2 Samuel

2 Samuel 21:1–6

1During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD.

And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

2At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)

3So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”

4The Gibeonites said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel for us.”

“Whatever you ask, I will do for you,” he replied.

5And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel, 6let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang thema before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.”

“I will give them to you,” said the king.

Footnotes

  • a 21:6 Or expose them or execute them; similarly in verse 9

Read all of 2 Samuel 21

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 21:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
During the reignבִּימֵ֨יbî·mêPreposition-b; Noun - masculine plural constructH3117 day
of Davidדָוִ֜דḏā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
there wasוַיְהִ֣יway·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a famineרָעָב֩rā·‘āḇNoun - masculine singularH7458 famine, hunger
for threeשָׁלֹ֣שׁšā·lōšNumber - feminine singularH7969 a three, triad
successive yearsשָׁנִ֗יםšā·nîmNoun - feminine pluralH8141 year
and Davidדָּוִ֖דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
soughtוַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁway·ḇaq·qêšConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1245 seek
the faceפְּנֵ֣יpə·nêNoun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
of the LORDיְהוָ֑הסyə·h·wå̄·hsNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
And the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
It is because ofאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the bloodהַדָּמִ֔יםhad·dā·mîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1818 blood
shed by Saulשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
andוְאֶל־wə·’el-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH413 motion to
his familyבֵּ֣יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
becauseאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
he killedהֵמִ֖יתhê·mîṯVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
the Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִֽים׃hag·giḇ·‘ō·nîmArticle; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH1393 Gibonite

2 Samuel 21:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
At thisהַמֶּ֛לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
Davidהַמֶּ֛לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
summonedוַיִּקְרָ֥אway·yiq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
the Gibeonitesוְהַגִּבְעֹנִ֞יםwə·hag·giḇ·‘ō·nîmConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH1393 Gibonite
and spokeוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
to themאֲלֵיהֶ֑ם’ă·lê·hemPreposition; third person masculine pluralH413 motion to
Now the Gibeonitesלַגִּבְעֹנִ֖יםlag·giḇ·‘ō·nîmPreposition-l, Article; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH1393 Gibonite
wereהֵ֗מָּהhêm·māhPronoun - third person masculine pluralH1992 they, them
notלֹ֣אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
Israelitesמִבְּנֵ֧יmib·bə·nêPreposition-m; Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
butכִּ֚יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
a remnantמִיֶּ֣תֶרmî·ye·ṯerPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH3499 remainder, excellence, excess
of the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֔יhā·’ĕ·mō·rîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH567 Amorites
The Israelitesוּבְנֵ֤יū·ḇə·nêConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
had taken an oath concerning themנִשְׁבְּע֣וּniš·bə·‘ūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH7650 swear
but in his zealבְּקַנֹּאת֥וֹbə·qan·nō·ṯōwPreposition-b; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH7065 be jealous, zealous
for Israelלִבְנֵֽי־liḇ·nê-Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
and Judahוִיהוּדָֽה׃wî·hū·ḏāhConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3063 Judah
Saulשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
had soughtוַיְבַקֵּ֤שׁway·ḇaq·qêšConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1245 seek
to kill themלְהַכֹּתָ֔םlə·hak·kō·ṯāmPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person masculine pluralH5221 smite

2 Samuel 21:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Davidדָּוִד֙dā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
askedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
the Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִ֔יםhag·giḇ·‘ō·nîmArticle; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH1393 Gibonite
Whatמָ֥הmāhInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
shall I doאֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה’e·‘ĕ·śehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
for youלָכֶ֑םlā·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine plural
Howוּבַמָּ֣הū·ḇam·māhConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
can I make amendsאֲכַפֵּ֔ר’ă·ḵap·pêrVerb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularH3722 cover over (figurative), pacify, make propitiation
so that you may blessוּבָרְכ֖וּū·ḇā·rə·ḵūConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine pluralH1288 kneel, bless
the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֥תna·ḥă·laṯNoun - feminine singular constructH5159 possession, property, inheritance
of the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh

2 Samuel 21:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִ֗יםhag·giḇ·‘ō·nîmArticle; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH1393 Gibonite
saidוַיֹּ֧אמְרוּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
to himל֣וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
We need noאֵֽין־’ên-AdverbH369 nothing, nought
silverכֶּ֤סֶףke·sep̄Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money
or goldוְזָהָב֙wə·zā·hāḇConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH2091 gold
fromעִם־‘im-PrepositionH5973 with
Saulשָׁא֣וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
orוְעִם־wə·‘im-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5973 with
his houseבֵּית֔וֹbê·ṯōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1004 house
norוְאֵֽין־wə·’ên-Conjunctive waw; AdverbH369 nothing, nought
should youאִ֖ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
put to deathלְהָמִ֣יתlə·hā·mîṯPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH4191 die
anyone in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbə·yiś·rā·’êlPreposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
for usלָ֥נוּlā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
Whateverמָֽה־māh-InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
youאַתֶּ֥ם’at·temPronoun - second person masculine pluralH859 thou
askוַיֹּ֛אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
I will doאֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה’e·‘ĕ·śehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
for youלָכֶֽם׃lā·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine plural
he repliedאֹמְרִ֖ים’ō·mə·rîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH559 utter, say

2 Samuel 21:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And they answeredוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙way·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
As for the manהָאִישׁ֙hā·’îšArticle; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
consumed usכִּלָּ֔נוּkil·lā·nūVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular; first person common pluralH3615 be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent
andוַאֲשֶׁ֖רwa·’ă·šerConjunctive waw; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
plottedדִּמָּה־dim·māh-Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1819 be like, resemble
against usלָ֑נוּlā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
to exterminate usנִשְׁמַ֕דְנוּniš·maḏ·nūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common pluralH8045 be exterminated, destroyed
from existingמֵֽהִתְיַצֵּ֖בmê·hiṯ·yaṣ·ṣêḇPreposition-m; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive constructH3320 set or station oneself, take one's stand
within anyבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
borderגְּבֻ֥לgə·ḇulNoun - masculine singular constructH1366 border, boundary, territory
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel

2 Samuel 21:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
let sevenשִׁבְעָ֤הšiḇ·‘āhNumber - masculine singularH7651 seven
of his male descendantsמִבָּנָ֔יוmib·bā·nāwPreposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH1121 son
be deliveredיְנָתָןyə·nå̄·ṯå̄nVerb - QalPass - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
to usלָ֜נוּlā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
so that we may hang themוְהוֹקַֽעֲנוּם֙wə·hō·w·qa·‘ă·nūmConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural; third person masculine pluralH3363 be dislocated, alienated
before the LORDלַֽיהוָ֔הYah·wehPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
at Gibeahבְּגִבְעַ֥תbə·ḡiḇ·‘aṯPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH1390 Gibah
of Saulשָׁא֖וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
the chosenבְּחִ֣ירbə·ḥîrAdjective - masculine singular constructH972 chosen
of the LORDיְהוָ֑הסyə·h·wå̄·hsNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
Iאֲנִ֥י’ă·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
will give them to youאֶתֵּֽן׃’et·tênVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH5414 give, put, set
saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king

Cross-references

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

2 Samuel 21:1 Joshua 7:11–12

2 Samuel 21:2 Joshua 9:3–21

2 Samuel 21:3 Hebrews 9:22 · 2 Samuel 20:19 · 1 Samuel 26:19

2 Samuel 21:5 2 Samuel 21:1

2 Samuel 21:6 1 Samuel 10:24 · Numbers 25:4–5 · 1 Samuel 10:26 · 1 Samuel 11:4

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.