What Does 2 Kings 4:44 Mean in the King James?
So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word 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
Here the LORD’s word is measured by what remains after everyone has eaten.
THE MEANING
The food set before the people reaches everyone, and a remainder survives the meal. The word is present as provision that meets need and still has more to give.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that meeting everyone’s need must use up the whole supply; the verse ends with food left over.
THE ROOT
וַיּוֹתִרוּ
wayyotiru
GROWS FROM
י־ת־ר
To remain, be left over, or exceed what is needed.
The verb translated “left thereof” comes from a root of remaining and exceeding, so the sentence does not end at satisfaction: its final action leaves a remainder. A related form, yitron, means gain or surplus, carrying the sense of more than mere sufficiency.
ALSO GROWS
yeter: Remainder, surplus
יֶתֶר
It names what remains after the people have eaten.
yitron: Gain, advantage, surplus
יִתְרוֹן
It echoes the verse’s ending: the provision leaves something beyond what was consumed.
כִּדְבַר
kidvar
GROWS FROM
ד־ב־ר
To speak; the related noun davar can mean a word, matter, or thing.
The phrase joins the spoken word to the matter taking shape before the people: food is set out, eaten, and left over according to that word. Hebrew holds speech and matter close in the same word family.
ALSO GROWS
davar: Word, matter, thing
דָּבָר
The verse’s “word” is also the matter enacted in the meal and its remainder.
dibber: He spoke, uttered
דִּבֵּר
It is the spoken branch of the same root as davar, linking what is spoken with what comes to pass.
THE PATTERN
Provision under the LORD’s word reaches those gathered and leaves more than they consume.
And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.THE THREAD
And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.Both verses say the provision comes “according to the word of the LORD,” using the same Hebrew word, davar, for “word.” In each, that word is visible in food that meets need and remains.
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