1 Kings 14:11

Authorized King James Version

Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהַמֵּת֙
Him that dieth
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
#2
לְיָֽרָבְעָ֤ם
of Jeroboam
jarobam, the name of two israelite kings
#3
בָּעִיר֙
in the city
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#4
יֹֽאכְל֖וּ
eat
to eat (literally or figuratively)
#5
הַכְּלָבִ֔ים
shall the dogs
a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute
#6
וְהַמֵּת֙
Him that dieth
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
#7
בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה
in the field
a field (as flat)
#8
יֹֽאכְל֖וּ
eat
to eat (literally or figuratively)
#9
ע֣וֹף
shall the fowls
a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively
#10
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם
of the air
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
#11
כִּ֥י
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#12
יְהוָ֖ה
for the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#13
דִּבֵּֽר׃
hath spoken
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

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 Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.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

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