2 Samuel

2 Samuel 4:5–12

5Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap. 6They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away.

7They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah. 8They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

9But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 10when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news! 11How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”

12So David commanded his young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron, but they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

Read all of 2 Samuel 4

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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 4:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now Rechabרֵכָ֣בrê·ḵāḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH7394 Rekab
and Baanahוּבַעֲנָ֔הū·ḇa·‘ă·nāhConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1196 Baanah
the sonsבְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
of Rimmonרִמּ֤וֹןrim·mō·wnNoun - proper - masculine singularH7417 Rimmon
the Beerothiteהַבְּאֵֽרֹתִי֙hab·bə·’ê·rō·ṯîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH886 Beerothite
set outוַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּway·yê·lə·ḵūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1980 go, come, walk
and arrivedוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙way·yā·ḇō·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
atאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the houseבֵּ֖יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
of Ish-boshethבֹּ֑שֶׁתbō·šeṯNoun - proper - masculine singularH378 Ishbosheth
in the heatכְּחֹ֣םkə·ḥōmPreposition-k; Noun - masculine singular constructH2527 heat
of the dayהַיּ֔וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
while the kingוְה֣וּאwə·hūConjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
was taking his middayהַֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃haṣ·ṣā·ho·rā·yimArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH6672 midday, noon
napשֹׁכֵ֔בšō·ḵêḇVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7901 lie down

2 Samuel 4:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
They enteredבָּ֜אוּbā·’ūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
the interiorתּ֤וֹךְtō·wḵNoun - masculine singular constructH8432 midst
of the houseהַבַּ֙יִת֙hab·ba·yiṯArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1004 house
as if to getלֹקְחֵ֣יlō·qə·ḥêVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructH3947 take
some wheatחִטִּ֔יםḥiṭ·ṭîmNoun - feminine pluralH2406 wheat
and they stabbed himוַיַּכֻּ֖הוּway·yak·ku·hūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine singularH5221 smite
inאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the stomachהַחֹ֑מֶשׁha·ḥō·mešArticle; Noun - masculine singularH2570 belly
Then Rechabוְרֵכָ֛בwə·rê·ḵāḇConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH7394 Rekab
and his brotherאָחִ֖יו’ā·ḥîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
Baanahוּבַעֲנָ֥הū·ḇa·‘ă·nāhConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1196 Baanah
slipped awayנִמְלָֽטוּ׃nim·lā·ṭūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH4422 slip away

2 Samuel 4:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
They had enteredוַיָּבֹ֣אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
the houseהַבַּ֗יִתhab·ba·yiṯArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1004 house
while Ish-boshethוְהֽוּא־wə·hū-Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
was lyingשֹׁכֵ֤בšō·ḵêḇVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7901 lie down
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
his bedמִטָּתוֹ֙miṭ·ṭā·ṯōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4296 couch, bed
and having stabbedוַיַּכֻּ֙הוּ֙way·yak·ku·hūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine singularH5221 smite
and killed himוַיְמִתֻ֔הוּway·mi·ṯu·hūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine singularH4191 die
they beheadedוַיָּסִ֖ירוּway·yā·sî·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5493 turn aside
himרֹאשׁ֑וֹrō·šōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7218 head
tookוַיִּקְחוּ֙way·yiq·ḥūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH3947 take
his headרֹאשׁ֔וֹrō·šōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7218 head
and traveledוַיֵּֽלְכ֛וּway·yê·lə·ḵūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1980 go, come, walk
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
nightהַלָּֽיְלָה׃hal·lā·yə·lāhArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3915 twist, night, adversity
by wayדֶּ֥רֶךְde·reḵNoun - common singular constructH1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
of the Arabahהָעֲרָבָ֖הhā·‘ă·rā·ḇāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH6160 desert-plain, steppe

2 Samuel 4:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
They broughtוַ֠יָּבִאוּway·yā·ḇi·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
the headרֹ֨אשׁrōšNoun - masculine singular constructH7218 head
of Ish-boshethבֹּ֥שֶׁתbō·šeṯNoun - proper - masculine singularH378 Ishbosheth
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Davidדָּוִד֮dā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
at Hebronחֶבְרוֹן֒ḥeḇ·rō·wnNoun - proper - feminine singularH2275 Hebron
and saidוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙way·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
Here isהִנֵּֽה־hin·nêh-InterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
the headרֹ֣אשׁrōšNoun - masculine singular constructH7218 head
of Ish-boshethבֹּ֗שֶׁתbō·šeṯNoun - proper - masculine singularH378 Ishbosheth
sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Saulשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
your enemyאֹֽיִבְךָ֔’ō·yiḇ·ḵāVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH341 be hostile to
whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
soughtבִּקֵּ֖שׁbiq·qêšVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1245 seek
your lifeנַפְשֶׁ֑ךָnap̄·še·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
Todayהַיּ֣וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
the LORDיְ֠הוָהYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
has grantedוַיִּתֵּ֣ןway·yit·tênConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
vengeanceנְקָמוֹת֙nə·qā·mō·wṯNoun - feminine pluralH5360 vengeance
to my lordלַֽאדֹנִ֨יla·ḏō·nîPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH113 lord
the kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
against Saulמִשָּׁא֖וּלmiš·šā·’ūlPreposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
and his offspringוּמִזַּרְעֽוֹ׃סū·miz·zar·‘ōwConjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH2233 sowing, seed, offspring

2 Samuel 4:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But Davidדָּוִ֜דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
answeredוַיַּ֨עַןway·ya·‘anConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6030 answer, respond
Rechabרֵכָ֣ב׀rê·ḵāḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH7394 Rekab
andוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-Conjunctive waw; Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
his brotherאָחִ֗יו’ā·ḥîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
Baanahבַּעֲנָ֣הba·‘ă·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH1196 Baanah
the sonsבְּנֵ֛יbə·nêNoun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
of Rimmonרִמּ֥וֹןrim·mō·wnNoun - proper - masculine singularH7417 Rimmon
the Beerothiteהַבְּאֵֽרֹתִ֖יhab·bə·’ê·rō·ṯîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH886 Beerothite
As surely as the LORDיְהוָ֕הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
livesחַי־ḥay-Noun - masculine singularH2416 alive, living
whoאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
has redeemedפָּדָ֥הpā·ḏāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH6299 ransom
my lifeנַפְשִׁ֖יnap̄·šîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
from allמִכָּל־mik·kālPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
distressצָרָֽה׃ṣā·rāhNoun - feminine singularH6869 id.

2 Samuel 4:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
whenכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
someone toldהַמַּגִּיד֩ham·mag·gîḏArticle; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularH5046 be conspicuous
meלִ֨יlîPreposition; first person common singular
Lookהִנֵּה־hin·nêh-InterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
Saulשָׁא֗וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
is deadמֵ֣תmêṯVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
and thoughtבְּעֵינָ֔יוbə·‘ê·nāwPreposition-b; Noun - cdc; third person masculine singularH5869 eye
heוְהֽוּא־wə·hū-Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
wasהָיָ֤הhā·yāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a bearer of good newsכִמְבַשֵּׂר֙ḵim·ḇaś·śêrPreposition-k; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularH1319 bear tidings
I seizedוָאֹחֲזָ֣הwā·’ō·ḥă·zāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singularH270 grasp, take hold, take possession
himב֔וֹḇōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
and put him to deathוָאֶהְרְגֵ֖הוּwā·’eh·rə·ḡê·hūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person masculine singularH2026 kill, slay
at Ziklagבְּצִֽקְלָ֑גbə·ṣiq·lāḡPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH6860 Tsiklag, Tsikelag
Thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
was his rewardלְתִתִּי־lə·ṯit·tî-Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common singularH5414 give, put, set
forבְּשֹׂרָֽה׃bə·śō·rāhNoun - feminine singularH1309 tidings

2 Samuel 4:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
How much moreאַ֞ף’ap̄ConjunctionH637 also, yea
whenכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
wickedרְשָׁעִ֗יםrə·šā·‘îmAdjective - masculine pluralH7563 wicked, criminal
menאֲנָשִׁ֣ים’ă·nā·šîmNoun - masculine pluralH582 man, mankind
killהָרְג֧וּhā·rə·ḡūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH2026 kill, slay
a righteousצַדִּ֛יקṣad·dîqAdjective - masculine singularH6662 just, righteous
manאִישׁ־’îš-Noun - masculine singularH376 man
in his own houseבְּבֵית֖וֹbə·ḇê·ṯōwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1004 house
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
his own bedמִשְׁכָּב֑וֹmiš·kā·ḇōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4904 place of lying, couch; act of lying
shall I not nowוְעַתָּ֗הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
requireאֲבַקֵּ֤שׁ’ă·ḇaq·qêšVerb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularH1245 seek
his bloodדָּמוֹ֙dā·mōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1818 blood
fromמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
your handsמִיֶּדְכֶ֔םmî·yeḏ·ḵemPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine pluralH3027 hand
and remove youוּבִעַרְתִּ֥יū·ḇi·‘ar·tîConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularH1197 burn, consume
from the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃hā·’ā·reṣArticle; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land

2 Samuel 4:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Davidדָּוִ֨דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
commandedוַיְצַו֩way·ṣawConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
his young menהַנְּעָרִ֜יםhan·nə·‘ā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5288 a shaking, scattering
and they killedוַיַּהַרְג֗וּםway·ya·har·ḡūmConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine pluralH2026 kill, slay
They cut offוַֽיְקַצְּצ֤וּway·qaṣ·ṣə·ṣūConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7112 cut off
their handsיְדֵיהֶם֙yə·ḏê·hemNoun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine pluralH3027 hand
and feetרַגְלֵיהֶ֔םraḡ·lê·hemNoun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine pluralH7272 foot
and hungוַיִּתְל֥וּway·yiṯ·lūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH8518 hang
their bodies byעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the poolהַבְּרֵכָ֖הhab·bə·rê·ḵāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH1295 pool, pond
in Hebronבְּחֶבְר֑וֹןbə·ḥeḇ·rō·wnPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH2275 Hebron
but they tookלָקָ֔חוּlā·qā·ḥūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3947 take
the headרֹ֤אשׁrōšNoun - masculine singular constructH7218 head
of Ish-boshethבֹּ֙שֶׁת֙bō·šeṯNoun - proper - masculine singularH378 Ishbosheth
and buriedוַיִּקְבְּר֥וּway·yiq·bə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH6912 bury
it in Abner’sאַבְנֵ֖ר’aḇ·nêrNoun - proper - masculine singularH74 Abner
tombבְקֶֽבֶר־ḇə·qe·ḇer-Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH6913 grave, sepulchre
in Hebronבְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃פbə·ḥeḇ·rō·wnPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH2275 Hebron

Cross-references

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

2 Samuel 4:5 Proverbs 24:33–34

2 Samuel 4:6 2 Samuel 2:23

2 Samuel 4:8 1 Samuel 25:29 · 2 Samuel 22:48

2 Samuel 4:9 Psalm 34:6–7 · 1 Kings 1:29 · Psalm 107:2 · Genesis 48:16 · Psalm 103:4 · Psalm 34:17 · Psalm 34:22 · Psalm 71:23 · Psalm 31:5–7 · Psalm 106:10 · 2 Timothy 4:17–18

2 Samuel 4:10 2 Samuel 1:2–16

2 Samuel 4:11 Proverbs 2:22 · Psalm 9:12 · Numbers 35:31–34 · Genesis 9:5–6

2 Samuel 4:12 2 Samuel 1:15 · 2 Samuel 3:32

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.