What Does Deuteronomy 1:3 Mean in the King James?

And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;

Deuteronomy 1:3 · 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

The Hebrew root behind “spake” also gives the word “word”: instruction becomes audible through a human voice.

THE MEANING

This verse places you among a people hearing instruction that is first given and then spoken through a human voice. Moses carries what the LORD gives him into a public word, “according unto all”, speech accountable to its source. The precise date marks this utterance as a threshold, not background noise.

THE ROOT

דִּבֶּר

dibber

GROWS FROM

דבר

d-b-r

To speak; the related noun carries the meanings word, matter, or affair.

The verb translated “spake” belongs to the same root as ⁨דָּבָר⁩ (dābār), “word” or “matter.” The verse presents what the LORD gives as something carried into audible form: the word given becomes the word Moses speaks to the people.

ALSO GROWS

dābār: Word, matter, or affair.

דָּבָר

The spoken word and the thing said share a root, joining the instruction Moses receives to the speech he delivers.

medabber: Speaking; one who speaks.

מְדַבֵּר

This form makes the speaker part of the same root-family as the word being spoken.

מֹשֶׁה

Mōsheh

GROWS FROM

משׁה

m-sh-h

To draw out, especially from water; the name-story in Exodus 2:10 connects Moses with being drawn out.

Exodus 2:10 gives Moses a name-story of being drawn out of the water. Here, the one drawn out becomes a voice through which what is given moves outward to a people.

ALSO GROWS

māshāh: To draw out or pull out.

מָשָׁה

Exodus 2:10 links this verb with Moses being drawn out of the water.

Mōsheh: Moses; connected in Exodus 2:10 with being drawn out.

מֹשֶׁה

The name’s wordplay adds a layer to his role here: the one drawn out now carries instruction to others.

THE PATTERN

Instruction reaches a people through a human voice carrying what has been given.

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Exodus 4:12 · KJVThe LORD promises to teach Moses what to say, placing the spoken message in a human mouth.

Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Jeremiah 1:9 · KJVThe LORD’s words are placed in Jeremiah’s mouth to be carried onward in speech.

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

John 12:49 · KJVJesus describes speech that comes from what the Father gives, echoing Moses speaking according to the LORD’s command.

THE THREAD

I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

Deuteronomy 18:18 · KJV

In Hebrew, “my words” (⁨דְּבָרַי⁩, devarai) and “he shall speak” (⁨יְדַבֵּר⁩, yedabber) grow from ⁨דבר⁩ (d-b-r), the same root as “spake” here. This verse makes explicit the movement Deuteronomy 1:3 compresses: given words enter a mouth as speech and reach the people.

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