Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Judges, Chapter 15ΚΡΙΤΑΙ ΙΕ′

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

Samson's escalating vengeance strikes the Philistines with fire, jawbone, and the Lord's empowering Spirit.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Judges 15 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. Judges survives in two divergent Greek text-forms — the so-called A-text (Codex Alexandrinus and its allies, reflecting the kaige/Hexaplaric tradition) and the B-text (Codex Vaticanus, the Old Greek). Rahlfs prints both forms in parallel for much of Judges; the verbatim text annotated here is the reference form supplied, and its readings (e.g. ἐξερρίφησαν, v. 9; στιππύον, v. 14; ἀναίρεσις σιαγόνος, v. 17) are characteristic of the chosen recension. Chapter 15 is the dramatic centre of the Samson cycle: his thwarted return to his Timnite wife (vv. 1–3), the burning of the Philistine grain by three hundred foxes with torches tail-to-tail (vv. 4–5), the Philistines' burning of his wife and her father (v. 6), Samson's vow of vengeance and the great slaughter 'leg upon thigh' (vv. 7–8), the men of Judah's binding and surrender of him (vv. 9–13), and the climactic onrush of the πνεῦμα κυρίου (v. 14) by which, with a fresh donkey's jawbone (σιαγὼν ὄνου), he kills a thousand men (vv. 15–16). The chapter turns on two etiological wordplays: (1) the jawbone, σιαγών, supplies both the place-name ἀναίρεσις σιαγόνος ('removal/slaughter of the jawbone', v. 17, rendering Ramath-lehi) and the spring-name 'fountain of the one who calls' at En-hakkore (v. 19), with σιαγών doing double duty as the toponym Lehi (לְחִי = 'jawbone'); (2) the cleft of the rock Ηταμ (Etam, vv. 8, 11) and the great salvation (σωτηρία, v. 18) granted to the thirsting hero. The closing formula καὶ ἔκρινεν τὸν Ισραηλ … εἴκοσι ἔτη (v. 20) is the standard Deuteronomistic judge-notice, here set 'in the days of the Philistines' (ἐν ἡμέραις ἀλλοφύλων).

1

καὶ ἐγένετο μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας ἐν ἡμέραις θερισμοῦ πυρῶν καὶ ἐπεσκέψατο Σαμψων τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐρίφῳ αἰγῶν καὶ εἶπεν εἰσελεύσομαι πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκά μου εἰς τὸ ταμιεῖον καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς εἰσελθεῖν

And it came to pass after some days, in the days of the wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid of the goats, and he said, 'I will go in to my wife into the chamber'; but her father would not allow him to enter.

New narrative episode (temporal-formula opening)καὶ ἐγένετο
The formula καὶ ἐγένετο μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας renders Hebrew וַיְהִי מִיָּמִים, the standard LXX narrative-opening that sets a fresh episode at an unspecified later time; the harvest-season note (θερισμοῦ πυρῶν) both dates the action and prepares the burning of the standing grain in vv. 4–5. The episode begins with Samson's conjugal claim and ends abruptly with the father's refusal, generating the conflict that drives the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-narrative formula)→ constative aorist (narrative onset)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be / happen'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, the conventional LXX marker of a new narrative scene, often (as here) followed by a temporal phrase.
μεθ᾿afterpreposition + accusative (temporal; elided before vowel)μετά + acc.: 'after'; μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας ('after [some] days') is an idiomatic interval-phrase rendering מִיָּמִים.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative object of μεθ᾿ (temporal extent)ἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative plural in μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας marks an indefinite lapse of time.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (locating the action)ἡμέρα (dat. pl.): the resumptive ἐν ἡμέραις θερισμοῦ specifies the season more precisely than the generic μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας.
θερισμοῦof harvestGenitivegenitive of description (specifying the days)θερισμός: 'harvest / reaping'; renders קָצִיר; the harvest setting is essential: the standing grain Samson will burn (vv. 4–5) is ripe and combustible.
πυρῶνof wheatGenitivegenitive (further specifying θερισμοῦ: 'wheat-harvest')πυρός: 'wheat'; θερισμὸς πυρῶν = 'the wheat harvest' (Hebrew קְצִיר חִטִּים), the early-summer reaping; not to be confused with πῦρ ('fire').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis after the temporal frame)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπεσκέψατοvisitedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπισκέπτομαιmain verb (Samson's action)→ constative aoristἐπισκέπτομαι: 'visit / go to see / look after'; renders פָּקַד; here Samson 'visits' his estranged wife, intending to resume the marriage.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: transliteration of Hebrew שִׁמְשׁוֹן (from שֶׁמֶשׁ, 'sun'); indeclinable in the LXX; the Danite Nazirite-hero whose exploits fill Judges 13–16.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ἐπεσκέψατογυνή: 'woman / wife'; the Timnite woman of ch. 14, given away by her father (v. 2) during Samson's absence.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (accompaniment: the gift brought)ἐν + dat.: instrumental/comitative, 'with'; here marking the conjugal gift Samson brings.
ἐρίφῳa young goatDativedative of accompaniment (the gift)ἔριφος: 'kid / young goat'; renders גְּדִי; a customary present, signalling Samson's intent to be received as husband.
αἰγῶνof goatsGenitivegenitive (partitive/descriptive: 'a kid of the goats')αἴξ (gen. pl. αἰγῶν): 'goat'; ἔριφος αἰγῶν renders the Hebrew construct גְּדִי עִזִּים, 'a kid of the goats.'
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 aorist εἶπεν introduces Samson's direct speech.
εἰσελεύσομαιI will go inFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb of direct speech→ predictive/volitive future (intent)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; the idiom εἰσέρχομαι πρός ('go in to') with a wife is a conventional euphemism for resuming marital relations (cf. Gen 16:2; 30:3).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: 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.
γυναῖκάwifeAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςγυνή: the accent γυναῖκά bears the enclitic accent thrown back from μου.
μουmyGenitivepossessive pronoun (enclitic)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)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.
ταμιεῖονchamberAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)ταμιεῖον: 'inner room / storeroom / private chamber'; renders חֶדֶר; here the bridal/marital chamber into which Samson seeks entry.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative force in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔδωκεν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔδωκενallowedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (with infinitive: 'did not permit')→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; with a following infinitive (εἰσελθεῖν) it bears the sense 'allow / permit'; οὐκ ἔδωκεν … εἰσελθεῖν = 'did not allow him to enter.'
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive εἰσελθεῖναὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of ἔδωκενπατήρ: 'father'; the father-in-law, whose refusal (explained in v. 2) ignites the whole train of vengeance.
αὐτῆςherGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εἰσελθεῖνto enterAor Act Inf · εἰσέρχομαιcomplementary infinitive (object of ἔδωκεν)→ constative aorist infinitiveεἰσέρχομαι (aor. inf.): the infinitive completes ἔδωκεν, expressing what was not permitted.
2

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς λέγων εἶπα ὅτι μισῶν ἐμίσησας αὐτήν καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτὴν ἑνὶ τῶν ἐκ τῶν φίλων σου μὴ οὐχὶ ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτῆς ἡ νεωτέρα αὐτῆς ἀγαθωτέρα ὑπὲρ αὐτήν ἔστω δή σοι ἀντὶ αὐτῆς

And her father said, saying, 'I said that you utterly hated her, and I gave her to one of your companions; is not her younger sister better than she? Let her be yours instead of her.'

Direct speech: the father's explanation and counter-offerκαὶ εἶπεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς
The father justifies the refusal: assuming Samson's hatred (μισῶν ἐμίσησας, a cognate-participle Hebraism), he has already given the woman to another and now offers the younger sister. The redundant λέγων after εἶπεν renders the Hebrew לֵאמֹר and is a hallmark of LXX translation-Greek; the rhetorical question μὴ οὐχί expects assent ('surely she is better!').
Word-by-word analysis· 36 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: introduces the father's reply.
theNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubjectπατήρ: the father-in-law, here the speaker.
αὐτῆςherGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωredundant participle of speech (Hebraism)→ circumstantial present participle (Hebraistic 'saying')λέγω (ptc.): the pleonastic εἶπεν … λέγων renders the Hebrew direct-speech marker אָמַר … לֵאמֹר; a characteristic feature of LXX translation-Greek.
εἶπαI saidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb of direct speech→ constative aorist (recalling a prior judgment)λέγω: the first-aorist form εἶπα (Koine, beside classical εἶπον) introduces the father's reported assumption.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content clause / recitative)ὅτι: introduces the content of εἶπα.
μισῶνhatingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · μισέωcognate participle intensifying ἐμίσησας (Hebraism)→ intensive (rendering infinitive absolute)μισέω: 'hate'; the construction μισῶν ἐμίσησας calques the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute שָׂנֹא שָׂנֵאתָ ('you surely/utterly hated'); the LXX renders the absolute with a cognate participle.
ἐμίσησαςyou hatedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · μισέωmain verb of the ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist intensified by the participleμισέω (aor.): the finite verb of the cognate construction; the father presumes total estrangement on Samson's part.
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect objectαὐτήν: 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.
ἔδωκαI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the father's completed act)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; the father has already remarried his daughter — an irreversible act that grounds his refusal.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἑνὶto oneDativeindirect object (numeral, dative of recipient)εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the dative ἑνί marks the recipient — 'to one of your companions.'
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (partitive)ἐκ: partitive 'from among'; ἑνὶ τῶν ἐκ τῶν φίλων = 'one from among your companions.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φίλωνcompanionsGenitivegenitive (partitive object of ἐκ)φίλος: 'friend / companion'; perhaps the very wedding-companions of ch. 14 (the παρανύμφιοι); the woman has been given to one of them.
σουyourGenitivepossessive pronounσου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
μὴnotinterrogative particle (introducing question)μή: with οὐχί forms a rhetorical question; here μὴ οὐχί expects the answer 'yes, she is better.'
οὐχὶnotemphatic negative (with μή in question)οὐχί: emphatic form of οὐ; μὴ οὐχί … = 'is not …?', a Hebraizing rhetorical question expecting affirmation.
theNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφὴsisterNominativesubject of the implied predicate (ἀγαθωτέρα)ἀδελφή: 'sister'; renders אָחוֹת; the younger sister now offered as a substitute bride.
αὐτῆςherGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
theNominativearticle (attributive with νεωτέρα)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεωτέραyoungerNominativeattributive comparative adjectiveνέος (comp. νεωτέρα): 'younger'; renders הַקְּטַנָּה ('the younger/smaller'); the attributive ἡ νεωτέρα specifies which sister.
αὐτῆςherGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀγαθωτέραbetterNominativepredicate comparative adjectiveἀγαθός (comp. ἀγαθωτέρα): 'better'; the Koine comparative (for classical ἀμείνων / βελτίων); the father urges that the sister surpasses the wife.
ὑπὲρthanpreposition + accusative (comparison: Hebraism)ὑπέρ + acc.: 'beyond / more than'; comparative ὑπέρ renders Hebrew מִן of comparison — 'better than she.'
αὐτήνsheAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπέρ (standard of comparison)αὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἔστωlet her bePres Act Impv 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (jussive offer)→ jussive (third-person imperative)εἰμί (impv. ἔστω): 'let her be'; the father formally offers the younger daughter as a replacement wife.
δήnowemphatic particle (hortatory)δή: 'indeed / now / please'; softens and urges the imperative, rendering the Hebrew נָא.
σοιyoursDativedative of possession ('be to you')σοί: dative of the personal pronoun; ἔστω … σοι = 'let her be yours.'
ἀντὶinstead ofpreposition + genitive (substitution)ἀντί + gen.: 'in place of / instead of'; renders תַּחַת; the sister is offered as substitute.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive object of ἀντίαὐτῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
3

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψων ἠθῴωμαι καὶ τὸ ἅπαξ ἀπὸ ἀλλοφύλων ὅτι ποιῶ ἐγὼ μετ᾿ αὐτῶν πονηρίαν

And Samson said to them, 'This time I am blameless toward the Philistines, for I am doing them harm.'

Direct speech: Samson's self-justification before the reprisalκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψων
Samson's terse declaration ἠθῴωμαι … τὸ ἅπαξ ('I am guiltless this time') frames the coming arson as just requital, not gratuitous aggression: because the Philistines (through the father) have wronged him, he is morally clear in doing them harm. The perfect ἠθῴωμαι asserts a settled state of acquittal.
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: introduces Samson's reply.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect object (dative of addressee)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: see v. 1.
ἠθῴωμαιI am blamelessPerf Mid/Pass Indic 1 Sg · ἀθῳόωmain verb (declaration of innocence)→ resultative perfect (settled state of acquittal)ἀθῳόω: 'hold guiltless / acquit'; the perfect ἠθῴωμαι ('I have been/am held innocent') renders the sense of Hebrew נִקֵּיתִי; Samson claims moral exemption for the vengeance he is about to take.
καὶevenadverbial conjunction (with τὸ ἅπαξ)καί: here adverbial, reinforcing τὸ ἅπαξ ('this time also/this once').
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with adverbial ἅπαξ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅπαξthis timeadverb (articular: 'this once')ἅπαξ: 'once'; the articular τὸ ἅπαξ ('this time / this once') renders Hebrew הַפַּעַם — 'on this occasion I am guiltless.'
ἀπὸtowardpreposition + genitive (relation: 'as regards / from')ἀπό + gen.: here 'with respect to / over against'; ἠθῴωμαι ἀπὸ ἀλλοφύλων = 'I am guiltless as regards the Philistines' (Hebraistic use of מִן).
ἀλλοφύλωνthe PhilistinesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόἀλλόφυλος: lit. 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים, 'Philistines,' Israel's coastal-plain enemies throughout Judges and Samuel.
ὅτιforconjunction (causal)ὅτι: 'because / for'; grounds the claim of innocence in the justice of the requital.
ποιῶI am doingPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of the causal clause→ progressive present (action in process / about to be done)ποιέω: 'do / make'; ποιῶ … πονηρίαν = 'I am doing harm'; the present frames the reprisal as imminent and warranted.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronounἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun underscores Samson as deliberate agent of the vengeance.
μετ᾿with / topreposition + genitive (against; elided before vowel)μετά + gen.: 'with'; here in a hostile sense, 'against them' — ποιῶ μετ᾿ αὐτῶν πονηρίαν, a Hebraism (עָשָׂה עִם) for 'do harm to/with them.'
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿αὐτῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πονηρίανharmAccusativedirect object of ποιῶπονηρία: 'wickedness / evil / harm'; renders רָעָה; here the injury Samson intends to inflict, viewed by him as deserved retribution.
4

καὶ ἐπορεύθη Σαμψων καὶ συνέλαβεν τριακοσίας ἀλώπεκας καὶ ἔλαβεν λαμπάδας καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν κέρκον πρὸς κέρκον καὶ ἔθηκεν λαμπάδα μίαν ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν δύο κέρκων καὶ ἔδησεν

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and set one torch between each pair of tails, and bound it.

Narrative action: the contrivance of the foxes and torchesκαὶ ἐπορεύθη Σαμψων
A chain of seven coordinated aorists (ἐπορεύθη … συνέλαβεν … ἔλαβεν … ἐπέστρεψεν … ἔθηκεν … ἔδησεν) narrates Samson's elaborate stratagem step by step; the paratactic καί-strings are typical of Hebrew narrative syntax carried over into the Greek. The tail-to-tail arrangement with a single torch between each pair turns the panicked animals into living firebrands.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (deponent: 'went')→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the aorist-passive form is deponent ('he went'); opens the action-sequence.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνέλαβενcaughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aoristσυλλαμβάνω: 'seize / catch / capture'; the compound συν- ('together') suits the catching of a whole pack; renders לָכַד.
τριακοσίαςthree hundredAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying ἀλώπεκας)τριακόσιοι, -αι, -α: 'three hundred'; the same emblematic number as Gideon's band (Judg 7); the feminine τριακοσίας agrees with ἀλώπεκας.
ἀλώπεκαςfoxesAccusativedirect object of συνέλαβενἀλώπηξ: 'fox'; renders שׁוּעָל (which may also denote jackals, pack-animals more easily caught en masse); the creatures become living torch-bearers.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; renders לָקַח.
λαμπάδαςtorchesAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβενλαμπάς: 'torch / firebrand'; renders לַפִּיד; the incendiary devices tied between the tails.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπέστρεψενturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn / turn around'; here transitive, 'turned [the foxes] tail to tail,' pairing them so each shared torch would drag between them.
κέρκονtailAccusativedirect object of ἐπέστρεψενκέρκος: 'tail'; renders זָנָב; the tail-to-tail pairing is the mechanism of the stratagem.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (juxtaposition: 'tail to tail')πρός + acc.: 'to / against'; κέρκον πρὸς κέρκον = 'tail to tail.'
κέρκονtailAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςκέρκον: 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.
ἔθηκενsetAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb→ constative aoristτίθημι: 'put / place / set'; renders שִׂים; Samson fixes a torch between each pair of tails.
λαμπάδαtorchAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκενλαμπάς: see above; one torch per pair.
μίανoneAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying λαμπάδα)εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; λαμπάδα μίαν = 'a single torch' set between each pair of tails.
ἀνὰinpreposition (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')ἀνά: in the fixed idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('in the midst of / between'), a Hebraism rendering בֵּין.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative (idiom ἀνὰ μέσον + gen.)μέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν δύο κέρκων = 'between the two tails.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwoGenitiveattributive numeral (modifying κέρκων)δύο: 'two'; here in genitive context with τῶν … κέρκων ('of the two tails').
κέρκωνtailsGenitivegenitive object of ἀνὰ μέσονκέρκος (gen. pl.): 'tails'; the pair between which each torch is bound.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδησενbound itAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δέωmain verb (concluding the contrivance)→ constative aoristδέω: 'bind / tie'; renders אָסַר / קָשַׁר; Samson fastens the torch securely between the tails, completing the device.
5

καὶ ἐξέκαυσεν πῦρ ἐν ταῖς λαμπάσιν καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ἐν τοῖς στάχυσιν τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἐκάησαν ἀπὸ ἅλωνος καὶ ἕως σταχύων ὀρθῶν καὶ ἕως ἀμπελῶνος καὶ ἐλαίας

And he kindled fire in the torches and sent them out into the standing grain of the Philistines, and they burned from the threshing-floor and as far as the standing grain and as far as the vineyard and olive.

Narrative action: the conflagration of the Philistine cropsκαὶ ἐξέκαυσεν πῦρ
The destruction is rendered total by an ἀπό … ἕως … ἕως merism sweeping from the harvested grain on the threshing-floor through the standing grain to the vineyards and olives — the whole agricultural economy of the Philistine plain. The intensive ἐξέκαυσεν / ἐκάησαν (root καίω) frames the chapter's recurring fire-motif (cf. v. 6 ἐνέπρησαν; v. 14 ἐξεκαύθη).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέκαυσενkindledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκκαίωmain verb→ constative aoristἐκκαίω: 'kindle / set ablaze'; the compound ἐκ- intensifies; cognate with ἐκάησαν below and ἐξεκαύθη (v. 14), weaving the fire-motif through the chapter.
πῦρfireAccusativedirect object of ἐξέκαυσενπῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the agent of the whole reprisal (note: distinct from πυρῶν 'wheat,' v. 1).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (instrumental/locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῖςtheDativearticleταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαμπάσινtorchesDativedative (locative/instrumental: 'in the torches')λαμπάς (dat. pl.): the torches of v. 4, now lit.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξαπέστειλενsent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb→ constative aoristἐξαποστέλλω: 'send out / let loose'; Samson releases the burning foxes into the fields.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (locative, of motion-into in Koine)ἐν + dat.: here with verb of sending, 'into / among' (Koine blurring of ἐν and εἰς).
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στάχυσινstanding grainDativedative (place into which: 'into the standing grain')στάχυς: 'ear of grain / standing corn'; renders קָמָה; the ripe wheat-fields, highly flammable at harvest.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (possessive)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistinesGenitivegenitive of possession (whose grain)ἀλλόφυλος: 'Philistines' (see v. 3); their crops are the target of the reprisal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάησανthey burnedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · καίωmain verb (the crops as subject)→ constative aorist (passive: 'were burned up')καίω: 'burn'; the aorist-passive ἐκάησαν ('were consumed by fire'); subject is the standing grain/fields.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of merism)ἀπό … ἕως …: forms a totalizing merism, 'from … to …,' sweeping the whole harvest.
ἅλωνοςthreshing-floorGenitivegenitive of source (first term of merism)ἅλων / ἅλως: 'threshing-floor'; renders גָּדִישׁ / גֹּרֶן; the already-harvested and stacked grain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent of merism)ἕως: 'as far as / until'; marks the reach of the fire across all stages of the crop.
σταχύωνstanding grainGenitivegenitive (second term of merism)στάχυς (gen. pl.): the grain still standing in the field, paired with ὀρθῶν.
ὀρθῶνuprightGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying σταχύων: 'standing/upright grain')ὀρθός: 'upright / standing'; στάχυες ὀρθοί = grain still standing and unreaped, distinguished from the threshing-floor's gathered sheaves.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent)ἕως: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἀμπελῶνοςvineyardGenitivegenitive (third term of merism)ἀμπελών: 'vineyard'; renders כֶּרֶם; the fire spreads beyond the grain to the vines.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλαίαςoliveGenitivegenitive (fourth term of merism)ἐλαία: 'olive tree / olive grove'; renders זַיִת; the olives complete the catalogue of the Philistines' staple produce — grain, wine, and oil all destroyed.
6

καὶ εἶπαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι τίς ἐποίησεν ταῦτα καὶ εἶπαν Σαμψων ὁ νυμφίος τοῦ Θαμνι ὅτι ἔλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν τῷ ἐκ τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ ἐνέπρησαν αὐτὴν καὶ τὸν πατέρα αὐτῆς ἐν πυρί

And the Philistines said, 'Who has done these things?' And they said, 'Samson, the son-in-law of the Thamnite, because he took his wife and gave her to one of his companions.' And the Philistines went up and burned her and her father with fire.

Narrative dialogue and counter-reprisalκαὶ εἶπαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι
The Philistines' question-and-answer (τίς ἐποίησεν ταῦτα; … Σαμψων) traces the arson back to its cause — the father's giving away of Samson's wife — and their reprisal grimly mirrors the crime: they burn (ἐνέπρησαν ἐν πυρί) the very woman and father whose marriage-treachery had triggered the fire in the fields, an ironic talionic turn.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: the Koine 3rd-plural εἶπαν (for classical εἶπον); introduces the Philistines' question.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubjectἀλλόφυλος: see v. 3; here the populace seeking the culprit.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of ἐποίησεν)τίς: 'who?'; the interrogative opening the inquiry into responsibility.
ἐποίησενhas doneAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of the question→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make'; τίς ἐποίησεν ταῦτα = 'who did this?'
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativedirect object (demonstrative pronoun)οὗτος: 'this'; ταῦτα refers to the burning of the fields (v. 5).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the answer)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the answering identification.
ΣαμψωνSamsonpredicate nominative (answer to τίς; indeclinable)Σαμψων: named as the culprit.
theNominativearticle (with νυμφίος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νυμφίοςson-in-lawNominativeapposition to Σαμψωννυμφίος: 'bridegroom / son-in-law'; renders חָתָן; identifies Samson by his marriage-tie to the Timnite family.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΘαμνιThamnitegenitive of relationship (indeclinable place/gentilic name)Θαμνι: transliteration linked to Timnah (תִּמְנָה), the Philistine town of Samson's wife (Judg 14:1); indeclinable here, 'of the Thamnite/of Timnah.'
ὅτιbecauseconjunction (causal)ὅτι: introduces the reason for Samson's act — the father's betrayal.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb of the causal clause→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; subject is the father (or 'one took'), recounting the removal of Samson's wife.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβενγυνή: Samson's wife, taken from him.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (causal clause continued)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; the father gave the wife to another (cf. v. 2).
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect objectαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τῷto the oneDativesubstantivized article (indirect object: 'to the one from among')ὁ: the article used substantivally, τῷ ἐκ τῶν φίλων = 'to the one of his companions.'
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (partitive)ἐκ: partitive, 'from among.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φίλωνcompanionsGenitivegenitive (partitive object of ἐκ)φίλος: 'companion'; cf. v. 2.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβησανwent upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (Philistine reprisal)→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; renders עָלָה; the Philistines mount an expedition of reprisal.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubjectἀλλόφυλοι: 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.
ἐνέπρησανburnedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐμπίπρημιmain verb→ constative aoristἐμπίπρημι (ἐμπρήθω): 'burn / set on fire'; renders שָׂרַף; the talionic horror — fire answered with fire — falls on the woman and her father.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect objectαὐτήν: Samson's former wife, who had earlier feared this very fate (cf. Judg 14:15).
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.
πατέραfatherAccusativedirect object (coordinate with αὐτήν)πατήρ: the father-in-law, whose treachery (v. 2) now recoils upon himself.
αὐτῆςherGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτῆς: 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.
πυρίfireDativedative of instrument ('with fire')πῦρ (dat. πυρί): the instrument of execution; ἐν πυρί is a Hebraism (בָּאֵשׁ) for 'by fire,' completing the chapter's fire-motif at its grimmest point.
7

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψων ἐὰν ποιήσητε οὕτως ταύτην ὅτι εἰ μὴν ἐκδικήσω ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ ἔσχατον κοπάσω

And Samson said to them, 'If you act in this way, surely I will take vengeance on you, and afterward I will cease.'

Direct speech: Samson's oath of vengeanceκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψων
Samson's reply links the Philistines' atrocity (ἐὰν ποιήσητε οὕτως) to a sworn requital; the emphatic oath-particle εἰ μήν (a Hebraizing rendering of אִם לֹא in oaths) guarantees the vengeance, after which (ἔσχατον) he will desist. The conditional clause is somewhat compressed in the Greek, but the sense is a vow of decisive retaliation.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 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: introduces Samson's vow.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect objectαὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐὰνifconjunction (introducing conditional protasis + subjunctive)ἐάν: 'if'; introduces the condition that triggers Samson's sworn response.
ποιήσητεyou actAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ποιέωverb of the protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (conditional)ποιέω: 'do / act'; ἐὰν ποιήσητε οὕτως = 'if you behave in this way,' i.e. commit such an atrocity.
οὕτωςin this wayadverb of mannerοὕτως: 'thus / in this manner'; points to the Philistines' burning of the woman and father.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative (adverbial accusative: 'this [deed]')οὗτος: 'this'; the feminine accusative ταύτην ('this [thing/deed]') resumes the atrocity as the object of ποιήσητε.
ὅτιsurelyconjunction (here introducing the oath/apodosis emphatically)ὅτι: in oath-contexts ('that/surely') reinforcing the asseveration that follows.
εἰ(oath particle)particle (in oath-formula εἰ μήν)εἰ: in the oath-formula εἰ μήν, a Hebraizing calque of אִם (with its negative-oath force inverted to strong affirmation); 'I solemnly will …'
μὴνsurelyasseverative particle (εἰ μήν: 'surely')μήν: asseverative; εἰ μήν = 'surely / assuredly,' guaranteeing the vengeance as if under oath.
ἐκδικήσωI will take vengeanceFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐκδικέωmain verb of the oath (apodosis)→ predictive/asseverative futureἐκδικέω: 'avenge / take vengeance / exact justice'; renders נָקַם; the central verb of the Samson reprisal-cycle (cf. v. 7; 16:28).
ἐνonpreposition + dative (object of vengeance: Hebraism)ἐν + dat.: with ἐκδικέω, 'take vengeance on,' a Hebraism rendering נָקַם בְּ ('avenge oneself on').
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐκδικήσω ἐνὑμῖν: 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.
ἔσχατονafterwardadverbial accusative (temporal: 'at the end / finally')ἔσχατος: 'last / final'; the adverbial ἔσχατον = 'afterward / in the end,' marking when Samson's vengeance will be satisfied.
κοπάσωI will ceaseFut Act Indic 1 Sg · κοπάζωmain verb (coordinate with ἐκδικήσω)→ predictive futureκοπάζω: 'grow weary / abate / cease'; here 'I will desist / stop'; Samson promises his vengeance will be definitive, after which he will rest.
8

καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς κνήμην ἐπὶ μηρὸν πληγὴν μεγάλην καὶ κατέβη καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν τρυμαλιᾷ τῆς πέτρας Ηταμ

And he struck them leg upon thigh with a great blow, and he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock Etam.

Narrative action: the slaughter and withdrawal to Etamκαὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς
The idiom κνήμην ἐπὶ μηρόν ('leg upon thigh,' rendering Hebrew שׁוֹק עַל יָרֵךְ) is a vivid, somewhat obscure expression for utter, hand-to-hand slaughter. Having fulfilled his vow, Samson retreats and settles in the rock-cleft of Etam (τρυμαλιᾷ τῆς πέτρας Ηταμ), the refuge from which Judah will later extract him (vv. 11–13).
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / smite / slay'; renders הִכָּה (Hiphil of נכה); the standard LXX verb for battlefield slaughter, recurring at vv. 15–16.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτούς: the Philistines.
κνήμηνlegAccusativeaccusative (in idiom κνήμην ἐπὶ μηρόν)κνήμη: 'lower leg / shin'; in the idiom κνήμην ἐπὶ μηρόν renders Hebrew שׁוֹק עַל יָרֵךְ ('leg upon thigh'), a proverbial expression for a thorough, savage beating.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (in the idiom)ἐπί + acc.: 'upon'; part of the fixed idiom 'leg upon thigh.'
μηρὸνthighAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (idiom)μηρός: 'thigh'; the second member of the idiom; the whole phrase denotes complete, unsparing slaughter.
πληγὴνblowAccusativecognate accusative (with ἐπάταξεν)πληγή: 'blow / stroke / slaughter'; the cognate accusative πληγὴν μεγάλην ('a great blow') intensifies ἐπάταξεν, a Hebraism reinforcing the magnitude of the slaughter.
μεγάληνgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying πληγήν)μέγας: 'great'; πληγὴ μεγάλη = 'a great slaughter,' a stock LXX battle-phrase.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; Samson withdraws to a defensible refuge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάθισενdweltAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb→ constative/ingressive aoristκαθίζω: 'sit / settle / dwell'; renders יָשַׁב; here 'took up residence' in the rock-cleft.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τρυμαλιᾷcleftDativedative of place (locative)τρυμαλιά: 'hole / cleft / crevice'; renders סְעִיף / נְקִיק; the rock-fissure that serves as Samson's stronghold (cf. v. 11).
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέτραςrockGenitivegenitive (of which the cleft is part)πέτρα: 'rock / crag'; renders סֶלַע; the rock named Etam.
ΗταμEtamgenitive of apposition (indeclinable place-name)Ηταμ: transliteration of Hebrew עֵיטָם (Etam); indeclinable; the rock-cleft of Etam, Samson's place of refuge in Judah.
9

καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν Ιουδα καὶ ἐξερρίφησαν ἐν Λευι

And the Philistines went up and encamped in Judah and were spread out in Lehi.

Narrative transition: the Philistine incursion into Judahκαὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι
The scene shifts to the Philistine pursuit: they invade Judahite territory and deploy at Lehi (ἐν Λευι), the place whose very name (לְחִי, 'jawbone') anticipates the σιαγών-episode of vv. 14–17. The rare verb ἐξερρίφησαν ('were flung/spread out') vividly pictures the army fanning across the region.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβησανwent upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; the Philistines advance from the coastal plain up into the Judean hill-country.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubjectἀλλόφυλος: see v. 3.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρενέβαλονencampedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb→ constative aoristπαρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / draw up in battle-array'; renders חָנָה; the standard LXX military term for pitching camp.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙουδαJudahlocative (indeclinable place/tribe-name)Ιουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה; indeclinable; here the tribal territory invaded by the Philistines.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξερρίφησανwere spread outAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἐκρίπτωmain verb→ constative aorist (passive in form, reflexive sense)ἐκρίπτω: 'cast out / fling out'; the aorist-passive ἐξερρίφησαν here = 'spread/deployed themselves' across the region (a characteristic A-text vocabulary choice).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΛευιLehilocative (indeclinable place-name)Λευι: here the transliteration of the place-name לְחִי (Lehi, 'jawbone'), not the tribe Levi; the name foreshadows the jawbone-slaughter and the etymology of v. 17.
10

καὶ εἶπαν ἀνὴρ Ιουδα εἰς τί ἀνέβητε ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς καὶ εἶπον οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι δῆσαι τὸν Σαμψων ἀνέβημεν καὶ ποιῆσαι αὐτῷ ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησεν ἡμῖν

And the men of Judah said, 'Why have you come up against us?' And the Philistines said, 'We have come up to bind Samson and to do to him as he did to us.'

Narrative dialogue: Judah questions, the Philistines state their aimκαὶ εἶπαν ἀνὴρ Ιουδα
The collective singular ἀνήρ Ιουδα ('the man of Judah' = the men of Judah) reflects Hebrew אִישׁ יְהוּדָה. The Philistines state a lex-talionis aim — to do to Samson 'in the manner he did to us' (ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησεν ἡμῖν) — placing the men of Judah in the role of brokers between their oppressors and their deliverer.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (plural verb with collective subject)→ constative aoristλέγω: the plural εἶπαν agrees ad sensum with the collective ἀνήρ Ιουδα.
ἀνὴρthe menNominativesubject (collective singular)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the collective singular ἀνὴρ Ιουδα ('the man of Judah') = 'the men of Judah,' a Hebraism (אִישׁ יְהוּדָה).
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιουδα: see v. 9.
εἰςforpreposition (in interrogative idiom εἰς τί)εἰς: in the idiom εἰς τί ('for what? why?'), rendering Hebrew לָמָּה.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of εἰς)τίς, τί: 'what?'; εἰς τί = 'why / to what end?'
ἀνέβητεhave you come upAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb of the question→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; the men of Judah ask why the Philistines have invaded.
ἐφ᾿againstpreposition + accusative (hostile; elided)ἐπί + acc.: 'against'; ἀναβαίνω ἐπί = 'come up against,' a hostile-military idiom.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of ἐφ᾿ἡμᾶς: 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.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the Philistines' reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: the classical-form εἶπον (beside εἶπαν above).
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubjectἀλλόφυλοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
δῆσαιto bindAor Act Inf · δέωinfinitive of purpose (with ἀνέβημεν)δέω: 'bind / tie'; the purpose-infinitive states the Philistines' aim — to bind Samson (fronted for emphasis before the verb).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with proper noun)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαμψωνSamsonobject of δῆσαι (articular, indeclinable)Σαμψων: the article τὸν marks him as the definite, known object of the expedition.
ἀνέβημενwe have come upAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb of the reply→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: the Philistines echo the verb of the question; their incursion has the single aim of seizing Samson.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωinfinitive of purpose (coordinate with δῆσαι)→ constative aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do'; the second purpose-infinitive — to requite Samson in kind.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object of ποιῆσαιαὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (in idiom ὃν τρόπον)ὅς: relative; in the idiom ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner which / just as'), a Hebraism rendering כַּאֲשֶׁר.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (idiom: 'in the way that')τρόπος: 'way / manner'; ὃν τρόπον = 'just as,' introducing the talionic comparison.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the comparative clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; refers to Samson's slaughter of the Philistines (v. 8).
ἡμῖνto usDativeindirect object of ἐποίησενἡμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
11

καὶ κατέβησαν τρισχίλιοι ἄνδρες ἀπὸ Ιουδα εἰς τρυμαλιὰν πέτρας Ηταμ καὶ εἶπαν τῷ Σαμψων οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι κυριεύουσιν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ἡμῶν καὶ τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας ἡμῖν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψων ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησάν μοι οὕτως ἐποίησα αὐτοῖς

And three thousand men from Judah went down to the cleft of the rock Etam and said to Samson, 'Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? Why have you done this to us?' And Samson said to them, 'As they did to me, so I have done to them.'

Narrative dialogue: Judah's rebuke and Samson's replyκαὶ κατέβησαν τρισχίλιοι ἄνδρες
The men of Judah, resigned to Philistine domination (κυριεύουσιν … ἡμῶν), descend in force to remonstrate with Samson, treating his vengeance as a political liability. Samson answers with a tight chiastic talion-formula — ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησάν μοι οὕτως ἐποίησα αὐτοῖς ('as they did to me, so I did to them') — that mirrors the Philistines' own stated logic in v. 10.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβησανwent downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the men of Judah descend to Samson's rock-refuge.
τρισχίλιοιthree thousandNominativeattributive numeral (modifying ἄνδρες)τρισχίλιοι: 'three thousand'; the large delegation measures both the Philistine threat and Judah's fear of Samson.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubjectἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'men'; the Judahite contingent.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙουδαJudahgenitive of source (indeclinable)Ιουδα: see v. 9.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τρυμαλιὰνcleftAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)τρυμαλιά: 'cleft / crevice'; cf. v. 8; Samson's rock-stronghold.
πέτραςof the rockGenitivegenitive (of which the cleft is part)πέτρα: 'rock'; cf. v. 8.
ΗταμEtamgenitive of apposition (indeclinable place-name)Ηταμ: see v. 8.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Judah's rebuke.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαμψωνSamsonindirect object (articular dative, indeclinable)Σαμψων: the article τῷ marks the dative case on the indeclinable name.
οὐκnotnegative particle (in question)οὐκ: in the question οὐκ οἶδας ('do you not know?'), expecting affirmation.
οἶδαςyou knowPerf Act Indic 2 Sg · οἶδαmain verb of the question→ stative perfect (present sense: 'you know')οἶδα: 'know'; the perfect-with-present-force standard verb of knowledge; the rebuke presses Samson with political reality.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content clause)ὅτι: introduces the object of οἶδας.
κυριεύουσινrule overPres Act Indic 3 Pl · κυριεύωverb of the ὅτι-clause→ customary present (ongoing domination)κυριεύω: 'be lord over / rule'; renders מָשַׁל; the present states the settled fact of Philistine hegemony over Judah.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject of κυριεύουσινἀλλόφυλοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἡμῶνover usGenitivegenitive object of κυριεύουσιν (verb governs genitive)ἡμῶν: the genitive object required by κυριεύω ('rule over us').
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τίwhyAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (adverbial: 'why?')τί: 'why / what?'; introduces the reproachful second question.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (direct object of ἐποίησας)οὗτος: 'this'; τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας = 'why have you done this?'
ἐποίησαςhave you doneAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of the question→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; Samson's provocation is treated as a reckless endangerment of Judah.
ἡμῖνto usDativeindirect objectἡμῖν: 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.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Samson's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Samson's talion-formula.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect objectαὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (idiom ὃν τρόπον)ὅς: in the idiom ὃν τρόπον … οὕτως ('as … so'), a correlative comparison.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (idiom)τρόπος: 'manner'; ὃν τρόπον = 'in the way that.'
ἐποίησάνthey didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of the comparative clause→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; refers to the Philistines' wrongs against Samson (vv. 1–6).
μοιto meDativeindirect objectμοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὕτωςsoadverb (correlative apodosis)οὕτως: 'so / in this way'; completes the ὃν τρόπον … οὕτως correlation.
ἐποίησαI have doneAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of the apodosis→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; Samson asserts strict reciprocity — his deeds simply match theirs.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect objectαὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
12

καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ δῆσαί σε κατέβημεν τοῦ δοῦναί σε ἐν χειρὶ ἀλλοφύλων καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψων ὀμόσατέ μοι μήποτε συναντήσητε ἐν ἐμοὶ ὑμεῖς

And they said to him, 'We have come down to bind you, to give you into the hand of the Philistines.' And Samson said to them, 'Swear to me that you yourselves will not fall upon me.'

Direct speech: the binding-proposal and Samson's conditionκαὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ
Judah states its purpose (δῆσαί σε … τοῦ δοῦναί σε ἐν χειρὶ ἀλλοφύλων), and Samson consents only on a sworn condition: that his own kinsmen will not themselves strike him (μήποτε συναντήσητε ἐν ἐμοὶ ὑμεῖς). The emphatic final ὑμεῖς ('you yourselves') distinguishes Judahite restraint from the Philistine threat — he will not resist his brothers but reserves the right to face the enemy.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Judah's statement of intent.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect objectαὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
δῆσαίto bindAor Act Inf · δέωinfinitive of purpose (fronted before κατέβημεν)δέω: 'bind'; the purpose-infinitive, emphatically fronted; the accent δῆσαί reflects the enclitic σε.
σεyouAccusativeobject of δῆσαι (enclitic pronoun)σε: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
κατέβημενwe have come downAor Act Indic 1 Pl · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down'; the men of Judah declare the reason for their descent.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive of purpose)ὁ: the genitive article τοῦ + infinitive (δοῦναι) expresses purpose, 'in order to give.'
δοῦναίgiveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιarticular infinitive of purpose→ constative aorist infinitiveδίδωμι: 'give / hand over'; τοῦ δοῦναί σε ἐν χειρί = 'to hand you over into the power of.'
σεyouAccusativeobject of δοῦναι (enclitic)σε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (idiom: 'into the hand of')ἐν χειρί: 'into the hand/power of,' a Hebraism (בְּיַד) for delivering into another's control.
χειρὶthe handDativedative (idiom ἐν χειρί)χείρ: 'hand'; idiomatic for power/control.
ἀλλοφύλωνof the PhilistinesGenitivegenitive of possession (whose hand)ἀλλόφυλος: see v. 3.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Samson's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Samson's condition.
αὐτοῖςto themDativeindirect objectαὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ὀμόσατέswearAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ὄμνυμιmain verb (imperative)→ aorist imperative (demand for an oath)ὄμνυμι: 'swear / take an oath'; renders שָׁבַע; Samson exacts a guarantee before submitting to binding; accent ὀμόσατέ reflects enclitic μοι.
μοιto meDativeindirect object (enclitic)μοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
μήποτεlestconjunction (introducing the negative oath-clause + subjunctive)μήποτε: 'lest / that … not'; introduces the content of the oath — that Judah will not attack him.
συναντήσητεyou fall uponAor Act Subj 2 Pl · συναντάωverb of the μήποτε-clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (prohibited contingency)συναντάω: 'meet / encounter'; here in a hostile sense, 'fall upon / assault'; Samson's fear is that his kinsmen might themselves kill him.
ἐνuponpreposition + dative (object of hostile encounter: Hebraism)ἐν + dat.: with συναντάω, 'fall upon me,' a Hebraistic construction.
ἐμοὶmeDativedative object (emphatic personal pronoun)ἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): the emphatic form, object of the hostile συναντάω.
ὑμεῖςyou yourselvesNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (contrastive)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic nominative stresses the contrast — let it not be you, his own kinsmen, who strike him (as opposed to the Philistines).
13

καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ λέγοντες οὐχί ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἢ δεσμῷ δήσομέν σε καὶ παραδώσομέν σε ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν καὶ θανάτῳ οὐ θανατώσομέν σε καὶ ἔδησαν αὐτὸν ἐν δυσὶ καλωδίοις καινοῖς καὶ ἀνήνεγκαν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς πέτρας ἐκείνης

And they said to him, saying, 'No, but we will only bind you with a bond and hand you over into their hand; we will surely not put you to death.' And they bound him with two new cords and brought him up from that rock.

Direct speech and fulfilment: the oath given and the binding executedκαὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ λέγοντες
Judah swears the requested oath — they will only bind and surrender, never kill (θανάτῳ οὐ θανατώσομέν σε, an emphatic cognate-dative Hebraism for 'we will by no means kill you'). The narration then enacts the agreement: two new cords (δυσὶ καλωδίοις καινοῖς), whose newness underlines their strength — and so the magnitude of the miracle when they melt in v. 14.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Judah's sworn reply.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect objectαὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · λέγωredundant participle of speech (Hebraism)→ durative present participle (the accompanying words)λέγω (ptc.): the pleonastic εἶπον … λέγοντες renders אָמַר … לֵאמֹר (cf. v. 2).
οὐχίnonegative adverb (emphatic denial)οὐχί: emphatic 'no'; rejects the suspicion that they intend to kill him.
ὅτιbutconjunction (here reinforcing the adversative ἀλλ᾿ ἤ)ὅτι: in the cluster οὐχί ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἤ, an emphatic restrictive idiom, 'no, but only.'
ἀλλ᾿butadversative conjunction (elided; with ἤ: 'except / only')ἀλλά: 'but'; ἀλλ᾿ ἤ = 'except / but only,' restricting their action to binding and surrender.
onlyparticle (in restrictive idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ)ἤ: in ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but only / except'), a Hebraizing restrictive expression (כִּי אִם).
δεσμῷwith a bondDativecognate dative (with δήσομεν: 'bind with a bond')δεσμός: 'bond / fetter'; the cognate dative δεσμῷ δήσομεν ('we will bind with a binding') is a Hebraizing intensifier emphasising that binding is the whole of their intent.
δήσομένwe will bindFut Act Indic 1 Pl · δέωmain verb→ predictive futureδέω: 'bind'; accent δήσομέν reflects enclitic σε.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (enclitic)σε: 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.
παραδώσομένwe will hand overFut Act Indic 1 Pl · παραδίδωμιmain verb→ predictive futureπαραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; renders מָסַר / נָתַן; the act of surrender to the Philistines; accent reflects enclitic σε.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (enclitic)σε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (idiom: 'into the hand of')ἐν χειρί: 'into the power of' (cf. v. 12).
χειρὶthe handDativedative (idiom ἐν χειρί)χείρ: 'hand'; idiomatic for control.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivepossessive pronoun (the Philistines')αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
θανάτῳwith deathDativecognate dative (with θανατώσομεν: emphatic Hebraism)θάνατος: 'death'; the cognate dative θανάτῳ οὐ θανατώσομεν renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute מוֹת (negated), 'we will by no means put you to death'; cf. ἐκβολῇ at Exod 11:1.
οὐnotnegative particleοὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θανατώσομένwe will killFut Act Indic 1 Pl · θανατόωmain verb (negated, intensified by cognate dative)→ emphatic predictive future (with οὐ: strong denial)θανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; renders הֵמִית; the cognate-dative construction with οὐ makes the assurance absolute; accent reflects enclitic σε.
σεyouAccusativedirect object (enclitic)σε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (fulfilment of the agreement)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδησανthey boundAor Act Indic 3 Pl · δέωmain verb→ constative aoristδέω: 'bind'; the binding is now carried out as promised.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect objectαὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν + dat.: instrumental, 'with.'
δυσὶtwoDativeattributive numeral (modifying καλωδίοις)δύο (dat. δυσί): 'two'; the two cords whose later melting (v. 14) magnifies the miracle.
καλωδίοιςcordsDativedative of instrumentκαλώδιον: 'cord / small rope'; renders עֲבֹת; the binding-material that will dissolve before the πνεῦμα κυρίου.
καινοῖςnewDativeattributive adjective (modifying καλωδίοις)καινός: 'new / fresh'; new cords were strongest and unfrayed — their newness underscores how complete and supernatural the deliverance of v. 14 is.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνήνεγκανbrought upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναφέρωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναφέρω: 'carry/bring up'; renders הֶעֱלָה; they lead the bound Samson up out of the rock-cleft toward the Philistines.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect objectαὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπὸ: 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.
πέτραςrockGenitivegenitive of sourceπέτρα: 'rock'; the Etam crag (vv. 8, 11).
ἐκείνηςthatGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying πέτρας)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the deictic 'that rock' points back to the named refuge of v. 8.
14

καὶ ἦλθον ἕως σιαγόνος καὶ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ἠλάλαξαν καὶ ἔδραμον εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἥλατο ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα κυρίου καὶ ἐγενήθη τὰ καλώδια τὰ ἐπὶ βραχίοσιν αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ στιππύον ὃ ἐξεκαύθη ἐν πυρί καὶ ἐτάκησαν δεσμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ χειρῶν αὐτοῦ

And they came as far as Jawbone, and the Philistines shouted and ran to meet him; and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the cords that were on his arms became like flax that has been burned with fire, and his bonds melted off from his hands.

Climactic peripeteia: the onrush of the Spirit and the loosing of the bondsκαὶ ἦλθον ἕως σιαγόνος
The narrative reaches its turning-point at the place σιαγών ('Jawbone' = Lehi). As the Philistines shout in triumph the πνεῦμα κυρίου 'rushes upon' Samson (ἥλατο, the same verb used at 14:6, 19), and the new cords become as ὡσεὶ στιππύον ('like flax/tow') that has caught fire and melt off his hands — a double simile (fire, melting) that prepares the jawbone-slaughter to follow.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθονthey cameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the procession reaches Lehi/Jawbone.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent/destination)ἕως: 'as far as / up to'; marks arrival at the place.
σιαγόνοςJawboneGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (place-name 'Lehi/Jawbone')σιαγών: 'jawbone / cheek'; here used as the place-name Lehi (לְחִי, 'jawbone'); the word will recur as both weapon and toponym (vv. 15–17, 19), the chapter's central pun.
καὶandnarrative 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.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubjectἀλλόφυλοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἠλάλαξανshoutedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀλαλάζωmain verb→ constative/ingressive aoristἀλαλάζω: 'raise a war-cry / shout in triumph'; renders הֵרִיעַ; the Philistines exult, thinking their enemy delivered up.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδραμονranAor Act Indic 3 Pl · τρέχωmain verb→ constative aoristτρέχω: 'run'; the Philistines rush forward to seize the bound Samson.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'to meet')εἰς συνάντησιν: 'to meet,' a Hebraism (לִקְרַאת).
συνάντησινmeetingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom)συνάντησις: 'a meeting / encounter'; εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῦ = 'to meet him.'
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobjective genitive (with συνάντησιν)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the decisive turn)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἥλατοrushedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἅλλομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (sudden onset)ἅλλομαι: 'leap / spring / rush'; the same verb used of the Spirit's onset at Judg 14:6, 19 (renders צָלַח); pictures the violent, empowering descent of the πνεῦμα.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (direction; elided)ἐπί + acc.: 'upon'; the Spirit comes 'upon' Samson.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πνεῦμαSpiritNominativesubject of ἥλατοπνεῦμα: 'spirit / breath / wind'; renders רוּחַ; πνεῦμα κυρίου, the empowering Spirit of YHWH that repeatedly seizes Samson for deeds of strength.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source/possession (with πνεῦμα)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; πνεῦμα κυρίου = רוּחַ יְהוָה; the divine source of Samson's superhuman power.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηbecameAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (singular with neuter-plural subject)→ constative aoristγίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'become'; the singular verb with the neuter plural τὰ καλώδια follows the regular Greek concord rule (neut. pl. subject + sing. verb).
τὰtheNominativearticle (subject)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καλώδιαcordsNominativesubject of ἐγενήθηκαλώδιον: 'cord'; the new ropes of v. 13, now subject of the miracle.
τὰthe onesNominativearticle (attributive, 'those on his arms')ὁ: the repeated article τὰ ἐπὶ βραχίοσιν makes an attributive phrase, 'the [cords] on his arms.'
ἐπὶonpreposition + dative (location)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
βραχίοσινarmsDativedative of placeβραχίων: 'arm'; renders זְרוֹעַ; the cords bound around his arms.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὡσεὶlikecomparative particle (introducing simile)ὡσεί: 'as / like / as it were'; renders כְּ; introduces the flax-simile.
στιππύονflax / towNominativepredicate (object of comparison)στιππύον (στυππεῖον): 'tow / coarse flax-fiber'; renders פִּשְׁתָּה / נְעֹרֶת; highly flammable, so the cords burn and disintegrate instantly.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐξεκαύθη)ὅς: relative, neuter agreeing with στιππύον.
ἐξεκαύθηhas been burnedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐκκαίωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (passive)ἐκκαίω: 'burn up / set ablaze'; the same root as ἐξέκαυσεν (v. 5), tying the loosing of the bonds to the chapter's fire-motif.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πυρίfireDativedative of instrumentπῦρ: 'fire'; ἐν πυρί = 'by fire' (cf. v. 6).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐτάκησανmeltedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · τήκωmain verb→ constative aorist (passive)τήκω: 'melt / dissolve'; the bonds 'melt away,' a vivid figure for their utter collapse before the Spirit's power.
δεσμοὶbondsNominativesubject of ἐτάκησανδεσμός: 'bond / fetter'; cf. v. 13 δεσμῷ; the fetters fall from his hands.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρῶνhandsGenitivegenitive of separationχείρ (gen. pl.): 'hands'; the bonds slip from his hands, leaving him free to act.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
15

καὶ εὗρεν σιαγόνα ὄνου ἐκρεριμμένην καὶ ἐξέτεινεν τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπάταξεν ἐν αὐτῇ χιλίους ἄνδρας

And he found a fresh donkey's jawbone that had been cast down, and he stretched out his hand and took it, and struck with it a thousand men.

Narrative action: the improvised weapon and the thousandfold slaughterκαὶ εὗρεν σιαγόνα ὄνου
Freed by the Spirit, Samson seizes the nearest object — a discarded (ἐκρεριμμένην) donkey's jawbone — and with this lowliest of weapons strikes down χιλίους ἄνδρας ('a thousand men'). The bathos of the weapon magnifies the divine empowerment: an unclean animal's castoff bone becomes the instrument of a great deliverance.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find'; Samson chances upon a weapon ready to hand.
σιαγόναjawboneAccusativedirect object of εὗρενσιαγών: 'jawbone'; the weapon, punning on the place-name Lehi (v. 14); a donkey's jaw still bearing teeth would serve as a crude club.
ὄνουof a donkeyGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose jawbone)ὄνος: 'donkey / ass'; renders חֲמוֹר; an unclean beast, making the weapon all the more ignominious and the victory all the more clearly God's.
ἐκρεριμμένηνcast awayPerf Mid/Pass Ptc Acc Sg Fem · ἐκρίπτωattributive participle (modifying σιαγόνα)→ resultative perfect (a state: 'lying cast off')ἐκρίπτω: 'cast out / throw away'; the perfect passive participle ('having been thrown away / lying discarded') marks the jawbone as fresh refuse — and 'fresh' (not dried/brittle) so it could withstand the blows.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέτεινενstretched outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκτείνωmain verb→ constative aoristἐκτείνω: 'stretch out / extend'; renders שָׁלַח (the hand); a standard LXX idiom for reaching to take.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραhandAccusativedirect object of ἐξέτεινενχείρ: 'hand'; now free of the melted bonds (v. 14).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; he grasps the jawbone.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (fem., referring to σιαγόνα)αὐτὴν: 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.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / slay'; cf. v. 8; the climactic slaughter with the jawbone.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν + dat.: instrumental, 'with it,' a Hebraism (בְּ).
αὐτῇitDativedative of instrument (the jawbone)αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
χιλίουςa thousandAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying ἄνδρας)χίλιοι: 'a thousand'; the count of the slain, the climactic measure of the Spirit-given victory.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξενἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρας): 'men'; the Philistine warriors struck down.
16

καὶ εἶπεν Σαμψων ἐν σιαγόνι ὄνου ἐξαλείφων ἐξήλειψα αὐτούς ὅτι ἐν τῇ σιαγόνι τοῦ ὄνου ἐπάταξα χιλίους ἄνδρας

And Samson said, 'With a donkey's jawbone I have utterly wiped them out, for with the jawbone of the donkey I have struck a thousand men.'

Direct speech: Samson's victory-chant and wordplayκαὶ εἶπεν Σαμψων
Samson's triumph-saying turns on σιαγών and a Hebrew pun (in MT, חֲמוֹר 'donkey' / חֹמֶר 'heap'); the cognate construction ἐξαλείφων ἐξήλειψα ('wiping I have wiped out') renders an emphatic infinitive absolute, intensifying the total destruction. The repeated σιαγών (anarthrous then articular) savours the irony of the weapon as both deed and place-name.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Samson's victory-chant.
ΣαμψωνSamsonsubject (indeclinable)Σαμψων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν + dat.: instrumental, 'with' (Hebraism).
σιαγόνιjawboneDativedative of instrumentσιαγών: 'jawbone'; the anarthrous first occurrence in the chant, echoing the place-name and the weapon.
ὄνουof a donkeyGenitivegenitive of relationshipὄνος: 'donkey'; in MT the pun חֲמוֹר ('donkey') / חֹמֶר ('heap, heaps') underlies the chant — 'with a donkey's jaw, heaps upon heaps.'
ἐξαλείφωνutterly wiping outPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἐξαλείφωcognate participle (intensifying ἐξήλειψα: Hebraism)→ intensive (rendering infinitive absolute)ἐξαλείφω: 'wipe out / blot out / obliterate'; the cognate participle ἐξαλείφων ἐξήλειψα calques the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute, 'I have utterly destroyed them.'
ἐξήλειψαI have wiped outAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξαλείφωmain verb of the chant→ constative aorist intensified by the participleἐξαλείφω (aor.): the finite verb of the cognate pair; 'I have blotted them out completely.'
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτούς: the Philistine dead.
ὅτιforconjunction (causal/explanatory)ὅτι: 'for / because'; the second colon restates and grounds the boast.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (anaphoric: 'that same jawbone')ὁ: the article now makes σιαγόνι definite — 'the [aforementioned] jawbone.'
σιαγόνιjawboneDativedative of instrument (articular)σιαγών: the articular repetition heightens the wordplay; the same weapon names the place (v. 17).
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνουdonkeyGenitivegenitive of relationship (articular)ὄνος: 'donkey'; the articular τοῦ ὄνου refers back to the specific jawbone of v. 15.
ἐπάταξαI have struckAor Act Indic 1 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb of the causal clause→ constative aoristπατάσσω: 'strike / slay'; recalls v. 15 (ἐπάταξεν), now in Samson's own first-person boast.
χιλίουςa thousandAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying ἄνδρας)χίλιοι: 'a thousand'; the tally of the slain repeated for emphasis.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξαἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρας): 'men'; the Philistine fallen.
17

καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν καὶ ἔρριψεν τὴν σιαγόνα ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸν τόπον ἐκεῖνον ἀναίρεσις σιαγόνος

And it came to pass, when he had finished speaking, that he threw the jawbone out of his hand, and he called that place 'Removal of the Jawbone.'

Etiological notice: the naming of Ramath-lehiκαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐπαύσατο
The temporal καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς … formula closes the slaughter-scene and supplies the place-etiology: Samson casts away the σιαγών and names the spot ἀναίρεσις σιαγόνος ('removal/lifting-up of the jawbone'), the Greek rendering of Ramath-lehi (רָמַת לֶחִי, 'height of the jawbone'); ἀναίρεσις captures both 'taking up' and the 'doing-away/slaughter' the bone accomplished.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-narrative formula)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'come to be / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς … renders וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר, framing a temporal transition (cf. v. 1).
ὡςwhentemporal conjunctionὡς: 'when / as'; introduces the temporal clause.
ἐπαύσατοhe finishedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · παύωverb of the temporal clause→ constative aoristπαύω (mid. παύομαι): 'cease / stop / finish'; the middle with a participle (λαλῶν) means 'finished speaking.'
λαλῶνspeakingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λαλέωsupplementary participle (with ἐπαύσατο)→ progressive (ongoing speech capacity)λαλέω: 'speak'; the supplementary participle completes παύομαι ('ceased speaking'); refers to the chant of v. 16.
καὶthatnarrative conjunction (apodosis after the temporal frame)καί: the apodotic καί following καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς …, a Hebraism (the second waw).
ἔρριψενthrewAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ῥίπτωmain verb→ constative aoristῥίπτω: 'throw / cast away'; Samson discards the jawbone, the gesture that grounds the place-name.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σιαγόναjawboneAccusativedirect object of ἔρριψενσιαγών: 'jawbone'; thrown away, it gives its name to the place.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source/separation)ἐκ: 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.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive of separationχείρ: 'hand'; from which he flings the bone.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming-formula)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / name'; renders קָרָא; the standard LXX etiological verb for place-naming.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσεντόπος: 'place'; the site of the slaughter.
ἐκεῖνονthatAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying τόπον)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; deictic, the spot just described.
ἀναίρεσιςRemovalNominativename (nominative of naming: the bestowed name)ἀναίρεσις: 'taking up / removal / killing'; the name ἀναίρεσις σιαγόνος renders Ramath-lehi (רָמַת לֶחִי, 'height of the jawbone'); the LXX captures both the 'lifting up' (ἀναιρέω = take up) and the 'slaughter' the jawbone wrought; the name stands in the nominative as a title.
σιαγόνοςof the JawboneGenitivegenitive (with the name: 'Removal of the Jawbone')σιαγών: 'jawbone'; the genitive completes the place-name, perpetuating the σιαγών-wordplay as a permanent toponym.
18

καὶ ἐδίψησεν σφόδρα καὶ ἔκλαυσεν πρὸς κύριον καὶ εἶπεν σὺ εὐδόκησας ἐν χειρὶ δούλου σου τὴν σωτηρίαν τὴν μεγάλην ταύτην καὶ νῦν ἀποθανοῦμαι τῷ δίψει καὶ ἐμπεσοῦμαι ἐν χειρὶ τῶν ἀπεριτμήτων

And he was very thirsty, and he wept to the LORD and said, 'You have granted this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now I shall die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised.'

Direct speech: Samson's prayer in extremityκαὶ ἐδίψησεν σφόδρα
Victory gives way to vulnerability: faint with thirst, Samson cries to YHWH, acknowledging the great deliverance (σωτηρίαν … μεγάλην) wrought 'by the hand of your servant' and protesting that he will now die and fall to 'the uncircumcised' (τῶν ἀπεριτμήτων), the standard polemical epithet for the Philistines. It is one of the few prayers in the Samson cycle and prepares God's provision in v. 19.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐδίψησενwas thirstyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διψάωmain verb→ ingressive aorist ('grew thirsty')διψάω: 'be/become thirsty'; the exhaustion after the slaughter sets up the water-miracle.
σφόδραveryadverb of degreeσφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; the extremity of the thirst.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔκλαυσενwept / cried outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κλαίωmain verb→ constative aoristκλαίω: 'weep / cry'; here a cry of distress directed to YHWH (πρὸς κύριον), functioning as prayer.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of address)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeobject of πρός (addressee of the cry)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; Samson appeals directly to the covenant God.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the prayer.
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (addressing God)σύ: the emphatic pronoun stresses that the victory was God's doing.
εὐδόκησαςhave grantedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · εὐδοκέωmain verb of the prayer→ constative aoristεὐδοκέω: 'be well-pleased / be pleased to grant'; here 'you were pleased to give' the deliverance, ascribing the victory to God's good favour.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by the hand')ἐν χειρί: 'by the hand of,' a Hebraism (בְּיַד) for agency.
χειρὶthe handDativedative (idiom ἐν χειρί)χείρ: 'hand'; instrument/agency idiom.
δούλουservantGenitivegenitive of possession (whose hand)δοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; Samson calls himself God's δοῦλος, a posture of humility framing the victory as God's gift through him.
σουyourGenitivepossessive pronounσου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σωτηρίανdeliveranceAccusativedirect object of εὐδόκησαςσωτηρία: 'salvation / deliverance / victory'; renders תְּשׁוּעָה; the great rescue just accomplished against the Philistines.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive with μεγάλην)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μεγάληνgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying σωτηρίαν)μέγας: 'great'; σωτηρία … μεγάλη marks the magnitude of the deliverance.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying σωτηρίαν)οὗτος: 'this'; points to the present victory.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adversative turn)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowadverb (temporal, marking the reversal)νῦν: 'now'; introduces the lament — having won, he may yet perish.
ἀποθανοῦμαιI shall dieFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (lament)→ predictive future (feared outcome)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; Samson fears death by thirst will undo his victory.
τῷofDativearticle (with dative of cause)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δίψειthirstDativedative of cause/means ('die of thirst')δίψος: 'thirst'; the dative of cause, 'by/of thirst.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐμπεσοῦμαιI shall fallFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐμπίπτωmain verb (lament)→ predictive future (feared outcome)ἐμπίπτω: 'fall into'; ἐμπεσοῦμαι ἐν χειρί = 'fall into the power of,' the dreaded capture by the enemy.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (idiom: 'into the hand of')ἐν χειρί: 'into the power of' (cf. vv. 12–13).
χειρὶthe handDativedative (idiom ἐν χειρί)χείρ: 'hand'; idiomatic for control.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπεριτμήτωνuncircumcisedGenitivegenitive of possession (whose hand)ἀπερίτμητος: 'uncircumcised'; renders עֲרֵלִים; the standard contemptuous epithet for the Philistines (cf. Judg 14:3; 1 Sam 17:26), underscoring the dishonour of falling to them.
19

καὶ ἔρρηξεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν λάκκον τὸν ἐν τῇ σιαγόνι καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ αὐτοῦ ὕδωρ καὶ ἔπιεν καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔζησεν διὰ τοῦτο ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς πηγὴ τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου ἥ ἐστιν ἐν σιαγόνι ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης

And God split open the hollow that is in Lehi, and water came out of it; and he drank, and his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore its name was called 'Spring of the one who calls,' which is in Lehi to this day.

Divine answer and second etiology: the spring En-hakkoreκαὶ ἔρρηξεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν λάκκον
God answers the prayer: he splits open the hollow place (λάκκον) at Lehi and water flows, reviving Samson (ἐπέστρεψεν τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔζησεν, a Hebraic idiom for recovery). The second etiology names the spring πηγὴ τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου ('spring of the one who calls/called'), the Greek for En-hakkore (עֵין הַקּוֹרֵא), commemorating Samson's cry; the 'to this day' formula authenticates the tradition.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔρρηξενsplit openAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ῥήγνυμιmain verb→ constative aoristῥήγνυμι: 'break / burst / split open'; renders בָּקַע; God cleaves the rock-hollow to release water (cf. Exod 17:6; Num 20:11).
theNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubjectθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; here the direct agent of the life-giving miracle (a shift from κύριος of v. 18).
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λάκκονhollowAccusativedirect object of ἔρρηξενλάκκος: 'pit / cistern / hollow'; renders מַכְתֵּשׁ ('the mortar/hollow'); the basin-shaped depression at Lehi that God opens as a spring.
τὸνthe oneAccusativearticle (attributive: 'the one that is in Lehi')ὁ: the repeated article makes ἐν τῇ σιαγόνι attributive to λάκκον.
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.
σιαγόνιLehiDativelocative (the place 'Jawbone/Lehi')σιαγών: here again the place-name Lehi ('Jawbone'); the hollow lies within the very place named in v. 17.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενcame outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'come/go out'; water issues from the opened hollow.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦitGenitivegenitive of source (the hollow)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of ἐξῆλθενὕδωρ: 'water'; renders מַיִם; the divine provision answering Samson's thirst.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπιενhe drankAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίνωmain verb→ constative aoristπίνω: 'drink'; Samson drinks and is restored.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (intransitive: 'returned')→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'return'; ἐπέστρεψεν τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ ('his spirit returned') is a Hebraic idiom (שׁוּב רוּחַ) for reviving from faintness (cf. 1 Sam 30:12).
τὸtheNominativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject of ἐπέστρεψενπνεῦμα: here 'breath / vitality' (not the divine Spirit of v. 14); his life-breath returns.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive pronounαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔζησενhe revivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωmain verb→ ingressive aorist ('came back to life / revived')ζάω: 'live'; the ingressive aorist 'he revived,' completing the recovery.
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (causal: 'therefore')διὰ τοῦτο: 'on account of this / therefore,' the standard etiological connective.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (object of διά)οὗτος: 'this'; refers to the event of the spring's giving.
ἐκλήθηwas calledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming-formula, passive)→ constative aorist (passive)καλέω (aor. pass.): 'was named'; the passive naming-formula introducing the spring's etiology.
τὸtheNominativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of ἐκλήθηὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; the spring's enduring designation.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivepossessive pronoun (fem., of the spring πηγή)αὐτῆς: feminine, anticipating πηγή ('spring').
πηγὴSpringNominativepredicate nominative (the bestowed name)πηγή: 'spring / fountain'; πηγὴ τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου renders En-hakkore (עֵין הַקּוֹרֵא, 'spring of the caller').
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with substantival participle)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπικαλουμένουone who callsPres Mid Ptc Gen Sg Masc · ἐπικαλέωsubstantival participle (genitive: 'of the one who calls')ἐπικαλέω (mid. ἐπικαλέομαι): 'call upon / invoke'; the substantival participle 'of the one who calls/invokes' renders הַקּוֹרֵא, commemorating Samson's cry to God (v. 18).
whichNominativerelative pronoun (fem., referring to πηγή)ὅς: relative, feminine, subject of ἐστιν.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the relative clause→ stative present (enduring existence)εἰμί: 'is'; the present asserts the spring's continued existence in the narrator's day.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σιαγόνιLehiDativelocative (place-name 'Jawbone/Lehi')σιαγών: the place-name Lehi once more, fixing the spring's location.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal extent)ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης: 'to this day,' the standard LXX etiological authentication-formula (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה).
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕωςἡμέρα: 'day'; in the 'to this day' formula.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)οὗτος: 'this'; the narrator's present day.
20

καὶ ἔκρινεν τὸν Ισραηλ ἐν ἡμέραις ἀλλοφύλων εἴκοσι ἔτη

And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

Deuteronomistic judge-formula (chapter closure)καὶ ἔκρινεν τὸν Ισραηλ
The chapter closes with the stock Deuteronomistic notice καὶ ἔκρινεν τὸν Ισραηλ … εἴκοσι ἔτη, marking the duration of Samson's judgeship; the qualifier ἐν ἡμέραις ἀλλοφύλων ('in the days of the Philistines') situates his rule within, rather than after, the period of Philistine oppression — a tension the closing chapter (16) will resolve only in his death.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔκρινενjudgedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (judge-formula)→ constative/summary aorist (whole judgeship)κρίνω: 'judge / govern'; renders שָׁפַט; the title-verb of the book of Judges (κριταί), summing up Samson's leadership of Israel.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with proper noun)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object of ἔκρινεν (articular, indeclinable)Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the article τόν marks the accusative; the people Samson judged.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἡμέραιςthe daysDativedative of timeἡμέρα (dat. pl.): 'days'; ἐν ἡμέραις ἀλλοφύλων sets the judgeship within the period of Philistine ascendancy.
ἀλλοφύλωνof the PhilistinesGenitivegenitive of description (whose days)ἀλλόφυλος: 'Philistines' (see v. 3); their domination forms the backdrop of Samson's twenty-year rule.
εἴκοσιtwentyattributive numeral (modifying ἔτη; indeclinable)εἴκοσι: 'twenty'; indeclinable cardinal; the duration of Samson's judgeship (repeated at Judg 16:31).
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of duration of timeἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the accusative of extent, 'for twenty years,' the standard judge-tenure notation.