1
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ Ααρων λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
The formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν is the standard LXX introduction to legislative YHWH-speech in Numbers (cf. 1:1; 5:1; 6:1). The inclusion of Aaron alongside Moses (καὶ Ααρων) marks the priestly character of the legislation that follows: the red-heifer rite belongs to Eleazar and the priesthood (v. 3).
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the waw-consecutive paratactic conjunction opening a new legislative unit; renders Hebrew וַיְדַבֵּר.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak / talk'; renders דִּבֶּר (Piel); the aorist ἐλάλησεν introduces direct YHWH-speech; the formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν recurs at every new divine commission in Numbers.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject of the speech-formula marks this as unmediated YHWH-speech.
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 speech)→ object specificationΜωυσῆς: transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined as a first-declension noun in Rahlfs' LXX (gen. Μωυσῆ, acc. Μωυσῆν); accusative here as the directional object of πρός.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the two addressees)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑαρωνAaronaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun, second addressee)→ participant identificationΑαρων: transliteration of Hebrew אַהֲרֹן; indeclinable in the LXX (kind 'x', no case); the inclusion of Aaron alongside Moses signals the priestly subject-matter of the ordinance.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple (speech-marker introducing direct discourse)→ imperfective participle (Hebraistic לֵאמֹר-marker)λέγω: the nominative present participle λέγων renders the Hebrew infinitive לֵאמֹר ('saying'), a fixed LXX device introducing the content of direct speech; it agrees with κύριος as the speaker.
2
αὕτη ἡ διαστολὴ τοῦ νόμου ὅσα συνέταξεν κύριος λέγων λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ λαβέτωσαν πρὸς σὲ δάμαλιν πυρρὰν ἄμωμον ἥτις οὐκ ἔχει ἐν αὐτῇ μῶμον καὶ ᾗ οὐκ ἐπεβλήθη ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν ζυγός
This is the distinction of the law, whatever the LORD has ordained, saying: Speak to the sons of Israel, and let them take to you a red heifer without blemish, which has no blemish on it and on which no yoke has been laid.
The cataphoric demonstrative αὕτη ('this is …') is the standard LXX heading for a torah-unit (cf. Num 6:13; 19:14; Lev 6:9). διαστολὴ τοῦ νόμου ('the distinction/specification of the law') renders חֻקַּת הַתּוֹרָה, the 'statute of the law'; the rite is framed not as ritual mechanics but as covenant ordinance. The double relative ἥτις … καὶ ᾗ specifies the two qualifications: total absence of blemish and total absence of prior labor.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (predicate of nominal heading)→ participant referenceοὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο: the feminine αὕτη agrees with διαστολή; cataphoric, pointing forward to the ordinance that follows; the formula αὕτη ἡ … renders זֹאת, the standard opening of a legislative unit.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαστολὴdistinction / ordinanceNominativepredicate nominative (subject of the verbless heading)→ participant prominenceδιαστολή: 'distinction / separation / specification'; here renders חֻקָּה ('statute / ordinance'); the noun (from διαστέλλω, 'set apart, give precise instruction') casts the law as a carefully delineated divine prescription; cf. the cognate διέστειλεν used of God's ordering acts.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμουlawGenitivegenitive of definition (with διαστολή: 'the ordinance of the law')→ relational specificationνόμος: 'law'; renders תּוֹרָה; the phrase διαστολὴ τοῦ νόμου ('statute of the law') = חֻקַּת הַתּוֹרָה, marking this as a torah-unit of permanent legislative force (cf. v. 14, οὗτος ὁ νόμος).
ὅσαwhatever / all thatAccusativerelative pronoun (neuter plural, object of συνέταξεν)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; the neuter plural ὅσα ('all the things which') introduces the content of the ordinance; a loose appositional relative, rendering the Hebraic relative construction.
συνέταξενordained / commandedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντάσσωverb of relative clause (divine ordaining)→ constative aorist (authoritative legislative act)συντάσσω: 'arrange together / appoint / command'; renders צִוָּה; a favored LXX verb for divine command in the Pentateuch (cf. Exod 35:1); the compound συν- stresses the ordered, comprehensive arrangement of the prescription.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of συνέταξεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; YHWH himself is the legislator of the heifer-ordinance.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple (speech-marker introducing the command)→ imperfective participle (Hebraistic לֵאמֹר-marker)λέγω: the participle λέγων (= לֵאמֹר) introduces the direct command that follows; agrees with κύριος.
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ ingressive aorist imperative (commissioned speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דַּבֵּר (Piel); the aorist imperative λάλησον frames the proclamation as a single decisive act of mediated legislation to Israel.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object of λάλησον (addressees)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant community as the recipients of the law.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX (kind 'x', no case); functions as an adnominal genitive with υἱοῖς.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λαβέτωσανlet them takeAor Act Impv 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (third-person command to Israel)→ ingressive aorist imperative (procurement of the animal)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive / procure'; renders לָקַח; the third-person plural imperative directs the community to bring the heifer; the same verb governs the priest's handling of blood and ash later (λήμψεται, vv. 4, 6, 17).
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to you')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to you').
σὲyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Moses, the mediator)→ participant referenceσύ: the accusative σέ refers to Moses; the heifer is brought 'to you' as the covenant mediator before being handed to Eleazar (v. 3).
δάμαλινheiferAccusativedirect object of λαβέτωσαν→ object specificationδάμαλις: 'heifer / young cow'; renders פָּרָה; the δάμαλις πυρρά ('red heifer') is the central object of the rite; in Heb 9:13 the ashes are σποδὸς δαμάλεως, the cleansing agent contrasted with the blood of Christ.
πυρρὰνred / fiery-redAccusativeattributive adjective (color qualification)→ object specificationπυρρός: 'flame-colored / red'; renders אֲדֻמָּה ('red'); from πῦρ ('fire'); the rare color requirement makes the animal exceptional; the same adjective describes the red horse of Zech 1:8 and Rev 6:4.
ἄμωμονwithout blemishAccusativeattributive adjective (cultic qualification)→ object specificationἄμωμος: 'unblemished / spotless'; renders תְּמִימָה; the standard LXX term for sacrificial perfection (cf. Exod 12:5); applied in the NT to Christ as the ἀμνὸς ἄμωμος (1 Pet 1:19), reinforcing the typological link of the rite to his sacrifice.
ἥτιςwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἔχει, first qualifying clause)→ participant referenceὅστις: the indefinite/qualitative relative ἥτις ('which, being of such a kind that') introduces the explanatory clause restating the unblemished requirement; feminine, agreeing with δάμαλιν.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔχει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation with the indicative ἔχει.
ἔχειhasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωverb of relative clause (state of the animal)→ stative present (settled condition of soundness)ἔχω: 'have / hold'; the present indicative describes the heifer's permanent unblemished condition; οὐκ ἔχει … μῶμον restates ἄμωμον in explicit terms.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (locative: 'on it')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'on it').
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (the heifer)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the feminine dative αὐτῇ refers to the δάμαλις; 'no blemish in/on it.'
μῶμονblemishAccusativedirect object of ἔχει→ object specificationμῶμος: 'blemish / defect'; renders מוּם; the cultic disqualifier for sacrifice (Lev 22:20); its absence (ἄμωμον, οὐκ ἔχει μῶμον) doubly guarantees the animal's ritual perfection.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second qualification)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾗon whichDativerelative pronoun (dative, second qualifying clause)→ participant reference or interestὅς, ἥ, ὅ: the feminine dative relative ᾗ ('on which') introduces the second requirement — that the heifer has never borne a yoke; dative as the object of ἐπί / of the imposition.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπεβλήθη)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐκ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπεβλήθηwas laid uponAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιβάλλωverb of relative clause (passive: yoke never imposed)→ constative aorist passive (no prior imposition of labor)ἐπιβάλλω: 'throw/lay upon / impose'; renders עָלָה (Qal of yoke-bearing); the aorist passive ἐπεβλήθη with ζυγός as subject states that no yoke was ever laid on it — the animal must be entirely free of agricultural use (cf. Deut 21:3; 1 Sam 6:7), set apart from common labor for sacred purpose.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided: 'upon it').
αὐτὴνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the heifer)→ participant referenceαὐτός: feminine accusative referring to the δάμαλις.
ζυγόςyokeNominativesubject of ἐπεβλήθη (the thing never imposed)→ participant prominenceζυγός: 'yoke'; renders עֹל; the absence of a yoke marks the heifer as never subjected to ordinary work, hence wholly available for the sacred rite; the never-yoked requirement parallels the unblemished one in setting the animal entirely apart.
3
καὶ δώσεις αὐτὴν πρὸς Ελεαζαρ τὸν ἱερέα καὶ ἐξάξουσιν αὐτὴν ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς εἰς τόπον καθαρὸν καὶ σφάξουσιν αὐτὴν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ
And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and they shall lead it outside the camp to a clean place, and they shall slaughter it before him.
The second-person future δώσεις ('you shall give') continues the address to Moses; the rite is handed from Moses to Eleazar (not Aaron the high priest — significant, since the high priest must avoid corpse-defilement). The location 'outside the camp' (ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς) is essential to the typology: like Christ who suffered ἔξω τῆς πύλης (Heb 13:11–12), the heifer is dealt with beyond the sacred precinct.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (continuing instruction)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειςyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (legislative future as command, to Moses)→ imperatival future (prescriptive directive)δίδωμι: 'give / hand over'; renders נָתַן; the second-person future functions as a command (a Hebraizing legislative future); Moses delivers the heifer to the priesthood.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of δώσεις (the heifer)→ participant referenceαὐτός: feminine accusative referring to the δάμαλις.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (recipient)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (recipient).
ΕλεαζαρEleazaraccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλεαζαρ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְעָזָר; indeclinable in the LXX (kind 'x', no case); Aaron's son, the priest who performs the rite — not Aaron himself, since the high priest must avoid the corpse-defilement the rite entails (cf. Lev 21:11).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἱερέα, in apposition to Eleazar)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέαpriestAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ελεαζαρ→ object specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the appositive τὸν ἱερέα identifies Eleazar's office; the rite is a priestly act, though performed outside the camp.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξάξουσινthey shall lead outFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξάγωmain verb (impersonal/attendant subject)→ imperatival future (prescriptive)ἐξάγω: 'lead/bring out'; renders הוֹצִיא; the impersonal third-person plural ('they shall lead out') refers to the attendants; the compound ἐξ- with ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς stresses removal beyond the sacred camp.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of ἐξάξουσιν→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of ἐξάξουσιν.
ἔξωoutsideimproper preposition + genitive (place: 'outside the camp')→ spatial or relational framingἔξω: 'outside / without'; with the genitive τῆς παρεμβολῆς; the locale 'outside the camp' is theologically loaded — the heifer is removed from the holy precinct, anticipating Heb 13:11–13, where Christ suffers ἔξω τῆς πύλης.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitivegenitive with ἔξω (place from which)→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp / encampment'; renders מַחֲנֶה; the standard LXX term for the wilderness camp of Israel; the rite's location outside it keeps both the slaughter and the corpse-contact away from the dwelling of the holy.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of motion).
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place / location'; renders מָקוֹם; the heifer is brought εἰς τόπον καθαρόν, a ritually clean spot — the same description recurs at v. 9 for the storage of the ashes, framing the rite between two 'clean places.'
καθαρὸνcleanAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τόπον)→ object specificationκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; renders טָהוֹר; the key purity-term of the chapter (καθαρός / ἀκάθαρτος), here qualifying the place; paradoxically the rite performed in a clean place renders its performers unclean (vv. 7–10).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σφάξουσινthey shall slaughterFut Act Indic 3 Pl · σφάζωmain verb (impersonal subject: the attendants)→ imperatival future (prescriptive)σφάζω: 'slay / slaughter (ritually)'; renders שָׁחַט; the technical verb for cultic slaughter (cf. Lev 1:5); the heifer is killed before Eleazar (ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ) so the priest oversees the act even though he need not perform it.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of σφάξουσιν→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of σφάξουσιν.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the presence ofimproper preposition + genitive (in the sight of)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in front of'; with the genitive αὐτοῦ; a Hebraism (לִפְנֵי); the slaughter is performed under the priest's supervision.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον (Eleazar)→ relational specificationαὐτός: refers to Eleazar; the rite is enacted 'before him,' marking his priestly oversight.
4
καὶ λήμψεται Ελεαζαρ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς καὶ ῥανεῖ ἀπέναντι τοῦ προσώπου τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς ἑπτάκις
And Eleazar shall take of its blood and sprinkle in front of the face of the tent of meeting from its blood seven times.
Although the heifer is slaughtered outside the camp, its blood is directed toward the sanctuary: Eleazar sprinkles it ἀπέναντι τοῦ προσώπου τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('toward the front of the tent of meeting'), tethering the extra-camp rite to the central cult. The sevenfold sprinkling (ἑπτάκις) is the standard sign of complete ritual efficacy (cf. Lev 4:6; 16:14).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψεταιshall takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (priestly action)→ imperatival future (prescriptive ritual act)λαμβάνω (fut. mid. λήμψεται): 'take'; renders לָקַח; the priest 'takes of' (ἀπό + partitive genitive) the blood — a partial quantity for the sprinkling rite; the same middle future recurs at vv. 6, 17.
ΕλεαζαρEleazarsubject of λήμψεται (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλεαζαρ: indeclinable (kind 'x', no case); nominative-function subject; the priest personally performs the blood-rite.
ἀπὸfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'some of the blood')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here partitive ('a portion of'); λαμβάνω ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος = 'take some of the blood,' a Hebraizing partitive (מִן).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἵματοςbloodGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἀπό)→ relational specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; renders דָּם; the blood, though the carcass is burned whole (v. 5), is first applied toward the sanctuary; the blood-rite is the explicit point of contact in Heb 9:13 (τὸ αἷμα τράγων καὶ ταύρων).
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the heifer's blood)→ relational specificationαὐτός: feminine genitive referring to the δάμαλις.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ῥανεῖshall sprinkleFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ῥαίνωmain verb (the sprinkling act)→ imperatival future (prescriptive ritual act)ῥαίνω: 'sprinkle'; renders הִזָּה; the cognate noun ῥαντισμός ('sprinkling') names the resulting water (ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ, v. 9); the verb and its compounds (περιρραίνω, vv. 18–19) form the technical vocabulary of the rite, echoed in Heb 12:24 (αἷμα ῥαντισμοῦ).
ἀπέναντιopposite / in front ofimproper preposition + genitive (direction of sprinkling)→ spatial or relational framingἀπέναντι: 'over against / in front of'; with genitive τοῦ προσώπου; the blood is sprinkled toward the sanctuary's frontage, orienting the extra-camp rite to the tent of meeting.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσώπουface / frontGenitivegenitive with ἀπέναντι (the front of the tent)→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / front / forepart'; renders פְּנֵי; ἀπέναντι τοῦ προσώπου τῆς σκηνῆς ('toward the front of the tent') is a Hebraizing locution directing the rite toward the sanctuary façade.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtentGenitivegenitive (the tent of meeting)→ relational specificationσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; renders אֹהֶל; with τοῦ μαρτυρίου = 'tent of testimony/meeting' (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד), the central sanctuary toward which the blood is directed.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτυρίουof testimony / meetingGenitivegenitive of definition (with σκηνῆς: 'tent of testimony')→ relational specificationμαρτύριον: 'testimony / witness'; the LXX renders אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד ('tent of meeting') as σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου, reading מוֹעֵד as related to עֵדוּת ('testimony'); the standard Pentateuchal designation of the sanctuary.
ἀπὸfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive, resumptive)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: the partitive ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος is repeated (resumptively) to specify what is sprinkled — 'some of its blood.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἵματοςbloodGenitivepartitive genitive (resumptive: the object sprinkled)→ relational specificationαἷμα: the repetition ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς (twice in the verse) reflects the Hebrew construction, emphasizing that it is specifically the heifer's blood that is dashed sevenfold toward the sanctuary.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the heifer's blood)→ relational specificationαὐτός: feminine genitive, the heifer.
ἑπτάκιςseven timesnumeral adverb (frequency of sprinkling)→ clausal contributionἑπτάκις: 'seven times'; renders שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים; the sevenfold sprinkling is the standard marker of complete purgation in the blood-rites (cf. Lev 4:6; 16:14, 19); seven signifies ritual fullness and perfection.
5
καὶ κατακαύσουσιν αὐτὴν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ δέρμα καὶ τὰ κρέα αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ αἷμα αὐτῆς σὺν τῇ κόπρῳ αὐτῆς κατακαυθήσεται
And they shall burn it before him; both its hide and its flesh and its blood, together with its dung, shall be burned.
Unlike ordinary sin-offerings, the red heifer is burned WHOLE — hide, flesh, blood, and dung alike (a comprehensive list signalling totality). The doubled verb (active κατακαύσουσιν, then passive κατακαυθήσεται framing the catalogue) brackets the inventory and underscores that nothing of the animal is reserved; the ash of this total combustion becomes the cleansing agent of vv. 9–10, 17.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατακαύσουσινthey shall burn upFut Act Indic 3 Pl · κατακαίωmain verb (the burning of the heifer)→ imperatival future (prescriptive ritual act)κατακαίω: 'burn up / consume with fire'; renders שָׂרַף; the intensive compound κατα- ('completely down') denotes total incineration; the cognate noun κατάκαυμα ('burnt mass', v. 6) and σποδός ('ash', v. 9) trace the rite's product.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of κατακαύσουσιν (the heifer)→ participant referenceαὐτός: feminine accusative referring to the δάμαλις.
ἐναντίονbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (in the sight of)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; with genitive αὐτοῦ; the burning, like the slaughter (v. 3), is supervised by the priest.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον (Eleazar)→ relational specificationαὐτός: refers to Eleazar; the whole-burning occurs under priestly oversight.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the inventory of parts)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δέρμαhide / skinNominativesubject of κατακαυθήσεται (first item of the inventory)→ participant prominenceδέρμα: 'skin / hide'; renders עוֹר; in ordinary sin-offerings the hide was given to the priest (Lev 7:8), but here even the hide is burned — a mark of the rite's exceptional totality.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρέαfleshNominativesubject of κατακαυθήσεται (second inventory item)→ participant prominenceκρέας (pl. κρέα): 'flesh / meat'; renders בָּשָׂר; the flesh too is burned, not eaten, distinguishing this from sacrifices whose flesh is consumed by priest or offerer.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the heifer's flesh)→ relational specificationαὐτός: feminine genitive, the heifer.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodNominativesubject of κατακαυθήσεται (third inventory item)→ participant prominenceαἷμα: 'blood'; though a portion was sprinkled toward the sanctuary (v. 4), the remaining blood is burned with the carcass — an unusual feature, since blood was normally drained at the altar (Lev 4:7); here it joins the total combustion.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: feminine genitive, the heifer.
σὺνtogether withpreposition + dative (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingσύν: 'with / together with'; with dative τῇ κόπρῳ; adds the dung to the inventory, completing the catalogue of the whole animal.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κόπρῳdungDativedative object of σύν (the dung)→ sphere or referenceκόπρος: 'dung / excrement'; renders פֶּרֶשׁ; even the dung — normally the most contemptible part, removed outside (Lev 4:11–12) — is burned with the rest, underlining that absolutely the whole heifer becomes the cleansing ash.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: feminine genitive, the heifer.
κατακαυθήσεταιshall be burned upFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · κατακαίωmain verb (passive summary of the whole-burning)→ imperatival future passive (prescriptive: total incineration)κατακαίω (fut. pass.): the passive κατακαυθήσεται closes the inventory, restating κατακαύσουσιν in the passive to stress that every listed part is consumed; the singular verb takes the nearest neuter subject but governs the whole list collectively.
6
καὶ λήμψεται ὁ ἱερεὺς ξύλον κέδρινον καὶ ὕσσωπον καὶ κόκκινον καὶ ἐμβαλοῦσιν εἰς μέσον τοῦ κατακαύματος τῆς δαμάλεως
And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and they shall cast them into the midst of the burning of the heifer.
The triad cedar wood / hyssop / scarlet (ξύλον κέδρινον … ὕσσωπον … κόκκινον) is the same cleansing-cluster used in the purification of the leper (Lev 14:4–6, 49–52); here the materials are burned with the heifer so that their cleansing power passes into the ash. The same hyssop reappears as the applicator of the water in v. 18.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψεταιshall takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (priestly action)→ imperatival future (prescriptive ritual act)λαμβάνω (fut. mid.): 'take'; renders לָקַח; the priest gathers the three additive materials to cast into the fire.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of λήμψεται→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; here = Eleazar, who adds the cedar, hyssop, and scarlet to the burning.
ξύλονwoodAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (first additive)→ object specificationξύλον: 'wood / piece of wood'; renders עֵץ; with κέδρινον = 'cedar wood,' prized for its fragrance and incorruptibility.
κέδρινονof cedarAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ξύλον)→ object specificationκέδρινος: 'of cedar / cedarn'; renders אֶרֶז; cedar's aromatic incorruptibility made it a symbol of durability and purity; part of the leper-cleansing triad (Lev 14:4).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὕσσωπονhyssopAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (second additive)→ object specificationὕσσωπος: 'hyssop'; renders אֵזוֹב; the small aromatic plant used as the cleansing-applicator at the Passover (Exod 12:22) and in leper-purification (Lev 14); reappears in v. 18 as the brush for the water of sprinkling; cf. Ps 50(51):9 LXX (ῥαντιεῖς με ὑσσώπῳ).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κόκκινονscarletAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (third additive)→ object specificationκόκκινος: 'scarlet (material)'; renders שְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת ('crimson worm-dye'); the scarlet thread/wool dyed from the kermes insect; completes the cleansing triad; Heb 9:19 recalls cedar's companion ἔριον κόκκινον καὶ ὕσσωπον in the covenant-sprinkling.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐμβαλοῦσινthey shall cast inFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐμβάλλωmain verb (impersonal subject: the attendants)→ imperatival future (prescriptive)ἐμβάλλω: 'throw in / cast into'; renders הִשְׁלִיךְ; the compound ἐν- with εἰς μέσον specifies casting the three materials into the very heart of the fire so their cleansing virtue is absorbed into the ash.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
μέσονmidstAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (idiomatic: 'into the midst')→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle / midst'; εἰς μέσον τοῦ κατακαύματος = 'into the heart of the burning'; renders בְּתוֹךְ; the materials are placed at the center of the blaze.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατακαύματοςburning / burnt massGenitivegenitive with μέσον (the fire of the heifer)→ relational specificationκατάκαυμα: 'that which is burned / the burning mass'; cognate of κατακαίω (v. 5); the noun designates the heifer's pyre, into whose center the additives are thrown.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δαμάλεωςof the heiferGenitivegenitive of relationship (with κατακαύματος)→ relational specificationδάμαλις (gen. δαμάλεως): 'heifer'; the genitive δαμάλεως ('of the heifer') is the very form taken up in Heb 9:13, σποδὸς δαμάλεως ('ashes of a heifer'), the typological cleansing agent contrasted there with the blood of Christ.
7
καὶ πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ λούσεται τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ὕδατι καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ὁ ἱερεὺς ἕως ἑσπέρας
And the priest shall wash his garments and bathe his body in water, and after these things he shall enter into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until evening.
Here the central paradox emerges: the priest who performs the purifying rite is himself defiled by it (ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται … ἕως ἑσπέρας). The washing-and-bathing formula (πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια … λούσεται τὸ σῶμα) is the standard LXX cleansing protocol (cf. Lev 15); he may re-enter the camp only after washing, and even then remains unclean till evening.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πλυνεῖshall washFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πλύνωmain verb (cleansing of garments)→ imperatival future (prescriptive cleansing)πλύνω: 'wash (clothes/objects)'; renders כִּבֵּס; distinguished from λούω ('bathe the body'); the pair πλύνω (garments) / λούω (body) is the fixed LXX purification protocol; recurs at vv. 8, 10, 19, 21.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of πλυνεῖ→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment / cloak'; renders בֶּגֶד; the washing of garments is part of the standard cleansing from ritual contamination.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the priest's garments)→ relational specificationαὐτός: masculine genitive, the priest.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of πλυνεῖ→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; even the officiant is defiled by the rite he performs — the paradox of the chapter.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λούσεταιshall batheFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λούωmain verb (bathing of the body)→ imperatival future (prescriptive, reflexive middle)λούω (fut. mid. λούσεται): 'bathe / wash the whole body'; renders רָחַץ; the middle voice is reflexive ('bathe himself'); paired with πλύνω for total cleansing; cf. Heb 10:22 (λελουσμένοι τὸ σῶμα).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σῶμαbodyAccusativeaccusative of respect / direct object of λούσεται→ object specificationσῶμα: 'body'; renders בָּשָׂר ('flesh') in the bathing-formula; λούσεται τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ὕδατι = 'bathe his body in water.'
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: masculine genitive, the priest.
ὕδατιwith waterDativedative of means (instrument of bathing)→ sphere or referenceὕδωρ (dat. ὕδατι): 'water'; the dative of means; ordinary water for bathing, distinct from the technical ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ ('water of sprinkling') made from the ash (v. 9) and the ὕδωρ ζῶν ('living water') of v. 17.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; μετὰ ταῦτα is a standard LXX temporal formula for narrative succession.
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal: 'after these things')→ object specificationοὗτος: the demonstrative ταῦτα refers to the washing and bathing just prescribed; only after them may the priest re-enter.
εἰσελεύσεταιhe shall enterFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (re-entry into the camp)→ imperatival future (prescriptive)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; renders בּוֹא; the priest, having dealt with the rite outside, re-enters the camp — but only after washing, and still bearing uncleanness until evening.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal of motion)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of motion).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολήνcampAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp'; renders מַחֲנֶה; re-entry into the camp marks the return from the extra-camp rite to the community.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκάθαρτοςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται: 'shall be unclean')→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean / impure'; renders טָמֵא; the antonym of καθαρός and the keyword of the chapter's paradox — the one who makes purification is himself rendered ἀκάθαρτος ἕως ἑσπέρας.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; the copula with ἀκάθαρτος; the formula ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας ('shall be unclean until evening') recurs as a refrain throughout the chapter (vv. 7, 8, 10, 21, 22).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεύς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of ἔσται (resumptive)→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: the noun is repeated for clarity as the subject of the unclean-status clause; the paradox is sharpened by naming the priest specifically as the one defiled.
ἕωςuntilimproper preposition + genitive (temporal limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; with genitive ἑσπέρας; marks the term of the uncleanness — sundown, when the day's impurity lapses.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive with ἕως (temporal limit)→ relational specificationἑσπέρα: 'evening'; renders עֶרֶב; the standard term-limit for minor ritual impurity in the Pentateuch; sundown ends the unclean state.
8
καὶ ὁ κατακαίων αὐτὴν πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ λούσεται τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας
And the one who burns it shall wash his garments and bathe his body in water, and he shall be unclean until evening.
The articular participle ὁ κατακαίων ('the one burning') extends the defiling effect of v. 7 to the second functionary — the man who burns the carcass. The same washing protocol and the same ἀκάθαρτος ἕως ἑσπέρας refrain apply, reinforcing the paradox that everyone who touches the purifying rite contracts uncleanness.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατακαίωνwho burnsPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · κατακαίωsubstantival participle (subject: 'the one who burns')→ imperfective participle (the functionary characterized by his act)κατακαίω: 'burn up'; the articular present participle ὁ κατακαίων ('the burner') designates the man who tends the heifer's pyre (v. 5); like the priest, he is defiled by his contact with the rite.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of the participle (the heifer)→ participant referenceαὐτός: feminine accusative referring to the δάμαλις.
πλυνεῖshall washFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πλύνωmain verb (cleansing of garments)→ imperatival future (prescriptive cleansing)πλύνω: 'wash (clothes)'; renders כִּבֵּס; the same garment-washing prescribed for the priest in v. 7.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of πλυνεῖ→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment'; the burner's clothes are washed as part of his cleansing.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the burner's garments)→ relational specificationαὐτός: masculine genitive, the burner.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λούσεταιshall batheFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λούωmain verb (bathing of the body)→ imperatival future (prescriptive, reflexive middle)λούω (fut. mid.): 'bathe (oneself)'; renders רָחַץ; paired with πλύνω in the standard cleansing protocol.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σῶμαbodyAccusativedirect object of λούσεται→ object specificationσῶμα: 'body'; the burner bathes his body, as the priest did in v. 7.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: masculine genitive, the burner.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκάθαρτοςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; renders טָמֵא; the burner, like the priest, is rendered unclean by his role in the rite.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the refrain ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας recurs verbatim from v. 7.
ἕωςuntilimproper preposition + genitive (temporal limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; with genitive ἑσπέρας.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive with ἕως (temporal limit)→ relational specificationἑσπέρα: 'evening'; the uncleanness lapses at sundown.
9
καὶ συνάξει ἄνθρωπος καθαρὸς τὴν σποδὸν τῆς δαμάλεως καὶ ἀποθήσει ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς εἰς τόπον καθαρόν καὶ ἔσται τῇ συναγωγῇ υἱῶν Ισραηλ εἰς διατήρησιν ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ ἅγνισμά ἐστιν
And a clean man shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and lay them outside the camp in a clean place, and it shall be for the congregation of the sons of Israel for safekeeping; it is water of sprinkling, a purification.
The ash (σποδός) is the lasting product of the whole rite, to be kept (εἰς διατήρησιν, 'for safekeeping') for the community's ongoing need. Here the chapter names its central institution: ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ ('water of sprinkling') — the ash mixed with living water (v. 17) — and identifies it as ἅγνισμα ('a purification, a sin-offering of cleansing'). It is gathered by a καθαρός ('clean') man, yet he too will be defiled (v. 10).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνάξειshall gatherFut Act Indic 3 Sg · συνάγωmain verb (gathering of the ash)→ imperatival future (prescriptive ritual act)συνάγω: 'gather together / collect'; renders אָסַף; the cognate noun συναγωγή ('congregation') appears in the same verse; the clean man collects the ash for storage.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of συνάξει→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; renders אִישׁ; an ordinary (non-priestly) clean man performs the gathering; the rite's later stages need not be priestly.
καθαρὸςcleanNominativeattributive/predicate adjective (qualifying ἄνθρωπος)→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; renders טָהוֹר; the gatherer must himself be in a state of ritual purity — yet, paradoxically, the act of gathering the cleansing ash renders him unclean (v. 10).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σποδὸνashesAccusativedirect object of συνάξει→ object specificationσποδός: 'ashes'; renders אֵפֶר; the burnt residue of the heifer is the lasting cleansing agent; this is the very noun of Heb 9:13, σποδὸς δαμάλεως, where the 'ashes of a heifer' that sanctify the flesh prefigure the blood of Christ that cleanses the conscience.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δαμάλεωςof the heiferGenitivegenitive of source (with σποδόν: 'ashes of the heifer')→ relational specificationδάμαλις (gen. δαμάλεως): 'heifer'; the phrase σποδὸς (τῆς) δαμάλεως is taken up verbatim in Heb 9:13.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθήσειshall lay aside / depositFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποτίθημιmain verb (storage of the ash)→ imperatival future (prescriptive)ἀποτίθημι: 'put away / lay aside / store'; renders הִנִּיחַ; the compound ἀπο- denotes setting the ash in reserve outside the camp for future use (εἰς διατήρησιν).
ἔξωoutsideimproper preposition + genitive (place)→ spatial or relational framingἔξω: 'outside'; with genitive τῆς παρεμβολῆς; the ash is stored beyond the camp, like the place of slaughter (v. 3).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitivegenitive with ἔξω→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp'; the ash is kept outside the camp in a clean place, ready to be mixed with living water when needed.
εἰςto / inpreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; εἰς τόπον καθαρόν echoes v. 3, framing the rite between two 'clean places' (slaughter-site and ash-store).
καθαρόνcleanAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying τόπον)→ object specificationκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; the storage-place must be ritually clean, preserving the purity of the cleansing-ash.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (purpose-statement: 'it shall be for safekeeping')→ predictive future (statement of standing function)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the subject is the stored ash; ἔσται … εἰς διατήρησιν is a Hebraizing 'be for' construction (הָיָה לְ) expressing purpose/result.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῇcongregationDativedative of advantage (for whom the ash is kept)→ sphere or referenceσυναγωγή: 'assembly / congregation'; renders עֵדָה; the ash is kept for the whole community's use; the cognate of συνάγει at the verse's head.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with συναγωγῇ)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; συναγωγὴ υἱῶν Ισραηλ = 'congregation of the sons of Israel,' the covenant assembly.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable (kind 'x', no case).
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
διατήρησινsafekeepingAccusativeaccusative of purpose (object of εἰς: 'for keeping')→ object specificationδιατήρησις: 'keeping / preservation / safekeeping'; renders מִשְׁמֶרֶת; the ash is preserved as a standing reserve for the community's recurring purifications.
ὕδωρwaterNominativepredicate nominative (defining the ash's function)→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: 'water'; in the phrase ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ ('water of sprinkling') the ash is identified by the cleansing water it produces; the institution is named here for the first time and recurs at vv. 13, 20, 21.
ῥαντισμοῦof sprinklingGenitivegenitive of definition (with ὕδωρ: 'water of sprinkling')→ relational specificationῥαντισμός: 'sprinkling'; renders נִדָּה (here in the sense 'water for impurity/sprinkling'); cognate of ῥαίνω (v. 4); the term ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ is the technical name of the purification-water; Heb 12:24 speaks of αἷμα ῥαντισμοῦ ('blood of sprinkling') in conscious allusion.
ἅγνισμάa purificationNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐστιν: 'it is a purification')→ participant prominenceἅγνισμα: 'means of purification / purification-offering'; cognate of ἁγνίζω ('purify') and ἁγνισμός (v. 17); designates the ash-water as a cleansing-rite from sin/defilement; the term ties the rite to the broader ἁγνισμός vocabulary of corpse-purification.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (identifying predicate)→ stative present (definitional)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): the present copula in the defining clause ἅγνισμά ἐστιν ('it is a purification') states the abiding character of the water of sprinkling.
10
καὶ πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια ὁ συνάγων τὴν σποδιὰν τῆς δαμάλεως καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας καὶ ἔσται τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ τοῖς προσκειμένοις προσηλύτοις νόμιμον αἰώνιον
And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his garments, and he shall be unclean until evening; and it shall be for the sons of Israel and for the proselytes joined to them an everlasting statute.
The gatherer too contracts uncleanness (ἀκάθαρτος ἕως ἑσπέρας) — the third functionary so affected, completing the paradox. The unit closes with the permanence-formula νόμιμον αἰώνιον ('an everlasting statute'), extended explicitly to resident aliens (προσήλυτοι) joined to Israel, marking the rite as binding on the whole covenant community in perpetuity.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πλυνεῖshall washFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πλύνωmain verb (cleansing of garments)→ imperatival future (prescriptive cleansing)πλύνω: 'wash (clothes)'; renders כִּבֵּס; the gatherer washes his garments as the priest and burner did (vv. 7–8).
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of πλυνεῖ→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment'; the gatherer's clothes are washed.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συνάγωνwho gathersPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · συνάγωsubstantival participle (subject: 'the gatherer')→ imperfective participle (the functionary characterized by his act)συνάγω: 'gather'; the articular present participle ὁ συνάγων ('the one gathering') designates the clean man of v. 9; like priest and burner, he is defiled by the rite.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σποδιὰνashesAccusativedirect object of the participle συνάγων→ object specificationσποδιά: 'ashes / heap of ashes'; a byform of σποδός (v. 9); renders אֵפֶר; the variation σποδός / σποδιά within the chapter is stylistic, both denoting the heifer's cleansing ash.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δαμάλεωςof the heiferGenitivegenitive of source (with σποδιάν)→ relational specificationδάμαλις (gen. δαμάλεως): 'heifer'; σποδιὰ τῆς δαμάλεως = 'ashes of the heifer.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκάθαρτοςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the gatherer, third in the series of those defiled by the rite, completes the paradox.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the refrain ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας, repeated from vv. 7–8.
ἕωςuntilimproper preposition + genitive (temporal limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; with genitive ἑσπέρας.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive with ἕως (temporal limit)→ relational specificationἑσπέρα: 'evening'; the uncleanness lapses at sundown.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the statute formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (statute-formula: 'it shall be … an everlasting statute')→ predictive future (legislative permanence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): ἔσται … νόμιμον αἰώνιον is the standard Pentateuchal permanence-formula (הָיָה … חֻקַּת עוֹלָם).
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage (for the sons of Israel)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ = 'for the sons of Israel,' the primary addressees of the perpetual statute.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable (kind 'x', no case).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the statute to proselytes)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσκειμένοιςjoined / attachedPres Mid Ptc Dat Masc Pl · πρόσκειμαιattributive participle (modifying προσηλύτοις: 'the proselytes joined')→ imperfective participle (continuing attachment)πρόσκειμαι: 'lie near / be attached / adhere to'; renders נִלְוָה (Niphal of לוה, 'join oneself'); describes the resident aliens who have attached themselves to Israel; the participle stresses their incorporation into the covenant community.
προσηλύτοιςproselytes / resident aliensDativedative of advantage (joined with υἱοῖς under the statute)→ sphere or referenceπροσήλυτος: 'sojourner / proselyte / resident alien'; renders גֵּר; the LXX's standard term for the non-Israelite who dwells among and adheres to Israel; the rite's permanence binds them equally — purity-law extends to the whole community of the covenant.
νόμιμονstatute / ordinanceNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceνόμιμον: 'lawful thing / statute / ordinance'; renders חֻקָּה; the substantivized neuter adjective; νόμιμον αἰώνιον ('everlasting statute') marks the rite's perpetual binding force; recurs at v. 21.
αἰώνιονeverlastingNominativeattributive adjective (modifying νόμιμον)→ participant prominenceαἰώνιος: 'eternal / perpetual / lasting'; renders עוֹלָם; the statute is to remain in force throughout the generations — a permanent provision of the covenant.
11
ὁ ἁπτόμενος τοῦ τεθνηκότος πάσης ψυχῆς ἀνθρώπου ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας
The one who touches the dead body of any human soul shall be unclean seven days.
With v. 11 the chapter turns from the making of the water (vv. 1–10) to the defilement it remedies. The articular participle ὁ ἁπτόμενος ('the one who touches') opens the casuistic law: corpse-contact yields a seven-day uncleanness — far longer than the till-evening impurity of the rite's officiants — requiring the ash-water for its removal (v. 12).
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁπτόμενοςwho touchesPres Mid Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ἅπτομαιsubstantival participle (subject: 'the one who touches')→ imperfective participle (general/customary: anyone who touches)ἅπτομαι: 'touch / take hold of'; renders נָגַע; the middle-deponent verb with the genitive object; ὁ ἁπτόμενος ('the toucher') is the recurring legal subject of this section (vv. 11, 13, 16, 21, 22); the present participle frames a general rule covering any such case.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεθνηκότοςdead body / one who has diedPerf Act Ptc Gen Masc Sg · θνῄσκωsubstantival participle (genitive object of ἁπτόμενος)→ perfect participle (resultant state: 'the one in the state of death')θνῄσκω (perf. ptc. τεθνηκώς): 'die'; the perfect participle τοῦ τεθνηκότος ('of the one who has died / the dead') denotes the abiding state of death — a corpse; the perfect aspect captures the standing condition that makes contact defiling; cf. v. 18 (τοῦ τεθνηκότος).
πάσηςof any / everyGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ψυχῆς)→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'every / any'; the genitive πάσης ψυχῆς ('of any soul') universalizes the rule — contact with the corpse of any human being whatever defiles.
ψυχῆςsoul / personGenitivegenitive in apposition / partitive (defining τεθνηκότος)→ relational specificationψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם ('a dead human person'); the Hebraism ψυχὴ ἀνθρώπου = 'a human being'; the genitive specifies that it is human (not animal) corpse-contact in view.
ἀνθρώπουof a man / humanGenitivegenitive of definition (with ψυχῆς: 'a human soul')→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man / human being'; ψυχῆς ἀνθρώπου renders נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם, specifying human death — the gravest source of ritual impurity in the Levitical system.
ἀκάθαρτοςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; corpse-contact produces the seven-day uncleanness that only the ash-water can remove.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the copula with ἀκάθαρτος; here the duration is not 'until evening' but ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ('seven days'), marking corpse-impurity as the most severe grade.
ἑπτὰsevenAccusativenumeral (modifying ἡμέρας: accusative of extent of time)→ measure or countἑπτά: 'seven'; the seven-day span of corpse-uncleanness; the number recalls the sevenfold blood-sprinkling (v. 4) and structures the cleansing on the third and seventh days (v. 12).
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (duration of uncleanness)→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; renders יוֹם; the accusative ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ('for seven days') expresses temporal extent; the long duration distinguishes corpse-impurity from the minor till-evening defilements.
12
οὗτος ἁγνισθήσεται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ καὶ καθαρὸς ἔσται ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφαγνισθῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ οὐ καθαρὸς ἔσται
This one shall purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, and he shall be clean; but if he is not purified on the third day and on the seventh day, he shall not be clean.
The cleansing schedule is fixed: purification (ἁγνισθήσεται / ἀφαγνισθῇ) with the ash-water on the third and seventh days. The verse is structured antithetically — compliance yields καθαρὸς ἔσται ('he shall be clean'); non-compliance (ἐὰν … μὴ ἀφαγνισθῇ) yields οὐ καθαρὸς ἔσται ('he shall not be clean'). The double-day requirement makes the process non-negotiable.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
οὗτοςthis oneNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject, resuming the toucher of v. 11)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this (one)'; refers back to ὁ ἁπτόμενος of v. 11 — the person defiled by corpse-contact, who must now be purified.
ἁγνισθήσεταιshall purify himself / be purifiedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἁγνίζωmain verb (the prescribed purification)→ imperatival future passive (prescriptive: shall undergo purification)ἁγνίζω: 'purify / cleanse ritually'; renders חָטָא (Hithpael, 'purify oneself from sin'); cognate of ἁγνισμός ('purification', v. 17) and ἅγνισμα (v. 9); the passive/reflexive sense ('be purified / purify oneself') with the ash-water; the NT uses ἁγνίζω of moral-cultic self-purification (John 11:55; Jas 4:8; 1 John 3:3).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when: 'on the third day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the dative of point-of-time; the first of the two appointed purification-days.
τῇtheDativearticle (with the ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίτῃthirdDativeordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ: 'the third day')→ sphere or referenceτρίτος: 'third'; renders שְׁלִישִׁי; the third day is the first sprinkling-point; the third-and-seventh schedule is the fixed rhythm of corpse-purification (cf. vv. 18–19).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when: 'on the seventh day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the second appointed purification-day.
τῇtheDativearticle (with the ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑβδόμῃseventhDativeordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ: 'the seventh day')→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος: 'seventh'; renders שְׁבִיעִי; the seventh day completes the seven-day span (v. 11) and the purification; the second sprinkling-point.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καθαρὸςcleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται: 'shall be clean')→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; the positive outcome of compliance; καθαρὸς ἔσται ('he shall be clean') is the goal of the whole rite.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be clean')→ predictive future (consequence of compliance)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the copula with καθαρός; the antithetical pair καθαρὸς ἔσται / οὐ καθαρὸς ἔσται frames compliance and non-compliance.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing the negative case)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive ἀφαγνισθῇ; introduces the contrary case — failure to be purified.
δὲbutmild adversative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; here adversative, contrasting the negative case with the positive outcome just stated.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: subjective negation with the subjunctive ἀφαγνισθῇ in the conditional clause.
ἀφαγνισθῇhe be purifiedAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἀφαγνίζωverb of conditional clause (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist passive subjunctive (potential: should he fail to be purified)ἀφαγνίζω: 'purify completely / cleanse away'; intensive compound of ἁγνίζω (with ἀπό); renders the Hithpael of חָטָא; the compound stresses the thorough removal of defilement; the aorist subjunctive views the act as a whole; recurs at vv. 13, 19, 20.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the third day, restated in the negative case.
τῇtheDativearticle (with the ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίτῃthirdDativeordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceτρίτος: 'third'; the third day, restated.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the seventh day, restated in the negative case.
τῇtheDativearticle (with the ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑβδόμῃseventhDativeordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος: 'seventh'; the seventh day, restated.
οὐnotnegative particle (with ἔσται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation with the indicative ἔσται; the apodosis of the negative condition.
καθαρὸςcleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται: 'shall not be clean')→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean'; the negated outcome — without the prescribed purification, the defiled person remains unclean.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall not be clean')→ predictive future (consequence of non-compliance)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the copula; οὐ καθαρὸς ἔσται seals the antithesis — failure to purify leaves the defilement standing (developed in v. 13).
13
πᾶς ὁ ἁπτόμενος τοῦ τεθνηκότος ἀπὸ ψυχῆς ἀνθρώπου ἐὰν ἀποθάνῃ καὶ μὴ ἀφαγνισθῇ τὴν σκηνὴν κυρίου ἐμίανεν ἐκτριβήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐξ Ισραηλ ὅτι ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ οὐ περιερραντίσθη ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ἀκάθαρτός ἐστιν ἔτι ἡ ἀκαθαρσία αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἐστιν
Everyone who touches the dead body of a human soul who has died, and is not purified, has defiled the tabernacle of the LORD; that soul shall be cut off from Israel, because the water of sprinkling was not dashed upon him; he is unclean, his uncleanness is still in him.
The gravest sanction: the unpurified person 'has defiled the tabernacle of the LORD' (τὴν σκηνὴν κυρίου ἐμίανεν) — corpse-impurity left untreated does not stay private but contaminates the sanctuary itself. The penalty is karet, rendered ἐκτριβήσεται ('shall be utterly cut off / wiped out'). The ὅτι-clause gives the ground: the ash-water was not applied; the closing words underline the persistence of the defilement (ἔτι … ἐν αὐτῷ ἐστιν).
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
πᾶςeveryoneNominativeadjective (substantival: 'everyone who')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every / all'; with the articular participle πᾶς ὁ ἁπτόμενος = 'everyone who touches'; universalizes the rule of v. 11 before stating its severest application.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁπτόμενοςwho touchesPres Mid Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ἅπτομαιsubstantival participle (subject)→ imperfective participle (general/customary)ἅπτομαι: 'touch'; renders נָגַע; the recurring legal subject; with the genitive τοῦ τεθνηκότος.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεθνηκότοςdead bodyPerf Act Ptc Gen Masc Sg · θνῄσκωsubstantival participle (genitive object of ἁπτόμενος)→ perfect participle (resultant state of death)θνῄσκω (perf. ptc.): 'have died / be dead'; τοῦ τεθνηκότος = 'the dead body'; the perfect denotes the abiding state.
ἀπὸof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive/specifying)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here specifying ('in respect of'); ἀπὸ ψυχῆς ἀνθρώπου renders the Hebrew מִנֶּפֶשׁ — corpse-contact 'in the case of a human person.'
ψυχῆςsoul / personGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ relational specificationψυχή: 'soul / person'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; ψυχὴ ἀνθρώπου = 'a human being.'
ἀνθρώπουof a manGenitivegenitive of definition (with ψυχῆς)→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man / human'; specifies human death.
ἐὰνif / whoconditional conjunction (with subjunctive ἀποθάνῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; here loosely with the subjunctive ἀποθάνῃ ('if/who has died'), explicating the corpse-state.
ἀποθάνῃhe has diedAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of conditional/relative clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (the fact of death viewed as a whole)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the subjunctive ἀποθάνῃ specifies the human soul as one who has died — i.e., a corpse; the compound ἀπο- is the standard prose verb for dying.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking the second condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ἀφαγνισθῇ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: subjective negation in the conditional clause.
ἀφαγνισθῇhe be purifiedAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἀφαγνίζωverb of conditional clause (subjunctive)→ aorist passive subjunctive (failure to be purified)ἀφαγνίζω: 'purify completely'; the failure to undergo the third-and-seventh-day cleansing of v. 12 triggers the penalty that follows.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνὴνtabernacle / tentAccusativedirect object of ἐμίανεν→ object specificationσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; renders מִשְׁכָּן / מִקְדָּשׁ; the unpurified person's defilement reaches even the sanctuary — corpse-impurity is contagious to the holy, the theological rationale for its grave penalty.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with σκηνήν)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of יהוה; ἡ σκηνὴ κυρίου = 'the tabernacle of the LORD,' the dwelling of the holy that corpse-impurity defiles.
ἐμίανενhe has defiledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μιαίνωmain verb (the defiling effect)→ constative/resultative aorist (the defilement accomplished)μιαίνω: 'defile / pollute / stain'; renders טִמֵּא; the aorist ἐμίανεν states the accomplished pollution of the sanctuary; recurs at v. 20 (τὰ ἅγια κυρίου ἐμίανεν); the verb is the active counterpart to the adjective ἀκάθαρτος.
ἐκτριβήσεταιshall be utterly cut offFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐκτρίβωmain verb (the karet penalty)→ predictive future passive (divine sanction)ἐκτρίβω: 'rub out / destroy utterly / wipe out'; one of the LXX renderings of the karet penalty (כָּרַת Niphal, 'be cut off'); the passive (divine passive) implies God as the agent of the cutting-off; the soul is to be eradicated from the covenant people; cf. the synonym ἐξολεθρευθήσεται at v. 20.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with ψυχή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoulNominativesubject of ἐκτριβήσεται→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / person'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here = the person himself; ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ('that soul') is the standard karet-formula subject (cf. Lev 7:20–21).
ἐκείνηthatNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ψυχή)→ participant prominenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη singles out the offending person for the penalty.
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from Israel')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'out of / from'; the cutting-off is ἐξ Ισραηλ — removal from the covenant community.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive object of ἐξ (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable (kind 'x', no case); the community from which the unpurified soul is excised.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (introducing the ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / that'; here causal, giving the reason for the penalty — the cleansing-water was not applied.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of περιερραντίσθη→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: 'water'; ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ ('water of sprinkling'), the institution of v. 9, here named as what was lacking.
ῥαντισμοῦof sprinklingGenitivegenitive of definition (with ὕδωρ)→ relational specificationῥαντισμός: 'sprinkling'; the technical purification-water; its non-application is the ground of the karet.
οὐnotnegative particle (with περιερραντίσθη)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation with the indicative.
περιερραντίσθηwas dashed around / sprinkledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · περιραντίζωverb of causal clause (passive)→ constative aorist passive (the sprinkling that did not occur)περιραντίζω: 'sprinkle around / dash about'; intensive compound (περί + ῥαντίζω); the double compound stresses the thorough application of the water over the person; recurs at v. 20; the negation states that the cleansing was never performed.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided: 'upon him').
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the unpurified person)→ participant referenceαὐτός: masculine accusative referring to the defiled person on whom the water was not dashed.
ἀκάθαρτόςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστιν)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the abiding state of the unpurified person — asserted in the present, his condition continues.
ἐστινhe isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'he is unclean')→ stative present (continuing condition)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): the present tense (ἀκάθαρτός ἐστιν) stresses that the uncleanness persists — it has not lapsed at evening because corpse-impurity requires the active remedy.
ἔτιstilladverb (temporal: 'still / yet')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet'; emphasizes the persistence of the defilement — it remains in him because untreated.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with ἀκαθαρσία)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀκαθαρσίαuncleannessNominativesubject of the final ἐστιν→ participant prominenceἀκαθαρσία: 'uncleanness / impurity'; renders טֻמְאָה; the abstract noun (the state, as against the adjective ἀκάθαρτος) names the defilement that remains lodged in the person.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the person's uncleanness)→ relational specificationαὐτός: masculine genitive, the defiled person.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in him')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in him').
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of ἐν (the person)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: masculine dative; 'in him' — the uncleanness remains lodged within.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'is in him')→ stative present (continuing condition)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): the closing present (ἡ ἀκαθαρσία αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἐστιν) drives home that, absent the rite, the corpse-impurity is permanent and indwelling.
14
καὶ οὗτος ὁ νόμος ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν ἀποθάνῃ ἐν οἰκίᾳ πᾶς ὁ εἰσπορευόμενος εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ ὅσα ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἀκάθαρτα ἔσται ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας
And this is the law: when a man dies in a house, everyone who enters the house and all that is in the house shall be unclean seven days.
The heading οὗτος ὁ νόμος ('this is the law') introduces the case of death in a dwelling. Defilement here is not only by touch but by presence: everyone who enters the house and everything in it is unclean seven days. The contagion of death-impurity by enclosure (the 'tent of death') is the rabbinic ohel-principle; the LXX οἰκία ('house') renders אֹהֶל ('tent').
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (predicate of nominal heading)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the cataphoric heading οὗτος ὁ νόμος ('this is the law') introduces a new casuistic unit, parallel to αὕτη ἡ διαστολὴ τοῦ νόμου of v. 2.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with νόμος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμοςlawNominativesubject of the verbless heading→ participant prominenceνόμος: 'law'; renders תּוֹרָה; the heading marks a discrete legal case — the law of the house of death.
ἄνθρωποςa manNominativesubject of ἀποθάνῃ (casuistic protasis: 'if a man dies')→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; renders אָדָם; the casuistic protasis ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν ἀποθάνῃ ('a man, if he dies') is a Hebraizing conditional with the noun fronted.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (with subjunctive ἀποθάνῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the casuistic condition.
ἀποθάνῃdiesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of conditional protasis (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (the event of death viewed as a whole)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the aorist subjunctive in the protasis presents the death as a bounded event triggering the defilement of the house.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
οἰκίᾳa houseDativedative of place (where the death occurs)→ sphere or referenceοἰκία: 'house / dwelling'; renders אֹהֶל ('tent') in the wilderness setting; the place of death becomes a source of contagion to all who enter and all it contains.
πᾶςeveryoneNominativeadjective (substantival: 'everyone who')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every'; with the participle πᾶς ὁ εἰσπορευόμενος = 'everyone who enters'; universalizes the contagion-by-entry.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσπορευόμενοςwho entersPres Mid Ptc Nom Masc Sg · εἰσπορεύομαιsubstantival participle (subject: 'the one entering')→ imperfective participle (general/customary: anyone entering)εἰσπορεύομαι: 'enter / go in'; renders בּוֹא; the present participle frames a standing rule — mere entry into the house of death defiles, without any touch of the corpse.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal of entry)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of entry).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίανhouseAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the house entered)→ object specificationοἰκία: 'house'; the place of death whose entry transmits impurity.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the contents)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅσαall thatNominativerelative pronoun (neuter plural, second subject: 'whatever is')→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; the neuter plural ὅσα ('all the things that') extends the defilement to the house's contents, not only its visitors.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause ('whatever is in the house')→ stative present (existence/location)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): 'is'; the singular agrees with the neuter plural ὅσα (Greek neuter-plural-takes-singular-verb rule); 'all that is in the house.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίᾳhouseDativedative of place (where the contents are)→ sphere or referenceοἰκία: 'house'; the contents within it share its defilement.
ἀκάθαρταuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (neuter plural, with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the neuter plural ἀκάθαρτα agrees with ὅσα — the contents are unclean; the persons (masculine) and things (neuter) alike share the seven-day impurity.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): singular verb with neuter-plural subject; the duration is again ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ('seven days'), matching the corpse-impurity of v. 11.
ἑπτὰsevenAccusativenumeral (modifying ἡμέρας)→ measure or countἑπτά: 'seven'; the standard span of corpse-impurity.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (duration)→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ('for seven days'), the period of defilement requiring the ash-water remedy.
15
καὶ πᾶν σκεῦος ἀνεῳγμένον ὅσα οὐχὶ δεσμὸν καταδέδεται ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν
And every open vessel which has no fastening bound upon it is unclean.
A refinement of the house-of-death law: an open vessel (σκεῦος ἀνεῳγμένον) with no fastened lid (μὴ δεσμὸν καταδέδεται) is defiled, since death-impurity can settle into it; the implication (preserved in the Hebrew) is that a sealed vessel remains clean. The legal precision distinguishes contaminable from protected containers.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶνeveryNominativeadjective (modifying σκεῦος)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every'; the neuter πᾶν agrees with σκεῦος; 'every open vessel.'
σκεῦοςvesselNominativesubject of ἐστιν→ participant prominenceσκεῦος: 'vessel / implement / container'; renders כְּלִי; the household container that can hold death-impurity if open; cf. the σκεῦος of v. 17 into which the ash-water is poured.
ἀνεῳγμένονopened / openPerf Pass Ptc Nom Neut Sg · ἀνοίγωattributive participle (modifying σκεῦος: 'an opened vessel')→ perfect passive participle (resultant state: standing open)ἀνοίγω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'open'; the perfect participle ἀνεῳγμένον denotes the resultant state — a vessel that stands open (and so unprotected); the perfect aspect stresses the abiding open condition that exposes it to impurity.
ὅσαwhich / whateverNominativerelative pronoun (neuter plural, loosely agreeing with σκεῦος)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as'; the neuter plural ὅσα ('whatever ones') resumes πᾶν σκεῦος collectively (constructio ad sensum), introducing the qualifying clause.
οὐχὶnotemphatic negative particle (with καταδέδεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐχί: emphatic form of οὐ ('not indeed'); negates the binding-clause — vessels on which no fastening is bound.
δεσμὸνa binding / lid-fasteningAccusativeaccusative (cognate/object with καταδέδεται: 'bound with a fastening')→ object specificationδεσμός: 'bond / band / fastening'; renders צָמִיד ('cover bound on'); here the cord or lid securing the vessel's mouth; its absence leaves the vessel open to defilement.
καταδέδεταιhas been bound downPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · καταδέωverb of relative clause (perfect passive: state of being fastened)→ perfect passive (resultant state: a fastening in place)καταδέω: 'bind down / fasten tightly'; the compound κατα- intensifies; the perfect passive καταδέδεται denotes the standing condition of being sealed; negated here (οὐχὶ … καταδέδεται), it describes the unsealed vessel; the implied converse (a sealed vessel stays clean) is the legal point.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + dative (elided: 'upon it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (elided: 'upon it').
αὐτῷitDativedative object of ἐπ᾿ (the vessel)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: neuter dative referring to the σκεῦος; 'upon it' — the fastening that would be bound on the vessel's mouth.
ἀκάθαρτάuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (neuter plural, with ἐστιν)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the neuter plural ἀκάθαρτα agrees with ὅσα; the open, unsealed vessels are defiled by the death-impurity of the house.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'is/are unclean')→ stative present (legal declaration)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): singular verb with neuter-plural subject (ἀκάθαρτα); the present declares the standing legal status of the open vessel.
16
καὶ πᾶς ὃς ἐὰν ἅψηται ἐπὶ προσώπου τοῦ πεδίου τραυματίου ἢ νεκροῦ ἢ ὀστέου ἀνθρωπίνου ἢ μνήματος ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται
And everyone who touches, on the face of the open field, one slain or dead, or a human bone, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
The law extends from the house of death (vv. 14–15) to the open field: contact with one slain in battle (τραυματίας), the naturally dead (νεκρός), a human bone (ὀστέον ἀνθρώπινον), or a grave (μνῆμα) all transmit the seven-day impurity. The four-fold ἤ catalogue covers every form of corpse-contact, leaving no exposure unregulated; this same list reappears as the objects sprinkled in v. 18.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςeveryoneNominativeadjective (substantival: 'everyone who')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every'; πᾶς ὅς ('everyone who') universalizes the case of field-contact.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἅψηται)→ participant referenceὅς: the relative ὃς ἐὰν ('whoever') with the subjunctive forms an indefinite relative clause — 'anyone who touches.'
ἐὰνeverparticle with relative (ὃς ἐάν = 'whoever') + subjunctive→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: here the modal particle (= ἄν) generalizing the relative ὅς; ὃς ἐὰν ἅψηται = 'whoever touches.'
ἅψηταιtouchesAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἅπτομαιverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (any instance of touching, viewed as a whole)ἅπτομαι: 'touch'; renders נָגַע; the aorist subjunctive ἅψηται in the indefinite relative clause covers any single act of contact in the field.
ἐπὶon / uponpreposition + genitive (place: 'on the face of')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'on / upon'; ἐπὶ προσώπου τοῦ πεδίου = 'on the surface of the open field,' a Hebraism (עַל פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה) for the open country.
προσώπουface / surfaceGenitivegenitive with ἐπί (the surface of the field)→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / surface'; ἐπὶ προσώπου renders עַל פְּנֵי ('on the face/surface of'), here the open field as opposed to the enclosed house.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πεδίουopen field / plainGenitivegenitive of definition (with προσώπου)→ relational specificationπεδίον: 'plain / open field'; renders שָׂדֶה; the open country where battle-slain or the unburied may lie — contact there defiles as surely as in the house.
τραυματίουone slain / a slain manGenitivegenitive object of ἅψηται (first item of contact)→ relational specificationτραυματίας: 'wounded/slain man'; renders חָלָל ('one pierced/slain'); specifically a victim of violent death (e.g., in battle), distinguished from the naturally νεκρός that follows.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; the four-fold ἤ catalogue (slain / dead / bone / grave) enumerates the forms of corpse-contact.
νεκροῦa dead manGenitivegenitive object of ἅψηται (second item)→ relational specificationνεκρός: 'dead (person) / corpse'; renders מֵת; the naturally dead, as distinct from the violently slain τραυματίας; the general term for a corpse.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀστέουa boneGenitivegenitive object of ἅψηται (third item)→ relational specificationὀστέον: 'bone'; renders עֶצֶם; even a single human bone — the dry remains of the long-dead — transmits corpse-impurity; cf. v. 18.
ἀνθρωπίνουhumanGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ὀστέου)→ relational specificationἀνθρώπινος: 'human / of a human'; renders אָדָם (adjectivally); specifies that the bone is human — animal bones do not defile; the adjective restricts the impurity-source to human remains.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μνήματοςa grave / tombGenitivegenitive object of ἅψηται (fourth item)→ relational specificationμνῆμα: 'tomb / grave / memorial'; renders קֶבֶר; contact with a grave defiles because of the corpse within; this is the background of Jesus' charge that the Pharisees are like 'unseen tombs' (μνημεῖα, Luke 11:44) that defile unawares.
ἑπτὰsevenAccusativenumeral (modifying ἡμέρας)→ measure or countἑπτά: 'seven'; the same seven-day span of corpse-impurity as in vv. 11, 14.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of time (duration)→ object specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ('for seven days'), the standard duration.
ἀκάθαρτοςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the person who touched any of the four corpse-sources is defiled for seven days, requiring the ash-water.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the copula; ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας repeats the formula of v. 11, closing the catalogue of corpse-contacts.
17
καὶ λήμψονται τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἀπὸ τῆς σποδιᾶς τῆς κατακεκαυμένης τοῦ ἁγνισμοῦ καὶ ἐκχεοῦσιν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν ὕδωρ ζῶν εἰς σκεῦος
And for the unclean person they shall take some of the burnt ashes of the purification, and they shall pour living water upon them into a vessel.
The actual confection of the cleansing-water: the stored ash (σποδιά, from v. 10) of the burnt purification (τοῦ ἁγνισμοῦ) is mixed with 'living water' (ὕδωρ ζῶν, i.e. fresh running water) in a vessel. The phrase ὕδωρ ζῶν becomes a rich NT image (John 4:10–11; 7:38); here it is the physical medium that activates the ash's cleansing power.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψονταιthey shall takeFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (impersonal subject)→ imperatival future (prescriptive ritual act)λαμβάνω (fut. mid.): 'take'; renders לָקַח; the impersonal third-person plural ('they shall take') — those administering the cleansing take some of the stored ash on behalf of the unclean person.
τῷthe / for theDativearticle (with ἀκαθάρτῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀκαθάρτῳfor the unclean personDativedative of advantage (the beneficiary of the rite)→ sphere or referenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean (person)'; substantivized; the dative τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ('for the unclean one') marks the person on whose behalf the water is prepared — the corpse-defiled of vv. 11–16.
ἀπὸof / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'some of the ash')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: partitive ('some of'); λαμβάνω ἀπό = 'take some of' (cf. v. 4).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σποδιᾶςashesGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἀπό)→ relational specificationσποδιά: 'ashes / ash-heap'; the stored ash of the heifer (vv. 9–10), here the active ingredient of the cleansing-water.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατακεκαυμένηςburnt / having been burnedPerf Pass Ptc Gen Fem Sg · κατακαίωattributive participle (modifying σποδιᾶς: 'the burnt ash')→ perfect passive participle (resultant state: ash that has been burned)κατακαίω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'burn up'; the perfect participle τῆς κατακεκαυμένης ('which has been burned up') describes the ash as the product of the complete combustion of vv. 5–6; the perfect stresses the abiding result — this is the burnt residue, now the cleansing agent.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἁγνισμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁγνισμοῦof purificationGenitivegenitive of definition (with σποδιᾶς: 'ash of the purification')→ relational specificationἁγνισμός: 'purification / cleansing-rite'; renders חַטָּאת (here in the sense 'purification-offering'); cognate of ἁγνίζω (v. 12) and ἅγνισμα (v. 9); the genitive 'ash of the purification' names the ash by its purpose — it is the matter of the sin-cleansing; cf. ἁγνισμός in the NT (Acts 21:26 of the Nazirite purification).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκχεοῦσινthey shall pour outFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκχέωmain verb (pouring the water onto the ash)→ imperatival future (prescriptive)ἐκχέω: 'pour out'; renders נָתַן (here 'put/pour'); fresh running water is poured over the ash in a vessel, producing the ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ; the verb is the standard LXX term for pouring out liquids (blood, water, wrath).
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided: 'upon it').
αὐτὴνitAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the ash, σποδιά being feminine)→ participant referenceαὐτός: feminine accusative agreeing with σποδιά ('ash'); the water is poured upon the ash.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativedirect object of ἐκχεοῦσιν (what is poured)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; here ὕδωρ ζῶν ('living water').
ζῶνlivingPres Act Ptc Acc Neut Sg · ζάωattributive participle (modifying ὕδωρ: 'living water')→ imperfective participle (characterizing: living/flowing)ζάω (pres. ptc. ζῶν): 'live'; ὕδωρ ζῶν ('living water') renders מַיִם חַיִּים — fresh, flowing spring/running water (as opposed to stagnant), required for the rite; the phrase is taken up theologically by Jesus (John 4:10–11; 7:38) and in Rev 7:17 (ζωῆς πηγὰς ὑδάτων).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal: 'into a vessel')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal: 'into a vessel').
σκεῦοςa vesselAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the container)→ object specificationσκεῦος: 'vessel / container'; renders כְּלִי; the mixing-vessel into which ash and living water are combined; cf. the open σκεῦος of v. 15.
18
καὶ λήμψεται ὕσσωπον καὶ βάψει εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ ἀνὴρ καθαρὸς καὶ περιρρανεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ σκεύη καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς ψυχάς ὅσαι ἐὰν ὦσιν ἐκεῖ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἡμμένον τοῦ ὀστέου τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου ἢ τοῦ τραυματίου ἢ τοῦ τεθνηκότος ἢ τοῦ μνήματος
And a clean man shall take hyssop and dip it into the water, and sprinkle the house and the vessels and the persons, however many are there, and the one who touched the human bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave.
The hyssop of v. 6 returns as the applicator: a clean man (ἀνὴρ καθαρός) dips it in the ash-water and sprinkles (περιρρανεῖ) house, vessels, and persons — and specifically the one who touched bone, slain, dead, or grave (the four contacts of v. 16, now in a different order with τεθνηκότος replacing νεκροῦ). The list joins place, objects, and people into one comprehensive cleansing.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψεταιshall takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the clean man's action)→ imperatival future (prescriptive)λαμβάνω (fut. mid.): 'take'; the clean man takes hyssop as the sprinkling-instrument.
ὕσσωπονhyssopAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται→ object specificationὕσσωπος: 'hyssop'; renders אֵזוֹב; the same plant burned with the heifer (v. 6) now serves as the brush for applying the water; its use as a sprinkling-instrument recalls the Passover (Exod 12:22) and Ps 50(51):9.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βάψειshall dipFut Act Indic 3 Sg · βάπτωmain verb (dipping the hyssop)→ imperatival future (prescriptive)βάπτω: 'dip / immerse'; renders טָבַל; the hyssop is dipped into the ash-water before sprinkling; βάπτω is the simplex underlying βαπτίζω, the verb of ritual washing/immersion.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal of dipping)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of dipping).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the ash-water)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the prepared ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ of v. 17 into which the hyssop is dipped.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of λήμψεται / βάψει / περιρρανεῖ→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the agent of the sprinkling, qualified as καθαρός — only a clean person may administer the rite.
καθαρὸςcleanNominativeattributive adjective (qualifying ἀνήρ)→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; the one applying the cleansing-water must himself be ritually clean — yet by v. 21 even he who sprinkles becomes unclean: the paradox extends to the very administrant.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περιρρανεῖshall sprinkleFut Act Indic 3 Sg · περιρραίνωmain verb (the sprinkling)→ imperatival future (prescriptive ritual act)περιρραίνω: 'sprinkle around / besprinkle'; intensive compound (περί + ῥαίνω); the clean man sprinkles the water over house, vessels, and persons; the verb recurs at v. 19 and the cognate at v. 21 (ὁ περιρραίνων).
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (object sprinkled)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object sprinkled).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouseAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (first object sprinkled)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / dwelling'; renders אֹהֶל / בַּיִת; the defiled house of v. 14 is itself sprinkled — the cleansing addresses the place of death.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (second object)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (second object).
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκεύηvesselsAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (second object sprinkled)→ object specificationσκεῦος (pl. σκεύη): 'vessels'; the defiled open vessels of v. 15 are sprinkled and so cleansed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (third object)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (third object).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχάςpersons / soulsAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (third object sprinkled)→ object specificationψυχή (pl. ψυχάς): 'souls / persons'; renders נְפָשׁוֹת; here = the people who were in the house; the cleansing reaches the human occupants, not only the place and objects.
ὅσαιhowever manyNominativerelative pronoun (feminine plural, agreeing with ψυχάς)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as many as'; ὅσαι ἐὰν ὦσιν ἐκεῖ ('however many may be there') extends the sprinkling to all persons present in the house.
ἐὰνevermodal particle with relative (ὅσαι ἐάν) + subjunctive→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: the modal particle (= ἄν) generalizing the relative ὅσαι.
ὦσινmay bePres Act Subj 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive)→ present subjunctive (general/indefinite: whoever may be there)εἰμί (pres. subj. ὦσιν): 'be'; the subjunctive in the indefinite relative clause ὅσαι ἐὰν ὦσιν ἐκεῖ ('as many as may be there') covers every person present.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (in the house)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; refers to the house of death; all persons who were there must be sprinkled.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (fourth object)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (fourth object).
τὸνthe oneAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμμένονwho has touchedPerf Mid Ptc Acc Masc Sg · ἅπτομαιsubstantival participle (accusative object of ἐπί: 'the one who touched')→ perfect participle (resultant state: one in the condition of having touched)ἅπτομαι (perf. mid. ptc. ἡμμένος): 'touch'; the perfect participle τὸν ἡμμένον ('the one who has touched') denotes the person now defiled by past contact; the perfect aspect captures the abiding defiled state; governs the genitives that follow.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀστέουboneGenitivegenitive object of ἡμμένον (first contact-source)→ relational specificationὀστέον: 'bone'; the human bone of v. 16, here as the thing touched; ἅπτομαι takes the genitive of the thing touched.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἀνθρωπίνου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρωπίνουhumanGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ὀστέου)→ relational specificationἀνθρώπινος: 'human'; restricts the defiling bone to a human one, as in v. 16.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; the same four-fold catalogue of v. 16, here listing what the defiled person touched.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τραυματίουslain manGenitivegenitive object of ἡμμένον (second contact-source)→ relational specificationτραυματίας: 'slain / wounded man'; the violently killed, as in v. 16.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεθνηκότοςdead bodyPerf Act Ptc Gen Masc Sg · θνῄσκωsubstantival participle (genitive object of ἡμμένον: third contact-source)→ perfect participle (resultant state of death)θνῄσκω (perf. ptc. τεθνηκώς): 'have died / be dead'; τοῦ τεθνηκότος ('the dead') here corresponds to νεκροῦ in v. 16 — the naturally dead corpse; the verse varies the vocabulary of the v. 16 catalogue.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μνήματοςgraveGenitivegenitive object of ἡμμένον (fourth contact-source)→ relational specificationμνῆμα: 'tomb / grave'; the grave of v. 16; the four-fold list (bone / slain / dead / grave) is sprinkled-for in full, matching the contacts that defile.
19
καὶ περιρρανεῖ ὁ καθαρὸς ἐπὶ τὸν ἀκάθαρτον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ καὶ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ καὶ ἀφαγνισθήσεται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ καὶ πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ λούσεται ὕδατι καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας
And the clean man shall sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day, and on the seventh day he shall be purified; and he shall wash his garments and bathe in water, and he shall be unclean until evening.
The cleansing of the person follows the third-and-seventh-day rhythm of v. 12: the clean sprinkles the unclean (ὁ καθαρός … τὸν ἀκάθαρτον — the antithesis stated baldly), and on the seventh day he is purified (ἀφαγνισθήσεται). He then washes and bathes — yet even after full purification he is unclean until evening, the final echo of the chapter's pervasive refrain.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
περιρρανεῖshall sprinkleFut Act Indic 3 Sg · περιρραίνωmain verb (the sprinkling of the person)→ imperatival future (prescriptive ritual act)περιρραίνω: 'sprinkle around'; the clean man sprinkles the ash-water on the unclean person on the two appointed days.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with καθαρός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καθαρὸςthe clean manNominativesubstantival adjective (subject: 'the clean one')→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean'; substantivized ὁ καθαρός ('the clean one') = the clean man of v. 18; the bald antithesis ὁ καθαρός … τὸν ἀκάθαρτον dramatizes the transfer of purity from clean to unclean.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (object sprinkled)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (object sprinkled).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἀκάθαρτον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀκάθαρτονthe unclean manAccusativesubstantival adjective (object: 'the unclean one')→ object specificationἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; substantivized τὸν ἀκάθαρτον ('the unclean one') = the corpse-defiled person; the clean cleanses the unclean by sprinkling.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal: 'on the day')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal: 'on the day').
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when: 'on the third day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the first appointed sprinkling-day.
τῇtheDativearticle (with the ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίτῃthirdDativeordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceτρίτος: 'third'; the third day, the first sprinkling-point (as in v. 12).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when: 'on the seventh day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the second appointed sprinkling-day.
τῇtheDativearticle (with the ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑβδόμῃseventhDativeordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος: 'seventh'; the seventh day, on which the purification is completed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀφαγνισθήσεταιhe shall be purifiedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἀφαγνίζωmain verb (completion of purification)→ predictive future passive (the cleansing accomplished)ἀφαγνίζω: 'purify completely'; the future passive ἀφαγνισθήσεται ('he shall be purified') states the positive result on the seventh day — the goal of vv. 12, 18–19; cognate of ἁγνισμός.
τῇon theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when purified)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the seventh day, when the purification takes effect.
τῇtheDativearticle (with the ordinal)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑβδόμῃseventhDativeordinal adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἕβδομος: 'seventh'; restated as the day of completed purification.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πλυνεῖshall washFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πλύνωmain verb (cleansing of garments)→ imperatival future (prescriptive cleansing)πλύνω: 'wash (clothes)'; the purified person washes his garments, completing the standard protocol.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of πλυνεῖ→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment'; washed as part of the cleansing.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: masculine genitive, the purified person.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λούσεταιshall batheFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λούωmain verb (bathing)→ imperatival future (prescriptive, reflexive middle)λούω (fut. mid.): 'bathe (oneself)'; the body is bathed in water, completing the cleansing protocol.
ὕδατιwith waterDativedative of means (instrument of bathing)→ sphere or referenceὕδωρ (dat. ὕδατι): 'water'; ordinary bathing-water, distinct from the ash-water of sprinkling.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκάθαρτοςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; even after the seventh-day purification and washing, a residual till-evening uncleanness remains — the rite's persistent paradox.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the refrain ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας recurs once more (cf. vv. 7, 8, 10, 21, 22).
ἕωςuntilimproper preposition + genitive (temporal limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; with genitive ἑσπέρας.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive with ἕως (temporal limit)→ relational specificationἑσπέρα: 'evening'; the residual uncleanness lapses at sundown — full cleanness follows the next day.
20
καὶ ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐὰν μιανθῇ καὶ μὴ ἀφαγνισθῇ ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ μέσου τῆς συναγωγῆς ὅτι τὰ ἅγια κυρίου ἐμίανεν ὅτι ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ οὐ περιερραντίσθη ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ἀκάθαρτός ἐστιν
And a man who is defiled and is not purified — that soul shall be utterly destroyed from the midst of the congregation, because he has defiled the holy things of the LORD; because the water of sprinkling was not dashed upon him, he is unclean.
A restatement and intensification of v. 13's penalty: the man who is defiled and refuses purification 'shall be utterly destroyed' (ἐξολεθρευθήσεται — a stronger karet-verb than ἐκτριβήσεται) from the congregation, because he has defiled τὰ ἅγια κυρίου ('the holy things of the LORD'). The two ὅτι-clauses give the double ground: he has defiled the holy, and the water was not applied. The verse seals the law's gravity.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνθρωποςa manNominativesubject (casuistic: 'a man who…')→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; renders אִישׁ; the casuistic subject, picked up by the indefinite relative ὃς ἐάν.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of μιανθῇ)→ participant referenceὅς: ὃς ἐάν ('whoever') with subjunctive — an indefinite relative covering any such man.
ἐὰνevermodal particle with relative (ὃς ἐάν) + subjunctive→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: the modal particle (= ἄν) generalizing the relative ὅς.
μιανθῇis defiledAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · μιαίνωverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive)→ aorist passive subjunctive (the fact of being defiled, viewed as a whole)μιαίνω (aor. pass. μιανθῇ): 'be defiled / polluted'; renders טָמֵא (Niphal); the passive describes contracting corpse-impurity; the active ἐμίανεν later in the verse describes the resulting defilement of the holy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ἀφαγνισθῇ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: subjective negation with the subjunctive.
ἀφαγνισθῇbe purifiedAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἀφαγνίζωverb of relative clause (subjunctive)→ aorist passive subjunctive (failure to be purified)ἀφαγνίζω: 'purify completely'; the refusal of cleansing (μὴ ἀφαγνισθῇ) triggers the destruction-penalty, as in v. 13.
ἐξολεθρευθήσεταιshall be utterly destroyedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (the karet penalty intensified)→ predictive future passive (divine sanction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'destroy utterly / exterminate'; a strong LXX rendering of the karet penalty (כָּרַת Niphal); the compound ἐξ- intensifies (cf. the simpler ἐκτριβήσεται of v. 13); the divine passive implies God as the agent; the same verb is cited in Acts 3:23 (ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ) of the prophet-like-Moses.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with ψυχή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoulNominativesubject of ἐξολεθρευθήσεται→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / person'; ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ('that soul'), the standard karet-formula subject, as in v. 13.
ἐκείνηthatNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ψυχή)→ participant prominenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; singles out the offender for the penalty.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'out of / from'; with μέσου = 'from the midst of.'
μέσουmidstGenitivegenitive with ἐκ (the midst of the congregation)→ relational specificationμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐκ μέσου τῆς συναγωγῆς ('from the midst of the assembly') intensifies the exclusion of v. 13 (ἐξ Ισραηλ) — the offender is excised from the very heart of the community.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive with μέσου (the assembly)→ relational specificationσυναγωγή: 'assembly / congregation'; renders עֵדָה / קָהָל; the covenant community from whose midst the unpurified is cut off; the same noun named the beneficiary of the ash in v. 9.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (first ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; the first of two causal clauses giving the ground of the penalty.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ἅγια)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἅγιαholy thingsAccusativedirect object of ἐμίανεν (the holy things defiled)→ object specificationἅγιος: 'holy'; the neuter plural τὰ ἅγια ('the holy things / sanctuary') renders מִקְדָּשׁ; here the sancta of the LORD that the unpurified person defiles — corresponding to ἡ σκηνὴ κυρίου in v. 13.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (with τὰ ἅγια)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of יהוה; τὰ ἅγια κυρίου = 'the holy things of the LORD,' the sanctuary defiled by the persisting impurity.
ἐμίανενhe has defiledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μιαίνωverb of causal clause (the defiling act)→ resultative aorist (the defilement accomplished)μιαίνω: 'defile / pollute'; the aorist ἐμίανεν (as in v. 13) states the accomplished pollution of the holy — the active counterpart to the passive μιανθῇ at the verse's head.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (second ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; the second causal clause, naming the omission that left the defilement standing.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of περιερραντίσθη→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: 'water'; ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ, the cleansing-water of v. 9, here named as what was not applied (as in v. 13).
ῥαντισμοῦof sprinklingGenitivegenitive of definition (with ὕδωρ)→ relational specificationῥαντισμός: 'sprinkling'; the technical purification-water; cf. vv. 9, 13, 21.
οὐnotnegative particle (with περιερραντίσθη)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation with the indicative.
περιερραντίσθηwas dashed / sprinkledAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · περιραντίζωverb of causal clause (passive)→ constative aorist passive (the sprinkling that did not occur)περιραντίζω: 'sprinkle around / dash about'; the negation οὐ περιερραντίσθη ('was not sprinkled') repeats the ground of v. 13 — the cleansing was never performed, so the impurity persists.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided: 'upon him').
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the unpurified person)→ participant referenceαὐτός: masculine accusative, the defiled person on whom the water was not dashed.
ἀκάθαρτόςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστιν)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the abiding state of the unpurified person, asserted in the present as the verse's final verdict.
ἐστινhe isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'he is unclean')→ stative present (continuing condition)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): the present ἀκάθαρτός ἐστιν closes the penalty, stressing — as in v. 13 — that the corpse-impurity persists so long as the remedy is refused.
21
καὶ ἔσται ὑμῖν νόμιμον αἰώνιον καὶ ὁ περιρραίνων ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ ἁπτόμενος τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ῥαντισμοῦ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας
And it shall be for you an everlasting statute; and the one who sprinkles the water of sprinkling shall wash his garments, and the one who touches the water of sprinkling shall be unclean until evening.
The permanence-formula νόμιμον αἰώνιον (cf. v. 10) closes the law. Then the central paradox is stated at its sharpest: even the sprinkler of the cleansing-water (ὁ περιρραίνων) must wash his garments, and whoever so much as touches the water (ὁ ἁπτόμενος τοῦ ὕδατος) becomes unclean until evening. The purifying water itself transmits a contagious holiness/impurity — the means of cleansing defiles those who handle it.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (statute-formula: 'it shall be an everlasting statute')→ predictive future (legislative permanence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): ἔσται ὑμῖν νόμιμον αἰώνιον is the Pentateuchal permanence-formula (cf. v. 10), here in the second person ('for you').
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage (the addressed community)→ participant reference or interestσύ (pl. ὑμῖν): the second-person plural dative addresses the whole community of Israel as bound by the perpetual statute.
νόμιμονstatuteNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceνόμιμον: 'statute / ordinance'; renders חֻקָּה; the substantivized neuter; νόμιμον αἰώνιον ('everlasting statute') closes the law as in v. 10.
αἰώνιονeverlastingNominativeattributive adjective (modifying νόμιμον)→ participant prominenceαἰώνιος: 'eternal / perpetual'; renders עוֹלָם; the statute remains permanently binding.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
περιρραίνωνwho sprinklesPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · περιρραίνωsubstantival participle (subject: 'the sprinkler')→ imperfective participle (the functionary characterized by his act)περιρραίνω: 'sprinkle around'; the articular present participle ὁ περιρραίνων ('the one who sprinkles') designates the clean man who administers the water (vv. 18–19); even he is defiled by the act — the paradox's furthest reach.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativedirect object of περιρραίνων (the water sprinkled)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the accusative ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ ('water of sprinkling') as the object sprinkled.
ῥαντισμοῦof sprinklingGenitivegenitive of definition (with ὕδωρ)→ relational specificationῥαντισμός: 'sprinkling'; the technical cleansing-water.
πλυνεῖshall washFut Act Indic 3 Sg · πλύνωmain verb (cleansing of garments)→ imperatival future (prescriptive cleansing)πλύνω: 'wash (clothes)'; even the sprinkler must wash his garments — handling the cleansing-water defiles.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱμάτιαgarmentsAccusativedirect object of πλυνεῖ→ object specificationἱμάτιον: 'garment'; the sprinkler's clothes are washed.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: masculine genitive, the sprinkler.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁπτόμενοςwho touchesPres Mid Ptc Nom Masc Sg · ἅπτομαιsubstantival participle (subject: 'the one who touches')→ imperfective participle (general/customary)ἅπτομαι: 'touch'; ὁ ἁπτόμενος τοῦ ὕδατος ('the one who touches the water') — even bare contact with the cleansing-water defiles, the paradox at its most acute: the very means of purification contaminates the one who handles it.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδατοςwaterGenitivegenitive object of ἁπτόμενος (what is touched)→ relational specificationὕδωρ (gen. ὕδατος): 'water'; ἅπτομαι takes the genitive of the thing touched; the ash-water of sprinkling.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ῥαντισμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥαντισμοῦof sprinklingGenitivegenitive of definition (with ὕδατος)→ relational specificationῥαντισμός: 'sprinkling'; τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ῥαντισμοῦ = 'the water of sprinkling.'
ἀκάθαρτοςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the one who touches the water is defiled until evening — the cleansing-water both purifies and pollutes.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the refrain ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας once more (cf. vv. 7, 8, 10, 19, 22).
ἕωςuntilimproper preposition + genitive (temporal limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; with genitive ἑσπέρας.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive with ἕως (temporal limit)→ relational specificationἑσπέρα: 'evening'; the uncleanness lapses at sundown.
22
καὶ παντός οὗ ἐὰν ἅψηται αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀκάθαρτος ἀκάθαρτον ἔσται καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ ἡ ἁπτομένη ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας
And everything that the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until evening.
The chapter ends by generalizing the spread of impurity: whatever the unclean person touches becomes unclean, and whoever in turn touches that is himself unclean until evening. The closing verse thus traces uncleanness outward in a chain of transmission — the negative mirror of the cleansing the whole chapter has prescribed; only the ash-water breaks the chain.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παντόςeverythingGenitivegenitive (antecedent of the relative: 'of everything that')→ relational specificationπᾶς: 'every / everything'; the genitive παντὸς οὗ ('everything which') is attracted into the relative's case; renders כֹּל אֲשֶׁר; universalizes the contagion.
οὗthat / whichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive object of ἅψηται)→ relational specificationὅς (gen. οὗ): the relative in the genitive as the object of ἅπτομαι (which takes the genitive); οὗ ἐὰν ἅψηται = 'whatever he touches.'
ἐὰνevermodal particle with relative (οὗ ἐάν) + subjunctive→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: the modal particle (= ἄν) generalizing the relative οὗ.
ἅψηταιtouchesAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἅπτομαιverb of indefinite relative clause (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (any act of touching, viewed as a whole)ἅπτομαι: 'touch'; the aorist subjunctive ἅψηται in the indefinite relative covers any contact by the unclean person.
αὐτοῦitGenitiveresumptive genitive (redundant pronoun, Hebraism: 'whatever he touches it')→ relational specificationαὐτός: the resumptive genitive αὐτοῦ doubles the relative οὗ — a Hebraism (the 'resumptive pronoun' rendering the Hebrew אֲשֶׁר … בּוֹ); redundant in Greek but reflecting the Semitic relative construction.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἀκάθαρτος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀκάθαρτοςthe unclean personNominativesubstantival adjective (subject of ἅψηται: 'the unclean one')→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean (person)'; substantivized ὁ ἀκάθαρτος ('the unclean one') is the subject — the corpse-defiled person transmits impurity to whatever he touches.
ἀκάθαρτονuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (neuter, with ἔσται: 'shall be unclean')→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the neuter ἀκάθαρτον agrees with the implied neuter antecedent (the 'thing' touched, from παντός); whatever the unclean touches becomes unclean.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the copula; the thing touched by the unclean becomes unclean — the contagion-principle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with ψυχή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoul / personNominativesubject of the final ἔσται→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / person'; ἡ ψυχὴ ἡ ἁπτομένη ('the soul that touches') = the next person in the chain of contact, who is in turn defiled.
ἡthe oneNominativearticle (substantivizing the attributive participle)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁπτομένηthat touchesPres Mid Ptc Nom Fem Sg · ἅπτομαιattributive participle (modifying ψυχή: 'the touching soul')→ imperfective participle (general/customary)ἅπτομαι (pres. ptc. fem. ἁπτομένη): 'touch'; the attributive ἡ ψυχὴ ἡ ἁπτομένη ('the soul that touches') extends the contagion one further link — the person who touches the now-defiled object is himself unclean till evening; the chapter ends on this transmissive note, underscoring the pervasiveness of death-impurity.
ἀκάθαρτοςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται)→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the touching soul is defiled in turn.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate: 'shall be unclean')→ predictive future (legislative consequence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the chapter's closing copula; the final ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας caps the refrain that has run throughout (vv. 7, 8, 10, 19, 21).
ἕωςuntilimproper preposition + genitive (temporal limit)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; with genitive ἑσπέρας.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive with ἕως (temporal limit)→ relational specificationἑσπέρα: 'evening'; the closing word of the chapter — the uncleanness lapses at sundown, the standard term-limit for minor impurity.