What Does Genesis 20:15 Mean in the King James?
And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
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 welcome is complete because you remain free to choose where to settle.
THE MEANING
The land lies open before you, and you may settle wherever looks good to you. A place to dwell is offered while your choice of place stays in your hands.
THE ROOT
וְשֵׁב
veshev
GROWS FROM
ישב
To sit, remain, inhabit, or settle.
“dwell” in this verse is veshev. The root holds settling and remaining together: dwelling is more than being assigned a spot; it is making a place your own. The offer gives room for your presence to take root where you find good.
ALSO GROWS
yoshev: One who sits or inhabits; a resident.
יֹשֵׁב
The same root describes both the act of dwelling and the person who makes a place home.
moshav: A dwelling place or settlement.
מוֹשָׁב
The root can name not only settling in, but the place where that settled presence takes shape.
אֲבִימֶלֶךְ
Avimelekh
GROWS FROM
מלך
To reign or rule; kingship.
“Abimelech” in this verse is Avimelekh. The name joins av, “father,” and melek, “king”: “my father is king.” Here, the ruler’s offer places land within another person’s choice, presenting authority as the power to make room.
ALSO GROWS
melek: King.
מֶלֶךְ
This is the “king” element in Abimelech’s name, present as the speaker offers the land.
malkhut: Kingship or reign.
מַלְכוּת
It extends the name’s royal element into the nature of rule, which this verse shows creating room for another.
THE PATTERN
Belonging is expressed by making room for another to dwell.
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.THE THREAD
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.“Dwell” in both verses comes from ישב (yashab), the root of sitting, remaining, and inhabiting. Here, a place is offered for Abraham to choose; in the psalm, dwelling becomes a desire for lasting presence.
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