We now enter the dramatic corridor of Joseph’s final test upon his brothers—a moment thick with irony, emotion, and grammatical precision. In this pivotal verse from Genesis, the LXX translator crafts a scene that hinges not only on action but on timing, using participle form and temporal syntax to shape tension and narrative rhythm.
ἐξελθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν τὴν πόλιν οὐκ ἀπέσχον μακράν καὶ Ιωσηφ εἶπεν τῷ ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ ἀναστὰς ἐπιδίωξον ὀπίσω τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ καταλήμψῃ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐρεῖς αὐτοῖς τί ὅτι ἀνταπεδώκατε πονηρὰ ἀντὶ καλῶν
This verse marks the turning point in Joseph’s emotional trial—his silver cup is sent after his brothers, and their return is engineered through language that blends urgency, accusation, and moral inversion. At its core lies a participle of motion and time: ἐξελθόντων, which orients the reader within the unfolding drama and sets the stage for divine orchestration through human agency.
The Participle That Sets the Stage: A Study of ἐξελθόντων
Let us begin our analysis at the very threshold of the action:
| Category | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Root | ἐξέρχομαι |
| Form | Aorist middle participle, genitive plural masculine |
| Literal Translation | “Having gone out” or “After going out” |
| Grammatical Notes | This participle introduces a temporal clause, establishing the timing of the pursuit that follows. It governs the phrase ἐξελθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν τὴν πόλιν—“after they had gone out of the city”—and structures the narrative flow to highlight the suspense between exit and action. |
The placement of ἐξελθόντων signals that Joseph delays his command just until they leave the city. The timing is strategic, and this participle’s genitive absolute construction builds narrative suspense—a sacred pause before divine intervention is enacted.
δὲ and Narrative Pacing: The Conjunction That Breathes Life into Timing
The conjunction δὲ following the participle plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative tempo:
- Type: Postpositive coordinating conjunction
- Function: Transitional marker indicating continuation or contrast
- Effect: It signals a shift in focus—from the brothers’ movement to Joseph’s decisive response
Though small, δὲ is instrumental in pacing the story. Its presence suggests that Joseph does not act immediately upon their departure, nor long after, but precisely as the moment aligns with divine timing. The LXX translator uses this conjunction to craft suspense—an almost imperceptible pause between exit and pursuit that heightens the emotional stakes.
Imperatives in Sequence: The Commands That Drive the Drama Forward
Joseph issues a cascade of commands, each introduced by an imperative or future form:
- ἀναστὰς: Aorist active participle of ἀνίστημι – “having risen” or “rise up”
- ἐπιδίωξον: Aorist active imperative of ἐπιδιώκω – “pursue!”
- καταλήμψῃ: Future indicative (deponent) of καταλαμβάνω – “you will overtake”
- ἐρεῖς: Future indicative of λέγω – “you will say”
These verbs create a chain of action that moves from preparation (ἀναστὰς) to pursuit (ἐπιδίωξον) to predicted outcome (καταλήμψῃ, ἐρεῖς). The blend of imperative and future indicative forms conveys both immediacy and inevitability. The commands are urgent, but the narrative implies that the outcome has already been shaped by divine foresight.
Contrast in Accusation: πονηρὰ ἀντὶ καλῶν and the Semantics of Moral Exchange
The final clause of the verse contains a striking antithetical expression:
- πονηρὰ: Neuter plural adjective – “evil things”
- ἀντὶ: Preposition – “in place of” or “instead of”
- καλῶν: Neuter plural adjective – “good things”
This phrase, πονηρὰ ἀντὶ καλῶν, is a moral indictment framed grammatically as substitution. The preposition ἀντὶ + genitive is characteristic of Septuagintal Greek in rendering Hebrew expressions of reciprocal action (cf. לַחֲלָפִים, “in return for”). Here, it captures the betrayal Joseph feigns—his generosity repaid with apparent treachery.
Note also the accusatory tone of the rhetorical question: τί ὅτι ἀνταπεδώκατε… (“Why have you repaid…?”). This is a hallmark of Hebrew legal and prophetic discourse, echoed faithfully in the Greek. It brings forward the tension of injustice and betrayal—a surface accusation masking Joseph’s deeper strategy.
Motion and Meaning: The Temporal Participle That Anchors Divine Design
In conclusion, ἐξελθόντων serves more than a syntactic function—it anchors the entire theological and emotional arc of the passage in a precise moment. By positioning Joseph’s command immediately after the brothers’ departure, the LXX translator underscores the providential timing of events. Nothing is premature, nothing accidental.
For the advanced student of Septuagint Greek, this verse offers a masterclass in how temporal particles and participial constructions can shape narrative theology. The aorist middle participle ἐξελθόντων, paired with the transitional δὲ, creates a hinge upon which the drama turns—a grammatical pivot mirroring the divine orchestration behind human affairs.
To read this verse is not merely to parse syntax—it is to witness the sacred choreography of history, where every step is counted, and every word timed by unseen hands.
