What Does 1 Samuel 2:7 Mean in the King James?

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1 Samuel 2:7 · KJV

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 root behind “maketh poor” also means “inherit”: the same root holds dispossession and possession together.

THE MEANING

The place you occupy now is within the LORD’s reach: this verse names poverty and riches, being brought low and lifted up, as movements under his hand. Your present condition is not a permanent verdict or the measure of your worth.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It dissolves the belief that your current position is permanent or wholly self-made.

THE ROOT

מוֹרִישׁ

môrîsh

GROWS FROM

ירש

To possess or take as an inheritance; in a causative form, to dispossess.

The verb translated “maketh poor” is a causative form of a root that also names possessing or inheriting. The language holds being stripped of possessions and receiving an inheritance in one root family.

ALSO GROWS

yārash: To possess, inherit, or take possession.

יָרַשׁ

In Genesis 15:4, a form of this root describes the promised heir, showing the root on the receiving side of possession.

hôrîsh: To dispossess or drive out; in this verse, to make poor.

הוֹרִישׁ

This causative form describes making another lose possession, giving the verse’s poverty a shade of dispossession.

THE PATTERN

Human standing and resources remain movable under the LORD’s hand: he brings people low and lifts them up.

But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Psalm 75:7 · KJVThe verse names both lowering and raising as movements held by God.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Luke 1:52 · KJVThe mighty are brought down while those of low degree are raised.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

Psalm 113:7 · KJVThe poor and needy are lifted from the lowest place.

THE THREAD

And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

Genesis 15:4 · KJV

The Hebrew verb behind “maketh poor” comes from ⁨ירש⁩, a root that also means to possess or inherit. Genesis uses that root for the promised heir, placing dispossession and inheritance in the same word-family.

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