What Does 2 Samuel 17:29 Mean in the King James?
And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
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 wilderness does not make need abstract: someone brings actual food near to hungry, weary, thirsty people.
THE MEANING
Hunger, weariness, and thirst all count as real need. Provision is brought near for David and everyone with him, reaching the whole company in the wilderness.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The wilderness is only a place of deprivation.
THE ROOT
הִגִּישׁוּ
higgîšû
GROWS FROM
נגש
Approach or draw near; in this verb form, bring near or present.
The Hebrew verb says the provisions are brought near. Care here closes the distance between need and nourishment: food is placed within reach of the hungry, weary, thirsty group.
ALSO GROWS
nigash: Approach, draw near
נִגַּשׁ
This form shares the root’s movement toward someone or something.
higish: Bring near, present
הִגִּישׁ
This is the singular form of the verb used here: provisions are brought close enough to receive.
צָמֵא
tsame
GROWS FROM
צמא
To thirst; to experience thirst.
Thirst receives its own bodily name beside hunger and weariness; the need is concrete, not abstract. The same root appears in Isaiah’s invitation to the thirsty, where water and food are offered together.
ALSO GROWS
tsama: Thirst
צָמָא
The noun names the condition experienced by the people here.
tsimma’on: Thirst, parchedness
צִמָּאוֹן
This form extends the same root into a state of thirst or dryness.
דָּוִד
David
GROWS FROM
דוד
Beloved; David’s name is traditionally linked with this root.
David’s name carries the nature of the beloved. The provision reaches him and the people beside him, extending care beyond the named person to the whole company.
ALSO GROWS
dod: Beloved; also uncle in some contexts
דּוֹד
This related word carries the beloved sense associated with David’s name.
David: David; traditionally understood as beloved
דָּוִד
The name identifies one recipient, while the verse extends provision to everyone with him.
THE PATTERN
When depletion is plainly named, care becomes tangible provision that meets people where they are.
And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.THE THREAD
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.The same Hebrew root, צמא, names the thirsty person in both verses. Isaiah’s invitation joins water with food and drink, opening up the concrete nourishment offered to the thirsty group here.
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