What Does Leviticus 8:5 Mean in the King James?

And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.

Leviticus 8:5 · 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.

THE KEY

The Hebrew word for “thing” is also the word for “word”: what the LORD speaks is already a matter taking shape among the gathered people.

THE MEANING

The word enters the gathered community as something to be done. What the LORD speaks is not abstract information; it takes visible form in the shared life of the reader’s community.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that receiving a divine word is only a matter of hearing or understanding it: here, the word is already oriented toward action.

THE ROOT

דָּבָר

davar

GROWS FROM

דבר

To speak; a spoken word, matter, or thing.

The phrase “this is the thing” uses davar, the same word that can mean “word.” Hebrew lets speech and the matter it sets in motion remain joined: the LORD’s word is already becoming something the assembly can do.

ALSO GROWS

devarim: Words, matters, or things.

דְּבָרִים

The plural keeps the same overlap: what is spoken can also be what is at issue or taking place.

dibbēr: He spoke.

דִּבֵּר

This verbal form makes the word’s movement audible: davar as a matter is linked to the act of speaking it.

THE PATTERN

A word takes visible form when it moves from hearing into action.

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

Deuteronomy 30:14 · KJVThe word is near, in mouth and heart, and its nearness opens directly into doing.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:22 · KJVThe word is not complete as mere hearing; it becomes present in the life that acts on it.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Genesis 1:3 · KJVHere, what is spoken takes form as what exists.

THE THREAD

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

Deuteronomy 30:14 · KJV

“The word” is davar, the same Hebrew word that can mean “thing” in this verse. Deuteronomy makes the connection visible: the word is already near, in mouth and heart, and moving into what can be done.

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