Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Joshua, Chapter 24ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΚΔ′

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

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

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

Theme

Joshua renews the covenant, calls Israel to choose the Lord, and closes with burial and witness.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Joshua 24 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. Joshua 24 is the closing chapter of the book: the covenant assembly at Shechem (the LXX reads εἰς Σηλω, 'at Shelo/Shiloh', vv. 1, 25, where the MT has שְׁכֶמָה, 'to Shechem'). Joshua gathers all the tribes and delivers, in the LORD's own voice (τάδε λέγει κύριος, v. 2), a sweeping historical recital from Terah and the migration of Abraham (vv. 2–3), through Isaac, Jacob and Esau (v. 4), the Egyptian bondage and Exodus (vv. 5–7), the Transjordan conquest of the Amorites (v. 8), the Balak/Balaam episode (vv. 9–10), the crossing of the Jordan and the taking of Jericho with its seven nations (vv. 11–13). On this basis Joshua issues the great summons: φοβήθητε κύριον καὶ λατρεύσατε αὐτῷ ('fear the LORD and serve him', v. 14), and the climactic ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ἡ οἰκία μου λατρεύσομεν κυρίῳ ('but I and my household will serve the LORD', v. 15). The people make a threefold pledge to serve the LORD (vv. 16–18, 21, 24); Joshua warns that the LORD is a holy and jealous God (θεὸς ἅγιός … ζηλώσας, v. 19) and makes them witnesses against themselves (μάρτυρες ὑμεῖς καθ᾽ ὑμῶν, v. 22). He cuts a covenant, writes the words in the book of the law of God, and sets up a great stone under the terebinth as a witness that has 'heard' all the LORD's words (vv. 25–27). The book then closes with a death-and-burial cluster (vv. 28–33): the dismissal of the people, the death of Joshua son of Naue at 110 years and his burial in Thamnathasachara, the bones of Joseph buried at Sikima (Shechem), and the death and burial of Eleazar. The LXX of Joshua 24 diverges notably from the MT at the end: at v. 31 it adds that the flint knives (αἱ μάχαιραι αἱ πέτριναι) used to circumcise Israel at Gilgal were buried with Joshua and 'are there to this day'; and v. 33 carries a long plus absent from the MT, recounting the carrying of the ark, Phinehas' priesthood after his father Eleazar, and Israel's apostasy to Astarte and the Astaroth, for which the LORD gave them into the hand of Eglom (Eglon) king of Moab for eighteen years — a transition anticipating the book of Judges. These pluses are annotated exactly as the reference text presents them.

1

καὶ συνήγαγεν Ἰησοῦς πάσας φυλὰς Ισραηλ εἰς Σηλω καὶ συνεκάλεσεν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς γραμματεῖς αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς δικαστὰς αὐτῶν καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτοὺς ἀπέναντι τοῦ θεοῦ

And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shelo and summoned their elders and their scribes and their judges, and he set them before God.

Narrative setting: the covenant assembly convened (opening of the final chapter)καὶ συνήγαγεν Ἰησοῦς
The chapter opens with a chain of καί-paratactic aorists (συνήγαγεν … συνεκάλεσεν … ἔστησεν) characteristic of LXX narrative; the gathering of πάσας φυλὰς Ισραηλ together with their leadership cadre (elders, scribes, judges) and the standing of the assembly ἀπέναντι τοῦ θεοῦ frames the scene as a formal covenant convocation in the presence of God. The LXX locates it εἰς Σηλω (Shelo/Shiloh), where the MT reads Shechem.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνήγαγενgatheredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (assembly convened)→ constative aorist (single completed act of convening)συνάγω: 'gather together / assemble'; renders אָסַף / קָבַץ; the compound συν- stresses the bringing of the scattered tribes into one body; the same verb opens covenant-renewal and assembly scenes throughout the LXX historical books.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: the LXX form of Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshua, 'YHWH is salvation'); declined as a contracted second-declension noun (gen./dat. Ἰησοῦ, acc. Ἰησοῦν); the same name is borne by Jesus in the NT, a typological link not lost on early Christian readers.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying φυλάς)πᾶς: 'all / every'; feminine accusative plural agreeing with φυλάς; the totality πάσας φυλάς marks this as a pan-Israelite convocation, no tribe excluded.
φυλὰςtribesAccusativedirect object of συνήγαγενφυλή: 'tribe / clan'; renders שֵׁבֶט / מַטֶּה; the twelve tribes as the constituent units of the covenant nation are summoned as a whole.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'tribes of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here functioning as a possessive genitive, 'the tribes of Israel'.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction/goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣηλωSheloaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Σηλω: the LXX place-name (Shelo/Shiloh) where the MT reads שְׁכֶמָה ('to Shechem'); indeclinable; this is the well-known cultic centre that houses the tent of the God of Israel (cf. v. 25), and the divergence from the MT's Shechem is one of the chapter's notable textual features.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνεκάλεσενhe summonedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συγκαλέωmain verb (calling of the leaders)→ constative aoristσυγκαλέω: 'call together / convene'; the compound συν- parallels συνήγαγεν; here Joshua specifically convokes the leadership cadre — elders, scribes, judges — as the representative heads of the people.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβυτέρουςeldersAccusativedirect object of συνεκάλεσενπρεσβύτερος: 'elder / older man'; renders זָקֵן; the elders are the senior leaders of the clans, the first of the three governing groups listed.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the people's elders)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γραμματεῖςscribesAccusativedirect object of συνεκάλεσεν (coordinate)γραμματεύς: 'scribe / official / record-keeper'; renders שֹׁטֵר ('officer'); in the LXX historical books the γραμματεῖς are administrative and military officials, the second governing group.
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.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαστὰςjudgesAccusativedirect object of συνεκάλεσεν (coordinate)δικαστής: 'judge / one who renders judgment'; renders שֹׁפֵט; the third governing group; the triad elders/scribes/judges represents the full leadership structure of Israel summoned to ratify the covenant.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔστησενset / stationedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (positioning of the assembly)→ constative aorist (transitive: caused to stand)ἵστημι: 'set / make stand / station'; the transitive aorist ἔστησεν 'caused them to stand'; renders עָמַד / יָצַב (Hiphil); to stand ἀπέναντι τοῦ θεοῦ is to take position formally before God as parties to a covenant act.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἔστησεναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπέναντιbefore / in the presence ofimproper preposition + genitive (position before God)ἀπέναντι: 'before / opposite / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי / נֶגֶד; standing ἀπέναντι τοῦ θεοῦ situates the whole assembly in the sanctuary presence, the proper setting for covenant-making.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive object of ἀπέναντιθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים / הָאֱלֹהִים; the articular τοῦ θεοῦ here denotes the God of Israel, in whose presence the covenant assembly is convened.
2

καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς πάντα τὸν λαόν τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ κατῴκησαν οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν τὸ ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς Θαρα ὁ πατὴρ Αβρααμ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ Ναχωρ καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν θεοῖς ἑτέροις

And Joshua said to all the people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Beyond the River your fathers dwelt from the beginning — Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nachor — and they served other gods.

Speech-introduction: Joshua delivers the LORD's recital (messenger-formula)καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς
Joshua addresses πάντα τὸν λαόν and frames the whole recital with the prophetic messenger-formula τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ; from this point through v. 13 he speaks in the first person of YHWH himself. The recital begins at the deepest root of Israel's story — the fathers 'beyond the River' (Mesopotamia) who served other gods — establishing that election was sheer grace, not reward for prior fidelity.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say / speak'; the aorist εἶπεν introduces Joshua's address; the formula εἶπεν … πρὸς πάντα τὸν λαόν marks a solemn public proclamation.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λαόν)πᾶς: 'all'; masculine accusative agreeing with λαόν; the address is to the whole people, not merely the leaders, even though the leaders were specifically summoned (v. 1).
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςλαός: 'people'; the covenant community of Israel as addressee of the recital.
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: content of the divine word)ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: 'this / these'; the formula τάδε λέγει κύριος renders כֹּה אָמַר יהוה, the standard Hebrew prophetic messenger-formula; τάδε anticipates the recital that follows.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (vivid present authority of the divine word)λέγω (pres.): the historic present λέγει in the citation-formula presents YHWH as speaking now; Joshua functions as the prophetic mouthpiece, and the recital that follows is in YHWH's own first person.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of λέγει (divine speaker)κύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the LORD, the God of Israel') is the full covenant title introducing the recital.
ὁtheNominativearticle (in apposition with κύριος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ in apposition to κύριος identifies YHWH specifically as Israel's covenant God, grounding the recital's claim on the people.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; genitive of relationship with θεός, 'the God of Israel'.
πέρανbeyondimproper preposition + genitive (location: across the River)πέραν: 'beyond / on the other side'; renders עֵבֶר; πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ ('beyond the River') denotes Mesopotamia, the ancestral homeland east of the Euphrates from which Abraham was called.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποταμοῦRiverGenitivegenitive object of πέρανποταμός: 'river'; here ὁ ποταμός par excellence is the Euphrates (renders הַנָּהָר); 'beyond the River' is a fixed designation for the Mesopotamian homeland.
κατῴκησανdweltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατοικέωmain verb (the fathers' ancestral residence)→ constative aorist (settled dwelling)κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the aorist sums up the ancestral period of residence in Mesopotamia before the call of Abraham.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of κατῴκησανπατήρ (pl. πατέρες): 'father / ancestor'; renders אָב; οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν, 'your fathers', are the pre-Abrahamic and Abrahamic ancestors whose idolatry the recital frankly records.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τὸthe (matter)Accusativearticular adverbial accusative (with ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς: 'from the beginning')ὁ, ἡ, τό: here the neuter article τό substantivizes the adverbial phrase ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς ('the from-the-beginning [time]'), a Greek idiom marking the temporal scope, 'as for what was from the beginning'.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (temporal, elided before vowel)ἀπ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἀρχῆςthe beginningGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (temporal: 'from the beginning')ἀρχή: 'beginning / origin'; renders מֵעוֹלָם / מִקֶּדֶם; ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς locates the fathers' Mesopotamian dwelling in primordial ancestral time.
ΘαραTerahnominative in apposition (indeclinable: naming the fathers)Θαρα: transliteration of Hebrew תֶּרַח (Terah); indeclinable; named as ὁ πατὴρ Αβρααμ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ Ναχωρ, identifying the specific ancestor whose household served other gods (cf. Gen 11:26–31).
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativenominative in apposition to Θαραπατήρ: 'father'; ὁ πατὴρ Αβρααμ, 'the father of Abraham', specifies Terah's relation to the patriarch.
Αβρααμof Abrahamgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Αβρααμ: transliteration of Hebrew אַבְרָהָם; indeclinable; genitive of relationship, 'father of Abraham'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativenominative in apposition to Θαρα (second relation)πατὴρ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Ναχωρof Nachorgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ναχωρ: transliteration of Hebrew נָחוֹר (Nahor); indeclinable; Abraham's brother, named to root the recital in the wider patriarchal family beyond the River (cf. Gen 11:26).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάτρευσανthey served / worshipedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (the fathers' idolatry)→ constative aoristλατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders עָבַד; the key verb of the whole chapter (it recurs at vv. 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24); here the frank admission that the fathers ἐλάτρευσαν θεοῖς ἑτέροις ('served other gods') establishes that Israel's calling rested on grace, not ancestral merit.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐλάτρευσαν (object of cultic service)θεός: 'god'; λατρεύω takes the dative of the deity served; θεοῖς ἑτέροις ('other gods') renders אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, the standard Deuteronomic designation for the foreign deities Israel must reject.
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying θεοῖς)ἕτερος: 'other / another (of a different kind)'; renders אַחֵר; θεοῖς ἑτέροις is the fixed LXX phrase for the alien gods of the nations, set in stark opposition to the LORD throughout the chapter.
3

καὶ ἔλαβον τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν Αβρααμ ἐκ τοῦ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ καὶ ὡδήγησα αὐτὸν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἐπλήθυνα αὐτοῦ σπέρμα καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτῷ τὸν Ισαακ

And I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land, and I multiplied his seed and gave him Isaac.

Recital continues: the election and leading of Abraham (first-person divine acts)καὶ ἔλαβον
The recital now shifts to a chain of first-person divine verbs (ἔλαβον … ὡδήγησα … ἐπλήθυνα … ἔδωκα) that dominate vv. 3–13: YHWH is the sole subject and agent of Israel's history. The taking of Abraham 'from beyond the River' answers directly to the fathers' idolatry of v. 2 — election is a sovereign extraction from a pagan context.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβονI tookAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (divine first-person act of election)→ constative aorist (decisive act of taking/choosing)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive / seize'; renders לָקַח; the first-person ἔλαβον makes YHWH the agent of Abraham's call — the patriarch did not come of his own initiative but was taken out of Mesopotamia by divine choice (cf. Gen 12:1).
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραfatherAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβονπατήρ: 'father'; τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν, 'your father', presents Abraham as the founding ancestor of the addressed people.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (in apposition, naming the father)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑβρααμAbrahamaccusative in apposition to πατέρα (indeclinable)Αβρααμ: indeclinable; here in apposition to τὸν πατέρα, the articular τὸν marking the case syntactically though the name itself does not decline.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source of the taking)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῦthe (region)Genitivearticle substantivizing the adverbial phrase πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦὁ, ἡ, τό: the neuter article τοῦ substantivizes πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ as a region, 'the area beyond the River', from which Abraham was taken.
πέρανbeyondimproper preposition + genitive (substantivized region)πέραν: 'beyond'; here within the substantivized phrase ἐκ τοῦ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ, 'from the region beyond the River' (Mesopotamia).
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποταμοῦRiverGenitivegenitive object of πέρανποταμός: the Euphrates; see v. 2.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὡδήγησαI led / guidedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁδηγέωmain verb (divine first-person act)→ constative aoristὁδηγέω: 'lead / guide along a way'; from ὁδός ('way') + ἡγέομαι ('lead'); renders נָחָה / הֹלֵךְ; YHWH guided Abraham ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ ('through all the land'), the land later given to his seed.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ὡδήγησααὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνin / throughpreposition + dative (locative/extent)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (modifying γῇ)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ, 'through the whole land', emphasizes the extent of Abraham's divinely-guided sojourn in Canaan.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇlandDativedative of place (extent of leading)γῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; the promised land of Canaan through which Abraham was led.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπλήθυναI multipliedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · πληθύνωmain verb (divine first-person act)→ constative aoristπληθύνω: 'multiply / make numerous'; renders רָבָה (Hiphil); the multiplication of Abraham's σπέρμα ('seed') fulfils the patriarchal promise (Gen 15:5; 22:17) and is here attributed wholly to YHWH's action.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (fronted before σπέρμα)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
σπέρμαseed / offspringAccusativedirect object of ἐπλήθυνασπέρμα: 'seed / offspring / descendants'; renders זֶרַע; the collective singular for Abraham's posterity, the promised innumerable people.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκαI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine first-person gift)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the gift of Isaac (ἔδωκα αὐτῷ τὸν Ισαακ) is the first concrete fulfilment of the promise of seed; δίδωμι recurs through the recital (vv. 4, 8, 13) marking YHWH as the giver of son, land, and victory.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object of ἔδωκααὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (naming the gift)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσαακIsaacaccusative direct object (indeclinable, with article τόν)Ισαακ: transliteration of Hebrew יִצְחָק (Isaac); indeclinable; the articular τόν marks the accusative; Isaac is the child of promise given by God to Abraham.
4

καὶ τῷ Ισαακ τὸν Ιακωβ καὶ τὸν Ησαυ καὶ ἔδωκα τῷ Ησαυ τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σηιρ κληρονομῆσαι αὐτῷ καὶ Ιακωβ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ κατέβησαν εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ ἐγένοντο ἐκεῖ εἰς ἔθνος μέγα καὶ πολὺ καὶ κραταιόν

And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau; and I gave to Esau Mount Seir to inherit, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt and became there a great and numerous and mighty nation.

Recital continues: the third generation and the descent into Egyptκαὶ τῷ Ισαακ
The recital carries the line forward: Isaac receives Jacob and Esau; Esau is given Mount Seir as his inheritance (anchoring the Edomite separation), while Jacob and his sons go down to Egypt and there grow into a great nation. The verbal gift τὸν Ιακωβ καὶ τὸν Ησαυ in the first clause depends on the ἔδωκα of v. 3, with the verb gapped; the descent into Egypt sets up the Exodus deliverance of vv. 5–7.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷtoDativearticle (marking dative of Ισαακ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσαακIsaacindirect object (indeclinable, dative marked by τῷ)Ισαακ: indeclinable; the article τῷ marks the dative, 'to Isaac [I gave]'; the verb ἔδωκα is gapped from the parallel construction.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (naming the gift)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobaccusative direct object (indeclinable, with article τόν)Ιακωβ: transliteration of Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (Jacob); indeclinable; given to Isaac as the elect son who continues the covenant line.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΗσαυEsauaccusative direct object (indeclinable, with article τόν)Ησαυ: transliteration of Hebrew עֵשָׂו (Esau); indeclinable; Jacob's brother, given Mount Seir as his portion, separating the Edomite line from the covenant people.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκαI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (divine first-person gift)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; here the explicit gift to Esau of Mount Seir as his inheritance, distinguishing the Edomite territory from the land promised to Jacob's line.
τῷtoDativearticle (marking dative of Ησαυ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΗσαυEsauindirect object (indeclinable, dative marked by τῷ)Ησαυ: indeclinable; dative marked by τῷ, 'to Esau'.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὄρος)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄροςmountainAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκαὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; renders הַר; τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σηιρ, 'Mount Seir', is the mountainous region of Edom given to Esau (cf. Deut 2:5; Gen 36:8).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (in attributive apposition with Σηιρ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣηιρSeiraccusative in apposition to ὄρος (indeclinable place-name)Σηιρ: transliteration of Hebrew שֵׂעִיר (Seir); indeclinable; the territory of Edom, here named with the article τό in the Hebraizing apposition 'the mountain, the Seir'.
κληρονομῆσαιto inheritAor Act Inf · κληρονομέωinfinitive of purpose/result (complementing ἔδωκα)→ aorist infinitive (purpose of entry)κληρονομέω: 'inherit / take possession of'; renders יָרַשׁ; the infinitive κληρονομῆσαι expresses the purpose of the gift — Seir was given to Esau as a permanent inheritance; the verb is a leitmotif of Joshua, here applied to Edom's separate possession.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantage (with the infinitive: 'for him to inherit')αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶbut / andnarrative conjunction (mild contrast: Jacob's different path)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable)Ιακωβ: indeclinable; here nominative subject of κατέβησαν; in contrast to Esau's settling in Seir, Jacob and his sons go down to Egypt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (coordinate with Ιακωβ)υἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son'; renders בֵּן; οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ, 'his sons', the patriarchal household that descended into Egypt (cf. Gen 46).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
κατέβησανwent downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb (the descent into Egypt)→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; the standard verb for the migration to Egypt (cf. Gen 46:3–4); 'going down' to Egypt and being 'brought up' (ἀνήγαγεν, v. 17) form a recurring vertical motif of the Exodus.
εἰςinto / topreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (place to which)Αἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; renders מִצְרַיִם; declinable second-declension; the place of descent, sojourn, and eventual bondage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένοντοthey becameAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (growth into a nation)→ constative aorist (achieved status)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be'; renders הָיָה; the construction ἐγένοντο εἰς ἔθνος ('became into a nation') is a Hebraism (הָיָה לְ) for transformation of status; Jacob's family became a populous people in Egypt (cf. Exod 1:7).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; locating the multiplication in Egypt, the unlikely soil where the promise of Gen 3–4 began to be fulfilled in numbers.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (Hebraism: 'became into')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἔθνοςnationAccusativeaccusative complement of ἐγένοντο (with εἰς)ἔθνος: 'nation / people'; renders גּוֹי; here Israel grows εἰς ἔθνος μέγα καὶ πολὺ καὶ κραταιόν, echoing the patriarchal promise of a great nation (Gen 12:2; 18:18).
μέγαgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνος)μέγας: 'great / large'; the first of a tricolon (μέγα, πολύ, κραταιόν) intensifying the size and strength of the nation Israel became in Egypt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πολὺnumerousAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνος)πολύς: 'much / many / numerous'; the second member of the tricolon, stressing populousness.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κραταιόνmightyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνος)κραταιός: 'strong / mighty'; renders עָצוּם; the third member of the tricolon; the same description of Israel's threatening strength in Egypt motivates Pharaoh's oppression in Exod 1:9.
5

καὶ ἐκάκωσαν αὐτοὺς οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι καὶ ἐπάταξεν κύριος τὴν Αἴγυπτον ἐν οἷς ἐποίησεν αὐτοῖς καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξήγαγεν ὑμᾶς

And the Egyptians mistreated them, and the LORD struck Egypt with the things he did to them, and after these things he brought you out.

Recital continues: oppression, plagues, and the Exodus deliveranceκαὶ ἐκάκωσαν
The recital compresses the entire Exodus drama into a single verse: Egyptian oppression, the LORD's striking of Egypt (the plagues), and the bringing-out of the people. The shift from third-person αὐτούς ('them', the fathers) to second-person ὑμᾶς ('you') at ἐξήγαγεν folds the present generation into the saving act, a characteristic feature of covenant recital.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάκωσανmistreated / afflictedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κακόωmain verb (Egyptian oppression)→ constative aoristκακόω: 'mistreat / afflict / do harm to'; renders רָעַע / עָנָה (Hiphil/Piel); the standard LXX verb for the Egyptian oppression of Israel (cf. Exod 1:11; Gen 15:13); the subject is οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐκάκωσαναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἰγύπτιοιEgyptiansNominativesubject of ἐκάκωσανΑἰγύπτιος: 'Egyptian'; gentilic adjective used substantively; renders מִצְרִים; the oppressors whose mistreatment provokes the LORD's intervention.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (the LORD's smiting of Egypt)→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); the LORD's striking of Egypt summarizes the plagues; the same verb describes the slaying of the firstborn (Exod 12:29) and recurs for divine judicial smiting throughout the LXX.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐπάταξενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD is the agent of judgment on Egypt; within the recital this is still YHWH speaking of himself in the third person at this point, the narrative voice momentarily shifting.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἴγυπτονEgyptAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξενΑἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; the land and people struck by the plagues.
ἐνwith / bypreposition + dative (instrumental/circumstantial)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἷςthe things whichDativerelative pronoun (dative, by attraction; 'with the things which')ὅς: relative pronoun; ἐν οἷς ἐποίησεν ('with/by the things which he did') is a compressed reference to the plagues and signs; the dative οἷς has been attracted into the case of an implied antecedent.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the relative clause refers to the wonders YHWH performed in Egypt (cf. v. 7, ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος).
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of disadvantage (to the Egyptians)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal: 'after these things')οὗτος: μετὰ ταῦτα is a standard LXX temporal connective for narrative succession; here marking the transition from plague to deliverance.
ἐξήγαγενhe brought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωmain verb (the Exodus)→ constative aoristἐξάγω: 'lead out / bring out'; renders יָצָא (Hiphil); the technical Exodus verb (cf. Exod 13:3; 20:2); the abrupt second-person ὑμᾶς ('you') makes the present generation the direct beneficiaries of the deliverance.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξήγαγεν (2nd person plural)ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
6

ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ εἰσήλθατε εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τὴν ἐρυθράν καὶ κατεδίωξαν οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι ὀπίσω τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν ἐν ἅρμασιν καὶ ἐν ἵπποις εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τὴν ἐρυθράν

out of Egypt; and you came to the Red Sea, and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horses to the Red Sea.

Recital continues: the Red Sea pursuit (enjambed from v. 5's ἐξήγαγεν)ἐξ Αἰγύπτου
The phrase ἐξ Αἰγύπτου completes the verb ἐξήγαγεν from v. 5, the verse-division falling mid-clause. The narrative pivots to the Red Sea crossing: Israel comes to the sea and the Egyptians pursue with chariots and horses, setting up the deliverance recounted in v. 7. The repetition of τὴν θάλασσαν τὴν ἐρυθράν frames the scene.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source; completing ἐξήγαγεν of v. 5)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (source of the Exodus)Αἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): 'Egypt'; ἐξ Αἰγύπτου completes the verb of v. 5, 'he brought you out of Egypt'.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰσήλθατεyou came / enteredAor Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (Israel reaches the sea)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come into'; renders בּוֹא; the second-person plural εἰσήλθατε (with first-aorist ending in -ατε, a Koine form) continues the direct address to the present generation.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θάλασσανseaAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςθάλασσα: 'sea'; renders יָם; ἡ θάλασσα ἡ ἐρυθρά ('the Red Sea') renders יַם סוּף, the site of the climactic deliverance from Egypt.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive with ἐρυθράν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρυθράνRedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θάλασσαν)ἐρυθρός: 'red'; the LXX rendering of סוּף ('reed/end') as 'Red' became the standard designation ἡ ἐρυθρὰ θάλασσα; the attributive construction τὴν θάλασσαν τὴν ἐρυθράν is Hebraizing (article repeated).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατεδίωξανpursuedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταδιώκωmain verb (Egyptian pursuit)→ constative aoristκαταδιώκω: 'pursue closely / chase down'; the intensifying compound κατα- stresses the hot pursuit; renders רָדַף; the Egyptians chase Israel to the very edge of the sea (cf. Exod 14:9).
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἰγύπτιοιEgyptiansNominativesubject of κατεδίωξανΑἰγύπτιος: 'Egyptian'; the pursuing army of Pharaoh.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (behind, in pursuit of)ὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; renders אַחֲרֵי; ὀπίσω τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν, 'after your fathers', marks the direction of the chase.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρωνfathersGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσωπατήρ: 'father'; here the fleeing Exodus generation, 'your fathers', distinguished again from the addressed 'you' even though v. 5 had merged them.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἅρμασινchariotsDativedative of means (with ἐν: 'with chariots')ἅρμα (pl. ἅρματα, dat. ἅρμασιν): 'chariot'; renders רֶכֶב; the war-chariotry of Egypt, emblem of military might that the sea will swallow.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἵπποιςhorsesDativedative of means (with ἐν: 'with horses')ἵππος: 'horse'; renders סוּס; chariots and horses together represent the elite Egyptian war machine drowned in the sea (Exod 15:1, 21).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of pursuit)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θάλασσανseaAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal of pursuit)θάλασσα: the repetition of εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τὴν ἐρυθράν frames the verse and underlines that the Egyptians pursued Israel into the very place of their own destruction.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρυθράνRedAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θάλασσαν)ἐρυθρός: 'red'; see above.
7

καὶ ἀνεβοήσαμεν πρὸς κύριον καὶ ἔδωκεν νεφέλην καὶ γνόφον ἀνὰ μέσον ἡμῶν καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν Αἰγυπτίων καὶ ἐπήγαγεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ ἐκάλυψεν αὐτούς καὶ εἴδοσαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ὑμῶν ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ ἦτε ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἡμέρας πλείους

And we cried out to the LORD, and he put a cloud and darkness between us and the Egyptians, and he brought the sea upon them and covered them; and your eyes saw all that the LORD did in the land of Egypt, and you were in the wilderness many days.

Recital continues: the cry, the cloud, and the drowning of the Egyptiansκαὶ ἀνεβοήσαμεν
A striking first-person plural ἀνεβοήσαμεν ('we cried out') momentarily places Joshua and the speaker among the delivered people, heightening the solidarity of the recital. The cloud-and-darkness (νεφέλην καὶ γνόφον) separating Israel from Egypt (Exod 14:19–20) and the sea closing over the Egyptians are recounted, climaxing in the eyewitness claim εἴδοσαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ὑμῶν ('your eyes saw').
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνεβοήσαμενwe cried outAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀναβοάωmain verb (Israel's cry for help)→ constative aoristἀναβοάω: 'cry out / shout aloud'; renders צָעַק / זָעַק; the first-person plural unexpectedly includes the speaker among the people at the sea; the cry of distress is the trigger for divine intervention (cf. Exod 14:10).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονLORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD to whom Israel cried at the sea.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενhe put / setAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (placing of the cloud)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give / put / place'; here ἔδωκεν νεφέλην, 'he put a cloud', a Hebraizing use of נָתַן in the sense of 'set/place'; the cloud is the protective barrier between Israel and Egypt.
νεφέληνcloudAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεννεφέλη: 'cloud'; renders עָנָן; the pillar of cloud that came between the camps (Exod 14:19–20).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
γνόφονdarkness / gloomAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν (coordinate with νεφέλην)γνόφος: 'thick darkness / gloom'; renders אֲפֵלָה / חֹשֶׁךְ; the darkness on the Egyptian side that immobilized them through the night (Exod 14:20).
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')ἀνά: in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον + genitive ('between'), a Hebraism rendering בֵּין; the doubled ἀνὰ μέσον … καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον calques the Hebrew בֵּין … וּבֵין construction.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσονμέσος: 'middle'; with ἀνά forms the separative idiom 'between us and the Egyptians'.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of ἀνὰ μέσονἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): the first-person plural again merges the speaker with the delivered people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in the idiom)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (second member of ἀνὰ μέσον … καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον)ἀνὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσονμέσον: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑἰγυπτίωνEgyptiansGenitivegenitive object of ἀνὰ μέσονΑἰγύπτιος: 'Egyptian'; the pursuing army from whom Israel is divided by the cloud.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπήγαγενhe brought uponAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπάγωmain verb (the sea brought upon the Egyptians)→ constative aoristἐπάγω: 'bring upon / lead against'; the compound ἐπ- marks hostile imposition; ἐπήγαγεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς τὴν θάλασσαν, 'he brought the sea upon them', describes the closing of the waters over Pharaoh's army (Exod 14:26–28).
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided; hostile direction)ἐπ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the Egyptians)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θάλασσανseaAccusativedirect object of ἐπήγαγενθάλασσα: 'sea'; the returning waters that drowned the Egyptians.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάλυψενcoveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλύπτωmain verb (the sea covered the Egyptians)→ constative aoristκαλύπτω: 'cover / conceal'; renders כָּסָה; the verb of the Song of the Sea (Exod 15:5, ἐκάλυψεν αὐτοὺς θάλασσα), here echoing the drowning of the Egyptian host.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλυψεναὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἴδοσανsawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (eyewitness of the deliverance)→ constative aoristὁράω (aor. εἶδον; here the Hellenistic 3 pl. εἴδοσαν): 'see'; the form εἴδοσαν with the -οσαν ending is characteristic of LXX Koine; 'your eyes saw' (οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ὑμῶν) stresses firsthand experiential knowledge as the ground of covenant obligation.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὶeyesNominativesubject of εἴδοσανὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; the phrase 'your eyes saw' is a Deuteronomic motif of eyewitness testimony grounding covenant loyalty (cf. Deut 4:9; 11:7).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅσαall thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν; 'as many things as')ὅσος: 'as much/many as'; ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος, 'all that the LORD did', the comprehensive object of Israel's witnessing.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make'; the LORD's deeds in Egypt, seen by Israel's own eyes.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐποίησενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the agent of the deeds witnessed in Egypt.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῇlandDativedative of placeγῆ: 'land'; ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, 'in the land of Egypt', the arena of the plagues and the sea-deliverance.
ΑἰγύπτῳEgyptDativedative in apposition with γῇ ('land of Egypt')Αἴγυπτος: here in apposition to γῇ, a Hebraizing construction (אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם rendered without genitive).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦτεyou wereImpf Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (the wilderness sojourn)→ durative imperfect (extended state)εἰμί (impf. ἦτε): 'be'; the imperfect captures the prolonged state of dwelling in the wilderness ἡμέρας πλείους ('many days'), telescoping the forty years.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place (with ἐν)ἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; renders מִדְבָּר; the place of the forty-year sojourn between Egypt and Canaan.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration ('for many days')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative of extent of time, ἡμέρας πλείους ('many days'), a litotes telescoping the long wilderness generation.
πλείουςmany / moreAccusativeattributive adjective (comparative of πολύς, modifying ἡμέρας)πλείων: comparative of πολύς, 'more / many'; here in the sense 'a good many days', summarizing the protracted wilderness period.
8

καὶ ἤγαγεν ὑμᾶς εἰς γῆν Αμορραίων τῶν κατοικούντων πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ παρετάξαντο ὑμῖν καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς κύριος εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν καὶ κατεκληρονομήσατε τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξωλεθρεύσατε αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν

And he brought you into the land of the Amorites who dwelt beyond the Jordan, and they drew up in battle against you, and the LORD gave them into your hands, and you took possession of their land and utterly destroyed them from before you.

Recital continues: the Transjordan conquest of the Amoritesκαὶ ἤγαγεν ὑμᾶς
The recital moves to the conquest east of the Jordan (the defeat of Sihon and Og). The pattern is the classic Deuteronomistic schema: the LORD brings the people, the enemy gives battle, the LORD delivers the enemy into Israel's hand, and Israel takes possession and destroys them. The verb κατεκληρονομήσατε ('you took as inheritance') ties the victory to the land-promise that structures the whole book of Joshua.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤγαγενhe brought / ledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἄγωmain verb (the LORD leads Israel to Amorite land)→ constative aoristἄγω: 'lead / bring'; renders בּוֹא (Hiphil); the LORD leads Israel into the Transjordan, the first conquered territory (Num 21:21–35).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἤγαγενὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςγῆ: 'land'; γῆν Αμορραίων, 'the land of the Amorites', the Transjordan kingdoms of Sihon and Og.
Αμορραίωνof the AmoritesGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying γῆν)Αμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; renders אֱמֹרִי; gentilic used substantively; the Amorites are the dominant pre-Israelite population of the Transjordan, defeated under Moses.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with participle)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικούντωνdwellingPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · κατοικέωattributive participle (modifying Αμορραίων)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; the articular participle τῶν κατοικούντων, 'who dwell', specifies the Amorites as inhabitants πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου, 'beyond the Jordan' (here from the Cisjordan vantage, the east bank).
πέρανbeyondimproper preposition + genitive (location)πέραν: 'beyond / across'; here πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου, 'beyond the Jordan', designating the Transjordan east bank.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive object of πέρανΙορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): 'Jordan'; renders יַרְדֵּן; declinable first-declension; the river dividing the Transjordan conquest from the conquest of Canaan proper.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρετάξαντοthey drew up for battleAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παρατάσσωmain verb (the Amorites give battle)→ constative aorist (ingressive: deployed for battle)παρατάσσω (mid.): 'draw up in battle array / array oneself for war'; renders עָרַךְ; the middle παρετάξαντο ὑμῖν, 'they drew up against you', describes the Amorite offensive that the LORD turns to Israel's victory.
ὑμῖνagainst youDativedative of (hostile) relation (with παρετάξαντο)ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρέδωκενgave over / deliveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (the LORD delivers the enemy)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; renders נָתַן (in the holy-war sense); the formula παρέδωκεν … εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν ('gave them into your hands') is the standard LXX idiom for divinely-granted victory (cf. vv. 11; Deut 7:24).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of παρέδωκεναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of παρέδωκενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the divine warrior who hands the enemy over.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom: into the hands)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom of subjugation)χείρ: 'hand'; εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν, 'into your hands', renders בְּיֶדְכֶם, the idiom for delivering an enemy into one's power.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατεκληρονομήσατεyou took as inheritance / dispossessedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · κατακληρονομέωmain verb (Israel possesses the land)→ constative aoristκατακληρονομέω: 'take possession of / inherit / dispossess'; the intensive compound of κληρονομέω; renders יָרַשׁ; can mean both 'inherit the land' and 'dispossess its inhabitants'; here 'you took possession of their land', tying conquest to the inheritance-theme of Joshua.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of κατεκληρονομήσατεγῆ: 'land'; τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν, 'their land', the Amorite Transjordan territory taken as inheritance.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξωλεθρεύσατεyou utterly destroyedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (destruction of the enemy)→ constative aoristἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; the compound ἐξ- intensifies ὀλεθρεύω; renders שָׁמַד / חָרַם (Hiphil); a standard LXX herem-verb for the total destruction of the Canaanite nations 'from before you' (ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξωλεθρεύσατεαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (idiom: from before)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'from before')πρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν, 'from before you', renders מִפְּנֵיכֶם, the idiom for clearing the land of its prior inhabitants before the advancing Israelites.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
9

καὶ ἀνέστη Βαλακ ὁ τοῦ Σεπφωρ βασιλεὺς Μωαβ καὶ παρετάξατο τῷ Ισραηλ καὶ ἀποστείλας ἐκάλεσεν τὸν Βαλααμ ἀράσασθαι ὑμῖν

And Balak son of Sepphor, king of Moab, arose and drew up against Israel; and he sent and called Balaam to curse you.

Recital continues: the Balak–Balaam episodeκαὶ ἀνέστη Βαλακ
The recital recalls the Balak/Balaam narrative (Num 22–24): the Moabite king, alarmed at Israel, hires the seer Balaam to curse them. The verse sets up the reversal of v. 10, where the LORD turns the intended curse into blessing. Βαλακ is identified with the Hebraizing patronymic ὁ τοῦ Σεπφωρ ('the [son] of Sepphor').
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (Balak rises against Israel)→ constative aorist (intransitive: stood up / arose)ἀνίστημι (2nd aor. intrans.): 'rise up / stand up'; renders קוּם; the rising of Balak signals the start of hostile action against Israel.
ΒαλακBalaknominative subject (indeclinable)Βαλακ: transliteration of Hebrew בָּלָק (Balak); indeclinable; king of Moab who hired Balaam (Num 22:2).
ὁthe (son)Nominativearticle (in patronymic idiom 'the [son] of')ὁ: the article in the patronymic construction ὁ τοῦ Σεπφωρ, 'the [son] of Sepphor', a Greek idiom (with υἱός understood) rendering בֶּן־צִפּוֹר.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (genitive marking the father's name)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣεπφωρSepphorgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, marked by τοῦ)Σεπφωρ: transliteration of Hebrew צִפּוֹר (Zippor); indeclinable; Balak's father, the genitive marked by the article τοῦ.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativenominative in apposition to Βαλακβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; βασιλεὺς Μωαβ, 'king of Moab', in apposition identifying Balak's office.
Μωαβof Moabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μωαβ: transliteration of Hebrew מוֹאָב (Moab); indeclinable; the kingdom east of the Dead Sea; functions here as genitive 'of Moab'.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρετάξατοdrew up for battleAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · παρατάσσωmain verb (Balak arrays against Israel)→ constative aoristπαρατάσσω (mid.): 'array oneself for battle'; here παρετάξατο τῷ Ισραηλ, 'drew up against Israel'; the same verb as v. 8, framing Balak's hostility in military terms even though his actual weapon is the curse.
τῷtheDativearticle (marking dative of Ισραηλ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldative of (hostile) relation (indeclinable, marked by τῷ)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; here dative marked by τῷ, the object of Balak's hostile array.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀποστείλαςhaving sentAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἀποστέλλωcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance of ἐκάλεσεν)→ antecedent aorist participle (sent, then called)ἀποστέλλω: 'send (with a commission)'; the participle ἀποστείλας ('having sent [messengers]') describes Balak's dispatch of envoys to summon Balaam (Num 22:5).
ἐκάλεσενcalled / summonedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (summoning of Balaam)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon / invite'; renders קָרָא; Balak summons Balaam for the express purpose of cursing Israel.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Βαλααμ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒαλααμBalaamaccusative direct object (indeclinable, marked by τόν)Βαλααμ: transliteration of Hebrew בִּלְעָם (Balaam); indeclinable; the Mesopotamian seer hired to curse Israel, whose oracles the LORD turned to blessing (Num 22–24).
ἀράσασθαιto curseAor Mid Inf · ἀράομαιinfinitive of purpose (the aim of the summons)ἀράομαι: 'curse / invoke a curse (upon)'; from ἀρά ('curse / imprecation'); renders קָבַב / אָרַר; the infinitive of purpose ἀράσασθαι ὑμῖν, 'to curse you', states Balak's intention, frustrated by the LORD in v. 10.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἀράσασθαι (the cursed party)ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
10

καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἀπολέσαι σε καὶ εὐλογίαν εὐλόγησεν ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐξείλατο ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρῶν αὐτῶν καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτούς

But the LORD your God was not willing to destroy you; rather he greatly blessed you and delivered you out of their hands and gave them over.

Recital continues: the LORD reverses the curse into blessingκαὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν
The reversal of Balak's plan: the LORD refused to let Balaam curse, and instead blessed Israel. The cognate-accusative εὐλογίαν εὐλόγησεν ('he blessed [you] with a blessing') is a Hebraism intensifying the blessing — the very opposite of the intended curse. The shift to singular σου/σε (alongside plural ὑμᾶς) reflects the Hebrew oscillation between collective singular and plural address.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶbut / andnarrative conjunction (adversative force in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἠθέλησεν)οὐ (οὐκ before vowel): the negative of fact; οὐκ ἠθέλησεν, 'he was not willing', negates the curse-intention at the level of divine will.
ἠθέλησενwas willingAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θέλωmain verb (the LORD's refusal)→ constative aoristθέλω: 'will / wish / be willing'; renders אָבָה / חָפֵץ; οὐκ ἠθέλησεν … ἀπολέσαι σε, 'he was not willing to destroy you' (i.e. through Balaam's curse), grounds the deliverance in YHWH's sovereign will.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἠθέλησενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; κύριος ὁ θεός σου, 'the LORD your God', the full covenant designation.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός in apposition)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεός σου, 'your God', with the singular σου addressing Israel collectively.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (2nd person singular)σύ (gen. σου): the singular 'your' addresses Israel as a collective unity, a frequent Deuteronomic alternation with the plural.
ἀπολέσαιto destroyAor Act Inf · ἀπόλλυμιcomplementary infinitive (with ἠθέλησεν)ἀπόλλυμι: 'destroy / ruin / cause to perish'; renders אָבַד (Piel); the infinitive completes ἠθέλησεν: the LORD would not allow Israel to be destroyed by the curse.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἀπολέσαι (2nd person singular)σε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶand / rathernarrative conjunction (introducing the positive reversal)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εὐλογίανa blessingAccusativecognate accusative (with εὐλόγησεν: Hebraism)εὐλογία: 'blessing'; the cognate accusative εὐλογίαν εὐλόγησεν ('he blessed [you] with a blessing') renders the Hebrew infinitive-absolute construction בָּרֵךְ בֵּרַךְ, intensifying the act — an emphatic blessing that wholly overturns the intended curse.
εὐλόγησενhe blessedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (the blessing of Israel)→ constative aorist (intensified by cognate accusative)εὐλογέω: 'bless / speak well of'; renders בָּרַךְ; with the cognate accusative εὐλογίαν it forms an emphatic Hebraism — the curse Balak paid for became, by divine compulsion, a great blessing (Num 23–24).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of εὐλόγησεν (plural)ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξείλατοdelivered / rescuedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (deliverance from the enemy's hand)→ constative aoristἐξαιρέω (mid.): 'take out / rescue / deliver'; renders נָצַל (Hiphil); ἐξείλατο ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρῶν αὐτῶν, 'he delivered you out of their hands', the standard idiom for rescue from enemy power.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξείλατοὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρῶνhandsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: from their power)χείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρῶν αὐτῶν, 'out of their hands', the counterpart to 'into your hands' (v. 8) — rescue from the enemy's grasp.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (Balak and the Moabites)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρέδωκενgave them overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (the enemy handed over)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; here παρέδωκεν αὐτούς, 'he gave them over' (into Israel's power), echoing the holy-war idiom of v. 8 and sealing the reversal of Balak's hostility.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of παρέδωκεναὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
11

καὶ διέβητε τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ παρεγενήθητε εἰς Ιεριχω καὶ ἐπολέμησαν πρὸς ὑμᾶς οἱ κατοικοῦντες Ιεριχω ὁ Αμορραῖος καὶ ὁ Χαναναῖος καὶ ὁ Φερεζαῖος καὶ ὁ Ευαῖος καὶ ὁ Ιεβουσαῖος καὶ ὁ Χετταῖος καὶ ὁ Γεργεσαῖος καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς κύριος εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν

And you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho; and the inhabitants of Jericho fought against you — the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite and the Hittite and the Girgashite — and the LORD gave them into your hands.

Recital continues: the crossing of the Jordan and the taking of Jerichoκαὶ διέβητε τὸν Ιορδάνην
The recital reaches the conquest of Canaan proper: the crossing of the Jordan (ch. 3–4) and the fall of Jericho (ch. 6). The seven-nation catalogue (Amorite, Canaanite, Perizzite, Hivite, Jebusite, Hittite, Girgashite) is the classic Deuteronomic list of dispossessed peoples (cf. Deut 7:1), here gathered under 'the inhabitants of Jericho' as a synecdoche for the whole land. The victory formula παρέδωκεν … εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν repeats from v. 8.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διέβητεyou crossed overAor Act Indic 2 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (the Jordan crossing)→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders עָבַר; the crossing of the Jordan (Josh 3–4) is the threshold-event of the conquest, the entry into the promised land.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διέβητεΙορδάνης (acc. Ιορδάνην): 'Jordan'; declinable; the river crossed to enter Canaan.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρεγενήθητεyou came / arrivedAor Pass Indic 2 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (arrival at Jericho)→ constative aorist (passive form, intransitive sense)παραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive / be present'; renders בּוֹא; the aorist-passive form παρεγενήθητε carries the intransitive sense 'you arrived (at Jericho)', the first objective of the Canaan campaign.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙεριχωJerichoaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Ιεριχω: transliteration of Hebrew יְרִיחוֹ (Jericho); indeclinable; the first fortified city taken in the conquest (Josh 6).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπολέμησανmade war / foughtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πολεμέωmain verb (the inhabitants resist)→ constative aoristπολεμέω: 'make war / fight'; renders לָחַם (Niphal); ἐπολέμησαν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, 'they fought against you', presents the Canaanite peoples as the aggressors whom the LORD then delivers.
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile relation)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with participle)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦντεςinhabitantsPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (subject of ἐπολέμησαν)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; the substantival participle οἱ κατοικοῦντες Ιεριχω, 'the inhabitants of Jericho', is then expanded by the seven-nation apposition.
ΙεριχωJerichoaccusative object of the participle (indeclinable)Ιεριχω: indeclinable; 'the inhabitants of Jericho' here stands as a synecdoche for the wider Canaanite population catalogued next.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with Αμορραῖος, in apposition)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραῖοςAmoriteNominativenominative in apposition (first of the seven nations)Αμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; renders אֱמֹרִי; first member of the classic seven-nation list (Deut 7:1); the singular with article denotes the people collectively.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαναναῖοςCanaaniteNominativenominative in apposition (second nation)Χαναναῖος: 'Canaanite'; renders כְּנַעֲנִי; second of the seven nations.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΦερεζαῖοςPerizziteNominativenominative in apposition (third nation)Φερεζαῖος: 'Perizzite'; renders פְּרִזִּי; third of the seven nations.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕυαῖοςHiviteNominativenominative in apposition (fourth nation)Ευαῖος: 'Hivite'; renders חִוִּי; fourth of the seven nations.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεβουσαῖοςJebusiteNominativenominative in apposition (fifth nation)Ιεβουσαῖος: 'Jebusite'; renders יְבוּסִי; fifth of the seven nations, later associated with Jerusalem.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧετταῖοςHittiteNominativenominative in apposition (sixth nation)Χετταῖος: 'Hittite'; renders חִתִּי; sixth of the seven nations.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓεργεσαῖοςGirgashiteNominativenominative in apposition (seventh nation)Γεργεσαῖος: 'Girgashite'; renders גִּרְגָּשִׁי; seventh of the seven nations, completing the canonical Deuteronomic catalogue (Deut 7:1).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρέδωκενgave overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (the LORD delivers the nations)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over'; the repeated victory-formula παρέδωκεν … εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν (cf. v. 8) attributes the conquest of all seven nations to the LORD's gift, not Israel's prowess.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of παρέδωκεναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of παρέδωκενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the divine warrior who delivers the Canaanite nations.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom of subjugation)χείρ: 'hand'; εἰς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν, 'into your hands', the recurring formula of divinely-given victory.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
12

καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν προτέραν ὑμῶν τὴν σφηκιάν καὶ ἐξέβαλεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν δώδεκα βασιλεῖς τῶν Αμορραίων οὐκ ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ σου οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ τόξῳ σου

And he sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove them out from before you — the twelve kings of the Amorites — not by your sword nor by your bow.

Recital climax: the hornet and the disclaimer of human agencyκαὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν
The recital's climactic point: the LORD sent the σφηκιά ('hornet/wasp-swarm') ahead of Israel to drive out the twelve Amorite kings, and the conquest was accomplished 'not by your sword nor by your bow.' This twofold disclaimer (cf. Ps 44:3–6) is the theological summit of the recital — the land was a gift of grace, won by the LORD, not by Israel's military strength — and it grounds the imperative of exclusive loyalty in v. 14.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξαπέστειλενsent aheadAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (the LORD sends the hornet)→ constative aoristἐξαποστέλλω: 'send out / send forth'; the double compound ἐξ-απο- intensifies the dispatch; here the LORD sends the hornet προτέραν ὑμῶν ('ahead of you') to rout the enemy before Israel even engages (cf. Exod 23:28; Deut 7:20).
προτέρανahead / beforeAccusativepredicate adjective (comparative; 'ahead of you')πρότερος: comparative 'former / earlier / ahead'; the feminine accusative προτέραν agrees with τὴν σφηκιάν; προτέραν ὑμῶν, 'ahead of you', stresses that the hornet preceded Israel's own attack.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive of comparison (with προτέραν)ὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σφηκιάνhornet / wasp-swarmAccusativedirect object of ἐξαπέστειλενσφηκιά: 'nest of wasps / swarm of hornets'; renders צִרְעָה ('hornet'); the LXX uses the collective σφηκιά for the divinely-sent terror that drove out the Canaanites (cf. Exod 23:28; Deut 7:20); often understood as a metaphor for panic/dread sent ahead of Israel.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέβαλενdrove outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκβάλλωmain verb (the hornet expels the enemy)→ constative aoristἐκβάλλω: 'throw out / drive out / expel'; renders גָּרַשׁ; the subject is the σφηκιά (or the LORD acting through it); ἐξέβαλεν … ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν, 'drove them out from before you', echoes the dispossession idiom of v. 8.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξέβαλεναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (idiom: from before)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'from before')πρόσωπον: 'face'; ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν, 'from before you', the dispossession idiom (cf. v. 8).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
δώδεκαtwelvenumeral (modifying βασιλεῖς; indeclinable cardinal)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable cardinal numeral; δώδεκα βασιλεῖς τῶν Αμορραίων, 'the twelve kings of the Amorites', specifies the totality of the expelled rulers (the number recalls the broader conquest summaries of Josh 12).
βασιλεῖςkingsAccusativeaccusative in apposition to αὐτούςβασιλεύς: 'king'; the twelve kings stand in apposition to αὐτούς ('them'), specifying who was driven out.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Αμορραίωνof the AmoritesGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying βασιλεῖς)Αμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; here a comprehensive designation for the Canaanite kings, 'Amorite' functioning (as often) as a general term for the land's inhabitants.
οὐκnotnegative particle (disclaimer of human agency)οὐ (οὐκ): the emphatic disclaimer οὐκ ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ σου, 'not by your sword', denies that the victory was won by human weaponry.
ἐνby / withpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥομφαίᾳswordDativedative of means (with ἐν; disclaimed instrument)ῥομφαία: 'sword / large broadsword'; renders חֶרֶב; the disclaimer 'not by your sword nor by your bow' is a theological denial of self-achieved victory (cf. Ps 44:3–6; Hos 1:7).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (2nd person singular)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐδὲnornegative coordinating conjunctionοὐδέ: 'and not / nor'; extends the disclaimer to the second weapon, the bow.
ἐνby / withpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόξῳbowDativedative of means (with ἐν; disclaimed instrument)τόξον: 'bow'; renders קֶשֶׁת; the bow, paired with the sword, completes the merism for human military power, decisively denied as the cause of the conquest.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (2nd person singular)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
13

καὶ ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν γῆν ἐφ᾿ ἣν οὐκ ἐκοπιάσατε ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς καὶ πόλεις ἃς οὐκ ᾠκοδομήσατε καὶ κατῳκίσθητε ἐν αὐταῖς καὶ ἀμπελῶνας καὶ ἐλαιῶνας οὓς οὐκ ἐφυτεύσατε ὑμεῖς ἔδεσθε

And he gave you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwelt in them; and vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant, you eat.

Recital conclusion: the gift of an unearned land (end of section A)καὶ ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν γῆν
The recital closes with the gift of the land itself: a land, cities, vineyards, and olive groves none of which Israel labored for, built, or planted — pure unmerited grace (cf. Deut 6:10–11). The fourfold disclaimer (did not labor, did not build, did not plant) caps the whole recital and supplies the logical ground for the demand of v. 14: such a gift calls for exclusive, grateful service of the Giver.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενhe gaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the gift of the land)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; the climactic ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν γῆν, 'he gave you a land', recapitulates the giving-theme of the recital (vv. 3, 4, 8) — the land is gift, not wage.
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object of ἔδωκενὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκενγῆ: 'land'; the gift of the cultivated land of Canaan, described by the threefold disclaimer that follows.
ἐφ᾿for / onpreposition + accusative (elided; relative reference)ἐφ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of the relative clause, fem. with γῆν)ὅς: relative pronoun; ἐφ᾿ ἣν οὐκ ἐκοπιάσατε, 'for which you did not labor', the first disclaimer.
οὐκnotnegative particleοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκοπιάσατεyou laboredAor Act Indic 2 Pl · κοπιάωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristκοπιάω: 'toil / labor to weariness'; renders יָגַע; 'you did not labor' for this land — the toil of clearing and cultivating was others'; Israel inherited the fruit of work it never did.
ἐπ᾿on / overpreposition + genitive (elided; resumptive 'on it')ἐπί: the resumptive ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς ('on it') is a Hebraizing pleonastic pronoun reprising the relative ἣν, calquing the Hebrew resumptive suffix.
αὐτῆςitGenitiveresumptive pronoun (Hebraism, with ἐπ᾿)αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν (coordinate with γῆν)πόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; the second gift, cities Israel did not build, recalls Deut 6:10.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of the relative clause)ὅς: relative pronoun; ἃς οὐκ ᾠκοδομήσατε, 'which you did not build', the second disclaimer.
οὐκnotnegative particleοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ᾠκοδομήσατεyou builtAor Act Indic 2 Pl · οἰκοδομέωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristοἰκοδομέω: 'build / construct'; renders בָּנָה; 'you did not build' the cities you now inhabit — another mark of the land's gratuity.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατῳκίσθητεyou were settled / you dweltAor Pass Indic 2 Pl · κατοικίζωmain verb (Israel settled in the cities)→ constative aorist (passive: were caused to dwell)κατοικίζω: 'cause to dwell / settle'; the aorist passive κατῳκίσθητε, 'you were settled / made to dwell', subtly keeps the LORD as the implicit agent — even the settling is his doing.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐταῖςthemDativedative of place (with ἐν; the cities)αὐταῖς: 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.
ἀμπελῶναςvineyardsAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν (coordinate)ἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; the third gift, vineyards Israel did not plant.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλαιῶναςolive grovesAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν (coordinate)ἐλαιών: 'olive orchard / olive grove'; renders זַיִת (plantations of); vineyards and olive groves together are the emblem of settled agricultural prosperity given gratis to Israel.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of the relative clause)ὅς: relative pronoun; οὓς οὐκ ἐφυτεύσατε, 'which you did not plant', the third disclaimer.
οὐκnotnegative particleοὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐφυτεύσατεyou plantedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · φυτεύωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristφυτεύω: 'plant'; renders נָטַע; 'you did not plant' the vineyards and groves whose fruit you eat — the final disclaimer completing the rhetoric of unearned gift.
ὑμεῖςyou (yourselves)Nominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with ἔδεσθε)σύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic 'you yourselves' underscores the contrast — others labored, you yourselves eat the fruit.
ἔδεσθεyou eat / shall eatFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (Israel enjoys the produce)→ predictive/customary future (ongoing enjoyment)ἐσθίω (fut. mid. ἔδομαι, 2 pl. ἔδεσθε): 'eat'; the future ἔδεσθε, 'you (will) eat', presents Israel's ongoing enjoyment of the land's produce as the present and abiding fruit of the LORD's gift; the suppletive future stem ἔδ- is standard Koine.
14

καὶ νῦν φοβήθητε κύριον καὶ λατρεύσατε αὐτῷ ἐν εὐθύτητι καὶ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ περιέλεσθε τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους οἷς ἐλάτρευσαν οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ καὶ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ λατρεύετε κυρίῳ

And now fear the LORD and serve him in uprightness and in righteousness, and put away the foreign gods whom your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

Hortatory turn: the summons grounded on the recital (opening of section B)καὶ νῦν φοβήθητε κύριον
The pivotal καὶ νῦν ('and now') turns from recital to exhortation — the classic LXX move from indicative to imperative, from grace to demand. A cascade of imperatives (φοβήθητε, λατρεύσατε, περιέλεσθε, λατρεύετε) defines covenant loyalty: fear, serve, put away foreign gods, serve. The verb λατρεύω, the recital's keyword (v. 2), now becomes the central demand and dominates the rest of the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandconjunction (with νῦν: hortatory transition)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (logical pivot from recital to exhortation)νῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν renders וְעַתָּה, the classic Hebrew hinge from narrated grace to demanded response; it marks the rhetorical turn of the whole chapter.
φοβήθητεfearAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (first imperative of the summons)→ ingressive aorist imperative (adopt reverent fear)φοβέομαι: 'fear / reverence'; renders יָרֵא; 'fear the LORD' is the foundational Deuteronomic disposition (Deut 6:13; 10:12) — not terror but covenant reverence expressed in obedient worship.
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of φοβήθητεκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the object of reverent fear and exclusive service.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λατρεύσατεserve / worshipAor Act Impv 2 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (second imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperativeλατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders עָבַד; the chapter's keyword, now in the imperative; to serve the LORD ἐν εὐθύτητι καὶ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ('in uprightness and righteousness') is to render undivided, sincere worship.
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of λατρεύσατε (the one served)αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
εὐθύτητιuprightness / sincerityDativedative of manner (with ἐν)εὐθύτης: 'uprightness / straightness / sincerity'; renders תֹּם / יֹשֶׁר; service ἐν εὐθύτητι is wholehearted, undivided loyalty, the opposite of the divided heart that retains foreign gods.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
δικαιοσύνῃrighteousnessDativedative of manner (with ἐν)δικαιοσύνη: 'righteousness / justice'; renders צֶדֶק / אֱמֶת; paired with εὐθύτης, it characterizes the integrity demanded in covenant service.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιέλεσθεput away / removeAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · περιαιρέωmain verb (third imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperativeπεριαιρέω (mid.): 'take away / remove from around oneself'; renders הֵסִיר / הֵעֱבִיר; περιέλεσθε τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους, 'put away the foreign gods', demands the decisive removal of every rival deity (cf. Gen 35:2); the same verb recurs at v. 23.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of περιέλεσθεθεός: 'god'; here the foreign deities (τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους) that must be removed.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (attributive with ἀλλοτρίους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοτρίουςforeign / alienAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θεούς)ἀλλότριος: 'belonging to another / foreign / alien'; renders נֵכָר / זָר; θεοὶ ἀλλότριοι, 'foreign gods', the deities of the nations, alien to the covenant with YHWH.
οἷςwhomDativerelative pronoun (dative object of ἐλάτρευσαν)ὅς: relative pronoun; dative because λατρεύω governs the dative; 'whom your fathers served'.
ἐλάτρευσανservedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λατρεύωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristλατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; recalls v. 2 (the fathers' idolatry); the foreign gods to be removed are precisely those the fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of ἐλάτρευσανπατήρ: 'father'; the ancestors whose idolatry (v. 2) the present generation must decisively renounce.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative; substantivized phrase)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷthe (region)Dativearticle substantivizing πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦὁ, ἡ, τό: the neuter article τῷ substantivizes the phrase πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ as a place, 'in the [region] beyond the River' (Mesopotamia).
πέρανbeyondimproper preposition + genitive (substantivized)πέραν: 'beyond'; ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ, 'beyond the River', the ancestral idolatrous homeland (cf. v. 2).
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποταμοῦRiverGenitivegenitive object of πέρανποταμός: the Euphrates; see v. 2.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑἰγύπτῳEgyptDativedative of place (with ἐν)Αἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; the second locus of the fathers' idolatry; Israel served other gods both in Mesopotamia and in Egypt (cf. Ezek 20:7–8).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λατρεύετεservePres Act Impv 2 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (fourth imperative; present, ongoing)→ durative present imperative (continual, settled service)λατρεύω (pres. impv.): 'serve / worship'; the shift from aorist (λατρεύσατε) to present imperative (λατρεύετε) marks the move from a decisive turning to ongoing, habitual worship of the LORD as the settled life of the covenant people.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of λατρεύετεκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; λατρεύω takes the dative; the LORD alone is the proper object of Israel's continual service.
15

εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀρέσκει ὑμῖν λατρεύειν κυρίῳ ἕλεσθε ὑμῖν ἑαυτοῖς σήμερον τίνι λατρεύσητε εἴτε τοῖς θεοῖς τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν τοῖς ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ εἴτε τοῖς θεοῖς τῶν Αμορραίων ἐν οἷς ὑμεῖς κατοικεῖτε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς αὐτῶν ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ἡ οἰκία μου λατρεύσομεν κυρίῳ ὅτι ἅγιός ἐστιν

But if it does not please you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve — whether the gods of your fathers that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites among whom you dwell upon their land; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD, for he is holy.

The decisive either/or and Joshua's confession (climax of the summons)εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀρέσκει ὑμῖν
The chapter's most famous verse poses the existential choice: if serving the LORD is unwelcome, then choose this very day (σήμερον) whom you will serve — the Mesopotamian gods of the fathers or the Amorite gods of the land. The alternatives are deliberately framed as equally false to expose the absurdity of any choice but the LORD. Joshua's ringing personal confession ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ἡ οἰκία μου λατρεύσομεν κυρίῳ ('but I and my household will serve the LORD') sets a leader's example and is grounded in the LORD's holiness (ὅτι ἅγιός ἐστιν).
Word-by-word analysis· 49 words
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)εἰ: 'if'; introduces the real condition εἰ … μὴ ἀρέσκει, 'if it does not please [you]', framing the choice rhetorically.
δὲbutmild adversative (post-positive)δέ: post-positive; here adversative, setting the alternative against the preceding imperative to serve the LORD.
μὴnotnegative particle (with ἀρέσκει)μή: the negative used in the protasis; 'if it does not please'.
ἀρέσκειit pleasesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀρέσκωverb of conditional clause→ durative presentἀρέσκω: 'please / be pleasing to'; renders טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי / רָעַע; ἀρέσκει ὑμῖν, 'it pleases you', poses the matter as one of the will's inclination.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative with ἀρέσκει (the one pleased)ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
λατρεύεινto servePres Act Inf · λατρεύωepexegetic infinitive (subject of ἀρέσκει)→ present infinitive (continuous worshipful service)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; the infinitive λατρεύειν κυρίῳ, 'to serve the LORD', is the subject of ἀρέσκει — 'if serving the LORD does not please you'.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of λατρεύεινκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the dative object of service.
ἕλεσθεchooseAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · αἱρέωmain verb (the imperative of decision)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive act of choice)αἱρέω (mid. αἱρέομαι): 'choose / select for oneself'; renders בָּחַר; the middle ἕλεσθε ὑμῖν ἑαυτοῖς, 'choose for yourselves', throws the decision squarely on the people; the doubled ὑμῖν ἑαυτοῖς ('for you, for yourselves') is emphatic.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage (with ἕλεσθε)ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἑαυτοῖςyourselvesDativereflexive pronoun (emphatic, reinforcing ὑμῖν)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; the doubled dative ὑμῖν ἑαυτοῖς emphatically places the burden and consequence of choice on the people themselves.
σήμερονtoday / this daytemporal adverbσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; the urgency of σήμερον ('this very day') is a Deuteronomic note (Deut 30:15–19) — the choice is not deferred but immediate and decisive.
τίνιwhomDativeinterrogative pronoun (dative object of λατρεύσητε)τίς: interrogative pronoun; dative τίνι ('whom') because λατρεύω takes the dative; introduces the indirect question 'whom you will serve'.
λατρεύσητεyou will serveAor Act Subj 2 Pl · λατρεύωverb of indirect deliberative question→ deliberative aorist subjunctiveλατρεύω (aor. subj.): the deliberative subjunctive in the indirect question 'whom you should serve' presents the choice as a genuine deliberation forced upon the assembly.
εἴτεwhetherdisjunctive conjunction (first alternative)εἴτε … εἴτε: 'whether … or'; the disjunctive frame sets out the two false alternatives between which the people might choose if they reject the LORD.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of λατρεύσητε (first alternative)θεός: 'god'; the gods of the fathers beyond the River — the Mesopotamian deities of v. 2.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρωνfathersGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θεοῖς)πατήρ: 'father'; the ancestral gods of the Mesopotamian homeland.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοῖςthe onesDativearticle (substantivizing the locative phrase)ὁ, ἡ, τό: the article τοῖς resumes θεοῖς, 'the [gods] that were beyond the River'.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative; substantivized phrase)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷthe (region)Dativearticle substantivizing πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦὁ, ἡ, τό: substantivizes πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ as a region; 'the [gods] in the [region] beyond the River'.
πέρανbeyondimproper preposition + genitive (substantivized)πέραν: 'beyond'; see vv. 2, 14.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποταμοῦRiverGenitivegenitive object of πέρανποταμός: the Euphrates; see v. 2.
εἴτεordisjunctive conjunction (second alternative)εἴτε: the second member of the εἴτε … εἴτε disjunction, introducing the alternative of the Amorite gods.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of λατρεύσητε (second alternative)θεός: 'god'; the gods of the Amorites, the deities of the land Israel now occupies.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Αμορραίωνof the AmoritesGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θεοῖς)Αμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; the gods of the Canaanite land, the second tempting alternative.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (relative clause: 'among whom')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἷςwhomDativerelative pronoun (with ἐν: 'among whom you dwell')ὅς: relative pronoun; ἐν οἷς ὑμεῖς κατοικεῖτε, 'among whom you dwell', refers to the Amorites whose land Israel inhabits.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with κατοικεῖτε)σύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic 'you' stresses the irony — Israel dwells in the very land whose gods it is tempted to serve.
κατοικεῖτεdwellPres Act Indic 2 Pl · κατοικέωverb of relative clause→ durative presentκατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; the present tense marks Israel's ongoing residence in the conquered land.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + genitive (place)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (place)γῆ: 'land'; ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς αὐτῶν, 'upon their land', i.e. the land formerly the Amorites'.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun (Joshua's confession)ἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' opens Joshua's personal confession, set in pointed contrast (δέ) to the people's hypothetical wavering.
δὲbut / as foradversative (post-positive; contrastive 'but as for me')δέ: post-positive; the contrastive ἐγὼ δέ, 'but as for me', sets Joshua's resolve against the people's uncertain choice.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἡtheNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίαhouseholdNominativesubject (coordinate with ἐγώ)οἰκία: 'house / household / family'; renders בַּיִת; ἡ οἰκία μου, 'my household', extends Joshua's covenant commitment to his whole family, modeling the corporate responsibility of the head of a house.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possessionμου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
λατρεύσομενwe will serveFut Act Indic 1 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (Joshua's resolve)→ volitive future (firm resolve / commitment)λατρεύω (fut.): 'serve / worship'; the volitive future λατρεύσομεν κυρίῳ, 'we will serve the LORD', expresses settled determination; Joshua's confession became a classic statement of household covenant fidelity.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of λατρεύσομενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the exclusive object of Joshua's household worship.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (grounding the resolve)ὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the ground of the commitment — the LORD's holiness.
ἅγιόςholyNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστιν)ἅγιος: 'holy / set apart'; renders קָדוֹשׁ; the LORD's holiness (ὅτι ἅγιός ἐστιν) is the ground of exclusive service and anticipates the warning of v. 19 (θεὸς ἅγιός ἐστιν).
ἐστινhe isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with ἅγιος)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula in the causal clause 'because he is holy', stating the LORD's essential nature as the reason for undivided service.
16

καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ λαὸς εἶπεν μὴ γένοιτο ἡμῖν καταλιπεῖν κύριον ὥστε λατρεύειν θεοῖς ἑτέροις

And the people answered and said, 'Far be it from us to forsake the LORD so as to serve other gods.'

The people's first pledge (response to the summons)καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ λαὸς εἶπεν
The people give the first of three pledges of loyalty (cf. vv. 21, 24). The optative of strong rejection μὴ γένοιτο ('far be it / God forbid'), a fixed LXX idiom rendering חָלִילָה, expresses horror at the very thought of forsaking the LORD; the same idiom is taken up by Paul (Rom 3:4, etc.). Their answer directly inverts Joshua's either/or: there is no real alternative for them but the LORD.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀποκριθεὶςansweringAor Pass Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἀποκρίνομαιcircumstantial participle (Hebraizing 'answered and said')→ coincident aorist participleἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / reply'; the participle ἀποκριθεὶς … εἶπεν, 'answering, said', is the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew וַיַּעַן … וַיֹּאמֶר ('answered and said'), a pleonastic speech-introduction.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubjectλαός: 'people'; the covenant community responding as one to Joshua's summons.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the singular εἶπεν agrees with the collective ὁ λαός treated as a unity.
μὴnotnegative particle (with optative γένοιτο)μή: the negative with the optative of wish; μὴ γένοιτο is a fixed idiom of strong repudiation.
γένοιτοmay it be / let it beAor Mid Opt 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (optative of strong rejection)→ optative of wish (deprecation: 'far be it')γίνομαι (aor. opt.): 'become / happen'; μὴ γένοιτο, 'may it never be / far be it', renders חָלִילָה; one of the strongest LXX expressions of abhorrence, later a Pauline signature (Rom 6:2; Gal 2:17).
ἡμῖνfor usDativedative of reference (with γένοιτο)ἡμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καταλιπεῖνto forsake / abandonAor Act Inf · καταλείπωepexegetic infinitive (defining what must not be)→ result/temporal infinitiveκαταλείπω: 'leave behind / forsake / abandon'; renders עָזַב; καταλιπεῖν κύριον, 'to forsake the LORD', is the very apostasy the people deprecate; the same root recurs at v. 20 (ἐγκαταλίπητε).
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of καταλιπεῖνκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the one whom the people refuse to abandon.
ὥστεso as toconjunction of result/purpose (with infinitive)ὥστε: 'so that / so as to'; here with the infinitive expressing the result/aim that forsaking the LORD would entail — serving other gods.
λατρεύεινto servePres Act Inf · λατρεύωinfinitive of result (with ὥστε)→ present infinitive (continuous worshipful service)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; to forsake the LORD would inevitably mean serving θεοῖς ἑτέροις — apostasy and idolatry are presented as a single act.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of λατρεύεινθεός: 'god'; θεοῖς ἑτέροις, 'other gods', the phrase of v. 2, here repudiated by the people.
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying θεοῖς)ἕτερος: 'other / of a different kind'; θεοὶ ἕτεροι, the alien gods Israel refuses to serve.
17

κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν αὐτὸς θεός ἐστιν αὐτὸς ἀνήγαγεν ἡμᾶς καὶ τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ διεφύλαξεν ἡμᾶς ἐν πάσῃ τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἐπορεύθημεν ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν οὓς παρήλθομεν δι᾿ αὐτῶν

The LORD our God, he is God; he brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt and guarded us in all the way in which we walked and among all the nations through whom we passed.

The people's confession echoing the recital (grounds for their loyalty)κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν αὐτὸς θεός ἐστιν
The people support their pledge by echoing Joshua's recital in their own voice: the LORD their God is God (the confessional αὐτὸς θεός ἐστιν), and it was he who brought them and their fathers up from Egypt and guarded them through the wilderness and the nations. The emphatic αὐτός ('he himself', twice) stresses sole agency — the same God who acted in the recital is the God they now confess.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (predicate-fronted confession)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν, 'the LORD our God', opens the people's confessional response.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν, 'our God', the covenant relationship the people affirm.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject of ἐστιν; emphatic)αὐτός: intensive pronoun, 'he himself'; the emphatic αὐτὸς θεός ἐστιν, 'he (alone) is God', is a near-monotheistic confession echoing Deut 4:35, 39.
θεόςGodNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐστιν)θεός: 'God'; the anarthrous predicate stresses the category — the LORD is God in the fullest sense, over against the so-called gods of the nations.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the confession αὐτὸς θεός ἐστιν.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject of ἀνήγαγεν; emphatic)αὐτός: the repeated emphatic αὐτός, 'he himself', stresses that the LORD alone was the agent of the Exodus and the wilderness protection.
ἀνήγαγενbrought upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνάγωmain verb (the Exodus, 'brought up')→ constative aoristἀνάγω: 'lead up / bring up'; renders עָלָה (Hiphil); 'brought up' from Egypt is the upward counterpart of the 'going down' (κατέβησαν, v. 4); the people apply the recital's deliverance to themselves and their fathers.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἀνήγαγενἡμᾶς: 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.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέραςfathersAccusativedirect object of ἀνήγαγεν (coordinate with ἡμᾶς)πατήρ: 'father'; the people unite themselves with their fathers as the joint beneficiaries of the Exodus.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (source of deliverance)Αἴγυπτος: 'Egypt'; the land of bondage from which the LORD brought them up.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διεφύλαξενguarded / keptAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαφυλάσσωmain verb (divine protection in the wilderness)→ constative aoristδιαφυλάσσω: 'guard carefully / protect throughout'; the intensive δια- stresses thorough protection; renders שָׁמַר; the LORD guarded Israel 'in all the way' of the wilderness journey (cf. the Aaronic blessing, Num 6:24).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of διεφύλαξενἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective (modifying ὁδῷ)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; ἐν πάσῃ τῇ ὁδῷ, 'in all the way', the entirety of the journey under divine guardianship.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδῷway / roadDativedative of place (with ἐν)ὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; the wilderness route from Egypt to Canaan along which the LORD protected them.
ᾗwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative, with ἐπορεύθημεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; ᾗ … ἐν αὐτῇ, 'in which … in it', with a Hebraizing resumptive pronoun (see ἐν αὐτῇ).
ἐπορεύθημενwe walked / journeyedAor Pass Indic 1 Pl · πορεύομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (deponent: 'we journeyed')πορεύομαι: 'go / walk / journey'; renders הָלַךְ; the way 'in which we walked' is the road of the wilderness wandering.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (resumptive, Hebraism)ἐν: the resumptive ἐν αὐτῇ ('in it') reprises the relative ᾗ, a Hebraizing pleonasm calquing the Hebrew resumptive suffix.
αὐτῇitDativeresumptive pronoun (Hebraism, with ἐν)αὐτῇ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: among the nations)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνεσιν)πᾶς: 'all'; ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, 'among all the nations', through whom Israel passed on the way to Canaan.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνεσινnationsDativedative of place (with ἐν)ἔθνος: 'nation / people'; renders גּוֹי / עַם; the peoples through whose territories Israel passed (e.g. Edom, Moab, the Amorites) under the LORD's protection.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object/through-whom of παρήλθομεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; οὓς παρήλθομεν δι᾿ αὐτῶν, 'whom we passed through', again with a Hebraizing resumptive (δι᾿ αὐτῶν).
παρήλθομενwe passed / passed byAor Act Indic 1 Pl · παρέρχομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aoristπαρέρχομαι: 'pass by / pass through'; renders עָבַר; Israel passed through the lands of many nations during the journey, kept safe by the LORD.
δι᾿throughpreposition + genitive (resumptive, Hebraism)διά: the resumptive δι᾿ αὐτῶν ('through them') reprises the relative οὕς, the Hebraizing pleonastic pronoun.
αὐτῶνthemGenitiveresumptive pronoun (Hebraism, with δι᾿)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
18

καὶ ἐξέβαλεν κύριος τὸν Αμορραῖον καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ κατοικοῦντα τὴν γῆν ἀπὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμεῖς λατρεύσομεν κυρίῳ οὗτος γὰρ θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐστιν

And the LORD drove out the Amorite and all the nations dwelling in the land from before us; we too, therefore, will serve the LORD, for he is our God.

The people's pledge sealed (conclusion of their confession)καὶ ἐξέβαλεν κύριος
The people complete their confession with the conquest: the LORD drove out the Amorite and all the nations from before them. Their pledge ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμεῖς λατρεύσομεν κυρίῳ ('we too will serve the LORD') deliberately echoes Joshua's ἐγὼ … λατρεύσομεν κυρίῳ (v. 15), aligning their commitment with his; the causal οὗτος γὰρ θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐστιν grounds it, as Joshua had, in the LORD's identity.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέβαλενdrove outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκβάλλωmain verb (the LORD expels the nations)→ constative aoristἐκβάλλω: 'drive out / expel'; renders גָּרַשׁ; the same verb as v. 12; the people credit the dispossession of the Canaanites wholly to the LORD.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐξέβαλενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the agent of the conquest in the people's confession.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραῖονAmoriteAccusativedirect object of ἐξέβαλενΑμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; the collective singular τὸν Αμορραῖον represents the Canaanite inhabitants as a whole (as often, 'Amorite' is a general term for the land's peoples).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἔθνη)πᾶς: 'all'; πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, 'all the nations', the totality of the Canaanite peoples driven out.
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsAccusativedirect object of ἐξέβαλεν (coordinate)ἔθνος: 'nation'; the Canaanite peoples inhabiting the land before Israel.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with participle)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦνταdwellingPres Act Ptc Acc Pl Neut · κατοικέωattributive participle (modifying ἔθνη)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; τὰ κατοικοῦντα τὴν γῆν, 'dwelling in the land', specifies the nations as the prior inhabitants of Canaan.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of the participle κατοικοῦνταγῆ: 'land'; the land of Canaan inhabited by the nations before the conquest.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (idiom: from before)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'from before')πρόσωπον: 'face'; ἀπὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν, 'from before us', the dispossession idiom (cf. vv. 8, 12), now in the people's first-person plural.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀλλὰtherefore / indeedconjunction (emphatic affirmation, with καί)ἀλλά: 'but / rather / indeed'; here in the combination ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμεῖς, 'we too, therefore', drawing the practical conclusion of the confession — given all this, we also will serve the LORD.
καὶalso / tooadverbial (ascensive: 'we too')καί: ascensive 'also / too'; ἡμεῖς … καί aligns the people's pledge with Joshua's own (v. 15).
ἡμεῖςweNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with λατρεύσομεν)ἐγώ (nom. pl. ἡμεῖς): the emphatic 'we' echoes Joshua's emphatic ἐγώ (v. 15), making the people's pledge a deliberate response in kind.
λατρεύσομενwe will serveFut Act Indic 1 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (the people's pledge)→ volitive future (firm commitment)λατρεύω (fut.): 'serve / worship'; λατρεύσομεν κυρίῳ, 'we will serve the LORD', is verbally identical to Joshua's confession in v. 15, sealing the people's first pledge.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of λατρεύσομενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the exclusive object of the people's service.
οὗτοςhe / this oneNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of the causal clause)οὗτος: 'this one / he'; οὗτος … θεὸς ἡμῶν ἐστιν, 'he is our God', the demonstrative pointing emphatically back to the LORD just confessed.
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive; grounding the pledge)γάρ: 'for'; introduces the ground of the pledge — he is our God; structurally parallel to Joshua's ὅτι ἅγιός ἐστιν (v. 15).
θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐστιν)θεός: 'God'; θεὸς ἡμῶν, 'our God', the confessional predicate grounding exclusive service.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with θεός)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the causal confession 'for he is our God'.
19

καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν οὐ μὴ δύνησθε λατρεύειν κυρίῳ ὅτι θεὸς ἅγιός ἐστιν καὶ ζηλώσας οὗτος οὐκ ἀνήσει ὑμῶν τὰ ἁμαρτήματα καὶ τὰ ἀνομήματα ὑμῶν

And Joshua said to the people, 'You will not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God, and being jealous he will not forgive your sins and your transgressions.'

Joshua's sobering challenge to the pledge (testing the people's resolve)καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν
Joshua confronts the people's easy pledge with a stark warning: οὐ μὴ δύνησθε λατρεύειν κυρίῳ ('you will not be able to serve the LORD'), because he is a holy and jealous God who will not lightly forgive apostasy. The emphatic οὐ μή with subjunctive is the strongest Greek negation. This is not discouragement but a deliberate intensification of the covenant's seriousness — loyalty must be entered with eyes open to the holiness and jealousy of God.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; Joshua responds to the people's pledge with a challenge.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςλαός: 'people'; the assembled covenant community Joshua now challenges.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή: emphatic negation)οὐ: with μή forms the emphatic double negative οὐ μή.
μὴby no meansnegative particle (with subjunctive: emphatic denial)μή: in οὐ μή + subjunctive, the strongest form of negation in Greek, 'you certainly will not / are by no means able'.
δύνησθεyou are ablePres Mid Subj 2 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (emphatic negation with οὐ μή)→ emphatic subjunctive of denialδύναμαι: 'be able / can'; renders יָכֹל; οὐ μὴ δύνησθε, 'you will by no means be able', warns that serving a holy God cannot be done casually or with a divided heart — a rhetorical shock to deepen the people's commitment.
λατρεύεινto servePres Act Inf · λατρεύωcomplementary infinitive (with δύνησθε)→ present infinitive (continuous worshipful service)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; the infinitive completes δύνησθε, 'able to serve [the LORD]'.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of λατρεύεινκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the dative object of service.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; grounds the warning in the LORD's holiness and jealousy.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of ἐστινθεός: 'God'; θεὸς ἅγιός ἐστιν, 'he is a holy God', restates the holiness of v. 15 now as a sobering warning.
ἅγιόςholyNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστιν)ἅγιος: 'holy'; renders קָדוֹשׁ; the LORD's holiness implies utter intolerance of rival worship; cf. the warning of Exod 20:5.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the causal clause 'because he is a holy God'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ζηλώσαςbeing jealous / a jealous oneAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ζηλόωsubstantival/adjectival participle (predicate with οὗτος)ζηλόω: 'be jealous / zealous'; renders קַנָּא; the participle ζηλώσας characterizes the LORD as the 'jealous God' of the Decalogue (Exod 20:5; Deut 5:9) who brooks no rival; his jealousy is the corollary of his holiness.
οὗτοςhe / this oneNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of ἀνήσει)οὗτος: 'this one / he'; the demonstrative resumes the LORD as the subject of the warning that follows.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀνήσει)οὐ (οὐκ): negates ἀνήσει; the LORD will not simply overlook apostasy.
ἀνήσειwill forgive / let goFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίημιmain verb (the warning of non-forgiveness)→ predictive futureἀνίημι: 'let go / loosen / remit'; renders נָשָׂא (in the sense 'forgive / bear away'); οὐκ ἀνήσει … τὰ ἁμαρτήματα, 'he will not forgive [your] sins' — i.e. persistent, covenant-breaking apostasy will not be passed over by the jealous God.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (fronted before τὰ ἁμαρτήματα)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁμαρτήματαsinsAccusativedirect object of ἀνήσειἁμάρτημα: 'sin / sinful deed'; renders חַטָּאת / פֶּשַׁע; the concrete acts of sin, here specifically the apostasy of serving other gods, that the jealous God will not remit.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνομήματαtransgressions / lawless deedsAccusativedirect object of ἀνήσει (coordinate with ἁμαρτήματα)ἀνόμημα: 'lawless deed / transgression'; from ἀ- + νόμος ('lawlessness'); paired with ἁμαρτήματα to underscore the gravity of covenant-breaking; the doublet 'sins and transgressions' renders the Hebrew pairing of overlapping sin-terms.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
20

ἡνίκα ἐὰν ἐγκαταλίπητε κύριον καὶ λατρεύσητε θεοῖς ἑτέροις καὶ ἐπελθὼν κακώσει ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐξαναλώσει ὑμᾶς ἀνθ᾿ ὧν εὖ ἐποίησεν ὑμᾶς

Whenever you forsake the LORD and serve other gods, then he will turn and afflict you and consume you utterly, in return for the good he did you.

The warning's consequence: apostasy brings judgment (continuation of v. 19)ἡνίκα ἐὰν ἐγκαταλίπητε κύριον
Joshua spells out the covenant curse: should they forsake the LORD and serve other gods, the same God who did them good will turn (ἐπελθών) to afflict and utterly consume them. The poignant ἀνθ᾿ ὧν εὖ ἐποίησεν ὑμᾶς ('in return for the good he did you') makes the warning all the sharper — judgment would be the dark counterpart of the recited grace; the verb ἐξαναλώσει anticipates the very apostasy-and-judgment cycle that opens the book of Judges.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἡνίκαwhenever / at the time whentemporal conjunction (with ἐάν + subjunctive)ἡνίκα: 'when / at the time when'; with ἐάν and the subjunctive it forms an indefinite temporal-conditional clause, 'whenever / if ever you forsake'.
ἐὰνif / everconditional particle (with subjunctive)ἐάν: 'if'; combined with ἡνίκα to express the contingent future case of apostasy.
ἐγκαταλίπητεyou forsake / abandonAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἐγκαταλείπωverb of temporal-conditional clause→ aorist subjunctive (contingent future)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon / leave in the lurch'; the intensive ἐγ- strengthens καταλείπω (v. 16); renders עָזַב; the contemplated apostasy of forsaking the LORD.
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of ἐγκαταλίπητεκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the one whom apostasy would abandon.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λατρεύσητεyou serveAor Act Subj 2 Pl · λατρεύωverb of temporal-conditional clause (coordinate)→ aorist subjunctive (contingent future)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; λατρεύσητε θεοῖς ἑτέροις, 'serve other gods', the inevitable corollary of forsaking the LORD (cf. v. 16).
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of λατρεύσητεθεός: 'god'; the foreign gods of v. 2, 16.
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying θεοῖς)ἕτερος: 'other'; θεοὶ ἕτεροι, the recurring designation for alien deities.
καὶthen / andapodotic conjunction (introducing the consequence)καί: here apodotic, introducing the main clause (apodosis) after the temporal-conditional protasis — 'then he will afflict you'.
ἐπελθὼνturning / coming uponAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἐπέρχομαιcircumstantial participle (attendant on κακώσει)→ antecedent/coincident aorist participleἐπέρχομαι: 'come upon / come against'; the participle ἐπελθών, 'turning upon / coming against (you)', portrays the LORD reversing his stance from benefactor to judge.
κακώσειwill afflict / harmFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κακόωmain verb (the threatened affliction)→ predictive futureκακόω: 'afflict / mistreat / do harm'; the same verb used of the Egyptians' oppression (v. 5); now, chillingly, the LORD himself would afflict an apostate Israel as he once afflicted Egypt.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of κακώσειὑμᾶς: 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.
ἐξαναλώσειwill utterly consumeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαναλίσκωmain verb (the threatened destruction)→ predictive futureἐξαναλίσκω: 'consume utterly / use up completely'; the double compound ἐξ-ανα- intensifies ἀναλίσκω ('consume'); renders כָּלָה (Piel); the threat of total destruction for covenant apostasy (cf. Deut 28:21–24).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἐξαναλώσειὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀνθ᾿in return forpreposition + genitive (elided; recompense)ἀντί: 'instead of / in return for'; ἀνθ᾿ ὧν, 'in return for the things which', introduces the bitter irony — judgment as the recompense of spurned grace.
ὧνthe things whichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive, with ἀντί)ὅς: relative pronoun; ἀνθ᾿ ὧν εὖ ἐποίησεν, 'in return for the good he did', a fixed idiom of recompense.
εὖwell / goodadverb (with ἐποίησεν: 'did good')εὖ: 'well / good'; the idiom εὖ ποιέω + accusative, 'do good to', renders הֵיטִיב; the good the LORD did to Israel throughout the recital.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make'; εὖ ἐποίησεν ὑμᾶς, 'he did you good', summing up the saving acts of the recital, now the measure of the judgment apostasy would invite.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of εὖ ἐποίησεν (idiom: 'did good to you')ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
21

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Ἰησοῦν οὐχί ἀλλὰ κυρίῳ λατρεύσομεν

And the people said to Joshua, 'No, but the LORD we will serve.'

The people's second pledge (response to Joshua's challenge)καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Ἰησοῦν
Undeterred by Joshua's warning, the people give their second pledge, even more emphatic than the first. The flat οὐχί ('No!') rejects the suggestion that they cannot serve the LORD, and the fronted object κυρίῳ ('the LORD [we will serve]') stresses the exclusivity of their commitment. Their resolve, tested by Joshua, only hardens.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the people respond to Joshua's challenge.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubjectλαός: 'people'; the assembly answering as one.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): 'Joshua'; the addressee of the people's pledge.
οὐχίnoemphatic negative adverb (flat denial)οὐχί: emphatic form of οὐ, 'No! / by no means'; the people reject Joshua's suggestion that they will be unable to serve the LORD.
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction (correcting οὐχί)ἀλλά: 'but / rather'; introduces the positive counter-assertion after the flat οὐχί.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of λατρεύσομεν (fronted for emphasis)κύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the fronting of κυρίῳ before the verb stresses the exclusivity of the object — it is the LORD, and no other, whom they will serve.
λατρεύσομενwe will serveFut Act Indic 1 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (the second pledge)→ volitive future (firm resolve)λατρεύω (fut.): 'serve / worship'; κυρίῳ λατρεύσομεν seals the second pledge, identical in verb to vv. 15, 18 but with emphatic word-order.
22

καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν μάρτυρες ὑμεῖς καθ᾿ ὑμῶν ὅτι ὑμεῖς ἐξελέξασθε κύριον λατρεύειν αὐτῷ

And Joshua said to the people, 'You are witnesses against yourselves that you yourselves have chosen the LORD, to serve him.'

Joshua makes the people witnesses against themselves (legal ratification)καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν
Joshua formalizes the pledge in legal terms: μάρτυρες ὑμεῖς καθ᾿ ὑμῶν ('you are witnesses against yourselves'). In covenant law a witness could testify to a future breach; here the people themselves become the witnesses to their own choice, so that any future apostasy would be self-condemned. The emphatic ὑμεῖς … ὑμεῖς underlines that the choice (ἐξελέξασθε) was freely and self-consciously theirs.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; Joshua responds by formalizing the people's pledge.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςλαός: 'people'; the assembly addressed.
μάρτυρεςwitnessesNominativepredicate nominative (verbless clause: 'you are witnesses')μάρτυς (pl. μάρτυρες): 'witness'; renders עֵד; the legal term for one who testifies; μάρτυρες ὑμεῖς καθ᾿ ὑμῶν, 'you are witnesses against yourselves', turns the people into the legal testimony to their own commitment.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (of the verbless predication)σύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic 'you' yourselves are the witnesses.
καθ᾿againstpreposition + genitive (elided; hostile/forensic: 'against')κατά + gen.: 'against'; καθ᾿ ὑμῶν, 'against yourselves', the forensic sense — your own testimony will stand against you if you break faith.
ὑμῶνyourselvesGenitivegenitive object of κατάὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing content of the testimony)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the substance to which the people testify — their own free choice of the LORD.
ὑμεῖςyou (yourselves)Nominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with ἐξελέξασθε)σύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the repeated emphatic 'you yourselves' stresses the voluntary, self-conscious nature of the choice.
ἐξελέξασθεyou choseAor Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐκλέγομαιmain verb of the ὅτι-clause (the people's choice)→ constative aoristἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select for oneself'; renders בָּחַר; striking in that the verb of divine election is here applied to the people's choosing of the LORD — a reciprocal echo of the choice Joshua laid before them in v. 15 (ἕλεσθε).
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of ἐξελέξασθεκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the object of the people's deliberate choice.
λατρεύεινto servePres Act Inf · λατρεύωinfinitive of purpose (the aim of the choice)→ present infinitive (continuous worshipful service)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; the infinitive λατρεύειν αὐτῷ, 'to serve him', states the purpose of the choice — they chose the LORD precisely in order to serve him.
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of λατρεύειναὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
23

καὶ νῦν περιέλεσθε τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους τοὺς ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ εὐθύνατε τὴν καρδίαν ὑμῶν πρὸς κύριον θεὸν Ισραηλ

And now put away the foreign gods that are among you, and direct your heart toward the LORD, the God of Israel.

Renewed imperative: put away the gods, incline the heart (drawing the pledge to action)καὶ νῦν περιέλεσθε
A second καὶ νῦν marks a fresh imperative turn (cf. v. 14): the pledge must issue in concrete action — removing the foreign gods 'among you' (τοὺς ἐν ὑμῖν, implying idolatry still lurked in the camp) and inclining the heart wholly to the LORD. The verb εὐθύνατε ('make straight / direct') answers the εὐθύτης ('uprightness') demanded in v. 14: covenant loyalty is a matter of the rightly-aligned heart.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandconjunction (with νῦν: hortatory turn)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (logical pivot to fresh imperative)νῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν (cf. v. 14) again marks the move from affirmation to demanded action.
περιέλεσθεput away / removeAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · περιαιρέωmain verb (imperative to remove the gods)→ ingressive aorist imperativeπεριαιρέω (mid.): 'take away / remove'; repeats the imperative of v. 14; the call to remove τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους τοὺς ἐν ὑμῖν ('the foreign gods among you') implies that idolatrous objects were still present and must be decisively purged (cf. Gen 35:2; 1 Sam 7:3).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of περιέλεσθεθεός: 'god'; the foreign gods to be removed.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (attributive with ἀλλοτρίους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοτρίουςforeign / alienAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying θεούς)ἀλλότριος: 'foreign / alien'; θεοὶ ἀλλότριοι (cf. v. 14), the alien deities of the nations.
τοὺςthe onesAccusativearticle (substantivizing the locative phrase ἐν ὑμῖν)ὁ, ἡ, τό: the article τούς resumes θεούς, 'the [gods] that are among you'.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: among you)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'among you')σύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): the foreign gods 'among you' — a frank acknowledgment that idolatry was not yet fully purged from Israel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εὐθύνατεdirect / make straightAor Act Impv 2 Pl · εὐθύνωmain verb (imperative to incline the heart)→ ingressive aorist imperativeεὐθύνω: 'make straight / direct / guide'; from εὐθύς ('straight'); renders הֵכִין / נָטָה (the heart); εὐθύνατε τὴν καρδίαν, 'direct your heart', cognate with the εὐθύτης of v. 14 — covenant loyalty is the heart set straight toward the LORD (cf. 1 Sam 7:3).
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίανheartAccusativedirect object of εὐθύνατεκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב / לֵבָב; in Hebrew anthropology the seat of will and devotion; the heart must be aligned toward the LORD, not divided among the gods.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction of the heart)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονLORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the goal toward which the heart is to be directed.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative in apposition to κύριονθεός: 'God'; κύριον θεὸν Ισραηλ, 'the LORD, the God of Israel', the full covenant title (cf. v. 2), here the object of the heart's devotion.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; genitive of relationship, 'God of Israel'.
24

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Ἰησοῦν κυρίῳ λατρεύσομεν καὶ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκουσόμεθα

And the people said to Joshua, 'The LORD we will serve, and his voice we will obey.'

The people's third pledge (final ratification of the covenant choice)καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Ἰησοῦν
The third and climactic pledge adds obedience to service: not only κυρίῳ λατρεύσομεν ('the LORD we will serve') but also τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκουσόμεθα ('his voice we will obey'). The threefold pledge (vv. 16–18, 21, 24) now stands complete and is ready to be sealed in the covenant of vv. 25–27. 'Hearing the voice' is the Deuteronomic idiom for obedience, advancing beyond cultic service to full covenant submission.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the people's final answer to Joshua.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubjectλαός: 'people'; the assembly making its third pledge.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): the addressee of the pledge.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of λατρεύσομεν (fronted for emphasis)κύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the fronted κυρίῳ again stresses exclusivity (cf. v. 21).
λατρεύσομενwe will serveFut Act Indic 1 Pl · λατρεύωmain verb (the third pledge: service)→ volitive futureλατρεύω (fut.): 'serve / worship'; κυρίῳ λατρεύσομεν, the recurring pledge-formula (vv. 15, 18, 21).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἀκουσόμεθα (the thing heard/obeyed)φωνή: 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; the idiom ἀκούω + genitive τῆς φωνῆς ('hear/obey the voice') renders שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל, the Deuteronomic expression for obedience (Deut 13:5; 26:17).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀκουσόμεθαwe will obey / hearkenFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (the pledge of obedience)→ volitive futureἀκούω (fut. mid. ἀκούσομαι): 'hear / listen / obey'; with the genitive of person/voice it means 'obey'; the pledge adds obedience to service, completing the people's covenant commitment.
25

καὶ διέθετο Ἰησοῦς διαθήκην πρὸς τὸν λαὸν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ νόμον καὶ κρίσιν ἐν Σηλω ἐνώπιον τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ θεοῦ Ισραηλ

And Joshua made a covenant with the people on that day, and gave them law and judgment at Shelo before the tent of the God of Israel.

The covenant ratified (opening of section C)καὶ διέθετο Ἰησοῦς διαθήκην
Joshua formally cuts the covenant: the idiom διέθετο … διαθήκην ('made a covenant', lit. 'covenanted a covenant') renders כָּרַת בְּרִית. He gives the people νόμον καὶ κρίσιν ('law and judgment') — a statute and ordinance binding them. The location ἐν Σηλω ἐνώπιον τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ θεοῦ Ισραηλ ('at Shelo before the tent of the God of Israel') confirms the LXX's Shiloh setting and locates the act in the cultic presence of God at the sanctuary.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διέθετοmade / establishedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · διατίθημιmain verb (covenant-making)→ constative aoristδιατίθημι (mid. διατίθεμαι): 'arrange / dispose / make (a covenant)'; the idiom διέθετο διαθήκην ('covenanted a covenant', a cognate construction) renders כָּרַת בְּרִית ('cut a covenant'); the standard LXX expression for solemn covenant-making.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativecognate accusative (direct object of διέθετο)διαθήκη: 'covenant / testament / disposition'; renders בְּרִית; the cognate accusative with διέθετο is a Hebraizing calque; this is the covenant ratifying the people's threefold pledge.
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative (party to the covenant)πρός + acc.: 'with / toward'; πρὸς τὸν λαόν, 'with the people', designates the covenant partner.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςλαός: 'people'; the covenant partner.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ἐν)ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, 'on that day', marks the covenant as a single solemn event.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the deictic 'that day' fixes the covenant in the memory of the assembly.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (giving of law and judgment)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; ἔδωκεν … νόμον καὶ κρίσιν, 'gave law and judgment', the legal content of the covenant; the giving of statute and ordinance echoes the Sinai pattern (Exod 15:25).
αὐτῷto it / themDativeindirect object of ἔδωκεν (the people, collective singular)αὐτός: the dative αὐτῷ refers to the collective λαός treated as a singular, 'to it/them [the people]'.
νόμονlaw / statuteAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεννόμος: 'law / statute'; renders חֹק; the binding ordinance of the covenant; paired with κρίσις in the Hebraizing doublet 'statute and ordinance'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κρίσινjudgment / ordinanceAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν (coordinate with νόμον)κρίσις: 'judgment / decision / ordinance'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the doublet νόμον καὶ κρίσιν ('statute and ordinance') renders חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט, a standard pairing for binding covenant law (cf. Exod 15:25).
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣηλωShelodative of place (indeclinable place-name, with ἐν)Σηλω: the LXX setting (Shelo/Shiloh) where the MT reads Shechem; indeclinable; consistent with v. 1 and confirmed by the reference to the σκηνή ('tent') housed at Shiloh.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the presence ofimproper preposition + genitive (position before the tent)ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the covenant is made in the cultic presence, ἐνώπιον τῆς σκηνῆς, before the sanctuary tent.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtent / tabernacleGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιονσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; renders אֹהֶל / מִשְׁכָּן; the sanctuary tent of meeting, located at Shiloh (cf. Josh 18:1); its mention grounds the LXX's Shelo setting and gives the covenant its sacral character.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying σκηνῆς)θεός: 'God'; τοῦ θεοῦ Ισραηλ, 'of the God of Israel', whose tent is the locus of the covenant.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; genitive of relationship, 'God of Israel'.
26

καὶ ἔγραψεν τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα εἰς βιβλίον νόμον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἔλαβεν λίθον μέγαν καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτὸν Ἰησοῦς ὑπὸ τὴν τερέμινθον ἀπέναντι κυρίου

And he wrote these words in a book, the law of God; and Joshua took a great stone and set it up under the terebinth before the LORD.

The covenant inscribed and the stone erected (memorialization)καὶ ἔγραψεν τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα
Two memorializing acts: Joshua writes the covenant words in the book of the law of God (giving them documentary permanence), and sets up a great stone under the terebinth 'before the LORD'. The stone (λίθος μέγας) and the sacred tree (τερέμινθος) are ancient covenant-witness markers (cf. Gen 35:4 at Shechem); their placement ἀπέναντι κυρίου consecrates them as a standing testimony, explained in v. 27.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔγραψενwroteAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γράφωmain verb (inscribing the covenant)→ constative aoristγράφω: 'write / inscribe'; renders כָּתַב; the writing of the covenant words gives them documentary permanence within the book of the law (cf. Deut 31:24–26).
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥήματαwordsAccusativedirect object of ἔγραψενῥῆμα: 'word / saying / matter'; renders דָּבָר; τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα, 'these words', the covenant stipulations just enacted.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ῥήματα)οὗτος: 'these'; pointing to the words of the covenant just made.
εἰςin / intopreposition + accusative (goal of writing)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
βιβλίονbook / scrollAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςβιβλίον: 'book / scroll / document'; renders סֵפֶר; εἰς βιβλίον νόμον τοῦ θεοῦ, 'in a book — the law of God', identifies the document as the (or a) book of God's law.
νόμονlawAccusativeaccusative in apposition to βιβλίοννόμος: 'law'; νόμον τοῦ θεοῦ, 'the law of God', stands in apposition to βιβλίον, identifying the book as the law-book; the covenant words become part of the authoritative torah.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying νόμον)θεός: 'God'; νόμος τοῦ θεοῦ, 'the law of God', the divine authority behind the written covenant.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (taking the stone)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; Joshua takes a great stone to serve as the covenant witness-monument.
λίθονstoneAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβενλίθος: 'stone'; renders אֶבֶן; λίθον μέγαν, 'a great stone', the witness-monument of the covenant (cf. Gen 31:45; Josh 4:9 for stone-memorials).
μέγανgreat / largeAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λίθον)μέγας: 'great / large'; the size of the stone makes it a conspicuous, enduring monument.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔστησενset up / erectedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (erecting the stone)→ constative aorist (transitive: caused to stand)ἵστημι: 'set up / erect'; the transitive aorist ἔστησεν, 'set it up'; renders הֵקִים / נָצַב; the erection of the stone-monument as a permanent witness (cf. ἔστησεν of v. 1).
αὐτὸνitAccusativedirect object of ἔστησεν (the stone)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject (resumptive, naming the agent)Ἰησοῦς: 'Joshua'; named again as the explicit subject of the stone-erection.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (position: under the tree)ὑπό + acc.: 'under'; the stone is placed ὑπὸ τὴν τερέμινθον, 'under the terebinth', a sacred tree associated with covenant-sites (cf. Gen 35:4).
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τερέμινθονterebinthAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπότερέμινθος (also τερέβινθος): 'terebinth tree'; renders אֵלָה / אַלּוֹן; the great tree at the sanctuary, a traditional landmark of covenant and theophany (cf. Gen 35:4, the oak/terebinth at Shechem where Jacob buried the foreign gods).
ἀπέναντιbefore / in the presence ofimproper preposition + genitive (position before the LORD)ἀπέναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; the stone is set ἀπέναντι κυρίου, 'before the LORD' (cf. v. 1), consecrating it within the divine presence as a sacred witness.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπέναντικύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the stone stands in the LORD's presence as the guarantor of the covenant-witness.
27

καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν ἰδοὺ ὁ λίθος οὗτος ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν εἰς μαρτύριον ὅτι αὐτὸς ἀκήκοεν πάντα τὰ λεχθέντα αὐτῷ ὑπὸ κυρίου ὅ τι ἐλάλησεν πρὸς ἡμᾶς σήμερον καὶ ἔσται οὗτος ἐν ὑμῖν εἰς μαρτύριον ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ἡνίκα ἐὰν ψεύσησθε κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ μου

And Joshua said to the people, 'Behold, this stone shall be among you for a witness, for it has heard all the things spoken to it by the LORD, whatever he spoke to us today; and it shall be among you for a witness in the last days, whenever you lie to the LORD my God.'

The stone declared a witness (interpretation of the monument)καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν
Joshua interprets the stone with the deictic ἰδού ('behold'): it will be εἰς μαρτύριον ('for a witness') among the people, personified as having 'heard' (ἀκήκοεν) all the LORD's words. The bold personification — a silent stone as the covenant's auditory witness — guarantees the testimony against any future apostasy ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ('in the last days'). The closing clause ἡνίκα ἐὰν ψεύσησθε ('whenever you lie [to the LORD]') frames apostasy as covenant-perjury, the stone standing as perpetual witness to the sworn pledge.
Word-by-word analysis· 48 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; Joshua interprets the stone-monument for the people.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςλαός: 'people'; the assembly addressed.
ἰδοὺbeholddemonstrative particle (attention-marker)ἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the deictic particle directs attention to the stone as the visible token of the covenant.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λίθοςstoneNominativesubject of ἔσταιλίθος: 'stone'; ὁ λίθος οὗτος, 'this stone', the monument of v. 26 now declared a witness.
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying λίθος)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing to the great stone just erected.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predicting the stone's function)→ predictive futureεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; ἔσται … εἰς μαρτύριον, 'shall be for a witness', a Hebraizing predicate (הָיָה לְעֵד) assigning the stone its enduring testimonial role.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative: among you)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'among you')ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (Hebraism: 'for a witness')εἰς: in the predicate idiom εἰς μαρτύριον ('for a witness'), rendering לְעֵד.
μαρτύριονwitness / testimonyAccusativeaccusative complement of ἔσται (with εἰς)μαρτύριον: 'testimony / witness'; renders עֵדוּת / עֵד; the stone functions as a permanent legal witness to the covenant, capable of testifying against future apostasy.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; grounds the stone's witness-role in its having 'heard' the LORD's words.
αὐτὸςitNominativeintensive pronoun (subject of ἀκήκοεν; the stone personified)αὐτός: 'it (itself)'; the stone is personified as the subject that 'has heard', a bold rhetorical device making the inanimate monument a competent witness.
ἀκήκοενhas heardPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb of causal clause (the stone's hearing)→ resultative perfect (heard and so stands as witness)ἀκούω (perf. ἀκήκοα): 'hear'; the perfect ἀκήκοεν, 'has heard (and retains the knowledge)', personifies the stone as an abiding auditory witness — it heard the covenant words and stands as their permanent testimony.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τὰ λεχθέντα)πᾶς: 'all'; the stone heard all the LORD's words, the totality of the covenant.
τὰthe thingsAccusativearticle (with participle, substantivized)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λεχθένταspokenAor Pass Ptc Acc Pl Neut · λέγωsubstantival participle (object of ἀκήκοεν: 'the things spoken')λέγω (aor. pass. ptc.): 'speak'; τὰ λεχθέντα, 'the things spoken', the covenant words the stone is said to have heard.
αὐτῷto itDativedative of (indirect) reference (with λεχθέντα: spoken in its hearing)αὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'to it'; the words were spoken in the stone's presence/hearing, so it can testify to them.
ὑπὸbypreposition + genitive (agent of the passive λεχθέντα)ὑπό + gen.: 'by'; marks the LORD as the agent of the words spoken.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive of agent (with ὑπό)κύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the divine speaker whose words the stone witnessed.
ὅwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (in indefinite ὅ τι: 'whatever')ὅστις (written ὅ τι): the indefinite relative 'whatever'; ὅ τι ἐλάλησεν, 'whatever he spoke', sums up the content of the LORD's address.
τιeverindefinite pronoun (part of ὅ τι: 'whatever')τις/τι: the indefinite enclitic completing ὅ τι, 'whatever / whatsoever'.
ἐλάλησενhe spokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak'; renders דִּבֶּר; the LORD's speaking 'to us today' — the words of the covenant the stone witnessed.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἐγώ (acc. pl. ἡμᾶς): 'us'; Joshua includes himself with the people as recipients of the LORD's word.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverbσήμερον: 'today'; the covenant words were spoken 'today' (cf. v. 15), the day of the assembly.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (restating the stone's future role)→ predictive futureεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the repeated ἔσται … εἰς μαρτύριον reinforces the stone's enduring testimonial function, now projected into the future ('the last days').
οὗτοςthis / itNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of ἔσται; the stone)οὗτος: 'this one'; refers back to the stone.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative of place (with ἐν)ὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (Hebraism: 'for a witness')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μαρτύριονwitnessAccusativeaccusative complement of ἔσται (with εἰς)μαρτύριον: 'witness / testimony'; the repeated εἰς μαρτύριον frames the verse, stressing the stone's perpetual witness.
ἐπ᾿inpreposition + genitive (temporal: in the last days)ἐπί + gen.: 'in / at (the time of)'; ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν, 'in the last days', renders בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים, projecting the witness into the distant future.
ἐσχάτωνlastGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ἡμερῶν)ἔσχατος: 'last / final'; ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν, 'in the last of the days', a phrase that later acquired eschatological resonance but here means the future generations of Israel.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμερῶνdaysGenitivegenitive (with ἐσχάτων: 'the last of the days')ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν, 'the last days', the future time when the stone's witness would be invoked.
ἡνίκαwhenevertemporal conjunction (with ἐάν + subjunctive)ἡνίκα: 'when / whenever'; with ἐάν forms the indefinite temporal clause, 'whenever you lie' (cf. v. 20).
ἐὰνif / everconditional particle (with subjunctive)ἐάν: 'if'; combined with ἡνίκα for the contingent future of covenant-breaking.
ψεύσησθεyou lie / deal falselyAor Mid Subj 2 Pl · ψεύδομαιverb of temporal-conditional clause→ aorist subjunctive (contingent future)ψεύδομαι: 'lie / deal falsely / break faith'; renders כָּחַשׁ / שָׁקַר; ψεύσησθε κυρίῳ, 'lie to / deal falsely with the LORD', frames apostasy as covenant-perjury — the breaking of the sworn pledge to which the stone is witness.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of ψεύσησθε (the one lied to)κύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the covenant partner against whom faithlessness would be perjury.
τῷtheDativearticle (with θεῷ in apposition)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳθεός: 'God'; τῷ θεῷ μου, 'my God', Joshua's personal possessive (cf. his confession in v. 15) underscoring his own covenant loyalty even as he warns the people.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (Joshua's personal confession)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
28

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἰησοῦς τὸν λαόν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ

And Joshua dismissed the people, and they went, each to his own place.

The assembly dismissed (conclusion of the covenant scene, opening of section D)καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Ἰησοῦς τὸν λαόν
The covenant assembly concludes: Joshua sends the people away, each to his own inheritance. The distributive ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ('each to his own place') marks the orderly dispersal of the tribes to the allotted territories of the preceding chapters. This dismissal closes the covenant ceremony and transitions to the death-and-burial cluster that ends the book.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστειλενsent away / dismissedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (dismissal of the assembly)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send away / dismiss'; renders שָׁלַח; here the formal dismissal of the assembly after the covenant — Joshua sends the people home.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαόνpeopleAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλενλαός: 'people'; the assembly now dismissed.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθησανthey wentAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (the people disperse)→ constative aorist (deponent)πορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; renders הָלַךְ; the people depart, each to his allotted inheritance.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject in apposition (distributive: 'each man')ἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; the distributive ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ, 'each to his own place', describes the orderly tribal dispersal (cf. the near-identical plus at v. 33).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςτόπος: 'place / region'; renders מָקוֹם; each Israelite's own allotted place, the inheritance distributed in the preceding chapters of Joshua.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
29

καὶ ἐλάτρευσεν Ισραηλ τῷ κυρίῳ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας Ἰησοῦ καὶ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ὅσοι ἐφείλκυσαν τὸν χρόνον μετὰ Ἰησοῦ καὶ ὅσοι εἴδοσαν πάντα τὰ ἔργα κυρίου ὅσα ἐποίησεν τῷ Ισραηλ

And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who prolonged their time with Joshua and who had seen all the works of the LORD, which he did for Israel.

Summary of the generation's fidelity (the fulfilled pledge)καὶ ἐλάτρευσεν Ισραηλ τῷ κυρίῳ
The narrator reports the immediate fruit of the covenant: Israel served (ἐλάτρευσεν, the chapter's keyword) the LORD throughout Joshua's lifetime and that of the elders who outlived him and had witnessed the LORD's works. This obituary-summary (paralleled at Judg 2:7) marks the high-water mark of covenant fidelity before the decline that the book of Judges will narrate; it also confirms that the threefold pledge was, for that generation, kept.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάτρευσενservedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λατρεύωmain verb (Israel's fidelity)→ constative aorist (summarizing the whole period)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; the chapter's keyword now in the narrator's summary — Israel actually served the LORD throughout Joshua's generation, fulfilling the pledge of vv. 16–24.
ΙσραηλIsraelnominative subject (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the nation as subject of the verb of service.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of ἐλάτρευσενκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the object of Israel's service throughout the generation.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)πᾶς: 'all'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, 'all the days', the accusative of extent of time covering Joshua's whole lifetime.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration ('all the days')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative of extent marking the duration of Israel's fidelity.
Ἰησοῦof JoshuaGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἡμέρας: 'days of Joshua')Ἰησοῦς (gen. Ἰησοῦ): 'Joshua'; the contracted genitive; 'the days of Joshua' = Joshua's lifetime.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)πᾶς: 'all'; extends the period of fidelity to the lifetime of the elders.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of durationἡμέρα: 'day'; 'the days of the elders'.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβυτέρωνeldersGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἡμέρας: 'days of the elders')πρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; the senior leaders who outlived Joshua and continued to hold the people to the covenant (cf. v. 1; Judg 2:7).
ὅσοιas many as / whoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐφείλκυσαν)ὅσος: 'as many as'; ὅσοι, 'all who', introduces the relative clause defining the elders as those who lived on after Joshua.
ἐφείλκυσανprolonged / drew outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐφέλκωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristἐφέλκω: 'draw on / drag out / prolong'; the idiom ἐφείλκυσαν τὸν χρόνον, 'drew out / prolonged the time', means the elders outlived Joshua, lengthening the period of faithful leadership.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χρόνονtimeAccusativedirect object of ἐφείλκυσανχρόνος: 'time / period'; renders יָמִים / זְמַן; the time the elders prolonged beyond Joshua's death.
μετὰwith / afterpreposition + genitive (association)μετά + gen.: 'with'; μετὰ Ἰησοῦ, 'with Joshua', i.e. the elders who shared Joshua's era and outlasted him.
ἸησοῦJoshuaGenitivegenitive object of μετάἸησοῦς (gen. Ἰησοῦ): the contemporaries of Joshua.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὅσοιas many as / whoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of εἴδοσαν)ὅσος: 'as many as'; the second relative clause defines the elders further as eyewitnesses of the LORD's works.
εἴδοσανhad seenAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristὁράω (Koine 3 pl. εἴδοσαν): 'see'; the -οσαν form (cf. v. 7) is characteristic LXX Koine; the elders were eyewitnesses of all the LORD's works, the experiential basis of their fidelity (cf. v. 7).
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τὰ ἔργα)πᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the LORD's deeds witnessed by the elders.
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔργαworks / deedsAccusativedirect object of εἴδοσανἔργον: 'work / deed'; renders מַעֲשֶׂה; τὰ ἔργα κυρίου, 'the works of the LORD', the saving deeds recited in vv. 2–13.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source/possession (modifying ἔργα)κύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the author of the works the elders witnessed.
ὅσαwhich / as many asAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν)ὅσος: 'as many as / which'; ὅσα ἐποίησεν, 'which he did', specifying the works (cf. v. 7).
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make'; the LORD's deeds done for Israel, the foundation of the covenant fidelity here summarized.
τῷforDativearticle (marking dative of Ισραηλ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldative of advantage (indeclinable, marked by τῷ: 'for Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable; dative of advantage marked by τῷ, 'for Israel', the beneficiary of the LORD's works.
30

καὶ ἐγένετο μετ᾿ ἐκεῖνα καὶ ἀπέθανεν Ἰησοῦς υἱὸς Ναυη δοῦλος κυρίου ἑκατὸν δέκα ἐτῶν

And it came to pass after those things that Joshua son of Naue, the servant of the LORD, died, being a hundred and ten years old.

The death of Joshua (the book's protagonist passes)καὶ ἐγένετο μετ᾿ ἐκεῖνα
The narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο μετ᾿ ἐκεῖνα ('and it came to pass after those things') introduces the death of the book's hero. Joshua is given his full honorific — υἱὸς Ναυη ('son of Naue') and δοῦλος κυρίου ('servant of the LORD'), a title that aligns him with Moses (cf. Josh 1:1) — and his age, 110 years, the same as Joseph (Gen 50:26), marking a complete and blessed life.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο, 'and it came to pass', the standard LXX narrative formula rendering וַיְהִי, introducing a new episode.
μετ᾿afterpreposition + accusative (temporal, elided)μετά + acc.: 'after'; μετ᾿ ἐκεῖνα, 'after those things', the temporal connective marking succession after the covenant and the period of fidelity.
ἐκεῖναthose thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of μετά)ἐκεῖνος: 'those'; μετ᾿ ἐκεῖνα refers to the foregoing covenant and the era of faithful service.
καὶand / thatconjunction (Hebraizing apodotic καί after ἐγένετο)καί: the apodotic καί after καὶ ἐγένετο is a Hebraism (calquing the וַ of the main clause after וַיְהִי), here best left untranslated or rendered 'that'.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (Joshua's death)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the death of the book's protagonist, the climactic event of the closing cluster.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of ἀπέθανενἸησοῦς: 'Joshua'; the hero of the book, now dying.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Ἰησοῦςυἱός: 'son'; υἱὸς Ναυη, 'son of Naue', Joshua's standard patronymic (cf. Josh 1:1).
Ναυηof Nauegenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ναυη: the LXX form of Hebrew נוּן (Nun); indeclinable; the LXX consistently renders the patronymic as 'son of Naue' (Ναυη).
δοῦλοςservant / slaveNominativenominative in apposition to Ἰησοῦς (honorific title)δοῦλος: 'servant / slave'; renders עֶבֶד; δοῦλος κυρίου, 'servant of the LORD', the honorific that places Joshua in the succession of Moses (Deut 34:5, θεράπων/δοῦλος κυρίου), a title of dignity given to him here at his death.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying δοῦλος)κύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; Joshua is the LORD's servant, the highest accolade for an OT leader.
ἑκατὸνa hundrednumeral (with δέκα ἐτῶν: '110 years old')ἑκατόν: 'hundred'; indeclinable cardinal; ἑκατὸν δέκα ἐτῶν, 'a hundred and ten years', Joshua's age at death — the same as Joseph (Gen 50:26), the ideal Egyptian lifespan and a mark of a complete, blessed life.
δέκαtennumeral (with ἑκατόν: 'a hundred and ten')δέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable cardinal; combined with ἑκατόν for '110'.
ἐτῶνyearsGenitivegenitive of description/measure ('110 years old')ἔτος (gen. pl. ἐτῶν): 'year'; the genitive of measure expressing age, 'of a hundred and ten years'.
31

καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν πρὸς τοῖς ὁρίοις τοῦ κλήρου αὐτοῦ ἐν Θαμναθασαχαρα ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Εφραιμ ἀπὸ βορρᾶ τοῦ ὄρους Γαας ἐκεῖ ἔθηκαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ μνῆμα εἰς ὃ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ τὰς μαχαίρας τὰς πετρίνας ἐν αἷς περιέτεμεν τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ ἐν Γαλγαλοις ὅτε ἐξήγαγεν αὐτοὺς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καθὰ συνέταξεν αὐτοῖς κύριος καὶ ἐκεῖ εἰσιν ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας

And they buried him at the boundaries of his inheritance in Thamnathasachara, on Mount Ephraim, north of Mount Gaas; there they placed with him, in the tomb in which they buried him, the flint knives with which he circumcised the sons of Israel at Galgala when he brought them out of Egypt, as the LORD commanded them; and they are there to this day.

The burial of Joshua and the LXX plus on the flint knivesκαὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν
Joshua is buried in his own inheritance at Thamnathasachara on Mount Ephraim. Here the LXX adds a notable plus absent from the MT: the flint knives (αἱ μάχαιραι αἱ πέτριναι) used to circumcise Israel at Gilgal (Josh 5:2–3) were buried with Joshua in his tomb, 'and they are there to this day' (ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας). The aetiological note links Joshua's grave to the great covenant-renewal of circumcision at the entry into the land, framing his burial as a memorial of the whole conquest generation.
Word-by-word analysis· 61 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔθαψανthey buriedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θάπτωmain verb (Joshua's burial)→ constative aoristθάπτω: 'bury'; renders קָבַר; the burial of Joshua in his own allotted inheritance.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἔθαψαναὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πρὸςat / nearpreposition + dative (location: 'at the boundaries')πρός + dat.: 'at / near'; πρὸς τοῖς ὁρίοις, 'at the boundaries', a less common dative use of πρός indicating location.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁρίοιςboundaries / bordersDativedative object of πρός (location)ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'boundary / border / territory'; renders גְּבוּל; the borders of Joshua's own inheritance, where he is buried.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλήρουinheritance / allotmentGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὁρίοις)κλῆρος: 'lot / allotment / inheritance'; renders נַחֲלָה / גּוֹרָל; Joshua's own allotted portion, fittingly his burial place (cf. Josh 19:49–50).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΘαμναθασαχαραThamnathasacharadative of place (indeclinable place-name, with ἐν)Θαμναθασαχαρα: the LXX form of Hebrew תִּמְנַת־סֶרַח (Timnath-serah; cf. Timnath-heres in Judg 2:9); indeclinable; Joshua's town on Mount Ephraim, his burial place (cf. Josh 19:50).
ἐνonpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειmountain / hill countryDativedative of place (with ἐν)ὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Εφραιμ, 'on Mount Ephraim', the hill country of the tribe of Ephraim.
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive with Εφραιμ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕφραιμEphraimdative in apposition to ὄρει (indeclinable, marked by τῷ)Εφραιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם (Ephraim); indeclinable; the hill country of Ephraim, Joshua's tribal region.
ἀπὸfrom / onpreposition + genitive (direction: 'north of')ἀπό: 'from'; ἀπὸ βορρᾶ, 'from the north / north of', locating the site relative to Mount Gaas.
βορρᾶnorthGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (direction)βορρᾶς (gen. βορρᾶ): 'north / north wind'; renders צָפוֹן; ἀπὸ βορρᾶ τοῦ ὄρους Γαας, 'north of Mount Gaas' (cf. Judg 2:9).
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive (with Γαας: 'Mount Gaas')ὄρος (gen. ὄρους): 'mountain'; τοῦ ὄρους Γαας, 'of Mount Gaas', the landmark north of which Joshua was buried.
ΓααςGaasgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Γαας: transliteration of Hebrew גַּעַשׁ (Gaash); indeclinable; the mountain near Joshua's burial place.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (opening the LXX plus)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; opens the LXX plus about the flint knives buried with Joshua, repeated for emphasis later in the verse.
ἔθηκανthey placed / putAor Act Indic 3 Pl · τίθημιmain verb (placing of the flint knives, LXX plus)→ constative aoristτίθημι: 'put / place / lay'; renders שִׂים / נָתַן; in the LXX plus the people 'placed' the flint knives with Joshua in his tomb — an aetiological note absent from the MT.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετά + gen.: 'with'; μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, 'with him', i.e. buried alongside Joshua.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετάαὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal: into the tomb)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μνῆμαtomb / monumentAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςμνῆμα: 'tomb / sepulchre / monument'; renders קֶבֶר; the burial chamber of Joshua in which the knives were also placed.
εἰςinto / inpreposition + accusative (relative clause: 'in which')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with εἰς: 'into which')ὅς: relative pronoun; εἰς ὃ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν, 'into which they buried him', referring to the tomb.
ἔθαψανthey buriedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θάπτωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristθάπτω: 'bury'; repeats the burial verb, here within the relative clause specifying the tomb.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἔθαψαναὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive 'there', reinforcing the location, a Hebraizing pleonasm.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαχαίραςknivesAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκαν (the flint knives)μάχαιρα: 'knife / short sword'; renders חֶרֶב / צֹר; τὰς μαχαίρας τὰς πετρίνας, 'the flint knives', used for circumcision at Gilgal (Josh 5:2–3); the object of ἔθηκαν earlier in the verse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (attributive with πετρίνας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πετρίναςof stone / flintAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying μαχαίρας)πέτρινος: 'made of stone / flint'; from πέτρα ('rock'); the flint knives of circumcision (cf. Josh 5:2, μαχαίρας πετρίνας); their burial with Joshua links his grave to the covenant rite at the entry into the land.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental, relative clause)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative, with ἐν: 'with which')ὅς: relative pronoun; ἐν αἷς περιέτεμεν, 'with which he circumcised', specifying the knives' function.
περιέτεμενhe circumcisedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · περιτέμνωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristπεριτέμνω: 'circumcise / cut around'; renders מוּל; the subject is Joshua, who circumcised the sons of Israel at Gilgal (Josh 5:2–9), the covenant-renewal that ended the wilderness generation's reproach.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of περιέτεμενυἱός (pl. υἱούς): 'son'; τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ, 'the sons of Israel', the people circumcised at Gilgal.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; 'sons of Israel'.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαλγαλοιςGalgala / GilgalDativedative of place (with ἐν)Γαλγαλα (dat. pl. Γαλγαλοις): the LXX form of Hebrew גִּלְגָּל (Gilgal); the first encampment in Canaan, where Israel was circumcised (Josh 5); here treated as a declinable plural place-name.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when'; introduces the temporal clause situating the circumcision at the time of the Exodus.
ἐξήγαγενhe brought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristἐξάγω: 'bring out / lead out'; renders יָצָא (Hiphil); the Exodus verb (cf. vv. 5–6); the subject is the LORD (or, loosely, Joshua), bringing Israel out of Egypt.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξήγαγεναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive object of ἐξΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): 'Egypt'; the land of bondage from which Israel was brought out.
καθὰjust ascomparative conjunctionκαθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the conformity of the circumcision to the LORD's command.
συνέταξενcommanded / ordainedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντάσσωverb of comparative clause→ constative aoristσυντάσσω: 'order / command / arrange'; renders צִוָּה; καθὰ συνέταξεν αὐτοῖς κύριος, 'as the LORD commanded them', grounding the circumcision in divine command.
αὐτοῖςthemDativeindirect object of συνέταξεναὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of συνέταξενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the one who commanded the circumcision.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; the aetiological 'they are there', locating the knives in Joshua's tomb to the present.
εἰσινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (aetiological present)→ stative present (continuing state to the narrator's day)εἰμί: 'be'; the present εἰσιν, 'they are (there)', is the aetiological present of the formula ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, asserting the knives' continued presence in Joshua's tomb to the narrator's own time.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal limit)ἕως: 'until / up to'; ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, 'until this day', the standard aetiological formula (renders עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה).
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σήμερονtoday / presentadverb used attributively (with ἡμέρας: 'this day')σήμερον: 'today'; the adverb used attributively in τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, 'this present day'.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal limit)ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, 'to this day', the aetiological time-marker closing the flint-knives plus.
32

καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ Ιωσηφ ἀνήγαγον οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ κατώρυξαν ἐν Σικιμοις ἐν τῇ μερίδι τοῦ ἀγροῦ οὗ ἐκτήσατο Ιακωβ παρὰ τῶν Αμορραίων τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν Σικιμοις ἀμνάδων ἑκατὸν καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν Ιωσηφ ἐν μερίδι

And the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried in Sikima, in the portion of the field which Jacob bought from the Amorites who dwelt in Sikima for a hundred ewe-lambs; and he gave it to Joseph as a portion.

The burial of Joseph's bones at Sikima (a long-deferred promise fulfilled)καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ Ιωσηφ
The narrative records the burial of Joseph's bones, brought up from Egypt (fulfilling the oath of Gen 50:25; Exod 13:19), at Sikima (Shechem) in the very plot Jacob had bought from the Amorites (Gen 33:19). The detail ἀμνάδων ἑκατόν ('for a hundred ewe-lambs') preserves the patriarchal purchase-price. This burial, in the heart of the promised land, closes the great Egypt-to-Canaan arc that the chapter's recital had traced.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀστᾶbonesAccusativedirect object (of ἀνήγαγον and κατώρυξαν)ὀστέον (contracted pl. ὀστᾶ): 'bone'; renders עֶצֶם; τὰ ὀστᾶ Ιωσηφ, 'the bones of Joseph', carried from Egypt for burial in the land (Gen 50:25; Exod 13:19).
Ιωσηφof Josephgenitive of possession (indeclinable)Ιωσηφ: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Joseph); indeclinable; the patriarch whose bones are now buried in the land, fulfilling his dying oath.
ἀνήγαγονbrought upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀνάγωmain verb (the bones brought up from Egypt)→ constative aoristἀνάγω: 'bring up / lead up'; renders עָלָה (Hiphil); the same 'bringing up' verb used of the Exodus (v. 17); Joseph's bones were carried up with Israel out of Egypt.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἀνήγαγονυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, 'the sons of Israel', who carried Joseph's bones and now bury them.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; 'sons of Israel'.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive object of ἐξΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): 'Egypt'; the land from which the bones were brought up.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατώρυξανthey buriedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατορύσσωmain verb (burial of the bones)→ constative aoristκατορύσσω: 'bury / dig down / inter'; renders קָבַר; the compound κατ- ('down') stresses the interment in the ground at Sikima (the same verb recurs of Phinehas in v. 33).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣικιμοιςSikima / ShechemDativedative of place (with ἐν)Σικιμα (dat. pl. Σικιμοις): the LXX form of Hebrew שְׁכֶם (Shechem); here a declinable plural place-name; the burial-site of Joseph's bones and the field Jacob bought (Gen 33:19).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μερίδιportion / plotDativedative of place (with ἐν)μερίς: 'part / portion / share'; renders חֶלְקָה; ἐν τῇ μερίδι τοῦ ἀγροῦ, 'in the portion of the field', the plot of land Jacob purchased.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγροῦfieldGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying μερίδι)ἀγρός: 'field / countryside'; renders שָׂדֶה; the field at Shechem bought by Jacob (Gen 33:19).
οὗwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive object of ἐκτήσατο)ὅς: relative pronoun; οὗ ἐκτήσατο Ιακωβ, 'which Jacob acquired', the field's purchase-history.
ἐκτήσατοacquired / boughtAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · κτάομαιverb of relative clause→ constative aoristκτάομαι: 'acquire / get / buy'; renders קָנָה; Jacob's purchase of the field at Shechem (Gen 33:19), now the patriarchal burial-plot.
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable)Ιακωβ: indeclinable; the patriarch who bought the field.
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source of purchase)παρά + gen.: 'from'; παρὰ τῶν Αμορραίων, 'from the Amorites', the sellers of the field (Gen 33:19 names the sons of Hamor).
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραίωνAmoritesGenitivegenitive object of παράΑμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; the prior inhabitants of Shechem from whom Jacob bought the field; 'Amorite' here, as often, a general term for the Canaanite population.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with participle)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικούντωνdwellingPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · κατοικέωattributive participle (modifying Αμορραίων)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν Σικιμοις, 'who dwelt in Sikima', specifying the Amorite sellers as the inhabitants of Shechem.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣικιμοιςSikimaDativedative of place (with ἐν)Σικιμα: 'Shechem'; the dwelling-place of the Amorite sellers.
ἀμνάδωνof ewe-lambsGenitivegenitive of price (with ἑκατόν: 'for a hundred ewe-lambs')ἀμνάς (gen. pl. ἀμνάδων): 'ewe-lamb / female lamb'; renders the obscure Hebrew קְשִׂיטָה of Gen 33:19 (a unit of value); the LXX interprets the purchase-price as 'a hundred ewe-lambs', a genitive of price.
ἑκατὸνa hundrednumeral (modifying ἀμνάδων)ἑκατόν: 'hundred'; indeclinable cardinal; the purchase-price of the field, a hundred ewe-lambs.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενhe gaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the field given to Joseph)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; Jacob gave the field αὐτὴν … Ιωσηφ ἐν μερίδι, 'to Joseph as a portion' (cf. Gen 48:22), making it the rightful inheritance and burial-place of Joseph's line.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν (the portion/field)αὐτός: 'it (fem.)'; refers to the μερίς ('portion') / field given to Joseph.
Ιωσηφto Josephdative of recipient (indeclinable)Ιωσηφ: indeclinable; the recipient of the field as his portion.
ἐνaspreposition + dative (predicative: 'as a portion')ἐν: here predicative, ἐν μερίδι, 'as a portion', a Hebraizing use of בְּ; the field became Joseph's allotted share.
μερίδιportion / shareDativedative complement (with ἐν: 'as a portion')μερίς: 'portion / share'; the field given to Joseph as his inheritance, where his bones now rest — the chapter's burial-cluster closing the long Egypt-to-Canaan arc.
33

καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ Ελεαζαρ υἱὸς Ααρων ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς ἐτελεύτησεν καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν Γαβααθ Φινεες τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Εφραιμ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ λαβόντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ θεοῦ περιεφέροσαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ Φινεες ἱεράτευσεν ἀντὶ Ελεαζαρ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἕως ἀπέθανεν καὶ κατωρύγη ἐν Γαβααθ τῇ ἑαυτοῦ οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἀπήλθοσαν ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῶν καὶ εἰς τὴν ἑαυτῶν πόλιν καὶ ἐσέβοντο οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὴν Ἀστάρτην καὶ Ασταρωθ καὶ τοὺς θεοὺς τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν κύκλῳ αὐτῶν καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς κύριος εἰς χεῖρας Εγλωμ τῷ βασιλεῖ Μωαβ καὶ ἐκυρίευσεν αὐτῶν ἔτη δέκα ὀκτώ

And it came to pass after these things that Eleazar son of Aaron the high priest died, and was buried in Gabaath of Phinees his son, which was given him on Mount Ephraim. On that day the sons of Israel, taking the ark of God, carried it about among themselves; and Phinees served as priest in place of Eleazar his father until he died, and he was buried in his own Gabaath. But the sons of Israel went away, each to his own place and to their own city; and the sons of Israel worshiped Astarte and the Astaroth and the gods of the nations round about them; and the LORD gave them into the hand of Eglom king of Moab, and he ruled over them eighteen years.

The death of Eleazar and the long LXX plus: the ark, Phinees, and the apostasy to Eglom (the book's close, bridging to Judges)καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα
The book ends with the death and burial of Eleazar the high priest, son of Aaron. The LXX then carries a long plus absent from the MT: on that day the sons of Israel carried the ark of God about among themselves; Phinees succeeded his father in the priesthood and was buried in his own Gabaath; the people dispersed each to his city; and Israel apostatized to Astarte, the Astaroth, and the gods of the surrounding nations, so that the LORD gave them into the hand of Eglom (Eglon) king of Moab for eighteen years. This striking ending — apostasy, divine handing-over to a foreign oppressor, and a fixed term of subjugation — anticipates the cyclical pattern of the book of Judges (cf. Judg 3:12–14, Eglon king of Moab), making the LXX close of Joshua a deliberate bridge into the period of the Judges.
Word-by-word analysis· 106 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα, 'and it came to pass after these things', the narrative formula (cf. v. 30) introducing the final episode of the book.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of μετά)οὗτος: μετὰ ταῦτα, 'after these things', the temporal connective marking succession after Joshua's death and Joseph's burial.
καὶthat / andapodotic καί (Hebraism after ἐγένετο)καί: the apodotic καί after καὶ ἐγένετο, a Hebraism best rendered 'that' or left untranslated.
ΕλεαζαρEleazarnominative subject (indeclinable)Ελεαζαρ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְעָזָר (Eleazar); indeclinable; Aaron's son and successor as high priest (Num 20:25–28), the last leader of the conquest generation to die.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Ελεαζαρυἱός: 'son'; υἱὸς Ααρων, 'son of Aaron', Eleazar's patronymic.
Ααρωνof Aarongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ααρων: transliteration of Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (Aaron); indeclinable; Eleazar's father, Israel's first high priest.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχιερεὺςhigh priestNominativenominative in apposition to Ελεαζαρ (title)ἀρχιερεύς: 'high priest / chief priest'; renders הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל; Eleazar's office, which Phinees inherits later in the verse.
ἐτελεύτησενdied / came to his endAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τελευτάωmain verb (Eleazar's death)→ constative aoristτελευτάω: 'die / come to an end'; renders מוּת / גָּוַע; a dignified term for death (cf. its use in Exod 11:5), here marking the passing of the high priest.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐτάφηwas buriedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θάπτωmain verb (Eleazar's burial)→ constative aorist (passive)θάπτω (aor. pass. ἐτάφη): 'bury'; the passive 'was buried', the standard obituary verb.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαβααθGabaathdative of place (indeclinable place-name, with ἐν)Γαβααθ: transliteration of Hebrew גִּבְעָה (Gibeah/'hill'); indeclinable; Γαβααθ Φινεες, 'Gabaath of Phinees', the town given to Phinehas on Mount Ephraim, Eleazar's burial-place (cf. the MT's 'Gibeah of Phinehas').
Φινεεςof Phineesgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Φινεες: transliteration of Hebrew פִּינְחָס (Phinehas); indeclinable; Eleazar's son; 'Gabaath of Phinees' is the town belonging to him.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition to Φινεεςυἱός: 'son'; τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, 'his son', identifying Phinees as Eleazar's son.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔδωκεν; fem., agreeing with the town Γαβααθ)ὅς: relative pronoun; ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ, 'which was given to him', the feminine referring to the town (πόλις understood) of Gabaath.
ἔδωκενwas given / he gaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; the town was given to Phinees (the impersonal/passive sense 'which was given him') on Mount Ephraim, his priestly allotment.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object of ἔδωκεν (Phinees)αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειmountainDativedative of place (with ἐν)ὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Εφραιμ, 'on Mount Ephraim', as at v. 31.
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive with Εφραιμ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕφραιμEphraimdative in apposition to ὄρει (indeclinable)Εφραιμ: indeclinable; the hill country of Ephraim.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal; opening the LXX plus)ἐν: temporal here, ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, 'on that day', opening the long LXX plus about the ark and Phinees.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, 'on that day'.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ἐν)ἡμέρα: 'day'; 'on that day' marks the time of the ark-procession in the LXX plus.
λαβόντεςtakingAor Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · λαμβάνωcircumstantial participle (attendant on περιεφέροσαν)→ antecedent/coincident aorist participleλαμβάνω: 'take'; the participle λαβόντες … τὴν κιβωτόν, 'taking the ark', describes the sons of Israel taking up the ark of God to carry it about.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of περιεφέροσανυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, 'the sons of Israel', who carry the ark.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; 'sons of Israel'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativeobject of λαβόντες (the ark)κιβωτός: 'box / chest / ark'; renders אֲרוֹן; ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, 'the ark of God', the sacred chest of the covenant, carried about by Israel in the LXX plus.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κιβωτόν)θεός: 'God'; ἡ κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, 'the ark of God'.
περιεφέροσανthey carried aboutImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · περιφέρωmain verb (the ark-procession, LXX plus)→ durative imperfect (repeated/ongoing carrying)περιφέρω: 'carry around / carry about'; the imperfect (with the Koine -οσαν ending) περιεφέροσαν, 'they kept carrying it about', describes the procession of the ark among the tribes; the iterative imperfect suits a repeated ritual action.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (among themselves)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἑαυτοῖςthemselvesDativereflexive pronoun (with ἐν: 'among themselves')ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, 'among themselves', the ark carried through the midst of the people.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΦινεεςPhineesnominative subject (indeclinable)Φινεες: 'Phinehas'; indeclinable; Eleazar's son who succeeds him in the priesthood.
ἱεράτευσενserved as priestAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἱερατεύωmain verb (Phinees' priestly succession)→ constative aoristἱερατεύω: 'serve as priest / hold the priesthood'; renders כִּהֵן; Phinees ἱεράτευσεν ἀντὶ Ελεαζαρ, 'served as priest in place of Eleazar', the orderly succession of the high-priestly line (cf. the covenant of priesthood, Num 25:13).
ἀντὶin place ofpreposition + genitive (substitution)ἀντί: 'instead of / in place of'; ἀντὶ Ελεαζαρ, 'in place of Eleazar', marking the priestly succession.
ΕλεαζαρEleazargenitive object of ἀντί (indeclinable)Ελεαζαρ: indeclinable; the predecessor whom Phinees succeeds.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ελεαζαρπατήρ (gen. πατρός): 'father'; τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, 'his father', identifying Eleazar as Phinees' father.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (temporal: 'until he died')ἕως: 'until'; ἕως ἀπέθανεν, 'until he died', marking the duration of Phinees' priesthood.
ἀπέθανενhe diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; Phinees held the priesthood until his own death.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατωρύγηwas buriedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κατορύσσωmain verb (Phinees' burial)→ constative aorist (passive)κατορύσσω (aor. pass. κατωρύγη): 'bury / inter'; the passive 'he was buried' (cf. the active of Joseph's bones, v. 32); Phinees buried in his own Gabaath.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαβααθGabaathdative of place (indeclinable, with ἐν)Γαβααθ: 'Gabaath / Gibeah'; indeclinable; Phinees' own town, his burial-place.
τῇtheDativearticle (with the reflexive ἑαυτοῦ: 'his own')τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive pronoun (attributive: 'his own Gabaath')ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; ἐν Γαβααθ τῇ ἑαυτοῦ, 'in his own Gabaath', the town belonging to Phinees.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbut / nownarrative continuative (post-positive; opening the final plus)δέ: post-positive; οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, 'but/now the sons of Israel', marking the transition to the dispersal and apostasy that close the book.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἀπήλθοσανυἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the people dispersing and then apostatizing.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; 'sons of Israel'.
ἀπήλθοσανwent away / departedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (the people disperse)→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the Koine -οσαν aorist ἀπήλθοσαν, 'they went away', each to his own place — echoing v. 28 and now leading into the apostasy.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject in apposition (distributive)ἕκαστος: 'each one'; ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῶν, 'each to their own place' (a constructio ad sensum, distributive singular with plural pronoun).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςτόπος: 'place / region'; each one's own place (cf. v. 28).
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.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the reflexive ἑαυτῶν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτῶνtheir ownGenitivereflexive pronoun (attributive: 'their own city')ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; τὴν ἑαυτῶν πόλιν, 'their own city'.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςπόλις: 'city'; each tribe to its own city, the orderly dispersal preceding the apostasy.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐσέβοντοthey worshiped / reveredImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · σέβομαιmain verb (the apostasy of Israel)→ durative/inceptive imperfect (settled into idol-worship)σέβομαι: 'worship / revere / venerate'; renders עָבַד; the imperfect ἐσέβοντο, 'they began/continued to worship', narrates Israel's lapse into idolatry — the very apostasy Joshua had warned against (vv. 19–20), here breaking out as soon as the faithful generation passes.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐσέβοντουἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the apostate generation.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; 'sons of Israel'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἈστάρτηνAstarteAccusativedirect object of ἐσέβοντοἈστάρτη: 'Astarte'; the Canaanite/Phoenician fertility goddess (Hebrew עַשְׁתֹּרֶת); declinable first-declension; the chief female deity Israel worshiped in its apostasy (cf. Judg 2:13).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
Ασταρωθthe Astarothaccusative object of ἐσέβοντο (indeclinable)Ασταρωθ: 'Ashtaroth / the Astartes'; indeclinable; the plural form (Hebrew עַשְׁתָּרוֹת) denoting the various local manifestations of the goddess Astarte; the doublet Ἀστάρτην … Ασταρωθ emphasizes the breadth of the idolatry.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of ἐσέβοντο (coordinate)θεός: 'god'; τοὺς θεοὺς τῶν ἐθνῶν, 'the gods of the nations', the foreign deities Joshua had commanded them to put away (vv. 14, 23), now embraced.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θεούς)ἔθνος (gen. pl. ἐθνῶν): 'nation'; the surrounding peoples whose gods Israel adopted.
τῶνthe onesGenitivearticle (substantivizing the locative phrase)ὁ, ἡ, τό: the article τῶν resumes ἐθνῶν, 'the [nations] round about them'.
κύκλῳround aboutadverb (dative form used adverbially: 'round about')κύκλῳ: 'round about / in a circle'; the dative of κύκλος used adverbially; renders סָבִיב; the nations surrounding Israel, whose proximity made their gods a constant snare.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (with κύκλῳ: 'round about them')αὐτῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the judgment)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρέδωκενgave over / deliveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (the LORD's judgment)→ constative aoristπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; the same victory-formula verb of vv. 8, 11 now reversed: instead of giving enemies into Israel's hand, the LORD gives Israel into the hand of an oppressor — the Judges-cycle pattern of judgment for apostasy (cf. Judg 2:14; 3:12).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of παρέδωκεν (Israel)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of παρέδωκενκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD now acts as judge of his apostate people, fulfilling the warning of v. 20.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom: into the hand)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom of subjugation)χείρ: 'hand'; εἰς χεῖρας Εγλωμ, 'into the hand of Eglom', the idiom of subjugation now turned against Israel itself.
ΕγλωμEglom / Eglongenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'hand of Eglom')Εγλωμ: transliteration of Hebrew עֶגְלוֹן (Eglon); indeclinable; the Moabite king who oppressed Israel for eighteen years (Judg 3:12–14) before Ehud's deliverance — the LXX plus thus deliberately bridges into the book of Judges.
τῷtheDativearticle (with βασιλεῖ, in apposition)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλεῖkingDativedative in apposition to Εγλωμβασιλεύς (dat. βασιλεῖ): 'king'; τῷ βασιλεῖ Μωαβ, 'the king of Moab', Eglom's title; the dative loosely in apposition to the indeclinable Εγλωμ.
Μωαβof Moabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μωαβ: indeclinable; Moab, the trans-Dead-Sea kingdom (cf. v. 9); Eglon its king, the oppressor of Israel.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκυρίευσενhe ruled / had dominionAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κυριεύωmain verb (Eglom's domination of Israel)→ constative aoristκυριεύω: 'be lord / rule over / have dominion'; from κύριος ('lord'); renders מָשַׁל / רָדָה; Eglom 'ruled over them' for eighteen years — the period of foreign domination that opens the Judges cycle, the dark note on which the LXX closes the book of Joshua.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ἐκυρίευσεν (the ones ruled)αὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; κυριεύω takes the genitive of the ones ruled over; Eglom held dominion over Israel.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of duration ('for eighteen years')ἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the accusative of extent of time, ἔτη δέκα ὀκτώ, 'eighteen years', the length of the Moabite oppression (Judg 3:14).
δέκαtennumeral (with ὀκτώ: 'eighteen')δέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable cardinal; combined with ὀκτώ for 'eighteen'.
ὀκτώeightnumeral (with δέκα: 'eighteen')ὀκτώ: 'eight'; indeclinable cardinal; δέκα ὀκτώ, 'eighteen', the years of subjugation under Eglon — the closing word of the LXX book of Joshua, pointing forward to the deliverer Ehud of Judges 3.