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.”
• 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.’ ”
• New Living Translation (NLT)But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you.”

Context of 2 Samuel 20:16

14And Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah, and all the Bichrites assembled and followed him in. 15And all the men who were with Joab came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah. They cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart, and they were battering the wall to throw it down. Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, 'Come here, that I may speak to you.'" 17And he came near her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your servant." And he answered, "I am listening." 18Then she said, "They used to say in former times, 'Let them but ask counsel at Abel,' and so they settled a matter.

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 14:2And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, "Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead.
• 1 Samuel 25:3Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; 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, building great siegeworks 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