What Does 1 Samuel 8:2 Mean in the King James?
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.
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
Joel (יוֹאֵל, Yoʾel) means “YHWH (יהוה, YHWH; the LORD) is God,” and Abiah (אֲבִיָּה, ʾĂvîyāh) means “YHWH is my Father”: their names place the judges’ authority under the nature they proclaim.
THE MEANING
The verse holds the names and the office together: these men judge, yet their names point beyond them to the one they name as God and Father. Beer-sheba (בְּאֵר שָׁבַע, Beʾer-Sheva; “well of seven,” linked with an oath) carries the language of a sworn bond. Their authority stands under a claim larger than the officeholder.
THE ROOT
שֹׁפְטִים
shofetim judges
GROWS FROM
שפט
To judge, govern, or decide a case.
English “judges” can sound like a job title, but the שפט word-family connects the office to the act of judging and to the judgment that act produces. The verse names an authority whose meaning is bound to how a case is decided.
ALSO GROWS
shofet: judge
שֹׁפֵט
The singular form makes clear that the title names a person entrusted with judgment.
mishpat: judgment, justice
מִשְׁפָּט
This branch ties the judge’s office to the judgment or justice the office is meant to serve.
בְּאֵר שָׁבַע
Beʾer-Sheva well of
GROWS FROM
שבע
Seven; in the related oath word-family, to swear or bind by an oath.
“Beer-sheba” in this verse is Beʾer-Sheva well of. The place-name joins בְּאֵר (beʾer; well) with שֶׁבַע (sheva; seven), while Genesis 21:31 connects the name with swearing an oath. The location adds the language of sworn accountability to the judges’ office.
ALSO GROWS
sheva: seven
שֶׁבַע
This is the element in the place-name; Genesis 21:31 also recalls seven ewe lambs at Beer-sheba.
shevuʿah: oath
שְׁבוּעָה
The oath word-family is joined to Beer-sheba in Genesis 21:31, placing sworn commitment beside the place-name.
nishbaʿ: swore, took an oath
נִשְׁבַּע
This verb appears in the same oath word-family and echoes the binding responsibility carried by judgment.
THE PATTERN
Judgment is a human trust whose holders remain answerable to the justice they are meant to serve.
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.THE THREAD
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.The office in verse 2 is שֹׁפְטִים (shofetim; judges), from שפט (sh-p-t; judge, govern); verse 3 uses מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat; judgment) from the same root. The shared root exposes the fracture: the men hold the office, yet they pervert the very judgment its name carries.
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