What Does 1 Chronicles 14:14 Mean in the King James?

Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

1 Chronicles 14:14 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The instruction to “turn away” is itself a route into the encounter: the Hebrew root carries both turning and circling.

THE MEANING

The way forward takes a changed angle of approach. Turning away and coming upon them belong to one movement: the direction changes, while the advance continues.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The only way forward is to keep following directly behind what I am pursuing.

THE ROOT

הָסֵב

hāsēv

GROWS FROM

סבב

sabab

To turn about, go around, or encircle.

The Hebrew verb translated “turn away” comes from a root that also means to circle around. The next words direct David to approach from another position, so turning away is part of the route toward the encounter, not its end.

ALSO GROWS

sābab: To turn, go around, or encircle.

סָבַב

It makes the circling movement inside “turn away” visible.

sāḇîḇ: Around, all around.

סָבִיב

This branch carries the same root’s sense of movement around something, rather than straight toward it.

THE PATTERN

A redirected route can carry an advance forward without repeating its original approach.

And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

Joshua 6:3 · KJVThe Hebrew verb translated “compass” shares the root ⁨סבב⁩: circling becomes the prescribed route around the city.

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 · KJVThe verse places a person’s intended way beside steps directed onto a different course.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Acts 16:10 · KJVThe journey takes a newly indicated direction, carrying its purpose forward by another route.

THE THREAD

And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

Joshua 6:3 · KJV

The Hebrew verb behind “turn away” here shares the root ⁨סבב⁩ with the verb rendered “compass” in Joshua. English gives the root different words, while both verses show a deliberate circuit shaping the route forward.

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