What Does 1 Kings 12:24 Mean in the King James?
Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
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 word davar names both “this thing” and the LORD’s “word,” joining the disputed matter to the word that turns armed kin back home.
THE MEANING
A fight with kin is not the only movement available: the LORD’s word stops the advance and turns the fighters toward home. Hearing shows itself in their changed direction, while the matter itself is named as coming from God.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that force must answer force dissolves here: the fighters heed the LORD by turning back.
THE ROOT
דָּבָר
davar
GROWS FROM
ד־ב־ר
Speak, speech; also a matter or thing.
“thing / word” in this verse is davar. The Hebrew uses davar for both “this thing” and “the word of the LORD.” English separates them, while the verse’s repeated word joins the matter under dispute to the word that governs the response.
ALSO GROWS
davar: Word, matter, or thing.
דָּבָר
This is the same Hebrew word translated “thing” and “word” in the verse.
dibber: Spoke, uttered.
דִּבֵּר
The spoken word grows from the same root that can name a matter or thing.
שׁוּבוּ
shuvu
GROWS FROM
שׁ־ו־ב
Turn back, return.
The command to return home and the account of the people returning both use forms of שוב. The movement away from fighting is also a literal turning back toward home.
ALSO GROWS
shuv: To turn back or return.
שׁוּב
This is the root of the repeated return in the verse.
teshuvah: Return; an answer or response.
תְּשׁוּבָה
The return can name a response, echoing how these people answer the LORD’s word with a changed course.
וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ
vayishme'u
GROWS FROM
שׁ־מ־ע
Hear, listen, heed.
“hearkened” in this verse is vayishme'u. The verb moves beyond sound toward heeding; the next words show what their hearing looks like as they return. The verse makes the response visible in their actions.
ALSO GROWS
shema: Hear and respond.
שְׁמַע
This familiar form carries the same hearing-to-response movement found in the verse.
shemuah: Report, news, or something heard.
שְׁמוּעָה
It shows the root’s connection to what reaches the ear, while this verse emphasizes the response that follows.
THE PATTERN
Conflict between kin can be interrupted when people turn away from strife and toward peace.
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.THE THREAD
O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.Hosea uses the same root, שׁוּב (shuv, return), to name a turn toward the LORD. Here the same root turns armed kin back toward their homes, making return a concrete change of course.
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