1
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
The formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων is the standard LXX introduction to a fresh YHWH-commission, recurring at each new legislative unit of Numbers (cf. 5:5, 5:11; 6:1). The Hebraizing καί-parataxis with the redundant participle λέγων ('saying') renders the Hebrew לֵאמֹר, marking the transition into direct divine speech.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 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 Hebrew דִּבֶּר (Piel); the aorist ἐλάλησεν introduces the divine commission; the formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν is the structural backbone of Numbers, opening each new legal pericope.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject of the speech-formula marks this as unmediated YHWH-speech, the source of all the camp's purity legislation in this chapter.
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 (gen. Μωυσῆ, dat. Μωυσῇ, acc. Μωυσῆν); accusative here as the directional object of πρός.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ imperfective participle (manner of the speaking: the words that follow)λέγω: the participle λέγων is a Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר ('to say / saying'), the standard particle that opens quoted speech in the Hebrew Bible; redundant after ἐλάλησεν but retained as a calque throughout the LXX Pentateuch.
2
πρόσταξον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐξαποστειλάτωσαν ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς πάντα λεπρὸν καὶ πάντα γονορρυῆ καὶ πάντα ἀκάθαρτον ἐπὶ ψυχῇ
Charge the sons of Israel, and let them send out from the camp every leper, and everyone who has a discharge, and everyone unclean by reason of a dead person.
The aorist imperative πρόσταξον ('give a charge / command') frames the legislation as an authoritative ordinance. The threefold πάντα … πάντα … πάντα names the three categories of severe ritual impurity — the leprous, those with bodily discharges, and those defiled by contact with the dead — that disqualify a person from remaining within the holy camp.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
πρόσταξονcharge / commandAor Act Impv 2 Sg · προστάσσωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ ingressive aorist imperative (commissioned legislative act)προστάσσω: 'command / give orders / ordain'; renders צַו / דַּבֵּר; stronger than simple λέγω, it casts the instruction as a binding legal ordinance; the aorist imperative frames it as a single decisive charge to be transmitted to the people.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object of πρόσταξον (those charged)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people as a corporate body; dative as the recipients of the command.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; functions here as a genitive defining υἱοῖς ('the sons of Israel').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the command's content)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαποστειλάτωσανlet them send outAor Act Impv 3 Pl · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (third-person imperative: the people's required action)→ ingressive aorist imperative (the act of expulsion to be carried out)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / send out / expel'; the compound ἐξαπο- intensifies the dismissal, here rendering שָׁלַח (Piel); the third-person plural imperative directs the whole community to remove the unclean from the camp's holy space.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (separation: 'out of the camp')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (separation: 'out of the camp').
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with παρεμβολῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (point of separation)→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'encampment / camp / army-bivouac'; the standard LXX rendering of מַחֲנֶה; in Numbers it denotes the ordered wilderness camp arrayed around the tabernacle, a space rendered holy by the divine Presence at its centre, hence requiring purity.
πάνταeveryAccusativeadjective (distributive: 'every leper')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'every / all'; the masculine accusative πάντα modifies λεπρόν; the threefold anaphora πάντα … πάντα … πάντα stresses that no exception is allowed within any of the three impurity categories.
λεπρὸνleper / leprous personAccusativedirect object of ἐξαποστειλάτωσαν (first impurity category)→ object specificationλεπρός: 'leprous / a leper'; renders צָרוּעַ; the 'leprosy' (λέπρα) of Leviticus 13–14 covers a range of scaly skin and surface afflictions, not solely modern Hansen's disease; the leper is the paradigmatic bearer of contagious ritual impurity (cf. Lev 13:46, 'he shall dwell apart, outside the camp').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (linking impurity categories)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταeveryAccusativeadjective (distributive: 'everyone with a discharge')→ object specificationπάντα: meaning 'every'; it serves as adjective (distributive: 'everyone with a discharge').
γονορρυῆone with a dischargeAccusativedirect object (second impurity category)→ object specificationγονόρρυης: 'having a (genital/bodily) flux or discharge'; a compound of γονή ('seed') + ῥέω ('flow'); renders זָב; the second category of impurity in Leviticus 15, covering abnormal genital discharges; like leprosy, it conveys defiling impurity that must be quarantined from the camp.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάνταeveryAccusativeadjective (distributive: 'everyone unclean')→ object specificationπάντα: meaning 'every'; it serves as adjective (distributive: 'everyone unclean').
ἀκάθαρτονuncleanAccusativedirect object (third impurity category: corpse-defilement)→ object specificationἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean / impure'; renders טָמֵא; the third category, here specified by ἐπὶ ψυχῇ ('by reason of a soul/dead person'), is corpse-contamination — the most severe impurity, treated at length in Num 19; contact with the dead defiles for seven days and requires the water of purification.
ἐπὶby reason of / overpreposition + dative (cause/occasion: 'on account of a dead person')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dative: here causal/occasional, 'by reason of'; the idiom ἀκάθαρτος ἐπὶ ψυχῇ renders טָמֵא לָנֶפֶשׁ ('unclean by a person/corpse'), where נֶפֶשׁ stands by metonymy for a dead body (cf. Lev 21:11; Num 6:6; 9:6–10).
ψυχῇa dead person / soulDativedative object of ἐπί (the corpse causing defilement)→ sphere or referenceψυχή: 'soul / living being / person'; here, in the idiom ἐπὶ ψυχῇ, it renders נֶפֶשׁ in its metonymic sense of a dead body/corpse — the source of the most serious ritual impurity; the LXX preserves the Hebrew idiom literally, leaving 'soul' to mean 'corpse' by context.
3
ἀπὸ ἀρσενικοῦ ἕως θηλυκοῦ ἐξαποστείλατε ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ μιανοῦσιν τὰς παρεμβολὰς αὐτῶν ἐν οἷς ἐγὼ καταγίνομαι ἐν αὐτοῖς
From male to female, send them out, outside the camp; and they shall not defile their camps, among which I encamp.
The merism ἀπὸ ἀρσενικοῦ ἕως θηλυκοῦ ('from male to female') universalizes the expulsion across sex. The motive clause καὶ οὐ μὴ μιανοῦσιν ('they shall by no means defile') gives the theological ground: the camp is the dwelling-place where YHWH himself encamps (καταγίνομαι), so its purity is non-negotiable. The emphatic οὐ μή with the future expresses absolute prohibition.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting point of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: the construction ἀπό … ἕως ('from … to') forms a merism of totality across the sexes; no unclean person of either sex is exempt from removal.
ἀρσενικοῦmaleGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (first pole of merism)→ relational specificationἀρσενικός: 'male'; renders זָכָר; substantivized adjective; together with θηλυκοῦ it forms the standard LXX merism for 'everyone, regardless of sex.'
ἕωςto / as far aspreposition + genitive (end-point of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (end-point of merism).
θηλυκοῦfemaleGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (second pole of merism)→ relational specificationθηλυκός: 'female'; renders נְקֵבָה; substantivized adjective completing the merism ἀπὸ ἀρσενικοῦ ἕως θηλυκοῦ ('from male to female' = everyone).
ἐξαποστείλατεsend outAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (direct second-person plural command to Israel)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive act of expulsion)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send out / expel'; the second-person plural imperative now addresses the people directly (cf. the third-person ἐξαποστειλάτωσαν in v. 2), making the command immediate and personal.
ἔξωoutsideadverb / improper preposition + genitive (place: 'outside the camp')→ spatial or relational framingἔξω: 'outside / out'; here governing τῆς παρεμβολῆς; renders מִחוּץ; the unclean are relegated to the area beyond the sacred perimeter, the standard locus of impurity, ash-heaps, and execution (cf. Lev 13:46; Heb 13:11–13).
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with παρεμβολῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitivegenitive governed by ἔξω (the boundary of exclusion)→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp'; see v. 2; here the singular camp from whose perimeter the unclean are expelled.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing motive clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (part of emphatic οὐ μή)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ μή: the double negative with the future indicative expresses the strongest form of prohibition/denial ('they shall by no means defile'); a Septuagintal idiom of emphatic negation.
μὴnotnegative particle (completing emphatic οὐ μή)→ discourse linkage or contrastμὴ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μιανοῦσινthey shall defileFut Act Indic 3 Pl · μιαίνωmain verb of the purpose/result clause (under οὐ μή)→ predictive future under emphatic negation (absolute prohibition of result)μιαίνω: 'defile / pollute / stain'; renders טִמֵּא; the verb of ritual defilement par excellence; with οὐ μή the clause states the goal of the expulsion — that the unclean will in no way render the camp impure and so jeopardize the divine indwelling.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with παρεμβολὰς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολὰςcampsAccusativedirect object of μιανοῦσιν (what must not be defiled)→ object specificationπαρεμβολή (acc. pl. παρεμβολάς): 'camps'; the plural reflects the tribal sub-encampments arrayed around the tabernacle (Num 2); collectively they form the holy space that the unclean must not pollute.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the people's camps)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'their'; the possessive genitive marks the camps as Israel's own dwelling, the very space sanctified by YHWH's presence at its centre.
ἐνamong / inpreposition + dative (locative, governing the relative οἷς)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, governing the relative οἷς).
οἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (locative antecedent: the camps)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun; ἐν οἷς … ἐν αὐτοῖς ('among which … among them') exhibits the resumptive double-marking typical of Hebraizing relative constructions, rendering אֲשֶׁר … בְּתוֹכָם.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic first-person pronoun: YHWH himself)→ participant referenceἐγώ: the emphatic personal pronoun foregrounds YHWH's own presence as the reason for the camp's required purity — it is among these very camps that the LORD himself dwells.
καταγίνομαιI encamp / I dwellPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · καταγίνομαιverb of the relative clause (the divine indwelling)→ customary/durative present (abiding divine Presence)καταγίνομαι: 'dwell / abide / settle down (among)'; here renders שָׁכַן ('tabernacle / dwell'), the verb behind מִשְׁכָּן ('tabernacle') and the later Shekhinah; the present tense expresses YHWH's continuous indwelling among his people — the theological ground of the whole purity legislation.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (locative, resumptive)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative, resumptive).
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative object of ἐν (resumptive pronoun: Hebraism)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'them'; the resumptive ἐν αὐτοῖς redundantly repeats the relative ἐν οἷς, a literal calque of the Hebrew resumptive pronoun within the relative clause (אֲשֶׁר … בְּתוֹכָם).
4
καὶ ἐποίησαν οὕτως οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐξαπέστειλαν αὐτοὺς ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς καθὰ ἐλάλησεν κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ οὕτως ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
And the sons of Israel did so, and sent them outside the camp; just as the LORD spoke to Moses, so the sons of Israel did.
v. 4 is a fulfilment notice: the command of vv. 2–3 is executed exactly. The bracketing repetition — ἐποίησαν οὕτως … οὕτως ἐποίησαν ('they did so … so they did') — frames the verse as an inclusio of perfect obedience, with the comparative καθά ('just as') tying performance to divine word, a recurrent Pentateuchal compliance-formula (cf. Exod 39–40).
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησανdidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (compliance report)→ constative aorist (completed act of obedience)ποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the verb of the compliance-formula; ἐποίησαν οὕτως ('they did so') is the standard Pentateuchal report that a divine command was carried out exactly.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (correlative with καθά)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; renders כֵּן; correlates with καθά ('just as') to bind the people's action to the divine command; the doubled οὕτως at start and end forms an inclusio of obedience.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (the obedient community)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as the nominative subject of the compliance-report; the corporate body acts as one in obedience.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; genitive defining υἱοὶ.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαπέστειλανsent outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (the specific act of obedience)→ constative aorist (completed expulsion)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send out / expel'; the indicative ἐξαπέστειλαν now narrates the fulfilment of the imperatives ἐξαποστειλάτωσαν / ἐξαποστείλατε of vv. 2–3 — command answered by deed in the same vocabulary.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (the unclean persons)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; refers back to the leprous, the discharging, and the corpse-defiled of v. 2.
ἔξωoutsideadverb / improper preposition + genitive (place)→ spatial or relational framingἔξω: 'outside'; governing τῆς παρεμβολῆς, echoing the command of v. 3.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with παρεμβολῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παρεμβολῆςcampGenitivegenitive governed by ἔξω→ relational specificationπαρεμβολή: 'camp'; see v. 2.
καθὰjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing standard of obedience)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the comparison between divine word and human deed, the hinge of the compliance-formula.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωverb of the comparative clause (the divine standard)→ constative aorist (the prior commanding word)λαλέω: 'speak'; the same verb as v. 1, here recalling the original command as the measure against which obedience is gauged.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐλάλησεν (the commanding God)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the divine name as the authoritative source whose word Israel exactly fulfils.
τῷthe / toDativearticle (with Μωυσῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜωυσῇMosesDativedative indirect object of ἐλάλησεν (recipient of the word)→ sphere or referenceΜωυσῆς (dat. Μωυσῇ): the mediator to whom the command was spoken; the dative with the article τῷ marks the recipient, here paralleling the πρὸς Μωυσῆν of v. 1 with a simple dative construction.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (closing the inclusio)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'so'; the second οὕτως closes the inclusio of obedience, matching the opening οὕτως and emphasizing the exactness of compliance.
ἐποίησανdidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (repeated for emphasis: completed obedience)→ constative aorist (emphatic repetition of the act of obedience)ποιέω: 'do'; the repeated ἐποίησαν seals the compliance-formula; the chiastic frame ἐποίησαν … ἐποίησαν underscores that the people's deed perfectly matched the divine word.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοὶ)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (repeated for emphasis)→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the repeated subject οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ closes the verse's emphatic frame of corporate obedience.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; genitive defining υἱοὶ.
5
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
The recurring commission-formula (cf. v. 1) opens the second legislative unit of the chapter, the law of restitution for breach of faith. Its verbatim repetition signals a fresh pericope distinct from the camp-purity rules of vv. 1–4.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 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'; the commission-formula reopens divine speech for the restitution legislation; see v. 1.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; unmediated divine 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: see v. 1; accusative as directional object of πρός.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ imperfective participle (manner of the speaking)λέγω: the Hebraizing participle λέγων rendering לֵאמֹר; see v. 1.
6
λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ λέγων ἀνὴρ ἢ γυνή ὅστις ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων καὶ παριδὼν παρίδῃ καὶ πλημμελήσῃ ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη
Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, A man or woman, whoever commits any of the sins common to humanity and, disregarding, disregards and so commits a trespass — that soul —
The protasis of the restitution law. The cognate construction παριδὼν παρίδῃ ('disregarding, he disregards') is a Hebraism rendering the infinitive-absolute intensification מָעַל מַעַל, expressing deliberate breach of faith. ἀνὴρ ἢ γυνή makes the law gender-inclusive; the apodosis follows in v. 7.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ ingressive aorist imperative (commissioned proclamation)λαλέω: 'speak'; renders דַּבֵּר (Piel); the aorist imperative commissions Moses to transmit the law to the people.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object of λάλησον (the addressees)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as the recipients of the legislation; see v. 2.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; genitive defining υἱοῖς.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing the law's wording)→ imperfective participle (manner of speaking)λέγω: the Hebraizing λέγων (לֵאמֹר) introduces the content of the command to be spoken.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject (casuistic protasis: 'a man ... ')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; renders אִישׁ; opens the casuistic ('if anyone ...') legal formulation; paired with γυνή to make the law apply to either sex.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; renders אוֹ; the disjunction extends liability to both man and woman.
γυνήwomanNominativesubject (alternative protasis)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; the explicit inclusion of women in the restitution law is notable; cf. its prominence in the jealousy ordeal that follows.
ὅστιςwhoeverNominativeindefinite relative pronoun (subject of ποιήσῃ)→ participant referenceὅστις: 'whoever / anyone who'; the indefinite relative generalizes the case to any individual who commits the offence.
ἐὰνif / -everconditional particle (with subjunctive ποιήσῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive forms the protasis of the conditional law (ὅστις ἐάν = 'whosoever').
ποιήσῃcommits / doesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the conditional protasis→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical act of wrongdoing)ποιέω: 'do / commit'; renders עָשָׂה; the aorist subjunctive with ἐάν frames the offence as a hypothetical case to be legislated.
ἀπὸof / from amongpreposition + genitive (partitive: 'any of the sins')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: here partitive, 'any (one) of'; renders the Hebrew partitive מִן.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἁμαρτιῶν)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁμαρτιῶνsinsGenitivepartitive genitive (object of ἀπό)→ relational specificationἁμαρτία: 'sin / offence'; renders חַטָּאת / חֵטְא; the genitive plural after partitive ἀπό means 'any of the sins'; here interpersonal wrongs (theft, fraud) against a neighbour.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀνθρωπίνων)→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρωπίνωνhuman / common to humanityGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ἁμαρτιῶν)→ relational specificationἀνθρώπινος: 'human / belonging to humankind'; the phrase αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αἱ ἀνθρώπιναι renders the Hebrew sense of 'breaking faith against the LORD' but the LXX construes it as the sins humans commit against one another — interpersonal offences; cf. the parallel in 1 Cor 10:13 (πειρασμὸς ... ἀνθρώπινος).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παριδὼνdisregardingAor Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · παροράωcircumstantial participle (cognate intensifier with παρίδῃ)→ aorist participle in the cognate (infinitive-absolute) construction (intensifying force)παροράω: 'overlook / disregard / connive at'; the construction παριδὼν παρίδῃ ('disregarding he disregards') is the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew infinitive-absolute intensification (here מָעַל מַעַל, 'commit a real breach of faith'); the participle + finite verb expresses certainty and gravity of the offence.
παρίδῃdisregardsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · παροράωfinite verb of the cognate construction (protasis)→ aorist subjunctive (the willful act of breaking faith)παροράω: the finite παρίδῃ completes the cognate construction with παριδών; the doubling renders the emphatic infinitive absolute, denoting a deliberate, conscious breach of trust against one's neighbour.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πλημμελήσῃcommits a trespassAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πλημμελέωverb of the protasis (the resulting guilt)→ aorist subjunctive (incurring guilt / liability)πλημμελέω: 'commit a fault / err / be guilty of a trespass'; renders אָשַׁם; in the LXX it is the technical term for incurring guilt requiring reparation, the offence that triggers the guilt-offering (πλημμέλεια / ἀσμός); cognate with πλημμέλεια in v. 7.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with ψυχὴ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoul / personNominativesubject in apposition (resumptive: 'that soul')→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / person / individual'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'that soul / person' (ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη) resumes the subject ἀνὴρ ἢ γυνή; a Hebraism in which נֶפֶשׁ denotes the living, accountable person — contrast its corpse-sense at v. 2.
ἐκείνηthatNominativedemonstrative pronoun (modifying ψυχὴ)→ participant referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative pins liability on the specific offending person; ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη is a recurrent legal idiom in the Pentateuch for the individual under judgment.
7
ἐξαγορεύσει τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἣν ἐποίησεν καὶ ἀποδώσει τὴν πλημμέλειαν τὸ κεφάλαιον καὶ τὸ ἐπίπεμπτον αὐτοῦ προσθήσει ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸ καὶ ἀποδώσει τίνι ἐπλημμέλησεν αὐτῷ
shall confess the sin which he committed and shall repay the trespass — the principal — and shall add to it its fifth, and shall give it to the one against whom he committed the trespass.
The apodosis prescribes a two-stage remedy: verbal confession (ἐξαγορεύσει) and material restitution. The repayment is quantified — the principal (τὸ κεφάλαιον) plus an added fifth (τὸ ἐπίπεμπτον), paid directly to the injured party (cf. Lev 6:1–7 [LXX 5:20–26]).
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἐξαγορεύσειshall confessFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαγορεύωmain verb (the required confession)→ predictive/legislative future (binding obligation)ἐξαγορεύω: 'declare openly / confess'; renders הִתְוַדָּה (Hithpael of ידה, 'confess'); the legislative future has imperatival force ('he shall confess'); confession is the indispensable first step of restitution, acknowledging the wrong before repayment.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἁμαρτίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁμαρτίανsinAccusativedirect object of ἐξαγορεύσει (what is confessed)→ object specificationἁμαρτία: 'sin'; the object of confession; see v. 6.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησεν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun, agreeing with ἁμαρτίαν.
ἐποίησενcommittedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb of the relative clause (the act confessed)→ constative aorist (the completed offence)ποιέω: 'do / commit'; the aorist indicative refers to the actual offence now being confessed.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποδώσειshall repayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (the required restitution)→ legislative future (binding obligation to make restitution)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / repay / restore'; renders שִׁלֵּם / הֵשִׁיב; the technical verb of restitution; what was wrongfully taken or withheld must be restored in full.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with πλημμέλειαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλημμέλειανtrespass / amount of the trespassAccusativedirect object of ἀποδώσει (the reparation owed)→ object specificationπλημμέλεια: 'fault / trespass / guilt-debt'; renders אָשָׁם; by metonymy it denotes both the offence and the reparation owed for it; cognate with πλημμελήσῃ (v. 6) and πλημμέλημα (v. 8).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with κεφάλαιον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφάλαιονprincipal / capital sumAccusativeaccusative in apposition to πλημμέλειαν (specifying the amount)→ object specificationκεφάλαιον: 'sum / principal / capital'; from κεφαλή ('head'); renders רֹאשׁ in its sense of 'principal amount'; defines the base value of the restitution before the added penalty.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἐπίπεμπτον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπίπεμπτονfifth (added)Accusativedirect object of προσθήσει (the penalty surcharge)→ object specificationἐπίπεμπτον: 'an added fifth (20%)'; renders חֲמִישִׁית; the penalty surcharge added to the principal in restitution law (cf. Lev 5:16; 6:5); it compensates the wronged party beyond mere repayment.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of relationship (the fifth 'of it', i.e. of the principal)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'its'; the fifth is reckoned as a proportion of the principal sum (τὸ κεφάλαιον).
προσθήσειshall addFut Act Indic 3 Sg · προστίθημιmain verb (the adding of the surcharge)→ legislative future (binding obligation)προστίθημι: 'add / place upon'; renders יָסַף; the verb governs the addition of the penalty fifth on top of the restored principal.
ἐπ᾿to / uponpreposition + accusative (addition: 'to it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative (elided ἐπ᾿): 'upon / to'; marks the principal as that to which the fifth is added.
αὐτὸitAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the principal sum)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it'; refers to τὸ κεφάλαιον, the principal to which the fifth is added.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποδώσειshall giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιmain verb (handing over to the wronged party)→ legislative future (binding obligation)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / hand over'; the repeated ἀποδώσει stresses that the full sum (principal + fifth) is paid directly to the injured person, not to a third party.
τίνιto whom / the one to whomDativeinterrogative/indefinite relative as dative (recipient of restitution)→ sphere or referenceτίς: here functioning as an indefinite relative ('to the one to whom'); the dative marks the wronged party who receives the restitution; the LXX construction renders אֲשֶׁר אָשַׁם לוֹ ('against whom he trespassed').
ἐπλημμέλησενhe committed the trespassAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πλημμελέωverb of the relative clause (against whom the offence was done)→ constative aorist (the completed offence)πλημμελέω: 'commit a trespass / be guilty against'; see v. 6; here identifies the specific person harmed as the rightful recipient of restitution.
αὐτῷto himDativedative (resumptive, with ἐπλημμέλησεν: 'whom he wronged')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'to him'; the resumptive dative redundantly repeats τίνι, a Hebraizing resumptive within the relative clause (cf. v. 3).
8
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ᾖ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ὁ ἀγχιστεύων ὥστε ἀποδοῦναι αὐτῷ τὸ πλημμέλημα πρὸς αὐτόν τὸ πλημμέλημα τὸ ἀποδιδόμενον κυρίῳ τῷ ἱερεῖ ἔσται πλὴν τοῦ κριοῦ τοῦ ἱλασμοῦ δι᾿ οὗ ἐξιλάσεται ἐν αὐτῷ περὶ αὐτοῦ
But if the man has no kinsman to whom the trespass-payment may be repaid, the trespass-payment that is rendered to the LORD shall belong to the priest, apart from the ram of atonement by which atonement shall be made with it on his behalf.
A sub-case (δέ) of the restitution law: where the wronged party has died with no kinsman-redeemer (ὁ ἀγχιστεύων, the gō'ēl) to receive the payment, the reparation reverts to YHWH and so to the officiating priest. The clause πλὴν τοῦ κριοῦ τοῦ ἱλασμοῦ distinguishes the restitution-payment from the separate atoning ram.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
ἐὰνifconditional particle (with subjunctive ᾖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the sub-conditional case.
δὲbut / nowmild adversative (post-positive, marking the sub-case)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; marks the transition to a contrasting sub-case (no surviving kinsman).
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive ᾖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative proper to the subjunctive mood.
ᾖthere is / bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the conditional protasis (existential: 'there be no ...')→ present subjunctive (hypothetical state of affairs)εἰμί: 'be / exist'; the existential subjunctive with μή and the dative of possession (τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ) = 'if the man has no ...'
τῷthe / for theDativearticle (with ἀνθρώπῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνθρώπῳmanDativedative of possession ('the man has')→ sphere or referenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; the dative of possession with εἰμί ('there is to the man' = 'the man has'); here the wronged party who has died.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with the substantival participle ἀγχιστεύων)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγχιστεύωνkinsman-redeemer / next of kinPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · ἀγχιστεύωsubstantival participle (subject of ᾖ: 'a redeeming kinsman')→ imperfective participle substantivized (one acting as redeemer)ἀγχιστεύω: 'be next of kin / act as kinsman-redeemer'; renders גָּאַל; the substantival participle ὁ ἀγχιστεύων denotes the gō'ēl, the nearest relative with the right and duty to receive restitution and to redeem; central to Ruth and Lev 25; if none survives, the payment passes to the LORD.
ὥστεso as / toconjunction introducing result/purpose infinitive→ discourse linkage or contrastὥστε: 'so as to'; with the infinitive ἀποδοῦναι expresses the purpose/result — a kinsman 'to whom the payment may be made.'
ἀποδοῦναιto repayAor Act Inf · ἀποδίδωμιresult/purpose infinitive (governed by ὥστε)→ aorist infinitive (the act of restitution contemplated)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back / repay'; the infinitive expresses the function the missing kinsman would have served — to be the recipient of the restitution.
αὐτῷto himDativedative indirect object of ἀποδοῦναι (the kinsman)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'to him'; the kinsman-redeemer as the would-be recipient.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πλημμέλημα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλημμέλημαtrespass-paymentAccusativedirect object of ἀποδοῦναι (the reparation owed)→ object specificationπλημμέλημα: 'fault / reparation due for a trespass'; renders אָשָׁם; the concrete restitution-payment owed; cognate with πλημμέλεια (v. 7), here the object to be paid.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of payment)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + accusative: 'to'; marks the recipient toward whom the payment would be directed.
αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of πρός (the kinsman)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him'; resumes the kinsman-redeemer as recipient.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with πλημμέλημα, now subject)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλημμέλημαtrespass-paymentNominativesubject of ἔσται (what reverts to the priest)→ participant prominenceπλημμέλημα: 'reparation'; the resumed subject of the apodosis — the payment that, lacking a kinsman, becomes the LORD's portion.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with the participle ἀποδιδόμενον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀποδιδόμενονthat is renderedPres Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · ἀποδίδωμιattributive participle (modifying πλημμέλημα)→ imperfective passive participle (the payment as it is being rendered)ἀποδίδωμι (pass. ptcp.): 'being given back / rendered'; the attributive participle specifies the reparation as 'the one rendered to the LORD' — diverted from a (nonexistent) human recipient to the divine claimant.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative indirect object (recipient of the diverted payment)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; in default of a kinsman, the reparation is 'rendered to the LORD' — and so, concretely, to his priest; the dative marks the divine claimant.
τῷthe / to theDativearticle (with ἱερεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖpriestDativedative of possession/recipient (with ἔσται: 'shall belong to the priest')→ sphere or referenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; in apposition to κυρίῳ — what is given to the LORD is administered by and falls to the officiating priest as his portion (cf. v. 9–10).
ἔσταιshall be / belongFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of the apodosis (assignment of the payment)→ legislative future (settled disposition)εἰμί: 'be'; with the dative ἔσται τῷ ἱερεῖ = 'shall belong to the priest'; the future of possession assigns the unredeemed restitution to the priesthood.
πλὴνapart from / besidesimproper preposition + genitive (exception: 'besides the ram')→ spatial or relational framingπλήν: 'except / besides / apart from'; with the genitive it sets the restitution-payment apart from the separate atoning ram; the two are distinct obligations.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with κριοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κριοῦramGenitivegenitive governed by πλήν (the atoning ram)→ relational specificationκριός: 'ram'; renders אַיִל; the ram of atonement (ὁ κριὸς τοῦ ἱλασμοῦ) is the sacrificial animal of the guilt-offering (Lev 5:15–16), distinct from and additional to the monetary restitution.
τοῦthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ἱλασμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱλασμοῦof atonement / propitiationGenitivegenitive of purpose/quality (defining the ram)→ relational specificationἱλασμός: 'atonement / propitiation / expiation'; renders כִּפֻּרִים; the ram 'of atonement' effects reconciliation with God for the trespass; the noun underlies the NT use of ἱλασμός (1 John 2:2; 4:10) for Christ's atoning work.
δι᾿by / throughpreposition + genitive (means: 'through which')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + genitive (elided δι᾿): 'by means of / through'; governs the relative οὗ, marking the ram as the instrument of atonement.
οὗwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (object of δι᾿, antecedent κριοῦ)→ relational specificationὅς: relative pronoun, genitive after διά; antecedent is the ram of atonement.
ἐξιλάσεταιshall make atonementFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐξιλάσκομαιverb of the relative clause (the act of atonement)→ legislative future middle (priestly act of expiation)ἐξιλάσκομαι: 'make atonement / expiate / propitiate'; the intensive compound of ἱλάσκομαι; the standard LXX rendering of כִּפֶּר (Piel, 'make atonement'); the priest is the implied subject who effects expiation for the offender by means of the ram.
ἐνwith / bypreposition + dative (instrumental, resumptive of the ram)→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: instrumental, 'with / by means of it'; a Hebraizing instrumental ἐν (rendering בְּ) resuming the ram as the means of atonement.
αὐτῷitDativeobject of ἐν (instrumental, the ram)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'it'; resumptive of the ram (δι᾿ οὗ ... ἐν αὐτῷ), a Hebraizing double-marking of the instrument.
περὶfor / concerningpreposition + genitive (on behalf of: 'for him')→ spatial or relational framingπερί + genitive: 'concerning / on behalf of'; the standard LXX idiom ἐξιλάσκομαι περί τινος ('make atonement for someone'), rendering כִּפֶּר עַל.
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of περί (the one for whom atonement is made)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'him'; the offender on whose behalf the priest makes atonement with the ram.
9
καὶ πᾶσα ἀπαρχὴ κατὰ πάντα τὰ ἁγιαζόμενα ἐν υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ὅσα ἂν προσφέρωσιν τῷ κυρίῳ τῷ ἱερεῖ αὐτῷ ἔσται
And every first-fruit, among all the hallowed things among the sons of Israel, whatever they offer to the LORD, shall belong to the priest, to him.
A broadening of the principle of v. 8: not only unredeemed restitution but every first-fruit and consecrated offering belongs to the priest who administers it. The emphatic τῷ ἱερεῖ αὐτῷ ('to the priest, to him') underscores the personal entitlement of the officiant.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the principle)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶσαeveryNominativeadjective (modifying ἀπαρχὴ)→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'every / all'; the feminine πᾶσα agrees with ἀπαρχή; universalizes the rule to every kind of sacred contribution.
ἀπαρχὴfirst-fruit / contributionNominativesubject (the sacred due in view)→ participant prominenceἀπαρχή: 'first-fruit / first portion / offering'; renders תְּרוּמָה / רֵאשִׁית; the consecrated portion set apart for God; here assigned to the priest; the term is theologically rich in the NT (Rom 8:23; 11:16; 1 Cor 15:20).
κατὰaccording to / amongpreposition + accusative (distributive: 'in respect of all')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + accusative: distributive, 'in respect of / among all'; introduces the comprehensive scope of consecrated items.
πάνταallAccusativeadjective (modifying τὰ ἁγιαζόμενα)→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all'; neuter plural with τὰ ἁγιαζόμενα; emphasizes the totality of consecrated offerings.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with the participle ἁγιαζόμενα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁγιαζόμεναthings being hallowedPres Mid/Pass Ptcp Acc Neut Pl · ἁγιάζωsubstantival participle (object of κατά: 'the hallowed things')→ imperfective passive participle (things in the state of being consecrated)ἁγιάζω: 'consecrate / make holy / set apart'; renders קָדַשׁ; the passive participle τὰ ἁγιαζόμενα ('the things being made holy') denotes all dedicated offerings; the present aspect views consecration as an ongoing practice in Israel.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere: 'among the sons of Israel')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (sphere: 'among the sons of Israel').
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative governed by ἐν (sphere of consecration)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; ἐν υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ('among the sons of Israel') locates the consecrated offerings within the covenant community.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; genitive defining υἱοῖς.
ὅσαwhateverAccusativeindefinite relative pronoun (object of προσφέρωσιν)→ participant referenceὅσος: 'as much/many as / whatever'; the neuter plural generalizes to every offering brought, leaving none outside the rule.
ἂν-evermodal particle (with subjunctive, generalizing)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle with the subjunctive in a generalizing relative clause ('whatever they may offer').
προσφέρωσινthey offer / bringPres Act Subj 3 Pl · προσφέρωverb of the generalizing relative clause→ present subjunctive (customary/repeated offering)προσφέρω: 'bring to / offer / present'; renders הִקְרִיב; the technical verb for presenting offerings at the sanctuary; the present subjunctive views the offering as a recurrent practice.
τῷthe / to theDativearticle (with κυρίῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative indirect object of προσφέρωσιν (recipient of the offering)→ sphere or referenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the offerings are presented to the LORD, and by his ordinance pass to the priest who serves at his altar.
τῷthe / to theDativearticle (with ἱερεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖpriestDativedative of possession (with ἔσται: 'shall belong to the priest')→ sphere or referenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; the consecrated dues become the officiating priest's portion; the priestly maintenance is funded by Israel's offerings (cf. Num 18).
αὐτῷto himDativedative in emphatic apposition to τῷ ἱερεῖ ('to him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'to him'; the emphatic appositional αὐτῷ ('to the priest, to him') stresses personal entitlement, rendering the Hebrew לוֹ יִהְיֶה.
ἔσταιshall be / belongFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (assignment of the offerings to the priest)→ legislative future (settled entitlement)εἰμί: 'be'; ἔσται with the dative = 'shall belong to'; assigns the consecrated dues to the priest as a permanent right.
10
καὶ ἑκάστου τὰ ἡγιασμένα αὐτοῦ ἔσται ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐὰν δῷ τῷ ἱερεῖ αὐτῷ ἔσται
And each one's hallowed things shall be his own; whatever a man gives to the priest shall belong to him.
A somewhat compressed and obscure ruling: a person's consecrated things remain at his disposal until given; but once handed to the priest, they become the priest's. The doubled ἔσται (one clause for the offerer's prior right, one for the priest's resultant right) frames the transfer of ownership.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἑκάστουof each oneGenitivegenitive of possession (with τὰ ἡγιασμένα)→ relational specificationἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; the distributive genitive ('each one's hallowed things') marks the consecrated items as initially belonging to the individual offerer.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with the participle ἡγιασμένα)→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡγιασμέναhallowed thingsPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Neut Pl · ἁγιάζωsubstantival participle (subject of the first ἔσται)→ perfect passive participle (things in a settled state of consecration)ἁγιάζω (perf. pass.): 'having been consecrated'; the perfect participle τὰ ἡγιασμένα denotes objects in an abiding consecrated state — contrast the present ἁγιαζόμενα of v. 9; the perfect stresses the completed, standing dedication.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (resumptive of ἑκάστου)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; resumptive possessive, doubling ἑκάστου (a Hebraizing redundancy).
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the offerer's prior ownership)→ legislative future (settled state of affairs)εἰμί: 'be'; the consecrated items 'shall be his' (the offerer's) until conveyed; the first of the verse's two ἔσται clauses.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject (casuistic: 'a man who ...')→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; opens the casuistic clause governing the transfer of the gift to the priest.
ὃςwho / whateverNominativerelative pronoun (subject of δῷ)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; ὃς ἐάν ('whoever') generalizes the case of giving to the priest.
ἐὰνif / -everconditional particle (with subjunctive δῷ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with ὅς forms the generalizing 'whoever gives.'
δῷgivesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of the conditional/relative clause→ aorist subjunctive (the act of giving to the priest)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the aorist subjunctive frames the act of conveying the consecrated gift to the priest, which transfers ownership.
τῷthe / to theDativearticle (with ἱερεῖ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖpriestDativedative indirect object of δῷ (recipient of the gift)→ sphere or referenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; the recipient to whom the gift is given and to whom it then belongs.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of possession (with the second ἔσται: 'shall be his', i.e. the priest's)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'to him'; refers to the priest — once given, the gift becomes the priest's own; the emphatic dative seals the transfer.
ἔσταιshall be / belongFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the priest's resultant ownership)→ legislative future (settled entitlement)εἰμί: 'be'; the second ἔσται assigns the conveyed gift to the priest, completing the transfer-of-ownership ruling.
11
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
The third occurrence of the commission-formula (cf. vv. 1, 5) marks the boundary of the chapter's longest and most distinctive unit: the ordeal of the suspected adulteress (vv. 11–31), a unique trial-by-ordeal in the Torah.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 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'; the commission-formula opening the jealousy legislation; see vv. 1, 5.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: 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: see v. 1.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ imperfective participle (manner of speaking)λέγω: the Hebraizing λέγων (לֵאמֹר); see v. 1.
12
λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς ἀνδρὸς ἀνδρὸς ἐὰν παραβῇ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ παρίδῃ αὐτὸν ὑπεριδοῦσα
Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them: If any man's wife should turn aside and disregard him, overlooking him,
The case is introduced by the distributive genitive ἀνδρὸς ἀνδρός ('of any man whatsoever'), a Hebraism rendering אִישׁ אִישׁ. The key verb παραβῇ ('turn aside / transgress') frames the wife's possible infidelity; it recurs as the technical term of the chapter (vv. 19, 20, 29).
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ ingressive aorist imperative (commissioned proclamation)λαλέω: 'speak'; see v. 6; commissions Moses to deliver the jealousy law.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object of λάλησον→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ as addressees; see v. 2.
ΙσραηλIsraelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; genitive defining υἱοῖς.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖςyou shall sayFut Act Indic 2 Sg · λέγω (εἶπον)main verb (future with imperatival force)→ legislative future (command to proclaim)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; renders וְאָמַרְתָּ; the future with imperatival force ('and you shall say') is a Hebraizing way of continuing a command; couples with λάλησον to reinforce the charge to proclaim.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτούςthemAccusativeobject of πρός (the addressees)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'them'; the sons of Israel as recipients of the law.
ἀνδρὸςof a manGenitivegenitive of possession (with γυνὴ αὐτοῦ; distributive doubling)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; the doubled genitive ἀνδρὸς ἀνδρός is a Hebraism rendering אִישׁ אִישׁ ('any man whatsoever'), a distributive idiom generalizing the case to every individual husband.
ἀνδρὸςof a man (any)Genitivegenitive (distributive repetition: 'any man whatsoever')→ relational specificationἀνήρ: the repeated genitive completes the distributive idiom ἀνδρὸς ἀνδρός = 'of any man at all.'
ἐὰνifconditional particle (with subjunctive παραβῇ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the protasis of the ordeal-law.
παραβῇshould turn aside / transgressAor Act Subj 3 Sg · παραβαίνωverb of the conditional protasis (the alleged infidelity)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical act of unfaithfulness)παραβαίνω: 'step aside / go astray / transgress'; renders שָׂטָה ('go aside, be unfaithful'); the keyword of the jealousy law (cf. vv. 19, 20, 29); the spatial metaphor of 'turning aside' from the husband captures the marital unfaithfulness in view.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γυνὴ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwifeNominativesubject of παραβῇ (the suspected wife)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; renders אִשָּׁה; the central figure of the ordeal — the wife suspected of adultery.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the man's wife)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; marks the marital bond — it is the husband's own wife who is suspected.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρίδῃdisregard / be unfaithful toAor Act Subj 3 Sg · παροράωverb of the protasis (coordinate with παραβῇ)→ aorist subjunctive (the act of slighting the husband)παροράω: 'overlook / disregard / slight'; renders מָעַל ('break faith'); the wife's disregard of her husband; cognate with the παριδών παρίδῃ of v. 6, here applied to marital betrayal.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of παρίδῃ (the husband)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him'; the husband who is slighted by the wife's faithlessness.
ὑπεριδοῦσαoverlooking / despisingAor Act Ptcp Nom Fem Sg · ὑπεροράωcircumstantial participle (modifying γυνὴ: manner/attendant circumstance)→ aorist participle (attendant circumstance: contemptuous disregard)ὑπεροράω: 'overlook / disregard / despise'; the participle ὑπεριδοῦσα reinforces παρίδῃ, intensifying the sense of contemptuous neglect of the marriage bond; the piling of παρ-/ὑπερ- compounds renders the gravity of the betrayal.
13
καὶ κοιμηθῇ τις μετ᾿ αὐτῆς κοίτην σπέρματος καὶ λάθῃ ἐξ ὀφθαλμῶν τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς καὶ κρύψῃ αὐτὴ δὲ ᾖ μεμιαμμένη καὶ μάρτυς μὴ ἦν μετ᾿ αὐτῆς καὶ αὐτὴ μὴ ᾖ συνειλημμένη
and someone lies with her an emission of seed, and it escapes the eyes of her husband and is concealed, but she herself is defiled, and there was no witness with her and she herself was not caught —
The case is precisely the undetectable one: real defilement (ᾖ μεμιαμμένη) but no witness (μάρτυς μὴ ἦν) and no capture in the act (μὴ ᾖ συνειλημμένη). This evidentiary vacuum — guilt possible but unprovable — is exactly what the ordeal is designed to resolve, referring the verdict to God.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κοιμηθῇlies / sleepsAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · κοιμάωverb of the conditional protasis (the illicit act)→ aorist (deponent-passive) subjunctive (hypothetical act of intercourse)κοιμάω (pass. 'lie down / sleep'): euphemism for sexual intercourse, rendering שָׁכַב; the passive-deponent form with μετά + genitive is the standard LXX idiom 'to lie with someone.'
τιςsomeoneNominativesubject (the unnamed paramour)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite pronoun 'someone'; the anonymity (τις) underscores that the identity of the partner is unknown — part of the case's evidentiary obscurity.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive (elided μετ᾿): 'with'; κοιμηθῇ μετ᾿ αὐτῆς = 'lie with her', the euphemistic idiom of intercourse.
αὐτῆςherGenitiveobject of μετ᾿ (the wife)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'; the suspected wife.
κοίτηνa bed / lying / emissionAccusativecognate/adverbial accusative (specifying the act: 'an emission of seed')→ object specificationκοίτη: 'bed / lying / sexual intercourse'; the phrase κοίτην σπέρματος ('a lying/emission of seed') renders שִׁכְבַת־זֶרַע, a technical legal idiom for consummated intercourse with seminal emission (cf. Lev 15:16–18; 18:20), establishing that real adultery, not mere suspicion, is the hidden fact.
σπέρματοςof seedGenitivegenitive of definition (qualifying κοίτην)→ relational specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / semen / offspring'; renders זֶרַע; in the idiom κοίτη σπέρματος it specifies the act as one of seminal emission — full sexual union.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λάθῃit escapes notice / is hiddenAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λανθάνωverb of the protasis (the act's concealment)→ aorist subjunctive (the act escaping detection)λανθάνω: 'escape notice / be hidden / elude'; renders נֶעְלַם; the act 'escapes the eyes' of the husband — emphasizing that the deed is undetected, the precondition for the ordeal.
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the eyes')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ (ἐξ before vowel): 'from / out of'; with ὀφθαλμῶν, 'hidden from the eyes of', a Hebraizing idiom (מֵעֵינֵי) for escaping someone's knowledge.
ὀφθαλμῶνeyesGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (the husband's knowledge)→ relational specificationὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; renders עַיִן; 'the eyes of the husband' stand by metonymy for his awareness/knowledge.
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (with ἀνδρὸς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρὸςhusbandGenitivegenitive of possession (with ὀφθαλμῶν: 'her husband's eyes')→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; the wronged spouse from whose knowledge the act is concealed.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her husband)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'; marks the husband as hers — the marital relationship breached.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κρύψῃis concealed / she hides itAor Act Subj 3 Sg · κρύπτωverb of the protasis (the concealment of the act)→ aorist subjunctive (the act being kept hidden)κρύπτω: 'hide / conceal'; renders נִסְתַּר; reinforces λάθῃ — the deed is deliberately or effectively kept hidden, leaving no human evidence.
αὐτὴshe herselfNominativesubject (emphatic, with adversative δέ)→ participant referenceαὐτός: emphatic 'she herself'; foregrounds the woman's actual (hidden) state against the husband's ignorance.
δὲbut / and yetadversative (post-positive: contrast hidden reality with appearance)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive adversative; contrasts the concealment with the underlying fact of her defilement.
ᾖis / bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the protasis (with periphrastic perfect participle)→ present subjunctive (forming periphrastic perfect with μεμιαμμένη)εἰμί: 'be'; with the perfect participle μεμιαμμένη forms a periphrastic perfect subjunctive ('she is in a defiled state').
μεμιαμμένηdefiledPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Fem Sg · μιαίνωpredicate participle (periphrastic perfect with ᾖ)→ perfect passive participle (settled state of defilement)μιαίνω (perf. pass.): 'be defiled / polluted'; renders נִטְמְאָה; the perfect denotes the abiding state of ritual/moral defilement resulting from the adultery; the verb of impurity recurs through the ordeal (vv. 14, 20, 27, 28, 29).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μάρτυςwitnessNominativesubject of ἦν (the lacking witness)→ participant prominenceμάρτυς: 'witness'; renders עֵד; the absence of a witness is decisive — without testimony the ordinary judicial process (which required two or three witnesses, Deut 19:15) cannot proceed, hence the ordeal.
μὴnotnegative particle (with ἦν)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negation; though with the indicative ἦν, μή is used under the influence of the surrounding conditional/subjunctive frame, a feature of LXX Greek.
ἦνwasImperf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the circumstantial clause (absence of a witness)→ imperfect (the standing absence of testimony)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect μὴ ἦν ('there was no ...') states the want of any witness to the act.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: 'with'; 'no witness with her' — no third party present to attest the deed.
αὐτῆςherGenitiveobject of μετ᾿ (the woman)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'; the woman, with whom no witness was present.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτὴsheNominativesubject (emphatic)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'she'; foregrounds the woman as the one not caught.
μὴnotnegative particle (with the periphrastic ᾖ συνειλημμένη)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negation proper to the subjunctive ᾖ.
ᾖis / bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the protasis (periphrastic perfect with συνειλημμένη)→ present subjunctive (forming periphrastic perfect)εἰμί: 'be'; with συνειλημμένη forms a periphrastic perfect subjunctive ('she has not been caught').
συνειλημμένηcaught / apprehendedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Fem Sg · συλλαμβάνωpredicate participle (periphrastic perfect with ᾖ)→ perfect passive participle (settled state: not having been caught in the act)συλλαμβάνω (perf. pass.): 'seize / catch / apprehend'; renders נִתְפָּשָׂה ('caught'); the perfect 'she has not been caught (in the act)' completes the evidentiary picture — defiled in fact, but neither witnessed nor apprehended, hence unprovable by ordinary law.
14
καὶ ἐπέλθῃ αὐτῷ πνεῦμα ζηλώσεως καὶ ζηλώσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ αὐτὴ δὲ μεμίανται ἢ ἐπέλθῃ αὐτῷ πνεῦμα ζηλώσεως καὶ ζηλώσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ αὐτὴ δὲ μὴ ᾖ μεμιαμμένη
and a spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, and she is defiled — or a spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, but she is not defiled —
The verse deliberately sets out both possibilities in symmetrical clauses: the jealous husband may be right (αὐτὴ δὲ μεμίανται) or wrong (αὐτὴ δὲ μὴ ᾖ μεμιαμμένη). The 'spirit of jealousy' (πνεῦμα ζηλώσεως) is the disposition that triggers the rite; the ordeal exists precisely because suspicion alone cannot distinguish the two cases.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπέλθῃcomes uponAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐπέρχομαιverb of the protasis (onset of jealousy)→ aorist subjunctive (the seizing of the husband by jealousy)ἐπέρχομαι: 'come upon / come over'; renders עָבַר עַל; the 'spirit of jealousy' is depicted as coming upon the husband, an external force seizing him; the same verb recurs in v. 30.
αὐτῷupon himDativedative (the one seized: 'upon him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'him'; the husband on whom the spirit of jealousy falls.
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject of ἐπέλθῃ (the disposition of jealousy)→ participant prominenceπνεῦμα: 'spirit / wind / breath'; renders רוּחַ; here a 'spirit of jealousy' — a disposition or impulse, perhaps personified as an onrushing force; cf. πνεῦμα as mood/impulse elsewhere in the LXX.
ζηλώσεωςof jealousyGenitivegenitive of quality (defining πνεῦμα: 'spirit of jealousy')→ relational specificationζήλωσις: 'jealousy / zeal'; renders קִנְאָה; the abstract genitive defines the spirit's character; together with ζηλοτυπία (vv. 15, 18, 25, 29) and the verb ζηλόω, it forms the chapter's jealousy word-group.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζηλώσῃhe becomes jealous ofAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ζηλόωverb of the protasis (the husband's jealous reaction)→ aorist subjunctive (the husband's act of jealousy)ζηλόω: 'be jealous / be zealous / envy'; renders קִנֵּא; here 'be jealous of (his wife)' in the sense of suspecting her of infidelity; the verb governs the wife as accusative object.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ζηλώσῃ (the suspected wife)→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the object of the husband's jealous suspicion.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (his wife)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the marital bond.
αὐτὴsheNominativesubject (emphatic, of the first case: actually defiled)→ participant referenceαὐτός: emphatic 'she'; introduces the actual state of the wife in the first scenario.
δὲand / indeedpost-positive (marking the wife's true condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; here marking the parenthetic statement of fact (she is, in truth, defiled).
μεμίανταιhas been defiledPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · μιαίνωmain verb (the wife's actual guilt in the first case)→ perfect passive (settled state of defilement: she is in fact guilty)μιαίνω (perf. pass.): 'has been defiled'; the indicative perfect (vs. the periphrastic subjunctive of v. 13) asserts the fact of her defilement in the first scenario — the jealousy is warranted.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (introducing the parallel second case)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; sets up the alternative scenario in which the wife is innocent — the same suspicion, opposite reality.
ἐπέλθῃcomes uponAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐπέρχομαιverb of the second protasis (jealousy onset, innocent case)→ aorist subjunctive (the onset of jealousy in the second scenario)ἐπέρχομαι: 'come upon'; repeated verbatim to frame the parallel innocent case; see above.
αὐτῷupon himDativedative (the husband)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'him'; the husband again.
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject of ἐπέλθῃ→ participant prominenceπνεῦμα: 'spirit'; repeated; see above.
ζηλώσεωςof jealousyGenitivegenitive of quality (defining πνεῦμα)→ relational specificationζήλωσις: 'jealousy'; repeated; see above.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζηλώσῃhe becomes jealous ofAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ζηλόωverb of the second protasis→ aorist subjunctive (the husband's jealousy in the innocent case)ζηλόω: 'be jealous'; repeated; the same jealousy, but now over an innocent wife.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ζηλώσῃ→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the object of suspicion in the innocent case.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'.
αὐτὴsheNominativesubject (emphatic, of the second case: not defiled)→ participant referenceαὐτός: emphatic 'she'; introduces the wife's true (innocent) state in the second scenario.
δὲbutadversative (post-positive: contrast with the suspicion)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive adversative; contrasts the husband's jealousy with the wife's actual innocence.
μὴnotnegative particle (with periphrastic ᾖ μεμιαμμένη)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negation proper to the subjunctive ᾖ.
ᾖis / bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb (periphrastic perfect with μεμιαμμένη)→ present subjunctive (forming periphrastic perfect: 'she is not in a defiled state')εἰμί: 'be'; with μεμιαμμένη a periphrastic perfect subjunctive marking the innocent case.
μεμιαμμένηdefiledPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Fem Sg · μιαίνωpredicate participle (periphrastic perfect with ᾖ)→ perfect passive participle (negated: not in a defiled state)μιαίνω (perf. pass.): 'defiled'; here negated — the wife is, in the second case, genuinely undefiled, though equally suspected; the symmetry with v. 13 sets up the ordeal's function as an impartial divine verdict.
15
καὶ ἄξει ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα καὶ προσοίσει τὸ δῶρον περὶ αὐτῆς τὸ δέκατον τοῦ οιφι ἄλευρον κρίθινον οὐκ ἐπιχεεῖ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸ ἔλαιον οὐδὲ ἐπιθήσει ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸ λίβανον ἔστιν γὰρ θυσία ζηλοτυπίας θυσία μνημοσύνου ἀναμιμνήσκουσα ἁμαρτίαν
then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and shall offer the gift for her, a tenth of an ephah of barley flour; he shall not pour oil upon it nor lay frankincense upon it, for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of remembrance, recalling sin.
The procedure begins. The 'offering of jealousy' (θυσία ζηλοτυπίας) is deliberately austere — barley flour without oil or frankincense, the festive elements of ordinary grain-offerings (Lev 2:1–2) — because it is no celebration but a θυσία μνημοσύνου ('offering of remembrance') that 'recalls sin' (ἀναμιμνήσκουσα ἁμαρτίαν).
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶand / thencoordinate conjunction (introducing the apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄξειshall bring / leadFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἄγωmain verb (the husband's first procedural act)→ legislative future (binding procedural instruction)ἄγω: 'lead / bring'; renders הֵבִיא; the husband brings (leads) his wife before the priest, initiating the rite; the legislative future carries imperatival force.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἄνθρωπος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (the husband)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; here the husband acting as the bringer of the suspected wife.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ἄξει (the one brought)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the suspected woman brought to the priest.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἱερέα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέαpriestAccusativeobject of πρός (the officiant)→ object specificationἱερεύς: 'priest'; the officiant who administers the entire ordeal; the priest, not the husband, conducts the rite — the verdict is referred to God through his ministry.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσοίσειshall offer / bringFut Act Indic 3 Sg · προσφέρωmain verb (the presenting of the offering)→ legislative future (binding procedural instruction)προσφέρω: 'bring to / present / offer'; the husband presents the prescribed grain-offering on the wife's behalf; see v. 9.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with δῶρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δῶρονgift / offeringAccusativedirect object of προσοίσει (the offering presented)→ object specificationδῶρον: 'gift / offering'; renders קָרְבָּן / מִנְחָה; the term for an offering presented to God; here the grain-offering of jealousy.
περὶfor / concerningpreposition + genitive (on behalf of: 'for her')→ spatial or relational framingπερί + genitive: 'on behalf of / concerning'; the offering is presented with respect to the wife's case.
αὐτῆςherGenitiveobject of περί (the woman)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'; the offering concerns her case.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with δέκατον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δέκατονa tenthAccusativeaccusative in apposition to δῶρον (the measure of the offering)→ object specificationδέκατος: 'tenth'; τὸ δέκατον τοῦ οιφι ('a tenth of an ephah', the omer measure, rendering עִשִּׂירִית הָאֵיפָה) defines the quantity of flour — about two litres; the same measure as the daily manna ration (Exod 16:36).
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (with οιφι)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οιφιephahgenitive of the whole (indeclinable measure: 'of the ephah')→ clausal contributionοιφι: transliteration of Hebrew אֵיפָה ('ephah'), a dry measure of roughly 22 litres; indeclinable in the LXX; the offering is a tenth of it.
ἄλευρονflour / mealAccusativeaccusative in apposition (the substance of the offering)→ object specificationἄλευρον: 'wheaten/barley flour, meal'; renders קֶמַח; the ground grain that constitutes the offering.
κρίθινονof barleyAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ἄλευρον)→ object specificationκρίθινος: 'of barley'; renders שְׂעֹרִים; barley, the cheaper grain (vs. the wheat-flour σεμίδαλις of festive offerings), suits the sombre, penal character of this offering — no celebration, only the recalling of sin.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἐπιχεεῖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negation; the prohibition of oil and frankincense marks the offering as non-festive.
ἐπιχεεῖshall pour uponFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιχέωmain verb (negated procedural instruction)→ legislative future under negation (prohibition)ἐπιχέω: 'pour upon'; renders יָצַק; oil was poured on the ordinary grain-offering (Lev 2:1); its omission here strips the rite of festal/joyful elements.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative (elided ἐπ᾿): 'upon'; the surface of the offering.
αὐτὸitAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the offering)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it'; the grain-offering.
ἔλαιονoilAccusativedirect object of ἐπιχεεῖ (the forbidden oil)→ object specificationἔλαιον: 'olive oil'; renders שֶׁמֶן; a sign of gladness and richness, deliberately excluded from this offering.
οὐδὲnornegative conjunction (with ἐπιθήσει)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐδέ: 'nor / and not'; continues the prohibition to the frankincense.
ἐπιθήσειshall lay / put uponFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (negated procedural instruction)→ legislative future under negation (prohibition)ἐπιτίθημι: 'place upon / lay on'; renders נָתַן; the frankincense normally added to the grain-offering (Lev 2:1) is forbidden, again stripping the offering of its festal character.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (elided: 'upon it').
αὐτὸitAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the offering)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it'; the grain-offering.
λίβανονfrankincenseAccusativedirect object of ἐπιθήσει (the forbidden frankincense)→ object specificationλίβανος: 'frankincense'; renders לְבֹנָה; the aromatic resin signifying acceptable, pleasing worship; its absence marks the offering as penal, not pleasing.
ἔστινit isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (explanatory: defining the nature of the offering)→ gnomic/explanatory present (stating what the offering is)εἰμί: 'be'; the explanatory ἔστιν γάρ ('for it is ...') gives the reason for the austerity — the offering's very nature is jealousy and remembrance, not celebration.
γὰρforcausal conjunction (post-positive: explaining the prohibitions)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: 'for'; introduces the rationale for excluding oil and frankincense.
θυσίαoffering / sacrificeNominativepredicate nominative (with ἔστιν: 'it is an offering')→ participant prominenceθυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; renders מִנְחָה here (a grain-offering); the predicate defines what kind of offering this is.
ζηλοτυπίαςof jealousyGenitivegenitive of quality (defining θυσία: 'offering of jealousy')→ relational specificationζηλοτυπία: 'jealousy / jealous suspicion'; a compound (ζῆλος + τύπτω, lit. 'smitten with zeal'); renders קְנָאֹת; the signature term of the rite, naming the whole as a θυσία ζηλοτυπίας ('offering of jealousy', cf. vv. 18, 25, 29).
θυσίαofferingNominativepredicate nominative in apposition (further defining the offering)→ participant prominenceθυσία: 'offering'; repeated to add the second defining genitive (μνημοσύνου).
μνημοσύνουof remembrance / memorialGenitivegenitive of quality (defining the second θυσία: 'offering of remembrance')→ relational specificationμνημόσυνον: 'memorial / remembrance'; renders זִכָּרוֹן; the offering functions to bring the matter to remembrance before God — and, ominously, to recall the woman's possible sin for judgment (cf. ἀναμιμνήσκουσα).
ἀναμιμνήσκουσαrecalling / bringing to remembrancePres Act Ptcp Nom Fem Sg · ἀναμιμνῄσκωattributive participle (modifying θυσία: 'an offering ... recalling sin')→ imperfective participle (the offering's ongoing function: recalling sin)ἀναμιμνῄσκω: 'remind / call to remembrance'; renders מַזְכֶּרֶת; the participle states the offering's purpose — it 'recalls sin', bringing the hidden offence before God for adjudication; the sombre counterpart to the joyful 'memorial portion' of normal offerings.
ἁμαρτίανsinAccusativedirect object of ἀναμιμνήσκουσα (what is recalled)→ object specificationἁμαρτία: 'sin'; renders עָוֹן; the object brought to remembrance — the woman's possible adultery, set before God for the verdict of the ordeal.
16
καὶ προσάξει αὐτὴν ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ στήσει αὐτὴν ἔναντι κυρίου
And the priest shall bring her forward and shall set her before the LORD.
The priest now takes over the action. Setting the woman ἔναντι κυρίου ('before the LORD') makes the rite a divine tribunal: the verdict belongs to YHWH, before whose presence she stands at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσάξειshall bring forwardFut Act Indic 3 Sg · προσάγωmain verb (priest's act of presenting the woman)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)προσάγω: 'bring near / present / lead forward'; renders הִקְרִיב; a quasi-cultic term for presenting a person or offering before God; the priest brings the woman into the divine presence.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of προσάξει (the woman)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'her'; the suspected wife.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject (the officiant)→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; the active subject of the rite from here on.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στήσειshall set / standFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (positioning the woman before God)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ἵστημι (trans. fut. στήσει): 'set / cause to stand / station'; renders הֶעֱמִיד; the priest stations the woman before the LORD for the trial; the verb recurs at vv. 18, 30.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of στήσει→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'her'.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (before the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; renders לִפְנֵי; ἔναντι κυρίου locates the rite in YHWH's presence — the ordeal is a divine tribunal, not a human one.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι (the divine Judge)→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the woman stands before YHWH himself, who will render the verdict through the sign in her body.
17
καὶ λήμψεται ὁ ἱερεὺς ὕδωρ καθαρὸν ζῶν ἐν ἀγγείῳ ὀστρακίνῳ καὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς οὔσης ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐδάφους τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου καὶ λαβὼν ὁ ἱερεὺς ἐμβαλεῖ εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ
And the priest shall take pure living water in an earthen vessel, and of the earth that is on the floor of the tent of witness; and the priest, taking it, shall cast it into the water.
The priest compounds the ordeal-water: pure living (running) water in an earthen vessel, into which is mixed dust from the very floor of the tabernacle (τὸ ἔδαφος τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου). The holiness of the dust — taken from sacred ground — is what makes the otherwise ordinary water a vehicle of divine judgment.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψεταιshall takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the priest's act of taking water)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; renders לָקַח; the priest takes the water that will become the means of the ordeal; the future middle λήμψεται is the standard LXX form.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; the officiant preparing the holy water.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; renders מַיִם; the base element of the ordeal-potion, here qualified as 'pure' and 'living.'
καθαρὸνpure / cleanAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying ὕδωρ)→ object specificationκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; renders the requirement of unpolluted water fit for a sacred use; purity of the medium befits its function as a vehicle of divine verdict.
ζῶνliving / runningPres Act Ptcp Acc Neut Sg · ζάωattributive participle (modifying ὕδωρ: 'living water')→ imperfective participle (water that is flowing/fresh)ζάω: 'live'; ὕδωρ ζῶν ('living water') renders מַיִם חַיִּים — fresh, flowing spring-water as opposed to stagnant cistern-water; required for purification rites (cf. Lev 14:5; the same idiom is spiritualized at John 4:10; 7:38).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in a vessel')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in a vessel').
ἀγγείῳvesselDativedative governed by ἐν (the container)→ sphere or referenceἀγγεῖον: 'vessel / container'; renders כְּלִי; the receptacle for the holy water; specified as earthen.
ὀστρακίνῳearthen / of clayDativeattributive adjective (modifying ἀγγείῳ)→ sphere or referenceὀστράκινος: 'made of clay / earthen'; from ὄστρακον ('potsherd'); renders חֶרֶשׂ; an earthen vessel — humble, disposable, and ritually fitting; the same word at 2 Cor 4:7 ('treasure in earthen vessels').
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the dust)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςearth / dustGenitivepartitive genitive (some of the earth, object of the implied 'take')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'earth / soil / dust'; renders עָפָר; the partitive genitive ('some of the earth') is the dust scraped from the sacred floor and mixed into the water — the holy element that empowers the potion.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with the participle οὔσης)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὔσηςthat is / beingPres Act Ptcp Gen Fem Sg · εἰμίattributive participle (modifying γῆς: 'the earth that is on the floor')→ imperfective participle (the dust as located on the sanctuary floor)εἰμί (ptcp. οὖσα): 'being'; the attributive participle specifies precisely which earth — that lying on the tabernacle floor, hence sanctified by the sacred space.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (location: 'on the floor')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location: 'on the floor').
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (with ἐδάφους)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐδάφουςfloor / groundGenitivegenitive object of ἐπὶ (the tabernacle floor)→ relational specificationἔδαφος: 'ground / floor / pavement'; renders קַרְקַע; the dust comes specifically from the floor of the sanctuary — sacred ground — which is what makes the resulting water a holy agent of judgment.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtent / tabernacleGenitivegenitive of relationship (the floor of the tent)→ relational specificationσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; renders מִשְׁכָּן / אֹהֶל; the dwelling-place of God; ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('the tent of witness/meeting') is the standard LXX designation of the tabernacle.
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (with μαρτυρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτυρίουof witness / testimonyGenitivegenitive of definition (the tent 'of witness')→ relational specificationμαρτύριον: 'witness / testimony'; renders מוֹעֵד ('meeting') — the LXX often reads עֵדוּת ('testimony'), hence σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου; the 'tent of witness' is the locus of God's self-revelation and, fittingly, of this trial where God bears witness to the truth.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λαβὼνtakingAor Act Ptcp Nom Masc Sg · λαμβάνωcircumstantial participle (attendant action: 'having taken')→ aorist participle (antecedent action: taking the dust before casting it)λαμβάνω: 'take'; the aorist participle λαβών ('taking / having taken') describes the priest scooping up the sacred dust to mingle it into the water.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of ἐμβαλεῖ→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; repeated as subject of the mixing action.
ἐμβαλεῖshall cast / throw inFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐμβάλλωmain verb (mingling the dust into the water)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ἐμβάλλω: 'throw in / put into'; renders נָתַן; the priest casts the sanctuary dust into the water, producing the compound 'water of conviction' that the woman will drink.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction: 'into the water')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'into the water').
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὕδωρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativeobject of εἰς (the prepared water)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the prepared holy water into which the dust is mixed, now the medium of the ordeal.
18
καὶ στήσει ὁ ἱερεὺς τὴν γυναῖκα ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ ἀποκαλύψει τὴν κεφαλὴν τῆς γυναικὸς καὶ δώσει ἐπὶ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς τὴν θυσίαν τοῦ μνημοσύνου τὴν θυσίαν τῆς ζηλοτυπίας ἐν δὲ τῇ χειρὶ τοῦ ἱερέως ἔσται τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ τοῦ ἐπικαταρωμένου τούτου
And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD and shall uncover the head of the woman, and shall put upon her hands the offering of remembrance, the offering of jealousy; and in the hand of the priest shall be this water of conviction that brings the curse.
The ritual climax is staged: the woman stands before YHWH with her head uncovered (a gesture of shame, exposure, or mourning), holding the jealousy-offering, while the priest holds 'the water of conviction that brings the curse' (τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ τοῦ ἐπικαταρωμένου). The phrase τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ is the technical name of the ordeal-potion (cf. vv. 19, 22, 23, 24, 27).
Word-by-word analysis· 42 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στήσειshall set / standFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (positioning the woman)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ἵστημι: 'set / station'; see v. 16; the woman is stationed before the LORD for the decisive part of the rite.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativedirect object of στήσει→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman / wife'.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; see v. 16.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of יהוה; before whom the trial unfolds.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποκαλύψειshall uncoverFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποκαλύπτωmain verb (the unveiling of the head)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ἀποκαλύπτω: 'uncover / unveil / reveal'; renders פָּרַע ('loosen / let down'); uncovering or loosing the woman's hair is a gesture of shame, exposure, and the undoing of her dignity — making her vulnerable before God's scrutiny; from the same root as ἀποκάλυψις ('revelation').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κεφαλὴν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλὴνheadAccusativedirect object of ἀποκαλύψει→ object specificationκεφαλή: 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; the uncovering of the head/hair exposes the woman, symbolically stripping the protection or honour of her status during the trial.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with γυναικὸς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικὸςwomanGenitivegenitive of possession (the woman's head)→ relational specificationγυνή (gen. γυναικός): 'woman'; possessive genitive identifying whose head is uncovered.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσειshall put / giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (placing the offering in her hands)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)δίδωμι: 'give / place'; renders נָתַן; the priest places the grain-offering into the woman's own hands, making her the bearer of her own memorial-offering before God.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (onto: 'upon her hands')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (onto: 'upon her hands').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with χεῖρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeobject of ἐπὶ (where the offering is placed)→ object specificationχείρ: 'hand'; renders כַּף / יָד; the woman holds the offering in her own hands, presenting it as her plea before God.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her hands)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυσίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίανofferingAccusativedirect object of δώσει (the offering placed)→ object specificationθυσία: 'offering / sacrifice'; the grain-offering; see v. 15.
τοῦthe / ofGenitivearticle (with μνημοσύνου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μνημοσύνουof remembranceGenitivegenitive of quality (defining θυσίαν)→ relational specificationμνημόσυνον: 'memorial / remembrance'; see v. 15; the offering 'of remembrance' that recalls sin.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with the appositional θυσίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίανofferingAccusativeaccusative in apposition (renaming the offering)→ object specificationθυσία: 'offering'; repeated to add the second defining genitive (τῆς ζηλοτυπίας).
τῆςthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ζηλοτυπίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζηλοτυπίαςof jealousyGenitivegenitive of quality (defining the second θυσίαν)→ relational specificationζηλοτυπία: 'jealousy'; see v. 15; the offering 'of jealousy', naming the whole rite.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in the hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in the hand').
δὲbut / andpost-positive (contrastive: the priest's hand vs. the woman's)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; sets the priest's holding of the water over against the woman's holding of the offering — a balanced tableau.
τῇtheDativearticle (with χειρὶ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρὶhandDativedative governed by ἐν (the priest's hand)→ sphere or referenceχείρ: 'hand'; the priest holds the ordeal-water while the woman holds the offering.
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (with ἱερέως)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitivegenitive of possession (the priest's hand)→ relational specificationἱερεύς (gen. ἱερέως): 'priest'; whose hand holds the water.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (locating the water in the priest's hand)→ legislative future (procedural state)εἰμί: 'be'; the water 'shall be in the hand of the priest' — completing the tableau before the oath.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὕδωρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of ἔσται (the ordeal-water)→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: 'water'; the prepared holy water, now named the 'water of conviction.'
τοῦthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ἐλεγμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλεγμοῦof conviction / testingGenitivegenitive of quality (defining ὕδωρ: 'water of conviction')→ relational specificationἐλεγμός: 'conviction / reproof / testing / proof'; renders the sense of the Hebrew מַיִם הַמָּרִים ('bitter water') but interprets it juridically — the water that 'convicts / tests / exposes'; the LXX's distinctive rendering frames the ordeal as a means of bringing the truth to light (cf. ἐλέγχω, 'convict, expose').
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with the participle ἐπικαταρωμένου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπικαταρωμένουthat brings the curse / accursedPres Mid/Pass Ptcp Gen Neut Sg · ἐπικαταράομαιattributive participle (modifying ὕδωρ/ἐλεγμοῦ: 'the cursing water')→ imperfective participle (the water as one that works the curse)ἐπικαταράομαι: 'utter a curse upon / bring a curse'; the participle τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ τοῦ ἐπικαταρωμένου ('the water of conviction that brings the curse') names the potion's dread function; the participle recurs as the chapter's refrain (vv. 19, 22, 24, 27).
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative pronoun (deictic, with the whole phrase: 'this water')→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; the demonstrative τούτου points to the specific potion just prepared, marking it as the very water now in the priest's hand.
19
καὶ ὁρκιεῖ αὐτὴν ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ ἐρεῖ τῇ γυναικί εἰ μὴ κεκοίμηταί τις μετὰ σοῦ εἰ μὴ παραβέβηκας μιανθῆναι ὑπὸ τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν σεαυτῆς ἀθῴα ἴσθι ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ τοῦ ἐπικαταρωμένου τούτου
And the priest shall put her under oath and shall say to the woman, 'If no one has lain with you, if you have not turned aside to be defiled while under your husband, be immune from this water of conviction that brings the curse.'
The priest administers the oath. The protasis of innocence (εἰ μὴ κεκοίμηται ... εἰ μὴ παραβέβηκας) yields the apodosis of immunity (ἀθῴα ἴσθι, 'be immune'). The verb παραβαίνω ('turn aside') reappears as the keyword of marital infidelity, paired here with μιανθῆναι ('to be defiled').
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁρκιεῖshall put under oathFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁρκίζωmain verb (the administering of the oath)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ὁρκίζω: 'put under oath / adjure / make swear'; renders הִשְׁבִּיעַ; the priest places the woman under a self-imprecatory oath — the oath, with the curse-water, is the mechanism by which God will judge.
αὐτὴνherAccusativedirect object of ὁρκιεῖ→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'her'.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖshall sayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγω (εἶπον)main verb (introducing the oath's wording)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; the priest speaks the words of the oath to the woman.
τῇthe / to theDativearticle (with γυναικί)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικίwomanDativedative indirect object of ἐρεῖ (the addressee)→ sphere or referenceγυνή (dat. γυναικί): 'woman'; the one to whom the oath is addressed.
εἰifconditional particle (in oath-formula: 'if ... [may a curse befall]')→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; in Hebraizing oath syntax εἰ μή functions as a strong negative asseveration ('surely not / if ... [let me be cursed]'); here it frames the protasis of innocence.
μὴnotnegative particle (with εἰ in the oath)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negation; εἰ μή ('if not') in the oath-clause = 'if no one has ...'
κεκοίμηταίhas lainPerf Mid/Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάωverb of the oath's protasis (the alleged act)→ perfect (the settled fact, or its negation, of past intercourse)κοιμάω (perf. pass.): 'has lain / slept'; the perfect denotes a completed act with abiding consequence; the euphemism for intercourse; see v. 13.
τιςanyoneNominativesubject of κεκοίμηταί (the hypothetical partner)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'anyone'; the unnamed possible partner.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: 'with'; the idiom of intercourse.
σοῦyouGenitiveobject of μετὰ (the woman, now addressed in 2nd person)→ relational specificationσύ: 'you'; the woman directly addressed in the oath.
εἰifconditional particle (second oath-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; the second εἰ μή clause restates the condition of innocence in terms of παραβαίνω.
μὴnotnegative particle (with παραβέβηκας)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negation.
παραβέβηκαςyou have turned asidePerf Act Indic 2 Sg · παραβαίνωverb of the oath's protasis (the woman's alleged infidelity)→ perfect (the settled fact, or its negation, of turning aside)παραβαίνω: 'turn aside / transgress / be unfaithful'; see v. 12; the perfect 'you have not turned aside' asserts the condition of marital fidelity; the keyword of the ordeal now in the second person.
μιανθῆναιto be defiledAor Pass Inf · μιαίνωinfinitive of result/purpose (the consequence of turning aside)→ aorist passive infinitive (the defilement that would result)μιαίνω (aor. pass. inf.): 'to be defiled'; the infinitive expresses the result of turning aside — defilement through adultery; the standard impurity verb of the chapter.
ὑπὸunderpreposition + accusative (subordination: 'under your husband')→ spatial or relational framingὑπό + accusative: 'under (the authority of)'; the idiom ὑπὸ τὸν ἄνδρα ('under the husband', cf. v. 29) means 'while married/subject to her husband', rendering תַּחַת אִישֵׁךְ.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραhusbandAccusativeobject of ὑπὸ (the husband under whose authority she is)→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; the lawful husband under whose marital authority she stands; her fidelity is owed to him.
τὸνthe / your ownAccusativearticle (with σεαυτῆς, attributive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σεαυτῆςyour ownGenitivereflexive possessive (modifying ἄνδρα: 'your own husband')→ relational specificationσεαυτοῦ/σεαυτῆς: '(of) yourself / your own'; the reflexive possessive emphasizes the marital bond — her own husband, to whom alone she owes fidelity.
ἀθῴαinnocent / immuneNominativepredicate adjective (with ἴσθι: 'be immune')→ participant prominenceἀθῷος: 'innocent / unpunished / immune'; renders נְקִיָּה; the verdict of acquittal — if innocent, the woman is to remain unharmed by the curse-water; the term recurs at v. 28 (ἀθῴα ἔσται).
ἴσθιbePres Act Impv 2 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of the apodosis (the pronouncement of immunity)→ present imperative (declarative/permissive: 'remain immune')εἰμί (impv. ἴσθι): 'be'; the imperative ἀθῴα ἴσθι ('be immune') pronounces the innocent woman's freedom from the curse — a performative declaration of acquittal conditional on her innocence.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'immune from the water')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; ἀθῴα ἀπό ('immune from') marks the curse-water as that from which the innocent woman is exempt.
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (with ὕδατος)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδατοςwaterGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸ (the curse-water)→ relational specificationὕδωρ (gen. ὕδατος): 'water'; the ordeal-water from whose curse the innocent is immune.
τοῦthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ἐλεγμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλεγμοῦof convictionGenitivegenitive of quality (defining ὕδατος)→ relational specificationἐλεγμός: 'conviction / testing'; see v. 18.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἐπικαταρωμένου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπικαταρωμένουthat brings the cursePres Mid/Pass Ptcp Gen Neut Sg · ἐπικαταράομαιattributive participle (modifying the water: 'the cursing water')→ imperfective participle (the water as one that works the curse)ἐπικαταράομαι: 'bring a curse'; see v. 18; the refrain naming the potion's function.
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative pronoun (deictic: 'this water')→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; the specific potion in the priest's hand.
20
εἰ δὲ σὺ παραβέβηκας ὑπ᾿ ἀνδρὸς οὖσα ἢ μεμίανσαι καὶ ἔδωκέν τις τὴν κοίτην αὐτοῦ ἐν σοὶ πλὴν τοῦ ἀνδρός σου
But if you have turned aside while being under your husband, or have defiled yourself, and someone has given his lying in you besides your husband —
The adversative δέ pivots from the oath of innocence (v. 19) to the case of guilt. The emphatic σύ ('you yourself') sharpens the address. This protasis hangs incomplete, its apodosis deferred to the dread imprecation of v. 21 ('may the LORD make you a curse ...').
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
εἰifconditional particle (protasis of guilt)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: 'if'; introduces the contrary case of actual guilt.
δὲbutadversative (post-positive: pivoting to the guilty case)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive adversative; turns from acquittal to the imprecation against the guilty.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic 2nd person: 'you yourself')→ participant referenceσύ: emphatic 'you'; the foregrounded pronoun presses the charge directly upon the woman.
παραβέβηκαςyou have turned asidePerf Act Indic 2 Sg · παραβαίνωverb of the protasis (the woman's infidelity)→ perfect (the settled fact of having gone astray)παραβαίνω: 'turn aside / transgress'; see vv. 12, 19; here positively asserting the guilty case ('if you have turned aside').
ὑπ᾿underpreposition + genitive (subordination: 'under a husband', elided)→ spatial or relational framingὑπό + genitive (elided ὑπ᾿): here 'under (the authority of) a husband'; with the participle οὖσα = 'being under a husband', i.e. while married.
ἀνδρὸςa husbandGenitivegenitive governed by ὑπ᾿ (the marital authority)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; ὑπ᾿ ἀνδρὸς οὖσα ('being under a husband') = while she was a married woman; the same idiom as v. 29.
οὖσαbeingPres Act Ptcp Nom Fem Sg · εἰμίcircumstantial participle (concessive/temporal: 'while being [married]')→ imperfective participle (the state of being married during the offence)εἰμί (ptcp. οὖσα): 'being'; the participle ὑπ᾿ ἀνδρὸς οὖσα stresses that the infidelity occurred while she was a married woman — an aggravation of the offence.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; links 'turned aside' with 'defiled yourself' as descriptions of the same offence.
μεμίανσαιyou have been defiledPerf Mid/Pass Indic 2 Sg · μιαίνωverb of the protasis (coordinate with παραβέβηκας)→ perfect passive (the abiding state of defilement)μιαίνω (perf. pass.): 'have been defiled / have defiled yourself'; the second-person perfect addresses the woman's settled defilement; the impurity verb of the chapter.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκένhas givenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of the protasis (the partner's act)→ constative aorist (the completed illicit act)δίδωμι: 'give'; the idiom ἔδωκεν τὴν κοίτην αὐτοῦ ἐν σοί ('has given his lying in you') is a euphemism for the man's act of intercourse, rendering נָתַן שְׁכָבְתּוֹ; the bluntly physical phrasing names the adultery.
τιςsomeoneNominativesubject of ἔδωκέν (the paramour)→ participant referenceτις: indefinite 'someone'; the anonymous partner in adultery.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κοίτην)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοίτηνlying / emissionAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκέν (the act of intercourse)→ object specificationκοίτη: 'bed / lying / intercourse'; see v. 13; in ἔδωκεν τὴν κοίτην αὐτοῦ the noun denotes the sexual act/emission.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the man's intercourse)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the partner's own act.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, euphemistic: 'in you')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: 'in'; the crude-literal ἐν σοί completes the euphemism for sexual union.
σοὶyouDativeobject of ἐν (the woman)→ participant reference or interestσύ: 'you'; the woman addressed.
πλὴνbesides / other thanimproper preposition + genitive (exception: 'besides your husband')→ spatial or relational framingπλήν: 'except / besides / other than'; with the genitive it names the husband as the one excluded — the intercourse was with a man other than the lawful spouse, which is precisely the adultery.
τοῦthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ἀνδρός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρόςhusbandGenitivegenitive governed by πλὴν (the excepted lawful spouse)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'husband'; the lawful spouse, intercourse with whom would not be adultery — hence 'besides your husband' defines the offence.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your husband)→ relational specificationσύ: 'your'; marks the marital bond breached.
21
καὶ ὁρκιεῖ ὁ ἱερεὺς τὴν γυναῖκα ἐν τοῖς ὅρκοις τῆς ἀρᾶς ταύτης καὶ ἐρεῖ ὁ ἱερεὺς τῇ γυναικί δῴη κύριός σε ἐν ἀρᾷ καὶ ἐνόρκιον ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λαοῦ σου ἐν τῷ δοῦναι κύριον τὸν μηρόν σου διαπεπτωκότα καὶ τὴν κοιλίαν σου πεπρησμένην
Then the priest shall put the woman under oath, in the oaths of this curse, and the priest shall say to the woman, 'May the LORD make you a curse and an object of swearing in the midst of your people, when the LORD makes your thigh fall away and your belly swell;
The apodosis to v. 20: a formal self-imprecation. The signs of guilt are bodily — the thigh falling away (μηρὸν διαπεπτωκότα) and the belly swelling (κοιλίαν πεπρησμένην), idioms of reproductive ruin. δῴη κύριος ('may the LORD make / grant') is the optative of imprecation; the woman is to become 'a curse and an oath' among her people.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁρκιεῖshall put under oathFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁρκίζωmain verb (administering the oath of cursing)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ὁρκίζω: 'put under oath / adjure'; see v. 19; here the oath is specifically 'the oath of cursing.'
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativedirect object of ὁρκιεῖ→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman'.
ἐνin / withpreposition + dative (instrumental/manner: 'with the oaths')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: instrumental, 'by/with the oaths of this curse.'
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ὅρκοις)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅρκοιςoathsDativedative governed by ἐν (the curse-oaths)→ sphere or referenceὅρκος: 'oath / sworn imprecation'; renders שְׁבֻעָה; the plural 'oaths of the curse' marks the solemn, formulaic self-imprecation.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with ἀρᾶς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρᾶςcurseGenitivegenitive of definition (the oaths 'of the curse')→ relational specificationἀρά: 'curse / imprecation'; renders אָלָה; the curse invoked upon the woman should she be guilty; ἡ ἀρά is the chapter's term for the self-imprecation (cf. vv. 23, 27).
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative pronoun (modifying ἀρᾶς: 'this curse')→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; the specific curse now being pronounced.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖshall sayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγω (εἶπον)main verb (introducing the imprecation)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; the priest pronounces the words of the self-curse.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of ἐρεῖ→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'.
τῇthe / to theDativearticle (with γυναικί)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικίwomanDativedative indirect object of ἐρεῖ→ sphere or referenceγυνή (dat. γυναικί): 'woman'; the addressee of the curse.
δῴηmay he make / grantAor Act Opt 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of the imprecation (optative of wish/curse)→ optative of imprecation (a wish that the curse befall the guilty)δίδωμι (aor. opt. δοίη/δῴη): 'give / grant / make'; the optative δῴη κύριος ('may the LORD make/grant') is the grammatical mode of the imprecation; renders the Hebrew jussive יִתֵּן; here the LORD is invoked to render the guilty woman a curse and her body the sign of judgment.
κύριόςthe LORDNominativesubject of δῴη (the divine agent of the curse)→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of יהוה; it is YHWH himself — not the water by magic — who is invoked to execute the verdict; the ordeal refers judgment to God.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of δῴη (the woman made a curse)→ participant referenceσύ: 'you'; the woman who, if guilty, is to become a curse.
ἐνas / inpreposition + dative (predicative: 'to be a curse')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dative: here predicative (Hebraizing לְ), 'make you into/as a curse'; the woman becomes a byword.
ἀρᾷa curseDativepredicate dative (what the woman becomes)→ sphere or referenceἀρά: 'curse'; the guilty woman becomes herself 'a curse' — a living example invoked in others' imprecations (cf. Jer 29:22).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνόρκιονan object of swearing / curse-oathAccusativepredicate accusative (parallel to ἐν ἀρᾷ: what she becomes)→ object specificationἐνόρκιον: 'a thing sworn by / an object of an oath / imprecation'; renders שְׁבֻעָה; the woman becomes a proverbial example used in oaths ('may the LORD make you like ...'), her name a watchword of warning among her people.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative: 'in the midst')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'in the midst').
μέσῳthe midstDativedative governed by ἐν (ἐν μέσῳ: 'in the midst of')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λαοῦ ('in the midst of the people') renders בְּתוֹךְ עַמֵּךְ; the public shame is communal — she becomes a byword before all Israel.
τοῦthe / of theGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of relationship (her people)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; her own community, before whom her disgrace is public.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your people)→ relational specificationσύ: 'your'.
ἐνwhen / inpreposition + dative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐν τῷ + infinitive: 'when / while', a Hebraizing temporal construction (rendering בְּ + infinitive); 'when the LORD makes ...'
τῷtheDativearticle (with the infinitive δοῦναι, forming ἐν τῷ + inf.)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δοῦναιto make / giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιarticular infinitive (temporal: 'when the LORD makes')→ aorist infinitive (the moment of judgment's onset)δίδωμι (aor. inf.): 'give / make / cause'; the articular infinitive ἐν τῷ δοῦναι κύριον ('when the LORD causes ...') specifies the moment the bodily curse takes effect.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive δοῦναι→ object specificationκύριος: rendering of יהוה; the accusative subject of the infinitive — YHWH is the one who effects the bodily sign of guilt.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with μηρόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηρόνthighAccusativedirect object of δοῦναι (the body part afflicted)→ object specificationμηρός: 'thigh'; renders יָרֵךְ; in this context a euphemism for the reproductive organs; its 'falling away' signifies miscarriage, sterility, or the wasting of the womb — the bodily sign of guilt.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your thigh)→ relational specificationσύ: 'your'.
διαπεπτωκόταfallen away / wastedPerf Act Ptcp Acc Masc Sg · διαπίπτωpredicate participle (object complement: 'the thigh [to be] fallen away')→ perfect active participle (resultant state: collapsed/wasted)διαπίπτω: 'fall through / collapse / waste away'; the perfect participle expresses the resultant condition of the thigh — fallen, wasted; renders נֹפֶלֶת; the sign of the curse upon the guilty woman's body.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κοιλίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοιλίανbelly / wombAccusativedirect object of δοῦναι (the body part afflicted)→ object specificationκοιλία: 'belly / womb / abdomen'; renders בֶּטֶן; together with μηρός it denotes the reproductive region; its 'swelling' (πεπρησμένην) is the second bodily sign of guilt.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession (your belly)→ relational specificationσύ: 'your'.
πεπρησμένηνswollen / distendedPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Acc Fem Sg · πίμπρημι (πρήθω)predicate participle (object complement: 'the belly [to be] swollen')→ perfect passive participle (resultant state: distended/swollen)πίμπρημι / πρήθω: 'cause to swell / inflame / distend'; the perfect passive participle describes the belly in a swollen state; renders צָבָה ('swell'); paired with the wasting thigh, it depicts the bodily ruin that marks the guilty woman.
22
καὶ εἰσελεύσεται τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἐπικαταρώμενον τοῦτο εἰς τὴν κοιλίαν σου πρῆσαι γαστέρα καὶ διαπεσεῖν μηρόν σου καὶ ἐρεῖ ἡ γυνή γένοιτο γένοιτο
and this water that brings the curse shall enter into your belly, to make the womb swell and your thigh fall away.' And the woman shall say, 'So be it, so be it.'
The curse reaches its climax: the water 'enters' the body to effect the swelling and wasting. The woman seals the oath upon herself with the doubled γένοιτο γένοιτο ('Amen, amen' — the LXX renders Hebrew אָמֵן אָמֵן), accepting the conditional self-curse as binding.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσελεύσεταιshall enterFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (the water entering the body)→ predictive future (the curse taking bodily effect)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go into'; renders בָּא; the curse-water 'enters' the woman's body to do its work; the verb recurs at vv. 24, 27.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὕδωρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of εἰσελεύσεται→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: 'water'; the ordeal-potion.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with the participle ἐπικαταρώμενον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπικαταρώμενονthat brings the cursePres Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · ἐπικαταράομαιattributive participle (modifying ὕδωρ: 'the cursing water')→ imperfective participle (the water as one that works the curse)ἐπικαταράομαι: 'bring a curse'; see vv. 18, 19; the refrain naming the potion.
τοῦτοthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (modifying ὕδωρ: 'this water')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the specific potion.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction: 'into the belly')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'into the belly').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κοιλίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοιλίανbelly / wombAccusativeobject of εἰς (where the water enters)→ object specificationκοιλία: 'belly / womb'; see v. 21; the water enters the reproductive region to effect the curse.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ: 'your'.
πρῆσαιto make swellAor Act Inf · πίμπρημι (πρήθω)infinitive of purpose/result (the effect of the water)→ aorist infinitive (the intended bodily effect)πίμπρημι / πρήθω: 'cause to swell / inflame'; the infinitive of purpose expresses what the water does — make the womb swell; cognate with πεπρησμένην (v. 21).
γαστέραwomb / bellyAccusativedirect object of πρῆσαι (what swells)→ object specificationγαστήρ: 'belly / womb'; renders בֶּטֶן; synonym of κοιλία, varying the diction; the object of the swelling.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαπεσεῖνto make fall awayAor Act Inf · διαπίπτωinfinitive of purpose/result (the second effect)→ aorist infinitive (the intended bodily effect)διαπίπτω: 'fall through / collapse / waste away'; the infinitive of purpose; the water makes the thigh fall/waste; cognate with διαπεπτωκότα (v. 21).
μηρόνthighAccusativeaccusative of respect/subject of διαπεσεῖν (the thigh that falls)→ object specificationμηρός: 'thigh'; see v. 21; the body part wasted by the curse.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationσύ: 'your'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐρεῖshall sayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγω (εἶπον)main verb (the woman's response)→ legislative future (the prescribed response)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; the woman answers, ratifying the oath upon herself.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γυνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνήwomanNominativesubject of ἐρεῖ→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman'; the suspected wife, who must verbally accept the oath.
γένοιτοso be it / amenAor Mid Opt 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb of the woman's assent (optative of acceptance)→ optative of wish/ratification ('let it be so')γίνομαι (aor. opt. γένοιτο): 'may it be / so be it'; the LXX's standard rendering of אָמֵן ('Amen'); the optative ratifies the self-imprecation, the woman accepting the curse as binding upon herself if guilty.
γένοιτοso be it / amenAor Mid Opt 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (emphatic repetition of assent)→ optative of wish (doubled for solemn ratification)γίνομαι (aor. opt.): the doubled γένοιτο γένοιτο renders the emphatic אָמֵן אָמֵן ('Amen, amen'); the repetition gives the woman's acceptance maximal solemnity, sealing the oath.
23
καὶ γράψει ὁ ἱερεὺς τὰς ἀρὰς ταύτας εἰς βιβλίον καὶ ἐξαλείψει εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ τοῦ ἐπικαταρωμένου
And the priest shall write these curses in a scroll and shall wash them off into the water of conviction that brings the curse.
The most singular gesture of the rite: the curses — which contain the divine name κύριος (vv. 21) — are written in a scroll and then washed off (ἐξαλείψει) into the bitter water, so that the very ink of the imprecation, divine name included, is dissolved and drunk. This is the only place in the Torah where the written Name is deliberately effaced into water.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γράψειshall writeFut Act Indic 3 Sg · γράφωmain verb (writing the curses)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)γράφω: 'write'; renders כָּתַב; the priest inscribes the curses, including the divine name, in a scroll — the written form being essential to the subsequent dissolving.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἀρὰς)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρὰςcursesAccusativedirect object of γράψει (what is written)→ object specificationἀρά: 'curse / imprecation'; see v. 21; the written curses contain the divine name and the self-imprecation just pronounced.
ταύταςtheseAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (modifying ἀρὰς)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'these'; the curses just spoken in vv. 21–22.
εἰςin / intopreposition + accusative (into: 'in a scroll')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: here 'in / onto', the surface written upon.
βιβλίονscroll / bookAccusativeobject of εἰς (the writing surface)→ object specificationβιβλίον: 'scroll / document / little book'; renders סֵפֶר; the writing-material on which the curses are inscribed before being washed off.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαλείψειshall wash off / blot outFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαλείφωmain verb (dissolving the writing into the water)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ἐξαλείφω: 'wipe out / blot out / erase / wash off'; renders מָחָה; the priest dissolves the ink of the curses into the water, so the written words — divine name included — are physically washed into the potion the woman drinks; the same verb describes blotting out sin (Ps 50:3 LXX) and names from the book of life (Exod 32:32).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction: 'into the water')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'into the water').
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὕδωρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativeobject of εἰς (the potion receiving the dissolved curses)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the ordeal-potion into which the written curses are washed.
τοῦthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ἐλεγμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλεγμοῦof convictionGenitivegenitive of quality (defining ὕδωρ)→ relational specificationἐλεγμός: 'conviction / testing'; see v. 18.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἐπικαταρωμένου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπικαταρωμένουthat brings the cursePres Mid/Pass Ptcp Gen Neut Sg · ἐπικαταράομαιattributive participle (modifying the water)→ imperfective participle (the water as one that works the curse)ἐπικαταράομαι: 'bring a curse'; see vv. 18–22; the refrain.
24
καὶ ποτιεῖ τὴν γυναῖκα τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ τοῦ ἐπικαταρωμένου καὶ εἰσελεύσεται εἰς αὐτὴν τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἐπικαταρώμενον τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ
And he shall make the woman drink the water of conviction that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse, the water of conviction, shall enter into her.
A summary statement of the drinking (anticipating v. 26, where it follows the burning of the offering). The double-accusative ποτιεῖ τὴν γυναῖκα τὸ ὕδωρ ('make the woman drink the water') and the entering of the water εἰς αὐτήν stress that the curse-medium is internalized — the verdict will manifest from within her body.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποτιεῖshall make drinkFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποτίζωmain verb (causative: 'give to drink')→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ποτίζω: 'give to drink / cause to drink'; renders הִשְׁקָה; the causative verb takes a double accusative (the woman and the water); the priest administers the potion.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativeaccusative of the person (double-accusative with ποτιεῖ)→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman'; the one made to drink.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὕδωρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativeaccusative of the thing (double-accusative with ποτιεῖ)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the curse-potion administered.
τοῦthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ἐλεγμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλεγμοῦof convictionGenitivegenitive of quality (defining ὕδωρ)→ relational specificationἐλεγμός: 'conviction / testing'; see v. 18.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἐπικαταρωμένου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπικαταρωμένουthat brings the cursePres Mid/Pass Ptcp Gen Neut Sg · ἐπικαταράομαιattributive participle (modifying the water)→ imperfective participle (the water as one that works the curse)ἐπικαταράομαι: 'bring a curse'; see vv. 18–23; the refrain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσελεύσεταιshall enterFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (the water entering her)→ predictive future (the curse taking effect within her)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter'; see v. 22; the water enters her body to work the verdict.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction: 'into her')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'into her').
αὐτὴνherAccusativeobject of εἰς (the woman)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'her'; the water enters into her body.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὕδωρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of εἰσελεύσεται→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: 'water'; the curse-potion now entering her.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with the participle ἐπικαταρώμενον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπικαταρώμενονthat brings the cursePres Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · ἐπικαταράομαιattributive participle (modifying ὕδωρ)→ imperfective participle (the water as one that works the curse)ἐπικαταράομαι: 'bring a curse'; the refrain, here in the nominative with the subject.
τοῦthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ἐλεγμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλεγμοῦof convictionGenitivegenitive of quality (defining ὕδωρ)→ relational specificationἐλεγμός: 'conviction / testing'; the rephrased word-order (τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἐπικαταρώμενον τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ) varies the formula; see v. 18.
25
καὶ λήμψεται ὁ ἱερεὺς ἐκ χειρὸς τῆς γυναικὸς τὴν θυσίαν τῆς ζηλοτυπίας καὶ ἐπιθήσει τὴν θυσίαν ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ προσοίσει αὐτὴν πρὸς τὸ θυσιαστήριον
And the priest shall take from the hand of the woman the offering of jealousy and shall present the offering before the LORD and shall bring it to the altar.
The priest now takes the grain-offering from the woman's hands (which she has held since v. 18), elevates/presents it before the LORD, and brings it to the altar. The sequence integrates the offering into the rite: the trial is also a sacrificial act, its verdict sealed before God at the altar.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήμψεταιshall takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (taking the offering from her hand)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)λαμβάνω: 'take'; see v. 17; the priest takes the offering from the woman to present it at the altar.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'.
ἐκfrom / out ofpreposition + genitive (source: 'from the hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source: 'from the hand').
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (the source)→ relational specificationχείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; the woman's hand, from which the priest takes the offering she has held since v. 18.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with γυναικὸς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναικὸςwomanGenitivegenitive of possession (the woman's hand)→ relational specificationγυνή (gen. γυναικός): 'woman'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυσίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίανofferingAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται→ object specificationθυσία: 'offering'; the grain-offering; see v. 15.
τῆςthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ζηλοτυπίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζηλοτυπίαςof jealousyGenitivegenitive of quality (defining θυσίαν)→ relational specificationζηλοτυπία: 'jealousy'; see v. 15; the offering 'of jealousy.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπιθήσειshall present / setFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιτίθημιmain verb (placing/presenting the offering before the LORD)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ἐπιτίθημι: 'place upon / set / present'; renders הֵנִיף ('wave/elevate') in this context — the offering is elevated or set before the LORD as a presentation-offering; see v. 15 for the same verb with a different object.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with θυσίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίανofferingAccusativedirect object of ἐπιθήσει→ object specificationθυσία: 'offering'; the same grain-offering, now elevated before the LORD.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (before the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; see v. 16; the offering is presented in YHWH's presence.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of יהוה.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσοίσειshall bringFut Act Indic 3 Sg · προσφέρωmain verb (bringing the offering to the altar)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)προσφέρω: 'bring to / present'; see v. 15; the offering is brought to the altar for its memorial-portion to be burned (v. 26).
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object of προσοίσει (the offering)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it' (fem., agreeing with θυσίαν); the offering brought to the altar.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction: 'to the altar')→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'to the altar').
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with θυσιαστήριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativeobject of πρὸς (the place of offering)→ object specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar / place of sacrifice'; a distinctively biblical-Greek formation (from θυσιάζω); renders מִזְבֵּחַ; the altar where the memorial-portion is burned before the LORD.
26
καὶ δράξεται ὁ ἱερεὺς ἀπὸ τῆς θυσίας τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῆς καὶ ἀνοίσει αὐτὸ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ποτιεῖ τὴν γυναῖκα τὸ ὕδωρ
And the priest shall take a handful from the offering, its memorial-portion, and shall offer it up on the altar; and after these things he shall make the woman drink the water.
The priest takes a handful — the 'memorial-portion' (τὸ μνημόσυνον) — and burns it on the altar, as in ordinary grain-offerings (Lev 2:2), then administers the water. The temporal μετὰ ταῦτα ('after these things') orders the sequence: sacrifice first, then the drinking that brings the verdict.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δράξεταιshall grasp a handfulFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · δράσσομαιmain verb (taking a handful of the offering)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)δράσσομαι: 'grasp / take a handful / clutch'; renders קָמַץ ('take a handful'); the priest takes a fistful of the flour as the token-portion to be burned; the verb appears at Job 5:13 (cited 1 Cor 3:19).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'from the offering')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: partitive 'from / some of'; the handful is taken from the whole offering.
τῆςthe / of theGenitivearticle (with θυσίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίαςofferingGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸ (the source of the handful)→ relational specificationθυσία: 'offering'; the grain-offering from which the memorial-portion is taken.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with μνημόσυνον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μνημόσυνονmemorial-portionAccusativedirect object of δράξεται (in apposition: the token-portion)→ object specificationμνημόσυνον: 'memorial / remembrance-portion'; renders אַזְכָּרָה; the handful burned on the altar as the 'token' representing the whole offering before God (Lev 2:2); cf. the offering's character as θυσία μνημοσύνου in v. 15.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the offering's memorial-portion)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'its'; the memorial-portion belonging to the offering.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνοίσειshall offer upFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναφέρωmain verb (burning the portion on the altar)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ἀναφέρω: 'bring up / offer up / carry up'; renders הִקְטִיר / הֶעֱלָה; the technical verb for offering up a portion in smoke on the altar; the memorial-handful ascends to God as a pleasing token.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object of ἀνοίσει (the memorial-portion)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'it' (neut., agreeing with μνημόσυνον); the handful offered up.
ἐπὶon / uponpreposition + accusative (onto: 'on the altar')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (onto: 'on the altar').
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with θυσιαστήριον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativeobject of ἐπὶ (the place of burning)→ object specificationθυσιαστήριον: 'altar'; see v. 25; where the memorial-portion is burned.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal: 'after these things')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + accusative: 'after'; μετὰ ταῦτα is the standard LXX temporal formula for narrative/procedural succession; here it orders the drinking after the sacrifice.
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeobject of μετὰ (the preceding acts)→ object specificationοὗτος: 'these things'; the burning of the memorial-portion just completed.
ποτιεῖshall make drinkFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποτίζωmain verb (administering the water)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ποτίζω: 'give to drink'; see v. 24; the drinking now follows the sacrifice in the proper order.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwomanAccusativeaccusative of the person (double-accusative with ποτιεῖ)→ object specificationγυνή: 'woman'; the one made to drink.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ὕδωρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativeaccusative of the thing (double-accusative with ποτιεῖ)→ object specificationὕδωρ: 'water'; the curse-potion administered after the offering.
27
καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν ᾖ μεμιαμμένη καὶ λήθῃ λάθῃ τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς καὶ εἰσελεύσεται εἰς αὐτὴν τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ἐλεγμοῦ τὸ ἐπικαταρώμενον καὶ πρησθήσεται τὴν κοιλίαν καὶ διαπεσεῖται ὁ μηρὸς αὐτῆς καὶ ἔσται ἡ γυνὴ εἰς ἀρὰν ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτῆς
And it shall be, if she is defiled and has utterly escaped the notice of her husband, then the water of conviction that brings the curse shall enter into her, and her belly shall swell and her thigh shall fall away, and the woman shall become a curse among her people.
The guilty outcome. The cognate construction λήθῃ λάθῃ ('by escaping she escapes notice') is a Hebraism for the wholly concealed deed. The bodily signs of v. 21 now occur as fact (πρησθήσεται ... διαπεσεῖται), and the woman becomes εἰς ἀρὰν ('a curse') among her people — the imprecation realized.
Word-by-word analysis· 40 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (apodosis-introducing formula: 'and it shall come to pass')→ legislative future (the formula introducing the consequence)εἰμί: 'be'; καὶ ἔσται ('and it shall come to pass') renders וְהָיָה, the standard Hebrew formula introducing the outcome of a condition; here the verdict-clause.
ἐὰνifconditional particle (protasis of guilt)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the case of actual defilement.
ᾖis / bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the protasis (periphrastic perfect with μεμιαμμένη)→ present subjunctive (forming periphrastic perfect)εἰμί: 'be'; with μεμιαμμένη a periphrastic perfect subjunctive ('if she is in a defiled state').
μεμιαμμένηdefiledPerf Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Fem Sg · μιαίνωpredicate participle (periphrastic perfect with ᾖ)→ perfect passive participle (settled state of defilement)μιαίνω (perf. pass.): 'defiled'; see vv. 13–14; the guilty condition that triggers the curse.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λήθῃin concealment / by escaping noticeDativecognate dative (Hebraism, intensifying λάθῃ)→ sphere or referenceλήθη: 'forgetfulness / concealment / oblivion'; the cognate dative λήθῃ λάθῃ ('by concealment she has escaped notice') renders the Hebrew infinitive-absolute intensification (נִסְתְּרָה), expressing that the act was utterly hidden from the husband.
λάθῃshe escapes notice / it is hiddenAor Act Subj 3 Sg · λανθάνωverb of the protasis (the act's complete concealment)→ aorist subjunctive in the cognate construction (intensified: utterly hidden)λανθάνω: 'escape notice / be hidden'; see v. 13; the cognate construction λήθῃ λάθῃ underscores the total secrecy of the deed from the husband — the precondition that necessitated the ordeal.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with ἄνδρα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραhusbandAccusativeaccusative object of λάθῃ ('escape the husband's notice')→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; λανθάνω takes the accusative of the person from whom something is hidden — here the deceived husband.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her husband)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'.
καὶand / thencoordinate conjunction (introducing the apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσελεύσεταιshall enterFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (the water entering her)→ predictive future (the curse taking effect)εἰσέρχομαι: 'enter'; see vv. 22, 24; the water enters to execute the verdict.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction: 'into her')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'into her').
αὐτὴνherAccusativeobject of εἰς (the woman)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'her'.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὕδωρ)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδωρwaterNominativesubject of εἰσελεύσεται→ participant prominenceὕδωρ: 'water'; the curse-potion.
τοῦthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ἐλεγμοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐλεγμοῦof convictionGenitivegenitive of quality (defining ὕδωρ)→ relational specificationἐλεγμός: 'conviction / testing'; see v. 18.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with the participle ἐπικαταρώμενον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐπικαταρώμενονthat brings the cursePres Mid/Pass Ptcp Nom Neut Sg · ἐπικαταράομαιattributive participle (modifying ὕδωρ)→ imperfective participle (the water as one that works the curse)ἐπικαταράομαι: 'bring a curse'; see vv. 18–24; the refrain.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρησθήσεταιshall swellFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · πίμπρημι (πρήθω)main verb (the bodily sign: swelling)→ predictive future passive (the curse's bodily effect)πίμπρημι / πρήθω: 'cause to swell'; the future passive 'shall swell'; the realization of the curse pronounced in v. 21 (πεπρησμένην); takes the accusative of respect τὴν κοιλίαν ('as to the belly').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with κοιλίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοιλίανbelly / wombAccusativeaccusative of respect (with πρησθήσεται: 'swell as to the belly')→ object specificationκοιλία: 'belly / womb'; see v. 21; the body part that swells as the sign of guilt.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαπεσεῖταιshall fall awayFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · διαπίπτωmain verb (the bodily sign: wasting of the thigh)→ predictive future (the curse's bodily effect)διαπίπτω: 'fall through / collapse / waste away'; the future 'shall fall/waste'; the realization of v. 21's διαπεπτωκότα; the second bodily sign of guilt.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with μηρὸς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηρὸςthighNominativesubject of διαπεσεῖται→ participant prominenceμηρός: 'thigh'; see v. 21; the body part that wastes as the sign of guilt.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her thigh)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιshall becomeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the woman's resultant status)→ predictive future (her becoming a curse)εἰμί: 'be / become'; ἔσται εἰς ἀράν ('shall become a curse') is a Hebraizing predicative construction (הָיָה לְ); the guilty woman becomes a byword of imprecation among her people.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γυνὴ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject of ἔσται→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman'; the guilty wife who becomes a curse.
εἰςas / intopreposition + accusative (predicative: 'become a curse')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς + accusative: predicative (Hebraizing לְ), 'for/as a curse'; the woman becomes a living imprecation.
ἀρὰνa curseAccusativepredicate accusative (what she becomes)→ object specificationἀρά: 'curse / imprecation'; see v. 21; the woman becomes a curse-example among her people — public, lasting disgrace.
ἐνamong / inpreposition + dative (locative: 'among her people')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative: 'among her people').
τῷthe / theDativearticle (with λαῷ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαῷpeopleDativedative governed by ἐν (her community)→ sphere or referenceλαός: 'people'; her community, before whom she is publicly disgraced (cf. ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λαοῦ, v. 21).
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her people)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'.
28
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ μιανθῇ ἡ γυνὴ καὶ καθαρὰ ᾖ καὶ ἀθῴα ἔσται καὶ ἐκσπερματιεῖ σπέρμα
But if the woman has not been defiled and is clean, then she shall be immune and shall conceive seed.
The acquittal. The innocent woman is ἀθῴα ('immune', echoing v. 19) and, more than merely unharmed, is positively blessed with fertility: ἐκσπερματιεῖ σπέρμα ('she shall conceive seed') — a vindication that turns the dread of barrenness (the curse's threat) into the gift of offspring.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἐὰνifconditional particle (protasis of innocence)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the case of innocence, contrasting with v. 27.
δὲbutadversative (post-positive: contrast with the guilty case)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive adversative; turns from the verdict of guilt to that of innocence.
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive μιανθῇ)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: negation proper to the subjunctive.
μιανθῇhas been defiledAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · μιαίνωverb of the protasis (the innocence-condition, negated)→ aorist passive subjunctive (the hypothetical of non-defilement)μιαίνω (aor. pass.): 'be defiled'; here negated — the woman has not been defiled; the impurity verb that frames the chapter's verdicts.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γυνὴ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject of μιανθῇ→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman'; the innocent wife.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καθαρὰclean / pureNominativepredicate adjective (with ᾖ: 'is clean')→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; renders טְהֹרָה; the positive counterpart of μεμιαμμένη — ritually and morally clean, hence innocent.
ᾖis / bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the protasis (predicate with καθαρὰ)→ present subjunctive (the state of being clean)εἰμί: 'be'; with καθαρά, 'is clean'; restates the innocence-condition positively.
καὶand / thencoordinate conjunction (introducing the apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀθῴαimmune / innocentNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται: 'shall be immune')→ participant prominenceἀθῷος: 'innocent / unpunished / immune'; see v. 19; the innocent woman is unharmed by the curse-water — the verdict of acquittal realized.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the apodosis: pronouncement of immunity)→ predictive future (the innocent woman's safe outcome)εἰμί: 'be'; ἀθῴα ἔσται ('she shall be immune') declares the innocent woman's freedom from harm.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκσπερματιεῖshall conceive seedFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκσπερματίζωmain verb (the positive blessing of fertility)→ predictive future (the gift of offspring)ἐκσπερματίζω: 'produce/conceive seed, be made fruitful'; a rare causative-denominative from σπέρμα; renders נִזְרְעָה זָרַע ('she shall be sown with seed / conceive children'); the innocent woman is not merely unharmed but positively blessed with conception — the opposite of the barrenness threatened by the curse.
σπέρμαseed / offspringAccusativecognate accusative (object of ἐκσπερματιεῖ)→ object specificationσπέρμα: 'seed / offspring'; renders זָרַע; the cognate accusative ἐκσπερματιεῖ σπέρμα ('she shall conceive seed') is a Hebraism intensifying the promise of fertility — children as the sign of vindication.
29
οὗτος ὁ νόμος τῆς ζηλοτυπίας ᾧ ἐὰν παραβῇ ἡ γυνὴ ὑπ᾿ ἀνδρὸς οὖσα καὶ μιανθῇ
This is the law of jealousy, in which case a woman, being under her husband, should turn aside and be defiled,
The concluding rubric. οὗτος ὁ νόμος ('this is the law') is the standard Pentateuchal subscription-formula closing a legislative unit (cf. Lev 6:9; 7:1). It recapitulates the two triggering cases — the unfaithful wife (v. 29) and the jealous husband (v. 30) — restating the keyword παραβαίνω.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject: 'this [is] the law')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the subscription-formula οὗτος ὁ νόμος ('this is the law of ...') closes the legislative unit; renders זֹאת תּוֹרַת.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with νόμος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμοςlawNominativepredicate nominative (the subject of the subscription)→ participant prominenceνόμος: 'law / instruction'; renders תּוֹרָה; here the specific ritual ordinance for the case of jealousy; the subscription marks the unit as a self-contained 'torah.'
τῆςthe / ofGenitivearticle (with ζηλοτυπίας)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζηλοτυπίαςof jealousyGenitivegenitive of definition (the law 'of jealousy')→ relational specificationζηλοτυπία: 'jealousy'; see v. 15; defines the whole rite as the 'law of jealousy.'
ᾧin which case / for whomDativerelative pronoun (dative of reference: 'in the case in which')→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun; the dative ᾧ ἐάν ('in the case in which / for whomever') introduces the conditions to which the law applies.
ἐὰνif / -everconditional particle (with subjunctive παραβῇ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the relative ᾧ forms the generalizing condition.
παραβῇshould turn asideAor Act Subj 3 Sg · παραβαίνωverb of the conditional clause (the wife's infidelity)→ aorist subjunctive (the hypothetical offence)παραβαίνω: 'turn aside / transgress'; see vv. 12, 19, 20; the keyword of the chapter recapitulated in the closing summary.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γυνὴ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject of παραβῇ→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman / wife'; the wife who turns aside.
ὑπ᾿underpreposition + genitive (subordination, elided: 'under a husband')→ spatial or relational framingὑπό + genitive (elided ὑπ᾿): 'under (the authority of)'; ὑπ᾿ ἀνδρὸς οὖσα = 'while a married woman'; see v. 20.
ἀνδρὸςa husbandGenitivegenitive governed by ὑπ᾿ (the marital authority)→ relational specificationἀνήρ: 'man / husband'; the lawful spouse under whom she stands.
οὖσαbeingPres Act Ptcp Nom Fem Sg · εἰμίcircumstantial participle (temporal: 'while being [married]')→ imperfective participle (the state of being married)εἰμί (ptcp. οὖσα): 'being'; ὑπ᾿ ἀνδρὸς οὖσα ('being under a husband') = while married; see v. 20.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μιανθῇbe defiledAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · μιαίνωverb of the conditional clause (the resulting defilement)→ aorist passive subjunctive (the hypothetical defilement)μιαίνω (aor. pass.): 'be defiled'; the impurity verb; the offence consummated in defilement.
30
ἢ ἄνθρωπος ᾧ ἐὰν ἐπέλθῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα ζηλώσεως καὶ ζηλώσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ στήσει τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ ποιήσει αὐτῇ ὁ ἱερεὺς πάντα τὸν νόμον τοῦτον
or a man upon whom a spirit of jealousy should come, and he becomes jealous of his wife and sets his wife before the LORD, and the priest shall perform for her all this law.
The second triggering case in the subscription: the jealous husband (v. 30 ~ v. 14). The closing clause — ποιήσει αὐτῇ ὁ ἱερεὺς πάντα τὸν νόμον τοῦτον ('the priest shall perform for her all this law') — directs that the entire prescribed procedure be carried out, sealing the rite as a complete legal ordinance.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (second case of the subscription)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the alternative triggering case — the jealous husband, paralleling v. 14.
ἄνθρωποςa manNominativesubject (the jealous husband)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; here the husband seized by jealousy.
ᾧupon whomDativerelative pronoun (dative: 'upon whom [the spirit] comes')→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun; the dative ᾧ ('upon whom') governs the coming of the spirit of jealousy.
ἐὰνif / -everconditional particle (with subjunctive ἐπέλθῃ)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; with the relative forms the generalizing condition.
ἐπέλθῃshould come uponAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐπέρχομαιverb of the conditional clause (onset of jealousy)→ aorist subjunctive (the seizing by jealousy)ἐπέρχομαι: 'come upon'; see v. 14; the spirit of jealousy comes upon the husband.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (elided: 'upon him')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative (elided ἐπ᾿): 'upon'; ἐπέλθῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν redundantly marks the direction (a Hebraizing pleonasm).
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the husband)→ participant referenceαὐτός: 'him'; the husband seized by jealousy.
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject of ἐπέλθῃ→ participant prominenceπνεῦμα: 'spirit'; see v. 14; the disposition of jealousy.
ζηλώσεωςof jealousyGenitivegenitive of quality (defining πνεῦμα)→ relational specificationζήλωσις: 'jealousy'; see v. 14.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ζηλώσῃhe becomes jealous ofAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ζηλόωverb of the conditional clause (the husband's jealousy)→ aorist subjunctive (the act of jealousy)ζηλόω: 'be jealous'; see v. 14; governs the wife as object.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of ζηλώσῃ→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the object of suspicion.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
στήσειshall setFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (setting the wife before the LORD)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ἵστημι: 'set / station'; see vv. 16, 18; the husband (or priest) presents the wife before the LORD to initiate the rite.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with γυναῖκα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκαwifeAccusativedirect object of στήσει→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'.
ἔναντιbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (before the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; see v. 16; the rite is conducted before YHWH.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντι→ relational specificationκύριος: rendering of יהוה.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσειshall perform / doFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (the priest's execution of the whole rite)→ legislative future (procedural instruction)ποιέω: 'do / perform / carry out'; the priest 'performs for her all this law' — executing the entire procedure of vv. 15–28; the verb seals the rite as a complete ordinance.
αὐτῇfor herDativedative of advantage/reference (the woman for whom the rite is done)→ participant reference or interestαὐτός: 'for/to her'; the dative marks the woman as the subject of the rite the priest performs.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἱερεὺς)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativesubject of ποιήσει→ participant prominenceἱερεύς: 'priest'; the officiant who carries out the entire rite.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying νόμον: 'all this law')→ object specificationπᾶς: 'all / whole'; the priest performs the entire ordinance, omitting nothing.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativedirect object of ποιήσει (the prescribed procedure)→ object specificationνόμος: 'law / ordinance'; the whole prescribed ritual of jealousy, to be performed in full.
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (modifying νόμον: 'this law')→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the specific ordinance just legislated.
31
καὶ ἀθῷος ἔσται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ἐκείνη λήμψεται τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτῆς
And the man shall be free from sin, but that woman shall bear her sin.
The chapter's final clause apportions liability: the husband, having lawfully invoked the rite, is ἀθῷος ('free from sin/guilt') regardless of the outcome, while the guilty woman 'shall bear her sin' (λήμψεται τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτῆς) — the idiom of bearing one's own punishment. The verdict, and its consequences, rest with God and with her.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀθῷοςfree from guilt / innocentNominativepredicate adjective (with ἔσται: 'shall be free')→ participant prominenceἀθῷος: 'innocent / guiltless / free from penalty'; see vv. 19, 28; here of the husband, who incurs no guilt for subjecting his wife to the lawful ordeal, whatever the result.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the husband's exemption from guilt)→ legislative future (settled disposition)εἰμί: 'be'; ἀθῷος ἔσται ('shall be guiltless') declares the husband free of liability for invoking the rite.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἄνθρωπος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (the husband)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; the husband who brought his wife to the rite.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'free from sin')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; ἀθῷος ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας ('free from sin'); the husband bears no guilt in the matter.
ἁμαρτίαςsin / guiltGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸ (the guilt he is free from)→ relational specificationἁμαρτία: 'sin / guilt'; renders עָוֹן; here the culpability the husband does not incur by invoking the ordeal.
καὶbut / andcoordinate conjunction (adversative contrast)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: 'and / but'; here contrastive — the husband is free, but the guilty woman bears her sin.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γυνὴ)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυνὴwomanNominativesubject (the woman who bears her guilt)→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman'; the wife who, if guilty, bears the consequence.
ἐκείνηthatNominativedemonstrative pronoun (modifying γυνὴ: 'that woman')→ participant referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; ἡ γυνὴ ἐκείνη ('that woman') pins the consequence on the specific guilty party, echoing the legal idiom ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη of v. 6.
λήμψεταιshall bear / takeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (the woman's bearing of her guilt)→ legislative future (settled consequence)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive / bear'; the idiom λήμψεται τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτῆς ('shall bear her sin') renders נָשָׂא עָוֹן ('bear iniquity / its punishment'); the guilty woman, not the husband, bears the penalty of her own sin.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with ἁμαρτίαν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁμαρτίανsinAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (the guilt borne)→ object specificationἁμαρτία: 'sin / guilt'; renders עָוֹן; the punishment the guilty woman bears in her own body and standing.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive of possession (her own sin)→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'her'; the sin is her own — she alone bears its consequence.