Christian Standard Bible
2 Samuel 18:25
25He called out and told the king. The king said, “If he’s alone, he bears good news.” As the first runner came closer,
2 Samuel 18:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
- New International Version (NIV)The watchman called out to the king and reported it. The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” And the runner came closer and closer.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." And he drew nearer and nearer.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.
Context of 2 Samuel 18:25
23“No matter what, I want to run!” “Then run!” Joab said to him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite. 24David was sitting between the city gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the city gate and over to the wall. The watchman looked out and saw a man running alone. He called out and told the king. The king said, “If he’s alone, he bears good news.” As the first runner came closer, 26the watchman saw another man running. He called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” “This one is also bringing good news,” said the king. 27The watchman said, “The way the first man runs looks to me like the way Ahimaaz son of Zadok runs.” “This is a good man; he comes with good news,” the king commented.
Read all of 2 Samuel 182 Samuel 18:25 word by word
וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם־לְבַדּ֖וֹ בְּשׂוֹרָ֣ה בְּפִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְקָרֵֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the watchmanצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
- criedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call outH7121
- and toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- tidingsבְּשֹׂרָהbeώôrâh beώôrâh · good newsH1309
- in his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- And he cameיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- apaceהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- and drew nearקָרֵבqârêb · approachingH7131
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25If he be alone, there is tidings - That is, good tidings. For if the battle had been lost men would have been running in different directions through the country.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-33Verses 19-33 By directing David to give God thanks for his victory, Ahimaaz prepared him for the news of his son's death. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them. Some think David's wish arose from concern about Absalom's everlasting state; but he rather seems to have spoken without due thought. He is to be blamed for showing…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25If he is alone … he bears good news: A runner traveling alone was usually a messenger who carried official news.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-3224-32. David sat between the two gates--that is, in the tower-house on the wall that overhung the gate of Mahanaim. Near it was a watchtower, on which a sentinel was posted, as in times of war, to notify every occurrence. The delicacy of Ahimaaz' communication was made up by the unmistakable plainness of Cushi's. The death of Absalom was a heavy trial, and it is impossible not to sympathize with the outburst of feeling by which David showed that all…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18
- 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
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