Introduction: ׳ârake is a very tough word to work with. As soon as I think I have it figured out, I find it used in a very different way in another passage. In the King James Bible, there are over 20 ways this word is translated.
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1. Pronunciation and spelling:
2. Meanings already attributed to :
a. KJV renderings: array, order, expert, value, equal, estimate, ordain, prepare, compare, direct, furnish, handle, join.
b. Strong's renderings: properly to set in a row, that is, arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications): - put (set) (the battle, self) in array, compare, direct, equal, esteem, estimate, expert [in war], furnish, handle, join [battle], ordain, (lay, put, reckon up, set) (in) order, prepare, tax, value.; by implication i (Strong's #6186)
c. BDB translations: (BDB #789) 1) to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare
i. 1a1) to arrange or set or lay in order, arrange, state in order, set forth (a legal case), set in place; 1a2) to compare, be comparable
ii. (Hiphil) to value, tax
d. Gesenius translations:
i. To arrange in order [in a row]; to put in order; to place together; to compare.
ii. To estimate; to value; to compare the value [of anything]
iii. (Hiphil) To estimate
e. Zodhiates: Not listed.
3. Cognates: Since this word occurs so often, and since the cognates are clearly connected to this word’s basic meaning, we will dispense with them for the time being.
4. Passages:
One of the best ways to determine the meaning of a word, is to simply examine its every occurrence in Scripture. |
Translation |
Young |
Occurs |
Passages |
Examples from KJV Passages |
array |
arrange, set in array |
26 |
Judges 20:20, 22, 30, 33 1Sam. 17:2, 8, 21 2Sam. 10:8–10 2Sam. 10:17 1Chron. 19:9–11, 17 2Chron. 13:3 14:10 Job 6:4 Jer. 6:23 50:9, 14 50:42 Joel 2:5 |
And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times (Judges 20:30). |
order |
arrange, set in order |
20 |
Gen. 22:9 Ex. 27:21 Ex. 40:4, 23 Lev. 1:7–8 6:12 24:3–4, 8 Joshua 2:6 1Kings 18:33 Job 33:4–5 37:19 Psalm 40:5 50:21 Isa. 44:7 Jer. 46:3 |
And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood (Gen. 22:9). |
expert |
arrange |
3 |
1Chron. 12:33, 35–36 |
And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred (1Chron. 12:35). |
value |
value |
3 |
Lev. 27:8, 12 |
And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be (Lev. 27:12). |
equal |
equal |
2 |
Job 28:17, 19 |
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold (Job 28:17). |
estimate |
value |
2 |
Lev. 27:14 |
And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand. |
ordained |
arrange |
2 |
Psalm 132:17 Isa. 30:33 |
There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed (Psalm 132:17). |
ordered |
arranged, set in order |
2 |
2Sam. 23:5 Job 13:18 |
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified (Job 13:18). |
prepare |
arrange, set in array |
2 |
Isa. 21:5 65:11 |
But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number (Isa. 65:11). |
prepared |
arranged, arrayed |
2 |
Num. 23:4 Ezek. 23:41 |
And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram (Num. 23:4). |
compare |
compare |
1 |
Isa. 40:18 |
To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? |
compared |
compare |
1 |
Psalm 89:6 |
For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? |
direct |
set in array |
1 |
Psalm 5:3 |
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. |
directed |
set in array |
1 |
Job 32:14 |
Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches. |
esteem |
value |
1 |
Job 36:19 |
Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. |
furnish |
array |
1 |
Psalm 78:19 |
Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? |
furnished |
arranged |
1 |
Prov. 9:2 |
She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. |
handle |
setting in array |
1 |
1Chron. 12:8 |
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains:... |
joined |
set in array |
1 |
Gen. 14:8 |
And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;... |
preparest |
arrange |
1 |
Psalm 23:5 |
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. |
put |
arrange |
1 |
1Kings 18:33 |
And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. |
set |
set in order |
1 |
Ex. 40:23 |
And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. |
taxed |
value |
1 |
2Kings 23:35 |
And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaohnechoh. |
a. There seem to be two basic meanings for this word:
i. To arrange, to set in order, to place in a row, to place in a particular arrangement or order
ii. To value, to estimate; to be valuable [valued]; to compare, to be compared; to equal, to be equal
(1) When followed by unto, this appears to mean to be compared, to compare.
(2) A similar take on this word might be to equal, to be equal to.
b. This would suggest to me that we are really dealing with a homonym which has a particular application depending upon it context.
c. The other option is, this word began with a specific meaning which branched out in two directions:
i. To arrange [place, set] in order, in a row [an arrangement] would be the basic meaning of this word.
ii. When you arrange things together, in some sort of an order, you also are comparing them, to some degree; and in comparing them, you place a value or estimate the worth of the individual things.
In case you have chosen not to look this doctrine up, let me provide you some of the conclusions: |
There seem to be two basic meanings for this word: |
1. To arrange, to set in order, to place in a row, to place in a particular arrangement or order 2. To value, to estimate; to be valuable [valued]; to compare, to be compared; to equal, to be equal a. When followed by unto, this appears to mean to be compared, to compare. b. A similar take on this word might be to equal, to be equal to. 3. This would suggest to me that we are really dealing with a homonym which has a particular application depending upon it context. 4. The other option is, this word began with a specific meaning which branched out in two directions: a. To arrange [place, set] in order, in a row [an arrangement] would be the basic meaning of this word. b. When you arrange things together, in some sort of an order, you also are comparing them, to some degree; and in comparing them, you place a value or estimate the worth of the individual things. |
These conclusions are carefully justified and documented in the full doctrine. |
