1 Samuel 12:2

Authorized King James Version

And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְעַתָּ֞ה
at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
#2
הִנֵּ֥ה
lo!
#3
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ׀
And now behold the king
a king
#4
הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי
are with you and I have walked
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#5
לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם
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
#6
וַֽאֲנִי֙
i
#7
זָקַ֣נְתִּי
you and I am old
to be old
#8
וָשַׂ֔בְתִּי
and grayheaded
properly, to become aged, i.e., (by implication) to grow gray
#9
וּבָנַ֖י
and behold my sons
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#10
הִנָּ֣ם
lo!
#11
אִתְּכֶ֑ם
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
#12
וַֽאֲנִי֙
i
#13
הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי
are with you and I have walked
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#14
לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם
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
#15
מִנְּעֻרַ֖י
you from my childhood
(only in plural collective or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)
#16
עַד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#17
הַיּ֥וֹם
unto this day
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
#18
הַזֶּֽה׃
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to 1 Samuel. 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

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