Jeremiah 41:5

Authorized King James Version

That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
לְהָבִ֖יא
That there came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#2
אִ֔ישׁ
men
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
מִשְּׁכֶ֞ם
from Shechem
shekem, a place in palestine
#4
מִשִּׁל֤וֹ
from Shiloh
shiloh, a place in palestine
#5
וּמִשֹּֽׁמְרוֹן֙
and from Samaria
shomeron, a place in palestine
#6
שְׁמֹנִ֣ים
even fourscore
eighty, also eightieth
#7
אִ֔ישׁ
men
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)
#8
מְגֻלְּחֵ֥י
shaven
properly, to be bald, i.e., (causatively) to shave; figuratively to lay waste
#9
זָקָ֛ן
having their beards
the beard (as indicating age)
#10
וּקְרֻעֵ֥י
rent
to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them)
#11
בְגָדִ֖ים
and their clothes
a covering, i.e., clothing
#12
וּמִתְגֹּֽדְדִ֑ים
and having cut
to crowd; also to gash (as if by pressing into)
#13
וּמִנְחָ֤ה
themselves with offerings
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
#14
וּלְבוֹנָה֙
and incense
frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke)
#15
בְּיָדָ֔ם
in their 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
#16
לְהָבִ֖יא
That there came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#17
בֵּ֥ית
them to the house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#18
יְהוָֽה׃
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

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 sovereignty 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 Jeremiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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