Exodus 3:8

Authorized King James Version

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וָֽאֵרֵ֞ד
And I am come down
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
#2
לְהַצִּיל֣וֹ׀
to deliver
to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
#3
מִיַּ֣ד
them out of the hand
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
#4
מִצְרַ֗יִם
of the Egyptians
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
#5
וּֽלְהַעֲלֹתוֹ֮
and to bring
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#6
מִן
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
#7
אֶ֛רֶץ
land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#8
הַהִוא֒
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#9
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#10
אֶ֛רֶץ
land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#11
טוֹבָה֙
unto a good
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
#12
וּרְחָבָ֔ה
and a large
roomy, in any (or every) direction, literally or figuratively
#13
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#14
אֶ֛רֶץ
land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#15
זָבַ֥ת
flowing
to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow
#16
חָלָ֖ב
with milk
milk (as the richness of kine)
#17
וּדְבָ֑שׁ
and honey
honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup
#18
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#19
מְק֤וֹם
unto the place
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
#20
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
#21
וְהַ֣חִתִּ֔י
and the Hittites
a chittite, or descendant of cheth
#22
וְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙
and the Amorites
an emorite, one of the canaanitish tribes
#23
וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י
and the Perizzites
a perizzite, one of the canaanitish tribes
#24
וְהַֽחִוִּ֖י
and the Hivites
a chivvite, one of the indigenous tribes of palestine
#25
וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃
and the Jebusites
a jebusite or inhabitant of jebus

Analysis

Within the broader context of Exodus, this passage highlights salvation through declarative statements that establish theological truth. 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 building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of 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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