Tag Archives: 1 Samuel 24:8

Restraining Words: Verbs of Speech and Action in 1 Samuel 24:8

וַיְשַׁסַּ֨ע דָּוִ֤ד אֶת־אֲנָשָׁיו֙ בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א נְתָנָ֖ם לָק֣וּם אֶל־שָׁא֑וּל וְשָׁא֛וּל קָ֥ם מֵהַמְּעָרָ֖ה וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ (1 Samuel 24:8) And David restrained his men with words, and did not permit them to rise against Saul; and Saul arose from the cave and went on the way. Forceful Speech: וַיְשַׁסַּ֨ע The verb וַיְשַׁסַּ֨ע is a Piel wayyiqtol 3ms form from the root שׁ־ס־ע (“to tear apart,” “to dissuade violently”). In this context, it means that David “rebuked” or “restrained forcefully” his men. The Piel stem intensifies the action, conveying not mere speech but emphatic, possibly harsh dissuasion.… Learn Hebrew
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