What Does 1 Samuel 17:6 Mean in the King James?
And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
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
Brass guards the part of him that carries him forward: the Hebrew word for legs belongs to the same root as going about.
THE MEANING
You encounter strength as something placed on a body: brass guards the legs and sits between the shoulders. The metal makes protection visible and turns movement into part of the display. Here, power appears as weight carried on the body.
THE ROOT
רַגְלָיו
raglāyw
GROWS FROM
רגל
Foot; movement on foot.
“legs” in this verse is raglāyw. The same רגל root names the foot and the act of going about, so the greaves cover not just a body part but the body’s capacity for movement. The verse makes protected mobility part of the warrior’s visible force.
ALSO GROWS
regel: Foot or leg.
רֶגֶל
The greaves cover the body’s instrument for standing and moving.
ragal: To go about; to scout or spy.
רָגַל
The protected legs belong to the same root family as going about on foot, tying armor to mobility.
THE PATTERN
Armor makes protection visible on the body while leaving that body exposed to what the armor cannot cover.
And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.THE THREAD
He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.The Hebrew word for Goliath’s legs and the word for the psalmist’s feet share the root רגל, joining armor to movement. Here the legs are covered in brass; in the psalm, the feet are made sure on high places.
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