New English Translation
2 Samuel 18:25
25So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said, “If he is by himself, he brings good news.” The runner came ever closer.
2 Samuel 18:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
- New International Version (NIV)The watchman called out to the king and reported it. The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” And the runner came closer and closer.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." And he drew nearer and nearer.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.
Context of 2 Samuel 18:25
23But he said, “Whatever happens, I want to go!” So Joab said to him, “Then go!” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain, and he passed the Cushite. 24Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate at the wall. When he looked, he saw a man running by himself. So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said, “If he is by himself, he brings good news.” The runner came ever closer. 26Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called out to the gatekeeper, “There is another man running by himself.” The king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27The watchman said, “It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and he comes with good news.”
Read all of 2 Samuel 182 Samuel 18:25 word by word
וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם־לְבַדּ֖וֹ בְּשׂוֹרָ֣ה בְּפִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְקָרֵֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the watchmanצָפָהtsâphâh · to watchH6822
- criedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call outH7121
- and toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- tidingsבְּשֹׂרָהbeώôrâh beώôrâh · good newsH1309
- in his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- And he cameיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- apaceהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- and drew nearקָרֵבqârêb · approachingH7131
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25If he be alone, there is tidings - That is, good tidings. For if the battle had been lost men would have been running in different directions through the country.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-33Verses 19-33 By directing David to give God thanks for his victory, Ahimaaz prepared him for the news of his son's death. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them. Some think David's wish arose from concern about Absalom's everlasting state; but he rather seems to have spoken without due thought. He is to be blamed for showing…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25If he is alone … he bears good news: A runner traveling alone was usually a messenger who carried official news.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-3224-32. David sat between the two gates--that is, in the tower-house on the wall that overhung the gate of Mahanaim. Near it was a watchtower, on which a sentinel was posted, as in times of war, to notify every occurrence. The delicacy of Ahimaaz' communication was made up by the unmistakable plainness of Cushi's. The death of Absalom was a heavy trial, and it is impossible not to sympathize with the outburst of feeling by which David showed that all…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries