What Does 1 Kings 17:8 Mean in the King James?
And the word of the LORD came unto him, 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 LORD’s word reaches Elijah as both a spoken message and an event unfolding in his life.
THE MEANING
The LORD’s word comes to Elijah and becomes speech addressed to him. The verse presents divine communication as something that reaches a person and takes place in their life. That arriving word still speaks in the present tense of this verse.
THE ROOT
דְבַר
dəḇar
GROWS FROM
ד־ב־ר
d-b-r
To speak or utter; the related noun can mean a word, matter, or affair.
Davar can name both spoken language and a matter or event. English “word” can sound like a sentence alone, while here the word reaches Elijah as speech and as something happening in his life.
ALSO GROWS
dibber: He spoke; to speak.
דִּבֵּר
This verb from the same root makes clear that the word arriving to Elijah is speech that addresses him.
devarim: Words, matters, or affairs.
דְּבָרִים
This plural preserves the link between what is said and what takes place, the word is bound to the matter unfolding.
וַיְהִי
wayhî
GROWS FROM
ה־י־ה
h-y-h
To be, become, or happen.
The Hebrew form translated “came” is related to being, becoming, and happening. The verse holds arrival and occurrence together: the word reaches Elijah by becoming the event that addresses him.
ALSO GROWS
hayah: To be, become, or happen.
הָיָה
This root sense lets “came” carry the additional shade of something taking place in Elijah’s life.
wayhî: And it was; and it happened.
וַיְהִי
This form frames the word as an occurrence that reaches Elijah, not merely as an idea he forms.
THE PATTERN
God’s word reaches people as a living presence that enters and acts within human life.
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.THE THREAD
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.Genesis uses the same Hebrew phrase for the word of the LORD coming to a person, with דָּבָר (dāḇār, “word” or “matter”) at its center. The echo reveals a recurring movement: the word arrives, then becomes speech addressed to the person who receives it.
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