1
καὶ κτήνη πλῆθος ἦν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ρουβην καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Γαδ πλῆθος σφόδρα καὶ εἶδον τὴν χώραν Ιαζηρ καὶ τὴν χώραν Γαλααδ καὶ ἦν ὁ τόπος τόπος κτήνεσιν
Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had livestock, a very great multitude; and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.
The chapter opens with a fronted nominal clause establishing the material premise of the whole episode: the immense herds of Reuben and Gad. The doubled πλῆθος … πλῆθος σφόδρα is emphatic, and the predicate-noun construction ὁ τόπος τόπος κτήνεσιν ('the place was a place for livestock') is a Hebraizing way of asserting the land's perfect suitability — the fact that will drive the petition.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶand / nownarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: the opening waw-consecutive καί links this episode to the foregoing conquest of Transjordan (Num 21); here it functions to introduce a fresh narrative scene rather than strict sequence.
κτήνηlivestockNominativesubject (neuter plural)→ participant prominenceκτῆνος (pl. κτήνη): 'cattle / livestock / domestic beasts'; renders מִקְנֶה; the herds are the economic engine of the chapter — the abundance of livestock motivates the entire Transjordan request.
πλῆθοςa multitudeNominativepredicate nominative / appositive (quantity)→ participant prominenceπλῆθος: 'multitude / great number'; renders רַב; placed in apposition to κτήνη to stress sheer quantity; the repetition below (πλῆθος σφόδρα) intensifies.
ἦνwas / belongedImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (with dative of possession)→ durative imperfect (settled state of affairs)εἰμί (impf.): the construction ἦν τοῖς υἱοῖς ('was to the sons') is a dative of possession, a common LXX rendering of the Hebrew היה לְ ('belong to').
τοῖςtheDativearticle (dative of possession)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of possession→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην is the standard LXX designation of the tribe (rendering בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן); the tribal name functions collectively for the whole clan.
ΡουβηνReubengenitival modifier of υἱοῖς (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliteration of Hebrew רְאוּבֵן; indeclinable in the LXX; Reuben is Jacob's firstborn, and the tribe's prominence in this petition is notable given its forfeited primogeniture (Gen 49:3–4).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (dative of possession)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of possession (parallel to first)→ sphere or referenceυἱοῖς: meaning 'sons'; it serves as dative of possession (parallel to first).
ΓαδGadgenitival modifier of υἱοῖς (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΓαδ: transliteration of Hebrew גָּד; indeclinable; Gad and Reuben are paired throughout the chapter, their territories adjoining east of the Jordan.
πλῆθοςa multitudeNominativepredicate nominative (resumptive, emphatic)→ participant prominenceπλῆθος: the resumptive repetition reinforces the magnitude; with σφόδρα it forms a superlative-equivalent ('an exceedingly great multitude').
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying πλῆθος)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very much / exceedingly'; standard LXX rendering of מְאֹד; intensifies the herd-count to the point of overflow, the practical pressure behind the request for grazing land.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδονthey sawAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (perception)→ constative aorist (act of inspection)ὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see / perceive'; the seeing is evaluative inspection of the terrain — the tribes 'see' that the land suits their herds, echoing the spies' seeing of the land (a verbal link the rebuke will exploit).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χώρανland / regionAccusativedirect object of εἶδον→ object specificationχώρα: 'land / region / territory'; renders אֶרֶץ here in its regional sense; the term denotes settled, cultivable country, appropriate to its grazing value.
ΙαζηρJazergenitival modifier of χώραν (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΙαζηρ: transliteration of Hebrew יַעְזֵר; a town and district in Gilead east of the Jordan, captured in Num 21:32; indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χώρανlandAccusativedirect object (parallel to first χώραν)→ object specificationχώραν: meaning 'land'; it serves as direct object (parallel to first χώραν).
ΓαλααδGileadgenitival modifier of χώραν (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΓαλααδ: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְעָד; the mountainous, fertile pastureland east of the Jordan; the name recurs as the leitmotif of the allotted territory (vv. 26, 29, 39, 40).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicate-noun clause)→ durative imperfect (description of the place)εἰμί (impf.): introduces the evaluative assertion; the imperfect frames the land's character as an established, surveyed fact.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόποςplaceNominativesubject→ participant prominenceτόπος: 'place / region'; renders מָקוֹם; the subject of the predicate-noun clause.
τόποςa placeNominativepredicate nominative (Hebraizing repetition)→ participant prominenceτόπος: the repetition ὁ τόπος τόπος κτήνεσιν ('the place was a place for livestock') reproduces a Hebrew nominal idiom of identification, asserting the land's defining suitability for herds.
κτήνεσινfor livestockDativedative of advantage/purpose→ sphere or referenceκτῆνος (dat. pl. κτήνεσιν): the dative of advantage marks the land as fit 'for livestock'; the inclusio with κτήνη at the verse's head frames the whole opening around the herds.
2
καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ εἶπαν πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ πρὸς Ελεαζαρ τὸν ἱερέα καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἄρχοντας τῆς συναγωγῆς λέγοντες
And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad came and spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the rulers of the congregation, saying,
The aorist participle προσελθόντες frames a formal, deliberate approach to the three centres of authority — Moses (the lawgiver), Eleazar (the priest), and the chiefs of the congregation — establishing that the request is brought through proper channels. The triple πρός underscores the corporate, legal character of the petition.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσελθόντεςhaving approachedAor Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · προσέρχομαιcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance to εἶπαν)→ antecedent aorist participle (the act of approaching precedes the speaking)προσέρχομαι: 'come/draw near, approach'; in the LXX the verb often carries the nuance of formal approach to authority or to the sanctuary; here it signals a deputation presenting a petition.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject→ participant prominenceυἱός: collective tribal designation; the subject of both προσελθόντες and εἶπαν.
ΡουβηνReubengenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceυἱοὶ: meaning 'sons'; it serves as subject (coordinate).
ΓαδGadgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
εἶπανsaid / spokeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπαν, Hellenistic -αν ending): 'say / speak'; the plural εἶπαν reflects Koine morphology; introduces the petition that follows in vv. 3–5.
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→ object specificationΜωυσῆς: declined as a first/third-declension hybrid in Rahlfs (acc. Μωυσῆν); the lawgiver heads the list of addressees.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΕλεαζαρEleazaraccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΕλεαζαρ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְעָזָר; Aaron's son and successor as high priest (Num 20:25–28); his inclusion signals the priestly-covenantal weight of the matter.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ 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 title identifies Eleazar's office, the channel of oracular and covenant authority.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχονταςrulers / chiefsAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ object specificationἄρχων: 'ruler / leader / chief'; renders נָשִׂיא / רֹאשׁ; the tribal heads who, with Moses and Eleazar, constitute the governing authority of the congregation.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive (the body the chiefs govern)→ relational specificationσυναγωγή: 'assembly / congregation'; the standard LXX rendering of עֵדָה, the covenant community of Israel gathered as a body; the request is thus addressed to the whole governing structure.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ present participle (redundant Hebraizing 'saying')λέγω (pres. ptcp.): the pleonastic λέγοντες ('saying') after a verb of speaking renders the Hebrew לֵאמֹר, the standard LXX device introducing the words of a quotation.
3
Αταρωθ καὶ Δαιβων καὶ Ιαζηρ καὶ Ναμβρα καὶ Εσεβων καὶ Ελεαλη καὶ Σεβαμα καὶ Ναβαυ καὶ Βαιαν
Ataroth and Dibon and Jazer and Nimrah and Heshbon and Elealeh and Sebama and Nebo and Beon —
The petition begins, strikingly, with a bare list of nine town-names linked by καί — the toponymic inventory of the coveted territory. Several of these names (Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah/Nambra, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebama, Nebo) recur in the settlement-list of vv. 34–38, framing the chapter: what is here merely named is there rebuilt and possessed.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ΑταρωθAtarothasyndetic list-item (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΑταρωθ: transliteration of Hebrew עֲטָרוֹת; a city rebuilt by Gad (v. 34); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΔαιβωνDibonlist-item (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΔαιβων: transliteration of Hebrew דִּיבוֹן; a Moabite/Gadite town later rebuilt by Gad (v. 34); known from the Mesha Stele; indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙαζηρJazerlist-item (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΙαζηρ: see v. 1; the district already named as surveyed, here listed among the towns desired.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΝαμβραNimrahlist-item (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΝαμβρα: transliteration of Hebrew נִמְרָה (Beth-Nimrah); rebuilt as Ναμβραν in v. 36; indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΕσεβωνHeshbonlist-item (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΕσεβων: transliteration of Hebrew חֶשְׁבּוֹן; the former royal city of Sihon (Num 21:26), rebuilt by Reuben (v. 37); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΕλεαληElealehlist-item (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΕλεαλη: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְעָלֵא; a town near Heshbon, rebuilt by Reuben (v. 37); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΣεβαμαSebamalist-item (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΣεβαμα: transliteration of Hebrew שְׂבָם / שִׂבְמָה; rebuilt by Reuben (v. 38); indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΝαβαυNebolist-item (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΝαβαυ: transliteration of Hebrew נְבוֹ; the town near Mount Nebo (not the mountain itself); indeclinable; note the man named Ναβαυ in v. 42 is distinct.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΒαιανBeonlist-item (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΒαιαν: transliteration of Hebrew בְּעֹן (a short form of Baal-meon, cf. Βεελμεων v. 38); indeclinable; closes the toponymic list.
4
τὴν γῆν ἣν παρέδωκεν κύριος ἐνώπιον τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ γῆ κτηνοτρόφος ἐστίν καὶ τοῖς παισίν σου κτήνη ὑπάρχει
the land which the LORD delivered up before the sons of Israel is cattle-rearing land, and your servants have livestock.
The fronted accusative τὴν γῆν (a pendent/casus-pendens construction resumed by γῆ … ἐστίν) names the territory the LORD has already subdued and argues its fitness: it is γῆ κτηνοτρόφος ('cattle-rearing land'), and the petitioners — self-deprecatingly οἱ παῖδές σου ('your servants') — have herds. The rhetoric joins divine gift (παρέδωκεν κύριος) to practical suitability.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (fronted casus pendens)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativependent accusative (resumed by γῆ below)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth / territory'; the fronted accusative is a casus pendens ('as for the land which …'), resumed by the nominative γῆ in the predicate clause — a Hebraizing topic-comment structure.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of παρέδωκεν)→ participant referenceὅς, ἥ, ὅ: relative pronoun; ἥν (acc. fem.) agrees with γῆν and is the object of παρέδωκεν.
παρέδωκενdelivered upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παραδίδωμιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (completed act of conquest-gift)παραδίδωμι: 'hand over / deliver up'; renders נָתַן in the sense of giving an enemy land into Israel's power; recalls the defeat of Sihon and Og (Num 21); the divine subject frames the territory as already YHWH's gift.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of παρέδωκεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD himself is the giver of the land — the theological premise the petitioners invoke (and which Moses will turn against any hesitation to fight).
ἐνώπιονbefore / in the presence ofpreposition + genitive (Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the sight of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; here 'subdued before the sons of Israel' = handed over for their taking.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the whole people, before whom the land was subdued — a phrase that quietly reminds that the gift was to all Israel, not these two tribes alone.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitival modifier of υἱῶν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; the covenant name of the whole nation.
γῆlandNominativesubject of ἐστίν (resuming the pendent τὴν γῆν)→ participant prominenceγῆ: the resumptive nominative completes the topic-comment construction begun with τὴν γῆν.
κτηνοτρόφοςcattle-rearingNominativepredicate adjective→ participant prominenceκτηνοτρόφος: 'rearing/feeding cattle, suited to livestock'; a compound (κτῆνος + τρέφω); the key descriptive term of the petition, asserting the land's pastoral fitness — its sole argument for the request.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present (settled description)εἰμί (pres.): the copula of the predicative assertion γῆ κτηνοτρόφος ἐστίν ('it is cattle-rearing land').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second argument)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (dative of possession)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παισίνservantsDativedative of possession→ sphere or referenceπαῖς: 'servant / child / slave'; οἱ παῖδές σου ('your servants') is the deferential self-designation of the petitioners before Moses, a courtly humility-formula running through the chapter (cf. vv. 5, 25, 27).
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παισίν)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): the second-person 'your' addressed to Moses; the deferential idiom 'your servants' acknowledges his authority.
κτήνηlivestockNominativesubject of ὑπάρχει→ participant prominenceκτῆνος (pl. κτήνη): the herds again named — the inclusio of vv. 1–4 turns wholly on κτήνη, the practical fact governing the request.
ὑπάρχειbelongs / there isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑπάρχωverb of possession (with dative)→ stative present (existing possession)ὑπάρχω: 'exist / be at hand / belong to'; with the dative τοῖς παισίν σου it expresses possession ('your servants have livestock'); the singular agrees with the neuter plural subject κτήνη per Greek concord.
5
καὶ ἔλεγον εἰ εὕρομεν χάριν ἐνώπιόν σου δοθήτω ἡ γῆ αὕτη τοῖς οἰκέταις σου ἐν κατασχέσει καὶ μὴ διαβιβάσῃς ἡμᾶς τὸν Ιορδάνην
And they said, 'If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession, and do not bring us across the Jordan.'
The request is cast in the courtly conditional formula εἰ εὕρομεν χάριν ἐνώπιόν σου ('if we have found favor in your sight') followed by a third-person passive imperative δοθήτω ('let it be given'). The negative jussive μὴ διαβιβάσῃς ('do not take us across') is the crux of the petition and the very point Moses will indict as faithless: a refusal to cross the Jordan with the people.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλεγονthey were sayingImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ iterative/durative imperfect (the ongoing pressing of the request)λέγω (impf. ἔλεγον): the imperfect frames the petition as urged and pressed, perhaps repeatedly, before Moses' authorities.
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis of courtesy-formula)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; introduces the deferential conditional εἰ εὕρομεν χάριν, a stock politeness formula in petitionary speech (cf. Gen 18:3; 47:29 LXX).
εὕρομενwe have foundAor Act Indic 1 Pl · εὑρίσκωverb of the conditional protasis→ constative aorist (achieved standing of favor)εὑρίσκω: 'find'; the idiom εὑρίσκειν χάριν ('find favor') renders מָצָא חֵן, the conventional language of seeking a superior's goodwill before making a request.
χάρινfavorAccusativedirect object of εὕρομεν→ object specificationχάρις: 'favor / goodwill'; renders חֵן; here social favor in Moses' eyes, the precondition the petitioners hope to invoke.
ἐνώπιόνin the sight ofpreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'before you')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering בְּעֵינֶיךָ ('in your eyes').
σουyouGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): addressed to Moses as the granting authority.
δοθήτωlet it be givenAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (third-person passive imperative: the request)→ aorist passive imperative (deferential request, divine/Mosaic grant implied)δίδωμι (aor. pass. impv.): 'let it be given'; the passive δοθήτω leaves the granting agent unstated (Moses, or ultimately the LORD), softening the request into a petition rather than a demand; the verb δίδωμι is the leitmotif of the grant (cf. vv. 29, 33, 40).
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of δοθήτω→ participant prominenceγῆ: the Transjordan territory just described; the thing requested.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (modifying γῆ)→ participant referenceοὗτος (fem. αὕτη): 'this'; the deictic points to the surveyed land of Jazer and Gilead, specifying the object of the request.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (dative of recipient)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκέταιςservantsDativedative of recipient→ sphere or referenceοἰκέτης: 'household servant / domestic'; a variant deferential self-designation (alongside παῖδες, v. 4), again expressing humble subordination to Moses.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying οἰκέταις)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. σου): 'your servants', continuing the courtly idiom.
ἐνfor / aspreposition + dative (predicative/purpose)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: here in a predicative sense ('as / for a possession'), a Hebraizing use of בְּ rendering the status into which the land is given.
κατασχέσειa possessionDativeobject of ἐν (predicative: 'for a possession')→ sphere or referenceκατάσχεσις: 'holding / possession / property'; the standard LXX rendering of אֲחֻזָּה, the legal term for permanent landed inheritance; the keyword of the grant (recurs vv. 22, 29, 32).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μὴnotnegative particle (with prohibitive subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative of will/prohibition, with the aorist subjunctive διαβιβάσῃς forming a negative request ('do not take us across').
διαβιβάσῃςbring acrossAor Act Subj 2 Sg · διαβιβάζωprohibitive subjunctive (negative request)→ prohibitive aorist subjunctive (request not to perform the act)διαβιβάζω: causative 'cause to cross over, bring across'; the causative of διαβαίνω; the request μὴ διαβιβάσῃς ἡμᾶς τὸν Ιορδάνην ('do not bring us across the Jordan') is the offending heart of the petition — a wish to be exempt from the crossing that defines covenant participation in the conquest.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of διαβιβάσῃς→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of διαβιβάσῃς.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space traversed (object of διαβιβάσῃς)→ object specificationΙορδάνης: the Jordan River; declined as a first-declension masculine in the LXX (acc. Ιορδάνην); the boundary whose crossing is the whole issue of the chapter.
6
καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς τοῖς υἱοῖς Γαδ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Ρουβην οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ὑμῶν πορεύονται εἰς πόλεμον καὶ ὑμεῖς καθήσεσθε αὐτοῦ
And Moses said to the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, 'Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here?'
Moses' reply opens the long rebuke (vv. 6–15). The juxtaposition of οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ὑμῶν … καὶ ὑμεῖς ('your brothers … and you') with the emphatic ὑμεῖς frames an indignant rhetorical question: the contrast of brothers going εἰς πόλεμον against the petitioners sitting (καθήσεσθε) exposes the request as a breach of corporate solidarity.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single decisive reply)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Moses' rebuke; the singular subject marks his personal, authoritative response over against the collective petition.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (dative of indirect object)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativeindirect object (addressees)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: note the order reverses — Gad before Reuben — perhaps reflecting Gad's leading role in the negotiation.
ΓαδGadgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativeindirect object (coordinate)→ sphere or referenceυἱοῖς: meaning 'sons'; it serves as indirect object (coordinate).
ΡουβηνReubengenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersNominativesubject of πορεύονται→ participant prominenceἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָח; the kinship term is rhetorically pointed — the other tribes are 'your brothers', so to refuse the war is to abandon kin, the core of the rebuke's logic of corporate solidarity.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying ἀδελφοὶ)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your', binding the petitioners to the rest of Israel by kinship obligation.
πορεύονταιgo / are goingPres Mid Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb of the rhetorical question→ futuristic/vivid present (the imminent campaign)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed / march'; the present makes the brothers' going to war vivid and imminent, set in pointed contrast to the petitioners' sitting.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
πόλεμονwar / battleAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)→ object specificationπόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the conquest of Canaan as a corporate military obligation, the keyword of Moses' indictment (recurs vv. 20, 27, 29).
καὶand / whileadversative-coordinative καί (Hebraizing contrast)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here adversative in force ('while / whereas'), pitting the brothers' going against the petitioners' sitting; the parataxis carries the indignant contrast.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativeemphatic subject (fronted personal pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the explicit, emphatic 'you' heightens the contrast — 'and YOU will sit here?' — sharpening the rebuke.
καθήσεσθεwill you sitFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · κάθημαιmain verb of the rhetorical question (indignant future)→ deliberative/indignant future (incredulous 'will you sit?')κάθημαι (fut. καθήσεσθε): 'sit / remain seated / stay put'; the future expresses an indignant rhetorical question — that the petitioners would 'sit' idle while their brothers fight is the very picture of covenant betrayal.
αὐτοῦhere / in this placeadverb of place ('in this very place')→ participant referenceαὐτοῦ: adverbial 'here, in this place' (not the pronoun); intensifies the rebuke — 'sit here', safe and settled, while the war is fought by others.
7
καὶ ἵνα τί διαστρέφετε τὰς διανοίας τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ μὴ διαβῆναι εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν κύριος δίδωσιν αὐτοῖς
And why do you pervert the minds of the sons of Israel, so as not to cross over into the land which the LORD is giving them?
The second rhetorical question sharpens the charge: the petitioners are not merely shirking but actively διαστρέφειν ('twisting / discouraging') the minds of the whole people. The verb anticipates the verbal echo of the spies (v. 9 ἀπέστησαν τὴν καρδίαν), framing the present request as a recurrence of the Kadesh rebellion.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἵναwhyinterrogative (with τί: 'why / for what reason')→ clausal contributionἵνα τί: 'why? / for what purpose?'; an idiomatic interrogative (lit. 'in order that what?') rendering לָמָּה; introduces an indignant question expecting no justification.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (with ἵνα)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative pronoun; combined with ἵνα forms the fixed expression 'why'.
διαστρέφετεyou pervert / discouragePres Act Indic 2 Pl · διαστρέφωmain verb of the rhetorical question→ progressive present (ongoing, active discouragement)διαστρέφω: 'turn aside / twist / pervert / distort'; renders הֵנִיא ('discourage / restrain') and related verbs; the compound (διά + στρέφω, 'turn through/away') accuses the petitioners of bending the will of the whole people away from the conquest — the gravest charge in the rebuke (see Cruxes).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διανοίαςminds / dispositionsAccusativedirect object of διαστρέφετε→ object specificationδιάνοια: 'mind / understanding / disposition / resolve'; renders לֵב ('heart') in its volitional-cognitive sense; the 'minds' of Israel are what the petition threatens to turn from the conquest, paralleling the spies' turning of the people's 'heart' (v. 9).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (whose minds)→ relational specificationυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the whole congregation, whose resolve is at stake.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitival modifier of υἱῶν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the covenant nation; the corporate body endangered by the discouragement.
μὴnotnegative (with the articular/complementary infinitive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: negates the infinitive διαβῆναι, expressing the intended (negative) result of the discouragement.
διαβῆναιto cross overAor Act Inf · διαβαίνωcomplementary/result infinitive ('so as not to cross')→ aorist infinitive of result (the discouragement's effect)διαβαίνω: 'cross over, pass through'; the simplex underlying διαβιβάζω (v. 5); the negated infinitive μὴ διαβῆναι names the very refusal to cross the Jordan that the petitioners' request would spread to all Israel.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal of crossing)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of crossing).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)→ object specificationγῆ: the promised land west of the Jordan — Canaan proper, the object of the conquest.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δίδωσιν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. fem. ἥν): relative pronoun agreeing with γῆν.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of δίδωσιν→ participant prominenceκύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the LORD as present giver of the land grounds the obligation to cross — to refuse is to spurn his gift.
δίδωσινis givingPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of the relative clause→ progressive present (the gift in process of being granted)δίδωμι (pres. δίδωσιν): the present tense ('is giving') presents the land-gift as a covenant act now unfolding; the refusal to cross thus opposes an active divine purpose, not a settled past fact.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of recipient (the sons of Israel)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'to them', the sons of Israel as recipients of the land-gift.
8
οὐχ οὕτως ἐποίησαν οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν ὅτε ἀπέστειλα αὐτοὺς ἐκ Καδης Βαρνη κατανοῆσαι τὴν γῆν
Did not your fathers do thus, when I sent them from Kadesh-Barnea to observe the land?
Moses turns from accusation to precedent: a question expecting the answer 'yes' (οὐχ … ἐποίησαν;) identifies the present request with the fathers' sin at Kadesh-Barnea. The first-person ἀπέστειλα ('I sent') recalls Moses' own commissioning of the twelve spies (Num 13), making the rebuke autobiographical and authoritative.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
οὐχnotnegative particle (interrogative, expecting 'yes')→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐχ before rough breathing): the negative of an indignant question anticipating affirmation — 'did they not in fact do this very thing?'
οὕτωςthus / soadverb of manner ('in this way')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; renders כֹּה / כֵּן; points back to the discouraging behaviour just described, equating it with the fathers' deed.
ἐποίησανdid / actedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of the interrogative→ constative aorist (the past deed at Kadesh)ποιέω: 'do / make / act'; the aorist refers to the fathers' historical act of discouragement after spying out the land (Num 13–14).
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of ἐποίησαν→ participant prominenceπατήρ: 'father / ancestor'; renders אָב; 'your fathers' — the exodus generation that perished in the wilderness — whose example the petitioners are charged with repeating.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (modifying πατέρες)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): binds the petitioners to the guilty generation by descent — the rhetorical force of 'your fathers'.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunction (introducing subordinate clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτε: 'when'; introduces the historical circumstance — the sending of the spies.
ἀπέστειλαI sentAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἀποστέλλωverb of the temporal clause→ constative aorist (Moses' own commissioning act)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch (on a commission)'; the emphatic first-person ἀπέστειλα recalls Moses' personal role in sending the twelve to reconnoiter (Num 13:2–3, 17), lending the rebuke firsthand authority.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστειλα→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl.): the spies/fathers sent on the reconnaissance.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (point of departure)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / out of'; marks Kadesh-Barnea as the base from which the spies set out.
ΚαδηςKadeshobject of ἐκ (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΚαδης: transliteration of Hebrew קָדֵשׁ; Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran/Zin, the staging-point of the spy mission; indeclinable.
ΒαρνηBarneaappositional toponym (indeclinable, with Καδης)→ participant identificationΒαρνη: transliteration of Hebrew בַּרְנֵעַ; together Καδης Βαρνη = Kadesh-Barnea, the full place-name of the rebellion site (cf. Num 13:26; Deut 1:19); indeclinable.
κατανοῆσαιto observe / inspectAor Act Inf · κατανοέωinfinitive of purpose ('to spy out')→ aorist infinitive of purpose (the reconnaissance mission)κατανοέω: 'observe closely / consider / inspect'; the compound (κατά + νοέω) denotes careful examination; the purpose of the spy mission was κατανοῆσαι τὴν γῆν ('to examine the land'), the very seeing-and-evaluating that the petitioners have repeated (cf. εἶδον, v. 1; κατενόησαν, v. 9).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of κατανοῆσαι→ object specificationγῆ: the promised land of Canaan, object of the spies' inspection and of the present conquest.
9
καὶ ἀνέβησαν Φάραγγα βότρυος καὶ κατενόησαν τὴν γῆν καὶ ἀπέστησαν τὴν καρδίαν τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ὅπως μὴ εἰσέλθωσιν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ἔδωκεν κύριος αὐτοῖς
And they went up to the Valley of the Cluster and observed the land, and they turned away the heart of the sons of Israel, that they should not enter into the land which the LORD gave them.
The fathers' deed is told in three coordinated aorists: they went up (ἀνέβησαν), inspected (κατενόησαν), and turned away (ἀπέστησαν) Israel's heart. The verb ἀπέστησαν τὴν καρδίαν ('turned away the heart') is the precise counterpart to διαστρέφετε τὰς διανοίας (v. 7), sealing the equation of the present petition with the Kadesh rebellion; the result clause ὅπως μὴ εἰσέλθωσιν names the catastrophe — a generation barred from the land.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβησανthey went upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβαίνωmain verb→ constative aorist (the ascent into the land)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the spies 'went up' from the wilderness into the hill country (cf. Num 13:21–22); the verb echoes οἱ ἀναβάντες ἐξ Αἰγύπτου in v. 11.
Φάραγγαvalley / ravineAccusativeaccusative of goal/place (whither)→ object specificationφάραγξ: 'ravine / wadi / valley'; renders נַחַל; the accusative of place to which (without preposition) is a Hebraizing construction; Φάραγγα βότρυος = the Valley of Eshcol.
βότρυοςof the clusterGenitivegenitive (defining the valley's name)→ relational specificationβότρυς: 'cluster (of grapes)'; the LXX renders the place-name אֶשְׁכֹּל ('Eshcol', = cluster) by translation rather than transliteration; the valley from which the spies brought the great grape-cluster (Num 13:23–24).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατενόησανthey observedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατανοέωmain verb→ constative aorist (the inspection carried out)κατανοέω: 'examine closely / inspect'; picks up κατανοῆσαι (v. 8) — the commissioned task was fulfilled, but turned to faithless ends.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of κατενόησαν→ object specificationγῆν: meaning 'land'; it serves as direct object of κατενόησαν.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστησανthey turned awayAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀφίστημιmain verb (the decisive sin)→ constative aorist (causative: they made Israel's heart turn away)ἀφίστημι: transitive aorist 'cause to stand off / turn away / make revolt'; renders הֵנִיא; ἀπέστησαν τὴν καρδίαν ('turned away the heart') is the substantive sin — diverting the people's resolve from entering the land; the precise parallel to διαστρέφετε in v. 7.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρδίανheartAccusativedirect object of ἀπέστησαν→ object specificationκαρδία: 'heart'; renders לֵב; the seat of will and resolve; its 'turning away' is the corporate loss of nerve that doomed the exodus generation — exactly what Moses fears the present request will reproduce.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (whose heart)→ relational specificationυἱός: the sons of Israel, the whole people whose courage was undermined.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
ὅπωςso that / thatconjunction (negative result/purpose clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅπως: 'so that / in order that'; with μή and the subjunctive expresses the (disastrous) result of the discouragement — that the people would not enter the land.
μὴnotnegative (with subjunctive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: negates εἰσέλθωσιν in the ὅπως clause.
εἰσέλθωσινthey should enterAor Act Subj 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιverb of the negative result clause→ aorist subjunctive (the averted entry)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; the subjunctive after ὅπως μή names the outcome of the rebellion: the generation did not 'go in' to the land (cf. v. 11), the wilderness-death verdict of Num 14.
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.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)→ object specificationγῆ: the promised land barred to that generation.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔδωκεν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. fem. ἥν): relative pronoun agreeing with γῆν.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the settled gift)δίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκεν): the land 'which the LORD gave them' — the aorist (against the present δίδωσιν of v. 7) frames the gift as already granted in promise; to refuse it was to spurn an accomplished divine grant.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἔδωκεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the giver whose gift the fathers despised.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of recipient→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl.): the sons of Israel as recipients of the gift.
10
καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ κύριος ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ ὤμοσεν λέγων
And the LORD was angry with wrath on that day, and he swore an oath, saying,
The result of the rebellion is the LORD's anger and judicial oath. The cognate-dative construction ὠργίσθη θυμῷ ('was angry with anger') is a Hebraism (infinitive-absolute calque) intensifying the divine wrath; ὤμοσεν introduces the irrevocable oath-verdict quoted in vv. 11–12.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὠργίσθηwas angryAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀργίζωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (the LORD became angry)ὀργίζω (aor. pass. ὠργίσθη): 'be angry / become enraged'; renders חָרָה אַף; the passive form is deponent in sense ('grew angry'); the divine wrath against the rebellion is the hinge of the historical lesson.
θυμῷwith wrathDativecognate/instrumental dative (Hebraism)→ sphere or referenceθυμός: 'wrath / hot anger / fury'; the dative ὠργίσθη θυμῷ ('was angry with wrath') is a cognate-dative Hebraism calquing the Hebrew emphatic construction, intensifying the wrath; θυμός recurs at vv. 13, 14 as the leitmotif of divine anger.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the subject whose wrath and oath determined the forty years.
ἐνon / inpreposition + 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)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ('on that day') marks the decisive moment of the oath at Kadesh.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the deictic fixes the wrath to the specific day of rebellion and verdict.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὤμοσενhe sworeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὄμνυμιmain verb (introducing the oath)→ constative aorist (the act of swearing)ὄμνυμι (aor. ὤμοσεν): 'swear (an oath)'; renders נִשְׁבַּע; the divine oath is irrevocable, and its content (vv. 11–12) is itself an oath-formula (εἰ ὄψονται …); cf. the same root ὤμοσα in v. 11 of the earlier oath to the patriarchs.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing the oath's content)→ present participle (Hebraizing 'saying')λέγω (pres. ptcp.): pleonastic λέγων rendering לֵאמֹר, introducing the words of the oath.
11
εἰ ὄψονται οἱ ἄνθρωποι οὗτοι οἱ ἀναβάντες ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἀπὸ εἰκοσαετοῦς καὶ ἐπάνω οἱ ἐπιστάμενοι τὸ κακὸν καὶ τὸ ἀγαθὸν τὴν γῆν ἣν ὤμοσα τῷ Αβρααμ καὶ Ισαακ καὶ Ιακωβ οὐ γὰρ συνεπηκολούθησαν ὀπίσω μου
'Surely these men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, who know good and evil, shall not see the land which I swore to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob; for they did not follow closely after me' —
The oath's content is cast with the Hebraizing oath-εἰ (εἰ ὄψονται = 'they shall surely not see'), a self-imprecatory ellipsis where εἰ functions as strong negation. The verdict bars the whole adult exodus generation (ἀπὸ εἰκοσαετοῦς καὶ ἐπάνω) from the land sworn to the patriarchs, on the ground (γάρ) that they οὐ … συνεπηκολούθησαν ὀπίσω μου ('did not follow closely after me').
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
εἰsurely notoath-particle (Hebraizing: introduces emphatic negative oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: in oath-formulas, εἰ + future renders the Hebrew אִם of self-imprecation, functioning as an emphatic negation ('[may such-and-such befall me] if they shall see' = 'they shall surely not see'); a recurrent LXX Hebraism (cf. Ps 94:11; Heb 3:11).
ὄψονταιthey shall seeFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb of the oath (negated by εἰ)→ predictive future under oath-negation (= 'they shall by no means see')ὁράω (fut. mid. ὄψονται): 'see'; with the oath-εἰ, 'shall surely not see the land' — the irrevocable exclusion of the rebellious generation from the inheritance.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποιmenNominativesubject of ὄψονται→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / human being'; here the adult males of the exodus generation, the bearers of the rebellion and its verdict.
οὗτοιtheseNominativedemonstrative (modifying ἄνθρωποι)→ participant prominenceοὗτος: 'these'; specifies the guilty generation present at Kadesh.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (with participle ἀναβάντες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναβάντεςwho came upAor Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἀναβαίνωattributive participle (modifying ἄνθρωποι)→ aorist participle (the past exodus-ascent)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / come up'; οἱ ἀναβάντες ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ('those who came up out of Egypt') is a stock designation of the exodus generation; the same verb described the spies' ascent in v. 9.
ἐξout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source).
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος: standard LXX form of מִצְרַיִם; the land of bondage from which the generation was redeemed yet to which, by unbelief, they remained spiritually bound.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (lower bound of age-range)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; with ἐπάνω forms the age-bracket idiom 'from twenty years and upward'.
εἰκοσαετοῦςtwenty years oldGenitivegenitive (age, object of ἀπό)→ relational specificationεἰκοσαετής: 'twenty years old'; the age of military and covenant accountability (cf. the census threshold, Num 1:3); marks the responsible adults subject to the verdict.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάνωupward / aboveadverb (completing the age-range)→ clausal contributionἐπάνω: 'above / upward'; ἀπὸ εἰκοσαετοῦς καὶ ἐπάνω ('from twenty and above') renders מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה, the fixed census-and-accountability formula.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (with participle ἐπιστάμενοι)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπιστάμενοιwho knowPres Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἐπίσταμαιattributive participle (modifying ἄνθρωποι)→ present participle (settled knowledge/moral discernment)ἐπίσταμαι: 'know / understand / be acquainted with'; οἱ ἐπιστάμενοι τὸ κακὸν καὶ τὸ ἀγαθόν ('those who know evil and good') marks moral accountability — the adults who could discern and therefore bear guilt, contrasted with the children spared in v. 11 of Num 14:31.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακὸνevilAccusativedirect object of ἐπιστάμενοι (substantivized adjective)→ object specificationκακός: 'bad / evil'; τὸ κακόν, the morally bad, paired with τὸ ἀγαθόν as a merism for moral discernment (cf. Gen 2:9, 17; Deut 1:39).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγαθὸνgoodAccusativedirect object (substantivized adjective)→ object specificationἀγαθός: 'good'; τὸ ἀγαθόν completes the merism 'evil and good', denoting full moral capacity and thus full liability.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of ὄψονται→ object specificationγῆ: the promised land — the object the rebellious generation 'shall not see', sworn long before to the patriarchs.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ὤμοσα)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. fem. ἥν): relative pronoun agreeing with γῆν.
ὤμοσαI sworeAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ὄμνυμιverb of relative clause (the patriarchal oath)→ constative aorist (the ancient land-oath)ὄμνυμι (aor. ὤμοσα): the LORD's own oath to the patriarchs; the tragic irony is that the land sworn by oath (ὤμοσα) is withheld by another oath (ὤμοσεν, v. 10) from the unbelieving generation.
τῷtoDativearticle (dative of recipient)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑβρααμAbrahamdative object (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΑβρααμ: transliteration of Hebrew אַבְרָהָם; indeclinable; the first patriarch to whom the land was sworn (Gen 12:7; 15:18).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙσαακIsaacdative object (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙσαακ: transliteration of Hebrew יִצְחָק; indeclinable; the second patriarch (Gen 26:3).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙακωβJacobdative object (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliteration of Hebrew יַעֲקֹב; indeclinable; the third patriarch (Gen 28:13); the threefold naming invokes the full force of the patriarchal land-promise.
οὐnotnegative particle (with συνεπηκολούθησαν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negates the verb of following; with γάρ gives the ground of the verdict.
γὰρforcausal particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for / because'; introduces the reason for the exclusion — failure to follow the LORD wholeheartedly.
συνεπηκολούθησανthey followed closelyAor Act Indic 3 Pl · συνεπακολουθέωverb of the causal clause→ constative aorist (the failure to follow)συνεπακολουθέω: 'follow closely / accompany faithfully'; an emphatic triple-compound (σύν + ἐπί + ἀκολουθέω); οὐ συνεπηκολούθησαν ὀπίσω μου renders לֹא מִלְאוּ אַחֲרַי ('they did not fully follow after me') — the technical idiom for wholehearted covenant loyalty, of which Caleb (v. 12) is the positive exemplar.
ὀπίσωafterpreposition/adverb + genitive (direction of following)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: 'behind / after'; ὀπίσω μου ('after me') with a verb of following is a covenant-discipleship idiom rendering אַחֲרַי; to follow 'after' the LORD is to obey wholeheartedly.
μουmeGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. μου): 'me'; the LORD as the one whom the generation failed to follow.
12
πλὴν Χαλεβ υἱὸς Ιεφοννη ὁ διακεχωρισμένος καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ τοῦ Ναυη ὅτι συνεπηκολούθησεν ὀπίσω κυρίου
except Caleb son of Jephunneh, the one set apart, and Joshua the son of Nun; for he followed closely after the LORD.
πλήν ('except') carves out the two exceptions to the wilderness-death oath: Caleb and Joshua, the faithful spies (Num 14:6–9, 30). The participle ὁ διακεχωρισμένος ('the one set apart') marks Caleb's distinction, and the causal ὅτι συνεπηκολούθησεν exactly reverses the οὐ … συνεπηκολούθησαν of v. 11 — the same verb of wholehearted following now affirmed of the loyal pair.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
πλὴνexceptpreposition/adverb (exception)→ spatial or relational framingπλήν: 'except / only / however'; renders בִּלְתִּי / זוּלָתִי; introduces the two men exempted from the verdict of v. 11.
ΧαλεβCalebnominative (exception, indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΧαλεβ: transliteration of Hebrew כָּלֵב; indeclinable; the Judahite spy who, with Joshua, urged faith in the conquest (Num 13:30; 14:24).
υἱὸςsonNominativenominative in apposition (patronymic)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic 'son of Jephunneh' is Caleb's standard epithet (Num 13:6).
ΙεφοννηJephunnehgenitival modifier of υἱὸς (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙεφοννη: transliteration of Hebrew יְפֻנֶּה; Caleb's father; indeclinable.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (with participle διακεχωρισμένος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διακεχωρισμένοςset apart / distinguishedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · διαχωρίζωattributive participle (epithet of Caleb)→ perfect participle (settled state of having been set apart)διαχωρίζω: 'separate / set apart / distinguish'; the perfect passive participle ὁ διακεχωρισμένος ('the one who has been set apart') marks Caleb's distinct standing among the spies — separated by his faith from the faithless majority; the perfect denotes an abiding, achieved distinction.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativenominative (second exception)→ participant prominenceἸησοῦς: the LXX form of Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Joshua); declined as a Greek noun (gen. Ἰησοῦ); Moses' successor and the other faithful spy; the same Greek name later borne by Jesus.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with patronymic genitive)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (patronymic, with ellipsis of υἱός)→ noun-phrase markingὁ τοῦ Ναυη = 'the [son] of Nun'; the article-plus-genitive patronymic with υἱός understood, a standard Greek idiom.
ΝαυηNungenitival patronymic (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΝαυη: the LXX form of Hebrew נוּן (Nun), Joshua's father; the LXX consistently spells it Ναυη; indeclinable.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; gives the ground of the exception — wholehearted following of the LORD.
συνεπηκολούθησενhe followed closelyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνεπακολουθέωverb of the causal clause→ constative aorist (the faithful following)συνεπακολουθέω: see v. 11; the singular συνεπηκολούθησεν (perhaps focusing on Caleb, the nearer subject, as the paradigm) precisely reverses the οὐ … συνεπηκολούθησαν of the verdict — wholehearted loyalty is the dividing line between exclusion and inheritance.
ὀπίσωafterpreposition/adverb + genitive (covenant-following idiom)→ spatial or relational framingὀπίσω: see v. 11; ὀπίσω κυρίου ('after the LORD') marks the loyal discipleship that secured the inheritance.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ὀπίσω→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; here the object of faithful following — note the shift from first-person ὀπίσω μου (v. 11, divine speech) to third-person ὀπίσω κυρίου (v. 12, narratorial frame).
13
καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ κύριος ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ κατερρόμβευσεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη ἕως ἐξανηλώθη πᾶσα ἡ γενεὰ οἱ ποιοῦντες τὰ πονηρὰ ἔναντι κυρίου
And the LORD was angry with wrath against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that did evil before the LORD was consumed.
The wrath-formula of v. 10 is repeated and now directed ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ, and its execution is told: the vivid κατερρόμβευσεν ('he made them spin/wander about') graphically depicts the aimless forty-year circuit ἕως ἐξανηλώθη … ('until [the generation] was utterly consumed'). The participial epithet οἱ ποιοῦντες τὰ πονηρὰ ἔναντι κυρίου seals the moral verdict.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὠργίσθηwas angryAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὀργίζωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (the LORD became angry)ὀργίζω (aor. pass.): see v. 10; the repeated wrath-formula now leads to the judgment's execution rather than merely the oath.
θυμῷwith wrathDativecognate/instrumental dative (Hebraism)→ sphere or referenceθυμός: see v. 10; ὠργίσθη θυμῷ again calques the Hebrew emphatic infinitive-absolute construction, intensifying the divine anger.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against'; the wrath is now aimed at the whole people (τὸν Ισραηλ), not only the spies.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσραηλIsraelAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationΙσραηλ: here taken with the article as the object of ἐπί; the covenant people as the object of judgment.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατερρόμβευσενhe made (them) wanderAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταρρομβεύωmain verb (the judgment of wandering)→ constative aorist (the forty-year sentence as a single act)καταρρομβεύω: 'cause to roam/wander about, drive round and round' (from ῥόμβος, a spinning top); a rare and vivid LXX verb rendering הֵנִיעַ ('cause to wander'); it pictures the forty years not as a journey but as an aimless circling in the wilderness until the guilty generation died off.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of κατερρόμβευσεν→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl.): the people made to wander.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place (where)→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; renders מִדְבָּר; the place of the forty-year sentence, repeated in v. 15 as the threatened locus of a new abandonment.
τεσσαράκονταfortynumeral (indeclinable, modifying ἔτη)→ measure or countτεσσαράκοντα: 'forty'; indeclinable cardinal; the forty years of Num 14:33–34, one year per day of spying — the paradigmatic span of wilderness judgment.
ἔτηyearsAccusativeaccusative of extent of time→ object specificationἔτος (pl. ἔτη): 'year'; the accusative of temporal extent measures the duration of the wandering.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (temporal: until)→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; marks the terminus of the wandering — the death of the entire guilty generation.
ἐξανηλώθηwas consumedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαναλίσκωverb of the temporal clause→ constative aorist (the generation's complete dying-out)ἐξαναλίσκω: 'use up completely / consume / destroy utterly'; the double-compound (ἐξ + ἀνά + ἁλίσκω/ἀναλίσκω) intensifies to total consumption; renders תָּמַם; the whole generation was 'used up' in the wilderness before the conquest could proceed.
πᾶσαall / wholeNominativeadjective (modifying γενεὰ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / whole'; πᾶσα ἡ γενεά ('the whole generation') stresses the comprehensiveness of the judgment — none of the adults survived.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενεὰgenerationNominativesubject of ἐξανηλώθη→ participant prominenceγενεά: 'generation'; renders דּוֹר; the exodus generation as a corporate entity subject to the death-verdict.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (with participle, in apposition to γενεὰ)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποιοῦντεςwho didPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ποιέωsubstantival participle in apposition to γενεὰ→ present participle (characteristic, habitual doing of evil)ποιέω (pres. ptcp.): 'do / practice'; οἱ ποιοῦντες τὰ πονηρά ('those who do evil') is a moral characterization of the generation; the constructio ad sensum shifts to masculine plural (the people composing the generation).
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πονηρὰevil (things)Accusativedirect object of ποιοῦντες (substantivized adjective)→ object specificationπονηρός: 'evil / wicked'; τὰ πονηρά, 'the evil things', the rebellious deeds that incurred the verdict; renders הָרַע.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism: 'in the sight of')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי / בְּעֵינֵי; 'evil before the LORD' frames the sin as an offense in the divine sight — and ἔναντι κυρίου becomes the dominant refrain of vv. 20–32, where covenant accountability is at stake.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the one in whose sight the evil was done.
14
ἰδοὺ ἀνέστητε ἀντὶ τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν σύστρεμμα ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν προσθεῖναι ἔτι ἐπὶ τὸν θυμὸν τῆς ὀργῆς κυρίου ἐπὶ Ισραηλ
Behold, you have risen up in your fathers' place, a brood of sinful men, to add yet more to the fierce wrath of the LORD against Israel.
The deictic ἰδού drives the rebuke home: the petitioners have 'risen up in place of' (ἀντί) their fathers — not as a new, faithful generation but as their replicas in rebellion. The contemptuous σύστρεμμα ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν ('a band/brood of sinful men') and the purpose-infinitive προσθεῖναι … ἐπὶ τὸν θυμὸν τῆς ὀργῆς ('to add to the burning of wrath') present their request as fresh fuel for divine anger.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἰδοὺbeholdinterjection (presentative/deictic)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a fixed presentative particle (originally an imperative of ὁράω) calling urgent attention to the indictment that follows.
ἀνέστητεyou have risen upAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀνίστημιmain verb→ constative aorist (the petitioners' emergence as successors)ἀνίστημι (intransitive aor. ἀνέστητε): 'rise up / arise / stand up'; here 'you have arisen in place of your fathers' — emerging as a new generation, but charged with reenacting the old rebellion.
ἀντὶin place ofpreposition + genitive (substitution)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'instead of / in place of'; renders תַּחַת; marks the petitioners as the successors who have stepped into the fathers' role — and, the rebuke implies, their guilt.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρωνfathersGenitivegenitive object of ἀντί→ relational specificationπατήρ: see v. 8; 'your fathers' — the rebellious exodus generation now consumed (v. 13).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): binds the petitioners to the guilty fathers by descent.
σύστρεμμαa brood / bandNominativenominative in apposition to the subject of ἀνέστητε→ participant prominenceσύστρεμμα: 'a gathering twisted together, a band, a conspiratorial brood'; from συστρέφω ('twist together'); a contemptuous term — renders תַּרְבּוּת ('brood / increase'); the appositive brands the petitioners a 'brood of sinners', echoing the στρέφ-/στρεμμ- root of διαστρέφετε (v. 7).
ἀνθρώπωνof menGenitivegenitive (composing the σύστρεμμα)→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man'; the genitive defines the brood as composed of 'sinful men'.
ἁμαρτωλῶνsinfulGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ἀνθρώπων)→ relational specificationἁμαρτωλός: 'sinful / sinner'; renders חַטָּא; the harshest label in the rebuke — the petitioners, by their request, align themselves with the wicked exodus generation; cf. the sin-theme of v. 23 (ἁμαρτήσεσθε … τὴν ἁμαρτίαν).
προσθεῖναιto addAor Act Inf · προστίθημιinfinitive of purpose/result ('so as to add')→ aorist infinitive of purpose (the effect of their action)προστίθημι: 'add / increase / put to'; the infinitive expresses the consequence of their request — to 'add yet more' to the LORD's wrath; renders יָסַף; repeated in v. 15 (προσθεῖναι … καταλιπεῖν).
ἔτιyet / still moreadverb (with προσθεῖναι: 'add yet more')→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / yet / further'; intensifies προσθεῖναι — the new rebellion would pile fresh wrath upon the old, prolonging the cycle of judgment.
ἐπὶto / uponpreposition + accusative (addition onto)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: marks that onto which the wrath is added — 'to add upon the burning of wrath'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυμὸνfierce heat / wrathAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationθυμός: 'hot anger / fury'; the phrase τὸν θυμὸν τῆς ὀργῆς ('the heat of the wrath') is an emphatic Hebraism (חֲרוֹן אַף) doubling two anger-words for maximal force.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀργῆςwrath / angerGenitivegenitive (defining/intensifying θυμὸν)→ relational specificationὀργή: 'anger / wrath'; renders אַף; the genitive of θυμὸν τῆς ὀργῆς is a Hebraizing intensive ('the fierce heat of [his] wrath'), the LORD's burning anger against Israel.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (whose wrath)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the wrath is the LORD's own.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (direction of wrath)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against'; the wrath is directed at Israel as a whole — the corporate jeopardy created by the petitioners' request.
ΙσραηλIsraelaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the whole people, again imperiled by the sin of a part — the corporate-solidarity logic of the chapter.
15
ὅτι ἀποστραφήσεσθε ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ προσθεῖναι ἔτι καταλιπεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ ἀνομήσετε εἰς ὅλην τὴν συναγωγὴν ταύτην
For if you turn away from following him, to leave him yet again in the wilderness, then you will act lawlessly against this whole congregation.
The ὅτι clause spells out the danger: to turn back (ἀποστραφήσεσθε) from the LORD would be to 'leave him yet again in the wilderness' — repeating the fathers' abandonment — and so to ἀνομεῖν ('act lawlessly') against the whole congregation. The corporate stakes are explicit: one part's defection ruins the whole (ὅλην τὴν συναγωγὴν ταύτην).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ὅτιfor / becausecausal/explanatory conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; grounds the indictment of v. 14 — explaining how the request 'adds to wrath': it amounts to corporate apostasy.
ἀποστραφήσεσθεyou will turn awayFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (conditional-future force)→ predictive future (the apostasy the request would constitute)ἀποστρέφω (fut. pass. with middle sense): 'turn back / turn away / desert'; renders שׁוּב מֵאַחֲרֵי; ἀποστραφήσεσθε ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ('you will turn away from him') names covenant defection; the same verb recurs positively in vv. 18, 22 of the lawful return after war.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; marks separation from the LORD — the essence of apostasy.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the LORD)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'him', the LORD, from whom turning away is apostasy.
προσθεῖναιto add (yet again)Aor Act Inf · προστίθημιinfinitive (epexegetic of the apostasy: 'so as to add to')→ aorist infinitive (the cumulative effect)προστίθημι: see v. 14; the idiom προσθεῖναι … καταλιπεῖν ('to add to leave' = 'to leave yet again') is a Hebraism (יָסַף + infinitive) expressing repetition — abandoning the LORD once more, as the fathers did.
ἔτιyet againadverb (repetition)→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still / again'; reinforces the repetition — the sin is a re-enactment of the fathers' desertion.
καταλιπεῖνto leave / forsakeAor Act Inf · καταλείπωcomplementary infinitive (with προσθεῖναι: 'to abandon again')→ aorist infinitive (the act of forsaking)καταλείπω: 'leave behind / forsake / abandon'; the object αὐτόν (the LORD) makes this a startling expression — to 'forsake him in the wilderness' depicts apostasy as deserting the LORD on the march; renders עָזַב.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of καταλιπεῖν (the LORD)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc.): 'him', the LORD, the one forsaken.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: see v. 13; the wilderness of the forty years becomes the threatened locus of a renewed abandonment — a fresh sentence of wandering looms if they refuse.
καὶand / thenconsecutive conjunction (apodosis: 'then')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here consecutive ('and so / then'), introducing the result — lawlessness against the whole congregation.
ἀνομήσετεyou will act lawlesslyFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀνομέωmain verb (the consequence)→ predictive future (the resulting transgression)ἀνομέω: 'act lawlessly / transgress / sin'; from ἄνομος ('lawless'); renders שָׁחַת / פָּשַׁע; the petitioners' defection would be a lawless act against (εἰς) the whole community, dooming it to share the wilderness sentence.
εἰςagainstpreposition + accusative (against / toward, of offense)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'against / toward'; with ἀνομέω marks the party harmed — the whole congregation suffers the consequences of the part's sin.
ὅληνwholeAccusativeadjective (modifying συναγωγὴν)→ object specificationὅλος: 'whole / entire'; ὅλην τὴν συναγωγὴν ταύτην ('this whole congregation') stresses the corporate scope of the harm — none would escape the renewed wrath.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴνcongregationAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationσυναγωγή: see v. 2; the covenant assembly (עֵדָה) endangered by the petitioners' threatened defection.
ταύτηνthisAccusativedemonstrative (modifying συναγωγὴν)→ participant referenceοὗτος (fem. ταύτην): 'this'; the present generation poised to enter the land — to be ruined, like the last, if the petitioners persist.
16
καὶ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ καὶ ἔλεγον ἐπαύλεις προβάτων οἰκοδομήσωμεν ὧδε τοῖς κτήνεσιν ἡμῶν καὶ πόλεις ταῖς ἀποσκευαῖς ἡμῶν
And they came to him and said, 'We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our dependents,'
The petitioners approach again (προσῆλθον, picking up προσελθόντες of v. 2) and offer a counter-proposal that answers Moses' charge of desertion: they will provide for flocks (ἐπαύλεις προβάτων) and families (πόλεις … ταῖς ἀποσκευαῖς) but — as vv. 17–18 will state — march to war themselves. The hortatory subjunctive οἰκοδομήσωμεν ('let us build / we will build') frames the offer as a resolve.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσῆλθονthey came nearAor Act Indic 3 Pl · προσέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (the renewed approach)προσέρχομαι: see v. 2; the tribes approach Moses again, now to answer his rebuke with a concrete proposal.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of approach (with προσῆλθον)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat.): 'to him', Moses, the addressee of the counter-proposal.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλεγονthey saidImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ durative/iterative imperfect (the urging of the proposal)λέγω (impf. ἔλεγον): see v. 5; the imperfect again frames the speech as an earnest, pressed proposal.
ἐπαύλειςsheepfolds / enclosuresAccusativedirect object of οἰκοδομήσωμεν (fronted)→ object specificationἔπαυλις: 'enclosure / fold / steading'; renders גְּדֵרָה (sheepfold); ἐπαύλεις προβάτων ('folds for sheep') are the pens for the flocks — the first half of the practical provision; recurs in vv. 24, 36.
προβάτωνof sheepGenitivegenitive (defining the folds)→ relational specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep'; renders צֹאן; the flocks whose abundance (cf. κτήνη, v. 1) drives the whole episode.
οἰκοδομήσωμενlet us buildAor Act Subj 1 Pl · οἰκοδομέωhortatory subjunctive (the proposal's main verb)→ hortatory aorist subjunctive (firm resolve / proposal)οἰκοδομέω: 'build / construct'; renders בָּנָה; the hortatory subjunctive expresses the tribes' resolve ('let us build / we propose to build'); the verb governs both objects — folds for flocks and cities for families; recurs in the building-list of vv. 34–38.
ὧδεhereadverb of place→ clausal contributionὧδε: 'here / in this place'; pointedly answers Moses' αὐτοῦ ('here', v. 6) — they will indeed build 'here', but only for non-combatants while the men go to war.
τοῖςfor theDativearticle (dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήνεσινlivestockDativedative of advantage (for whom the folds)→ sphere or referenceκτῆνος (dat. pl.): see v. 1; the flocks for whom the folds are built.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'our'; the tribes speak now in the first person plural of their own resolve.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of οἰκοδομήσωμεν (second object)→ object specificationπόλις: 'city / town'; renders עִיר; the fortified towns for the non-combatants — second half of the provision; the building of these is reported in vv. 34–38.
ταῖςfor theDativearticle (dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποσκευαῖςdependents / householdsDativedative of advantage (for whom the cities)→ sphere or referenceἀποσκευή: 'baggage / household / dependents (women and children)'; renders טַף; in the LXX ἀποσκευή regularly denotes the non-combatant household — the families to be left in safety while the men fight; the keyword of the proposal (recurs vv. 17, 24, 26, 30).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl.): 'our'; the families belonging to the petitioning tribes.
17
καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐνοπλισάμενοι προφυλακὴ πρότεροι τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἕως ἂν ἀγάγωμεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν ἑαυτῶν τόπον καὶ κατοικήσει ἡ ἀποσκευὴ ἡμῶν ἐν πόλεσιν τετειχισμέναις διὰ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν
but we ourselves, having armed for battle, will be a vanguard at the head of the sons of Israel, until we have brought them into their own place; and our dependents will dwell in walled cities because of those who inhabit the land.
The emphatic ἡμεῖς ('we ourselves') answers Moses' emphatic ὑμεῖς (v. 6): far from sitting idle, the men will be a προφυλακή ('vanguard / advance guard') marching πρότεροι ('ahead of') Israel into battle until each tribe is settled. The participle ἐνοπλισάμενοι (middle: 'having armed themselves') and the temporal ἕως ἂν ἀγάγωμεν stress that their families' security in walled cities does not exempt them from the war.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶand / butcoordinative-adversative καί→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here adversative in force ('but'), contrasting the men's armed service with the provision for non-combatants just stated.
ἡμεῖςwe ourselvesNominativeemphatic subject (fronted personal pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ (nom. pl. ἡμεῖς): the emphatic 'we' directly answers Moses' indignant ὑμεῖς … καθήσεσθε (v. 6) — 'we ourselves will not sit, but go armed'.
ἐνοπλισάμενοιhaving armed ourselvesAor Mid Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἐνοπλίζωcircumstantial participle (manner: armed)→ antecedent aorist participle (the act of arming precedes the march)ἐνοπλίζω (mid. ἐνοπλίζομαι): 'arm oneself, take up weapons'; from ἐν + ὅπλον; the middle 'having armed themselves' pledges active combatant readiness; the ὁπλ- root recurs in ὁπλίτης (v. 21) and ἐνωπλισμένος (vv. 27, 29, 30, 32).
προφυλακὴvanguard / advance guardNominativepredicate nominative (in apposition to ἡμεῖς)→ participant prominenceπροφυλακή: 'forward guard / outpost / vanguard'; from προφυλάσσω ('guard in front'); the tribes pledge to march as the army's leading shock-force — the most exposed and dangerous position, the opposite of 'sitting here'.
πρότεροιahead / in frontNominativepredicate adjective (positional: 'first, ahead of')→ participant prominenceπρότερος: 'former / earlier / in front'; here positional, 'ahead of the sons of Israel' — leading the advance; cf. πρότερα ὑμῶν of the families' crossing in v. 30.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (ahead of whom)→ relational specificationυἱός: the sons of Israel, before whom the two tribes pledge to march.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
ἕωςuntilconjunction (temporal, with ἂν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; with ἄν and the subjunctive marks the indefinite term of the military service — until the conquest is complete.
ἂν(particle)modal particle (with subjunctive in temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle lending contingency to the ἕως-clause ('until such time as').
ἀγάγωμενwe have broughtAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ἄγωverb of the temporal clause→ aorist subjunctive (the completed settlement as goal)ἄγω: 'lead / bring'; ἕως ἂν ἀγάγωμεν αὐτούς ('until we bring them') makes the tribes the active agents of leading Israel into possession — a striking pledge of leadership, not mere participation.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object of ἀγάγωμεν→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl.): the sons of Israel, to be led into their inheritance.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτῶνtheir ownGenitivereflexive possessive (modifying τόπον)→ relational specificationἑαυτοῦ (gen. pl. ἑαυτῶν): 'their own'; the reflexive stresses that each tribe is led to its own allotted place — the settlement that completes the campaign.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; each tribe's allotted territory west of the Jordan.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατοικήσειwill dwellFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κατοικέωmain verb (the families' safe residence)→ predictive future (the secured dwelling during the war)κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle / inhabit'; the families remain settled in fortified towns while the men campaign; the singular agrees with the collective subject ἡ ἀποσκευή.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποσκευὴdependents / householdNominativesubject of κατοικήσει→ participant prominenceἀποσκευή: see v. 16; the non-combatant household whose security in walled towns is the safeguard enabling the men to leave.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl.): 'our'.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. pl. πόλεσιν): 'cities'; here the fortified towns of refuge for the families.
τετειχισμέναιςwalled / fortifiedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Dat Fem Pl · τειχίζωattributive participle (modifying πόλεσιν)→ perfect participle (settled state of being walled)τειχίζω: 'wall / fortify with a wall' (from τεῖχος); the perfect passive participle τετειχισμέναις ('walled, having been fortified') describes the cities as already provided with walls — secure against the inhabitants of the land; cf. πόλεις ὀχυράς (v. 36).
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'because of / on account of'; the walls are needed 'because of' the hostile native population.
τοὺςthe (ones)Accusativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦνταςthose who inhabitPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Pl · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (object of διά)→ present participle (the current inhabitants)κατοικέω (pres. ptcp.): 'inhabit / dwell in'; οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν γῆν, the native peoples of Transjordan, against whom the families must be walled while the men are away at war.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of κατοικοῦντας→ object specificationγῆ: the Transjordan land still threatened by its remaining inhabitants.
18
οὐ μὴ ἀποστραφῶμεν εἰς τὰς οἰκίας ἡμῶν ἕως ἂν καταμερισθῶσιν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ
We will by no means return to our houses until the sons of Israel have each been apportioned to his inheritance.
The emphatic double negative οὐ μή with the aorist subjunctive ('we will by no means return') gives the pledge near-oath force, directly countering Moses' fear of desertion (ἀποστραφήσεσθε, v. 15) with the very same verb. The condition ἕως ἂν καταμερισθῶσιν … ἕκαστος ('until each has received his inheritance') binds their return to the completion of the whole nation's settlement.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
οὐnotnegative (part of emphatic οὐ μή)→ participant referenceοὐ: with μή forms the emphatic double negation οὐ μή ('by no means'), the strongest negative in Greek.
μὴnotnegative (with subjunctive: emphatic denial)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: the second member of οὐ μή + aorist subjunctive, a categorical denial of future action — here a solemn pledge.
ἀποστραφῶμενwe will returnAor Pass Subj 1 Pl · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (emphatic future denial)→ aorist subjunctive of emphatic negation (categorical 'we shall never return')ἀποστρέφω (aor. pass. subj. with middle sense): 'turn back / return'; the same verb Moses used of feared apostasy (v. 15) is here turned to a pledge — 'we will not turn back to our homes' until the task is done; recurs in v. 22 of the lawful post-war return.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of return)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of return).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκίαςhousesAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)→ object specificationοἰκία: 'house / home'; renders בַּיִת; the homes in Transjordan to which they will not return prematurely.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl.): 'our'.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (temporal, with ἂν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; the condition limiting their absence from home.
ἂν(particle)modal particle (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: contingency particle with the ἕως-clause.
καταμερισθῶσινthey are apportionedAor Pass Subj 3 Pl · καταμερίζωverb of the temporal clause→ aorist subjunctive (the completed apportionment)καταμερίζω: 'divide up / apportion / distribute'; passive 'be allotted one's share'; renders חָלַק / נָחַל; the condition is the completed distribution of Canaan to each tribe — only then may the two tribes go home.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of καταμερισθῶσιν→ participant prominenceυἱός: the sons of Israel, each to receive his portion.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativedistributive apposition to οἱ υἱοὶ→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; distributive — the apportionment is per individual/tribe, ensuring the whole people is settled before the two tribes withdraw.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (allotment-goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (allotment-goal).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)→ object specificationκληρονομία: 'inheritance / allotted possession'; renders נַחֲלָה; the landed inheritance each tribe receives by lot — the goal whose completion releases the two tribes.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (distributive: 'his own')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'his', distributive with ἕκαστος — each man's own inheritance.
19
καὶ οὐκέτι κληρονομήσωμεν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ ἐπέκεινα ὅτι ἀπέχομεν τοὺς κλήρους ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἐν ἀνατολαῖς
And we will no longer inherit among them on the far side of the Jordan and beyond, because we are receiving in full our portions on this side of the Jordan, to the east.
The tribes renounce any further share among the other tribes west of the Jordan (οὐκέτι κληρονομήσωμεν ἐν αὐτοῖς), grounding the renunciation (ὅτι) on their having already 'received in full' (ἀπέχομεν) their allotment east of the river. The double πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου is read from the speakers' standpoint — their portion lies ἐν ἀνατολαῖς ('to the east').
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκέτιno longeradverb (temporal negation)→ clausal contributionοὐκέτι: 'no longer / no more'; the tribes waive any future claim to land west of the Jordan, having opted for their eastern portion.
κληρονομήσωμενwe will inheritAor Act Subj 1 Pl · κληρονομέωhortatory/volitive subjunctive (renunciation)→ aorist subjunctive (resolved waiver of claim)κληρονομέω: 'inherit / take possession of'; renders נָחַל; the subjunctive expresses their resolve to claim no further inheritance among the western tribes — a self-denial reinforcing the sincerity of the pledge.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (association)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'among / with'; 'inherit among them' = share in the western allotment alongside the other tribes.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (the other tribes)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl.): 'them', the sons of Israel who will settle west of the Jordan.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (spatial)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; with τοῦ πέραν marks the region 'from the far side onward'.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing πέραν)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανfar side / acrossadverb substantivized by article (object of ἀπό)→ noun-phrase markingπέραν: 'across / on the other side'; an indeclinable adverb here substantivized (τὸ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου = 'the far side of the Jordan'); the directional reference shifts with viewpoint — here the western bank.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (defining πέραν)→ relational specificationΙορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): the Jordan; the river that divides the two inheritances.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέκειναbeyondadverb (spatial: 'further on')→ clausal contributionἐπέκεινα: 'beyond / on the further side'; extends the renunciation to all the land west of the river and beyond.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; gives the reason for renouncing the western share — they already hold the eastern.
ἀπέχομενwe have in full / receivePres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀπέχωmain verb of the causal clause→ stative/present-of-result (we hold in full)ἀπέχω: 'have in full / receive in full / hold'; the commercial nuance ('have received the whole amount due', cf. Matt 6:2) suits the sense that their inheritance-account east of the Jordan is settled in full, leaving no claim to the west.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλήρουςportions / allotmentsAccusativedirect object of ἀπέχομεν→ object specificationκλῆρος: 'lot / portion / allotment'; renders גּוֹרָל / חֵלֶק; the inherited shares assigned by lot — here the Transjordan territory they accept in lieu of a western portion.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl.): 'our'.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing πέραν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανside / acrossadverb substantivized (object of ἐν)→ clausal contributionπέραν: here ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου designates the eastern bank — their own side — clarified by ἐν ἀνατολαῖς; the same phrase thus denotes opposite banks within one verse, depending on perspective.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (defining πέραν)→ relational specificationΙορδάνης (gen.): the Jordan.
ἐνin / topreposition + dative (direction/region)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (direction/region).
ἀνατολαῖςthe eastDativedative of place (region: 'in the east')→ sphere or referenceἀνατολή (pl. ἀνατολαί): 'rising (of the sun) / east'; renders מִזְרָח; ἐν ἀνατολαῖς ('toward the sunrise / in the east') fixes the tribes' inheritance unambiguously on the eastern side of the Jordan.
20
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Μωυσῆς ἐὰν ποιήσητε κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ἐὰν ἐξοπλίσησθε ἔναντι κυρίου εἰς πόλεμον
And Moses said to them, 'If you do according to this word, if you arm yourselves for war before the LORD,
Moses now answers the proposal with a carefully conditioned grant. The doubled ἐάν ('if … if …') sets the terms: they must act 'according to this word' and arm themselves ἔναντι κυρίου ('before the LORD') for war. The refrain ἔναντι κυρίου — appearing seven times in vv. 20–32 — frames the military oath as sworn accountability in the divine presence, not a merely civil bargain.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the formal reply)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Moses' conditional grant, the turning-point from rebuke to qualified acceptance.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl.): the petitioning tribes.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis, with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the first protasis of the conditional grant; with the subjunctive it frames a real, prospective condition ('if you do', as you propose).
ποιήσητεyou doAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ποιέωverb of the conditional protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the contemplated fulfillment)ποιέω: 'do / perform'; the condition is that they carry out 'this word' — their own proposal; the verb of doing recurs as the leitmotif of obligation (vv. 23, 24, 25, 31).
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard/norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; measures the required action against 'this word' — the agreed terms.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαword / matterAccusativeaccusative object of κατά→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word / saying / matter'; renders דָּבָר; 'this word' (τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο) is the proposal just made — the binding agreement whose terms follow.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative (modifying ῥῆμα)→ participant referenceοὗτος (neut. τοῦτο): 'this'; points to the immediately preceding proposal (vv. 16–19).
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (second protasis, epexegetic)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: the second 'if' specifies the content of 'doing according to this word' — namely, arming for war before the LORD.
ἐξοπλίσησθεyou arm yourselvesAor Mid Subj 2 Pl · ἐξοπλίζωverb of the second protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the contemplated arming)ἐξοπλίζω (mid. ἐξοπλίζομαι): 'arm fully / equip completely for battle'; the compound ἐξ- intensifies (full battle-readiness); the ὁπλ- root again (cf. v. 17) — the condition is that all the men be fully armed for the campaign.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive (Hebraism: covenant accountability)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; ἔναντι κυρίου ('before the LORD') is the dominant refrain of the grant (vv. 20, 21, 22 ×2, 27, 29, 32), framing the arming as a sacred obligation undertaken in the divine presence — accountability, not mere logistics.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the witness before whom the military oath is sworn.
εἰςfor / untopreposition + accusative (purpose/goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose/goal).
πόλεμονwar / battleAccusativeaccusative of purpose (object of εἰς)→ object specificationπόλεμος: see v. 6; the conquest-war for which they must arm — the very obligation Moses had accused them of shirking.
21
καὶ παρελεύσεται ὑμῶν πᾶς ὁπλίτης τὸν Ιορδάνην ἔναντι κυρίου ἕως ἂν ἐκτριβῇ ὁ ἐχθρὸς αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ
and every armed man of you crosses the Jordan before the LORD, until his enemy is wiped out from before him,
The condition continues: πᾶς ὁπλίτης ('every armed man') must cross the Jordan ἔναντι κυρίου, the very crossing the petition had sought to avoid (μὴ διαβιβάσῃς, v. 5). The temporal ἕως ἂν ἐκτριβῇ ὁ ἐχθρός ('until the enemy is utterly destroyed') sets the duration of obligation by the LORD's victory, not the tribes' convenience.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρελεύσεταιshall cross overFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · παρέρχομαιmain verb (within the conditional period)→ predictive future (the required crossing)παρέρχομαι: 'pass by / pass over / cross'; here 'cross over the Jordan'; the future within the conditional frames the obligatory crossing; the singular agrees with the distributive πᾶς ὁπλίτης.
ὑμῶνof youGenitivepartitive genitive (with πᾶς ὁπλίτης)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): partitive — 'every armed man of you', i.e., of the two tribes.
πᾶςeveryNominativeadjective (distributive, modifying ὁπλίτης)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every / all'; πᾶς ὁπλίτης ('every armed man') stresses that no man of the two tribes is exempt — the whole fighting force must cross.
ὁπλίτηςarmed man / soldierNominativesubject of παρελεύσεται→ participant prominenceὁπλίτης: 'heavy-armed soldier / man-at-arms'; from ὅπλον; renders חָלוּץ ('armed for war'); the ὁπλ- root again binds the obligation to the arming of vv. 17, 20.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space crossed→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc.): the Jordan; the boundary they must now cross — the precise reversal of the petition's request (v. 5).
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive (covenant accountability)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: see v. 20; the crossing is performed 'before the LORD' as a sacred duty.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ἕωςuntilconjunction (temporal, with ἂν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; sets the term of service by the completion of conquest.
ἂν(particle)modal particle (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: contingency particle with the ἕως-clause.
ἐκτριβῇis wiped outAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἐκτρίβωverb of the temporal clause→ aorist subjunctive (the enemy's complete destruction)ἐκτρίβω: 'rub out / destroy utterly / exterminate'; the compound ἐκ- intensifies to total annihilation; renders הוֹרִישׁ / הִשְׁמִיד; the obligation lasts until the enemy is wholly destroyed 'from before him'.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθρὸςenemyNominativesubject of ἐκτριβῇ→ participant prominenceἐχθρός: 'enemy / foe'; renders אוֹיֵב; the collective singular for the LORD's (and Israel's) adversaries in Canaan, whose destruction is the LORD's own work.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (the LORD's enemy)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'his', referring to the LORD (ἔναντι κυρίου) — the foe is the LORD's enemy, displaced by his power.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; ἀπὸ προσώπου ('from before') is a Hebraism, מִפְּנֵי.
προσώπουthe face / presenceGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (idiom: 'from before')→ relational specificationπρόσωπον: 'face / presence'; ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ('from before his face') renders מִפָּנָיו, a Hebraism for 'from his presence / before him' — the enemy driven out of the LORD's sight.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's face)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'his', the LORD's; the conquest is the removal of his enemy from his land.
22
καὶ κατακυριευθῇ ἡ γῆ ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἀποστραφήσεσθε καὶ ἔσεσθε ἀθῷοι ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ Ισραηλ καὶ ἔσται ἡ γῆ αὕτη ὑμῖν ἐν κατασχέσει ἔναντι κυρίου
and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be guiltless before the LORD and before Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.
The condition's apodosis: once the land is subdued (κατακυριευθῇ), they may return (ἀποστραφήσεσθε — the lawful counterpart to the feared desertion of v. 15) and be ἀθῷοι ('guiltless') before both the LORD and Israel, with the eastern land secured as their κατάσχεσις. The fourfold ἔναντι κυρίου in this single verse saturates the grant with covenant accountability.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατακυριευθῇis subduedAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · κατακυριεύωverb of the conditional period (subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive (the land's subjugation)κατακυριεύω: 'gain mastery over / subdue / bring under dominion'; from κατά + κύριος; renders כָּבַשׁ; the passive 'be subdued' — the land brought under control 'before the LORD'; the active recurs in v. 29 (κατακυριεύσητε).
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of κατακυριευθῇ→ participant prominenceγῆ: the land of Canaan, to be subdued before the obligation is discharged.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: see v. 20; first of four occurrences in this verse.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
καὶand / thenconsecutive conjunction (introducing apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introducing the apodosis ('then'), with μετὰ ταῦτα reinforcing the sequence.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; μετὰ ταῦτα ('after these things') marks the post-conquest moment when return becomes lawful.
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeaccusative object of μετά→ object specificationοὗτος (neut. pl. ταῦτα): 'these things' — the completed conquest just described.
ἀποστραφήσεσθεyou shall returnFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · ἀποστρέφωmain verb of the apodosis→ predictive future (the lawful return granted)ἀποστρέφω (fut. pass. with middle sense): see vv. 15, 18; here the return is no longer apostasy but the sanctioned homecoming after duty is done — the same verb redeemed by the fulfilled condition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσεσθεyou shall beFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίcopula (predicate ἀθῷοι)→ predictive future (the resulting status of innocence)εἰμί (fut. ἔσεσθε): 'you shall be'; introduces the declared status — guiltless before God and people.
ἀθῷοιguiltless / innocentNominativepredicate adjective→ participant prominenceἀθῷος: 'unpunished / innocent / free of guilt'; renders נָקִי; the legal-covenant term declaring them cleared of obligation and blame once the war is fought — the positive counterpart to the sin-warning of v. 23.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: third occurrence; guiltless 'before the LORD' — divine clearance.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸbefore / frompreposition + genitive (in the eyes of)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here 'from / on the part of'; ἀθῷοι … ἀπὸ Ισραηλ ('guiltless before Israel' = with no claim against you from Israel) — cleared also in the people's eyes.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive object of ἀπό (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the people, before whom the tribes will stand blameless once the corporate obligation is met.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (the grant of possession)→ predictive future (the secured grant)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'shall be'; the land 'shall be yours for a possession' — the formal grant contingent on fulfilled service.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceγῆ: the Transjordan land, now promised as their secured holding.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (modifying γῆ)→ participant referenceοὗτος (fem. αὕτη): 'this'; the eastern land they requested in v. 5 (ἡ γῆ αὕτη), now granted on terms.
ὑμῖνto you / yoursDativedative of possession→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'to you / yours'; the dative of possession marking the land as theirs.
ἐνfor / aspreposition + dative (predicative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: predicative ('for a possession'), as in v. 5; Hebraizing בְּ.
κατασχέσειa possessionDativeobject of ἐν (predicative)→ sphere or referenceκατάσχεσις: see v. 5; the legal holding (אֲחֻזָּה) now formally granted, the petition's goal achieved on condition of service.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: fourth occurrence in the verse; even the grant of possession is held 'before the LORD' — the title to the land is covenantal, not merely territorial.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
23
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ποιήσητε οὕτως ἁμαρτήσεσθε ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ γνώσεσθε τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ὑμῶν ὅταν ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ τὰ κακά
But if you will not do so, you will have sinned before the LORD, and you shall know your sin, when the evils overtake you.
The counterpart to vv. 20–22: the negative protasis (ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ποιήσητε) yields a double apodosis of judgment — present sin before the LORD (ἁμαρτήσεσθε ἔναντι κυρίου) and future, inescapable exposure (γνώσεσθε τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ὑμῶν ὅταν ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ τὰ κακά). The clause is justly famous (KJV 'be sure your sin will find you out'): sin is personified as a pursuer whose 'evils' will overtake the sinner — a maxim of moral inevitability (see Cruxes).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (negative protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with δέ marks the adversative alternative to the positive condition of vv. 20–22.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; sets the negative scenario against the positive grant just stated.
μὴnotnegative (with subjunctive in protasis)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: negates ποιήσητε — 'if you do NOT do so'.
ποιήσητεyou doAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ποιέωverb of the negative protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the failure to perform)ποιέω: see v. 20; here the failure to fulfill the agreed terms — the trigger of the sin-verdict.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (referring to the agreed terms)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; points back to the conditions of vv. 20–22 — to fail 'so' is to break the oath.
ἁμαρτήσεσθεyou will have sinnedFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἁμαρτάνωmain verb of the apodosis→ predictive future (the certain incurring of guilt)ἁμαρτάνω: 'sin / miss the mark / offend'; renders חָטָא; ἁμαρτήσεσθε ἔναντι κυρίου ('you will sin before the LORD') makes the breach of oath a sin specifically against the LORD before whom it was sworn — the covenant frame of the whole grant.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: see v. 20; the sin is 'before the LORD' — an offense in the divine presence, the dark mirror of the ἀθῷοι ἔναντι κυρίου of v. 22.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γνώσεσθεyou shall knowFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (second apodosis)→ predictive future (the inescapable recognition)γινώσκω: 'know / come to recognize'; γνώσεσθε τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ὑμῶν ('you shall know your sin') means you will experience its consequences firsthand — the sin will be made undeniably manifest in the disasters it brings; the basis of the proverbial 'your sin will find you out'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁμαρτίανsinAccusativedirect object of γνώσεσθε→ object specificationἁμαρτία: 'sin'; renders חַטָּאת; here the sin is almost personified as a pursuing agent whose effects (τὰ κακά) overtake the sinner — the cognate of ἁμαρτήσεσθε binds deed and consequence.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἁμαρτίαν)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl. ὑμῶν): 'your'; the sin is unmistakably their own, and its consequences are personally inescapable.
ὅτανwhentemporal conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅταν: 'when(ever)'; with the subjunctive καταλάβῃ marks the future moment of reckoning as certain in kind though indefinite in time.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object of καταλάβῃ (fronted for emphasis)→ participant referenceσύ (acc. pl. ὑμᾶς): 'you'; fronted before the verb — the evils will seize YOU, the very ones who sinned.
καταλάβῃovertakes / seizesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · καταλαμβάνωverb of the temporal clause→ aorist subjunctive (the moment of overtaking)καταλαμβάνω: 'seize / overtake / catch / lay hold of'; the verb pictures the 'evils' as pursuers that run down and capture the fugitive sinner; ὅταν ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ τὰ κακά is the heart of the maxim — disaster as the inevitable apprehension of sin (cf. KJV's 'find you out').
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κακάevils / calamitiesNominativesubject of καταλάβῃ (neuter plural substantive)→ participant prominenceκακός (neut. pl. τὰ κακά): 'evils / calamities / disasters'; the consequences of the sin, personified as agents that hunt down the sinner; the neuter plural subject takes a singular verb (καταλάβῃ) by Greek concord.
24
καὶ οἰκοδομήσετε ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς πόλεις τῇ ἀποσκευῇ ὑμῶν καὶ ἐπαύλεις τοῖς κτήνεσιν ὑμῶν καὶ τὸ ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν ποιήσετε
Build for yourselves cities for your dependents and folds for your livestock; and do what goes forth out of your mouth.
Moses grants the building of cities and folds in the very terms the tribes proposed (vv. 16–17), but closes with a charge that turns proposal into vow: τὸ ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν ποιήσετε ('do what goes forth from your mouth'). The idiom (cf. Num 30:3; Deut 23:23) treats their spoken pledge as a binding oath that must be performed.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἰκοδομήσετεyou shall buildFut Act Indic 2 Pl · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (permissive/imperatival future)→ imperatival future (granting permission as command)οἰκοδομέω: see v. 16; the future has imperatival force ('build!'), Moses authorizing the very construction the tribes proposed; fulfilled in vv. 34–38.
ὑμῖνfor yourselvesDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): 'for yourselves'; the reflexive-leaning dative emphasizes the tribes' own benefit, reinforced by αὐτοῖς.
αὐτοῖςyourselvesDativeintensive dative (reinforcing ὑμῖν: 'for your very selves')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl.): intensive, 'for your own selves'; ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς together render a Hebrew reflexive construction (לָכֶם).
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of οἰκοδομήσετε→ object specificationπόλις: see v. 16; the towns for the families, now sanctioned.
τῇfor theDativearticle (dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποσκευῇdependents / householdDativedative of advantage (for whom the cities)→ sphere or referenceἀποσκευή: see v. 16; the non-combatant household — Moses adopts the tribes' own term for those to be kept safe.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'your'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπαύλειςfolds / enclosuresAccusativedirect object of οἰκοδομήσετε (second object)→ object specificationἔπαυλις: see v. 16; the sheepfolds for the flocks, sanctioned alongside the cities.
τοῖςfor theDativearticle (dative of advantage)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήνεσινlivestockDativedative of advantage→ sphere or referenceκτῆνος (dat. pl.): see v. 1; the flocks for whom the folds are built.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'your'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the binding charge)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸthe (thing)Accusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκπορευόμενονthat which goes forthPres Mid Ptcp Acc Neut Sg · ἐκπορεύομαιsubstantival participle (object of ποιήσετε)→ present participle (the spoken word as it issues)ἐκπορεύομαι: 'go out / proceed / come forth'; τὸ ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ('what goes forth from the mouth') is the vow-idiom (cf. Num 30:3; Deut 23:24 LXX) for a spoken pledge that binds — their promise must be kept.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'out of / from'; the word issues 'out of the mouth' — the locus of the binding vow.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
στόματοςmouthGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationστόμα: 'mouth'; renders פֶּה; the organ of the vow; the idiom makes spoken commitment legally binding (cf. the vow-law of Num 30).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying στόματος)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'your'; the pledge is their own, and they are bound by it.
ποιήσετεyou shall doFut Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (imperatival future: the charge to perform the vow)→ imperatival future (binding command to fulfill the oath)ποιέω: see v. 20; the imperatival future 'you shall do' caps the charge — what their mouth has spoken, their hand must perform; the verb of obligation governing the whole conditional grant.
25
καὶ εἶπαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγοντες οἱ παῖδές σου ποιήσουσιν καθὰ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν ἐντέλλεται
And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad spoke to Moses, saying, 'Your servants will do as our lord commands.'
The tribes accept Moses' terms with the deferential οἱ παῖδές σου ('your servants', as in v. 4) and the pledge ποιήσουσιν καθὰ … ἐντέλλεται ('will do as he commands'). Here ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν is not the Tetragrammaton but a courtesy-title for Moses ('our lord'), the human authority issuing the command.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the act of ratification)λέγω (aor. εἶπαν): introduces the tribes' formal acceptance of the terms.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject→ participant prominenceυἱός: the tribal collective.
ΡουβηνReubengenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceυἱοὶ: meaning 'sons'; it serves as subject (coordinate).
ΓαδGadgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
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→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc.): the addressee, here titled 'our lord' in the speech.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ present participle (Hebraizing 'saying')λέγω (pres. ptcp.): pleonastic λέγοντες rendering לֵאמֹר.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖδέςservantsNominativesubject of ποιήσουσιν→ participant prominenceπαῖς: see v. 4; οἱ παῖδές σου ('your servants') resumes the courtly self-designation, framing the pledge as submission to Moses' authority.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying παῖδές)→ relational specificationσύ (gen.): 'your', addressed to Moses.
ποιήσουσινwill doFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of the pledge→ predictive future (the promised compliance)ποιέω: see v. 20; the tribes promise to 'do' exactly as commanded — taking up Moses' own verb of obligation (vv. 23, 24) as their pledge.
καθὰjust ascomparative conjunction ('according as')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the standard of compliance — Moses' command.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος as title)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςlordNominativesubject of ἐντέλλεται→ participant prominenceκύριος: here NOT the divine name but a courtesy-title for Moses — ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν ('our lord') renders אֲדֹנֵנוּ; the articular, possessive construction marks human lordship (contrast the anarthrous κύριος = יהוה elsewhere in the chapter).
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying κύριος)→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl. ἡμῶν): 'our'; the possessive confirms that 'lord' here is Moses, addressed deferentially.
ἐντέλλεταιcommandsPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of the comparative clause→ customary/present (the standing command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / enjoin'; renders צִוָּה; Moses' charge functions as the authoritative command the tribes vow to obey.
26
ἡ ἀποσκευὴ ἡμῶν καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες ἡμῶν καὶ πάντα τὰ κτήνη ἡμῶν ἔσονται ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν Γαλααδ
Our dependents and our wives and all our livestock shall be in the cities of Gilead,
The tribes specify the arrangement: dependents, wives, and all livestock stay behind ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν Γαλααδ — the families secured in the eastern cities. The verse pairs with v. 27 (the men crossing armed) to make explicit the division of roles that answers Moses' charge.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποσκευὴdependents / householdNominativesubject (first of three)→ participant prominenceἀποσκευή: see v. 16; the non-combatant household to remain in Gilead.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl.): 'our'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκεςwives / womenNominativesubject (second of three)→ participant prominenceγυνή (pl. γυναῖκες): 'wives / women'; renders נָשִׁים; the wives among the non-combatants left in safety; spelled out alongside ἀποσκευή for emphasis.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl.): 'our'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταallNominativeadjective (modifying κτήνη)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; πάντα τὰ κτήνη ('all our livestock') — the herds, the original motive, remain east of the Jordan.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήνηlivestockNominativesubject (third of three)→ participant prominenceκτῆνος (pl. κτήνη): see v. 1; the flocks for whose sake the eastern land was sought, now staying in Gilead.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἐγώ (gen. pl.): 'our'.
ἔσονταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (main verb)→ predictive future (the arrangement during the war)εἰμί (fut. ἔσονται): 'shall be'; the plural verb takes the compound subject (dependents, wives, livestock) — all to remain in the eastern cities.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεσινcitiesDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπόλις (dat. pl. πόλεσιν): the fortified cities of Gilead where the families stay.
ΓαλααδGileadgenitival modifier of πόλεσιν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαλααδ: see v. 1; the Transjordan region whose cities now house the non-combatants — the keyword of the allotted territory.
27
οἱ δὲ παῖδές σου παρελεύσονται πάντες ἐνωπλισμένοι καὶ ἐκτεταγμένοι ἔναντι κυρίου εἰς τὸν πόλεμον ὃν τρόπον ὁ κύριος λέγει
but your servants will all cross over, armed and drawn up in battle-array before the LORD for the war, in the manner that our lord says.
The δέ sets the men's role against the families' (v. 26): all the able men (πάντες) will cross over ἐνωπλισμένοι καὶ ἐκτεταγμένοι ('armed and drawn up in array') ἔναντι κυρίου for the war. The closing ὃν τρόπον ὁ κύριος λέγει again uses κύριος as Moses' courtesy-title ('as our lord says'), framing obedience to his command.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; contrasts the men's combat-role with the families' staying behind (v. 26).
παῖδέςservantsNominativesubject of παρελεύσονται→ participant prominenceπαῖς: see v. 4; 'your servants', here the fighting men of the two tribes.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ (gen.): 'your', addressed to Moses.
παρελεύσονταιshall cross overFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · παρέρχομαιmain verb→ predictive future (the pledged crossing)παρέρχομαι: see v. 21; the men will 'cross over' the Jordan to war — the pledge fulfilling Moses' condition; recurs in v. 29 (διαβῶσιν), v. 32 (διαβησόμεθα).
πάντεςallNominativeadjective (modifying παῖδές: 'all of them')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all'; every man crosses — none exempt, matching πᾶς ὁπλίτης (v. 21).
ἐνωπλισμένοιarmedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἐνοπλίζωcircumstantial participle (state: armed)→ perfect participle (settled state of being under arms)ἐνοπλίζω (perf. ptcp. ἐνωπλισμένος): 'having been armed, under arms'; the perfect denotes the fixed condition of full equipment; the keyword of the military pledge (recurs vv. 29, 30, 32); the ὁπλ- root binds it to vv. 17, 20, 21.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκτεταγμένοιdrawn up in arrayPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἐκτάσσωcircumstantial participle (state: in battle-order)→ perfect participle (settled state of being marshalled)ἐκτάσσω: 'draw up in battle-array / marshal for battle'; the perfect ἐκτεταγμένοι ('arrayed, ranked for war') adds organized military discipline to the bare fact of being armed — a fully ordered fighting force, not a rabble.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: see v. 20; the array is mustered 'before the LORD' — sacred, accountable warfare.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): here the divine name (the Tetragrammaton יהוה) in the fixed refrain ἔναντι κυρίου — distinct from the human κύριος ('our lord' = Moses) at the verse's close.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative of purpose (object of εἰς)→ object specificationπόλεμος: see v. 6; the conquest-war the men pledge to join.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (in the idiom ὃν τρόπον)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. masc. ὅν): relative pronoun in the adverbial accusative idiom ὃν τρόπον ('in the manner that').
τρόπονmanner / wayAccusativeadverbial accusative ('in the manner')→ object specificationτρόπος: 'manner / way'; ὃν τρόπον ('in the way that') is a fixed adverbial accusative meaning 'just as', rendering כַּאֲשֶׁר.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος as title)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςlordNominativesubject of λέγει→ participant prominenceκύριος: again the courtesy-title for Moses ('our/my lord', אֲדֹנִי), articular like v. 25 — the human authority whose command the tribes follow, not the divine name.
λέγειsays / directsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of the comparative clause→ customary present (the standing directive)λέγω (pres. λέγει): 'says / directs'; Moses' word as the standard of the tribes' conduct in the war.
28
καὶ συνέστησεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς Ελεαζαρ τὸν ἱερέα καὶ Ἰησοῦν υἱὸν Ναυη καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας πατριῶν τῶν φυλῶν Ισραηλ
And Moses appointed for them Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the ancestral houses of the tribes of Israel,
Moses formally appoints (συνέστησεν) the post-Mosaic leadership — Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the tribal chiefs — as the witnesses and enforcers of the agreement, since he himself will not cross the Jordan. The same triad of authorities addressed in the petition (v. 2) now becomes the guarantors of its terms after his death.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέστησενappointed / set in chargeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συνίστημιmain verb→ constative aorist (the act of appointment)συνίστημι: 'place together / establish / appoint / commend'; here 'appointed/charged on their behalf' — Moses constitutes the named leaders as official overseers of the agreement; renders צִוָּה / הֶעֱמִיד.
αὐτοῖςfor them / over themDativedative of advantage/reference (on their behalf)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl.): 'for them' — concerning the two tribes, on whose account the guarantors are appointed.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
ΕλεαζαρEleazaraccusative object of συνέστησεν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΕλεαζαρ: see v. 2; the high priest, first-named guarantor — the priestly authority that will outlast Moses.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέαpriestAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ελεαζαρ→ object specificationἱερεύς: see v. 2; identifies Eleazar's office.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἸησοῦνJoshuaAccusativeaccusative object of συνέστησεν→ object specificationἸησοῦς (acc. Ἰησοῦν): see v. 12; Moses' designated successor, the military leader who will execute the conquest and enforce the oath.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition (patronymic)→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; the patronymic 'son of Nun'.
ΝαυηNungenitival patronymic (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΝαυη: see v. 12; Joshua's father.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχονταςrulers / headsAccusativeaccusative object of συνέστησεν→ object specificationἄρχων: see v. 2; the tribal chiefs, third group of guarantors — the lay leadership of the congregation.
πατριῶνof ancestral housesGenitivegenitive (defining the chiefs: 'heads of fathers' houses')→ relational specificationπατριά: 'paternal house / clan / lineage'; renders בֵּית אָבוֹת; ἄρχοντες πατριῶν ('heads of the ancestral houses') is the standard designation of the clan-chiefs (cf. Num 1:4).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλῶνtribesGenitivegenitive (the tribes to which the houses belong)→ relational specificationφυλή: 'tribe'; renders מַטֶּה / שֵׁבֶט; the twelve tribes whose ancestral-house chiefs join in witnessing the oath.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitival modifier of φυλῶν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: the nation whose tribal structure supplies the guarantors.
29
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Μωυσῆς ἐὰν διαβῶσιν οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν τὸν Ιορδάνην πᾶς ἐνωπλισμένος εἰς πόλεμον ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ κατακυριεύσητε τῆς γῆς ἀπέναντι ὑμῶν καὶ δώσετε αὐτοῖς τὴν γῆν Γαλααδ ἐν κατασχέσει
And Moses said to them, 'If the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad cross the Jordan with you, every man armed for war before the LORD, and you subdue the land before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession;
Moses now instructs the guarantors (Eleazar, Joshua, the chiefs) how to administer the oath. The positive condition (ἐὰν διαβῶσιν … πᾶς ἐνωπλισμένος … καὶ κατακυριεύσητε) repeats the terms of vv. 20–22 but recast as a directive to the leaders: if the tribes cross armed and the land is subdued, give them Gilead as κατάσχεσις.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the charge to the leaders)λέγω (aor.): introduces Moses' administrative directive to the appointed guarantors.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the guarantors)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. pl.): the leaders appointed in v. 28, now addressed.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; the positive condition governing the grant of Gilead.
διαβῶσινthey cross overAor Act Subj 3 Pl · διαβαίνωverb of the conditional protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the contemplated crossing)διαβαίνω: see v. 7; 'cross over' the Jordan — the very act the petition had sought to avoid, now the condition of the grant.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of διαβῶσιν→ participant prominenceυἱός: the two tribes.
ΡουβηνReubengenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceυἱοὶ: meaning 'sons'; it serves as subject (coordinate).
ΓαδGadgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά (μεθ᾿ before rough breathing): 'with'; the tribes must cross 'with you' (the rest of Israel) — corporate, shared warfare.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά (the leaders/people)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'you', addressed to the guarantors as representatives of Israel.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative of the space crossed→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc.): the Jordan, the crossing of which is the condition.
πᾶςevery (man)Nominativeappositional subject (distributive: 'each one')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every'; πᾶς ἐνωπλισμένος ('every armed man') in apposition to οἱ υἱοί — no man exempt; cf. πᾶς ὁπλίτης (v. 21).
ἐνωπλισμένοςarmedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ἐνοπλίζωattributive participle (modifying πᾶς)→ perfect participle (settled state of being armed)ἐνοπλίζω (perf. ptcp.): see v. 27; 'every man under arms' — the keyword of the pledge, now in the condition.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative of purpose (object of εἰς)→ object specificationπόλεμος: see v. 6; the conquest-war.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: see v. 20; the arming and crossing performed 'before the LORD'.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second member of protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατακυριεύσητεyou subdueAor Act Subj 2 Pl · κατακυριεύωverb of the conditional protasis (second condition)→ aorist subjunctive (the subjugation as condition)κατακυριεύω: see v. 22; here active ('you subdue the land') — the second condition: complete conquest of the territory before the grant takes effect.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of κατακυριεύω (verb of ruling takes genitive)→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): the land of Canaan, the object of subjugation; κατακυριεύω governs the genitive of the thing mastered.
ἀπέναντιbefore / oppositepreposition + genitive (spatial: 'in front of you')→ spatial or relational framingἀπέναντι: 'opposite / before / in the presence of'; 'the land before you' = the territory lying ahead to be conquered.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of ἀπέναντι→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'you'; the land that lies before the army.
καὶthenconsecutive conjunction (apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: introduces the apodosis ('then you shall give').
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb of the apodosis (directive to the leaders)→ imperatival future (binding instruction to the guarantors)δίδωμι (fut. δώσετε): the guarantors are charged to grant Gilead to the tribes once the condition is met; the imperatival future makes it a standing instruction binding Joshua and Eleazar (fulfilled in Josh 22).
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of recipient (the two tribes)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl.): 'to them', Reuben and Gad.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of δώσετε→ object specificationγῆ: the land of Gilead, the granted possession.
ΓαλααδGileadgenitival modifier of γῆν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαλααδ: see v. 1; the Transjordan territory formally granted on fulfillment of the oath.
ἐνfor / aspreposition + dative (predicative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: predicative 'for a possession', Hebraizing בְּ.
κατασχέσειa possessionDativeobject of ἐν (predicative)→ sphere or referenceκατάσχεσις: see v. 5; the legal landed holding (אֲחֻזָּה), the petition's goal granted on condition.
30
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ διαβῶσιν ἐνωπλισμένοι μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸν πόλεμον ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ διαβιβάσετε τὴν ἀποσκευὴν αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ κτήνη αὐτῶν πρότερα ὑμῶν εἰς γῆν Χανααν καὶ συγκατακληρονομηθήσονται ἐν ὑμῖν ἐν τῇ γῇ Χανααν
but if they do not cross over armed with you for the war before the LORD, then you shall bring their dependents and their wives and their livestock over ahead of you into the land of Canaan, and they shall inherit together with you in the land of Canaan.'
The contrasting negative condition (ἐὰν δὲ μὴ διαβῶσιν): should the tribes fail to cross armed, they forfeit the eastern land. Their dependents and possessions would then be brought (διαβιβάσετε — the causative verb of the original petition, v. 5) into Canaan, and they would inherit (συγκατακληρονομηθήσονται) among the other tribes west of the Jordan instead. The consequence enforces the corporate logic: no shared war, no separate land.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (negative protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with δέ the alternative, negative scenario.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; sets the failure-case against the positive condition of v. 29.
μὴnotnegative (with subjunctive)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: negates διαβῶσιν — 'if they do NOT cross'.
διαβῶσινthey cross overAor Act Subj 3 Pl · διαβαίνωverb of the negative protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the failure to cross)διαβαίνω: see vv. 7, 29; the failure to cross armed triggers forfeiture.
ἐνωπλισμένοιarmedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἐνοπλίζωcircumstantial participle (state)→ perfect participle (the required armed state)ἐνοπλίζω (perf. ptcp.): see v. 27; the condition specifies crossing 'armed' — without it, the grant lapses.
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)→ spatial or relational framingμετά (μεθ᾿): 'with'; again the corporate requirement — crossing 'with you'.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of μετά→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'you', the rest of Israel.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (purpose).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative of purpose (object of εἰς)→ object specificationπόλεμος: see v. 6; the war they would fail to join.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: see v. 20; the obligation is 'before the LORD' even in its breach.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
καὶthenconsecutive conjunction (apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: introduces the apodosis of the negative condition ('then you shall bring over…').
διαβιβάσετεyou shall bring acrossFut Act Indic 2 Pl · διαβιβάζωmain verb of the apodosis (directive)→ imperatival future (binding instruction)διαβιβάζω: see v. 5; the causative 'bring across' — pointed irony: the petition asked NOT to be brought across (μὴ διαβιβάσῃς), but failure to fight would force their families to be brought across into Canaan anyway, losing the eastern land.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποσκευὴνdependents / householdAccusativedirect object of διαβιβάσετε→ object specificationἀποσκευή: see v. 16; the families, now forcibly relocated west if the men fail to fight.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their', the defaulting tribes'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαςwivesAccusativedirect object (coordinate)→ object specificationγυνή (pl. γυναῖκας): see v. 26; the wives relocated with the household.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήνηlivestockAccusativedirect object (coordinate)→ object specificationκτῆνος (pl. κτήνη): see v. 1; even the herds relocated west — the eastern land wholly forfeited.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their'.
πρότεραahead / beforeAccusativepredicative adjective (adverbial: 'in advance of you')→ object specificationπρότερος (neut. pl. πρότερα): 'former / in front'; here adverbial 'ahead of you' — the families taken over before the army; cf. πρότεροι of the men's vanguard (v. 17), now ironically applied to the relocation of their dependents.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive of comparison (with πρότερα)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'than you / ahead of you', the genitive after the comparative-positional πρότερα.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)→ object specificationγῆ: the land of Canaan, where they would inherit instead.
ΧαναανCanaangenitival modifier of γῆν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΧανααν: transliteration of Hebrew כְּנַעַן; indeclinable; the promised land west of the Jordan — where the defaulting tribes would receive their portion.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συγκατακληρονομηθήσονταιthey shall inherit togetherFut Pass Indic 3 Pl · συγκατακληρονομέωmain verb (the alternative inheritance)→ predictive future (the forfeiture-outcome)συγκατακληρονομέω: 'inherit jointly with, share an inheritance among'; a rare triple-compound (σύν + κατά + κληρονομέω); passive 'be given a joint inheritance'; if they default, they receive a portion among the western tribes rather than their own eastern land — the loss of the very thing they sought.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (association)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'among / with'; 'inherit among you' — absorbed into the western allotment.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐν→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl.): 'you', the other tribes among whom they would be settled.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇlandDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceγῆ (dat. γῇ): the land of Canaan, the locus of the alternative inheritance.
ΧαναανCanaangenitival modifier of γῇ (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΧανααν: see above; the western land, repeated to underscore where the forfeiture would place them.
31
καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ λέγοντες ὅσα ὁ κύριος λέγει τοῖς θεράπουσιν αὐτοῦ οὕτως ποιήσομεν
And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad answered, saying, 'Whatever the LORD says to his servants, so will we do.'
The tribes give their definitive assent, framing their obedience as obedience to the LORD himself: ὅσα ὁ κύριος λέγει … οὕτως ποιήσομεν ('whatever the LORD says … so we will do'). Here ὁ κύριος (with 'his servants') refers to the LORD (the Tetragrammaton), whose command stands behind Moses' charge — the tribes thereby bind themselves not merely to Moses but to YHWH.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπεκρίθησανansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the formal response)ἀποκρίνομαι (aor. pass. ἀπεκρίθησαν): 'answer / reply'; renders עָנָה; the deponent aorist passive form is standard Koine; introduces the tribes' conclusive ratification.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject→ participant prominenceυἱός: the two tribes.
ΡουβηνReubengenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (coordinate)→ participant prominenceυἱοὶ: meaning 'sons'; it serves as subject (coordinate).
ΓαδGadgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ present participle (Hebraizing 'saying')λέγω (pres. ptcp.): pleonastic λέγοντες rendering לֵאמֹר.
ὅσαwhatever / all thatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of λέγει)→ participant referenceὅσος (neut. pl. ὅσα): 'as much as / whatever'; the comprehensive relative — the tribes pledge total obedience to all the LORD commands.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with κύριος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of λέγει→ participant prominenceκύριος: here the divine name (the Tetragrammaton יהוה), as 'his servants' (third-person) indicates — the tribes frame Moses' charge as the LORD's own word, binding themselves to YHWH; contrast the human κύριος ('our lord' = Moses) of vv. 25, 27.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of the relative clause→ customary present (the LORD's standing command)λέγω (pres.): 'says / commands'; the LORD's word as the comprehensive standard of obedience.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (dative of recipient)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεράπουσινservantsDativedative of recipient (the tribes as the LORD's servants)→ sphere or referenceθεράπων (dat. pl. θεράπουσιν): 'servant / attendant'; renders עֶבֶד; the tribes call themselves the LORD's θεράποντες — a more dignified self-designation than παῖδες, now framing their service as service to YHWH himself.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's servants)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen.): 'his', confirming κύριος here = the LORD, whose servants they are.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (resumptive: 'so')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; resumes the ὅσα clause — 'whatever … so will we do'; renders כֵּן.
ποιήσομενwe will doFut Act Indic 1 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of the pledge→ predictive future (the binding commitment)ποιέω: see v. 20; the climactic οὕτως ποιήσομεν ('so we will do') seals the oath — the tribes' final, unconditional acceptance of the terms.
32
ἡμεῖς διαβησόμεθα ἐνωπλισμένοι ἔναντι κυρίου εἰς γῆν Χανααν καὶ δώσετε τὴν κατάσχεσιν ἡμῖν ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου
'We will cross over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, and you shall give us the possession on this side of the Jordan.'
The tribes restate the two halves of the agreement: their obligation (ἡμεῖς διαβησόμεθα ἐνωπλισμένοι … εἰς γῆν Χανααν — emphatic ἡμεῖς, 'we ourselves will cross armed') and the answering grant (δώσετε τὴν κατάσχεσιν ἡμῖν ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου — 'you shall give us the possession east of the Jordan'). The verse neatly seals the reciprocal covenant.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἡμεῖςwe ourselvesNominativeemphatic subject (fronted pronoun)→ participant referenceἐγώ (nom. pl. ἡμεῖς): the emphatic 'we' resumes the pledge of v. 17 — 'we ourselves will cross', the firm acceptance of the combat obligation.
διαβησόμεθαwe will cross overFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (the pledged crossing)→ predictive future (the firm commitment to cross)διαβαίνω (fut. mid. διαβησόμεθα): see vv. 7, 29; the tribes pledge in the first person to 'cross over' — the decisive reversal of their original μὴ διαβιβάσῃς (v. 5).
ἐνωπλισμένοιarmedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Masc Pl · ἐνοπλίζωcircumstantial participle (state: armed)→ perfect participle (the settled armed state)ἐνοπλίζω (perf. ptcp.): see v. 27; 'armed' — the keyword of their commitment, repeated to confirm full combat-readiness.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: see v. 20; the crossing is 'before the LORD' — final occurrence of the refrain in the negotiation.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος (gen.): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative of goal (object of εἰς)→ object specificationγῆ: the land of Canaan, the goal of the crossing they now embrace.
ΧαναανCanaangenitival modifier of γῆν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΧανααν: see v. 30; the land west of the Jordan they will help conquer.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking obligation to grant)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (the answering grant they claim)→ predictive future (the reciprocal grant)δίδωμι (fut. δώσετε): the tribes hold the leaders to the promised grant — 'you shall give us the possession'; the answering term of the covenant (cf. v. 29).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατάσχεσινpossessionAccusativedirect object of δώσετε→ object specificationκατάσχεσις: see v. 5; the eastern holding, now claimed as the agreed return for their service.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative of recipient→ participant reference or interestἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): 'to us', the two tribes.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing πέραν)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανside / acrossadverb substantivized (object of ἐν)→ clausal contributionπέραν: see v. 19; ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου here = the eastern bank, their own side — the location of the promised possession.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive (defining πέραν)→ relational specificationΙορδάνης (gen.): the Jordan, the boundary of their eastern inheritance.
33
καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς Μωυσῆς τοῖς υἱοῖς Γαδ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Ρουβην καὶ τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς Μανασση υἱῶν Ιωσηφ τὴν βασιλείαν Σηων βασιλέως Αμορραίων καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν Ωγ βασιλέως τῆς Βασαν τὴν γῆν καὶ τὰς πόλεις σὺν τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς πόλεις τῆς γῆς κύκλῳ
And Moses gave to them — to the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, sons of Joseph — the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land and its cities with their borders, the cities of the land round about.
The negotiation concluded, Moses executes the grant. A new party appears — τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς Μανασση ('the half-tribe of Manasseh'), joining Gad and Reuben in the eastern settlement. The territory granted is the two conquered kingdoms of Sihon the Amorite and Og of Bashan (Num 21:21–35), 'the land and its cities with their borders' — a comprehensive transfer formula.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the formal grant)→ constative aorist (the act of granting)δίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκεν): the climactic act of the chapter — Moses formally grants the eastern kingdoms; the leitmotif verb δίδωμι (vv. 5, 22, 29, 32) reaches its fulfillment.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative of recipient (anticipating the appositional list)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. pl.): 'to them', resumed and specified by the following datives (Gad, Reuben, half-Manasseh).
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (dative, appositional to αὐτοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of recipient (in apposition to αὐτοῖς)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: the tribe of Gad, first recipient.
ΓαδGadgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῖςto theDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of recipient (coordinate)→ sphere or referenceυἱοῖς: meaning 'sons'; it serves as dative of recipient (coordinate).
ΡουβηνReubengenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷto theDativearticle (dative)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσειhalfDativedative of recipient (substantivized adjective: 'the half')→ sphere or referenceἥμισυς: 'half'; τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς Μανασση ('to the half of the tribe of Manasseh') introduces the third party to the eastern settlement — the half-tribe of Manasseh, not mentioned in the negotiation but added here at the grant.
φυλῆςof the tribeGenitivepartitive genitive (with ἡμίσει)→ relational specificationφυλή: see v. 28; the genitive 'of the tribe' partitively defines 'the half'.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitival modifier of φυλῆς (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΜανασση: transliteration of Hebrew מְנַשֶּׁה; indeclinable; Joseph's elder son, whose tribe was split between east and west of the Jordan.
υἱῶνof (the) sonsGenitivegenitive (defining Manasseh's descent from Joseph)→ relational specificationυἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'sons'; Μανασση υἱῶν Ιωσηφ ('Manasseh of the sons of Joseph') traces the tribe to the Joseph-clan, recalling the double portion of Joseph through Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen 48).
Ιωσηφof Josephgenitival modifier of υἱῶν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹסֵף; indeclinable; the patriarch whose sons Ephraim and Manasseh became full tribes.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλείανkingdomAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν (first kingdom)→ object specificationβασιλεία: 'kingdom / realm'; renders מַמְלָכָה; the conquered realm of Sihon, now granted as Israelite territory.
Σηωνof Sihongenitival modifier of βασιλείαν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΣηων: transliteration of Hebrew סִיחוֹן; indeclinable; the Amorite king defeated at Jahaz (Num 21:21–24), whose territory became the southern part of the eastern allotment.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Σηων→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; the appositive title identifying Sihon's office.
Αμορραίωνof the AmoritesGenitivegenitive (Sihon's people)→ relational specificationΑμορραῖος: 'Amorite'; renders אֱמֹרִי; the Amorites, whose king Sihon ruled the territory east of the Jordan.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βασιλείανkingdomAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν (second kingdom)→ object specificationβασιλεία: the realm of Og, the second granted kingdom.
Ωγof Oggenitival modifier of βασιλείαν (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΩγ: transliteration of Hebrew עוֹג; indeclinable; the giant king of Bashan defeated at Edrei (Num 21:33–35; Deut 3:11), whose realm became the northern part of the eastern allotment.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ωγ→ relational specificationβασιλεύς: 'king'; Og's title.
τῆςofGenitivearticle (with Βασαν)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒασανBashangenitival modifier of βασιλέως (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΒασαν: transliteration of Hebrew בָּשָׁן; indeclinable; the fertile northern Transjordan region, Og's kingdom; the article τῆς treats it as a definite region.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (in apposition, summarizing the grant)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative in apposition (summary of the two kingdoms)→ object specificationγῆ: 'the land' — appositional summary of the granted territory, comprising both kingdoms.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative (coordinate object: the cities)→ object specificationπόλις (pl. πόλεις): the cities of the granted land, included in the transfer.
σὺνwithpreposition + dative (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingσύν: 'with / together with'; the cities granted 'with their borders' — a comprehensive transfer of territory and bounds.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁρίοιςborders / territoriesDativedative object of σύν→ sphere or referenceὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'boundary / territory / district'; renders גְּבוּל; the cities together with their surrounding districts — the full extent of each town's land.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the land's borders)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem. αὐτῆς): 'its', referring to the land (γῆ) whose borders are transferred.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative in apposition (resumptive)→ object specificationπόλις (pl. πόλεις): resumptive 'the cities of the land round about' — restating the comprehensiveness of the grant.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive (the cities' land)→ relational specificationγῆ (gen. γῆς): the land whose cities are granted.
κύκλῳround aboutadverb (dative form, 'in a circle / all around')→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: 'round about / in a circle'; an adverbial dative; 'the cities of the land round about' = all the towns throughout the granted region.
34
καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ τὴν Δαιβων καὶ τὴν Αταρωθ καὶ τὴν Αροηρ
And the sons of Gad rebuilt Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer,
The chapter closes with a settlement-list fulfilling the building-pledge of vv. 16, 24. The aorist ᾠκοδόμησαν ('they built/rebuilt') heads the catalogue of Gad's cities (vv. 34–36), several of which were named in the original petition (v. 3); the building thus realizes the agreement.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ᾠκοδόμησανthey rebuiltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (the building of cities)→ constative aorist (the construction accomplished)οἰκοδομέω (aor. ᾠκοδόμησαν): see v. 16; 'built / rebuilt / fortified' — fulfilling the pledge; the cities already existed (cf. v. 3), so the sense is rebuilding/refortifying captured towns.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject→ participant prominenceυἱός: the tribe of Gad, builders of the first group of cities.
ΓαδGadgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαδ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with place name)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: the feminine article with city-names (πόλις being feminine) marks them as objects of ᾠκοδόμησαν.
ΔαιβωνDibondirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΔαιβων: see v. 3; Dibon, rebuilt by Gad.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑταρωθAtarothdirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΑταρωθ: see v. 3; Ataroth, rebuilt by Gad.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑροηρAroerdirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΑροηρ: transliteration of Hebrew עֲרֹעֵר; indeclinable; a town on the Arnon gorge marking the southern boundary of the territory (cf. Deut 2:36).
35
καὶ τὴν Σωφαρ καὶ τὴν Ιαζηρ καὶ ὕψωσαν αὐτὰς
and Sophar and Jazer, and they fortified them,
The list continues with two more Gadite towns. The closing ὕψωσαν αὐτάς ('they raised/built them up high') summarizes the fortifying work — the verb ὑψόω ('exalt / raise') here denotes raising the walls or rebuilding the towns to a fortified height.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the list)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with place name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣωφαρSophar / Jogbehahdirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΣωφαρ: a Gadite town; the LXX form corresponds to Hebrew יָגְבְּהָה (Jogbehah) in the parallel MT list; indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙαζηρJazerdirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΙαζηρ: see vv. 1, 3; Jazer, now rebuilt by Gad.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὕψωσανthey raised up / fortifiedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὑψόωmain verb→ constative aorist (the fortifying completed)ὑψόω: 'lift up / raise high / exalt'; here of building up the cities' walls or structures to a fortified height — 'they raised them up' = fortified them; renders a Hebrew verb of building/strengthening.
αὐτὰςthemAccusativedirect object of ὕψωσαν (the cities)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem. pl. αὐτάς): 'them', the feminine cities just named.
36
καὶ τὴν Ναμβραν καὶ τὴν Βαιθαραν πόλεις ὀχυρὰς καὶ ἐπαύλεις προβάτων
and Nimrah and Beth-haran, fortified cities, and sheepfolds.
The Gadite list closes with two more towns, summarized as πόλεις ὀχυράς ('fortified cities') and ἐπαύλεις προβάτων ('sheepfolds'). The pairing exactly matches the original proposal of v. 16 (ἐπαύλεις προβάτων … καὶ πόλεις) — the pledge fully realized: walled towns for the families, folds for the flocks.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with place name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΝαμβρανNimrahdirect object (transliterated place name)→ participant identificationΝαμβραν: Beth-Nimrah (cf. Ναμβρα, v. 3); here appearing with a Greek accusative -αν ending under the article τήν; Hebrew בֵּית נִמְרָה.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒαιθαρανBeth-harandirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΒαιθαραν: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית הָרָן (Beth-haran); indeclinable; a Gadite town in the Jordan valley.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative in apposition (summarizing the towns)→ object specificationπόλις (pl. πόλεις): 'cities'; the appositional summary classing the named towns as fortified cities.
ὀχυρὰςfortified / strongAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying πόλεις)→ object specificationὀχυρός: 'strong / fortified / fortress'; renders מִבְצָר; πόλεις ὀχυράς ('fortified cities') describes the towns as walled strongholds, matching the πόλεις τετειχισμέναι ('walled cities') of v. 17.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπαύλειςsheepfolds / enclosuresAccusativeaccusative (coordinate object)→ object specificationἔπαυλις: see v. 16; the sheepfolds completing the pastoral provision; ἐπαύλεις προβάτων reprises the proposal's opening phrase verbatim.
προβάτωνof sheepGenitivegenitive (defining the folds)→ relational specificationπρόβατον: see v. 16; the flocks for whom the folds were built — the whole project answering the herds of v. 1.
37
καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην ᾠκοδόμησαν τὴν Εσεβων καὶ Ελεαλη καὶ Καριαθαιμ
And the sons of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon and Elealeh and Kiriathaim,
The catalogue turns to Reuben (vv. 37–38), again headed by ᾠκοδόμησαν. The towns Heshbon and Elealeh were named in the petition (v. 3); Heshbon had been Sihon's royal city (Num 21:26), now rebuilt by the tribe that received it.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject→ participant prominenceυἱός: the tribe of Reuben, builders of the second group of cities.
ΡουβηνReubengenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡουβην: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitival modifier (indeclinable).
ᾠκοδόμησανthey rebuiltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · οἰκοδομέωmain verb→ constative aorist (the construction accomplished)οἰκοδομέω (aor.): see vv. 16, 34; Reuben's building/refortifying of its allotted towns.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with place name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕσεβωνHeshbondirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΕσεβων: see v. 3; Heshbon, Sihon's former capital, rebuilt by Reuben.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΕλεαληElealehdirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΕλεαλη: see v. 3; Elealeh, near Heshbon, rebuilt by Reuben.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΚαριαθαιμKiriathaimdirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΚαριαθαιμ: transliteration of Hebrew קִרְיָתַיִם (Kiriathaim, 'twin cities'); indeclinable; a Reubenite town in Moab.
38
καὶ τὴν Βεελμεων περικεκυκλωμένας καὶ τὴν Σεβαμα καὶ ἐπωνόμασαν κατὰ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν πόλεων ἃς ᾠκοδόμησαν
and Baal-meon (their walls encircled) and Sebama; and they gave new names, according to their own names, to the names of the cities which they rebuilt.
The list ends with Baal-meon (described περικεκυκλωμένας, 'walled all around') and Sebama, followed by a renaming notice: the tribes ἐπωνόμασαν ('renamed') the rebuilt cities κατὰ τὰ ὀνόματα αὐτῶν ('according to their own names'). The renaming asserts possession — the conquerors stamp their identity on the captured towns, a theme continued with Jair and Nobah in vv. 41–42.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with place name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒεελμεωνBaal-meondirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΒεελμεων: transliteration of Hebrew בַּעַל מְעוֹן (Baal-meon); indeclinable; a Reubenite town (the fuller form of Βαιαν/Beon, v. 3); its Baal-name is among those the renaming may have sought to alter.
περικεκυκλωμέναςwalled around / encircledPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Acc Fem Pl · περικυκλόωattributive participle (describing the cities as walled)→ perfect participle (settled state of being encircled with walls)περικυκλόω: 'encircle / surround / wall around'; the perfect passive participle περικεκυκλωμένας ('having been walled all round') describes the cities as fully enclosed by walls — fortified strongholds (the plural agrees with the sense 'cities').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣεβαμαSebamadirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΣεβαμα: see v. 3; Sebama, rebuilt by Reuben.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπωνόμασανthey renamed / namedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπονομάζωmain verb (the renaming)→ constative aorist (the act of naming)ἐπονομάζω: 'name / call by a name / rename'; renders קָרָא בְשֵׁמוֹת; the renaming of conquered cities is an act of appropriation; the verb recurs of Jair and Nobah (vv. 41, 42).
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; the new names follow the namers' own names.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀνόματαnamesAccusativeaccusative object of κατά→ object specificationὄνομα (pl. ὀνόματα): 'names'; here the builders' own names, after which the cities were renamed.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their own', the builders'; the renaming inscribes their identity on the land.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀνόματαnamesAccusativedirect object of ἐπωνόμασαν (what was renamed)→ object specificationὄνομα (pl.): 'names'; the names of the cities, the object of the renaming.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωνcitiesGenitivegenitive (whose names)→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. pl. πόλεων): 'cities'; the rebuilt towns whose names were changed.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ᾠκοδόμησαν)→ participant referenceὅς (acc. fem. pl. ἅς): relative pronoun referring to the cities.
ᾠκοδόμησανthey rebuiltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · οἰκοδομέωverb of the relative clause→ constative aorist (the rebuilding)οἰκοδομέω (aor.): see v. 34; the relative clause closes the settlement-summary — the cities they rebuilt and renamed.
39
καὶ ἐπορεύθη υἱὸς Μαχιρ υἱοῦ Μανασση εἰς Γαλααδ καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἀπώλεσεν τὸν Αμορραῖον τὸν κατοικοῦντα ἐν αὐτῇ
And a son of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and destroyed the Amorite who dwelt in it.
A final sub-section (vv. 39–42) recounts the conquests of the Manassite clans, who took the northern reaches by force. Machir's descendant goes up to Gilead, seizes it (ἔλαβεν), and dispossesses the Amorite — fulfilling in action the corporate war the half-tribe shared and justifying its eastern grant (v. 33).
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (the campaign-march)πορεύομαι (aor. pass. ἐπορεύθη): 'go / proceed / march'; the deponent aorist passive is standard; here the military advance of Machir's clan into Gilead.
υἱὸςa sonNominativesubject→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son / descendant'; 'a son of Machir' = a member of the Machirite clan; the anarthrous υἱός denotes a representative descendant, not necessarily a single named individual.
Μαχιρof Machirgenitival modifier of υἱὸς (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΜαχιρ: transliteration of Hebrew מָכִיר; indeclinable; Machir was Manasseh's firstborn (Gen 50:23), the ancestor of the leading Gileadite clan.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (patronymic of Machir)→ relational specificationυἱός (gen. υἱοῦ): 'son'; Machir 'son of Manasseh' — tracing the clan's descent.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΜανασση: see v. 33; Joseph's son, ancestor of the half-tribe settled in the east.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal of march)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal of march).
ΓαλααδGileadaccusative of goal (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΓαλααδ: see v. 1; here the specific region conquered by the Machirites.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtook / capturedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aorist (the capture)λαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): 'take / seize / capture'; renders לָכַד; the military taking of Gilead by force; recurs of Jair (v. 41) and Nobah (v. 42).
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν (Gilead)→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem. αὐτήν): 'it', the region of Gilead (γῆ/Γαλααδ treated as feminine).
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπώλεσενdestroyedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb→ constative aorist (the destruction of the Amorite)ἀπόλλυμι (aor. ἀπώλεσεν): 'destroy / ruin / kill'; renders הוֹרִישׁ / הִשְׁמִיד; the dispossession of the Amorite inhabitants — the completion of the conquest that secured the land.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑμορραῖονAmoriteAccusativedirect object of ἀπώλεσεν→ object specificationΑμορραῖος: see v. 33; the collective singular for the Amorite population of Gilead, dispossessed by the Machirites.
τὸνthe (one)Accusativearticle (with participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦνταwho dweltPres Act Ptcp Acc Masc Sg · κατοικέωattributive participle (modifying Αμορραῖον)→ present participle (the resident population)κατοικέω (pres. ptcp.): see v. 17; 'the Amorite dwelling in it' — the native inhabitant displaced by the conquest.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (place).
αὐτῇitDativedative of place (in Gilead)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός (dat. fem. αὐτῇ): 'in it', the land of Gilead.
40
καὶ ἔδωκεν Μωυσῆς τὴν Γαλααδ τῷ Μαχιρ υἱῷ Μανασση καὶ κατῴκησεν ἐκεῖ
And Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and he dwelt there.
Moses formally confirms the conquered Gilead to Machir (the Manassite clan), who then settles there (κατῴκησεν ἐκεῖ). The grant-and-dwelling notice mirrors the larger pattern of the chapter: conquest grounds possession, and possession issues in settled dwelling.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (the grant to Machir)→ constative aorist (the act of granting)δίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκεν): see v. 33; Moses confirms Gilead to the Machirites who took it — grant following conquest.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: meaning 'Moses'; it serves as subject.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with place name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαλααδGileaddirect object of ἔδωκεν (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΓαλααδ: see v. 1; the region granted to Machir; the article τήν marks it as the object.
τῷtoDativearticle (dative of recipient)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜαχιρMachirdative of recipient (indeclinable, with article τῷ)→ noun-phrase markingΜαχιρ: see v. 39; the Manassite clan-head, recipient of Gilead; the article τῷ supplies the dative case.
υἱῷsonDativedative in apposition (patronymic)→ sphere or referenceυἱός (dat. υἱῷ): 'son'; Machir 'son of Manasseh', the patronymic.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitival modifier (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΜανασση: see v. 33.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατῴκησενhe dwelt / settledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατοικέωmain verb→ ingressive aorist (took up residence)κατοικέω (aor. κατῴκησεν): see v. 17; 'settled / took up dwelling'; the ingressive aorist marks the clan's permanent settlement in the conquered land.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; in Gilead — the granted and conquered territory now become home.
41
καὶ Ιαϊρ ὁ τοῦ Μανασση ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἔλαβεν τὰς ἐπαύλεις αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπωνόμασεν αὐτὰς ἐπαύλεις Ιαϊρ
And Jair son of Manasseh went and took their villages, and called them the Villages of Jair.
A second Manassite, Jair, takes the village-settlements (ἐπαύλεις) and renames them after himself — αἱ ἐπαύλεις Ιαϊρ ('the Villages of Jair', Hebrew Havvoth-jair, cf. Deut 3:14; Judg 10:4). The self-naming again asserts conquest and possession, the recurring motif of the settlement-coda.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙαϊρJairsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙαϊρ: transliteration of Hebrew יָאִיר (Jair); indeclinable; a Manassite chief who seized and named the village-clusters of Bashan/Gilead.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (with patronymic genitive)→ noun-phrase markingὁ τοῦ Μανασση = 'the [son] of Manasseh'; the article-plus-genitive patronymic with υἱός understood (as in v. 12).
τοῦofGenitivearticle (patronymic)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜανασσηManassehgenitival patronymic (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΜανασση: see v. 33; Jair is reckoned to the Manasseh line (genealogically through Hezron/Judah by Manasseh's daughter, cf. 1 Chr 2:21–22, but counted Manassite here).
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (the campaign-march)πορεύομαι (aor. pass.): see v. 39; Jair's advance to take the villages.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aorist (the capture)λαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): see v. 39; the seizing of the village-settlements by force.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπαύλειςvillages / settlementsAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβεν→ object specificationἔπαυλις (pl. ἐπαύλεις): here 'villages / encampments / settlements' (a sense broader than 'sheepfolds' in v. 16); renders חַוּוֹת ('tent-villages'); the rural settlements Jair captured.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the former inhabitants')→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. pl.): 'their', the dispossessed inhabitants whose villages Jair took.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπωνόμασενhe named / calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπονομάζωmain verb (the renaming)→ constative aorist (the act of naming)ἐπονομάζω (aor.): see v. 38; Jair names the captured villages after himself — an act of possession.
αὐτὰςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐπωνόμασεν→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem. pl. αὐτάς): 'them', the villages.
ἐπαύλειςvillages ofAccusativepredicate accusative (the new name)→ object specificationἔπαυλις (pl.): the new name ἐπαύλεις Ιαϊρ ('Villages of Jair') = Hebrew Havvoth-jair; a double-accusative construction (named them [as] Villages of Jair).
Ιαϊρof Jairgenitival modifier of ἐπαύλεις (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙαϊρ: the eponymous name stamped on the villages — a lasting territorial designation (cf. Judg 10:4; 1 Kgs 4:13).
42
καὶ Ναβαυ ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἔλαβεν τὴν Κανααθ καὶ τὰς κώμας αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπωνόμασεν αὐτὰς Ναβωθ ἐκ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ
And Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called them Naboth, after his own name.
The chapter ends with a third Manassite conquest: Nobah takes Kenath and its dependent villages and renames them after himself (Ναβωθ … ἐκ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ). The closing self-naming caps the settlement-coda and the whole chapter — the corporate war, fought and won, issues in possessed and renamed cities east of the Jordan.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΝαβαυNobahsubject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΝαβαυ: transliteration of Hebrew נֹבַח (Nobah); indeclinable; a Manassite warrior (distinct from the town Ναβαυ/Nebo of v. 3) who took Kenath.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (the campaign-march)πορεύομαι (aor. pass.): see vv. 39, 41; Nobah's advance against Kenath.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aorist (the capture)λαμβάνω (aor. ἔλαβεν): see vv. 39, 41; the seizing of Kenath and its villages.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with place name)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΚανααθKenathdirect object (indeclinable place name)→ participant identificationΚανααθ: transliteration of Hebrew קְנָת (Kenath); indeclinable; a city in northern Bashan/Gilead taken by Nobah.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κώμαςvillagesAccusativedirect object (coordinate with Κανααθ)→ object specificationκώμη (pl. κώμας): 'village / hamlet'; renders בָּנוֹת ('daughter-villages'); the dependent settlements around the main city of Kenath.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (Kenath's villages)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. fem. αὐτῆς): 'its', belonging to Kenath.
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπωνόμασενhe named / calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπονομάζωmain verb (the renaming)→ constative aorist (the act of naming)ἐπονομάζω (aor.): see vv. 38, 41; Nobah renames the captured city after himself, the chapter's final act of possession.
αὐτὰςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐπωνόμασεν→ participant referenceαὐτός (acc. fem. pl. αὐτάς): 'them', Kenath and its villages.
ΝαβωθNaboth / Nobahpredicate accusative (the new name, indeclinable)→ participant identificationΝαβωθ: the new name given to Kenath, after Nobah himself (Hebrew נֹבַח); the LXX form Ναβωθ for the place-name; indeclinable; the eponymous renaming parallels Jair's villages (v. 41).
ἐκfrom / afterpreposition + genitive (source of the name)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / after'; ἐκ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ ('after his own name') marks the source of the city's new designation.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀνόματοςnameGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationὄνομα (gen. ὀνόματος): 'name'; the conqueror's own name, transferred to the conquered city — the chapter's final assertion of possession through naming.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (Nobah's name)→ relational specificationαὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'his own', Nobah's; the eponym closes the settlement-list and the chapter.