1
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος τῷ Ἰησοῖ λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,
The formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος … λέγων is the standard LXX introduction to direct YHWH-speech, rendering וַיְדַבֵּר יהוה … לֵאמֹר; the Hebraizing paratactic καί and the redundant participle λέγων are characteristic of the translation-Greek of Joshua. The address τῷ Ἰησοῖ (dative) marks Joshua as the unmediated recipient of the divine word, in continuity with Moses.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καί: renders the Hebrew waw-consecutive ו; the paratactic 'and' opening a new divine speech is typical of LXX narrative style, especially in the literal translation-Greek of Joshua.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak / talk'; renders דִּבֶּר (Piel); the formula ἐλάλησεν κύριος … λέγων recurs throughout the Pentateuch and Joshua as the standard opening of authoritative divine commission.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubjectκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject of the speech-formula marks this as unmediated YHWH-speech to Joshua, Moses' successor.
τῷthe / toDativearticle (with Ἰησοῖ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῖJoshuaDativedative (recipient of the divine speech)Ἰησοῦς: the Greek form of Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ ('YHWH saves'); declined as a contracted second-declension noun in the LXX (gen. Ἰησοῦ, dat. Ἰησοῖ, acc. Ἰησοῦν); the same name borne by Jesus in the NT; here the dative marks Joshua as the addressee.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (redundant speech-marker introducing direct discourse)→ redundant participle of saying (Hebraism)λέγω (pres. part.): the participle λέγων renders the Hebrew infinitive לֵאמֹר ('saying'), a quotation-introducing Hebraism that the LXX reproduces woodenly; it adds no information beyond marking the onset of direct speech.
2
λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ λέγων δότε τὰς πόλεις τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων ἃς εἶπα πρὸς ὑμᾶς διὰ Μωυσῆ
Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'Give the cities of refuge of which I spoke to you through Moses;'
The chain of command Moses-to-Joshua-to-Israel is reproduced in miniature: Joshua is told to speak (λάλησον) so that the people may give (δότε) the cities. The relative clause ἃς εἶπα … διὰ Μωυσῆ explicitly grounds the present command in the earlier Mosaic legislation (Num 35; Deut 19), presenting Joshua's act as obedient implementation rather than fresh revelation.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine imperative to Joshua)→ ingressive aorist imperative (commissioned speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דַּבֵּר (Piel imperative); the aorist imperative frames the commission as a single decisive act of proclamation to the assembled people.
τοῖςthe / toDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative (addressees of Joshua's speech)υἱός (pl. υἱοῖς): 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל ('the sons / children of Israel'), the standard LXX designation of the covenant people as a corporate body.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here functions as a genitive of relationship dependent on υἱοῖς.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (redundant speech-marker introducing the quoted command)→ redundant participle of saying (Hebraism)λέγω (pres. part.): again rendering לֵאמֹר; introduces the actual words Joshua is to relay to the people.
δότεgiveAor Act Impv 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (imperative addressed to the people)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive act of designation)δίδωμι: 'give / appoint / set apart'; renders נָתַן; here 'give' in the sense of 'designate / assign' the cities for their sacred asylum-function (cf. the same idiom at Num 35:6).
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of δότεπόλις (pl. πόλεις): 'city'; renders עִיר; the accusative is the direct object of δότε — the cities themselves are what is to be assigned.
τῶνthe / ofGenitivearticle (with φυγαδευτηρίων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυγαδευτηρίωνof refugesGenitiveattributive genitive (defining the kind of city: 'cities of refuge')φυγαδευτήριον: 'place of refuge / asylum'; a distinctively LXX coinage from φυγαδεύω ('put to flight / banish'), rendering מִקְלָט ('refuge'); the genitive plural τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων specifies the function of the cities as sanctuaries for the manslayer.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἶπα, antecedent πόλεις)ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; the feminine accusative plural ἃς agrees with πόλεις and serves as the object of εἶπα, grounding the present command in YHWH's earlier word.
εἶπαI spoke / I saidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωverb of relative clause (divine first-person reference to prior command)→ constative aorist (reference to a completed prior speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπα): the alpha-aorist form εἶπα (alongside classical εἶπον) is common in Hellenistic Greek; the first-person aorist points back to the Mosaic legislation on cities of refuge (Num 35:9–15; Deut 19:1–13) as YHWH's own prior word.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (2nd person plural: the people)σύ (pl. acc. ὑμᾶς): the second-person plural addresses the corporate Israel, treating the present generation as continuous with the wilderness generation that received the Mosaic command.
διὰthrough / by means ofpreposition + genitive (intermediate agent)διά + genitive: 'through / by means of'; marks Moses as the mediating agent through whom YHWH's word was originally delivered — a standard formula for prophetic mediation (cf. διὰ χειρὸς Μωυσῆ).
ΜωυσῆMosesGenitivegenitive object of διά (intermediate agent of the prior revelation)Μωυσῆς: transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined in Rahlfs' LXX (gen. Μωυσῆ, acc. Μωυσῆν); the genitive here marks Moses as the mediator of the earlier command, anchoring Joshua's authority in Mosaic continuity.
3
φυγαδευτήριον τῷ φονευτῇ τῷ πατάξαντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως καὶ ἔσονται ὑμῖν αἱ πόλεις φυγαδευτήριον καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανεῖται ὁ φονευτὴς ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα ἕως ἂν καταστῇ ἐναντίον τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν
a refuge for the slayer who has struck a person unintentionally; and the cities shall be a refuge for you, and the slayer shall not die at the hand of the one who avenges the blood until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
v. 3 defines the cities' purpose with a verbless heading (φυγαδευτήριον τῷ φονευτῇ) followed by the explanatory clause ἔσονται … φυγαδευτήριον. The double safeguard — protection from the ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα (the blood-avenger) and the requirement to stand εἰς κρίσιν before the συναγωγή — establishes due process distinguishing accidental manslaughter from premeditated murder.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
φυγαδευτήριονa refugeNominativenominative (verbless heading: 'a place of refuge')φυγαδευτήριον: 'place of refuge / asylum'; renders מִקְלָט; stands at the head of the verse as a verbless nominal heading defining the cities' essential function before the explanatory clause unfolds.
τῷthe / forDativearticle (with φονευτῇ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονευτῇfor the slayerDativedative of advantage (the one for whom refuge is provided)φονευτής: 'slayer / killer / manslayer'; renders רֹצֵחַ; the term is neutral as to intent and is here qualified by the participle πατάξαντι … ἀκουσίως to specify the unintentional killer who alone is eligible for asylum.
τῷthe / whoDativearticle (substantivizing the participle πατάξαντι)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατάξαντιhaving struckAor Act Part Dat Masc Sg · πατάσσωattributive participle (modifying φονευτῇ: 'who has struck')→ constative aorist participle (the act of fatal striking)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / kill'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); the articular aorist participle τῷ πατάξαντι functions attributively, restricting the eligible 'slayer' to the one whose killing was ἀκουσίως.
ψυχὴνa person / lifeAccusativedirect object of πατάξαντιψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; in this legal context 'a soul' = a human life / person; to strike ψυχήν is to take a human life, here through unintentional homicide.
ἀκουσίωςunintentionallyadverb of manner (qualifying the striking)ἀκουσίως: 'unwillingly / unintentionally / by accident'; the adverbial counterpart of ἑκουσίως ('willingly'); renders בִּשְׁגָגָה ('in error / inadvertently'); this single word is the legal hinge of the whole asylum-system, distinguishing manslaughter from murder.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσονταιthey shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predication: the cities will function as refuge)→ predictive future (settled provision)εἰμί (fut. ἔσονται): 'be'; the future of εἰμί predicts the abiding function of the cities; the plural subject αἱ πόλεις takes a singular predicate noun φυγαδευτήριον (each city being a refuge).
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage (the people for whom the cities serve)σύ (pl. dat. ὑμῖν): the dative of advantage marks Israel as the beneficiary of the asylum-provision.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with πόλεις)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesNominativesubject of ἔσονταιπόλις (pl. πόλεις): 'city'; here the nominative subject of ἔσονται — the designated cities collectively constitute the asylum.
φυγαδευτήριονa refugeNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσονται)φυγαδευτήριον: the predicate noun (singular, distributive) completes the equation αἱ πόλεις … φυγαδευτήριον — 'the cities shall be (a) refuge.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἀποθανεῖται)οὐ (οὐκ before vowels): the objective negative; negates the indicative ἀποθανεῖται — the protected manslayer shall not die at the avenger's hand.
ἀποθανεῖταιshall dieFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (negated prediction of safety)→ predictive future (guaranteed protection)ἀποθνῄσκω (fut. mid. ἀποθανεῖται): 'die'; renders מוּת; the negated future guarantees that the unintentional killer, once in the refuge, is shielded from summary execution by the blood-avenger.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with φονευτὴς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονευτὴςslayerNominativesubject of ἀποθανεῖταιφονευτής: 'slayer / manslayer'; the nominative subject; the same term as in v. 3a, now referring back to the unintentional killer who enjoys protection.
ὑπὸby / at the hand ofpreposition + genitive (agent)ὑπό + genitive: marks the personal agent of a (here negated) passive-sense action — the agent of the death the manslayer is spared from.
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (substantivizing the participle ἀγχιστεύοντος)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγχιστεύοντοςone who avengesPres Act Part Gen Masc Sg · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantival participle (genitive of agent: 'the one avenging')→ customary present participle (the standing role of the avenger)ἀγχιστεύω: 'act as next-of-kin / play the kinsman-redeemer'; the substantival participle ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα renders גֹּאֵל הַדָּם ('the redeemer of blood'), the relative obligated to avenge a slain kinsman; the present aspect marks his standing legal role.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αἷμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect object of ἀγχιστεύοντος ('avenging the blood')αἷμα: 'blood'; renders דָּם; the accusative object of ἀγχιστεύω; 'the blood' is the shed blood of the slain kinsman that the avenger is bound to requite — blood-vengeance being the social mechanism the asylum-cities regulate.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἂν + subjunctive)ἕως: 'until'; with ἄν and the aorist subjunctive (καταστῇ) it marks the temporal limit of the protection — the killer is safe until the moment of trial.
ἂν(modal particle)modal particle (with ἕως and subjunctive: indefinite future time)ἄν: the modal particle; combined with ἕως and the subjunctive it lends an indefinite, contingent sense to the time-clause ('until such time as he stands').
καταστῇhe stands / is presentedAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καθίστημιverb of temporal clause (subjunctive with ἕως ἂν)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the act of presenting oneself for trial)καθίστημι (aor. subj. καταστῇ): 'set / appoint / stand / present oneself'; the intransitive aorist here means 'present himself / stand (for judgment)'; the manslayer must submit to the congregation's adjudication before his status is settled.
ἐναντίονbefore / in the presence ofpreposition + genitive (location of the trial)ἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; marks the congregation as the forum before which the killer's case is heard.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with συναγωγῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίονσυναγωγή: 'assembly / congregation / community'; renders עֵדָה; the deliberative assembly of Israel that adjudicates the manslayer's case (cf. Num 35:12, 24–25); later the word for the Jewish place of assembly ('synagogue').
εἰςfor / untopreposition + accusative (purpose / goal)εἰς + accusative: here marks purpose / goal — the killer stands 'for judgment,' i.e. in order to be judged.
κρίσινjudgmentAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose: 'for judgment')κρίσις: 'judgment / decision / trial'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the legal determination by which the congregation decides whether the killing was indeed unintentional, fixing the killer's fate.
7
καὶ διέστειλεν τὴν Καδης ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Νεφθαλι καὶ Συχεμ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Εφραιμ καὶ τὴν πόλιν Αρβοκ αὕτη ἐστὶν Χεβρων ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Ιουδα
And he set apart Kadesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and the city of Arbok — this is Hebron — in the hill country of Judah.
v. 7 records the obedient implementation of the command: Joshua (or Israel) 'sets apart' (διέστειλεν) the three western cities, each located by region and tribal hill country. The narrator's gloss αὕτη ἐστὶν Χεβρων equates the archaic name Αρβοκ (Kiriath-Arba) with the familiar Hebron — a translator's identifying aside typical of Joshua.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διέστειλενhe set apartAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαστέλλωmain verb (act of designating the cities)→ constative aorist (completed act of separation)διαστέλλω: 'separate / set apart / distinguish'; the compound δια- marks the cities as 'set off' from the rest for their special asylum-function; renders הִקְדִּישׁ / הִבְדִּיל ('consecrate / separate') in the asylum-context of Josh 20.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the indeclinable toponym Καδης)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚαδηςKadeshdirect object of διέστειλεν (indeclinable toponym, governed by τὴν)Καδης: transliteration of Hebrew קֶדֶשׁ (Kedesh in Naphtali); indeclinable; the feminine article τήν supplies the case-function (accusative object) the indeclinable noun cannot show; the first of the three western cities of refuge.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with Γαλιλαίᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαλιλαίᾳGalileeDativedative of place (locative: 'in Galilee')Γαλιλαία: 'Galilee'; renders גָּלִיל ('circuit / district'); unlike the bare transliterated toponyms, this region-name is declined as a first-declension Greek noun (dat. Γαλιλαίᾳ); the northern district later prominent in the Gospels.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὄρει)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειhill country / mountainDativedative of place (locative: 'in the hill country')ὄρος (dat. ὄρει): 'mountain / hill country'; renders הַר; in the toponymic formula ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Νεφθαλι it denotes the highland territory belonging to a tribe ('the hill country of Naphtali').
τῷthe / ofDativearticle (attributive, with the indeclinable Νεφθαλι)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝεφθαλιNaphtaliattributive (indeclinable: 'the hill country of Naphtali')Νεφθαλι: transliteration of Hebrew נַפְתָּלִי; indeclinable; the repeated article τῷ … τῷ links the place-name attributively to ὄρει, identifying the tribal allotment in which Kadesh lay.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the second city)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣυχεμShechemobject of διέστειλεν (second western city, indeclinable)Συχεμ: transliteration of Hebrew שְׁכֶם; indeclinable; the central-hill-country sanctuary city (cf. Josh 24:1), here the second of the western cities of refuge.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὄρει)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειhill country / mountainDativedative of place (locative)ὄρος (dat. ὄρει): the hill country of Ephraim; the same toponymic formula as with Naphtali.
τῷthe / ofDativearticle (attributive, with Εφραιμ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕφραιμEphraimattributive (indeclinable: 'the hill country of Ephraim')Εφραιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם; indeclinable; the central-highland tribe whose territory contained Shechem.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the third city)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πόλιν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativedirect object of διέστειλεν (third western city)πόλις (acc. πόλιν): 'city'; the construction τὴν πόλιν Αρβοκ ('the city of Arbok') supplies an explicit head-noun before the indeclinable name, a common device for transliterated toponyms.
ΑρβοκArbok (Kiriath-Arba)appositional to πόλιν (indeclinable toponym)Αρβοκ: transliteration of the Hebrew קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע (Kiriath-Arba, 'city of Arba'), the ancient name of Hebron; indeclinable; stands in apposition to τὴν πόλιν.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of the identifying gloss)οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο: the feminine demonstrative αὕτη ('this [city]') opens the narrator's identifying aside equating the archaic name with the current one.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (identifying clause: 'this is Hebron')→ gnomic/identifying present (timeless equation of names)εἰμί (pres. ἐστίν): the copula in the explanatory gloss αὕτη ἐστὶν Χεβρων; such name-equations ('X, that is Y') are a recurring feature of the LXX of Joshua, updating archaic toponyms for the reader.
ΧεβρωνHebronpredicate (identifying the city: indeclinable toponym)Χεβρων: transliteration of Hebrew חֶבְרוֹן; indeclinable; the familiar name (patriarchal burial-site, Davidic capital) given as the equivalent of the archaic Αρβοκ.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ὄρει)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειhill country / mountainDativedative of place (locative)ὄρος (dat. ὄρει): the hill country of Judah, the southern highland where Hebron lay.
τῷthe / ofDativearticle (attributive, with Ιουδα)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙουδαJudahattributive (indeclinable: 'the hill country of Judah')Ιουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה; indeclinable in this toponymic use; the southern tribe whose hill country contained Hebron, completing the three western cities.
8
καὶ ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἔδωκεν Βοσορ ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ ἀπὸ τῆς φυλῆς Ρουβην καὶ Αρημωθ ἐν τῇ Γαλααδ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Γαδ καὶ τὴν Γαυλων ἐν τῇ Βασανίτιδι ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Μανασση
And beyond the Jordan he gave Bezer in the wilderness in the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashanitis from the tribe of Manasseh.
v. 8 balances v. 7 with the three Transjordanian cities, fronting the locative phrase ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου ('beyond the Jordan') to mark the geographical pairing. Each city is tied to one of the two-and-a-half eastern tribes (Reuben, Gad, Manasseh), so that the asylum-network spans the whole land east and west.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (locative, with substantivized πέραν)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing the adverb πέραν: 'the region beyond')τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανbeyond / the other sideadverb / improper preposition (substantivized by τῷ, governing τοῦ Ιορδάνου)πέραν: 'across / beyond / on the other side'; an indeclinable adverb here substantivized by the article (τὸ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου = 'the region across the Jordan'); the standard LXX phrase for the Transjordan, the eastern allotment of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh.
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνουof the JordanGenitivegenitive governed by πέραν ('beyond the Jordan')Ιορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): 'the Jordan'; renders יַרְדֵּן; declined as a first-declension masculine Greek noun (unlike the bare toponyms); the river that divides the western from the eastern cities of refuge.
ἔδωκενhe gaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (act of assigning the eastern cities)→ constative aorist (completed act of designation)δίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκεν): 'give / assign'; renders נָתַן; here parallel to διέστειλεν of v. 7 — the eastern cities are 'given' (designated) as places of refuge.
ΒοσορBezerdirect object of ἔδωκεν (first eastern city, indeclinable)Βοσορ: transliteration of Hebrew בֶּצֶר (Bezer); indeclinable; the first of the three Transjordanian cities of refuge, in the Reubenite tableland.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἐρήμῳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwilderness / desertDativedative of place (locative: 'in the wilderness')ἔρημος (dat. ἐρήμῳ): 'wilderness / desert / steppe'; renders מִדְבָּר; here the open tableland east of the Dead Sea where Bezer stood.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (locative, epexegetic)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πεδίῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεδίῳplain / tablelandDativedative of place (locative, defining the wilderness as flat country)πεδίον (dat. πεδίῳ): 'plain / level country'; renders מִישֹׁר ('the tableland'), the elevated Moabite/Reubenite plateau; the pair ἐρήμῳ … πεδίῳ pins Bezer to the Transjordanian steppe-plateau.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source: tribal allotment)ἀπό + genitive: 'from'; marks the tribal territory out of which the city was drawn.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with φυλῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλῆςtribeGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό ('from the tribe')φυλή: 'tribe / clan'; renders מַטֶּה / שֵׁבֶט; the genitive marks the tribal source from which each refuge-city is allocated.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'tribe of Reuben')Ρουβην: transliteration of Hebrew רְאוּבֵן; indeclinable; the eastern tribe whose territory supplied Bezer.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the second eastern city)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑρημωθRamothobject of ἔδωκεν (second eastern city, indeclinable)Αρημωθ: transliteration of Hebrew רָאמֹת (Ramoth in Gilead); indeclinable; the second Transjordanian city of refuge, later a famed military frontier-town (cf. 1 Kgs 22).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with the indeclinable Γαλααδ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαλααδGileadlocative (indeclinable region-name, governed by ἐν τῇ)Γαλααδ: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְעָד; indeclinable; the feminine article τῇ supplies the locative case-function; the central Transjordanian highland region containing Ramoth.
ἐκout of / frompreposition + genitive (source: tribal allotment)ἐκ + genitive: 'out of / from'; a variant of ἀπό used here for the second and third tribal sources.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with φυλῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλῆςtribeGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from the tribe')φυλή: 'tribe'; as above, marking the tribal source of the refuge-city.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'tribe of Gad')Γαδ: transliteration of Hebrew גָּד; indeclinable; the eastern tribe whose Gileadite territory supplied Ramoth.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the third eastern city)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the indeclinable Γαυλων)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαυλωνGolanobject of ἔδωκεν (third eastern city, governed by τὴν; indeclinable)Γαυλων: transliteration of Hebrew גּוֹלָן (Golan); indeclinable; the accusative article τήν marks its object-function; the third Transjordanian city, giving its name to the Golan/Gaulanitis region.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with Βασανίτιδι)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒασανίτιδιBashanitis / BashanDativedative of place (locative: 'in Bashanitis')Βασανῖτις (dat. Βασανίτιδι): 'Bashanitis', the Greek regional formation from Hebrew בָּשָׁן (Bashan); declined as a third-declension Greek noun; the northern Transjordanian region of half-Manasseh in which Golan lay.
ἐκout of / frompreposition + genitive (source: tribal allotment)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with φυλῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλῆςtribeGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from the tribe')φυλή: 'tribe'; the third tribal source.
ΜανασσηManassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'tribe of Manasseh')Μανασση: transliteration of Hebrew מְנַשֶּׁה; treated here as an indeclinable tribal name (like Ρουβην and Γαδ); the half-tribe settled east of the Jordan in Bashan, whose territory supplied Golan, completing the six cities of refuge.
9
αὗται αἱ πόλεις αἱ ἐπίκλητοι τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ τῷ προσκειμένῳ ἐν αὐτοῖς καταφυγεῖν ἐκεῖ παντὶ παίοντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃ ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα ἕως ἂν καταστῇ ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν
These are the appointed cities for the sons of Israel and for the sojourner who attaches himself among them, that everyone who strikes a person unintentionally may flee there and not die at the hand of the one who avenges the blood, until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
v. 9 closes the chapter with a recapitulating heading (αὗται αἱ πόλεις αἱ ἐπίκλητοι, 'these are the appointed cities') and restates the asylum-purpose of v. 3 in fuller terms. The provision is explicitly extended to the προσήλυτος ('resident alien'), enacting the principle of one law for native and sojourner (Num 35:15); the closing clause repeats the protection-formula almost verbatim from v. 3, framing the chapter as an inclusio around the blood-avenger and the congregation's judgment.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
αὗταιtheseNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of the summarizing clause)οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο: the feminine plural αὗται ('these [cities]') opens the recapitulating summary, gathering the six named cities under one heading.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with πόλεις)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesNominativepredicate/subject noun (with αὗται: 'these cities')πόλις (pl. πόλεις): 'city'; the head-noun of the summary, referring back to the six refuge-cities just enumerated.
αἱtheNominativearticle (attributive, with ἐπίκλητοι)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπίκλητοιappointed / designatedNominativeattributive adjective (with second article: 'the appointed cities')ἐπίκλητος: 'called-out / summoned / designated'; a verbal adjective from ἐπικαλέω; renders מוּעָדָה / the notion of cities formally 'designated' for asylum; the second-article construction (αἱ πόλεις αἱ ἐπίκλητοι) makes it emphatically attributive.
τοῖςthe / forDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage ('for the sons of Israel')υἱός (pl. dat. υἱοῖς): the dative of advantage marks the native Israelites as the primary beneficiaries of the asylum-cities.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable; genitive of relationship with υἱοῖς.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the provision to the alien)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷthe / forDativearticle (with προσηλύτῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτῳsojourner / proselyteDativedative of advantage ('for the resident alien')προσήλυτος: 'newcomer / resident alien / sojourner'; the LXX coinage rendering גֵּר; in pre-rabbinic usage it denotes the foreigner dwelling among Israel rather than the later technical 'convert'; its inclusion enacts the one-law principle (Num 35:15).
τῷthe / whoDativearticle (substantivizing the participle προσκειμένῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσκειμένῳwho attaches himself / dwellsPres Mid Part Dat Masc Sg · πρόσκειμαιattributive participle (modifying προσηλύτῳ: 'who attaches himself')→ customary present participle (the alien's ongoing residence)πρόσκειμαι: 'lie near / be attached to / adhere'; the present participle τῷ προσκειμένῳ ἐν αὐτοῖς describes the alien who has joined himself to / settled among the Israelites; renders the Hebrew גֵּר construction for the sojourner who has thrown in his lot with Israel.
ἐνin / amongpreposition + dative (locative: 'among them')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (the Israelites among whom the alien dwells)αὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): the personal pronoun refers to the sons of Israel; ἐν αὐτοῖς ('among them') locates the sojourner within the community he has joined.
καταφυγεῖνto flee for refugeAor Act Inf · καταφεύγωepexegetic infinitive (defining the purpose of the appointed cities)→ ingressive aorist infinitive (the act of fleeing to refuge)καταφεύγω: 'flee for refuge / take asylum'; the compound κατα- intensifies φεύγω toward a place of safety; the infinitive καταφυγεῖν explains the cities' designated function — they exist precisely so that the killer may flee there.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (goal of the fleeing)ἐκεῖ: 'there / to that place'; renders שָׁמָּה; points to the refuge-cities as the destination of the manslayer's flight.
παντὶfor everyoneDativedative of advantage (distributive: 'for everyone who strikes')πᾶς (dat. παντί): 'all / every / everyone'; the distributive dative universalizes the provision — it applies to any and every unintentional killer, Israelite or alien.
παίοντιwho strikesPres Act Part Dat Masc Sg · παίωattributive participle (modifying παντί: 'everyone striking')→ general/customary present participle (any case of fatal striking)παίω: 'strike / smite / hit'; the present participle here functions generically ('anyone who strikes'); a near-synonym of πατάσσω in v. 3, varying the verb while restating the same condition of unintentional homicide.
ψυχὴνa person / lifeAccusativedirect object of παίοντιψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; the object of the fatal blow, as in v. 3.
ἀκουσίωςunintentionallyadverb of manner (qualifying παίοντι)ἀκουσίως: 'unintentionally / by accident'; renders בִּשְׁגָגָה; repeats the decisive legal qualifier of v. 3, confining the asylum to inadvertent killing.
ἵναso thatpurpose conjunction (with subjunctive ἀποθάνῃ)ἵνα: 'in order that / so that'; introduces the purpose clause expressing the protective aim of the refuge — that the killer not be slain.
μὴnotnegative particle (negating the subjunctive in the purpose clause)μή: the subjective negative used with the subjunctive in purpose clauses ('so that he may not die').
ἀποθάνῃhe may dieAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of negative purpose clause (subjunctive with ἵνα μή)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the feared event of being killed)ἀποθνῄσκω (aor. subj. ἀποθάνῃ): 'die'; the subjunctive in the negated purpose clause names the outcome the refuge is meant to prevent — summary death at the avenger's hand.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by the hand of')ἐν + dative: here instrumental, in the Hebraizing idiom ἐν χειρί ('by the hand of') = 'at the hands of'.
χειρὶhandDativedative of means (idiomatic: 'by the hand of')χείρ (dat. χειρί): 'hand'; the idiom ἐν χειρί renders בְּיַד ('by the hand of / through the agency of'); a Hebraism for personal agency, here that of the blood-avenger.
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (substantivizing the participle ἀγχιστεύοντος)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγχιστεύοντοςone who avengesPres Act Part Gen Masc Sg · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantival participle (genitive: 'of the one avenging the blood')→ customary present participle (the standing role of the blood-avenger)ἀγχιστεύω: 'act as kinsman-redeemer / avenger'; ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα renders גֹּאֵל הַדָּם; the same phrase as in v. 3, forming a verbal inclusio around the chapter's asylum-law.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αἷμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect object of ἀγχιστεύοντος ('avenging the blood')αἷμα: 'blood'; renders דָּם; the shed blood the kinsman is bound to requite; the accusative object of ἀγχιστεύω, as in v. 3.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἂν + subjunctive)ἕως: 'until'; marks the temporal limit of the protection, as in v. 3.
ἂν(modal particle)modal particle (with ἕως and subjunctive: indefinite future time)ἄν: the modal particle lending contingency to the ἕως-clause ('until such time as').
καταστῇhe stands / is presentedAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καθίστημιverb of temporal clause (subjunctive with ἕως ἂν)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (presenting oneself for trial)καθίστημι (aor. subj. καταστῇ): 'present oneself / stand (for judgment)'; repeats the verb of v. 3, again marking submission to the congregation's adjudication as the terminus of the asylum.
ἔναντιbefore / in the presence ofpreposition + genitive (location of the trial)ἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; a near-equivalent of ἐναντίον used in v. 3; both render לִפְנֵי; the slight lexical variation is characteristic of the LXX's flexible rendering of the Hebrew preposition.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with συναγωγῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντισυναγωγή: 'assembly / congregation'; renders עֵדָה; the adjudicating community of Israel, as in v. 3, closing the inclusio.
εἰςfor / untopreposition + accusative (purpose / goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κρίσινjudgmentAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose: 'for judgment')κρίσις: 'judgment / trial'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the chapter's final word, sealing the asylum-law with the requirement of due legal process — the manslayer's fate rests on judicial determination, not on private vengeance.