1 Chronicles 19:17

Authorized King James Version

And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֻּגַּ֣ד
And it was told
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
#2
דָּוִ֜יד
David
david, the youngest son of jesse
#3
וַיֶּֽאֱסֹ֤ף
and he gathered
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
#4
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#5
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#6
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
all Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#7
וַיַּֽעֲבֹ֣ר
and passed over
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
#8
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן
Jordan
jarden, the principal river of palestine
#9
וַיָּבֹ֣א
and came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#10
אֲלֵהֶ֔ם
near, with or among; often in general, to
#11
וַיַּֽעֲרֹ֨ךְ
in array
to set in a row, i.e., arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)
#12
אֲלֵהֶ֑ם
near, with or among; often in general, to
#13
וַיַּֽעֲרֹ֨ךְ
in array
to set in a row, i.e., arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications)
#14
דָּוִ֜יד
David
david, the youngest son of jesse
#15
לִקְרַ֤את
against
an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)
#16
אֲרָם֙
the Syrians
aram or syria, and its inhabitants; also the name of the son of shem, a grandson of nahor, and of an israelite
#17
מִלְחָמָ֔ה
had put the battle
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
#18
וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ
they fought
to feed on; figuratively, to consume
#19
עִמּֽוֹ׃
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to 1 Chronicles. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. 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

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection