1
καὶ ἀνέστη μετὰ Αβιμελεχ τοῦ σῶσαι τὸν Ισραηλ Θωλα υἱὸς Φουα υἱὸς πατραδέλφου αὐτοῦ ἀνὴρ Ισσαχαρ καὶ αὐτὸς ᾤκει ἐν Σαμιρ ἐν ὄρει Εφραιμ
And after Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola son of Puah, son of his father's brother, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.
The καί-parataxis with the aorist ἀνέστη opens the minor-judge notice, deliberately echoing the deliverer-formula (ἀνέστη … τοῦ σῶσαι) while compressing it: no enemy, oppression, or cry is narrated, only the rise, tribe, dwelling-place, and (in v. 2) tenure of the judge. The temporal anchor μετὰ Αβιμελεχ ties the notice back to the fratricidal collapse of chapter 9.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (introducing the deliverer)→ constative aorist (entry onto the narrative stage)ἀνίστημι (intransitive aor. ἀνέστη): 'stand up / arise / appear'; renders קוּם; the construction ἀνέστη … τοῦ σῶσαι ('arose to save') is the LXX's deliverer-formula in Judges (cf. 2:16; 3:9, 15), here applied to the minor judge Tola.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)μετά + accusative: 'after'; here temporal, anchoring Tola's rise to the period following Abimelech's bloody reign (ch. 9).
ΑβιμελεχAbimelechaccusative object of μετά (indeclinable proper noun)Αβιμελεχ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִימֶלֶךְ ('my father is king'); indeclinable in the LXX; the son of Gideon whose usurpation and fratricide dominate chapter 9.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the articular infinitive (genitive of purpose)ὁ, ἡ, τό: the genitive article τοῦ + infinitive σῶσαι forms an articular infinitive of purpose, 'in order to save'; a frequent LXX construction rendering Hebrew לְ + infinitive construct.
σῶσαιto saveAor Act Inf · σῴζωarticular infinitive of purpose (with τοῦ)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the deliverer's rise)σῴζω: 'save / deliver / rescue'; renders יָשַׁע (Hiphil); the salvific purpose attached to a judge marks his function within the deliverance cycle, even where (as with Tola) no battle is narrated.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of σῶσαι (indeclinable proper noun)Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the people delivered, the object of the judge's saving role.
ΘωλαTolasubject of ἀνέστη (indeclinable proper noun)Θωλα: transliteration of Hebrew תּוֹלָע ('crimson worm'); indeclinable; the personal name is also an Issacharite clan-name (Gen 46:13; Num 26:23), tying the judge to his ancestral tribe.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Θωλα (patronymic)υἱός: 'son'; the patronymic 'son of Puah' situates Tola genealogically; υἱός + name is the standard LXX rendering of the Hebrew בֶּן construct.
ΦουαPuahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: Tola's father)Φουα: transliteration of Hebrew פּוּאָה; indeclinable; Puah is likewise an Issacharite clan-name (Num 26:23), reinforcing the tribal genealogy.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (second patronymic phrase)υἱός (second occurrence): introduces the further descriptor 'son of his father's brother,' clarifying Tola's wider kinship line.
πατραδέλφουof (his) uncleGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱός)πατράδελφος: 'father's brother / paternal uncle'; a rare compound (πατήρ + ἀδελφός); the phrase υἱὸς πατραδέλφου αὐτοῦ renders the Hebrew designation of Tola's collateral kinship, locating him within the extended ancestral household.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying πατραδέλφου)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀνὴρa manNominativenominative in apposition to Θωλα (tribal designation)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the construction ἀνὴρ Ισσαχαρ ('a man of Issachar') renders the Hebrew gentilic, identifying Tola's tribal affiliation.
ΙσσαχαρIssachargenitive of relationship (indeclinable: tribal name with ἀνήρ)Ισσαχαρ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשָּׂשכָר; indeclinable; the ninth of Jacob's sons and the tribe to which Tola belongs.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (emphatic/resumptive pronoun)αὐτός: the intensive/resumptive pronoun 'he himself' picks up Tola as subject of the dwelling-clause; in LXX narrative αὐτός frequently renders the Hebrew resumptive pronoun הוּא.
ᾤκειwas dwellingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · οἰκέωmain verb (descriptive of residence)→ customary imperfect (settled, ongoing dwelling)οἰκέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the imperfect ᾤκει presents Tola's residence at Shamir as an established, continuing state rather than a single act.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣαμιρShamirdative of place (indeclinable place-name)Σαμιρ: transliteration of Hebrew שָׁמִיר; indeclinable; the otherwise-unknown town in the Ephraimite hill country where Tola lived, judged, and was buried (v. 2).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, specifying region)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὄρειhill countryDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in the mountain/hill country')ὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; renders הַר; the phrase ἐν ὄρει Εφραιμ ('in the hill country of Ephraim') is a standard geographical designation, here surprising since Tola is an Issacharite dwelling in Ephraimite territory.
ΕφραιμEphraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ephraim')Εφραιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם; indeclinable; the central hill-country tribal territory.
2
καὶ ἔκρινεν τὸν Ισραηλ εἴκοσι τρία ἔτη καὶ ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν Σαμιρ
And he judged Israel twenty-three years; and he died and was buried in Shamir.
The verse completes the minor-judge schema with the two fixed elements: length of tenure (ἔκρινεν … ἔτη) and death-and-burial notice (ἀπέθανεν … ἐτάφη). The threefold καί-parataxis (judged / died / was buried) is the compressed, formulaic style typical of the minor-judge notices in Judges 10 and 12.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔκρινενjudgedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (tenure formula)→ constative aorist (whole period of judgeship summarized)κρίνω: 'judge / govern / rule'; renders שָׁפַט; in Judges the verb denotes the broader leadership/governance of the judge, not merely the rendering of legal verdicts; the constative aorist sums up the entire tenure as a single span.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἔκρινεν (indeclinable proper noun)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
εἴκοσιtwentyindeclinable numeral (with τρία ἔτη)εἴκοσι: 'twenty'; an indeclinable cardinal in Greek; combined with τρία it gives Tola's tenure of twenty-three years.
τρίαthreeAccusativenumeral (neuter, agreeing with ἔτη)τρεῖς, τρία: 'three'; the neuter τρία agrees with ἔτη; εἴκοσι τρία ἔτη = 'twenty-three years.'
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('for twenty-three years')ἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the accusative of duration measures the length of Tola's judgeship.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (death notice)→ constative aorist (the event of death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the death-notice ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἐτάφη is the fixed closing element of each judge's account.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐτάφηwas buriedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θάπτωmain verb (burial notice)→ constative aorist passive (completed burial)θάπτω: 'bury'; renders קָבַר; the passive ἐτάφη ('was buried') completes the formulaic close; the burial at Shamir, his own dwelling-place, signals an honored death at home.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣαμιρShamirdative of place (indeclinable place-name)Σαμιρ: the burial-place coincides with Tola's residence (v. 1), rounding off his notice with geographical symmetry.
3
καὶ ἀνέστη μετ᾿ αὐτὸν Ιαϊρ ὁ Γαλααδ καὶ ἔκρινεν τὸν Ισραηλ εἴκοσι δύο ἔτη
And after him there arose Jair the Gileadite, and he judged Israel twenty-two years.
The succession is marked by the same rise-formula as v. 1 (ἀνέστη) plus the linking μετ᾿ αὐτόν ('after him'), chaining Jair directly to Tola. As with Tola, the notice supplies the rise, the gentilic identification (ὁ Γαλααδ), and the tenure, with no narrative of conflict.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (introducing the next judge)→ constative aorist (entry onto the narrative stage)ἀνίστημι: the same rise-formula as v. 1; the repetition binds the minor-judge notices into a chain of successive deliverers.
μετ᾿afterpreposition + accusative (temporal, elided before vowel)μετά (elided μετ᾿): 'after'; temporal; μετ᾿ αὐτόν ('after him') links Jair's tenure to Tola's death just recorded.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (referring to Tola)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙαϊρJairsubject of ἀνέστη (indeclinable proper noun)Ιαϊρ: transliteration of Hebrew יָאִיר ('he enlightens'); indeclinable; a Gileadite judge whose name is attached to the trans-Jordanian 'tent-villages of Jair' (Havvoth-Jair, Num 32:41; Deut 3:14).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with the gentilic Γαλααδ)ὁ: the article before the indeclinable Γαλααδ marks it as an attributive gentilic, 'the Gileadite,' identifying Jair's region of origin.
ΓαλααδGileaditesubstantival gentilic with article (indeclinable: 'the Gileadite')Γαλααδ: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְעָד; indeclinable; with the article ὁ Γαλααδ functions as a gentilic ('the Gileadite'), Gilead being the trans-Jordanian highland region central to this chapter's conflict.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔκρινενjudgedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (tenure formula)→ constative aorist (whole period of judgeship summarized)κρίνω: 'judge / govern'; the same tenure-formula verb as v. 2, here for Jair's twenty-two years.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἔκρινεν (indeclinable proper noun)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
εἴκοσιtwentyindeclinable numeral (with δύο ἔτη)εἴκοσι: 'twenty'; with δύο gives Jair's tenure of twenty-two years.
δύοtwoAccusativenumeral (with ἔτη)δύο: 'two'; εἴκοσι δύο ἔτη = 'twenty-two years.'
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('for twenty-two years')ἔτος (pl. ἔτη): the accusative of duration measures Jair's judgeship.
4
καὶ ἦσαν αὐτῷ τριάκοντα καὶ δύο υἱοὶ ἐπιβαίνοντες ἐπὶ τριάκοντα δύο πώλους καὶ τριάκοντα δύο πόλεις αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐκάλουν αὐτὰς ἐπαύλεις Ιαϊρ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ἐν γῇ Γαλααδ
And he had thirty-two sons riding on thirty-two colts, and they had thirty-two towns; and they called them the Settlements of Jair to this day, in the land of Gilead.
Unlike Tola, Jair receives an expanded notice of patrimony and prosperity, a stereotyped sign of honor and clan-strength in Judges (cf. the thirty/forty sons of Ibzan and Abdon, 12:9, 14). The triple τριάκοντα δύο (sons / colts / towns) and the aetiological note ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') tie the place-name ἐπαύλεις Ιαϊρ to the narrator's own time.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦσανthere wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (possessive existential with dative αὐτῷ)→ stative imperfect (ongoing possession)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): 'be / exist'; the construction ἦσαν αὐτῷ ('there were to him' = 'he had') is the dative-of-possession idiom, a common LXX rendering of Hebrew possessive clauses with לְ.
αὐτῷto him / he hadDativedative of possession (with ἦσαν: 'he had')αὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): the dative of possession; 'thirty-two sons were to him' = 'he had thirty-two sons.'
τριάκονταthirtyindeclinable numeral (with δύο υἱοί)τριάκοντα: 'thirty'; indeclinable cardinal; τριάκοντα καὶ δύο = 'thirty-two' (the Rahlfs reading), giving Jair thirty-two sons.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (within the compound numeral)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
δύοtwoNominativenumeral (with υἱοί)δύο: 'two'; completes the compound 'thirty-two' modifying υἱοί.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἦσαν (the thirty-two sons)υἱός (pl. υἱοί): 'sons'; the thirty-two sons are a sign of dynastic vigor and wealth; the same motif recurs with Ibzan and Abdon (12:9, 14).
ἐπιβαίνοντεςriding / mountingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἐπιβαίνωattributive participle (modifying υἱοί)→ descriptive present participle (habitual riding)ἐπιβαίνω: 'mount / go up upon / ride'; the present participle ἐπιβαίνοντες ('riding upon') describes the sons' status: riding personal colts was a mark of rank and prosperity in the period (cf. Judg 5:10; 12:14).
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (with ἐπιβαίνοντες: 'riding upon')ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τριάκονταthirtyindeclinable numeral (with δύο πώλους)τριάκοντα: 'thirty'; here without intervening καί (τριάκοντα δύο), giving 'thirty-two colts.'
δύοtwoAccusativenumeral (with πώλους)δύο: completes 'thirty-two' modifying πώλους.
πώλουςcolts / young donkeysAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the mounts)πῶλος: 'colt / foal / young donkey'; renders עַיִר; riding donkey-colts (rather than horses) signals settled, peaceable prominence; the Hebrew makes a wordplay between עֲיָרִים ('colts') and עֲיָרִים ('towns'), partly lost in the Greek but preserved in the parallel triad.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τριάκονταthirtyindeclinable numeral (with δύο πόλεις)τριάκοντα: 'thirty'; the third member of the triad, with πόλεις.
δύοtwoAccusativenumeral (with πόλεις)δύο: completes 'thirty-two' modifying πόλεις.
πόλειςtowns / citiesAccusativeaccusative (object of an implied possessive: 'thirty-two towns [they had]')πόλις (pl. πόλεις): 'town / city'; renders עִיר; the thirty-two towns held by the sons are the πόλεις later named ἐπαύλεις Ιαϊρ; the Hebrew pun (colts/towns) underlies the triad.
αὐτοῖςthey had / to themDativedative of possession (with implied verb: 'they had towns')αὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): the dative of possession again, now plural ('to them' = the sons had the towns).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάλουνthey called / used to callImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · καλέωmain verb (naming, with double accusative)→ customary imperfect (continuing/aetiological naming)καλέω: 'call / name'; renders קָרָא; the imperfect ἐκάλουν with the aetiological ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης marks an ongoing customary designation: 'they kept calling them ...'
αὐτὰςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλουν (the towns; first accusative of the double-accusative naming)αὐτός (acc. fem. pl. αὐτάς): refers back to the feminine πόλεις ('towns'), the things being named.
ἐπαύλειςsettlements / villagesAccusativepredicate accusative (the name given; second accusative)ἔπαυλις (pl. ἐπαύλεις): 'farmstead / settlement / encampment'; renders חַוֹּת (the 'tent-villages' of Havvoth-Jair); ἐπαύλεις Ιαϊρ ('the settlements of Jair') is the place-name attached to the towns 'to this day.'
Ιαϊρof Jairgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with ἐπαύλεις: 'Settlements of Jair')Ιαϊρ: the judge's name preserved in the toponym Havvoth-Jair (ἐπαύλεις Ιαϊρ), an enduring memorial of his clan in trans-Jordan.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal: 'to this day')ἕως: 'until / up to'; the aetiological formula ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') anchors the name to the narrator's present, vouching for its currency.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (with ταύτης: 'this day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; in the aetiological formula ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, rendering Hebrew עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative (modifying ἡμέρας)οὗτος (gen. fem. ταύτης): 'this'; specifies 'this very day' of the narrator's own time.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῇlandDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in the land')γῆ: 'land / earth / region'; ἐν γῇ Γαλααδ locates the ἐπαύλεις Ιαϊρ in the trans-Jordanian highland of Gilead.
ΓαλααδGileadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'land of Gilead')Γαλααδ: here the region itself (not the gentilic of v. 3); the trans-Jordanian highland that becomes the theatre of the Ammonite war.
5
καὶ ἀπέθανεν Ιαϊρ καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν Ραμνων
And Jair died and was buried in Ramnon.
The verse closes Jair's account with the same death-burial formula as Tola's (v. 2: ἀπέθανεν … ἐτάφη), here with the burial-place Ραμνων. The completion of the two minor-judge notices marks the end of the rest-interval; v. 6 abruptly resumes the apostasy cycle.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (death notice)→ constative aorist (the event of death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the death-notice mirrors v. 2, closing the minor-judge schema for Jair.
ΙαϊρJairsubject of ἀπέθανεν (indeclinable proper noun)Ιαϊρ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐτάφηwas buriedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θάπτωmain verb (burial notice)→ constative aorist passive (completed burial)θάπτω: 'bury'; the passive ἐτάφη completes the formulaic close, paralleling Tola's burial at Shamir (v. 2).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΡαμνωνRamnondative of place (indeclinable place-name)Ραμνων: transliteration of Hebrew קָמוֹן (Kamon); indeclinable in this Greek form; the otherwise-unknown Gileadite site of Jair's burial.
6
καὶ προσέθεντο οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ ἐδούλευσαν τοῖς Βααλιμ καὶ ταῖς Ασταρωθ καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς Αραδ καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς Σιδῶνος καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς Μωαβ καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς υἱῶν Αμμων καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς Φυλιστιιμ καὶ ἐγκατέλιπον τὸν κύριον καὶ οὐκ ἐδούλευσαν αὐτῷ
And the sons of Israel again did the evil before the LORD, and served the Baalim and the Astartes and the gods of Aram and the gods of Sidon and the gods of Moab and the gods of the sons of Ammon and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the LORD and did not serve him.
The verse reopens the Deuteronomistic cycle with προσέθεντο … ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρόν ('they continued/added to do the evil'), the standard relapse-formula. What is distinctive is the exhaustive sevenfold catalogue of deities (Baalim, Astartes, plus the gods of five surrounding peoples), the most comprehensive apostasy in Judges, climaxing in the double indictment ἐγκατέλιπον … καὶ οὐκ ἐδούλευσαν αὐτῷ ('they forsook him and did not serve him').
Word-by-word analysis· 46 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming the cycle)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσέθεντοthey continued / did againAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · προστίθημιmain verb (relapse-formula auxiliary with complementary infinitive)→ ingressive aorist (resumption of evildoing)προστίθημι (mid. προσέθεντο): 'add / continue / do again'; renders the Hebrew יָסַף ('do again'); the idiom προσέθεντο + infinitive ('they continued to do') is the LXX's standard rendering of the relapse-formula וַיֹּסִפוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע, marking the renewed plunge into apostasy.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (the sons of Israel)υἱός (pl. υἱοί): the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') is the standard LXX designation of the covenant people, rendering בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with προσέθεντο)→ complementary aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the complementary infinitive completes προσέθεντο, yielding 'they continued to do the evil.'
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativesubstantival adjective (direct object of ποιῆσαι)πονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; the substantival τὸ πονηρόν ('the evil') renders הָרַע; the definite article marks it as the well-known covenant evil — idolatry — denounced throughout Judges.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (evaluative: 'in the sight of')ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; renders בְּעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of'); the phrase τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου stresses that the evil is reckoned by YHWH's own evaluative gaze.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (the divine evaluator)κύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here the LORD before whom the evil is committed; the genitive marks the divine perspective from which Israel's apostasy is judged.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐδούλευσανthey servedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (with dative objects: served the gods)→ ingressive aorist (entered into servitude to idols)δουλεύω: 'serve / be enslaved to'; renders עָבַד; takes the dative; the verb frames idolatry as servitude — Israel becomes 'slave' to the gods it worships, the bitter irony underscored when YHWH later 'sells' them into literal bondage (v. 7).
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with Βααλιμ)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλιμBaalimdative object of ἐδούλευσαν (indeclinable: the Baals)Βααλιμ: transliteration of the Hebrew plural בְּעָלִים ('the Baals'); indeclinable in the LXX, here marked as dative by the article τοῖς; the local manifestations of the Canaanite storm-god Baal, the chief object of Israelite apostasy in Judges.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (feminine, with Ασταρωθ)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑσταρωθAstartesdative object of ἐδούλευσαν (indeclinable: the Astartes)Ασταρωθ: transliteration of Hebrew עַשְׁתָּרוֹת, the plural of Ashtoreth/Astarte; indeclinable, marked feminine dative by ταῖς; the Canaanite-Phoenician fertility goddesses regularly paired with the Baals in Judges (cf. 2:13; 3:7).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with θεοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐδούλευσαν (the gods of Aram)θεός (pl. θεοῖς): 'gods'; the fivefold repetition τοῖς θεοῖς + nation builds the exhaustive catalogue of foreign deities (Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, Philistia).
Αραδof Aram / Syriagenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'gods of Aram')Αραδ: in this Greek text-form the gods 'of Aram' (Hebrew אֲרָם, Syria); indeclinable; the Aramean/Syrian deities head the catalogue of surrounding nations' gods.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with θεοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐδούλευσαν (the gods of Sidon)θεοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Σιδῶνοςof SidonGenitivegenitive of relationship (declinable place-name: 'gods of Sidon')Σιδών (gen. Σιδῶνος): 'Sidon'; renders צִידוֹן; a declinable Greek noun (hence case-marked), the great Phoenician coastal city whose gods (chiefly Astarte and Baal) were exported widely.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with θεοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐδούλευσαν (the gods of Moab)θεοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Μωαβof Moabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'gods of Moab')Μωαβ: transliteration of Hebrew מוֹאָב; indeclinable; the trans-Jordanian people whose chief god was Chemosh (cf. Num 21:29; Judg 11:24).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with θεοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐδούλευσαν (the gods of the sons of Ammon)θεοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with Αμμων: 'sons of Ammon')υἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'sons'; the phrase υἱῶν Αμμων ('sons of Ammon') is the standard LXX rendering of בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן, the Ammonites — the principal oppressors of this chapter, whose chief god was Milcom/Molech.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱῶν)Αμμων: transliteration of Hebrew עַמּוֹן; indeclinable; the trans-Jordanian nation whose aggression drives the narrative toward Jephthah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with θεοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐδούλευσαν (the gods of the Philistines)θεοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Φυλιστιιμof the Philistinesgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'gods of the Philistines')Φυλιστιιμ: transliteration of Hebrew פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines'); indeclinable in this transliterated form (contrast the declined Φυλιστιαῖοι elsewhere); the coastal sea-peoples whose god Dagon recurs in the Samson cycle; with Ammon they are the two oppressors of v. 7.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγκατέλιπονthey forsookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐγκαταλείπωmain verb (covenant abandonment)→ constative aorist (decisive abandonment)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon / leave behind'; renders עָזַב; the strong compound (ἐν + κατά + λείπω) intensifies the desertion; ἐγκατέλιπον τὸν κύριον is the climactic indictment — Israel's apostasy is not merely additive but a total abandonment of YHWH.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of ἐγκατέλιπον (the abandoned God)κύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the direct object of the abandonment-verb; forsaking YHWH is the covenant-breaking that triggers the judgment of v. 7.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐδούλευσαν)οὐ (οὐκ before vowel): the negative; οὐκ ἐδούλευσαν αὐτῷ ('they did not serve him') forms a pointed antithesis to ἐδούλευσαν above — they served every foreign god but not YHWH.
ἐδούλευσανthey servedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (negated: did not serve YHWH)→ constative aorist (negated)δουλεύω: the same verb used of serving the idols above is now negated of YHWH, sharpening the irony: Israel renders to false gods the servitude it withholds from its true Lord.
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of ἐδούλευσαν (= YHWH)αὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): refers to κύριος; the dative complement of δουλεύω, here negated.
7
καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ κύριος ἐν Ισραηλ καὶ ἀπέδοτο αὐτοὺς ἐν χειρὶ Φυλιστιιμ καὶ ἐν χειρὶ υἱῶν Αμμων
And the LORD was kindled in anger against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the sons of Ammon.
The verse supplies the wrath-and-handover stage of the cycle. ὠργίσθη θυμῷ ('he was angered in anger') is an emphatic cognate construction; ἀπέδοτο … ἐν χειρί ('he sold/handed over into the hand of') is the standard LXX judgment-idiom. The two oppressors named correspond to the two ends of the land — Philistines (west) and Ammonites (east) — though the chapter develops the Ammonite threat.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὠργίσθηwas angeredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀργίζωmain verb (divine wrath, with cognate dative θυμῷ)→ ingressive aorist passive (kindling of wrath)ὀργίζω (aor. pass. ὠργίσθη): 'be angry / be provoked'; renders חָרָה אַף ('the anger burned'); the passive functions as an active/deponent 'became angry'; with the cognate dative θυμῷ it forms an intensive Hebraism, 'was kindled in fury.'
θυμῷwith anger / in furyDativedative of manner/cognate dative (intensifying ὠργίσθη)θυμός: 'anger / wrath / passion'; the dative θυμῷ with ὠργίσθη is a cognate/intensive dative rendering the Hebrew emphatic construction, conveying the heat of divine indignation against covenant betrayal.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (the angered God)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the subject whose wrath is the judicial response to the apostasy of v. 6.
ἐνagainst / amongpreposition + dative (here 'against', rendering Hebrew בְּ)ἐν: the locative preposition here carries the Hebraizing sense 'against' (rendering בְּ after the anger-idiom); ἐν Ισραηλ = 'against Israel.'
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐν (indeclinable: the target of wrath)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέδοτοhe sold / handed overAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (judicial handover)→ constative aorist (decisive act of handing over)ἀποδίδωμι (mid. ἀπέδοτο): 'give away / sell'; the middle 'sell' renders מָכַר; the judgment-idiom ἀπέδοτο … ἐν χειρί ('sold into the hand of') depicts YHWH as transferring Israel into enemy possession as a slave is sold — the just consequence of their having 'served' (δουλεύω) other gods.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀπέδοτο (the Israelites)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (Hebraizing 'into the hand of')ἐν χειρί: 'into the hand of'; renders בְּיַד; the Hebraism denotes transfer into the power/control of the enemy.
χειρὶhandDativedative object of ἐν (idiom: 'into the hand of')χείρ: 'hand'; metonymy for power/control; ἐν χειρί Φυλιστιιμ = 'into the power of the Philistines.'
Φυλιστιιμof the Philistinesgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'hand of the Philistines')Φυλιστιιμ: the western oppressor; the Philistine threat is developed in the Samson cycle (chs. 13–16), while this chapter pursues the Ammonite war.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (parallel: 'into the hand of')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὶhandDativedative object of ἐν (parallel idiom)χειρὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with Αμμων)υἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'sons'; υἱῶν Αμμων ('sons of Ammon') = the Ammonites, the eastern oppressor whose war structures the rest of the chapter.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱῶν)Αμμων: the Ammonites, principal enemy of Judges 10–11.
8
καὶ ἔθλιψαν καὶ ἔθλασαν τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ δέκα ὀκτὼ ἔτη τοὺς πάντας υἱοὺς Ισραηλ τοὺς ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἐν γῇ τοῦ Αμορρι τοῦ ἐν Γαλααδ
And in that time they oppressed and crushed the sons of Israel for eighteen years — all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorite that is in Gilead.
The double verb ἔθλιψαν καὶ ἔθλασαν ('they oppressed and crushed') intensifies the affliction; the eighteen-year duration and the geographical specification (the trans-Jordanian Israelites in Gilead) localize the suffering. The resumptive τοὺς πάντας υἱοὺς Ισραηλ restates and delimits the object, a Hebraizing apposition.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔθλιψανthey oppressedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θλίβωmain verb (first of the doubled oppression-verbs)→ constative aorist (the affliction as a whole)θλίβω: 'press / afflict / oppress'; renders לָחַץ / רָעַץ; the verb of distress that recurs throughout the chapter (cf. ἐθλίβη, v. 9; θλίψεως, v. 14); paired here with the stronger ἔθλασαν for emphasis.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the two verbs)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔθλασανthey crushed / shatteredAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θλάωmain verb (second of the doubled verbs, intensifying)→ constative aorist (intensified affliction)θλάω: 'crush / shatter / break in pieces'; a stronger near-synonym of θλίβω, possibly rendering רָעַץ ('shatter'); the assonant pair ἔθλιψαν … ἔθλασαν heightens the rhetorical force of the oppression.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of the verbs (the sons of Israel)υἱός (acc. pl. υἱούς): the oppressed object, the sons of Israel.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal: 'in that time')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with καιρῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρῷtime / seasonDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'in that time')καιρός: 'time / appointed season'; renders עֵת; ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ('in that time') is a standard narrative time-marker.
ἐκείνῳthatDativedemonstrative (modifying καιρῷ)ἐκεῖνος (dat. ἐκείνῳ): 'that'; the far demonstrative anchoring the oppression to the period just narrated.
δέκαtenindeclinable numeral (with ὀκτώ ἔτη)δέκα: 'ten'; with ὀκτώ gives the eighteen-year duration of the oppression.
ὀκτὼeightindeclinable numeral (with δέκα ἔτη)ὀκτώ: 'eight'; δέκα ὀκτώ ἔτη = 'eighteen years.'
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('for eighteen years')ἔτος (pl. ἔτη): the accusative of duration measures the length of the Ammonite oppression.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (resumptive apposition)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάνταςallAccusativeadjective (resumptive: 'all the sons of Israel')πᾶς (acc. pl. πάντας): 'all'; the resumptive τοὺς πάντας υἱοὺς Ισραηλ restates the object emphatically before delimiting it to the trans-Jordanian tribes.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative in apposition (resumptive object)υἱοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τοὺςthe (who)Accusativearticle in attributive position (introducing the locative phrase: 'the ones who were ...')ὁ: the article τοὺς ἐν τῷ πέραν ('the ones beyond') functions as a relative-like attributive, restricting the oppressed to the trans-Jordanian Israelites.
ἐνin / beyondpreposition + dative (locative, with the substantivized πέραν)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing πέραν)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανthe region across / beyondDativesubstantivized adverb (object of ἐν: 'in the region beyond')πέραν: 'across / on the other side'; the adverb, substantivized by the article (τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου), denotes the Transjordan — the eastern bank where Gilead and these afflicted tribes lay.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνουof the JordanGenitivegenitive (with πέραν: 'beyond the Jordan')Ιορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): 'the Jordan'; a declinable Greek noun (hence case-marked); renders יַרְדֵּן; the river dividing Cisjordan from the Transjordanian Gilead.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, specifying the land)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῇlandDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in the land')γῆ: 'land'; ἐν γῇ τοῦ Αμορρι localizes the oppressed tribes in formerly-Amorite territory east of the Jordan.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with Αμορρι)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Αμορριof the Amoritegenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'land of the Amorite')Αμορρι: transliteration of Hebrew אֱמֹרִי ('Amorite'); indeclinable in this form (marked genitive by the article τοῦ); the pre-Israelite inhabitants whose former territory in Gilead Israel had taken (cf. Num 21:21–35).
τοῦthe (which is)Genitivearticle in attributive position (with the locative phrase: 'that which is in Gilead')ὁ: the article τοῦ ἐν Γαλααδ functions attributively, 'the (Amorite land) that is in Gilead,' specifying the precise region.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαλααδGileadobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Γαλααδ: the trans-Jordanian highland region, epicenter of the Ammonite oppression and the coming Jephthah deliverance.
9
καὶ διέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Αμμων τὸν Ιορδάνην παρατάξασθαι πρὸς Ιουδαν καὶ Βενιαμιν καὶ πρὸς Εφραιμ καὶ ἐθλίβη Ισραηλ σφόδρα
And the sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah and Benjamin and against Ephraim; and Israel was sorely distressed.
The Ammonite threat escalates as they cross from the Transjordan into the heartland tribes (Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim), turning a regional oppression into a national crisis. The closing ἐθλίβη Ισραηλ σφόδρα ('Israel was greatly distressed') picks up the θλίβω root of v. 8 and sets up the cry of v. 10.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διέβησανthey crossed overAor Act Indic 3 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (military crossing)→ constative aorist (the crossing as an event)διαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders עָבַר; the compound διά marks passage across the Jordan; the Ammonite incursion into Cisjordan widens the conflict to the central tribes.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (the sons of Ammon)υἱός (pl. υἱοί): οἱ υἱοὶ Αμμων = the Ammonites, the aggressors.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Ammon')Αμμων: the Ammonites; their crossing the Jordan marks the climax of their aggression.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνηνthe JordanAccusativedirect object of διέβησαν (the river crossed)Ιορδάνης (acc. Ιορδάνην): 'the Jordan'; a declinable Greek noun (hence case-marked); the river boundary the Ammonites transgress to attack the western tribes.
παρατάξασθαιto draw up for battle / to fightAor Mid Inf · παρατάσσωinfinitive of purpose (with διέβησαν)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the crossing)παρατάσσω (mid. παρατάξασθαι): 'draw up in battle array / engage in battle'; renders עָרַךְ (מִלְחָמָה) / לָחַם; the middle infinitive expresses the purpose of the crossing — to give battle; the same verb recurs at v. 18 (παρατάξασθαι πρὸς υἱοὺς Αμμων).
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction: 'against')πρός + accusative: here in hostile sense, 'against'; governs the three tribes attacked.
ΙουδανJudahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (first tribe attacked)Ιουδας (acc. Ιουδαν): 'Judah'; here declined with the Greek accusative ending -αν (hence case-marked); the southern tribe, first named of the three targets.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΒενιαμινBenjaminobject of πρός (second tribe, indeclinable)Βενιαμιν: transliteration of Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין; indeclinable; the small central tribe adjacent to Judah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, repeated for emphasis)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΕφραιμEphraimobject of πρός (third tribe, indeclinable)Εφραιμ: the powerful central hill-country tribe; the renewed πρός before it sets it apart as a major target.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐθλίβηwas distressedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θλίβωmain verb (Israel's resultant affliction)→ constative aorist passive (the state of distress)θλίβω (aor. pass. ἐθλίβη): 'be afflicted / distressed / hard pressed'; the same root as ἔθλιψαν (v. 8); the passive with σφόδρα conveys the extremity of Israel's plight, motivating the cry of v. 10.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject of ἐθλίβη (indeclinable proper noun)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
σφόδραexceedingly / sorelyadverb of degree (intensifying ἐθλίβη)σφόδρα: 'very much / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; intensifies the distress, marking it as the breaking-point that drives Israel to cry out to YHWH.
10
καὶ ἐβόησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ πρὸς κύριον λέγοντες ἡμάρτομέν σοι ὅτι ἐγκατελίπομεν τὸν θεὸν καὶ ἐδουλεύσαμεν τῷ Βααλιμ
And the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, 'We have sinned against you, because we forsook our God and served the Baalim.'
The cry-formula ἐβόησαν … πρὸς κύριον is the standard cry-element of the deliverance cycle, here amplified into an explicit confession (ἡμάρτομέν σοι … ἐγκατελίπομεν … ἐδουλεύσαμεν) that exactly mirrors the indictment of v. 6. Unusually, this cry does not immediately bring deliverance; instead YHWH's stinging reply follows (vv. 11–14).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐβόησανthey cried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · βοάωmain verb (cry-of-distress formula)→ ingressive aorist (raising of the cry)βοάω: 'cry out / shout'; renders זָעַק / צָעַק; ἐβόησαν πρὸς κύριον is the cry-element of the cycle (cf. 3:9, 15; 4:3); the verb recurs as YHWH throws Israel's cry back at them (βοήσατε, v. 14).
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (the sons of Israel)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the one cried to)κύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD whom they had forsaken (v. 6) is now the one to whom they cry.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ circumstantial present participle (introducing the confession)λέγω (ptcp. λέγοντες): 'saying'; the speech-introducing participle, a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר, introduces the direct-discourse confession.
ἡμάρτομένwe have sinnedAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἁμαρτάνωmain verb of confession (with dative σοι)→ constative aorist (acknowledged sin)ἁμαρτάνω: 'sin / miss the mark / offend'; renders חָטָא; ἡμάρτομέν σοι ('we have sinned against you') is the formula of covenant confession; the same verb recurs in the renewed confession of v. 15 (ἡμάρτομεν).
σοιagainst youDativedative of disadvantage (the one sinned against)σύ (dat. σοι): the dative complement of ἁμαρτάνω, 'against you,' acknowledging YHWH as the offended party.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (introducing the grounds of confession)ὅτι: 'because / that'; here causal, introducing the specific sins confessed (forsaking God and serving the Baalim).
ἐγκατελίπομενwe forsookAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἐγκαταλείπωverb of causal clause (first confessed sin)→ constative aorist (the act of abandonment confessed)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon'; the confession echoes the narrator's indictment ἐγκατέλιπον τὸν κύριον (v. 6) — Israel now owns in the first person the desertion charged against it.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object of ἐγκατελίπομεν (the forsaken God)θεός (acc. θεόν): 'God'; here τὸν θεόν = YHWH, the God of Israel whom they abandoned; the confession names the offense as desertion of their own God.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐδουλεύσαμενwe servedAor Act Indic 1 Pl · δουλεύωverb of causal clause (second confessed sin, with dative)→ constative aorist (the idolatrous service confessed)δουλεύω: 'serve / be enslaved to'; the confession mirrors ἐδούλευσαν τοῖς Βααλιμ (v. 6); Israel admits the very servitude to the Baals that the narrator had charged.
τῷtheDativearticle (with Βααλιμ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλιμBaalimdative object of ἐδουλεύσαμεν (indeclinable: the Baals)Βααλιμ: the Hebrew plural 'Baals'; the article here is singular τῷ (a not-infrequent LXX inconsistency with the indeclinable plural form), still denoting the Baal-deities collectively.
11
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ μὴ οὐχὶ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ Αμορραίου καὶ ἀπὸ υἱῶν Αμμων καὶ ἀπὸ Φυλιστιιμ
And the LORD said to the sons of Israel, 'Was it not from the Egyptians and from the Amorite and from the sons of Ammon and from the Philistines —
YHWH answers the confession not with rescue but with a reproachful rhetorical question (μὴ οὐχί …, 'did I not [save you] from …?') that catalogues past deliverances. The double negative μὴ οὐχί expects an affirmative answer ('yes, you did') while the question-form μή marks the indignant tone. The list of oppressors continues into v. 12; the main verb (ἔσωσα, 'I saved') appears there.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): 'say'; introduces YHWH's reply to the confession; the divine speech that follows is a rhetorical reproach rather than an oracle of salvation.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (the divine speaker)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD now speaks in reply to Israel's cry.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the addressees)υἱοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
μὴnot (surely not?)interrogative negative (introducing a rhetorical question)μή: the interrogative particle introducing a question; combined with οὐχί it forms the double-negative rhetorical question μὴ οὐχί … ('was it not indeed …?'), expecting an emphatic 'yes.'
οὐχὶnot indeedemphatic negative (reinforcing μή)οὐχί: emphatic form of οὐ; in μὴ οὐχί the two negatives yield a strong affirmative rhetorical force — 'surely I did save you from all these.'
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (source of deliverance, before vowel)ἐκ (ἐξ before vowel): 'from / out of'; introduces the first oppressor from whom YHWH delivered Israel; the prepositional list (ἐξ … ἀπό … ἀπό …) anticipates the verb ἔσωσα in v. 12.
ΑἰγύπτουEgypt / the EgyptiansGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (first deliverance: from Egypt)Αἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): 'Egypt'; a declinable Greek noun; the exodus heads the list of deliverances, the foundational saving act to which all others are compared.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source of deliverance)ἀπό: 'from'; introduces the next oppressor; the variation ἐκ/ἀπό is stylistic, both denoting the source of rescue.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Αμορραίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Αμορραίουthe AmoriteGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (second deliverance: from the Amorite)Αμορραῖος (gen. Αμορραίου): 'Amorite'; here the declined gentilic adjective/noun (contrast the indeclinable Αμορρι of v. 8); recalls the defeat of Sihon and Og (Num 21), the conquest of the Transjordan.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source of deliverance)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive (with Αμμων: 'sons of Ammon')υἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'sons'; υἱῶν Αμμων = the Ammonites, included pointedly since they are the present oppressors — YHWH had delivered from them before.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with υἱῶν)Αμμων: the Ammonites.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source of deliverance)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
Φυλιστιιμthe Philistinesgenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable: from the Philistines)Φυλιστιιμ: the Philistines, the other present oppressor (v. 7); their inclusion underscores that YHWH's past deliverances covered the very enemies now afflicting Israel.
12
καὶ Σιδωνίων καὶ Αμαληκ καὶ Μαδιαμ οἳ ἔθλιψαν ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐβοήσατε πρός με καὶ ἔσωσα ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῶν
and the Sidonians and Amalek and Midian, who oppressed you — and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand?
The catalogue of oppressors concludes (Sidonians, Amalek, Midian), and the relative clause οἳ ἔθλιψαν ὑμᾶς ('who oppressed you') gathers them all. The reproach reaches its point: the past pattern (you cried — I saved, ἐβοήσατε … ἔσωσα) is recalled precisely to set up the bitter refusal of vv. 13–14. The first-person ἔσωσα stresses YHWH's sole agency in every past deliverance.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the oppressor-list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
Σιδωνίωνthe SidoniansGenitivegenitive (continuing the list governed by ἀπό: 'from the Sidonians')Σιδώνιος (gen. pl. Σιδωνίων): 'Sidonian'; a declined gentilic noun; the Phoenician coastal people, here named among Israel's past oppressors.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑμαληκAmalekgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'from Amalek')Αμαληκ: transliteration of Hebrew עֲמָלֵק; indeclinable; the perennial desert enemy (Exod 17; cf. Judg 3:13; 6:3), here listed among the oppressors from whom YHWH delivered.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΜαδιαμMidiangenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'from Midian')Μαδιαμ: transliteration of Hebrew מִדְיָן; indeclinable; the Midianites, oppressors of the Gideon narrative (Judg 6–8), whose recent defeat is the freshest of the rehearsed deliverances.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἔθλιψαν, summarizing the oppressors)ὅς (nom. pl. οἵ): 'who'; the relative gathers the listed nations as the collective subject of the oppression-clause.
ἔθλιψανoppressedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θλίβωverb of relative clause (the oppressors' action)→ constative aorist (past oppression)θλίβω: 'oppress / afflict'; the same root threading the chapter (vv. 8, 9); here it characterizes all the past enemies as oppressors from whom YHWH nonetheless rescued.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἔθλιψαν (Israel oppressed)ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the past pattern: you cried)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐβοήσατεyou cried outAor Act Indic 2 Pl · βοάωmain verb (the past cry recalled)→ constative aorist (the recurring cry of the past)βοάω: 'cry out'; the same cry-verb as v. 10; YHWH recalls the established pattern — Israel cried, and he saved — precisely to make the coming refusal sting all the more.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)πρός: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (YHWH as the one cried to)ἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; the first-person object stresses that it was to YHWH alone that Israel cried in past distresses.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the past pattern: I saved)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσωσαI savedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · σῴζωmain verb (the divine deliverance recalled)→ constative aorist (YHWH's past saving acts)σῴζω: 'save / deliver'; the emphatic first-person ἔσωσα ('I saved') is the climax of the rehearsal — YHWH alone was the deliverer in every past crisis; this sets up the pointed contrast with the gods Israel now serves (v. 14).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἔσωσα (Israel saved)ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source of rescue: 'out of their hand')ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'out of the hand of')χείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; ἐκ χειρός = 'out of the power of'; the Hebraism (מִיַּד) denotes rescue from the enemies' grip — the reverse of the handover ἐν χειρί of v. 7.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the oppressors' hand)αὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; refers to the listed oppressors collectively.
13
καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐγκατελίπετέ με καὶ ἐδουλεύσατε θεοῖς ἑτέροις διὰ τοῦτο οὐ προσθήσω τοῦ σῶσαι ὑμᾶς
Yet you forsook me and served other gods; therefore I will not continue to save you.
The emphatic ὑμεῖς ('you, for your part') turns from the rehearsal of grace to the indictment, charging Israel in the second person with the same abandonment the narrator described (v. 6) and Israel confessed (v. 10). διὰ τοῦτο introduces the verdict: οὐ προσθήσω τοῦ σῶσαι ('I will no longer continue to save'), the rhetorical climax — a refusal designed to expose the futility of idolatry, not a final repudiation.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶyet / andconjunction (here mildly adversative: 'yet')καί: 'and'; in this contrastive context (grace recalled vs. Israel's response) it carries an adversative nuance, 'and yet.'
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun)σύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic subject pronoun, normally unnecessary with a finite verb; its presence sharpens the contrast — 'I saved you, yet you for your part forsook me.'
ἐγκατελίπετέforsookAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐγκαταλείπωmain verb (the indictment)→ constative aorist (the act of abandonment charged)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon'; the third occurrence of this root in the chapter (cf. vv. 6, 10), now in the second person of accusation — YHWH throws Israel's own confessed sin back at them.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἐγκατελίπετε (YHWH forsaken)ἐγώ (acc. με): the first-person object; 'you forsook me' — YHWH himself is the abandoned party.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐδουλεύσατεyou servedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (second charge, with dative)→ constative aorist (the idolatrous service charged)δουλεύω: 'serve / be enslaved to'; the indictment 'you served other gods' completes the parallel to v. 6 (ἐδούλευσαν) and v. 10 (ἐδουλεύσαμεν) — narrator, Israel, and now YHWH all name the same sin.
θεοῖςgodsDativedative object of ἐδουλεύσατε (the served deities)θεός (dat. pl. θεοῖς): 'gods'; θεοῖς ἑτέροις ('other gods') is the standard Deuteronomic designation of idols (rendering אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים).
ἑτέροιςotherDativeattributive adjective (modifying θεοῖς)ἕτερος (dat. pl. ἑτέροις): 'other / another'; renders אֲחֵרִים; the phrase θεοὶ ἕτεροι is the classic Deuteronomic term for the forbidden foreign deities (cf. Deut 6:14; 8:19).
διὰbecause of / forpreposition + accusative (causal: 'for this reason')διά + accusative: 'because of / on account of'; διὰ τοῦτο ('therefore / for this reason') introduces the verdict that follows from the indictment.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (object of διά: 'because of this')οὗτος (acc. n. τοῦτο): 'this'; refers back to the twofold charge (forsaking and idolatry) as the ground of the refusal.
οὐnotnegative particle (with προσθήσω)οὐ: the negative; οὐ προσθήσω ('I will not add/continue') forms the verdict of refusal.
προσθήσωI will continue / addFut Act Indic 1 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (the verdict, with articular infinitive)→ predictive future (declared refusal)προστίθημι: 'add / do again / continue'; renders יָסַף; the idiom οὐ προσθήσω + τοῦ σῶσαι ('I will not continue to save') is the negative counterpart of προσέθεντο in v. 6 — Israel kept adding to its sin, so YHWH will not keep adding deliverances.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the articular infinitive (with σῶσαι)ὁ: the genitive article forming the articular infinitive τοῦ σῶσαι ('to save'), the complement of προσθήσω.
σῶσαιto saveAor Act Inf · σῴζωarticular infinitive (complement of προσθήσω)→ complementary aorist infinitiveσῴζω: 'save / deliver'; the very saving YHWH performed throughout the rehearsal (ἔσωσα, v. 12) is now what he declines to repeat; the same verb opened the chapter (τοῦ σῶσαι, v. 1).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of σῶσαι (the no-longer-saved Israel)ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
14
πορεύεσθε καὶ βοήσατε πρὸς τοὺς θεούς οὓς ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς καὶ αὐτοὶ σωσάτωσαν ὑμᾶς ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως ὑμῶν
Go and cry to the gods whom you have chosen for yourselves; let them save you in the time of your distress.
The verdict turns to stinging sarcasm: YHWH commands Israel to take its cry (the very βοάω of v. 10) to the gods of its own choosing, and ironically bids those gods do the saving (σωσάτωσαν) that he alone has ever done (ἔσωσα, v. 12). The reflexive ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς ('you chose for yourselves') underscores the self-incurred folly; ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως ('in the time of distress') exposes the impotence of the idols at the moment of need.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
πορεύεσθεgoPres Mid Impv 2 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (ironic imperative)→ imperative of ironic dismissalπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the imperative πορεύεσθε ('go!') opens the sarcastic dismissal — YHWH sends Israel away to seek help where none can be found.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the two imperatives)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
βοήσατεcry outAor Act Impv 2 Pl · βοάωmain verb (ironic imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (ironic command to cry)βοάω: 'cry out'; the same cry-verb Israel used toward YHWH (vv. 10, 12) is now redirected, with biting irony, to the impotent idols — 'cry to them instead.'
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with θεούς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεούςgodsAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the chosen idols)θεός (acc. pl. θεούς): 'gods'; the idols of Israel's choosing, set in pointed contrast to YHWH the true deliverer.
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐξελέξασθε)ὅς (acc. pl. οὕς): 'whom'; introduces the relative clause exposing the idols as Israel's own deliberate choice.
ἐξελέξασθεyou choseAor Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐκλέγομαιverb of relative clause (Israel's culpable choice)→ constative aorist (the act of choosing)ἐκλέγομαι: 'choose / select for oneself'; renders בָּחַר; the middle voice with the reflexive ἑαυτοῖς doubly stresses that the choice was Israel's own — a bitter inversion of YHWH's election of Israel.
ἑαυτοῖςfor yourselvesDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage with ἐξελέξασθε)ἑαυτοῦ (dat. pl. ἑαυτοῖς): 'for yourselves'; the reflexive reinforces the middle ἐξελέξασθε, underscoring that Israel willfully chose these gods to its own ruin.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτοὶthey (themselves)Nominativesubject (emphatic: 'let those very gods')αὐτός (nom. pl. αὐτοί): the emphatic 'they themselves'; sharpens the irony — 'let them, your chosen gods, do the saving' — implying they cannot.
σωσάτωσανlet them saveAor Act Impv 3 Pl · σῴζωmain verb (ironic third-person imperative)→ aorist imperative of ironic challengeσῴζω: 'save'; the third-person imperative σωσάτωσαν ('let them save') ironically assigns to the idols the deliverance only YHWH has ever accomplished (ἔσωσα, v. 12; cf. the mocking challenge to idols in Deut 32:37–38).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of σωσάτωσαν (Israel)ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal: 'in the time of')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
καιρῷtimeDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'in the time')καιρός: 'time / appointed moment'; ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως ('in the time of distress') is the precise moment at which the idols' impotence is exposed.
θλίψεωςof distress / afflictionGenitivegenitive (defining καιρῷ: 'time of distress')θλῖψις (gen. θλίψεως): 'affliction / distress / tribulation'; the nominal form of the θλίβω root pervading the chapter (vv. 8, 9, 12); the abstract noun names the very crisis from which the idols cannot save.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θλίψεως)σύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your'; the distress belongs to Israel — it is their crisis the chosen gods are challenged to resolve.
15
καὶ εἶπαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ πρὸς κύριον ἡμάρτομεν ποίησον σὺ ἡμῖν κατὰ πᾶν τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου πλὴν ἐξελοῦ ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ
And the sons of Israel said to the LORD, 'We have sinned; do to us according to all that is good in your eyes; only deliver us, we pray, this day.'
Israel does not despair at the refusal but deepens its confession: a bare ἡμάρτομεν ('we have sinned'), total surrender to YHWH's judgment (ποίησον … κατὰ πᾶν τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου), and a final urgent plea for rescue 'this day' (πλὴν ἐξελοῦ ἡμᾶς). The submission is then proved by action in v. 16, which alone moves YHWH.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπαν): 'say'; the Koine/LXX alpha-aorist form εἶπαν (for classical εἶπον) introduces Israel's renewed confession.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (the sons of Israel)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the one addressed)κύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; Israel addresses its confession directly to YHWH.
ἡμάρτομενwe have sinnedAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἁμαρτάνωmain verb of confession (absolute, without object)→ constative aorist (acknowledged sin)ἁμαρτάνω: 'sin'; the bare ἡμάρτομεν ('we have sinned'), now without the 'against you' of v. 10, is a deeper, unqualified confession — Israel offers no excuse and no bargaining.
ποίησονdoAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (imperative of total submission)→ aorist imperative of surrenderποιέω: 'do / act'; the imperative ποίησον σύ ('do you to us') surrenders Israel entirely to YHWH's judgment, inviting whatever he deems good — an act of unconditional submission.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun with imperative)σύ (nom. σύ): the emphatic 'you' with the imperative stresses that the decision is wholly YHWH's — 'you yourself do to us as you see fit.'
ἡμῖνto usDativedative of disadvantage/recipient (with ποίησον)ἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): 'to us'; the recipients of whatever YHWH judges good to do.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard: 'according to')κατά + accusative: 'according to'; κατὰ πᾶν τὸ ἀγαθόν ('according to all that is good') submits Israel to the full measure of YHWH's righteous will.
πᾶνallAccusativeadjective (modifying τὸ ἀγαθόν)πᾶς (acc. n. πᾶν): 'all / every'; intensifies the submission — 'all that is good in your eyes,' withholding nothing from YHWH's discretion.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἀγαθόν)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὸνgoodAccusativesubstantival adjective (object of κατά: 'the good')ἀγαθός: 'good'; τὸ ἀγαθόν ('the good') here means whatever YHWH deems right; the idiom κατὰ τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ('according to what is good in the eyes of') renders כַּטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative/evaluative: 'in your eyes')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in the eyes')ὀφθαλμός (dat. pl. ὀφθαλμοῖς): 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ('in your eyes') is a Hebraism (בְּעֵינֶיךָ) for 'in your judgment / estimation.'
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὀφθαλμοῖς)σύ (gen. σου): 'your'; the eyes/judgment are YHWH's.
πλὴνonly / neverthelessadversative/restrictive particle ('only')πλήν: 'only / except / nevertheless'; here restrictive, marking the one urgent petition that follows the total submission — 'only, deliver us now.'
ἐξελοῦdeliver / rescueAor Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (the urgent petition)→ aorist imperative of entreatyἐξαιρέω (mid. ἐξελοῦ): 'take out / rescue / deliver'; the middle 'deliver for oneself / rescue' renders נָצַל (Hiphil); the urgent imperative pleads for immediate rescue despite the deserved judgment — the cry of faith that throws itself on YHWH's mercy.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἐξελοῦ (Israel to be delivered)ἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (temporal: 'on this day')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'on this day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ('on this day') marks the urgency of the plea — deliverance is sought now, in the present crisis.
ταύτῃthisDativedemonstrative (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)οὗτος (dat. fem. ταύτῃ): 'this'; specifies the immediacy of the petition — 'this very day.'
16
καὶ ἐξέκλιναν τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν καὶ ἐδούλευσαν τῷ κυρίῳ μόνῳ καὶ ὠλιγώθη ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἐν κόπῳ Ισραηλ
And they put away the foreign gods from their midst and served the LORD alone; and his soul was grieved at the trouble of Israel.
Repentance is proved by deed: removal of the foreign gods (ἐξέκλιναν … τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους) and exclusive service of YHWH (ἐδούλευσαν τῷ κυρίῳ μόνῳ) — the exact reversal of v. 6. The chapter's theological climax is the tender anthropopathism ὠλιγώθη ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ('his soul grew weary/short') over Israel's misery: YHWH's compassion, not Israel's merit, breaks the impasse and (implicitly) reverses the refusal of v. 13.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέκλινανthey put away / turned asideAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (the act of repentance)→ constative aorist (decisive removal of idols)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn away / remove / put aside'; renders סוּר (Hiphil, 'remove'); here transitive — they 'turned away' the foreign gods from among them, the concrete proof of repentance that contrasts with the mere words of v. 15.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with θεούς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object of ἐξέκλιναν (the foreign gods)θεός (acc. pl. θεούς): 'gods'; the idols catalogued in v. 6, now 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 / belonging to another'; renders נֵכָר; οἱ θεοὶ οἱ ἀλλότριοι ('the foreign gods') is a standard biblical phrase for the idols Israel must remove (cf. Gen 35:2; Josh 24:23).
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the midst')ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μέσουmidstGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from among')μέσος (substantival gen. μέσου): 'middle / midst'; ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν ('from their midst') renders מִקִּרְבָּם, a thorough removal of the idols from the community.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying μέσου: 'their midst')αὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'their'; refers to the Israelites among whom the idols had stood.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐδούλευσανthey servedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δουλεύωmain verb (positive counterpart of repentance, with dative)→ ingressive aorist (entered into exclusive service of YHWH)δουλεύω: 'serve'; the same verb used of idol-service (vv. 6, 10, 13) is now turned, rightly, to YHWH alone — the exact reversal of the apostasy; with μόνῳ it affirms exclusive covenant loyalty.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative object of ἐδούλευσαν (the served Lord)κύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the proper object of Israel's service, now restored to his exclusive place.
μόνῳalone / onlyDativeattributive adjective (modifying κυρίῳ: 'the LORD alone')μόνος (dat. μόνῳ): 'only / alone'; τῷ κυρίῳ μόνῳ ('the LORD alone') affirms exclusive worship, the heart of the Shema's demand (Deut 6:4–5, 13).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὠλιγώθηwas made weary / grew shortAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀλιγόωmain verb (the divine compassion)→ ingressive aorist passive (the rising of grief/impatience)ὀλιγόω (aor. pass. ὠλιγώθη): 'make few / diminish / become weary/impatient'; renders קָצַר ('be short'); the idiom ὠλιγώθη ἡ ψυχή ('the soul grew short') = grew weary or could no longer bear; a tender anthropopathism (cf. the parallel קָצְרָה נַפְשׁוֹ) by which YHWH's compassion overrides the refusal of v. 13.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with ψυχή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoulNominativesubject of ὠλιγώθη (YHWH's soul)ψυχή: 'soul / life / self'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ('his soul') here denotes YHWH's inner self/feeling — the seat of the compassion that 'grew weary' over Israel's misery.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ψυχή: YHWH's soul)αὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his'; refers to κύριος — the soul that is moved is YHWH's own.
ἐνat / overpreposition + dative (causal/circumstantial: 'at the trouble')ἐν: here causal/circumstantial, 'at / over'; ἐν κόπῳ Ισραηλ = 'over the trouble of Israel,' the occasion of the divine grief.
κόπῳtrouble / toil / miseryDativedative (with ἐν: the cause of the divine grief)κόπος: 'labor / trouble / hardship / weariness'; renders עָמָל; here Israel's affliction under the Ammonites; YHWH's soul grows weary 'at the misery of Israel' — the suffering of his people moves him to compassion.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'trouble of Israel')Ισραηλ: the people whose misery moves YHWH; the chapter's theological turn rests not on Israel's worthiness but on the LORD's compassion for their κόπος.
17
καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Αμμων καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν Γαλααδ καὶ συνήχθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν τῇ σκοπιᾷ
And the sons of Ammon went up and encamped in Gilead; and the sons of Israel gathered and encamped at the watch-post.
The narrative pivots from the lawsuit to the impending battle: the two armies muster and encamp opposite one another (Ammon in Gilead, Israel at the σκοπιά / Mizpah). The parallel παρενέβαλον … παρενέβαλον frames a standoff, setting up the leadership crisis of v. 18 and the entrance of Jephthah in chapter 11.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβησανwent upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (military mustering)→ constative aorist (the going-up to war)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the verb of going up to war/battle; the Ammonites advance into Gilead to give battle.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (the sons of Ammon)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Ammon')Αμμων: the Ammonites, now mustering for the decisive engagement.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρενέβαλονencampedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (taking up battle position)→ constative aorist (the act of encamping)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / pitch camp / draw up'; renders חָנָה; the military verb for taking up position; here the Ammonites encamp in Gilead, deep in Israelite trans-Jordan.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαλααδGileadobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Γαλααδ: the trans-Jordanian region invaded; the Ammonite encampment there threatens its inhabitants directly.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνήχθησανwere gatheredAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · συνάγωmain verb (Israel's mustering)→ constative aorist passive (the assembling of Israel)συνάγω (aor. pass. συνήχθησαν): 'gather / assemble'; renders אָסַף / קָבַץ; the passive 'were gathered / assembled themselves'; Israel musters in response to the Ammonite advance.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (the sons of Israel)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρενέβαλονencampedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (Israel takes up position)→ constative aorist (the act of encamping)παρεμβάλλω: the same encamping-verb as for Ammon; the parallel ('they encamped … they encamped') sets the two armies face to face, a battle-standoff awaiting a leader.
ἐνat / inpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with σκοπιᾷ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκοπιᾷwatch-post / MizpahDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'at the watch-post')σκοπιά: 'lookout / watch-post / height'; here the LXX renders the Hebrew place-name מִצְפָּה (Mizpah, 'watchtower') by its meaning rather than transliterating it; ἐν τῇ σκοπιᾷ is the Mizpah of Gilead, the muster-site that becomes the locus of Jephthah's negotiation (ch. 11).
18
καὶ εἶπον ὁ λαὸς οἱ ἄρχοντες Γαλααδ ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ τίς ὁ ἀνήρ ὅστις ἂν ἄρξηται παρατάξασθαι πρὸς υἱοὺς Αμμων καὶ ἔσται εἰς ἄρχοντα πᾶσιν τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν Γαλααδ
And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said each to his neighbor, 'Who is the man that will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.'
The chapter closes on a leaderless army and the decisive question τίς ὁ ἀνήρ ('who is the man?'). The leaders of Gilead pledge headship over all Gilead to whoever will 'begin to fight' (ἄρξηται παρατάξασθαι) the Ammonites. The unanswered question and the offered prize (εἰς ἄρχοντα) are the narrative hook that the Jephthah account (ch. 11) immediately takes up — the outcast son who alone will answer.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the deliberation voiced)λέγω (aor. εἶπον): 'say'; introduces the leaders' deliberation; the plural verb with the collective ὁ λαός is a constructio ad sensum.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with λαός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸςpeopleNominativesubject (in apposition with οἱ ἄρχοντες)λαός: 'people'; here the gathered host of Gilead, immediately specified as 'the leaders of Gilead' — the apposition narrows 'the people' to its decision-making chiefs.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρχοντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςleaders / rulersNominativenominative in apposition to ὁ λαός (the leaders)ἄρχων (pl. ἄρχοντες): 'ruler / leader / chief'; renders שָׂרִים; the leaders of Gilead, who pose the leadership question; the cognate εἰς ἄρχοντα ('as head') closes the verse, framing the offered prize.
Γαλααδof Gileadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'leaders of Gilead')Γαλααδ: the trans-Jordanian region whose leaders deliberate; their authority extends over 'all the inhabitants of Gilead.'
ἀνὴρa man / eachNominativesubject (distributive: 'each man', with πρὸς τὸν πλησίον)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the idiom ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ('a man to his neighbor' = 'one to another') renders אִישׁ אֶל רֵעֵהוּ, the distributive Hebraism for mutual deliberation.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of address)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πλησίον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (substantivized: 'his neighbor')πλησίον: 'neighbor / fellow' (substantivized adverb); renders רֵעַ; in the idiom ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ it denotes mutual, one-to-another speech among the leaders.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying πλησίον)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τίςwho?Nominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of the question)τίς: 'who?'; the interrogative opens the climactic question τίς ὁ ἀνήρ ('who is the man?') — the leadership vacuum the Jephthah narrative will fill.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνήρmanNominativepredicate nominative (with τίς: 'who is the man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; τίς ὁ ἀνήρ = 'who is the man (that ...)?' — the search for a champion willing to lead the battle.
ὅστιςwhoeverNominativeindefinite relative pronoun (subject of ἄρξηται)ὅστις: 'whoever / the one who'; the indefinite relative with ἄν + subjunctive introduces the conditional offer — 'whoever will begin to fight ...'
ἂν(would)modal particle (with subjunctive in the relative clause)ἄν: the modal particle marking the indefinite/conditional force of the relative clause with the subjunctive ἄρξηται.
ἄρξηταιwill beginAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἄρχωverb of indefinite relative clause (with ἄν)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the undertaking of battle)ἄρχω (mid. ἄρξηται): 'begin / take the lead'; the middle 'begin / take the initiative'; whoever will 'begin to fight' the Ammonites — the call for someone to step forward as leader; there is a wordplay with ἄρχοντες / ἄρχοντα ('leaders / head') framing the verse.
παρατάξασθαιto fight / draw up for battleAor Mid Inf · παρατάσσωcomplementary infinitive (with ἄρξηται)→ complementary aorist infinitiveπαρατάσσω (mid. παρατάξασθαι): 'draw up in battle array / engage in battle'; the same verb as v. 9; the infinitive completes ἄρξηται — 'begin to do battle against Ammon.'
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Ammonites)υἱός (acc. pl. υἱούς): 'sons'; υἱοὺς Αμμων (here without article) = the Ammonites, the enemy to be fought.
Αμμωνof Ammongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Ammon')Αμμων: the Ammonites, the enemy against whom a champion is sought.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the promised reward)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιhe shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the promised outcome)→ predictive future (the pledged reward)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be / become'; the construction ἔσται εἰς ἄρχοντα ('he shall become as head') is a Hebraism (הָיָה לְ) for transformation into a status — whoever leads will become ruler of Gilead.
εἰςas / forpreposition + accusative (Hebraizing predicate: 'become as head')εἰς + accusative: the predicate-εἰς rendering the Hebrew לְ of result/transformation, 'he shall be(come) head.'
ἄρχονταhead / rulerAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: the offered rank)ἄρχων (acc. ἄρχοντα): 'ruler / chief / head'; the prize offered to the champion — leadership over all Gilead; the cognate echo of οἱ ἄρχοντες (the leaders posing the question) sharpens the irony that they themselves cannot supply the man.
πᾶσινallDativeadjective (modifying τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν: 'over all the inhabitants')πᾶς (dat. pl. πᾶσιν): 'all'; the headship extends over the whole population of Gilead — a comprehensive prize.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with the participle κατοικοῦσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦσινinhabitants / those dwellingPres Act Ptcp Dat Masc Pl · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (dative: 'the inhabitants of Gilead')→ descriptive present participle (the settled population)κατοικέω (ptcp. κατοικοῦσιν): 'dwell / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the substantival participle τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν Γαλααδ ('those dwelling in Gilead' = 'the inhabitants of Gilead') names the people over whom the champion will rule; the dative is governed by ἔσται εἰς ἄρχοντα ('head over').
ΓαλααδGileadobject of the participle (indeclinable place-name: 'dwelling in Gilead')Γαλααδ: the closing word of the chapter; the trans-Jordanian region whose inhabitants await a deliverer — the cue for Jephthah's rise in chapter 11.