Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Genesis, Chapter 37ΓΕΝΕΣΙΣ ΛΖ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

The Joseph narrative (chs. 37–50) is among the most polished sections of the LXX Pentateuch in its Greek style, suggesting a translator or revisor with greater literary facility than the earlier patriarchal chapters.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Genesis 37 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The Joseph narrative (chs. 37–50) is among the most polished sections of the LXX Pentateuch in its Greek style, suggesting a translator or revisor with greater literary facility than the earlier patriarchal chapters. The chapter opens with a deliberate lexical contrast: Ιακωβ κατῴκει ('settled,' permanent residence) in the same land where his father παρῴκησεν ('sojourned,' temporary alien residence) — a single verse crystallising the generational transition from wandering ancestor to rooted patriarch. At 37:3 the phrase χιτὼν ποικίλος ('variegated tunic') renders Hebrew כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים, whose exact nuance is debated (a long-sleeved robe? an ornamented garment?); the LXX adjective ποικίλος ('variegated, of varied colour') is the same word used for the speckled animals of Gen 30, creating an intertextual echo across the Jacob-Joseph cycle; the traditional English 'coat of many colours' follows this LXX rendering. The hatred-escalation refrain at 37:4 and 37:8 (ἐμίσησαν … προσέθεντο ἔτι μισεῖν) uses the idiom προστίθημι + infinitive to render the Hebrew infinitive absolute for intensification — a classic LXX Hebraism. At 37:9 the imagery of the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing to Joseph (ὁ ἥλιος καὶ ἡ σελήνη καὶ ἕνδεκα ἀστέρες) has been read in Christian tradition alongside Rev 12:1, where the woman crowned with twelve stars evokes the same astral sovereignty language. At 37:28 a famous LXX–MT divergence occurs: the sale price is εἴκοσι χρυσῶν ('twenty pieces of gold') where the MT has כֶּסֶף ('silver'); the LXX's gold raises the transaction's prestige and distinguishes it from the thirty silver pieces of Zech 11:12 and Matt 26:15. At 37:35 the LXX renders שְׁאֹלָה ('to Sheol') as εἰς ᾅδου ('into Hades'), its standard substitution for the Hebrew shadowy realm (cf. Jonah 2:3 LXX; Ps 87:4 LXX). At 37:36 ἀρχιμάγειρος ('chief cook/butcher') translates Hebrew רַב-טַבָּחִים, literally 'chief of slaughterers'; the LXX preserves the culinary register where later interpreters harmonize toward 'captain of the guard.' Acts 7:9 echoes this chapter: the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him — naming fraternal ζῆλος as the narrative's theological motor.

1

Κατῴκει δὲ Ιακωβ ἐν τῇ γῇ, οὗ παρῴκησεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, ἐν γῇ Χανααν.

Jacob dwelt in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan.

Narrative opening / scene-settingΚατῴκει δέ
The chapter opens with an imperfect tense (κατῴκει — ongoing settled residence) that immediately contrasts with the aorist παρῴκησεν ('sojourned' — the completed temporary stay of Isaac). The juxtaposition of κατοικέω vs. παροικέω encodes the difference between permanent dwelling and alien sojourn, a distinction the LXX preserves from the Hebrew. The locale — Canaan — anchors the narrative before the long displacement to Egypt begins.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
Κατῴκειwas dwellingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · κατοικέωmain verb (narrative imperfect)→ progressive/durative imperfect (settled, ongoing residence)κατοικέω: 'dwell, settle permanently'; the κατα- prefix intensifies the sense of established residence, contrasting deliberately with the temporary παροικεῖν of the next clause; cf. Heb 11:9 where the two verbs mark the difference between Abraham's alien sojourn and the permanent inheritance not yet received.
δὲandtransitional particle (narrative continuation)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙακωβJacobsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: LXX transliteration of יַעֲקֹב; indeclinable in Greek. The patriarch appears under both names in this chapter (Ιακωβ and Ισραηλ, vv.1–2, 13–14), following the Hebrew alternation.
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.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land, earth'; the articular γῇ is anaphoric — 'the land' known from prior narrative (Canaan, the land of the promise); the appositive ἐν γῇ Χανααν at the end of the verse makes the reference explicit.
οὗwhererelative adverb of place (locative relative: 'in which / where')→ participant referenceοὗ: genitive of the relative pronoun ὅς used adverbially as a locative ('where'); a Hebraism reflecting אֲשֶׁר used as a locative relative in the Hebrew.
παρῴκησενhad sojournedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παροικέωmain verb of relative clause→ constative aorist (completed sojourn, now ended)παροικέω: 'sojourn, dwell as a resident alien'; the παρα- prefix marks proximity but non-belonging; cf. the noun πάροικος ('sojourner/stranger') in Exod 2:22. Isaac's sojourning in Canaan (Gen 26:3) is recalled; the term is theologically weighty in Hebrews (11:9, 13) where the patriarchs are all sojourners seeking a heavenly homeland.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of relative clause→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father'; refers to Isaac, Jacob's father; the chapter thus opens with a three-generation frame: the sojourning of the father (Isaac) and the dwelling of the son (Jacob), with the story of the grandson (Joseph) about to unfold.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative — resumptive appositive phrase)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative — resumptive appositive phrase).
γῇlandDativedative of place (anarthrous — appositional specification)→ sphere or referenceγῆ: here anarthrous, in apposition to the earlier articular τῇ γῇ; the absence of the article before the place-name is normal LXX style.
ΧαναανCanaanindeclinable proper noun, locative (in apposition to γῇ)→ participant identificationΧανααν: LXX transliteration of כְּנַעַן; the promised land; the geographic anchor before the entire Joseph narrative relocates to Egypt. The name occurs ten times in Genesis and is consistently indeclinable in the LXX.
2

Αὗται δὲ αἱ γενέσεις Ιακωβ. Ιωσηφ δὲ ἦν ἐτῶν δεκαεπτά, ποιμαίνων πρόβατα μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ, ὢν νέος, μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν Βαλλας καὶ μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν Ζελφας τῶν γυναικῶν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ· κατήνεγκεν δὲ Ιωσηφ ψόγον πονηρὸν πρὸς Ισραηλ τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν.

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph was seventeen years old, tending sheep with his brothers — being young — with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, the wives of his father; and Joseph brought an evil report about them to Israel their father.

Toledot formula / narrative headingΑὗται δέ
The formulaic αὗται αἱ γενέσεις ('these are the generations of') — rendering Hebrew אֵלֶּה תֹּלְדֹות — is the structural marker that opens each major section of Genesis (cf. 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 25:12; 36:1). Its appearance here signals that the Joseph story is a new toledot-unit within the patriarchal history. The second sentence introduces Joseph with precise biographical detail (age, occupation, family position) and immediately notes the action that triggers the plot: his carrying of an evil report.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
ΑὗταιtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative pronoun, predicate-subject of toledot formula)→ participant referenceαὗται: feminine plural of οὗτος, agreeing with αἱ γενέσεις ('the generations'); the demonstrative is formulaic in the toledot headings and may calque a Hebrew demonstrative use of אֵלֶּה.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενέσειςgenerationsNominativepredicate nominative (toledot formula)→ participant prominenceγένεσις: 'origin, genealogy, generation'; the plural renders תֹּלְדֹות (toledot), the structuring keyword of Genesis; the book's own Greek title ΓΕΝΕΣΙΣ derives from this term. The toledot formula marks not merely genealogy but the narrative 'account of what came from' a given patriarch.
Ιακωβof Jacobindeclinable proper noun, genitive of relationship (whose generations)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun, genitive of relationship (whose generations).
ΙωσηφJosephsubject of ἦν (indeclinable proper noun, introduced asyndeton)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: LXX transliteration of יוֹסֵף; indeclinable in Greek. The name recurs throughout the chapter as both subject and object; it is placed first emphatically at the start of the new sentence, marking the transition from the toledot heading to the narrative proper.
δὲandtransitional particle (introducing new narrative sentence)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential/equative)→ imperfect of state (background description)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν here introduces a background circumstantial description ('was seventeen years old…'), setting the stage for the foreground narrative action at the end of the verse (κατήνεγκεν).
ἐτῶνyearsGenitivegenitive of measure (partitive/age construction: 'of seventeen years')→ relational specificationἔτος: 'year'; the genitive of age (ἐτῶν δεκαεπτά) is a standard LXX construction rendering the Hebrew בֶּן-שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה ('son of seventeen years'); cf. the same idiom for Joseph at Gen 41:46 (ἐτῶν τριάκοντα).
δεκαεπτάseventeenindeclinable numeral (complement to ἐτῶν)→ clausal contributionδεκαεπτά: 'seventeen'; the age functions as narrative context — Joseph is young enough to be vulnerable and old enough to be a full participant in the brothers' work.
ποιμαίνωνtendingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ποιμαίνωadverbial participle (attendant circumstance / simultaneous action)→ progressive present (ongoing occupation)ποιμαίνω: 'tend, shepherd'; renders Hebrew רֹעֶה; the verb is significant thematically — the future patriarch-provider is first a shepherd, as were all the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and Moses; cf. Ps 23:1 LXX where the LORD is shepherd (ποιμαίνει).
πρόβαταsheepAccusativedirect object of ποιμαίνων→ object specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep, small cattle'; the standard LXX term for צֹאן (flock); the connection to Jacob's earlier flocks (Gen 30–31) and the eventual sale of Joseph by the brothers while tending these same sheep is ironic.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive object of μετά (accompaniment)→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother'; the word is freighted with irony throughout this chapter — the very brothers with whom Joseph works will plot his death; Acts 7:9 identifies them as οἱ πατριάρχαι.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
ὢνbeingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · εἰμίadverbial participle (explanatory/circumstantial: 'being young')→ progressive present (ongoing state)εἰμί: the participial form ὤν introduces a parenthetical explanation of Joseph's subordinate position — his youth places him under the leadership of his older half-brothers, the sons of the concubine-wives.
νέοςyoungNominativepredicate adjective (complement to ὤν)→ participant prominenceνέος: 'young, new'; renders Hebrew נַעַר ('youth, lad'); the word will recur in Reuben's lament (v.30: τὸ παιδάριον); Joseph's youth makes his role as informant and his vulnerability comprehensible to the reader.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment — first of two parallel prepositional phrases specifying the brothers)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment — first of two parallel prepositional phrases specifying the brothers).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the phrase specifies that Joseph's companions are not the sons of Rachel (his full brothers, of whom only Benjamin exists, too young to work) but the sons of the secondary wives.
Βαλλαςof BilhahGenitiveindeclinable proper noun, genitive of relationship (whose sons)→ participant identificationΒαλλας: LXX rendering of בִּלְהָה (Bilhah), Rachel's handmaid and mother of Dan and Naphtali (Gen 30:3–8); the genitive form here is an anomaly — normally indeclinable, but Rahlfs reads Βαλλας as a genitive s-stem.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (linking parallel μετά-phrases)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment — second parallel phrase)→ spatial or relational framingμετὰ: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (accompaniment — second parallel phrase).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationυἱῶν: meaning 'sons'; it serves as genitive object of μετά.
Ζελφαςof ZilpahGenitiveindeclinable proper noun, genitive of relationship→ participant identificationΖελφας: LXX form of זִלְפָּה (Zilpah), Leah's handmaid and mother of Gad and Asher (Gen 30:9–13); like Βαλλας, treated as a genitive form.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικῶνwivesGenitivegenitive of apposition (identifying Bilhah and Zilpah as the wives of Joseph's father)→ relational specificationγυνή: 'woman, wife'; applied to the secondary wives/concubines of Jacob; the LXX consistently uses γυνή rather than παλλακή ('concubine') for these women, softening the social distinction.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive: whose wives they are)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; Jacob is here called πατήρ rather than Ισραηλ, keeping the familial register; at the end of the verse he is called Ισραηλ when Joseph reports to him as patriarch rather than simply as father.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive, referring to Joseph)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive, referring to Joseph).
κατήνεγκενbrought downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταφέρωmain verb (foreground narrative action — the dramatic beat of the verse)→ constative aorist (single completed act of reporting)καταφέρω: 'bring down, carry down'; the κατα- prefix here may carry a negative connotation ('to bring down against'), rendering Hebrew הֵבִיא ('to bring'); the word ψόγον ('blame/reproach') is the direct object, making this a formal act of negative reporting — bringing a defamatory account against his brothers.
δὲandtransitional particle (introducing the foreground main action after the background)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωσηφJosephsubject (indeclinable proper noun, resumptive after the long participial phrase)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun, resumptive after the long participial phrase).
ψόγονreportAccusativedirect object of κατήνεγκεν→ object specificationψόγος: 'blame, censure, reproach'; renders Hebrew דִּבָּה ('bad report, slander'); cf. Num 13:32 LXX where the same word designates the unfavourable report of the scouts. The LXX's ψόγος is stronger than a neutral 'report' — it implies defamatory accusation.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ψόγον)→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil, wicked'; the collocation ψόγον πονηρόν renders Hebrew דִּבָּה רָעָה ('bad report'); the adjective recurs in 37:20 (θηρίον πονηρόν, 'savage beast') and 37:33, creating a verbal echo between the brothers' slander and their lie.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to Israel')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to Israel').
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable proper noun, object of πρός (the recipient of the report)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the theophoric name conferred at Peniel (Gen 32:28 LXX); its use here — where the family name is at issue — may signal that Joseph is making a formal report to the patriarch-head of the twelve tribes (Israel), not merely to his father (Jacob).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (in appositive phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativeaccusative appositive (identifying Israel as 'their father')→ object specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the appositive τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν — 'their father' — subtly shifts from Joseph's perspective ('his father') to the collective perspective of all the brothers, including Joseph; the report concerns them all.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
3

Ιακωβ δὲ ἠγάπα τὸν Ιωσηφ παρὰ πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι υἱὸς γήρους ἦν αὐτῷ· ἐποίησεν δὲ αὐτῷ χιτῶνα ποικίλον.

Jacob loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was a son of his old age; and he made him a variegated tunic.

Explanatory background / motivationΙακωβ δέ
This verse explains why the brothers hated Joseph (v.4): Jacob's preferential love, rooted in the phrase υἱὸς γήρους ('son of old age'), recalls Isaac's similar vulnerability to partiality and the resulting family rupture (Gen 25:28). The χιτὼν ποικίλος ('variegated tunic') is both the visible sign of that preference and the material object that will become the instrument of deception in vv.31–33. The Hebraism παρὰ + accusative for 'more than' (comparative) renders Hebrew מִכָּל-בָּנָיו.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ΙακωβJacobsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠγάπαlovedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωmain verb (narrative imperfect — ongoing state of preference)→ progressive/durative imperfect (habitual, continuous love)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; renders Hebrew אָהַב; the imperfect tense signals not a single act but the enduring disposition that shaped family dynamics. The LXX uses ἀγαπάω here where elsewhere it uses φιλέω (v.4 — a subtle distinction: ἀγαπάω the deeper covenantal bond, φιλέω the visible affection).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephdirect object of ἠγάπα (indeclinable proper noun, with article marking it as definite object)→ noun-phrase markingΙωσηφ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρὰmore thanpreposition + accusative (comparative: 'beyond / more than' — Hebraism for מִן + comparative)→ spatial or relational framingπαρά: in comparative constructions with verbs of preference, παρά + accusative renders Hebrew מִן ('from / more than'); a Hebraism; cf. Gen 29:30 'he loved Rachel more than Leah' (ἠγάπησεν δὲ Ραχηλ μᾶλλον ἢ Λειαν).
πάνταςallAccusativeadjective used substantivally (object of παρά, with article)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all, every'; the exhaustive 'more than all his sons' leaves no ambiguity about the scope of the partiality.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeobject of παρά (the comparison: compared to all these sons)→ object specificationυἱοὺς: meaning 'sons'; it serves as object of παρά (the comparison: compared to all these sons).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
ὅτιbecausesubordinating conjunction (causal: stating the reason for the preference)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here causal ('because'), rendering Hebrew כִּי; the explanation that Joseph is the 'son of old age' (υἱὸς γήρους) identifies him as the child of Jacob's later years — specifically the son of the beloved Rachel, born when Jacob was already old.
υἱὸςsonNominativepredicate nominative (subject complement with ἦν)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the phrase υἱὸς γήρους ('son of old age') renders Hebrew בֶּן-זְקֻנִים, literally 'son of old-men' — the child born to an aged father and therefore the most precious. The same phrase is used of Benjamin elsewhere, but here Joseph holds this distinction.
γήρουςold ageGenitivegenitive of quality / Hebraic genitive (characterising the son as born of old age)→ relational specificationγῆρας: 'old age'; renders זְקֻנִים; the genitive here is a Hebraism translating the Hebrew construct chain בֶּן-זְקֻנִים; Greek idiom would normally use a prepositional phrase or adjective.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb (equative: 'was a son of old age to him')→ imperfect of stateεἰμί (impf. ἦν): the copula of the name-gloss.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of possession (Hebraic 'to him' = 'his')→ participant reference or interestThe dative of possession with εἶναι (ἦν αὐτῷ) is a Hebraism rendering Hebrew לוֹ הָיָה, 'he was to him' = 'he had'; this construction appears throughout the LXX Pentateuch.
ἐποίησενmadeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (narrative action: the specific expression of love)→ constative aorist (single act: the making of the tunic)ποιέω: 'make, do'; the aorist narrows from the durative love (ἠγάπα, imperfect) to the single decisive act that makes the love visible: he made Joseph the special tunic. The tunic will appear five more times in this chapter (vv.23, 31, 32, 33).
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantage (indirect object: made it for him)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'for him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage (indirect object: made it for him).
χιτῶναtunicAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν→ object specificationχιτών: 'tunic, inner garment'; renders Hebrew כְּתֹנֶת; a long linen undergarment worn next to the body; the same word appears in the LXX of the high-priestly vestments (Exod 28:4). Here it is the tunic of privilege that marks Joseph as the favoured son.
ποικίλονvariegatedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying χιτῶνα — the crux word of the verse)→ object specificationποικίλος: 'variegated, many-coloured, embroidered'; renders Hebrew פַּסִּים whose precise meaning is debated (possibly 'of extended length / with sleeves'); the LXX choice of ποικίλος connects intertextually to the speckled (ποικίλος) animals of Gen 30:32–43, where Jacob used variegated livestock to enrich himself at Laban's expense. The traditional English 'coat of many colours' translates the LXX rather than the Hebrew. The adjective recurs at vv.23, 32 as the tunic becomes the instrument of deception.
4

ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ φιλεῖ ἐκ πάντων τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ, ἐμίσησαν αὐτὸν καὶ οὐκ ἐδύναντο λαλεῖν αὐτῷ οὐδὲν εἰρηνικόν.

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his sons, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

Result (of Jacob's partiality)ἰδόντες δέ
The adverbial participial clause (ἰδόντες) names the brothers' perception as the trigger for their hatred. The shift from ἀγαπάω (v.3, Jacob's love) to φιλέω (v.4, the love the brothers observe) is notable: φιλέω is the warmer affective term and perhaps signals the visible, demonstrative nature of Jacob's favouritism. The double result — ἐμίσησαν ('hated') and οὐκ ἐδύναντο λαλεῖν εἰρηνικόν ('could not speak peaceably') — establishes the narrative's antagonism. The word εἰρηνικόν ('peaceable') will echo ironically when Jacob sends Joseph to discover the brothers' εἰρήνη (v.14).
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἰδόντεςhaving seenAor Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · ὁράωadverbial participle (temporal/causal: 'when they saw')→ constative aorist (perception that gave rise to the hatred)ὁράω: 'see'; the aorist participle marks the perception as anterior to the main verb ἐμίσησαν — they saw (once, decisively) and the result was persistent hatred. Their perception of the father's love is the root of the whole narrative.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject of the participle ἰδόντες and the main verbs→ participant prominenceἀδελφός: 'brother'; the brothers as a collective are the narrative's antagonists; their status as brothers — not strangers — makes their hatred the more grievous; cf. Acts 7:9.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive: Joseph's brothers)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive: Joseph's brothers).
ὅτιthatsubordinating conjunction (introducing indirect perception clause: 'that… loved him')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of φιλεῖ (proleptic/fronted for emphasis)→ participant referenceThe fronting of αὐτόν before the subject ὁ πατήρ emphasises Joseph as the object of singular attention — it is him, specifically, that the father loves; a word-order emphasis calquing Hebrew.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of φιλεῖ→ participant prominenceπατὴρ: meaning 'father'; it serves as subject of φιλεῖ.
φιλεῖlovesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · φιλέωverb in indirect perception clause→ progressive present (ongoing, visible affection)φιλέω: 'love, be fond of'; the present tense (in indirect discourse after ἰδόντες) represents a state current at the time of their seeing; contrast ἀγαπάω in v.3 — φιλέω here may capture the externally visible, warm-affection dimension of Jacob's love, the aspect the brothers could observe.
ἐκabovepreposition + genitive (comparative/elative: 'more than, above all')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: here in a comparative/elective function ('above / more than'), an alternative to the παρά construction of v.3; both render Hebrew מִן in comparative contexts.
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (elative: 'above / out of all')→ relational specificationπάντων: meaning 'all'; it serves as genitive object of ἐκ (elative: 'above / out of all').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (within the comparative phrase)→ relational specificationυἱῶν: meaning 'sons'; it serves as genitive object of ἐκ (within the comparative phrase).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
ἐμίσησανhatedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · μισέωmain verb (result: the brothers' response to their perception)→ ingressive aorist (onset of hatred)μισέω: 'hate'; renders Hebrew וַיִּשְׂנְאוּ; the verb is the same in LXX as in the NT (John 15:18, 25; 17:14), and its intensity — hatred not merely dislike — is emphasised by the second clause. The verb recurs at v.5 and in the brothers' refrain at v.8 (προσέθεντο ἔτι μισεῖν).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐμίσησαν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐμίσησαν.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (linking two result clauses)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegation particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐδύναντοwere ableImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (negative capacity: permanent inability)→ imperfect of ongoing inability (customarily could not)δύναμαι: 'be able, have power'; the imperfect οὐκ ἐδύναντο ('were not able') conveys habitual inability — they could not speak a peaceable word at any time; the hatred had so consumed them that normal fraternal discourse was impossible.
λαλεῖνto speakPres Act Inf · λαλέωcomplementary infinitive (completing ἐδύναντο)→ progressive present (habitual speaking)λαλέω: 'speak, talk'; the present infinitive with the imperfect main verb reinforces the ongoing, habitual character of their inability.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (the one addressed)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the one addressed).
οὐδὲνnothingAccusativedirect object of λαλεῖν (negative direct object: 'nothing peaceable')→ object specificationοὐδείς: 'no one, nothing'; the neuter accusative οὐδέν functions as the direct object, negating any possibility of peaceable speech; the double negative (οὐκ … οὐδέν) is a Hebraism emphasising total inability.
εἰρηνικόνpeaceableAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying οὐδέν: 'nothing peaceable / no peaceable word')→ object specificationεἰρηνικός: 'peaceable, relating to peace'; renders Hebrew שָׁלֹם ('in peace'); cf. Heb 12:11 where εἰρηνικός describes the fruit of discipline. The breakdown of εἰρήνη within the family is the chapter's moral catastrophe; Jacob will ironically send Joseph to inquire after the brothers' εἰρήνη (v.14: εἰ ὑγιαίνουσιν — using a synonym for their welfare).
5

Ἐνυπνιάσθη δὲ Ιωσηφ ἐνύπνιον καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτὸ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ.

Joseph had a dream and reported it to his brothers.

Narrative development (new episode: the first dream)Ἐνυπνιάσθη δέ
The figura etymologica ἐνυπνιάσθη ἐνύπνιον ('dreamed a dream') is a Hebraism calquing חָלַם חֲלוֹם (the cognate-object construction), standard LXX technique; it appears again at v.9. Joseph's act of reporting to his brothers (ἀπήγγειλεν) is significant: despite their hatred (v.4), he addresses them, perhaps naively, perhaps provocatively — the narrator does not explain. The dreams carry the chapter's theological weight: what the brothers will try to destroy is the word of God spoken in dream-form.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
Ἐνυπνιάσθηhad a dreamAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐνυπνιάζομαιmain verb (narrative action — figure etymologica with ἐνύπνιον)→ ingressive aorist (onset of the dream-event)ἐνυπνιάζομαι: 'dream'; a deponent; the verb with its cognate noun ἐνύπνιον calques the Hebrew figure of speech חָלַם חֲלוֹם. Joseph as dreamer will be identified by his brothers contemptuously as ὁ ἐνυπνιαστής at v.19.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙωσηφJosephsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ἐνύπνιονa dreamAccusativecognate accusative (figura etymologica with ἐνυπνιάσθη)→ object specificationἐνύπνιον: 'dream'; renders Hebrew חֲלוֹם; the cognate-object construction is a Hebraism; dreams as divine communication are central to the Joseph narrative and to the broader OT-LXX tradition (Gen 20:3; 31:10; 41:1–7).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (καί-parataxis: sequential narrative)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπήγγειλενreportedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (second narrative action)→ constative aorist (single act of reporting)ἀπαγγέλλω: 'report, announce, declare'; the same verb used for official reports (cf. v.17, 22); Joseph tells the dream as if it were public business, which heightens the brothers' offence.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of ἀπήγγειλεν (the dream)→ participant referenceαὐτὸ: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀπήγγειλεν (the dream).
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοῖςbrothersDativedative of indirect object (the audience)→ sphere or referenceἀδελφοῖς: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as dative of indirect object (the audience).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
6

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἀκούσατε τοῦ ἐνυπνίου τούτου οὗ ἐνυπνιάσθην·

And he said to them, 'Hear this dream that I have dreamed.'

Direct speech introduction (first of the two dream-narrations)καὶ εἶπεν
The speech-opening imperative Ἀκούσατε ('hear!') is emphatic and rhetorical — it signals that what follows is important and demands attention. The genitive τοῦ ἐνυπνίου with ἀκούω follows standard LXX idiom (hearing + genitive of the thing heard). The relative clause οὗ ἐνυπνιάσθην ('which I dreamed') again uses the cognate construction, sustaining the figura etymologica across vv.5–7.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech act)εἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of indirect object (the brothers addressed)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the brothers addressed).
ἈκούσατεhearAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb of direct speech (imperative: demand for attention)→ ingressive aorist imperative (begin listening to this specific thing)ἀκούω: 'hear, listen to'; the imperative ἀκούσατε renders Hebrew שִׁמְעוּ-נָא; the particle of entreaty (Hebrew נָא) is left untranslated; the imperative is the standard opening of prophetic and wisdom discourse (cf. Amos 3:1; Isa 1:2).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἐνυπνίου — genitive object of ἀκούω)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνυπνίουdreamGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούσατε (ἀκούω + genitive = hear/attend to)→ relational specificationἐνύπνιον: 'dream'; the genitive with ἀκούω is standard Greek idiom (to hear = attend to something).
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative pronoun (attributive genitive modifying ἐνυπνίου)→ relational specificationτούτου: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as demonstrative pronoun (attributive genitive modifying ἐνυπνίου).
οὗthatGenitiverelative pronoun, genitive (cognate object of ἐνυπνιάσθην: 'which I dreamed')→ relational specificationοὗ: meaning 'that'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun, genitive (cognate object of ἐνυπνιάσθην: 'which I dreamed').
ἐνυπνιάσθηνI dreamedAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · ἐνυπνιάζομαιverb of relative clause (cognate construction with ἐνυπνίου)→ constative aorist (completed dream event)ἐνυπνιάζομαι: meaning 'I dreamed'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verb of relative clause (cognate construction with ἐνυπνίου).
7

ᾠόμην ἡμᾶς δεσμεύειν δράγματα ἐν μέσῳ τῷ πεδίῳ. καὶ ἀνέστη τὸ ἐμὸν δράγμα καὶ ὠρθώθη· περικυκλώσαντα δὲ τὰ ὑμέτερα δράγματα προσεκύνησεν τῷ ἐμῷ δράγματι.

'I thought we were binding sheaves in the middle of the field. And my sheaf rose up and stood erect; and your sheaves came round and bowed down to my sheaf.'

Dream narration (direct speech)ᾠόμην
The agricultural imagery — binding sheaves in the field — is appropriate to the clan's pastoral economy and functions as a natural-world medium for a message about social hierarchy. The dream's structure is precise: my sheaf rises and stands upright; your sheaves encircle and bow. The verb προσεκύνησεν ('bowed down / did obeisance') is the LXX word for reverential prostration (the same word used of worship of God, e.g. Gen 22:5); its use here is not accidental — the brothers hear a claim to the kind of homage reserved for kings and gods.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ᾠόμηνI thoughtImpf Mid Indic 1 Sg · οἴομαιmain verb (introducing the dream content as a thought/impression)→ progressive imperfect (the dream-impression as ongoing experience)οἴομαι: 'think, suppose, imagine'; renders Hebrew הִנֵּה in dream-narration (where הִנֵּה introduces the vivid dream image); the LXX uses ᾠόμην ('I thought/imagined') as an introductory verb for the dream, giving it a first-person experiential frame.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive δεσμεύειν→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative subject of the infinitive δεσμεύειν.
δεσμεύεινbindingPres Act Inf · δεσμεύωcomplementary infinitive (object of ᾠόμην: 'thought us to be binding')→ progressive present (ongoing activity in dream)δεσμεύω: 'bind, tie into bundles'; renders Hebrew מְאַלְּמִים (piel participle of אָלַם, 'to bind sheaves'); used specifically for bundling harvested grain; the harvest imagery evokes plenty and communal labour.
δράγματαsheavesAccusativedirect object of δεσμεύειν→ object specificationδράγμα: 'bundle, sheaf (of grain)'; renders Hebrew אֲלֻמִּים (plural of אָלֻמָּה); a sheaf of harvested grain; the word recurs three times in this verse, driving the dream's imagery. Ruth 2:7 uses the cognate δράγμα for the bundles Ruth gathers — the LXX lexicon of harvest is consistent.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
μέσῳthe middleDativedative of place (locative: 'in the middle of')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle, midst'; the phrase ἐν μέσῳ τῷ πεδίῳ ('in the middle of the field') localises the scene and reinforces the communal, open setting of the vision.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεδίῳfieldDativedative of place (locative, governed by ἐν μέσῳ)→ sphere or referenceπεδίον: 'plain, field, flat land'; the same word used at v.15 where Joseph wanders ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ — the open field is the chapter's arena of both dream and danger.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential: the dream's action unfolds)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστηrose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (the key action of the dream: exaltation)→ ingressive aorist (beginning of the rising)ἀνίστημι: 'rise up, stand up'; renders Hebrew קָמָה; the rising of the sheaf prefigures Joseph's exaltation in Egypt — the verb is used of rising to authority (ἀναστῆναι ἐπί = 'to rise up against / over') and of resurrection (Acts 2:24, 32; the LXX uses ἀνάστασις of the general resurrection).
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐμὸνmyNominativepossessive pronoun (attributive: 'my sheaf')→ participant referenceἐμὸν: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive pronoun (attributive: 'my sheaf').
δράγμαsheafNominativesubject of ἀνέστη and ὠρθώθη→ participant prominenceδράγμα: meaning 'sheaf'; it serves as subject of ἀνέστη and ὠρθώθη.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὠρθώθηstood erectAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀρθόωmain verb (coordinate action: the sheaf stands upright)→ constative aorist (completed posture of standing)ὀρθόω: 'make straight, set upright'; the passive 'was made erect / stood upright' reinforces the image of exaltation — the sheaf not only rises but attains a vertical, commanding posture.
περικυκλώσανταhaving come roundAor Act Ptcp Nom Pl Neut · περικυκλόωadverbial participle (attendant circumstance: 'having surrounded')→ constative aorist (the encircling as the prior act before prostration)περικυκλόω: 'encircle, surround'; the brothers' sheaves do not merely bow but first gather round — a gesture of encirclement that gives the obeisance the quality of a court assembly presenting themselves before the throne.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑμέτεραyourNominativepossessive pronoun (attributive: 'your sheaves')→ participant referenceὑμέτερα: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive pronoun (attributive: 'your sheaves').
δράγματαsheavesNominativesubject of περικυκλώσαντα and (implied subject with) προσεκύνησεν→ participant prominenceδράγματα: meaning 'sheaves'; it serves as subject of περικυκλώσαντα and (implied subject with) προσεκύνησεν.
προσεκύνησενbowed downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσκυνέωmain verb (the climactic action of the dream: prostration/obeisance)→ constative aorist (the act of homage)προσκυνέω: 'bow down, do obeisance, worship'; renders Hebrew וַתִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶינָה; the word is used for worship of God and for prostration before kings (Gen 33:3; 42:6); the singular verb with a plural subject (the sheaves) is a constructio ad sensum or a Hebraism.
τῷto theDativearticle (with dative object of προσεκύνησεν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐμῷmyDativepossessive pronoun (attributive: 'to my sheaf')→ participant reference or interestἐμῷ: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as possessive pronoun (attributive: 'to my sheaf').
δράγματιsheafDativedative object of προσεκύνησεν (the one reverenced)→ sphere or referenceδράγματι: meaning 'sheaf'; it serves as dative object of προσεκύνησεν (the one reverenced).
8

εἶπαν δὲ αὐτῷ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ· Μὴ βασιλεύων βασιλεύσεις ἐφ' ἡμᾶς ἢ κυριεύων κυριεύσεις ἡμῶν; καὶ προσέθεντο ἔτι μισεῖν αὐτὸν ἕνεκεν τῶν ἐνυπνίων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕνεκεν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ.

His brothers said to him, 'Will you indeed reign over us, or will you indeed rule us?' And they added still more to hating him on account of his dreams and on account of his words.

Response to Joseph's dream narration / escalationεἶπαν δέ
The brothers' double rhetorical question — using the Hebraic infinitive-absolute construction (participle + cognate finite verb: βασιλεύων βασιλεύσεις, κυριεύων κυριεύσεις) — expresses outraged incredulity rather than genuine inquiry. The narrator then supplies the Hebraizing hatred-escalation formula: προσέθεντο ἔτι μισεῖν ('they added yet more to hating him'), using the idiom יָסַף + infinitive (to add to doing something) as a way to mark intensification. This is the chapter's first explicit escalation marker.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν, Koine form): introduces the third invitation.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (Joseph, addressed)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (Joseph, addressed).
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀδελφοὶ: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as subject.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
Μὴsurely notinterrogative negation (expecting negative answer or expressing incredulous outrage)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: in a question, μή normally expects the answer 'no'; here it frames the question as one of outraged disbelief — 'You won't really reign over us, will you?'; the rhetorical force is sarcastic rather than a genuine inquiry.
βασιλεύωνreigningPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · βασιλεύωparticiple in infinitive-absolute construction (intensifying the finite verb βασιλεύσεις)→ progressive present (ongoing reign)βασιλεύω: 'reign, be king'; the participle + future finite verb (βασιλεύων βασιλεύσεις) calques the Hebrew infinitive absolute construction (מָלֹךְ תִּמְלֹךְ) used for intensification — 'you will surely / indeed reign.' This Hebraism appears frequently in LXX narrative.
βασιλεύσειςwill you reignFut Act Indic 2 Sg · βασιλεύωmain verb of first interrogative clause (cognate with βασιλεύων)→ predictive futureβασιλεύω: 'reign'; the future tense in the double construction expresses a strongly affirmative future action being questioned by the brothers; the concept of Joseph as king is the nightmare scenario they rage against — and the very thing the subsequent narrative will fulfil.
ἐφ'overpreposition + accusative (governance/authority over)→ spatial or relational framingἐφ': meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (governance/authority over).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of ἐφ' (the ruled)→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐφ' (the ruled).
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (introducing second alternative of the double question)→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κυριεύωνrulingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · κυριεύωparticiple in infinitive-absolute construction (second cognate intensification)→ progressive presentκυριεύω: 'exercise lordship over, rule'; κύριος-cognate; the second term escalates from βασιλεύω (royal reign) to κυριεύω (lordship/mastery), covering the full range of dominion — both sovereign kingship and everyday authority.
κυριεύσειςwill you ruleFut Act Indic 2 Sg · κυριεύωmain verb of second interrogative clause→ predictive futureκυριεύω: meaning 'will you rule'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb of second interrogative clause.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of κυριεύσεις (κυριεύω + genitive = exercise lordship over)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of κυριεύσεις (κυριεύω + genitive = exercise lordship over).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (transitioning from speech to narrator's comment)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσέθεντοthey addedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · προστίθημιmain verb (intensification formula: 'added to hating')→ ingressive aorist (onset of greater, intensified hatred)προστίθημι: 'add, put to'; in the Hebraism προστίθημι + infinitive it renders יָסַף + infinitive ('to add to doing something = to do even more'); this idiom appears several times in the LXX (e.g. Gen 25:1; Num 22:15) and is used here to escalate the hatred narrative beyond v.4.
ἔτιstilladverb of degree (intensifying: 'still more / even more')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'yet, still, moreover'; in combination with προσέθεντο it reinforces the incremental escalation: first they hated (v.4), and now they hate even more.
μισεῖνto hatePres Act Inf · μισέωcomplementary infinitive (completing προσέθεντο in the intensification idiom)→ progressive present (ongoing, deepening hatred)μισέω: 'hate'; the third occurrence of this verb in four verses (vv.4, 5-implicit, 8); the repetition functions as a refrain marking the narrative's moral crisis.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of μισεῖν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of μισεῖν.
ἕνεκενon account ofpreposition + genitive (causal: stating the reason for increased hatred)→ spatial or relational framingἕνεκεν: 'because of, on account of'; the double ἕνεκεν (dreams… and words) pins the hatred to two specific causes, making clear that it is not merely the tunic of v.3 but Joseph's prophetic speech that inflames the brothers.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνυπνίωνdreamsGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκεν→ relational specificationἐνυπνίων: meaning 'dreams'; it serves as genitive object of ἕνεκεν.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕνεκενon account ofpreposition + genitive (second causal phrase, parallel to first)→ spatial or relational framingἕνεκεν: meaning 'on account of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (second causal phrase, parallel to first).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥημάτωνwordsGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκεν→ relational specificationῥῆμα: 'word, saying'; renders Hebrew דְּבָרִים; the same word διατηρέω ῥῆμα ('kept the matter/word') appears in v.11 of Jacob, and in Luke 2:51 of Mary — both keeping prophetic words that others dismiss.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
9

Εἶδεν δὲ ἐνύπνιον ἕτερον καὶ διηγήσατο αὐτὸ τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν· Ἰδοὺ ἐνυπνιασάμην ἐνύπνιον ἕτερον· ὥσπερ ὁ ἥλιος καὶ ἡ σελήνη καὶ ἕνδεκα ἀστέρες προσεκύνουν με.

He saw another dream and recounted it to his father and to his brothers, and said, 'Behold, I have had another dream: like the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.'

Narrative development (second dream: wider scope)Εἶδεν δέ
The second dream escalates from the agricultural (sheaves, the brothers' domain) to the cosmic (sun, moon, eleven stars), widening the circle of obeisance to include even the father and mother. The verb προσεκύνουν (imperfect — they were bowing, a sustained action) intensifies the dream's claim. The eleven stars corresponds to the eleven brothers (Joseph being the twelfth); the sun and moon to the parents. In Rev 12:1 this astral imagery is applied to the woman clothed with the sun and crowned with twelve stars — a Christian reading that finds the Joseph type expanded to cosmic scale.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
ΕἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (narrative: he saw another dream)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; the use of εἶδεν for 'have a dream' is equivalent to ἐνυπνιάσθη in v.5; the variation is stylistic. The same verb describes God 'seeing' (and acting on) human need throughout the Pentateuch.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνύπνιονdreamAccusativedirect object of εἶδεν→ object specificationἐνύπνιον: meaning 'dream'; it serves as direct object of εἶδεν.
ἕτερονanotherAccusativeattributive adjective (a different, second dream)→ object specificationἕτερος: 'other, another (of a different kind)'; the use of ἕτερος rather than ἄλλος may suggest the second dream is qualitatively different in scope, not merely numerically additional.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διηγήσατοrecountedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · διηγέομαιmain verb→ constative aoristδιηγέομαι: 'recount, narrate, tell in detail'; a more literary term than ἀπαγγέλλω (v.5), suggesting a fuller, more narrative account; used in Ps 21(22):31 LXX of proclaiming the LORD's righteousness to future generations.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸ: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὶfatherDativedative of indirect object (first audience, now including the father)→ sphere or referenceπατρὶ: meaning 'father'; it serves as dative of indirect object (first audience, now including the father).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοῖςbrothersDativedative of indirect object (second audience)→ sphere or referenceἀδελφοῖς: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as dative of indirect object (second audience).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introduces direct speech)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
Ἰδοὺbeholdinterjection (attention-getter, introducing vivid dream-content)→ participant identificationἰδού: 'behold, look!'; renders Hebrew הִנֵּה; characteristic of dream and vision narration in the LXX, where ἰδού introduces the vivid, present-tense content of a vision (cf. Dan 7:2 LXX).
ἐνυπνιασάμηνI have dreamedAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐνυπνιάζομαιmain verb of direct speech (cognate construction with ἐνύπνιον ἕτερον)→ constative aorist (completed dream experience)ἐνυπνιάζομαι: 'dream / have a dream'; denominative from ἐνύπνιον; renders חָלַם; the verb introduces the content of the divinely-sent dream.
ἐνύπνιονdreamAccusativecognate accusative (figura etymologica)→ object specificationἐνύπνιον: meaning 'dream'; it serves as cognate accusative (figura etymologica).
ἕτερονanotherAccusativeattributive adjective→ object specificationἕτερον: meaning 'another'; it serves as attributive adjective.
ὥσπερlikecomparative conjunction (introducing the dream's content as a simile: 'it was as if…')→ discourse linkage or contrastὥσπερ: 'just as, like'; the comparative introduces the dream's astral imagery as a simile; the clause describes what was seen in the dream.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubject of προσεκύνουν (first of three)→ participant prominenceἥλιος: 'sun'; traditionally interpreted as Jacob (the father); the astral imagery of this verse is echoed in Rev 12:1 — the woman clothed with the sun, moon under her feet, twelve stars on her head — a Christian typological reading expanding the Joseph dream to cosmic-eschatological dimensions.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σελήνηmoonNominativesubject of προσεκύνουν (second)→ participant prominenceσελήνη: 'moon'; traditionally interpreted as Rachel (or Leah as the surviving maternal figure); the moon's obeisance raises the question Jacob poses (v.10: 'shall your mother bow down?'), though Rachel was already dead (Gen 35:19).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕνδεκαelevenNominativeindeclinable numeral (modifying ἀστέρες)→ participant prominenceἕνδεκα: 'eleven'; the eleven stars correspond to the eleven brothers (Joseph being the twelfth); the number confirms that the dream's referent is the twelve-tribe family.
ἀστέρεςstarsNominativesubject of προσεκύνουν (third)→ participant prominenceἀστήρ: 'star'; in Rev 12:1 the twelve stars form the crown of the woman — a typological expansion of this verse's eleven stars (adding Joseph himself to make twelve). The astral imagery for the tribes of Israel is also present in the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs.
προσεκύνουνwere bowing downImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · προσκυνέωmain verb of the ὥσπερ clause→ progressive imperfect (the act of obeisance as a sustained vision)προσκυνέω: 'bow down in homage/worship'; the imperfect (vs. the aorist in v.7) gives this act of reverence a sustained, continuous quality in the dream-vision — they were continuously bowing.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of προσεκύνουν (the one reverenced)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of προσεκύνουν (the one reverenced).
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καὶ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτῷ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Τί τὸ ἐνύπνιον τοῦτο, ὃ ἐνυπνιάσθης; ἆρά γε ἐλθόντες ἐλευσόμεθα ἐγώ τε καὶ ἡ μήτηρ σου καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί σου προσκυνῆσαί σοι ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν;

His father rebuked him and said to him, 'What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will we indeed come — I and your mother and your brothers — to bow down to you to the ground?'

Response (paternal rebuke to the second dream)καὶ ἐπετίμησεν
Jacob's rebuke (ἐπετίμησεν) contrasts with the father's silent pondering of v.11; the Greek verb ἐπιτιμάω suggests official reprimand rather than mere annoyance (cf. Zech 3:2 LXX; Mark 1:25 where Jesus ἐπετίμησεν the unclean spirit). The double rhetorical question — 'What is this dream?' then the incredulous 'shall we bow down?' — mirrors the brothers' double question in v.8. The particle ἆρά γε introduces a deliberative question expecting a negative answer. Jacob's naming of mother (ἡ μήτηρ σου) is puzzling since Rachel is dead; the midrashic tradition addresses this.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπετίμησενrebukedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτιμάωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιτιμάω: 'rebuke, reprove, censure'; renders Hebrew גָּעַר; a stronger term than mere scolding — it is the verb used for authoritative rebuke (cf. Mark 1:25; 4:39; Luke 4:35 where Jesus rebukes demons and storms). Jacob as patriarch exercises his authority here.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of indirect object (Joseph rebuked)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (Joseph rebuked).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπατὴρ: meaning 'father'; it serves as subject.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introduces direct speech)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΤίWhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of the rhetorical question)→ participant referenceτίς/τί: 'who/what'; the rhetorical τί ('what is this?') expresses incredulity rather than requesting information.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνύπνιονdreamNominativesubject complement (predicate with τί: 'what is this dream?')→ participant prominenceἐνύπνιον: meaning 'dream'; it serves as subject complement (predicate with τί: 'what is this dream?').
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (attributive: emphatic near-deixis)→ participant referenceτοῦτο: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as demonstrative pronoun (attributive: emphatic near-deixis).
ὃthatAccusativerelative pronoun, accusative (object of ἐνυπνιάσθης)→ participant referenceὃ: meaning 'that'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun, accusative (object of ἐνυπνιάσθης).
ἐνυπνιάσθηςyou dreamedAor Pass Indic 2 Sg · ἐνυπνιάζομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aoristἐνυπνιάζομαι: meaning 'you dreamed'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verb of relative clause.
ἆράwillinterrogative particle (deliberative/incredulous question: expects negative answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastἆρα: the particle ἆρά γε introduces a deliberative rhetorical question; here it expresses incredulous doubt — 'surely we will not come and bow down?'
γεindeedemphatic particle (intensifying ἆρά)→ discourse linkage or contrastγε: meaning 'indeed'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλθόντεςhaving comeAor Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · ἔρχομαιadverbial participle (attendant circumstance: 'coming, we will bow down')→ constative aorist (prior act of coming)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the aorist participle ἐλθόντες ('having gone / setting out') sets the scene for their preparations; renders הָלַךְ.
ἐλευσόμεθαwill we comeFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb of the question→ predictive future (the scenario Jacob questions)ἔρχομαι: meaning 'will we come'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb of the question.
ἐγώINominativesubject (first of three, appositive to the implicit subject of ἐλευσόμεθα)→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as subject (first of three, appositive to the implicit subject of ἐλευσόμεθα).
τεbothcorrelative particle (τε … καί: 'both … and', linking the three figures)→ discourse linkage or contrastτε: meaning 'both'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (part of τε … καί)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτηρmotherNominativesubject (appositive to ἐλευσόμεθα, second figure)→ participant prominenceμήτηρ: 'mother'; the reference is puzzling since Rachel died in Gen 35:19. The midrashic tradition suggests Bilhah (Rachel's maidservant who raised Joseph) or that the dream and its interpretation anticipate a symbolic-level reality.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοίbrothersNominativesubject (third figure in the list)→ participant prominenceἀδελφοί: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as subject (third figure in the list).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
προσκυνῆσαίto bow downAor Act Inf · προσκυνέωpurpose/result infinitive (the goal of the coming: 'so as to bow down')→ constative aorist infinitiveπροσκυνέω: 'bow down, do obeisance'; fourth occurrence of this verb in the dream sequence (vv.7, 9, 10); Jacob uses the very verb of the dream, making his question both literal and loaded.
σοιto youDativedative of indirect object (the one reverenced)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'to you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the one reverenced).
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (direction of prostration: 'to the ground')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of prostration: 'to the ground').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνgroundAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the surface to which they prostrate)→ object specificationγῆ: 'earth, ground'; the phrase προσκυνῆσαι ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ('bow down to the ground') is full prostration, not a mere nod — the same posture Joseph's brothers will perform at Gen 42:6 in fulfilment of this dream.
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ἐζήλωσαν δὲ αὐτὸν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ· ὁ δὲ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ διετήρησεν τὸ ῥῆμα.

His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter.

Double response: jealousy / pondering (contrastive parallel)ἐζήλωσαν δέ
The verse is a deliberately crafted contrast: the brothers ἐζήλωσαν ('were jealous / envious') while the father διετήρησεν τὸ ῥῆμα ('kept the word/matter'). The verb ζηλόω occurs in Acts 7:9 where Stephen names the brothers' jealousy as the theological motor of the whole episode. The father's keeping of the word parallels Mary's pondering (Luke 2:51: διετήρει τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς) — the LXX phrase may have informed Luke's narrative.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ἐζήλωσανwere jealousAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ζηλόωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (onset of jealousy)ζηλόω: 'be zealous, be jealous, envy'; renders Hebrew וַיְקַנְאוּ (piel of קָנָא); Acts 7:9 quotes this exact situation: οἱ πατριάρχαι ζηλώσαντες τὸν Ιωσηφ ἀπέδοντο αὐτόν, making ζῆλος the interpretive key to the sale. The same word group appears in Paul's jealousy-vocabulary (2 Cor 11:2; Gal 5:20).
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐζήλωσαν→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐζήλωσαν.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀδελφοὶ: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as subject.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ὁtheNominativearticle (contrastive: 'but the father…')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbutcontrastive particle (marking the contrast: brothers jealous / father ponders)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of διετήρησεν→ participant prominenceπατὴρ: meaning 'father'; it serves as subject of διετήρησεν.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
διετήρησενkeptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διατηρέωmain verb (in contrast to the brothers' jealousy)→ constative aorist (the pondering as a completed, decisive act of retention)διατηρέω: 'keep carefully, preserve in mind, hold'; the διά- prefix adds the sense of thoroughness — 'kept carefully through / throughout'; cf. Luke 2:51 διετήρει πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς — Mary's pondering echoes this Jacobean pondering of a prophetic word.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαmatterAccusativedirect object of διετήρησεν→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word, matter, thing'; renders Hebrew הַדָּבָר ('the word/matter'); here it refers to the whole saying of the dream — Jacob holds the prophetic word in mind as potentially significant even while publicly rebuking it, prefiguring both the fulfilment in Egypt and the NT pattern of prophetic pondering.
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Ἐπορεύθησαν δὲ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ποιμαίνειν τὰ πρόβατα τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν εἰς Συχέμ.

His brothers went to tend their father's sheep at Shechem.

Narrative transition (brothers' departure — separating them from Joseph)Ἐπορεύθησαν δέ
The brief narrative transition moves the brothers away from Jacob's camp to Shechem — the site of the Dinah outrage (Gen 34) and the city whose men Simeon and Levi slaughtered. Their departure to this loaded location may signal danger. The purpose infinitive ποιμαίνειν ('to tend') identifies the work as legitimate; what follows will corrupt it. The fathers' flocks (τὰ πρόβατα τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν) are the very wealth of the family — the same flocks Joseph was tending in v.2.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ἘπορεύθησανwentAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (single completed journey)πορεύομαι: 'go, travel'; deponent passive form; renders Hebrew וַיֵּלְכוּ; the brothers' journey to Shechem sets the geographical stage for the plot.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀδελφοὶ: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as subject.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ποιμαίνεινto tendPres Act Inf · ποιμαίνωpurpose infinitive (the reason for going)→ progressive present (ongoing pastoral task)ποιμαίνω: 'tend, shepherd'; the same verb used of Joseph in v.2 — the brothers' legitimate occupation is the frame within which the plot against Joseph will unfold.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταsheepAccusativedirect object of ποιμαίνειν→ object specificationπρόβατα: meaning 'sheep'; it serves as direct object of ποιμαίνειν.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationπατρὸς: meaning 'father'; it serves as genitive of possession.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
εἰςatpreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΣυχέμShechemindeclinable proper noun (destination)→ participant identificationΣυχέμ: LXX transliteration of שְׁכֶם; a major Canaanite city-site associated with the Dinah outrage and its violent aftermath (Gen 34); its occurrence here alerts the reader to a location with a history of violence involving Jacob's sons.
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εἶπεν δὲ Ισραηλ πρὸς Ιωσηφ· Οἱ ἀδελφοί σου ποιμαίνουσιν ἐν Συχέμ· δεῦρο ἀποστείλω σε πρὸς αὐτούς. εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ· Ἰδοὺ ἐγώ.

Israel said to Joseph, 'Your brothers are tending sheep at Shechem; come, let me send you to them.' He said to him, 'Here I am.'

Commission (father sends son to brothers)εἶπεν δέ
The name Ισραηλ (rather than Ιακωβ of vv.1–2) marks the patriarch in his official, patriarchal role sending a commissioned messenger. Joseph's response ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ('Here I am') renders Hebrew הִנֵּנִי — the classic response of readiness to divine or authoritative human summons (Gen 22:1, 7, 11; Exod 3:4; Isa 6:8); it marks Joseph as an obedient instrument about to enter danger. The hortatory subjunctive ἀποστείλω ('let me send you') frames the mission as Israel's initiative.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the name-shift from Ιακωβ to Ισραηλ marks the patriarch in his role as head of the tribal family; he acts here not merely as a personal father but as the patriarch of the twelve tribes.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΙωσηφJosephindeclinable proper noun (addressee)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun (addressee).
ΟἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingΟἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοίbrothersNominativesubject of ποιμαίνουσιν→ participant prominenceἀδελφοί: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as subject of ποιμαίνουσιν.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ποιμαίνουσινare tendingPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιμαίνωmain verb (present state of the brothers)→ progressive present (ongoing pastoral activity)ποιμαίνω: 'tend'; present tense here pictures the ongoing situation Israel is aware of — a background piece of information that occasions the commission.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΣυχέμShechemindeclinable proper noun (location)→ participant identificationΣυχέμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun (location).
δεῦροcomeadverb / deictic particle (hortatory summons: 'come here')→ discourse linkage or contrastδεῦρο: 'come here!'; a deixis-particle used as an imperative summons; renders Hebrew לְכָה; appears in the brothers' own murderous plan at v.20 (δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν) — the same word used by the father for a mission of love will be used by the brothers for murder.
ἀποστείλωlet me sendAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (hortatory subjunctive: 'let me send you')→ constative aorist (single act of commissioning)ἀποστέλλω: 'send, commission'; the verb of official sending; Joseph is sent (ἀπεστάλη) as an envoy — and the sending motif will recur in the NT where the Son is sent (ἀπέσταλκεν) by the Father (John 3:17; 20:21).
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἀποστείλω→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀποστείλω.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the brothers)→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (the brothers).
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (second speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (Israel addressed)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (Israel addressed).
Ἰδοὺbeholdinterjection (presentative formula of readiness)→ participant identificationἰδού: 'behold, here'; renders Hebrew הִנֵּה; in the phrase ἰδοὺ ἐγώ ('here I am') it renders הִנֵּנִי, the standard biblical formula of readiness before a divine or authoritative commission. Abraham (Gen 22:1), Samuel (1 Sam 3:4), and Isaiah (Isa 6:8) all respond with הִנֵּנִי.
ἐγώINominativepredicate (with ἰδού: 'here I am' — formula of readiness)→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as predicate (with ἰδού: 'here I am' — formula of readiness).
14

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Ισραηλ· Πορευθεὶς ἴδε εἰ ὑγιαίνουσιν οἱ ἀδελφοί σου καὶ εἰ ὑγιαίνει τὰ πρόβατα, καὶ ἀνάγγειλόν μοι. καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὸν ἐκ τῆς κοιλάδος τῆς Χεβρών, καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς Συχέμ.

Israel said to him, 'Go and see whether your brothers are well and whether the flocks are well, and bring me word.' And he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

Commission (expanded with instructions)εἶπεν δέ
Israel's commission gives three imperatives: go (πορευθεὶς, participle functioning as imperative), see (ἴδε), and report (ἀνάγγειλόν). The double εἰ ('whether … whether') structures a welfare inquiry — the Hebrew שָׁלֹם echoed here by ὑγιαίνουσιν ('are well'; LXX's chosen equivalent for shalom-wellbeing). The valley of Hebron (κοιλὰς τῆς Χεβρών) as the point of departure grounds the episode in the patriarchal homeland; Shechem is some 50 miles to the north.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject.
ΠορευθεὶςgoingAor Pass Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · πορεύομαιadverbial participle (attendant circumstance with imperative force: 'go and see')→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go'; the aorist participle with an imperative is a standard biblical idiom for sequential action (cf. Gen 22:2 πορεύθητι εἰς τὴν γῆν... and ἀνένεγκε).
ἴδεseeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ὁράωmain imperative (first of the commission's directives)→ constative aorist imperativeὁράω: 'see'; the imperative ἴδε ('see!') here means 'find out / investigate'; renders Hebrew רְאֵה.
εἰwhetherconditional particle (indirect question: 'whether they are well')→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: meaning 'whether'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑγιαίνουσινare wellPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ὑγιαίνωverb of indirect question→ progressive presentὑγιαίνω: 'be healthy, be well'; the LXX's chosen equivalent for Hebrew שָׁלֹם ('peace, welfare, shalom'); the irony is profound: Israel sends Joseph to inquire about the εἰρήνη/shalom of the brothers who cannot speak a peaceable word to him (v.4 οὐδὲν εἰρηνικόν).
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοίbrothersNominativesubject of ὑγιαίνουσιν→ participant prominenceἀδελφοί: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as subject of ὑγιαίνουσιν.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰwhetherconditional particle (second indirect question)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: meaning 'whether'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὑγιαίνειare wellPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑγιαίνωverb of second indirect question (singular with plural neuter subject τὰ πρόβατα)→ progressive presentὑγιαίνω: meaning 'are well'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verb of second indirect question (singular with plural neuter subject τὰ πρόβατα).
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταflocksNominativesubject of ὑγιαίνει (neuter plural with singular verb — standard Greek)→ participant prominenceπρόβατα: meaning 'flocks'; it serves as subject of ὑγιαίνει (neuter plural with singular verb — standard Greek).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνάγγειλόνreportAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωimperative (second directive of the commission)→ constative aorist imperativeἀναγγέλλω: 'report back, announce'; the ἀνά- prefix suggests 'report up' (to the sender); this imperative completes the mission — Joseph is to return with news.
μοιto meDativedative of indirect object (the recipient of the report)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'to me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the recipient of the report).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (narrator's report of the commission's execution)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send, commission'; the narrator picks up the verb of v.13 (ἀποστείλω) and confirms that Israel carried out what he proposed: he did in fact send him.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (point of departure)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (point of departure).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοιλάδοςvalleyGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationκοιλάς: 'valley, hollow'; renders Hebrew עֵמֶק ('valley, plain'); the valley of Hebron is the patriarchal homeland, the burial place of Abraham and Isaac.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧεβρώνHebronGenitiveindeclinable proper noun (in genitive phrase, location of the valley)→ participant identificationΧεβρών: LXX transliteration of חֶבְרוֹן; the patriarchal city in the Judean hills; Abraham bought the field and cave of Machpelah there (Gen 23); Jacob's departure from this ancestral home is not merely geographical but theological.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; here 'came to pass / were realized'; the singular verb with the neuter plural subject πάντα τὰ σημεῖα follows the regular Greek rule.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΣυχέμShechemindeclinable proper noun (destination)→ participant identificationΣυχέμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun (destination).
15

καὶ εὗρεν αὐτὸν ἄνθρωπός τις πλανώμενον ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ· ἠρώτησεν δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ἄνθρωπος λέγων· Τί ζητεῖς;

A certain man found him wandering in the field; the man asked him, saying, 'What are you looking for?'

Narrative episode (the providential stranger)καὶ εὗρεν
The ἄνθρωπός τις ('a certain man') who finds Joseph is an anonymous figure but narratively indispensable — without him, Joseph would not have located the brothers at Dothan. The LXX preserves the enigmatic quality of the Hebrew; later tradition has identified this figure as an angel, and the midrash (Genesis Rabbah) treats him as the angel Gabriel. The participle πλανώμενον ('wandering') reflects Hebrew הִנֵּה תֹעֶה ('behold, wandering'); Joseph is lost, and it is the stranger's intervention that redirects the story.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find, discover'; the subject appears after the verb (ἄνθρωπός τις) — the narrative introduces the stranger before naming him, creating mild suspense.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Joseph)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Joseph).
ἄνθρωπόςmanNominativesubject (indefinite: 'a certain man')→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'human being, man'; the anarthrous, indefinite use introduces a new character; the subsequent τις makes the indefiniteness explicit.
τιςcertainNominativeindefinite pronoun (attributive: 'a certain man')→ participant referenceτις: 'a certain / some'; marks the man as unidentified and anonymous; the LXX preserves the Hebrew's non-identification of this figure, leaving open the possibility of angelic identity.
πλανώμενονwanderingPres Mid Ptcp Acc Sg Masc · πλανάωpredicative participle (object complement: 'found him wandering')→ progressive present (ongoing aimless wandering)πλανάω: 'wander, go astray'; renders Hebrew תֹעֶה; the connotation of lostness is apt — Joseph is both geographically disoriented and, in a larger sense, an unwitting participant in a providence he cannot see.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεδίῳfieldDativedative of place (the open field of v.7 — same word)→ sphere or referenceπεδίον: 'plain, field'; the same open field (τὸ πεδίον) of Joseph's first dream (v.7); the narrative geography links dream and reality.
ἠρώτησενaskedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐρωτάωmain verb→ constative aoristἐρωτάω: 'ask, question'; the man initiates the encounter with a simple open question.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ὁtheNominativearticle (now with the article — the same man just introduced)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (now articular — anaphoric reference to the man just introduced)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: meaning 'man'; it serves as subject (now articular — anaphoric reference to the man just introduced).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωadverbial participle (manner: introducing direct speech)→ progressive presentλέγω (pres. ptcp.): renders the quotative לֵאמֹר ('saying').
ΤίWhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (direct object of ζητεῖς)→ participant referenceΤί: meaning 'What'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (direct object of ζητεῖς).
ζητεῖςare you looking forPres Act Indic 2 Sg · ζητέωmain verb of the question→ progressive present (ongoing searching)ζητέω: 'seek, look for'; the simple question 'what are you seeking?' is one of the great questions of the Bible — Jesus asks it of the first disciples (John 1:38: τί ζητεῖτε;), echoing this Septuagintal usage.
16

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· Τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου ζητῶ· ἀπάγγειλόν μοι ποῦ ποιμαίνουσιν.

He said, 'I am looking for my brothers; tell me where they are tending sheep.'

Response (Joseph's answer to the stranger's question)ὁ δέ
Joseph's answer is direct and guileless: he is looking for his brothers. The irony is that the brothers he seeks are seeking to kill him. The present tense ζητῶ ('I am seeking') and the present ποιμαίνουσιν ('they are tending') convey an immediate, present situation. The imperative ἀπάγγειλόν μοι ('tell me') echoes Israel's commission to Joseph (ἀνάγγειλόν μοι, v.14), linking the obedient son's report-chain: father → Joseph → stranger → Joseph → brothers → death.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ὁheNominativepronoun (article used as demonstrative: 'he/that one' — referring to Joseph)→ participant referenceThe article used as a personal pronoun (ὁ δέ = 'and he') is a common LXX Hebraism calquing Hebrew וַיֹּאמֶר construction.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΤοὺςtheAccusativearticle (fronted with the object for emphasis)→ noun-phrase markingΤοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφούςbrothersAccusativedirect object of ζητῶ (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationἀδελφούς: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as direct object of ζητῶ (fronted for emphasis).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ζητῶI am looking forPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ζητέωmain verb (picking up the stranger's ζητεῖς with a direct answer)→ progressive presentζητέω: meaning 'I am looking for'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb (picking up the stranger's ζητεῖς with a direct answer).
ἀπάγγειλόνtellAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωimperative (request for information)→ constative aorist imperativeἀπαγγέλλω: 'tell, report, announce'; Joseph's polite but urgent request; the same verb used at v.5 for his reporting the dream — Joseph is both reporter and the one who asks for reports.
μοιmeDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (indirect question: 'where they are tending')→ clausal contributionποῦ: meaning 'where'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
ποιμαίνουσινthey are tendingPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιμαίνωverb of indirect question→ progressive presentποιμαίνω: meaning 'they are tending'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verb of indirect question.
17

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ἄνθρωπος· Ἀπῄρκασιν ἐντεῦθεν· ἤκουσα γὰρ αὐτῶν λεγόντων· Πορευθῶμεν εἰς Δωθαϊμ. καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ιωσηφ κατόπισθεν τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ εὗρεν αὐτοὺς ἐν Δωθαϊμ.

The man said to him, 'They have moved on from here; for I heard them saying, "Let us go to Dothan."' And Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

Narrative development (the stranger's information redirects the journey)εἶπεν δέ
The perfect ἀπῄρκασιν ('they have departed/moved on') stresses the present state resulting from past action — they are gone. The stranger's information, delivered as overheard speech, is the pivot on which the story turns: without it, Joseph misses the brothers entirely. Dothan (Δωθαϊμ) is some 13 miles north of Shechem — further from Jacob's camp, deeper into open country. The narrator's confirmation εὗρεν αὐτούς ('found them') is bluntly factual, preparing the reader for what 'finding' will cost.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: meaning 'man'; it serves as subject.
Ἀπῄρκασινthey have moved onPf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαίρωmain verb of direct speech→ intensive perfect (present state: they are gone, having departed)ἀπαίρω: 'move on, depart, lift camp'; the perfect tense stresses the resultant state — they have moved and are no longer here; renders Hebrew נָסְעוּ.
ἐντεῦθενfrom hereadverb of place (ablative: from this location)→ clausal contributionἐντεῦθεν: meaning 'from here'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
ἤκουσαI heardAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (gives the basis for the information)→ constative aoristἀκούω: 'hear / listen / obey'; with the genitive φωνῆς it carries the Hebraic sense of 'heed / obey the voice' (שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל); Samuel stresses that the monarchy arose from his obedience to the people, not his ambition.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction (giving the reason/evidence: 'for I heard...')→ discourse linkage or contrastγὰρ: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούω (indirect discourse: heard them saying)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of ἀκούω (indirect discourse: heard them saying).
λεγόντωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Gen Pl Masc · λέγωgenitive participle (supplementary with ἀκούω + genitive: 'heard them saying')→ progressive presentλέγω (pres. ptcp.): the genitive plural λεγόντων is a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר ('saying'); the loose grammatical agreement (genitive plural after an impersonal passive) reflects the wooden calque on the Hebrew infinitive, introducing the quoted report.
Πορευθῶμενlet us goAor Pass Subj 1 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb of quoted speech (hortatory subjunctive: 'let us go')→ constative aorist (single decisive movement proposed)πορεύομαι: 'go'; the hortatory subjunctive records the brothers' casual conversation — they moved on, and the stranger happened to hear where they were going.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΔωθαϊμDothanindeclinable proper noun (destination)→ participant identificationΔωθαϊμ: LXX transliteration of דֹּתַיִן; an ancient tell in the Jezreel valley, modern Tell Dotha; associated in 2 Kings 6:13 with the siege of Elisha — another site of providential deliverance.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ constative aoristπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'go / travel / journey'; renders הָלַךְ; the messenger sets out from the front to Jerusalem with Joab's report.
ΙωσηφJosephsubject→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject.
κατόπισθενafterpreposition/adverb + genitive (following behind)→ spatial or relational framingκατόπισθεν: 'behind, after'; renders Hebrew אַחֲרֵי; Joseph follows in the direction his brothers went — a literal pursuit that will deliver him into their hands.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive object of κατόπισθεν→ relational specificationἀδελφῶν: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as genitive object of κατόπισθεν.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find'; the same verb used in v.15 when the stranger found Joseph (εὗρεν αὐτόν); now Joseph finds (εὗρεν αὐτούς) his brothers — a wordplay on finding that frames the whole episode.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'at'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ΔωθαϊμDothanindeclinable proper noun (location)→ participant identificationΔωθαϊμ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun (location).
18

εἶδον δὲ αὐτὸν πόρρωθεν πρὸ τοῦ ἐγγίσαι αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτούς, καὶ ἐπονηρεύοντο αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι αὐτόν.

They saw him from a distance before he drew near to them, and they plotted against him to kill him.

Narrative turn (recognition triggers plot)εἶδον δέ
The verse hinges on distance (πόρρωθεν) and time (πρὸ τοῦ ἐγγίσαι — 'before he drew near'): the brothers see Joseph while still out of hearing range and use the time to conspire. The verb ἐπονηρεύοντο ('were acting wickedly against him') is a LXX Hebraism using πονηρός-cognate as a verb (cf. the πονηρόν ψόγον of v.2); it renders Hebrew וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ ('they plotted treacherously'). The chapter's vocabulary of evil (πονηρόν in vv.2, 20, 33) now surfaces as a verb.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
εἶδονsawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; renders רָאָה; the former acquaintances now witness Saul prophesying.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Joseph seen from afar)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Joseph seen from afar).
πόρρωθενfrom a distanceadverb of place (ablative: 'from afar')→ clausal contributionπόρρωθεν: 'from a distance, from afar'; the same word appears in Heb 11:13 where the patriarchs saw the promises πόρρωθεν — from afar; there the word is used positively for faith's long vision; here it creates the space for murder to be plotted.
πρὸbeforepreposition + articular infinitive (temporal: 'before his drawing near')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸ: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + articular infinitive (temporal: 'before his drawing near').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle with infinitive (πρὸ τοῦ + infinitive = temporal: before)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐγγίσαιdrawing nearAor Act Inf · ἐγγίζωarticular infinitive (πρὸ τοῦ ἐγγίσαι: 'before he drew near')→ constative aorist (the approach as a discrete event not yet occurred)ἐγγίζω: 'draw near, approach'; the πρὸ τοῦ + infinitive construction is a Hebraism (בְּטֶרֶם) marking anteriority — the plot forms before Joseph can know anything.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἐγγίσαι→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative subject of the infinitive ἐγγίσαι.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of approach)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of approach).
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπονηρεύοντοplotted wickedlyImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐπονηρεύομαιmain verb (wicked plotting — imperfect of ongoing scheming)→ progressive imperfect (the scheming as ongoing, taking time)ἐπονηρεύομαι: 'act wickedly against, plot evil against'; a rare compound rendering Hebrew וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ ('they dealt deceitfully/treacherously'); the πονηρ- root connects to ψόγον πονηρόν (v.2) and θηρίον πονηρόν (v.20, 33) — the brothers enact the 'evil' that Joseph reported and that they falsely lay on a beast.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐπονηρεύοντο (the object of the plot)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐπονηρεύοντο (the object of the plot).
ἀποκτεῖναιto killAor Act Inf · ἀποκτείνωpurpose/result infinitive (expressing the goal of the scheming)→ constative aorist infinitiveἀποκτείνω: 'kill, put to death'; the goal of the plot is bluntly stated — murder; the same verb recurs in v.20 (ἀποκτείνωμεν) in their own words.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ἀποκτεῖναι→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἀποκτεῖναι.
19

εἶπαν δὲ ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ· Ἰδοὺ ὁ ἐνυπνιαστὴς ἐκεῖνος ἔρχεται.

They said to one another, 'Look, that dreamer is coming!'

Direct speech (the brothers' recognition and naming of Joseph)εἶπαν δέ
The brothers' first word about Joseph is his epithet: ὁ ἐνυπνιαστής ('the dreamer'). The contemptuous demonstrative ἐκεῖνος ('that one') distances him even further. The epithet ironically centres Joseph's identity on the very gift that will ultimately vindicate him — they define him by his dreams even as they seek to end them. The ἰδού (same interjection as in Joseph's own dream-telling, v.9) is here reversed: where Joseph said 'behold I dreamed,' the brothers say 'behold, that dreamer comes.'
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν, Koine form): introduces the third invitation.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativesubject (distributive: 'each to his brother' = 'one to another')→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each, every'; used here distributively — each of the brothers spoke to another brother; the phrase ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ renders Hebrew אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו, a standard LXX reciprocal idiom.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativeobject of πρός (each spoke to his own brother)→ object specificationἀδελφὸν: meaning 'brother'; it serves as object of πρός (each spoke to his own brother).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
Ἰδοὺlookinterjection (deictic: drawing attention to the approaching figure)→ participant identificationἰδού: here a visual deictic — 'look there!'; the same particle used by Joseph in his dream (v.9: ἰδοὺ ἐνυπνιασάμην), now used by the brothers to spot the dreamer.
ὁtheNominativearticle (marking the well-known, definite figure)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνυπνιαστὴςdreamerNominativesubject of ἔρχεται (used as a label/epithet)→ participant prominenceἐνυπνιαστής: 'dreamer'; a rare noun derived from ἐνύπνιον; used in Deut 13:1, 3, 5 LXX for a false prophet-dreamer who leads Israel astray — the brothers may be using the term with that pejorative nuance. Their epithet will be ironically reversed when Joseph's dream-gift saves Egypt.
ἐκεῖνοςthatNominativedemonstrative pronoun (contemptuous distance: 'that one there')→ participant referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that (one)'; the distal demonstrative creates contemptuous distancing — they refuse to name him, referring to him only as 'that dreamer'; a small but pointed gesture of dehumanisation.
ἔρχεταιis comingPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (vivid present: Joseph visible in the distance, approaching)→ progressive present (action in progress: he is right now coming)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the historic present continues the vivid narration of Jeroboam's homecoming to Sarira.
20

νῦν οὖν δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτὸν καὶ ῥίψωμεν αὐτὸν εἰς ἕνα τῶν λάκκων, καὶ ἐροῦμεν· Θηρίον πονηρὸν κατέφαγεν αὐτόν· καὶ ὀψόμεθα τί ἔσται τὰ ἐνύπνια αὐτοῦ.

'Now then come, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits, and we will say, "A savage beast has devoured him"; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.'

Direct speech: the brothers' murder planνῦν οὖν
The double particles νῦν οὖν ('now then') signal urgency and logical consequence — given what they have seen, here is what they should do. The plan is structured in three acts: kill, throw in pit, lie. The irony is exquisite: the lie they pre-plan (θηρίον πονηρὸν κατέφαγεν αὐτόν) becomes the very lie Jacob accepts in vv.33 and echoes the chapter's πονηρόν leitmotif. Their taunt 'what will become of his dreams?' is a direct challenge to divine providence — and the rest of Genesis answers it.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (urgency: 'now is the moment')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: meaning 'now'; it shapes time, manner, location, or discourse flow in the clause.
οὖνtheninferential particle (logical consequence: 'therefore/then')→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: meaning 'then'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δεῦτεcomedeictic particle / imperative of summons (plural form of δεῦρο)→ discourse linkage or contrastδεῦτε: 'come! (plural)'; the plural companion of the δεῦρο used by Israel in v.13 — the father's word of loving commission is now the brothers' word of murderous summons.
ἀποκτείνωμενlet us killAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ἀποκτείνωhortatory subjunctive (first proposal: the murder)→ constative aorist (single decisive act)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; the hortatory subjunctive ἀποκτείνωμεν proposes murder as the primary action — it is the first proposal that Reuben will deflect.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ῥίψωμενthrowAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ῥίπτωhortatory subjunctive (second action: disposing of the body)→ constative aoristῥίπτω: 'throw, cast'; the verb conveys violence and contempt — the body is to be thrown, not buried.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ἕναoneAccusativeindefinite numeral/adjective (partitive: 'one of the pits')→ measure or countεἷς: 'one'; used here partitively with the genitive τῶν λάκκων — 'one of the pits'; the imprecision ('one of them') shows their callousness — any pit will do.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (partitive genitive with ἕνα)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκωνpitsGenitivepartitive genitive with ἕνα→ relational specificationλάκκος: 'pit, cistern, well'; renders Hebrew בּוֹר; the word recurs at vv.22, 24, 28, 29; in Psalmic and prophetic usage, the 'pit' (בּוֹר) is associated with Sheol and death (Ps 88:4–7 LXX; Isa 38:18); the pit thus becomes a symbolic death and burial before the resurrection-like emergence into Egypt.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐροῦμενwe will sayFut Act Indic 1 Pl · λέγωmain verb (third element of the plan: the cover story)→ predictive futureλέγω (fut. ἐροῦμεν): 'say / tell'; the elders promise their future plea on the Benjaminites' behalf.
ΘηρίονbeastNominativesubject of κατέφαγεν (in the pre-planned lie)→ participant prominenceθηρίον: 'wild beast'; the pre-planned lie; the same word Jacob will use when he receives the blood-stained tunic (v.33). The collocation θηρίον πονηρόν ('savage beast') echoes ψόγον πονηρόν (v.2) — Joseph has gone from bringing an evil report to being the supposed victim of an evil beast.
πονηρὸνsavageNominativeattributive adjective→ participant prominenceπονηρός: 'evil, wicked, savage'; the chapter's third use of the πονηρός root (vv.2, 18-implied, 20); the brothers call the beast 'evil' but are themselves enacting the chapter's evil.
κατέφαγενdevouredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατεσθίωverb of the planned lie→ constative aoristκατεσθίω: 'devour, consume (eating down)'; the κατα- prefix adds thoroughness — completely devoured, leaving nothing. The brothers rehearse Jacob's very words before he speaks them (v.33).
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of κατέφαγεν→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of κατέφαγεν.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀψόμεθαwe shall seeFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (final taunt: challenging the dreams' significance)→ predictive futureὁράω: 'see'; the brothers' taunt 'we shall see what will become of his dreams' is the human counter-challenge to divine prophecy; the answer is the entirety of Gen 39–50 and ultimately the fulfilment of Gen 42:6 when they do bow down to him.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (indirect question: 'what will be')→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (indirect question: 'what will be').
ἔσταιwill becomeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of indirect question→ predictive futureεἰμί (fut.): copula.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνύπνιαdreamsNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceἐνύπνια: meaning 'dreams'; it serves as subject of ἔσται.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
21

ἀκούσας δὲ Ρουβην ἐρρύσατο αὐτὸν ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπεν· Οὐ πατάξομεν αὐτὸν εἰς ψυχήν.

When Reuben heard this, he rescued him from their hands and said, 'Let us not strike him mortally.'

Counter-action (Reuben's intervention)ἀκούσας δέ
Reuben's intervention is the first narrative counter-movement against the murder plan. The aorist participle ἀκούσας ('having heard') marks his response as immediate — on hearing the plan he acts. The verb ἐρρύσατο ('rescued') uses ῥύομαι, the standard LXX term for divine or human deliverance (cf. Ps 34:7 LXX; Matt 6:13). His argument is terse: 'Let us not strike him εἰς ψυχήν' — literally 'into the soul/life,' meaning 'fatally'; the phrase renders Hebrew לְנֶפֶשׁ ('with respect to life'). The narrator does not explain Reuben's motive until v.22.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ἀκούσαςhearingAor Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἀκούωadverbial participle (temporal: 'when he heard')→ constative aorist (prior act of hearing)ἀκούω: meaning 'hearing'; it contributes descriptive or attendant verbal force; here it functions as adverbial participle (temporal: 'when he heard').
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΡουβηνReubensubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΡουβην: LXX transliteration of רְאוּבֵן; the firstborn of Jacob and Leah; as firstborn, he bears particular responsibility for his younger brother and particular accountability to his father.
ἐρρύσατοrescuedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb→ constative aoristῥύομαι: 'rescue, deliver, snatch from'; a middle-voice deponent; the standard LXX term for deliverance — used of God's saving acts (Ps 34:7; 71:4 LXX) and here of Reuben's human intervention; it elevates Reuben's act to the vocabulary of rescue.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object (Joseph rescued)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Joseph rescued).
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation from danger)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation from danger).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρῶνhandsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from their hands' = 'from their power')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the phrase ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν ('from their hands') is an idiom for 'from their power/control'; the same phrase will appear in v.22 in Reuben's own stated motive.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship/possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship/possession.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introduces direct speech)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
Οὐnotnegation (with future indicative: emphatic prohibition)→ participant referenceοὐ + future indicative: a stronger prohibition than μή + subjunctive — 'we shall not (= must not) strike him'; renders Hebrew אַל-נַכֶּנּוּ.
πατάξομενwill we strikeFut Act Indic 1 Pl · πατάσσωmain verb (future used as strong prohibition with οὐ)→ predictive future (used prohibitively: 'we must not strike')πατάσσω: 'strike, smite'; used of striking a fatal blow (killing); the phrase πατάξομεν εἰς ψυχήν renders Hebrew נַכֶּנּוּ נֶפֶשׁ ('strike him fatally').
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (target of the blow: 'to the life/soul')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (target of the blow: 'to the life/soul').
ψυχήνthe soulAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'strike to the soul/life' = strike mortally)→ object specificationψυχή: 'soul, life'; the phrase πατάσσω εἰς ψυχήν renders Hebrew נָכָה לְנֶפֶשׁ, 'strike to the life' = 'kill'; ψυχή here = the vital life-force (נֶפֶשׁ), not the Greek metaphysical soul.
22

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτοῖς Ρουβην· Μὴ ἐκχέητε αἷμα· ἐμβάλετε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν λάκκον τοῦτον τὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, χεῖρα δὲ μὴ ἐπενέγκητε αὐτῷ· ὅπως ἐξέληται αὐτὸν ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν καὶ ἀποδῷ αὐτὸν τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ.

Reuben said to them, 'Do not shed blood; throw him into this pit that is in the desert, but do not lay a hand on him' — so that he might rescue him from their hands and restore him to his father.

Elaborated instruction (Reuben's plan disclosed with narrator's aside)εἶπεν δέ
Reuben gives two negative commands (μὴ ἐκχέητε αἷμα; χεῖρα μὴ ἐπενέγκητε) and one positive (ἐμβάλετε). His reasoning is revealed by the narrator in an aside using ὅπως + subjunctive (purpose clause): Reuben's plan is to rescue Joseph later and return him to Jacob (v.22b). The pit (λάκκος) is in the ἔρημος ('desert / uninhabited wilderness') — an isolated location where no one can hear. The prohibition 'do not shed blood' (μὴ ἐκχέητε αἷμα) echoes the Noahic covenant (Gen 9:6) and blood-guilt theology.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'to them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΡουβηνReubensubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ΜὴDo notprohibitive particle (with subjunctive: negative command)→ discourse linkage or contrastΜὴ: meaning 'Do not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκχέητεshedAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἐκχέωmain verb (prohibition: 'do not pour out blood')→ constative aorist (the specific act prohibited)ἐκχέω: 'pour out, shed'; the phrase ἐκχέω αἷμα ('shed blood') renders Hebrew שָׁפַךְ דָּם; echoes Gen 9:6 (whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall his blood be shed); blood-shedding is here the specific crime Reuben prohibits, even while allowing the pit solution.
αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect object of ἐκχέητε→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; in Gen 4:10 Abel's blood cries from the ground; the prohibition against shedding blood (ἐκχέω αἷμα) is the most fundamental of the Noahic laws and a cornerstone of the covenant community's ethics.
ἐμβάλετεthrowAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐμβάλλωimperative (positive command: the alternative action)→ constative aorist imperativeἐμβάλλω: 'throw into, cast into'; ἐν + βάλλω; renders Hebrew הַשְׁלִיכוּ ('throw'); the same root ῥίπτω appears in the brothers' own plan (v.20: ῥίψωμεν), the LXX varying the verb.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκονpitAccusativedirect object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationλάκκος: 'pit, cistern'; the specific pit is designated by the proximate demonstrative τοῦτον — 'this pit here'; the detail that it is in the wilderness (τὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ) adds the isolation required for Reuben's plan.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (attributive: 'this pit')→ participant referenceτοῦτον: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as demonstrative pronoun (attributive: 'this pit').
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (introducing relative clause)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative within the relative clause)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative within the relative clause).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳdesertDativedative of place (locative: 'in the wilderness')→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'desert, wilderness, uninhabited place'; renders Hebrew מִדְבָּר; the wilderness pit is the place of abandonment and near-death before the unexpected rescue — a death-and-resurrection pattern familiar from Moses in the Nile (Exod 2:3–5) and Jonah in the sea-beast (Jonah 2).
χεῖραhandAccusativedirect object of ἐπενέγκητε (accusative of the means laid upon him)→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the idiom χεῖρα ἐπιφέρω ('lay a hand on someone') = attack, assault, harm; renders Hebrew אַל-תִּשְׁלְחוּ יָד.
δὲbutcontrastive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotprohibitive particle→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπενέγκητεlayAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἐπιφέρωmain verb (prohibition: 'do not lay a hand on him')→ constative aoristἐπιφέρω: 'bring upon, lay on'; the phrase χεῖρα μὴ ἐπενέγκητε αὐτῷ = 'do not lay a hand on him'; Reuben's explicit second prohibition ensures no physical assault.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of disadvantage (on/against him)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage (on/against him).
ὅπωςso thatsubordinating conjunction (purpose: revealing Reuben's actual motive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅπως: 'so that, in order that'; introduces the narrator's aside revealing Reuben's true intent — his words were a ruse to save Joseph.
ἐξέληταιhe might rescueAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωverb of purpose clause→ constative aorist (the intended rescue as a discrete future act)ἐξαιρέω: 'take out, rescue, deliver'; a stronger compound than ῥύομαι (v.21), emphasising the physical extraction from the pit; the same verb is used of God rescuing his people (Exod 3:8; Acts 7:34).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρῶνhandsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (same idiom as v.21)→ relational specificationχειρῶν: meaning 'hands'; it serves as genitive object of ἐκ (same idiom as v.21).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (second purpose clause element)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποδῷrestoreAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιverb of second purpose clause (Reuben's full intention)→ constative aoristἀποδίδωμι: 'give back, restore, return'; Reuben's full plan is revealed: rescue Joseph from the pit and return him to his father. His failure (v.29) will leave him with the anguish of responsibility unfulfilled.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὶfatherDativedative of indirect object (the one to whom Joseph would be returned)→ sphere or referenceπατρὶ: meaning 'father'; it serves as dative of indirect object (the one to whom Joseph would be returned).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
23

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἦλθεν Ιωσηφ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ, ἐξέδυσαν τὸν Ιωσηφ τὸν χιτῶνα τὸν ποικίλον τὸν περὶ αὐτόν·

When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of the variegated tunic that was on him.

Narrative action (Joseph arrives; the tunic is stripped)Ἐγένετο δέ
The formula Ἐγένετο … ἡνίκα ('it came to pass when') is a Hebraism calquing וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר, the standard LXX temporal frame. The first action the brothers take is not to throw Joseph in the pit — it is to strip the tunic (χιτὼν ποικίλος). This order is revealing: the tunic is the symbol of everything they hate, and they want it off him before he dies. The fourfold repetition of the article (τὸν χιτῶνα τὸν ποικίλον τὸν περὶ αὐτόν) — 'the tunic, the variegated one, the one around him' — is a lingering, emphatic description.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
Ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιimpersonal verb (framing formula with temporal clause)→ ingressive aorist (inaugurating the scene)γίνομαι: 'become, come to pass'; ἐγένετο + ἡνίκα calques Hebrew וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר, a narrative frame used for significant moments of transition.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunction (introducing the when-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἡνίκα: 'when, at the time when'; a Hebraizing temporal conjunction rendering כַּאֲשֶׁר.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; here 'came to pass / were realized'; the singular verb with the neuter plural subject πάντα τὰ σημεῖα follows the regular Greek rule.
ΙωσηφJosephsubject of ἦλθεν→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject of ἦλθεν.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὺςbrothersAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationἀδελφοὺς: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as object of πρός.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἐξέδυσανstrippedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκδύωmain verb (the first violent act against Joseph)→ constative aoristἐκδύω: 'strip, undress'; renders Hebrew וַיַּפְשִׁיטוּ; the stripping of the tunic is the first act of the brothers' assault; the verb is used of stripping the armour of the slain in battle (1 Sam 17:54; 31:9 LXX); the tunic's removal strips Joseph of his identity as the favoured son.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephdirect object (genitive of stripping — here accusative with article by LXX idiom)→ noun-phrase markingΙωσηφ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (in accusative object chain)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χιτῶναtunicAccusativedirect object of ἐξέδυσαν→ object specificationχιτῶνα: meaning 'tunic'; it serves as direct object of ἐξέδυσαν.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with attributive adjective ποικίλον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποικίλονvariegatedAccusativeattributive adjective (fourth occurrence of the tunic-epithet in the chapter)→ object specificationποικίλος: 'variegated'; the tunic appears here for the third time in this chapter (vv.3, 23, 32, 33) — its removal marks the end of Joseph's favoured status and the beginning of his enslavement.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (introducing the περί-phrase: 'the one around him')→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περὶaroundpreposition + accusative (describing the tunic's position: 'the one about/around him')→ spatial or relational framingπερί: 'around, about'; renders Hebrew אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו ('which was on him'); the phrase emphasises the physical removal of what was literally wrapped around Joseph.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of περί→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of περί.
24

καὶ λαβόντες αὐτὸν ἔρριψαν εἰς τὸν λάκκον· ὁ δὲ λάκκος κενός, ὕδωρ οὐκ εἶχεν.

And taking him they threw him into the pit; the pit was empty — it had no water.

Narrative action (Joseph thrown into the pit)καὶ λαβόντες
The two verbs — λαβόντες ('taking') and ἔρριψαν ('threw') — are brutal and quick. The narrative then pauses for a parenthetical observation: the pit was empty, it had no water. The detail is both practical (he will not drown) and symbolic. The λάκκος κενός ('empty pit') contrasts with the emptiness (κενή) that will describe Naomi returning to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:21 LXX) — both emptied of what they most valued. The pit's emptiness is also what allows Reuben's plan (v.22) to remain viable — Joseph is alive.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λαβόντεςtakingAor Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · λαμβάνωadverbial participle (attendant circumstance with main verb ἔρριψαν)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take, seize'; the participle implies the brothers physically grabbed Joseph before throwing him.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of λαβόντες→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of λαβόντες.
ἔρριψανthrewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ῥίπτωmain verb→ constative aoristῥίπτω: 'throw, hurl, cast'; the verb fulfils the brothers' own plan (v.20: ῥίψωμεν αὐτόν) — their word and deed coincide, grimly. The same verb is used of casting nets and of casting people into prison (Acts 27:19; 16:23).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκονpitAccusativedirect object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationλάκκον: meaning 'pit'; it serves as direct object of εἰς (destination).
ὁtheNominativearticle (introducing the parenthetical description)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲandtransitional particle (introducing the narrator's parenthetical aside)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λάκκοςpitNominativesubject of the parenthetical clause→ participant prominenceλάκκος: meaning 'pit'; it serves as subject of the parenthetical clause.
κενόςemptyNominativepredicate adjective (the pit is empty — verbless predicate)→ participant prominenceκενός: 'empty, void'; the verbless clause λάκκος κενός is a Hebraism (asyndetic verbless clause for emphasis); renders Hebrew הַבּוֹר רֵיקָם ('the pit was empty'); the emptiness is both practical and symbolic — the pit of death has no water to drown him.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativedirect object of εἶχεν (with οὐκ: 'had no water')→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the narrator specifies: no water means no drowning, ensuring that the means of Reuben's plan remain open — Joseph can be retrieved alive.
οὐκnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
εἶχενhadImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb of explanatory clause→ progressive imperfect (state of the pit at the time)ἔχω: meaning 'had'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb of explanatory clause.
25

ἐκάθισαν δὲ φαγεῖν ἄρτον· καὶ ἀναβλέψαντες τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς εἶδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁδοιπόροι Ισμαηλῖται ἤρχοντο ἐκ Γαλααδ, καὶ αἱ κάμηλοι αὐτῶν ἔγεμον θυμιάματος καὶ ῥητίνης καὶ στακτῆς, ἐπορεύοντο δὲ καταγαγεῖν εἰς Αἴγυπτον.

They sat down to eat bread; and lifting their eyes they saw, and behold, Ishmaelite travelers were coming from Gilead, and their camels were laden with spice and resin and myrrh, and they were going down to Egypt.

Scene-setting (the arrival of the traders while the brothers eat)ἐκάθισαν δέ
The brothers' sitting down to eat while Joseph lies in the pit is one of the narrative's most morally stark details — they are hungry but not conscience-stricken. The arrival of the Ishmaelites is introduced with the classic prophetic idiom ἀναβλέψαντες τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς εἶδον, καὶ ἰδού ('they lifted their eyes and saw, and behold') — the same formula used for Abraham seeing the ram (Gen 22:13) and the three visitors (Gen 18:2). The caravan's contents — θυμίαμα, ῥητίνη, στακτή ('spice, resin, myrrh') — are exports of Gilead's balm-producing region, destined for Egyptian markets.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
ἐκάθισανsat downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καθίζωmain verb→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit down, sit'; the brothers' casual meal while Joseph lies in the pit is a detail of moral horror; cf. the similar callousness of the soldiers casting lots for Jesus's garments while he hung on the cross (Matt 27:36).
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φαγεῖνto eatAor Act Inf · ἐσθίωpurpose/result infinitive (sat down in order to eat)→ constative aoristἐσθίω (aor. inf. φαγεῖν): 'eat'; the suppletive aorist infinitive in μετὰ τὸ φαγεῖν ('after the eating') marks the time as following the sacrificial meal.
ἄρτονbreadAccusativedirect object of φαγεῖν→ object specificationἄρτος: 'bread'; 'eat bread' (φαγεῖν ἄρτον) is a Hebraism for 'have a meal' (אָכַל לֶחֶם); the irony is sharpened by the fact that Jacob's family is in the bread-business — the sons of the man whose father was associated with the land of bread's production (Gen 27; cf. Gen 12:10 where their ancestor migrated for bread in famine).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀναβλέψαντεςlifting upAor Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · ἀναβλέπωadverbial participle (attendant circumstance: 'lifting their eyes, they saw')→ constative aorist (the act of looking up)ἀναβλέπω: 'look up, lift the eyes'; the formula ἀναβλέψαντες τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς εἶδον καὶ ἰδού ('lifting their eyes they saw, and behold') is the standard LXX vision-formula marking the sudden appearance of something providential (cf. Gen 13:14; 18:2; 22:13; 31:12).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (dative with ὀφθαλμοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of means (with ἀναβλέψαντες: 'lifted [with] their eyes')→ sphere or referenceὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the phrase renders Hebrew בְּעֵינֵיהֶם; the dative of instrument is a Hebraism.
εἶδονsawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; renders רָאָה; the former acquaintances now witness Saul prophesying.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (preceding ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection (dramatic introduction of the caravan)→ clausal contributionἰδού: the presentative particle dramatically marks the caravan's unexpected arrival as a providentially significant appearance.
ὁδοιπόροιtravelersNominativesubject of ἤρχοντο→ participant prominenceὁδοιπόρος: 'traveler, wayfarer'; renders Hebrew אֹרְחַת ('caravan, traveling company'); the word simply means 'road-walkers' — the LXX uses a generic word where the Hebrew specifies a commercial caravan.
ΙσμαηλῖταιIshmaelitesNominativenominative appositive (identifying the travelers as Ishmaelites)→ participant prominenceΙσμαηλῖτης: 'Ishmaelite'; gentilic from Ισμαηλ (son of Abraham and Hagar); the Ishmaelites are distant cousins of the Israelites (through Abraham), making the sale a transaction within a broader Abrahamic family — and adding irony to the familial betrayal.
ἤρχοντοwere comingImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (imperfect: ongoing approach of the caravan)→ progressive imperfect (they were in the process of coming)ἔρχομαι (impf.): 'come / go'; the imperfect ἤρχοντο πρὸς Αγχους ('they would come to Achish') marks the recurring pattern: after each raid David presents himself to Achish — the setting for the deception of vv.10–11.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin/point of departure)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (origin/point of departure).
ΓαλααδGileadindeclinable proper noun (the caravan's origin)→ participant identificationΓαλααδ: LXX transliteration of גִּלְעָד (Gilead); the Transjordanian hill country east of the Jordan, famous for its balm (Jer 8:22: Is there no balm in Gilead?); the association of Gilead with healing balm is ironic given that Joseph's wounds are about to be healed by being sold.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κάμηλοιcamelsNominativesubject of ἔγεμον→ participant prominenceκάμηλος: 'camel'; the camel-caravan is the standard mode of desert/steppe trade in the ancient Near East; these are the pack animals carrying the goods.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
ἔγεμονwere laden withImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · γέμωmain verb (the camels' cargo described)→ progressive imperfect (state of being fully loaded)γέμω: 'be full of, be loaded with'; renders Hebrew נֹשְׂאֹת ('bearing, carrying'); the camels' richly laden state is a foretaste of the prosperity Joseph will bring to Potiphar's house and to Egypt.
θυμιάματοςspiceGenitivegenitive object of ἔγεμον (partitive genitive: laden with spice)→ relational specificationθυμίαμα: 'incense, aromatic spice'; renders Hebrew נְכֹאת (stacte, gum, or aromatic resin); Gilead's aromatic plants were exported throughout the ancient Near East.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ῥητίνηςresinGenitivegenitive object of ἔγεμον (second cargo)→ relational specificationῥητίνη: 'resin, mastic'; renders Hebrew צְרִי (balm/balsam); the famous 'balm of Gilead' (Jer 8:22; 46:11 LXX).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στακτῆςmyrrhGenitivegenitive object of ἔγεμον (third cargo)→ relational specificationστακτή: 'drops, stacte, liquid myrrh'; renders Hebrew לֹט (ladanum, a resinous substance); a valuable aromatic used in incense (Exod 30:34 LXX) and trade.
ἐπορεύοντοwere goingImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (the caravan's destination stated)→ progressive imperfect (ongoing journey)πορεύομαι: 'go / travel'; the imperfect ἐπορεύοντο conveys the ongoing, aimless movement of fugitives — 'they kept going wherever they could.'
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καταγαγεῖνto go downAor Act Inf · κατάγωpurpose infinitive (the caravan's destination and purpose)→ constative aoristκατάγω: 'bring down, lead down'; Egypt is consistently 'down' (κατάγω, καταβαίνω) in the narrative geography of Genesis, reflecting the descent from the Canaanite hill country to the Nile delta.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativeindeclinable proper noun (destination of the caravan — and of Joseph)→ participant identificationΑἴγυπτος: LXX form of מִצְרַיִם (Egypt); the narrative's horizon now opens toward Egypt — Joseph's eventual domain and the land where all the brothers will come in famine.
26

εἶπεν δὲ Ιουδας πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ· Τί χρήσιμον ἐὰν ἀποκτείνωμεν τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν καὶ κρύψωμεν τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ;

Judah said to his brothers, 'What is the profit if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?'

Second counter-proposal (Judah's pragmatic alternative)εἶπεν δέ
Judah's intervention is pragmatic rather than moral: he asks τί χρήσιμον ('what profit?') — the motive is instrumental, not ethical. His use of ἀδελφόν ('our brother') shows a moment of kinship-recognition that will grow by Gen 44 into a speech of selfless self-sacrifice for Benjamin. The phrase κρύψωμεν τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ('conceal his blood') implies guilt: spilled blood demands justice (Gen 4:10; Gen 9:6); concealment prolongs the crime but does not erase it.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙουδαςJudahNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΙουδας: LXX transliteration of יְהוּדָה; the fourth son of Jacob and Leah; declinable in Greek (Ιουδας, Ιουδα, Ιουδᾳ, Ιουδαν). Judah becomes the tribe's eponymous ancestor and the ancestor of David; his developing moral character across Gen 38–44 is one of the narrative's sub-arcs.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὺςbrothersAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationἀδελφοὺς: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as object of πρός.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ΤίWhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate: 'what is the profit?')→ participant referenceΤί: meaning 'What'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (predicate: 'what is the profit?').
χρήσιμονprofitNominativepredicate nominative (subject: 'what useful thing [is there]?')→ participant prominenceχρήσιμος: 'useful, profitable, of use'; renders Hebrew מַה-בֶּצַע ('what profit/gain?'); the word frames Judah's calculation as utilitarian — murder brings no tangible return.
ἐὰνifconditional particle (introducing the conditional situation: 'if we kill')→ discourse linkage or contrastἐὰν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκτείνωμενwe killAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ἀποκτείνωverb of conditional protasis→ constative aorist (the considered act)ἀποκτείνω: meaning 'we kill'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verb of conditional protasis.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativedirect object of ἀποκτείνωμεν→ object specificationἀδελφός: 'brother'; Judah uses the word ἀδελφόν — 'our brother' — thereby acknowledging kinship in the very sentence that proposes selling him; this is the first crack of moral awareness that will widen into his speech of substitution in Gen 44:33.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κρύψωμενconcealAor Act Subj 1 Pl · κρύπτωverb of second conditional clause→ constative aoristκρύπτω: 'hide, conceal'; the concealment of blood is a mark of guilt (Gen 4:10; Isa 26:21 LXX); the irony is that the brothers' concealment (by deception with the tunic) is itself what will be 'uncovered' on the day of recognition in Gen 42–45.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect object of κρύψωμεν→ object specificationαἷμα: meaning 'blood'; it serves as direct object of κρύψωμεν.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
27

δεῦτε ἀποδώμεθα αὐτὸν τοῖς Ισμαηλίταις τούτοις, αἱ δὲ χεῖρες ἡμῶν μὴ ἔστωσαν ἐπ' αὐτόν, ὅτι ἀδελφὸς ἡμῶν καὶ σὰρξ ἡμῶν ἐστιν. ἤκουσαν δὲ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ.

'Come, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites, and let not our hands be upon him, for he is our brother and our own flesh.' And his brothers listened to him.

Proposal and acceptance (Judah's plan adopted)δεῦτε
Judah's proposal completes the argument of v.26: instead of murder, sell. The justification is twofold and contradictory: (1) our hands should not be on him (an echo of Reuben's prohibition in v.22), and (2) he is our brother and our flesh. The second reason invokes kinship (ἀδελφός, σάρξ) to argue not for protection but for a milder exploitation. The brief narrative closure — ἤκουσαν δὲ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ('his brothers listened to him') — confirms the plan's adoption without moral comment.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
δεῦτεcomedeictic particle / imperative of summons→ discourse linkage or contrastδεῦτε: plural of δεῦρο; its third occurrence in the chapter (vv.13, 20, 27) — used by Israel lovingly (v.13), by the brothers murderously (v.20), and now by Judah pragmatically (v.27).
ἀποδώμεθαlet us sellAor Mid Subj 1 Pl · ἀποδίδωμιhortatory subjunctive (the proposed action)→ constative aoristἀποδίδωμι: 'give away, sell'; the middle voice (ἀποδώμεθα) can imply selling for one's own profit; renders Hebrew נִמְכְּרֶנּוּ ('let us sell him').
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσμαηλίταιςIshmaelitesDativedative of indirect object (the buyers)→ sphere or referenceΙσμαηλίταις: meaning 'Ishmaelites'; it serves as dative of indirect object (the buyers).
τούτοιςtheseDativedemonstrative pronoun (deictic: 'these ones here, right now')→ participant reference or interestτούτοις: meaning 'these'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as demonstrative pronoun (deictic: 'these ones here, right now').
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
χεῖρεςhandsNominativesubject of the prohibitive clause (μὴ ἔστωσαν: 'let not our hands be on him')→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; the hands idiom recurs from vv.21–22 (ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν; χεῖρα μὴ ἐπενέγκητε); Judah picks up Reuben's earlier language to make the sale sound morally cleaner than direct murder.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
μὴnotprohibitive particle (with imperative ἔστωσαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστωσανlet bePres Act Impv 3 Pl · εἰμίthird-person imperative (prohibition: 'let not our hands be on him')→ progressive present (ongoing state to be avoided)εἰμί: 'be'; the third-person imperative 'let [your eyes and ears] be open' — the summarizing plea for attentiveness.
ἐπ'onpreposition + accusative (against him: 'our hands not against him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ': meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (against him: 'our hands not against him').
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (giving the reason for the prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀδελφὸςbrotherNominativepredicate nominative (first kinship claim: 'he is our brother')→ participant prominenceἀδελφὸς: meaning 'brother'; it serves as predicate nominative (first kinship claim: 'he is our brother').
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σὰρξfleshNominativepredicate nominative (second kinship claim: 'our own flesh')→ participant prominenceσάρξ: 'flesh'; renders Hebrew בְּשָׂרֵנוּ ('our flesh'); the appeal to shared flesh echoes the creation-text (Gen 2:23–24: σὰρξ ἐκ τῆς σαρκός μου) — Judah invokes the deepest bond of kinship even as he proposes selling his brother into slavery.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb (shared between both predicate nominatives)→ progressive presentεἰμί: copula.
ἤκουσανlistenedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (narrator's confirmation that the brothers accepted Judah's proposal)→ constative aoristἀκούω: 'hear, listen to, heed'; the brief ἤκουσαν δὲ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ('his brothers listened to him') is the narrative's understated acceptance; it is chilling in its brevity — the decision to sell a brother is recorded in five Greek words.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀδελφοὶ: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as subject.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
28

καὶ παρεπορεύοντο οἱ ἄνθρωποι οἱ Μαδιηναῖοι οἱ ἔμποροι. καὶ ἐξείλκυσαν καὶ ἀνεβίβασαν τὸν Ιωσηφ ἐκ τοῦ λάκκου, καὶ ἀπέδοντο τὸν Ιωσηφ τοῖς Ισμαηλίταις εἴκοσι χρυσῶν· καὶ κατήγαγον τὸν Ιωσηφ εἰς Αἴγυπτον.

And the Midianite merchants were passing by. They drew Joseph up and brought him out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of gold; and they led Joseph down to Egypt.

Narrative action (the sale effected — the famous crux verse)καὶ παρεπορεύοντο
This verse contains the chapter's most famous LXX–MT divergence: the price is εἴκοσι χρυσῶν ('twenty pieces of gold') in the LXX versus twenty pieces of silver in the MT. The shift from silver to gold elevates the transaction. A second tension: the subjects throughout this verse are ambiguous — the Midianite merchants first 'pass by' (παρεπορεύοντο), then an unstated subject 'drew up' Joseph; it is unclear whether the brothers sold him to the Midianites who then sold him to the Ishmaelites, or whether the Midianites independently pulled Joseph out and sold him. The text preserves this source-tension without resolving it.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεπορεύοντοwere passing byImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραπορεύομαιmain verb (the Midianites' presence as background)→ progressive imperfect (ongoing passing by — they happen to be there)παραπορεύομαι: 'pass by alongside'; the imperfect marks their passing as background action that intersects with the foreground — a providential coincidence.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποιmenNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἄνθρωποι: meaning 'men'; it serves as subject.
οἱtheNominativearticle (introducing the ethnic identification)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜαδιηναῖοιMidianitesNominativenominative appositive (ethnic identification: 'the Midianite men')→ participant prominenceΜαδιηναῖος: 'Midianite'; gentilic from Μαδιαμ (Midian, son of Abraham and Keturah, Gen 25:2); also Abrahamic descendants, another layer of the family-betrayal irony. The switch from Ishmaelites (v.25) to Midianites (v.28) is the famous source-tension preserved by the LXX as by the MT.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔμποροιmerchantsNominativesecond appositive (identifying them as merchants/traders)→ participant prominenceἔμπορος: 'merchant, traveling trader'; renders Hebrew סֹחֲרִים ('traders'); cf. Rev 18:3 where the ἔμποροι of Babylon mourn her fall.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξείλκυσανthey drew outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξέλκωmain verb (ambiguous subject — brothers or Midianites?)→ constative aoristἐξέλκω: 'draw out, drag out'; renders Hebrew וַיִּמְשְׁכוּ ('they pulled'); the subject is not specified — the ambiguity is part of the text's source-tension between a version where the brothers sell Joseph (Judah's proposal accepted in v.27) and a version where the Midianites independently extract and sell him.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνεβίβασανbrought upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβιβάζωmain verb (second action: lifting Joseph out of the pit)→ constative aoristἀναβιβάζω: 'bring up, lift up'; renders Hebrew וַיַּעֲלוּ ('they raised'); the physical act of pulling Joseph up from the pit is the narrative's turning point — from this moment his trajectory is toward Egypt and eventual exaltation.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephdirect object→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as direct object.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation: out of the pit)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: out of the pit).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκουpitGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationλάκκος: the pit of vv.20–24; Joseph's emergence from the pit (ἐκ τοῦ λάκκου) mirrors later OT rescue imagery (Ps 40:2 LXX: ἀνέβησέν με ἐκ λάκκου ταλαιπωρίας, 'he brought me up from a pit of misery') and anticipates the resurrection typology.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέδοντοsoldAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (the sale)→ constative aorist (the transaction as completed act)ἀποδίδωμι: 'sell'; middle voice with commercial nuance (sell for one's own profit); the same root as Judah's ἀποδώμεθα (v.27) — confirming the plan's execution. Acts 7:9: ζηλώσαντες … ἀπέδοντο echoes this exact verb.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephdirect object (sold — named to stress the enormity)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as direct object (sold — named to stress the enormity).
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσμαηλίταιςIshmaelitesDativedative of indirect object (the buyers)→ sphere or referenceΙσμαηλίταις: meaning 'Ishmaelites'; it serves as dative of indirect object (the buyers).
εἴκοσιtwentyindeclinable numeral (the price)→ measure or countεἴκοσι: 'twenty'; the price of twenty χρυσῶν is the LXX's distinctive reading (vs. MT's כֶּסֶף 'silver'); the LXX 'gold' distinguishes this transaction from the thirty pieces of silver of Zech 11:12 and Matt 26:15, resisting a typological collapse of the two betrayals.
χρυσῶνpieces of goldGenitivegenitive of price (partitive genitive with εἴκοσι: 'twenty of gold' = twenty gold pieces)→ relational specificationχρυσός: 'gold'; the genitive χρυσῶν with a numeral is a standard LXX idiom for monetary amounts; the LXX reads gold (χρυσῶν) where MT reads silver (כֶּסֶף) — a famous LXX–MT divergence that elevates the price and alters the typological implications.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατήγαγονled downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατάγωmain verb (the final action: the descent into Egypt)→ constative aorist (the completed journey to Egypt)κατάγω: 'bring down, lead down'; the same root as v.25's καταγαγεῖν; the journey 'down' to Egypt is both geographical (downhill to the delta) and symbolic (the descent before the rise); the same narrative geography governs the later παρεπιδήμοις ('sojourners') in Egypt (Acts 7:6).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephdirect object (the final naming of Joseph in this verse — closing the transaction)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as direct object (the final naming of Joseph in this verse — closing the transaction).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativeindeclinable proper noun (destination — the destination of the chapter)→ participant identificationΑἴγυπτος: Egypt; the narrative horizon of the entire chapter is now fulfilled — Joseph has arrived in Egypt, setting the stage for Gen 39–50.
29

Ἀνέστρεψεν δὲ Ρουβην ἐπὶ τὸν λάκκον καὶ οὐχ ὁρᾷ τὸν Ιωσηφ ἐν τῷ λάκκῳ· καὶ διέρρηξεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ.

Reuben returned to the pit and did not see Joseph in the pit; and he tore his garments.

Reuben's return — the plan failsἈνέστρεψεν δέ
The narrative briefly switches perspective to Reuben, who returns to the pit expecting to find Joseph alive. The historic present οὐχ ὁρᾷ ('does not see') is vivid — the narrator enters Reuben's perspective in real-time. Reuben's tearing of garments (διέρρηξεν τὰ ἱμάτια) is the standard gesture of grief and distress in the OT-LXX (Gen 44:13; Josh 7:6; 2 Sam 1:11); it signals his personal devastation and implicit accountability as firstborn. The verse invites the reader to pity Reuben as the one brother who intended well but failed.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἈνέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναστρέφω: 'return, come back'; renders Hebrew וַיָּשָׁב; the act of returning to the pit to carry out his rescue plan (v.22) is foiled by the discovery of Joseph's absence.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΡουβηνReubensubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to the pit')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to the pit').
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκονpitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationλάκκον: meaning 'pit'; it serves as accusative object of ἐπί.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐχnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐχ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ὁρᾷseesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (historic present — vivid immediacy of Reuben's discovery)→ vivid/historic present (narrative immediacy)ὁράω: 'see'; the switch to the present tense (ὁρᾷ) after the aorist ἀνέστρεψεν is a historic-present device creating immediacy: we are in Reuben's shocked moment of discovery.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephdirect object of ὁρᾷ (the one not seen)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as direct object of ὁρᾷ (the one not seen).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκῳpitDativedative of place (locative: where Joseph is not)→ sphere or referenceλάκκῳ: meaning 'pit'; it serves as dative of place (locative: where Joseph is not).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέρρηξενtoreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαρρήγνυμιmain verb (gesture of grief and distress)→ constative aoristδιαρρήγνυμι: 'tear apart, rend'; the standard LXX word for tearing garments in grief or horror (cf. Gen 44:13; Lev 13:45; Matt 26:65); renders Hebrew וַיִּקְרַע ('he tore'); the intensity of the compound (διά = through/apart) conveys the thoroughness of the act.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of διέρρηξεν→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment, cloak, outer clothing'; the plural τὰ ἱμάτια refers to the outer garments torn as a sign of mourning; Jacob will perform the same gesture at v.34 (διέρρηξεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ), creating a verbal link between the grief of son and father.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive).
30

καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν· Τὸ παιδάριον οὐκ ἔστιν· ἐγὼ δὲ ποῦ πορεύομαι ἔτι;

And he returned to his brothers and said, 'The boy is gone; and I — where shall I go now?'

Reuben's lament (anguish of personal failure)καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν
Reuben's question ἐγὼ δὲ ποῦ πορεύομαι ἔτι ('and I — where shall I go?') is an expression of personal devastation. The word παιδάριον ('the boy') uses a diminutive of παῖς, conveying the youth and vulnerability of Joseph; it is perhaps more tender than Reuben has previously sounded. The question 'where shall I go?' has an existential undertone — where can Reuben go now that he has failed in his duty as firstborn? The question mirrors, in a darker key, Joseph's own wandering in v.15 and the later question of Joseph's fate in v.20.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; Samuel now does what he twice refused/was asked (vv. 25, 26, 30) — he returns; the relenting is a concession for public order, not a reversal of the verdict (v. 29).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὺςbrothersAccusativeobject of πρός→ object specificationἀδελφοὺς: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as object of πρός.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introduces direct speech)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΤὸTheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingΤὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyNominativesubject of the verbless clause (with implicit ἔστιν negated: 'is not [there]')→ participant prominenceπαιδάριον: 'little boy, lad'; diminutive of παῖς, suggesting youth and helplessness; used tenderly — Reuben's choice of diminutive reveals a warmer feeling for Joseph than his silence in the murder-plot might suggest. Renders Hebrew הַיֶּלֶד ('the child').
οὐκnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated: 'is not [here]')→ present of stateεἰμί: the phrase τὸ παιδάριον οὐκ ἔστιν renders Hebrew אֵינֶנּוּ ('he is not [there]'); the same idiom will reappear in Jacob's grief-speech (Gen 42:13, 36: Ιωσηφ οὐκ ἔστιν).
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic: fronted for personal anguish — 'and I')→ participant referenceἐγὼ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as subject (emphatic: fronted for personal anguish — 'and I').
δὲandtransitional/contrastive particle (after τὸ παιδάριον οὐκ ἔστιν: pivoting to Reuben's personal question)→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (direct question: 'where shall I go?')→ clausal contributionποῦ: meaning 'where'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
πορεύομαιshall I goPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb of the question (deliberative present with future force)→ deliberative present (anguished self-questioning)πορεύομαι: 'go'; the deliberative present expresses Reuben's existential distress — where can he possibly go, now that his plan to return Joseph to their father has failed? He is caught between the crime he did not prevent and the father he cannot face.
ἔτιnowadverb (temporal/emphatic: 'still, any more, now')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still, yet, any more'; adds pathos to the question — 'where shall I go from here, any more?' It implies that the future is closed off to him by the weight of this failure.
31

λαβόντες δὲ τὸν χιτῶνα τοῦ Ιωσηφ ἔσφαξαν ἔριφον αἰγῶν καὶ ἐμόλυναν τὸν χιτῶνα τῷ αἵματι·

They took Joseph's tunic, slaughtered a young goat, and stained the tunic with the blood.

Narrative action (the deception prepared)λαβόντες δέ
The brothers now execute the cover-up. The three-part action — take tunic, slaughter goat, dip in blood — is methodical and cold. The use of a goat (ἔριφος αἰγῶν) inverts the earlier goat-skin deception of Gen 27, where Jacob used a goat-skin to deceive Isaac; now goat-blood deceives Jacob. The verb ἐμόλυναν ('stained, defiled') carries a stronger moral connotation than mere 'dipped' — μολύνω means to pollute, defile; the tunic is morally as well as literally stained. This is the tunic's fourth appearance in the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
λαβόντεςtakingAor Act Ptcp Nom Pl Masc · λαμβάνωadverbial participle (attendant circumstance / sequential action)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; the aorist participle (subject the unnamed helpers, soon specified as Aaron and Hur) describes the taking of the stone preliminary to seating Moses.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χιτῶναtunicAccusativedirect object of λαβόντες→ object specificationχιτών: fifth appearance of the tunic in the chapter (vv.3, 23, 31, 32, 33); the tunic, stripped from Joseph in v.23, now becomes the instrument of the deception, transformed from a symbol of favour into evidence of death.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJoseph'sgenitive of possession (whose tunic it is)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive of possession (whose tunic it is).
ἔσφαξανslaughteredAor Act Indic 3 Pl · σφάζωmain verb (the act of slaughter)→ constative aoristσφάζω: 'slaughter, cut the throat of'; renders Hebrew וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ; the cultic slaughter-verb used of sacrificial animals (Exod 12:6; 1 Kgs 18:40) — they slaughter a goat as if performing a ritual, but the 'sacrifice' conceals a crime rather than expiating one.
ἔριφονyoung goatAccusativedirect object of ἔσφαξαν→ object specificationἔριφος: 'young goat, kid'; renders Hebrew שְׂעִיר עִזִּים ('goat of the goats'); the kid of Gen 27 (where Jacob used goat-skins to deceive his father) is now used in reverse to deceive Jacob. The goat is the deceiving animal par excellence in the Jacob-cycle.
αἰγῶνof goatsGenitivepartitive genitive (specifying the kind of young animal: 'a kid of the goats')→ relational specificationαἴξ: 'goat'; the genitive specifies the species; the same pair (ἔριφος αἰγῶν) appears in the Levitical sin-offering legislation (Lev 4:23; 9:3).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμόλυνανstainedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · μολύνωmain verb (the act of staining with blood)→ constative aoristμολύνω: 'stain, defile, pollute'; renders Hebrew וַיִּטְבְּלוּ ('they dipped'); the LXX verb is stronger — it implies defilement, moral as well as physical pollution; cf. Rev 3:4 where some in Sardis 'have not stained (ἐμόλυναν) their garments' — the antithesis of what the brothers do here.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χιτῶναtunicAccusativedirect object of ἐμόλυναν→ object specificationχιτῶνα: meaning 'tunic'; it serves as direct object of ἐμόλυναν.
τῷtheDativearticle (with dative of means)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἵματιbloodDativedative of means (stained by means of the blood)→ sphere or referenceαἷμα: 'blood'; the blood of the goat is the instrument of the lie; the brothers used blood (v.22: μὴ ἐκχέητε αἷμα, 'do not shed blood') as the argument against murder, and now they use blood as the substance of their deception.
32

καὶ ἀπέστειλαν τὸν χιτῶνα τὸν ποικίλον καὶ εἰσήνεγκαν τῷ πατρὶ αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπαν· Τοῦτον εὕρομεν· ἐπίγνωθι εἰ χιτών ἐστιν τοῦ υἱοῦ σου ἢ οὔ.

They sent the variegated tunic and brought it to their father and said, 'This we found; recognize whether it is your son's tunic or not.'

The deception delivered to Jacobκαὶ ἀπέστειλαν
The brothers' action is a masterpiece of lying by omission — they present only the tunic (no explanation of its origin) and invite Jacob to draw his own conclusions. The imperative ἐπίγνωθι ('recognize / identify') is the key verb: the same root ἐπιγινώσκω is used in Gen 27 for Isaac's recognition of Jacob (disguised as Esau); it will be used again at Gen 42:7–8 for Joseph's recognition of his brothers. The question 'your son's tunic or not?' (εἰ χιτών ἐστιν τοῦ υἱοῦ σου ἢ οὔ) is technically accurate — they let Jacob draw the lethal inference.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστειλανsentAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (the tunic sent as evidence — or weapon)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send'; the same verb used of Israel sending Joseph to the brothers (v.14). The tunic that was sent on the son (implicitly, by the father who gave it) is now sent back to the father in a bitter reversal.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χιτῶναtunicAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλαν→ object specificationχιτῶνα: meaning 'tunic'; it serves as direct object of ἀπέστειλαν.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with attributive ποικίλον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποικίλονvariegatedAccusativeattributive adjective (the identifying detail — the unmistakable tunic)→ object specificationποικίλος: 'variegated'; sixth and final occurrence in the chapter; the tunic is now the bloody instrument of grief rather than the gift of love.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσήνεγκανbroughtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσφέρωmain verb (physical bringing into Jacob's presence)→ constative aoristεἰσφέρω: 'bring in, carry in'; renders Hebrew וַיָּבִיאוּ ('they brought'); the tunic is brought into the father's presence as evidence.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὶfatherDativedative of indirect object (brought to their father)→ sphere or referenceπατρὶ: meaning 'father'; it serves as dative of indirect object (brought to their father).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (introduces the brothers' crafted speech)→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν, Koine form): introduces the third invitation.
ΤοῦτονThisAccusativedirect object of εὕρομεν (fronted for emphasis: 'this we found')→ participant referenceτοῦτον: the accusative demonstrative is fronted — 'this [object] we found'; the emphasis places the tunic at the centre without any statement about Joseph.
εὕρομενwe foundAor Act Indic 1 Pl · εὑρίσκωmain verb of direct speech→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find'; the brothers' lie is technically a truth — they 'found' the tunic, since they took it themselves. The lie lies in what they omit, not in what they say.
ἐπίγνωθιrecognizeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐπιγινώσκωimperative (request for identification — the cruel twist of the verb)→ constative aorist imperativeἐπιγινώσκω: 'recognise, identify with certainty'; renders Hebrew הַכֶּר-נָא ('please identify / please recognize'); the same verb and formula will be reversed in Gen 42:7–8 when Joseph recognizes his brothers; cf. also Gen 27:23 where Isaac recognizes (ἐπέγνω) Jacob through the deception.
εἰwhetherconditional particle (indirect question: 'whether it is')→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: meaning 'whether'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
χιτώνtunicNominativepredicate nominative (what is being identified: 'is it a tunic of your son?')→ participant prominenceχιτών: meaning 'tunic'; it serves as predicate nominative (what is being identified: 'is it a tunic of your son?').
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ present of stateεἰμί: copula.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive of possession ('your son's tunic')→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive of possession ('your son's tunic').
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (completing the yes/no question)→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὔnotnegative particle (completing the disjunction: 'or not')→ discourse linkage or contrastοὔ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
33

καὶ ἐπέγνω αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν· Χιτὼν τοῦ υἱοῦ μού ἐστιν· θηρίον πονηρὸν κατέφαγεν αὐτόν· θηρίον ἥρπασεν τὸν Ιωσηφ.

He recognized it and said, 'It is my son's tunic; a savage beast has devoured him; a beast has seized Joseph.'

Jacob's recognition and false conclusionκαὶ ἐπέγνω
Jacob's recognition (ἐπέγνω) picks up the brothers' imperative (ἐπίγνωθι, v.32) — he performs exactly what they invited him to do. His conclusion repeats the brothers' pre-scripted lie (θηρίον πονηρὸν κατέφαγεν αὐτόν, cf. v.20) almost verbatim, making clear that they succeeded in planting the inference without speaking it. The doubled θηρίον ('a savage beast … a beast has seized') is an anguished chiasmus of repetition, Jacob confirming his own worst fear twice. The naming of Ιωσηφ at the end — the only personal name Jacob uses in his grief — makes the loss concrete and personal.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέγνωrecognizedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιγινώσκωmain verb (Jacob's recognition — the response to the imperative)→ constative aoristἐπιγινώσκω: 'recognise, identify'; Jacob's ἐπέγνω answers the brothers' ἐπίγνωθι — the trap springs shut. The same verb will describe Joseph's recognition of his brothers in Gen 42:7–8, reversing the power dynamic.
αὐτὸνitAccusativedirect object (the tunic recognized)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the tunic recognized).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introduces direct speech)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΧιτὼνtunicNominativepredicate nominative (identification: 'it is the tunic of my son')→ participant prominenceχιτών: the word's seventh occurrence in the chapter; the father's identification of the tunic is both the chapter's emotional climax and the point at which the lie achieves its purpose.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive of possession.
μούmyGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive — the personal grief: 'my son')→ relational specificationμού: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship (possessive — the personal grief: 'my son').
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ present of stateεἰμί: copula.
θηρίονbeastNominativesubject of κατέφαγεν (first deployment of the brothers' scripted lie)→ participant prominenceθηρίον: 'beast'; Jacob speaks the brothers' scripted lie (v.20: θηρίον πονηρὸν κατέφαγεν αὐτόν) as if it were his own spontaneous conclusion; the deception is complete.
πονηρὸνsavageNominativeattributive adjective→ participant prominenceπονηρός: fourth use of the root in the chapter (vv.2, 18, 20, 33); the chapter's 'evil' vocabulary culminates in Jacob's own pronouncement.
κατέφαγενhas devouredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατεσθίωmain verb→ constative aorist (the completed devouring Jacob now believes occurred)κατεσθίω: the same verb now of the sword 'devouring' its victims, completing the parallel: forest vs. sword, both 'eating' men, but the forest the greater consumer.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
θηρίονbeastNominativesubject of ἥρπασεν (second repetition — anguished emphasis)→ participant prominenceθηρίον: meaning 'beast'; it serves as subject of ἥρπασεν (second repetition — anguished emphasis).
ἥρπασενhas seizedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἁρπάζωmain verb (second clause: a different verb intensifies the horror)→ constative aoristἁρπάζω: 'seize, snatch, take by force'; renders Hebrew טָרֹף ('tear, rend'); a second verb for the beast's violence, escalating from 'devour' (κατεσθίω) to 'snatch/tear' (ἁρπάζω) — Jacob doubles his lament in anguish.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephdirect object (the personal name at the end — grief made concrete)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: the personal name closes Jacob's speech — not 'my son' but 'Joseph,' the unique, irreplaceable person; a name his brothers refused to use (v.19: 'the dreamer').
34

διέρρηξεν δὲ Ιακωβ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπέθηκεν σάκκον ἐπὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπένθει τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἡμέρας πολλάς.

Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned his son for many days.

Jacob's mourning (three sequential acts of grief)διέρρηξεν δέ
Jacob's three acts of mourning are the standard gestures of deepest grief in biblical culture: tearing garments (as Reuben did in v.29), putting on sackcloth, and mourning for many days. The imperfect ἐπένθει ('was mourning') captures the ongoing, unresolved nature of the grief — it continued day after day. Jacob's mourning mirrors and exceeds Reuben's torn garments; the father's grief is the chapter's emotional climax, the human cost of the brothers' act fully displayed.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
διέρρηξενtoreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαρρήγνυμιmain verb (first act of mourning — same verb as Reuben's gesture in v.29)→ constative aoristδιαρρήγνυμι: 'tear apart'; Jacob's tearing echoes Reuben's (v.29: διέρρηξεν), creating a verbal link between the grief of the two men — one who tried to save Joseph and failed, one who receives the news of his supposed death.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙακωβJacobsubject→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as subject.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of διέρρηξεν→ object specificationἱμάτια: meaning 'garments'; it serves as direct object of διέρρηξεν.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέθηκενput onAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (second act of mourning)→ constative aoristἐπιτίθημι: 'put upon, place on'; renders Hebrew וַיָּשֶׂם ('he placed'); ἐπέθηκεν σάκκον ἐπί = placed sackcloth upon — a formal act of mourning-dress.
σάκκονsackclothAccusativedirect object of ἐπέθηκεν→ object specificationσάκκος: 'sackcloth'; coarse cloth worn in mourning and penitence (Isa 58:5; Jon 3:5–8 LXX; Matt 11:21); renders Hebrew שַׂק; the garment of ultimate grief.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (placement upon the loins)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (placement upon the loins).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀσφὺνloinsAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationὀσφύς: 'loin, hip, waist'; sackcloth placed on the loins is the standard LXX idiom for the formal mourning posture; the same gesture in Jon 3:5 signals Ninevite repentance.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπένθειwas mourningImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · πενθέωmain verb (third act — imperfect: ongoing grief over many days)→ progressive imperfect (grief as ongoing state, day after day)πενθέω: 'mourn, grieve'; the imperfect tense (vs. the two aorists before it) captures the prolonged, unresolved character of Jacob's grief — it went on and on. The chapter ends with this grief still unresolved; it will not be healed until Gen 45–46.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱὸνsonAccusativedirect object of ἐπένθει (the object of the mourning)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; Jacob mourns 'his son' (τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ) — the most personal possible relationship; the same phrase echoes God's relationship to Israel in Hosea and to Jesus at the baptism.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('for many days')→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative of duration (ἡμέρας πολλάς) emphasises the protracted nature of the grief; renders Hebrew יָמִים רַבִּים ('many days'); the same phrase is used for the period of Israel's faithlessness in the wilderness.
πολλάςmanyAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἡμέρας: extent of grief)→ object specificationπολλάς: meaning 'many'; it serves as attributive adjective (with ἡμέρας: extent of grief).
35

συνήχθησαν δὲ πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ καὶ ἦλθον παρακαλέσαι αὐτόν· καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακαλεῖσθαι λέγων· Ὅτι καταβήσομαι πρὸς τὸν υἱόν μου πενθῶν εἰς ᾅδου. καὶ ἔκλαυσεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ.

All his sons and all his daughters gathered and came to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, saying, 'I will go down mourning to my son into Hades.' And his father wept for him.

Jacob's inconsolable grief (the mourner who refuses comfort)συνήχθησαν δέ
The gathering of all Jacob's children to comfort him (παρακαλέσαι) — the same children who have committed the act — is darkly ironic. Jacob refuses comfort (οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακαλεῖσθαι): his stated reason is that he will descend to his son mourning εἰς ᾅδου — into Hades. The LXX εἰς ᾅδου renders Hebrew שְׁאֹלָה ('to Sheol'), substituting the Greek underworld for the Hebrew shadowy realm; this same substitution occurs at Jonah 2:3 LXX and Ps 87:4 LXX. The closing καὶ ἔκλαυσεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ('and his father wept for him') — with the pronoun αὐτόν referring to Joseph — is the chapter's emotional endpoint.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
συνήχθησανgatheredAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · συνάγωmain verb→ constative aoristσυνάγω: 'gather, assemble'; the passive 'were gathered' renders Hebrew וַיָּקֻמוּ ('they arose'); all the children come together — a family gathering that masks the crime at its centre.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάντεςallNominativeadjective modifying οἱ υἱοί (all of them, without exception)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; the exhaustive 'all his sons' includes the guilty brothers — they gather to comfort the father they have deceived.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject→ participant prominenceυἱοὶ: meaning 'sons'; it serves as subject.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject (coordinate with υἱοί)→ participant prominenceθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the daughters of Jacob include at least Dinah (Gen 34); their gathering to comfort their father adds to the pathos.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦλθονcameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἔρχομαι (aor. ἦλθον): 'come / go'; the messengers carry Saul's promise back to the besieged city.
παρακαλέσαιto comfortAor Act Inf · παρακαλέωpurpose infinitive (the reason they came)→ constative aoristπαρακαλέω: 'exhort, comfort, encourage'; renders Hebrew לְנַחֵם ('to comfort'); the same verb is used of the eschatological comfort of Isaiah (Isa 40:1 LXX: παρακαλεῖτε τὸν λαόν μου) and of the Holy Spirit as Paraclete (John 14:16).
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶbutadversative conjunction (here with contrastive force: 'but he refused')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἤθελενwas willingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · θέλωmain verb (imperfect of persistent refusal)→ progressive imperfect (obstinate, ongoing refusal to be comforted)θέλω: 'want, will, be willing'; the imperfect οὐκ ἤθελεν ('was not willing, refused') conveys a persistent, determined refusal — he kept refusing. The consolations of his children could not break through Jacob's grief.
παρακαλεῖσθαιto be comfortedPres Pass Inf · παρακαλέωcomplementary infinitive (completing ἤθελεν: refused to be comforted)→ progressive present (ongoing state of consolation being refused)παρακαλέω: meaning 'to be comforted'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as complementary infinitive (completing ἤθελεν: refused to be comforted).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωadverbial participle (manner: introducing direct speech)→ progressive presentλέγω (pres. ptcp.): renders the quotative לֵאמֹר ('saying').
ὍτιBecausecausal conjunction (giving the reason for refusal to be comforted: 'for I will go down…')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here causal — Jacob's refusal is grounded in his declared intention to mourn until death; the grief is identified as terminal.
καταβήσομαιI will go downFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (Jacob's declaration of terminal grief)→ predictive future (what Jacob intends for the rest of his life)καταβαίνω: 'go down, descend'; the descent εἰς ᾅδου is the descent into the underworld — Jacob declares he will go mourning into death; the verb reinforces the downward trajectory: Joseph was led 'down' to Egypt, and now Jacob will go 'down' into Hades mourning.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward the son: 'to my son')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction toward the son: 'to my son').
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόνsonAccusativeobject of πρός (Jacob going to be with his son, even in death)→ object specificationυἱόν: meaning 'son'; it serves as object of πρός (Jacob going to be with his son, even in death).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
πενθῶνmourningPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · πενθέωadverbial participle (manner: 'mourning, as I descend')→ progressive present (mourning as the continuous state of the descent)πενθέω: 'mourn'; the same root as ἐπένθει (v.34); Jacob will descend into Hades as a mourner — his grief is the condition of his entire remaining existence until he sees Joseph again (Gen 46:29–30).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination: into Hades)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination: into Hades).
ᾅδουHadesGenitivegenitive object of εἰς (εἰς ᾅδου = 'into Hades' — idiomatic genitive with understood δόμον/οἶκον)→ relational specificationᾅδης: 'Hades, the underworld'; the LXX's standard rendering of שְׁאוֹל ('Sheol'), the Hebrew shadowy realm of the dead; the phrase εἰς ᾅδου renders שְׁאֹלָה ('to Sheol'); the substitution of Hades for Sheol does significant theological work in reception history: it imports the Greek underworld concept with all its connotations (darkness, separation, finality). The same equivalence appears at Jonah 2:3 LXX (κοιλίᾳ ᾅδου) and Ps 87:4 LXX. Acts 2:27 cites Ps 16:10 LXX using the same εἰς ᾅδου idiom in its Christological application.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔκλαυσενweptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κλαίωmain verb (Jacob's weeping — the chapter's final image of grief)→ constative aorist (the act of weeping)κλαίω: 'weep, cry'; the briefest possible sentence — 'and his father wept for him' — ends the Jacob-section of the chapter with absolute pathos; the αὐτόν ('for him / over him') refers to Joseph.
αὐτὸνfor himAccusativedirect object (weeping for Joseph)→ participant referenceαὐτὸν: meaning 'for him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (weeping for Joseph).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject→ participant prominenceπατὴρ: meaning 'father'; it serves as subject.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of relationship.
36

Οἱ δὲ Μαδιηναῖοι ἀπέδοντο τὸν Ιωσηφ εἰς Αἴγυπτον τῷ Πετεφρῃ τῷ σπάδοντι Φαραω, ἀρχιμαγείρῳ.

The Midianites sold Joseph into Egypt to Petephrēs, the eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief cook.

Narrative bridge (chapter's close — the sale into Egypt completed)Οἱ δέ
The chapter's final verse is a narrative bridge to Gen 39: Joseph is now in Egypt, sold to Potiphar. The verse introduces the key figures: the Midianites (resuming the trader-strand of v.28), Petephrēs (Πετεφρης, the LXX form of Potiphar), his roles as eunuch of Pharaoh (τῷ σπάδοντι Φαραω) and chief cook (ἀρχιμαγείρῳ). The title ἀρχιμάγειρος — 'chief cook/butcher' — translates Hebrew רַב-טַבָּחִים ('chief of the slaughterers/guard') and preserves the culinary nuance; later interpreters harmonize toward 'captain of the guard' (Gen 39:1 LXX uses ὁ εὐνοῦχος Φαραω ἀρχιμάγειρος). The chapter ends with Joseph in the household that will first imprison and then promote him.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ΟἱTheNominativearticle (used as pronoun: 'they/the [Midianites]')→ noun-phrase markingΟἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲandtransitional particle→ discourse linkage or contrastδὲ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΜαδιηναῖοιMidianitesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜαδιηναῖος: 'Midianite'; the same group named at v.28; their appearance in both the sale and the delivery to Egypt frames them as the primary agents of the transaction in the LXX's rendering.
ἀπέδοντοsoldAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb→ constative aoristἀποδίδωμι: 'sell'; the same verb as vv.27 and 28; Acts 7:9 cites this exact act (ζηλώσαντες … ἀπέδοντο) as the theological crux of the episode.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephdirect object→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as direct object.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (destination).
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativeindeclinable proper noun (destination)→ participant identificationΑἴγυπτον: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as indeclinable proper noun (destination).
τῷtheDativearticle (with Πετεφρῃ — the buyer)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΠετεφρῃPetephrēsDativedative of indirect object (the buyer — Potiphar in later tradition)→ participant identificationΠετεφρης (nom.) / Πετεφρῃ (dat.): LXX transliteration of Hebrew פּוֹטִיפַר (Potiphar); the name is an Egyptian theophoric compound (Pꜣ-dj-pꜣ-Rꜥ, 'He whom Re has given'); his role will dominate Gen 39.
τῷtheDativearticle (introducing the first title of Petephrēs)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπάδοντιeunuchPres Act Ptcp Dat Sg Masc · σπάωdative substantival participle (title: 'the eunuch / one who is a eunuch')→ participial qualificationσπάδων / σπάω: the LXX uses the participial form τῷ σπάδοντι to render Hebrew הַסָּרִיס ('the eunuch/official'); σπάδων (a noun, 'eunuch') appears in Isa 56:3 LXX; Gen 39:1 LXX identifies the same figure as ὁ εὐνοῦχος Φαραω ('the eunuch of Pharaoh'), confirming the equivalence.
Φαραωof Pharaohindeclinable proper noun, genitive of relationship (whose eunuch/official Petephrēs is)→ participant identificationΦαραω: LXX transliteration of פַּרְעֹה (Pharaoh), the Egyptian royal title; indeclinable; the mention of Pharaoh opens the Egyptian court world that will be the setting of Gen 41.
ἀρχιμαγείρῳchief cookDativedative appositive (second title of Petephrēs: 'chief cook/butcher')→ sphere or referenceἀρχιμάγειρος: 'chief cook, chief butcher'; renders Hebrew רַב-טַבָּחִים ('chief of slaughterers'), a title for the head of the royal bodyguard/executioners; the LXX preserves the culinary register of μάγειρος ('cook, butcher') rather than harmonizing to 'captain of the guard'; the title recurs at Gen 39:1; 40:3–4; 41:10–12 LXX. The choice of ἀρχιμάγειρος is a deliberate rendering that has puzzled interpreters — why translate a military title with a culinary one? It may reflect the Egyptian context where the royal butcher was also a senior official.