What Does Deuteronomy 31:22 Mean in the King James?
Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.
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 teaching is made into a song so it can move from one writer into the mouths of an entire people.
THE MEANING
Here, meaning becomes something a people can carry together: a song is written and taught, so it can live in many voices, not only in the hand that wrote it. The verse speaks to you now through the movement from written word to shared memory.
THE ROOT
וַיְלַמְּדָהּ
vayelammedah
GROWS FROM
ל־מ־ד
l-m-d
To learn; in the Piel form used here, to teach.
“taught” in this verse is vayelammedah. The Hebrew root holds learning and teaching together: the teaching reaches its purpose as it becomes learning in the hearer. The song moves through that shared root from Moses’ voice into the people’s understanding.
ALSO GROWS
lamad: To learn.
לָמַד
This is the receiving side of the teaching: the people learn the song Moses gives them.
limmed: To teach or instruct.
לִמֵּד
This Piel form of the root names Moses’ action in the verse.
שִׁירָה
shirah
GROWS FROM
ש־י־ר
sh-y-r
To sing; song.
The Hebrew word for song grows from the same root as singing. What is written and taught here is already shaped to be voiced and carried by others.
ALSO GROWS
shir: To sing; a song.
שִׁיר
The shared root keeps the written song connected to the act of singing it.
meshorer: A singer.
מְשׁוֹרֵר
The song’s root also names the person who voices it, linking the teaching to its carriers.
THE PATTERN
A song can carry a community’s teaching from one voice into many.
Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;THE THREAD
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.Deuteronomy holds writing and teaching together: the song enters the people rather than remaining on the page. Colossians describes the same pattern, where people teach one another through songs.
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