Exodus 17:12

Authorized King James Version

But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
יָדָ֛יו
and his hands
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
#2
מֹשֶׁה֙
But Moses
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
#3
כְּבֵדִ֔ים
were heavy
heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid)
#4
וַיִּקְחוּ
and they took
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
#5
אֶ֛בֶן
H68
a stone
a stone
#6
וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ
and put
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#7
תַחְתָּ֖יו
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
#8
וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב
it under him and he sat
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#9
עָלֶ֑יהָ
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#10
וְאַֽהֲרֹ֨ן
thereon and Aaron
aharon, the brother of moses
#11
וְח֜וּר
and Hur
chur, the name of four israelites and one midianite
#12
תָּֽמְכ֣וּ
stayed up
to sustain; by implication, to obtain, keep fast; figuratively, to help, follow close
#13
יָדָ֛יו
and his hands
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
#14
מִזֶּ֤ה
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#15
אֶחָ֔ד
and the other on the other side
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
#16
וּמִזֶּ֣ה
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#17
אֶחָ֔ד
and the other on the other side
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
#18
וַיְהִ֥י
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#19
יָדָ֛יו
and his hands
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
#20
אֱמוּנָ֖ה
were steady
literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity
#21
עַד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#22
בֹּ֥א
until the going down
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#23
הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
of the sun
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

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 revelation 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

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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