What Does 1 Samuel 10:20 Mean in the King James?
And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
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
What English calls Benjamin being “taken,” Hebrew frames as being “caught”, selection carries the force of capture.
THE MEANING
All the tribes of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra’el, “one who contends with God”) are brought near, and Benjamin (בִּנְיָמִין, Binyamin, “son of the right hand”) is caught out from among them. Being singled out carries the force of being caught in what is unfolding, rather than simply noticed. The verse holds nearness and capture together.
THE ROOT
וַיִּלָּכֵד
wayyillaked
GROWS FROM
לכד
l-k-d
Catch, seize, capture.
“was taken” in this verse is wayyillaked. English “taken” can sound neutral, but לכד (lakad, catch or seize) carries the force of capture. The verse makes Benjamin’s selection feel like being caught out of the whole; the same root also names a snare that catches.
ALSO GROWS
lakad: To catch, seize, or capture.
לָכַד
This active form names the act behind the verse’s passive “was taken.”
malkodet: Snare or trap.
מַלְכֹּדֶת
A snare catches and holds; this branch preserves the force that the English word “taken” can leave hidden.
וַיַּקְרֵב
wayyaqrev
GROWS FROM
קרב
q-r-b
Approach, draw near.
“caused all the tribes to come near” in this verse is wayyaqrev. The tribes are brought near before Benjamin is caught out. This root also forms words for drawing near and for close combat, carrying nearness as contact rather than mere distance.
ALSO GROWS
qorban: Drawing near; an offering.
קוֹרְבָּן
The word describes an offering through its movement toward God, echoing the tribes being brought near.
qerav: Battle or combat.
קְרָב
Combat brings parties into close contact, revealing how this root’s nearness can mean more than physical proximity.
THE PATTERN
A collective brought into a process of selection can have one person or part singled out.
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.THE THREAD
And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.“Was taken” is again וַיִּלָּכֵד (wayyillaked), from לכד (lakad, catch or seize). As with Benjamin, the word marks someone singled out from a larger group, carrying the force of being caught.
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