Judges 8:33

Authorized King James Version

And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיְהִ֗י
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#3
מֵ֣ת
was dead
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
#4
גִּדְע֔וֹן
And it came to pass as soon as Gideon
gidon, an israelite
#5
וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙
turned again
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
#6
בְּנֵ֣י
that 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
#7
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#8
וַיִּזְנ֖וּ
and went a whoring
to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (
#9
אַֽחֲרֵ֣י
after
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
#10
הַבְּעָלִ֑ים
Baalim
baal, a phoenician deity
#11
וַיָּשִׂ֧ימוּ
and made
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#12
לָהֶ֛ם
H0
#13
בַּ֥עַל
H0
#14
בְּרִ֖ית
Baalberith
baal-berith, a special deity of the shechemites
#15
לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃
their god
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Judges. The concept of divine sovereignty reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The divine name or title here functions within biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness to establish theological authority and covenantal relationship. 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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