The Meaning of Genesis 14:17 Explained

Genesis 14:17

KJV: And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

YLT: And the king of Sodom goeth out to meet him (after his turning back from the smiting of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings who are with him), unto the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's valley.

Darby: And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after he had returned from smiting Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, into the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's valley.

ASV: And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, at the vale of Shaveh (the same is the King's Vale).

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the king  of Sodom  went out  to meet  him after  his return  from the slaughter  of Chedorlaomer,  and of the kings  that [were] with him, at the valley  of Shaveh,  which  [is] the king's  dale. 

What does Genesis 14:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The "valley of Shaveh" was near Jerusalem (the "Salem" of Genesis 14:18). It may have been the Kidron Valley immediately east of the city or some other valley not far away.

Context Summary

Genesis 14:13-24 - Abram And Melchizedek
Recently discovered monuments confirm this narrative of the confederacy of the kings, but do not tell of their overthrow. Abram might fairly have left Lot to reap as he had sown, but his soul yearned over his weak and entrapped relative, and he set himself to deliver him. Men of faith and prayer are still able to rescue those who are taken captive by the devil at his will. Faith subdues kingdoms. The moment of success is always one of danger. The king of Sodom insidiously proposed that they should share the spoils! But how could Abram live as a pensioner on God's care, if he feathered his nest with the tainted wealth of Sodom? A previous interview had taken place, which made Abram strong. Melchizedek was king and priest of the tribe which held Jerusalem. Read Hebrews 7:1-28. He brought bread and wine, and a fresh revelation of the character of God, on which Abram rested his soul. What had he to do with Sodom, who was the child of such a Father? Christ always anticipates Satan. See Luke 22:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 14

1  The battle of four kings against the king of Sodom and his allies
12  Lot is taken prisoner
14  Abram rescues him
17  Melchizedek blesses Abram, who gives him tithes
21  Abram restores the rest of the spoil to the king of Sodom

What do the individual words in Genesis 14:17 mean?

And went out the king of Sodom to meet him after his return from the defeat - Chedorlaomer and the kings who [were] with him at the Valley of Shaveh that [is] Valley the King's
וַיֵּצֵ֣א מֶֽלֶךְ־ סְדֹם֮ לִקְרָאתוֹ֒ אַחֲרֵ֣י שׁוּב֗וֹ מֵֽהַכּוֹת֙ אֶת־ כְּדָרלָעֹ֔מֶר‪‬ וְאֶת־ הַמְּלָכִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ אֶל־ עֵ֣מֶק שָׁוֵ֔ה ה֖וּא עֵ֥מֶק הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

וַיֵּצֵ֣א  And  went  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
מֶֽלֶךְ־  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
סְדֹם֮  of  Sodom 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: סְדֹם  
Sense: a Canaanite city, usually paired with Gomorrah, located in the area of the Dead Sea and the Jordan river; both cities destroyed by God in judgment.
לִקְרָאתוֹ֒  to  meet  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to encounter, befall, meet.
אַחֲרֵ֣י  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
שׁוּב֗וֹ  his  return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
מֵֽהַכּוֹת֙  from  the  defeat 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כְּדָרלָעֹ֔מֶר‪‬  Chedorlaomer 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר 
Sense: the king of Elam defeated by Abraham.
הַמְּלָכִ֖ים  the  kings 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  who  [were] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אִתּ֑וֹ  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
אֶל־  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
עֵ֣מֶק  the  Valley 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵמֶק  
Sense: valley, vale, lowland, open country.
שָׁוֵ֔ה  of  Shaveh 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁוֵה  
Sense: the valley where the king of Sodom met Abram after a battle.
ה֖וּא  that  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
עֵ֥מֶק  Valley 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵמֶק  
Sense: valley, vale, lowland, open country.
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ  the  King's 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.