Deuteronomy 26:5

Authorized King James Version

And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְעָנִ֨יתָ
H6030
And thou shalt speak
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
#2
וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֜
H559
and say
to say (used with great latitude)
#3
לִפְנֵ֣י׀
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
#4
יְהוָ֣ה
H3068
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#5
אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ
H430
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
#6
אֲרַמִּי֙
H761
A Syrian
an aramite or aramaean
#7
אֹבֵ֣ד
H6
ready to perish
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
#8
אָבִ֔י
H1
was my father
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#9
וַיֵּ֣רֶד
H3381
and he went down
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
#10
מִצְרַ֔יְמָה
H4714
into Egypt
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
#11
וַיָּ֥גָר
H1481
and sojourned
properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);
#12
שָׁ֖ם
H8033
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
#13
בִּמְתֵ֣י
H4962
there with
properly, an adult (as of full length); by implication, a man (only in the plural)
#14
מְעָ֑ט
H4592
a few
a little or few (often adverbial or comparative)
#15
וַֽיְהִי
H1961
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#16
שָׁ֕ם
H8033
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
#17
לְג֥וֹי
H1471
and became there a nation
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#18
גָּד֖וֹל
H1419
great
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
#19
עָצ֥וּם
H6099
mighty
powerful (specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous
#20
וָרָֽב׃
H7227
and populous
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

Analysis

Within the broader context of Deuteronomy, 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 Deuteronomy.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine sovereignty. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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