1 Samuel 4:10

Authorized King James Version

And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּלָּֽחֲמ֣וּ
fought
to feed on; figuratively, to consume
#2
פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים
And the Philistines
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
#3
וַיִּנָּ֤גֶף
was smitten
to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease)
#4
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
and Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#5
וַיָּנֻ֙סוּ֙
and they fled
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
#6
אִ֣ישׁ
every man
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#7
לְאֹֽהָלָ֔יו
into his tent
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
#8
וַתְּהִ֥י
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#9
הַמַּכָּ֖ה
slaughter
a blow (in 2 chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence
#10
גְּדוֹלָ֣ה
great
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
#11
מְאֹ֑ד
and there was a very
properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
#12
וַיִּפֹּל֙
for there fell
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
#13
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
and Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#14
שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים
thirty
thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth
#15
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#16
רַגְלִֽי׃
footmen
a footman (soldier)

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

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

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