1 Samuel 14:25

Authorized King James Version

And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְכָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#2
הָאָ֖רֶץ
And all they of the land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#3
בָּ֣אוּ
came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#4
בַיָּ֑עַר
to a wood
a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees)
#5
וַיְהִ֥י
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#6
דְבַ֖שׁ
and there was honey
honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup
#7
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#8
פְּנֵ֥י
upon
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#9
הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃
the ground
a field (as flat)

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 Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original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