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

2Absalom used to get up early and stand by the road leading to the city gate. When anyone had a case to be tried by King David, Absalom would ask, “Which city are you from?” After the person had told him which tribe in Israel he was from, 3Absalom would say, “Your case is good and proper, but the king hasn’t appointed anyone to hear it.” He would add, “I wish someone would make me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a case to be tried could come to me, and I would make sure that he got justice.” 5When anyone approached him and bowed down, Absalom would reach out, take hold of him, and kiss him. 6This is what he did for all Israelites who came to the king to have him try their case. So Absalom stole the hearts of the people 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 25:6Do not brag about yourself in front of a king or stand in the spot that belongs to notable people,
• Luke 14:9Then your host would say to you, ‘Give this person your place.’ Embarrassed, you would have to take the place of least honor.
• Proverbs 27:2Praise should come from another person and not from your own mouth, from a stranger and not from your own lips.
• 2 Peter 2:19They promise these people freedom, but they themselves are slaves to corruption. A person is a slave to whatever he gives in to.

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