Isaiah 47:12

Authorized King James Version

Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
עִמְדִי
Stand
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
#2
נָ֤א
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
#3
בַחֲבָרַ֙יִךְ֙
now with thine enchantments
a society; also a spell
#4
וּבְרֹ֣ב
and with the multitude
abundance (in any respect)
#5
כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ
of thy sorceries
magic
#6
בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
wherein
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#7
יָגַ֖עַתְּ
thou hast laboured
properly, to gasp; hence, to be exhausted, to tire, to toil
#8
מִנְּעוּרָ֑יִךְ
from thy youth
(only in plural collective or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)
#9
אוּלַ֛י
if not; hence perhaps
#10
תּוּכְלִ֥י
if so be thou shalt be able
to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
#11
הוֹעִ֖יל
to profit
properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively; benefited)
#12
אוּלַ֥י
if not; hence perhaps
#13
תַּעֲרֽוֹצִי׃
if so be thou mayest prevail
to awe or (intransitive) to dread; hence, to harass

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Isaiah. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

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 Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original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