2 Samuel

2 Samuel 3:6–12

6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. 7Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

8Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! 9May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

11And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.

12Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

Read all of 2 Samuel 3

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 3:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Duringוַיְהִ֗יway·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the warהַמִּלְחָמָ֔הham·mil·ḥā·māhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH4421 battle, war
betweenבֵּ֚יןbênPrepositionH996 interval, space between
the houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of Saulשָׁא֔וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
and the houseבֵּ֣יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of Davidדָּוִ֑דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
Abnerוְאַבְנֵ֛רwə·’aḇ·nêrConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH74 Abner
had continued to strengthenמִתְחַזֵּ֖קmiṯ·ḥaz·zêqVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularH2388 be or grow firm, strong, strengthen
in the houseבְּבֵ֥יתbə·ḇêṯPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of Saulשָׁאֽוּל׃šā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul

2 Samuel 3:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now Saulוּלְשָׁא֣וּלū·lə·šā·’ūlConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
had a concubineפִּלֶ֔גֶשׁpi·le·ḡešNoun - feminine singularH6370 concubine
namedוּשְׁמָ֖הּū·šə·māhConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singularH8034 name
Rizpahרִצְפָּ֣הriṣ·pāhNoun - proper - feminine singularH7532 Ritspah
the daughterבַת־ḇaṯ-Noun - feminine singular constructH1323 daughter
of Aiahאַיָּ֑ה’ay·yāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH345 Ajah
So Ish-bosheth questionedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙way·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Abnerאַבְנֵ֔ר’aḇ·nêrNoun - proper - masculine singularH74 Abner
Whyמַדּ֥וּעַmad·dū·a‘InterrogativeH4069 wherefore?
did you sleep withבָּ֖אתָהbā·ṯāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
my father’sאָבִֽי׃’ā·ḇîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1 father
concubineפִּילֶ֥גֶשׁpî·le·ḡešNoun - feminine singular constructH6370 concubine

2 Samuel 3:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Abnerלְאַבְנֵ֨רlə·’aḇ·nêrPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH74 Abner
was furiousוַיִּחַר֩way·yi·ḥarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2734 burn, be kindled
overעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Ish-bosheth’sבֹּ֗שֶׁתbō·šeṯNoun - proper - masculine singularH378 Ishbosheth
accusationדִּבְרֵ֣יdiḇ·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH1697 speech, word
Am Iאָנֹ֘כִי֮’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
the headהֲרֹ֨אשׁhă·rōšArticle; Noun - masculine singular constructH7218 head
of a dogכֶּ֥לֶבke·leḇNoun - masculine singularH3611 dog
thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
belongs to Judahלִֽיהוּדָה֒lî·hū·ḏāhPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3063 Judah
he askedוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙way·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
All this timeהַיּ֨וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
I have been loyalחֶ֜סֶדḥe·seḏNoun - masculine singularH2617 goodness, kindness
toעִם־‘im-PrepositionH5973 with
the houseבֵּ֣ית׀bêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of your fatherאָבִ֗יךָ’ā·ḇî·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1 father
Saulשָׁא֣וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
his brothersאֶחָיו֙’e·ḥāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
and toוְאֶל־wə·’el-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH413 motion to
his friendsמֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּmê·rê·‘ê·hūNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4828 friend, companion
I have notוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
delivered youהִמְצִיתִ֖ךָhim·ṣî·ṯi·ḵāVerb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular; second person masculine singularH4672 attain to, find
into the handבְּיַד־bə·yaḏ-Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
of Davidדָּוִ֑דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
but nowהַיּֽוֹם׃hay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
you accuseוַתִּפְקֹ֥דwat·tip̄·qōḏConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singularH6485 attend to, visit, muster, appoint
meעָלַ֛י‘ā·layPreposition; first person common singularH5921 height
of wrongdoingעֲוֺ֥ן‘ă·wōnNoun - common singular constructH5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
with this womanהָאִשָּׁ֖הhā·’iš·šāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female

2 Samuel 3:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
May Godאֱלֹהִים֙’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
punishכֹּֽה־kōh-AdverbH3541 thus, here
Abnerלְאַבְנֵ֔רlə·’aḇ·nêrPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH74 Abner
and ever soוְכֹ֖הwə·ḵōhConjunctive waw; AdverbH3541 thus, here
severelyיֹסִ֣יףyō·sîp̄Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3254 add
ifכִּ֗יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
I do not doאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־’e·‘ĕ·śeh-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH6213 do, make
for Davidלְדָוִ֔דlə·ḏā·wiḏPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
whatכַּאֲשֶׁ֨רka·’ă·šerPreposition-k; Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
has sworn to himנִשְׁבַּ֤עniš·ba‘Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH7650 swear

2 Samuel 3:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
to transferלְהַֽעֲבִ֥ירlə·ha·‘ă·ḇîrPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the kingdomהַמַּמְלָכָ֖הham·mam·lā·ḵāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH4467 kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign
from the houseמִבֵּ֣יתmib·bêṯPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of Saulשָׁא֑וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
and to establishוּלְהָקִ֞יםū·lə·hā·qîmConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH6965 arise, stand up, stand
the throneכִּסֵּ֣אkis·sêNoun - masculine singular constructH3678 seat
of Davidדָוִ֗דḏā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
overעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
and Judahיְהוּדָ֔הyə·hū·ḏāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3063 Judah
from Danמִדָּ֖ןmid·dānPreposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1835 Dan
toוְעַד־wə·‘aḏ-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
Beershebaשָֽׁבַע׃šā·ḇa‘Noun - proper - feminine singularH884 Beersheba

2 Samuel 3:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And for fearמִיִּרְאָת֖וֹmî·yir·’ā·ṯōwPreposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH3372 fear
Ish-bosheth did not dareיָכֹ֣לyā·ḵōlVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
to sayלְהָשִׁ֥יבlə·hā·šîḇPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH7725 turn back, return
another wordדָּבָ֑רdā·ḇārNoun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
toאַבְנֵ֖ר’aḇ·nêrNoun - proper - masculine singularH74 Abner

2 Samuel 3:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Abnerאַבְנֵ֨ר’aḇ·nêrNoun - proper - masculine singularH74 Abner
sentוַיִּשְׁלַח֩way·yiš·laḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7971 send
messengersמַלְאָכִ֧ים׀mal·’ā·ḵîmNoun - masculine pluralH4397 messenger
on his behalfתַּחַתוֹta·ḥa·ṯōPreposition; third person masculine singularH8478 the under part
to sayלֵאמֹ֖רlê·mōrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Davidדָּוִ֛דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
To whomלְמִי־lə·mî-Preposition-l; InterrogativeH4310 who?
the landאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣNoun - feminine singularH776 earth, land
Makeכָּרְתָ֤הkā·rə·ṯāhVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH3772 cut off, cut down
your covenantבְרִֽיתְךָ֙ḇə·rî·ṯə·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1285 covenant
with meאִתִּ֔י’it·tîPreposition; first person common singularH854 with
and surelyוְהִנֵּה֙wə·hin·nêhConjunctive waw; InterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
my handיָדִ֣יyā·ḏîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH3027 hand
with youעִמָּ֔ךְ‘im·māḵPreposition; second person feminine singularH5973 with
to bringלְהָסֵ֥בlə·hā·sêḇPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH5437 turn about, go around, surround
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
to youאֵלֶ֖יךָ’ê·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH413 motion to

Cross-references

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

2 Samuel 3:6 2 Samuel 2:8–9

2 Samuel 3:7 2 Samuel 21:8–11

2 Samuel 3:8 2 Samuel 9:8 · 2 Samuel 16:9

2 Samuel 3:9 1 Samuel 15:28 · 1 Kings 19:2 · 1 Samuel 28:17 · Ruth 1:17 · 1 Chronicles 12:23

2 Samuel 3:10 Judges 20:1 · 1 Samuel 3:20

2 Samuel 3:12 1 Chronicles 12:38–40

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.