1
καὶ ἐγένετο ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ ὄρους Εφραιμ καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Μιχαιας
And there was a man from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Micah.
The chapter opens with the classic LXX presentational formula καὶ ἐγένετο ἀνήρ ('and there was a man'), rendering Hebrew וַיְהִי אִישׁ; the same formula introduces protagonists across the historical books (cf. 1 Sam 1:1; 9:1). The naming clause καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Μιχαιας ('and his name was Micah') is a Hebraism (וּשְׁמוֹ); Micah's name (מִיכָיְהוּ, 'Who is like YHWH?') is bitterly ironic given his idolatry.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοthere wasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (presentational: 'there was/arose')→ constative aorist (introduces a new narrative situation)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be / happen'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο ἀνήρ renders Hebrew וַיְהִי אִישׁ, the standard presentational opening that introduces a protagonist into the narrative (cf. 1 Sam 1:1; 9:1); the aorist middle sets the stage for the whole appendix.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject (introduced protagonist)ἀνήρ: 'man / male'; renders אִישׁ; the indefinite 'a man' introduces Micah anonymously before he is named, a typical Hebrew narrative technique that holds the name back for emphasis.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (origin/provenance)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὄρουςhill countryGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (provenance)ὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; renders הַר; ἀπὸ ὄρους Εφραιμ ('from the hill country of Ephraim') is the standard designation for the central highlands of Ephraim, the geographical setting of the whole episode (cf. Josh 17:15; Judg 19:1).
ΕφραιμEphraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun, with ὄρους)Εφραιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם; indeclinable in the LXX; the tribal territory of Ephraim in the central hill country, here the home of Micah and soon the route of the migrating Danites (ch. 18).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing naming clause)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject of verbless naming clause ('his name was Micah')ὄνομα: 'name'; the verbless construction ὄνομα αὐτῷ Μιχαιας renders the Hebrew nominal clause וּשְׁמוֹ מִיכָיְהוּ ('and his name was Micah'); a standard naming idiom.
αὐτῷto him / hisDativedative of possession ('the name to him' = 'his name')αὐτός: the dative of possession ὄνομα αὐτῷ ('a name to him') is a Hebraism for the possessive 'his name'; renders the suffix on שֵׁם.
ΜιχαιαςMicahNominativepredicate nominative (the name itself)Μιχαιας: rendering of Hebrew מִיכָיְהוּ / מִיכָה ('Micah', meaning 'Who is like YHWH?'); declined as a first-declension masculine noun in this text-form (gen. Μιχαια), hence parsed as a declinable name; the theophoric name is deeply ironic, since this 'Who-is-like-YHWH' becomes a maker of forbidden images.
2
καὶ εἶπεν τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ οἱ χίλιοι καὶ ἑκατόν οὓς ἔλαβες ἀργυρίου σεαυτῇ καί με ἠράσω καὶ προσεῖπας ἐν ὠσί μου ἰδοὺ τὸ ἀργύριον παρ᾿ ἐμοί ἐγὼ ἔλαβον αὐτό καὶ εἶπεν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ εὐλογητὸς ὁ υἱός μου τῷ κυρίῳ
And he said to his mother, 'The eleven hundred pieces of silver that you took for yourself, and concerning which you uttered a curse and spoke also in my ears — behold, the silver is with me; I took it.' And his mother said, 'Blessed be my son by the LORD.'
The verse contains a paired speech-exchange: Micah's confession of the theft (introduced by καὶ εἶπεν τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ) and the mother's response (καὶ εἶπεν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ). The mother's curse (ἠράσω) over the stolen silver is now neutralized by her counter-blessing εὐλογητὸς ὁ υἱός μου τῷ κυρίῳ — invoking the LORD over money that will be made into an idol, the chapter's governing irony.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: 'say / speak'; the aorist εἶπεν introduces Micah's confession to his mother; renders Hebrew וַיֹּאמֶר.
τῇtheDativearticle (with μητρί)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητρὶmotherDativeindirect object (recipient of speech)μήτηρ: 'mother'; renders אֵם; Micah's unnamed mother is the pivotal figure of vv. 2–4 — both curser and consecrator of the silver, she drives the idol's production.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with χίλιοι)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χίλιοιthousandNominativesubstantival numeral (nominative absolute / casus pendens: 'the thousand…')χίλιοι: 'thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; the pendent nominative οἱ χίλιοι καὶ ἑκατόν ('the thousand and a hundred [pieces]') fronts the topic of the confession; the 1,100 pieces recur exactly as the bribe-sum given to Delilah by each Philistine lord (Judg 16:5), a deliberate verbal echo.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the numeral compound)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἑκατόνhundredsubstantival numeral (indeclinable, with χίλιοι)ἑκατόν: 'hundred'; indeclinable cardinal numeral; renders מֵאָה; together with χίλιοι forms the total 1,100.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔλαβες)ὅς: relative pronoun; the masculine plural οὕς refers back to the silver pieces (χίλιοι); introduces the relative clause specifying the history of the silver.
ἔλαβεςyou tookAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the original taking of the silver)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; here describing what the mother had 'taken' — though in the MT the verb refers to the silver being taken from her; the Greek construes her as the one who 'took' the silver for herself (σεαυτῇ).
ἀργυρίουof silverGenitivegenitive of material/content (the 1,100 'of silver')ἀργύριον: 'silver / money / a piece of silver'; renders כֶּסֶף; the partitive genitive specifies that the 1,100 are pieces of silver; ἀργύριον is the leitwort of vv. 2–4, recurring as the contested, then consecrated, then idol-fashioned substance.
σεαυτῇfor yourselfDativereflexive dative of advantageσεαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun 'yourself'; the dative of advantage σεαυτῇ ('for yourself') marks the silver as the mother's own retained property.
καίandcoordinate conjunctionκαί: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἠράσωἐγώ: first-person pronoun (enclitic acc. με); the object of the mother's curse — though the sense is that she uttered an imprecation 'in my hearing' against whoever took the silver.
ἠράσωyou uttered a curseAor Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἀράομαιmain verb (the mother's imprecation)→ constative aorist (the past uttering of the curse)ἀράομαι: 'pray / invoke / utter a curse'; renders אָלָה (to swear/curse); the mother had pronounced an imprecation over the lost silver, the resolution of which now drives Micah's confession; the same root yields ἀρά ('curse').
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσεῖπαςyou spokeAor Act Indic 2 Sg · προσλέγωmain verb (coordinate with ἠράσω)→ constative aoristπροσλέγω / προσεῖπον (aor. προσεῖπας): 'address / speak to / declare'; the compound πρός- adds the nuance of speaking openly 'to' someone; the mother both cursed and publicly declared the curse 'in my ears' (ἐν ὠσί μου).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative idiom)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὠσίearsDativedative object of ἐν (idiomatic: 'in my ears')οὖς (dat. pl. ὠσί): 'ear'; the idiom ἐν ὠσί μου renders בְּאָזְנַי ('in my ears / in my hearing'), a Hebraism for speech audibly addressed to someone (cf. the same idiom at Exod 11:2 LXX).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὠσί)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjectionἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the presentative particle dramatizes Micah's confession, drawing his mother's attention to the silver now produced: 'behold, the silver is with me.'
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἀργύριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀργύριονsilverNominativesubject of verbless clause ('the silver is with me')ἀργύριον: here the recovered silver, produced as evidence; the verbless clause τὸ ἀργύριον παρ᾿ ἐμοί ('the silver is with me') is a Hebrew nominal sentence.
παρ᾿withpreposition + dative (possession: 'in my keeping', elided before vowel)παρά + dative: 'beside / with / in the possession of'; παρ᾿ ἐμοί ('with me / in my keeping') asserts that Micah holds the silver.
ἐμοίmeDativedative object of παράἐγώ: emphatic first-person pronoun (dat. ἐμοί); 'with me' locates the silver in Micah's hands.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἐγώ: the emphatic nominative ἐγώ ('I myself') makes the confession explicit: Micah owns up to being the one who took the silver.
ἔλαβονI tookAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (confession of the theft)→ constative aorist (the completed act of taking)λαμβάνω: 'take'; ἐγὼ ἔλαβον αὐτό ('I took it') is Micah's explicit admission of guilt — the climax of the confession that resolves the mother's curse.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβοναὐτός: the neuter αὐτό refers to τὸ ἀργύριον ('the silver').
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the reply)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction of the mother's reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the mother's counter-blessing in response to the confession.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with μήτηρ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτηρmotherNominativesubjectμήτηρ: 'mother'; the subject of the blessing-formula that follows.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εὐλογητὸςblessedNominativepredicate adjective (blessing-formula: 'blessed be…')εὐλογητός: 'blessed / worthy of blessing'; renders בָּרוּךְ; the verbal adjective opens a Hebrew blessing-formula (εὐλογητὸς ὁ υἱός μου τῷ κυρίῳ); the verbless construction implies an optative 'may he be blessed'; tragically the blessing 'to the LORD' precedes the consecration of the silver to an idol.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with υἱός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόςsonNominativesubject of the blessing-formulaυἱός: 'son'; renders בֵּן; the mother blesses Micah upon his confession, perhaps to lift the curse she had pronounced.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱός)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳLORDDativedative of agent/reference ('blessed … by/to the LORD')κύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the dative τῷ κυρίῳ in the blessing-formula renders לַיהוה ('to/by the LORD'); the invocation of the covenant God over silver destined for an idol is the chapter's defining irony.
3
καὶ ἀπέδωκεν τοὺς χιλίους καὶ ἑκατὸν τοῦ ἀργυρίου τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ ἁγιάζουσα ἡγίακα τὸ ἀργύριον τῷ κυρίῳ ἐκ χειρός μου τῷ υἱῷ μου τοῦ ποιῆσαι γλυπτὸν καὶ χωνευτόν καὶ νῦν ἀποδώσω σοι αὐτό
And he gave back the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother said, 'I have wholly consecrated the silver to the LORD from my hand, for my son, to make a carved image and a cast idol; and now I will give it back to you.'
Micah's restitution (ἀπέδωκεν) prompts the mother's consecration-speech. The emphatic cognate construction ἁγιάζουσα ἡγίακα ('consecrating I have consecrated' = 'I have wholly consecrated') renders a Hebrew infinitive absolute, intensifying the dedication τῷ κυρίῳ — yet its explicit purpose (τοῦ ποιῆσαι γλυπτὸν καὶ χωνευτόν) is to make the very images the LORD forbids (Exod 20:4; Deut 27:15).
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέδωκενhe gave backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (restitution)→ constative aorist (completed act of restoration)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / return / restore'; the compound ἀπο- marks restitution; renders שׁוּב (Hiphil, 'return'); Micah restores the stolen silver, resolving the breach opened by the theft and the curse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with χιλίους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χιλίουςthousandAccusativesubstantival numeral (direct object of ἀπέδωκεν)χίλιοι: 'thousand'; the accusative τοὺς χιλίους καὶ ἑκατόν names the 1,100 pieces as the object restored.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (numeral compound)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἑκατὸνhundredsubstantival numeral (indeclinable, with χιλίους)ἑκατόν: 'hundred'; indeclinable; completes the figure of 1,100 pieces of silver.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἀργυρίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀργυρίουof silverGenitivegenitive of material/content (the 1,100 'of silver')ἀργύριον: the partitive/material genitive specifies that the pieces returned are 'of silver.'
τῇtheDativearticle (with μητρί)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητρὶmotherDativeindirect object (recipient of the restored silver)μήτηρ: the silver is returned 'to his mother,' the legitimate owner over whom the curse had been uttered.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing speech)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the mother's consecration-speech.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with μήτηρ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτηρmotherNominativesubjectμήτηρ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἁγιάζουσαconsecratingPres Act Part Nom Fem Sg · ἁγιάζωadverbial participle (cognate with ἡγίακα: Hebraizing infinitive-absolute construction)→ intensifying participle (renders Hebrew infinitive absolute)ἁγιάζω: 'make holy / consecrate / dedicate'; the present participle ἁγιάζουσα paired with the finite ἡγίακα is the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew infinitive absolute + finite verb (הַקְדֵּשׁ הִקְדַּשְׁתִּי, 'I have surely/wholly consecrated'), expressing emphatic certainty.
ἡγίακαI have consecratedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · ἁγιάζωmain verb (emphatic: 'I have wholly consecrated')→ perfect of accomplished dedication (resultant state: the silver now stands consecrated)ἁγιάζω (perf. ἡγίακα): the perfect tense marks the consecration as a completed act with abiding result — the silver is now 'holy to the LORD'; the tragic irony is that this holy dedication funds the manufacture of a forbidden image.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἀργύριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀργύριονsilverAccusativedirect object of ἡγίακαἀργύριον: the consecrated object; the silver is the grammatical and theological focus of the mother's dedication.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳLORDDativedative of dedication ('consecrated to the LORD')κύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; τῷ κυρίῳ ('to the LORD') is the recipient of the dedication — the silver is ostensibly given to YHWH, yet its destined use (an idol) directly contradicts YHWH's own law.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρόςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from my hand')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρός μου ('from my hand') renders מִיָּדִי, a Hebraism stressing that the dedication proceeds from the mother's own ownership and initiative.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρός)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with υἱῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῷsonDativedative of advantage ('for my son')υἱός: 'son'; the dative τῷ υἱῷ μου ('for my son') marks Micah as the beneficiary of the consecrated silver, which will furnish his household shrine.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱῷ)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the articular infinitive (purpose)ὁ (gen. τοῦ): the genitive article with the infinitive ποιῆσαι forms a purpose construction ('in order to make'), a common LXX rendering of Hebrew לְ + infinitive construct.
ποιῆσαιto makeAor Act Inf · ποιέωarticular infinitive of purpose (with τοῦ)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the consecration)ποιέω: 'make / do'; the purpose infinitive τοῦ ποιῆσαι names the appalling object of the dedication — to manufacture a γλυπτόν and χωνευτόν, images explicitly banned by the Decalogue.
γλυπτὸνa carved imageAccusativedirect object of ποιῆσαιγλυπτός: 'carved / graven (image)'; the verbal adjective used substantivally renders פֶּסֶל (the 'graven image' of Exod 20:4; Deut 27:15); the dedication of silver 'to the LORD' for a γλυπτόν is a direct violation of the second commandment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
χωνευτόνa cast idolAccusativedirect object of ποιῆσαι (coordinate with γλυπτόν)χωνευτός: 'cast / molten (image)'; renders מַסֵּכָה (the 'molten image'); the pairing γλυπτὸν καὶ χωνευτόν ('carved and cast image') is a fixed LXX collocation for forbidden cult-images (cf. Deut 27:15; Nah 1:14); it raises the question whether one or two objects are meant — a crux the narrative leaves unresolved.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition to the speaker's decision)νῦν: 'now'; renders עַתָּה; the logical/temporal 'and now' moves from the consecration's purpose to the mother's resolution to return the silver.
ἀποδώσωI will give backFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (the mother's resolve)→ volitive/predictive future (announced intention)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / return'; the same verb as Micah's restitution (ἀπέδωκεν); the mother now declares she will return the consecrated silver to Micah so that the image can be made.
σοιto youDativeindirect objectσύ: second-person pronoun (enclitic dat. σοι); the recipient is Micah.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object of ἀποδώσωαὐτός: the neuter αὐτό refers to τὸ ἀργύριον ('the silver').
4
καὶ ἀπέδωκεν τὸ ἀργύριον τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλαβεν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ διακοσίους ἀργυρίου καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸ ἀργυροκόπῳ καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὸ γλυπτὸν καὶ χωνευτόν καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν οἴκῳ Μιχαια
So he gave back the silver to his mother, and his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave it to a silversmith, and he made it into a carved image and a cast idol; and it was in the house of Micah.
The dedication-speech is enacted: Micah returns the silver, the mother gives 200 pieces to a silversmith (ἀργυροκόπῳ), and the image is made and installed ἐν οἴκῳ Μιχαια. Only 200 of the 1,100 are used for the image; the discrepancy is left unexplained. The verse completes section A's tragic trajectory — silver consecrated 'to the LORD' (v. 3) now stands as an idol in a private house.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέδωκενhe gave backAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (restitution enacted)→ constative aoristἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / return'; Micah carries out the restitution, handing the silver to his mother so the image may be made.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἀργύριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀργύριονsilverAccusativedirect object of ἀπέδωκενἀργύριον: the recurring leitwort; here the silver is handed over for fabrication into the idol.
τῇtheDativearticle (with μητρί)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητρὶmotherDativeindirect objectμήτηρ: the recipient who will commission the image.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; the mother takes a portion (200 pieces) of the silver to fund the image.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with μήτηρ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτηρmotherNominativesubjectμήτηρ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
διακοσίουςtwo hundredAccusativesubstantival numeral (direct object of ἔλαβεν: '200 [pieces]')διακόσιοι: 'two hundred'; renders מָאתַיִם; only 200 of the consecrated 1,100 pieces are actually used for the image — an unexplained discrepancy that underscores the careless irregularity of this private cult.
ἀργυρίουof silverGenitivegenitive of material (partitive: '200 of silver')ἀργύριον: the partitive genitive specifies that the 200 are pieces of silver.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the mother gives the silver to the craftsman to be worked into an image.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεναὐτός: the neuter αὐτό refers to the silver (τὸ ἀργύριον).
ἀργυροκόπῳto a silversmithDativeindirect object (recipient/agent of fabrication)ἀργυροκόπος: 'silversmith / silver-beater' (ἄργυρος + κόπτω, 'beat silver'); renders צוֹרֵף ('refiner / smith'); the craftsman who fashions the consecrated silver into the cult-image.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενhe madeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the smith fashions the image)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / fashion'; the silversmith makes the silver 'into' (predicate accusative) a carved and cast image; the verb fulfils the purpose-infinitive τοῦ ποιῆσαι of v. 3.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεναὐτός: the neuter αὐτό refers to the silver, the raw material now shaped into an idol.
γλυπτὸνa carved imageAccusativepredicate accusative (result: 'made it into a carved image')γλυπτός: 'carved / graven image'; the double-accusative construction (ἐποίησεν αὐτὸ γλυπτόν, 'made it [into] a carved image') is standard for transformation; renders פֶּסֶל.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
χωνευτόνa cast idolAccusativepredicate accusative (coordinate with γλυπτόν)χωνευτός: 'cast / molten image'; renders מַסֵּכָה; the fixed pair γλυπτὸν καὶ χωνευτόν completes the manufacture; the silver consecrated 'to the LORD' is now a forbidden idol.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηit wasAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the image's placement)→ constative aorist (resultant location of the image)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'become / come to be / be situated'; here 'it came to be / was placed' in Micah's house — the idol now permanently installed; the verb echoes the chapter-opening ἐγένετο, framing Micah's story around 'becoming.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (locative: 'in the house')οἶκος: 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת; Micah's private house becomes the shrine housing the idol, anticipating v. 5's οἶκος θεοῦ.
Μιχαιαof MicahGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκῳ: 'house of Micah')Μιχαιας (gen. Μιχαια): the genitive of the protagonist's name, declined as a first-declension masculine noun; the image's lodging 'in the house of Micah' marks the privatization of cult that the appendix indicts.
5
καὶ ὁ οἶκος Μιχαια αὐτῷ οἶκος θεοῦ καὶ ἐποίησεν εφωδ καὶ θαραφιν καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν τὴν χεῖρα ἀπὸ ἑνὸς υἱῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ εἰς ἱερέα
And the house of Micah was for him a house of god, and he made an ephod and teraphim, and he filled the hand of one of his sons, and he became for him a priest.
The verse catalogues Micah's full self-made cult: a 'house of god' (οἶκος θεοῦ), an ephod and teraphim, and the ordination of his own son. The idiom ἐπλήρωσεν τὴν χεῖρα ('he filled the hand') is the technical LXX term for priestly ordination/installation (cf. Exod 28:41; 29:9), here grotesquely applied to a layman installing a layman — every credential of legitimate priesthood is absent.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with οἶκος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκοςhouseNominativesubject of verbless clause ('the house of Micah was…')οἶκος: 'house / household'; the subject of the nominal clause; Micah's domestic dwelling is the topic, now redefined as a cultic 'house of god.'
Μιχαιαof MicahGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἶκος)Μιχαιας (gen. Μιχαια): the possessive genitive; 'the house of Micah.'
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantage/possession ('was for him')αὐτός: the dative αὐτῷ ('for him / to him') in the verbless clause means Micah's house served him as a sanctuary.
οἶκοςa houseNominativepredicate nominative ('[was] a house of god')οἶκος: the predicate noun; ὁ οἶκος … οἶκος θεοῦ renders בֵּית אֱלֹהִים ('house of god'); Micah converts his private home into a shrine — a counterfeit of the legitimate sanctuary.
θεοῦof godGenitivegenitive of relationship (with οἶκος: 'house of god')θεός: 'god'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the phrase οἶκος θεοῦ ('house of god / shrine') legitimizes in name what is in fact an unauthorized private cult-center; the indeterminacy of θεοῦ (anarthrous) underscores the syncretistic confusion.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενhe madeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / fashion'; Micah manufactures the cultic apparatus — ephod and teraphim — to equip his shrine.
εφωδan ephoddirect object of ἐποίησεν (indeclinable transliteration)εφωδ: transliteration of Hebrew אֵפוֹד ('ephod'); indeclinable in the LXX; properly the priestly vestment used for oracular inquiry (Exod 28), here appropriated for a private divinatory cult; its use outside the legitimate priesthood is a recurring sign of apostasy (cf. Judg 8:27).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
θαραφινteraphimdirect object of ἐποίησεν (indeclinable transliteration)θαραφιν: transliteration of Hebrew תְּרָפִים ('teraphim'), household idols/images used in divination (cf. Gen 31:19; 1 Sam 19:13); indeclinable; the LXX transliterates rather than translates, marking the term as a foreign cultic object; its presence completes Micah's apparatus of forbidden worship.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπλήρωσενhe filledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πληρόωmain verb (idiom of priestly ordination)→ constative aorist (act of installation)πληρόω: 'fill / complete'; the idiom ἐπλήρωσεν τὴν χεῖρα ('he filled the hand') renders מִלֵּא יָד, the technical term for consecrating/ordaining a priest (Exod 28:41; 29:9; Lev 8:33); the scandal is that Micah, a layman, performs the ordination and ordains his own son — usurping the prerogative of the Aaronic priesthood.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρα)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραhandAccusativedirect object of ἐπλήρωσεν (idiomatic: 'filled the hand')χείρ: 'hand'; the object of the ordination-idiom; 'to fill the hand' may originally have referred to placing the priestly offering/portion in the ordinand's hands, hence 'install in office.'
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'one of his sons')ἀπό: here partitive, 'from among'; ἀπὸ ἑνὸς υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ('of one of his sons') identifies the ordinand.
ἑνὸςoneGenitivenumeral (genitive object of ἀπό, partitive)εἷς (gen. ἑνός): 'one'; renders אַחַד; one of Micah's own sons is ordained — a priest of the wrong tribe (not Levitical), the irregularity the narrative will 'correct' when a real Levite appears (v. 7).
υἱῶνsonsGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἑνός: 'one of his sons')υἱός: 'son'; the partitive genitive plural; Micah draws his first priest from his own household, underscoring the domestic, self-authorized character of the cult.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱῶν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοhe becameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (result of the ordination)→ constative aorist (resultant office)γίνομαι: 'become'; ἐγένετο … εἰς ἱερέα ('became a priest') uses the Hebraizing εἰς + accusative as predicate (לְ + noun, 'became as/for a priest'); the son now functions as Micah's household priest.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantage ('became for him [a priest]')αὐτός: the dative αὐτῷ marks Micah as the one served by the newly installed priest.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicate: Hebraizing εἰς for לְ)εἰς: 'into / as / for'; the Hebraizing predicative εἰς + accusative (γίνομαι εἰς) renders לְ ('became as/for'), a standard LXX calque for transformation into a role.
ἱερέαa priestAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'became a priest')ἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the office to which Micah's son is illegitimately installed; the recurring phrase ἐγένετο … εἰς ἱερέα (vv. 5, 12, 13) marks the chapter's preoccupation with priesthood — first the son, then the Levite.
6
ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ ἀνὴρ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ ἐποίει
Now in those days there was no king in Israel; each man did what was right in his own eyes.
The famous double-clause refrain of the appendix (cf. 18:1; 19:1; 21:25), marked off by δέ as an editorial aside. The first clause (οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ, 'there was no king in Israel') states the political vacuum; the second (ἀνὴρ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ ἐποίει, 'each did what was right in his own eyes') diagnoses the resulting moral autonomy — the interpretive key to the entire two-part appendix of religious and social chaos.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
δὲnownarrative continuative (post-positive, marking editorial aside)δέ: post-positive particle; here introduces the narrator's framing refrain as a parenthetical comment on the era.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with ἡμέραις)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time ('in those days')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the phrase ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ('in those days') renders בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם, the standard formula locating the events in the pre-monarchic period of the Judges.
ἐκείναιςthoseDativedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέραις)ἐκεῖνος: 'that / those'; the demonstrative locates the narrative in a bygone era, viewed retrospectively from the standpoint of the (later) monarchy that the refrain implicitly commends.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἦν)οὐ (οὐκ before vowel): negative particle; negates the existence of a king.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there was no king')→ descriptive imperfect (durative state of affairs)εἰμί: 'be / exist'; the imperfect ἦν describes the enduring state of affairs — throughout this period there was no king; renders אֵין מֶלֶךְ ('there was no king').
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject (of existential ἦν)βασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the absence of a king is the political diagnosis of the chaos; the refrain implicitly anticipates and commends the monarchy as the remedy for cultic and social anarchy.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙσραηλIsraeldative object of ἐν (indeclinable proper noun)Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; the covenant nation that, lacking a king, descends into the disorder the appendix depicts.
ἀνὴρeach manNominativesubject of ἐποίει (distributive: 'each man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; here distributive ('each man'), rendering אִישׁ in its idiomatic sense 'everyone'; the unchecked individual is the moral problem the refrain names.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing εὐθές)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐθὲςright thingAccusativesubstantival adjective (direct object of ἐποίει: 'the right thing')εὐθύς: 'straight / right / upright'; the neuter substantive τὸ εὐθές ('what is right') renders הַיָּשָׁר; the tragedy is that 'right' is defined subjectively — 'in his own eyes' rather than by the LORD's standard.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (idiomatic: 'in his eyes')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative object of ἐν (idiom of evaluation: 'in his own eyes')ὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; the idiom ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ ('in his own eyes') renders בְּעֵינָיו, a Hebraism for subjective judgment/perspective; the phrase indicts the radical moral autonomy of the kingless era.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμοῖς)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐποίειdidImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (customary/iterative)→ customary imperfect (habitual, repeated action across the era)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the imperfect ἐποίει is customary/iterative — 'each man kept doing' what was right in his own eyes; the durative aspect paints the whole period as one of habitual self-rule; renders יַעֲשֶׂה.
7
καὶ ἐγενήθη νεανίας ἐκ Βηθλεεμ δήμου Ιουδα καὶ αὐτὸς Λευίτης καὶ οὗτος παρῴκει ἐκεῖ
And there was a young man from Bethlehem of the district of Judah, and he was a Levite, and he was sojourning there.
A second presentational formula (καὶ ἐγενήθη νεανίας, 'and there was a young man') introduces the Levite, parallel to v. 1's introduction of Micah. The detail that a Levite from Bethlehem of Judah is merely 'sojourning' (παρῴκει) signals the displacement of the Levites in the kingless era; the verb παροικέω becomes the leitwort of vv. 7–9, tracing his rootless wandering.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηthere wasAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (presentational: 'there was/arose')→ constative aorist (introduces a new figure)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'become / come to be'; the presentational καὶ ἐγενήθη νεανίας ('and there was a young man') parallels v. 1's καὶ ἐγένετο ἀνήρ, introducing the Levite as the second principal figure of the chapter.
νεανίαςa young manNominativesubject (introduced figure)νεανίας: 'young man / youth'; renders נַעַר; emphasizes the Levite's youth and, by implication, his vulnerability and lack of an established position — fitting for a wanderer seeking a place.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒηθλεεμBethlehemgenitive object of ἐκ (indeclinable proper noun)Βηθλεεμ: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית לֶחֶם ('Bethlehem', 'house of bread'); indeclinable; Bethlehem of Judah is the Levite's place of sojourn — significant as the later home of David and the setting of the parallel appendix-story (Judg 19).
δήμουdistrictGenitivegenitive of relationship (with Βηθλεεμ: 'Bethlehem of the district of Judah')δῆμος: 'people / district / clan'; here in the sense of a territorial-clan division; δήμου Ιουδα ('of the district/clan of Judah') specifies that this is Bethlehem in Judahite territory, distinguishing it from Bethlehem in Zebulun (Josh 19:15).
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with δήμου)Ιουδα: transliteration of Hebrew יְהוּדָה ('Judah'); indeclinable; the tribal designation locating Bethlehem; the ironic note is that a Levite is attached to Judah rather than dwelling in a Levitical city as the law prescribes (Josh 21).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject of verbless clause (intensive pronoun: 'and he [was]')αὐτός: the intensive/anaphoric pronoun introduces a verbless clause supplying the crucial datum: he is a Levite.
Λευίτηςa LeviteNominativepredicate nominative ('he was a Levite')Λευίτης: 'Levite'; renders לֵוִי; declined as a first-declension masculine noun (gen. Λευίτου, v. 12), hence a declinable gentilic noun; the Levite's tribal status is the pivotal fact — it is precisely his Levitical lineage that Micah will prize as legitimating his cult (v. 13).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὗτοςthis one / heNominativesubject (demonstrative pronoun, resumptive)οὗτος: 'this (one)'; the resumptive demonstrative reintroduces the Levite as subject of παρῴκει, emphasizing his transient status.
παρῴκειwas sojourningImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · παροικέωmain verb (durative)→ descriptive imperfect (ongoing temporary residence)παροικέω: 'sojourn / dwell as a resident alien'; renders גּוּר; the imperfect παρῴκει marks the Levite as a temporary resident, not a settled inhabitant; the verb (and its cognate noun πάροικος) is the leitwort of vv. 7–9, characterizing the Levite's homelessness.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; refers to Bethlehem; the Levite was sojourning there, but only temporarily — he soon departs to seek a place elsewhere (v. 8).
8
καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ Βηθλεεμ τῆς πόλεως Ιουδα παροικῆσαι ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν εὕρῃ τόπῳ καὶ ἦλθεν ἕως ὄρους Εφραιμ καὶ ἕως οἴκου Μιχαια τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ
And the man went from Bethlehem, the city of Judah, to sojourn wherever he might find a place; and he came as far as the hill country of Ephraim, and as far as the house of Micah, to pursue his journey.
The Levite's quest is framed by the open-ended purpose clause παροικῆσαι ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν εὕρῃ τόπῳ ('to sojourn wherever he might find a place') — wandering without destination. His arrival at Micah's house in Ephraim (ἕως οἴκου Μιχαια) sets up the encounter of vv. 9–13; the closing idiom τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ ('to make/pursue his way') is a Hebraism for 'going on his journey.'
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (journey)→ constative aorist (the departure)πορεύομαι: 'go / travel / journey'; renders הָלַךְ; the deponent aorist passive ἐπορεύθη marks the Levite's setting out from Bethlehem in search of a place to settle.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject (the Levite)ἀνήρ: 'man'; here referring back to the young Levite of v. 7 (now 'the man'); the shift from νεανίας to ὁ ἀνήρ treats him as the established subject of the narrative.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (point of departure)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒηθλεεμBethlehemgenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable proper noun)Βηθλεεμ: indeclinable; the Levite's point of departure, now qualified appositionally as 'the city of Judah.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive in apposition to Βηθλεεμ ('Bethlehem, the city of Judah')πόλις: 'city'; the appositional τῆς πόλεως Ιουδα ('the city of Judah') again specifies Bethlehem of Judah, distinguishing it from the Zebulunite Bethlehem.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with πόλεως)Ιουδα: indeclinable; the tribal designation of Bethlehem.
παροικῆσαιto sojournAor Act Inf · παροικέωinfinitive of purpose (goal of the journey)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose: to find a place to dwell)παροικέω: 'sojourn / reside as an alien'; the purpose infinitive states the Levite's aim — to dwell wherever he might find a place; the leitwort of the section, underscoring his rootlessness.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, with τόπῳ)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ᾧwhateverDativerelative pronoun (with τόπῳ: 'in whatever place')ὅς: relative pronoun; the construction ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν … τόπῳ ('in whatever place') with ἐάν + subjunctive expresses an indefinite/generalizing relative clause — 'wherever he might find.'
ἐὰνeverconditional particle (generalizing, with subjunctive)ἐάν: 'if / ever'; with the relative pronoun and subjunctive it forms an indefinite generalizing clause ('wherever / whatever place').
εὕρῃhe might findAor Act Subj 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ potential aorist subjunctive (contingent discovery of a place)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; the aorist subjunctive in the indefinite clause expresses the contingency of the Levite's search — he has no fixed destination, only the hope of finding a place to stay.
τόπῳplaceDativedative object of ἐν (antecedent of ᾧ, attracted into the relative clause)τόπος: 'place'; renders מָקוֹם; the object of the Levite's search; its placement inside the relative clause (ἐν ᾧ … τόπῳ) is a feature of the indefinite construction.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθενhe cameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival)→ constative aorist (the arrival in Ephraim)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; renders בּוֹא; the Levite's journey brings him to the hill country of Ephraim and specifically to Micah's house — providentially, from the narrative's ironic standpoint, into the orbit of the idolatrous shrine.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent: 'as far as')ἕως: 'until / as far as'; here spatial, marking the limit of the Levite's journey; renders עַד.
ὄρουςhill countryGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (extent of travel)ὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; the hill country of Ephraim, Micah's home region (cf. v. 1).
ΕφραιμEphraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with ὄρους)Εφραιμ: indeclinable; the destination region, recalling v. 1's setting.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent, narrowing to the specific destination)ἕως: the repeated ἕως narrows from the general region (Ephraim) to the precise place — Micah's house.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of ἕωςοἶκος: 'house'; the Levite arrives at Micah's very house — the shrine that will employ him; the repetition of οἶκος Μιχαια (vv. 4, 5, 8, 12) keeps the household-cult in focus.
Μιχαιαof MicahGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκου)Μιχαιας (gen. Μιχαια): the possessive genitive; 'the house of Micah.'
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the articular infinitive (purpose)ὁ (gen. τοῦ): the genitive article + infinitive (τοῦ ποιῆσαι) forms a purpose construction.
ποιῆσαιto make / pursueAor Act Inf · ποιέωarticular infinitive of purpose (idiomatic: 'to make his way')→ telic aorist infinitive (Hebraizing idiom of journeying)ποιέω: 'make / do'; the idiom τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ ('to make his way') renders לַעֲשׂוֹת דַּרְכּוֹ, a Hebraism for 'to pursue/continue his journey'; the Levite comes to Micah's house in the course of his travels.
ὁδὸνway / journeyAccusativedirect object of ποιῆσαι (idiom: 'make one's way')ὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; in the idiom 'to make one's way' it means to travel on; the Levite's open-ended journeying lands him, fatefully, at the idolatrous shrine.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὁδόν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
9
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μιχαιας πόθεν ἔρχῃ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν Λευίτης εἰμὶ ἀπὸ Βαιθλεεμ Ιουδα καὶ ἐγὼ πορεύομαι παροικῆσαι ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν εὕρω τόπῳ
And Micah said to him, 'Where do you come from?' And he said to him, 'I am a Levite from Bethlehem of Judah, and I am going to sojourn wherever I may find a place.'
A question-and-answer exchange. Micah's πόθεν ἔρχῃ ('where do you come from?') elicits the Levite's self-identification, which echoes the narrator's description in vv. 7–8: he is a Levite of Bethlehem (here spelled Βαιθλεεμ) seeking a place to sojourn. The Levite's words restate παροικῆσαι ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν εὕρω τόπῳ in the first person, sealing the picture of rootless wandering and preparing for Micah's offer.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 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 Micah's question to the arriving Levite.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (the Levite)αὐτός: the dative αὐτῷ marks the Levite as the addressee.
ΜιχαιαςMicahNominativesubjectΜιχαιας: the householder, here the speaker questioning the newcomer.
πόθενfrom whereinterrogative adverb (of source)πόθεν: 'whence / from where'; the interrogative adverb opens Micah's question about the Levite's origin; renders מֵאַיִן.
ἔρχῃdo you comePres Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb of the direct question→ progressive present (the Levite's coming, in process)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the present ἔρχῃ ('do you come / are you coming') inquires about the traveler's provenance and current movement.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing the reply)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction of the reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the Levite's answer.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Micah)αὐτός: the accusative object of πρός; the Levite answers Micah.
Λευίτηςa LeviteNominativepredicate nominative (with εἰμί: 'I am a Levite')Λευίτης: 'Levite'; the Levite leads with his tribal identity — the very credential that will commend him to Micah (v. 13).
εἰμὶI amPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb (self-identification)→ stative present (declaration of identity)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula in the Levite's self-identification 'I am a Levite from Bethlehem of Judah.'
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (origin)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒαιθλεεμBethlehemgenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable proper noun)Βαιθλεεμ: an alternate transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית לֶחֶם ('Bethlehem'), with the diphthong αι (cf. Βηθλεεμ in vv. 7–8); indeclinable; such orthographic variation between text-forms is characteristic of the Greek Judges tradition.
Ιουδαof Judahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable, with Βαιθλεεμ)Ιουδα: indeclinable; locates Bethlehem in Judah, as in vv. 7–8.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἐγώ: the emphatic nominative foregrounds the Levite's own purpose: 'and I am going…'
πορεύομαιI am goingPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (present journey)→ progressive present (the journey in progress)πορεύομαι: 'go / travel'; the present πορεύομαι describes the Levite's ongoing, destination-less journey, restating in the first person the narrator's ἐπορεύθη of v. 8.
παροικῆσαιto sojournAor Act Inf · παροικέωinfinitive of purpose (goal of the journey)→ telic aorist infinitiveπαροικέω: 'sojourn'; the Levite repeats the section's leitwort, defining his aim as finding somewhere to dwell as a resident alien.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, with τόπῳ)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ᾧwhateverDativerelative pronoun (with τόπῳ: 'in whatever place')ὅς: the relative in the indefinite construction ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν … τόπῳ ('wherever'), repeating v. 8 in the first person.
ἐὰνeverconditional particle (generalizing, with subjunctive)ἐάν: with the relative and subjunctive forms the indefinite generalizing clause.
εὕρωI may findAor Act Subj 1 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ potential aorist subjunctive (contingent discovery)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; the first-person subjunctive εὕρω matches the narrator's third-person εὕρῃ (v. 8); the Levite's destination is wholly contingent — wherever he happens to find a place.
τόπῳplaceDativedative object of ἐν (antecedent of ᾧ, within the relative clause)τόπος: 'place'; the object of the search; the irony is that Micah is about to offer him exactly such a place — within an idolatrous house.
10
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μιχαιας κάθου μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ γίνου μοι εἰς πατέρα καὶ εἰς ἱερέα καὶ ἐγὼ δώσω σοι δέκα ἀργυρίου εἰς ἡμέραν καὶ στολὴν ἱματίων καὶ τὰ πρὸς ζωήν σου καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὁ Λευίτης
And Micah said to him, 'Stay with me and become for me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a set of clothing and your living.' And the Levite went in.
Micah's offer is strikingly commercial: a fixed wage (δέκα ἀργυρίου εἰς ἡμέραν, 'ten pieces of silver a year'), clothing, and keep, in exchange for the Levite becoming 'a father and a priest' (εἰς πατέρα καὶ εἰς ἱερέα). The priesthood is here a salaried domestic post, exposing the mercenary commodification of the sacred. The verse closes with the Levite's wordless acceptance (καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὁ Λευίτης, 'and the Levite went [in/along]').
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Micah's hiring proposal.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (the Levite)αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΜιχαιαςMicahNominativesubjectΜιχαιας: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κάθουstay / sitPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb (imperative of invitation)→ durative present imperative (settle and remain)κάθημαι: 'sit / dwell / remain'; the present imperative κάθου ('stay / settle down') invites the Levite to abandon his wandering and reside with Micah; renders שֵׁב (Qal imperative of יָשַׁב).
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided before vowel)μετά + genitive: 'with'; μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ('with me') offers the Levite settled companionship in Micah's household.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετάἐγώ: emphatic pronoun (gen. ἐμοῦ); 'with me.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
γίνουbecomePres Mid Impv 2 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (imperative)→ durative present imperative (assume and continue in the role)γίνομαι: 'become'; the present imperative γίνου with the Hebraizing εἰς + accusative ('become for me as a father and priest') invites the Levite to take up a permanent role in the household.
μοιfor meDativedative of advantageἐγώ: the dative μοι ('for me / to me') marks Micah as the beneficiary of the Levite's service.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicate: Hebraizing εἰς for לְ)εἰς: the predicative εἰς + accusative (γίνομαι εἰς) renders לְ, 'become as/for'; cf. v. 5.
πατέραa fatherAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'become a father')πατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; here 'father' is an honorific title for a priest or counselor (cf. 18:19; 2 Kgs 6:21), denoting authoritative spiritual guidance — ironically offered to a youth (νεανίας) by an older householder.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicate, coordinate with εἰς πατέρα)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἱερέαa priestAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'become a priest')ἱερεύς: 'priest'; the role Micah desires the Levite to fill, replacing his own son (v. 5); the doubled εἰς πατέρα καὶ εἰς ἱερέα defines the Levite's domestic-cultic function.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the wage-offer)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἐγώ: emphatic 'I [for my part] will give' — Micah's side of the bargain.
δώσωI will giveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the wage-promise)→ promissory future (committed payment)δίδωμι: 'give'; the future δώσω introduces the terms of employment — a salary, clothing, and provision; the verb frames the priesthood as a paid contract.
σοιto youDativeindirect objectσύ: the dative σοι; the Levite as recipient of the wage.
δέκαtennumeral (indeclinable, quantifying ἀργυρίου: 'ten [pieces]')δέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable cardinal; renders עֲשֶׂרֶת; the annual wage of ten pieces of silver quantifies the commercialization of the sacred office.
ἀργυρίουof silverGenitivegenitive of material (partitive: 'ten of silver')ἀργύριον: 'silver / pieces of silver'; the leitwort returns — silver, which made the idol, now buys the priest.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (temporal distribution: 'per year/day')εἰς: here distributive-temporal, εἰς ἡμέραν rendering לְיָמִים ('for the days / per year'); the idiom denotes the annual/periodic wage.
ἡμέρανyearAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (temporal: 'per year')ἡμέρα: 'day'; in the idiom εἰς ἡμέραν (rendering Hebrew לְיָמִים, 'for the days/year'), it denotes the yearly term of the wage — ten pieces of silver annually.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
στολὴνa set of clothingAccusativedirect object of δώσω (coordinate with δέκα ἀργυρίου)στολή: 'robe / garment / set of clothing'; renders עֵרֶךְ בְּגָדִים ('a set/outfit of garments'); part of the Levite's compensation — clothing as well as cash.
ἱματίωνof clothesGenitivegenitive of content/material (with στολήν: 'a set of garments')ἱμάτιον: 'garment / cloak'; the genitive plural στολὴν ἱματίων ('a suit of clothes') specifies the clothing allowance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰthe thingsAccusativesubstantival article (neuter plural: 'the things [necessary]')ὁ (neut. pl. τά): the article substantivizes the following prepositional phrase ('the things for your life') — i.e., the Levite's provisions/keep.
πρὸςforpreposition + accusative (purpose/reference: 'for your living')πρός + accusative: 'for / with reference to'; τὰ πρὸς ζωήν ('the things for life') is an idiom for the necessities of life, sustenance/keep.
ζωήνlife / livingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the necessities of life)ζωή: 'life / livelihood'; renders מִחְיָה ('sustenance'); the phrase τὰ πρὸς ζωήν σου completes the package — wage, clothing, and board.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ζωήν)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming narration)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (the Levite's acceptance, narrated as movement)→ constative aorist (the act of entering Micah's service)πορεύομαι: 'go'; here the Levite 'went [in/along]' — i.e., he accepted and entered Micah's household; the wordless narrative acceptance contrasts with Micah's voluble offer.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with Λευίτης)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίτηςLeviteNominativesubject (of ἐπορεύθη)Λευίτης: 'Levite'; now 'the Levite' (articular), the established figure who accepts Micah's terms and joins the household.
11
καὶ ἤρξατο παροικεῖν παρὰ τῷ ἀνδρί καὶ ἐγενήθη ὁ νεανίας παρ᾿ αὐτῷ ὡς εἷς ἀπὸ υἱῶν αὐτοῦ
And he began to sojourn with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons.
The Levite's wandering ends: he 'began to sojourn' (ἤρξατο παροικεῖν) with Micah and was treated 'like one of his sons' (ὡς εἷς ἀπὸ υἱῶν αὐτοῦ). The simile echoes v. 5, where Micah had ordained one of his actual sons; the Levite now displaces the son, becoming a quasi-familial member — but a hired one. The leitwort παροικέω reaches its resolution here.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤρξατοhe beganAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἄρχωmain verb (ingressive, with complementary infinitive)→ ingressive aorist (inception of the new residence)ἄρχω (mid. ἄρχομαι): 'begin'; the middle ἤρξατο with the complementary infinitive παροικεῖν ('began to sojourn') marks the inception of the Levite's settled residence with Micah, ending his wandering.
παροικεῖνto sojournPres Act Inf · παροικέωcomplementary infinitive (with ἤρξατο)→ durative present infinitive (ongoing residence)παροικέω: 'sojourn / dwell as a resident'; the leitwort of vv. 7–11; the present infinitive denotes the Levite's continuing residence — his quest for a place (vv. 8–9) is now answered, ironically, by an idolatrous house.
παρὰwithpreposition + dative (in the household of)παρά + dative: 'beside / with / in the house of'; παρὰ τῷ ἀνδρί ('with the man') locates the Levite's residence in Micah's household.
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἀνδρί)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρίmanDativedative object of παρά (Micah)ἀνήρ (dat. ἀνδρί): 'man'; here Micah, 'the man' with whom the Levite settles.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηbecameAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (resultant status)→ constative aorist (achieved quasi-familial standing)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'become'; the Levite 'became' as one of Micah's sons — fully integrated into the household, a near-adoption that blurs the line between hired servant and family.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with νεανίας)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίαςyoung manNominativesubject (of ἐγενήθη)νεανίας: 'young man'; the term from v. 7 recurs, reminding that the new 'priest' and 'father' (v. 10) is in fact a youth, deepening the irony of his honorific status.
παρ᾿withpreposition + dative (in the house of, elided before vowel)παρά + dative: 'with / in the house of'; παρ᾿ αὐτῷ ('with him') restates the Levite's residence with Micah.
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of παρά (Micah)αὐτός: 'him'; Micah, with whom the Levite now dwells.
ὡςlikecomparative particle (introducing simile)ὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the simile ὡς εἷς ἀπὸ υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ('like one of his sons'); renders כְּ; the Levite is treated as family.
εἷςoneNominativenumeral (predicate of the simile: 'like one [of his sons]')εἷς: 'one'; renders אַחַד; 'like one of his sons' — the Levite's near-adoptive standing, paralleling and supplanting the actual son ordained in v. 5.
ἀπὸofpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'one of his sons')ἀπό: partitive 'from among'; ἀπὸ υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ('of his sons') — the partitive construction also seen in v. 5.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivepartitive genitive (with εἷς: 'one of his sons')υἱός: 'son'; the Levite is reckoned among Micah's sons — a striking honor for a hired stranger, completing his integration into the household-cult.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱῶν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
12
καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν Μιχαιας τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Λευίτου καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ εἰς ἱερέα καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν οἴκῳ Μιχαια
And Micah filled the hand of the Levite, and he became for him a priest, and he was in the house of Micah.
The ordination-idiom of v. 5 recurs: ἐπλήρωσεν … τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Λευίτου ('he filled the hand of the Levite'), now applied to the Levite who replaces Micah's son. The threefold echo — ἐγένετο αὐτῷ εἰς ἱερέα (vv. 5, 12) and ἐγένετο ἐν οἴκῳ Μιχαια (v. 4, of the idol; v. 12, of the priest) — knits image, shrine, and priest into a single illegitimate establishment.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπλήρωσενfilledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πληρόωmain verb (idiom of priestly ordination)→ constative aorist (act of installation)πληρόω: 'fill / complete'; the idiom ἐπλήρωσεν τὴν χεῖρα ('filled the hand') is again the technical term for ordaining a priest (cf. v. 5; Exod 28:41); Micah, still a layman, now ordains the Levite — an upgrade in his eyes, since the priest is at least of the right tribe.
ΜιχαιαςMicahNominativesubjectΜιχαιας: the layman who presumes to ordain; the irony is that the ordainer himself has no priestly authority.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρα)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραhandAccusativedirect object of ἐπλήρωσεν (idiom: 'filled the hand')χείρ: 'hand'; the object of the ordination-idiom; cf. v. 5.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Λευίτου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Λευίτουof the LeviteGenitivegenitive of possession (whose hand is filled)Λευίτης (gen. Λευίτου): 'Levite'; the genitive confirms the gentilic noun's first-declension inflection; the Levite is the one ordained — Micah supposes his Levitical descent legitimizes the cult (v. 13).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοhe becameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (resultant office)→ constative aorist (resultant priestly status)γίνομαι: 'become'; ἐγένετο αὐτῷ εἰς ἱερέα ('became for him a priest') exactly repeats v. 5, marking the Levite's installation as the replacement of Micah's son.
αὐτῷfor himDativedative of advantageαὐτός: the dative αὐτῷ marks Micah as the one served by the priest.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicate: Hebraizing εἰς for לְ)εἰς: predicative εἰς + accusative, 'became as/for a priest'; cf. vv. 5, 13.
ἱερέαa priestAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'became a priest')ἱερεύς: 'priest'; the Levite now formally holds the office; the recurring formula ἐγένετο … εἰς ἱερέα binds vv. 5, 12, 13 into the chapter's central concern with priesthood.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοhe wasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (location/residence)→ constative aorist (settled residence)γίνομαι: 'become / be situated'; ἐγένετο ἐν οἴκῳ Μιχαια ('he was in the house of Micah') echoes v. 4 (where the idol 'was in the house of Micah'), aligning the priest with the image as fixtures of the shrine.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (locative: 'in the house')οἶκος: 'house'; the Levite resides in Micah's house — the shrine complete with image, ephod, teraphim, and now a Levitical priest.
Μιχαιαof MicahGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκῳ)Μιχαιας (gen. Μιχαια): the possessive genitive; the recurring 'house of Micah' (vv. 4, 5, 8, 12) frames the whole as a privatized, self-made sanctuary.
13
καὶ εἶπεν Μιχαιας νῦν ἔγνων ὅτι ἀγαθυνεῖ κύριος ἐμοί ὅτι ἐγένετό μοι ὁ Λευίτης εἰς ἱερέα
And Micah said, 'Now I know that the LORD will do me good, because the Levite has become a priest for me.'
The chapter closes on Micah's self-deceived confidence: νῦν ἔγνων ὅτι ἀγαθυνεῖ κύριος ἐμοί ('now I know the LORD will do me good'). His assurance rests entirely on possessing a Levite as priest (ὅτι ἐγένετό μοι ὁ Λευίτης εἰς ἱερέα) — as if correct personnel could legitimate an idolatrous shrine. The invocation of κύριος (the Tetragrammaton) over a cult of carved images is the chapter's culminating irony, setting up the Danites' seizure of both priest and idols in ch. 18.
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 Micah's concluding declaration.
ΜιχαιαςMicahNominativesubjectΜιχαιας: the protagonist gets the chapter's last word — a confident but tragically misplaced assurance.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (emphatic: 'now [at last]')νῦν: 'now'; renders עַתָּה; the emphatic 'now I know' marks the acquisition of the Levite as the decisive turning point in Micah's self-assessment.
ἔγνωνI knowAor Act Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (declaration of certainty)→ ingressive/dramatic aorist ('I have come to know' = 'I now know')γινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; the aorist ἔγνων with νῦν ('now I know') is ingressive — 'I have come to realize'; renders יָדַעְתִּי; Micah's 'knowledge' is in fact delusion, mistaking ritual correctness for divine favor.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause of ἔγνων)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of Micah's 'knowledge' — that the LORD will prosper him.
ἀγαθυνεῖwill do goodFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαθύνωverb of object clause (the content known)→ predictive future (anticipated divine benefaction)ἀγαθύνω: 'do good / treat well / benefit'; renders יֵיטִיב (Hiphil of יָטַב, 'do good'); Micah expects YHWH to 'do him good' — a presumption that confuses possession of a Levite with covenant fidelity; the verb is rare and distinctly Septuagintal.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of ἀγαθυνεῖ)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; that Micah expects blessing from the LORD himself — while maintaining a shrine of carved images — is the climactic irony of the chapter; the covenant God is invoked as guarantor of an idolatrous enterprise.
ἐμοίto meDativedative of advantage (beneficiary of ἀγαθυνεῖ)ἐγώ: emphatic pronoun (dat. ἐμοί); 'to me / for me' — Micah as the anticipated beneficiary of divine good.
ὅτιbecauseconjunction (causal: ground of Micah's confidence)ὅτι: here causal, 'because'; introduces the ground of Micah's assurance — the acquisition of a Levite as priest.
ἐγένετόhas becomeAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of causal clause (the basis of the assurance)→ constative aorist (achieved possession of a priest)γίνομαι: 'become'; ἐγένετό μοι ὁ Λευίτης εἰς ἱερέα ('the Levite has become a priest for me') gives the basis of Micah's confidence; the third repetition of the εἰς ἱερέα formula (cf. vv. 5, 12) — now the ground of false hope.
μοιfor meDativedative of advantageἐγώ: the dative μοι; Micah as the one for whom the Levite serves.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with Λευίτης)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίτηςLeviteNominativesubject (of ἐγένετο)Λευίτης: 'Levite'; Micah's whole confidence rests on the Levite's tribal pedigree — as though right lineage could sanctify a forbidden cult; ch. 18 will shatter the assurance when the Danites carry off both Levite and images.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicate: Hebraizing εἰς for לְ)εἰς: predicative εἰς + accusative, 'became as/for a priest'; the recurring formula (vv. 5, 12, 13).
ἱερέαa priestAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς: 'a priest')ἱερεύς: 'priest'; the final word of the chapter names the object of Micah's misplaced confidence; the threefold εἰς ἱερέα (vv. 5, 12, 13) crowns the chapter's ironic meditation on a self-made priesthood.