Exodus 3:17

Authorized King James Version

And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וָֽאֹמַ֗ר
And I have said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
אַֽעֲלֶ֣ה
I will bring
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#3
אֶתְכֶם֮
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#4
מֵֽעֳנִ֣י
you up out of the affliction
depression, i.e., misery
#5
מִצְרַיִם֒
of Egypt
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
#6
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#7
אֶ֛רֶץ
unto a land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#8
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙
of the Canaanites
a kenaanite or inhabitant of kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the canaanites standing for their neighbors the ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile c
#9
וְהַ֣חִתִּ֔י
and the Hittites
a chittite, or descendant of cheth
#10
וְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙
and the Amorites
an emorite, one of the canaanitish tribes
#11
וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י
and the Perizzites
a perizzite, one of the canaanitish tribes
#12
וְהַֽחִוִּ֖י
and the Hivites
a chivvite, one of the indigenous tribes of palestine
#13
וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י
and the Jebusites
a jebusite or inhabitant of jebus
#14
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#15
אֶ֛רֶץ
unto a land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#16
זָבַ֥ת
flowing
to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow
#17
חָלָ֖ב
with milk
milk (as the richness of kine)
#18
וּדְבָֽשׁ׃
and honey
honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup

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

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