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

2Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, “What city are you from?” The person would answer, “I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.” Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.” 5When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. 6Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens 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 honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
• Luke 14:9So the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then, ashamed, you will begin to move to the least important place.
• Proverbs 27:2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
• 2 Peter 2:19Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.

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