What Does 1 Samuel 30:29 Mean in the King James?

And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,

1 Samuel 30:29 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The list turns compassion from an invisible quality into provision moving toward named communities.

THE MEANING

The verse keeps particular communities in view: provision reaches people in actual places, not an abstract crowd. The Jerahmeelites’ name carries “May God show compassion,” so compassion meets the reader as care that reaches particular lives and communities.

THE ROOT

יְרַחְמְאֵלִים

Yeraḥmeʾelîm

GROWS FROM

רחם

To show compassion or tender care.

“Jerahmeelites” in this verse is Yeraḥmeʾelîm. The name Jerahmeel is commonly understood as “May God show compassion,” carrying the root ⁨רחם⁩ (r-ḥ-m, to show compassion). That same root links compassion with the womb, revealing care as something that holds and reaches life; here, the named communities receive a share.

ALSO GROWS

raḥamim: Compassion or tender care.

רַחֲמִים

This is the same root within the name Jerahmeelites, making their name resonate with care expressed through provision.

reḥem: Womb.

רֶחֶם

The shared root joins compassion with womb imagery: care that holds and protects life.

raḥum: Compassionate, full of tender care.

רַחוּם

This form names the quality carried in the Jerahmeelites’ name and gives the verse’s distribution a personal dimension.

THE PATTERN

Provision received after deliverance keeps moving outward until named communities receive a share.

And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;

1 Samuel 30:26 · KJVThe share sent to the named communities in the current verse continues this movement of provision outward.

And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Acts 4:35 · KJVProvision becomes concrete through distribution to people according to their needs.

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

2 Corinthians 8:14 · KJVAbundance moves between communities as each supplies what another lacks.

THE THREAD

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Exodus 33:19 · KJV

Jerahmeel is commonly understood as “May God show compassion,” from ⁨רחם⁩ (r-ḥ-m, to show compassion); the same root appears in Exodus as ⁨רִחַמְתִּי⁩ (riḥamti, I will show compassion). That shared seed lets the named recipients resonate with compassion expressed through the passage’s movement of provision.

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