What Does 2 Chronicles 35:12 Mean?
And they turned aside the rising offerings, that they might give them to the children of the people, by the divisions of the house of the fathers, to bring near to the LORD, as it is written in the scroll of Moses. And so they did with the herd.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.THE KEY
The Hebrew word for “offer” also means “draw near,” so each family’s portion becomes a way of approaching the LORD.
THE MEANING
The offerings are set out by family divisions and brought near to the LORD according to what is written. Shared devotion takes shape through portions and places, each held within a larger order.
THE ROOT
לְהַקְרִיב
lehaqriv
GROWS FROM
קרב
q-r-b
Draw near, approach.
“bring near” in this verse is lehaqriv. The act translated “offer” comes from the root for drawing near. The family portions are not only arranged for a sacrifice; each is carried into an act of approach.
ALSO GROWS
qarav: Approach or come near.
קָרַב
This is the verb behind “offer,” revealing approach within the act.
qarov: Near, close.
קָרוֹב
The same root connects offering with nearness.
qorban: An offering, something brought near.
קָרְבָּן
This noun makes explicit the connection between an offering and drawing near.
מִפְלָגוֹת
miflagot
GROWS FROM
פלג
p-l-g
Divide, separate into parts.
The word for divisions carries the image of parts made distinct. Here, the offering moves through defined family portions, so its shared purpose has an ordered shape.
ALSO GROWS
palag: To divide or separate.
פָּלַג
This verb gives the basic sense behind the divisions named in the verse.
peluggah: An assigned division or section.
פְּלֻגָּה
This related form shows how division can name an organized group or portion.
peleg: A channel or stream.
פֶּלֶג
A channel gives division a form that directs flow, echoing the passage’s ordered portions.
לָתֵת
latet
GROWS FROM
נתן
n-t-n
Give, set, place.
“give” in this verse is latet. The verb for giving also carries the sense of setting or placing. In this verse, giving is shaped by where each portion belongs in the family order.
ALSO GROWS
natan: To give, set, or place.
נָתַן
This is the root verb behind the act of giving portions.
mattan: A gift or present.
מַתָּן
This related noun shows the root’s connection between giving and what is given.
mattanah: A gift or thing given.
מַתָּנָה
The same root can name the portion received, as well as the act of giving.
THE PATTERN
Shared worship and care take shape through ordered portions and assigned responsibilities.
Speak to all the assembly of Israel, saying, “On the tenth day of this month each man will take for himself a lamb according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for each house.”Now, brothers, look out among you seven men of good witness, full of the Set-Apart Breath and wisdom, whom we may set over this need.Let all things become well shaped, and in rank.THE THREAD
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, If anyone of you brings near a drawing near to the LORD, you shall bring near your drawing near from the cattle, from the herd and from the flock.The Hebrew word translated “bring an offering” comes from the same קרב (q-r-b, draw near) root as “offer” here. Leviticus makes the connection visible: an offering is something brought near, and this verse shows that approach moving through each family’s portion.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us