2 Samuel

2 Samuel 14:4–11

4When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”

5“What troubles you?” the king asked her.

“Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead. 6And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. 7Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”

8“Go home,” the king said to the woman, “and I will give orders on your behalf.”

9But the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me and on my father’s house, and may the king and his throne be guiltless.”

10“If anyone speaks to you,” said the king, “bring him to me, and he will not trouble you again!”

11“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!”

“As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

Read all of 2 Samuel 14

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Samuel 14:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When the womanהָאִשָּׁ֤הhā·’iš·šāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
from Tekoaהַתְּקֹעִית֙hat·tə·qō·‘îṯArticle; Noun - proper - feminine singularH8621 Tekoite
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
she fellוַתִּפֹּ֧לwat·tip·pōlConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH5307 fall, lie
facedownאַפֶּ֛יהָ’ap·pe·hāNoun - masculine dual construct; third person feminine singularH639 nostril, nose, face, anger
in homageוַתִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּwat·tiš·tā·ḥūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH7812 bow down
and saidוַתֹּ֖אמֶרwat·tō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
Help meהוֹשִׁ֥עָהhō·wō·ši·‘āhVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH3467 deliver
O kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃סham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king

2 Samuel 14:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Whatמַה־mah-InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
troubles youלָּ֑ךְlāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
askedוַיֹּֽאמֶר־way·yō·mer-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
herלָ֥הּlāhPreposition; third person feminine singular
Indeedאֲבָ֛ל’ă·ḇālAdverbH61 verily, of a truth
she saidוַתֹּ֗אמֶרwat·tō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
Iאָ֖נִי’ā·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
a widowאַלְמָנָ֥ה’al·mā·nāhNoun - feminine singularH490 widow
for my husbandאִישִֽׁי׃’î·šîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH376 man
is deadוַיָּ֥מָתway·yā·māṯConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die

2 Samuel 14:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And your maidservantוּלְשִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ū·lə·šip̄·ḥā·ṯə·ḵāConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH8198 maid, maid-servant
had twoשְׁנֵ֣יšə·nêNumber - masculine dual constructH8147 two
sonsבָנִ֔יםḇā·nîmNoun - masculine pluralH1121 son
were fightingוַיִּנָּצ֤וּway·yin·nā·ṣūConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5327 struggle
in the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֔הbaś·śā·ḏehPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH7704 id.
with noוְאֵ֥יןwə·’ênConjunctive waw; AdverbH369 nothing, nought
one to separateמַצִּ֖ילmaṣ·ṣîlVerb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularH5337 strip, plunder
themבֵּֽינֵיהֶ֑םbê·nê·hemPreposition; third person masculine pluralH996 interval, space between
and oneהָאֶחָ֛דhā·’e·ḥāḏArticle; Number - masculine singularH259 one
struckוַיַּכּ֧וֹway·yak·kōwConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH5221 smite
the otherהָאֶחָ֖דhā·’e·ḥāḏArticle; Number - masculine singularH259 one
and killedוַיָּ֥מֶתway·yā·meṯConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
himאֹתֽוֹ׃’ō·ṯōwDirect object marker; third person masculine singularH853 mark of the accusative

2 Samuel 14:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Nowוְהִנֵּה֩wə·hin·nêhConjunctive waw; InterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
the wholeכָֽל־ḵālNoun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
clanהַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֜הham·miš·pā·ḥāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH4940 clan
has risen upקָ֨מָהqā·māhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
againstעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
your maidservantשִׁפְחָתֶ֗ךָšip̄·ḥā·ṯe·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH8198 maid, maid-servant
and saidוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙way·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
Hand overתְּנִ֣י׀tə·nîVerb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singularH5414 give, put, set
the one who struck downמַכֵּ֣הmak·kêhVerb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular constructH5221 smite
his brotherאָחִ֗יו’ā·ḥîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
that we may put him to deathוּנְמִתֵ֙הוּ֙ū·nə·mi·ṯê·hūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural; third person masculine singularH4191 die
for the lifeבְּנֶ֤פֶשׁbə·ne·p̄ešPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
of the brotherאָחִיו֙’ā·ḥîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
he killedהָרָ֔גhā·rāḡVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH2026 kill, slay
Then we will cut offוְנַשְׁמִ֖ידָהwə·naš·mî·ḏāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralH8045 be exterminated, destroyed
the heirהַיּוֹרֵ֑שׁhay·yō·w·rêšArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH3423 take possession of, inherit, dispossess
as wellגַּ֣םgamConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
So they would extinguishוְכִבּ֗וּwə·ḵib·būConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH3518 be quenched, extinguished, go out
my one remainingנִשְׁאָ֔רָהniš·’ā·rāhVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH7604 remain, be left over
emberגַּֽחַלְתִּי֙ga·ḥal·tîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH1513 ember
by notלְבִלְתִּ֧יlə·ḇil·tîPreposition-lH1115 not, except
preservingשׂוּםśūmVerb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7760 put, place, set
my husband’sלְאִישִׁ֛יlə·’î·šîPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH376 man
nameשֵׁ֥םšêmNoun - masculine singularH8034 name
or posterityוּשְׁאֵרִ֖יתū·šə·’ê·rîṯConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH7611 rest, residue, remnant, remainder
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the earthהָאֲדָמָֽה׃פhā·’ă·ḏā·māhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH127 ground, land

2 Samuel 14:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Goלְכִ֣יlə·ḵîVerb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singularH1980 go, come, walk
homeלְבֵיתֵ֑ךְlə·ḇê·ṯêḵPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singularH1004 house
the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the womanהָאִשָּׁ֖הhā·’iš·šāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
and Iוַאֲנִ֖יwa·’ă·nîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
will give ordersאֲצַוֶּ֥ה’ă·ṣaw·wehVerb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
on your behalfעָלָֽיִךְ׃‘ā·lā·yiḵPreposition; second person feminine singularH5921 height

2 Samuel 14:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But the womanהָאִשָּׁ֤הhā·’iš·šāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
of Tekoaהַתְּקוֹעִית֙hat·tə·qō·w·‘îṯArticle; Noun - proper - feminine singularH8621 Tekoite
saidוַתֹּ֜אמֶרwat·tō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
My lordאֲדֹנִ֥י’ă·ḏō·nîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH113 lord
the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
may any blame beהֶעָוֺ֖ןhe·‘ā·wōnArticle; Noun - common singularH5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
on meעָלַ֞י‘ā·layPreposition; first person common singularH5921 height
and onוְעַל־wə·‘al-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5921 height
my father’sאָבִ֑י’ā·ḇîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1 father
houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
and may the kingוְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְwə·ham·me·leḵConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
and his throneוְכִסְא֖וֹwə·ḵis·’ōwConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3678 seat
guiltlessנָקִֽי׃סnā·qîAdjective - masculine singularH5355 clean, free from, exempt

2 Samuel 14:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
If anyone speaksהַֽמְדַבֵּ֤רham·ḏab·bêrArticle; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularH1696 speak
to youאֵלַ֙יִךְ֙’ê·la·yiḵPreposition; second person feminine singularH413 motion to
saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
bring himוַֽהֲבֵאת֣וֹwa·hă·ḇê·ṯōwConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular; third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
to meאֵלַ֔י’ê·layPreposition; first person common singularH413 motion to
and he will notוְלֹֽא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
troubleלָגַ֥עַתlā·ḡa·‘aṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5060 touch, reach, strike
youבָּֽךְ׃bāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
againיֹסִ֥יףyō·sîp̄Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3254 add

2 Samuel 14:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Pleaseנָ֨אnāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
she repliedוַתֹּאמֶר֩wat·tō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
may the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
invokeיִזְכָּר־yiz·kār-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH2142 remember
the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
your Godאֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH430 God
to prevent the avengerגֹּאֵ֤לgō·’êlVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructH1350 redeem, act as kinsman
of bloodהַדָּם֙had·dāmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1818 blood
from increasingמֵהַרְבִּיתmē·har·bīṯPreposition-m; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH7235 be, or become, much, many, great
the devastationלְשַׁחֵ֔תlə·ša·ḥêṯPreposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructH7843 go to ruin (?)
so that my sonבְּנִ֑יbə·nîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1121 son
may notוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
be destroyedיַשְׁמִ֖ידוּyaš·mî·ḏūVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH8045 be exterminated, destroyed
As surely as the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
livesחַי־ḥay-Noun - masculine singularH2416 alive, living
he vowedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙way·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
notאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
a hairמִשַּׂעֲרַ֥תmiś·śa·‘ă·raṯPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular constructH8185 a hair
of your son’s headבְּנֵ֖ךְbə·nêḵNoun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singularH1121 son
will fallיִפֹּ֛לyip·pōlVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5307 fall, lie
to the groundאָֽרְצָה׃’ā·rə·ṣāhNoun - feminine singular; third person feminine singularH776 earth, land

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

2 Samuel 14:4 2 Kings 6:26–28 · 1 Samuel 25:23 · 2 Samuel 1:2

2 Samuel 14:7 Numbers 35:19 · Matthew 21:38

2 Samuel 14:8 Proverbs 18:13

2 Samuel 14:9 1 Samuel 25:24 · 1 Kings 2:33 · Matthew 27:25

2 Samuel 14:11 1 Samuel 14:45 · Matthew 10:30 · Numbers 35:19 · Deuteronomy 19:4–10 · 1 Kings 1:52 · Numbers 35:21 · Acts 27:34

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.