Isaiah 32:2

Authorized King James Version

And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהָיָה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
אִ֥ישׁ
And a man
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#3
כְּמַֽחֲבֵא
shall be as an hiding place
a refuge
#4
ר֖וּחַ
from the wind
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
#5
וְסֵ֣תֶר
and a covert
a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)
#6
זָ֑רֶם
from the tempest
a gush of water
#7
כְּפַלְגֵי
as rivers
a rill (i.e., small channel of water, as in irrigation)
#8
מַ֣יִם
of water
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
#9
בְּצָי֔וֹן
in a dry place
a desert
#10
כְּצֵ֥ל
as the shadow
shade, whether literal or figurative
#11
סֶֽלַע
rock
a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
#12
כָּבֵ֖ד
of a great
heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid)
#13
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ
land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#14
עֲיֵפָֽה׃
in a weary
languid

Analysis

Within the broader context of Isaiah, this passage highlights salvation through simile or metaphorical language. 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 Isaiah.

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 Isaiah 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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