The Meaning of Genesis 14:5 Explained

Genesis 14:5

KJV: And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

YLT: And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings who are with him, and they smite the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

Darby: And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-Kirjathaim,

ASV: And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And in the fourteenth  year  came  Chedorlaomer,  and the kings  that [were] with him, and smote  the Rephaims  in Ashteroth Karnaim,  and the Zuzims  in Ham,  and the Emims  in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 

What does Genesis 14:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 14:1-12 - Abram At Hebron Lot Taken Captive
Lot lifted up his eyes for himself, but when the last of Lot's followers had streamed out of the camp, God bade Abram lift up his eyes, not to choose, but to behold what God had chosen for him. He must first estimate his possessions, and then enjoy them. Let us count up our treasures in Christ, and use them. Lot grasped at and lost his all. Abram left and inherited all. Notice how prodigal God's provision is: "All the land"¦ for ever"¦ as the dust"¦ the length and breadth." It was a far cry from the valley of the Euphrates to Sodom, and the little confederate kings dared to rebel against Chedorlaomer, who swept over their lands like a sirocco, and marched up the valley of the Jordan, laden with booty, and carrying Lot. You cannot have the sweets of the world and miss its bitters. The path of separation is the only way of safety and peace! [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 14:5 mean?

And In the four and tenth year came Chedorlaomer and the kings that [were] with him and attacked - the Rephaites in in Ashteroth Karnaim and the Zuzites in Ham and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim
וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה בָּ֣א כְדָרְלָעֹ֗מֶר וְהַמְּלָכִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַיַּכּ֤וּ אֶת־ רְפָאִים֙ בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹ֣ת קַרְנַ֔יִם וְאֶת־ הַזּוּזִ֖ים בְּהָ֑ם וְאֵת֙ הָֽאֵימִ֔ים בְּשָׁוֵ֖ה קִרְיָתָֽיִם

וּבְאַרְבַּע֩  And  In  the  four 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Number, feminine singular construct
Root: אַרְבַּע  
Sense: four.
עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה  and  tenth 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: עָשָׂר 
Sense: ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers).
שָׁנָ֜ה  year 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
בָּ֣א  came 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
כְדָרְלָעֹ֗מֶר  Chedorlaomer 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר 
Sense: the king of Elam defeated by Abraham.
וְהַמְּלָכִים֙  and  the  kings 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אִתּ֔וֹ  [were]  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
וַיַּכּ֤וּ  and  attacked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
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.
רְפָאִים֙  the  Rephaites 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: רְפָאִים 
Sense: giants, Rephaim.
קַרְנַ֔יִם  in  Ashteroth  Karnaim 
Parse: Preposition, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם  
Sense: a city in Bashan east of the Jordan given to Manasseh.
הַזּוּזִ֖ים  the  Zuzites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: זוּזִים  
Sense: an ancient people of uncertain origin, perhaps, inhabitants of ancient Ammon east of the Jordan.
בְּהָ֑ם  in  Ham 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: הָם  
Sense: the place where Chedorlaomer and his allies smote the Zuzim, probably in the territory of the Ammonites, east of the Jordan; site uncertain.
הָֽאֵימִ֔ים  the  Emites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֵימִים  
Sense: ancient inhabitants of Moab.
בְּשָׁוֵ֖ה  in  Shaveh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׁוֵה  
Sense: the valley where the king of Sodom met Abram after a battle.
קִרְיָתָֽיִם  Kiriathaim 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: קִרְיָתַיִם  
Sense: a city east of the Jordan in Moab.