1
καὶ ἐγένετο μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας πλείους μετὰ τὸ καταπαῦσαι κύριον τὸν Ισραηλ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν κυκλόθεν καὶ Ἰησοῦς πρεσβύτερος προβεβηκὼς ταῖς ἡμέραις
And it came to pass after many days, after the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in days.
The καὶ ἐγένετο + temporal clause is the standard LXX rendering of וַיְהִי, marking a new narrative episode. The double temporal frame (μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας πλείους … μετὰ τὸ καταπαῦσαι) sets the discourse in the period of completed rest, and the description of Joshua as πρεσβύτερος προβεβηκώς signals a testamentary speech (cf. 13:1; Gen 24:1).
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing waw-consecutive)καί: the paratactic conjunction opening the episode; with ἐγένετο it renders the Hebrew narrative formula וַיְהִי ('and it came to pass').
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal setting-formula)→ constative aorist (narrative onset)γίνομαι: 'become / happen / come to pass'; the impersonal ἐγένετο renders וַיְהִי and serves as a temporal hinge introducing the circumstances of Joshua's farewell address.
μεθ᾿afterpreposition + accusative (temporal, elided before vowel)μετά + accusative: 'after'; temporal use locating the discourse a long time after the conquest's completion.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal extent)ἡμέρα: 'day'; the phrase μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας πλείους ('after many days') renders מִיָּמִים רַבִּים, marking the long interval of settled peace.
πλείουςmany / moreAccusativeattributive adjective (comparative used for 'many', modifying ἡμέρας)πλείων: comparative of πολύς, 'more / many'; here with elative/quantitative force ('a good many days'), rendering רַבִּים.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (with articular infinitive: temporal)μετά + articular infinitive: 'after (the act of)'; a common LXX construction rendering a Hebrew temporal infinitive clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the infinitive καταπαῦσαι)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταπαῦσαιto give restAor Act Inf · καταπαύωarticular infinitive (temporal: 'after the LORD gave rest')→ constative aorist infinitive (completed act of granting rest)καταπαύω: 'cause to rest / give rest'; renders הֵנִיחַ (Hiphil of נוח); the 'rest' (κατάπαυσις) motif is central to Joshua (cf. 1:13; 21:44) and becomes a theological type for the people of God (cf. Ps 94:11 LXX; Heb 4).
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive καταπαῦσαικύριος: the LXX's standard rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; in the accusative as the logical subject of the infinitive — it is the LORD who is the agent of Israel's rest.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of καταπαῦσαι (indeclinable proper noun, marked by τόν)Ισραηλ: indeclinable transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; case is signalled only by the article τόν; here the object/recipient of the rest the LORD grants.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: rest from enemies)ἀπό: 'from'; the construction καταπαύω … ἀπό renders הֵנִיחַ מִן ('give rest from'), a fixed Deuteronomistic idiom (cf. Deut 12:10; 25:19).
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ἐχθρῶν)πᾶς: 'all / every'; the comprehensive πάντων underlines that the rest is total — no enemy remains active.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἐχθρῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθρῶνenemiesGenitivegenitive of separation (object of ἀπό)ἐχθρός: 'enemy / hostile one'; substantival adjective rendering אֹיֵב; the surrounding nations subdued in the conquest.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἐχθρῶν)αὐτός: here possessive 'their', referring to Israel.
κυκλόθενround aboutadverb of place (encircling extent)κυκλόθεν: 'all around / on every side'; renders מִסָּבִיב; emphasizes that the rest is complete on every frontier.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the main statement of the apodosis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject (predicated as old)Ἰησοῦς: the LXX form of יְהוֹשֻׁעַ ('the LORD is salvation'); declined as a contracted second-declension noun (gen./dat. Ἰησοῦ); the same name later transliterated for Jesus, so the LXX Joshua becomes a typological forerunner in early Christian reading.
πρεσβύτεροςold / an old manNominativepredicate adjective (with implied ἦν: 'was old')πρεσβύτερος: comparative of πρέσβυς used as 'old / aged'; renders זָקֵן; the predication πρεσβύτερος προβεβηκώς frames the discourse as a testament from a dying leader.
προβεβηκὼςadvancedPerf Act Part Nom Sg Masc · προβαίνωpredicate participle (periphrastic with implied ἦν: 'advanced in days')→ perfect (resultant state of advanced age)προβαίνω: 'go forward / advance'; the perfect participle προβεβηκώς with ταῖς ἡμέραις renders בָּא בַּיָּמִים ('come into days' = advanced in age); cf. the identical idiom of Josh 13:1 and Gen 24:1; Luke 1:7.
ταῖςin theDativearticle (with ἡμέραις)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of respect (advanced 'in days')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the dative ταῖς ἡμέραις is a dative of respect rendering the Hebrew בַּיָּמִים — Joshua is advanced with respect to his days, i.e. far on in life.
2
καὶ συνεκάλεσεν Ἰησοῦς πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ καὶ τὴν γερουσίαν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς γραμματεῖς αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς δικαστὰς αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς ἐγὼ γεγήρακα καὶ προβέβηκα ταῖς ἡμέραις
And Joshua called together all the sons of Israel and their council of elders and their rulers and their scribes and their judges, and said to them, 'I have grown old and am advanced in days.'
The four-fold catalogue of leadership offices (γερουσία, ἄρχοντες, γραμματεῖς, δικασταί) is a Deuteronomistic listing of Israel's representative institutions (cf. Deut 29:9; Josh 24:1). The first-person ἐγὼ γεγήρακα reprises v.1's third-person description in Joshua's own voice, marking the personal authority of a testamentary address.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνεκάλεσενcalled togetherAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συγκαλέωmain verb (convening of the assembly)→ constative aorist (single act of summoning)συγκαλέω: 'call together / convene / summon'; the compound συν- stresses the gathering into one assembly; renders קָרָא ('summon') with the sense of a formal national convocation.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: nominative subject; Joshua acts as the covenant mediator convening Israel in the manner of Moses (cf. Deut 31:28).
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying υἱούς)πᾶς: 'all'; the comprehensive πάντας frames the assembly as representing the entire nation through its leadership.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱούς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of συνεκάλεσενυἱός: 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable; functions here as a genitive of relationship dependent on υἱούς.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γερουσίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γερουσίανcouncil of eldersAccusativedirect object (coordinate with υἱούς)γερουσία: 'council of elders / senate'; renders זְקֵנִים (the body of elders); the LXX term denotes the formal eldership council, the senior governing institution of Israel.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying γερουσίαν)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἄρχοντας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχονταςrulersAccusativedirect object (coordinate)ἄρχων: 'ruler / chief / leader'; renders רֹאשׁ / נָשִׂיא; the tribal and clan heads of Israel.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with γραμματεῖς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γραμματεῖςscribesAccusativedirect object (coordinate)γραμματεύς: 'scribe / official / recorder'; renders שֹׁטֵר ('officer'); in the conquest narratives the γραμματεῖς are administrative officers who muster and record (cf. Josh 1:10; 3:2).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with δικαστάς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαστὰςjudgesAccusativedirect object (coordinate)δικαστής: 'judge'; renders שֹׁפֵט; the judicial officers who adjudicate disputes (cf. Deut 16:18); the four offices together comprise Israel's full representative leadership.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the speech)καὶ: 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 assembled leaders.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρός + accusative: 'to'; with verbs of speaking renders Hebrew אֶל ('to').
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the addressed leaders)αὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun)ἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun foregrounds Joshua's personal mortality, lending the discourse its testamentary character.
γεγήρακαI have grown oldPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · γηράσκωmain verb (perfect of resultant state)→ perfect (present condition resulting from past process)γηράσκω: 'grow old / age'; the perfect γεγήρακα ('I have become and now am old') renders זָקַנְתִּי; the resultative perfect stresses Joshua's present aged state as the ground of his exhortation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προβέβηκαI am advancedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · προβαίνωmain verb (perfect of resultant state, parallel to γεγήρακα)→ perfect (resultant state of advanced age)προβαίνω: 'go forward / advance'; the first-person perfect προβέβηκα ταῖς ἡμέραις echoes the third-person προβεβηκώς of v.1, now in Joshua's own mouth, rendering בָּאתִי בַּיָּמִים.
ταῖςin theDativearticle (with ἡμέραις)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of respect ('advanced in days')ἡμέρα: 'day'; dative of respect, as in v.1.
3
ὑμεῖς δὲ ἑωράκατε ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν τούτοις ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν ὅτι κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ὁ ἐκπολεμήσας ὑμῖν
And you yourselves have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations before you, because it is the LORD your God who fought for you.
The emphatic ὑμεῖς δὲ pivots from Joshua's mortality to Israel's eyewitness knowledge: their obedience must rest not on Joshua but on what they themselves have seen the LORD do. The clause closes with the theological thesis of the whole address — κύριος … ὁ ἐκπολεμήσας ὑμῖν ('the LORD is the one who fought for you').
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic second-person plural pronoun)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic pronoun stresses that Israel's leaders are themselves eyewitnesses, contrasting with Joshua (ἐγώ, v.2).
δὲand / nowmild adversative / transitional (post-positive)δέ: post-positive particle marking the turn from Joshua's self-reference to the appeal to Israel's experience.
ἑωράκατεyou have seenPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (perfect of experiential knowledge)→ perfect (abiding result of past seeing: 'you have seen and know')ὁράω: 'see / perceive'; the perfect ἑωράκατε ('you have seen') renders רְאִיתֶם; the perfect stresses that the conquest events remain present to Israel's memory as the experiential basis for obedience.
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative/correlative pronoun (object of ἑωράκατε and ἐποίησεν)ὅσος: 'as much / as many as / all that'; the neuter plural ὅσα introduces the content seen, rendering אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר ('all that').
ἐποίησενhas doneAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause (the LORD's deeds)→ constative aorist (summarizing the conquest acts)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the aorist summarizes the LORD's saving acts against the nations as a single complex of completed deeds.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησενκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the divine name as subject makes the LORD, not Israel's arms, the agent of every conquest deed.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός, in apposition to κύριος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; the title ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ('your God') renders אֱלֹהֵיכֶם and binds the LORD's acts to the covenant relationship with Israel.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying θεός)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνεσιν)πᾶς: 'all'; comprehensive, the LORD has acted against every one of the nations.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἔθνεσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνεσινnationsDativedative of disadvantage (the nations against whom the LORD acted)ἔθνος: 'nation / gentile people'; renders גּוֹי; the dative τοῖς ἔθνεσιν τούτοις ('to these nations') marks the recipients of the LORD's judgment in the conquest.
τούτοιςtheseDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνεσιν)οὗτος: 'this'; the deictic τούτοις points to the Canaanite nations present to the assembly's experience.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (with προσώπου: 'from before')ἀπό: with προσώπου forms the Hebraism ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from before the face of'), rendering מִפְּנֵי.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism: 'before you')πρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν ('from before you') renders מִפְּנֵיכֶם, a standard LXX calque for 'in front of / out of the way of.'
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with προσώπου)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (grounding the seen deeds in the LORD's agency)ὅτι: 'because / that'; here causal, introducing the theological explanation of all that Israel has witnessed.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (predicate nominative thesis statement)κύριος: rendering of יהוה; repeated to drive home the central claim that the LORD himself is Israel's warrior.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριοςθεὸς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying θεός)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing the participle ἐκπολεμήσας)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκπολεμήσαςwho foughtAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἐκπολεμέωsubstantival participle (predicate: 'the one who fought for you')→ constative aorist participle (the completed work of waging war)ἐκπολεμέω: 'wage war / fight out (to the end)'; the compound ἐκ- intensifies, 'fight thoroughly'; renders נִלְחָם (Niphal of לחם); the articular participle ὁ ἐκπολεμήσας makes 'the-one-who-fought-for-you' a divine title, the thesis of the discourse (cf. Exod 14:14).
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage (the LORD fought 'for you')the dative ὑμῖν is a dative of advantage rendering the Hebrew לָכֶם ('for you'), expressing that the LORD's warfare was waged on Israel's behalf.
4
ἴδετε ὅτι ἐπέρριφα ὑμῖν τὰ ἔθνη τὰ καταλελειμμένα ὑμῖν ταῦτα ἐν τοῖς κλήροις εἰς τὰς φυλὰς ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ Ιορδάνου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἃ ἐξωλέθρευσα καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς μεγάλης ὁριεῖ ἐπὶ δυσμὰς ἡλίου
See that I have allotted to you these nations that are left, by inheritance among your tribes, from the Jordan; all the nations that I destroyed, and from the Great Sea it will set the boundary toward the setting of the sun.
The imperative ἴδετε ('see / take note') summons attention to the divine apportionment. The first-person ἐπέρριφα ('I have cast / allotted') and ἐξωλέθρευσα ('I destroyed') place the LORD as direct speaker through Joshua. The territorial sweep from the Jordan to the Great Sea (the Mediterranean) defines the full inheritance promised to the tribes.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
ἴδετεsee / beholdAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (imperative summoning attention)→ ingressive aorist imperative (direct attention now)ὁράω (aor. ἴδον): 'see / behold / take note'; the aorist imperative ἴδετε renders רְאוּ, calling the assembly to perceive the divine apportionment about to be described.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the content of perception)ὅτι: 'that'; here introduces the object-clause of ἴδετε ('see that…').
ἐπέρριφαI have allotted / castPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπιρρίπτωmain verb of the ὅτι-clause (divine first-person act of allotment)→ perfect (completed allotment with abiding result)ἐπιρρίπτω: 'cast upon / throw to / allot'; the perfect ἐπέρριφα ('I have cast/assigned to you') renders הִפַּלְתִּי ('I have caused to fall [as a lot]'), the language of casting lots for inheritance; the LORD (through Joshua) is the speaker who has apportioned the land.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative of advantage / indirect object (recipients of the allotment)ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativedirect object of ἐπέρριφαἔθνος: 'nation'; here the remaining Canaanite peoples whose territory has been allotted to Israel even before their dispossession is complete.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with the attributive participle καταλελειμμένα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταλελειμμέναleft / remainingPerf Pass Part Acc Pl Neut · καταλείπωattributive participle (modifying ἔθνη: 'the nations that are left')→ perfect passive (settled state of being left over)καταλείπω: 'leave behind / leave remaining'; the perfect passive participle τὰ καταλελειμμένα ('the ones left behind') renders הַנִּשְׁאָרִים; the surviving nations are a recurring concern of Joshua (cf. 13:1–6; 23:7, 12).
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (of reference: the nations left 'to/for you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνη)οὗτος: 'this'; the deictic ταῦτα points to the nations still bordering Israel's allotments.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (instrumental/distributive: 'by lots')ἐν + dative: here distributive-instrumental, 'by/in the lots'; renders בְּ.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with κλήροις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλήροιςlots / allotmentsDativedative (means of allotment: 'by the lots')κλῆρος: 'lot / portion / inheritance'; renders נַחֲלָה / גּוֹרָל; the κλῆρος is the divinely apportioned tribal inheritance, distributed in Josh 13–21.
εἰςfor / topreposition + accusative (distributive: 'for your tribes')εἰς + accusative: here distributive, 'to/for the tribes'; renders לְ.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with φυλάς)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλὰςtribesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (recipients of the allotment)φυλή: 'tribe'; renders שֵׁבֶט / מַטֶּה; the land is parcelled to the twelve tribes by lot.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with φυλάς)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (territorial starting point)ἀπό: 'from'; marks the eastern boundary of the allotted land at the Jordan.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (eastern boundary)Ιορδάνης: the Jordan river; declined as a first-declension masculine (gen. Ιορδάνου); renders יַרְדֵּן; the eastern limit of the inheritance west of the river.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)πᾶς: 'all'; resumes the totality of the nations subject to the allotment and destruction.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativeaccusative (resumptive: 'all the nations')ἔθνος: here the antecedent of the relative ἃ — the nations the LORD has destroyed.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐξωλέθρευσα)ὅς: relative pronoun; neuter plural ἃ agreeing with ἔθνη.
ἐξωλέθρευσαI destroyedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωverb of relative clause (the LORD's destroying act)→ constative aorist (completed extermination)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; renders הִכְרַתִּי / הֶחֱרַמְתִּי; the verb (and its cognates ἐξολεθρεύσει, ἐξολεθρεύσῃ in v.5) is the keyword of the chapter's conquest theology — the complete dispossession of the nations.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (western boundary)ἀπό: 'from'; here marks the western extent of the territory at the Great Sea.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with θαλάσσης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θαλάσσηςseaGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the Great Sea = Mediterranean)θάλασσα: 'sea'; ἡ θάλασσα ἡ μεγάλη ('the Great Sea') renders הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל, the standard OT designation of the Mediterranean as the western boundary of the land (cf. Num 34:6; Josh 1:4).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with μεγάλης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεγάληςgreatGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying θαλάσσης)μέγας: 'great'; the epithet distinguishes the Mediterranean from inland bodies of water.
ὁριεῖit will set the boundaryFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁρίζωmain verb (defining the western limit)→ gnomic/predictive future (the sea marks the fixed border)ὁρίζω: 'mark out / define / set as a boundary'; the future ὁριεῖ presents the Great Sea as defining the western frontier of the land; renders the boundary-language of גְּבוּל; cf. the territorial description of Num 34:6.
ἐπὶtowardpreposition + accusative (direction: 'toward the west')ἐπί + accusative: 'toward / in the direction of'; with δυσμάς it indicates the westward extent.
δυσμὰςsetting / westAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (directional: 'toward the setting')δυσμή (pl. δυσμαί): 'setting (of the sun) / west'; δυσμὰς ἡλίου ('the setting of the sun') is a standard idiom for the west, rendering מְבוֹא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ.
ἡλίουof the sunGenitivegenitive (with δυσμάς: 'setting of the sun')ἥλιος: 'sun'; the genitive completes the idiom δυσμὰς ἡλίου ('the going-down of the sun' = the west).
5
κύριος δὲ ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν οὗτος ἐξολεθρεύσει αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν ἕως ἂν ἀπόλωνται καὶ ἀποστελεῖ αὐτοῖς τὰ θηρία τὰ ἄγρια ἕως ἂν ἐξολεθρεύσῃ αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς αὐτῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν καὶ κατακληρονομήσατε τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν καθὰ ἐλάλησεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ὑμῖν
And the LORD your God, he himself will utterly destroy them from before you until they perish, and he will send against them the wild beasts until he has destroyed them and their kings from before you; and you shall inherit their land, just as the LORD your God spoke to you.
The emphatic οὗτος ('he himself') concentrates agency in the LORD: he, not Israel, will finish the dispossession. The double ἕως ἂν + subjunctive clauses (ἀπόλωνται, ἐξολεθρεύσῃ) state the certain end-point of the process; the closing aorist imperative κατακληρονομήσατε turns promise into commission, sealed by the fulfilment formula καθὰ ἐλάλησεν.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubjectκύριος: rendering of יהוה; fronted subject of the promise of dispossession.
δὲand / nowtransitional particle (post-positive)δέ: marks the move from past allotment (v.4) to future dispossession (v.5).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν renders אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationshipὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὗτοςhe himselfNominativedemonstrative pronoun (resumptive-emphatic: 'this one, he')οὗτος: 'this (one)'; here resumptive-emphatic, rendering the Hebrew הוּא after the subject — 'the LORD your God, he it is who will destroy them'; concentrates the agency of dispossession in the LORD alone.
ἐξολεθρεύσειwill utterly destroyFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (predictive promise)→ predictive future (certain divine act)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; renders הוֹרִישׁ / הִכְרִית; the future promises the LORD's completion of the dispossession Israel has not finished.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the surviving nations)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism with προσώπου)ἀπό: with προσώπου, 'from before'; renders מִפְּנֵי.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism: 'from before you')πρόσωπον: 'face'; ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν renders מִפְּנֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἂν + subjunctive: terminal limit)ἕως: 'until'; with ἄν and the aorist subjunctive expresses the goal-point of the dispossession.
ἂν(particle)modal particle (with ἕως + subjunctive)ἄν: modal particle conditioning the subjunctive in the temporal clause.
ἀπόλωνταιthey perishAor Mid Subj 3 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιverb of temporal clause (terminal point of destruction)→ aorist subjunctive (anticipated completion)ἀπόλλυμι (mid. ἀπόλλυμαι): 'perish / be destroyed'; renders אָבַד; the middle/intransitive marks the nations' own perishing as the end-point of the LORD's action.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀποστελεῖhe will sendFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (the LORD's sending of wild beasts)→ predictive futureἀποστέλλω: 'send / send out'; renders שָׁלַח; the sending of wild beasts as agents of dispossession echoes Exod 23:28 (the ὁ σφηκία / hornet motif) and Deut 7:20; here the θηρία ἄγρια serve divine judgment.
αὐτοῖςagainst themDativedative of disadvantage (the beasts sent 'against them')αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with θηρία)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θηρίαbeastsAccusativedirect object of ἀποστελεῖθηρίον: 'wild beast / animal'; renders חַיָּה; the τὰ θηρία τὰ ἄγρια are instruments of divine judgment driving out the nations.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἄγρια)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγριαwildAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θηρία)ἄγριος: 'wild / savage'; renders the qualifier of שָׂדֶה ('of the field / wild'); intensifies the destructive character of the beasts.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἂν + subjunctive)ἕως: 'until'; second terminal clause specifying the end of the destruction.
ἂν(particle)modal particle (with ἕως + subjunctive)ἄν: modal particle.
ἐξολεθρεύσῃhe has destroyedAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωverb of temporal clause (terminal point of the destruction)→ aorist subjunctive (anticipated completion)ἐξολεθρεύω: the keyword verb again in the aorist subjunctive, marking the complete extermination of the nations as the goal of the LORD's sending.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖςkingsAccusativedirect object (coordinate with αὐτούς)βασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the kings of the Canaanite nations (cf. the king-lists of Josh 12) are included in the total dispossession.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with βασιλεῖς)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism with προσώπου)ἀπό: with προσώπου, 'from before'.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism: 'from before you')πρόσωπον: ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν renders מִפְּנֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the imperative)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατακληρονομήσατεinherit / take possession ofAor Act Impv 2 Pl · κατακληρονομέωmain verb (commission: take possession of the land)→ ingressive aorist imperative (enter into possession)κατακληρονομέω: 'take possession of (as an inheritance) / dispossess'; renders יָרַשׁ (Hiphil/Qal); the aorist imperative converts the promise into an obligation — Israel is to occupy the land the LORD secures.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of κατακληρονομήσατεγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; the promised land which Israel is to possess.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the nations' land)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καθὰjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing the fulfilment formula)καθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the appeal to the LORD's prior promise.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of the comparative clause (the LORD's promise)→ constative aorist (the completed promise)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; the formula καθὰ ἐλάλησεν κύριος grounds the commission in the LORD's word, a refrain of the fulfilment theology developed in vv.14–15.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐλάλησενκύριος: rendering of יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριοςθεὸς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationshipὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (indirect object: 'spoke to you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
6
κατισχύσατε οὖν σφόδρα φυλάσσειν καὶ ποιεῖν πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου Μωυσῆ ἵνα μὴ ἐκκλίνητε εἰς δεξιὰν ἢ εὐώνυμα
Be very strong, therefore, to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you do not turn aside to the right or to the left.
The hortatory heart of the discourse. The verb κατισχύσατε ('be strong') with σφόδρα ('very') and the infinitives φυλάσσειν … καὶ ποιεῖν directly echoes the commissioning of Joshua himself at 1:7. The phrase 'turn neither right nor left' (Deut 5:32; 17:11) defines covenant fidelity as undeviating obedience to the written Torah.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
κατισχύσατεbe strongAor Act Impv 2 Pl · κατισχύωmain verb (central hortatory imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (summon up strength)κατισχύω: 'be strong / prevail / take courage'; renders חָזַק; the same exhortation given to Joshua at 1:6–7 (ἴσχυε καὶ ἀνδρίζου) is now passed to the people — the leader's mandate becomes the nation's.
οὖνthereforeinferential particleοὖν: 'therefore'; draws the practical conclusion from the LORD's faithfulness (vv.3–5) — because he fights and dispossesses, Israel must obey.
σφόδραvery / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying κατισχύσατε)σφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies the demand for resolute strength in obedience.
φυλάσσεινto keepPres Act Inf · φυλάσσωcomplementary infinitive (object of κατισχύσατε)→ present infinitive (ongoing observance)φυλάσσω: 'guard / keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the present infinitive denotes continual safekeeping of the commandments.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the two infinitives)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (coordinate with φυλάσσειν)→ present infinitive (ongoing performance)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; renders עָשָׂה; the pairing φυλάσσειν καὶ ποιεῖν ('keep and do') is a Deuteronomic formula for full obedience (cf. Deut 5:1; 6:3).
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τὰ γεγραμμένα)πᾶς: 'all'; the comprehensive object stresses that nothing of the written law may be omitted.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing γεγραμμένα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γεγραμμέναthings writtenPerf Pass Part Acc Pl Neut · γράφωsubstantival participle (object of the infinitives: 'the written things')→ perfect passive (the standing, written record)γράφω: 'write'; the perfect passive participle τὰ γεγραμμένα ('the things that stand written') renders הַכָּתוּב; the perfect underlines the fixed, authoritative permanence of the written Torah.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν + dative: 'in'; locates the commandments within the written scroll.
τῷtheDativearticle (with βιβλίῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βιβλίῳbook / scrollDativedative of place (locative: 'in the book')βιβλίον: 'book / scroll / document'; renders סֵפֶר; ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου Μωυσῆ ('in the book of the law of Moses') designates the written Torah (cf. Josh 1:8; 8:31).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with νόμου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμουlawGenitivegenitive of content (with βιβλίῳ: 'book of the law')νόμος: 'law'; renders תּוֹרָה; the law of Moses as the covenant constitution binding Israel.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with νόμου: 'of Moses')Μωυσῆς: transliteration of מֹשֶׁה; declined in Rahlfs' LXX (gen. Μωυσῆ); the law is 'of Moses' as its mediator, though its author is the LORD.
ἵναso thatconjunction (negative purpose with μή + subjunctive)ἵνα: 'so that'; with μή introduces a negative purpose clause.
μὴnotnegative particle (with ἵνα + subjunctive)μή: the negative used with the subjunctive; ἵνα μή = 'lest / so that … not.'
ἐκκλίνητεyou turn asideAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἐκκλίνωverb of negative purpose clause→ aorist subjunctive (any act of deviation)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / deviate'; renders סוּר; ἐκκλίνειν εἰς δεξιὰν ἢ εὐώνυμα ('turn to right or left') is the Deuteronomic idiom for departing from the path of obedience (Deut 5:32; 17:11, 20).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction of deviation)εἰς + accusative: 'to / toward'; marks the direction of the forbidden turning.
δεξιὰν(the) rightAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of εἰς: 'to the right')δεξιός: 'right (hand/side)'; renders יָמִין; with εὐώνυμα forms a merism for any deviation whatsoever.
ἢordisjunctive conjunctionἤ: 'or'; the disjunction completes the right-or-left merism.
εὐώνυμα(the) leftAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of εἰς: 'to the left')εὐώνυμος: 'left (side)'; literally 'of good name', a euphemism for the inauspicious left; renders שְׂמֹאל; the pair δεξιὰν … εὐώνυμα = total deviation in any direction.
7
ὅπως μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὰ ἔθνη τὰ καταλελειμμένα ταῦτα καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν οὐκ ὀνομασθήσεται ἐν ὑμῖν οὐδὲ μὴ προσκυνήσητε αὐτοῖς οὐδὲ μὴ λατρεύσητε αὐτοῖς
so that you do not go in among these surviving nations, and the names of their gods are not named among you, nor do you bow down to them or serve them.
The ὅπως μή clause spells out the danger that 'turning aside' (v.6) would entail: assimilation into the surviving nations and adoption of their gods. The triple prohibition — naming their gods, bowing to them, serving them — restates the first-commandment logic of Exod 23:13 and Deut 7:16; the emphatic οὐδὲ μή reinforces the absolute exclusion of any cultic accommodation.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ὅπωςso thatconjunction (negative purpose with μή + subjunctive)ὅπως: 'so that / in order that'; with μή introduces a further negative purpose clause continuing from v.6.
μὴnotnegative particleμή: negative with the subjunctive.
εἰσέλθητεyou go inAor Act Subj 2 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιverb of negative purpose clause→ aorist subjunctive (any act of entering)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in among'; renders בּוֹא; εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὰ ἔθνη ('go in among the nations') denotes social/cultic intermingling, not mere geographical entry — the prelude to the intermarriage warned of in v.12.
εἰςamong / intopreposition + accusative (direction: 'in among')εἰς + accusative: 'into / among'.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςἔθνος: 'nation'; the surviving Canaanite peoples among whom Israel must not assimilate.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with the participle καταλελειμμένα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταλελειμμέναsurviving / leftPerf Pass Part Acc Pl Neut · καταλείπωattributive participle (modifying ἔθνη: 'the nations left over')→ perfect passive (settled state of remaining)καταλείπω: 'leave remaining'; the perfect passive τὰ καταλελειμμένα ('those left over'), as in v.4, designates the not-yet-dispossessed nations; here the focus shifts from their allotment to the danger they pose.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνη)οὗτος: 'this'; the deictic ταῦτα again marks the nations present to the assembly.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the prohibition)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ὀνόματα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀνόματαnamesNominativesubject of ὀνομασθήσεταιὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; the prohibition against invoking τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν θεῶν ('the names of the gods') reflects Exod 23:13, where naming a foreign god is itself a cultic act.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with θεῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῶνgodsGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀνόματα: 'names of the gods')θεός: 'god'; here the plural θεῶν denotes the false gods of the nations, in deliberate contrast to ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν (vv.3, 5).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with θεῶν)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with the future indicative)οὐ: the negative with the future ὀνομασθήσεται, functioning as a prohibitive future ('shall not be named').
ὀνομασθήσεταιshall be namedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀνομάζωmain verb (prohibitive future: 'shall not be invoked')→ prohibitive future (binding prohibition)ὀνομάζω: 'name / invoke'; renders זָכַר / נִשְׁבַּע בְּ; the passive future with οὐκ has imperatival force — the gods' names must never be uttered in worship among Israel (cf. Exod 23:13; Ps 15:4 LXX).
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: 'among you')ἐν + dative: 'among / in'.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative of place (locative: 'among you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐδὲnornegative conjunction (with μή: emphatic prohibition)οὐδέ: 'and not / nor'; with the following μή reinforces the prohibition.
μὴnotnegative particle (emphatic οὐδὲ μή with subjunctive)μή: the combination οὐδὲ μή + aorist subjunctive forms an emphatic prohibition ('by no means … nor').
προσκυνήσητεyou bow down / worshipAor Act Subj 2 Pl · προσκυνέωverb of emphatic prohibition→ aorist subjunctive (prohibitive: any act of worship)προσκυνέω: 'bow down / do obeisance / worship'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; the prohibition against bowing to the gods directly applies the second commandment (Exod 20:5; Deut 5:9).
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (object of προσκυνήσητε: 'bow to them')αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐδὲnornegative conjunction (with μή)οὐδέ: 'nor'; introduces the third prohibition.
μὴnotnegative particle (emphatic οὐδὲ μή with subjunctive)μή: emphatic prohibition.
λατρεύσητεyou serveAor Act Subj 2 Pl · λατρεύωverb of emphatic prohibition→ aorist subjunctive (prohibitive: any cultic service)λατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders עָבַד; in the LXX λατρεύω denotes specifically religious service; the pairing προσκυνέω … λατρεύω ('bow / serve') is the standard idolatry-prohibition formula (cf. Exod 20:5; Deut 5:9; reused at Matt 4:10).
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative (object of λατρεύσητε: 'serve them')αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
8
ἀλλὰ κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ ὑμῶν προσκολληθήσεσθε καθάπερ ἐποιήσατε ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης
But to the LORD your God you shall cling, just as you have done to this day.
The strong adversative ἀλλά sets exclusive devotion against the forbidden syncretism of v.7. The fronted dative κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ ὑμῶν is emphatic — 'to the LORD, and to no other.' The verb προσκολλάομαι ('be glued/cling'), the LXX's signature rendering of דָּבַק, is the central covenant-loyalty term (Deut 10:20; 11:22; 30:20).
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ἀλλὰbutstrong adversative conjunctionἀλλά: 'but'; the strong adversative marks the decisive antithesis between idolatry (v.7) and exclusive devotion to the LORD.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative object of προσκολληθήσεσθε (fronted for emphasis)κύριος: rendering of יהוה; the fronted dative makes the LORD the exclusive object of Israel's adhesion — the positive of the first commandment.
τῷtheDativearticle (with θεῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷGodDativeapposition to κυρίῳθεός: 'God'; κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ ὑμῶν renders יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, binding the divine name to the covenant relation.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεῷ)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
προσκολληθήσεσθεyou shall clingFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · προσκολλάωmain verb (imperatival future: command to cleave)→ imperatival future (binding command of loyalty)προσκολλάω (pass. 'be joined / cling'): 'glue/stick to / cleave'; renders דָּבַק; the deponent-passive future has imperatival force; this is the covenant-loyalty verb par excellence (Deut 10:20; 11:22; 30:20), describing devotion as an unbreakable bond; the same verb describes marital union at Gen 2:24.
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing the appeal to past fidelity)καθάπερ: 'just as / even as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; appeals to Israel's demonstrated loyalty during the conquest as the pattern to continue.
ἐποιήσατεyou have doneAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωverb of comparative clause (Israel's past obedience)→ constative aorist (Israel's record of fidelity up to now)ποιέω: 'do'; renders עָשָׂה; the aorist summarizes Israel's faithfulness throughout the conquest period as the precedent for continued cleaving.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal limit: 'until this day')ἕως: 'until / up to'; with the genitive marks the temporal extent of Israel's fidelity.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal limit)ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') renders עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, a standard formula marking the present moment of the discourse.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)οὗτος: 'this'; the deictic ταύτης fixes the reference to the day of the assembly.
9
καὶ ἐξωλέθρευσεν αὐτοὺς κύριος ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν ἔθνη μεγάλα καὶ ἰσχυρά καὶ ὑμῖν οὐθεὶς ἀντέστη κατενώπιον ὑμῶν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης
And the LORD destroyed them from before you, nations great and strong; and no one has withstood you before your face until this day.
The verse grounds the call to cling (v.8) and to love (v.11) in the LORD's demonstrated power: he has destroyed nations 'great and strong,' and no one has stood against Israel. The phrase οὐθεὶς ἀντέστη ('no one withstood') echoes the conquest-promise of Josh 1:5 (οὐκ ἀντιστήσεται ἄνθρωπος).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξωλέθρευσενdestroyedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (the LORD's past dispossession)→ constative aorist (completed destruction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy'; the keyword verb, here in the aorist describing the LORD's accomplished work against the conquered nations (cf. vv.4–5).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the nations)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (post-verbal)κύριος: rendering of יהוה; again the sole agent of conquest.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism with προσώπου)ἀπό: with προσώπου, 'from before'; renders מִפְּנֵי.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism)πρόσωπον: ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν renders מִפְּנֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativeaccusative in apposition to αὐτούς ('them, namely nations')ἔθνος: 'nation'; the appositional ἔθνη μεγάλα καὶ ἰσχυρά characterizes the defeated peoples as formidable, magnifying the LORD's victory.
μεγάλαgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)μέγας: 'great'; renders גָּדוֹל; underlines the size of the nations the LORD overcame (cf. Deut 7:1).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰσχυράstrongAccusativeattributive adjective (coordinate with μεγάλα)ἰσχυρός: 'strong / mighty'; renders עָצוּם; the pair μεγάλα καὶ ἰσχυρά ('great and strong') is Deuteronomic (Deut 4:38; 9:1; 11:23), stressing the disparity overcome only by divine power.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the consequence)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑμῖνyou / against youDativedative (with ἀντέστη: 'withstood you')the dative ὑμῖν is the complement of ἀνθίστημι ('stand against'), rendering the Hebrew בִּפְנֵיכֶם / לִפְנֵיכֶם.
οὐθεὶςno oneNominativesubject of ἀντέστηοὐθείς: Koine variant of οὐδείς, 'no one'; the spelling with -θ- is common in the LXX and papyri; subject of the negated verb.
ἀντέστηwithstoodAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνθίστημιmain verb (no enemy has resisted Israel)→ constative aorist (no successful resistance throughout the conquest)ἀνθίστημι: 'stand against / withstand / resist'; renders עָמַד (in the sense of 'hold one's ground'); οὐθεὶς ἀντέστη ('no one withstood') fulfils the promise of Josh 1:5 that no one would stand against Joshua.
κατενώπιονbefore / in front ofpreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'before your face')κατενώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; an improper preposition rendering לִפְנֵי / לְנֶגֶד; reinforces that no resistance held up 'before' Israel.
ὑμῶνyour / youGenitivegenitive object of κατενώπιονὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal limit)ἕως: 'until'; marks the temporal extent of the unbroken victory.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal)ἡμέρα: ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day'), as in v.8, marks the present moment.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)οὗτος: 'this'; deictic.
10
εἷς ὑμῶν ἐδίωξεν χιλίους ὅτι κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ἐξεπολέμει ὑμῖν καθάπερ εἶπεν ὑμῖν
One of you put a thousand to flight, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you, just as he said to you.
The proverbial ratio 'one puts a thousand to flight' (cf. Lev 26:8; Deut 32:30) crystallizes the chapter's military theology: Israel's improbable victories prove that the LORD himself wages the war. The imperfect ἐξεπολέμει ('was fighting') depicts the LORD's ongoing combat throughout the campaign, sealed by the fulfilment note καθάπερ εἶπεν ('as he said').
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
εἷςoneNominativesubject (numeral: 'one man')εἷς: 'one'; the numeral subject contrasts starkly with χιλίους ('a thousand'), expressing the supernatural disproportion of Israel's victories (cf. Deut 32:30; Lev 26:8).
ὑμῶνof youGenitivepartitive genitive (with εἷς: 'one of you')ὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐδίωξενput to flight / pursuedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διώκωmain verb (the routing of the thousand)→ constative/gnomic aorist (proverbial fact of the conquest)διώκω: 'pursue / chase / put to flight'; renders רָדַף; the aorist functions almost proverbially — a single Israelite routing a thousand enemies is possible only because the LORD fights.
χιλίουςa thousandAccusativedirect object (numeral: the thousand routed)χίλιοι: 'a thousand'; the accusative object of ἐδίωξεν; the thousand-to-one ratio is hyperbolic shorthand for divinely-enabled victory.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (grounding the victory in the LORD's warfare)ὅτι: 'because'; introduces the theological explanation for the impossible ratio.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐξεπολέμεικύριος: rendering of יהוה; the true agent of the victory.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριοςθεός: ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν renders אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationshipὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐξεπολέμειwas fightingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκπολεμέωmain verb of causal clause (the LORD's ongoing warfare)→ iterative/durative imperfect (sustained combat throughout the campaign)ἐκπολεμέω: 'wage war / fight out'; the imperfect ἐξεπολέμει ('kept fighting') depicts the LORD's continuous combat on Israel's behalf throughout the conquest; the same root as the divine title ὁ ἐκπολεμήσας in v.3.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage (the LORD fought 'for you')the dative ὑμῖν is a dative of advantage rendering לָכֶם — the LORD's warfare is waged on Israel's behalf.
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunction (fulfilment formula)καθάπερ: 'just as'; appeals to the LORD's prior word as fulfilled in the victory.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of comparative clause (the LORD's promise)→ constative aorist (the spoken promise now fulfilled)λέγω: 'say'; renders אָמַר / דִּבֶּר; the fulfilment note anticipates the climactic 'not one word has failed' of v.14.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (indirect object: 'said to you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
11
καὶ φυλάξασθε σφόδρα τοῦ ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν
And take great heed to yourselves, to love the LORD your God.
The middle imperative φυλάξασθε ('guard yourselves') with the articular infinitive τοῦ ἀγαπᾶν turns the outward commands of vv.6–8 inward: the heart of fidelity is love for the LORD, the Shema's central demand (Deut 6:5; 11:1). σφόδρα again intensifies the seriousness of the charge.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
φυλάξασθεtake heed to yourselvesAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (reflexive-middle imperative: 'guard yourselves')→ ingressive aorist imperative (be on your guard)φυλάσσω (mid. φυλάσσομαι): 'guard / be on guard / take heed'; the middle φυλάξασθε ('watch yourselves') renders the Niphal/reflexive נִשְׁמַרְתֶּם (Deut 4:15); the inward vigilance complements the outward keeping (φυλάσσειν) of v.6.
σφόδραgreatly / veryadverb of degree (intensifying φυλάξασθε)σφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; underscores the gravity of the charge to love the LORD.
τοῦthe / toGenitivearticle (genitive articular infinitive of purpose/epexegesis)the genitive article τοῦ + infinitive expresses purpose or epexegesis ('so as to love / namely, to love'), a frequent LXX construction.
ἀγαπᾶνto lovePres Act Inf · ἀγαπάωarticular infinitive (epexegetic of φυλάξασθε: 'take heed … to love')→ present infinitive (continual love)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; renders אָהַב; τὸ ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεόν is the core demand of the Shema (Deut 6:5); covenant love is not mere emotion but loyal, obedient devotion.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of ἀγαπᾶνκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the object of Israel's covenant love.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativeapposition to κύριονθεός: κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν renders יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεόν)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
12
ἐὰν γὰρ ἀποστραφῆτε καὶ προσθῆσθε τοῖς ὑπολειφθεῖσιν ἔθνεσιν τούτοις τοῖς μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν καὶ ἐπιγαμίας ποιήσητε πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ συγκαταμιγῆτε αὐτοῖς καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑμῖν
For if you turn back and join yourselves to these nations that are left, those that remain with you, and make intermarriages with them and mix together with them, and they with you,
The γάρ introduces the rationale for the call to love (v.11): the alternative is apostasy. The protasis (ἐάν + subjunctives) lists a chain of assimilation — turning back, joining the nations, intermarrying, mixing — that culminates in the threat of v.13. The reciprocal καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑμῖν ('and they with you') makes the mingling mutual and total.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing the protasis with subjunctive)ἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive introduces a future-more-vivid condition warning of possible apostasy.
γὰρforcausal/explanatory particle (post-positive)γάρ: 'for'; grounds the command to love (v.11) by stating the dire consequence of its opposite.
ἀποστραφῆτεyou turn backAor Pass Subj 2 Pl · ἀποστρέφωverb of protasis (apostatizing 'turning')→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical act of turning away)ἀποστρέφω (pass. 'turn oneself back'): 'turn away / turn back / apostatize'; renders שׁוּב; the passive/intransitive marks Israel's turning away from the LORD, the root metaphor of apostasy (cf. Deut 30:17).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσθῆσθεyou join yourselvesAor Mid Subj 2 Pl · προστίθημιverb of protasis (attaching to the nations)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical joining)προστίθημι (mid. 'add oneself / join'): 'add / attach'; renders יָסַף / דָּבַק; the middle προσθῆσθε ('attach yourselves to') is a tragic inversion of προσκολλάομαι (v.8) — instead of cleaving to the LORD, Israel would attach itself to the nations.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἔθνεσιν / participle ὑπολειφθεῖσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπολειφθεῖσινremaining / left overAor Pass Part Dat Pl Neut · ὑπολείπωattributive participle (modifying ἔθνεσιν: 'the nations left')→ aorist passive (state of having been left over)ὑπολείπω (pass. 'be left remaining'): 'leave behind / leave over'; renders שָׁאַר / נִשְׁאַר; a synonym of καταλείπω (vv.4, 7); the surviving nations are the locus of temptation.
ἔθνεσινnationsDativedative (object of προσθῆσθε: 'join to the nations')ἔθνος: 'nation'; the dative complement of προστίθημι.
τούτοιςtheseDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνεσιν)οὗτος: 'these'; deictic, the surviving nations.
τοῖςthe (ones)Dativearticle (substantizing the prepositional phrase μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν)the article τοῖς + prepositional phrase ('the ones with you') forms an attributive equivalent to a relative clause: 'those who are with you.'
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided before vowel)μετά + genitive: 'with'; the surviving nations are those still dwelling 'with' Israel in the land.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of μετάὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπιγαμίαςintermarriagesAccusativedirect object of ποιήσητεἐπιγαμία: 'intermarriage / marriage alliance'; renders חָתַן (Hithpael, 'make marriage alliances'); ἐπιγαμίας ποιεῖν ('make intermarriages') is precisely what Deut 7:3 forbids, since it leads to apostasy.
ποιήσητεyou makeAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ποιέωverb of protasis (contracting marriage alliances)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical act)ποιέω: 'make / do'; here with ἐπιγαμίας, 'contract intermarriages'; the idiom denotes forming binding marriage alliances with the Canaanite peoples.
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative (relation: 'with them')πρός + accusative: here 'with / toward', denoting the parties to the marriage alliance.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συγκαταμιγῆτεyou mix togetherAor Pass Subj 2 Pl · συγκαταμίγνυμιverb of protasis (intermingling)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical commingling)συγκαταμίγνυμι (pass. 'be mingled together with'): 'mix up together / commingle'; a strong double-compound (συν- + κατα- + μίγνυμι) stressing thorough intermixture; renders עָרַב (Hithpael, 'mingle oneself'); the verb denotes total social/ethnic fusion with the nations (cf. Ps 105:35 LXX).
αὐτοῖςwith themDativedative (of association with συγκαταμιγῆτε: 'mix with them')αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the reciprocal clause)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject of an elliptical reciprocal clause ('and they [mix] with you')αὐτός: 'they (themselves)'; the reciprocal καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑμῖν ('and they with you') makes the mingling mutual — the verb συγκαταμιγῆτε is understood — sealing the totality of the assimilation.
ὑμῖνwith youDativedative (of association in the elliptical clause: 'they with you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
13
γινώσκετε ὅτι οὐ μὴ προσθῇ κύριος τοῦ ἐξολεθρεῦσαι τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν καὶ ἔσονται ὑμῖν εἰς παγίδας καὶ εἰς σκάνδαλα καὶ εἰς ἥλους ἐν ταῖς πτέρναις ὑμῶν καὶ εἰς βολίδας ἐν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν ἕως ἂν ἀπόλησθε ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς ταύτης ἣν ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν
know for certain that the LORD will no longer drive out these nations from before you; and they will become to you snares and stumbling-blocks and nails in your heels and darts in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.
The apodosis of v.12's condition, opened by the imperative γινώσκετε ('know for certain'). The emphatic οὐ μή ('by no means') with the subjunctive negates any further divine dispossession. The four-fold metaphor — snares, stumbling-blocks, nails in the heels, darts in the eyes — vividly expands the snare-motif of Exod 23:33; 34:12; Num 33:55, climaxing in the threat of exile from the good land.
Word-by-word analysis· 52 words
γινώσκετεknowPres Act Impv 2 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (imperative: 'know for certain')→ present imperative (settled certainty of knowledge)γινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; the present imperative γινώσκετε ('know assuredly') renders יָדֹעַ תֵּדְעוּ-type emphatic knowing; commands the assembly to recognize the inevitable consequence of apostasy.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the object of γινώσκετε)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the knowledge.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: emphatic negation)οὐ: with μή and the aorist subjunctive forms the strongest Greek negation, οὐ μή ('by no means').
μὴ(by no means)negative particle (οὐ μή + subjunctive: emphatic future denial)μή: the second member of οὐ μή; the construction emphatically denies that the LORD will continue the dispossession.
προσθῇhe will continue / addAor Act Subj 3 Sg · προστίθημιverb of the ὅτι-clause (emphatic denial of further dispossession)→ aorist subjunctive (with οὐ μή: emphatic future)προστίθημι: 'add / do again / continue'; the idiom οὐ μὴ προσθῇ + infinitive ('he will not again …') is a Hebraism rendering לֹא יוֹסִיף ('he will not continue to'); the LORD will not keep driving out the nations if Israel apostatizes.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of προσθῇκύριος: rendering of יהוה.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (genitive articular infinitive complementing προσθῇ)the genitive τοῦ + infinitive complements προστίθημι, rendering the Hebrew complementary infinitive (לְהוֹרִישׁ).
ἐξολεθρεῦσαιto destroy / drive outAor Act Inf · ἐξολεθρεύωcomplementary infinitive (with προσθῇ: 'continue to destroy')→ aorist infinitive (the act of dispossession)ἐξολεθρεύω: the keyword verb again; the withdrawal of the LORD's destroying action is the precise reversal of the promise of v.5 (ἐξολεθρεύσει αὐτούς).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἔθνη)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαιἔθνος: 'nation'; the surviving peoples the LORD will no longer remove.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἔθνη)οὗτος: deictic 'these'.
ἀπὸfrom / beforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism with προσώπου)ἀπό: with προσώπου, 'from before'.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism)πρόσωπον: ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν renders מִפְּנֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the consequence)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσονταιthey will becomeFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (the nations become a snare)→ predictive future (the inevitable result of apostasy)εἰμί (fut. ἔσομαι): 'be / become'; the construction ἔσονται … εἰς ('they will become for') is a Hebraism (הָיָה לְ) marking transformation into something; the nations become instruments of Israel's downfall.
ὑμῖνto you / for youDativedative of disadvantage (the nations become a snare 'to you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςfor / intopreposition + accusative (Hebraism: 'become a snare')εἰς + accusative: with ἔσονται forms the predicative Hebraism εἰς + noun ('become as / for'), rendering לְ.
παγίδαςsnaresAccusativeaccusative (predicative with εἰς: 'become snares')παγίς: 'snare / trap'; renders פַּח / מוֹקֵשׁ; the snare-image for the seductive danger of the nations is drawn from Exod 23:33; 34:12; Deut 7:16; Judg 2:3.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (predicative Hebraism)εἰς + accusative: predicative, as above.
σκάνδαλαstumbling-blocksAccusativeaccusative (predicative with εἰς)σκάνδαλον: 'trap-stick / stumbling-block / cause of ruin'; renders מוֹקֵשׁ; in the LXX σκάνδαλον denotes that which trips one into sin or destruction (cf. Lev 19:14; Ps 105:36 LXX); the term becomes theologically loaded in the NT (Rom 9:33; 11:9).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (predicative Hebraism)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἥλουςnailsAccusativeaccusative (predicative with εἰς)ἧλος: 'nail / spike'; here metaphorical — nails that pierce; the image εἰς ἥλους ἐν ταῖς πτέρναις ('nails in the heels') renders the snare-and-thorn imagery of Num 33:55 (שִׂכִּים / צְנִינִים), vividly depicting constant, crippling affliction.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in your heels')ἐν + dative: 'in'; locates the piercing nails.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with πτέρναις)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πτέρναιςheelsDativedative of place (locative: 'in the heels')πτέρνα: 'heel'; renders עָקֵב; the nails-in-the-heels image conveys an affliction that hobbles every step Israel takes in the land.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with πτέρναις)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (predicative Hebraism)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
βολίδαςdartsAccusativeaccusative (predicative with εἰς)βολίς: 'dart / missile / arrow'; renders the thorn-imagery of Num 33:55 (שִׂכִּים בְּעֵינֵיכֶם, 'pricks in your eyes'); the LXX renders the eye-piercing thorns as βολίδας ('darts'), images of relentless wounding.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in your eyes')ἐν + dative: 'in'.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ὀφθαλμοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (locative: 'in the eyes')ὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; darts in the eyes complete the imagery of total, inescapable affliction from heel to eye.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμοῖς)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἂν + subjunctive: terminal limit)ἕως: 'until'; with ἄν and the subjunctive marks the catastrophic end-point — exile.
ἂν(particle)modal particle (with ἕως + subjunctive)ἄν: modal particle.
ἀπόλησθεyou perishAor Mid Subj 2 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιverb of temporal clause (Israel's destruction from the land)→ aorist subjunctive (anticipated catastrophe)ἀπόλλυμι (mid. ἀπόλλυμαι): 'perish / be destroyed'; the same verb used of the nations in v.5 (ἀπόλωνται) is now turned against Israel — apostasy reverses Israel's fate to that of the doomed nations; renders אָבַד.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the land')ἀπό: 'from'; marks the exile from the land.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of separation (object of ἀπό)γῆ: 'land'; the good land Israel risks losing through covenant infidelity.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἀγαθῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθῆςgoodGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying γῆς)ἀγαθός: 'good'; ἡ γῆ ἡ ἀγαθή ('the good land') renders הָאָרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה, a Deuteronomic designation of the promised land (Deut 1:35; 3:25; 8:7).
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying γῆς)οὗτος: deictic 'this'.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔδωκεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; feminine accusative ἥν agreeing with γῆς, object of ἔδωκεν.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (the LORD's gift of the land)→ constative aorist (the completed gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the land is the LORD's gift — its loss through apostasy would be the tragic forfeiture of grace freely given.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (indirect object: 'gave to you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἔδωκενκύριος: rendering of יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριοςθεός: ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν renders אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationshipὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
14
ἐγὼ δὲ ἀποτρέχω τὴν ὁδὸν καθὰ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ γνώσεσθε τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν καὶ τῇ ψυχῇ ὑμῶν διότι οὐ διέπεσεν εἷς λόγος ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν λόγων ὧν εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν πρὸς πάντα τὰ ἀνήκοντα ὑμῖν οὐ διεφώνησεν ἐξ αὐτῶν
And I am departing the way, as also all those on the earth; and you shall know in your heart and in your soul that not one word has failed of all the words which the LORD your God spoke concerning all that pertains to you; not one of them has been wanting.
Joshua's testamentary climax: he announces his own death (ἀποτρέχω τὴν ὁδόν, 'I go the way [of all the earth]', cf. 1 Kgs 2:2) and calls Israel to inward conviction (τῇ καρδίᾳ … καὶ τῇ ψυχῇ) that every good word of the LORD has come true. The double assertion οὐ διέπεσεν … οὐ διεφώνησεν ('not one has failed … not one has been wanting') is the fulfilment-formula on which v.15's warning turns.
Word-by-word analysis· 45 words
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun)ἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun returns the discourse to Joshua's own mortality, framing the valediction (cf. v.2).
δὲand / nowtransitional particle (post-positive)δέ: marks the turn to Joshua's personal farewell.
ἀποτρέχωI am departingPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποτρέχωmain verb (euphemism for approaching death)→ futuristic/progressive present (imminent departure)ἀποτρέχω: 'run off / go away / depart'; ἀποτρέχω τὴν ὁδόν ('I go the way') is a euphemism for dying, rendering the Hebrew הֹלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל־הָאָרֶץ ('going the way of all the earth', cf. 1 Kgs 2:2); the present tense presents death as already underway.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ὁδόν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδὸνwayAccusativeaccusative of extent/route (the 'way' of all mortals)ὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; 'the way' is the common road of death travelled by all the living — a sober, universalizing euphemism.
καθὰascomparative conjunctionκαθά: 'just as / according as'; introduces the comparison with all mortals.
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive: 'as also')καί: here adverbial 'also / even', reinforcing the comparison.
πάντεςallNominativesubject of the elliptical comparative clause ('all [go]')πᾶς: 'all'; οἱ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ('those on the earth') = all mortals; Joshua's death is the common human lot.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizing ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς: 'those on the earth')the article οἱ + prepositional phrase forms 'those who are on the earth', i.e. all the living.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (locative: 'on the earth')ἐπί + genitive: 'on / upon'.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearthGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (locative)γῆ: 'earth'; here in the sense of the whole inhabited world — all who live upon it.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the appeal to knowledge)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
γνώσεσθεyou shall knowFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (call to inward conviction)→ predictive/imperatival future (you shall surely recognize)γινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; the future γνώσεσθε ('you shall know') with the dative of inward faculty calls Israel to a heartfelt acknowledgment of the LORD's faithfulness.
τῇin theDativearticle (with καρδίᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίᾳheartDativedative of means/sphere (the faculty of knowing: 'with your heart')καρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב; the heart-and-soul pairing (cf. Deut 6:5) denotes the whole inner person; knowledge here is conviction, not mere information.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with καρδίᾳ)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῇin theDativearticle (with ψυχῇ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχῇsoulDativedative of means/sphere (parallel to καρδίᾳ)ψυχή: 'soul / life / self'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; with καρδία forms the Deuteronomic merism for the whole inner being (Deut 6:5; 10:12).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ψυχῇ)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
διότιthat / becauseconjunction (introducing the content of γνώσεσθε)διότι: 'because / that'; here introduces the content known — the fulfilment of every word.
οὐnotnegative particle (with διέπεσεν)οὐ: the negation of the fulfilment-formula.
διέπεσενhas failed / fallenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαπίπτωmain verb of the διότι-clause (no word has fallen to the ground)→ constative aorist (settled fact of total fulfilment)διαπίπτω: 'fall through / fail / come to nothing'; renders נָפַל ('fall'); οὐ διέπεσεν εἷς λόγος ('not one word fell') is the LXX rendering of the fulfilment-formula לֹא נָפַל דָּבָר אֶחָד (cf. Josh 21:45; 1 Kgs 8:56) — every divine promise has stood.
εἷςoneNominativeattributive numeral (modifying λόγος: 'one word')εἷς: 'one'; emphatic — not even a single word has failed.
λόγοςwordNominativesubject of διέπεσενλόγος: 'word / saying / promise'; renders דָּבָר; the 'word' is the LORD's covenant promise, here vindicated as wholly reliable.
ἀπὸof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of all the words')ἀπό: here partitive, 'from among / of'.
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying λόγων)πᾶς: 'all'; the comprehensive 'all the words' magnifies the completeness of the fulfilment.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with λόγων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγωνwordsGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἀπό: 'of the words')λόγος: 'word'; the totality of the LORD's spoken promises.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction, object of εἶπεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; the genitive ὧν is attracted to the case of its antecedent λόγων (a common LXX/Koine attraction).
εἶπενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of relative clause (the LORD's speaking)→ constative aorist (the words once spoken)λέγω: 'say / speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; the words the LORD spoke now stand fulfilled.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of εἶπενκύριος: rendering of יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριοςθεός: ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν renders אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationshipὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
πρὸςconcerningpreposition + accusative (reference: 'concerning all that pertains')πρός + accusative: here 'with reference to / concerning'.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τὰ ἀνήκοντα)πᾶς: 'all'; comprehensive — concerning everything that has to do with Israel.
τὰthe (things)Accusativearticle (substantizing the participle ἀνήκοντα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνήκονταthings pertainingPres Act Part Acc Pl Neut · ἀνήκωsubstantival participle (object of πρός: 'the things pertaining to you')→ present participle (ongoing pertinence)ἀνήκω: 'pertain / be fitting / concern'; the substantival τὰ ἀνήκοντα ὑμῖν ('the things that pertain to you') denotes everything the LORD's promises concern for Israel.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (complement of ἀνήκοντα: 'pertaining to you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐnotnegative particle (with διεφώνησεν)οὐ: negation of the second fulfilment-clause.
διεφώνησενhas been wanting / failedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαφωνέωmain verb (restating fulfilment: nothing has gone missing)→ constative aorist (total non-failure)διαφωνέω: lit. 'be discordant', but in the LXX idiomatically 'be missing / fail / be lacking'; renders נָפַל / נֶעְדַּר; οὐ διεφώνησεν ('nothing has gone missing') reinforces οὐ διέπεσεν — the LORD's word is utterly without deficit (cf. 1 Sam 30:19 LXX).
ἐξof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of them')ἐκ: 'from / of'; partitive, 'not one of them.'
αὐτῶνthemGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἐξ: 'of them', i.e. the words)αὐτός: refers back to the λόγοι — not one of the LORD's words has failed.
15
καὶ ἔσται ὃν τρόπον ἥκει ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τὰ καλά ἃ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς ὑμᾶς οὕτως ἐπάξει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τὰ πονηρά ἕως ἂν ἐξολεθρεύσῃ ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς ταύτης ἧς ἔδωκεν κύριος ὑμῖν
And it shall be that, in the manner that all the good words which the LORD spoke to you have come upon you, so the LORD God will bring upon you all the evil words, until he has destroyed you from this good land which the LORD gave you,
The correlative ὃν τρόπον … οὕτως ('just as … so') builds the covenant's blessing-and-curse symmetry on the fulfilment-formula of v.14: because every good word (τὰ ῥήματα τὰ καλά) has come true, the evil words (τὰ ῥήματα τὰ πονηρά) are equally certain if Israel transgresses. The threat climaxes, like v.13, in destruction from the good land.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (apodotic 'and it shall come to pass')→ predictive future (introducing the certain outcome)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be / come to pass'; καὶ ἔσται renders וְהָיָה, the standard formula introducing a future certainty or consequence.
ὃν(in the) whichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον: adverbial accusative 'in the manner that')ὅς: relative pronoun; ὃν τρόπον ('in which manner / just as') is a fixed adverbial accusative idiom rendering כַּאֲשֶׁר.
τρόπονmanner / wayAccusativeadverbial accusative (with ὅν: 'in the manner that')τρόπος: 'manner / way'; the phrase ὃν τρόπον … οὕτως sets up the correlative comparison between fulfilled blessing and threatened curse.
ἥκειhas comePres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἥκωverb of the comparative clause (the good words have arrived)→ perfective present (ἥκω: 'I have come and am here')ἥκω: 'have come / be present'; the present has perfect force ('has arrived and now stands fulfilled'); the singular agrees with the neuter plural subject πάντα τὰ ῥήματα (Greek neuter-plural-with-singular-verb concord).
ἐφ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (direction, elided before vowel)ἐπί + accusative: 'upon'; the good words 'come upon' Israel as realized blessings.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of ἐφ᾿ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πάνταallNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ῥήματα)πᾶς: 'all'; comprehensive — every one of the good words.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ῥήματα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥήματαwordsNominativesubject of ἥκειῥῆμα: 'word / thing / saying'; renders דָּבָר; synonymous here with λόγος (v.14); τὰ ῥήματα τὰ καλά ('the good words') are the LORD's promises of blessing.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with καλά)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καλάgoodNominativeattributive adjective (modifying ῥήματα)καλός: 'good / fine'; renders טוֹב; the 'good words' are the covenant blessings now fulfilled, the basis of the a fortiori argument for the curse.
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐλάλησεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; neuter plural ἃ agreeing with ῥήματα.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of relative clause (the LORD's promises)→ constative aorist (the words once spoken)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; the good words the LORD spoke and has now fulfilled.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐλάλησενκύριος: rendering of יהוה.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρός + accusative: 'to'; renders אֶל.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὕτωςsoadverb (correlative with ὃν τρόπον: 'so, in the same way')οὕτως: 'thus / so'; completes the correlative ὃν τρόπον … οὕτως, marking the symmetry of blessing and curse.
ἐπάξειwill bring uponFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπάγωmain verb (the LORD's bringing of the curse)→ predictive future (the certain threatened act)ἐπάγω: 'bring upon / lead against'; the compound ἐπ- marks hostile imposition (cf. the same verb in the plague-announcement of Exod 11:1); the LORD who brought blessing will, with equal certainty, bring the covenant curse.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐπάξεικύριος: rendering of יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; here without ὑμῶν, simply ὁ θεός — the LORD God who acts.
ἐφ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (direction, elided)ἐπί + accusative: 'upon'; the evil words 'brought upon' Israel as judgment.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of ἐφ᾿ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ῥήματα)πᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the threatened evils, balancing πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τὰ καλά.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ῥήματα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥήματαwordsAccusativedirect object of ἐπάξειῥῆμα: 'word'; τὰ ῥήματα τὰ πονηρά ('the evil words') are the covenant curses (cf. Deut 28:15–68; Lev 26:14–39).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with πονηρά)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηράevilAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ῥήματα)πονηρός: 'evil / harmful'; renders רַע; the 'evil words' are the disasters threatened in the covenant curses, the dark counterpart of τὰ καλά.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἂν + subjunctive)ἕως: 'until'; marks the terminal point — destruction from the land.
ἂν(particle)modal particle (with ἕως + subjunctive)ἄν: modal particle.
ἐξολεθρεύσῃhe has destroyedAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωverb of temporal clause (Israel's destruction from the land)→ aorist subjunctive (anticipated catastrophe)ἐξολεθρεύω: the chapter's keyword verb, now turned against Israel — the destruction promised against the nations (v.5) falls on a covenant-breaking Israel; a sober inclusio of the conquest theology.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεύσῃὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the land')ἀπό: 'from'; the exile from the land.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with γῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of separation (object of ἀπό)γῆ: 'land'; the good land Israel forfeits through apostasy, echoing v.13.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἀγαθῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθῆςgoodGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying γῆς)ἀγαθός: 'good'; ἡ γῆ ἡ ἀγαθή again (cf. v.13), the promised land.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying γῆς)οὗτος: deictic 'this'.
ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive by attraction, object of ἔδωκεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; the genitive ἧς is attracted to the case of its antecedent γῆς (the expected accusative ἥν has become genitive).
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (the LORD's gift of the land)→ constative aorist (the completed gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; as in v.13, the land is the LORD's gift, making its loss the bitterest of judgments.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἔδωκενκύριος: rendering of יהוה.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative (indirect object: 'gave to you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
16
ἐν τῷ παραβῆναι ὑμᾶς τὴν διαθήκην κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν ἣν ἐνετείλατο ὑμῖν καὶ πορευθέντες λατρεύσητε θεοῖς ἑτέροις καὶ προσκυνήσητε αὐτοῖς
when you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and you go and serve other gods and bow down to them.
The articular infinitive ἐν τῷ παραβῆναι ('in/when you transgress') specifies the precise trigger of the curse threatened in v.15: covenant transgression issuing in the worship of other gods. The closing pair λατρεύσητε … προσκυνήσητε mirrors v.7's prohibition, framing the whole discourse (vv.7–16) with the idolatry-warning and ending the address on the gravest possible note.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐνin / whenpreposition + dative (with articular infinitive: temporal-conditional)ἐν + articular infinitive: 'in / when / by'; renders the Hebrew temporal infinitive בְּ + infinitive construct ('when you transgress').
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing the infinitive παραβῆναι)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παραβῆναιto transgressAor Act Inf · παραβαίνωarticular infinitive (temporal-conditional: 'when you transgress')→ aorist infinitive (the act of transgression)παραβαίνω: 'go beside / overstep / transgress'; renders עָבַר (in the sense of violating a covenant); ἐν τῷ παραβῆναι … τὴν διαθήκην ('when you transgress the covenant') names the decisive breach that brings down the curse.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive παραβῆναιthe accusative ὑμᾶς is the subject of the infinitive — 'when you (yourselves) transgress.'
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with διαθήκην)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of παραβῆναιδιαθήκη: 'covenant / testament'; the standard LXX rendering of בְּרִית; the covenant is the binding relationship whose violation entails the curse; the term is foundational for the NT's theology of the new διαθήκη (Jer 38:31 LXX; Luke 22:20).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (the covenant 'of the LORD')κύριος: rendering of יהוה; the covenant belongs to the LORD as its author and guarantor.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitiveapposition to κυρίουθεός: κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν renders יהוה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεοῦ)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐνετείλατο)ὅς: relative pronoun; feminine accusative ἥν agreeing with διαθήκην.
ἐνετείλατοhe commandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (the LORD's commanding of the covenant)→ constative aorist (the covenant once enjoined)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / enjoin'; renders צִוָּה; the covenant was 'commanded' — given with binding authority at Sinai and renewed in Moab (cf. Deut 4:13).
ὑμῖνyouDativedative (indirect object: 'commanded to you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the conditional clause)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πορευθέντεςhaving goneAor Pass Part Nom Pl Masc · πορεύομαιcircumstantial participle (attendant to λατρεύσητε: 'go and serve')→ aorist participle (antecedent/coincident action: 'going')πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; renders הָלַךְ; the participle πορευθέντες λατρεύσητε ('go and serve') is a Hebraistic auxiliary construction (הָלַךְ + verb), denoting the turn toward apostasy — 'go off and serve.'
λατρεύσητεyou serveAor Act Subj 2 Pl · λατρεύωverb of the conditional clause (cultic service of false gods)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical act of idolatrous service)λατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders עָבַד; the service of θεοῖς ἑτέροις ('other gods') is the very apostasy v.7 forbade — the discourse closes on its central prohibition.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative (object of λατρεύσητε: 'serve gods')θεός: 'god'; here the false gods of the nations, in damning contrast to ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν.
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying θεοῖς)ἕτερος: 'other / another'; θεοὶ ἕτεροι ('other gods') renders אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, the standard Deuteronomic phrase for the forbidden deities (Deut 5:7; 6:14; 11:28).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσκυνήσητεyou bow downAor Act Subj 2 Pl · προσκυνέωverb of the conditional clause (worship of false gods)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical act of worship)προσκυνέω: 'bow down / worship'; renders הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה; the closing pair λατρεύω … προσκυνέω inverts the order of v.7 (προσκυνέω … λατρεύω), framing the whole exhortation (vv.7–16) with the same idolatry-formula and ending Joshua's address on its gravest warning.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative (object of προσκυνήσητε: 'bow to them')αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.