2 Samuel 18:9

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And 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.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּקָּרֵא֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם לִפְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וְאַבְשָׁל֞וֹם רֹכֵ֣ב עַל־הַפֶּ֗רֶד וַיָּבֹ֣א הַפֶּ֡רֶד תַּ֣חַת שׂוֹבֶךְ֩ הָאֵלָ֨ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה וַיֶּחֱזַ֧ק רֹאשׁ֣וֹ בָאֵלָ֗ה וַיֻּתַּן֙ בֵּ֤ין הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהַפֶּ֥רֶד אֲשֶׁר־תַּחְתָּ֖יו עָבָֽר׃

Transliteration

wa-yiqqārēʾ ʾAbšālôm before ʿaḇdê Dāwid and-ʾAbšālôm rōḵēḇ on-ha-pered wa-yāḇōʾ ha-pered under śôḇeḵ ha-ʾēlāh ha-gədôlāh wa-yeḥĕzaq his-head in-ha-ʾēlāh wa-yuttan between ha-šāmayim and-between ha-ʾāreṣ and-ha-pered which-under-him passed-on.

Grammar Details

*wa-yiqqārēʾ*: waw-consecutive + niphal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he encountered/happened to meet
*ʾAbšālôm*: proper noun, masculine singular - Absalom
*lip̄nê*: preposition + common noun masculine plural construct - before
*ʿaḇdê*: common noun, masculine plural construct - servants of
*Dāwid*: proper noun, masculine singular - David
*rōḵēḇ*: qal participle, masculine singular - riding
*ha-pered*: definite article + common noun, masculine singular - the mule
*wa-yāḇōʾ*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and came/went
*taḥat*: preposition - under/beneath
*śôḇeḵ*: common noun, masculine singular construct - thick branches/tangled growth of
*ha-ʾēlāh*: definite article + common noun, feminine singular - the terebinth/oak tree
*ha-gədôlāh*: definite article + adjective, feminine singular - the great/large
*wa-yeḥĕzaq*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and was caught/seized
*rōʾšô*: common noun, masculine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his head
*ḇā-ʾēlāh*: preposition + definite article + common noun - in the terebinth/oak
*wa-yuttan*: waw-consecutive + hophal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he was suspended/left hanging
*bên*: preposition - between
*ha-šāmayim*: definite article + common noun, masculine plural - the heavens/sky
*ha-ʾāreṣ*: definite article + common noun, feminine singular - the earth/ground
*ʾăšer-taḥtāw*: relative pronoun + preposition + 3rd masculine singular suffix - which was under him
*ʿāḇār*: qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - passed on/went away

Word Meanings

*qārāʾ*: to meet/encounter/happen upon
*rāḵaḇ*: to ride/mount
*pered*: mule
*śôḇeḵ*: thicket/tangled branches
*ʾēlāh*: terebinth/oak tree
*ḥāzaq*: to seize/catch/be caught
*nātan*: to give/place/put/suspend

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 14:26 : 26 And when he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year's end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king's weight.
2 Sam 17:23 : 23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
2 Sam 18:14 : 14 Then 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.
Job 18:8-9 : 8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walketh upon the toils. 9 A gin shall take [him] by the heel, [And] a snare shall lay hold on him. 10 A noose is hid for him in the ground, And a trap for him in the way.
Job 31:3 : 3 Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity?
Ps 63:9-9 : 9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall be given over to the power of the sword: They shall be a portion for foxes.
Prov 20:20 : 20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Prov 30:17 : 17 The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.
Jer 48:44 : 44 He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon him, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith Jehovah.
Matt 27:5 : 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.
Mark 7:10 : 10 For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death:
Gal 3:13 : 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Deut 21:23 : 23 his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt surely bury him the same day; for he that is hanged is accursed of God; that thou defile not thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Deut 27:16 : 16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Deut 27:20 : 20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife, because he hath uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

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 18:10
85%
10And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
2 Sam 18:8
79%
8For the battle was there spread over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
2 Sam 18:14-15
2 verses
78%
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 17:9
74%
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 13:28-30
3 verses
74%
28And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
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.
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 17:23-24
2 verses
73%
23And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
24Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
2 Sam 13:34
73%
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.
2 Sam 14:32-33
2 verses
73%
32And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it were better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me.
33So Joab came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.
2 Sam 18:29-30
2 verses
72%
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 19:4
72%
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 17:18
72%
18But 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.
2 Sam 18:5-6
2 verses
72%
5And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
2 Sam 18:32-33
2 verses
72%
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.
33And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
2 Sam 15:1-2
2 verses
72%
1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
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.
2 Sam 13:23-24
2 verses
71%
23And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
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 15:5-6
2 verses
71%
5And it was so, that, when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.
6And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 Sam 19:9-10
2 verses
71%
9And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from Absalom.
10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
2 Sam 15:32
70%
32And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top [of the ascent], where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.
2 Sam 19:1
70%
1And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2 Sam 17:20
70%
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.
2 Sam 13:36-39
4 verses
70%
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.
39And [the soul of] king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
2 Sam 15:11-14
4 verses
70%
11And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything.
12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
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 14:23
70%
23So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
2 Sam 16:22
69%
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 14:28-30
3 verses
69%
28And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem; and he saw not the king's face.
29Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come.
30Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
2 Sam 15:30
69%
30And David went up by the ascent of the [mount of] Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
2 Sam 16:15
69%
15And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.