2 Samuel 20:17

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When he approached her, the woman asked, "Are you Joab?" "I am," he replied. She said, "Listen to what your servant has to say." "I’m listening," he said.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּקְרַ֣ב אֵלֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֧אמֶר הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הַאַתָּ֥ה יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אָ֑נִי וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ שְׁמַע֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שֹׁמֵ֥עַ אָנֹֽכִי׃

Transliteration

And qārav to-her and ʾāmar the-ʾiššâ, hă-ʾattâ yôʾāv? And ʾāmar, I; and ʾāmar to-him, šāmaʿ dāvār ʾāmâ-your. And ʾāmar, šōmēaʿ I.

Grammar Details

• *qārav*: qal imperfect consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - and he came near
• *ʾāmar*: qal imperfect consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *ʾiššâ*: noun, feminine singular with definite article - the woman
• *hă*: interrogative particle - is?
• *ʾattâ*: personal pronoun, 2nd masculine singular - you
• *yôʾāv*: proper noun, masculine singular - Joab
• *šāmaʿ*: qal imperative, masculine singular - hear
• *dāvār*: noun, masculine plural construct - words of
• *ʾāmâ*: noun, feminine singular construct with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your maidservant
• *šōmēaʿ*: qal active participle, masculine singular - hearing

Word Meanings

• *qārav*: came near/approached/drew near
• *ʾāmar*: said/spoke/uttered
• *šāmaʿ*: hear/listen/pay attention to
• *dāvār*: words/sayings/speech
• *ʾāmâ*: maidservant/handmaid/female servant
• *šōmēaʿ*: hearing/listening/paying attention

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  When he came near her, the woman asked, Are you Joab? He answered, I am. Then she said, Listen to the words of your servant. And he answered, I am listening.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he came near unto her; and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And wha he came to her, the woman sayde: Art thou Ioab? He sayde: Yee. She sayde vnto him: Heare the wordes of thy handmayden. He sayde: I heare.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when hee came neere vnto her, the woma said, Art thou Ioab? And he answered, Yea; she said to him, Heare the wordes of thine handmaid; he answered, I do heare.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  When Ioab was come vnto her, the woman saide: Art thou Ioab? He aunswered: I am he. She saide vnto him: Heare the wordes of thyne handmayd. And he aunswered: I do heare.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, [Art] thou Joab? And he answered, I [am he]. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He came near to her; and the woman said, Are you Joab? He answered, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. He answered, I do hear.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he cometh near unto her, and the woman saith, `Art thou Joab?' and he saith, `I `am'.' And she saith to him, `Hear the words of thy handmaid;' and he saith, `I am hearing.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he came near unto her; and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he came near unto her; and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he came near, and the woman said, Are you Joab? And he said in answer, I am. Then she said, Give ear to your servant's words. And he said, I am giving ear.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He came near to her; and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Hear the words of your handmaid." He answered, "I do hear."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  When he approached her, the woman asked,“Are you Joab?” He replied,“I am.” She said to him,“Listen to the words of your servant.” He said,“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

Referenced Verses

• 1 Sam 25:24 : 24 She fell at his feet and said, "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you, and hear the words of your servant.
• 2 Sam 14:12 : 12 Then the woman said, "Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king." He said, "Speak."