Isaiah 22:7

Authorized King James Version

And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיְהִ֥י
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
מִבְחַר
And it shall come to pass that thy choicest
select, i.e., best
#3
עֲמָקַ֖יִךְ
valleys
a vale (i.e., broad depression)
#4
מָ֣לְאוּ
shall be full
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
#5
רָ֑כֶב
of chariots
a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone
#6
וְהַפָּ֣רָשִׁ֔ים
and the horsemen
a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting ); also (by implication) a driver (in a chariot), i.e., (collectively) cavalry
#7
שָׁ֥תוּ
shall set
to place (in a very wide application)
#8
שָׁ֥תוּ
shall set
to place (in a very wide application)
#9
הַשָּֽׁעְרָה׃
at the gate
an opening, i.e., door or gate

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

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 Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original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