1
ᾠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν τῷ Δαυιδ ἰδοὺ δὴ τί καλὸν ἢ τί τερπνὸν ἀλλ' ἢ τὸ κατοικεῖν ἀδελφοὺς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό
A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold indeed, what is good or what is delightful, if not that brothers dwell together in one place?
The psalm opens in wonder at the goodness and beauty of brothers inhabiting one place together.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ᾠδὴsongN1 NSF · ᾠδήnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceᾠδή: meaning 'song'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
τῶνtheRA GPM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναβαθμῶνἀναβαθμόςN2 GPM · ἀναβαθμόςgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationἀναβαθμός: meaning 'ἀναβαθμός'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
τῷfor theRA DSM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαυιδDavidN DSM · Δαυίδadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastΔαυιδ: meaning 'David'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺἰδούI · ἰδούadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδοὺ: meaning 'ἰδού'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δὴnow / indeedX · δήadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastδὴ: meaning 'now'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τίwhat? who?RI ASN · τίςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what? who?'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
καλὸνgoodA1 ASM · καλόςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationκαλός: meaning 'good'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ἢorC · ἤconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τίwhat? who?RI ASN · τίςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceτί: meaning 'what? who?'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
τερπνὸνpleasantA1 ASN · τερπνόςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationτερπνός: meaning 'pleasant'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ἀλλ'ἀλλάC · ἀλλάconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastἀλλ': meaning 'ἀλλά'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἢorC · ἤconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastἢ: meaning 'or'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheRA ASN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικεῖνto dwellV2 PAN · οἰκέω + καταverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ infinitival complementοἰκέω + κατα: meaning 'to dwell'; 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.
ἀδελφοὺςbrothersN2 APM · ἀδελφόςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationἀδελφός: meaning 'brothers'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ἐπὶoverP · ἐπίpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τὸtheRA ASN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐτόitRP ASN · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceαὐτό: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
2
ὡς μύρον ἐπὶ κεφαλῆς τὸ καταβαῖνον ἐπὶ πώγωνα τὸν πώγωνα τὸν Ααρων τὸ καταβαῖνον ἐπὶ τὴν ᾤαν τοῦ ἐνδύματος αὐτοῦ
Like ointment upon the head, coming down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, coming down upon the fringe of his garment,
Unity is compared to consecrating oil whose downward flow marks abundance, holiness, and shared participation.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ὡςwhenC · ὡςconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: meaning 'when'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μύρονointmentN2N ASN · μύρονaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationμύρον: meaning 'ointment'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ἐπὶoverP · ἐπίpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
κεφαλῆςheadN1 GSF · κεφαλήgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationκεφαλή: meaning 'head'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
τὸtheRA ASN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταβαῖνονπαπασν βαίνωV1 · παπασν βαίνω + καταverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateπαπασν βαίνω + κατα: meaning 'παπασν βαίνω'; 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.
ἐπὶoverP · ἐπίpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
πώγωναbeardN3W ASM · πώγωνaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationπώγων: meaning 'beard'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
τὸνtheRA ASM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πώγωναbeardN3W ASM · πώγωνaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationπώγων: meaning 'beard'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
τὸνtheRA ASM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΑαρωνἈαρώνN ASM · Ἀαρώνadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastΑαρων: meaning 'Ἀαρών'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸtheRA ASN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταβαῖνονπαπασν βαίνωV1 · παπασν βαίνω + καταverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateπαπασν βαίνω + κατα: meaning 'παπασν βαίνω'; 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.
ἐπὶoverP · ἐπίpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τὴνtheRA ASF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ᾤανfringeN1A ASF · ᾤαaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationᾤα: meaning 'fringe'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
τοῦtoRA GSN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐνδύματοςclothingN3M GSN · ἔνδυμαgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationἔνδυμα: meaning 'clothing'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
αὐτοῦhisRP 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.
3
ὡς δρόσος Αερμων ἡ καταβαίνουσα ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη Σιων ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐνετείλατο κύριος τὴν εὐλογίαν καὶ ζωὴν ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος
like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing and life unto the age.
The second descending image ends by naming the gathered place as the site where God ordains blessing and lasting life.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ὡςwhenC · ὡςconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: meaning 'when'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δρόσοςdewN2 NSF · δρόσοςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceδρόσος: meaning 'dew'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
ΑερμωνHermonN GSF · Αερμωνadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastΑερμων: meaning 'Hermon'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταβαίνουσαcoming downV1 · παπνσφ βαίνω + καταverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateπαπνσφ βαίνω + κατα: meaning 'coming down'; 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.
ἐπὶoverP · ἐπίpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'over'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τὰtheRA APN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄρηmountainsN3E APN · ὄροςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationὄρος: meaning 'mountains'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ΣιωνZionN ASF · Σιωνadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastΣιων: meaning 'Zion'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅτιthatC · ὅτιconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκεῖthereD · ἐκεῖadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastἐκεῖ: meaning 'there'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνετείλατοcommandVAI AMI3S · τέλλομαι + ἐνverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristτέλλομαι + ἐν: meaning 'command'; 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.
κύριοςLordN2 NSM · κύριοςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceκύριος: meaning 'Lord'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
τὴνtheRA ASF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εὐλογίανblessingN1A ASF · εὐλογίαaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationεὐλογία: meaning 'blessing'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
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.
ζωὴνlifeN1 ASF · ζωήaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationζωή: meaning 'life'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ἕωςuntilP · ἕωςpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'until'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τοῦof theRA GSM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰῶνοςage / foreverN3W GSM · αἰώνgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationαἰών: meaning 'age'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.