2 Samuel 15:4

2 Samuel 15:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
• New International Version (NIV)And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Absalom would say, "Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”

Context of 2 Samuel 15:4

2He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, “What city are you from?” If he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” 3Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.” He added, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice.” 5When a person approached to pay homage to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him. 6Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 15:4 word by word

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מִי־יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי שֹׁפֵ֖ט בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְעָלַ֗י יָב֥וֹא כָּל־אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִהְיֶה־לּוֹ־רִ֥יב וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• moreover, Oh that I were madeשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• in the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• that every manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• which hath any suitרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
• or causeמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
• might comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• unto me, and I would do him justiceצָדֵקtsâdaq · to justifyH6663

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 15:4

• Proverbs 25:6Don’t boast about yourself before the king, and don’t stand in the place of the great;
• Luke 14:9The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.
• Proverbs 27:2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth — a stranger, and not your own lips.
• 2 Peter 2:19They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15:4

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-19Absalom revolted against David eleven years after Amnon violated Tamar (compare 2 Samuel 13:23, 38; 14:28; 15:7). This was around the twenty-fifth year of David's thirty-three-year rule in Jerusalem.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-62-6. Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate--Public business in the East is always transacted early in the morning--the kings sitting an hour or more to hear causes or receive petitions, in a court held anciently, and in many places still, in the open air at the city gateway; so that, as those whose circumstances led them to wait on King David required to be in attendance on his morning levees, Absalom had to rise up early and stand…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 15:4

• Absalom
• Ambition
• Candidate
• Demagogism
• Diplomacy
• Electioneering
• Flattery
• Politics
• Popularity
• Usurpation

In the dictionaries

• Absalom
• Appoint
• Barefoot
• Hear
• Prepare
• Steal
• Turn
• Bible, the
• David
• Decision

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 15

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings