What Does 1 Chronicles 14:10 Mean in the King James?
And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word translated “deliver” means “give,” so David’s hand receives what God promises to place there even as David is told to go up.
THE MEANING
Your uncertainty about a next step is met here by a question that names both movement and outcome. The answer gives a clear direction, “Go up”, and promises the Philistines into David’s hand. The verse holds action and reception together: the hand that moves also receives what God gives.
THE ROOT
נָתַן
natan u-netattim
GROWS FROM
נתן
n-t-n
Give, set, place.
The question and the answer use forms of the same verb: David asks whether God will give the Philistines into his hand, and God says, “I will give them into your hand.” English “deliver” can conceal that repeated act of giving; here, the outcome is placed into the hand that is told to act.
ALSO GROWS
mattan: Gift, present.
מַתָּן
This noun from the same root makes visible the giving already inside “deliver”: what reaches the hand is received as a gift.
mattanah: Gift, present.
מַתָּנָה
Like the promise in this verse, a mattanah is something given; the shared root links the promised outcome with an act of giving.
וַיִּשְׁאַל
vayyish'al from sha'al
GROWS FROM
שאל
sh-ʾ-l
Ask, request.
“enquired” in this verse is vayyish'al from sha'al. The verb carries the plain force of asking for an answer, not merely considering a question inwardly. David’s asking names two things directly: whether to go up and whether God will give the Philistines into his hand.
ALSO GROWS
she'elah: Question, request.
שְׁאֵלָה
This noun from the same root shows the request-shaped quality of David’s inquiry: he asks for direction and for an answer about the outcome.
Sha'ul: Asked for; the name Saul.
שָׁאוּל
The name preserves the same root of asking, echoing how this passage presents asking as an explicit request for an answer.
THE PATTERN
A sought answer can join a clear next step with a promise of provision.
And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.THE THREAD
Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.This verse uses the same root, נתן (natan, “give”), for what the KJV also renders “deliver.” The repeated wording makes the movement clear: David’s hand goes into action, while the victory is spoken of as something God gives into that hand.
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