What Does 1 Chronicles 21:9 Mean in the King James?
And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,
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 verse presents revelation as speech received by a seer, joining the spoken word to perception.
THE MEANING
The verse holds speaking and seeing together: the LORD speaks, and the one addressed is named as a seer. It presents a word as something received through perception, where hearing and seeing meet in a moment of disclosure.
THE ROOT
וַיְדַבֵּר
waydabbēr
GROWS FROM
דבר
To speak, declare, or communicate.
“spake” in this verse is waydabbēr. The same root forms both the verb for speaking and דָּבָר (dāḇār), meaning “word” or “matter.” The utterance is more than sound: it carries something for the seer to perceive.
ALSO GROWS
dāḇār: Word, matter, affair, or thing.
דָּבָר
The spoken word and the matter communicated share the same root, presenting the LORD’s speech as meaningful content.
dəḇar-YHWH: The word or message of the LORD.
דְּבַר־יְהוָה
This familiar phrase uses the same ד־ב־ר root, naming divine communication as a word received and carried.
חֹזֶה
ḥōzeh
GROWS FROM
חזה
To see, behold, or perceive.
“seer” in this verse is ḥōzeh. Gad’s title, חֹזֶה (ḥōzeh), comes from חזה, “to see” or “behold.” The verse places the spoken message with someone whose very title names perception, bringing speech and sight together.
ALSO GROWS
ḥāzâ: To see or behold.
חָזָה
This verb names the act of seeing that underlies Gad’s title as a seer.
maḥăzeh: Vision or scene shown.
מַחֲזֶה
The same consonants name what is seen, linking the perceiver with the vision perceived.
דָּוִיד
dāwîḏ
GROWS FROM
דוד
Beloved; the beloved one.
David’s name is linked with דּוֹד (dōd), “beloved.” The verse names Gad as the seer belonging to the beloved one, placing perception in relation to David.
ALSO GROWS
dōd: Beloved one; also, uncle.
דּוֹד
The consonants דוד connect this word with David’s name and its sense of belovedness.
dōdîm: Loves or caresses.
דּוֹדִים
This related form carries the same דוד consonants into the language of love.
THE PATTERN
Divine disclosure reaches a perceiver before it is carried outward.
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:THE THREAD
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.The same דבר root appears in both verses: here the LORD speaks to Gad; there the prophet receives the LORD’s words and speaks them onward. The word moves through a human receiver without beginning with that receiver.
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