1
ἐὰν δὲ ἐν τῷ διορύγματι εὑρεθῇ ὁ κλέπτης καὶ πληγεὶς ἀποθάνῃ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ φόνος
But if the thief is found in the act of breaking in, and being struck he dies, there is no bloodguilt for him.
The ἐὰν δέ + subjunctive protasis is the structural signature of the casuistic Covenant Code; it opens a fresh case after the cattle-theft law of 21:37 (English 22:1). The verse turns on the time-conditioned right of self-defence: a householder who kills a burglar caught in the act of tunnelling in (ἐν τῷ διορύγματι) incurs no φόνος. Note the versification offset — this Rahlfs 22:1 = English 22:2.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing protasis, + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive it forms the prospective/casuistic conditional that structures the Covenant Code; renders Hebrew אִם / כִּי; the recurrent ἐὰν δέ stitches case to case throughout the chapter.
δὲbut / andtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive particle marking the move to a new legal case; in casuistic series it functions almost as a paragraph-marker ('and in the case where…').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative/circumstantial)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative/circumstantial).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διορύγματιact of breaking in / breachDativeobject of ἐν (locative-circumstantial: 'in the burglary')→ sphere or referenceδιόρυγμα: 'a digging-through, breach, break-in'; from διορύσσω ('dig through'); renders Hebrew מַחְתֶּרֶת ('breaking in'); ancient houses of mud-brick were entered by tunnelling through the wall, hence the burglar is caught literally 'in the breach' — by night, when intent cannot be judged.
εὑρεθῇis foundAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical discovery)εὑρίσκω (aor. pass.): 'be found, be caught'; renders נִמְצָא; the passive frames the burglar as discovered in flagrante, the legal trigger for the no-bloodguilt ruling.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλέπτηςthiefNominativesubject of εὑρεθῇ→ participant prominenceκλέπτης: 'thief'; renders גַּנָּב; the agent-noun (from κλέπτω) is the legal protagonist of vv. 1–3, distinguished from the robber by stealth; here the burglar caught in the night-break-in.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πληγεὶςhaving been struckAor Pass Ptc Nom Masc Sg · πλήσσωcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance / cause of death)→ coincident aorist participle (the blow that kills)πλήσσω (aor. pass. ptc.): 'strike, smite'; renders הֻכָּה; the participle supplies the means of the burglar's death — struck by the householder — and is the pivot on which the bloodguilt question turns.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (subjunctive, coordinate with εὑρεθῇ)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical death)ἀποθνῄσκω (aor. subj.): 'die'; renders וָמֵת; the death of the burglar is the contingency the law addresses; the blunt ἀποθνῄσκω (vs. the gentler τελευτάω) suits violent death.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of apodosis (existential)→ gnomic present (standing legal ruling)εἰμί: 'be, exist'; the existential οὐκ ἔστιν … φόνος ('there is no bloodguilt') states the legal verdict; the present is gnomic, expressing a permanent statute.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of interest/possession (the slayer of the burglar)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): the dative of interest refers to the householder who struck the blow — no bloodguilt is reckoned 'to him'; the antecedent is the killer, not the burglar.
φόνοςbloodguilt / murderNominativesubject of ἔστιν (predicate of existence)→ participant prominenceφόνος: 'murder, slaughter, bloodguilt'; renders דָּמִים ('blood[s]', i.e. liability for blood); the verdict is that nocturnal self-defence against a burglar incurs no homicide charge — a contrast sharpened by the daylight rule of v. 2.
2
ἐὰν δὲ ἀνατείλῃ ὁ ἥλιος ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ ἔνοχός ἐστιν ἀνταποθανεῖται ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ὑπάρχῃ αὐτῷ πραθήτω ἀντὶ τοῦ κλέμματος
But if the sun has risen upon him, he is liable; he shall die in turn. And if he has nothing, let him be sold in exchange for what was stolen.
The companion case to v. 1: by day (ἀνατείλῃ ὁ ἥλιος) the killing of even a burglar makes the slayer ἔνοχος ('liable') — daylight permits identification and pursuit short of lethal force, so the slayer 'dies in turn.' A second protasis (ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ὑπάρχῃ) returns to the thief himself: an insolvent thief is sold to make restitution.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the antithetical daytime case over against v. 1's nighttime ruling.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: here genuinely adversative, setting the daylight case against the nighttime case.
ἀνατείλῃhas risenAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀνατέλλωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical sunrise)ἀνατέλλω: 'rise (of the sun), spring up'; renders זָרְחָה; sunrise is the legal hinge — by day the householder can see, identify, and restrain the thief without killing, so lethal force is no longer excused.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubject of ἀνατείλῃ→ participant prominenceἥλιος: 'sun'; renders שֶׁמֶשׁ; the rising sun functions as a temporal-legal boundary marking the shift from excusable to culpable killing.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + dative (elided; 'upon him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'upon, over'; ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ ('upon him') = while the burglar is still at his work in daylight.
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the burglar)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as object of ἐπ᾿ (the burglar).
ἔνοχόςliable / guiltyNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστιν: 'he is liable')→ participant prominenceἔνοχος: 'liable, subject to (a charge/penalty)'; a forensic term (lit. 'held in' by the law); here the daytime slayer is ἔνοχος of bloodguilt and so himself liable to death; the same term recurs in NT capital-liability language (Matt 26:66; Mark 14:64).
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with ἔνοχος)→ gnomic present (standing ruling)εἰμί: copula joining subject to the predicate ἔνοχος; gnomic present of legal statement.
ἀνταποθανεῖταιhe shall die in turnFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀνταποθνῄσκωmain verb of apodosis (penal sentence)→ predictive/legislative future (mandated penalty)ἀνταποθνῄσκω: 'die in return, die in another's stead'; the double compound ἀντ(ι)-απο- expresses lex talionis — the slayer dies as recompense for the life he took; a rare verb, the LXX coining a precise reciprocal term for life-for-life.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (second protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens a second, distinct sub-case turning from the slayer back to the insolvent thief.
δὲandtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ὑπάρχῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative proper to the subjunctive mood; with ὑπάρχῃ = 'if he has nothing.'
ὑπάρχῃhe has / there belongsPres Act Subj 3 Sg · ὑπάρχωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ stative present subjunctive (his having means)ὑπάρχω: 'exist, be at one's disposal, belong'; the idiom ὑπάρχῃ αὐτῷ ('there belongs to him', i.e. he has means) renders the question of solvency; an insolvent thief cannot pay the restitution of v. 3.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of possession (with ὑπάρχῃ)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): dative of possession with ὑπάρχω — 'if there is nothing belonging to him.'
πραθήτωlet him be soldAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · πιπράσκωmain verb of apodosis (third-person imperative)→ legislative aorist imperative (mandated remedy)πιπράσκω (aor. pass. impv.): 'sell'; renders וְנִמְכַּר; the insolvent thief is sold into debt-servitude so that the proceeds make restitution — the law subordinates penal sale to the principle of compensation, not punishment for its own sake.
ἀντὶin exchange forpreposition + genitive (substitution/price)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί + gen.: 'instead of, in exchange for'; here the price-of-substitution sense — the thief's sale-value stands in place of the stolen property.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλέμματοςtheft / what was stolenGenitiveobject of ἀντί (the stolen thing)→ relational specificationκλέμμα: 'thing stolen, theft'; renders גְּנֵבָה; the result-noun (from κλέπτω) denotes the stolen property whose value the sale must cover; recurs at v. 3.
3
ἐὰν δὲ καταλημφθῇ καὶ εὑρεθῇ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ κλέμμα ἀπό τε ὄνου ἕως προβάτου ζῶντα διπλᾶ αὐτὰ ἀποτείσει
But if the stolen thing is caught and found alive in his hand, from donkey to sheep, he shall pay them back double.
The third theft-case: when the stolen animal is recovered alive in the thief's possession (ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ … ζῶντα), restitution is double (διπλᾶ), a lighter penalty than the fourfold/fivefold of 21:37 because the loss is recoverable. The merism ἀπό … ὄνου ἕως προβάτου ('from donkey to sheep') comprehends all livestock.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the recovered-goods case.
δὲbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταλημφθῇis caught / apprehendedAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · καταλαμβάνωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical seizure)καταλαμβάνω (aor. pass.; Hellenistic spelling -λημφθῇ): 'seize, overtake, apprehend'; the perfective κατα- stresses successful capture; here the stolen beast (or the thief with it) is caught red-handed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὑρεθῇis foundAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical finding)εὑρίσκω (aor. pass.): 'be found'; the pairing καταλημφθῇ καὶ εὑρεθῇ ('caught and found') is a legal doublet establishing certainty of possession before restitution is fixed.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρὶhandDativeobject of ἐν (locative/idiom: 'in his possession')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the idiom ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ('in his hand') renders בְּיָדוֹ, a Hebraism for 'in his possession, under his control' — the legal proof of present, ongoing possession of the stolen beast.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the thief's hand)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the thief's hand).
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλέμμαstolen thingNominativesubject of καταλημφθῇ / εὑρεθῇ→ participant prominenceκλέμμα: 'thing stolen'; the recovered animal itself; that it is found ζῶντα ('alive') is the basis for the lighter double restitution.
ἀπόfrompreposition + genitive (first pole of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό … ἕως: the merism 'from … to …' comprehends the full range of livestock liable to theft.
τεboth / andcoordinating enclitic (linking ὄνου … προβάτου)→ discourse linkage or contrastτε: enclitic connective; ἀπό τε ὄνου ἕως προβάτου binds the two poles of the merism into a single inclusive range.
ὄνουdonkeyGenitiveobject of ἀπό (first pole of merism)→ relational specificationὄνος: 'donkey, ass'; renders חֲמוֹר; paired with the sheep to mark the breadth of theft-liable beasts — beast of burden and flock animal alike.
ἕωςto / as far aspreposition + genitive (second pole of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως + gen.: 'until, as far as'; closes the merism at the other extreme of livestock.
προβάτουsheepGenitiveobject of ἕως (second pole of merism)→ relational specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep, small cattle'; renders שֶׂה; the flock animal completing the merism 'from donkey to sheep.'
ζῶνταalivePres Act Ptc Acc Neut Pl · ζάωpredicate participle (state of the recovered beasts)→ durative present participle (still living when found)ζάω (pres. ptc.): 'live, be alive'; the neuter plural ζῶντα agrees with the collective stolen beasts; their being recovered alive (vs. slaughtered or sold, cf. 21:37) is precisely why restitution is only double.
διπλᾶdoubleAccusativepredicate/adverbial accusative (measure of restitution)→ object specificationδιπλοῦς (neut. pl. διπλᾶ): 'twofold, double'; renders שְׁנַיִם; the standard restitution for recoverable theft — the thief returns the animal and its equivalent again; contrast the fourfold/fivefold of 21:37 where the beast was destroyed.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσει (the stolen beasts)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. neut. pl.): resumes the stolen animals as the object of restitution.
ἀποτείσειhe shall pay back / restoreFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (restitution sentence)→ legislative future (mandated restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'pay back, make restitution, recompense'; renders שִׁלֵּם (Piel); this is the signature verb of the chapter's property law (vv. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 16), governing the principle of full compensation for loss.
4
ἐὰν δὲ καταβοσκήσῃ τις ἀγρὸν ἢ ἀμπελῶνα καὶ ἀφῇ τὸ κτῆνος αὐτοῦ καταβοσκῆσαι ἀγρὸν ἕτερον ἀποτείσει ἐκ τοῦ ἀγροῦ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὸ γένημα αὐτοῦ ἐὰν δὲ πάντα τὸν ἀγρὸν καταβοσκήσῃ τὰ βέλτιστα τοῦ ἀγροῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ βέλτιστα τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος αὐτοῦ ἀποτείσει
And if anyone grazes over a field or a vineyard and lets his beast graze over another's field, he shall make restitution from his own field according to its yield; but if he grazes over the whole field, he shall pay the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.
A shift from theft to negligent damage to a neighbor's crops. The two-tier apodosis is notable: partial damage is repaid 'according to the yield' (κατὰ τὸ γένημα), but total destruction (πάντα τὸν ἀγρόν) is repaid from the offender's best produce (τὰ βέλτιστα) — restitution scaled to the gravity of the loss. The LXX here is fuller than MT, which lacks the explicit partial-damage clause.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the grazing-damage case.
δὲandtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταβοσκήσῃgrazes over / lets grazeAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταβοσκέωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical grazing)καταβοσκέω: 'graze over, eat down, consume by grazing'; the κατα- prefix is consumptive ('graze it bare'); renders בִּעֵר ('cause to be grazed/burned over'); the verb frames the offence as letting an animal devour a neighbor's standing crop.
τιςanyoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite pronoun 'someone, anyone'; the casuistic subject of the negligence law — 'in the case where anyone…'
ἀγρὸνfieldAccusativedirect object of καταβοσκήσῃ→ object specificationἀγρός: 'field, cultivated land'; renders שָׂדֶה; the damaged property; the field and vineyard together represent the staple agricultural wealth of the household.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; offers the alternative object of damage.
ἀμπελῶναvineyardAccusativedirect object (alternative to ἀγρόν)→ object specificationἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; paired with the field as the two chief forms of cultivated produce.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀφῇlets loose / sendsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀφίημιverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical releasing)ἀφίημι (aor. subj.): 'let go, send forth, release'; renders שִׁלַּח; the negligence consists in turning the beast loose (ἀφῇ … καταβοσκῆσαι) where it can eat a neighbor's crop — the owner is liable for failing to restrain it.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτῆνοςbeast / animalAccusativedirect object of ἀφῇ→ object specificationκτῆνος: 'beast, head of livestock, domestic animal'; renders בְּעִיר; the grazing animal whose owner is held responsible for its trespass.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the owner's beast)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the owner's beast).
καταβοσκῆσαιto graze overAor Act Inf · καταβοσκέωcomplementary/purpose infinitive (with ἀφῇ)→ aorist infinitive of result/purposeκαταβοσκέω (aor. inf.): the infinitive completes ἀφῇ — 'lets his beast loose to graze over' another's field; the repetition of the verb binds the cause (release) to the damage (grazing).
ἀγρὸνfieldAccusativeobject of καταβοσκῆσαι→ object specificationἀγρός: here the neighbor's field, specified as ἕτερον ('another's').
ἕτερονanotherAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀγρόν: 'another's field')→ object specificationἕτερος: 'other, another'; specifies that the damaged field belongs to someone else — the basis of liability.
ἀποτείσειhe shall make restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of first apodosis (restitution)→ legislative future (mandated restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'make restitution'; here measured 'according to the yield' for partial damage — proportionate compensation.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source of restitution)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + gen.: 'from'; the restitution is drawn ἐκ τοῦ ἀγροῦ αὐτοῦ ('from his own field') — the offender pays from his own produce.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγροῦfieldGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source of payment)→ relational specificationἀγρός: the offender's own field, the source from which proportionate restitution is made.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his own'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (measure/standard)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; κατὰ τὸ γένημα ('according to the yield') sets the measure of proportionate restitution for partial damage.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γένημαyield / produceAccusativeobject of κατά (standard of restitution)→ object specificationγένημα: 'produce, yield, crop' (of the soil); renders תְּבוּאָה; restitution is reckoned by the actual crop-loss, a measured, proportionate standard.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive (the field's yield)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (the field's yield).
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (second protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the aggravated sub-case of total destruction.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: adversative, contrasting total damage with the partial case.
πάνταall / the wholeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀγρόν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all, whole'; πάντα τὸν ἀγρόν ('the whole field') marks total devastation, triggering the heavier 'best produce' restitution.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγρὸνfieldAccusativedirect object of καταβοσκήσῃ→ object specificationἀγρός: the neighbor's field, here grazed bare in its entirety.
καταβοσκήσῃgrazes overAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταβοσκέωverb of second protasis (subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical total grazing)καταβοσκέω: here with πάντα τὸν ἀγρόν the verb denotes complete consumption of the crop, which the law penalizes by the surrender of the offender's best produce.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βέλτισταthe bestAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσει (superlative substantive)→ object specificationβέλτιστος (superl. of ἀγαθός): 'best'; τὰ βέλτιστα ('the best parts') renders מֵיטַב; for total destruction the offender must pay not in kind but from his finest produce — a punitive enhancement deterring negligence.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγροῦfieldGenitivepartitive/possessive genitive (with βέλτιστα)→ relational specificationἀγρός: the offender's own field, from whose best the restitution is drawn.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his own'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βέλτισταthe bestAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσει (coordinate)→ object specificationβέλτιστος: the parallel 'best of the vineyard' completes the dual restitution from field and vineyard alike.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμπελῶνοςvineyardGenitivepartitive/possessive genitive (with βέλτιστα)→ relational specificationἀμπελών: the offender's own vineyard, whose best produce also goes to restitution.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his own'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀποτείσειhe shall payFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of second apodosis (restitution)→ legislative future (mandated restitution)ἀποτίνω: the chapter's signature restitution verb, here closing the aggravated case with the surrender of the best produce.
5
ἐὰν δὲ ἐξελθὸν πῦρ εὕρῃ ἀκάνθας καὶ προσεμπρήσῃ ἅλωνα ἢ στάχυς ἢ πεδίον ἀποτείσει ὁ τὸ πῦρ ἐκκαύσας
And if fire goes out and finds thorns and also burns up a threshing-floor or standing grain or a field, the one who kindled the fire shall make restitution.
A second negligence statute paralleling v. 4: an uncontrolled fire that spreads from thorns to a neighbor's harvest. The agent is identified by a substantival participle, ὁ … ἐκκαύσας ('the one who kindled it'), placing liability squarely on the person who started the blaze, regardless of the fire's subsequent spread. The triad ἅλωνα–στάχυς–πεδίον covers the harvested, standing, and open crop.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the fire-damage case, parallel in form to the grazing case of v. 4.
δὲandtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξελθὸνhaving gone outAor Act Ptc Nom Neut Sg · ἐξέρχομαιcircumstantial participle (modifying πῦρ: 'fire breaking out')→ ingressive aorist participle (the fire's outbreak)ἐξέρχομαι (aor. ptc.): 'go out, break out'; the neuter ἐξελθόν agrees with πῦρ; the fire 'going out' from a controlled burn becomes uncontrolled — the negligence the law penalizes.
πῦρfireNominativesubject of εὕρῃ / προσεμπρήσῃ→ participant prominenceπῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the agent of the damage, but liability is traced back to the human who kindled it (ὁ ἐκκαύσας).
εὕρῃfindsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical spread)εὑρίσκω (aor. subj.): 'find, come upon'; the fire 'finds' (i.e. reaches) thorns and so spreads to the crop; the verb personifies the fire's path to the combustible material.
ἀκάνθαςthornsAccusativedirect object of εὕρῃ→ object specificationἄκανθα: 'thorn, thornbush'; renders קֹצִים; dry thorns at the field's edge are the tinder by which a controlled fire spreads to the harvest — a realistic agricultural hazard.
καὶand alsocoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and also'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσεμπρήσῃburns up besidesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · προσεμπίπρημιverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical conflagration)προσεμπίπρημι: 'set fire to in addition, burn up besides'; the double-prefixed compound (προσ- + ἐμ- + πίμπρημι) marks the fire's further consumption beyond the thorns into the standing crop; a rare and vivid compound.
ἅλωναthreshing-floorAccusativedirect object of προσεμπρήσῃ→ object specificationἅλων: 'threshing-floor, threshed grain heaped on it'; renders גָּדִישׁ ('stack of grain') / גֹּרֶן; the harvested grain ready for threshing — the most valuable and combustible loss.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στάχυςstanding grain / earsAccusativedirect object (alternative to ἅλωνα)→ object specificationστάχυς: 'ear of grain, standing corn'; renders קָמָה ('standing grain'); the grain still on the stalk, not yet harvested — a second category of crop loss.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πεδίονfield / open countryAccusativedirect object (alternative to ἅλωνα/στάχυς)→ object specificationπεδίον: 'plain, field, open land'; renders שָׂדֶה; the open field/cultivated land as a whole, completing the triad of threshed, standing, and field crop.
ἀποτείσειshall make restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (restitution)→ legislative future (mandated restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'make full restitution'; the kindler bears the loss; the verb keeps the chapter's compensation principle in view.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing the participle ἐκκαύσας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πῦρ, object of ἐκκαύσας)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πῦρfireAccusativedirect object of the participle ἐκκαύσας→ object specificationπῦρ: here the kindled fire as object — 'the one who kindled the fire' is the liable party.
ἐκκαύσαςhaving kindledAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ἐκκαίωsubstantival participle (subject of ἀποτείσει: 'the kindler')→ constative aorist participle (the act of kindling)ἐκκαίω (aor. ptc.): 'kindle, set ablaze'; renders הַמַּבְעִר אֶת־הַבְּעֵרָה ('the one who kindled the fire'); the substantival ὁ … ἐκκαύσας names the responsible agent, locating liability in the originator of the blaze, not the wind or thorns that spread it.
6
ἐὰν δέ τις δῷ τῷ πλησίον ἀργύριον ἢ σκεύη φυλάξαι καὶ κλαπῇ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐὰν εὑρεθῇ ὁ κλέψας ἀποτείσει διπλοῦν
And if anyone gives his neighbor silver or goods to keep, and it is stolen from the man's house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double.
The opening of the bailment law (παρακαταθήκη): valuables entrusted to a neighbor for safekeeping (φυλάξαι). The first sub-case is straightforward: if the deposit is stolen and the thief found, the thief pays double — the bailee bears no liability when culpability can be traced. The clause sets up the harder cases of vv. 7–8 where no thief is found.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the deposit/bailment case.
δέandtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τιςanyoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)→ participant referenceτις: 'anyone'; the depositor who entrusts goods to a neighbor.
δῷgivesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical deposit)δίδωμι (aor. subj.): 'give, hand over'; here 'gives to keep' = entrusts; renders יִתֵּן; the act of depositing creates the bailment relationship the law regulates.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πλησίον, indirect object)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborDativeindirect object of δῷ (the bailee)→ sphere or referenceπλησίον: 'neighbor'; substantivized adverb rendering רֵעַ; the trusted neighbor who receives the deposit — the bailee; the term recurs throughout the bailment section (vv. 7, 8, 9, 13).
ἀργύριονsilver / moneyAccusativedirect object of δῷ→ object specificationἀργύριον: 'silver, money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the primary form of portable wealth deposited for safekeeping.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σκεύηgoods / vesselsAccusativedirect object (alternative to ἀργύριον)→ object specificationσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): 'vessel, article, goods'; renders כֵּלִים; movable property other than money — household or valuable implements.
φυλάξαιto keep / guardAor Act Inf · φυλάσσωpurpose infinitive (with δῷ: 'gives … to keep')→ aorist infinitive of purposeφυλάσσω (aor. inf.): 'guard, keep, watch over'; renders לִשְׁמֹר; the infinitive defines the purpose of the deposit — safekeeping — and so the bailee's duty of care.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κλαπῇis stolenAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · κλέπτωverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical theft)κλέπτω (aor. pass.): 'steal'; renders גֻּנַּב; the deposit is stolen from the bailee's house — the contingency that raises the question of liability.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίαςhouseGenitiveobject of ἐκ (place of theft)→ relational specificationοἰκία: 'house, household'; renders בַּיִת; the bailee's house, from which the entrusted goods are stolen.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπουmanGenitivegenitive of possession (the bailee's house)→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man, person'; renders אִישׁ; here the bailee (the 'man' who received the deposit), whose house is the scene of the theft.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (nested protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: introduces the determining sub-condition — whether the thief is found.
εὑρεθῇis foundAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of nested protasis (subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical discovery)εὑρίσκω (aor. pass.): 'be found'; whether the thief (ὁ κλέψας) is identified is the legal hinge: if found, he pays; if not (v. 7), the bailee must clear himself by oath.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing κλέψας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλέψαςhaving stolen / the thiefAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · κλέπτωsubstantival participle (subject of εὑρεθῇ / ἀποτείσει)→ constative aorist participle (the one who stole)κλέπτω (aor. ptc.): 'steal'; the substantival ὁ κλέψας ('the one who stole') is the actual thief, who if found bears the double restitution, sparing the bailee.
ἀποτείσειshall payFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (restitution)→ legislative future (mandated restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'pay back, make restitution'; the found thief pays double, consistent with the theft-restitution of v. 3.
διπλοῦνdoubleAccusativedirect object/measure of ἀποτείσει→ object specificationδιπλοῦς (acc. sg. διπλοῦν): 'double, twofold'; renders שְׁנַיִם; the fixed penalty for theft of a deposit when the thief is caught.
7
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ εὑρεθῇ ὁ κλέψας προσελεύσεται ὁ κύριος τῆς οἰκίας ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ὀμεῖται ἦ μὴν μὴ αὐτὸς πεπονηρεῦσθαι ἐφ᾿ ὅλης τῆς παρακαταθήκης τοῦ πλησίον
But if the thief is not found, the master of the house shall come before God and shall swear that surely he himself has not dealt wickedly concerning the whole deposit of his neighbor.
When no thief is found, suspicion falls on the bailee himself. The law provides the exculpatory oath: the householder comes ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ — to the sanctuary/divine court — and swears with the solemn formula ἦ μήν that he has not embezzled the deposit. Here ὁ κύριος τῆς οἰκίας is the human master of the house (the bailee), and ὁ θεός is the divine court before which the oath is sworn.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: the antithetical case to v. 6 — the thief is not found.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: adversative, opposing 'not found' to the 'if found' of v. 6.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive εὑρεθῇ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: subjunctive negative; μὴ εὑρεθῇ = 'if (the thief) is not found.'
εὑρεθῇis foundAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical non-discovery)εὑρίσκω (aor. pass.): 'be found'; the failure to find the thief shifts the proceeding from restitution to the bailee's purgatory oath.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing κλέψας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλέψαςthe thiefAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · κλέπτωsubstantival participle (subject of εὑρεθῇ)→ constative aorist participle (the one who stole)κλέπτω (aor. ptc.): 'steal'; ὁ κλέψας, the unidentified thief whose non-discovery triggers the oath.
προσελεύσεταιshall come / approachFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσέρχομαιmain verb of apodosis (cultic-forensic approach)→ legislative future (prescribed procedure)προσέρχομαι: 'approach, come before'; the cultic-forensic sense — the bailee 'draws near' to the sanctuary court (ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ); the verb often denotes approach to God or the altar in the LXX.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςmaster / ownerNominativesubject of προσελεύσεται (the householder/bailee)→ participant prominenceκύριος: here NOT the divine name but the human 'master/owner of the house' (κύριος τῆς οἰκίας) — the bailee who must clear himself; renders בַּעַל הַבַּיִת; the contextual contrast with ὁ θεός in the same verse makes the human reference unmistakable.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίαςhouseGenitivegenitive (defining κύριος: 'master of the house')→ relational specificationοἰκία: 'house'; κύριος τῆς οἰκίας = the head of the household, the bailee responsible for the deposit.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the presence ofpreposition + genitive (cultic-forensic locus)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before, in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ here denotes appearance at the sanctuary court — 'before God,' i.e. before the divinely sanctioned tribunal where oaths are sworn (cf. v. 8).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐνώπιον (the divine court)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders הָאֱלֹהִים; in the bailment procedure 'before God' is the sanctuary tribunal; many read הָאֱלֹהִים here (and v. 8) as the human judges who represent God, the same interpretive question that surfaces sharply at v. 27.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀμεῖταιshall swearFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ὄμνυμιmain verb of apodosis (the oath act)→ legislative future (prescribed oath)ὄμνυμι: 'swear, take an oath'; renders נִשְׁבַּע; the bailee's purgatory oath, sworn before God, is itself the legal verdict — there being no human witness, the oath settles liability.
ἦsurelyasseverative particle (with μήν: oath-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastἦ: asseverative particle; ἦ μήν ('surely, verily') is the standard Greek (and LXX) solemn oath-introduction, rendering Hebrew oath-formulas; it marks the following clause as the sworn content.
μὴνindeedasseverative particle (completing ἦ μήν)→ discourse linkage or contrastμήν: emphatic particle; together ἦ μήν forms the fixed oath-formula introducing the sworn declaration.
μὴnotnegative (with the infinitive πεπονηρεῦσθαι)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: negates the infinitive content of the oath — 'that he has not dealt wickedly.'
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject of the oath-infinitive)→ participant referenceαὐτός: intensive 'himself'; emphasizes that the bailee personally swears he has not laid hands on the deposit — distinguishing his own conduct from the unknown thief's.
πεπονηρεῦσθαιto have dealt wickedlyPerf Mid/Pass Inf · πονηρεύομαιinfinitive of indirect discourse (content of the oath)→ perfect infinitive (settled state: 'that he has not committed any wrong')πονηρεύομαι (perf. inf.): 'act wickedly, do evil'; renders שָׁלַח יָדוֹ ('put forth his hand', i.e. embezzle); the perfect infinitive expresses a completed-and-abiding innocence — he has not at any point misappropriated the goods entrusted to him.
ἐφ᾿concerning / uponpreposition + genitive (elided; reference)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'concerning, in the matter of'; ἐφ᾿ ὅλης τῆς παρακαταθήκης = 'concerning the whole deposit' — the full scope of the oath.
ὅληςthe wholeGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying παρακαταθήκης)→ relational specificationὅλος: 'whole, entire'; the oath covers the entirety of the deposit — no portion may be quietly withheld.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρακαταθήκηςdeposit / thing entrustedGenitiveobject of ἐφ᾿ (the entrusted property)→ relational specificationπαρακαταθήκη: 'deposit, thing entrusted for safekeeping'; the technical term for bailed property (also v. 10); renders פִּקָּדוֹן; the same root underlies the NT 'guard the deposit' (παραθήκη, 1 Tim 6:20; 2 Tim 1:14).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborGenitivegenitive of possession (the depositor)→ relational specificationπλησίον: 'neighbor'; here the depositor whose property was entrusted — the injured party the oath is meant to satisfy.
8
κατὰ πᾶν ῥητὸν ἀδίκημα περί τε μόσχου καὶ ὑποζυγίου καὶ προβάτου καὶ ἱματίου καὶ πάσης ἀπωλείας τῆς ἐγκαλουμένης ὅ τι οὖν ἂν ᾖ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐλεύσεται ἡ κρίσις ἀμφοτέρων καὶ ὁ ἁλοὺς διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀποτείσει διπλοῦν τῷ πλησίον
Concerning every declared offense — about ox or beast of burden or sheep or garment or any loss that is alleged, whatever it may be — the case of both parties shall come before God, and the one convicted by God shall pay his neighbor double.
A sweeping clause extending the before-God procedure to every disputed claim of loss — ox, beast, sheep, garment, or any alleged loss (πάσης ἀπωλείας τῆς ἐγκαλουμένης). The dispute of both parties comes ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ, and the one whom God convicts (ὁ ἁλοὺς διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ) pays double. The divine verdict, rendered through the sanctuary court, is determinative.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
κατὰconcerning / according topreposition + accusative (reference/distributive)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'with respect to, in every case of'; κατὰ πᾶν … ἀδίκημα generalizes the preceding deposit law to all comparable disputes.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀδίκημα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'every, all'; πᾶν … ἀδίκημα marks the comprehensive scope of the clause.
ῥητὸνdeclared / allegedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀδίκημα)→ object specificationῥητός: 'spoken, stated, declared'; verbal adjective of ἐρῶ/λέγω; πᾶν ῥητὸν ἀδίκημα = 'every stated/alleged wrong' — every formally lodged claim of misappropriation.
ἀδίκημαoffense / wrongAccusativeobject of κατά (the matter in dispute)→ object specificationἀδίκημα: 'wrong, injustice, offense'; the result-noun of ἀδικέω; renders דְּבַר־פֶּשַׁע ('matter of transgression'); the disputed wrong over property that comes to adjudication.
περίabout / concerningpreposition + genitive (subject-matter)→ spatial or relational framingπερί + gen.: 'concerning'; introduces the list of property types over which disputes may arise.
τεboth / andcoordinating enclitic (opening the list)→ discourse linkage or contrastτε: enclitic connective binding the enumerated property terms into one inclusive list.
μόσχουox / calfGenitiveobject of περί (first item of list)→ relational specificationμόσχος: 'calf, young bull, ox'; renders שׁוֹר; the first and most valuable category of disputed livestock.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑποζυγίουbeast of burden / donkeyGenitiveobject of περί (second item)→ relational specificationὑποζύγιον: lit. 'animal under the yoke,' i.e. donkey/draught-beast; renders חֲמוֹר; standard LXX term for the ass as a working animal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προβάτουsheepGenitiveobject of περί (third item)→ relational specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep'; renders שֶׂה; the flock animal in the disputed-property list.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἱματίουgarment / cloakGenitiveobject of περί (fourth item)→ relational specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment, cloak, outer robe'; renders שַׂלְמָה; a representative non-animal valuable; the same garment-noun returns in the pledge law of vv. 25–26.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάσηςevery / anyGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ἀπωλείας)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all, every, any'; πάσης ἀπωλείας closes the list with a catch-all category.
ἀπωλείαςloss / lost thingGenitiveobject of περί (general catch-all item)→ relational specificationἀπώλεια: 'loss, destruction, a thing lost'; renders אֲבֵדָה ('lost property'); here any lost or missing property over which a claim is made — the residual category subsuming all not named.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with the participle ἐγκαλουμένης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐγκαλουμένηςthat is alleged / claimedPres Mid/Pass Ptc Gen Fem Sg · ἐγκαλέωattributive participle (modifying ἀπωλείας)→ durative present passive participle (the standing legal claim)ἐγκαλέω (pres. pass. ptc.): 'bring a charge, lay claim, accuse'; a forensic term; ἡ ἀπώλεια ἡ ἐγκαλουμένη = 'the loss that is being claimed/alleged' — property over which one party formally lodges a complaint.
ὅwhateverNominativerelative pronoun (head of indefinite clause: 'whatever it be')→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; ὅ τι … ἂν ᾖ ('whatever it may be') is a generalizing indefinite clause sweeping in any disputed item not explicitly listed.
τιanythingNominativeindefinite pronoun (with ὅ: 'whatever')→ participant referenceτις: indefinite; ὅ τι forms the generalizing 'whatever' with the following ἂν ᾖ.
οὖνthen / thereforeinferential/resumptive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: here resumptive within the generalizing clause — 'whatever then it may be'; reinforces the comprehensiveness of the provision.
ἂν(ever)modal particle (with subjunctive ᾖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle generalizing the subjunctive ᾖ — 'whatever it may be.'
ᾖit may bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive)→ indefinite present subjunctive (any conceivable case)εἰμί (pres. subj.): 'be'; with ὅ τι … ἄν the subjunctive forms the open-ended 'whatever it may be,' ensuring no disputed-property case falls outside the statute.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (forensic locus)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before, in the presence of'; ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ again marks the sanctuary tribunal as the venue of adjudication (cf. v. 7).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐνώπιον (the divine court)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders הָאֱלֹהִים; the disputed case comes 'before God' — the divine/sanctuary court whose verdict is determinative; on the judges-vs-deity question see v. 27.
ἐλεύσεταιshall comeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the case 'comes before God')→ legislative future (prescribed procedure)ἔρχομαι (fut.): 'come, go'; the legal dispute (ἡ κρίσις) 'comes before God' — the matter is brought to the sanctuary tribunal for divine adjudication.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with κρίσις)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίσιςjudgment / caseNominativesubject of ἐλεύσεται→ participant prominenceκρίσις: 'judgment, lawsuit, the case at law'; renders דָּבָר ('matter') / מִשְׁפָּט; here the legal dispute between the two parties brought for divine decision.
ἀμφοτέρωνof bothGenitivegenitive (the two disputing parties)→ relational specificationἀμφότεροι: 'both'; renders שְׁנֵיהֶם; the case 'of both' parties — depositor and bailee, or claimant and defendant — is jointly submitted to God.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing ἁλούς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁλοὺςthe one convictedAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ἁλίσκομαιsubstantival participle (subject of ἀποτείσει)→ constative aorist participle (the one caught/found guilty)ἁλίσκομαι (aor. ptc. ἁλούς): 'be caught, be convicted'; a defective verb used as passive of αἱρέω; ὁ ἁλοὺς διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ = 'the one convicted by God' (i.e. by the divine verdict); the wrongdoer exposed through the sanctuary judgment.
διὰby / throughpreposition + genitive (agency/means of conviction)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: 'through, by means of'; διὰ τοῦ θεοῦ marks God as the agent of conviction — the verdict comes through the divine tribunal.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of διά (agent of conviction)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; the convicting authority — the wrongdoer is exposed by the divine verdict rendered at the sanctuary court.
ἀποτείσειshall payFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (restitution)→ legislative future (mandated restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'make restitution'; the convicted party pays double, the standard penalty for misappropriation established in vv. 3 and 6.
διπλοῦνdoubleAccusativedirect object/measure of ἀποτείσει→ object specificationδιπλοῦς (acc. διπλοῦν): 'double'; the twofold restitution paid to the wronged neighbor.
τῷto theDativearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborDativeindirect object of ἀποτείσει (the wronged party)→ sphere or referenceπλησίον: 'neighbor'; the injured party to whom the double restitution is paid.
9
ἐὰν δέ τις δῷ τῷ πλησίον ὑποζύγιον ἢ μόσχον ἢ πρόβατον ἢ πᾶν κτῆνος φυλάξαι καὶ συντριβῇ ἢ τελευτήσῃ ἢ αἰχμάλωτον γένηται καὶ μηδεὶς γνῷ
And if anyone gives his neighbor a beast of burden or ox or sheep or any animal to keep, and it is injured or dies or is taken captive, and no one knows,
The bailment law turns from goods to living animals. The protasis catalogues the misfortunes that may befall an entrusted beast — injury (συντριβῇ), death (τελευτήσῃ), or capture (αἰχμάλωτον) — with the decisive condition καὶ μηδεὶς γνῷ ('and no one knows'): absent any witness, only the oath of v. 10 can resolve the matter.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the entrusted-animal case, parallel to the deposit-of-goods case of v. 6.
δέandtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τιςanyoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)→ participant referenceτις: 'anyone'; the depositor who entrusts a living animal to a neighbor.
δῷgivesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical deposit)δίδωμι (aor. subj.): 'give, entrust'; the act of depositing the animal for safekeeping, as in v. 6.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborDativeindirect object of δῷ (the bailee)→ sphere or referenceπλησίον: 'neighbor'; the bailee entrusted with the animal.
ὑποζύγιονbeast of burden / donkeyAccusativedirect object of δῷ (first item)→ object specificationὑποζύγιον: 'animal under the yoke, donkey'; renders חֲמוֹר; first of the enumerated animals that may be deposited.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μόσχονox / calfAccusativedirect object (alternative)→ object specificationμόσχος: 'ox, calf'; renders שׁוֹר; the bovine option among entrusted animals.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρόβατονsheepAccusativedirect object (alternative)→ object specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep'; renders שֶׂה; the flock animal in the list.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶνany / everyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying κτῆνος)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'any, every'; πᾶν κτῆνος = the catch-all 'any animal,' closing the enumeration comprehensively.
κτῆνοςbeast / animalAccusativedirect object (general catch-all)→ object specificationκτῆνος: 'beast, head of livestock'; renders בְּהֵמָה; the residual category subsuming any domestic animal not named.
φυλάξαιto keepAor Act Inf · φυλάσσωpurpose infinitive (with δῷ: 'to keep')→ aorist infinitive of purposeφυλάσσω (aor. inf.): 'guard, keep'; defines the deposit's purpose and the bailee's duty of care over the animal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συντριβῇis injured / brokenAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · συντρίβωverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical injury)συντρίβω (aor. pass.): 'crush, break, shatter'; renders נִשְׁבָּר; the animal is maimed/broken (e.g. a broken limb); the first of three misfortunes the bailee could not necessarily prevent.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τελευτήσῃdiesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · τελευτάωverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical death)τελευτάω (aor. subj.): 'die, come to an end'; renders מֵת; natural death of the entrusted beast — the gentler death-verb (vs. ἀποθνῄσκω of violent death in v. 1).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἰχμάλωτονcaptive / carried offAccusativepredicate accusative (with γένηται: 'becomes captive')→ object specificationαἰχμάλωτος: 'taken captive, prisoner of war'; renders נִשְׁבָּה; the animal is driven off as plunder, e.g. by raiders — a loss beyond the bailee's control.
γένηταιbecomesAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of protasis (with predicate αἰχμάλωτον)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical capture)γίνομαι (aor. subj.): 'become, come to be'; αἰχμάλωτον γένηται = 'becomes captive,' i.e. is carried off; the third misfortune in the series.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing decisive condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μηδεὶςno oneNominativesubject of γνῷ (negative pronoun)→ participant referenceμηδείς: 'no one'; renders אֵין רֹאֶה ('no one seeing'); the absence of any witness is the legal crux — with no proof, only the oath can decide; takes μη- as proper to the subjunctive clause.
γνῷknows / seesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · γινώσκωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical: no witness)γινώσκω (aor. subj.): 'know, perceive'; μηδεὶς γνῷ ('no one knows') = there is no witness to establish how the animal was lost; this evidentiary gap is precisely what the divine oath of v. 10 is designed to fill.
10
ὅρκος ἔσται τοῦ θεοῦ ἀνὰ μέσον ἀμφοτέρων ἦ μὴν μὴ αὐτὸν πεπονηρεῦσθαι καθ᾿ ὅλης τῆς παρακαταθήκης τοῦ πλησίον καὶ οὕτως προσδέξεται ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἀποτείσει
an oath of God shall be between them both, that surely he himself has not dealt wickedly concerning the whole deposit of his neighbor; and so its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
The remedy for the witnessless loss of v. 9: an ὅρκος … τοῦ θεοῦ ('oath of/by God') sworn between the two parties, with the same ἦ μήν formula and the same purgatory content as v. 7. If sworn, the owner (ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ — here the human owner of the animal) accepts it and the bailee makes no restitution. κύριος is unambiguously the human owner.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ὅρκοςoathNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceὅρκος: 'oath'; renders שְׁבֻעָה; the sworn declaration that, in the absence of a witness, legally settles the dispute; ὅρκος τοῦ θεοῦ = an oath taken in God's name and before God.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential/legislative)→ legislative future (prescribed remedy)εἰμί (fut.): 'be'; ὅρκος ἔσται = 'there shall be an oath' — the law mandates the oath as the decisive procedure.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive (defining ὅρκος: 'oath of/by God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; ὅρκος τοῦ θεοῦ renders שְׁבֻעַת יהוה — an oath sworn by God himself as guarantor; the divine name backs the bailee's exculpation, making God the witness no human could be.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον: 'between')→ spatial or relational framingἀνά: with μέσον forms the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('between'), rendering בֵּין; a standard LXX Hebraism for a relation between two parties.
μέσονmidst / betweenAccusativeobject of ἀνά (forming the 'between' idiom)→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle'; ἀνὰ μέσον ἀμφοτέρων = 'between the two parties' — the oath stands between depositor and bailee as the arbiter.
ἀμφοτέρωνof bothGenitivegenitive (the two parties)→ relational specificationἀμφότεροι: 'both'; renders שְׁנֵיהֶם; the depositor and the bailee, between whom the oath adjudicates.
ἦsurelyasseverative particle (with μήν: oath-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastἦ: asseverative; ἦ μήν again introduces the solemn sworn content, as in v. 7.
μὴνindeedasseverative particle (completing ἦ μήν)→ discourse linkage or contrastμήν: the emphatic particle completing the fixed oath-formula ἦ μήν.
μὴnotnegative (with infinitive πεπονηρεῦσθαι)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: negates the sworn infinitive — 'that he has not dealt wickedly.'
αὐτὸνhe himselfAccusativeaccusative subject of the oath-infinitive→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc.): the accusative subject of πεπονηρεῦσθαι in indirect discourse — 'that he (the bailee) has not embezzled.'
πεπονηρεῦσθαιto have dealt wickedlyPerf Mid/Pass Inf · πονηρεύομαιinfinitive of indirect discourse (content of the oath)→ perfect infinitive (settled innocence)πονηρεύομαι (perf. inf.): 'act wickedly'; the same purgatory formula as v. 7, rendering שָׁלַח יָדוֹ ('lay his hand on'); the perfect expresses abiding innocence regarding the entrusted animal.
καθ᾿concerningpreposition + genitive (elided; reference)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + gen.: here 'concerning, in respect of' (κατά with the genitive of reference); καθ᾿ ὅλης τῆς παρακαταθήκης = 'concerning the whole deposit.'
ὅληςthe wholeGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying παρακαταθήκης)→ relational specificationὅλος: 'whole, entire'; the oath again covers the deposit in its entirety, leaving no part unaccounted.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρακαταθήκηςdeposit / thing entrustedGenitiveobject of καθ᾿ (the entrusted animal)→ relational specificationπαρακαταθήκη: 'deposit, thing entrusted'; the technical bailment term (cf. v. 7), here applied to the entrusted animal.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborGenitivegenitive of possession (the depositor)→ relational specificationπλησίον: 'neighbor'; the depositor whose animal was entrusted.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb (resultative: 'and so')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus, so'; marks the consequence of the sworn oath — 'and so' the owner accepts it and the matter is closed.
προσδέξεταιshall acceptFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσδέχομαιmain verb (the owner's acceptance)→ legislative future (prescribed acceptance)προσδέχομαι: 'receive, accept, welcome'; renders לָקַח; the owner accepts the oath as conclusive — the sworn word binds him to forgo any further claim.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςowner / masterNominativesubject of προσδέξεται (the human owner)→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the human OWNER of the entrusted animal (ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ, 'its owner'), NOT the divine name; renders בְּעָלָיו ('its owner'); the immediate context (acceptance of the oath, forgoing restitution) fixes the human reference.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the animal's owner)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'its' — referring to the entrusted animal; ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ = 'its owner,' the depositor.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποτείσει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the indicative negative; οὐκ ἀποτείσει = the bailee makes no restitution, the oath having cleared him.
ἀποτείσειshall make restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb (negated: no restitution due)→ legislative future (negated liability)ἀποτίνω: 'make restitution'; here negated — the bailee who swears truthfully bears no liability for the loss he could not prevent; contrast the positive liability of v. 11.
11
ἐὰν δὲ κλαπῇ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀποτείσει τῷ κυρίῳ
But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner.
A sharp contrast to v. 10: if the animal is stolen 'from him' (παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ, the bailee), liability returns — theft from one's keeping implies a failure of the duty of care, so the bailee must repay the owner (τῷ κυρίῳ = the human owner). The terse single-clause law marks the dividing line between excusable misfortune and culpable negligence.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the theft-from-the-bailee sub-case.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: adversative — theft (culpable) over against the unpreventable losses of v. 9.
κλαπῇis stolenAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · κλέπτωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical theft)κλέπτω (aor. pass.): 'steal'; renders יִגָּנֵב; theft from the bailee's keeping is treated as a lapse of vigilance, hence liability — unlike injury, death, or capture.
παρ᾿frompreposition + genitive (elided; source: 'from him')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from (the side of)'; παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ = 'from him,' i.e. from the bailee's custody — the locus that fixes responsibility on him.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of παρ᾿ (the bailee)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): the bailee, from whose keeping the animal is stolen.
ἀποτείσειhe shall make restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (restitution)→ legislative future (mandated restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'make restitution'; the bailee repays the owner because theft from his care implies negligence — the converse of the no-restitution ruling of v. 10.
τῷto theDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳowner / masterDativeindirect object of ἀποτείσει (the human owner)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: again the human OWNER of the animal, NOT the divine name; renders בְּעָלָיו; the restitution is paid 'to the owner' (the depositor) — the contextual sense is unmistakably the human master.
12
ἐὰν δὲ θηριάλωτον γένηται ἄξει αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν θήραν καὶ οὐκ ἀποτείσει
But if it has been torn by a wild beast, he shall bring him to the prey, and he shall not make restitution.
The final entrusted-animal contingency: if the beast is θηριάλωτον ('torn by wild animals'), the bailee bears no liability — but he must produce the mangled carcass (ἄξει … ἐπὶ τὴν θήραν) as physical evidence. The torn body is the witness that substitutes for the oath; proof of a predator-kill exonerates the keeper. θηριάλωτον returns in the food law of v. 30.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the torn-by-beast sub-case.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: adversative, distinguishing the predator-kill (provable, hence excusable) from theft (v. 11).
θηριάλωτονtorn by a wild beastNominativepredicate adjective (with γένηται)→ participant prominenceθηριάλωτος: 'taken/torn by a wild beast' (θηρίον + ἁλωτός); renders טְרֵפָה ('torn flesh'); a precise compound for an animal killed by predators; the same root term governs the food prohibition of v. 30 (κρέας θηριάλωτον).
γένηταιbecomes / has been madeAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of protasis (with predicate θηριάλωτον)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical predator-kill)γίνομαι (aor. subj.): 'become'; θηριάλωτον γένηται = 'becomes torn by a beast,' i.e. is killed by a predator — a loss no keeper could forestall.
ἄξειhe shall bring / leadFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἄγωmain verb of apodosis (evidentiary requirement)→ legislative future (prescribed proof)ἄγω (fut.): 'lead, bring'; the bailee must 'bring' the mangled remains as proof; the LXX renders the Hebrew 'let him bring it as witness' (יְבִאֵהוּ עֵד) — physical evidence in place of an oath.
αὐτὸνhim / itAccusativedirect object of ἄξει (the torn animal)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc.): the carcass of the torn animal, brought as evidence.
ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + accusative (goal/reference)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'to, with regard to'; ἐπὶ τὴν θήραν = 'to the prey/torn carcass' — the bailee produces the kill itself as the proof.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θήραν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θήρανprey / torn carcassAccusativeobject of ἐπί (the evidence)→ object specificationθήρα: 'hunting, prey, that which is caught/torn'; here the predator's kill — the mangled remains; renders the idea of טְרֵפָה as the tangible proof exonerating the keeper.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποτείσει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: indicative negative; οὐκ ἀποτείσει = no restitution, the carcass proving an unpreventable loss.
ἀποτείσειhe shall make restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb (negated: no restitution due)→ legislative future (negated liability)ἀποτίνω: 'make restitution'; negated here — the provable predator-kill clears the bailee, as the oath did in v. 10.
13
ἐὰν δὲ αἰτήσῃ τις παρὰ τοῦ πλησίον καὶ συντριβῇ ἢ ἀποθάνῃ ἢ αἰχμάλωτον γένηται ὁ δὲ κύριος μὴ ᾖ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀποτείσει
And if anyone borrows from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies or is taken captive, and its owner is not with it, he shall make restitution.
A shift from bailment to loan: the borrower (αἰτήσῃ, 'asks/borrows') has sought the animal for his own use, so the calculus of liability reverses. The same triad of misfortunes as v. 9 (injury, death, capture) now entails full restitution — because the borrower had the benefit of the beast, and the owner (ὁ κύριος, human) was not present to share the risk.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the borrowing case, distinct from the deposit cases of vv. 6–12.
δὲandtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἰτήσῃborrows / asks forAor Act Subj 3 Sg · αἰτέωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical borrowing)αἰτέω (aor. subj.): 'ask, request, borrow'; renders יִשְׁאַל ('borrow'); the key distinction from the deposit cases — here the animal is borrowed for the borrower's own benefit, which is why he bears full liability.
τιςanyoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)→ participant referenceτις: 'anyone'; the borrower.
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from (beside)'; παρὰ τοῦ πλησίον = 'from his neighbor,' the lender.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborGenitiveobject of παρὰ (the lender/owner)→ relational specificationπλησίον: 'neighbor'; here the lender from whom the animal is borrowed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συντριβῇis injured / brokenAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · συντρίβωverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical injury)συντρίβω (aor. pass.): 'crush, break'; the same misfortune as v. 9, but with opposite legal outcome since the animal was borrowed for use.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθάνῃdiesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical death)ἀποθνῄσκω (aor. subj.): 'die'; here the borrowed animal dies; note the blunt ἀποθνῄσκω where v. 9 used τελευτάω — possibly varied for the loaned (vs. deposited) beast.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἰχμάλωτονcaptive / carried offAccusativepredicate accusative (with γένηται)→ object specificationαἰχμάλωτος: 'taken captive'; the borrowed beast carried off — third of the parallel misfortunes.
γένηταιbecomesAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of protasis (with predicate αἰχμάλωτον)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical capture)γίνομαι (aor. subj.): 'become'; αἰχμάλωτον γένηται = 'is carried off,' as in v. 9.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲand / nowtransitional particle (post-positive, introducing the decisive clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: introduces the qualifying clause that decides liability — whether the owner was present.
κύριοςowner / masterNominativesubject of ᾖ (the human owner)→ participant prominenceκύριος: again the human OWNER of the animal, NOT the divine name; renders בְּעָלָיו; the borrower is liable precisely because 'the owner was not with it' (μὴ ᾖ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ) — the owner's absence places the full risk on the borrower.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ᾖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: subjunctive negative; μὴ ᾖ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ = 'is not with it.'
ᾖisPres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of subordinate condition (subjunctive)→ stative present subjunctive (owner's absence)εἰμί (pres. subj.): 'be'; the owner's not 'being with' the animal is the legal hinge — his absence makes the borrower fully liable.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (elided; accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ = 'with it' (the animal); the owner's presence/absence determines liability (contrast v. 14).
αὐτοῦitGenitiveobject of μετ᾿ (the animal)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): the borrowed animal, with which the owner was or was not present.
ἀποτείσειhe shall make restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (restitution)→ legislative future (mandated restitution)ἀποτίνω: 'make restitution'; the borrower repays the owner in full — having had the use of the animal, he assumes its risk when its owner is absent.
14
ἐὰν δὲ ὁ κύριος ᾖ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀποτείσει ἐὰν δὲ μισθωτὸς ᾖ ἔσται αὐτῷ ἀντὶ τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ
But if its owner is with it, he shall not make restitution; but if it was hired, it shall be reckoned to him in lieu of his hire.
Two clauses close the loan/hire law. First, the converse of v. 13: if the owner was present (ᾖ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ), no restitution is due — the owner shared the risk. Second, a special provision: if the animal was hired (μισθωτός), the loss is covered by the hire-fee (ἀντὶ τοῦ μισθοῦ) — the price paid absorbs the loss, since hire already prices in the risk of use. κύριος is the human owner.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the owner-present sub-case.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: adversative, reversing v. 13 — owner present vs. owner absent.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςowner / masterNominativesubject of ᾖ (the human owner)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the human OWNER, NOT the divine name; renders בְּעָלָיו; his presence with the animal (ᾖ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ) absolves the borrower of liability — the owner is held to share the risk he was on hand to witness.
ᾖisPres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ stative present subjunctive (owner's presence)εἰμί (pres. subj.): 'be'; the owner's presence (ᾖ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ) is the condition that cancels the borrower's liability.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (elided; accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ = 'with it.'
αὐτοῦitGenitiveobject of μετ᾿ (the animal)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): the borrowed/hired animal.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποτείσει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: indicative negative; οὐκ ἀποτείσει = no restitution due.
ἀποτείσειhe shall make restitutionFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb (negated: no restitution)→ legislative future (negated liability)ἀποτίνω: 'make restitution'; negated — the owner's presence releases the borrower.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (second protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the hired-animal sub-case.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: adversative, distinguishing hire from loan.
μισθωτὸςhiredNominativepredicate adjective (with ᾖ: 'if it was hired')→ participant prominenceμισθωτός: 'hired, let out for a fee'; renders שָׂכִיר; if the animal was rented rather than borrowed, the loss is offset by the hire-fee, since the rental price already factors in the risk of use.
ᾖit was / bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of second protasis (subjunctive)→ stative present subjunctive (the hire arrangement)εἰμί (pres. subj.): 'be'; μισθωτὸς ᾖ = 'if it was a hired thing.'
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of apodosis→ legislative future (prescribed reckoning)εἰμί (fut.): 'be'; ἔσται αὐτῷ ἀντὶ τοῦ μισθοῦ = the loss 'shall be to him in place of his hire' — the hire-fee covers the damage; an idiom of accounting/offset.
αὐτῷto him / for himDativedative of interest (the owner)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): 'to him' — the owner, for whom the loss is offset against the hire he was owed.
ἀντὶin lieu of / instead ofpreposition + genitive (substitution/equivalence)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί + gen.: 'instead of, in place of'; ἀντὶ τοῦ μισθοῦ = the loss substitutes for / is set against the hire-fee.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with μισθοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μισθοῦhire / wageGenitiveobject of ἀντὶ (the hire-fee)→ relational specificationμισθός: 'wage, hire, fee'; renders שָׂכָר; the rental price that absorbs the loss — the hire-fee is treated as already covering the risk of the animal's use.
αὐτοῦits / hisGenitivegenitive of possession (the hire belonging to it)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'its hire' — the fee owed for the hired animal.
15
ἐὰν δὲ ἀπατήσῃ τις παρθένον ἀμνήστευτον καὶ κοιμηθῇ μετ᾿ αὐτῆς φερνῇ φερνιεῖ αὐτὴν αὐτῷ γυναῖκα
And if anyone seduces an unbetrothed virgin and lies with her, he shall surely endow her to himself as a wife with a bride-price.
A turn from property to sexual-family law. The seducer of an unbetrothed virgin (παρθένον ἀμνήστευτον) must marry her with the bride-price; the obligation is intensified by the cognate-dative Hebraism φερνῇ φερνιεῖ ('he shall surely endow with a bride-price'), the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew infinitive absolute (מָהֹר יִמְהָרֶנָּה). The law protects the woman's standing and economic security.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the seduction case.
δὲandtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπατήσῃseduces / deceivesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀπατάωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical seduction)ἀπατάω (aor. subj.): 'deceive, beguile, seduce'; renders יְפַתֶּה ('entice'); the verb frames the act as persuasion/seduction (not rape, which is treated separately at Deut 22:25–27), hence the remedy of marriage and bride-price.
τιςanyoneNominativesubject (indefinite pronoun)→ participant referenceτις: 'anyone'; the seducer.
παρθένονvirginAccusativedirect object of ἀπατήσῃ→ object specificationπαρθένος: 'virgin, unmarried young woman'; renders בְּתוּלָה; the same noun famously used at Isa 7:14 LXX (ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος); here a marriageable girl still under her father's authority.
ἀμνήστευτονunbetrothedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying παρθένον)→ object specificationἀμνήστευτος: 'not betrothed, unpledged' (alpha-privative + μνηστεύω, 'betroth'); renders אֲשֶׁר לֹא־אֹרָשָׂה; the woman's unbetrothed status is decisive — a betrothed woman's case would fall under adultery law, not this restitution-by-marriage provision.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κοιμηθῇlies with / sleepsAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · κοιμάωverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical intercourse)κοιμάω (aor. pass.): 'lie down, sleep'; κοιμηθῇ μετ᾿ αὐτῆς is the standard LXX euphemism for sexual intercourse, rendering שָׁכַב עִם; here it consummates the seduction, triggering the marriage/endowment obligation.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (elided; accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; μετ᾿ αὐτῆς completing the euphemism for intercourse.
αὐτῆςherGenitiveobject of μετ᾿ (the virgin)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her' — the seduced virgin.
φερνῇwith a bride-priceDativecognate dative (Hebraism: rendering the infinitive absolute)→ sphere or referenceφερνή: 'dowry, bride-price'; the cognate dative φερνῇ φερνιεῖ is a Hebraism rendering the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute מָהֹר יִמְהָרֶנָּה ('he shall surely endow her'); the dativus cognatus intensifies and guarantees the obligation, exactly as ἐκβολῇ … ἐκβαλεῖ at 11:1.
φερνιεῖhe shall endowFut Act Indic 3 Sg · φερνίζωmain verb of apodosis (with cognate dative)→ legislative future (mandated endowment; intensified by cognate dative)φερνίζω (fut.): 'provide a dowry, endow with a bride-price'; the denominative verb of φερνή; φερνῇ φερνιεῖ = 'he shall surely pay the bride-price,' the Hebraistic emphatic construction that obliges the seducer to secure the woman's status by full endowment and marriage.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of φερνιεῖ→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem.): 'her' — the woman whom the seducer must endow and marry.
αὐτῷto himselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive: 'for himself')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): reflexive 'to/for himself' — he takes her as his own wife.
γυναῖκαas wifeAccusativepredicate accusative (result of the marriage)→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman, wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; predicate accusative — he endows her 'as a wife,' i.e. the bride-price effects a binding marriage, securing her future.
16
ἐὰν δὲ ἀνανεύων ἀνανεύσῃ καὶ μὴ βούληται ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς δοῦναι αὐτὴν αὐτῷ γυναῖκα ἀργύριον ἀποτείσει τῷ πατρὶ καθ᾿ ὅσον ἐστὶν ἡ φερνὴ τῶν παρθένων
But if her father utterly refuses, and is unwilling to give her to him as a wife, he shall pay money to the father, according to whatever is the bride-price of virgins.
The complementary case to v. 15: the father, who holds authority over the daughter, may refuse the marriage. The refusal is again intensified by a cognate Hebraism, ἀνανεύων ἀνανεύσῃ ('refusing he refuses' = utterly refuses). Even so, the seducer must pay the standard virgin's bride-price (ἡ φερνὴ τῶν παρθένων) — the woman's economic loss is compensated whether or not marriage follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the father's-refusal sub-case.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: adversative, contrasting refusal with the marriage of v. 15.
ἀνανεύωνrefusingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ἀνανεύωcognate participle (Hebraism: with finite ἀνανεύσῃ)→ intensifying present participle (rendering the infinitive absolute)ἀνανεύω (pres. ptc.): 'refuse, shake the head in refusal, decline'; the participle + finite verb (ἀνανεύων ἀνανεύσῃ) is the LXX's calque of the Hebrew infinitive absolute מָאֵן יְמָאֵן ('he utterly refuses'), expressing emphatic, settled refusal.
ἀνανεύσῃrefusesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀνανεύωverb of protasis (subjunctive, with cognate participle)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (intensified by the participle)ἀνανεύω (aor. subj.): 'refuse'; ἀνανεύων ἀνανεύσῃ = 'he absolutely refuses'; the cognate construction matches φερνῇ φερνιεῖ of v. 15 — both Hebraistic emphatics.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive βούληται)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: subjunctive negative; μὴ βούληται = 'is unwilling.'
βούληταιis willing / wishesPres Mid Subj 3 Sg · βούλομαιverb of protasis (coordinate subjunctive)→ durative present subjunctive (the father's settled unwillingness)βούλομαι (pres. subj.): 'wish, be willing, want'; renders יֹאבֶה; the father's unwillingness to give his daughter expresses his paternal authority over the marriage decision.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with πατήρ)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of ἀνανεύσῃ / βούληται→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; the father holds legal authority over his daughter's marriage and receives the bride-price; his refusal does not cancel the seducer's financial liability.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship (her father)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her' — the virgin's father.
δοῦναιto giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιcomplementary infinitive (with βούληται)→ aorist infinitive (the act refused)δίδωμι (aor. inf.): 'give'; δοῦναι αὐτὴν … γυναῖκα = 'to give her as a wife'; the father's giving of the daughter is the formal act of marriage that he declines.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of δοῦναι→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem.): 'her' — the daughter.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object of δοῦναι (the seducer)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): 'to him' — the seducer who sought to marry her.
γυναῖκαas wifeAccusativepredicate accusative (with δοῦναι)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the predicate of the refused marriage — 'to give her as a wife.'
ἀργύριονmoney / silverAccusativedirect object of ἀποτείσει→ object specificationἀργύριον: 'silver, money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the monetary equivalent of the bride-price, owed even when marriage is refused — the woman's economic loss is still compensated.
ἀποτείσειhe shall payFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίνωmain verb of apodosis (payment)→ legislative future (mandated payment)ἀποτίνω: 'pay, render'; the chapter's restitution verb, here applied to the bride-price owed the father despite the refused marriage.
τῷto theDativearticle (with πατρί)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὶfatherDativeindirect object of ἀποτείσει (recipient of payment)→ sphere or referenceπατήρ: 'father'; the bride-price is paid to the father as head of the household and guardian of the daughter's interests.
καθ᾿according topreposition + accusative (elided; standard/measure)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; καθ᾿ ὅσον = 'according to whatever amount' — the payment is set by the customary scale.
ὅσονas much as / whateverAccusativerelative quantity (object of καθ᾿)→ object specificationὅσος: 'as much/many as'; καθ᾿ ὅσον ἐστίν = 'according to whatever (the bride-price) is' — referring to the standard, customary amount.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (copula)→ gnomic present (customary standard)εἰμί: 'be'; the present states the customary, standing amount of the virgins' bride-price.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with φερνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φερνὴbride-priceNominativesubject of ἐστὶν (the customary bride-price)→ participant prominenceφερνή: 'bride-price, dowry'; the same noun as v. 15; ἡ φερνὴ τῶν παρθένων = 'the bride-price of virgins,' the fixed customary sum due for an unmarried girl.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with παρθένων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρθένωνvirginsGenitivegenitive (defining φερνή: 'bride-price of virgins')→ relational specificationπαρθένος: 'virgin'; the genitive plural specifies the customary tariff — the standard bride-price set for virgins generally.
17
φαρμακοὺς οὐ περιποιήσετε
You shall not keep sorcerers alive.
An abrupt shift to terse apodictic law: a flat prohibition (οὐ + future indicative) of harbouring sorcerers. The fronting of the object φαρμακούς is emphatic. The law belongs to the cluster vv. 17–19 expunging occult and idolatrous practice from Israel; it is addressed to the community in the plural (περιποιήσετε).
Word-by-word analysis· 3 words
φαρμακοὺςsorcerersAccusativedirect object of περιποιήσετε (fronted, emphatic)→ object specificationφάρμακος: 'sorcerer, poisoner, dealer in magic potions'; renders מְכַשֵּׁפָה ('sorceress'); the masculine plural generalizes; the word-group (φαρμακεία, φάρμακον) denotes the magic-potion arts condemned throughout Scripture (cf. Gal 5:20; Rev 21:8); the fronted position stresses the target of the prohibition.
οὐnotnegative particle (with future indicative: prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the negative with the future indicative forms the apodictic prohibition ('you shall not …'), the standard LXX equivalent of the Hebrew לֹא + imperfect of permanent law (as in the Decalogue).
περιποιήσετεyou shall keep alive / preserveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · περιποιέωmain verb (apodictic prohibition, 2nd plural)→ legislative future (prohibition: 'you shall not preserve')περιποιέω: 'preserve, keep alive, spare'; renders חָיָה (Piel, 'let live'); οὐ περιποιήσετε = 'you shall not let live/spare' — sorcery is a capital matter; the second-person plural addresses Israel as the executing community.
18
πᾶν κοιμώμενον μετὰ κτήνους θανάτῳ ἀποκτενεῖτε αὐτούς
Everyone who lies with a beast you shall surely put to death.
A second capital law: bestiality is punished by death, intensified by the cognate dative θανάτῳ ἀποκτενεῖτε ('with death you shall put to death' = surely put to death), a Hebraism rendering the infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמָת. The constructio ad sensum shifts from the neuter participle πᾶν κοιμώμενον ('everyone lying') to the masculine plural αὐτούς, treating the offenders as persons.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
πᾶνevery(one)Accusativesubstantival adjective (object: 'everyone')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'every, all'; the neuter πᾶν κοιμώμενον ('everyone who lies', lit. 'every[thing] lying') generalizes the prohibition to any offender; the neuter is grammatical, the sense personal (hence αὐτούς).
κοιμώμενονlying / having intercoursePres Mid/Pass Ptc Acc Neut Sg · κοιμάωsubstantival participle (with πᾶν: 'everyone lying')→ durative present participle (the act of intercourse)κοιμάω (pres. ptc.): 'lie, sleep'; κοιμώμενον μετὰ κτήνους is the euphemism for sexual intercourse (cf. v. 15), here with an animal; renders שֹׁכֵב עִם־בְּהֵמָה; bestiality is condemned as an abomination overturning the created order (cf. Lev 18:23; 20:15–16).
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; μετὰ κτήνους completing the euphemism.
κτήνουςbeast / animalGenitiveobject of μετὰ (the animal)→ relational specificationκτῆνος: 'beast, domestic animal'; renders בְּהֵמָה; the animal with which the offence is committed.
θανάτῳwith deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism: rendering the infinitive absolute)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: 'death'; the cognate dative θανάτῳ ἀποκτενεῖτε is a Hebraism rendering the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמָת ('he shall surely be put to death'); the dativus cognatus makes the death-penalty unconditional and certain.
ἀποκτενεῖτεyou shall put to deathFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (apodictic capital sentence, 2nd plural)→ legislative future (mandated death penalty; intensified by cognate dative)ἀποκτείνω (fut.): 'kill, put to death'; θανάτῳ ἀποκτενεῖτε = 'you shall surely put to death'; the community (2nd plural) executes the sentence; the cognate-dative construction is the LXX's signature rendering of the capital infinitive-absolute formula.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀποκτενεῖτε (constructio ad sensum)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. masc. pl.): 'them'; the masculine plural resumes the neuter πᾶν κοιμώμενον according to sense (constructio ad sensum), treating the offenders as persons liable to execution.
19
ὁ θυσιάζων θεοῖς θανάτῳ ὀλεθρευθήσεται πλὴν κυρίῳ μόνῳ
Whoever sacrifices to gods shall be utterly destroyed — except to the LORD alone.
The third and climactic capital law: sacrifice to other gods incurs utter destruction (ἐξολεθρευθήσεται/ὀλεθρευθήσεται), again with the cognate-dative θανάτῳ. The exceptive clause πλὴν κυρίῳ μόνῳ ('except to the LORD alone') is the monotheistic heart of the Covenant Code — here κύριος is unambiguously YHWH the divine Lawgiver, the sole legitimate recipient of sacrifice (cf. the first commandment, 20:3).
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing θυσιάζων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιάζωνsacrificing / who sacrificesPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · θυσιάζωsubstantival participle (subject of ὀλεθρευθήσεται)→ durative present participle (the one who sacrifices)θυσιάζω (pres. ptc.): 'sacrifice, offer sacrifice'; renders זֹבֵחַ; ὁ θυσιάζων θεοῖς = 'the one who sacrifices to gods,' i.e. to deities other than YHWH — the cardinal sin of the covenant.
θεοῖςto godsDativeindirect object of θυσιάζων (recipients of illicit sacrifice)→ sphere or referenceθεός (dat. pl.): 'gods'; renders אֱלֹהִים here in the sense of pagan deities (cf. the qualifying אֲחֵרִים elsewhere); the plural marks them as the false objects of worship, set in pointed contrast to κυρίῳ μόνῳ.
θανάτῳwith death / utterlyDativecognate/intensifying dative (Hebraism with ὀλεθρευθήσεται)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: 'death'; the dative θανάτῳ intensifies the verb of destruction — an emphatic Hebraism (rendering the infinitive absolute יָחֳרָם, 'shall be utterly devoted to destruction'); 'shall be destroyed with death' = utterly destroyed.
ὀλεθρευθήσεταιshall be destroyedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀλεθρεύωmain verb (apodictic capital sentence, passive)→ legislative future passive (mandated destruction)ὀλεθρεύω / ἐξολεθρεύω (fut. pass.): 'destroy utterly, exterminate'; renders חרם (Hophal, 'be devoted to destruction'); the divine passive implies God as the ultimate agent; the verb is the LXX's term for the ḥērem, total devotion to destruction — the fate of the idolater.
πλὴνexceptexceptive conjunction/preposition→ spatial or relational framingπλήν: 'except, save only'; renders בִּלְתִּי; introduces the sole exception to the prohibition — sacrifice is licit to YHWH alone; the exceptive clause encapsulates Israel's monotheism.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative (the sole licit recipient of sacrifice)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: here unambiguously YHWH the divine LAWGIVER, rendering the Tetragrammaton יהוה (not the human owner of the bailment laws); κυρίῳ μόνῳ ('to the LORD alone') is the positive monotheistic counterpart to the prohibition of sacrificing θεοῖς.
μόνῳalone / onlyDativeattributive adjective (modifying κυρίῳ: 'the LORD alone')→ sphere or referenceμόνος: 'only, alone'; renders לְבַדּוֹ; κυρίῳ μόνῳ exclusively restricts all sacrifice to YHWH — the cultic expression of the first commandment (cf. Deut 6:13; Matt 4:10 λατρεύσεις).
20
καὶ προσήλυτον οὐ κακώσετε οὐδὲ μὴ θλίψητε αὐτόν ἦτε γὰρ προσήλυτοι ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ
And you shall not wrong a sojourner, nor shall you oppress him; for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
A turn to social-protective law: the prohibition against wronging the sojourner (προσήλυτον) is reinforced by the emphatic double negative οὐδὲ μή and grounded in Israel's own memory — ἦτε γὰρ προσήλυτοι ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ ('for you were sojourners in Egypt'). The γάρ-clause supplies the motive: empathy born of shared experience of vulnerability.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking to the law-series)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσήλυτονsojourner / resident alienAccusativedirect object of κακώσετε (fronted)→ object specificationπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner, resident alien, newcomer' (lit. 'one who has come to'); renders גֵּר; a settled foreigner without kinship-land protection, hence vulnerable; in later usage the word came to mean 'proselyte/convert,' but here it is the socially exposed immigrant the law shields.
οὐnotnegative particle (with future indicative: prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with the future indicative forms the apodictic 'you shall not wrong.'
κακώσετεyou shall wrong / mistreatFut Act Indic 2 Pl · κακόωmain verb (apodictic prohibition, 2nd plural)→ legislative future (prohibition)κακόω (fut.): 'harm, mistreat, do evil to'; renders תּוֹנֶה (Hiphil of ינה, 'oppress/wrong'); the same verb describes Egypt's oppression of Israel (cf. Exod 1:11; Gen 15:13), making the prohibition pointed: do not become to the alien what Egypt was to you.
οὐδὲnorcoordinating negative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'and not, nor'; coordinates the second prohibition with the first and combines with μή for emphatic negation.
μὴnot / by no meansnegative particle (with aorist subjunctive: emphatic prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with οὐδέ and the aorist subjunctive forms the strong double negation οὐδὲ μὴ θλίψητε ('nor shall you in any way oppress'), the emphatic prohibitive construction reinforcing the ban.
θλίψητεyou shall oppress / afflictAor Act Subj 2 Pl · θλίβωverb of emphatic prohibition (aor. subj. with οὐδὲ μή)→ emphatic prohibitive aorist subjunctive (absolute ban)θλίβω (aor. subj.): 'press, afflict, oppress'; renders תִּלְחָצֶנּוּ (לחץ, 'squeeze/oppress'); the aorist subjunctive with the double negative makes the prohibition categorical — no oppression of the sojourner whatsoever.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of θλίψητε (the sojourner)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc.): 'him' — the resident alien.
ἦτεyou wereImpf Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίmain verb of motive clause (with γάρ)→ imperfect of past state (Israel's former condition)εἰμί (impf.): 'be'; the imperfect ἦτε ('you were') recalls Israel's enduring past condition as aliens in Egypt — the experiential ground of the law's empathy.
γὰρforcausal particle (post-positive, introducing motive clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the motive clause grounding the prohibition in Israel's own memory of being aliens — the recurrent rationale of the alien-protection laws (cf. 23:9; Lev 19:34; Deut 10:19).
προσήλυτοιsojournersNominativepredicate nominative (with ἦτε: 'you were sojourners')→ participant prominenceπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner'; renders גֵּרִים; the predicate plural identifies Israel's own past status — they were the vulnerable aliens, so they must not oppress the alien among them.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
γῇlandDativeobject of ἐν (locative)→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ = 'in the land of Egypt,' the place of Israel's sojourn and oppression.
ΑἰγύπτῳEgyptDativeappositional/locative dative (with γῇ: 'the land, Egypt')→ sphere or referenceΑἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; renders מִצְרַיִם; the locative names the site of Israel's own alien experience — the historical anchor of the empathy commanded.
21
πᾶσαν χήραν καὶ ὀρφανὸν οὐ κακώσετε
You shall not wrong any widow or orphan.
The companion prohibition to v. 20: no widow or orphan may be wronged. The widow (χήρα) and orphan (ὀρφανός), like the sojourner, lack the protection of a male head of household and so are the paradigmatic vulnerable; πᾶσαν ('any') universalizes the ban. The motive and sanction follow in vv. 22–23.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
πᾶσανany / everyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying χήραν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'every, any'; πᾶσαν χήραν = 'any widow whatever' — universalizing the protection to every such person without exception.
χήρανwidowAccusativedirect object of κακώσετε→ object specificationχήρα: 'widow'; renders אַלְמָנָה; a woman bereft of her husband's protection, hence socially and economically exposed; the widow, orphan, and sojourner form the classic OT triad of the vulnerable (cf. Deut 10:18; James 1:27).
καὶand / orcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀρφανὸνorphanAccusativedirect object (coordinate with χήραν)→ object specificationὀρφανός: 'orphan, fatherless'; renders יָתוֹם; the fatherless child without a guardian to defend its rights; paired with the widow as the type of the defenceless.
οὐnotnegative particle (with future indicative: prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with the future indicative, the apodictic prohibition ('you shall not').
κακώσετεyou shall wrong / mistreatFut Act Indic 2 Pl · κακόωmain verb (apodictic prohibition, 2nd plural)→ legislative future (prohibition)κακόω (fut.): 'harm, mistreat'; the same verb as v. 20 (κακώσετε), binding the widow/orphan law to the sojourner law; the second-person plural addresses the whole community.
22
ἐὰν δὲ κακίᾳ κακώσητε αὐτοὺς καὶ κεκράξαντες καταβοήσωσι πρός με ἀκοῇ εἰσακούσομαι τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῶν
But if you wrong them grievously, and crying out they cry aloud to me, I will surely hear their voice.
The sanction attached to vv. 20–21: if the vulnerable are wronged and cry out, YHWH himself hears. The verse stacks intensifying Hebraisms: κακίᾳ κακώσητε ('wrong with wronging'), κεκράξαντες καταβοήσωσι ('crying out they cry aloud'), and ἀκοῇ εἰσακούσομαι ('with hearing I will hear' = surely hear). The first-person πρός με / εἰσακούσομαι marks YHWH the Lawgiver as the personal advocate of the oppressed.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the conditional sanction-clause.
δὲbuttransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κακίᾳwith wrong / grievouslyDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying κακώσητε)→ sphere or referenceκακία: 'evil, wickedness, ill-treatment'; the cognate dative κακίᾳ κακώσητε ('with wronging you wrong') renders the Hebrew infinitive-absolute emphatic עַנֵּה תְעַנֶּה ('if you indeed afflict'); the dativus cognatus stresses the gravity of the offence.
κακώσητεyou wrong / afflictAor Act Subj 2 Pl · κακόωverb of protasis (with cognate dative)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (intensified by cognate dative)κακόω (aor. subj.): 'mistreat, afflict'; the same verb as vv. 20–21, here in the hypothetical of the sanction-clause: should Israel wrong the vulnerable, divine retribution follows.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of κακώσητε (widows/orphans)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl.): 'them' — the widows and orphans of v. 21.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κεκράξαντεςcrying outAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · κράζωcircumstantial participle (intensifying καταβοήσωσι)→ intensifying aorist participle (rendering the infinitive absolute)κράζω (aor. ptc.): 'cry out, shriek'; the participle + finite verb (κεκράξαντες καταβοήσωσι) is a Hebraistic intensifier rendering צָעֹק יִצְעַק ('they surely cry out'); the doubled verb stresses the desperate urgency of the cry.
καταβοήσωσιthey cry aloudAor Act Subj 3 Pl · καταβοάωverb of protasis (subjunctive, with cognate participle)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (the outcry to God)καταβοάω (aor. subj.): 'cry out against, cry aloud (for help)'; the κατα- intensifies; renders זָעַק/צָעַק; the outcry of the oppressed to YHWH is a covenant trigger — the cry itself summons divine intervention (cf. 2:23; 3:7).
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to'; πρός με directs the cry to YHWH himself — the divine first person.
μεmeAccusativeobject of πρός (YHWH the Lawgiver)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc.): 'me'; the first-person object identifies the speaker as YHWH himself — the divine Lawgiver to whom the oppressed cry directly, without intermediary.
ἀκοῇwith hearing / surelyDativecognate dative (Hebraism intensifying εἰσακούσομαι)→ sphere or referenceἀκοή: 'hearing, report'; the cognate dative ἀκοῇ εἰσακούσομαι ('with hearing I will hear') renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute שָׁמֹעַ אֶשְׁמַע ('I will surely hear'); the construction guarantees the certainty of YHWH's response.
εἰσακούσομαιI will hear / heedFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · εἰσακούωmain verb of apodosis (divine first-person response)→ predictive future (certain divine response; intensified by cognate dative)εἰσακούω (fut.): 'hear, hearken to, heed'; the εἰσ- intensifies to 'give heed, answer'; renders שָׁמַע; ἀκοῇ εἰσακούσομαι = 'I will surely heed'; YHWH's hearing entails action — he will avenge the cry (v. 23).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoice / cryGenitivegenitive object of εἰσακούσομαι (the thing heard)→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice, sound, cry'; renders קוֹל / צַעֲקָה; εἰσακούω takes the genitive of the thing heard; YHWH heeds 'their voice' — the cry of the wronged is heard in heaven.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the oppressed)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their' — the widows and orphans whose cry God hears.
23
καὶ ὀργισθήσομαι θυμῷ καὶ ἀποκτενῶ ὑμᾶς μαχαίρᾳ καὶ ἔσονται αἱ γυναῖκες ὑμῶν χῆραι καὶ τὰ παιδία ὑμῶν ὀρφανά
And I will be angry with wrath, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans.
The threatened consequence: YHWH's burning wrath (ὀργισθήσομαι θυμῷ, again a cognate-dative intensifier) and the sword. The punishment is exact lex talionis: those who made others widows and orphans will see their own wives widowed (χῆραι) and children orphaned (ὀρφανά) — the very terms of v. 21 turned back on the oppressor. The first-person divine speech makes YHWH the direct avenger.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀργισθήσομαιI will be angryFut Pass Indic 1 Sg · ὀργίζωmain verb (divine first-person threat)→ predictive future (certain divine anger)ὀργίζω (fut. pass.): 'be angry, be provoked to wrath'; renders חָרָה אַף ('the nose/anger burned'); ὀργισθήσομαι θυμῷ ('I will be angry with wrath') is a cognate-dative intensifier expressing the full heat of divine indignation against the oppressor.
θυμῷwith wrath / furyDativedative of manner (intensifying ὀργισθήσομαι)→ sphere or referenceθυμός: 'wrath, fury, passion'; the dative θυμῷ intensifies the verb — 'with burning anger'; θυμός and ὀργή together form the LXX's standard pairing for the heat of divine wrath.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκτενῶI will killFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (divine first-person threat)→ predictive future (certain divine judgment)ἀποκτείνω (fut.): 'kill, slay'; renders הָרַג; the first-person divine 'I will kill you with the sword' makes YHWH the direct executor of judgment — the oppressor faces the same mortal violence he visited on the helpless.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἀποκτενῶ (the oppressors)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl.): 'you' — the oppressors addressed, who will be slain.
μαχαίρᾳwith the swordDativedative of instrument (means of death)→ sphere or referenceμάχαιρα: 'sword, dagger'; renders חֶרֶב; the instrumental dative — death by the sword, the typical agent of divine military judgment (e.g. invasion, war).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the talionic result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσονταιshall becomeFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (result: wives become widows)→ predictive future (the talionic outcome)εἰμί (fut.): 'be, become'; ἔσονται … χῆραι = 'shall become widows'; the future of consequence — the oppressor's death produces the very condition (widowhood, orphanhood) he inflicted on others.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with γυναῖκες)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκεςwivesNominativesubject of ἔσονται→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman, wife'; αἱ γυναῖκες ὑμῶν = 'your wives,' who become widows — the punishment mirrors the crime against widows in v. 21.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (the oppressors')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'your' — belonging to the oppressors.
χῆραιwidowsNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσονται)→ participant prominenceχήρα: 'widow'; the predicate echoes χήραν of v. 21 — the talionic reversal makes the oppressor's wives into the very class he wronged.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ 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 (with implied ἔσονται)→ participant prominenceπαιδίον: 'child, little one'; renders בָּנִים ('sons/children'); τὰ παιδία ὑμῶν = 'your children,' who become orphans — completing the talionic mirror of v. 21.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (the oppressors')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'your' — the oppressors' children.
ὀρφανάorphans / fatherlessNominativepredicate nominative (with implied ἔσονται)→ participant prominenceὀρφανός: 'orphan, fatherless'; the predicate echoes ὀρφανόν of v. 21; the talionic logic is complete — the wrong done to widows and orphans recoils precisely upon the wrongdoer's own household.
24
ἐὰν δὲ ἀργύριον ἐκδανείσῃς τῷ ἀδελφῷ τῷ πενιχρῷ παρὰ σοί οὐκ ἔσῃ αὐτὸν κατεπείγων οὐκ ἐπιθήσεις αὐτῷ τόκον
And if you lend money to the poor brother who is beside you, you shall not be pressing him; you shall not lay interest upon him.
Economic-mercy law: a loan to the poor brother is an act of relief, not profit. Two prohibitions follow — οὐκ ἔσῃ … κατεπείγων ('you shall not be a hard creditor') and οὐκ ἐπιθήσεις … τόκον ('you shall not lay interest on him'). The interest-prohibition (τόκος) protects the poor Israelite from the spiral of debt; the periphrastic οὐκ ἔσῃ … κατεπείγων stresses an ongoing disposition, not a single act.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the lending case.
δὲandtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀργύριονmoney / silverAccusativedirect object of ἐκδανείσῃς→ object specificationἀργύριον: 'silver, money'; renders כֶּסֶף; the object of the loan.
ἐκδανείσῃςyou lendAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐκδανείζωverb of protasis (subjunctive, 2nd singular)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (hypothetical lending)ἐκδανείζω (aor. subj.): 'lend out (at interest)'; renders תַּלְוֶה ('lend'); the very verb whose normal commercial sense (lending for return) the law here restricts: to the poor brother one lends without the interest the word might otherwise imply. Note the shift to 2nd singular address (cf. plural in 20–23).
τῷto theDativearticle (with ἀδελφῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῷbrotherDativeindirect object of ἐκδανείσῃς (the borrower)→ sphere or referenceἀδελφός: 'brother, fellow Israelite'; renders אָח / עַם ('my people'); the kinship term frames the loan as aid within the covenant family — the interest-ban applies to the fellow-Israelite, the 'brother,' specifically.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πενιχρῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πενιχρῷpoor / needyDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀδελφῷ)→ sphere or referenceπενιχρός: 'poor, needy'; renders עָנִי ('the poor/afflicted'); the borrower's poverty is the ground of the interest-prohibition — a loan to the destitute must relieve, not exploit (cf. the widow's πενιχρά at Luke 21:2).
παρὰbeside / amongpreposition + dative (proximity/association)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + dat.: 'beside, with, among'; παρὰ σοί ('beside you, among you') marks the poor brother as a member of one's own community — the near neighbor whose need lies at hand.
σοίyouDativeobject of παρὰ (the lender)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat.): 'you' — the lender, beside whom the poor brother dwells.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with periphrastic ἔσῃ … κατεπείγων)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: indicative negative governing the periphrastic prohibition.
ἔσῃyou shall beFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary of periphrastic construction (with κατεπείγων)→ legislative future (periphrastic prohibition of an ongoing disposition)εἰμί (fut.): 'be'; οὐκ ἔσῃ … κατεπείγων is a periphrastic future ('you shall not be pressing'), emphasizing a continuous attitude — the lender must not adopt the role of a relentless creditor.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of κατεπείγων (the poor borrower)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc.): 'him' — the poor brother who must not be pressed.
κατεπείγωνpressing / dunningPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · κατεπείγωparticiple of periphrastic construction (with ἔσῃ)→ durative present participle (the ongoing act of dunning)κατεπείγω (pres. ptc.): 'press hard, urge, dun (for payment)'; renders נֹשֶׁה ('act as a creditor'); the present participle in periphrasis (ἔσῃ … κατεπείγων) bans the lender from playing the harsh creditor who hounds the poor for repayment.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπιθήσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: indicative negative; οὐκ ἐπιθήσεις = 'you shall not lay/impose.'
ἐπιθήσειςyou shall lay / imposeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (apodictic prohibition, 2nd singular)→ legislative future (prohibition)ἐπιτίθημι (fut.): 'lay upon, impose'; renders תְּשִׂימוּן ('you shall not lay'); οὐκ ἐπιθήσεις … τόκον = 'you shall not impose interest' — the classic OT ban on charging the poor Israelite interest (cf. Lev 25:36–37; Deut 23:19–20; Ps 15:5).
αὐτῷon himDativedative (the one charged: the poor borrower)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): 'on him' — the poor brother, on whom no interest may be laid.
τόκονinterest / usuryAccusativedirect object of ἐπιθήσεις→ object specificationτόκος: 'interest, usury' (lit. 'offspring,' of money 'breeding' money); renders נֶשֶׁךְ ('interest', lit. 'a bite'); the term the LXX consistently uses for forbidden interest on loans to the poor; cf. the 'usurers' (τόκος) of Matt 25:27; Luke 19:23.
25
ἐὰν δὲ ἐνεχύρασμα ἐνεχυράσῃς τὸ ἱμάτιον τοῦ πλησίον πρὸ δυσμῶν ἡλίου ἀποδώσεις αὐτῷ
And if you take in pledge as a pledge the garment of your neighbor, you shall give it back to him before sunset.
The pledge law, paired with the interest-ban as economic mercy. Taking a neighbor's cloak as security for a loan is intensified by the cognate-dative Hebraism ἐνεχύρασμα ἐνεχυράσῃς ('if you take a pledge as a pledge'); whatever the loan, the cloak must be returned by sunset (πρὸ δυσμῶν ἡλίου). The motive follows in v. 26.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the pledge case.
δὲandtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνεχύρασμαas a pledgeAccusativecognate accusative (Hebraism intensifying ἐνεχυράσῃς)→ object specificationἐνεχύρασμα: 'pledge, security taken'; the cognate accusative ἐνεχύρασμα ἐνεχυράσῃς renders the Hebrew infinitive-absolute emphatic חָבֹל תַּחְבֹּל ('if you indeed take in pledge'); the dativus/accusativus cognatus underscores the act of pledging.
ἐνεχυράσῃςyou take in pledgeAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐνεχυράζωverb of protasis (with cognate accusative)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (intensified by cognate accusative)ἐνεχυράζω (aor. subj.): 'take a pledge/security'; renders חָבַל; the creditor takes the debtor's cloak as collateral — a practice the law tightly restricts to protect the poor.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἱμάτιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιονgarment / cloakAccusativedirect object of ἐνεχυράσῃς→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'outer garment, cloak, mantle'; renders שַׂלְמָה / בֶּגֶד; the large outer cloak that doubled as a blanket by night — hence its return by sunset is a matter of the poor man's survival (v. 26).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborGenitivegenitive of possession (the debtor)→ relational specificationπλησίον: 'neighbor'; here the poor debtor whose cloak is pledged.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingπρό + gen.: 'before'; πρὸ δυσμῶν ἡλίου = 'before sunset,' the deadline for returning the cloak.
δυσμῶνsettingGenitiveobject of πρὸ (temporal: 'sunset')→ relational specificationδυσμή (pl. δυσμαί): 'setting (of the sun), west'; δυσμῶν ἡλίου = 'the setting of the sun, sunset'; the cloak must be back before nightfall, when the poor man needs it for warmth.
ἡλίουof the sunGenitivegenitive (with δυσμῶν: 'the sun's setting')→ relational specificationἥλιος: 'sun'; δυσμῶν ἡλίου renders בֹּא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ ('the going-in of the sun'); the sunset deadline contrasts with the burglar's sunrise of v. 2 — the chapter twice makes the sun a legal boundary.
ἀποδώσειςyou shall give backFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb of apodosis (command, 2nd singular)→ legislative future (mandated return)ἀποδίδωμι (fut.): 'give back, return, restore'; the ἀπο- marks restoration; renders תְּשִׁיבֶנּוּ ('you shall return it'); the creditor must restore the cloak daily before sunset — the pledge may secure the debt but may not deprive the poor of their nightly covering.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object of ἀποδώσεις (the debtor)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): 'to him' — the poor neighbor whose cloak is returned.
26
ἔστιν γὰρ τοῦτο περιβόλαιον αὐτοῦ μόνον τοῦτο τὸ ἱμάτιον ἀσχημοσύνης αὐτοῦ ἐν τίνι κοιμηθήσεται ἐὰν οὖν καταβοήσῃ πρός με εἰσακούσομαι αὐτοῦ ἐλεήμων γάρ εἰμι
For this is his only covering, this is the garment of his shame; in what shall he sleep? If then he cries out to me, I will hear him, for I am merciful.
The γάρ-clause grounds the sunset-return law in compassion: the cloak is the poor man's only covering (περιβόλαιον … μόνον) and the garment that covers his nakedness; the rhetorical question ἐν τίνι κοιμηθήσεται ('in what will he sleep?') exposes the cruelty of withholding it. As at v. 22, the cry of the wronged reaches YHWH directly, who answers — and here he names his own character: ἐλεήμων γάρ εἰμι ('for I am merciful').
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predicative)→ gnomic present (statement of fact)εἰμί: 'be'; ἔστιν … τοῦτο περιβόλαιον = 'this is (his) covering'; the present states the fact grounding the law.
γὰρforcausal particle (post-positive, introducing motive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the reason the cloak must be returned — it is the poor man's sole covering.
τοῦτοthisNominativesubject (demonstrative: the cloak)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; τοῦτο (the cloak) is the subject — 'this thing is his only covering.'
περιβόλαιονcovering / wrapNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔστιν)→ participant prominenceπεριβόλαιον: 'wrap, covering, mantle' (from περιβάλλω, 'throw around'); renders כְּסוּת ('covering'); the all-purpose cloak that wraps the poor man by day and covers him by night; cf. its use for 'veil/covering' at 1 Cor 11:15.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the poor man's)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'his' — the poor debtor's.
μόνονonly / soleNominativeattributive adjective (modifying περιβόλαιον)→ participant prominenceμόνος: 'only, sole'; περιβόλαιον … μόνον = 'his only covering' — the poverty that makes the cloak indispensable is precisely what the law protects.
τοῦτοthisNominativesubject (demonstrative, resumptive)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the resumptive τοῦτο restates the subject for emphasis — 'this is the garment of his nakedness.'
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἱμάτιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιονgarmentNominativepredicate nominative (resumptive)→ participant prominenceἱμάτιον: 'garment, cloak'; the same noun as v. 25; here qualified as 'the garment of his nakedness/shame' — the covering that shields his exposed body.
ἀσχημοσύνηςof nakedness / shameGenitivegenitive (defining ἱμάτιον: 'garment of shame')→ relational specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'shamefulness, nakedness, indecency'; renders עֶרְוָה ('nakedness') / the idea of bodily shame; τὸ ἱμάτιον ἀσχημοσύνης αὐτοῦ = 'the garment for his nakedness' — the cloak that covers what shame would expose; the term is the LXX's standard word for the 'nakedness' of the Levitical incest laws (Lev 18).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'his' — the poor man's nakedness.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (instrumental/locative in question)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in, with'; ἐν τίνι κοιμηθήσεται = 'in/with what will he sleep?' — the rhetorical question exposing the man's need.
τίνιwhatDativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ἐν)→ participant reference or interestτίς (dat.): interrogative 'what?'; ἐν τίνι ('in what?') — the pointed question: without his cloak, the poor man has nothing in which to sleep, exposing the harm of keeping the pledge overnight.
κοιμηθήσεταιshall he sleepFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάωmain verb of the rhetorical question→ deliberative/rhetorical future (the man's plight)κοιμάω (fut. pass.): 'sleep, lie down'; here in its literal sense (not the euphemism of vv. 15, 18); the rhetorical 'in what shall he sleep?' makes the cloak's return a humanitarian necessity.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: opens the conditional appeal-to-God clause.
οὖνthen / thereforeinferential particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: 'then, therefore'; draws the consequence — if the poor man, deprived of his cloak, cries out, God will respond.
καταβοήσῃhe cries outAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταβοάωverb of protasis (subjunctive)→ prospective aorist subjunctive (the outcry to God)καταβοάω (aor. subj.): 'cry out, cry aloud'; the same verb as v. 22 — the cry of the wronged ascends directly to YHWH, who is bound by his own mercy to answer.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to'; πρός με — to YHWH himself.
μεmeAccusativeobject of πρός (YHWH the Lawgiver)→ participant referenceἐγώ (acc.): 'me'; the divine first person — YHWH is the personal hearer of the poor man's cry, as in v. 22.
εἰσακούσομαιI will hear / heedFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · εἰσακούωmain verb of apodosis (divine first-person response)→ predictive future (certain divine response)εἰσακούω (fut.): 'hear, heed, answer'; renders שָׁמַע; YHWH will heed the poor man's cry — the same divine attentiveness as v. 22, here motivated by his mercy.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of εἰσακούσομαι (the one heard)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'him'; εἰσακούω takes the genitive of the person heeded — God heeds the poor man himself.
ἐλεήμωνmercifulNominativepredicate adjective (with εἰμι: 'I am merciful')→ participant prominenceἐλεήμων: 'merciful, compassionate'; renders חַנּוּן ('gracious'); ἐλεήμων … εἰμι is a self-revelation of the divine character — the same attribute proclaimed at 34:6 (ἐλεήμων καὶ οἰκτίρμων); God's mercy is the ground of his hearing the cry of the poor.
γάρforcausal particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the divine self-characterization that grounds the promise to hear — 'for I am merciful.'
εἰμιI amPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with ἐλεήμων)→ gnomic present (the abiding divine character)εἰμί: 'be'; the first-person present ἐλεήμων … εἰμι declares YHWH's enduring nature as the merciful God — the theological foundation of the whole social-protection code.
27
θεοὺς οὐ κακολογήσεις καὶ ἄρχοντας τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐ κακῶς ἐρεῖς
You shall not revile gods, nor speak ill of the rulers of your people.
An apodictic prohibition in synonymous parallelism: do not revile θεούς, do not curse the ἄρχοντες of your people. The plural θεούς is a long-standing crux — it may mean (a) God himself (plural of majesty / honorific), (b) human judges/magistrates who act 'in God's place' (cf. הָאֱלֹהִים at vv. 7–8), or (c) by some, foreign deities. The parallel with ἄρχοντας ('rulers') favours the judges/rulers reading. Paul quotes the second half of this verse before the Sanhedrin (Acts 23:5: ἄρχοντα τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐκ ἐρεῖς κακῶς), applying it to the high priest.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
θεοὺςgods / God / judgesAccusativedirect object of κακολογήσεις (fronted; interpretive crux)→ object specificationθεός (acc. pl.): 'gods'; renders אֱלֹהִים — itself ambiguous in Hebrew between God (plural form, singular sense), human judges who represent God (so the rabbinic and many patristic readings; cf. הָאֱלֹהִים at vv. 7–8, Ps 82:6), and false deities. The parallel ἄρχοντας ('rulers') in the second colon points strongly to the judges/magistrates sense: do not revile those who exercise God-given judicial authority.
οὐnotnegative particle (with future indicative: prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with the future indicative, the apodictic 'you shall not.'
κακολογήσειςyou shall revile / speak evil ofFut Act Indic 2 Sg · κακολογέωmain verb (apodictic prohibition, 2nd singular)→ legislative future (prohibition)κακολογέω (fut.): 'speak evil of, revile, curse'; renders קָלַל ('treat with contempt, curse'); the verb Jesus cites of cursing parents (κακολογῶν, Matt 15:4; Mark 7:10); here it forbids reviling God / the judges who bear his authority.
καὶand / norcoordinate conjunction (linking parallel cola)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: 'and'; joins the synonymous parallel prohibition — reviling 'gods/judges' and cursing 'rulers' are the two halves of one law.
ἄρχονταςrulersAccusativedirect object of ἐρεῖς (parallel to θεούς)→ object specificationἄρχων: 'ruler, leader, magistrate'; renders נָשִׂיא ('chief, prince'); the parallelism θεούς // ἄρχοντας supports reading θεούς as human authorities; this is the word Paul uses citing the verse at Acts 23:5 (ἄρχοντα τοῦ λαοῦ σου), where he applies it — singular — to the high priest Ananias.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive (defining ἄρχοντας: 'rulers of the people')→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; ἄρχοντας τοῦ λαοῦ σου = 'the rulers of your people' — the leaders of Israel, whose office demands respect.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (the addressee's people)→ relational specificationσύ (gen.): 'your'; τοῦ λαοῦ σου = 'of your people' — the addressee's own nation; Paul's citation reproduces this possessive exactly (τοῦ λαοῦ σου, Acts 23:5).
οὐnotnegative particle (with ἐρεῖς)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with the future indicative, the apodictic prohibition of the second colon.
κακῶςill / evillyadverb of manner (with ἐρεῖς: 'speak ill')→ clausal contributionκακῶς: 'badly, ill, wickedly'; the adverb of κακός; κακῶς ἐρεῖς = 'you shall speak ill (of)'; the phrase οὐ κακῶς ἐρεῖς matches Paul's wording at Acts 23:5 (οὐκ ἐρεῖς κακῶς) verbatim.
ἐρεῖςyou shall speak / sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb (apodictic prohibition, 2nd singular)→ legislative future (prohibition)λέγω / ἐρῶ (fut.): 'say, speak'; κακῶς ἐρεῖς = 'speak ill of, malign'; renders אָרַר ('curse'); the prohibition guards the dignity of constituted authority — the very text Paul invokes to retract his words against the high priest (Acts 23:5).
28
ἀπαρχὰς ἅλωνος καὶ ληνοῦ σου οὐ καθυστερήσεις τὰ πρωτότοκα τῶν υἱῶν σου δώσεις ἐμοί
You shall not delay the firstfruits of your threshing-floor and your winepress; the firstborn of your sons you shall give to me.
A turn to sacral dues. The firstfruits of threshing-floor and winepress (ἅλωνος καὶ ληνοῦ) must not be withheld (οὐ καθυστερήσεις), and the firstborn of one's sons is given to God (δώσεις ἐμοί) — the divine first person marks YHWH as the claimant. The firstborn-son claim looks back to the Passover deliverance (13:2, 12–15) and forward to the redemption-price provisions.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ἀπαρχὰςfirstfruitsAccusativedirect object of καθυστερήσεις (fronted)→ object specificationἀπαρχή: 'firstfruits, first portion offered'; renders מְלֵאָה / רֵאשִׁית; the first and best of the harvest belonging to God; the term is taken up theologically in the NT (Christ the ἀπαρχή, 1 Cor 15:20; Rom 8:23).
ἅλωνοςof threshing-floorGenitivegenitive (source of the firstfruits)→ relational specificationἅλων: 'threshing-floor, threshed grain'; here the grain harvest; ἀπαρχὰς ἅλωνος = the first of the threshed grain (cf. the same noun in the fire-law of v. 5).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ληνοῦof winepressGenitivegenitive (source of the firstfruits)→ relational specificationληνός: 'winepress, wine-vat'; renders יֶקֶב / דֶּמַע; here by metonymy the produce of the vintage — the new wine; the grain (ἅλων) and wine (ληνός) together represent the agricultural increase owed in firstfruits.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your threshing-floor and winepress)→ relational specificationσύ (gen.): 'your'; the produce belongs to the addressee, from which the firstfruits are rendered to God.
οὐnotnegative particle (with future indicative: prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with the future indicative, 'you shall not.'
καθυστερήσειςyou shall delay / withholdFut Act Indic 2 Sg · καθυστερέωmain verb (apodictic prohibition, 2nd singular)→ legislative future (prohibition)καθυστερέω (fut.): 'be late, delay, hold back'; the κατα- intensifies; renders לֹא תְאַחֵר ('you shall not delay'); the firstfruits must be rendered promptly, not begrudged or postponed — delay in the sacred due is itself an offence.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with πρωτότοκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωτότοκαfirstbornAccusativedirect object of δώσεις (fronted)→ object specificationπρωτότοκος (neut. pl. πρωτότοκα): 'firstborn'; renders בְּכוֹר; the firstborn of the sons belongs to YHWH by right of the Passover, when Israel's firstborn were spared (cf. 13:2, 13–15; Num 3:13); in practice redeemed by a price, the principle of divine ownership stands.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with υἱῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (defining πρωτότοκα: 'firstborn of sons')→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; τὰ πρωτότοκα τῶν υἱῶν σου = 'the firstborn of your sons'; the human firstborn, whose dedication to God recalls the deliverance from the tenth plague.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your sons)→ relational specificationσύ (gen.): 'your' — the addressee's sons.
δώσειςyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (apodictic command, 2nd singular)→ legislative future (mandated dedication)δίδωμι (fut.): 'give'; renders תִּתֶּן ('you shall give'); the firstborn is 'given' to YHWH — dedicated to him as his own; the first-person ἐμοί identifies the recipient as God.
ἐμοίto meDativeindirect object of δώσεις (YHWH the Lawgiver)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. emphatic): 'to me'; the emphatic first-person dative marks YHWH himself as the recipient of the firstborn — the divine claimant of Israel's firstfruits and firstborn alike.
29
οὕτως ποιήσεις τὸν μόσχον σου καὶ τὸ πρόβατόν σου καὶ τὸ ὑποζύγιόν σου ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἔσται ὑπὸ τὴν μητέρα τῇ δὲ ὀγδόῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀποδώσεις μοι αὐτό
So shall you do with your ox and your sheep and your beast of burden: seven days it shall be under its mother, and on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
The firstborn principle of v. 28 extended to livestock: ox, sheep, and beast of burden. The newborn animal stays with its mother seven days and is given to God on the eighth (τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἡμέρᾳ) — the same eighth-day timing as circumcision (Gen 17:12) and other dedications (Lev 22:27). οὕτως ('so, likewise') binds the animal law to the human-firstborn law preceding.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
οὕτωςso / likewiseadverb of manner (linking to v. 28)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus, so, in the same way'; binds this animal-firstborn law to the preceding — 'likewise you shall do' with the firstborn of beasts as with sons.
ποιήσειςyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (apodictic command, 2nd singular)→ legislative future (mandated practice)ποιέω (fut.): 'do, make, deal with'; οὕτως ποιήσεις = 'so you shall do (with)' — the verb introduces the application of the firstborn rule to the listed animals (accusative of the thing dealt with).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μόσχον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μόσχονox / calfAccusativeaccusative of respect (the animal dealt with)→ object specificationμόσχος: 'calf, ox'; renders שׁוֹר; the firstborn of the bovine herd.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen.): 'your' — your ox.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρόβατον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβατόνsheepAccusativeaccusative of respect (coordinate)→ object specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep'; renders שֶׂה; the firstborn of the flock.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen.): 'your' — your sheep.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὑποζύγιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑποζύγιόνbeast of burden / donkeyAccusativeaccusative of respect (coordinate)→ object specificationὑποζύγιον: 'beast under the yoke, donkey'; renders חֲמוֹר; the LXX includes the donkey here, where elsewhere the firstborn ass is specifically redeemed or its neck broken (13:13; 34:20).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen.): 'your' — your beast of burden.
ἑπτὰsevenAccusativenumeral (with ἡμέρας: 'seven days')→ measure or countἑπτά: 'seven'; renders שִׁבְעַת; the seven-day period the newborn remains with its mother before dedication — paralleling other seven/eight-day cultic intervals.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration (extent of time)→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative of extent ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας = 'for seven days,' the period under the mother.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the animal's status during the seven days)→ legislative future (prescribed waiting period)εἰμί (fut.): 'be'; ἔσται ὑπὸ τὴν μητέρα = 'it shall be under its mother' — the newborn remains with its dam for the seven days, ensuring viability before dedication.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (position/dependence)→ spatial or relational framingὑπό + acc.: 'under'; ὑπὸ τὴν μητέρα = 'under (the care of) its mother,' i.e. still suckling/dependent.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with μητέρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητέραmotherAccusativeobject of ὑπὸ (the dam)→ object specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; renders אִמּוֹ; the dam with which the firstborn animal stays during its first seven days.
τῇon theDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbut / andtransitional particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the turn to the eighth day, the day of dedication.
ὀγδόῃeighthDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceὄγδοος: 'eighth'; renders הַשְּׁמִינִי; the eighth-day dedication parallels circumcision (Gen 17:12) and the acceptable age of sacrificial animals (Lev 22:27) — a recurrent cultic interval marking readiness for offering.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when: 'on the eighth day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἡμέρᾳ = 'on the eighth day,' the appointed time to give the firstborn animal to God.
ἀποδώσειςyou shall give / renderFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (apodictic command, 2nd singular)→ legislative future (mandated dedication)ἀποδίδωμι (fut.): 'give back, render, pay over'; the ἀπο- suggests rendering what is due — the firstborn is God's own, so giving it is restoration of his property; the same verb as the cloak-return of v. 25, here of the firstborn animal.
μοιto meDativeindirect object of ἀποδώσεις (YHWH the Lawgiver)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat.): 'to me'; the divine first person — YHWH receives the firstborn animal, as he received the firstborn son in v. 28.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of ἀποδώσεις (the firstborn animal)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. neut.): 'it' — the firstborn animal rendered to God on the eighth day.
30
καὶ ἄνδρες ἅγιοι ἔσεσθέ μοι καὶ κρέας θηριάλωτον οὐκ ἔδεσθε τῷ κυνὶ ἀπορρίψατε αὐτό
And you shall be holy men to me; and you shall not eat flesh torn by beasts — throw it to the dog.
The chapter closes with a vocation-statement grounding all the foregoing law: ἄνδρες ἅγιοι ἔσεσθέ μοι ('you shall be holy men to me') — the divine first person ('to me') makes holiness a relationship with YHWH, anticipating the priestly-people theme (19:6). From it flows a concrete food law: torn flesh (κρέας θηριάλωτον) is not to be eaten but thrown to the dog (τῷ κυνὶ ἀπορρίψατε) — holiness expressed in diet. θηριάλωτον echoes the bailment law of v. 12.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking to the law-series)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσεσθε: 'you shall be men')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אַנְשֵׁי ('men of'); ἄνδρες ἅγιοι = 'holy men'; the LXX renders the Hebrew construct 'men of holiness' with a noun + adjective; Israel's holiness is corporate and lived out by its men.
ἅγιοιholyNominativepredicate adjective (with ἄνδρες)→ participant prominenceἅγιος: 'holy, set apart, consecrated'; renders קֹדֶשׁ; the keynote of Israel's vocation — set apart for YHWH (cf. 19:6 ἔθνος ἅγιον; Lev 19:2 ἅγιοι ἔσεσθε); holiness is the ground of the food law that follows.
ἔσεσθέyou shall beFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (vocation-statement, 2nd plural)→ legislative/predictive future (the holy vocation)εἰμί (fut.): 'be'; ἄνδρες ἅγιοι ἔσεσθέ μοι = 'you shall be holy men to me'; the future has both predictive and imperatival force — the identity Israel is called to embody before YHWH.
μοιto meDativedative of advantage/relationship (YHWH the Lawgiver)→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat.): 'to me'; the divine first person — holiness is defined relationally, as belonging 'to me' (YHWH); the same dative of consecration recurs in the holiness formulas (Lev 20:26).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the food law)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κρέαςflesh / meatAccusativedirect object of ἔδεσθε→ object specificationκρέας: 'flesh, meat'; renders בָּשָׂר; the meat in question — flesh of an animal killed by predators rather than properly slaughtered.
θηριάλωτονtorn by a wild beastAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying κρέας)→ object specificationθηριάλωτος: 'torn by wild beasts'; renders טְרֵפָה; the same term as the bailment law of v. 12, here governing diet: flesh of a predator-killed animal is unfit for the holy people because the blood was not properly drained (cf. Lev 17:15; Ezek 4:14).
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔδεσθε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with the future indicative, the apodictic prohibition 'you shall not eat.'
ἔδεσθεyou shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (apodictic prohibition, 2nd plural)→ legislative future (dietary prohibition)ἐσθίω (fut. mid. ἔδομαι): 'eat'; renders לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ ('you shall not eat'); the suppletive future of ἐσθίω; the dietary ban concretizes the holiness just declared — what the holy people eat reflects their consecration.
τῷto theDativearticle (with κυνὶ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυνὶdogDativeindirect object of ἀπορρίψατε (recipient of the carcass)→ sphere or referenceκύων: 'dog'; renders כֶּלֶב; the dog, a scavenger and unclean animal, is the fit recipient of the torn flesh — what is unfit for the holy table is cast to the dog; cf. the proverbial 'do not give what is holy to dogs' (Matt 7:6).
ἀπορρίψατεthrow / cast awayAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀπορρίπτωmain verb (apodictic command, 2nd plural imperative)→ legislative aorist imperative (mandated disposal)ἀπορρίπτω (aor. impv.): 'throw away, cast off'; the ἀπο- marks decisive rejection; τῷ κυνὶ ἀπορρίψατε = 'cast it to the dog' — the torn flesh is removed entirely from human consumption, the disposal underscoring its unfitness for the consecrated community.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of ἀπορρίψατε (the torn flesh)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. neut.): 'it' — the κρέας θηριάλωτον, cast to the dog; the chapter ends on this concrete enactment of holiness in everyday practice.