What Does Deuteronomy 20:2 Mean in the King James?
And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
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
You draw near to the battle, and then the priest draws near to you, conflict is met by a second approach.
THE MEANING
As you come close to conflict, someone comes toward you and speaks before the battle begins. The moment before impact already contains nearness and a voice.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that you must face the threshold of conflict alone loses its footing here: the priest comes near and speaks before battle.
THE ROOT
קָרַב
qarab
GROWS FROM
קרב
Draw near, approach, bring close.
“come nigh” in this verse is qarab. The English phrase can sound like mere distance, but this root also carries the act of bringing something near. Its branch qorban names an offering brought near, so the verse’s approach belongs to a wider language of drawing close.
ALSO GROWS
qarov: Near, close.
קָרוֹב
This branch names the nearness the people enter as they come toward the battle.
qorban: Offering; something brought near.
קָרְבָּן
The same root links approaching the battle with the movement of bringing an offering near.
נִגַּשׁ
nigash
GROWS FROM
נגשׁ
Draw near, approach; in a causative form, bring near or present.
The priest’s approach uses a different Hebrew root from the people’s coming near. The verse thus gives the same moment two movements: the people advance toward the battle, and the priest advances toward them.
ALSO GROWS
nagash: Approach, draw near.
נָגַשׁ
This is the root behind the priest coming toward the people.
higgish: Bring near, present.
הִגִּישׁ
This related form makes the root’s sense of closing distance active: someone brings something forward.
THE PATTERN
As conflict approaches, a word reaches people before its outcome is visible.
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.THE THREAD
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.Deuteronomy’s “come nigh” is qarab; Leviticus uses a form of the same root in “bring an offering,” alongside qorban, the thing brought near. In both verses, the root gives approach a concrete shape: near battle, a priest comes close; near the altar, an offering is brought close.
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