What Does Numbers 36:1 Mean in the King James?

And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel:

Numbers 36:1 · 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 begins with drawing near: the Hebrew root behind “came near” also gives the word for a thing brought near.

THE MEANING

When a matter needs to be heard, its bearers come near and speak before those able to hear it. Approach and speech belong together here: nearness gives the words a place to land.

THE ROOT

קָרַב

qārab

GROWS FROM

ק־ר־ב

q-r-b

To approach, come near, or bring into proximity.

English makes “came near” sound like a stage direction. The same root gives words for nearness and for something brought near, so the family heads enter the matter through proximity before they give it words.

ALSO GROWS

qārōb: Near; close.

קָרֹב

The root names nearness as a quality as well as the act of approaching.

qorban: A drawing near; something brought near.

קָרְבָּן

This branch makes the root’s movement visible: coming near is an approach into relation, not merely a change of physical position.

THE PATTERN

Drawing near turns distance into a place where encounter and speech can happen.

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Genesis 18:23 · KJVAbraham’s approach leads straight into a difficult question, joining nearness with speech.

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Psalm 73:28 · KJVDrawing near becomes the ground from which the speaker can declare what is true.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10:22 · KJVThe verse presents approach as entry into an open encounter, with the heart fully present.

THE THREAD

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Psalm 73:28 · KJV

“Draw near” in this psalm comes from the same Hebrew root, ⁨ק־ר־ב⁩, as “came near” here. In both verses, nearness opens into speech: the family heads speak before Israel’s leaders, and the psalmist declares what God has done.

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