2 Samuel 18:25

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

The watchman called out and told the king. The king said, 'If he is alone, he is bringing news.' And the runner continued approaching.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם־לְבַדּ֖וֹ בְּשׂוֹרָ֣ה בְּפִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְקָרֵֽב׃

Transliteration

And-yiqrāʾ the-ṣōp̄eh and-yaggēḏ to-the-meleḵ and-yōʾmer the-meleḵ if-to-ḇaddô běśôrâ in-pîw and-yēleḵ hālôḵ and-qārēḇ.

Grammar Details

• *yiqrāʾ*: third person masculine singular qal imperfect consecutive - and he called
• *ṣōp̄eh*: masculine singular qal participle with definite article - the watchman
• *yaggēḏ*: third person masculine singular hiphil imperfect consecutive - and he told
• *meleḵ*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the king
• *yōʾmer*: third person masculine singular qal imperfect consecutive - and he said
• *ḇaddô*: masculine singular noun with third person masculine singular suffix - his separation/by himself
• *běśôrâ*: feminine singular noun - news/tidings
• *pîw*: masculine singular noun with third person masculine singular suffix - his mouth
• *yēleḵ*: third person masculine singular qal imperfect consecutive - and he went
• *hālôḵ*: qal infinitive absolute - going
• *qārēḇ*: masculine singular qal participle - approaching

Word Meanings

• *yiqrāʾ*: called out/cried out
• *ṣōp̄eh*: watchman/lookout
• *yaggēḏ*: told/informed/reported
• *ḇaddô*: by himself/alone
• *běśôrâ*: news/tidings/message
• *pîw*: his mouth/his speech
• *hālôḵ*: going/coming
• *qārēḇ*: approaching/coming nearer

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And 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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And the watchman called, and told the king. And the king said, If he is alone, there is news in his mouth. And he came quickly, and approached.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the watchman{H6822} cried,{H7121} and told{H5046} the king.{H4428} And the king{H4428} said,{H559} If he be alone, there is tidings{H1309} in his mouth.{H6310} And he came{H3212} apace,{H1980} and drew near.{H7131}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the watchman{H6822}{(H8802)} cried{H7121}{(H8799)}, and told{H5046}{(H8686)} the king{H4428}. And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)}, If he be alone, there is tidings{H1309} in his mouth{H6310}. And he came{H3212}{(H8799)} apace{H1980}{(H8800)}, and drew near{H7131}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and cryed, and tolde the kinge. The kynge sayde: Yf he be alone, then is there good tydinges in his mouth. And as the same wente and came forth,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And the watchman cryed, & tolde ye king; the King said, If he be alone, he bringeth tidings; he came apace, and drew neere.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the watchman cryed, & tolde the king. And the king sayd: If he be alone, there is tydinges in his mouth. And he came a pace, and drewe neare.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. He came apace, and drew near.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And the watchman calleth, and declareth to the king, and the king saith, `If by himself, tidings `are' in his mouth;' and he cometh, coming on and drawing near.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And the watchman gave news of it to the king. And the king said, If he is coming by himself, then he has news. And the man was travelling quickly, and came near.

• World English Bible (2000)

  The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." He came closer and closer.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said,“If he is by himself, he brings good news.” The runner came ever closer.