What Does 2 Kings 7:8 Mean in the King James?

And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

2 Kings 7:8 · 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

What answers hunger is immediately carried away and hidden, turning discovery into the first step of concealment.

THE MEANING

Hunger meets provision here: they eat and drink, then carry away silver, gold, and clothing and hide it. The act happens twice, placing the relief of finding abundance beside the choice to put it out of sight.

THE ROOT

וַיַּטְמִנוּ

wayyatminu

GROWS FROM

טמן

To hide, bury, or conceal.

“hid” in this verse is wayyatminu. The Hebrew verb appears twice, each time after valuables are carried away. A related noun for a hidden hoard shows the link English obscures: what is hidden is named in the language of treasure.

ALSO GROWS

matmon: Hidden treasure or hoard.

מַטְמוֹן

The related word joins concealment with stored value, echoing the silver and gold hidden here.

tamun: Hidden or concealed.

טָמוּן

This form describes what has been put out of sight, the repeated result of the men’s actions.

THE PATTERN

Hidden value moves between concealment and discovery: it is sought, found, or brought into the light.

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Proverbs 2:4 · KJVWisdom is pursued as though it were treasure concealed and waiting to be found.

He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.

Job 28:11 · KJVWhat lies hidden is brought into view, making concealment part of a movement toward discovery.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Matthew 13:44 · KJVFinding hidden treasure leads to another act of concealment, as it does in this verse.

THE THREAD

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Proverbs 2:4 · KJV

The phrase “hid treasures” uses ⁨מַטְמוֹנִים⁩ (matmonim), “hidden treasures,” from the same ⁨טמן⁩ (t-m-n) root as “hid” here. The men conceal silver and gold; Proverbs uses the same root family to picture wisdom as something hidden and worth seeking.

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