1
καὶ ταῦτα τὰ δικαιώματα ἃ παραθήσεις ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν
And these are the ordinances which you shall set before them.
v.1 is the superscription of the whole block of case-law (Exod 21–23). The καί links it directly to the close of the Decalogue and altar-law of ch. 20; ταῦτα is cataphoric, pointing forward to the ordinances that follow. The second-person παραθήσεις addresses Moses as covenant mediator who is to 'set before' the people the laws he receives.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis, linking to ch. 20)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the connective binds the case-law collection to the theophany and altar-law of ch. 20; in the LXX Pentateuch καί routinely renders the Hebrew waw that opens a new legal paragraph.
ταῦταtheseNominativedemonstrative pronoun (cataphoric subject, pointing forward to the ordinances)→ participant referenceοὗτος: the neuter plural ταῦτα is cataphoric, anticipating the body of laws that follows; the formula ταῦτα τὰ δικαιώματα is a standard LXX heading-device for a legal collection (cf. Deut 12:1).
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιώματαordinances / statutesNominativepredicate nominative ('these are the ordinances')→ participant prominenceδικαίωμα: 'statute / ordinance / legal requirement'; the standard LXX rendering of Hebrew מִשְׁפָּט / חֹק; here מִשְׁפָּטִים, the technical name for the casuistic case-laws that comprise the Covenant Code; the cognate of δίκη / δίκαιος frames the laws as expressions of covenant righteousness.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of παραθήσεις, neuter plural agreeing with δικαιώματα)→ participant referenceὅς: the relative pronoun introduces the mediatorial commission; its antecedent is δικαιώματα, and it stands as the direct object of παραθήσεις.
παραθήσειςyou shall set beforeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · παρατίθημιmain verb (second-person commission to Moses)→ directive future (functioning as a command of presentation)παρατίθημι: 'set before / place beside / lay out'; renders Hebrew שִׂים / נָתַן לִפְנֵי; the same verb is used at Exod 19:7 of Moses setting the words of the LORD before the elders; the future has imperatival force, charging Moses to present the ordinances to the people for their assent.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the presence ofpreposition + genitive (locative: 'before them')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the sight of'; a Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; common in the LXX for setting something formally before an audience for acceptance.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (the people of Israel)→ relational specificationαὐτός: the genitive plural refers to the sons of Israel addressed throughout ch. 20; the ordinances are 'set before them' for covenant ratification (cf. 24:3–7).
2
ἐὰν κτήσῃ παῖδα Εβραῖον ἓξ ἔτη δουλεύσει σοι τῷ δὲ ἑβδόμῳ ἔτει ἀπελεύσεται ἐλεύθερος δωρεάν
If you acquire a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve you, but in the seventh year he shall go free without payment.
The first ordinance opens the characteristic casuistic pattern of the chapter: ἐάν + aorist subjunctive protasis (κτήσῃ) answered by a future apodosis (δουλεύσει … ἀπελεύσεται). The temporal accusative ἓξ ἔτη is balanced against the dative of time τῷ ἑβδόμῳ ἔτει, structuring the sabbatical principle of release.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing casuistic protasis, + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive it forms the protasis of the case-law; ἐάν + subjunctive is the LXX's standard calque of the Hebrew casuistic כִּי / אִם that opens each ordinance of the Covenant Code.
κτήσῃyou acquireAor Mid Subj 2 Sg · κτάομαιverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the act of acquiring as the condition)κτάομαι: 'acquire / get / purchase'; renders Hebrew קָנָה; the middle voice is proper to the verb ('get for oneself'); the acquisition envisaged is the purchase of a fellow Israelite into temporary debt-servitude, not chattel slavery of a foreigner.
παῖδαservant / slaveAccusativedirect object of κτήσῃ→ object specificationπαῖς: 'child / servant / slave'; here in the sense 'male servant / bondman', rendering Hebrew עֶבֶד; the LXX uses παῖς and οἰκέτης interchangeably in this chapter for the Hebrew debt-slave who serves a limited term.
ΕβραῖονHebrewAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying παῖδα: 'a Hebrew servant')→ object specificationἙβραῖος: 'Hebrew'; renders עִבְרִי; the ethnic qualifier is decisive — it is the kinsman-Israelite whose servitude is limited to six years; the law presupposes the brotherhood of debtor and creditor.
ἓξsixAccusativenumeral (modifying ἔτη in accusative of duration)→ object specificationἕξ: 'six'; indeclinable numeral; the six-year term reflects the sabbatical structure of Israelite time (six years of labor, release in the seventh; cf. the sabbatical year, Exod 23:10–11; Deut 15:12).
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of duration ('for six years')→ object specificationἔτος: 'year'; the accusative plural ἓξ ἔτη is an accusative of extent of time, marking the full span of obligatory service.
δουλεύσειhe shall serveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δουλεύωmain verb of apodosis (the duration of service)→ legislative future (prescriptive: 'he is to serve')δουλεύω: 'serve / be a slave / be in bondage'; renders עָבַד; the legislative future states the binding obligation; the term frames the relationship as genuine servitude, but bounded in time by the following clause.
σοιyouDativedative of person served (with δουλεύσει)→ participant reference or interestσύ: the dative σοι is governed by δουλεύω, which regularly takes the dative of the one served; the second person addresses the Israelite slave-owner directly.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἔτει)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting seventh year with the six)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; here mildly adversative, marking the turn from the years of service to the year of release.
ἑβδόμῳseventhDativeattributive ordinal (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος: 'seventh'; the ordinal evokes the sabbatical principle; the seventh year is the year of manumission, structurally analogous to the sabbath day and sabbatical year.
ἔτειyearDativedative of time when ('in the seventh year')→ sphere or referenceἔτος: the dative τῷ ἑβδόμῳ ἔτει is a dative of point of time, locating the release precisely in the seventh year.
ἀπελεύσεταιhe shall go awayFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb of apodosis (the act of departure / manumission)→ legislative future (prescriptive release)ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; renders יָצָא; the verb of departure becomes a technical term for manumission in this chapter (cf. vv. 3, 4, 7, 11); the released slave 'goes out' from the household.
ἐλεύθεροςfreeNominativepredicate adjective (the status in which he departs: 'as a free man')→ participant prominenceἐλεύθερος: 'free / a freeman'; renders חָפְשִׁי; the predicate adjective describes the slave's new legal condition at departure; ἐλευθερία is the goal of the six-year term.
δωρεάνwithout payment / gratisadverbial accusative (manner: 'freely, at no cost')→ clausal contributionδωρεάν: adverbial accusative of δωρεά, 'as a gift, gratis, for nothing'; renders חִנָּם; the released slave pays no redemption price — the freedom is unpurchased; the same word recurs at v. 11 of the maidservant's release.
3
ἐὰν αὐτὸς μόνος εἰσέλθῃ καὶ μόνος ἐξελεύσεται ἐὰν δὲ γυνὴ συνεισέλθῃ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξελεύσεται καὶ ἡ γυνὴ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ
If he comes in alone, he shall also go out alone; but if a wife comes in with him, his wife shall also go out with him.
Two paired sub-conditions refine the release of v. 2. The structure mirrors entry and exit (εἰσέλθῃ / ἐξελεύσεται), with μόνος ('alone') as the pivot. The principle is symmetry: the slave leaves in the family-state in which he entered — alone if he came alone, with his wife if she came with him.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (sub-case protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the first of two paired sub-conditions governing the slave's marital status.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject, emphatic: 'he by himself')→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'himself'; reinforces μόνος, stressing the slave's unmarried state at entry.
μόνοςaloneNominativepredicate adjective (circumstantial: 'as a single man')→ participant prominenceμόνος: 'alone / only / single'; renders בְּגַפּוֹ ('by himself'); here it designates a slave who enters service without a wife.
εἰσέλθῃhe comes inAor Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive: 'enters service')→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the act of entering service)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come in'; here idiomatic for entering into servitude; paired with ἐξέρχομαι (entry/exit) as the technical frame for the term of service.
καὶalsoadverbial / correlative (linking apodosis to protasis: 'so also')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here adverbial-correlative, 'also / correspondingly', marking the symmetry between entering alone and leaving alone.
μόνοςaloneNominativepredicate adjective (apodosis: 'he shall go out single')→ participant prominenceμόνος: the repetition of μόνος in the apodosis enforces the law of symmetry — the slave departs in the same single state in which he came.
ἐξελεύσεταιhe shall go outFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb of apodosis (manumission)→ legislative future (prescriptive release)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / depart'; the technical verb of manumission throughout vv. 2–11 ('going out' = release from servitude); renders יָצָא.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (second paired sub-case protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the contrasting sub-condition (married entry).
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting with the single-entry case)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the contrast between the unmarried and the married slave.
γυνὴa wifeNominativesubject of συνεισέλθῃ→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; here a wife who was already the slave's wife when he entered service, as distinct from a wife given by the master in v. 4.
συνεισέλθῃcomes in withAor Act Subj 3 Sg · συνεισέρχομαιverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (entering service together)συνεισέρχομαι: 'enter together with'; the double compound (σύν + εἰσ-) stresses that the wife entered servitude jointly with her husband; this joint entry is the legal ground for her joint release.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: 'with / in company with'; reinforces the σύν- of the verb.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά (the husband)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (the husband).
ἐξελεύσεταιshall go outFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb of apodosis (the wife's release with him)→ legislative future (prescriptive)ἐξέρχομαι: here with ἡ γυνή as subject — the wife who entered with him also departs with him; the verb again carries the technical sense of manumission.
καὶalsoadverbial / correlative ('also the wife')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: adverbial 'also', emphasizing that the wife shares the husband's release.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γυνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativesubject of ἐξελεύσεται (the wife who entered with him)→ participant prominenceγυνή: the articular ἡ γυνή refers back to the wife of the protasis; her release is contingent on her joint entry, in contrast to the master-given wife of v. 4.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετ᾿: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά (the husband)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (the husband).
4
ἐὰν δὲ ὁ κύριος δῷ αὐτῷ γυναῖκα καὶ τέκῃ αὐτῷ υἱοὺς ἢ θυγατέρας ἡ γυνὴ καὶ τὰ παιδία ἔσται τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ αὐτὸς δὲ μόνος ἐξελεύσεται
But if the master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and the children shall belong to his master, and he himself shall go out alone.
The third sub-case contrasts with v. 3: a wife given by the master (ὁ κύριος here = the human owner, not God) and her offspring belong to the master, so the freed slave departs μόνος. The clash between manumission and the master's property-claim in the family is precisely what motivates the slave's choice to stay in vv. 5–6.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (further sub-case protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the sub-case of a wife given by the master during the term of service.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting with v. 3)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts the master-given wife with the wife who entered service alongside the slave (v. 3).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςmasterNominativesubject of δῷ (the human slave-owner)→ participant prominenceκύριος: here NOT the divine name but 'master / owner', rendering Hebrew אָדוֹן; throughout the slave-laws (vv. 4, 6, 8) and the ox-laws (vv. 28–36) κύριος denotes the human owner; context, not the lexeme, fixes the reference.
δῷgivesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of giving a wife)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the master 'gives' a wife to the slave — most likely a non-Hebrew bondwoman of the household, which explains why she and the children remain the master's even after the husband's release.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (the slave)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the slave).
γυναῖκαa wifeAccusativedirect object of δῷ→ object specificationγυνή: here the wife given by the master, distinguished from the wife of v. 3 who entered freely with the slave; her servile status passes to her children.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τέκῃshe bearsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · τίκτωverb of protasis (second condition, conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the bearing of children)τίκτω: 'bear / give birth to'; renders יָלַד; the bearing of children to the slave by the master-given wife creates the legal tension the verse resolves in the master's favor.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of advantage (the slave as father)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (the slave as father).
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of τέκῃ→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; together with θυγατέρας it covers all offspring of the union, who follow the servile status of the mother.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; the disjunction υἱοὺς ἢ θυγατέρας embraces children of either sex.
θυγατέραςdaughtersAccusativedirect object of τέκῃ (parallel to υἱούς)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; included to make the rule comprehensive — all children of the master-given wife belong to the master.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γυνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativesubject of ἔσται (apodosis)→ participant prominenceγυνή: the articular subject of the apodosis; the master-given wife remains in the master's possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining compound subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with παιδία)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίαchildrenNominativesubject of ἔσται (coordinate with ἡ γυνή)→ participant prominenceπαιδίον: 'little child / child'; diminutive of παῖς, here simply 'the children'; the offspring follow the servile condition of the mother and remain in the master's household.
ἔσταιshall belong to / shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of apodosis (predicate of possession with dative)→ legislative future (prescriptive ownership)εἰμί: 'be'; with the dative τῷ κυρίῳ the construction ἔσται τῷ κυρίῳ is a dative of possession, 'shall belong to the master'; the singular verb governs the compound subject (wife and children) by attraction to the nearest sense.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳmasterDativedative of possession ('shall belong to the master')→ sphere or referenceκύριος: again the human master/owner (אָדוֹן), not God; the dative of possession asserts the master's continuing property-claim over the wife and children he provided.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the slave's master)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the slave's master).
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (emphatic subject of ἐξελεύσεται)→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'he himself', sharpening the contrast — the man alone goes free, leaving wife and children behind in servitude.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the poignant contrast between the family that stays and the man who departs.
μόνοςaloneNominativepredicate adjective ('he goes out by himself')→ participant prominenceμόνος: 'alone'; the recurrence of μόνος (cf. v. 3) underscores the cost of freedom — the slave regains liberty but loses his master-given family; this dilemma motivates the permanent servitude chosen in vv. 5–6.
ἐξελεύσεταιhe shall go outFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb of final clause (manumission of the man alone)→ legislative future (prescriptive release)ἐξέρχομαι: the technical verb of manumission; here the freed man 'goes out' alone, the family remaining behind — the legal pivot for the following case.
5
ἐὰν δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἴπῃ ὁ παῖς ἠγάπηκα τὸν κύριόν μου καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὰ παιδία οὐκ ἀποτρέχω ἐλεύθερος
But if the servant should answer and say, 'I love my master and my wife and my children, I will not depart free,'
The case shifts to direct speech: the slave, faced with the loss of his master-given family (v. 4), chooses servitude out of love. The aorist participle ἀποκριθείς + finite εἴπῃ is a Hebraism (וַיַּעַן וַיֹּאמֶר, 'answered and said'); the perfect ἠγάπηκα expresses a settled, abiding affection that motivates the choice.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of the love-declaration case)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the sub-case of the slave who voluntarily renounces his release.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts the slave who chooses to stay with the one who departs alone (v. 4).
ἀποκριθεὶςansweringAor Pass Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιcircumstantial participle (Hebraism: 'answering, he said')→ coincident aorist participle (redundant with the finite verb of speaking)ἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / reply'; the aorist passive participle ἀποκριθείς with a finite verb of saying renders the Hebrew idiom וַיַּעַן וַיֹּאמֶר ('he answered and said'), a pleonastic speech-formula ubiquitous in the LXX.
εἴπῃhe should sayAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λέγωverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of declaring)λέγω: 'say'; the aorist subjunctive completes the ἀποκριθεὶς εἴπῃ formula; it introduces the slave's direct-speech declaration of love.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with παῖς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖςservantNominativesubject of εἴπῃ (the Hebrew slave)→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'servant / slave'; the same term as v. 2 (rendering עֶבֶד); the slave is now the speaking subject who voluntarily renounces freedom.
ἠγάπηκαI love / I have come to lovePerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀγαπάωmain verb of direct speech (the slave's declaration)→ resultative perfect (a settled, abiding love with present effect)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; renders אָהַב; the perfect tense ἠγάπηκα denotes an established and continuing love ('I have loved and still love'), the motive for the slave's renunciation of freedom; the verb governs the threefold object master/wife/children.
τὸνthe / myAccusativearticle (with κύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριόνmasterAccusativedirect object of ἠγάπηκα (the human master)→ object specificationκύριος: again the human master (אָדוֹן), not God; the slave's love for κύριον … μου ('my master') is the legal ground for permanent voluntary servitude.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with κύριον)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with κύριον).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνthe / myAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ἠγάπηκα (the master-given wife of v. 4)→ object specificationγυνή: the master-given wife of v. 4, whom the slave will not abandon; her status keeps her in the master's house, so love of her entails the slave's own permanent servitude.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰthe / myAccusativearticle (with παιδία)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίαchildrenAccusativedirect object of ἠγάπηκα (third member of the loved triad)→ object specificationπαιδίον: 'children'; the slave's offspring by the master-given wife (v. 4); love for them, like love for the wife, binds the slave to his master's household.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποτρέχω)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: emphatic negation of the indicative ἀποτρέχω, expressing the slave's firm refusal to leave.
ἀποτρέχωI depart / run offPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποτρέχωmain verb of direct speech (refusal of manumission)→ futuristic present (settled refusal: 'I will not go off')ἀποτρέχω: 'run away / depart / go off'; a colloquial verb for leaving, used in this chapter (cf. v. 7, of the maidservants) as a near-synonym for manumission; the present with οὐκ expresses a fixed intention not to depart as a freedman.
ἐλεύθεροςfreeNominativepredicate adjective (the status he declines: 'as a free man')→ participant prominenceἐλεύθερος: 'free'; the slave refuses to depart ἐλεύθερος, i.e. he declines the very freedom the six-year law (v. 2) grants him; cf. v. 2 where ἐλεύθερος is the goal, here renounced.
6
προσάξει αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τότε προσάξει αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν ἐπὶ τὸν σταθμόν καὶ τρυπήσει αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος τὸ οὖς τῷ ὀπητίῳ καὶ δουλεύσει αὐτῷ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα
his master shall bring him to the judgment-seat of God, and then he shall bring him to the door, to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with the awl, and he shall serve him forever.
The apodosis (asyndetic, without an introductory καί) prescribes the legal ceremony sealing voluntary lifelong servitude: presentation 'to the judgment of God' (τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ — the only divine reference in this stretch), then the boring of the ear at the doorpost with an awl (ὀπήτιον). The closing εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ('forever') makes the servitude permanent.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
προσάξειshall bringFut Act Indic 3 Sg · προσάγωmain verb of apodosis (legal presentation)→ legislative future (prescriptive procedure)προσάγω: 'bring to / lead before / present'; renders הִגִּישׁ / נָגַשׁ; a quasi-judicial term for bringing a person before an authority; here the master formally presents the slave for the rite that makes his servitude permanent.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of προσάξει (the slave)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of προσάξει (the slave).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςmasterNominativesubject of προσάξει (the human master)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the human master/owner (אָדוֹן), not God; he is the agent who brings the slave to the divine tribunal and performs the ear-boring.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the slave's master)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the slave's master).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κριτήριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κριτήριονjudgment-seat / tribunalAccusativeaccusative object of πρός ('to the tribunal')→ object specificationκριτήριον: 'court / tribunal / place of judgment'; the LXX renders Hebrew הָאֱלֹהִים ('to God / the judges') with τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ('the judgment-seat of God'), interpreting the obscure Hebrew as the sanctuary or judicial place where God's verdict is rendered; the rite has a sacral-legal character.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship (the tribunal belongs to God)→ relational specificationθεός: here a genuine divine reference (rendering הָאֱלֹהִים) — in contrast to κύριος (the human master) in this same verse; the ear-boring takes place under the sanction of God, before whom the slave's lifelong commitment is sworn.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τότεthentemporal adverb (sequence: 'then, next')→ adverbial qualificationτότε: 'then / at that time'; marks the next step of the ritual sequence, after the presentation before God.
προσάξειshall bringFut Act Indic 3 Sg · προσάγωmain verb (second stage of the ritual)→ legislative future (prescriptive)προσάγω: the repetition of προσάξει stages the rite in two movements — first to the tribunal of God, then to the doorway where the ear is bored.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (the slave)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the slave).
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (direction onto/against)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction onto/against).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θύραν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρανdoorAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('to the door')→ object specificationθύρα: 'door / doorway'; renders דֶּלֶת; the threshold of the master's house is the symbolic locus where the slave is permanently attached to the household by the ear-boring rite.
ἐπὶto / againstpreposition + accusative (specifying the doorpost)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (specifying the doorpost).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with σταθμόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σταθμόνdoorpostAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('to the doorpost')→ object specificationσταθμός: 'doorpost / jamb'; renders מְזוּזָה; the ear is pressed against the doorpost so the awl can pierce it — fixing the slave, as it were, to the very house he chooses to serve forever.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τρυπήσειshall bore throughFut Act Indic 3 Sg · τρυπάωmain verb (the ear-boring act)→ legislative future (prescriptive ritual act)τρυπάω: 'bore / pierce / perforate'; renders רָצַע; the piercing of the ear is the permanent, visible mark of voluntary lifelong servitude (cf. Deut 15:17); the ear, organ of obedience, is symbolically fastened to the master's house.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the slave's ear)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the slave's ear).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςmasterNominativesubject of τρυπήσει (the human master)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the human master performs the boring; again not the divine name but the slave-owner (אָדוֹן).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with οὖς)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὖςearAccusativedirect object of τρυπήσει (the organ pierced)→ participant referenceοὖς: 'ear'; renders אֹזֶן; the ear is the organ of hearing and obedience, fittingly marked for one who pledges perpetual service; cf. Ps 40:7 (LXX 39:7), ὠτία δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι, drawing on the same imagery of attentive servanthood.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὀπητίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀπητίῳwith the awlDativedative of instrument (the tool of the boring)→ sphere or referenceὀπήτιον: 'awl / boring-tool'; renders מַרְצֵעַ; a leather-worker's piercing instrument; the dative of instrument names the tool by which the ear is bored — a homely detail grounding the rite in everyday craft.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δουλεύσειhe shall serveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δουλεύωmain verb (consequence: perpetual service)→ legislative future (prescriptive lifelong obligation)δουλεύω: 'serve / be a slave'; the same verb as v. 2, but now qualified by εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα — the temporary six-year service becomes permanent by the slave's own choice.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of person served (the master)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of person served (the master).
εἰςfor / untopreposition + accusative (extent of time)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (extent of time).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with αἰῶνα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰῶναage / foreverAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (temporal: 'forever')→ object specificationαἰών: 'age / long duration / forever'; the phrase εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα renders Hebrew לְעֹלָם ('for life / in perpetuity'); here it means lifelong service, the permanence sealed by the ear-boring rite.
7
ἐὰν δέ τις ἀποδῶται τὴν ἑαυτοῦ θυγατέρα οἰκέτιν οὐκ ἀπελεύσεται ὥσπερ ἀποτρέχουσιν αἱ δοῦλαι
But if anyone sells his own daughter as a maidservant, she shall not depart as the female slaves depart.
A fresh case opens the maidservant-laws. The indefinite τις generalizes the subject ('anyone'); the middle ἀποδῶται ('sell for oneself / sell off') and the predicate accusative οἰκέτιν ('as a maidservant') frame the transaction. The crucial ruling — οὐκ ἀπελεύσεται ('she shall not go free') as the male slaves do — distinguishes her case from vv. 2–6 and is unpacked in the protections of vv. 8–11.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of the maidservant case)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the case-law on the daughter sold into service.
δέbut / nowtransitional particle (post-positive, new sub-topic)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the transition from the male slave (vv. 2–6) to the female slave.
τιςanyoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject: generalized 'a man')→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone / anyone'; generalizes the law to any Israelite father; renders the impersonal Hebrew כִּי-imyimperfect construction.
ἀποδῶταιsellsAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of selling)ἀποδίδωμι (mid.): 'sell / give away for oneself'; the middle ἀποδῶται means 'sell off (for one's own benefit)'; renders מָכַר; here a father sells his daughter — a transaction presupposing poverty, hedged by the protective rules that follow.
τὴνthe / hisAccusativearticle (with θυγατέρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive possessive (intensifying the kinship: 'his own daughter')→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'his own'; emphasizes that it is the father's own daughter who is sold, heightening the pathos and the need for the safeguards that follow.
θυγατέραdaughterAccusativedirect object of ἀποδῶται→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the object of the sale, sold not as a chattel-slave but, as the following verses show, with a view to concubinage or marriage within the purchasing household.
οἰκέτινas a maidservantAccusativepredicate accusative (the capacity in which she is sold)→ object specificationοἰκέτις: 'female house-servant / maidservant'; feminine of οἰκέτης; renders אָמָה; the predicate accusative defines the role into which she is sold — a domestic bondwoman, but with quasi-marital rights protected below.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀπελεύσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negates the apodosis, denying her the automatic six-year release granted the male slave.
ἀπελεύσεταιshe shall departFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb of apodosis (negated: 'she shall not go free')→ legislative future (prescriptive, negated)ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the technical manumission verb (cf. v. 2); negated here — the maidservant does not 'go out' automatically in the seventh year, because her sale anticipates a marital relationship, not mere labor-service.
ὥσπερas / just ascomparative conjunction (introducing comparison)→ discourse linkage or contrastὥσπερ: 'just as / in the manner that'; introduces the contrast with the manumission of ordinary female slaves.
ἀποτρέχουσινdepart / go offPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποτρέχωverb of comparative clause (customary action)→ customary present (the usual manner of slave-release)ἀποτρέχω: 'run off / depart'; the same colloquial verb as v. 5; the customary present describes how ordinary female slaves normally 'go off' free — a manner explicitly denied to the daughter sold as οἰκέτις.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with δοῦλαι)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦλαιfemale slavesNominativesubject of ἀποτρέχουσιν→ participant prominenceδούλη: 'female slave / bondwoman'; renders שִׁפְחָה / אָמָה; the ordinary bondwomen who do go free; the maidservant-daughter, by contrast, has a protected, quasi-marital status that the following verses defend.
8
ἐὰν μὴ εὐαρεστήσῃ τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτῆς ἣν αὑτῷ καθωμολογήσατο ἀπολυτρώσει αὐτήν ἔθνει δὲ ἀλλοτρίῳ οὐ κύριός ἐστιν πωλεῖν αὐτήν ὅτι ἠθέτησεν ἐν αὐτῇ
If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself, he shall let her be redeemed; but he has no right to sell her to a foreign nation, because he has dealt faithlessly with her.
The first protection for the maidservant. The protasis ἐὰν μὴ εὐαρεστήσῃ ('if she does not please') is followed by a relative clause noting the master's prior betrothal-pledge (καθωμολογήσατο). The apodosis grants redemption but forbids resale to foreigners; the ground clause ὅτι ἠθέτησεν ἐν αὐτῇ ('because he has broken faith with her') frames the prohibition as a matter of covenant fidelity. Note κύριος here = the human master.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: with μή introduces the negative condition ('if she does not please').
μὴnotnegative particle (with the subjunctive εὐαρεστήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative proper to the subjunctive; ἐὰν μή = 'unless / if … not'.
εὐαρεστήσῃshe pleasesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · εὐαρεστέωverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the failure to please)εὐαρεστέω: 'please / be pleasing / be acceptable'; renders רָעַע בְּעֵינֵי ('be evil in the eyes of', i.e. displease); the maidservant's failure to please her master triggers the redemption provision; the same verb describes Enoch's and the patriarchs' pleasing God (Gen 5:22; 6:9 LXX).
τῷthe / herDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳmasterDativedative complement of εὐαρεστήσῃ (the one to be pleased)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: the human master/owner (אָדוֹן), not God; the one who purchased her and betrothed her to himself; εὐαρεστέω regularly takes the dative of the person pleased.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the maidservant's master)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the maidservant's master).
ἣνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of καθωμολογήσατο, antecedent = the maidservant)→ participant referenceὅς: the relative ἥν refers to the maidservant; the relative clause specifies that the master had pledged her to himself in betrothal.
αὑτῷto himselfDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage: betrothed to himself)→ participant reference or interestἑαυτοῦ (contracted αὑτῷ): reflexive 'to/for himself'; marks that the master betrothed the maidservant for his own marriage, not for a third party — the basis of the obligation he then breaks.
καθωμολογήσατοhe betrothed / pledgedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · καθομολογέομαιverb of relative clause (the prior betrothal-pledge)→ constative aorist (the completed act of betrothal)καθομολογέομαι: 'pledge / promise solemnly / betroth'; renders יָעַד ('designate / betroth'); the middle indicates the master bound himself by a marriage-pledge to the maidservant; his subsequent displeasure does not cancel the obligation this pledge created.
ἀπολυτρώσειhe shall let be redeemedFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπολυτρόωmain verb of apodosis (the remedy: redemption)→ legislative future (prescriptive remedy)ἀπολυτρόω: 'release for a ransom / allow to be redeemed'; renders פָּדָה (Hiphil); the master must permit her redemption (by her family) rather than retain or mistreat her; the verb belongs to the rich LXX redemption-vocabulary (cf. ἀπολύτρωσις in the NT).
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object of ἀπολυτρώσει→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀπολυτρώσει.
ἔθνειto a nation / peopleDativedative of indirect object (with πωλεῖν: the buyer)→ sphere or referenceἔθνος: 'nation / people / gentile'; renders עַם; with ἀλλοτρίῳ it means a foreign (non-Israelite) people; selling her abroad would sever her from her kin and from the covenant community, hence the prohibition.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts the permitted redemption with the forbidden foreign sale.
ἀλλοτρίῳforeign / alienDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνει: 'a foreign nation')→ sphere or referenceἀλλότριος: 'belonging to another / foreign / alien'; renders נָכְרִי; the foreignness is decisive — the master may not deal with a betrothed Israelite woman as ordinary merchandise to be sold outside the covenant people.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κύριός ἐστιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negates the predicate of authority — he has no right.
κύριόςmaster / having authorityNominativepredicate nominative (idiom: 'he is not lord/competent to')→ participant prominenceκύριος: here used in the adjectival sense 'having authority / competent / entitled' — the idiom οὐ κύριός ἐστιν + infinitive means 'he is not authorized to'; a different nuance from κύριος = 'master' elsewhere, though related; he forfeits the right of resale by his breach of faith.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate κύριος: 'he is [not] competent')→ gnomic present (stating a standing legal incapacity)εἰμί: the copula in the idiom κύριός ἐστιν + infinitive, 'he is entitled / has the authority to'; negated here to deny the right of foreign sale.
πωλεῖνto sellPres Act Infin · πωλέωcomplementary infinitive (with κύριός ἐστιν)→ present infinitive (the forbidden action of selling)πωλέω: 'sell / offer for sale'; renders מָכַר; the complementary infinitive specifies the act for which the master lacks authority — disposing of the betrothed maidservant by foreign sale.
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object of πωλεῖν→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of πωλεῖν.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (introducing the ground of the prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the legal-moral reason for the ban on foreign sale — the master's own breach of faith.
ἠθέτησενhe dealt faithlessly / set asideAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀθετέωverb of causal clause (the master's breach of faith)→ constative aorist (the completed act of faithlessness)ἀθετέω: 'set aside / nullify / deal treacherously with'; renders בָּגַד ('act faithlessly') / מָאַס; the master, having pledged marriage and then rejected her, has broken faith; the same verb describes covenant-breaking and treachery throughout the LXX (cf. Isa 33:1).
ἐνwith / againstpreposition + dative (Hebraistic: 'against / with her')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: here a Hebraism rendering the בְּ of בָּגַד בָּהּ ('deal faithlessly with her'); ἀθετέω ἐν + dative = 'break faith with'.
αὐτῇherDativedative object of ἐν (the wronged maidservant)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative object of ἐν (the wronged maidservant).
9
ἐὰν δὲ τῷ υἱῷ καθομολογήσηται αὐτήν κατὰ τὸ δικαίωμα τῶν θυγατέρων ποιήσει αὐτῇ
But if he betroths her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the ordinance for daughters.
A second protection: if the master pledges the maidservant in marriage to his son rather than to himself, she is to be treated κατὰ τὸ δικαίωμα τῶν θυγατέρων ('according to the rule for daughters') — i.e. with full filial, not servile, status. The same verb καθομολογέομαι links this case to v. 8.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the alternative betrothal-case (to the son rather than the master).
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts betrothal to the son with betrothal to the master himself (v. 8).
τῷthe / hisDativearticle (with υἱῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῷsonDativedative of indirect object (betrothed to the son)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; the master's son becomes the intended husband; this elevates the maidservant from bondwoman toward a daughter-in-law's standing.
καθομολογήσηταιhe betroths / pledgesAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · καθομολογέομαιverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of betrothal)καθομολογέομαι: 'betroth / pledge solemnly'; the same verb as v. 8 (rendering יָעַד); here the master designates the maidservant as bride for his son, with corresponding obligations of treatment.
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object of καθομολογήσηται→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of καθομολογήσηται.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm / standard)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: 'according to / in conformity with'; introduces the legal standard governing her treatment.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with δικαίωμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαίωμαordinance / customAccusativeaccusative object of κατά ('according to the ordinance')→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'statute / ordinance / customary right'; the same word as in the chapter heading (v. 1); here it denotes the body of customary rights due to a daughter — full familial provision and honor.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with θυγατέρων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρωνof daughtersGenitivegenitive (defining the ordinance: 'the rule pertaining to daughters')→ relational specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the genitive τῶν θυγατέρων defines the standard — she must be treated as a free daughter of the house, not a slave; the ruling protects her dignity within the family.
ποιήσειhe shall do / dealFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of apodosis (prescribed treatment)→ legislative future (prescriptive)ποιέω: 'do / make / deal with'; with the dative αὐτῇ, ποιεῖν τινι = 'treat / act toward someone'; the master must deal with her by the daughter-standard.
αὐτῇwith her / toward herDativedative of the person dealt with (with ποιήσει)→ participant reference or interestαὐτή: the dative of the person toward whom one acts; the maidservant is the beneficiary of daughter-status treatment.
10
ἐὰν δὲ ἄλλην λάβῃ ἑαυτῷ τὰ δέοντα καὶ τὸν ἱματισμὸν καὶ τὴν ὁμιλίαν αὐτῆς οὐκ ἀποστερήσει
But if he takes another wife for himself, he shall not deprive her of her necessities, her clothing, and her conjugal rights.
The third protection guards the maidservant-wife if the master marries another woman: he may not withhold the three things owed her — food (τὰ δέοντα), clothing (ἱματισμός), and conjugal duty (ὁμιλία). These 'three things' (τὰ τρία ταῦτα, v. 11) become the test of his obligation, whose breach mandates her free release.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the case of the master taking a second wife.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the further sub-case.
ἄλληνanother (woman)Accusativesubstantivized adjective (object of λάβῃ: 'another wife')→ object specificationἄλλος: 'another / other'; the feminine ἄλλην (sc. γυναῖκα) means 'another wife'; renders אַחֶרֶת; the master's polygamous marriage must not diminish the first woman's rights.
λάβῃhe takesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of taking a wife)λαμβάνω: 'take'; λαμβάνειν γυναῖκα is the idiom for 'take a wife / marry' (rendering לָקַח); the master's taking of a second wife is the condition that triggers the protection of the first.
ἑαυτῷfor himselfDativereflexive (dative of advantage: 'for himself')→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'for himself'; λαβεῖν ἑαυτῷ = 'take for oneself (in marriage)'.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with δέοντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δέονταnecessities / what is duePres Act Ptc Acc Neut Pl · δέωsubstantivized participle (object of ἀποστερήσει: 'her necessary provisions')→ gnomic present participle (standing obligation: 'the things that are due')δέω (impersonal δεῖ): 'it is necessary'; the neuter plural participle τὰ δέοντα ('the necessary things') denotes the maidservant's due maintenance — food and sustenance; renders שְׁאֵר ('food / flesh'); the first of the three inviolable provisions.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἱματισμόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱματισμὸνclothingAccusativedirect object (second of the three provisions)→ object specificationἱματισμός: 'clothing / raiment'; renders כְּסוּת; the second inviolable provision; together with food it covers basic material support owed to the woman.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνthe / herAccusativearticle (with ὁμιλίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁμιλίανconjugal company / cohabitationAccusativedirect object (third of the three provisions)→ object specificationὁμιλία: 'association / company / intercourse'; here a euphemism for conjugal/marital relations, rendering Hebrew עֹנָה ('conjugal right / cohabitation'); the third inviolable provision — the master must not deny her marital companionship even after taking another wife.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her conjugal right)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (her conjugal right).
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποστερήσει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: emphatic prohibition — he shall in no way deprive her.
ἀποστερήσειhe shall deprive / defraudFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστερέωmain verb of apodosis (negated: 'he shall not withhold')→ legislative future (prescriptive prohibition)ἀποστερέω: 'defraud / deprive / withhold'; renders גָּרַע ('diminish'); the negated future forbids the master from cutting off any of the three provisions; the same verb appears in NT economic-ethical contexts (Mark 10:19; 1 Cor 7:5 of conjugal deprivation).
11
ἐὰν δὲ τὰ τρία ταῦτα μὴ ποιήσῃ αὐτῇ ἐξελεύσεται δωρεὰν ἄνευ ἀργυρίου
But if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out free, without payment of money.
The concluding ruling of vv. 7–11: τὰ τρία ταῦτα ('these three things' — food, clothing, conjugal right of v. 10) define the master's duty, and their breach reverses the earlier 'she shall not go free' (v. 7): now she does go out, δωρεὰν ἄνευ ἀργυρίου ('free, without money'), the same δωρεάν that frames the male slave's release at v. 2.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: with μή introduces the negative condition (failure to provide).
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the concluding contrastive case.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with τρία)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίαthreeAccusativenumeral (object of ποιήσῃ: 'these three [things]')→ measure or countτρεῖς, τρία: 'three'; the neuter τρία refers back to the three provisions of v. 10 (food, clothing, conjugal right); their summary as 'these three' makes them the defining test of the master's obligation.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative (with τρία: 'these three')→ object specificationοὗτος: the anaphoric ταῦτα points back to the triad of v. 10; the maidservant's freedom hinges on whether all three are rendered.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the subjunctive ποιήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative proper to the subjunctive in the protasis.
ποιήσῃhe doesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (failure to perform the threefold duty)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; with the dative αὐτῇ, 'do for her'; the failure to perform the three duties is the condition that frees her.
αὐτῇfor herDativedative of the person benefited (with ποιήσῃ)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'for her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of the person benefited (with ποιήσῃ).
ἐξελεύσεταιshe shall go outFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb of apodosis (her release)→ legislative future (prescriptive manumission)ἐξέρχομαι: the technical manumission verb (cf. vv. 2–4); here the maidservant who could not be released as ordinary slaves (v. 7) is nonetheless freed when her marital rights are denied — a release grounded in the master's default.
δωρεὰνfree / gratisadverbial accusative (manner: 'without cost')→ clausal contributionδωρεάν: 'gratis / for nothing'; the same adverb as v. 2; she leaves without owing any redemption price, the master having forfeited his claim by neglect.
ἄνευwithoutpreposition + genitive (absence: 'without money')→ spatial or relational framingἄνευ: 'without / apart from'; + genitive; reinforces δωρεάν, stressing that no payment of silver is required for her release.
ἀργυρίουmoney / silverGenitivegenitive object of ἄνευ ('without silver')→ relational specificationἀργύριον: 'silver / money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the phrase ἄνευ ἀργυρίου emphasizes the cost-free nature of her release — she owes nothing; cf. the recurring role of ἀργύριον in the property-laws of vv. 21, 30, 32, 34–35.
12
ἐὰν δὲ πατάξῃ τίς τινα καὶ ἀποθάνῃ θανάτῳ θανατούσθω
But if anyone strikes another and he dies, let him be put to death by death.
The homicide laws begin. The cognate construction θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ('let him surely be put to death') is a Hebraism rendering the emphatic infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמָת, expressing both certainty and gravity of the death penalty. The general rule (deliberate killing is capital) is at once qualified in v. 13 by the case of the unintentional killer.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of the homicide law)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the casuistic law of homicide.
δὲbut / nowtransitional particle (post-positive, new sub-topic)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the transition from servitude-laws to the capital laws of bloodshed.
πατάξῃstrikesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πατάσσωverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of striking)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / beat'; renders נָכָה; the key verb of the injury- and homicide-laws (recurs vv. 15, 18, 19, 20, 26); here a blow resulting in death, treated as homicide.
τίςanyoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject: the striker)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone'; the generalized assailant; the accentuation τίς here is enclitic-related orthography in the edition, but the sense is the indefinite pronoun.
τιναsomeoneAccusativeindefinite pronoun (direct object: the victim)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone'; the generalized victim; τίς … τινα ('someone … someone') states the rule in fully impersonal, universal form.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the result-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (second condition: the victim's death)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the resulting death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the death of the victim is the decisive fact converting an assault into a capital homicide.
θανάτῳby deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism: rendering the emphatic infinitive absolute)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: 'death'; the cognate dative θανάτῳ with θανατούσθω renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute construction מוֹת יוּמָת ('he shall surely be put to death'), expressing certainty and emphasis; the same idiom recurs at vv. 15, 16, 17.
θανατούσθωlet him be put to deathPres Pass Impv 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb of apodosis (third-person legal imperative)→ legislative present imperative (mandatory death penalty)θανατόω: 'put to death / execute'; renders מוּת (Hophal יוּמָת); the third-person passive imperative is the standard LXX form for prescribing capital punishment; with the cognate θανάτῳ it carries the full weight of the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute.
13
ὁ δὲ οὐχ ἑκών ἀλλὰ ὁ θεὸς παρέδωκεν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ δώσω σοι τόπον οὗ φεύξεται ἐκεῖ ὁ φονεύσας
But he who did it unwillingly — rather, God delivered him into his hands — I will give you a place to which the slayer may flee there.
v. 13 qualifies the blanket capital rule of v. 12 with the case of unintentional killing — οὐχ ἑκών ('not willingly'). The theological gloss ὁ θεὸς παρέδωκεν ('God delivered [the victim] into his hands') attributes the accident to divine providence rather than human malice. The divine first-person δώσω σοι τόπον promises an asylum-place — the seed of the later cities of refuge (Num 35; Deut 19; Josh 20). Here ὁ θεός is a genuine divine reference.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ὁthe [one]Nominativearticle used as substantival pronoun (subject: 'he who')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article ὁ δέ ('but he') stands substantivally, contrasting the unintentional killer with the deliberate one of v. 12.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, marking the exception)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: adversative; introduces the mitigating case against the rule of v. 12.
οὐχnotnegative particle (with ἑκών)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐχ before rough breathing): negates ἑκών — the killer acted without intent.
ἑκώνwilling / of his own willNominativepredicate adjective (circumstantial: 'not acting willingly')→ participant prominenceἑκών: 'willing / voluntary / of one's own accord'; οὐχ ἑκών = 'unintentionally / involuntarily'; renders the sense of Hebrew לֹא צָדָה ('he did not lie in wait'); the absence of premeditation is the legal pivot distinguishing manslaughter from murder.
ἀλλὰbut ratherstrong adversative (correcting: 'but rather')→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά: strong adversative; corrects the supposition of willful killing with the providential explanation that follows.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of παρέδωκεν (genuine divine reference)→ participant prominenceθεός: here truly God (rendering הָאֱלֹהִים), not the human master as κύριος elsewhere in the chapter; the accidental death is ascribed to divine overruling — 'God delivered him into his hands' — removing it from the sphere of murderous intent.
παρέδωκενdeliveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb of the parenthetical theological gloss→ constative aorist (the providential delivering-over)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; renders אִנָּה ('cause to meet / let fall into the hand'); the idiom παραδίδωμι εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ('deliver into the hands') frames the death as a providential, not premeditated, event — the victim was, as it were, delivered to the killer's hand by God.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'into his hands')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the idiom εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ('into the hands') renders בְּיָדוֹ; a Hebraism for being placed in someone's power or agency; here the victim falls into the killer's hand by divine, not malicious, causation.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the killer's hands)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the killer's hands).
δώσωI will giveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine first-person promise of a refuge)→ promissory future (divine provision)δίδωμι: 'give'; the divine first person δώσω marks YHWH as the speaker promising a place of asylum; the verse shifts abruptly from third-person law to first-person divine pledge — the seed of the cities-of-refuge legislation (Num 35:9–34).
σοιto youDativedative of indirect object (Israel / Moses)→ participant reference or interestσύ: the addressee is Israel (through Moses); the promise of a refuge-place is given to the covenant people as a whole.
τόπονa placeAccusativedirect object of δώσω (the place of refuge)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place / location'; renders מָקוֹם; the 'place to flee' is the embryonic city of refuge — a sanctuary where the unintentional killer escapes the blood-avenger; later legislated as six Levitical cities (Num 35; Josh 20).
οὗwhere / to whichrelative adverb of place (introducing the refuge clause)→ participant referenceοὗ: relative adverb 'where / whither'; introduces the clause defining the place's function as a destination of flight; resumed pleonastically by ἐκεῖ (Hebraism).
φεύξεταιshall fleeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωverb of relative clause (the act of seeking asylum)→ predictive / permissive future (the killer's flight to refuge)φεύγω: 'flee / take refuge'; renders נוּס; the technical verb for fleeing to asylum; the place exists precisely so that the manslayer 'may flee there' from blood-vengeance.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive, Hebraism with οὗ)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive ἐκεῖ after the relative οὗ ('where … there') is a Hebraism calquing אֲשֶׁר … שָׁמָּה, the redundant resumptive adverb characteristic of Hebrew relative clauses.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with φονεύσας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσαςthe one who killed / the slayerAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · φονεύωsubstantival participle (subject of φεύξεται: 'the slayer')→ constative aorist participle (the one who has done the killing)φονεύω: 'murder / slay / kill'; renders רָצַח; the articular aorist participle ὁ φονεύσας ('the slayer') here denotes the unintentional killer who flees for refuge — the same root used in the sixth commandment (οὐ φονεύσεις, Exod 20:15 LXX); the place protects him precisely because his act lacked murderous intent.
14
ἐὰν δέ τις ἐπιθῆται τῷ πλησίον ἀποκτεῖναι αὐτὸν δόλῳ καὶ καταφύγῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου μου λήμψῃ αὐτὸν θανατῶσαι
But if anyone attacks his neighbor to kill him by treachery, and he flees to my altar, you shall take him from it to put him to death.
The deliberate murderer (δόλῳ, 'by guile') is the foil to the unintentional killer of v. 13. Even the sanctity of the altar (ἀπὸ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου μου — 'my altar', God speaking) yields no asylum to him: λήμψῃ αὐτὸν θανατῶσαι ('you shall take him to put him to death'). This principle is dramatically invoked at 1 Kgs 2:28–34 (Joab at the altar).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the counter-case of deliberate murder.
δέbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts the premeditated murderer with the involuntary killer of v. 13.
τιςanyoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject: the assailant)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone'; the generalized murderer.
ἐπιθῆταιattacks / sets uponAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the act of assault)ἐπιτίθημι (mid.): 'lay upon / set upon / attack'; the middle ἐπιθῆται with the dative means 'assault / fall upon someone'; renders זִיד / יָזִד ('act presumptuously against'); the deliberate, presumptuous nature of the attack is decisive.
τῷthe / hisDativearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborDativedative complement of ἐπιθῆται (the one attacked)→ sphere or referenceπλησίον: 'neighbor / fellow'; substantivized adverb rendering רֵעַ; the victim is a fellow Israelite; the same term figures in the love-command (Lev 19:18) and the lex talionis context.
ἀποκτεῖναιto killAor Act Infin · ἀποκτείνωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐπιθῆται: 'attacks in order to kill')→ aorist infinitive of purpose (the murderous intent)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill / slay'; the infinitive of purpose expresses the murderous intent — it is the deliberate aim to kill, combined with δόλῳ, that marks this as capital murder without right of asylum.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἀποκτεῖναι (the neighbor)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀποκτεῖναι (the neighbor).
δόλῳby treachery / guileDativedative of manner (the treacherous mode of the killing)→ sphere or referenceδόλος: 'deceit / treachery / guile'; renders עָרְמָה ('cunning'); the dative of manner δόλῳ marks premeditation and stealth — the opposite of the unwitting blow of v. 13; treachery is what excludes the killer from asylum.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταφύγῃhe flees for refugeAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταφεύγωverb of protasis (second condition: flight to the altar)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the act of seeking asylum)καταφεύγω: 'flee for refuge / take asylum'; the intensive compound of φεύγω; renders נוּס; even the murderer's flight to the altar's sanctuary will not protect him — the verb deliberately echoes the legitimate refuge of v. 13 to deny it here.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the altar')→ spatial or relational framingἀπὸ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'from the altar').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θυσιαστηρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό ('from the altar')→ relational specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; a distinctively Jewish-Greek coinage (from θυσιάζω) used in the LXX for the legitimate altar of God, rendering מִזְבֵּחַ; the altar's horns were a place of asylum (1 Kgs 1:50–51), but this protection is denied the willful murderer.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (God speaking: 'my altar')→ relational specificationἐγώ: the possessive μου ('my altar') marks the speaker as God himself; the altar belongs to YHWH, and he himself denies it as a sanctuary for the murderer.
λήμψῃyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb of apodosis (directive: 'you shall seize him')→ directive future (command to remove the murderer)λαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; the future λήμψῃ has imperatival force, commanding that the murderer be taken even from the altar; renders תִּקָּחֶנּוּ; the principle that justice overrides sanctuary for the guilty is enacted at 1 Kgs 2:28–34.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of λήμψῃ (the murderer)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of λήμψῃ (the murderer).
θανατῶσαιto put to deathAor Act Infin · θανατόωinfinitive of purpose (with λήμψῃ: 'take him in order to execute him')→ aorist infinitive of purpose (the lawful execution)θανατόω: 'put to death / execute'; the infinitive of purpose states the aim of the seizure — lawful capital punishment; the murderer's death is required, the altar notwithstanding.
15
ὃς τύπτει πατέρα αὐτοῦ ἢ μητέρα αὐτοῦ θανάτῳ θανατούσθω
Whoever strikes his father or his mother, let him be put to death by death.
A relative-clause formulation (ὃς + present indicative, 'whoever strikes') rather than the ἐάν-protasis, giving the law a gnomic, participial-like force. The cognate θανάτῳ θανατούσθω again renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute. Striking a parent is treated as a capital offense alongside murder, reflecting the gravity of the fifth commandment (Exod 20:12).
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
ὃςwhoeverNominativerelative pronoun (subject: generalizing 'the one who')→ participant referenceὅς: the relative ὅς here has generalizing force ('whoever'), introducing a participle-like casuistic formulation parallel to the ὁ κακολογῶν of v. 16.
τύπτειstrikesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · τύπτωverb of relative clause (the offense: striking a parent)→ gnomic present (timeless legal characterization)τύπτω: 'strike / beat / hit'; renders נָכָה (here Hiphil 'smite'); the gnomic present characterizes the offender as a habitual or characteristic type; striking a parent — not necessarily fatally — is itself capital, so grave is the dishonoring of father and mother.
πατέραfatherAccusativedirect object of τύπτει→ object specificationπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; the parent-protecting laws (vv. 15, 16) extend the honor commanded in the Decalogue (Exod 20:12) into capital sanction.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατέρα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατέρα).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; the disjunction πατέρα ἢ μητέρα makes both parents equally protected.
μητέραmotherAccusativedirect object of τύπτει (parallel to πατέρα)→ object specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; renders אֵם; the explicit inclusion of the mother (πατέρα ἢ μητέρα, repeated in v. 16) gives her equal honor under the law, as in the Decalogue's pairing.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with μητέρα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with μητέρα).
θανάτῳby deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism with θανατούσθω)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: the cognate dative again renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמָת ('he shall surely be put to death'); cf. vv. 12, 16, 17.
θανατούσθωlet him be put to deathPres Pass Impv 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (third-person legal imperative)→ legislative present imperative (mandatory death penalty)θανατόω: 'put to death'; the third-person passive imperative prescribing capital punishment, as in v. 12; the parent-striker incurs the same penalty as the murderer.
16
ὁ κακολογῶν πατέρα αὐτοῦ ἢ μητέρα αὐτοῦ τελευτήσει θανάτῳ
He who reviles his father or his mother shall die by death.
A substantival-participle formulation (ὁ κακολογῶν, 'the one who reviles'). This is the verse Jesus cites — ὁ κακολογῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα θανάτῳ τελευτάτω — when condemning the corban evasion (Matt 15:4; Mark 7:10), pairing it with the honor-command of Exod 20:12. Here cursing the parent is as capital as striking (v. 15).
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
ὁthe [one]Nominativearticle (substantivizing the participle: 'the one who')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article substantivizes the participle κακολογῶν, giving a gnomic legal characterization ('the one who reviles').
κακολογῶνreviling / speaking evil ofPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · κακολογέωsubstantival participle (subject: 'he who curses')→ gnomic present participle (characterizing the offender)κακολογέω: 'speak evil of / revile / curse'; renders קִלֵּל ('treat with contempt / curse'); this is the very form cited by Jesus at Matt 15:4 / Mark 7:10 (ὁ κακολογῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα θανάτῳ τελευτάτω) to expose the corban tradition as nullifying the command to honor parents; cursing a parent is treated as a capital crime.
πατέραfatherAccusativedirect object of κακολογῶν→ object specificationπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; cf. v. 15; honoring parents (Exod 20:12) is here enforced by capital sanction against its grossest violation.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατέρα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with πατέρα).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; both parents equally protected, as in v. 15.
μητέραmotherAccusativedirect object of κακολογῶν (parallel to πατέρα)→ object specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; renders אֵם; the mother's honor is equal to the father's under this law.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with μητέρα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with μητέρα).
τελευτήσειshall die / come to his endFut Act Indic 3 Sg · τελευτάωmain verb (legislative future of capital sentence)→ legislative future (mandatory death)τελευτάω: 'die / come to an end'; here in the capital-sentence formula τελευτήσει θανάτῳ ('he shall die by death'), a variant of the θανάτῳ θανατούσθω idiom (cf. vv. 12, 15); Jesus' citation uses the imperatival θανάτῳ τελευτάτω; the verb renders מוֹת in the infinitive-absolute construction.
θανάτῳby deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying τελευτήσει)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: the cognate dative θανάτῳ with τελευτήσει renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמָת, 'he shall surely die'; the construction stresses the certainty and gravity of the sentence.
17
ὃς ἐὰν κλέψῃ τίς τινα τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ καταδυναστεύσας αὐτὸν ἀποδῶται καὶ εὑρεθῇ ἐν αὐτῷ θανάτῳ τελευτάτω
Whoever steals one of the sons of Israel, and having overpowered him sells him, and he is found in his possession, let him die by death.
The kidnapping law closes the capital cluster. The hybrid ὃς ἐάν ('whoever') + subjunctive combines relative and conditional formulations. The crime is man-stealing for sale (καταδυναστεύσας … ἀποδῶται). The proof clause καὶ εὑρεθῇ ἐν αὐτῷ ('and he is found in his hands/possession') establishes guilt; the penalty is again capital (θανάτῳ τελευτάτω).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ὃςwhoeverNominativerelative pronoun (subject, with ἐάν generalizing)→ participant referenceὅς: combined with ἐάν (ὃς ἐάν = 'whoever'), forming an indefinite relative protasis with the subjunctive.
ἐὰνevermodal particle (with relative, generalizing: 'whoever')→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: here the modal particle attached to the relative (= ἄν), generalizing the subject and taking the subjunctive κλέψῃ.
κλέψῃstealsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · κλέπτωverb of relative-conditional clause (the act of man-stealing)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of kidnapping)κλέπτω: 'steal'; renders גָּנַב; here of stealing a person (kidnapping), the same root as the eighth commandment (Exod 20:15) and the livestock-theft of v. 37; man-theft for sale is treated as a capital crime (cf. Deut 24:7).
τίςanyoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (resumptive subject, pleonastic with ὅς)→ participant referenceτις: the indefinite τίς is pleonastic alongside the relative ὅς (a redundancy reflecting the Hebrew indefinite construction); the sense is simply 'whoever'.
τιναsomeone / oneAccusativeindefinite pronoun (direct object: the kidnapped person)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone'; the victim, further specified as one of the sons of Israel.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivepartitive genitive (with τινα: 'one of the sons')→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the partitive τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ('one of the sons of Israel') specifies the protected victim — a fellow covenant-member; the LXX here makes explicit that the kidnapping law concerns an Israelite (the Hebrew of MT Exod 21:16 is unqualified).
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationἸσραήλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here genitive in sense, defining the covenant people whose members are protected from being stolen and sold.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταδυναστεύσαςhaving overpowered / oppressedAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · καταδυναστεύωcircumstantial participle (antecedent action: 'having subdued him')→ antecedent aorist participle (the act of overpowering preceding the sale)καταδυναστεύω: 'overpower / oppress / dominate'; renders עָשַׁק / הִתְעַמֵּר ('treat as a slave, deal tyrannically with'); the participle describes the coercive subjection of the victim before his sale — kidnapping plus enslavement.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of καταδυναστεύσας (the victim)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of καταδυναστεύσας (the victim).
ἀποδῶταιsellsAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιverb of protasis (the act of selling the kidnapped person)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the sale)ἀποδίδωμι (mid.): 'sell off'; the same verb as v. 7; here the kidnapper sells his victim into slavery — the commercial exploitation that makes the crime capital.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the proof-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὑρεθῇhe is foundAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of protasis (evidentiary condition: 'and he is found')→ constative aorist passive subjunctive (the discovery establishing guilt)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; the passive εὑρεθῇ ('he is found') functions as an evidentiary clause — the kidnapper caught with the victim in his power; renders נִמְצָא; the same evidentiary 'being found' applies to the thief in v. 37's broader context.
ἐνin / in the possession ofpreposition + dative (locative/possessive: 'in his hands')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: here 'in the power/possession of'; ἐν αὐτῷ renders בְּיָדוֹ ('in his hand'), idiom for being caught in possession of the stolen person.
αὐτῷhim / his possessionDativedative object of ἐν (the kidnapper's possession)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative refers to the kidnapper; 'found in his possession' = caught still holding (or having sold) the stolen person, the proof of guilt.
θανάτῳby deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism with τελευτάτω)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: cognate dative rendering the emphatic infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמָת; cf. vv. 12, 15, 16.
τελευτάτωlet him diePres Act Impv 3 Sg · τελευτάωmain verb of apodosis (third-person imperative of capital sentence)→ legislative present imperative (mandatory death)τελευτάω: 'die / come to an end'; the third-person imperative θανάτῳ τελευτάτω ('let him die by death') prescribes capital punishment for the kidnapper; the same imperatival form Jesus uses when citing v. 16 (Matt 15:4 / Mark 7:10).
18
ἐὰν δὲ λοιδορῶνται δύο ἄνδρες καὶ πατάξῃ τις τὸν πλησίον λίθῳ ἢ πυγμῇ καὶ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ κατακλιθῇ δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν κοίτην
But if two men quarrel and one strikes his neighbor with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but takes to his bed,
The injury-laws begin. The protasis stacks several conditions: a quarrel (λοιδορῶνται), a non-fatal blow (μὴ ἀποθάνῃ), and confinement to bed (κατακλιθῇ … ἐπὶ τὴν κοίτην). The apodosis is deferred to v. 19. The non-fatal outcome distinguishes this from the homicide laws above and governs the compensation rule.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of the injury law)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the case of non-fatal injury in a brawl.
δὲbut / nowtransitional particle (post-positive, new sub-topic)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the shift from capital crimes to laws of bodily injury.
λοιδορῶνταιthey quarrel / revile each otherPres Mid Subj 3 Pl · λοιδορέωverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ durative present subjunctive (an ongoing quarrel)λοιδορέω: 'revile / abuse / quarrel'; the middle/reciprocal λοιδορῶνται = 'wrangle with each other'; renders רִיב ('strive / contend'); the present aspect frames the brawl as an ongoing altercation in which the blow is struck.
δύοtwoNominativenumeral (with ἄνδρες: 'two men')→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; indeclinable here; sets the scene of a two-party fight.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of λοιδορῶνται→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man / male'; renders אֲנָשִׁים; the two combatants; cf. v. 22 where δύο ἄνδρες again frame an affray, there involving a pregnant bystander.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πατάξῃstrikesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πατάσσωverb of protasis (the blow)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of striking)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; the same verb as v. 12; here a non-fatal blow with stone or fist.
τιςone / someoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject: one of the two)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'one (of them)'; the aggressor among the two quarrelers.
τὸνthe / hisAccusativearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborAccusativedirect object of πατάξῃ (the one struck)→ object specificationπλησίον: 'neighbor / fellow'; substantivized; the other combatant, a fellow Israelite; cf. vv. 14, 35.
λίθῳwith a stoneDativedative of instrument (means of the blow)→ sphere or referenceλίθος: 'stone'; renders אֶבֶן; the dative of instrument; a stone is a potentially lethal weapon, which is why the case turns on whether death results.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; offers the alternative instrument.
πυγμῇwith the fistDativedative of instrument (alternative means)→ sphere or referenceπυγμή: 'fist / boxing-fist'; renders אֶגְרֹף; the dative of instrument; the blow may be by a stone or a bare fist — both can injure without necessarily killing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the subjunctive ἀποθάνῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative proper to the subjunctive; the non-fatal outcome is the crucial condition.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (negated: 'does not die')→ constative aorist subjunctive (negated outcome)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the negation μὴ ἀποθάνῃ ('he does not die') removes the case from the homicide laws — survival means compensation, not capital liability.
κατακλιθῇhe takes to bed / is laid upAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · κατακλίνωverb of protasis (the resulting incapacity)→ ingressive aorist passive subjunctive (becoming bedridden)κατακλίνω: 'lay down / make recline'; the passive κατακλιθῇ = 'be laid up / take to one's bed'; renders שָׁכַב ('lie down'); the victim's confinement to bed measures the injury whose lost time the assailant must compensate.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting survival with bedridden state)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: mild adversative — he does not die, but he is laid up.
ἐπὶon / topreposition + accusative (onto the bed)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (onto the bed).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κοίτην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοίτηνbedAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('to his bed')→ object specificationκοίτη: 'bed / couch'; renders מִשְׁכָּב; the sickbed to which the injured man is confined; his time abed is the measure of the ἀργία (lost labor) compensated in v. 19.
19
ἐὰν ἐξαναστὰς ὁ ἄνθρωπος περιπατήσῃ ἔξω ἐπὶ ῥάβδου ἀθῷος ἔσται ὁ πατάξας πλὴν τῆς ἀργίας αὐτοῦ ἀποτείσει καὶ τὰ ἰατρεῖα
if the man rises up and walks about outside leaning on a staff, the one who struck him shall be guiltless; only he shall pay for his lost time and the medical costs.
The recovery of the victim (walking with a staff) clears the assailant of capital guilt (ἀθῷος ἔσται). The residual liability is purely civil: compensation for the lost working-time (ἀργία) and the healing costs (ἰατρεῖα). The principle — life for the victim, liability limited to economic loss — anticipates the talion's restriction of vengeance to proportion.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (continuing/sub-protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the condition of the victim's recovery, on which the assailant's acquittal depends.
ἐξαναστὰςhaving risen upAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ἐξανίστημιcircumstantial participle (antecedent: 'getting up [from bed]')→ antecedent aorist participle (rising from the sickbed)ἐξανίστημι: 'rise up / get up'; the intransitive aorist participle ἐξαναστάς = 'having gotten up (from bed)'; renders קוּם; the victim's recovery from his confinement (v. 18) is the condition that acquits the striker.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἄνθρωπος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of περιπατήσῃ (the injured man)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; renders the injured party of v. 18; his recovery, evidenced by walking abroad, is the legal test.
περιπατήσῃwalks aboutAor Act Subj 3 Sg · περιπατέωverb of protasis (the sign of recovery)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (resuming the ability to walk)περιπατέω: 'walk about / go around'; renders הִתְהַלֵּךְ; walking out of doors (even with a staff) is visible proof of recovery; the verb's evidentiary function clears the assailant of the death penalty.
ἔξωoutsideadverb of place (out of doors)→ clausal contributionἔξω: 'outside / abroad'; renders בַּחוּץ; walking 'outside' rather than lying abed marks substantial recovery.
ἐπὶon / with the support ofpreposition + genitive (means of support: 'leaning on')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + genitive: here 'supported on / leaning on'; the staff is the prop of one still convalescing but recovering.
ῥάβδουa staffGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί ('on a staff')→ relational specificationῥάβδος: 'staff / rod / cane'; renders מִשְׁעֶנֶת ('support / cane'); even leaning on a staff, the victim's walking shows he will live, so the assailant is not liable for his life.
ἀθῷοςguiltless / unpunishedNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται: 'shall be acquitted')→ participant prominenceἀθῷος: 'innocent / unpunished / acquitted'; renders נָקָה (Niphal, 'be held innocent'); the striker is cleared of capital guilt — the same word describes the ox-owner's innocence at v. 28.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate ἀθῷος)→ legislative future (declaring the legal status)εἰμί: 'be'; the future copula declares the assailant's acquittal from capital liability.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with πατάξας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατάξαςthe one who struckAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · πατάσσωsubstantival participle (subject of ἔσται: 'the striker')→ constative aorist participle (the one who delivered the blow)πατάσσω: 'strike'; the articular participle ὁ πατάξας ('the striker') identifies the assailant of v. 18; he is acquitted of the victim's death but still owes civil compensation.
πλὴνexcept / onlyadverb / preposition (restrictive: 'except, only')→ spatial or relational framingπλήν: 'except / only / nevertheless'; restricts the acquittal — the striker goes free of capital guilt, but not of financial liability for the consequences of the blow.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἀργίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀργίαςidleness / lost timeGenitivegenitive object (of compensation: 'for his lost time')→ relational specificationἀργία: 'idleness / inactivity / cessation from work'; renders שֶׁבֶת ('sitting still / loss of time'); the genitive of the thing paid for — the assailant must compensate the victim for the working-time lost during his bed-rest.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the victim's lost time)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the victim's lost time).
ἀποτείσειhe shall pay / make full restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb (the residual civil liability)→ legislative future (prescriptive compensation)ἀποτίνω: 'pay back / make restitution / compensate'; renders נָתַן / שִׁלֵּם; the key restitution-verb of the chapter's property-laws (cf. vv. 34, 36, 37); here it covers the victim's lost wages and medical bills.
καὶand / alsocoordinate conjunction (adding the second item of liability)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἰατρεῖα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἰατρεῖαmedical costs / physician's feesAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσει (second item of compensation)→ object specificationἰατρεῖον (pl. ἰατρεῖα): 'physician's fee / healing costs'; renders רַפֹּא יְרַפֵּא ('he shall surely cause to be healed'); the LXX renders the Hebrew verbal idiom with the concrete noun 'the medical expenses', which the assailant must also pay — both lost time and cure.
20
ἐὰν δέ τις πατάξῃ τὸν παῖδα αὐτοῦ ἢ τὴν παιδίσκην αὐτοῦ ἐν ῥάβδῳ καὶ ἀποθάνῃ ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ δίκῃ ἐκδικηθήτω
But if anyone strikes his male slave or his female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his hands, he shall surely be punished.
The injury-laws extend to slaves. A master who beats his slave to death 'under his hands' is liable to punishment, expressed by the cognate δίκῃ ἐκδικηθήτω ('let him surely be avenged/punished'), a Hebraism for the infinitive absolute. The qualification of v. 21 (if the slave survives a day or two) immediately limits this liability, reflecting the slave's status as property.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the case of a master fatally striking his slave.
δέbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the new sub-case within the injury-laws.
τιςanyoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject: the master)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone'; here the slave-owner.
πατάξῃstrikesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πατάσσωverb of protasis (the fatal blow)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of striking)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; the recurrent verb of the injury-laws (vv. 12, 18); here the master's beating of his own slave.
τὸνthe / hisAccusativearticle (with παῖδα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδαmale slaveAccusativedirect object of πατάξῃ→ object specificationπαῖς: 'servant / slave'; rendering עֶבֶד; here the master's own bondman; the same term as vv. 2, 5; the slave's status as property shapes the limited liability of v. 21.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with παῖδα)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with παῖδα).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; both male and female slaves are covered.
τὴνthe / hisAccusativearticle (with παιδίσκην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηνfemale slaveAccusativedirect object of πατάξῃ (parallel to παῖδα)→ object specificationπαιδίσκη: 'female slave / servant-girl'; renders אָמָה / שִׁפְחָה; the feminine counterpart of παῖς; the law protects slaves of both sexes from fatal abuse, within the limits of v. 21.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with παιδίσκην)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (with παιδίσκην).
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument: Hebraistic ἐν of means)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental ἐν (Hebraism, rendering בְּ of means), 'with a rod'.
ῥάβδῳa rodDativedative of instrument (the means of the blow)→ sphere or referenceῥάβδος: 'rod / staff'; renders שֵׁבֶט; the disciplinary rod — its use implies correction rather than murder, which is why the penalty is mitigated if the slave lingers (v. 21); cf. the same noun as a support-cane in v. 19.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (the slave's death)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the resulting death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the slave's death under the master's beating creates liability — the qualifier 'under his hands' (immediately) is decisive for the penalty.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative ('under his hands')→ spatial or relational framingὑπό + accusative: 'under'; the idiom ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖρας ('under the hands') renders תַּחַת יָדוֹ, meaning the slave dies immediately, directly from the beating — establishing the master's culpability.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπό (idiom: 'under his hands')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ('under his hands') means the slave dies on the spot from the master's own striking; immediacy of death marks the offense as punishable, in contrast to lingering death (v. 21).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the master's hands)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the master's hands).
δίκῃwith justice / punishmentDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying ἐκδικηθήτω)→ sphere or referenceδίκη: 'justice / penalty / lawsuit'; the cognate dative δίκῃ with ἐκδικηθήτω renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute נָקֹם יִנָּקֵם ('he shall surely be avenged/punished'), expressing the certainty of the penalty; its exact severity is left unspecified.
ἐκδικηθήτωlet him be punished / avengedAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · ἐκδικέωmain verb of apodosis (third-person imperative)→ legislative aorist passive imperative (mandatory punishment)ἐκδικέω: 'avenge / punish / exact justice'; renders נָקַם; the passive imperative δίκῃ ἐκδικηθήτω ('let him surely be punished') prescribes vengeance/punishment on the master; the verb recurs in negated form in v. 21 (οὐκ ἐκδικηθήσεται).
21
ἐὰν δὲ διαβιώσῃ ἡμέραν μίαν ἢ δύο οὐκ ἐκδικηθήσεται τὸ γὰρ ἀργύριον αὐτοῦ ἐστιν
But if he survives a day or two, the master shall not be punished, for he is his money.
The mitigating sub-case: if the slave survives a day or two, no punishment follows, on the chilling rationale τὸ γὰρ ἀργύριον αὐτοῦ ἐστιν ('for he is his money'). The slave's death is then presumed unintended, and the master's loss of his own property is reckoned punishment enough — a stark window into the slave's juridical status as property.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the mitigating condition (the slave's survival for a time).
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting with v. 20)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts immediate death (v. 20) with lingering survival.
διαβιώσῃhe survives / lives onAor Act Subj 3 Sg · διαβιόωverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctive (continuing to live for a span)διαβιόω: 'live on / survive / get through'; the compound (διά, 'through') stresses living through a period; renders עָמַד ('stand / endure'); the slave's survival a day or two implies the blow was not meant to kill, mitigating the penalty.
ἡμέρανa dayAccusativeaccusative of duration ('for a day')→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative of extent of time; surviving 'a day or two' is the threshold marking the death as probably accidental.
μίανoneAccusativenumeral (with ἡμέραν: 'one day')→ measure or countεἷς, μία: 'one'; the feminine μίαν agrees with ἡμέραν.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; 'one day or two'.
δύοtwoAccusativenumeral (with ἡμέραν understood: 'or two [days]')→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; the threshold of survival distinguishing punishable from non-punishable cases.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐκδικηθήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negates the punishment — the master goes unpunished.
ἐκδικηθήσεταιhe shall be punishedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐκδικέωmain verb of apodosis (negated: 'shall not be punished')→ legislative future (negated penalty)ἐκδικέω: 'avenge / punish'; the future passive ἐκδικηθήσεται negated by οὐκ reverses the imperative of v. 20 (δίκῃ ἐκδικηθήτω); if the slave lingers, no vengeance is exacted on the master.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἀργύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γὰρforcausal particle (post-positive, giving the rationale)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the rationale for the master's immunity — his economic loss is punishment enough.
ἀργύριονmoney / silverNominativepredicate nominative ('he is [the master's] money')→ participant prominenceἀργύριον: 'silver / money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the slave is reckoned the master's purchased property ('his money'); the master's loss of his own investment is treated as sufficient deterrent, exposing the slave's status as chattel; cf. v. 11, ἄνευ ἀργυρίου.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the master's money)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his', i.e. the master's; the slave is the master's own purchased property, whose loss is its own penalty.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'he is his money')→ gnomic present (stating the standing juridical fact)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula in the causal clause states the slave's juridical status as the master's property — the legal basis for the master's exemption from punishment.
22
ἐὰν δὲ μάχωνται δύο ἄνδρες καὶ πατάξωσιν γυναῖκα ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσαν καὶ ἐξέλθῃ τὸ παιδίον αὐτῆς μὴ ἐξεικονισμένον ἐπιζήμιον ζημιωθήσεται καθότι ἂν ἐπιβάλῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ τῆς γυναικός δώσει μετὰ ἀξιώματος
But if two men fight and strike a pregnant woman, and her child comes out not yet fully formed, he shall be fined a penalty; according to whatever the woman's husband lays upon him, he shall pay with a valuation.
The famous case of the pregnant bystander struck in a brawl. The LXX's distinctive contribution is the criterion μὴ ἐξεικονισμένον ('not formed'): if the miscarried child is not yet 'formed/shaped', only a fine applies (this verse); if it is formed (v. 23), the lex talionis is invoked. This 'formed/unformed' distinction (rendering Hebrew אָסוֹן, 'harm', by reference to fetal development) became foundational for patristic and later debates on the status of the unborn.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the case of injury to a pregnant woman.
δὲbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the new sub-case.
μάχωνταιthey fightPres Mid Subj 3 Pl · μάχομαιverb of protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ durative present subjunctive (an ongoing fight)μάχομαι: 'fight / contend / struggle'; renders נָצָה ('strive'); like λοιδορῶνται (v. 18), it frames an affray; here a pregnant woman is caught in the violence.
δύοtwoNominativenumeral (with ἄνδρες)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; the two combatants, as in v. 18.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of μάχωνται→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the two fighting men, one of whom strikes the woman.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πατάξωσινthey strikeAor Act Subj 3 Pl · πατάσσωverb of protasis (the blow to the woman)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of striking)πατάσσω: 'strike'; the plural πατάξωσιν makes the combatants jointly liable for the blow that injures the woman, whether intended for her or not.
γυναῖκαa womanAccusativedirect object of πατάξωσιν→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the pregnant bystander injured in the fight.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (idiom: 'with child')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: in the idiom ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσαν, 'having in the womb' = pregnant.
γαστρὶwomb / bellyDativedative in idiom (ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχειν: 'be pregnant')→ sphere or referenceγαστήρ: 'belly / womb'; the idiom ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσαν ('having in the womb') renders הָרָה ('pregnant'); the same idiom describes the virgin's conception at Isa 7:14 LXX (ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει).
ἔχουσανhavingPres Act Ptc Acc Fem Sg · ἔχωattributive participle (modifying γυναῖκα: 'pregnant')→ durative present participle (the ongoing state of pregnancy)ἔχω: 'have / hold'; the participle ἔχουσαν agrees with γυναῖκα; ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσαν = 'being pregnant'; the woman's condition is what makes the case distinctive.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέλθῃcomes outAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιverb of protasis (the miscarriage)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the child's coming out)ἐξέρχομαι: 'come out / go forth'; here of the premature expulsion of the fetus (miscarriage); renders יָצָא ('come out'); the verb is neutral as to whether the child lives, hence the formed/unformed test follows.
τὸthe / herNominativearticle (with παιδίον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίονchildNominativesubject of ἐξέλθῃ (the unborn child)→ participant prominenceπαιδίον: 'little child / infant'; the LXX calls the fetus τὸ παιδίον ('the child'), already personalizing it; renders יֶלֶד; the term and the formed/unformed criterion shaped later Jewish and Christian reflection on fetal life.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the woman's child)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the woman's child).
μὴnotnegative particle (with the participle ἐξεικονισμένον)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negates the participle, defining the child as 'not yet formed'.
ἐξεικονισμένονformed / fully shapedPerf Pass Ptc Nom Neut Sg · ἐξεικονίζωpredicate participle (modifying παιδίον: 'not formed')→ resultative perfect participle (a completed state of formation)ἐξεικονίζω: 'form completely / shape into an image'; a rare compound (from εἰκών, 'image') used by the LXX to render the obscure Hebrew אָסוֹן ('harm / mischief') as a question of fetal development; μὴ ἐξεικονισμένον = 'not yet formed into [human] shape'; the perfect denotes the achieved (or here unachieved) state of formation — the decisive criterion for fine vs. talion.
ἐπιζήμιονa penalty / fineAccusativecognate / adverbial accusative (with ζημιωθήσεται: 'with a fine')→ object specificationἐπιζήμιος: 'subject to penalty / a fine'; the neuter ἐπιζήμιον is a cognate-like accusative with ζημιωθήσεται, 'he shall be fined a penalty'; the unformed case incurs only a monetary fine, not life-for-life.
ζημιωθήσεταιhe shall be finedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ζημιόωmain verb of apodosis (the monetary penalty)→ legislative future (prescriptive fine)ζημιόω: 'fine / penalize / cause loss'; renders עָנַשׁ ('impose a fine'); the passive ζημιωθήσεται means 'he shall be made to pay a penalty'; for the unformed child the liability is purely financial; the same verb appears at Matt 16:26 / 1 Cor 3:15 of suffering loss.
καθότιaccording as / inasmuch asconjunction (introducing the measure of the fine)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθότι: 'according as / to the degree that'; introduces the clause specifying how the amount of the fine is fixed — by the husband's claim, subject to assessment.
ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive ἐπιβάλῃ, generalizing)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the indefiniteness of the clause ('whatever he may lay upon him').
ἐπιβάλῃlays upon / imposesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐπιβάλλωverb of indefinite relative clause (the husband's claim)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the imposing of a claim)ἐπιβάλλω: 'lay upon / impose / demand'; here of the husband's laying a monetary claim on the offender; the same verb recurs in the ox-laws (vv. 30, ἐπιβληθῇ / ἐπιβάλωσιν) of imposing a ransom.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρhusbandNominativesubject of ἐπιβάλῃ (the woman's husband)→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; ὁ ἀνὴρ τῆς γυναικός = 'the woman's husband', who sets the claim for the injury done to his wife and the loss of the child.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γυναικός)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικόςwoman / wifeGenitivegenitive of relationship ('the woman's husband')→ relational specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the genitive defines the man as the injured woman's husband, the party entitled to claim damages.
δώσειhe shall give / payFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the payment of the assessed fine)→ legislative future (prescriptive payment)δίδωμι: 'give / pay'; renders נָתַן; the offender 'gives' (pays) the assessed sum; the verb of payment recurs throughout the property-laws (vv. 30, 32, 34).
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (manner: 'with a valuation')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: 'with / accompanied by'; here 'with an assessment', i.e. the payment is to be made according to a judicial valuation, not arbitrarily.
ἀξιώματοςvaluation / assessmentGenitivegenitive object of μετά ('with a valuation')→ relational specificationἀξίωμα: 'that which is deemed fitting / assessment / valuation'; renders the sense of בִּפְלִלִים ('by/with arbitration, before judges'); the LXX takes it as a determination of the fitting amount — the fine is fixed by judicial assessment, restraining the husband's claim within measure.
23
ἐὰν δὲ ἐξεικονισμένον ἦν δώσει ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς
But if it was fully formed, he shall give life for life,
The decisive turn: if the miscarried child was ἐξεικονισμένον ('formed'), the case is no longer a mere fine but invokes the talion — δώσει ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς ('he shall give life for life'). This opens the lex talionis series (vv. 23–25), the very text Jesus cites and reframes at Matt 5:38 (ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ καὶ ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος).
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the contrasting condition (the formed child).
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting with v. 22)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts the formed with the unformed child of v. 22.
ἐξεικονισμένονformed / fully shapedPerf Pass Ptc Nom Neut Sg · ἐξεικονίζωpredicate participle (with ἦν: 'if it was formed')→ resultative perfect participle (the achieved state of formation)ἐξεικονίζω: 'form completely / shape into an image'; the same rare verb as v. 22, now affirmed — the child was 'formed'; the LXX's developmental criterion turns the fully-formed fetus into a 'life' (ψυχή) protected by the talion.
ἦνit wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula in periphrastic construction (with the participle: 'was formed')→ imperfect of state (the condition obtaining at the time)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν with the perfect participle forms a periphrastic 'was [in a] formed [state]', describing the child's developmental condition at the time of the injury.
δώσειhe shall giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of apodosis (the talion-payment)→ legislative future (prescriptive talion)δίδωμι: 'give'; here 'render / pay' in the talion-formula δώσει ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς; the verb governs the series of ἀντί-pairs running through vv. 23–25.
ψυχὴνlife / soulAccusativedirect object of δώσει (first member of the talion-pair)→ object specificationψυχή: 'life / soul / living being'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; in the talion ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς ('life for life') it means a living person; the formed child is reckoned a ψυχή, so its loss is requited life-for-life.
ἀντὶfor / in place ofpreposition + genitive (exchange / equivalence: the talion formula)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'instead of / in place of / in exchange for'; renders Hebrew תַּחַת; the preposition of equivalence that structures the entire lex talionis (vv. 23–25); it expresses strict proportional retribution — neither more nor less than the harm done.
ψυχῆςlife / soulGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί (second member: the life lost)→ relational specificationψυχή: the genitive ψυχῆς completes the formula 'life for life'; the principle of exact equivalence (ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς) is the foundational statement of measured justice that Jesus cites and transcends at Matt 5:38.
24
ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος χεῖρα ἀντὶ χειρός πόδα ἀντὶ ποδός
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
The heart of the lex talionis, governed still by δώσει (v. 23): four ἀντί-pairs of bodily members in strict equivalence. ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ, ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος are verbatim the words Jesus quotes at Matt 5:38 (ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη· ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ καὶ ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος) before reframing them in the antithesis. The principle is one of limitation — punishment must not exceed the injury.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ὀφθαλμὸνeyeAccusativeaccusative (object of implied δώσει: 'eye for eye')→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; the first member of the most famous talion-pair (ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ), quoted by Jesus at Matt 5:38; the accusative depends on δώσει carried over from v. 23.
ἀντὶforpreposition + genitive (equivalence)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'in place of / for'; renders תַּחַת; the talion-preposition of exact compensation.
ὀφθαλμοῦeyeGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationὀφθαλμός: the genitive completing 'eye for eye'; the formula limits retribution to exact proportion.
ὀδόνταtoothAccusativeaccusative (second talion-pair: 'tooth for tooth')→ object specificationὀδούς: 'tooth'; renders שֵׁן; ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος is the second member cited by Jesus at Matt 5:38; cf. also the slave's tooth in v. 27.
ἀντὶforpreposition + genitive (equivalence)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'for / in place of'; the talion-preposition.
ὀδόντοςtoothGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationὀδούς: the genitive completing 'tooth for tooth'.
χεῖραhandAccusativeaccusative (third talion-pair: 'hand for hand')→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; the third pair extends the talion to limbs.
ἀντὶforpreposition + genitive (equivalence)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: the talion-preposition.
χειρόςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationχείρ: the genitive completing 'hand for hand'.
πόδαfootAccusativeaccusative (fourth talion-pair: 'foot for foot')→ object specificationπούς: 'foot'; renders רֶגֶל; the fourth pair; the catalogue moves from face (eye, tooth) to limbs (hand, foot).
ἀντὶforpreposition + genitive (equivalence)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: the talion-preposition.
ποδόςfootGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationπούς: the genitive completing 'foot for foot'; the four pairs together express the principle of strict, limited proportionality in retribution.
25
κατάκαυμα ἀντὶ κατακαύματος τραῦμα ἀντὶ τραύματος μώλωπα ἀντὶ μώλωπος
burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
The talion-catalogue concludes with three further ἀντί-pairs naming kinds of injury (burn, wound, bruise) rather than body-parts. The series (vv. 23–25) as a whole forms the classic lex talionis; its rhetorical completeness — seven pairs from 'life' to 'bruise' — expresses the comprehensiveness of measured, proportional justice.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
κατάκαυμαburn / burningAccusativeaccusative (talion-pair: 'burn for burn')→ object specificationκατάκαυμα: 'burn / burn-wound'; renders כְּוִיָּה ('branding / burn'); the noun (from κατακαίω, 'burn down') names injury by fire or scalding; the accusative depends on the δώσει of v. 23.
ἀντὶforpreposition + genitive (equivalence)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: the talion-preposition.
κατακαύματοςburnGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationκατάκαυμα: the genitive completing 'burn for burn'.
τραῦμαwoundAccusativeaccusative (talion-pair: 'wound for wound')→ object specificationτραῦμα: 'wound / injury'; renders פֶּצַע ('open wound'); a cut or gash; the same word is used of the wounded man in Jesus' parable (Luke 10:34, τὰ τραύματα).
ἀντὶforpreposition + genitive (equivalence)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: the talion-preposition.
τραύματοςwoundGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationτραῦμα: the genitive completing 'wound for wound'.
μώλωπαbruise / weltAccusativeaccusative (talion-pair: 'bruise for bruise')→ object specificationμώλωψ: 'bruise / welt / stripe'; renders חַבּוּרָה ('stripe / bruise'); the same word famously at Isa 53:5 LXX (τῷ μώλωπι αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς ἰάθημεν, 'by his bruise we were healed'), echoed at 1 Pet 2:24; here it closes the talion-catalogue.
ἀντὶforpreposition + genitive (equivalence)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: the talion-preposition, sealing the final pair.
μώλωποςbruiseGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationμώλωψ: the genitive completing 'bruise for bruise'; the seven talion-pairs (vv. 23–25) together state the principle of exact, limited retribution.
26
ἐὰν δέ τις πατάξῃ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν τοῦ οἰκέτου αὐτοῦ ἢ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν τῆς θεραπαίνης αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκτυφλώσῃ ἐλευθέρους ἐξαποστελεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀντὶ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ αὐτῶν
But if anyone strikes the eye of his male slave or the eye of his maidservant and blinds it, he shall send them away free in compensation for their eye.
The talion principle is applied to slaves, but transformed: instead of the master losing his own eye, he must free the slave (ἐλευθέρους ἐξαποστελεῖ … ἀντὶ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ — 'free, in exchange for the eye'). The ἀντί picks up the talion-formula of vv. 23–25 but commutes bodily retaliation into manumission, protecting the slave's bodily integrity by the threat of lost property.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the case of a master maiming his slave's eye.
δέbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the application of the talion to the master-slave relationship.
τιςanyoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject: the master)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone'; the slave-owner.
πατάξῃstrikesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πατάσσωverb of protasis (the blow to the eye)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of striking)πατάσσω: 'strike'; the recurrent verb (vv. 12, 18, 20); here a blow to the slave's eye.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ὀφθαλμόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμὸνeyeAccusativedirect object of πατάξῃ→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the very member of the talion-pair (v. 24); here the slave's eye, whose loss is requited not by the master's eye but by the slave's freedom.
τοῦof the / hisGenitivearticle (with οἰκέτου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκέτουmale slave / house-servantGenitivegenitive of possession ('his slave's eye')→ relational specificationοἰκέτης: 'household slave / domestic servant'; renders עֶבֶד; a near-synonym of παῖς (used in vv. 20, 27); the masculine slave whose eye is at issue.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the master's slave)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the master's slave).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; both male and female slaves covered.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ὀφθαλμόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμὸνeyeAccusativedirect object of πατάξῃ (parallel: the maidservant's eye)→ object specificationὀφθαλμός: the maidservant's eye, parallel to the slave's; the repetition makes the protection explicit for both sexes.
τῆςof the / hisGenitivearticle (with θεραπαίνης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεραπαίνηςmaidservantGenitivegenitive of possession ('his maidservant's eye')→ relational specificationθεράπαινα / θεραπαινίς: 'maidservant / female slave'; renders אָמָה; the feminine counterpart of οἰκέτης; the same word describes the mill-slave at Exod 11:5 LXX.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the master's maidservant)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the master's maidservant).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκτυφλώσῃblinds [it]Aor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐκτυφλόωverb of protasis (the resulting blindness)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of blinding)ἐκτυφλόω: 'blind utterly / make blind'; the intensive compound (ἐκ + τυφλόω) renders שָׁחַת ('destroy / ruin', of the eye); the permanent loss of the eye is what triggers the slave's compensatory release.
ἐλευθέρουςfreeAccusativepredicate accusative (with ἐξαποστελεῖ: 'send away as free')→ object specificationἐλεύθερος: 'free'; the predicate accusative — the master must send the maimed slave away in the status of a freedman; the slave's bodily injury is requited by liberation, a humane commutation of the talion.
ἐξαποστελεῖhe shall send awayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb of apodosis (the manumission as compensation)→ legislative future (prescriptive release)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / release / dismiss'; the intensive compound (cf. its use of the Exodus-release, Exod 11:1); here the master must release the slave he has maimed — freedom in lieu of the talion's bodily retaliation.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξαποστελεῖ (the slaves, generalizing)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the plural αὐτούς generalizes to either the male or female slave maimed; whoever is so injured goes free.
ἀντὶfor / in exchange forpreposition + genitive (compensation, echoing the talion-formula)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'in exchange for'; deliberately echoes the talion ἀντί of vv. 23–25, but here freedom, not an eye, is the compensation — the talion is commuted into manumission.
τοῦthe / theirGenitivearticle (with ὀφθαλμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοῦeyeGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί ('for their eye')→ relational specificationὀφθαλμός: the genitive completes 'in exchange for their eye'; the lost eye buys the slave's freedom.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the slaves' eye)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the slaves' eye).
27
ἐὰν δὲ τὸν ὀδόντα τοῦ οἰκέτου ἢ τὸν ὀδόντα τῆς θεραπαίνης αὐτοῦ ἐκκόψῃ ἐλευθέρους ἐξαποστελεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀντὶ τοῦ ὀδόντος αὐτῶν
And if he knocks out the tooth of his male slave or the tooth of his maidservant, he shall send them away free in compensation for their tooth.
A parallel ruling to v. 26, applying the same commuted-talion principle to a lesser injury — a knocked-out tooth. The pairing eye/tooth deliberately mirrors the talion-pair ὀφθαλμὸν … ὀδόντα of v. 24, showing that even minor permanent damage to a slave requires the slave's release (ἀντὶ τοῦ ὀδόντος, 'in exchange for the tooth').
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the parallel case of the slave's tooth.
δὲand / buttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: links this parallel ruling to v. 26.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ὀδόντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀδόνταtoothAccusativedirect object of ἐκκόψῃ (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationὀδούς: 'tooth'; the member of the talion-pair (v. 24); here the slave's tooth, whose loss likewise commutes to the slave's freedom.
τοῦof the / hisGenitivearticle (with οἰκέτου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκέτουmale slaveGenitivegenitive of possession ('his slave's tooth')→ relational specificationοἰκέτης: 'household slave'; as in v. 26 (rendering עֶבֶד).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; both sexes covered.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ὀδόντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀδόνταtoothAccusativedirect object of ἐκκόψῃ (parallel: the maidservant's tooth)→ object specificationὀδούς: the maidservant's tooth, parallel to the slave's.
τῆςof the / hisGenitivearticle (with θεραπαίνης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεραπαίνηςmaidservantGenitivegenitive of possession ('his maidservant's tooth')→ relational specificationθεράπαινα: 'maidservant'; as in v. 26 (rendering אָמָה).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the master's maidservant)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the master's maidservant).
ἐκκόψῃknocks out / strikes outAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐκκόπτωverb of protasis (the dislodging of the tooth)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of knocking out)ἐκκόπτω: 'cut out / knock out / strike off'; renders נָפַל (Hiphil, 'cause to fall out'); the knocking out of a tooth, like the blinding of an eye, mandates the slave's release.
ἐλευθέρουςfreeAccusativepredicate accusative (with ἐξαποστελεῖ)→ object specificationἐλεύθερος: 'free'; the predicate accusative — the maimed slave is to be sent away as a freedman; as in v. 26, bodily injury is requited by liberation.
ἐξαποστελεῖhe shall send awayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb of apodosis (manumission as compensation)→ legislative future (prescriptive release)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / release'; as in v. 26; the master must free the slave he has injured.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξαποστελεῖ→ participant referenceαὐτός: generalizing plural for the injured slave of either sex.
ἀντὶfor / in exchange forpreposition + genitive (compensation, echoing the talion)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'in exchange for'; again the talion-preposition commuted into manumission (cf. v. 26).
τοῦthe / theirGenitivearticle (with ὀδόντος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀδόντοςtoothGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί ('for their tooth')→ relational specificationὀδούς: the genitive completing 'in exchange for their tooth'; the lost tooth, like the lost eye, buys the slave's freedom.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the slaves' tooth)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the slaves' tooth).
28
ἐὰν δὲ κερατίσῃ ταῦρος ἄνδρα ἢ γυναῖκα καὶ ἀποθάνῃ λίθοις λιθοβοληθήσεται ὁ ταῦρος καὶ οὐ βρωθήσεται τὰ κρέα αὐτοῦ ὁ δὲ κύριος τοῦ ταύρου ἀθῷος ἔσται
But if an ox gores a man or a woman, and he dies, the ox shall be stoned with stones, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be innocent.
The ox-laws begin. The basic case: a hitherto-harmless ox gores a person to death; the ox is stoned (a quasi-judicial execution treating the beast as bloodguilty), its flesh tabooed, but the owner (ὁ κύριος τοῦ ταύρου — the human owner) goes free (ἀθῷος, as in v. 19). The escalating sub-cases (vv. 29–36) turn on the owner's prior knowledge of the ox's danger.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of the goring-ox law)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the basic case of the goring ox.
δὲbut / nowtransitional particle (post-positive, new sub-topic)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the shift from injury-laws to the laws of animal liability.
κερατίσῃgoresAor Act Subj 3 Sg · κερατίζωverb of protasis (the act of goring)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the goring)κερατίζω: 'gore / butt with the horns'; denominative from κέρας ('horn'); renders נָגַח; the characteristic verb of the ox-laws (recurs vv. 31, 32, 35); here the ox fatally gores a person.
ταῦροςan ox / bullNominativesubject of κερατίσῃ→ participant prominenceταῦρος: 'bull / ox'; renders שׁוֹר; the subject of all the goring cases; treated as a quasi-responsible agent whose bloodshed renders it liable to stoning.
ἄνδραa manAccusativedirect object of κερατίσῃ→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the human victim; with γυναῖκα it covers victims of either sex.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; man or woman alike.
γυναῖκαa womanAccusativedirect object of κερατίσῃ (parallel to ἄνδρα)→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman'; the law protects victims of both sexes equally (cf. v. 29).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (the victim's death)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the resulting death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the death of the gored person triggers the stoning of the ox and the question of the owner's liability.
λίθοιςwith stonesDativedative of instrument (with λιθοβοληθήσεται: cognate-like reinforcement)→ sphere or referenceλίθος: 'stone'; the dative of instrument λίθοις with λιθοβοληθήσεται ('with stones it shall be stoned') is a near-cognate reinforcement echoing the Hebrew סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל ('it shall surely be stoned'); the stoning treats the ox as bloodguilty.
λιθοβοληθήσεταιshall be stonedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · λιθοβολέωmain verb of apodosis (the ox's execution)→ legislative future (prescriptive stoning)λιθοβολέω: 'stone / pelt with stones'; renders סָקַל; the ox is executed by stoning — the mode of capital punishment for capital crimes (cf. blasphemy, sabbath-breaking), treating the killing beast as bloodguilty; recurs vv. 29, 32.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ταῦρος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦροςoxNominativesubject of λιθοβοληθήσεται→ participant prominenceταῦρος: the ox as the subject of execution; its stoning is mandatory once it has killed a person.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with βρωθήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negates the eating — the stoned ox's flesh is tabooed.
βρωθήσεταιshall be eatenFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · βιβρώσκωmain verb (negated: the flesh-taboo)→ legislative future (negated: prohibition)βιβρώσκω: 'eat / consume'; the passive future βρωθήσεται negated — the flesh of the bloodguilty ox may not be eaten, treating its carcass as defiled by the bloodshed; renders אָכַל.
τὰthe / itsNominativearticle (with κρέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρέαflesh / meatNominativesubject of βρωθήσεται (the ox's flesh)→ participant prominenceκρέας (pl. κρέα): 'flesh / meat'; renders בָּשָׂר; the neuter plural takes a singular verb; the prohibition on eating marks the carcass as bloodguilty and unfit for use.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the ox's flesh)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the ox's flesh).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting ox and owner)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts the executed ox with the acquitted owner.
κύριοςownerNominativesubject of ἔσται (the human owner of the ox)→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the human owner (בַּעַל הַשּׁוֹר, 'the owner of the ox'), not the divine name; throughout the ox-laws (vv. 28, 29, 34, 36) κύριος denotes the animal's owner; context fixes the reference.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ταύρου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταύρουoxGenitivegenitive of possession ('the owner of the ox')→ relational specificationταῦρος: the genitive ταύρου defines κύριος as the ox's owner.
ἀθῷοςinnocent / guiltlessNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται: 'shall be innocent')→ participant prominenceἀθῷος: 'innocent / unpunished'; the same word as v. 19; in the basic case (no prior knowledge of the ox's danger) the owner bears no liability — the contrast with v. 29 turns entirely on his foreknowledge.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with predicate ἀθῷος)→ legislative future (declaring the owner's status)εἰμί: 'be'; declares the owner's acquittal in the unforeseeable case.
29
ἐὰν δὲ ὁ ταῦρος κερατιστὴς ᾖ πρὸ τῆς ἐχθὲς καὶ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης καὶ διαμαρτύρωνται τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ ἀφανίσῃ αὐτόν ἀνέλῃ δὲ ἄνδρα ἢ γυναῖκα ὁ ταῦρος λιθοβοληθήσεται καὶ ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ προσαποθανεῖται
But if the ox was a gorer in time past, and they have warned its owner, and he has not penned it up, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner shall also die.
The aggravated case: the ox was a habitual gorer (κερατιστής), the owner had been warned (διαμαρτύρωνται) πρὸ τῆς ἐχθὲς καὶ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης ('beforehand', lit. 'before yesterday and before the third day'), yet failed to pen it. Now both the ox is stoned and the negligent owner προσαποθανεῖται ('also dies') — culpable negligence is treated as virtual homicide, subject to ransom in v. 30.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the aggravated case of the known gorer.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting with v. 28)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts the negligent owner with the innocent owner of v. 28.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ταῦρος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦροςoxNominativesubject of ᾖ→ participant prominenceταῦρος: the ox, here characterized as a known gorer.
κερατιστὴςa gorer / prone to goreNominativepredicate nominative (with ᾖ: 'is a gorer')→ participant prominenceκερατιστής: 'gorer / butting animal'; agent-noun from κερατίζω; renders the sense of נַגָּח ('wont to gore'); the ox's established disposition to gore is what creates the owner's duty to restrain it.
ᾖis / bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula of protasis (conditional subjunctive: 'if it be a gorer')→ stative present subjunctive (the ox's settled disposition)εἰμί: 'be'; the subjunctive ᾖ with κερατιστής describes the ox's known, habitual character as a gorer.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (temporal: 'before')→ spatial or relational framingπρό + genitive: 'before'; in the idiom πρὸ τῆς ἐχθές, 'previously / heretofore'.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἐχθές, substantivized)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθὲςyesterdayGenitivesubstantivized adverb (genitive with πρό: 'before yesterday')→ relational specificationἐχθές: 'yesterday'; the idiom πρὸ τῆς ἐχθὲς καὶ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης ('before yesterday and before the third day') renders the Hebrew מִתְּמֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם ('from yesterday and the day before'), a stock phrase meaning 'previously / for some time past' — the ox had a known prior record.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingπρό + genitive: 'before'; parallel to the preceding πρό.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with τρίτης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίτηςthird [day]Genitivesubstantivized ordinal (genitive with πρό: 'before the third [day]')→ relational specificationτρίτος: 'third'; πρὸ τῆς τρίτης (sc. ἡμέρας) = 'before the third day before'; with πρὸ τῆς ἐχθές it forms the idiom for 'in time past', establishing the owner's prior knowledge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαμαρτύρωνταιthey solemnly warnPres Mid Subj 3 Pl · διαμαρτύρομαιverb of protasis (the warning given to the owner)→ iterative present subjunctive (repeated/formal warning)διαμαρτύρομαι: 'solemnly testify / warn formally'; the intensive compound (διά) renders הוּעַד ('be warned'); the owner was formally and repeatedly put on notice of the danger — the basis of his culpability for failing to act.
τῷthe / itsDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳownerDativedative of person warned (the ox's owner)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: again the human owner of the ox (בַּעַל), not God; he is the one warned and held liable for negligence.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the ox's owner)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the ox's owner).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the subjunctive ἀφανίσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negates the subjunctive — the owner's failure to remove the danger.
ἀφανίσῃhe removes / does away withAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀφανίζωverb of protasis (negated: failure to dispose of the ox)→ constative aorist subjunctive (negated act of removal)ἀφανίζω: 'make disappear / do away with / destroy'; renders שָׁמַר ('keep in', here negated) — the LXX construes it as the owner's failure to 'get rid of' / make away with the dangerous ox; his negligence in not removing the threat is decisive for his liability.
αὐτόνitAccusativedirect object of ἀφανίσῃ (the ox)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀφανίσῃ (the ox).
ἀνέλῃit kills / destroysAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀναιρέωverb of protasis (the fatal goring)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the killing)ἀναιρέω: 'take away / kill / destroy'; renders הֵמִית; a stronger verb than ἀποθνῄσκω, marking the ox as the active killer; its use heightens the owner's guilt for letting a known killer loose.
δὲandconnective particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: connective, continuing the protasis to the fatal outcome.
ἄνδραa manAccusativedirect object of ἀνέλῃ→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man'; the human victim, as in v. 28.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; man or woman.
γυναῖκαa womanAccusativedirect object of ἀνέλῃ (parallel to ἄνδρα)→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman'; both sexes equally protected.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ταῦρος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦροςoxNominativesubject of λιθοβοληθήσεται→ participant prominenceταῦρος: the ox; stoned as in v. 28, but now its owner shares the penalty.
λιθοβοληθήσεταιshall be stonedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · λιθοβολέωmain verb of apodosis (the ox's execution)→ legislative future (prescriptive stoning)λιθοβολέω: 'stone'; as in v. 28; the ox is executed.
καὶand / alsocoordinate conjunction (adding the owner's penalty)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁthe / itsNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςownerNominativesubject of προσαποθανεῖται (the negligent owner)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the human owner; his negligence in failing to restrain a known gorer makes him liable to death along with the ox — culpable negligence treated as virtual homicide.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the ox's owner)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the ox's owner).
προσαποθανεῖταιshall also die / die with itFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσαποθνῄσκωmain verb (the owner's shared death penalty)→ legislative future (prescriptive death, mitigable by ransom in v. 30)προσαποθνῄσκω: 'die in addition / die along with'; the double compound (πρός + ἀπο-) expresses that the owner dies 'as well' as the ox; renders יוּמָת ('shall be put to death'); the harshness is immediately tempered by the ransom-provision of v. 30.
30
ἐὰν δὲ λύτρα ἐπιβληθῇ αὐτῷ δώσει λύτρα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ ὅσα ἐὰν ἐπιβάλωσιν αὐτῷ
But if a ransom is imposed on him, he shall give as ransom for his life whatever they impose on him.
The death-penalty of v. 29 is commuted: if a λύτρα ('ransom') is imposed, the negligent owner may pay it as redemption-price for his own life (λύτρα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ). The repeated ἐπιβάλλω (cf. v. 22) marks the judicial imposition of the sum; the case shows that the owner's liability, though capital in form, is in practice monetary.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the ransom-provision mitigating v. 29.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the mitigating alternative to the death penalty.
λύτραa ransomNominativesubject of ἐπιβληθῇ (the imposed ransom)→ participant prominenceλύτρον (pl. λύτρα): 'ransom / redemption-price'; renders כֹּפֶר; the price paid to redeem a forfeited life; the term is theologically weighty — the same word in Jesus' ransom-saying (λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν, Mark 10:45 / Matt 20:28), where ἀντί echoes the talion idiom of this very chapter.
ἐπιβληθῇis imposedAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἐπιβάλλωverb of protasis (the imposing of a ransom)→ constative aorist passive subjunctive (the judicial imposition)ἐπιβάλλω: 'lay upon / impose'; the passive ἐπιβληθῇ — a ransom is laid upon the owner by judicial authority; cf. the same verb of the husband's claim in v. 22.
αὐτῷon himDativedative (on whom the ransom is laid: the owner)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'on him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (on whom the ransom is laid: the owner).
δώσειhe shall giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of apodosis (payment of the ransom)→ legislative future (prescriptive payment)δίδωμι: 'give / pay'; the owner pays the imposed ransom; the verb of payment recurs through the property-laws (vv. 22, 32, 34).
λύτραransomAccusativedirect object of δώσει (the ransom paid)→ object specificationλύτρον (pl. λύτρα): the ransom as the object given; λύτρα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ ('ransom for his life') is the redemption-price for the owner's own forfeited life.
τῆςof the / hisGenitivearticle (with ψυχῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχῆςlife / soulGenitivegenitive (the life ransomed: 'ransom for his life')→ relational specificationψυχή: 'life / soul'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; the genitive of the thing ransomed — the owner's own life; the phrase λύτρα τῆς ψυχῆς ('ransom of life') is the conceptual seed of the NT ransom-theology (cf. Mark 10:45).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the owner's life)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the owner's life).
ὅσαwhatever / as much asAccusativerelative pronoun (indefinite, object of ἐπιβάλωσιν: 'whatever amount')→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as / whatever'; the neuter plural ὅσα with ἐάν generalizes the sum — the ransom is 'whatever they impose', i.e. a judicially-fixed, not arbitrary, amount.
ἐὰνevermodal particle (with subjunctive, generalizing the relative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: here the modal particle (= ἄν) attached to the relative ὅσα, generalizing ('whatever amount they may impose').
ἐπιβάλωσινthey imposeAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἐπιβάλλωverb of indefinite relative clause (the imposing of the sum)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the judicial fixing of the amount)ἐπιβάλλω: 'lay upon / impose'; the third-plural subject (the judges / the victim's kin) sets the ransom; the same verb as the protasis (ἐπιβληθῇ) and v. 22, framing the assessed, non-arbitrary nature of the payment.
αὐτῷon himDativedative (on whom the sum is imposed: the owner)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'on him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (on whom the sum is imposed: the owner).
31
ἐὰν δὲ υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα κερατίσῃ κατὰ τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦτο ποιήσουσιν αὐτῷ
And if it gores a son or a daughter, they shall deal with him according to this same ordinance.
A brief extension clause: the foregoing rules (vv. 28–30) apply equally if the ox gores a free person's child. κατὰ τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦτο ('according to this ordinance') reaches back to the preceding case-law, and δικαίωμα again echoes the chapter heading (v. 1). The point is that minors enjoy the same legal protection as adult victims.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the extension-case (a child as victim).
δὲand / buttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: links the extension to the preceding ox-laws.
υἱὸνa sonAccusativedirect object of κερατίσῃ→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; the free person's son as victim; with θυγατέρα it covers minors of either sex.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; son or daughter alike.
θυγατέραa daughterAccusativedirect object of κερατίσῃ (parallel to υἱόν)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the explicit inclusion ensures minors of both sexes are equally protected under the goring-ox law.
κερατίσῃit goresAor Act Subj 3 Sg · κερατίζωverb of protasis (the ox's goring of a child)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the goring)κερατίζω: 'gore'; the same verb as v. 28; the subject (ὁ ταῦρος) is carried over from the context.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm: 'according to')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: 'according to'; refers the ruling back to the preceding ordinance.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with δικαίωμα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαίωμαordinanceAccusativeaccusative object of κατά ('according to the ordinance')→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'statute / ordinance'; the same term as v. 1 and v. 9; here it refers to the foregoing ox-laws (vv. 28–30), applied without change to the case of a gored child.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (with δικαίωμα: 'this ordinance')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the demonstrative τοῦτο points back to the rules just stated, applying them by reference rather than restating them.
ποιήσουσινthey shall deal / doFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of apodosis (impersonal 3rd plural: 'they shall do')→ legislative future (prescriptive: the same treatment applies)ποιέω: 'do / deal'; the impersonal third-plural ποιήσουσιν αὐτῷ ('they shall deal with him') means the same procedure of vv. 28–30 is to be applied to the owner; the dative αὐτῷ refers to the ox's owner.
αὐτῷto him / with himDativedative of the person dealt with (the owner)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative refers to the ox's owner, who is dealt with under the same rule regardless of the victim's age.
32
ἐὰν δὲ παῖδα κερατίσῃ ὁ ταῦρος ἢ παιδίσκην ἀργυρίου τριάκοντα δίδραχμα δώσει τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτῶν καὶ ὁ ταῦρος λιθοβοληθήσεται
But if the ox gores a male slave or a female slave, he shall give thirty silver didrachmas to their master, and the ox shall be stoned.
When the victim is a slave, the penalty is a fixed sum — τριάκοντα δίδραχμα ἀργυρίου ('thirty silver didrachmas') paid to the slave's master — plus the stoning of the ox. This is the very sum (thirty pieces of silver) valued for a slave, echoed in Zechariah's prophetic sign-act (Zech 11:12–13) and notoriously at Judas' betrayal-price (Matt 26:15; 27:3–10). The reduction to a tariff reflects the slave's juridical status as property.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the sub-case where the gored victim is a slave.
δὲbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the slave-victim case, distinct from the free person of vv. 28–31.
παῖδαmale slaveAccusativedirect object of κερατίσῃ→ object specificationπαῖς: 'slave / servant'; rendering עֶבֶד; the male slave as victim; his death is compensated by a fixed tariff, not life-for-life.
κερατίσῃgoresAor Act Subj 3 Sg · κερατίζωverb of protasis (the goring)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the goring)κερατίζω: 'gore'; as in vv. 28, 31.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ταῦρος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦροςoxNominativesubject of κερατίσῃ→ participant prominenceταῦρος: the goring ox.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; male or female slave.
παιδίσκηνfemale slaveAccusativedirect object of κερατίσῃ (parallel to παῖδα)→ object specificationπαιδίσκη: 'female slave'; rendering אָמָה; the feminine counterpart; both fall under the same fixed-tariff rule.
ἀργυρίουof silverGenitivegenitive of material/price (with δίδραχμα: 'didrachmas of silver')→ relational specificationἀργύριον: 'silver / money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the genitive of material specifies the coinage; the fixed silver-sum reduces the slave's death to a property-loss measured in money.
τριάκονταthirtyAccusativenumeral (with δίδραχμα: 'thirty didrachmas')→ measure or countτριάκοντα: 'thirty'; indeclinable; the fixed compensation of thirty silver pieces is the conventional valuation of a slave (cf. Zech 11:12–13); famously the price of Jesus' betrayal (Matt 26:15; 27:3–10), where Matthew weaves together this slave-tariff and Zechariah's thirty shekels.
δίδραχμαdidrachmas / double-drachmasAccusativedirect object of δώσει (the sum paid)→ object specificationδίδραχμον: 'double-drachma'; the LXX's standard equivalent for the Hebrew שֶׁקֶל (shekel), reckoned as two drachmas; τριάκοντα δίδραχμα = 'thirty shekels of silver', the price of a slave's life paid to the master.
δώσειhe shall giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of apodosis (payment to the slave's master)→ legislative future (prescriptive payment)δίδωμι: 'give / pay'; the ox's owner pays the fixed sum to the slave's master; the verb of payment as in vv. 22, 30.
τῷto the / theirDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳmasterDativedative of indirect object (the slave's master, the recipient)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: here the human master of the slave (אָדוֹן), not God; the compensation is paid to the slave's owner — the loss is reckoned the master's property-loss, not the slave's life.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the slaves' master)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their', i.e. of the male or female slave; the master to whom the slaves belong receives the payment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ταῦρος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦροςoxNominativesubject of λιθοβοληθήσεται→ participant prominenceταῦρος: the ox, still stoned as a bloodguilty killer even when the victim is a slave.
λιθοβοληθήσεταιshall be stonedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · λιθοβολέωmain verb (the ox's execution)→ legislative future (prescriptive stoning)λιθοβολέω: 'stone'; as in vv. 28, 29; the ox is executed regardless of the victim's status, but the owner's liability is a fixed money-payment, not death.
33
ἐὰν δέ τις ἀνοίξῃ λάκκον ἢ λατομήσῃ λάκκον καὶ μὴ καλύψῃ αὐτόν καὶ ἐμπέσῃ ἐκεῖ μόσχος ἢ ὄνος
But if anyone opens a pit, or hews out a pit and does not cover it, and a calf or a donkey falls into it,
A negligence law parallel to the goring ox: an uncovered pit into which livestock falls. The protasis stacks the conditions (digging/opening a pit, failing to cover it, an animal falling in); the apodosis is in v. 34. The principle is liability for foreseeable harm caused by one's negligence — a counterpart to the warned ox-owner of v. 29.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the case of the uncovered pit.
δέbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the shift to liability for a pit.
τιςanyoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject: the pit-digger)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone'; the negligent party who leaves a pit open.
ἀνοίξῃopensAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωverb of protasis (opening an existing pit)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of opening)ἀνοίγω: 'open / uncover'; renders פָּתַח; opening (uncovering) an existing cistern; the first of two ways the hazard arises.
λάκκονa pit / cisternAccusativedirect object of ἀνοίξῃ→ object specificationλάκκος: 'pit / cistern / well'; renders בּוֹר; a water-storage pit, common in the dry land; left uncovered it is a hazard to wandering livestock; the same word is used of Joseph's pit (Gen 37:24) and the lions' den (Dan 6 LXX).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; the two modes — opening an old pit or hewing a new one.
λατομήσῃhews out / quarriesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λατομέωverb of protasis (digging a new pit)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of hewing)λατομέω: 'cut/hew out of rock / quarry'; renders כָּרָה ('dig'); cutting a new cistern from rock; the same verb describes the hewing of Jesus' rock-tomb (Mark 15:46; Matt 27:60).
λάκκονa pitAccusativedirect object of λατομήσῃ→ object specificationλάκκος: 'pit / cistern'; the newly-hewn pit, equally a hazard if uncovered.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the subjunctive καλύψῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negates the subjunctive — the failure to cover is the negligence.
καλύψῃcoversAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καλύπτωverb of protasis (negated: failure to cover)→ constative aorist subjunctive (negated act of covering)καλύπτω: 'cover / conceal'; renders כָּסָה; the failure to cover the pit is the negligence that grounds liability — a foreseeable hazard left unguarded.
αὐτόνitAccusativedirect object of καλύψῃ (the pit)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of καλύψῃ (the pit).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμπέσῃfalls inAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐμπίπτωverb of protasis (the animal's falling in)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the falling)ἐμπίπτω: 'fall into / fall in'; renders נָפַל; the animal's falling into the uncovered pit is the harm for which the negligent digger is liable.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (into the pit)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the falling 'there', i.e. into the uncovered pit.
μόσχοςa calf / oxNominativesubject of ἐμπέσῃ→ participant prominenceμόσχος: 'calf / young ox / bullock'; renders שׁוֹר; one of the typical livestock victims; the same noun figures prominently in the theft-law of v. 37 (fivefold restitution for a μόσχος).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; calf or donkey alike.
ὄνοςa donkeyNominativesubject of ἐμπέσῃ (parallel to μόσχος)→ participant prominenceὄνος: 'donkey / ass'; renders חֲמוֹר; the second typical farm animal; the pairing calf/donkey represents the common draft and food animals whose loss is compensable.
34
ὁ κύριος τοῦ λάκκου ἀποτείσει ἀργύριον δώσει τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτῶν τὸ δὲ τετελευτηκὸς αὐτῷ ἔσται
the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he shall give money to their owner, and the dead animal shall be his.
The apodosis: the pit's owner (ὁ κύριος τοῦ λάκκου — the human owner) must pay the value of the lost animal to its owner, and in return keeps the dead beast (τὸ τετελευτηκὸς αὐτῷ ἔσται). The principle of full restitution (ἀποτίνω) plus retention of the carcass by the compensating party is the standard property-law settlement, paralleled in the ox-vs-ox case of vv. 35–36.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςownerNominativesubject of ἀποτείσει (the human owner of the pit)→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the human owner of the pit (בַּעַל הַבּוֹר), not God; ὁ κύριος τοῦ λάκκου = 'the owner of the pit', liable for the harm his uncovered pit caused.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with λάκκου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκουpitGenitivegenitive of possession ('owner of the pit')→ relational specificationλάκκος: 'pit / cistern'; the genitive defines κύριος as the pit's owner (cf. v. 33).
ἀποτείσειshall make restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (the obligation to repay)→ legislative future (prescriptive restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'pay back / make full restitution'; the key restitution-verb (cf. vv. 19, 36, 37); the pit's owner must fully compensate the value of the lost animal.
ἀργύριονmoney / silverAccusativedirect object of δώσει (the compensation)→ object specificationἀργύριον: 'silver / money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the restitution is paid in money equal to the dead animal's value.
δώσειhe shall giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the payment to the animal's owner)→ legislative future (prescriptive payment)δίδωμι: 'give / pay'; restates the restitution as a payment to the bereaved owner; the verb of payment as in vv. 22, 30, 32.
τῷto the / theirDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳownerDativedative of indirect object (the animals' owner, recipient)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: again the human owner — here of the lost animal (the recipient of compensation), not God; two human κύριοι appear in this verse (pit-owner and animal-owner).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the animals' owner)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their', i.e. of the calf or donkey (v. 33); the owner of the fallen animal receives the money.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with the participle τετελευτηκός)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲand / butadversative/connective particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the counterpart provision — the carcass goes to the one who paid.
τετελευτηκὸςthe dead [animal]Perf Act Ptc Nom Neut Sg · τελευτάωsubstantival participle (subject of ἔσται: 'the dead one')→ resultative perfect participle (the animal now in a dead state)τελευτάω: 'die / come to an end'; the perfect participle τὸ τετελευτηκός ('the dead [animal]') denotes the carcass in its resultant state; it becomes the property of the one who paid restitution — he buys the dead beast by his compensation.
αὐτῷhis / to himDativedative of possession (with ἔσται: 'shall belong to him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative of possession refers to the pit's owner who paid — having compensated the full value, he keeps the carcass for its residual worth (hide, etc.).
ἔσταιshall be / belongFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (dative of possession: 'shall be his')→ legislative future (prescriptive allocation)εἰμί: 'be'; with the dative αὐτῷ it forms a possession-construction, 'the carcass shall be his' — the equitable settlement that the payer retains the dead animal he has effectively bought.
35
ἐὰν δὲ κερατίσῃ τινὸς ταῦρος τὸν ταῦρον τοῦ πλησίον καὶ τελευτήσῃ ἀποδώσονται τὸν ταῦρον τὸν ζῶντα καὶ διελοῦνται τὸ ἀργύριον αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν ταῦρον τὸν τεθνηκότα διελοῦνται
But if someone's ox gores his neighbor's ox and it dies, they shall sell the live ox and divide the money for it, and they shall also divide the dead ox.
When one ox kills another's ox, with no prior fault, the loss is shared equally: the live ox is sold and its price divided, and the dead ox is divided too (διελοῦνται twice). This equitable loss-sharing is the default; v. 36 modifies it where the goring ox was a known menace. The case rounds out the property-laws of the goring ox.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the ox-versus-ox case.
δὲbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the new sub-case of animal-on-animal harm.
κερατίσῃgoresAor Act Subj 3 Sg · κερατίζωverb of protasis (the goring of one ox by another)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the goring)κερατίζω: 'gore'; as in vv. 28, 31, 32; here one ox gores another.
τινὸςof someoneGenitiveindefinite pronoun (genitive of possession: 'someone's ox')→ relational specificationτις: indefinite 'someone'; the genitive τινός marks the goring ox as belonging to some person, set against the neighbor's ox.
ταῦροςoxNominativesubject of κερατίσῃ (the aggressor ox)→ participant prominenceταῦρος: the goring ox, belonging to 'someone' (τινός).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ταῦρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦρονoxAccusativedirect object of κερατίσῃ (the victim ox)→ object specificationταῦρος: the neighbor's ox, the gored victim.
τοῦof the / hisGenitivearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborGenitivegenitive of possession ('the neighbor's ox')→ relational specificationπλησίον: 'neighbor / fellow'; substantivized; the second ox-owner, a fellow Israelite; the loss-sharing law presupposes the parity of two neighbors.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τελευτήσῃit diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · τελευτάωverb of protasis (the death of the gored ox)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the resulting death)τελευτάω: 'die / come to an end'; the death of the victim ox triggers the loss-sharing settlement; cf. the cognate participle in v. 34 and v. 36.
ἀποδώσονταιthey shall sellFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb of apodosis (selling the live ox)→ legislative future (prescriptive sale)ἀποδίδωμι (mid.): 'sell off'; the same verb as vv. 7, 17; here the two owners jointly sell the surviving ox; the middle marks the sale for their mutual benefit; the third-plural subject is the two owners together.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ταῦρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦρονoxAccusativedirect object of ἀποδώσονται (the surviving ox)→ object specificationταῦρος: the live ox (the aggressor that survived), sold so its price can be divided.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ζῶντα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζῶνταlivingPres Act Ptc Acc Masc Sg · ζάωattributive participle (modifying ταῦρον: 'the live ox')→ durative present participle (the ox still alive)ζάω: 'live / be alive'; the attributive participle τὸν ζῶντα ('the living [ox]') distinguishes the surviving ox from the dead one; its sale-price is split between the two owners.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διελοῦνταιthey shall divideFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · διαιρέωmain verb (dividing the sale-price)→ legislative future (prescriptive division)διαιρέω (mid.): 'divide / distribute / share out'; renders חָצָה ('halve'); the two owners split the proceeds equally — the default equitable loss-sharing where neither was at fault.
τὸthe / itsAccusativearticle (with ἀργύριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀργύριονmoney / priceAccusativedirect object of διελοῦνται (the sale-proceeds)→ object specificationἀργύριον: 'silver / money / price'; renders כֶּסֶף; the proceeds from selling the live ox, divided between the owners.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the live ox's price)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'its', i.e. the live ox's sale-price.
καὶand / alsocoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ταῦρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦρονoxAccusativedirect object of the second διελοῦνται (the dead ox)→ object specificationταῦρος: the dead ox, whose carcass is likewise divided between the two owners.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with τεθνηκότα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεθνηκόταdeadPerf Act Ptc Acc Masc Sg · θνῄσκωattributive participle (modifying ταῦρον: 'the dead ox')→ resultative perfect participle (the ox now in a dead state)θνῄσκω: 'die'; the perfect participle τὸν τεθνηκότα ('the dead [ox]') denotes the carcass; like the live ox's price, the dead ox is shared — total equal division of gain and loss.
διελοῦνταιthey shall divideFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · διαιρέωmain verb (dividing the dead ox)→ legislative future (prescriptive division)διαιρέω (mid.): 'divide'; the repetition of διελοῦνται underscores the symmetry of the settlement — both the living ox's price and the dead ox's carcass are split equally.
36
ἐὰν δὲ γνωρίζηται ὁ ταῦρος ὅτι κερατιστής ἐστιν πρὸ τῆς ἐχθὲς καὶ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης ἡμέρας καὶ διαμεμαρτυρημένοι ὦσιν τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ μὴ ἀφανίσῃ αὐτόν ἀποτείσει ταῦρον ἀντὶ ταύρου ὁ δὲ τετελευτηκὼς αὐτῷ ἔσται
But if the ox is known to have been a gorer in time past, and they have solemnly warned its owner, and he has not penned it up, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead one shall be his.
The aggravated counterpart to v. 35, mirroring v. 29: if the goring ox was a known gorer (κερατιστής), its owner warned (διαμεμαρτυρημένοι ὦσιν) πρὸ τῆς ἐχθὲς καὶ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης ἡμέρας, and he failed to restrain it, then no equal division — he pays full restitution, ταῦρον ἀντὶ ταύρου ('ox for ox', echoing the talion ἀντί), and keeps the carcass. Negligence shifts the whole loss onto the culpable owner.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the aggravated ox-versus-ox case.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive, contrasting with v. 35)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: contrasts the known-gorer case with the no-fault division of v. 35.
γνωρίζηταιis knownPres Pass Subj 3 Sg · γνωρίζωverb of protasis (the ox's known reputation)→ stative present passive subjunctive (the ongoing state of being known)γνωρίζω: 'make known / recognize'; the passive γνωρίζηται = 'is known / is recognized'; the ox's established reputation as a gorer is the basis of the owner's heightened liability.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ταῦρος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦροςoxNominativesubject of γνωρίζηται→ participant prominenceταῦρος: the goring ox, here a known menace.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing content clause: 'that it is a gorer')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of what is known — the ox's character as a gorer.
κερατιστήςa gorerNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐστιν: 'is a gorer')→ participant prominenceκερατιστής: 'gorer'; the agent-noun as in v. 29; the ox's known goring disposition.
ἐστινit isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate κερατιστής)→ stative present (the ox's settled character)εἰμί: 'be'; the indicative within the ὅτι-clause states the known fact of the ox's goring nature.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingπρό + genitive: 'before'; in the idiom for 'previously', as in v. 29.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἐχθές)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθὲςyesterdayGenitivesubstantivized adverb (with πρό: 'before yesterday')→ relational specificationἐχθές: 'yesterday'; πρὸ τῆς ἐχθές, part of the idiom 'in time past' (cf. v. 29), establishing prior reputation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingπρό + genitive: 'before'; parallel to the preceding.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with τρίτης ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίτηςthirdGenitiveattributive ordinal (with ἡμέρας: 'the third day')→ relational specificationτρίτος: 'third'; with ἡμέρας made explicit here (unlike v. 29 where ἡμέρας is elided); part of the 'in time past' idiom.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive with πρό (temporal: 'before the third day')→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; πρὸ τῆς τρίτης ἡμέρας renders שִׁלְשֹׁם ('the day before yesterday'); together the phrase means the ox had a known prior record of goring.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαμεμαρτυρημένοιhaving warnedPerf Mid Ptc Nom Masc Pl · διαμαρτύρομαιparticiple in periphrastic perfect subjunctive (with ὦσιν: 'they have warned')→ resultative perfect participle (a standing, completed warning)διαμαρτύρομαι: 'solemnly warn / testify'; the perfect participle with ὦσιν forms a periphrastic perfect subjunctive ('they have [already] warned'); the perfect stresses the standing, on-record nature of the warning given to the owner (cf. the present διαμαρτύρωνται of v. 29).
ὦσινthey be / havePres Act Subj 3 Pl · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic perfect subjunctive (with the participle)→ stative present subjunctive (auxiliary of the periphrasis)εἰμί: 'be'; the subjunctive auxiliary ὦσιν with διαμεμαρτυρημένοι yields 'they have warned' within the conditional protasis.
τῷthe / itsDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳownerDativedative of person warned (the ox's owner)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: the human owner of the ox (בַּעַל), not God; warned and therefore liable, as in v. 29.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the ox's owner)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the ox's owner).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the subjunctive ἀφανίσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negates the subjunctive — the owner's negligent failure to restrain the ox.
ἀφανίσῃhe removes / does away withAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀφανίζωverb of protasis (negated: failure to dispose of the ox)→ constative aorist subjunctive (negated act of removal)ἀφανίζω: 'do away with / remove'; as in v. 29; the failure to remove the known menace fixes the owner's full liability.
αὐτόνitAccusativedirect object of ἀφανίσῃ (the ox)→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀφανίσῃ (the ox).
ἀποτείσειhe shall repay / restoreFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (full restitution)→ legislative future (prescriptive restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'pay back / make full restitution'; as in vv. 19, 34, 37; the negligent owner must give a whole ox in place of the one killed — full, not shared, liability.
ταῦρονan oxAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσει (the replacement ox)→ object specificationταῦρος: the ox to be paid in restitution; ταῦρον ἀντὶ ταύρου ('ox for ox') echoes the talion-formula of vv. 23–25 (ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς), applied here to property.
ἀντὶfor / in place ofpreposition + genitive (equivalence, echoing the talion)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'in place of'; ταῦρον ἀντὶ ταύρου deliberately mirrors the lex talionis idiom (ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς, v. 23) — exact replacement, here of property for property.
ταύρουoxGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί ('for the ox')→ relational specificationταῦρος: the genitive completing 'ox for ox' — full replacement of the dead victim ox.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with the participle τετελευτηκώς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲand / butconnective particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the counterpart — the dead ox goes to the one who made restitution.
τετελευτηκὼςthe dead [ox]Perf Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · τελευτάωsubstantival participle (subject of ἔσται: 'the dead one')→ resultative perfect participle (the ox now dead)τελευτάω: 'die'; the perfect participle ὁ τετελευτηκώς ('the dead [ox]') — masculine here (agreeing with ταῦρος), beside the neuter τὸ τετελευτηκός of v. 34; the negligent owner who paid a live ox keeps the dead carcass.
αὐτῷhis / to himDativedative of possession (with ἔσται: 'shall belong to him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the dative of possession; the carcass belongs to the owner who made full restitution — the same settlement-logic as v. 34.
ἔσταιshall be / belongFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (dative of possession: 'shall be his')→ legislative future (prescriptive allocation)εἰμί: 'be'; with the dative αὐτῷ, 'the dead ox shall be his' — the payer keeps the carcass he has effectively bought by his restitution.
37
ἐὰν δέ τις κλέψῃ μόσχον ἢ πρόβατον καὶ σφάξῃ αὐτὸ ἢ ἀποδῶται πέντε μόσχους ἀποτείσει ἀντὶ τοῦ μόσχου καὶ τέσσαρα πρόβατα ἀντὶ τοῦ προβάτου
But if anyone steals a calf or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall repay five calves for the calf and four sheep for the sheep.
The chapter's closing law (in English Bibles numbered 22:1): theft of livestock followed by slaughter or sale incurs multiple restitution — fivefold for a calf/ox, fourfold for a sheep (πέντε μόσχους … τέσσαρα πρόβατα). The graduated penalty (ox worth more, being a working animal) reflects measured economic justice. In Rahlfs this is the last verse of ch. 21, completing the property-laws that began with the goring ox; the Masoretic and English versification begins ch. 22 here, hence the one-chapter offset for the remainder of the section.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of the theft-law)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the final case-law of the chapter, on livestock theft.
δέbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the closing sub-case; the English versification treats this δέ-clause as the opening of ch. 22.
τιςanyoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject: the thief)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone'; the generalized thief.
κλέψῃstealsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · κλέπτωverb of protasis (the act of theft)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the act of stealing)κλέπτω: 'steal'; renders גָּנַב; the same verb as the kidnapping law (v. 17) and the eighth commandment (Exod 20:15); here theft of livestock, aggravated by its disposal.
μόσχονa calf / oxAccusativedirect object of κλέψῃ→ object specificationμόσχος: 'calf / young ox / bullock'; renders שׁוֹר; the more valuable working animal, hence fivefold restitution; the same noun as in v. 33.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; calf or sheep, with different restitution-rates.
πρόβατονa sheepAccusativedirect object of κλέψῃ (parallel to μόσχον)→ object specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep / small cattle'; renders שֶׂה / צֹאן; the less valuable animal, hence fourfold (not fivefold) restitution; the graduated penalty reflects the ox's greater economic value as a draft animal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σφάξῃslaughtersAor Act Subj 3 Sg · σφάζωverb of protasis (the disposal by killing)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the slaughtering)σφάζω: 'slay / slaughter / butcher'; renders טָבַח; the slaughtering of the stolen animal makes recovery impossible, aggravating the theft; the same verb is used of sacrificial and Passover slaughter (Exod 12:6) and of the slain Lamb (Rev 5:6).
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of σφάξῃ (the stolen animal)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the neuter αὐτό agrees with the nearer neuter πρόβατον but refers generally to the stolen beast.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; slaughter or sale — either form of disposal triggers the multiple restitution.
ἀποδῶταιsellsAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιverb of protasis (the disposal by sale)→ constative aorist subjunctive (the selling)ἀποδίδωμι (mid.): 'sell off'; the same verb as vv. 7, 17, 35; selling the stolen animal, like slaughtering it, puts it beyond recovery and incurs the multiple penalty.
πέντεfiveAccusativenumeral (with μόσχους: 'five calves')→ measure or countπέντε: 'five'; indeclinable; the fivefold restitution for an ox/calf — the heavier penalty reflecting the working animal's greater value; cf. Zacchaeus' fourfold restitution (Luke 19:8), drawing on this graduated principle.
μόσχουςcalves / oxenAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσει (the restitution for the ox)→ object specificationμόσχος: 'calf / ox'; the plural μόσχους — five must be repaid for the one stolen ox; the fivefold rate is the highest in the restitution-law.
ἀποτείσειhe shall repay / make restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (the multiple restitution)→ legislative future (prescriptive restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'pay back / make full restitution'; the chapter's recurrent restitution-verb (vv. 19, 34, 36); here the multiple (five-/fourfold) repayment for stolen and disposed livestock, the climactic statement of restitutive justice that closes the chapter.
ἀντὶfor / in place ofpreposition + genitive (compensation, echoing the talion-formula)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'in place of'; the same compensation-preposition as the lex talionis (vv. 23–25) and ταῦρον ἀντὶ ταύρου (v. 36); here 'five calves for the calf', multiple rather than equivalent restitution.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with μόσχου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μόσχουcalf / oxGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί ('for the calf')→ relational specificationμόσχος: the genitive completing 'five calves for the (one) calf'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τέσσαραfourAccusativenumeral (with πρόβατα: 'four sheep')→ measure or countτέσσαρες, τέσσαρα: 'four'; the neuter τέσσαρα agrees with πρόβατα; the fourfold restitution for a sheep — one degree less than the ox, reflecting the sheep's lesser value; the fourfold rate underlies Zacchaeus' pledge (Luke 19:8).
πρόβαταsheepAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσει understood (the restitution for the sheep)→ object specificationπρόβατον (pl. πρόβατα): 'sheep'; four must be repaid for the one stolen sheep; the graduated penalty (5:4, ox:sheep) calibrates restitution to the animal's economic worth.
ἀντὶfor / in place ofpreposition + genitive (compensation)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'in place of'; 'four sheep for the (one) sheep'; the closing compensation-formula of the chapter.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with προβάτου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προβάτουsheepGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί ('for the sheep')→ relational specificationπρόβατον: the genitive completing 'four sheep for the (one) sheep'; the verse — and in Rahlfs the chapter — closes on this graduated restitution principle, which English Bibles number 22:1.