What Does 1 Chronicles 20:4 Mean in the King James?
And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.
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 Hebrew root behind “they were subdued” also appears when people “humble themselves”: both describe being brought low, though one follows defeat and the other comes through self-lowering.
THE MEANING
War rises at Gezer; Sibbechai kills Sippai, and the opposing force is brought low. The verse holds one warrior’s death and the wider defeat together, keeping the violence and its consequence in the same frame.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The encounter ends with Sippai’s death alone; the verse also names the subduing of the larger force.
THE ROOT
וַיִּכָּנְעוּ
vayikkaneʿu
GROWS FROM
כ־נ־ע
k-n-ʿ
Be brought low, humbled, or subdued.
English separates “they were subdued” here from “humble themselves” in 2 Chronicles 7:14, but both use this root. Here the lowering follows a killing and describes defeat; elsewhere, the same root describes people humbling themselves.
ALSO GROWS
hikhniʿa: To subdue, bring low
הִכְנִיעַ
This causative form names the act of lowering another; it makes the outcome broader than the strike against Sippai.
nikhnaʿ: To be subdued, humble oneself
נִכְנַע
This form can describe being brought low or humbling oneself, depending on context; the same root links the force’s defeat here with the people’s self-humbling in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
THE PATTERN
Scripture marks a decisive conflict by showing how the defeated are brought into a changed position.
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.THE THREAD
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.“Humble themselves” translates the same root כנע (k-n-ʿ) as “they were subdued” here. The shared root holds both a force brought low through defeat and people lowering themselves in humility, while the context keeps those experiences distinct.
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