Judges 21:17

Authorized King James Version

And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ
And they said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
יְרֻשַּׁ֥ת
There must be an inheritance
something occupied; a conquest; also a patrimony
#3
פְּלֵיטָ֖ה
for them that be escaped
deliverance; concretely, an escaped portion
#4
לְבִנְיָמִ֑ן
of Benjamin
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
#5
וְלֹֽא
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#6
יִמָּחֶ֥ה
be not destroyed
properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e., grease or make fat
#7
שֵׁ֖בֶט
that a tribe
a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
#8
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
out of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

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

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 Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original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