1 Kings 2:38

Authorized King James Version

And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר
said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
שִׁמְעִ֛י
And Shimei
shimi, the name of twenty israelites
#3
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ
the king
a king
#4
ט֣וֹב
is good
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
#5
הַדָּבָ֔ר
The saying
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
#6
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#7
דִּבֶּר֙
hath said
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#8
אֲדֹנִ֣י
as my lord
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
#9
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ
the king
a king
#10
כֵּ֖ן
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
#11
יַֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה
do
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
#12
עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ
so will thy servant
a servant
#13
וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב
dwelt
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#14
שִׁמְעִ֛י
And Shimei
shimi, the name of twenty israelites
#15
בִּירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
in Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
#16
יָמִ֥ים
days
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#17
רַבִּֽים׃
many
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

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

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 Kings 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

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