Exodus 24:18

Authorized King James Version

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיָּבֹ֥א
went
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#2
מֹשֶׁה֙
And Moses
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
#3
בְּת֥וֹךְ
into the midst
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
#4
הֶֽעָנָ֖ן
of the cloud
a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e., the nimbus or thunder-cloud
#5
וַיַּ֣עַל
and gat him up
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#6
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#7
בָּהָ֔ר
into the mount
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
#8
וַיְהִ֤י
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#9
מֹשֶׁה֙
And Moses
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
#10
בָּהָ֔ר
into the mount
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
#11
וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים
and forty
forty
#12
י֔וֹם
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
#13
וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים
and forty
forty
#14
לָֽיְלָה׃
nights
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Exodus. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

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 Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.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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