God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 4:8
8They brought Ishbosheth’s head to David at Hebron. “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you,” they told the king. “Today the Lord has given Your Royal Majesty revenge on Saul and his descendants.”
2 Samuel 4:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they brought the head of Ish–bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish–bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
- New International Version (NIV)They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)and brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”
Context of 2 Samuel 4:8
6when they came into the house as though they were going to get some flour. Instead, they stabbed him in the belly. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. 7(They had come into the house while Ishbosheth was sleeping on his bed in his bedroom. They stabbed him, killed him, and cut off his head.) They took his head and traveled all night along the road to the plains. They brought Ishbosheth’s head to David at Hebron. “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you,” they told the king. “Today the Lord has given Your Royal Majesty revenge on Saul and his descendants.” 9David responded to Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, 10“I once seized a man who told me that Saul had died. He thought he was bringing good news. I killed him in Ziklag to reward him for his news.
Read all of 2 Samuel 42 Samuel 4:8 word by word
וַ֠יָּבִאוּ אֶת־רֹ֨אשׁ אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֥שֶׁת אֶל־דָּוִד֮ חֶבְרוֹן֒ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הִנֵּֽה־רֹ֣אשׁ אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֗שֶׁת בֶּן־שָׁאוּל֙ אֹֽיִבְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן יְ֠הוָה לַֽאדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ נְקָמוֹת֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה מִשָּׁא֖וּל וּמִזַּרְעֽוֹ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And they broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- the headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
- of Ish–boshethאִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁת'îysh-bôsheth · Ish-boshethH378
- unto Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- to Hebronחֶבְרוֹןchebrôn · HebronH2275
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- to the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- thine enemyאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
- which soughtבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- thy lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
- and the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- hathנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- avengedנְקָמָהneqâmâh · vengeanceH5360
- my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- this dayיוֹםyôm · day: todayH3117
- and of his seedזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: childrenH2233
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 4:8
- 1 Samuel 18:11He raised the spear and thought, “I’ll nail David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice.
- 1 Samuel 19:2so he reported to David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you. Please be careful tomorrow morning. Go into hiding, and stay out of sight.
- 1 Samuel 20:1David fled from the pastures at Ramah, came to Jonathan, and asked, “What have I done? What crime am I guilty of? What sin have I committed against your father that he’s trying to kill me?”
- 1 Samuel 23:15David was afraid because Saul had come to kill him at Horesh in the desert of Ziph.
- 1 Samuel 25:29Even though someone pursued you and sought your life, your life is wrapped in the bundle of life which comes from the Lord your God. But he will dispose of the lives of your enemies like stones thrown from a sling.
- Psalms 63:9But those who try to destroy my life will go into the depths of the earth.
- Psalms 71:24My tongue will tell about your righteousness all day long, because those who wanted my downfall have been disgraced and put to shame.
- Matthew 2:20The angel said to him, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to Israel. Those who tried to kill the child are dead.”
- 2 Samuel 18:19Then Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, said, “Let me run and bring the king the good news that the Lord has freed him from his enemies.”
- 2 Samuel 22:48God gives me vengeance! He brings people under my authority.
- Luke 18:7Won’t God give his chosen people justice when they cry out to him for help day and night? Is he slow to help them?
- Revelation 6:10They cried out in a loud voice, “Holy and true Master, how long before you judge and take revenge on those living on earth who shed our blood?”
- Revelation 18:20“Gloat over it, heaven, God’s people, apostles, and prophets. God has condemned it for you.”
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 4:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8They brought the head - unto David - They thought, as did the poor lying Amalekite, to ingratiate themselves with David by this abominable act.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 A person may be glad to obtain his just wishes, and yet really regret the means by which he receives them. He may be sorry for the death of a person by which he is a gainer. These men shed innocent blood, from the basest motives. David justly executed vengeance upon them. He would not be beholden to any to help him by unlawful practices. God had helped him over many a difficulty, and through many a danger, therefore he depended upon him to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8your enemy: As far as we know, David never referred to Saul as an enemy. the LORD has granted vengeance: People who do wrong things often assume that God supports their plans and use this belief to justify their desire for power. However, David refused to reward acts of betrayal.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. They brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David ... and said, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth--Such bloody trophies of rebels and conspirators have always been acceptable to princes in the East, and the carriers have been liberally rewarded. Ish-bosheth being a usurper, the two assassins thought they were doing a meritorious service to David by removing the only existing obstacle to the union of the two kingdoms. 2Sa 4:10-12. David Causes Them to Be Put…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 4:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 4
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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