1 Chronicles 17:21

Authorized King James Version

And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּמִי֙
H4310
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
#2
עַמְּךָ֛
H5971
is like thy people
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
#3
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
H3478
Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#4
גּוֹיִֽם׃
H1471
nation
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#5
אֶחָ֖ד
H259
And what one
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
#6
בָּאָ֑רֶץ
H776
in the earth
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#7
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#8
הָלַ֨ךְ
H1980
went
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#9
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֜ים
H430
whom God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#10
פָּדִ֥יתָ
H6299
to redeem
to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve
#11
ל֣וֹ
H0
#12
עַמְּךָ֛
H5971
is like thy people
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
#13
לָשׂ֤וּם
H7760
to make
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#14
לְךָ֙
H0
#15
שֵׁ֚ם
H8034
thee a name
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
#16
גְּדֻלּ֣וֹת
H1420
of greatness
greatness; (concretely) mighty acts
#17
וְנֹֽרָא֔וֹת
H3372
and terribleness
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
#18
לְגָרֵ֗שׁ
H1644
by driving out
to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce
#19
מִפְּנֵ֧י
H6440
from before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#20
עַמְּךָ֛
H5971
is like thy people
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
#21
אֲשֶׁר
H834
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#22
פָּדִ֥יתָ
H6299
to redeem
to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve
#23
מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם
H4714
out of Egypt
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
#24
גּוֹיִֽם׃
H1471
nation
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to 1 Chronicles. The concept of divine sovereignty reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The divine name or title here functions within biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness to establish theological authority and covenantal relationship. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of 1 Chronicles Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection