What Does 2 Kings 23:2 Mean in the King James?
And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.
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 covenant becomes public when its words are called aloud into the ears of the whole people.
THE MEANING
The covenant’s words are voiced before the whole community, from smallest to greatest. Every person is included in the hearing; the shared words reach the people together.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The covenant’s words belong only to the king and the priests.
THE ROOT
וַיִּקְרָא
wayyiqra
GROWS FROM
קרא
To call out, summon, or proclaim; in this verse, to read aloud.
The verb translated “read” comes from the same root as “call out” and “proclaim.” The written words move into the ears of the gathered people as voiced, shared address.
ALSO GROWS
miqra: Convocation; reading or recitation.
מִקְרָא
This branch can name both a gathering and a reading, echoing the assembly hearing the covenant together.
qeri’ah: Reading aloud; recitation.
קְרִיאָה
It preserves the audible force of the king’s reading in the people’s ears.
THE PATTERN
Covenant instruction takes public form when a whole community gathers to hear its words.
When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.THE THREAD
When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.This verse uses the same Hebrew root קרא (qara, call out or read aloud) for reading the law before all Israel. It reveals a recurring pattern: written covenant words become audible before the whole people.
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