2 Samuel 15:10

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel with this message: 'As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, say, “Absalom is king in Hebron!”'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ מְרַגְּלִ֔ים בְּכָל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מָלַ֥ךְ אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃

Transliteration

wa-yišlaḥ ʾAbšālôm məraggəlîm in-all-šibṭê Yiśrāʾēl lēʾmōr, when-šāmʿăkem ʾet-qôl ha-šôpār, wa-ʾămartem mālak ʾAbšālôm in-Ḥebrôn.

Grammar Details

• *wa-yišlaḥ*: conjunction + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he sent
• *məraggəlîm*: Piel participle, masculine plural - spies
• *šibṭê*: noun, masculine plural construct - tribes of
• *Yiśrāʾēl*: proper noun - Israel
• *lēʾmōr*: preposition + Qal infinitive construct - saying
• *šāmʿăkem*: Qal infinitive construct + 2nd masculine plural suffix - your hearing
• *qôl*: noun, masculine singular construct - sound of
• *ha-šôpār*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - the trumpet
• *wa-ʾămartem*: conjunction + Qal perfect, 2nd masculine plural - then you shall say
• *mālak*: Qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - has become king
• *Ḥebrôn*: proper noun - Hebron

Word Meanings

• *məraggəlîm*: spies/messengers/scouts
• *šibṭê*: tribes/clans
• *šôpār*: trumpet/ram's horn/shofar
• *mālak*: has become king/has begun to reign/rules

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But Absalom{H53} sent{H7971} spies{H7270} throughout all the tribes{H7626} of Israel,{H3478} saying,{H559} As soon as ye hear{H8085} the sound{H6963} of the trumpet,{H7782} then ye shall say,{H559} Absalom{H53} is king{H4427} in Hebron.{H2275}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But Absalom{H53} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} spies{H7270}{(H8764)} throughout all the tribes{H7626} of Israel{H3478}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, As soon as ye hear{H8085}{(H8800)} the sound{H6963} of the trumpet{H7782}, then ye shall say{H559}{(H8804)}, Absalom{H53} reigneth{H4427}{(H8804)} in Hebron{H2275}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But Absalom had sent out spyes in all the trybes of Israel, sayenge: Whan ye heare the noyse of the trompe, saye: Absalom is made kynge at Hebron.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then Absalom sent spyes throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When yee heare the sound of the trumpet, Ye shal say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying: Assoone as ye heare the voyce of the trumpet blow, ye shall say, Absalom raigneth in Hebro.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and Absalom sendeth spies through all the tribes of Israel, saying, `At your hearing the voice of the trumpet, then ye have said, Absalom hath reigned in Hebron.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But Absalom at the same time sent watchers through all the tribes of Israel to say, At the sound of the horn you are to say, Absalom is king in Hebron.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron!'"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said,“When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume that Absalom rules in Hebron.”

Referenced Verses

• 2 Sam 2:1 : 1 After this, David inquired of the LORD, saying, 'Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?' The LORD answered him, 'Go up.' David then asked, 'Where should I go?' And He said, 'To Hebron.'
• 2 Sam 2:11 : 11 The length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
• 2 Sam 3:2-3 : 2 Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess. 3 His second son was Chileab, born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. The third was Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.
• 2 Sam 5:5 : 5 In Hebron, he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem, he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
• 2 Sam 13:28 : 28 Absalom ordered his servants, saying, 'Watch when Amnon’s heart is cheerful from drinking wine, and when I say to you, "Strike Amnon down," then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I ordered you? Be strong and courageous.’
• 2 Sam 14:30 : 30 Then Absalom said to his servants, 'Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.' So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
• 2 Sam 19:10 : 10 All the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies, he saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom.
• 1 Kgs 1:34 : 34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram's horn and declare, 'Long live King Solomon!'
• 2 Kgs 9:13 : 13 They quickly took their garments, spread them under him on the bare steps, blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, 'Jehu is king!'
• 1 Chr 11:3 : 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. They anointed David king over Israel, as the LORD had said through Samuel.
• 1 Chr 12:23 : 23 These are the numbers of men equipped for war who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the LORD had spoken.
• 1 Chr 12:38 : 38 From across the Jordan, from the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with every kind of weapon for war.
• Job 20:5-9 : 5 that the triumph of the wicked is short-lived, and the joy of the godless lasts only a moment? 6 Even if his greatness rises to the heavens and his head reaches to the clouds, 7 he will perish forever like his own waste; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?' 8 Like a dream he flies away and is no more; he is chased away like a vision of the night. 9 The eye that saw him will see him no longer, and his place will behold him no more. 10 His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will return his wealth. 11 The youthful vigor that filled his bones will lie down with him in the dust. 12 Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, 13 though he cherishes it and does not let it go, but keeps it in the midst of his mouth, 14 yet his food in his stomach is turned to the venom of cobras within him. 15 He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God drives it out of his stomach. 16 He will suck the venom of cobras; the tongue of a viper will kill him. 17 He will not see the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and butter. 18 He will give back the fruit of his labor but will not swallow it; like the wealth of his trade, he will not enjoy it. 19 For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house he did not build. 20 Because he knew no peace in his heart, he will not retain any of his treasures. 21 Nothing is left for him to consume; therefore, his prosperity will not last. 22 In the fullness of his plenty, he will be distressed; the hand of all who toil will come upon him. 23 When he is about to fill his stomach, God will unleash his burning anger against him and rain it upon him while he eats. 24 Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will pierce him. 25 It is drawn out and comes forth from his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come over him. 26 Total darkness is hidden for his treasures; a fire not kindled by man will consume him and devour what remains in his tent. 27 The heavens will expose his guilt, and the earth will rise up against him. 28 The produce of his house will be carried away, flowing away on the day of God's wrath. 29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the inheritance decreed for him by the Almighty.
• Ps 73:18-19 : 18 Surely, You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to destruction. 19 How suddenly they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!