2 Samuel 18
How to read this: this is a word-for-word rendering straight from the original Hebrew, not a copyrighted translation — the top of each chip is the original word, the bottom is its plain-English sense. Faded chips mark words the Hebrew implies but wouldn't literally be spoken in English. Click any word for its full Strong's dictionary entry.
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וַיְשַׁלַּ֨חand he sent outדָּוִ֜דDavidאֶת־obj.הָעָ֗םthe peopleהַשְּׁלִשִׁ֤יתthe thirdבְּיַד־was in the hand ofיוֹאָב֙Joabוְ֠הַשְּׁלִשִׁיתand the thirdבְּיַ֨דwas in the hand ofאֲבִישַׁ֤יAbishaiבֶּן־the son ofצְרוּיָה֙Zeruiahאֲחִ֣יthe brother ofיוֹאָ֔בJoabוְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔תand the thirdבְּיַ֖דwas in the hand ofאִתַּ֣יIttaiהַגִּתִּ֑י סthe Gittiteוַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the kingאֶל־toהָעָ֔םthe peopleיָצֹ֥אcertainly to go outאֵצֵ֛אI will go outגַּם־alsoאֲנִ֖יIעִמָּכֶֽם׃with you
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וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand it saidהָעָ֜םthe peopleלֹ֣אnotתֵצֵ֗אyou must go outכִּי֩forאִם־ifנֹ֨סcertainly if to fleeנָנ֜וּסwe will fleeלֹא־notיָשִׂ֧ימוּthey will setאֵלֵ֣ינוּto usלֵ֗בheartוְאִם־and ifיָמֻ֤תוּthey will dieחֶצְיֵ֙נוּ֙half of usלֹֽא־notיָשִׂ֤ימוּthey will setאֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙to usלֵ֔בheartכִּֽי־forעַתָּ֥הnowכָמֹ֖נוּlike usעֲשָׂרָ֣הtenאֲלָפִ֑יםthousandsוְעַתָּ֣הand thereforeט֔וֹבis goodכִּי־thatתִֽהְיֶה־you will beלָּ֥נוּto the usמֵעִ֖ירfrom the cityלַעְזֽוֹר׃ סto help
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וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidאֲלֵיהֶם֙to themהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingאֲשֶׁר־that whichיִיטַ֥בit will be goodבְּעֵינֵיכֶ֖םin view yourאֶעֱשֶׂ֑הI will doוַיַּעֲמֹ֤דand he stoodהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the kingאֶל־toיַ֣דthe side ofהַשַּׁ֔עַרthe gateוְכָל־and allהָעָם֙the peopleיָֽצְא֔וּthey went outלְמֵא֖וֹתto hundredsוְלַאֲלָפִֽים׃and to thousands
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וַיְצַ֣וand he commandedהַמֶּ֡לֶךְthe kingאֶת־obj.י֠וֹאָבJoabוְאֶת־and obj.אֲבִישַׁ֤יAbishaiוְאֶת־and obj.אִתַּי֙Ittaiלֵאמֹ֔רto sayingלְאַט־to gentlenessלִ֖יfor the meלַנַּ֣עַרto the young manלְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹםto Absalomוְכָל־and allהָעָ֣םthe peopleשָׁמְע֗וּthey heardבְּצַוֹּ֥תwhen commandedהַמֶּ֛לֶךְthe kingאֶת־obj.כָּל־allהַשָּׂרִ֖יםthe commandersעַל־onדְּבַ֥רthe matter ofאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃Absalom
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וַתְּהִי־and it wasשָׁ֧םthereהַמִּלְחָמָ֛הthe battleנָפֹ֖צֶתscatteredעַל־overפְּנֵ֣יthe face ofכָל־allהָאָ֑רֶץthe landוַיֶּ֤רֶבand it increasedהַיַּ֙עַר֙the forestלֶאֱכֹ֣לto consumeבָּעָ֔םamong the peopleמֵאֲשֶׁ֥רmore than those whomאָכְלָ֛הit consumedהַחֶ֖רֶבthe swordבַּיּ֥וֹםon the dayהַהֽוּא׃the that
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וַיִּקָּרֵא֙and he was metאַבְשָׁל֔וֹםAbsalomלִפְנֵ֖יto beforeעַבְדֵ֣יthe servants ofדָוִ֑דDavidוְאַבְשָׁל֞וֹםand Absalomרֹכֵ֣בwas ridingעַל־onהַפֶּ֗רֶדthe muleוַיָּבֹ֣אand it wentהַפֶּ֡רֶדthe muleתַּ֣חַתunderשׂוֹבֶךְ֩the branches ofהָאֵלָ֨הthe oakהַגְּדוֹלָ֜הthe greatוַיֶּחֱזַ֧קand it was firmרֹאשׁ֣וֹhead hisבָאֵלָ֗הin the oakוַיֻּתַּן֙and he was putבֵּ֤יןbetweenהַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙the heavensוּבֵ֣יןand betweenהָאָ֔רֶץthe earthוְהַפֶּ֥רֶדand the muleאֲשֶׁר־whichתַּחְתָּ֖יוwas under himעָבָֽר׃it passed on
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וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidיוֹאָ֗בJoabלָאִישׁ֙to the manהַמַּגִּ֣ידwho had toldל֔וֹto the himוְהִנֵּ֣הand there!רָאִ֔יתָyou sawוּמַדּ֛וּעַand why?לֹֽא־notהִכִּית֥וֹdid you strike down himשָׁ֖םthereאָ֑רְצָהthe ground towardsוְעָלַ֗יand on meלָ֤תֶתto giveלְךָ֙to the youעֲשָׂ֣רָהtenכֶ֔סֶףsilverוַחֲגֹרָ֖הand a beltאֶחָֽת׃one
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וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidהָאִישׁ֙the manאֶל־toיוֹאָ֔בJoabוְל֨וּאand ifאָנֹכִ֜יIשֹׁקֵ֤לwere weighingעַל־onכַּפַּי֙hands myאֶ֣לֶףa thousandכֶּ֔סֶףsilverלֹֽא־notאֶשְׁלַ֥חI will stretch outיָדִ֖יhand myאֶל־againstבֶּן־the son ofהַמֶּ֑לֶךְthe kingכִּ֣יforבְאָזְנֵ֜ינוּin ears ourצִוָּ֣הhe commandedהַמֶּ֗לֶךְthe kingאֹ֠תְךָobj. youוְאֶת־and obj.אֲבִישַׁ֤יAbishaiוְאֶת־and obj.אִתַּי֙Ittaiלֵאמֹ֔רto sayingשִׁמְרוּ־protectמִ֕יwhoeverבַּנַּ֖עַרin the young manבְּאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃in Absalom
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וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidיוֹאָ֔בJoabלֹא־notכֵ֖ןthusאֹחִ֣ילָהI will waitלְפָנֶ֑יךָto before youוַיִּקַּח֩and he tookשְׁלֹשָׁ֨הthreeשְׁבָטִ֜יםspearsבְּכַפּ֗וֹin hand hisוַיִּתְקָעֵם֙and he thrust themבְּלֵ֣בin the heart ofאַבְשָׁל֔וֹםAbsalomעוֹדֶ֥נּוּstill heחַ֖יwas aliveבְּלֵ֥בin the heart ofהָאֵלָֽה׃the oak
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וַיִּקְח֣וּand they tookאֶת־obj.אַבְשָׁל֗וֹםAbsalomוַיַּשְׁלִ֨יכוּand they threwאֹת֤וֹobj. himבַיַּ֙עַר֙in the forestאֶל־intoהַפַּ֣חַתthe pitהַגָּד֔וֹלthe greatוַיַּצִּ֧בוּand they set upעָלָ֛יוover himגַּל־a heap ofאֲבָנִ֖יםstonesגָּד֣וֹלgreatמְאֹ֑דveryוְכָל־and allיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelנָ֖סוּthey fledאִ֥ישׁeachלְאֹהָלָֽיו׃ סto tents his
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וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֣םand Absalomלָקַ֗חhe had takenוַיַּצֶּב־and he had set upל֤וֹfor the himselfבְחַיָּיו֙in life hisאֶת־obj.מַצֶּ֙בֶת֙a pillarאֲשֶׁ֣רwhichבְּעֵֽמֶק־is in the valley ofהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingכִּ֤יforאָמַר֙he saidאֵֽין־notלִ֣יbelongs to the meבֵ֔ןa sonבַּעֲב֖וּרin orderהַזְכִּ֣ירto cause to be rememberedשְׁמִ֑יname myוַיִּקְרָ֤אand he calledלַמַּצֶּ֙בֶת֙to the pillarעַל־onשְׁמ֔וֹown name hisוַיִּקָּ֤רֵאand it has been calledלָהּ֙to the itיַ֣דthe monument ofאַבְשָׁלֹ֔םAbsalomעַ֖דuntilהַיּ֥וֹםthe dayהַזֶּֽה׃ סthe this
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וַיֹּ֧אמֶרand he saidל֣וֹto the himיוֹאָ֗בJoabלֹא֩notאִ֨ישׁare a man ofבְּשֹׂרָ֤הnewsאַתָּה֙youהַיּ֣וֹםthe dayהַזֶּ֔הthe thisוּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖and you will bear newsבְּי֣וֹםon a dayאַחֵ֑רanotherוְהַיּ֤וֹםand the dayהַזֶּה֙the thisלֹ֣אnotתְבַשֵּׂ֔רyou will bear the newsכִּֽי־forעַל־כֵּ֥ןsince-thusבֶּן־the son ofהַמֶּ֖לֶךְthe kingמֵֽת׃he has died
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וַיֹּ֨סֶףand he repeatedע֜וֹדagainאֲחִימַ֤עַץAhimaazבֶּן־the son ofצָדוֹק֙Zadokוַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidאֶל־toיוֹאָ֔בJoabוִ֣יהִיand may it beמָ֔הwhateverאָרֻֽצָה־let me runנָּ֥אpleaseגַם־alsoאָ֖נִיIאַחֲרֵ֣יafterהַכּוּשִׁ֑יthe Cushiteוַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidיוֹאָ֗בJoabלָֽמָּה־to why?זֶּ֞הthisאַתָּ֥הare youרָץ֙runningבְּנִ֔יO son myוּלְכָ֖הand will belong to the youאֵין־notבְּשׂוֹרָ֥הgood newsמֹצֵֽאת׃finding
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וְדָוִ֥דand Davidיוֹשֵׁ֖בwas sittingבֵּין־betweenשְׁנֵ֣יthe twoהַשְּׁעָרִ֑יםthe gatesוַיֵּ֨לֶךְand he wentהַצֹּפֶ֜הthe watchmanאֶל־toגַּ֤גthe roof ofהַשַּׁ֙עַר֙the gateאֶל־toהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הthe wallוַיִּשָּׂ֤אand he lifted upאֶת־obj.עֵינָיו֙eyes hisוַיַּ֔רְאand he sawוְהִנֵּה־and there!אִ֖ישׁa manרָ֥ץwas runningלְבַדּֽוֹ׃to only him
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וַיַּ֣רְאand he sawהַצֹּפֶה֮the watchmanאִישׁ־a manאַחֵ֣רanotherרָץ֒runningוַיִּקְרָ֤אand he called outהַצֹּפֶה֙the watchmanאֶל־toהַשֹּׁעֵ֔רthe gatekeeperוַיֹּ֕אמֶרand he saidהִנֵּה־there!אִ֖ישׁa manרָ֣ץis runningלְבַדּ֑וֹto only himוַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he saidהַמֶּ֖לֶךְthe kingגַּם־alsoזֶ֥הthis oneמְבַשֵּֽׂר׃is bearing news
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וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he saidהַצֹּפֶ֔הthe watchmanאֲנִ֤יIרֹאֶה֙am seeingאֶת־obj.מְרוּצַ֣תthe running ofהָרִאשׁ֔וֹןthe first oneכִּמְרֻצַ֖תlike the running ofאֲחִימַ֣עַץAhimaazבֶּן־the son ofצָד֑וֹקZadokוַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the kingאִֽישׁ־is a manט֣וֹבgoodזֶ֔הthisוְאֶל־and withבְּשׂוֹרָ֥הnewsטוֹבָ֖הgoodיָבֽוֹא׃he is coming
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וַיִּקְרָ֣אand he called outאֲחִימַ֗עַץAhimaazוַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidאֶל־toהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the kingשָׁל֔וֹםpeaceוַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּand he bowed downלַמֶּ֛לֶךְto the kingלְאַפָּ֖יוto face hisאָ֑רְצָה סthe ground towardsוַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he saidבָּרוּךְ֙blessedיְהוָ֣הbe Yahwehאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָGod yourאֲשֶׁ֤רwhoסִגַּר֙he has delivered upאֶת־obj.הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔יםthe menאֲשֶׁר־whoנָשְׂא֥וּthey lifted upאֶת־obj.יָדָ֖םhand theirבַּֽאדֹנִ֥יagainst lord myהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃the king
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וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingשָׁל֥וֹםdoes peace?לַנַּ֖עַרbelong to the young manלְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹםto Absalomוַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidאֲחִימַ֡עַץAhimaazרָאִיתִי֩I sawהֶהָמ֨וֹןthe multitudeהַגָּד֜וֹלthe greatלִ֠שְׁלֹחַto sendאֶת־obj.עֶ֨בֶדthe servant ofהַמֶּ֤לֶךְthe kingיוֹאָב֙Joabוְאֶת־and obj.עַבְדֶּ֔ךָservant yourוְלֹ֥אand notיָדַ֖עְתִּיI knowמָֽה׃whatever
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וְהִנֵּ֥הand here!הַכּוּשִׁ֖יthe Cushiteבָּ֑אwas comingוַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidהַכּוּשִׁ֗יthe Cushiteיִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙let him receive the newsאֲדֹנִ֣יlord myהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingכִּֽי־forשְׁפָטְךָ֤he has vindicated youיְהוָה֙Yahwehהַיּ֔וֹםthis dayמִיַּ֖דfrom the hand ofכָּל־allהַקָּמִ֥יםthose who rose upעָלֶֽיךָ׃ סon you
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וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he saidהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the kingאֶל־toהַכּוּשִׁ֔יthe Cushiteהֲשָׁל֥וֹם¿ does peaceלַנַּ֖עַרbelong to the young manלְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹםto Absalomוַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidהַכּוּשִׁ֗יthe Cushiteיִהְי֤וּlet them beכַנַּ֙עַר֙like the young manאֹֽיְבֵי֙the enemies ofאֲדֹנִ֣יlord myהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingוְכֹ֛לand allאֲשֶׁר־those whoקָ֥מוּthey have risen upעָלֶ֖יךָon youלְרָעָֽה׃ סfor harm
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וַיִּרְגַּ֣זand he was agitatedהַמֶּ֗לֶךְthe kingוַיַּ֛עַלand he went upעַל־toעֲלִיַּ֥תthe upper room ofהַשַּׁ֖עַרthe gateוַיֵּ֑בְךְּand he weptוְכֹ֣ה׀and thusאָמַ֣רhe saidבְּלֶכְתּ֗וֹwhen went heבְּנִ֤יO son myאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙Absalomבְּנִ֣יson myבְנִ֣יson myאַבְשָׁל֔וֹםAbsalomמִֽי־who?יִתֵּ֤ןwill he giveמוּתִי֙died Iאֲנִ֣יIתַחְתֶּ֔יךָin place of youאַבְשָׁל֖וֹםO Absalomבְּנִ֥יson myבְנִֽי׃son my
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