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

2He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. 3Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!” 5When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. 6Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all 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 25:6Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great.
• Luke 14:9The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!
• Proverbs 27:2Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.
• 2 Peter 2:19They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

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