Judges 16:3

Authorized King James Version

And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב
lay
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
#2
שִׁמְשׁוֹן֮
And Samson
shimshon, an israelite
#3
עַד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#4
בַּֽחֲצִ֣י
at midnight
the half or middle
#5
הַלַּיְלָה֒
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
#6
וַיָּ֣קָם׀
and arose
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
#7
בַּֽחֲצִ֣י
at midnight
the half or middle
#8
הַלַּ֗יְלָה
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
#9
וַיֶּֽאֱחֹ֞ז
and took
to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
#10
בְּדַלְת֤וֹת
the doors
something swinging, i.e., the valve of a door
#11
שַֽׁעַר
of the gate
an opening, i.e., door or gate
#12
הָעִיר֙
of the city
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#13
וּבִשְׁתֵּ֣י
and the two
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
#14
הַמְּזֻז֔וֹת
posts
a door-post (as prominent)
#15
וַיִּסָּעֵם֙
and went away
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
#16
עִֽם
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
#17
הַבְּרִ֔יחַ
with them bar
a bolt
#18
וַיָּ֖שֶׂם
and all and put
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#19
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#20
כְּתֵפָ֑יו
them upon his shoulders
the shoulder (proper, i.e., upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection of anythi
#21
וַֽיַּעֲלֵם֙
and carried them up
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#22
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#23
רֹ֣אשׁ
to the top
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
#24
הָהָ֔ר
of an hill
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
#25
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#26
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#27
פְּנֵ֥י
that is before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#28
חֶבְרֽוֹן׃
Hebron
chebron, the name of two israelites

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Judges. 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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