Leviticus 26:8

Authorized King James Version

And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
יִרְדֹּ֑פוּ
of you shall chase
to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)
#2
מִכֶּ֤ם
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
#3
חֲמִשָּׁה֙
And five
five
#4
וּמֵאָ֥ה
an hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#5
וּמֵאָ֥ה
an hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#6
מִכֶּ֖ם
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
#7
רְבָבָ֣ה
of you shall put ten thousand
abundance (in number), i.e., (specifically) a myriad (whether definite or indefinite)
#8
יִרְדֹּ֑פוּ
of you shall chase
to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)
#9
וְנָֽפְל֧וּ
shall fall
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
#10
אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֛ם
and your enemies
hating; an adversary
#11
לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם
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
לֶחָֽרֶב׃
you by the sword
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

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 Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original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