Nehemiah 9:25

Authorized King James Version

And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַֽיִּלְכְּד֞וּ
And they took
to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere
#2
עָרִ֣ים
cities
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#3
בְּצֻרוֹת֮
strong
to gather grapes; also to be isolated (i.e., inaccessible by height or fortification)
#4
וַֽאֲדָמָ֣ה
land
soil (from its general redness)
#5
שְׁמֵנָה֒
and a fat
greasy, i.e., gross; figuratively, rich
#6
וַיִּֽירְשׁ֡וּ
and possessed
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
#7
בָּתִּ֣ים
houses
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#8
מְלֵֽאִים
full
full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness; adverbially, fully
#9
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#10
בְּטֽוּבְךָ֥
goodness
good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative concretely, the best), beauty, gladness, welfare
#11
בֹּר֨וֹת
wells
a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)
#12
חֲצוּבִ֜ים
digged
to cut or carve (wood, stone or other material); by implication, to hew, split, square, quarry, engrave
#13
כְּרָמִ֧ים
vineyards
a garden or vineyard
#14
וְזֵיתִ֛ים
and oliveyards
an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry
#15
וְעֵ֥ץ
trees
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
#16
מַֽאֲכָ֖ל
and fruit
an eatable (including provender, flesh and fruit)
#17
לָרֹ֑ב
in abundance
abundance (in any respect)
#18
וַיֹּֽאכְל֤וּ
so they did eat
to eat (literally or figuratively)
#19
וַֽיִּשְׂבְּעוּ֙
and were filled
to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)
#20
וַיַּשְׁמִ֔ינוּ
and became fat
to shine, i.e., (by analogy) be (causatively, make) oily or gross
#21
וַיִּֽתְעַדְּנ֖וּ
and delighted
to be soft or pleasant; figuratively and reflexively, to live voluptuously
#22
בְּטֽוּבְךָ֥
goodness
good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative concretely, the best), beauty, gladness, welfare
#23
הַגָּדֽוֹל׃
themselves in thy great
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Nehemiah. 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

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 Nehemiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection