Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Joshua, Chapter 18ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΙΗ′

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

At Shiloh Joshua surveys and divides the remaining land, and Benjamin receives its lot.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Joshua 18 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. Joshua 18 is a hinge-chapter in the land-distribution section of the book (chs. 13–21): it relocates the whole congregation to Shiloh, where the tent of meeting (ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου) is pitched (v. 1), establishing the central sanctuary that will remain Israel's cult-center down to 1 Samuel; the notice ἡ γῆ ἐκρατήθη ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν ('the land was subdued under them') marks the close of the conquest proper. The chapter divides cleanly: the assembly and Joshua's rebuke of the seven landless tribes (vv. 1–7), the survey-commission in which three men per tribe go out to walk the land (χωροβατῆσαι) and write it down in seven portions in a scroll (εἰς βιβλίον, vv. 4–9), and the casting of lots ἔναντι κυρίου ἐν Σηλω ('before the LORD at Shiloh', v. 10). The remainder (vv. 11–28) records the first lot — Benjamin's — describing its boundary running ἀνὰ μέσον Ιουδα καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν υἱῶν Ιωσηφ ('between Judah and the sons of Joseph', v. 11), and then enumerating the tribe's city-list. The Old Greek of Joshua is notably free in its handling of the dense Hebrew toponymy: many place-names are transliterated idiosyncratically (e.g. Βαιθηλ for Bethel, Καριαθιαριν for Kiriath-jearim, Γαβαων for Gibeon), some Hebrew topographical terms are calqued (κατὰ νώτου, 'along the shoulder/ridge'; ἡ διέξοδος, 'the outgoing/terminus' of a border-line; λοφιά, 'ridge'), and the Greek city-list of vv. 21–28 diverges in both spelling and count from the Masoretic Text. The technical verb χωροβατέω ('to traverse/survey land on foot') is a distinctive Joshua-LXX coinage for the surveying expedition. The repeated boundary-verbs in the future (προσαναβήσεται, ἀναβήσεται, καταβήσεται, διελεύσεται, περιελεύσεται) render Hebrew waw-consecutive perfects describing the line's course, giving the survey a vivid, traveling-eye perspective. Of particular note is the identification at v. 28, Ιεβους αὕτη ἐστὶν Ιερουσαλημ ('Jebus, this is Jerusalem'), assigning the future capital to Benjamin's territory on its border with Judah.

1

καὶ ἐξεκκλησιάσθη πᾶσα συναγωγὴ υἱῶν Ισραηλ εἰς Σηλω καὶ ἔπηξαν ἐκεῖ τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐκρατήθη ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν

And the whole congregation of the sons of Israel was assembled at Shiloh, and they pitched there the tent of meeting, and the land was subdued under them.

New narrative scene (relocation to the central sanctuary)καὶ ἐξεκκλησιάσθη
The chapter opens with a καί-paratactic scene-setter relocating the whole assembly to Shiloh. The passive ἐξεκκλησιάσθη ('was gathered as an assembly') and the cult-foundation notice (ἔπηξαν … τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου) inaugurate Shiloh as Israel's central sanctuary. The closing clause ἡ γῆ ἐκρατήθη ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν is a narratorial summary marking the close of the conquest and the turn to land-distribution.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξεκκλησιάσθηwas assembledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐξεκκλησιάζωmain verb (passive: the congregation gathered)→ constative aorist (single completed gathering)ἐξεκκλησιάζω: 'summon/gather as an assembly (ἐκκλησία)'; renders Hebrew קהל (Niphal, 'be assembled'); the passive presents the congregation as convened, the cognate of συναγωγή reinforcing the formal, cultic character of the gathering at the new sanctuary site.
πᾶσαwhole / allNominativeattributive adjective (modifying συναγωγή)πᾶς: 'all/whole'; the feminine nominative πᾶσα agrees with συναγωγή, stressing that the entire community — not a delegation — is present for this constitutive moment.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubjectσυναγωγή: 'gathering/congregation/assembly'; standard LXX rendering of עֵדָה / קָהָל; here the covenant community of Israel assembled for the distribution of the land.
υἱῶνof sonsGenitivegenitive (partitive/possessive: 'of the sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; the phrase υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the nation as a whole gathered at Shiloh.
εἰςto / atpreposition + accusative (goal of assembly)εἰς: with verbs of gathering the directional 'to/into' shades into locative 'at'; the assembly converges upon Shiloh.
ΣηλωShilohobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Σηλω: transliteration of שִׁלֹה (Shiloh), in the hill country of Ephraim; here it becomes Israel's central sanctuary, housing the tent of meeting until its loss in 1 Sam 4.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπηξανthey pitchedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πήγνυμιmain verb (setting up the tent)→ constative aorist (single completed act)πήγνυμι: 'fix/fasten/pitch (a tent)'; the standard verb for erecting the tabernacle (cf. Exod 33:7; Num 1:51); renders Hebrew שׁכן / נטה in tent-pitching contexts.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (at Shiloh)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; the deictic adverb fixes the sanctuary precisely at Shiloh.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνὴνtentAccusativedirect object of ἔπηξανσκηνή: 'tent/tabernacle'; the phrase ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('the tent of witness/meeting') renders אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, the portable sanctuary; its installation at Shiloh marks the cultic centering of the nation.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτυρίουof meeting / witnessGenitivegenitive (defining: 'tent of witness')μαρτύριον: 'testimony/witness'; the LXX renders Hebrew מוֹעֵד ('meeting') by μαρτύριον, interpreting the tent as the locus of the divine testimony (cf. the 'tablets of the testimony'); the genitive defines the tent's function as the place of YHWH's self-attestation to Israel.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing summary clause)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of ἐκρατήθηγῆ: 'land/earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; here the land of Canaan, now brought under Israelite control.
ἐκρατήθηwas subduedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κρατέωmain verb (narratorial summary: conquest complete)→ constative aorist (achieved settled state)κρατέω: 'master/subdue/hold sway over'; renders Hebrew כבשׁ ('subdue'); the passive ἐκρατήθη … ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν ('was subdued under them') marks the formal completion of the conquest and the precondition for distributing the land (cf. Josh 11:23; 21:43).
ὑπ᾿under / bypreposition + genitive (agent: 'by/under them')ὑπό + genitive: marks the agent of the passive; the land was subdued 'by/under' the Israelites.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive of agent (with ὑπό)αὐτός: 'he/it/self'; here the genitive plural refers to the Israelites as the agents of the subduing.
2

καὶ κατελείφθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ οἳ οὐκ ἐκληρονόμησαν ἑπτὰ φυλαί

And there were left among the sons of Israel those who had not received an inheritance — seven tribes.

Situation-report (the unfinished business of distribution)καὶ κατελείφθησαν
A statement of the remaining problem: seven of the twelve tribes have not yet received an inheritance. The passive κατελείφθησαν ('were left over') and the relative clause οἳ οὐκ ἐκληρονόμησαν frame these tribes as the agenda for the survey and lot that follow.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατελείφθησανwere left overAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · καταλείπωmain verb (passive: remained without inheritance)→ constative aorist (resultant state)καταλείπω: 'leave behind/leave remaining'; renders Hebrew יתר / שׁאר; the passive marks the seven tribes as those 'left over' in the distribution process — still awaiting their allotment.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (those left over)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ here narrows to the members of the seven tribes still lacking an inheritance.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐκληρονόμησαν)ὅς: relative pronoun; the masculine nominative plural οἳ introduces the defining relative clause identifying the landless tribes.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐκληρονόμησαν)οὐ: objective negation of the indicative verb.
ἐκληρονόμησανreceived an inheritanceAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κληρονομέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (had not, to this point, inherited)κληρονομέω: 'inherit/take possession (by lot)'; renders Hebrew נחל; the verb is built on κλῆρος ('lot') and ties possession of land to the lot-casting procedure that follows in vv. 6–10.
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (in apposition: 'seven tribes')ἑπτά: 'seven'; indeclinable numeral; specifies the number of tribes still without an allotment (Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan).
φυλαίtribesNominativenominative in apposition to οἱ υἱοί (summing up: 'seven tribes')φυλή: 'tribe/clan'; renders שֵׁבֶט / מַטֶּה; the appositional ἑπτὰ φυλαί quantifies the outstanding tribal allotments.
3

καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ἕως τίνος ἐκλυθήσεσθε κληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν ἣν ἔδωκεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν

And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, 'How long will you be slack about going in to inherit the land which the LORD our God has given?'

Direct speech: Joshua's rebuke (main narrative)καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς
Joshua addresses the landless tribes with a reproachful rhetorical question, ἕως τίνος ('how long?'), a stock LXX idiom of impatient remonstrance. The verb ἐκλυθήσεσθε ('be slack/grow faint') charges the seven tribes with negligence regarding a possession already divinely granted (ἣν ἔδωκεν κύριος).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: 'say'; the aorist εἶπεν introduces Joshua's direct address to the tribes.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: Greek form of Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Joshua); declined as a first-declension noun in the LXX (gen./dat. Ἰησοῦ, acc. Ἰησοῦν); the same name borne by Jesus in the NT.
τοῖςto theDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object (addressees)υἱός: 'son'; the dative τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ marks the tribes as the recipients of Joshua's rebuke.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל.
ἕωςuntil / how (long)preposition + genitive (with τίνος, idiomatic: 'how long?')ἕως: 'until/as far as'; the idiom ἕως τίνος renders עַד־אָנָה ('how long?'), a formula of impatient or reproachful remonstrance (cf. Exod 10:3; Ps 12:2 LXX).
τίνοςwhat (point)Genitiveinterrogative pronoun (object of ἕως)τίς: interrogative 'who/what'; the genitive τίνος with ἕως forms the temporal interrogative 'until what (time)?' = 'how long?'
ἐκλυθήσεσθεwill you be slackFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · ἐκλύωmain verb of the question→ deliberative/reproachful future (rebuking present negligence)ἐκλύω: 'loose/relax/grow faint/be slack'; the passive ἐκλύομαι means 'become weary, lose heart, be remiss'; renders Hebrew רפה (Hithpael, 'show oneself slack'); Joshua charges the tribes with a failure of resolve to take what is already given.
κληρονομῆσαιto inheritAor Act Inf · κληρονομέωcomplementary infinitive (the action they delay)→ aorist infinitive (the act of taking possession)κληρονομέω: 'inherit/take possession'; the epexegetical infinitive specifies what they are slack about — going in to possess the land.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of κληρονομῆσαιγῆ: 'land'; the object of inheritance — Canaan, already granted by divine gift.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔδωκεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; the feminine accusative ἣν agrees with γῆν and introduces the clause of divine gift.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (divine gift)→ constative aorist (settled act of donation)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נתן; the land-grant theology — the LORD has already 'given' the land, so failure to take it is failure of faith, not lack of title.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἔδωκενκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here the divine donor of the land.
theNominativearticle (with θεός in apposition)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the apposition κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ('the LORD our God') binds the gift to the covenant relationship.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (covenant relationship)ἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'our'; the possessive stresses the covenant bond — it is 'our God' who has given the land.
4

δότε ἐξ ὑμῶν τρεῖς ἄνδρας ἐκ φυλῆς καὶ ἀναστάντες διελθέτωσαν τὴν γῆν καὶ διαγραψάτωσαν αὐτὴν ἐναντίον μου καθὰ δεήσει διελεῖν αὐτήν καὶ ἤλθοσαν πρὸς αὐτόν

Give from among yourselves three men per tribe, and let them rise up and go through the land and describe it before me, according to how it must be divided; and they came to him.

Direct speech continued: the survey-commandδότε
Joshua issues the operational order: each tribe is to supply three men who will traverse the land and produce a written survey (διαγραψάτωσαν) before him, in view of its division. The chain of imperatives (δότε … διελθέτωσαν … διαγραψάτωσαν) moves from delegation to surveying to documentation. The verse closes with a narrative aorist (ἤλθοσαν) reporting the men's compliance.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
δότεgiveAor Act Impv 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (imperative to the tribes)→ ingressive aorist imperative (single decisive act)δίδωμι: 'give/appoint'; the aorist imperative δότε commissions the tribes to designate surveyors from their own number.
ἐξfrom amongpreposition + genitive (source: 'from among you')ἐκ: 'out of/from among'; the men are to be drawn from the tribes' own membership.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (the source group)σύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'of you'; the surveyors come from within the tribes themselves.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativenumeral (modifying ἄνδρας)τρεῖς: 'three'; the surveying delegation is fixed at three men per tribe — twenty-one in all for the seven tribes.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of δότεἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the surveyors as adult male representatives of their tribes.
ἐκfrom / perpreposition + genitive (distributive: 'per tribe')ἐκ: here distributive — 'three men from (each) tribe', i.e. per tribe.
φυλῆςtribeGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (distributive)φυλή: 'tribe'; the anarthrous singular with distributive ἐκ = 'per tribe'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀναστάντεςhaving risen upAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · ἀνίστημιcircumstantial participle (attendant: 'rising up')→ aorist participle (action preceding/accompanying the main verbs)ἀνίστημι: 'rise up/set out'; the participle ἀναστάντες ('having arisen') renders the Hebrew קום idiom that frequently introduces purposeful action — here, setting out on the survey expedition.
διελθέτωσανlet them go throughAor Act Impv 3 Pl · διέρχομαιthird-person imperative (the surveying movement)→ ingressive aorist imperative (traverse the land)διέρχομαι: 'go through/traverse'; the compound διά- stresses passing through the whole land; the verb anticipates the technical χωροβατέω ('survey on foot') of vv. 8–9.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of διελθέτωσανγῆ: 'land'; the as-yet-undistributed territory to be surveyed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διαγραψάτωσανlet them describe / mapAor Act Impv 3 Pl · διαγράφωthird-person imperative (documentation order)→ ingressive aorist imperative (produce a written survey)διαγράφω: 'draw out/describe/register in writing'; renders Hebrew כתב in the surveying sense; the men are to make a written description (effectively a map) of the land — fulfilled at v. 9 (ἔγραψαν … εἰς βιβλίον).
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of διαγραψάτωσαν (the land)αὐτός: 'it'; the feminine accusative refers to ἡ γῆ.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (in Joshua's presence)ἐναντίον: 'before/in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; the survey is to be produced under Joshua's oversight.
μουmeGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον (Joshua himself)ἐγώ (gen. μου): 'of me'; Joshua as the authority before whom the survey is laid.
καθὰaccording ascomparative conjunction (introducing manner clause)καθά: 'according as/just as'; renders Hebrew כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the standard governing the division of the land.
δεήσειit will be necessaryFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δεῖ (δέω)impersonal verb (necessity governing the infinitive)→ future of necessity ('as it must be')δεῖ (impersonal, fut. δεήσει): 'it is necessary'; the impersonal future + infinitive expresses the requisite manner of division — the survey is to be made with a view to the necessary apportionment.
διελεῖνto divideAor Act Inf · διαιρέωcomplementary infinitive (with δεήσει)→ aorist infinitive (the act of partition)διαιρέω: 'divide/distribute/apportion'; the infinitive complements δεήσει — the survey serves the necessary division of the land into the seven portions (cf. διεῖλεν, v. 5).
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object of διελεῖν (the land)αὐτός: 'it'; the land as the object of division.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (shifting to report of compliance)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤλθοσανthey cameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (narrative report of compliance)→ constative aorist (completed coming)ἔρχομαι: 'come/go'; the Hellenistic aorist form ἤλθοσαν (with -οσαν ending, common in the LXX for ἦλθον) reports the men's compliance — they came to Joshua, ready to be sent out.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρός: 'to/toward'; with accusative marks the goal of motion.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Joshua)αὐτός: 'him'; refers to Joshua.
5

καὶ διεῖλεν αὐτοῖς ἑπτὰ μερίδας Ιουδας στήσεται αὐτοῖς ὅριον ἀπὸ λιβός καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ιωσηφ στήσονται αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ βορρᾶ

And he divided to them seven portions: Judah shall stand for them as a boundary from the south, and the sons of Joseph shall stand for them from the north.

Direct speech continued: the framing of the seven portionsκαὶ διεῖλεν
Joshua sets the geographical frame for the seven portions: the already-settled tribes of Judah (south) and Joseph (north) form the fixed boundaries within which the remaining land is to be divided. The future-tense στήσεται/στήσονται ('shall stand') present these existing allotments as the bracketing limits of the survey.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διεῖλενdividedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαιρέωmain verb (Joshua's apportioning)→ constative aorist (single act of division)διαιρέω: 'divide/apportion'; the same root as διελεῖν (v. 4); here Joshua marks out the land as seven portions (μερίδας) in conception, prior to the surveyors' work.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of advantage (for the tribes)αὐτός: 'to them'; the dative marks the seven landless tribes as beneficiaries of the division.
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (modifying μερίδας)ἑπτά: 'seven'; the number of portions matching the seven landless tribes.
μερίδαςportionsAccusativedirect object of διεῖλεν (the result of division)μερίς: 'part/portion/share'; renders Hebrew חֵלֶק; the land is conceived as divisible into seven shares for distribution by lot.
ΙουδαςJudahNominativesubject of στήσεται (tribal name, declined)Ιουδας: Greek form of יְהוּדָה (Judah); here the tribe whose already-allotted southern territory (chs. 15) forms the southern boundary of the seven portions.
στήσεταιshall standFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (Judah as fixed boundary)→ gnomic/predictive future (settled spatial relation)ἵστημι (fut. mid. στήσεται): 'stand/be set'; here in the sense 'shall remain fixed/serve as boundary'; Judah's settled allotment 'stands' as the southern limit.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedative of reference (the tribes)αὐτός: 'for them'; the dative marks the seven tribes with reference to whom Judah forms a boundary.
ὅριονboundaryNominativepredicate nominative (with στήσεται: 'stand as a boundary')ὅριον: 'boundary/border'; renders Hebrew גְּבוּל; the recurring term throughout the boundary-descriptions of vv. 11–20.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (direction: 'on the south')ἀπό: 'from'; with compass-points the LXX uses ἀπὸ λιβός / ἀπὸ βορρᾶ for 'on the south / on the north side'.
λιβόςsouthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (compass-point)λίψ (gen. λιβός): properly the southwest wind, used in the LXX for 'south'; renders Hebrew נֶגֶב; here Judah lies to the south of the portions.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (parallel north clause)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of στήσονταιυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ιωσηφ ('the sons of Joseph' = Ephraim and Manasseh) hold the northern allotment (chs. 16–17).
ΙωσηφJosephgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιωσηφ: transliteration of יוֹסֵף (Joseph); indeclinable; the Joseph-tribes form the northern boundary of the seven portions.
στήσονταιshall standFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (Joseph as northern boundary)→ gnomic/predictive future (settled spatial relation)ἵστημι (fut. mid. στήσονται): 'stand/be set'; parallel to στήσεται above — the Joseph-tribes 'stand' as the northern limit within which the seven portions fall.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedative of reference (the tribes)αὐτός: 'for them'; with reference to the seven tribes.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (direction: 'on the north')ἀπό: with βορρᾶ = 'on the north side'.
βορρᾶnorthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (compass-point)βορρᾶς (gen. βορρᾶ): properly the north wind, used for 'north'; renders Hebrew צָפוֹן; the Joseph-tribes lie to the north.
6

ὑμεῖς δὲ μερίσατε τὴν γῆν ἑπτὰ μερίδας καὶ ἐνέγκατε πρός με ὧδε καὶ ἐξοίσω ὑμῖν κλῆρον ἔναντι κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν

But you, divide the land into seven portions and bring it to me here, and I will cast a lot for you here before the LORD our God.

Direct speech: the divided command with emphatic subject-pronounὑμεῖς δὲ
The emphatic ὑμεῖς δέ ('but you') sharpens the assignment: the tribes do the surveying and dividing; Joshua, by contrast (ἐξοίσω, first person), casts the lot before the LORD. The verse pairs human labor with sacral procedure — division by survey, allotment by lot in the divine presence.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ὑμεῖςyouNominativeemphatic subject pronounσύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the explicit nominative is emphatic in Greek (the verb already encodes person) — 'you for your part', contrasting the tribes' task with Joshua's.
δὲbut / andmild adversative (post-positive)δέ: post-positive; here lightly adversative, distinguishing the tribes' role from Joshua's.
μερίσατεdivideAor Act Impv 2 Pl · μερίζωmain verb (imperative to the tribes)→ ingressive aorist imperative (single decisive act)μερίζω: 'divide/apportion into parts'; cognate with μερίς; the tribes are to partition the land into the seven shares the surveyors map out.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of μερίσατεγῆ: 'land'; the territory to be partitioned.
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (modifying μερίδας)ἑπτά: 'seven'.
μερίδαςportionsAccusativeaccusative of result (into seven portions)μερίς: 'portion/share'; the accusative of result specifies the outcome of the dividing — seven shares.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνέγκατεbringAor Act Impv 2 Pl · φέρωmain verb (imperative: bring the survey)→ ingressive aorist imperativeφέρω (aor. ἤνεγκα): 'bring/carry'; the tribes are to bring the written survey back to Joshua (fulfilled at v. 9, ἤνεγκαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν).
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρός: 'to/toward'.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Joshua)ἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; Joshua as the recipient of the survey.
ὧδεhereadverb of place (at Shiloh)ὧδε: 'here'; the deictic locates the proceedings at Shiloh before the sanctuary.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing Joshua's task)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξοίσωI will bring out / castFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐκφέρωmain verb (Joshua's first-person commitment)→ predictive future (the promised lot-casting)ἐκφέρω: 'bring out/produce'; the idiom ἐκφέρω κλῆρον ('bring out a lot') denotes the casting/drawing of lots; Joshua himself will conduct the sacral allotment before the LORD.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage (the tribes)σύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'for you'; the lot is cast on the tribes' behalf.
κλῆρονlotAccusativedirect object of ἐξοίσωκλῆρος: 'lot/allotment'; renders Hebrew גּוֹרָל; the sacred lot by which YHWH assigns each tribe its inheritance — the basis of κληρονομία ('inheritance').
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive (in the divine presence)ἔναντι: 'before/in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; the lot is cast 'before the LORD', i.e. at the sanctuary, making the result a divine verdict.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντικύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the allotment is conducted in YHWH's presence, sealing it as his own assignment.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ in apposition)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίουθεός: 'God'; the apposition κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν reinforces the covenant relationship governing the distribution.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (covenant relationship)ἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'our'; binds the lot to the covenant God of Israel.
7

οὐ γάρ ἐστιν μερὶς τοῖς υἱοῖς Λευι ἐν ὑμῖν ἱερατεία γὰρ κυρίου μερὶς αὐτοῦ καὶ Γαδ καὶ Ρουβην καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασση ἐλάβοσαν τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτῶν πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἐπ᾿ ἀνατολάς ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς ὁ παῖς κυρίου

For there is no portion for the sons of Levi among you, for the priesthood of the LORD is his portion; and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.

Explanatory ground (γάρ): why only seven portionsοὐ γάρ ἐστιν
Two explanatory γάρ-clauses justify the count of seven (not nine or twelve): Levi receives no land-portion because its inheritance is the priesthood of the LORD (ἱερατεία … κυρίου); and Gad, Reuben, and half-Manasseh already hold their territory east of the Jordan, granted by Moses. Thus the land in view is for the seven remaining tribes only.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
οὐnotnegative particle (with ἐστιν)οὐ: objective negation.
γάρforcausal/explanatory conjunction (post-positive)γάρ: 'for'; introduces the ground for the seven-fold division — the excluded tribes.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there is no')→ stative present (settled fact)εἰμί: 'be/exist'; the existential οὐ … ἐστιν μερίς = 'there is no portion'.
μερὶςportionNominativesubject of ἐστινμερίς: 'portion/share'; Levi has no land-share, a principle stated repeatedly (cf. Num 18:20; Deut 10:9; Josh 13:14, 33).
τοῖςto theDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of possession (the Levites)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Λευι = the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe.
ΛευιLevigenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Λευι: transliteration of לֵוִי (Levi); indeclinable; the priestly tribe with no territorial allotment.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: 'among you')ἐν: 'among/in'; Levi has no portion 'among you' (the land-receiving tribes).
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐνσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'you'; the assembled tribes.
ἱερατείαpriesthoodNominativesubject (predicate of the second γάρ-clause)ἱερατεία: 'priesthood/priestly office'; renders Hebrew כְּהֻנָּה; Levi's 'inheritance' is the priestly service of the LORD itself, not land.
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive, second ground)γάρ: 'for'; explains why Levi has no land-portion.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (defining: 'priesthood of the LORD')κύριος: rendering of יהוה; the priesthood belongs to and serves YHWH.
μερὶςportionNominativepredicate nominative (apposition: 'is his portion')μερίς: 'portion'; the priesthood is Levi's portion (μερὶς αὐτοῦ), substituting sacred office for territory.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Levi's)αὐτός: 'his'; refers to Levi (collective singular).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the Transjordan tribes)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΓαδGadsubject (tribal name, indeclinable)Γαδ: transliteration of גָּד (Gad); indeclinable; a Transjordan tribe.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΡουβηνReubensubject (tribal name, indeclinable)Ρουβην: transliteration of רְאוּבֵן (Reuben); indeclinable; a Transjordan tribe.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἥμισυ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥμισυhalfNominativesubject (substantivized: 'the half')ἥμισυς: 'half'; τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασση = 'the half-tribe of Manasseh' that settled east of the Jordan (cf. Num 32; Josh 13:29–31).
φυλῆςof the tribeGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἥμισυ)φυλή: 'tribe'; the partitive genitive specifies of which tribe the 'half' consists.
ΜανασσηManassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: transliteration of מְנַשֶּׁה (Manasseh); indeclinable; the eastern half of this tribe holds Transjordan territory.
ἐλάβοσανreceivedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (the Transjordan tribes' completed allotment)→ constative aorist (already accomplished)λαμβάνω: 'take/receive'; the Hellenistic -οσαν form (= ἔλαβον); the two-and-a-half tribes have already received their inheritance, so they are excluded from the present division.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativedirect object of ἐλάβοσανκληρονομία: 'inheritance/allotted possession'; renders Hebrew נַחֲלָה; the territory already assigned to the eastern tribes.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτός: 'their'; the eastern tribes' own inheritance.
πέρανbeyondpreposition + genitive (location: 'beyond the Jordan')πέραν: 'beyond/across'; πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου ('beyond the Jordan') renders עֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן, the standard term for Transjordan.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive object of πέρανΙορδάνης: the Jordan river (Hebrew יַרְדֵּן); declined as a first-declension noun (gen. Ιορδάνου); the boundary between Cisjordan and Transjordan.
ἐπ᾿towardpreposition + accusative (direction: 'eastward')ἐπί (elided): 'toward/on'; with ἀνατολάς = 'eastward'.
ἀνατολάςeastAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (compass-point)ἀνατολή (pl. ἀνατολαί): 'rising (of the sun)/east'; renders Hebrew מִזְרָח; specifies the Transjordan location to the east of the river.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔδωκεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; agrees with κληρονομίαν, introducing the Mosaic grant.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (Moses' grant)→ constative aorist (completed grant)δίδωμι: 'give'; Moses, not Joshua, granted the Transjordan inheritance (Num 32; Deut 3:12–17), so it lies outside the present allotment.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect objectαὐτός: 'to them'; the eastern tribes.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of ἔδωκενΜωυσῆς: transliteration of מֹשֶׁה; declined as a second-declension noun (gen. Μωυσῆ); here the giver of the Transjordan grant.
theNominativearticle (with παῖς in apposition)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖςservantNominativenominative in apposition to Μωυσῆςπαῖς: 'child/servant'; here 'servant' (rendering עֶבֶד); the honorific ὁ παῖς κυρίου ('the servant of the LORD') is a standard epithet of Moses (cf. Josh 1:1–2; 14:7), here lending divine sanction to the Transjordan grant.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (with παῖς)κύριος: rendering of יהוה; Moses is the LORD's own servant, so his grant carries divine authority.
8

καὶ ἀναστάντες οἱ ἄνδρες ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἐνετείλατο Ἰησοῦς τοῖς ἀνδράσιν τοῖς πορευομένοις χωροβατῆσαι τὴν γῆν λέγων πορεύεσθε καὶ χωροβατήσατε τὴν γῆν καὶ παραγενήθητε πρός με καὶ ὧδε ἐξοίσω ὑμῖν κλῆρον ἔναντι κυρίου ἐν Σηλω

And the men rose up and went; and Joshua charged the men who were going to survey the land, saying, 'Go and survey the land and come to me, and here I will cast a lot for you before the LORD at Shiloh.'

Narrative execution + reiterated chargeκαὶ ἀναστάντες
The surveyors set out (ἀναστάντες … ἐπορεύθησαν), and Joshua reissues the commission in direct speech, introducing the technical verb χωροβατέω ('traverse/survey on foot'). The repeated promise ἐξοίσω … κλῆρον ἔναντι κυρίου ἐν Σηλω explicitly anchors the lot at the new sanctuary, echoing v. 6 and anticipating v. 10.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀναστάντεςhaving risen upAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · ἀνίστημιcircumstantial participle (attendant: setting out)→ aorist participle (action coordinate with ἐπορεύθησαν)ἀνίστημι: 'rise up/set out'; the participle marks the surveyors' departure on the expedition.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubjectἀνήρ: 'man'; the surveying delegation (the twenty-one men of v. 4).
ἐπορεύθησανwentAor Pass(Dep) Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (the departure)→ constative aorist (completed setting-out)πορεύομαι: 'go/journey'; deponent; the men set out to perform the survey.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνετείλατοcharged / commandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb (Joshua's commission)→ constative aorist (single act of commanding)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command/charge/give instructions'; renders Hebrew צוה (Piel); a verb of authoritative commission, formalizing Joshua's directive to the surveyors.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοἸησοῦς: Greek form of יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Joshua); declined (nom. Ἰησοῦς).
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδράσινmenDativedative indirect object (recipients of the charge)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the surveyors as the ones commanded.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (attributive, with participle)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορευομένοιςwho were goingPres Mid Ptc Dat Masc Pl · πορεύομαιattributive participle (modifying ἀνδράσιν)→ present participle (action in progress: those setting out)πορεύομαι: 'go'; the articular participle τοῖς πορευομένοις ('those going') describes the men as engaged in the surveying mission.
χωροβατῆσαιto surveyAor Act Inf · χωροβατέωinfinitive of purpose (the goal of their going)→ aorist infinitive (the surveying task)χωροβατέω: 'traverse/survey land on foot' (χῶρος 'land' + βαίνω 'walk'); a technical surveying term distinctive to LXX-Joshua; expresses the methodical walking-out of the land's measurements.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of χωροβατῆσαιγῆ: 'land'; the territory to be surveyed.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ present participle (Hebraizing speech-introduction)λέγω: 'say'; the participle λέγων ('saying') is the standard LXX rendering of Hebrew לֵאמֹר, introducing direct quotation.
πορεύεσθεgoPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative in direct speech)→ present imperative (general command: be on your way)πορεύομαι: 'go'; the present imperative πορεύεσθε commissions the surveyors to set out.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
χωροβατήσατεsurveyAor Act Impv 2 Pl · χωροβατέωmain verb (imperative: survey the land)→ ingressive aorist imperative (carry out the survey)χωροβατέω: 'survey on foot'; the aorist imperative reiterates the technical task — walk out the land's dimensions.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of χωροβατήσατεγῆ: 'land'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παραγενήθητεcome / present yourselvesAor Pass(Dep) Impv 2 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (imperative: return to Joshua)→ ingressive aorist imperative (arrive/present yourselves)παραγίνομαι: 'arrive/come/present oneself'; the surveyors are to return and report to Joshua with their written survey.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρός: 'to/toward'.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Joshua)ἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; Joshua.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the promise)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὧδεhereadverb of place (at Shiloh)ὧδε: 'here'; deictic, locating the lot-casting at Shiloh.
ἐξοίσωI will castFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐκφέρωmain verb (Joshua's first-person promise)→ predictive future (the promised lot-casting)ἐκφέρω: 'bring out'; the idiom ἐκφέρω κλῆρον = 'cast/draw the lot'; reiterates the promise of v. 6.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantageσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'for you'.
κλῆρονlotAccusativedirect object of ἐξοίσωκλῆρος: 'lot'; the sacred lot of allotment.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive (in the divine presence)ἔναντι: 'before/in the presence of'; Hebraism for לִפְנֵי.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντικύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the lot is cast in YHWH's presence.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (locative: at Shiloh)ἐν: 'in/at'; locative.
ΣηλωShilohobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Σηλω: Shiloh (שִׁלֹה); indeclinable; the sanctuary site where the lot is cast.
9

καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἐχωροβάτησαν τὴν γῆν καὶ εἴδοσαν αὐτὴν καὶ ἔγραψαν αὐτὴν κατὰ πόλεις αὐτῆς ἑπτὰ μερίδας εἰς βιβλίον καὶ ἤνεγκαν πρὸς Ἰησοῦν

And they went and surveyed the land and saw it and wrote it down city by city in seven portions in a scroll, and they brought it to Joshua.

Narrative fulfilment (the survey accomplished)καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν
A rapid chain of aorists (ἐπορεύθησαν … ἐχωροβάτησαν … εἴδοσαν … ἔγραψαν … ἤνεγκαν) reports the full execution of the commission: the men go, survey, observe, record city-by-city in a scroll, and return. The phrase κατὰ πόλεις αὐτῆς … εἰς βιβλίον ('city by city … in a scroll') shows the survey as a documentary register of the land's towns.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθησανthey wentAor Pass(Dep) Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (departure)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go'; deponent; the surveyors set out in compliance with the charge of v. 8.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐχωροβάτησανsurveyedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · χωροβατέωmain verb (the survey performed)→ constative aorist (completed survey)χωροβατέω: 'traverse/survey on foot'; the technical surveying verb now in the indicative — the commissioned survey is carried out.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of ἐχωροβάτησανγῆ: 'land'.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἴδοσανthey sawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (observation)→ constative aorist (completed observing)ὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see/observe'; the Hellenistic -οσαν form εἴδοσαν (= εἶδον); the surveyors inspect the land before recording it.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of εἴδοσαν (the land)αὐτός: 'it'; the land.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔγραψανthey wroteAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γράφωmain verb (the documentation)→ constative aorist (completed writing)γράφω: 'write/record'; fulfils the διαγραψάτωσαν of v. 4 — the survey is committed to writing.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of ἔγραψαν (the land)αὐτός: 'it'; the land as the content of the written record.
κατὰbypreposition + accusative (distributive: 'city by city')κατά + acc.: distributive 'according to/by'; κατὰ πόλεις = 'city by city', town-by-town enumeration.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (distributive)πόλις: 'city/town'; renders עִיר; the register is organized by the land's towns.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the land's cities)αὐτός: 'its'; refers to ἡ γῆ — the land's own cities.
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (modifying μερίδας)ἑπτά: 'seven'.
μερίδαςportionsAccusativeaccusative of result (recorded as seven portions)μερίς: 'portion/share'; the written survey divides the towns into the seven shares.
εἰςin / intopreposition + accusative (into a scroll)εἰς: 'into'; the record is entered 'into a scroll'.
βιβλίονscroll / bookAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςβιβλίον: 'book/scroll/document'; renders Hebrew סֵפֶר; the survey is a formal written document presented to Joshua.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤνεγκανthey broughtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φέρωmain verb (return with the document)→ constative aorist (completed bringing)φέρω (aor. ἤνεγκα): 'bring/carry'; fulfils the ἐνέγκατε of v. 6 — the surveyors bring the scroll back to Joshua.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρός: 'to/toward'.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἸησοῦς: Greek form of יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Joshua); accusative Ἰησοῦν as object of πρός.
10

καὶ ἐνέβαλεν αὐτοῖς Ἰησοῦς κλῆρον ἐν Σηλω ἔναντι κυρίου

And Joshua cast a lot for them at Shiloh before the LORD.

Narrative climax of the survey-sequence (the lot cast)καὶ ἐνέβαλεν
The terse fulfilment of Joshua's repeated promise (vv. 6, 8): the lot is cast at Shiloh before the LORD. The verse caps the survey-sequence and pivots the chapter into the actual allotments, beginning with Benjamin in v. 11.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνέβαλενcastAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐμβάλλωmain verb (Joshua casts the lot)→ constative aorist (single completed act)ἐμβάλλω: 'throw in/cast'; the idiom ἐμβάλλω κλῆρον ('cast a lot') describes the actual lot-casting procedure (cf. Hebrew הִשְׁלִיךְ גּוֹרָל / יָרָה); here the decisive sacral act assigning inheritances.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedative of advantage (the tribes)αὐτός: 'for them'; on behalf of the seven tribes.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: Joshua; declined (nom.).
κλῆρονlotAccusativedirect object of ἐνέβαλενκλῆρος: 'lot'; the sacred lot determining each tribe's allotment.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: 'in/at'; locative.
ΣηλωShilohobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Σηλω: Shiloh; indeclinable; the sanctuary where the lot is cast.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive (in the divine presence)ἔναντι: 'before/in the presence of'; the lot is cast in YHWH's presence, making its outcome a divine assignment.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντικύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
11

καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ κλῆρος φυλῆς Βενιαμιν πρῶτος κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὅρια τοῦ κλήρου αὐτῶν ἀνὰ μέσον Ιουδα καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν υἱῶν Ιωσηφ

And the lot of the tribe of Benjamin came out first according to their clans, and the borders of their lot came out between Judah and between the sons of Joseph.

New allotment-unit (Benjamin's lot)καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ κλῆρος
The idiom ἐξῆλθεν ὁ κλῆρος ('the lot came out') renders the casting-result — Benjamin's lot 'comes up' first. The verse sets Benjamin's location with the boundary-formula ἀνὰ μέσον … ἀνὰ μέσον ('between … and between'), placing it as a buffer between Judah (south) and the Joseph-tribes (north).
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενcame outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the lot 'came out')→ constative aorist (the lot-result)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go/come out'; the idiom ἐξῆλθεν ὁ κλῆρος renders Hebrew יָצָא הַגּוֹרָל ('the lot went out/came up'), the technical phrase for a lot falling to a party.
theNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλῆροςlotNominativesubject of ἐξῆλθενκλῆρος: 'lot/allotment'; here the lot assigned to Benjamin, and by metonymy its resulting territory.
φυλῆςof the tribeGenitivegenitive (defining: the tribe's lot)φυλή: 'tribe'; the lot belongs to the tribe of Benjamin.
ΒενιαμινBenjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable tribal name)Βενιαμιν: transliteration of בִּנְיָמִין (Benjamin); indeclinable; the tribe whose allotment occupies the rest of the chapter.
πρῶτοςfirstNominativepredicate adjective (the lot came out first)πρῶτος: 'first'; Benjamin's lot is drawn first among the seven, perhaps reflecting its honored status between Judah and Joseph and its proximity to the future sanctuary.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (distributive: by clans)κατά + acc.: 'according to'; κατὰ δήμους = 'by clans/families', the sub-tribal units.
δήμουςclansAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (distributive)δῆμος: 'people/clan/district'; renders Hebrew מִשְׁפָּחָה ('clan/family'); the allotment is subdivided among Benjamin's constituent clans.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (Benjamin's clans)αὐτός: 'their'; the tribe's own clans.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενcame outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the borders 'came out')→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'come out/extend'; the singular verb with the neuter plural subject ὅρια follows the Greek rule of neuter-plural + singular verb; the borders 'come out' (extend) to define the territory.
ὅριαbordersNominativesubject (neuter plural) of ἐξῆλθενὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'boundary/border'; renders Hebrew גְּבוּל; the recurring term marking the limits of the allotment, traced in detail in vv. 12–20.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλήρουlotGenitivegenitive (defining: the borders of the lot)κλῆρος: 'lot/allotment'; the borders belong to Benjamin's allotted territory.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτός: 'their'; Benjamin's lot.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον: 'between')ἀνά: distributive preposition; the phrase ἀνὰ μέσον ('in the midst of/between') renders Hebrew בֵּין; the doubled ἀνὰ μέσον … ἀνὰ μέσον = 'between … and between'.
μέσονmidstAccusativeadverbial accusative (with ἀνά: 'between')μέσος: 'middle/midst'; in the fixed phrase ἀνὰ μέσον functions as a preposition 'between'.
ΙουδαJudahgenitive object of ἀνὰ μέσον (indeclinable here)Ιουδα: transliteration of יְהוּדָה (Judah); the southern neighbor of Benjamin.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον: 'between')ἀνά: in the fixed phrase ἀνὰ μέσον = 'between'.
μέσονmidstAccusativeadverbial accusative (with ἀνά: 'between')μέσος: 'midst'; second member of the 'between … and between' construction.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἀνὰ μέσονυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ιωσηφ = the Joseph-tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh), Benjamin's northern neighbors.
ΙωσηφJosephgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιωσηφ: transliteration of יוֹסֵף (Joseph); indeclinable.
12

καὶ ἐγενήθη αὐτῶν τὰ ὅρια ἀπὸ βορρᾶ ἀπὸ τοῦ Ιορδάνου προσαναβήσεται τὰ ὅρια κατὰ νώτου Ιεριχω ἀπὸ βορρᾶ καὶ ἀναβήσεται ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ ἔσται αὐτοῦ ἡ διέξοδος ἡ Μαδβαρῖτις Βαιθων

And their borders were on the north, from the Jordan; the border goes up along the ridge of Jericho on the north, and goes up to the hill country toward the sea, and its outgoing is at the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Boundary-description begins (northern border)καὶ ἐγενήθη … τὰ ὅρια
The northern boundary is traced with a sequence of futuristic verbs (προσαναβήσεται, ἀναβήσεται) rendering Hebrew waw-consecutive forms; the 'traveling-eye' perspective follows the line from the Jordan up past Jericho's ridge (κατὰ νώτου, 'along the shoulder/ridge') into the hill country, terminating (ἡ διέξοδος, 'the outgoing') at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηwere / came to beAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (neuter-plural subject ὅρια)→ constative aorist (the borders' fixed extent)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'become/be'; with the neuter plural τὰ ὅρια the singular verb is regular; 'their borders were/lay (on the north)'.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (Benjamin's borders)αὐτός: 'their'; Benjamin's.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαbordersNominativesubject (neuter plural)ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'; the boundary-line under description.
ἀπὸon / frompreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the north')ἀπό: with βορρᾶ = 'on the north side'.
βορρᾶnorthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόβορρᾶς: 'north'; the northern border is being described first.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting point)ἀπό: 'from'; the line's point of departure.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (starting point of the line)Ιορδάνης: the Jordan river; the boundary begins at the river on the east.
προσαναβήσεταιgoes up towardFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσαναβαίνωmain verb (the border's course)→ gnomic/descriptive future (the line's trajectory)προσαναβαίνω: 'go up toward/ascend further'; the double compound (πρός + ἀνά + βαίνω) renders Hebrew עָלָה in border-itineraries; the futuristic verb describes the line's ascent from the Jordan valley.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαborderNominativesubject of προσαναβήσεταιὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'; the subject of the boundary-verbs.
κατὰalongpreposition + genitive (alongside: 'along the ridge')κατά + gen.: 'down along/alongside'; κατὰ νώτου = 'along the shoulder/ridge of', a topographical calque.
νώτουridge / shoulderGenitivegenitive object of κατάνῶτον: 'back/shoulder'; in boundary-descriptions κατὰ νώτου renders Hebrew כֶּתֶף ('shoulder/slope'), denoting the flank or ridge of a hill or town.
ΙεριχωJerichogenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Ιεριχω: transliteration of יְרִיחוֹ (Jericho); indeclinable; the city by the Jordan whose ridge the border follows.
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the north')ἀπό: with βορρᾶ = 'on the north'.
βορρᾶnorthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόβορρᾶς: 'north'; the line runs along Jericho's northern ridge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀναβήσεταιgoes upFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the border's ascent)→ gnomic/descriptive futureἀναβαίνω: 'go up/ascend'; renders Hebrew עָלָה; the line climbs from the valley into the central hill country.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal: to the hill country)ἐπί + acc.: 'to/onto'; direction of ascent.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄροςhill country / mountainAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίὄρος: 'mountain/hill country'; renders Hebrew הַר; here the central highland ridge to which the boundary ascends.
ἐπὶtowardpreposition + accusative (direction: 'toward the sea/west')ἐπί + acc.: 'toward'; with θάλασσαν indicates the westward direction.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θάλασσανsea / westAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (directional)θάλασσα: 'sea'; in Hebrew geography 'the sea' (יָם, the Mediterranean) is the standard term for 'west'; the line runs westward.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the terminus)→ descriptive future (the line's endpoint)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'will be'; introduces the terminus of the line — 'its outgoing will be at …'.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the border's)αὐτός: 'its'; refers to the border-line.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διέξοδοςoutgoing / terminusNominativesubject of ἔσταιδιέξοδος: 'way out/outlet/terminus'; renders Hebrew תּוֹצָאוֹת ('outgoings, extremities'); the technical term for the endpoint where a boundary-line emerges or terminates.
theNominativearticle (with toponym in apposition)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Μαδβαρῖτιςwilderness (of)Nominativeappositional toponym (the terminus location)Μαδβαρῖτις: a Graecized form built on Aramaic/Hebrew מִדְבָּר ('wilderness'); the LXX renders the Hebrew 'wilderness of Beth-aven' partly by transliteration; here the wilderness region at the line's terminus.
ΒαιθωνBeth-avenappositional toponym (indeclinable place-name)Βαιθων: transliteration corresponding to Hebrew בֵּית אָוֶן (Beth-aven); indeclinable; the wilderness of Beth-aven marks the boundary's terminus (cf. MT Josh 18:12).
13

καὶ διελεύσεται ἐκεῖθεν τὰ ὅρια Λουζα ἐπὶ νώτου Λουζα ἀπὸ λιβός αὕτη ἐστὶν Βαιθηλ καὶ καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια Μααταρωθορεχ ἐπὶ τὴν ὀρεινήν ἥ ἐστιν πρὸς λίβα Βαιθωρων ἡ κάτω

And the border passes on from there to Luz, along the ridge of Luz on the south — this is Bethel — and the border goes down to Ataroth-orech, to the hill country which is to the south of Lower Beth-horon.

Boundary-description continued (northern/western course)καὶ διελεύσεται
The line continues westward via Luz (glossed by the editorial αὕτη ἐστὶν Βαιθηλ, 'this is Bethel') and descends to Ataroth-orech and the hill country south of Lower Beth-horon. The descriptive futures (διελεύσεται, καταβήσεται) maintain the traveling-eye perspective, and the identifying gloss reflects the LXX's care with the doubled name Luz/Bethel (cf. Gen 28:19).
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διελεύσεταιpasses throughFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb (the border's course)→ gnomic/descriptive futureδιέρχομαι: 'go through/pass on'; renders Hebrew עָבַר in boundary-itineraries; the line passes onward from its previous point.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source: 'thence')ἐκεῖθεν: 'from there/thence'; continues the line from the previous terminus.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαborderNominativesubject of διελεύσεταιὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'.
ΛουζαLuzplace-name (goal of the line; indeclinable)Λουζα: transliteration of לוּז (Luz), the older name of Bethel; indeclinable.
ἐπὶalongpreposition + genitive (alongside the ridge)ἐπί + gen.: 'on/along'; with νώτου = 'along the ridge of'.
νώτουridgeGenitivegenitive object of ἐπίνῶτον: 'back/ridge/slope'; renders כֶּתֶף; the flank of Luz.
ΛουζαLuzgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Λουζα: Luz; the ridge belongs to Luz.
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the south')ἀπό: with λιβός = 'on the south'.
λιβόςsouthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόλίψ (gen. λιβός): 'south'; the ridge on the southern side.
αὕτηthisNominativesubject of ἐστίν (editorial identification)οὗτος: 'this'; the feminine αὕτη introduces the identifying gloss αὕτη ἐστὶν Βαιθηλ ('this is Bethel'), equating Luz with Bethel.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (identification)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the equative copula in the gloss identifying Luz as Bethel.
ΒαιθηλBethelpredicate nominative (indeclinable place-name)Βαιθηλ: transliteration of בֵּית־אֵל (Bethel, 'house of God'); indeclinable; the editorial note equates the ancient Luz with the well-known Bethel (cf. Gen 28:19; Josh 16:2).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταβήσεταιgoes downFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (the border's descent)→ gnomic/descriptive futureκαταβαίνω: 'go down/descend'; renders Hebrew יָרַד; the recurring descent-verb of the boundary-itinerary.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαborderNominativesubject of καταβήσεταιὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'.
ΜααταρωθορεχAtaroth-orechplace-name (goal of descent; indeclinable)Μααταρωθορεχ: a Graecized rendering corresponding to Hebrew עַטְרוֹת אַדָּר / Ataroth (cf. MT 'Ataroth-addar'); indeclinable; a town on Benjamin's border.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)ἐπί + acc.: 'to/onto'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀρεινήνhill countryAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίὀρεινή: 'hill country/mountainous region' (substantivized adjective); renders Hebrew הַר; the highland to which the border descends.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν)ὅς: relative pronoun; feminine ἥ agrees with ὀρεινήν, introducing a locating clause.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (locating clause)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; locates the hill country relative to Beth-horon.
πρὸςto / towardpreposition + accusative (direction: 'to the south')πρός + acc.: 'toward'; with λίβα = 'to the south'.
λίβαsouthAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (compass-point)λίψ (acc. λίβα): 'south'; the hill country lies south of Beth-horon.
ΒαιθωρωνBeth-horongenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Βαιθωρων: transliteration of בֵּית חוֹרוֹן (Beth-horon); indeclinable; an important pass-town, here Lower Beth-horon (ἡ κάτω).
theNominativearticle (with κάτω, distinguishing Lower Beth-horon)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κάτωloweradverb used attributively ('the lower one')κάτω: 'below/lower'; ἡ κάτω distinguishes Lower Beth-horon from Upper Beth-horon (cf. Josh 16:3, 5), reflecting Hebrew תַּחְתּוֹן.
14

καὶ διελεύσεται τὰ ὅρια καὶ περιελεύσεται ἐπὶ τὸ μέρος τὸ βλέπον παρὰ θάλασσαν ἀπὸ λιβὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους ἐπὶ πρόσωπον Βαιθωρων λίβα καὶ ἔσται αὐτοῦ ἡ διέξοδος εἰς Καριαθβααλ αὕτη ἐστὶν Καριαθιαριν πόλις υἱῶν Ιουδα τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ μέρος τὸ πρὸς θάλασσαν

And the border passes on and turns around to the side that looks toward the sea on the south, from the mountain facing Beth-horon southward; and its outgoing is at Kiriath-baal — this is Kiriath-jearim, a city of the sons of Judah; this is the western side.

Boundary-description: the western sideκαὶ διελεύσεται … καὶ περιελεύσεται
The western border is described: the line turns (περιελεύσεται) toward the seaward (western) side and terminates at Kiriath-baal, glossed αὕτη ἐστὶν Καριαθιαριν ('this is Kiriath-jearim') and assigned to Judah. The closing τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ μέρος τὸ πρὸς θάλασσαν ('this is the western side') is a summarizing rubric for the whole west boundary.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διελεύσεταιpasses onFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb (the border's course)→ gnomic/descriptive futureδιέρχομαι: 'pass through/on'; continues the line.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαborderNominativesubject of διελεύσεταιὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιελεύσεταιturns aroundFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · περιέρχομαιmain verb (the border bends)→ gnomic/descriptive futureπεριέρχομαι: 'go around/turn'; renders Hebrew נָסַב/תָּאַר ('turn, bend'); the boundary curves around toward the western side.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)ἐπί + acc.: 'to/onto'.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέροςside / partAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίμέρος: 'part/side/region'; renders Hebrew פֵּאָה ('side, quarter'); here the seaward (western) flank of the territory.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with participle)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βλέπονlooking / facingPres Act Ptc Acc Neut Sg · βλέπωattributive participle (modifying μέρος)→ present participle (orientation: 'facing')βλέπω: 'look/face'; the participle τὸ βλέπον ('the [side] facing/looking') renders the Hebrew idiom of a region 'facing' a direction; cf. the topographical use of פָּנָה.
παρὰtowardpreposition + accusative (alongside/toward the sea)παρά + acc.: 'beside/toward'; with θάλασσαν indicates the seaward orientation.
θάλασσανsea / westAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (directional)θάλασσα: 'sea'; = 'west' in Hebrew orientation (the Mediterranean).
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the south')ἀπό: with λιβός = 'on the south'.
λιβὸςsouthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόλίψ (gen. λιβός): 'south'.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting point)ἀπό: 'from'; marks the mountain as the line's reference point.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόὄρος: 'mountain/hill'; the reference-mountain facing Beth-horon.
ἐπὶfacing / atpreposition + accusative (in front of)ἐπί + acc.: with πρόσωπον = 'in front of/facing'.
πρόσωπονface / frontAccusativeaccusative (idiomatic: 'facing')πρόσωπον: 'face/front'; the idiom ἐπὶ πρόσωπον renders Hebrew עַל פְּנֵי ('in front of/facing').
ΒαιθωρωνBeth-horongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Βαιθωρων: Beth-horon; the mountain faces Beth-horon to the south.
λίβαsouthwardAccusativeaccusative of direction (compass-point)λίψ (acc. λίβα): 'south'; the adverbial accusative specifies the southward orientation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the terminus)→ descriptive futureεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'will be'; introduces the line's terminus.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the border's)αὐτός: 'its'; the border-line's.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διέξοδοςoutgoing / terminusNominativesubject of ἔσταιδιέξοδος: 'terminus/outlet'; renders תּוֹצָאוֹת; the endpoint of the western border.
εἰςatpreposition + accusative (terminus location)εἰς: 'to/at'; marks where the line terminates.
ΚαριαθβααλKiriath-baalobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Καριαθβααλ: transliteration of קִרְיַת בַּעַל (Kiriath-baal, 'city of Baal'); indeclinable; the western terminus, identified with Kiriath-jearim.
αὕτηthisNominativesubject of ἐστίν (editorial identification)οὗτος: 'this'; introduces the gloss equating Kiriath-baal with Kiriath-jearim.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (identification)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the equative copula of the gloss.
ΚαριαθιαρινKiriath-jearimpredicate nominative (indeclinable place-name)Καριαθιαριν: transliteration of קִרְיַת יְעָרִים (Kiriath-jearim, 'city of forests'); indeclinable; later the resting-place of the ark (1 Sam 7:1–2).
πόλιςcityNominativenominative in apposition (to Καριαθιαριν)πόλις: 'city'; in apposition, noting that Kiriath-jearim belongs to Judah, marking the Benjamin–Judah border.
υἱῶνof sonsGenitivegenitive of possession (Judah's city)υἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Ιουδα = 'of the sons of Judah'.
ΙουδαJudahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιουδα: Judah; the city is reckoned to Judah, on the shared border with Benjamin.
τοῦτόthisNominativesubject of ἐστιν (summarizing rubric)οὗτος: 'this'; the neuter τοῦτο introduces the closing rubric for the western side.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (summary)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; copula of the summarizing rubric.
τὸtheNominativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέροςsideNominativepredicate nominative (the western side)μέρος: 'side/quarter'; the western flank of Benjamin's territory.
τὸtheNominativearticle (attributive)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction: 'toward the sea')πρός + acc.: 'toward'; τὸ πρὸς θάλασσαν = 'the [side] toward the sea/west'.
θάλασσανsea / westAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςθάλασσα: 'sea' = 'west'; the rubric labels this the western side.
15

καὶ μέρος τὸ πρὸς λίβα ἀπὸ μέρους Καριαθβααλ καὶ διελεύσεται ὅρια εἰς Γασιν ἐπὶ πηγὴν ὕδατος Ναφθω

And the southern side begins from the edge of Kiriath-baal, and the border passes through to Gasin, to the spring of the water of Nephtoah.

Boundary-description: the southern side beginsκαὶ μέρος τὸ πρὸς λίβα
The verse opens the southern boundary, starting from the western terminus (Kiriath-baal) and running to Gasin and the spring of the water of Nephtoah. The fronted nominal phrase μέρος τὸ πρὸς λίβα ('the southern side') heads the section, paralleling the rubric closing v. 14.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μέροςsideNominativenominative (heading: 'the southern side')μέρος: 'side/quarter'; the southern flank, headed without a copula (a nominal rubric).
τὸtheNominativearticle (attributive)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction: 'toward the south')πρός + acc.: 'toward'; τὸ πρὸς λίβα = 'the [side] toward the south'.
λίβαsouthAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (compass-point)λίψ (acc. λίβα): 'south'.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting point)ἀπό: 'from'; the southern line begins at the edge of Kiriath-baal.
μέρουςedge / partGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόμέρος: 'part/edge'; ἀπὸ μέρους = 'from the edge/extremity of'.
ΚαριαθβααλKiriath-baalgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Καριαθβααλ: Kiriath-baal (= Kiriath-jearim); the southern line begins from its edge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διελεύσεταιpasses throughFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb (the border's course)→ gnomic/descriptive futureδιέρχομαι: 'pass through'; the southern line continues westward-to-eastward through the named points.
ὅριαborderNominativesubject of διελεύσεται (anarthrous)ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'; here without article.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: 'to'.
ΓασινGasinobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Γασιν: a Graecized toponym on the southern border (corresponding to a point near the spring of Nephtoah); indeclinable.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)ἐπί + acc.: 'to/onto'.
πηγὴνspringAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίπηγή: 'spring/fountain'; renders Hebrew מַעְיָן/עֵין; a water-source serving as a boundary-marker.
ὕδατοςof waterGenitivegenitive (defining: the spring of water)ὕδωρ (gen. ὕδατος): 'water'; πηγὴ ὕδατος = 'spring of water', rendering the construct of עֵין מֵי (Nephtoah).
ΝαφθωNephtoahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Ναφθω: transliteration of (the waters of) נֶפְתּוֹחַ (Nephtoah); indeclinable; a spring on the Judah–Benjamin border near Jerusalem (cf. Josh 15:9).
16

καὶ καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια ἐπὶ μέρους τοῦ ὄρους ὅ ἐστιν κατὰ πρόσωπον νάπης Ονναμ ὅ ἐστιν ἐκ μέρους Εμεκραφαϊν ἀπὸ βορρᾶ καὶ καταβήσεται Γαιεννα ἐπὶ νώτου Ιεβουσαι ἀπὸ λιβὸς καὶ καταβήσεται ἐπὶ πηγὴν Ρωγηλ

And the border goes down to the edge of the mountain that is in front of the ravine of Hinnom, which is on the side of the valley of Rephaim on the north, and it goes down to Gehenna along the ridge of the Jebusite on the south, and goes down to the spring of Rogel.

Boundary-description: the southern descent past Jerusalemκαὶ καταβήσεται
The southern line descends past topographically dense landmarks around Jerusalem: the ravine of Hinnom (νάπης Ονναμ), the valley of Rephaim, the ridge of the Jebusite (νώτου Ιεβουσαι — the pre-Israelite name of Jerusalem), and the spring of Rogel. The triple καταβήσεται ('goes down') traces the steep descent of the line on Jerusalem's southern flank.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταβήσεταιgoes downFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (descent)→ gnomic/descriptive futureκαταβαίνω: 'go down/descend'; renders יָרַד.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαborderNominativesubject of καταβήσεταιὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'.
ἐπὶtopreposition + genitive (goal: 'to the edge')ἐπί + gen.: 'to/upon'; with μέρους = 'to the edge of'.
μέρουςedge / partGenitivegenitive object of ἐπίμέρος: 'part/edge'; the flank of the mountain.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive (defining: edge of the mountain)ὄρος: 'mountain/hill'; the height overlooking the Hinnom ravine.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν)ὅς: relative pronoun; neuter ὅ refers to ὄρος, introducing a locating clause.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (locating clause)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; locates the mountain relative to the Hinnom ravine.
κατὰin front ofpreposition + accusative (with πρόσωπον: 'facing')κατά + acc.: with πρόσωπον = 'opposite/in front of'.
πρόσωπονfront / faceAccusativeaccusative (idiomatic: 'facing')πρόσωπον: 'face/front'; κατὰ πρόσωπον renders עַל פְּנֵי ('in front of').
νάπηςravine / valleyGenitivegenitive (defining: the ravine of Hinnom)νάπη: 'wooded glen/ravine'; renders Hebrew גֵּי ('valley'); here the valley of Hinnom south of Jerusalem.
ΟνναμHinnomgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Ονναμ: a Graecized form corresponding to (Ben-)Hinnom, הִנֹּם; indeclinable; the valley (Gê-Hinnom) south of Jerusalem, source of the later term Gehenna.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of second ἐστιν)ὅς: relative pronoun; introduces a further locating clause.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (locating clause)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; locates the site relative to the valley of Rephaim.
ἐκon / frompreposition + genitive (with μέρους: 'on the side of')ἐκ: 'out of/from'; ἐκ μέρους = 'on the side/extremity of'.
μέρουςsideGenitivegenitive object of ἐκμέρος: 'part/side'; the edge of the valley of Rephaim.
Εμεκραφαϊνvalley of Rephaimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, transliterated phrase)Εμεκραφαϊν: a single transliteration of Hebrew עֵמֶק רְפָאִים ('valley of Rephaim'), with עֵמֶק ('valley') taken into the proper noun; indeclinable; a fertile plain southwest of Jerusalem.
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the north')ἀπό: with βορρᾶ = 'on the north'.
βορρᾶnorthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόβορρᾶς: 'north'; the valley of Rephaim lies to the north of this point.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταβήσεταιgoes downFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (further descent)→ gnomic/descriptive futureκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the line descends toward the Hinnom valley.
ΓαιενναGehenna / valley of Hinnomplace-name (goal of descent; indeclinable)Γαιεννα: transliteration of גֵּיא הִנֹּם (Gê-Hinnom, 'valley of Hinnom'), the source of NT γέεννα ('Gehenna'); indeclinable; here the actual valley as a boundary-marker.
ἐπὶalongpreposition + genitive (alongside the ridge)ἐπί + gen.: 'along'; with νώτου = 'along the ridge of'.
νώτουridgeGenitivegenitive object of ἐπίνῶτον: 'back/ridge/slope'; renders כֶּתֶף; the slope of the Jebusite city.
Ιεβουσαιthe Jebusite (Jerusalem)genitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιεβουσαι: transliteration of יְבוּסִי (the Jebusite); indeclinable; the pre-Israelite name of Jerusalem (cf. v. 28; Judg 19:10–11), here on the southern ridge of the city.
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the south')ἀπό: with λιβός = 'on the south'.
λιβὸςsouthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόλίψ (gen. λιβός): 'south'; the line runs along the southern ridge of Jebus/Jerusalem.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταβήσεταιgoes downFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (final descent of the verse)→ gnomic/descriptive futureκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the line descends to En-rogel.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)ἐπί + acc.: 'to'.
πηγὴνspringAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίπηγή: 'spring'; the spring of Rogel (En-rogel).
ΡωγηλRogelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρωγηλ: transliteration of רֹגֵל (Rogel); indeclinable; the spring of En-rogel southeast of Jerusalem, a boundary-marker (cf. Josh 15:7; 2 Sam 17:17).
17

καὶ διελεύσεται ἐπὶ πηγὴν Βαιθσαμυς καὶ παρελεύσεται ἐπὶ Γαλιλωθ ἥ ἐστιν ἀπέναντι πρὸς ἀνάβασιν Αιθαμιν καὶ καταβήσεται ἐπὶ λίθον Βαιων υἱῶν Ρουβην

And it passes on to the spring of Beth-shemesh and goes along to Geliloth, which is opposite, toward the ascent of Adummim, and goes down to the stone of Bohan, son of Reuben.

Boundary-description: eastward turnκαὶ διελεύσεται
The line now runs eastward to the spring of Beth-shemesh (En-shemesh), past Geliloth opposite the ascent of Adummim, down to the stone of Bohan son of Reuben — a named boundary-marker shared with Judah (cf. Josh 15:6). The verbs διελεύσεται / παρελεύσεται / καταβήσεται keep the traveling-eye sequence.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διελεύσεταιpasses onFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb (the border's course)→ gnomic/descriptive futureδιέρχομαι: 'pass through/on'; the line continues eastward.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)ἐπί + acc.: 'to'.
πηγὴνspringAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίπηγή: 'spring'; the spring of Beth-shemesh (En-shemesh).
ΒαιθσαμυςBeth-shemeshgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Βαιθσαμυς: transliteration of בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ ('house of the sun'); here En-shemesh (עֵין שֶׁמֶשׁ), a spring on the border (cf. Josh 15:7); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρελεύσεταιgoes along / passes byFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · παρέρχομαιmain verb (the border passes by)→ gnomic/descriptive futureπαρέρχομαι: 'pass by/along'; renders Hebrew עָבַר; the line skirts Geliloth.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)ἐπί + acc.: 'to'.
ΓαλιλωθGelilothobject of ἐπί (indeclinable place-name)Γαλιλωθ: transliteration of גְּלִילוֹת (Geliloth); indeclinable; corresponds to Gilgal in the parallel Josh 15:7; a site opposite the ascent of Adummim.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν)ὅς: relative pronoun; feminine ἥ, introducing a locating clause for Geliloth.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (locating clause)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; locates Geliloth opposite the ascent of Adummim.
ἀπέναντιoppositeadverb/preposition ('over against')ἀπέναντι: 'opposite/over against'; renders Hebrew נֹכַח/מוּל; situates Geliloth facing the ascent.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction)πρός + acc.: 'toward'.
ἀνάβασινascent / passAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἀνάβασις: 'ascent/going-up/mountain pass'; renders Hebrew מַעֲלֵה ('ascent'); here the ascent of Adummim.
ΑιθαμινAdummimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Αιθαμιν: a Graecized form corresponding to אֲדֻמִּים (Adummim); indeclinable; the ascent of Adummim on the Jericho–Jerusalem road (cf. Josh 15:7).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταβήσεταιgoes downFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (descent to the marker-stone)→ gnomic/descriptive futureκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the line descends to the stone of Bohan.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)ἐπί + acc.: 'to'.
λίθονstoneAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίλίθος: 'stone'; renders Hebrew אֶבֶן; a named boundary-stone — 'the stone of Bohan son of Reuben' (cf. Josh 15:6).
ΒαιωνBohangenitive of relationship (indeclinable personal name)Βαιων: transliteration of בֹּהַן (Bohan); indeclinable; the stone is named for Bohan, a son (descendant) of Reuben — a memorial marker on the border.
υἱῶνof sons / sonGenitivegenitive of relationship (Bohan of Reuben)υἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Ρουβην ('of the sons of Reuben') marks Bohan's tribal descent.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: Reuben; indeclinable.
18

καὶ διελεύσεται κατὰ νώτου Βαιθαραβα ἀπὸ βορρᾶ καὶ καταβήσεται

And it passes along the ridge of Beth-arabah on the north, and it goes down.

Boundary-description continued (toward the northeast)καὶ διελεύσεται
A brief link in the boundary-itinerary: the line runs along the ridge of Beth-arabah on the north and descends, leading directly into the terminus described in v. 19. The verse-division here is awkward in the LXX, with v. 19 supplying the goal of καταβήσεται.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διελεύσεταιpasses alongFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διέρχομαιmain verb (the border's course)→ gnomic/descriptive futureδιέρχομαι: 'pass through/along'; the line continues.
κατὰalongpreposition + genitive (alongside the ridge)κατά + gen.: 'along'; κατὰ νώτου = 'along the ridge of'.
νώτουridgeGenitivegenitive object of κατάνῶτον: 'back/ridge/slope'; renders כֶּתֶף; the flank of Beth-arabah.
ΒαιθαραβαBeth-arabahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Βαιθαραβα: transliteration of בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה (Beth-arabah, 'house of the Arabah'); indeclinable; a town in the Jordan valley (cf. Josh 15:6, 61).
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the north')ἀπό: with βορρᾶ = 'on the north'.
βορρᾶnorthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόβορρᾶς: 'north'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταβήσεταιgoes downFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (descent; goal supplied in v. 19)→ gnomic/descriptive futureκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the line descends, with its goal (the border at Beth-hoglah) given in the next verse.
19

ἐπὶ τὰ ὅρια ἐπὶ νώτου Βαιθαγλα ἀπὸ βορρᾶ καὶ ἔσται ἡ διέξοδος τῶν ὁρίων ἐπὶ λοφιὰν τῆς θαλάσσης τῶν ἁλῶν ἐπὶ βορρᾶν εἰς μέρος τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἀπὸ λιβός ταῦτα τὰ ὅριά ἐστιν ἀπὸ λιβός

to the border, to the ridge of Beth-hoglah on the north; and the outgoing of the border is at the ridge of the Salt Sea on the north, at the southern edge of the Jordan. These are the borders on the south.

Boundary-description: the eastern/southern terminusἐπὶ τὰ ὅρια
The descent of v. 18 reaches Beth-hoglah and terminates (ἡ διέξοδος) at the ridge of the Salt Sea (Dead Sea) at the Jordan's southern mouth. The summary ταῦτα τὰ ὅριά ἐστιν ἀπὸ λιβός ('these are the borders on the south') closes the southern boundary, mirroring the rubric of v. 14.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal of v.18's descent)ἐπί + acc.: 'to'; supplies the goal of καταβήσεται (v. 18).
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαborderAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'; the line reaches the border-point at Beth-hoglah.
ἐπὶalongpreposition + genitive (alongside the ridge)ἐπί + gen.: 'along'; with νώτου = 'along the ridge of'.
νώτουridgeGenitivegenitive object of ἐπίνῶτον: 'ridge/slope'; renders כֶּתֶף; the flank of Beth-hoglah.
ΒαιθαγλαBeth-hoglahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Βαιθαγλα: transliteration of בֵּית חָגְלָה (Beth-hoglah); indeclinable; a town near the Jordan's mouth into the Dead Sea (cf. Josh 15:6).
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the north')ἀπό: with βορρᾶ = 'on the north'.
βορρᾶnorthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόβορρᾶς: 'north'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the terminus)→ descriptive futureεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'will be'; introduces the southern boundary's terminus.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διέξοδοςoutgoing / terminusNominativesubject of ἔσταιδιέξοδος: 'terminus/outlet'; renders תּוֹצָאוֹת; the endpoint of the line.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁρίωνbordersGenitivegenitive (defining: the outgoing of the borders)ὅριον (gen. pl. ὁρίων): 'border'; the terminus of the boundary-line.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal)ἐπί + acc.: 'to/at'.
λοφιὰνridge / bayAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίλοφιά: 'ridge/crest' (originally the mane/ridge of an animal's neck); here a topographical calque for Hebrew לָשׁוֹן ('tongue, bay') — the northern bay/tongue of the Dead Sea.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θαλάσσηςseaGenitivegenitive (defining: ridge of the sea)θάλασσα: 'sea'; here ἡ θάλασσα τῶν ἁλῶν ('the Sea of Salt') = the Dead Sea (Hebrew יָם הַמֶּלַח).
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁλῶνof saltGenitivegenitive (defining: the Salt Sea)ἅλς (gen. pl. ἁλῶν): 'salt'; ἡ θάλασσα τῶν ἁλῶν renders יָם הַמֶּלַח, 'the Salt Sea' (Dead Sea).
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (compass-point: 'on the north')ἐπί + acc.: with βορρᾶν = 'on the north'.
βορρᾶνnorthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (compass-point)βορρᾶς (acc. βορρᾶν): 'north'; the terminus is at the northern end of the Dead Sea.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: 'to/at'.
μέροςedge / partAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςμέρος: 'part/edge'; the southern edge/mouth of the Jordan where it enters the Dead Sea.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (defining: edge of the Jordan)Ιορδάνης: the Jordan river; its southern mouth marks the terminus.
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the south')ἀπό: with λιβός = 'on the south'.
λιβόςsouthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόλίψ (gen. λιβός): 'south'.
ταῦταtheseNominativesubject of ἐστιν (summarizing rubric)οὗτος: 'these'; neuter plural ταῦτα heads the closing rubric for the southern boundary.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριάbordersNominativepredicate nominative (the borders)ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'; the rubric labels the foregoing as the southern boundary.
ἐστινis / arePres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (summary; neuter-plural subject)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; with neuter plural subject the singular ἐστιν is regular.
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the south')ἀπό: with λιβός = 'on the south'.
λιβόςsouthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόλίψ (gen. λιβός): 'south'; the rubric labels this the southern boundary.
20

καὶ ὁ Ιορδάνης ὁριεῖ ἀπὸ μέρους ἀνατολῶν αὕτη ἡ κληρονομία υἱῶν Βενιαμιν τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς κύκλῳ κατὰ δήμους

And the Jordan shall be the boundary on the east side. This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, its borders round about, according to their clans.

Boundary-description: eastern side + summary of the allotmentκαὶ ὁ Ιορδάνης ὁριεῖ
The Jordan itself forms the eastern boundary (ὁριεῖ, 'shall serve as border'). The verse then closes the boundary-section with a summary formula: αὕτη ἡ κληρονομία υἱῶν Βενιαμιν … κύκλῳ κατὰ δήμους ('this is Benjamin's inheritance, its borders round about, by clans'), echoed verbatim at v. 28.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηςJordanNominativesubject of ὁριεῖΙορδάνης: the Jordan river; declined (nom. Ιορδάνης); the river itself constitutes the eastern boundary of Benjamin.
ὁριεῖshall be the boundaryFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁρίζωmain verb (the Jordan as border)→ gnomic/descriptive future (settled function)ὁρίζω: 'bound/mark off/serve as boundary'; cognate with ὅριον; the Attic-future contract form ὁριεῖ; the Jordan 'forms the boundary' on the east.
ἀπὸonpreposition + genitive (compass-point: 'on the east')ἀπό: with μέρους ἀνατολῶν = 'on the eastern side'.
μέρουςsideGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόμέρος: 'part/side'; ἀπὸ μέρους ἀνατολῶν = 'on the eastern side'.
ἀνατολῶνeastGenitivegenitive (defining: the eastern side)ἀνατολή (pl. ἀνατολαί): 'east' (sunrise); renders מִזְרָח; the Jordan bounds Benjamin to the east.
αὕτηthisNominativesubject (summary formula: 'this is the inheritance')οὗτος: 'this'; feminine αὕτη agrees with κληρονομία, heading the summary of Benjamin's allotment.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίαinheritanceNominativepredicate nominative (Benjamin's inheritance)κληρονομία: 'inheritance/allotted possession'; renders נַחֲלָה; the summary names the bounded territory as Benjamin's heritage.
υἱῶνof sonsGenitivegenitive of possession (Benjamin's)υἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Βενιαμιν = 'of the sons of Benjamin'.
ΒενιαμινBenjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Βενιαμιν: Benjamin; indeclinable.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαbordersNominativenominative in apposition (its borders round about)ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border'; the appositional phrase τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς κύκλῳ specifies the surrounding boundaries just described.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the inheritance's)αὐτός: 'its'; refers to ἡ κληρονομία.
κύκλῳround aboutDativedative adverbial ('all around')κύκλος (dat. κύκλῳ used adverbially): 'in a circle/round about'; renders Hebrew סָבִיב; the boundaries encircle the territory.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (distributive: by clans)κατά + acc.: 'according to'; κατὰ δήμους = 'by clans'.
δήμουςclansAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (distributive)δῆμος: 'clan/family-group'; renders מִשְׁפָּחָה; the inheritance is distributed among Benjamin's clans.
21

καὶ ἐγενήθησαν αἱ πόλεις τῶν υἱῶν Βενιαμιν κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν Ιεριχω καὶ Βαιθεγλιω καὶ Αμεκασις

And the cities of the sons of Benjamin according to their clans were: Jericho and Beth-hoglah and Emek-keziz,

New sub-unit: the city-list beginsκαὶ ἐγενήθησαν αἱ πόλεις
The boundary-section (vv. 11–20) yields to the enumerated city-list (vv. 21–28). The heading καὶ ἐγενήθησαν αἱ πόλεις … κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν introduces the towns of Benjamin's first cluster; the list is a string of καί-coordinated toponyms.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθησανwereAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (introducing the list)→ constative aorist (the cities that fell to Benjamin)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθησαν): 'become/be'; here 'the cities … were (the following)', introducing the enumeration.
αἱtheNominativearticleαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesNominativesubject of ἐγενήθησανπόλις: 'city/town'; renders עִיר; the towns comprising Benjamin's inheritance.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνof sonsGenitivegenitive of possession (Benjamin's cities)υἱός: 'son'; τῶν υἱῶν Βενιαμιν = 'of the sons of Benjamin'.
ΒενιαμινBenjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Βενιαμιν: Benjamin; indeclinable.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (distributive: by clans)κατά + acc.: 'according to'; κατὰ δήμους = 'by clans'.
δήμουςclansAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (distributive)δῆμος: 'clan'; renders מִשְׁפָּחָה.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτός: 'their'; the clans of Benjamin.
ΙεριχωJerichonominative in apposition (first city; indeclinable)Ιεριχω: Jericho (יְרִיחוֹ); indeclinable; the first city listed, the famous town by the Jordan (Josh 6).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΒαιθεγλιωBeth-hoglahappositional toponym (indeclinable)Βαιθεγλιω: a Graecized form of בֵּית חָגְלָה (Beth-hoglah; cf. Βαιθαγλα, v. 19); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑμεκασιςEmek-kezizappositional toponym (indeclinable)Αμεκασις: a transliteration of עֵמֶק קְצִיץ (Emek-keziz, 'valley of Keziz'), with עֵמֶק ('valley') taken into the name; indeclinable.
22

καὶ Βαιθαβαρα καὶ Σαρα καὶ Βησανα

and Beth-arabah and Zemaraim and Bethel,

City-list continuedκαὶ Βαιθαβαρα
A continuation of the city-list — three further toponyms in καί-coordination. The Greek spellings diverge from the MT names (Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel).
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΒαιθαβαραBeth-arabahappositional toponym (indeclinable)Βαιθαβαρα: a Graecized form of בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה (Beth-arabah; cf. Βαιθαραβα, v. 18); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣαραZemaraimappositional toponym (indeclinable)Σαρα: the Old Greek rendering corresponding to MT צְמָרַיִם (Zemaraim); indeclinable; the Greek form is considerably abbreviated.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΒησαναBethelappositional toponym (indeclinable)Βησανα: the Old Greek form corresponding to MT בֵּית־אֵל (Bethel) in this list; indeclinable; the Greek toponymy of vv. 21–28 frequently diverges from the Hebrew.
23

καὶ Αιιν καὶ Φαρα καὶ Εφραθα

and Avvim and Parah and Ophrah,

City-list continuedκαὶ Αιιν
Three more toponyms in the running list (Avvim, Parah, Ophrah), continuing the καί-coordinated enumeration of Benjamin's towns.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑιινAvvimappositional toponym (indeclinable)Αιιν: transliteration corresponding to MT הָעַוִּים (Avvim); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΦαραParahappositional toponym (indeclinable)Φαρα: transliteration of MT פָּרָה (Parah); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΕφραθαOphrahappositional toponym (indeclinable)Εφραθα: the Old Greek form corresponding to MT עָפְרָה (Ophrah) in this list; indeclinable.
24

καὶ Καραφα καὶ Κεφιρα καὶ Μονι καὶ Γαβαα πόλεις δέκα δύο καὶ αἱ κῶμαι αὐτῶν

and Chephar-ammoni and Ophni and Geba: twelve cities, and their villages.

City-list closes with a count (first cluster)καὶ Καραφα
The first city-cluster closes with a summary count: πόλεις δέκα δύο ('twelve cities') and their villages (κῶμαι). The Greek list and number diverge from the MT (which counts these towns somewhat differently); the formula 'X cities and their villages' is the standard close of each cluster (cf. v. 28).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΚαραφαChephar-ammoniappositional toponym (indeclinable)Καραφα: the Old Greek form corresponding to MT כְּפַר הָעַמֹּנָה (Chephar-ammoni); indeclinable; the Greek abbreviates the Hebrew.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΚεφιραOphni / Chephirahappositional toponym (indeclinable)Κεφιρα: a Graecized toponym corresponding to a town in this cluster (cf. MT הָעָפְנִי, Ophni; the Greek resembles Chephirah of v. 26 of MT 9:17); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΜονιOphniappositional toponym (indeclinable)Μονι: a Graecized toponym in this cluster (corresponding to a name in MT's list); indeclinable; the Greek and Hebrew name-sets do not align exactly.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΓαβααGebaappositional toponym (indeclinable)Γαβαα: transliteration corresponding to MT גָּבַע (Geba); indeclinable; a priestly town and northern frontier-marker of Judah/Benjamin (cf. 2 Kgs 23:8).
πόλειςcitiesNominativenominative (summary count, appositional)πόλις: 'city'; the summary 'twelve cities' totals this cluster.
δέκαtennumeral (with δύο: 'twelve')δέκα: 'ten'; with δύο forms 'twelve' (δέκα δύο).
δύοtwonumeral (with δέκα: 'twelve')δύο: 'two'; δέκα δύο = 'twelve', the count of cities in the first cluster.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αἱtheNominativearticleαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κῶμαιvillagesNominativenominative (appositional: with their villages)κώμη: 'village/hamlet'; renders Hebrew חָצֵר ('settlement, hamlet'); the dependent villages reckoned with each city — the standard formula closing a city-cluster.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the cities' villages)αὐτός: 'their'; the villages belonging to the listed cities.
25

Γαβαων καὶ Ραμα καὶ Βεηρωθα

Gibeon and Ramah and Beeroth,

Second city-cluster beginsΓαβαων
The second cluster of Benjamin's cities opens with Gibeon, Ramah, and Beeroth — well-known Benjaminite towns (Gibeon of the treaty in Josh 9; Ramah and Beeroth on the central plateau).
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
ΓαβαωνGibeonnominative in apposition (first city of cluster; indeclinable)Γαβαων: transliteration of גִּבְעוֹן (Gibeon); indeclinable; the city of the Hivite treaty (Josh 9) and later a high place (1 Kgs 3:4).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΡαμαRamahappositional toponym (indeclinable)Ραμα: transliteration of הָרָמָה (Ramah, 'the height'); indeclinable; a Benjaminite town near Gibeah (cf. Judg 19:13; 1 Kgs 15:17).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΒεηρωθαBeerothappositional toponym (indeclinable)Βεηρωθα: transliteration of בְּאֵרוֹת (Beeroth, 'wells'); indeclinable; one of the Gibeonite towns (Josh 9:17).
26

καὶ Μασσημα καὶ Μιρων καὶ Αμωκη

and Mizpeh and Chephirah and Mozah,

City-list continuedκαὶ Μασσημα
Three more towns in the second cluster (corresponding to MT Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah). The Greek spellings again diverge markedly from the Hebrew.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΜασσημαMizpehappositional toponym (indeclinable)Μασσημα: the Old Greek form corresponding to MT הַמִּצְפֶּה (Mizpeh); indeclinable; an important cultic and assembly site in Benjamin (cf. Judg 20:1; 1 Sam 7:5–6).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΜιρωνChephirahappositional toponym (indeclinable)Μιρων: the Old Greek form corresponding to MT הַכְּפִירָה (Chephirah) in this cluster; indeclinable; another Gibeonite town (Josh 9:17).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑμωκηMozahappositional toponym (indeclinable)Αμωκη: the Old Greek form corresponding to MT הַמֹּצָה (Mozah); indeclinable.
27

καὶ Φιρα καὶ Καφαν καὶ Νακαν καὶ Σεληκαν καὶ Θαρεηλα

and Rekem and Irpeel and Taralah and Zela and Eleph,

City-list continuedκαὶ Φιρα
Five further toponyms in the second cluster (corresponding to MT Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, Zela, Eleph). The Old Greek list and the Hebrew diverge in both order and spelling; the alignment of individual names is uncertain.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΦιραRekemappositional toponym (indeclinable)Φιρα: an Old Greek toponym in this cluster (corresponding to MT רֶקֶם, Rekem); indeclinable; name-alignment with the Hebrew is uncertain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΚαφανIrpeelappositional toponym (indeclinable)Καφαν: an Old Greek toponym in this cluster (corresponding to MT יִרְפְּאֵל, Irpeel); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΝακανTaralahappositional toponym (indeclinable)Νακαν: an Old Greek toponym in this cluster (corresponding to MT תַּרְאֲלָה, Taralah); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣεληκανZelaappositional toponym (indeclinable)Σεληκαν: an Old Greek toponym in this cluster (corresponding to MT צֵלַע, Zela); indeclinable; Zela was the burial-place of Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam 21:14).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΘαρεηλαElephappositional toponym (indeclinable)Θαρεηλα: an Old Greek toponym in this cluster (corresponding to MT הָאֶלֶף, Eleph); indeclinable.
28

καὶ Ιεβους αὕτη ἐστὶν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ πόλεις καὶ Γαβαωθιαριμ πόλεις τρεῖς καὶ δέκα καὶ αἱ κῶμαι αὐτῶν αὕτη ἡ κληρονομία υἱῶν Βενιαμιν κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν

and Jebus — this is Jerusalem — and the cities and Gibeath-jearim: thirteen cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin according to their clans.

City-list closes + concluding summary of Benjamin's allotmentκαὶ Ιεβους
The list culminates in Jebus, glossed αὕτη ἐστὶν Ιερουσαλημ ('this is Jerusalem'), assigning the future capital to Benjamin's border, and Gibeath-jearim. The second cluster is totalled (πόλεις τρεῖς καὶ δέκα, 'thirteen cities, and their villages'), and the chapter closes with the summary formula αὕτη ἡ κληρονομία υἱῶν Βενιαμιν κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν, echoing v. 20.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΙεβουςJebusappositional toponym (indeclinable)Ιεβους: transliteration of יְבוּס (Jebus); indeclinable; the pre-Israelite name of Jerusalem (cf. v. 16; Judg 19:10), here listed among Benjamin's cities.
αὕτηthisNominativesubject of ἐστίν (editorial identification)οὗτος: 'this'; feminine αὕτη introduces the gloss equating Jebus with Jerusalem.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (identification)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the equative copula of the editorial gloss 'this is Jerusalem'.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalempredicate nominative (indeclinable place-name)Ιερουσαλημ: transliteration of יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Jerusalem); indeclinable; the gloss assigns the future capital to Benjamin's territory on its border with Judah (cf. Josh 15:8, 63; Judg 1:21).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πόλειςcitiesNominativenominative in apposition (further towns)πόλις: 'city'; here apparently denoting additional associated towns; the Greek text of the verse is somewhat compressed relative to the MT (which reads 'Gibeath, Kiriath').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΓαβαωθιαριμGibeath-jearimappositional toponym (indeclinable)Γαβαωθιαριμ: a Graecized compound corresponding to MT גִּבְעַת קִרְיַת ('Gibeath/Gibeah and Kiriath'); indeclinable; the Old Greek runs the two Hebrew names together.
πόλειςcitiesNominativenominative (summary count, appositional)πόλις: 'city'; the summary 'thirteen cities' totals the second cluster.
τρεῖςthreeNominativenumeral (with δέκα: 'thirteen')τρεῖς: 'three'; with δέκα forms 'thirteen' (τρεῖς καὶ δέκα).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in the numeral)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
δέκαtennumeral (with τρεῖς: 'thirteen')δέκα: 'ten'; τρεῖς καὶ δέκα = 'thirteen', the count of the second cluster.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αἱtheNominativearticleαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κῶμαιvillagesNominativenominative (appositional: with their villages)κώμη: 'village/hamlet'; renders חָצֵר; the standard cluster-closing formula.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the cities' villages)αὐτός: 'their'; the dependent villages.
αὕτηthisNominativesubject (concluding summary formula)οὗτος: 'this'; feminine αὕτη agrees with κληρονομία, heading the closing summary of Benjamin's allotment (cf. v. 20).
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίαinheritanceNominativepredicate nominative (Benjamin's inheritance)κληρονομία: 'inheritance/allotted possession'; renders נַחֲלָה; the summary names the whole foregoing (boundary + cities) as Benjamin's heritage.
υἱῶνof sonsGenitivegenitive of possession (Benjamin's)υἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Βενιαμιν = 'of the sons of Benjamin'.
ΒενιαμινBenjamingenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Βενιαμιν: Benjamin; indeclinable.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (distributive: by clans)κατά + acc.: 'according to'; κατὰ δήμους = 'by clans'.
δήμουςclansAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (distributive)δῆμος: 'clan/family-group'; renders מִשְׁפָּחָה; the inheritance distributed among Benjamin's clans, closing the chapter.