Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Judges, Chapter 6ΚΡΙΤΑΙ Ϛ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Gideon is called from fear and obscurity to begin Israel's deliverance from Midian.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Judges 6 reproduces the verbatim text of the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. Judges survives in two distinct Greek text-forms — the so-called A-text (associated with codex Alexandrinus) and B-text (associated with codex Vaticanus) — which diverge markedly throughout the book; the present annotation follows the verbatim Rahlfs reference as given, without harmonizing the two. Judges 6 is the long expository chapter that launches the Gideon cycle: a narrator's oppression-summary (vv. 1–6) recording Israel's seven-year subjection to Midian (Μαδιαμ), Amalek (Αμαληκ), and the 'sons of the East' (υἱοὶ ἀνατολῶν); a prophetic indictment (vv. 7–10) recalling the Exodus and the broken first commandment; the Angel of the LORD's call of Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress (ῥαβδίζων σῖτον ἐν ληνῷ, v. 11) under the terebinth (τερέμινθον), with the salutation κύριος μετὰ σοῦ ἰσχυρὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ('the LORD is with you, mighty one of the powers', v. 12), Gideon's protest, the commissioning, and the sign of fire rising from the rock to consume the meat and unleavened cakes (vv. 13–24), after which Gideon builds an altar named εἰρήνη κυρίου ('peace of the LORD'); the night demolition of the Baal-altar and the Asherah (τὸ ἄλσος) and Joash's defense leading to the naming Ιαρβααλ ('let Baal contend', vv. 25–32); and finally the Spirit of the LORD that 'empowered' Gideon (πνεῦμα κυρίου ἐνεδυνάμωσεν τὸν Γεδεων, v. 34) and the double sign of the fleece of wool (πόκος τοῦ ἐρίου) — dew on the fleece and dry ground, then dry fleece and dew on all the ground (vv. 33–40). The LXX renders the divine name κύριος for the Tetragrammaton throughout; transliterated and indeclinable names (Μαδιαμ, Γεδεων, Ιωας, Βααλ, Ιαρβααλ) are treated as indeclinable. Note the recurring vocabulary of altar (θυσιαστήριον), sacred grove / Asherah (ἄλσος), and the verbs of demolition (καθαιρέω) and 'utter destruction' (ὀλεθρεύω / ἐξολεθρεύω) that bind the chapter's central panel together.

1

καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοὺς κύριος ἐν χειρὶ Μαδιαμ ἑπτὰ ἔτη

And the sons of Israel did what was evil before the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years.

Cycle-opening summary (main narrative line)καὶ ἐποίησαν
The verse reactivates the deuteronomistic judges-cycle formula 'the sons of Israel did evil ... and the LORD gave them into the hand of X' (cf. 2:11–14; 3:7–8, 12; 4:1–2). The apostasy-clause and the handing-over clause are linked by καί in strict cause-and-consequence parataxis; the seven-year span quantifies the severity of this round of oppression.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανdid / madeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (apostasy clause)→ constative aorist (summary of a settled state of conduct)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; ἐποίησαν τὸ πονηρόν is the fixed LXX rendering of the cycle-formula וַיַּעֲשׂוּ ... הָרַע, the recurring indictment that opens each oppression in Judges.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubjectυἱός: 'son'; the collective οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the covenant designation of the people as Jacob's descendants; the corporate subject bears collective responsibility for the apostasy.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')Ισραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; in genitival relation to υἱοί, marking the people as a whole.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing πονηρόν)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὸνevilAccusativedirect object (substantivized adjective: 'the evil thing')πονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; the neuter substantive τὸ πονηρόν renders הָרַע; in Judges it denotes specifically covenant infidelity — Baal- and Astarte-worship (cf. 2:11–13) — rather than generic moral wrong.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (evaluative: Hebraism)ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering בְּעֵינֵי ('in the eyes of'); the phrase frames Israel's conduct as judged by YHWH's own evaluative gaze.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιονκύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here the offended covenant God before whom the evil is reckoned.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (consequence)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενgave / handed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (handing-over clause)→ constative aorist (judicial act of consignment)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the idiom ἔδωκεν ... ἐν χειρί ('gave into the hand of') renders נָתַן בְּיַד, the standard formula for delivering a people into an enemy's power as covenant punishment.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the Israelites)αὐτός: the accusative αὐτούς resumes οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as the object handed over.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of ἔδωκεν)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; YHWH is the active agent of the consignment — the oppression is not mere historical misfortune but divine discipline.
ἐνinto / inpreposition + dative (idiomatic: 'into the hand of')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὶhandDativedative object of ἐν (instrumental power)χείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; here metonymy for power or control — to be given 'into the hand of' Midian is to be placed under Midianite domination.
ΜαδιαμMidiangenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'hand of Midian')Μαδιαμ: transliteration of מִדְיָן; indeclinable in the LXX; the Midianites, a nomadic confederation east of the Jordan, are the chief oppressor of the Gideon cycle (cf. Num 31; Gen 25:2).
ἑπτὰsevennumeral (modifying ἔτη)ἑπτά: 'seven'; indeclinable cardinal; renders שֶׁבַע; the seven-year span measures the duration of Midianite oppression before the cry for deliverance.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of duration ('for seven years')ἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the accusative of extent of time quantifies the length of the subjection.
2

καὶ ἴσχυσεν χεὶρ Μαδιαμ ἐπὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἀπὸ προσώπου Μαδιαμ τὰς τρυμαλιὰς τὰς ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσιν καὶ τὰ σπήλαια καὶ τὰ κρεμαστά

And the hand of Midian prevailed over Israel; and because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the clefts that are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.

Intensification of the oppression (main narrative line)καὶ ἴσχυσεν
The verse deepens v. 1: the 'hand' of Midian now actively 'prevails' (ἴσχυσεν), and the consequence is described concretely — Israel's flight to mountain refuges. The threefold list (clefts, caves, strongholds) paints total dispossession: the covenant people, meant to dwell securely in the land, become troglodytes in their own territory.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἴσχυσενprevailed / grew strongAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἰσχύωmain verb (with χεὶρ Μαδιαμ as subject)→ ingressive aorist (the hand grew strong / came to prevail)ἰσχύω: 'be strong / prevail / overpower'; renders עָזַז / חָזַק; the cognate noun ἰσχύς will reappear at v. 14 (ἐν ἰσχύι σου) in pointed contrast — Midian's strength here, Gideon's commissioned strength there.
χεὶρhandNominativesubjectχείρ: 'hand'; nominative subject; the 'hand of Midian' personifies Midianite military power as the oppressing force, picking up the χειρί of v. 1.
ΜαδιαμMidiangenitive of possession (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; in genitival relation to χείρ.
ἐπὶover / againstpreposition + accusative (hostile superiority)ἐπί + acc.: here 'over / against'; the construction ἴσχυσεν ... ἐπί expresses domination exercised upon Israel.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the people as the object of Midianite domination.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (consequence)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανmadeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (with reflexive dative)→ constative aorist (the making of refuges)ποιέω: 'make / fashion'; here of constructing or adapting refuges; the pointed echo of ἐποίησαν τὸ πονηρόν (v. 1) is grimly ironic — the same verb that named their sin now names their desperate self-help.
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativedative of advantage (reflexive pronoun)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; the dative of advantage ('for themselves') underscores the self-protective desperation of the act.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (resumed)υἱός: the full subject οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ is restated for clarity after the intervening clause.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
ἀπὸbecause of / from beforepreposition + genitive (causal Hebraism: 'from the face of')ἀπό: in the idiom ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from the face of') it carries causal-defensive force, 'because of / for fear of'; renders מִפְּנֵי.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism)πρόσωπον: 'face'; in ἀπὸ προσώπου a calque of מִפְּנֵי, meaning 'on account of / before the threat of'; the recurring phrase (vv. 2, 6, 11) keeps Midian's menacing presence before the reader.
ΜαδιαμMidiangenitive (indeclinable: 'face of Midian')Μαδιαμ: indeclinable.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with τρυμαλιὰς)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρυμαλιὰςclefts / holesAccusativedirect object (first of three refuge-terms)τρυμαλιά: 'hole / cleft / crevice'; renders מִנְהָרוֹת; the same word is used of the 'eye of a needle' (Mark 10:25) and of rock-crevices; here mountain hideouts dug or used for refuge from Midianite raids.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with prepositional phrase)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ὄρεσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρεσινmountainsDativedative of place (locative)ὄρος (dat. pl. ὄρεσιν): 'mountain'; renders הָרִים; the mountain country provides the natural refuge from cavalry-borne raiders of the plains.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with σπήλαια)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπήλαιαcavesAccusativedirect object (second refuge-term)σπήλαιον: 'cave / cavern'; renders מְעָרוֹת; caves were standard places of refuge and concealment in the Judahite and central highlands (cf. 1 Sam 22:1; 24:3).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρεμαστά)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρεμαστάstrongholds / hanging-placesAccusativedirect object (third refuge-term, substantivized adjective)κρεμαστός: 'hanging / suspended'; the neuter plural substantive τὰ κρεμαστά denotes inaccessible 'hanging' fastnesses or cliff-strongholds; renders מְצָדוֹת ('strongholds'); the term completes the picture of Israel driven to the most inaccessible heights.
3

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐὰν ἔσπειραν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἀνέβαιναν Μαδιαμ καὶ Αμαληκ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ἀνατολῶν συνανέβαινον αὐτοῖς

And it happened, whenever the sons of Israel had sown, that Midian and Amalek would come up, and the sons of the East would come up together with them.

Iterative-customary description (main narrative line)καὶ ἐγένετο
καὶ ἐγένετο (וַיְהִי) introduces a habitual scenario; the iterative ἐάν + aorist (ἔσπειραν) with imperfects (ἀνέβαιναν, συνανέβαινον) paints a recurring seasonal pattern — every harvest the raiders descend. The triad Midian / Amalek / sons of the East names the full eastern coalition that will reappear at v. 33.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-setting formula)→ constative aorist (scene-setting 'and it came to pass')γίνομαι: 'become / happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο renders the Hebrew narrative-opener וַיְהִי, a temporal frame introducing the recurring situation that follows.
ἐὰνwheneverconditional-temporal conjunction (iterative)ἐάν: normally 'if', but here iterative-temporal 'whenever', rendering אִם in a customary sense; with the aorist ἔσπειραν it marks the repeated precondition (each sowing).
ἔσπειρανhad sownAor Act Indic 3 Pl · σπείρωverb of iterative temporal clause→ iterative aorist (each completed sowing)σπείρω: 'sow / scatter seed'; renders זָרַע; the agricultural act that triggers the raid — Israel's labor becomes the very bait that draws the plunderers.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἔσπειρανυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as the agricultural subject.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβαινανwould come upImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (apodosis: the raiders' incursion)→ iterative imperfect (customary repeated action)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / come up'; the imperfect denotes habitual seasonal incursion; the verb of military 'going up' (cf. עָלָה) is standard for invasion or campaign.
ΜαδιαμMidiansubject (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; the chief oppressor heads the raiding triad.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑμαληκAmaleksubject (indeclinable, coordinate with Μαδιαμ)Αμαληκ: transliteration of עֲמָלֵק; indeclinable; the perennial desert enemy of Israel (Exod 17:8–16; 1 Sam 15), here allied with Midian.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (of συνανέβαινον)υἱός: in οἱ υἱοὶ ἀνατολῶν, 'sons of the East', a Hebraism (בְּנֵי קֶדֶם) for the nomadic peoples of the eastern desert.
ἀνατολῶνof the East / of the risingsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱοὶ)ἀνατολή (pl. ἀνατολαί): 'rising (of the sun) / east'; renders קֶדֶם; οἱ υἱοὶ ἀνατολῶν designates the eastern desert tribes generally, completing the invading coalition.
συνανέβαινονwould come up togetherImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · συναναβαίνωmain verb (with the sons of the East as subject)→ iterative imperfect (habitual joint incursion)συναναβαίνω: 'come up together with'; the συν- prefix stresses the coalition character of the invasion; the imperfect again marks the recurring seasonal pattern.
αὐτοῖςwith themDativedative of accompaniment (with συν-compound)αὐτός: dative of association completing συναναβαίνω, 'came up together with them' (i.e., with Midian and Amalek).
4

καὶ παρενέβαλον εἰς αὐτοὺς καὶ κατέφθειραν τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῶν ἕως ἐλθεῖν εἰς Γάζαν καὶ οὐ κατέλιπον ὑπόστασιν ζωῆς ἐν τῇ γῇ Ισραηλ οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς ποιμνίοις ταῦρον καὶ ὄνον

And they encamped against them and destroyed the fruits of their land until one comes to Gaza, and they left no sustenance of life in the land of Israel, nor in the flocks an ox or a donkey.

Detailing the devastation (main narrative line)καὶ παρενέβαλον
The raid's effect is total economic ruin: encampment, destruction of crops as far as Gaza (the southwestern coastal edge), and the leaving of no 'sustenance of life' — neither produce nor livestock. The merism ταῦρον καὶ ὄνον ('ox and donkey') stands for all draft and farm animals; nothing survives to rebuild with.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρενέβαλονthey encampedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (military encampment)→ constative aorist (the act of pitching camp against Israel)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / draw up in array'; renders חָנָה; a military term for pitching camp, here in hostile occupation of Israelite territory; the same verb recurs at v. 33.
εἰςagainst / amongpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)εἰς: here with hostile force, 'against / over against them'; the raiders camp upon the land occupied by Israel.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeobject of εἰς (the Israelites)αὐτός: refers to the Israelites whose land is overrun.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέφθειρανdestroyed / ruinedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταφθείρωmain verb (destruction of crops)→ constative aorist (total ruin of the harvest)καταφθείρω: 'destroy utterly / corrupt / ruin'; the κατα- prefix intensifies φθείρω to total devastation; renders שָׁחַת; cf. the simplex διέφθειρον at v. 5.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with καρποὺς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρποὺςfruits / produceAccusativedirect objectκαρπός: 'fruit / produce / crop'; renders יְבוּל / פְּרִי; the agricultural yield Israel had just sown (v. 3) is annihilated, leaving famine.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (Israel's produce)αὐτός: genitive of possession; 'their fruits' = the produce of the land of Israel.
ἕωςuntilconjunction + articular-infinitive idiom (extent)ἕως: here marking spatial extent, 'as far as'; with the infinitive ἐλθεῖν it forms the idiom 'until one comes to', i.e., reaching all the way to Gaza.
ἐλθεῖνto come / one comesAor Act Inf · ἔρχομαιinfinitive of extent (with ἕως: 'until one comes')→ aorist infinitiveἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the idiom ἕως ἐλθεῖν εἰς ('until coming to') is a LXX way of marking geographical limit, rendering עַד־בּוֹאֲךָ ('as far as'); the devastation reaches the southwestern coastal boundary.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (terminus)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓάζανGazaAccusativeaccusative of terminus (object of εἰς)Γάζα: the Philistine coastal city in the far southwest; declined as a first-declension noun (acc. Γάζαν); naming it as the limit of the raid marks the devastation as spanning the whole land.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐnotnegative particle (with κατέλιπον)οὐ: negation; intensifies the totality — nothing whatever was left.
κατέλιπονthey leftAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καταλείπωmain verb (negated: 'left nothing')→ constative aorist (the complete leaving-behind of nothing)καταλείπω: 'leave behind / leave remaining'; renders שָׁאַר (Hiphil); with οὐ it asserts that no remnant of sustenance survived the raid.
ὑπόστασινsustenance / substanceAccusativedirect objectὑπόστασις: 'substance / standing-thing / means of support'; here 'sustenance' or 'living-substance'; renders מִחְיָה; the phrase ὑπόστασιν ζωῆς denotes the very means by which life is sustained — utterly stripped away.
ζωῆςof lifeGenitivegenitive (defining ὑπόστασιν: 'sustenance of life')ζωή: 'life'; the genitive specifies the sustenance as life-sustaining provision; its removal means starvation.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with γῇ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)γῆ: 'land / earth'; the land of Israel, the covenant inheritance, is here the very place stripped of sustenance.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'land of Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
οὐδὲnornegative coordinating particle (extending the negation)οὐδέ: 'and not / nor'; extends οὐ κατέλιπον to the livestock — not only crops but also animals were taken.
ἐνin / amongpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ποιμνίοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιμνίοιςflocksDativedative of place (locative: 'among the flocks')ποίμνιον: 'flock'; renders צֹאן; the raiders strip even the herds, leaving no breeding stock — total economic collapse.
ταῦρονox / bullAccusativeaccusative (object of κατέλιπον, resumed: 'left ... no ox')ταῦρος: 'bull / ox'; the chief draft and plough animal; its loss cripples agriculture itself; ταῦρον καὶ ὄνον is a merism for all the working livestock.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὄνονdonkeyAccusativeaccusative (coordinate object: 'or donkey')ὄνος: 'donkey / ass'; the principal beast of burden and transport; paired with ταῦρος it completes the merism — neither the ploughing ox nor the carrying ass remained.
5

ὅτι αὐτοὶ καὶ αἱ κτήσεις αὐτῶν ἀνέβαινον καὶ αἱ σκηναὶ αὐτῶν παρεγίνοντο καθὼς ἀκρὶς εἰς πλῆθος καὶ αὐτοῖς καὶ τοῖς καμήλοις αὐτῶν οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμός καὶ ἤρχοντο εἰς τὴν γῆν Ισραηλ καὶ διέφθειρον αὐτήν

For they and their livestock would come up, and their tents would arrive like a locust-swarm in multitude; and to them and their camels there was no number; and they would come into the land of Israel and ravage it.

Causal explanation of the devastation (subordinate)ὅτι
ὅτι ('for') grounds v. 4's total ruin in the sheer mass of the invaders. The locust simile (καθὼς ἀκρὶς εἰς πλῆθος) and the innumerable camels evoke an irresistible swarm; the imperfects (ἀνέβαινον, παρεγίνοντο, ἤρχοντο, διέφθειρον) sustain the iterative, year-after-year picture begun in v. 3.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the explanation of why nothing survived — the invaders came in overwhelming, swarming numbers.
αὐτοὶthey themselvesNominativesubject (emphatic, of ἀνέβαινον)αὐτός: the emphatic nominative αὐτοί stresses the raiders themselves coming up in person along with their possessions.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with κτήσεις)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήσειςlivestock / possessionsNominativesubject (coordinate with αὐτοὶ)κτῆσις: 'possession / acquired property', here especially herds and movable wealth; renders מִקְנֶה; the nomads bring their whole pastoral economy with them, grazing it on Israel's land.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτός: 'their' — the raiders' own herds.
ἀνέβαινονwould come upImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (iterative)→ iterative imperfect (recurring incursion)ἀναβαίνω: 'come up'; the imperfect continues the customary picture of v. 3 — every season the swarm ascends into the land.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with σκηναὶ)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηναὶtentsNominativesubject (of παρεγίνοντο)σκηνή: 'tent'; renders אֹהֶל; the tents mark the invaders as nomadic pastoralists who settle in to graze and plunder, not a passing army.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτός: 'their' tents.
παρεγίνοντοwould arrive / be presentImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (iterative)→ iterative imperfect (recurring encampment)παραγίνομαι: 'arrive / come to be present'; the imperfect pictures the tents recurrently appearing on the land, an occupying nomadic presence.
καθὼςlike / ascomparative conjunction (introducing simile)καθώς: 'just as'; introduces the locust simile; renders כְּ in comparative force.
ἀκρὶςlocustNominativepredicate of comparison ('like a locust')ἀκρίς: 'locust'; renders אַרְבֶּה; the locust-swarm is the classic OT image of innumerable, devouring multitude (cf. Exod 10; Joel 1–2); it captures both the number and the destructiveness of the raiders.
εἰςin / untopreposition + accusative (degree: 'in multitude')εἰς: here expressing degree or measure, 'unto multitude' = 'in vast numbers'.
πλῆθοςmultitudeAccusativeaccusative of degree (object of εἰς)πλῆθος: 'multitude / great number'; renders רֹב; with the locust simile it stresses the sheer countless mass of the invading host.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of possession (with ἦν: 'they had')αὐτός: dative of possession; 'to them ... there was no number' = they were innumerable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with καμήλοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καμήλοιςcamelsDativedative of possession (coordinate with αὐτοῖς)κάμηλος: 'camel'; renders גָּמָל; the innumerable camels mark the Midianites as the camel-mounted desert raiders whose mobility made resistance futile — among the earliest biblical references to large-scale camel warfare.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτός: 'their' camels.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἦν)οὐκ: negation; 'there was no number' — beyond counting.
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential, with dative of possession)→ imperfect of state (a standing, ongoing condition)εἰμί: 'be'; the existential οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμός ('there was no number') is a Hebraism (אֵין מִסְפָּר) for innumerability.
ἀριθμόςnumberNominativesubject of ἦνἀριθμός: 'number / count'; renders מִסְפָּר; οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμός underlines the impossibility of counting the raiders and their beasts.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤρχοντοwould comeImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (iterative)→ iterative imperfect (habitual incursion)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the imperfect ἤρχοντο sustains the recurring picture — repeatedly they came into the land.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςγῆ: 'land'; the covenant land of Israel, repeatedly violated by the incursion.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διέφθειρονwould ravage / destroyImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · διαφθείρωmain verb (iterative)→ iterative imperfect (habitual destruction)διαφθείρω: 'destroy thoroughly / ruin'; renders שָׁחַת; the imperfect marks the repeated devastation of the land, echoing κατέφθειραν (v. 4).
αὐτήνitAccusativedirect object (the land)αὐτός: the accusative αὐτήν resumes τὴν γῆν — the land itself is the object ruined.
6

καὶ ἐπτώχευσεν Ισραηλ σφόδρα ἀπὸ προσώπου Μαδιαμ καὶ ἐβόησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ πρὸς κύριον

And Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD.

Climax of oppression and turn to the cry (main narrative line)καὶ ἐπτώχευσεν
The oppression-summary reaches its nadir (ἐπτώχευσεν ... σφόδρα) and pivots to the cycle's hinge: Israel 'cries out' (ἐβόησαν) to the LORD. This cry is the standard trigger of the deliverance phase in Judges (cf. 3:9, 15; 4:3); it sets up the prophet (vv. 7–10) and the call of Gideon (v. 11ff.).
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπτώχευσενwas brought low / became poorAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πτωχεύωmain verb (with Ισραηλ as subject)→ ingressive aorist (came into a state of impoverishment)πτωχεύω: 'become poor / be reduced to beggary'; renders דָּלַל ('be brought low'); the verb pictures the covenant nation reduced to destitution — a striking inversion of the promised abundance of the land.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; here the nation as a collective singular subject.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying ἐπτώχευσεν)σφόδρα: 'very much / exceedingly'; standard LXX rendering of מְאֹד; intensifies the impoverishment to its extreme.
ἀπὸbecause of / from beforepreposition + genitive (causal Hebraism)ἀπό: in ἀπὸ προσώπου, causal 'because of'; renders מִפְּנֵי.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism)πρόσωπον: in ἀπὸ προσώπου a calque of מִפְּנֵי, 'on account of'; the third occurrence of the phrase in the chapter (cf. vv. 2, 11), framing Midian as the relentless cause of Israel's misery.
ΜαδιαμMidiangenitive (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the turning-point)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐβόησανcried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · βοάωmain verb (the cry for help)→ ingressive aorist (raised a cry)βοάω: 'cry out / call aloud'; renders זָעַק / צָעַק; the cry of the oppressed to the LORD is the formulaic trigger of deliverance throughout Judges (3:9, 15; 4:3; 10:10).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (of ἐβόησαν)υἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as the crying-out subject.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
πρὸςto / towardpreposition + accusative (direction of the cry)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κύριονLORDAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the addressee of the cry)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the covenant God to whom the cry is directed — the very LORD whose evil was done 'before' (v. 1) is now appealed to for rescue.
7

ἀπὸ προσώπου Μαδιαμ

because of Midian.

Verse-fragment continuing the cry-clause of v. 6 (subordinate)ἀπὸ προσώπου
In the verbatim Rahlfs reference as printed here, v. 7 consists only of the phrase ἀπὸ προσώπου Μαδιαμ ('because of Midian'), a continuation of the cry-clause begun in v. 6 (the fuller B-text reads 'and it came to pass when the sons of Israel cried to the LORD because of Midian'). The phrase repeats the chapter's leitmotif of Midianite menace as the cause driving Israel to its knees; it is annotated here exactly as given.
Word-by-word analysis· 3 words
ἀπὸbecause of / from beforepreposition + genitive (causal Hebraism)ἀπό: in ἀπὸ προσώπου, causal 'because of'; renders מִפְּנֵי; here grounding the cry of v. 6 in the Midianite threat.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism)πρόσωπον: in ἀπὸ προσώπου a calque of מִפְּנֵי; the leitmotif phrase (vv. 2, 6, 7, 11) once more names Midian as the oppressive presence.
ΜαδιαμMidiangenitive (indeclinable: 'face of Midian')Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; the oppressor whose presence drives Israel to cry out.
8

καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν κύριος ἄνδρα προφήτην πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τάδε λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ἐγώ εἰμι ὃς ἀνήγαγον ὑμᾶς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐξήγαγον ὑμᾶς ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας ὑμῶν

And the LORD sent a man, a prophet, to the sons of Israel, and he said to them, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I am the one who brought you up out of the land of Egypt and led you out of the house of your slavery.'

Divine response to the cry: the prophet's mission (main narrative line)καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν κύριος
Instead of immediate deliverance, the LORD first sends a prophet — a delay that subordinates rescue to repentance. The messenger-formula τάδε λέγει κύριος introduces a covenant lawsuit; the self-predication ἐγώ εἰμι ὃς ἀνήγαγον recites the Exodus credo as the ground of YHWH's claim, echoing the prophet's word at the same structural point in the cycle (cf. 2:1–3; 10:11–14).
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξαπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (divine sending)→ constative aorist (the act of commissioning the prophet)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send out / send forth'; the compound ἐξαπο- intensifies שָׁלַח; the LORD's response to the cry is to dispatch a prophetic messenger before any deliverer.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubjectκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; YHWH himself, the addressee of the cry (v. 6), now acts.
ἄνδραa manAccusativedirect object (with appositive προφήτην)ἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; ἄνδρα προφήτην ('a man, a prophet') renders the Hebrew construct אִישׁ נָבִיא, an idiom for 'a prophet'; the unnamed prophet contrasts with the named Angel and Gideon who follow.
προφήτηνprophetAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ἄνδραπροφήτης: 'prophet / spokesman'; renders נָבִיא; the prophetic office here functions as covenant prosecutor, indicting Israel before announcing any rescue.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of mission)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with υἱοὺς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςυἱός: the recipients of the prophetic word, τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces the prophet's oracle; the subject is the prophet, who relays the LORD's own words.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (the Israelites)αὐτός: dative of the addressees, the sons of Israel.
τάδεthus / these thingsAccusativedemonstrative (object of λέγει: content of the oracle)ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: 'this'; the formula τάδε λέγει κύριος renders כֹּה אָמַר יהוה, the standard prophetic messenger-formula; τάδε (acc. pl. n.) points forward to the words that follow.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula (historic present)→ historic present (vivid immediacy of the divine word)λέγω (pres.): the present λέγει in the citation-formula gives the divine word ongoing authority — 'thus says the LORD' — and marks the transition from narration to direct YHWH-speech.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of λέγει (divine speaker)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the true speaker behind the prophet's lips.
theNominativearticle (with θεὸς, in apposition to κύριος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the God of Israel') renders אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the covenant title binding YHWH to the people he is about to indict and rescue.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'God of Israel')Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic, of εἰμι)ἐγώ: emphatic pronoun; ἐγώ εἰμι opens the divine self-predication, recalling the self-revelation formula of Exod 20:2.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with relative clause as predicate)→ present of identity (timeless self-identification)εἰμί: 'be'; the ἐγώ εἰμι ὅς construction ('I am the one who ...') renders the Hebrew self-identification אָנֹכִי ... אֲשֶׁר, grounding YHWH's covenant claim in his saving acts.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἀνήγαγον)ὅς: relative pronoun introducing the predicating clause of the self-identification.
ἀνήγαγονbrought upAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀνάγωverb of relative clause (the Exodus act)→ constative aorist (the foundational saving act)ἀνάγω: 'bring up / lead up'; renders הֶעֱלָה; the 'bringing up' from Egypt is the constitutive saving act of Israel's history, invoked as the basis of covenant obligation.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object (2nd person plural)σύ: the people addressed corporately as the beneficiaries of the Exodus.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of source (with Αἰγύπτου)γῆ: 'land'; ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, 'out of the land of Egypt', the standard Exodus formula.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive (with γῆς: 'land of Egypt')Αἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): standard LXX form of מִצְרַיִם; the place of bondage from which YHWH delivered Israel.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξήγαγονled outAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξάγωverb (parallel to ἀνήγαγον)→ constative aorist (the saving deliverance)ἐξάγω: 'lead out / bring out'; renders הוֹצִיא; the pairing ἀνήγαγον ... ἐξήγαγον ('brought up ... led out') is a stock LXX doublet for the Exodus deliverance (cf. Exod 20:2; Deut 5:6).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect objectσύ: the people delivered.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source, elided before vowel)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive of source (with δουλείας)οἶκος: 'house'; ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας ('out of the house of slavery') renders מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים, the fixed Exodus designation of Egypt as the place of bondage (Exod 13:3; Deut 6:12).
δουλείαςof slaveryGenitivegenitive (defining οἴκου: 'house of slavery')δουλεία: 'slavery / bondage'; renders עֲבָדִים (lit. 'slaves'); the genitive characterizes Egypt as the realm of servitude from which Israel was freed.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δουλείας)σύ: 'your'; the slavery was Israel's own — a pointed reminder of the bondage now ironically mirrored by Midianite oppression.
9

καὶ ἐρρυσάμην ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν θλιβόντων ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτοὺς ἐκ προσώπου ὑμῶν καὶ ἔδωκα ὑμῖν τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν

And I delivered you out of the hand of Egypt and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and I drove them out from before you, and I gave you their land.

Continuation of the divine recital of saving acts (subordinate to the oracle)καὶ ἐρρυσάμην
The oracle continues the catalogue of YHWH's grace: deliverance from Egypt and all oppressors, the expulsion of the Canaanites, and the gift of the land. The first-person aorists (ἐρρυσάμην, ἐξέβαλον, ἔδωκα) pile up YHWH's unilateral benefactions, building the case that Israel's apostasy is sheer ingratitude.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐρρυσάμηνI delivered / rescuedAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb (divine deliverance)→ constative aorist (the act of rescue)ῥύομαι: 'rescue / deliver / draw to oneself'; renders נָצַל / הִצִּיל; the verb of saving deliverance, used of YHWH's rescue of his people from danger and oppression.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect objectσύ: the people rescued.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ: 'out of the hand')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρός ('out of the hand of') is the standard idiom for liberation from a power; pointedly echoes ἐν χειρὶ Μαδιαμ (v. 1) — the LORD who once freed them from Egypt's hand could free them from Midian's.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive of possession (Egypt's hand)Αἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of מִצְרַיִם; the archetypal oppressor.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source, parallel)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive of source (parallel: 'out of the hand of all')χείρ: 'hand'; the second ἐκ χειρός broadens the deliverance beyond Egypt to all who ever oppressed Israel.
πάντωνallGenitivegenitive attributive (with τῶν θλιβόντων)πᾶς: 'all'; universalizes the deliverance — from every oppressor, not Egypt alone.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing θλιβόντων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θλιβόντωνwho oppressedPres Act Ptc Gen Pl Masc · θλίβωsubstantival participle (genitive: 'of those oppressing')→ general present participle (those who characteristically oppress)θλίβω: 'press / afflict / oppress'; renders לָחַץ; the substantival participle οἱ θλίβοντες ('the oppressors') is a stock LXX term for Israel's enemies (cf. the same root in v. 9's Midianite context).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of the participleσύ: the object of the oppressors' affliction.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέβαλονI drove outAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐκβάλλωmain verb (expulsion of the Canaanites)→ constative aorist (the act of dispossession)ἐκβάλλω: 'throw out / drive out / expel'; renders גֵּרֵשׁ; the dispossession of the land's former inhabitants before Israel, a standard element of the conquest tradition (cf. Exod 23:28–31).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the former inhabitants)αὐτός: the Canaanite peoples driven out before Israel.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation, in Hebraism)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive (Hebraism: 'from before you')πρόσωπον: in ἐκ προσώπου a calque of מִפְּנֵי, 'from before'; the enemies were expelled 'from the face of' Israel — the same idiom that elsewhere describes Israel fleeing before Midian, now reversed.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive (with προσώπου: 'your face')σύ: 'your'; from before you, the conquering people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκαI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (gift of the land)→ constative aorist (the act of land-grant)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the climactic benefaction — the gift of the land — caps the recital of grace; pointedly, the same verb that gave them the land (here) gave them into Midian's hand (v. 1, ἔδωκεν).
ὑμῖνto youDativedative indirect object (recipients of the gift)σύ: the people to whom the land was given.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object (the gift)γῆ: 'land'; the promised inheritance, given by grace — its present devastation (vv. 4–5) makes the gift's squandering all the more poignant.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the former inhabitants' land)αὐτός: 'their' — the land that had belonged to the dispossessed peoples, now Israel's.
10

καὶ εἶπα ὑμῖν ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε τοὺς θεοὺς τοῦ Αμορραίου ἐν οἷς ὑμεῖς καθήσεσθε ἐν τῇ γῇ αὐτῶν καὶ οὐκ εἰσηκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς μου

And I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorite, in whose land you dwell'; and you did not obey my voice.

The indictment proper: the broken command (subordinate to the oracle)καὶ εἶπα ὑμῖν
The oracle reaches its accusatory point: the recited grace establishes the obligation (the first commandment, here as οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε τοὺς θεούς), and the closing clause καὶ οὐκ εἰσηκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς μου ('and you did not obey my voice') delivers the verdict. The prophet's word breaks off without announcing rescue — the disobedience hangs as the cause of the present oppression.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπαI saidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb (recalling the past command)→ constative aorist (the past commandment recalled)λέγω: 'say'; the first-person εἶπα (Hellenistic α-aorist) recalls YHWH's past commandment — the giving of the first commandment to which Israel failed to listen.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative indirect objectσύ: the addressees of the original command.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic, of the implied copula)ἐγώ: emphatic; ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ('I am the LORD your God') is the self-identification formula of the Decalogue (Exod 20:2), here grounding the prohibition that follows.
κύριοςLORDNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐγώ)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the covenant name asserting exclusive claim — the basis for forbidding the worship of other gods.
theNominativearticle (with θεὸς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν ('your God'), the covenant-relational title that obligates Israel to exclusive allegiance.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεὸς)σύ: 'your'; the covenant bond YHWH–Israel.
οὐnotnegative particle (prohibitive with future indicative)οὐ: negation; with the future φοβηθήσεσθε it forms an emphatic prohibition in the Decalogue style ('you shall not ...').
φοβηθήσεσθεyou shall fearFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb (prohibition: future for command)→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)φοβέομαι: 'fear / revere / worship'; here in the cultic sense 'venerate'; renders יָרֵא; the future-as-imperative οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε is the LXX's standard rendering of the apodictic לֹא + imperfect of the Decalogue, forbidding the reverence of the land's gods.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with θεοὺς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοὺςgodsAccusativedirect object (the forbidden gods)θεός (pl. θεοί): here the false 'gods' of the Amorites — the very deities (Baal, Asherah) whose cult Gideon will dismantle in vv. 25–32.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Αμορραίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραίουAmoriteGenitivegenitive of possession (the Amorite's gods)Ἀμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; gentilic rendering of אֱמֹרִי; here a representative term for the land's pre-Israelite Canaanite population whose gods Israel was forbidden to worship; declined as a noun (gen. Αμορραίου).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, with relative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἷςwhose / among whomDativerelative pronoun (dative, locative antecedent)ὅς: relative pronoun; ἐν οἷς ('in whose [land] / among whom') refers loosely to the Amorites or their gods, locating Israel's dwelling amid the temptation.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, of καθήσεσθε)σύ: the emphatic ὑμεῖς stresses that it is Israel itself that now dwells in the Amorites' former land — surrounded by the cult it must reject.
καθήσεσθεyou dwell / will sitFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · κάθημαιverb of relative clause (dwelling)→ future of settled dwelling (present circumstance)κάθημαι: 'sit / settle / dwell'; renders יָשַׁב; here of inhabiting the land — Israel dwells where the Amorite gods were worshiped, hence the standing danger of syncretism.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with γῇ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)γῆ: 'land'; ἐν τῇ γῇ αὐτῶν, 'in their land' — the Amorites' former territory now inhabited by Israel.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the Amorites')αὐτός: 'their' — the land that once belonged to the Amorites, given to Israel (v. 9).
καὶand / butnarrative conjunction (introducing the verdict)καί: here with adversative force, 'and yet / but', introducing Israel's failure against the commandment just recalled.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with εἰσηκούσατε)οὐκ: negation; the verdict — Israel did not obey.
εἰσηκούσατεyou obeyed / listenedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰσακούωmain verb (the verdict of disobedience)→ constative aorist (the settled fact of disobedience)εἰσακούω: 'hear / heed / obey'; renders שָׁמַע (with the nuance 'obey'); οὐκ εἰσηκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς μου ('you did not obey my voice') is the climactic charge — the broken covenant relationship that explains the Midianite scourge.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with φωνῆς)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of εἰσηκούσατε (verb of hearing)φωνή: 'voice / sound'; renders קוֹל; the genitive complement of the verb of hearing; 'my voice' = YHWH's commandment, which Israel disregarded.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with φωνῆς)ἐγώ: 'my'; the voice is YHWH's own — the disobedience is directed against him personally.
11

καὶ ἦλθεν ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ ἐκάθισεν ὑπὸ τὴν τερέμινθον τὴν ἐν Εφραθα τὴν Ιωας πατρὸς τοῦ Εσδρι καὶ Γεδεων υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ῥαβδίζων σῖτον ἐν ληνῷ εἰς ἐκφυγεῖν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Μαδιαμ

And the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth that was in Ephratha, which belonged to Joash the father of Esdri; and Gideon his son was beating out wheat in a winepress to escape from before Midian.

New scene: the divine call begins (main narrative line)καὶ ἦλθεν ἄγγελος κυρίου
The narrative shifts from corporate indictment to individual call. The Angel of the LORD (ἄγγελος κυρίου) — who throughout the chapter blurs into the LORD himself (cf. vv. 14, 16, 23) — arrives and sits beneath the terebinth at Ophrah. The vivid detail of Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress (an absurd location chosen to hide the grain) dramatizes the very oppression just described (vv. 4–5): the future deliverer is introduced as a frightened man hiding his food.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (the Angel's arrival)→ constative aorist (the act of coming)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the arrival of the Angel of the LORD opens the call-narrative, marking the divine initiative in raising up a deliverer.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativesubjectἄγγελος: 'messenger / angel'; renders מַלְאָךְ; ἄγγελος κυρίου ('the Angel of the LORD') is the figure who repeatedly speaks and is addressed as the LORD himself (cf. Gen 16; Exod 3) — the boundary between angel and YHWH is fluid throughout this chapter.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession/source (with ἄγγελος)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the genitive identifies the messenger as belonging to and representing YHWH himself.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάθισενsat downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (the Angel sits)→ ingressive aorist (took a seat)καθίζω: 'sit down / be seated'; renders יָשַׁב; the Angel's sitting under the tree depicts a deliberate, settled presence awaiting Gideon — a quiet theophany in an ordinary setting.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (position: 'under')ὑπό + acc.: 'under / beneath'; locating the Angel beneath the terebinth.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with τερέμινθον)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τερέμινθονterebinthAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπότερέμινθος (= τερέβινθος): 'terebinth / turpentine-tree'; renders אֵלָה; a large, long-lived tree often associated with sacred or memorable sites; the same tree recurs at v. 19 as the place of the offering.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with prepositional phrase)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΕφραθαEphrathaobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Εφραθα: the LXX form here of the place-name (Hebrew עָפְרָה, Ophrah, Gideon's town); indeclinable; the site of the terebinth and of the altars that figure in vv. 24–32.
τὴνthe (which belonged to)Accusativearticle (attributive, with possessive genitive Ιωας)ἡ ... τήν: the repeated feminine article governs the possessive phrase 'the [terebinth] of Joash', identifying the tree as belonging to Gideon's father's property.
ΙωαςJoashgenitive of possession (indeclinable: '[that] of Joash')Ιωας: transliteration of יוֹאָשׁ (Joash); indeclinable; Gideon's father, an Abiezrite of Ophrah, owner of the Baal-altar in v. 25.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ιωαςπατήρ: 'father'; in apposition to Joash, 'the father of Esdri'.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Εσδρι)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕσδριEsdri / the Ezritegenitive (indeclinable: 'father of Esdri')Εσδρι: the LXX transliteration here representing the Hebrew הָעֶזְרִי / אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִי (the Abiezrite); indeclinable; the clan-designation of Joash's family rendered as a proper name.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing Gideon)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable: the new protagonist)Γεδεων: transliteration of גִּדְעוֹן (Gideon, 'hewer / hacker'); indeclinable; the hero of the cycle, here introduced threshing wheat in hiding — his name ironically anticipates the 'hewing down' of the Baal-altar in v. 25.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Γεδεωνυἱός: 'son'; υἱὸς αὐτοῦ, 'his son' — Gideon as son of Joash, linking him to the property and the household whose altar he will destroy.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Joash's son)αὐτός: 'his' — referring to Joash.
ῥαβδίζωνbeating out / threshingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ῥαβδίζωcircumstantial participle (describing Gideon's activity)→ present participle (action in progress)ῥαβδίζω: 'beat with a rod / thresh by beating'; renders חָבַט; threshing small amounts of grain by beating with a stick (rather than by ox and threshing-floor) was a furtive method — appropriate to hiding the harvest from Midianite raiders.
σῖτονwheat / grainAccusativedirect object of ῥαβδίζωνσῖτος: 'wheat / grain'; renders חִטִּים; the grain Gideon is desperately trying to preserve from the plunderers.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ληνῷwinepressDativedative of place (locative)ληνός: 'winepress / wine-vat'; renders גַּת; threshing wheat in a sunken winepress instead of an exposed threshing-floor is the narrative's vivid index of Midianite terror — the absurd hiding-place underscores Israel's degradation.
εἰςin order topreposition + articular infinitive idiom (purpose)εἰς: with the infinitive, marking purpose, 'so as to / in order to'; a common LXX construction for purpose.
ἐκφυγεῖνto escapeAor Act Inf · ἐκφεύγωinfinitive of purpose (with εἰς)ἐκφεύγω: 'flee out / escape'; the εἰς ἐκφυγεῖν clause states Gideon's motive — to get the grain safely away from Midian; the verb of fleeing confirms the prevailing climate of fear.
ἀπὸfrom beforepreposition + genitive (causal-defensive Hebraism)ἀπό: in ἀπὸ προσώπου, 'from before / for fear of'; renders מִפְּנֵי; the leitmotif phrase returns once more (cf. vv. 2, 6, 7).
προσώπουface / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Hebraism)πρόσωπον: calque of מִפְּנֵי; once more Midian is the menacing presence Gideon seeks to elude.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Μαδιαμ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜαδιαμMidiangenitive (indeclinable, with article: 'of Midian')Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; the article τοῦ treats the indeclinable name as a genitive, 'the Midian(ites)'.
12

καὶ ὤφθη αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν κύριος μετὰ σοῦ ἰσχυρὸς τῶν δυνάμεων

And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, 'The LORD is with you, O mighty one of the powers.'

Theophanic appearance and salutation (main narrative line)καὶ ὤφθη αὐτῷ
ὤφθη ('appeared') is the standard LXX verb for theophany (cf. Gen 12:7; Exod 3:2). The salutation κύριος μετὰ σοῦ ('the LORD is with you') is the classic call-formula of assurance (cf. Exod 3:12; Josh 1:5; Luke 1:28), and the title ἰσχυρὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ('mighty one of the powers') is at once an honorific and an ironic anticipation — addressed to a man hiding in a winepress.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὤφθηappearedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (theophanic appearance)→ constative aorist passive (the act of being seen / appearing)ὁράω (aor. pass. ὤφθη): 'be seen / appear'; the passive ὤφθη is the fixed LXX term for divine self-manifestation (cf. Gen 12:7; 17:1; Exod 3:2); it frames the encounter as a genuine theophany.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of the one to whom appearance is madeαὐτός: dative; 'to him' = to Gideon, the recipient of the theophany.
theNominativearticle (with ἄγγελος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativesubjectἄγγελος: 'angel / messenger'; ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου, the same figure of v. 11, now actively manifests himself and speaks for the LORD.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄγγελος)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; identifies the messenger as YHWH's own.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces the Angel's salutation to Gideon.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Gideon)αὐτός: 'him' = Gideon, the addressee.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of the verbless salutation 'the LORD [is] with you')κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the salutation κύριος μετὰ σοῦ ('the LORD is with you') is the classic assurance of the call-narratives (Exod 3:12; Josh 1:5), the very promise Gideon will question in v. 13.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετά + gen.: 'with / in company with'; the preposition of accompaniment in the assurance formula 'with you'.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά (Gideon)σύ: 'you' (sg.); Gideon as the one promised the LORD's presence.
ἰσχυρὸςmighty one / strongNominativevocatival nominative (form of address: 'O mighty one')ἰσχυρός: 'strong / mighty'; here a nominative used as address, rendering גִּבּוֹר; ἰσχυρὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ('mighty one of the powers/forces') corresponds to גִּבּוֹר הֶחָיִל ('mighty man of valor'); the title is at once promise and irony — bestowed on a man hiding in a winepress, it names what Gideon will become.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with δυνάμεων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμεωνpowers / forces / armiesGenitivegenitive (qualifying ἰσχυρός: 'mighty of forces')δύναμις (gen. pl. δυνάμεων): 'power / force / army'; renders חַיִל ('strength / valor / army'); the genitive ἰσχυρὸς τῶν δυνάμεων characterizes Gideon as a warrior of valor — a martial honorific bestowed in advance of any deed.
13

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Γεδεων ἐν ἐμοί κύριέ μου καὶ εἰ ἔστιν κύριος μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν εἰς τί εὗρεν ἡμᾶς τὰ κακὰ ταῦτα καὶ ποῦ ἐστιν πάντα τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ ἃ διηγήσαντο ἡμῖν οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν λέγοντες μὴ οὐχὶ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἀνήγαγεν ἡμᾶς κύριος καὶ νῦν ἐξέρριψεν ἡμᾶς καὶ ἔδωκεν ἡμᾶς ἐν χειρὶ Μαδιαμ

And Gideon said to him, 'By me, my lord — if the LORD is with us, why have all these evils found us? And where are all his wonders that our fathers recounted to us, saying, "Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?" But now he has cast us off and given us into the hand of Midian.'

Gideon's lament-protest (reported speech, subordinate)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Γεδεων
Gideon answers the assurance with a theodicy-lament: if the LORD is truly 'with us', then the oppression refutes it. He invokes the Exodus tradition (the same ἀνήγαγεν of v. 8) only to register its apparent contradiction in the present. The threefold complaint — present evils, vanished wonders, divine abandonment — voices the crisis the whole chapter answers; ἐν ἐμοί κύριέ μου ('by me, my lord' / 'please, my lord') is a deferential entreaty-formula (cf. v. 15).
Word-by-word analysis· 53 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces Gideon's reply to the Angel's salutation.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Angel)αὐτός: 'him' = the Angel of the LORD.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable; Gideon, now the speaker, voicing his doubt.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (in entreaty-formula)ἐν: in the idiom ἐν ἐμοί ('by me / please'), part of a deferential request-formula rendering בִּי ('pray / I beseech').
ἐμοίmeDativedative in entreaty-formula ('by me' = 'I pray')ἐγώ: in ἐν ἐμοί a calque of the Hebrew particle of entreaty בִּי, 'please / pardon, my lord'; the deferential opening softens the complaint that follows.
κύριέlord / sirVocativevocative (respectful address)κύριος (voc. κύριε): here in the human-deferential sense 'my lord / sir' — Gideon does not yet recognize his visitor as divine, so this κύριε is courteous address, not the Tetragrammaton.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with κύριέ)ἐγώ: 'my'; κύριέ μου ('my lord') marks polite, unsuspecting address to the stranger.
καὶand / nowconjunction (introducing the conditional protasis)καί: here lightly continuative, leading into the conditional question 'and if the LORD is with us ...'.
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)εἰ: 'if'; introduces the real condition that frames Gideon's challenge to the assurance of v. 12.
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of protasis (existential/copular)→ present of state (the disputed claim)εἰμί: 'be'; εἰ ἔστιν κύριος μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν directly echoes and contests the Angel's κύριος μετὰ σοῦ (v. 12) — Gideon shifts it to the plural 'with us'.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἔστινκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; here Gideon speaks of YHWH in the third person, questioning whether the LORD is truly present with Israel.
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετά + gen.: 'with'; μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν ('with us') generalizes the Angel's 'with you' to the whole people.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of μετάἐγώ (pl. ἡμεῖς): 'us'; Gideon speaks corporately for oppressed Israel.
εἰςfor / untopreposition (in interrogative idiom εἰς τί: 'why')εἰς: in εἰς τί ('to what end / why?'), an interrogative idiom rendering לָמָּה.
τίwhat / whyAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (in εἰς τί: 'why')τίς: interrogative; εἰς τί = 'why / for what reason', launching Gideon's protest against the present suffering.
εὗρενhas foundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb (with neuter plural subject τὰ κακὰ)→ constative aorist (the befalling of the evils)εὑρίσκω: 'find / come upon'; here idiomatically 'befall / overtake' (renders מָצָא); the singular verb with neuter plural subject (τὰ κακά) is normal Greek; 'why have all these evils found us?' personifies the calamities as actively overtaking Israel.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object (those whom the evils befell)ἐγώ (pl.): 'us'; the suffering people.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with κακὰ)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακὰevils / calamitiesNominativesubject (neuter plural substantive)κακός: 'evil / bad'; the neuter plural τὰ κακά ('the evils / calamities') denotes the Midianite afflictions; renders הָרָעוֹת; Gideon reads them as evidence against the LORD's presence.
ταῦταtheseNominativedemonstrative (modifying κακὰ)οὗτος: 'these'; the demonstrative points to the concrete present sufferings already narrated (vv. 1–6).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second question)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (of place)ποῦ: 'where?'; introduces Gideon's second complaint — the absence of the wonders of old.
ἐστινare / isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the interrogative clause (with neuter plural subject)→ present of stateεἰμί: 'be'; singular with neuter plural subject (τὰ θαυμάσια), normal Greek; 'where are all his wonders?'
πάνταallNominativeadjective (with τὰ θαυμάσια)πᾶς: 'all'; emphasizes the totality of the lost wonders.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with θαυμάσια)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θαυμάσιαwonders / marvelsNominativesubject (neuter plural substantive)θαυμάσιος: 'wonderful'; the neuter plural τὰ θαυμάσια ('the wonders') renders נִפְלָאוֹת, the marvelous deeds of the Exodus and conquest, the staple of Israel's confessional memory (cf. Ps 78).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's wonders)αὐτός: 'his' — the wonders done by the LORD.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of διηγήσαντο)ὅς: relative pronoun (neut. pl.); introduces the clause recalling the fathers' testimony.
διηγήσαντοrecountedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · διηγέομαιverb of relative clause (the fathers' telling)→ constative aorist (the act of narrating the tradition)διηγέομαι: 'recount / narrate in full'; renders סָפַר; the verb of handing down the saving-history from one generation to the next (cf. Exod 10:2; Ps 78:3–4).
ἡμῖνto usDativedative indirect object (the recipients of the tradition)ἐγώ (pl.): 'to us'; the present generation that received the testimony.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with πατέρες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of διηγήσαντοπατήρ: 'father'; οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν ('our fathers'), the forebears who transmitted the Exodus tradition — Gideon's appeal to it makes the present desolation all the more bewildering.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πατέρες)ἐγώ (pl.): 'our'.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct quotation)→ present participle (manner of recounting)λέγω: 'say'; λέγοντες introduces the fathers' very words — the confessional formula about the Exodus that follows.
μὴnotinterrogative negative (expecting affirmative answer)μή: in the rhetorical-question idiom μὴ οὐχί ('was it not ...?'), expecting the answer 'yes'; the double negative strongly affirms the Exodus.
οὐχὶnot indeedemphatic negative (with μὴ: rhetorical affirmation)οὐχί: emphatic 'not'; μὴ οὐχί is a strengthened rhetorical interrogative — 'did not the LORD surely bring us up?' — affirming the saving deed even as Gideon questions its present relevance.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source, elided)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐξ)Αἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of מִצְרַיִם; the place of the foundational deliverance now invoked.
ἀνήγαγενbrought upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνάγωmain verb of the quoted confession→ constative aorist (the saving act recalled)ἀνάγω: 'bring up'; the same verb the prophet used at v. 8 (ἀνήγαγον) — Gideon now quotes the fathers' confession of the very deed, sharpening the dissonance with the present abandonment.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect objectἐγώ (pl.): 'us'; Israel as the people brought up from Egypt.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἀνήγαγενκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the LORD as the agent of the Exodus in the fathers' confession.
καὶand / butnarrative conjunction (adversative turn)καί: here adversative, 'but', marking the painful contrast between past deliverance and present abandonment.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (present contrasted with past)νῦν: 'now'; the temporal pivot from the remembered deliverance to the present crisis.
ἐξέρριψενhas cast off / thrown awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκρίπτωmain verb (the alleged abandonment)→ constative aorist (the act of casting off)ἐκρίπτω: 'cast out / fling away'; the compound ἐκ- intensifies ῥίπτω to violent rejection; renders נָטַשׁ ('abandon'); Gideon charges that the LORD has flung Israel away — the boldest point of his lament.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect objectἐγώ (pl.): 'us'; the abandoned people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔδωκενgave / handed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (handing-over)→ constative aorist (the act of consignment)δίδωμι: 'give'; ἔδωκεν ... ἐν χειρὶ Μαδιαμ exactly repeats the narrator's verdict of v. 1 — but Gideon voices it as grievance, not yet recognizing it as just discipline (vv. 7–10).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect objectἐγώ (pl.): 'us'; Israel handed over to Midian.
ἐνinto / inpreposition + dative (idiomatic: 'into the hand')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὶhandDativedative object of ἐν (power)χείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρὶ Μαδιαμ, 'into the hand of Midian', verbatim the formula of v. 1 — the present subjection.
ΜαδιαμMidiangenitive of possession (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; the oppressor into whose hand Israel was given.
14

καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ εἶπεν πορεύου ἐν ἰσχύι σου ταύτῃ καὶ σώσεις τὸν Ισραηλ ἐκ χειρὸς Μαδιαμ ἰδοὺ ἐξαπέστειλά σε

And the Angel of the LORD turned to him and said, 'Go in this strength of yours, and you shall save Israel out of the hand of Midian. Behold, I have sent you.'

The commission (main narrative line; note the shift to the LORD as speaker)καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν πρὸς αὐτὸν
The Angel 'turns' to Gideon and commissions him; strikingly, ἐξαπέστειλά σε ('I have sent you') is first-person divine speech — the Angel speaks as the LORD himself. ἐν ἰσχύι σου ταύτῃ ('in this strength of yours') answers Gideon's lament by redirecting attention from past wonders to present commissioned power; the future σώσεις functions as both promise and mandate.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπέστρεψενturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (the Angel turns toward Gideon)→ constative aorist (the act of turning)ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn / turn toward'; renders פָּנָה; the Angel turns to face Gideon, marking the shift from salutation (v. 12) to direct commission.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Gideon)αὐτός: 'him' = Gideon.
theNominativearticle (with ἄγγελος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativesubjectἄγγελος: 'angel'; ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου — yet here he speaks in the first person as the LORD himself (ἐξαπέστειλά σε), illustrating the fluidity of the figure.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄγγελος)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces the commission.
πορεύουgoPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative of commission)→ present imperative (commissioning command)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; renders הָלַךְ; the commissioning imperative πορεύου ('go!') launches Gideon's mission, echoing the call of Moses (Exod 3:10).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (instrumental/manner)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἰσχύιstrengthDativedative of means (ἐν ἰσχύι: 'in/by strength')ἰσχύς: 'strength / might'; renders כֹּחַ; ἐν ἰσχύι σου ταύτῃ ('in this strength of yours') pointedly contrasts with the prevailing of Midian's strength (ἴσχυσεν, v. 2) — the commissioned might is the divine answer to the oppressor's power.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἰσχύι)σύ: 'your'; the strength is reckoned as Gideon's own, though it is given — the paradox the chapter explores.
ταύτῃthisDativedemonstrative (modifying ἰσχύι)οὗτος: 'this'; the demonstrative ταύτῃ points to a strength Gideon possesses now — the very assurance just given (v. 12) is itself his strength.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
σώσειςyou shall saveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · σῴζωmain verb (promise/mandate: future of commission)→ predictive-imperatival future (assured deliverance)σῴζω: 'save / deliver / rescue'; renders יָשַׁע (Hiphil), the keyword of the deliverer-role in Judges; σώσεις τὸν Ισραηλ ἐκ χειρὸς Μαδιαμ defines Gideon's whole task and reverses the ἔδωκεν ... ἐν χειρὶ Μαδιαμ of vv. 1, 13.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object (indeclinable, with article τὸν)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; treated as accusative by the article τόν; the people to be saved.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source of rescue)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive of source (ἐκ χειρός: 'out of the hand')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρὸς Μαδιαμ ('out of the hand of Midian') directly reverses the consignment 'into the hand of Midian' (vv. 1, 13) — the very point of the deliverance.
ΜαδιαμMidiangenitive of possession (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; the oppressor from whose grip Israel is to be freed.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (attention-marker)ἰδού: 'behold / see'; renders הִנֵּה; the presentative particle underscores the solemn commissioning declaration that follows.
ἐξαπέστειλάI have sentAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (first-person divine commissioning)→ performative/constative aorist (the act of sending here effected)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send out / commission'; the first-person ἐξαπέστειλά σε ('I have sent you') is decisive: the Angel speaks as the LORD himself — the same verb used of YHWH's sending of the prophet (v. 8) now constitutes Gideon's call (cf. Exod 3:12).
σεyouAccusativedirect object (the one commissioned)σύ: 'you'; Gideon as the commissioned deliverer.
15

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Γεδεων ἐν ἐμοί κύριέ μου ἐν τίνι σώσω τὸν Ισραηλ ἰδοὺ ἡ χιλιάς μου ἠσθένησεν ἐν Μανασση καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ μικρότερος ἐν οἴκῳ πατρός μου

And Gideon said to him, 'By me, my lord — by what shall I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.'

Gideon's protest of inadequacy (reported speech, subordinate)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Γεδεων
Gideon's second objection follows the call-narrative pattern of self-deprecation (cf. Moses, Exod 3:11; Saul, 1 Sam 9:21): his clan is weakest in Manasseh and he the least in his father's house. The protest sets up the theology of the whole cycle — deliverance through the weakest, so that the victory cannot be claimed as human (cf. 7:2).
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces Gideon's second objection.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Angel)αὐτός: 'him' = the Angel.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (entreaty-formula)ἐν: in ἐν ἐμοί, the entreaty-particle 'please' (cf. v. 13).
ἐμοίmeDativedative in entreaty-formula ('I pray')ἐγώ: ἐν ἐμοί calques בִּי, 'please, my lord' — the same deferential opening as v. 13.
κύριέlord / sirVocativevocative (respectful address)κύριος (voc.): human-deferential 'my lord / sir'; Gideon still addresses the visitor courteously, not yet recognizing him as divine.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with κύριέ)ἐγώ: 'my'.
ἐνby / withpreposition + dative (means, in interrogative)ἐν: instrumental, 'by what means'; ἐν τίνι = 'with what / how?'
τίνιwhatDativeinterrogative pronoun (dative of means: 'by what?')τίς: interrogative; ἐν τίνι σώσω ('by what shall I save?') asks the means — picking up the σώσεις of the commission (v. 14) and pleading inadequacy of resource.
σώσωshall I saveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · σῴζωmain verb (deliberative question)→ deliberative future (questioning the possibility)σῴζω: 'save'; the first-person σώσω directly echoes the commission's σώσεις (v. 14); Gideon turns the promise into a doubting question.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object (indeclinable, with article τὸν)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the people Gideon doubts he can save.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particleἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; introduces the grounds of Gideon's protest — his lowly status.
theNominativearticle (with χιλιάς)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χιλιάςclan / thousandNominativesubject (of ἠσθένησεν)χιλιάς: lit. 'a thousand', here a clan or social subdivision (the 'thousand' as a tribal unit); renders אֶלֶף in the sense of 'clan'; ἡ χιλιάς μου, 'my clan', the Abiezrite family group within Manasseh.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with χιλιάς)ἐγώ: 'my' clan.
ἠσθένησενis weak / has become feebleAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀσθενέωmain verb (with χιλιάς as subject)→ constative aorist (settled condition of weakness)ἀσθενέω: 'be weak / feeble / poor'; renders דַּל ('be low / weak'); 'my clan is the weakest in Manasseh' — the deliberate emphasis on insignificance, a topos of the call-narrative.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative/partitive)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΜανασσηManassehobject of ἐν (indeclinable tribal name)Μανασση: transliteration of מְנַשֶּׁה (Manasseh); indeclinable; the tribe to which Gideon's clan belongs; ἐν Μανασση localizes his clan's weakness within the larger tribe.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic, with εἰμι)ἐγώ: emphatic; ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ μικρότερος ('I am the least') heightens the self-deprecation — not only the clan but Gideon personally is lowest.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ present of stateεἰμί: 'be'; the copula of self-description.
theNominativearticle (with μικρότερος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μικρότεροςleast / youngestNominativepredicate (comparative as superlative: 'the least')μικρός (compar. μικρότερος): 'small / little'; the comparative with the article functions as superlative, 'the least / youngest'; renders הַצָּעִיר; the motif of the least son chosen for great things runs through Scripture (cf. David, 1 Sam 16:11).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (locative)οἶκος: 'house / household'; ἐν οἴκῳ πατρός μου ('in my father's house') locates Gideon's lowliness within his own family — the smallest unit of the social hierarchy.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκῳ)πατήρ: 'father'; the father's house = Joash's household (cf. v. 11).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατρός)ἐγώ: 'my'.
16

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου κύριος ἔσται μετὰ σοῦ καὶ πατάξεις τὴν Μαδιαμ ὡσεὶ ἄνδρα ἕνα

And the Angel of the LORD said to him, 'The LORD will be with you, and you shall strike down Midian as one man.'

Renewed assurance answering the protest (main narrative line)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν
The Angel meets Gideon's inadequacy not with reassurance about Gideon's resources but with the promise of divine presence: κύριος ἔσται μετὰ σοῦ (the future-tense form of the v. 12 salutation). The simile ὡσεὶ ἄνδρα ἕνα ('as one man') promises that Midian, though innumerable (v. 5), will be defeated as easily as a single opponent — the answer to 'by what shall I save?'.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces the Angel's renewed assurance.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Gideon)αὐτός: 'him' = Gideon.
theNominativearticle (with ἄγγελος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativesubjectἄγγελος: 'angel'; ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου, again speaking the LORD's assurance.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄγγελος)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of ἔσται)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; κύριος ἔσται μετὰ σοῦ ('the LORD will be with you') restates the v. 12 assurance in the future, sealing the commission against Gideon's doubt.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (promise of presence)→ predictive future (assured accompaniment)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'will be'; the future of the presence-promise, the divine guarantee underwriting the whole mission (cf. Exod 3:12, ἔσομαι μετὰ σοῦ).
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive object of μετάσύ: 'you'; Gideon, promised the LORD's presence.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (consequence)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πατάξειςyou shall strike downFut Act Indic 2 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (promise of victory)→ predictive future (assured defeat of Midian)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / defeat'; renders נָכָה (Hiphil); the standard verb for military rout; πατάξεις τὴν Μαδιαμ ('you shall strike down Midian') promises the very deliverance Gideon doubted.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Μαδιαμ, treating it as feminine collective)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜαδιαμMidiandirect object (indeclinable, with feminine article τὴν)Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; the feminine article τήν construes Midian as a collective (the nation/host); the enemy Gideon will defeat.
ὡσεὶas / likecomparative particle (introducing simile)ὡσεί: 'as if / like'; renders כְּ; introduces the simile minimizing Midian's might.
ἄνδραmanAccusativeaccusative of comparison (with ὡσεὶ)ἀνήρ: 'man'; ὡσεὶ ἄνδρα ἕνα ('as one man') promises that the whole Midianite host will be as easily overcome as a single antagonist — the divine answer to the locust-like multitude of v. 5.
ἕναoneAccusativenumeral (modifying ἄνδρα)εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; the masculine accusative ἕνα stresses singleness — Midian's countless thousands reduced, in the promise, to the resistance of one man.
17

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Γεδεων εἰ δὲ εὗρον ἔλεος ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου καὶ ποιήσεις μοι σήμερον πᾶν ὅ τι ἐλάλησας μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ

And Gideon said to him, 'If now I have found mercy in your eyes, then do for me today a sign of all that you have spoken with me.'

Gideon's request for a confirming sign (reported speech, subordinate)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν Γεδεων
Gideon asks for confirmation. The conditional εἰ ... εὗρον ἔλεος ('if I have found favor') is the courteous protasis of a request; the apodosis (καὶ ποιήσεις, 'then do for me') seeks a sign authenticating the speaker. The verse motivates the offering and the fire-sign of vv. 18–21; Gideon's caution mirrors his earlier doubt but now seeks not argument but proof.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces Gideon's request for a sign.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Angel)αὐτός: 'him' = the Angel.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable.
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis of request)εἰ: 'if'; the polite conditional of petition, 'if I have found favor ...', framing the request deferentially.
δὲnow / thentransitional particle (post-positive)δέ: post-positive; here a soft transition, 'now', moving from the assurance to Gideon's petition.
εὗρονI have foundAor Act Indic 1 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of protasis→ constative aorist (the having-found of favor)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; εὗρον ἔλεος ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ('I have found mercy in your eyes') is the LXX idiom for gaining favor, rendering מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ (cf. Gen 18:3); the polite formula of one petitioning a superior.
ἔλεοςmercy / favorAccusativedirect object (of εὗρον)ἔλεος: 'mercy / kindness / favor'; here in the idiom 'find favor', rendering חֵן; Gideon appeals to the visitor's goodwill as the ground of his request.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, Hebraism 'in the eyes')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὀφθαλμοῖςeyesDativedative of place (Hebraism: 'in your eyes')ὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ('in your eyes') is a Hebraism (בְּעֵינֶיךָ) for 'in your estimation / sight', the standard locus of finding favor.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμοῖς)σύ: 'your'.
καὶand / thenconjunction (apodosis-marker, Hebraizing waw)καί: here the apodotic 'then', rendering the Hebrew waw of the apodosis after a conditional — 'if ..., then do for me'.
ποιήσειςyou shall do / makeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (apodosis: request as future)→ imperatival future (polite request)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the future as polite request ('do for me') asks the visitor to perform a confirming act — implicitly, a sign (cf. v. 17 'a sign that ...').
μοιfor meDativedative of advantageἐγώ: 'for me'; Gideon as the beneficiary of the requested sign.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverbσήμερον: 'today'; renders הַיּוֹם; the immediacy ('today') marks Gideon's wish for present, tangible confirmation.
πᾶνall / a sign of allAccusativedirect object (with relative clause)πᾶς: 'all'; πᾶν ὅ τι ἐλάλησας ('all that you have spoken') is the content Gideon wants confirmed; the request is for a token authenticating the whole promise.
which / thatAccusativerelative pronoun (with τι: 'whatever')ὅς: relative; in ὅ τι ('that which / whatever') the relative + indefinite combination sums up the entire content of the promise.
τιanything / whateverAccusativeindefinite pronoun (with ὅ)τις: indefinite; ὅ τι = 'whatever', the comprehensive object of ἐλάλησας.
ἐλάλησαςyou have spokenAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λαλέωverb of relative clause (the promise spoken)→ constative aorist (the prior speech)λαλέω: 'speak'; refers back to the Angel's words of vv. 12, 14, 16; Gideon seeks a sign verifying that this speech is trustworthy.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετά + gen.: 'with'; ἐλάλησας μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ('you spoke with me'), a Hebraizing construction (דִּבֶּר אִתִּי) for addressing someone.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of μετάἐγώ: 'me'; Gideon as the one addressed.
18

μὴ χωρισθῇς ἐντεῦθεν ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν με πρὸς σέ καὶ ἐξοίσω τὴν θυσίαν καὶ θήσω ἐνώπιόν σου καὶ εἶπεν ἐγώ εἰμι καθίομαι ἕως τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι σε

'Do not depart from here until I come to you, and I will bring out my offering and set it before you.' And he said, 'I will remain seated until you return.'

Gideon's plea and the Angel's assent (reported speech, subordinate)μὴ χωρισθῇς
Gideon, granted his request, asks the visitor to wait while he prepares an offering (θυσία); the Angel assents (ἐγώ εἰμι καθίομαι, 'I will remain seated'). The exchange transitions to the offering-scene of v. 19; the visitor's willingness to wait and receive food echoes the hospitality-theophany of Gen 18 (Abraham and the three men).
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)μή: negation with the aorist subjunctive forms a prohibition, 'do not ...'.
χωρισθῇςdepartAor Pass Subj 2 Sg · χωρίζωmain verb (prohibitive subjunctive)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (urgent request not to leave)χωρίζω (pass. 'depart / separate oneself'): 'separate / part'; μὴ χωρισθῇς ('do not depart') is Gideon's urgent plea that the visitor remain until the offering is ready.
ἐντεῦθενfrom hereadverb of place (source)ἐντεῦθεν: 'from here / hence'; marks the spot under the terebinth as the place the visitor must not leave.
ἕωςuntilconjunction + articular infinitive (temporal limit)ἕως: 'until'; with the articular infinitive τοῦ ἐλθεῖν it forms a temporal clause, 'until I come'.
τοῦthe (of)Genitivearticle (with infinitive ἐλθεῖν, genitive)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλθεῖνto comeAor Act Inf · ἔρχομαιarticular infinitive (temporal, with ἕως τοῦ)→ aorist infinitiveἔρχομαι: 'come'; ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν με ('until I come') sets the term of the visitor's waiting; the accusative με is the infinitive's subject.
μεI / meAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἐλθεῖνἐγώ: 'I'; subject-accusative of the infinitive — 'until I (Gideon) come'.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σέyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Angel)σύ: 'you'; the visitor to whom Gideon will return.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξοίσωI will bring outFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐκφέρωmain verb (Gideon's promised act)→ predictive future (intention to fetch the offering)ἐκφέρω: 'carry out / bring forth'; renders יָצָא (Hiphil); Gideon promises to fetch the offering — the action carried out in v. 19.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυσίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίανoffering / sacrificeAccusativedirect object (of ἐξοίσω)θυσία: 'offering / sacrifice'; renders מִנְחָה ('gift / grain-offering'); here the gift of hospitality (kid and cakes, v. 19) that becomes, by the fire-sign, an accepted sacrifice — the same word governs the altar Gideon later builds (cf. θυσιαστήριον, v. 24).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
θήσωI will set / placeFut Act Indic 1 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (Gideon's promised act)→ predictive future (intention to present the offering)τίθημι: 'set / place / put'; renders שׂוּם / יָנַח; Gideon promises to set the offering before the visitor — fulfilled in v. 19 and consumed by fire in v. 21.
ἐνώπιόνbeforepreposition + genitive (position: 'before you')ἐνώπιον: 'before / in front of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the offering is to be placed in the visitor's presence.
σουyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιόνσύ: 'you'; the visitor before whom the offering is set.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the Angel's reply)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces the Angel's assent.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic, with εἰμι)ἐγώ: emphatic; the Angel's 'I' assents to wait — ἐγώ εἰμι καθίομαι ('I will remain seated').
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (periphrastic with καθίομαι)→ present of state (committed presence)εἰμί: 'be'; with καθίομαι it expresses settled intent, 'I am [one who] will remain seated'.
καθίομαιremain seated / will sitPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb (the Angel's promise to stay)→ futuristic present (committed continuance)κάθημαι (here καθίομαι): 'sit / remain'; the present expresses the Angel's commitment to stay put until Gideon returns — 'I will remain seated.'
ἕωςuntilconjunction + articular infinitive (temporal limit)ἕως: 'until'; with the articular infinitive τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι, 'until you return'.
τοῦthe (of)Genitivearticle (with infinitive ἐπιστρέψαι, genitive)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιστρέψαιto returnAor Act Inf · ἐπιστρέφωarticular infinitive (temporal, with ἕως τοῦ)→ aorist infinitiveἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; ἕως τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι σε ('until you return') sets the term of the Angel's waiting; the accusative σε is the infinitive's subject.
σεyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἐπιστρέψαισύ: 'you'; subject-accusative of the infinitive — 'until you (Gideon) return'.
19

καὶ Γεδεων εἰσῆλθεν καὶ ἐποίησεν ἔριφον αἰγῶν καὶ οιφι ἀλεύρου ἄζυμα καὶ τὰ κρέα ἔθηκεν ἐν τῷ κοφίνῳ καὶ τὸν ζωμὸν ἔβαλεν ἐν τῇ χύτρᾳ καὶ ἐξήνεγκεν αὐτὰ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὴν τερέμινθον καὶ προσήγγισεν

And Gideon went in and prepared a kid of the goats and an ephah of flour as unleavened cakes; and he put the meat in the basket and poured the broth into the pot, and brought them out to him under the terebinth and drew near.

Gideon prepares and brings the offering (main narrative line)καὶ Γεδεων εἰσῆλθεν
The string of aorists (εἰσῆλθεν, ἐποίησεν, ἔθηκεν, ἔβαλεν, ἐξήνεγκεν, προσήγγισεν) narrates the careful preparation of a generous offering: a whole kid, an ephah of flour as unleavened cakes, the meat in a basket, broth in a pot. The lavishness (an ephah of flour in time of famine) marks Gideon's earnestness; the unleavened character and the meat anticipate the offering's sacrificial transformation in v. 21.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable.
εἰσῆλθενwent inAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (Gideon enters to prepare)→ constative aorist (the act of going in)εἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; Gideon enters (his house) to make ready the offering.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενprepared / madeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (preparation of the offering)→ constative aorist (the act of preparing)ποιέω: 'make / prepare'; here of dressing a kid and baking cakes — the verb of preparing food for a guest (cf. Gen 18:7–8).
ἔριφονkidAccusativedirect objectἔριφος: 'kid / young goat'; renders גְּדִי; ἔριφον αἰγῶν ('a kid of the goats') is the choice meat of generous hospitality (cf. Gen 27:9; Judg 13:15).
αἰγῶνof goatsGenitivepartitive/descriptive genitive (with ἔριφον)αἴξ (gen. pl. αἰγῶν): 'goat'; ἔριφον αἰγῶν, 'a kid of the goats', specifies the animal — a Hebraism (גְּדִי עִזִּים).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οιφιan ephahmeasure-term (indeclinable, accusative of measure)οιφι: transliteration of the Hebrew dry-measure אֵיפָה (ephah, roughly 22 litres); indeclinable; an ephah of flour is a large quantity — Gideon's lavish gift in a time of famine signals the depth of his earnestness.
ἀλεύρουof flourGenitivegenitive of content (with οιφι: 'ephah of flour')ἄλευρον: 'wheat-flour / meal'; renders קֶמַח; the flour from which the unleavened cakes are made.
ἄζυμαunleavened cakesAccusativeaccusative (result/apposition: 'as unleavened bread')ἄζυμος: 'unleavened'; the neuter plural τὰ ἄζυμα ('unleavened bread/cakes') renders מַצּוֹת; the unleavened character (no time to let dough rise, or cultic propriety) links the meal to sacrificial offering (cf. Lev 2:4–5).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρέα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρέαmeat / fleshAccusativedirect object (of ἔθηκεν)κρέας (pl. κρέα): 'meat / flesh'; renders בָּשָׂר; the cooked flesh of the kid, placed in the basket — consumed by fire in v. 21.
ἔθηκενputAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (placing the meat)→ constative aorist (the act of placing)τίθημι: 'put / set'; here of placing the meat in the basket for carrying to the visitor.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κοφίνῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοφίνῳbasketDativedative of place (locative)κόφινος: 'basket'; renders סַל; the carrying-basket for the meat — the everyday vessel of the offering.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ζωμὸν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζωμὸνbrothAccusativedirect object (of ἔβαλεν)ζωμός: 'broth / soup'; renders מָרָק; the cooking-liquid of the kid, kept in the pot to be poured out on the rock (v. 20).
ἔβαλενpoured / putAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βάλλωmain verb (placing the broth)→ constative aorist (the act of putting)βάλλω: 'throw / put / pour'; here of pouring the broth into the pot — the verb's broad sense covers putting liquids into a vessel.
ἐνin / intopreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with χύτρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χύτρᾳpotDativedative of place (locative)χύτρα: 'earthen pot / cooking-pot'; renders פָּרוּר; the vessel holding the broth, carried out alongside the basket of meat.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξήνεγκενbrought outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκφέρωmain verb (carrying the offering out)→ constative aorist (the act of bringing out)ἐκφέρω: 'carry out / bring forth'; fulfils Gideon's promise ἐξοίσω (v. 18); he carries the whole offering out to the waiting visitor.
αὐτὰthemAccusativedirect object (the meat, cakes, and broth)αὐτός: neuter plural 'them' — the components of the offering collectively.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Angel)αὐτός: 'him' = the waiting Angel.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (position)ὑπό + acc.: 'under'; back to the spot of v. 11.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with τερέμινθον)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τερέμινθονterebinthAccusativeaccusative object of ὑπότερέμινθος: 'terebinth'; the same tree as v. 11, marking the offering's locale as the place of the theophany.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσήγγισενdrew near / presentedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσεγγίζωmain verb (Gideon approaches with the offering)→ constative aorist (the act of drawing near)προσεγγίζω: 'approach / bring near'; renders נָגַשׁ (often used of bringing an offering near in cultic contexts); Gideon 'draws near' / 'presents' the offering — a quasi-sacrificial gesture preparing the fire-sign.
20

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ λαβὲ τὰ κρέα καὶ τὰ ἄζυμα καὶ θὲς πρὸς τὴν πέτραν ἐκείνην καὶ τὸν ζωμὸν ἐχόμενα ἔκχεε καὶ ἐποίησεν οὕτως

And the Angel of God said to him, 'Take the meat and the unleavened cakes and set them by that rock, and pour out the broth close by'; and he did so.

The Angel's instruction for the offering (main narrative line)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὸν
The visitor (here ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ, 'the Angel of God') directs the offering onto the rock — turning Gideon's hospitality-meal into a sacrifice. The imperatives λαβέ ... θές ... ἔκχεε arrange the elements for the fire-sign; Gideon's silent obedience (καὶ ἐποίησεν οὕτως) sets the stage for the consuming fire of v. 21.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces the Angel's instruction.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Gideon)αὐτός: 'him' = Gideon.
theNominativearticle (with ἄγγελος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativesubjectἄγγελος: 'angel'; here ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ ('the Angel of God') — the variation from ἄγγελος κυρίου confirms the figure's divine character on the eve of the fire-theophany.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄγγελος)θεός: 'God'; ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ, 'the Angel of God', a variant of ἄγγελος κυρίου identifying the same divine messenger.
λαβὲtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative)→ aorist imperative (specific command)λαμβάνω: 'take'; the first of three imperatives arranging the offering on the rock.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρέα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρέαmeatAccusativedirect object (of λαβὲ)κρέας (pl. κρέα): 'meat'; the cooked kid-flesh, to be set on the rock.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἄζυμα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄζυμαunleavened cakesAccusativedirect object (coordinate with κρέα)ἄζυμος: 'unleavened'; τὰ ἄζυμα, the unleavened cakes, set alongside the meat for the sacrificial sign.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
θὲςset / placeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (imperative)→ aorist imperative (specific command)τίθημι: 'set / place'; θές ('set them') directs the food onto the rock, transforming the hospitality-gift into an altar-offering.
πρὸςby / againstpreposition + accusative (position: 'by / on')πρός + acc.: here positional, 'by / against / upon'; the offering is placed at the rock that will serve as altar.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πέτραν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέτρανrockAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςπέτρα: 'rock / crag'; renders סֶלַע; the rock becomes the improvised altar from which fire will spring (v. 21) — the locus of the sign.
ἐκείνηνthatAccusativedemonstrative (modifying πέτραν)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative points to a specific, presumably visible rock at the site.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ζωμὸν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζωμὸνbrothAccusativedirect object (of ἔκχεε)ζωμός: 'broth'; the cooking-liquid to be poured out — a libation-like act completing the offering.
ἐχόμεναclose by / adjoiningPres Mid Ptc Acc Pl Neut · ἔχωparticiple used adverbially ('close by / next to')→ present participle (adverbial: in proximity)ἔχω (mid. ἔχομαι 'cling / be next to'): the middle participle ἐχόμενα functions adverbially, 'close by / hard by', directing the broth to be poured right beside the meat on the rock; the idiom τὰ ἐχόμενα for 'the adjacent parts' is common in the LXX.
ἔκχεεpour outPres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐκχέωmain verb (imperative)→ present imperative (command to pour)ἐκχέω: 'pour out'; renders שָׁפַךְ; the pouring of the broth is a libation-like gesture; it will be consumed along with the meat and cakes when fire rises from the rock.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (Gideon's obedience)→ constative aorist (the act of compliance)ποιέω: 'do'; ἐποίησεν οὕτως ('he did so') marks Gideon's silent, exact obedience to the instruction — the prompt compliance that precedes the sign.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of mannerοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; renders כֵּן; confirms that Gideon executed the instruction precisely.
21

καὶ ἐξέτεινεν ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου τὸ ἄκρον τῆς ῥάβδου τῆς ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἥψατο τῶν κρεῶν καὶ τῶν ἀζύμων καὶ ἀνέβη πῦρ ἐκ τῆς πέτρας καὶ κατέφαγεν τὰ κρέα καὶ τοὺς ἀζύμους καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπορεύθη ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ

And the Angel of the LORD stretched out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes; and the Angel of the LORD departed from his eyes.

The fire-sign and the Angel's disappearance (main narrative line)καὶ ἐξέτεινεν ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου
The requested sign (v. 17) is granted: a touch of the staff-tip, fire from the rock, the offering consumed, the Angel vanishing. The sequence ἐξέτεινεν ... ἥψατο ... ἀνέβη ... κατέφαγεν ... ἐπορεύθη compresses the theophany into swift, decisive action. The fire consuming the offering authenticates the messenger as divine; the sudden departure (ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ, 'from his eyes') triggers Gideon's terror in v. 22.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξέτεινενstretched outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκτείνωmain verb (the Angel extends the staff)→ constative aorist (the act of stretching out)ἐκτείνω: 'stretch out / extend'; renders שָׁלַח (the hand); the gesture of extending the staff-tip recalls Moses' wonder-working staff (Exod 7–14), marking the act as miraculous.
theNominativearticle (with ἄγγελος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativesubjectἄγγελος: 'angel'; ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου, the divine messenger, here performing the wonder.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄγγελος)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἄκρον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄκρονtip / endAccusativedirect object (of ἐξέτεινεν)ἄκρον: 'tip / extremity / end'; renders קָצֶה; the very tip of the staff touches the offering — the minimal contact that releases the consuming fire.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ῥάβδου)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥάβδουstaff / rodGenitivegenitive (defining ἄκρον: 'tip of the staff')ῥάβδος: 'staff / rod'; renders מִשְׁעֶנֶת / מַטֶּה; the instrument of the wonder, evoking the staff-miracles of Moses and Aaron.
τῆςthe (that)Genitivearticle (attributive, with prepositional phrase)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὶhandDativedative of place (locative)χείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ('in his hand') locates the staff in the Angel's grip — the divine agent wields it directly.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the Angel's hand)αὐτός: 'his' = the Angel's.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἥψατοtouchedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἅπτωmain verb (the touch that triggers the fire)→ constative aorist (the act of touching)ἅπτω (mid. ἅπτομαι + gen.): 'touch / take hold of'; renders נָגַע; the middle takes the genitive object (τῶν κρεῶν); the touch of the staff-tip is the catalyst of the miracle.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with κρεῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρεῶνmeatGenitivegenitive object of ἥψατο (verb of touching)κρέας (gen. pl. κρεῶν): 'meat'; the genitive complement of ἅπτομαι; the offering touched by the staff.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀζύμων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀζύμωνunleavened cakesGenitivegenitive object of ἥψατο (coordinate with κρεῶν)ἄζυμος: 'unleavened'; τῶν ἀζύμων, the cakes, likewise touched by the staff.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (the wonder follows)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβηwent up / roseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the fire rises)→ constative aorist (the act of rising)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / rise'; renders עָלָה; the fire 'goes up' from the rock — a miraculous, self-kindled flame signaling divine acceptance of the offering (cf. Lev 9:24; 1 Kgs 18:38).
πῦρfireNominativesubject (of ἀνέβη)πῦρ: 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the fire from the rock is the heart of the sign — divine fire consuming the offering, the same motif as the fire on Elijah's altar.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with πέτρας)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέτραςrockGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)πέτρα: 'rock'; the fire issues 'out of the rock' (the altar of v. 20) — the inert stone becomes the source of divine flame.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατέφαγενconsumed / devouredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατεσθίωmain verb (the fire consumes the offering)→ constative aorist (the act of consuming)κατεσθίω: 'eat up / devour / consume'; renders אָכַל; the κατα- prefix marks total consumption; fire 'devouring' a sacrifice is the standard image of divine acceptance (cf. Lev 9:24).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρέα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρέαmeatAccusativedirect object (of κατέφαγεν)κρέας (pl. κρέα): 'meat'; the kid-flesh, consumed by the fire.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἀζύμους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀζύμουςunleavened cakesAccusativedirect object (coordinate with κρέα)ἄζυμος: 'unleavened'; here the masculine accusative plural τοὺς ἀζύμους (varying from the neuter τὰ ἄζυμα earlier) — the cakes likewise consumed by the divine fire.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with ἄγγελος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativesubject (of ἐπορεύθη)ἄγγελος: 'angel'; ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου, who now vanishes — the sudden disappearance confirms the supernatural character of the encounter.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄγγελος)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton.
ἐπορεύθηdeparted / went awayAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (the Angel's disappearance)→ constative aorist (the act of departing)πορεύομαι (aor. pass. dep. ἐπορεύθη): 'go / proceed / depart'; the Angel's instantaneous departure 'from his eyes' (i.e., out of sight) marks the close of the theophany and provokes Gideon's fear in v. 22.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὀφθαλμῶνeyes / sightGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἀπό: 'from his eyes')ὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ ('from his eyes') = 'out of his sight' — a vivid idiom for the sudden vanishing of the divine visitor.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Gideon's eyes)αὐτός: 'his' = Gideon's; from before Gideon's very eyes the Angel disappeared.
22

καὶ εἶδεν Γεδεων ὅτι ἄγγελος κυρίου οὗτός ἐστιν καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων ἆ ἆ κύριέ μου κύριε ὅτι εἶδον ἄγγελον κυρίου πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον

And Gideon saw that this was the Angel of the LORD, and Gideon said, 'Ah, ah, my Lord, O LORD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face.'

Gideon's recognition and dread (main narrative line)καὶ εἶδεν Γεδεων
Gideon now realizes the visitor's identity, and his courteous κύριε (vv. 13, 15) turns into the awe-struck cry κύριέ μου κύριε addressed to YHWH himself. The fear rests on the ancient conviction that to see God (here his Angel) πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον is fatal (cf. Exod 33:20; Gen 16:13; 32:30); the exclamation ἆ ἆ voices terror — answered by the LORD's reassurance in v. 23.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶδενsaw / realizedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (perception/realization)→ constative aorist (the moment of recognition)ὁράω (aor. εἶδεν): 'see / perceive / realize'; here mental perception — Gideon 'sees' (understands) the visitor's true identity now that the sign and disappearance have occurred.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of Gideon's realization.
ἄγγελοςangel / messengerNominativepredicate nominative (of the ὅτι-clause)ἄγγελος: 'angel'; ἄγγελος κυρίου — Gideon recognizes that his visitor was the Angel of the LORD, a divine being whose appearance carries deadly danger.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄγγελος)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton.
οὗτόςthis oneNominativesubject (of ἐστιν, in the ὅτι-clause)οὗτος: 'this'; the demonstrative subject 'this [one] is the Angel of the LORD' — the dawning identification.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (of the ὅτι-clause)→ present of state (the realized identity)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the recognition-statement.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces Gideon's cry of dread.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable.
ah / alasinterjection (cry of alarm)ἆ: interjection of dismay or alarm, 'ah! / alas!'; renders אֲהָהּ; the doubled ἆ ἆ intensifies Gideon's terror at having seen the divine.
ah / alasinterjection (repeated, intensifying)ἆ: the repetition of the interjection heightens the emotional pitch of the cry.
κύριέLordVocativevocative (address to YHWH)κύριος (voc. κύριε): now the Tetragrammaton — Gideon's earlier human-deferential κύριε (vv. 13, 15) becomes worshipful address to YHWH himself, recognizing the divine presence.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship (with κύριέ)ἐγώ: 'my'; κύριέ μου ('my Lord') in reverent address.
κύριεLORDVocativevocative (solemn repetition, address to YHWH)κύριος (voc. κύριε): the doubled κύριέ μου κύριε is an emphatic invocation of YHWH (rendering אֲדֹנָי יהוה), marking the gravity of Gideon's fear before the divine.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (grounds of the cry)ὅτι: 'because / for'; gives the reason for Gideon's alarm — he has seen the Angel face to face.
εἶδονI have seenAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (the cause of dread)→ constative aorist (the fact of having seen)ὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see'; the dread rests on having literally seen the divine Angel — to behold God or his Angel was widely held to be lethal (Exod 33:20; cf. Judg 13:22).
ἄγγελονangel / messengerAccusativedirect object (of εἶδον)ἄγγελος: 'angel'; ἄγγελον κυρίου, the divine messenger whom Gideon has beheld — the object of his fearful sight.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἄγγελον)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative (in the idiom 'face to face')πρόσωπον: 'face'; πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον ('face to face') renders פָּנִים אֶל־פָּנִים (cf. Gen 32:30; Deut 34:10); the idiom for direct, unmediated encounter with the divine — precisely what makes Gideon fear for his life.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (in the idiom 'face to face')πρός + acc.: in πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον, 'face to face' — direct confrontation.
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative (completing the idiom 'face to face')πρόσωπον: 'face'; the repetition completes the idiom for immediate visual encounter with the Angel of the LORD.
23

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ κύριος εἰρήνη σοι μὴ φοβοῦ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς

And the LORD said to him, 'Peace to you; do not fear; you shall not die.'

Divine reassurance answering Gideon's fear (main narrative line)καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ κύριος
Now the narrator names the speaker directly as κύριος ('the LORD'), confirming the identification of Angel and LORD that has run through the chapter. The threefold reassurance — εἰρήνη σοι ('peace to you'), μὴ φοβοῦ ('do not fear'), οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ('you shall not die') — directly answers the dread of v. 22 and supplies the name for the altar of v. 24.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces the LORD's reassurance.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object (Gideon)αὐτός: 'to him' = Gideon.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubjectκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the narrator now names YHWH himself as the speaker — sealing the chapter's identification of the Angel with the LORD.
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject of the verbless blessing ('peace [be] to you')εἰρήνη: 'peace / well-being'; renders שָׁלוֹם; εἰρήνη σοι ('peace to you') is the standard reassurance-greeting; it also names the altar Gideon builds in v. 24 (εἰρήνη κυρίου).
σοιto youDativedative of recipient (with εἰρήνη)σύ: 'to you'; Gideon as the recipient of the peace-blessing.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive imperative)μή: negation with the present imperative φοβοῦ forms the prohibition 'do not fear'.
φοβοῦfearPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (prohibition: 'do not fear')→ present imperative of prohibition (cease/refrain from fearing)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; μὴ φοβοῦ ('do not fear') is the classic formula of divine reassurance (cf. Gen 15:1; Luke 1:30); it directly answers Gideon's terror of v. 22.
οὐnotemphatic negative (with μὴ + subjunctive)οὐ: in οὐ μή + subjunctive, the emphatic future denial 'you shall certainly not ...'.
μὴnotemphatic negative (with οὐ + subjunctive)μή: the second member of οὐ μή, the strongest Greek negation of a future event.
ἀποθάνῃςyou shall dieAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (emphatic denial with οὐ μή)→ emphatic future negation (οὐ μή + aor. subj.: you will surely not die)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ('you shall surely not die') is the emphatic denial of the deadly fear Gideon expressed — seeing the Angel will not, in his case, prove fatal.
24

καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ Γεδεων θυσιαστήριον τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἐπεκάλεσεν αὐτῷ εἰρήνη κυρίου ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ἔτι αὐτοῦ ὄντος ἐν Εφραθα πατρὸς τοῦ Εσδρι

And Gideon built there an altar to the LORD and called it 'Peace of the LORD'; to this day it is still in Ephratha of the father of Esdri.

Memorial altar and etiological notice (main narrative line)καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ Γεδεων
Gideon commemorates the theophany with an altar named εἰρήνη κυρίου ('Peace of the LORD'), drawing the name from the reassurance of v. 23. The etiological formula ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') roots the narrative in an enduring landmark at Ophrah, a common device anchoring the tradition for the reader's own time.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ᾠκοδόμησενbuiltAor Act Indic 3 Sg · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (building the altar)→ constative aorist (the act of building)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; renders בָּנָה; building an altar at the site of a theophany is a patriarchal pattern (cf. Gen 12:7; 35:7) — here a lawful altar to YHWH, contrasting with the Baal-altar Gideon will demolish (v. 25).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there'; marks the very spot of the theophany as the altar's location.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativedirect object (of ᾠκοδόμησεν)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar / place of sacrifice'; renders מִזְבֵּחַ; the keyword of the chapter's central panel — Gideon builds an altar to YHWH here, then tears down the Baal-altar (vv. 25–32).
τῷthe / to theDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳLORDDativedative of advantage/dedication ('to the LORD')κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the altar is dedicated 'to the LORD' — lawful worship in pointed contrast to the Baal-cult of the household.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπεκάλεσενcalled / namedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπικαλέωmain verb (naming the altar)→ constative aorist (the act of naming)ἐπικαλέω: 'call / name / call upon'; renders קָרָא; here of giving the altar its commemorative name, fixing the memory of the peace granted in v. 23.
αὐτῷitDativedative (of the thing named: 'called it')αὐτός: dative; 'called it [the altar]' — the dative complement of ἐπικαλέω in the naming idiom.
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativethe name itself (nominative as cited name: 'Peace of the LORD')εἰρήνη: 'peace'; εἰρήνη κυρίου ('Peace of the LORD', Hebrew YHWH-Shalom) is the altar's name, drawn directly from the reassurance εἰρήνη σοι (v. 23); it memorializes that Gideon found peace, not death, in the divine encounter.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (with εἰρήνη, forming the altar-name)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the genitive completes the altar-name 'Peace of the LORD'.
ἕωςuntil / topreposition + genitive (temporal extent)ἕως: 'until / up to'; in the etiological formula ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμέρας)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕωςἡμέρα: 'day'; ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') renders עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, the etiological formula anchoring the altar's survival into the narrator's own time.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative (modifying ἡμέρας)οὗτος: 'this'; 'this day' = the time of the narrative's telling.
ἔτιstilladverb (temporal: 'still')ἔτι: 'still / yet'; with the genitive-absolute it stresses the altar's continued existence at Ophrah.
αὐτοῦitGenitivegenitive absolute subject (with ὄντος: 'it being still')αὐτός: genitive absolute; 'it [the altar] being still [there]' — refers to the standing altar at Ophrah.
ὄντοςbeingPres Act Ptc Gen Sg · εἰμίgenitive absolute participle (circumstantial)→ present participle (ongoing existence)εἰμί: 'be'; the genitive absolute ἔτι αὐτοῦ ὄντος ('it still being [there]') notes the altar's continued presence at the site to the narrator's day.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΕφραθαEphrathaobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Εφραθα: the LXX form of Ophrah (cf. v. 11); indeclinable; the location of the altar within Joash's family property.
πατρὸςof the fatherGenitivegenitive (in possessive phrase, cf. v. 11)πατήρ: 'father'; the phrase 'of the father of Esdri' (the Abiezrite) repeats the property-designation of v. 11, locating the altar precisely.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Εσδρι)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕσδριEsdri / the Ezritegenitive (indeclinable, cf. v. 11)Εσδρι: the clan-designation (the Abiezrite) rendered as an indeclinable name; cf. v. 11.
25

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ κύριος λαβὲ τὸν μόσχον τὸν ταῦρον ὅς ἐστιν τῷ πατρί σου καὶ μόσχον δεύτερον ἑπταετῆ καὶ καθελεῖς τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βααλ ὅ ἐστιν τῷ πατρί σου καὶ τὸ ἄλσος τὸ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸ ὀλεθρεύσεις

And it happened in that night that the LORD said to him, 'Take the young bull, the ox that belongs to your father, and a second bull seven years old, and you shall pull down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and the grove that is upon it you shall utterly destroy.'

New divine command launching the altar-demolition (main narrative line)καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ
The night-time temporal frame (καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ) opens the second panel: before Gideon can fight Midian, he must purge his own household's idolatry. The command targets τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βααλ ('the altar of Baal') and τὸ ἄλσος (the Asherah/sacred grove) — the very 'gods of the Amorite' the prophet condemned (v. 10). Reform precedes deliverance.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-setting formula)→ constative aorist (scene-setting 'and it came to pass')γίνομαι: 'happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο, the Hebraic narrative-opener וַיְהִי, framing the night-time command.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with νυκτὶ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νυκτὶnightDativedative of time (locative-temporal)νύξ: 'night'; ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ ('in that night') sets the command — and its night-time execution (v. 27) — in darkness, fitting both the secrecy of the act and its danger.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative (modifying νυκτὶ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the same night as the theophany and altar-building (vv. 22–24).
καὶandnarrative conjunction (apodosis after ἐγένετο)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces the LORD's command.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object (Gideon)αὐτός: 'to him' = Gideon.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubjectκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; YHWH commands the reform of Gideon's own household.
λαβὲtakeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (imperative)→ aorist imperative (specific command)λαμβάνω: 'take'; the opening imperative of the demolition-command — take the bull for the sacrifice that will replace the Baal-cult.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μόσχον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μόσχονyoung bull / calfAccusativedirect object (of λαβὲ)μόσχος: 'calf / young bull'; renders פַּר / עֵגֶל; the first animal to be taken — defined further by the appositive τὸν ταῦρον.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ταῦρον, in apposition)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ταῦρονox / bullAccusativeaccusative in apposition to μόσχονταῦρος: 'bull / ox'; τὸν μόσχον τὸν ταῦρον ('the young bull, the ox') specifies the prime bull belonging to Joash — likely the very animal kept for the Baal-cult, now requisitioned for YHWH.
ὅςwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν)ὅς: relative; introduces the clause identifying the bull as Joash's.
ἐστινis / belongsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (with dative of possession)→ present of state (ownership)εἰμί: 'be'; with the dative τῷ πατρί σου it expresses possession, 'which belongs to your father'.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πατρί)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρίfatherDativedative of possession (with ἐστιν)πατήρ: 'father'; τῷ πατρί σου ('to your father'), the dative of possession; the bull is Joash's property — the demolition strikes at Gideon's own family's idolatry.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατρί)σύ: 'your' = Gideon's.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μόσχονbullAccusativedirect object (of λαβὲ, coordinate)μόσχος: 'bull'; the 'second bull' to be offered as a holocaust (v. 26); μόσχον δεύτερον ἑπταετῆ specifies a seven-year-old animal — perhaps echoing the seven years of oppression (v. 1).
δεύτερονsecondAccusativeattributive adjective (with μόσχον)δεύτερος: 'second'; numbers the bull for the sacrifice, distinguishing it from the first.
ἑπταετῆseven years oldAccusativeattributive adjective (with μόσχον)ἑπταετής: 'seven years old'; renders בֶּן־שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים; the bull's age (seven years) may symbolically correspond to the seven years of Midianite oppression (v. 1).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the demolition command)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καθελεῖςyou shall pull downFut Act Indic 2 Sg · καθαιρέωmain verb (command as future)→ imperatival future (command to demolish)καθαιρέω: 'pull down / tear down / demolish'; renders נָתַץ / הָרַס; the key verb of the chapter's iconoclasm; καθελεῖς τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βααλ ('you shall pull down the altar of Baal') ironically suits Gideon's name ('hewer / hacker', cf. v. 11).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with θυσιαστήριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativedirect object (of καθελεῖς)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; here τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βααλ, the Baal-altar — the same word as Gideon's own altar (v. 24), sharpening the contrast between true and false worship.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Βααλ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλBaalgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'altar of Baal')Βααλ: transliteration of בַּעַל ('Baal', lit. 'lord / master'); indeclinable; the Canaanite storm-and-fertility god whose cult Israel repeatedly adopted (cf. 2:11–13); the altar Gideon must destroy.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν)ὅς: relative (neuter, agreeing with θυσιαστήριον); identifies the altar as Joash's.
ἐστινis / belongsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (dative of possession)→ present of state (ownership)εἰμί: 'be'; with τῷ πατρί σου, 'which belongs to your father' — underscoring that the idolatry is within Gideon's own home.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πατρί)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρίfatherDativedative of possessionπατήρ: 'father'; Joash, owner of the Baal-altar — a sobering portrait of an Israelite household given over to the Canaanite cult.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατρί)σύ: 'your' = Gideon's.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἄλσος)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄλσοςgrove / AsherahAccusativedirect object (of ὀλεθρεύσεις, fronted)ἄλσος: lit. 'grove / sacred wood'; the standard LXX rendering of אֲשֵׁרָה (Asherah) — the cult-object (a sacred pole or stylized tree) of the goddess Asherah, set beside the Baal-altar; here the second target of Gideon's iconoclasm.
τὸthe (which)Accusativearticle (attributive, with prepositional phrase)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπ᾿upon / besidepreposition + accusative (position, elided)ἐπί + acc.: 'upon / beside'; locates the Asherah at/by the Baal-altar — the two cult-objects stood together.
αὐτὸitAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the altar)αὐτός: 'it' = the Baal-altar; the grove is 'upon/beside it'.
ὀλεθρεύσειςyou shall utterly destroyFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ὀλεθρεύωmain verb (command as future)→ imperatival future (command to destroy)ὀλεθρεύω: 'destroy utterly / annihilate'; renders כָּרַת / הִשְׁמִיד; a strong verb of total destruction reserved here for the Asherah; the cognate ἐξολεθρεύσεις recurs at v. 26 — the grove must be wholly eradicated, its wood reused for the holocaust.
26

καὶ οἰκοδομήσεις θυσιαστήριον κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ σου ἐπὶ κορυφὴν τοῦ Μαουεκ τούτου ἐν τῇ παρατάξει καὶ λήμψῃ τὸν μόσχον τὸν δεύτερον καὶ ἀνοίσεις ὁλοκαύτωμα ἐν τοῖς ξύλοις τοῦ ἄλσους οὗ ἐξολεθρεύσεις

'And you shall build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this Maouek, in the ordered array, and you shall take the second bull and offer up a whole burnt offering on the wood of the grove that you shall utterly destroy.'

Constructive counterpart of the command (main narrative line)καὶ οἰκοδομήσεις
The demolition is paired with construction: where the Baal-altar stood, Gideon is to build an altar to YHWH and offer the second bull as a holocaust, fueled by the very wood of the destroyed Asherah. The act of worship literally consumes the apparatus of idolatry. ἐν τῇ παρατάξει ('in the ordered array') and the place-name Μαουεκ render obscure topographical detail of the Hebrew.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἰκοδομήσειςyou shall buildFut Act Indic 2 Sg · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (command as future)→ imperatival future (command to build)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; the constructive counterpart to καθελεῖς (v. 25) — a lawful altar to YHWH replaces the demolished Baal-altar on the same height.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativedirect object (of οἰκοδομήσεις)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; the new altar to YHWH, the third altar of the chapter (cf. vv. 24, 25), supplanting the Baal-cult.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of dedicationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the altar is 'to the LORD your God', the exclusive object of legitimate worship.
τῷtheDativearticle (with θεῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳθεός: 'God'; τῷ θεῷ σου ('your God') stresses the covenant bond that the Baal-cult violated.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θεῷ)σύ: 'your'; the LORD is Gideon's own God, not Baal.
ἐπὶupon / onpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπί + acc.: 'upon / on top of'; locating the new altar on the height.
κορυφὴνtop / summitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶκορυφή: 'top / summit / crest'; renders רֹאשׁ; the altar is to crown the height — a conspicuous, public site for legitimate worship, in contrast to the hidden threshing of v. 11.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Μαουεκ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜαουεκMaouek (stronghold)genitive (indeclinable: 'top of this Maouek')Μαουεκ: a transliteration here representing the Hebrew הַמָּעוֹז / מָעוֹז ('the stronghold / fortified place'); the LXX renders the obscure term as an indeclinable proper noun; the altar is built atop this fortified height.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative (modifying Μαουεκ)οὗτος: 'this'; deictic, pointing to the specific stronghold-height at Ophrah.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/place)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with παρατάξει)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρατάξειordered array / arrangementDativedative (manner/place: 'in the array')παράταξις: 'arrangement / battle-array / ordered row'; renders the obscure Hebrew בַּמַּעֲרָכָה ('in the row / arrangement'); here likely 'with the proper arrangement [of stones]', specifying how the altar is to be ordered; the term elsewhere denotes a military line of battle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λήμψῃyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (command as future)→ imperatival future (command to take)λαμβάνω (fut. mid. λήμψῃ): 'take'; Gideon is to take the second bull (v. 25) for the holocaust.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μόσχον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μόσχονbullAccusativedirect object (of λήμψῃ)μόσχος: 'bull'; the second bull of v. 25, designated for sacrifice.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with δεύτερον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δεύτερονsecondAccusativeattributive adjective (with μόσχον)δεύτερος: 'second'; identifies the bull as the second one specified in v. 25.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνοίσειςyou shall offer upFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀναφέρωmain verb (command as future)→ imperatival future (command to offer)ἀναφέρω: 'bring up / offer up'; renders הֶעֱלָה (of sacrifice); the technical verb for presenting a burnt offering — 'offer up' the bull as a holocaust on the new altar.
ὁλοκαύτωμαwhole burnt offering / holocaustAccusativedirect object (of ἀνοίσεις)ὁλοκαύτωμα: 'whole burnt offering'; renders עֹלָה; the wholly-consumed sacrifice — the entire animal burned to YHWH; appropriate for the consecration of the new altar and the purging of the idolatry.
ἐνon / withpreposition + dative (instrumental/locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ξύλοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ξύλοιςwood / timbersDativedative (means/place: 'on the wood')ξύλον (pl. ξύλα): 'wood / timber'; renders עֵצִים; pointedly the wood of the destroyed Asherah-grove becomes the fuel of the holocaust — the idol's own substance feeds the fire of true worship.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἄλσους)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄλσουςgrove / AsherahGenitivegenitive of source (with ξύλοις: 'wood of the grove')ἄλσος: 'grove / Asherah'; the genitive specifies the wood as that of the felled sacred grove — the cult-object reduced to mere firewood.
οὗwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive, antecedent ἄλσους)ὅς: relative pronoun (gen., attracted to its antecedent ἄλσους); 'the grove which you shall destroy'.
ἐξολεθρεύσειςyou shall utterly destroyFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωverb of relative clause (command as future)→ imperatival future (command to annihilate)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'utterly destroy / exterminate'; the ἐξ- compound intensifies ὀλεθρεύω (v. 25); renders הִכְרִית / הֶחֱרִים; the Asherah is to be totally eradicated — a stronger echo of the destruction-command, sealing the eradication of the idolatry.
27

καὶ ἔλαβεν Γεδεων δέκα ἄνδρας ἀπὸ τῶν δούλων ἑαυτοῦ καὶ ἐποίησεν ὃν τρόπον ἐλάλησεν πρὸς αὐτὸν κύριος καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς ἐφοβήθη τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας τῆς πόλεως τοῦ ποιῆσαι ἡμέρας καὶ ἐποίησεν νυκτός

And Gideon took ten men from his own servants and did just as the LORD had spoken to him; and it came about, since he feared his father's house and the men of the city too much to do it by day, that he did it by night.

Gideon's obedient but fearful execution (main narrative line)καὶ ἔλαβεν Γεδεων
Gideon obeys exactly (ὃν τρόπον ἐλάλησεν ... κύριος) but with characteristic caution: dreading both his own household and the townsmen, he acts by night rather than by day. The note preserves the realistic portrait of a reluctant, fearful deliverer whose obedience nonetheless prevails — the human counterpart to the divine empowerment that follows (v. 34).
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (Gideon enlists helpers)→ constative aorist (the act of taking)λαμβάνω: 'take'; Gideon takes ten of his servants — he obeys, but needs help and cover for the dangerous task.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable.
δέκαtennumeral (modifying ἄνδρας)δέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable cardinal; the number of helpers needed for the demolition and altar-building.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object (of ἔλαβεν)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the ten men assisting Gideon in the night-time task.
ἀπὸfrom / from amongpreposition + genitive (partitive source)ἀπό: partitive 'from among'; the men are drawn from Gideon's own servants.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with δούλων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δούλωνservants / slavesGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἀπὸ)δοῦλος: 'slave / servant'; renders עֲבָדִים; Gideon's own household servants, on whose discretion he relies for the secret deed.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive genitive of possession (with δούλων)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'his own'; stresses that the helpers are trusted men of Gideon's household.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (Gideon's obedience)→ constative aorist (the act of obeying)ποιέω: 'do'; Gideon 'did just as the LORD had spoken' — exact obedience to the command of vv. 25–26.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον: 'in the manner which')ὅς: relative; ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner which / just as') is an adverbial accusative idiom for 'exactly as'.
τρόπονmanner / wayAccusativeadverbial accusative (ὃν τρόπον: 'in the way that')τρόπος: 'manner / way'; in ὃν τρόπον, the manner-accusative 'just as / in the way that' the LORD commanded — emphasizing precise compliance.
ἐλάλησενhad spokenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of relative clause (the command)→ constative aorist (the prior divine speech)λαλέω: 'speak'; refers back to the LORD's command of vv. 25–26.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (Gideon)αὐτός: 'him' = Gideon.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (of ἐλάλησεν)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the commander whose word Gideon obeys.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηit came aboutAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (impersonal: 'it happened that')→ constative aorist (scene-framing)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'happen / come about'; the impersonal frame introducing the explanation of why Gideon acted by night.
ὡςsince / becausecausal/temporal conjunctionὡς: 'as / since'; here causal — 'since he feared', explaining the timing of the act.
ἐφοβήθηhe fearedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · φοβέομαιverb of causal clause→ constative aorist (the fact of his fear)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; Gideon's fear of his household and the townsmen — the realistic note of a reluctant hero who obeys despite dread (cf. his earlier doubts, vv. 13, 15).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouse / householdAccusativedirect object (of ἐφοβήθη)οἶκος: 'house / household'; τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ('his father's house'), the very family whose Baal-altar he is destroying — hence his fear.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πατρὸς)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἶκον)πατήρ: 'father'; Joash's household.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πατρὸς)αὐτός: 'his' = Gideon's.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object (coordinate with οἶκον)ἀνήρ: 'man'; τοὺς ἄνδρας τῆς πόλεως ('the men of the city'), the Baal-worshiping townsfolk who will indeed demand Gideon's death (v. 30).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἄνδρας)πόλις: 'city / town'; renders עִיר; the town of Ophrah, whose men are devoted to the Baal-cult Gideon is dismantling.
τοῦthe (so as)Genitivearticle (with infinitive ποιῆσαι, genitive of result/purpose)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωarticular infinitive (result: 'too [afraid] to do')→ constative aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do'; τοῦ ποιῆσαι ἡμέρας ('to do [it] by day') — the articular infinitive of the action Gideon feared to perform in daylight; his fear made daytime action impossible.
ἡμέραςby dayGenitivegenitive of time (within which: 'by day')ἡμέρα: 'day'; the genitive of time, 'by day / in the daytime' — the time Gideon avoided out of fear.
καὶand / sonarrative conjunction (consequence)καί: here consequential, 'and so', leading to the resolution: he did it by night instead.
ἐποίησενhe did itAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the deed accomplished by night)→ constative aorist (the act done)ποιέω: 'do'; ἐποίησεν νυκτός ('he did it by night') — the resolution: fear dictated the timing, but the command was carried out.
νυκτόςby nightGenitivegenitive of time (within which: 'by night')νύξ: 'night'; the genitive of time, 'by night' — the cover of darkness under which Gideon executed the demolition, contrasting with the daylight he feared.
28

καὶ ὤρθρισαν οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως τὸ πρωί καὶ ἰδοὺ καθῄρητο τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βααλ καὶ τὸ ἄλσος τὸ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ ὠλέθρευτο καὶ εἶδαν τὸν μόσχον τὸν δεύτερον ὃν ἀνήνεγκεν ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ ᾠκοδομημένον

And the men of the city rose early in the morning, and behold, the altar of Baal had been pulled down, and the grove that was upon it had been destroyed, and they saw the second bull that he had offered up on the altar that was built.

Discovery of the demolition (main narrative line)καὶ ὤρθρισαν οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως
Morning brings discovery. The dramatic ἰδού ('behold') marks the townsmen's shock; the pluperfects καθῄρητο ('had been pulled down') and ὠλέθρευτο ('had been destroyed') view the completed deed as accomplished fact. The new altar 'that was built' (τὸ ᾠκοδομημένον) stands as visible witness against the old — the iconoclasm is undeniable and provokes the confrontation of vv. 29–32.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὤρθρισανrose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὀρθρίζωmain verb (the townsmen rise)→ constative aorist (the act of rising early)ὀρθρίζω: 'rise early / do at dawn'; renders שָׁכַם (Hiphil); the townsmen rise at first light, only to discover the night's work.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject (of ὤρθρισαν)ἀνήρ: 'man'; οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως ('the men of the city'), the Baal-worshipers of Ophrah whom Gideon feared (v. 27).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἄνδρες)πόλις: 'city'; the town of Ophrah.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρωί, adverbial accusative)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωίmorning / earlyAccusativeadverbial accusative of time ('in the morning')πρωί: 'early / morning'; τὸ πρωί ('in the morning'), the adverbial accusative of time; the dawn discovery.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (dramatic discovery)ἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; dramatizes the townsmen's astonished discovery of the demolished altar.
καθῄρητοhad been pulled downPlpf Pass Indic 3 Sg · καθαιρέωmain verb (state resulting from the demolition)→ pluperfect passive (completed deed viewed as standing result)καθαιρέω (plpf. pass. καθῄρητο): 'pull down / demolish'; the pluperfect presents the demolition as an accomplished fact already in place when the men arrive — the altar 'had been [and stood] torn down'.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with θυσιαστήριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριονaltarNominativesubject (of καθῄρητο)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βααλ, the Baal-altar, now demolished as commanded (v. 25).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Βααλ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλBaalgenitive of possession (indeclinable)Βααλ: indeclinable; the god whose altar was destroyed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἄλσος)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄλσοςgrove / AsherahNominativesubject (of ὠλέθρευτο)ἄλσος: 'grove / Asherah'; the sacred grove that stood by the Baal-altar, likewise destroyed.
τὸthe (which)Nominativearticle (attributive, with prepositional phrase)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπ᾿upon / besidepreposition + dative (position, elided)ἐπί + dat.: 'upon / beside'; the grove that stood beside the altar (cf. v. 25).
αὐτῷitDativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the altar)αὐτός: 'it' = the Baal-altar; the grove 'upon/beside it'.
ὠλέθρευτοhad been destroyedPlpf Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀλεθρεύωmain verb (state resulting from destruction)→ pluperfect passive (completed destruction viewed as standing result)ὀλεθρεύω (plpf. pass. ὠλέθρευτο): 'destroy utterly'; the pluperfect presents the grove's destruction as an accomplished fact — fulfilling the command ὀλεθρεύσεις (v. 25).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶδανthey sawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (the townsmen's sight)→ constative aorist (the act of seeing)ὁράω (aor. εἶδαν, Hellenistic α-form): 'see'; the townsmen see the sacrificed bull on the new altar — undeniable evidence of who has supplanted Baal.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μόσχον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μόσχονbullAccusativedirect object (of εἶδαν)μόσχος: 'bull'; the second bull (vv. 25–26) offered on the new altar — the visible proof of the sacrifice to YHWH.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with δεύτερον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δεύτερονsecondAccusativeattributive adjective (with μόσχον)δεύτερος: 'second'; the bull designated for the holocaust (v. 26).
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀνήνεγκεν)ὅς: relative; 'which he offered up'.
ἀνήνεγκενoffered upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναφέρωverb of relative clause (the sacrifice)→ constative aorist (the act of offering)ἀναφέρω: 'offer up'; fulfils the command ἀνοίσεις (v. 26); Gideon has offered the bull as a holocaust on the new altar.
ἐπὶupon / onpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with θυσιαστήριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶθυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; the new altar to YHWH on which the bull was offered (cf. v. 26).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with participle ᾠκοδομημένον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ᾠκοδομημένονthat was builtPerf Pass Ptc Acc Sg Neut · οἰκοδομέωattributive participle (modifying θυσιαστήριον)→ perfect participle (the standing, completed altar)οἰκοδομέω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'build'; τὸ ᾠκοδομημένον ('the [newly] built [altar]') presents the new YHWH-altar as a finished, standing structure — a permanent visible witness against the demolished Baal-cult.
29

καὶ εἶπεν ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ τίς ἐποίησεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο καὶ ἐπεζήτησαν καὶ ἠρεύνησαν καὶ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι Γεδεων υἱὸς Ιωας ἐποίησεν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο

And each man said to his neighbor, 'Who has done this thing?' And they searched and inquired and learned that Gideon son of Joash had done this thing.

Investigation and identification of the culprit (main narrative line)καὶ εἶπεν ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ
The townsmen's outrage turns to inquiry. The distributive ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον ('each man to his neighbor') captures the buzz of accusation; the chain ἐπεζήτησαν ... ἠρεύνησαν ... ἔγνωσαν ('searched ... investigated ... learned') traces the swift identification of Gideon. The repeated τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ('this thing') frames the demolition as a scandalous deed demanding accountability.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (distributive speech)→ constative aorist (the act of asking)λέγω: 'say'; with the distributive subject ἀνήρ ... πρὸς τὸν πλησίον, 'each man said to his neighbor' — a Hebraism (אִישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ) for mutual questioning.
ἀνὴρa man / eachNominativesubject (distributive: 'each man')ἀνήρ: 'man'; in the distributive idiom ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον ('a man to his neighbor'), 'each one to another'.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πλησίον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (substantivized adverb)πλησίον: 'neighbor' (substantivized adverb 'near'); renders רֵעַ; in the distributive idiom, 'his neighbor / his fellow'.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πλησίον)αὐτός: 'his'; each man's own neighbor.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of ἐποίησεν)τίς: 'who?'; the indignant question opening the investigation.
ἐποίησενdid / has doneAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the question)→ constative aorist (the deed in question)ποιέω: 'do'; 'who has done this thing?' — the culprit-seeking question.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / deedAccusativedirect object (of ἐποίησεν)ῥῆμα: 'word / matter / thing'; renders דָּבָר, which (like the Greek here) can mean both 'word' and 'thing/deed'; τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ('this thing/deed') = the demolition.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (modifying ῥῆμα)οὗτος: 'this'; the scandalous deed just discovered.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπεζήτησανthey searched / sought outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιζητέωmain verb (the investigation)→ constative aorist (the act of seeking)ἐπιζητέω: 'seek out / search after'; the intensive ἐπι- marks a determined inquiry into the culprit's identity.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἠρεύνησανthey investigated / examinedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐρευνάωmain verb (the investigation, intensifying)→ constative aorist (the act of investigating)ἐρευνάω: 'search / examine closely'; renders חָקַר / בִּקֵּשׁ; the pairing ἐπεζήτησαν ... ἠρεύνησαν stresses the thoroughness of the inquiry.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔγνωσανthey learned / found outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (the conclusion of the inquiry)→ constative aorist (the act of coming to know)γινώσκω: 'know / find out'; renders יָדַע; the inquiry's result — they learn the culprit's identity, setting up the demand for his death (v. 30).
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of what they learned.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (of the ὅτι-clause, indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable; identified as the culprit.
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition to Γεδεωνυἱός: 'son'; υἱὸς Ιωας ('son of Joash') — naming Gideon's father makes the offense a family matter, leading the men to confront Joash in v. 30.
ΙωαςJoashgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιωας: indeclinable; Gideon's father, owner of the demolished Baal-altar.
ἐποίησενdid / had doneAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (of the ὅτι-clause)→ constative aorist (the established deed)ποιέω: 'do'; the verb repeats τίς ἐποίησεν, now answered: Gideon did it.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ῥῆμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / deedAccusativedirect object (of ἐποίησεν)ῥῆμα: 'thing / deed'; the repeated τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο frames the demolition as the central scandalous act under investigation.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (modifying ῥῆμα)οὗτος: 'this'; the deed now attributed to Gideon.
30

καὶ εἶπον οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως πρὸς Ιωας ἐξένεγκε τὸν υἱόν σου καὶ ἀποθανέτω ὅτι καθεῖλεν τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βααλ καὶ ὅτι ὠλέθρευσεν τὸ ἄλσος τὸ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ

And the men of the city said to Joash, 'Bring out your son, and let him die, because he has pulled down the altar of Baal and because he has destroyed the grove that was upon it.'

The townsmen's demand for Gideon's death (main narrative line)καὶ εἶπον οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως πρὸς Ιωας
The townsmen demand capital punishment, addressing the father Joash as the one responsible for surrendering his son. The double causal ὅτι ... καὶ ὅτι ('because ... and because') states the charge in full: demolishing the Baal-altar and destroying the Asherah. The demand sets up Joash's surprising defense (v. 31) and the etiology of Jerubbaal (v. 32).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: 'say'; the townsmen collectively address Joash with their demand.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubjectἀνήρ: 'man'; οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως, the Baal-devoted townsmen now demanding Gideon's death.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἄνδρες)πόλις: 'city'; Ophrah.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙωαςJoashaccusative object of πρὸς (indeclinable)Ιωας: indeclinable; Gideon's father, addressed as responsible for the offender.
ἐξένεγκεbring outAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐκφέρωmain verb (imperative: the demand)→ aorist imperative (demand to surrender the son)ἐκφέρω: 'bring out / lead out'; the demand that Joash surrender Gideon for execution — 'bring out your son'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with υἱόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόνsonAccusativedirect object (of ἐξένεγκε)υἱός: 'son'; τὸν υἱόν σου ('your son') = Gideon, demanded for death.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with υἱόν)σύ: 'your' = Joash's.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (purpose/result)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀποθανέτωlet him dieAor Act Impv 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (third-person imperative: death-sentence)→ aorist imperative (demand for execution)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the third-person imperative ἀποθανέτω ('let him die') pronounces the demanded death-sentence — ironically against the man the LORD has just promised will not die (v. 23).
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (first charge)ὅτι: 'because'; introduces the first ground of the death-demand.
καθεῖλενhe has pulled downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθαιρέωverb of causal clause (first charge)→ constative aorist (the demolition as charged)καθαιρέω: 'pull down'; the first charge — Gideon demolished the Baal-altar (cf. καθελεῖς, v. 25).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with θυσιαστήριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativedirect object (of καθεῖλεν)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; the Baal-altar, the object of the first charge.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Βααλ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλBaalgenitive of possession (indeclinable)Βααλ: indeclinable; whose altar was destroyed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (second charge)ὅτι: 'because'; introduces the second ground of the death-demand.
ὠλέθρευσενhe has destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀλεθρεύωverb of causal clause (second charge)→ constative aorist (the destruction as charged)ὀλεθρεύω: 'destroy utterly'; the second charge — Gideon destroyed the Asherah (cf. ὀλεθρεύσεις, v. 25).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἄλσος)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄλσοςgrove / AsherahAccusativedirect object (of ὠλέθρευσεν)ἄλσος: 'grove / Asherah'; the second cult-object destroyed.
τὸthe (which)Accusativearticle (attributive, with prepositional phrase)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπ᾿upon / besidepreposition + dative (position, elided)ἐπί + dat.: 'upon / beside'; the grove that stood beside the altar.
αὐτῷitDativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the altar)αὐτός: 'it' = the Baal-altar; the grove 'upon/beside it'.
31

καὶ εἶπεν Ιωας τοῖς ἀνδράσιν πᾶσιν οἳ ἐπανέστησαν αὐτῷ μὴ ὑμεῖς νῦν δικάζεσθε ὑπὲρ τοῦ Βααλ ἢ ὑμεῖς σώσετε αὐτόν ὃς ἐὰν δικάσηται αὐτῷ θανατωθήτω ἕως πρωί εἰ θεός ἐστιν δικαζέσθω αὐτῷ ὅτι καθεῖλεν τὸ θυσιαστήριον αὐτοῦ

And Joash said to all the men who had risen up against him, 'Will you yourselves now contend for Baal, or will you yourselves save him? Whoever pleads his cause, let him be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has pulled down his altar.'

Joash's ironic defense of Gideon (main narrative line)καὶ εἶπεν Ιωας
Joash defends his son with a devastating piece of theological logic: if Baal is truly a god, he needs no human defenders — let him contend for himself against the one who tore down his altar. The rhetorical questions (μή ... ἤ) expose the absurdity of mortals defending a deity; the wordplay on δικάζομαι ('contend / plead a case') anticipates the name Ιαρβααλ in v. 32.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: 'say'; introduces Joash's clever defense.
ΙωαςJoashsubject (indeclinable)Ιωας: indeclinable; Gideon's father, who unexpectedly defends his son rather than surrendering him.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀνδράσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδράσινmenDativedative indirect object (the addressees)ἀνήρ (dat. pl. ἀνδράσιν): 'man'; the men who confronted Joash demanding Gideon's death.
πᾶσινallDativeadjective (with ἀνδράσιν)πᾶς: 'all'; the whole hostile crowd.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐπανέστησαν)ὅς: relative; introduces the description of the men as those who 'rose up against' Joash.
ἐπανέστησανrose up againstAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπανίστημιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the act of rising in hostility)ἐπανίστημι: 'rise up against / rebel'; the double prefix ἐπ-ανα- marks hostile insurrection; the crowd 'rose up against' Joash demanding his son's death.
αὐτῷagainst himDativedative of hostility (with ἐπανέστησαν)αὐτός: 'against him' = Joash; the dative of the one opposed.
μὴnot / surely notinterrogative negative (expecting negative answer)μή: introduces a rhetorical question expecting the answer 'no' — 'surely you will not contend for Baal?'
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, of δικάζεσθε)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): emphatic 'you' — Joash stresses the absurdity of mere men defending a god.
νῦνnowtemporal adverbνῦν: 'now'; in the immediate crisis of the demolition.
δικάζεσθεcontend / plead the casePres Mid Indic 2 Pl · δικάζωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ present middle (the act of pleading a legal cause)δικάζω (mid. δικάζομαι): 'plead a case / contend at law / act as judge'; the keyword of Joash's defense and the basis of the name Ιαρβααλ (v. 32); 'will you contend (in court) on Baal's behalf?'
ὑπὲρfor / on behalf ofpreposition + genitive (advantage)ὑπέρ + gen.: 'for / on behalf of'; 'contend on behalf of Baal'.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Βααλ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλBaalgenitive object of ὑπὲρ (indeclinable)Βααλ: indeclinable; the god whose cause the men would absurdly plead.
ordisjunctive conjunction (second rhetorical question)ἤ: 'or'; introduces the parallel rhetorical question — 'or will you save him?'
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic, of σώσετε)σύ (pl.): emphatic 'you' — again stressing the absurdity of men 'saving' a god.
σώσετεwill you saveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · σῴζωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ predictive future (in rhetorical question)σῴζω: 'save / rescue'; the irony is sharp — the same verb used of Gideon's commission to save Israel (v. 14) is here turned against the idea of men saving Baal.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object (Baal)αὐτός: 'him' = Baal; a god who needs saving is no god.
ὃςwhoeverNominativerelative pronoun (subject of δικάσηται, indefinite with ἐὰν)ὅς: relative; ὃς ἐάν ('whoever') introduces the conditional-relative threat.
ἐὰνif / -everconditional particle (with subjunctive, indefinite relative)ἐάν: with ὅς, forms the indefinite 'whoever'; takes the subjunctive δικάσηται.
δικάσηταιpleads the causeAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · δικάζωverb of indefinite relative clause→ aorist subjunctive (in indefinite condition)δικάζω (mid.): 'plead a case / contend'; 'whoever pleads (Baal's) cause shall die' — Joash turns the death-threat back on any human champion of Baal.
αὐτῷfor him / on his behalfDativedative of advantage (with δικάσηται)αὐτός: 'for him' = Baal; whoever takes up Baal's legal cause.
θανατωθήτωlet him be put to deathAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (third-person imperative: counter-threat)→ aorist passive imperative (decree of death)θανατόω: 'put to death'; Joash turns the crowd's death-demand (ἀποθανέτω, v. 30) back on Baal's defenders — 'let that one be put to death by morning'.
ἕωςuntil / bypreposition + genitive (temporal limit)ἕως: 'until'; ἕως πρωί ('by morning') sets a deadline — Baal has until dawn to act.
πρωίmorningadverb of time (with ἕως: 'by morning')πρωί: 'morning'; the deadline by which Baal, if he is a god, must defend himself.
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)εἰ: 'if'; the pointed conditional 'if he is a god' — challenging Baal's very deity.
θεόςgodNominativepredicate nominative (of ἐστιν)θεός: 'god'; εἰ θεός ἐστιν ('if he is a god') — the heart of Joash's polemic; a true god needs no human protector.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of protasis (copula)→ present of state (the questioned deity)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the conditional challenging Baal's godhood.
δικαζέσθωlet him contendPres Mid Impv 3 Sg · δικάζωmain verb (third-person imperative: the challenge to Baal)→ present middle imperative (let Baal plead his own cause)δικάζω (mid.): 'contend / plead one's case'; δικαζέσθω αὐτῷ ('let him contend for himself') is the climactic challenge and the seed of the name Ιαρβααλ ('let Baal contend', v. 32) — if Baal is real, let him avenge his own altar.
αὐτῷfor himselfDativedative of advantage (reflexive sense: 'for himself')αὐτός: here reflexive 'for himself' — let Baal plead his own case, since no mortal need do it for him.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; gives the occasion — someone has torn down Baal's altar.
καθεῖλενhas pulled downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθαιρέωverb of causal clause→ constative aorist (the demolition)καθαιρέω: 'pull down'; the act that, if Baal were a god, would warrant his own retaliation — the third use of this verb for the demolition (cf. vv. 25, 30).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with θυσιαστήριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativedirect object (of καθεῖλεν)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; Baal's own altar — Joash says Baal, if divine, should defend it himself.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Baal's altar)αὐτός: 'his' = Baal's; the altar belongs to Baal, so its defense is Baal's own affair.
32

καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ Ιαρβααλ λέγων δικασάσθω ἐν αὐτῷ ὁ Βααλ ὅτι καθῃρέθη τὸ θυσιαστήριον αὐτοῦ

And on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, 'Let Baal contend against him, because his altar has been pulled down.'

Etiological naming of Jerubbaal (main narrative line)καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ
The episode closes with an etiology: Gideon receives the name Ιαρβααλ ('Jerubbaal'), explained as 'let Baal contend' (δικασάσθω ... ὁ Βααλ). The naming caps Joash's polemic and becomes Gideon's standing second name (cf. 7:1; 1 Sam 12:11), a permanent monument to the impotence of Baal, who failed to defend even his own altar.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάλεσενcalled / namedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (the naming)→ constative aorist (the act of naming)καλέω: 'call / name'; renders קָרָא; the etiological naming-verb; the subject (Joash, or impersonal 'one') gives Gideon his new name.
αὐτὸit / himAccusativedirect object (the one named; neuter by attraction to name)αὐτός: here the neuter αὐτό functions loosely as the object of the naming ('called him/it'), the antecedent being Gideon as bearer of the new name.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (locative-temporal)ἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day'), fixing the naming to the day of the confrontation.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the day of Joash's defense.
ΙαρβααλJerubbaalthe name given (indeclinable, in apposition/predicate)Ιαρβααλ: transliteration of יְרֻבַּעַל (Jerubbaal); indeclinable; the name, explained by the folk-etymology 'let Baal contend' (יָרֶב + בַּעַל); Gideon's standing alternate name (cf. 7:1; 9:1; 1 Sam 12:11).
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing the explanation)→ present participle (manner: in explanation)λέγω: 'say'; λέγων introduces the etiological explanation of the name.
δικασάσθωlet him contendAor Mid Impv 3 Sg · δικάζωmain verb (third-person imperative: the name's meaning)→ aorist middle imperative (let Baal plead his case)δικάζω (mid.): 'contend / plead at law'; δικασάσθω ... ὁ Βααλ ('let Baal contend') is the etymology of Ιαρβααλ, echoing Joash's δικαζέσθω (v. 31) — the name enshrines the taunt against Baal.
ἐνagainst / withpreposition + dative (of the legal adversary)ἐν: here 'against / with', marking the adversary in the lawsuit; 'let Baal contend against him (Gideon)'.
αὐτῷhimDativedative (legal adversary: 'against him')αὐτός: 'him' = Gideon, the one against whom Baal is invited to bring suit.
theNominativearticle (with Βααλ)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλBaalsubject (of δικασάσθω; indeclinable, with article ὁ)Βααλ: indeclinable; the article ὁ marks it as the nominative subject — Baal, invited to defend himself, and conspicuously unable to.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; gives the ground for the challenge — the demolition of the altar.
καθῃρέθηhas been pulled downAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · καθαιρέωverb of causal clause (passive)→ constative aorist passive (the demolition as fact)καθαιρέω (aor. pass. καθῃρέθη): 'pull down'; the passive 'his altar has been pulled down' states the occasion of the name without naming the agent — letting Baal, if able, find him out.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with θυσιαστήριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριονaltarNominativesubject (of καθῃρέθη)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; Baal's altar, whose demolition is the occasion of the name.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Baal's altar)αὐτός: 'his' = Baal's; the altar Baal could not protect — the silent proof of his nullity.
33

καὶ πᾶσα Μαδιαμ καὶ Αμαληκ καὶ υἱοὶ ἀνατολῶν συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν κοιλάδι Εζερεελ

And all Midian and Amalek and the sons of the East gathered together at the same place, and they encamped in the valley of Jezreel.

New scene: the enemy coalition musters (main narrative line)καὶ πᾶσα Μαδιαμ
The final panel opens with the eastern coalition (the same triad of v. 3: Midian, Amalek, sons of the East) assembling for war and encamping in the valley of Jezreel. The military παρενέβαλον echoes v. 4; the gathering of the innumerable host sets the stage for the Spirit's empowerment of Gideon (v. 34) and the fleece-signs (vv. 36–40).
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶσαallNominativeadjective (with Μαδιαμ, feminine collective)πᾶς (fem. πᾶσα): 'all'; πᾶσα Μαδιαμ ('all Midian') construes Midian as a feminine collective — the whole nation/host musters.
ΜαδιαμMidiansubject (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; the chief enemy, here gathering for the decisive campaign.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΑμαληκAmaleksubject (indeclinable, coordinate)Αμαληκ: indeclinable; the second member of the coalition (cf. v. 3).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (coordinate)υἱός: 'son'; υἱοὶ ἀνατολῶν ('sons of the East'), the third member of the coalition (cf. v. 3).
ἀνατολῶνof the EastGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱοὶ)ἀνατολή (pl.): 'east / risings'; the eastern desert peoples completing the invading host.
συνήχθησανgathered togetherAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · συνάγωmain verb (the mustering)→ constative aorist (the act of assembling)συνάγω (aor. pass. συνήχθησαν): 'gather together / assemble'; renders אָסַף / קָבַץ; the coalition musters as one for the decisive war against Israel.
ἐπὶat / topreposition + accusative (in idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό)ἐπί + acc.: in ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ('at the same place / together'), the idiom for assembling in one spot.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with αὐτὸ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτὸsameAccusativesubstantive (in idiom ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό: 'together')αὐτός: in ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ('at the same [place] / together'), a fixed idiom for a single assembly-point; the whole host concentrates in one location.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρενέβαλονthey encampedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (military encampment)→ constative aorist (the act of pitching camp)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / draw up in array'; renders חָנָה; the same verb as v. 4 — the host pitches camp in the Jezreel valley, the staging-ground for battle.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κοιλάδιvalleyDativedative of place (locative)κοιλάς: 'valley / hollow'; renders עֵמֶק; the broad valley of Jezreel, a classic battlefield of ancient Israel (cf. Judg 4–5; 1 Sam 29).
ΕζερεελJezreelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'valley of Jezreel')Εζερεελ: transliteration of יִזְרְעֶאל (Jezreel); indeclinable; the great northern valley where the coalition encamps — the arena of the coming deliverance.
34

καὶ πνεῦμα κυρίου ἐνεδυνάμωσεν τὸν Γεδεων καὶ ἐσάλπισεν ἐν κερατίνῃ καὶ ἐφοβήθη Αβιεζερ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ

And the Spirit of the LORD empowered Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and Abiezer was rallied behind him.

The Spirit empowers Gideon and the muster begins (main narrative line)καὶ πνεῦμα κυρίου ἐνεδυνάμωσεν τὸν Γεδεων
The decisive turn: the Spirit of the LORD 'empowers' Gideon (the B-text's ἐνεδυνάμωσεν renders the Hebrew 'clothed itself with Gideon', לָבְשָׁה). The transformed Gideon sounds the trumpet and his own clan Abiezer rallies behind him — the once-fearful winepress-thresher (v. 11) now leads. The Spirit-endowment is the standard mark of the judge-deliverer (cf. 3:10; 11:29; 14:6).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πνεῦμαSpiritNominativesubject (of ἐνεδυνάμωσεν)πνεῦμα: 'spirit / wind / breath'; renders רוּחַ; πνεῦμα κυρίου ('the Spirit of the LORD') is the divine endowment that constitutes and empowers the judge-deliverer (cf. 3:10; 11:29; 14:6, 19).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with πνεῦμα)κύριος: the Tetragrammaton; the Spirit is YHWH's own, the source of Gideon's transformation.
ἐνεδυνάμωσενempowered / strengthenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐνδυναμόωmain verb (the Spirit's empowering)→ constative aorist (the act of empowering)ἐνδυναμόω: 'empower / make strong'; here renders the Hebrew לָבְשָׁה ('clothed itself with') — the Spirit 'clothes' / fills Gideon, transforming the fearful man into a leader; the verb supplies the 'strength' (cf. ἐν ἰσχύι, v. 14) the commission promised.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Γεδεων)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓεδεωνGideondirect object (indeclinable, with article τὸν)Γεδεων: indeclinable; treated as accusative by the article τόν; the man the Spirit empowers.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐσάλπισενsounded the trumpetAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σαλπίζωmain verb (Gideon's muster-signal)→ constative aorist (the act of trumpeting)σαλπίζω: 'sound the trumpet / blow the horn'; renders תָּקַע (בַּשּׁוֹפָר); the trumpet-blast is the muster-call summoning the clans to war (cf. 3:27).
ἐνwith / onpreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
κερατίνῃhorn / trumpetDativedative of instrument (with ἐν: 'with the horn')κερατίνη: 'horn (trumpet)'; lit. 'made of horn'; renders שׁוֹפָר; the ram's-horn trumpet used to summon Israel to battle — the same instrument central to ch. 7.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐφοβήθηwas rallied / was summonedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · φοβέομαιmain verb (Abiezer responds)→ constative aorist (the act of being mustered)φοβέομαι: normally 'fear', but here the LXX renders the Hebrew וַיִּזָּעֵק ('was called out / was summoned to muster') — Abiezer was 'called to arms' behind Gideon; the Greek verb-choice reflects a difficult rendering of the rallying of the clan.
ΑβιεζερAbiezersubject (indeclinable clan-name)Αβιεζερ: transliteration of אֲבִיעֶזֶר (Abiezer); indeclinable; Gideon's own clan within Manasseh — the first to rally behind him, fulfilling the reversal of the man once 'least in his father's house' (v. 15).
ὀπίσωbehind / afterpreposition + genitive (following)ὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; renders אַחֲרָיו; ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ('behind him') = following Gideon into the muster — the clan falls in behind its new leader.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω (Gideon)αὐτός: 'him' = Gideon; the clan rallies behind him.
35

καὶ ἀγγέλους ἀπέστειλεν εἰς πάντα Μανασση καὶ ἐν Ασηρ καὶ ἐν Ζαβουλων καὶ Νεφθαλι καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῶν

And he sent messengers into all Manasseh and into Asher and into Zebulun and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.

Wider tribal muster (main narrative line)καὶ ἀγγέλους ἀπέστειλεν
Gideon extends the muster beyond his own clan: messengers go to all Manasseh and to the northern tribes Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, who go up to join him. The four-tribe levy (the same tribes that fought at the Kishon, ch. 4–5) prepares the large army that ch. 7 will winnow to three hundred. ἀγγέλους here are human 'messengers', not the divine Angel of vv. 11–22.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀγγέλουςmessengersAccusativedirect object (of ἀπέστειλεν)ἄγγελος: 'messenger / envoy'; here human messengers (renders מַלְאָכִים), not the divine Angel of vv. 11–22 — the same word, different referent; they summon the tribes to muster.
ἀπέστειλενsentAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (sending the muster-call)→ constative aorist (the act of sending)ἀποστέλλω: 'send'; renders שָׁלַח; Gideon dispatches envoys to rally the tribes for war.
εἰςinto / topreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πάνταallAccusativeadjective (with Μανασση)πᾶς: 'all'; the muster reaches the whole tribe of Manasseh, not just Gideon's clan Abiezer.
ΜανασσηManassehobject of εἰς (indeclinable tribal name)Μανασση: indeclinable; Gideon's own tribe, summoned in full.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνin / amongpreposition + dative (locative, of the territory)ἐν: here with the tribal territories, 'in / among' Asher etc. — the messengers go among these tribes.
ΑσηρAsherobject of ἐν (indeclinable tribal name)Ασηρ: transliteration of אָשֵׁר (Asher); indeclinable; the northern coastal tribe summoned to the muster.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνin / amongpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΖαβουλωνZebulunobject of ἐν (indeclinable tribal name)Ζαβουλων: transliteration of זְבוּלֻן (Zebulun); indeclinable; a northern tribe that had also fought at the Kishon (Judg 4–5).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΝεφθαλιNaphtaliobject of ἐν (indeclinable tribal name, gapped preposition)Νεφθαλι: transliteration of נַפְתָּלִי (Naphtali); indeclinable; the fourth tribe summoned, completing the northern levy.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the tribes respond and go up)→ constative aorist (the act of going up)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up'; the singular verb with collective sense — the mustered tribes 'went up' to join Gideon; the verb of military advance (cf. vv. 3, 5).
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'to meet')εἰς: in εἰς συνάντησιν ('to meet'), the idiom of going to meet/join.
συνάντησινmeetingAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiom: 'to meet them')συνάντησις: 'meeting / encounter'; εἰς συνάντησιν renders לִקְרַאת ('to meet'); the tribes go up to rendezvous with Gideon for the campaign.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (with συνάντησιν: 'to meet them')αὐτός: 'them'; the objective genitive with συνάντησιν — going to meet Gideon and his forces.
36

καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων πρὸς τὸν θεόν εἰ σὺ σῴζεις ἐν χειρί μου τὸν Ισραηλ καθὼς ἐλάλησας

And Gideon said to God, 'If you are going to save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken—'

Gideon's request for the fleece-sign (reported speech; protasis)καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων πρὸς τὸν θεόν
Even after the Spirit's empowerment, Gideon seeks further confirmation. The conditional εἰ σὺ σῴζεις ... καθὼς ἐλάλησας ('if you are saving Israel by my hand, as you said') quotes the language of the commission (σώσεις ... ἐν χειρί, vv. 14, 16) and sets up the fleece-test of v. 37. The protasis hangs incomplete, its apodosis supplied by the next verse.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces Gideon's request for the fleece-sign.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόνGodAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (the addressee)θεός: 'God'; Gideon now addresses God directly (πρὸς τὸν θεόν), seeking confirmation of the commission.
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis)εἰ: 'if'; introduces the condition on which Gideon stakes his request — 'if you really will save Israel by me'.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic, of σῴζεις)σύ: emphatic 'you' — Gideon stresses that the saving is God's act, not his own.
σῴζειςare saving / will savePres Act Indic 2 Sg · σῴζωverb of protasis→ futuristic present (the promised salvation as if in progress)σῴζω: 'save'; the present in a future-leaning condition picks up the commission's σώσεις (vv. 14, 16) — Gideon asks God to confirm that he truly will deliver Israel through him.
ἐνby / inpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'by my hand')ἐν: instrumental; ἐν χειρί μου ('by my hand') = through Gideon's agency.
χειρίhandDativedative of means (ἐν χειρί: 'by the hand')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρί μου ('by my hand') — the recurring 'hand' motif, now of Gideon's agency in deliverance, reversing the 'hand of Midian' (vv. 1, 13).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρί)ἐγώ: 'my'; the hand of Gideon as the instrument of salvation.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object (indeclinable, with article τὸν)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the people to be saved.
καθὼςas / just ascomparative conjunctionκαθώς: 'just as'; καθὼς ἐλάλησας ('as you have spoken') appeals to the prior promise as the basis of the request.
ἐλάλησαςyou have spokenAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λαλέωverb of comparative clause (the prior promise)→ constative aorist (the past divine word)λαλέω: 'speak'; refers to the commission of vv. 14, 16; Gideon grounds his fleece-request in God's own prior word — the same καθὼς ἐλάλησας recurs at v. 37.
37

ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ τίθημι τὸν πόκον τοῦ ἐρίου ἐν τῇ ἅλωνι ἐὰν δρόσος γένηται ἐπὶ τὸν πόκον μόνον καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ξηρασία γνώσομαι ὅτι σώσεις ἐν χειρί μου τὸν Ισραηλ καθὼς ἐλάλησας

'Behold, I am setting the fleece of wool on the threshing-floor: if dew comes upon the fleece alone, and upon all the ground there is dryness, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.'

The first fleece-test stated (reported speech; apodosis of v. 36)ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ τίθημι
Gideon states the first sign: dew on the fleece but dry ground. The presentative ἰδού + futuristic present τίθημι ('behold, I am placing') sets the test; the conditional ἐὰν ... γένηται specifies the desired anomaly (selective dew); γνώσομαι ('I shall know') names the epistemic goal — certainty that God will save by his hand, again καθὼς ἐλάλησας. The fleece is a verifiable, controllable sign.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particleἰδού: 'behold'; renders הִנֵּה; presents the proposed test vividly.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic, of τίθημι)ἐγώ: emphatic 'I' — Gideon takes the initiative in proposing the sign.
τίθημιI set / am placingPres Act Indic 1 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (the act of setting the fleece)→ futuristic present (action presented as immediately underway)τίθημι: 'set / place / put'; the futuristic present 'I am setting' describes Gideon's act of laying out the fleece for the test.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πόκον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόκονfleeceAccusativedirect object (of τίθημι)πόκος: 'fleece / shorn wool'; renders גִּזָּה; τὸν πόκον τοῦ ἐρίου ('the fleece of wool') is the object of the famous double sign — its absorbent wool makes the selective-dew test visually decisive.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἐρίου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρίουof woolGenitivegenitive of material (with πόκον: 'fleece of wool')ἔριον: 'wool'; the genitive of material specifies the fleece as woolen — its capacity to soak or shed dew is the basis of the sign.
ἐνon / inpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἅλωνι)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅλωνιthreshing-floorDativedative of place (locative)ἅλων: 'threshing-floor'; renders גֹּרֶן; the open, exposed floor where dew would naturally fall evenly — making the selective dew on the fleece unmistakably miraculous.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis of the test)ἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive γένηται, states the condition that would constitute the sign.
δρόσοςdewNominativesubject (of γένηται)δρόσος: 'dew'; renders טַל; the dew on the fleece (and its absence on the ground) is the substance of the first sign; in v. 39–40 the conditions are reversed.
γένηταιcomes / beAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of protasis (subjunctive with ἐὰν)→ aorist subjunctive (in conditional: 'if it comes to be')γίνομαι: 'come to be / happen'; 'if dew comes to be on the fleece' — the conditional event Gideon proposes as the sign.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πόκον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόκονfleeceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶπόκος: 'fleece'; the dew is to fall on the fleece alone.
μόνονonly / aloneAccusativeadjective/adverb (restrictive: 'the fleece alone')μόνος: 'only / alone'; the restrictive μόνον is the crux of the sign — dew on the fleece exclusively, nowhere else.
καὶand / butcoordinate conjunction (contrast)καί: here with contrastive force, 'and (yet) / but', setting the dry ground against the wet fleece.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πᾶσανallAccusativeadjective (with γῆν)πᾶς (fem. πᾶσαν): 'all'; the dryness covers the whole ground — the total contrast with the wet fleece.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνground / earthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶγῆ: 'ground / earth'; the surrounding ground, which is to remain dry while the fleece is wet.
ξηρασίαdrynessNominativesubject (of an implied 'there be': 'dryness upon all the ground')ξηρασία: 'dryness / drought'; renders חֹרֶב; the dry ground that, against the dewy fleece, makes the sign unambiguous; the term recurs in the reversed sign (vv. 39–40).
γνώσομαιI shall knowFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (the apodosis: the epistemic goal)→ predictive future (the certainty the sign will yield)γινώσκω: 'know / come to know'; γνώσομαι ('I shall know') names the purpose of the test — to attain certainty about the commission; the verb of confirmed knowledge.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause of γνώσομαι)ὅτι: 'that'; introduces the content of the assured knowledge.
σώσειςyou will saveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · σῴζωverb of object clause→ predictive future (the promised deliverance)σῴζω: 'save'; σώσεις ἐν χειρί μου τὸν Ισραηλ verbatim recalls the commission of v. 14 — the very promise the sign is meant to confirm.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρίhandDativedative of means (ἐν χειρί: 'by the hand')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρί μου ('by my hand') — Gideon's agency in the deliverance.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρί)ἐγώ: 'my'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ισραηλ)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraeldirect object (indeclinable, with article τὸν)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the people to be saved.
καθὼςas / just ascomparative conjunctionκαθώς: 'just as'; καθὼς ἐλάλησας repeats the appeal to the prior promise (cf. v. 36).
ἐλάλησαςyou have spokenAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λαλέωverb of comparative clause (the prior promise)→ constative aorist (the past divine word)λαλέω: 'speak'; the closing καθὼς ἐλάλησας again grounds the test in God's commissioning word (vv. 14, 16, 36).
38

καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως καὶ ὤρθρισεν τῇ ἐπαύριον καὶ ἐξεπίασεν τὸν πόκον καὶ ἔσταξεν δρόσος ἀπὸ τοῦ πόκου πλήρης λεκάνη ὕδατος

And it happened so; and he rose early on the next day and wrung out the fleece, and dew dripped from the fleece, a basin full of water.

Fulfillment of the first sign (main narrative line)καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως
The sign is granted exactly (καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως, 'and it happened so'). The hyperbolic result — a whole basin of water wrung from the fleece while the ground stayed dry — leaves no doubt. The detail ἐξεπίασεν ('he wrung out') and πλήρης λεκάνη ὕδατος ('a basin full of water') stresses the abundance, making the sign emphatically affirmative; yet Gideon will still ask for the reverse (v. 39).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (fulfillment-formula)→ constative aorist (the coming-to-pass)γίνομαι: 'happen'; καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως ('and it happened so') confirms the precise fulfillment of the requested sign.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of mannerοὕτως: 'thus'; renders כֵּן; the sign came about exactly as Gideon proposed.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὤρθρισενhe rose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὀρθρίζωmain verb (Gideon rises at dawn)→ constative aorist (the act of rising early)ὀρθρίζω: 'rise early'; Gideon rises at dawn to check the fleece — eager to verify the sign.
τῇthe / on theDativearticle (with ἐπαύριον, temporal)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπαύριονnext day / morrowadverb of time (τῇ ἐπαύριον: 'on the next day')ἐπαύριον: 'on the morrow / next day'; τῇ ἐπαύριον is the standard LXX temporal phrase 'the next day'; the dew would have fallen overnight.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξεπίασενwrung out / pressed outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκπιάζωmain verb (Gideon wrings the fleece)→ constative aorist (the act of wringing)ἐκπιάζω: 'press out / squeeze out'; renders מָצָה (וַיָּמַץ); Gideon wrings the soaked fleece, producing the basin of water — a vivid demonstration of the dew's abundance.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πόκον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόκονfleeceAccusativedirect object (of ἐξεπίασεν)πόκος: 'fleece'; the dew-soaked fleece, wrung out by Gideon.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταξενdripped / trickledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · στάζωmain verb (the dew drips out)→ constative aorist (the act of dripping)στάζω: 'drip / trickle'; the dew 'dripped' from the fleece — the visible proof of the sign's fulfillment.
δρόσοςdewNominativesubject (of ἔσταξεν)δρόσος: 'dew'; renders טַל; the dew that soaked the fleece alone, fulfilling the first sign.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πόκου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόκουfleeceGenitivegenitive of source (with ἀπὸ: 'from the fleece')πόκος: 'fleece'; the source of the wrung-out dew.
πλήρηςfullNominativepredicate adjective (with λεκάνη)πλήρης: 'full'; renders מְלֹא; πλήρης λεκάνη ('a full basin') stresses the astonishing quantity of dew — hyperbolic confirmation of the sign.
λεκάνηbasin / bowlNominativesubject in apposition (the measure of water)λεκάνη: 'basin / bowl'; renders סֵפֶל; the bowlful of water wrung from a single fleece quantifies the sign's emphatic abundance.
ὕδατοςof waterGenitivegenitive of content (with λεκάνη/πλήρης: 'full of water')ὕδωρ (gen. ὕδατος): 'water'; the genitive of content — a basin full of water, the wrung-out dew.
39

καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων πρὸς τὸν θεόν μὴ δὴ ὀργισθήτω ὁ θυμός σου ἐν ἐμοί καὶ λαλήσω ἔτι ἅπαξ πειράσω δὲ καί γε ἔτι ἅπαξ ἐν τῷ πόκῳ καὶ γενέσθω ἡ ξηρασία ἐπὶ τὸν πόκον μόνον καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν γενηθήτω δρόσος

And Gideon said to God, 'Let not your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak just once more; let me test, please, just once more with the fleece: let there be dryness on the fleece alone, and upon all the ground let there be dew.'

Gideon's request for the reversed second sign (reported speech, subordinate)καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων πρὸς τὸν θεόν
Gideon, conscious of pressing his luck, prefaces the second request with a careful apology (μὴ δὴ ὀργισθήτω ὁ θυμός σου ἐν ἐμοί, echoing Abraham at Gen 18:30, 32). He asks for the reverse sign — dry fleece, dewy ground — which rules out any natural explanation (wool naturally retains dew longer). The doubled ἔτι ἅπαξ ('once more') marks his awareness that this is the final test.
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: introduces Gideon's second, apologetic request.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with θεόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόνGodAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (the addressee)θεός: 'God'; Gideon again addresses God directly.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive imperative)μή: negation with the imperative ὀργισθήτω forms the deprecation 'let not ...'.
δὴplease / nowentreaty particle (softening)δή: emphatic-entreaty particle, 'please / I pray'; renders נָא; softens the request, marking Gideon's deference (cf. Abraham's nearly identical plea, Gen 18:30, 32).
ὀργισθήτωlet be kindled / be angryAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · ὀργίζωmain verb (third-person prohibitive imperative)→ aorist passive imperative of deprecation (let not anger arise)ὀργίζω (pass. 'be angry'): 'make angry'; μὴ ... ὀργισθήτω ὁ θυμός σου ('let not your anger be kindled') is the deferential formula of one daring to ask again — directly echoing Abraham's intercession (Gen 18:30, 32).
theNominativearticle (with θυμός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυμόςanger / wrathNominativesubject (of ὀργισθήτω)θυμός: 'anger / passion / wrath'; renders אַף; ὁ θυμός σου ('your anger') — Gideon fears divine displeasure at his repeated testing.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with θυμός)σύ: 'your' = God's.
ἐνagainst / atpreposition + dative (of the object of anger)ἐν: here 'against / at', marking Gideon as the object of the deprecated anger.
ἐμοίmeDativedative (object of anger: 'against me')ἐγώ: 'me'; Gideon as the one who fears provoking God's anger.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λαλήσωI will speakFut Act Indic 1 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (Gideon's stated intent)→ predictive future (intention to speak)λαλέω: 'speak'; λαλήσω ἔτι ἅπαξ ('I will speak just once more') signals that this is Gideon's final request — he will not presume again.
ἔτιstill / yetadverb (temporal, with ἅπαξ)ἔτι: 'still / yet'; with ἅπαξ, 'once more / yet once'.
ἅπαξonceadverb (numerical: 'once')ἅπαξ: 'once'; ἔτι ἅπαξ ('once more') stresses the singleness and finality of this last request.
πειράσωI will test / make trialFut Act Indic 1 Sg · πειράζωmain verb (Gideon's proposed test)→ predictive future (intention to test)πειράζω: 'test / try / make trial'; renders נָסָה; Gideon openly calls his request a 'test' — daring to put God to the proof one final time, but with apology.
δὲbut / nowtransitional particle (post-positive)δέ: post-positive; here lightly transitional, moving to the substance of the test.
καίalso / evenadverbial intensifier (with γε)καί: here adverbial 'even / also', combining with γε for emphasis ('even just once more').
γεindeed / at leastemphatic particle (with καί)γε: emphatic limiting particle; καί γε ('even / indeed') intensifies the entreaty, underscoring 'just this one more time'.
ἔτιstill / yetadverb (temporal, with ἅπαξ)ἔτι: 'still / yet'; the repeated ἔτι ἅπαξ heightens Gideon's awareness that this is the final test.
ἅπαξonceadverb (numerical: 'once')ἅπαξ: 'once'; the doubled ἔτι ἅπαξ frames the request as strictly the last.
ἐνwith / onpreposition + dative (instrumental/locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πόκῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόκῳfleeceDativedative (means/place: 'with the fleece')πόκος: 'fleece'; the same fleece, now to be tested by the reversed condition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the reversed condition)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
γενέσθωlet there beAor Mid Impv 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (third-person imperative: the reversed sign)→ aorist imperative of request (let it come to be)γίνομαι: 'come to be / happen'; γενέσθω ἡ ξηρασία ('let there be dryness') requests the reverse of the first sign — dry fleece this time.
theNominativearticle (with ξηρασία)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ξηρασίαdrynessNominativesubject (of γενέσθω)ξηρασία: 'dryness'; now requested for the fleece — the reversal that rules out any natural explanation (wool naturally holds dew longer than bare ground).
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πόκον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόκονfleeceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶπόκος: 'fleece'; the dryness is to be on the fleece alone this time.
μόνονonly / aloneAccusativeadjective/adverb (restrictive: 'the fleece alone')μόνος: 'only'; the dryness restricted to the fleece, against a dewy ground.
καὶand / butcoordinate conjunction (contrast)καί: contrastive 'and (yet) / but', setting the dewy ground against the dry fleece.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πᾶσανallAccusativeadjective (with γῆν)πᾶς (fem. πᾶσαν): 'all'; the dew is to cover the whole ground this time — the exact reversal.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνground / earthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶγῆ: 'ground'; the surrounding ground, now to be wet with dew while the fleece stays dry.
γενηθήτωlet there beAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (third-person imperative: the dew on the ground)→ aorist imperative of request (let it come to be)γίνομαι (aor. pass. impv. γενηθήτω): 'come to be'; γενηθήτω δρόσος ('let there be dew') completes the reversed request — dew everywhere except the fleece.
δρόσοςdewNominativesubject (of γενηθήτω)δρόσος: 'dew'; now requested for the ground — the reversal of the first sign, leaving no room for natural explanation.
40

καὶ ἐποίησεν οὕτως ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ καὶ ἐγένετο ξηρασία ἐπὶ τὸν πόκον μόνον καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐγενήθη δρόσος

And God did so in that night, and there was dryness on the fleece alone, and upon all the ground there was dew.

Fulfillment of the second sign; chapter conclusion (main narrative line)καὶ ἐποίησεν οὕτως ὁ θεὸς
God grants the reversed sign exactly (καὶ ἐποίησεν οὕτως ὁ θεός): dry fleece, dewy ground. The double confirmation removes all doubt and closes the chapter on a note of assured divine backing — Gideon is now fully certified to deliver Israel, setting up the great battle-narrative of chapter 7. The verse precisely mirrors v. 39's request and inverts v. 38's first sign.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενdidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (God grants the sign)→ constative aorist (the act of granting)ποιέω: 'do'; ἐποίησεν οὕτως ὁ θεός ('God did so') — God acts to fulfill the second request, the divine subject emphasizing that the sign is no chance occurrence.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of mannerοὕτως: 'thus'; renders כֵּן; God did exactly as Gideon asked — the reversed sign.
theNominativearticle (with θεὸς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (of ἐποίησεν)θεός: 'God'; the explicit divine subject — God himself performs the confirming wonder, sealing Gideon's commission.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with νυκτὶ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νυκτὶnightDativedative of time (locative-temporal)νύξ: 'night'; ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ ('in that night'), when the dew would fall — the sign occurs overnight, verified at dawn.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative (modifying νυκτὶ)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the night of the second test.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοthere was / came aboutAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the dryness on the fleece)→ constative aorist (the coming-to-pass)γίνομαι: 'come to be / happen'; 'there was dryness on the fleece' — the precise fulfillment of γενέσθω ἡ ξηρασία (v. 39).
ξηρασίαdrynessNominativesubject (of ἐγένετο)ξηρασία: 'dryness'; now on the fleece — the reversal of v. 38, confirming the sign.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πόκον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόκονfleeceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶπόκος: 'fleece'; the dryness on the fleece alone.
μόνονonly / aloneAccusativeadjective/adverb (restrictive: 'the fleece alone')μόνος: 'only'; the dryness exclusive to the fleece — the decisive contrast with the dewy ground.
καὶand / butcoordinate conjunction (contrast)καί: contrastive 'and (yet) / but', setting the dewy ground against the dry fleece.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (position)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πᾶσανallAccusativeadjective (with γῆν)πᾶς (fem. πᾶσαν): 'all'; the dew covers the whole ground — the complete reversal fulfilled.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γῆν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνground / earthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶγῆ: 'ground'; the surrounding ground, now wet with dew while the fleece stayed dry.
ἐγενήθηthere was / came aboutAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the dew on the ground)→ constative aorist (the coming-to-pass)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'come to be'; 'there was dew on all the ground' — the final fulfillment, fully certifying the commission and closing the chapter.
δρόσοςdewNominativesubject (of ἐγενήθη)δρόσος: 'dew'; the dew on the ground — the closing image of the chapter, the double sign complete and Gideon fully assured for the battle of ch. 7.