to be burned; the genitive marks the idols as their cult-objects.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεῶν)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with θεῶν).
κατακαύσετεyou shall burn upFut Act Indic 2 Pl · κατακαίωmain verb (command to burn the images, repeated from v. 5)→ imperatival future (command to burn completely)κατακαίω: 'burn up / consume with fire'; the perfective compound κατα- marks complete incineration; renders שָׂרַף בָּאֵשׁ; fire leaves nothing of the idol to covet — yet the verse goes on to warn against coveting the precious metal, anticipating the temptation (cf. Achan, Josh 7).
πυρίwith fireDativedative of instrument (means of burning)→ sphere or referenceπῦρ: 'fire'; the instrumental dative πυρί ('with fire'), as in v. 5, renders בָּאֵשׁ; fire as the agent of total destruction of the idols.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with prohibitive future ἐπιθυμήσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιθυμήσειςyou shall covet / desireFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐπιθυμέωmain verb (prohibition of coveting)→ prohibitive future (categorical ban on coveting)ἐπιθυμέω: 'desire / covet / lust after'; renders חָמַד; the same verb as the tenth commandment's prohibition of coveting (οὐκ ἐπιθυμήσεις, Deut 5:21); here the coveting of the idols' silver and gold is forbidden — the precious metal is contaminated by its cultic use (cf. Achan's sin, Josh 7:21, which uses חָמַד).
ἀργύριονsilverAccusativedirect object of ἐπιθυμήσεις→ object specificationἀργύριον: 'silver / money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the silver overlay or fittings of the idols — portable wealth that must not be coveted lest it draw Israel into the idolatry it represents.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'nor'; extends the prohibition from silver to gold.
χρυσίονgoldAccusativedirect object of ἐπιθυμήσεις (coordinate with ἀργύριον)→ object specificationχρυσίον: 'gold / golden object'; renders זָהָב; the silver-and-gold pairing is the standard merism for precious metal; here both are forbidden as the contaminated spoil of idolatry.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (source: 'from them', elided)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ᾿: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source: 'from them', elided).
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the idols, source of the metal)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀπό (the idols, source of the metal).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with prohibitive future λήμψῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψῃyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (prohibition of taking the metal)→ prohibitive future (categorical ban on taking)λαμβάνω (fut. mid. λήμψῃ): 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; 'you shall not take it for yourself' — the taking of the idols' metal (as Achan would do, Josh 7) is forbidden; the middle σεαυτῷ stresses taking for one's own benefit.
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive: 'for yourself')→ sphere or referenceσεαυτοῦ (dat. σεαυτῷ): reflexive pronoun 'yourself'; the dative of advantage stresses the self-interested taking that is forbidden — appropriating the contaminated spoil for personal gain.
μὴlestnegative conjunction (introducing a clause of apprehension/purpose)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: 'lest'; introduces a clause of apprehension with the subjunctive πταίσῃς — the danger to be avoided by not taking the metal.
πταίσῃςyou stumble / be ensnaredAor Act Subj 2 Sg · πταίωverb of apprehension clause ('lest you stumble')→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the feared act of stumbling into sin)πταίω: 'stumble / trip / fall into sin'; the feared 'stumbling' is being ensnared by the idol's metal into idolatry itself — the snare (σκῶλον) of v. 16 made concrete; the verb is taken up in the NT for moral stumbling (Jas 2:10; 3:2; 2 Pet 1:10).
δι᾿because ofpreposition + accusative (cause: 'because of it', elided)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + accusative: 'because of / on account of'; the metal would be the cause of the stumbling into idolatry.
αὐτόitAccusativeaccusative object of διά (the silver/gold, cause of stumbling)→ participant referenceαὐτό: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of διά (the silver/gold, cause of stumbling).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (grounding the prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; grounds the prohibition — the metal is an abomination, intrinsically defiled.
βδέλυγμαabominationNominativepredicate nominative ('it is an abomination')→ participant prominenceβδέλυγμα: 'abomination / detestable thing'; renders תּוֹעֵבָה; the LXX's key term for what is loathsome to the LORD — especially idolatry; the idols' metal is βδέλυγμα κυρίῳ ('an abomination to the LORD'), sharing in the defilement of the idol it adorned; the word recurs in v. 26 and underlies the NT 'abomination of desolation' (Matt 24:15).
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of reference ('abomination to the LORD')→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative marks the LORD as the one to whom the metal is loathsome — what is abominable to him must have no place in Israel.
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.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεῷ)→ relational specificationσού: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (with θεῷ).
ἐστινit isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (linking the metal to βδέλυγμα)→ stative present (the abiding defiled character of the metal)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula states the abiding reality — the idol's metal is, by nature, an abomination to the LORD.
26
καὶ οὐκ εἰσοίσεις βδέλυγμα εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου καὶ ἔσῃ ἀνάθημα ὥσπερ τοῦτο προσοχθίσματι προσοχθιεῖς καὶ βδελύγματι βδελύξῃ ὅτι ἀνάθημά ἐστιν
And you shall not bring an abomination into your house, lest you become a devoted thing like it; you shall utterly abhor it and utterly detest it, for it is a devoted thing.
The chapter closes with the gravest warning: bring no abomination (βδέλυγμα) into the house, lest you yourself become ἀνάθημα ('a devoted thing', ḥērem) like it — the very destruction destined for the nations would fall on Israel. The two cognate-dative Hebraisms (προσοχθίσματι προσοχθιεῖς, 'utterly abhor'; βδελύγματι βδελύξῃ, 'utterly detest') command total revulsion. The closing ὅτι ἀνάθημά ἐστιν seals the theology: the idol is ḥērem, and contact with it transfers its doom.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with prohibitive future εἰσοίσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσοίσειςyou shall bring inFut Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰσφέρωmain verb (prohibition of bringing the abomination home)→ prohibitive future (categorical ban)εἰσφέρω (fut. εἰσοίσω): 'bring in / carry into'; renders בּוֹא (Hiphil); 'you shall not bring an abomination into your house' — the idol or its metal must not cross the threshold of an Israelite home, lest the household share its doom (cf. Achan's hidden spoil, Josh 7:11).
βδέλυγμαabominationAccusativedirect object of εἰσοίσεις→ object specificationβδέλυγμα: 'abomination / detestable thing'; renders תּוֹעֵבָה; repeated from v. 25 — the idol/metal that is loathsome to the LORD; bringing it home would defile the household and make it liable to ḥērem.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction: 'into your house')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'into your house').
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκόνhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the household to be kept undefiled)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת; the home, the basic unit of covenant life, must not be contaminated by the abomination — defilement of the house would extend the idol's ḥērem to the family.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἶκόν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with οἶκόν).
καὶand / lestcoordinate conjunction (consecutive force: 'and so / lest')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with consecutive force ('and so you would become …'), expressing the dire consequence of bringing the abomination home.
ἔσῃyou will be / becomeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the consequence: becoming a devoted thing)→ predictive future (the dire consequence of contamination)εἰμί (fut. ἔσῃ): 'be / become'; 'you will become a devoted thing (ἀνάθημα) like it' — the idol's ḥērem-status is contagious; whoever takes the devoted thing becomes himself devoted to destruction (cf. Josh 6:18; 7:12).
ἀνάθημαdevoted thing / accursed thingNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσῃ: 'you will be ḥērem')→ participant prominenceἀνάθημα: 'devoted/dedicated thing'; here in the negative sense of something devoted to destruction (ḥērem), rendering חֵרֶם; the chilling logic — to harbor the abomination is to become ἀνάθημα oneself, liable to the same destruction decreed for the nations; the cognate ἀνάθεμα becomes the NT term for a curse (Rom 9:3; 1 Cor 16:22; Gal 1:8–9).
ὥσπερjust as / likecomparative conjunction (with τοῦτο: 'like it')→ discourse linkage or contrastὥσπερ: 'just as / like'; the comparison 'a devoted thing like it' equates the fate of the one who harbors the abomination with the abomination itself — both are ḥērem.
τοῦτοthis / itNominativedemonstrative pronoun (object of comparison: 'like this thing')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; refers to the abomination/idol — the devoted thing whose doom is shared by whoever takes it.
προσοχθίσματιwith abhorrenceDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying προσοχθιεῖς)→ sphere or referenceπροσόχθισμα: 'object of loathing / detestable thing'; the cognate dative προσοχθίσματι προσοχθιεῖς ('with abhorrence you shall abhor' = 'utterly abhor') renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute שַׁקֵּץ תְּשַׁקְּצֶנּוּ; the dativus cognatus intensifies the command to total revulsion.
προσοχθιεῖςyou shall abhor / loatheFut Act Indic 2 Sg · προσοχθίζωmain verb (cognate-dative construction: emphatic command to abhor)→ imperatival future (emphatic command: utterly abhor)προσοχθίζω: 'be angry/disgusted at / loathe / abhor'; renders שָׁקַץ ('detest'); with the cognate dative it forms an emphatic command — Israel is to feel total loathing toward the idol, the proper covenant response to what the LORD abominates (cf. the same verb at Ps 94:10 LXX / Heb 3:10, 17 of God's loathing).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βδελύγματιwith detestationDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying βδελύξῃ)→ sphere or referenceβδέλυγμα (dat. βδελύγματι): here as cognate dative with βδελύξῃ ('with detestation you shall detest' = 'utterly detest'), rendering the Hebrew infinitive absolute תַּעֵב תְּתַעֲבֶנּוּ; the same root that named the idol as βδέλυγμα (v. 25) now commands Israel's detestation of it — a deliberate verbal echo binding the object and the required response.
βδελύξῃyou shall detest / abominateFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · βδελύσσωmain verb (cognate-dative construction: emphatic command to detest)→ imperatival future (emphatic command: utterly detest)βδελύσσομαι: 'detest / abhor / regard as abomination'; renders תָּעַב ('abhor'); with the cognate dative βδελύγματι it forms an emphatic command; the chapter ends as it must — with Israel's total revulsion toward the idolatry of the nations, the affective counterpart of the ḥērem; cf. Paul's ὁ βδελυσσόμενος τὰ εἴδωλα (Rom 2:22).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (grounding the command)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; the final grounding — the idol is ḥērem, and so must be utterly loathed and never harbored.
ἀνάθημάa devoted thing / accursed thingNominativepredicate nominative ('it is a devoted thing')→ participant prominenceἀνάθημα: 'devoted thing' (ḥērem); the closing word seals the chapter's theology — the idol is, by its very nature, devoted to destruction; to touch it is to share its doom, so it must be utterly abhorred and burned (v. 25); the term anticipates the NT ἀνάθεμα-curse.
ἐστινit isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (linking the idol to ἀνάθημα)→ stative present (the abiding ḥērem-character of the idol)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula states the abiding reality — the idol is, by nature, a devoted (accursed) thing; the chapter closes on the irrevocable status of the abomination as ḥērem.