1 Samuel 7:2

Authorized King James Version

And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Word-by-Word Analysis

וַיְהִ֗י

H1961

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

הַיָּמִ֔ים

H3117

And it came to pass while

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

שֶׁ֤בֶת

H3427

abode

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

הָֽאָרוֹן֙

H727

the ark

a box

בְּקִרְיַ֣ת

יְעָרִ֔ים

H7157

in Kirjathjearim

kirjath-jearim or kirjath-arim, a place in palestine

וַיִּרְבּוּ֙

H7235

was long

to increase (in whatever respect)

הַיָּמִ֔ים

H3117

And it came to pass while

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

וַיִּֽהְי֖וּ

H1961

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

#10

עֶשְׂרִ֣ים

H6242

for it was twenty

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

#11

שָׁנָ֑ה

H8141

years

a year (as a revolution of time)

#12

וַיִּנָּה֛וּ

H5091

lamented

to groan, i.e., bewail; hence (through the idea of crying aloud), to assemble (as if on proclamation)

#13

כָּל

H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

#14

בֵּ֥ית

H1004

and all the house

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

#15

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל

H3478

of Israel

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

#16

אַֽחֲרֵ֥י

H310

after

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

#17

יְהוָֽה׃

H3068

the LORD

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis

Within the broader context of 1 Samuel, this passage highlights salvation through simile or metaphorical language. The theological weight of divine sovereignty connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine sovereignty, 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

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

How does this passage contribute to our understanding of from physical deliverance in the Old Testament to spiritual redemption in the New, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?
How does this verse's literary context within 1 Samuel chapter 7 illuminate its theological significance, and what does this teach us about biblical interpretation?
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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