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

14Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah. All the Berites came together and followed him. 15Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel of Beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the outer wall of the city. While all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to make it collapse, a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here and let me speak with him.” 17When he had come near her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said to him. He answered, “I’m listening.” 18She said, “In the past they used to say, ‘Seek counsel in Abel,’ and that’s how they settled disputes.

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 someone to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Pretend to be in mourning: dress in mourning clothes and don’t put on any oil. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.
• 1 Samuel 25:3The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name, Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, but the man, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.
• Ecclesiastes 9:14There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works 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