1 Samuel 28:22

Authorized King James Version

Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

Word-by-Word Analysis

וְעַתָּ֗ה

H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

שְׁמַֽע

H8085

Now therefore I pray thee hearken

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

נָ֤א

H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

גַם

H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

אַתָּה֙

H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

בְּק֣וֹל

H6963

thou also unto the voice

a voice or sound

שִׁפְחָתֶ֔ךָ

H8198

of thine handmaid

a female slave (as a member of the household)

וְאָשִׂ֧מָה

H7760

and let me set

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

לְפָנֶ֛יךָ

H6440

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

#10

פַּת

H6595

a morsel

a bit

#11

לֶ֖חֶם

H3899

of bread

food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

#12

וֶֽאֱכ֑וֹל

H398

thee and eat

to eat (literally or figuratively)

#13

וִיהִ֤י

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

#14

בְךָ֙

#15

כֹּ֔חַ

H3581

that thou mayest have strength

vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)

#16

כִּ֥י

H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

#17

תֵלֵ֖ךְ

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

#18

בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃

H1870

on thy way

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

Analysis

Within the broader context of 1 Samuel, this passage highlights salvation through declarative statements that establish theological truth. The theological weight of divine revelation connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine revelation, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of 1 Samuel.

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 Samuel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

How does this verse's literary context within 1 Samuel chapter 28 illuminate its theological significance, and what does this teach us about biblical interpretation?
In what ways does understanding divine revelation in its original context challenge or deepen contemporary Christian thinking about salvation?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of salvation, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of soteriology and the doctrine of salvation?

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