2 Samuel 17:18

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

But a lad saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down thither.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּ֤רְא אֹתָם֙ נַ֔עַר וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם וַיֵּלְכוּ֩ שְׁנֵיהֶ֨ם מְהֵרָ֜ה וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ ׀ אֶל־בֵּֽית־אִ֣ישׁ בְּבַחוּרִ֗ים וְל֥וֹ בְאֵ֛ר בַּחֲצֵר֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥רְדוּ שָֽׁם׃

Transliteration

And-wayyarʾ ʾōtām naʿar and-wayyaggēd to-ʾAbšālōm and-wayyēlkû two-of-them məhērâ and-wayyābōʾû to-house-of-ʾîš in-Baḥûrîm and-to-him bəʾēr in-his-courtyard and-wayyērədû there

Grammar Details

*wayyarʾ*: waw consecutive + imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he saw
*ʾōtām*: direct object marker + 3rd plural suffix - them
*naʿar*: noun, masculine singular - young man/boy/servant
*wayyaggēd*: waw consecutive + imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he told
*ʾAbšālōm*: proper noun, masculine - Absalom
*wayyēlkû*: waw consecutive + imperfect, 3rd plural - and they went
*məhērâ*: adverb - quickly/hastily
*wayyābōʾû*: waw consecutive + imperfect, 3rd plural - and they came
*ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular - man
*Baḥûrîm*: proper noun - Bahurim
*bəʾēr*: noun, feminine singular - well
*wayyērədû*: waw consecutive + imperfect, 3rd plural - and they went down

Word Meanings

*naʿar*: young man/boy/servant/attendant
*bəʾēr*: well/pit/cistern

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

2 Sam 3:16 : 16 And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return: and he returned.
2 Sam 16:5 : 5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came.
2 Sam 19:16 : 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

2 Sam 17:16-17
2 verses
85%
16Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En-rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city.
2 Sam 17:19-21
3 verses
84%
19And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.
20And Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They are gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said unto David, Arise ye, and pass quickly over the water; for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
2 Sam 17:9
78%
9Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other] place: and it will come to pass, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
2 Sam 13:34-38
5 verses
78%
34But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill-side {H6654} behind him.
35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons are come: as thy servant said, so it is.
36And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
37[But Absalom] [fled,] [and went] [to Talmai] [the son] [of Ammihur,] [king] [of Geshur.] [And David] mourned for his son every day.
38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
2 Sam 17:24
76%
24Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
2 Sam 18:28-30
3 verses
75%
28And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, even me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30And the king said, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
2 Sam 18:9-10
2 verses
75%
9And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between heaven and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
10And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
2 Sam 18:17-19
3 verses
74%
17And they took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom's monument, unto this day.
19Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that Jehovah hath avenged him of his enemies.
2 Sam 19:3-4
2 verses
73%
3And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people that are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
2 Sam 15:36-37
2 verses
73%
36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye shall hear.
37So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
2 Sam 15:11
73%
11And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything.
2 Sam 16:22
72%
22So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
2 Sam 13:29-30
2 verses
72%
29And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
30And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.
1 Sam 20:39
71%
39But the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
2 Sam 17:5
71%
5Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
2 Sam 18:14-15
2 verses
71%
14Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15And ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
2 Sam 15:13-14
2 verses
71%
13And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
2 Sam 15:2
71%
2And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
1 Sam 22:1
71%
1David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 Sam 3:26
71%
26And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
2 Sam 19:1
71%
1And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2 Sam 18:24-25
2 verses
70%
24Now David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.
25And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
2 Sam 18:32
70%
32And the king said unto the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
2 Sam 17:13
70%
13Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
2 Sam 16:17
70%
17And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
2 Sam 14:31
70%
31Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
2 Sam 17:1
70%
1Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
1 Sam 25:12
70%
12So David's young men turned on their way, and went back, and came and told him according to all these words.
2 Sam 13:24
70%
24And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
2 Sam 14:23
70%
23So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
2 Sam 18:21
69%
21Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
2 Sam 14:1
69%
1Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.