What Does 1 Samuel 3:2 Mean in the King James?
And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
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
Eli’s failing eyesight is named with a Hebrew verb that can also mean perceiving, letting bodily sight and understanding dim in one word.
THE MEANING
Eyesight can grow dull by degrees before sight is lost; this is a bodily change, not a verdict on a person. The Hebrew verb for seeing can also mean perceiving, so physical sight and apprehension touch in the same word. The verse gives the reader language for that narrowing without turning it into blame.
THE ROOT
לִרְאוֹת
lir’ot
GROWS FROM
ראה
To see, look, or perceive.
“see” in this verse is lir’ot. The Hebrew verb ראה (ra’ah) can name both seeing with the eyes and perceiving. The line still speaks of Eli’s literal eyesight, while the shared word lets its dimming touch the wider capacity to apprehend.
ALSO GROWS
ro’eh: One who sees; a seer.
רֹאֶה
The same root names the one who sees, connecting sight to the person’s capacity to perceive.
mar’eh: An appearance or vision.
מַרְאֶה
The root also names what comes into view, linking seeing to what can be recognized.
THE PATTERN
Scripture uses seeing for both bodily sight and the capacity to recognize or perceive.
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.THE THREAD
And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?The Hebrew verb behind “seest” and “seeth” is ראה (ra’ah), the same root as Eli’s “see.” This connects a failing eye to the wider field of seeing: perception can falter, and a person can also be seen.
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