Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Judges, Chapter 8ΚΡΙΤΑΙ Η′

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's triumph darkens into vengeance, compromise, and a relapse that prepares the Abimelech disaster.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Judges 8 follows the verbatim Rahlfs reference of the Septuagint (Rahlfs–Hanhart, Septuaginta). Judges survives in two divergent Greek text-forms (the A-text associated with Alexandrinus and the B-text associated with Vaticanus); the reference annotated here is the printed Rahlfs line as supplied. Judges 8 is a dense narrative chapter that completes the Gideon cycle: the Ephraimite grievance over not being summoned to battle is defused by Gideon's deferential proverb (ἐπιφυλλὶς Εφραιμ … τρυγητὸς Αβιεζερ, v. 2); the exhausted three hundred cross the Jordan in pursuit (πεινῶντες καὶ διώκοντες, v. 4); the towns of Succoth (Σοκχωθ) and Penuel (Φανουηλ) refuse bread to the army and are marked for punishment (threshing with desert thorns, ἀλοήσω τὰς σάρκας ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς ἀκάνθαις, v. 7; razing of the tower, vv. 9, 17). Gideon captures the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna (Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα) at Karkor, executes them in blood-vengeance for his brothers slain at Tabor (v. 18–21), and takes the crescent ornaments (μηνίσκους) from their camels' necks. He refuses the offered dynastic kingship with the theological climax κύριος ἄρξει ὑμῶν ('the LORD shall rule over you', v. 23), yet immediately fashions a golden ephod (εφωθ) from the spoil that becomes a snare (σκῶλον) to himself and all Israel (v. 27). The land rests forty years (ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη, v. 28); Gideon dies in a good old age (v. 32); and Israel at once relapses, prostituting after the Baalim and making Baal-berith their god (τῷ Βααλ διαθήκην, v. 33), forgetting the LORD their deliverer and showing no covenant-loyalty (ἔλεος) to the house of Jerubbaal (vv. 34–35). The chapter exhibits the heavy Hebraizing καί-parataxis, collective singular ἀνὴρ Εφραιμ / ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ, and several untranslated transliterations (αβαρκηνιν / βαρακηνιμ, the threshing-sledges or briers; εφωθ, the ephod) characteristic of the Greek Judges.

1

καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς Γεδεων ἀνὴρ Εφραιμ τί τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ἐποίησας ἡμῖν τοῦ μὴ καλέσαι ἡμᾶς ὅτε ἐπορεύθης παρατάξασθαι ἐν Μαδιαμ καὶ διελέξαντο πρὸς αὐτὸν ἰσχυρῶς

And the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, 'What is this thing you have done to us, in not calling us when you went to do battle against Midian?' And they contended with him vehemently.

New episode opening (main narrative): the Ephraimite grievanceκαὶ εἶπαν
The chapter opens with Hebraizing καί-parataxis introducing a fresh confrontation in the aftermath of the rout of Midian (ch. 7). The collective singular ἀνὴρ Εφραιμ ('the man/men of Ephraim') governs the plural verbs εἶπαν / διελέξαντο, a Hebraism (אִישׁ אֶפְרַיִם). The verse frames the dispute with an inclusio of speaking: εἶπαν at the head, διελέξαντο … ἰσχυρῶς at the close.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λέγω: the Koine/LXX first-aorist form εἶπαν (with -αν for classical εἶπον) is standard in the Greek Judges; the plural verb takes the collective singular ἀνὴρ Εφραιμ as its subject.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓεδεωνGideonaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)Γεδεων: transliteration of Hebrew גִּדְעוֹן ('hewer / hacker'); indeclinable in the LXX; the protagonist of the Gideon cycle (chs. 6–8), also called Ιεροβααλ (Jerubbaal).
ἀνὴρmanNominativesubject (collective singular: 'the men of Ephraim')ἀνήρ: 'man'; here a collective singular rendering the Hebrew idiom אִישׁ אֶפְרַיִם, denoting the Ephraimites as a body; the singular noun governs the plural verbs εἶπαν and διελέξαντο.
ΕφραιμEphraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Ephraim')Εφραιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם; indeclinable; the leading northern tribe, whose pride in precedence motivates the complaint.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate of the question)τίς, τί: interrogative pronoun; τί τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ('what is this thing/deed') is a Hebraism (מָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה) introducing an indignant rhetorical question.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ῥῆμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / deedNominativepredicate nominative ('what is this deed')ῥῆμα: 'word / matter / thing done'; renders Hebrew דָּבָר, which spans both 'word' and 'deed / affair'; here the sense is 'this thing you have done', the matter of the unsummoned campaign.
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative (attributive with ῥῆμα)οὗτος: near demonstrative; agrees with ῥῆμα; points to Gideon's conduct of the war without Ephraim.
ἐποίησαςyou have doneAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of the relative-like content clause (addressed to Gideon)→ constative aorist (the completed offending action)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the second-singular addresses Gideon directly; the aorist views the whole campaign as a single accomplished act for which Ephraim demands an accounting.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative of disadvantage ('done to us')ἐγώ (pl. ἡμεῖς): first-person plural pronoun; dative of (dis)advantage marking Ephraim as the slighted party.
τοῦof / [to]Genitivearticle with articular infinitive (genitive of result/purpose)the genitive article τοῦ + infinitive (τοῦ μὴ καλέσαι) forms an articular infinitive of negative result/purpose — 'so as not to call us'; a common LXX construction rendering the Hebrew infinitive with לְ.
μὴnotnegative particle (with infinitive)μὴ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καλέσαιto callAor Act Inf · καλέωarticular infinitive (negative result/purpose)→ telic aorist infinitive (purpose: to call him)καλέω: 'call / summon'; the complaint is that Gideon did not summon Ephraim to the muster, a slight to tribal honor.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of καλέσαιἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunctionὅτε: 'when'; introduces the temporal clause locating the offence at the launch of the campaign.
ἐπορεύθηςyou wentAor Pass Indic 2 Sg · πορεύομαιverb of temporal clause→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / proceed'; deponent with passive-form aorist ἐπορεύθης; here the setting-out to war.
παρατάξασθαιto do battleAor Mid Inf · παρατάσσωinfinitive of purpose (with ἐπορεύθης)→ aorist infinitive of purpose (to take the field)παρατάσσομαι: 'draw up in battle array / engage in battle'; the middle infinitive expresses the purpose of the journey; cognate with παράταξις ('battle-line'), which recurs in vv. 13–14.
ἐνagainstpreposition + dative (hostile: 'against')ἐν + dative here carries a hostile sense ('against Midian'), a Hebraism after a verb of fighting (בְּ).
ΜαδιαμMidianobject of ἐν (indeclinable proper noun)Μαδιαμ: transliteration of Hebrew מִדְיָן; indeclinable; the desert confederation oppressing Israel throughout the Gideon cycle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διελέξαντοthey contendedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · διαλέγομαιmain verb (renewed action of the Ephraimites)→ constative aorist (the heated exchange as a whole)διαλέγομαι: 'discuss / dispute / contend'; here clearly adversarial ('quarrelled with him'); the adverb ἰσχυρῶς intensifies it to a vehement altercation.
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative (of dispute: 'with him')πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Gideon)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἰσχυρῶςvehementlyadverb of manner (intensity of the dispute)ἰσχυρῶς: 'strongly / vehemently'; from ἰσχυρός ('strong'); marks the force of the Ephraimite remonstrance, setting up the diplomatic skill of Gideon's reply.
2

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς τί ἐποίησα νῦν καθὼς ὑμεῖς ἢ οὐχὶ κρεῖσσον ἐπιφυλλὶς Εφραιμ ἢ τρυγητὸς Αβιεζερ

And he said to them, 'What have I now done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?'

Gideon's diplomatic reply (direct speech within the dispute)καὶ εἶπεν
Gideon answers with two rhetorical questions, the second a viticultural proverb: the leftover gleaning (ἐπιφυλλίς) of mighty Ephraim outweighs the full vintage (τρυγητός) of Gideon's own minor clan, Abiezer. The self-deprecation is a textbook 'soft answer' (cf. Prov 15:1) that defuses the tribal honor-dispute.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gideon's conciliatory reply.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Ephraimites)αὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ἐποίησα)τίς, τί: interrogative; τί ἐποίησα ('what have I done') opens a self-deprecating rhetorical question minimizing Gideon's own role.
ἐποίησαhave I doneAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of the question→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / accomplish'; the first-singular contrasts Gideon's deeds with Ephraim's (καθὼς ὑμεῖς).
νῦνnowtemporal adverbνῦν: 'now'; points to the present situation under dispute.
καθὼςas / in comparison withcomparative conjunction (elliptical: 'as you [did]')καθώς: 'as / just as'; here comparative, 'what have I done compared with you?' — the elided verb is supplied from context.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject of elided verb (emphatic: 'you [accomplished]')σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): emphatic second-plural pronoun crediting Ephraim with the greater achievement.
ordisjunctive particle (introducing second question)ἤ: 'or'; introduces the alternative rhetorical question that contains the proverb.
οὐχὶis notinterrogative negative (expecting affirmative answer)οὐχί: emphatic form of οὐ; in a question it expects the answer 'yes' — 'is not the gleaning of Ephraim better...?'
κρεῖσσονbetterNominativepredicate adjective (comparative, neuter)κρείσσων/κρεῖσσον: comparative of ἀγαθός, 'better / superior'; the neuter predicate stands impersonally; the proverb asserts the superiority of Ephraim's least to Abiezer's most.
ἐπιφυλλὶςgleaningNominativesubject of the comparisonἐπιφυλλίς: 'the gleaning / the small leftover grape-clusters' gathered after the main vintage; renders עֹלֵלוֹת; the humblest produce of Ephraim outranks the best harvest of Abiezer — a graceful concession of Ephraimite preeminence.
Εφραιμof Ephraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Εφραιμ: indeclinable; here the gleaning belonging to Ephraim.
thancomparative particle (with κρεῖσσον: 'better than')ἤ: in comparison after κρεῖσσον, 'than'.
τρυγητὸςvintageNominativesecond member of the comparisonτρυγητός: 'vintage / grape-harvest'; renders בָּצִיר; the full ingathering, set in contrast to the mere ἐπιφυλλίς.
Αβιεζερof Abiezergenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Αβιεζερ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִיעֶזֶר; indeclinable; Gideon's own Manassite clan (cf. 6:11, 24), here standing modestly for Gideon's own contribution.
3

ἐν χειρὶ ὑμῶν παρέδωκεν κύριος τοὺς ἄρχοντας Μαδιαμ τὸν Ωρηβ καὶ τὸν Ζηβ καὶ τί ἠδυνήθην ποιῆσαι ὡς ὑμεῖς τότε ἀνέθη τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτῶν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ λαλῆσαι αὐτὸν τὸν λόγον τοῦτον

'Into your hand the LORD delivered the rulers of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?' Then their spirit abated from him when he spoke this word.

Climax of Gideon's reply + narratorial resolutionἐν χειρὶ ὑμῶν
Fronting ἐν χειρὶ ὑμῶν ('into your hand') gives emphatic pride of place to Ephraim's role: it was they who captured the Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb (cf. 7:25). The verse then shifts to the narrator's voice (τότε ἀνέθη …): the soft answer succeeds, the Ephraimite anger subsides. The articular infinitive ἐν τῷ λαλῆσαι αὐτόν is a temporal Hebraism ('when he spoke').
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
ἐνintopreposition + dative (fronted for emphasis: 'into your hand')ἐν χειρί is a Hebraism (בְּיַד) for agency/instrumentality; its emphatic front position credits the decisive deed to Ephraim.
χειρὶhandDativedative with ἐν (instrument/agency)χείρ: 'hand'; idiom for power/agency; 'into your hand the LORD delivered' frames Ephraim as YHWH's instrument.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρί)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
παρέδωκενdeliveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιmain verb (divine handing-over)→ constative aorist (the accomplished victory)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; the standard holy-war term for YHWH giving enemies into Israel's power (renders נָתַן בְּיַד); the subject is κύριος, so the credit ultimately belongs to God working through Ephraim.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (the Tetragrammaton)κύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here the divine author of the victory, ensuring Gideon's praise of Ephraim remains theocentric.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἄρχοντας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχονταςrulers / princesAccusativedirect object of παρέδωκενἄρχων: 'ruler / commander / prince'; renders שָׂרֵי; the Midianite chieftains Oreb and Zeeb (cf. 7:25), distinct from the kings Zebah and Zalmunna captured later.
Μαδιαμof Midiangenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (in apposition: naming the first prince)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΩρηβOrebaccusative in apposition to ἄρχοντας (indeclinable)Ωρηβ: transliteration of Hebrew עֹרֵב ('raven'); indeclinable; a Midianite prince slain at the rock named after him (7:25).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (naming the second prince)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΖηβZeebaccusative in apposition to ἄρχοντας (indeclinable)Ζηβ: transliteration of Hebrew זְאֵב ('wolf'); indeclinable; the second Midianite prince, slain at the winepress of Zeeb (7:25).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing closing question)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιῆσαι)τίς, τί: interrogative; the rhetorical 'what was I able to do?' completes Gideon's self-effacing argument.
ἠδυνήθηνwas I ableAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb of the question (with complementary infinitive)→ constative aoristδύναμαι: 'be able'; the passive-form aorist ἠδυνήθην (with augment η-) is the regular LXX form; 'what was I able to do compared with you?' caps the concession of Ephraimite superiority.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with ἠδυνήθην)→ constative aorist infinitiveποιέω: complementary infinitive completing 'was able'.
ὡςas / compared withcomparative particle ('as / like you')ὡς: 'as / like'; comparative, parallel to καθὼς in v. 2.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject of elided verb (comparison)ὑμεῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τότεthentemporal adverb (introducing narratorial resolution)τότε: 'then / at that time'; marks the shift from Gideon's speech to the narrator's report of its effect.
ἀνέθηabated / was relaxedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίημιmain verb (the subsiding of anger)→ ingressive/constative aorist (anger gives way)ἀνίημι: 'loosen / slacken / let go'; the passive ἀνέθη ('was slackened / abated') describes the easing of the Ephraimites' indignation; the idiom 'their spirit abated from him' renders the Hebrew רָפְתָה רוּחָם, the relaxing of a heated temper.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with πνεῦμα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject of ἀνέθη ('their spirit')πνεῦμα: 'breath / spirit / temper'; here the seat of emotion/anger (רוּחַ); the 'spirit' that had been roused (v. 1) now subsides.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the Ephraimites' spirit)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from him')ἀπ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (Gideon)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνwhenpreposition + dative articular infinitive (temporal)ἐν τῷ + infinitive is a temporal Hebraism ('when / while'), rendering Hebrew בְּ + infinitive construct.
τῷtheDativearticle with articular infinitiveτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαλῆσαιspokeAor Act Inf · λαλέωarticular infinitive (temporal: 'when he spoke')→ aorist infinitiveλαλέω: 'speak'; the articular infinitive with subject-accusative αὐτόν dates the abatement precisely to the moment of Gideon's conciliatory word.
αὐτὸνheAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive λαλῆσαιthe accusative αὐτόν is the subject of the articular infinitive (the regular Greek construction), referring to Gideon.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with λόγον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγονwordAccusativedirect object of λαλῆσαιλόγος: 'word / speech'; here Gideon's whole conciliatory answer of vv. 2–3a, whose effect is the calming of Ephraim.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative (attributive with λόγον)οὗτος: near demonstrative pointing back to the diplomatic speech just reported.
4

καὶ ἦλθεν Γεδεων ἐπὶ τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ διέβη αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ τριακόσιοι ἄνδρες οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ πεινῶντες καὶ διώκοντες

And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, hungry yet pursuing.

Scene shift (main narrative): the pursuit across the Jordanκαὶ ἦλθεν
The narrative resumes the chase. The crossing of the Jordan marks the move into Transjordan, the territory of Succoth and Penuel. The paired present participles πεινῶντες καὶ διώκοντες ('hungry and pursuing') compress the pathos of the campaign — famished men still doggedly chasing the enemy — and motivate the request for bread in v. 5.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (movement)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come / go'; the aorist ἦλθεν advances the narrative to the Jordan.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (goal)Ιορδάνης: the Jordan river; unlike most OT toponyms it is declined as a Greek first-declension noun (gen. Ιορδάνου, acc. Ιορδάνην), hence kind 'n' with case; the crossing moves the pursuit into Transjordan.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διέβηcrossed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαβαίνωmain verb (the crossing)→ constative aoristδιαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; the compound δια- emphasizes traversal of the river; the singular verb precedes the compound subject (αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ … ἄνδρες), a common Greek concord by proximity.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject: 'he himself')αὐτός: intensive 'himself'; heads the compound subject of διέβη, distinguishing Gideon and then adding his men.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (compound subject)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τριακόσιοιthree hundredNominativeattributive numeral (with ἄνδρες)τριακόσιοι: 'three hundred'; the iconic remnant force of the Gideon narrative (cf. 7:7–8), whose smallness magnifies the divine victory.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesecond member of the compound subjectἀνήρ: 'man'; the three hundred picked men who alone continue the pursuit.
οἱwhoNominativearticle in attributive position (relative-like: 'the ones with him')the article οἱ + prepositional phrase μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ functions attributively, 'those with him'.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετά (Gideon)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
πεινῶντεςhungeringPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · πεινάωcircumstantial participle (attendant condition of the men)→ imperfective participle (ongoing state)πεινάω: 'be hungry / famished'; the present participle marks the continuing exhaustion of the troops, setting up the appeal to Succoth; renders עֲיֵפִים ('faint / weary').
καὶand / yetcoordinate conjunction (linking the two participles)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διώκοντεςpursuingPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · διώκωcircumstantial participle (attendant action)→ imperfective participle (ongoing action)διώκω: 'pursue / chase'; paired with πεινῶντες in a pointed antithesis — 'hungry yet pursuing' — capturing the relentless determination of the depleted force.
5

καὶ εἶπεν τοῖς ἀνδράσιν Σοκχωθ δότε δὴ ἄρτους εἰς τροφὴν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ τῷ ἐν ποσίν μου ὅτι ἐκλείπουσιν καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγώ εἰμι διώκων ὀπίσω τοῦ Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα βασιλέων Μαδιαμ

And he said to the men of Succoth, 'Give, I pray, loaves of bread as food for this people that follows at my feet, for they are exhausted; and behold, I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.'

Direct speech: Gideon's request to Succothκαὶ εἶπεν
Gideon's petition is courteous (δότε δή, 'give, please') and grounded in necessity (ὅτι ἐκλείπουσιν, 'they are failing'). The naming of the quarry — Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian — both explains the urgency and tests Succoth's loyalty, for aiding Gideon means siding against a still-formidable enemy.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gideon's appeal to the townsmen of Succoth.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀνδράσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδράσινmenDativedative indirect object (addressees of εἶπεν)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the men/inhabitants of Succoth, to whom Gideon directs his request.
Σοκχωθof Succothgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Σοκχωθ: transliteration of Hebrew סֻכּוֹת ('booths'); indeclinable; a town in the Jordan valley (Gad), the first to refuse Gideon aid.
δότεgiveAor Act Impv 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (imperative request)→ ingressive aorist imperative (an urgent request)δίδωμι: 'give'; aorist imperative of specific request; softened by the particle δή.
δὴI pray / nowemphatic/entreaty particle (softening the imperative)δή: entreaty particle 'please / now', rendering Hebrew נָא; lends a courteous, urgent tone to the request.
ἄρτουςloavesAccusativedirect object of δότεἄρτος: 'bread / loaf'; renders לֶחֶם; the basic provision withheld by Succoth, the refusal that triggers the punishment of vv. 15–16.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'for food')εἰς + accusative of purpose ('for / as'), a common LXX construction (לְ).
τροφὴνfoodAccusativeaccusative of purpose (with εἰς)τροφή: 'nourishment / food'; specifies the loaves as sustenance for the famished troops.
τῷtheDativearticle (with λαῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative of advantage (beneficiary of the bread)λαός: 'people / band'; here Gideon's troop of three hundred, designated as 'this people at my feet'.
τούτῳthisDativedemonstrative (attributive with λαῷ)οὗτος: 'this'; deictically points to the men present with Gideon.
τῷthe [one]Dativearticle in attributive position (relative-like: 'that is at my feet')the article τῷ + prepositional phrase ἐν ποσίν μου forms an attributive 'the one(s) at my feet'.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (idiomatic: 'at my feet' = following me)ἐν ποσίν ('at the feet') is a Hebraism (בְּרַגְלַי) for the troops marching in one's train/under one's command.
ποσίνfeetDativedative object of ἐν (locative idiom)πούς (dat. pl. ποσίν): 'foot'; the idiom 'people at my feet' designates the followers in Gideon's march.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with ποσίν)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (grounds for the request)ὅτι: 'because / for'; gives the reason for the appeal — the troops' exhaustion.
ἐκλείπουσινthey are failingPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκλείπωverb of causal clause→ progressive present (an ongoing condition)ἐκλείπω: 'fail / give out / be exhausted'; renders עָיֵף; the present tense conveys the troops' flagging strength; the same root recurs at v. 15 (τοῖς ἐκλείπουσιν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (drawing attention)ἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; introduces Gideon's vivid declaration of his mission as added warrant for the request.
ἐγώINominativesubject (emphatic, with periphrastic εἰμι διώκων)ἐγώ: emphatic first-person pronoun heightening the personal stake of the pursuit.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula in periphrastic construction (with διώκων)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; here the auxiliary of the periphrastic present ἐγώ εἰμι διώκων ('I am pursuing'), a Hebraizing participial construction emphasizing ongoing action.
διώκωνpursuingPres Act Part Nom Sg Masc · διώκωpredicate participle (periphrastic with εἰμι)→ imperfective participle (action in progress)διώκω: 'pursue'; the periphrastic εἰμι διώκων underscores the active, ongoing chase that justifies the urgent demand for provisions.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (object of pursuit)ὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; with the genitive marks the object of the chase (אַחֲרֵי).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (governing the king-names)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΖεβεεZebahgenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: transliteration of Hebrew זֶבַח ('sacrifice'); indeclinable; one of the two Midianite kings pursued and executed in this chapter.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣελμαναZalmunnagenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable)Σελμανα: transliteration of Hebrew צַלְמֻנָּע; indeclinable; the second Midianite king, regularly paired with Zebah throughout the chapter.
βασιλέωνkingsGenitivegenitive in apposition to the two namesβασιλεύς: 'king'; the appositional 'kings of Midian' marks the rank of the quarry — these are not mere princes (ἄρχοντες, v. 3) but kings.
Μαδιαμof Midiangenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
6

καὶ εἶπον οἱ ἄρχοντες Σοκχωθ μὴ χεὶρ Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα νῦν ἐν χειρί σου οὐ δώσομεν τῇ δυνάμει σου ἄρτους

And the princes of Succoth said, 'Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?'

Direct speech: the contemptuous refusal of Succothκαὶ εἶπον
The princes answer with a sneering rhetorical question (μὴ … expecting 'no'): the kings are not yet captured, so why feed Gideon's men? The mocking phrase χεὶρ … ἐν χειρί σου ('is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hand?') will be thrown back at them verbatim in Gideon's confrontation at v. 15.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: aorist εἶπον (3 pl.) introduces the refusal of Succoth's leaders.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρχοντες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςprincesNominativesubject of εἶπονἄρχων: 'ruler / official'; the magistrates of Succoth, whose contemptuous refusal incurs the punishment of vv. 15–16.
Σοκχωθof Succothgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Σοκχωθ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
μὴ[surely not]interrogative negative (introducing a question expecting 'no')μή: in a direct question expects the answer 'no' — 'the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna is surely not yet in your hand, is it?'; here heavily sarcastic.
χεὶρhandNominativesubject of the verbless questionχείρ: 'hand'; here metonymy for 'power / the captured persons' — 'are the kings already in your grasp?'; the verbless clause is a Hebraism.
ΖεβεεZebahgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'hand of Zebah')Ζεβεε: indeclinable; here in genitive relation to χείρ.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣελμαναZalmunnagenitive of possession (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; paired with Zebah as the unsubdued enemy.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (emphasizing 'not yet')νῦν: 'now / already'; sharpens the taunt — the kings are not yet caught.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (idiom: 'in your hand' = in your power)ἐν χειρί ('in the hand') idiom for being in one's power/possession.
χειρίhandDativedative object of ἐν (locative idiom)χείρ: 'hand'; the deliberate repetition (χεὶρ … ἐν χειρί) is the verbal hinge that Gideon will quote back at v. 15.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρί)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐnotnegative (with δώσομεν)οὐ: flat negative of the main clause — the refusal proper, 'we will not give'.
δώσομενwe will giveFut Act Indic 1 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (the refusal)→ volitive future (a refusal of intent)δίδωμι: 'give'; the future δώσομεν with οὐ states the blunt refusal; the same future recurs (affirmed) in Gideon's quotation at v. 15.
τῇtheDativearticle (with δυνάμει)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δυνάμειarmy / forceDativedative indirect object (recipient denied the bread)δύναμις: 'power / military force / army'; renders צָבָא; here Gideon's troops, contemptuously regarded as a mere rabble unworthy of provision.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δυνάμει)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἄρτουςloavesAccusativedirect object of δώσομενἄρτος: 'bread / loaves'; the very provision refused, echoing Gideon's request in v. 5.
7

καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων διὰ τοῦτο ἐν τῷ δοῦναι κύριον τὸν Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα ἐν χειρί μου καὶ ἐγὼ ἀλοήσω τὰς σάρκας ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς ἀκάνθαις τῆς ἐρήμου καὶ ἐν ταῖς αβαρκηνιν

And Gideon said, 'Therefore, when the LORD gives Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thresh your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with the briers.'

Direct speech: Gideon's oath of reprisalκαὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων
Gideon answers the taunt with a vow. The inferential διὰ τοῦτο ('therefore') ties the threat directly to the refusal. The protasis ἐν τῷ δοῦναι κύριον … ('when the LORD gives') shows Gideon's confidence rests on YHWH, not on his own strength — answering Succoth's jeer that the kings are not yet caught. The apodosis ἀλοήσω … ἐν ταῖς ἀκάνθαις threatens a grim agricultural punishment: threshing flesh with desert thorns.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gideon's threatening oath.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (in the phrase διὰ τοῦτο, 'therefore')διὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῦτοthisAccusativeobject of διά (διὰ τοῦτο = 'therefore')οὗτος: in διὰ τοῦτο ('on account of this / therefore'), drawing the inference of reprisal from the refusal.
ἐνwhenpreposition + dative articular infinitive (temporal protasis)ἐν τῷ + infinitive, temporal Hebraism ('when / at the giving'), introducing the condition for the threat.
τῷtheDativearticle with articular infinitiveτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦναιgivesAor Act Inf · δίδωμιarticular infinitive (temporal: 'when [the LORD] gives')→ constative aorist infinitiveδίδωμι: 'give / deliver up'; the articular infinitive with subject-accusative κύριον expresses the future moment of victory as certain.
κύριονLORDAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive δοῦναι (the Tetragrammaton)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the accusative κύριον is the subject of the articular infinitive — it is YHWH, not Gideon, who will deliver the kings, a pointed theological rebuke to Succoth's taunt.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ζεβεε)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΖεβεεZebahaccusative object of δοῦναι (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: indeclinable; object of the divine giving-over.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣελμαναZalmunnaaccusative object of δοῦναι (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; the second king to be delivered up.
ἐνintopreposition + dative (idiom: 'into my hand')ἐν χειρί idiom for handing into one's power.
χειρίhandDativedative object of ἐν (locative idiom)χείρ: 'hand'; the very word the princes had mockingly used (v. 6), now claimed by Gideon in faith.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρί)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶthenapodotic καί (introducing the main clause after the temporal protasis)καί here is apodotic ('then'), a Hebraism marking the consequence after a fronted temporal clause.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic: 'then I')ἐγώ: emphatic pronoun stressing Gideon as the agent of the coming reprisal.
ἀλοήσωI will threshFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀλοάωmain verb of the apodosis (the threatened punishment)→ predictive/threatening futureἀλοάω: 'thresh (grain) / trample out'; renders דּוּשׁ; the grim image is of threshing human flesh on thorns as grain is threshed on a sledge; the verb recurs in fulfilment at v. 16 (ἠλόησεν).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with σάρκας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σάρκαςfleshAccusativedirect object of ἀλοήσωσάρξ: 'flesh / body'; renders בָּשָׂר; the plural 'flesh / bodies' of the men of Succoth, the object of the threshing.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with σάρκας)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument: 'with thorns')ἐν of instrument (Hebraism בְּ), 'by means of the thorns'.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀκάνθαις)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀκάνθαιςthornsDativedative of instrument (with ἐν)ἄκανθα: 'thorn / thorn-bush'; renders קוֹץ; the desert thorns are the instrument of the threatened threshing, fulfilled at v. 16.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with ἐρήμου)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμουwildernessGenitivegenitive of source/place (with ἀκάνθαις)ἔρημος: 'desert / wilderness'; renders מִדְבָּר; locates the thorns as the rough scrub of the desert through which the army marches.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument, parallel to ἐν ταῖς ἀκάνθαις)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with αβαρκηνιν)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αβαρκηνινbriers / threshing-sledgesDativedative of instrument (untranslated transliteration)αβαρκηνιν: an untranslated transliteration (cf. the variant βαρακηνιμ in v. 16) of the Hebrew בַּרְקֳנִים ('briers / threshing-instruments'); the Greek translator left the obscure agricultural term unrendered; indeclinable, hence kind 'x' with no case-form, though it stands in the instrumental dative slot.
8

καὶ ἀνέβη ἐκεῖθεν εἰς Φανουηλ καὶ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὡσαύτως καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄνδρες Φανουηλ ὃν τρόπον ἀπεκρίθησαν ἄνδρες Σοκχωθ

And he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way, and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered.

Scene continuation (main narrative): the parallel refusal at Penuelκαὶ ἀνέβη
The episode is doubled: Penuel repeats Succoth's refusal. The comparative correlative ὃν τρόπον … ('in the manner that') explicitly equates the two responses, setting up the parallel punishments of vv. 16–17. ἀνέβη ('went up') fits the ascent from the Jordan valley toward Penuel.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (movement)→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; the ascent from the Jordan valley to Penuel; the same verb opens v. 11 for the ascent toward Karkor.
ἐκεῖθενfrom thereadverb of place (source: from Succoth)ἐκεῖθεν: 'from there / thence'; refers back to Succoth as the point of departure.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΦανουηλPenuelaccusative goal (indeclinable place-name)Φανουηλ: transliteration of Hebrew פְּנוּאֵל ('face of God'); indeclinable; the site of Jacob's wrestling (Gen 32:31), here a town with a tower that Gideon will raze (v. 17).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (the repeated request)→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak'; here Gideon repeats to Penuel the request he had made at Succoth.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the men of Penuel)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὡσαύτωςin the same wayadverb of manner ('likewise')ὡσαύτως: 'likewise / in the same way'; signals that Gideon's request to Penuel duplicates that of v. 5.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπεκρίθησανansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (the response of Penuel)→ constative aoristἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / reply'; the passive-form aorist ἀπεκρίθησαν is the standard LXX form; here the refusal of Penuel, echoing Succoth's.
αὐτῷhimDativedative indirect object (Gideon)αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of ἀπεκρίθησανἀνήρ: 'man'; the inhabitants of Penuel.
Φανουηλof Penuelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Φανουηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (in the correlative ὃν τρόπον, 'in the manner that')ὅς: relative pronoun; ὃν τρόπον ('in which manner / just as') is an adverbial accusative correlative comparing the two refusals.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative of manner (with ὃν: 'just as')τρόπος: 'manner / way'; the accusative of respect in the fixed comparative idiom ὃν τρόπον.
ἀπεκρίθησανansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκρίνομαιverb of the comparative clause→ constative aoristἀποκρίνομαι: the repetition of the verb in the comparative clause underlines the exact equivalence of the two towns' responses.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of the comparative clauseἀνήρ: 'man'; the men of Succoth, whose refusal is the standard of comparison.
Σοκχωθof Succothgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Σοκχωθ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
9

καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων πρὸς ἄνδρας Φανουηλ ἐν ἐπιστροφῇ μου μετ᾿ εἰρήνης τὸν πύργον τοῦτον κατασκάψω

And Gideon said to the men of Penuel, 'When I return in peace, I will tear down this tower.'

Direct speech: Gideon's oath against Penuelκαὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων
Parallel to the vow against Succoth (v. 7), but tailored to Penuel's fortification: he will raze the tower. ἐν ἐπιστροφῇ μου μετ᾿ εἰρήνης ('on my return in peace') presupposes victory; the fronted object τὸν πύργον τοῦτον gives emphatic, pointed reference to the very tower in which Penuel trusted.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gideon's threat against Penuel.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἀνήρ: 'man'; the men of Penuel addressed in the threat.
Φανουηλof Penuelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Φανουηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐνat / whenpreposition + dative (temporal: 'at my returning')ἐν + dative of the verbal noun ἐπιστροφῇ functions temporally, 'when I return'.
ἐπιστροφῇreturnDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'on my return')ἐπιστροφή: 'turning back / return'; the verbal noun presupposes Gideon's victorious homecoming, the time appointed for the reprisal.
μουmyGenitivesubjective genitive (with ἐπιστροφῇ)μου: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
μετ᾿in / withpreposition + genitive (attendant circumstance: 'in peace')μετά + genitive 'with', here 'with peace / safely', i.e. as victor.
εἰρήνηςpeaceGenitivegenitive object of μετά (attendant circumstance)εἰρήνη: 'peace / safety / well-being'; renders שָׁלוֹם; 'return in peace' means a safe, triumphant return — confidence that the campaign will succeed.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πύργον; fronted object)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύργονtowerAccusativedirect object of κατασκάψω (fronted for emphasis)πύργος: 'tower / fortified keep'; renders מִגְדָּל; the stronghold of Penuel, fronted for emphasis and razed in fulfilment at v. 17.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative (attributive with πύργον)οὗτος: deictic 'this very tower', pointing to the fortress in which Penuel placed its security.
κατασκάψωI will tear downFut Act Indic 1 Sg · κατασκάπτωmain verb (the threat)→ predictive/threatening futureκατασκάπτω: 'dig down / demolish / raze'; renders נָתַץ; the compound κατα- intensifies ('tear down to the ground'); the cognate idea is fulfilled with κατέστρεψεν at v. 17.
10

καὶ Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα ἐν Καρκαρ καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτῶν μετ᾿ αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ δέκα πέντε χιλιάδες πάντες οἱ καταλελειμμένοι ἀπὸ πάσης παρεμβολῆς ἀλλοφύλων καὶ οἱ πεπτωκότες ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν σπωμένων ῥομφαίαν

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their camp with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of the whole camp of the foreigners; and those who had fallen were a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword.

Circumstantial scene-setting (background to the assault)καὶ Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα
A nominal-clause aside (no finite verb of action) locates the kings and tallies the forces: a surviving remnant of fifteen thousand against an original host whose dead already number a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen. The vast casualty figure magnifies the scale of the prior rout and underscores the smallness of Gideon's three hundred.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶnownarrative conjunction (introducing background)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΖεβεεZebahsubject of the nominal clause (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: indeclinable; located now at Karkor with the Midianite remnant.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣελμαναZalmunnasubject of the nominal clause (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; co-located with Zebah.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΚαρκαρKarkorobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Καρκαρ: transliteration of Hebrew קַרְקֹר; indeclinable; the Transjordanian site where the Midianite remnant regrouped.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with παρεμβολὴ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὴcamp / armyNominativesubject (the encamped host)παρεμβολή: 'camp / encampment / army drawn up'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the keyword of vv. 10–12, designating the Midianite host.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with παρεμβολὴ)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)μετ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of μετάαὐτῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὡσεὶaboutadverb of approximation (with the number)ὡσεί: 'about / approximately'; renders כְּ before a number; introduces the rounded troop count.
δέκαtencardinal numeral (with πέντε χιλιάδες)δέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable cardinal; with πέντε forms 'fifteen' modifying χιλιάδες.
πέντεfivecardinal numeral (with δέκα)πέντε: 'five'; indeclinable cardinal; δέκα πέντε = 'fifteen'.
χιλιάδεςthousandNominativenoun of number (in apposition to παρεμβολή)χιλιάς: 'thousand / a thousand-unit'; renders אֶלֶף; fifteen thousand are the survivors of the Midianite host.
πάντεςallNominativeadjective (with οἱ καταλελειμμένοι)πᾶς: 'all'; emphasizes that the fifteen thousand are the entire surviving remnant.
οἱthe [ones]Nominativearticle (substantizing the participle)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταλελειμμένοιleft / remainingPerf Pass Part Nom Pl Masc · καταλείπωsubstantival participle ('those who were left')→ resultative perfect (a surviving, settled remnant)καταλείπω: 'leave behind / leave remaining'; the perfect passive participle denotes the survivors as a fixed remnant, contrasting with οἱ πεπτωκότες (the fallen).
ἀπὸof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'out of the whole camp')ἀπό partitive, 'out of the whole host'.
πάσηςall / wholeGenitiveattributive adjective (with παρεμβολῆς)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; the entire original encampment, from which only the remnant is left.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (partitive)παρεμβολή: here the original full host of the eastern peoples.
ἀλλοφύλωνforeignersGenitivegenitive (with παρεμβολῆς: 'camp of the foreigners')ἀλλόφυλος: 'of another tribe / foreigner'; usually the LXX term for the Philistines, but here applied generally to the eastern invaders (the 'sons of the East').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the casualty tally)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱthe [ones]Nominativearticle (substantizing πεπτωκότες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεπτωκότεςfallenPerf Act Part Nom Pl Masc · πίπτωsubstantival participle ('the fallen', subject)→ resultative perfect (the slain, lying dead)πίπτω: 'fall'; the perfect active participle 'the fallen' is a military euphemism for the slain; the resultative perfect views them as lying dead.
ἑκατὸνhundredcardinal numeral (with εἴκοσι χιλιάδες)ἑκατόν: 'hundred'; indeclinable; with εἴκοσι forms 'a hundred and twenty' modifying χιλιάδες.
εἴκοσιtwentycardinal numeral (with ἑκατὸν)εἴκοσι: 'twenty'; indeclinable; ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι = 'a hundred and twenty'.
χιλιάδεςthousandNominativenoun of number (predicate of οἱ πεπτωκότες)χιλιάς: 'thousand'; the dead number 120,000 — a hyperbolic figure dramatizing the magnitude of the divine victory.
ἀνδρῶνof menGenitivegenitive of content/description (with χιλιάδες)ἀνήρ: 'man / warrior'; here defining the slain thousands as fighting men.
σπωμένωνdrawingPres Mid Part Gen Pl Masc · σπάωattributive participle (with ἀνδρῶν: 'men who draw the sword')→ imperfective participle (characteristic action)σπάω: 'draw (a sword)'; the middle participle σπωμένων ('drawing for oneself') in the idiom 'men drawing the sword' renders שֹׁלֵף חֶרֶב, a standard Hebrew designation for trained swordsmen/combatants.
ῥομφαίανswordAccusativedirect object of σπωμένωνῥομφαία: 'sword / large broadsword'; renders חֶרֶב; the object of the drawing-idiom, marking the slain as armed warriors.
11

καὶ ἀνέβη Γεδεων ὁδὸν τῶν σκηνούντων ἐν σκηναῖς ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν τῆς Ναβαι καὶ Ιεγεβαλ καὶ ἐπάταξεν τὴν παρεμβολήν καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ ἦν πεποιθυῖα

And Gideon went up by the way of those who dwell in tents east of Nabai and Jegebal, and he struck the camp while the camp felt secure.

Main narrative: the surprise assaultκαὶ ἀνέβη Γεδεων
Gideon takes the nomads' caravan route to approach from an unexpected quarter. The closing circumstantial clause καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ ἦν πεποιθυῖα ('the camp was confident/off-guard') is a periphrastic pluperfect explaining the success: the attack catches the Midianites complacent and unsuspecting.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέβηwent upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (the advance)→ constative aoristἀναβαίνω: 'go up / advance'; here the approach march by the nomad route toward Karkor.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ὁδὸνby the wayAccusativeaccusative of route/way ('by the road of')ὁδός: 'road / way'; accusative of the route traversed (cf. Hebrew דֶּרֶךְ as adverbial accusative), 'by the caravan route of the tent-dwellers'.
τῶνof thoseGenitivearticle (substantizing σκηνούντων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνούντωνdwelling in tentsPres Act Part Gen Pl Masc · σκηνόωsubstantival participle ('those who dwell in tents')→ imperfective participle (habitual condition)σκηνόω: 'dwell in a tent / encamp'; the participle designates the nomadic tent-dwellers whose route Gideon follows; figura etymologica with ἐν σκηναῖς ('in tents').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σκηναῖςtentsDativedative of place (with σκηνούντων: 'dwelling in tents')σκηνή: 'tent'; the cognate noun reinforces the nomadic character of the inhabitants.
ἀπὸfrom / east ofpreposition + genitive (direction: 'from the east of')ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν ('from the east'), here 'east of' the named places.
ἀνατολῶνeastGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the east side)ἀνατολή (pl. ἀνατολαί): 'rising / east'; the plural ἀνατολῶν denotes the eastward direction from which Gideon approaches.
τῆςofGenitivearticle (with Ναβαι)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝαβαιNabaigenitive place-name (indeclinable, after ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν)Ναβαι: transliteration of Hebrew נֹבַח (Nobah); indeclinable; a Transjordanian locality marking the line of approach.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΙεγεβαλJegebalgenitive place-name (indeclinable)Ιεγεβαλ: transliteration of Hebrew יָגְבְּהָה (Jogbehah); indeclinable; the second toponym fixing the eastward route of the assault.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (the attack)→ constative aorist (the decisive blow)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / defeat'; renders נָכָה; standard holy-war verb for striking down an enemy host.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολήν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολήνcampAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξενπαρεμβολή: 'camp / army'; the Midianite host, struck while off-guard.
καὶwhileconjunction introducing a circumstantial clause ('while...')καί here links a circumstantial/explanatory clause, 'and (meanwhile) the camp was off its guard'.
theNominativearticle (with παρεμβολὴ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὴcampNominativesubject of the periphrastic ἦν πεποιθυῖαπαρεμβολή: the host, here subject of the explanatory clause about its complacency.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula in periphrastic pluperfect (with πεποιθυῖα)→ descriptive imperfectεἰμί: imperfect copula; with the perfect participle πεποιθυῖα forms a periphrastic pluperfect, 'had been / was (in a state of being) confident'.
πεποιθυῖαconfident / off guardPerf Act Part Nom Sg Fem · πείθωpredicate participle (periphrastic with ἦν)→ stative perfect (settled state of false security)πείθω (perf. πέποιθα, 'trust / be confident'): the feminine perfect participle πεποιθυῖα describes the camp as 'feeling secure / off its guard'; the stative perfect of confidence explains why the surprise attack succeeded — the host trusted in its safety.
12

καὶ ἔφυγον Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα καὶ ἐδίωξεν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν καὶ ἐκράτησεν τοὺς δύο βασιλεῖς Μαδιαμ τὸν Ζεβεε καὶ τὸν Σελμανα καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἐξέστησεν

And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued after them and seized the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and he threw the whole camp into panic.

Main narrative: flight, pursuit, and captureκαὶ ἔφυγον
A rapid chain of aorists (ἔφυγον … ἐδίωξεν … ἐκράτησεν … ἐξέστησεν) drives the action to its goal: the capture of the two kings — named again in full apposition for emphasis — and the routing of the entire host. ἐξέστησεν ('threw into panic / confounded') recalls the divine self-slaughter motif of holy war (cf. 7:22).
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔφυγονfledAor Act Indic 3 Pl · φεύγωmain verb (flight of the kings)→ ingressive aorist (they took to flight)φεύγω: 'flee'; the kings break and run once the camp is struck.
ΖεβεεZebahsubject of ἔφυγον (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: indeclinable; subject of the flight.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣελμαναZalmunnasubject of ἔφυγον (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; co-subject of the flight.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐδίωξενpursuedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διώκωmain verb (Gideon's pursuit)→ constative aoristδιώκω: 'pursue / chase'; the singular subject is Gideon, who runs the fleeing kings down.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (object of pursuit)ὀπίσω: 'after / behind'; with genitive marks the fleeing kings as the object of the chase.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσωαὐτῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκράτησενseizedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρατέωmain verb (the capture)→ constative aorist (the decisive seizure)κρατέω: 'take hold of / seize / capture'; renders תָּפַשׂ; the climactic verb fulfilling the whole pursuit — the kings are taken alive.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with βασιλεῖς)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύοtwocardinal numeral (with βασιλεῖς)δύο: 'two'; indeclinable here; the two captured kings.
βασιλεῖςkingsAccusativedirect object of ἐκράτησενβασιλεύς: 'king'; the captured Midianite kings, named in the following apposition.
Μαδιαμof Midiangenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ζεβεε; apposition)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΖεβεεZebahaccusative in apposition to βασιλεῖς (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: indeclinable; named again to spotlight the capture.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Σελμανα; apposition)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣελμαναZalmunnaaccusative in apposition to βασιλεῖς (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; the second captured king.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πᾶσανwholeAccusativeattributive adjective (with παρεμβολὴν)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; the entire remaining host is routed.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολὴν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὴνcampAccusativedirect object of ἐξέστησενπαρεμβολή: 'camp / army'; the whole host thrown into panic.
ἐξέστησενthrew into panicAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξίστημιmain verb (the routing)→ causative constative aorist (he confounded them)ἐξίστημι: transitively 'drive out of one's senses / throw into confusion / terrify'; renders חָרַד / הֵמַם; the camp is panicked into disarray, echoing the divinely-induced self-slaughter of 7:22.
13

καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Γεδεων υἱὸς Ιωας ἀπὸ τῆς παρατάξεως ἀπὸ ἐπάνωθεν τῆς παρατάξεως Αρες

And Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle, from above the battle-line of Ares.

Scene shift (main narrative): the return to deal with Succoth and Penuelκαὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Γεδεων
The patronymic υἱὸς Ιωας ('son of Joash') gives the return a formal, almost annalistic ring, anticipating its repetition at the death-notice (v. 32). The doubled ἀπό … ἀπὸ ἐπάνωθεν marks the geographical descent from the high ground of the battle; the obscure Αρες is left transliterated (an ascent/pass-name).
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (the homeward turn)→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; renders שׁוּב; here intransitive, the return from the campaign, fulfilling the 'when I return' of v. 9.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositive to Γεδεων (patronymic)υἱός: 'son'; the patronymic 'son of Joash' gives the notice a formal, annalistic tone.
Ιωαςof Joashgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Joash')Ιωας: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹאָשׁ; indeclinable; Gideon's father, the Abiezrite of Ophrah (6:11).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source of return)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with παρατάξεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρατάξεωςbattleGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (source)παράταξις: 'battle-array / battle'; cognate with παρατάξασθαι (v. 1); the engagement from which Gideon now returns.
ἀπὸfrompreposition (in the compound ἀπὸ ἐπάνωθεν, 'from above')ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἐπάνωθενaboveadverb/improper preposition + genitive ('from above')ἐπάνωθεν: 'from above / over'; with the genitive marks the higher ground above the battle-line from which Gideon descends.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with παρατάξεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρατάξεωςbattle-lineGenitivegenitive with ἐπάνωθεν ('above the battle-line')παράταξις: 'battle-line'; repeated to specify the elevated position of the engagement.
ΑρεςAres / Heresgenitive place-name (indeclinable; the pass/ascent)Αρες: transliteration of Hebrew הֶחָרֶס ('ascent of Heres', מַעֲלֵה הֶחָרֶס); indeclinable; the mountain pass by which Gideon returned.
14

καὶ συνέλαβεν παιδάριον ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνδρῶν Σοκχωθ καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτόν καὶ ἔγραψεν πρὸς αὐτὸν τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν ἀρχόντων Σοκχωθ καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων αὐτῶν ἑβδομήκοντα καὶ ἑπτὰ ἄνδρας

And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and questioned him, and the youth wrote down for him the names of the princes of Succoth and of their elders, seventy-seven men.

Main narrative: intelligence-gathering before the reprisalκαὶ συνέλαβεν
Gideon methodically prepares his reprisal: he seizes a young local, interrogates him, and obtains a written roster of the very officials who refused him. The detail ἔγραψεν ('he/the boy wrote') presupposes literacy even in a small Transjordan town. The precise tally — seventy-seven men — fixes the scope of the impending punishment.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνέλαβενcaughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (the seizure)→ constative aoristσυλλαμβάνω: 'seize / catch / arrest'; renders לָכַד; Gideon detains a local youth for interrogation.
παιδάριονyoung manAccusativedirect object of συνέλαβενπαιδάριον: diminutive 'boy / lad / young man'; renders נַעַר; the captured youth, who proves literate enough to write the roster.
ἀπὸof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'one of the men')ἀπό partitive, 'from among the men of Succoth'.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀνδρῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρῶνmenGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (partitive)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the inhabitants of Succoth, from whom the youth is taken.
Σοκχωθof Succothgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Σοκχωθ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπηρώτησενquestionedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπερωτάωmain verb (interrogation)→ constative aoristἐπερωτάω: 'question / interrogate'; the compound ἐπ- intensifies the formal inquiry; Gideon extracts the information he needs.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐπηρώτησεν (the youth)αὐτόν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔγραψενwrote downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · γράφωmain verb (the youth records the names)→ constative aoristγράφω: 'write'; the subject is the young man, who writes out the roster for Gideon — a notable witness to local literacy.
πρὸςfor / topreposition + accusative (here 'for / to' Gideon)πρός + accusative here in the sense 'for / to' Gideon (a Hebraism), indicating the beneficiary of the writing.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Gideon)αὐτὸν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ὀνόματα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀνόματαnamesAccusativedirect object of ἔγραψενὄνομα: 'name'; the written list of the officials, the documentary basis for the punishment in vv. 15–16.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἀρχόντων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχόντωνprincesGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀνόματα)ἄρχων: 'ruler / official'; the magistrates of Succoth who had refused bread.
Σοκχωθof Succothgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Σοκχωθ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with πρεσβυτέρων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβυτέρωνeldersGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀνόματα)πρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; renders זָקֵן; the town elders, alongside the ἄρχοντες, comprise the responsible leadership.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with πρεσβυτέρων)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἑβδομήκονταseventycardinal numeral (with ἑπτὰ ἄνδρας)ἑβδομήκοντα: 'seventy'; indeclinable; with ἑπτά totals 'seventy-seven', the count of Succoth's officials (and an ironic foil to Gideon's seventy sons, v. 30).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in the compound number)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἑπτὰsevencardinal numeral (with ἑβδομήκοντα)ἑπτά: 'seven'; indeclinable; completing 'seventy-seven men'.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ὀνόματα (counting the persons)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the accusative 'seventy-seven men' enumerates the officials whose names were written.
15

καὶ παρεγένετο Γεδεων πρὸς τοὺς ἄρχοντας Σοκχωθ καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα ἐν οἷς ὠνειδίσατέ με λέγοντες μὴ χεὶρ Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα νῦν ἐν χειρί σου ὅτι δώσομεν τοῖς ἀνδράσιν τοῖς ἐκλείπουσιν ἄρτους

And Gideon came to the princes of Succoth and said, 'Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you reproached me, saying, "Is the hand of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your exhausted men?"'

Direct speech: Gideon's confrontation of Succothκαὶ παρεγένετο Γεδεων
Gideon's word of reckoning quotes the princes' own taunt back to them almost verbatim (cf. v. 6), the rhetorical reversal at the heart of the Succoth episode. ἰδού presents the captive kings as living proof that the jeer was unfounded. The relative ἐν οἷς ('in/about which/whom') links the kings to the earlier reproach.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρεγένετοcameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · παραγίνομαιmain verb (arrival)→ constative aoristπαραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive / present oneself'; Gideon arrives in person to confront the magistrates of Succoth.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἄρχοντας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχονταςprincesAccusativeaccusative object of πρόςἄρχων: 'official / prince'; the leaders of Succoth now held to account.
Σοκχωθof Succothgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Σοκχωθ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gideon's word of reckoning.
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (displaying the captives)ἰδού: 'behold'; dramatically presents the captured kings as the refutation of the taunt.
ΖεβεεZebahpresented object (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: indeclinable; produced before the princes as living proof.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣελμαναZalmunnapresented object (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; the second captive king.
ἐνabout / overpreposition + dative (in the relative ἐν οἷς, 'concerning whom')ἐν here 'in the matter of / concerning'; ἐν οἷς ὠνειδίσατέ με = 'over whom you reproached me'.
οἷςwhomDativerelative pronoun (object of ἐν, referring to the kings)ὅς: relative pronoun; refers back to Zebah and Zalmunna as the occasion of the taunt.
ὠνειδίσατέyou reproachedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ὀνειδίζωverb of the relative clause→ constative aoristὀνειδίζω: 'reproach / taunt / revile'; renders חָרַף; recalls the contemptuous refusal of v. 6; the enclitic-driven extra accent (ὠνειδίσατέ) reflects the following enclitic με.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ὠνειδίσατε (Gideon)με: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the quoted taunt)→ imperfective participle (attendant speech)λέγω: the participle λέγοντες ('saying') is a Hebraizing quotation-marker (לֵאמֹר) introducing the verbatim repetition of the princes' words.
μὴ[surely not]interrogative negative (quoting the taunt of v. 6)μή: expects 'no'; the quoted sneer 'the kings are surely not yet in your hand, are they?'
χεὶρhandNominativesubject of the verbless quoted questionχείρ: 'hand' (metonymy for power/captives); the quoted word now stands ironically refuted.
ΖεβεεZebahgenitive of possession (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: indeclinable; quoted as in v. 6.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣελμαναZalmunnagenitive of possession (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; quoted as in v. 6.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (in the quoted taunt)νῦν: 'now'; the very word of the original sneer (v. 6), now overturned.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (idiom: 'in your hand')ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρίhandDativedative object of ἐν (locative idiom)χείρ: 'hand'; the quoted idiom 'in your power', now true.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with χειρί)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅτιthatconjunction (consecutive: 'that we should give')ὅτι: here consecutive/result, '(so) that we should give' — reproducing the logic of the refusal in v. 6.
δώσομενwe should giveFut Act Indic 1 Pl · δίδωμιverb of the quoted clause→ deliberative future (quoted)δίδωμι: 'give'; the quoted future from v. 6, the refused provision of bread now flung back at the princes.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀνδράσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδράσινmenDativedative indirect object (recipients of the bread)ἀνήρ: 'man'; Gideon's troops, scornfully dismissed by Succoth and now vindicated.
τοῖςthe [ones]Dativearticle (substantizing the participle, attributive to ἀνδράσιν)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκλείπουσινexhaustedPres Act Part Dat Pl Masc · ἐκλείπωattributive participle ('the men who are exhausted')→ imperfective participle (ongoing condition)ἐκλείπω: 'fail / be spent'; the participle 'the failing/exhausted ones' echoes the same verb in Gideon's original plea (v. 5, ἐκλείπουσιν), tying the reproach back to the refused mercy.
ἄρτουςloavesAccusativedirect object of δώσομενἄρτος: 'bread'; the refused provision, the crux of the whole Succoth episode.
16

καὶ ἔλαβεν τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς πόλεως ἐν ταῖς ἀκάνθαις τῆς ἐρήμου καὶ ταῖς βαρακηνιμ καὶ ἠλόησεν ἐν αὐτοῖς τοὺς ἄνδρας τῆς πόλεως

And he took the elders of the city, and with the thorns of the wilderness and the briers he threshed the men of the city with them.

Main narrative: the punishment of Succoth (fulfilling v. 7)καὶ ἔλαβεν
The vow of v. 7 is executed: ἠλόησεν ('he threshed') fulfils ἀλοήσω, and the instruments — ἀκάνθαις … βαρακηνιμ — match the threat exactly (with the transliteration here spelled βαρακηνιμ against αβαρκηνιν in v. 7). The grim agricultural metaphor of threshing flesh on thorns is carried out on Succoth's leadership.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the seizure of the elders)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; Gideon takes the town's elders to execute the threatened punishment.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with πρεσβυτέρους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρεσβυτέρουςeldersAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβενπρεσβύτερος: 'elder'; the leadership of Succoth, taken for punishment.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πρεσβυτέρους)πόλις: 'city'; Succoth, here designated simply 'the city'.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)ἐν of instrument (Hebraism בְּ): 'with / by means of the thorns'.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀκάνθαις)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀκάνθαιςthornsDativedative of instrument (with ἐν)ἄκανθα: 'thorn'; the very instrument named in the threat of v. 7, now applied.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with ἐρήμου)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμουwildernessGenitivegenitive of source (with ἀκάνθαις)ἔρημος: 'wilderness'; the desert thorns, as in v. 7.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the two instruments)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with βαρακηνιμ)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βαρακηνιμbriers / threshing-sledgesDativedative of instrument (untranslated transliteration)βαρακηνιμ: untranslated transliteration of Hebrew בַּרְקֳנִים ('briers / threshing-instruments'); a spelling-variant of αβαρκηνιν in v. 7; the obscure agricultural term was left unrendered by the Greek translator; indeclinable, kind 'x'.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἠλόησενthreshedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀλοάωmain verb (the punishment carried out)→ constative aorist (fulfilment of the vow)ἀλοάω: 'thresh / trample out'; the aorist ἠλόησεν fulfils exactly the threatened ἀλοήσω of v. 7 — the men of Succoth are threshed with thorns.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument: 'with them')ἐν αὐτοῖς ('with them') resumes the instrumental thorns and briers.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative of instrument (the thorns and briers)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἠλόησενἀνήρ: 'man'; the men of Succoth, the objects of the threshing-punishment.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἄνδρας)πόλις: 'city'; Succoth, whose men bear the punishment for the refusal.
17

καὶ τὸν πύργον Φανουηλ κατέστρεψεν καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν τοὺς ἄνδρας τῆς πόλεως

And he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

Main narrative: the punishment of Penuel (fulfilling v. 9)καὶ τὸν πύργον Φανουηλ
The fronted object τὸν πύργον Φανουηλ executes the vow of v. 9 (κατασκάψω → κατέστρεψεν). Penuel's punishment is heavier than Succoth's: not threshing but death for its men. The terse two-clause verse seals the doubled reprisal.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with πύργον; fronted object)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύργονtowerAccusativedirect object of κατέστρεψεν (fronted for emphasis)πύργος: 'tower'; the Penuel stronghold of v. 9, now demolished.
Φανουηλof Penuelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Φανουηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
κατέστρεψενtore downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταστρέφωmain verb (the razing)→ constative aorist (fulfilment of the vow)καταστρέφω: 'overturn / demolish / raze'; renders נָתַץ; fulfils the κατασκάψω vow of v. 9 — the tower in which Penuel trusted is thrown down.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέκτεινενkilledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (the slaying)→ constative aoristἀποκτείνω: 'kill / slay'; renders הָרַג; Penuel's punishment exceeds Succoth's — its men are put to death.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκτεινενἀνήρ: 'man'; the men of Penuel slain for their refusal.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with πόλεως)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἄνδρας)πόλις: 'city'; Penuel, whose men are killed.
18

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα ποῦ οἱ ἄνδρες οὓς ἀπεκτείνατε ἐν Θαβωρ καὶ εἶπαν ὡς σύ ὣς αὐτοὶ εἰς ὁμοίωμα υἱοῦ βασιλέως

And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, 'Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?' And they said, 'As you are, so were they: each like the form of a king's son.'

Direct speech: Gideon's interrogation of the kingsκαὶ εἶπεν
The scene pivots to private blood-vengeance. Gideon's question about 'the men at Tabor' reveals the personal motive about to surface (v. 19). The kings' answer — ὡς σύ ὣς αὐτοί, 'as you, so they', each εἰς ὁμοίωμα υἱοῦ βασιλέως ('like a king's son') — unwittingly ennobles Gideon's murdered brothers and seals their own fate by confessing the killing.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gideon's interrogation of the captive kings.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΖεβεεZebahobject of πρός (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: indeclinable; addressee of the question.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣελμαναZalmunnaobject of πρός (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; co-addressee.
ποῦwhereinterrogative adverb (introducing the question)ποῦ: 'where?'; opens the verbless question 'where are the men...?'
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of the verbless questionἀνήρ: 'man'; the men killed at Tabor, soon revealed to be Gideon's brothers (v. 19).
οὓςwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἀπεκτείνατε)ὅς: relative pronoun; introduces the clause specifying the killing.
ἀπεκτείνατεyou killedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀποκτείνωverb of the relative clause→ constative aoristἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; the kings are charged with the slaying at Tabor that grounds the blood-vengeance.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΘαβωρTaborobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Θαβωρ: transliteration of Hebrew תָּבוֹר; indeclinable; Mount Tabor, the site of the killing of Gideon's brothers.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the kings' reply)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the kings' answer (Koine εἶπαν).
ὡςascomparative particle (in the correlative ὡς … ὣς)ὡς: 'as / like'; first member of the comparative correlative 'as you, so they'.
σύyouNominativesubject of the comparison (Gideon)σύ: second-singular pronoun; the kings compare the slain men to Gideon himself — an unwitting tribute to his murdered kin.
ὣςsocomparative adverb (correlative: 'so [were] they')ὥς (accented ὣς): 'so / thus'; the answering member of the ὡς … ὣς correlative, 'as you, so they'.
αὐτοὶtheyNominativesubject of the second comparison member (the slain men)αὐτός: here the independent pronoun 'they themselves', the murdered brothers.
εἰςlike / aspreposition + accusative (Hebraism: 'after the likeness of')εἰς + accusative here renders the Hebrew כְּ ('like / as'), 'in the likeness of'.
ὁμοίωμαlikeness / formAccusativeaccusative with εἰς ('like the form of')ὁμοίωμα: 'likeness / form / appearance'; renders תֹּאַר; the slain men had the bearing of royalty, magnifying the crime.
υἱοῦof a sonGenitivegenitive (with ὁμοίωμα: 'form of a son')υἱός: 'son'; the slain resembled 'a king's son', i.e. princes in appearance.
βασιλέωςof a kingGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱοῦ: 'a king's son')βασιλεύς: 'king'; the comparison 'sons of a king' implies Gideon's brothers were of noble, princely bearing — deepening the outrage and justifying the vengeance.
19

καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων ἀδελφοί μου καὶ υἱοὶ τῆς μητρός μου ἦσαν ζῇ κύριος εἰ ἐζωογονήκειτε αὐτούς οὐκ ἂν ἀπέκτεινα ὑμᾶς

And Gideon said, 'They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had spared them alive, I would not have killed you.'

Direct speech: the disclosure of the blood-claimκαὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων
Gideon reveals the personal stake: the slain were his full brothers (υἱοὶ τῆς μητρός μου, 'sons of my mother'). The oath formula ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives') solemnizes the contrary-to-fact condition (εἰ … οὐκ ἂν ἀπέκτεινα): had they spared his brothers, he would spare them — but they did not, so they must die. This is the lex talionis of the blood-avenger.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gideon's disclosure of the blood-claim.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀδελφοίbrothersNominativepredicate nominative (with ἦσαν)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; the slain men are revealed as Gideon's own brothers, the ground of the vengeance.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀδελφοί)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (epexegetic)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
υἱοὶsonsNominativepredicate nominative (epexegetic to ἀδελφοί)υἱός: 'son'; 'sons of my mother' specifies full brothers (not merely half-brothers), intensifying the kinship obligation.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with μητρός)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητρόςmotherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱοὶ)μήτηρ: 'mother'; 'sons of my mother' = uterine brothers, the closest kin and so most binding for blood-vengeance.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (with μητρός)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (predicating the kinship)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: 'be'; imperfect ἦσαν ('they were'), predicating the brotherhood of the slain.
ζῇlivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ζάωmain verb of the oath-formula ('as the LORD lives')→ gnomic/asseverative presentζάω: 'live'; ζῇ κύριος ('as the LORD lives') is the standard OT oath-formula (חַי יְהוָה), invoking the living God as guarantor of the solemn declaration.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ζῇ (the Tetragrammaton)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the living LORD invoked in the oath that frames the death-sentence as a sacred obligation.
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis of a contrary-to-fact condition)εἰ: 'if'; with the following ἄν in the apodosis forms a past contrary-to-fact condition, 'if you had... I would (not) have...'
ἐζωογονήκειτεyou had spared alivePlpf Act Indic 2 Pl · ζωογονέωverb of the protasis (contrary-to-fact)→ pluperfect (unfulfilled past condition)ζωογονέω: 'keep alive / spare / preserve life'; the pluperfect ἐζωογονήκειτε in the protasis describes the sparing that did not happen — 'had you let them live'.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐζωογονήκειτε (the brothers)αὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
οὐκnotnegative (with the apodosis verb)οὐ: negates the apodosis — 'I would not have killed you'.
ἂνwouldmodal particle (marking the contrary-to-fact apodosis)ἄν: modal particle; with the aorist indicative ἀπέκτεινα forms the unreal apodosis, 'I would not have killed'.
ἀπέκτειναI would have killedAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb of the apodosis (contrary-to-fact)→ aorist indicative with ἄν (unreal past)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; the aorist with ἄν and οὐκ expresses the unfulfilled mercy — since they did not spare his brothers, the implied conclusion is that he now will kill them.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of ἀπέκτεινα (the kings)ὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
20

καὶ εἶπεν Ιεθερ τῷ πρωτοτόκῳ αὐτοῦ ἀναστὰς ἀπόκτεινον αὐτούς καὶ οὐκ ἔσπασεν τὸ παιδάριον τὴν ῥομφαίαν αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἐφοβήθη ὅτι ἔτι νεώτερος ἦν

And he said to Jether his firstborn, 'Rise, kill them.' But the boy did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still young.

Direct speech + narratorial explanationκαὶ εἶπεν Ιεθερ
Gideon's command to his firstborn would heap dishonor on the kings (to die at a boy's hand) and initiate his heir into blood-vengeance. The narratorial double ὅτι … ὅτι ('for... because') explains the failure: fear born of youth. The participle ἀναστάς ('having risen') typifies the LXX's pleonastic verb of rising before a main action.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: Gideon (subject implied) addresses his eldest son.
Ιεθερto Jetherdative recipient (indeclinable; in apposition with τῷ πρωτοτόκῳ)Ιεθερ: transliteration of Hebrew יֶתֶר; indeclinable; Gideon's firstborn son, here functioning as the dative addressee.
τῷtheDativearticle (with πρωτοτόκῳ, in apposition to Ιεθερ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωτοτόκῳfirstbornDativedative in apposition to Ιεθερ (the recipient)πρωτότοκος: 'firstborn'; renders בְּכוֹר; the eldest son, on whom the honor (and burden) of executing the kings would fall.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πρωτοτόκῳ)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀναστὰςrise / having risenAor Act Part Nom Sg Masc · ἀνίστημιcircumstantial participle (attendant to the imperative)→ ingressive aorist participle (pleonastic 'rise and...')ἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up'; the participle ἀναστάς is the common LXX pleonasm 'rise and (do)' rendering Hebrew קוּם before an imperative — here urging the boy to action.
ἀπόκτεινονkillAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (imperative command)→ aorist imperative (specific command)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; the command to the boy to dispatch the kings — death at a youth's hand being a calculated humiliation.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀπόκτεινον (the kings)αὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶbutnarrative conjunction (here mildly adversative)καί here adversative ('but'), marking the boy's failure to obey.
οὐκnotnegative (with ἔσπασεν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἔσπασενdrewAor Act Indic 3 Sg · σπάωmain verb (the boy's failure to draw)→ constative aoristσπάω: 'draw (a sword)'; the same verb as σπωμένων (v. 10); the boy fails to unsheathe his weapon.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with παιδάριον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδάριονboyNominativesubject of ἔσπασενπαιδάριον: 'boy / lad'; the same word used of the youth of Succoth (v. 14); here Gideon's young son Jether.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ῥομφαίαν)τὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥομφαίανswordAccusativedirect object of ἔσπασενῥομφαία: 'sword'; the weapon the boy could not bring himself to draw.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ῥομφαίαν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (reason for the failure)ὅτι: 'because / for'; gives the first reason — fear.
ἐφοβήθηhe was afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · φοβέομαιverb of the causal clause→ ingressive aorist (he became afraid)φοβέομαι: 'fear / be afraid'; passive-form deponent; the boy's terror before so grave a deed.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (second, deeper reason)ὅτι: the second ὅτι gives the underlying cause of the fear — his youth.
ἔτιstilladverb (temporal: 'still young')ἔτι: 'still / yet'; underscores that Jether had not yet reached the age for such an act.
νεώτεροςyoungNominativepredicate adjective (comparative used absolutely: 'young / a youth')νέος (comp. νεώτερος): 'young / younger'; the comparative used absolutely for 'quite young / a mere youth', explaining his inability.
ἦνhe wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with νεώτερος)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: imperfect copula 'he was', predicating the boy's youth.
21

καὶ εἶπεν Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα ἀνάστα σὺ καὶ συνάντησον ἡμῖν ὅτι ὡς ἀνδρὸς ἡ δύναμίς σου καὶ ἀνέστη Γεδεων καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν τὸν Ζεβεε καὶ τὸν Σελμανα καὶ ἔλαβεν τοὺς μηνίσκους τοὺς ἐν τοῖς τραχήλοις τῶν καμήλων αὐτῶν

And Zebah and Zalmunna said, 'Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.' So Gideon rose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna and took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

Direct speech + main-narrative resolution of the executionκαὶ εἶπεν Ζεβεε καὶ Σελμανα
The kings prefer death by a warrior's hand to a boy's: ἀνάστα σύ ('rise, you yourself'), with the proverb ὡς ἀνδρὸς ἡ δύναμις ('as the man, so his strength'). Gideon obliges. The verse closes the blood-vengeance and adds the taking of the μηνίσκοι (crescent ornaments) from the camels — a detail that pivots toward the spoil-narrative of vv. 24–26.
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-introducing; singular with compound subject)→ constative aoristλέγω: the singular εἶπεν precedes the compound subject Zebah and Zalmunna (concord by proximity).
ΖεβεεZebahsubject (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: indeclinable; speaker of the challenge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΣελμαναZalmunnasubject (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; co-speaker.
ἀνάσταriseAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (imperative challenge)→ aorist imperative (athematic short form)ἀνίστημι: 'rise / stand up'; the short athematic imperative ἀνάστα ('arise!') — the kings challenge Gideon himself to do the deed.
σὺyourselfNominativeemphatic subject of the imperative ('you yourself')σύ: emphatic pronoun contrasting Gideon with the timid boy — let a man do it.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνάντησονfall upon / meetAor Act Impv 2 Sg · συναντάωmain verb (imperative)→ aorist imperativeσυναντάω: 'meet / encounter'; here euphemistically 'fall upon / dispatch us' (פָּגַע), inviting Gideon to strike the death-blow.
ἡμῖνusDativedative complement of συνάντησονἡμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (grounds for the challenge)ὅτι: 'for'; introduces the proverb justifying the demand for an adult executioner.
ὡςascomparative particle (proverbial)ὡς: 'as / like'; in the proverb 'as the man, so his strength' (כְּאִישׁ גְּבוּרָתוֹ).
ἀνδρὸςof a manGenitivegenitive of comparison/possession (in the proverb)ἀνήρ: 'man'; the proverb means a true warrior has a warrior's might — death by Gideon's hand is fitting and even honorable.
theNominativearticle (with δύναμίς)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δύναμίςstrengthNominativesubject of the verbless proverbδύναμις: 'power / strength'; the proverb equates a man's quality with his might; the extra accent (δύναμίς) reflects the following enclitic σου.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with δύναμίς)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶsonarrative conjunction (consecutive: 'so')καί here resultative ('so / then'), moving to Gideon's compliance.
ἀνέστηroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (Gideon's compliance)→ ingressive aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise'; Gideon rises in response to the challenge, taking up the executioner's role his son could not.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέκτεινενkilledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (the execution)→ constative aoristἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; the blood-vengeance accomplished by Gideon's own hand.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ζεβεε)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΖεβεεZebahdirect object of ἀπέκτεινεν (indeclinable)Ζεβεε: indeclinable; slain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Σελμανα)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣελμαναZalmunnadirect object of ἀπέκτεινεν (indeclinable)Σελμανα: indeclinable; slain with Zebah.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the taking of the ornaments)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; Gideon takes the royal camel-ornaments as spoil, foreshadowing the gold-gathering of vv. 24–26.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with μηνίσκους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνίσκουςcrescentsAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβενμηνίσκος: 'little moon / crescent ornament'; renders שַׂהֲרֹנִים; the crescent-shaped neck-ornaments of the royal camels, luxury items that reappear in the inventory of v. 26.
τοὺςthe [ones]Accusativearticle in attributive position (relative-like: 'that were on the necks')τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with τραχήλοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τραχήλοιςnecksDativedative of place (with ἐν)τράχηλος: 'neck'; the camels' necks where the ornaments hung; the phrase recurs verbatim in v. 26.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with καμήλων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καμήλωνcamelsGenitivegenitive of possession (with τραχήλοις)κάμηλος: 'camel'; renders גָּמָל; the camels are emblematic of the Midianite raiders' wealth and mobility (cf. 6:5).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with καμήλων)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
22

καὶ εἶπον ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ πρὸς Γεδεων κύριε ἄρξον ἡμῶν καὶ σὺ καὶ ὁ υἱός σου ὅτι σὺ ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς Μαδιαμ

And the men of Israel said to Gideon, 'Rule over us, lord — both you and your son and your son's son — for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.'

Direct speech: Israel's offer of hereditary kingshipκαὶ εἶπον ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ
The collective singular ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ (cf. ἀνὴρ Εφραιμ, v. 1) makes the offer corporate. The triple καὶ σὺ καὶ ὁ υἱός σου proposes dynastic rule. The vocative κύριε here is the human honorific 'lord / sir' addressed to Gideon, not the divine name — set in deliberate tension with κύριος in Gideon's reply (v. 23). The ground is salvation: σὺ ἔσωσας ('you saved us').
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπονsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing; plural with collective subject)→ constative aoristλέγω: the plural εἶπον agrees ad sensum with the collective singular ἀνὴρ Ισραηλ.
ἀνὴρmenNominativesubject (collective singular: 'the men of Israel')ἀνήρ: collective singular 'the man/men of Israel', the Hebraism אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל; the people corporately offer Gideon kingship.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; here the people as a whole.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓεδεωνGideonobject of πρός (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
κύριεlord / sirVocativevocative of address (human honorific)κύριος (voc. κύριε): here the human honorific 'lord / sir / master' addressed to Gideon — NOT the Tetragrammaton; the contrast with the divine κύριος of v. 23 is pointed and ironic.
ἄρξονruleAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἄρχωmain verb (imperative request)→ aorist imperative (the offer of rule)ἄρχω: 'rule / govern'; renders מָשַׁל; the verb anchors the kingship-offer and recurs five times in vv. 22–23, where Gideon's refusal turns on it.
ἡμῶνover usGenitivegenitive object of ἄρξον (the ruled)ἄρχω governs the genitive of the persons ruled, 'rule over us'.
καὶbothcoordinate conjunction (in the καὶ … καὶ … series)the καὶ … καὶ construction enumerates the proposed dynasty — 'both you and your son...'
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic, first in the dynastic list)σύ: emphatic pronoun; Gideon as founder of the offered dynasty.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (dynastic series)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
theNominativearticle (with υἱός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόςsonNominativesubject (second in the dynastic list)υἱός: 'son'; the proposed heir; the offer of hereditary succession is precisely what Gideon will refuse in v. 23 (though Abimelech will later seize it, ch. 9).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱός)σου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (grounds for the offer)ὅτι: 'because / for'; the rationale — Gideon's deliverance of Israel.
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject of ἔσωσαςσύ: emphatic 'you (and no other)' saved Israel — the basis of the kingship-claim that Gideon will redirect to YHWH.
ἔσωσαςsavedAor Act Indic 2 Sg · σῴζωverb of the causal clause→ constative aoristσῴζω: 'save / deliver'; renders יָשַׁע; the verb of deliverance; the people credit Gideon, but his reply will insist the LORD is the true ruler and savior.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ἔσωσαςἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source/deliverance)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from the hand/power')χείρ: 'hand'; idiom for power; 'from the hand of Midian' = from Midianite oppression.
Μαδιαμof Midiangenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; the oppressor from whom Gideon delivered Israel.
23

καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Γεδεων οὐκ ἄρξω ἐγώ καὶ οὐκ ἄρξει ὁ υἱός μου ἐν ὑμῖν κύριος ἄρξει ὑμῶν

And Gideon said to them, 'I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.'

Direct speech: Gideon's theocratic refusal (theological climax)καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Γεδεων
The chapter's theological centerpiece. Gideon's triple use of ἄρχω inverts the people's offer: not he (οὐκ ἄρξω ἐγώ), nor his son (οὐκ ἄρξει ὁ υἱός μου), but YHWH (κύριος ἄρξει ὑμῶν). The fronted divine name and the emphatic placement assert the theocratic ideal of Judges — Israel is to have no king but the LORD (cf. 1 Sam 8:7). The irony, developed in ch. 9, is that the ephod and Abimelech will undo this ideal.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gideon's refusal.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeobject of πρός (the men of Israel)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
οὐκnotnegative (with ἄρξω)οὐ: emphatic refusal of the offer.
ἄρξωI will ruleFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ἄρχωmain verb (Gideon's refusal of personal rule)→ volitive future (decisive refusal)ἄρχω: 'rule'; the first of three contrasting uses; Gideon declines personal kingship.
ἐγώINominativeemphatic subject of ἄρξωἐγώ: emphatic 'I (for my part) will not rule', heading the antithesis that ends with κύριος.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative (with ἄρξει)οὐ: refusal of dynastic succession.
ἄρξειwill ruleFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἄρχωmain verb (refusal of his son's rule)→ predictive/volitive futureἄρχω: 'rule'; the second use; Gideon rejects hereditary monarchy for his line — a refusal undone by Abimelech in ch. 9.
theNominativearticle (with υἱός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱόςsonNominativesubject of the second ἄρξειυἱός: 'son'; Gideon's heir, whose rule he also disavows.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of relationship (with υἱός)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνover / amongpreposition + dative (sphere of rule: 'among you')ἐν ὑμῖν ('among / over you'), the sphere of the rule being declined.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐνὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject (fronted for emphasis: the Tetragrammaton)κύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the emphatic, fronted subject of the climactic clause — the LORD alone is Israel's true king; deliberately set against the human honorific κύριε of v. 22.
ἄρξειshall ruleFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἄρχωmain verb (the theocratic affirmation)→ predictive future (theological declaration)ἄρχω: 'rule'; the third and climactic use; the future κύριος ἄρξει ὑμῶν ('the LORD shall rule over you') states the theocratic ideal of the book of Judges.
ὑμῶνover youGenitivegenitive object of ἄρξει (the ruled)ἄρχω + genitive, 'rule over you'; the people are to be subjects of YHWH, not of a human dynasty.
24

καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων πρὸς αὐτούς αἰτήσομαι παρ᾿ ὑμῶν αἴτημα καὶ δότε μοι ἀνὴρ ἐνώτιον ἐκ σκύλων αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἐνώτια χρυσᾶ αὐτοῖς ὅτι Ισμαηλῖται ἦσαν

And Gideon said to them, 'I would make one request of you: give me, each man, an earring from his spoil' — for they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.

Direct speech + narratorial gloss (transition to the ephod)καὶ εἶπεν Γεδεων πρὸς αὐτούς
Having refused the crown, Gideon asks instead for gold — the request (αἴτημα) of an earring apiece from the spoil. The cognate-accusative αἰτήσομαι … αἴτημα ('I will ask a request') is a Hebraism. The narratorial ὅτι-gloss explains the abundance of gold: the defeated wore golden earrings 'because they were Ishmaelites', a stock ethnic detail. This seemingly pious request sets up the fatal ephod (v. 27).
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces Gideon's counter-request.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτούςthemAccusativeobject of πρόςαὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αἰτήσομαιI will askFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · αἰτέωmain verb (cognate-accusative construction)→ volitive future ('I would ask')αἰτέω (mid.): 'ask / request (for oneself)'; the cognate-accusative αἰτήσομαι … αἴτημα ('I will request a request') is a Hebraism (שָׁאַל שְׁאֵלָה) intensifying the single petition.
παρ᾿of / frompreposition + genitive (source of the request)παρά + genitive, 'from / of you'.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of παράὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αἴτημαa requestAccusativecognate accusative (with αἰτήσομαι)αἴτημα: 'request / petition'; the cognate accusative of αἰτέω; emphasizes that Gideon asks one specific thing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
δότεgiveAor Act Impv 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (the request proper)→ aorist imperative (specific request)δίδωμι: 'give'; the imperative spells out the petition — an earring from each man's plunder.
μοιmeDativedative indirect object (with δότε)μοι: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀνὴρeach manNominativedistributive subject ('let each man [give]')ἀνήρ: here distributive 'each man', a Hebraism (אִישׁ) governing the collective imperative — every soldier is to contribute one earring.
ἐνώτιονearringAccusativedirect object of δότεἐνώτιον: 'earring / ear-ornament'; renders נֶזֶם; the single golden earring each soldier is to surrender — the raw material of the ephod.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source: 'from his spoil')ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
σκύλωνspoilGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (source)σκῦλον (pl. σκῦλα): 'spoil / plunder'; renders שָׁלָל; the booty taken from the defeated Midianites/Ishmaelites.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (distributive: 'his own spoil')αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (narratorial explanation)ὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the narrator's gloss explaining the gold's abundance.
ἐνώτιαearringsNominativesubject of the verbless explanatory clauseἐνώτιον: 'earring'; the enemy wore gold earrings, hence the rich yield of Gideon's request.
χρυσᾶgoldenNominativeattributive adjective (with ἐνώτια)χρυσοῦς: 'golden / of gold'; renders זָהָב; the gold of the earrings is the substance later worked into the ephod (v. 27).
αὐτοῖςthey hadDativedative of possession ('to them [were] earrings')the dative of possession αὐτοῖς ('they had') is a common Greek/Hebrew idiom for ownership.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (deeper explanation)ὅτι: the second ὅτι gives the ethnographic reason — they wore earrings because they were Ishmaelites.
ΙσμαηλῖταιIshmaelitesNominativepredicate nominative (with ἦσαν)Ισμαηλίτης: 'Ishmaelite'; gentilic from Ισμαηλ (Ishmael); the Midianites are here identified with the Ishmaelite caravan-traders (cf. Gen 37:25–28), for whom gold earrings were characteristic; declinable gentilic, hence kind 'n'.
ἦσανthey wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (with Ισμαηλῖται)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: imperfect copula 'they were', predicating the Ishmaelite identity that explains the earrings.
25

καὶ εἶπαν διδόντες δώσομεν καὶ ἀνέπτυξεν τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔβαλεν ἐκεῖ ἀνὴρ ἐνώτιον σκύλων αὐτοῦ

And they said, 'We will gladly give them.' And he spread out his garment, and each man threw there an earring of his spoil.

Direct speech + main narrative: the eager collectionκαὶ εἶπαν
The people's assent is emphatic — the figura etymologica διδόντες δώσομεν ('giving we will give' = 'we will gladly/surely give') renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute (נָתֹן נִתֵּן). Gideon spreads a garment to collect the gold; the distributive ἀνὴρ … ('each man') matches the request of v. 24.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the people's eager assent (Koine εἶπαν).
διδόντεςgladly / givingPres Act Part Nom Pl Masc · δίδωμιparticiple in figura etymologica (intensifying δώσομεν)→ intensifying participle (Hebraism)δίδωμι: the participle διδόντες with the cognate finite δώσομεν renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute (נָתֹן נִתֵּן), 'we will surely/gladly give'; expresses emphatic willingness.
δώσομενwe will giveFut Act Indic 1 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb of the reply→ volitive future (eager assent)δίδωμι: 'give'; the same verb refused by Succoth (v. 6) is here freely promised by all Israel — a pointed contrast.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνέπτυξενspread outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναπτύσσωmain verb (Gideon spreads the garment)→ constative aoristἀναπτύσσω: 'unfold / spread out'; Gideon spreads a cloak as a receptacle for the donated gold.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἱμάτιον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιονgarmentAccusativedirect object of ἀνέπτυξενἱμάτιον: 'cloak / outer garment'; renders שִׂמְלָה; spread out to receive the earrings.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἱμάτιον)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔβαλενthrewAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βάλλωmain verb (distributive: each man casts in his earring)→ constative aorist (distributive)βάλλω: 'throw / cast'; with the distributive subject ἀνήρ, each soldier casts his earring into the spread cloak.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (into the garment)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; i.e. into the spread-out garment.
ἀνὴρeach manNominativedistributive subject of ἔβαλενἀνήρ: distributive 'each man' (אִישׁ), matching the request of v. 24.
ἐνώτιονearringAccusativedirect object of ἔβαλενἐνώτιον: 'earring'; the donated ornament.
σκύλωνspoilGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐνώτιον: 'of his spoil')σκῦλον: 'spoil / plunder'; the source of each earring.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (distributive: 'his own')αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
26

καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ σταθμὸς τῶν ἐνωτίων τῶν χρυσῶν ὧν ᾔτησεν χίλιοι καὶ πεντακόσιοι χρυσοῖ πάρεξ τῶν μηνίσκων καὶ τῶν στραγγαλίδων καὶ τῶν ἱματίων καὶ πορφυρίδων τῶν ἐπὶ βασιλεῦσι Μαδιαμ καὶ ἐκτὸς τῶν περιθεμάτων ἃ ἦν ἐν τοῖς τραχήλοις τῶν καμήλων αὐτῶν

And the weight of the golden earrings that he asked for was a thousand and five hundred pieces of gold, besides the crescents and the pendants and the garments and the purple robes that were on the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were on the necks of their camels.

Narratorial inventory (background to the ephod)καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ σταθμὸς
An itemized accounting of the spoil: the earrings alone weigh 1,500 gold shekels, with a long πάρεξ … ἐκτός ('besides... apart from') list of further treasures — crescents, pendants, robes, purple, camel-collars. The catalogue's lavishness measures both the magnitude of the victory and the dangerous wealth that will be cast into the ephod of v. 27.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοwasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (came to be / amounted to)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become / come to be / amount to'; introduces the reckoning of the gold's weight.
theNominativearticle (with σταθμὸς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σταθμὸςweightNominativesubject of ἐγένετοσταθμός: 'weight / measured amount'; renders מִשְׁקָל; the recorded weight of the collected gold.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἐνωτίων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνωτίωνearringsGenitivegenitive (with σταθμὸς: 'weight of the earrings')ἐνώτιον: 'earring'; the gold earrings whose weight is now tallied.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with χρυσῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χρυσῶνgoldenGenitiveattributive adjective (with ἐνωτίων)χρυσοῦς: 'golden'; specifying the earrings as gold.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (object of ᾔτησεν, attracted to genitive)ὅς: relative pronoun, genitive by attraction to ἐνωτίων; 'which he asked for'.
ᾔτησενhe askedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · αἰτέωverb of the relative clause→ constative aoristαἰτέω: 'ask / request'; refers back to the request of v. 24.
χίλιοιthousandNominativecardinal numeral (predicate of σταθμὸς)χίλιοι: 'thousand'; the first component of the weight, 1,500 (shekels of) gold.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in the compound number)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πεντακόσιοιfive hundredNominativecardinal numeral (with χίλιοι)πεντακόσιοι: 'five hundred'; χίλιοι καὶ πεντακόσιοι = 1,500.
χρυσοῖgold piecesNominativenoun (in apposition: 'pieces of gold')χρυσοῦς (subst.): 'gold piece / gold shekel'; the unit of weight, here 1,500 of them.
πάρεξbesidesimproper preposition + genitive ('besides / apart from')πάρεξ: 'besides / apart from'; introduces the list of additional spoil not included in the weighed earrings.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with μηνίσκων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνίσκωνcrescentsGenitivegenitive object of πάρεξμηνίσκος: 'crescent ornament'; the same items taken from the camels in v. 21, here listed among the surplus spoil.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with στραγγαλίδων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στραγγαλίδωνpendantsGenitivegenitive object of πάρεξ (list)στραγγαλίς: 'twisted ornament / pendant / knot-shaped jewel'; renders נְטִיפוֹת ('pendants / ear-drops'); another category of royal ornament.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἱματίων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱματίωνgarmentsGenitivegenitive object of πάρεξ (list)ἱμάτιον: 'garment / robe'; the rich robes among the spoil of the kings.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πορφυρίδωνpurple robesGenitivegenitive object of πάρεξ (list)πορφυρίς: 'purple robe / purple garment'; renders אַרְגָּמָן; the purple of royalty, marking the kings' rank; the costliest of dyed cloths.
τῶνthe [ones]Genitivearticle in attributive position (relative-like: 'that were on the kings')τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπὶonpreposition + dative (location: 'on the kings')ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
βασιλεῦσιkingsDativedative object of ἐπί (those who wore the robes)βασιλεύς: 'king'; the garments and purple were worn by the Midianite kings — royal attire as spoil.
Μαδιαμof Midiangenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκτὸςapart fromimproper preposition + genitive ('apart from / besides')ἐκτός: 'outside / apart from / besides'; parallels πάρεξ, adding the camel-collars to the surplus list.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with περιθεμάτων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περιθεμάτωνcollarsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκτόςπερίθεμα: 'thing placed around / collar / necklace'; renders עֲנָקוֹת ('neck-pendants / collars'); the ornamental camel-collars.
whichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἦν)ὅς: relative (neuter plural) referring to the collars.
ἦνwereImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the relative clause (neuter plural subject + singular verb)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: imperfect; the singular ἦν with neuter-plural subject ἃ is regular Greek concord (τὰ ζῷα τρέχει).
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with τραχήλοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τραχήλοιςnecksDativedative of place (with ἐν)τράχηλος: 'neck'; echoing v. 21, the camels' necks where the collars hung.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with καμήλων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καμήλωνcamelsGenitivegenitive of possession (with τραχήλοις)κάμηλος: 'camel'; the royal camels of Midian.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with καμήλων)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
27

καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὸ Γεδεων εἰς εφωθ καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτὸ ἐν πόλει αὐτοῦ Εφραθα καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσεν πᾶς Ισραηλ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ καὶ ἐγένετο τῷ Γεδεων καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ εἰς σκῶλον

And Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah; and all Israel prostituted themselves after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house.

Main narrative: the fatal ephod (the chapter's dark turn)καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὸ Γεδεων
The tragic reversal: the man who confessed κύριος ἄρξει (v. 23) now makes a cult object from the gold. εφωθ (the ephod) is left transliterated. The verb ἐξεπόρνευσεν ('played the harlot after') is the Deuteronomistic idiom for idolatry; σκῶλον ('snare / stumbling-block') labels the ephod as the ruin of Gideon's house — anticipating the bloodshed of ch. 9.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησενmadeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the making of the ephod)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'make / fashion'; Gideon works the gold into a cult object — the act that undoes his theocratic confession.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν (the gold)αὐτός: 'it', referring to the collected gold of vv. 24–26.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (product: 'into an ephod')εἰς of result/product, 'made it into', a Hebraism (לְ).
εφωθephodaccusative of product (untranslated transliteration)εφωθ: untranslated transliteration of Hebrew אֵפוֹד ('ephod'); a priestly vestment or cultic object (cf. Exod 28); here it becomes an illicit shrine-object; left transliterated by the Greek, hence kind 'x'.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔστησενset upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (the setting up)→ constative aoristἵστημι: 'set / set up / establish'; Gideon installs the ephod as an object of cult in his city.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of ἔστησεν (the ephod)αὐτὸ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (with ἐν)πόλις: 'city'; Gideon's home city, named in apposition as Ephratha/Ophrah.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πόλει)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ΕφραθαOphrahapposition to πόλει (indeclinable place-name)Εφραθα: transliteration of Hebrew עָפְרָה (Ophrah); indeclinable; Gideon's town (cf. 6:11, 24), seat of the Abiezrites, where the ephod is installed.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξεπόρνευσενprostituted themselvesAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκπορνεύωmain verb (Israel's idolatry)→ ingressive/constative aoristἐκπορνεύω: 'play the harlot / commit fornication'; renders זָנָה; the Deuteronomistic metaphor for idolatrous unfaithfulness to YHWH; here directed 'after' the ephod; recurs in v. 33 (after the Baalim).
πᾶςallNominativeadjective (with Ισραηλ)πᾶς: 'all'; the apostasy is comprehensive — all Israel is implicated.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject of ἐξεπόρνευσεν (indeclinable; sg. verb)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the collective subject taking a singular verb.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (object of the 'harlotry')ὀπίσω: 'after'; the idolatry-idiom 'play the harlot after (an object)' (אַחֲרֵי).
αὐτοῦitGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω (the ephod)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (at the shrine in Ophrah)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; at the ephod's shrine in Ophrah, the cult-site of the apostasy.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοbecameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the ephod's effect)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become'; the ephod 'became a snare', a verdict-clause on its disastrous outcome.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Γεδεων)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓεδεωνGideondative of disadvantage (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable; the dative 'to Gideon', the first victim of the snare.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷto theDativearticle (with οἴκῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of disadvantage (with εἰς σκῶλον)οἶκος: 'house / household'; Gideon's whole dynasty, doomed by the events the ephod inaugurates (the fratricide of ch. 9).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκῳ)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
εἰςfor / aspreposition + accusative (predicate: 'became a snare')εἰς of result (Hebraism לְ), 'became a snare to'.
σκῶλονsnare / stumbling-blockAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς)σκῶλον: 'stumbling-block / snare / trap'; renders מוֹקֵשׁ; the ephod becomes the cause of ruin to Gideon and his house — the chapter's theological verdict on his lapse.
28

καὶ συνεστάλη Μαδιαμ ἐνώπιον υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ οὐ προσέθηκαν ἆραι κεφαλὴν αὐτῶν καὶ ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη ἐν ἡμέραις Γεδεων

And Midian was humbled before the sons of Israel and did not lift up their head any more, and the land was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon.

Summary formula (closing the deliverance narrative)καὶ συνεστάλη Μαδιαμ
The standard Judges rest-formula closes the military narrative: the enemy subdued, the land at peace forty years. οὐ προσέθηκαν ἆραι κεφαλήν ('they did not again lift their head') is a Hebraism for being permanently humbled; ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ … ἔτη ('the land rested ... years') is the recurring refrain of the book (cf. 3:11, 30; 5:31).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνεστάληwas humbledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · συστέλλωmain verb (the subduing of Midian)→ constative aoristσυστέλλω: 'draw together / reduce / humble'; the passive συνεστάλη ('was brought low / subdued') renders כָּנַע (Niphal); Midian is permanently broken.
ΜαδιαμMidiansubject (indeclinable)Μαδιαμ: indeclinable; the subdued enemy.
ἐνώπιονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive ('before / in the sight of')ἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism (לִפְנֵי); Midian is humbled in Israel's sight.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιονυἱός: 'son'; 'sons of Israel' (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל), the standard designation of the people.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐnotnegative (with προσέθηκαν)οὐ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
προσέθηκανthey continued / did againAor Act Indic 3 Pl · προστίθημιmain verb (auxiliary in Hebraistic idiom 'no longer')→ constative aoristπροστίθημι: 'add / do again'; the idiom οὐ προσέθηκαν + infinitive ('they did not again...') renders Hebrew לֹא יָסְפוּ ('they no longer'), a calque using προστίθημι as an auxiliary of repetition.
ἆραιto lift upAor Act Inf · αἴρωcomplementary infinitive (with προσέθηκαν)→ constative aorist — the single act of lifting/bearingαἴρω: 'lift / raise'; 'to lift the head' is a Hebrew idiom for reasserting power/pride; Midian never recovers.
κεφαλὴνheadAccusativedirect object of ἆραι (idiom)κεφαλή: 'head'; in the idiom 'lift the head' = regain strength or pride; renders רֹאשׁ.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (with κεφαλὴν)αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἡσύχασενwas quietAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἡσυχάζωmain verb (the rest-formula)→ constative aoristἡσυχάζω: 'be quiet / be at rest'; renders שָׁקַט; the keyword of the Judges rest-refrain, 'the land had rest' (cf. 3:11, 30; 5:31).
theNominativearticle (with γῆ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of ἡσύχασενγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; the land of Israel at peace, the result of Gideon's deliverance.
τεσσαράκονταfortycardinal numeral (with ἔτη)τεσσαράκοντα: 'forty'; indeclinable; the typological span of a generation's rest (cf. 3:11; 5:31).
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of timeἔτος: 'year'; accusative of duration, 'for forty years'.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (with ἐν: 'in the days of')ἡμέρα: 'day'; 'in the days of Gideon' (בִּימֵי), dating the peace to his lifetime.
Γεδεωνof Gideongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable; the judge under whom the land rested.
29

καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ιεροβααλ υἱὸς Ιωας καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ

And Jerubbaal son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

Main narrative: Gideon's retirement (begins the closing notices)καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ιεροβααλ
The closing biographical notices open. The alternate name Ιεροβααλ ('Jerubbaal', cf. 6:32) reappears, the form used throughout ch. 9; with the patronymic υἱὸς Ιωας it gives a formal close to the public career. ἐκάθισεν ἐν οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ ('settled in his house') marks withdrawal from leadership into private life.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (departure to private life)→ constative aoristπορεύομαι: 'go / depart'; deponent passive-form aorist; Gideon withdraws from his public role.
ΙεροβααλJerubbaalsubject (indeclinable; alternate name of Gideon)Ιεροβααλ: transliteration of Hebrew יְרֻבַּעַל ('let Baal contend', cf. 6:32); indeclinable; Gideon's other name, dominant in ch. 9 and in vv. 35 here.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositive to Ιεροβααλ (patronymic)υἱός: 'son'; patronymic giving formal weight to the notice.
Ιωαςof Joashgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιωας: indeclinable; Gideon's father.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκάθισενdweltAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (settling at home)→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit / settle / dwell'; renders יָשַׁב; Gideon settles into a quiet domestic life after the war.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
οἴκῳhouseDativedative of place (with ἐν)οἶκος: 'house / home'; Gideon's own household in Ophrah.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with οἴκῳ)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
30

καὶ τῷ Γεδεων ἦσαν ἑβδομήκοντα υἱοὶ ἐκπεπορευμένοι ἐκ μηρῶν αὐτοῦ ὅτι γυναῖκες πολλαὶ ἦσαν αὐτῷ

And Gideon had seventy sons, born of his own loins, for he had many wives.

Background notice: Gideon's large householdκαὶ τῷ Γεδεων ἦσαν
A genealogical aside (dative of possession τῷ Γεδεων ἦσαν, 'Gideon had'). The seventy sons set up the slaughter of ch. 9. The polygyny (γυναῖκες πολλαί) befits a quasi-royal household — an irony beside Gideon's refusal of kingship — and prepares for the concubine's son Abimelech (v. 31).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Γεδεων; dative of possession)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓεδεωνGideondative of possession (indeclinable: 'Gideon had')Γεδεων: indeclinable; the dative of possession τῷ Γεδεων ἦσαν renders the Hebrew 'to Gideon were' (lit.) = 'Gideon had'.
ἦσανwere / hadImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of possession (with dative)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: imperfect; with the dative of possession, 'there were to Gideon' = 'Gideon had'.
ἑβδομήκονταseventycardinal numeral (with υἱοὶ)ἑβδομήκοντα: 'seventy'; indeclinable; the seventy sons whose massacre opens ch. 9 (cf. the seventy-seven of Succoth, v. 14).
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἦσανυἱός: 'son'; Gideon's numerous male offspring.
ἐκπεπορευμένοιhaving come forthPerf Mid Part Nom Pl Masc · ἐκπορεύομαιattributive participle (with υἱοὶ: 'born of his loins')→ resultative perfect participleἐκπορεύομαι: 'come/go forth'; the perfect participle 'having issued from his loins' is a Hebraism (יֹצְאֵי יְרֵכוֹ) for natural descendants — these are his own offspring.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μηρῶνloinsGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (source of the offspring)μηρός: 'thigh / loins'; renders יָרֵךְ; the euphemism 'from his loins' for biological descent.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with μηρῶν)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (reason for the many sons)ὅτι: 'because / for'; explains the large number of sons by Gideon's polygyny.
γυναῖκεςwivesNominativesubject of the causal clauseγυνή: 'woman / wife'; Gideon's many wives, a mark of his quasi-royal status despite refusing the crown.
πολλαὶmanyNominativeattributive adjective (with γυναῖκες)πολύς: 'many'; the polygamy that produced the seventy sons.
ἦσανwere / he hadImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of possession (with dative αὐτῷ)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: imperfect with dative of possession, 'he had many wives'.
αὐτῷheDativedative of possession ('to him' = 'he had')αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
31

καὶ παλλακὴ αὐτοῦ ἦν ἐν Συχεμ καὶ ἔτεκεν αὐτῷ καί γε αὐτὴ υἱόν καὶ ἔθηκεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Αβιμελεχ

And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he gave him the name Abimelech.

Background notice: the Shechemite concubine and Abimelechκαὶ παλλακὴ αὐτοῦ
The notice that prepares ch. 9: the Shechem concubine bears Abimelech ('my father is king'), an ironically royal name for the son who will seize kingship by murdering the seventy. The emphatic καί γε αὐτή ('she also / even she') stresses that even the concubine added a son to the house.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παλλακὴconcubineNominativesubject (of ἦν and, by sense, of ἔτεκεν)παλλακή: 'concubine'; renders פִּילֶגֶשׁ; a secondary wife of lower status; her son Abimelech becomes the villain of ch. 9.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with παλλακὴ)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (locating the concubine)→ stative imperfectεἰμί: imperfect; 'was in Shechem', locating her in the city that will be Abimelech's power-base.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΣυχεμShechemobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Συχεμ: transliteration of Hebrew שְׁכֶם; indeclinable; Shechem, the concubine's home and the stage of Abimelech's coup (ch. 9).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (the birth)→ constative aoristτίκτω: 'bear / give birth'; renders יָלַד; the concubine bears Gideon a son.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of advantage ('bore to him')αὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καίalsoadverbial (in the emphatic καί γε: 'even / also')καί γε: emphatic 'even / also indeed', rendering Hebrew גַּם; stresses that the concubine too contributed a son.
γεindeedemphatic particle (with καί)γε: emphatic/limitative particle reinforcing καί; the combination καί γε is a fixed LXX rendering of גַּם.
αὐτὴsheNominativeemphatic subject (with καί γε: 'she also')αὐτός: emphatic 'she herself / she too', highlighting the concubine alongside the wives of v. 30.
υἱόνsonAccusativedirect object of ἔτεκενυἱός: 'son'; the child Abimelech, named in the next clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔθηκενgave / setAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (the naming)→ constative aoristτίθημι: 'put / set / give (a name)'; the idiom ἔθηκεν τὸ ὄνομα ('he set the name') renders שִׂים שֵׁם / קָרָא שֵׁם, the formula of name-giving.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνομα)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκενὄνομα: 'name'; the object of the naming-formula.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὄνομα: 'his name')αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ΑβιμελεχAbimelechaccusative complement (the name given; indeclinable)Αβιμελεχ: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִימֶלֶךְ ('my father is king'); indeclinable; the ironically royal name of the son who will usurp kingship and slaughter his brothers (ch. 9).
32

καὶ ἀπέθανεν Γεδεων υἱὸς Ιωας ἐν πόλει αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν τῷ τάφῳ Ιωας τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἐν Εφραθα Αβιεσδρι

And Gideon son of Joash died in his own city and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Death-and-burial notice (closing the judge's record)καὶ ἀπέθανεν Γεδεων
The formal death-and-burial notice typical of the judges. The full name and patronymic (Γεδεων υἱὸς Ιωας), the ancestral tomb, and the clan-designation Ophrah-of-the-Abiezrites (Εφραθα Αβιεσδρι) give the record an annalistic completeness. The peaceful death contrasts with the violent end the ephod will bring on his house (ch. 9).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb (the death-notice)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the standard death-notice verb; Gideon dies peacefully at home.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
υἱὸςsonNominativeappositive to Γεδεων (patronymic)υἱός: 'son'; patronymic in the formal death-notice.
Ιωαςof Joashgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιωας: indeclinable; Gideon's father, in whose tomb he is buried.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (with ἐν)πόλις: 'city'; Gideon's home city Ophrah, where he died.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with πόλει)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐτάφηwas buriedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · θάπτωmain verb (the burial-notice)→ constative aoristθάπτω: 'bury'; the passive ἐτάφη ('was buried') in the ancestral tomb completes the honorable death-notice.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (with τάφῳ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τάφῳtombDativedative of place (with ἐν)τάφος: 'tomb / grave'; renders קֶבֶר; the family sepulchre of Joash.
Ιωαςof Joashgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'tomb of Joash')Ιωας: indeclinable; the owner of the tomb.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πατρὸς)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ιωας ('his father')πατήρ: 'father'; identifies Joash as Gideon's father.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πατρὸς)αὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΕφραθαOphrahobject of ἐν (indeclinable place-name)Εφραθα: transliteration of Hebrew עָפְרָה (Ophrah); indeclinable; Gideon's clan town, here specified by the clan-name.
Αβιεσδριof the Abiezritesgenitive of relationship (indeclinable clan-designation)Αβιεσδρι: transliteration of Hebrew אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִי ('the Abiezrite'); indeclinable; 'Ophrah of the Abiezrites' identifies the clan of Gideon's family (cf. Αβιεζερ, v. 2).
33

καὶ ἐγένετο καθὼς ἀπέθανεν Γεδεων καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσαν ὀπίσω τῶν Βααλιμ καὶ ἔθηκαν ἑαυτοῖς τῷ Βααλ διαθήκην τοῦ εἶναι αὐτοῖς αὐτὸν εἰς θεόν

And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon died, that the sons of Israel turned back and prostituted themselves after the Baalim, and they made Baal-berith their god by covenant.

Main narrative: Israel's immediate relapse (begins the closing apostasy)καὶ ἐγένετο καθὼς ἀπέθανεν
The καὶ ἐγένετο … καθώς construction (Hebraistic וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר) dates the apostasy to the very moment of Gideon's death. ἐπέστρεψαν ('turned back') and ἐξεπόρνευσαν ('played the harlot', as in v. 27) describe the relapse. ἔθηκαν … τῷ Βααλ διαθήκην ('made a covenant with Baal') yields Baal-berith ('Baal of the covenant', cf. 9:4), making the false god their own.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (Hebraistic narrative formula καὶ ἐγένετο)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become / happen'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο ('and it came to pass') renders וַיְהִי, a temporal frame introducing the apostasy.
καθὼςas soon astemporal conjunction (with the formula)καθώς: here temporal 'when / as soon as' (כַּאֲשֶׁר); dates the relapse precisely to Gideon's death.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of the temporal clause→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the death of Gideon removes the restraint and the apostasy follows at once.
ΓεδεωνGideonsubject of ἀπέθανεν (indeclinable)Γεδεων: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶthat / andapodotic καί (resuming after the temporal clause)καί here apodotic, introducing the main clause after καὶ ἐγένετο καθώς (a Hebraism).
ἐπέστρεψανturned backAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (the relapse)→ constative aoristἐπιστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; here of apostasy — Israel 'turns back' to idolatry (renders שׁוּב in the sense of relapse).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐπέστρεψανυἱός: 'son'; 'the sons of Israel', the apostatizing people.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξεπόρνευσανprostituted themselvesAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκπορνεύωmain verb (the idolatry)→ constative aoristἐκπορνεύω: 'play the harlot'; the same idolatry-verb as v. 27, now of the worship of the Baalim — the relapse echoes the ephod-apostasy.
ὀπίσωafterimproper preposition + genitive (object of the harlotry)ὀπίσω: 'after'; the idiom 'play the harlot after (gods)' (אַחֲרֵי).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with Βααλιμ)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλιμBaalimgenitive object of ὀπίσω (indeclinable; Hebrew plural)Βααλιμ: transliteration of Hebrew בְּעָלִים, the plural of בַּעַל ('Baal / lord'); indeclinable; the various local Baal-deities, the recurring object of Israel's apostasy in Judges (cf. 2:11; 3:7).
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔθηκανthey madeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · τίθημιmain verb (the covenant-making)→ constative aoristτίθημι: 'set / make / establish'; the idiom ἔθηκαν … διαθήκην ('made a covenant') renders כָּרַת בְּרִית; Israel covenants with Baal, the inversion of covenant with YHWH.
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativereflexive dative of advantage ('for themselves')ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun; 'for themselves', stressing Israel's deliberate self-binding to Baal.
τῷwithDativearticle (with Βααλ; dative of the covenant-partner)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒααλBaaldative of association (the covenant-partner; indeclinable)Βααλ: transliteration of Hebrew בַּעַל ('lord / Baal'); indeclinable; covenanting τῷ Βααλ διαθήκην yields the deity-name Baal-berith ('Baal of the covenant', cf. 9:4).
διαθήκηνcovenantAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκανδιαθήκη: 'covenant / treaty'; renders בְּרִית; the covenant Israel makes with Baal — the antithesis of the Sinai covenant with YHWH.
τοῦ[so as]Genitivearticle with articular infinitive (genitive of purpose/result)τοῦ + infinitive (τοῦ εἶναι) of purpose/result, 'that he should be / to make him be'.
εἶναιto bePres Act Inf · εἰμίarticular infinitive (purpose/result)→ durative present infinitive (ongoing state)εἰμί: 'be'; the infinitive expresses the purpose of the covenant — that Baal should be their god.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of advantage (with εἶναι: 'be to them')the dative αὐτοῖς with εἶναι, 'to be to them a god' = 'be their god'.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive εἶναι (Baal)αὐτός: the accusative subject of the infinitive, referring to Baal.
εἰςaspreposition + accusative (predicate: 'as a god')εἰς of predicate (Hebraism לְ), 'to be as a god to them'.
θεόνgodAccusativepredicate accusative (with εἰς)θεός: 'god'; here the false god Baal, set up in place of YHWH — the climax of the apostasy.
34

καὶ οὐκ ἐμνήσθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ῥυσαμένου αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν θλιβόντων αὐτοὺς κυκλόθεν

And the sons of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies round about.

Narratorial indictment (theological summary of the apostasy)καὶ οὐκ ἐμνήσθησαν
The narrator's twofold charge (vv. 34–35): forgetting God and forgetting Gideon. οὐκ ἐμνήσθησαν ('they did not remember') names the root of covenant-breach — ingratitude. The articular participle τοῦ ῥυσαμένου ('who delivered') recalls YHWH's whole saving record, against which the apostasy stands condemned.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative (with ἐμνήσθησαν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐμνήσθησανrememberedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · μιμνῄσκομαιmain verb (the failure to remember)→ constative aoristμιμνῄσκομαι: 'remember / be mindful of'; passive-form deponent governing the genitive (κυρίου); 'they did not remember the LORD' names the ingratitude at the heart of the apostasy (renders זָכַר).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐμνήσθησανυἱός: 'son'; 'the sons of Israel', the forgetful people.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
κυρίουLORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐμνήσθησαν (the Tetragrammaton)κύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive is governed by the verb of remembering; the very God they covenanted to forsake (v. 33).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίου ('the LORD their God')θεός: 'God'; 'the LORD their God' (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם), the full covenant title against which Baal (v. 33) is the usurper.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the participle ῥυσαμένου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥυσαμένουwho deliveredAor Mid Part Gen Sg Masc · ῥύομαιattributive participle (with θεοῦ: 'who delivered them')→ constative aorist participleῥύομαι: 'rescue / deliver'; renders נָצַל / הִצִּיל; the articular participle recalls YHWH's whole saving record, the basis for the indictment of forgetfulness.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ῥυσαμένουαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source of deliverance)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from the hand/power')χείρ: 'hand'; idiom for power; 'from the hand of all their enemies'.
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (with τῶν θλιβόντων)πᾶς: 'all'; emphasizes the comprehensiveness of YHWH's past deliverances.
τῶνthe [ones]Genitivearticle (substantizing the participle θλιβόντων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θλιβόντωνoppressingPres Act Part Gen Pl Masc · θλίβωsubstantival participle ('those who oppressed them' = their enemies)→ imperfective participle (characteristic action)θλίβω: 'press / afflict / oppress'; the participle 'those who oppress them' designates Israel's surrounding enemies (renders אֹיְבֵיהֶם / לֹחֲצֵיהֶם).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of θλιβόντωναὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κυκλόθενround aboutadverb of place ('on every side')κυκλόθεν: 'all around / round about'; renders מִסָּבִיב; stresses that YHWH delivered Israel from enemies on every side — magnifying the ingratitude.
35

καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησαν ἔλεος μετὰ τοῦ οἴκου Ιεροβααλ αὐτός ἐστιν Γεδεων κατὰ πάντα τὰ ἀγαθά ἃ ἐποίησεν μετὰ Ισραηλ

And they showed no covenant-kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, in return for all the good that he had done for Israel.

Narratorial indictment + closing identification (end of the Gideon cycle)καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησαν ἔλεος
The second charge: ingratitude toward Gideon's house. The idiom ἐποίησαν ἔλεος μετά ('showed kindness with/to') renders עָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם, covenant-loyalty. The parenthetical αὐτός ἐστιν Γεδεων ('that is, Gideon') glosses Jerubbaal for the reader and closes the cycle. The clause looks ahead to ch. 9, where the slaughter of the seventy is the concrete failure of ἔλεος.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative (with ἐποίησαν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐποίησανshowed / didAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the failure of covenant-kindness)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do / make / show'; the idiom ποιέω ἔλεος μετά ('show kindness toward') renders עָשָׂה חֶסֶד עִם — Israel failed to requite Gideon's house.
ἔλεοςkindness / mercyAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησανἔλεος: 'mercy / loyal love / kindness'; renders חֶסֶד (covenant-loyalty); the loyalty Israel owed Gideon's house but withheld — fulfilled negatively in ch. 9.
μετὰwith / topreposition + genitive (idiom: 'kindness with/toward')μετά + genitive in the idiom ποιέω ἔλεος μετά ('deal kindly with'), a Hebraism (עִם).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with οἴκου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of μετάοἶκος: 'house / household'; the family of Gideon, soon devastated in ch. 9 — the concrete denial of ἔλεος.
Ιεροβααλof Jerubbaalgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιεροβααλ: indeclinable; Gideon's alternate name (6:32), glossed in the next clause.
αὐτόςthat is / he himselfNominativesubject of the parenthetical identification (ἐστιν)αὐτός: 'he himself'; in the gloss αὐτός ἐστιν Γεδεων ('he is Gideon'), identifying Jerubbaal for the reader.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (the equative gloss)→ gnomic presentεἰμί: 'be'; the equative copula identifying Jerubbaal with Gideon.
ΓεδεωνGideonpredicate nominative of the gloss (indeclinable)Γεδεων: indeclinable; the name with which the cycle closes.
κατὰaccording to / in return forpreposition + accusative ('in keeping with / in return for')κατά + accusative, 'according to / in proportion to'; here 'in return for all the good', measuring the ingratitude against Gideon's benefactions.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with τὰ ἀγαθά)πᾶς: 'all'; the totality of Gideon's good deeds, against which Israel's ingratitude is weighed.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἀγαθά)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθάgood thingsAccusativeobject of κατά (the benefactions)ἀγαθός (subst. neut. pl.): 'good things / benefits'; renders הַטּוֹבָה; Gideon's deliverance of Israel, the good for which they showed no gratitude.
whichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν)ὅς: relative pronoun (neuter plural) referring to τὰ ἀγαθά.
ἐποίησενhe didAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause (Gideon's benefactions)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; Gideon's good deeds for Israel — the deliverance from Midian, now ungratefully forgotten.
μετὰfor / withpreposition + genitive (idiom: 'did good with/for Israel')μετά + genitive, 'with / for Israel' (עִם), the beneficiary of Gideon's deeds — the closing word of the cycle is the people he served.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive object of μετά (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the closing word of the chapter, naming the ungrateful people for whom Gideon labored.