1
καὶ προσέθεντο οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ Αωδ ἀπέθανεν
And the sons of Israel again did evil before the LORD, and Ehud had died.
The verse opens the standard Deuteronomistic judges-cycle formula 'the sons of Israel again did evil before the LORD' (cf. 3:7, 12; 6:1). The Hebraism προσέθεντο … ποιῆσαι ('they added to do' = 'they did again') renders וַיֹּסִפוּ … לַעֲשׂוֹת. The notice that Ehud (Αωδ) had died marks the lapse of the previous deliverer and thus the structural opening of a new oppression.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσέθεντοthey added / did againAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · προστίθημιmain verb (auxiliary in Hebraistic periphrasis 'again did')→ constative aorist (renewed national act)προστίθημι (mid.): 'add / proceed to'; the middle προσέθεντο … ποιῆσαι ('they added to do') is the LXX's calque of the Hebrew auxiliary יָסַף + infinitive, meaning 'they again did'; the idiom recurs as the cyclic opener of each Judges oppression-narrative (cf. 3:12; 10:6).
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject ('the sons of Israel')υἱός: 'son'; the collective οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people as a corporate national body.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here genitive of relationship dependent on υἱοί.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (object of προσέθεντο)→ constative aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do / make'; the aorist infinitive completes the auxiliary προσέθεντο; ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρόν ('to do the evil') is the fixed phrase for covenant infidelity throughout Judges.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativedirect object of ποιῆσαι (substantivized adjective)πονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; substantivized neuter τὸ πονηρόν renders הָרַע; in the Judges formula the 'evil' is concretely idolatry and abandonment of YHWH (cf. 2:11–13).
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (evaluative perspective: Hebraism)ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the eyes of'; renders בְּעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of'); the phrase frames the evil as judged by YHWH's own evaluative gaze, not merely human reckoning.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (divine evaluator)κύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive κυρίου marks YHWH as the one before whose eyes the national evil is reckoned.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (appending the deliverer's death)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑωδEhudsubject of ἀπέθανεν (indeclinable proper noun)Αωδ: transliteration of Hebrew אֵהוּד (Ehud), the left-handed Benjaminite deliverer of ch. 3; indeclinable in the LXX; his death closes the previous deliverance and opens the new oppression.
ἀπέθανενhad died / diedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (circumstantial: lapse of the deliverer)→ constative aorist (here with pluperfect force: 'had died')ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the aorist ἀπέθανεν here functions with anterior (pluperfect) force — Ehud's death is the precondition for the relapse, explaining why the people again fall into evil once the deliverer is gone.
2
καὶ ἀπέδοτο αὐτοὺς κύριος ἐν χειρὶ Ιαβιν βασιλέως Χανααν ὃς ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Ασωρ καὶ ὁ ἄρχων τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ Σισαρα καὶ αὐτὸς κατῴκει ἐν Αρισωθ τῶν ἐθνῶν
And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; and the commander of his army was Sisera, and he dwelt in Harosheth of the Nations.
The 'selling' formula ἀπέδοτο … ἐν χειρί ('he sold them into the hand of') renders וַיִּמְכְּרֵם בְּיַד, the standard Judges idiom for YHWH's judicial surrender of Israel to a foreign power (cf. 2:14; 3:8; 10:7). The verse then introduces the chapter's two antagonists: Jabin the king at Hazor and his army-commander Sisera at Harosheth.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέδοτοsoldAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (divine judicial surrender)→ constative aorist (decisive act of handing over)ἀποδίδωμι (mid.): 'sell / give over'; the middle ἀπέδοτο renders מָכַר ('sell'); the idiom 'YHWH sold them into the hand of X' presents the oppression as a deliberate divine judicial act, not mere historical misfortune (cf. 3:8; Deut 32:30).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the sons of Israel)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubjectκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject stresses YHWH as the active agent of the judicial 'selling.'
ἐνin / intopreposition + dative (instrumental Hebraism: 'into the hand of')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὶhandDativedative object of ἐν (idiomatic: 'into the hand/power of')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρί renders בְּיַד ('into the hand/power of'), a Hebraism for transfer of dominion; here Israel passes under the controlling power of Jabin.
ΙαβινJabingenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'hand of Jabin')Ιαβιν: transliteration of Hebrew יָבִין (Jabin); indeclinable in the LXX; the Canaanite king of Hazor, the named oppressor of this cycle (cf. Josh 11:1, where a king Jabin of Hazor leads the northern coalition).
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ιαβινβασιλεύς: 'king'; renders מֶלֶךְ; the genitive βασιλέως Χανααν stands in apposition to the indeclinable Ιαβιν, supplying his title and realm.
ΧαναανCanaangenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Canaan')Χανααν: transliteration of Hebrew כְּנַעַן (Canaan); indeclinable; designates Jabin as 'king of Canaan,' representing the residual Canaanite power Israel failed to dispossess.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐβασίλευσεν)ὃς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐβασίλευσενreignedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασιλεύωverb of relative clause (Jabin's seat of rule)→ constative aorist (established reign)βασιλεύω: 'be king / reign'; renders מָלַךְ; locates Jabin's throne at Hazor, the great fortified city of the northern Canaanite confederacy.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑσωρHazordative of place (indeclinable place-name)Ασωρ: transliteration of Hebrew חָצוֹר (Hazor); indeclinable in the LXX; the principal Canaanite city of the northern Galilee, Jabin's royal seat.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the commander)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχωνcommander / rulerNominativesubject (predicated of Sisera in a verbless clause)ἄρχων: 'ruler / commander / chief'; renders שַׂר ('commander'); ὁ ἄρχων τῆς δυνάμεως ('commander of the army') is the LXX's standard rendering of שַׂר־צָבָא, the field-general's title.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωςarmy / hostGenitivegenitive (the force he commands)δύναμις: 'power / force / army'; in military contexts renders צָבָא ('host / army'); here the fighting force under Sisera's command.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Jabin's army)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ΣισαραSiserapredicate nominative (indeclinable: '[was] Sisera')Σισαρα: transliteration of Hebrew סִיסְרָא (Sisera); indeclinable in the LXX; the army-commander whose nine hundred chariots make him the chapter's chief human antagonist and the object of Deborah's prophecy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (intensive pronoun: 'he himself')αὐτός: the nominative pronoun resumes Sisera as subject of κατῴκει, marking the shift to his place of residence.
κατῴκειdweltImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · κατοικέωmain verb (durative residence)→ customary imperfect (habitual dwelling)κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the imperfect κατῴκει marks Sisera's settled, ongoing residence at his base of operations.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑρισωθHaroshethdative of place (indeclinable place-name)Αρισωθ: transliteration of Hebrew חֲרֹשֶׁת (Harosheth); indeclinable; with τῶν ἐθνῶν it renders חֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִם ('Harosheth of the Nations'), Sisera's chariot-base near the Kishon.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnations / GentilesGenitivegenitive qualifier of the place-name ('of the Nations')ἔθνος: 'nation / people / Gentiles'; renders גּוֹי; the genitive plural in 'Harosheth of the Nations' designates the place's mixed Gentile population, the heartland of Canaanite chariot-power.
3
καὶ ἐκέκραξαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ πρὸς κύριον ὅτι ἐννακόσια ἅρματα σιδηρᾶ ἦν αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτὸς ἔθλιψεν τὸν Ισραηλ κατὰ κράτος εἴκοσι ἔτη
And the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD, for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed Israel mightily for twenty years.
The crying-out (ἐκέκραξαν πρὸς κύριον) is the cycle's third element after apostasy and oppression — the cue for YHWH to raise up a deliverer (cf. 3:9, 15). The causal ὅτι-clause supplies the measure of distress: nine hundred iron chariots and twenty years of mighty oppression, establishing the impossible odds the deliverance will overturn.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκέκραξανcried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κράζωmain verb (cry of distress to YHWH)→ constative aorist (urgent collective appeal)κράζω (redupl. aor. ἐκέκραξα): 'cry out / shout'; renders זָעַק / צָעַק ('cry out for help'); the reduplicated aorist is the LXX's regular distress-cry form; the appeal to YHWH triggers the deliverance pattern of the Judges cycle.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject ('the sons of Israel')υἱός: see v. 1; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as corporate subject of the cry.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of appeal)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (addressee of the cry)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the accusative marks YHWH as the one to whom the distress-cry is directed.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (giving the ground of the cry)ὅτι: 'because / that'; here causal, introducing the reason for the cry — the overwhelming chariot-force and the duration of oppression.
ἐννακόσιαnine hundredNominativeattributive numeral (modifying ἅρματα)ἐννακόσιοι: 'nine hundred'; renders תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת; the staggering chariot count (repeated at v. 13) dramatizes the technological superiority of Canaan over an Israel without chariots, making the victory unmistakably YHWH's.
ἅρματαchariotsNominativesubject of ἦν (collective neuter plural)ἅρμα: 'chariot'; renders רֶכֶב; the iron war-chariot was the decisive battlefield weapon of the Canaanite plains, against which Israel's hill-country militia was helpless.
σιδηρᾶof ironNominativeattributive adjective (material: 'iron chariots')σιδηροῦς: 'made of iron'; renders בַּרְזֶל; 'iron chariots' signals the cutting-edge military technology that made the Canaanite plain-cities unconquerable by Israel (cf. Josh 17:16; Judg 1:19).
ἦνwere / belongedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with dative of possession αὐτῷ; sg. with neut. pl. subject)→ stative imperfect (ongoing possession)εἰμί: 'be'; the singular ἦν with neuter plural subject ἅρματα follows the regular Greek rule; with the dative αὐτῷ it expresses possession ('he had nine hundred chariots').
αὐτῷto him / hisDativedative of possession (the chariots belonged to Sisera/Jabin)αὐτός (dat.): the dative of possession with εἰμί; 'there were to him nine hundred chariots' = 'he had nine hundred chariots,' referring to Sisera/Jabin's force.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (intensive pronoun: 'he himself')αὐτός: the emphatic nominative resumes the oppressor as agent of the violent oppression.
ἔθλιψενoppressedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · θλίβωmain verb (act of oppression)→ constative aorist (summarizing the whole oppression)θλίβω: 'press / afflict / oppress'; renders לָחַץ ('oppress / squeeze'); the aorist summarizes the entire twenty-year oppression as a single completed reality.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object of ἔθλιψεν (indeclinable, with article)Ισραηλ: here the indeclinable name takes the accusative article τὸν as direct object of ἔθλιψεν; 'he oppressed Israel.'
κατὰaccording to / withpreposition + accusative (manner: 'mightily')κατά + acc.: here adverbial of manner; κατὰ κράτος ('with might / mightily') intensifies the severity of the oppression.
κράτοςmight / forceAccusativeaccusative with κατά (idiomatic adverbial: 'mightily')κράτος: 'strength / might / dominion'; κατὰ κράτος is a fixed idiom 'with all (one's) might / forcibly'; here it renders the Hebrew בְּחָזְקָה ('with strength'), conveying brutal severity.
εἴκοσιtwentyattributive numeral (indeclinable, modifying ἔτη)εἴκοσι: 'twenty'; indeclinable cardinal; renders עֶשְׂרִים; the twenty-year span (cf. v. 3 Hebrew) measures the duration of Jabin's oppression.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('for twenty years')ἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; renders שָׁנָה; the accusative of duration measures the length of the oppression.
4
καὶ Δεββωρα γυνὴ προφῆτις γυνὴ Λαφιδωθ αὐτὴ ἔκρινεν τὸν Ισραηλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ
And Deborah, a woman, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth — she was judging Israel at that time.
The fronting of Δεββωρα with a cluster of appositional descriptors (γυνὴ προφῆτις, γυνὴ Λαφιδωθ) and the resumptive emphatic pronoun αὐτή ('she herself') foregrounds the surprising fact that the YHWH-raised judge of this cycle is a woman and a prophetess. The imperfect ἔκρινεν marks her ongoing judicial office.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing a new participant)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΔεββωραDeborahsubject (indeclinable proper noun, resumed by αὐτή)Δεββωρα: transliteration of Hebrew דְּבוֹרָה (Deborah, 'bee'); indeclinable in the LXX; the prophetess-judge who instigates and oversees the deliverance and sings the victory hymn of ch. 5.
γυνὴwoman / wifeNominativeapposition to Δεββωρα ('a woman')γυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; the first appositive identifies Deborah's sex, anticipating the chapter's repeated stress that this deliverance comes through women (cf. v. 9, Jael in vv. 17–22).
προφῆτιςprophetessNominativeapposition to Δεββωρα ('a prophetess')προφῆτις: 'prophetess'; the feminine of προφήτης, renders נְבִיאָה; Deborah is one of the few named female prophets of the OT (cf. Miriam, Exod 15:20; Huldah, 2 Kgs 22:14); her prophetic office grounds the authority of the YHWH-word she relays to Barak.
γυνὴwifeNominativeapposition (construct: 'wife of Lappidoth')γυνή: here in the construct-like sense 'wife of,' rendering אֵשֶׁת לַפִּידוֹת; the second γυνή supplies Deborah's marital identification.
ΛαφιδωθLappidothgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'wife of Lappidoth')Λαφιδωθ: transliteration of Hebrew לַפִּידוֹת (Lappidoth, 'torches/flames'); indeclinable; Deborah's husband, named only here and otherwise unknown.
αὐτὴshe herselfNominativeresumptive emphatic pronoun (subject of ἔκρινεν)αὐτός: the resumptive αὐτή ('she herself') gathers up the preceding appositives and emphatically reasserts Deborah as the active subject of the judging — a striking foregrounding of female leadership.
ἔκρινενwas judgingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (her ongoing judicial office)→ customary imperfect (continuing activity of judging)κρίνω: 'judge / govern / decide'; renders שָׁפַט ('judge / deliver'); the imperfect ἔκρινεν marks Deborah's settled, ongoing exercise of the judge's office — both adjudication (v. 5) and military-deliverance leadership.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object of ἔκρινεν (indeclinable, with article)Ισραηλ: the people as the object of Deborah's judging; the accusative article τόν marks the indeclinable name as direct object.
ἐνin / atpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρῷtimeDativedative of time ('at that time')καιρός: 'time / season / occasion'; renders עֵת; ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ('at that time') locates Deborah's judgeship within the twenty-year oppression of vv. 2–3.
ἐκείνῳthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying καιρῷ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative fixes the reference to the period of Jabin's oppression just described.
5
καὶ αὐτὴ ἐκάθητο ὑπὸ φοίνικα Δεββωρα ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς Ραμα καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς Βαιθηλ ἐν τῷ ὄρει Εφραιμ καὶ ἀνέβαινον πρὸς αὐτὴν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ εἰς κρίσιν
And she used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and between Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the sons of Israel would go up to her for judgment.
The verse fleshes out Deborah's judgeship spatially: she sits beneath a named landmark ('the palm of Deborah') in the Ephraimite highlands, and Israelites come up to her for adjudication. The two imperfects ἐκάθητο … ἀνέβαινον depict habitual, repeated practice, establishing her settled judicial authority before the military narrative begins.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὴsheNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun resuming Deborah)αὐτός: the nominative αὐτή continues Deborah as subject from v. 4, focusing on her customary seat of judgment.
ἐκάθητοused to sitImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb (habitual judicial sitting)→ customary imperfect (repeated, settled practice)κάθημαι: 'sit / be seated'; renders יָשַׁב; the imperfect ἐκάθητο marks her habitual sitting in the judge's posture — to sit was to render judgment (cf. the enthroned judge motif).
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (position: 'under the palm')ὑπό + acc.: 'under / beneath'; locates Deborah's seat beneath a specific landmark tree.
φοίνικαpalm treeAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπό (the landmark palm)φοῖνιξ: 'palm tree / date-palm'; renders תֹּמֶר; the 'palm of Deborah' (φοῖνιξ Δεββωρα) was evidently a known local landmark, an outdoor tribunal beneath an open-air tree.
Δεββωραof Deborahgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'palm of Deborah')Δεββωρα: here genitive, naming the palm after the prophetess — 'the palm of Deborah' became the toponym for her judicial seat.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')ἀνά: in the fixed idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('in the midst of / between'), a Hebraism rendering בֵּין … וּבֵין; the doubled construction marks the two boundary points of the location.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('between')μέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς Ραμα … καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς Βαιθηλ renders the Hebrew 'between Ramah and Bethel,' fixing Deborah's tribunal between two towns of the Ephraimite ridge.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with place-name Ραμα)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΡαμαRamahgenitive with ἀνὰ μέσον (indeclinable place-name)Ραμα: transliteration of Hebrew רָמָה (Ramah, 'height'); indeclinable, here marked by the genitive article τῆς; a town in the Ephraim/Benjamin highlands.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (second occurrence of ἀνὰ μέσον)ἀνὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον (second boundary point)μέσον: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with place-name Βαιθηλ)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒαιθηλBethelgenitive with ἀνὰ μέσον (indeclinable place-name)Βαιθηλ: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית־אֵל (Bethel, 'house of God'); indeclinable; the second boundary town fixing Deborah's tribunal on the central hill ridge.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρειmountain / hill countryDativedative of place ('in the hill country')ὄρος: 'mountain / hill'; renders הַר; ἐν τῷ ὄρει Εφραιμ ('in the hill country of Ephraim') designates the central highland region, Deborah's home territory.
ΕφραιμEphraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'hill country of Ephraim')Εφραιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם (Ephraim); indeclinable; the central tribal territory whose highlands form Deborah's judicial base.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβαινονwould go upImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (habitual ascent for judgment)→ customary imperfect (repeated pilgrimage to the tribunal)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the imperfect ἀνέβαινον depicts Israelites repeatedly 'going up' (to the highland seat) for adjudication — a settled pattern of resort to Deborah's authority.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὴνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Deborah as destination)αὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject ('the sons of Israel')υἱός: see v. 1; the litigants who come up to Deborah for judgment.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'for judgment')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κρίσινjudgmentAccusativeaccusative of purpose (the object of their coming)κρίσις: 'judgment / legal decision'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; εἰς κρίσιν ('for judgment') specifies the purpose of the people's ascent — to have their disputes adjudicated by the prophetess-judge.
6
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δεββωρα καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸν Βαρακ υἱὸν Αβινεεμ ἐκ Καδης Νεφθαλι καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν οὐχὶ ἐνετείλατο κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ σοὶ καὶ ἀπελεύσῃ εἰς ὄρος Θαβωρ καὶ λήμψῃ μετὰ σεαυτοῦ δέκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Νεφθαλι καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ζαβουλων
And Deborah sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam out of Kedesh of Naphtali, and said to him, 'Has not the LORD the God of Israel commanded you? And you shall go to Mount Tabor and take with yourself ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun.'
Deborah, acting as YHWH's prophetic mouthpiece, summons Barak and issues the divine command in the form of a rhetorical question (οὐχὶ ἐνετείλατο κύριος; 'has not the LORD commanded?'), which presupposes an affirmative and functions as urgent exhortation. The command specifies the mustering site (Mount Tabor), the troop number (ten thousand), and the two tribes (Naphtali and Zebulun).
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (Deborah dispatches a summons)→ constative aorist (single act of sending)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch'; renders שָׁלַח; here Deborah sends messengers to summon Barak, initiating the military phase of the deliverance.
ΔεββωραDeborahsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Δεββωρα: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάλεσενsummonedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (calling Barak)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon / invite'; renders קָרָא; ἀπέστειλεν … καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ('she sent and summoned') is a Hebraistic verb-pair for an authoritative summons.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Βαρακ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒαρακBarakdirect object of ἐκάλεσεν (indeclinable, with article)Βαρακ: transliteration of Hebrew בָּרָק (Barak, 'lightning'); indeclinable in the LXX, here marked by the accusative article τόν; the military leader Deborah commissions to face Sisera.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeapposition to Βαρακ ('son of Abinoam')υἱός: 'son'; the patronymic 'son of Abinoam' identifies Barak's lineage.
ΑβινεεμAbinoamgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Abinoam')Αβινεεμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִינֹעַם (Abinoam); indeclinable; Barak's father, named to fix his identity.
ἐκout of / frompreposition + genitive (source: place of origin)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΚαδηςKedeshgenitive of source (indeclinable place-name)Καδης: transliteration of Hebrew קֶדֶשׁ (Kedesh); indeclinable; Καδης Νεφθαλι ('Kedesh of Naphtali') is Barak's hometown, a Levitical city of refuge in the northern hill country.
ΝεφθαλιNaphtaligenitive qualifier (indeclinable: 'Kedesh of Naphtali')Νεφθαλι: transliteration of Hebrew נַפְתָּלִי (Naphtali); indeclinable; the northern tribe; here qualifying Kedesh and below naming one of the two tribes Barak must muster.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: Deborah introduces the divine command she relays to Barak as YHWH's prophet.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Barak)αὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐχὶhas not …?interrogative negative (expecting affirmative answer)οὐχί: emphatic form of οὐ; introducing a rhetorical question that presupposes a 'yes' — 'Has not the LORD commanded?' = 'The LORD has surely commanded'; the form gives the divine word the urgency of a settled fact.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb of the rhetorical question (divine command)→ constative aorist (the standing divine commission)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / enjoin'; renders צִוָּה; the aorist refers to YHWH's authoritative charge that Deborah now communicates; the rhetorical question treats Barak as already obligated by it.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (the divine commander)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the named subject of the command, here further specified as ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition to κύριος ('the God of Israel')θεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the LORD the God of Israel') is the solemn covenant title underscoring that the command issues from Israel's own covenant deity.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'God of Israel')Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
σοὶyouDativedative (recipient of the command: 'commanded you')σύ (dat. σοί): the dative names Barak as the personal recipient of the divine charge — the command is directed specifically at him.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the content of the command)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπελεύσῃyou shall goFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (command in future-imperatival form)→ imperatival future (command: 'you are to go')ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart / go off'; the future ἀπελεύσῃ has imperatival force (a Hebraism reflecting the volitive use of the imperfect/waw), conveying the divine command for Barak to march to Tabor.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction/destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὄροςmountainAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)ὄρος: 'mountain'; ὄρος Θαβωρ ('Mount Tabor') is the mustering-point — a prominent isolated dome at the northeast edge of the Jezreel valley, commanding the Kishon plain.
ΘαβωρTaborgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'Mount Tabor')Θαβωρ: transliteration of Hebrew תָּבוֹר (Tabor); indeclinable; the rallying-mountain from which Barak will descend to battle (v. 14).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λήμψῃyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (command: 'take with you')→ imperatival future (command)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; the future λήμψῃ continues the imperatival-future chain; Barak is to take ten thousand men with him to the muster.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σεαυτοῦyourselfGenitivegenitive reflexive object of μετά ('with yourself')σεαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun 'yourself'; μετὰ σεαυτοῦ ('with yourself') stresses that Barak personally leads the levied force.
δέκαtenattributive numeral (indeclinable, with χιλιάδας)δέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable; with χιλιάδας it gives the round figure 'ten thousand' (cf. vv. 10, 14).
χιλιάδαςthousandsAccusativedirect object of λήμψῃ ('ten thousand')χιλιάς: 'a thousand / unit of a thousand'; renders אֶלֶף; δέκα χιλιάδας = 'ten thousand,' the levy Barak is to raise from the northern tribes.
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivepartitive/descriptive genitive ('thousands of men')ἀνήρ: 'man / male / warrior'; renders אִישׁ; the genitive ἀνδρῶν specifies the ten thousand as fighting men.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source/origin of the levy)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of source ('from the sons of Naphtali')υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Νεφθαλι designates the tribe of Naphtali as a corporate body from which troops are drawn.
ΝεφθαλιNaphtaligenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Naphtali')Νεφθαλι: see above; one of the two tribes mustered for the battle, Barak's own tribe.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (second source-tribe)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of source ('from the sons of Zebulun')υἱῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΖαβουλωνZebulungenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Zebulun')Ζαβουλων: transliteration of Hebrew זְבוּלֻן (Zebulun); indeclinable; the second northern tribe mustered; both Naphtali and Zebulun are praised for their valor in the song (5:18).
7
καὶ ἐπάξω πρὸς σὲ εἰς τὸν χειμάρρουν Κισων τὸν Σισαρα ἄρχοντα τῆς δυνάμεως Ιαβιν καὶ τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος αὐτοῦ καὶ παραδώσω αὐτὸν εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου
And I will draw to you, to the Wadi Kishon, Sisera the commander of Jabin's army and his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver him into your hands.
The continuation of the oracle shifts to YHWH's own first-person guarantee: he himself will 'draw' (ἐπάξω) Sisera with his chariots and host to the Kishon and 'deliver' (παραδώσω) him into Barak's hands. The two divine futures frame the battle as YHWH's own act, of which Barak is the human instrument.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the oracle)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάξωI will draw / bringFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐπάγωmain verb (divine first-person promise)→ predictive future (certain divine act)ἐπάγω: 'bring upon / lead toward'; renders מָשַׁךְ ('draw / lure') in this context; the first-person ἐπάξω makes YHWH the agent who lures Sisera and his chariots into the trap at the Kishon, where the river will neutralize the chariots' advantage (cf. 5:21).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward Barak)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Barak)σύ (acc. σέ): the personal pronoun; YHWH will draw Sisera 'to you,' i.e., into Barak's reach.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειμάρρουνwadi / torrent-valleyAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the battle-site)χειμάρρους: 'winter-stream / wadi / torrent'; renders נַחַל; the Kishon is a seasonal watercourse that floods in the rainy season — the very feature that will mire and sweep away Sisera's chariots (cf. 5:21).
ΚισωνKishongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'wadi Kishon')Κισων: transliteration of Hebrew קִישׁוֹן (Kishon); indeclinable; the river draining the Jezreel valley, the divinely chosen battlefield.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Σισαρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣισαραSiseradirect object of ἐπάξω (indeclinable, with article)Σισαρα: see v. 2; the object YHWH promises to draw to the trap; the accusative article τόν marks the indeclinable name as direct object.
ἄρχονταcommanderAccusativeapposition to Σισαρα ('the commander')ἄρχων: 'ruler / commander'; the appositive restates Sisera's office (ἄρχων τῆς δυνάμεως, cf. v. 2), emphasizing that the whole Canaanite command will be drawn into the trap.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωςarmyGenitivegenitive (the army he commands)δύναμις: see v. 2; the host under Sisera's command, belonging to Jabin.
Ιαβινof Jabingenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'army of Jabin')Ιαβιν: see v. 2; the king to whom the army belongs.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅρματαchariotsAccusativedirect object of ἐπάξω (coordinate with Σισαρα)ἅρμα: see v. 3; the nine hundred iron chariots, drawn into the wadi where their power becomes their undoing.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Sisera's chariots)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheAccusativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλῆθοςmultitudeAccusativedirect object of ἐπάξω (coordinate)πλῆθος: 'multitude / great number / host'; renders הָמוֹן ('multitude / tumult'); the whole mass of Sisera's troops, drawn to destruction with him.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Sisera's multitude)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παραδώσωI will deliver / hand overFut Act Indic 1 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (divine promise of victory)→ predictive future (guaranteed divine act)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; renders נָתַן (בְּיַד); the standard holy-war formula 'I will deliver him into your hands' guarantees the victory as YHWH's gift, not Barak's military achievement (cf. v. 14; Josh 6:2).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of παραδώσω (Sisera)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (idiom: 'into your hands')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖράςhandsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiomatic: 'into the hands')χείρ: 'hand'; εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου ('into your hands') renders בְּיָדְךָ, the holy-war idiom for the granting of victory and the captive enemy.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (Barak's hands)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
8
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὴν Βαρακ ἐὰν πορευθῇς μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ πορεύσομαι καὶ ἐὰν μὴ πορευθῇς οὐ πορεύσομαι ὅτι οὐκ οἶδα τὴν ἡμέραν ἐν ᾗ εὐοδοῖ τὸν ἄγγελον κύριος μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ
And Barak said to her, 'If you go with me, I will go; and if you do not go, I will not go; for I do not know the day on which the LORD prospers the angel with me.'
Barak's reply is a balanced double conditional (ἐὰν … πορεύσομαι / ἐὰν μὴ … οὐ πορεύσομαι) making his obedience contingent on Deborah's accompaniment. His stated reason — that he does not know the day YHWH grants success — frames his insistence as dependence on the prophetic presence that mediates the divine word and timing; this hesitation sets up Deborah's prophecy of v. 9.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Barak's conditional reply to Deborah.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὴνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Deborah)αὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΒαρακBaraksubject (indeclinable proper noun)Βαρακ: see v. 6; the speaker of the conditional reply.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (+ subjunctive: protasis)ἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive introduces a future/present general condition; here the protasis of Barak's positive condition.
πορευθῇςyou goAor Pass Subj 2 Sg · πορεύομαιverb of protasis (condition: 'if you go')→ aorist subjunctive (condition viewed as a single act)πορεύομαι: 'go / travel / proceed'; the aorist passive (deponent) subjunctive πορευθῇς states the condition — Deborah's going with Barak is the hinge of his obedience.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided before vowel)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετά ('with me')ἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): emphatic first-person pronoun; μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ('with me') marks the accompaniment Barak demands.
πορεύσομαιI will goFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb of apodosis (consequence)→ predictive future (Barak's pledged response)πορεύομαι (fut.): the apodosis of the positive condition — 'I will go' — Barak's commitment if Deborah accompanies him.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the negative condition)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (negative protasis)ἐὰν: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive)μή: the negative used with the subjunctive; ἐὰν μή ('if … not / unless') frames the negative condition.
πορευθῇςyou goAor Pass Subj 2 Sg · πορεύομαιverb of negative protasis ('if you do not go')→ aorist subjunctiveπορεύομαι: repeated in the negative condition, sharpening Barak's all-or-nothing stipulation.
οὐnotnegative particle (with indicative apodosis)οὐ: the objective negative with the future indicative; 'I will not go.'
πορεύσομαιI will goFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb of negative apodosis ('I will not go')→ predictive future (refusal)πορεύομαι (fut.): the negated apodosis — Barak will refuse the campaign without Deborah's presence.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (giving Barak's reason)ὅτι: causal 'because'; introduces Barak's stated rationale for requiring Deborah.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with οἶδα)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶδαI knowPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · οἶδαmain verb of causal clause (Barak's ignorance)→ perfect with present sense ('I do not know')οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present meaning); Barak confesses ignorance of the day of YHWH's granted success, hence his dependence on the prophetess who alone mediates the divine timing.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρανdayAccusativedirect object of οἶδα ('the day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; renders יוֹם; the 'day' is the appointed time of YHWH's granting of victory, knowable only through the prophetic word.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal, with relative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ᾗwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative, antecedent ἡμέραν: 'on which')ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: the feminine dative relative ᾗ, with ἐν, means 'on which (day)'; introduces the temporal relative clause.
εὐοδοῖprospers / grants successPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐοδόωverb of relative clause (YHWH grants success)→ gnomic/customary present (the day of granted success)εὐοδόω: 'prosper / grant a good journey / give success'; renders צָלַח / הִצְלִיחַ; the verb (lit. 'make the way good') here denotes YHWH's granting of military success; Barak does not know on which day that success will be given.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγγελονangel / messengerAccusativedirect object of εὐοδοῖ (the agent YHWH prospers)ἄγγελος: 'messenger / angel'; this difficult clause (ἐν ᾗ εὐοδοῖ τὸν ἄγγελον κύριος μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ) reflects the divergent Greek text-forms of Judges; the sense is that Barak does not know the day on which the LORD prospers (sends) 'the angel/messenger' with him — i.e., grants the accompanying divine help that secures victory.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of εὐοδοῖ (divine giver of success)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD is the one who grants the day of success and sends the accompanying help.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετά ('with me')ἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): 'with me'; the accompanying divine help Barak longs to be assured of before he will march.
9
καὶ εἶπεν πορευομένη πορεύσομαι μετὰ σοῦ πλὴν γίνωσκε ὅτι οὐκ ἔσται τὸ προτέρημά σου ἐπὶ τὴν ὁδόν ἣν σὺ πορεύῃ ὅτι ἐν χειρὶ γυναικὸς ἀποδώσεται κύριος τὸν Σισαρα καὶ ἀνέστη Δεββωρα καὶ ἐπορεύθη μετὰ Βαρακ ἐκ Καδης
And she said, 'Going I will go with you; only know that your advantage will not be on the road on which you go, for into the hand of a woman the LORD will sell Sisera.' And Deborah arose and went with Barak out of Kedesh.
Deborah consents with the emphatic Hebraistic figura etymologica πορευομένη πορεύσομαι ('going I will go' = 'I will surely go'), then qualifies the consent with a prophecy (πλὴν γίνωσκε, 'only know'): the honor of the day will not be Barak's, for YHWH will sell Sisera into a woman's hand. The narrative then resumes: Deborah arises and goes with Barak. The prophecy points to Jael (vv. 17–22).
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: Deborah replies)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Deborah's consent-with-prophecy.
πορευομένηgoingPres Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Fem · πορεύομαιparticiple in cognate figura etymologica with πορεύσομαι→ intensifying participle (Hebraism: 'surely I will go')πορεύομαι: the present participle πορευομένη joined to the finite πορεύσομαι is the LXX's calque of the Hebrew infinitive absolute הָלֹךְ אֵלֵךְ ('going I will go' = 'I will certainly go'); the construction stresses the firmness of Deborah's consent.
πορεύσομαιI will goFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (Deborah's commitment)→ predictive future (firm consent)πορεύομαι (fut.): the finite verb of the emphatic construction; Deborah agrees to accompany Barak.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά ('with you')σύ (gen. σοῦ): 'with you'; Deborah grants Barak the accompaniment he demanded in v. 8.
πλὴνonly / howeveradversative/restrictive particle (qualifying the consent)πλήν: 'only / nevertheless / however'; introduces the qualification limiting Barak's share in the glory; renders אֶפֶס / רַק.
γίνωσκεknowPres Act Impv 2 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (imperative introducing the prophecy)→ durative present imperative ('be aware / keep in mind')γινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; the present imperative γίνωσκε ('know this') solemnly introduces Deborah's prophetic announcement about the locus of the victory's honor.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of γίνωσκε)ὅτι: introduces the object-clause of γίνωσκε — the content Barak must know.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔσται)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of the ὅτι-clause (copula)→ predictive futureεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'will be'; the future copula in the prophecy — Barak's 'advantage / pre-eminence' will not attach to this campaign-road.
τὸtheNominativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προτέρημάadvantage / pre-eminenceNominativesubject of ἔσται ('your advantage')προτέρημα: 'advantage / precedence / superiority'; a rare noun (lit. 'that which goes first'); here it denotes the honor or glory of the victory, which Deborah declares will not be Barak's because the decisive blow will fall to a woman.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your advantage')σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (location of the 'advantage')ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδόνroad / wayAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('on the road')ὁδός: 'road / way / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; here the campaign-route Barak is taking; the 'way' on which he marches will not yield him the personal glory.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of πορεύῃ, antecedent ὁδόν)ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: the feminine accusative relative ἥν, with the cognate verb πορεύῃ ('the way which you go'), is an internal/cognate accusative construction.
σὺyouNominativesubject of πορεύῃ (emphatic pronoun)σύ: the emphatic nominative singles out Barak — the way 'you yourself' are taking.
πορεύῃyou goPres Mid Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιverb of relative clause ('the way you go')→ progressive present (the journey under way)πορεύομαι: 'go / travel'; the present πορεύῃ describes Barak's current campaign-march; with ὁδόν it forms the cognate construction 'the way you are going.'
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (ground of the prophecy)ὅτι: causal; gives the reason Barak's glory is forfeit — YHWH will hand Sisera to a woman.
ἐνinto / inpreposition + dative (Hebraism: 'into the hand of')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὶhandDativedative object of ἐν (fronted for emphasis: 'into a hand')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρὶ γυναικός ('into a woman's hand') is fronted before the verb for rhetorical emphasis — the surprising agent of the victory; renders בְּיַד אִשָּׁה.
γυναικὸςof a womanGenitivegenitive of possession ('a woman's hand')γυνή: 'woman'; the anonymous 'woman' of the prophecy is Jael (vv. 17–22); the irony is sharp — Barak, who would not go without a woman (Deborah), loses the glory to another woman.
ἀποδώσεταιwill sell / deliver upFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb of the causal clause (divine handing-over)→ predictive future (certain divine act)ἀποδίδωμι (mid.): 'sell / give over'; the same verb used of YHWH's 'selling' Israel in v. 2, now reversed — YHWH will 'sell' Sisera into a woman's hand; the lexical echo frames the deliverance as the undoing of the oppression.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (divine agent of the handing-over)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH himself is the one who delivers Sisera, through the woman's hand.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Σισαρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣισαραSiseradirect object of ἀποδώσεται (indeclinable, with article)Σισαρα: see v. 2; the object of YHWH's handing-over, doomed to die by a woman's hand.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming the action)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (Deborah's setting out)→ ingressive aorist (rose up to act)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up / set out'; renders קוּם; the aorist ἀνέστη marks Deborah's decisive rising to accompany Barak on campaign.
ΔεββωραDeborahsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Δεββωρα: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (Deborah accompanies Barak)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep.): 'go / proceed'; ἐπορεύθη marks the fulfillment of her promise to go with Barak.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒαρακBarakgenitive object of μετά (indeclinable: 'with Barak')Βαρακ: see v. 6; Deborah's traveling companion to the muster.
ἐκout of / frompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΚαδηςKedeshgenitive of source (indeclinable place-name)Καδης: see v. 6; the staging-point from which Deborah and Barak set out for Tabor.
10
καὶ ἐβόησεν Βαρακ τὸν Ζαβουλων καὶ τὸν Νεφθαλι ἐκ Καδης καὶ ἀνέβησαν κατὰ πόδας αὐτοῦ δέκα χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν καὶ ἀνέβη μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ Δεββωρα
And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali from Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up at his feet, and Deborah went up with him.
Barak executes Deborah's command: he summons (ἐβόησεν) the two tribes from Kedesh, and ten thousand men go up 'at his feet' (κατὰ πόδας αὐτοῦ, a Hebraism for 'following him / under his command'). The closing note that Deborah went up with him confirms the fulfilled condition of v. 8.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐβόησενcalled out / summonedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βοάωmain verb (Barak musters the tribes)→ constative aorist (act of mustering)βοάω: 'shout / cry out / call'; renders זָעַק (Hiphil, 'call out / summon to arms'); here Barak raises the war-levy of the two tribes.
ΒαρακBaraksubject (indeclinable proper noun)Βαρακ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ζαβουλων, marking direct object)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΖαβουλωνZebulundirect object of ἐβόησεν (indeclinable, with article)Ζαβουλων: see v. 6; here the tribe summoned to arms, the indeclinable name marked as object by τόν.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Νεφθαλι)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝεφθαλιNaphtalidirect object of ἐβόησεν (indeclinable, with article)Νεφθαλι: see v. 6; the second tribe summoned.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΚαδηςKedeshgenitive of source (indeclinable place-name)Καδης: see v. 6; the mustering-point.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβησανwent upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the levy ascends to Tabor)→ constative aorist (the mustered ascent)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the ten thousand 'go up' (to Mount Tabor) under Barak's lead.
κατὰat / followingpreposition + accusative (Hebraism: 'at the feet of')κατά + acc.: in the idiom κατὰ πόδας ('at the feet / on the heels of'), a Hebraism (בְּרַגְלָיו) meaning 'following him / under his command.'
πόδαςfeetAccusativeaccusative in idiom κατὰ πόδας ('at his feet')πούς: 'foot'; κατὰ πόδας αὐτοῦ ('at his feet') renders the Hebrew idiom for troops marching in a leader's train, i.e., under his command.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Barak's feet)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
δέκαtenattributive numeral (indeclinable, with χιλιάδες)δέκα: see v. 6; with χιλιάδες = 'ten thousand,' the levy now assembled.
χιλιάδεςthousandsNominativesubject of ἀνέβησαν ('ten thousand')χιλιάς: 'thousand'; the ten thousand men commanded in v. 6 now go up with Barak.
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivepartitive/descriptive genitive ('thousands of men')ἀνήρ: see v. 6; the fighting men of the levy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (Deborah's ascent)→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: the singular ἀνέβη with Deborah as subject confirms that she went up with Barak, fulfilling the condition of v. 8.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά ('with him')αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΔεββωραDeborahsubject of ἀνέβη (indeclinable proper noun)Δεββωρα: see v. 4; her presence on campaign is the fulfilled condition that secured Barak's obedience.
11
καὶ Χαβερ ὁ Κιναῖος ἐχωρίσθη ἀπὸ Καινα ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Ιωβαβ γαμβροῦ Μωυσῆ καὶ ἔπηξεν τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ ἕως δρυὸς πλεονεκτούντων ἥ ἐστιν ἐχόμενα Κεδες
Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from Kaina, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and he pitched his tent as far as the oak of the covetous ones, which is near Kedesh.
A narrator's aside, interrupting the battle-build-up to position Heber the Kenite (and so his wife Jael) near the coming theater of action. The Kenites trace to Hobab, Moses' father-in-law; Heber's separation from his kin and encampment near Kedesh explains why a fleeing Sisera will find Jael's tent (v. 17). Such anticipatory placement of a minor character is a classic Hebrew narrative technique.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶand / nownarrative conjunction (introducing a parenthetical)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΧαβερHebersubject (indeclinable proper noun)Χαβερ: transliteration of Hebrew חֶבֶר (Heber); indeclinable; the Kenite husband of Jael, whose tent will become the scene of Sisera's death.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with the gentilic Κιναῖος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚιναῖοςKeniteNominativeapposition to Χαβερ ('the Kenite')Κιναῖος: 'Kenite'; a declinable gentilic adjective (rendering קֵינִי) identifying Heber's clan; the Kenites were a nomadic group associated with Moses' Midianite in-laws and traditionally friendly to Israel.
ἐχωρίσθηhad separated himselfAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · χωρίζωmain verb (Heber's separation from his kin)→ constative aorist (here with anterior force: 'had separated')χωρίζω (aor. pass.): 'separate / part / withdraw'; the passive ἐχωρίσθη ('was separated / separated himself') describes Heber's split from the main Kenite group, explaining his isolated encampment in the north near the battlefield.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation/source)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΚαιναKainagenitive of separation (indeclinable place/clan name)Καινα: transliteration reflecting Hebrew קַיִן (Kain / the Kenite clan); indeclinable; the parent Kenite group from which Heber separated.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (in apposition to the prior phrase)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of separation ('from the sons of Hobab')υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ιωβαβ designates the descendants of Hobab, the Kenite line from which Heber parted.
ΙωβαβHobabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Hobab')Ιωβαβ: transliteration of Hebrew חֹבָב (Hobab); indeclinable; Moses' father-in-law (or brother-in-law; cf. Num 10:29; Judg 1:16), ancestor of the Kenites here named.
γαμβροῦfather-in-lawGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ιωβαβ ('father-in-law of Moses')γαμβρός: 'relative by marriage / father-in-law / son-in-law'; renders חֹתֵן ('father-in-law'); identifies Hobab by his marriage-tie to Moses, grounding the Kenites' traditional bond with Israel.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship ('father-in-law of Moses')Μωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined in the LXX (gen. Μωυσῆ); the genitive links Hobab to Moses, recalling the Kenite-Israelite alliance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπηξενpitchedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πήγνυμιmain verb (Heber sets up his tent)→ constative aoristπήγνυμι: 'fix / set up / pitch'; renders נָטָה (of a tent); ἔπηξεν τὴν σκηνήν ('pitched his tent') locates Heber's nomadic encampment near the battlefield; the same verb returns at v. 21 (ἔπηξεν τὸν πάσσαλον, 'drove the peg').
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνὴνtentAccusativedirect object of ἔπηξεν ('his tent')σκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; renders אֹהֶל; the nomadic dwelling that becomes the setting of Sisera's death (vv. 17–22).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Heber's tent)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἕωςas far as / up topreposition + genitive (extent of location)ἕως: 'as far as / up to'; here marking the limit/place of the encampment, by the named oak.
δρυὸςoakGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (the landmark tree)δρῦς: 'oak / tree'; renders אֵלוֹן ('great tree / terebinth'); a named landmark tree by which Heber camps.
πλεονεκτούντωνof the covetous onesPres Act Ptcp Gen Pl Masc · πλεονεκτέωsubstantival participle (genitive: qualifying δρυός)πλεονεκτέω: 'have/take more / be covetous / overreach'; the substantival participle δρῦς πλεονεκτούντων ('oak of the covetous/grasping ones') is the LXX's rendering of the place-name בְּצַעֲנַיִּם (Zaanannim/Bezaanannim), apparently etymologized from a root sense of grasping/gain — a wooden-literal transliteration-by-meaning typical of Judges.
ἥwhichNominativerelative pronoun (nom. fem., antecedent δρῦς)ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: the feminine nominative relative ἥ agrees with δρῦς (fem.); introduces the locating clause.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula of relative clause→ present (geographical statement)εἰμί: 'is'; the present locates the oak geographically relative to Kedesh.
ἐχόμεναnear / adjoiningPres Mid Ptcp Nom/Acc Pl Neut · ἔχωparticiple in adverbial/prepositional sense ('next to')ἔχω (mid. ptcp.): 'hold (to) / be next to'; the middle participle ἐχόμενα functions adverbially/prepositionally ('adjoining / close to'), a common LXX idiom for 'near' (rendering the sense of עִם / אֵצֶל); here 'near Kedesh.'
ΚεδεςKedeshobject of the quasi-prepositional ἐχόμενα (indeclinable place-name)Κεδες: transliteration of Hebrew קֶדֶשׁ (Kedesh); indeclinable; the same town as Καδης (vv. 6, 9–11) in an alternate spelling — the location fixing Heber's tent near the coming battle-zone.
12
καὶ ἀνηγγέλη Σισαρα ὅτι ἀνέβη Βαρακ υἱὸς Αβινεεμ εἰς ὄρος Θαβωρ
And it was reported to Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor.
The narrative returns to the main line: news of Barak's ascent to Tabor reaches Sisera, prompting his full chariot-mobilization in v. 13. The impersonal passive ἀνηγγέλη ('it was reported') with the dative-sense Σισαρα is the standard LXX way of conveying received intelligence.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming the main line)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνηγγέληit was reportedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀναγγέλλωmain verb (impersonal passive: report received)→ constative aorist (single act of reporting)ἀναγγέλλω (aor. pass.): 'announce / report / bring word'; renders נָגַד (Hophal, 'it was told'); the impersonal passive 'it was reported to Sisera' conveys battlefield intelligence reaching the commander.
Σισαραto Siseradative-sense recipient of the report (indeclinable)Σισαρα: see v. 2; the indeclinable name functions as the (dative-sense) recipient of the report — 'it was reported to Sisera.'
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of the report)ὅτι: introduces the reported content — Barak's ascent to Tabor.
ἀνέβηhad gone upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωverb of the ὅτι-clause (Barak's reported ascent)→ constative aorist (with anterior force in indirect report)ἀναβαίνω: see v. 10; here in the report — Barak 'has gone up' to Tabor, the news that triggers Sisera's mobilization.
ΒαρακBaraksubject of ἀνέβη (indeclinable proper noun)Βαρακ: see v. 6.
υἱὸςsonNominativeapposition to Βαρακ ('son of Abinoam')υἱός: the patronymic, repeated from v. 6, fixes Barak's identity in the report.
ΑβινεεμAbinoamgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Abinoam')Αβινεεμ: see v. 6; Barak's father.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὄροςmountainAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)ὄρος: see v. 6; Mount Tabor, the muster-point now occupied by Barak's levy.
ΘαβωρTaborgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'Mount Tabor')Θαβωρ: see v. 6; the rallying-mountain.
13
καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Σισαρα πάντα τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἐννακόσια ἅρματα σιδηρᾶ καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν τὸν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ Αρισωθ τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰς τὸν χειμάρρουν Κισων
And Sisera mustered all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth of the Nations to the Wadi Kishon.
Sisera responds to the intelligence by mustering his entire force — all nine hundred iron chariots (the repeated count from v. 3 underscoring the overwhelming odds) and all his people — moving from his base at Harosheth to the Wadi Kishon. Unwittingly he marches into the very trap YHWH promised in v. 7.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάλεσενmustered / called togetherAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (Sisera summons his forces)→ constative aorist (act of mobilization)καλέω: 'call / summon'; here 'call together / muster'; renders זָעַק (Hiphil); Sisera assembles his entire chariot-army for battle.
ΣισαραSiserasubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σισαρα: see v. 2.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἅρματα: 'all his chariots')πᾶς: 'all / every'; the neuter accusative plural πάντα stresses that Sisera commits his entire chariot-force.
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅρματαchariotsAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσενἅρμα: see v. 3; the chariot-corps mobilized to the Kishon.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐννακόσιαnine hundredAccusativeattributive numeral (in apposition: 'nine hundred chariots')ἐννακόσιοι: see v. 3; the repeated count dramatizes the technological dominance Sisera brings to the field.
ἅρματαchariotsAccusativenoun in apposition ('nine hundred iron chariots')ἅρμα: the appositional restatement (ἐννακόσια ἅρματα σιδηρᾶ) echoes v. 3 verbatim, binding the mobilization to the original measure of oppression.
σιδηρᾶof ironAccusativeattributive adjective (material: 'iron chariots')σιδηροῦς: see v. 3; the iron chariots whose dominance YHWH will overturn at the wadi.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying λαόν: 'all the people')πᾶς: the masculine accusative πάντα with λαόν stresses total mobilization of the infantry as well as the chariots.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeople / hostAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλεσεν (coordinate with ἅρματα)λαός: 'people'; here the mass of Sisera's foot-soldiers and retinue (renders עַם in the military sense of 'troops').
τὸνthe (who was)Accusativearticle in attributive position (with μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ: 'the [one] with him')the repeated article τόν with the prepositional phrase μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ functions as a relative ('the people that was with him'), a common Greek attributive construction.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά ('with him')αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (point of departure)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑρισωθHaroshethgenitive of source (indeclinable place-name)Αρισωθ: see v. 2; Sisera's chariot-base, from which he advances.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive qualifier ('Harosheth of the Nations')ἔθνος: see v. 2; the Gentile heartland from which Sisera marches.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειμάρρουνwadiAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the battle-site)χειμάρρους: see v. 7; the Kishon, the divinely chosen ground where the chariots will be undone.
ΚισωνKishongenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'wadi Kishon')Κισων: see v. 7; Sisera marches exactly into the trap YHWH foretold.
14
καὶ εἶπεν Δεββωρα πρὸς Βαρακ ἀνάστηθι ὅτι αὕτη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ παρέδωκεν κύριος τὸν Σισαρα ἐν τῇ χειρί σου ὅτι κύριος ἐξελεύσεται ἔμπροσθέν σου καὶ κατέβη Βαρακ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους Θαβωρ καὶ δέκα χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ
And Deborah said to Barak, 'Arise, for this is the day on which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand; for the LORD will go out before you.' And Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Deborah gives the prophetic battle-command (ἀνάστηθι, 'arise'), declaring the day of victory present and the deliverance already accomplished in the divine reckoning (παρέδωκεν, perfective: 'has delivered'). The ground is the holy-war assurance that YHWH goes out before the army (ἐξελεύσεται ἔμπροσθέν σου). Barak obeys, descending Tabor with his ten thousand.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Deborah's prophetic battle-command.
ΔεββωραDeborahsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Δεββωρα: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒαρακBarakaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable)Βαρακ: see v. 6; the addressee of the battle-command.
ἀνάστηθιariseAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (imperative: battle-command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (rise up and act now)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up'; the aorist imperative ἀνάστηθι ('arise!') is the prophetic signal to launch the attack — the decisive moment of YHWH's appointed day.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (ground of the command)ὅτι: causal; gives the reason for rising — the day of victory has come.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject: 'this is the day')οὗτος (fem. αὕτη): 'this'; the demonstrative emphatically identifies the present moment as the appointed day of deliverance.
ἡtheNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραdayNominativepredicate nominative ('this [is] the day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the verbless clause αὕτη ἡ ἡμέρα ('this is the day') answers Barak's anxiety in v. 8 about not knowing the day of success — Deborah now declares it has arrived.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal, with relative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ᾗwhichDativerelative pronoun (dat. fem., antecedent ἡμέρα: 'on which')ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: feminine dative relative ᾗ, with ἐν, 'on which (day)'; introduces the temporal relative clause.
παρέδωκενhas deliveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιverb of relative clause (the accomplished deliverance)→ perfective/proleptic aorist (the victory as already given)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver'; the aorist παρέδωκεν ('has delivered') is proleptic — from the standpoint of the divine word the victory is already accomplished, fulfilling the promise of v. 7; faith treats the future deliverance as a present fact.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (divine deliverer)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH is the one who hands Sisera over.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Σισαρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣισαραSiseradirect object of παρέδωκεν (indeclinable, with article)Σισαρα: see v. 2; delivered into Barak's hand by YHWH.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (Hebraism: 'into your hand')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρίhandDativedative object of ἐν ('into your hand')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐν τῇ χειρί σου renders בְּיָדְךָ, the holy-war idiom for the granting of the enemy; echoes the promise of v. 7.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your hand')σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (ground of the assurance)ὅτι: causal; gives the theological ground of the victory — YHWH's own going-out before the army.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (the divine warrior)κύριος: rendering of יהוה; the LORD as the one who marches at the head of his people in holy war.
ἐξελεύσεταιwill go outFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb of causal clause (divine warrior motif)→ predictive future (assured divine accompaniment)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; renders יָצָא; 'the LORD will go out before you' is the holy-war formula for YHWH leading the charge as divine warrior (cf. 2 Sam 5:24; Judg 4:14), guaranteeing victory.
ἔμπροσθένbeforepreposition + genitive (spatial: 'in front of you')ἔμπροσθεν: 'before / in front of'; renders לִפְנֵי; YHWH goes 'before' Barak, leading the attack — Barak follows the divine warrior.
σουyouGenitivegenitive object of ἔμπροσθεν ('before you')σου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming the action)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (Barak descends to attack)→ constative aorist (decisive descent)καταβαίνω: 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; Barak 'goes down' from Tabor to the plain to engage Sisera — the obedient response to ἀνάστηθι.
ΒαρακBaraksubject (indeclinable proper noun)Βαρακ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (point of departure)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρουςmountainGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό ('from the mountain')ὄρος: see v. 6; Barak descends from Tabor's height to the Kishon plain.
ΘαβωρTaborgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'Mount Tabor')Θαβωρ: see v. 6.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
δέκαtenattributive numeral (indeclinable, with χιλιάδες)δέκα: see v. 6; the levy following Barak into battle.
χιλιάδεςthousandsNominativesubject (verbless: 'ten thousand [went] after him')χιλιάς: 'thousand'; the ten thousand men descend after Barak.
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivepartitive/descriptive genitive ('thousands of men')ἀνήρ: see v. 6.
ὀπίσωafter / behindpreposition + genitive ('after him')ὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; renders אַחֲרֵי; the troops follow 'after' Barak in the descent — and YHWH 'before' them (ἔμπροσθεν), framing the army between divine leadership and obedient following.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω ('after him')αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
15
καὶ ἐξέστησεν κύριος τὸν Σισαρα καὶ πάντα τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν παρεμβολὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας ἐνώπιον Βαρακ καὶ κατέβη Σισαρα ἐπάνωθεν τοῦ ἅρματος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφυγεν τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτοῦ
And the LORD threw into panic Sisera and all his chariots and all his camp by the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera came down from his chariot and fled on his feet.
The climactic verb is YHWH's: ἐξέστησεν ('threw into panic / confounded') makes the victory unmistakably divine — the holy-war motif of YHWH casting the enemy into terror. The host falls 'by the edge of the sword,' and Sisera, his chariots now useless, abandons his vehicle and flees on foot — the proud chariot-commander reduced to a fugitive, setting up his death at a woman's hand.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέστησενthrew into panic / confoundedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξίστημιmain verb (the decisive divine rout)→ constative aorist (single decisive divine act)ἐξίστημι: 'displace / confound / throw into confusion / panic'; the transitive aorist ἐξέστησεν renders הָמַם ('throw into panic / rout'), the classic holy-war verb for YHWH's terror-stroke against an enemy army (cf. Exod 14:24; Josh 10:10); the chariots' strength becomes useless once panic seizes them.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject (the divine warrior who routs)κύριος: rendering of יהוה; YHWH himself, not Barak, is the grammatical and theological agent of the rout — the fulfillment of 'the LORD will go out before you' (v. 14).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Σισαρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣισαραSiseradirect object of ἐξέστησεν (indeclinable, with article)Σισαρα: see v. 2; the chief object of the panic.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἅρματα)πᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the chariot-force is thrown into confusion — the boasted nine hundred are undone at a stroke.
τὰtheAccusativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅρματαchariotsAccusativedirect object of ἐξέστησεν (coordinate with Σισαρα)ἅρμα: see v. 3; the chariots, now objects of the divine panic rather than instruments of dominance.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶσανallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying παρεμβολήν)πᾶς: 'all'; the whole camp/host shares the panic — no part of Sisera's force escapes.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὴνcamp / armyAccusativedirect object of ἐξέστησεν (coordinate)παρεμβολή: 'camp / army / battle-array'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the whole encamped host of Sisera, thrown into rout.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental/idiomatic: 'by the edge of the sword')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
στόματιmouth / edgeDativedative in idiom ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας ('by the edge of the sword')στόμα: 'mouth / edge'; ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας ('by the mouth/edge of the sword') is a Hebraism rendering לְפִי־חֶרֶב, the standard idiom for slaughter in battle (cf. v. 16; Josh 6:21).
ῥομφαίαςswordGenitivegenitive ('edge of the sword')ῥομφαία: 'sword / large blade'; renders חֶרֶב; the weapon of the slaughter; the genitive completes the Hebraic idiom 'mouth of the sword.'
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive ('before Barak')ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; the rout happens 'before Barak,' i.e., as he advances — but the agent throughout is κύριος, not Barak.
ΒαρακBarakgenitive object of ἐνώπιον (indeclinable)Βαρακ: see v. 6; the human commander before whom YHWH's victory unfolds.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέβηcame down / dismountedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (Sisera abandons his chariot)→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down / descend / dismount'; Sisera 'comes down from' his chariot — the chariot-commander forced to abandon the very vehicle that symbolized his power, a humiliating reversal.
ΣισαραSiserasubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σισαρα: see v. 2.
ἐπάνωθενfrom upon / down frompreposition + genitive (separation from above)ἐπάνωθεν: 'from above / down from upon'; renders מֵעַל; Sisera descends 'from off' his chariot, stressing that he leaves the chariot behind to flee on foot.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅρματοςchariotGenitivegenitive object of ἐπάνωθεν ('from his chariot')ἅρμα: see v. 3; the singular here is Sisera's own command-chariot, abandoned in flight.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Sisera's chariot)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔφυγενfledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb (Sisera's flight)→ constative aorist (act of flight)φεύγω: 'flee / escape'; renders נוּס; Sisera flees on foot — the once-mighty commander now a lone fugitive, exactly as the prophecy of v. 9 requires for his death by a woman's hand.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποσὶνfeetDativedative of means/manner ('on his feet')πούς: 'foot'; τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτοῦ ('on his feet') stresses that Sisera, deprived of his chariot, flees on foot like a common soldier (repeated at v. 17); the humiliation of the chariot-lord is complete.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his feet')αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
16
καὶ Βαρακ διώκων ὀπίσω τῶν ἁρμάτων καὶ ὀπίσω τῆς παρεμβολῆς ἕως Αρισωθ τῶν ἐθνῶν καὶ ἔπεσεν πᾶσα παρεμβολὴ Σισαρα ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας οὐ κατελείφθη ἕως ἑνός
And Barak pursued after the chariots and after the camp as far as Harosheth of the Nations; and all the camp of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword — not even one was left.
Barak's role is the mopping-up pursuit (διώκων) back to Sisera's own base at Harosheth. The result is total: the whole army falls by the sword, with the emphatic 'not even one was left' (οὐ κατελείφθη ἕως ἑνός) marking the completeness of the divine victory — the chariots are annihilated, but Sisera himself has escaped on foot, to die elsewhere.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΒαρακBaraksubject (indeclinable proper noun)Βαρακ: see v. 6; here the pursuer of the routed host.
διώκωνpursuingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · διώκωparticiple in periphrastic/descriptive function ('was pursuing')→ progressive present participle (ongoing pursuit)διώκω: 'pursue / chase / persecute'; renders רָדַף; the participle διώκων (with implied 'was') depicts Barak's sustained pursuit of the fleeing chariots and host all the way back to Harosheth.
ὀπίσωafterpreposition + genitive ('after the chariots')ὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; with διώκω, the standard idiom 'pursue after.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁρμάτωνchariotsGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω ('after the chariots')ἅρμα: see v. 3; the fleeing chariots Barak chases down.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὀπίσωafterpreposition + genitive ('after the camp')ὀπίσω: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcamp / armyGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω ('after the army')παρεμβολή: see v. 15; the fleeing host pursued to its destruction.
ἕωςas far aspreposition + genitive (extent of pursuit)ἕως: 'as far as / up to'; marks the limit of Barak's pursuit at Sisera's own base.
ΑρισωθHaroshethgenitive object of ἕως (indeclinable place-name)Αρισωθ: see v. 2; the pursuit reaches Sisera's chariot-base — the oppressor's stronghold becomes the place of his army's annihilation.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐθνῶνnationsGenitivegenitive qualifier ('Harosheth of the Nations')ἔθνος: see v. 2.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb (the army's destruction; sg. with collective subject)→ constative aorist (total fall in battle)πίπτω: 'fall'; renders נָפַל; in military idiom 'to fall' = 'to be slain in battle'; the singular ἔπεσεν agrees with the collective subject πᾶσα παρεμβολή.
πᾶσαall / the wholeNominativeattributive adjective (modifying παρεμβολή)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; πᾶσα παρεμβολή ('the whole camp') underscores the totality of the slaughter.
παρεμβολὴcamp / armyNominativesubject of ἔπεσεν ('all the camp of Sisera')παρεμβολή: see v. 15; the entire host of Sisera, annihilated.
Σισαραof Siseragenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'camp of Sisera')Σισαρα: see v. 2; the commander whose army is destroyed while he himself flees.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (idiom: 'by the edge of the sword')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
στόματιmouth / edgeDativedative in idiom ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίαςστόμα: see v. 15; the repeated Hebraism 'mouth/edge of the sword' for slaughter.
ῥομφαίαςswordGenitivegenitive ('edge of the sword')ῥομφαία: see v. 15.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κατελείφθη)οὐ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατελείφθηwas leftAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · καταλείπωmain verb (totality of destruction)→ constative aorist passive (none survived)καταλείπω (aor. pass.): 'leave behind / leave remaining'; renders שָׁאַר (Niphal); the passive 'there was not left' with ἕως ἑνός ('down to one') is the emphatic annihilation-formula: not a single survivor (cf. Exod 14:28).
ἕωςeven / down topreposition + genitive (idiomatic limit: 'down to one')ἕως: here in the idiom ἕως ἑνός ('as much as one / even one'), expressing the extreme limit — not so much as a single man remained.
ἑνόςoneGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (idiom: 'down to one')εἷς (gen. ἑνός): 'one'; ἕως ἑνός ('even one') completes the annihilation-formula — the destruction of the army is total, though Sisera himself has escaped (v. 15).
17
καὶ Σισαρα ἔφυγεν τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτοῦ εἰς σκηνὴν Ιαηλ γυναικὸς Χαβερ ἑταίρου τοῦ Κιναίου ὅτι εἰρήνη ἦν ἀνὰ μέσον Ιαβιν βασιλέως Ασωρ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον οἴκου Χαβερ τοῦ Κιναίου
And Sisera fled on his feet to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the companion of the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
The narrative follows the fugitive Sisera to the one place he thinks safe: Jael's tent. The causal ὅτι-clause explains his fatal misjudgment — there was peace between Jabin and Heber's house, so Sisera assumes refuge; the reader, primed by v. 11, anticipates the deadly irony. The repeated τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτοῦ ('on his feet', cf. v. 15) keeps the humiliation of the chariot-lord in view.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣισαραSiserasubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σισαρα: see v. 2; now the lone fugitive.
ἔφυγενfledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb (Sisera's flight to the tent)→ constative aoristφεύγω: see v. 15; Sisera flees to what he believes is a safe haven.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποσὶνfeetDativedative of means/manner ('on his feet')πούς: see v. 15; the repeated 'on his feet' underscores Sisera's reduction from chariot-commander to foot-fugitive.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σκηνὴνtentAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)σκηνή: see v. 11; Jael's tent, the scene of Sisera's death — entering a woman's tent is itself an irregular act that heightens the narrative tension.
ΙαηλJaelgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'tent of Jael')Ιαηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יָעֵל (Jael, 'mountain goat'); indeclinable; Heber's wife, the 'woman' of Deborah's prophecy (v. 9) who will kill Sisera.
γυναικὸςwifeGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ιαηλ ('wife of Heber')γυνή: 'woman / wife'; identifies Jael as Heber's wife, tying her to the Kenite household noted in v. 11.
Χαβερof Hebergenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'wife of Heber')Χαβερ: see v. 11; Jael's husband, the Kenite.
ἑταίρουcompanion / friendGenitivegenitive in apposition ('the companion of the Kenite')ἑταῖρος: 'companion / comrade / friend'; here in apposition describing Heber within the Kenite clan; the LXX's rendering reflects the difficulty of the underlying Hebrew construct, treating Heber as a 'companion/member' of the Kenite group.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the gentilic Κιναίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚιναίουKeniteGenitivegenitive (gentilic: 'of the Kenite')Κιναῖος: see v. 11; the gentilic identifying Heber's clan.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (explaining the refuge)ὅτι: causal; introduces the explanation for Sisera's choice of refuge — the peace between Jabin and Heber's house.
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject of ἦν ('there was peace')εἰρήνη: 'peace'; renders שָׁלוֹם; the peaceful treaty-relation between Jabin and the Kenites is the assumption Sisera fatally trusts; Jael's deed thus breaks an expected hospitality and alliance.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula ('there was peace')→ stative imperfect (existing state of peace)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν marks the standing peaceful relationship that made Sisera think Jael's tent safe.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')ἀνά: in ἀνὰ μέσον ('between'), see v. 5.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('between')μέσος: ἀνὰ μέσον … καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον renders the Hebrew 'between X and Y'; here marking the two parties at peace.
ΙαβινJabingenitive with ἀνὰ μέσον (indeclinable: 'between Jabin')Ιαβιν: see v. 2; one party to the peace.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ιαβιν ('king of Hazor')βασιλεύς: see v. 2; here Jabin is titled 'king of Hazor' (Ασωρ).
ΑσωρHazorgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Hazor')Ασωρ: see v. 2; Jabin's royal city.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (second ἀνὰ μέσον)ἀνὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον (second party)μέσον: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive with ἀνὰ μέσον ('the house of Heber')οἶκος: 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת; 'the house of Heber' designates the Kenite family/clan as the other party to the peace.
Χαβερof Hebergenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'house of Heber')Χαβερ: see v. 11.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the gentilic Κιναίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚιναίουKeniteGenitivegenitive (gentilic: 'the Kenite')Κιναῖος: see v. 11; the peace that lulls Sisera into trusting the wrong tent.
18
καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ιαηλ εἰς συνάντησιν Σισαρα καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἔκκλινον κύριέ μου ἔκκλινον πρός με μὴ φοβοῦ καὶ ἐξέκλινεν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἰς τὴν σκηνήν καὶ περιέβαλεν αὐτὸν ἐπιβολαίῳ
And Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, 'Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not be afraid.' And he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.
Jael takes the initiative, going out to meet Sisera with reassuring hospitality (ἔκκλινον … μὴ φοβοῦ, 'turn aside … do not fear'). The double imperative ἔκκλινον and the soothing μὴ φοβοῦ mask lethal intent; Sisera complies, and she covers him — feigned protection that is in fact concealment for the kill. The address κύριέ μου ('my lord') is the deferential human-master idiom.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (Jael goes out to meet Sisera)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come forth'; Jael takes the active initiative, going out of the tent to intercept and welcome the fugitive.
ΙαηλJaelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Ιαηλ: see v. 17.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to meet')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
συνάντησινmeetingAccusativeaccusative of purpose (idiom: 'to meet')συνάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; εἰς συνάντησιν ('to meet') renders לִקְרַאת, the standard Hebraism for going out to encounter someone.
ΣισαραSiseragenitive/object with συνάντησιν (indeclinable: 'to meet Sisera')Σισαρα: see v. 2; the one Jael goes out to meet.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Jael's disarming invitation.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object ('said to him')αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἔκκλινονturn asideAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (imperative: invitation)→ ingressive aorist imperative (welcoming command)ἐκκλίνω: 'turn aside / turn away'; renders סוּר; the aorist imperative ἔκκλινον ('turn aside [here]') is a hospitable invitation to leave the road and take refuge — the bait of the trap.
κύριέmy lordVocativevocative of address (human-master sense)κύριος: here NOT the divine name but the ordinary deferential address 'my lord / sir' (renders אֲדֹנִי); Jael flatters Sisera with the language of submission, masking her intent.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession ('my lord')ἐγώ (gen. μου): the possessive with κύριε forms the polite address 'my lord.'
ἔκκλινονturn asideAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (repeated imperative for emphasis)→ ingressive aorist imperative (urgent reassurance)ἐκκλίνω: the doubled imperative ἔκκλινον … ἔκκλινον intensifies the urgency and warmth of the invitation, overcoming any hesitation in the exhausted fugitive.
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρός: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός ('to me')ἐγώ (acc. με): 'turn aside to me' — Jael directs Sisera personally into her tent.
μὴnotnegative particle (with imperative)μὴ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φοβοῦbe afraidPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (prohibition: 'do not fear')→ durative present imperative of prohibition ('stop fearing / have no fear')φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; the present imperative with μή (μὴ φοβοῦ, 'do not fear') is the reassurance-formula; deeply ironic here — the one place Sisera should fear most is the very tent he is bidden to enter without fear.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέκλινενturned asideAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκκλίνωmain verb (Sisera complies)→ constative aorist (the fatal compliance)ἐκκλίνω: Sisera 'turned aside' to Jael, accepting the invitation — the decisive step into the trap; the verb echoes Jael's imperative, marking his compliance.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὴνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός ('to her')αὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction into the tent)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνήνtentAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς ('into the tent')σκηνή: see v. 11; Sisera enters the tent — the point of no return.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
περιέβαλενcovered / wrappedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · περιβάλλωmain verb (Jael covers Sisera)→ constative aoristπεριβάλλω: 'throw around / clothe / cover'; Jael covers Sisera with a rug — ostensibly for concealment and rest, in fact part of lulling him into the helpless sleep in which she will kill him.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of περιέβαλεν (Sisera)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐπιβολαίῳwith a rug / coveringDativedative of means/instrument ('with a covering')ἐπιβόλαιον: 'covering / rug / mantle'; renders שְׂמִיכָה (a thick rug/blanket); the dative of means specifies what Jael wrapped him in — the homely detail heightens the false sense of safe hospitality.
19
καὶ εἶπεν Σισαρα πρὸς αὐτήν πότισόν με δὴ μικρὸν ὕδωρ ὅτι ἐδίψησα καὶ ἤνοιξεν τὸν ἀσκὸν τοῦ γάλακτος καὶ ἐπότισεν αὐτὸν καὶ περιέβαλεν αὐτόν
And Sisera said to her, 'Give me, please, a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.' And she opened the skin of milk and gave him drink and covered him.
Sisera asks only for water (μικρὸν ὕδωρ, 'a little water'); Jael answers with more — milk from a skin — going beyond the request to deepen his trust and his drowsiness (cf. 5:25, where the song elaborates the milk in a lordly bowl). Her surplus hospitality is the velvet over the blade; she covers him again, completing the lulling.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Sisera's request for water.
ΣισαραSiserasubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σισαρα: see v. 2.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτήνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Jael)αὐτήν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πότισόνgive to drinkAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ποτίζωmain verb (imperative: request)→ ingressive aorist imperative (polite request)ποτίζω: 'give to drink / water'; renders שָׁקָה (Hiphil); the aorist imperative πότισόν με ('give me to drink') is Sisera's request, softened by the particle δή.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of πότισον ('give me')ἐγώ (acc. με): the recipient of the drink.
δὴplease / nowenclitic particle (softening the imperative)δή: emphatic/entreating particle; with the imperative it renders the Hebrew נָא ('please / pray'), softening the command into a polite request.
μικρὸνa littleAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ὕδωρ: 'a little water')μικρός: 'small / little'; μικρὸν ὕδωρ ('a little water') stresses the modesty of the request — Jael's response will far exceed it.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativedirect object of πότισον (content of the drink requested)ὕδωρ: 'water'; renders מַיִם; Sisera asks for water, but receives milk — a detail the victory-song savors (5:25).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (reason for the request)ὅτι: causal; gives the reason — Sisera's thirst from flight.
ἐδίψησαI am thirstyAor Act Indic 1 Sg · διψάωverb of causal clause (Sisera's thirst)→ resultative aorist ('I have become thirsty / I am thirsty')διψάω: 'thirst / be thirsty'; renders צָמֵא; the aorist ἐδίψησα ('I have become thirsty') states Sisera's present condition after his flight on foot.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤνοιξενopenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωmain verb (Jael opens the milk-skin)→ constative aoristἀνοίγω: 'open'; renders פָּתַח; Jael opens the milk-skin — answering thirst with milk, a richer and more soporific drink than the water requested.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσκὸνskin / wineskinAccusativedirect object of ἤνοιξεν ('the skin')ἀσκός: 'leather skin / bottle'; renders נֹאד; the skin-container for liquids — here for milk; the homely nomadic detail underlines the domestic setting of the killing.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γάλακτοςmilkGenitivegenitive of content ('skin of milk')γάλα (gen. γάλακτος): 'milk'; renders חָלָב; Jael gives milk instead of the requested water — exceeding the request, and (per 5:25) serving it like a noblewoman, deepening Sisera's trust and torpor.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπότισενgave to drinkAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποτίζωmain verb (Jael gives the drink)→ constative aoristποτίζω: 'give to drink'; Jael fulfills and surpasses the request, giving Sisera milk to drink.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐπότισεν (Sisera)αὐτὸν: 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.
περιέβαλενcoveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · περιβάλλωmain verb (Jael covers him again)→ constative aoristπεριβάλλω: see v. 18; she covers him once more, completing the lulling that precedes the deadly blow.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of περιέβαλεν (Sisera)αὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
20
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὴν Σισαρα στῆθι δὴ ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν ἀνὴρ ἔλθῃ πρὸς σὲ καὶ ἐρωτήσῃ σε καὶ εἴπῃ εἰ ἔστιν ὧδε ἀνήρ καὶ ἐρεῖς οὐκ ἔστιν
And Sisera said to her, 'Stand, please, at the door of the tent, and it shall be that if a man comes to you and asks you and says, "Is there a man here?" then you shall say, "There is not."'
Sisera, trusting Jael completely, posts her at the tent-door as a sentinel to lie about his presence. The irony is acute: he commissions the very person who will kill him to be his protector, and the word he puts in her mouth ('There is no man here') will become grimly true once she has killed him. The conditional ἐὰν … ἔλθῃ … ἐρεῖς frames the contingency.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Sisera's final instruction before sleep.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὴνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Jael)αὐτὴν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΣισαραSiserasubject (indeclinable proper noun)Σισαρα: see v. 2.
στῆθιstandAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (imperative: posting Jael as sentry)→ ingressive aorist imperative (take up a post)ἵστημι: 'stand / set / take a stand'; the aorist imperative στῆθι ('stand / take your stand') posts Jael at the tent-door as Sisera's lookout — a fatal misplacement of trust.
δὴplease / nowenclitic particle (softening the imperative)δή: see v. 19; here softening Sisera's command into a request to his supposed protector.
ἐπὶatpreposition + accusative (position: 'at the door')ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θύρανdoor / entranceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('at the door')θύρα: 'door / doorway / entrance'; renders פֶּתַח; the tent-entrance Jael is to guard, screening Sisera from any searcher.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtentGenitivegenitive ('door of the tent')σκηνή: see v. 11; the tent whose door Jael is to watch.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the contingency)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (apodosis-introducing Hebraism: 'and it shall be')→ predictive future (setting up the conditional)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'it will be'; καὶ ἔσται ('and it shall come to pass') is a Hebraism (וְהָיָה) that frames a following conditional scenario.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (+ subjunctive: protasis)ἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive introduces the hypothetical visit of a searcher.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of ἔλθῃ ('if a man comes')ἀνήρ: 'man'; the hypothetical pursuer (a man of Barak's force) who might come searching; the same word ἀνήρ will recur in Sisera's scripted denial.
ἔλθῃcomesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of protasis (the searcher's arrival)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical single event)ἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the aorist subjunctive ἔλθῃ frames the hypothetical arrival of a searcher at the tent.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός ('to you')σύ (acc. σέ): Jael, posted at the door, is the one a searcher would approach.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐρωτήσῃasksAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐρωτάωverb of protasis (the searcher's question)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical)ἐρωτάω: 'ask / question'; renders שָׁאַל; the searcher's hypothetical interrogation of Jael.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of ἐρωτήσῃ ('asks you')σε: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἴπῃsaysAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λέγωverb of protasis (the searcher's words)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical)λέγω: introduces the searcher's hypothetical question; the aorist subjunctive continues the conditional chain.
εἰwhether / is …?interrogative particle (introducing direct/indirect question)εἰ: here introduces the searcher's question 'Is there a man here?'; renders the Hebrew interrogative הֲ.
ἔστινis therePres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the searcher's question (existential)→ existential present ('is there?')εἰμί: 'be / there is'; the existential ἔστιν ('is there?') asks after the presence of a man in the tent.
ὧδεhereadverb of place ('here')ὧδε: 'here / in this place'; renders פֹּה; locates the question — 'is there a man here [in this tent]?'
ἀνήρa manNominativesubject of ἔστιν ('is there a man')ἀνήρ: see above; the man whose presence is to be denied — and whose manhood/status the irony of the narrative deflates, since this 'man' is killed by a woman.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the scripted reply)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb (apodosis: instructed reply)→ imperatival future (instruction: 'you are to say')λέγω (fut. ἐρεῖς): 'you shall say'; the imperatival future scripts Jael's lie of denial — which, after the killing, will become literally true (no living man is there).
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)οὐκ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔστινthere is notPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the scripted denial ('there is not')→ existential present (the instructed denial)εἰμί: 'there is'; οὐκ ἔστιν ('there is none') is the denial Sisera puts in Jael's mouth — a lie meant to protect him, soon made true by his death.
21
καὶ ἔλαβεν Ιαηλ γυνὴ Χαβερ τὸν πάσσαλον τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ ἔθηκεν τὴν σφῦραν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτῆς καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐν κρυφῇ καὶ ἔπηξεν τὸν πάσσαλον ἐν τῷ κροτάφῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ διεξῆλθεν ἐν τῇ γῇ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξεστὼς ἐσκοτώθη καὶ ἀπέθανεν
And Jael the wife of Heber took the peg of the tent and set the hammer in her hand, and went to him secretly and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; and he, being in a stupor, was darkened and died.
The climax of the prose narrative and the fulfillment of v. 9. The string of swift aorists (ἔλαβεν … ἔθηκεν … εἰσῆλθεν … ἔπηξεν … διεξῆλθεν) renders the deed with brutal economy. Jael uses the tools of her domestic nomadic world — tent-peg and hammer — turning hospitality's implements into weapons; the same verb πήγνυμι used of pitching the tent (v. 11) is now used of driving the peg. Sisera dies in stupefied sleep.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (Jael takes the peg)→ constative aorist (decisive action)λαμβάνω: 'take / grasp'; renders לָקַח; the first of the rapid aorists narrating the killing; Jael takes up the tent-peg as a weapon.
ΙαηλJaelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Ιαηλ: see v. 17; the 'woman' whose hand fulfills Deborah's prophecy.
γυνὴwifeNominativeapposition to Ιαηλ ('wife of Heber')γυνή: 'woman / wife'; the repetition of Jael's identity as 'wife of Heber' at the moment of the killing keeps the irony of the broken peace (v. 17) in view.
Χαβερof Hebergenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'wife of Heber')Χαβερ: see v. 11.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάσσαλονpeg / tent-stakeAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν ('the tent-peg')πάσσαλος: 'peg / stake / nail'; renders יָתֵד; the tent-peg, an everyday implement of nomadic life, becomes the murder weapon — Jael strikes with the tools of her own domestic competence.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtentGenitivegenitive ('peg of the tent')σκηνή: see v. 11; the peg belongs to the very tent that should have been Sisera's refuge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔθηκενset / placedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (Jael takes the hammer in hand)→ constative aoristτίθημι: 'put / place / set'; renders שׂוּם; ἔθηκεν τὴν σφῦραν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτῆς ('set the hammer in her hand') — she arms herself with the mallet to drive the peg.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σφῦρανhammer / malletAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκεν ('the hammer')σφῦρα: 'hammer / mallet'; renders מַקֶּבֶת; the mallet used to drive tent-pegs, here the instrument that drives the peg through Sisera's skull.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in her hand')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρὶhandDativedative of place ('in her hand')χείρ: 'hand'; the 'hand' of the woman into which YHWH delivers Sisera (v. 9) is now literally the hand that wields the hammer.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession ('her hand')αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰσῆλθενwent in / approachedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (Jael approaches the sleeping Sisera)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter / approach'; Jael comes in to the sleeping Sisera — quietly, to strike before he wakes.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Sisera)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner: 'secretly')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κρυφῇsecretly / stealthilyDativedative of manner ('in secret / stealthily')κρυφή: 'secrecy / hiding'; ἐν κρυφῇ ('secretly / stealthily') describes Jael's silent approach to the sleeping man — she strikes without warning.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπηξενdrove / fixedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πήγνυμιmain verb (the lethal blow)→ constative aorist (the decisive killing-stroke)πήγνυμι: 'fix / drive in / pitch'; the very verb used of Heber's pitching the tent (v. 11) is now used of Jael's driving the peg into Sisera's temple — a grim lexical echo binding the domestic and the deadly.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάσσαλονpegAccusativedirect object of ἔπηξεν ('drove the peg')πάσσαλος: see above; the peg driven through Sisera's temple.
ἐνin / intopreposition + dative (location of the blow)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κροτάφῳtemple (of the head)Dativedative of place ('into his temple')κρόταφος: 'temple (side of the forehead)'; renders רַקָּה; the soft, lethal spot where the peg passes clean through — a fatal, deliberate target (cf. 5:26).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his temple')αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διεξῆλθενwent throughAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διεξέρχομαιmain verb (the peg passes clean through into the ground)→ constative aoristδιεξέρχομαι: 'go through / pass clean through'; the double compound (δια- + ἐξ-) stresses that the peg drove entirely through the temple and into the earth beneath — the force of the blow pins the head to the ground (cf. the MT 'into the ground').
ἐνintopreposition + dative (goal: 'into the ground')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇground / earthDativedative of place ('into the ground')γῆ: 'earth / ground'; the peg passes into the earth, pinning Sisera's head — graphic proof of the force and finality of the blow.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτὸςheNominativesubject (emphatic: 'he himself')αὐτός: the emphatic pronoun returns focus to Sisera at the moment of death.
ἐξεστὼςbeing in a stupor / dazedPerf Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἐξίστημιcircumstantial participle (Sisera's condition: stupefied)→ perfect participle (settled state of stupor)ἐξίστημι (perf. ptcp.): 'be beside oneself / be dazed / in a stupor'; the intransitive perfect participle ἐξεστώς describes Sisera's condition — stupefied with exhaustion and sleep (perhaps dazed by the blow); note the same root as ἐξέστησεν in v. 15, where YHWH 'confounded' the army: the panic that began the rout reaches its end in the stupor of its commander.
ἐσκοτώθηwas darkened / lost consciousnessAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · σκοτόωmain verb (Sisera's swoon)→ constative aorist passive (sank into darkness)σκοτόω (aor. pass.): 'darken / make dark / blind'; the passive ἐσκοτώθη ('was darkened') describes Sisera's blacking out — consciousness extinguished as death overtakes him.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (Sisera's death)→ constative aorist (the accomplished death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the final verb seals Sisera's fate — the dreaded chariot-commander dead by a tent-peg in a woman's hand, exactly as Deborah foretold (v. 9); the same verb closed v. 1 (Ehud's death), framing the cycle.
22
καὶ ἰδοὺ Βαρακ διώκων τὸν Σισαρα καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ιαηλ εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ δεῦρο καὶ δείξω σοι τὸν ἄνδρα ὃν σὺ ζητεῖς καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτήν καὶ ἰδοὺ Σισαρα ῥεριμμένος νεκρός καὶ ὁ πάσσαλος ἐν τῷ κροτάφῳ αὐτοῦ
And behold, Barak was pursuing Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him and said to him, 'Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.' And he went in to her, and behold, Sisera lay fallen, dead, with the peg in his temple.
The two ἰδού ('behold') particles frame the scene dramatically: behold Barak pursuing, and behold Sisera dead. Jael again goes out to meet (cf. v. 18) — now to the victor, not the victim — and presents 'the man you seek' already slain. Barak, who would have the kill, finds it accomplished by a woman's hand: Deborah's word of v. 9 is fully vindicated before his eyes.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (drawing attention)ἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; the deictic particle dramatizes the arrival of Barak on the scene of the completed killing.
ΒαρακBaraksubject (indeclinable proper noun)Βαρακ: see v. 6.
διώκωνpursuingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · διώκωparticiple (with ἰδού: 'behold, [was] pursuing')→ progressive present participle (pursuit in progress)διώκω: see v. 16; Barak is still chasing the fugitive Sisera when Jael intercepts him with the news.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Σισαρα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣισαραSiseradirect object of διώκων (indeclinable, with article)Σισαρα: see v. 2; the object of Barak's pursuit — already dead.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (Jael goes out to meet Barak)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: see v. 18; Jael again 'goes out to meet' — the verbal echo of v. 18 contrasts her welcome of the victim with her welcome of the victor.
ΙαηλJaelsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Ιαηλ: see v. 17.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to meet')εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
συνάντησινmeetingAccusativeaccusative of purpose (idiom: 'to meet')συνάντησις: see v. 18; εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ ('to meet him'), the Hebraism repeated from her meeting of Sisera.
αὐτῷhimDativedative with συνάντησιν ('to meet him', i.e., Barak)αὐτῷ: 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.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Jael's announcement to Barak.
αὐτῷto himDativeindirect object ('said to him')αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
δεῦροcomeadverb used as imperative ('come here!')δεῦρο: 'here / come here'; an adverb functioning as a hortatory imperative; Jael summons Barak to view her handiwork.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
δείξωI will showFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δείκνυμιmain verb (Jael's offer to display Sisera)→ predictive/volitive future ('I will show')δείκνυμι: 'show / point out / display'; renders רָאָה (Hiphil); Jael offers to show Barak 'the man you seek' — already a corpse; the irony: the victor is shown the victory he did not win.
σοιyouDativeindirect object ('show you')σοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραmanAccusativedirect object of δείξω ('the man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; 'the man whom you seek' — the same word ἀνήρ that Sisera scripted for his denial (v. 20); the 'man' is now a corpse displayed by a woman.
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ζητεῖς)ὅς: the accusative relative ὅν, object of ζητεῖς; 'the man whom you seek.'
σὺyouNominativesubject of ζητεῖς (emphatic pronoun)σύ: the emphatic 'you' — the one Barak personally seeks, but did not himself kill.
ζητεῖςyou seekPres Act Indic 2 Sg · ζητέωverb of relative clause ('whom you seek')→ progressive present (ongoing search)ζητέω: 'seek / search for'; renders בָּקַשׁ; Barak's ongoing pursuit of Sisera is now answered — the sought man lies dead.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰσῆλθενwent inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (Barak enters the tent)→ constative aoristεἰσέρχομαι: see v. 21; Barak enters Jael's tent to see the body.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτήνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Jael)αὐτήν: 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.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (revealing the corpse)ἰδού: see above; the second 'behold' reveals what Barak sees — Sisera dead, the peg in his temple.
ΣισαραSiserasubject of the verbless 'behold'-clause (indeclinable)Σισαρα: see v. 2; the corpse displayed to Barak.
ῥεριμμένοςfallen / cast downPerf Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ῥίπτωperfect participle (state: 'lying fallen')→ perfect participle (settled resultant state)ῥίπτω (perf. mid./pass. ptcp.): 'throw / cast / fling down'; the perfect participle ῥεριμμένος ('flung down / lying prostrate') depicts Sisera's body sprawled where he fell — the once-proud commander cast down in death.
νεκρόςdeadNominativepredicate adjective ('[lying] dead')νεκρός: 'dead / a corpse'; renders מֵת; states plainly the result Barak beholds — Sisera is dead.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticleὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάσσαλοςpegNominativesubject of verbless clause ('the peg [was] in his temple')πάσσαλος: see v. 21; the peg still lodged in the temple — visible proof of Jael's deed.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticleτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κροτάφῳtemple (of the head)Dativedative of place ('in his temple')κρόταφος: see v. 21; the peg in the temple, the grisly confirmation of the prophecy's fulfillment.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession ('his temple')αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
23
καὶ ἐτρόπωσεν ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τὸν Ιαβιν βασιλέα Χανααν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ
And God subdued on that day Jabin king of Canaan before the sons of Israel.
The narrator closes the battle-account with a theological summary: God himself (ὁ θεός) 'routed / subdued' Jabin before Israel. The naming of God as subject — not Barak or Jael — gathers up the whole narrative under divine agency, matching ἐξέστησεν κύριος (v. 15). 'On that day' marks the decisive turning-point of the oppression.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (summary)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐτρόπωσενsubdued / routedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τροπόωmain verb (God's subduing of Jabin)→ constative aorist (decisive subjugation)τροπόω: 'put to flight / rout / subdue'; the verb (from τροπή, 'a turning/rout') means to turn the enemy in defeat; renders כָּנַע (Hiphil, 'subdue / humble'); God is the explicit subject — the victory is his.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (the divine agent of the victory)θεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the summary names ὁ θεός as the one who subdued Jabin, sealing the whole deliverance as divine work.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time ('on that day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day') marks the decisive day of deliverance — the day Deborah declared in v. 14.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; fixes the reference to the day of the battle and Sisera's death.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Ιαβιν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙαβινJabindirect object of ἐτρόπωσεν (indeclinable, with article)Ιαβιν: see v. 2; the oppressor-king, now subdued by God.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeapposition to Ιαβιν ('king of Canaan')βασιλεύς: see v. 2; Jabin titled 'king of Canaan,' the embodiment of the residual Canaanite power.
Χαναανof Canaangenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Canaan')Χανααν: see v. 2.
ἔμπροσθενbeforepreposition + genitive ('before the sons of Israel')ἔμπροσθεν: see v. 14; the subjugation happens 'before the sons of Israel,' i.e., openly for the covenant people's vindication.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἔμπροσθεν ('the sons of Israel')υἱός: see v. 1; the covenant people before whom Jabin is humbled.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: see v. 1.
24
καὶ ἐπορεύετο χεὶρ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ πορευομένη καὶ σκληρυνομένη ἐπὶ Ιαβιν βασιλέα Χανααν ἕως οὗ ἐξωλέθρευσαν τὸν Ιαβιν βασιλέα Χανααν
And the hand of the sons of Israel went on, going and growing harder against Jabin king of Canaan, until they utterly destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
The chapter ends with a progressive summary: the 'hand' of Israel (the power it now wields, reversing the 'hand' of Jabin in v. 2) goes on growing ever heavier (the Hebraistic participle-pair πορευομένη καὶ σκληρυνομένη, 'going and hardening' = 'growing steadily stronger') until Jabin is utterly destroyed. The repetition of his full title twice in one verse hammers home the completeness of the reversal, closing the prose account before the song of ch. 5.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (closing summary)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύετοwent on / continuedImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (the progressive prevailing of Israel's hand)→ progressive imperfect (continuing, intensifying action)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; the imperfect ἐπορεύετο with the following participles forms a Hebraism (הָלוֹךְ וְ-) expressing continuous, increasing action — Israel's power 'kept going and growing.'
χεὶρhandNominativesubject ('the hand of the sons of Israel')χείρ: 'hand'; here 'the hand of Israel' = Israel's power/dominance; pointedly reverses v. 2, where Israel was given 'into the hand of Jabin' — now Jabin falls under Israel's hand.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive ('hand of the sons of Israel')υἱός: see v. 1.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: see v. 1.
πορευομένηgoingPres Mid Ptcp Nom Sg Fem · πορεύομαιparticiple in Hebraistic progressive idiom ('going and ...')→ progressive participle (continuing action)πορεύομαι (ptcp.): the participle πορευομένη (agreeing with χείρ) joins ἐπορεύετο in the Hebraism הָלוֹךְ וְ- ('went on going and ...'), expressing steadily increasing force.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
σκληρυνομένηgrowing harder / strongerPres Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Sg Fem · σκληρύνωparticiple (second member of the progressive idiom)→ progressive participle (intensifying)σκληρύνω: 'harden / make hard / strengthen'; renders קָשָׁה; the participle σκληρυνομένη ('growing harder/heavier') completes the idiom — Israel's hand presses ever more severely on Jabin; the same verb σκληρύνω elsewhere describes Pharaoh's hardened heart (Exod 11:10), here turned to Israel's relentless ascendancy.
ἐπὶagainst / uponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction: 'against')ἐπί + acc.: 'against / upon'; here in the hostile sense — Israel's pressure 'against Jabin.'
ΙαβινJabinaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable)Ιαβιν: see v. 2; the object of Israel's growing dominance.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeapposition to Ιαβιν ('king of Canaan')βασιλεύς: see v. 2; Jabin's title.
Χαναανof Canaangenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Canaan')Χανααν: see v. 2.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (with οὗ: 'until')ἕως: 'until'; with the relative οὗ forms the temporal conjunction ἕως οὗ ('until the point at which'), marking the terminus of Israel's pressure — Jabin's destruction.
οὗwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (in the conjunction ἕως οὗ: 'until')ὅς (gen. οὗ): the relative in the fixed temporal phrase ἕως οὗ ('until'); introduces the endpoint clause.
ἐξωλέθρευσανthey utterly destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb of the temporal clause (final destruction)→ constative aorist (completed annihilation)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; the intensive compound (ἐξ- + ὀλεθρεύω) renders כָּרַת / הִשְׁמִיד ('cut off / destroy'); the verb marks the total, final destruction of Jabin — the complete undoing of the oppression that opened the chapter.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with the name Ιαβιν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙαβινJabindirect object of ἐξωλέθρευσαν (indeclinable, with article)Ιαβιν: see v. 2; the repeated naming (twice in this verse) hammers the completeness of the reversal — the oppressor utterly destroyed.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeapposition to Ιαβιν ('king of Canaan')βασιλεύς: see v. 2; the full title repeated to close the account on the note of total victory over Canaanite power.
Χαναανof Canaangenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'king of Canaan')Χανααν: see v. 2; the final word of the prose narrative — the Canaanite power that oppressed Israel is named one last time, now in its destruction, setting the stage for the victory-song of ch. 5.