What Does 1 Chronicles 18:6 Mean in the King James?
Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
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
Under “preserved” is וַיּוֹשַׁע (wayyoshaʿ, “he delivered”): the LORD’s care travels with David wherever he goes.
THE MEANING
The verse sets before you two forces at once: the LORD delivers David wherever he goes, while Syria is held by garrisons and its people serve and bring gifts. Divine protection and the power used to secure it share the same frame, including the Syrians’ subjection.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that enough forts and control guarantee safety is unsettled here: David has garrisons, yet the verse credits his preservation to the LORD.
THE ROOT
וַיּוֹשַׁע
wayyoshaʿ
GROWS FROM
ישע
Deliver, rescue; bring into safety.
This verb belongs to the same family as יְשׁוּעָה (yeshuah, deliverance), so “preserved” carries the force of an active rescue. Because it governs “wherever he went,” the action accompanies David across every place he enters.
ALSO GROWS
yeshuah: Deliverance, rescue.
יְשׁוּעָה
It makes clear that the verse’s “preserved” belongs to a word family centered on deliverance.
moshia: Deliverer; one who rescues.
מוֹשִׁיעַ
This branch names the agent of deliverance, illuminating the verse’s claim that the LORD acts to preserve David.
עֲבָדִים
ʿavadim
GROWS FROM
עבד
Serve, work; in this setting, compelled service.
“servants” in this verse is ʿavadim. The Hebrew term for the Syrians’ service comes from a word family that includes both service and labor. It keeps their subjection visible beside the LORD’s deliverance of David.
ALSO GROWS
eved: Servant; slave.
עֶבֶד
It shows the depth of the Syrians’ changed status under David’s rule.
avodah: Service, labor.
עֲבֹדָה
It connects their being made servants with the work and service demanded of them.
דָּוִד
David
GROWS FROM
דוד
Beloved; an endearment in the related word family.
David’s name is linked to דּוֹד (dod, beloved), so the king whom the LORD preserves carries a name with relational meaning. That name-nature sits within a verse otherwise recounting territory, service, and tribute.
ALSO GROWS
dod: Beloved; a close kinship term in related usage.
דּוֹד
It gives the name David its association with being beloved.
dodi: My beloved.
דּוֹדִי
This related form shows the name’s connection to the language of belovedness.
THE PATTERN
The LORD’s deliverance reaches people through danger and confinement, and his keeping accompanies their passage.
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.THE THREAD
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.The name Jesus is Greek Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous, Jesus), reflecting Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua, “YHWH delivers”), from the same root family, י־שׁ־ע (y-sh-ʿ; yashaʿ, deliver), as the verb translated “preserved” here. Matthew makes deliverance part of the name’s nature; Chronicles shows that same root at work wherever David goes.
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