Exodus 4:7

Authorized King James Version

And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר
And he said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
שָׁ֖בָה
And he put
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
#3
יָד֖וֹ
his 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
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#5
מֵֽחֵיק֔וֹ
into his bosom
the bosom (literally or figuratively)
#6
שָׁ֖בָה
And he put
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
#7
יָד֖וֹ
his 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
#8
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#9
מֵֽחֵיק֔וֹ
into his bosom
the bosom (literally or figuratively)
#10
וַיּֽוֹצִאָהּ֙
and plucked
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#11
מֵֽחֵיק֔וֹ
into his bosom
the bosom (literally or figuratively)
#12
וְהִנֵּה
lo!
#13
שָׁ֖בָה
And he put
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
#14
כִּבְשָׂרֽוֹ׃
as his other flesh
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

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 literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Exodus Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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