Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 116ΨΑΛΜΟΙ ΡΙϚ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Israel's experience of mercy becomes a universal summons to praise the Lord.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Psalms 116 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs-Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. The brief Hallel turns Israel's experience of mighty mercy and enduring truth into a universal summons for every nation to join the praise of the Lord. Its brevity is part of its force, turning covenant experience into universal invitation. Versification follows the LXX.

1

αλληλουια αἰνεῖτε τὸν κύριον πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐπαινέσατε αὐτόν πάντες οἱ λαοί

Hallelujah. Praise the Lord, all the nations; commend him, all the peoples.

Universal Hallelujah Summonsasyndeton
The shortest Hallel psalm opens with a universal call to praise.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
αλληλουιαhallelujahI ALLHLOUIAadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastαλληλουια: meaning 'hallelujah'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αἰνεῖτεpraiseV2 PAD2P · αἰνέωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateαἰνέω: meaning 'praise'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
τὸνtheRA ASM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κύριονLordN2 ASM · κύριοςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationκύριος: meaning 'Lord'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
πάνταallA3 APN · πᾶςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationπᾶς: meaning 'all'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
τὰtheRA APN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔθνηnationsN3E APN · ἔθνοςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationἔθνος: meaning 'nations'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ἐπαινέσατεpraise ἐπιVA AAD2P · αἰνέω + ἐπιverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateαἰνέω + ἐπι: meaning 'praise ἐπι'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
αὐτόνhimRD ASM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceαὐτόν: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
πάντεςallA3 NPM · πᾶςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceπᾶς: meaning 'all'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
οἱtheRA NPM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαοίpeopleN2 NPM · λαόςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceλαός: meaning 'people'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
2

ὅτι ἐκραταιώθη τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ ἐφ' ἡμᾶς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ κυρίου μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα

Because his mercy has been made strong upon us, and the truth of the Lord remains unto the age.

Mercy and Truth Ground the Praisebecause
The nations are summoned because Israel's God has shown enduring mercy and truth.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ὅτιbecauseC · ὅτιconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'because'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκραταιώθηmade strongVCI API3S · κραταιόωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristκραταιόω: meaning 'made strong'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
τὸtheRA NSN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔλεοςmercyN3E NSN · ἔλεοςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceἔλεος: meaning 'mercy'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
αὐτοῦhisRD GSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐφ'uponP · ἐπίpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐφ': meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ἡμᾶςusRP AP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
καὶandC · καίconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
theRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλήθειαtruthN1A NSF · ἀλήθειαnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceἀλήθεια: meaning 'truth'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
τοῦof theRA GSM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουLordN2 GSM · κύριοςgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationκύριος: meaning 'Lord'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
μένειremainsV1 PAI3S · μένωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ ongoing verbal processμένω: meaning 'remains'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τὸνtheRA ASM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰῶναageN3W ASM · αἰώνaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationαἰών: meaning 'age'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.