Deuteronomy 16:11

Authorized King James Version

And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְשָֽׂמַחְתָּ֞
And thou shalt rejoice
probably to brighten up, i.e., (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
#2
לִפְנֵ֣י׀
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
#3
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#4
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#5
אַתָּ֨ה
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#6
וּבִנְךָ֣
thou and thy son
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#7
וּבִתֶּךָ֮
and thy daughter
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
#8
וְעַבְדְּךָ֣
and thy manservant
a servant
#9
וַֽאֲמָתֶךָ֒
and thy maidservant
a maid-servant or female slave
#10
וְהַלֵּוִי֙
and the Levite
a levite or descendant of levi
#11
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#12
בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ
that is within thy gates
an opening, i.e., door or gate
#13
וְהַגֵּ֛ר
and the stranger
properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner
#14
וְהַיָּת֥וֹם
and the fatherless
a bereaved person
#15
וְהָֽאַלְמָנָ֖ה
and the widow
a widow; also a desolate place
#16
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#17
בְּקִרְבֶּ֑ךָ
that are among
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
#18
בַּמָּק֗וֹם
you in the place
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
#19
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#20
יִבְחַר֙
hath chosen
properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select
#21
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#22
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#23
לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן
to place
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
#24
שְׁמ֖וֹ
his name
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
#25
שָֽׁם׃
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

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 sovereignty 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

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

Questions for Reflection

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