What Does Isaiah 21:14 Mean in the King James?

The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.

Isaiah 21:14 · 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 verse’s hidden verb says the bread goes out ahead to meet the fugitive.

THE MEANING

When you are displaced and thirsty, care can meet you before you can ask: water and bread arrive while you are still fleeing. Your need is met before your story is explained.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

You must first reach safety or prove you deserve help before anyone can meet your need.

THE ROOT

קִדְּמוּ

qiddemū

GROWS FROM

קדם

q-d-m

To come before, precede, or meet someone ahead of their arrival.

The KJV’s “prevented” carries the sense of coming before: they go out to meet the fugitive with bread. The root also names what is in front, so the verse’s welcome moves toward the one still in flight.

ALSO GROWS

qādam: To precede, meet, or anticipate.

קָדַם

This verb family makes the bread an arrival that meets the fugitive on the way.

qedem: The front or east; also former times.

קֶדֶם

Its sense of what lies in front echoes the welcome that comes forward to meet someone.

THE PATTERN

Welcome takes physical form by meeting hunger and thirst with food and water, even when the one in need is an enemy, stranger, or fugitive.

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

Proverbs 25:21 · KJVEven enmity does not erase the hungry person’s need for bread or water.

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Isaiah 58:7 · KJVBread and shelter make care tangible for the hungry and displaced.

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Matthew 25:35 · KJVFood, drink, and welcome meet the stranger at the point of need.

THE THREAD

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

Genesis 18:4 · KJV

Here, water and rest meet travelers before they continue on. Isaiah’s bread reaches the fugitive in motion, showing welcome that moves toward the one in need.

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