Judges 14:6

Authorized King James Version

And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַתִּצְלַ֨ח
came mightily
to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
#2
עָלָ֜יו
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#3
ר֣וּחַ
And the Spirit
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
#4
יְהוָ֗ה
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#5
כְּשַׁסַּ֣ע
him as he would have rent
to split or tear; figuratively, to upbraid
#6
כְּשַׁסַּ֣ע
him as he would have rent
to split or tear; figuratively, to upbraid
#7
הַגְּדִ֔י
a kid
a young goat (from browsing)
#8
וּמְא֖וּמָה
and he had nothing
properly, a speck or point, i.e., (by implication) something; with negative, nothing
#9
אֵ֣ין
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
#10
בְּיָד֑וֹ
in his 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
#11
וְלֹ֤א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#12
הִגִּיד֙
but he told
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
#13
לְאָבִ֣יו
H1
not his father
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#14
וּלְאִמּ֔וֹ
or his mother
a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])
#15
אֵ֖ת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#16
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#17
עָשָֽׂה׃
what he had done
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

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

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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