Deuteronomy 9:18

Authorized King James Version

And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וָֽאֶתְנַפַּל֩
And I fell down
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
#2
לִפְנֵ֨י
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
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#4
כָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֗ה
as at the first
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
#5
וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים
and forty
forty
#6
יוֹם֙
days
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
#7
וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים
and forty
forty
#8
לַ֔יְלָה
nights
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
#9
לֶ֚חֶם
bread
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
#10
לֹ֣א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#11
אָכַ֔לְתִּי
I did neither eat
to eat (literally or figuratively)
#12
וּמַ֖יִם
water
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
#13
לֹ֣א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#14
שָׁתִ֑יתִי
nor drink
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
#15
עַ֤ל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#16
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#17
חַטַּאתְכֶם֙
because of all your sins
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
#18
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#19
חֲטָאתֶ֔ם
which ye sinned
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
#20
לַֽעֲשׂ֥וֹת
in doing
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
#21
הָרַ֛ע
wickedly
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
#22
בְּעֵינֵ֥י
in the sight
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
#23
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#24
לְהַכְעִיסֽוֹ׃
to provoke him to anger
to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Deuteronomy. The concept of divine sovereignty reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The divine name or title here functions within biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness to establish theological authority and covenantal relationship. The original language emphasizes the covenant name Yahweh, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His promises, 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 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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