Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Judges, Chapter 19ΚΡΙΤΑΙ ΙΘ′

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

The outrage at Gibeah exposes Israel's moral collapse and summons the tribes to reckon with a crime like Sodom's.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Judges 19 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 (conventionally the A- and B-texts); the verbatim Rahlfs reference annotated here is followed character for character without harmonization. Judges 19 is the second appendix to the book and one of the darkest narratives in Scripture: it opens and is framed by the refrain οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ ('there was no king in Israel', v. 1; cf. 17:6; 18:1; 21:25), the editorial leitmotif diagnosing the moral anarchy of the period. A Levite sojourning in the hill country (μηροῖς ὄρους Εφραιμ) takes a concubine (παλλακή) from Bethlehem of Judah; she leaves him, and he goes to speak to her heart (λαλῆσαι ἐπὶ καρδίαν αὐτῆς, v. 3) and bring her back. The narrative dwells with grim irony on the father-in-law's lavish, almost compulsive hospitality (vv. 4–9, the recurring στήρισον τὴν καρδίαν σου, 'strengthen your heart'), which delays the departure until evening and forces a night journey. The Levite refuses to lodge in Jebus (πόλιν ἀλλοτρίαν, the foreign, pre-Israelite Jerusalem, vv. 11–12) and presses on to Gibeah of Benjamin, where no one takes them in (οὐκ ἦν ἀνὴρ συνάγων αὐτούς, v. 15) until an old Ephraimite sojourner offers shelter (vv. 16–21). The night is shattered when υἱοὶ παρανόμων ('sons of lawless men', v. 22, the LXX rendering of בְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַל) surround the house demanding the guest; the host offers his virgin daughter and the concubine (vv. 23–24), and the Levite thrusts out his concubine, who is abused through the night (ἐνέπαιζον ἐν αὐτῇ ὅλην τὴν νύκτα, v. 25) and dies at the threshold, her hands on the doorway (vv. 26–27). The Levite cuts her into twelve pieces (εἰς δώδεκα μέλη) and sends them throughout the territory of Israel (v. 29), provoking the unanimous verdict that nothing like this has happened ἀπὸ ἡμέρας ἀναβάσεως υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ('from the day Israel came up out of Egypt', v. 30). The chapter deliberately echoes Genesis 19 (the men of Sodom, the host's offer of women, the threshold) to mark Gibeah as a new Sodom within Israel itself.

1

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις καὶ οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ καὶ ἐγένετο ἀνὴρ Λευίτης παροικῶν ἐν μηροῖς ὄρους Εφραιμ καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτῷ γυναῖκα παλλακὴν ἀπὸ Βηθλεεμ Ιουδα

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a Levite man sojourning in the recesses of the hill country of Ephraim, and he took for himself a woman, a concubine, from Bethlehem of Judah.

Narrative opening (scene-setting, with framing refrain)καὶ ἐγένετο
The chapter opens with the LXX narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο (rendering וַיְהִי), establishing the temporal frame ('in those days'). The clause οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ is the editorial refrain of the Judges appendices (cf. 17:6; 18:1; 21:25), signalling the moral chaos that the ensuing narrative will illustrate. The second ἐγένετο introduces the protagonist.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-setting formula)→ constative aorist (narrative onset)γίνομαι: 'become / happen / come to pass'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο renders Hebrew וַיְהִי, the standard LXX device for opening a narrative pericope and introducing a temporal frame.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)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.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (within which)ἡμέρα: 'day'; the phrase ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ('in those days') is a standard LXX temporal formula situating the episode in the unsettled era of the judges.
ἐκείναιςthoseDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέραις)ἐκεῖνος: 'that / those'; the distal demonstrative marks the period as belonging to the remote, pre-monarchic past from the narrator's vantage.
καὶand / whenHebraizing καί introducing the circumstantial framing clauseκαί: the parataxis here functions circumstantially ('when'), introducing the refrain-clause that characterizes the period.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἦν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated)→ stative imperfect (ongoing state of affairs)εἰμί: 'be / exist'; the imperfect οὐκ ἦν βασιλεύς describes the durative political condition of the era; this refrain (17:6; 18:1; 21:25) is the editorial key to the appendices, attributing the ensuing depravity to the absence of central authority.
βασιλεὺςkingNominativesubject of ἦν (predicate of existence)βασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; its absence is the diagnostic refrain of Judges 17–21, framing the period as one of moral and social anarchy in which 'each did what was right in his own eyes' (21:25).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable proper noun (object of ἐν)Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; denotes the tribal confederation collectively, here as the political body lacking a king.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming the main line)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοthere wasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential introduction of protagonist)→ constative aorist (introducing a new participant)γίνομαι: here existential ('there was / there arose'), introducing the unnamed Levite as the chapter's protagonist; the anonymity of all the principals (Levite, concubine, father, host) is a deliberate narrative trait.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject (predicate of ἐγένετο)ἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; renders אִישׁ; the protagonist is identified by status (a Levite) but never by name.
ΛευίτηςLeviteNominativeappositive to ἀνήρ (gentilic/tribal designation)Λευίτης: 'Levite'; a declinable first-declension gentilic (rendering לֵוִי); the protagonist's priestly-tribal status sharpens the irony and horror of the events that follow, since a Levite is implicated in them.
παροικῶνsojourningPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · παροικέωattributive participle (modifying ἀνήρ)→ durative present participle (ongoing residence as a resident alien)παροικέω: 'dwell as a stranger / sojourn'; renders גּוּר; the participle marks the Levite as a resident alien in Ephraim, not a native — a status of social marginality that will be mirrored by the old man of Gibeah (v. 16).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μηροῖςrecesses / flanksDativedative of place (object of ἐν)μηρός: lit. 'thigh / flank'; here in the topographical sense 'recesses / remote parts (of the hill country)', a literal LXX rendering of Hebrew יַרְכְּתֵי ('the far sides of'); cf. the same idiom at v. 18 (μηρῶν ὄρους Εφραιμ).
ὄρουςmountain / hill countryGenitivegenitive (partitive/locative with μηροῖς)ὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; renders הַר; ὄρος Εφραιμ is the standard designation for the central highlands of the Ephraimite tribal territory.
ΕφραιμEphraimindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)Εφραιμ: transliteration of אֶפְרַיִם; indeclinable; names the tribal hill country where the Levite sojourns.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενhe tookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (acquisition of the concubine)→ constative aorist (completed act)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; λαμβάνω γυναῖκα ('take a wife') renders the Hebrew idiom לָקַח אִשָּׁה for entering a marital/conjugal relationship; here qualified as a concubine-relationship.
αὐτῷfor himselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive sense)αὐτός: the dative αὐτῷ functions reflexively ('for himself'), a Hebraism rendering the ethical dative לוֹ in לָקַח לוֹ.
γυναῖκαwoman / wifeAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβενγυνή: 'woman / wife'; here qualified by παλλακήν as a secondary wife; renders אִשָּׁה.
παλλακὴνconcubineAccusativeappositive accusative (defining γυναῖκα)παλλακή: 'concubine / secondary wife'; renders פִּילֶגֶשׁ; a recognized but subordinate conjugal status; the concubine is the silent, anonymous figure at the center of the tragedy.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (origin)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒηθλεεμBethlehemindeclinable proper noun (object of ἀπό)Βηθλεεμ: transliteration of בֵּית לֶחֶם ('house of bread'); indeclinable; the Judahite town from which the concubine comes — the same town that figures in Ruth and as David's birthplace.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship, qualifying Βηθλεεμ)Ιουδα: transliteration of יְהוּדָה; indeclinable; 'Bethlehem of Judah' distinguishes it from Bethlehem in Zebulun (Josh 19:15).
2

καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἡ παλλακὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπῆλθεν παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς οἶκον πατρὸς αὐτῆς εἰς Βηθλεεμ Ιουδα καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἡμέρας τεσσάρων μηνῶν

And his concubine departed from him and went away from him to her father's house, to Bethlehem of Judah, and she was there for the space of four months.

Complicating action (the breach that sets the plot in motion)καὶ ἐπορεύθη
The concubine's departure is the inciting incident. The Rahlfs text reads ἐπορεύθη … καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ('went away from him'), the A-text reading; the parallel B-text and MT speak rather of her playing the harlot (וַתִּזְנֶה). The double verb of separation (ἐπορεύθη … ἀπῆλθεν) emphasizes the rupture.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηdepartedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (the concubine's departure)→ constative aorist (completed departure)πορεύομαι: 'go / journey / depart'; deponent, aorist passive in form; renders הָלַךְ; here the first of a doubled verb of separation marking the breach in the relationship.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation; elided before vowel)ἀπ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (point of separation)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticle (with παλλακή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παλλακὴconcubineNominativesubject of ἐπορεύθηπαλλακή: 'concubine'; renders פִּילֶגֶשׁ; here the grammatical subject who acts on her own initiative for the only time in the narrative.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παλλακή)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπῆλθενwent awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (reinforcing the departure)→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the compound ἀπ- reinforces ἐπορεύθη, the pairing stressing the completeness of the separation.
παρ᾿frompreposition + genitive (source; elided before vowel)παρ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of παρά (from his side)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)οἶκος: 'house / household'; οἶκος πατρός ('father's house', בֵּית אָב) denotes the paternal household to which a woman might return upon estrangement.
πατρὸςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying οἶκον)πατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; the concubine returns to her father's protection in Bethlehem.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying πατρός)αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (apposition of destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒηθλεεμBethlehemindeclinable proper noun (object of εἰς)Βηθλεεμ: transliteration of בֵּית לֶחֶם; indeclinable; in apposition to 'her father's house', specifying its location.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (qualifying Βηθλεεμ)Ιουδα: transliteration of יְהוּדָה; indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦνshe wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (durative residence)→ durative imperfect (ongoing stay)εἰμί: 'be / remain'; the imperfect ἦν marks the concubine's continued residence at her father's house over the four-month span.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; locates the stay at the father's house in Bethlehem.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration ('for the days of...')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative plural with the genitive τεσσάρων μηνῶν is a Hebraizing idiom for extent of time, 'for the space of four months' (rendering יָמִים אַרְבָּעָה חֳדָשִׁים).
τεσσάρωνfourGenitivenumeral (genitive, modifying μηνῶν)τέσσαρες: 'four'; genitive plural agreeing with μηνῶν; specifies the duration of the estrangement.
μηνῶνof monthsGenitivegenitive of time (extent, with ἡμέρας)μήν: 'month'; the four-month span measures the length of the separation before the Levite goes after her.
3

καὶ ἀνέστη ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὀπίσω αὐτῆς τοῦ λαλῆσαι ἐπὶ καρδίαν αὐτῆς τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι αὐτὴν αὐτῷ καὶ νεανίας αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ζεῦγος ὄνων καὶ ἥδε εἰσήνεγκεν αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκον πατρὸς αὐτῆς καὶ εἶδεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ τῆς νεάνιδος καὶ ηὐφράνθη εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῦ

And her husband arose and went after her to speak to her heart, to bring her back to himself; and his servant was with him, and a pair of donkeys. And she brought him into her father's house, and the father of the young woman saw him and rejoiced to meet him.

Resolution attempt (reconciliation journey) and scene transferκαὶ ἀνέστη
The Levite's pursuit is framed by the tender idiom λαλῆσαι ἐπὶ καρδίαν αὐτῆς ('to speak to her heart', a gesture of reconciliation; cf. Gen 34:3; Hos 2:16). The two articular infinitives τοῦ λαλῆσαι … τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι express purpose. The scene then shifts to the father's joyful welcome, introducing the hospitality motif that dominates vv. 4–9.
Word-by-word analysis· 46 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (inceptive action)→ ingressive aorist (set out)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / set out'; the intransitive root aorist ἀνέστη renders קוּם, frequently an inceptive marker ('he set out to...') introducing a journey or decisive action.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρhusbandNominativesubject of ἀνέστηἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; with αὐτῆς ('her man') it denotes the Levite in his conjugal role toward the concubine.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἀνήρ)αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (the pursuit)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; deponent; here the Levite's journey in pursuit of his concubine.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive ('after her')ὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; renders אַחֲרֵי; with the genitive αὐτῆς it expresses pursuit.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive with ὀπίσωαὐτῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the infinitive of purposeτοῦ + infinitive: the articular genitive infinitive expresses purpose, a frequent LXX construction rendering Hebrew לְ + infinitive construct.
λαλῆσαιto speakAor Act Inf · λαλέωarticular infinitive of purpose→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose of the journey)λαλέω: 'speak'; the idiom λαλῆσαι ἐπὶ καρδίαν ('speak to/upon the heart') renders דִּבֶּר עַל לֵב, a gesture of tender persuasion and reconciliation (cf. Gen 34:3; Ruth 2:13; Hos 2:16).
ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + accusative (idiomatic with καρδίαν)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
καρδίανheartAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (idiom: 'to her heart')καρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב; in the idiom λαλεῖν ἐπὶ καρδίαν it denotes the seat of will and affection that the speaker seeks to win over.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying καρδίαν)αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the second infinitive of purposeτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιστρέψαιto bring backAor Act Inf · ἐπιστρέφωarticular infinitive of purpose (transitive)→ telic aorist infinitiveἐπιστρέφω: 'turn / bring back / restore'; renders שׁוּב (Hiphil); transitive here ('to bring her back'), the goal of the reconciliation overture.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of ἐπιστρέψαιαὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτῷto himselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive: 'to himself')αὐτός: dative αὐτῷ here reflexive, 'back to himself.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (circumstantial)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νεανίαςyoung servantNominativesubject of an implied verb of accompanimentνεανίας: 'young man / servant-lad'; renders נַעַר; the Levite's attendant who accompanies the journey and reappears at vv. 9, 11, 13.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying νεανίας)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετάαὐτοῦ: 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.
ζεῦγοςpair / yokeNominativesubject (further item of the company)ζεῦγος: 'pair / yoke / team'; renders צֶמֶד; 'a pair of donkeys' for transport and baggage (cf. v. 10 ἐπισεσαγμένων, saddled).
ὄνωνof donkeysGenitivegenitive (partitive, with ζεῦγος)ὄνος: 'donkey / ass'; renders חֲמוֹר; the pack-animals of the journey.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἥδεsheNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject, resumptive: 'and she')ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: 'this (one)'; the feminine ἥδε here functions as an emphatic resumptive subject pronoun ('and she'), referring to the concubine who leads the Levite into her father's house.
εἰσήνεγκενbrought inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσφέρωmain verb (the concubine introduces him)→ constative aoristεἰσφέρω: 'bring in / carry into'; renders בּוֹא (Hiphil); the concubine herself ushers the Levite into the paternal house, signalling at least provisional reconciliation.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of εἰσήνεγκεναὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)οἶκος: 'house'; the paternal house in Bethlehem, scene of the hospitality.
πατρὸςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying οἶκον)πατήρ: 'father.'
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying πατρός)αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (the father's perception)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; the suppletive aorist εἶδεν; the father's seeing prompts his joyful welcome.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of εἶδεναὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticle (with πατήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of εἶδεν and ηὐφράνθηπατήρ: 'father'; the concubine's father, also the Levite's father-in-law (γαμβρός, v. 4), the agent of the prolonged hospitality.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with νεάνιδος)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεάνιδοςyoung womanGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατήρ: 'father of the young woman')νεᾶνις (gen. νεάνιδος): 'young woman / girl'; renders נַעֲרָה; the recurring designation 'father of the young woman' (vv. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9) keeps the hospitality framed around the daughter.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ηὐφράνθηrejoicedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · εὐφραίνωmain verb (the father's joy)→ ingressive aorist (was made glad)εὐφραίνω (pass. 'rejoice / be glad'): renders שָׂמַח; the father's gladness at the reconciliation drives the lavish hospitality of the following verses.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (idiomatic: 'to meet')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
συνάντησινmeetingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: εἰς συνάντησιν, 'to meet')συνάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; the idiom εἰς συνάντησιν renders לִקְרַאת ('to meet'), a fixed LXX expression for going out to greet an arrival.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobjective genitive (with συνάντησιν: 'to meet him')αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
4

καὶ κατέσχεν αὐτὸν ὁ γαμβρὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ πατὴρ τῆς νεάνιδος καὶ ἐκάθισεν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἔπιον καὶ ηὐλίσθησαν ἐκεῖ

And his father-in-law, the father of the young woman, detained him, and he stayed with him three days; and they ate and drank and lodged there.

Development (the hospitality motif begins)καὶ κατέσχεν
κατέσχεν ('detained / held back') introduces the chapter's central irony: the father's insistent hospitality, eating, drinking, and lodging, delays the Levite and ultimately forces the fatal night journey. The asyndetic triad ἔφαγον … ἔπιον … ηὐλίσθησαν compresses the routine of feasting that will be drawn out over vv. 5–9.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέσχενdetainedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατέχωmain verb (the father holds the guest)→ constative aoristκατέχω: 'hold fast / detain / restrain'; renders חָזַק (Hiphil); the verb signals the father's pressing insistence that becomes the engine of the plot's delay.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of κατέσχεναὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticle (with γαμβρός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρὸςfather-in-lawNominativesubject of κατέσχενγαμβρός: 'relative by marriage'; here 'father-in-law' (renders חֹתֵן); the term can denote various in-law relations, here clarified by the apposition ὁ πατὴρ τῆς νεάνιδος.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying γαμβρός)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
theNominativearticle (with πατήρ, in apposition)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativeappositive to γαμβρόςπατήρ: 'father'; the apposition ὁ γαμβρὸς … ὁ πατὴρ τῆς νεάνιδος fixes the dual relationship (father-in-law to the Levite, father to the concubine).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with νεάνιδος)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεάνιδοςyoung womanGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατήρ)νεᾶνις: 'young woman'; renders נַעֲרָה; the concubine.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάθισενhe stayedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (the guest remains)→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit / settle / stay'; here intransitive 'remained / abode', renders יָשַׁב; the Levite's three-day stay with his father-in-law.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετάαὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐπὶforpreposition + accusative (temporal extent)ἐπί + accusative of time: 'for (the space of)'; marks the duration of the stay.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativenumeral (modifying ἡμέρας)τρεῖς: 'three'; the initial span of hospitality, before the further deferrals of the fourth and fifth days.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration (object of ἐπί)ἡμέρα: 'day.'
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔφαγονthey ateAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (first of the feasting triad)→ constative aoristἐσθίω: 'eat'; suppletive aorist ἔφαγον (root φαγ-); renders אָכַל; the eating-drinking-lodging triad is the leitmotif of the hospitality scene.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπιονthey drankAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίνωmain verb (second of the feasting triad)→ constative aoristπίνω: 'drink'; aorist ἔπιον; renders שָׁתָה; paired with ἔφαγον in the standard merism for feasting.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ηὐλίσθησανthey lodgedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · αὐλίζομαιmain verb (third of the feasting triad)→ constative aoristαὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night / encamp'; renders לוּן; the verb recurs throughout the chapter (vv. 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 20) as the thematic question of where the company will spend the night.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; at the father's house in Bethlehem.
5

καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τετάρτῃ καὶ ὤρθρισαν τὸ πρωί καὶ ἀνέστη τοῦ πορευθῆναι καὶ εἶπεν ὁ πατὴρ τῆς νεάνιδος πρὸς τὸν νυμφίον αὐτοῦ στήρισόν σου τὴν καρδίαν ψωμῷ ἄρτου καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο πορεύσεσθε

And it came to pass on the fourth day that they rose early in the morning, and he arose to go; but the father of the young woman said to his son-in-law, 'Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and after that you shall go.'

Development (the fourth-day deferral begins the pattern of delay)καὶ ἐγένετο
The temporal formula καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τετάρτῃ opens the cycle of repeated near-departures. The father's plea στήρισον … τὴν καρδίαν σου ψωμῷ ἄρτου ('strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread') is the recurring hospitality refrain (cf. vv. 8, 9); the diminutive 'morsel' is a polite understatement for a full meal.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 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-setting formula)→ constative aorist (scene transition)γίνομαι: 'come to pass'; καὶ ἐγένετο (= וַיְהִי) opens the new day's scene, here the fourth day of the hospitality.
τῇon theDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (point of time)ἡμέρα: 'day'; the fourth day, when the Levite first attempts to leave.
τῇtheDativearticle (with τετάρτῃ, attributive)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τετάρτῃfourthDativeordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)τέταρτος: 'fourth'; the ordinal marking the day the departure is first attempted and deferred.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis of καὶ ἐγένετο)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὤρθρισανthey rose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὀρθρίζωmain verb (early rising for the journey)→ constative aoristὀρθρίζω: 'rise early / do at dawn'; renders שָׁכַם (Hiphil); marks the intended early start that the father's hospitality will repeatedly frustrate.
τὸin theAccusativearticle (with the adverbial πρωί)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωίmorningadverb of time (substantivized with article: 'the morning')πρωί: 'early / in the morning'; indeclinable adverb, here with the neuter article τὸ πρωί used adverbially for 'in the morning' (rendering בַּבֹּקֶר).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηhe aroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (preparing to depart)→ ingressive aorist (made to set out)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / set out'; root aorist ἀνέστη; the Levite rises to begin the journey, but is detained again.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the infinitive of purposeτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορευθῆναιto goAor Pass Inf · πορεύομαιarticular infinitive of purpose→ telic aorist infinitiveπορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; τοῦ πορευθῆναι ('in order to go') expresses the purpose of his rising.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative force in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the father's first persuasive plea to delay the departure.
theNominativearticle (with πατήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of εἶπενπατήρ: 'father'; the father of the young woman, the host.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with νεάνιδος)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεάνιδοςyoung womanGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατήρ)νεᾶνις: 'young woman'; the concubine.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νυμφίον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νυμφίονson-in-lawAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (addressee)νυμφίος: usually 'bridegroom', here 'son-in-law'; renders חָתָן, which spans both senses; the term keeps the in-law relationship in view as the basis for the hospitality.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying νυμφίον)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
στήρισόνstrengthenAor Act Impv 2 Sg · στηρίζωmain verb (imperative of the father's plea)→ ingressive aorist imperative (urging an act of refreshment)στηρίζω: 'support / make firm / strengthen'; the idiom στήρισον τὴν καρδίαν σου ('sustain your heart [with food]') renders סְעָד לִבְּךָ, a hospitality formula for taking refreshment (cf. Gen 18:5; Ps 103:15 LXX); the recurring refrain of the chapter's delay.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying καρδίαν, fronted)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with καρδίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίανheartAccusativedirect object of στήρισονκαρδία: 'heart'; here in the sense of inner vigor sustained by food; the 'heart' as the seat of strength echoes the hospitality idiom.
ψωμῷwith a morselDativedative of means (instrument of strengthening)ψωμός: 'morsel / bit (of bread)'; renders פַּת; a polite understatement — the 'morsel' becomes a full day's feasting.
ἄρτουof breadGenitivegenitive of material (with ψωμῷ)ἄρτος: 'bread / loaf'; renders לֶחֶם; ψωμὸς ἄρτου, 'a morsel of bread', the offered refreshment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of μετά: 'after this')οὗτος: 'this'; μετὰ τοῦτο ('after this') promises departure once the meal is taken — a promise repeatedly renewed.
πορεύσεσθεyou shall goFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (the father's assurance, 2nd plural to the company)→ predictive future (deferred permission to depart)πορεύομαι: 'go'; the future second plural addresses the whole company; the assurance 'then you shall go' is the recurring deferral that drives the plot toward the fatal night journey.
6

καὶ ἐκάθισεν καὶ ἔφαγον οἱ δύο ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ἔπιον καὶ εἶπεν ὁ πατὴρ τῆς νεάνιδος πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα ἄγε δὴ αὐλίσθητι καὶ ἀγαθυνθήσεται ἡ καρδία σου

And he sat down, and the two ate and drank together; and the father of the young woman said to the man, 'Come now, lodge here, and let your heart be merry.'

Development (the delay extends into another night)καὶ ἐκάθισεν
The two eat ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ('together') and the father presses for yet another night's lodging. The hortatory cluster ἄγε δή … αὐλίσθητι … ἀγαθυνθήσεται ('come now, lodge, and let your heart be merry') intensifies the persuasion; ἀγαθυνθήσεται ('be made merry') anticipates the dark inversion at v. 22 (ἀγαθύνοντες καρδίαν αὐτῶν).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάθισενhe sat downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (the Levite accedes and reclines)→ ingressive aorist (sat down to eat)καθίζω: 'sit / sit down'; the Levite yields to the father's plea and sits to the meal, delaying departure another day.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔφαγονthey ateAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (the shared meal)→ constative aoristἐσθίω: 'eat'; suppletive aorist ἔφαγον; the host and guest eat together.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with δύο)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwoNominativenumeral (subject: 'the two')δύο: 'two'; indeclinable numeral, here substantival 'the two (of them)', the father and the Levite.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'together')ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αὐτό, idiom)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτὸsameAccusativeintensive pronoun (idiom: ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό, 'together')αὐτός: the phrase ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ('at the same place / together') is a fixed LXX idiom (cf. Ps 2:2; Acts 2:1) for joint, simultaneous action.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπιονthey drankAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίνωmain verb (the shared drinking)→ constative aoristπίνω: 'drink'; aorist ἔπιον; completing the eating-drinking pair.
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 father renews his urging.
theNominativearticle (with πατήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of εἶπενπατήρ: 'father'; the host.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with νεάνιδος)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεάνιδοςyoung womanGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατήρ)νεᾶνις: 'young woman.'
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραmanAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (addressee)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the Levite, here designated simply 'the man.'
ἄγεcomePres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἄγωinterjectional imperative (hortatory: 'come now!')→ hortatory present imperative (frozen interjection)ἄγω: lit. 'lead / bring'; the imperative ἄγε is used interjectionally ('come now!'), a particle of exhortation introducing the appeal to stay.
δὴnow / prayemphatic/entreating particleδή: enclitic particle of urgency or entreaty ('now / pray'); renders נָא; intensifies the imperative into a courteous but pressing plea.
αὐλίσθητιlodgeAor Pass Impv 2 Sg · αὐλίζομαιmain verb (imperative: spend the night)→ ingressive aorist imperativeαὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night'; the father urges yet another overnight stay, the recurring αὐλίζομαι of the chapter.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing result)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀγαθυνθήσεταιwill be merryFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαθύνωmain verb (result of lodging)→ predictive future (assured pleasant outcome)ἀγαθύνω (pass. 'be made glad / merry'): renders יָטַב (לֵב), the idiom for making the heart merry with food and drink; the same root recurs ominously at v. 22 (ἀγαθύνοντες καρδίαν αὐτῶν) just before the horror unfolds.
theNominativearticle (with καρδία)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαheartNominativesubject of ἀγαθυνθήσεταικαρδία: 'heart'; the seat of cheer gladdened by hospitality.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying καρδία)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
7

καὶ ἀνέστη ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ πορεύεσθαι καὶ ἐβιάσατο αὐτὸν ὁ γαμβρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκάθισεν καὶ ηὐλίσθη ἐκεῖ

And the man rose up to go, but his father-in-law urged him, and he stayed and lodged there.

Development (renewed attempt, renewed delay)καὶ ἀνέστη
The pattern repeats: the Levite rises to go, the father-in-law constrains him (ἐβιάσατο, 'pressed / forced'), and he again lodges. The verb βιάζομαι heightens the sense of the host's compelling insistence, narrowing the window for safe travel.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηrose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (renewed attempt to depart)→ ingressive aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise / set out'; the Levite again makes to leave.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἀνέστηἀνήρ: 'man'; the Levite.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the infinitive of purposeτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορεύεσθαιto goPres Mid Inf · πορεύομαιarticular infinitive of purpose→ telic present infinitive (purpose of rising)πορεύομαι: 'go'; the present infinitive (vs. aorist at v. 5) presents the journeying durative; τοῦ πορεύεσθαι expresses purpose.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐβιάσατοurged / constrainedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · βιάζομαιmain verb (the father-in-law's pressure)→ constative aorist (effective constraint)βιάζομαι: 'use force / press / constrain'; renders פָּצַר ('urge insistently'); the strong verb conveys that the hospitality has become near-coercive, the host all but forcing the guest to stay.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐβιάσατοαὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticle (with γαμβρός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρὸςfather-in-lawNominativesubject of ἐβιάσατογαμβρός: 'father-in-law'; renders חֹתֵן; the host who constrains the guest.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying γαμβρός)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάθισενhe stayedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (the guest yields again)→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit / stay'; the Levite settles back, capitulating once more.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ηὐλίσθηhe lodgedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · αὐλίζομαιmain verb (another night's lodging)→ constative aoristαὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night'; the recurring verb marks the fourth night's stay.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; at the father's house.
8

καὶ ὤρθρισεν τὸ πρωὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ πέμπτῃ τοῦ πορευθῆναι καὶ εἶπεν ὁ πατὴρ τῆς νεάνιδος στήρισον δὴ τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ στράτευσον ἕως κλῖναι τὴν ἡμέραν καὶ ἔφαγον οἱ δύο

And he rose early in the morning on the fifth day to go, but the father of the young woman said, 'Strengthen your heart, pray, and tarry until the day declines'; and the two ate.

Development (the fifth-day deferral)καὶ ὤρθρισεν
The fifth day repeats the pattern with escalation: στήρισον δή … καὶ στράτευσον ἕως κλῖναι τὴν ἡμέραν ('strengthen your heart and tarry until the day declines'). The verb στράτευσον is an unusual LXX rendering (lit. 'serve as a soldier'); in context it bears the sense 'hold out / linger', and the explicit 'until the day declines' is what sets up the dangerously late departure.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὤρθρισενhe rose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀρθρίζωmain verb (early rising on the fifth day)→ constative aoristὀρθρίζω: 'rise early'; the fifth morning's intended start, again deferred.
τὸin theAccusativearticle (with adverbial πρωί)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωὶmorningadverb of time (with article: 'in the morning')πρωί: 'early / morning'; indeclinable adverb; τὸ πρωί ('in the morning').
τῇon theDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (point of time)ἡμέρα: 'day'; the fifth day.
τῇtheDativearticle (with πέμπτῃ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέμπτῃfifthDativeordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)πέμπτος: 'fifth'; the ordinal marking the final day of the hospitality before departure.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the infinitive of purposeτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορευθῆναιto goAor Pass Inf · πορεύομαιarticular infinitive of purpose→ telic aorist infinitiveπορεύομαι: 'go'; τοῦ πορευθῆναι, the purpose of rising early.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the father's renewed plea.
theNominativearticle (with πατήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativesubject of εἶπενπατήρ: 'father'; the host.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with νεάνιδος)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεάνιδοςyoung womanGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατήρ)νεᾶνις: 'young woman.'
στήρισονstrengthenAor Act Impv 2 Sg · στηρίζωmain verb (imperative of the recurring plea)→ ingressive aorist imperativeστηρίζω: 'strengthen / sustain'; στήρισον τὴν καρδίαν σου, the hospitality refrain (cf. v. 5).
δὴpray / nowentreating particle (with imperative)δή: particle of entreaty (= נָא); softens the imperative to a courteous urging.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with καρδίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίανheartAccusativedirect object of στήρισονκαρδία: 'heart'; the inner vigor to be sustained by food.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying καρδίαν)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
στράτευσονtarry / hold outAor Act Impv 2 Sg · στρατεύωmain verb (imperative: linger on)→ ingressive aorist imperativeστρατεύω: lit. 'serve as a soldier / campaign'; here an unusual rendering of הִתְמַהְמַהּ ('tarry / linger'), perhaps via a sense 'hold one's ground / hold out'; in context it means 'delay / wait on' until the day cools — the B-text and other witnesses smooth the reading.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (temporal, with infinitive)ἕως: 'until'; here governing the articular-less infinitive κλῖναι in a temporal sense ('until the declining of the day').
κλῖναιto declineAor Act Inf · κλίνωinfinitive in temporal clause (subject: τὴν ἡμέραν)→ telic/temporal aorist infinitiveκλίνω: 'bend / incline / decline'; the idiom ἕως κλῖναι τὴν ἡμέραν ('until the day declines', i.e. toward evening) renders עַד נְטוֹת הַיּוֹם; the very lateness urged here precipitates the perilous night journey.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἡμέραν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρανdayAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive κλῖναιἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative subject of κλῖναι in the temporal-infinitive construction.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔφαγονthey ateAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (the shared meal)→ constative aoristἐσθίω: 'eat'; the two ate again, prolonging the stay into the afternoon.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with δύο)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwoNominativenumeral (subject: 'the two')δύο: 'two'; the father and the Levite together.
9

καὶ ἀνέστη ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ πορευθῆναι αὐτὸς καὶ ἡ παλλακὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ νεανίας αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ γαμβρὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ πατὴρ τῆς νεάνιδος ἰδοὺ δὴ ἠσθένησεν ἡ ἡμέρα εἰς τὴν ἑσπέραν αὐλίσθητι ὧδε καὶ ἀγαθυνθήσεται ἡ καρδία σου καὶ ὀρθριεῖτε αὔριον εἰς ὁδὸν ὑμῶν καὶ πορεύσῃ εἰς τὸ σκήνωμά σου

And the man rose up to go, he and his concubine and his servant; but his father-in-law, the father of the young woman, said to him, 'Behold now, the day has weakened toward evening; lodge here, and let your heart be merry, and tomorrow you shall rise early for your journey, and you shall go to your dwelling.'

Development (the final deferral, with full company named)καὶ ἀνέστη
The full company (the Levite, his concubine, his servant) is named as they rise to go, raising narrative tension before the last delay. The father's plea now appeals to the lateness itself — ἠσθένησεν ἡ ἡμέρα εἰς τὴν ἑσπέραν ('the day has weakened toward evening') — and promises an early start 'tomorrow'; the Levite's refusal of this final, sensible plea (v. 10) is what dooms the journey.
Word-by-word analysis· 52 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηrose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (the company rises to depart)→ ingressive aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise / set out'; the Levite rises a final time, now with his whole party.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἀνέστηἀνήρ: 'man'; the Levite.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the infinitive of purposeτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορευθῆναιto goAor Pass Inf · πορεύομαιarticular infinitive of purpose→ telic aorist infinitiveπορεύομαι: 'go'; τοῦ πορευθῆναι, the purpose of rising.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (in apposition to the subject)αὐτός: intensive 'he himself'; heads the listing of the full company (he, the concubine, the servant).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with παλλακή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παλλακὴconcubineNominativesubject (coordinate member of the company)παλλακή: 'concubine'; named among the travelers.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παλλακή)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with νεανίας)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίαςservantNominativesubject (coordinate member of the company)νεανίας: 'young man / servant'; the Levite's attendant, third member of the party.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying νεανίας)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the father's final plea to delay.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object (dative of recipient)αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticle (with γαμβρός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γαμβρὸςfather-in-lawNominativesubject of εἶπενγαμβρός: 'father-in-law'; the host.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying γαμβρός)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
theNominativearticle (with πατήρ, appositive)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατὴρfatherNominativeappositive to γαμβρόςπατήρ: 'father'; the recurring double designation 'his father-in-law, the father of the young woman.'
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with νεάνιδος)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεάνιδοςyoung womanGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατήρ)νεᾶνις: 'young woman.'
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjectionἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a frozen attention-marker drawing notice to the lateness of the hour.
δὴnowemphatic particle (with ἰδού)δή: particle of urgency ('now / indeed'); intensifies the appeal.
ἠσθένησενhas weakenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀσθενέωmain verb (the day's decline)→ resultative aorist (the day has now waned)ἀσθενέω: 'be weak / fail'; metaphorically of the daylight 'weakening' toward evening — a vivid LXX personification rendering the Hebrew רָפָה ('the day has sunk / slackened').
theNominativearticle (with ἡμέρα)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραdayNominativesubject of ἠσθένησενἡμέρα: 'day / daylight'; the fading day, personified as growing weak.
εἰςtowardpreposition + accusative (temporal direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἑσπέραν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑσπέρανeveningAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (temporal goal)ἑσπέρα: 'evening'; renders עֶרֶב; the approaching evening is the basis of the plea to stay one more night.
αὐλίσθητιlodgeAor Pass Impv 2 Sg · αὐλίζομαιmain verb (imperative: spend the night)→ ingressive aorist imperativeαὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night'; the recurring entreaty to stay.
ὧδεhereadverb of placeὧδε: 'here'; renders פֹּה; 'lodge here', at the father's house.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing result)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀγαθυνθήσεταιwill be merryFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαθύνωmain verb (result of lodging)→ predictive futureἀγαθύνω (pass.): 'be made glad / merry'; the hospitality idiom (cf. v. 6).
theNominativearticle (with καρδία)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίαheartNominativesubject of ἀγαθυνθήσεταικαρδία: 'heart.'
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying καρδία)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὀρθριεῖτεyou shall rise earlyFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ὀρθρίζωmain verb (the promised early start)→ predictive future (2nd plural to the company)ὀρθρίζω: 'rise early'; the father promises an early departure 'tomorrow', the rational alternative the Levite will reject.
αὔριονtomorrowadverb of timeαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; renders מָחָר; the deferred safe travel-day.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose/goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὁδὸνjourneyAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal: 'for your journey')ὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; the homeward journey to be undertaken at dawn.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (2nd plural, modifying ὁδόν)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πορεύσῃyou shall goFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (singular, addressed to the Levite)→ predictive futureπορεύομαι: 'go'; the shift to second singular addresses the Levite directly about reaching home.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with σκήνωμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκήνωμάdwelling / tentAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)σκήνωμα: 'tent / dwelling / habitation'; renders אֹהֶל; the Levite's home in the Ephraimite hills, the journey's intended destination.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying σκήνωμα)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
10

καὶ οὐκ εὐδόκησεν ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐλισθῆναι καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἀπῆλθεν καὶ ἦλθεν ἕως ἀπέναντι Ιεβους αὕτη ἐστὶν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ζεῦγος ὄνων ἐπισεσαγμένων καὶ ἡ παλλακὴ αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ

But the man would not consent to lodge; and he rose up and departed and came as far as opposite Jebus (this is Jerusalem), and with him a pair of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him.

Turning point (the fateful refusal and departure)καὶ οὐκ εὐδόκησεν
The decisive negative εὐδόκησεν marks the break in the hospitality cycle: the Levite refuses the last sensible plea and sets out too late, reaching only Jebus by dusk. The narrator's gloss αὕτη ἐστὶν Ιερουσαλημ ('this is Jerusalem') identifies the still-Canaanite city, setting up the contrast between the foreign Jebus and the Israelite Gibeah that proves so tragically misjudged.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with εὐδόκησεν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐδόκησενwould / consentedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐδοκέωmain verb (the refusal to stay)→ constative aorist (decisive refusal)εὐδοκέω: 'be well-pleased / consent / be willing'; renders אָבָה; the negated aorist marks the Levite's firm refusal of the final plea — the pivotal decision precipitating the disaster.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of εὐδόκησενἀνήρ: 'man'; the Levite.
αὐλισθῆναιto lodgeAor Pass Inf · αὐλίζομαιcomplementary infinitive (with εὐδόκησεν)→ complementary aorist infinitiveαὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night'; the complement of εὐδόκησεν — what the Levite refused to do.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηhe rose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (departure)→ ingressive aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise / set out'; now followed through, unlike the earlier deferred risings.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπῆλθενdepartedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (setting out)→ constative aoristἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the journey finally begins, but dangerously late.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival point)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; suppletive aorist ἦλθεν; marks the stage reached by nightfall — only as far as Jebus.
ἕωςas far aspreposition (of extent, with ἀπέναντι)ἕως: 'until / as far as'; marks the spatial limit of the day's travel.
ἀπέναντιoppositeimproper preposition + genitive ('over against')ἀπέναντι: 'opposite / over against'; renders נֹכַח; locates the party just outside Jebus.
ΙεβουςJebusindeclinable proper noun (object of ἀπέναντι)Ιεβους: transliteration of יְבוּס; indeclinable; the pre-Israelite Canaanite (Jebusite) name for the city, not yet conquered until David (2 Sam 5:6–9).
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of the narrator's gloss)οὗτος, αὕτη: 'this'; the feminine αὕτη refers to the city, subject of the explanatory ἐστὶν Ιερουσαλημ.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (narrator's identifying gloss)→ gnomic present (timeless identification)εἰμί: 'be'; the present αὕτη ἐστὶν Ιερουσαλημ is a narratorial gloss equating ancient Jebus with the later Jerusalem for the reader.
ΙερουσαλημJerusalemindeclinable proper noun (predicate of ἐστίν)Ιερουσαλημ: transliteration of יְרוּשָׁלַ‍ִם; indeclinable; the familiar later name supplied for the unconquered Jebus.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (circumstantial)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετάαὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ζεῦγοςpairNominativesubject (with implied 'was', circumstantial)ζεῦγος: 'pair / yoke'; the pair of donkeys accompanying the Levite.
ὄνωνof donkeysGenitivegenitive (partitive, with ζεῦγος)ὄνος: 'donkey'; the pack-animals.
ἐπισεσαγμένωνsaddledPerf Pass Part Gen Pl · ἐπισάττωattributive participle (modifying ὄνων)→ resultative perfect participle (in a state of being saddled/laden)ἐπισάττω: 'saddle / load up'; renders חָבַשׁ; the perfect passive participle ἐπισεσαγμένων describes the donkeys as already saddled and laden, ready for travel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with παλλακή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παλλακὴconcubineNominativesubject (circumstantial: 'his concubine was with him')παλλακή: 'concubine'; her presence in the company is noted as the journey enters its perilous final stretch.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παλλακή)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment; elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετάαὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
11

καὶ ἤλθοσαν ἕως Ιεβους καὶ ἡ ἡμέρα προβεβήκει σφόδρα καὶ εἶπεν ὁ νεανίας πρὸς τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ δεῦρο δὴ καὶ ἐκκλίνωμεν εἰς πόλιν τοῦ Ιεβουσι ταύτην καὶ αὐλισθῶμεν ἐν αὐτῇ

And they came as far as Jebus, and the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, 'Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusite and lodge in it.'

Development (the servant's proposal at nightfall)καὶ ἤλθοσαν
The day προβεβήκει σφόδρα ('was far advanced/spent') heightens the urgency. Here κύριος denotes the Levite as the servant's human master (so 'master', not the divine name). The servant's sensible suggestion to lodge in Jebus is rejected on ethnic grounds in v. 12, an irony given that the Israelite town of Gibeah proves far more dangerous than the Canaanite city would have been.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤλθοσανthey cameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival at Jebus)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the Hellenistic aorist ending -οσαν (ἤλθοσαν for ἦλθον) is characteristic of LXX morphology; marks the party's arrival opposite Jebus.
ἕωςas far aspreposition (of extent)ἕως: 'as far as'; the spatial limit reached.
ΙεβουςJebusindeclinable proper noun (object of ἕως)Ιεβους: transliteration of יְבוּס; indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (circumstantial)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with ἡμέρα)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραdayNominativesubject of προβεβήκειἡμέρα: 'day / daylight'; the waning day.
προβεβήκειwas far spentPlupf Act Indic 3 Sg · προβαίνωmain verb (state of the day)→ pluperfect (settled state: the day had advanced)προβαίνω: 'go forward / advance'; the pluperfect προβεβήκει ('had advanced [far]') of the day means it was nearly gone; cf. the idiom of being 'advanced in days' (Luke 1:7, 18); with σφόδρα it stresses how late it had become.
σφόδραvery muchadverb of degree (intensifying προβεβήκει)σφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; emphasizes that the day was very far gone.
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'; introduces the servant's proposal.
theNominativearticle (with νεανίας)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίαςservantNominativesubject of εἶπεννεανίας: 'young man / servant'; the Levite's attendant.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονmasterAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (addressee)κύριος: here 'master / lord' in the human sense — the servant's master, the Levite; not the Tetragrammaton, as the context (a servant addressing his employer) makes clear.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κύριον)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
δεῦροcomeadverbial interjection (hortatory: 'come!')δεῦρο: 'come here / come now'; an adverb used as an interjection of summons, frequently preceding a hortatory subjunctive.
δὴnowemphatic particle (with δεῦρο)δή: particle of urgency ('now'); intensifies the proposal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking interjection to subjunctive)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκκλίνωμενlet us turn asideAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (hortatory subjunctive)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (proposal)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / deviate'; renders סוּר / נָטָה; the proposal to turn off the road into Jebus for the night.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)πόλις: 'city'; Jebus, the proposed lodging-place.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with Ιεβουσι)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙεβουσιJebusiteindeclinable gentilic (genitive of relationship, qualifying πόλιν)Ιεβουσι: transliteration of הַיְבוּסִי ('the Jebusite'); indeclinable; 'the city of the Jebusite' marks it as a non-Israelite settlement — the basis of the Levite's objection.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying πόλιν)οὗτος: 'this'; the nearby city before them.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐλισθῶμενlet us lodgeAor Pass Subj 1 Pl · αὐλίζομαιmain verb (hortatory subjunctive)→ hortatory aorist subjunctiveαὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night'; the proposed action — to spend the night in Jebus.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (referring to the city)αὐτῇ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
12

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐκκλινοῦμεν εἰς πόλιν ἀλλοτρίαν ἐν ᾗ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀπὸ υἱῶν Ισραηλ ὧδε καὶ παρελευσόμεθα ἕως Γαβαα

But his master said to him, 'We will not turn aside into a foreign city, where there is none of the sons of Israel; but we will pass on as far as Gibeah.'

Development (the fateful preference for an Israelite town)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν
The Levite (here κύριος = the human master) refuses Jebus as a πόλις ἀλλοτρία ('a foreign city') with no sons of Israel, and resolves to press on to Gibeah of Benjamin. The dramatic irony is acute: he trusts the safety of an Israelite town over a Canaanite one, yet Gibeah will perpetrate an atrocity worse than any pagan city — the chapter's indictment of Israel's own moral collapse.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the master's reply rejecting Jebus.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the servant)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticle (with κύριος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςmasterNominativesubject of εἶπενκύριος: 'master / lord' in the human sense — the Levite as the servant's master; not the divine name.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κύριος)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐκκλινοῦμεν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκκλινοῦμενwe will turn asideFut Act Indic 1 Pl · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (negated decision)→ volitive future (refusal of the proposal)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside'; the negated future οὐκ ἐκκλινοῦμεν firmly rejects the servant's plan to lodge in Jebus.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)πόλις: 'city'; Jebus, rejected as foreign.
ἀλλοτρίανforeignAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying πόλιν)ἀλλότριος: 'belonging to another / foreign / alien'; renders נָכְרִי; the designation πόλις ἀλλοτρία ('a foreign city') frames the Levite's fatal preference for an Israelite town.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (with relative pronoun)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
whichDativerelative pronoun (object of ἐν: 'in which')ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; the dative ᾗ ('in which') introduces the descriptive clause explaining the rejection.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be / exist'; the negated existential 'there is none [here] of the sons of Israel' states the ground of objection.
ἀπὸof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive)ἀπό: here partitive ('[any] of'), a Hebraizing use rendering מִן.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (partitive, with ἀπό)υἱός: 'son'; υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the Israelite people; their absence defines Jebus as foreign.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
ὧδεhereadverb of placeὧδε: 'here'; locates the absence of Israelites in Jebus itself.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρελευσόμεθαwe will pass onFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · παρέρχομαιmain verb (the resolve to continue)→ volitive future (decision to press on)παρέρχομαι: 'pass by / pass on'; renders עָבַר; the resolve to bypass Jebus and continue to Gibeah, the decision that leads into the catastrophe.
ἕωςas far aspreposition (of extent)ἕως: 'as far as'; marks Gibeah as the goal.
ΓαβααGibeahindeclinable proper noun (object of ἕως)Γαβαα: transliteration of גִּבְעָה ('hill'); indeclinable; Gibeah of Benjamin, the town whose atrocity will define the chapter and trigger the war of Judges 20.
13

καὶ εἶπεν τῷ νεανίᾳ αὐτοῦ δεῦρο καὶ ἐγγίσωμεν ἑνὶ τῶν τόπων καὶ αὐλισθησόμεθα ἐν Γαβαα ἢ ἐν Ραμα

And he said to his servant, 'Come, let us draw near to one of the places, and let us lodge in Gibeah or in Ramah.'

Development (the plan to lodge in a Benjaminite town)καὶ εἶπεν
The Levite proposes a specific Israelite stopping-place, naming Gibeah or Ramah — both Benjaminite towns. The very names that should signal safety (Gibeah, later Saul's home) become charged with dread for the reader who knows what follows.
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: 'say'; the Levite directs his servant toward an Israelite town.
τῷto theDativearticle (with νεανίᾳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίᾳservantDativeindirect object (dative of recipient)νεανίας: 'young man / servant'; the Levite's attendant, addressed here.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying νεανίᾳ)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
δεῦροcomeadverbial interjection (hortatory summons)δεῦρο: 'come now'; interjectional adverb preceding the hortatory subjunctive.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγγίσωμενlet us draw nearAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ἐγγίζωmain verb (hortatory subjunctive)→ hortatory aorist subjunctiveἐγγίζω: 'draw near / approach'; renders קָרַב / נָגַשׁ; the proposal to reach one of the nearby towns before full dark.
ἑνὶto oneDativeindirect object / dative complement of ἐγγίσωμενεἷς: 'one'; the dative ἑνί ('to one of the places') with ἐγγίζω, which takes a dative or εἰς.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with τόπων, partitive)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπωνplacesGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἑνί: 'one of the places')τόπος: 'place / locality'; renders מָקוֹם; the towns ahead on the road, specified next as Gibeah or Ramah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐλισθησόμεθαwe will lodgeFut Pass Indic 1 Pl · αὐλίζομαιmain verb (intended lodging)→ volitive future (proposed plan)αὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night'; the recurring verb, here projecting the night's lodging in a Benjaminite town.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαβααGibeahindeclinable proper noun (object of ἐν)Γαβαα: transliteration of גִּבְעָה; indeclinable; the first proposed stopping-place.
ordisjunctive conjunctionἤ: 'or'; offers Ramah as an alternative to Gibeah.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΡαμαRamahindeclinable proper noun (object of ἐν)Ραμα: transliteration of רָמָה ('height'); indeclinable; a Benjaminite town slightly beyond Gibeah, offered as the alternative.
14

καὶ παρῆλθον καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος αὐτοῖς ἐχόμενα τῆς Γαβαα ἥ ἐστιν τῷ Βενιαμιν

And they passed on and went, and the sun set on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.

Development (nightfall forces the stop at Gibeah)καὶ παρῆλθον
The setting of the sun (ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος αὐτοῖς) forces the decision: they halt at Gibeah of Benjamin. The narrator's identifying relative clause ἥ ἐστιν τῷ Βενιαμιν ('which belongs to Benjamin') fixes the tribal setting, crucial for the war that follows in Judges 20–21.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρῆλθονthey passed onAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρέρχομαιmain verb (bypassing Jebus)→ constative aoristπαρέρχομαι: 'pass by / pass on'; they bypass Jebus as resolved in v. 12.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθησανthey wentAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (continued travel)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; the company continues northward toward Gibeah.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδυsetAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δύωmain verb (sunset)→ constative aorist (the moment of sunset)δύω / δύνω: 'sink / set (of the sun)'; the root aorist ἔδυ; renders בּוֹא (of the sun); nightfall now compels the stop at Gibeah.
theNominativearticle (with ἥλιος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥλιοςsunNominativesubject of ἔδυἥλιος: 'sun'; renders שֶׁמֶשׁ; its setting marks the close of the travel-day and the necessity of lodging.
αὐτοῖςon themDativedative of disadvantage (the sun set 'on them')αὐτός: the dative αὐτοῖς ('on them / for them') marks the travelers as those caught by the nightfall.
ἐχόμεναnear / besidePres Mid Part Acc Pl Neut · ἔχωparticiple used adverbially (improper preposition: 'close to')→ durative present participle (adverbial: in proximity)ἔχω (mid. ἔχομαι 'cling to / be next to'): the neuter plural participle ἐχόμενα with a genitive functions as an improper preposition 'near / hard by' (cf. ἐχόμενος + gen.), rendering the Hebrew sense 'beside Gibeah'; an idiomatic LXX adverbial use.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with Γαβαα)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαβααGibeahindeclinable proper noun (genitive complement of ἐχόμενα)Γαβαα: transliteration of גִּבְעָה; indeclinable; here taken as feminine (with τῆς), the town near which they are overtaken by night.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of the identifying clause)ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; feminine ἥ agreeing with Γαβαα, introducing the tribal identification.
ἐστινbelongsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with dative of possession)→ gnomic presentεἰμί: 'be'; with the dative τῷ Βενιαμιν it expresses possession ('belongs to Benjamin').
τῷtoDativearticle (with Βενιαμιν, dative of possession)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒενιαμινBenjaminindeclinable proper noun (dative of possession)Βενιαμιν: transliteration of בִּנְיָמִין; indeclinable; the tribe to which Gibeah belongs — the locus of the coming atrocity and inter-tribal war.
15

καὶ ἐξέκλιναν ἐκεῖ τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν αὐλισθῆναι ἐν Γαβαα καὶ εἰσῆλθον καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐν τῇ πλατείᾳ τῆς πόλεως καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἀνὴρ συνάγων αὐτοὺς εἰς οἰκίαν αὐλισθῆναι

And they turned aside there to go in and lodge in Gibeah; and they went in and sat down in the open square of the city, and there was no man who took them into a house to lodge.

Development (arrival and the failure of hospitality)καὶ ἐξέκλιναν
They turn aside into Gibeah and sit in the city square, but the pointed clause οὐκ ἦν ἀνὴρ συνάγων αὐτούς ('there was no man who took them in') indicts the town's failure of hospitality — a damning verdict in the ancient Near Eastern ethic, and the first sign of Gibeah's moral disorder. The clause echoes the framing οὐκ ἦν βασιλεύς of v. 1.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέκλινανthey turned asideAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (turning off the road)→ constative aoristἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside'; they leave the road to enter Gibeah for the night.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; at Gibeah.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the infinitive of purposeτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσελθεῖνto go inAor Act Inf · εἰσέρχομαιarticular infinitive of purpose→ telic aorist infinitiveεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν, the purpose of turning aside.
αὐλισθῆναιto lodgeAor Pass Inf · αὐλίζομαιepexegetic infinitive (explaining the purpose)→ telic aorist infinitiveαὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night'; the ultimate aim of entering Gibeah.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαβααGibeahindeclinable proper noun (object of ἐν)Γαβαα: transliteration of גִּבְעָה; indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰσῆλθονthey went inAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (entry into the town)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter'; the company enters Gibeah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάθισανthey sat downAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καθίζωmain verb (waiting in the square)→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit down'; they sit in the public square awaiting an offer of hospitality — which does not come.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with πλατείᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλατείᾳopen squareDativedative of place (object of ἐν)πλατεῖα: 'broad street / open square / plaza'; renders רְחוֹב; the public square inside the gate where strangers awaited hospitality (cf. Gen 19:2, the Sodom parallel).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πλατείᾳ)πόλις: 'city'; Gibeah, whose square fails to yield a host.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (circumstantial)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἦν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: 'be / exist'; οὐκ ἦν ἀνὴρ συνάγων ('there was no man taking them in') indicts Gibeah's breach of the hospitality duty; the construction echoes the framing οὐκ ἦν βασιλεύς (v. 1).
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἦνἀνήρ: 'man'; the absent host — no one of Gibeah offers shelter.
συνάγωνtaking inPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · συνάγωattributive participle (modifying ἀνήρ; periphrastic with ἦν)→ durative present participle (would-be host)συνάγω: 'gather / receive / take in'; the idiom συνάγειν εἰς οἰκίαν ('take into one's house') is the technical term for offering lodging to a traveler (cf. v. 18; Matt 25:35 ξένος ἤμην καὶ συνηγάγετέ με).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of συνάγωναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἰκίανhouseAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)οἰκία: 'house / home'; the shelter no one offers; renders בַּיִת.
αὐλισθῆναιto lodgeAor Pass Inf · αὐλίζομαιinfinitive of purpose (with συνάγων)→ telic aorist infinitiveαὐλίζομαι: 'lodge'; the purpose for which a host would have taken them in.
16

καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ πρεσβύτης ἤρχετο ἐξ ἔργων αὐτοῦ ἐξ ἀγροῦ ἐν ἑσπέρᾳ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ ἦν ἐξ ὄρους Εφραιμ καὶ αὐτὸς παρῴκει ἐν Γαβαα καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ τόπου υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν

And behold, an old man was coming from his work, from the field, in the evening; and the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was sojourning in Gibeah, but the men of the place were sons of Benjamin.

Development (introduction of the only would-be host)καὶ ἰδοὺ
The presentative ἰδού introduces the old man, the lone figure willing to extend hospitality — and pointedly, like the Levite, a sojourner (παρῴκει) from Ephraim, not a native Benjaminite. The contrast οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ τόπου υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν ('the men of the place were sons of Benjamin') sets the resident townsmen against the two Ephraimite outsiders, foreshadowing the assault.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjectionἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; introduces the old man as a new, decisive participant on the scene.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἤρχετοἀνήρ: 'man'; the old man who will take the travelers in.
πρεσβύτηςold manNominativeappositive to ἀνήρ (designating age)πρεσβύτης: 'old man / aged person'; renders זָקֵן; his age marks him as a figure of honor and prudence, contrasted with the lawless young men of v. 22.
ἤρχετοwas comingImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (durative background action)→ descriptive imperfect (ongoing motion in the background)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the imperfect ἤρχετο depicts the old man's homeward approach in progress as the travelers sat in the square.
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἔργωνworks / laborGenitivegenitive of source (object of ἐξ)ἔργον: 'work / labor / deed'; renders מַעֲשֶׂה / מְלָאכָה; here his day's agricultural labor.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἔργων)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (source, in apposition)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἀγροῦfieldGenitivegenitive of source (epexegetic of ἔργων)ἀγρός: 'field / countryside'; renders שָׂדֶה; specifies the place of his labor.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (time)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἑσπέρᾳeveningDativedative of time (object of ἐν)ἑσπέρα: 'evening'; renders עֶרֶב; the late hour explains why the square is otherwise empty of potential hosts.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (parenthetical description)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἦν (resumptive)ἀνήρ: 'man'; resumes the old man for the parenthetical note on his origin.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (descriptive background)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: 'be'; introduces the old man's Ephraimite origin.
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (origin)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὄρουςhill countryGenitivegenitive of source (object of ἐξ)ὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; ὄρος Εφραιμ, the same Ephraimite highlands from which the Levite himself comes — binding host and guest as fellow outsiders.
ΕφραιμEphraimindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)Εφραιμ: transliteration of אֶפְרַיִם; indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςheNominativeintensive pronoun (subject of παρῴκει)αὐτός: 'he himself'; emphasizes that the old man, though resident in Gibeah, is himself only a sojourner there.
παρῴκειwas sojourningImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · παροικέωmain verb (durative resident-alien status)→ descriptive imperfectπαροικέω: 'sojourn / dwell as a stranger'; the same verb used of the Levite in v. 1; the old man is a resident alien in Benjaminite Gibeah, an outsider like his guests.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαβααGibeahindeclinable proper noun (object of ἐν)Γαβαα: transliteration of גִּבְעָה; indeclinable.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (contrastive in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of an implied copulaἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'men'; the native townsmen, set in contrast to the Ephraimite host.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with τόπου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπουplaceGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἄνδρες)τόπος: 'place / locality'; οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ τόπου, 'the men of the place', i.e. the inhabitants of Gibeah.
υἱοὶsonsNominativepredicate nominative (with implied 'were')υἱός: 'son'; υἱοὶ Βενιαμιν ('sons of Benjamin') identifies the townsmen by tribe, ominously preparing for the assault by men of this very tribe.
Βενιαμινof Benjaminindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)Βενιαμιν: transliteration of בִּנְיָמִין; indeclinable; the tribe of Gibeah's residents.
17

καὶ ἦρεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶδεν τὸν ὁδοιπόρον ἄνδρα ἐν τῇ πλατείᾳ τῆς πόλεως καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ πρεσβύτης ποῦ πορεύῃ καὶ πόθεν ἔρχῃ

And he lifted up his eyes and saw the wayfaring man in the open square of the city; and the old man said, 'Where are you going, and where do you come from?'

Development (the old man notices and questions the traveler)καὶ ἦρεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς
The idiom ἦρεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ('lifted up his eyes') is a stock LXX narrative formula for the onset of perception. The double question ποῦ πορεύῃ … πόθεν ἔρχῃ ('where to … where from') is the conventional traveler's greeting, opening the hospitality exchange.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦρενlifted upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αἴρωmain verb (onset of perception)→ constative aoristαἴρω: 'raise / lift up'; the idiom ἦρεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς ('lifted up his eyes') renders נָשָׂא עֵינַיִם, a stock LXX formula introducing an act of seeing (cf. Gen 13:10; 18:2).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ὀφθαλμούς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyesAccusativedirect object of ἦρενὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; in the lifting-eyes idiom for directing one's gaze.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὀφθαλμούς)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (perception)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see'; suppletive aorist εἶδεν; the old man notices the stranded traveler.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδοιπόρονwayfaringAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἄνδρα)ὁδοιπόρος: 'traveler / wayfarer'; used adjectivally 'the wayfaring man'; marks the Levite as a stranger in need of lodging.
ἄνδραmanAccusativedirect object of εἶδενἀνήρ: 'man'; the Levite, seen as a traveler in the square.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with πλατείᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλατείᾳopen squareDativedative of place (object of ἐν)πλατεῖα: 'open square / plaza'; the public space where the travelers wait.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πλατείᾳ)πόλις: 'city'; Gibeah.
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 old man's opening inquiry.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of εἶπενἀνήρ: 'man'; the old man.
theNominativearticle (with πρεσβύτης, attributive)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτηςold manNominativeappositive to ἀνήρπρεσβύτης: 'old man'; the recurring designation ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ πρεσβύτης keeps his honorable age in view.
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (direction)ποῦ: 'where (to)'; interrogative of place; the first half of the customary traveler's greeting.
πορεύῃare you goingPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (direct question)→ progressive present (action in progress)πορεύομαι: 'go / travel'; 'where are you going?' — the destination half of the greeting.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πόθενwhere frominterrogative adverb (source)πόθεν: 'whence / from where'; interrogative of origin; the second half of the greeting.
ἔρχῃdo you comePres Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (direct question)→ progressive presentἔρχομαι: 'come'; 'where do you come from?' — completing the conventional double question.
18

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν παραπορευόμεθα ἡμεῖς ἀπὸ Βηθλεεμ Ιουδα ἕως μηρῶν ὄρους Εφραιμ ἐκεῖθεν ἐγώ εἰμι καὶ ἐπορεύθην ἕως Βηθλεεμ Ιουδα καὶ εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου ἐγὼ πορεύομαι καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνὴρ συνάγων με εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν

And he said to him, 'We are passing through from Bethlehem of Judah to the recesses of the hill country of Ephraim; I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem of Judah, and I am going to my house, and there is no man who takes me into his house.'

Development (the Levite's reply explaining his plight)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν
The Levite's reply recapitulates his itinerary (Bethlehem to Ephraim) and ends with the pointed complaint οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνὴρ συνάγων με ('no one takes me in'), repeating the indictment of v. 15. The emphatic ἐγώ … ἐγώ underscores his isolation. He mentions only himself, eliding the concubine and servant from the explanation.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the 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 (the old man)αὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
παραπορευόμεθαwe are passing throughPres Mid Indic 1 Pl · παραπορεύομαιmain verb (describing the journey)→ progressive present (journey in progress)παραπορεύομαι: 'pass by / travel through'; the compound παρα- stresses that they are merely passing through Gibeah, not residents.
ἡμεῖςweNominativeemphatic subject pronounἐγώ (pl. ἡμεῖς): 'we'; the emphatic pronoun (verb already 1 pl.) foregrounds the travelers.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (origin)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒηθλεεμBethlehemindeclinable proper noun (object of ἀπό)Βηθλεεμ: transliteration of בֵּית לֶחֶם; indeclinable.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (qualifying Βηθλεεμ)Ιουδα: transliteration of יְהוּדָה; indeclinable.
ἕωςtopreposition (of extent)ἕως: 'as far as'; marks the journey's destination.
μηρῶνrecessesGenitivegenitive object of ἕωςμηρός: 'thigh / flank', topographically 'recesses / far sides'; μηρῶν ὄρους Εφραιμ echoes v. 1 (μηροῖς ὄρους Εφραιμ), the Levite's remote home district.
ὄρουςhill countryGenitivegenitive (with μηρῶν)ὄρος: 'hill country'; ὄρος Εφραιμ.
ΕφραιμEphraimindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)Εφραιμ: transliteration of אֶפְרַיִם; indeclinable.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source)ἐκεῖθεν: 'from there / thence'; the Levite's origin in the Ephraimite hills, binding him to the old man (v. 16).
ἐγώINominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with εἰμι)ἐγώ: 'I'; emphatic, stressing his own origin.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate of origin)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; ἐκεῖθεν ἐγώ εἰμι, 'I am from there.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηνI wentAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (past journey)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go'; recounts his completed trip to Bethlehem.
ἕωςtopreposition (of extent)ἕως: 'as far as'; the goal of the past journey.
ΒηθλεεμBethlehemindeclinable proper noun (object of ἕως)Βηθλεεμ: transliteration of בֵּית לֶחֶם; indeclinable.
Ιουδαof Judahindeclinable proper noun (qualifying Βηθλεεμ)Ιουδα: transliteration of יְהוּדָה; indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκόνhouseAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)οἶκος: 'house / home'; the Levite's own home, his journey's destination. The Rahlfs text here reads 'my house'; some witnesses read 'the house of the LORD' (οἶκον κυρίου), reflecting the divergent Judges text-forms.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying οἶκον)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun (with πορεύομαι)ἐγώ: 'I'; the repeated emphatic pronoun underscores his solitary plight.
πορεύομαιI am goingPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (present journey)→ progressive presentπορεύομαι: 'go'; 'I am going to my house', the present leg of the journey.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be / exist'; the complaint οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνὴρ συνάγων με echoes the narrator's verdict of v. 15.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἔστινἀνήρ: 'man'; the absent host.
συνάγωνtaking inPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · συνάγωattributive participle (modifying ἀνήρ)→ durative present participleσυνάγω: 'take in / receive (as a guest)'; the technical hospitality verb (cf. v. 15).
μεmeAccusativedirect object of συνάγωνμε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with οἰκίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίανhouseAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)οἰκία: 'house / home'; the shelter not offered.
19

καί γε ἄχυρα καὶ χορτάσματά ἐστιν τοῖς ὄνοις ἡμῶν καὶ ἄρτοι καὶ οἶνός ἐστιν ἐμοὶ καὶ τῇ παιδίσκῃ καὶ τῷ νεανίσκῳ μετὰ τῶν παιδίων σου οὐκ ἔστιν ὑστέρημα παντὸς πράγματος

'Yet there is both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and there is bread and wine for me and for the maidservant and for the young man with your servants; there is no lack of anything.'

Development (the Levite assures self-sufficiency)καί γε
The emphatic καί γε ('indeed / moreover') introduces the Levite's plea that he is no burden: he has provisions for animals and people alike. The household members surface here — the παιδίσκη (the concubine) and the νεανίσκος (servant). The closing οὐκ ἔστιν ὑστέρημα παντὸς πράγματος ('there is no lack of anything') stresses that only shelter is needed.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καίandconjunction (with γε, emphatic)καί: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
γεindeedemphatic particle (focusing)γε: enclitic emphatic particle ('indeed / at least'); καί γε renders Hebrew וְגַם ('and also / moreover'), here pressing the assurance of self-sufficiency.
ἄχυραstrawNominativesubject of ἐστινἄχυρον: 'straw / chaff'; renders תֶּבֶן; fodder/bedding for the animals.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
χορτάσματάfodderNominativesubject of ἐστιν (coordinate with ἄχυρα)χόρτασμα: 'fodder / feed'; renders מִסְפּוֹא; provender for the donkeys.
ἐστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (singular with neuter plural subject)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be / exist'; the singular ἐστιν with neuter plural subjects (ἄχυρα, χορτάσματα) follows the Greek rule of neuter plural + singular verb.
τοῖςfor theDativearticle (with ὄνοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνοιςdonkeysDativedative of advantage (for the donkeys)ὄνος: 'donkey'; the pack-animals to be provided for.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὄνοις)ἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἄρτοιbread / loavesNominativesubject of the second ἐστινἄρτος: 'bread / loaf'; renders לֶחֶם; provisions for the people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἶνόςwineNominativesubject of ἐστιν (coordinate with ἄρτοι)οἶνος: 'wine'; renders יַיִן; with bread, the staple provisions the Levite already carries.
ἐστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be / exist'; the provisions for the human members of the party.
ἐμοὶfor meDativedative of advantageἐγώ (dat. ἐμοί): 'for me'; the Levite himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῇfor theDativearticle (with παιδίσκῃ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκῃmaidservantDativedative of advantageπαιδίσκη: 'female servant / young woman'; renders אָמָה / שִׁפְחָה; here the concubine, referred to obliquely by her subordinate status rather than as παλλακή.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷfor theDativearticle (with νεανίσκῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεανίσκῳyoung manDativedative of advantageνεανίσκος: 'young man / servant'; the Levite's attendant (the νεανίας of vv. 3, 9, 11, 13).
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with παιδίων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίωνservantsGenitivegenitive object of μετάπαιδίον: 'child / young servant'; here 'your servants', a deferential reference to the old man's household; the Levite presents himself as adding no burden to them.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παιδίων)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb (negated)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be / exist'; 'there is no lack', summing up the assurance of self-sufficiency.
ὑστέρημαlackNominativesubject of ἔστινὑστέρημα: 'lack / want / deficiency'; the Levite needs nothing but shelter — all material needs are met.
παντὸςof anyGenitivegenitive attributive (modifying πράγματος)πᾶς: 'all / any'; with the negative, 'of anything at all.'
πράγματοςthingGenitivegenitive of reference (with ὑστέρημα: 'lack of anything')πρᾶγμα: 'thing / matter / affair'; renders דָּבָר; 'no lack of any thing.'
20

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ πρεσβύτης εἰρήνη σοι πλὴν πᾶν ὑστέρημά σου ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ πλὴν ἐν τῇ πλατείᾳ οὐ μὴ αὐλισθήσῃ

And the old man said, 'Peace to you; only let all your need be upon me; only do not lodge in the open square.'

Development (the old man's welcome and the hospitality undertaken)καὶ εἶπεν
The old man's εἰρήνη σοι ('peace to you') is the warm hospitality formula. He takes the guests' needs upon himself (πᾶν ὑστέρημά σου ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ) and insists, with the emphatic οὐ μὴ αὐλισθήσῃ, that they must not spend the night in the exposed square — an insistence whose urgency the night's events will tragically justify.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the old man's welcoming reply.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of εἶπενἀνήρ: 'man'; the old man.
theNominativearticle (with πρεσβύτης)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτηςold manNominativeappositive to ἀνήρπρεσβύτης: 'old man'; the recurring honorific designation.
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativenominative in the greeting-formula (with implied 'be')εἰρήνη: 'peace / well-being'; renders שָׁלוֹם; εἰρήνη σοι ('peace to you') is the standard hospitable greeting and reassurance.
σοιto youDativedative of recipient (in the greeting)σύ (dat. σοι): 'to you'; the addressee of the peace-greeting.
πλὴνonlyadverb / restrictive particleπλήν: 'only / nevertheless / except'; here restrictive ('only'), introducing the host's assumption of responsibility.
πᾶνallNominativeadjective (modifying ὑστέρημα)πᾶς: 'all / every'; 'all your need.'
ὑστέρημάneedNominativenominative (subject of an implied 'be': 'let it be upon me')ὑστέρημα: 'lack / need'; the host pledges to supply whatever the guests lack.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὑστέρημα)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (responsibility; elided)ἐπί + acc.: 'upon'; the idiom 'let it be upon me' (ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ) means 'let it be my responsibility / charge.'
ἐμέmeAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίἐγώ (acc. ἐμέ): 'me'; the host takes the burden of provision on himself.
πλὴνonlyrestrictive particle (introducing the prohibition)πλήν: 'only'; the second πλήν introduces the urgent caution against lodging in the square.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with πλατείᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλατείᾳopen squareDativedative of place (object of ἐν)πλατεῖα: 'open square'; the exposed public space where it would be dangerous to sleep — the host's insistence proves prescient.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή, emphatic)οὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μὴby no meansnegative particle (with οὐ, emphatic denial)οὐ μή: the doubled negative with the future indicative expresses emphatic prohibition ('you shall by no means lodge').
αὐλισθήσῃyou shall lodgeFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · αὐλίζομαιmain verb (emphatic prohibition with οὐ μή)→ emphatic future of prohibitionαὐλίζομαι: 'lodge / pass the night'; with οὐ μή, an emphatic prohibition — 'you must not spend the night in the square'; the recurring lodging-verb here turns protective.
21

καὶ εἰσήνεγκεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ καὶ τόπον ἐποίησεν τοῖς ὄνοις καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐνίψαντο τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἔπιον

And he brought him into his house and made room for the donkeys; and they washed their feet and ate and drank.

Development (the hospitality is fulfilled — the lull before the assault)καὶ εἰσήνεγκεν
The old man fulfills the duties of a host: shelter for the guests, provision for the animals, water for washing feet (a customary act of welcome; cf. Gen 18:4; 19:2), and a meal. This brief, peaceful tableau — ἔφαγον καὶ ἔπιον — is the calm immediately shattered by v. 22, heightening the horror by contrast.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰσήνεγκενbrought inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσφέρωmain verb (the host receives the guest)→ constative aoristεἰσφέρω: 'bring in / carry into'; the old man brings the Levite into his house — the hospitality denied by the rest of Gibeah.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of εἰσήνεγκεναὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)οἶκος: 'house'; the host's home, now the refuge — and soon the besieged house.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying οἶκον)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τόπονroom / placeAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεντόπος: 'place / room'; the idiom τόπον ποιεῖν ('make room') means to provide space/provender for the animals.
ἐποίησενmadeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (provision for the animals)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / do'; τόπον ἐποίησεν, 'made room / provided a place' for the donkeys.
τοῖςfor theDativearticle (with ὄνοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνοιςdonkeysDativedative of advantage (for the donkeys)ὄνος: 'donkey'; the pack-animals provided for.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativeintensive/subject pronoun (the guests)αὐτός: 'they (themselves)'; the travelers as subject of the washing and eating.
ἐνίψαντοwashedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · νίπτωmain verb (middle: washed their own feet)→ constative aorist (reflexive middle)νίπτω (mid. νίπτομαι): 'wash (oneself / part of the body)'; the middle ἐνίψαντο 'washed (their own) feet'; foot-washing is a stock gesture of hospitality and refreshment after travel (cf. Gen 18:4; 19:2; 24:32).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πόδας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόδαςfeetAccusativedirect object of ἐνίψαντοπούς: 'foot'; renders רֶגֶל; the feet washed after the day's journey.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying πόδας)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔφαγονthey ateAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (the shared meal)→ constative aoristἐσθίω: 'eat'; the peaceful meal before the assault.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπιονthey drankAor Act Indic 3 Pl · πίνωmain verb (completing the meal)→ constative aoristπίνω: 'drink'; the calm of the shared meal, immediately broken by v. 22.
22

αὐτοὶ δ᾿ ἀγαθύνοντες καρδίαν αὐτῶν καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως υἱοὶ παρανόμων ἐκύκλωσαν τὴν οἰκίαν κρούοντες ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν καὶ εἶπον πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν κύριον τοῦ οἴκου τὸν πρεσβύτην λέγοντες ἐξένεγκε τὸν ἄνδρα ὃς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν σου ἵνα γνῶμεν αὐτόν

But as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, sons of lawless men, surrounded the house, beating on the door; and they spoke to the man, the master of the house, the old man, saying, 'Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.'

Crisis (the assault on the house — the Sodom parallel)αὐτοὶ δ᾿ ἀγαθύνοντες
The genitive-absolute-like circumstantial ἀγαθύνοντες καρδίαν αὐτῶν ('making their hearts merry') sets the festive calm against the sudden ἰδού of menace. The assailants are υἱοὶ παρανόμων, the LXX rendering of בְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַל ('sons of Belial / worthless men'). Their demand ἵνα γνῶμεν αὐτόν ('that we may know him') deliberately replicates Gen 19:5 (the men of Sodom), branding Gibeah a new Sodom within Israel. Here κύριος τοῦ οἴκου = the human master of the house.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject pronoun (of the circumstantial participle)αὐτός: 'they'; the host and guests, subject of the merry-making.
δ᾿butmild adversative (post-positive; elided)δέ: post-positive particle; here marking the sharp narrative turn from calm to crisis.
ἀγαθύνοντεςmaking merryPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · ἀγαθύνωcircumstantial participle (temporal: 'while making merry')→ durative present participle (action in progress when interrupted)ἀγαθύνω: 'make good / gladden'; ἀγαθύνοντες καρδίαν αὐτῶν ('making their hearts merry') renders מְטִיבִים אֶת לִבָּם; the same idiom the father used (vv. 6, 9), now the ominous prelude to the assault.
καρδίανheartAccusativedirect object of ἀγαθύνοντεςκαρδία: 'heart'; the seat of the festive good cheer.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying καρδίαν)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodotic, with ἰδού)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection (introducing the sudden menace)ἰδού: 'behold'; the suspense-marker introducing the abrupt arrival of the mob.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of ἐκύκλωσανἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'men'; the townsmen of Gibeah who form the assaulting mob.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἄνδρες)πόλις: 'city'; the men 'of the city', i.e. of Gibeah.
υἱοὶsonsNominativeappositive to ἄνδρες (characterizing genitive idiom)υἱός: 'son'; in the Semitic 'sons of...' idiom denoting character or class.
παρανόμωνlawless menGenitivegenitive (with υἱοί: 'sons of lawless men')παράνομος: 'lawless / wicked'; substantival genitive plural; υἱοὶ παρανόμων is the LXX rendering of בְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַל ('sons of Belial / worthlessness'), a stock phrase for depraved scoundrels (cf. Deut 13:14; 1 Sam 2:12).
ἐκύκλωσανsurroundedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κυκλόωmain verb (the encircling of the house)→ constative aoristκυκλόω: 'encircle / surround'; renders סָבַב; the mob surrounds the house exactly as the men of Sodom surrounded Lot's (Gen 19:4).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with οἰκίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίανhouseAccusativedirect object of ἐκύκλωσανοἰκία: 'house'; the besieged house of the old man.
κρούοντεςbeatingPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · κρούωcircumstantial participle (manner: 'beating')→ durative present participle (continuous pounding)κρούω: 'strike / knock / beat'; the present participle conveys the menacing, continuous pounding on the door.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (against)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θύραν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρανdoorAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the door beaten upon)θύρα: 'door'; renders דֶּלֶת / פֶּתַח; the door is the threshold of safety the mob assaults — and where the concubine will die (v. 26).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπονthey spokeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the mob's demand)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; introduces the mob's demand to the host.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραmanAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the host)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the host, identified by the following appositions.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with κύριον, appositive)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονmasterAccusativeappositive to ἄνδρα (the householder)κύριος: 'master / owner' in the human sense — ὁ κύριος τοῦ οἴκου, 'the master of the house'; not the divine name.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κύριον)οἶκος: 'house'; 'master of the house', the householder.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πρεσβύτην, appositive)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβύτηνold manAccusativeappositive to ἄνδρα / κύριονπρεσβύτης: 'old man'; the third apposition fixing the addressee as the aged householder.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ durative present participle (Hebraizing redundant λέγοντες)λέγω: 'say'; the participle λέγοντες redundantly introduces the quoted demand, a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר.
ἐξένεγκεbring outAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐκφέρωmain verb (the mob's imperative demand)→ ingressive aorist imperative (peremptory demand)ἐκφέρω: 'carry out / bring out'; the brutal demand ἐξένεγκε τὸν ἄνδρα ('bring out the man') parallels הוֹצֵא in Gen 19:5; the imperative is peremptory and threatening.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραmanAccusativedirect object of ἐξένεγκεἀνήρ: 'man'; the Levite, the object of the mob's demand.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of εἰσῆλθεν)ὅς: relative pronoun; introduces the clause identifying the guest.
εἰσῆλθενcame inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιverb of the relative clause→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / come in'; identifies the guest as the one who entered the house.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with οἰκίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίανhouseAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)οἰκία: 'house'; the host's house.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying οἰκίαν)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἵναthatconjunction (introducing purpose clause)ἵνα: 'in order that'; introduces the purpose clause with the subjunctive.
γνῶμενwe may knowAor Act Subj 1 Pl · γινώσκωverb of purpose clause (subjunctive with ἵνα)→ telic aorist subjunctiveγινώσκω: 'know'; the euphemistic sexual sense ('know him') renders יָדַע exactly as at Gen 19:5; the demand is for homosexual gang-rape of the guest, the verbal signature of the Sodom typology.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of γνῶμεναὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
23

καὶ ἐξῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ κύριος τοῦ οἴκου καὶ εἶπεν μή ἀδελφοί μὴ κακοποιήσητε δή μετὰ τὸ εἰσελθεῖν τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν μου μὴ ποιήσητε τὴν ἀφροσύνην ταύτην

And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said, 'No, my brothers, do no evil, I pray, since this man has come into my house; do not do this folly.'

Crisis (the host's plea against the outrage)καὶ ἐξῆλθεν
The host (again ὁ κύριος τοῦ οἴκου, the human master) goes out and pleads, the appeal μή … μὴ κακοποιήσητε … μὴ ποιήσητε saturated with prohibitive negatives. He invokes the sacred duty of hospitality (μετὰ τὸ εἰσελθεῖν … εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν μου) and brands the demand ἀφροσύνη ('folly / outrage'), the standard term (נְבָלָה) for a grievous violation of covenant order.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (the host confronts the mob)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; the host goes out to the mob, as Lot did at Sodom (Gen 19:6).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (toward)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the mob)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἐξῆλθενἀνήρ: 'man'; the host.
theNominativearticle (with κύριος, appositive)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςmasterNominativeappositive to ἀνήρ (the householder)κύριος: 'master / owner' in the human sense — the master of the house; not the divine name.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying κύριος)οἶκος: 'house'; 'master of the house.'
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'; introduces the host's plea.
μήno / notnegative particle (interjectional: 'no!')μή: 'no / not'; here the opening interjectional negative ('no, my brothers!') of urgent protest.
ἀδελφοίbrothersVocativevocative of address (conciliatory)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; the vocative ἀδελφοί is a conciliatory appeal to kinship and fellow-feeling, seeking to defuse the mob (cf. Gen 19:7, ἀδελφοί).
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)μὴ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακοποιήσητεdo evilAor Act Subj 2 Pl · κακοποιέωprohibitive subjunctive (with μή)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctiveκακοποιέω: 'do evil / do harm'; renders רָעַע (Hiphil); μὴ κακοποιήσητε ('do not act wickedly'), the host's central plea.
δήI prayentreating particle (with prohibition)δή: particle of entreaty (= נָא); intensifies the plea.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (with articular infinitive)μετά + articular infinitive: 'after / since', here giving the ground of the appeal ('seeing that this man has come in').
τὸtheAccusativearticle (governing the infinitive)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσελθεῖνcoming inAor Act Inf · εἰσέρχομαιarticular infinitive (temporal/causal, with μετά)→ aorist infinitive (completed entry)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter'; the articular infinitive after μετά ('after the entering of this man'), grounding the appeal in the duty owed to a guest under one's roof.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρα, accusative subject of the infinitive)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραmanAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive εἰσελθεῖνἀνήρ: 'man'; the Levite, the guest now under the host's protection.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἄνδρα)οὗτος: 'this'; 'this man', the specific guest.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with οἰκίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίανhouseAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)οἰκία: 'house'; under the host's roof, the guest is sacrosanct.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying οἰκίαν)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)μὴ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιήσητεdoAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ποιέωprohibitive subjunctive (with μή)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctiveποιέω: 'do / commit'; μὴ ποιήσητε τὴν ἀφροσύνην ('do not commit this folly'), echoing Gen 19:7 (μὴ πονηρεύσησθε).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀφροσύνην)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀφροσύνηνfolly / outrageAccusativedirect object of ποιήσητεἀφροσύνη: 'folly / senselessness'; renders נְבָלָה, the technical term for a grave outrage against covenant order, especially a sexual crime (cf. Gen 34:7; Deut 22:21; 2 Sam 13:12); far stronger than mere foolishness.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἀφροσύνην)οὗτος: 'this'; the specific atrocity demanded.
24

ἰδὲ ἡ θυγάτηρ μου ἡ παρθένος καὶ ἡ παλλακὴ αὐτοῦ ἐξάξω αὐτάς καὶ ταπεινώσατε αὐτὰς καὶ ποιήσατε αὐταῖς τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν καὶ τῷ ἀνδρὶ τούτῳ οὐ ποιήσετε τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς ἀφροσύνης ταύτης

'Behold my daughter, the virgin, and his concubine; let me bring them out, and humble them and do to them what is good in your eyes; but to this man do not do this thing of folly.'

Crisis (the host's appalling counter-offer)ἰδὲ
In the chapter's most morally disturbing turn, the host offers his virgin daughter and the guest's concubine in place of the male guest — a direct, horrifying echo of Lot's offer at Sodom (Gen 19:8). The euphemism ταπεινώσατε ('humble / violate') and the chilling 'do to them what is good in your eyes' lay bare the women's expendability under the perverse calculus that the male guest's honor and the host's sacred hospitality outweigh their lives. The narrative reports, without endorsing, this collapse of moral order.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
ἰδὲbeholdAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ὁράωinterjectional imperative ('see! / behold!')→ interjectional aorist imperativeὁράω: 'see'; the 2nd singular aorist imperative ἰδέ ('look! / behold!') functions as a presentative interjection introducing the host's offer; morphologically a verb.
theNominativearticle (with θυγάτηρ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγάτηρdaughterNominativenominative (presented object of ἰδέ)θυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the host's own virgin daughter, offered to the mob.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θυγάτηρ)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
theNominativearticle (with παρθένος, attributive)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρθένοςvirginNominativeappositive to θυγάτηρπαρθένος: 'virgin / maiden'; renders בְּתוּלָה; the daughter's virginity is grimly named, underscoring the magnitude of what is offered.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with παλλακή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παλλακὴconcubineNominativenominative (second offered figure)παλλακή: 'concubine'; the Levite's concubine, offered alongside the daughter.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παλλακή)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐξάξωI will bring outFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξάγωmain verb (the host's offer)→ volitive future (offer of action)ἐξάγω: 'lead out / bring out'; renders יָצָא (Hiphil); the host volunteers to bring the women out — the grotesque inversion of the protection a host owes.
αὐτάςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐξάξωαὐτός (acc. fem. pl.): 'them'; the two women.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ταπεινώσατεhumble / violateAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ταπεινόωmain verb (imperative addressed to the mob)→ ingressive aorist imperativeταπεινόω: 'humble / bring low'; here the sexual euphemism 'violate / ravish' (rendering עָנָה, the standard verb for sexual abuse; cf. Gen 34:2; 2 Sam 13:12); the imperative is morally appalling on the host's lips.
αὐτὰςthemAccusativedirect object of ταπεινώσατεαὐτὰς: 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.
ποιήσατεdoAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperativeποιέω: 'do'; 'do to them what is good in your eyes' — the chilling formula ceding the women to the mob's will.
αὐταῖςto themDativeindirect object (dative of recipient)αὐταῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἀγαθόν)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὸνgood thingAccusativedirect object of ποιήσατε (substantivized adjective)ἀγαθός: 'good'; substantivized τὸ ἀγαθόν, 'what is good (in your eyes)'; the idiom 'good in one's eyes' (הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם) here cedes all restraint, the same moral relativism the book's refrain condemns (cf. 21:25).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (idiom: 'in your eyes')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (idiom: 'in your eyes')ὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν ('in your eyes') renders בְּעֵינֵיכֶם, the idiom for 'as you see fit.'
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὀφθαλμοῖς)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷto theDativearticle (with ἀνδρί)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρὶmanDativeindirect object (dative: 'to this man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; the male guest, whom the host is determined to shield.
τούτῳthisDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἀνδρί)οὗτος: 'this'; 'this man', the Levite.
οὐnotnegative particle (with ποιήσετε)οὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (prohibitive future)→ volitive future of prohibitionποιέω: 'do'; the future with οὐ functions as an emphatic prohibition ('you shall not do'), shielding the male guest while exposing the women.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / matterAccusativedirect object of ποιήσετεῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר; τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς ἀφροσύνης ('the matter of this folly'), the outrage the host forbids against the male guest.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with ἀφροσύνης)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀφροσύνηςfollyGenitivegenitive of quality (modifying ῥῆμα)ἀφροσύνη: 'folly / outrage'; the same charged term (נְבָלָה) as in v. 23.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἀφροσύνης)οὗτος: 'this'; specifying the particular outrage.
25

καὶ οὐκ εὐδόκησαν οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ εἰσακοῦσαι αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπελάβετο ὁ ἀνὴρ τῆς παλλακῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξήγαγεν αὐτὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἔξω καὶ ἔγνωσαν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐνέπαιζον ἐν αὐτῇ ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ἕως πρωί καὶ ἐξαπέστειλαν αὐτήν ὡς ἀνέβη τὸ πρωί

But the men would not consent to listen to him; and the man took hold of his concubine and brought her out to them outside, and they knew her and abused her all night long until morning, and let her go when the dawn came up.

Climax of the atrocity (the concubine given over and abused)καὶ οὐκ εὐδόκησαν
The mob's refusal (οὐκ εὐδόκησαν, echoing the Levite's own refusal in v. 10) leads to the chapter's darkest act: the Levite himself thrusts out his concubine. The imperfect ἐνέπαιζον ('they abused [her]') is durative and harrowing — the abuse continues ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ('all night long'). The verbs are reported with stark, unembellished brevity, the narrator's restraint itself a form of indictment.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with εὐδόκησαν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐδόκησανwould / consentedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εὐδοκέωmain verb (the mob's refusal)→ constative aorist (decisive refusal)εὐδοκέω: 'be willing / consent'; the negated aorist marks the mob's refusal of the host's plea, grimly mirroring the Levite's own οὐκ εὐδόκησεν at v. 10.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of εὐδόκησανἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'men'; the lawless mob.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the complementary infinitiveτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσακοῦσαιto listenAor Act Inf · εἰσακούωarticular infinitive (complement of εὐδόκησαν)→ complementary aorist infinitiveεἰσακούω: 'listen to / heed'; the compound εἰσ- intensifies ('give heed'); renders שָׁמַע; what the mob refused to do.
αὐτοῦto himGenitivegenitive object of εἰσακοῦσαι (person heard)αὐτός: the genitive object of εἰσακούω ('hearken to him'), the host.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπελάβετοtook hold ofAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιλαμβάνομαιmain verb (the Levite seizes the concubine)→ constative aoristἐπιλαμβάνομαι: 'take hold of / seize' (+ gen.); renders חָזַק (Hiphil); the Levite himself seizes his concubine to hand her over — the act that condemns him morally before the reader.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject of ἐπελάβετοἀνήρ: 'man'; the Levite.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with παλλακῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παλλακῆςconcubineGenitivegenitive object of ἐπελάβετοπαλλακή: 'concubine'; the genitive object of the seizing verb; the woman at the center of the tragedy.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παλλακῆς)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξήγαγενbrought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξάγωmain verb (handing her over)→ constative aoristἐξάγω: 'lead out / bring out'; the Levite brings the concubine out to the mob — the fulfilment of the host's offer (v. 24).
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of ἐξήγαγεναὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (toward)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the mob)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἔξωoutsideadverb of placeἔξω: 'outside'; renders חוּץ; she is thrust out of the safety of the house.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔγνωσανthey knewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (the assault begins)→ constative aoristγινώσκω: 'know'; the sexual euphemism (= יָדַע), here the rape of the concubine; the same verb the mob used in their demand (v. 22).
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of ἔγνωσαναὐτὴν: 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.
ἐνέπαιζονthey abusedImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐμπαίζωmain verb (durative: ongoing abuse)→ iterative/durative imperfect (continuous abuse through the night)ἐμπαίζω: 'mock / make sport of / abuse' (+ ἐν); renders עָלַל (Hithpael, 'abuse / make sport of'); the imperfect is grimly durative — the abuse continued without cease through the night.
ἐνwith / againstpreposition + dative (object of ἐμπαίζω)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῇherDativedative object of ἐμπαίζω (ἐν αὐτῇ)αὐτός: the dative with ἐμπαίζω ἐν, 'made sport of her.'
ὅληνwholeAccusativeadjective (modifying νύκτα)ὅλος: 'whole / entire'; ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ('the whole night'), the unbearable duration.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with νύκτα)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταnightAccusativeaccusative of duration (extent of time)νύξ: 'night'; the accusative of extent — the abuse lasted the entire night.
ἕωςuntilpreposition (temporal)ἕως: 'until'; marks the abuse's end at dawn.
πρωίmorningadverb of time (object of ἕως)πρωί: 'morning'; indeclinable; the dawn at which they finally released her.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξαπέστειλανthey let go / sent awayAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (release at dawn)→ constative aoristἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / dismiss'; renders שָׁלַח; they release the broken woman as the dawn breaks.
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object of ἐξαπέστειλαναὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὡςwhentemporal conjunctionὡς: 'when / as'; temporal, 'as the dawn was coming up.'
ἀνέβηcame upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωverb of temporal clause (the dawn rising)→ ingressive aorist (the breaking of dawn)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / rise'; root aorist ἀνέβη; of the dawn's ascent (cf. ὡς ἀνέβη ὁ ὄρθρος, Gen 19:15, the Sodom dawn).
τὸtheNominativearticle (with πρωί)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωίmorningsubstantivized adverb (subject of ἀνέβη: 'the morning')πρωί: 'morning'; indeclinable, here with the article as the subject 'the morning / dawn.'
26

καὶ ἦλθεν ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς τὸν ὄρθρον καὶ ἔπεσεν παρὰ τὴν θύραν τοῦ οἴκου οὗ ἦν αὐτῆς ἐκεῖ ὁ ἀνήρ ἕως τοῦ διαφῶσαι

And the woman came toward dawn and fell down at the door of the house where her husband was, until it grew light.

Aftermath (the concubine collapses at the threshold)καὶ ἦλθεν ἡ γυνὴ
The woman drags herself back at first light and collapses (ἔπεσεν) at the very door behind which her husband lay safe. The poignant detail παρὰ τὴν θύραν τοῦ οἴκου οὗ ἦν … ὁ ἀνήρ ('at the door of the house where her husband was') silently condemns the man who sleeps inside while she dies on the threshold.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the woman's return)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the woman makes her way back to the house at daybreak.
theNominativearticle (with γυνή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject of ἦλθεν and ἔπεσενγυνή: 'woman'; the concubine, now called simply 'the woman.'
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (temporal approximation)πρός + acc.: here temporal, 'toward / about (dawn).'
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ὄρθρον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρθρονdawnAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (temporal: 'toward dawn')ὄρθρος: 'dawn / daybreak'; renders שַׁחַר / בֹּקֶר; the early light at which she returns.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπεσενfell downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb (her collapse)→ constative aoristπίπτω: 'fall / fall down'; renders נָפַל; she collapses at the threshold, mortally spent.
παρὰat / besidepreposition + accusative (position)παρὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θύραν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρανdoorAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (position: 'at the door')θύρα: 'door'; she falls at the very door of safety, behind which her husband sleeps.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying θύραν)οἶκος: 'house'; the old man's house.
οὗwhererelative adverb of place ('where')οὗ: relative adverb of place 'where' (the fixed genitive of ὅς used adverbially); introduces the clause locating her husband inside.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the relative clause (locating the husband)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: 'be'; 'where her husband was', inside, in safety.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἀνήρ, fronted)αὐτός: 'her'; the possessive genitive 'her husband', poignantly fronted.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive with οὗ)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; resumptive 'there', a Hebraizing redundancy with the relative οὗ (rendering אֲשֶׁר … שָׁם).
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνήρhusbandNominativesubject of ἦν (in the relative clause)ἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; the Levite, asleep within while she dies at the door.
ἕωςuntilpreposition (temporal, with articular infinitive)ἕως: 'until'; governing the articular infinitive of time.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (governing the infinitive)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαφῶσαιto grow lightAor Act Inf · διαφαύσκωarticular infinitive of time (with ἕως τοῦ)→ temporal aorist infinitiveδιαφαύσκω / διαφώσκω: 'shine through / grow light / dawn'; ἕως τοῦ διαφῶσαι ('until full daylight'); she lay at the threshold until broad day, when her husband finally rose.
27

καὶ ἀνέστη ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς τὸ πρωὶ καὶ ἤνοιξεν τὰς θύρας τοῦ οἴκου καὶ ἐξῆλθεν τοῦ πορευθῆναι τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ γυνὴ ἡ παλλακὴ αὐτοῦ πεπτωκυῖα παρὰ τὰς θύρας τοῦ οἴκου καὶ αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τὸ πρόθυρον

And her husband rose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way; and behold, the woman, his concubine, had fallen at the doors of the house, and her hands were on the threshold.

Aftermath (the husband's discovery)καὶ ἀνέστη
The Levite rises 'in the morning' and opens the door 'to go his way' — the matter-of-fact verbs jarring against what he is about to find. The presentative ἰδού frames the harrowing tableau: the concubine fallen, her hands stretched out upon the threshold (αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τὸ πρόθυρον) — a final, mute gesture of one who reached the door but could not pass it. The perfect participle πεπτωκυῖα ('having fallen / lying fallen') gives the scene its terrible stillness.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηrose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (the husband rises)→ ingressive aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise / get up'; the Levite rises, untroubled, in the morning.
theNominativearticle (with ἀνήρ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνὴρhusbandNominativesubject of ἀνέστηἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; the Levite.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἀνήρ)αὐτός: 'her'; 'her husband', maintaining the poignant relational designation.
τὸin theAccusativearticle (with adverbial πρωί)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωὶmorningadverb of time (with article: 'in the morning')πρωί: 'morning'; indeclinable; τὸ πρωί ('in the morning').
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤνοιξενopenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωmain verb (opening the door)→ constative aoristἀνοίγω: 'open'; renders פָּתַח; he opens the very doors at which she lies.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with θύρας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραςdoorsAccusativedirect object of ἤνοιξενθύρα: 'door'; the doors of the house.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying θύρας)οἶκος: 'house'; the host's house.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (departure)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; he steps out, intending to resume the journey.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle governing the infinitive of purposeτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πορευθῆναιto goAor Pass Inf · πορεύομαιarticular infinitive of purpose→ telic aorist infinitiveπορεύομαι: 'go'; τοῦ πορευθῆναι, the purpose of going out — to travel on.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ὁδόν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδὸνwayAccusativeaccusative of extent/route (with πορευθῆναι: 'go his way')ὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; the accusative of the way traveled (cognate-like with πορεύομαι), 'to go his way.'
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὁδόν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodotic, with ἰδού)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative interjection (introducing the discovery)ἰδού: 'behold'; the suspense-marker introducing the dreadful sight that meets him.
theNominativearticle (with γυνή)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject (of the implied 'was' / participle)γυνή: 'woman'; the concubine, found fallen.
theNominativearticle (with παλλακή, appositive)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παλλακὴconcubineNominativeappositive to γυνήπαλλακή: 'concubine'; the appositive identifies the fallen woman.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παλλακή)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
πεπτωκυῖαfallenPerf Act Part Nom Sg Fem · πίπτωpredicate participle (periphrastic: 'had fallen / lay fallen')→ resultative perfect participle (state of having fallen)πίπτω: 'fall'; the perfect participle πεπτωκυῖα expresses the settled, motionless state of having fallen — she lies where she collapsed; the perfect gives the scene its terrible stillness.
παρὰatpreposition + accusative (position)παρὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with θύρας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύραςdoorsAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (position)θύρα: 'door'; the doors at which she fell.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying θύρας)οἶκος: 'house'; the house of refuge she could not re-enter.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with χεῖρες)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖρεςhandsNominativesubject (of implied 'were')χείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; her hands stretched out on the threshold — the final, mute image of one who reached the door but could not pass it.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying χεῖρες)αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρόθυρον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόθυρονthreshold / doorwayAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (position)πρόθυρον: 'threshold / front-door / porch'; renders סַף / פֶּתַח; the doorway upon which her hands lay — the boundary of safety she died striving to cross.
28

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτήν ἀνάστα καὶ ἀπέλθωμεν καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη ὅτι ἦν νεκρά καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν ἐπὶ τὸν ὄνον καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ

And he said to her, 'Rise up, and let us go.' But she did not answer, for she was dead. And he took her upon the donkey and went to his place.

Aftermath (the husband's discovery of her death)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτήν
The Levite's curt command ἀνάστα καὶ ἀπέλθωμεν ('get up, and let us go') is chilling in its callousness — he speaks to her as if merely oversleeping. The blunt clause οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη ὅτι ἦν νεκρά ('she did not answer, for she was dead') delivers the horror without comment, and his immediate, unfeeling resumption of the journey (ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ) underscores the moral void at the story's center.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the Levite addresses the fallen woman, unaware (or uncaring) that she is dead.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτήνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςαὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀνάσταrise upAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (curt command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (peremptory)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / get up'; the shortened athematic 2nd singular imperative ἀνάστα (for ἀνάστηθι); his brusque 'get up' to a corpse is among the narrative's most damning touches.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέλθωμενlet us goAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (hortatory subjunctive)→ hortatory aorist subjunctiveἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; 'let us be off', the Levite intent only on resuming the journey.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (adversative in context)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀπεκρίθη)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀπεκρίθηansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (her silence)→ constative aorist (negated)ἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / reply'; the negated aorist 'she did not answer', the dreadful silence explained by the following clause.
ὅτιforcausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the cause of her silence.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate of state)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: 'be'; 'for she was dead', the stark statement of fact.
νεκράdeadNominativepredicate adjective (with ἦν)νεκρός: 'dead'; the feminine νεκρά; the single word that confirms the night's horror has ended in death.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (placing the body on the donkey)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; he loads her body onto the animal — the same dispassionate verb of taking with which he first 'took' her as concubine (v. 1).
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεναὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνονdonkeyAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (position)ὄνος: 'donkey'; the pack-animal now bearing her corpse.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (departure for home)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; he resumes his journey homeward, the corpse with him.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with τόπον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)τόπος: 'place / home'; renders מָקוֹם; his home in the Ephraimite hills.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying τόπον)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
29

καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν ῥομφαίαν καὶ ἐκράτησεν τὴν παλλακὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐμέλισεν αὐτὴν εἰς δώδεκα μέλη καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὰ ἐν παντὶ ὁρίῳ Ισραηλ

And he took the sword and laid hold of his concubine and cut her into twelve pieces and sent them into all the territory of Israel.

Resolution (the dismemberment and summons to Israel)καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν ῥομφαίαν
The dismemberment into δώδεκα μέλη ('twelve pieces') — one for each tribe — is a grisly summons to collective action, sent ἐν παντὶ ὁρίῳ Ισραηλ ('into all the territory of Israel'). The twelvefold division both indicts all Israel and mobilizes it for the war of chapters 20–21. The shocking act deliberately recalls Saul's summons by the dismembered oxen (1 Sam 11:7), itself associated with Gibeah.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (taking the sword)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; he takes up the sword for the dismemberment.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ῥομφαίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥομφαίανswordAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβενῥομφαία: 'sword / large blade'; renders חֶרֶב; the instrument of the dismemberment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκράτησενlaid hold ofAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρατέωmain verb (seizing the body)→ constative aoristκρατέω: 'take hold of / grasp / seize'; renders חָזַק / אָחַז; he grips the body to divide it.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παλλακήν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παλλακὴνconcubineAccusativedirect object of ἐκράτησενπαλλακή: 'concubine'; her body, now the object of the gruesome act.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παλλακήν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐμέλισενcut into piecesAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μελίζωmain verb (the dismemberment)→ constative aoristμελίζω: 'divide limb from limb / dismember'; denominative from μέλος ('limb'); renders נָתַח ('cut into pieces'), the verb used for cutting up a sacrificial animal — its application to a human body is deliberately shocking.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of ἐμέλισεναὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (result of division)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
δώδεκαtwelveAccusativenumeral (modifying μέλη)δώδεκα: 'twelve'; indeclinable numeral; the twelvefold division corresponds to the twelve tribes — a summons addressed to all Israel.
μέληpieces / limbsAccusativeaccusative (result: 'into twelve pieces')μέλος: 'limb / member / piece'; renders נֵתַח; the dismembered portions sent throughout the land.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (dispatch of the pieces)→ constative aoristἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch'; renders שָׁלַח; the pieces are sent as a summons rousing the tribes to action.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλεν (the pieces)αὐτός (acc. neut. pl.): 'them', the twelve pieces.
ἐνinto / throughoutpreposition + dative (extent over an area)ἐν + dat.: here of distribution over a territory, 'throughout', a Hebraizing use rendering בְּכֹל.
παντὶallDativeadjective (modifying ὁρίῳ)πᾶς: 'all / every'; 'all the territory.'
ὁρίῳterritory / borderDativedative of place (object of ἐν)ὅριον: 'boundary / region / territory'; renders גְּבוּל; the whole extent of Israel's land, to which the summons is sent.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the whole nation now confronted with the atrocity.
30

καὶ ἐγένετο πᾶς ὁ βλέπων ἔλεγεν οὐκ ἐγένετο καὶ οὐχ ἑόραται ὡς αὕτη ἀπὸ ἡμέρας ἀναβάσεως υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης θέσθε ὑμῖν αὐτοὶ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν βουλὴν καὶ λαλήσατε

And it came to pass that everyone who saw it said, 'Such a thing has not happened nor been seen from the day the sons of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day. Set your minds upon it, take counsel, and speak.'

Conclusion (the nation's unanimous horror and call to action)καὶ ἐγένετο
The chapter ends with the unanimous verdict of all who see the gruesome message: nothing comparable has happened ἀπὸ ἡμέρας ἀναβάσεως … ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ('from the day Israel came up out of Egypt'), the exodus serving as the benchmark of national memory. The closing triple imperative — θέσθε … βουλήν … λαλήσατε ('consider, take counsel, and speak') — is the explicit summons to the assembly and war of Judges 20, leaving the chapter suspended on a demand for collective response to the moral catastrophe.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative formula introducing the reaction)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'come to pass'; καὶ ἐγένετο introduces the collective reaction to the message; the formula frames the closing scene as it framed the opening (v. 1).
πᾶςeveryoneNominativesubject (substantival: 'everyone')πᾶς: 'all / everyone'; πᾶς ὁ βλέπων, 'everyone who saw' — the universal, unanimous reaction.
the oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βλέπωνwho sawPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · βλέπωsubstantival participle (with πᾶς ὁ: 'everyone who saw')→ durative present participle (generic: each beholder)βλέπω: 'see / look at'; the substantival participle πᾶς ὁ βλέπων, 'everyone who saw it', i.e. who saw the dismembered portions.
ἔλεγενsaidImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (the repeated, collective utterance)→ iterative imperfect (each one kept saying)λέγω: 'say'; the imperfect ἔλεγεν is iterative/distributive — each beholder said the same thing, conveying the unanimity of the horror.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐγένετο)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐγένετοhas happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb of the quotation (negated)→ constative aorist (with present-perfect force)γίνομαι: 'happen / occur'; the negated 'such a thing has not happened', the first half of the unprecedentedness formula.
καὶnorcoordinate conjunction (with negative: 'nor')καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐχnotnegative particle (before rough breathing; with ἑόραται)οὐχ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑόραταιhas been seenPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb of the quotation (perfect passive)→ resultative perfect (an abiding state of never-having-been-seen)ὁράω: 'see'; the perfect passive ἑόραται ('has [never] been seen'); the perfect underlines that nothing comparable stands in the whole national memory.
ὡςas / likecomparative particleὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the standard of comparison ('such as this').
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (referring to the deed)οὗτος, αὕτη: 'this'; the feminine αὕτη (agreeing with an implied deed/thing, or πρᾶξις) refers to the atrocity — 'nothing like this.'
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (temporal starting point)ἀπό: 'from'; the construction ἀπὸ … καὶ ἕως ('from … until') frames the whole span of national history.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive of time (object of ἀπό)ἡμέρα: 'day'; 'from the day of...', the temporal anchor of the formula.
ἀναβάσεωςcoming upGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἡμέρας)ἀνάβασις: 'going up / ascent'; renders עֲלוֹת; 'the day of the coming up of the sons of Israel out of Egypt' — the exodus as the foundational benchmark of memory.
υἱῶνof sonsGenitivesubjective genitive (with ἀναβάσεως)υἱός: 'son'; υἱῶν Ισραηλ, 'the sons of Israel', the subject of the exodus 'coming up.'
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of source (object of ἐκ)γῆ: 'land / earth'; γῆ Αἰγύπτου, 'the land of Egypt', the place of bondage left at the exodus.
Αἰγύπτουof EgyptGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying γῆς)Αἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of מִצְרַיִם; declinable; the land of the exodus.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the temporal poles)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal end-point)ἕως: 'until'; closes the temporal span 'from … until this day.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive of time (object of ἕως)ἡμέρα: 'day'; 'until this day', the present moment of the atrocity.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)οὗτος: 'this'; 'this very day.'
θέσθεset / considerAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · τίθημιmain verb (first of the closing triple imperative)→ ingressive aorist imperative (summons to deliberate)τίθημι (mid. τίθεμαι): 'set / place / appoint'; the idiom θέσθε ὑμῖν … ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν ('set [it] upon yourselves / take it to heart concerning it') renders שִׂימוּ לָכֶם עָלֶיהָ ('consider it, give attention to it'); the call to deliberate over the outrage.
ὑμῖνyourselvesDativeethical/reflexive dative (with θέσθε)σύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): the ethical dative 'for yourselves', part of the Hebraizing idiom of deliberation.
αὐτοὶyourselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (emphasizing the addressees)αὐτός: intensive 'you yourselves'; stresses that the whole assembly must take responsibility for response.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (concerning; elided)ἐπί + acc.: 'upon / concerning'; ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν, 'concerning it (the matter).'
αὐτὴνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the matter)αὐτός: 'it', the atrocity/matter to be deliberated.
βουλὴνcounselAccusativedirect object (with implied 'take': 'take counsel')βουλή: 'counsel / plan / deliberation'; renders עֵצָה; the second element of the summons — 'take counsel / form a plan' for collective action.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λαλήσατεspeakAor Act Impv 2 Pl · λαλέωmain verb (final imperative of the summons)→ ingressive aorist imperativeλαλέω: 'speak'; the closing imperative λαλήσατε ('and speak [out]') calls for the verdict and decision that will issue in the war of Judges 20; the chapter ends on this open demand.