2 Samuel 20:16

2 Samuel 20:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
• New International Version (NIV)a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, 'Come here, that I may speak to you.'"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby, that I may speak with you.’ ”

Context of 2 Samuel 20:16

14Now Joab went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they assembled and also went after Sheba. 15And the army of Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth-maacah, and they built up an assault ramp against the city, and it stood against the outer rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction to make the wall fall. Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Tell Joab, ‘Come here so that I may speak to you.’ ” 17So when he approached her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your maidservant.” He answered, “I am listening.” 18Then she said, “In the past people used to say, ‘They will certainly ask advice at Abel,’ and so they settled the dispute.

2 Samuel 20:16 word by word

וַתִּקְרָ֛א אִשָּׁ֥ה חֲכָמָ֖ה מִן־הָעִ֑יר שִׁמְע֤וּ שִׁמְעוּ֙ אִמְרוּ־נָ֣א אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב קְרַ֣ב עַד־הֵ֔נָּה וַאֲדַבְּרָ֖ה אֵלֶֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then criedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• a wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• out of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• Hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I pray you, unto Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• Come nearקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
• hither, that I may speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 20:16

• 2 Samuel 14:2So Joab sent word to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there and told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning clothes, and do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has for many days been in mourning for the dead.
• 1 Samuel 25:3(now the man’s name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was intelligent and beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings; he was a Calebite).
• Ecclesiastes 9:14There was a little city with few men in it and a great king came against it and besieged it and built great battlements against it.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 20:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16A wise woman - She was probably governess.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-22Verses 14-22 Justly is that place attacked, which dares to harbour a traitor; nor will the heart fare better which indulges rebellious lusts, that will not have Christ to reign over them. A discreet woman, by her prudent management, satisfied Joab, and yet saved the city. Wisdom is not confined to rank or sex; it consists not in deep knowledge; but in understanding how to act as matters arise, that troubles may be turned away and benefits secured. A great…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16wise woman: Compare 2 Samuel 14:2.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Then cried a wise woman--The appeal of this woman, who, like Deborah, was probably a judge or governess of the place, was a strong one.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 20:16

• Abel-Beth-Maachah
• Abishai
• Diplomacy
• Joab
• Politics
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Joab
• Heed
• Sheba
• Wont
• Amasa
• Bible, the
• David
• Israel, History of
• Judah, Kingdom of
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary