1 Chronicles 16:3 - On the noun אִישׁ

וַיְחַלֵּק֙ לְכׇל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵאִ֖ישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁ֑ה לְאִישׁ֙ כִּכַּר־לֶ֔חֶם וְאֶשְׁפָּ֖ר וַאֲשִׁישָֽׁה׃

And he distributed to the entire body of Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake

(The above rendering comes from the RJPS translation, an adaptation of the NJPS translation. Before accounting for this rendering, I will analyze the plain sense of the Hebrew term אִישׁ, by employing a situation-oriented construal as outlined in this introduction, pp. 11–16.)


On the meaning of the definite noun phrase כֹּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל here, see my comment at Deut 29:9. Unlike there, this instance is simpler, for it lacks the additional layer of the representation of the people by their leadership (which turns the expression כֹּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל into a metonym).

In the context of covenant ratification (as manifested by setting up the Ark of the Covenant in a central place of worship), the referring expression כֹּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל functions to collectively denote the entire people Israel, while situating that people in its covenant with God.


As for the translation, the NJPS “every person in Israel” is unlikely, as explained at Deut 29:9. The revised rendering reflects a situating approach, expressed in English idiom.