What Does Joshua 20:1 Mean in the King James?
The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
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
Joshua’s name carries “YHWH delivers,” and the word addressed to him is about to give that deliverance a place to take shape.
THE MEANING
You are shown a word moving toward refuge: it reaches Joshua, whose name carries “YHWH delivers,” before places of safety are appointed for people in danger. The verse holds speech and practical shelter together.
THE ROOT
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ
Yehoshua
GROWS FROM
ישע
y-š-ʿ
Deliver, rescue, bring to safety.
“Joshua” in this verse is Yehoshua. Yehoshua joins the divine name with ישע (y-š-ʿ), “deliver.” The instruction that follows gives this name a concrete contour: refuge becomes a place the endangered can reach.
ALSO GROWS
yeshuah: Deliverance
יְשׁוּעָה
It names the kind of safety the cities of refuge make tangible.
moshia: Deliverer, one who rescues
מוֹשִׁיעַ
It shows the root describing both deliverance and the one who brings it.
וַיְדַבֵּר
wayyedabber
GROWS FROM
דבר
d-b-r
Speak, declare; the related noun can name a word, matter, or thing.
The verb behind “spake” shares its root with davar, which can mean “word,” “matter,” or “thing.” Here speech begins a concrete arrangement: refuge is appointed in the instruction that follows.
ALSO GROWS
davar: Word, matter, thing
דָּבָר
The shared root holds speech and the matter spoken about close together.
dibber: Spoke, declared
דִּבֵּר
This verbal form shows the same root in an act of speaking.
THE PATTERN
Refuge is deliberately provided as a place where a person in danger can flee.
And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:THE THREAD
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:The same דבר (d-b-r, speak/word) root appears again in “Speak” and in “whereof I spake,” linking the instruction to an already spoken word. What begins as speech in verse 1 becomes a named place of refuge in verse 2.
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