Καὶ εἶπεν Κύριος πρός με υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου τάξον εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ ἰδὲ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου καὶ τοῖς ὠσίν σου ἄκουε πάντα ὅσα ἐγὼ λαλῶ μετὰ σοῦ κατὰ πάντα τὰ προστάγματα οἴκου Κυρίου καὶ κατὰ πάντα τὰ νόμιμα αὐτοῦ καὶ τάξεις τὴν καρδίαν σου εἰς τὴν εἴσοδον τοῦ οἴκου κατὰ πάσας τὰς ἐξόδους αὐτοῦ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἁγίοις (Ezekiel 44:5 LXX)
A Verse of Triple Command
In this verse, the prophet is addressed with a striking triad of imperatives: τάξον (“set”), ἰδὲ (“see”), and ἄκουε (“listen”). These are not merely random commands; they form a deliberate rhetorical and grammatical pattern. The commands are directed to the heart, the eyes, and the ears—a total engagement of the prophet’s being. The grammar of these verbs, their aspect, and the prepositional constructions surrounding them form the backbone of the message’s intensity.
The Grammar of Command: Imperatives and Their Nuances
1. The Aorist Imperative: τάξον
The verb τάξον is the second person singular aorist active imperative of τάσσω (“to arrange, to set in order”). The aorist imperative typically denotes a single, decisive action—in this case, a mental act of placing something in one’s heart. It is not ongoing reflection; it is a decisive internal alignment with the divine instructions.
2. The Aorist Imperative: ἰδὲ
ἰδὲ is the second person singular aorist active imperative of ὁράω (“to see”). Like τάξον, it demands an immediate, complete act—turn your eyes and behold. The emphasis here is on intentional perception, not casual glancing.
3. The Present Imperative: ἄκουε
In contrast, ἄκουε is the second person singular present active imperative of ἀκούω (“to hear”). The present imperative generally conveys continuous or habitual action. While the heart and eyes receive decisive, momentary commands, the ears are called into ongoing attentiveness. This alternation of aspect in the imperatives creates a rhythm: act now in setting and seeing, but keep listening perpetually.
The Prepositions and Case Usage: Locating the Commands
εἰς + accusative: Motion toward and focus
Twice we find εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου—literally “into your heart.” The accusative marks the heart as the goal of the mental “setting.” This is more than metaphor; grammatically, it is a spatial motion preposition applied metaphorically to the seat of thought and will.
ἐν + dative: Sphere of sanctity
At the close, ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἁγίοις uses the dative with ἐν to express location or sphere: “within all the holy places.” The prophet’s attentiveness is framed by the sphere of holiness, reinforcing that his perception and hearing occur in a sacred context.
Repetition for Emphasis: κατὰ πάντα… κατὰ πάντα…
The prepositional phrase κατὰ πάντα (“according to all”) is repeated twice, governing τὰ προστάγματα (“the statutes”) and τὰ νόμιμα (“the ordinances”). The repetition produces rhetorical reinforcement, and grammatically it maintains syntactic parallelism, aiding memorability and emphasizing completeness of obedience.
Septuagint vs Classical Nuance
In Classical Greek, the combination of different imperative aspects within a short span might feel jarring, but in the LXX this aspectual alternation is deliberate and stylistic, mirroring Hebrew prophetic idiom. The aorist imperatives here echo the Hebrew perfective aspect for decisive acts, while the present imperative corresponds to the Hebrew imperfective for ongoing action.
Morphology Table: Key Forms in the Verse
| Greek Form | Parsing | Root | Lexical Meaning | Aspectual Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τάξον | Aorist Active Imperative 2nd sg. | τάσσω | Set, arrange | Decisive, once-for-all act |
| ἰδὲ | Aorist Active Imperative 2nd sg. | ὁράω | See, behold | Complete, immediate perception |
| ἄκουε | Present Active Imperative 2nd sg. | ἀκούω | Hear, listen | Ongoing attentiveness |
| κατὰ πάντα | Preposition + Accusative | κατά | According to | Comprehensive alignment |
| ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἁγίοις | Preposition + Dative | ἐν | In, within | Sphere of holiness |
The Whole Self Before the Holy
In Ezekiel 44:5 LXX, grammar serves theology: the aorist imperatives call for decisive acts of commitment in the heart and perception with the eyes, while the present imperative sustains an unbroken posture of listening. The prepositional constructions anchor these commands in the realm of holiness. In this way, the grammatical fabric of the verse mirrors the prophet’s total consecration—mind, sight, and hearing aligned to the divine will.
