Judges 8:10

Authorized King James Version

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְזֶ֨בַח
Now Zebah
zebach, a midianitish prince
#2
וְצַלְמֻנָּ֜ע
and Zalmunna
tsalmunna, a midianite
#3
בַּקַּרְקֹ֗ר
were in Karkor
karkor, a place east of the jordan
#4
מַֽחֲנֵ֣ה
and their hosts
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
#5
עִמָּם֙
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
#6
כַּֽחֲמֵ֤שֶׁת
with them about fifteen
five
#7
עָשָׂר֙
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
#8
אֶ֛לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#9
כֹּ֚ל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#10
הַנּ֣וֹתָרִ֔ים
men all that were left
to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve
#11
מִכֹּ֖ל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#12
מַֽחֲנֵ֣ה
and their hosts
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
#13
בְנֵי
of the children
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#14
קֶ֑דֶם
of the east
the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the east) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)
#15
וְהַנֹּ֣פְלִ֔ים
for there fell
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
#16
מֵאָ֨ה
an hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#17
וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים
and twenty
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
#18
אֶ֛לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#19
אִ֖ישׁ
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)
#20
שֹׁ֥לֵֽף
that drew
to pull out, up or off
#21
חָֽרֶב׃
sword
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

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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