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.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, 'Come here, that I may speak to you.'"
• 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.’ ”

Context of 2 Samuel 20:16

14Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth Maacah and all the Berite region. When they had assembled, they too joined him. 15So Joab’s men came and laid siege against him in Abel of Beth Maacah. They prepared a siege ramp outside the city which stood against its outer rampart. As all of Joab’s soldiers were trying to break through the wall so that it would collapse, a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen up! Listen up! Tell Joab, ‘Come near so that I may speak to you.’” 17When he approached her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He replied, “I am.” She said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” He said, “Go ahead. I’m listening.” 18She said, “In the past they would always say, ‘Let them inquire in Abel,’ and that is how they settled things.

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 14:2So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He told her, “Pretend to be in mourning and put on garments for mourning. Don’t anoint yourself with oil. Instead, act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for some time.
• 1 Samuel 25:3The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was both wise and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.
• Ecclesiastes 9:14There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works 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