Exodus 16:1

Authorized King James Version

And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּסְעוּ֙
And they took their journey
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
#2
אֵילִ֖ם
from Elim
elim, a place in the desert
#3
וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ
came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#4
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#5
עֲדַ֤ת
and all the congregation
a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
#6
בְּנֵֽי
of the children
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
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#8
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#9
מִדְבַּר
unto the wilderness
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
#10
סִ֔ין
of Sin
sin the name of an egyptian town and (probably) desert adjoining
#11
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#12
בֵּין
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
#13
אֵילִ֖ם
from Elim
elim, a place in the desert
#14
וּבֵ֣ין
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
#15
סִינָ֑י
and Sinai
sinai, mountain of arabia
#16
בַּֽחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה
on the fifteenth
five
#17
עָשָׂ֥ר
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
#18
יוֹם֙
day
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
#19
לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ
month
the new moon; by implication, a month
#20
הַשֵּׁנִ֔י
of the second
properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again
#21
לְצֵאתָ֖ם
after their departing out
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#22
מֵאֶ֥רֶץ
of the land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#23
מִצְרָֽיִם׃
of Egypt
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

Analysis

Within the broader context of Exodus, this passage highlights salvation through universal language and absolute statements. The theological weight of divine revelation connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine revelation, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by introducing key themes that will be developed throughout Exodus.

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

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