1
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Σινα ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ δευτέρῳ ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐν τῷ μηνὶ τῷ πρώτῳ λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the second year after they had gone out of the land of Egypt, in the first month, saying:
The standard LXX commission-formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν opens the chapter, but the unusually full date-frame — wilderness of Sinai, second year, first month — is doubly significant: it sets the Passover before the census of Num 1 (dated to the second month, Num 1:1), and so the chapter is chronologically a flashback; the precise dating roots the whole pericope in salvation-historical time.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak / talk'; renders דִּבֶּר (Piel); the formula καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν is the recurring header of divine legislation throughout Numbers (cf. 1:1; 2:1; 4:1), marking each new commission.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the nominative subject marks this as unmediated YHWH-speech.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of the speech)→ object specificationΜωυσῆς: transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined as a first-declension noun in Rahlfs' LXX (gen./dat. Μωυσῆ/Μωυσῇ, acc. Μωυσῆν); accusative here as the directional object of πρός.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place (locative: 'in the wilderness')→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness / desert'; renders מִדְבָּר; the wilderness of Sinai is the place of revelation and covenant; the whole book of Numbers (ΑΡΙΘΜΟΙ; Hebrew בְּמִדְבַּר, 'in the wilderness') is named for it.
ΣιναSinaiindeclinable place-name (in apposition / attributive to ἐρήμῳ)→ participant identificationΣινα: transliteration of Hebrew סִינַי; indeclinable in the LXX; 'the wilderness of Sinai' is the location of the Sinai covenant, here still the camp from which Israel has not yet set out (cf. Num 10:11–12).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔτειyearDativedative of time (when)→ sphere or referenceἔτος: 'year'; renders שָׁנָה; 'the second year' dates the Passover to the spring following the Exodus and the first year's events at Sinai (the giving of the law, the tabernacle's erection).
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive, with δευτέρῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτέρῳsecondDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying ἔτει)→ sphere or referenceδεύτερος: 'second'; ordinal; the 'second year' here is the chronological anchor that places this Passover one year after the Exodus and before the census of Num 1 (second month, second year), making the chapter a flashback in the book's arrangement.
ἐξελθόντωνhaving gone outAor Act Ptcp Gen Pl Masc · ἐξέρχομαιgenitive absolute (temporal: 'after they had gone out')→ antecedent aorist participle (action prior to the main verb)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out / come out'; renders יָצָא; the aorist participle in a genitive absolute (ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν) fixes the reference point as the Exodus itself; the compound ἐξ- ('out from') is the lexical core of the noun ἔξοδος naming the prior book.
αὐτῶνthey / themGenitivegenitive subject of the absolute participle→ relational specificationαὐτός: the genitive plural pronoun is the logical subject of the genitive-absolute construction ('they having gone out').
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source / separation)→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: meaning 'out of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source / separation).
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive of source (with ἐκ: 'out of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; the formula ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ('out of the land of Egypt') is the fixed LXX Exodus-formula.
ΑἰγύπτουEgyptGenitivegenitive of location (with γῆς: 'land of Egypt')→ relational specificationΑἴγυπτος (gen. Αἰγύπτου): standard LXX form of Hebrew מִצְרַיִם; the place of bondage from which Israel has been redeemed — the redemption the Passover commemorates.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὶmonthDativedative of time (when)→ sphere or referenceμήν: 'month'; renders חֹדֶשׁ; 'the first month' is Abib/Nisan, the month of the Exodus and of the Passover (Exod 12:2; 13:4).
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive, with πρώτῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρώτῳfirstDativeattributive ordinal adjective (modifying μηνί)→ sphere or referenceπρῶτος: 'first'; ordinal; the first month (Nisan) is the cultic head of the year, established as such precisely because of the Exodus (Exod 12:2); the Passover anchors the calendar.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (Hebraizing complement: 'saying')→ durative present participle (introducing direct speech)λέγω (pres. ptcp.): the redundant participle λέγων renders the Hebrew infinitive לֵאמֹר ('saying'), the standard LXX device for introducing the content of direct speech after a verb of speaking.
2
εἰπὸν καὶ ποιείτωσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὸ πασχα καθ᾿ ὥραν αὐτοῦ
Speak, and let the sons of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed season.
The aorist imperative εἰπόν ('speak / say it') commissions Moses, and the third-person imperative ποιείτωσαν ('let them keep') transmits the command to all Israel; the phrase καθ᾽ ὥραν αὐτοῦ ('at its appointed season') anticipates the central problem of the chapter — what to do with those who cannot keep it 'at its season.'
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
εἰπὸνspeak / sayAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λέγωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ ingressive aorist imperative (commissioned speech-act)λέγω / εἶπον: the aorist imperative εἰπόν (2 sg.) commands Moses to deliver the legislation; renders the Hebrew imperative דַּבֵּר / אֱמֹר; a single decisive act of proclamation.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιείτωσανlet them keep / makePres Act Impv 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (third-person imperative to Israel)→ durative present imperative (the ongoing cultic observance)ποιέω: 'do / make / keep (a festival)'; renders עָשָׂה; ποιεῖν τὸ πασχα is the fixed LXX idiom for 'keep / celebrate the Passover' (Exod 12:48); the present imperative envisages the full ritual performance.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ποιείτωσαν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the phrase οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('the sons of Israel') renders בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, the standard designation of the covenant people as a corporate body.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship: 'sons of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable in the LXX; here functioning as a genitive ('of Israel') after υἱοί.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πασχα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πασχαPassoverdirect object of ποιείτωσαν (indeclinable)→ clausal contributionπασχα: transliteration of Aramaic פַּסְחָא / Hebrew פֶּסַח; indeclinable in the LXX, treated as a neuter with the article τό; denotes both the festival and the sacrificial victim; the term passes into the NT as the type of Christ 'our Passover' (1 Cor 5:7).
καθ᾿at / according topreposition + accusative (elided κατά: temporal norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to / at'; here temporal, 'at its (appointed) time.'
ὥρανseason / appointed timeAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (temporal: 'at its season')→ object specificationὥρα: 'hour / season / appointed time'; here renders מוֹעֵד ('appointed time / fixed season'); the phrase καθ᾽ ὥραν αὐτοῦ ('at its appointed season') is the legal crux: the Passover has a fixed date, which raises the question of those unable to keep it then (vv. 6–13).
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (referring to τὸ πασχα: 'its season')→ relational specificationαὐτός: the pronoun refers to τὸ πασχα; 'its season' = the divinely fixed Passover date, the fourteenth of the first month (v. 3).
3
τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου πρὸς ἑσπέραν ποιήσεις αὐτὸ κατὰ καιρούς κατὰ τὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ καὶ κατὰ τὴν σύγκρισιν αὐτοῦ ποιήσεις αὐτό
On the fourteenth day of the first month, toward evening, you shall keep it at its appointed times; according to its law and according to its ordinance you shall keep it.
The verse fixes both time (fourteenth day, first month, toward evening) and manner (κατὰ τὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ καὶ κατὰ τὴν σύγκρισιν αὐτοῦ, 'according to its law and its ordinance'); the doubled ποιήσεις αὐτό ('you shall keep it ... you shall keep it') brackets the regulation with emphatic insistence on exact observance.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃfourteenthDativeattributive ordinal (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceτεσσαρεσκαιδέκατος: 'fourteenth'; the fixed Passover date (Exod 12:6; Lev 23:5), the fourteenth of Nisan at twilight, when the lamb is slain.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; renders יוֹם; the dative of time fixes the precise calendar day of observance.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with μηνός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὸςmonthGenitivegenitive (partitive: 'of the month')→ relational specificationμήν (gen. μηνός): 'month'; the genitive specifies the calendar context of the fourteenth day.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (attributive, with πρώτου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρώτουfirstGenitiveattributive ordinal (modifying μηνός)→ relational specificationπρῶτος: 'first'; the first month, Nisan/Abib; the qualifier matters because the make-up Passover will be kept in the second month (v. 11).
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (temporal approach: 'toward evening')→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'toward'; πρὸς ἑσπέραν renders בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם ('between the two evenings'), the twilight hour of the Passover slaughter.
ἑσπέρανeveningAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (temporal: 'toward evening')→ object specificationἑσπέρα: 'evening'; renders עֶרֶב; the Passover is killed at dusk and eaten that night, recalling the night of the Exodus (Exod 12:8).
ποιήσειςyou shall keepFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (legislative future as command)→ imperatival future (legal prescription)ποιέω: the future indicative ποιήσεις with imperatival force renders the Hebrew imperfect of legal prescription; 'you shall keep it' — the legislative 'you' addresses each Israelite through Moses.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object (referring to τὸ πασχα)→ participant referenceαὐτὸ: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (referring to τὸ πασχα).
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm: 'at its appointed times')→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm: 'at its appointed times').
καιρούςappointed timesAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (norm: 'according to its seasons')→ object specificationκαιρός: 'appointed time / fixed season'; renders מוֹעֵד; κατὰ καιρούς ('according to the appointed times') reinforces that the feast has its own divinely set calendar; the plural may generalize 'at its proper times.'
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm: 'according to its law')→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm: 'according to its law').
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (norm: 'according to the law')→ object specificationνόμος: 'law / statute'; renders חֻקָּה / תּוֹרָה; κατὰ τὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ ('according to its law') points back to the full Passover regulation of Exod 12; the same phrase recurs at v. 12.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the Passover's own law)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the Passover's own law).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm: 'according to its ordinance')→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm: 'according to its ordinance').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with σύγκρισιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σύγκρισινordinance / interpretationAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (norm: 'according to its ordinance')→ object specificationσύγκρισις: 'combining / decision / ordinance'; here renders מִשְׁפָּט ('regulation / prescribed ordinance'); elsewhere σύγκρισις means 'interpretation' (of dreams, Gen 40:8 LXX); paired with νόμος it underlines that the Passover must follow its prescribed manner exactly.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the Passover's own ordinance)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the Passover's own ordinance).
ποιήσειςyou shall keepFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (resumptive legislative future)→ imperatival future (emphatic repetition)ποιέω: the repeated ποιήσεις brackets the clause; the doubling ('you shall keep it ... you shall keep it') gives emphatic legal insistence on full conformity to law and ordinance.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object (referring to τὸ πασχα)→ participant referenceαὐτό: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (referring to τὸ πασχα).
4
καὶ ἐλάλησεν Μωυσῆς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ποιῆσαι τὸ πασχα
And Moses told the sons of Israel to keep the Passover.
The command-execution pattern: as YHWH spoke to Moses (v. 1), so Moses speaks to Israel; the complementary infinitive ποιῆσαι ('to keep') reports the content of the relayed command compactly, preparing for the report of compliance in v. 5.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspoke / toldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (Moses transmits the command)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λαλέω: here with Moses as subject, mirroring the divine ἐλάλησεν of v. 1; the verbal echo marks the faithful transmission of the command from YHWH through Moses to Israel.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: nominative subject; Moses now mediates the divine word to the people.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object (recipients of the command)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; the dative τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ marks the people as the recipients of Moses' relayed instruction.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship: 'sons of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; genitival 'of Israel' after υἱοῖς.
ποιῆσαιto keepAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (content of the command)→ constative aorist infinitive (the commanded act as a whole)ποιέω (aor. inf.): the infinitive ποιῆσαι τὸ πασχα ('to keep the Passover') reports the content of Moses' command in indirect form; the aorist views the festival-keeping as a single bounded act.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πασχα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πασχαPassoverdirect object of ποιῆσαι (indeclinable)→ clausal contributionπασχα: indeclinable; the object of the infinitive; ποιῆσαι τὸ πασχα is the fixed idiom 'to keep the Passover.'
5
ἐναρχομένου τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ μηνὸς ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τοῦ Σινα καθὰ συνέταξεν κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ οὕτως ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
Beginning on the fourteenth day of the month, in the wilderness of Sinai, just as the LORD had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did.
The compliance-formula καθὰ συνέταξεν κύριος ... οὕτως ἐποίησαν ('just as the LORD commanded ... so they did') seals the obedience of the first panel; it is the standard LXX closure for fulfilled divine command (cf. Exod 12:28, 50). The genitive-absolute ἐναρχομένου ('it beginning') gives the inception of the festival; this is the only wilderness Passover the Pentateuch records as actually kept.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐναρχομένουbeginningPres Mid Ptcp Gen Sg · ἐνάρχομαιgenitive absolute (temporal: 'when it began / beginning')→ durative present participle (the inception of the observance)ἐνάρχομαι: 'begin / make a beginning'; the impersonal/neuter genitive-absolute participle marks the onset of the festival on the fourteenth; the compound ἐν- stresses entering upon the observance at its fixed day.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃfourteenthDativeattributive ordinal (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceτεσσαρεσκαιδέκατος: 'fourteenth'; the prescribed Passover date now reported as actually observed.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the dative of time fixing the day of celebration.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with μηνός)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὸςmonthGenitivegenitive (partitive: 'of the month')→ relational specificationμήν (gen. μηνός): 'month'; understood as the first month from v. 3.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἐρήμῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐρήμῳwildernessDativedative of place (locative)→ sphere or referenceἔρημος: 'wilderness'; the location reiterated from v. 1 — this Passover is uniquely kept in the desert, not in the land.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with Σινα, marking the genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣιναSinaiindeclinable place-name (genitive with article τοῦ: 'of Sinai')→ noun-phrase markingΣινα: indeclinable; here the article τοῦ supplies the genitive case-marking ('the wilderness of Sinai').
καθὰjust ascomparative conjunction (introducing compliance clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαθά: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the standard obedience-comparison answered by οὕτως ('so').
συνέταξενcommanded / orderedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συντάσσωverb of the comparative clause (the divine command)→ constative aorist (the completed prior command)συντάσσω: 'arrange / appoint / command'; renders צִוָּה; the standard LXX verb for divine ordinance; καθὰ συνέταξεν κύριος is the recurring obedience-formula of the Pentateuch.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of συνέταξεν→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine source of the command Israel now obeys.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Μωυσῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜωυσῇMosesDativedative indirect object (recipient of the command)→ sphere or referenceΜωυσῆς (dat. Μωυσῇ): the mediator to whom the command was given; the obedience runs YHWH → Moses → Israel.
οὕτωςsocorrelative adverb (answering καθά: 'so')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; the correlative completing καθά ... οὕτως ('just as ... so'); the obedience-formula's payoff.
ἐποίησανdid / keptAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (report of compliance)→ constative aorist (the completed obedient act)ποιέω: 'do / keep'; the aorist ἐποίησαν reports the accomplished obedience; οὕτως ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ('so the sons of Israel did') is the LXX's settled formula for fulfilled command (Exod 12:28).
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐποίησαν→ participant prominenceυἱός: the corporate subject οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ; the whole community keeps the feast in obedience.
ΙσραηλIsraelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'of Israel.'
6
καὶ παρεγένοντο οἱ ἄνδρες οἳ ἦσαν ἀκάθαρτοι ἐπὶ ψυχῇ ἀνθρώπου καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο ποιῆσαι τὸ πασχα ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ προσῆλθον ἐναντίον Μωυσῆ καὶ Ααρων ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ
And there came men who were unclean by reason of a human corpse and could not keep the Passover on that day; and they came before Moses and Aaron on that day.
The narrative pivots to the halakhic problem: certain men, corpse-defiled (ἀκάθαρτοι ἐπὶ ψυχῇ ἀνθρώπου, the LXX idiom for ritual impurity by contact with the dead, Num 19:11), are barred from the feast and bring their grievance before Moses and Aaron — the proper channel for an unanticipated legal question. The double temporal marker (ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ... ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ) stresses the urgency: it had to be resolved that very day.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρεγένοντοcame / arrivedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (introducing the men)→ constative aorist (entry onto the scene)παραγίνομαι: 'come / arrive / be present'; renders בּוֹא; the middle-deponent aorist introduces the new actors who present the test case.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of παρεγένοντο→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man / male'; renders אֲנָשִׁים; the particular men whose ritual state generates the case; tradition (cf. the rabbis) linked them to those who had buried Nadab and Abihu or Joseph's bones.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἦσαν)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; introduces the descriptive clause defining the men's impure condition.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of relative clause (descriptive state)→ durative imperfect (ongoing condition of impurity)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦσαν describes their continuing state of defilement at the relevant time.
ἀκάθαρτοιuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ἦσαν: 'were unclean')→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean / impure'; renders טָמֵא; ritual (not moral) impurity; corpse-contact rendered one unclean seven days (Num 19:11), barring participation in the holy meal.
ἐπὶby / overpreposition + dative (cause/ground of impurity)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: here causal-relational, 'on account of'; ἐπὶ ψυχῇ ἀνθρώπου is the fixed LXX rendering of עַל־נֶפֶשׁ אָדָם / לְנֶפֶשׁ ('by a [dead] human person').
ψυχῇsoul / dead personDativedative object of ἐπί (cause of impurity)→ sphere or referenceψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; here, by a Hebraism (נֶפֶשׁ), 'a dead person / corpse'; the idiom ἀκάθαρτος ἐπὶ ψυχῇ ἀνθρώπου means 'defiled by a human corpse' (cf. Num 5:2; 6:11; 19:13).
ἀνθρώπουof a man / humanGenitivegenitive (defining ψυχῇ: 'of a human')→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'man / human being'; renders אָדָם; specifies that the defiling corpse is human (as opposed to an animal carcass), the gravest form of corpse-impurity.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἠδύναντο)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation; their inability is a matter of ritual law, not unwillingness.
ἠδύναντοwere ableImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (with infinitive ποιῆσαι: 'were not able to keep')→ durative imperfect (continuing inability)δύναμαι: 'be able'; renders יָכֹל; the imperfect ἠδύναντο with οὐκ frames their incapacity as a settled legal disability — defilement makes participation impossible.
ποιῆσαιto keepAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with ἠδύναντο)→ constative aorist infinitive (the act they could not perform)ποιέω (aor. inf.): 'keep'; ποιῆσαι τὸ πασχα again, here negated — the very act commanded in vv. 2–4 is closed to them.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πασχα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πασχαPassoverdirect object of ποιῆσαι (indeclinable)→ clausal contributionπασχα: indeclinable; the feast they cannot keep.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when: 'on that day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the fixed fourteenth, the only legal day — hence the difficulty.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative points to the appointed Passover day on which they were disqualified.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
προσῆλθονthey came forwardAor Act Indic 3 Pl · προσέρχομαιmain verb (approach to the leaders)→ constative aorist (the act of approach)προσέρχομαι: 'approach / come before'; renders קָרַב; the verb for bringing a case before authority; the men seek a ruling from Moses and Aaron.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence of)→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; marks the formal presentation of their case to the leadership.
ΜωυσῆMosesGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): the chief mediator before whom the case is laid.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΑαρωνAarongenitive object of ἐναντίον (indeclinable, parallel to Μωυσῆ)→ participant identificationΑαρων: transliteration of Hebrew אַהֲרֹן; indeclinable in the LXX; the high priest, fittingly addressed on a matter of ritual purity and cultic participation.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρᾳ, fronted)→ sphere or referenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the repeated temporal phrase (ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ) underscores the same-day urgency of the appeal.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when: 'on that day')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the resumptive temporal phrase closes the verse on the pressing same-day timing.
7
καὶ εἶπαν οἱ ἄνδρες ἐκεῖνοι πρὸς αὐτόν ἡμεῖς ἀκάθαρτοι ἐπὶ ψυχῇ ἀνθρώπου μὴ οὖν ὑστερήσωμεν προσενέγκαι τὸ δῶρον κυρίῳ κατὰ καιρὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν μέσῳ υἱῶν Ισραηλ
And those men said to him, 'We are unclean by reason of a human corpse; why should we be kept back, so as not to offer the gift to the LORD at its appointed time, in the midst of the sons of Israel?'
The men's plea is not a complaint about exclusion but a pious protest: they want to bring the offering and fear being denied a share in the covenant meal 'in the midst of the sons of Israel.' The deliberative subjunctive μὴ ... ὑστερήσωμεν ('why should we be deprived?') expresses earnest desire to participate, casting the problem as a matter of inclusion in worship.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω / εἶπαν: the Koine first-aorist form εἶπαν (for classical εἶπον) is regular in the LXX; introduces the men's direct plea.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄνδρες)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject of εἶπαν→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: 'man'; the same men of v. 6, now speaking.
ἐκεῖνοιthoseNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἄνδρες)→ participant prominenceἐκεῖνος: 'those'; deictic, identifying them with the defiled men just introduced.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτόνhimAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Moses)→ participant referenceαὐτός: refers to Moses, the chief addressee even though Aaron was also present (v. 6).
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic nominative pronoun, with implied ἐσμέν)→ participant referenceἐγώ (pl. ἡμεῖς): the emphatic 'we' fronts the men's condition; the verbless clause ἡμεῖς ἀκάθαρτοι ('we are unclean') states their predicament plainly.
ἀκάθαρτοιuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (verbless clause: 'we are unclean')→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the men candidly confess their ritual impurity as the ground of their inability.
ἐπὶbypreposition + dative (cause of impurity)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'on account of'; ἐπὶ ψυχῇ ἀνθρώπου as in v. 6.
ψυχῇsoul / dead personDativedative object of ἐπί (cause of impurity)→ sphere or referenceψυχή: by the Hebraism נֶפֶשׁ, 'a dead person'; the corpse-defilement idiom repeated from v. 6.
ἀνθρώπουof a manGenitivegenitive (defining ψυχῇ)→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: 'human'; specifying human-corpse impurity.
μὴwhy / lest (not)negative particle (with deliberative subjunctive ὑστερήσωμεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the negative with the deliberative subjunctive forms a question of protest, 'are we to be deprived?' / 'why should we be kept back?'; it conveys an appeal against exclusion.
οὖνthen / thereforeinferential particle→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: 'then / therefore'; draws the consequence from their confessed impurity — given that we are unclean, must we therefore be excluded?
ὑστερήσωμενshould we be deprived / kept backAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ὑστερέωdeliberative subjunctive (protest-question)→ deliberative aorist subjunctive (appeal against being deprived)ὑστερέω: 'come short / lack / be deprived'; renders גָּרַע ('be withheld / diminished'); the deliberative subjunctive μὴ ... ὑστερήσωμεν expresses the men's anxiety lest they fall short of offering with the community; the same verb recurs at v. 13 of culpable failure — here it is innocent deprivation.
προσενέγκαιto offer / bring nearAor Act Inf · προσφέρωepexegetic/complementary infinitive (defining the deprivation: 'from offering')→ constative aorist infinitive (the act of offering)προσφέρω: 'bring to / offer (sacrifice)'; renders הִקְרִיב; the technical cultic verb for presenting an offering; the infinitive specifies what they fear losing — the act of bringing the Passover gift.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with δῶρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δῶρονgift / offeringAccusativedirect object of προσενέγκαι→ object specificationδῶρον: 'gift / offering'; renders קָרְבָּן ('that which is brought near'); the standard LXX term for a sacrificial gift; here the Passover offering viewed as the people's gift to YHWH.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of recipient (the offering's addressee)→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the recipient of the Passover gift; the men's desire is to give to YHWH, not merely to fulfill obligation.
κατὰat / according topreposition + accusative (temporal norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: temporal, 'at its appointed time.'
καιρὸνappointed timeAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (temporal)→ object specificationκαιρός: 'appointed time'; renders מוֹעֵד; κατὰ καιρὸν αὐτοῦ ('at its appointed time') echoes καθ᾽ ὥραν αὐτοῦ (v. 2): the men long to keep it on the proper day with everyone else.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the Passover's time)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the Passover's time).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative/associative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative/associative).
μέσῳmidstDativedative object of ἐν (locative: 'in the midst')→ sphere or referenceμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ renders בְּתוֹךְ ('among'); the men's deepest concern is communal — to share the feast 'in the midst of the sons of Israel,' not to be cut off from the worshiping community.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive (with ἐν μέσῳ: 'in the midst of the sons')→ relational specificationυἱός: 'son'; the genitive after ἐν μέσῳ; the men want to remain among the covenant assembly at worship.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'of Israel.'
8
καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Μωυσῆς στῆτε αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκούσομαι τί ἐντελεῖται κύριος περὶ ὑμῶν
And Moses said to them, 'Stand here, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.'
Moses does not improvise a ruling but defers to oracular inquiry — στῆτε αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκούσομαι ('stand here, and I will hear'); this is one of four cases in Numbers where a legal lacuna is resolved by direct consultation of YHWH (cf. Num 15:32–36; 27:1–11; 36:1–12), modeling Moses' humility and the law's openness to divine supplementation.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: Moses responds; the aorist introduces his measured reply of deferral.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the men)→ participant referenceαὐτός: refers to the defiled men.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of εἶπεν→ participant prominenceΜωυσῆς: nominative subject; the mediator who will consult YHWH.
στῆτεstandAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (imperative to the men)→ ingressive aorist imperative (take and keep your position)ἵστημι: 'stand / take a stand'; the aorist imperative στῆτε bids the men wait while Moses seeks a ruling; renders עָמַד ('stand / wait').
αὐτοῦhereadverb of place ('here / in this place')→ participant referenceαὐτοῦ: adverb of place, 'here / in this very spot' (distinct from the pronoun αὐτοῦ); the men are to remain in place pending the oracle; the same adverb appears at Gen 22:5 LXX.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀκούσομαιI will hearFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (Moses' intended inquiry)→ predictive future (the coming oracular consultation)ἀκούω: 'hear / listen'; the future middle ἀκούσομαι ('I will hear [for myself]') announces Moses' intent to consult YHWH and receive a ruling; the middle voice suits the personal act of attending to the divine word.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ἐντελεῖται in indirect question)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative pronoun; introduces the indirect question — the content of the awaited divine command.
ἐντελεῖταιwill commandFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of indirect question (the divine ruling)→ predictive future (the forthcoming divine command)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / give charge'; renders צִוָּה; the future ἐντελεῖται anticipates YHWH's authoritative ruling on the unforeseen case.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject of ἐντελεῖται→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the divine lawgiver who will resolve the case.
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference: 'concerning you')→ spatial or relational framingπερί + gen.: 'concerning / about'; marks the men as the subject of the ruling Moses will seek.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object of περί (the men as referents)→ relational specificationσύ (pl. ὑμῶν): 'you'; the men whose case awaits decision.
9
καὶ ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
The full commission-formula, identical to v. 1, signals that Moses' oracular inquiry (v. 8) has been answered: YHWH now legislates for the case. The repetition frames vv. 10–14 as a fresh, divinely given supplement to the Passover law.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλάλησενspokeAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (speech-introducing formula)→ constative aorist (single completed speech-act)λαλέω: the divine answer to Moses' inquiry; the recurrence of the v. 1 formula marks the new legislation as direct revelation.
κύριοςLORDNominativesubject→ participant prominenceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the lawgiver responding to the unforeseen case.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction of speech).
ΜωυσῆνMosesAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of the speech)→ object specificationΜωυσῆς (acc. Μωυσῆν): the mediator who had pledged to hear (v. 8) now receives the answer.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (Hebraizing complement: 'saying')→ durative present participle (introducing direct speech)λέγω (pres. ptcp.): redundant λέγων rendering לֵאמֹר, introducing the content of the divine ruling that follows.
10
λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ λέγων ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐὰν γένηται ἀκάθαρτος ἐπὶ ψυχῇ ἀνθρώπου ἢ ἐν ὁδῷ μακρὰν ὑμῖν ἢ ἐν ταῖς γενεαῖς ὑμῶν καὶ ποιήσει τὸ πασχα κυρίῳ
Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: Any man whatever who becomes unclean by reason of a human corpse, or is on a far journey, among you or among your generations, shall yet keep the Passover to the LORD.
The ruling establishes the πασχα δεύτερον. The distributive Hebraism ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος ('any man whatever,' rendering אִישׁ אִישׁ) opens a casuistic statute covering two cases — corpse-defilement and distant travel. Notably the LXX makes a make-up provision into permanent law (ἐν ταῖς γενεαῖς ὑμῶν, 'throughout your generations'): the deferred keeping is a standing allowance, not a one-time concession.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
λάλησονspeakAor Act Impv 2 Sg · λαλέωmain verb (divine imperative to Moses)→ ingressive aorist imperative (commissioned speech-act)λαλέω: 'speak'; the aorist imperative λάλησον commissions Moses to promulgate the new statute; renders דַּבֵּר (Piel).
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object (recipients of the statute)→ sphere or referenceυἱός: 'son'; τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ, the addressees of the legislation.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'of Israel.'
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωparticiple of speech (Hebraizing complement)→ durative present participle (introducing the statute's wording)λέγω (pres. ptcp.): λέγων = לֵאמֹר, introducing the casuistic statute proper.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (first of the distributive doubling)→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; the first member of the Hebraizing distributive ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (distributive repetition: 'any man whatever')→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: the doubled noun ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος woodenly renders the Hebrew distributive אִישׁ אִישׁ ('each and every man / anyone at all'), a Hebraism the LXX preserves literally (cf. Lev 17:3; 22:18).
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of γένηται in conditional-relative clause)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; with ἐάν forms the conditional-relative 'whoever.'
ἐὰνif / -everconditional particle (with subjunctive: 'whoever')→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; ὃς ἐάν + subjunctive = 'whoever,' the casuistic formula introducing the protasis of the law.
γένηταιbecomesAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of conditional-relative clause (protasis)→ aorist subjunctive (eventual / generic condition)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be'; the aorist subjunctive γένηται in the ὃς ἐάν clause states the generic case — anyone who at any time becomes defiled.
ἀκάθαρτοςuncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with γένηται: 'becomes unclean')→ participant prominenceἀκάθαρτος: 'unclean'; the first qualifying case — corpse-defilement, as in vv. 6–7.
ἐπὶbypreposition + dative (cause of impurity)→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + dat.: 'on account of'; the corpse-defilement idiom.
ψυχῇsoul / dead personDativedative object of ἐπί (cause of impurity)→ sphere or referenceψυχή: by Hebraism (נֶפֶשׁ), 'a dead person'; ἀκάθαρτος ἐπὶ ψυχῇ ἀνθρώπου as before.
ἀνθρώπουof a manGenitivegenitive (defining ψυχῇ)→ relational specificationἄνθρωπος: specifying human-corpse impurity.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (introducing the second case)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; introduces the alternative qualifying condition — being away on a journey.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ὁδῷroad / journeyDativedative of place (locative: 'on a road / journey')→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'way / road / journey'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; ἐν ὁδῷ μακράν ('on a far journey') is the second exempting circumstance — absence from the sanctuary at Passover-time.
μακρὰνfaradverb (of distance: 'far off')→ clausal contributionμακράν: adverb 'far / at a distance' (from μακρός); renders רְחֹקָה; modifies the journey as distant enough to prevent timely return for the feast; at v. 13 the parallel uses the adjective μακρᾷ.
ὑμῖνto you / among youDativedative of reference ('with respect to you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (pl. ὑμῖν): 'you'; the dative of reference renders the Hebrew לָכֶם ('for you / among you'), addressing the community for whom the case may arise.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; extends the statute's reach to future generations.
ἐνamong / inpreposition + dative (temporal-relational)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal-relational).
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with γενεαῖς)→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενεαῖςgenerationsDativedative (sphere: 'among your generations')→ sphere or referenceγενεά: 'generation'; renders דּוֹר; ἐν ταῖς γενεαῖς ὑμῶν ('throughout your generations') makes the Second-Passover provision a permanent statute, not a one-time concession.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with γενεαῖς)→ relational specificationσύ (pl. ὑμῶν): 'your'; binds the law to Israel's posterity.
καὶyet / andcoordinating conjunction (apodosis-introducing: 'shall yet')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here introduces the apodosis after the casuistic protasis (a Hebraism, waw-apodosis): 'such a one shall nevertheless keep...'.
ποιήσειshall keepFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of apodosis (legislative future)→ imperatival future (the permitted deferred observance)ποιέω: 'keep'; the future ποιήσει grants and requires the deferred keeping; the defiled or distant Israelite is not excused but rescheduled — he shall keep the Passover, in the second month (v. 11).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πασχα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πασχαPassoverdirect object of ποιήσει (indeclinable)→ clausal contributionπασχα: indeclinable; the deferred feast to be kept.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of recipient (the feast's addressee)→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; even the deferred Passover is kept 'to the LORD,' preserving its covenantal direction.
11
ἐν τῷ μηνὶ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἐν τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ τὸ πρὸς ἑσπέραν ποιήσουσιν αὐτό ἐπ᾿ ἀζύμων καὶ πικρίδων φάγονται αὐτό
In the second month, on the fourteenth day, toward evening, they shall keep it; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.
The make-up date exactly parallels the original (fourteenth, toward evening) but one month later — the second month replaces the first. The ritual is unchanged: ἐπ᾽ ἀζύμων καὶ πικρίδων ('with unleavened bread and bitter herbs,' Exod 12:8), so the deferred feast is the full Passover, not a lesser substitute.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle (with μηνί)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μηνὶmonthDativedative of time (when)→ sphere or referenceμήν: 'month'; here the second month, the make-up time, deliberately contrasted with the first month of v. 3.
τῷtheDativearticle (attributive, with δευτέρῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δευτέρῳsecondDativeattributive ordinal (modifying μηνί)→ sphere or referenceδεύτερος: 'second'; the second month (Iyyar) is the appointed time of the πασχα δεύτερον — the source of the term 'Second Passover.'
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃfourteenthDativeattributive ordinal (modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ sphere or referenceτεσσαρεσκαιδέκατος: 'fourteenth'; the make-up feast keeps the same day-of-month as the original, only one month later.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the fourteenth of the second month.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantivizing the prepositional phrase πρὸς ἑσπέραν: 'the toward-evening')→ noun-phrase markingτό: the neuter article nominalizes πρὸς ἑσπέραν into 'the evening-time,' an adverbial accusative of time.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (temporal approach)→ spatial or relational framingπρός + acc.: 'toward'; πρὸς ἑσπέραν as in v. 3 — the twilight hour of slaughter.
ἑσπέρανeveningAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (temporal)→ object specificationἑσπέρα: 'evening'; the deferred Passover keeps the same evening timing.
ποιήσουσινthey shall keepFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (legislative future)→ imperatival future (legal prescription)ποιέω: 'keep'; the future ποιήσουσιν prescribes the deferred observance with full legal force.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object (the Passover)→ participant referenceαὐτό: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the Passover).
ἐπ᾿with / uponpreposition + genitive (accompaniment: 'with unleavened bread')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: here 'along with / over'; ἐπ᾽ ἀζύμων ('with unleavened bread') describes the prescribed accompaniments of the meal.
ἀζύμωνunleavened breadGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (accompaniment)→ relational specificationἄζυμος: 'unleavened'; subst. neut. pl. τὰ ἄζυμα = 'unleavened bread'; renders מַצּוֹת; the Passover is eaten with unleavened bread, recalling the haste of the Exodus (Exod 12:8, 39).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πικρίδωνbitter herbsGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (accompaniment, coordinate with ἀζύμων)→ relational specificationπικρίς (pl. πικρίδες): 'bitter herb'; renders מְרֹרִים; the bitter herbs of the Passover meal (Exod 12:8) memorializing the bitterness of slavery in Egypt (cf. Exod 1:14).
φάγονταιthey shall eatFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐσθίωmain verb (legislative future)→ imperatival future (prescribed eating)ἐσθίω (fut. mid. φάγονται, suppletive from ἔφαγον): 'eat'; renders אָכַל; the eating of the lamb with its prescribed accompaniments is the heart of the rite.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object (the Passover victim)→ participant referenceαὐτός: refers to the Passover lamb, eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
12
οὐ καταλείψουσιν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ πρωὶ καὶ ὀστοῦν οὐ συντρίψουσιν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὸν νόμον τοῦ πασχα ποιήσουσιν αὐτό
They shall not leave any of it until morning, and they shall not break a bone of it; according to the law of the Passover they shall keep it.
Two negative prescriptions reaffirm the original law (Exod 12:10, 46): nothing left till morning, and no bone broken. The bone-not-broken regulation (ὀστοῦν οὐ συντρίψουσιν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ) is the verse John 19:36 cites as fulfilled in the crucified Christ — 'not a bone of him shall be broken' — making the Passover victim a type of the Lamb of God. The summary κατὰ τὸν νόμον τοῦ πασχα ('according to the law of the Passover') insists the deferred feast loses nothing of the original ordinance.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
οὐnotnegative particle (with καταλείψουσιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: objective negation of the legal prohibition.
καταλείψουσινthey shall leaveFut Act Indic 3 Pl · καταλείπωmain verb (prohibitive future)→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)καταλείπω: 'leave behind / leave remaining'; renders הוֹתִיר / שָׁאַר; the prohibition οὐ καταλείψουσιν ... εἰς τὸ πρωί ('leave nothing till morning') reproduces Exod 12:10 — the victim must be wholly consumed that night, none kept as common food.
ἀπ᾿of / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'any of it')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: partitive 'from / of'; ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ('any of it') — no portion may remain.
αὐτοῦitGenitivegenitive (partitive, with ἀπό: 'of it')→ relational specificationαὐτός: refers to the Passover victim.
εἰςuntilpreposition + accusative (temporal limit: 'until morning')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: here temporal, 'until / for'; εἰς τὸ πρωί ('until the morning').
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πρωί)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωὶmorningAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (temporal limit)→ object specificationπρωί: 'morning / early'; here substantivized with the article (τὸ πρωί); renders בֹּקֶר; the limit by which the victim must be wholly eaten or burned (Exod 12:10).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὀστοῦνboneAccusativedirect object of συντρίψουσιν (fronted for emphasis)→ object specificationὀστέον (contr. ὀστοῦν): 'bone'; renders עֶצֶם; the fronted ὀστοῦν gives the prohibition emphasis; this is the regulation cited at John 19:36 (ὀστοῦν οὐ συντριβήσεται αὐτοῦ) as fulfilled in the crucified Christ, the true Passover (cf. Exod 12:46; Ps 33:21 LXX).
οὐnotnegative particle (with συντρίψουσιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the prohibition against breaking the victim's bones.
συντρίψουσινthey shall break / crushFut Act Indic 3 Pl · συντρίβωmain verb (prohibitive future)→ imperatival future (legal prohibition)συντρίβω: 'shatter / break in pieces / crush'; renders שָׁבַר; the LXX's verb here is echoed verbatim in John 19:36 (οὐ συντριβήσεται), grounding the Johannine fulfillment-citation; the wholeness of the Passover victim's body prefigures the unbroken body of Christ.
ἀπ᾿of / frompreposition + genitive (partitive: 'of it')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: partitive; ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ('of it') — not even one bone of the victim.
αὐτοῦitGenitivegenitive (partitive, with ἀπό)→ relational specificationαὐτός: refers to the Passover victim, whose skeletal integrity must be preserved.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm: 'according to the law')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; κατὰ τὸν νόμον τοῦ πασχα reasserts conformity to the full Passover ordinance.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (norm)→ object specificationνόμος: 'law / statute'; τοῦ πασχα ('of the Passover'); the deferred feast follows the identical law (cf. v. 3).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πασχα, marking the genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πασχαPassoverindeclinable proper noun (genitive with τοῦ: 'of the Passover')→ clausal contributionπασχα: indeclinable; here the article τοῦ supplies genitive case-marking ('the law of the Passover').
ποιήσουσινthey shall keepFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (resumptive legislative future)→ imperatival future (summary prescription)ποιέω: 'keep'; the resumptive ποιήσουσιν αὐτό ('they shall keep it') closes the statute, insisting the deferred Passover is kept in full conformity to the original law.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object (the Passover)→ participant referenceαὐτό: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the Passover).
13
καὶ ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐὰν καθαρὸς ᾖ καὶ ἐν ὁδῷ μακρᾷ οὐκ ἔστιν καὶ ὑστερήσῃ ποιῆσαι τὸ πασχα ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς ὅτι τὸ δῶρον κυρίῳ οὐ προσήνεγκεν κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ λήμψεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος
But the man who is clean and is not on a far journey, and yet fails to keep the Passover — that soul shall be utterly cut off from its people, because he did not offer the gift to the LORD at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin.
The statute's converse: the make-up provision is no loophole. One who is clean and at home, with no excuse, yet neglects the Passover, incurs the gravest sanction — ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ('that soul shall be utterly cut off'), the LXX rendering of the karet penalty (כָּרֵת). The clause ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ λήμψεται ('he shall bear his sin') assigns full personal culpability: the deferred opportunity heightens, rather than lessens, the responsibility to keep the feast.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶbut / andcoordinating conjunction (introducing the contrasting case)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here mildly adversative in force, introducing the counter-case to the concession of vv. 10–12.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject (casuistic 'the man who...')→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man / person'; the subject of the converse statute — the one with no exempting circumstance.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of the conditional-relative clause)→ participant referenceὅς: relative pronoun; ὃς ἐάν = 'whoever.'
ἐὰνif / -everconditional particle (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the protasis describing the inexcusable case.
καθαρὸςcleanNominativepredicate adjective (with ᾖ: 'is clean')→ participant prominenceκαθαρός: 'clean / pure'; renders טָהוֹר; the antonym of ἀκάθαρτος (v. 6); being ritually clean removes the first exempting ground.
ᾖis / may bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of conditional clause (with καθαρός)→ present subjunctive (generic condition: state of being clean)εἰμί: 'be'; the present subjunctive ᾖ in the ἐάν-clause states the generic condition — whoever is (in a state of being) clean.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the two exempting conditions, both negated)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
ὁδῷroad / journeyDativedative of place (locative: 'on a journey')→ sphere or referenceὁδός: 'way / journey'; the second exempting ground (cf. v. 10), here negated by οὐκ ἔστιν.
μακρᾷfarDativeattributive adjective (modifying ὁδῷ: 'a far journey')→ sphere or referenceμακρός: 'long / distant'; the adjective μακρᾷ here (contrast the adverb μακράν in v. 10) qualifies the journey; ἐν ὁδῷ μακρᾷ οὐκ ἔστιν = 'is not away on a far journey.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (with ἔστιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negates the second exempting condition.
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb (with οὐκ: 'is not [on a journey]')→ stative present (the man's settled location)εἰμί: 'be'; the indicative ἔστιν (with accent, existential/locative) — the man is not away; he is at home and able to keep the feast at its proper time.
καὶand yetcoordinate conjunction (adversative force: 'and yet')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here with concessive-adversative force ('and yet'), introducing the culpable neglect despite having no excuse.
ὑστερήσῃfails / falls shortAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ὑστερέωverb of conditional clause (the culpable act)→ aorist subjunctive (the act of culpable omission)ὑστερέω: 'come short / fail / neglect'; the same verb the defiled men used of innocent deprivation (v. 7) here denotes culpable failure — the contrast is pointed: to be deprived through impurity is excusable; to fail through negligence is not.
ποιῆσαιto keepAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with ὑστερήσῃ: 'fails to keep')→ constative aorist infinitive (the neglected act)ποιέω (aor. inf.): 'keep'; the infinitive specifies what is culpably omitted — the keeping of the Passover.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πασχα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πασχαPassoverdirect object of ποιῆσαι (indeclinable)→ clausal contributionπασχα: indeclinable; the feast neglected.
ἐξολεθρευθήσεταιshall be utterly cut offFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb of apodosis (the penalty)→ predictive/decretory future passive (the karet sanction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'destroy utterly / root out'; renders the Niphal of כָּרַת ('be cut off'); the LXX's standard rendering of the karet penalty; the divine passive implies God as the agent of the cutting-off — exclusion from the covenant people, whether by death, childlessness, or excommunication.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with ψυχή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχὴsoul / personNominativesubject of ἐξολεθρευθήσεται→ participant prominenceψυχή: 'soul / life / person'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; here 'that person' — the karet formula ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχή ἐκείνη ('that soul shall be cut off') is the fixed LXX idiom for the severest covenantal penalty (cf. Gen 17:14; Exod 12:15; Lev 7:20).
ἐκείνηthatNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ψυχή)→ participant prominenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; identifies the culpable individual.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from its people')→ spatial or relational framingἐκ: 'out of / from'; ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ ('from the people') specifies the sphere of the cutting-off — severance from the covenant community.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with λαοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive of separation (with ἐκ)→ relational specificationλαός: 'people'; renders עַם; the covenant community from which the offender is cut off.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (referring to ψυχή: 'its people')→ relational specificationαὐτός: the feminine αὐτῆς agrees with ψυχή; 'its [own] people' — the very community to which the soul belonged.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (introducing the ground of the penalty)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the rationale for the karet sanction.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with δῶρον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δῶρονgift / offeringAccusativedirect object of προσήνεγκεν (fronted)→ object specificationδῶρον: 'gift / offering'; the same term used by the defiled men (v. 7); the offense is precisely the failure to bring it.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of recipient (the offering's addressee)→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the unrendered gift was owed to YHWH himself.
οὐnotnegative particle (with προσήνεγκεν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: negates the offering — the gift was not brought.
προσήνεγκενoffered / broughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσφέρωverb of causal clause (the culpable omission)→ constative aorist (the failure to offer, as accomplished fact)προσφέρω: 'offer / bring near'; renders הִקְרִיב; the aorist with οὐ states the bare culpable fact — he did not present the offering at its appointed time.
κατὰat / according topreposition + accusative (temporal norm)→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: temporal, 'at its appointed time' (echoing v. 7).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with καιρόν)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρὸνappointed timeAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (temporal)→ object specificationκαιρός: 'appointed time'; κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν αὐτοῦ ('at its appointed time'); since the make-up time exists, there was no excuse for omission.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the Passover's time)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the Passover's time).
ἁμαρτίανsinAccusativedirect object of λήμψεται (fronted)→ object specificationἁμαρτία: 'sin / guilt'; renders חֵטְא; the idiom ἁμαρτίαν λαμβάνειν ('to bear / take up one's sin') renders נָשָׂא חֵטְא ('bear guilt'), denoting personal liability for punishment (cf. Lev 20:20; 24:15).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (with ἁμαρτίαν: 'his sin')→ relational specificationαὐτός: 'his'; the sin is personally his, underscoring individual culpability.
λήμψεταιshall bear / take upFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (declaring liability)→ predictive/decretory future (assignment of guilt)λαμβάνω: 'take / receive'; the idiom ἁμαρτίαν λήμψεται ('he shall bear his sin') assigns full responsibility for the consequences of the neglect; the deferred opportunity removes every excuse and thus intensifies the guilt.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with ἄνθρωπος)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativesubject of λήμψεται→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man'; the culpable individual, resumed as subject.
ἐκεῖνοςthatNominativedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἄνθρωπος)→ participant prominenceἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative closes the verse on the specific offender, sealing his personal accountability.
14
ἐὰν δὲ προσέλθῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς προσήλυτος ἐν τῇ γῇ ὑμῶν καὶ ποιήσει τὸ πασχα κυρίῳ κατὰ τὸν νόμον τοῦ πασχα καὶ κατὰ τὴν σύνταξιν αὐτοῦ ποιήσει αὐτό νόμος εἷς ἔσται ὑμῖν καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ αὐτόχθονι τῆς γῆς
And if a proselyte comes to you in your land and would keep the Passover to the LORD, according to the law of the Passover and according to its ordinance he shall keep it; there shall be one law for you, both for the proselyte and for the native of the land.
The law's final extension: the προσήλυτος (resident alien / convert) who wishes to keep the Passover may do so on the same terms. The principle νόμος εἷς ἔσται ('there shall be one law') for native and stranger alike (cf. Exod 12:48–49; Num 15:15–16) embodies the inclusive reach of Israel's covenant cult — the LXX's προσήλυτος (lit. 'one who has come to') is the very term that becomes 'proselyte' in Second-Temple and NT usage (cf. Acts 2:11).
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
ἐὰνifconditional particle (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: 'if'; introduces the protasis concerning the resident alien.
δὲand / butnarrative continuative (post-positive)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: post-positive; marks the transition to the alien-inclusion provision.
προσέλθῃcomes / joinsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · προσέρχομαιverb of conditional clause (protasis)→ aorist subjunctive (generic condition)προσέρχομαι: 'come to / approach / attach oneself'; the aorist subjunctive in the ἐάν-clause; the verb is cognate with προσήλυτος ('one who has come to'), so the phrasing itself defines the convert as one who 'comes near' to Israel and its God.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (Israel)→ participant referenceσύ (pl. ὑμᾶς): the alien comes 'to you,' i.e. joins the Israelite community.
προσήλυτοςproselyte / resident alienNominativesubject of προσέλθῃ→ participant prominenceπροσήλυτος: 'newcomer / sojourner / convert'; the LXX's coinage rendering גֵּר ('resident alien'); lit. 'one who has come to'; the term becomes the technical 'proselyte' of Judaism and the NT (Matt 23:15; Acts 2:11; 6:5); here it denotes the non-Israelite who lives among and worships with Israel.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῇtheDativearticle (with γῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative: 'in your land')→ sphere or referenceγῆ: 'land'; ἐν τῇ γῇ ὑμῶν ('in your land') anticipates the settled life in Canaan, where aliens will dwell among Israel.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (with γῇ)→ relational specificationσύ (pl. ὑμῶν): 'your'; Israel's land as the setting of the provision.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the second part of the protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσειwould keepFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωverb continuing the condition (future for subjunctive)→ conditional/intentional future (the alien's wish to keep it)ποιέω: 'keep'; the future ποιήσει continuing the ἐάν-clause expresses the alien's intention to keep the Passover; the LXX often shifts from subjunctive to future within a single conditional period.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with πασχα)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πασχαPassoverdirect object of ποιήσει (indeclinable)→ clausal contributionπασχα: indeclinable; the feast the alien may keep.
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of recipient→ sphere or referenceκύριος (dat. κυρίῳ): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the alien too keeps the feast 'to the LORD,' incorporated into Israel's worship of YHWH.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm: 'according to the law')→ spatial or relational framingκατά + acc.: 'according to'; the alien keeps it by the same law and ordinance.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with νόμον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (norm)→ object specificationνόμος: 'law'; the same Passover law binds the convert.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πασχα, marking the genitive)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πασχαPassoverindeclinable proper noun (genitive with τοῦ)→ clausal contributionπασχα: indeclinable; 'of the Passover.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (norm: 'according to its ordinance')→ spatial or relational framingκατὰ: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm: 'according to its ordinance').
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with σύνταξιν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σύνταξινordinance / arrangementAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (norm)→ object specificationσύνταξις: 'arrangement / prescribed order / ordinance'; renders מִשְׁפָּט; near-synonym of σύγκρισις (v. 3); the convert observes the full prescribed manner of the feast, nothing diminished.
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the Passover's ordinance)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (the Passover's ordinance).
ποιήσειhe shall keepFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of apodosis (legislative future)→ imperatival future (legal prescription)ποιέω: 'keep'; the resumptive ποιήσει αὐτό grants the alien full standing to keep the feast on equal terms.
αὐτόitAccusativedirect object (the Passover)→ participant referenceαὐτό: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the Passover).
νόμοςlawNominativesubject of ἔσται (predicative: 'one law shall be')→ participant prominenceνόμος: 'law'; νόμος εἷς ('one law') is the great equalizing principle: native and convert stand under identical cultic obligation and privilege (cf. Exod 12:49; Num 15:16).
εἷςoneNominativeattributive numeral (modifying νόμος: 'one law')→ measure or countεἷς: 'one'; the emphatic 'one law' renders תּוֹרָה אַחַת; the singularity is theological — there is no two-tier covenant membership at the Passover table.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (declaratory future)→ predictive/decretory future (statutory declaration)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; the declaratory future enacts the standing principle of legal parity.
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of advantage/reference ('for you')→ participant reference or interestσύ (pl. ὑμῖν): 'for you' — native Israel, the first party under the one law.
καὶboth / andcoordinate conjunction (correlative: 'both ... and')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: correlative, joining the two parties under the single law.
τῷtheDativearticle (with προσηλύτῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προσηλύτῳproselyteDativedative of advantage (the convert as second party)→ sphere or referenceπροσήλυτος (dat. προσηλύτῳ): 'proselyte / resident alien'; the convert is named explicitly as standing under the same law — full cultic inclusion.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῷtheDativearticle (with αὐτόχθονι)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτόχθονιnativeDativedative of advantage (the native-born as third-named party)→ sphere or referenceαὐτόχθων: 'native / indigenous / homeborn'; renders אֶזְרָח ('native-born'); a classical Greek term ('sprung from the land itself'); the pairing προσήλυτος / αὐτόχθων ('alien / native') is the LXX's standard merism for the whole population under one law (cf. Exod 12:19, 48–49; Lev 16:29).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with γῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive (with αὐτόχθονι: 'native of the land')→ relational specificationγῆ: 'land'; τῆς γῆς ('of the land') defines the αὐτόχθων as the one born in the land — completing the alien/native parity.
15
καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ ἐστάθη ἡ σκηνή ἐκάλυψεν ἡ νεφέλη τὴν σκηνήν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ μαρτυρίου καὶ τὸ ἑσπέρας ἦν ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς ὡς εἶδος πυρὸς ἕως πρωί
And on the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony; and in the evening there was over the tabernacle as the appearance of fire until morning.
The second panel opens with the erection of the tabernacle (cf. Exod 40:34) and the descent of the cloud. The double designation τὴν σκηνήν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony') identifies the dwelling as the seat of the covenant testimony. The day/night contrast — cloud by day, ὡς εἶδος πυρός ('as the appearance of fire') by night — establishes the perpetual visible sign of the divine presence guiding Israel.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (opening the new panel)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τῇtheDativearticle (with ἡμέρᾳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (when)→ sphere or referenceἡμέρα: 'day'; the day of the tabernacle's erection (the first day of the first month of the second year, Exod 40:2, 17) — closely tied chronologically to the Passover panel.
ᾗon whichDativerelative pronoun (dative of time, modifying ἡμέρᾳ)→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun; the dative ᾗ ('on which') introduces the temporal relative clause.
ἐστάθηwas set up / was erectedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιverb of relative clause (the tabernacle's erection)→ constative aorist passive (completed setting-up)ἵστημι (aor. pass. ἐστάθη): 'be set up / be established'; renders הוּקַם ('was raised up'); the passive points to the erection of the tabernacle narrated in Exod 40:17–33.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with σκηνή)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνήtabernacle / tentNominativesubject of ἐστάθη→ participant prominenceσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle / dwelling'; renders מִשְׁכָּן / אֹהֶל; the portable sanctuary of YHWH's presence; the term underlies the NT theology of God 'tabernacling' among us (ἐσκήνωσεν, John 1:14).
ἐκάλυψενcoveredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλύπτωmain verb (the cloud's covering)→ constative aorist (the act of covering)καλύπτω: 'cover / conceal / envelop'; renders כִּסָּה; the cloud's covering of the tabernacle (Exod 40:34) signifies YHWH's glory taking up residence; the same verb describes the glory-cloud at Exod 24:15–16.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with νεφέλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληcloudNominativesubject of ἐκάλυψεν→ participant prominenceνεφέλη: 'cloud'; renders עָנָן; the glory-cloud (the שְׁכִינָה / Shekinah of later Judaism) is the visible token of the divine presence and the agent of Israel's guidance; it dominates the rest of the chapter (recurring in nearly every verse, vv. 15–22).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with σκηνήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνήνtabernacleAccusativedirect object of ἐκάλυψεν→ object specificationσκηνή (acc. σκηνήν): the object covered by the cloud.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with οἶκον)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἶκονhouse / tentAccusativeaccusative in apposition to σκηνήν ('the tent of the testimony')→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / dwelling'; here in apposition, τὸν οἶκον τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('the house/tent of the testimony') glosses the σκηνή; renders אֹהֶל הָעֵדֻת; the LXX often expands the designation of the tabernacle to underscore its role as the locus of the covenant 'testimony.'
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with μαρτυρίου)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μαρτυρίουtestimony / witnessGenitivegenitive (defining οἶκον: 'house of the testimony')→ relational specificationμαρτύριον: 'testimony / witness'; renders עֵדוּת; refers to the covenant law deposited in the ark (the 'testimony,' Exod 25:16, 21); ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου ('the tent of testimony') is the LXX's standard designation of the tabernacle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the night-phenomenon)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (adverbial accusative of time: 'in the evening')→ noun-phrase markingτό: the neuter article with the genitive ἑσπέρας forms an adverbial accusative of time, 'in the evening / at evening.'
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive of time (within the adverbial phrase τὸ ἑσπέρας: 'in the evening')→ relational specificationἑσπέρα (gen. ἑσπέρας): 'evening'; the genitive of time-within-which, here governed by the neuter article in an adverbial idiom for 'at evening / by night.'
ἦνthere wasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there was [over the tabernacle]')→ durative imperfect (the abiding nocturnal appearance)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν describes the abiding nightly phenomenon over the tabernacle — the fire-like appearance that lasted 'until morning.'
ἐπὶover / uponpreposition + genitive (position: 'over the tabernacle')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'upon / over'; locates the fiery appearance above the sanctuary.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtabernacleGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position)→ relational specificationσκηνή (gen. σκηνῆς): the sanctuary over which the fire-appearance rested.
ὡςas / likecomparative particle (introducing the simile)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / like'; introduces the careful simile — not fire itself but 'as the appearance of fire,' guarding the transcendence of the divine manifestation.
εἶδοςappearance / formNominativepredicate (with ἦν ... ὡς: 'as the appearance')→ participant prominenceεἶδος: 'appearance / form / visible aspect'; renders מַרְאֶה ('appearance'); ὡς εἶδος πυρός ('as the appearance of fire') is deliberately analogical, describing the look of the manifestation rather than identifying it with literal fire.
πυρὸςof fireGenitivegenitive (defining εἶδος: 'appearance of fire')→ relational specificationπῦρ (gen. πυρός): 'fire'; renders אֵשׁ; the fiery night-appearance recalls the pillar of fire of the Exodus (Exod 13:21) and the fire of Sinai (Exod 24:17), all manifestations of the divine presence.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal limit: 'until morning')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; marks the duration of the night-appearance through to dawn.
πρωίmorningadverb (temporal: 'morning'; object of ἕως)→ clausal contributionπρωί: 'early / morning'; an adverb used here substantivally as the limit of ἕως; the fire-appearance persisted the whole night through, the cloud resuming its daytime form at dawn (v. 16).
16
οὕτως ἐγίνετο διὰ παντός ἡ νεφέλη ἐκάλυπτεν αὐτὴν ἡμέρας καὶ εἶδος πυρὸς τὴν νύκτα
So it happened continually: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
The verse generalizes v. 15 into a permanent pattern: οὕτως ... διὰ παντός ('so ... continually'), with iterative imperfects (ἐγίνετο, ἐκάλυπτεν) marking the cloud-and-fire as the abiding, recurring sign. The day/night antithesis (ἡμέρας ... τὴν νύκτα) frames the divine presence as unbroken — never absent, by light or darkness.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
οὕτωςso / thusadverb of manner (summarizing v.15)→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so'; generalizes the preceding description into a standing pattern.
ἐγίνετοit happened / used to beImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (iterative: 'so it continually was')→ iterative/customary imperfect (recurring pattern)γίνομαι: 'happen / come to be'; the iterative imperfect ἐγίνετο ('it used to happen') marks the habitual, repeated character of the cloud-phenomenon throughout the wilderness years.
διὰthrough(out)preposition + genitive (in the idiom διὰ παντός: 'continually')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: in the fixed adverbial idiom διὰ παντός ('through all [time], continually'); renders תָּמִיד ('continually').
παντόςall (time)Genitivegenitive (in the idiom διὰ παντός: 'continually')→ relational specificationπᾶς (gen. παντός): 'all'; with διά forms the temporal idiom 'continually / always'; the cloud-sign was perpetual, not occasional.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with νεφέλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληcloudNominativesubject of ἐκάλυπτεν→ participant prominenceνεφέλη: 'cloud'; the glory-cloud, the daytime form of the abiding sign.
ἐκάλυπτενcoveredImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · καλύπτωmain verb (iterative: 'kept covering')→ iterative imperfect (recurring daytime covering)καλύπτω: 'cover'; the imperfect ἐκάλυπτεν ('kept covering') marks the habitual daytime covering — contrast the punctiliar aorist ἐκάλυψεν of the first occasion (v. 15).
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (referring to ἡ σκηνή: the tabernacle)→ participant referenceαὐτός: the feminine αὐτήν agrees with σκηνή ('it,' the tabernacle), the object covered.
ἡμέραςby dayGenitivegenitive of time (within which: 'by day')→ relational specificationἡμέρα (gen. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the genitive of time expresses 'during the daytime' — the cloud's daylight role.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the night-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδοςappearanceNominativepredicate nominative (with implied verb: '[there was] the appearance of fire')→ participant prominenceεἶδος: 'appearance'; with πυρός repeats the simile of v. 15; the verb is gapped from ἐγίνετο/ἦν — '[there was] as the appearance of fire by night.'
πυρὸςof fireGenitivegenitive (defining εἶδος: 'appearance of fire')→ relational specificationπῦρ (gen. πυρός): 'fire'; the night-form of the sign, recalling the pillar of fire (Exod 13:21).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with νύκτα)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταby nightAccusativeaccusative of time (extent/duration: 'through the night')→ object specificationνύξ (acc. νύκτα): 'night'; the accusative of duration ('throughout the night'); the day/night pairing (ἡμέρας / τὴν νύκτα) frames the divine presence as continuous and unfailing.
17
καὶ ἡνίκα ἀνέβη ἡ νεφέλη ἀπὸ τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἀπῆραν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐν τῷ τόπῳ οὗ ἂν ἔστη ἡ νεφέλη ἐκεῖ παρενέβαλον οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
And whenever the cloud went up from the tent, then after that the sons of Israel would set out; and in the place where the cloud stood still, there the sons of Israel would encamp.
The governing principle of Israel's itinerary: the cloud's movement dictates both march and halt. The two contrasting verbs ἀπῆραν ('set out') and παρενέβαλον ('encamped') are governed entirely by the cloud's rising and settling — Israel has no autonomous itinerary; the divine sign is the sole determinant of motion and rest.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡνίκαwhenever / whentemporal conjunction (introducing the iterative protasis)→ discourse linkage or contrastἡνίκα: 'when / at the time when'; renders the Hebrew temporal construction; here iterative ('whenever'), since the pattern recurs throughout the wilderness sojourn.
ἀνέβηwent up / liftedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωverb of temporal clause (the cloud's lifting)→ gnomic/iterative aorist (the typical event of the cloud's rising)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend / lift'; renders עָלָה; the cloud's rising (ἀνέβη) is the signal to break camp; the aorist in the iterative temporal clause expresses the recurrent typical action.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with νεφέλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληcloudNominativesubject of ἀνέβη→ participant prominenceνεφέλη: 'cloud'; the divine guide whose every movement Israel follows.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation: 'from the tent')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: 'from'; the cloud rises away from the tabernacle.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtent / tabernacleGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (point of departure)→ relational specificationσκηνή (gen. σκηνῆς): the tabernacle from which the cloud lifts.
καὶthen / andapodosis-introducing conjunction (Hebraizing waw-apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: introduces the apodosis after the temporal clause (Hebraism), 'then.'
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal: 'after that')→ spatial or relational framingμετά + acc.: temporal, 'after'; μετὰ ταῦτα ('after these things / thereafter').
ταῦταthese thingsAccusativeaccusative object of μετά (temporal phrase)→ object specificationοὗτος: 'this'; μετὰ ταῦτα marks the sequence — only after the cloud lifts does Israel move; the order stresses dependence on the divine signal.
ἀπῆρανset out / broke campAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαίρωmain verb of apodosis (the march)→ gnomic/iterative aorist (the typical setting-out)ἀπαίρω: 'depart / set out / break camp'; renders נָסַע ('pull up [tent pegs], journey'); the technical verb for breaking camp; here governed wholly by the cloud's rising — Israel marches only when signaled.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἀπῆραν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the marching community.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'of Israel.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the encampment clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle (with τόπῳ)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπῳplaceDativedative of place (locative: 'in the place')→ sphere or referenceτόπος: 'place / location'; renders מָקוֹם; the resting-place determined by the cloud's settling.
οὗwhererelative adverb of place (with ἄν: 'wherever')→ participant referenceοὗ: relative adverb 'where'; with ἄν + subjunctive forms the indefinite local clause 'wherever.'
ἂν-evermodal particle (with ἔστη: indefinite/iterative)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle marking the clause as indefinite and iterative ('wherever it might stand').
ἔστηstood still / settledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιverb of indefinite relative clause (the cloud's settling)→ gnomic/iterative aorist (the typical settling)ἵστημι (intr. aor. ἔστη): 'stand / halt / come to rest'; renders שָׁכַן / עָמַד; the cloud's coming-to-rest determines the camp-site; the intransitive aorist ἔστη ('it stood / settled') is the counterpart to ἀνέβη ('it rose').
ἡtheNominativearticle (with νεφέλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληcloudNominativesubject of ἔστη→ participant prominenceνεφέλη: 'cloud'; its settling fixes the place of encampment.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive: 'there')→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; resumes the local clause emphatically — precisely there, and nowhere else, Israel pitched camp.
παρενέβαλονencamped / pitched campAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (the encampment)→ gnomic/iterative aorist (the typical encamping)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / pitch camp'; renders חָנָה; the technical verb for setting up camp; the antithesis ἀπῆραν / παρενέβαλον ('set out / encamped') encapsulates the cloud-governed rhythm of the whole march.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of παρενέβαλον→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the encamping community.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'of Israel.'
18
διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου παρεμβαλοῦσιν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ἀπαροῦσιν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἐν αἷς σκιάζει ἡ νεφέλη ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς παρεμβαλοῦσιν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
At the command of the LORD the sons of Israel would encamp, and at the command of the LORD they would set out; all the days that the cloud overshadowed the tabernacle the sons of Israel would remain encamped.
The chapter's signature refrain enters: διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ('at the command of the LORD,' rendering עַל־פִּי יהוה, lit. 'at the mouth of the LORD'). The cloud's motion is now interpreted theologically — not mere meteorology but divine command. The refrain recurs at vv. 20, 23, governing both verbs (παρεμβαλοῦσιν / ἀπαροῦσιν) and framing the wilderness march as pure obedience.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
διὰby / atpreposition + genitive (means/agency: 'by command')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: 'through / by means of'; διὰ προστάγματος ('by command') renders עַל־פִּי ('at the mouth of'), the Hebrew idiom for authoritative direction.
προστάγματοςcommand / ordinanceGenitivegenitive object of διά (means: 'by command')→ relational specificationπρόσταγμα: 'command / ordinance / decree'; renders פֶּה ('mouth' = command) in this idiom; the noun stresses the authoritative, decretal character of the cloud's signal — it is YHWH's order, not a natural cue.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession/source (with προστάγματος: 'the LORD's command')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the command is YHWH's own; the genitive identifies the divine source of Israel's marching orders.
παρεμβαλοῦσινthey would encampFut Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (gnomic/customary future: habitual encamping)→ gnomic/customary future (the standing rule of encampment)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp'; the future παρεμβαλοῦσιν here has gnomic/customary force ('they would [habitually] encamp'), describing the settled rule rather than a single future event.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of παρεμβαλοῦσιν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the obedient community.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'of Israel.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διὰby / atpreposition + genitive (means: 'by command', repeated refrain)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: the refrain repeated — both encamping and setting out are 'by the command of the LORD.'
προστάγματοςcommandGenitivegenitive object of διά (means)→ relational specificationπρόσταγμα: 'command'; the refrain-noun repeated, governing the setting-out as well.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with προστάγματος)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ἀπαροῦσινthey would set outFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαίρωmain verb (gnomic/customary future: habitual setting-out)→ gnomic/customary future (the standing rule of marching)ἀπαίρω: 'set out / break camp'; the future ἀπαροῦσιν with customary force; paired with παρεμβαλοῦσιν, the two verbs encapsulate the whole obedient rhythm — both equally 'by the command of the LORD.'
πάσαςallAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἡμέρας: 'all the days')→ object specificationπᾶς (acc. fem. pl. πάσας): 'all'; πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ('all the days') is an accusative of duration.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with ἡμέρας)→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration (extent of time: 'all the days')→ object specificationἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the accusative of extent — for the whole duration that the cloud rested, Israel stayed put.
ἐνin / duringpreposition + dative (temporal, with relative αἷς)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal, with relative αἷς).
αἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (dative, modifying ἡμέρας: 'during which')→ participant reference or interestὅς: relative pronoun; ἐν αἷς ('in which [days]') introduces the temporal relative clause defining the duration.
σκιάζειovershadowsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · σκιάζωverb of relative clause (the cloud's overshadowing)→ durative present (the cloud's continuing overshadowing)σκιάζω: 'overshadow / cast a shadow'; renders שָׁכַן ('settle / abide') here; the verb evokes the protective overshadowing of the divine presence (cf. ἐπισκιάζω, Exod 40:35; Luke 1:35); the present tense gives the abiding state.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with νεφέλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληcloudNominativesubject of σκιάζει→ participant prominenceνεφέλη: 'cloud'; its overshadowing presence keeps Israel encamped.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + genitive (position: 'over the tabernacle')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'over / upon'; the cloud rests over the sanctuary.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtabernacleGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position)→ relational specificationσκηνή (gen. σκηνῆς): the tabernacle over which the cloud abides.
παρεμβαλοῦσινthey would remain encampedFut Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (resumptive: customary encamping)→ gnomic/customary future (continued encampment)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / remain in camp'; the resumptive παρεμβαλοῦσιν closes the verse, reaffirming that as long as the cloud abode, Israel stayed encamped — rest, like motion, is governed by the divine signal.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of παρεμβαλοῦσιν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the encamped community.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'of Israel.'
19
καὶ ὅταν ἐφέλκηται ἡ νεφέλη ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς ἡμέρας πλείους καὶ φυλάξονται οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ τὴν φυλακὴν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξάρωσιν
And whenever the cloud lingered over the tabernacle many days, then the sons of Israel would keep the charge of God and would not set out.
The first of several scenarios testing Israel's obedience to the cloud (vv. 19–22): even when the cloud lingered 'many days,' Israel did not grow restless but kept τὴν φυλακὴν τοῦ θεοῦ ('the charge of God'). The emphatic οὐ μὴ ἐξάρωσιν ('they would by no means set out') underscores disciplined patience — obedience holds even when the halt is long and the impulse to move is strong.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅτανwhenevertemporal conjunction (with subjunctive: iterative condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅταν: 'whenever'; with the subjunctive ἐφέλκηται introduces the recurring scenario of a prolonged halt.
ἐφέλκηταιlingers / draws onPres Mid Subj 3 Sg · ἐφέλκομαιverb of temporal clause (the cloud's lingering)→ durative present subjunctive (the cloud's continued tarrying)ἐφέλκομαι: 'draw on / drag out / linger'; renders the Hebrew הֶאֱרִיךְ ('prolong'); the verb pictures the cloud 'drawing out' its stay over many days; the middle voice suits its self-prolonging tarrying.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with νεφέλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληcloudNominativesubject of ἐφέλκηται→ participant prominenceνεφέλη: 'cloud'; whose prolonged stay tests Israel's patience.
ἐπὶoverpreposition + genitive (position: 'over the tabernacle')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'over'; the cloud's position above the sanctuary.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtabernacleGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position)→ relational specificationσκηνή (gen. σκηνῆς): the tabernacle over which the cloud lingers.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration (extent: 'many days')→ object specificationἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the accusative of extent of time.
πλείουςmany / moreAccusativeattributive comparative adjective (with ἡμέρας: 'many days')→ object specificationπλείων / πλείους: 'more / many'; comparative of πολύς; ἡμέρας πλείους ('many days') describes a prolonged halt, the scenario most testing Israel's patience.
καὶthen / andapodosis-introducing conjunction (Hebraizing waw-apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: introduces the apodosis ('then'), Hebraism after ὅταν.
φυλάξονταιthey would keep / observeFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb of apodosis (customary future)→ gnomic/customary future (habitual keeping of the charge)φυλάσσω: 'guard / keep / observe'; renders שָׁמַר; the middle φυλάξονται with the cognate object φυλακήν ('keep the keeping / charge') is a Hebraizing figura etymologica rendering שָׁמַר מִשְׁמֶרֶת ('keep the charge').
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of φυλάξονται→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the obedient community.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'of Israel.'
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with φυλακήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλακὴνcharge / watchAccusativecognate accusative (direct object of φυλάξονται: 'keep the charge')→ object specificationφυλακή: 'guard / watch / charge / observance'; renders מִשְׁמֶרֶת; the cognate accusative φυλάξονται τὴν φυλακήν ('keep the charge') is a Hebraism; here the 'charge of God' = the duty of waiting on the divine signal rather than moving at will.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with θεοῦ)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive (defining φυλακήν: 'the charge of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים / יהוה; τὴν φυλακὴν τοῦ θεοῦ ('the charge of God') names obedience to the cloud as a sacred duty owed to God himself; at v. 23 the parallel reads τὴν φυλακὴν κυρίου.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ 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: with μή forms the emphatic negation οὐ μή.
μὴby no meansnegative particle (emphatic οὐ μή with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with οὐ and the aorist subjunctive forms the strongest Greek negation (οὐ μή + subj.), 'they will certainly not / by no means.'
ἐξάρωσινset out / departAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἐξαίρωverb of emphatic negation (οὐ μή + subjunctive)→ emphatic prohibitive subjunctive (they would absolutely not move)ἐξαίρω: 'lift up / remove / set out (on a journey)'; renders נָסַע; with οὐ μή it stresses that Israel would by no means break camp while the cloud abode — disciplined obedience even through a prolonged, wearying halt.
20
καὶ ἔσται ὅταν σκεπάσῃ ἡ νεφέλη ἡμέρας ἀριθμῷ ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς διὰ φωνῆς κυρίου παρεμβαλοῦσιν καὶ διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ἀπαροῦσιν
And it would be, whenever the cloud overshadowed the tabernacle a number of days, that at the voice of the LORD they would encamp, and at the command of the LORD they would set out.
A complementary scenario: when the cloud stayed only ἡμέρας ἀριθμῷ ('a few numbered days'). Here the refrain is varied — διὰ φωνῆς κυρίου ('at the voice/mouth of the LORD') for the encamping, διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ('at the command of the LORD') for the setting out — both rendering the same Hebrew עַל־פִּי יהוה, the LXX alternating φωνή and πρόσταγμα to render פֶּה ('mouth'). Whether the stay is long (v. 19) or short, the principle is identical: motion and rest alike obey the divine word.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit shall be / it would beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (καὶ ἔσται + temporal clause: Hebraizing 'and it came to pass')→ gnomic/customary future (the recurring pattern)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'be'; καὶ ἔσται ὅταν ('and it shall be, whenever') renders וְהָיָה כִּי, the Hebraizing formula introducing a recurring circumstance; with customary force throughout the cloud-pericope.
ὅτανwhenevertemporal conjunction (with subjunctive: iterative condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅταν: 'whenever'; introduces the recurring scenario.
σκεπάσῃovershadows / coversAor Act Subj 3 Sg · σκεπάζωverb of temporal clause (the cloud's covering)→ aorist subjunctive (the typical covering)σκεπάζω: 'cover / shelter / overshadow'; renders the Hebrew הָיָה / שָׁכַן in the sense of resting upon; a near-synonym of καλύπτω (v. 15) and σκιάζω (v. 18); the cluster of 'covering' verbs underlines the cloud's sheltering presence.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with νεφέλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληcloudNominativesubject of σκεπάσῃ→ participant prominenceνεφέλη: 'cloud'; the divine sign whose stay is here brief.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of duration (extent: 'a number of days')→ object specificationἡμέρα (acc. pl. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the accusative of extent, qualified by ἀριθμῷ.
ἀριθμῷby number / a fewDativedative of manner/respect ('few in number')→ sphere or referenceἀριθμός (dat. ἀριθμῷ): 'number'; ἡμέρας ἀριθμῷ ('days in number,' i.e. a countable few) renders יָמִים מִסְפָּר ('days of number'), the Hebrew idiom for 'a few days' (cf. the contrast with ἡμέρας πλείους, v. 19).
ἐπὶoverpreposition + genitive (position: 'over the tabernacle')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + gen.: 'over'; the cloud's position above the sanctuary.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with σκηνῆς)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtabernacleGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (position)→ relational specificationσκηνή (gen. σκηνῆς): the sanctuary over which the cloud rests.
διὰat / bypreposition + genitive (means: 'at the voice')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: 'by means of'; here διὰ φωνῆς ('at the voice/mouth').
φωνῆςvoice / mouthGenitivegenitive object of διά (means: 'at the voice of the LORD')→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice / sound'; here renders פֶּה ('mouth') in the idiom עַל־פִּי יהוה; the LXX varies its rendering of 'the mouth of the LORD' between φωνή (here) and πρόσταγμα (vv. 18, 23) — both denote the authoritative divine word directing the camp.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with φωνῆς: 'the voice of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the voice that orders the encampment is YHWH's own.
παρεμβαλοῦσινthey would encampFut Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (customary future)→ gnomic/customary future (habitual encamping)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp'; here too the encamping is 'at the voice of the LORD' — never self-initiated.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διὰat / bypreposition + genitive (means: 'at the command')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: 'by'; διὰ προστάγματος ('at the command'), the refrain-form for the setting-out.
προστάγματοςcommandGenitivegenitive object of διά (means)→ relational specificationπρόσταγμα: 'command / ordinance'; the refrain-noun; the variation φωνή / πρόσταγμα within one verse shows the two are interchangeable renderings of עַל־פִּי.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with προστάγματος)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ἀπαροῦσινthey would set outFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαίρωmain verb (customary future)→ gnomic/customary future (habitual setting-out)ἀπαίρω: 'set out / break camp'; the setting-out, like the encamping, is wholly governed by the divine command.
21
καὶ ἔσται ὅταν γένηται ἡ νεφέλη ἀφ᾿ ἑσπέρας ἕως πρωὶ καὶ ἀναβῇ ἡ νεφέλη τὸ πρωί καὶ ἀπαροῦσιν ἡμέρας ἢ νυκτός
And it would be, whenever the cloud remained from evening until morning, and the cloud went up in the morning, then they would set out; whether by day or by night, when the cloud went up, they would set out.
The shortest scenario: the cloud stays a single night and lifts at dawn. The closing ἡμέρας ἢ νυκτός ('by day or by night') stresses Israel's perpetual readiness — the signal might come at any hour, and obedience could not wait for a convenient time. The pattern caps the spectrum of durations from many days (v. 19) to a few (v. 20) to a single night here.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔσταιit would beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (καὶ ἔσται ὅταν: Hebraizing recurring-circumstance formula)→ gnomic/customary future (recurring pattern)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): καὶ ἔσται ὅταν as in v. 20, introducing another recurring case.
ὅτανwhenevertemporal conjunction (with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅταν: 'whenever'; the iterative temporal marker.
γένηταιremains / comes to beAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of temporal clause (the cloud's being/remaining)→ aorist subjunctive (the typical overnight presence)γίνομαι: 'be / remain / come to be'; here γένηται ἡ νεφέλη ἀφ᾽ ἑσπέρας ἕως πρωί = 'the cloud is/remains from evening until morning,' i.e. stays only the night.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with νεφέλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληcloudNominativesubject of γένηται→ participant prominenceνεφέλη: 'cloud'; here staying but a single night.
ἀφ᾿frompreposition + genitive (temporal start: 'from evening')→ spatial or relational framingἀπό (elided ἀφ᾽): 'from'; ἀφ᾽ ἑσπέρας ('from evening'), the start of the overnight stay.
ἑσπέραςeveningGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (temporal start)→ relational specificationἑσπέρα (gen. ἑσπέρας): 'evening'; the beginning of the night-long stay.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal limit: 'until morning')→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until'; marks the end of the overnight stay at dawn.
πρωὶmorningadverb (temporal: 'morning'; object of ἕως)→ clausal contributionπρωί: 'morning'; the dawn at which the cloud would lift.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (continuing the temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀναβῇgoes up / liftsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωverb of temporal clause (the cloud's morning rising)→ aorist subjunctive (the typical dawn lifting)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / lift'; the cloud's rising at dawn (ἀναβῇ ... τὸ πρωί) is the signal to march, even after only a night's halt.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with νεφέλη)→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληcloudNominativesubject of ἀναβῇ→ participant prominenceνεφέλη: 'cloud'; lifting at dawn as the marching signal.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (adverbial accusative of time: 'in the morning')→ noun-phrase markingτό: with πρωί forms the adverbial accusative of time, 'in the morning.'
πρωίmorningAccusativeadverbial accusative of time ('in the morning')→ object specificationπρωί: 'morning'; here substantivized with τό as the time of the cloud's lifting.
καὶthen / andapodosis-introducing conjunction (Hebraizing waw-apodosis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: introduces the apodosis ('then they would set out').
ἀπαροῦσινthey would set outFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαίρωmain verb of apodosis (customary future)→ gnomic/customary future (habitual setting-out)ἀπαίρω: 'set out'; the march follows immediately on the cloud's morning lifting, even after only a night's rest.
ἡμέραςby dayGenitivegenitive of time (within which: 'by day')→ relational specificationἡμέρα (gen. ἡμέρας): 'day'; the genitive of time; ἡμέρας ἢ νυκτός ('by day or by night') stresses readiness at any hour.
ἢordisjunctive conjunction (between the two times)→ discourse linkage or contrastἤ: 'or'; couples the alternatives — day or night, the signal demanded instant obedience.
νυκτόςby nightGenitivegenitive of time (within which: 'by night')→ relational specificationνύξ (gen. νυκτός): 'night'; the genitive of time; the closing phrase underlines that Israel had to be ready to march at whatever hour the cloud should lift.
22
μηνὸς ἡμέρας πλεοναζούσης τῆς νεφέλης σκιαζούσης ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς παρεμβαλοῦσιν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀπάρωσιν
When the cloud, overshadowing it, lingered a month of days or longer, the sons of Israel would remain encamped and would not set out.
The maximal scenario, balancing the single night of v. 21: even when the cloud lingered a full month or longer, Israel stayed put. The genitive-absolute construction (ἡμέρας πλεοναζούσης ... τῆς νεφέλης σκιαζούσης) heaps up the duration; the emphatic οὐ μὴ ἀπάρωσιν ('they would by no means set out') matches the οὐ μὴ ἐξάρωσιν of v. 19, bracketing the whole sequence with the same disciplined obedience whatever the length of the stay.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
μηνὸςof a monthGenitivegenitive (with ἡμέρας: 'a month of days')→ relational specificationμήν (gen. μηνός): 'month'; μηνὸς ἡμέρας ('a month of days') is a Hebraism (חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים) for 'a full month'; the longest duration in the series.
ἡμέραςdaysGenitivegenitive (subject of the absolute participle πλεοναζούσης)→ relational specificationἡμέρα (gen. ἡμέρας): 'day'; with μηνός forms 'a month of days'; the genitive functions within the genitive-absolute construction.
πλεοναζούσηςabounding / and morePres Act Ptcp Gen Sg Fem · πλεονάζωgenitive absolute (temporal: 'when [the days] were many / and more')→ durative present participle (the lengthening of the stay)πλεονάζω: 'be more / abound / increase'; the participle (with ἡμέρας) conveys 'a month of days or more' — even beyond a full month; renders the Hebrew sense of an extended period; part of the genitive-absolute temporal construction.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with νεφέλης, in genitive absolute)→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νεφέληςcloudGenitivegenitive subject of the absolute participle σκιαζούσης→ relational specificationνεφέλη (gen. νεφέλης): 'cloud'; the genitive subject of the second genitive-absolute (τῆς νεφέλης σκιαζούσης, 'the cloud overshadowing').
σκιαζούσηςovershadowingPres Act Ptcp Gen Sg Fem · σκιάζωgenitive absolute (circumstantial: 'while the cloud overshadowed')→ durative present participle (the cloud's abiding overshadowing)σκιάζω: 'overshadow'; the present participle in the genitive-absolute pictures the cloud's continuing overshadowing throughout the long halt (cf. the same verb at v. 18).
ἐπ᾿over / uponpreposition + genitive (position: 'over it')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί (elided ἐπ᾽): 'over / upon'; locates the overshadowing cloud above the tabernacle.
αὐτῆςitGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί (referring to the tabernacle, ἡ σκηνή)→ relational specificationαὐτός: the feminine αὐτῆς refers to ἡ σκηνή ('it,' the tabernacle), over which the cloud overshadows.
παρεμβαλοῦσινthey would remain encampedFut Act Indic 3 Pl · παρεμβάλλωmain verb (customary future)→ gnomic/customary future (habitual encampment)παρεμβάλλω: 'encamp / stay in camp'; even through a month-long halt, Israel remained encamped, waiting on the cloud.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of παρεμβαλοῦσιν→ participant prominenceυἱός: 'son'; the patient, obedient community.
Ισραηλof Israelindeclinable proper noun (genitive of relationship)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: indeclinable; 'of Israel.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ 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: with μή forms the emphatic negation.
μὴby no meansnegative particle (emphatic οὐ μή with subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: with οὐ and the subjunctive forms the strongest negation; matches οὐ μὴ ἐξάρωσιν of v. 19, bracketing the sequence.
ἀπάρωσινset out / departAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἀπαίρωverb of emphatic negation (οὐ μή + subjunctive)→ emphatic prohibitive subjunctive (they would absolutely not move)ἀπαίρω: 'set out / break camp'; with οὐ μή it stresses absolute restraint — however long the halt, Israel would not march until the cloud lifted; obedience is independent of the stay's length.
23
ὅτι διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ἀπαροῦσιν τὴν φυλακὴν κυρίου ἐφυλάξαντο διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ
For at the command of the LORD they would set out, and the charge of the LORD they kept, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
The chapter's coda gathers up its theme in a threefold cadence of διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ('at the command of the LORD') — the refrain now stated as the comprehensive principle of the whole wilderness journey. The closing τὴν φυλακὴν κυρίου ἐφυλάξαντο ('they kept the charge of the LORD'), mediated ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ ('by the hand of Moses'), frames Israel's obedience as covenant-keeping transmitted through the appointed mediator — a fitting bridge to the journey from Sinai that begins at Num 10:11.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (introducing the summary explanation)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the concluding rationale that gathers the whole panel's theme.
διὰat / bypreposition + genitive (means: 'at the command')→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: 'by'; the refrain διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου, here opening the chapter's summary.
προστάγματοςcommandGenitivegenitive object of διά (means)→ relational specificationπρόσταγμα: 'command / ordinance'; the signature refrain-noun, repeated three times in this verse to seal the theme of command-governed obedience.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with προστάγματος)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the command's divine source.
ἀπαροῦσινthey would set outFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαίρωmain verb (customary future)→ gnomic/customary future (habitual setting-out)ἀπαίρω: 'set out'; the march, summarized one last time as wholly at the LORD's command.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with φυλακήν)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φυλακὴνcharge / watchAccusativecognate accusative (direct object of ἐφυλάξαντο)→ object specificationφυλακή: 'charge / observance'; the cognate accusative τὴν φυλακὴν ... ἐφυλάξαντο ('they kept the charge') renders שָׁמְרוּ מִשְׁמֶרֶת; here τὴν φυλακὴν κυρίου ('the charge of the LORD') parallels τὴν φυλακὴν τοῦ θεοῦ (v. 19), framing the obedience as covenant-keeping.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (defining φυλακήν: 'the charge of the LORD')→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the charge belongs to YHWH — obedience to the cloud is service rendered to him.
ἐφυλάξαντοthey kept / observedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (summary statement of obedience)→ constative/summary aorist (the whole obedient keeping viewed as one)φυλάσσω: 'keep / guard / observe'; the summary aorist middle ἐφυλάξαντο gathers the whole wilderness obedience into a single completed reality — Israel did keep the LORD's charge.
διὰat / bypreposition + genitive (means: 'at the command', third occurrence)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + gen.: 'by'; the refrain διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου stated a third time, hammering home the principle.
προστάγματοςcommandGenitivegenitive object of διά (means)→ relational specificationπρόσταγμα: 'command'; the third occurrence in the verse, sealing the chapter's central theme of command-governed life.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (with προστάγματος)→ relational specificationκύριος (gen. κυρίου): rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrumental/mediatorial: 'by the hand')→ spatial or relational framingἐν + dat.: instrumental; ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ ('by the hand of Moses') renders בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה, the Hebraism for mediated agency.
χειρὶhandDativedative object of ἐν (instrumental: 'by the hand of')→ sphere or referenceχείρ (dat. χειρί): 'hand'; ἐν χειρί ('by the hand of') is the standard Hebraism for agency/mediation; the LORD's command reaches Israel through Moses, the appointed mediator.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive (with χειρί: 'the hand of Moses')→ relational specificationΜωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): the mediator through whom the LORD's command was transmitted; the chapter closes by binding Israel's cloud-led obedience to the Mosaic mediation, fittingly poised before the departure from Sinai (Num 10:11).