1 Kings 2:9

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

However, do not consider him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know what you ought to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם אָ֑תָּה וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לּ֔וֹ וְהוֹרַדְתָּ֧ אֶת־שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּדָ֖ם שְׁאֽוֹל

Transliteration

And now not tənaqēhû because ʾîš ḥākām ʾāttâ and yādaʿtā ʾēt what taʿăśeh-lô and hôradtā ʾet-śêbātô in bədām šəʾôl

Grammar Details

• *tənaqēhû*: Piel imperfect jussive, 2nd masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular object suffix and negative particle - do not hold him innocent
• *ʾîš*: masculine singular noun - man
• *ḥākām*: adjective, masculine singular - wise
• *ʾāttâ*: 2nd masculine singular personal pronoun - you
• *yādaʿtā*: Qal perfect, 2nd masculine singular with waw conjunctive - and you know
• *taʿăśeh-lô*: Qal imperfect, 2nd masculine singular with preposition lamed and 3rd masculine singular suffix - you shall do to him
• *hôradtā*: Hiphil perfect, 2nd masculine singular with waw conjunctive - and bring down
• *śêbātô*: feminine singular noun with 3rd masculine singular possessive suffix and direct object marker - his gray hair/old age
• *bədām*: masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition bet - with blood
• *šəʾôl*: proper noun - Sheol/grave

Word Meanings

• *tənaqēhû*: hold him innocent/acquit him/leave him unpunished
• *ḥākām*: wise/skillful/experienced
• *yādaʿtā*: know/understand/recognize
• *taʿăśeh-lô*: do to him/deal with him
• *hôradtā*: bring down/send down
• *śêbātô*: his gray hair/his old age
• *bədām*: with blood/in bloodshed
• *šəʾôl*: Sheol/grave/pit/underworld

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray head down to the grave with blood.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now therefore hold him not guiltless,{H5352} for thou art a wise{H2450} man;{H376} and thou wilt know{H3045} what thou oughtest to do{H6213} unto him, and thou shalt bring his hoar head{H7872} down{H3381} to Sheol{H7585} with blood.{H1818}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now therefore hold him not guiltless{H5352}{(H8762)}: for thou art a wise{H2450} man{H376}, and knowest{H3045}{(H8804)} what thou oughtest to do{H6213}{(H8799)} unto him; but his hoar head{H7872} bring thou down{H3381}{(H8689)} to the grave{H7585} with blood{H1818}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But suffre not thou him to be vngiltye, for thou art a wyse man, and shalt wel knowe what thou oughtest to do vnto him, that thou mayest brynge his graye heer downe to the graue with bloude.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But thou shalt not count him innocent: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to doe vnto him: therefore thou shalt cause his hoare head to goe downe to the graue with blood.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But thou shalt not count him as vngiltie: For thou art a man of wisdome, and knowest what thou oughtest to do vnto him, his hoore head shalt thou bring to the graue with blood.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou [art] a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and now, acquit him not, for a wise man thou `art', and thou hast known that which thou dost to him, and hast brought down his old age with blood to Sheol.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for thou art a wise man; and thou wilt know what thou oughtest to do unto him, and thou shalt bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for thou art a wise man; and thou wilt know what thou oughtest to do unto him, and thou shalt bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But do not let him be free from punishment, for you are a wise man; and it will be clear to you what you have to do with him; see that his white head goes down to the underworld in blood.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But now don’t treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death.”

Referenced Verses

• 1 Kgs 2:6 : 6 Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.
• Gen 42:38 : 38 But Jacob said, 'My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.'
• Gen 44:31 : 31 it will happen that when he sees the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought down the gray hair of your servant, our father, in sorrow to the grave.
• Exod 20:7 : 7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.
• Exod 22:28 : 28 Do not hold back offerings from your harvest or your wine presses. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.
• Num 32:23 : 23 But if you do not do this, you will have sinned against the Lord. Be sure your sin will find you out.
• 1 Kgs 3:12 : 12 behold, I have done what you asked. I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
• 1 Kgs 3:28 : 28 When all Israel heard the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of the king, for they saw that he had the wisdom of God to administer justice.
• Job 9:28 : 28 I still dread all my suffering, for I know You will not hold me innocent.