2 Samuel 16:21

2 Samuel 16:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
• New International Version (NIV)Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.”

Context of 2 Samuel 16:21

19Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, I will also serve in yours.” 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me your advice. What should we do?” Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God — such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

2 Samuel 16:21 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם בּ֚וֹא אֶל־פִּלַגְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִנִּ֖יחַ לִשְׁמ֣וֹר הַבָּ֑יִת וְשָׁמַ֤ע כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־נִבְאַ֣שְׁתָּ אֶת־אָבִ֔יךָ וְחָ֣זְק֔וּ יְדֵ֖י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתָּֽךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶל'ăchîythôphel · AhithophelH302
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
• Go inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• unto thy father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
• concubinesפִּלֶ֫גֶשׁpîylegesh pilegesh · concubineH6370
• which he hath leftיָנַחyânach · to restH3240
• to keepשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• and all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• shall hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• that thou art abhorredבָּאַשׁbâ'ash · to stinkH887
• then shall the handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• with thee be strongחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 16:21

• Genesis 6:4The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
• Genesis 38:16He went over to her and said, “Come, let me sleep with you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me for sleeping with me?”
• 2 Samuel 12:11“This is what the Lord says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them in broad daylight.
• 2 Samuel 15:16Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.
• 2 Samuel 20:3When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and placed them under guard. He provided for them, but he was not intimate with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.
• Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
• Leviticus 18:8You are not to have sex with your father’s wife; she is your father’s family.
• Leviticus 20:11If a man sleeps with his father’s wife, he has violated the intimacy that belongs to his father. Both of them must be put to death; their death is their own fault.
• 1 Kings 2:17He replied, “Please speak to King Solomon since he won’t turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”
• 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles — a man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
• Genesis 34:30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me, making me odious to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”
• 1 Samuel 13:4And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
• Genesis 49:3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the firstfruits of my virility, excelling in prominence, excelling in power.
• 1 Samuel 27:12So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself repulsive to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”
• 2 Samuel 2:7Therefore, be strong and valiant, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
• Zechariah 8:13As you have been a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Don’t be afraid; let your hands be strong.”

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Go in unto thy father's concubines - It may be remembered that David left ten of them behind to take care of the house, see 2 Samuel 15:16. Ahithophel advised this infernal measure, in order to prevent the possibility of a reconciliation between David and his son; thus was the prophecy to Nathan fulfilled, 2 Samuel 12:11. And this was probably transacted in the very same place where David's eye took the adulterous view of Bath-sheba; see 2 Samuel 11:2…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Taking possession of the harem was the most decided act of sovereignty (see 1 Kings 2:22). It was also the greatest offence and insult that could be offered. Such an act on Absalom‘s part made reconciliation impossible. A further motive has been found in this advice, namely, the desire on the part of Ahithophel to make David taste the bitterness of that cup which he had caused others (Uriah and all Bath-sheba‘s family) to drink, and receive the measure…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 The wisest counsellors of that age were Ahithophel and Hushai: Absalom thinks himself sure of success, when he has both; on them he relies, and consults not the ark, though he had that with him. But miserable counsellors were they both. Hushai would never counsel him to do wisely. Ahithophel counselled him to do wickedly; and so did as effectually betray him, as he did, who was designedly false to him: for they that advise men to sin…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Sleep with your father's concubines: A usurper (someone who takes power by force) would take a previous ruler's harem to strengthen his claim to the throne (see 2 Samuel 3:7). Absalom's action violated Deuteronomy 22:30.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Ahithophel said unto Absalom--This councillor saw that now the die was cast; half measures would be inexpedient. To cut off all possibility of reconciliation between the king and his rebellious son, he gave this atrocious advice regarding the treatment of the royal women who had been left in charge of the palace. Women, being held sacred, are generally left inviolate in the casualties of war. The history of the East affords only one parallel to this…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 16:21

• Ahithophel
• Incest
• Reverence

In the dictionaries

• Absalom
• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• King
• Prayer
• Abhor
• Bible, the
• David
• Heir

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16

• 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
• EGW Writings