1
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
The chapter opens with the standard LXX divine-speech formula καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων, the same revelation-introduction that structures the whole of Leviticus; the redundant participle λέγων calques the Hebrew לֵאמֹר and signals that direct discourse follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: paratactic narrative connector rendering the Hebrew waw-consecutive; the default LXX device for advancing the legal-narrative discourse of Leviticus.
εἶπενsaid / spokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν introduces direct YHWH-speech; the formula καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν recurs as the structuring revelation-marker of Leviticus (cf. 1:1; 4:1; 6:1; 17:1).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject of the speech-formula marks this as unmediated YHWH-speech delivered through Moses to Israel.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of the divine word)→ object specificationΜωυσῆς: transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined as a first/third-declension hybrid in Rahlfs' LXX (gen. Μωυσῆ, acc. Μωυσῆν); accusative here as the directional object of πρός.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct discourse)→ redundant participle (Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר)λέγω (pres. ptc.): the participle λέγων calques the Hebrew infinitive לֵאמֹר, a quotation-marker introducing the words to be spoken; it is pleonastic in Greek but standard in LXX speech-formulae.
2
λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν
Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them, 'I am the LORD your God.'
The double command λάλησον … καὶ ἐρεῖς ('speak … and you shall say') is the standard Levitical commissioning pair; the self-presentation formula ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν grounds the whole chapter's ethic in YHWH's identity and is repeated as a refrain throughout (vv. 4, 5, 6, 21, 30).
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ ingressive aorist imperative (commissioned speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דַּבֵּר (Piel); in the LXX λαλέω regularly represents the Piel of דבר, implying authoritative proclamation; the aorist imperative frames the commission as a single decisive act.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object (addressees)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people as the addressee of the Holiness Code.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitival: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; functions here as a genitive of relationship to υἱοῖς.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγω (εἴρω)main verb (volitive future as command)→ volitive future (future with imperatival force)λέγω / εἴρω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; the future ἐρεῖς functions imperativally (a Hebraism rendering וְאָמַרְתָּ), continuing the commission; the pairing 'speak … and say' is formulaic in the introduction of Levitical legislation.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτός: the personal pronoun refers to the sons of Israel as the recipients of the address.
ἐγὼINominativesubject of nominal clause (emphatic self-presentation)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun heads the Selbstvorstellungsformel ('self-presentation formula') ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν, rendering אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם; the formula authorizes all that follows as YHWH's personal demand.
κύριοςLORDNominativepredicate nominative (nominal clause: 'I am the LORD')→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; in the formula ἐγὼ κύριος the divine name functions as predicate — 'I am YHWH' — the recurring ground of obligation throughout Lev 18.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεὸς, in apposition to κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition ('the LORD your God')→ participant prominenceθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the expanded formula ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν binds the covenant relationship (your God) to the divine name, intensifying the claim on Israel's obedience.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (covenant relationship)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): the possessive 'your' makes the formula covenantal — not merely 'I am the LORD' but 'I am the LORD who is your God.'
3
κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐν ᾗ κατῳκήσατε ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ κατὰ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα γῆς Χανααν εἰς ἣν ἐγὼ εἰσάγω ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖ οὐ ποιήσετε καὶ τοῖς νομίμοις αὐτῶν οὐ πορεύσεσθε
According to the practices of the land of Egypt, in which you dwelt, you shall not act; and according to the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you, there you shall not act; and you shall not walk in their customs.
The verse sets up the chapter's central antithesis: the ἐπιτηδεύματα ('practices') of Egypt (whence Israel came) and of Canaan (whither Israel goes) over against YHWH's own κρίματα and προστάγματα (v. 4). The doubled οὐ ποιήσετε ('you shall not do') and the closing οὐ πορεύσεσθε ('you shall not walk in') frame conduct as a 'way' to be walked — a metaphor central to the Holiness Code.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/standard)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to / after the manner of'; renders כְּ; introduces the rejected standard of conduct — the customs of Egypt.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἐπιτηδεύματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιτηδεύματαpractices / customsAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (the rejected norm)→ object specificationἐπιτήδευμα: 'practice / pursuit / way of life'; renders מַעֲשֶׂה ('deed') here in the sense of habitual cultural conduct; in the LXX the word often carries a pejorative sense of (idolatrous or immoral) habitual practices (cf. Jer 4:4; Ezek 36:17).
γῆςof the landGenitivegenitive of relationship ('of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / land'; the phrase γῆ Αἰγύπτου ('land of Egypt') is a fixed LXX rendering of אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive of apposition/relationship (with γῆς)→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of Hebrew מִצְרַיִם; Egypt is the place of past dwelling whose practices Israel must now renounce.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, relative clause)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, relative clause).
ᾗwhichDativerelative pronoun (locative: 'in which')→ participant reference or interestὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; feminine dative ᾗ agrees with γῆς (land); introduces the relative clause describing Egypt as the place of former dwelling.
κατῳκήσατεyou dweltAor Act Indic 2 Pl · κατοικέωverb of relative clause (past dwelling in Egypt)→ constative aorist (completed period of dwelling)κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the aorist marks the completed sojourn in Egypt now left behind, whose ways must not be carried forward.
ἐπ᾿in / uponpreposition + dative (resumptive locative; Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: the resumptive ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ ('in it') after the relative ᾗ is a Semitic pleonasm calquing the Hebrew resumptive pronoun בָּהּ ('in which … in it').
αὐτῇitDativeresumptive pronoun (Hebraism, referring to γῆς)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the resumptive pronoun αὐτῇ reduplicates the antecedent of the relative ᾗ, a characteristic LXX Hebraism.
οὐnotnegative particle (with ποιήσετε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ + future indicative is the LXX's regular rendering of the Hebrew לֹא + imperfect, expressing an absolute prohibition (apodictic law).
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not act')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ποιέω: 'do / make / act'; renders עָשָׂה; οὐ ποιήσετε rendering לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ is the standard form of apodictic prohibition; here it forbids imitation of Egyptian conduct.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing parallel Canaan-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm/standard, second occurrence)→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm/standard, second occurrence).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἐπιτηδεύματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιτηδεύματαpractices / customsAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (rejected Canaanite norm)→ object specificationἐπιτήδευμα: here the practices of Canaan, the land of Israel's future, whose abominations (catalogued in vv. 6–23) defiled the land and led to its inhabitants being vomited out (vv. 24–28).
γῆςof the landGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationγῆς: meaning 'of the land'; it serves as genitive of relationship.
ΧαναανCanaanindeclinable proper noun (genitival: 'of Canaan')→ participant identificationΧανααν: transliteration of Hebrew כְּנַעַן; indeclinable in the LXX; the land of promise whose prior occupants' practices Israel must not adopt.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction, relative clause)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction, relative clause).
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἰς: 'into which')→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: feminine accusative ἣν agrees with γῆς; introduces the relative clause of entry into Canaan.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic: YHWH as the one bringing in)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun stresses that the entry into Canaan is YHWH's own act — the gift of the land is the ground for the demand to live differently from its former inhabitants.
εἰσάγωI am bringing inPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰσάγωmain verb of relative clause (futuristic present)→ futuristic present (imminent, certain divine act)εἰσάγω: 'bring in / lead into'; renders הֵבִיא (Hiphil of בּוֹא); the present tense expresses the certainty of the imminent conquest-entry; YHWH himself is the agent of Israel's settlement.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of εἰσάγω→ participant referenceὑμᾶς: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of εἰσάγω.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive; Hebraism)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive adverb after the relative ἣν calques the Hebrew resumptive שָׁם ('whither … there'), a Semitic pleonasm.
οὐnotnegative particle (with ποιήσετε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (prohibition, parallel to first οὐ ποιήσετε)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ποιέω: the repetition οὐ ποιήσετε forms a balanced double prohibition framing both Egypt (past) and Canaan (future) as forbidden models.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςin theDativearticle (with νομίμοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νομίμοιςcustoms / statutesDativedative complement of πορεύσεσθε (sphere of conduct)→ sphere or referenceνόμιμον: 'custom / legal usage / statute'; renders חֻקָּה ('statute'); here the (idolatrous) customs of the nations; the idiom πορεύεσθαι τοῖς νομίμοις ('to walk in the customs') treats conduct as a path — to be reversed positively at v. 4 (πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτοῖς, of YHWH's ordinances).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the nations' customs)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their' refers to the Egyptians and Canaanites collectively — the peoples whose statutes are forbidden.
οὐnotnegative particle (with πορεύσεσθε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πορεύσεσθεyou shall walkFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not walk in')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)πορεύομαι: 'go / walk / conduct oneself'; renders הָלַךְ; the 'walking in statutes' metaphor (הָלַךְ בְּחֻקּוֹת) construes the moral life as a way; here negated of the nations' customs, it is affirmed of YHWH's in v. 4.
4
τὰ κρίματά μου ποιήσετε καὶ τὰ προστάγματά μου φυλάξεσθε πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν
My judgments you shall do, and my ordinances you shall keep, to walk in them; I am the LORD your God.
The fronted objects τὰ κρίματά μου ('my judgments') and τὰ προστάγματά μου ('my ordinances') stand in emphatic contrast to the nations' ἐπιτηδεύματα and νόμιμα of v. 3. The infinitive πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτοῖς ('to walk in them') deliberately reverses the negated πορεύσεσθε of v. 3, reclaiming the 'walking' metaphor for YHWH's law. The verse closes with the self-presentation refrain ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρίματά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίματάjudgmentsAccusativedirect object (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / ordinance / legal decision'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; in the Holiness Code τὰ κρίματα denotes the case-law decisions of YHWH, paired with προστάγματα (statutes); the pairing recurs at vv. 5, 26.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession ('my judgments')→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): the possessive 'my' is theologically weighted — these are YHWH's own decisions, set against 'their' (the nations') customs of v. 3.
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (positive command)→ volitive future (imperatival force)ποιέω: here positively, 'you shall perform my judgments'; the same verb negated of the nations' practices in v. 3 is now commanded of YHWH's, marking the antithesis.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with προστάγματά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προστάγματάordinancesAccusativedirect object (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationπρόσταγμα: 'ordinance / decree / command'; renders חֻקָּה ('statute'); paired with κρίματα as the standard Holiness-Code word-pair for the totality of YHWH's law; the LXX uses πρόσταγμα for the engraved, non-negotiable statutes.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession ('my ordinances')→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): again the possessive marks the ordinances as YHWH's own.
φυλάξεσθεyou shall keepFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (positive command)→ volitive future (imperatival force)φυλάσσω (mid.): 'guard / keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the middle voice carries the sense of keeping for oneself, observing as a binding charge; the verb is the keynote of the chapter's frame (vv. 4, 5, 26, 30).
πορεύεσθαιto walkPres Mid Inf · πορεύομαιepexegetical/purpose infinitive ('so as to walk in them')→ infinitive of purpose/result (manner of obedience)πορεύομαι (pres. inf.): the infinitive πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτοῖς ('to walk in them') deliberately reverses the negated πορεύσεσθε of v. 3; obedience to YHWH's ordinances is the 'way' Israel is to walk, in contrast to the nations' customs.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere of conduct)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere of conduct).
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (the ordinances as the path)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'them' refers to the κρίματα and προστάγματα — the sphere within which Israel's life is to move.
ἐγὼINominativesubject of nominal clause (self-presentation formula)→ participant referenceἐγώ: heads the recurring self-presentation formula ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν.
κύριοςLORDNominativepredicate nominative ('I am the LORD')→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the formula seals the command with divine authority.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεὸς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition ('the LORD your God')→ participant prominenceθεός: renders אֱלֹהִים; the covenant formula grounds obedience in relationship.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (covenant relationship)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your God,' marking the covenant bond as the basis of the law.
5
καὶ φυλάξεσθε πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ πάντα τὰ κρίματά μου καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτά ἃ ποιήσας ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν
And you shall keep all my ordinances and all my judgments, and you shall do them — which things if a man does, he shall live by them; I am the LORD your God.
The climactic verse of the frame: the doubled πάντα ('all … all') totalizes the demand, and the relative clause ἃ ποιήσας ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς ('which a man, doing, shall live by them') states the law's life-promise. This clause is taken up by Paul at Rom 10:5 ('Moses writes that the man who does the righteousness from the law shall live by it') and Gal 3:12 ('the law is not of faith, but the one doing them shall live in them'), where it epitomizes law-righteousness over against faith; the same formula recurs at Ezek 20:11, 13, 21. The headline crux of the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάξεσθεyou shall keepFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (positive command)→ volitive future (imperatival force)φυλάσσω (mid.): 'guard / keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; resumes the keynote verb of v. 4, now with the totalizing πάντα — every ordinance and judgment without exception.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with προστάγματά)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / every'; the neuter plural πάντα totalizes the ordinances; the doubled πάντα … πάντα stresses the comprehensiveness of the demand.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with προστάγματά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προστάγματάordinancesAccusativedirect object of φυλάξεσθε→ object specificationπρόσταγμα: 'ordinance / statute'; renders חֻקָּה; here in the word-pair with κρίματα, denoting the whole body of YHWH's law.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my ordinances' — YHWH's own.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with κρίματά)→ object specificationπᾶς: the second πάντα totalizes the judgments, completing the merism 'all my ordinances and all my judgments' = the entire law.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with κρίματά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίματάjudgmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάξεσθε (parallel to προστάγματά)→ object specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / ordinance'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; paired with προστάγματα in the chapter's keyword-pair.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my judgments.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (positive command)→ volitive future (imperatival force)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; renders עָשָׂה; the keeping (φυλάσσω) and the doing (ποιέω) together express full observance — both intention and enactment of the law.
αὐτάthemAccusativedirect object of ποιήσετε (the ordinances and judgments)→ participant referenceαὐτός: neuter plural 'them,' resuming the ordinances and judgments as the object of doing.
ἃwhich thingsAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ποιήσας: 'which things, doing')→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: neuter plural accusative ἃ; the relative introduces the life-promise clause; its antecedent is the totality of YHWH's ordinances and judgments — 'which (things), the man who does them shall live by them.'
ποιήσαςhaving done / doingAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ποιέωcircumstantial/conditional participle (modifying ἄνθρωπος)→ conditional aorist participle ('if/when a man does them')ποιέω (aor. ptc.): the participle ποιήσας has conditional force — 'a man, if he does them' — agreeing with ἄνθρωπος; this is the crux clause cited at Rom 10:5 and Gal 3:12, where Paul reads it as defining the righteousness 'from the law' (the doer lives), in contrast to the righteousness of faith; the formula also recurs at Ezek 20:11, 13, 21.
ἄνθρωποςa manNominativesubject of ζήσεται→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / human being'; renders אָדָם; the generic 'man' makes the life-promise universal in scope — anyone who does the law lives by it; Paul universalizes this to expose the law's own terms (Gal 3:10–12).
ζήσεταιshall liveFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ζάωmain verb of the relative-promise clause→ predictive future (promise of life consequent on doing)ζάω: 'live'; renders חָיָה; the deponent future ζήσεται states the consequence of obedience — 'he shall live by them'; in its original Levitical context life means flourishing covenant existence in the land, but Paul (Rom 10:5; Gal 3:12) and the Ezekiel parallels press the verse toward the question of how one attains life before God.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (instrumental/sphere: 'by/in them')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in / by'; ἐν αὐτοῖς ('in/by them') is instrumental-locative — the ordinances are both the sphere and the means of the promised life; Gal 3:12 reproduces ἐν αὐτοῖς verbatim, Rom 10:5 the variant ἐν αὐτῇ.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (the ordinances)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'them,' the ordinances and judgments by which the obedient man lives.
ἐγὼINominativesubject of nominal clause (self-presentation formula)→ participant referenceἐγώ: heads the refrain ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν, sealing the life-promise with YHWH's identity.
κύριοςLORDNominativepredicate nominative ('I am the LORD')→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεὸς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition ('the LORD your God')→ participant prominenceθεός: renders אֱלֹהִים; the covenant formula.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (covenant relationship)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your God.'
6
ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος πρὸς πάντα οἰκεῖα σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ οὐ προσελεύσεται ἀποκαλύψαι ἀσχημοσύνην ἐγὼ κύριος
No man at all shall approach any blood-relation of his own flesh to uncover nakedness; I am the LORD.
The doubled ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος ('man, man') is a Hebraism rendering אִישׁ אִישׁ ('any man whatever'), a distributive idiom = 'no one at all.' The verse states the governing principle of vv. 6–18: no approach to a blood-relation (οἰκεῖα σαρκός) to uncover nakedness. The euphemism ἀποκαλύψαι ἀσχημοσύνην ('to uncover nakedness/shame') governs the entire catalogue; it is sealed by the short form of the refrain, ἐγὼ κύριος.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (first member of distributive reduplication)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / anyone'; the reduplication ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος calques the Hebrew distributive אִישׁ אִישׁ, 'any man whatsoever'; with the following negative it means 'no one at all.'
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (reduplication: distributive 'any man whatever')→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: the second member of the Hebraizing reduplication; the doubling intensifies the universality of the prohibition.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of approach)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; with προσελεύσεται denotes sexual approach (a euphemism), here forbidden toward a blood-relation.
πάνταany / allAccusativeattributive adjective (with οἰκεῖα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / any'; with the negative, πάντα … οὐ = 'not any' (Hebraism for 'none'); covers every degree of blood-kinship listed in the catalogue.
οἰκεῖαblood-relations / kinAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (substantivized: 'kin of his flesh')→ object specificationοἰκεῖος: 'belonging to the household / kindred'; substantivized neuter plural 'relatives, kin'; renders שְׁאֵר ('flesh-relation, near kin'); the phrase οἰκεῖα σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ ('kin of his own flesh') defines the category of consanguinity that follows.
σαρκὸςof fleshGenitivegenitive of relationship (with οἰκεῖα)→ relational specificationσάρξ: 'flesh'; renders בָּשָׂר; 'kin of his flesh' = those related by blood; the body/flesh idiom marks the consanguinity that grounds the incest prohibitions.
αὐτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive of possession (with σαρκὸς)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his own,' specifying that the prohibited kin are those of the man's own flesh and blood.
οὐnotnegative particle (with προσελεύσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ + future indicative renders the Hebrew apodictic prohibition לֹא + imperfect.
προσελεύσεταιshall approachFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · προσέρχομαιmain verb (prohibition: 'shall not approach')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)προσέρχομαι: 'come to / approach'; renders קָרַב ('draw near'); a euphemism for sexual approach (cf. the parallel Hebrew קָרַב לְגַלּוֹת); the singular verb after the distributive ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος applies to each individual.
ἀποκαλύψαιto uncoverAor Act Inf · ἀποκαλύπτωinfinitive of purpose (the aim of the forbidden approach)→ infinitive of purpose ('so as to uncover')ἀποκαλύπτω: 'uncover / reveal'; renders גִּלָּה ('uncover'); the idiom ἀποκαλύψαι ἀσχημοσύνην ('to uncover nakedness') calques גִּלָּה עֶרְוָה, the governing euphemism for illicit sexual access throughout vv. 6–19.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakedness / shameAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψαι→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'shamefulness / indecency / nakedness'; renders עֶרְוָה ('nakedness, pudenda'); literally 'unseemliness'; the LXX's standard euphemism for the genital/sexual sphere whose 'uncovering' denotes sexual intercourse; the keyword of the entire catalogue.
ἐγὼINominativesubject of nominal clause (short self-presentation formula)→ participant referenceἐγώ: heads the short refrain ἐγὼ κύριος ('I am the LORD'), which punctuates the catalogue (vv. 6, 21) as a seal of divine authority.
κύριοςLORDNominativepredicate nominative ('I am the LORD')→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the short formula ἐγὼ κύριος grounds the prohibition in YHWH's own holiness.
7
ἀσχημοσύνην πατρός σου καὶ ἀσχημοσύνην μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις μήτηρ γάρ σού ἐστιν καὶ οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς
The nakedness of your father and the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover; for she is your mother — you shall not uncover her nakedness.
The catalogue proper begins with the parents. 'The nakedness of your father' is understood as access to the father's wife — i.e. the mother — so that the two phrases coincide; the γάρ-clause ('for she is your mother') gives the rationale, and the repeated οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις forms the refrain that structures every entry. The fronted ἀσχημοσύνην is the marked theme of each prohibition.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness / shame'; renders עֶרְוָה; 'the nakedness of your father' denotes sexual access to the father's sexual sphere, here equated with access to the mother.
πατρόςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; renders אָב; 'the nakedness of the father' is, by the parallel clause, the nakedness that belongs to the father — i.e. his wife, the mother.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your father')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): the singular 'your' addresses each Israelite man individually throughout the catalogue.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (parallel)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: the second occurrence makes explicit that the mother's nakedness is in view.
μητρόςof motherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; renders אֵם; the mother is the first and most fundamental kinship-bond protected by the catalogue.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your mother')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your mother.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ before vowel) + future indicative: the apodictic prohibition refrain of the catalogue.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: 'uncover'; renders גִּלָּה; οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ('you shall not uncover') is the structuring refrain of vv. 7–17, repeated for each prohibited relation.
μήτηρmotherNominativepredicate nominative (in γάρ-clause)→ participant prominenceμήτηρ: 'mother'; the predicate of the explanatory clause 'for she is your mother,' giving the kinship-rationale for the prohibition.
γάρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the rationale; each prohibition in the catalogue is frequently grounded by a γάρ-clause stating the kinship relation that makes the union illicit.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your mother')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σού): 'your.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause: 'she is your mother')→ stative present (the abiding kinship-relation)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula states the unchanging relational fact that grounds the prohibition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (reiterated prohibition)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the reiterated prohibition with the explicit object τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ('her nakedness') closes the entry emphatically.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the explicit object referring to the mother.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the mother's nakedness)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem. αὐτῆς): 'her,' i.e. the mother's.
8
ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ἀσχημοσύνη πατρός σού ἐστιν
The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover; it is your father's nakedness.
The second specific entry: the father's wife (other than one's own mother — i.e. a stepmother). The rationale ἀσχημοσύνη πατρός σού ἐστιν ('it is your father's nakedness') treats the wife's sexuality as belonging to the husband, so that violating her violates the father. This is the union Paul condemns at 1 Cor 5:1 (a man 'has his father's wife').
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; here the nakedness of the father's wife.
γυναικὸςof wife / womanGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; 'the wife of your father' designates the stepmother (a wife other than one's own mother).
πατρόςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γυναικὸς)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; 'wife of the father' = stepmother.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your father's.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain; the union of a man with his father's wife is the very sin Paul names at 1 Cor 5:1 as πορνεία not even found among the nations.
ἀσχημοσύνηnakednessNominativepredicate nominative (rationale clause)→ participant prominenceἀσχημοσύνη: nominative as predicate of ἐστιν — 'it is your father's nakedness'; the wife's nakedness is reckoned as the father's own, so the offense is against the father.
πατρόςof fatherGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἀσχημοσύνη)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the rationale construes the stepmother's sexuality as the father's possession.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σού): 'your father's.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause: 'it is your father's nakedness')→ stative present (the abiding relation)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula states the rationale grounding the prohibition.
9
ἀσχημοσύνην τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου ἐκ πατρός σου ἢ ἐκ μητρός σου ἐνδογενοῦς ἢ γεγεννημένης ἔξω οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς
The nakedness of your sister, by your father or by your mother, whether home-born or born abroad — you shall not uncover her nakedness.
The sister-prohibition is comprehensive: whether by the same father or the same mother (half-siblings), and whether ἐνδογενοῦς ('home-born') or γεγεννημένης ἔξω ('born outside,' i.e. of a different household or abroad). The qualifications close every loophole of legitimacy or domicile.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the sister's nakedness.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with ἀδελφῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῆςof sisterGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationἀδελφή: 'sister'; renders אָחוֹת; the following qualifications make clear that both full and half sisters are intended.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your sister.'
ἐκfrom / bypreposition + genitive (source/parentage)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + gen.: 'from / out of'; here of parentage — 'a sister from your father,' i.e. sharing the same father.
πατρόςfatherGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; a paternal half-sister is in view.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your father.'
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the alternative parentage (maternal half-sister).
ἐκfrom / bypreposition + genitive (source/parentage)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + gen.: 'from'; the second parentage option.
μητρόςmotherGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; a maternal half-sister is in view.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your mother.'
ἐνδογενοῦςhome-bornGenitiveattributive adjective (with ἀδελφῆς)→ relational specificationἐνδογενής: 'born within (the household)'; a rare LXX compound rendering מוֹלֶדֶת בַּיִת ('born of the house'); designates a sister born and raised in the same household.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the contrasting domicile.
γεγεννημένηςbornPerf Pass Ptc Gen Fem Sg · γεννάωattributive participle (with ἀδελφῆς: 'one having been born')→ perfect participle (resultant state: 'born and so being')γεννάω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'beget / bear'; the perfect passive participle γεγεννημένης ('having been born') with ἔξω = 'born outside,' i.e. of a different household or abroad; the perfect stresses the abiding fact of her birth-status.
ἔξωoutside / abroadadverb of place (with γεγεννημένης)→ clausal contributionἔξω: 'outside'; renders חוּץ; 'born outside' (the household), contrasting with ἐνδογενοῦς; together the pair covers every circumstance of a sister's birth — no domicile makes the union licit.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the resumptive object closing the entry.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the sister's)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her,' the sister's.
10
ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς υἱοῦ σου ἢ θυγατρὸς θυγατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν ὅτι σὴ ἀσχημοσύνη ἐστίν
The nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter — you shall not uncover their nakedness; for it is your own nakedness.
The granddaughter through either a son or a daughter. The rationale ὅτι σὴ ἀσχημοσύνη ἐστίν ('for it is your own nakedness') grounds the prohibition not in a third party's honor but in the man's own — the granddaughter shares his flesh, so violating her is self-violation.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the granddaughter's nakedness.
θυγατρὸςof daughterGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; renders בַּת; 'the daughter of your son' = the son's daughter (granddaughter).
υἱοῦof sonGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θυγατρὸς)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the granddaughter through the male line.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your son's.'
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the granddaughter through the female line.
θυγατρὸςof daughterGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; 'the daughter of your daughter' = the daughter's daughter.
θυγατρόςof daughterGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θυγατρὸς)→ relational specificationθυγάτηρ: the granddaughter through the female line; the doubled θυγατρός marks 'daughter's daughter.'
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your daughter's.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; resumptive object.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the granddaughters')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their,' covering both kinds of granddaughter.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (introducing rationale)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the rationale clause, here varying the usual γάρ.
σὴyour ownNominativepossessive adjective (predicate: 'it is your own')→ participant prominenceσός, σή, σόν: possessive adjective 'your (own)'; the emphatic σὴ ἀσχημοσύνη ('your own nakedness') grounds the prohibition in the man's own flesh — the granddaughter is his descendant.
ἀσχημοσύνηnakednessNominativepredicate nominative (rationale clause)→ participant prominenceἀσχημοσύνη: 'it is your own nakedness' — the offense is reckoned as against oneself, because the granddaughter is one's own flesh and blood.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause)→ stative present (the abiding kinship-relation)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the rationale clause.
11
ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς γυναικὸς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ὁμοπατρία ἀδελφή σού ἐστιν οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς
The nakedness of the daughter of your father's wife you shall not uncover; she is your sister by the same father — you shall not uncover her nakedness.
The daughter of the father's wife, glossed by ὁμοπατρία ἀδελφή ('a sister of the same father'), reinforces and specifies the sister-prohibition of v. 9: a half-sister through the father, even if born to the father's other wife, is forbidden. The rare term ὁμοπατρία ('sharing the same father') makes the kinship explicit.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the half-sister's nakedness.
θυγατρὸςof daughterGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; 'the daughter of your father's wife.'
γυναικὸςof wifeGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θυγατρὸς)→ relational specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the father's wife — here yielding a paternal half-sister.
πατρόςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γυναικὸς)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the father whose wife bore the daughter.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your father's.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain.
ὁμοπατρίαof the same fatherNominativeattributive adjective (with ἀδελφή)→ participant prominenceὁμοπάτριος: 'born of the same father, sharing a father'; a precise Greek kinship term clarifying that the father's wife's daughter is a paternal half-sister, hence forbidden as a sister.
ἀδελφήsisterNominativepredicate nominative ('she is your sister')→ participant prominenceἀδελφή: 'sister'; the predicate of the rationale clause — the half-sister relation makes the union incestuous.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σού): 'your sister.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause)→ stative present (the abiding kinship-relation)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the rationale clause.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (reiterated prohibition)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the reiterated prohibition with explicit object closes the entry.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; resumptive object.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the half-sister's)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her.'
12
ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις οἰκεία γὰρ πατρός σού ἐστιν
The nakedness of your father's sister you shall not uncover; for she is a blood-relation of your father.
The father's sister (paternal aunt). The rationale οἰκεία … πατρός σού ('she is a blood-relation of your father') extends the kinship of v. 6 (οἰκεῖα σαρκός) to collateral relations: the aunt belongs to the father's flesh and so is forbidden. The parallel maternal aunt follows in v. 13.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the paternal aunt's nakedness.
ἀδελφῆςof sisterGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationἀδελφή: 'sister'; 'the sister of your father' = the paternal aunt.
πατρόςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀδελφῆς)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the aunt on the father's side.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your father's.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain.
οἰκείαblood-relation / kinNominativepredicate nominative ('she is a kin of your father')→ participant prominenceοἰκεῖος (fem. οἰκεία): 'belonging to the family, kin'; renders שְׁאֵר; resumes the keyword of v. 6 — the aunt is a near blood-relation of the father, hence forbidden.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the kinship-rationale.
πατρόςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with οἰκεία)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the aunt is kin 'of your father.'
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σού): 'your father's.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause)→ stative present (the abiding kinship-relation)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the rationale clause.
13
ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις οἰκεία γὰρ μητρός σού ἐστιν
The nakedness of your mother's sister you shall not uncover; for she is a blood-relation of your mother.
The exact maternal counterpart of v. 12: the mother's sister, forbidden because οἰκεία … μητρός σού ('a blood-relation of your mother'). The verse is verbally identical to v. 12 except for the substitution of μητρός for πατρός, completing the aunt-pair.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the maternal aunt's nakedness.
ἀδελφῆςof sisterGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationἀδελφή: 'sister'; 'the sister of your mother' = the maternal aunt.
μητρόςof motherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀδελφῆς)→ relational specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; the aunt on the mother's side.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your mother's.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain.
οἰκείαblood-relation / kinNominativepredicate nominative ('she is a kin of your mother')→ participant prominenceοἰκεῖος (fem. οἰκεία): 'kin / family-relation'; renders שְׁאֵר; the maternal aunt is near kin of the mother.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the kinship-rationale.
μητρόςof motherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with οἰκεία)→ relational specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; the aunt is kin 'of your mother.'
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σού): 'your mother's.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause)→ stative present (the abiding kinship-relation)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the rationale clause.
14
ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφοῦ τοῦ πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις καὶ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ συγγενὴς γάρ σού ἐστιν
The nakedness of your father's brother you shall not uncover, and you shall not go in to his wife; for she is your kinswoman.
The 'nakedness of the father's brother' (the paternal uncle) is uncovered through his wife: hence the clarifying second clause οὐ εἰσελεύσῃ ('you shall not go in to his wife'). The verb εἰσέρχομαι πρός ('go in to') is a fresh sexual euphemism alongside ἀποκαλύπτω; the rationale συγγενής ('she is your kinswoman') grounds the prohibition in affinity.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the uncle's nakedness, accessed through his wife.
ἀδελφοῦof brotherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother'; 'the brother of your father' = the paternal uncle.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πατρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρόςof fatherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀδελφοῦ)→ relational specificationπατήρ: 'father'; the uncle on the father's side.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your father's.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the explanatory parallel)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (sexual approach)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to'; with εἰσέρχομαι forms the euphemism 'go in to (a woman)' for sexual relations.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the uncle's wife)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the uncle's wife, the aunt-by-marriage, access to whom uncovers the uncle's nakedness.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the uncle's wife)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his,' i.e. the uncle's.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with εἰσελεύσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσελεύσῃyou shall go inFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not go in to')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; renders בּוֹא אֶל; the idiom εἰσέρχομαι πρὸς (γυναῖκα) ('go in to a woman') is a standard biblical euphemism for sexual intercourse (cf. Gen 6:4; 16:2); a fresh euphemism beside ἀποκαλύπτω.
συγγενὴςkinswoman / relativeNominativepredicate nominative ('she is your kinswoman')→ participant prominenceσυγγενής: 'related by birth, kinsman/kinswoman'; renders דּוֹדָה ('aunt') by way of the kinship she enters through marriage; the rationale grounds the prohibition in the affinal bond.
γάρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the rationale.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of relationship ('your kinswoman')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σού): 'your.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause)→ stative present (the abiding kinship-relation)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the rationale clause.
15
ἀσχημοσύνην νύμφης σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις γυνὴ γὰρ υἱοῦ σού ἐστιν οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς
The nakedness of your daughter-in-law you shall not uncover; for she is your son's wife — you shall not uncover her nakedness.
The daughter-in-law (νύμφη), forbidden because γυνὴ … υἱοῦ σού ('she is your son's wife'). As with the father's wife (v. 8), the prohibition rests on affinity: she belongs sexually to the son, so the father is barred. The reiterated οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις closes the entry.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the daughter-in-law's nakedness.
νύμφηςof daughter-in-lawGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationνύμφη: 'bride / daughter-in-law'; renders כַּלָּה; here in the sense 'son's wife,' as the rationale specifies.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your daughter-in-law.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain.
γυνὴwifeNominativepredicate nominative ('she is your son's wife')→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'wife / woman'; the predicate of the rationale — she is the wife of the man's son, hence forbidden by affinity.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the rationale.
υἱοῦof sonGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γυνὴ)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; 'wife of your son.'
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σού): 'your son's.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause)→ stative present (the abiding affinal relation)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the rationale clause.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (reiterated prohibition)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the reiterated prohibition with explicit object closes the entry.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; resumptive object.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the daughter-in-law's)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her.'
16
ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς ἀδελφοῦ σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ἀσχημοσύνη ἀδελφοῦ σού ἐστιν
The nakedness of your brother's wife you shall not uncover; it is your brother's nakedness.
The brother's wife, forbidden because ἀσχημοσύνη ἀδελφοῦ σού ('it is your brother's nakedness') — parallel in form to v. 8 (father's wife). This prohibition stands in tension with the levirate duty of Deut 25:5; the rabbis and the NT (cf. the Herodias controversy, Mark 6:18, where John rebukes Herod for taking his brother's wife) wrestled with the relation between the two laws.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the brother's wife's nakedness.
γυναικὸςof wifeGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationγυνή: 'wife'; 'the wife of your brother.'
ἀδελφοῦof brotherGenitivegenitive of relationship (with γυναικὸς)→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother'; the sister-in-law.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your brother's.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain; the prohibition is suspended by the levirate exception of Deut 25:5 in the specific case of a brother dying childless.
ἀσχημοσύνηnakednessNominativepredicate nominative (rationale clause)→ participant prominenceἀσχημοσύνη: nominative predicate — 'it is your brother's nakedness'; the wife's nakedness is reckoned as the brother's own.
ἀδελφοῦof brotherGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἀσχημοσύνη)→ relational specificationἀδελφός: 'brother'; the offense is reckoned against the brother.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σού): 'your brother's.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause)→ stative present (the abiding affinal relation)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the rationale clause.
17
ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς καὶ θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν θυγατέρα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτῆς καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐ λήμψῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν οἰκεῖαι γάρ σού εἰσιν ἀσέβημά ἐστιν
The nakedness of a woman and of her daughter you shall not uncover; her son's daughter and her daughter's daughter you shall not take to uncover their nakedness, for they are your kinswomen; it is an impiety.
A compound prohibition: a man may not take both a woman and her daughter (or granddaughters). The verb λαμβάνω ('take') joins ἀποκαλύπτω and εἰσέρχομαι as a third euphemism. The entry is uniquely sealed not by the kinship-rationale alone but by the verdict ἀσέβημά ἐστιν ('it is an impiety / wickedness'), escalating from prohibition to moral denunciation.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψεις (fronted theme)→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; here of a woman together with her daughter.
γυναικὸςof a womanGenitivegenitive of relationship (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ relational specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the primary woman whose daughter is also forbidden.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
θυγατρὸςof daughterGenitivegenitive of relationship (coordinate with γυναικὸς)→ relational specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the woman's daughter, forbidden together with the mother.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the woman's daughter)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her,' the woman's.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἀποκαλύψεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειςyou shall uncoverFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (prohibition refrain)→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἀποκαλύπτω: the catalogue refrain.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυγατέρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραdaughterAccusativedirect object of λήμψῃ (the woman's granddaughter)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; 'the daughter of her son' = the woman's granddaughter through her son.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with υἱοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῦof sonGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θυγατέρα)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the granddaughter through the woman's son.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the woman's son)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her,' the woman's.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυγατέρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέραdaughterAccusativedirect object of λήμψῃ (granddaughter through daughter)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; 'the daughter of her daughter' = the woman's granddaughter through her daughter.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with θυγατρὸς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατρὸςof daughterGenitivegenitive of relationship (with θυγατέρα)→ relational specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the granddaughter through the woman's daughter.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the woman's daughter)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her,' the woman's.
οὐnotnegative particle (with λήμψῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψῃyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not take')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח ('take in marriage / take sexually'); a third euphemism for sexual union (beside ἀποκαλύπτω and εἰσέρχομαι); 'take' (a woman) is the common biblical idiom for marrying or taking a woman sexually.
ἀποκαλύψαιto uncoverAor Act Inf · ἀποκαλύπτωinfinitive of purpose (the aim of 'taking')→ infinitive of purpose ('so as to uncover')ἀποκαλύπτω (aor. inf.): the purpose-infinitive 'to uncover their nakedness,' restating the governing idiom in infinitival form.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψαι→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the object of the purpose-infinitive.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the women's)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their,' covering the woman and her descendants.
οἰκεῖαιkinswomenNominativepredicate nominative ('they are your kin')→ participant prominenceοἰκεῖος (fem. pl. οἰκεῖαι): 'kin / family-relations'; renders שְׁאֵר; the descendants are reckoned as the man's near kin through the marriage.
γάρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the kinship-rationale.
σούyourGenitivegenitive of relationship ('your kinswomen')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σού): 'your.'
εἰσινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (nominal clause: 'they are your kin')→ stative present (the abiding kinship-relation)εἰμί (3 pl.): 'are'; the plural copula agrees with οἰκεῖαι.
ἀσέβημάan impiety / wickednessNominativepredicate nominative (verdict: 'it is an impiety')→ participant prominenceἀσέβημα: 'act of impiety / wickedness'; renders זִמָּה ('depravity, lewdness'); the verdict escalates from prohibition to denunciation — this union is not merely forbidden but is named an act of ungodliness; cf. the comparable verdicts βδέλυγμα (v. 22) and μυσερόν (v. 23).
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (verdict clause: 'it is an impiety')→ stative present (the abiding moral character of the act)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the verdict clause.
18
γυναῖκα ἐπὶ ἀδελφῇ αὐτῆς οὐ λήμψῃ ἀντίζηλον ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ ἔτι ζώσης αὐτῆς
A woman together with her sister you shall not take as a rival, to uncover her nakedness against her, while she is still living.
The final entry of the kinship-catalogue: a man may not take his wife's sister ἀντίζηλον ('as a rival') during the wife's lifetime — the very situation of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel (Gen 29). The temporal limit ἔτι ζώσης αὐτῆς ('while she is still living') distinguishes this from an absolute prohibition: it is the rivalry within a living marriage, not affinity as such, that is forbidden.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
γυναῖκαwoman / wifeAccusativedirect object of λήμψῃ→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the wife's sister whom the man is forbidden to take alongside her.
ἐπὶin addition to / againstpreposition + dative ('in addition to / over against')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: here 'in addition to / alongside'; γυναῖκα ἐπὶ ἀδελφῇ = 'a woman in addition to her sister,' i.e. taking the sister as a second wife alongside the first.
ἀδελφῇsisterDativedative object of ἐπί (the wife already married)→ sphere or referenceἀδελφή: 'sister'; the wife's sister; the prohibition targets sororal polygamy that creates rivalry.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of relationship (the wife's sister)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her,' i.e. the first wife's sister.
οὐnotnegative particle (with λήμψῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψῃyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not take')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)λαμβάνω: 'take (in marriage)'; renders לָקַח; the euphemism for taking a woman as wife/sexual partner.
ἀντίζηλονas a rivalAccusativepredicate accusative (object complement: 'as a rival')→ object specificationἀντίζηλος: 'rival, competitor (esp. a rival wife)'; renders the sense of צָרַר ('to vex as a rival'); the term names the destructive co-wife rivalry the prohibition aims to prevent (cf. Hannah and Peninnah, 1 Sam 1:6).
ἀποκαλύψαιto uncoverAor Act Inf · ἀποκαλύπτωinfinitive of purpose (the aim of taking the rival)→ infinitive of purpose ('so as to uncover')ἀποκαλύπτω (aor. inf.): the purpose-infinitive restates the governing idiom.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψαι→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the sister's nakedness.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the sister's)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her,' the sister's.
ἐπ᾿againstpreposition + dative ('over/against her')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'against / in addition to'; ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ ('against her,' the living wife) marks the rivalry-relation between the two sisters.
αὐτῇherDativedative object of ἐπί (the first wife)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. fem.): 'her,' the first wife, against whom the sister would be a rival.
ἔτιstilladverb (temporal: 'while still')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet'; with the genitive absolute marks the temporal limit — only while the wife lives is the union forbidden.
ζώσηςlivingPres Act Ptc Gen Fem Sg · ζάωgenitive absolute participle ('while she is living')→ present participle in genitive absolute (contemporaneous time)ζάω (pres. ptc.): 'live'; the genitive absolute ἔτι ζώσης αὐτῆς ('while she is still living') sets the temporal boundary; after the wife's death the levirate-type union with the sister would not fall under this rivalry-prohibition.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (subject of the absolute participle: the wife)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her,' the wife, the subject of the genitive-absolute.
19
καὶ πρὸς γυναῖκα ἐν χωρισμῷ ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῆς οὐ προσελεύσῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς
And to a woman in the separation of her uncleanness you shall not approach, to uncover her nakedness.
The catalogue now broadens beyond kinship to states and acts: intercourse with a woman ἐν χωρισμῷ ἀκαθαρσίας ('in the separation of her uncleanness'), i.e. during menstruation, when she is ritually impure (cf. Lev 15:19–24; 20:18). The euphemism shifts back to προσέρχομαι ('approach') from v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (transition to non-kinship prohibitions)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (sexual approach)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to'; with προσέρχομαι, sexual approach.
γυναῖκαa womanAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; here a woman during menstrual impurity.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (state/condition)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (state/condition).
χωρισμῷseparationDativedative of state (the condition of impurity)→ sphere or referenceχωρισμός: 'separation / setting apart'; renders נִדָּה ('menstrual separation'); the menstruant was 'set apart' as ritually unclean (Lev 15:19–24); the term marks the state during which intercourse is forbidden.
ἀκαθαρσίαςof uncleannessGenitivegenitive of definition (with χωρισμῷ)→ relational specificationἀκαθαρσία: 'uncleanness / impurity'; renders טֻמְאָה; specifies the kind of separation — that of ritual menstrual impurity; in the NT ἀκαθαρσία broadens into a moral-sexual category (cf. Rom 1:24; Gal 5:19).
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her uncleanness)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her,' the woman's.
οὐnotnegative particle (with προσελεύσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσελεύσῃyou shall approachFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · προσέρχομαιmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not approach')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)προσέρχομαι: 'approach'; renders קָרַב; the euphemism for sexual approach resumed from v. 6, now of the menstruant.
ἀποκαλύψαιto uncoverAor Act Inf · ἀποκαλύπτωinfinitive of purpose (the aim of approaching)→ infinitive of purpose ('so as to uncover')ἀποκαλύπτω (aor. inf.): the purpose-infinitive restates the governing idiom.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀσχημοσύνην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀσχημοσύνηνnakednessAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψαι→ object specificationἀσχημοσύνη: 'nakedness'; the object of the purpose-infinitive.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (the woman's)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'her,' the woman's.
20
καὶ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ πλησίον σου οὐ δώσεις κοίτην σπέρματός σου ἐκμιανθῆναι πρὸς αὐτήν
And to the wife of your neighbor you shall not give your bed of seed, to be defiled with her.
Adultery, expressed by the idiom οὐ δώσεις κοίτην σπέρματός σου ('you shall not give your bed/emission of seed'); the result-infinitive ἐκμιανθῆναι ('to be defiled') introduces the defilement-vocabulary (μιαίνω) that dominates the closing frame (vv. 24–30). The same verb δίδωμι recurs at v. 21 (giving seed to Molech) and v. 23 (giving the bed to a beast), linking the three by a deliberate idiom of 'giving.'
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (sexual approach)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to'; toward the neighbor's wife.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the neighbor's wife)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the neighbor's wife — adultery here joins the catalogue, echoing the seventh commandment (Exod 20:14).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with πλησίον)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλησίονneighborGenitivegenitive of possession (the neighbor's wife)→ relational specificationπλησίον: 'neighbor'; renders רֵעַ; substantivized adverb; 'the wife of your neighbor' is the object of the adultery-prohibition.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your neighbor')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your.'
οὐnotnegative particle (with δώσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειςyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not give')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the idiom οὐ δώσεις κοίτην σπέρματός σου ('you shall not give your lying/emission of seed') = 'you shall not have intercourse'; δίδωμι recurs at vv. 21, 23, linking adultery, Molech-worship, and bestiality as illicit 'givings.'
κοίτηνbed / lyingAccusativedirect object of δώσεις (cognate-type object)→ object specificationκοίτη: 'bed / act of lying (sexual)'; renders שְׁכֹבֶת; the phrase κοίτην σπέρματος ('emission/lying of seed') is the LXX idiom for sexual intercourse (cf. Lev 15:16–18); from κοίτη derives the NT κοίτη/ἀρσενοκοίτης vocabulary (cf. 1 Cor 6:9).
σπέρματόςof seedGenitivegenitive of definition (with κοίτην)→ relational specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / semen / offspring'; renders זֶרַע; here in the physical sense 'emission of seed'; the same word for 'seed' is used differently at v. 21 (offspring given to Molech).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your seed')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your.'
ἐκμιανθῆναιto be defiledAor Pass Inf · ἐκμιαίνωinfinitive of result/purpose ('so as to be defiled')→ infinitive of result (the defiling consequence)ἐκμιαίνω (aor. pass. inf.): 'defile utterly / pollute'; an intensive compound of μιαίνω (renders טָמֵא); the passive 'to be defiled with her' introduces the defilement-theme that governs vv. 24–30, where the same root describes the land's pollution.
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative ('with/toward her')→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'with / toward'; ἐκμιανθῆναι πρὸς αὐτήν = 'to be defiled with her.'
αὐτήνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the neighbor's wife)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem.): 'her,' the neighbor's wife.
21
καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ σπέρματός σου οὐ δώσεις λατρεύειν ἄρχοντι καὶ οὐ βεβηλώσεις τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ἅγιον ἐγὼ κύριος
And of your seed you shall not give to serve a ruler, and you shall not profane the holy Name; I am the LORD.
The Molech-prohibition (Hebrew לַמֹּלֶךְ); the LXX renders the divine name Μολοχ here interpretively as ἄρχοντι ('to a ruler'), reading the consonants as the common noun מֶלֶךְ ('king/ruler') and λατρεύειν ('to serve/worship') making the cultic sense explicit. To give one's σπέρμα ('seed/offspring') to Molech is child-sacrifice, which profanes (βεβηλώσεις) the holy Name; the verse is sealed by the short refrain ἐγὼ κύριος. The placement of an idolatry-law amid sexual prohibitions reflects the close OT association of πορνεία with idolatry.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of your seed')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό + gen.: partitive 'of / from'; 'of your seed' — i.e. any of your offspring.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with σπέρματός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σπέρματόςseed / offspringGenitivegenitive (partitive object of δώσεις)→ relational specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / offspring'; renders זֶרַע; here in the sense 'children' (offspring), not physical semen as in v. 20 — the same word bridges the adultery and Molech prohibitions; to 'give of one's seed' to Molech is to offer one's children.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your seed')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your.'
οὐnotnegative particle (with δώσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειςyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not give')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the same verb as v. 20 (giving the bed) and v. 23 (giving the bed to a beast); here 'giving' one's offspring to a foreign cult — the deliberate verbal echo binds idolatry to sexual sin.
λατρεύεινto serve / worshipPres Act Inf · λατρεύωinfinitive of purpose ('to serve [a ruler]')→ infinitive of purpose (cultic service)λατρεύω: 'serve / render cultic worship'; renders עָבַד in the cultic sense; the LXX makes explicit that 'giving seed to Molech' is an act of idolatrous service; λατρεύω is the standard LXX/NT word for religious worship (cf. Rom 1:25, where idolaters 'served the creature').
ἄρχοντιa ruler [Molech]Dativedative object of λατρεύειν (the deity served)→ sphere or referenceἄρχων: 'ruler / chief'; here the LXX's interpretive rendering of the Hebrew מֹלֶךְ (Molech), read as מֶלֶךְ ('king/ruler'); the Greek thus vocalizes the Canaanite child-devouring deity's name as the common noun 'ruler,' obscuring (or de-mythologizing) the proper name while retaining the cultic act of 'serving.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with βεβηλώσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βεβηλώσειςyou shall profaneFut Act Indic 2 Sg · βεβηλόωmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not profane')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)βεβηλόω: 'profane / make common / desecrate'; renders חִלֵּל; child-sacrifice to Molech profanes the holy Name because it attributes to a foreign cult what belongs to YHWH; the verb is central to the Holiness Code's concern for the sanctity of the Name (cf. Lev 19:12; 22:32).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὄνομα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object of βεβηλώσεις→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; renders שֵׁם; 'the holy Name' is the divine Name (the Tetragrammaton); its profanation through Molech-worship is the gravest dimension of the sin.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἅγιον, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅγιονholyAccusativeattributive adjective (with ὄνομα: 'the holy name')→ object specificationἅγιος: 'holy / set apart'; renders קֹדֶשׁ / קָדוֹשׁ; the holiness of the Name is the theological center of the Holiness Code (Lev 17–26); profaning it is the antithesis of the call 'be holy, for I am holy' (Lev 19:2).
ἐγὼINominativesubject of nominal clause (short self-presentation formula)→ participant referenceἐγώ: heads the short refrain ἐγὼ κύριος, sealing the Molech-prohibition with the divine identity whose Name was at stake.
κύριοςLORDNominativepredicate nominative ('I am the LORD')→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה — the very holy Name not to be profaned.
22
καὶ μετὰ ἄρσενος οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ κοίτην γυναικός βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστιν
And with a male you shall not lie the lying of a woman; for it is an abomination.
The prohibition of male homosexual intercourse: 'with a male you shall not lie the lying of a woman' (κοίτην γυναικός, a cognate-type accusative). The verdict βδέλυγμα ('abomination') marks it as a category of supreme cultic-moral revulsion. This verse and its parallel at Lev 20:13 stand behind the Pauline term ἀρσενοκοῖται (1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim 1:10), apparently coined from the LXX pairing ἄρσην + κοίτη, and behind the indictment of Rom 1:27.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment: 'with a male')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + gen.: 'with'; the partner of the forbidden act.
ἄρσενοςa maleGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationἄρσην / ἄρρην: 'male'; renders זָכָר; the term emphasizes biological sex; the LXX pairing ἄρσην + κοίτη here and at Lev 20:13 is the apparent source of Paul's compound ἀρσενοκοίτης (1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim 1:10).
οὐnotnegative particle (with κοιμηθήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κοιμηθήσῃyou shall lieFut Pass Indic 2 Sg · κοιμάωmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not lie')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)κοιμάω (fut. pass. dep.): 'lie down / sleep'; renders שָׁכַב; the passive-deponent future 'you shall (not) lie' is the standard euphemism for sexual intercourse; with κοίτην γυναικός it specifies the manner — 'as one lies with a woman.'
κοίτηνthe lying / bedAccusativecognate accusative (manner: 'the lying of a woman')→ object specificationκοίτη: 'bed / act of lying'; renders מִשְׁכַּב; the accusative κοίτην γυναικός ('the lying of/with a woman') is a cognate-type accusative of manner defining the act; the LXX idiom κοίτην + κοιμάομαι/ἄρσην generates the NT ἀρσενοκοίτης.
γυναικόςof a womanGenitivegenitive of definition (with κοίτην)→ relational specificationγυνή: 'woman'; 'the lying of a woman' = the manner of intercourse proper to a woman; the prohibition is of treating a male as the sexual partner proper to heterosexual union.
βδέλυγμαan abominationNominativepredicate nominative (verdict: 'it is an abomination')→ participant prominenceβδέλυγμα: 'abomination / detestable thing'; renders תּוֹעֵבָה; the strongest LXX term of cultic-moral revulsion; its application here (and at Lev 20:13) categorizes the act with idolatry and other תּוֹעֵבֹת; the word reverberates through the closing frame as τὰ βδελύγματα (vv. 26, 27, 29).
γάρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the verdict-rationale.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (verdict clause: 'it is an abomination')→ stative present (the abiding moral character of the act)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the verdict clause.
23
καὶ πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν οὐ δώσεις τὴν κοίτην σου εἰς σπερματισμὸν ἐκμιανθῆναι πρὸς αὐτό καὶ γυνὴ οὐ στήσεται πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν βιβασθῆναι μυσερὸν γάρ ἐστιν
And to any quadruped you shall not give your bed for insemination, to be defiled with it; and a woman shall not stand before any quadruped to be mounted; for it is a loathsome thing.
The bestiality-prohibition, stated for both sexes: a man may not 'give his bed' to a beast for insemination (the δίδωμι-idiom of vv. 20–21 again), and a woman may not 'stand before' a beast to be mounted (βιβασθῆναι). The verdict μυσερόν ('a loathsome/defiling thing,' rendering תֶּבֶל, 'perversion / confusion') seals it as a violation of the created order. With v. 22 this verse is part of the Levitical substrate of the apostolic decree (Acts 15) and 1 Cor 6:9.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (sexual approach)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; toward a beast.
πᾶνanyAccusativeattributive adjective (with τετράπουν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / any'; with the negative, 'not any beast at all.'
τετράπουνquadruped / beastAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationτετράπους: 'four-footed (animal), quadruped'; renders בְּהֵמָה; the animal partner of the forbidden act; the term stresses the bestial otherness that makes the union a confusion of creaturely kinds.
οὐnotnegative particle (with δώσεις)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειςyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not give')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)δίδωμι: 'give'; the third occurrence of the 'giving' idiom (vv. 20, 21, 23), here 'give your bed to a beast'; the threefold repetition binds adultery, Molech-worship, and bestiality as illicit givings of what belongs to the covenant order.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κοίτην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοίτηνbed / lyingAccusativedirect object of δώσεις→ object specificationκοίτη: 'bed / act of lying (sexual)'; renders שְׁכֹבֶת; 'your bed/lying' given to a beast = bestial intercourse.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your bed')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your.'
εἰςfor / untopreposition + accusative (purpose/result)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + acc.: 'for / unto'; expressing purpose — 'for insemination.'
σπερματισμὸνinseminationAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose: 'for insemination')→ object specificationσπερματισμός: 'emission of seed / insemination'; a rare LXX abstract noun (from σπέρμα); renders the sense of שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע; specifies the sexual nature of the prohibited contact with the beast.
ἐκμιανθῆναιto be defiledAor Pass Inf · ἐκμιαίνωinfinitive of result ('so as to be defiled')→ infinitive of result (the defiling consequence)ἐκμιαίνω (aor. pass. inf.): 'defile utterly'; the same intensive compound as v. 20; the recurring defilement-vocabulary anticipates the land's pollution (vv. 24–28).
πρὸςwithpreposition + accusative ('with it')→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'with / toward'; ἐκμιανθῆναι πρὸς αὐτό = 'to be defiled with it.'
αὐτόitAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the beast)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. neut.): 'it,' the beast (neuter, agreeing with τετράπουν).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing female counterpart)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γυνὴa womanNominativesubject of στήσεται→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman'; the prohibition is now stated for the female case, ensuring completeness — bestiality is forbidden to both sexes.
οὐnotnegative particle (with στήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στήσεταιshall stand / present herselfFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (prohibition: 'shall not stand before')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ἵστημι (fut. mid.): 'stand / present oneself'; renders עָמַד; the middle 'shall not stand before/present herself to' a beast is a euphemism for a woman offering herself for bestial copulation.
πρὸςbeforepreposition + accusative (position: 'before a beast')→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'before / toward'; the beast before which she would present herself.
πᾶνanyAccusativeattributive adjective (with τετράπουν)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'any'; 'any beast at all.'
τετράπουνquadruped / beastAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationτετράπους: 'quadruped'; the animal in the female case of the prohibition.
βιβασθῆναιto be mounted / coveredAor Pass Inf · βιβάζωinfinitive of purpose ('to be mounted')→ infinitive of purpose (the aim of standing before the beast)βιβάζω (aor. pass. inf.): 'cause to mount / cover (of animal breeding)'; renders רָבַע; the passive βιβασθῆναι ('to be mounted/covered') is a technical breeding-term applied here to the unnatural act; its use underscores the confusion of human and animal kinds.
μυσερὸνa loathsome thingNominativepredicate nominative (verdict: 'it is loathsome')→ participant prominenceμυσερός (μυσαρός): 'foul / loathsome / defiling'; renders תֶּבֶל ('perversion / confusion'); the verdict (parallel to βδέλυγμα, v. 22, and ἀσέβημα, v. 17) names bestiality a violation of the created ordering of kinds — a 'confusion.'
γάρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the verdict-rationale.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (verdict clause: 'it is a loathsome thing')→ stative present (the abiding moral character of the act)εἰμί: 'be'; the copula of the verdict clause.
24
μὴ μιαίνεσθε ἐν πᾶσιν τούτοις ἐν πᾶσι γὰρ τούτοις ἐμιάνθησαν τὰ ἔθνη ἃ ἐγὼ ἐξαποστέλλω πρὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν
Do not defile yourselves in any of these things; for in all these things the nations defiled themselves, which I am driving out before your face.
The closing frame (vv. 24–30) begins with a prohibitive present imperative μὴ μιαίνεσθε ('do not defile yourselves'), introducing the leitmotif μιαίνω ('defile'), which recurs five times in vv. 24–30. The γάρ-clause gives the rationale: the nations YHWH is dispossessing defiled themselves precisely by these acts; their expulsion is judicial, not arbitrary — the moral logic that will be turned as a warning against Israel in v. 28.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
μὴnotnegative particle (with present imperative)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative used with the imperative/subjunctive; μὴ + present imperative μιαίνεσθε prohibits an ongoing or general practice — 'do not be defiling yourselves.'
μιαίνεσθεdefile yourselvesPres Mid/Pass Impv 2 Pl · μιαίνωmain verb (prohibitive present imperative)→ prohibitive present imperative (general prohibition)μιαίνω: 'defile / pollute / stain'; renders טָמֵא; the keyword of the closing frame (vv. 24, 25, 27, 28, 30); the middle/passive 'defile yourselves' makes Israel the moral agent of its own potential pollution.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (instrumental/sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in / by'; the means or sphere of defilement — 'in/by all these things' (the acts of vv. 6–23).
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective (with τούτοις)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; totalizes the preceding catalogue.
τούτοιςthese thingsDativedative object of ἐν (the catalogued acts)→ sphere or referenceοὗτος: 'these'; refers back to the whole catalogue of forbidden unions and acts (vv. 6–23).
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (instrumental/sphere, repeated)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: the repetition (ἐν πᾶσι … τούτοις) emphatically links Israel's potential defilement to the nations' actual defilement.
πᾶσιallDativeattributive adjective (with τούτοις)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all.'
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the rationale — the nations' self-defilement justifies their dispossession and warns Israel.
τούτοιςthese thingsDativedative object of ἐν (the catalogued acts)→ sphere or referenceοὗτος: 'these'; the same catalogued acts.
ἐμιάνθησανwere defiledAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · μιαίνωmain verb of γάρ-clause (the nations' defilement)→ constative aorist (the completed self-defilement of the nations)μιαίνω (aor. pass.): 'were defiled / defiled themselves'; the aorist states the accomplished moral pollution of the Canaanite nations through these very practices — the ground of their judgment.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ἔθνη)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsNominativesubject of ἐμιάνθησαν→ participant prominenceἔθνος (pl. ἔθνη): 'nations / gentiles'; renders גּוֹיִם; the Canaanite peoples whose defiling practices led to their dispossession; in the NT τὰ ἔθνη becomes 'the gentiles,' and Lev 18 supplies the moral template by which gentile sexual practice is judged (Rom 1; Acts 15).
ἃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐξαποστέλλω)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: neuter plural ἃ, agreeing with ἔθνη; introduces the relative clause of dispossession.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic: YHWH the one driving out)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun stresses YHWH's own agency in dispossessing the nations — the conquest is divine judgment on their defilement.
ἐξαποστέλλωI am driving out / sending awayPres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωverb of relative clause (futuristic/progressive present)→ futuristic-progressive present (the imminent, certain dispossession)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / expel / drive out'; renders שָׁלַח / גָּרַשׁ; the present expresses the certainty of the imminent dispossession of the Canaanites before Israel's advance.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (position: 'before')→ spatial or relational framingπρό + gen.: 'before'; in the Hebraism πρὸ προσώπου ('before the face of').
προσώπουfaceGenitivegenitive object of πρό (Hebraism: 'before the face of')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; the idiom πρὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν ('before your face') calques the Hebrew מִפְּנֵיכֶם ('from before you'), a Semitic spatial idiom for 'ahead of / in advance of you.'
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession ('your face')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your,' Israel's; the nations are driven out ahead of Israel's entry.
25
καὶ ἐμιάνθη ἡ γῆ καὶ ἀνταπέδωκα ἀδικίαν αὐτοῖς δι᾿ αὐτήν καὶ προσώχθισεν ἡ γῆ τοῖς ἐγκαθημένοις ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς
And the land was defiled, and I repaid their iniquity upon them because of it, and the land was vexed at those who dwell upon it.
The theology of the land as a moral organism: it 'was defiled' (ἐμιάνθη), YHWH 'repaid iniquity' (ἀνταπέδωκα ἀδικίαν), and the land itself 'was vexed at' (προσώχθισεν) its inhabitants. προσοχθίζω ('be vexed/disgusted at') prepares for the climactic image of the land vomiting out its people (v. 28; cf. 20:22). The land's revulsion personifies the cosmic intolerability of these defilements.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμιάνθηwas defiledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · μιαίνωmain verb (the land's defilement)→ constative aorist (the accomplished pollution of the land)μιαίνω (aor. pass.): 'was defiled'; the land itself becomes the subject of defilement — the sexual sins pollute not only persons but the very ground, making it a moral-cosmic category.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of ἐμιάνθη→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; the land of Canaan personified as capable of defilement and revulsion; this 'land theology' is distinctive of the Holiness Code.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνταπέδωκαI repaidAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀνταποδίδωμιmain verb (divine retribution)→ constative aorist (the accomplished act of recompense)ἀνταποδίδωμι: 'repay / requite / recompense'; renders פָּקַד ('visit') here in the sense of retributive visitation; the double compound ἀντ-απο- stresses the exact correspondence of punishment to offense — YHWH 'paid back' the nations' iniquity.
ἀδικίανiniquityAccusativedirect object of ἀνταπέδωκα→ object specificationἀδικία: 'unrighteousness / iniquity'; renders עָוֹן ('iniquity / guilt'); here the object of recompense — YHWH requited the nations' guilt upon them; ἀδικία is also Paul's keyword for the human condition under judgment (Rom 1:18).
αὐτοῖςupon themDativedative of disadvantage (the nations recompensed)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl.): 'to/upon them,' the defiling nations who bear the recompense.
δι᾿because ofpreposition + accusative (cause: 'because of it')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'because of / on account of'; δι᾿ αὐτήν = 'because of it' (the land / its defilement).
αὐτήνitAccusativeaccusative object of διά (refers to the land)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem.): 'it,' the land (feminine), on whose account the recompense came.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσώχθισενwas vexed / was disgustedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσοχθίζωmain verb (the land's revulsion)→ constative aorist (the land's settled revulsion)προσοχθίζω: 'be vexed / loathe / be disgusted at'; renders קוּץ / קָצָה; the land 'was vexed at' its inhabitants; the verb anticipates the vomiting-image of v. 28 and is famously echoed in Heb 3:10, 17 (προσώχθισα, of God's loathing the wilderness generation).
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of προσώχθισεν→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'land'; the land as the agent of revulsion against its defilers.
τοῖςat thoseDativearticle (with ἐγκαθημένοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐγκαθημένοιςthose dwellingPres Mid Ptc Dat Masc Pl · ἐγκάθημαιsubstantival participle (object of προσώχθισεν: 'at those dwelling')→ present participle (those settled/dwelling on the land)ἐγκάθημαι (pres. ptc.): 'sit/dwell in, be settled upon'; the substantival participle 'those dwelling upon it' denotes the land's inhabitants, the object of its revulsion; προσοχθίζω takes the dative of the thing loathed.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + genitive (position: 'upon it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'upon'; the inhabitants dwell 'upon' the land.
αὐτῆςitGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (the land)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem.): 'it,' the land.
26
καὶ φυλάξεσθε πάντα τὰ νόμιμά μου καὶ πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ οὐ ποιήσετε ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν βδελυγμάτων τούτων ὁ ἐγχώριος καὶ ὁ προσγενόμενος προσήλυτος ἐν ὑμῖν
And you shall keep all my customs and all my ordinances, and you shall do none of all these abominations — the native and the proselyte who has joined himself among you.
The closing frame echoes the opening: φυλάξεσθε πάντα τὰ νόμιμά μου καὶ … τὰ προστάγματά μου repeats the keeping-formula of vv. 4–5. The prohibition extends to both ὁ ἐγχώριος ('the native') and the προσήλυτος ('the proselyte/resident alien') — the moral law binds all who dwell in the land, a principle the Holiness Code applies repeatedly (cf. Lev 17:8, 13; 19:34).
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάξεσθεyou shall keepFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (positive command)→ volitive future (imperatival force)φυλάσσω (mid.): 'keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; resumes the keynote verb of the opening frame (vv. 4, 5), framing the chapter by inclusio.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with νόμιμά)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the totalizing πάντα … πάντα recalls v. 5.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with νόμιμά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμιμάcustoms / statutesAccusativedirect object of φυλάξεσθε→ object specificationνόμιμον: 'custom / statute / legal usage'; renders חֻקָּה; here YHWH's νόμιμα stand in deliberate contrast to the nations' νόμιμα forbidden in v. 3 — the same word, opposite referents.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my'; YHWH's own statutes, against 'their' (the nations') customs of v. 3.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with προστάγματά)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all.'
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with προστάγματά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προστάγματάordinancesAccusativedirect object of φυλάξεσθε (parallel to νόμιμά)→ object specificationπρόσταγμα: 'ordinance / statute'; renders חֻקָּה; the recurring keyword of the frame (vv. 4, 5, 30).
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with ποιήσετε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall do none')→ prohibitive future (apodictic prohibition)ποιέω: 'do'; with the partitive ἀπὸ πάντων … ('any of all these abominations') the construction οὐ ποιήσετε ἀπό is a Hebraism (לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ מִכֹּל) = 'you shall do none of.'
ἀπὸany ofpreposition + genitive (partitive Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό + gen.: partitive 'of / any of'; with the negative renders the Hebrew מִן in מִכֹּל ('any of all') — 'you shall do none of all these abominations.'
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (with βδελυγμάτων)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with βδελυγμάτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βδελυγμάτωνabominationsGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἀπό)→ relational specificationβδέλυγμα: 'abomination'; renders תּוֹעֵבָה; the plural now sums up the whole catalogue (vv. 6–23) as 'these abominations' (cf. the singular verdict at v. 22); recurs at vv. 27, 29.
τούτωνtheseGenitivedemonstrative (with βδελυγμάτων)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'these'; refers to the catalogued acts.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἐγχώριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐγχώριοςthe nativeNominativesubject in apposition (the native Israelite)→ participant prominenceἐγχώριος: 'native / indigenous (of the land)'; renders אֶזְרָח ('native-born'); the prohibition binds the native Israelite as well as the resident alien — the moral law is territorial and universal within the land.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with προσήλυτος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσγενόμενοςhaving joinedAor Mid Ptc Nom Masc Sg · προσγίνομαιattributive participle (with προσήλυτος)→ aorist participle (the alien who has joined himself)προσγίνομαι (aor. ptc.): 'come to be added / join oneself to'; the participle 'having joined' qualifies προσήλυτος — the alien who has attached himself to Israel and dwells among them.
προσήλυτοςproselyte / resident alienNominativesubject in apposition (the resident alien)→ participant prominenceπροσήλυτος: 'newcomer / resident alien / proselyte'; renders גֵּר ('sojourner'); a distinctively LXX coinage (lit. 'one who has come to') that later acquired the technical religious sense 'convert'; here the resident foreigner who lives under the same moral law as the native.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (location: 'among you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'among / in the midst of.'
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐν ('among you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'you,' Israel, among whom the proselyte dwells.
27
πάντα γὰρ τὰ βδελύγματα ταῦτα ἐποίησαν οἱ ἄνθρωποι τῆς γῆς οἱ ὄντες πρότεροι ὑμῶν καὶ ἐμιάνθη ἡ γῆ
For all these abominations the men of the land did, those who were before you, and the land was defiled.
The γάρ-clause grounds the renewed command of v. 26: the prior inhabitants (οἱ ὄντες πρότεροι ὑμῶν, 'those who were before you') committed all these abominations, and so 'the land was defiled' (ἐμιάνθη ἡ γῆ), exactly repeating v. 25a. The repetition tightens the causal chain: abomination → defilement → expulsion (v. 28).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with βδελύγματα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; totalizes the catalogue of abominations.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; grounds the command of v. 26 in the precedent of the prior inhabitants.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with βδελύγματα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βδελύγματαabominationsAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησαν (fronted)→ object specificationβδέλυγμα: 'abomination'; renders תּוֹעֵבָה; the fronted object emphasizes the totality of the prior inhabitants' guilt.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative (with βδελύγματα)→ object specificationοὗτος: 'these'; the catalogued acts.
ἐποίησανdidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the prior inhabitants' acts)→ constative aorist (the completed deeds of the prior inhabitants)ποιέω (aor.): 'did'; the aorist states the accomplished abominations of the land's former inhabitants — the historical ground of their judgment.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνθρωποι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποιmenNominativesubject of ἐποίησαν→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος (pl. ἄνθρωποι): 'men / people'; renders אַנְשֵׁי ('the men of'); the inhabitants of the land before Israel.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of relationship ('men of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; 'the men of the land' = the Canaanites.
οἱthoseNominativearticle (with ὄντες, attributive participle)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄντεςbeing / who werePres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · εἰμίattributive participle (with πρότεροι: 'those who were before you')→ present participle (durative: their being there before Israel)εἰμί (pres. ptc.): 'being'; the participle οἱ ὄντες πρότεροι ὑμῶν ('those who were before you') identifies the prior occupants whose example warns Israel.
πρότεροιbefore / formerNominativepredicate adjective (with ὄντες: 'former, before you')→ participant prominenceπρότερος: 'earlier / former / before'; renders the sense of 'who were before you' (לִפְנֵיכֶם); the prior inhabitants whose fate (expulsion) Israel must not repeat.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive of comparison (with πρότεροι: 'before you')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'you'; the genitive of comparison after πρότεροι.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμιάνθηwas defiledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · μιαίνωmain verb (the land's defilement, repeated from v.25)→ constative aorist (the accomplished pollution of the land)μιαίνω (aor. pass.): 'was defiled'; the verbatim repetition of v. 25a (ἐμιάνθη ἡ γῆ) seals the causal logic: the abominations defiled the land.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of ἐμιάνθη→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'land'; the defiled land, repeating the personification of v. 25.
28
καὶ ἵνα μὴ προσοχθίσῃ ὑμῖν ἡ γῆ ἐν τῷ μιαίνειν ὑμᾶς αὐτήν ὃν τρόπον προσώχθισεν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν τοῖς πρὸ ὑμῶν
— that the land may not be vexed at you when you defile it, in the manner it was vexed at the nations before you.
The purpose-clause turns the precedent of v. 27 into a warning: keep the ordinances (v. 26) 'so that the land may not be vexed at you' (ἵνα μὴ προσοχθίσῃ) as it was at the nations. The articular infinitive ἐν τῷ μιαίνειν ('in/when you defile') gives the condition; the comparative ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner that') makes Israel's possible fate identical to the nations' — a threat made explicit as the land 'vomiting out' at 18:28 MT / 20:22 (ἐξεμέσῃ).
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking to the command of v.26)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἵναthat / so thatpurpose conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: 'that / in order that'; introduces the negative purpose clause (with μή + subjunctive) stating the aim of keeping the ordinances — that the land not reject Israel.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive προσοχθίσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative of the purpose clause — 'that … not.'
προσοχθίσῃmay be vexedAor Act Subj 3 Sg · προσοχθίζωverb of negative purpose clause (subjunctive)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the land's potential onset of revulsion)προσοχθίζω (aor. subj.): 'be vexed / loathe'; the same verb as v. 25, now applied prospectively to Israel — the land could come to loathe Israel as it loathed the nations; the threat behind the vomiting-image (ἐξεμέσῃ, 20:22).
ὑμῖνat youDativedative complement of προσοχθίσῃ (the object of revulsion)→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'at you'; προσοχθίζω takes the dative of the thing/person loathed.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γῆ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of προσοχθίσῃ→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'land'; the land that could turn its revulsion against Israel.
ἐνin / whenpreposition + dative articular infinitive (temporal: 'when')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat. articular infinitive: 'in / when / by'; ἐν τῷ + infinitive is a common LXX temporal construction rendering the Hebrew בְּ + infinitive construct ('when you defile').
τῷtheDativearticle (with the infinitive μιαίνειν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μιαίνεινdefilingPres Act Inf · μιαίνωarticular infinitive (temporal: 'when you defile it')→ present articular infinitive (the action contemporaneous with the warning)μιαίνω (pres. inf.): 'defile'; the articular infinitive with ὑμᾶς as its accusative subject = 'when you defile (it)'; the keyword μιαίνω again, now of Israel's potential act.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the articular infinitive μιαίνειν→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you,' the subject of the infinitive 'defiling.'
αὐτήνitAccusativeaccusative object of μιαίνειν (the land)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem.): 'it,' the land, the object of Israel's potential defilement.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον: 'in the manner that')→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun in the adverbial accusative idiom ὃν τρόπον ('in which manner / just as'), rendering כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the comparison with the nations.
τρόπονmanner / wayAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner: 'in the manner that')→ object specificationτρόπος: 'manner / way'; the fixed idiom ὃν τρόπον = 'just as / in the same way as'; Israel's fate would mirror the nations' exactly.
προσώχθισενit was vexedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσοχθίζωmain verb of comparative clause (the land's revulsion at the nations)→ constative aorist (the land's past revulsion at the nations)προσοχθίζω (aor.): 'was vexed at'; the third occurrence of the verb (vv. 25, 28a, 28b), binding the nations' fate and Israel's possible fate into one warning.
τοῖςat theDativearticle (with ἔθνεσιν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνεσινnationsDativedative complement of προσώχθισεν (the object of revulsion)→ sphere or referenceἔθνος (dat. pl. ἔθνεσιν): 'nations'; renders גּוֹיִם; the Canaanite peoples at whom the land was vexed and whom it expelled.
τοῖςthe onesDativearticle (with πρὸ ὑμῶν, attributive phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive (temporal: 'before you')→ spatial or relational framingπρό + gen.: 'before'; 'the nations who were before you' (τοῖς πρὸ ὑμῶν), the prior occupants.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of πρό ('before you')→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'you'; the nations preceded Israel in the land.
29
ὅτι πᾶς ὃς ἂν ποιήσῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν βδελυγμάτων τούτων ἐξολεθρευθήσονται αἱ ψυχαὶ αἱ ποιοῦσαι ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῶν
For everyone who does any of all these abominations — the souls that do them shall be utterly destroyed from the midst of their people.
The penalty clause: whoever does any of these abominations — αἱ ψυχαὶ αἱ ποιοῦσαι ('the souls that do them') — will be 'utterly destroyed' (ἐξολεθρευθήσονται) from among their people. The verb renders the Hebrew karet formula (וְנִכְרְתוּ, 'they shall be cut off'), the gravest covenant sanction, signifying excommunication and/or divine destruction. The plural 'souls' generalizes from the singular 'everyone who.'
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (introducing the sanction)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the penalty that grounds the warning of v. 28.
πᾶςeveryoneNominativesubstantival adjective (antecedent of the relative: 'everyone who')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'everyone / all'; πᾶς ὃς ἄν ('everyone who') is a Hebraism (כָּל אֲשֶׁר) introducing a generalizing conditional-relative clause.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ποιήσῃ)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; with ἄν + subjunctive forms a generalizing/indefinite relative clause ('whoever').
ἂνevermodal particle (with subjunctive, generalizing)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the indefinite/generalizing force of the relative clause with the subjunctive — 'whoever (at all).'
ποιήσῃdoesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical act, viewed as a whole)ποιέω (aor. subj.): 'do'; the subjunctive with ὃς ἄν expresses the hypothetical 'whoever does' any of the abominations.
ἀπὸany ofpreposition + genitive (partitive Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό + gen.: partitive 'any of'; ποιήσῃ ἀπὸ … = 'does any of' (cf. v. 26).
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (with βδελυγμάτων)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with βδελυγμάτων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βδελυγμάτωνabominationsGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἀπό)→ relational specificationβδέλυγμα: 'abomination'; renders תּוֹעֵבָה; the third plural occurrence in the frame (vv. 26, 27, 29).
τούτωνtheseGenitivedemonstrative (with βδελυγμάτων)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'these'; the catalogued acts.
ἐξολεθρευθήσονταιshall be utterly destroyedFut Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (the karet sanction)→ predictive future (the certain covenant penalty)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'destroy utterly / exterminate'; renders the Niphal of כָּרַת in the karet formula (וְנִכְרְתוּ, 'shall be cut off'); the LXX intensifies 'cut off' to 'utterly destroyed,' the gravest covenant sanction — removal from the covenant community, whether by death or excommunication.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with ψυχαὶ)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχαὶsoulsNominativesubject of ἐξολεθρευθήσονται→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'souls' = persons, the individuals who commit the abominations; the karet formula targets the offending נֶפֶשׁ.
αἱthe onesNominativearticle (with ποιοῦσαι, attributive participle)→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιοῦσαιdoing / who doPres Act Ptc Nom Fem Pl · ποιέωattributive participle (with ψυχαὶ: 'the souls that do')→ present participle (those characteristically doing these acts)ποιέω (pres. ptc.): 'doing'; the participle αἱ ποιοῦσαι ('the ones doing them') specifies which souls are cut off — those who commit the abominations.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the midst of')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ + gen.: 'out of / from'; the karet formula's 'from the midst of their people' (מִקֶּרֶב עַמָּם) marks excision from the covenant community.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (the covenant community)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; the covenant community of Israel from which the offender is cut off.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their people')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their,' i.e. the offenders' own people.
30
καὶ φυλάξετε τὰ προστάγματά μου ὅπως μὴ ποιήσητε ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν νομίμων τῶν ἐβδελυγμένων ἃ γέγονεν πρὸ τοῦ ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐ μιανθήσεσθε ἐν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν
And you shall keep my ordinances, so that you may do none of the abominable customs that were practiced before you, and you shall not be defiled in them; for I am the LORD your God.
The chapter closes by recapitulating its keynote: φυλάξετε τὰ προστάγματά μου ('keep my ordinances'), with the purpose ὅπως μὴ ποιήσητε ('so that you do not practice') the 'abominable customs' (τῶν νομίμων τῶν ἐβδελυγμένων) of the prior inhabitants, and the assurance οὐ μιανθήσεσθε ('you shall not be defiled'). The whole is sealed by the full self-presentation formula ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν, forming an inclusio with vv. 2, 4, 5 and grounding the entire Holiness ethic in YHWH's identity.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάξετεyou shall keepFut Act Indic 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (closing command)→ volitive future (imperatival force)φυλάσσω (act.): 'keep / guard / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the keynote verb returns a final time (cf. vv. 4, 5, 26), here in the active voice, forming the closing inclusio of the chapter; the object is 'my charge/ordinances' (Hebrew מִשְׁמַרְתִּי).
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with προστάγματά)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προστάγματάordinancesAccusativedirect object of φυλάξετε→ object specificationπρόσταγμα: 'ordinance / statute'; renders חֻקָּה / מִשְׁמֶרֶת; the recurring keyword sealing the frame.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'my.'
ὅπωςso thatpurpose conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅπως: 'so that / in order that'; introduces the negative purpose clause (with μή + subjunctive), parallel in function to the ἵνα of v. 28.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ποιήσητε)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative of the purpose clause.
ποιήσητεyou may doAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ποιέωverb of negative purpose clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (the act to be avoided, viewed as a whole)ποιέω (aor. subj.): 'do / practice'; with the partitive ἀπό = 'do none of' the abominable customs.
ἀπὸany ofpreposition + genitive (partitive Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό + gen.: partitive 'any of'; with the negative, 'do none of.'
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective (with νομίμων)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'all.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with νομίμων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νομίμωνcustoms / statutesGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἀπό)→ relational specificationνόμιμον: 'custom / statute'; renders חֻקָּה; here the nations' customs (cf. v. 3, τοῖς νομίμοις αὐτῶν), now qualified as 'abominable' — the same word that names YHWH's statutes (v. 26) names also the corrupt customs to be shunned.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἐβδελυγμένων, attributive participle)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐβδελυγμένωνabominable / detestedPerf Pass Ptc Gen Neut Pl · βδελύσσωattributive participle (with νομίμων: 'the abominable customs')→ perfect participle (the settled, detestable character of the customs)βδελύσσω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'make/regard as abominable, detest'; the cognate verb of βδέλυγμα; the perfect passive participle τῶν ἐβδελυγμένων ('the things made abominable / held in abomination') characterizes the nations' customs as objects of settled revulsion.
ἃwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of γέγονεν)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: neuter plural ἃ, agreeing with νομίμων; introduces the relative clause describing the prior practice of these customs.
γέγονενhave been done / came to bePerf Act Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of relative clause (the customs practiced before)→ perfect (resultant state: customs that had come to be practiced)γίνομαι (perf.): 'become / come to pass / be done'; the perfect γέγονεν ('have come to be / been practiced') with the neuter plural subject takes a singular verb (regular Greek); the customs that had been established in the land before Israel.
πρὸbeforepreposition + genitive articular infinitive (temporal: 'before')→ spatial or relational framingπρό + gen.: 'before'; πρὸ τοῦ + accusative-and-infinitive (here elliptical: πρὸ τοῦ ὑμᾶς, sc. εἶναι/ἐλθεῖν) = 'before you (were/came)' — a temporal construction calquing the Hebrew לִפְנֵיכֶם.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the elliptical infinitive in πρὸ τοῦ … construction)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the elliptical infinitive ('before you [were]')→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you'; the accusative subject of the (understood) infinitive in the πρὸ τοῦ construction — 'before you (existed/entered)'; i.e. the customs predated Israel's arrival.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μιανθήσεσθε)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μιανθήσεσθεyou shall be defiledFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · μιαίνωmain verb (assured result: 'you shall not be defiled')→ predictive future (the assured outcome of obedience)μιαίνω (fut. pass.): 'be defiled'; the final occurrence of the keyword (vv. 24, 25, 27, 28, 30); keeping the ordinances secures Israel from the defilement that destroyed the nations — the positive counterpart of the warning.
ἐνin / bypreposition + dative (instrumental/sphere)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: 'in / by'; 'defiled in/by them' — the customs as the means of defilement.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (the abominable customs)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl.): 'them,' the abominable customs.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (introducing the closing formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; grounds the whole exhortation in the self-presentation formula that follows.
ἐγὼINominativesubject of nominal clause (self-presentation formula)→ participant referenceἐγώ: heads the closing refrain ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν, forming an inclusio with vv. 2, 4, 5 and sealing the chapter's ethic in YHWH's identity.
κύριοςLORDNominativepredicate nominative ('I am the LORD')→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεὸς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition ('the LORD your God')→ participant prominenceθεός: renders אֱלֹהִים; the covenant formula closes the chapter.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (covenant relationship)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your God'; the final word of the chapter binds the whole Holiness ethic to the covenant relationship.