Leviticus 16:1

Authorized King James Version

And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר
spake
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#2
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#3
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#4
מֹשֶׁ֔ה
unto Moses
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
#5
אַֽחֲרֵ֣י
after
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
#6
מ֔וֹת
the death
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
#7
שְׁנֵ֖י
of the two
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
#8
בְּנֵ֣י
sons
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#9
אַֽהֲרֹ֑ן
of Aaron
aharon, the brother of moses
#10
בְּקָרְבָתָ֥ם
when they offered
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
#11
לִפְנֵי
before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#12
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#13
וַיָּמֻֽתוּ׃
and died
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

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 sovereignty 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 literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Leviticus Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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