What Does 1 Samuel 26:13 Mean in the King James?
Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
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 distance is not empty: it makes the boundary visible while David remains present and in view.
THE MEANING
Distance can be a real boundary without becoming disappearance. You can remain present across a divide, with enough space for the separation itself to be seen.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that staying present requires standing close enough to be within reach.
THE ROOT
מֵרָחֹק
mērāḥōq
GROWS FROM
רחק
r-ḥ-q
To be distant or far away.
“Afar off” can sound like absence, but this word belongs to a family that also describes putting distance between things. Here, that distance is a visible boundary: David remains in the scene, but beyond the space separating them.
ALSO GROWS
rāḥōq: Far, distant.
רָחוֹק
It names the distance David occupies: he is present, but far from the others.
hirḥîq: To put at a distance, keep far.
הִרְחִיק
This branch shows distance as something that can be established, making the space between them a clear boundary.
mirḥāq: Distance, a far-off place.
מִרְחָק
It echoes the verse’s emphasis on the great space between them.
THE PATTERN
Distance can mark a distinct position while leaving a person within sight, perception, or address.
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.THE THREAD
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.This repeats מֵרָחֹק (mērāḥōq, from afar), built on רחק (r-ḥ-q, to be distant). The shared word shows distance as a position within an encounter, not simply its absence.
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