What Does 1 Chronicles 16:3 Mean in the King James?

And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

1 Chronicles 16:3 · 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 Hebrew verb for distribution shares its root with “portion,” making the celebration itself an act of provision for everyone.

THE MEANING

The verse joins celebration to tangible nourishment: bread, meat, and wine reach every woman and man. Its repeated “every one” makes each person a recipient in the community’s abundance, not a spectator at someone else’s celebration.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It dissolves the idea that sacred joy is detached from material need or reserved for a select few: every woman and man receives food and drink.

THE ROOT

וַיְחַלֵּק

wayeḥallēq

GROWS FROM

חלק

ḥ-l-q

To divide, apportion, or distribute.

“dealt” in this verse is wayeḥallēq. Here, ⁨חלק⁩ names the giving out of a share, while ⁨חֵלֶק⁩ names the portion itself. The root ties the act of distributing to what each person receives, so celebration becomes provision spread across the whole people.

ALSO GROWS

ḥēleq: Portion; share.

חֵלֶק

This is what the verb here distributes: a portion received by each person.

maḥălōqet: Division; dispute.

מַחֲלֹקֶת

It carries the root’s dividing sense into separation; here, division takes the form of portions reaching each person.

THE PATTERN

A shared celebration takes shape when its tangible provision reaches each person, including those who lack it.

And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

Deuteronomy 16:14 · KJVThe feast’s joy includes people across the household and community, extending even to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 · KJVThe holy day’s joy includes sending food portions to those who have none prepared.

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acts 2:45 · KJVThe shared life takes material form as goods are distributed to each person according to need.

THE THREAD

For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

1 Samuel 30:24 · KJV

The Hebrew uses the same ⁨חלק⁩ root in “part” and “part alike” that appears in the distribution here. The share reaches both those at the front and those guarding the supplies, opening “dealt to every one” as common participation.

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