What Does 1 Samuel 28:25 Mean in the King James?
And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
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 says the food is “brought near”: before the company leaves into the night, provision crosses the distance between them.
THE MEANING
The verse holds a small interval between eating and departure: food comes near, people eat, and then they leave in the night. Nourishment remains part of your life even when the way ahead is still dark.
THE ROOT
וַתַּקְרֵב
vattaqrev
GROWS FROM
קָרַב
Q-R-B
To draw near or bring near; here, she brings the food near to Saul and his servants.
“brought it before” in this verse is vattaqrev. English makes this sound like simply setting food before someone, while the Hebrew speaks in the language of nearness. That same root appears in words for what is near and for something brought near, so the meal carries a quiet sense of provision within reach.
ALSO GROWS
qarov: Near, nearby.
קָרוֹב
This branch makes the physical nearness in the meal explicit: the food is brought within reach.
korban: An offering; something brought near.
קָרְבָּן
The shared root shows how Hebrew can name an offering through the act of bringing near, though this meal is not called an offering.
וַיָּקֻמוּ
wayyaqumu
GROWS FROM
קוּם
Q-W-M
To rise or stand.
“rose up” in this verse is wayyaqumu. The word marks the body’s literal rising after the meal, the hinge between eating and leaving. Its family also connects standing with a place and with establishing something, giving this ordinary movement a wider language of taking one’s place.
ALSO GROWS
maqom: Place.
מָקוֹם
This related word connects standing with the place where one stands.
heqim: To establish or set up; literally, to cause to stand.
הֵקִים
The causative form extends the root’s image of standing into the act of setting something in place.
THE PATTERN
Provision can sustain the body in danger or departure before the way ahead becomes clear.
And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.THE THREAD
And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.The food “brought near” to Saul uses the root qarab, which appears here for being “caused to come near.” English separates a meal set within reach from the language of access, while Hebrew lets both carry the sound of nearness.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us