What Does 2 Samuel 10:7 Mean in the King James?

And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

2 Samuel 10:7 · 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.

THE KEY

⁨שָׁמַע⁩ (shama, hear) leads straight into ⁨שָׁלַח⁩ (shalach, send forth): the report becomes a force released into motion.

THE MEANING

You stand at the instant news becomes military mobilization: David hears and sends Joab with the whole host of mighty men. This is a response made through organized force, with the weight of armed power unmistakable.

THE ROOT

וַיִּשְׁלַח

vayyishlach

GROWS FROM

שלח

shalach

Send, send forth, release.

The root holds sending and releasing together; here its sense is a military dispatch, a force sent forth. The army is not merely gathered in the verse, it is put into motion.

ALSO GROWS

shilluach: Sending away, dismissal.

שִׁלּוּחַ

This branch shows that the root can describe sending something out of a place, as well as sending it toward a destination.

mishloach: Sending, dispatch; also sending portions.

מִשְׁלוֹחַ

Its sense of a dispatch carrying something outward illuminates this verse’s sending of armed strength.

שָׁמַע

shama

GROWS FROM

שמע

sh-m-ʿ

Hear, listen, heed.

“heard” in this verse is shama. Here hearing is not inert reception: the sentence places shama beside an immediate response. The movement from hearing the report to sending a force makes that link visible.

ALSO GROWS

shema: Hear, listen, heed.

שְׁמַע

This familiar form carries the sense of attentive hearing that the verse shows turning into action.

shemuah: Report, tidings.

שְׁמוּעָה

This branch names what is heard, joining the incoming report to the response that follows.

דָּוִד

Dawid

GROWS FROM

דוד

dod

Beloved, beloved one.

David’s name carries the nature of the beloved. Here the named figure hears the report and answers it with a concrete dispatch.

ALSO GROWS

dod: Beloved one; also kin or uncle in some contexts.

דּוֹד

This word is the name’s root association with being beloved.

dodim: Loves, endearments.

דּוֹדִים

This related form keeps the name’s association with love visible in the word family.

THE PATTERN

A situation becomes present through a deliberate sending toward it.

Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

2 Kings 6:14 · KJVA king answers a perceived danger by sending military force to the place where it is unfolding.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah 6:8 · KJVHearing a question about who will go becomes a willing offer to be sent.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 20:21 · KJVA sending passes from one person to others, carrying the response beyond its point of origin.

THE THREAD

Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Exodus 3:10 · KJV

The same root, ⁨שָׁלַח⁩ (shalach, send), moves here from dispatching Joab’s force to sending Moses toward Pharaoh. In Exodus the sending brings people out of constriction, placing this military dispatch beside a sending that opens a way to release.

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