1
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἐπὶ δυσμῶν Μωαβ παρὰ τὸν Ιορδάνην κατὰ Ιεριχω λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho, saying,
The chapter opens with the standard LXX divine-speech formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, here anchored to the precise locale of the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho — the staging-ground for the whole closing legislation of Numbers (cf. 33:50; 36:13). The locative phrase ἐπὶ δυσμῶν Μωαβ ('toward the west of Moab' / 'on the plains of Moab') situates the cities-of-refuge law on the threshold of the land it concerns.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak / talk'; renders דִּבֶּר (Piel); the aorist ἐλάλησεν in the formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν is the standard LXX opening for a new legislative unit throughout Numbers (cf. 1:1; 33:50).
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject of the speech-formula marks this as unmediated YHWH-speech.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of speech)→ object specificationΜωυσῆς: transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined as a first/third-declension noun in Rahlfs' LXX (acc. Μωυσῆν); accusative here as the directional object of πρός.
ἐπὶon / towardpreposition + genitive (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: here locative, 'on / at / toward'; the phrase ἐπὶ δυσμῶν Μωαβ renders בְּעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב ('on the plains/steppes of Moab').
δυσμῶνthe west / plainsGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (locative)→ relational specificationδυσμή (pl. δυσμαί): 'setting (of the sun) / west / sunset-region'; the LXX uses ἐπὶ δυσμῶν Μωαβ to render עַרְבֹת מוֹאָב; the translator has read the toponym ʿarbôt ('steppes') in light of the western location of the plains opposite Jericho, hence 'toward the west of Moab.'
ΜωαβMoabgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΜωαβ: transliteration of Hebrew מוֹאָב; indeclinable in the LXX; the plains of Moab east of the Jordan are Israel's final encampment before the conquest.
παρὰby / besidepreposition + accusative (position: 'alongside')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + acc.: 'beside / along'; παρὰ τὸν Ιορδάνην locates the encampment along the bank of the Jordan.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativeaccusative object of παρά (river-name, declined)→ object specificationΙορδάνης: the Jordan river (Hebrew הַיַּרְדֵּן); declined as a first-declension masculine in the LXX (acc. Ιορδάνην); the river marks the boundary between the Transjordan and Canaan, decisive for the three-and-three division of the cities of refuge (v. 14).
κατὰnear / oppositepreposition + accusative (position: 'over against')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: here 'opposite / near / over against'; κατὰ Ιεριχω renders יְרֵחוֹ ('over against Jericho'), fixing the encampment directly across from the city.
ΙεριχωJerichoaccusative object of κατά (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΙεριχω: transliteration of Hebrew יְרִיחוֹ; indeclinable in the LXX; the first city to be taken in the conquest (Josh 6), here the geographical reference-point for Israel's encampment.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct discourse)→ imperfective participle (Hebraizing לֵאמֹר-formula introducing speech)λέγω (pres. ptc.): the participle λέγων renders the Hebrew infinitive לֵאמֹר ('saying'), the standard LXX marker introducing the content of divine speech; nominative masculine singular agreeing with κύριος.
2
σύνταξον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ δώσουσιν τοῖς Λευίταις ἀπὸ τῶν κλήρων κατασχέσεως αὐτῶν πόλεις κατοικεῖν καὶ τὰ προάστεια τῶν πόλεων κύκλῳ αὐτῶν δώσουσιν τοῖς Λευίταις
Command the sons of Israel, and they shall give to the Levites, out of the allotments of their possession, cities to dwell in; and the pasturelands of the cities round about them they shall give to the Levites.
The oracle opens with the aorist imperative σύνταξον ('command / give order'), directed at Moses, followed by the future δώσουσιν ('they shall give') expressing the resulting obligation on the tribes. The provision of cities with their προάστεια ('pasturelands') solves the structural problem of the landless Levites (cf. 18:20–24): they are dispersed among the tribes rather than holding a contiguous territory.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
σύνταξονcommandAor Act Impv 2 Sg · συντάσσωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ ingressive aorist imperative (issue the command)συντάσσω: 'order / command / arrange'; renders צַו (Piel imperative of צוה); the compound συν- suggests a comprehensive, ordered instruction; the same verb opens many legislative units in the LXX Pentateuch.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative object of σύνταξον (those commanded)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people; dative as the recipients of the command.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable national name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here the collective people from whose tribal allotments the Levitical cities are drawn.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (command → consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσουσινthey shall giveFut Act Indic 3 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (consequent obligation on the tribes)→ imperatival/legal future (binding obligation)δίδωμι: 'give / grant'; renders נָתַן; the future δώσουσιν here has imperatival force ('they are to give'), a common LXX rendering of the Hebrew weqatal of legal obligation.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίταιςLevitesDativedative indirect object (recipients of the cities)→ sphere or referenceΛευίτης: 'Levite'; renders לֵוִי / הַלְוִיִּם; the tribe set apart for cultic service who receive no land-inheritance (18:23–24) and are instead provided for through these cities and their pasturelands and through the tithe.
ἀπὸfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source/partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from / out of'; partitive here — the cities come out of the tribes' own allotted possession, not from a separate reserve.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλήρωνallotments / inheritancesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (source)→ relational specificationκλῆρος: 'lot / allotment / inheritance'; renders נַחֲלָה / גּוֹרָל; the κλῆρος is the land apportioned to each tribe by lot (cf. 26:55–56); the Levites' cities are carved out of these tribal lots.
κατασχέσεωςof possessionGenitivegenitive (defining κλήρων: 'allotments of their possession')→ relational specificationκατάσχεσις: 'possession / holding'; renders אֲחֻזָּה; a key term in Numbers for the permanent landholding of a tribe or family (cf. 27:4; 32:22); the cities are taken from the secured possession of the tribes.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying κατασχέσεως)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying κατασχέσεως).
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of δώσουσιν→ object specificationπόλις: 'city / town'; renders עִיר; the Levitical πόλεις are the institutional centre of this legislation — forty-eight in all (v. 7), six of them cities of refuge.
κατοικεῖνto dwell inPres Act Inf · κατοικέωepexegetic (purpose) infinitive (modifying πόλεις)→ imperfective infinitive of purpose ('cities for dwelling')κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב / לָשֶׁבֶת; the infinitive expresses the purpose of the gift — the cities are residences for the Levites scattered through Israel.
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.
προάστειαpasturelands / suburbsAccusativedirect object of the second δώσουσιν (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationπροάστειον: 'open land before a city / suburb / pastureland'; renders מִגְרָשׁ ('open/common land' for pasture); a key term of this chapter (vv. 2, 3, 7), denoting the belt of common grazing-ground encircling each Levitical city.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωνcitiesGenitivegenitive of relationship (the cities' pasturelands)→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. pl.): the pasturelands belong to the cities they encircle.
κύκλῳround aboutadverb (dative form used adverbially: 'in a circle around')→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: 'round about / in a circle'; adverbial dative of κύκλος; renders סָבִיב; the pasturelands form a ring around each city, a spatial picture made precise in vv. 4–5.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive (with κύκλῳ: 'around them')→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (with κύκλῳ: 'around them').
δώσουσινthey shall giveFut Act Indic 3 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (repeated for the pasturelands clause)→ imperatival/legal future (binding obligation)δίδωμι: the repetition of δώσουσιν frames the verse chiastically (cities … give // pasturelands … give), emphasising that both city and surrounding common land are part of the single grant.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίταιςLevitesDativedative indirect object (recipients)→ sphere or referenceΛευίταις: meaning 'Levites'; it serves as dative indirect object (recipients).
3
καὶ ἔσονται αὐτοῖς αἱ πόλεις κατοικεῖν καὶ τὰ ἀφορίσματα αὐτῶν ἔσται τοῖς κτήνεσιν αὐτῶν καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς τετράποσιν αὐτῶν
And the cities shall be theirs to dwell in, and their separated lands shall be for their livestock and for all their four-footed beasts.
v. 3 clarifies the dual function of the grant: the cities are for human habitation (κατοικεῖν), the surrounding ἀφορίσματα ('set-apart lands') for the Levites' herds and flocks. The shift in vocabulary from προάστεια (v. 2) to ἀφορίσματα marks the same belt of land from the angle of its legal separation (ἀφορίζω, 'set apart') for pasture-use.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσονταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predicate of possession: 'shall be theirs')→ predictive/legal future (settled future state)εἰμί (fut. ἔσομαι): 'be'; the construction ἔσονται αὐτοῖς ('shall be to/for them') is a dative-of-possession Hebraism rendering וְהָיוּ לָהֶם ('and they shall belong to them').
αὐτοῖςto them / theirsDativedative of possession ('shall be theirs')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: dative of possession; the cities belong to the Levites as their habitation.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesNominativesubject of ἔσονται→ participant prominenceπόλις: the Levitical cities as subject; the nominative plural αἱ πόλεις picks up the πόλεις of v. 2.
κατοικεῖνto dwell inPres Act Inf · κατοικέωepexegetic infinitive (purpose: 'theirs to dwell in')→ imperfective infinitive of purposeκατοικέω: the repeated infinitive (cf. v. 2) reinforces that the cities serve as residences for the Levites.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀφορίσματαset-apart landsNominativesubject of ἔσται (neuter plural with singular verb)→ participant prominenceἀφόρισμα: 'that which is set apart / a separated portion'; from ἀφορίζω ('mark off, separate'); renders מִגְרָשׁ here from the standpoint of legal demarcation; designates the same pasture-belt as προάστεια (v. 2) but stresses its separation for the herds.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἀφορίσματα)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ἀφορίσματα).
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (singular verb with neuter plural subject ἀφορίσματα)→ predictive/legal futureεἰμί (fut.): the singular ἔσται agrees with the neuter plural subject ἀφορίσματα by the Greek rule of neuter-plural concord; 'shall be for their livestock.'
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήνεσινlivestock / cattleDativedative of advantage ('for their livestock')→ sphere or referenceκτῆνος: 'beast / domestic animal / livestock'; renders בְּהֵמָה; the pasturelands are reserved for the Levites' working and breeding animals.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶσιallDativeattributive adjective (modifying τετράποσιν)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all / every'; the dative plural πᾶσι underscores that every kind of the Levites' four-footed beasts is included.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τετράποσινfour-footed beastsDativedative of advantage (parallel to κτήνεσιν)→ sphere or referenceτετράπους: 'four-footed (animal)'; renders the same livestock-category; the pairing κτήνεσιν … τετράποσιν is a comprehensive idiom for all the Levites' domestic animals.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
4
καὶ τὰ συγκυροῦντα τῶν πόλεων ἃς δώσετε τοῖς Λευίταις ἀπὸ τείχους τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἔξω δισχιλίους πήχεις κύκλῳ
And the adjoining lands of the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall reach from the wall of the city and outward two thousand cubits round about.
v. 4 begins the precise surveying of the pasture-belt: τὰ συγκυροῦντα ('the bordering/adjoining lands') extend from the city wall outward two thousand cubits on every side. (The MT reads one thousand cubits in v. 4 and two thousand in v. 5; the LXX harmonises to two thousand throughout.) The measurement converts the general κύκλῳ of v. 2 into a defined zone.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συγκυροῦνταadjoining landsPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Neut · συγκυρέωsubstantivized participle (subject: 'the bordering [lands]')→ imperfective participle (the lands that abut/adjoin)συγκυρέω: 'border on / adjoin / be contiguous with'; the substantivized neuter participle τὰ συγκυροῦντα means 'the adjoining/abutting lands', i.e. the common land contiguous to the city wall; renders the surrounding מִגְרָשׁ from the standpoint of contiguity.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωνcitiesGenitivegenitive of relationship (the cities' adjoining lands)→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. pl.): the adjoining lands belong to the Levitical cities.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δώσετε, antecedent πόλεων)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; feminine accusative plural ἃς agrees with πόλεων (the cities) as the object of δώσετε.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (direct address to Israel)→ imperatival/legal future (binding obligation)δίδωμι: 'give'; the second-person plural δώσετε shifts to direct address of the Israelites who will apportion the cities (cf. vv. 6, 14).
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίταιςLevitesDativedative indirect object→ sphere or referenceΛευίταις: meaning 'Levites'; it serves as dative indirect object.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting point of measurement)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; marks the wall as the inner boundary from which the two-thousand-cubit belt is measured outward.
τείχουςwallGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (starting point)→ relational specificationτεῖχος: 'wall (of a city)'; renders קִיר / חוֹמָה; the city wall is the fixed reference-line from which the pasture-belt is surveyed outward.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (the city's wall)→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. sg.).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔξωoutwardadverb of place (direction: 'outside / outward')→ clausal contributionἔξω: 'outside / outward'; renders חוּצָה; specifies the direction of the measurement — outward from the wall into the open country.
δισχιλίουςtwo thousandAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying πήχεις)→ object specificationδισχίλιοι: 'two thousand'; the LXX reads two thousand cubits here (the MT has one thousand in v. 4, two thousand in v. 5), harmonising the pasture-radius to a uniform two thousand cubits.
πήχειςcubitsAccusativeaccusative of extent of space (measure)→ object specificationπῆχυς: 'cubit' (the forearm-length, c. 45 cm); renders אַמָּה; the accusative of measure gives the radial extent of the pasture-belt.
κύκλῳround aboutadverb (dative form: 'in a circle around')→ clausal contributionκύκλῳ: 'round about'; the two-thousand-cubit belt encircles the whole city, anticipating the four-sided survey of v. 5.
5
καὶ μετρήσεις ἔξω τῆς πόλεως τὸ κλίτος τὸ πρὸς ἀνατολὰς δισχιλίους πήχεις καὶ τὸ κλίτος τὸ πρὸς λίβα δισχιλίους πήχεις καὶ τὸ κλίτος τὸ πρὸς θάλασσαν δισχιλίους πήχεις καὶ τὸ κλίτος τὸ πρὸς βορρᾶν δισχιλίους πήχεις καὶ ἡ πόλις μέσον τούτου ἔσται ὑμῖν καὶ τὰ ὅμορα τῶν πόλεων
And you shall measure outside the city the side toward the east, two thousand cubits, and the side toward the south, two thousand cubits, and the side toward the sea, two thousand cubits, and the side toward the north, two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the middle of this, for you, and the borders of the cities.
v. 5 enacts the survey by the four compass-points (east, south, sea/west, north), each measured two thousand cubits, with the city set μέσον τούτου ('in the middle of this'). The four-square measurement makes the pasture a precise sacred geometry around each Levitical city, the city itself centred within its allotted common land.
Word-by-word analysis· 48 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετρήσειςyou shall measureFut Act Indic 2 Sg · μετρέωmain verb (second-person address to the surveyor/Moses-Israel)→ imperatival/legal future (instruction to measure)μετρέω: 'measure / mark off'; renders מָדַד; the second-person singular addresses the one carrying out the survey; the verb governs the fourfold accusative κλίτος measurements.
ἔξωoutsideadverb / improper preposition + genitive ('outside the city')→ spatial or relational framingἔξω: 'outside'; here governing the genitive τῆς πόλεως — the measuring is done outside the city wall.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive with ἔξω ('outside the city')→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. sg.).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κλίτοςsideAccusativedirect object of μετρήσεις (first of four sides)→ object specificationκλίτος: 'side / flank / quarter'; renders פֵּאָה ('side, edge'); the fourfold τὸ κλίτος structures the survey by the four cardinal sides of the square.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with prepositional phrase)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'toward'; the attributive phrase τὸ πρὸς ἀνατολάς ('the [side] toward the east') specifies the orientation of each measured side.
ἀνατολὰςthe eastAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (direction: east)→ object specificationἀνατολή (pl. ἀνατολαί): 'rising (of the sun) / east'; renders קֵדְמָה / מִזְרָח; the first compass-point of the survey.
δισχιλίουςtwo thousandAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying πήχεις)→ object specificationδισχίλιοι: 'two thousand'; the uniform measure repeated for each of the four sides.
πήχειςcubitsAccusativeaccusative of extent (measure)→ object specificationπῆχυς: 'cubit'; the radial measure of the eastern side.
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.
κλίτοςsideAccusativedirect object of μετρήσεις (second side)→ object specificationκλίτος: the second of the four sides.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'toward'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
λίβαthe southwest / southAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (direction: south)→ object specificationλίψ (acc. λίβα): properly the southwest wind, hence 'south(west)'; renders נֶגֶב ('the Negeb / south'); the LXX regularly uses λίψ for the southern quarter.
δισχιλίουςtwo thousandAccusativeattributive numeral→ object specificationδισχιλίους: meaning 'two thousand'; it serves as attributive numeral.
πήχειςcubitsAccusativeaccusative of extent (measure)→ object specificationπήχεις: meaning 'cubits'; it serves as accusative of extent (measure).
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.
κλίτοςsideAccusativedirect object of μετρήσεις (third side)→ object specificationκλίτος: the third of the four sides.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'toward'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
θάλασσανthe sea / westAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (direction: west)→ object specificationθάλασσα: 'sea'; renders יָם, which in Hebrew orientation also denotes 'west' (toward the Mediterranean Sea); πρὸς θάλασσαν here means the western side.
δισχιλίουςtwo thousandAccusativeattributive numeral→ object specificationδισχιλίους: meaning 'two thousand'; it serves as attributive numeral.
πήχειςcubitsAccusativeaccusative of extent (measure)→ object specificationπήχεις: meaning 'cubits'; it serves as accusative of extent (measure).
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.
κλίτοςsideAccusativedirect object of μετρήσεις (fourth side)→ object specificationκλίτος: the fourth and last of the four sides, completing the square.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'toward'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
βορρᾶνthe northAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (direction: north)→ object specificationβορρᾶς (acc. βορρᾶν): 'the north (wind) / north'; renders צָפוֹן; the fourth compass-point of the survey.
δισχιλίουςtwo thousandAccusativeattributive numeral→ object specificationδισχιλίους: meaning 'two thousand'; it serves as attributive numeral.
πήχειςcubitsAccusativeaccusative of extent (measure)→ object specificationπήχεις: meaning 'cubits'; it serves as accusative of extent (measure).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλιςcityNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceπόλις: the city stands at the geometric centre of its surveyed pasture-square.
μέσονin the middleAccusativeadverbial accusative ('in the midst of')→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle / midst'; the accusative μέσον used adverbially with the genitive τούτου — the city sits at the centre of the measured zone.
τούτουof thisGenitivegenitive with μέσον ('the middle of this')→ relational specificationοὗτος: the demonstrative τούτου refers to the whole surveyed square; the city is in the middle of it.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predicate of position)→ predictive/legal futureεἰμί (fut.): 'shall be'; the city's central position is fixed by law.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage / possession ('for you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl. ὑμῖν): the dative addresses the Israelites as those for whom this arrangement is set.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅμοραbordering landsNominativesubject (supplied 'shall be'): 'the borders of the cities'→ participant prominenceὅμορος: 'bordering / adjacent'; substantivized neuter plural τὰ ὅμορα, 'the bordering lands / borders', a near-synonym of προάστεια / ἀφορίσματα / συγκυροῦντα — the common land marking the limit of each city's territory.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωνcitiesGenitivegenitive of relationship (the cities' bordering lands)→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. pl.): the bordering lands belong to the Levitical cities.
6
καὶ τὰς πόλεις δώσετε τοῖς Λευίταις τὰς ἓξ πόλεις τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων ἃς δώσετε φεύγειν ἐκεῖ τῷ φονεύσαντι καὶ πρὸς ταύταις τεσσαράκοντα καὶ δύο πόλεις
And the cities you shall give to the Levites: the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the slayer to flee there, and besides these forty-two cities.
v. 6 introduces the six cities of refuge (αἱ ἓξ πόλεις τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων) as a designated subset of the Levitical cities, supplemented by forty-two others, anticipating the total of forty-eight (v. 7). Here for the first time appears the chapter's key term φυγαδευτήριον ('place of refuge') and the participial designation ὁ φονεύσας ('the one who has slain').
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative 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.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of δώσετε (fronted)→ object specificationπόλις: the cities given to the Levites, here subdivided into refuge-cities and the rest.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (legal instruction)→ imperatival/legal futureδίδωμι: 'give'; the apportioning of the cities is the responsibility of all Israel.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίταιςLevitesDativedative indirect object→ sphere or referenceΛευίταις: meaning 'Levites'; it serves as dative indirect object.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with numeral, in apposition to πόλεις)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἓξsixattributive numeral (indeclinable, modifying πόλεις)→ clausal contributionἕξ: 'six'; the six cities of refuge — three in Transjordan, three in Canaan (v. 14) — a fixed number governing the whole refuge institution.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the six refuge-cities)→ object specificationπόλις: in apposition, specifying which cities — the refuge-cities.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυγαδευτηρίωνof refugeGenitivegenitive of definition ('cities of refuge')→ relational specificationφυγαδευτήριον: 'place of refuge / asylum'; from φυγαδεύω ('put to flight / banish'); renders עִיר מִקְלָט ('city of asylum'); the chapter's signature term (vv. 6, 11, 12, 13, 15, 25, 32) for the cities where the manslayer finds sanctuary; cf. the refuge-motif at Heb 6:18.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δώσετε, antecedent πόλεις)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, feminine accusative plural agreeing with πόλεις.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιverb of relative clause→ imperatival/legal futureδίδωμι: the refuge-cities are 'given' specifically for the purpose stated by the following infinitive.
φεύγεινto fleePres Act Inf · φεύγωinfinitive of purpose (the function of the refuge-cities)→ imperfective infinitive of purpose ('for fleeing')φεύγω: 'flee / take refuge'; renders נוּס; the infinitive φεύγειν ἐκεῖ ('to flee there') states the purpose of the refuge-cities — sanctuary for the slayer; cognate with φυγαδευτήριον and φυγάς.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (goal of flight)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; renders שָׁמָּה ('thither'); the refuge-city is the destination of the slayer's flight.
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσαντιfor the one who has slainAor Act Ptc Dat Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle, dative of advantage ('for the slayer')→ aoristic participle (the one who has committed the killing)φονεύω: 'kill / slay / murder'; the aorist participle ὁ φονεύσας ('the one who has slain') is the chapter's standard designation for the homicide whose intent has not yet been adjudicated (vv. 6, 11, 25, 26, 28, 30); dative of advantage — the city is given 'for' him to flee to.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρὸςbesides / in addition topreposition + dative ('in addition to these')→ spatial or relational framingπρός + dat.: 'in addition to / besides'; πρὸς ταύταις means 'over and above these [six]', introducing the remaining forty-two.
ταύταιςtheseDativedative object of πρός (the six refuge-cities)→ sphere or referenceοὗτος: 'these'; refers to the six refuge-cities just named.
τεσσαράκονταfortynumeral (indeclinable, with δύο modifying πόλεις)→ measure or countτεσσαράκοντα: 'forty'; with δύο gives forty-two, the balance of the Levitical cities beyond the six of refuge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in the compound numeral)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δύοtwonumeral (indeclinable, with τεσσαράκοντα)→ measure or countδύο: 'two'; forty + two = forty-two additional cities.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative (the forty-two additional cities)→ object specificationπόλις: the forty-two non-refuge Levitical cities; with the six refuge-cities they total forty-eight (v. 7).
7
πάσας τὰς πόλεις δώσετε τοῖς Λευίταις τεσσαράκοντα καὶ ὀκτὼ πόλεις ταύτας καὶ τὰ προάστεια αὐτῶν
All the cities you shall give to the Levites: forty-eight cities, these and their pasturelands.
v. 7 sums the count: forty-eight cities in all (the six of refuge plus the forty-two), each with its προάστεια. The total recurs at Josh 21:41; the round number (4 × 12) signals a complete provision distributed across all Israel.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying πόλεις)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; the feminine accusative plural πάσας totals the entire set of Levitical cities.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of δώσετε→ object specificationπόλις: the whole body of Levitical cities.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (legal instruction)→ imperatival/legal futureδίδωμι: 'give'; the summary command to allot the full number.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίταιςLevitesDativedative indirect object→ sphere or referenceΛευίταις: meaning 'Levites'; it serves as dative indirect object.
τεσσαράκονταfortynumeral (indeclinable, with ὀκτώ modifying πόλεις)→ measure or countτεσσαράκοντα: 'forty'; with ὀκτώ gives forty-eight.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in the compound numeral)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀκτὼeightnumeral (indeclinable, with τεσσαράκοντα)→ measure or countὀκτώ: 'eight'; forty + eight = forty-eight, the full total of Levitical cities (cf. Josh 21:41).
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the forty-eight)→ object specificationπόλις: the forty-eight cities in sum.
ταύταςtheseAccusativedemonstrative (in apposition to πόλεις: 'these')→ object specificationοὗτος: 'these'; the demonstrative gathers the whole enumerated set.
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.
προάστειαpasturelandsAccusativeaccusative (coordinate with πόλεις: 'and their pasturelands')→ object specificationπροάστειον: 'pastureland / suburb'; the grant includes not only the cities but the surrounding common land of each (cf. v. 2).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the cities' pasturelands)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the cities' pasturelands).
8
καὶ τὰς πόλεις ἃς δώσετε ἀπὸ τῆς κατασχέσεως υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἀπὸ τῶν τὰ πολλὰ πολλὰ καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐλαττόνων ἐλάττω ἕκαστος κατὰ τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ ἣν κληρονομήσουσιν δώσουσιν ἀπὸ τῶν πόλεων τοῖς Λευίταις
And as for the cities which you shall give out of the possession of the sons of Israel: from those that have much you shall give much, and from those that have less, less; each according to his inheritance which they shall inherit shall give of his cities to the Levites.
v. 8 lays down the equity-principle for funding the Levitical cities: each tribe contributes in proportion to its inheritance — more from the larger, fewer from the smaller (ἀπὸ τῶν τὰ πολλὰ πολλά … ἀπὸ τῶν ἐλαττόνων ἐλάττω). The same proportional logic governed the census-based land-allotment of 26:54 and 33:54.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
καὶandnarrative 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 of respect / topicalized object ('as for the cities')→ object specificationπόλις: the cities to be contributed, here the topic of the proportional rule.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δώσετε)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, feminine accusative plural agreeing with πόλεις.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιverb of relative clause→ imperatival/legal futureδίδωμι: 'give'; the contribution of cities from the tribal possessions.
ἀπὸfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from / out of'; the cities come out of the tribes' own possession.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατασχέσεωςpossessionGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (source)→ relational specificationκατάσχεσις: 'possession / holding'; renders אֲחֻזָּה; the secured landholding of the tribes from which the Levitical cities are drawn.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (the sons of Israel's possession)→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as the holders of the inheritance contributing the cities.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the people whose tribal possessions supply the cities.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source, partitive: the larger holdings)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: introduces the proportional rule — 'from those that have much.'
τῶνthoseGenitivesubstantivized article ('those who have...')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τῶν substantivizes — 'those [tribes] that have...'
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with πολλά, accusative of respect)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πολλὰmuch / manyAccusativeaccusative of respect ('those having much')→ object specificationπολύς: 'much / many'; the first πολλά (acc.) describes the larger holdings — 'those that have much [land].'
πολλὰmuchAccusativedirect object (of supplied 'give': 'give much')→ object specificationπολύς: the second πολλά is the object — they give 'much' (a larger number of cities) in proportion to their larger holding.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source: the smaller holdings)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from those that have less.'
τῶνthoseGenitivesubstantivized article ('those with less')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: 'those [tribes] of the smaller holding.'
ἐλαττόνωνlesser / fewerGenitivecomparative adjective (substantival: 'the smaller [holdings]')→ relational specificationἐλάσσων (ἐλάττων): 'less / smaller / fewer'; comparative of μικρός / ὀλίγος; here the tribes with smaller territory.
ἐλάττωlessAccusativecomparative adjective (object of supplied 'give': 'give less')→ object specificationἐλάσσων (acc. n. ἔλασσον/ἐλάττω): the object — they give 'less' (fewer cities) in proportion to their smaller holding; the πολλά/ἐλάττω antithesis enacts proportional equity.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativesubject (distributive: 'each [tribe]')→ participant prominenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; distributive subject — every tribe gives according to its own measure.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (measure/proportion)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; the standard of contribution is each tribe's inheritance.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κληρονομίανinheritanceAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (standard of measure)→ object specificationκληρονομία: 'inheritance / heritage'; renders נַחֲלָה; the tribal inheritance is the measure determining how many cities each tribe contributes.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying κληρονομίαν)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying κληρονομίαν).
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of κληρονομήσουσιν, antecedent κληρονομίαν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, feminine accusative singular agreeing with κληρονομίαν.
κληρονομήσουσινthey shall inheritFut Act Indic 3 Pl · κληρονομέωverb of relative clause (the inheriting of the land)→ predictive future (the coming possession of Canaan)κληρονομέω: 'inherit / take possession of'; renders נָחַל / יָרַשׁ; the future points ahead to the conquest and apportioning of Canaan, on the basis of which each tribe's contribution is calculated.
δώσουσινthey shall giveFut Act Indic 3 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (the tribes' obligation to contribute cities)→ imperatival/legal futureδίδωμι: 'give'; resumes the obligation — each tribe gives of its cities to the Levites in proportion to its inheritance.
ἀπὸfrom / ofpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of his cities')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: partitive — the cities given are taken from each tribe's own urban holdings.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωνcitiesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (partitive)→ relational specificationπόλις (gen. pl.): the cities of each tribe, from which the Levitical portion is drawn.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛευίταιςLevitesDativedative indirect object→ sphere or referenceΛευίταις: meaning 'Levites'; it serves as dative indirect object.
9
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
The repeated speech-formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων (cf. v. 1) opens the second and longer divine oracle of the chapter, devoted entirely to the cities of refuge and the law of homicide (vv. 10–34).
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak'; the aorist opens a new legislative unit, as at v. 1.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of speech)→ object specificationΜωυσῆς: acc. Μωυσῆν; the recipient of the second oracle.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct discourse)→ imperfective participle (Hebraizing לֵאמֹר-formula)λέγω (pres. ptc.): λέγων renders the Hebrew לֵאמֹר, introducing the content of the divine speech.
10
λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς ὑμεῖς διαβαίνετε τὸν Ιορδάνην εἰς γῆν Χανααν
Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them, 'You are crossing the Jordan into the land of Canaan.'
The oracle is framed as a future-oriented address: Israel is on the verge of crossing the Jordan (ὑμεῖς διαβαίνετε, a present of imminent action) into Canaan. The refuge legislation is thus prospective, taking effect once the land is possessed (cf. vv. 13–14).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ ingressive aorist imperative (commissioned speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak'; the aorist imperative λάλησον commissions Moses to deliver the oracle to Israel (cf. Exod 11:2).
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object (addressees)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the covenant people addressed.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable national name.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγω (εἶπον)main verb (continuing the commission)→ imperatival future (instruction to proclaim)λέγω / ἐρῶ: 'say / tell'; the future ἐρεῖς ('you shall say') functions as a continued command, the standard LXX rendering of the Hebrew weqatal וְאָמַרְתָּ.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτούςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Israelites)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the sons of Israel as recipients.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic 2nd-person plural pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic pronoun stresses Israel itself as the party crossing into the land where the law will apply.
διαβαίνετεare crossingPres Act Indic 2 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (futuristic/imminent present)→ futuristic present (the imminent crossing presented as underway)διαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders עָבַר; the present διαβαίνετε pictures the crossing of the Jordan as imminent and certain — Israel is about to enter Canaan.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνηνJordanAccusativedirect object of διαβαίνετε→ object specificationΙορδάνης (acc. Ιορδάνην): the river to be crossed; its crossing divides the Transjordan refuge-cities from those in Canaan (v. 14).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal/destination)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal/destination).
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; γῆ Χανααν renders אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, the promised land Israel is entering.
ΧαναανCanaangenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΧανααν: transliteration of Hebrew כְּנַעַן; indeclinable; the territory west of the Jordan where three of the refuge-cities are to be set.
11
καὶ διαστελεῖτε ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς πόλεις φυγαδευτήρια ἔσται ὑμῖν φυγεῖν ἐκεῖ τὸν φονευτήν πᾶς ὁ πατάξας ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως
Then you shall designate for yourselves cities; they shall be cities of refuge for you, for the manslayer to flee there—everyone who has struck a soul unintentionally.
v. 11 issues the central command — διαστελεῖτε ('set apart / designate') refuge-cities — and immediately introduces the chapter's crucial qualifier: the refuge is for the one who has struck a soul ἀκουσίως ('unintentionally / unwillingly'). This single adverb governs the entire moral architecture of vv. 16–28, separating accidental manslaughter from deliberate murder.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶand / thennarrative conjunction (consequence of the crossing)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαστελεῖτεyou shall designateFut Act Indic 2 Pl · διαστέλλωmain verb (legal command to set apart cities)→ imperatival/legal future (binding instruction)διαστέλλω: 'set apart / distinguish / designate / give express order'; renders הִקְרָה / הִבְדִּיל; the compound δια- conveys marking-off; here Israel is to single out particular cities as places of asylum.
ὑμῖνfor yourselvesDativedative of advantage / reflexive ('for yourselves')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl.): with the appended αὐτοῖς forms an emphatic reflexive — 'for your own selves.'
αὐτοῖςyourselvesDativeintensive/reflexive dative (with ὑμῖν: 'for your very selves')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the combination ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς is an emphatic reflexive, rendering the Hebrew לָכֶם ('for yourselves').
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of διαστελεῖτε→ object specificationπόλις: the cities to be designated as asylum.
φυγαδευτήριαcities of refugeNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσται: 'shall be refuges')→ participant prominenceφυγαδευτήριον: 'place of refuge / asylum'; renders עָרֵי מִקְלָט; the predicate noun defines the designated cities by their function as sanctuaries; the chapter's signature term (cf. v. 6).
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predicate: 'they shall be refuges')→ predictive/legal futureεἰμί (fut.): the singular ἔσται stands with the neuter-plural sense of φυγαδευτήρια ('they shall serve as refuge').
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage ('refuges for you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl.): the cities serve as Israel's institution of asylum.
φυγεῖνto fleeAor Act Inf · φεύγωinfinitive of purpose ('for fleeing there')→ aoristic infinitive of purposeφεύγω: 'flee / take refuge'; renders נוּס; the infinitive φυγεῖν ἐκεῖ defines the cities' purpose — flight to safety for the manslayer.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (goal of flight)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the refuge-city as destination.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονευτήνslayer / manslayerAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive φυγεῖν ('for the slayer to flee')→ object specificationφονευτής: 'slayer / killer / murderer'; renders רֹצֵחַ; here the agent who flees to the refuge-city, with the crucial qualification ἀκουσίως ('unintentionally') that follows — only later (vv. 16–21) is φονευτής sharpened to mean a deliberate murderer liable to death.
πᾶςeveryoneNominativenominative in apposition (defining the slayer: 'everyone who...')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every / all'; introduces the substantival participle clause defining who may flee — 'everyone who has struck a soul unintentionally.'
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατάξαςwho has struckAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · πατάσσωsubstantivized participle (apposition to φονευτήν: 'the one who struck')→ aoristic participle (the completed act of striking)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite / kill'; renders הִכָּה (Hiphil of נכה); ὁ πατάξας ψυχήν ('the one who has struck a soul') is the standard idiom for a homicide; the aorist marks the deed as accomplished, while ἀκουσίως qualifies its intent.
ψυχὴνa soul / personAccusativedirect object of πατάξας ('struck a soul')→ object specificationψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here a human life — to strike a ψυχή is to kill a person; the term keeps the victim's full humanity in view.
ἀκουσίωςunintentionallyadverb of manner (the decisive qualifier of intent)→ clausal contributionἀκουσίως: 'involuntarily / unintentionally / unwillingly'; from ἀκούσιος (ἀ- + ἑκούσιος); renders בִּשְׁגָגָה ('by error / inadvertently'); the pivotal adverb distinguishing manslaughter from murder; its antonym ἑκουσίως ('willingly') marks the deliberate killing punished in vv. 16–21.
12
καὶ ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις ὑμῖν φυγαδευτήρια ἀπὸ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ φονεύων ἕως ἂν στῇ ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰς κρίσιν
And the cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood, so that the slayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
v. 12 states the protective purpose: the cities shield the slayer ἀπὸ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα ('from the avenger of blood') so that he not be killed (οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ, emphatic negation) before standing trial ἔναντι τῆς συναγωγῆς ('before the congregation'). Here enters the chapter's second key figure, ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα, and the principle of due process before lawful vengeance.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσονταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predicate: 'the cities shall be a refuge')→ predictive/legal futureεἰμί (fut.): 'shall be'; the cities' function as refuge is legally established.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesNominativesubject of ἔσονται→ participant prominenceπόλις: the designated refuge-cities.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl.): Israel as beneficiary of the institution.
φυγαδευτήριαa refugeNominativepredicate nominative ('shall be a refuge')→ participant prominenceφυγαδευτήριον: 'place of refuge'; predicate defining the cities' function.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation/protection: 'refuge from')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; marks that from which the city protects — the avenger of blood.
ἀγχιστεύοντοςthe avenger / kinsman-redeemerPres Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantivized participle, genitive with ἀπό ('from the avenger')→ imperfective participle (the one acting as blood-redeemer)ἀγχιστεύω: 'act as next-of-kin / be the kinsman-redeemer / avenge'; from ἄγχιστος ('nearest'); renders גָּאַל (the גֹּאֵל הַדָּם, 'redeemer of blood'); ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα is the nearest relative whose duty is to avenge a slain kinsman's blood — the chapter's second key figure (cf. Ruth 2:20 for ἀγχιστεύω of the kinsman-redeemer; here of blood-vengeance).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativeaccusative object of the participle ἀγχιστεύοντος ('avenging the blood')→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; renders דָּם; the accusative τὸ αἷμα is the object of the avenger's action — the shed blood of the slain that cries out to be requited (cf. Gen 4:10); blood is both the thing avenged and, in v. 33, the pollutant of the land.
καὶand / so thatcoordinate conjunction (result/purpose)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introduces the protective result — 'and [so] the slayer shall not die.'
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή forming emphatic negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή and the aorist subjunctive forms the emphatic future negation οὐ μή ('shall by no means').
μὴnotnegative particle (emphatic οὐ μή construction)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the doubled οὐ μή with subjunctive expresses strong denial — the slayer most certainly shall not be killed before trial.
ἀποθάνῃmay dieAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωsubjunctive with οὐ μή (emphatic prohibition of premature death)→ aorist subjunctive of emphatic negationἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; the aorist subjunctive with οὐ μή guarantees the slayer's life until due process — he shall not be slain on the spot by the avenger.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύωνslayerPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (subject of ἀποθάνῃ: 'the slayer')→ imperfective participle (the one who has done the killing)φονεύω: 'kill / slay'; ὁ φονεύων ('the slayer') here designates the homicide generically, before his guilt is determined; he is protected until the congregation judges.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; with ἄν and the subjunctive marks the temporal limit of the protection — until he stands trial.
ἂν(if/ever)modal particle (with ἕως + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the indefinite temporal clause ἕως ἂν στῇ.
στῇhe standsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἵστημιsubjunctive of indefinite temporal clause ('until he stands')→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (takes his stand before the court)ἵστημι: 'stand / take a stand'; the aorist subjunctive στῇ pictures the slayer presenting himself for trial; 'standing before the congregation' is the formal posture of the accused at judgment.
ἔναντιbefore / in the presence ofpreposition + genitive (position: 'before the congregation')→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; the judicial sense — standing in the court's presence.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregation / assemblyGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι (the judging body)→ relational specificationσυναγωγή: 'gathering / congregation / assembly'; renders עֵדָה; the συναγωγή is the community acting as a judicial body (cf. vv. 24–25), which alone may determine guilt and execute or protect the slayer.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'for judgment')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'for / unto'; expresses the purpose of the standing — to be judged.
κρίσινjudgmentAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose)→ object specificationκρίσις: 'judgment / trial / decision'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; the formal adjudication by which the congregation distinguishes murder from manslaughter (vv. 24–25).
13
καὶ αἱ πόλεις ἃς δώσετε τὰς ἓξ πόλεις φυγαδευτήρια ἔσονται ὑμῖν
And the cities which you shall give, the six cities, shall be a refuge for you.
v. 13 reaffirms the fixed total of six refuge-cities before specifying their geographical distribution in v. 14. The repetition of φυγαδευτήρια keeps the institution's defining function before the reader.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καὶandnarrative 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.
πόλειςcitiesNominativesubject (resumed by τὰς ἓξ πόλεις)→ participant prominenceπόλις: the refuge-cities.
ἃςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of δώσετε)→ participant referenceὅς: feminine accusative plural agreeing with πόλεις.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιverb of relative clause→ imperatival/legal futureδίδωμι: 'give'; the apportioning of the refuge-cities.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with numeral, in apposition)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἓξsixattributive numeral (indeclinable)→ clausal contributionἕξ: 'six'; the fixed number of refuge-cities.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the six)→ object specificationπόλις: in apposition specifying the six refuge-cities.
φυγαδευτήριαa refugeNominativepredicate nominative ('shall be a refuge')→ participant prominenceφυγαδευτήριον: 'place of refuge'; predicate defining the cities' function.
ἔσονταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predicate)→ predictive/legal futureεἰμί (fut.): 'shall be'; the cities' status as refuge is fixed by law.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl.): Israel as beneficiary.
14
τὰς τρεῖς πόλεις δώσετε ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου καὶ τὰς τρεῖς πόλεις δώσετε ἐν γῇ Χανααν
Three cities you shall give beyond the Jordan, and three cities you shall give in the land of Canaan.
v. 14 divides the six refuge-cities three-and-three across the Jordan boundary — three in the Transjordan (already assigned, cf. Deut 4:41–43: Bezer, Ramoth, Golan) and three in Canaan (later Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Josh 20:7). The symmetry ensures that no part of the land is far from asylum.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with numeral)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying πόλεις)→ measure or countτρεῖς: 'three'; the Transjordan half of the refuge-cities.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of δώσετε→ object specificationπόλις: the three eastern refuge-cities.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (legal instruction)→ imperatival/legal futureδίδωμι: 'give / assign'; the appointing of the eastern cities.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, with the substantivized adverb)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'in / on'; with the articular adverb πέραν forms the locative 'in the region beyond the Jordan.'
τῷthe (region)Dativearticle (substantivizing πέραν: 'the [region] beyond')→ noun-phrase markingὁ: the article τῷ substantivizes the adverb πέραν into 'the far side / region beyond.'
πέρανbeyond / acrossadverb (substantivized with τῷ: 'the region across')→ clausal contributionπέραν: 'across / beyond / on the other side'; renders עֵבֶר; τὸ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου is the standard designation for the Transjordan, the territory east of the river.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanGenitivegenitive with πέραν ('beyond the Jordan')→ relational specificationΙορδάνης (gen. Ιορδάνου): the river marking the east-west division of the refuge-cities.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (the second half of the pairing)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with numeral)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρεῖςthreeAccusativeattributive numeral (modifying πόλεις)→ measure or countτρεῖς: 'three'; the Canaanite half of the refuge-cities.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of the second δώσετε→ object specificationπόλις: the three western refuge-cities.
δώσετεyou shall giveFut Act Indic 2 Pl · δίδωμιmain verb (legal instruction)→ imperatival/legal futureδίδωμι: 'give / assign'; the appointing of the western cities.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative: 'in the land')→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; γῇ Χανααν = 'the land of Canaan,' the territory west of the Jordan.
ΧαναανCanaangenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΧανααν: indeclinable; the promised land proper, west of the Jordan.
15
φυγάδιον ἔσται τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ παροίκῳ τῷ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις αὗται εἰς φυγαδευτήριον φυγεῖν ἐκεῖ παντὶ πατάξαντι ψυχὴν ἀκουσίως
It shall be a place of refuge for the sons of Israel and for the proselyte and for the sojourner among you; these cities shall be for a refuge, for everyone who has struck a soul unintentionally to flee there.
v. 15 universalises the institution: the refuge is open equally to native Israelite, προσήλυτος ('proselyte / convert'), and πάροικος ('resident alien'). The triad native–proselyte–sojourner is a standard LXX expression of the one law for all who dwell in the land (cf. Exod 12:49; Lev 24:22); innocent life is protected regardless of ethnic status.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
φυγάδιονa place of refugeNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔσται: 'shall be a refuge')→ participant prominenceφυγάδιον: 'place of refuge / asylum' (a by-form/diminutive of the same root as φυγαδευτήριον, from φυγάς, 'fugitive'); a near-synonym used here for variation; the cities serve as sanctuary.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predicate)→ predictive/legal futureεἰμί (fut.): 'shall be'; the refuge-status established for all the named classes.
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage (first beneficiary class)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the native Israelites.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable national name.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτῳproselyte / convertDativedative of advantage (second beneficiary class)→ sphere or referenceπροσήλυτος: 'newcomer / convert / proselyte'; from προσέρχομαι ('come to'); renders גֵּר ('resident foreigner who has joined Israel'); the LXX coinage for the non-Israelite incorporated into the covenant community, who shares its legal protections.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παροίκῳsojourner / resident alienDativedative of advantage (third beneficiary class)→ sphere or referenceπάροικος: 'one who dwells alongside / resident alien / sojourner'; renders תּוֹשָׁב; the long-term foreign resident who has not fully joined Israel; together with προσήλυτος and the native Israelite, completes the triad of those protected.
τῷthe (one)Dativearticle (attributive, with ἐν ὑμῖν: 'the one among you')→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (location: 'among you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'in / among'; the attributive phrase τῷ ἐν ὑμῖν ('the one who is among you') defines the sojourner as a resident within Israel's midst.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐν ('among you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl.): the community in whose midst the alien dwells.
ἔσονταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (predicate of the second clause)→ predictive/legal futureεἰμί (fut.): 'shall be'; the plural now agrees with αἱ πόλεις αὗται.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesNominativesubject of ἔσονται→ participant prominenceπόλις: the six refuge-cities.
αὗταιtheseNominativedemonstrative (modifying πόλεις: 'these cities')→ participant prominenceοὗτος: 'these'; the six designated cities.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (purpose: 'for a refuge')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'for / unto'; expresses the cities' purpose.
φυγαδευτήριονa refugeAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose)→ object specificationφυγαδευτήριον: 'place of refuge'; the cities' purpose stated again with the chapter's signature term.
φυγεῖνto fleeAor Act Inf · φεύγωinfinitive of purpose ('to flee there')→ aoristic infinitive of purposeφεύγω: 'flee / take refuge'; the infinitive restates the cities' function — flight to asylum.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (goal of flight)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the refuge-city as destination.
παντὶfor everyoneDativedative of advantage (with the participle: 'for everyone who...')→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'every / all'; the dative παντὶ πατάξαντι ('for everyone who has struck') universalises the provision to every accidental homicide.
πατάξαντιwho has struckAor Act Ptc Dat Sg Masc · πατάσσωsubstantivized participle, dative of advantage→ aoristic participle (the completed act of striking)πατάσσω: 'strike / kill'; ὁ πατάξας ψυχήν, the one who has killed a person — here qualified by ἀκουσίως as the accidental slayer eligible for refuge.
ψυχὴνa soul / personAccusativedirect object of πατάξαντι→ object specificationψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; the human victim of the killing.
ἀκουσίωςunintentionallyadverb of manner (qualifier of intent)→ clausal contributionἀκουσίως: 'unintentionally / involuntarily'; renders בִּשְׁגָגָה; the pivotal adverb (cf. v. 11) restricting refuge to the inadvertent slayer; its opposite ἑκουσίως marks deliberate murder.
16
ἐὰν δὲ ἐν σκεύει σιδήρου πατάξῃ αὐτόν καὶ τελευτήσῃ φονευτής ἐστιν θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής
But if he strikes him with an iron implement and he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
v. 16 opens the casuistic murder-series (vv. 16–18) with the first instrument — an iron tool. The verdict is categorical: φονευτής ἐστιν ('he is a murderer'), and the cognate-dative formula θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ('he shall surely be put to death') renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמָת. The δέ marks the sharp turn from the protected ἀκουσίως-slayer (v. 15) to the deliberate killer.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing case-law protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive introduces the casuistic ('if … then') legal conditions of vv. 16–23, the standard form of biblical case-law.
δὲbut / nowadversative particle (post-positive: turn to murder-cases)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; marks the contrastive shift from the protective refuge-law to the cases of culpable murder.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental: 'with an implement')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental 'with / by means of'; a Hebraizing instrumental dative (rendering בְּ) marking the murder-weapon.
σκεύειimplement / objectDativedative of instrument ('with an implement')→ sphere or referenceσκεῦος: 'vessel / implement / tool / object'; renders כְּלִי; here a hand-tool or weapon; ἐν σκεύει σιδήρου = 'with an instrument of iron.'
σιδήρουof ironGenitivegenitive of material (defining σκεύει: 'of iron')→ relational specificationσίδηρος: 'iron'; renders בַּרְזֶל; an iron implement is lethal by nature, so its use signals murderous intent — the first of the three deadly instruments (iron, stone, wood).
πατάξῃhe strikesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πατάσσωverb of conditional protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical act of striking)πατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; the aorist subjunctive in the ἐάν-clause posits the blow; with a lethal iron weapon the act is presumptively murderous.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of πατάξῃ (the victim)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the victim struck.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τελευτήσῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · τελευτάωverb of conditional protasis (the resulting death)→ aorist subjunctive (the death as outcome)τελευτάω: 'die / come to an end'; renders מוּת; the victim's death completes the condition that triggers the murder-verdict.
φονευτήςa murdererNominativepredicate nominative (verdict: 'he is a murderer')→ participant prominenceφονευτής: 'murderer / killer'; renders רֹצֵחַ; here the term takes its full culpable sense — one who has killed with deadly intent and is liable to death (contrast the qualified φονευτής of v. 11).
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (verdict-statement)→ gnomic/declarative present (legal pronouncement)εἰμί: 'is'; the declarative present pronounces the legal status — he stands convicted as a murderer.
θανάτῳwith deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism: emphatic infinitive absolute)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: 'death'; the cognate dative θανάτῳ with θανατούσθω renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute מוֹת יוּמָת ('he shall surely be put to death'); the dativus cognatus intensifies the certainty of the sentence (cf. ἀποθανεῖν θανάτῳ, Gen 2:17).
θανατούσθωlet him be put to deathPres Pass Impv 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (third-person imperative: the sentence)→ imperatival present passive (binding legal sentence)θανατόω: 'put to death / execute'; renders יוּמָת (Hophal of מות); the third-person passive imperative is the standard LXX form of capital sentence; with θανάτῳ it forms the emphatic 'he shall surely be put to death.'
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονευτήςmurdererNominativesubject of θανατούσθω (the one sentenced)→ participant prominenceφονευτής: the convicted murderer, subject of the death-sentence.
17
ἐὰν δὲ ἐν λίθῳ ἐκ χειρός ἐν ᾧ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν αὐτῷ πατάξῃ αὐτόν καὶ ἀποθάνῃ φονευτής ἐστιν θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής
But if he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which he might die, and he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
v. 17 supplies the second instrument — a hand-held stone large enough to be lethal (ἐν ᾧ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν αὐτῷ, 'by which one might die'). The qualifying relative clause specifies that the stone is of death-dealing size, so its use proves intent. The verdict and the θανάτῳ θανατούσθω formula repeat verbatim from v. 16.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (case-law protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the second murder-case.
δὲbutconnective particle (post-positive: next case)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the transition to the second instrument-case.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental 'with'; marks the murder-weapon.
λίθῳa stoneDativedative of instrument ('with a stone')→ sphere or referenceλίθος: 'stone'; renders אֶבֶן; the second deadly instrument; qualified below as one capable of killing.
ἐκin / frompreposition + genitive ('from/in the hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from / out of'; ἐκ χειρός ('from the hand') marks the stone as hand-held and thrown or wielded — a deliberate act, not an accidental fall.
χειρόςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ ('from the hand')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; ἐκ χειρός underscores intentional agency — the stone is in the killer's own hand.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental, in relative clause)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental 'by'; ἐν ᾧ … ἐν αὐτῷ = 'by which … by it,' a redundant Hebraizing resumptive construction.
ᾧwhichDativerelative pronoun (instrumental, antecedent λίθῳ)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun, dative; 'by which one might die' — the stone is of lethal size/weight.
ἀποθανεῖταιhe might dieFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of relative clause (potential: 'by which death may come')→ potential/gnomic future (capacity of the weapon to kill)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the future ἀποθανεῖται in the relative clause expresses the stone's death-dealing capacity — it is a thing 'by which one dies,' proving the instrument's lethality and hence the intent.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (resumptive, Hebraizing)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: resumptive instrumental; ἐν αὐτῷ ('by it') redundantly resumes the relative ᾧ, a calque on the Hebrew אֲשֶׁר … בּוֹ.
αὐτῷitDativeresumptive pronoun (instrumental, = the stone)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'it'; the resumptive pronoun referring back to the stone.
πατάξῃhe strikesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πατάσσωverb of conditional protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical blow)πατάσσω: 'strike'; the blow with the lethal stone.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of πατάξῃ→ participant referenceαὐτός: the victim.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of conditional protasis (the death)→ aorist subjunctive (the death as outcome)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the victim's death completes the murder-condition.
φονευτήςa murdererNominativepredicate nominative (verdict)→ participant prominenceφονευτής: 'murderer'; the culpable verdict, as in v. 16.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (verdict-statement)→ declarative present (legal pronouncement)εἰμί: 'is'; the verdict-declaration.
θανάτῳwith deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: cognate dative intensifying the death-sentence (= מוֹת).
θανατούσθωlet him be put to deathPres Pass Impv 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (capital sentence)→ imperatival present passive (binding sentence)θανατόω: 'put to death'; the death-sentence repeated verbatim from v. 16.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονευτήςmurdererNominativesubject of θανατούσθω→ participant prominenceφονευτής: the convicted murderer.
18
ἐὰν δὲ ἐν σκεύει ξυλίνῳ ἐκ χειρός ἐξ οὗ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν αὐτῷ πατάξῃ αὐτόν καὶ ἀποθάνῃ φονευτής ἐστιν θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονευτής
But if he strikes him with a wooden implement in the hand, from which he might die, and he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
v. 18 completes the triad of lethal instruments (iron, stone, wood) with a hand-held wooden weapon capable of killing. The threefold repetition of φονευτής ἐστιν … θανάτῳ θανατούσθω across vv. 16–18 hammers home that the instrument itself, when deadly and wielded by hand, establishes murderous intent.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (case-law protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; the third murder-case.
δὲbutconnective particle (post-positive: next case)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the third instrument-case.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrumental)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental 'with.'
σκεύειimplementDativedative of instrument ('with an implement')→ sphere or referenceσκεῦος: 'implement / tool / weapon'; here qualified as wooden.
ξυλίνῳwoodenDativeattributive adjective (modifying σκεύει: 'wooden')→ sphere or referenceξύλινος: 'wooden / of wood'; from ξύλον ('wood'); renders עֵץ; the third deadly material — a wooden club or staff capable of killing.
ἐκin / frompreposition + genitive ('from/in the hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'from'; ἐκ χειρός marks the weapon as hand-held and intentionally wielded.
χειρόςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; the weapon is in the killer's hand — intentional agency.
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (in relative clause: 'from which')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ (before vowel ἐξ): 'from'; ἐξ οὗ … ἐν αὐτῷ = 'from which … by it,' the Hebraizing resumptive relative (cf. v. 17 ἐν ᾧ … ἐν αὐτῷ).
οὗwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (genitive with ἐξ, antecedent σκεύει)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun; 'from which one might die' — the weapon is of lethal force.
ἀποθανεῖταιhe might dieFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of relative clause (potential: lethal capacity)→ potential/gnomic future (capacity to kill)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the relative clause marks the wooden implement as death-dealing, proving intent.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (resumptive, Hebraizing)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: resumptive instrumental ('by it'), calquing the Hebrew.
αὐτῷitDativeresumptive pronoun (= the wooden implement)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'it'; resumes the weapon.
πατάξῃhe strikesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πατάσσωverb of conditional protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical blow)πατάσσω: 'strike'; the lethal blow.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of πατάξῃ→ participant referenceαὐτός: the victim.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of conditional protasis (the death)→ aorist subjunctive (the death as outcome)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the victim's death completes the condition.
φονευτήςa murdererNominativepredicate nominative (verdict)→ participant prominenceφονευτής: 'murderer'; the culpable verdict.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (verdict-statement)→ declarative presentεἰμί: 'is'; the verdict-declaration.
θανάτῳwith deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: cognate dative intensifying the sentence (= מוֹת).
θανατούσθωlet him be put to deathPres Pass Impv 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (capital sentence)→ imperatival present passive (binding sentence)θανατόω: 'put to death'; the sentence repeated from vv. 16–17.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονευτήςmurdererNominativesubject of θανατούσθω→ participant prominenceφονευτής: the convicted murderer.
19
ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα οὗτος ἀποκτενεῖ τὸν φονεύσαντα ὅταν συναντήσῃ αὐτῷ οὗτος ἀποκτενεῖ αὐτόν
The avenger of blood—he himself shall kill the murderer; whenever he meets him, he himself shall kill him.
v. 19 names the agent of execution: the blood-avenger himself (ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα), emphatically marked by the doubled οὗτος ('this one, he himself'). The death-penalty of vv. 16–18 is enacted not by the state but by the slain man's kinsman-redeemer, who may slay the convicted murderer on sight (ὅταν συναντήσῃ, 'whenever he meets him').
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγχιστεύωνthe avenger of bloodPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantivized participle (subject: 'the blood-avenger')→ imperfective participle (the one acting as blood-redeemer)ἀγχιστεύω: 'act as kinsman-redeemer / avenge'; renders גָּאַל; ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα (the גֹּאֵל הַדָּם) is the nearest kinsman charged with requiting a murdered relative's blood — here the lawful executioner of the convicted murderer.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativeaccusative object of the participle ('avenging the blood')→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; the shed blood that the kinsman is bound to avenge.
οὗτοςthis one / he himselfNominativeresumptive demonstrative (emphatic subject)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this one'; resumptive demonstrative emphasising that it is precisely the blood-avenger, and no other, who executes the murderer; the doubled οὗτος frames the verse.
ἀποκτενεῖshall killFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (the lawful execution)→ imperatival/predictive future (sanctioned killing)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill / put to death'; renders הֵמִית / רָצַח; here the lawful slaying of the convicted murderer by the avenger — not murder but sanctioned execution.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσανταthe murdererAor Act Ptc Acc Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (direct object of ἀποκτενεῖ)→ aoristic participle (the one who has committed the murder)φονεύω: 'kill / murder'; τὸν φονεύσαντα ('the one who has murdered') is the convicted killer of vv. 16–18, now handed over to the avenger.
ὅτανwhenevertemporal conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅταν: 'whenever'; with the subjunctive marks the indefinite occasion — at any encounter.
συναντήσῃhe meetsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · συναντάωverb of indefinite temporal clause ('whenever he meets')→ aorist subjunctive (the chance encounter)συναντάω: 'meet / encounter'; renders פָּגַע ('meet / fall upon'); the avenger may execute the murderer upon meeting him — the same verb that elsewhere denotes the fatal 'falling upon' of an enemy.
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of συναντήσῃ ('meets him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: dative with συναντάω; the murderer encountered.
οὗτοςthis one / he himselfNominativeresumptive demonstrative (emphatic subject, repeated)→ participant referenceοὗτος: the second οὗτος reinforces that the avenger alone is the executioner — emphatic resumption framing the verse.
ἀποκτενεῖshall killFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (repeated for emphasis)→ imperatival/predictive future (sanctioned killing)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; the repetition underscores the certainty and lawfulness of the execution.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of ἀποκτενεῖ (the murderer)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the convicted murderer, object of the execution.
20
ἐὰν δὲ δι᾿ ἔχθραν ὤσῃ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπιρρίψῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πᾶν σκεῦος ἐξ ἐνέδρου καὶ ἀποθάνῃ
But if out of enmity he thrusts him, or hurls anything against him from ambush, and he dies,
vv. 20–21 shift the criterion from instrument to motive: killing δι᾿ ἔχθραν ('out of enmity') and ἐξ ἐνέδρου ('from ambush / by lying in wait') is murder regardless of weapon. v. 20 is the protasis (thrusting, or hurling an object from ambush, resulting in death); its apodosis — the death-sentence and the avenger's role — follows in v. 21. ἔχθρα and ἔνεδρον are the decisive markers of premeditation.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (case-law protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the motive-based murder-case.
δὲbutconnective particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the shift from instrument to motive.
δι᾿out of / because ofpreposition + accusative (cause/motive: 'because of enmity')→ spatial or relational framingδιά (before vowel δι᾿) + acc.: 'because of / on account of'; δι᾿ ἔχθραν marks enmity as the motivating cause — the hallmark of premeditated murder.
ἔχθρανenmity / hostilityAccusativeaccusative object of διά (cause/motive)→ object specificationἔχθρα: 'enmity / hostility / hatred'; renders שִׂנְאָה / אֵיבָה; the prior hatred that turns a killing into murder; its presence (or absence, v. 22) is the legal pivot distinguishing murder from manslaughter.
ὤσῃhe thrusts / shovesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ὠθέωverb of conditional protasis (subjunctive with ἐάν)→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical thrust)ὠθέω: 'push / thrust / shove'; renders הָדַף ('thrust / push down'); a violent shove done in hatred — e.g. pushing someone to their death; the same verb recurs in the contrasting innocent case at v. 22.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ὤσῃ→ participant referenceαὐτός: the victim thrust.
καὶand / orcoordinate conjunction (alternative case)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here joining a second mode of the same culpable act — thrusting or hurling.
ἐπιρρίψῃhe hurls / casts uponAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐπιρρίπτωverb of conditional protasis (alternative act)→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical hurling)ἐπιρρίπτω: 'throw upon / cast at'; from ἐπί + ῥίπτω; renders הִשְׁלִיךְ ('cast / hurl'); the deliberate hurling of an object at the victim, here aggravated by being done from ambush.
ἐπ᾿upon / atpreposition + accusative (direction: 'against him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (before vowel ἐπ᾿) + acc.: 'upon / against'; the direction of the hurled object.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿ (the target)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the victim at whom the object is thrown.
πᾶνany / everyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying σκεῦος: 'any object')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'any / every'; πᾶν σκεῦος ('any object whatever') shows that with murderous intent the particular weapon is immaterial — any thrown thing suffices for guilt.
σκεῦοςobject / implementAccusativedirect object of ἐπιρρίψῃ ('hurls any object')→ object specificationσκεῦος: 'object / vessel / implement'; here any thrown article that causes death — the intent, not the instrument, is decisive.
ἐξfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (manner: 'from ambush')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ (before vowel ἐξ): 'from / out of'; ἐξ ἐνέδρου ('from ambush / by lying in wait') marks premeditation — the killing is planned and stealthy.
ἐνέδρουambush / lying in waitGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (manner: premeditation)→ relational specificationἔνεδρον: 'ambush / lying in wait / treachery'; renders אָרַב / צְדִיָּה; the second decisive marker of murder (with ἔχθρα): a killing done by ambush is by definition premeditated and culpable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of conditional protasis (the resulting death)→ aorist subjunctive (the death as outcome)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the victim's death completes the protasis, whose apodosis (the sentence) comes in v. 21.
21
ἢ διὰ μῆνιν ἐπάταξεν αὐτὸν τῇ χειρί καὶ ἀποθάνῃ θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ πατάξας φονευτής ἐστιν θανάτῳ θανατούσθω ὁ φονεύων ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα ἀποκτενεῖ τὸν φονεύσαντα ἐν τῷ συναντῆσαι αὐτῷ
or out of wrath he struck him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death; the avenger of blood shall kill the murderer when he meets him.
v. 21 completes vv. 20–21: even a bare-handed blow struck διὰ μῆνιν ('out of wrath / rancour') is murder when malice is present. The verse stacks the death-formula twice (θανάτῳ θανατούσθω … θανάτῳ θανατούσθω) and reasserts the avenger's role (cf. v. 19), closing the murder-section with maximal emphasis. The articular infinitive ἐν τῷ συναντῆσαι ('when he meets [him]') replaces the ὅταν-clause of v. 19.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (alternative mode of the murder)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; adds a further mode of culpable killing to v. 20 — a blow of the hand driven by wrath.
διὰout of / because ofpreposition + accusative (cause/motive)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'because of'; διὰ μῆνιν marks wrath as the murderous motive, parallel to δι᾿ ἔχθραν (v. 20).
μῆνινwrath / rancourAccusativeaccusative object of διά (cause/motive)→ object specificationμῆνις: 'lasting wrath / rancour / abiding anger'; a strong, settled hatred (the word that opens the Iliad); renders אֵיבָה here; its deep-seated, premeditated quality marks the killing as murder.
ἐπάταξενhe struckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωverb of protasis (here aorist indicative within the case)→ constative aorist (the completed blow)πατάσσω: 'strike'; the indicative ἐπάταξεν (rather than the subjunctive of vv. 16–18) presents the wrathful blow as a stated fact within the case-description.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξεν→ participant referenceαὐτός: the victim struck.
τῇthe / hisDativearticle (with χειρί, instrumental)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρίwith the handDativedative of instrument ('with his hand')→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the bare hand as the means — striking with the hand in settled wrath is murder, weapon notwithstanding.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of protasis (the resulting death)→ aorist subjunctive (the death as outcome)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the victim's death triggers the sentence.
θανάτῳwith deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: cognate dative intensifying the sentence (= מוֹת).
θανατούσθωlet him be put to deathPres Pass Impv 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (capital sentence, first occurrence)→ imperatival present passive (binding sentence)θανατόω: 'put to death'; the death-sentence applied to the wrathful striker.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατάξαςthe one who struckAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · πατάσσωsubstantivized participle (subject of θανατούσθω)→ aoristic participle (the one who delivered the blow)πατάσσω: ὁ πατάξας ('the one who struck') is here the culpable killer, subject of the death-sentence.
φονευτήςa murdererNominativepredicate nominative (verdict)→ participant prominenceφονευτής: 'murderer'; the verdict reaffirmed.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (verdict-statement)→ declarative presentεἰμί: 'is'; the verdict-declaration.
θανάτῳwith deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism, second occurrence)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: cognate dative; the death-formula is repeated for emphasis.
θανατούσθωlet him be put to deathPres Pass Impv 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (capital sentence, second occurrence)→ imperatival present passive (binding sentence)θανατόω: the doubled θανάτῳ θανατούσθω in this verse maximally stresses the certainty of the murderer's execution.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύωνthe slayer / murdererPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (subject of the second θανατούσθω)→ imperfective participle (the murderer)φονεύω: ὁ φονεύων ('the murderer') here denotes the convicted killer liable to death.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγχιστεύωνthe avenger of bloodPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantivized participle (subject of ἀποκτενεῖ)→ imperfective participle (the blood-redeemer)ἀγχιστεύω: ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα, the avenger of blood (cf. v. 19), reasserted as the executioner.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativeaccusative object of the participle ('avenging the blood')→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; the shed blood avenged by the kinsman.
ἀποκτενεῖshall killFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκτείνωmain verb (the lawful execution)→ imperatival/predictive future (sanctioned killing)ἀποκτείνω: 'kill'; the avenger's lawful slaying of the murderer (cf. v. 19).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσανταthe murdererAor Act Ptc Acc Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (direct object of ἀποκτενεῖ)→ aoristic participle (the one who has murdered)φονεύω: τὸν φονεύσαντα, the convicted murderer handed over to the avenger.
ἐνwhen / inpreposition + dative articular infinitive (temporal: 'when he meets')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + articular infinitive: a temporal Hebraism (rendering בְּ + infinitive construct) = 'when / at the meeting'; ἐν τῷ συναντῆσαι αὐτῷ = 'when he meets him.'
τῷtheDativearticle (with the infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναντῆσαιto meet / the meetingAor Act Inf · συναντάωarticular infinitive (temporal: 'at his meeting him')→ aoristic infinitive (the occasion of encounter)συναντάω: 'meet / encounter'; the articular infinitive ἐν τῷ συναντῆσαι ('when he meets') marks the occasion of lawful execution — the same verb as in v. 19.
αὐτῷhimDativedative object of the infinitive ('meets him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: the murderer encountered by the avenger.
22
ἐὰν δὲ ἐξάπινα οὐ δι᾿ ἔχθραν ὤσῃ αὐτὸν ἢ ἐπιρρίψῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πᾶν σκεῦος οὐκ ἐξ ἐνέδρου
But if suddenly, not out of enmity, he thrusts him, or hurls upon him any object not from ambush,
v. 22 begins the deliberate mirror-image of vv. 20–21: the same acts (ὤσῃ … ἐπιρρίψῃ … πᾶν σκεῦος) but now ἐξάπινα ('suddenly'), οὐ δι᾿ ἔχθραν ('not out of enmity'), οὐκ ἐξ ἐνέδρου ('not from ambush'). The triple negation precisely cancels the murder-criteria of v. 20, marking this as inadvertent manslaughter; the protasis runs through v. 23, with the verdict in vv. 24–25.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (case-law protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the manslaughter-case, deliberately mirroring v. 20.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive: contrast with murder)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: marks the strong contrast — from murder to accident.
ἐξάπιναsuddenlyadverb of manner (the key marker of accident)→ clausal contributionἐξάπινα: 'suddenly / unexpectedly'; renders פֶּתַע ('in an instant / without warning'); a key marker of the unpremeditated, accidental killing — the opposite of ambush and forethought.
οὐnotnegative particle (negating δι᾿ ἔχθραν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; cancels the enmity-motive — οὐ δι᾿ ἔχθραν, 'not out of hatred.'
δι᾿out ofpreposition + accusative (negated cause)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + acc.: 'because of'; here negated — the killing is not motivated by enmity.
ἔχθρανenmityAccusativeaccusative object of διά (negated motive)→ object specificationἔχθρα: 'enmity'; its explicit absence (οὐ δι᾿ ἔχθραν) is what distinguishes this case from the murder of v. 20.
ὤσῃhe thrustsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ὠθέωverb of conditional protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the accidental thrust)ὠθέω: 'push / thrust'; the very same verb as in v. 20, now done without malice — the act is identical, only the intent differs.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ὤσῃ→ participant referenceαὐτός: the one accidentally thrust.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (alternative act)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; the alternative mode — hurling an object.
ἐπιρρίψῃhe hurlsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐπιρρίπτωverb of conditional protasis (alternative act)→ aorist subjunctive (the accidental hurling)ἐπιρρίπτω: 'throw upon'; again the same verb as v. 20, here without ambush or malice.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'upon / against'; the direction of the thrown object.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿→ participant referenceαὐτός: the unintended victim.
πᾶνanyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying σκεῦος)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'any'; πᾶν σκεῦος, 'any object,' parallel to v. 20 but here thrown without intent to harm.
σκεῦοςobjectAccusativedirect object of ἐπιρρίψῃ→ object specificationσκεῦος: 'object / implement'; any thrown article, here in an accident.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἐξ ἐνέδρου)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (before vowel οὐκ): 'not'; cancels the ambush-criterion — οὐκ ἐξ ἐνέδρου, 'not from ambush.'
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (negated manner)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ (before vowel ἐξ): 'from'; here negated — the act was not premeditated by lying in wait.
ἐνέδρουambushGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (negated manner)→ relational specificationἔνεδρον: 'ambush / lying in wait'; its explicit negation (οὐκ ἐξ ἐνέδρου) completes the cancellation of the murder-criteria of v. 20.
23
ἢ παντὶ λίθῳ ἐν ᾧ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ εἰδώς καὶ ἐπιπέσῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν καὶ ἀποθάνῃ αὐτὸς δὲ οὐκ ἐχθρὸς αὐτοῦ ἦν οὐδὲ ζητῶν κακοποιῆσαι αὐτόν
or with any stone by which one might die, not knowing it, and it falls upon him and he dies, but he was not his enemy nor seeking to do him harm,
v. 23 completes the manslaughter-protasis with the falling stone — but now οὐκ εἰδώς ('without knowing / unawares'). The closing clause makes the heart-criterion explicit and decisive: αὐτὸς δὲ οὐκ ἐχθρὸς αὐτοῦ ἦν οὐδὲ ζητῶν κακοποιῆσαι ('he was not his enemy nor seeking to harm him'). Absence of enmity and intent is the legal essence of ἀκουσίως manslaughter.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (further accidental mode)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; adds the falling-stone case to v. 22.
παντὶanyDativeattributive adjective (modifying λίθῳ)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'any'; παντὶ λίθῳ, 'with any stone,' parallel to the lethal stone of v. 17 — but here the death is accidental.
λίθῳa stoneDativedative of instrument ('with a stone')→ sphere or referenceλίθος: 'stone'; the same lethal-capacity stone as v. 17, but falling unintentionally.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental, in relative clause)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: instrumental 'by'; ἐν ᾧ … ἐν αὐτῷ, the Hebraizing resumptive relative (cf. v. 17).
ᾧwhichDativerelative pronoun (instrumental, antecedent λίθῳ)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun; 'by which one might die' — the stone is objectively lethal, yet the killing is unintended.
ἀποθανεῖταιone might dieFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of relative clause (lethal capacity)→ potential/gnomic future (capacity to kill)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; marks the stone's death-dealing capacity — the same stone that, thrown in malice (v. 17), would be murder.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (resumptive, Hebraizing)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: resumptive instrumental ('by it').
αὐτῷitDativeresumptive pronoun (= the stone)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'it'; resumes the stone.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating the participle εἰδώς)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (before vowel οὐκ): 'not'; οὐκ εἰδώς, 'not knowing / unawares' — the cognitive marker of accident.
εἰδώςknowingPerf Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · οἶδαcircumstantial participle (negated: 'not knowing / unaware')→ stative perfect participle (a state of unawareness)οἶδα (ptc. εἰδώς): 'know'; the perfect-with-present-force participle, negated, describes the slayer as unaware — he neither saw nor intended the lethal fall; οὐκ εἰδώς renders בְּלֹא רְאוֹת / without seeing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιπέσῃit falls uponAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐπιπίπτωverb of conditional protasis (the accidental fall)→ aorist subjunctive (the unintended falling)ἐπιπίπτω: 'fall upon'; from ἐπί + πίπτω; renders נָפַל; the stone falls of itself upon the victim — an accident, not a hurling; the intransitive falling contrasts pointedly with the deliberate ἐπιρρίπτω ('hurl') of v. 20.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (direction of fall)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'upon'; the stone falls upon the victim.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπ᾿→ participant referenceαὐτός: the victim on whom the stone falls.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποθάνῃhe diesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of conditional protasis (the death)→ aorist subjunctive (the death as outcome)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the death results, but without intent.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativesubject (emphatic: 'he himself', the slayer)→ participant prominenceαὐτός: emphatic 'he himself'; introduces the exculpatory heart-clause about the slayer's disposition.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive: the exculpatory turn)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; introduces the decisive exoneration — no enmity, no intent.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἐχθρός)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (before vowel οὐκ): 'not'; οὐκ ἐχθρὸς ἦν, 'he was not an enemy.'
ἐχθρὸςan enemyNominativepredicate nominative (with ἦν: 'was not his enemy')→ participant prominenceἐχθρός: 'enemy / hostile'; cognate with ἔχθρα (vv. 20, 22); the slayer's lack of prior hostility toward the victim is the legal ground for refuge rather than execution.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (with ἐχθρός: 'enemy of him')→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the victim toward whom no enmity was held.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (imperfect: prior state of the slayer)→ stative imperfect (a settled prior condition)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'was'; the imperfect describes the slayer's prior, settled disposition — he had borne no enmity, establishing the killing as accidental.
οὐδὲnornegative conjunction (adding a second exculpation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'nor / and not'; adds the second exonerating fact — no intent to harm.
ζητῶνseekingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ζητέωsupplementary participle (with ἦν: 'nor was seeking')→ imperfective participle (ongoing intent, here denied)ζητέω: 'seek / try / aim at'; the participle ζητῶν (with ἦν understood) forms a periphrastic imperfect — 'nor was he seeking'; the absence of any quest to harm seals the verdict of inadvertence.
κακοποιῆσαιto do harmAor Act Inf · κακοποιέωcomplementary infinitive (object of ζητῶν: 'seeking to harm')→ aoristic infinitive (the intended harm, denied)κακοποιέω: 'do evil / injure / harm'; from κακός + ποιέω; renders הֵרַע; the infinitive completes ζητῶν — the slayer was not seeking to do the victim harm; intent to injure is precisely what is absent.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object of κακοποιῆσαι ('to harm him')→ participant referenceαὐτός: the victim, whom the slayer had no wish to harm.
24
καὶ κρινεῖ ἡ συναγωγὴ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ πατάξαντος καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα κατὰ τὰ κρίματα ταῦτα
then the congregation shall judge between the one who struck and the avenger of blood, according to these ordinances;
v. 24 supplies the apodosis to the manslaughter-protasis (vv. 22–23): the συναγωγή ('congregation') judges ἀνὰ μέσον … ἀνὰ μέσον ('between … and between') the slayer and the blood-avenger, applying κατὰ τὰ κρίματα ταῦτα ('according to these ordinances') — the very criteria of intent laid out in vv. 16–23. Due process, not private vengeance, decides the slayer's fate.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶand / thennarrative conjunction (apodosis marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: 'and / then'; introduces the apodosis — the congregation's adjudication.
κρινεῖshall judgeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb (the act of adjudication)→ imperatival/legal future (binding judicial duty)κρίνω: 'judge / decide / adjudicate'; renders שָׁפַט; the congregation's judicial function — to weigh the evidence of intent and rule between the parties.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubject of κρινεῖ (the judging body)→ participant prominenceσυναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; renders עֵדָה; the community as a judicial body, alone competent to determine murder vs. manslaughter (cf. v. 12).
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')→ spatial or relational framingἀνά: in the idiom ἀνὰ μέσον … καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον ('between … and between'), a Hebraism rendering בֵּין … וּבֵין; the doubled construction expresses adjudication between two parties.
μέσονthe midstAccusativeaccusative (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle'; the accusative μέσον forms the prepositional idiom 'between.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατάξαντοςthe one who struckAor Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · πατάσσωsubstantivized participle (first party of the dispute)→ aoristic participle (the one who delivered the blow)πατάσσω: ὁ πατάξας ('the one who struck'), here the accidental slayer awaiting judgment — the first party between whom the congregation rules.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (in the ἀνὰ μέσον idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (second member of ἀνὰ μέσον idiom)→ spatial or relational framingἀνά: the second ἀνὰ μέσον completes the 'between … and between' construction.
μέσονthe midstAccusativeaccusative (in idiom ἀνὰ μέσον)→ object specificationμέσος: forms the second member of the 'between' idiom.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγχιστεύοντοςthe avenger of bloodPres Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantivized participle (second party of the dispute)→ imperfective participle (the blood-redeemer)ἀγχιστεύω: ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα, the avenger of blood (cf. vv. 19, 21), the second party — his right to vengeance is now subject to the congregation's verdict.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativeaccusative object of the participle ('avenging the blood')→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; the shed blood the kinsman seeks to avenge.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard of judgment)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; the judgment proceeds by the fixed criteria just enumerated.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κρίματαordinances / judgmentsAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (standard of judgment)→ object specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / ordinance / legal ruling'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; τὰ κρίματα ταῦτα ('these ordinances') are the intent-criteria of vv. 16–23 by which the congregation must decide.
ταῦταtheseAccusativedemonstrative (modifying κρίματα: 'these')→ object specificationοὗτος: 'these'; pointing back to the whole body of criteria just given.
25
καὶ ἐξελεῖται ἡ συναγωγὴ τὸν φονεύσαντα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀγχιστεύοντος τὸ αἷμα καὶ ἀποκαταστήσουσιν αὐτὸν ἡ συναγωγὴ εἰς τὴν πόλιν τοῦ φυγαδευτηρίου αὐτοῦ οὗ κατέφυγεν καὶ κατοικήσει ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας ὃν ἔχρισαν αὐτὸν τῷ ἐλαίῳ τῷ ἁγίῳ
and the congregation shall rescue the slayer from the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge where he had fled, and he shall dwell there until the death of the high priest whom they anointed with the holy oil.
v. 25 gives the manslaughter-verdict: the congregation ἐξελεῖται ('rescues / delivers') the slayer from the avenger and ἀποκαταστήσουσιν ('restores') him to his refuge-city, where he must dwell ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας ('until the death of the high priest'). The high priest's death functions as a kind of expiation that releases the manslayer — a striking typological link to atonement through a death (cf. Heb 9:15–17).
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξελεῖταιshall rescue / deliverFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαιρέωmain verb (the congregation's act of deliverance)→ imperatival/legal future (binding duty to rescue)ἐξαιρέω (mid. ἐξαιρέομαι): 'take out / rescue / deliver'; renders הִצִּיל; the middle voice 'rescue for oneself / deliver'; the congregation extracts the manslayer from the avenger's reach — judicial protection of the innocent.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubject of ἐξελεῖται→ participant prominenceσυναγωγή: 'congregation'; the judicial assembly acting to deliver the slayer.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσανταthe slayerAor Act Ptc Acc Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (direct object of ἐξελεῖται)→ aoristic participle (the one who has killed)φονεύω: ὁ φονεύσας ('the one who has killed'), here the manslayer judged inadvertent and so to be rescued, not executed.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the avenger')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; deliverance away from the avenger.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγχιστεύοντοςthe avenger of bloodPres Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantivized participle (genitive with ἀπό)→ imperfective participle (the blood-redeemer)ἀγχιστεύω: the avenger of blood from whom the manslayer is delivered.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativeaccusative object of the participle ('avenging the blood')→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; the blood the kinsman would avenge.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαταστήσουσινshall restoreFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκαθίστημιmain verb (the restoration, plural by sense of συναγωγή)→ imperatival/legal future (binding duty to restore)ἀποκαθίστημι: 'restore / put back / re-establish'; from ἀπό + κατά + ἵστημι; renders הֵשִׁיב; the congregation returns the manslayer to his refuge-city; the plural verb construes συναγωγή ad sensum (as the many who compose it).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαταστήσουσιν→ participant referenceαὐτός: the manslayer restored.
ἡtheNominativearticle (resumptive subject)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubject (resumed in apposition to the plural verb)→ participant prominenceσυναγωγή: the subject restated, clarifying that it is the congregation (acting as a body) that restores him.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of restoration)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'to / into'; the destination of the restoration — his refuge-city.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the refuge-city)→ object specificationπόλις: the refuge-city to which he is returned.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυγαδευτηρίουof refugeGenitivegenitive of definition ('city of his refuge')→ relational specificationφυγαδευτήριον: 'place of refuge'; ἡ πόλις τοῦ φυγαδευτηρίου αὐτοῦ, 'his city of refuge,' the chapter's signature term.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying φυγαδευτηρίου)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the particular refuge-city to which he had fled.
οὗwhererelative adverb of place ('where he fled')→ participant referenceοὗ: 'where'; the relative adverb of place; renders the locative — the city to which he had earlier fled.
κατέφυγενhe fled for refugeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταφεύγωverb of relative clause (his earlier flight)→ constative aorist (the completed act of fleeing)καταφεύγω: 'flee for refuge / take asylum'; the intensive compound (κατά + φεύγω); renders נָס; the same verb stem underlies Heb 6:18 (οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς … ἐλπίδος, 'we who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope'), where the refuge-city becomes an image of the believer's flight to Christ.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατοικήσειhe shall dwellFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κατοικέωmain verb (the manslayer's enforced residence)→ imperatival/legal future (binding residence)κατοικέω: 'dwell / reside'; the manslayer is bound to remain within the refuge-city; departure forfeits his protection (vv. 26–27).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (the refuge-city)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; within the refuge-city.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; marks the term of the manslayer's confinement — the death of the high priest.
ἂν(ever)modal particle (with ἕως + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the indefinite temporal clause.
ἀποθάνῃdiesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of indefinite temporal clause ('until he dies')→ aorist subjunctive (the high priest's death as term)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the high priest's death is the appointed terminus releasing the manslayer — his death, as the anointed mediator's, has quasi-expiatory force.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of ἀποθάνῃ ('the high priest')→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; with ὁ μέγας = 'the high priest' (ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας renders הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל); his anointed person represents the whole people before God.
ὁtheNominativearticle (attributive, with μέγας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέγαςgreat / highNominativeattributive adjective ('the high [priest]')→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας is the LXX idiom for the high priest; the greatness is one of office and anointing, not mere age.
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔχρισαν, antecedent ἱερεύς)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, masculine accusative agreeing with ἱερεύς.
ἔχρισανthey anointedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · χρίωverb of relative clause (the high priest's anointing)→ constative aorist (the completed consecration)χρίω: 'anoint'; renders מָשַׁח; the verb from which Χριστός ('Anointed One') derives; the high priest's consecration with holy oil makes his death uniquely significant — the anointed mediator's death liberates the manslayer.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeresumptive pronoun (pleonastic with ὅν, Hebraizing)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the resumptive αὐτόν (after the relative ὅν) is a Hebraizing pleonasm rendering the Hebrew resumptive suffix (אֲשֶׁר … אֹתוֹ).
τῷtheDativearticle (with ἐλαίῳ, instrumental)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλαίῳoilDativedative of instrument ('with oil')→ sphere or referenceἔλαιον: 'olive oil'; renders שֶׁמֶן; the holy anointing oil of consecration (Exod 30:25).
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive, with ἁγίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁγίῳholyDativeattributive adjective ('the holy oil')→ sphere or referenceἅγιος: 'holy / consecrated'; renders קֹדֶשׁ; the consecrated oil setting the high priest apart for his mediatorial office.
26
ἐὰν δὲ ἐξόδῳ ἐξέλθῃ ὁ φονεύσας τὰ ὅρια τῆς πόλεως εἰς ἣν κατέφυγεν ἐκεῖ
But if the slayer should go out beyond the borders of the city to which he had fled,
v. 26 sets the condition (apodosis in v. 27): should the manslayer leave the borders of his refuge-city before the high priest's death, he forfeits its protection. The cognate construction ἐξόδῳ ἐξέλθῃ ('go out with a going-out') is a Hebraism stressing the deliberate act of departure.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the condition of leaving the refuge.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: 'but'; the contrastive turn — what if he ventures out.
ἐξόδῳwith a going-outDativecognate dative (Hebraism, intensifying ἐξέλθῃ)→ sphere or referenceἔξοδος: 'a going-out / departure'; the cognate dative ἐξόδῳ ἐξέλθῃ renders the Hebrew infinitive absolute יָצֹא יֵצֵא ('if he indeed goes out'), stressing the reality of the departure.
ἐξέλθῃshould go outAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιverb of conditional protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical departure)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / depart'; with the cognate ἐξόδῳ forms an emphatic 'if he actually goes out'; leaving the city's bounds removes the legal shield.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσαςslayerAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (subject of ἐξέλθῃ)→ aoristic participle (the one who has killed)φονεύω: ὁ φονεύσας, the manslayer confined to the refuge-city.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαbordersAccusativeaccusative of extent / object ('beyond the borders')→ object specificationὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'boundary / border / territory'; renders גְּבוּל; the legal limit of the refuge — protection holds only within the city's bounds.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship (the city's borders)→ relational specificationπόλις: the refuge-city whose borders bound the manslayer.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (in relative clause: 'to which')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'to / into'; the city to which he had fled.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἰς, antecedent πόλεως)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, feminine accusative agreeing with πόλεως.
κατέφυγενhe had fled for refugeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταφεύγωverb of relative clause (his earlier flight)→ constative aorist (the completed flight)καταφεύγω: 'flee for refuge'; the manslayer's original act of seeking asylum (cf. v. 25; Heb 6:18).
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive, Hebraizing: 'thither')→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive ἐκεῖ ('to there') after the relative ἣν is a Hebraism (אֲשֶׁר … שָׁמָּה).
27
καὶ εὕρῃ αὐτὸν ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα ἔξω τῶν ὁρίων τῆς πόλεως καταφυγῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ φονεύσῃ ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα τὸν φονεύσαντα οὐκ ἔνοχός ἐστιν
and the avenger of blood finds him outside the borders of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer, he is not guilty;
v. 27 completes vv. 26–27: outside the refuge-city's borders the manslayer loses his protection; if the avenger finds and kills him there, οὐκ ἔνοχός ἐστιν ('he is not guilty [of blood]'). The slayer's safety is strictly territorial — the refuge holds only within the city, underscoring both the seriousness of bloodshed and the avenger's residual right.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὕρῃfindsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωverb of conditional protasis (the avenger's finding him)→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical encounter)εὑρίσκω: 'find / come upon'; renders מָצָא; the avenger's chance discovery of the manslayer beyond the refuge-bounds.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of εὕρῃ (the manslayer)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the manslayer found outside the city.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγχιστεύωνthe avenger of bloodPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantivized participle (subject of εὕρῃ)→ imperfective participle (the blood-redeemer)ἀγχιστεύω: ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τὸ αἷμα, the avenger of blood (cf. vv. 19, 21, 24).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativeaccusative object of the participle ('avenging the blood')→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; the shed blood avenged.
ἔξωoutsideadverb / improper preposition + genitive ('outside the borders')→ spatial or relational framingἔξω: 'outside'; with the genitive τῶν ὁρίων — beyond the refuge-city's limits, where protection lapses.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁρίωνbordersGenitivegenitive with ἔξω ('outside the borders')→ relational specificationὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'borders'; the territorial limit of the refuge; beyond it the manslayer is unprotected.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive of relationship→ relational specificationπόλις: the refuge-city.
καταφυγῆςof refugeGenitivegenitive of definition ('city of his refuge')→ relational specificationκαταφυγή: 'refuge / place of escape'; from καταφεύγω; renders מִקְלָט; ἡ πόλις καταφυγῆς αὐτοῦ, 'his city of refuge,' synonymous with πόλις τοῦ φυγαδευτηρίου (v. 25); the abstract noun καταφυγή underlies the NT image of God/Christ as 'refuge' (cf. Heb 6:18).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying καταφυγῆς)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the manslayer's own refuge-city.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φονεύσῃkillsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · φονεύωverb of conditional protasis (the avenger's killing)→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical slaying)φονεύω: 'kill / slay'; here the avenger's killing of the manslayer outside the refuge — lawful, hence not reckoned as bloodshed.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγχιστεύωνthe avenger of bloodPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantivized participle (subject of φονεύσῃ, repeated)→ imperfective participle (the blood-redeemer)ἀγχιστεύω: the avenger repeated as subject for legal precision — it is specifically he who kills.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἷμαbloodAccusativeaccusative object of the participle→ object specificationαἷμα: 'blood'; the blood avenged.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσανταthe slayerAor Act Ptc Acc Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (direct object of φονεύσῃ)→ aoristic participle (the one who had killed)φονεύω: τὸν φονεύσαντα, the manslayer who ventured outside the refuge.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἔνοχος)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (before vowel οὐκ): 'not'; οὐκ ἔνοχος, 'not guilty.'
ἔνοχόςguilty / liableNominativepredicate adjective (with ἐστιν: 'is not liable')→ participant prominenceἔνοχος: 'liable / guilty / subject to (a charge)'; from ἐνέχω; renders the idiom of bloodguilt (אֵין לוֹ דָּם, 'no blood[guilt] is upon him'); the avenger incurs no liability for slaying the manslayer found outside his refuge.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (verdict-statement: 'he is not guilty')→ declarative present (legal pronouncement)εἰμί: 'is'; the legal declaration of the avenger's non-liability.
28
ἐν γὰρ τῇ πόλει τῆς καταφυγῆς κατοικείτω ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας καὶ μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν ἱερέα τὸν μέγαν ἐπαναστραφήσεται ὁ φονεύσας εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς κατασχέσεως αὐτοῦ
for he must dwell in the city of refuge until the high priest dies, and after the high priest has died the slayer shall return to the land of his possession.
v. 28 gives the rationale (γάρ) for v. 27's ruling: the manslayer is bound to dwell in the refuge-city until the high priest dies, and only μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν ἱερέα τὸν μέγαν ('after the high priest's death') may he return to his own land. The high priest's death thus marks both the limit of confinement and the restoration of full liberty — a death that releases (cf. Heb 9:15).
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'in'; the manslayer's confinement is within the refuge-city.
γὰρforcausal particle (post-positive: explaining v. 27)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the rationale for the slayer's loss of protection outside the city — he was duty-bound to remain inside.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (locative: 'in the city')→ sphere or referenceπόλις: the refuge-city, the manslayer's appointed dwelling.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταφυγῆςof refugeGenitivegenitive of definition ('city of refuge')→ relational specificationκαταφυγή: 'refuge'; ἡ πόλις τῆς καταφυγῆς, 'the city of refuge' (cf. v. 27).
κατοικείτωlet him dwellPres Act Impv 3 Sg · κατοικέωmain verb (third-person imperative: binding residence)→ imperatival present (continuous obligatory residence)κατοικέω: 'dwell'; the third-person imperative κατοικείτω commands the manslayer's continuous residence within the refuge — he must stay put.
ἕωςuntiltemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; the term of confinement — the high priest's death.
ἂν(ever)modal particle (with ἕως + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the indefinite temporal clause.
ἀποθάνῃdiesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of indefinite temporal clause ('until he dies')→ aorist subjunctive (the high priest's death as term)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the death of the high priest is the appointed release-point (cf. v. 25).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of ἀποθάνῃ→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; with ὁ μέγας, 'the high priest.'
ὁtheNominativearticle (attributive, with μέγας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέγαςgreat / highNominativeattributive adjective ('the high [priest]')→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, the high priest.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative articular infinitive (temporal: 'after the dying')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: 'after'; with the articular infinitive τὸ ἀποθανεῖν forms the temporal 'after the death of...'
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with the infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποθανεῖνto die / the deathAor Act Inf · ἀποθνῄσκωarticular infinitive (temporal: 'after the high priest's dying')→ aoristic infinitive (the completed death as a point in time)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the articular infinitive μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν ('after the dying') marks the high priest's death as the temporal boundary of the manslayer's confinement.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (accusative subject of the infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέαpriestAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ('the high priest to die')→ object specificationἱερεύς (acc. ἱερέα): 'priest'; the accusative subject of the articular infinitive — 'after the high priest dies.'
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (attributive, with μέγαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέγανgreat / highAccusativeattributive adjective ('the high [priest]')→ object specificationμέγας (acc. μέγαν): 'great'; with ἱερέα, the high priest.
ἐπαναστραφήσεταιshall returnFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐπαναστρέφωmain verb (the manslayer's restoration to his land)→ predictive/permissive future (granted return)ἐπαναστρέφω: 'turn back again / return'; the double compound ἐπ-ανα- intensifies the idea of full return; renders שׁוּב; after the high priest's death the manslayer regains the right to return to his own inheritance.
ὁtheNominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσαςslayerAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (subject of ἐπαναστραφήσεται)→ aoristic participle (the one who had killed)φονεύω: ὁ φονεύσας, the manslayer now free to return home.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of return)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'to / into'; the destination of the return — his own land.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land'; the manslayer's own landholding to which he returns.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατασχέσεωςpossessionGenitivegenitive of definition ('land of his possession')→ relational specificationκατάσχεσις: 'possession / holding'; renders אֲחֻזָּה; the manslayer's own family inheritance, restored to him after the high priest's death (cf. vv. 2, 8).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying κατασχέσεως)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the slayer's own possession.
29
καὶ ἔσται ταῦτα ὑμῖν εἰς δικαίωμα κρίματος εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν ἐν πάσαις ταῖς κατοικίαις ὑμῶν
And these things shall be for you a statute of judgment throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
v. 29 closes the manslaughter-legislation with the perpetuity-formula: these rulings are a δικαίωμα κρίματος ('statute of judgment') εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν ('throughout your generations') in all Israel's settlements — binding everywhere and always, not a local or temporary provision.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (predicate of perpetuity)→ predictive/legal future (enduring statute)εἰμί (fut.): 'shall be'; the singular ἔσται stands with the neuter plural ταῦτα by Greek concord.
ταῦταthese thingsNominativesubject (neuter plural: the foregoing ordinances)→ participant prominenceοὗτος: 'these'; the whole body of homicide-rulings just given.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl.): Israel as the recipient of the perpetual statute.
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (predicative purpose: 'as a statute')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'for / as'; the Hebraizing εἰς of predication (לְ) — 'shall serve as a statute.'
δικαίωμαstatute / ordinanceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (predicate: 'a statute')→ object specificationδικαίωμα: 'ordinance / statute / legal requirement'; from δικαιόω; renders חֻקָּה / מִשְׁפָּט; a binding legal decree; δικαίωμα κρίματος = 'an ordinance of judgment,' a fixed rule for adjudicating homicide.
κρίματοςof judgmentGenitivegenitive of definition (modifying δικαίωμα)→ relational specificationκρίμα: 'judgment / legal decision'; the statute concerns the judicial handling of bloodshed.
εἰςthroughout / forpreposition + accusative (temporal extent: 'throughout your generations')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'unto / throughout'; temporal extension — the law endures across all future generations.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενεὰςgenerationsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (temporal extent)→ object specificationγενεά: 'generation'; renders דּוֹר; εἰς τὰς γενεὰς ὑμῶν ('throughout your generations') is the standard LXX perpetuity-formula for enduring statutes.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying γενεάς)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'your'; Israel's successive generations.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in all your dwellings')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'in'; the spatial extension — the law binds in every place Israel dwells.
πάσαιςallDativeattributive adjective (modifying κατοικίαις)→ sphere or referenceπᾶς: 'all'; the statute applies in every Israelite settlement without exception.
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικίαιςdwellings / settlementsDativedative of place (locative: 'in your dwellings')→ sphere or referenceκατοικία: 'dwelling-place / settlement / habitation'; from κατοικέω; renders מוֹשָׁב; everywhere Israel settles, this homicide-law is in force.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying κατοικίαις)→ relational specificationσύ (gen. pl.): 'your'; Israel's dwellings.
30
πᾶς πατάξας ψυχήν διὰ μαρτύρων φονεύσεις τὸν φονεύσαντα καὶ μάρτυς εἷς οὐ μαρτυρήσει ἐπὶ ψυχὴν ἀποθανεῖν
Everyone who strikes a soul—by witnesses you shall kill the murderer; but one witness shall not testify against a soul that he should die.
v. 30 lays down the rule of evidence: a murderer is executed only διὰ μαρτύρων ('by [the testimony of] witnesses', plural), and a single witness (μάρτυς εἷς) may not secure a capital conviction. This is the foundational two-or-three-witnesses principle (Deut 17:6; 19:15), echoed in the NT at Matt 18:16; 2 Cor 13:1; 1 Tim 5:19; Heb 10:28.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
πᾶςeveryoneNominativenominative (casus pendens: 'as for everyone who...')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every / everyone'; the pendent nominative πᾶς πατάξας ψυχήν ('everyone who strikes a soul') sets the topic, resumed by τὸν φονεύσαντα — a Hebraizing nominativus pendens.
πατάξαςwho strikesAor Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · πατάσσωsubstantivized participle (with πᾶς: 'everyone who has struck')→ aoristic participle (the one who has killed)πατάσσω: ὁ πατάξας ψυχήν, the one who has killed a person; the topic of the evidentiary rule.
ψυχήνa soul / personAccusativedirect object of πατάξας→ object specificationψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; the human victim of the killing.
διὰby / throughpreposition + genitive (means: 'by witnesses')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: 'through / by means of'; διὰ μαρτύρων ('by witnesses', plural) marks the evidentiary requirement — conviction rests on multiple testimonies.
μαρτύρωνwitnessesGenitivegenitive object of διά (means)→ relational specificationμάρτυς: 'witness'; renders עֵד; the plural μαρτύρων requires more than one witness for a capital case — the cornerstone of biblical due process (Deut 17:6; 19:15; cf. 2 Cor 13:1, ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων).
φονεύσειςyou shall kill / executeFut Act Indic 2 Sg · φονεύωmain verb (the lawful execution of the murderer)→ imperatival future (mandated execution)φονεύω: 'kill / put to death'; here the lawful judicial execution of the murderer — the same verb that elsewhere denotes culpable killing, used now of sanctioned capital punishment carried out only on adequate testimony.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσανταthe murdererAor Act Ptc Acc Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (direct object of φονεύσεις)→ aoristic participle (the one who has murdered)φονεύω: τὸν φονεύσαντα, the convicted murderer, to be executed on the testimony of witnesses.
καὶand / butcoordinate conjunction (adversative nuance)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: 'and / but'; introduces the negative corollary — a single witness does not suffice.
μάρτυςwitnessNominativesubject of μαρτυρήσει ('one witness')→ participant prominenceμάρτυς: 'witness'; here singular, the insufficient lone witness.
εἷςoneNominativeattributive numeral (modifying μάρτυς: 'one witness')→ measure or countεἷς: 'one'; μάρτυς εἷς ('a single witness') is, by law, insufficient for a death-sentence — the antithesis of the required μαρτύρων (plural).
οὐnotnegative particle (prohibitive: with future indicative)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; with the future μαρτυρήσει expresses a legal prohibition — a single witness shall not testify to capital effect.
μαρτυρήσειshall testifyFut Act Indic 3 Sg · μαρτυρέωmain verb (prohibition: 'shall not testify')→ prohibitive future (legal disqualification)μαρτυρέω: 'bear witness / testify'; from μάρτυς; the prohibitive future ('shall not testify [unto death]') disqualifies single testimony in capital cases — life may not be taken on one voice alone.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile: 'against a soul')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + acc.: 'against'; ἐπὶ ψυχήν ('against a person') marks the testimony as directed to taking a life.
ψυχὴνa soul / personAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('against a soul')→ object specificationψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; here the accused whose life is at stake.
ἀποθανεῖνto dieAor Act Inf · ἀποθνῄσκωinfinitive of result/purpose ('so as to die')→ aoristic infinitive (the intended capital outcome)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the infinitive ἀποθανεῖν expresses the lethal consequence the single witness's testimony cannot bring about — no one dies on one witness.
31
καὶ οὐ λήμψεσθε λύτρα περὶ ψυχῆς παρὰ τοῦ φονεύσαντος τοῦ ἐνόχου ὄντος ἀναιρεθῆναι θανάτῳ γὰρ θανατωθήσεται
And you shall not take a ransom for the life of a murderer who is liable to be put to death, for he shall surely be put to death.
v. 31 forbids commuting a murderer's death-sentence by payment: no λύτρα ('ransom') may be taken for the life of one liable to death. Blood-guilt cannot be bought off; the murderer θανάτῳ θανατωθήσεται ('shall surely be put to death'). This absolute non-negotiability of capital murder distinguishes Israel's law from surrounding codes that allowed monetary composition.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (prohibitive: with future indicative)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; with the future λήμψεσθε expresses an absolute legal prohibition.
λήμψεσθεyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not take')→ prohibitive future (binding ban)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; the prohibitive future οὐ λήμψεσθε ('you shall not accept') forbids receiving a ransom-payment to spare the murderer.
λύτραransomAccusativedirect object of λήμψεσθε→ object specificationλύτρον (pl. λύτρα): 'ransom / price of release'; from λύω; renders כֹּפֶר ('ransom-price'); the same word-group as λύτρωσις / ἀπολύτρωσις ('redemption') in the NT (cf. Mark 10:45, λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν) — here the bought-off life that is forbidden for a murderer but freely given in Christ.
περὶforpreposition + genitive (concerning: 'for a life')→ spatial or relational framingπερί + gen.: 'concerning / for'; περὶ ψυχῆς, 'for a life' — the ransom would be in exchange for the murderer's life.
ψυχῆςa life / soulGenitivegenitive object of περί ('for a life')→ relational specificationψυχή: 'soul / life'; the murderer's forfeit life, which may not be redeemed by money.
παρὰfrompreposition + genitive (source: 'from the murderer')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + gen.: 'from'; the ransom would come from the murderer (or his kin).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φονεύσαντοςmurdererAor Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · φονεύωsubstantivized participle (genitive with παρά)→ aoristic participle (the one who has murdered)φονεύω: ὁ φονεύσας, the convicted murderer from whom no ransom is acceptable.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἐνόχου, attributive to φονεύσαντος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνόχουliable / guiltyGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying φονεύσαντος: 'who is liable')→ relational specificationἔνοχος: 'liable / guilty / subject to'; renders the bloodguilt-idiom; the murderer is ἔνοχος ('liable') to the death-penalty, hence ineligible for ransom.
ὄντοςbeingPres Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · εἰμίcircumstantial participle (causal: 'since he is liable')→ imperfective participle (his standing liability)εἰμί (ptc. ὄντος): 'being'; the genitive participle (ἐνόχου ὄντος, 'being liable') gives the ground — because he is under sentence of death, his life cannot be ransomed.
ἀναιρεθῆναιto be put to deathAor Pass Inf · ἀναιρέωcomplementary infinitive (defining ἐνόχου: 'liable to be executed')→ aoristic passive infinitive (the deserved execution)ἀναιρέω: 'take away / kill / execute'; from ἀνά + αἱρέω; renders הוּמַת; the passive infinitive ἀναιρεθῆναι ('to be put to death') specifies the liability — the murderer is deserving of execution.
θανάτῳwith deathDativecognate dative (Hebraism, with θανατωθήσεται)→ sphere or referenceθάνατος: cognate dative intensifying the verb — 'he shall surely be put to death' (= מוֹת יוּמָת).
γὰρforcausal particle (post-positive: giving the reason)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; grounds the prohibition — the murderer's death is mandatory, so no ransom can avert it.
θανατωθήσεταιhe shall be put to deathFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · θανατόωmain verb (the certain execution)→ predictive/legal future (mandatory execution)θανατόω: 'put to death'; the future passive with cognate θανάτῳ renders the emphatic מוֹת יוּמָת — the murderer shall certainly be executed; his death is non-negotiable.
32
οὐ λήμψεσθε λύτρα τοῦ φυγεῖν εἰς πόλιν τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων τοῦ πάλιν κατοικεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἕως ἂν ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας
You shall not take a ransom for one who has fled to a city of refuge, that he should dwell again in the land before the high priest dies.
v. 32 extends the ransom-ban to the manslayer: no payment may purchase his early return home before the high priest's death. Just as a murderer cannot buy off execution (v. 31), a manslayer cannot buy off his term of confinement. The high priest's death alone — not money — releases him, reinforcing its expiatory significance (cf. v. 25).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
οὐnotnegative particle (prohibitive)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; with λήμψεσθε an absolute prohibition.
λήμψεσθεyou shall takeFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not take')→ prohibitive future (binding ban)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; the same prohibitive future as v. 31, now applied to the manslayer's confinement.
λύτραransomAccusativedirect object of λήμψεσθε→ object specificationλύτρον (pl. λύτρα): 'ransom'; here a payment to shorten the manslayer's term — equally forbidden (cf. v. 31).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with infinitive φυγεῖν, genitive of purpose/reference)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυγεῖνto flee / for the one who fledAor Act Inf · φεύγωarticular infinitive (genitive of reference: 'for fleeing')→ aoristic infinitive (the act of fleeing to refuge)φεύγω: 'flee / take refuge'; the genitive articular infinitive τοῦ φυγεῖν refers to the manslayer's flight — no ransom is to be taken in connection with his having fled to a refuge-city.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal of flight)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'to / into'; the refuge-city as destination.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the refuge-city)→ object specificationπόλις: the refuge-city to which the manslayer fled.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυγαδευτηρίωνof refugeGenitivegenitive of definition ('city of the refuges')→ relational specificationφυγαδευτήριον: 'place of refuge'; πόλις τῶν φυγαδευτηρίων, 'a city of refuge,' the chapter's signature term (cf. vv. 6, 11).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with infinitive κατοικεῖν, genitive of purpose)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πάλινagainadverb (with κατοικεῖν: 'to dwell again')→ adverbial qualificationπάλιν: 'again / back'; the ransom would aim at the manslayer's premature return to ordinary residence.
κατοικεῖνto dwellPres Act Inf · κατοικέωarticular infinitive (genitive of purpose: 'so as to dwell again')→ imperfective infinitive of purposeκατοικέω: 'dwell / reside'; the purpose the forbidden ransom would serve — to let the manslayer dwell again at large in the land before his term ends.
ἐπὶin / uponpreposition + genitive (locative: 'in the land')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'on / in'; ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, 'in the land' at large, outside the refuge-city.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (locative)→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; the land at large, normal residence forbidden to the manslayer until the high priest's death.
ἕωςuntil / beforetemporal conjunction (with ἄν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἕως: 'until'; here 'before' — the manslayer may not return before the high priest dies.
ἂν(ever)modal particle (with ἕως + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the indefinite temporal clause.
ἀποθάνῃdiesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb of indefinite temporal clause ('until he dies')→ aorist subjunctive (the high priest's death as term)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the high priest's death is the sole, non-purchasable release-point (cf. vv. 25, 28).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of ἀποθάνῃ→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; with ὁ μέγας, the high priest.
ὁtheNominativearticle (attributive, with μέγας)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μέγαςgreat / highNominativeattributive adjective ('the high [priest]')→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, the high priest whose death releases the manslayer.
33
καὶ οὐ μὴ φονοκτονήσητε τὴν γῆν εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς κατοικεῖτε τὸ γὰρ αἷμα τοῦτο φονοκτονεῖ τὴν γῆν καὶ οὐκ ἐξιλασθήσεται ἡ γῆ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχυθέντος ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχέοντος
And you shall not pollute with blood the land in which you dwell; for this blood pollutes the land, and the land cannot be atoned for the blood poured out upon it except by the blood of the one who pours it out.
v. 33 supplies the theological ground of the whole homicide-law: shed blood φονοκτονεῖ ('pollutes / commits murder upon') the land itself, and the land οὐκ ἐξιλασθήσεται ('cannot be atoned') for that blood except by the blood of its shedder. The rare verb φονοκτονέω (bracketing the verse, φονοκτονήσητε … φονοκτονεῖ) and the atonement-language ἐξιλάσκομαι make this the chapter's crux: innocent blood cries from the ground (Gen 4:10) and only the murderer's own blood expiates it — a stark backdrop to the 'better word' of the sprinkled blood at Heb 12:24.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή, emphatic prohibition)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή and the aorist subjunctive forms the emphatic prohibition οὐ μὴ φονοκτονήσητε ('you shall by no means pollute with blood').
μὴnotnegative particle (emphatic οὐ μή construction)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the doubled οὐ μή with subjunctive expresses strong prohibition.
φονοκτονήσητεyou shall pollute with blood / commit blood-murder uponAor Act Subj 2 Pl · φονοκτονέωverb of emphatic prohibition (οὐ μή + subjunctive)→ aorist subjunctive of emphatic negation (absolute ban)φονοκτονέω: 'to pollute with bloodshed / commit murder-defilement upon'; a rare compound (φόνος + κτείνω) used by the LXX to render חָנַף ('pollute / profane', here of the land defiled by blood); the verb brackets the verse (φονοκτονήσητε … φονοκτονεῖ), making blood-pollution of the land the central concept.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of φονοκτονήσητε→ object specificationγῆ: 'land'; renders אֶרֶץ; the land itself is the object polluted by bloodshed — the soil that 'opened its mouth' for Abel's blood (Gen 4:10–11).
εἰςin / intopreposition + accusative (in relative clause: 'into which')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: 'into / in'; with the relative ἣν, the land 'into which' Israel comes to dwell.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἰς, antecedent γῆν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, feminine accusative agreeing with γῆν.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic 2nd-person plural pronoun)→ participant referenceσύ (nom. pl. ὑμεῖς): the emphatic pronoun stresses that it is Israel itself who dwells in — and must not defile — this land.
κατοικεῖτεyou dwellPres Act Indic 2 Pl · κατοικέωverb of relative clause (Israel's habitation)→ customary present (ongoing residence)κατοικέω: 'dwell / inhabit'; the land Israel inhabits is the very land that bloodshed would pollute and that YHWH indwells (v. 34).
τὸtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γὰρforcausal particle (post-positive: giving the reason)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; grounds the prohibition — bloodshed actively defiles the land.
αἷμαbloodNominativesubject of φονοκτονεῖ→ participant prominenceαἷμα: 'blood'; renders דָּם; shed blood is here personified as an active polluting agent — it is blood itself that defiles the land.
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative (modifying αἷμα: 'this blood')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the blood of the slain in view.
φονοκτονεῖpollutes with bloodPres Act Indic 3 Sg · φονοκτονέωmain verb (the defiling power of blood)→ gnomic present (general principle: blood defiles)φονοκτονέω: 'pollute with bloodshed'; the gnomic present states the abiding principle — unrequited blood defiles the land; the verb echoes φονοκτονήσητε at the verse's head, framing the whole.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of φονοκτονεῖ→ object specificationγῆ: 'land'; the land defiled by the blood shed in it.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἐξιλασθήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (before vowel οὐκ): 'not'; the land cannot be atoned by any other means than the shedder's blood.
ἐξιλασθήσεταιshall be atonedFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐξιλάσκομαιmain verb (the impossibility of atonement except by blood)→ predictive future passive (denied apart from the shedder's blood)ἐξιλάσκομαι: 'make atonement / expiate / propitiate'; from ἐξ + ἱλάσκομαι; renders כִּפֶּר; the key cultic verb of Leviticus; here negated — the bloodguilt of the land cannot be expiated by sacrifice or payment, but only by the blood of the one who shed innocent blood; the lexeme underlies NT ἱλασμός / ἱλαστήριον (1 John 2:2; Rom 3:25).
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of ἐξιλασθήσεται→ participant prominenceγῆ: 'land'; the defiled land that awaits expiation.
ἀπὸfor / frompreposition + genitive (with ἐξιλάσκομαι: atoned 'for/from' the blood)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; with ἐξιλάσκομαι denotes that from which the land is cleansed — the shed blood.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἵματοςbloodGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the defiling blood)→ relational specificationαἷμα (gen. αἵματος): 'blood'; the innocent blood poured out, source of the land's defilement.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the participle ἐκχυθέντος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκχυθέντοςthat was poured outAor Pass Ptc Gen Sg Neut · ἐκχέωattributive participle (modifying αἵματος: 'blood that was shed')→ aoristic passive participle (the completed shedding)ἐκχέω: 'pour out / shed'; renders שָׁפַךְ (of bloodshed); the passive participle τοῦ ἐκχυθέντος describes the innocent blood already shed upon the land; the same verb describes the pouring out of Christ's blood (Matt 26:28).
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + genitive (location: 'upon it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'upon'; the blood shed upon the land's surface.
αὐτῆςitGenitivegenitive object of ἐπ᾿ (= the land)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'it'; the land upon which the blood was poured.
ἀλλ᾿but / exceptadversative conjunction (exceptive: 'but only')→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλά (before vowel ἀλλ᾿): 'but'; introduces the sole means of expiation — the blood of the one who shed it (the lex talionis applied to the land's defilement).
ἐπὶby / uponpreposition + genitive (means/condition: 'by the blood of the shedder')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: here 'by means of / upon the basis of'; the land is atoned only ἐπὶ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἐκχέοντος — on the basis of the shedder's own blood.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἵματοςbloodGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (the atoning blood of the shedder)→ relational specificationαἷμα (gen. αἵματος): 'blood'; the murderer's own blood, the only expiation for the land — 'whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed' (Gen 9:6).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the participle ἐκχέοντος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐκχέοντοςof the one who pours it outPres Act Ptc Gen Sg Masc · ἐκχέωsubstantivized participle (genitive: 'of the shedder')→ imperfective participle (the one who sheds the blood)ἐκχέω: 'pour out / shed'; ὁ ἐκχέων ('the one who sheds [blood]') is the murderer; the contrast τοῦ ἐκχυθέντος (passive: the blood shed) / τοῦ ἐκχέοντος (active: the shedder) crystallises the lex talionis — the shedder's blood for the shed blood.
34
καὶ οὐ μιανεῖτε τὴν γῆν ἐφ᾿ ἧς κατοικεῖτε ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς ἐφ᾿ ἧς ἐγὼ κατασκηνώσω ἐν ὑμῖν ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι κύριος κατασκηνῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ
And you shall not defile the land on which you dwell, on which I myself will encamp among you; for I am the LORD who encamps in the midst of the sons of Israel.
v. 34 climaxes the chapter and the book's central section with the supreme rationale: Israel must not μιαίνω ('defile') the land because YHWH himself κατασκηνῶν ('tabernacles / encamps') ἐν μέσῳ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ('in the midst of the sons of Israel'). The self-revelation ἐγὼ … εἰμι κύριος ('I am the LORD') seals it. The verb κατασκηνόω (cognate with σκηνή, the Tabernacle) anticipates John 1:14, ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν ('he dwelt/tabernacled among us'): the holiness of God's indwelling presence is what bloodshed offends.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (prohibitive: with future indicative)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: 'not'; with the future μιανεῖτε expresses an absolute prohibition.
μιανεῖτεyou shall defileFut Act Indic 2 Pl · μιαίνωmain verb (prohibition: 'you shall not defile')→ prohibitive future (binding ban)μιαίνω: 'defile / pollute / stain'; renders טִמֵּא; the cultic verb of ritual defilement — bloodshed renders the land ritually unclean and so incompatible with YHWH's holy presence.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of μιανεῖτε→ object specificationγῆ: 'land'; the land that must remain undefiled because God dwells in it.
ἐφ᾿onpreposition + genitive (in relative clause: 'on which')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (before rough breathing ἐφ᾿) + gen.: 'on / upon'; ἐφ᾿ ἧς κατοικεῖτε, 'on which you dwell.'
ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (with ἐφ᾿, antecedent γῆν)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, feminine genitive agreeing with γῆν.
κατοικεῖτεyou dwellPres Act Indic 2 Pl · κατοικέωverb of relative clause (Israel's habitation)→ customary present (ongoing residence)κατοικέω: 'dwell'; Israel's dwelling-place is also God's dwelling-place.
ἐπ᾿onpreposition + genitive (resumptive, Hebraizing: 'upon it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (before vowel ἐπ᾿) + gen.: 'on'; ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς ('upon it') resumptively repeats the relative — a Hebraism (אֲשֶׁר … עָלֶיהָ).
αὐτῆςitGenitiveresumptive pronoun (= the land)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'it'; resumes the land on which Israel dwells.
ἐφ᾿onpreposition + genitive (second relative clause: 'on which')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (before rough breathing ἐφ᾿) + gen.: 'on'; introduces the climactic relative clause — the land on which YHWH himself encamps.
ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (with ἐφ᾿, antecedent γῆν)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, feminine genitive agreeing with γῆν.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun: YHWH himself)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun stresses YHWH's own personal presence — it is God himself who encamps in the land.
κατασκηνώσωI will encamp / tabernacleFut Act Indic 1 Sg · κατασκηνόωverb of relative clause (YHWH's indwelling)→ predictive future (the promised divine indwelling)κατασκηνόω: 'pitch one's tent / encamp / dwell'; from κατά + σκηνή ('tent / tabernacle'); renders שָׁכַן (the root of שְׁכִינָה, the Shekinah); YHWH 'tabernacles' among his people; the verb anticipates John 1:14 (ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, 'he tabernacled among us') and Rev 21:3.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (location: 'among you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'in / among'; ἐν ὑμῖν, 'among you' — God's presence is in the midst of his people.
ὑμῖνyouDativedative object of ἐν ('among you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (dat. pl.): Israel, in whose midst YHWH dwells.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic, in the self-revelation formula)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun opens the self-identification formula ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ('I am the LORD'), the seal of divine authority recurrent in the Holiness legislation (cf. Lev 18–26).
γάρforcausal particle (post-positive: the ultimate ground)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; gives the supreme rationale for the whole law — God's holy indwelling presence.
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopula (self-identification: 'I am the LORD')→ declarative present (divine self-revelation)εἰμί: 'am'; ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος, the solemn self-revelation formula asserting YHWH's covenant identity and authority over the whole legislation.
κύριοςLORDNominativepredicate nominative (the divine name)→ participant prominenceκύριος: the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; in the formula ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος it carries the full covenantal weight of the divine self-naming (cf. Exod 6:2; Lev 19:2).
κατασκηνῶνwho encamps / tabernaclingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · κατασκηνόωattributive participle (modifying κύριος: 'the LORD who dwells')→ imperfective participle (continual divine indwelling)κατασκηνόω (pres. ptc.): 'tabernacling / dwelling'; the participle κατασκηνῶν predicates of YHWH the abiding act of dwelling among Israel — the holiness of this resident presence is the reason bloodshed must not defile the land.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location: 'in the midst')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: 'in'; ἐν μέσῳ, 'in the midst of.'
μέσῳthe midstDativedative of place (with ἐν: 'in the midst of')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ('in the midst of the sons of Israel') locates the divine presence at the very heart of the people.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (with μέσῳ: 'midst of the sons')→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the covenant people in whose midst YHWH dwells.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable national name)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; the people among whom the LORD tabernacles — the climactic word of the chapter.