Judges 9:4

Authorized King James Version

And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּתְּנוּ
And they gave
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
#2
לוֹ֙
H0
#3
שִׁבְעִ֣ים
him threescore and ten
seventy
#4
כֶּ֔סֶף
pieces of silver
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
#5
מִבֵּ֖ית
out of the house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#6
בַּ֣עַל
H0
#7
בְּרִ֑ית
of Baalberith
baal-berith, a special deity of the shechemites
#8
וַיִּשְׂכֹּ֨ר
hired
to hire
#9
בָּהֶ֜ם
H0
#10
אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ
H40
wherewith Abimelech
abimelek, the name of two philistine kings and of two israelites
#11
אֲנָשִׁ֤ים
persons
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
#12
רֵיקִים֙
vain
empty; figuratively, worthless
#13
וּפֹ֣חֲזִ֔ים
and light
to bubble up or froth (as boiling water), i.e., (figuratively) to be unimportant
#14
וַיֵּֽלְכ֖וּ
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#15
אַֽחֲרָֽיו׃
him
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

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

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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