Judges 19:20

Authorized King James Version

And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר
said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
הָאִ֤ישׁ
man
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
הַזָּקֵן֙
And the old
old
#4
שָׁל֣וֹם
Peace
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
#5
לָ֔ךְ
H0
#6
רַ֥ק
be with thee howsoever
properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although
#7
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#8
מַחְסֽוֹרְךָ֖
let all thy wants
deficiency; hence, impoverishment
#9
עָלָ֑י
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#10
רַ֥ק
be with thee howsoever
properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although
#11
בָּֽרְח֖וֹב
not in the street
a width, i.e., (concretely) avenue or area
#12
אַל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#13
תָּלַֽן׃
lie upon me only lodge
to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain)

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 Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original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