Exodus 23:26

Authorized King James Version

There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.

Word-by-Word Analysis

לֹ֥א

H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תִֽהְיֶ֛ה

H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

מְשַׁכֵּלָ֥ה

H7921

There shall nothing cast their young

properly, to miscarry, i.e., suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively)

וַֽעֲקָרָ֖ה

H6135

nor be barren

sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs)

בְּאַרְצֶ֑ךָ

H776

in thy land

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

אֶת

H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מִסְפַּ֥ר

H4557

the number

a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration

יָמֶ֖יךָ

H3117

of thy 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

אֲמַלֵּֽא׃

H4390

I will fulfil

to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)

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

The historical context of the period of Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1440-1400 BCE) 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 revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

How does the salvation theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
In what ways does this verse's emphasis on divine revelation address religious pluralism and questions about the necessity of Christ, and how should the church respond?
In what ways does understanding divine revelation in its original context challenge or deepen contemporary Christian thinking about salvation?

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