Isaiah 7:16

Authorized King James Version

For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
כִּ֠י
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#2
בְּטֶ֨רֶם
properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
#3
יֵדַ֥ע
shall know
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
#4
הַנַּ֛עַר
For before the child
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit
#5
מָאֹ֥ס
to refuse
to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear
#6
בָּרָ֖ע
the evil
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
#7
וּבָחֹ֣ר
and choose
properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select
#8
בַּטּ֑וֹב
the 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
#9
תֵּעָזֵ֤ב
forsaken
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
#10
הָאֲדָמָה֙
the land
soil (from its general redness)
#11
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#12
אַתָּ֣ה
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#13
קָ֔ץ
that thou abhorrest
to be (causatively, make) disgusted or anxious
#14
מִפְּנֵ֖י
shall be
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#15
שְׁנֵ֥י
of both
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
#16
מְלָכֶֽיהָ׃
her kings
a king

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 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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